Who would have thought that a member of the global south could also be one of the world’s greenest countries? Nestled between Panama, Nicaragua, and the beautiful blue ocean within Central America, Costa Rica is demonstrating that it has what it takes to support major sustainability initiatives. Some might find it surprising that Costa Rica is one of the greenest countries in the world, and more importantly, that environmental sustainability can also lead to greater economic growth. Read the full story

According to new research conducted by the independent EU Energy Institute, the cost of installing and owning solar panels will fall even faster than expected. While solar panels were originally predicted to last 20 years, recent tests have shown that 90-percent of existing solar panels will last for 30 years, according to Roger Harrabin, environmental analyst for BBC News.  This extended lifetime guarantee will drastically cut the lifetime cost of solar panels. Read the full story

The British Columbian government has introduced several initiatives to promote sustainability. Climate Smart offers scholarships for small businesses to attend workshops on the green economy. So far, 100 companies have taken advantage of the training. They’ve learned how to track their greenhouse gas emissions and develop personalized reduction plans. Read the full story

The Kyoto Protocol to prevent climate change and global warming will end in 2012. From December 6-18, Copenhagen will host a Climate Conference to create a Copenhagen Protocol that will renew a global climate agreement. Over 8,000 individuals are expected to attend, including government representatives from over 170 countries. Many clean energy companies that produce the tools and technology that help diminish the creation of greenhouse gases are skeptical about the value of the conference.    Read the full story

New Zealand is moving towards a more sustainable way of life. The government, business owners, and ordinary citizens are all doing their part to promote eco-friendly business tactics. Read the full story

Japan is making great strides towards sustainable business practices. Local and state governments, companies, and individuals are all working together to make the country a more eco-friendly place to live and do business. Read the full story

*i.e. “clueless,” for non-Brits

BusinessGreen posted an interesting blog piece yesterday about the energy strategy currently on the Department of Energy and Climate Change floor. The plan, which will be officially revealed tomorrow, is already expected to raise annual energy bills by about £200, a fact with which UK residents are less than pleased. Read the full story

In first two parts of this article, I examined Vinidex and the 60L Green Building respectively, two examples of the ways in which Australia is embracing sustainability. In this, the final part, I investigate a collaboration between the local government of Fairfield City and a group of big businesses. Continue reading to find out how two large organizations pooled their resources to save over a million dollars per year. Read the full story

In the first part of this article, I looked at the Australian pipe manufacturer Vinidex. In this portion, part 2 of 3, the focus is on the 60L Green Building in Melbourne. Using a combination of unique utility tactics, the project set a precedent not only for building ventures Down Under, but the world over. Read on to find out how the 60L Building was completed and what environmental and empolyee benefits were gained. Perhaps it will give you some green building ideas of your own. Read the full story

Since Al Gore’s documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ first raised our awareness of climate change, more people around the world are doing their part for the environment and are willing to support immediate action at any cost. A seventeen-nation survey conducted by World Public Opinion.org showed that nearly seven out of ten people in Australia believe action to combat climate change is important to the nation’s vital interests. Thus, Australian businesses are stepping up and following the footsteps of other nations into managing their workplaces to reduce pollution and use fewer resources. They are considering the needs of people and taking the environment into account, as the case study below demonstrates. Read the full story