Sustainability


Fuel-Efficient Car Sales Growing Nearly Three Times as Fast as Auto Market

High gas prices and a recovering economy led to a 46 percent increase in hybrid and clean diesel sales in March 2011 compared with March 2010, a jump that was about three times higher than the increase in the overall car market last month, according to auto analyst firm Baum and Associates.

Virginia to Use Asphalt Recycling in I-81 Repair project

Virginia is rehabilitating a stretch of I-81 through the use of several types of asphalt recycling methods.

U.S. Treasury to Retire Paper Check for New Recipients of Social Security

The U.S. Department of the Treasury is retiring the paper Social Security check for millions of baby boomers and others applying for federal benefits, a move that will save taxpayers $1 billion over the next 10 years.

Survey Finds Many Working Americans Want to Improve Green Practices on the Job

According to OfficeMax's 2011 Green Workplace survey, companies are making strides in adopting environmentally responsible business practices, and many employees make it their personal mission to be mindful of the environment at the office.

Concrete Recycling May Cut Highway Construction Cost, Landfill Use

Purdue University civil engineers are working with the Indiana Department of Transportation (INDOT) to perfect the use of recycled concrete for highway construction, a strategy that could reduce material costs by as much as 20 percent.

Photovoltaic Systems Boost Sales Prices of California Homes

New research by the U.S. Department of Energy's Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory finds strong evidence that homes with solar photovoltaic systems sell for a premium over homes without solar systems.

Villanova Launches Sustainable Engineering Research Center

Villanova's center will house multi-disciplinary research and teaching in a number of emerging areas and seeks to protect and restore the environment through the systems-based integration of sustainability principles into engineering solutions.

Leftovers Reborn as Compost

At Sandia's largest cafeteria, a leftover burrito will be sent off to eventually help some backyard garden bloom. When someone leaves a bit of lunch behind at Thunderbird Café, employees send it out for composting.



Japan Remains Atop ICT Sustainability Index

The index was created using data sources that reflect energy creation, consumption, and ICT spending among the G20 nations over the past two years. Events from 2011 – including the Japanese earthquake and tsunami – were not taken into account in generating this year's scores. </p><p>

Boeing Site to Operate as 100-Percent Renewable Energy Site

Boeing and South Carolina Electric & Gas have announced an energy partnership that will enable Boeing South Carolina to operate as a 100-percent renewable energy site.

Turning Windows into Powerplants (With Video)

Someday the entire surface area of a building’s windows could be used to generate electricity — without interfering with the ability to see through them.

630 Colleges, Universities Recover 91 Million Pounds of Organic, Recyclable Materials (With Video)

RecycleMania wrapped up its 11th annual recycling competition in early April. It is an eight-week challenge that ignites classic college rivalries, rallying students, faculty and staff to increase on-campus recycling rates beyond their collegiate competitors.

'Flight Simulator for Biorefineries Teaches Biofuels Management

Iowa State has developed a biorefinery simulator designed to help students in its biorenewable resources and technology program learn about biofuel production.

Recycling at Work Can Make "Eco"nomic Sense

As more businesses are seeing the advantages of "going green" the Virginia Recycling Association would like to be a resource for businesses that want to find out more about how and what they can recycle.

Green Your Driving Machine (With Video)

When serious engine trouble hits, the Engine Repower Council reminds vehicle owners that repowering their vehicle rather than buying a new one is the cost-effective, "green" way to go.

Scientists Present the First Design Basis for 20-MW Mega Wind Turbines

The present largest wind turbines have a capacity of 5-6 MW. Following five years of research at the joint European project UpWind, led by Risoe National Laboratory for Sustainable Energy, the Technical University of Denmark, scientists now can present the first design basis for developing mega wind turbines of 20 MW.

Treatment System Cleans Marcellus Shale Wastewater

A Department of Energy-funded demonstration tested the AltelaRain 4000 desalination system at a BLX well site in Pennsylvania.

N.J. Waste Facility Pleads Guilty to Dumping in Upstate New York

The Justice Department says Eagle Recycling defrauded the United States and violated clean water and wire fraud laws.

West Basin Awards Phase V Contract to Parsons

The expansion will help fulfill 2020 goals to double recycled water production.

Survey Reveals More Employers Measuring Savings from Environmental Efforts

Seventy-eight percent report electricity cost savings, two-thirds indicate heating/cooling and paper savings, and 60 percent are cutting costs on water.