NUVO: Environment

Hoosier honeybees essential for future of food

Katherine Coplen — Sun, 23 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0400

Local beekeepers share the benefits of bees, as well as the threats that loom for them. by Katherine Coplen Our bees are pulling a disappearing act. The question scientists, beekeepers, even the United Nations are trying to answer is why.…

Politicians in praise of coal

Rebecca Townsend — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 13:00:00 -0400

In a letter complaining about a new EPA attempt to regulate greenhouse gases, Indiana politicians discussed the low fuel costs Indiana's coal dependency enables and the industry's economic impact - not including externalities associated with climate change or other environmental or health-related impacts. by Rebecca Townsend In a letter to President Obama last week, the majority of Indiana's Congressional Delegation joined forces to express "concern about the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) plans to issue greenhouse gas new source performance standards for new fossil fuel-based electric generating sources." Both of the state's U.S. senators - Dan Coats and Joe Donnelly - signed the letter, along with seven of its nine representatives.…

2013 CVAs: Indy Urban Acres

Jordan Martich — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Indy Urban Acres is promoting a healthy lifestyle and educating kids, while providing fresh produce to food banks throughout the city. by Jordan Martich Editors note: A ceremony to honor all 2013 CVA honorees will take place at Indiana Landmarks Center, Friday, starting at 6 p.m. with a reception. The ceremony will begin at 7:15 p.m. and is free and open to the public.…

2013 CVAs: Eskenazi Health

David Hoppe — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Indy's newest Hospital, Eskenazi Health, is building on the same approach as the city's oldest hospital, Wishard, but it will be a leader in the nation regarding its sustainability practices. by David Hoppe Editors note: A ceremony to honor all 2013 CVA honorees will take place at Indiana Landmarks Center, Friday, starting at 6 p.m. with a reception. The ceremony will begin at 7:15 p.m. and is free and open to the public.…

2013 CVAs: The Indianapolis Cultural Trail: A Legacy of Gene and Marilyn Glick

David Hoppe — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 04:00:00 -0400

The Indianapolis Cultural Trail serves as more than just a connector, it has become a place to see the beauty of Indy's landscape. by David Hoppe Editors note: A ceremony to honor all 2013 CVA honorees will take place at Indiana Landmarks Center, Friday, starting at 6 p.m. with a reception. The ceremony will begin at 7:15 p.m. and is free and open to the public.…

More than 150 rally to move IPL beyond coal

Aiste Manfredini — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 11:00:00 -0400

Hoosiers protest IPL's Harding Street Coal coal-fired power plant by spelling out "Beyond Coal." by Aiste Manfredini More than 150 people braved stormy weather downtown Indianapolis Saturday morning to call on Indianapolis Power & Light (IPL) to retire its aging Harding Street coal-fired power plant and invest in renewable energy and energy efficiency. Leaders from the Sierra Club, NAACP, Hoosier Interfaith Power & Light, and Citizens Action Coalition unveiled a new letter to IPL CEO, Ken Zagzebski, demanding that IPL move Indianapolis beyond coal.…

Food ethics with clergy farmer and Purdue prof

Hannah Leyva — Thu, 23 May 2013 16:00:00 -0400

The speakers agreed that "ethical food" is produced with respect for both nature and humanity and consumed with gratitude and appreciation of its origins. by Hannah Leyva During a recent exploration of food ethics, two speakers - one native to Africa the other from Indiana - agreed that "ethical food" is produced with respect for both nature and humanity and consumed with gratitude and appreciation of its origins. At a small gathering at Euphoria Events on a recent Sunday afternoon, a group of about 20 people, some of whom drove to Downtown Indianapolis from as far away as Chicago, were treated to light appetizers as they listened to Rev. Jeff Hawkins and Dr. Gebisa Ejeta explore food ethics.…

Butler's Center for Urban Ecology

Julianna Thibodeaux — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

CUE's underlying goal is connecting nature to people - with the belief that we have the capability to come up with brilliant solutions to the problems we have created for the environment. by Julianna Thibodeaux Behind the main campus of Butler University, down a steep set of stairs and over a bridge spanning the canal, the university's past and future lie side by side. To the left is what appears to be an overgrown field, although the golden flowers and grasses now in abundance suggest something sweeter than abandonment: It's the Butler University Prairie, proclaimed by a sturdy wooden sign to have been established in 1987 by the Holcomb Research Institute and the university.…

Eskenazi Health: the country's greenest hospital

David Hoppe — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 14:15:00 -0400

Matt Gutwein, president and CEO of Marion County's Health and Hospital Corporation, is the man behind this new, bold hospital by David Hoppe "Wishard only exists because the people of Indianapolis want it to exist," says Matt Gutwein, the president and CEO of Marion County's Health and Hospital Corporation. Soft-spoken and slender, eyes bright behind the dark frames of his glasses, Gutwein is widely credited with presiding over an institutional turnaround of truly epic proportions.…

Julia Butterfly Hill at Serendipity Fest

Jim Poyser — Wed, 17 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Hill, perhaps best known for her two years living in a tree in the California Redwoods is the keynote speaker at the upcoming Serendipity Festival, April 26-28. by Jim Poyser It's been years since I first met Julia Butterfly Hill, yet I remember it with great clarity. A couple dozen of us were invited to Keep Indianapolis Beautiful for lunch to meet with Hill, perhaps best known for her two years living in a tree in the California Redwoods to prevent it — and others — from being cut down.…

A template for sustainable building

Jordan Martich — Fri, 05 Apr 2013 11:55:00 -0400

Green Path Home's Elm Street Renovation project, which adheres to LEED Platinum guidelines for sustainable building practices, opens its doors tonight to First Friday-ers. by Jordan Martich To demonstrate the extent of green building possibilities in Indianapolis, Green Path Homes will be displaying the Elm Street Renovation project in Fountain Square as part of this month's First Friday events, from 5 to 8 p.m. Though the project won't be finished until the end of April, you can learn about the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum process that's been used in renovating the house to demonstrate sustainable building practices to the Indianapolis community.…

Free webinars on energy issues

Jordan Martich — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 16:00:00 -0400

The U.S. Department of Energy will host two free live webinars on Wednesday, April 3. by Jordan Martich The U.S. Department of Energy will host two, free live webinars on Wednesday, April 3, which focus on the future of energy on a state and federal level. Register to participate in the webinars here.…

A do (not think) tank: People for Urban Progress

Scott Shoger — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 12:00:00 -0400

A project-by-project anatomy of People for Urban Progress, from PUPstops to DOME bags, People's Guides to car shares, ahead of their edition of the idea-pitching event 5x5. by Scott Shoger Walking into some galleries, offices or rooms of curiosities at the Murphy Art Center on a First Friday can feel like crashing an exclusive party; one can only swipe some brie and hightail it to the next room to save face. Such isn't the case with People for Urban Progress, a "do" tank (not think tank) devoted to making Indy a better place to live by seeing through (not thinking through) projects that each address at least two of three key concerns: transit, environment and design.…