From Green Right Now Reports

Adobe Systems, Incorporated has taken a significant plunge into renewable energy, completing installation of 20 Windspire wind turbines at its San Jose, Calif., headquarters.

“With the installation of the Windspires, we’re adding renewable energy to a long list of green measures Adobe has taken to lessen our environmental impact,” said Randall H. Knox, III, senior director, Global Workplace Solutions, Adobe. “We’ll continue to seek innovative green technology solutions to reduce our energy dependence and inspire others to go green.”

The new towers are located on Adobe’s sixth–floor patio, which doubles as a rooftop garden and recreational area above an office parking garage. Adobe’s three office towers create a wind tunnel effect from sustained winds off the Pacific Ocean.

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From Green Right Now Reports

United Natural Foods, Inc. today announced plans to adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the lift truck fleet at its Sarasota, Fla., distribution center. The company said it expects to employ 65 GenDrive fuel cell powered lift trucks by June. The company will add 29 new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to its fleet, and retrofit 36 others.

As part of the Sarasota initiative to replace lead acid batteries and their associated charging equipment with hydrogen fuel cells, United Natural Foods said it has partnered with a number of companies to implement the roll-out, including Plug Power Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Abel Womack, Inc.

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By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

When Ric Richards recently acquired an aging McDonalds in Cary, N.C., he knew the place needed an overhaul. The 25-year-old store was fraying at the edges.

LED lighting at Cary McDonalds

Richards decided to give these particular golden arches a green touch.

Once he’d decided that the building needed replacing, the decision to go eco-friendly was not difficult. Richards knew it made sense from a business standpoint – it would cut energy costs dramatically – and he figured it would resonate with the educated customers living in the Research Triangle region, especially those interested in lower-carbon living.

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From Green Right Now Reports

AT&T today announced it will switch to more eco-friendly packaging for its wireless device accessories and the company will require manufacturers of its mobile phones to reduce the environmental impact of future handsets.

The Dallas-based company said it estimates that the packaging improvements for device chargers, cases, batteries and data cables will help to avoid more than 200 tons of wasted plastic and paper in 2010.

AT&T will work with its suppliers of mobile phone accessories to use less plastic and paper in packaging. Batteries and data cables will come in recyclable paper boxes rather than plastic “clam shell”-style packaging . The packaging for protective phone cases and car chargers will change to slimmer packaging. The changes will eliminate more than 60 percent of the paper and more than 30 percent of the plastic previously used for accessory products, AT&T said.

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From Green Right Now Reports

Who sells more Energy Star appliances than anyone?

Well, we don’t know. Stores typically won’t reveal their sales figures, which they consider to be proprietary.

But if Jeopardy asks, you might answer: Lowe’s. The retail home improvement chain is being honored later this month for its longtime commitment to energy efficiency, particularly for its emphasis on selling ENERGY STAR appliances.

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From Green Right Now Reports

Retrofitting doesn’t always get the attention that new green building generates, with its “net zero” and passive solar designs.

Empire State Building (Photo: Empire State Building Co.)

But the impact of retrofitting can be great, and it comes with the bonus of preserving historic and treasured structures — like the Empire State Building.

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By Barbara Kessler
Green Right Now

Walmart announced a plan to reduce carbon emissions across its global supply chain today, saying it intends to shave 20 million metric tons off its greenhouse gas emissions through 2015.

Walmart CEO Mike Duke annoucing carbon reduction goals

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From Green Right Now Reports

If you’ve eaten in a hospital, high school, college or company cafeteria in recent years, you may have been served by Sodexo, even if you didn’t know it. During the Vancouver Olympics, the ubiquitous French-based food service giant provided meals at the Athletes Village, too.

In the latter case, that involved more than flipping burgers and blending smoothies.

“They can’t use supplements, even multi-vitamins, because there are no guarantees they won’t contain banned substances, and muscle-building and recovery powders and protein powders might contain pro-hormones,” said Nanci Guest, director of sport nutrition for the Organizing Committee and supervising dietitian for the Athletes’ Village. “We’ll have ingredient lists for every food offered. Sodexo has done a lot of research and gathered information from other Olympics.”

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Still think of aluminum cans as the red-headed stepchild of the beer container industry? Bon Appetit magazine suggests that it may be time to take a second look.

According to the publication, nearly 75 breweries in the United States and Canada have switched their premium beers from glass to aluminum cans. Among reasons cited for the move: Delivering a fresher and better-tasting beer, the versatility of the can, and – yes! – a lower environmental impact.

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From Green Right Now Reports

Light Emitting Diode (LED) technology, already making inroads in the traffic signal and Christmas tree light industries, will get a new application in New England: Green Mountain Power has submitted a plan to the Vermont Public Service Board to offer LED lights in streetlights throughout its Colchester, Vt., service area.

The more energy-efficient lights would replace worn-out mercury vapor lighting. Already, the Colchester utility is the first electric utility in New England to offer an LED rate for outdoor lighting.

If the plan gains approval from regulators, customers will be able to request LEDs when installing new streetlights or replacing old ones. Mercury vapor lights will be phased out over time.

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From Green Right Now Reports

A South Carolina publisher has become the nation’s first to use 100 percent Forest Stewardship Council certified paper throughout its entire operation.

Arcadia Publishing, which produces thousands of local and regional histories, uses about 400 tons of paper each year. The company, known for its Images of America pictorial history books, has more than 6,000 titles in print and expects to add another 700 this year alone.

Those new issues, and reprints of older editions, will now carry the Forest Stewardship Council label, certifying that the paper comes from forests managed to meet the social, economic and ecological needs of present and future generations.

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TD Bank is going carbon neutral and building LEED-qualified banking centers

From Green Right Now Reports

TD Bank, which touts itself as America’s Most Convenient Bank, has decided to build its next branches to green building standards, the corporation announced today at its first green branch in Farmington, N.Y..

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