Sierra Magazine Announces Top 20 Schools 2011

University programs celebrated for green efforts, sustainable initiatives, and immersive environmental education SAN FRANCISCO - Sierra magazine announces the fifth annual ranking of the nation's "Coolest Schools," a salute to the efforts of U.S. colleges that help solve climate issues and operate sustainably. The cover feature spotlights the schools that are making a difference for the planet, from UC Irvine's energy-efficiency standards to Stanford's commitment to maintaining undeveloped open space to Green Mountain College sourcing nearly half of its energy from, yes, cow manure. "When students take what they've learned in the classroom and proceed to get their hands dirty in the real world, they realize the potential they have to make a difference," said Bob Sipchen, Sierra magazine's editor-in-chief. "We're thrilled to highlight these forward-thinking schools for emphasizing environmental responsibility, and for teaching, inspiring, and empowering students to affect real change." This year's top schools prove that schools of all sizes – the University of Washington has 40,000 students, while College of the Atlantic has 321 – are taking dramatic action to help preserve the planet and its resources. Sierra Magazine's top 20 schools of 2011 are: University of Washington (Seattle, WA) Green Mountain College (Poultney, VT) University of California, San Diego (San Diego, CA) Warren Wilson College (Asheville, NC) Stanford University (Stanford, CA) University of California, Irvine (Irvine, CA) University of California, Santa Cruz (Santa Cruz, CA) University of California, Davis (Davis, CA) Evergreen State College (Olympia, WA) Middlebury College (Middlebury, VT) University of New Hampshire (Durham, NH) Appalachian State University (Boone, NC) Colby College (Waterville, ME) Western Washington University (Bellingham, WA) University of California, Los Angeles (Los Angeles, CA) University of Connecticut (Storrs, CT) Clark University (Worcester, MA) Cornell University (Ithaca, NY) Bowdoin College (Brunswick, ME) University of Maryland (College Park, MD) The University of Washington, in particular, has shown a true commitment to greening its campus and providing students and faculty with departments and programs that focus on environmental responsibility, including the Center for Sustainable Forestry at Pack Forest, the Alaska Salmon Program, and the Center for Ecogenetics and Environmental Health. In addition, UW's campus gets 90% of its energy from hydropower. Sierra also featured the stories of educators and students who are committed to immersive learning, and who take their lessons outside the confines of the classroom and into the real world, to places like Bali in Indonesia, New York's Adirondack Mountains, and Utah's Navajo Nation. According to a 2010 Princeton Review report, 64% of prospective college students take a university's commitment to environmental issues into consideration when deciding where to apply and enroll. Students care deeply about green issues and are attracted to institutions that are working hard to solve environmental problems. The complete rankings, with comprehensive descriptions of each school's environmental efforts, are available online atwww.sierraclub.org/coolschools.

Melvin Wylie

USDA Praised for $100 Million in Wetlands Restoration Funding for Everglades

WASHINGTON - Agriculture Secretary Vilsack's commitment today to invest $100 million through the Wetlands Reserve Program to acquire permanent easements from eligible landowners and assist with wetland restoration on nearly 24,000 acres of agricultural land in the Northern Everglades Watershed is a smart ecological and economic investment, according to a leading conservation group. Environmental Defense Fund also says it demonstrates why maintaining funding for the Wetlands Reserve Program and other USDA conservation programs is critical. . "Involving private landowners in these kinds of landscape-scale efforts is exactly what we need to do if we're going to be effective in accomplishing our most important conservation goals, including healthy ecosystems that provide clean water, wildlife habitat, recreational opportunities and other public benefits," said Sara Hopper, agricultural policy director for Environmental Defense Fund and a former staff member of the Senate Agriculture Committee. "But we cannot effectively engage private landowners in big initiatives like this one without continued, robust funding for voluntary, incentive-based programs like the Wetlands Reserve Program. It's imperative that Congress not cut funding for these programs in the coming months, as members of the House and Senate continue to look for ways to reduce the federal budget deficit." In June, despite the opposition of more than 50 agricultural and conservation groups, the U.S. House of Representatives approved nearly $1 billion in cuts to USDA conservation programs, including the Wetlands Reserve Program, in the agriculture appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2012. The Senate is expected to develop its version of the appropriations bill this fall, and conservation groups are urging it to reject the House cuts. In addition, the special committee Congress is convening to negotiate a package of longer-term deficit reduction measures could propose additional cuts to USDA's voluntary conservation incentives programs, particularly if members of the committee cannot reach agreement on ways to increase revenue.

Melvin Wylie

New Goodyear Innovation Could Make Tire Pumps Obsolete

Government Grants to Help Quicken Development AKRON, Ohio - The days of manually adding air to under-inflated tires could be a distant memory thanks to a new innovation under development in laboratories at The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company (NYSE: GT). Keeping tires properly inflated doesn't just eliminate the practice of checking a tire's air pressure and finding a tire pump and gauge that works. It also can mean real savings at the fuel pump. Whether you drive a passenger vehicle or a commercial truck, underinflated tires result in between a 2.5 percent and 3.3 percent decrease in fuel mileage, according to government and industry research. At today's prices, that translates to about 12 cents per gallon at the pump. Properly inflated tires also result in lower emissions, longer tire life, enhanced safety and improved vehicle performance. Goodyear's Air Maintenance Technology (AMT) will enable tires to remain inflated at the optimum pressure without the need for any external pumps or electronics. All components of the AMT system, including the miniaturized pump, will be fully contained within the tire. "While the technology is complex, the idea behind the AMT system is relatively simple and powered by the tire itself as it rolls down the road," said Jean-Claude Kihn, Goodyear senior vice president and chief technical officer. "A tire that can maintain its own inflation is something drivers have wanted for many years. Goodyear has taken on this challenge and the progress we have made is very encouraging," said Kihn. "This will become the kind of technological breakthrough that people will wonder how they ever lived without." Goodyear did not provide an estimate as to when this technology would be available at tire retailers, but said the timetable would be accelerated due to recent government research grants in United States and European Union. The United States Department of Energy's Office of Vehicle Technology Wednesday announced it has awarded a $1.5 million grant for research, development and demonstration of the AMT system for commercial truck tires. The grant will be administered by the National Energy Technology Laboratory and work will be conducted at Goodyear's Innovation Center in Akron, Ohio. In July, Goodyear successfully applied for a grant from the Luxemburg government for research and development of an AMT system for consumer tires. That work will be conducted at Goodyear's Innovation Center in Colmar-Berg, Luxembourg. "While similar in concept, there are significant differences in AMT systems for consumer and commercial tires," said Kihn. "The tangible support from both the U.S. and Luxembourg governments underscores the value of these projects and the many positive benefits they can provide drivers around the world." In addition, The DOE's Office of Vehicle Technology today also announced that it will award a $1.5 million grant for a joint project between PPG Industries and Goodyear to improve the rolling resistance and fuel efficiency of tires. The project's objective is to increase average fuel efficiency of passenger vehicle fleets through use of new tread and inner liner technologies. "Advanced technologies that are invisible to the human eye – like those we are working on with PPG – will help to dramatically improve fuel efficiency of tires while maintaining other important qualities such as traction and tread-life," said Kihn.

Melvin Wylie

NRDC: It's Not Just the Heat, It's the Smog Pollution

Analysis shows suburbs, rural areas, even national parks suffer from dangerous "bad air" days this summer WASHINGTON, DC - Most of the nation – from seaside suburbs to our national parks - has experienced health-threatening "bad air" days this year due to smog pollution, according to a new analysis of government air pollution data by the Natural Resources Defense Council. Led by California, about 250 communities and parks in nearly 40 states have experienced one or more "code orange" dangerous air days this year, making it unsafe for children, older adults and people with breathing problems to go outside. In all, more than 2,000 "code orange" air quality alerts occurred nationwide in just the first seven months of this year, with many areas having long stretches of days with bad air due to elevated smog levels. NRDC's analysis comes amid ongoing EPA delays for approving updated air pollution standards that could save thousands of American lives and stop tens of thousands of asthma attacks each year. "The bottom line is that we have way too many days in way too many places when the air is unsafe for our kids," said NRDC Clean Air Director John Walke. "The EPA needs to quit stalling on tougher smog standards promised years ago and protect our children, our elderly and all of us." Under standards set in 1997, the EPA considers air to be unhealthy if levels of ozone - the primary ingredient in smog - reach 84 parts per billion. The Bush administration lowered the ozone standard to 75 parts per billion in 2008, but ignored unanimous recommendations of its science advisors that a truly protective standard needed to be set within 60-70 parts per billion. EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson has proposed adopting more protective standards within that range, and the agency is expected to announce its decision soon. According to the NRDC analysis: *California and New Jersey lead the country in dangerous air days. But even more rural states such as Maine, Vermont and Kansas also had dangerous air days this year, partly because of smog blown in from other states. *Along with metro areas throughout California, cities such as Atlanta, Baltimore, Houston, St. Louis, Charlotte, N.C. and Washington, D.C. all had 20 or more dangerous air days already this year. *Nine national parks, including Rocky Mountain National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains and Acadia National Park had dangerous air days this year because of smog blown in from other areas.

Melvin Wylie

Green Mail Delivery Saves Postal Service Millions

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Delivering more than 40 percent of the world's mail and reaching every business and residential address in America six days a week requires the dependable, ubiquitous vehicle fleet of the U.S. Postal Service. The world's largest civilian fleet delivers more than 167 billion pieces of mail to more than 150 million addresses, along 230,000 routes, logging 4 million miles a day, with 215,000 postal vehicles, of which more than 44,000 are alternative fuel-capable. "The Postal Service's fleet of alternative fuel-capable vehicles is the nation's largest green fleet, and uses a variety of alternative fuels including electricity, ethanol, compressed natural gas, liquid propane and bio-diesel," said Dean Granholm, vice president, Delivery and Post Office Operations. "These vehicles allow us to deliver mail in a more environmentally responsible way." From fiscal year (FY) 2009 to FY 2010, USPS replaced nearly 6,600 older gasoline-powered vehicles with more fuel-efficient vehicles and increased use of alternative fuels in postal vehicles to 2.2 million gasoline gallon equivalent (GGE), a 9-percent increase. "Green mail delivery methods helped the Postal Service increase alternative fuel use 133 percent from an FY 2005 baseline, well ahead of the goal of 10 percent by 2015," said Thomas Day, chief sustainability officer. "The Postal Service has a long, proud tradition of testing and using more efficient methods of transportation, including the first electric delivery vehicle, in 1899. It's all part of the Postal Service's leaner, greener, smarter, faster sustainability call to action." A Fleet of Feet and Bicycles Help Keep Fuel Use and Costs Down As suggested by the recently issued Choose to Walk and Ride a Bike Go Green Forever stamps, USPS delivers mail using nearly 9,000 "fleet of feet" walking routes and nearly 70 bicycle routes. Add to that 31 propane vehicles, 30 electric step vans, 13 three-wheeled electric vehicles, 5 electric long-life vehicles (LLVs) and 10 mules on one contracted mail delivery route in the Grand Canyon, and these green mail delivery methods help USPS avoid the use of nearly 18,000 gallons of petroleum fuel each day. With 303 delivery days a year, green mail delivery helps USPS avoid using nearly 5.5 million gallons of petroleum fuel per year, which adds up to millions in savings. The Postal Service joined forces with the National Environmental Education Foundation and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on the spring issuance of the Go Green Forever stamps. "The Go Green Forever stamps reflect the Foundation's commitment to minimize our ecological footprint, while also encouraging everyone to learn about the environment and how our daily lives can affect it," said Diane Wood, president, National Environmental Education Foundation. "Many of our staff members walk or bike to work, and we also offer opportunities for the public to get active and be outdoors. We are excited about the Go Green Forever stamps which help raise awareness about our environment." Details of USPS fuel savings results can be found in the FY 2010 Annual Sustainability Report. For additional information about USPS sustainability initiatives and the Go Green Forever stamps, visit usps.com/green and the Green Newsroom. USPS has won more than 75 environmental awards, including 40 White House Closing the Circle, 10 Environmental Protection Agency WasteWise Partner of the Year, Climate Action Champion, Direct Marketing Association Green Echo awards, Postal Technology International Environmental Achievement of the Year and Climate Registry Gold Status Recognition. USPS participates in the International Post Corporation's Environmental Measurement and Monitoring System, the global postal industry's program to reduce its carbon footprint 20 percent by 2020 based on an FY 2008 baseline. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

Melvin Wylie

Nature Conservancy Interns Serve up Adventure

AUSTIN, Texas - They are young, fun and they toughed it out in the Texas wilderness over the summer break in the name of protecting the planet. Meet Matt and Riley, The Nature Conservancy's roving field correspondents. With camera and notebook in hand, early in the summer the guys set out to explore the largest state in the lower 48, capturing video and writing about their experiences along the way. The project is called Everybody in the Wild with Matt and Riley and Nature Conservancy has been posting a dispatch from their adventures on its website and Facebook throughout the summer. So why were these guys coerced into tromping through nature preserves during the hottest summer on record? To get their generation excited about the great outdoors so they become invested in protecting it. While the main purpose of the series is to use a fresh approach to educate teens and young adults about important environmental issues (ala rebuilding oyster reefs in the Gulf of Mexico and protecting wildlife along the U.S. Mexico Border) the duo's love of film and the written word, which is evident throughout the pieces, also gives the series an artistic flavor that's hard to ignore. "Las Estrellas has a Sophia Coppola-esc vibe to it and the Davis Mountains piece has a real mystery to it," said Laura Huffman, executive director for The Nature Conservancy in Texas. "But the pieces are also true to the Conservancy's work and really capture the passion that Texans feel about our land, which is why kids young and old love Matt and Riley." Matt and Riley's Big Adventures:

• Explore an archeological find and a desert oasis in West Texas.
• Hit the Gulf coast where you'll stumble on a family of gators and learn what the Conservancy is doing to keep the ocean's most tasty appetizer on your plate.
• Embark on a spiritual quest for an endangered cactus that looks like peyote with the nuns of Starr County.
• Swing down to the southmost tip of Texas to learn about conservation along the Rio Grande.

  Next up, the guys head to a sky island in the Davis Mountains before wrapping up the series at Dolan Falls. You can catch all the episodes of Matt and Riley here: nature.org/mattandriley

Melvin Wylie

California's Water Prospects Remain Stormy

HNTB statewide survey: Californians unaware and unprepared for potential floods and the impact of aging levees meant to protect homes and businesses LOS ANGELES - The future of California's water supply is anything but clear. A recent survey from infrastructure firm HNTB Corporation finds that just one-third of the Golden State's residents realize flooding is a threat, and many Californians aren't aware levees play a crucial role in preventing them. "Failure of the earthen levees in the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta alone would not only cause overwhelming devastation to homes and businesses in the region; it also could result in the loss of the state's biggest source of fresh water for at least a year and a half," said Rob Vining, HNTB national director water resources practice. And while federal officials have determined the state's capitol of Sacramento has the highest flood risk of any U.S. city outside of New Orleans, millions of Californians haven't prepared their homes for such flooding, nor have they considered the depleted water supply that would follow such a disaster. "Our state's water issues can be resolved from a technical standpoint," Vining said. "The biggest stumbling blocks are a lack of awareness regarding the severity of the situation and a lack of consensus about what to do." Before and after the flood If a major flood event were to occur in California, millions would be affected. And in fact, close to one in two (45 percent) Californians predict that their area would experience severe damage if there was an extreme storm or flooding this year. Perhaps they predict so much destruction because more than half (53 percent) fear their communities are unprepared to deal with such an event. According to the survey, while a solid minority thinks floods are a big threat to the Golden State, about 25 million Californians have not braced their homes for such a disaster. Specifically, approximately 1 in 3 (34 percent) Californians agree flooding is the biggest natural hazard in the state and about one-third (37 percent) think it's likely their area will experience an extreme storm or extensive flooding in the next five years. Yet less than 1 in 10 (8 percent) have done something to prepare for extensive flooding. That's far fewer than those who have prepared for an earthquake (53 percent). The aftermath of a flood likely would include water shortages throughout the state, yet conserving fresh water isn't top of mind for many Californians either. Seventy percent of Californians don't think state officials are doing their part to conserve water. Individual residents haven't done much to address the situation, either. Fewer than 3 in 10 (28 percent) have ever worried about a fresh water shortage where they live. Less than 1 in 4 (22 percent) have actually taken steps to prepare for a shortage. Lessons in levees Much like the devastation in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, the majority of the destruction facing the state likely would be due to the failure of levees: vital structures many people don't truly understand. Nearly 2 in 5 (37 percent) of the state's residents think there are no levees in California. In fact, the Delta has 1,600 miles of levees, some of them having failed 162 times in their history due mostly to intense rains. Levees also are susceptible to damage by earthquakes, mountain snow melt, high tides, foundation movement and burrowing rodents. Funds not flooding in Despite many Californians expressing a concern about flood damage, a majority are not ready to chip in dollars and cents to protect against such wreckage. Two in 3 (66 percent) in the state are not willing to pay even a dollar extra in their annual taxes to ensure they are protected. Citizens do feel strongly, however, that flood or storm management systems should be a locally funded and managed issue. More than half (51 percent) believe that city or state funds should allocated to these effort, rather than federal, private funds or bonds. And more than 1 in 3 (34 percent) Californians think it would be better to improve existing dams and levees to solve long-term water shortage problems in the state rather than take other actions, such as enforcing stricter conservation measures (25 percent) or creating a new aqueduct system (13 percent). Geographic differences of opinion More Northern California residents (11 percent) than Southern Californians (5 percent) have prepared for a big flood. Likewise, more Northern Californians (16 percent) have worried about a levee mishap than those in the southern part of the state (3 percent). There is even a difference of opinion on whether water issues in the north and south are interconnected and if funding should be used collaboratively (54 percent) to solve them, or if they should be dealt with separately (46 percent). More of those in Southern California (59 percent) than the northern part of the state (46 percent) see water issues as interconnected. Delta delusions Such results mirror water resource opinions nationally. A recent national survey from HNTB showed more than two-thirds of Americans (68 percent) do not recognize that flooding is the biggest natural threat to their home or property. Fewer than 1 in 10 (7 percent) have prepared their homes for extensive flooding. And more than 3 in 5 (63 percent) would not put more money toward their annual taxes to help ensure measures are in place to protect their neighborhoods. Vining says when it comes to California, perhaps residents would be more concerned and ready to address the state's water resources issues if they better understood where their fresh water comes from and the fragile state of its availability. "Whether they've realized it or not, water from the Delta sustains the health and well-being of most Californians – in the north and the south," Vining said. "It's own health is at threat. We must move to protect it. Rather than ignoring these issues, we should work together to address our crumbling infrastructure and sustain our natural water resources." About the survey HNTB's America THINKS California water resources survey polled a random nationwide sample of 542 Californians April 29-May 5, 2011. It was conducted by Kelton Research, which used an e-mail invitation and online survey. Quotas were set to ensure reliable and accurate representation of the total California population ages 18 and over. The margin of error is +/- 4.2 percent. About HNTB HNTB Corporation is an employee-owned infrastructure firm serving federal, state, municipal, military and private clients. With nearly a century of service, HNTB has the insight to understand the life cycle of infrastructure and the perspective to solve the most complex technical, financial and operational challenges. Professionals nationwide provide award-winning planning, design, program management and construction management services. For more information, visit www.hntb.com. Related Links: HNTB California Water Resources survey fact sheet Rob Vining expert source sheet Vining levee lowdown viewpoint America THINKS national Water Resources survey HNTB news room

Melvin Wylie