Sustainability Outlook Headlines

Aiming to be a carbon neutral retail chain by 2015: Woodland

Footwear and apparel retailer Woodland is aiming to be a carbon neutral retail chain by 2015 on the back of a slew of environment friendly initiatives.

Woodland has roped in environmental consultancy firm NextGen to calculate carbon emissions at its current 350 stores. NextGen helps businesses to measure, manage and mitigate carbon emissions and save energy.

"We want all our stores to be carbon neutral retail chain by 2015," Woodland Managing Director Harkirat Singh told PTI adding, by then Woodland would have around 500 stores.

He said NextGen is in the process of... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

Low-cost desalination solutions & other tech innovations can add a lot of sparkle to water

"GE's ultra-low energy membranes help in reverse-osmosis technologies. Efforts are on to make these membranes more energy-efficient. A lot of research is going into the chemicals which are coated on the membranes," says Erik Hanson, global product management leaders (water and process Technologies), GE Power & Water. GE's latest product, based on its research, is expected to be unveiled in the first week of July in Singapore.

Investments in desalination plants with membrane technology is expected to grow to $4.7 billion from $3.3 billion in 2010 -- a 6% compound annual growth... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

Holden Launches Energy and Environment Week

As part of Holden’s ongoing commitment to taking a leadership position in the fields of energy and sustainability, the Lion brand has today launched Energy and Environment Week (E&E Week).

This four-day campaign is focussed on raising awareness of energy and environment initiatives and launches in conjunction with World Environment Day. A nation-wide event, E&E Week sees events and awareness campaigns being held simultaneously at five different Holden sites across Australia.

While not going on sale until later this year, the game-changing electric Volt is the jewel in... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: The Auto Chanel

Gujarat's environment ranking goes up

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India may have painted a dismal picture of pollution in Gujarat, but the latest report of Planning Commission's environment and forest division reveals that the state has shown significant improvement in handling environment and pollution-related issues.

Last year, the Planning Commission put Gujarat at number 16 in the overall environment ranking among 35 states and union territories. This year, the state has jumped 11 notches to secure 5th rank.

The state has scored heavily in the areas of waste management and climate change,... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Times of India

A’bad civic body will buy your old PCs, cellphones

Wondering what to do with your old desktops, wires and dated mobile handsets? Soon, you can just hand them over for hard cash to the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation, which is starting a month-long drive for collection of e-waste through private agencies from June 5, the World Environment Day.

During the drive supported by the Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB), the e-waste would be evaluated by ECS Group, a city-based e-waste management agency, which would subsequently dismantle and recycle the waste to make environment-friendly products.

“The AMC will also partner with... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Indian Express

Power Exchanges commence trading of Solar Renewable Energy Certificates

The two power trading exchanges Indian Energy Exchange (IEX) and Power Exchange India Ltd. (PXIL) commenced trading of solar Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) on Monday amidst keen interest within the power sector.

The trading of RECs makes it easy for several obligated entities that may be required to purchase a certain quantum in either green power or RECs. M and B Switchgears Ltd. has become the first solar power producer in India to be issued 249 Solar RECs by the National Load Dispatch Centre in New Delhi.

These certificates are tradable on the power exchanges and are... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

Acciona Bullish on Indian Wind Energy Sector, Commissions 56-MW Project

Spanish wind energy giant Acciona recently announced the commissioning of its largest project in India. The company inaugurated a 56-MW wind project in India’s southern state of Karnataka. With the commissioning of this project, Acconia’s total wind generation capacity in India has reached 85 MW. The company plans to commission many more projects soon.

The project is expected to generated over 1,320,000 MWh of electricity each year and offset about 129,000 tonnes of carbon emissions each year. The electricity generated by the project is enough to power about 35,000 Indian homes.... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Clean Technica

Corporate India has 'green' concerns

Environmental concern and promotion of good environmental practices is increasingly being taken seriously by corporate India. Mithila Mehta explores the trend

The green wave has taken the workplace by storm. It may have started off as a fad, but has translated itself into a movement which is here to stay. Whether on an individual level thorough the efforts of employees, or through large-scale organisational initiatives, the avenues to make a difference are plentiful. Terms like 'sustainability' and 'carbon footprint' are doing the rounds of offices pretty frequently nowadays.

Date : Jun 5

Source: Times of India

Energy efficiency may save thermal power stations Rs 3,000 cr in 3 years

As many as 144 thermal power stations across the country will be able to save Rs 3,000 crore in three years by being energy efficient and save on coal consumption as well. Under its PAT (Perform, Achieve and Trade) scheme, Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has notified these thermal power stations a target figure for fuel consumption reduction, which will make them energy efficient by March 2015.

"One-fourth of our power capacity needs to be upgraded to be able to ensure that this target is met," said Ajay Mathur, director-general, BEE. The proposed target in the PAT scheme is... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

Metro mulls solar panels at stations to go green

In a bid to reduce dependence on non-renewable sources of power, Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is looking to tap into solar power.

As part of this initiative, Delhi Metro, in consultation with Delhi government, is planning to install solar panels at the Karkardooma and Noida sector-21 metro stations, said a DMRC spokesperson.

The solar panels will also be installed at the Yamuna Bank depot.

"These are plans for the initial phase to capture solar energy, which eventually will provide electricity using appropriate technology," said a Delhi Metro official. The DMRC... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Times of India

India Inc wants policy support to bet on wind, solar energy

India's green energy initiatives, which aim to boost solar power capacity to 20,000 mw in a decade, and expand windmills, have made rapid progress but entrepreneurs want supportive policies to sustain growth.

India aims to meet 15% of its power needs, or 80,000 mw, from renewable sources by 2020, with an investment of Rs 1.5 lakh crore. This has boosted investment in the sector by 54% in just one year, and solar power capacity has leaped to 905 megawatts from a negligible 8 mw three years ago, making India one of the top 10 global destinations for investments.

"The sector is... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

India's Low-carbon technology market likely to be worth $135 billion by 2020

Billions of dollars worth of investment in clean technology and green energy are eyeing India, where the market for low-carbon technology is expected to expand to $135 billion by 2020, according to industry experts, making the country one of the most lucrative destination for companies in the domain.

Renewable energy has already lured stars such as Sachin Tendulkar and Aishwarya Rai and large companies such as Reliance Power and Lanco, and the flow of venture capital has increased in the sector.

In addition, foreign companies involved in solar power and wind energy, as well... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Economic Times

Algae, new-age biofuel for green tomorrow

Algae have emerged as a low cost tool to capture global warming causing carbon.

Algae, a latin word for seaweed, are a very large and diverse group of simple, typically tropical organisms. They are like plants but grow on water. They produce more than 71% of the Earth’s oxygen, as per estimates of some scientists. Carbon dioxide and water are the basic requirements for algae’s growth and this in turn releases oxygen as a by-product.

Since its clean credentials are established, algae is become a solution for capturing carbon from vehicular emissions, for providing oxygen to... Read more..

Date : Jun 5

Source: Hindustan Times

High court rules in favour of hotels in waste management row

The city corporation that has been issuing closure notices to hotels functioning without waste treatment plants in the city has been pulled up by a high court order.

Following a petition filed by the Kerala Hotel and Restaurant Association, the court has held that if a hotel did not have space or if there was an objection from the neighbouring shop owners for setting up the treatment plant, it was for the corporation to make arrangement to collect waste and treat it at the cost of the hotel.

The ruling that has come in favour of the hotel owners, dismayed the corporation... Read more..

Date : Jun 4

Source: Times of India

Policy for green buildings on anvil

The Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) will announce a new policy to promote the concept of green buildings in the city.

The policy will be announced on the occasion of World Environment Day on June 5.

According to SMC officials, builders promoting green buildings, which maximize the use of natural resources, will get some waivers in certain fees and deposits. They will also get more floor space index (FSI) along with subsidies on plants for the green spaces planning in the new schemes.

Surat, which is the fourth fastest growing city in the world, has at least 10 such... Read more..

Date : Jun 4

Source: Times of India - http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/surat/Policy-for-green-buildings-on-anvil/articleshow/13791855.cms

Keltron to make a big entry into solar power

When the state is reeling under acute power crisis with a peak demand of 3,528 MW as against an installed capacity of 2,229 MW, Kerala State Electronics Development Corporation (KELTRON) is set to make a big entry into the manufacture of solar inverters and power controllers catering to off-grid and on-grid electricity requirements.

"Currently, we have obtained orders from the state prison department for the manufacture of solar inverters and power conditioners. We expect orders from other departments as well as many are keen to go for solar powered systems eventually considering... Read more..

Date : Jun 4

Source: Times of India

First bus rapid transit system in Pimpri Chinchwad by December

All the infrastructure work for operating the bus rapid transit system (BRTS) on an 11-km stretch of the Pune-Mumbai highway in Pimpri-Chinchwad would be completed by the end of this year, municipal commissioner Shrikar Pardeshi said on Friday.

A review meeting of the BRTS projects in Pimpri-Chinchwad was held in New Delhi on Thursday. Earlier, a preparatory meeting was held in Mumbai on Wednesday, Pardeshi added.

It has been nearly four years since the PCMC completed widening of the highway stretch. But the civic body has not been able to start the BRTS services as it has... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Times of India

Carbon dioxide hits 400 parts per million in Northern Hemisphere

Concentrations of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere have risen above 400 parts per million (ppm) in recording stations across the Arctic going as far south as Mongolia, reports the Associated Press. Such levels have not been seen in at least 800,000 years according to researchers. Carbon levels fluctuate depending on the region and the season and scientists say global concentrations will likely remain at around 395 ppm for the time being.

Crossing the 400 ppm threshold "[is] a reminder to everybody that we haven't fixed this and we're still in trouble," Jim Butler, global monitoring... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Environmental News Network

US companies need to disclose climate risk -investors

Institutional investors and environmental advocates on Thursday urged companies to disclose their risks from the impact of climate change, two years after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission issued guidelines for firms to do just that.

While the SEC guidelines do not force publicly traded corporations to assess such climate-related events as severe storms, droughts, floods and heat waves, some companies have done so anyway.

But those disclosures have not been particularly useful, according to Maryland State Treasurer Nancy Kopp.

"Among those who disclosed, they... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Reuters UK

Metro man E Sreedharan set to solve garbage crisis in Kerala

The capital city, which is reeling under the garbage crisis, might find a saviour in metro man E Sreedharan. A road map for waste management is being prepared by the Foundation for Restoration of National Values (FRNV) under the guidance of E Sreedharan who is the principal adviser, Delhi Metro Rail corporation (DMRC) and national president of FRNV.

FRNV has embarked on this ambitious project considering the disastrous manner in which waste handling is carried out, not just in the city but all over the state. FRNV has divided the entire project into six stages.

"At present we... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Times of India

Renewable power: Developing markets are a ray of sunshine

If the dominant global theme of the 21st century has been the shift in dynamism and capability towards emerging economies, then 2012 has been the year in which that trend has hit the renewable energy industry.

While many developed economies that led the way in renewable energy are faltering, the enthusiasm from countries such as India, Brazil, South Africa and Saudi Arabia has been growing.

However, China, the world leader in terms of investment in clean energy from 2009-10, applied the brakes last year and ceded top position to the US.

This followed concerns in... Read more..

Date : Jun 3

Source: Moneycontrol.com

HSBC / Climate Bonds Report finds climate-themed bond opportunities for fixed income investors bigger than expected

The Climate Bonds Initiative, in collaboration with HSBC Climate Change Centre of Excellence, today launches a new report on the current size and future opportunities for investing in climate-themed bonds, which will lead the transformation to a low-carbon economy.

The Report gives a snapshot of the climate-themed bond markets’ size, the key investments themes and regional market, and finally identifies three key ways to accelerate market expansion.

"We found that the market size is much broader and deeper than previously thought. In fact, there is USD174bn worth of climate-... Read more..

Date : Jun 1

Source: Investor Ideas

Investors Applaud International Energy Agency's Fracking Recommendations

On May 16, 2012, the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) and Boston Common Asset Management, the Investor Environmental Health Network (IEHN) announced that 55 leading investors with roughly $1 trillion in assets under management have joined hands to back up "best practices" for the fracking of shale gas.

In the newly published report, “Golden Rules for a Golden Age of Gas", the International Energy Agency has provided several proposals that are similar to the ICCR and IEHN guidelines.

Director and Managing Director of ESG Research and Shareholder Engagement... Read more..

Date : Jun 1

Source: Azomining

ICRISAT, ICAR jointly to fight climate change

The International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) have joined forces to adapt new measures to tackle the growing climate related risks and constraints that prevail in rural areas.

Learn from people

The two organizations and their partners emphasized adoption of a different perspective and approach by listening, observing and learning from the people that they are supposed to help with research findings, technology and knowhow.

According to a press release from ICRISAT,... Read more..

Date : Jun 1

Source: The Hindu

HP unveils its first net-zero energy data centre in India

The world's second-largest PC-maker Hewlett Packard has unveiled its first net-zero energy data centre that promises to significantly reduce data centre power costs and energy requirements.

In an interview with ET, Chandrakant Patel, senior fellow and director (interim) at HP Laboratories, said the new model would require no energy from traditional power grids. HP data centre plans to make use of solar and alternative renewable energy sources.

"If you look at some of the large data centres, they use about 7 megawatts of diesel generation. That is the amount of electricity... Read more..

Date : Jun 1

Source: Times of India