We seem to all agree achieving sustainability whether at home or at work entails three types of practices: reuse, reduce and recycle. They all make perfect sense. Think of plastic bags and bottles, office paper and cartons, energy and water. In the three months following a rethinking of our energy and water consumption as well as our waste management practices, although we made significant milestones, we felt we could have achieved better results if we’d also replaced some items and if we could reinvent the way we live. Continue Reading »

With 17 million inhabitants, Beijing is China’s second largest urban area. In less than a month, the Imperial City will host the XXIX Summer Olympic Games, and both the People’s Republic of China and the City’s government are making sure the most viewed planetary event will be a success. Even the air pollution that has been plaguing the city will be taken care of ($17 billion has been spent to this effect), even if it means forbidding car access for a full month. Athletes with asthma will be able to compete. China’s efforts to organize a green event have become incompatible with the resources required for a smooth event of this magnitude. Actually, Beijing Summer Olympic Games may enter history as the most environmentally unfriendly event in Olympic history. But this is only a “historical detail” in comparison to what the future may hold for this megalopolis. Continue Reading »

In a interview, French President Nicolas Sarkozy told reporters France’s six months presidency of the European Union institutions* will focus on “giving back Europeans a sense of security”, arguing that it is the core precept of the EU that is being questioned by its citizens fearing the effects of globalisation. Climate and environment policies will part of his priorities: He admitted these are the most difficult projects he’ll face noting as the objectives of 20% CO2 emissions reduction and the 20% use of clean energy might be problematic for the countries that have recently joined the EU. He said he’ll also propose an import tax on products manufactured in countries that do not fight climate change to “level off the competitive field with European industries”.

* Each European member states take the helm of the EU for a period of 6 months. Considered very symbolic and often useless by critics, the presidency is often the opportunity to propose institutional change or strengthen them, and to promote a particular project. It is very much a diplomatic exercise as the presidency cannot supersede the European Parliament nor the European Commission.

Starting February 17, 2009, U.S. TV stations will switch from using analog signals to using digital signals. So the question is what will happen to your old TV when you take on this opportunity to buy a new one (of course, this does not apply to you if you consider purchasing a converter box)? The problem paused by disposing old TVs is not new. Americans have on average 2.6 TVs per household and replace one every 2 years.

If most TVs are donated or join the flourishing used electronic market (2,500 TVs listed on SF Bay Area’s craigs list today), many more end up in the exponentially growing electronics waste. And the amount ending up in landfills is likely to surge as an estimated 70 million TVs will become obsolete past that date. No doubt that some cleaver trade businesses will take on this opportunity to ship a large portion of them to Latin America, Asia and Africa where they will be sold or “recycled”. The recycling of ewastes in developing countries offers a gloomy illustration of an industry that lacks regulation and enforcement when products reach the end of their life cycle and the millions of TVs that will not find a second life will contribute to an environmental nightmare. Here and abroad. Continue Reading »

You can live without it but It is when you start using it that you realize how powerful and useful GreenHome is.

On the very top of the sustainable pyramid, we find the green gurus, they think green, they speak green, they live green days and nights. They were actually born green and see the world with a very acute green consciousness. After their green life on earth, they’ll probably ask to be buried naked under a tree.

A bit below, you’ll find the green movers: green entrepreneurs, green activists, green living people that are amongst the happiest that the world is turning green. They can be impatient, and not find themselves at the right place at the right time, but this is fine, they’ll keep pushing and moving things around until they feel they are making a positive difference. Their mantra is “failing is not an option”. They are convince of the urgency of the situation and will do a lot to improve it. Continue Reading »

The European Union Commission is considering lifting the ban on US poultry treated with antimicrobial substances, a move that is opposed by European consumers organizations, the European poultry industry, farmers unions and environmental and health NGOs. It is not the first time European constituents are expressing concerns over US agricultural products (GMOs are at the center of a much heated debate at the moment while growth hormones are banned). It is very tempting to accuse them of protectionism, a political game EU members seem to have perfected hiding behind consumer safety or even cultural exception. Yeah, that would be easy. But again, can we seriously blame them to be worried about their health and safety. Continue Reading »

How To Reduce Fire Retardant Chemicals In Your Home

All California furniture has been required to meet an open flame flammability standard for foam since the 1980s. This standard is also followed by some national manufacturers outside California. It is primarily achieved by adding potentially toxic fire retardant chemicals (BFRs and CFRs) to the polyurethane foam inside furniture. These chemicals migrate from the furniture and are found in dust, dryer lint, pets, and people. Since there is no labeling requirement, there is no way to learn what chemicals are inside your furniture. But there are things you can do!

Here are some suggestions to minimize exposure to potentially toxic fire retardants in your home: Continue Reading »

This is a documentary that will shake you and might make you want to ask questions. This is not the first documentary unraveling the deceitful tactics of profit/power-driven corporations, amid the weaknesses of the individuals whose job is to protect and serve the people. The issues Marie-Monique Robin raised in The World According to Monsanto are fundamental to the future of applied molecular genetic research, the welfare of humankind and the preservation of environmental diversity. She brings an ethical, social, economical and environmental perspectives that should have been at the heart of the research and development, regulatory and commercialization processes. Continue Reading »

At a press conference in Ottawa on Friday, Canada Health Minister Tony Clement said the government would take “prudent” action in banning the sale and importing of baby products containing the chemical. Canada will be the first country to regulate and limit the use of bisphenol A. Laboratory studies have shown that when infants are exposed to the substance, it can lead to future behavioural and neurological problems. However, he said that the levels of bisphenol A (BPA) that most Canadian adults are exposed to is not harmful. This announcement has led many retailers to pull products containing bisphenol A from their shelves such as Wallmart, which announced that it will immediately stop selling products with BPA in its Canadian stores, and will stop selling baby bottles with the chemical in U.S. stores next year. More info on CTV Canada.

The long wait is over. Companies that would start their projects to use renewable energy through the end of 2009 will receive a tax credit of 2 cents per kilowatt hour generated. The cost is estimated to $6 billion over the next decade. “Extensions would also be given to other tax credits for making energy-efficient appliances, building energy-efficient facilities and residential purchases of renewable energy systems. Through the credits, homeowners and businesses could avoid paying 30 percent of the cost of installing solar of fuel cell systems.” Reports ClimateBiz.com

Penta, deca, octa are not pets’ names but chemistry names (actually the number of bromine atoms per molecule of diphenyl ether) for a family of polybromodiphenyl ethers (PBDE) used to retard combustion of electrical and electronic equipment that would be caused by an internal ignition or a small external flame like a … candle. In an unprecedented move, the European Court of Justice restored the ban against decaBDE.
It might sound like a middle age battle, as the Kingdoms of Sweden, Denmark and Norway were fighting the United Kingdom of Great Britain. Besides this - amusing - detail of history, this episode translates the growing concerns of the hazardous impact of brominated and chlorinated halogens and hydrocarbons on human health and the environment. It is also a display of the PR and lobbying efforts of bromine manufacturers to make fire resistant testing always more stringent. The tactic is simple: fear and fact manipulation. On the other side, 120 distinguished scientists, biologists, researchers and physicians have come together to rebut these facts and warn the electrical and electronic community of the potentially harmful consequences of enabling this new standards. Click here to access the court order.

My friends calls it “bowing to pressure”. Or call it addressing and satisfying  shareholders’ concerns if you want. Of course, when these shareholders are as influent as Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility, a large religious representing 300 religious institutional investors or about $100 billion in investment funds and a very large activist network of investors - CERES-directed Investor Network on Climate Risk representing $3 trillion and they put forward a resolution that ask specifics about gas emissions reduction … But the good news is … Ford is the first car manufacturer to announce its strategy to reduce its fleet’s greenhouse gas emissions 30 percent by 2020. GM should follow soon (and announce the (re) launch of the electric car?).

Speaking of car, how about BMW’s new “7 hydrogen”?
The car is being delivered to 100 celebrities. It uses hydrogen, a gas that is present naturally but is highly volatile, meaning a) it requires an industrial process to produce it or capture it and b) it needs to be refrigerated to extremely low temperatures (minus 423 degrees Fahrenheit) to be kept in its liquid form (unless it is used right away after it has been captured).

Continue Reading »

Finally! I thought this would never happen. But what took them so long? Al Gore’s Alliance for Climate Protection has launched its grassroots initiative. The We campaign’s goal is to empower people to take action to fight global change. You can create group and share your own initiatives with others. Continue Reading »

California-Stanford CleanTech Series II. UC Berkeley and Stanford U are hosting a conference on solar technologies.
Wednesday, May 7 at 12:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Berkeley-Stanford Clean Tech Conference Series (Stanford, CA)
Tressidor Union
Stanford, CA 94305