U.S. energy consumption at the end of 2008 is expected to total half of the energy consumed in 1970, according to a new report.

Toyota is celebrating two green milestones this month with sales of its Prius surpassing the 1 million mark while at the same time, the carmaker has earned the country's first LEED-Gold certification of a dealership.

New concepts and new design ideas are helping to make cities more sustainable. Possibly the most intriguing neo-city idea is the urban village concept, where communities within cities are designed to emulate small rural villages with shared, communal resources, and green spaces. Indeed, the secret to cities of tomorrow may well lie in the villages of our past?

Starbucks wants to slash energy consumption in its stores by 25 percent and buy enough renewable energy certificates to satisfy half of its stores' energy needs, all by 2010, the company said Wednesday.

Inhabitants of Brazil and India have the world's most environmentally-sustainable lifestyle and Americans have the least, according to a new study tracking global attitudes towards consumption and the environment.

Following the signing of the first batch of low temperature residual heat power generation contracts with Lafarge in 2007, Sinoma Energy Conservation Limited has now signed another low temperature residual heat power generation EP contract with the latter's Teresa cement company in the Philippines.

An existing EU labelling scheme for energy-using products should be expanded to cover all manufactured goods, says the latest draft of an upcoming Commission action plan on sustainable consumption and production (SCP), scheduled for official publication on 14 May.

Greater use of renewable energy and power conservation could save countries in the Asia-Pacific region 700 billion dollars by 2030, according to a UN report released here Monday.

A new report from the World Energy Forum identifies a shift towards a more sustainable energy future and finds that a growing number of green-tech newcomers in the energy marketplace have the potential to fundamentally transform how energy is produced, distributed and consumed

There is an old maxim that states "Resurrection is harder than giving birth." And while this statement might apply in many areas, it is particularly relevant with respect to the challenges of urban sustainability, where burgeoning urban population growth is bringing together city planners, clean technology developers and architectural designers to create exciting new cities that are pushing the outer boundaries of innovation in urban living.

THE DEPARTMENT of the Environment and the Irish Architecture Foundation are to hold a series of public meetings to consult people about a new State policy on architecture, which will put more emphasis on environmental sustainability.

Dallas - DALLAS -- Texas Instruments (TI) Incorporated today announced that it has acquired Ireland-based Commergy Technologies, Ltd., a power supply reference design provider that specializes in energy efficient and compact architectures. The acquisition allows TI to broaden its focus on improving energy efficiency in today's end-equipment designs, especially in the areas of AC adapters and high-power-density computing and server systems.

A conference focusing on "green" building issues is expected to draw several hundred attendees to the Hawaii Convention Center Tuesday and Wednesday.

Resource Interactive: 2008-05-19

“LEED 2009” focuses on energy and carbon performance of buildings, transparent “weightings” and regional LEED credits (PRWeb May 19, 2008)

Read the full story at http://ww1.prweb.com/releases/Green_building/sustainable_construction/prweb956214.htm

The upcoming 2008 Olympic Games are inspiring some show-stopping buildings and technologies, among them the Greenpix Zero Energy Media Wall by New York based architecture & media firm Simone Giostra & Partners.

In the sea of companies proclaiming their 'green' credentials because they purchase carbon offsets, it is refreshing to hear of companies that practice real environmentally-friendly practices. Within the past month two American companies announced plans to use renewable power.

Recreational Equipment Inc., better known as REI, announced on May 15 that it will install photovoltaic solar panels in 10 percent of its stores. The stores chosen are located throughout California.

The solar panels will generate about 1.1 million kilowatt hours of electricity, and prevent 880 metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions. Photovoltaic panels can generate around 35 percent of each store's electricity needs.

Photovoltaic panels "use solar electric panels to directly convert the sun's energy into electricity," according to toolbase.org.

"We are continuously looking for ways to make the design, construction and operation of our buildings more sustainable," said Brian Unmacht, REI's executive vice president of Sales, Service, Store Development and Logistics. "This investment in solar technology will deliver both financial and environmental benefits, helping to contribute to the long-term strength of the co-op and support our goal to reduce our carbon footprint."

"It is naturally fitting that REI, whose main focus is promoting the great outdoors, would make use of renewable resources to reduce their impact on the environment and energize their stores." said Mark Walter, president of Christenson Electric, Inc. "Christenson is proud to be involved with REI's solar projects, along with our photovoltaic designer, EI Solutions."

Smart Papers Building Cogeneration Plant

The paper producer Smart Papersbroke ground on a cogeneration plant to power its Ohio factory the end of April. The plant is scheduled for completion for spring 2009. The 115 year old company, which invented coated paper for magazines, will spend $30 million on the cogeneration plant.

According to cogeneration.net, cogeneration is "the simultaneous production of power/electricity, hot water, and/or steam from one fuel." Thomas Edison designed built the first cogeneration plant in 1882. The cogeneration plant will use yard waste, industrial wood, and fiber waste combined with steam to generate 40 megawatts of power.

"SMART Papers is the first North American premium papermaker to begin the process of becoming truly 100% carbon neutral and fossil fuel free in its papermaking production," said Smart Papers Chairman Tim Needham. "This is a major environmental advance in papermaking-we have set a new standard for environmentally responsible printing papers."

"The production of these papers will leave the lightest environmental footprint of any premium coated or uncoated printing paper produced in North America," Needham "We are committed to being the green leader in the global paper manufacturing industry," Needham said.

"This move to carbon-neutral production is the centerpiece of our environmental and energy strategies. It enables us to have a future that is completely independent of volatile energy markets," said Dan Maheu, SMART Papers President. "We will reduce production costs, make carbon-neutral papers and greatly reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. We will also be a positive contributor to the green power needs of Ohio and the Midwest."

"We see our approach as the smart choice," said Maheu. "We will be a more efficient manufacturer, fiscally and environmentally responsible, and energy independent. This will benefit our business, our customers, our employees and the environment. We will always push to exceed customer expectations when it comes to environmental stewardship."

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HALIFAX, May 12 /CNW/ - Alex Wilson, President of BuildingGreen Inc. and also known as "The Dean of Green", will headline a series of workshops across Atlantic Canada, where he will speak to promine...
[in CNW Group]

Building Simulation: An International Journal
http://www.springerlink.com/content/1996-3599

Building Simulation: An International Journal will publish original, high quality, peer-reviewed research papers and review articles dealing with modeling and simulation of buildings including their systems. The goal is to promote building research by utilizing various modeling approaches. Of particular interest are papers that reflect recent development and application of modeling tools and their impacts on advances of building science and technology. Papers are submitted on:
* Theoretical and numerical modeling of building physics including heat and mass (moisture, air pollutants) transfer, air movement, architectural lighting and sound/vibration control systems.

* Simulation of performance of energy supply systems including heating, ventilation and air-conditioning systems, renewable energy systems, thermal storage, district heating and cooling, combined heating and power systems.

* Modeling health, productivity, thermal comfort of humans, fire/smoke and emergency control systems, cold/hot water supply systems, sewage systems. Simulation of building chemistry.

* Advances in modeling including optimization, product modeling, fault detection and diagnostics, inverse models.

* Advances in software interoperability, validation and calibration techniques.

* Simulation tools for sustainable buildings and experiences on teaching building simulation.