Starbucks to fuel cars?

Coffee is well known for being able to power the economic engine that is the global workforce.  It might fill the tank of an individual but certainly won’t fill your car.  Beyond compost are there any alternative uses for coffee grounds?

New research at the University of Nevada shows used coffee grounds can be repurposed into biodiesel to power vehicles, trains, and even airplanes.  The waste from Starbucks alone could turn into 3M gallons of fuel and $8M in profits.

One of the main limits to the acceptance of biodiesel as an alternative fuel is its price premium above regular diesel. To bring the price of biodiesel down, the industry uses as much waste material from other industries as possible to make it — such as used fryer oil and animal fats from poultry processing.

Coffee grounds are actually about 15% oil.  The research team said that it concludes that the coffee-ground oil feedstock would cost between $0.45 to $1.84 less than feedstocks such as corn or soy, is more stable than comparable feedstock oils, and the grounds can be further processed into fuel for pellet stoves.

Given that Starbucks (NasdaqGS: SBUX) generates 210 million pounds of spent coffee grounds per year in the US, the researchers calculate that it could amount to almost 3 million gallons of biodiesel and 89,000 tons of fuel pellets.   Should gas prices reverse direction and move back over $4 per gallon then the researchers estimate as much as $8M in profits from Starbuck’s waste alone.

One of the main drivers for adoption of biodiesel is energy security. This means that a nation’s dependence on oil is reduced, and substituted with use of locally available sources, such as coal, gas, or renewable sources.

Biodiesel production capacity is growing rapidly, with an average annual growth rate from 2002-2006 of over 40%. For the year 2006, the latest for which actual production figures could be obtained, total world biodiesel production was about 5-6 million tons (over 80% of this production comes from Europe).

Sources: Gas 2.0, Wikipedia, Ecogeeek, Biofuels Digest

One Million Holiday Cards

The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes Inc. are teaming up to send holiday cards to service men and women in the United States and around the world. From Tuesday, November 11 until Wednesday, December 10, the public is invited to send holiday cards with their message of thanks and cheer to a special post office box. The Red Cross and Pitney Bowes will then screen cards for hazardous materials, sort and package the cards, and deliver them to military bases and hospitals, veteran’s hospitals, and other locations during the holidays.

Holiday Mail For Heroes continues the Red Cross tradition of service to the armed forces, which includes handling emergency communications that link service members with their families back home, providing access to financial assistance from the military aid societies, counseling, referral to community resources and assistance to veterans. Pitney Bowes is providing all screening, packaging and shipping at no charge, as well as providing thousands of volunteer hours from employees around the country.

“This opportunity is such a great way for the public to personally support the military and say a special thank you for their service this holiday season,” said Gail McGovern, Red Cross President and CEO. “I’m especially proud that the Red Cross is able to be a part of this effort, and I hope everyone will take the time to join us and send an extra card for the military.”

In 2007 Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C. approached the Red Cross to distribute thousands of holiday cards coming to the facility for wounded troops. The Red Cross reached out to Pitney Bowes to turn the project into a larger opportunity that could reach members of the military at other facilities. In all, nearly 600,000 cards were screened for hazardous materials, sorted, and delivered in 2007.

“Pitney Bowes is proud to be working with the American Red Cross again to help Americans extend their well wishes and gratitude to the heroes who serve and protect our country,” said Jon Love, President of Pitney Bowes Government Solutions. “Last year’s program was a huge success and we look forward to working with the public to reach even more wounded service members and their families this holiday season to show appreciation and support.”

Holiday cards should be addressed and sent to:

Holiday Mail For Heroes
P.O. Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD 20791-5456

Please be sure to affix adequate postage. Cards must be received no later than December 10. Cards received after this date will be returned to senders. To help speed the sorting process and delivery of cards and notes before the holidays, mailers are encouraged to refrain from sending “care packages,” monetary gifts, using glitter or including any other inserts. For a full list of recommended guidelines and best practices, please visit Redcross.org/holidaymail. Cards are also available to print out from the website, along with messages from Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet Members Dr. Phil McGraw and Nancy O’Dell, co-anchor of Access Hollywood. You can also leave a message on the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Facebook Wall (http://tinyurl.com/5tmfsg)

CSR Wire

eBay bans ivory sales

In response to growing pressure from international law enforcement agencies and conservation groups, eBay, the online auction giant, announced it would ban all commerce in ivory, including most heirlooms, to avoid providing a market that would encourage the slaughter of endangered elephants.

The global ban on ivory sales will be enforced starting January 1, 2009.  Exceptions to the ban include products made before 1900 that contain small amounts of ivory.

The announcement came ahead of  a report by the International Fund for Animal Welfare that over a six-week period tracked more than 7,000 posts offering body parts of protected wildlife, including pelts, teeth, bones, horns, and feathers. The report, titled “Killing with Keystrokes” [PDF], found that the United States was responsible for more than 70 percent of the trade, an amount nearly 10 times more than the two countries with the next highest volume, Great Britain and China. Nearly three-fourths of the posts were for ivory products.

By far, the single largest seller was eBay, with 73 percent of the total posts tracked on US websites.

The online auctioneer tried a limited ban on ivory last year, blocking all cross-border sales. According to eBay’s official blog, that ban attempted “to balance the protection of endangered and protected species while also providing a way for sellers to offer legitimate ivory products legally allowed for sale within domestic markets.”

But the illicit ivory sales continued. “…given the complexities of the global ivory trade, and the distinct and unique characteristics of the eBay Marketplace,” says eBay’s blog , “the sale of any ivory on our site continued to be a concern within the company and among stakeholders.”

In speaking with the International Herald Tribune, eBay spokeswoman Nichola Sharpe said, “It’s just so complicated.  As we’ve said over the years, we are not experts” in the items bought and sold through the site.

“We don’t have possession of the items,” she said. “We never allow anything illegal to be sold. Where there are complex laws, we work with a number of stakeholders to make sure we are in compliance. That’s especially true with ivory.”

Last year, the company instituted a ban on international sales of elephant ivory products, but Jeffrey Flocken of the animal welfare fund said it “has not worked at all.”

Dollars helping students ‘Aspire’ to graduate

Many scholars claim that the United States has a dropout crisis and  researchers now report overall graduation rates are near 70 percent.  African-American and Hispanic rates are often calculated to be as low as 50 percent nationally.

To many this isn’t new information.  Time Magazine dubbed the Untited States “Drop out Nation” in April of 2006.

The good news in this time of economic slowdown and restricted school budgets is that there are some programs aiming to help solve the crisis.  One of note is the Aspire program which is active and supporting schools across the country.

As one of the largest-ever corporate commitments to high school retention and workforce readiness, the $100 million AT&T Aspire program will support organizations with strong track records that promote educational success, from the classroom to the workplace. The recipient programs of this year’s High School Success grants provide a range of support for students, including academic intervention, mentoring and tutoring services.

In October alone, AT&T has announced several grants under the Aspire program for school districts in California.

• $700,000 in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in Sacramento Area
• $730,000 in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in Los Angeles Area
• $1.4 Million in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in San Francisco Bay Area
• $360,000 in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in the Central Valley
• $650,000 in Grants to Help Address High School Dropout Crisis in San Diego and Orange County

As part of the Aspire initiative, the AT&T Foundation has committed $29 million in High School Success grants to more than 170 schools and nonprofit organizations. Statewide, AT&T is awarding 35 grants totaling more than $3.5 million.

America’s Promise Alliance, the nation’s largest multi-sector collaborative dedicated to the well-being of children and youth, has noted that nearly one-third of U.S. high school students drop out before graduating — with about 7,000 students dropping out every school day, or one every 26 seconds.

“High school dropout rates are a serious issue affecting students all across the U.S. including here in San Diego and Orange County,” said Mark Leslie, vice president, AT&T External Affairs - San Diego. “We’re committed to helping kids succeed by preparing them for tomorrow’s economy. We are pleased with the response we’ve seen to the Aspire program, and look forward to working with these groups to build a brighter future for our youth.”

In addition to the retention program grants, AT&T Aspire will award funding in three other key areas:

• A student job shadowing initiative involving 400,000 AT&T employee hours that will give 100,000 students a firsthand look at the skills they will need to succeed in the 21st century workforce.
• The underwriting of national research that will explore the practitioner perspective (teachers, principals, superintendents, school counselors and school board members) on the high school dropout issue.
• Support for 100 state and community dropout prevention summits, announced earlier this year by America’s Promise Alliance.

Roy Williams runs route to fight world hunger

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Roy Williams announced today that he is joining Pizza Hut and Yum! Brands in a global Hunger Relief effort. Williams issued a challenge to players in three other cities to see who could raise the most money for hunger relief.

“Every six seconds a child dies from hunger somewhere in the world,” said Roy Williams, wide receiver, Dallas Cowboys. “Hearing this fact inspired me to get involved and do something. I’m proud to be a part of the ‘Hunger to Hope’ program and I want to do everything I can to help end hunger.”

“Each of us can make a difference and together we can really make a change,” Williams said. “That’s why I’m challenging three other players to put on a uniform in a Pizza Hut restaurant for just one day to collect donations and see who can collect the most. We’re all competitive guys, so this should get interesting.

Williams and three football opponents will race to accept the most donations on Tuesday, October 21. The players will collect tips and donations from generous patrons at participating Pizza Hut restaurants in their cities. Participating players include:

• Roy Williams, Dallas Cowboys (formerly of the Detroit Lions)
• Mark Clayton, Baltimore Ravens
• Davin Joseph, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
• Chris Spencer, Seattle Seahawks

“We’re honored that Williams has lead the charge with his fellow players to benefit this very worthwhile cause,” said Scott Bergren, Pizza Hut President. “Our goal is to double last year’s record by raising more than one million dollars at Pizza Hut restaurants by the end of this month, and we couldn’t reach it without the generous support of our customers and guys like Roy.”

The player whose city raises the most money as an average per participating restaurant will receive a catered pizza party for their team. All players are receiving pizza and pasta for a year as a thank you from Pizza Hut.

Last year, Williams raised $10,000 for the World Hunger Relief campaign after delivering pizzas for Pizza Hut in Detroit. The wide receiver publicly commented that he didn’t tip pizza delivery drivers as he was unsure of the protocol. Pizza Hut challenged him to walk in the shoes of a driver and Williams graciously obliged raising money for charity in the process.

Pizza Hut participates in World Hunger Relief as a Yum! brand. World Hunger Relief supports the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) and other hunger relief agencies. Nearly 36,000 company and franchised restaurants located in more than 100 countries will be participating, including KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, Long John Silver’s and A&W All-American Food.

This year, Mariah Carey is the Hunger Relief Ambassador with the quote, “The change from hunger to hope starts with you.” Customers who donate to the World Hunger Relief campaign at participating restaurants around the globe will receive a free download of her song, “Love Story” from her newest CD E=MC2.

Funds raised for WFP go directly to the areas of greatest need, feeding poor school children in the developing world and helping villages become self-sustainable. Every U.S. dollar raised during World Hunger Relief 2008 will provide four meals for hungry children all over the world. The company’s employees and franchisees will be volunteering their time around the globe at hunger relief agencies, food banks, soup kitchens and launching fundraisers.

During this year’s World Hunger Relief campaign, Yum! plans to generate the equivalent of nearly $50 million in awareness of the hunger issue through television and print advertising, public service announcements, public relations, web-based communications and in-restaurant posters and signage. In addition, the company is leveraging the power of the internet to reach millions of people through the http://www.fromhungertohope.com website and other online activity.

Yum! and its brands have been committed to fighting hunger for more than a decade by donating more than $46 million of prepared food annually to the underprivileged in the United States. Since the company went public in 1997, it has donated more than $500 million of its food to hunger relief agencies in the U.S.

Gap goes solar

Gap unveiled a one megawatt (MW) solar power system at Gap Inc.’s West Coast distribution center campus. The installation, one of the largest in Northern California, features a ground-mounted solar tracking system on a five-acre site, and is expected to offset 2.5 million pounds of greenhouse gas emissions annually, the equivalent of taking 2,466 vehicles off the road over the life of the project.

“We are very excited this solar power system is now online,” said Kindley Walsh Lawlor, senior director of strategic planning and environmental affairs for Gap Inc. at today’s dedication ceremony. “We made the commitment to host this solar system nearly 15 months ago and are proud to support the clean energy it generates. Over the past decade, Gap Inc. has sought to find better ways to do business and this solar installation is one such shining example.”

MMA Renewable Ventures, which owns and operates the system, joined with Gap Inc. to develop an innovative partnership, leveraging tax credits and incentives, to finance the solar power system. This enables Gap Inc. to buy the power generated from the system through a long-term contract known as a power purchase agreement (PPA) – rather than through a major capital investment. MMA Renewable Ventures owns the renewable energy credits and environmental attributes associated with the system.

“This project demonstrates that solar systems deliver dependable power and long-term cost savings,” said Matt Cheney, CEO of MMA Renewable Ventures. “Gap Inc. joins with several of the country’s top retailers in deploying solar; we commend their visionary commitment to renewable energy systems. By securing power through a power purchase agreement, Gap Inc. will benefit from cost savings from the system’s very first day of operation – and for years to come.”

Designed and installed by SunPower, SunPower(R) Tracker system follows the sun’s movement during the day, increasing sunlight capture by up to 25 percent over conventional fixed-tilt systems, while significantly reducing land use requirements.

“We congratulate Gap Inc. on their decision to convert five acres of unused land on the Fresno campus for the production of clean, renewable solar power,” said Howard Wenger, SunPower’s president, global business units. “High-efficiency SunPower Trackers will maximize the energy production on the site, while an affordable PPA will provide the facility with a hedge against rising utility rates.”

Google offers $10M for ideas that can ‘change the world’

If you could suggest a unique idea that would help as many people as possible, what would it be?

Google has unveiled a bold $10M effort to implement ideas that can “change the world.”  Project 10^100 (that’s “ten to the hundredth”) marks the 10th anniversary of the company and is meant to “celebrate the spirit of Google users and the web.”  All ideas need to be submitted by October 20, 2008.

“We’re launching  a call for ideas that could help as many people as possible, and a program to bring the best of those ideas to life,” says Andy Berndt, Managing Director, Google Creative Lab. “CNN will be covering this project, including profiles of ideas and the people who submit them from around the world.  For a deeper look, follow along at Impact Your World.”

Google noted that the ideas can be big or small, technology-driven or not. But they do have to have a potential positive impact on the world.  As part of the announcement Google provided some examples of projects that fall in line with the spirit of Project 10^100.

What are some examples of ideas we think are cool? A team of just two people are implementing a solution to help the millions of people who laboriously carry on their heads 5-gallon buckets of water for long distances by designing and distributing The Hippo Water Roller (www.hipporoller.org), a relatively inexpensive 24-gallon container that can be easily wheeled on the ground. First Mile Solutions (www.firstmilesolutions.com) is implementing simple but effective ideas for connecting isolated communities in developing countries to the Internet. One plan has communities tacking on Wi-Fi devices to public buses so they can detect and send stored emails and messages as the buses travel through unconnected areas. Google is excited to fund projects that similarly have a big impact.

Google provided the following categories for which it will be considering ideas:

• Community: How can we help connect people, build communities and protect unique cultures?
• Opportunity: How can we help people better provide for themselves and their families?
• Energy: How can we help move the world toward safe, clean, inexpensive energy?
• Environment: How can we help promote a cleaner and more sustainable global ecosystem?
• Health: How can we help individuals lead longer, healthier lives?
• Education: How can we help more people get more access to better education?
• Shelter: How can we help ensure that everyone has a safe place to live?
• Everything else: Sometimes the best ideas don’t fit into any category at all.

Lowes to donate $1M towards Hurricane Ike relief

Lowe’s will donate $1 million to the American Red Cross in response to Hurricane Ike. The donation will help the American Red Cross in its efforts to assist people who have been affected by Ike and other hurricanes this season.

“Millions of families are suffering from Hurricanes Gustav and Ike throughout the Gulf Coast,” said Jeffrey Towers, chief development officer of the American Red Cross. “Our core mission involves providing urgent relief and disaster support for those whose lives and homes have been abruptly thrown into chaos during this active hurricane season. Lowe’s generous donation of $1 million will help the American Red Cross provide shelter, food, and counseling for people in the affected communities. I want to thank Lowe’s for its support of the Red Cross mission.”

In addition to the $1 million contribution, all 1,575 Lowe’s stores nationwide will continue to serve as official cash donation sites to benefit the American Red Cross relief efforts for all the 2008 hurricanes. Lowe’s will match in-store contributions dollar-for-dollar, up to $250,000. Since partnering with the American Red Cross in 1999, Lowe’s has raised more than $17.5 million for disaster relief.

Lowe’s Command Center is working around the clock to obtain the essential products residents need to recover from the storm, and is expediting those products to stores as quickly as possible. Lowe’s team members throughout the impacted region and across the country are working to help customers when they return home, and help relieve affected Lowe’s employees so they may attend to their own homes and families.

Wal-Mart donates $2.5M to Hurricane Ike relief

Responding to the hurricanes that have swept through Louisiana and Texas, Wal-Mart announces today a $2.5 million commitment to assist with relief efforts. The retailer’s commitment - a combination of both cash and merchandise donations - will provide much needed support to those affected by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav.

In addition to continuing product donations, such as water, food, and hygiene products, the contributions announced today will support longtime Wal-Mart partners in the area of disaster response, the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, and Feeding America. The donation will also support the Texas Disaster Relief Fund and Baton Rouge Area Foundation’s efforts in Louisiana and Texas. Each organization will receive a portion of the commitment.

“At Wal-Mart, we work hard to provide support to the communities we serve when they need it most,” said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. “Given the magnitude and the devastation caused by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, it is important that we intensify our relief efforts and help those who have been affected.”

Wal-Mart is also committed to helping to ease the burden for its associates who are dealing with these unforeseen events. To date, the Wal-Mart Foundation has allocated more than $2 million in grants to associates who have sustained significant damage to their homes.

“We are very appreciative of Wal-Mart’s contribution to the American Red Cross, which will help us provide much needed relief to those in need during the 2008 hurricane season,” said Jeffrey Towers, Chief Development Officer of the American Red Cross. “It’s through the generous support of corporations such as Wal-Mart that we are able to assist all of our community members in the midst of natural disasters.”

“Wal-Mart’s contribution to The Salvation Army in this time of need is just another example of the generous support they have provided us throughout the years,” said Major George Hood, National Community Relations Secretary at The Salvation Army. “This donation furthers our ability to provide long-term care and comfort to the individuals and families who have lost so much following these hurricanes, something that is greatly appreciated.”

“We are thrilled to receive this generous donation from the Wal-Mart Foundation. Hurricane Ike has left thousands and thousands of people throughout Texas and Louisiana urgently in need of emergency food, bottled water and other groceries. Our food bank in Houston alone estimates that it will need to provide 500,000 pounds of food and grocery products every day for the next six weeks to meet the need,” said Vicki Escarra, president and CEO of Feeding America. “Meanwhile, Baton Rouge and other areas throughout Louisiana are still reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Gustav. Wal-Mart has come forward with a much-needed financial gift to help make our work possible.”

In addition to support from the Wal-Mart Foundation, yesterday, Wal-Mart committed three tractor trailers and drivers to assist the state of Texas in delivering relief supplies in the affected areas. Wal-Mart’s Health and Wellness division is also assisting with the prescription needs of evacuees at 16 shelters in the Dallas Metroplex, including the Dallas Convention Center, and an additional shelter in Monroe, La.

Wal-Mart has long been recognized as a corporate leader in the area of disaster relief. The company, in 2005, helped the victims of Hurricane Katrina by donating more than $32 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts, which included $2 million in contributions to the Red Cross. Last year, Wal-Mart provided more than $2 million in disaster relief funds to assist with recovery from floods and tornadoes as well as wildfires and winter storms nationwide. Long-standing partnerships with the Red Cross and The Salvation Army have made many of these efforts possible.

For additional information on Wal-Mart’s hurricane relief efforts, visit http://walmartstores.com/CommunityGiving/.

CSRwire

Entergy Charitable Foundation announces $1M in grants

The Entergy Charitable Foundation announced the release of more than $1 million in grants to 68 organizations throughout Entergy’s operating area. The grant awards bring to $3.1 million the amount distributed by the foundation so far in 2008.

Nearly one-third of the funds announced today are earmarked to help rebuild homes in New Orleans. The largest grant, $200,000, is for the Volunteers of America’s Coming Back Home Initiative, which is an effort by private and government groups to create 1,050 housing units for families who lost or had their homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina.

Another $125,000 grant is going to the Louisiana Housing and Community Development Corporation to develop new or rehabilitated housing to be sold to low-to-moderate income individuals or families in New Orleans. The group anticipates building or rehabbing five to 10 homes a year.

“With Entergy’s support, we will have a very positive impact on the lives of our fellow citizens by providing one of the most basic needs and one of the most basic senses of security — a home,” said Timothy Smith, president and CEO of Louisiana Housing and Community Development.

Entergy also gave a $70,000 grant to St. Charles Parish to improve Montz Park and $65,700 to the Central City Renaissance Alliance for its Giant Campus program. Giant Campus is meant to close the “digital divide” by improving computer and job skills for up to 300 participants.

In other areas served by Entergy, an $84,000 grant was awarded to the Arkansas Enterprise Group, a pilot program involving the Southern Good Faith Fund that encourages low- and moderate-income families to save for their children’s higher education by matching their contributions to Arkansas’ existing college-savings program. It is the second $84,000 grant the program has received from the foundation. In addition, grants were received by the Julius Freyhan Foundation of St. Francisville, La.; the Education for Tomorrow Alliance in Conroe, Texas; the Brattleboro Area Drop In Center, Brattleboro, Vt.; and KIPP Delta Inc. of Helena, Ark.

“The Entergy Charitable Foundation’s goals are to invest in programs that help move low-income residents toward self-sufficiency and strengthen the social fabric of the cities and towns we serve,” said Patricia Riddlebarger, Entergy’s director of corporate social responsibility.

The Entergy Charitable Foundation is a private, not-for-profit foundation wholly funded by Entergy Corporation. The foundation’s purpose is to help low-income families and individuals escape poverty by providing them with tools such as education, job training and placement, literacy programs, affordable housing and helping them build assets. The ECF accepts applications three times per year. For more information or to access an application form from the Entergy Charitable Foundation, visit http://www.entergy.com

Entergy Corporation is an integrated energy company engaged primarily in electric power production and retail distribution operations. Entergy owns and operates power plants with approximately 30,000 megawatts of electric generating capacity, and it is the second-largest nuclear generator in the United States. Entergy delivers electricity to 2.7 million utility customers in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas. Entergy has annual revenues of more than $11 billion and approximately 14,300 employees.

Source: CSRWire

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