Smart grid energizes stable utilities

Working smarter not harder is becoming reality with the smart grid – a digital overhaul of the electrical grid with real-time energy efficiency. Colorado Springs Utilities has deployed steps toward initiating the smart grid getting away from the existing electrical grid power outages.

In 2010 Colorado Springs Utilities installed 530,000 smart meters. The meters use wireless radio transmitters for accurate daily meter readings, as part of a new outage management system. The system will track outages in real time to get the power on quicker.

“This technology provides customers with a better understanding and management of their consumption, and more hands on control over the cost of their monthly bills,” said Jerry Forte, Springs Utilities’ CEO in a press release.

The Brattle Group, a finance and regulatory group, estimates between 2010 and 2030 the smart grid infrastructure will require approximately $1.5 trillion. The investment provides a long-term sustainable return, as energy demands from advanced technology increase.

Power outages of the existing electrical system, “Costs Americans at least $150 billion each year,” according to the Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability. “Loads from chip technologies and automated manufacturing has risen to 40 percent, and the load is expected to increase to more than 60 percent by 2015.”

The more efficient a utility system, the less money is required in the long-term to maintain stability. It takes money to make money, so an investment in the smart grid provides an even greater good return.

According to the DOE, “The smart grid holds the potential to be the most affordable – saving more energy. It will clearly require investments that are not typical for utilities. But the overall benefits of such efforts will outweigh the costs, as some utilities are already discovering.”

Pending savings in emerging regulatory incentives, the investments in the smart grid may return an even greater long-term nationwide stability.

Conference shines spotlight on economic solutions

Bright Green Future Conference 2010: Global Challenges, San Diego Solutions commences November 5-6 at the University of San Diego, Calif. More than 50 speakers will discuss how government agencies and businesses can contribute to creating a sustainable future.

Slated on the speaker line-up is Thomas Ackerman, Jr. (pictured above, courtesy of Bight Green Future Conference), a principal at Spirit Graphics and Printing, Inc. for more than 15 years. From training employees to operating a four-color press, he is involved in every level of the company.

Ackerman established a Green Essentials program that employs sustainable and environmentally sound business practices. Spirit Graphics and Printing, Inc. won several prestigious awards including as the 2008 Earth Awards, What They Think 2009 Thought Leader award, and the 2009 Cool California Small Business of the Year award by The California Air Resources Board.

The conference covers topics such as:
- Green Job Training in San Diego
- Green, Energy Efficient and Fire Safe Building
- The Electric Vehicle Project in San Diego
- Urban Agriculture & Community Gardens
- Turn Your Trash Into Healthy Garden Soil with Home Composting
- Climate Change Science Update
- Bright Green Future Student Photo Essay Contest
- Keeping Kids in Touch with Nature
- San Diego’s Best Natural Places

The conference is organized by San Diego EarthWorks with a mission to increases awareness, encourages leadership and inspire action toward a healthy, prosperous and sustainable future for all living things. For more information visit: www.BrightGreenFuture.net.

Trafigura fined 1 M euros in environmental scandal

Chemical waste dumped into the Ivory Coast and violation of Dutch law resulted in a 1 million euros fine for Trafigura in the Amsterdam District Court Friday.

Fifteen people died and 69 were hospitalized after the waste was unloaded in August 2006 by Trafigura Beheer BV, an international commodities and oil trader, said Okechukwu Ibeanu, the United Nations top expert on toxic waste.

"There seems to be strong ... evidence that the reported deaths and adverse health consequences are related to the dumping of the waste from the Probo Koala" ship, which was chartered by Trafigura, Ibeanu said in a 2009 report.

The Amsterdam Port Services, captain, and Trafigura were charged with offending Dutch environment and waste export laws. All parties pleaded not guilty, and the port services was not found guilty on any charge.

The Ukrainian captain, Sergiy Chertov, was convicted on forgery and sentenced to a five-year suspended jail term, along with an employee fined 25,000 euros by presiding Judge Frans Bauduin of the court. Bauduin agreed with prosecutors that Beheer placed profits before safety.

The waste was concealed in the ship that docked in Amsterdam, was illegally exported, then dumped near Abidjan, Africa by a contractor for a cheaper price. The Amsterdam Port Services allegedly refused to treat the waste at the price agreed, because it was more toxic than expected.

According to proceedings, Beheer decided to dispose of the waste "for commercial reasons," and the verdicts will be studied "with a view to appeal."

Beheer paid 152 million euros to the Ivory Coast in 2007 and compensation to Abidjan residents in 2009 under two prior settlements.

Climate change mandates get global, local boost

As the affects of climate change displace global populations, an international solution to empower local governments in mandating brews. City mayors from 19 countries signed a declaration committing to coordinate local climate action at a mayors adoption forum – prior to the convening United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in Bonn, Germany May 30.

“The poor in all countries suffer most from the impacts of climate change. Local authorities are hard placed to provide without a national and international policy framework,” said Yvo de Boer, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC at the congress.

The declaration came in preparation for a global mechanism expected to arise at the World Climate Summit of Mayors during the sixteenth Conference of the Parties under the UNFCCC, in Mexico City, Mexico Nov. 21.

The declaration and adoption discussions are a response to Resolution GC22/3: Cities and climate change, an environmental protocol adopted in 2009 by the Governing Council of The United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-HABITAT). The commitment also falls under the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Reduction’s Making Cities Resilient Campaign.

The International Council for Local Environmental Initiatives (ICLEI) supported the congress in a pledge to meet the objectives and outcomes of the UNFCCC Nairobi Work Programme on Adaptation. Participants such as those in the picture above (courtesy of ICLEI) included representatives of various industries including international development.

Climate change approaches and solutions focused on such topics as sovereignty, the Bengal ecosystem, vulnerability, quality of life, regulations and local financing.

“Multilateral financing is largely accessed by sovereign states whereas the specifics of adaptation and mitigation often depend on ecosystems that can transcend national boundaries,” said David Jackson head of Asia and Pacific Office of the United Nations Capital Development Fund in a Congress Summary of deliberations. “The debates at the congress has revealed a new division relevant to climate change. Not rich and poor or north and south, but instead, regulatory deep and regulatory shallow.

“In addition to specific mandates local governments can perform them under the general mandate of ‘duty of care’ or ‘development promotion’ found in the statutes of most local governments. ‘No regret’ and ‘no harm’ have been key principles of much adaptation and mitigation,” Jackson said.

For more information visit: http://unfccc.int/2860.php or http://www.iclei.org/index.php?id=1504&tx_ttnews[tt_news]=4422&tx_ttnews[backPid]=983&cHash=4cd0ac6049

Texas takes lead in wind energy and CO2 emissions

While international powers compromised on global warming in 2009, Texas was identified as the top carbon emitting state and user of wind power.

Environment Texas analyzed 2009 U.S. Department of Energy statistics. Their report, Too Much Pollution: State and National Trends in Global Warming Emissions showed the state is contributing the most in carbon dioxide emissions in the nation, and cut pollution by two percent between 2004 and 2007.

"Texas remained the nation's number one emitter of carbon dioxide from fossil fuel use in 2007. Electricity generation and transportation are by far the largest sources of carbon dioxide emissions in the United States, responsible for 40 percent and 33 percent of fossil fuel related emissions, respectively, in 2007. Power plants and transportation were also the fastest-growing sources of emissions between 1990 and 2007," according to the report. "Texas has lead the nation in wind energy installations, helping to stabilize emissions from its power sector - switching from high polluting fuels such as coal and oil to cleaner sources of power."

In the international field, countries agreed to a draft accord at the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen Dec. 18, 2009. The compromise aims to prevent global temperatures from rising more than two degrees Celsius. In the draft Copenhagen Accord, countries agreed to adopt measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by 50 percent by 2050, as developed countries will push toward an 80 percent reduction goal.

Rooftop cools building interior

Colorado Springs, Colo. -- From a bird's eye view the roof of the 21st Space Wing headquarters building grows in a multitude of colorful shades. Sedum plants populating the roof are part of a GreenGrid roof case study, which has drawn Department of Defense-wide interest.

"Plant coverage acts as an insulator. We should be at 100 percent coverage by next summer," said Phil Chase, 21st Civil Engineering Squadron, Asset Management Flight, pollution prevention, solid waste and hazardous materials program manager. "You think you are on an Air Force Base, but you are at a plant nursery on a roof."

Chase and others are charged with managing the progress of rooftop. In the picture above Chase monitors the sedum plants on the rooftop.

Energy reduction inside the building is estimated at 7 percent, according to a 2009 Comprehensive Green Roof Study draft report. The report was created by Tetra Tech Engineering and Architecture Services, and the Air Force Civil Engineer Support Agency. The report indicates approximately 169 percent savings in a return on investment to include roof replacement and energy savings throughout a 40-year period.

"The study is a one-year period, which is not long enough to assess the actual life cycle of the roof and its advantages," said Randy Hawke, facilities excellence architect for the 21st Space Wing.

The green roof is also reducing storm water runoff, improving air quality, and extending the life of the roof. The plants thrive mainly in rocks, so the roof appears as a flowery desert environment with no insects. Although sedum was selected for its drought tolerance, the plants are watered through a drip system that is turned on by a meter when it detects prolonged dry periods.

The general life cycle of such an analysis project is five years, and another study is being pursued for a more accurate assessment of results. By summer 2010 the plants should become self-sustaining. Although used mainly in Europe, green roofs are gaining worldwide attention.

Officials in Toronto, Canada are considering regulations that may require all buildings to have green roofs. Several Air Force bases such as the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base are also considering installing green roofs.

Festival grooms bloomers, harvests crops

Colorado Springs, Colo. - Cotton pickin of the free floating algerian in the air was the least of concerns at the 20th Annual Bluegrass on the River festival at the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo Sunday.

Bluegrass is similar to planting a garden – you can leave it for a while and nothing changes, except the flowers, said Pete Wernick of Flexigrass, pictured to the right. Wernick originally graced the dock at the festival 15 years prior, planting pickin seeds in youths such as The Hartman’s, a Loveland-based sibling band that tours across Colorado.

In 1989, bluegrass musicians were slim pickings in the Pueblo area, so the festival was initiated to cultivate and nourish musicians.

“At least four bands grew up here. My son is 28 and he grew-up here,” said Tom Thornburg, founder of the festival and Fireweed mandolin player. You have friends that you only see once a year here.”

Thornburg tutored the Ackermans sister to play the mandolin. The Ackermans, another sibling band that played the festival, perform nationally. He founded the festival based on the framework of concerts at the Nature Center in Winfield, Kan. involving multiple stages.

“It was the flavor of it. We started the weekend out of nothing,” he said. “This is probably our best year. It sure felt nice all weekend – real steady.”

About $20,000 in net growth was generated in 2009. Proceeds of the all volunteer festival contribute to the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo programs.

“The amount of synergy this year has been amazing. We will keep getting better and better,” said Jay Zarr, president of the Board of the Nature and Raptor Center of Pueblo.

Finders and Youngberg, a two-couple band pictured above, were also among about 30 bands that performed at the festival.