Texas universities selling branded renewable energy

DALLAS — The University of Texas (UT) and Texas A&M have started selling branded energy alongside other team gear — so you can now watch the Texas Longhorns game in your Longhorns underwear while sitting in a house powered by Texas Longhorns Energy, according to a press release.

The deal, made possible thanks to Texas' deregulated energy market, will see Texas Longhorns Energy and Texas A&M Aggies Energy selling electricity and natural gas as soon as next month, the release stated.

"We're very conscientious about our brand. We want to be careful with that logo and that symbol," said University of Texas Senior Associate Athletic Director Chris Plonsky.

"When BRE and IMG brought it to us, we went 'Huh?' But it made sense because the issue of sustainability, especially on large college campuses that use a lot of energy, is important to us," Plonsky added.

Champion Energy Services is supposedly providing the branded power companies with renewable energy and every Texas fan that opens an account contributes to a sustainability initiative for either Texas A&M or UT, the release noted.

Click here to read the complete release.

Battling public bedbug infestation

NEW YORK — According to New York City health officials, one out of every 15 New Yorkers have battled bed bugs in the last year, according to a press release.

Health officials have announced a plan to fight the spreading infestation, which has been discovered in theaters, clothing stores, office buildings, housing projects and even upscale hotels, the release stated.

According to the release, health officials reported that bedbugs have rapidly multiplied throughout New York and many other U.S. cities in recent years: Across the country, the National Pest Management Association notes a 57 percent increase in calls over the past five years for bedbug infestation.

Bedbugs, once thought to be eliminated because of widespread use of the pesticide DDT in the 1940s and 1950s, are thought to be on the rise because of the decreasing use of pesticides and due to immigration and travel from the developing world, the release noted.

Acting on a report by a government advisory board, New York City is re-appropriating $500,000 of health department money to begin the first phase of a "bedbug battle plan," the release detailed.

Some of the money will go toward creating an online portal where New Yorkers can find information about avoiding bedbugs as well as how to treat their homes, the release added.

Click here to read the complete release.

It takes a small city to clean Disneyland

ANAHEIM, CA — Long after Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Pluto wave goodbye to the park's last guests, hundreds of dedicated workers emerge from the darkness to ensure the Disneyland Resort is cleaned, maintained and in prime operating condition for the following day, according to the Los Angeles Times.

A team of about 600 custodians, painters, gardeners and decorators scrapes chewing gum off the sidewalks, sands and recoats chipped handrails and pulls stubborn weeds in the 85-acre park each and every night to achieve Walt Disney's vision of an immaculate land, free of the litter and grime of the outside world, the story stated.

According to the story, because much of the custodial and maintenance work at the Disneyland Resort is performed at night, some workers don miner's headlamps and others work underneath portable floodlamps.

David Caranci, the manager of resort enhancement and decorating at Disneyland, said: "To keep the park in good order, it takes a crew that works 365 nights a year. It's a city that never sleeps. There is something always happening, and for nearly every nighttime task, there is a specific worker."

To assist in their rodent removal efforts, Disneyland Resort officials decided to cease evicting the estimated 200 feral cats that roam the 85-acre park and instead decided to spay or neuter them and allow their rodent-repelling presence, the story noted.

Though it is unknown how much money is spent each year on cleaning and maintaining the Disneyland Resort, one can imagine the thousands of gallons of paint, landscaping materials, cleaning chemicals and hourly wages for workers add up quickly, the story added.

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Thirteenth university building receives LEED certification

ATLANTA — Emory University's Emory Conference Center Hotel (ECCH) recently received Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification at the Silver level from the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), according to the Emory Wheel.

According to the story, The ECCH certification brings the total number of LEED-certified buildings on the Emory University campus to 13.

Sustainable aspects of the five-story building include the recycling and reuse of building materials, water and energy efficiency and access to alternative transportation, the story stated.

General Manager of the ECCH Kathryn Johnson said: "There was so much thought put into it. I give accolades to the university and the trustees for having the vision that all new constructions will be LEED-certified. It definitely helps us get business because there are other folks out there that are passionate about their business, and they want to know what is different about us."

The Atlanta Business Chronicle recently recognized Emory University's sustainability efforts during their awards ceremony for "Deals of the Decade" where Emory won in the "Design" category for its green building program, the story noted.

All future Emory University buildings will be LEED-certified at the Silver level as a minimum, the story added.

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Mary Kay Henry named president of the SEIU

WASHINGTON — Saturday marked an historic occasion for the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) as it elected the first woman to the head of the politically influential organization, according to the Los Angeles Times.

Mary Kay Henry, whose goal is to continue to maintain the union's strong political force, with hope for a meeting with President Barack Obama in the near future, was elected for her promise to "restore relations with the American labor movement," the story stated.

According to the story, Henry has made it known that she wishes to settle an on-going dispute between the SEIU and the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees-Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union (UNITE-HERE), both of which are battle over jurisdiction over some 300,000 hotel, gaming, airport and other workers nationwide.

Until her rise to the role of president, Henry was fairly unknown in the labor union field and detractors of her appointment have cited her lack of time served in the ranks as a detriment to the union, the story noted.

Stan Lyles, a SEIU steward at Northridge Hospital Medical Center, said: "Mary Kay is the kind of person who can communicate and tell you the facts. She listens to the members."

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OSHA cites Jersey City firm with 36 violations

JERSEY CITY — A Jersey City manufacturer has been cited for three dozen violations and fined nearly $160,000 by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), according to The Jersey Journal.

Importers Service Corp. failed to lock out energy sources and exposed workers during the maintenance and repair of equipment to potential injuries, the article stated.

OSHA initiated its inspection on November 10 as part of a program designed for industries with high injury and illness rates.

The company, which OSHA says has 36 employees, received citations for two willful violations, with a penalty of $98,000; 33 serious violations, with a penalty of $60,500; and one other-than-serious violation, which carries no penalty, the article noted.

According to the article, the serious violations include a lack of training, electrical hazards, inadequate personal protective equipment, failing to implement an adequate hazard communication and respiratory protection program and failing to properly handle confined spaces.

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2010 Federal Summit convenes in Washington

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) seventh annual Federal Summit convened at the Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center in Washington, D.C. for a two-day exchange of ideas on how to best meet the goals of increased sustainability in existing buildings and communities in order to significantly impact the environment and economy, according to Green Building Pro.

High level officials from throughout the federal sector, including Administrator Martha N. Johnson, U.S. General Services Administration, and Deputy Administrator Bob Perciasepe, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), discussed topics such as the current state of sustainability in the federal government, the article stated.

"Considerable progress has been made on the path to sustainability in all parts of the United States with stimulus funds supporting the improvement of government buildings at the federal, state and local levels," said Rick Fedrizzi, president, chief operating officer (CEO) and founding chair of USGBC.

Fedrizzi added, "By working together to change the way we design, build and operate buildings, implement best practices and utilize green building programs, we can dramatically improve the performance of our public building stock."

Click here to read the complete article.