Jim Harris

News

Billions of kWhrs can be saved with motor efficiency on escalators

My latest column in the National Post this past Friday (July 3) focused on the billions of kilowatt hours than can be saved by improving the efficiency of escalators — with litlle or no investement.
Read the column at http://bit.ly/5Be86o

Green Energy Act could create 90,000 jobs in Ontario

The Green Energy Act (GEA) could employ over 90,000 Ontarians in green jobs. Government of Ontario is prepared to initiate the GEA, which focuses on the possibilities for employment if a large investment is made in green practices. Along with increasing employment opportunities, the program could have a huge positive impact on the environment.[...]

Energy Efficiency cheapest way to replace Ontario’s aging nuclear power

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Energy efficiency, renewable energy and co-generation alternatives provide cheaper, more secure, and less wasteful forms of electricity generation than nuclear, concludes a new report, Powerful Options: A review of Ontario’s options for replacing aging nuclear plants.[...]

Renewable energy creates more jobs than fossil fuels

If renewable energy production in the US was increased 20% by 2020, 185,000 new jobs would be created in renewable energy development. Consumers would also save $10.5 billion on electricity and gas bills and farmers, ranchers, and rural landowners would have $25.6 billion added to their total income[...]

Inaction will cost $7 trillion

If the issues of climate change are not addressed, it could cost every person on earth $1000 a year, or $7 trillion worldwide, says Nicholas Stern, former World Bank chief economist. In the report, Climate Change and Green Jobs: Labour’s Challenges and Opportunities, the Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) stresses that taking action will cost a lot less than doing nothing.[...]

CLC: “There will be no good jobs on a dead planet”

To prevent global warming, Canadian experts call for a 25% reduction below 1990 levels of CO2 emissions by 2020 and 80% below by 2050. The Canadian Labour Congress (CLC) supports the creation of new and effective climate change policies to keep emissions down and provide new jobs centred around environmentally sustainable practices in the workplace.[...]

“Greening” the economy across the board

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We are on the verge of a transformation into the greener economy, says the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). The UNEP Background Paper on Green Jobs discusses the Green Jobs Initiative, which is a collaborative project that the UNEP, International Labour Organization (ILO) and International Trade Union Confederation (ATUC) are all a part of.

Carbon tax: Harris on CBC

Listen to Jim Harris on the CBC’s Sunday Edition talking about the carbon tax in Canada.

Building sustainability: How buildings can power our future

It’s SUV’s that are the problem with global warming — right? Well in fact SUVs only account for 3% of CO2 emissions in North America. Buildings are responsible for 50%. Read how buildings can become net generators of energy.

5M US green jobs by 2018 & $284B energy savings

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The Apollo Alliance calls for investing $500 billion by 2018, which will create five million high quality green-collar jobs. The Alliance’s first report, New Energy for America (Jan ’04) called for $300 billion of public expenditure to create three million jobs, stimulate $1.4 trillion in new GDP, add billions in personal income and retail sales, and produce $284 billion in net energy savings – all while generating sufficient returns to the U.S. treasury to pay for itself over 10 years.

blog

I’m dreaming of a green Christmas

In the movie National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation, Chevy Chase plays Clark “Sparky” Griswold, who decorates his home with 25,000 Christmas lights. Comedy ensues as he tirelessly works to find the one burnt out bulb that’s prohibiting any of lights from coming on. The lights go live, he’s electrocuted (but survives) and the local power station [...]

Garage venting that isn’t frustrating

Running vehicles in an enclosed parking garage produces a build-up of carbon monoxide (CO). At levels of 3,200 parts per million (ppm), carbon monoxide causes death within 30 minutes, so the air has to be vented to avoid a CO build-up.
Read more: http://bit.ly/6sqdLx

Getting employees involved is key to sustainability

So far, I have focused on why companies should go green; the compelling economic and marketing forces driving organizations to adopt sustainability initiatives. This is one strategy on how to go green.
Read more: http://bit.ly/6Fhs8w

Oil & Gas Subsidies worldwide total $250 Billion

Oil and gas subsidies worldwide total $250 billion. Peak oil is upon us. Why companies need to become energy and fuel efficient now. See my National Post column at http://bit.ly/8FU5fH

Inaction risks trillions in world assets

I was one of six live bloggers at the Munk Debate on climate change on Tuesday. The topic, “Climate change is humankind’s defining crisis and demands a commensurate response,” pitted Elizabeth May and George Monbiot on the pro side v. Bjørn Lomborg and Lord Nigel Lawson on the con side.
Read more: http://bit.ly/6xX5NY

Sustainability can be driven by profitability

A small minority of environmentalists believe profit and sustainability should never appear in the same sentence. Once in a while I get an email from an environmentalist, criticizing my focus in these columns on how going green is the best thing ever for the bottom line.
Read more: http://bit.ly/7WQs9U

Live online chat Tues Nov 24 12-1pm with me on National Post site

Join me for a live online chat on tomorrow — Tues, Nov 24 from noon to 1 pm (EST) on how going green drives profitability. The event is hosted by the National Post on its web site. See http://bit.ly/8uLfzT

Future oil shortages are being purposely underestimated

The International Energy Association (IEA) released its World Energy Outlook to controversy on Nov. 10. The U.K.-based Guardian newspaper quotes IEA sources admitting the agency’s figures for future oil production were inflated because of U.S. pressure. The two separate sources within the IEA want to remain anonymous because they feared reprisals. Now why does this [...]

Cutting carbon can be profitable policy

McKinsey & Company’s report, Reducing US Greenhouse Gas Emissions: How Much at What Cost?, assesses more than 200 strategies for cutting carbon across 10 sectors by 2030. The stunning finding is that 40% of the North American CO2 reductions that need to be made can be achieved at a profit.
Read more: http://bit.ly/7d2w2a

Retail Giant finds its Green Religion

Wal-Mart launched its sustainability initiatives in 2005. I attended a quarterly sustainability meeting led by then-CEO Lee Scott in Bentonville, Ark., at the company’s headquarters.
Read more: http://bit.ly/8fO19U

Technology

Heat/power combination packs a punch

We can double the efficiency of our current electrical system with a technology that’s practical, proven, readily available, inexpensive and technologically simple.
Read more: http://bit.ly/8ZuGLX

Canada may miss golden opportunity

Cleantech is hot. Two weeks ago, billionaire George Soros vowed to invest $1-billion in clean-energy technology. Large investors, early-stage venture capitalists, governments, corporations and industry associations have all identified green investing as a new megatrend.
Read more: http://bit.ly/4IiZrF

Ice Bear Keeps Utilities from Feeling the Heat

In electricity planning, everything is geared to peak demand. About 15% of the total generation capacity in Ontario is required because of peak demand for 50 out of the 8,760 hours a year. In other words: Billions of dollars of capital cost are spent in developing the capacity to prepare for and supply demand which [...]

Upgrading data centres can slash electricity costs

My column of August 28th in The National Post is all about steps corporations can take to reduce their electricity costs through virtualizing their server systems.
Read the whole story here: http://bit.ly/6CvSvV

Smartphone sales grow 27% while mobile market shrinks 6.1% in Q2 2009.

Sales of smartphones grew by 27% in Q2 of 2009 while sales of in the second quarter as mobile-handset sales overall dropped 6.1 percent, according to Stamford, Gartner’s mobile analyst. For more details see http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601082&sid=ah_XaAj4r4.4

iPhone, BlackBerry tracking to take 58% of 09 wireless handset profits

BlackBerry-maker Research In Motion and Apple’s iPhone are tracking to take 58% of the wireless handset profits this year, according to Deutsche Bank analyst Brian Modoff.
In 2008 RIM and Apples accounted for only 3% of cellphones sales globally but 35% of all operating profits, according to the WSJ. The current trajectory indicates 5% of handsets for 2009 and a staggering 58% of total [...]

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