Carbon-Neutral Urban Block; Pedal-powered Christmas tree; Best Practices for Connecting Renewables to the Grid; First zero-energy neighborhood; CP Rail tests animal-fat, vegetable-oil biodiesel

Dallas Creating a Carbon-Neutral Urban Block Dallas aims to take a vacant inner-city block behind City Hall and transform it into a carbon-neutral, sustainable community. Dubbed “Forwarding Dallas,” the city block aims to run off the grid.

Pedal-powered Christmas tree lights Copenhagen When you’re the host city for international climate change negotiations, using energy-efficient LED lights on the Christmas tree apparently isn’t enough.

Best Practices for Connecting Renewables to the Grid “Freeing the Grid,” which was written by renewables advocates, examines each state’s policies on net metering and interconnection procedures. Those are two of the main regulatory elements that enable homeowners and businesses to connect solar panels or other energy technologies to the electric grid, and be reimbursed for their efforts.

First zero-energy neighborhood takes root in Boulder “This” is a zero-energy home. It’s a house built with less lumber and more insulation; with recycled countertops and bamboo cabinets; with a geothermal system and a 10-kilowatt solar array. And it’s built in what will become the first zero-energy neighborhood in Boulder, and likely, one of the first in the country.

CP Rail tests animal-fat, vegetable-oil biodiesel nimal fat, restaurant grease and vegetable oil will help power four Canadian Pacific Railway locomotives this winter to test if biodiesel fuel can stand up to a harsh Canadian winter.