Air Fresheners, Cleaners
Can Pollute Homes

A surprising study suggests many common household chemicals, such as plug-in air fresheners and cleaning products, may provide a source of air pollution in the home. Berkeley Lab researchers found that some products released unhealthy chemicals or toxic compounds. This is one of the first studies to look at air pollutants in the home. Go here to view a video segment with ABC-KGO's Dean Edell and Lab environmental energy technologists William Nazaroff and Brett Singer on this topic. Other Lab scientists contributing to this research include Al Hodgson, Hugo Destaillats, and Melissa Lunden, all with EETD. The New York Times also ran a story on the study.

Data Centers' Growing
Power Demands

Koomey

Secretary Bodman Lauds
BP Biofuels Partnership

Bodman

In a keynote address last Wednesday at the Global Energy & Gas Day conference, Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman called the new BP biofuels partnership, which includes Berkeley Lab, “a truly game-changing type of investment not only because of the scale of the funding, but because of its approach.  Corporate money will fund university researchers at a federally-supported laboratory to produce innovative research.” The key to unlocking our energy future, he added, is “ensuring that the innovation cycle continues at a rapid pace.” Go here to read a transcript of his comments.

Chu Lecture Tomorrow
At AAAS Open to Public

Lab Director Chu

A plenary lecture at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) to be given tomorrow by Berkeley Lab Director Steve Chu will be open to the public. His talk, entitled "The Energy Problem and What We Can Do to Solve It," will begin at 6:30 p.m. in San Francisco's Hilton Hotel (333 O'Farrell St.) in Continental Ballroom 4-6. Chu will also be participating in one of the AAAS symposia tomorrow from 8 to 9:30 a.m. in the Renaissance Parc 55 Hotel, on the subject "Domestic Bioenergy: Weaning Ourselves from Foreign Oil Addiction."

Lab Deputy Talks Energy With S.F.’s Literati
By David Gilbert

Fleming

What does a Ferrari screaming through the cobbled streets of Paris at 140 miles per hour, NASCAR poetry, a monologue in Pidgin English about Nigerian oil and politics, parking in New York’s Chinatown, a pop-rap rendition of Dr. Seuss’ Go, Dog, Go! and Berkeley Lab’s bioenergy vision have in common? Deputy Director Graham Fleming found out as an invited “performer” in the eclectic happening entitled “Grotto Nights: Driving Obsession.” Read about Fleming’s evening with the literati here.

Facilities Division Solicits Employee Input

The Facilities Division invites all Lab employees to share their comments and suggestions on the many services offered by the Division. "We're making every effort to provide the Lab with effective and efficient engineering, construction, and maintenance support, as well as services such as bus and fleet management, mail distribution, and cafeteria services," said Interim Facilities Division Director Sandy Merola. "Feedback from staff, along with input from Division Directors and Associate Lab Directors, will help us make further improvements." In the near future, Facilities' Work Request Center will have a feedback component added. Employees with Facilities-related questions or comments can e-mail [email protected], which provides direct access to Facilities Division management. "We will ensure these e-mails are answered in a timely manner,” said Merola.