San Francisco is currently enrolled in two programs that have proved effective at stimulating a green economy, according to an article in CleanTechnica.
One program is geared around energy efficiency for commercial and multi-family residential properties. Known as SF Energy Watch, the program provides technical assistance and financial incentives. SF Energy Watch will pay for up to half of upgrade costs towards energy efficiencies.
The other program, Go Solar SF, provides incentives to install solar panels. Using a variety of federal, state and local incentives, residents can reduce the cost of a solar installation by about 50%.
Residents and businesses using Go Solar SF are responsible for 2MW of solar production, about one quarter of the total solar production in the city. They also provide about 150 jobs in the city.
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label economy. Show all posts
Thursday, March 26, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Public transport up, vehicle miles down in US
The American Public Transportation Association (APTA) recently announced that ridership of public transportation in 2008 was at its highest level in 52 years.
Americans took 10.7 billion trips via public transportation this year. This number represents a four percent increase over 2007. The increase can be traced to the high gas prices over the summer, as well as the worsening economic conditions in the fall and winter.
Increased public transportation ridership has led to a diminished number of cars on the road. Vehicle miles traveled (VMT) decreased 3.6% in 2008, which represents a huge savings in greenhouse gas emissions.
Public transportation ridership is up 38% since 1995, which vastly outpaces the population growth in the same period (14%).
Switching to public transportation can save up to $8,000 per year, according to APTA, which is a substantial number in any time, but especially in this recessionary period.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Sustainable companies win in current economic climate
A new study published by A.T. Kearney, Inc. shows that companies who are committed to sustainable practices are performing well and are often the leaders in their industry. According to an article about the report, this is true in 16 of 18 industries surveyed. The sustainable companies, determined by the Sustainability Index and the Goldman Sachs Sustain Focus list, earn an average of 15% more than their same-industry competitors.
The study also suggested that companies with a sustainable focus tend to have a better focus when it comes to long term planning, as well as "strong corporate governance" and risk management. In other words, it may be that strong companies tend to embrace sustainability as a practice, rather than sustainable companies tend to perform well financially.
Regardless of the order of cause and effect, the fact that companies focused on sustainability are performing better than their peers is great news. Fiscal responsibility has long been a part of sustainable movement--it really is cheaper to use CFLs in place of standard light bulbs--but it has always been spoken of as an aside, or a fringe benefit.
This news may help people see that the term sustainability is not synonymous with environmentalism. Rather, sustainability confers a long-term plan. It is managing resources--finances included--such that they will still be available for use five, ten, twenty and one hundred years down the road. Viewing sustainability as an effective form of risk management or long-term planning may help business leaders who were struggling with the language of sustainability make the transition.
The study also suggested that companies with a sustainable focus tend to have a better focus when it comes to long term planning, as well as "strong corporate governance" and risk management. In other words, it may be that strong companies tend to embrace sustainability as a practice, rather than sustainable companies tend to perform well financially.
Regardless of the order of cause and effect, the fact that companies focused on sustainability are performing better than their peers is great news. Fiscal responsibility has long been a part of sustainable movement--it really is cheaper to use CFLs in place of standard light bulbs--but it has always been spoken of as an aside, or a fringe benefit.
This news may help people see that the term sustainability is not synonymous with environmentalism. Rather, sustainability confers a long-term plan. It is managing resources--finances included--such that they will still be available for use five, ten, twenty and one hundred years down the road. Viewing sustainability as an effective form of risk management or long-term planning may help business leaders who were struggling with the language of sustainability make the transition.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Kindness in Florida
CNN published an article today about Chene Thompson, the wife of a Florida state representative, and Henrietta Hughes, a homeless woman who Thompson agreed to help. Hughes spoke up at a town hall meeting with President Obama on Tuesday. She said that she was living out of a car with her son and needed help. President Obama promised that his staff would work on it, but Thompson stepped forward from the crowd to offer Hughes a place to stay.
This example speaks to being in the right place at the right time. If Hughes had not been able to attend the town hall meeting, her request would not have been heard. Likewise, if Thompson had not been at the meeting, she would not have been able to offer her help. However, the fact that there was a right place and time for this in the current economic climate speaks to the ability of humans to transcend proscribed behaviors and connect, simply, as humans.
This example speaks to being in the right place at the right time. If Hughes had not been able to attend the town hall meeting, her request would not have been heard. Likewise, if Thompson had not been at the meeting, she would not have been able to offer her help. However, the fact that there was a right place and time for this in the current economic climate speaks to the ability of humans to transcend proscribed behaviors and connect, simply, as humans.
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