P2 news services.P2Rx centers distribute news articles and other timely P2 information. Centers either post news headlines and abstracts, or distribute them via periodic e-mail, or both. Click on the link of a center below for more information about P2 news

P2Rx publishes the national news in RSS format. Here is the link to view the RSS feed (code). http://www.p2rx.org/webservices/rssnews.cfm

Information about P2Rx News

News from P2Rx Regional Centers

National P2 News Archive    (From Last 14 days)      Browse by : Funding | Mercury | Tribal

NYS: Green Living - Tips and resources for making environmentally responsible choices in your daily life(07/29/2010)
Ten Things You Can Do to Help The Environment Right Now: The new NY State Electronic Equipment Recycling and Reuse Act makes it easier to recycle your unwanted electronics. Find out what to do with your old computers, printers etc.

Coming in 2011: New Labels for Light Bulb Packaging(07/26/2010)
Labels Will Emphasize Lumens, Not Watts, as a Measure of Bulb Brightness Starting in mid-2011, the Federal Trade Commission announced today, consumers shopping for light bulbs will notice new labeling on packaging designed to help them choose among the different types of bulbs on the market -- traditional incandescent bulbs, and newer high-efficiency compact fluorescent (CFL) and light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. The new labels will enable consumers to save money by selecting the most efficient bulbs that best fit their lighting needs. Under direction from Congress to re-examine the current labels, the FTC is announcing a final rule that will require the new labels on light bulb packages. For the first time, the label on the front of the package will emphasize the bulbs' brightness as measured in lumens, rather than a measurement of watts. The new front-of-package labels also will include the estimated yearly energy cost for the particular type of bulb. While watt measurements are familiar to consumers and have been featured on the front of light bulb packages for decades, watts are a measurement of energy use, not brightness. As a result, reliance on watt measurements alone make it difficult for consumers to compare traditional incandescent bulbs to more efficient bulbs, such as compact fluorescents. A compact fluorescent bulb may be able to produce the same amount of brightness as a traditional incandescent bulb, while using significantly less energy, or watts. New energy standards mandated by Congress will effectively phase out traditional low-efficiency incandescent bulbs from the U.S. market over the next few years. The new labels that focus on brightness in lumens will help consumers make purchasing decisions as they transition to more energy-efficient types of bulbs. Under the new rule, the back of each package of light bulbs will have a "Lighting Facts" label modeled after the "Nutrition Facts" label that is currently on food packages. The Lighting Facts label will provide information about: " brightness; " energy cost; " the bulb's life expectancy; " light appearance (for example, if the bulb provides "warm" or "cool" light); " wattage (the amount of energy the bulb uses); and " whether the bulb contains mercury. The bulb's brightness, measured in lumens, and a disclosure for bulbs containing mercury, also will be printed on each bulb. Click on the link to read the complete article at Federal Trade Commission

Stormwater Model to Inform Regulators on Future Development Projects(07/25/2010)
North Carolina State University researchers have developed a computer model that will accurately predict stormwater pollution impacts from proposed real-estate developments -- allowing regulators to make informed decisions about which development projects can be approved without endangering water quality. The model could serve as a blueprint for similar efforts across the country. "The model is designed to evaluate the amount of nitrogen and phosphorus found in stormwater runoff from residential and commercial developments -- particularly runoff from a completed project, not a site that is under construction," says Dr. Bill Hunt, an associate professor and extension specialist of biological and agricultural engineering at NC State who helped develop the model. "To comply with regional water-quality regulations, cities and counties have to account for nutrient loads," Hunt says, "but the existing tools are antiquated and aren't giving us sufficiently accurate data." The researchers developed the model using chemical, physical and land-use data specific to North Carolina and surrounding states. This allowed them to account for regional conditions, which will improve the model's accuracy. "Because the model uses regional data, it could be modified easily for use east of the Blue Ridge Mountains in North Carolina and adjoining states," Hunt says. The model could also serve as a blueprint for similar efforts nationally. "The primary obstacle to applying this model outside North Carolina -- in Florida or Colorado, for example -- would be collecting relevant data from those areas and incorporating it into the model's framework," Hunt says. "The actual model itself would be fairly easy to modify." Click on the link to read the complete article at Science Daily

Smarter Water and Energy Conservation Policies(07/21/2010)
Smarter water and energy conservation policies are intertwined. The droughts in the West and South. The gyrations in the price of oil. Just these two realities alone have taught us how much water and energy will define our futures. Yet, what isn't always obvious is the connection between the two. Maybe it's because most of us thought of water and energy as commodities until recently. And why not? The price of gas was so cheap, its impact on the environment so little understood, that most of us didn't pay much attention to how much we bought at the pump. And water was so available that communities such as Fresno, Calif., thought nothing of charging homeowners flat monthly water bills, no matter how much water they used. Water and energy are intricately linked, though. A lot of water goes into making the everyday staples of our lives. It takes 10 liters of water to produce just one sheet of paper, 10,855 for a pair of jeans, and 15,500 for a kilogram of beef. Meantime, the systems that send water to our factories, homes, farms, malls, and offices have their own hefty energy requirements. About one-fifth of California's electricity is used for pumping and treating water. The Environmental Protection Agency estimates that around $4 billion is spent annually on the electricity to run water and wastewater utilities. Yet, municipalities lose up to 50% of their water to leakages, and agriculture wastes 60%. Our water resources are coming under increasing threats of contamination. That's why the status quo for how we handle water and energy won't cut it in the future. The demand for these two resources is going to increase dramatically as the world's population reaches a peak of 9.4 billion in 2050. By 2025, two-thirds of the world is projected to face water scarcity. At the same time, we have to cut the amount of energy we're using so that we can slash the carbon emissions we're sending into the atmosphere. Click on the link to read the complete article at Environmental Leader:

EPA Seeks Small Business Input on Proposed Stormwater Rule (07/20/2010)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is inviting small businesses and municipalities to nominate representatives to provide input on a proposed stormwater rule. The rule would strengthen the national stormwater program under the Clean Water Act (CWA) and focus on stormwater discharges from developed sites, such as subdivisions, roadways, industrial facilities, and commercial buildings or shopping centers. Selected participants would provide input to a Small Business Advocacy Review panel, which will consist of officials from EPA, the U.S. Small Business Administration and the Office of Management and Budget. As required by the Regulatory Flexibility Act, EPA is establishing this panel because the rule could have a significant economic impact on small entities. The representatives will provide input on how EPA can minimize the potential burden on small entities of the proposed regulation. Nominations must be received by August 4, 2010. Click on the link for more information about participating in the panel More information about the rulemaking: http://www.epa.gov/npdes/stormwater/rulemaking

U.S. Department of Energy Embarks on Cool Roof Initiative(07/20/2010)
WASHINGTON, DC -- The U.S. Department of Energy has launched a cool roof initiative, and Energy Secretary Steven Chu is urging other government agencies to follow his department's lead. "Cool roofs are one of the quickest and lowest cost ways we can reduce our global carbon emissions and begin the hard work of slowing climate change," Chu said in a statement this week. "By demonstrating the benefits of cool roofs on our facilities, the federal government can lead the nation toward more sustainable building practices, while reducing the federal carbon footprint and saving money for taxpayers." Cool roofs reflect sunlight and reduce heat gain, which decreases the need for air conditioning, saves energy and reduces carbon emissions. Cool roofs also reduce the heat island effect found in urban and campus settings where concentrations of black or dark roofs and paved surfaces create areas where the ambient air temperature is higher and the air quality is poorer. Chu has directed his department to install cool roofs when constructing new ones, or replacing old ones, as long as it is cost effective to do so given the life expectancy of the roof. This week, Chu detailed the DOE initiative, sent letters to the heads of other government departments and agencies and released the DOE Guidelines for Selecting Cool Roofs (pdf). The resource explains how cool roofs work, their benefits and how to select the right one for a facility. Click on the link to read more:

NJ: Commissioner Bob Martin releases vision and priorities plans for more effective, customer-friendly DEP (07/20/2010)
(10/P71) TRENTON - Commissioner Bob Martin this week delivered on his promise to reform the Department of Environmental Protection by unveiling a vision statement and environmental policy priorities that will guide the DEP in the coming years as it becomes more effective and consumer-friendly. "These documents will serve as our blueprints for reforming the DEP, making it a modern, easier-to-navigate agency that works with people and reduces red tape while strongly emphasizing our mission to protect the state's environment,' Commissioner Martin said. "Across the DEP, change already is occurring. Employees are embracing the idea that our residents are our clients, and that they deserve to be respected and treated as valued customers."

Secretary Chu Announces Initiatives to Promote Clean Energy at First Clean Energy Ministerial(07/19/2010)
At the world's first Clean Energy Ministerial, U.S. Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced that the United States is helping launch more than 10 international clean energy initiatives. These initiatives will cut energy waste; help deploy smart grid, electric vehicle, and carbon capture technologies; support renewable energy markets; expand access to clean energy resources and jobs; and support women pursuing careers in clean energy. The new programs offer partners concrete, technical actions to promote economic growth while reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other pollutants. The initiatives will eliminate the need to build more than 500 mid-sized power plants world-wide in the next 20 years. "The Clean Energy Ministerial has brought together leaders from around the world to take unprecedented actions to deploy clean energy technologies--from energy efficiency to renewable energy to smart grids to carbon capture. These steps will promote economic growth, create jobs, and cut greenhouse gas emissions," said Secretary Chu. "What we've seen here is that working together, we can accomplish more, faster, than working alone." Click on the link for additional information on each of the initiatives announced at the Clean Energy Ministerial.

EPA Seeks Proposals for Reducing GHG Emissions Through Energy Efficiency in Homes, Buildings - $5,360,000(07/18/2010)
Application Due: September 2, 2010 Eligible Entities: Proposals will be accepted from states; local governments; territories; Indian tribes; possessions of the United States, including the District of Columbia; international organizations; public and private universities and colleges; hospitals; laboratories; and other public or private non-profit institutions. EPA's Climate Protection Partnerships Division seeks proposals from eligible entities to advance national, regional, state, and local energy efficiency programming by using market-based approaches to program design and delivery by fostering information exchange on policies that support these approaches. Proposals must demonstrate the potential to create a sustainable change in the market for energy efficient products, services, and best practices. For more information, view the RFP at:

EPA and Other Federal Agencies Collaborate to Improve Chemical Screening(07/18/2010)
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences National Toxicology Program (NTP) and the National Institute of Health Chemical Genomics Center (NCGC) welcome the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to the Tox21 collaboration. The Tox21 collaboration merges federal agency resources (research, funding and testing tools) to develop ways to more effectively predict how chemicals will affect human health and the environment. The collaboration was established in 2008 to develop models that will be able to better predict how chemicals will affect humans. FDA will provide additional expertise and chemical safety information to improve current chemical testing methods. "This collaboration is revolutionizing the current approach to chemical risk assessment by sharing expertise, capabilities and chemical information, which will lead to both a faster and deeper understanding of chemical hazards," said Dr. Paul Anastas, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Research and Development. "Through the Tox21 collaboration, 2,000 chemicals have already been screened against dozens of biological targets and we are working to increase the number of chemicals to 10,000 by the end of the year." There are tens of thousands of chemicals currently in commerce and current chemical testing is expensive and time consuming. "This partnership builds upon FDA's commitment to developing new methods to evaluate the toxicity of the substances we regulate," said Dr. Janet Woodcock, director of FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research. FDA will collaborate with other Tox21 members to prioritize chemicals that need more extensive toxicological evaluation, and develop models that can better predict human response to chemicals. EPA contributes to Tox21 through the ToxCast program and by providing chemicals and additional fast, automated tests to NCGC. ToxCast currently includes 500 chemical screening tests that have assessed over 300 environmental chemicals. "Using the best science to protect human health and the environment is the ultimate goal of this collaboration," said Linda Birnbaum, Ph.D., director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the NTP. "The addition of FDA to this effort allows biomedical researchers and regulatory scientists to work together side by side to more rapidly screen chemicals and find more effective ways to protect the health of the public. The NTP is pleased to bring its toxicology and coordination expertise to bear on making Tox21 a reality." A major part of the Tox21 partnership is the robotic screening and informatics platform at NCGC that uses fast, automated tests to screen thousands of chemicals a day for toxicological activity in cells. "Our robots screen in a day what would take one person a year to do by hand, allowing a fundamentally different approach to toxicology, which is comprehensive and based on molecular mechanisms," said Dr. Christopher Austin, director of the NIH NCGC. More information on the Tox21 collaboration: http://epa.gov/ncct/Tox21/ More information on ToxCast: http://epa.gov/ncct/toxcast/ More information on NTP: http://www.ntp.niehs.nih.gov More information on NCGC: http://www.ncgc.nih.gov More information on FDA: http://www.fda.gov

House Democrats introduce bill to defend PACE clean-energy program(07/18/2010)
Thirty House Democrats signed on to a new bill on Thursday that would save Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) programs, which have been under attack from mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. PACE is a finance tool that helps homeowners afford energy-efficiency retrofits and renewable-energy installations. The PACE Assessment Protection Act of 2010 would force the government-sponsored corporations to adopt standards that support PACE, based on Department of Energy guidelines. Yet the bill's author, Rep. Mike Thompson of northern California, hopes the legislation persuades Fannie and Freddie to accept a compromise before it's signed into law. The finance tool certainly has a lot of friends. It's been backed by $150 million in Department of Energy stimulus funding, the vice president's Middle Class Task Force, 23 state legislatures, governors such as Arnold Schwarzenegger [PDF], and mayors such as Michael Bloomberg [PDF]. California Attorney General Jerry Brown sued Fannie and Freddie yesterday to defend the PACE programs, the largest of which are in California. PACE programs let home and business owners pay for rooftop solar arrays, high-efficiency furnaces, insulation, and other improvements through a surcharge on their property tax bills, removing high up-front costs. Fannie and Freddie dislike that those tax assessments have senior lien standing to mortgages, even though analyses and pilot programs have found that energy efficiency and PACE programs can make borrowers more financially secure. Read the complete article at GRIST by clicking on the link:

Information about P2Rx News

If you would like to add our National P2 News Box to your site, please click on the following link. http://www.p2rx.org/services/getnewsbox.cfm.

Several P2 and Compliance Assistance organizations are providing news in RSS. To see the list and learn the options to get the news feed on your site or on news aggregator, click the following link. http://www.p2rx.org/services/RSSdirectory.cfm.

To learn more about RSS, News Feed, News aggregator etc, please visit P2Rx center, Pollution Prevention Regional Information Center (P2RIC) by clicking on the link, http://www.p2ric.org/EnvNews/WhatisRSS.cfm.