What's New in P2?

Cosmetic pesticides face ban in province (02/01/2012)
Manitoba will soon join most other Canadian provinces and ban cosmetic pesticides -- sprays such as WeedEx and Roundup that keep lawns perfect by killing weeds and bugs. Newly minted Conservation Minister Gord Mackintosh said he plans to release a discussion paper this spring exploring how a ban might work. Then, he'll seek input from the public and lawn-care companies over the summer before introducing legislation this fall or, more likely, early next year.
www.winnipegfreepress.com/local/cosmetic-pesticides-face-ban-in-province-1384652
49.html

Airport-Raised Bacteria Eats Toxic De-Icing Fluids (01/31/2012)
Air travelers may not think much about what happens to the de-icing fluid that keeps planes flying in the winter. But airports, including Portland International, have to find safe ways to dispose of thousands of gallons of used product. Here, airport officials are going to feed the waste to bacteria that love to eat de-icing fluid. The bacteria, or bugs, began incubating in September.
earthfix.kuow.org/water/article/airport-raising-bugs-to-eat-de-icing-fluids/

Cloquet Neighbors Unhappy a Greener, Liquefying Cremation Process Could be in their Neighborhood (01/31/2012)
Some residents in Cloquet are upset over one funeral home's plans to send human remains down the drain, but it's part of the process for a newer and greener type of cremation that uses less energy. Some residents spoke Tuesday at a public hearing at City Hall about the moral dilemma of having bodies biocremated in their neighborhood at the Atkins Northland Funeral Home, and whether that could lower their property values.
www.northlandsnewscenter.com/news/video/New-Green-Cremation-Process-Could-Soon-B
e-in-Cloquet-Some-Neigbors-Arent-Thrilled-137070258.html

Fresh Wave® Claims Victory Over Athletic Odors by Signing Fresh Wave Sport® to the Team (01/31/2012)
In an effort to keep athletes on top of their freshness game, Fresh Wave announces the launch of Fresh Wave Sport, a line of natural odor-eliminators developed with the needs of athletes -- professionals, amateurs and weekend warriors alike -- at its core.
www.sacbee.com/2012/01/18/4196297/fresh-wave-claims-victory-over.html

Greening EPA's Seattle Office (01/31/2012)
The Region 10 Science Steering Council recently hosted our first "Science Café" to discuss how our Seattle office building is working toward LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification as we undergo a major remodel. LEED is a third party certification program administered by the U.S. Green Building Council that focuses on the design, construction and operation of high performance green buildings.
blog.epa.gov/blog/2012/01/30/greening-epas-seattle-office/

Kaiser Gets Green Infusion with Safer IV Equipment (01/31/2012)
As to Kaiser's latest supply chain move, the organization isn't the first to eliminate PVC and DEHP from IV equipment. Catholic Healthcare West stopped buying IV bags and tubes with the chemicals about seven years ago. However, Kaiser is the largest to do so, according to Gerwig and Robert Gotto, Kaiser Permanente's executive director of national facilities services procurement.
www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/01/19/kaiser-gets-green-infusion-safer-iv-equipment

Leaked document reveals Rio+20 sustainable development goals (01/31/2012)
Countries will be asked this summer to sign up for 10 new sustainable development goals for the planet and promise to build green economies at the first earth summit in 20 years. According to a leak of the draft agenda document seen by the Guardian, they will also be asked to negotiate a new agreement to protect oceans, approve an annual state of the planet report, set up a major world agency for the environment, and appoint a global "ombudsperson", or high commissioner, for future generations. Dozens of heads of state, political leaders and celebrities are expected to go to the UN's Rio+20 sustainable development meeting, to be held in Brazil in June.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/jan/10/leaked-document-rio-goals

Nest Thermostats: Making Home Energy Use Smarter & Sexier (01/31/2012)
About 40 percent of the 92 million residential thermostats in the United States are programmable, which would be a great thing for energy saving, except that only about 10 million of devices are actually programmed. The problem is that most of the gadgets are too hard to use and people aren't inclined to figure them out, Nest co-founder Matt Rogers told attendees at the GreenBiz Forum today in San Francisco.
www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/01/30/nest-thermostats-making-home-energy-use-smarter
-sexier

Want to Sell a Green Product? Don't Call It Green (01/31/2012)
Consumers want better products, not necessarily greener products, according to Method Co-Founder Adam Lowry. That means creating products that work better and give consumers a selfish reason to buy them, even if that reason is simply convenience. But if the only differentiator is a better environmental profile, forget about it. "I fundamentally believe that if you build something and ask people to buy it for the sole reason it's green, you'll ultimately fail," Eric Ryan, Method's other founder, agreed. "That's about my best piece of advice."
www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/01/30/want-sell-green-product-dont-call-it-green

Renewables pass nuclear as power source in U.S. (01/12/2012)
Renewable energy sources -- wind, water, solar and others -- passed nuclear generation as a share of U.S. power in September, according to the Energy Information Administration. In the EIA's latest report on energy sources and usage in the United States, which covers the nine months ended September, the nine-month total for both renewable production and consumption were higher than those for nuclear power.
www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/national/2012/01/renewables-pass-nuclear-as-po
wer.html

2010 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Data from Large Facilities Now Available (01/11/2012)
For the first time, comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data reported directly from large facilities and suppliers across the country are now easily accessible to the public through EPA's GHG Reporting Program. The 2010 GHG data released today includes public information from facilities in nine industry groups that directly emit large quantities of GHGs, as well as suppliers of certain fossil fuels. "Thanks to strong collaboration and feedback from industry, states and other organizations, today we have a transparent, powerful data resource available to the public," said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Air and Radiation. "The GHG Reporting Program data provides a critical tool for businesses and other innovators to find cost- and fuel-saving efficiencies that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and foster technologies to protect public health and the environment."
yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/8890DDDC08B1B82785257982005CCACD

Sprint to Require Green Certification for All Cell Phones (01/11/2012)
Sprint will now require that all phones go through a certification process to meet stringent environmental standards set by the company and UL Environment. The pair, along with cell phone manufacturers and other industry players, began developing the first environmental standard for wireless handsets last year. The 30 to 40 models Sprint sells each year may not achieve certification out of the gate, but their makers must now go through the process.
www.greenbiz.com/blog/2012/01/09/sprint-require-green-certification-all-cell-pho
nes

EPA Releases 2010 Toxics Release Inventory National Analysis (01/05/2012)
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is releasing its annual national analysis of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI), providing all Americans with vital information about their communities. The TRI program publishes information on toxic chemical disposals and other releases into the air, land and water, as well as information on waste management and pollution prevention activities in neighborhoods across the country. Total releases including disposals for the latest reporting year, 2010, are higher than the previous two years but lower than 2007 and prior year totals. Many of the releases from TRI facilities are regulated under various EPA programs and requirements designed to limit human and environmental harm.
yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/A64903C5C1540CF38525797C0064E3F5

New Materials Remove Carbon Dioxide from Smokestacks, Tailpipes and Even the Air (01/05/2012)
Scientists are reporting discovery of an improved way to remove carbon dioxide -- the major greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming -- from smokestacks and other sources, including the atmosphere. Their report on the process, which achieves some of the highest carbon dioxide removal capacity ever reported for real-world conditions where the air contains moisture, appears in the Journal of the American Chemical Society.
www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2012/01/120104115100.htm

Town of Hempstead Creates Closed Loop: Wind Turbine Powers Fuel Cell Cars (01/05/2012)
We don't hear much about fuel cells and hydrogen these days to run cars, but the Town of Hempstead on Long Island, NY just hooked up a wind turbine to power their cars. A 100-kilowatt wind turbine will provide the energy to create hydrogen gas, which will be used to power the town's fuel cell cars.
www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/23284

Apogee Stadium: US' First LEED Platinum Stadium Uses Wind Turbines to Power its Games (01/04/2012)
The recently completed Apogee Stadium at the University of North Texas is one of the first collegiate venues to generate on-site renewable energy with a set of wind turbines. Three utility-scale wind turbines provide 1/3 of the stadium's annual energy consumption, which coupled with the stadium's energy-efficient design equates to a huge win for the university. Designed by HKS Inc, the 31,000 seat Apogee Stadium takes inspiration from the school's mascot - the eagle, and includes a winged exposed steel structure along with plenty of carbon reducing strategies. Read on for a closer look at this landmark project, and to hear from a couple of HKS architects about the design of the stadium and how a state grant made it all possible.
inhabitat.com/apogee-stadium-us-first-leed-platinum-stadium-uses-wind-turbines-t
o-power-its-games/

Predictions for EPA`s Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention, and Beyond (01/04/2012)
Bergeson & Campbell, P.C.'s (B&C) thoughts are below on what may be headed our way in 2012 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP). The 2012 Presidential Election cycle will influence any activity by either party or the Administration over the next year. We also offer a few thoughts on Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Asian chemical regulatory developments.
www.environmental-expert.com/news/predictions-for-epa-s-office-of-chemical-safet
y-and-pollution-prevention-and-beyond-274076

Washington State Becomes the Largest Public Biodiesel Consumer (01/04/2012)
Washington State Ferries​, owned and operated by the state transportation department, is the largest ferry service in the United States and third largest in the world. Twenty-two ferries transport 11 million passengers from the mainland and larger islands across Puget Sound each year at a cost of 18 million gallons of diesel fuel.
apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=17977

IT Industry Gets a D+ for Green Policy, Labor Practices (12/20/2011)
With the exception of Ricoh, Intel and Motorola Mobility, the IT industry earns dismal grades when it comes to sustainability and social practices, averaging about a D+, Oekom Research AG says in a new report. Office equipment maker Ricoh of Japan and chip producer Intel in the U.S. each earned a B+, the highest grade, and cell phone manufacturer Motorola Mobility earned a B, in Oekom's analysis.
www.greenbiz.com/news/2011/12/19/it-industry-gets-d-green-policy-labor-practices

February 7, 2012
Webinar: Strategies and Tools for Green Procurement (online)


February 10, 2012
4th Annual Northwest Environmental Health Conference (Portland, OR)


March 8, 2012
Managing Stormwater in the Northwest (Portland, OR)