SPE’s Culver City Lot Project Fulfills the USGBC’s Stringent Standards-


Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE) recently announced that it has been awarded the U.S. Green Building Council’s LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certification for the studio’s Lot and Office Transformation (LOT) Project. “We are proud to receive this designation for our newest buildings on the lot,” said Michael Lynton, Chairman and CEO of Sony Pictures. “It’s our belief that we have a responsibility to help create a greener world for our community and future generations, and this project is an important part of our overall sustainability efforts.” The LOT Project included two new 100,000 square foot office buildings, named after Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn, and a parking structure located at the studio’s historic lot in Culver City, California. The Jack Cohn and Harry Cohn buildings were awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council for an all-around conservational approach in design and construction.

Criteria factors in the SPE Lot Project include: the use of local, recycled building materials; avoiding over 16,128 tons of construction waste material from being thrown into landfills; the use of motion detector lights and energy efficient light bulbs; the installation of an on-site filtration system for storm water runoff as well as low-flow toilets and urinals; the use of low-emitting carpeting, paint, sealants, adhesives and wall coverings; the enforcing of “Green Housekeeping” building maintenance standards; and the availability of preferred parking for low emitting and fuel efficient vehicles as well as car pools and van pools. To boot, the LOT Project incorporated a high-tech, energy efficient central cooling plant. “Naturally, a project of this size and scope was undertaken with a great deal of thought and care,” said Jeff Hargleroad, Executive Vice President, Corporate Operations. “We recognized early on this was a great opportunity to pursue design and construction practices that would map to our core values as a company; it became obvious that this was the right thing to do.” Last summer, SPE’s Culver City lot was the first and only studio to achieve ISO14001 certification, with energy and environmental initiatives that encompassed nearly all aspects of the studio’s operations. As a pioneer in the green movement, the possibilities are endless in what sustainable projects they will take on next.

New Data Shows Global Plant Productivity Weakening Due to Regional Drought-

According to a new study of NASA satellite data, global plant productivity that had once been flourishing with warming temperatures and an extended growing season is now declining due to regional drought. Plant productivity is a measure of the photosynthesis process that green plants use to convert solar energy, carbon dioxide and water into sugar, oxygen and ultimately plant tissue. During the 1980s and 90s, there was an observed 6 percent increase in plant productivity – and through careful monitoring, researchers have found that it has only dropped 1 percent over the last decade. However, even this small decline could potentially affect food security, biofuels and the global carbon cycle. Researchers Steven Running and Maosheng Zhao of the University of Montana in Missoula have detected the global shift from thorough analysis of NASA satellite data. The researchers examined statistics from the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer on NASA’s Terra satellite, and compared them with growing season climate data that included figures on temperature, solar radiation and water. “We see this as a bit of a surprise, and potentially significant on a policy level because previous interpretations suggested global warming might actually help plant growth around the world,” Running said. In 2003, a similar study led by scientist Ramakrishna Nemani, now a researcher at NASA’s Ames Research Center in Moffett Field, Calif., determined plant productivity was on the rise due to rising global temperatures and other related statistics. Intending on simply updating prior-collected data, Running and Zhao expected to see a comparable increase. However, the researchers instead found a decline between 2000 and 2009 that they linked to regional drought which, in fact, negated the positive influence of a longer growing season. “This is a pretty serious warning that warmer temperatures are not going to endlessly improve plant growth,” Running said. The team published its findings August 19 in Science.

Expo Supports Presidential Policy to Double Exports in Five Years-

EngEx 2010, the first comprehensive engineering conference dedicated to environmental and economic sustainability, has announced a strategic initiative with the WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego to create new export opportunities for attendees. “The benefit for our members is that they can identify opportunities in developing countries and markets, and learn how to access government resources to find international buyers,” said Bella Heule, President and Chief Executive Officer of the WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego. EngEx will offer the unique opportunity to collaborate with researchers, businesses, non-profits and governmental agencies to share ideas concerning energy, water, transportation, infrastructure and environmental efficiency and development. “The partnership with the WORLD TRADE CENTER San Diego provides our attendees with a new opportunity to include foreign trade and exporting in their business development plans,” said Kausain Shaikh, Founder of EngEx 2010. “We are very excited to be supporting President Obama’s initiative to drive more foreign exports in the next five years, especially from green businesses.” The full press release can be viewed here.

Government Endorses Offshore Drilling in Alaska’s Federal Waters-

This fall, BP plans to involve itself in yet another potentially hazardous oil exploit. Utilizing a high-tech drill from a gravel island in the Beaufort Sea, the company hopes to reach two miles deep, turn and bore another six to eight miles horizontally to eventually tap an oil reservoir in federal waters. The ban established on new deep water drilling and drilling in Arctic waters, brought on by BP’s perpetual oil nightmare in the Gulf of Mexico, terminated Royal Dutch Shell’s plans to begin exploratory drilling in Alaska this summer. BP, however, still might see its latest Alaska venture thrive. Wednesday, the United States government confirmed that the drilling “pause” does not apply to BP’s new project — ironically dubbed “Liberty”. “The deep-water moratorium does not apply to this particular project, which is based from a man-made island and would potentially be drilling directionally into formations under shallow water. If drilling permit applications are submitted for the project, the Department of the Interior will review them at the appropriate time and determine, based on safety and other considerations, whether the project should move forward with drilling under federal waters,” said Kendra Barkoff, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Before drilling may begin, BP will need to obtain state and federal drilling permits — permits for which it has not yet applied, according to the Alaska Oil and Gas Commission (AOGCC), the state permitting agency. According to the AOGCC commissioner Cathy Foerster, operators usually apply for a permit roughly one month in advance of the proposed drilling date, also adding that “Liberty”, which launches from state waters to reach the federal reservoir, is an especially complicated project. “If they want to start in September I’d hope they get us something pretty soon,” she said. All permitting requests are thoroughly evaluated, according to AOGCC, and with the Gulf spill still intense as ever, BP can expect heightened security with “Liberty”. “I think everybody trusts BP a little bit less than they did six weeks ago,” Foerster said.

Hold Hands to Support Clean Energy Legislation Across the Globe!

This Saturday, June 26th, Hands Across the Sand organization supporters will be flooding local beaches all over the world to oppose offshore oil drilling. The campaign goal is to show oil exploration companies that we the people have had enough with senseless environmental pollution — and we’ll take any steps possible to ensure that living conditions, for sea and human life alike, are protected. To join in on the advocacy event, find a nearby beach, and at 12pm local time, hold hands with the other participants for 15 minutes to create an actual line on the sand in protest against oil drilling in coastal waters. There are also events in land-locked states too, visit the website for details. The event which inspired the upcoming demonstration kicked off in Florida on February 13th, 2010, when thousands of Florida residents joined hands in protest against the efforts of Florida Legislature and Congress to remove the ban on oil drilling in Florida’s waters (video below). The event has grown to include all the U.S. and several other countries around the world – including Canada, Japan and Australia. “The image is powerful, the message is simple. NO to Offshore Oil Drilling, YES to Clean Energy”.

EngEx 2010 in San Diego, July 29th – 31st, 2010

EngEx is providing an overview of the Technology Resource Incubator Outreach Program (TRIO), a statewide program designed to nurture new innovative technologies from universities and investor firms through symposiums, training, and support services. Program participants are provided with a roadmap to help them understand the utility environment and are given the tools necessary to develop cost effective energy efficiency and IDSM technologies or programs. By doing so, the program will speed up the availability of new innovative technologies and products.

The TRIO program is designed specifically to help participants gain the necessary perspective and receive the tools needed to work with the California Investor Owned Utilities (IOU’s) such as Southern California Edison (SCE), Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas).

The overview will give participants the necessary information for:

• How to do business with utilities
• Utility transparency for entrepreneurs
• Outreach to entrepreneurs, universities and investors through subject matter expertise, along with incentives and rebates programs
• Shortening the commercial process for cost-effective energy efficiency technology

The EngEx 2010 conference & exhibition is creating business opportunities by uniting 39 fields of engineering for collaboration, integration and providing a platform to exhibit innovation.

The EngEx focus is:

• Energy
• Water
• Infrastructure
• Environment

EngEx Creates Business Opportunities through:

• Technology Innovation Showcase
• Grants, Loans & Venture Capital Funding
• Federal / State Govt. Contracts
• Exports of Technology & Services
• International Project Procurement
• Research Collaboration & Recognition

EngEx has participation from 9 federal government agencies. Participants can choose from nearly 50 workshops that help in creating business opportunities for the private sector.

Registration for the conference is now available online at EngEx.org. Save over $100! Early-bird discounted registration ends June 15th.

Interview with EngEx Founder/President, Kausain Shaikh, Part 1-

 

Green Energy News recently sat down with EngEx founder/president, Kausain Shaikh, to discuss the unique opportunities available at the 2010 EngEx conference and exhibition in San Diego, CA. EngEx is an innovative engineering conference and exhibition, and will feature the nation’s leading experts in energy, transportation, water, and environment to collaborate, and exhibit ideas that will help to transform and revitalize the U.S. economy. The engineering exhibition will showcase various topics and educational discussions in renewable energy, fuel infrastructure, carbon capture & reuse technologies, wastewater treatment, sustainable planning, cloud seeding, desalination, and much more. EngEx will offer networking opportunities with hundreds of utility and municipality decision makers, and will also offer in-depth information into government contracts with the Small Business Administration (SBA), Department of Transportation (DOT) funding, federal land procurement with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), export consulting and engineering services with the World Bank, small business loans with top U.S. banks, obtaining a SBA Small Business Innovation Research Grant, as well as SBA, SBIR & STTR proposal writing. The EngEx Engineering Conference and Exposition will kick off July 29 — 31, and a limited amount of exhibit space is still available. Green Energy News readers can enjoy 10% off conference registration with discount code 900024. Please enter the code during the registration process or visit here to have the discount applied automatically.

Why Attend EngEx 2010

Renewable / Non-Renewable Energy, Water, Infrastructure, Environment
Collaborate | Integrate | Innovate

Creating jobs and boosting the economy:

* High-Speed Rail in America. It is no secret that the U.S. is far behind in its public transportation system. Europe and Asia have some of the most sophisticated systems available, and it’s time for the United States to get on board and create a mass transit system that will save energy, fuel and reduce traffic congestion on our highways. The U.S. High Speed Rail Association will be speaking at EngEx on the future of high speed rail and the new systems that are currently being developed.

* Exporting technologies to underdeveloped countries. The news has repeatedly stated that the future of environmental technologies will be in the underdeveloped countries. These countries will grow dramatically over the next 5-10 years compared to the developed countries, and there are a multitude of opportunities on which U.S. small businesses can capitalize. The U.S. Department of Commerce will be speaking to this subject and showing businesses how to take advantage of government resources to find international buyers.

* Access to Government Grants & Contracts. Even in this down economy, there are money and contracts available to small businesses – they just don’t know how to take advantage of them. The Small Business Administration will be leading several “how-to” sessions on taking a small business through the steps needed to take advantage of these grants and contracts.

* Career Fair. EngEx 2010 will be providing a career fair with a multitude of companies searching for new talent. Yes, there are still jobs out there and you will want to be there to get in front of these employers!


Financial and Opportunity Resource Center:
* In the center of the Exhibition Hall, EngEx 2010 is creating an Opportunity and Financial Resource center. This center will provide attendees with direct access to banks, venture capitalists, angel investors, patent attorneys and government officials. If you want to get your questions answered directly without going through the struggles of finding the right person, this is the place to be!


Alternative Fuels Vehicle Showroom:
* Electric vehicles, electric trucks, solar vehicles, and electric bicycles are just a highlight of the alternative fuel vehicles that you will be able to see at EngEx 2010. A showroom of the hottest, newest vehicles will be available in the exhibition hall for attendees to see where the future of alternative fuel vehicles is moving.


University Research Poster Panel:
* Our future is in the hands of students from all around the world who have the brightest and most innovative minds and are creating the solutions we need to keep this planet healthy and viable for future generations. Students from all around the world will be presenting their research in energy, water, infrastructure and environmental technologies.

ABOUT ENGEX 2010

The challenges that face us are interconnected and synergistic. EngEx is the only conference event that brings multidisciplinary, synergistic entities, institutions and associations together to transform “what if…” into “now possible!

EngEx approach is horizontal covering a broad spectrum of technologies for Energy (renewable & non-renewable), Water, Infrastructure, and the Environment. This approach provides for exhibitors and attendees to be co-located for better collaboration, education, and integration that naturally results in enhanced innovation.

While there are a few renewable-only shows, please note that there are no other events that offer a horizontal approach that encompasses non-renewable, energy efficiency, renewable, transportation, water, and environmental technologies under one roof.

Given the current economic times, a horizontal approach is far more attractive to businesses of all sizes, in lieu of attending several vertical events that are not only very costly, but also limit outreach opportunity. Hence, one venue, multiple opportunities.

EngEx Conference & Exposition Presents Inimitable Business, Funding, Educational and Governmental Opportunities-

The upcoming EngEx Engineering Conference in San Diego, California will offer unrivaled opportunities for researchers, governmental agencies, non-profits, and businesses of any size to revolutionize global sustainability, with focus in key industries such as energy, water, transportation and environment. “We are bringing together the government agencies to create opportunities through domestic and international export, procurement, and access to government land and water resources,” said Kausain Shaikh, Founder of EngEx 2010. “These opportunities will be focused on the energy, water, infrastructure and environmental sectors.” Along with a comprehensive career fair, the three day event will showcase keynote addresses by national green technology leaders, venture capitalists, governmental agencies, and large corporations looking to provide vital information concerning funding opportunities. “The government sector will be well represented because of the critical impact EngEx 2010 will create towards global recovery and growth,” Shaikh said. “The energy and water sectors will be vital over the next decade, especially in the developing countries.” Furthermore, EngEx 2010 will spotlight many diverse topics and educational discussions to aid industry professionals in expanding personal and business relationships. Among the noteworthy topics and discussions are renewable energy, the electric grid, cloud seeding, desalination, wastewater treatment, fuel infrastructure, sustainable planning, carbon storage, carbon reuse technologies, as well as:

• Learning to get government contracts with the Small Business Administration

• Acquiring information about Department of Transportation infrastructure project funding

• Securing rights to federal lands with the Bureau of Land Management

• Leveraging export consulting and engineering services with the World Bank

• Meeting with top U.S. banks on hand to discuss small business loans

• Networking with hundreds of utility and municipality decision makers

• Strategizing on how to properly write a SBA, SBIR & STTR proposal

• Obtaining a SBA Small Business Innovation Research Grant

The EngEx Engineering Conference and Exposition will kick off July 29 – 31, and a limited amount of exhibit space is still available. To learn more, please visit EngEx.org.

Las Vegas Giant Promotes Sustainability-

The Las Vegas Sands Corporation has recently announced that energy-efficiency and sustainable development programs at its Venetian Resort and Sands Convention Center are conserving enough energy to power more than 6,500 American homes on an annual basis. Features include solar photovoltaic panels, an energy-efficient HVAC system, high-efficiency lighting, and a rooftop solar thermal system. Casino executives have joined forces with a U.S. Green Building Council official to promote the effort, which has been dubbed “Sands Eco 360 degrees”. The endeavor boasts the corporation’s dedication to sustainable energy, water, cleaning, recycling and waste management operations. “Clearly there are important business advantages to operating in a sustainable manner,” Michael Leven, Las Vegas Sands Corp. president and chief operating officer, said in a statement. “But when sound business practices are married with sustainable efforts that benefit the environment and our communities, the impact is immeasurable.” The program has received gold EB certification under the LEED rating system, which ranks directly above its neighboring Sand’s Palazzo Las Vegas Resort and just below the exemplary platinum mark. Sands officials assert that its combined efforts label the Venetian, Sands Expo and Palazzo Las Vegas the largest adjacent LEED certified building around the globe. Officials also claim the company’s sustainable operations which save approximately 100 million gallons of potable water annually and recycling programs which conserve 55 percent of daily trash, as well as 75 percent of food waste designate the Sand properties as the largest single-property recycling effort in Las Vegas.