The horizon is green in Virginia.
In opening remarks at a conference on technology and sustainability, Gov. Tim Kaine said the last year of his administration would focus on energy and environmental issues.
“Whether it’s green state government or whether it’s big-picture legislative initiatives with respect to land use, public transportation, open space preservation, water cleanliness, energy – you’re going to see a lot of action this year,” Kaine said.
About 100 technology professionals attended the Greater Richmond Council of Technology’s conference on sustainability yesterday at the Jefferson Hotel.
Kaine also said he will issue executive orders to make changes to environmental policy. He’s already requiring newly constructed state buildings to be LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) certified. The standards, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, can make construction more costly. But over time the increased efficiency is supposed to save on heating, cooling and water use.
At the federal level, President-elect Barack Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress will likely increase conservation regulation and increase investment in alternative energy.
“Obama said his chief international and domestic priority is energy,” Kaine said. “Energy security, new green technology: It’s energy efficiency. It’s trying to tackle climate change issues.”
Several speakers said that although more regulation can mean higher costs for businesses, there would also be more opportunities to qualify for tax incentives and carbon credits.
From telecommuting to e-mail, technology plays a big role in the green movement.
High-tech systems can monitor and analyze every aspect of a business’s operations, from the office to the supply line, and identify areas where energy is wasted. For example, information technology departments can help companies decrease emissions by optimizing data storage. (All those humming computers in the basement use lots of electricity.)
The Environmental Protection Agency projected last year that U.S. data centers will be responsible for 2.5 percent of the nation’s energy consumption over the next five years. At least half of Virginia’s electricity is produced by burning coal, so a reduction in electrical use also means a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.
The horizon is green in Virginia.
In opening remarks at a conference on technology and sustainability, Gov. Tim Kaine said the last year of his administration would focus on energy and environmental issues.
“Whether it’s green state government or whether it’s big-picture legislative initiatives with respect to land use, public transportation, open space preservation, water cleanliness, energy – you’re going to see a lot of action this year,” Kaine said.
About 100 technology professionals attended the Greater Richmond Council of Technology’s conference on sustainability yesterday at the Jefferson Hotel.
Kaine also said he will issue executive orders to make changes to environmental policy. He’s already requiring newly constructed state buildings to be LEED (Leadership in Environment and Energy Design) certified. The standards, developed by the U.S. Green Building Council, can make construction more costly. But over time the increased efficiency is supposed to save on heating, cooling and water use.
At the federal level, President-elect Barack Obama and a Democrat-controlled Congress will likely increase conservation regulation and increase investment in alternative energy.
“Obama said his chief international and domestic priority is energy,” Kaine said. “Energy security, new green technology: It’s energy efficiency. It’s trying to tackle climate change issues.”
Several speakers said that although more regulation can mean higher costs for businesses, there would also be more opportunities to qualify for tax incentives and carbon credits.
From telecommuting to e-mail, technology plays a big role in the green movement.
High-tech systems can monitor and analyze every aspect of a business’s operations, from the office to the supply line, and identify areas where energy is wasted. For example, information technology departments can help companies decrease emissions by optimizing data storage. (All those humming computers in the basement use lots of electricity.)
The Environmental Protection Agency projected last year that U.S. data centers will be responsible for 2.5 percent of the nation’s energy consumption over the next five years. At least half of Virginia’s electricity is produced by burning coal, so a reduction in electrical use also means a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.