Economics, Miscellaneous, Most Popular, News, Sustainability
The Private Equity Industry Just Got Greener
This past summer, one of the world’s largest private equity firms, Kohlberg Kravis and Roberts (KKR) released updated results from the company’s Green Portfolio Program and their accomplishments are impressive. Across eight portfolio companies, the program has generated a combined savings of more than $160 million in operating expenses, the avoidance of over 345,000 metric [...]
A New Vision for Transportation
As the U.S. auto manufacturing industry slows to a halt, the evidence seems clear that car-centered transportation models are economically and environmentally unsustainable systems. However, the downfall of the traditional car industry presents us with exciting opportunities to re-envision cost effective transportation systems that move people on-time and provide economic growth opportunities while also minimizing [...]
International Climate Policy is in a Global Gridlock
On Wednesday of this week, the G8 leaders failed to pass unanimously a climate bill to mandate a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. The group’s failure to agree is further evidence that international agreements on a global climate change policy are stalling. The cause of the gridlock stems from disagreements among national leaders [...]
Growing a Business Through Growing Gardens
When Gavin Newsom announced last week that the city’s new sustainable food policy calls for more urban land to be used to grow food, many residents wondered where the additional land would come from. According to Garden Fare, a new and growing business in the Bay Area, most residents don’t need to look any farther [...]
Hohm: Microsoft Enters Home Energy Management
The field of competitors within the emerging field of energy management software now includes Microsoft. Earlier this week Microsoft launched Hohm, a home energy management application that delivers appliance specific energy consumption data to users through a web interface. The intention behind Hohm is to enable consumers to gauge their electricity usage and determine strategies [...]
International Climate Policy is in a Global Gridlock
On Wednesday of this week, the G8 leaders failed to pass unanimously a climate bill to mandate a 50% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2050. The group’s failure to agree is further evidence that international agreements on a global climate change policy are stalling. The cause of the gridlock stems from disagreements among national leaders [...]
The Impact of Free Trade on Climate Change
On Friday, the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) published a report that indicates increased economic activity could result in a rise in carbon dioxide emissions. However, the report also stipulates that increased ease of trade can also help combat climate change through delivering energy efficient and renewable energy technologies [...]
Seeking Refuge from Melting Ice Sheets
Recent studies estimate that the IPCC’s projections of an 18 to 59 centimeter rise in sea level due to the melting of the Antarctica and Greenland ice sheets is well within the range of possibilities during this century. In fact, a study conducted by the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment estimates that a sea level rise [...]
New Study Finds F-gases Are Making It Harder to Stay Cool
Earlier this week, a study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences confirmed that refrigerant chemicals known as “F-gases” pose a greater threat to global climate change than was previously thought. The paper, which was authored by a team of scientists from NOAA, EPA, Dupont and the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, estimates [...]
Sustainability from a Shed
For years, Patagonia has established itself as one of the strongest leaders of sustainability within the business community. Although it’s a well-deserved reputation, there are a number of innovative strategies behind why Patagonia’s industry leading reputation is so widespread. From their product catalogs, which serve as environmental education materials to their product labeling strategy that [...]
