Energy Efficiency

UPS today announced it has placed a reservation for 125 of Tesla’s new fully-electric Semi tractors. The new tractors will join UPS’s extensive alternative fuel and advanced technology vehicle fleet, comprised of trucks and tractors propelled by electricity, natural gas, propane and other non-traditional fuels.

In the midst of a population boom, Portland is in need of more residential space. With the city’s current infrastructure not able to keep up with that need, new private developments have to accommodate a growing population without damaging the surrounding environment. Hassalo on Eighth was conceived as an EcoDistrict—a series of buildings that share sustainable energy, water, and waste infrastructure—to ease the city’s housing squeeze, revitalize a neighborhood in need of development, and allow its tenants to reduce their carbon footprint by nearly a third.

Testifying today at the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) hearing on repealing the glider provisions in the Phase 2 national fuel economy standard for heavy-duty vehicles, Carol Lee Rawn, Transportation Program Director at Ceres, made the following statement:

“Repealing the glider emission requirements would have a detrimental impact on both the economy and environment. The proposed changes would undermine the competitiveness of the U.S. freight truck industry, is contrary to business interests, and would increase harmful emissions and healthcare costs.”

Latin America’s rising demand for natural gas presents broad opportunities across the industry. While these opportunities may be most acutely present in Mexico — where a steadily growing economy is catalyzing soaring natural gas imports from the United States — conditions across the region reflect positive trends for U.S. producers and midstream players. Emerging markets are eager to tap U.S. supplies and seize on natural gas’s potential as a low cost, reliable and cleaner power generation source.

UPS will implement a sustainable delivery concept in the inner city of Frankfurt. UPS employees will make deliveries with electrically assisted cargo bikes and on foot.

Lower gas prices are driving investment across the sector as the industry hedges its bets on market recovery. Continuing flat demand has caused a stalemate across the industry, and most natural gas utilities remain in waiting mode. Nevertheless, the industry is looking ahead. It is expecting demand to shift and prices to eventually rise, and utilities are working to keep their assets running and maintain the systems currently in place.

Leaders from business, civil society, Government and the United Nations convened today in Bonn to discuss an accelerated pathway forward towards implementing the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) at the COP 23/CMP 13: High-Level Meeting of Caring for Climate.

Businesses across Virginia are commending Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s proposed rule that would cut carbon dioxide emissions from the Commonwealth’s electricity sector by 30 percent between 2020 and 2030.

The McAuliffe Administration will present their proposal to the State Air Pollution Control Board later today in Richmond.

Whirlpool Corporation has announced plans to build three wind turbines to power its manufacturing facility in Greenville, Ohio, further building on the company's 46-year commitment to sustainable manufacturing.