Six Sustainable Site Planning Fundamentals

Six Sustainable Site Planning Fundamentals

Using a framework for creating sustainable site designs is one of the most realistic and effective ways for architects and other design professionals to create sustainable designs. Six fundamental concepts needed to be applied are explained in the post.

Why Globalization is Dangerous for Sustainability?

Why Globalization is Dangerous for Sustainability?

Although globalization can help create additional value and increased efficiencies for national economies, it has an obvious negative impact in terms of the ecological costs of transportation. However, global trade’s more severe but less-understood threat to sustainability is its incompatibility with the carrying capacities of our natural ecosystems.

Ecological Footprint: Are We Too Late to Make a Change?

Ecological Footprint: Are We Too Late to Make a Change?

Susan Burns, sustainability expert and CEO of Global Footprint Network, gave an in-depth presentation on the world’s ecological balance sheet in the first session of Sustainable Life Media’s Sustainable Brands Boot Camp – Season 2.

Interview: Will Kirksey On Sustainable Water Recycling

Interview: Will Kirksey On Sustainable Water Recycling

Will Kirksey, SVP of Worrell Water Technologies, is passionate about finding practical, ecological solutions to the increasingly urgent water issues in the US. I spoke with him at The New Green Economy Conference in Washington, D.C., just before he facilitated a session targeted at forming policy recommendations on sustainable water reuse. Worrell Water’s water reuse system, the Living Machine, was picked as one of the ‘coolest green products’ at Greenbuild, 2009. Will recently authored the white paper, Sustainable Water Infrastructure for the 21st Century.

Five Strategies for Building Your Ethical Brand Without Being Accused of Greenwashing

Five Strategies for Building Your Ethical Brand Without Being Accused of Greenwashing

There’s been a lot of discussion about elevating corporate responsibility to become a strategic driver of your business. Most companies would like to benefit from their ethical efforts in the form of increased customer attraction and loyalty, yet few have figured out how to do it successfully. When marketing and PR are relied on, it can often backfire in accusations of greenwashing. The secret is to apply brand-strategy principles to build your ethical reputation.

Fellowship Spotlight: Environmental Defense Fund Diversity Fellowship Program

Environmental Defense Fund is looking for diverse candidates who are seeking a professional experience in environmental advocacy. The Diversity Fellowship is a full-time, one-year position focused on a project that is integral to one of EDF’s key program areas – Oceans, Ecosystems, Climate or Health. The Fellow will have the opportunity to work closely with our staff on a significant project, develop core professional skills, understand our approach to environmental issues, and develop an understanding of environmental advocacy as a career path.

The Smart Grid Report: Part IV – Complexities, Fundamental Technologies and Current Smart Grid Efforts

This, the fourth and final installment of our four part article series on the report on the Smart Grid put out by the U.S. Department of Energy, titled “The Smart Grid: An Introduction”, covers the DOE reports section that deals with how the various constituencies are working to realign themselves so that they participate in and are positioned to thrive in the emerging Smart Grid future that is beginning to be built out. It summarizes the five fundamental technologies that will drive the Smart Grid. It illustrates concrete examples of current Smart Grid projects ranging from West Virginia to California to Hawaii, that illustrate how a smarter grid is already taking shape. Finally it asks: What’s Your Stake in All This?

The Smart Grid Report: Part III – What is It and What are Its Possibilities

This, is the third installment of our four part article series on the report on the Smart Grid put out by the U.S. Department of Energy. The report is titled “The Smart Grid: An Introduction”. The current installment covers the DOE report’s section that defines what is meant by Smart Grid; what it is and conversely what it is not. It covers the various critical aspects that working together will form the Smart Grid. It continues with a summary of the DOE Smart Grid report’s “Compare and Contrast: A Grid Where Everything Is Possible” section that outlines the many benefits of creating a smarter grid.

The Smart Grid Report: Part II – The Grid as It Stands: What’s at Risk?

This is the second installment of our four part article series on the excellent report on the Smart Grid put out by the U.S. Department of Energy that delves into this complex subject matter in considerable detail. The report is titled “The Smart Grid: An Introduction” and is dedicated to the education of all interested members of the public to the nature, challenges and opportunities surrounding the Smart Grid and its implementation.

This installment of our article series covers the DOE reports section that deals with where our current electric grid currently stands and what are the risks that it faces.