Green Business

Tomorrow, at the Chicago Auto Show, Ford will officially unveil the Transit Connect, its first plug-in electric vehicle, a compact commercial van.

The Transit Connect will have a range of about 80 miles on a full charge, a top speed of 75 miles per hour, and it will be available later this year to commercial fleet customers.

After reading Monday's article in the British newspaper The Independent pointing out that Exxon Mobil money is still flowing to climate change skeptics, Dot Earth blogger Andy Revkin

French nuclear energy giant Areva announced on Monday that it is acquiring an American solar thermal startup company called Ausra.

This is Areva's first investment in solar power, and, according to a company executive, it's a strategic one. Areva chose to invest in Ausra's solar thermal technology rather than in other solar technologies because solar thermal power plants, like nuclear power plants, generate electricity by creating heat and spinning turbines with steam.

Last year, 1-800-GOT-JUNK?, a leader in junk removal and salvage, voluntarily undertook an environmental audit of its services in the U.S. and Canada and found that during the sample period, the company diverted over 60 percent of junk from landfills. At least 40 percent of the salvaged junk was recycled, 16 percent was converted into energy and 4.5 percent was reused.

Slightly more than 50 percent of adult Americans said they would include “going green” among their 2010 New Year’s resolutions, according to a results of nationwide survey released in December by marketing consulting firm Tiller LLC.

Beverages & more!, California's largest chain of wine, beer and spirit superstores, undertook a lighting upgrade at 90 retail locations to slash its total energy use by 51 percent and save $1 million a year, according to Environmental Leader.

Walmart is making strides in its commitment to energy efficiency with LED lighting in 650 stores, in parking lots and in high efficiency pilot stores.

Would you believe it if a next-generation lighting company told you that you could reduce your lighting electricity bill by 80 percent or more and save you $260,000 by spending just $18,855? The proof is now in the actual utility bills.

As the American consumer becomes more environmentally conscious, a new outlet of conserving is being found in the Christmas tree — a product that is renewed each year, requiring much growth and time or many different materials made from PVC.

There is much debate over which form of tree is the best in regard to the Earth. Artificial trees cost as much as cut trees but lack the traditional look, yet can be used every year. Live trees are created from all natural materials but could harbor pesticides and other chemicals.

As part of utility-sponsored energy reduction program, The Kroger Co. recently partnered with Ameren Illinois Utilities to upgrade lighting in refrigerated cases in 39 of Kroger’s stores from fluorescent lights to light emitting diode (LED) lights.