The new laws call for large commercial and residential buildings to participate in a program that will create a profile of their energy and water efficiency and make it public, which energy experts say is tantamount to disclosing the mileage per gallon for cars so consumers can compare performance.
The most effective of these sustainability programs, by whatever name, manage to reduce emissions and lower the environmental footprint of companies and their supply chains, by using renewable energies such as solar and wind power, improved energy and water efficiency, recycling, and reducing waste of all types.
Estimates of financing requirements are provided for multiple sectors, including sustainable energy, infrastructure (including for environmental protection), environmental remediation, industrial pollution control, energy and water efficiency, and green products.
The analysis shows the progress that has been made in energy and water efficiency, as well as waste management, including waste-to-energy, pollution prevention and remediation.
Calculations of water conservation and energy consumption as a result of improvement demonstrates the complexity of the balance between energy and water efficiency.
Now, a diverse coalition, which includes renewable energy advocates, city officials, bankers and others, is racing to institute a plan to increase energy and water efficiency upgrades that supporters say could help Texas improve its conservation record and become a model for other states.
Visible green improvements include high-efficiency LED street lighting, hybrid electric municipal vehicles, plug-in stations at municipal parking lots, energy-efficiency audits and upgrades of municipal offices and services, and small subsidies for energy and water efficiency efforts and for tree planting by homeowners.
In the past financial year ending March 2011, both Guardian Print Centres (GPCs) improved energy and water efficiency in terms of total reduction and per newspaper copy measures.
Glastonbury says the sustainability master plan for the four wineries aims to improve energy and water efficiency, minimise waste and cut carbon emissions while also cutting production costs.
For years, conventional business wisdom has held that sustainability is at best a strategy to save money, through things like energy and water efficiency.
