A Survey of Present Practices and New Directions and New Directions. This report summarizes the information gathered from a survey of representative members of the environmental community. The main purposes of the survey were to assess the present conditions affecting the introduction of new environmental products and innovative technologies into the marketplace, and to determine how the Environmental Technology Evaluation Center (EvTEC) can play an effective role in accelerating this process.

Prepared by the Environmental Technology Evaluation Center (EvTEC), a CERF Service Center. This report presents the findings from a June 1997 Environmental Technology Needs Survey conducted by EvTEC. The survey was developed to help EvTEC gain a better understanding of present practices and procedures in evaluating new products and determine how EvTEC could best respond to the needs of all stakeholders in the environmental community. The survey contained general information questions as well as specialized questions for three groups: users and regulators of environmental products; entrepreneurs who invent, develop, or market new technologies and products; and research institutes and testing labs that carry out product and technology evaluations.

The aim of this thesis is to analyze the role that environmental technology plays in the solution of environmental problems in cities, and discuss models and conditions that can facilitate the processes of selection, implementation and use of environmental technologies in and by cities. The technological component is perhaps one of the most important characteristics of modern cities. The dependence of humans on technology is in most cases a given, something that is not ignored in the sustainability debate. The development and implementation of new, “better” technologies is however hindered by the inertia that modern societies have and the influence of the dominant systems (e.g. economic systems based on growth, extraction of natural resources and environmental disturbance). So-called environmental technologies are not always able to efficiently compete against other technologies that are embedded in societies by lock-in mechanisms, e.g. learning by doing and using, scale economies, subsidies, and network externalities. Even with the “right” technologies, an exclusively techno-centered approach to sustainability can result in other problems, and it might reduce the sustainability debate and the cities’ role in it to discussions of an administrative nature. The actual role of local actors and their agency must be also considered in the models and frameworks directed at understanding sustainability transition processes. It is thus important to analyze the dynamics of technology selection, implementation, use and diffusion in cities from a stakeholders’ perspective as well. Not only is the availability of technology of interest for understanding the impact it has on the environment, but also the intensity of its use. This has resulted in increased attention from politicians and scholars on the so-called global cities (e.g. London, New York, Tokyo), which are characterized by their intense use of e.g. transport, security and surveillance, and information and communication. Paradigmatic models of sustainability can however be contested when the role of local actors, power and agency are considered in detail and not isolated from the context. Some authors recognize the need to address what they call “ordinary cities”, since focusing on the cities’ comparative level of development (be it political, economic or technological) hinders the possibility of bidirectional learning. In the end, sustainability is a “collective good,” which means that it is in everyone’s interest to coordinate efforts and learn from the best practices, regardless of where they come from. This thesis focuses on “ordinary cities,” and promises to offer conclusions that can contribute to a better understanding of how societies can learn from each other and how environmental technologies can have deeper and better results when implemented in different contexts than the ones where they were developed. Two questions related to the process of environmental-technology adaptation are addressed in this thesis: How do technology adaptation processes for the solution of urban environmental problems take place in cities? And how do cities benefit from environmental technologies? It is found that environmental technology is not only seen as a solution to environmental problems in cities, but every day more as a component of strategies to attract attention and compete for resources in national and international markets. Cities have different adaptation and learning strategies. This means that technological solutions have to be flexible and adaptive to local conditions, and allow for vernacular knowledge and past experiences to enrich their performance by facilitating their connection to existing systems. Learning between cities is important and necessary for global sustainability transitions. When it comes to environmental technology, this process is facilitated by strong proof-of-concept projects. Such projects are not only expected to be able to show their technical ability to solve a problem, but must also offer contextual connections to the problems faced by interested cities or potential implementers.

Addressing climate change is essential and possible, and it offers a host of benefits - from better public health to new economic opportunities. The United States has a historic opportunity to lead the way in decarbonization by transforming its current energy system to one with net-zero emissions of carbon dioxide. Recent legislation has set the nation on the path to reach its goal of net zero by 2050 in order to avoid the worst consequences of climate change. However, even if implemented as designed, current policy will get the United States only part of the way to its net-zero goal. Accelerating Decarbonization in the United States provides a comprehensive set of actionable recommendations to help policymakers achieve a just and equitable energy transition over the next decade and beyond, including policy, technology, and societal dimensions. This report addresses federal and subnational policy needs to overcome implementation barriers and gaps with a focus on energy justice, workforce development, public health, and public engagement. The report also presents a suite of recommendations for the electricity, transportation, built environment, industrial, fossil fuels, land use, and finance sectors.

Prepared by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center, a CERF service center. This report presents the results of a HITEC evaluation of the Isogrid Retaining Wall System, designed and developed by the Neel Company. The report describes the basic capabilities and limitations of the Isogrid System for use as a technically viable precast, mechanically stabilized earth retaining wall system. The evaluation was conducted based on material, design, construction, performance, and quality assurance information outlined in the HITEC Protocol. The Isogrid System features a diamond-shaped, segmental precast concrete facing panel with weep holes where four panels intersect and welded wire, grid-type soil reinforcement attached to the center of each facing panel.

Prepared by the Highway Innovative Technology Evaluation Center (HITEC), a CERF Service Center. This report summarizes the results of a detailedØevaluation of a viscous damper,Ømanufactured by Enidine, Inc. The report is part of a program to test the performance of 11 seismic isolators and dampers produced by several manufacturers. The devicesØwere tested for stability, response during earthquake simulations, and fatigue and weathering effects.

The Dept. of Energy (DOE) has made great progress in accelerating the pace of cleanup over the past few years, and current estimates show that 80% of the Environmental Management site cleanups will be completed by the year 2021. These changes reflect a more focused technical baseline -- oriented towards results and fueled by performance-based contracts -- and a fundamental change in strategy, which involves: addressing urgent risks first; stabilizing sites; investing in technology development and basic science; reducing mortgage costs; and basing decisions on future land use considerations.