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The report outlines a framework for 'healthy design' in hospitals, arguing that sustainable architecture and engineered systems can reduce operating costs, improve clinical outcomes, and enhance staff retention. It provides a comprehensive set of recommendations for Massachusetts healthcare providers, ranging from regional collaborations and institutional policy changes to specific architectural and engineering interventions such as combined cooling, heating, and power (CCHP) systems and displacement ventilation. The document emphasizes the 'business case' for green building, citing evidence that such projects often have minimal capital cost premiums while offering significant life-cycle savings and health benefits.

The report argues that while fuel cells have high initial capital costs, they can be cost-effective by capturing 'distributed benefits' such as deferring utility distribution investments, providing premium reliability for the digital economy, and meeting strict urban emission standards. It proposes a commercialization path starting with grid-connected systems in commercial buildings and semiconductor fabs, eventually integrating with fuel-cell vehicles through vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems.

The report identifies a warming and potentially drier trend for the Great Lakes region, predicting significant temperature increases and shifts in precipitation patterns by the end of the 21st century. These changes are expected to disrupt aquatic ecosystems, reduce forest diversity, and create economic risks for agriculture and shipping. The document advocates for a three-pronged approach: reducing greenhouse gas emissions, minimizing local environmental pressures, and planning for climate adaptation.

The Union of Concerned Scientists analyzed the potential effects of Colorado's Amendment 37, which would require the state's largest electric companies to increase renewable energy use to 10 percent of sales by 2015. Under the most likely scenario, the report projects that the initiative would result in $236 million in consumer savings on electricity and natural gas bills, the creation of 2,000 new jobs by 2020, and a reduction of 3 million metric tons of annual CO2 emissions by 2025. The analysis highlights that wind resources would drive most of the development, providing significant capital investment and tax revenues for rural communities.

The document outlines a practice reported by Western Gas Resources to control gas hydrate formation in low-pressure gas gathering systems (50-400 psi) by replacing glycol dehydration units with solar-powered methanol injection pumps. This transition eliminated volatile organic compound emissions from dehydration units and reduced methane emissions by an average of 800 thousand cubic feet per site annually. The implementation cost is approximately $2,250 per installation, with a payback period of one year, driven by reduced maintenance, lower operating expenses, and the value of saved gas.

The Clean Air Task Force argues that the EPA's 2004 decision regarding cooling water intake structures for existing power plants is too weak because it replaces technology mandates with vague performance standards and allows for fish population 'restoration' instead of preventing kills. The document highlights that once-through cooling systems, used by 52% of U.S. plants, cause massive fish mortality and thermal pollution, whereas recirculating cooling could reduce water use by 95%.

The document outlines EPA's proposed options for implementing the 8-hour ozone National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS), focusing on the legal tension between Subpart 1 and Subpart 2 of Part D of the Clean Air Act. The EPA's preferred approach seeks to maximize flexibility for states by applying the more stringent Subpart 2 requirements only to areas failing both the 1-hour and 8-hour standards, while placing 'gap' areas under the more lenient Subpart 1. The proposal includes options for nonattainment area classifications, attainment deadlines, the revocation of the 1-hour standard, and new source review (NSR) flexibilities, including a 'Clean Air Development Community' concept.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) graded U.S. states on their commitment to renewable energy, finding that 34 states received failing grades (D or F) and only 16 passed. While 19 states have enacted standards or funds projected to add 15,215 MW of capacity by 2017, the gains are highly concentrated, with California and Texas accounting for nearly 60 percent of forecasted new development. The report argues that current state-level efforts are insufficient compared to the technical potential of wind, solar, bioenergy, geothermal, and landfill gas, and advocates for a national renewable electricity standard to achieve more equitable and cost-effective energy generation.

The report evaluates U.S. state commitments to renewable energy, finding that while technical potential is vast, most states lack binding policies. It grades states based on renewable electricity standards (RES) and funds, noting that a small number of states, led by California and Nevada, drive most projected gains, while 34 states received failing grades. The authors argue for a national renewable electricity standard to ensure equitable and cost-effective growth.

The report examines the significant water demands of fossil fuel power plants in the Interior West, highlighting the environmental risks of cooling systems and the potential for water savings through dry cooling, energy efficiency, and renewables.

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.

The report analyzes the vulnerability of the Gulf Coast's diverse ecosystems—from upland forests to coral reefs—to rising temperatures and sea levels. It highlights that while climate change poses significant threats to water resources, biodiversity, and public health, current human activities like shoreline development and water engineering remain the primary drivers of ecological change. The authors advocate for a three-pronged strategy of mitigation, minimization of human impacts, and adaptive management to safeguard the region's economic and natural heritage.

The document examines systemic fuel waste within the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD), highlighting how a lack of activity-based costing leads to the procurement of inefficient weapons platforms. It details how the actual cost of fuel is often understated because the logistics of delivery—such as midair refueling for B-52s or helicopter transport for tanks—are treated as free. The author presents evidence from a Defense Science Board Task Force and a specific study of the USS Princeton to demonstrate that retrofitting existing equipment and redesigning platforms for efficiency could save billions of dollars annually and enhance operational agility.

The report details the environmental and health risks associated with the disposal of over 100 million tons of annual coal and oil combustion waste in the United States. It highlights that 76 million tons are typically disposed of in unlined, unmonitored onsite lagoons and landfills, leading to groundwater contamination and ecological damage. The authors argue that current state-level regulations are inconsistent and insufficient, and that the EPA's preliminary determination to maintain a regulatory exemption for these wastes ignores significant risks to low-income communities and people of color. The document calls for federal oversight under RCRA to mandate modern environmental controls like liners and groundwater monitoring.

Molten Metal Technology Inc. (MMT) developed catalytic extraction processing (CEP), a technology designed to break down hazardous and radioactive wastes into benign forms and recyclable products. Between 1989 and 1995, the company leveraged strong leadership, strategic partnerships with entities like Lockheed Martin and DuPont, and significant federal grants from the DOE to build a research facility in Massachusetts and plan commercial plants in Tennessee and Texas. Despite achieving its first profit in 1995 and receiving EPA recognition for its technology, MMT faced significant risks regarding the timing of full commercial implementation and competition from established incineration and biodegradation methods.

The report examines a range of high-efficiency fixtures and systems to reduce residential water use. It highlights the potential of dual-flush toilets, low-flow showerheads and faucets, graywater recycling, composting toilets, and rainwater collection. The author argues that while the 1992 U.S. standards significantly reduced per-capita indoor water use, further gains can be achieved through technology and native landscaping, while raising broader questions about sustainability and growth.

The report analyzes the energy-intensive nature of the Texas transportation system, which is heavily dependent on petroleum. Using the LEAP/EDB model, it compares a Reference Scenario (status quo) against four alternatives: Rollback, Moderate, Aggressive, and Visionary. The findings indicate that while the Reference Scenario projects a 44.2% increase in energy use by 2020, the Visionary Scenario could reduce energy consumption to levels below 1994 totals. The study emphasizes that aggressive pricing and technological shifts are necessary to achieve significant energy savings and air quality improvements.

The document details a legal conflict between Mobil Chemical Company and several US state attorneys general over the claim that Hefty garbage bags were 'degradable'. While the bags were photodegradable, they did not break down in landfills, leading to charges of consumer fraud. The case is situated within a wider 1980s-1990s context of 'greenwashing', where vague environmental terms were used to meet consumer demand despite a lack of scientific substantiation or infrastructure for degradation.

The report details how fossil fuel companies use paid advertising and 'organic' content on platforms like TikTok, Meta, Google, and X/Twitter to control the narrative around carbon capture and storage (CCS). It highlights Chevron's use of a 'low-budget' aesthetic and diverse ambassadors on TikTok to target Gen-Z, and the prevalence of industry-sponsored results at the top of Google searches for 'carbon capture'. The analysis also notes a trend where organic opposition to CCS on social media is sometimes driven by conspiracy theories, such as those involving 'The Great Reset' or vaccines, alongside good-faith scientific criticism.

The report analyzes a disinformation campaign that falsely blamed wind energy for the February 2021 Texas power outages. It finds that while mainstream media debunked these claims, right-wing outlets and fossil fuel-funded politicians used social media to spread the narrative, with very few high-performing posts receiving fact-check labels. The authors conclude that current platform moderation is insufficient and recommend a 'two-strike' policy for repeat disinformers and the removal of climate disinformation from organic and paid content.