The R4 Initiative

Texas Universities Offer Renewable Energy to Alumni and Fans
The University of Texas and Texas A&M, in partnership with a Texas energy company, have announced the launch of two separate programs to promote renewable energy to alumni and fans: Texas Longhorns Energy (TLE) and Aggie Energy. Both programs will offer 100 percent renewable energy to school supporters that will also raise money for sustainability initiatives [...]

USPS Well Ahead of Schedule With Sustainability Goals
Last year, the United States Postal Service (USPS) unveiled its first and New York City?s largest green roof on top of the Morgan mail processing facility in midtown Manhattan, constructed in an effort to save energy and reduce pollution runoff. Touting a lifetime expectancy of 50 years, it features native plants and wooden benches made from [...]

Top 5 Green Apps for the Droid
We?re big fans of anything that makes going green a little easier. Tech-lovers that we are, we?ve recently become obsessed with great green apps for the iPhone, including our very own iRecycle, but going green on the go isn?t just for the iPhone anymore. Other smart phones are giving Apple a run for their money with [...]

Senator Honored For Recycling Efforts, Introduces New Legislation
At last week’s annual “Recycling Works Gala,” hosted by the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) in Washington D.C., Delaware Senator Thomas R. Carper (D) was honored for his outstanding leadership in key recycling issues, representing the first such award for the annual gala. Senator Carper serves as founder and [...]

Have You Heard of ?First Taste Waste??
Consider this the next time you’re getting free samples at the food warehouse store: the U.S. manufactures 40 billion plastic utensils each year. The business case behind free food samples is pretty simple: consumers are more likely to buy a product that they sampled first. According to the Sacramento Bee, that number is as high as [...]

Old Carpet to Aid In Oil Spill Cleanup
Getting stains and spills out of your carpet can be a nightmare, with carpet fibers quickly absorbing and retaining liquids if not tended to right away. Though an inconvenience for homeowners, these properties make carpet the ideal material for oil and sediment absorption. But county officials in Walton County, Fla. realized this component could be beneficial. Made [...]

Largest U.S. Wind Project Breaks Ground in California
Today, the Alta Wind Energy Center officially breaks ground for the largest wind power project in the country. The turbines will supply more than 600,000 homes in Southern California with electricity. Situated in the Mojave Desert, the multibillion-dollar farm is about 75 miles north of Los Angeles. According to experts, once completed, this 3,000 megawatt (MW) [...]

The Intern Files: How to Green Your Dorm
August, for many, is the time for family vacations, barbecues and pool parties galore. For college students, it’s also the bright beginnings of a new school year. While you prepare for move-in day, keep in mind that being green can still apply. It?s absolutely possible to create an easy, eco-friendly living environment for everyone involved, whether [...]

$35 Computer Tablet to Feature Solar Design
It’s hard to believe that it has been almost four months since more than 300,000 flocked to local Apple stores to be the first owners of the highly touted $499 iPad. Still considered a novelty as it’s still in its first-version infancy, the iPad may have a new competitor on the market. A new Linux operating [...]

Baking Soda: Multipurpose Superhero
The chances are good that you have a box of baking soda stashed away on a shelf or cupboard right now (and if not, then it’s just a short walk or drive away). But baking soda, also called sodium bicarbonate, packs much more of a punch than you might infer from its common usage as a [...]