Why Unilever Has Committed to 100% Recyclable Packaging

Large brands often bear the brunt of the blame for plastic waste and pollution, and rightly so. Look at any news story about plastic pollution and you can see their handiwork — single-use plastic water bottles littering roadsides, grocery store…

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Why Unilever Has Committed to 100% Recyclable Packaging

Tapping into Nature: Systems thinking feeds inspiration

Here’s how we can rethink waste, clean up pollution and establish lasting green infrastructure.

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Tapping into Nature: Systems thinking feeds inspiration

Pollution in Apple’s Chinese Supply Chain

Five of Apple’s suppliers have long histories of environmental pollution and dodging regulations, according to a coalition of green NGOs.

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Pollution in Apple’s Chinese Supply Chain

100 Percent Renewable Energy Possible by 2030

A new study published in the journal Energy Policy says that we could achieve 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, and not just U.S., but the world.  The study says that we have access to all the necessary technology, but strong political would have to exist for it to happen. So, how can we get to 100 percent renewables by 2030?  Well, to be exact, the study says we’ll need: four million 5 MW wind turbines , 1.7 billion 3 kW roof-mounted solar PV systems, 90,000 300 MW solar power plants (including PV and concentrated solar ), and a smattering of geothermal, wave and tidal power plants

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100 Percent Renewable Energy Possible by 2030

Bloom Energy Offering 10-Year Electricity Contracts

Bloom Energy is now offering companies 10-year electricity contracts for its Bloom Box fuel cells, without an upfront payment for the Bloom Box itself, which can cost up to $800,000. Companies like Walmart, Staples, Coca-Cola, Caltech, Kaiser Permanente and BD have already signed up for the program called “Bloom Electrons” that promises cleaner electricity at prices lower than standard power from the grid.  Lux Research has done the math and figured with government incentives and subsidies, the cost of electricity from a Bloom Box over ten years would come out to $0.08/kWh to $0.10/kWh compared to the average retail electricity costs of about $0.11/kWh, but in states without heavy subsidies, the costs would be more expensive at $0.13/kWh to $0.14/kWh

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Bloom Energy Offering 10-Year Electricity Contracts

LED Headlights Can Extend EV Range by Six Miles

As automakers start churning out electric vehicles, some features that help boost the car’s range have become permanent necessities — things like regenerative braking and lightweight materials.  Now, it seems LED headlights will need to be added to that list. According to bulb manufacturer Osram Sylvania, replacing halogen bulbs with LEDs in electric vehicles can add six miles to their range.  Far more efficient LEDs draw less than 25 percent of the energy that halogen bulbs do, and in a car that depends solely on battery power for its range, that makes a nice difference.  Six miles may not seem like much, but all EV owners would be grateful for six more miles to find a charging station on a long trip or six miles may make the difference between making the roundtrip to work or not for some people.

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LED Headlights Can Extend EV Range by Six Miles

No More Baptisms in the Jordan River – Expected to Run Dry by 2011

Photo via Abouid Even the most famous and admired places aren’t immune to the problems of abuse and pollution – the Jordan River being a prime example as it’s expected to run dry by 2011 due to overexploitation, pollution and lack of regional management, according to Friends of the Earth, Middle East . Over 90% of the river’s water has been diverted by Israel, Syria and Jordan, and what’s left is an unappealing mix of sewage, saline water, and run-off from cropland. And by the end of 2011, there won’t even be that left

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No More Baptisms in the Jordan River – Expected to Run Dry by 2011

Is the Gulf Oil Spill Really That Big of a Deal?

This is a big deal. Photo via CBC I mean, come on — it’s not like it’s the biggest oil spill ever or anything

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Is the Gulf Oil Spill Really That Big of a Deal?

India Establishes National Environmental Tribunal – Should The US Start One Too?

Just as the scale of the BP oil spill starts really sinking in–leaking first 1,000 barrels a day, then 5,000, now maybe 20,000 barrels (that’s 850,000 gallons)–comes word that India has established, after much debate in the past year or so, a National Green Tribunal , with the main bench to be located in Bhopal, site of one of the worst industrial / social / environmental disasters in the world. Which got me wondering, should the United States also have special environmental courts? Now there well may be

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India Establishes National Environmental Tribunal – Should The US Start One Too?

Smart Cities Getting Big-Picture Treatment for Energy, Water in Ireland and Germany

Photo by tallkev Looking at a city from a big-picture perspective is important for making them smarter. It’s one thing to incorporate a smart grid into a city

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Smart Cities Getting Big-Picture Treatment for Energy, Water in Ireland and Germany

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