Global warming

Green news harvest: 'Green bricks,' big solar deals

Here's a sampling of green-tech news, with quick commentary:

Dutch town tests 'air-purifying' concrete - AFP"Green bricks" that convert harmful air pollutants into harmless nitrates in sunlight will be tested this year. Sounds extremely clever. Five Fuel-Saving Technologies - Car And DriverEverybody seems to want a plug-in hybrid or hydrogen fuel cell, but mass-produced models are a few years away. Check out some near-term technology options for efficiency.

Abengoa Rakes in $426 million for 4 Solar Power Plants - Earth2TechSpanish renewable-energy giant will use a range of solar technologies to install 300 megawatts worth … Read more

One-third of China's carbon emissions tied to exports

One-third of China's carbon emissions come from manufacturing electronics and other goods that are then exported worldwide, according to a July report in the journal Energy Policy.

The findings come from researchers led by Christopher Weber, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University.

Researchers measured 1.7 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide resulting from China's exporting industries in 2005. That rose from 760 million tons in 2002 and from 230 million tons in 1987, based on an analysis of economic and emissions reports from China.

In that time, carbon emissions from making electronics … Read more

Green news harvest: Wind power expands in Northwest; lime-laced oceans explored to fight global warming

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

Wind power could quadruple in the Northwest by 2015 - The Oregonian Advocates of wind power are startled by its projected expansion in Oregon and Washington. But hooking up wind plants to the grid remains a challenge. Critics object to plans for coal plants in Michigan - Detroit Free Press Michigan utilities claim the popularity of plasma televisions and other electronics is spurring the need for new power plants. Seed oceans with lime to absorb CO2? - PhysOrg Lime from limestone improves the capability of seawater to absorb carbon dioxide. Shell is … Read more

Is Al Gore nuts?

In his speech in Constitution Hall this week, former Vice President and renewable energy investor Al Gore extolled a stretch goal challenging America to achieve 100% renewable power within 10 years.

The quote: "Today I challenge our nation to commit to producing 100 percent of our electricity from renewable energy and truly clean carbon-free sources within 10 years." And my favorite part: "When President John F. Kennedy challenged our nation to land a man on the moon and bring him back safely in 10 years, many people doubted we could accomplish that goal. But 8 years and … Read more

EPA resists greenhouse gas regulation

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency said on Friday that Congress, not the EPA, should regulate greenhouse gases.

EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson hosted a conference call with reporters on Friday where he said that existing law, the Clean Air Act, is "ill-suited" to addressing greenhouse gas emissions.

Instead, Johnson said that Congress should draft legislation to address climate change.

"It's really at the feet of the Congress to come up with good legislation that cuts through what will likely be decades of litigation and regulation," he said on the call.

A document published by … Read more

India reveals its first climate change plan

In the wake of next week's G8 meeting in Japan, India released its first action plan for climate change (PDF) earlier this week.

The plan outlines eight national "missions" for sustainable development, including:

solar energy; energy efficiency; creating a sustainable habitat; conserving water; preserving the Himalayan ecosystem; creating a green India; creating sustainable agriculture; and establishing a platform of "strategic knowledge for climate change."

The plan lacks a budget and plan of action at this point, but a Council on Climate Change, with stakeholders from the government, industry, and civil society, has been formed to … Read more

LCD making worse for environment than coal?

A chemical used to make LCD televisions and semiconductors could cause more global warming than coal-fired power plants, a report warns.

Nitrogen trifluoride is a "missing greenhouse gas," according to a study published in the journal Geophysical Research Letters on June 26. It's used in chemical vapor deposition, which makes liquid crystal displays, semiconductors, and synthetic diamond.

Production of the chemical could double to 8,000 metric tons in 2009, atmospheric chemist Michael Prather, who co-wrote the report, told New Scientist.

Nitrogen trifluoride's globe-warming effect reportedly could be 17,000 times stronger than that of carbon … Read more

What Cleantech sector are the VCs after now?

As always, the venture community is looking for its next big thing. The cleantech world is no exception. Despite the dearth of exits, so much capital has flowed into the cleantech sector that investors need new places to put it. So despite my promise to certain friends not to blog certain funding rumors in each category, the top 4 contenders are:

Green building materials - I'm not sure it would be my thing, but investors across the board seem to think this area is ripe for a hit.

Carbon IT - With some sort of cap and trade a … Read more

Green tech news harvest: Redesigning suburbs, cooking carbon, and mapping wildfires

Correction June 30 11:30 a.m. PDT: See below for details.

A sampling of green-tech news with quick commentary.

High fuel costs threaten suburban lifestyles - The Boston Globe Does America need a redesign? Rising gas prices could drive an exodus from suburbs into city centers.

Novomer launching plastic made from CO2 - Greentech Media Plastic made from carbon could be used in electronics and solar equipment.

Google Earth maps California fires - Google Earth Blog Tagged maps and NASA satellite imagery help to pinpoint some 1,400 fires raging in California.

Number of flights to plummet by summer's end - The New York Times … Read more

Research: Old data centers can be nearly as 'green' as new ones

SANTA CLARA, Calif.--Revamping existing data centers can achieve energy efficiency close to those built from scratch to be greener, according to an early report Thursday from Accenture, which analyzed results of case studies backed by the Silicon Valley Leadership Group.

The energy savings explored, if widespread, could prevent the release of carbon dioxide equivalent to taking 8 million cars off the road, researchers said.

Data center energy use could double by 2011, amounting to $7.4 billion in U.S. electricity costs and requiring the equivalent of 10 new power plants, according to the Environmental Protection Agency.

"Just … Read more