As promised....Good News on the Green Front.
City of Berkeley boasts big drop in emissions. The lowered emissions add up to 61,000 fewer tons of carbon in the atmosphere- the equivalent of taking more than 12,000 Ford Taurus sedans off the road, according to the city. San Francisco KPIX TV
Modular homes the next wave way of green building. A St. Louis company plans to use modular construction techniques to build eco-friendly houses that provide all of the amenities of new construction and are priced from $199,000 to $250,000. St. Louis Post-Dispatch
House like any other, but green. The Wayzata-based Live Green, Live Smart -- with the help of a fleet of architects, contractors and subcontractors -- is remodeling a 1940s house into what they hope will be "the most eco-friendly residence in the world." Minneapolis Star Tribune
Growing off the grid. Peter Vanderpost is a green farmer. His farm is organic and he sells locally, racking up fewer of those nasty greenhouse gas emitting "petroleum miles." But here's the kicker – the Alliston-area farm runs almost exclusively on solar power. Toronto Star
Environmental groups join forces. The Pew Charitable Trusts environment program and the National Environmental Trust are merging to form the Pew Environment Group, with an annual operating budget of $70 million and 80 employees in the US and overseas. Washington Post.
Yahoo's green stamp. With an eye toward bolstering its own new branding effort and the health of the planet, the mighty Web presence introduces another environmental initiative. Business Week.
Humpback flipper may be the key to better wind turbines. A Toronto company has designed a new type of wind-turbine blade that mimics the aerodynamic performance of a humpback whale's flipper, allowing a turbine to capture more of the wind's energy at much lower speeds. Toronto Star
Bright day for solar homes. Green-inspired Palo Alto residents looking for a new home may have just the place to park their Priuses: model homes in Vantage of Palo Alto - the Bay Area's largest full-solar development - open this week. Palo Alto Daily News
Wash. utility to build solar project. Washington state's oldest utility plans to start building the largest solar project in the region next month, and a municipal utility in a small city is enlisting residents' help to expand its energy generation through the sun. Associated Press
Neighborhoods battle global warming on a small scale. Phinney EcoVillage and Sustainable Ballard are two neighborhood groups in Seattle proving that small changes can make a difference. Seattle Times
Florida university students push for 'green' fees. Students from New College, the University of Central Florida, Florida Atlantic University and the University of Florida are working to kick-start a funding source to apply environmentally friendly practices on campuses. South Florida Business Journal
Appleton firm designs 'green' high school. Hoffman, LLC has long been recognized as a pioneer in green building design. This dedication culminated with the firm’s Northland Pines High Schoo design and construction project in Eagle River, Wis. WFRV
Setting a higher green standard. A walk around the Global Ecology Center at Stanford University shows why it's no surprise the small research building is one of the American Institute of Architects' "2007 Top Ten Green Projects." San Francisco Chronicle
Burning wood to power fridges. Scientists hope to bring affordable domestic appliances to rural areas of developing countries by developing a device that acts as a refrigerator, cooker and power generator all in one, powered by locally available biomass fuels such as wood. Nature.
Two wheels better than four in France. Paris officials are making 20,000 bikes available for rent across the city in a bid to reduce the number of cars. National Public Radio.
Tourism industry aims to go green - group official . The world's leading tourism companies are trying to agree on ways to fight climate change by reducing carbon dioxide emissions from hotels, cruise ships and airliners, the head of a major tourism association said. Reuters.
Fraser goes green to entice business Fraser, Mich., has been designated a "green" zone, and officials say they hope it will bring a new brand of business to the city. Macomb Daily
It's easy being green here: Richmond encourages environmentally friendly firms. The city has promoted its greenness for the past several years, but under the direction of new Mayor Gayle McLaughlin, its efforts are increasing. Contra Costa Times
He helps buildings go green. Scott Spivak has been fighting air pollution for years. He co-founded Carolinas Clean Air Coalition. He's one of 1,000 people nationwide who are trained to give the presentation made famous in former Vice President Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" about global warming. Charlotte Observer
Danish island leads the way in clean energy. Battered by winds in the waters off eastern Denmark, the picturesque island of Samsoe has broken free of its dependence on oil and gas and, thanks to devoted residents, is now powered solely by renewable energies. Agence France-Presse.
Vermont firm feeds state's green image with incentives. The Green Mountain state has become as green as any, attracting visitors from other state governments and nations as far away as China who are eager to learn about the state's ideas to fight global warming. Boston Globe
Solar panels find a home with Amish. Designed to turn photons into electrons, purple-black solar panels have sprung up in the last five years on the roofs of hundreds, perhaps thousands, of Amish homes, barns and greenhouses. Cleveland Plain Dealer
Record number of Iowans are biking to work. Biking to work isn't just for tight-shorts cycling zealots anymore. The drumbeat of doom over global warming has become constant. Des Moines Register
Riding the tide. Tidal currents from New York City’s East River are being used for electrical power. Living On Earth.