Category: Efficiency

Top tales: Universal cell phone chargers, AEP captures carbon & more Americans doubt global warming

Posted by: Adam Aston on October 30

As the week closes, three developments of note… 1/ This week a universal cell phone charger was adapted by the International Telecommunication Union, the industry’s standards setting body. Sounds boring?…

UPS: Delivering Savings

Posted by: John Carey on November 13

UPS is famous for cutting energy use—and costs. Delivery drivers’ routes are plotted to maximize the number of right turns compared to potentially time-wasting left turns. The company has developed…

Building Efficiency: LEED Astray?

Posted by: John Carey on September 16

There is widespread consensus that the cheapest, fastest and easiest way to reduce dependence on fossil fuels (and greenhouse gas emissions) is energy efficiency. Yet another report, this time from…

BusinessWeek’s green blockbuster

Posted by: Adam Aston on August 05

It warms my heart to see green stories breaking out all over BusinessWeek. So after a week at the Jersey Shore — wondering why on earth there wasn’t a…

For big energy savings: Behavior first, high-tech second

Posted by: Adam Aston on June 09

One of my favorite green blogs, Environmental Lovins, from the Rocky Mountain Institute, has a thought-provoking post that makes the point that even in the greenest homes — bristling with…

GM Stumbles, Sees the (Green) Light

Posted by: Arthur Eves on May 14

Like most Americans, GM made some bad strategic choices in the last decade or so and has come to regret it. Bob Lutz called hybrids an “interesting curiousity” and went…

Climate Savers: What Makes People Think?

Posted by: Heather Green on March 20

Google and Intel execs came by today to talk about Climate Savers, the non profit organization that is working to reduce CO2 emissions from the operations of computer by 54…

LEDs Look Brighter

Posted by: John Carey on January 30

Compact fluorescent light bulbs still get most of the attention. But light-emitting diodes (LEDs) offer longer life and additional efficiency gains—albeit at a higher price. That’s why cities like Raleigh,…

GreenWords — Top eco-tales to check out

Posted by: Adam Aston on June 12

As they catch my eye, I plan to post links to important, controversial or outstanding stories on the environment and green biz. Here are few recent picks. In the “The…

How efficient is your state?

Posted by: Adam Aston on June 05

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy just released its scorecard of states’ efficiency efforts. If your state is an energy producer, odds are it’s an efficiency laggard. If it’s a net energy consumer, it’s more likely a leader in encouraging efficiency.

Why NYC’s Yellow cabs took so long to go green

Posted by: Adam Aston on May 24

For the city, hybrid taxis mean cleaner urban air, less energy consumption, and lower costs. So why didn’t the shift happen sooner? Consider the simple economic savings this move promises. The city estimates the plan will save 22 million gallons of gas -– and related emissions -– in the first year alone. For a hack driver making the switch from a 10-mpg Crown Victoria to a 30-mpg hybrid, daily savings in fuel costs could hit over $100 on a 12-hour shift, particularly with gas going for $3.50 or more at city stations. Those savings go straight into drivers’ pockets and lower the pressure to increase taxi fares down the road.

Leapfrogging Compact Fluorescent Bulbs

Posted by: John Carey on May 23

Compact fluorescents are hot. Al Gore wants you to use them to save energy, and fight global warming. Wal-Mart aims to sell 100 million a year by the end of…

Welcome to GreenBusiness, BW’s newest blog

Posted by: Adam Aston on May 22

Welcome to Green Business, BusinessWeek.com’s latest blog. Our aim here is to explore the business side of energy, the environment and climate change. They’re fast changing issues, and highly divisive—perfect…