Environmental News Network

US Airlines Don't Want To Play By EU Emissions Rules
BRUSSELS (Reuters) - A European Parliament committee sought on Tuesday to delay the inclusion of all airlines in the European Union's emissions trading scheme to 2012. The executive European Commission proposed last year that inter-EU flights be included in the EU scheme, aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions, from 2011, while international flights into and out of the bloc should be included from 2012. >> Read the Full Article
Hotels Hungry For Greener Energy-Saving Products
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y. â€” Guestroom 2010 returns to the 92nd annual International Hotel/Motel & Restaurant Show in New York City, showcasing the cutting-edge innovations and eco-friendly new products that will soon be found in hotel guest rooms. A model hotel room, developed by the Hospitality Financial and Technology Professionals, will feature nearly 50 of the latest and near-future technologies at the industry's premier marketplace, taking place November 10-13, 2007, at New York Cityâ€™s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center. >> Read the Full Article
APEC Climate Goals: Talk, But Not Much More
If the worldâ€™s leaders had an easy fix for climate change theyâ€™d probably embrace it. But they donâ€™t have one. No one does. What leaders do have is fear of what they think would happen in the near term to the worldâ€™s economies with the massive cut in greenhouse gases thatâ€™s needed now. (They donâ€™t fear what will happen to the world in the long term when theyâ€™ve passed on and are forgotten; the two-thirds cut in polar bear population over the next fifty years according to the US Geological Survey, for instance. Short term thinking is not what political leadership is supposed to be about, is it? >> Read the Full Article
Libya Creates World's Largest Sustainable Development
Libya - Libya today announced the creation of an unprecedented sustainable development on its beautiful northern Mediterranean coast. The massive project includes a world class sustainable resort and spa, extensive wind and solar on the coast and desert area, growth of biofuel crops, closed loop water systems, sustainable transportation, housing, and the creation of a huge national ecological parkland that includes protection of the Mediterranean ocean and incorporates Tripoli and other cities. The 5,500 square kilometer development, called Green Mountain, covers an area that is home to diverse animal and plant species and historic and archaeologically rich sites. >> Read the Full Article
Northeast U.S., Europe cooling use of energy to rise
Energy demand for cooling is likely to be above average in northeastern parts of the United States this week, while cooling demand in northwest Europe will also rise, forecasters Meteorlogix said on Monday. >> Read the Full Article
Power From Waves, Wave Energy Converter Launched In Oregon
PORTLAND, Oregon - (See VIDEO) This high tech bouy generates power from wave action. It's called an AquaBuOY. And it's about to be towed to sea for further tests and refinement. The company has adopted a philosophy of "Kaizen", a Japanese word meaning "change for the better" or translating to English, a philosophy of "continual improvement". "The AquaBuOY is a floating buoy structure that converts the kinetic energy of the vertical motion of oncoming waves into clean electricity. The AquaBuOY is categorized as a point absorber, defined as having a small dimension in relation to the longer wave length in which it is operating. It utilizes a cylindrical buoy as the displacer and the reactor is a large water mass enclosed by a long vertical tube underneath the buoy," says Finavera Renewables CEO Jason Bak, whose company designed the technology. >> Read the Full Article
Nevada Angers E-Groups, OK's New Coal Power Plants
The Nevada Environmental Commission on Friday denied a request by environmental groups to delay approval of permits for three big coal-fired power plants, environmental groups and state officials said. >> Read the Full Article
Toilets Behind The Times?
Interior designer Timothy Corrigan had never heard of a "washlet" -- until a client asked him to install one of the high-tech Japanese toilets. When he saw the bidet-style bathroom appliance, equipped with a warm-water spray and other functions to cleanse and coddle posteriors, he was impressed. >> Read the Full Article
Fuel Efficiency Focus At Frankfurt
(Video) Car makers will show off their latest efforts to fight pollution at Frankfurt's autoshow next week by unveiling models with improvements rather than substitutes to the standard internal combustion engine. Under pressure to reduce harmful emissions produced by their vehicles amid fears of global warming, they are keen to show the greenest of intentions with the latest line of engines that consume fuel more efficiently. >> Read the Full Article
S.Korea to impose 3 pct biodiesel rule by 2012
South Korea aims to raise biodiesel content in domestic diesel to 3 percent from the current 0.5 percent by 2012, Seoul's energy ministry said on Friday. The news ran counter to expectations that the government may increase the ratio to 5 percent as early as next year, market watchers said. >> Read the Full Article