Eco-News

The New York Times, March 12, 2010
While solar and wind manufacturers struggle to fend off Chinese competition, energy efficiency equipment seems to have no such problem. According to a recent study commissioned by efficiency advocates, equipment like caulking and insulation — basic tools for retrofitting the country’s homes and businesses — is almost entirely made in the United States.

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Market Watch, March 8, 2010
eBay, the world's largest online marketplace, today announced the launch of the eBay Green Team Challenge, a program that translates green shopping into tangible environmental impact. For the first 250,000 people that pledge to reuse on eBay, the company will protect an acre of rainforest in their name through a new collaboration with Team Earth, a unique coalition of NGOs, private sector companies and individuals convened by Conservation International (CI).

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CNN, March 5, 2010
President Obama ratcheted up his administration's push for a clean energy agenda Friday, emphasizing the prospects for an economic recovery fueled by green jobs.

Obama highlighted his proposed Home Star program, which was first outlined in the State of the Union address. The program would provide rebates to homeowners of up to $3,000 for making energy-efficient improvements to their houses. Customers would be eligible for direct rebates at the point of sale, according to the White House.

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Boston Globe, March 5, 2010
After spending last year in the doldrums, venture capitalists are optimistic that a rebound will occur this year, particularly in the so-called green-tech energy and conservation sector, according to a recent survey from the tax and advisory firm KPMG LLP. The survey indicated that venture capitalists may be moving away from investments in businesses that produce electricity with wind or solar power, in favor of companies that specialize in energy storage and conservation.

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EPA WaterSense Program News, March 4, 2010
The United States Environmental Protection Agency's WaterSesnse Program has announced their final specification for showerheads. Manufacturers can now submit their showerheads for testing to earn the WaterSense label, and consumers will soon be able to renovate their bathrooms with the full suite of WaterSense labeled products.