IBM Grants $50 Million For Sustainable Eco Smart Cities

Posted on October 25, 2011 by quest

IBM today announced that it has opened the IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grant program to new applications for 2012. Smarter Cities Challenge is a three-year, 100-city, $50 million grant program in which IBM’s top technical experts and consultants provide actionable advice to urban centers. Issues that IBM’s consultants addressed this past year were diverse, ranging from transportation and public safety, to economic development and budgeting. One of the funded recipients of IBM Smarter Cities Challenge grants from last year was Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Leaders from Milwaukee’s private sector, and local urban agriculture organizations are establishing an Urban Agriculture and Aquaponics Council to advance the aquaponics industry, an eco-friendly approach to agriculture that recycles water from fish farms to nourish crops without the use of soil. Participants want to collaborate more effectively to make food healthier and more profitable, available, and affordable — and in the process, create opportunity and local jobs.

This highly successful grant program provides select applicant cities with access to teams of elite IBM employees with expertise on a variety of urban-related matters, such as finance, sustainability, public safety, and citizen services. After conferring with officials, citizens, businesses, academics and community leaders, the IBM teams recommend actions to make the delivery of services to citizens more efficient and innovative. Issues addressed include jobs, health, public safety, transportation, social services, recreation, education, energy, and sustainability.

Key factors for a successful grant application include strong city leadership, willingness to collaborate with many stakeholders, and the desire to make their cities smarter and more efficient. Cities will also need to champion actionable and measurable efforts that have the potential to make a real impact on the lives of its citizens. In addition to Milwaukee some of the other dozen cites participating included: Rio de Janiero, Brazil, Johannesburg, South Africa, Boulder, Colorado and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. As in 2011, selected applicants must demonstrate a commitment to using all publicly available urban data to help identify local problems and solutions. To that end, IBM will provide special assistance to each winning city on the use of City Forward, a free online tool it developed with public policy experts that explores trends and statistics in a visual way, and which can be adapted for the study of any number of issues across cities. The deadline for 2012 grant applications is December 16.

The Girl From Ipanema

Eco Friendly Sustainable Clothes You Grow

An Urban Garden Grows In The Bronx

Posted on October 25, 2011 by quest

More than 40 Alcoa volunteers including Alcoa Chairman and CEO Klaus Kleinfeld, created planter boxes and built concrete barbecue pits to provide MS 424 students and their neighbors with a community garden. In addition, Mutual Housing Association of NY (MHANY), a not-for-profit housing organization that owns and manages affordable rental apartments in New York City including the lot, received a $10,000 surprise grant that will be used to replace the old playground equipment in the lot. “On behalf of MHANY and the residents of Phoenix Estates, we are thrilled and most appreciative that Alcoa has provided resources to improve Bedrock Park for the use of residents and their families,” said Ismene Spiliotis, Executive Director, MHANY, This grant is one of 12 being made globally to bolster the impact of Alcoa’s volunteer efforts during its annual Worldwide Month of Service held in October. A total of $120,000 will be donated. Every community needs beautiful green spaces and playgrounds for families and children to enjoy. And today Alcoa volunteers, City Year New York Corps members and the students of MS 424 gave an overgrown lot in Bedrock Park, Hunts Point in the Bronx a well-deserved make-over—transforming it into an urban garden for the community.

“Partnering with City Year is a source of great pride for Alcoa, and we are excited to contribute our time and dollars to create a fun and safe place to play for the children of MS 424,” said Kleinfeld, who presented the $10,000 donation to MHANY.“Throughout October, Alcoa employees all over the world are volunteering during our annual Month of Service, finding ways to help their neighbors and improve their communities. Here in New York, we are pleased to be back in the Bronx to demonstrate our commitment to our City Year teams and their students.”

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn

Alcoa Foundation has been a sponsor of City Year, a national education non-profit that unites young adults for a year of service in high-needs urban schools, for the past eight years. As a team sponsor of City Year New York, Alcoa has supported two teams of 10 City Year Corps members, who serve in two public schools in the South Bronx “With the support of teachers, administrators, and community partners, the Alcoa-sponsored City Year Teams serving at PS 48 and MS 424 are helping students improve attendance rates and test scores,” said Itai Dinour, Executive Director, City Year New York. “Alcoa joins us in providing all children in Hunts Point with a strong education and high quality community programs and today is a great example of this, as Alcoa volunteers bring their knowledge and passion to work hands-on with local students. We are humbled and proud to have Alcoa as a flagship partner.”

Robert Redford Speaks Out Against XL Pipeline

Empire State Building Greens Up its Energy

Dereliction Of Foodies

Posted on October 15, 2011 by quest

As urban farming becomes a valid source of obtaining fresh foods with local sources addressing energy and conservation concerns, will the direction we work towards be thwarted by local government or lack of necessary resources to continue our efforts?

The short answer to a long question is there are no guarantees. I have watched one community garden after another closed for a variety of reasons. All who partake should be aware of legalities http://www.theselc.org/food-and-livelihoods-project/ and poised to take action as the South Central Farmers in Los Angeles have. Although they didn’t prevail in the legal sense a commitment to continue sent them in many directions. Some facilitated by the mayor whose campaign led the farmers to believe he would be able to help them. During times like this when good food is unaffordable to many and we realize that subsidized means substandard products it is important to continue efforts and sometimes battles for the right to clean water and fresh foods. http://gefoodlabels.org/ By Susan Rigali

Susan Rigali is Owner/Executive Chef of Savor Solar. She has invested a significant amount of her career to education and research in the areas of food safety and the slow food movement. She has been a part of many organic urban gardening projects in L.A., which aim to transform socio-economic barriers that keep families from accessing healthy food and practicing eco-friendly lifestyles. For the majority of her career, Susan has worked in connection with the unique world of film and television production. Her accomplishments range from large scale events to intimate dining affairs.

Oregon proposes approval of wave energy project

Environmental Media Awards Honor Justin Timberlake

Posted on October 15, 2011 by quest

Toyota and Lexus are once again celebrating the entertainment industry’s environmental efforts as the presenting sponsors of the Environmental Media Awards today Saturday, Oct. 15 at 6:00 PM. In its 21st year, the annual event honors film and television productions that communicate environmental messages in the most creative and influential ways. This year’s honorees are actor and musician Justin Timberlake (In Time Movie), communications executive Marc Nathanson, Southern California Edison, and the Producer’s Guild of America’s environmental initiative – PGA Green. The nominees include films such as Yogi Bear, Disneynature African Cats and The Other Guys, and TV programs such as The Good Wife, Nurse Jackie, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Biggest Loser and Futurama. This year marks Lexus and Toyota‘s 11th year as the presenting sponsors. The ceremony will be held at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, CA.

“More than a decade ago, Toyota and Lexus joined forces with the Environmental Media Association to help communicate the benefits of hybrid technology. It’s inspiring to see how EMA links the power of celebrity and the influence of entertainment to environmental awareness,” said Dian Ogilvie, senior vice president and secretary of Toyota Motor North America. “We congratulate the nominees and special honorees, and we thank you for continuing to convey environmental messages and actions in creative and influential ways.”

The Environmental Media Association doesn’t just recognize sustainable productions throughout the entertainment industry, but keeps productions environmentally responsible as well. Some of things the EMA does to green up the event include; using dinnerware that is compostable, use of local, seasonal, organic food and the event is completely water bottle free. The 21st Annual Environmental Media Awards, honoring film and television personalities, productions, musicians and musical tours that convey environmental messages in the most creative and influential ways, will be our most eco-friendly show to date. You can watch the Environmental Media Awards Saturday, October 15 6pm PT LIVE at www.Facebook.com/EMAOnline.

Justin Timberlake’s eco friendly gulf course

IN TIME

Clean Cities TV Produces Electric Vehicle Video

Posted on August 24, 2011 by quest

Internet TV Network, TV Worldwide , recently completed production and launch of a training video on home installation and inspection requirements for Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment (EVSE). The video was created for Clean Cities TV , the educational Internet TV channel the company produces, in support of the U.S. Department of Energy‘s Clean Cities program. The video provides vital information for electrical contractors and inspectors as they assist homeowners in ensuring that proper residential EVSE standards, practices and safety precautions are followed.
The video is part of a series of live and recorded educational Internet programs on the Clean Cities TV channel. CCTV was launched in April to support Clean Cities and its mission to reduce U.S. petroleum consumption through the use of alternative and renewable fuels, idle reduction, fuel economy measures, and new emerging technologies.

The new video features input from experts who have been engaged in the development of standards and specifications for proper design and installation of EVSEs. These approaches are customized to support a full spectrum of residential applications. “Proper EVSE installation is so vital to the national goal to get 1 million electric vehicles on the road by 2015, so it is very rewarding to support this effort, deploying our Internet TV capabilities to educate and inform,” stated Dave Gardy, Chairman and CEO of TV Worldwide.

TV Worldwide’s network of Internet TV channels currently offers several different target demographic audiences, including the National League of Cities TV , produced in cooperation with the National League of Cities. “We’re making sure that viewers on other channels such as our NLC TV audience of 22,000 city decision makers in 1,600 member cities are aware of this content, not only from the standpoint of what constituents need to know about residential installations, but also because of the future decisions city leaders need to make in deploying charging installations at the municipal level. We’re learning that across all alternative fuel technologies, once cities know about Clean Cities program solutions that have been deployed successfully, they find real savings — an important consideration in this time of tight municipal budgets,” Gardy said.

Food Sustainability Forum to be held at Claremont Resort

Canadian Solar To Sponsor German Soccer Clubs

Posted on August 21, 2011 by quest

Canadian Solar, one of the world’s largest solar companies, has announced that the Company is now the official exclusive sponsor of German top-league soccer teams Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nuremberg. By this commitment, Canadian Solar will become part of one of Germany’s oldest sports, rich in tradition. Both new partnerships were arranged by SPORTIVE.

Canadian Solar is proud to join Hannover 96 and 1. FC Nuremberg as their official sponsor starting in the 2011/2012 season through to the end of the 2013/14 season. In return, Canadian Solar will receive dedicated marketing, hospitality and advertising privileges. Among other activities, Canadian Solar’s logo will be prominently displayed on stadium signage, interview boards, the official team photo and other advertising spaces at all top league home games.”Soccer is one the world’s most dynamic and most popular sports. The sport is clearly number one in Germany, which guarantees high visibility for our brand. Canadian Solar is active in the north and in the south of Germany, and we are proud to be associated with two leading professional teams representing both parts of the country,” said Dr. Shawn Qu, Chairman and CEO of Canadian Solar.

Canadian Solar will also support the traditional 1. FC Nuremberg soccer club as its exclusive sponsor. Having achieved 47 points and ranked 6 in the country, the “Club” is celebrating its second-best season since 1988. “The partnership with Canadian Solar proves that the ‘Club’ is also a good advertising medium for international companies. Also in Germany, Canadian Solar sponsors the top league EHC Munich hockey club. In Italy, Canadian Solar is the sponsoring partner of the Italian basketball team Virtus Bologna. In North America, Canadian Solar is a partner of both the New York Yankees and of the San Francisco Giants.