These publications were recently added to GLRPPR’s Sector Resources. This list is continuously updated on the web and is also available as an RSS feed.
Meta-Review of Efficiency Potential Studies and Their Implications for the South
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:52:36 GMT
This paper reviews 19 separate studies published over the past 12 years that examine the potential for deploying greater energy efficiency in the South. These studies contain more than 250 estimates of the energy efficiency potential for different fuels (electricity, natural gas, and all fuels), sectors of the economy (residential buildings, commercial buildings, and industry), and types of potential (technical, economic, maximum achievable, and moderate achievable). The meta-review concludes that a reservoir of cost-effective energy savings exists in the South. The full deployment of these nearly pollution-free opportunities could largely offset the growth in energy consumption forecast for the region over the next decade.
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Building a Sustainable Energy Future: U.S. Actions for an Effective Energy Economy Transformation
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 18:49:10 GMT
The United States faces a critical challenge to transform our current fossil fuel based energy economy to a stable and sustainable energy economy. This transformation must be achieved in a timely manner to increase U.S. energy independence, enhance environmental stewardship and reduce energy and carbon intensity, and generate continued economic growth. In this report, the National Science Board (Board) offers key findings, recommendations to the U.S. Government, and guidance to the National Science Foundation (NSF). Collectively, these actions will initiate and sustain a transformation to a sustainable energy economy.
Alliance for the Great Lakes
Tue, 08 Sep 2009 13:37:59 GMT
The Alliance works to conserve and restore the world’s largest freshwater resource through policy, education and local efforts aimed at preserving the Great Lakes region as a national treasure. It also works with the region’s residents, enhancing their understanding of how they can help, too.
Sustainable Procurement of Wood and Paper-based Products
Wed, 02 Sep 2009 13:31:02 GMT
Forest products are renewable goods that store carbon and have in most cases a lower environmental footprint than non-wood products. Well-managed forests provide numerous ecosystem services and societal benefits. The production of forest products can, however, cause significant negative side effects if not conducted in a legal and sustainable basis. (pdf document; 156 pp)
Removing the Roadblocks: How to Make Sustainable Development Happen Now
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:55:43 GMT
Business-as-usual real estate development in California has resulted in crushing traffic, fewer housing options, loss of open space and agricultural land, and significant air pollution, including the greenhouse gas emissions that cause climate change. Traffic alone costs Californians hours each year of lost time, frustration, and wasted fuel. Sustainable development represents the solution. This development is typified by compact, walkable communities located near transit, jobs and services. California already has examples, such as downtown Berkeley and Los Angeles, neighborhoods in San Francisco, Pasadena and San Diego’s Gaslamp Quarter, to name a few. Many residents there have the option of walking to services (such as stores and schools), jobs, and major public transit stops. And the diverse nature of housing means grown children can live near parents, empty-nesters can downsize within their communities, and residents of diverse incomes can live near each other. Despite the demand for these neighborhoods, however, local land use policies often prevent developers from building them. To identify solutions, a group of leading developers of sustainable real estate projects, along with California Attorney General Jerry Brown, met at the UCLA School of Law in March 2009. The gathering resulted in two major findings. First, the group identified the four most critical roadblocks to sustainable development. Second, the group offered specific solutions to these barriers. Based on the discussion, this paper presents for the first time a comprehensive blueprint for how policy makers and industry leaders can make sustainable development more widespread and easier to build. It recommends a series of immediate and longer-term actions these leaders must take to remove the sustainable development roadblocks. The most critical of these recommendations is that local governments develop comprehensive neighborhood plans for sustainable development. State and federal leaders must support local governments in this effort with financial assistance and regulatory reform.
Climate Change Compass: The Road to Copenhagen
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:50:35 GMT
Building on last year’s analysis, EIRIS reviewed the 300 largest global companies by market capitalization listed on the FTSE All World Index to assess the current state of corporate responses to climate change. This report highlights the direction companies are taking with regard to the issue and examines its implications for investors.
Water Footprinting: Identifying and Addressing Water Risks in he Value Chain
Tue, 01 Sep 2009 18:44:48 GMT
This report provides a detailed insight into the learning of WWF and SABMiller, who worked together with consultancy URS Corporation to undertake water footprints of the beer value chain in South Africa and the Czech Republic. It discusses what the water footprint results in both countries mean for SABMiller’s businesses and their action plans in response to the findings. This study looks beyond the basic water footprint numbers and considers where the resource is used and the context of its use — in particular by considering water use for different agricultural crops in the context of specific water catchments.