green technology

Schools Going Green Big-Time

Superintendent Michael J. Martirano checks sedum growing in trays on the outdoor roof environmental lab of Evergreen Elementary School. The plants help to reduce heat absorbtion and run-off of rainwater over a portiton of the school. (Baltimore Sun photo by Kim Hairston / September 3, 2009)

CALIFORNIA, Md. - Approaching Evergreen Elementary, it's clear right away that there's something different about this new school. A pair of silo-like structures squats in front of the two-story brick building - cisterns storing rainwater for flushing the toilets. Then there are the cactuses and other plants growing atop the entrance canopy - put there to soak up more rain.

Will America Lose the Clean-Energy Race?

As Congress debates climate and energy legislation, Asian challengers are moving rapidly to win the clean-energy race. China alone is reportedly investing $440 billion to $660 billion in its clean-energy industries over 10 years. South Korea is investing a full 2 percent of its gross domestic product in a Green New Deal. And Japan is redoubling incentives for solar, aiming for a 20-fold expansion in installed solar energy by 2020.

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