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The document outlines how U.S. consumers can support renewable energy via green pricing, green marketing, and Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs). It contrasts the environmental benefits of renewables—such as wind, solar, and geothermal—against the pollution and health risks associated with coal, oil, nuclear power, and natural gas. It also provides tools for verifying green power claims, including the Green-e certification and the Power Scorecard tool.

The document outlines various financial mechanisms to transition the U.S. bus fleet away from diesel. It details federal programs managed by the DOT, DOE, and EPA, as well as state-specific initiatives in Texas, California, and New York, emphasizing that combining different grants can significantly reduce the incremental cost of advanced technologies like hybrid-electric buses.

The document reports a decline in US automotive fuel economy from a 1987 peak of 22.1 mpg to approximately 21 mpg in 2005, attributed to increased vehicle weight, horsepower, and the popularity of SUVs and light trucks. It details advanced technologies for efficiency gains, including aerodynamics, low-rolling-resistance tires, hybrid drivetrains, weight reduction, and direct-injection stratified charge (DISC) engines. Additionally, it highlights the impact of basic maintenance—such as tire pressure, air filter replacement, and engine tuning—on fuel economy, and notes that increased efficiency reduces foreign oil dependence and greenhouse gas emissions.

Concentrating solar power (CSP) uses mirrors to focus sunlight to generate electricity, offering the lowest cost among solar technologies at $0.09 to $0.12 per kWh for plants over 10 MW. The document details three primary technologies: trough systems, power tower systems, and dish systems, noting that trough and tower systems can store heat for use after dark. While the US has significant potential—specifically in the Southwest—high capital costs and the requirement for direct sunlight remain primary challenges. The US Department of Energy projects costs could drop to $0.04 to $0.05 per kWh in the coming decades.

The document describes geothermal energy as the third largest renewable energy source, noting that the United States is the world's largest producer with 2,800 MW of connected capacity. It details three power plant technologies—flash steam, dry steam, and binary cycle—alongside direct-use and heat pump applications. Key benefits include base load power availability and significantly lower CO2 emissions compared to coal, though the document notes risks such as land subsidence and induced seismicity.

The document details how the US industrial sector, which consumes over one-third of national energy, can reduce usage through technologies like combined heat and power, adjustable speed drives, and improved steam and compressed air systems. It highlights energy savings in five key industries—aluminum, chemicals, forest products, glass, and steel—and provides case studies from the Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and Sara Lee Corporation to demonstrate the financial and environmental benefits of efficiency upgrades.

The document describes photovoltaic (PV) systems as semiconductor-based technology that converts sunlight into electricity. It highlights that PV is viable across most of the United States, with the potential for a 90-mile square station to meet the country's peak demand. Key benefits include the prevention of greenhouse gas emissions, the creation of high-technology jobs, and increased domestic energy security. While utility-scale costs range from $0.20 to $0.30 per kWh, the document notes that high upfront capital costs and intermittent power remain primary issues, though these can be mitigated by battery storage and utility-scale experimentation projects.

The document outlines the state of the US wind energy sector as of 2006, noting that installed capacity reached 6,740 MW in 2004. It highlights the role of the Production Tax Credit (PTC) in driving growth and reducing costs to between $0.03 and $0.06 per kWh. The text compares onshore and offshore wind potential, discusses the environmental benefits of avoiding carbon dioxide and sulfur dioxide emissions, and notes that the US has been surpassed by Germany, Spain, Denmark, and the UK in wind capacity and technology development.

The 2006 School Bus Pollution Report Card by the Union of Concerned Scientists finds that U.S. school buses are among the oldest vehicles on the road, with an average age of nine years, and emit nearly twice as much soot per mile as tractor-trailer trucks. The report grades states on tailpipe soot emissions, smog-forming pollution, and the success of their cleanup programs. While some states like California and Washington have made significant strides in reducing soot through retrofits and cleaner fuels, national soot pollution from school buses has only decreased by more than two percent. The document highlights the vulnerability of children to diesel exhaust, which is linked to asthma and lung growth deficits, and argues that substantial federal and state investment is needed for bus replacement and the installation of particulate traps.

The report finds that pasture-raised beef and milk generally contain lower total fat and higher levels of beneficial fatty acids, such as omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), compared to conventional products. It argues that shifting toward pasture-based systems would improve human nutrition, animal welfare, and environmental quality while reducing antibiotic resistance.

The document advocates for the adoption of the Solis bill (H.R. 4800) to implement the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants in the United States. The signatories argue that the Solis bill ensures timely EPA action, adopts a health-based regulatory standard, and respects state-level protections. In contrast, they claim the Gillmor bill (H.R. 4591) would weaken safeguards by introducing cost-benefit standards and preempting state regulations.

The document advocates for the International Maritime Organization (IMO) to strengthen MARPOL Annex VI by introducing rigorous limits on nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulphur oxides (SOx), and particulate matter (PM) for all ships. It provides evidence that current shipping emissions are under-regulated and cause significant public health and environmental damage, while asserting that advanced control technologies—such as selective catalytic reduction (SCR) and humid air motors (HAM)—make substantial reductions feasible and cost-effective. The submission highlights regional regulatory trends in the European Union and California as precursors to the need for a consistent global standard and urges the adoption of shore-side power standardization.

The paper asserts that nuclear power is a 'market loser' compared to windpower, cogeneration, and energy efficiency. It claims that nuclear power's high costs and long lead times result in a high opportunity cost, where investments in nuclear power displace far more carbon-reducing capacity than they provide. The author argues that a diversified portfolio of decentralized resources is faster, cheaper, and larger in potential than nuclear power, and that government subsidies for nuclear energy retard overall climate protection efforts.

The report argues that the U.S. federal framework for chemical regulation, primarily the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), is fundamentally flawed and overdue for reform. It highlights that TSCA allows the majority of chemicals on the market to escape scrutiny and limits the EPA's ability to ban substances. While federal political polarization hinders national reform, the document identifies 'scattered sunshine' in the form of proactive state legislation (notably in California and Maine), the influence of the European Union's REACH regulation, and a shift among some U.S. businesses toward safer alternatives to maintain global competitiveness. It concludes that while the immediate political climate is challenging, long-term pressure from international standards and state-level 'laboratories' makes comprehensive reform inevitable.

The document presents a series of personal narratives from professionals across various scientific and engineering disciplines to inspire students and graduates to pursue ethical careers. These cases highlight the challenges of navigating corporate and military interests, the value of interdisciplinary education, and the possibility of transitioning into non-profit, academic, or political roles to achieve social and environmental goals.

The report evaluates U.S. school bus emissions, finding that older diesel buses release significantly more soot than modern alternatives, posing health risks to children. It grades states on soot emissions, cleanup programs, and smog-forming pollution, noting wide performance gaps. The authors recommend a strategy of 'the five Rs'—retrofitting, refueling, replacement, repair, and reduced idling—and call for strengthened federal standards and increased funding to modernize fleets.

The report examines the economic framework of the emerging pharmaceutical crop industry, arguing that while proponents claim significant rural benefits, these are largely unsubstantiated projections. It finds that the primary economic gains are likely to accrue to pharmaceutical companies rather than farmers, who will face limited bargaining power and high risks associated with food supply contamination. The document highlights that the industry's success depends on achieving virtually zero risk of commingling pharma crops with food and feed supplies, a requirement that may significantly increase production costs and offset projected savings.

The document highlights several green building projects that achieved significant energy savings and financial gains. Examples include the Sydney 2000 Olympic Village with its large-scale integrated photovoltaics, Village Homes in California which reduced household bills by one-half to one-third, and the Condé-Nast Building in New York, the first large-scale speculative green office building in the US. These projects demonstrate that sustainable design—such as passive heating/cooling, ground-source heat pumps, and efficient land use—can lead to higher property values, lower operating costs, and increased market demand.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) outlines immediate strategies to lower U.S. crude oil demand, arguing that a 5% to 9% reduction would remove 1.0 to 1.8 million barrels per day from the global market. Proposed measures include reducing speed limits for non-Class 8 vehicles to 60 MPH, increasing the federal Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) for trucks to 110,000 lbs, and mandating Auxiliary Power Units (APUs) for new Class 8 tractors. RMI suggests these actions, combined with increased biofuel procurement and the adoption of 'total-flex' vehicle technology, would restore global excess capacity to 2.5 to 3.8 million barrels per day, thereby reducing price volatility.

A coalition of environmental and health organizations calls on the U.S. Congress to ratify the Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs). The authors argue that U.S. absence from the treaty harms its international reputation and limits its influence over the convention's success. They propose three criteria for implementing legislation: ensuring timely action on new POPs, respecting state-level environmental laws, and granting the EPA clear legal authority to act without redundant evaluations or cost-benefit balancing tests.