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10
Apr

EPA Awards Over $9 Million to Universities for Research to Help Predict the Implications of Chemicals on Human Health and the Environment

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Posted: April 10, 2014

WASHINGTON – Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced research grants to Arizona State University and the University of California, Santa Barbara to better understand the impacts of chemicals and nanomaterials throughout their life cycle—from design, manufacture, use and disposal.

“EPA is committed to understanding how chemicals and materials can affect human health and the environment,” said Lek Kadeli, acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Research and Development. “This research will advance the science of chemical life cycle assessments and provide tools to design safer chemicals, while enabling a healthy economy and safer society.”

Arizona State University’s research will evaluate the trade-offs between using nanomaterials to improve the functionality of consumer products and the potential risks to humans and the environment. The University of California, Santa Barbara’s research will develop an online tool to evaluate life cycle impacts of chemicals which industry, academia and other decision makers can use to make more informed decisions about chemical and product design.
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10
Apr

EPA Strategic Plan Charts Direction for Next Four Years

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Posted: April 10, 2014

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued its fiscal year (FY) 2014 to 2018 Strategic Plan today, which provides a blueprint for advancing EPA’s mission to protect public health and the environment across the country.

The plan envisions a new era of partnerships with state and local governments, tribes, federal agencies, businesses, and industry leaders to achieve environmental benefits in a pragmatic, collaborative way.

“EPA will address the increasingly complex array of environmental challenges we face by advancing a rigorous research and development agenda that informs and supports our policy and decision making with timely and innovative technology and sustainable solutions,” said EPA Administrator Gina McCarthy. “We are heeding President Obama’s call for action on climate change, the biggest challenge for our generation and those to come by building strong partnerships at home and around the world. We are working to mitigate this threat by reducing carbon pollution and other greenhouse-gas emissions and by focusing on efficiency improvements in homes, buildings and appliances.”

The five strategic goals in EPA’s plan include:

• Addressing climate change and improving air quality;
• Protecting America’s waters;
• Cleaning up communities and advancing sustainable development;
• Ensuring the safety of chemicals and preventing pollution; and
• Protecting human health and the environment by enforcing laws and assuring compliance.
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08
Apr

Product Claims 10% Fuel Savings

Categories: Fleets
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Posted: April 8, 2014
Source: Environmental Leader.com

DriveLogik says its new product can provide fleets with up to a 10 percent fuel savings per vehicle and reduced maintenance costs.  A hardware package and monthly subscription-based software reporting includes driver performance reports to help identify driver performance. Customized instant alerts via mobile devices also identify major driving events.

DriveLogik says a long-haul truck driving 112,000 miles per year can save an average of $5,500 in fuel costs. DriveLogik’s fleet management, tracking and reporting is powered by RiskLogik’s TrackLogik software.
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07
Apr

Solar Panels Could Beam Power From Space Down to Earth, U.S. Navy Says

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Posted: April 7, 2014
Source: Yale Environment 360
Researchers from the U.S. military are developing technology that would harvest solar energy in space and beam it down to Earth, according to the Naval Research Laboratory. Although the concept seems futuristic, the Navy is currently testing two prototype designs, both of which combine solar panels with electronic components that convert the energy to radio waves and transmit it to Earth. Eventually, engineers plan to use robotic vehicles to transport the panels to space and assemble them into a 1-kilometer wide satellite orbiting the planet. Theoretically, harvesting solar energy in space is more efficient than on Earth, because panels can collect sunlight around the clock and regardless of weather conditions. The U.S. military, currently the world’s largest oil consumer, is eager to develop the technology to save money on fuel and simplify military deployments. But the private sector also has plans for the technology: California utility company Pacific Gas & Electric plans to buy space solar power from Solaren within the next two years, and a Japanese company recently announced plans to build a 11,000-mile solar strip around the moon to capture solar energy.

04
Apr

Green Hotel Webinar Series

Categories: Hospitality
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Dear Colleague,

Join hoteliers and other professionals in this six-session webinar series. It’s designed to help you cut your property’s operating costs, attract customers and improve environmental performance.

Participants will learn how U.S. hotels reduce energy, water, waste and toxins; and get recognized for doing so. Each session will have three expert speakers.

Those who attend all six sessions will be acknowledged with a Certificate of Completion.

The webinars are funded by the U.S. EPA. They are organized by Dan Ruben of Boston Green Tourism and Peter Cooke of the Manomet Center for Conservation Sciences.

Sign up for as many sessions as you can!

View the webinars here!

02
Apr

Washoe County Health District Wins Prestigious EPA Clean Air Excellence Award

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Washoe one of nine winners nationwide

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today is presenting the 2014 Clean Air Excellence Award to the Washoe County Health District’s Air Quality Management Division for their innovative work launching the “Keep It Clean” public awareness campaign.

The campaign increases public awareness and engages the citizens of Reno, Sparks and Washoe County, on air quality issues. There are three major community action components to Keep It Clean: Know the Code, a woodburning advisory program; Rack Em Up, an alternative transportation program; and nOzone, a smog prevention program. Each of these encourages emissions reductions and empowers citizens to take positive actions to reduce ozone and particulate matter throughout the year.

“Washoe County’s clean air awareness campaign is helping citizens to take simple steps – like bike riding to school and reducing wood burning – that reduce ozone and particulate matter year round,” said Jared Blumenfeld, EPA’s Regional Administrator for the Pacific Southwest

“It’s a significant achievement for anyone to receive this award and it’s really something for a small County staff of 18 to be recognized,” said Washoe County Health District AQMD Director Charlene Albee.

From improving indoor air quality in Tribal communities in the Northwest to installing solar panels in Tennessee, award winners demonstrate a commitment to improving the air that we breathe and addressing climate change. This year’s other winners are:

Clean Air Technology
Montgomery County Resource Recovery Facility – Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority, and Covanta Energy – Dickerson, MD
Community Action
Regional 8-Hour Ozone Flex Planning – Central Texas Clean Air Coalition – Austin, TX
Ducktown 28-Kilowatt Solar Array – City of Ducktown – Ducktown, TN
Education Outreach
Idle Free Louisville – Kentuckiana Air Education – Louisville, KY
Improving Tribal Indoor Air Quality — Tribal Healthy Homes Northwest – Issaquah, WA
Regulation/Policy Innovations
Seaport Air Quality Program – Port of Seattle – Seattle, WA
Transportation Efficiency Innovations
Clean School Bus NC: Kids Breathe Here – North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources and Department of Public Instruction – Raleigh, NC
FPL’s Clean Fleet and Consumer Education Program – Florida Power & Light Company – Juno, FL
Thomas W. Zosel Outstanding Individual Achievement Award
Richard A. Valentinetti – Vermont Agency of Natural Resources

For more information on Washoe County Health District’s campaign and graphics, please visit: www.ourcleanair.com
More information: http://www.epa.gov/air/cleanairawards/index.html

Media Contact: Margot Perez-Sullivan, perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

24
Mar

25 Grants Approved for Natural Gas Vehicle Conversion in Pennsylvania

Categories: Fleets
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Posted: March 24, 2014
Source: Environmental Protection Online.com

Act 13 has helped increase protection for private water supplies and allowed the Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to give larger fines. The Act also allowed DEP to start the Natural Gas Energy Development program, which distributes $20 million in grants over three years to help pay for natural gas vehicle conversion costs for fleet vehicles.

“Act 13 not only strengthened oversight of the drilling industry, it allows us to continue growing jobs while cleaning the air at the same time,” Corbett said.  “Natural gas, particularly from the shale formations here in Pennsylvania, is an abundant, affordable, domestic fuel that is putting this country on a path to energy independence.”

The $6.3 million that is currently being awarded goes to 19 companies and organizations making the switch to natural gas. Another $1.4 million, for a total of $7.7 million, will be given to more companies in later summer.

For more information about Act 13 grants, please click here.

19
Mar

EPA Celebrates 10 Years of SmartWay Partnerships

Categories: Fleets, News
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Posted: March 19, 2014

Voluntary program saves companies billions in fuel costs while cutting pollution

WASHINGTON — EPA’s SmartWay Transport Partnership is celebrating 10 years as a market-driven initiative that empowers businesses to move goods in the cleanest most energy-efficient way possible, saving businesses money while protecting public health and fighting climate change. Over the last 10 years, SmartWay has eliminated 51.6 million metric tons of carbon pollution, resulting in savings of more than120 million barrels of oil, and $16.8 billion in fuel costs.

SmartWay helps businesses move more goods more miles with lower emissions and less energy by helping accelerate the availability, adoption and market penetration of advanced fuel efficient technologies and operational practices in the freight supply chain, while lowering costs and improving environmental performance.

“SmartWay’s success over the past decade means cleaner air for Americans to breathe, and also lower shipping costs for businesses – a win-win,” said Janet McCabe, Acting Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “The partnership uses innovative technology to help national and multinational corporations operate a more connected, clean and climate-friendly global freight network.”
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12
Mar

Consider all the Costs of Compressed Air

Categories: Auto Repair, Fleets
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Posted: March 12, 2014
Kaeser: blog for the compressed air user
Source: Susan Hodges, System Design Engineer, Kaeser Compressors, Inc.

The purchase price of a compressor is an important consideration when comparing new equipment options, but it’s only one of several cost components that affect the overall cost of owning and operating an air system. Low price options often have higher life cycle costs.

Installation, energy, maintenance and repair, as well as lost time and materials each greatly impact the overall bottom line of your compressed air system. Be sure to consider each of these other cost drivers as you are making a purchasing decision. In many cases, the benefits in one area outweigh the costs in another and vice versa.

Installation: The equipment you select directly impacts installation costs. It’s common for buyers to build separate rooms or structures to isolate noisy, vibrating compressors from employees and customers for the sake of safety and comfort. When selecting equipment, it is always a good idea to review the sound pressure level, general environmental requirements, such as air intake and discharge, and general electrical requirements of the equipment. Choices in piping also impact installation time and labor.
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