The IATA has announced industry goals for carbon neutral growth by 2020, and a 50% absolute reduction in emissions by 2050, with a little help from their friends: their service providers, fuel companies, and the world's governments, whose cooperation on cap-and-trade schemes would be needed.  The IATA's statement reads like a riposte to widespread criticism, often from politicians, that paint the industry as a leading climate villain, while simultaneously challenging the world's politicians to enact serious cap-and-trade legislation.

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Good news from Dell: worldwide, 26% of their power comes from renewable sources, a 20% improvement over last year, including 9 facilities that are 100% powered by renewables. 

From Greenbiz: 'The firm's use of renewables is part of a larger initiative to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions of its facilities by 40 percent by 2015.

Dell's three-pronged strategy to drive down emissions involves energy efficiency in business operations, use of renewables where possible and purchase of third-party verified renewable energy credits to offset the company's remaining carbon impact."

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A new survey by IBM Global Business Services found that companies concerned about supply chain issues are seldom collecting the data they need.

Some 29% of businesses weren't collecting any data at all. 80% of companies are not collecting data on carbon or water use.

The survey also found that 37% of companies had never asked their customers what kind of supply chain sustainability information they wanted.

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The Oakland, CA - based builder of prefabricated green homes, Michelle Kauffman Designs, will be closing as a result of the banking crisis in the United States. Difficulty with project financing is reportedly a major culprit in the company's inability to continue.

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"Wind Power Anywhere"

A Wind Power Generator that can be deployed almost anywhere? AND Deliver a steady and strong stream of Energy? If further testing is successful, the future of energy could be MARS.

Although Magenn's Air Rotor System (MARS) is currently in its prototype phase (since April'08), we could see a backpack version of the system as soon as 5 - 10 years!

But what is MARS?

Essentially a 'Floating Wind Power Generator', it stays in the air with Helium in very much the same way a Blimp floats in the air.

At 500 - 1000 ft in the air, enjoying Consistent and Strong Winds, it generates 50% of its rated capacity. A significant improvement over regular ground level wind turbines that generate 20 - 40% of their rated capacity.

Changing Wind Directions?

Not a Problem. A deflector disk will keep MARS pointed in the right direction all the time.

Power Output?

The prototype was rated at 2 Kw with production versions anticipated to be rated 10/12 Kw.

Accessible Price!

With home sized units (4 Kw) expected to cost USD$10,000 and camping units (2 Kw) USD$2,000. Easy, renewable energy will be well within the reach of your average consumer.

We are very excited about this technology and will be sure to check out our closest demo unit once they become available! (Which could be as early as late 2009)

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Journalists have been given a tour of the worker camp in Dubai that was a subject of the BBC Panorama documentary "Slumdogs and Millionaires".

The unsanitary conditions shown in the documentary have been largely rectified, though incidents of overcrowding were still witnessed by the journalist who wrote this piece in the Khaleej Times.

The article refers to other steps being taken to prevent breaches of Dubai worker regulations.

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The online retailer has announced that it will not permit Phorm to track user activity on its site.

Phorm tracks user activity in order to help internet service providers serve up advertising related to a user's interests. Privacy groups have asked major internet retailers including Amazon to opt out of Phorm.

The Amazon move comes as the company defends another human rights related accusation for apparently sifting out books related to homosexuality from its best seller rankings.

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$100 million in energy efficiency spending is to be added to a retrofit project due to start this summer, owners Wien & Malkin have announced.

The project is expected to save around $4.4 million per annum in energy costs. Some 54% of these savings will be achieved with the implementation of the first five stages of the project, which should be complete within 18 months at a cost of $20m.

Jones Lang LaSalle Inc, the Clinton Climate Initiative and the Rocky Mountain Institute have acted in advisory roles on the project, which its owners say aims to provide a model of eco-efficient retrofitting of city buildings.

Elements of the plan include window upgrades, insulation, a new air conditioning system that adjusts to demand and produces cool water, and energy efficient lighting.

According to the Reuters report, commercial buildings in New York City account for 79% of the city's carbon emissions.

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Last month we blogged the introduction of Credit Cards in America made from biodegradable BioPVC and mentioned that this material has also been used in Hotel Key Cards, an industry that in America alone puts an estimated 1,300 tons of plastic into our landfills annually.

The good news is that in the last couple of years, biodegradable key cards have dramatically risen in popularity and availability. Last year the Marriot chain in the US started phasing in Key Cards made with 50% recycled material, soon all the 24 million key cards the company buys each year will be ‘Green’.

BioPVC, which contains enzymes that allow the material to biodegrade in less than 5 years, is not the only option hotels have when it comes to green key cards. The other 2 major offerings are Agri Cards, made out of plant material, and reNew Cards, which uses recycled plastics in its manufacturing process. These options are primarily distributed in the US through usfi Greenworks and Pineapple Hospitality.

Another option from Sustainable Cards that only last made its debut at the Democratic National Convention, are Wooden cards made from  PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certified wood.

With this much choice, it will be easy for hotels to find a variant to suit their environmental focus / message and with there being very little difference in costs when compared to the PVC option, they will have no excuse not to adopt these cards.

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