Inspired by Prince Charles,  IBM will host a Sustainability Conference” Smarter Business for a Sustainable Future” to begin Wednesday September 8, 2010 in London. It will illustrate the challenges faced and provide an inspiring new starting point from which to build a smarter and more socially, economically and environmentally sustainable future. The Summit will be an exclusive opportunity for leaders in business and government, academics and subject matter experts to gather behind closed doors to work towards a set of actionable recommendations for business in the UK. IBM is one of the founding partners of Start along with Addison Lee, ASDA, B&Q, BT, EDF Energy, M&S, Virgin Money and Waitrose.

not just a meandering line etched in the sky. Not just a cutout or silhouette. Beyond restricting definitions, skylines can be seen as infusions of perception, imagination and desire. Every time a building mushrooms in a city, the skyline is altered. But transformation, not change, is the goal of invention. We invite designs concepts for an iconic structure — building, tower and institution — that can change the perception of the urban skyline.

See the objectives of the campaign here

Winners were:Participants – Anto Gloren, Sayali Athale, Pune – Jury Comments

Sen Kapadia : New image of future cities with high density but loose clustering. Very sociable and humane living. Circulation needs clarification. This seems the ideal direction for changing the skyline, not visual but really culturally and ecologically sustainable. Variable elevations of different clusters promise also a future visual delight. Vary attainable proposal without demand on high technology.

Urban farming bid to revive Detroit

John Hantz

Hey Detroit, the world is watching. The city has been the poster child for a lot of things, and now it is in the spotlight for urban agriculture. It’s like a fascinating science experiment: take vast swaths of vacant land, add an under-employed populace and a dash of food desert, and who knows what you might end up with. Growing food in the city is not new. Many African Americans who migrated here from the South for factory jobs in the ’20s had green thumbs, as did immigrants from European countries like Poland and Malta. Read on

On Labor Day, How We Can Give Both Workers and Our Environment a Chance

Kimberly Freeman Brown and David Foster

This Labor Day, America is facing a dizzying array of problems, none more acute than the twin crises of how poorly we treat our workers and how appallingly we treat our planet. In case anyone believes these issues are distinct and need to be addressed separately, let’s remember some of this year’s grisly headlines: Read on

Living In America – James Brown

A Tale of Two Deltas

by Roddy Bray

In northern Botswana we found areas like the Okavango Delta and the Chobe teeming with wildlife, and ecotourism making a major contribution to the economy. Yet just to the north, across the rivers in Namibia’s Caprivi region we hardly saw a single animal or bird… not even the ubiquitous monkeys. We began to ask why the contrast should be so stark.

As we have travelled through Africa, we have seen the potential of ecotourism to preserve wildlife and tackle poverty. Nowhere is this better illustrated than in northern Botswana. The north of the country is almost entirely reserved for wildlife, and is famous for its predators and home to over 120,000 elephants. In particular, the Okavango River fans into the Kalahari desert, creating a vast region of rivers, islands and waterways. This delta was referred to dismissively as ‘the swamps’ at the time of independence, of no economic value. Today it has become the premier wildlife area in southern Africa, with lodges charging as much as $1,000 per person/ night. Tourism recently became the No.2 earner for Botswana (after diamonds) overtaking its strong cattle industry. But over the border, in the Caprivi region of Namibia, the contrast is striking.

Namibia’s Caprivi, a corridor of land that separates Botswana from Angola and Zambia is, if anything, even better suited to wildlife than northern Botswana. It too has a delta system, Mamili. It shares the Chobe and Kwando rivers with Botswana. On the south bank, in Botswana, there are huge herds of elephant and large numbers of other species, but in the two weeks we spent in the Caprivi we saw hardly any wildlife. The Caprivi, in fact has advantages over the land to the south. It has large grasslands and the Zambezi River on its northern border. The Caprivi should be even more abundant in wildlife than Botswana, and huge herds should be migrating across the rivers. Yet Caprivi statistics from 2008 shows that wildlife numbers are tiny – most species in the Kwando region, home to most of the nature reserves, have less than 100 members. Only 0.1% of the population were employed in ecotourism full time, and the total income from all safari concessions was little more than $500,000 p.a., and almost all of this was from hunting. The contrast with Botswana could not be sharper. Read on

Tales and Traditions of Southern Africa

LISTEN TO: Book 3 The Zulu, Part I History

Let the environment guide our development

Johan Rockstroem

TED is a small nonprofit devoted to Ideas Worth Spreading. It started out (in 1984) as a conference bringing together people from three worlds:Technology, Entertainment, Design.

Viridity Energy,

The State of Pennsylvania awarded the Viridity Energy “SEPTA Recycled Energy and Optimization Project” funding through the 2010 Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority (PEDA) grant program.
“We are pleased to partner with Viridity Energy on this project under the PEDA grant program”The project will pair the latest 21st century technologies and energy optimization practices with one of the country’s oldest transportation systems, dating back to the deployment of electric trolleys in 1892. Mass transit systems across the country are striving to maintain high quality service while facing growing fiscal challenges which are further compounded by rising energy costs. The pilot represents a large and untapped potential for transit systems to help meet these challenges and at the same time improve grid reliability in highly populated urban neighborhoods.

The project calls for Viridity Energy and SEPTA to install a large-scale battery to capture the energy from regenerative braking of trains along a portion of the Market-Frankford Line, the highest ridership line in SEPTA’s system. The Viridity Energy-SEPTA project will result in numerous economic, operational and environmental benefits.

GRACE JONES

Textiles are the 7th most discarded material in the area, and as landfill costs rise, cities are supportive of new solutions. Installing USAgain textile collection bins at convenient drop-off sites enables cities to most effectively gather reusable clothing that might otherwise go to waste. USAgain is actively seeking to partner with local municipalities.

“We’re excited to debut our service in the Bay Area, a densely populated region highly motivated to keep waste to a minimum,” said Mattias Wallander, CEO of USAgain. “Given the enormous success of our program in other markets, we expect to directly impact the local environment and economy by helping the region responsibly dispose of millions and millions of pounds of used clothes.”

In anticipation of its Bay Area launch, USAgain is actively hiring. Positions include those on a sales team of nearly 20 employees on the ground, including sales representatives, a division manager, transport supervisor, and warehouse staff positions. The company opened an office and warehouse this month in the city of Hayward, CA. USAgain already operates in 10 major U.S. markets, including Milwaukee, Seattle and Atlanta. It is headquartered in Chicago.
“Vu Management, Inc. is very excited about partnering with USAgain. By giving our customers an easy option to recycle textiles, we’re helping to green our corporate profile. Plus, it’s a great feeling knowing that these clothes will get reused — and not dumped in landfills,” said Mai Trinh, Senior Property Manager of Vu Management, Inc.
USAgain recently supported California state legislation to regulate clothes collection bins. In compliance with all local and state guidelines, the company will install its bins at area businesses, schools and other convenient locations. Individual business owners agree to host a bin, and in return, collect part of the proceeds generated from clothing collected on site. The host can then choose to keep the additional revenue, or donate it through USAgain to one of five charities, including Children’s Miracle Network. USAgain will collect and bundle the used textiles at its local warehouse, and resell them in the U.S. and abroad to thrift store chains, wholesalers and graders/recyclers.

LISTEN: A GREEN RENAISSANCE II – PODCAST

NEW: RECYCLING

In Southern California alone the business kicks in about $35 billions a year. It just isn’t about cost however, these new designers and eco conscience artists, models and textile producers are keyed into the chemical make up the material they’re using. Eco fashion shows roll out around the globe. In New York coming up for its third season, The GreenShows Eco Fashion Week will present ten fashion designers committed to environmental and social responsibility, September 12-14 during New York Fashion Week. The GreenShows will take place at Metropolitan Pavilion’s new eco-conscious venue, The Metropolitan Suite, centrally located in the heart of Chelsea at 123 West 18th Street, 2nd Floor.
The GreenShows at Metropolitan Pavilion is the only premiere fashion event exclusively committed to eco-friendly, ethically sound, fair-trade fashion during New York Fashion Week. This 3-day event will feature a selection of fashion designers who have been given the opportunity, support and resources to show their collections under one roof.

The Gallatin School of New York University

Gallatin Eco-Fashion Week not only recognizes environmentally and socially responsible fashion, but also critically examines what the terms “eco” and “green” really mean within the fashion world. The event is organized by a diverse committee comprised of students, alumni, faculty, and administrators.

The Gallatin School of Individualized Study, a small innovative college within New York University, gives students the opportunity to design a program of study tailored to their own needs and interests. When students choose Gallatin, they take on the exciting challenge of creating their own curriculum and unique plan for learning. They pursue their individual interests from a personal perspective by taking courses in the various schools of New York University, engaging in self-directed education through independent studies, and participating in experiential learning through internships at New York City’s countless institutions, businesses, and arts organizations. Undergraduates experience a thorough grounding in the history of ideas and great books, and graduate students pursue advanced study in interdisciplinary modes of thought.

LISTEN: A GREEN RENAISSANCE II - PODCAST

NEW

RECYCLING

An interesting area for growth in the electric vehicle (EV) field is the business of car conversions and fleet management.  AMP Holding Inc. is a company engaged in the emission-free electrification of OEM vehicles,  hosted “Making Your Fleet Green.”
Their program offers two viable solutions for fleet operators: 100% electric new vehicles such as the AMP’d GM Equinox, and the upfitting of existing or retired fleet vehicles.
Steve Burns, CEO of AMP (interviewed with the New York Times), said, “Historically speaking, fleets have been early adopters of alternative fuel solutions; it seemed only natural to create a Fleet Vehicle Program that affords real world solutions for these transportation planners.

Aside from the obvious environmental appeal these vehicles garner, various government grants and incentives available to fleet operators make the economics quite compelling. Upfitting just one vehicle previously deemed for retirement could yield savings of up to $15,000 by year five, just on that one vehicle alone. Imagine the implications for a large government agency or municipality that has thousands of vehicles in its fleet, it’s just mindboggling; not to mention the massive reduction in carbon footprint in saving these vehicles from the scrap yard. AMP’s game-changing technology allows us to help these fleets meet and exceed the ever-growing environmental standards being dictated.”

BILL MCKIBBEN ON DAVID LETTERMAN

HOUSTON

Waste Management, the nation’s largest trash hauler, said Wednesday that it purchased a majority stake in organic lawn and products maker Garick LLC in order to expand its organic recycling business.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Garick’s operations will add over one million tons of processing capacity as well as commercial and consumer organic products to Waste Management’s organics recycling business.
Waste Management Inc., based in Houston, has been working on boosting its organic efforts since last year when it made an investment in Terrabon. The company also made an investment in Harvest Power in January.

A fire on an offshore oil platform in the Gulf of Mexico has been extinguished, and officials say oil does not appear to be leaking from the facility. The US Coast Guard is at the platform roughly 80 miles south of Vermillion Bay in Louisiana, and will continue to monitor the facility for signs of a leak, a Coast Guard official said on Thursday.

The announcement was welcome news along the beleaguered Gulf coast – a region that is still working to overcome the effects of the summer-long oil spill from the Deepwater Horizon rig. US Coast Guard Capt. Peter Troedsson told reporters in New Orleans that officials near the rig have not been able to confirm an earlier report of a mile-long sheen of oil. No oil has been spotted in the water by Coast Guard officials, he said.

“The boats and aircraft on scene cannot see a sheen,” he said. “We remain ready to respond if any sheen becomes visible.”
The fire broke out Thursday morning, forcing all 13 crew members off the rig and into the water. They were later picked up by an oil services boat. No injuries were reported.
The offshore oil production facility, known as Vermillion Block 380, is in 340 feet of water. In contrast, the sea at the Deepwater Horizon rig is a mile deep.

If a leak is detected at the Vermillion rig, the relative shallow water would make response and repair efforts significantly easier than were experienced at the Deepwater Horizon rig. The facility is owned by Mariner Energy Inc., an independent oil and gas exploration and production company based in Houston. The platform collected production from seven wells producing about 1,400 barrels of oil per day and 9 million cubic feet of gas. Production was shut down, the company said, before the crew evacuated. “Automated shutoff equipment on the platform safely turned off the flow of oil and gas from the platform’s seven producing wells before the fire occurred and the crew evacuated,” a statement from Mariner said. There is no indication how the fire started. Officials say there will be an investigation.

GULF RIG EXPLODES

Congress, Don’t Send the U.S. Solar Industry on an Extended Vacation

It’s that time of year when many Americans are just returning from a summer vacation.

During their travels, most of those vacationers probably passed by some of the many solar projects, large and small, being installed across the country. However, they probably didn’t know that while they were on holiday, smart policies were at work speeding up deployment of solar projects. From PV farms to solar water heating systems, solar is having a record growth year and is creating stable, well-paying American jobs.
One of the main drivers of solar’s robust growth has been the Treasury Grant Program (TGP), an initiative created in the Recovery Act which provides a cash grant in lieu of the 30 percent solar investment tax credit for companies that lack access to private tax equity financing due to the poor economy. Research by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory found the TGP “has provided significant economic value” and more than 40 states have solar projects that were stimulated by the TGP.
Vacationers who hit the beaches of Southeast Florida were sunbathing near the DeSoto Next Generation Solar Energy Center, a 25-megawatt solar power plant that is the largest photovoltaic plant in the country. It provides clean, safe, reliable electricity to about 3,000 homes and created around 400 construction jobs. Almost 900 other solar projects nationwide have been built because of the TGP.
Tourists sending postcards from the National Cherry Festival in Michigan may have noticed a revival in America’s manufacturing sector. The Upper Midwest is one of the regions hardest hit by the recession. In Michigan, where unemployment hovers around 10 percent, the TGP has supported thousands of jobs in the manufacturing plants producing solar products. American-made solar components from these plants will be sold across the U.S. and exported around the world.

Elvis fans making the pilgrimage to Graceland may have been all shook up to see how the TGP is creating jobs for local solar installers, contractors and distributors. Memphis, Tennessee-based Unistar-Sparco was able to cut their energy costs by one-third by going solar with the help of the TGP. Read on