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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainable Building

What Makes Anti-fatigue Mats Environmentally Green?An anti-fatigue floor mat looks very similar to any other mat. However, they are designed to prevent slipping and offer as much comfort as possible to anyone who needs to stand all day. The surface is usually made of high density rubber to assist in preventing people slipping over. The best quality ones are designed to be resistant to chemicals, grease and other dangerous materials. Because they’re mostly made of rubber and other recycled materials, anti-fatigue mats can be considered environmentally friendly. The main benefits of an anti-fatigue mats are: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Economic Packaging Solutions--What's Making Your Business Green?Saving money on packaging is a simple way to increase the profitability of your business in more ways than one. Many companies have been using the same packaging materials for years without giving any thought to how they can cut costs and improve efficiency. But changing materials and methods can save you time, money, and manpower and increase your profits significantly. The following are a few ways your company can change your packaging and reduce your environmental impact, and the impact on your funds.

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Being Realistic About Renewable EnergyIn response to my post Why Venture Capital Isn’t Embracing CleanTech, MarcoPolo makes a lengthy and deeply thoughtful comment, which I excerpt here:

….(You are) a little blind to the harsher side of reality. You tend to see the world as it should be, and you hope it will be, not as it is, and probably will be….. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Business

Are Venture Capitalists Conservative?In response to my post Why Venture Capital Isn’t Embracing CleanTech, frequent commenter BreathOnTheWind asks, “Craig, you seem to have a good sense of the pulse of the VC world. Would you say as a group they tend to be somewhat conservative?”

Here are a couple of excerpts from my 2011 interview with Ray Lane (pictured), Managing Partner of Kleiner Perkins, that I offer as data points. Here’s one on investment strategy: (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Biomass

Biomass SubsidiesIn the discussion following my post BioFertilizer and BioGas from Animal Waste, frequent commenter MarcoPolo notes:  “The reason that Germany leads the world in bio-gas production is mainly due to massive government incentives, and assistance at every level,” and then carries on with a wonderfully interesting and comprehensive explanation that I urge readers to check out. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Sustainability

Admittedly Off-Topic: CBS's “The Briefcase”If you were looking for yet another reason to avoid commercial television, you just found it: CBS’s “The Briefcase,” a reality show in which impoverished families are given the opportunity to keep a briefcase that could be filled with cash, or give some of it away to another poor family.  (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Estimating the True Cost of Fossil FuelsHere’s an interesting article for those trying to understand the subsidies associated with fossil fuels; it’s an interpretation of the recent report from the International Monetary Fund,  that pegs the number at $5.3 trillion annually, or $10 million per minute. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Renewables - Politics

Good News For All Those with Lungs: Trans-Pacific Partnership Takes a HitI try not to miss an opportunity to thank the people of the U.S. whenever they successfully come together and accomplish something wonderful.  In this case, it was exerting enough pressure on our congress to deal a harsh blow to the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).  It’s not dead, but as of today’s vote, the road to fast-tracking this massive corporate power-grab is now much harder. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Fossil Fuels

Destroying the Earth for ProfitMy colleague Walter Feuchs wrote the following about the Smithsonian Institution and the Koch brothers.  I can only add that I’m flattered that Walter likes my slogan (the title of this post); I’m delighted that he makes frequent use of it.

In September 2014, the Smithsonian Institute announced it would conduct tours of U.S. innovations. America once ranked #1, and has slipped to 5th. (more…)

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by craigshieldsPosted on Posted in Climate Change

UK 2015 Greenhouse Gas Emissions Downward Trend: Good News For The PlanetAccording to a recent statistical study conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), greenhouse gas emissions are decreasing. To recall, greenhouse gas emissions – carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, sulfur hexafluoride and nitrogen trifluoride – trap the heat in the atmosphere, which affects global water temperature.

Therefore, the Kyoto Protocol target should be respected by 2020 as the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC) announced it. (more…)