The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) established the New York Energy $mart Focus on Colleges and Universities to identify technical assistance and financial incentives for public and private institutions to accomplish a triple bottom line.

Many higher education institutions have set energy and environmental objectives, but the NYSERDA Focus on Colleges and Universities offers these institutions a program that bridges financial incentives and reduced energy cost measures with the institution’s environmental goals.

Funding from NYSERDA for the Focus on Colleges and Universities program is available for qualified campus improvements, such as new construction, renovations, and equipment upgrades.  The funding may come from city, state, federal, or non-governmental sources.

Higher education institutions that are interested in identifying energy savings opportunities, prioritizing buildings, developing an Energy Efficiency Action Plan, and locating financial incentives for new energy-efficient equipment and equipment replacement projects can contact HigherEd@nyserda.org or 1.866.330.7317.

Schwarzenegger expects the first phase of the program to consist of a 20-month pilot program enlisting at least 1,000 of the state’s at-risk young adults.

Explaining that he and President Obama mutually value the priorities of this project, Schwarzenegger says, “Green jobs are exactly what our economy and environment need right now.”
Part of the program will be funded by the economic stimulus package.  Technical, construction and skilled jobs will be included in the Corps training.

State Secretary for  Service and Volunteering Karen Baker of CaliforniaVolunteers will oversee the nationally ground-breaking program.

Additional information can be found at http://gov.ca.gov/fact-sheet/11753.

The South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) has joined with South Carolina local governments and partners to provide cordless electric mowers to residents at a discount by collecting previously-owned gas-powered mowers to recycle them. The First Annual Lowcountry Lawn Mower Exchange will be held Saturday, March 28, 2009, from 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.

With the tagline “Do Your Part to Help Mow Down Pollution!”, The City of Charleston website shares astounding information to help people understand the emissions from their lawn mowers. For instance, according to the website, in the hour it takes you to mow your lawn, a gas-powered lawn mower emits the same air pollution as driving a car 200 miles.

The website also fuels readers with information such as how many millions of gallons of gasoline are spilled by lawn equipment annually and tips on how individuals can prevent these pollutions. By visiting the website, residents can also enter to win a 14″ Neutron electric mower. The winner will be announced by Charleston Mayor Joe Riley on March 23rd, so enter now.

Current registrants comprise a significant cross-section of our communities. While 60% of current registrants for Green Cities Florida come from the Greater Orlando area, 40% are coming from outside of the region to learn applicable solutions to share in their own communities. Currently, 10% of Green Cities Florida registrants are from separate provinces in Canada.

Profession of registrants is another notable cross-section: half of those registered work in government, 40% work in the business sector, 5% work in higher education, and 5% of current participants are students.

Registration is open and can be accessed by visiting the Green Cities Florida Conference website.

The Governor’s signed proclamation explains how the bicycle’s role as a transportation alternative for commuting to work and school.

With bicycling being a popular recreation sport as well, Florida has eight state trails, mountain bike trails and paved bicycle trails.  More information on Florida’s greenways and trails can be found here.

The Florida Bicycle Association has a blog, chronicling events and the Florida bicycling lifestyle.  The Sun-Sentinel posted an article with Florida Bicycle Month events and activities.

Many in Florida also see the state participating in both Florida Bicycle Month in March and National Bicycle Month in May as a natural addition to Florida’s growing eco-tourism industry.  For more information, read the news story here.

As declared by Popular Science magazine in 2008, Huntsville, Alabama ranked 18 in America’s 50 Greenest Cities.  The magazine considered parks, greenways, utility programs, transportation, recycling, and other efforts in ranking cities.

Green Alabama shares the state’s first “Green Gauge” report, released December 2008, from the nonprofit Green Resource Center for Alabama.  This report highlights many of the efforts that earned Huntsville a national ranking as a Green City.  The Mayor’s Office also sent a press release celebrating the region’s commitment to keeping Huntsville progressive and green.

The Popular Science article is not the first recognition Huntsville received for environmental efforts.  In 2006 The Green Guide acknowledged Huntsville in the U.S. Top 10 greenest cities.

Huntsville developments in 2008 include a tougher state standard regarding carcinogenic pollutants, habitat land preservation, and green buildings.

http://www.waff.com/global/story.asp?s=7854121

From the SC For Green website, navigating other links such as Upstate Forever, SC Says No, Greenville Forward, Go Green Charleston, The Coastal Conservation League, and the South Carolina Chapter of the Green Building Council take interested residents on a comprehensive tour of the South Carolina green scene.  The hyperlocal site Go Green Charleston is packed with resources from green building, organic cleaning companies, transportation alternatives, and an events calendar.

To find out more on the building, government, nonprofit, and community connections of South Carolina’s environmental efforts, dig through these resources.  These websites should be a solid starting place to learn more about what South Carolina is working toward and how you can get involved in a green SC.

These standards, launched by the 2008 Florida law that all government buildings must meet (or exceed) certain green standards.  The Florida Green Guild uses about 365 points in 19 categories to designate “green” standards, and certification is awarded from bronze to gold.  Both DeLand and Deltona hope to receive gold in 2009.

DeLand’s “The Lynn Business Center at Stetson University was the first building in Florida to receive green LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council in 2003.  Incentives currently offered in the communities include reduced permitting fees, reduction of water/sewer impact fees, expedited review of development plans, and special recognition by the  city.

The cities’ greening initiatives have not gone without concern by some local citizens, but largely city officials, residents, and organizations have been supportive.  Local builders are involved as well in helping the Volusia County Home Builders Association advocate other Florida cities to adopt such incentives and ordinances.

For more information, look into this link.

Biomass feedstocks include wood chips, grasses, residual corn stalks and sugar cane bagasse.

Funding for building the plant included grants from the State of New York, The New York Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the New York State Power Authority (NYPA), as well as several universities.  Construction completed in December 2008.

Assemblywoman RoAnn Destito (D/WF-Rome) says “This innovative collaboration between the private and public sectors has led to more jobs for this community, and we can look forward to more economic development opportunities…”

For more on this story, click here, and learn more about Mascoma Corporation and their plans at www.mascoma.com.

Mac Walcott of Walcott Adams Verneuille Architects shares how the LEED-certified building will conserve energy through waste reduction, water efficiency, energy use, and other factors.  The aspects of sustainable building work toward the triple bottom line of sustainability:  social responsibility, economically-sound practices, and environmentally-sound function.

Watch the video, and find the article here for more information and related stories.