May 2011

Suburban home with solar panels, an HVAC technician working on an efficient heat pump, and a smart thermostat inside—illustrating modern energy efficiency solutions.

Reduce Energy Grid Demand with Smart Solutions

greenlivingguy15 years ago10 months ago03 mins

Silver Spring Networks, a leading provider of smart grid platforms, today announced its expanded ecosystem now provides even more options for improving the efficiency and reliability of the grid. New hardware and software offerings, integrating different aspects of the Silver Spring Smart Energy Platform, enable utilities to realize benefits more quickly from increasingly sophisticated smart grid applications. These offerings allow Silver Spring to support new solutions such as voltage reduction and optimization for grid efficiency, networked Fault Control Indicators (FCIs) for grid reliability, and turn-key supply and provisioning of in-home devices to simplify Home Area Network (HAN) deployments.
Increase Grid Efficiency with Voltage Reduction and Optimization

Visitors stroll along winding paths through a colorful public garden filled with blooming flowers, lush green trees, and a white gazebo under a sunny blue sky.

National Public Gardens Day: Save Our Green Spaces

greenlivingguy15 years ago10 months ago04 mins

American Public Gardens Association Partners With Rain Bird To Pay Tribute To The Important Role of Public Gardens In Promoting Environmental Stewardship, Education, Plant And Water Conservation In Communities Nationwide
Scheduled for May 6th, 2011, the Friday preceding Mother’s Day weekend,National Public Gardens Day is a national day of awareness in which communities nationwide are invited to visit and learn about the important role their public gardens play in promoting environmental stewardship and awareness, plant and water conservation, and education. Now in its third year celebrating America’s public gardens, National Public Gardens Day was created in partnership between the American Public Gardens Association (APGA) and irrigation product and service provider, Rain Bird. The 2011 National Public Gardens Day will showcase the contributions of public gardens with special events at many of the more than 500 North American public gardens.
“National Public Gardens Day is not only a great time for families and enthusiasts to enjoy the gardens, but the public also witnesses the achievements and expertise provided by public gardens, especially in the area of environmental stewardship,” said Dan Stark, executive director of the APGA. “Regardless of their size, all public gardens share a common commitment to providing outreach programs aimed at engaging their communities and educating future generations on the irreplaceable value of plants.”

green living

Dow Invested $100 Million to Reduce Energy Use, GHG Emissions

greenlivingguy15 years ago7 years ago02 mins

Source: The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW)
DOW announced today that it will accelerate energy efficiency and conservation improvements within its operations through an investment of $100 million in projects that will reduce energy usage and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
“Dow has long been a recognized leader in industrial energy efficiency and carbon management and this investment will spark further opportunities for energy conservation,” said Doug May, vice president, Energy and Climate Change. “The commitment of these funds will enable new projects that offer exceptional financial returns and significant energy and emissions benefits.”
The $100 million in investment capital will be awarded to Dow business units and manufacturing sites that present projects with the greatest impact in several key performance areas, including reductions in energy use and greenhouse emissions and accelerated cost savings.
To date, Dow business units have submitted around 60 projects, with a net present value totalling more than $500 million, nearly 8 trillion BTUs of energy savings and a reduction of over 400 thousand metric tons of CO2 emissions.

EPA Honors New York Environmental Leaders

greenlivingguy15 years ago8 years ago08 mins

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has honored 14 individuals, organizations or businesses from New York with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements protecting public health and the environment. EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck was joined by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to present the awards to this year’s recipients at a ceremony at EPA’s offices in Manhattan.
“These honorees work tirelessly to protect the environment and to ensure that all of us can look forward to a cleaner, healthier world,” said Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “We can all be proud of what they have accomplished and the example they have set.”
EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually in conjunction with Earth Day to individuals, businesses and organizations in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally-recognized Indian Nations. The awards recognize significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in the previous calendar year. For information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, visithttp://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.

Infographic map of the U.S. titled “EPA Honors Smart Growth Innovators Across the U.S.” with location pins highlighting award-winning communities such as Old North St. Louis, Silver Gardens Apartments, Plan El Paso, Maroney Commons, and Uptown Normal.

Smart Growth Achievements for a Sustainable Future

greenlivingguy15 years ago10 months ago02 mins

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced that it has honored 14 individuals, organizations or businesses from New York with Environmental Quality Awards for their achievements protecting public health and the environment. EPA Regional Administrator Judith Enck was joined by Congresswoman Nydia Velázquez to present the awards to this year’s recipients at a ceremony at EPA’s offices in Manhattan.
“These honorees work tirelessly to protect the environment and to ensure that all of us can look forward to a cleaner, healthier world,” said Regional Administrator Judith Enck. “We can all be proud of what they have accomplished and the example they have set.”
EPA presents Environmental Quality Awards annually in conjunction with Earth Day to individuals, businesses and organizations in EPA Region 2, which covers New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and eight federally-recognized Indian Nations. The awards recognize significant contributions to improving the environment and public health in the previous calendar year. For information about the Environmental Quality Awards in EPA Region 2, visithttp://www.epa.gov/region02/eqa/.