Climate Savers Partner With U.S. EPA and in China

The Climate Savers Computing Initiative (CSCI) announced this week two significant partnerships: one finds the group joining with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to speed the adoption of Energy Star-rated products, and another marks the group's biggest step into China to date.

Over the next three years, the CSCI will work with the EPA to develop technical specifications and promote the use of energy-efficient PCs and servers and the use of power management to enterprises and consumers.

TVA Considers Energy Conservation Plan

Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority reviewed a staff recommendation to cut electricity growth in the region by about 30 percent over the next five years.

As a result, the TVA board will vote next month on a draft plan to promote energy conservation during peak demand periods through education, time-of-date rates and other new incentives.

The goal of the proposed energy efficiency plan is to cut TVA’s peak electricity demand by 1,400 megawatts by the end of fiscal 2012.

Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions Through Energy Efficiency

The EPA has released a report titled "Profiles in Leadership" that highlights 74 award-winning organizations across many sectors of the U.S. economy, including schools, hospitals, real estate, manufacturing, chemicals, and home building.

The award winners were selected from more than 12,000 organizations that partner in the Energy Star program. Through their pioneering efforts, the winners have made substantial reductions in greenhouse gas emissions by means of energy efficiency and awareness. They include large and small organizations and those with long track records of success as well as those that are quickly excelling in their partnership.

Energy-Efficiency Bill Wins House Panel Approval

A bill that would let cities and counties help homeowners and businesses take out loans to install solar, wind and energy-efficiency improvements won unanimous approval Tuesday in the House Transportation Committee.

House Bill 1350, sponsored by House Majority Leader Alice Madden, D-Boulder, and Sen. Chris Romer, D-Denver, would let people who invest in renewable-energy and efficiency improvements pay back loans through a property lien over 20 years.

HP Workstations Rated Environmentally Friendly

HP today announced that its entire personal workstation line has become the first in the category to achieve a “Gold” listing – the highest rating products can achieve – in the Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT™).

With the addition of the workstations, HP now has the largest number of EPEAT Gold registered products in the industry.

Already recognized for their advanced performance and tuning, the HP workstations’ environmental attributes include low energy consumption, use of environmentally sensitive materials and a reuse- and recycle-friendly design.

India assisting EU to combat Climate Change

India is assisting European Union countries to meet their targets in reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the Energy Trading System (ETS). The protocol was set up in 1997 to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that are warming the earth’s atmosphere and leading to climate change.

The European Union Emission Trading Scheme (EU ETS) is the largest multinational emissions trading scheme in the world and is a major pillar of EU climate policy.

The Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is an arrangement under the Kyoto Protocol allowing industrialized countries with a greenhouse gas reduction commitment to invest in projects that reduce emissions in developing countries as an alternative to more expensive emission reductions in their own countries.

Food Lion Earns Energy Star

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recognized Food Lion LLC with a seventh Energy Star award, the most such awards ever received by a grocer. The award, for sustained excellence, will be presented to Food Lion on April 1, during a ceremony in Washington.

According to the EPA, the 2008 Sustained Excellence Awards are given to a select group of organizations that have exhibited outstanding leadership year after year. These winners have reduced greenhouse gas emissions by setting and achieving aggressive goals, employing innovative approaches and showing others what can be achieved through energy efficiency.

These awards recognize ongoing leadership across the ENERGY STAR program including energy-efficient products, services, new homes and buildings in the commercial, industrial and public sectors. Award winners are selected from more than 9,000 organizations that participate in the program.