Industry Trends


Senate and House Work on Reauthorizing DERA

Passage of the Diesel Emissions Reduction Act is being supported by more than 500 environmental, health, industry and government organizations, according to the Diesel Technology Forum.

NREL Certifies Commercial Thin-Film Solar Modules at 15.7 Percent Efficiency

MiaSolé, which manufactures copper indium gallium selenide (CIGS) thin-film photovoltaic solar panels, announced that the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) independently confirmed the 15.7 percent efficiency of its large-area production modules, which are one square meter in size.

CBI Polymers Robert Harrison meets Devecser Deputy Mayor Laszlo Kovacs.

CBI Polymers Provides Technology Solution to Hungarian Disaster

Hawaii-based company travels to Hungarian village to help clean up caustic alkali and plans to return to teach residents how to use DeconGel.

Arizona Cement Plant Earns Perfect Energy Efficiency Score for Third Year in a Row

The Salt River Materials Group’s Phoenix Cement Company Plant in Clarkdale, Ariz., achieved a perfect efficiency record for the third straight year.

World Bank, UN Launch Climate Change Finance Website

Officials announced the new resource for developing nations yesterday at the United Nations Climate Conference in Cancun, Mexico.

EPA Warns of Toxins in Unregistered, Candy-like Mothballs

EPA discovered that a Brooklyn-based company has attempted to import candy-shaped mothballs from China that contain a toxic chemical and are not registered with EPA, as federal law requires, according to the agency. About 4800 brightly decorated bags of the product, called Fuji Lavender Moth Tablets, were discovered.

Tronox Settles with EPA for $270M

Tronox Inc. has agreed to resolve its environmental liabilities for $270 million and 88 percent of the company’s interest in pending litigation, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

AWWA Offers 2010 Water Utility Compensation Survey

The American Water Works Association's survey covers water and wastewater utilities of all sizes.



NSF flushability testing

New NSF Program to Verify 'Flushable' Product Claims

The Flushable Consumer Products Certification program provides a solution to clogging issues associated with wastewater treatment systems.

Slum image courtesy of GTZ Sustainable Sanitation Program

Sewage Cycle Could Clean up Slum Life, Pit Latrines in Tanzania

People-powered pump could help prevent spread of dysentery, cholera, and typhoid.

EPA to Screen 134 More Chemicals for Endocrine Disruption

Following its initial screening list of 67 pesticide chemicals, the agency now turns it attention to chemicals found in solvents, gasoline, plastics, personal care products, other pesticides, and pharmaceuticals.

Monitoring Program Chops Dining Hall Food Waste by One-Third

A Sodexo pilot program at eight college campuses has cut kitchen waste by about one-third by tracking and monitoring food waste, lowering both costs and unnecessary methane emissions from decomposing food.

SolarReserve and GCL Partner on Photovoltaic Projects at 40 Sites Across the U.S.

SolarReserve LLC announced a joint venture with GCL Solar Energy Inc. to develop, build and operate solar photovoltaic facilities in the 5 megawatt- to 20 megawatt-sized range on 40 different sites across the United States.

Suniva Receives $15M Loan Guarantee from Ex-Im Bank

Company plans to use funds to further expand its business in Europe and Asia.

ASSE Says Holiday Travel Increases Risk of Bedbugs

In the past, pesticides were used to eliminate the problem, but as pest control practices have changed, the bedbug problem has grown. Experts note too that most bedbugs are homegrown and are being spread from belongings taken from one place to another.

Rare Earth Elements Not So Rare in U.S.

Approximately 13 million metric tons of rare earth elements exist within known deposits in the United States, according to the first-ever nationwide estimate of these elements by the U.S. Geological Survey.

USGBC Builds LEED App to Accelerate Certification Process

The U.S. Green Building Council has introduced a new program designed to streamline and create capacity for the LEED building certification process. LEED Automation enables LEED Online, the online tool projects use to submit documentation and certify LEED projects, to interact with third-party technology platforms.

With an Eye on Boosting Analytics Division, ITT Finalizes Acquisition of O.I. Corp.

ITT Corporation announced that it has completed its acquisition of O.I. Corporation for approximately $29 million. ITT values the contribution that OI will make to ITT’s Analytics business, which was formed earlier this year with the acquisition of Nova Analytics.

Unilever Intends to Make Consumption Sustainable

The global firm will seek to grow its business in developing countries while minimizing its environmental footprint.

SAIC Wins $42M Task Order to Support EPA Data Centers

Science Applications International Corporation has been awarded a task order by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to provide hosting services to the agency's National Computer Center.