General Electric Co. is a big wind turbine manufacturer in U.S. The company has won appeals against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. for patent – infringement.

General Electric Co. is a big wind turbine manufacturer in U.S. The company has won appeals against Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. ( for patent – infringement. 

Kenya Electricity Generating Co. is a power producer. It is the biggest power producer in Kenya.

Kenya Electricity Generating Co. is a power producer. It is the biggest power producer in Kenya. The company will receive funds worth about $745 million for drilling geothermal wells. The money will be utilized over the next four years.

Spanish wind farms have produced good amount of power in February. The country has been able to meet about 22% of the country’s demand through wind farms

Spanish wind farms have produced good amount of power in February. The country has been able to meet about 22% of the country’s demand through wind farms. They have generated about 4,890 gigawatt hours of electricity in February. 

Turkey has brought in new simple rules for developing the solar power projects with less than 500 kilowatts of capacity.

Turkey has brought in new simple rules for developing the solar power projects with less than 500 kilowatts of capacity. This will help the country to install more solar power projects. 

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. is a silicon based solar module manufacturer. The company has said that it expects that the sales would rise by 56%.

Yingli Green Energy Holding Co. is a silicon based solar module manufacturer. The company has said that it expects that the sales would rise by 56%. In the last quarter the sales were down because of oversupply in the market. 

The prices of Solar panel cannot drop any further. Bloomberg says that after the prices have dropped the solar panel manufactures have been forced to cut production

The prices of Solar panel cannot drop any further. Bloomberg says that after the prices have dropped the solar panel manufactures have been forced to cut production. Now as supply is reduced the drop in price will be limited. 

Ryder System Inc. is a carrier. They are buying long haul trucks which run on natural gas. Natural gas in U.S. and other countries is cheaper than diesel

Ryder System Inc. is a carrier. They are buying long haul trucks which run on natural gas. Natural gas in U.S. and other countries is cheaper than diesel. This will help countries like U.S. to reduce consumption of imported oil. 

Britain has a policy which is favorable for renewable energy sector. This will help the country to prevent blackouts.

Britain has a policy which is favorable for renewable energy sector. This will help the country to prevent blackouts. By the year 2016 the country would have installed about 30 gigawatts of power. About two-thirds of this will be solar, wind and biomass. 

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet is in favor of giving the ministers the power to adjust the subsidies being given to renewable energy sector.

Chancellor Angela Merkel and her cabinet is in favor of giving the ministers the power to adjust the subsidies being given to renewable energy sector. People feel  this will destabilize the sector. This will come into force as the government meets the target of 2.5 to 3.5 gigawatts every year. 

First Solar Inc. makes thin film solar panels. The shares of the company fell after loss

First Solar Inc. makes thin film solar panels. The shares of the company fell . The company has reported loss. It has also reduced sales forecast for the year. 

Royal DSM NV, is a Dutch company. It makes enzymes. The company has joined hands with Poet LLC to set up cellulosic ethanol venture.

Royal DSM NV, is a Dutch company. It makes enzymes. The company has joined hands with Poet LLC to  set up cellulosic ethanol  venture. The company is looking for similar ventures in other countries like China, Brazil and Europe. 

AC Refrigerant Costs May Outmatch Texas Temperatures

A proposal by the Environmental Protection Agency that calls for less production of the most-used refrigerant in residential air conditioners in the next couple of years has sent its price soaring as much as 100 percent in a couple of weeks.

The jump has led some area service companies to hold off buying any more cylinders of R-22, sold under brand names including Freon, to see whether prices settle. Even so, companies are limited as to how much they can buy.

That's not good news for Texas homeowners, who will switch on their units during the next couple of months and when scorching weather starts to take its toll. Consumers can expect higher R-22 cost to be passed along to them.

"Yes, it's high," said Randy Walker, an independent heating and air-conditioning contractor in Arlington. "My cost more than doubled last week. I don't know where this is going to go."

R-22 is being phased out in the U.S. as part of the federal EPA's ban on ozone-depleting substances. It contains hydrochlorofluorocarbons, which long-standing studies have shown damage the ozone layer and the air. Newer air conditioners use another refrigerant that is not compatible with units made for R-22.

R-22's use is expected to be mostly gone by 2020, when production is due to be halted. Millions of homeowners still have air conditioners that use R-22. Convenience and grocery stores also have refrigerators that use it.

Supplies and production have been dwindling for several years as part of the reduction program.

But in January, the EPA proposed rule changes that call for 2012 allowances to be reduced from about 90 million pounds to 55-80 million pounds. Industry experts say producers are expecting the 55 million figure to be approved. In 2011, 100 million pounds of R-22 were manufactured.

Production would decline 11 percent in 2013 and again in 2014 under the EPA's proposal.

"Unfortunately, until the EPA publishes a final rule, we will not know how deep the eventual cuts will be," DuPont, a leading maker of R-22, says on its website. "The industry must plan for significant reductions."

Mike Cudmore, service manager at Hightower in Arlington, said the higher prices result from the EPA proposal.

"It's a commodity and it's in short supply," he said. "I expected this to happen years ago. It just never did."

Prices are said to have risen 500 percent since 2003.

Airgas, a nationwide supplier of industrial, medical and specialty gases, won't talk about current R-22 pricing, spokeswoman Nicolette Milholin said.

A recent online check of R-22 prices shows them up to $270.50 for a 30-pound cylinder, up in less than a week from $248.50. One website is selling a cylinder of the DuPont brand for $309.

Some distributors are limiting purchases to 20 cylinders. Cylinders hold 30 pounds. Residential air conditioners hold 6-15 pounds.

"I wouldn't be surprised if [the price] tripled," said James Baker, purchasing manager at AirCo in Hurst, an

air-conditioning, heating and plumbing company. Baker said he has enough to meet demand for a couple of months.

But that's because not many air conditioners are running now. When units are turned on and a leak is discovered, the cost to fill up a system may be shocking. Some companies are recommending that customers change out their systems now rather than continue to pay for repairs and the high R-22 price.

Lonny Hull, who owns a service company in Watauga, said the prices may put some homeowners in a bind. Those who have held off replacing leaking parts like evaporator coils that cost as much as $1,500, may have to. "They've been telling me to fill it up and they'll get it fixed during the winter months," Hull said. "Those days are about to change."

SOURCE: Star Telegram,

South Korea will roll out smart meters. The meters will be installed in more than half of its homes by the year 2016.

South Korea will roll out smart meters. The meters will be installed in more than half of its homes by the year 2016. This will reduce the energy cost of the electricity by half. South Korea is the fourth largest energy user in Asia. 

Steel, aluminum and copper producers of Australia are among the highest greenhouse gas producers in the country which will receive free carbon permits

Steel, aluminum and copper producers of Australia are among the highest greenhouse gas producers in the country which will receive free carbon permits. This will be under the anti – pollution tax. This will begin on July 1. 

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. is based out to Tokyo. The company has achieved a efficiency of 17.8% for a thin film solar panel.

Showa Shell Sekiyu K.K. is based out to Tokyo. The company has achieved a efficiency of 17.8% for a thin film solar panel. The expects it will be able to manufacture solar panels using this process in its plant in Japan. 

The Nuclear Energy Institute and the National Mining Association have sued the U.S. government for a ban the federal government has put in place mining uranium on federal land around Grand Canyon

The Nuclear Energy Institute and the National Mining Association have sued the U.S. government for a ban the federal government has put in place mining uranium on federal land around Grand Canyon. The bodies represent the nuclear power companies and mining industry.  

Wind turbine maker Sinovel Wind Group Co. has filed a complaint against American Superconductor Corp. for selling substandard parts.

Sinovel Wind Group Co. has filed a complaint against American Superconductor Corp. The company claims that American Superconductor Corp. had sold Sinovel substandard parts. The complaint will be heard by Beijing Arbitration Committee. Sinovel Wind Group Co. makes wind turbines.

China based JA Solar Holdings Co. expects to have sold more solar panels than expected

JA Solar Holdings Co. is based out of China. The company makes solar panels. The company said that the sales for the fourth quarter would be more than what the company had predicted earlier. The company has sold about 390 megawatts to 410 megawatts of its products.

Johnson Controls Inc. has been named as the primary source of lead for the lead poising case in Shanghai

Johnson Controls Inc. has been named as the primary source of lead for the lead poising case in Shanghai. The incident which took place last year had sickened 49 children. This is denied by the company. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to preparing to give ministers to work on subsidies for renewable energy in Germany

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to preparing to give ministers to work on subsidies for renewable energy in Germany. Germany is planning to cut renewable energy subsidy which industry is saying will affect the financial viability of projects. 

National Australia Bank Ltd. and HSBC Holdings Plc are a part of a body which is in favor of selling debt to fund climate change initiatives.

National Australia Bank Ltd. and HSBC Holdings Plc are a part of a body which is in favor of selling debt to fund climate change initiatives. They are planning to sell green Islamic bonds in some markets for Middle East .

There is an event in the Washington where in Southern Co. and Arch Coal Inc. will be joining hands with green groups for oil recovery from old wells.

There is an event in the Washington where in Southern Co. and Arch Coal Inc. will be joining hands with green groups. They will be advocating the case for enhanced oil recovery using the old wells. This will boost domestic oil production and reduce emission of carbon dioxide and GHG.

Q-Cells SE is a solar cell maker. It is the largest solar cell maker in the world. The shares of the firm rose in stock market trading

Q-Cells SE is a solar cell maker. It is the largest solar cell maker in the world. The shares of the firm rose in stock market trading. The company has been allowed with more time to payback the 200 million euros ( $269 million ) of bonds. 

PyroGenesis Begins Shipment of its Novel Plasma-based Ozone Depleting Substance Destruction System to Recyclage Écosolution's Facility

PyroGenesis Begins Shipment of its Novel Plasma-based Ozone Depleting Substance Destruction System to Recyclage Écosolution's Facility

MONTREAL, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ("PyroGenesis" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PYR), an environmental solutions company that designs, develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, today announced that it has started to ship its plasma-based Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) Destruction System to Recyclage ÉcoSolutions Inc.'s ("RES") Laval facility. Shipment and installation of PyroGenesis' state-of-the-art, patent pending ODS Destruction System will continue through to March, 2012. Commissioning, start up and operation of this system is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2012.

The joint venture agreement between PyroGenesis and RES, signed in May, 2011, will generate $2.65 million in revenue for PyroGenesis, and is part of a larger $4.0 million ODS destruction program initiated by RES.

PyroGenesis' technology will allow RES to safely destroy ozone depleting substances, specifically halocarbons, at RES' Laval-based appliance dismantling and recycling plant. Presently, halocarbons extracted during the recycling process are shipped to remote offsite locations for disposal.

"We are excited to be advancing our partnership with Recyclage ÉcoSolutions, an established recycling

leader," said P. Peter Pascali, President and Chief Executive Officer of PyroGenesis. "This partnership has given us the opportunity to validate our technology's efficacy and economic value in halocarbon waste management, an area with substantial potential for our Company going forward. In addition, the modifications we have made to our existing technology for the purposes of this partnership should broaden the applicability of our plasma waste destruction technology into other industrial sectors."

Alain Boisvert, President of Recyclage ÉcoSolutions Inc., commented, "The forward looking technology we are investing in allows RES to offer an integrated service to our clients and responds to a crucial need for a safe and sound halocarbon disposal option in Canada, and in emerging countries."

According to RES, 2009 Canadian sales of refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners exceeded 2.1 million units, adding to the 6.2 million sold prior to 1995, and to the 23.6 million units sold since 1995. More than 950,000 units are disposed of yearly, which represents more than two million tons of CO2 equivalent that can potentially be captured through the optimal removal and management of the halocarbons.

SOURCE: NewsWire

South Korea had plans to approve the cap and trade system. The country has failed to approve the program.

South Korea had plans to approve the cap and trade system. The country has failed to approve the program. South Korea is the largest growing emitter of greenhouse gasses among the industrial democracies.

The Real Cost of Obama's Renewable Fetish

Since the Solyndra bankruptcy, the Obama administration has been taking a lot of heat over its handling of the energy sector. Just days ago, Rick Santorum said Obama is pushing a "radical environmentalist" agenda and that the president's environmental beliefs are a "theology" -- whatever that means. Romney has attacked renewable energy as "time and money wasted."

It's easy to paint a broad stroke of the energy picture when oil prices are rising and bankruptcies such as Solyndra and Beacon Power are in the headlines. But political candidates and newscasters rarely take the time to show the complete picture. The fact of the matter is, the cost of Obama's renewable energy investments has been relatively small when compared to the national budget. And it pales in comparison to the money the Chinese government gives to renewable energy companies -- the same companies who now, incidentally, dominate manufacturing in the fastest-growing part of energy: solar.

Real dollars and cents
The Department of Energy's loan guarantee portfolio, which includes Solyndra and Beacon Power, was recently reviewed by an independent consultant to determine credit characteristics and risk of loss. The findings might surprise you.

The program has provided $23.8 billion in loan guarantees. Only $8.3 billion of that has been drawn, and the subsidy cost provided by the government to the program amounted to $2.7 billion to $2.9 billion. The low overall cost is because most of the money was provided to extremely low-risk utility renewable projects.

The federal government's 1603 Treasury Program, a cash grant program for renewable energy developers, helped 22,000 renewable projects at a total cost of $1.75 billion. The program was allowed to expire at the end of 2011, although President Obama wanted to revive it in his latest budget.

What have these subsidies gotten us?

Growing renewable energy sector
Judging exactly what we've gotten from government subsidies is nearly impossible. But there is evidence that the industries that were supported are at least making a strong contribution to the economy.

• Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that the loan program is supporting $40 billion in private investment and 60,000 direct jobs.
• First Solar's (Nasdaq: FSLR ) $646 million loan guarantee for the $1.36 billion Antelope Valley Solar Ranch One will power 75,000 homes at peak production. The company also has partial loan guarantees of $1.46 billion to build two Desert Sunlight projects totaling 550 MW.
• The $1.237 billion loan guarantee for the 250 MW California Solar Ranch, now owned by NRG Energy (NYSE: NRG ) , will be used to install SunPower's (Nasdaq: SPWR ) high-efficiency panels and is projected to power 59,000 houses annually.
• The solar industry now employs over 100,000 people nationwide.
• The U.S. was a $1.9 billion net exporter of solar products, driven by capital equipment from GT Advanced Technologies (Nasdaq: GTAT ) and others. Ironically, this will likely be a short-term phenomenon because we're shipping manufacturing capabilities to China.

It isn't just U.S. companies that are creating jobs here in the U.S. First Solar and SunPower still dominate the solar landscape here, but Suntech Power (NYSE: STP ) now runs a manufacturing facility in Arizona to supply the growing U.S. market. Then there are companies like SolarCity who are installing modules on rooftops around the country and creating a majority of the jobs in the solar industry.

What it all means
Whether or not it's the federal government's role to guarantee loans for specific companies or subsidize an industry is up for debate, and it's not what I'm trying to point out in this article. I just want to put a scale on the debate.

At a cost of around $5 billion over the last three years, there are probably more important things to be debating, especially considering how fast the industry is growing and creating jobs. Plus, renewable energy costs are falling so fast that renewable subsidies will dry up in coming years as grid parity is reached across the country -- something that most subsidies never do.

Sometimes it's important to keep political rhetoric and government spending in perspective. President Obama may have a soft spot for renewable energy, but the support that's been given to these projects is pretty small in the grand scheme of things.

Source: Article by Travis Hoium published in the Motley Fool on 27 Feb 2012

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/02/27/the-real-cost-of-obamas-renewable-fetish.aspx

RWE AG owns the Tilbury power station in southeast England, the largest biomass plant in Europe. The plant caught fire.

RWE AG owns the Tilbury power station in southeast England. This is the largest biomass plant in Europe. The plant caught fire. The fire broke out in the plants wood-pellet stockpiles.

Warren Buffett had bought bonds in the company Energy Future Holdings Corporation

Warren Buffett had bought bonds in the company Energy Future Holdings Corporation. The value of the investment is about $2 billion. However, after the natural gas prices have dropped the value of the stood at $878 million during end of December.

Electricite de France SA ( EDF ) is a nuclear utility firm. The company has got court approval to take over Photowatt. Photowatt is a solar panel maker. The firm will take ownership on March 1 2012.

Electricite de France SA ( EDF ) is a nuclear utility firm. The company has got court approval to take over Photowatt. Photowatt is a solar panel maker. The firm will take ownership on March 1 2012.  

Jose Manuel Entrecanales is the chairman of Acciona SA. He has said that the technology to capture solar energy with mirrors have become cheaper than photovoltaic solar cells in some parts of the world

Jose Manuel Entrecanales is the chairman of Acciona SA. He has said that the technology to capture solar energy with mirrors have become cheaper than photovoltaic solar cells in some parts of the world.

The U.K. government is planning to start a contest for carbon capture and storage technology

The U.K. government is planning to start a contest for  carbon capture and storage technology. The contest would be worth around 1 billion pounds ($1.6 billion). This was disclosed by Energy Minister Charles Hendry.

Copper consumption may grow in China. The demand for copper will rise from the renewable energy sector and also the demand from special industries will rise

Copper consumption may grow in China. The demand for copper will rise from the renewable energy sector and also the demand from special industries will rise. It is estimated that consumption will grow 6-7% in the year 2013-2014. 

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government is planning to reduce solar energy subsidies. However the government is facing stiff opposition because cuts will force German companies to shut down.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government is planning to reduce solar energy subsidies. However the government is facing stiff opposition because cuts will force German companies to shut down.

BP Plc. it trying to reach to a settlement with business and individuals over the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill

BP Plc. it trying to reach to a settlement with business and individuals over the Gulf of Mexico Oil spill. The settlement of around $14 billion excludes the money that BP might need to spend to settle with state and federal government. 

Kolkata based Alex Green is a renewable energy developer has won a contract to develop solar power project in Odisha

Alex Green is a renewable energy developer. The Kolkata-based developer of clean energy plants. The company has won a contract to develop a 5 MW solar power project in an auction. The auction will be in the eastern Odisha state. The company has offered record cheap prices .

CPFL Energias Renovaveis SA, is the renewable energy organization. It has been formed by CPFL Energia SA and ERSA-Energias Renovaveis SA

CPFL Energias Renovaveis SA, is the renewable energy organization. It has been formed by CPFL Energia SA and ERSA-Energias Renovaveis SA. The company has decided to buy four wind farms in Brazil. The company will double their renewable energy generation capacity. 

'Self-Chilling' Drinks Can Launched, Cooled by CO2

A US firm claims to have launched the world’s first ‘cool on demand’ beverage can, cooled by CO2

US technology firm the Joseph Company International has unveiled an energy drink in what it claims is the worlds first self-chilling can, featuring a heat exchanger and cooled using carbon dioxide. West Coast Chill is a new drink devised to be sold in a can which uses Joseph’s ChillCan technology, whereby a refrigerant is released from a separate compartment in the can at the press of a button.

The ChillCan concept was originaly released to rave reviews almost 20 years ago, using R134a as its refrigerant. Although it won a number of awards, including one from the US army, the ChillCan was eventually withdrawn on the verge of a supply deal with Pepsi, because of concerns at the HFC content. Now almost a decade of R&D later, Joseph says it has completed the approvals necessary for using the natural refrigerant.

Although the firm is keeping the precise technology under wraps, its patents are believed to include a novel heat exchanger and the vortex dissipation of the gas, which is kept under pressure in a compartment at the bottom of the can.

SOURCE: RAC Magazine, By Andrew Gaved ,

AT&T has joined hands with BSR. BSR is a sustainable business strategist. The company is developing an eco- rating system

AT&T has joined hands with BSR. BSR is a sustainable business strategist. The company is developing an eco- rating system. This will be for all AT&T branded mobile phones. The implementation is expected to be few months. 

The North American Council for Freight Efficiency ( NACFE ) has released a report titled “2011 Fleet Fuel Efficiency Benchmark Study.”

The North American Council for Freight Efficiency ( NACFE ) has released a report titled “2011 Fleet Fuel Efficiency Benchmark Study.”  The report has the data from eight North American fleets and their adoption of fuel efficiency methods. The report compares the benchmark data from eight companies. 

Joule X is an Energy management firm. The company has released the new version of JouleX Energy Manager platform

Joule X is an Energy management firm. The company has released the new version of JouleX Energy Manager platform. The new version 3.0  has centralized reporting, management and scalability. 

Caesars Entertainment has reduced water gas consumption as well as its natural gas consumption.

Caesars Entertainment has reduced water gas consumption as well as its natural gas consumption. Water consumption has been reduced by 1.6 % and natural gas consumption has been reduced by 0.5% in the year 2011 when compared to the year 2010. 

Cargill is based out of Canada. It is a agribusiness firm. The company has invested about $37.8 million which is equivalent to $36 million Canadian dollars in a waste-to-energy project

Cargill is based out of Canada. It is a agribusiness firm. The company has invested about $37.8 million which is equivalent to $36 million Canadian dollars in a waste-to-energy project. This will be located at its High River Alberta facility which processes beef. 

Ameresco is a Energy efficiency and renewable energy company, it has joined hands with Philadelphia Water Department ( PWD ) to build and maintain a wastewater biogas-to-energy facility

Ameresco  is a Energy efficiency and renewable energy company. The firm has joined hands with Philadelphia Water Department ( PWD ) . Together they will design, build and maintain a wastewater biogas – to – energy facility. The project will cost $47.5 million. The project  is expected to generate about 5.6 MW of power. 

APTwater’s ARoTech module has been certified by NSF. The module can treat oxidized contaminants like nitrate, perchlorate, selenium, and chromium ( VI)

APTwater’s ARoTech module has been certified by NSF. The module can treat oxidized contaminants like nitrate, perchlorate, selenium, and chromium ( VI). ARoTech process uses hydrogen – fed biological processes. 

Thomson Reuters Point Carbon has found out that volume of carbon to be traded globally will grow b in 2012

Thomson Reuters Point Carbon has found out that volume of carbon to be traded globally will grow b in 2012. It will grow by 13%. The volume would reach to 9.5 Gt CO2e.  This volume will increase even though the prices will be depressed in the current year. 

KPMG Summit: Business Perspective for Sustainable Growth: UN Secretary – General Ban Ki-moon has asked the business to follow sustainability and other social initiatives in their strategies

UN Secretary – General Ban Ki-moon has asked the business to follow sustainability and other social initiatives in their strategies. He said that most of the world social and environmental systems are degenerating sue to the pressures of inequality, prosperity and stability. He was speaking at the KPMG Summit: Business Perspective for Sustainable Growth.

Organizations who participate in the EPA’s Energy Star Leaders program have improved the energy efficiency of their buildings and 90% have met the objective of Better Buildings Challenge by President Barack Obama

Organizations who participate in the EPA’s Energy Star Leaders program have improved the energy efficiency of their buildings. Nearly half of them have improved it by 20% or more. Nearly 90% of the organizations have already met the objective of Better Buildings Challenge. President Barack Obama had asked companies to improve energy efficiency of their buildings by 20%.

Apple is building a fuel cell installation at the Maiden center in North Carolina.. This fuel cell installation will be non-utility

Apple is building a fuel cell installation. This fuel cell installation will be non-utility. The system will be 5 MW and will be located at the Maiden center in North Carolina. It will be powered by biogas and it will generate about 40 million kWh every year. 

PyroGenesis Begins Shipment of its Novel Plasma-based Ozone Depleting Substance Destruction System to Recyclage Écosolution's Facility

MONTREAL, Jan. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - PyroGenesis Canada Inc. ("PyroGenesis" or the "Company") (TSX-V: PYR), an environmental solutions company that designs, develops and manufactures plasma waste-to-energy systems and plasma torch products, today announced that it has started to ship its plasma-based Ozone Depleting Substance (ODS) Destruction System to Recyclage ÉcoSolutions Inc.'s ("RES") Laval facility. Shipment and installation of PyroGenesis' state-of-the-art, patent pending ODS Destruction System will continue through to March, 2012. Commissioning, start up and operation of this system is expected to commence in the second quarter of 2012.

The joint venture agreement between PyroGenesis and RES, signed in May, 2011, will generate $2.65 million in revenue for PyroGenesis, and is part of a larger $4.0 million ODS destruction program initiated by RES.

PyroGenesis' technology will allow RES to safely destroy ozone depleting substances, specifically halocarbons, at RES' Laval-based appliance dismantling and recycling plant. Presently, halocarbons extracted during the recycling process are shipped to remote offsite locations for disposal.

"We are excited to be advancing our partnership with Recyclage ÉcoSolutions, an established recycling

leader," said P. Peter Pascali, President and Chief Executive Officer of PyroGenesis. "This partnership has given us the opportunity to validate our technology's efficacy and economic value in halocarbon waste management, an area with substantial potential for our Company going forward. In addition, the modifications we have made to our existing technology for the purposes of this partnership should broaden the applicability of our plasma waste destruction technology into other industrial sectors."

Alain Boisvert, President of Recyclage ÉcoSolutions Inc., commented, "The forward looking technology we are investing in allows RES to offer an integrated service to our clients and responds to a crucial need for a safe and sound halocarbon disposal option in Canada, and in emerging countries."

According to RES, 2009 Canadian sales of refrigerators, freezers and air conditioners exceeded 2.1 million units, adding to the 6.2 million sold prior to 1995, and to the 23.6 million units sold since 1995. More than 950,000 units are disposed of yearly, which represents more than two million tons of CO2 equivalent that can potentially be captured through the optimal removal and management of the halocarbons.

SOURCE: NewsWire

Ikea now consumes about 51% of Renewable energy . This was revealed by the company’s sustainability report in 2011

Ikea now consumes about 51% of Renewable energy . This was revealed by the company’s sustainability report in 2011. In the year 2010 the renewable energy consumed was 47%.  The company has about 60 wind turbines and 40 solar arrays. These systems generated about 152 GWH of electricity. 

Cardinal Health says changed is packaging for surgical gloves. This new package is at least 30% less than the competitors’ tall packaging configurations

Cardinal Health says changed is packaging for surgical gloves. This new package is at least 30% less than the competitors’ tall packaging configurations. This used about 15% less cardboard. The Triflex powdered surgical gloves and Protexis powder-free surgical gloves are the industry’s only half-folded format. The new package will help the customers to reduce the environmental footprint and minimize waste. 

The Biotechnology Industry Organization ( BIO ) has asked EPA to reject a petition which has been submitted by petroleum Industry for changing the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS)

The Biotechnology Industry Organization ( BIO ) has asked EPA to reject a petition which has been submitted by petroleum Industry . This petition was submitted to change the Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS) for 2011. BIO says the acceptance of biofuels was at a critical juncture and changing the rules of game would affect it adversely. 

EcoInsight has released the latest version of its commercial energy audit tool for iPad

EcoInsight has released the latest version of its commercial energy audit tool for iPad. The tool is free and the version released is beta version 2.0.0. The mobile app collects building data about lighting, occupancy etc. 

Karen Hamilton is the vice president of sustainability at Unilever. She was speaking at a Green Monday event earlier this month which was on sustainability

Karen Hamilton is the vice president of sustainability at Unilever. She was speaking at a Green Monday event earlier this month which was on sustainability. She was saying that organizations which are able to collaborate will grow in the next 24 months. 

Molycorp facility in Mountain Pass, California will become zero wastewater discharge

Molycorp is a based out of California. It is a rare earth mining company. The company has a facility in Mountain Pass, California. The facility will become zero wastewater discharge.  The project cost is about $895 million. It is a sequential process. 

Apple has informed the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs it is open to independent environmental audits for its suppliers in China like Foxconn Technology

Apple has informed the Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs it is open to independent environmental audits for its suppliers. Apples suppliers are generally based out of China. The environmental examination would be in addition to the probe that is going on the supplier like Foxconn Technology about working conditions. 

Researchers from Dartmouth have found that organic brown rice syrups which are commercially available have arsenic which is more than that is permissible by EPA

Researchers from Dartmouth have found that organic brown rice syrups which are commercially available have arsenic which is more than that is permissible by EPA. The infant milk products which contain the syrup also have high level of arsenic.