Tata Power embraces Solar but stays away from National Solar Mission ^
As reported by Business Green, Tata has stepped up its push into the country's fast-expanding solar energy market, inking a power purchase agreement (PPA) with state-run power distributor Gujarat Urja Vikas Nigram (GUVNL) for the construction of a 25MW solar PV plant in the Gujarat region.
This will result in the construction of a photovoltaic solar farm featuring over 100 crystalline silicon solar modules, to be completed by December 2011. This project is likely to be the first in a wave of solar farms across the region.
The Gujarati government has recently decided to allocate an additional 565MW capacity to various solar power project developers in order to encourage them to take up solar power projects in the state. GUVNL has so far signed PPAs with 26 solar power companies covering 365MW of power, and the development of these projects is expected to attract investment of $1.3bn in the state. The project further underlines Tata Power's interest in the solar market after the company began operating a 1MW plant outside Delhi this week in a joint venture with BP Solar. The firm will also soon begin construction on a 3MW, grid-connected solar plant at Mulshi in Maharashtra.

However, none of these projects is part of the Indian government's high profile $19bn National Solar Mission, which Tata has purposefully avoided owing to strict deadlines and what it regards as overly centralised control of development. The mission aims to generate 20GW from solar power by 2022, equivalent to 12 per cent of the nation's current generation capacity.The government has sought to encourage developers to the first round of projects by offering preferential tariffs, loans and a designated buyer of their power.

But Tata and other developers, including Azure, have shunned the mission, saying that the terms of the loans and tariffs are not favourable enough and rather llok for better terms elsewhere.

Key Success factors to enable a better shared economy

Trust through Community: Trust needs to exist in order to allow sharing transactions to occur. Many sharing startups begin by leveraging an existing community. People who wouldn’t share a ride with a complete stranger would have no problem doing so with someone who went to the same school. Once sharing is established within a specific community, it then becomes simply a matter of linking separate communities to expand that trust.
Trust through Familiarity: Another approach is through the use of extensive profiles to build trust, even when the profile information seems irrelevant (like favorite bands). Users are much more likely to trust someone they feel that they know and act socially responsible in response.
Trust through Reputation: A more technological solution to this problem is reputation. eBay has used feedback scores to effectively ensure that users can buy from complete strangers based on their reputation alone. Similar structures need to be in place for any sharing transactions to occur.
Regulation: A much less understood challenge is regulation. Yet in the same way that legal issues challenged but did not stop the proliferation of the audio tape, the VHS tape, digital music, and Youtube, laws will need to be fought over and adapted to the new sharing economy.
Socially conscious startups which are eager to expand the sharing economy have many challenges ahead of them; however, many resources exist to help them navigate into the future. With some determination and care, they will usher in a new sharing based economy where enabling the sharing of rather than the overconsumption of resources creates profit.

Building Energy Management Systems – Pike Research

The Building Energy Management Systems (BEMS) market, a growing segment of the larger building efficiency industry, is gaining momentum as an alternative, cheaper means for end-users to implement energy efficiency applications in commercial buildings. Conceived out of the market demand for a lighter, less-expensive and strictly energy-related automation and management systems for commercial buildings, the BEMS market includes both specialized and broad-based solutions. Such solutions range from reactive energy efficiency optimization software to predictive supply and demand side energy management architectures.
The BEMS market will continue to grow at a strong pace over the next few years, as players in adjacent markets continue to invest in the space. These players will include IT vendors, building management system (BMS) vendors, curtailment service providers (CSPs), and other energy efficiency companies. As a result of market convergence, BEMS offerings will become more sophisticated, providing energy savings to the end-user that in many cases will be reinvested in additional energy efficiency applications. Additionally, the return on investment for BEMS will become even more attractive as costs are driven down – as BEMS vendors enter into more buildings, implementation templates will begin to take shape. Looking ahead to 2016, many end-users with portfolio management needs will choose BEMS rather than updating a BMS, as it is a less expensive option, and BEMS are technology agnostic.

New blog post : Driving the Sustainability Action through Standards;The Imminent Imperatives http://bit.ly/fn74Kz

New blog post : Greening the supply chain - trends and imperatives (2/2) http://bit.ly/fymbpI

New blog post : Olive Earth http://bit.ly/fH9Ab5

Perspectives on fossil fuel usage trends in India http://ping.fm/aGwhc

New blog post : Demystifying the diesel debate - Should Mr Minister mind his own business? http://bit.ly/cbcH0G

Bibi Russel

Bibi Russel will showcase colorful accessories — recycled bags, sandals, running shoes, necklaces and bangles & her collection in cotton, recycled terracotta silk yarn, organic fibre and silk in Bangalore. The clothes will have the famous rickshaw art on them and the models will walk to the rhythm of Bengali folk music by Lalan Fakir. Be there.

Key Success factors to enable a better shared economy:
Trust through Community: Trust needs to exist in order to allow sharing transactions to occur. Many sharing startups begin by leveraging an existing community. People who wouldn’t share a ride with a complete stranger would have no problem doing so with someone who went to the same school. Once sharing is established within a specific community, it then becomes simply a matter of linking separate communities to expand that trust.
Trust through Familiarity: Another approach is through the use of extensive profiles to build trust, even when the profile information seems irrelevant (like favorite bands). Users are much more likely to trust someone they feel that they know and act socially responsible in response.
Trust through Reputation: A more technological solution to this problem is reputation. eBay has used feedback scores to effectively ensure that users can buy from complete strangers based on their reputation alone. Similar structures need to be in place for any sharing transactions to occur.
Regulation: A much less understood challenge is regulation. Yet in the same way that legal issues challenged but did not stop the proliferation of the audio tape, the VHS tape, digital music, and Youtube, laws will need to be fought over and adapted to the new sharing economy.
Socially conscious startups which are eager to expand the sharing economy have many challenges ahead of them; however, many resources exist to help them navigate into the future. With some determination and care, they will usher in a new sharing based economy where enabling the sharing of rather than the overconsumption of resources creates profit.

Challenges to a sharing based economy that we need to be cognizant of http://bit.ly/aTJa2z

Sisodia, Wolfe, and Sheth have documented the value created by companies who recognize this in their book Firms of Endearment (FOE), Wharton School Publishing, 2007. The results show that FOE’s generate more than 10x cumulative investor return compared to the S&P 500 over a ten year period, and 3x Jim Collins’ “Great Companies.” Any company failing to recognize the significance of these other bottom lines will do so at their own peril.

Eco-friendly Diwali celebrations http://ping.fm/pMJwJ

Green consumerism for dummies - Eco-friendly Shoes can be fashionable and rugged http://ping.fm/emuyg

New blog post : This diwali let eco-funk inspire your celebrations and footprint http://bit.ly/a72Abs

New blog post : Times they are a-changing and getting Ecovative(TM) http://bit.ly/biOi1A

New blog post : http://bit.ly/cQpzGh

As several blogs ripped apart the Volt for the wheels connection to the engine, disproving the true EV nature of the vehicle, GM is trying to put up a brave face by being unflustered in face of the vehemant public outcry. As reported by Business Green Andrew Farah, chief engineer for the Volt, has mentioned that engine's connection to the drive train is based on overall torque in the vehicle - which uses the gasoline engine, a primary electric motor, and a secondary motor - rather than speed.

The engine will partially drive the wheels in conjunction with the other components when the onboard computer considers it efficient to do so, he explained, adding that for the first 25 to 50 miles of operation the car will operate only using the charge in the primary electric motor. The firms claims it to be a hybrid of pure electric and series and parallel hybrids. GM launched a web site called MyVolt.com, vailable as component of its OnStar MyLink service. GM will provide Volt owners with a range of online services which will enable volts used to be monitored and manipulated remotely either via a web site or a smartphone application. For example, owners could open the car using their smart phone or set the vehicle to automatically charge at a time of low electricity prices.

GM is lacking credibility on the "true EV nature" of newly launched Volt http://bit.ly/cFgIy2

Howard Jacobson gets the man booker for "The Finkler Question" http://nyr.kr/dddWtF
In announcing the prize, Sir Andrew Motion, the chairman of this year’s panel, mentioned that “The Finkler Question” is “funny,” and much is already being made of Jacobson having written the first “comic novel” to win a Booker. Jacobson can be ribald and play with language—in “Kalooki Nights,” the protagonist keeps falling for women with a diaeresis in their name (Zoë, Chloë, Alÿs)—but he does not write light humor. “The Finkler Question” so far is the story of three friends: two Jewish widowers and Julian Treslove, an even more mournful fellow, even though he never married and isn’t Jewish, at least when the novel begins. But as events unfold, Treslove starts to think that he might be, or that others think he is. His private word for Jew is Finkler—his schoolmate, rival, and one of the widowers. The Finkler Question, in other words, is the Jewish Question—which is also at the heart of “Kalooki NIghts,” “The Mighty Walzer,” his travelogue “Roots Schmoots” (which became a BBC series), and his opinion column for the Independent.

@bl

Green consumerism for dummies - Green clothing and fashion http://ping.fm/WI1yv

New blog post : OE Remembers Lennon - Featuring "Child of Nature" http://bit.ly/bKptJD

New blog post : Worth of that used beer bottle - trashonomics is good for environment http://bit.ly/bVhH2l

Opportunities for India in a Greening toy market http://ping.fm/fsqWd

E-waste Management in India - Emerging policy environment http://ping.fm/7KhHM

New blog post : http://bit.ly/9lnI1Z

New blog post : Opportunities for India in a greening toy market http://bit.ly/9I8Mq0

New blog post : Greening of Toys - Inducing innate sustainable behavior in Kids http://bit.ly/9GBTIg

Achieving the Wind Energy Potential of India - Challeneges and Imperatives (1 of 2) http://ping.fm/WnQ5j

New blog post : Has New-york Times Spotted the Black Swan - imperatives for the news paper industry http://bit.ly/dbaMUE

Has New-york Times Spotted the Black Swan - imperatives for the news paper industry http://ping.fm/womqJ

Achieving the Wind Energy Potential of India - Challenges and Imperatives (2 of 2) http://ping.fm/c1LbV

All Cool Features at Olive Earth http://ping.fm/y1wiL

Carbon Markets post Kyoto Era http://ping.fm/Yvzoo

North America's electric system is facing serious challenges. Major questions exist about its ability to continue providing citizens and businesses with relatively clean, reliable, and affordable energy services. The recent downturn in the economy masks areas of grid congestion in numerous locations across America. The "information economy" requires a reliable, secure, and affordable electric system to grow and prosper. Unless substantial amounts of capital are invested over the next several decades in new generation, transmission, and distribution facilities, service quality will degrade and costs will go up. These investments will involve new technologies that improve the existing electric system, and advanced technologies that could revolutionize the electric grid.

The vision of the smart grid is to break down barriers between transmission and distribution, communications, and back office systems to create a fully integrated network that provides diagnosis and resolution of problems as they arise and enables real time exchange of information between the utility and its customers.

The power transmission and distribution system is being transformed into a smart grid that integrates a multitude of distributed energy resources, uses solid state electronics to manage and deliver power, and employs automated control systems. The power industry, trailing behind other economic sectors already revolutionized by computerization, will see inexpensive computing power and low cost bandwidth infuse every element of the grid with digital intelligence in coming decades.

Advanced metering plays a major role in any smart grid infrastructure, and wireless applications are at the heart of advanced metering communications systems. The wireless comm. networks that will support advanced metering systems in the future will provide faster & more accurate use, load, and disruption information, which will help utility companies plan & manage their resources more effectively.

New blog post : Renewable Energy Usage in Europe - Encouraging trend http://bit.ly/bB9l2R

The EuroStat report at http://bit.ly/bhvvFL finds an encouraging trend of improved renewable energy usage across Europe.

Key Findidngs of the report:
Energy dependency fell by 5.7%
Gross inland consumption fell by 5.5% in 2009
Production of primary energy sources dropped for the third consecutive year
Energy intensity dropped for the sixth consecutive year
Russia was once again the main supplier of oil, natural gas and coal

As summaries in the New-york times, the report finds out that from 2008 to 2009 alone, the use of renewable energy in the European Union increased 8.3 percent. Portugal now gets nearly 45 percent of its electricity from renewable sources, up from 17 percent five years ago. It also found that the production of energy from hard coal and natural gas showed an “important decrease” (9.2 and 10.1 percent, respectively). To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, the European Union is also aggressively pushing its members to cut back on their use of coal.

Renewable energy now accounts for 18.4 percent of energy production in the European Union, just behind natural gas, which provides 19.3 percent. Energy intensity – a measure of how much energy is used to make a unit of economic output – dropped for the sixth straight year. That means member nations are learning to use energy more efficiently.

“The decoupling of increasing economic activity from increasing energy consumption is a goal for sustainable development,” the report notes. Emerging economic giants like China have been loath to define binding greenhouse gas reduction targets but have instead set as their goal reducing their energy intensity.

The report found that energy consumption across the European Union dropped 5.5 percent, to levels not seen since the 1990s – although at least some of the reduction is a result of the global recession.

Sustainable Consumption - Oxy-moron or next stage-of-maturity http://ping.fm/efdvS

New blog post : Sustainable Consumption - Oxy-moron or next stage-of-maturity? http://bit.ly/c3RuGB

Thumbs up to Levi: Announces Ban on Sandblasting Denim Jeans http://bit.ly/dzifJZ

We have ranted about winnng technologies - here is Top ten lost technologies http://bit.ly/a4LFWx

Freakonomics: Keeping a plan secret betters the chances to succeed http://nyti.ms/bNauFi

Emission and Energy Management practices http://ping.fm/lwoxL

Renewable energy is dramatically approaching grid parity from a cost perspective in many places. For example, recent maps published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory show that solar energy, even at the residential level, will be cost effective in most of the U.S. by 2015. Now that the rebate program has been extended to 2016, the cost of equipment and deployments are dropping and new financing models are being developed. This is most promising and absolutely thrilling to me

Sustainability Leadership from Wal-Mart http://ping.fm/CUKmq

US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) proposed new fuel economy labels for cars and light-trucks coming to showrooms.

The new labels for fuel efficiency come on the heels of recently improved standards for fuel economy and global warming pollution finalized last April. The standards, which phase in during model years 2012 to 2016, increase the average fuel economy of new vehicles to 34.1 miles per gallon and hold emissions of greenhouse gases to no more than 250 grams of CO2 per mile starting the mandate from 2012.

EPA and NHTSA have proposed two label designs. The new labels also introduce greenhouse gas emissions rates (in gCO2/mile) and a fuel consumption rate (gallons/100 mi) along with traditional miles per gallon metric and an estimated annual fuel cost. The fuel consumption metric is helpful because it relates directly to operational costs and environmental performance. For example, when comparing two cars that differ in fuel consumption rates by 20 percent, their fuel costs and global warming emissions will also differ by 20 percent. The redesign of the fuel economy label was partly driven by the need to label emerging vehicles that run, at least partially, on electricity instead of gasoline or diesel fuel to compare the value of these new non-petroleum technologies with their conventional oil-powered counterparts.

EPA and NHTSA propose to further simplify the process of finding the cleanest, most efficient vehicles by grading all cars, minivans, SUVs and pickups with A+ (best) to D (worst) letter grades. The letters summarize the characteristics of fuel efficiency, global warming pollution and cost of operation.

Electronic Industry demonstrating proactive corporate citizenship on Conflict Minerals http://ping.fm/Gu6ta

Ford Uses Innovative Liquid-Cooled Battery System to Help Focus Electric Owners Maximize Range: DEARBORN, Mich., S... http://bit.ly/aUKlpt

India has a vast supply of green energy resources, and has a significant program for deploying these resources. The various types of Renewable Energy in India - are Wind Energy, Solar Energy, Hydro electric and bio mass energy. The Renewable Energy market in India is pegged at US$600 million, growing at 15% per annum. The Government’s renewable energy target by 2030 is 200 gigawatts, estimated to require US$200 billion in capital investment. Currently, 3.5% of installed capacity is in the renewable sector, producing 3700 MW. Renewable energy is projected to produce 10,000 MW by 2012.

India Energy and Electricity Scenario: India consumes 3.4% of global energy. The Indian power industry is growing at a rapid pace. The Annual demand is increasing by 3.6% over the last 30 years. There is surging demand from domestic and industrial sectors.
Industrial sector − 35.5% (2006-07)
Domestic sector − 25.87% (2006-07)

The State Electricity Boards (SEBs) are main agencies for the generation and supply of electricity. Private investments in the Power Sector have been allowed since 1991, and therefore there is increased participation of private and global players.

The different sources of Power in India are Coal, Gas, Hydroelectric, Wind, Solar. Coal is still the biggest source of Power. The installed capacity for power generation in India is 1,49,391.91 MW.

Though 82.4% of villages are electrified less than 60% of households consume electricity. Thus the per capita consumption of electricity is the lowest in India. Industry followed by Agriculture are the two main sectors that consume power. But the power sector in India faces many roadblocks like ineffecient distribution systems, low capacity utilization and poor maintenance.

By 2012, India will need another 60 to 70 GW of power, the demand would be 950,000 MW by 2030
For the Indian economy to grow at 9% annually, additional capacity of 60 GW must be added every five years. This requires approx. US$100 billion in investment every five years. The domestic sector will cross 29% by 2011-12, industrial sector will remain almost stagnant. The Government promise of 100% electricity to domestic users will push up consumption. Government policies and foreign investment in the sector will aim at bridging the huge gap between supply and demand of electricity in India.

Nestle’ Invests $487 million in Sustainable Coffee Sourcing http://bit.ly/cCfptR

If a Kindle replaces 23+ new (not used) books, it saves carbon. http://bit.ly/cRGljS

NSF is funding a project for is developing the NeuroPhone system, the first Brain-Mobile phone Interface (BMI) that enables neural signals from consumer-level wireless electroencephalography (EEG) headsets worn by people as they go about their everyday lives to be interfaced to mobile phones and combined with existing sensor streams on the phone (e.g., accelerometers, gyroscopes, GPS) to enable new forms of interaction, communications and human behavior modeling.

Specifically, this high-risk exploratory research is to:

1) study new energy-efficient techniques and algorithms for low-cost wireless EEG headsets and mobile phones for robust sensing, processing and duty cycling of neural signals using consumer devices;

2) develop new learning and classifications algorithms for the mobile phone to extract and infer cognitively informative signals (e.g., P300, N400, and neural synchrony) from EEG headsets in noisy mobile environments;

3) deploy networked NeuroPhone systems with a focus on real-time multi-party neural synchrony and the networking, privacy and sharing of neural signals between networked NeuroPhones; and

4) evaluate networked NeuroPhones applications, specifically, measuring teacher-student engagement in the classroom and measuring group level emotional state.

This interdisciplinary research opens up opportunities in education, teaching and outreach, in part because it focuses on an educational NeuroPhone application, which contributes new insights into cognitive engagements of students in the classroom as well as engages students from the Department of Computer Science and the Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences in the project. Results from this work will transform applications across diverse domains such as education, health monitoring, and social networking.

Now you dont need to type to tweet, the neural signals will do it http://bit.ly/acGcQW

The HCFC controversy gains steam with buyers complaining on the instability of the market http://nyti.ms/b6GhwC

All the major automotive manufacturers are developing EVs -- considered the next generation of vehicles and a means for the OEMs to differentiate and stay ahead of competition. Escalating oil prices and environmental concerns are driving governments to grant incentives and encourage zero emission vehicles, endorsing the importance of EVs and stepping-up the demand for EV batteries. EV batteries come with different chamical compositions like lead acid, NiMH and lithium-ion. The rapidly evolving market for EVs is boosting demand for new battery technologies and greater supply. New analysis from Frost & Sullivan, finds that the EV Li-ion battery chemical and materials market is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 125 per cent from 2010 to 2016 for products like anodes, cathodes, electrolytes as well as binders and casings.

Only a few market participants can supply separators, electrolytes, anodes and cathodes, particularly in Europe, causing a bottleneck in the EV batteries value chain. Chemical and battery companies have failed to keep pace with the development of vehicles as electric vehicles have been as it took a lot of time to develope the market. The EV industry has finally taken off very suddenly, causing a potential bottleneck in battery technology supply and very few companies are in a position to capitalise on the opportunities. The market is likely to face significant price pressure from downstream companies as well as increasing competition from low-cost production locations. The chemical industry can help achieve these goals with the development of innovative materials, chemicals, and solutions as EV batteries need considerable improvement in terms of energy storage capacity, size, weight, and cost. There is a clear trend in the market that chemical companies are partnering with the key battery producers to supply the required volumes and enhance existing battery technology. More at http://bit.ly/bPq6mU

Green Energy News (GreenEnergyNews): Frost & Sullivan: Electric Vehicles Fuelling Demand for Battery Technology and Supply: LONDON, Aug. 30 /PRNewswire... http://bit.ly/dvhM1x

McK Quarterly Not all companies, of course, could benefit from multisided models. But for those that can, a good starting point for testing them is to take inventory of all the data in a company’s businesses (including data flowing from customer interactions) and then ask, “Who might find this information valuable?” Another provocative thought: “What would happen if we provided our product or service free of charge?” or—more important, perhaps—“What if a competitor did so?” The responses should provide indications of the opportunities for disruption, as well as of vulnerabilities.

When ur core business is part of a network, valuable data ( called “exhaust data”) are generated as a by-product. -MQ

@olivearth Yet another “Should we be paranoid about google” post http://bit.ly/dB0REH nicholascarr

This is the new pioneering vision from the ceo of the company that continues to change how we look at the world: "We're trying to figure out what the future of search is," Mr. Schmidt acknowledges. "I mean that in a positive way. We're still happy to be in search, believe me. But one idea is that more and more searches are done on your behalf without you needing to type."

"I actually think most people don't want Google to answer their questions," he elaborates. "They want Google to tell them what they should be doing next."

Let's say you're walking down the street. Because of the info Google has collected about you, "we know roughly who you are, roughly what you care about, roughly who your friends are." Google also knows, to within a foot, where you are. Mr. Schmidt leaves it to a listener to imagine the possibilities: If you need milk and there's a place nearby to get milk, Google will remind you to get milk. It will tell you a store ahead has a collection of horse-racing posters, that a 19th-century murder you've been reading about took place on the next block.

Says Mr. Schmidt, a generation of powerful handheld devices is just around the corner that will be adept at surprising you with information that you didn't know you wanted to know. "The thing that makes newspapers so fundamentally fascinating—that serendipity—can be calculated now. We can actually produce it electronically," Mr. Schmidt says.

Freakonomics on Unemployment Vs. Global Warming http://nyti.ms/csHLfU

New post at Olive Earth Blog : Neah Power buys into EKO Veicles http://bit.ly/d7piyP

GOOD NEWS: BP has been forced to abandon hopes of drilling in the Arctic, http://tinyurl.com/32domcq beyondoil

Piramal Fellowship : opportunity to work with some of the best social entrepreneurs on their greatest challenges http://bit.ly/cQLBQE

New post at Olive Earth Blog : The case for EVs in India http://bit.ly/asXtbS

There is controversy that HFC 23 is being overproduced as as per AM0001 approved methodology of the CDM mechanism HFC-23 incineration constitutes CDM projects resulting in certified CERs. There are 19 registered HFC‐23 incineration projects, of which 11 are in China, 5 are in India, and the other 3 being in Korea, Mexico and Argentina respectively.

What are HFCs?
The phase-out by 2010 of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) used as refrigerants is mandated under the Montreal Protocol on Substances That Deplete the Ozone Layer. Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) including HCFC-22
are transitional replacement gas to these phased‐out gases.

HCFC-22 (chlorodifluoromethane or CHClF2) is an industrial chemical used in the airconditioning,
refrigeration and foam sectors (referred to as ‘emissive uses’). HCFC-22 is also used as a feedstock chemical in the production of material such as Poly-Tetra-Fluoroethylene (Teflon). HFC-23 (trifluoromethane or CHF3) is an inevitable by-product of HCFC-22 production. It is a potent greenhouse gas (GHG) with a 100 year global warming potential (GWP) of approximately 11,700 (IPCC 1995).

What is the controversy:
Destroying HFC-23 is extrmely lucrative because the cost to destroy it is just a fraction of the revenue they earn from selling the carbon credits through the CDM. So there is incentive in overproducing HFC 22 to incinerate the by-product HFC-23 which may actually be counter productive for the environment and the carbon reduction could be more of an accounting gimmick.

World Bank has strongly refuted such claims. As per them the increase in HCFC is due to the increasing demand in the project countries. They refute such claims with the fact that the production is not outstripping consumption in any of these countries and the overall
national production of HCFC-22 in these countries significantly exceeds that of units under CDM project.

New post at Olive Earth Blog : Prof. Karnani’s recent WSJ article - The Case Against CSR http://bit.ly/bJhR9m

New post at Olive Earth Blog : The Ecycling Imperative http://bit.ly/b5hMwk

New blog post : Scavenging Yahoo Hacks for Green Apps http://bit.ly/cs4jFx

The government has decided to fund establishment of e-waste treatment facility as part of its waste management programme for 140 highly contaminated sites in the country, Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh said today at two sites in Andhra Pradesh and eight in West Bengal on pilot basis for a period of four years.
This is part of the larger objective to develop a national programme for rehabilitation of polluted 140 sites identified by the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB). The need for such a programme has been felt to treat the 6.2 million tonnes of hazardous waste generated in the country, of which roughly 3.5 million tonnes is recyclable. For the balance 2.7 MTA, only 1.5 MTA is treated, stored and disposed of in 33 facilities set up in various states. As per our environment minister Mr. Jairam Ramesh, to meet the capacity gap, we need Rs 85 crore of which Rs 22 crore has been allocated for the first three years of the XIth plan. By 2012, India is estimated to generate over 800,000 million tonnes (mt) of e-waste every year in view of increasing demand for laptops, refrigerators and mobile phones.

Clean energy (megawatts and negawatts) and water management present a huge potential opportunity in India. With a large power deficit and a clear government directive to provide power for all, clean energy can help in meeting the demand-supply mismatch, while minimizing the impact on environment and natural resources. Similarly, given the increasing pressure on water resources required to meet the demands of population growth, agricultural output enhancement will be necessary.
Policy initiatives taken on by the government can improve the growth rate of the markets. These include entrepreneurial incentives for setting up clean energy projects (generation based incentives, renewable energy certificates, attractive debt funding), promoting energy efficiency measures in the industry including ease of cheap funding availability, and clear directives for water management and waste management.

As per IDFC's Mandhana's discussion with Cleantech group:

In the recent economic times summit it was agreed that INDIA needs to design and construct green buildings to control the use of electricity as it accounts for nearly 90% of the carbon footprint of a single structure. Green buildings can help reduce electricity consumption.
helping to assuage the challenge of electricity demand With an estimated 10% increase in the built-up area of residential and commercial buildings every year. About 70% of the renewable energy in the country is sourced from wind. “Energy generation from biomass and hydro should also come up with uncultivable land being used for bio-mass energy generation,” Climate Connect director, Nitin Tanwar said. The panelists said developers as well as end consumer should be given incentives in the form of tax benefits to encourage development and uptake of green homes. Even though some banks have started looking at subsidising home loan rates for green units, the benefit for a developer is yet to come. The country’s largest lender SBI offers 50 basis points interest discount to borrowers for green homes.
Panelists argued for tax benefits for developers so that such homes are available for the consumers. At present, the total area under green construction in the country stands at 406 million sq ft, but with corporates waking up to the cost benefits of a green building this is expected to reach about 6 billion sq ft in next five years.
A green building incorporates several features, such as effective use of existing landscapes, use of recycled and environment friendly building materials, non-toxic materials, efficient use of water, use of energy efficient and eco-friendly equipment, using renewable energy and better indoor air quality for human comfort.

When buildings are built, they are typically designed for a specific use and occupancy. This tends to change over the years. Building systems should be commissioned as construction is completed to verify that they operate as designed, but often the commissioning process is neglected. A National Energy Management Institute study estimates less than 5% of existing buildings have been commissioned. Buildings that have changing uses and those that haven’t been commissioned after construction can be secretly wasting energy. In both cases, retrocommissioning can help

Trying First post for social media integration

Mini Apps for Sustainability

Mini Apps for Sustainability

Olive Earth stands for sustainability and peace. As our beloved earth heads towards precipice, as informed citizen, it is onto us to preserve and protect its living and non-living resources.