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A Material Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of York
The provided text is a list of publications from the Stockholm Environment Institute. It includes a 2002 technical report titled 'A Material Flow Analysis and Ecological Footprint of York' and summaries of more recent works concerning UK supply chain impacts on deforestation and water stress, the necessity of combining territorial and supply chain metrics for deforestation monitoring, and the communication of ecological citizenship.
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Document type: Report
An Energy Resource Investment Strategy for the City of San Francisco
The report evaluates three energy scenarios for San Francisco: 'Central Generation', 'More Imports', and 'Distributed Resources'. It compares these paths based on capital and operating costs, electricity supply reliability, environmental impacts, and local economic development. The analysis finds that while all scenarios can ensure reliability and allow the closure of the Hunter's Point Power Station, only the 'Distributed Resources' scenario significantly reduces CO2 emissions and promotes environmental equity. The 'Central Generation' path is identified as potentially the least expensive but carries risks related to market power and higher in-city emissions.
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Document type: Report
An Introduction to Green Building
The guide defines green building as a holistic approach to design and construction that optimizes the relationship between a building, its site, and the local climate to reduce resource use. It emphasizes that integrated design—where interdisciplinary teams collaborate early in the process—allows for the downsizing of mechanical systems and the reduction of both capital and operating costs. The text highlights the significant environmental impact of the built environment in the U.S. and suggests that existing technologies can drastically improve resource efficiency. Key strategies discussed include optimizing building orientation, improving the building envelope to manage heat transfer, utilizing daylighting and renewable energy, and implementing rigorous waste reduction and third-party commissioning practices.
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Document type: Guide
TOWARDS DEMOCRATISATION OF EXPERTISE FOR SUSTAINABILITY
The research assesses five case studies—three in Stockholm and two in Yorkshire—to determine if lay citizens can effectively validate technical environmental policies. It finds that while citizens are capable of this, systemic barriers such as inappropriate participatory techniques, lack of managerial skills, and institutional inflexibility often hinder meaningful involvement. The study contrasts government-led initiatives, which often treat participation as a tool for awareness and public assent, with citizen-led initiatives that demonstrate higher levels of control and knowledge generation.
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Document type: Research paper
Western Oil & Gas Company: Strategic Financing for Energy Efficiency
The document details a proposed $2 million upgrade to the diesel hydro treater (DHT) motor system at Western Oil & Gas Company's Richmond refinery. Despite potential energy savings and improved reliability, the project was initially stalled by internal resource constraints, low strategic priority, and the high cost of operational downtime. To resolve this, Western partnered with Energy Services (an ESCo) and ABB Energy Capital to explore alternative financing—including internal funding, lease financing, and performance-based 'shared savings' models—while leveraging demand-side management (DSM) subsidies from Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E).
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Document type: Case study
Clean Energy Blueprint
The Union of Concerned Scientists asserts that the United States can meet 20% of its electricity needs via renewables by 2020, saving consumers $440 billion and reducing carbon dioxide emissions by two-thirds compared to business-as-usual forecasts. The report suggests this approach would avoid the need for 975 new power plants and significantly decrease reliance on coal and natural gas.
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Document type: Executive summary
Clean Energy Blueprint
The Clean Energy Blueprint proposes a comprehensive set of policies to increase energy efficiency and renewable energy in the US. By 2020, the plan aims to have non-hydro renewables provide 20% of electricity, reduce carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by two-thirds compared to business-as-usual, and save consumers $440 billion. The report argues that these measures would eliminate the need for 975 new power plants and significantly reduce reliance on coal and natural gas.
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Document type: Report
ISO 14001: Concrete benefits?
The document presents a case study of Green Island Cement (Holdings) Ltd., a company within the Li Ka Shing group in Hong Kong, as it debates the utility of ISO 14001 certification. The narrative contrasts the perspective of the public affairs director, who views certification as a necessary 'cost of doing business in the 21st century' to maintain the firm's image as an environmental leader, with that of a cost accountant who argues that the standard is a 'waste of money' on paperwork that does not guarantee actual pollution reduction. The text provides a detailed overview of the ISO 14000 series, the environmental impacts of the cement industry—including its contribution to global warming and local air pollution—and the specific atmospheric challenges facing Hong Kong due to industrial emissions from Guangdong Province.
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Document type: Case study
Exchanges between Mark Mills and Amory Lovins about the electricity used by the Internet
The document consists of email correspondence and letters between Amory Lovins (RMI) and Mark Mills (science advisor to the Greening Earth Society) following a Forbes article by Mills and Peter Huber. Mills argued that the Internet's energy demand is growing exponentially and will require significant continued reliance on coal-fired power. Lovins, supported by scientists from Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, challenged these claims as 'junk science,' arguing that Mills grossly overstated the power consumption of individual devices (PCs and routers) and ignored efficiency gains. The exchange concludes with Lovins accusing Mills of failing to respond to specific technical rebuttals and violating professional ethics by publishing private correspondence.
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Document type: Report
Powerful Solutions
The Union of Concerned Scientists identifies seven policy tools—Renewables Portfolio Standards, public benefits funding, net metering, fair transmission/distribution rules, fair pollution rules, consumer information, and green customer demand—to transition the US to renewable energy. It argues that deregulation risks favoring fossil fuels unless these mechanisms internalize the public benefits of renewables and remove market barriers.
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Document type: Report
A Strategy for the Hydrogen Transition
The paper argues that the transition to a hydrogen economy can be accelerated by first deploying fuel cells in buildings for co-generation and then in 'Hypercars'—ultralight-hybrid vehicles that require significantly less fuel-cell capacity. This approach allows for a decentralized hydrogen infrastructure using existing natural gas and electricity grids, eventually scaling up to bulk supply from renewable sources or carbon-sequestering natural gas reforming.
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Document type: Research paper
Whole Buildings
The report advocates for a "whole buildings" approach, treating buildings as integrated systems rather than collections of components. It highlights the significant energy and environmental impact of the US buildings sector and argues that federal R&D is currently too fragmented and underfunded to realize the potential benefits of systems integration. The author proposes five policy criteria: establishing the whole building framework as a cornerstone of policy, funding collaborative R&D, supporting verification efforts, embracing education, and stimulating market demand.
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Document type: Report
GOALS AND STRATEGIES FOR IAI DEVELOPMENT IN THE YEARS AHEAD
The document reviews the IAI's progress since 1995, noting an increase in member countries and the implementation of collaborative research programs. It identifies a critical dependency on US government funding via NSF grants and outlines a strategy to diversify financial sources, increase participation from new member countries, and enhance regional capacity building through targeted scientific projects and training.
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Document type: Briefing
Are Cars Still A Problem?
The report challenges claims by the American Automobile Manufacturers Association (AAMA) that modern cars are 90-96% cleaner than 1960s precontrol cars. It finds that real-world emissions are significantly higher than regulatory standards due to equipment malfunction and 'off-cycle' driving. Furthermore, a 2.7-fold increase in total vehicle miles traveled and a shift toward light trucks—which have less stringent standards—have offset per-vehicle gains. Consequently, while hydrocarbons decreased, nitrogen oxide emissions for the total passenger fleet actually increased by over 20% between 1965 and 1995. The author concludes that passenger vehicles remain a primary source of carbon monoxide and smog-forming pollutants, necessitating a shift toward intrinsically-clean vehicle technologies.
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Document type: Report
CLIMATE: Making Sense and Making Money
The document challenges the assumption that climate protection is a financial burden, asserting that energy-efficiency investments often yield returns exceeding 100% per year. It identifies eight categories of market failures—including capital misallocation, organizational failures, and perverse regulatory incentives—that cost the American economy approximately $300 billion annually. By shifting focus from theoretical economic models to empirical business evidence, the authors demonstrate that 'whole-system engineering' and 'barrier-busting' policies can reduce carbon emissions while increasing GDP and competitiveness. The report highlights that high energy prices are not the only driver of efficiency, citing Seattle's success in saving electricity faster than Chicago despite lower prices. It concludes that a market-transformation approach can stabilize the climate and foster economic growth globally, particularly in developing nations.
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Document type: Report
Branch Points: Global Scenarios and Human Choice
The report presents a taxonomy of future global scenarios divided into three classes: Conventional Worlds, Barbarization, and Great Transitions. It argues that while current trends in population growth, economic expansion, and technological change drive the system, human agency and policy choices can steer the world away from collapse and toward a sustainable paradigm. The authors contrast 'business-as-usual' trajectories with visionary transitions that prioritize equity and ecological health over material growth.
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Document type: Report
Sustainable Economic Welfare in Sweden
The report develops a pilot Index of Sustainable Economic Welfare (ISEW) for Sweden (1950-1992), finding that while per capita ISEW grew by over 90%, it lagged behind the more than 100% growth of per capita GNP. The index began to diverge from GNP around 1980, eventually declining by 1992. This divergence was less severe than in the US or UK, which the authors attribute to Sweden's progressive income distribution policies and its reliance on hydropower, which reduced the negative impacts of resource depletion and long-term environmental damage in the index calculations.
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Document type: Report
ST. CHARLES MEDICAL CENTER A Green Lights / ENERGY STAR Case Study (ABSTRACT)
The document describes a case study centered on St. Charles Medical Center's evaluation of energy conservation measures (ECMs) under the US EPA's Green Lights and ENERGY STAR Buildings programs. It highlights the Green Lights Program's goal of reducing air pollution by promoting energy-efficient lighting, noting that lighting constitutes 20-25% of electricity sold in the U.S. The case focuses on the balance between strict financial analysis and intangible factors, such as workplace productivity, when deciding on retrofitting projects.
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Document type: Case study
MOBIL CORPORATION
The document details Mobil Corporation's 1992 commitment to the US EPA's voluntary Green Lights Program, aimed at reducing air pollution through energy-efficient lighting. It describes the organizational challenges faced by Facilities Management Coordinator Fred Schoeneborn, including a lack of direct authority over facility managers and the perception of facilities as mere cost centers. The case highlights the transition from lighting-specific goals to the broader ENERGY STAR Buildings Program and discusses the internal strategies used to drive adoption, such as financial proof from a pilot project in Princeton, New Jersey, and high-level corporate visibility through public advertorials.
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Document type: Case study
Incorporation of Environmental Considerations in Energy Planning in the People’s Republic of China
The report analyzes China's energy system, which was heavily coal-dependent in 1990, and projects environmental loadings up to 2020. It compares a Business-As-Usual (BAU) scenario with two enhanced environmental scenarios, demonstrating that while BAU leads to significant increases in SO2 and CO2 emissions, targeted policy interventions in energy mix, efficiency, and clean coal technology can mitigate these impacts. The study recommends shifting toward hydropower, nuclear power, and natural gas, alongside the implementation of pollution levies and integrated planning to achieve sustainable development.
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Document type: Report