China: Boom and Bust
China’s boom of the last 20 years can be seen in these pictures, though not everything works out as planned. Compare the last 20 years of boom in Shanghai or bust in the worlds largest mall.
1990 Shanghai China
2010 Shanghai China
New South China Mall in Dongguan, China is the largest mall in the world based on gross leasable area, and ranked second in total area to the Dubai Mall. It has been 99% vacant since its 2005 opening.
Water running out in Yemen
Boy gets water from water truck
Yemen is fast running out of water. Some Yemenis have to buy water from water trucks that drive through the city. The people that can’t afford that must go to the public taps at the mosque’s. According to the 2004 Family and Health Survey, only 67% of the Yemeni population have access to improved water supply.
A Miles-Per-Gallon Rating For Your Home
The Energy Performance Score Lets Home Buyers Compare Home Energy Consumption
Is your home as green as it looks? Photo from greenroof.co.uk
The last time you bought a car, especially in the current economy, you probably paid close attention to the fuel efficiency by looking at the mile-per-gallon ratings and comparing similar vehicles. Now home buyers in certain states (U.S.) may soon be able to do the same with homes, and it looks like the trend will go national.
Solar And The Oldest Oil Companies
Oil derricks, Petrolia, Ontario, 1886; photo taken by Robert Bell
The Fairbank family has been part of Canada’s oil industry since John Henry Fairbank first struck oil in 1858. Charles Fairbank Oil Properties Ltd. is listed as the oldest oil company in the world, according to Library and Archives Canada. By 1880 it become the largest oil producer in Canada.
Massive Oil Spill in Gulf of Mexico
NASA image of oil spill near New Orleans
British Petroleum is trying to stop the massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico by dropping a giant dome on top of the broken pipe embedded on the ocean floor. The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico is reported to be spewing up to 20,000 gallons a day into the waters which will impact wildlife and the livelihoods of many in the area who rely on fishing.
Cisco and City of San Francisco Embark on 'Sustainable 21st Century San Francisco' Project
San Francisco Climate Change Center
Cisco today signed an agreement in principal with the city of San Francisco during Mayor Gavin Newsom’s visit to Bangalore to develop a joint vision for a ‘Sustainable 21st Century San Francisco.’ The agreement in principal outlines the potential for Cisco and the city to collaborate in exploring a Living Innovation Laboratory within a new United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) Center on the Hunters Point Shipyard in San Francisco, a facility that will address global warming and support social and economic innovation. As part of the understanding, Cisco and the city will also explore drawing on Cisco® Smart+Connected Communities expertise in multiple projects in San Francisco.
The agreement in principal was signed at Cisco’s Globalisation Centre East, an environmentally sustainable campus in Bangalore that serves as a showcase for urban development solutions. The Cisco Smart+Connected Communities initiative is designed to provide cities and communities with smart and connected solutions for utilities, safety and security, connected real estate, transportation, health care, learning, sports venues, and government services.
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Starting a Business From Your Home Office Can Have Tax Benefits
Editor’s Green Notepad: Go green at work in your home business office by following a few pointers: use earth-friendly cleaning supplies, buying used furniture, go paperless, buy green office supplies, turn off the lights and electronics when out of the office, get a plant and grow it inside your home office and support vendors that also practice green principles in their business.
Recycle and reuse old office furniture - Flickr ChicagoGeek
Starting a business from home can be extremely advantageous. In addition to controlling expenses, the allowed IRS deductions can go a long way to reducing your tax liabilities. The eligibility rules are pretty clear and easy to follow, but it is important to understand the limitations on writing off the business use of your home. And, in order to receive the maximum benefit of the tax laws, it is critical to establish a system for managing the paperwork to keep track of deductible expenses.
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Toyota and Dow in West Virginia Partner with EPA for Sustainable Future
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s mid-Atlantic region welcomed two new members into its Sustainability Partnership Program in two signing ceremonies held today.
A Toyota facility keeps a landscape beautiful as a zero landfill contributor - Flickr shchukin
EPA Regional Administrator Shawn M. Garvin joined Secretary Randy Huffman of the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection in recognizing Toyota Motor Manufacturing West Virginia, Inc. at its Buffalo, W. Va., facility, and Dow West Virginia at its South Charleston facilities.
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Bombardier Releases Corporate Social Responsibility Report
- Enhanced role of corporate social responsibility in business strategy
- Achieved 10% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions between fiscal 2004 and 2009 and aims to reduce emissions by additional 10% by 2015
Discover a new sense of speed with the BOMBARDIER ZEFIRO
Today Bombardier Inc. released its second company-wide corporate social responsibility report entitled Moving Forward Responsibly. The report captures the company’s commitment to act responsibly as a public company, employer, neighbor and partner. It also details how corporate social responsibility is one of the top priorities of Our Way Forward, Bombardier’s corporate strategy.
“A sharper focus on corporate social responsibility augurs well for all of our stakeholders. It underscores our commitment to leverage our industry-leading innovation, talents, products and resources to increase our positive contribution to the communities where we are present around the world,” said Pierre Beaudoin, President and Chief Executive Officer, Bombardier Inc.
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Sustainable Life Media Launches Sustainable Brands Boot Camp Series
An Introduction to Sustainable Business Innovation
Sustainable Life Media announces the first Sustainable Brands Boot Camp, a 13 part online course in sustainable innovation. The course is designed to teach companies to build business value and brand equity by innovating for sustainability, and give students additional resume qualifications and the tools to enact change from within their company.
Developed by the producers of the Sustainable Brands Conference, Boot Camp participants learn from some of the world’s top sustainable business thought leaders, each a leading sustainable business expert in his/her specialty. These long-time sustainability practitioners have consulted with top global brands, including Coke, Pepsi, Walmart, UPS, HP and Kraft, among many others.
Designed for executives and managers seeking to understand how to identify and respond to today’s market demands around improving the environmental and social impact of business, the course follows Sustainable Life Media’s 4-step prescription for building the better brands of the future: “Observe, Re-Design, Measure and Communicate.” Read the rest of this entry »
