We have heard of carbon taxes that citizens in some countries pay for greenhouse gas emissions. Carbon taxation I think is good for the environment and possibly makes people climate conscious. But what if people had to pay for everything they owe mother nature – air, water, coral, fish, forest, etc? Not too bad. Costa Ricans have been doing it for over a decade. Once known for the world’s highest deforestation, Costa Rica today is the world leader in conservation policy and ecotourism. Costa Rica achieved this remarkable environmental conservation through its policy called Payment for Environmental Services (PSA in Spanish). Read the full story

In a study conducted by InfoTech Research Group & IBM called greener Computing, found that mid-sized companies (employing between 100-1000) are adopting green IT strategies. Read the full story

A green banking survey carried out by Javelin Strategy & Research reports that 75% of customers still receive paper bills and statements. The research company estimates that America can save 687,000 tons of paper if each American stops receiving paper bills and statements. Read the full story

Energy consumption accounts for a large chunk of an organization’s operating costs. Energy efficiency practices help reduce energy costs without compromising service. In addition to saving money and helping to improve the bottom line, energy efficiency supports the environment and improves employee morale. According to Green Workplace Survey, environmental programs improve employee morale by 43% and increase employee loyalty by 16%.

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Wind power is one of the most talked about renewable energy sources. As an emerging leader in sustainable advancements, India is making great strides to harness wind power for electricity generation. Read the full story

Australia holds a promising future for renewable energy. The Government, as well as the people of Australia, are showing keen interest in environmental initiatives.

According to the Green Power report, roughly 877,000 homes and 34,000 businesses voluntarily purchased green power between October and December 2008.

Australia is likely to experience steroidal growth in renewable energy projects. In order to reduce its share of green house gas emissions, Australia is expected to spend billions of dollars on renewable energy projects between 2009 and 2020. Read the full story

Green Biz has exciting news on how GE plans to green the next Olympic games.

General Electric, one of the key suppliers to the London 2012 Olympic Village, is planning to propose the installation of Smart Meters in the Olympic buildings and parks. The company wants to show people the power of information that can be obtained with the use of Smart Meters in order to conserve energy. Other things under consideration for showcasing at the Olympic site are:

• Rainwater harvesting systems for cleaning and irrigation purposes
• Solar powered and LED lighting systems on signs, traffic lights and along pathways

Germany is the most progressive nation in Europe with respect to environmental sustainability. It has set very aggressive targets for reduction of carbon emissions. By 2020, Germany wants to reduce CO2 emissions by 40% of its 1990 level.

There are several driving forces in action which are expected to lead Germany to its CO2 targets. Read the full story

Coal is a major resource for power generation in China. According to Market Avenue, coal accounted for 76% of China’s energy output in 2007. But thanks to Clean Revolution, China is doing what it needs to in order to reduce its dependency on brown fuels such as coal, oil, etc and adopting renewable resources to power it’s economic development. Read the full story

What is a Smart Grid?

When you read about advances in green technology, the term smart grid seems to pop up everywhere. Smart Grid talk is hot. It even received a 30 second ad in this past Super Bowl. What is a smart grid and will it live up to all this media attention? A smart grid is being compared to the Internet for the electric power industry. It is a vast network of transmission lines that will allow utilities to know where electricity is being consumed and it will signal a potential blackout. Consumers will know which appliances are consuming the most and the least energy, which will affect their abilities to control their power usage and decrease their electric bills. Read the full story