What Actually is a Smart Grid? (And Why Erich Gunther is a Pioneer) Hey everyone, it is June 30, 2011, and the world of energy is changing right before our eyes. If you have been following the blog lately, you know I am obsessed with how we can live more sustainably. Today, I had the…
Oceana, the largest international advocacy group working solely to protect the world’s oceans, said today that the U.S. government is failing to protect sea turtles from destructive shrimp trawls in the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Ocean. Oceana’s reaction follows an announcement today that the government will be conducting a formal analysis of the shrimp fishery’s impact on threatened and endangered sea turtles and will be considering options for additional protections. Additionally, the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) will be holding a series of public meetings from North Carolina to Louisiana to discuss the issue.
The alternatives being considered by the government include; (1) requiring all skimmer trawls and similar trawls in federal and state waters of both the Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico to use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs); and (2) time and area closures that would apply to all shrimp vessels in these waters.
“With everything we now know, the government should be taking giant steps, not baby steps,” said Elizabeth Griffin Wilson, marine scientist and senior manager of marine wildlife at Oceana. “The U.S. government has a responsibility to act immediately to protect these threatened and endangered sea turtles. The U.S. government should be issuing a proposal at this stage, not just soliciting ideas.
A unique Lexus full hybrid LS 600h L Landaulet* featuring a one-piece, transparent polycarbonate roof will serve as the official Royal Wedding car on the occasion of the marriage of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II of Monaco to Ms. Charlene Wittstock on Saturday 2nd July 2011.
Equipped with Lexus Hybrid Drive, Prince Albert’s LS 600h L offers all the performance and comfort expected from a Lexus flagship, and generates significantly lower CO2, NOx and particulate emissions than any comparable car.
‘Lexus is very proud to present this exceptional full hybrid vehicle to H.S.H. the Sovereign Prince of Monaco’, said Andy Pfeiffenberger, Vice President of Lexus Europe. ‘Our commitment to innovation and sustainable mobility at Lexus matches well with His Serene Highness’ keen interest in promoting sustainable development and environmental protection.’
Congressman John Sarbanes (D-MD) introduced the Electronic Device Recycling Research and Development Act. The legislation will create competitive research grants for reducing the environmental impact of discarded electronic devices and promote the recycling of these devices through R&D projects. “Recycling electronic waste is a win-win for our economy and our environment,” said Congressman Sarbanes, “It…
I recently had the chance to talk with those at the Office of the County Executive for Rob Astorino from Westchester County in the State of New York. There was a recent push to make #1-7 plastics 100% recycleable. Since I knew it would save cash, I thought I’d ask them some questions for you!!
Here is the interview..
1. What additional revenue is expected to be generated for the County?
I assume you are referring to the County’s recent renovation of its Material Recovery Facility (MRF) in Yonkers, which will enable the County to process virtually all plastic food and beverage containers (coded #1-7). Previously, the facility, one of the first of its kind in the U.S., was equipped to process only plastics coded #1-2. In conjunction with the MRF renovation, the County amended its Source Separation Law to require that, beginning June 1, 2011, all waste generators, both residential and commercial, recycle all plastic food and beverage containers coded #1-7.
Since this law just went into effect, it is too early to tell how much additional recyclable material will be collected. Also, since recycling revenue is market driven, revenue generated by the additional plastic material can vary greatly. However, we estimate that the County will realize approx. $200,000-$300,000 annually in revenue from the sale of the additional plastics coded #3-7.
