March 29, 2024

Industry Outlook 2008

Shades of Green

Not all 'green' plans are equal. But some companies and governments are taking real strides in sustainability.

Cynthia Barnett | 1/1/2008
During a speech last fall at the University of Florida, L. Hunter Lovins, founder of Natural Capitalism Solutions, who is helping multinational corporations from Wal-Mart to Royal Dutch Shell become more sustainable, defined “green-washing” as “spending more time and money on talking about sustainability than doing it.” Still, she says, talking is often the first step.

How to discern the green-washers? Center says companies and governments with the most serious conservation efforts often have an online sustainability report that consumers can look to for data, from reductions in water and energy use to investments in clean technology. With the green movement in full swing, this year’s Industry Outlook edition focuses on green trends, starting with a look at a dozen efforts, large and small, private and public, that could make a real difference.

Energy

» Florida Atlantic University’s Center of Excellence in Ocean Energy Technology, Dania Beach

Underwater Turbines
UNDERWATER ENERGY
An artist’s rendering shows underwater turbines that Florida Atlantic University will test to harness the power of the Gulf Stream to generate electricity. A hydrogen-generation facility is located above the turbines.
[Photo: FAU]
FAU won a $5-million grant from the state to test whether the powerful Gulf Stream off the coast of south Florida — the planet’s largest ocean current — might someday generate electricity for Florida homes and businesses. As early as next month, FAU scientists will direct a large turbine into the Atlantic Ocean to conduct tests — lasting from less than a day to more than a month — to monitor energy-harvesting potential, environmental impacts and other issues.

» Green Power Systems, Jacksonville

Green Power’s planned garbage-to-electricity plant in Tallahassee could significantly reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills. The 200,000-sq.-ft. energy plant will convert 1,000 tons of Leon County municipal solid waste daily into 42 megawatts of electricity. The city will in turn buy 35 megawatts, enough to supply electricity to 22,000 homes. The system relies on a technology called plasma gasification vitrification. Plasma torches heat the organic matter in a 5,000-degree-Celsius reactor to produce a synthetic fuel. Founder Ingo Krieg says he hopes construction will begin in August and that the plant will be online in August 2010. Along roughly the same time frame, St. Lucie County is working with an Atlanta firm called Geoplasma to build a $425-million plasma gasification facility that county officials hope will someday empty their landfill and power homes in the county.

Tags: Politics & Law, Environment, Government/Politics & Law

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Florida Trend Video Pick

Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns

New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

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