Business 4 A New Day

50 People Who Could Save the Planet

2008-01-07T02:19:00.000-05:00

The Guardian just listed their "50 People Who Could Save the Planet". Apparently, Al Gore just made the list, so you'll find an interesting list of people with inspiring stories in many cases, many of whom you may not be familiar.

ConocoPhilips CEO Calls For Federal Energy Strategy

2007-10-27T18:19:00.000-04:00

The large oil companies are spending a decent amount of money in research of alternative energies - for competitive reasons, they don't have much choice. That being said, it seems that what may be holding them back from investing more and making a greater impact in the development of useful technologies is that there is unease about what the U.S. government may ultimately decide upon in terms of regulations. Oil companies know regulations are coming, so they want to know what they have to deal with before making any significant investments.

ConocoPhilips CEO James Mulva says as much in this article from BusinessWeek online, "The Trouble with Crude Oil". Mulva calls for an energy strategy to come from the U.S. government, so U.S. oil companies can better compete with foreign companies and national oil companies.

My question is whether our government can make a policy that makes sense and doesn't simply make decisions based on winning votes (can anyone say ethanol made from corn?).

Energyville - Powering the City of the Future

2007-09-15T14:13:00.000-04:00

I recently played Energyville, an easy-to-play game developed by The Economist Group for Chevron, where the object is to power your city today and in a couple of future years using a number of different power sources. You are scored based on environmental, security, and economic factors - for example, using all fossil fuels might cost less, but would score poorly in the environmental and security portion.

To play, you can link to the game from Chevron's Will You Join Us website, which is a portal for discussion about the future of energy. The game doesn't take very long to play - see how you do by clicking here.

Electric Car on the Market

2007-09-15T13:53:00.000-04:00

Concern over gasoline prices and global warming of the past few years has helped develop a market for alternatives to the traditional gasoline-only powered car. That is not news as we've all seen more and more hybrids hit the roads. For me, I had heard about the luxury electric car produced by Tesla Motors, but a more affordable electric car was news to me.

The ZENN ("Zero Emissions, No Noise"), produced by ZENN Motor Co. of Toronto, is an electric car that is currently available. At this point, it can only be purchased for in-town driving, as government regulations restrict the car to 25mph, so it can not be driven on highways.

More about the ZENN can be found here and here. One dealer that offers the car is Berkeley-based Green Motors, which has an on-line presence currently and will opening a physical dealership in the next couple of months.

Black is Green

2007-07-27T17:22:00.000-04:00

This is my first post since my move to the West Coast. Things have been a bit crazy, so I haven't had much time to keep up with this. Hopefully, things will settle down a bit soon and I'll post on a more regular basis.

Back in January, the writer of the blog ecoIron calculated that since the energy needed to display a web page with a white background is greater than what is needed to display one with a black background, if Google switched to a black background from their current familiar white background, the change would save about 750 Megawatt hours a year.

Fast forward to about now and it appears that there is an option to have the same power of Google with a black background. Called "Blackle", it offers the Google engine (run by a different company who apparently just customized the engine) with an all-black background. If it is, indeed, the same search engine, I hope anyone who reads this will help spread the word. Every little bit counts!

Here are some questions answered about it from ecoIron.

Nanotechnology and its Environmental Effects

2007-07-09T19:23:00.000-04:00

Today's San Francisco Chronicle has an article that explains some of the positive contributions nanotechnology has made to some products that are already on the market, such as stain-proof pants and stronger, yet lighter sports equipment. It also points out the potential negative long-term environmental effects - since products made with nanotechnology are relatively new (if nanotechnology itself isn't), these negative effects are sure to be reported more and more as the technology matures.

A specific example the article uses is the use of silver nano particles. They are used to combat bacteria, so the concern is that if the particles are released in the water system, beneficial bacteria can be killed.

To read more about what nanotechnology is, see this link.

Goldman Sachs' Thoughts on Renewable Energy Sector

2007-06-21T23:40:00.000-04:00

Goldman, a company showing leadership in the fight against global warming, has listed five factors they feel will help the renewable energy sector. One, a call for a cap-and-trade system or a carbon tax, exemplifies their leadership. As the article points out, though, the fifth factor - a more receptive presidential administration - will be needed.

The complete list:

"Enacting renewable portfolio standards"
'Boost enforcement of renewable portfolio standards'
"Enact a carbon cap-and-trade system or a carbon tax"
"A significant increase in fossil fuel prices"
"The 2008 presidential election"

What are American Automakers Thinking?

2007-06-20T11:54:00.000-04:00

American automakers are still fighting against increases in mileage standards claiming that it will force them to lose money and lay off workers. The last time I checked, they weren't doing so well in either regard as it is. Will years to prepare for a regulated increase from the current 27.5 mpg for cars (which has been in place since 1983) to something in the area of 35 mpg by 2020 really hurt automakers that much? If so, I am curious to hear why that is. It's easy for automakers to simply say that it will cost them, but I'd like to hear how. Yes, I realize it's easy for me, with no knowledge of the auto industry, to feel that it's a feasible undertaking.

It appears a compromise may be in the works, mandating a less aggressive increase.

Google and PG&E Unveil Next Generation Hybrids

2007-06-19T14:28:00.000-04:00

The philanthropic arm of Google, Google.org, and Pacific Gas & Electric, a northern California utility, have worked together on a project that allows certain hybrids to get up to 75 miles per gallon. The project allows for the cars to be plugged into the energy grid when they are not in use. A wireless signal is sent to the car at different points to see how charged it is the time. If the grid needs more energy, it take some from the hybrid. If not, the hybrid will charge.

Such a technology is not commercialized at this point due to the extra battery needed for the energy storage from the grid not being durable enough at this point.

You can also read about it at the website for RechargeIT, which is tied in with Google.org.

Tech Coalition Backs Electricity Conservation

2007-06-13T10:55:00.000-04:00

A coalition led by Google and Intel and including Dell, Hewlett-Packard (HP), Hitachi, IBM, Lenovo, Microsoft, Sun and Yahoo, is backing a plan to make computers and servers more energy efficient. The plan aims to cut the amount of electricity computers use by one-half by making them more energy efficient. Currently, most computers lose about one-half of the power it uses and servers lose about one-third.

It is expected that making them more efficient will raise prices slightly, but save consumers more on their electricity bill.

G.M. To Speed Electric Car Roll-out; Increase Hybrid Offerings

2007-06-08T14:48:00.000-04:00

General Motors announced new contracts with vendors that will help speed production of its planned Chevy Volt electric car. In addition, they have announced intentions to release more hybrid models for their Saturn, Chevy and GMC lines as well as for large city buses (using a diesel/electric hybrid).

Ecomagination Unit Ahead of Schedule

2007-06-06T14:53:00.000-04:00

GE recently announced that their Ecomagination unit will "blow away" previous sales forecasts "as demand for environmental products and services surges." On the heels of that announcement, the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) stated that windpower is expected to comprise approximately 20 percent of all electricity produced in the U.S. by 2030.

GE is sure to benefit from the growth in demand for windpower.

Coca-Cola Aims to "Conserve and Protect" Water

2007-06-05T12:17:00.000-04:00

As the need to protect the world's water supply is given more and more attention (see this week's cover story "Why You Should Worry About Water" in U.S. News & World Report) Coca-Cola has announced their intention to make their production more efficient and use less water. They also intend to recycle the water used in their production process as well as replenish the water in the communities in which they conduct their production. Their stated goal is to "replace every drop of water used to produce our beverages".

Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Ban Animal Testing

2007-05-31T16:58:00.000-04:00

I guess the use of animal testing is even more widespread than I even thought. Apparently, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo were using animals to test things such as taste perception. They now become the two largest manufacturers to ban the use of animals in testing their products. This also means they will no longer give money to others to conduct research on animals.

Restaurants Starting to Nix Bottled Water

2007-05-30T13:09:00.000-04:00

Here's an interesting article about how some restaurants are acknowledging that serving bottled water that has to be shipped to them, not to mention all of the plastic bottles they are served in, is not a very wise thing to do environmentally. As a result, they are simply serving tap water, or in the case of Chez Panisse, Alice Waters' restaurant in Berkeley, CA, making their own sparkling water from tap water. It will be interesting to see if this is something that catches on throughout the country.

The article also points out how we've effectively been marketed the message that tap water is not so good for us and that we should be drinking bottled water.

Ray Anderson Featured in NY Times

2007-05-29T16:08:00.000-04:00

I'm a few days late on this - that is what a long post-graduation vacation will do - but I feel it is still worth posting. Anyone who has been following the sustainability or corporate social responsibility or whatever you want to call the movement for the past few years undoubtedly knows who Ray Anderson is, but for those who don't, this article is worth reading.

Mr. Anderson, the founder and former CEO of Interface, a carpet company, was one of the first business persons to realize the importance of sustainability and reducing the footprint of one's company. He wrote a book back in 1999 called "Mid-Course Correction: Toward a Sustainable Enterprise: The Interface Model" that highlighted how he came to feel so passionately about the subject and what he and Interface set out to do as a result.

In the Times article, Anderson makes an interesting point that we, as a nation, are taxed "on good things, like income and capital", yet not as much on "bad things, like energy use".

Murdoch on the 'Green' Bandwagon?

2007-05-15T16:04:00.000-04:00

Rupert Murdoch's recent transition to someone who not only believes in global warming, but someone pushing the various companies in his business empire to become 'greener', came as a surprise to me. That information, found in this article from The Independent, is great news for the movement if, indeed, Murdoch is being genuine and not just looking for positive public relations. I certainly am not convinced at this point, but look forward to learning more about what Murdoch and his companies do as a result.

One ambitious goal is for News Corp. to attain carbon neutrality by 2010. Another move by Murdoch is to educate MySpace members about climate change.

Murdoch can have a great deal of positive influence in this movement, not only because of his empire's sheer size and the fact that he holds a great deal of media companies, but because his influence is global. His reach, besides holdings in the United States, spans into China and India. The three countries, as the article points out, are "the three most critical countries for tackling global warming."

Ethisphere Magazine's Ranking of 'World's Most Ethical Companies'

2007-05-11T16:04:00.000-04:00

There are a great deal of these types of lists, all with unique criteria for ranking companies the way they do. If you are interested in this type of ranking, check out Ethisphere Magazine's "2007 World's Most Ethical Companies Ranking".

Starbucks Expands Reduction of Artificial Trans Fats

2007-05-09T19:01:00.000-04:00

Earlier this year, Starbucks announced their intention to eliminate artificial trans fats from the food products from a selection of their stores. On Monday, they announced that they are expanding this to cover all continental United States stores, as well as stores in Alaska and Canada. Their announcement comes on the heels of similar announcements made by Taco Bell and Kentucky Fried Chicken, both of which promised to elimate trans fats, and Wendy's, which has reduced the level of trans fats in their foods.

PepsiCo Tops EPA's List of Greenest Energy Users

2007-05-01T14:44:00.000-04:00

PepsiCo has announced their intention to buy enough renewable energy credits to cover all of the electricity used in all of their U.S. facilities (or enough to power 90,000 homes in the U.S.) for a year. This move helped move PepsiCo to the top of the EPA's list of greenest energy users.

Video about Healthy Home Products

2007-05-01T13:57:00.000-04:00

This video, from TheStreet.com TV, is about Healthy Home Products, a new small business that has a line of all-natural, organic cleaning products. The founder started the company because a visit to a doctor with his pregnant wife brought attention to how unhealthy traditional cleaning products are for people to use (and unborn children!).

Click on "Going Green Pays" on the right side.

Super Bowl Goal - To Be Carbon Neutral

2007-04-26T11:04:00.000-04:00

Back in 1994, the NFL tried to make the Super Bowl as "green" as possible by recycling. Apparently, it was not very successful. This past year they did a much better job and will try to do better each year and to be carbon neutral. This article details their efforts.

Exxon Mobil NOT Investing in Alternative Energy

2007-04-24T12:06:00.000-04:00

My first reaction to this article, from Fortune, about Exxon Mobil not investing in alternative energy was to think, as some critics mentioned in the article do, that CEO Rex Tillerson and Exxon Mobil has a short-term (or not long enough) view of their business and that it's a mistake. Tillerson won't be around long enough to be hurt by such a view.

Of course, I think it's extrememly important for a company the size Exxon Mobil to make the move to investing in alternative energy. Without companies like them on board, it makes it harder for the technologies to become more mainstream and more affordable. That being said, the way business is structured, can he be blamed for this thinking? In other words, in the short-term, he may be hurting Exxon Mobil's profits and isn't that against everything his job description calls for? Taking the longer term perspective, should he even be blamed for not investing in the research and development? I've said before in this blog, my thought about Exxon Mobil is that they'll sit back and earn their hefty profits without making any investments. When the time comes that a technology looks promising and profitable, Exxon Mobil will use their loads of cash and buy up a few companies. They don't have to "waste" their money now (of course, I believe if they threw their money into the R&D, something viable would come quicker), but can sit back, profit as they traditionally have, and invest when there is more return guaranteed on their investment.

It's easy for me to make Tillerson out as a bad guy. But as business rules as they are where there is no cost applied to companies who contribute to global warming or pollution, CEO's are really discouraged from making the responsible choice for the world and are encouraged to make the responsbile one for their company's shareholders.

Tillerson may not be a bad guy, but he certainly will never be a "profile in courage".

Boeing's Recycling is Profitable

2007-04-20T00:43:00.000-04:00

Boeing made over $60 million last year from its recycling program. This article also highlights a few other companies in the Seattle area that have environmentally-friendly initiatives or products. The other companies mentioned are Costco, Starbucks, Microsoft, and Nordstrom. Apparently, Microsoft is claiming that the "sleep" feature in its new Vista operating system is a big energy saver. Also, a data center being constructed by Microsoft is using green building techniques and hydropower.

Home Depot to Introduce Environmental Labels

2007-04-17T13:18:00.000-04:00

Eco Labelling has been in Europe for a number of years now. Home Depot is introducing a similar concept to their stores, the largest initiative in U.S. retailing. The initiative will begin with a label on approximately 3000 products and grow to 6000 products by 2009. The label will show which products help with energy conservation, clean water, and sustainable forestry.

Brooklyn Business Hires Ex-Convicts

2007-04-14T16:56:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow's NY Times print edition will have an article about Michael Altman, Tumbador Chocolate's owner. One-third of Altman's total employees and most of the entry-level employees are ex-convicts. According to the article, "it's part of Altman's personal mission to be a good corporate citizen."

The article does not shy away from the fact that Altman has had some issues with some of the ex-convicts he did hire. It also shows that it has helped some of the others, especially considering the difficulties that ex-convicts have to face in obtaining work after their release from prison.

Altman hires the employees through Strive (Support and Training Result in Valuable Employees), a non-profit "that offers job counseling and placement services to ex-convicts, the homeless and victims of domestic violence."

Newsweek and Others Also Have Green-Type Issues

2007-04-12T00:49:00.000-04:00

This week's issue of Newsweek features California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger on it's cover and the headline, "Save the Planet - Or Else". Newsweek doesn't call it a 'green' issue, rather "Leadership & the Environment". Though there's a lot more than business in this and other issues (like the Vanity Fair I mentioned in the last post), I feel it's worth mentioning these issues. I was interested to hear Donny Deutsch interviewed on CNBC the other day about these issues. The interviewer, whose name escapes me at the moment, never thought to ask about the issues the magazines bring forth. Instead, she only asked if having a "green" theme is good for the business of the magazine. Deutsch, by the way, said he thinks they probably do worse, but he was supportive of the issue of business' force for change.

Vanity Fair's 2nd Annual "Green Issue" Released

2007-04-10T09:23:00.000-04:00

There aren't many article's from the Vanity Fair "Green Issue" that are posted on their website - not yet, anyway. But there are a few and it's a good preview for anyone interested in potentially purchasing the issue.

The issue features Leonardo DiCaprio on the cover and articles about "Global Citizens" and another about who they refer to as "environmental sinners." Another article features the Tesla, an electric sports car.

DiCaprio has an environment-themed documentary titled The 11th Hour. The issue includes a transcript - this is accessible on the website.

There are a number of other "green" articles in this issue.

Peter Liu and New Resource Bank

2007-04-07T20:44:00.000-04:00

Time Magazine has a small piece about Peter Liu and New Resource Bank, a commercial bank Liu started in November focused on green businesses. Loans from the bank are used for "environmentally conscious projects". You can read more about New Resource Bank, particularly from the time of its launch, from a number of sources, such as here and here.

Discovery Starting New Channel Dealing with Environmental Movement

2007-04-05T23:27:00.000-04:00

Next year, Discovery will begin a 24-hour channel dedicated to the environmental movement. In addition, the company will be aim to have it's Silver Spring, Maryland headquarters carbon neutral. In addition, Discover will hold a PlanetGreen Innovation Conference.

Human Impact + Profit

2007-04-02T22:28:00.000-04:00

Fast Company has an article this month on the "human side of investing" with the HIP (Human Impact + Profit) Scorecard. It's a way to look at more than just the financial results (especially just the short-term results) of a company at the impact the company makes to society. There are a number of links supporting the article - one lists 21 companies "driving profit through impact".

Another link explains the HIP Scorecard in more depth and has another link to a window showing how the 21 companies compare to each other in terms of HIP revenue and HIP practices.

There are other links on this topic as well, including one link to a quiz for companies to roughly determine their HIP score.

Burger King Makes Major Supplier Change

2007-03-29T11:14:00.000-04:00

Burger King has announced that they will begin to buying eggs and pork from their suppliers that treat their chickens and pigs more humanely; specifically, the suppliers do not contain the animals in cages or crates. In addition, they will give preference to suppliers who use a more humane way to render the animals unconscious prior to their slaughter.

This is huge news for such a large fast food chain to make such a move.

Patagonia Featured in Fortune

2007-03-28T19:37:00.000-04:00

Before it was trendy to 'be green', Yvon Chouinard founded Patagonia, a business that sells outdoor clothing, technical apparel and gear. That was 35 years ago. Fortune features Patagonia and Chouinard this week as their cover story - a company and man years ahead of their time and still going strong.

San Fran Ballpark Gets Solar System

2007-03-23T00:02:00.000-04:00

AT&T Park, home to baseball's San Francisco Giants, is being outfitted with solar panels to light the ballpark's scoreboard. Pacific Gas & Electric Co. (PG&E) is installing the solar energy system. This year's All-Star game will be played at AT&T Park, so hopefully the solar energy system will get some of the spotlight over that weekend to educate some baseball fans about the use of solar energy.

What I found a bit disturbing is the fact that the article implies that the amount of power needed to light the scoreboard is the same amount needed to power 25 homes.

The article also points out that a photovoltaic system was installed in the Nuremberg soccer stadium for last year's World Cup.

Two More Positive Steps for Wal-Mart

2007-03-21T18:38:00.000-04:00

Thank you to Net Impact for pointing me to the first article.

Wal-Mart is aiming to give consumers information about the sustainability practices of their electronics suppliers by scoring them on "energy efficiency, durability, upgradability, end-of-life solutions, and the size of the package containing the product." The hope is that with the Wal-Mart's power of their suppliers, they will be able to influence more positive and more sustainable practices in the manufacturing and packaging of electronics products, and my hope would be that they will be able to encourage a more sustainable end-of-life for the products which will help increase and make for healthier recycling.

Recently, Wal-Mart announced that they are going to replace its 'big rig' fleet with a hybrid fleet of the same type, thus saving millions of gallons of gas every year.

No Surprise - California Leading Effort to Curb Greenhouse Emissions

2007-03-21T18:08:00.001-04:00

According to this article from SFGate.com, California regulators are writing plans to have an emissions trading ("cap and trade") system to help curb greenhouse gas emissions. The cap and trade system is supported by many large corporations as it is seen as a business-friendly system (or, perhaps, business-friendlier than the enactment of a carbon tax).

Biodiesel - Piedmont Biofuels

2007-03-18T18:48:00.000-04:00

Please excuse the fact that I am posting about another relatively local article. This one, about Piedmont Biofuels in Pittsboro, NC, is from a national magazine. Piedmont Biofuels is a collective that truly believes in the benefits that buying and selling locally can bring to the local community. They buy the inputs for their fuel and sell the fuel only in a 100 mile radius from their location. As demand increases and more biofuels makers pop up, it will interesting to see how decentralized the growth is.

N.C. State Prof Makes Biofuel for Jets

2007-03-17T14:53:00.000-04:00

It's still in its early stages, but Professor Bill Roberts of North Carolina State University has created a jet fuel from animal fat. Tests will begin in a test jet engine in about eight months. The university and professor are already negotiating licencing rights with Diversified Energy, a company that deals with alternative and renewable fuels. A successful test will surely bring in more outside investment and potentially reap a great deal of reward for N.C. State University and Professor Roberts.

Ski Resorts Going Green

2007-03-16T15:24:00.000-04:00

Just an example how taking steps to be more environmentally responsible is what's good for business. Ski resorts are just one example.

Green Tech Has Lobbyists Behind It

2007-03-15T14:29:00.000-04:00

TechNet, a Silicon Valley-based lobbying group, is proposing changes to federal energy policy to promote the green tech sector. One policy they'd like to see is a limit on greenhouse gas emissions, a policy supported by a number of business leaders, as well as have a system where companies trade rights to emit these greenhouse gases. It's important to note that TechNet executives include Cisco CEO John Chambers.

TechNet has also called for the federal government to double their investment into their own research into green tech and to require all states generate a set minimum amount of their electricity from renewable energy sources. TechNet has also proposed that a new federal agency be created to coordinate all research into energy.

Clean Tech is all the Rage in Silicon Valley

2007-03-14T17:40:00.000-04:00

This article from today's New York Times draws comparison for the interest in clean technology to the enthusiasm for tech companies in general in the late '90s. Since this is a big interest of mine, I have started sending resumes to some of the start-ups out there. The article mentions how, apparently, a lot of MBAs are doing the same thing.

Superefficient Solar Cell Maker Wins Big Contract

2007-03-13T12:58:00.000-04:00

Spectrolab, Inc. has been awarded a contract for $13.3 million to develop their technology. Their solar cells convert 40.7% of the sun's rays to energy - most products on the market today are only about 16% efficient. I assume that this inefficiency in current products are a major reason that it costs 18 to 23 cents per kilowatt hour to produce (Of course, the small scale of current production is also a major reason). As a comparison, the article points out that in many states it costs 5 cents per killowatt hour to produce natural gas.

Spectrolab, Inc. is a subsidiary of Boeing.

Rechargable Batteries for Cars

2007-03-11T19:05:00.000-04:00

It's funny to me. When I first purchased my Honda Civic Hybrid in June 2002 (I can't believe it's almost been five years already), hybrids were still a very new concept. The majority of people who found out that I bought a hybrid asked me about plugging it in for power. Of course, the hybrid I have and the other hybrids on the road (all, I believe), do not require any plugging in for power. The New York Times has written about a new technology, a rechargable lithium battery developed by A123Systems, that will require recharging of the battery. This extra step will allow for more even better fuel economy from hybrid vehicles and, in the case of the Chevrolet Volt if it ever goes to market, it would allow for the next generation of a true all-electric car (it does, however, have an internal combustion engine that essentially acts as a backup in case the battery runs out of power).

Business Concern for the Environment Continues to Grow

2007-03-11T17:26:00.000-04:00

I came across this article, "More Companies Making Friends with Environment", in the News & Observer, the local newspaper for the Triangle in North Carolina. Not too much new to report, but I just wanted to post it to show that this is something that is being reported all over. The article does highlight a local company, Southern Energy Management, that started five years ago to do environmental inspections for homes and buildings. It also mentions what Bank of America is doing. They've gotten a great deal of media coverage for their green tower being constructed in Manhattan - this makes mention of their recent commitment of $20 billion over ten years to support products and services that support the environment.

To read more about Bank of America's commitment, please click here.

Two for Tuesday - GM's Electric Car and Using Algae for Energy

2007-03-06T17:25:00.000-05:00

Here is an article stating that GM has a goal to produce an all-electric car in 2010. The article says that some question whether GM truly is looking to produce the car or just take in the positive press that comes with such an announcement.

This article is about a start-up managed by two experienced venture capitalists who are researching the potential to use the photosynthesis process from algae to produce biofuels. Their company, LiveFuels, is not the only company with this idea - see GreenFuel Technologies Corporation.

Technology Allows for More Oil Extraction

2007-03-05T15:21:00.000-05:00

New technologies, such as one that pumps in carbon dioxide into oil wells, allow for more oil to be extracted. As a result of this added efficiency, there is apparently a great deal more oil out there to be had. This article from today's New York Times talks of debate between those who think we've either seen the peak of oil or it is coming soon and those who think there's much more on the way. The article touches on what I feel is a much more important point - the fact that global warming is occuring (can I yet say it is a 'fact'???) and that even if oil supply was infinite, we need to increase our investments into alternatives to oil.

It's important, of course, to hear news such as this. What it can't mean is that there will be less investment into finding alternative ways to power our vehicles.

The Good and Bad of Electronics Recycling

2007-03-04T17:51:00.000-05:00

This article speaks of HP and Dell's efforts to recycle as much of their products as possible. It also mentions how a great deal of computers returned for recycling (not from Dell or HP) are sent overseas and dismantled by workers there, exposing these workers to hazardous materials and polluting nearby soil.

While the article also mentions how some activist groups are critical of the level of recycling that goes on, it seems to me that the trend is in favor of the levels of recycling continuing to increase.

What is needed, it seems, is the levels of nonhazardous materials in electronics to continue to increase.

100 Best U.S. Corporate Citizens

2007-02-28T12:13:00.000-05:00

The magazine formerly known as Business Ethics, Corporate Responsibility Officer (CRO), recently published is eighth annual list of the "100 Best Corporate Citizens 2007". Interesting to see that five of the top ten are tech companies (AMD, Motorola, Intel, IBM, and Agilent Technologies).

Proposed TXU Buyout Has Environmental Components

2007-02-25T18:42:00.000-05:00

TXU, the Texas-based energy company with plans to build 11 new coal-powered plants, is in the process of being bought out for $32 billion by two private equity firms - Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Company and the Texas Pacific Group (if you can't access the NYTimes article, click here for one from The Malaysia Star). The shareholder vote is or was sometime today.

As a part of the buyout, 8 of the 11 plants will not be built. The two private equity firms contacted environmental groups to ask them what environmental measures they can bring to TXU will earn their support. The contact with these environmental group was brokered by Goldman Sachs who is an advisor and lender to the two firms. Goldman has been a big player on Wall Street in the fight against climate change (among other things they do, the article mentions that the limos that drive their late-working employees home are hybrids).

Another proposal in the buyout will result in TXU increasing the renewable energy portion of their portfolio "and reduce or offset its emissions significantly."

To read from a Fortune article from the beginning of February about TXU's plan to build the 11 coal plants, click here.

Q&A with C.K. Prahalad

2007-02-19T23:11:00.000-05:00

Thanks again to Fast Company for this - some questions posed to C.K. Prahalad. I first heard about Prahalad because a couple of pieces he co-wrote for the Harvard Business Review were required reading in my Strategy class last semester. Then I had the pleasure to see him speak at the Fuqua School of Business in Durham last semester, as well, at a talk hosted by their Center for the Advancement of Social Entrepreneurship (CASE) . Prahalad is the author of The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, which essentially says that companies could boost their business while helping to alleviate poverty by making the 5 billion or so people who live in poverty a part of their target market. At the talk I saw him give, he gave examples of companies already doing this - most examples given were companies outside of the U.S. In this Q&A, he does say that companies such as Procter & Gamble and Unilever and a little outfit called Microsoft are dabbling at the bottom of the pyramid.

Prahalad's thesis certainly is an interesting one - the Q&A here is a good, quick read.

And be warned - I'll be posting more from Fast Company in the next few days. Great stuff.

Organic Clothing Store in Seattle Booming

2007-02-18T13:34:00.000-05:00

This article from yesterday's Seattle Post-Intelligencer is about a business that currently deals solely in baby clothes made from organic, fair trade cotton. The young owner was doing so well with her on-line only business that she decided to open up a traditional bricks-and-mortar operation in Seattle. She is finding that her dedication to using pesticide-free and herbicide-free materials for her clothing is very important to her customers as well. Due to the lower yield of the cotton crop when no pesticides or herbicides are used, this causes prices to be higher.

The owner of the business, Kate Quinn, hopes to expand into a line of casual clothes for women.

You can visit her store's website at: http://katequinnorganics.com

Sixth Annual Fast Company 50

2007-02-17T13:48:00.000-05:00

Lists have always appealed to me - they obviously appeal to many people, which is why there are so many out there. Fast Company has one in their March issue that is relevant for this blog - their "50 profit-driven solutions for what ails the planet". You can see the list and read about the companies, organizations, the one person on the list, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and the one location on the list, Kalamazoo, Michigan, by clicking on the link.

New Pay and Benefit Increases for Workers at Seattle Westin

2007-02-15T15:02:00.000-05:00

Pay and benefits just increased for workers at the Seattle Westin. For example, the median wage of housekeepers in Seattle-area hotel is $9.58/hour. This new contract immediately raises the wage for housekeepers in the Seattle Westing to $11.70/hour. The article doesn't say much about the Westin's reaction and how they feel it will affect their business. Evelina Tainer, the chief economist with the Employment Security Department has this take (info below taken directly from the Seattle Post Intelligencer article linked above):

"They are going to get the best workers immediately. The people who are working there will want to do a good job. They are not going to want to be fired."

From an economic standpoint, it was smart of the union to focus on Seattle's largest hotel, she said. Seattle's hotel market, where occupancy and room rates have been steadily climbing since 2002, can support the higher wages, she said.

"If other hotels want to remain competitive it does enhance them if they go ahead and add the same benefits," she said.

Details of the benefit increases are listed at the end of the article.

Better than CFLs?

2007-02-14T19:00:00.000-05:00

In the past few months, there has been a great deal of attention paid to promoting the use of compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs). This is due to the fact that CFLs last longer than traditional incandescent bulbs, use much less electricity, and help reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This article talks of another technology, light emitting diodes (LEDs), that uses even less electricity than CFLs and is also cleaner than CFLs because CFLs contain mercury. As a result, CFLs have to be treated as toxic waste when disposed.

The article talks about Cree, a company in my local area (Durham, NC) that produces LEDs. They've struck a deal with the city of Raleigh, NC to use LEDs in parking garages, parking lots, outside buildings, and in streetlights. In addition to saving electricity and being more environmentally friendly, they apparently give off better quality light.

It appears the biggest issue with the LED technology diffusing the consumer market is the fact that LEDs are not bulbs and they do not go into sockets. They are actually semiconductor chips that emit light when electricity is passed through them.

More on the Shareholder Story

2007-02-14T00:15:00.000-05:00

CNN.com seemed to carry the same story I posted yesterday with more detail about the ten companies that are being accused by investors of not doing enough to combat global warming. The ten companies are:

Dominion Resources
TXU Corp. (to read more about TXU's plans to build 11 coal-fired power plants in Texas, see this article in this week's Fortune magazine)
ConocoPhillips
ExxonMobil
Wells Fargo
Bed, Bath & Beyond
Massey Energy
Consol Energy
ACE Limited
Allegheny Energy

Some Power of the Shareholder

2007-02-13T15:21:00.000-05:00

This article talks about how a number of shareholders across the country are trying to get corporations to deal with global warming by writing resolutions for shareholder vote that ask that companies issue reports about how global warming affects their business, act to reduce emissions, and prepare for potential regulations on carbon. Resolutions such as these were on the ballot at 42 companies in the past year. Environmental organizations are promoting this type of activity by targeting companies they feel have a lot of work to do in the global warming area.

H-P Unveils New Packaging

2007-02-11T23:18:00.000-05:00

Hewlett-Packard announced that it will begin to package their print cartridges in smaller and lighter forms. They said that the expected greenhouse gas emission savings from this initiative will be about 37 million pounds this year, the equivalent of taking about 3000 cars off of the roads this year. The new packaging will reduce materials by about 15 million pounds. Since the packaging will be less, it will allow more packages to fit on delivery trucks. This is expected to reduce the number of miles driven by the delivery trucks by 1.5 million miles.

Branson Offers $25M Innovation Prize

2007-02-10T13:46:00.000-05:00

To encourage innovation in technology development aimed at reducing global warming, Richard Branson has put up $25 million. He is encouraging governments to match that amount. The prize will go to a technology unlike technologies that are currently under development and one that is "more than a stop-gap against global warming gases." In fact, the aim is to award a technology that will remove at least 1 billion tons of carbon dioxide a year from the Earth's atmosphere. Al Gore was with Branson at the announcement of the prize.

Oil Companies Discuss Global Energy Challenges

2007-02-09T16:03:00.000-05:00

A number of the oil industry's top executives are going to meet next week in Houston to discuss the challenges of global energy. One expected agenda item is alternatives to traditional fossil fuels. This article also mentions that, according to ConocoPhillips Chairman James Mulva, U.S. oil companies have invested about $11 billion on renewable and other forms of energy in the past five years. What it doesn't mention is what percentage that investment is of the total amount of R&D spending that oil companies have done in the same period of time. Throwing out a number like that is less meaningful without a comparative figure. That is not to discount the fact that it's a significant number and undoubtedly a great deal more than most people probably realize is invested.

Wal-Mart and SEIU Discuss Universal Health Care

2007-02-08T00:19:00.000-05:00

From the 2/8/07 New York Times: Lee Scott, the CEO of Wal-Mart, and Andrew Stern, the president of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) got together yesterday to discuss our nation's healthcare problem. They announced their intention to seek support of universal healthcare coverage (by around 2012); shared responsibility for healthcare coverage among individuals, businesses, and government; and expanded coverage. Execs from AT&T and Intel as well as leaders of several nonprofits were also present at the meeting.

European Commission Proposing Emission Cuts for Cars

2007-02-07T00:36:00.000-05:00

Legislation from the European Commission is expected to be drafted next year that would require automakers to cut CO2 emissions by 18% in new cars by 2012. Most of the reduction would come from better motor technology - the remainder would come from better tires and a higher rate of use of alternative fuels.

Dell to Receive Environmental Award

2007-02-06T13:27:00.000-05:00

Tonight, Dell will be awarded the National Recycling Coalition's Recycling Works Award due to Dell's efforts to make it easier for its customers to recycle Dell products. Two initiatives cited in this Dell press release include (text below taken directly from the press release):

"Free Consumer Global Recycling: Dell is the only computer manufacturer that offers consumers no-charge recycling services for its own branded computer equipment globally without requiring new product purchases. Dell completed the rollout of its global recycling policy in December 2006.

Reconnect Program: Through Dell's alliance with Goodwill Industries in several markets, consumers can donate unwanted electronics of any brand in any condition at Goodwill intake sites.

All equipment collected is handled under Dell's product-recovery guidelines. The program is currently available in Central and South Texas, San Diego and San Francisco, the state of Michigan, western North Carolina and the Pittsburgh area.

Asset Recovery Services: Dell offers product recovery services that help business and institutional customers responsibly manage the retirement of used IT equipment. In 2006, Dell increased products recovered from customers for reuse or recycling, as measured by weight, by 72 percent compared to the previous year. The company has set a goal to recover 125 million kilograms (about 275 million pounds) of product from customers by 2009.

Computer Donation. Through Dell's partnership with the National Cristina Foundation, customers can donate any working computer system to non-profit organizations in their areas. NCF matches consumer donations to local not-for-profit organizations, public agencies and schools. The program is available throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, Ireland, France and major markets in Brazil."

Pepsi and Civil Rights

2007-02-03T23:03:00.000-05:00

There is a book recently released, "The Real Pepsi Challenge", about Pepsi's relative embrace of black employees back in the 1940s. Pepsi's CEO, Walter S. Mack, Jr., was the person behind this. He hired 12 black executives as a way to in to the "Negro market" and an advantage against rival Coke. The NY Times article points out that Pepsi opened up three integrated military canteens during World War II while the U.S. governments canteens and the Army was still segregated. Despite perhaps questionable reasons for hiring these executives, the executives helped to prove "the reliability and competence" of the black worker and served as "role models and minor celebrities. Also, the coverage these men received from the black press helped to increase black political power.

Clean Environmental Tech Leads Silicon Valley Rebound

2007-02-01T12:36:00.000-05:00

Silicon Valley is gaining jobs after five years of losses. This comes at a time when investments in "clean environmental technology" are increasing considerably. Investments in clean tech went from $34 million in the first quarter of 2006 to $290 million in the third quarter.

Business Roundtable

2007-02-01T10:55:00.000-05:00

Here's a short article about a sort of partnership among CEOs of large corporations, AARP, and the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) that is looking to tackle the healthcare problem the U.S. is facing. Their proposal calls for healthcare for all either by requiring everyone to purchase healthcare or requiring every company to offer it to their employees. The proposal is called "Divided We Fail".

9 Companies Looking to Help With Society's Problems

2007-01-31T14:22:00.000-05:00

Business 2.0 has an article that lists nine issues facing humanity and highlights at least one company that is looking to a business opportunity in tackling the problem. The link to the article contains links to each of the nine issues and companies. The nine issues are:

Global Warming
Oil Dependency
Hunger and malnutrition
Dirty Air
Dirty Water
Over fishing
Epidemics
Drug-resistant infections
Waste Disposal

Honda's Civic GX

2007-01-31T14:12:00.000-05:00

The Honda Civic GX runs on methane, a compressed natural gas. It is currently only available for retail sale in California and New York. It does offer benefits over traditional gasoline-powered cars:

The methane burns much cleaner than gasoline.
The natural gas is more fuel-efficient than gasoline ("slightly")
It is less expensive to fuel the car - the EPA estimates the cost of natural gas is the equivalent of about 70 cents less than a gallon of gasoline
Most of the natural gas we have here in the U.S. is from the U.S. - the rest is from Canada.

Due to the current $4000 tax credit given by the U.S. government, the cost is not much more than a traditional Honda Civic.

Some of the downsides listed in the article - there aren't currently many places where natural gas can be purchased; the tank is bigger than a traditional car's fuel tank, so the trunk space is smaller; the resale value won't match up to a Honda Civic Hybrid according to one expert; and the tank only has a range of 220 miles. Due to these downsides, the GX will most likely only be a government fleet vehicle (already seen) for now.

Prez Calls for Linking Exec Salaries to Performance

2007-01-31T12:48:00.000-05:00

Today, President Bush asked that corporate boards "step up their responsibilities" and ensure that company executives are paid based on the performance of their company and not simply guaranteed a compensation package. Bush also said to the boards, "You need to pay attention to the executive compensation packages that you approve. You need to show the world that America's businesses are a model of transparency and good corporate governance."

401(k) Plans with a Conscience and Green Power Buyers

2007-01-30T13:59:00.000-05:00

Most companies do not offer options in their retirement plans for employees to contribute to socially responsible investments. A new company, Social(k) is hoping to change that. A recent survey showed that 74% of employees of companies who do not offer socially responsible investment options would invest in them if given the choice. Also, 68% of employers said they'd like to offer the investments to their employees, but most just haven't been given the choice.

Of course, performance of the plans are extremely important. According to the article, "since the inception of the Domini 400 Social Index on May 1, 1990, its annualized returns of 12.09% have beaten the S&P 500's annualized returns of 11.45%."

To learn more about Social(k), visit there website here.
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The U.S. EPA list of top purchasers of alternative energy was recently announced. Wells Fargo was first on the list, the first time a governmental agency did not head the list. Whole Foods was second on the list. Third was the U.S. Air Force; fourth was the U.S. EPA; fifth was Johnson & Johnson.

The entire top 25 list can be viewed at the EPA's site here.

Intel, IBM Separately Announce Smaller, More Energy Efficient Chips

2007-01-28T14:58:00.000-05:00

Both Intel and IBM announced they have found a way to reduce the amount of energy loss from chips as the technology evolves to smaller and smaller chips. Neither company disclosed the level of increased energy efficiency. Only Intel reported actual performance measures - they claim their breakthrogh allows for a 20 percent increase in performance.

See here for more information.

More From Davos

2007-01-27T16:55:00.000-05:00

I just wanted to post this due to what Tony Blair said at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. In reference to climate change goals, Blair said, "I believe we are potentially on the verge of a breakthrough," because "the mood in the US is in the process of a quantum shift". Blair said he would work with other leaders of the world on a successor to the Kyoto Protocol that he deemed would be more "radical" and "comprehensive".

I'll keep my eyes out for this.

Exxon Mobil Changing Its Tune?

2007-01-26T19:15:00.000-05:00

Fortune published this online piece, "Exxon Mobil greens up its act" today about how Exxon Mobil is trying to reach out to its critics around the issue of climate change. After years of trying to distort the science of global warming and funding think tanks that did the same, they have begun to meet with leaders of environmental groups and NGOs that deal with social issues like human rights.

The article does mention the public relations nightmare they've had to deal with due to their past behavior. Such behavior, its mentioned, helped to cause more press for their support of the think tanks over their support "for a $225 million Global Climate and Energy Project at Stanford, which is researching alternative energy and transportation fuels."

The article also points out that Exxon Mobil is probably reacting to the change in political leadership in both houses of Congress and to the leadership of some of the other Fortune 500 companies who are calling for a cap on greenhouse gas emissions.
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On the sidebar in the article, you will find a link to "What's next in energy: Vinod Khosla" (Khosla's a venture capitalist) concerning his thoughts on the future of energy (he's betting on cellulosic ethanol and solar thermal energy).

Davos and Global Climate Change

2007-01-26T13:04:00.000-05:00

At the Annual Meetings of the World Economic Forum at Davos, "when hundreds of participants voted on what the world's most pressing issues were, a large majority said 'climate change'". Most also felt, however, that the world is not yet ready to handle climate change.

The article from the BBC, "Has Big Business gone green at last?", notes that for many, the turning point in their thinking was when they viewed Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvenient Truth". Still others pointed to the Stern Report (Stern Review on the Economics of Climate Change).

For what it's worth - and I certainly don't know what that is(!) - the author, who apparently has reported from Davos in the past, feels that though he's heard this type of talk from leaders in the past, "this year it feels different."

Wal-Mart Settles in OT Case

2007-01-25T12:39:00.000-05:00

Wal-Mart has agreed to pay more than $33 million in overdue overtime pay after turning itself in to the Labor Department for underpaying for workers' overtime. They also have taken measures to try to ensure this type of mistake does not occur again.

The article also states that Wal-Mart was found to have overpaid about 215,000 workers over the last five years - they will not, however, seek these overpayments.

A Call for Synthetic Fabrics for Clothing

2007-01-24T21:05:00.000-05:00

The NYTimes has an article about clothing and a report about the future supply of clothing and textiles from Cambridge University called "Well Dressed?". The article, "Can Polyester Save the World?", (may require free registration) highlights the relatively new phenomenom of stores like H&M, Old Navy and Target that offer inexpensive, fashionable clothing. What that allows is people to purchase more clothing and throw the clothes away long before their useful life is over.

The article points out that consumers who are environmentally conscious may purchase clothing made of natural fibers like cotton over synthetic materials like polyester due to the thought that cotton is more environmentally friendly. The fact is, though, that because cotton requires washing at higher temperatures and may require tumble drying and ironing, the amount of carbon emissions resulting from cotton clothing is often higher than their polyester counterparts.

Cleaner, Healthier Dry Cleaning

2007-01-24T13:57:00.000-05:00

Here's an article from Plenty Magazine about dry cleaners who clean clothes with liquid CO2 and not with perchloroethylene, or "perc" as it's commonly called. These cleaners have been around for a few years and still have not really taken off. My wife and I have used a dry cleaner that uses liquid CO2 since we moved to North Carolina three years ago. The quality seems to be just as good as traditional cleaners - those in the business who do use liquid CO2 will say the quality is actually better because it doesn't degrade the clothes. I don't use a dry cleaner often enough to notice, nor do I think I'd notice anyway.

The reasons, then, for using dry cleaners who do not use perc are both environmental and health-related. I learned a few years back that when using a traditional dry cleaner that you should immediately remove the plastic bag that covers your clothing to let the harmful chemicals 'air out'. The article does point out that the International Agency for Research on Cancer labeled perc a "probable human carcinogen." With a CO2 cleaner this is not a concern - plus you'll notice that your clothes actually have a pleasant smell when you pick them up.

Ford Unveils Hydrogen Car Today

2007-01-23T15:27:00.000-05:00

Ford has unveiled its HySeries Edge, (quick registration may be required to view) a plug-in hybrid powered by a battery and a hydrogen fuel cell, today at the Washington Auto Show. It was an expensive vehicle to build, costing Ford $2 million. In order for a car such as this to hit the showrooms for the masses, availability of hydrogen on a mass scale has to be accomplished. Also, because of the high cost of development of such vehicles, the auto industry is hoping that President Bush will announce an increase in funding for this type of research in tonight's State of the Union address.

Fast Company - February 2007 Issue

2007-01-22T13:49:00.000-05:00

I've posted articles before from Fast Company, but I wanted to make a special mention of this magazine. I used to be a subscriber back when it began in 1999 or 2000 (or sometime around then). I let my subscription lapse and, honestly, don't recall what I thought about it then. It now serves as a valuable read for me every month - the articles tend to be short to appeal to our society's decreasing attention span, but full of information.

What also draws me to Fast Company is that, while it's a 'mainstream' business magazine, it is ahead of its time in terms of including issues of corporate social responsibility that other business magazines often do not include.

This month's issue starts with Mark Vamos, the editor, in addition to his summary of what is in the issue, stating:

"One of this magazine's central themes is that business can be a profound force for good. That applies to us, too. I'm proud to announce that, beginning with this issue, we are printing Fast Company on 80% post-consumer recycled paper."

A good start to the issue, but it has content that I think is worth posting on this blog. Since it is the current month's issue, you'll have to check back in a few weeks. I will note what this issue contains (and, if I recall, will post some links to these articles when they are available):

One man's hope to bring the fair-trade concepts used for guaranteeing fair wages for coffee, tea and chocolate growers, among others, to increase the pay diamond diggers in Sierra Leone. Martin Rapaport hopes the fair-trade diamonds will start shipping in the next few months.
Socially responsible investing (SRI) - in this case, the focus is on the publicly-traded companies that manufacture solar materials or systems.
The redesign of L.A.'s public transit system
Adding jobs in Iraq to help the local population and decrease Iraq's reliance on foreign aid. It also notes the hope of microfinance eventually 'taking root' and spreading in Basra.
How Aspen Skiing Co. is trying to deal with global warming. The article mainly deals with their director of environmental affairs, Auden Schendler, and how one degree of warmth can make or break their business any year. Basically, during the beginning of the snow season when they are making their own snow, if it's one degree too warm, they lose a great deal of business. The article deals with some of the steps they are taking to try to bring awareness to their clientele.
The magazine ends with a reprint of Whole Foods CEO John Mackey's email to the team members of Whole Foods announcing that he was forgoing a salary (actually his salary is now $1).

I do not have any stake in Fast Company - I simply recommend it highly to those interested in a good business magazine.

Must-Read Business Week Article

2007-01-19T16:32:00.000-05:00

Thank you to xigi.net for pointing me to this article. Business Week's cover story this week is "Beyond the Green Corporation", which highlights many large corporations focus on environmental and social and how that may be a must for these companies to survive long-term. The article gets into how Wall Street looks at such companies and notes that this sustainbility focus is something that "could help investors sort long-term survivors from the dinosaurs."

Industry Behind Proposed Limit on Emissions

2007-01-19T13:37:00.000-05:00

As mentioned in the second article I posted on Wednesday, January 17 (scroll past Wal-Mart post), there is some electric industry executives behind a proposal for Congress to cap CO2 emissions. Presumably, these are executives of companies who are already below whatever cap would be proposed and, thus, would benefit by trading their emission credits to companies who would not be under the limit.

Today, more information has surfaced about this topic. A group calling themselves "United States Climate Action Partnership" is composed of General Electric, DuPont, Alcoa, Caterpillar, Duke Energy in North Carolina, PG&E in California, the FPL Group in Florida, and PNM Resources in New Mexico. The group plans on making a formal announcement of their ideas and intentions on Monday prior to when President Bush will make this year's State of the Union speech. As alluded to above, their announcement will give details on a cap-and-trade system in which companies who do emit below the allowed cap can trade their credits to those companies who exceed the limit.

Starbucks Grant to Spur Neighborhood Transformation

2007-01-18T11:16:00.000-05:00

Starbucks has made a $550,000 donation to help revitalize a park in King County, Washington. The hope of area residents is that the neighborhood will be revitalized also, as a result of the improved park. What the grant money will be used for is not exactly known at this point. One idea is that it will be used for materials and equipment to be used for the park's facelift, and the actual labor needed to work on the park will come from both volunteers from Starbucks and the local community.

Wal-Mart Mislabeling Organics??? & Congress and Climate Change

2007-01-17T22:10:00.000-05:00

This is a story to keep your eye on. A group that promotes sustainable farming is accusing Wal-Mart of mislabeling non-organic foods as organic. The advocacy group, The Cornucopia Institute, said that almost all of the Wal-Mart stores they checked in a five-state test had violations. In addition, The Cornucopia Institute claims to have found these violations back in September and reported them to Wal-Mart. When the group performed some tests recently, violations still occured.

The Cornucopia House has filed a complaint against Wal-Mart at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) as a result of these alleged violations.

Perhaps the most unfortunate part of this, if the charges are true, is the fact that, as the article points out, many people are unsure of what organics actually are, so these violations would only add to the confusion as people become less trusting of organics.
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I also wanted to post an article that will appear in tomorrow's NY Times print edition. The article, titled "Bills on Climate Move to Spotlight in New Congress" (may require registration). Basically it speaks of a few of the ideas floating around Congress - and the fact that there are a few is good to hear.

One idea, capping carbon dioxide emissions, even has the support of some of the executives of the electric utility industry. That idea was criticized by one climate expert, Richard G. Richels, who feels that it will cause industry to use existing cleaner technologies, but not prompt investments in technological breakthoughts that are necessary.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi wants to create a special committee on climate - unfortunately, according to the article, the reason for the committee is a way around Democrat John Dingell of Michigan, who strongly supports the automobile industry.

Barack Obama, who looks to throw his hat into the presidential contender ring, signed on to legislation that is co-sponsored by John McCain and Joe Lieberman.

The article also asks the question of what President Bush will do - his State of the Union is coming up, so what might he say about climate change. Of course, what he does is more important than what he says!

Starbucks to Switch to Healthier Milk

2007-01-16T23:10:00.000-05:00

I was attracted to this article due to the seemingly negative headline it had. "Starbucks milk not doing a body good" is how CNNMoney.com chose to headline the story about how the coffee chain is aiming to replace all milk made with an artificial bovine growth hormone. The growth hormone, rBGH, is used to increase dairy production in cows. rBGH increases the hormone IGF-1 in both cows and the humans that consume products from cows who are given rBGH. "Elevated levels of IGF-1 is associated with increased cancer rates."

Interesting to note that the article states that Starbucks does not plan expanding this move to their stores in other countries. Why? rBGH is not allowed to be used in most other nations. It's primarily here that we'd rather shoot up cows to increase their milk production (and, thus, increase sales) at the expense of our own health. Pretty uncivilized, I'd say.

Great move by Starbucks on the heels of their recent pledge to rid trans fats from the food of half of their stores.

Ted Turner Getting in the Renewable Energy Game

2007-01-15T16:33:00.000-05:00

Recently, Ted Turner recently announced he was starting a solar company in partnership with Dome-Tech Solar. The company, DT Solar, a Turner renewable energy company, will focus mainly on commercial and industrial clients.

Some Catalogs to Switch to Certified Paper

2007-01-14T17:14:00.000-05:00

Not surprisingly, the ridiculous amount of junk mail that I receive on a daily basis is frustrating to me. Thinking of how most of my daily mail is full of credit card offers I don't want, flyers for stores I have no interest in, and catalogs for other stores I have no intent on even considering, it is amazing to think of all the waste that this causes when you consider how many others are feeling the same frustration. Since I have recently learned of two organizations - GreenDimes and 41Pounds.org - I am strongly considering using one of their services. You basically pay a fee and they will work to significantly reduce, if not completely rid, your mailbox from unwanted junkmail.

Since most of us will still be dealing with junkmail, it comes as good news that Williams-Sonoma and Victoria's Secret will begin printing their catalogs on paper sourced from sustainably managed forests - paper that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

This means that the Victoria's Secret catalogs and the catalogs put out by Williams-Sonoma, which includes Williams-Sonoma, Pottery Barn, Pottery Barn Bed and Bath, Pottery Barn Kids, PBteen, West Elm and Williams-Sonoma Homa will be printed on this paper. While it would be better if they could better target those who actually want to receive these catalogs, this is a very positive step that others should follow.

Interview with Ben Cohen

2007-01-11T12:32:00.000-05:00

Forbes printed this interview with Ben Cohen, one half of the founders of Ben & Jerry's. He talks of the power of business being the most powerful force to help society; his thoughts on specific companies and what they are doing in terms of corporate responsibility; and hwhy Ben & Jerry's acquisition by Unilever makes keeping with their mission harder. The main thing he speaks of, however, is Business Leaders for Sensible Priorities (BLSP), an organization for which he serves as president.

The BLSP is composed of a bipartisan group of business leaders and military experts who are aiming to cut the Pentagon's budget by 13% and funnel the cut to education, healthcare, and homeland security. The thought is that the cuts would come from outdated weapons systems designed when the U.S. was in the midst of the Cold War. The plan also calls for cutting the number of nuclear weapons we had. As Cohen says, "We've currently got enough nuclear weapons to blow up the world ten times over. Our military advisers are saying cut it, save $10 billion, and we'll only be able to blow up the world four times over."

Focusing Green Building on Renovations

2007-01-10T20:00:00.000-05:00

This article is about expanding the focus of 'green building' and the desire for LEED certification from mainly new construction to renovations. Considering renovating an existing structure is more environmentally friendly than constantly putting up new construction, it certainly makes sense. The article specifically focuses on the Rose Smart Growth Investment Fund, which acquires buildings near mass transit for investment purposes. They pay for the buildings to be renovated in a more environmentally-friendly way and find that they are able to increase rent even more per square foot than if they had simply renovated the buildings in a traditional way.

Michael Dell Wants to Plant Trees to Offset Electronics Pollution

2007-01-09T21:28:00.000-05:00

Michael Dell made a suggestion at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas for companies in the electronics industry to plant trees to offset the pollution they cause. He also asked that other PC vendors follow Dell's lead and offer free recycling of used electronic equipment.

Speaking of electronics, their is an HDTV on the market that is apparently more environmentally-friendly than others on the market. The Sharp AQUOS Liquid Crystal TV apparently uses recycled materials and needs less power to operate. It also is built in a factory that uses solar energy for energy and reuses its water.

ExxonMobil Paid to Mislead Public about Global Warming

2007-01-08T18:56:00.000-05:00

It's a few days old, but worth knowing about if you haven't already read this. It certainly wasn't surprising to read that ExxonMobil gave money toward an effort to discredit the science behind global warming. It is, however, a disgrace. It made me think of a discussion I had a few days ago.

A friend mentioned the other day his desire to invest in some companies that are in the alternative energy field in some capacity. While he didn't question the reality of global warming (he is, afterall, educated and does not have a professional or religious bias or agenda clouding his judgment), his desire to invest increased after speaking with a couple of friends of his who work for the National Science Foundation. These scientists - I believe he said one was a climatologist and one was an oceanographer - are thoroughly convinced of the reality of global warming (they are scientists, after all, and despite working in the U.S. government during this current administration, they don't need to let politics blind the debate - at least at this after-hours gathering). I gave my friend my opinion that these types of investments are tough - many of these alternative energy companies will fail and it's uncertain which technology will ultimately play the biggest role as more and more alternative energy is used. I also told him that I felt that when more research has been done to find what appears to be the technology that will be the 'winner', ExxonMobil will use their considerable cash to get in the game and buy whatever companies and/or technology look to be the leader.

In the meantime, I guess they will continue their unethical war on sound science.

"Army Energy Strategy for the End of Cheap Oil"

2007-01-08T00:33:00.000-05:00

I found it incredibly interesting when I was sent this document. I guess I shouldn't have been surprised to learn that our military is acknowledging that we must begin to increase our use of more efficient energy sources, but I was. The authors, apparently from the United States Military Academy, conclude it's important economically and politically.

Questions About Wind Power & Green Advertising

2006-12-28T21:35:00.000-05:00

It seems to me that with each passing day that more attention is being given to the numerous topics that make up 'sustainability' or corporate social responsibility. During my break, I haven't been online much, so I have not posted much to this blog. I was, however, waiting for someone today and had a few minutes to read today's New York Times' business section. Two articles speak to these topics.

The first, which is on the cover of the print version, deals with the limits of wind power. For example, in Texas, the hottest days are also the least windy. As a consequence of that, back up is needed and that can be electricity from coal. The article does speak of research being done to use the excess electricity produced by wind power, on days that allow for a surplus, to split water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen could be burned or run through a fuel cell to make electricity for the times when it is needed. The result, though, is that half of the stored electricity will be lost in the process.

Read the article for another potential use for the excess wind power when there is excess. This use will help to reduce the use of natural gas. The article also makes a point that carbon dioxide still is not given a cost - one of the truly huge faults in our economic system (that costs are not accurately accounted for in products that harm our environment).

The other article in today's New York Times business deals with the relatively recent increase in advertising agencies that specialize in 'green' ads. It mentions how some of these smaller agencies are landing big clients.

Efficient Processes as a Way to Sustainability

2006-12-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

To those who celebrate, I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas.

I am in the middle of reading "Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution", a book that probably should be one of the first, if not the first, book on sustainability that people read. I don't know why it has taken me so long to get to it, but I am just glad that I chose to read it during a break between semesters so I could give it its just attention.

Anyway, what I got out of one of the chapters (among other things) is that just by being more efficient, companies can be more sustainable. It may seem obvious, but it's not something that I have found myself ever focused on. Interesting, then, that the same day I read that particular chapter, I read an article in FAST COMPANY called, "No Satisfaction at Toyota". The article is about just that - that the employees of the Toyota plant in Georgetown, Kentucky are constantly changing their processes in search of continous improvement. In particular, the example I'll mention is detailed at the beginning of the article - an example that shows that improvements in their process of painting cars has resulted in Toyota now throwing away virtually no paint, where they had thrown away approximately 30%.

In an ideal world, Toyota and all other car manufacturers would use paint that was not toxic or harmful to the environment in any way. On the way to these types of changes, however, being as efficient as possible is something to strive for.

Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge

2006-12-21T11:32:00.000-05:00

Earlier this month, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency launched its Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge, "a 13-month campaign that will focus on the collective green power purchases of eligible Fortune 500 companies." The basis of the challenge is for these Fortune 500 companies to double their current purchase level of green power, such as wind, solar, geothermal, biomass and biogas. Reaching the EPA's goal of exceeding 5 billion killowatt hours (kWh) by the end of 2007 is equivalent to enough green power to power 400,000 'typical' homes in the U.S. and avoiding approximately 680,000 cars each year.

Considering that currently only slightly more than 8% of the Fortune 500 companies buy any amount of green power, this seems to be a very modest goal that simply needs a few more of these companies to step up.

More about the Fortune 500 Green Power Challenge can be seen here.

New Technology to Help Power Grid Efficiency

2006-12-17T14:35:00.000-05:00

There is an interview in today's New York Times with James E. Rogers, the president and CEO of Duke Energy. He says there is a new technology, broadband over the power line (B.P.L.), that will allow for the power grid to operate more efficiently. This means that the power lost as the energy is carried over power lines will be significantly reduced because the system will be able to identify problems better. According to Rogers, the added efficiency should be enough to reduce the number of power plants that have to be built - this will reduce added costs to consumers and reduce the environmental footprint of power companies.

Rogers says that consumers will start to feel the impact of this technology in the next 3 - 5 years.

Good CNN.com Article

2006-12-16T13:28:00.000-05:00

CNN.com recently posted an article about "Business Sees Green in Going Green". Read it to read about some companies who are changing their practice of categorizing disposal of their trash into 'overhead costs' and penalties from regulators into 'legal costs' by looking at it all as environmental costs. The article also mentions how more and more companies are embracing the "Triple Bottom Line", the idea that in addition to measuring financial impact, environmental and social impact is measured and reported as well.

Airports Can Save Money by Recycling

2006-12-15T17:22:00.000-05:00

According to this article from the Washington Post, more than eight out of ten times, airports do not recycle the aluminum cans that are given to passengers on flights. The National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) study cited states that the airline industry disposes of enough aluminum cans each year to build 58 747s. The EPA estimates that airports recycle at a 17% rate, while the national average is 32%. The NRDC study also stated that the airports that recycled the most saved money.

Retailers Giving Back

2006-12-14T16:25:00.000-05:00

This article specifically speaks of Seattle retailers Recreational Equipment Inc. (REI), Costco, and Starbucks. Interesting point about REI's choice of benefactors - they give to the preservation of outdoor recreation because they won't have customers (aka they can't be sustainable) without available outdoor recreational activities.

Giving a Cost to CO2 Emissions

2006-12-12T18:34:00.000-05:00

I highly recommend this article from today's New York Times. It is about the need to put a cost to CO2 emissions in order to cut them.

Traditionally, economists have said that the free market will most efficiently allocate resources to its best uses; however, this thinking doesn't put a cost to depleting resources, so depleting resources are not accounted for. This is a major reason that industry has grown as it has and why it is so difficult to have companies cut CO2 emissions.

Putting a cost on CO2 emissions, while not something that can be precise, may be the only way to make industry more efficient. If companies have to actually consider this 'added' cost of environmental degradation, they will work to reduce these costs.

The NY Times article speaks of a couple of different ideas to include this cost - one is a tax on CO2 emissions; the other is a cap-and-trade system, where companies are given permits to pollute a certain amount. Those who pollute less can sell these permits to the those who pollute more. This does add a cost to the biggest polluters who, theoretically, will work to reduce these costs.

The article also gets into the need to for us to produce energy more efficiently with technology that is already here, such as using compact fluorescent lightbulbs and improving insulation in homes, buildings and factories.

Overall, the article talks about the fact that taking major steps now serves as an insurance policy for our future. The example the article says its most like is how we reacted in the Cold War - we taxed ourselves to protect ourselves from an outcome that could have been devastating, but not guaranteed to be so. In other words, the potential outcomes of what global warming can do to our world are varied in their severity. We need to act now to insure our future against potentially devasting outcomes.

Something else the article mentions is the need to for India and China to get on board as well. Interestingly and fortunately, another article today speaks of how a top energy official in China discusses how China wants to slow its growth in carbon emissions.

Nissan to Launch 'Greener' Cars

2006-12-12T16:04:00.000-05:00

Nissan has announced that they will be launching a number of differnt environmentally-friendlier cars such as cars with continuously variable transmission (CVT), which emit up to 10% less greenhouse emissions than automatic transmission, by the end of the 2007/2008 business year; cleaner diesel engines with a parternship with Renault; bio-ethanol fueled cars in Brazil by 2009; hybrids by 2010; and an electric car and a next-generation fuel cell vehicle shortly after 2010.

Nissan also announced that they are planning to cut CO2 emissions from their manufacturing plants 7% (when compared to 2005 levels) by 2010.

SAS Donations to Help Underserved

2006-12-12T00:03:00.000-05:00

Cary, NC-based SAS has donated over $200,000 worth of their business intelligence software to Social Compact, 'a coalition of business leaders who are promoting successful business investments in underserved communities.' The SAS software will help Social Compact "analyze inner-city markets and create accurate, business-oriented profiles of "emerging" neighborhood markets." The aim is to "give potential investors a clear picture of investment opportunities in underserved parts of the US."