MYGreen Education and Career » Canada http://www.mygreeneducation.com The worldwide economic recovery will be lead by clean energy and sustainable practices. Find the green career path that is right for you. Green degrees,certifications ,training and courses. Companies are looking for job candidates with a green education and sustainable thinking. Tue, 27 Jul 2010 16:28:20 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 National Wildlife Federation Wants to Hear Your Campus Sustainability Story! http://www.mygreeneducation.com/national-wildlife-federation-wants-to-hear-your-campus-sustainability-story/ http://www.mygreeneducation.com/national-wildlife-federation-wants-to-hear-your-campus-sustainability-story/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:11:29 +0000 admin http://www.mygreeneducation.com/?p=6508 Each year NWF’s Campus Ecology program publishes case studies contributed by its members and partners showcasing their campus sustainability practices and global warming solutions for the past school year (2009-2010). NWF will release these illustrated reports in Fall 2010 in an online searchable case study database, one of our most popular resources. The case study [...]]]> Each year NWF’s Campus Ecology program publishes case studies contributed by its members and partners showcasing their campus sustainability practices and global warming solutions for the past school year (2009-2010). NWF will release these illustrated reports in Fall 2010 in an online searchable case study database, one of our most popular resources. The case study database is searchable by school, topic, state, and year.

The case study database is used by hundreds of students, staff, faculty and administrators who tell us that it’s a source of inspiration and insight into the potentials of conservation and sustainability on their campuses and in their communities. It also serves as the primary outlet for Campus Ecology members and partners to document their accomplishments and gain national recognition. Colleges and universities throughout the U.S. have made great strides toward addressing global warming and protecting wildlife and habitat. You are invited to share your success stories, and let other campuses learn from you!

Submission deadline is July 15, 2010. There are case study guidelines and case study templates (to help you begin) on their website.

* Schools are welcome to submit more than one case study if you are working on multiple projects in different areas of sustainability.

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]]> http://www.mygreeneducation.com/national-wildlife-federation-wants-to-hear-your-campus-sustainability-story/feed/ 1 Ultra-Efficient Green Data Center Design Awarded to McGill University and UC San Diego http://www.mygreeneducation.com/ultra-efficient-green-data-center-design-awarded-to-mcgill-university-and-uc-san-diego/ http://www.mygreeneducation.com/ultra-efficient-green-data-center-design-awarded-to-mcgill-university-and-uc-san-diego/#comments Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:06:01 +0000 Tracey A. Smith http://www.mygreeneducation.com/?p=6512 The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego and CLUMEQ, a Canadian High Performance Computing consortium led by McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, have been awarded grants from Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE) and the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) to design an ultra-efficient data center as part of a program [...]]]> The San Diego Supercomputer Center (SDSC) at UC San Diego and CLUMEQ, a Canadian High Performance Computing consortium led by McGill University in Montreal, Quebec, have been awarded grants from Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network (CANARIE) and the Canada-California Strategic Innovation Partnership (CCSIP) to design an ultra-efficient data center as part of a program to promote ‘green’ IT initiatives.

Under the partnership, SDSC and CLUMEQ/McGill University researchers will design and build a business case and a conceptual design for a jointly-managed, ultra-efficient data center to be built in Quebec, which has an abundance of green hydroelectric power and an ideally suited cool climate that can provide ‘free cooling’ to the data center’s high-performance computer systems for much of the year.  Hydro Quebec, Quebec’s state-owned utility, Rumsey Engineering of Oakland, California, and ClimateCHECK, an Ottawa-based firm specializing in green house gas (GHG) emission standards and measurement, are collaborating on the project.

Researchers from SDSC and CLUMEQ will be presenting the preliminary conceptual design at the upcoming GSMI Green Data Center Conference June 15-17 at SDSC.

Such a data center would offer energy-efficient co-location and managed hosting services to the high-performance computing (HPC) and research communities served by the University of California and through CLUMEQ to Canadian researchers. The current scalable data center design would achieve a “power usage effectiveness” ratio, or PUE, of 1.1 or lower by leveraging cutting-edge technologies such as natural thermal storage through a man-made ice pond.

“At SDSC we operate one of the most efficient facilities in the region and, through various efficiency projects, have achieved a PUE of 1.35,” said Dallas Thornton, SDSC’s Division Director of Cyberinfrastructure Services. “This project focuses on designing an even more efficient facility that capitalizes on unique site capabilities available in Quebec, while developing a business model for the bilateral effort’s success. This is an exciting project that will benefit both Canadians and Californians.”

A PUE ratio is a commonly used metric calculated as the ratio between a data center’s total power consumption and power used by the IT equipment within the center. Typical data centers have PUEs of 1.7 to 2.0, well-managed data centers typically have PUEs of 1.4 to 1.6, and aggressively managed operations strive to achieve lower ratios, with the ultimate goal of reaching 1.0, a completely lossless and energy-efficient data center.

The joint design study comes as power consumption due to IT equipment and data centers continues to grow at a rapid pace. In a 2007 report by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to Congress on data center efficiency, it was estimated that power consumption was about 61 billion kilowatt hours (kW-h) in 2006, or 1.5 percent of total U.S. electricity consumption. This consumption is expected to double by 2011. Power and cooling costs continue to be a growing percentage of the overall costs of IT for all organizations, including academic institutions.

SDSC and UC San Diego have been leaders in promoting energy-efficient and sustainability practices throughout the campus, from building design and transportation alternatives to conservation and recycling. UC San Diego is one of the leading universities investigating energy efficiency in information technology and data centers, and is the only university member of Green Grid, an international consortium dedicated to reducing energy usage at data centers.

The CCSIP is a catalyst for collaborative Research, Development, and Delivery (RD&D) between California and Canada, stimulating the development of new models of collaboration that leverage key research capabilities, address common priorities, accelerate the delivery of research results, launch revolutionary RD&D projects that aim to bring new products and services to market, and deliver economic and social benefits to citizens in both jurisdictions.  CCSIP funding for the project was awarded as one of 15 bilateral projects selected in the CCSIP’s first Call for Proposals (CFP) in January 2010.

Additional support for the project was received from CANARIE, Canada’s Advanced Research and Innovation Network. The SDSC/McGill University grant is part of CANARIE’s C$2.4 million funding plan for four ground-breaking IT projects aimed at reducing the carbon footprint of the information and communications technologies (ICT) sector, and measuring the impact of ICT and cyberinfrastructure on university electric consumption. “Canada is being very aggressive in developing new green IT strategies for computing and communications that mesh well with long standing traditions of environmental responsibility and technological development,” said Jorge Vinals, director of CLUMEQ.

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]]> http://www.mygreeneducation.com/ultra-efficient-green-data-center-design-awarded-to-mcgill-university-and-uc-san-diego/feed/ 0 North America Unites Efforts to Reduce and Replace Potent Greenhouse Gases http://www.mygreeneducation.com/north-america-unites-efforts-to-reduce-and-replace-potent-greenhouse-gases/ http://www.mygreeneducation.com/north-america-unites-efforts-to-reduce-and-replace-potent-greenhouse-gases/#comments Fri, 07 May 2010 00:52:59 +0000 Tracey A. Smith http://www.mygreeneducation.com/?p=6057 Canada and Mexico have joined the United States in proposing to expand the scope of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to fight climate change. The proposal would phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are a significant and rapidly growing contributor to climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led the [...]]]> Canada and Mexico have joined the United States in proposing to expand the scope of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer to fight climate change. The proposal would phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), which are a significant and rapidly growing contributor to climate change. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) led the analysis in the proposal, which demonstrates environmental benefits equal to removing greenhouse gas emissions from 59 million passenger cars each year through 2020, and 420 million cars each year through 2050. Reducing HFCs would help slow climate change and curb potential public health impacts.

 

During the phaseout of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) under the Montreal Protocol and the Clean Air Act, manufacturers of equipment such as car air conditioners and kitchen refrigerators substituted HFCs. The trilateral proposal would phase down HFCs, which are up to 14,000 times more damaging to the Earth’s climate system than carbon dioxide. Even though efforts over the past decade have reduced emissions, global atmospheric concentrations of HFCs continue to increase. Without this proposal, HFC use in developing countries is anticipated to grow substantially, driven both by increased demand for refrigeration and air-conditioning and because HFCs were developed as alternatives to ozone depleting substances.

Signed in 1987, the Montreal Protocol is a treaty with 196 countries to help restore the ozone layer by ending the production of ozone-depleting substances and now potentially phasing down HFCs.


 EPA evaluates substitute chemicals and technologies for ozone-depleting substances. Additionally, as part of the actions outlined today, EPA will propose four refrigerants as possible substitutes in U.S. household and commercial refrigerators and freezers. These hydrocarbon-based coolants would replace existing refrigerants that harm the stratospheric ozone layer and the climate system. The proposal lists isobutane, propane, HCR-188C, and HCR-188C1 as potentially acceptable substitutes for the ozone-depleting chemicals CFC-12 and HCFC-22.

The public is encouraged to provide comments to docket number EPA-HQ-2009-0286 at: http://www.regulations.gov/

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]]> http://www.mygreeneducation.com/north-america-unites-efforts-to-reduce-and-replace-potent-greenhouse-gases/feed/ 1 Siemens Awarded Another Canadian Contract for an Additional 60 Wind Turbines http://www.mygreeneducation.com/siemens-awarded-another-canadian-contract-for-an-additional-60-wind-turbines/ http://www.mygreeneducation.com/siemens-awarded-another-canadian-contract-for-an-additional-60-wind-turbines/#comments Tue, 30 Mar 2010 23:51:10 +0000 Tracey A. Smith http://www.mygreeneducation.com/?p=5854 Siemens Energy has been awarded an order for 60 2.3-MW SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines to be installed near the town of Morris, Manitoba, Canada.

The scope for the St. Joseph wind farm includes the supply, technical field assistance for erection and commissioning of the 60 units, as well as two years of service and maintenance. Installation is [...]]]> Siemens Energy has been awarded an order for 60 2.3-MW SWT-2.3-101 wind turbines to be installed near the town of Morris, Manitoba, Canada.

The scope for the St. Joseph wind farm includes the supply, technical field assistance for erection and commissioning of the 60 units, as well as two years of service and maintenance. Installation is expected to begin in September 2010 and be completed by the end of 2010. The purchaser is Pattern Energy, an independent, fully integrated energy company that develops, constructs, owns and operates renewable energy and transmission assets across the United States, Canada and Latin America. With an installed capacity of 138 megawatts (MW), the St. Joseph wind farm is expected to provide clean power for more than 50,000 homes in Manitoba, Canada.

“We are very pleased that Pattern Energy has chosen Siemens to be the wind turbine equipment supplier for the St. Joseph project,” stated Bill Smith, Senior Vice President, Siemens Canada Limited. “This order is of great significance to Siemens as this is our first wind farm in the province of Manitoba. We hope to build on the success we’ve already had in the province of Ontario and grow our wind power business footprint in Canada.”

By the end of 2010, Siemens will have installed a total of 196 2.3-MW turbines in Ontario.

These include:

  • 86 units at Canadian Hydro’s Wolfe Island wind farm,
  • 44 wind turbines at Kruger Energy’s Port Alma wind farm,
  • 44 units at Kruger Energy’s Chatham wind farm
  • 22 wind turbines at the Gosfield wind farm, owned by Brookfield Renewable Power Inc.

“Partnering with Siemens is helping Pattern Energy to construct a world-class wind project at St. Joseph that will maximize the area’s excellent wind resource to create a significant source of renewable energy for Manitoba and produce enough clean power for 50,000 homes,” said Mike Garland, Chief Executive Officer of Pattern Energy. “Pattern has had a long and productive relationship with Siemens and we look forward to working with them on this exciting project.”


Siemens recently partnered with Pattern Energy on its Hatchet Ridge project in Shasta County, California, which is currently under construction. Siemens is supplying and installing 44 of its 2.3-MW SWT-2.3-93 wind turbines and will also provide two years of service and maintenance. Commissioning of the Hatchet Ridge wind farm is scheduled for fall 2010.

Wind power is part of Siemens’ Environmental Portfolio. In fiscal 2009, revenue from the Portfolio totaled approximately EUR23 billion, making Siemens the world’s largest supplier of environmentally friendly technologies. In the same period, the company’s products and solutions enabled customers to reduce their CO2 emissions by 210 million tons. This amount equals the combined annual CO2 emissions of New York, Tokyo, London and Berlin.

The Siemens Energy Sector is the world’s leading supplier of a complete spectrum of products, services and solutions for the generation, transmission and distribution of power and for the extraction, conversion and transport of oil and gas. In fiscal 2009 (ended September 30), the Energy Sector had revenues of approximately EUR25.8 billion and received new orders totaling approximately EUR30 billion and posted a profit of EUR3.3 billion. On September 30, 2009, the Energy Sector had a work force of approximately 85,100. Further information is available at: www.siemens.com/energy.

Siemens Canada

Siemens is one of the largest and most diversified companies in the world of electronics and electrical engineering, operating in the industry, energy and healthcare sectors. The company has approximately 5,000 employees in Canada, working to develop and manufacture products, design and install complex systems and projects, and tailor a wide range of solutions for individual requirements. For almost 100 years in Canada, Siemens has stood for technical achievements, innovation, quality and reliability. Sales for Siemens in Canada for fiscal 2009 (ended September 30), were $2.5 billion CAD. Further information is available at www.siemens.ca.

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]]> http://www.mygreeneducation.com/siemens-awarded-another-canadian-contract-for-an-additional-60-wind-turbines/feed/ 0 Nova Scotia Power Awards Contracts to Community-Based Renewable Energy Projects http://www.mygreeneducation.com/nova-scotia-power-awards-contracts-to-community-based-renewable-energy-projects/ http://www.mygreeneducation.com/nova-scotia-power-awards-contracts-to-community-based-renewable-energy-projects/#comments Mon, 25 Jan 2010 12:00:28 +0000 SBurke http://www.mygreeneducation.com/?p=5564 Nova Scotia Power has awarded contracts for 18.95 MW of electricity to be supplied from small, community-based renewable energy projects throughout Nova Scotia.

The six agreements are the result of a December 2008 request for proposals (RFP) for small, renewable energy projects that would encourage community investment and development.

The small renewables RFP process was designed to [...]]]> Nova Scotia Power has awarded contracts for 18.95 MW of electricity to be supplied from small, community-based renewable energy projects throughout Nova Scotia.

The six agreements are the result of a December 2008 request for proposals (RFP) for small, renewable energy projects that would encourage community investment and development.

The small renewables RFP process was designed to encourage small, community-based projects to become part of the province’s energy supply.

“Nova Scotia Power is committed to incorporating more renewable energy into our generation mix,” said Rob Bennett, President and CEO of Nova Scotia Power. “We are proud to be able to work with small community-based projects to bring more green energy to Nova Scotia and create new economic development opportunities in the province at an important time for our economy.”

“We were very pleased to have our project selected as part of this process,” said David Swan, President of The Colchester-Cumberland Wind Field Inc. “The Spiddle Hill wind turbine represents our community’s commitment to renewable energy. We see this project as the beginning of a greener energy future for our region.”

The ten different community projects announced today under six agreements add to the existing 16 wind energy sites in Nova Scotia with a generation capacity of 112 megawatts (MW).

These wind power projects, combined with the five new wind farms (163 MW) committed to be online in 2010, will bring Nova Scotia’s wind energy generation to a total capacity of 275 MW.

These wind energy projects, in combination with other renewables already in place are expected to bring the total renewable portion of Nova Scotia’s generation mix to 692 MW which will produce approximately 16 per cent of Nova Scotia’s electricity sales.

Nova Scotia Power received a positive response to the community RFP released in December 2008 and closed the competitive bidding process on July 7, 2009. Proposals for 20 projects with a total generating capacity of 40.75 MW were received.

The RFP was open to all types of renewable generation from wind power to solar energy. The six agreements announced today are all for wind power. Criteria for evaluating each proposal included the proposed price of the electricity, the level of local community support and the strength of the proposed project.

Negotiations are ongoing with one additional community-based wind project. NS Power hopes to announce that agreement in the coming weeks.


An RFP for 10 MW of community-based biomass was also released in December 2008. NS Power hopes to announce the results of that RFP early this year.

Nova Scotia Power will pump hundreds of millions of dollars into the provincial economy in 2010.

“We are hiring more people, employing more contractors and consultants and investing more on capital projects,” said Mark Savory, Vice President of Technical and Construction Services for Nova Scotia Power. “A significant component of that investment is related to our plan for new renewable electricity generation and emissions reductions.”

In recent years, Nova Scotia Power has typically spent about $150 million on capital projects. In 2009, the company spent more than $270 million. The 2010 capital budget is more than $400 million, and substantial capital investment in Nova Scotia is also anticipated in the next few years.

Projects currently under way include wind and tidal power development, reduction of mercury emissions, improving reliability of the electrical grid, a new downtown office building and generating electricity from waste heat.

“We are buying goods and services in communities throughout Nova Scotia at a time when jobs and local investment are sorely needed,” Mr. Savory said.

“As we proceed with these projects and prepare for more, we’re hiring people for highly-skilled, well-paying jobs – including new power line technicians, engineers, project managers and skilled construction trades.”

Capital projects that NS Power has recently completed, or currently has under way, include:

*  Tidal turbine test project: Installation of 10-metre in-stream tidal turbine in the Bay of Fundy – $10 million, including $1.7 million, 400-tonne gravity base manufactured by Cherubini Metal Works. (Deployed Nov. 12, 2009, two-year testing and monitoring program under way)
*  Mercury reduction program: Install activated carbon injection systems to limit mercury emissions at Trenton, Point Tupper and Lingan generating stations – $21 million. (Completed)
*  Nuttby Mountain wind farm: Construction of a 22 wind turbine wind farm (total capacity of 45 MW) approximately 20 kilometres north of Truro – total investment is $120 million. (Targeted completion: late 2010)

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