Geologic time periods of the past have generally been differentiated due to changes in landscape and organism populations. During some geologic time periods, certain organisms have thrived while others have faltered, and sometimes many organism falter as seen during mass extinction events. Humans first appeared during the Pleistocene epoch and have been in existence all [...]
Archive for the ‘Sustainable Development’ Category
Entering the Anthropocene Epoch?
September 10th, 2011 
Nick Grue 
Posted in Behavior, Guest Authors, Op-Ed, Sustainability, Sustainable Development 
Tags: Carbon Dioxide, Environment, Nick Grue 
No Comments »September 2011 Clean Energy and Sustainability Events
September 1st, 2011 Eric Wilson This month the calendar is chock full of events both stateside and abroad. A number of conferences center on smart grid technologies. There are also a few Public Health conferences on the agenda, one in London and the other in Brisbane, Australia which asks the question “Is Public Health Sustainable?” As with just about every [...]
Posted in Conferences, Eric Wilson, Smart Grid, Sustainability, Sustainable Development Tags: Calendar, California, Clean Energy, Wind Power No Comments »Can D.C. Lead the Charge in Shutting Down Coal-fired Power Plants?
August 24th, 2011 Justin Manger Gridlock in Washington. It’s not just the traffic, but the political process that has stalled as evidenced by the debt ceiling debacle and other squabbles. That’s at the federal level. At the city level there has been worry over the change from Mayor Fenty to Mayor Gray and a possible return to DCs not so [...]
Virginia’s First Light Rail, “The Tide,” Opens in Norfolk
August 21st, 2011 Justin Manger Build it and they will come, especially if it is free. With the opening of a 7.4 mile light rail system, the crowds were out early Friday in Norfolk, Virginia to test out the new transportation option, The Tide: The Tide is the first light rail system in Virginia and marks the beginning of a new era for [...]
Posted in Green Economy, Justin Manger, Policy, Sustainability, Sustainable Development Tags: Mass Transit, Trains No Comments »New York Tops List of Most Walkable Cities
July 23rd, 2011 Justin Manger With its dense neighborhoods, apartment complexes, public transportation, and mega-city layout, most residents of New York City don’t need a car to go shopping or run daily errands. The list of most walkable cities in the U.S. is thus led by the Big Apple. Put together by Walk Score, which we have written about before, the [...]
Pollution Eating Aluminum Panels: Good Idea or Good Grief?
July 7th, 2011 Justin Manger For the moment, let’s put aside the fact that EcoClean – aluminum building panels that can “eat” smog – is produced by major aluminum maker Alcoa. If we’re going to have buildings that have aluminum siding (or siding at all) wouldn’t it be better if that siding could help clean the air?The most rational and [...]
Posted in Behavior, Business, Clean Technology, Green Building, Justin Manger, Sustainable Development Tags: Carbon Dioxide, Pollution No Comments »Sit On a Rock for Three Years?
July 3rd, 2011 Justin Manger The Japanese have a saying ishi no ue ni mo san nen 石の上にも三年. Roughly translated, it means “sit patiently for three years, even on a rock.” If you’re persistent and/or patient enough when undertaking something, in the end, it will have been worth it and you’ll be rewarded with success. The near opposite phrase is [...]
Posted in 2nd Green, Behavior, Conservation, Education, Japan, Justin Manger, Op-Ed, Sustainable Development Tags: 2nd Green Revolution, Environment No Comments »The Role of NASA in a Sustainable Future
June 19th, 2011 Eric Wilson A recent NPR story about the space shuttle Endeavor’s final launch and the International Space Station included some profound comments from the commander Mark Kelly. Obviously Kelly has been through a traumatic experience as his wife, Representative Giffords from Arizona, recovers from an assassination attempt. Whether because of this ordeal, or in spite of it, [...]
Posted in Eric Wilson, Featured Posts, Op-Ed, Sustainability, Sustainable Development Tags: NASA, Photovoltaic, Science, Solar Energy No Comments »New Town Builders to Construct Net Zero Home
June 13th, 2011 Eric Wilson Taking a page from the solar decathlon that runs annually in Washington DC, New Town Builders in Denver will complete their first net zero home in the Stapleton neighborhood later this year. As an example of what future homes (and buildings in general) can do, the net zero home will produce as much energy as [...]
Привет! Eco-Trek Arrives in Russia
May 28th, 2011 Justin Manger How does the largest country in the world deal with it’s far flung environmental challenges? Russia envisions Eco-City 2020, an underground city entirely powered by the sun for more than 100,000 people. The architectural studio AB Elis in Moscow has conceived of the city “to be built in the crater of a defunct diamond mine in Siberia. [...]
