CEIL Blog Friday Wrap-Up

Posted on October 29, 2010 by Robert Hash

In case you missed any posts from earlier this week, we’ve collected them below in a handy list for you!

Don’t forget to check out the latest green government news on the CEIL website!

Have you signed up for the CEIL Green Government Update e-newsletter?

Don’t miss another issue! Sign up here!

Alternative Fuels and Hybrid Cars: Ford and General Motors at GOVgreen

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Robert Hash

Alexandria, VA (November 1, 2010) GOVgreen Conference and Exposition announced the addition of three eco-friendly car displays at the upcoming event (November 9 -10) at the Washington, DC convention center.

Attendees have the chance to check out the new hybrid and fuel cell-powered vehicles first-hand on the exhibit floor. Ford will be exhibiting their Ford Fusion Hybrid and General Motors will be exhibiting their 2011 Chevrolet Volt and the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell. Ford and Chevy join more than 100 other companies that sell green goods or services to the federal government at the GOVgreen Exposition. GOVgreen also features technical workshops presented by industry experts, new product display (Extreme Green Pavilion), Carbon Offset Pavilion—and more. GOVgreen is FREE to military and government professionals but open to all. Click here for an exposition pass or visit www.GOVgreen.org.

Ford Fusion Hybrid
The Ford Fusion is a hybrid that can be driven in electric mode or combustion engine. The car is powered by an electric motor with an innovative nickel-metal hydride (NiMH) battery and the next generation of the 2.5L Atkinson-Cycle I-4 gas engine. Fusion Hybrid can travel up to 47 miles per hour in electric vehicle mode alone, a higher speed than any other hybrid vehicle, according to Ford. The gas engine kicks in below 47 mph when extra power is needed and is the main source of power above 47 mph. The gas engine and the electric motor combine to deliver a power rating of 191 net horsepower.

2011 Chevrolet Volt
The Volt is a four-seat, four-door “series plug-in hybrid” hatchback with a lithium-ion battery pack that can power the car’s 149-horsepower (111-kilowatt) electric motor by itself for an estimated 40 miles in the city. After that, the gasoline-or E85-powered inline-4 engine is used to supply electricity to the motor for as many as 300 additional miles. A regenerative braking system converts energy to help recharge the battery. The 16 kWh lithium-ion battery pack is backed by a 100,000/ 8-year warranty. Battery recharges in about 3 hours. The Volt has a top speed of 100 mph using battery power, according to Chevrolet.

Chevrolet Equinox Fuel Cell
The fuel cell electric Equinox (not yet for sale) runs on electricity created by an on-board fuel cell stack. The only emissions are wisps of water vapor. The Equinox carries about 4.2 kilograms of compressed hydrogen on board, enough for about 168 miles before a five-to-seven minute refill is required. Regenerative braking recharges the vehicle battery and extends the driving range. The Equinox Fuel Cell car has been tested through a three-city, real-world test program that resulted in over 1 million miles driven. In addition to individual drivers, Equinox vehicles are on loan to celebrities, a range of government and non-government entities, including the U.S. Postal Service which has delivered more than 700,000 pieces of mail in the Equinox. Other vehicles are used by Virgin Atlantic and Disney.

For more information contact: Lindsey Gilroy, at info@CEILeadership.org or at 703-706-8216 or visit www.CEILeadership.org.

GOVgreen Conference and Exposition
CEIL is sponsoring the GOVgreen Conference and Exposition (GOVgreen.org). GOVgreen— open to all and free to government and military professionals—is two days of education and an exhibit floor all focused on green government programs and solutions. Register at GOVgreen.org for the event, November 9-10 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

About CEIL
Inform, Educate, Enable.

The Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership (www.CEILeadership.org) is an independent organization that facilitates information and education exchange among government and military professionals charged with identifying, specifying and buying green goods and services, and with vendors, contractors and consultants that provide green goods and services.

The Climate Institute Quantifies US Low-Carbon Incentives

Posted on October 28, 2010 by Robert Hash

The Energy Source blog of the Financial Times recently posted on various governments’ low-carbon incentives. As the graphic above shows, according to The Climate Institute, the United States’ policies put an average price of $5.10/ton of CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalent). China and the UK both place a significantly higher price on CO2-e, but America is also solidly ahead of other industrialized nations, such as Japan and Australia.

Update on Sustainability Plans and Executive Order 13514

Posted on October 27, 2010 by Ann Seltz

Last week I attended a progress update on Executive Order 13514. Signed last year, the EO sets ambitious goals for greening the federal government and requires agencies to submit an annual set of targets for each category covered. The first Sustainability Plans were submitted this summer. At the briefing, Michelle Moore reported that 56 plans had been submitted – ranging from 20 to 120 pages – and that they are all posted on FedCenter.gov.

These plans are an important source of information for agency personal working to meet targets and develop program-specific plans—but also invaluable for the consultants, contractors and vendors who will supply green goods and services to the federal government. So check them out using this link: http://www.whitehouse.gov/administration/eop/ceq/sustainability/plans

Renewable Energy and the Creatures of the Sea

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Robert Hash

We are often told about how scientists use the biodiversity found in rainforests, oceans and other habitats to make new medicines and other products. But there have been fewer examples (algae aside) of biodiversity playing a role in developing renewable energy technologies.

However, a recent GreenBiz.com article proves that just because we don’t hear about it doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. In fact, scientists and green energy entrepreneurs have taken cues from many ocean animals for improvements to everything from wind turbine blade design to sanitation to CO2-scrubbing. Given the tremendous amount of biodiversity, it stands to reason that we will continue to see renewable energy innovations inspired by the sea for years to come.

Photo via GreenBiz.com

Energy Efficiency and EO 13514: Green Government Podcast, Episode 10

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Robert Hash

Green Government Podcast: Episode 10

Interview with Jeff Harris, Vice President of Programs at the Alliance to Save Energy

In our 10th episode of the green government podcast, we chat with Jeff Harris, Vice President of Programs at the Alliance to Save Energy. ASE promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security.

In this 15-minute podcast you’ll learn more about the Alliance to Save Energy and the impact the government can have on energy efficiency. Also, hear how Executive Order 13514 and other government initiatives are shaping the energy efficiency market.

Want to learn more about ASE and its work with energy efficiency? Check out the video below.

Interview with Jeff Harris, Vice President of Programs at the Alliance to Save Energy In our 10th episode of the green government podcast, we chat with Jeff Harris, Vice President of Programs at the Alliance to Save Energy. ASE promotes energy efficiency worldwide to achieve a healthier economy, a cleaner environment and greater energy security. In this 15-minute pod" data-image="http://blog.ceileadership.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/spacer.jpg" data-site="Center for Environmental Innovation and Leadership">

How EO13514 and Government Sustainability Could Save $1 Trillion

Posted on October 26, 2010 by Robert Hash

The Technology CEO Council recently released “One Trillion Reasons,” a report that outlines how “The U.S. federal government can save over $1 trillion by 2020, while improving the services it provides to citizens and laying a foundation for future job growth and innovation.” Not surprisingly, the report identified savings opportunities from data center consolidation, server virtualization, energy efficiency, supply chain management, and fleet management, to name a few.

The report truly drives its message home by citing previous successful implementations of these money-saving strategies. The examples included Motorola’s $1.2 billion in supply chain management savings and IBM’s 40% savings from data center consolidation. Ultimately, the report is only as valuable as the changes that come from it, but One Trillion Reasons is, at least, very promising.

PBS’ Trash to Treasure Contest

Posted on October 25, 2010 by Robert Hash

These days, going green seems to know no age. This was proven once again by the participants in PBS’ 2010 Trash to Treasure contest. The competition, for kids aged 5-19, challenged creative minds to find a way to take at least two discarded items and reuse them by creating a new invention or an improvement on an existing product that utilizes recycled items.

Entries could be made in one of three categories – mobility, play, and environmental – and this year three Grand Prizes and 22 runners up were chosen from among the many entries. The winners prove that kids are thinking green today, as the winning inventions encourage sustainable transportation, water saving, and materials reuse. Find out for yourself how inventive these green kids were by watching the video below!

CEIL Blog Friday Wrap-Up

Posted on October 22, 2010 by Robert Hash

In case you missed any posts from earlier this week, we’ve collected them below in a handy list for you!

Don’t forget to check out the latest green government news on the CEIL website!

Have you signed up for the CEIL Green Government Update e-newsletter?

Don’t miss another issue! Sign up here!

Thursday Video: Secretary Chu on Energy Efficiency

Posted on October 21, 2010 by Robert Hash

If you haven’t seen the video of Secretary of Energy Chu answering energy efficiency questions from Twitter, Facebook and email, you should take a few minutes to hear what he has to say. Many of the questions are about household energy efficiency, but the overlaps of home and workplace efficiency are many, and for that reason we think this video is well worth watching.