Envirobytes - Archive

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EnviroBytes, a Summary of Issues and Events for Week Ending November 20, 2009

DELAWARE'S CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM AWARDED TRAILBLAZER AWARD

EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin presented the Christiana Care Health System of Newark, Del. with a Trailblazer Award in recognition of Christiana's commitment to reduce pollution in a more sustainable and economical way. "Through its aggressive program in sustainable materials management, Christiana Care has taken a leadership role in helping to move environmental protection into a new phase," said Garvin. "Waste prevention offers the greatest environmental benefits and provides substantial cost savings to organizations." Christiana is buying wind energy; using waste and energy conservation initiatives; less plastic/disposal products; a paperless record-keeping system; adopting environmentally sound purchasing practices; and providing healthy foods for patients and employees.

EPA ANNOUNCES THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AMONG THE 10 SHOWCASE ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE COMMUNITIES SELECTED NATIONWIDE

Former EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson announced committing $1 million over the next two years to address environmental justice challenges in 10 showcase communities (including Washington, D.C.) as models in EPA's environmental justice efforts nationwide. In D.C., EPA is working with the Department of Environment, the Department of Health, and local recipients of environmental justice small grant awards to address and identify issues of environmental justice community concern such as children's exposure to contaminants. EPA will provide $100,000 per project to be used in environmentally disadvantaged areas of the city. For more information on the 10 Environmental Justice Showcase Communities, go to https://www.epa.gov/compliance/environmentaljustice/grants/ej-showcase.html

HOTEL IN PHILLY INSTALLS COMBINED ENERGY EFFICIENT ELECTRICITY AND HEATING SYSTEMS TO CUT COSTS, IMPROVE THE ENVIRONMENT

Under the EPA voluntary Combined heat and power (CHP) Partnership program, the Four Seasons Hotel in Philadelphia became the first large scale customer in the city to install energy efficient microturbines for the cogeneration of electricity and heat. The hotel's three-unit combined heat and power system using natural gas will provide 100 percent of the building's domestic hot water needs, 25 percent of its electricity and 15 percent of its heat. The system will reduce the hotel's annual energy costs by nearly a third and cut its annual greenhouse gas emissions in half. For information on the voluntary partnership, visit www.epa.gov/chp

EPA'S RANDY STURGEON INTERVIEWED BY MSNBC FOR CHESAPEAKE BAY SERIES

On Nov. 17, MSNBC interviewed EPA Region 3's Superfund Project Manager Randy Sturgeon on toxic contamination impacting the Elizabeth River in Portsmouth, Va. Mr. Sturgeon discussed that funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and the involvement of a wide group of interested stakeholders are helping expedite the river's restoration with the goal of making the river fishable and swimmable by 2020. This is one of 60 Bay-related stories the network is producing this year focusing on toxic contamination impacting the Chesapeake Bay. The interview will appear on the MSNBC website the week of Nov. 30, at http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/32405853/ns/nightly_news-saving_the_chesapeake_bay/

EPA STILL ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR REGION 3 ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION GRANTS UNTIL DEC. 15

EPA's mid-Atlantic Regional Office is accepting applications through Dec. 15 from Region 3 organizations (Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia and District of Columbia) seeking funding to develop new or existing environmental education programs. Regional offices award grants up to $50,000, while EPA headquarters awards grants from $50,000 to $200,000. Organizations seeking funding should submit proposals to: EPA Region 3, Attn: Kathleen Kirkland (3PA00), Office of Public Affairs, 1650 Arch Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19103 and must be postmarked by Dec. 15, 2009 for consideration. For more information go to www.epa.gov/enviroed/grants.html. To learn about the environmental education program at https://www.epa.gov/enviroed/

EPA ANNOUNCES NEW ENERGY STAR REQUIREMENTS FOR AUDIO/VIDEO EQUIPMENT

EPA is announcing new more stringent Energy Star label requirements that are up to 60 percent more efficient than conventional models in today's diverse market for audio/video products. To earn the Energy Star label, AV products must consume less power when they are on and must power down automatically after a period of inactivity, using only small amounts of power to maintain settings and other features. The new requirements for products previously eligible for the Energy Star label will become effective July 30, 2010. Products previously excluded from Energy Star will become effective immediately. For more information on Energy Star qualified audio/video products: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?fuseaction=find_a_product.showProductGroup&pgw_code=HA

EPA ISSUES CALL FOR 2010 PRESIDENTIAL GREEN CHEMISTRY CHALLENGE AWARD NOMINATIONS

EPA is accepting nominations for its annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Awards to be submitted no later than Dec. 31 for presentation in June 2010. The awards recognize innovative green chemistry technologies that are incorporated into the design, manufacture, and use of chemicals, for broad application in industry. Nominated technologies should reduce or eliminate the use/generation of hazardous substances from chemical products or processes and have reached a significant milestone within the past five years in the U.S. Nominations are open to any individual, group or nongovernmental organization (including nonprofit, for-profit, academia, industry as well as self-nominations). The five award categories are: Greener Synthetic Pathways, Greener Reaction Conditions, Designing Greener Chemicals, Small Business, and Academic. For more information, go to https://www.epa.gov/greenchemistry/pubs/pgcc/howto.html and How to Enter the Award Competition

PUBLIC CAN TRACK SO2 AND NOx EMISSIONS AT COAL-FIRED POWER PLANTS VIA WEBSITE

EPA has improved its interactive tracking tools on EPA's website to help the public track sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from coal-fired power plants and other indicators at individual coal-fired power plants subject to the Acid Rain Program. The Acid Rain Program requires power plants to reduce emissions of SO2 and nitrogen oxides (NOx) - the primary causes of acid rain - and since 1995 has achieved significant environmental and public health benefits. In 2008, electric generating units (subject to the market-based cap and trade SO2 program) emitted 7.6 million tons of SO2, a level well below the current annual emission cap of 9.5 million tons. The interactive tracking tool and quarterly updates of emissions data from coal-fired plants is available at https://www.epa.gov/airmarkets/quarterlytracking.html

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