News and Articles


China's Solution to Global Energy Crisis: Solar Greenhouses

New innovations in greenhouse design are allowing growers to produce more varieties of vegetables, even during long winter months

Green Sludge Can Protect Groundwater from Radioactive Contamination

Researchers have shown the hazardous radioactive waste can be captured and contained by a particular kind of green goop that occurs naturally in oxygen-poor water.

Water monitoring projects have been conducted all over the world this week.

World Monitoring Day Is Occasion for Water Announcements

Stephen R. Carpenter wins Stockholm Water Prize; WEF and IWA name water champions; WaterSense and American Water partner on PSAs.

Des Moines, Iowa Building Owner Pleads Guilty to Environmental Crimes

The case stems from a renovation project in which the owner permitted workers to remove asbestos without using work practice standards, which is a violation of the Clean Air Act.

Ozone Levels Pose Health Risk Even Below Current U.S. Air Safety Standard (with Video)

Researchers found that breathing a level of ozone at 0.06 parts per million (ppm), which is below the current U.S. standard of 0.075 ppm, can decrease lung function in healthy young adults.

Ionic Liquids Capable of Cleaning Oil Spills from Beaches (with Video)

A new, more environmentally friendly method of separating oil from tar sands has been developed by a team of researchers at Penn State.

Keeping organized is essential to any successful construction project.

A MasterFormat for Environmental Construction

A coalition of volunteer environmental engineers provided input to update and make this document organizing tool more useful.

Lautenberg Supports Natural Gas Fracking Bill

Both Senate and House lawmakers have offered versions of the legislation that was introduced in 2009.

Online Shoppers Beware of Illegal Pesticide Sales

Fast Ant Bait contains mirex and can cause liver, skin, reproductive, and nerve damage, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

Japan Worst-case Scenario Unlikely to Cause Catastrophic Radiation Release (With Video)

While exposed spent fuel rods at the failing nuclear reactors in Japan pose new threats, the worst-case scenario would still be unlikely to expose the public to catastrophic amounts of radiation, says a nuclear engineering professor and expert on this particular kind of reactor.

RGGI CO2 Auction Yields $83M for Energy, Job Investments

Member states are investing proceeds from the RGGI auctions, now more than $860.9 million, in programs to save energy consumers money, create jobs and make businesses more competitive.

Commercial Building Owners Need Access to Financing for Energy Savings Projects

C. David Myers, president of Johnson Controls Building Efficiency, told state leaders that building efficiency projects, which provide guaranteed energy and budget savings, can be achieved with no upfront cost to a government facility.

Texas House Proposes Fracking Fluid Disclosure Bill

By knowing what chemicals are being used, the government can determine their impact on the environment and human health.

GHG Reports Now Due Sept. 30

Affected companies should register with e-GGRT by Aug. 1 and then will have another month before submitting greenhouse gas emissions data.

$2.6M in Stimulus to Fund Solar Farm for Conservation School

New Jersey School of Conservation will install a 300,000-watt solar array to power the school and lower its carbon footprint.

New Jersey to Join Spent Nuclear Fuel Rule Lawsuit

Three other states already have filed against the Nuclear Regulatory Agency for its 60-year storage standard.

Energy Safety, Security Under the Spotlight as Gas Leaders Debate Future

As the unfolding crisis in Japan raises debates about the future for nuclear power and as Middle Eastern political unrest destabilises petroleum markets, the energy industry faces many considerable challenges as it heads to a flagship industry gathering.

Canada's Boreal Houses World's Largest Water Source

A first of its kind report by the Pew Environment Group reveals that Canada's boreal, the world's largest intact forest and on-land carbon storehouse, contains more unfrozen freshwater than any other ecosystem.

Battelle researchers have found a way to reduce the heat needed to sweeten natural gas at rigs like this one in Euless, Texas. Steve Reisman photo.

Antisolvent Swing Generation Could Sweeten Natural Gas, Costs

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory researchers have discovered a method that uses less energy to remove hydrogen sulfide from "sour" natural gas reserves.