In the News

Some news items caught my attention this past week:

Nanomaterials Under Study by the E.P.A. 
Nanotechnology is a booming industry with the potential for great financial gain as well as health and environmental risk. The Environmental Protection Agency is launching a study of those risks. Welcome news.

Build a Better Bulb for a $10 Million Prize 
The Department of Energy is holding a contest that will award the “L Prize” and $10 million to the first person or group that develops an energy efficient version of the ubiquitous but highly inefficient 60-watt incandescent light bulb. Philips appears to be in the lead.

The Greenest Big Companies in America
Newsweek has issued its take on which of this country’s largest companies are greenest. The scores are based on environmental impact, green policies and reputation according to an opinion survey – a highly subjective metric. Hewlett-Packard leads the list. What do you think?

Developer Celebrates How ‘Green’ Is Its Building
A  LEED Platinum metal and glass suburban office building is still enough of a rarity to be newsworthy. But the back story – the tax credit offered by the state of Maryland for Platinum – deserves a special mention. Kudos to the state and to the Tower Companies.

EPA, Senate Take Aim at Greenhouse Gases
The administration and the Senate are taking on carbon emissions In time to possibly influence the international climate pact talks in Copenhagen in December. This is our time," said Sen. Barbara Boxer, chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee, "Global warming is our challenge."