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- Corporate growth undermines emissions cuts
Pursuing corporate growth can often nullify attempts at reducing total greenhouse-gas emissions, climate scientists say. The European division of Coca-Cola is attempting to test this idea, aiming to cut its absolute emissions by 5% by 2015. "We believe we know how to grow our business, or how to grow an economy, while at the same time reducing the absolute amount of greenhouse gas emissions," said Salvatore Gabola, head of European public affairs for Coca-Cola. ClimateBiz.com
(11/11)      
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- GE introduces first "smart" home appliance
General Electric will begin marketing the first line of commercial hot water heaters with the ability to communicate with electric meters and utilities to improve energy efficiency. Such "smart" appliances are able to communicate with a utility to determine how to make the most efficient use of the power grid. Although significant changes to grids need to occur before these "smart" devices can be very useful, the company predicts that smart water heaters, microwaves and dryers will be in wide use by 2012. The New York Times (tiered subscription model)/Green Inc. blog
(11/11)
- Marriott plans major green hotels initiative
Marriott plans to add more than 450 green hotels during the next five years, a 1,000% expansion of the company's more efficient designs. Each green hotel saves the chain $100,000 in upfront costs, can be designed six months faster, and reduces water and energy consumption 25%. The company's first green hotel will open next summer in Pittsburgh. TreeHugger
(11/11)
- Cap-and-trade could be boon to farmers
Farmers could see their income increase by $209 billion by 2025 if a climate-change bill meeting certain requirements were passed, according to a new report from the agricultural-renewable-energy group 25x'25. The agriculture and forestry sector could gain an additional $13 billion each year by selling offsets, as well as bioenergy sources such as methane. DTN/The Progressive Farmer
(11/11)
- Energy entrepreneurs offer bridge to the future
The European Investment Bank's announcement this week that it will provide more than $1 billion in loans to independent wind developers is a "refreshing alternative to Britain's utility-centric energy policy," writes Jo Butlin, vice president of SmartestEnergy. Governments have typically relied on large utilities to solve energy and climate challenges, Butlin notes, but government renewable-energy projects have proceeded slowly or have been canceled altogether. Independent developers, focusing on smaller projects that involve lower financial risks, can be implemented much more expeditiously. The Guardian (London)
(11/11)
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- Upgrading: A greener solution for desktop computing
Rather than sending your aging desktop to an e-waste scrap heap, consider an upgrade, writes Michael Graham Richard. A few minor changes, such as adding more RAM or upgrading your Internet connection, could add another year or two of life to a desktop, he notes, reducing the number of computers a person will own over the course of his or her life. Discovery/Planet Green
(11/11)
- Seeking a sustainable salad
Many types of produce have a surprisingly steep carbon impact, so choose your meals wisely, writes Brendan Borrell. Bananas require 427 pounds of environmentally hazardous fertilizers per acre, compared with just 35 pounds for peas or beans, he notes. Slate
(11/10)
- Religious leaders seek to combat climate change
Leaders from 50 of the world's major faith traditions met in Windsor, England, recently for the Many Heavens, One Earth conference to discuss their role in the fight against climate change. The group discussed the impact of spiritual, rather than political or scientific, initiatives to combat climate change. "The solution is not to tackle climate change, per [se]," said Martin Palmer, secretary general of the Alliance of Religions and Conservation. "The solution is in fact to offer people a vision of living hopefully and living more simply, living more faithfully and doing so not as either victims or perpetrators, but perhaps, as heroes." LOE.org (Somerville, Mass.)
(11/6)
 | The most important thing is to make clear to policymakers we cannot have a disconnect between science and policy. And they must demonstrate there is a business case for climate action."
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