Daily Archives: January 31, 2013

31
Jan

Energy and Environment News Roundup – 1.31.13

A daily roundup of the most important energy, environment, and climate news from around the world.

GRID 

Transmission and distribution equipment market to more than double by 2020 (via Renew Grid)

Utilities spent $14 billion worldwide on smart grid tech in 2012 (via Renew Grid)

Honeywell and Opower team up on smart energy (via GreenBiz)

PG&E gears up for final push on smart meters (via Bakersfield Californian)

EMISSIONS 

Oil and gas majors at risk from “unburnable” reserves if emissions targets enforced (via GreenBiz)

Fossil fuel divestment “virtually risk free” (via Environmental Leader)

Divesting from fossil-fuel companies unlikely to harm endowments (via Chronicle of Higher Education)

Three things to know about British Columbia’s carbon tax – in pictures (via Sightline Daily)

RENEWABLES 

Global offshore wind market “set for 55GW by 2020” (via Recharge)

Smoggy China to seek more solar power (via EarthTechling)

Spain’s monthly wind power tops 6 terawatt hours for first time (via Bloomberg)

Saudi Arabia completes biggest solar power plant (via Bloomberg)

Facing expiring tax credit, US wind industry posts record 13GW year (via The Hill)

Renewable energy industries push for new financing opinions (via New York Times)

Wind, solar groups quit ALEC as group targets clean energy programs (via Greenwire)

Wind power to shave $1 million off Ohio State University electricity bill (via Triple Pundit)

OIL 

Satellite analysis shows Gulf oil spills typically underestimated (via Yale e360)

CLIMATE 

Humans have already set in motion 69 feet of sea level rise (via Mother Jones)

Growing palm oil for biofuels could speed up climate change (via Reuters)

Butterflies booking it north as climate warms (via Mother Jones)

Three states pushing ALEC bill to require teaching climate change denial in schools (via DeSmog Blog)

NUCLEAR 

Report: Georgia nuclear power plant could be Solyndra redux (via Christian Science Monitor)

TRANSPORTATION 

EPA plan to cut sulfur in gasoline on track for March launch (via Houston Chronicle)

Hagel endorses ban on high-carbon fuel use for Department of Defense (via The Hill)

Boeing Dreamliner batteries said to fail 10 times before incident (via Bloomberg)

TAR SANDS/KEYSTONE XL 

Pressure builds for Obama to link tar sands pipelines to climate change (via InsideClimate News)

ENVIRONMENT 

Five sobering realities about global water security (via WRI Insights)

Thousands evacuated as flooding hits Eastern Australia (via Bloomberg)

POLITICS 

McCarthy not discussing EPA plans (via Politico)

OPINION 

Obama talks climate change, California acts on it (via Time)

The cost of not using renewable energy (via Grist)

Posted:   |   Categories: ALEC, australia, barack obama, battery, biofuels, boeing, Boeing Dreamliner, british columbia, california, carbon tax, China, Chuck Hagel, climate, Climate Change, Department of Defense, Divestment, emissions, environment, EPA, Extreme weather, Gasoline, Georgia, Gina McCarthy, grid, Gulf of Mexico, Honeywell, Keystone XL, natural gas, News, nuclear, offshore wind, Ohio, Ohio State University, oil, oil spill, Opower, palm oil, PGE, production tax credit, renewables, saudi arabia, Sea level rise, Severe weather, smart grid, smart meters, solar, solyndra, Spain, Sulfur, tar sands, Tax incentives, transmission, Transportation, Water security, wind
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31
Jan

5 Packing Peanuts Alternatives

packing peanut alternatives

Packing peanuts are the pits from an environmental perspective. These single-use packing materials are made from Styrofoam, a petroleum product, and they're a huge waste of resources.

Of course, you can find ways to reuse those packing peanuts, but the greenest option is to skip them all together.

Whether you're packing for a move or wrapping up something fragile for shipping, it might be tempting to pad your package with peanuts, but there are lots of other, more eco-friendly ways to protect your valuables while they're in transit. We've rounded up a few packing peanut alternatives, and I've love to hear your ideas in the comments!

1.    Shredded Paper

Do you have a paper shredder to dispose of things like bank statements and bills with sensitive information on them? Instead of dumping that paper in the recycle bin, save it for the next time you have to pack and ship something fragile. I love this method, because not only does it replace a disposable petroleum product, but it extends the life of that paper just a bit longer.

2.    Linens and Towels

Next time you're packing for a move, don't put your linens, towels, and clothes in separate bags and boxes from your breakables! Instead, use all of that free fabric to wrap valuables. You'll end up with fewer boxes, which means a quicker, easier move, too!

3.    Reclaimed Paper

Junk mail, old newspapers, and magazines are perfect for wrapping up breakables, whether you're shipping something or packing for a move. Just make sure you use lots of layers, so your valuables will arrive safely.

4.    Popcorn

This might sound crazy, but in a pinch you can use popcorn in place of packing peanuts. Yep! Actual popcorn! Just make sure you go with the air-popped variety. Buttered popcorn would be a hot mess by the time your package arrived at its destination.

5.    Fabric Scraps

Seamsters! Those bins of fabric scraps that you've been hoarding are invaluable when you're moving. Use them to pad boxes with fragile items.

What other eco-friendly packing peanut alternatives have you guys run across? Let's keep the ideas going in the comments!

Image Credit: Packing Peanuts photo via Bigstock

Posted:   |   Categories: alternatives to packing peanuts, Home+Decor, Living, packing peanut alternatives, packing peanuts, reuse, single use plastic, styrofoam
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