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Study: Stormwater ponds not a significant source of greenhouse gases
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsStormwater ponds are ubiquitous throughout the world, found around the properties of office buildings, airports, apartment complexes and other facilities. They collect runoff water from roads, roofs, lawns and parking lots and are designed to filter out pollutants before the water is released into local streams or rivers. Given their prolific pock marking of countless urban landscapes, scientists are now suggesting that they are not a significant source of climate-warming nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions, a new Duke University-led study finds.
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Western wildfires spread apace with drought, rising temperatures
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe recent combination of heat, wind and low humidity has cultivated an intense, fire-prone climate in Colorado and California. From the Wyoming border to southern Colorado, there are dozens of active wildfires burning. However, the weather in Colorado lately has allowed for more success in containment efforts, meanwhile, California’s current heatwave makes it very difficult for firefighting conditions. Napa and Yolo counties are fighting the County Fire that has now grown to the size of Atlanta, and is only 48 percent contained.
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California judge rules in oil companies’ favor in climate change…
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalRecently, a California District Court judge threw out a lawsuit introduced by San Francisco and Oakland against the five largest oil companies: Exxon, BP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Royal Dutch Shell. This case was closely watched by local governments that struggle to pay for necessary infrastructure changes. For those who strategized that the judicial branch may be a successful ally in the fight against climate change, this recent ruling comes as a demoralizing blow.
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Study: Nanomaterials may create algae outbreaks, kill off waterways
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalWe’ve been here before. Nanoparticles getting into the environment and fouling things up. This time, though, we’re not talking about plastic, but something potentially more dangerous: chemicals. According to a new study by Duke University, during the last decade, there has been a surge in the use of tiny substances — nanomaterials — in agrochemicals like pesticides and fungicides. However, when combined with nutrient runoff from fertilized cropland and manure-filled pastures, these nanopesticides could also mean more "toxic algae outbreaks for nearby streams, lakes and wetlands."
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Combating waste in the hospitality industry
Bambi Majumdar Travel, Hospitality & Event ManagementPopular Southeast Asia destinations like Indonesia, Thailand and the Philippines are beginning to close off areas due to overcrowding, unplanned development and pollution. These are countries where tourism forms a significant stream of revenue. They are risking business to save the environment, and other countries should follow suit. One of the most important steps taken in this regard is combating the use of plastic waste.
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What is lighting-as-a-service, and why does it matter?
Scott E. Rupp Facilities & GroundsLighting-as-a-service (LaaS) is a service delivery model that allows lighting services to be charged on a subscription basis rather than via a one-time payment or the traditional manner of a facility or organization manually keeping up with equipment and paying the monthly bill. The business model has become more common in commercial installations of LED lights, with the primary aim of reducing installation costs.
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How food choices impact the environment
Bambi Majumdar Food & BeverageThere is a growing, worldwide consensus focused on reducing the use of nonrecyclable materials for environmental purposes. A new study conducted by a Swiss research institute and Oxford University says that our food choices can help, too. The researchers calculated the impacts of foods around the globe, and studied the food production chain from the farm to the fork. This extensive study found that switching to a plant-based diet will not only have positive health impacts, but could have a significant impact on the climate as well.
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More big brands join the war on plastic
Scott E. Rupp Waste Management & EnvironmentalThe effort against single-use plastic straws has officially become more than a skirmish and is now an all-out war, as several more major brands have decided to do away with them in their businesses. SeaWorld Entertainment, in an effort to protect the environment, has removed all single-use straws and plastic bags from the company’s 12 theme parks. The Orlando-based company made the announcement June 8. SeaWorld, while leading in this effort, is not alone.
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Ikea to ditch single-use plastics by 2020 as part of sustainability push
Tracy Szwec Waste Management & EnvironmentalIkea announced on June 7 that it would phase out all one-time use plastic products from both stores and restaurants by 2020. Not only does this include the products used in the cafe and store, but it means they will not be selling those products on their shelves. You won’t find freezer bags, garbage bags and the like at Ikea anymore. This big announcement is part of a much broader sustainability plan for the Swedish company.
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State, city efforts address US exit from Paris climate agreement
Michelle R. Matisons Waste Management & EnvironmentalWhen President Trump announced the U.S.' exit from the 2015 Paris climate agreement on June 1, 2017, committed state governments, cities, businesses and organizations initiated or continued carbon-reducing projects. As it turns out, positive demand for alternative energy sources competes with federal inactivity and economic growth demands that still use readily available and traditional energy. What will steer the path of climate change initiatives in the years to come? That has yet to be decided.
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