Tag Archives: EPA

Energy Management System Released By Zen Ecosystems

Zen Ecosystems has announced the launch of Zen HQ, a simple and cost-effective energy management solution. Zen HQ has been designed for enterprises with multiple locations using a connected platform which reduces annual energy bills by as much as 30%. Assessing US energy management for commercial structures The US EPA estimates this country’s commercial buildings…

Mushrooms Hold Key to Stormwater Treatment

Mycoremediation, the use of fungi to treat water and soil, could be the stormwater filter of the present and future.  A couple of projects in Portland, Oregon are putting the science to the test. According to Wikipedia, “one of the primary roles of fungi in the ecosystem is decomposition, which is performed by the mycelium….

Green Materials Report – Smog Eating Roof Tiles

This post is part of the green materials report series.  GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green.  Each post focuses on one material.  We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes green materials green, and any green product certifications that it has earned. …

Green Materials Report: Permeable Concrete

Permeable concrete allows water to drain through

This post is part of the Green Materials Report series.  GBE is providing information on various building materials and what makes them green.  Each post focuses on one material.  We will be looking at the ingredients in the material, how it is used, what makes it green, and any green product certifications that it has earned.  We…

Guest Post: 2012 Cost Savings in Energy Efficient Lighting

While environmentally friendly business practices are often viewed as an added cost, energy efficient lighting is one area where cost savings and environmental benefits go hand in hand. Take for instance a recent retrofit completed on a tennis court just outside of Chicago; this custom – engineered retrofit has a payback period of just two years.

Hydrodec Receives US Approval for Treatment of PCB-Contaminated Waste Oil

London-based Hydrodec Group plc, the cleantech industrial oil re-refining group, is pleased to announce that the US Environmental Protection Agency (“EPA”) has issued Hydrodec with a final permit for the storage and treatment of polychlorinated biphenyl (“PCB”) contaminated used transformer oil in the US.

GUEST POST: Washing Away Waste from a Large-Soda Ban

The Beverage Marketing Corporation recently reported that 9.1 billion gallons of bottled water were sold in the U.S. just last year. That’s just over twenty-nine gallons per person.

GUEST POST: Green Alternatives for Construction Equipment

Construction equipment is a leading contributor to dangerous diesel pollution. According to the US EPA Clean Air Act Advisory Committee, “A single bulldozer engine can emit as much particulate matter as more than 500 cars.” As diesel exhaust carries carcinogens, soot (scientifically referred to as “fine particulate matter”) and ozone smog-forming compounds, diesel-powered construction equipment leaves our society more susceptible to asthma attacks, strokes, lung cancer, heart attacks and premature deaths.

GUEST POST: What to Do With Unwanted Cell Phones

Cell phones have become a necessary part of daily life, and with the advent of the smart phone they are only becoming more of a daily fixture. Every month or so a new model comes out that has faster processing speeds, updated features, and the coolest new applications that many feel they absolutely need. Because of this, the average shelf life of a cell phone is 18 months, which leads to 100 million phones being replaced each year and at least two million ending up in landfills each week.

California Real Estate Agents Provide Misinformation about Radon

A Silicon Valley real estate agent told her clients, “There is no radon in California. You don’t need to worry about it.” The couple purchased a home in Sunnyvale, CA, which has some of the higher radon levels in Santa Clara County. Another home in Sunnyvale had 29 picoCuries/liter (pCi/L), more than 8 times the EPA action level (4 pCi/L). A home in Los Gatos had 56 pCi/L, which is 14 times the action level.