For Green's Sake

Green Seal

2007-09-23T09:35:14-07:00

Founded in 1989, Green Seal provides science-based environmental certification standards that are credible, transparent, and essential in an increasingly educated and competitive marketplace. Our industry knowledge and standards help manufacturers, purchasers, and end users alike make responsible choices that positively impact business behavior and improve quality of life.

A 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization, Green Seal issued its first environmental standards in 1991-2, and the first product certifications were completed in 1992. Hundreds of products and services from major companies such as 3M, Benjamin Moore, and Andersen Windows have now been certified to meet Green Seal standards, and the number of major product categories covered by standards has increased to more than 40.

Today, we have established a significant market among large institutional purchasers, including government agencies, universities, and the lodging and architectural building industries. We actively advise and assist these institutions and industry sectors in their efforts to green their purchasing, operations, and facilities management functions.

Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain. We utilize a life-cycle approach, which means we evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including on-site plant visits. Green Seal's specific programs include:

Standards and Certification — development of environmental leadership standards for specific product categories and certification of products and services that meet them
Greening Your Government — technical assistance to all levels of government in their purchasing, operations, and facilities management
Choose Green Reports — technical reports on products in a variety of categories giving specific brand recommendations of those that meet screening criteria
Greening the Lodging Industry — long-term project with hotels and motels to green their operations and purchasing, including certification of specific properties
Policy — leadership in green procurement policy (product recommendations), international policy for ecolabeling, etc.

Green Seal's standard-setting process is open, collaborative, fair, and completely transparent. We don't develop our standards in an ivory tower. We have many built-in checks that ensure we are unbiased, realistic, and that the products we certify reach high levels of performance and quality. Learn more about how we certify products.

Green Seal develops its standards with widespread input from industry, government, academia, and the public.
A new standard is broadly circulated for review and comment to a diverse group of stakeholders, including manufacturers, trade associations, universities, environmental and consumer groups, government officials, and the public.
When the final standard is published, we provide a written response to all the comments received, and open the standard to a formal appeal.
We periodically review and update our standards to reflect advances in technology and the marketplace.

Green Seal depends on public support to maintain the highest quality service and standards. We welcome contributions from individuals and institutions. Call 202-872-6400 to find out how you can make a donation, or click here.

Source: Greenseal Website

Earthship Biotechture Creates Environmentaly Friendly Homes

2007-07-07T14:54:00-07:00

source: Earthship Biotechture

I happened to walk in today and catch a spot on the Weather Channel on a company called Earthship Biotechture. It immediately caught my attention so I went online to find out more about it. What follows is from the company's Web site.

Earthship Biotecture, based in Taos, NM, USA is a global company offering proven, totally sustainable designs, construction drawings & details, products, educational materials, lectures / presentations, consultation & guidance toward getting people in sustainable housing. From single family to colony / community / city complexes.

The Earthship is a completely independent globally oriented dwelling unit made from materials that are indigenous to the entire planet and designed to reduce our impact on the planet and increase our connection to it.

Photo Credit: Earthship.net

The Earthship utilizes recycled and low embodied energy materials, passive solar heating and cooling, photovoltaic power system, catchwater, solar hot water, gray water and black water treatment systems.

They offer consultation services for answering any questions you may have regarding your site, whether or how Earthships would work in your climate, code questions, how to get started, plan or systems recommendations, retrofit questions, detail questions, etc.

Earthship Systems

Water

Earthships catch water from the sky (rain & snow melt) and uses it four times. Water is heated from the sun and/or natural gas. Earthships can have city water as backup. Earthships do not pollute underground water aquifers.

Water is caught from the roof. The roof must be a potable surface. From the roof, the water is channeled through silt catches into cisterns. Cisterns are sized to the local climate and are best buried and completely protected from the sun. The cisterns gravity feed a Water Organizing Module with a pump and filter. The pump pushes the water into a pressure tank to supply code required water pressure. The filters clean the water for consumption and cleaning.

Use & Re-use

Water is used in a conventional way such as bathing or washing dishes, except for the toilet. The water is used and cleaned a second time in interior botanical cells. The flush toilet is the third use of the water. After the toilet, the water is contained and treated, and used a fourth time in exterior botanical cells.

Hot Water

Water is heated with the sun and natural gas. The sun heats the water and the natural gas water-heater only turns on if the water is not hot enough. This is called "gas-on-demand" water heating.

The path of water in an Earthship:

Water is caught from roof catchment systems and channeled via silt catches into cisterns.
Cisterns gravity feed a DC pump and filter panels (WOM).
A Pump and filter panel (WOM) pushes water into a pressure tank and conventional household water pressure is the result.
The Toilet is separated from drainage system of all other household plumbing fixtures.
Water is used in a conventional way such as bathing or washing dishes.
Next, this water is then drained into linear biologically developed interior greywater treatment and containment systems.

We live in a time when many parts of our planet are experiencing water shortages. The volume of water on this planet is finite while human population increases. As we gauge the depletion of our aquifers and the increase in population, we are able to predict serious water shortages in the near future.

We must begin now... learning to harvest water in each individual home. We must use this water many times before putting it back into the earth. When we do put it back, it must be in a form that works with existing nurturing forces and phenomena of the earth.

To further compound the water problem on this planet, we have polluted and contaminated most of our easily accessible surface waters and are beginning to contaminate the more difficult to access aquifers beneath the surface of the our planet. This contamination happens because of the way conventional sewage systems operate.

Electricity

Earthships produce their own electricity with a prepackaged photovoltaic / wind power system. This energy is stored in batteries and supplied to your electrical outlets. Earthships can have multiple sources of power, all automated, including grid-intertie.

Getting Electricity

Electrical energy is "harvested" from the sun and the wind. Photovoltaic panels convert the sun's energy into DC current electricity and is stored in "golf-cart" type batteries. An Earthship Power Organizing Module draws the electricity from the batteries, inverts some of it for AC electricity and supplies it to the home. The POM can accept electricity from a gasoline generator, intertie with the city energy grid, etc.

Use

Washing machines, computers, kitchen appliances, print machines, vacuums, etc. can be used normally. No electricity is required for heating & cooling.

We advise small, medium or large pre-packaged power systems. Customization of power systems can be an expensive up front cost. Pre-Packaged Earthship Power Systems for your home can be shipped globally.

Power Organizing Module (POM)

A self contained organizer and distributor of electricity. It is available as a user friendly factory assembled unit that is simply screwed on your wall, your local electrician conventionally wires your house to this unit. It takes the custom design and unlimited expense out of renewable energy residential electrical systems.

Why the POM?

Your electrician wires your house absolutely conventionally to code as if it were connected to the grid. The electrician wires the house to conventional circuit breaker panels that are built into the POM. The POM concept is cheaper overall, easier to install and presents more proven reliability than any custom assemblage of solar components you can find and have installed. It is revolutionary in design, function and organization of solar/wind energy for household or business use.

There are many components, gadgets and aspects involved in receiving energy from the sun and wind and getting it to your electrical appliances. Currently these components are purchased individually by you or your power technician and custom designed and assembled for your specific situation. This is very expensive and the result is your very own one of a kind solar electrical system. Since it is one of a kind, it is very possible that is will have glitches, bugs and unforeseen design faults in addition to being very expensive.

The Power Organizing Module (POM) is not one of a kind. They are mass produced and used over and over again in a variety of climatic situation. Glitches, bugs and custom design faults have long since been evolved out. Since the POM has been used all over the USA, we know what various code require. These aspects and components are built into the POM. Since it is mass produced in the factory, it is very economical and efficient. The POM leaves your local electrician with nothing to do that involves solar/wind energy designs.

Sewage

Earthships contain use and reuse all household sewage in indoor and outdoor treatment cells resulting in food production and landscaping with no pollution of aquifers. Toilets flush with greywater that does not smell.

The concept used for containment, treatment and distribution of sewage-water is based on and draws information from the wetlands concept which has long been used in exterior applications for thousands of years by humans and nature.

The Earthship sewage system differs from the wetlands approach in that it primarily treats the greywater inside the building and the sewage from the toilet outside of the building, both in smaller areas. Greywater is the used water after all receptacles except the toilet.

All household sewage is used & reused in the interior and exterior planters, called botanical cells.

Use & Re-use

Water is used to carry away our household sewage in a conventional way such as bathing, washing dishes and for the toilet. The sewage-water, also called greywater, is used and cleaned for a second time in interior botanical cells. The flush toilet is the third use of the water. After the toilet, the water is contained and treated, and used a fourth time in exterior botanical cells.

Interior Botanical Cell

The Earthship greywater system has been researched and developed by Earthship Biotecture for over 20 years. This system allows for the need of far less water than is conventionally assumed.

Exterior Botanical Cell

The effort to contain the outdoor system rather than letting it leach into the earth is much more realistic and manageable because of its lower volume. It should also be noted that one or many more contained cells can be added to the outdoor system if necessary. This simply adds to the controlled landscaping of the home.

The objective is to eliminate the need for public sewage systems and un-contained septic systems that pollute the earth, while getting multiple uses out of all water collected in the catchwater systems.

For the purpose of satisfying convention, the Earthship Sewage system is set up (via valving) to flow entirely into the conventional septic tank and on to a conventional leach-field. The Earthship water system is not, therefore, in place of but in addition to convention.

Comfort

Earthships maintain comfortable temperatures in any climate. The planet Earth is a thermally stabilizing mass that delivers temperature without wire or pipes. The sun is a nuclear power plant that also delivers without wires or pipes.

Different climates around the world require different designs for the home to interact with these two sources of temperature.
The outer few feet of the earth heat up and cool off in response to surface weather. However, deeper in the earth, about four feet and beyond, the temperature is more constant (around 58 degrees). Here, the earth can be used to both cool and stabilize temperature if the home is appropriately designed.

Earthships are thermal mass homes first, passive solar homes second. Therefore, the layout and design of the Earthship can be completely customized to look like any conventional home, and still be sustainable.
The "generic" earthship designs are what works the best, both in terms of economics and energy efficiency.
Because of the way Earthships interact with the sun and the earth, little to no fossil fuels are required to maintain a comfortable, stable temperature in any climate.

Warmth

If you want heat, you admit the sun. The sun heats the mass, the mass stores the heat and the insulation won't let it escape. The more mass, the more storage capacity. When there is no sun, the heat stored in the mass radiates into the space, for heat travels to the cooler direction.

Coolness

If you want coolness, you admit the cooler earth temperature and block the sun. The cool mass of the earth connects with the mass of the shelter, is absorbed into the shelter mass and leaks into the living space. This is like hooking a big battery (the earth) up to a smaller battery (the shelter). The thermal mass of both the earth and shelter is a storage battery for temperature.

Insulation & Thermal Mass

In recent years humans have recognized the fact that insulation can help keep temperature in a shelter. Insulation, however, neither collects nor stores temperature. It simply blocks the passage of temperature from inside to out and visa versa.

Good insulation has millions of tiny air spaces. The presence of air spaces tends to slow up the movement of temperature by causing it to pass from air space to air space as opposed to moving easily through unobstructed dense mass.

Dense mass both collects and stores temperature like a jar holds marbles. Examples of dense mass are stone, water, compacted earth, or concrete. There is a major difference between mass and insulation and this difference is not very clearly understood. Dense means no voids or air spaces. The more dense the mass the more temperature it holds. This density actually acts as a conduit for temperature.

The people made shelter by assembling pieces one at a time. They put pieces together around themselves not upon themselves Soon they had created shelter around themselves They were in shelter The people also found happiness by manifesting it piece at a time They manifest happiness all around themselves not for themselves Soon they had created happiness all around themselves They were in happiness Both shelter and happiness can be achieved by focusing outside of self.

For more information on how Earthship Biotechture can help you build a sustainable home contact:

Earthship Biotecture / PO Box 1041 / Taos, NM 87571
505-751-0462 (questions) 1-(800)-841-9249 (store) 02079934859 (europe)
biotecture@earthship.org / www.earthship.org

Enjoying a Green 4th of July

2007-07-01T14:43:00-07:00

Here is an article from The Green Office Blog on trying to make your 4th of July a Green one:

With a globally warm summer already upon us and Independence Day just around the corner, the question on a lot of people’s minds is: how in the world am I going to have a “sustainable” Fourth of July? For a holiday steeped in the traditions of grilled meat and over-the-top pyrotechnic displays, is such a thing even possible?

We think it is, and to that end we’ve compiled a list of five easy steps you can take to make your red, white, and blue just a little bit greener.

Step 1 : Eat sustainably

What is sustainable eating? It’s a combination of a lot of things, but from an environmental perspective, the idea is to avoid foods that have been:

Raised on factory farms, with highly toxic chemical and waste runoff;
Transported hundreds of miles to get to your table; and
Manufactured or distributed by environmentally irresponsible companies.

There are, of course, a host of other factors to consider on your next trip to the grocery store, many of which are covered in depth at websites like Food First and The Center For Informed Food Choices, but these are the big environmental ones.

Step 2 : Green your barbecue

As a sometime backyard griller, I’ve always wondered about the relative environmental impact of charcoal vs. propane. Now I know.
In order of greenness, your best bets are:

Sustainably forested or produced charcoal, like Wicked Good Charcoal, which is made from “reclaimed” industrial woodscraps, or Kingsford Charwood, which is initially charred using the heat from a cogeneration turbine;
Propane, which is a distant second because of its oilfield origins, but nevertheless has ~1/3 the emissions of charcoal per BTU at time of burning;
Non-sustainably produced briquettes, which are often held together with petroleum-based adhesives.

Step 3 : Use biodegradable picnicware

This is a shameless plug for our petroleum-free, biodegradable picnicware, but it’s shameless because this stuff is so amazingly good for the environment. When going reusable just isn’t feasible, there’s a whole new generation of plates, bowls, cups, and utensils that are made entirely out of vegetable starch and 100% compostable, and they’re affordable enough to fit even the tiniest entertainment budget. These things seriously blow my mind every time I see them.

Step 4 : Cut back on the fireworks

Fireworks are a conundrum, because they’re such an integral part of the July 4th holiday, yet they’re really just inexcusably awful for the environment.

Our advice is to leave the backyard explosives at the supermarket and get your high-decibel jollies at something far less toxic, like one of the many concerts surely happening in your town.

As for the big aerial shows that happen no matter what, it’s too late for 2007, but you can still talk to whoever’s in charge of planning next year’s display and encourage them to pick a vendor using Sekon biodegradable fireworks and (no joke) Walt Disney gunpowder-free “air launch” technology. You’d be surprised how receptive event organizers can be.

Step 5 : Celebrate your Independence!

At the end of the day, July 4th is about celebrating American independence. And it can be easy to forget that independence isn’t an event, so much as an ongoing process. America remains the land of the free, but if you look closely, there’s a surprising number of shackles we the people still need to shake off, chief among them energy dependency.

There’s a new energy bill coming together in Congress, and our lawmakers need to hear from all of us.

Take ten minutes to familiarize yourself with the issues here, here, and here, then another ten minutes to send your representative a quick email of support, condemnation, motivational pictures of singing cat-loaves, or whatever, just to let them know that their constituents are alive and well and counting on them to vote responsibly.

For extra credit, you can jump on this project over at The Oil Drum.

We hope you found this helpful, and would love to know if you have any other tips or ideas for a green Fourth of July. Happy Independence Day from TheGreenOffice.com!

Climate Change

2007-06-29T10:05:42-07:00

Source: Environmental Protection Agency

The Earth's climate has changed many times during the planet's history, with events ranging from ice ages to long periods of warmth. Historically, natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and the amount of energy released from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate. Beginning late in the 18th century, human activities associated with the Industrial Revolution have also changed the composition of the atmosphere and therefore likely are influencing the Earth's climate.

Science
For over the past 200 years, the burning of fossil fuels, such as coal and oil, and deforestation have caused the concentrations of heat-trapping "greenhouse gases" to increase significantly in our atmosphere. These gases prevent heat from escaping to space, somewhat like the glass panels of a greenhouse.

Greenhouse gases are necessary to life as we know it, because they keep the planet's surface warmer than it otherwise would be. But, as the concentrations of these gases continue to increase in the atmosphere, the Earth's temperature is climbing above past levels. According to NOAA and NASA data, the Earth's average surface temperature has increased by about 1.2 to 1.4ºF since 1900. The warmest global average temperatures on record have all occurred within the past 15 years, with the warmest two years being 1998 and 2005. Most of the warming in recent decades is likely the result of human activities. Other aspects of the climate are also changing such as rainfall patterns, snow and ice cover, and sea level.

If greenhouse gases continue to increase, climate models predict that the average temperature at the Earth's surface could increase from 2.5 to 10.4ºF above 1990 levels by the end of this century. Scientists are certain that human activities are changing the composition of the atmosphere, and that increasing the concentration of greenhouse gases will change the planet's climate. But they are not sure by how much it will change, at what rate it will change, or what the exact effects will be. See the Science and Health and Environmental Effects sections of the EPA Web site for more detail.

U.S. Climate Policy
The United States government has established a comprehensive policy to address climate change. This policy has three basic components:

Slowing the growth of emissions
Strengthening science, technology and institutions
Enhancing international cooperation

To implement its climate policy, the Federal government is using voluntary and incentive-based programs to reduce emissions and has established programs to promote climate technology and science. This strategy incorporates know-how from many federal agencies and harnesses the power of the private sector.

In February 2002, the United States announced a comprehensive strategy to reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of the American economy by 18 percent over the 10-year period from 2002 to 2012. Greenhouse gas intensity is a measurement of greenhouse gas emissions per unit of economic activity. Meeting this commitment will prevent the release of more than 100 million metric tons of carbon-equivalent emissions to the atmosphere (annually) by 2012 and more than 500 million metric tons (cumulatively) between 2002 and 2012.

EPA plays a significant role in helping the Federal government reach the United States' intensity goal. EPA has many current and near-term initiatives that encourage voluntary reductions from a variety of stakeholders. Initiatives, such as ENERGY STAR, Climate Leaders, and our Methane Voluntary Programs, encourage emission reductions from large corporations, consumers, industrial and commercial buildings, and many major industrial sectors. For details on these and other initiatives as well as other aspects of U.S. policy, visit the U.S. Climate Policy section of the EPA Web site.

Greenhouse Gas Emissions
In the U.S., our energy-related activities account for three-quarters of our human-generated greenhouse gas emissions, mostly in the form of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels. More than half the energy-related emissions come from large stationary sources such as power plants, while about a third comes from transportation. Industrial processes (such as the production of cement, steel, and aluminum), agriculture, forestry, other land use, and waste management are also important sources of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States.

For a better understanding of where greenhouse gas emissions come from, governments at the federal, state and local levels prepare emissions inventories, which track emissions from various parts of the economy such as transportation, electricity production, industry, agriculture, forestry, and other sectors. EPA publishes the official national inventory of US greenhouse gas emissions, and the latest greenhouse gas inventory shows that in 2005 the U.S. emitted over 7.2 billon metric tons of greenhouse gases (a million metric tons of CO2 equivalents (MMTCO2e) is roughly equal to the annual GHG emissions of an average U.S. power plant.) Visit the Emissions section of the EPA site to learn more.

Health and Environmental Effects
Climate change affects people, plants, and animals. Scientists are working to better understand future climate change and how the effects will vary by region and over time.

Scientists have observed that some changes are already occurring. Observed effects include sea level rise, shrinking glaciers, changes in the range and distribution of plants and animals, trees blooming earlier, lengthening of growing seasons, ice on rivers and lakes freezing later and breaking up earlier, and thawing of permafrost. Another key issue being studied is how societies and the Earth's environment will adapt to or cope with climate change.

In the United States, scientists believe that most areas will to continue to warm, although some will likely warm more than others. It remains very difficult to predict which parts of the country will become wetter or drier, but scientists generally expect increased precipitation and evaporation, and drier soil in the middle parts of the country. Northern regions such as Alaska are expected to experience the most warming. In fact, Alaska has been experiencing significant changes in climate in recent years that may be at least partly related to human caused global climate change.

Human health can be affected directly and indirectly by climate change in part through extreme periods of heat and cold, storms, and climate-sensitive diseases such as malaria, and smog episodes. For more information on these and other environmental effects, please visit the Health and Environmental Effects section of this site.

What You Can Do
Greenhouse gases are emitted as a result of the energy we use by driving and using electricity and through other activities that support our quality of life like growing food and raising livestock. Greenhouse gas emissions can be minimized through simple measures like changing light bulbs in your home and properly inflating your tires to improve your car's fuel economy. The What You Can Do section of the climate change site identifies over 25 action steps that individuals can take to decrease greenhouse gas emissions, increase the nation's energy independence and also save money.

State and local governments and businesses play an important role in meeting the national goal of reducing greenhouse gas intensity by 18 percent by 2012. For example, major corporations, states and local organizations are taking action through participation in a wide range of EPA and other federal voluntary programs.

You can start by assessing your own contribution to the problem, by using EPA's personal greenhouse gas emissions calculator to estimate your household's annual emissions. Once you know about how much you emit, you use the tool to see how simple steps you take at home, at the office, on the road, and at school can reduce your emissions. Visit the What You Can Do section of the EPA Web Site to learn more.

What is Energy Star?

2007-06-26T10:14:00-07:00

Source: Engery Star Website

ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices.

Results are already adding up. Americans, with the help of ENERGY STAR, saved enough energy in 2006 alone to avoid greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from 25 million cars — all while saving $14 billion on their utility bills.

For the Home
Energy efficient choices can save families about a third on their energy bill with similar savings of greenhouse gas emissions, without sacrificing features, style or comfort. ENERGY STAR helps you make the energy efficient choice.

If looking for new household products, look for ones that have earned the ENERGY STAR. They meet strict energy efficiency guidelines set by the EPA and US Department of Energy.

If looking for a new home, look for one that has earned the ENERGY STAR.
If looking to make larger improvements to your home, EPA offers tools and resources to help you plan and undertake projects to reduce your energy bills and improve home comfort.

For Business
Because a strategic approach to energy management can produce twice the savings — for the bottom line and the environment — as typical approaches, EPA’s ENERGY STAR partnership offers a proven energy management strategy that helps in measuring current energy performance, setting goals, tracking savings, and rewarding improvements.

EPA provides an innovative energy performance rating system which businesses have already used for more than 30,000 buildings across the country. EPA also recognizes top performing buildings with the ENERGY STAR.

History of Energy Star

In 1992 the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) introduced ENERGY STAR as a voluntary labeling program designed to identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Computers and monitors were the first labeled products. Through 1995, EPA expanded the label to additional office equipment products and residential heating and cooling equipment. In 1996, EPA partnered with the US Department of Energy for particular product categories. The ENERGY STAR label is now on major appliances, office equipment, lighting, home electronics, and more. EPA has also extended the label to cover new homes and commercial and industrial buildings.

Through its partnerships with more than 9,000 private and public sector organizations, ENERGY STAR delivers the technical information and tools that organizations and consumers need to choose energy-efficient solutions and best management practices. ENERGY STAR has successfully delivered energy and cost savings across the country, saving businesses, organizations, and consumers about $14 billion in 2006 alone. Over the past decade, ENERGY STAR has been a driving force behind the more widespread use of such technological innovations as LED traffic lights, efficient fluorescent lighting, power management systems for office equipment, and low standby energy use.

Recently, energy prices have become a hot news topic and a major concern for consumers. ENERGY STAR provides solutions. ENERGY STAR provides a trustworthy label on over 50 product categories (and thousands of models) for the home and office. These products deliver the same or better performance as comparable models while using less energy and saving money. ENERGY STAR also provides easy-to-use home and building assessment tools so that homeowners and building managers can start down the path to greater efficiency and cost savings.

For more information on the ENERGY STAR Program and ENERGY STAR produts and reports, visit the ENERGY STAR Web Site.

Live Earth

2007-06-26T09:27:00-07:00

Source: LiveEarth.org

Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent concert series taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 100 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.

Live Earth will reach this worldwide audience through an unprecedented global media architecture covering all media platforms - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels.

Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection, The Climate Group and other international organizations to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance and Partner of Live Earth.

Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, the Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8, an event that brought together one of the largest audiences in history to combat poverty. Wall formed a partnership with Al Gore and the Alliance for Climate Protection to ensure that Live Earth inspires behavioral changes long after 7/7/07.

Live Earth will stage official concerts at Giants Stadium in New York; Wembley Stadium in London; Aussie Stadium in Sydney; Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro; Maropeng at the Cradle of Humankind in Johannesburg; Makuhari Messe in Tokyo; the Steps of the Oriental Pearl Tower in Shanghai; and HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg.

Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com.

With support from the U.S. Green Building Council, creators of the LEED Green Building Rating System, Live Earth will implement new Green Event Guidelines. All Live Earth venues will be designed and constructed by a team of sustainability engineers who will address the environmental and energy management challenges of each concert site, as well as the operations of sponsors, partners and other Live Earth affiliates. Each venue will not only be designed to maintain a minimum environmental impact, but will showcase the latest state-of-the-art energy efficiency, on-site power generation, and sustainable facilities management practices.

Live Earth is a project of the SOS campaign , which is using a powerful multimedia platform - films, television, radio, Internet, books, wireless and others - to move people to combat the climate crisis.

Live Earth will be broadcast worldwide through multiple media channels - TV, radio, Internet and wireless channels.

Live Earth concerts will be streamed live by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com.

Live Earth Press Releases

LIVE EARTH BRAZIL REVEALED
LOS ANGELES (June 26, 2007) – Live Earth organizers today revealed the line-up of popular music artists who will be performing at the Brazil leg of the 7-continent, 24-hour Live Earth concerts on July 7, 2007. Pharrell Williams, Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray and others will perform in front of an estimated one million people at the free concert on Copacabana Beach. Brazil is the only country hosting a Live Earth concert that is entirely free and open to the public.

SHAKIRA AND ENRIQUE IGLESIAS JOIN LINE-UP FOR LIVE EARTH HAMBURG
LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2007) – Grammy Award-winning music artists Shakira and Enrique Iglesias are joining the blockbuster line-up of performers who will be playing Live Earth Hamburg at HSH Nordbank Arena on 7/7/07, Live Earth organizers announced today. Tickets for Live Earth Hamburg are available at www.eventim.de/eve/liveearth or by calling Eventim at 01805/570 000 (0,14 EUR/Min).

KEITH URBAN AND TAKING BACK SUNDAY JOIN LINE-UP FOR LIVE EARTH NEW YORK
LOS ANGELES (June 22, 2007) – Keith Urban and Taking Back Sunday are joining the blockbuster line-up of performers who will be playing Live Earth New York at Giants Stadium on 7/7/07, Live Earth organizers announced today. A limited number of tickets are available at www.livenation.com/liveearth or by calling Ticketmaster at (212) 307-7171 and (201) 507-8900.

ABSOLUT(R) VODKA JOINS FORCES WITH LIVE EARTH TO COMBAT GLOBAL WARMING
NEW YORK (June 21, 2007) — Today, ABSOLUT(R) Vodka announced its partnership with Live Earth in its fight against global warming. As part of this alliance, ABSOLUT will act as the title sponsor of the “Live Earth SOS” short films series aimed at generating awareness for the global climate crisis. The partnership, which “debuts” at the 7/7/07 Live Earth concert at Giants Stadium in New Jersey, marks another step in the brand’s ongoing commitment to help combat global warming.

METALLICA, KASABIAN, PUSSYCAT DOLLS AND TERRA NAOMI JOIN LIVE EARTH LONDON LINE-UP
LONDON (June 19, 2007) – Metallica, Kasabian, Pussycat Dolls, and Terra Naomi are the final acts to be added to the Live Earth London line-up performing at Wembley Stadium as part of the 24-hour, 7-continent Live Earth concert series on 7/7/07.

Coconut Creek Florida is Going Green with Environmentaly Friendly Cleaning Products

2007-06-24T20:32:10-07:00

Source: The Margate/Coconut Creek Florida Forum

The City of Coconut Creek Florida is implementing a new line of Janatorial products and supplies that will help the environment. Effective immediately, the city has begun using paper products that are either Green Seal ¹ certified or recycled and environmentally friendly.

To recieve classification as Green Seal certified, products are graded in the way they are made and how the waste produced during manufacturing is disposed of.

The chemicals the products contain have been tested by the Green Seal organization. These products contain no addied dyes, fragrance, silicates, caustics or phosphates. There are no added ether solvents and low or no volatile organic componds. The packaging is also recyclable.

These products are believed to be more cost effective since the majority of them will be mixed through a dispensing system that automatically dispenses the right amount of product with the correct amount of water, eliminating waste from too much of the product being used. Also, since the product is concentrated, it reduces the amount of packaging being shipped with large quantities of water.

The City of Coconut Creek Florida expects to save about 30 per cent of the $35,000 it currently spends yearly on cleaning products.

With more natural products, it is expected that workers prone to allergies and sensitivities can reduce the number of sick days.

¹Green Seal is an independent, non profit organization that promotes a cleaner environment by identifying products that cause less toxic pollution and waste.

Source: The Margate/Coconut Creek Florida Forum

Forums at For Green's Sake Live!

2007-06-24T20:09:11-07:00

We've now added a Forums section to the site so members can exchange ideas and information. Anyone can view the posts in the forums but to post messages you must be a registered member. We've also added a Private Message module so members can communicate privately between each other. A chat feature is also now available.

So join in and help us make this the best online community for information on Going Green!

As you use the new features, if you experience any problems, please do let us know.

TerraCycle Produces All Organic Plant Food From Worm Poop

2007-06-21T06:09:00-07:00

Source: TerraCycle.net

The company produces TerraCycle Plant Food an all-natural, all-organic, 'goof-proof' liquid plant food made from waste (worm poop) and packaged in waste (reused soda bottles)!

It all starts with premium, source-separated organic waste that would have otherwise been destined for the landfill. This material is brought to a TerraCycle Conversion Center.

The material is then mixed together into special formulas which are then sent through a computerized microbial-enhancing bio converter where the temperature naturally rises to over 150° F. After five days the material is then automatically taken through a computerized, micro-climate controlled vermicomposting unit where millions of red worms process the material. After three weeks the worm-processed material is then separated into a fine, particle-size mixture which is then liquified over a seven day period.

Through their patent pending process, they also use garbage to package TerraCycle Plant Food. Used bottles are collected across North America, many through the TerraCycle Bottle Brigade. The bottles are then cleaned, relabeled, and filled with TerraCycle Plant Food™.

There are millions of soda bottles every day which end up in garbage cans and landfills across America. As an eco-friendly, innovator, TerraCycle packages its organic liquefied worm poop in bottles collected from schools and recycling centers from every corner of the country. It's no wonder that Red Herring Magazine named TerraCycle as one of the Top 100 Most Innovative Companies in 2004 and Inc. Magazine featured TerraCycle on its July, 2006 cover as "The Coolest Little Start-up in America"!

Most recently, TerraCycle has been named one of the 100 most innovative companies by Red Herring magazine and been awarded the Environmental Stewardship Award from Home Depot Canada. The Environmental Stewardship Award is one of only two company-wide awards given by Home Depot Canada.

TerraCycle was also featured in the story The Worm Firm in the spring 2007 issue of Better Homes and Gardens "Garden, Decks, and Landscapes" magazine.

They definitely have something since Scotts Miracle Gro Company is sueing Terracycle.

For more information on the company and its products visit TerraCycle.net.

Terms & Definitions Module Up

2007-06-20T09:14:10-07:00

We've added a terms and definitions module to the site. For now, its populated with just a few terms, but over time, it will grow to be a great resource for everyone. If any one has any suggestions on any terms that should be included, please let us know.

Better Daylighting

2007-06-20T08:15:12-07:00

By Philip Proefrock
Source: GreenOptions.com

Lighting for buildings is a major part of their energy use. Increasingly, green building design is recognizing the importance of providing natural daylight as a means of lighting the building and reducing energy use. Not only does natural daylight reduce the building's energy use, but it also increases comfort for the people in the building. The LEED system includes credit for providing at least 75% of the spaces in the building with natural lighting and views, and the credit is increased if 90% of the spaces are naturally lit.

Windows are good for providing views to the exterior. Skylights can be used to bring in more daylight, but they are not without issues. The problem with skylights is that they tend to create glare. The high contrast between areas where the daylight is streaming through the windows and other parts of the space that are not directly lit is visually (and sometimes even literally) uncomfortable. There's either too much light or too little. Diffuse light is more even and comfortable, and avoids areas of deep shadow and sharp glare. This is why so many older buildings had north oriented skylights or clerestory windows (or south-oriented in the southern hemisphere), and why those spaces were so well thought of as artists' spaces and galleries. The light quality is much better when it is from an indirect source.

Most diffuser options do little to spread the light around. Typical etched or frosted glass has little effect. The light patterns are a little bit softer edged from frosted glass than they are from clear glass, but when it is directly lit, it is little better than clear glass. Advanced Glazings, Ltd. offers much better performance for incorporating daylighting into buildings with a line of insulated glazing called Solera. Architects have known of Kalwall, another company that has been making translucent panels for many years. Kalwall is a panel of polyester and fiberglass that offers translucency and some insulation.

Like Kalwall, Solera is principally a commercial product. However, it is designed for use in standard 1" aluminum window frames (what you find in many offices, stores, and other commercial locations). High end home projects and experimental uses in residential uses are sure to follow. Since there are many manufacturers of aluminum window frames, it is easy for an architect to incorporate Solera into a project without creating complexity for the builder to have to deal with. Contractors like to use standard products that they are familiar with. Solera is also appealing because it uses glass, rather than plastic, which tends to yellow over time.

Even more exciting than the daylighting aspect alone, a new Solera unit is coming out that incorporates nanogel insulation. The 3" thick glazing unit has a specially shaped edge that allows it to be installed in a standard 1" frame. But the window will have an R value of around 20! A standard double glazed window typically has an R value around 1. And a typical insulated 2 x 4 stud wall has an R value of around 15. (Kalwall also offers a nanogel unit.) For most buildings, the windows are the weakest part of the energy envelope, where the greatest amount of energy was lost. Incorporating well insulated diffusing windows and skylights into a high performance building would provide exceptional energy performance in addition to daylighting.

What to Do With Tech Trash?

2007-06-20T07:37:00-07:00

by Lizette Wilson
Source: Green Home Inc.

With more than 10 million computers dumped in landfills each year, officials worry over mounting trash and toxicity. Massachusetts recently joined more than a dozen European countries in banning computers and TVs from landfills and throwing down the green gauntlet for the feds to follow suit.

Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Virginia and West Virginia are also considering electronic dumping bans similar to that in Massachusetts.

Current federal rules prohibit large-scale electronic dumping (groups that toss more than 220 pounds of electronic waste a month must recycle), but residents and small businesses can, and do, pile old computers into landfills. According to the National Safety Council, only 11 percent of computers get recycled, and small-time consumers alone add 10 million computers to landfills every year.

Besides taking up space and wasting copper, gold and other resources that could be recycled, mounting piles of tech trash pose an additional problem: toxicity.

More than 700 chemicals are used to manufacture computers, and their internal hardware is packed with cadmium, chromium, mercury and other heavy metals. But cathode ray tubes in monitors are the biggest problem.

The tubes contain lead, which protects viewers from radiation. When the tubes are pulverized, the lead - between 2.5 and 8 pounds of it per monitor - can seep through the landfill and into groundwater.

"When it reacts with acid in the landfill, the metals dissolve," says Environmental Protection Agency spokesman David Jones. Jones adds that those reactions only occur when the material is in a powder state. "A cathode tube sitting there is not going to pose a problem," he says.

Officials with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection disagree, saying that throwing electronic equipment in landfills is not only hazardous, but also poor business and an unwise resource use.

"We wanted to set up a working infrastructure which was capable of capturing TVs and computers. With high-definition TV coming, it will put out a lot of older TVs and we wanted to prepare," says Robin Ingenthron, strategic planner for Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection. "We've reduced hazardous-waste handling restrictions on private enterprises and opened the door for traditional repairs to play a stronger role."

The new law does a couple of things. By changing the classification of computers from hazardous to recyclable, it makes it easier for consumers to bring in the equipment to be recycled and reused. The law also tags money - about $500,000 this year - and support for the existing recycling network.

John Powers, general manager of the International Association of Electronics Recyclers Inc., hails the Massachusetts move as a victory.

"In the past, consumer recycling has been relatively expensive and inefficient. Hopefully, this will change that," he says.

Still, the United States as a whole has some catching up to do. Other countries have been treating tech trash as a top priority for nearly a decade.

Germany galvanized its European counterparts when it passed a 1991 ordinance that made manufacturers responsible for the packaging waste they create during production. The ordinance was later amended to add electronic scrap. Austria, Belgium, France, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Great Britain and Canada, as well as numerous regional governments also expanded the "take back" requirements to include electronic scrap.

In 1994, the European Union introduced legislation to coordinate member countries' takeback laws and make producers and manufacturers responsible for recycling their products. The law, Waste From Electric and Electronic Equipment (WEEE), also prohibits the use of mercury, cadmium, hexavalent chromium and brominated flame retardants in all electrical goods by 2004. WEEE puts full financial responsibility on producers to set up collection systems and requires distributors, when supplying a new product, to offer to take back old electrical and electronic equipment from private households.

While WEEE details are still being hashed out - U.S. manufacturers argue that it will cost too much and violates free trade - collection targets are slated to be set in 2006.

SIDEBAR: PC WAY TO "TOSS" YOUR PC

If you're looking to get rid of your computer without harming the Earth, your options are expanding:
Check with the product manufacturer. Hewlett-Packard accepts obsolete H-P printers and computers at its Roseville, Calif., facility and even covers the mailing costs. Apple takes back computer batteries and toner cartridges and, for a fee, IBM now collects any old PC! Other computer manufacturers are beginning to follow suit.
Consider "recycling" your computer by donating it to a needy school or organization. Many computers can be revamped for new uses. Even computers that don't work can have salvageable components such as modems and power supplies that can be used to refurbish other computers. Check with your local schools and organizations or check out one of the many Web sites (below) to find a good match for your old equipment.
Still can't find anyone to take your old machine? Bring it to a computer recycling center, which will melt down the copper, gold and other precious metals.

Source: Green Home Inc.

Go Green or Go Solar?

2007-06-19T20:56:41-07:00

by David Wortman
Source: National Geographics The Green Guide May/June 2007

Green roofs are all the rage, and for good reason—they trap and filter storm water, provide habitat for birds, insects and small animals and bring color to urban neighborhoods. Covered with vibrant grasses and plants, green roofs provide insulation in winter and reduce heat during warm summer days. Chicago has ambitious goals to cover over 2.5 million square feet with greenery on over 200 rooftops; in Germany, they account for an estimated 10 percent of all flat roofs.

Installation varies from laying out simple pre-planted modules to setting up more elaborate multi-layered systems. While it can be twice as expensive as a conventional roof, a green roof is cheap to maintain. Homeowners may even be eligible for utility rebates and state- or city-government incentives. What's more, they may double your roof's lifespan by shielding it from sunlight, wind and extreme temperatures. A quick note: Your roof will need to be able to support at least 30 pounds per square foot, depending on the system used, and have a slope of no less than one percent and no greater than seven percent.

"From the perspective of increasing biodiversity, green roofs are a success," says Amy Lesen, assistant professor of biology at New York's Pratt Institute. But if it's measurable energy savings you're after, you might consider solar panels. "Studies show that payback [from a green roof] in terms of energy savings can take up to 200 years," notes Chris Benedict, an architect specializing in energy-efficient design.

Electricity-generating photovoltaic (PV) solar roofs significantly reduce household carbon-dioxide emissions, and typical systems can last up to 30 years, adding to your home's value. Installation is easiest when putting on a new roof and should be done by a licensed electrician with experience putting in solar panels. Your service provider can help set you up with "net metering" to offset any energy you buy with that you produce.

PV roof panels are sold in "per kilowatt" increments, with four to five kilowatts covering about half the average home's energy needs. While installations run from $8 to $10 per watt, costs and payback time will depend on electric rates, state incentives and climate. Federal tax credits of up to $2,000 are now available, along with a variety of local credits; to find out what's available in your area, see www.dsireusa.org. However, breakthroughs in panel efficiency that promise to reduce costs aren't yet available to consumers, and, given the current high prices, you may want to concentrate on personal energy conservation before investing in photovoltaics.

But if you do have the resources, consider combining PV panels with a green roof. According to the Scandinavian Green Roof Institute, shade provided by the panels can even encourage more biodiversity. You and the environment just may find yourselves in a win-win situation.

Resources: Solar Living Institute, Solar Estimator, www.Greenroofs.com

The Latest in Green Burial

2007-06-19T12:04:00-07:00

Sources: The Green Burial Council, People Magazine

The following quote is an excerpt of an interview with Joe Sehee, Executive Director, The Green Burial Council.

"Green burial is a way of caring for our dead without the use of toxins or materials that are not biodegradable, which essentially means no formaldehyde (a major ingredient in embalming fluid), no metal caskets and no concrete vaults. It also requires that markers, if used at all, must be living (i.e. trees, wildflowers) or ecologically functional (i.e. boulders, field stones) and appropriate for the surroundings. Green burial is not a new idea. It's the way much of humanity has handled its end-of-life rituals for several thousand years until the advent of the modern cemetery/funeral industry."

In the June 25, 2007 issue of People Magazine, the story "Dust to Dust" goes into how Green Burials are increasing just outside of Westminister, S.C., and the benefits they provide to the environment.

For more information on Green Burials, visit The Green Burial Council.

Going Green

2007-06-19T07:34:00-07:00

By Jerry Adler
Source: Newsweek July 17, 2006 issue

One morning last week ... 29 years after president Jimmy Carter declared energy conservation "the moral equivalent of war" ... 37 years after the first reference to the "greenhouse effect" in The New York Times ... one day after oil prices hit a record peak of more than $75 per barrel ... Kelley Howell, a 38-year-old architect, got on her bicycle a little after 5 a.m. and rode 7.9 miles past shopping centers, housing developments and a nature preserve to a bus stop to complete her 24-mile commute to work. Compared with driving in her 2004 Mini Cooper, the 15.8-mile round trip by bicycle conserved approximately three fifths of a gallon of gasoline, subtracting 15 pounds of potential carbon dioxide pollution from the atmosphere (minus the small additional amount she exhaled as a result of her exertion). That's 15 pounds out of 1.7 billion tons of carbon produced annually to fuel all the vehicles in the United States. She concedes that when you look at it that way, it doesn't seem like very much. "But if you're not doing something and the next family isn't doing anything, then who will?"

On that very question the course of civilization may rest. In the face of the coming onslaught of pollutants from a rapidly urbanizing China and India, the task of avoiding ecological disaster may seem hopeless, and some environmental scientists have, quietly, concluded that it is. But Americans are notoriously reluctant to surrender their fates to the impersonal outcomes of an equation. One by one—and together, in state and local governments and even giant corporations—they are attempting to wrest the future from the dotted lines on the graphs that point to catastrophe. The richest country in the world is also the one with the most to lose.

Environmentalism waxes and wanes in importance in American politics, but it appears to be on the upswing now. Membership in the Sierra Club is up by about a third, to 800,000, in four years, and Gallup polling data show that the number of Americans who say they worry about the environment "a great deal" or "a fair amount" increased from 62 to 77 percent between 2004 and 2006. (The 2006 poll was done in March, before the attention-getting release of Al Gore's global-warming film, "An Inconvenient Truth.") Americans have come to this view by many routes, sometimes reluctantly; Carl Pope, executive director of the Sierra Club, thinks unhappiness with the Bush administration's environmental record plays a part, but many of the people NEWSWEEK spoke to for this story are Republicans. "Al Gore can't convince me, but his data can convince me," venture capitalist Ray Lane remarks ruefully. Lane is a general partner in the prominent Silicon Valley firm of Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers, which has pledged to invest $100 million in green technology. He arrived at his position as a "Republican environmentalist" while pondering three trends: global warming, American dependence on foreign oil and the hypermodernization of Asian societies.

Others got to the same place by way of religion, most prominently Richard Cizik, director of governmental relations for the National Association of Evangelicals—but also people like Sally Bingham, an Episcopal priest in San Francisco and a founder of the religious environmental group Interfaith Power and Light. A moderate Republican, she had to defend herself on a talk-radio show from a listener who accused her of buying into the liberal myth of global warming. "I am," she pronounced frostily, "a religious person called to care for creation from this platform." And many followed their own idiosyncratic paths, like Howell, who started researching the connections between food, health and the environment after her mother died of cancer. Soon she and her husband, JD, found themselves caught up in replacing all their light bulbs and toilets with more-efficient versions and weighing their garbage, which by obsessive recycling they have reduced to less than 10 pounds a week.

But probably the most common formative experience is one that Wendy Abrams of Highland Park, Ill., underwent six years ago, as she was reading an article about global climate change over the next century; she looked up from her magazine and saw her four children, who will be alive for most of it. That was the year the hybrid Prius went on sale in the United States, and she bought one as soon as she could. This reflects what Pope describes as a refocusing of environmental concern from issues like safe drinking water, which were local and concrete, to climate change, which is global and abstract. Or so it was, anyway, until it came crashing into New Orleans last summer with the force of a million tons of reprints from The Journal of Climate. Katrina, says Pope, "changed people's perceptions of what was at stake"—even though no one can prove that the hurricane was directly caused by global warming.

Mario Tama / Getty Images
Futuristic: The ultra-ecofriendly headquarters of the Hearst Corp. in Manhattan
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All over America, a post-Katrina future is taking shape under the banner of "sustainability." Architects vie to create the most sustainable skyscrapers. The current champion in Manhattan appears to be Norman Foster's futuristic headquarters for the Hearst Corp., lit to its innermost depths by God's own high-efficiency light source, the sun. The building's "destination dispatch" elevators require passengers to enter their floor at a kiosk, where a screen directs them to a cab, grouping them to wring the last watt of efficiency from their 30-second trips. But it is expected to be challenged soon in Manhattan by a new Bank of America tower, designed by Cook & Fox, which takes "sustainability" to a point just short of growing its own food. Every drop of rain that falls on its roof will be captured for use; scraps from the cafeteria will be fermented in the building to produce methane as a supplementary fuel for a generator intended to produce more than half the building's electricity; the waste heat from the generator will both warm the offices and power a refrigeration plant to cool them.

Far away in Traverse City, Mich., a resort town four hours north of Detroit, home builder Lawrence Kinney wrestles with a different problem, people who want 6,000-square-foot vacation houses they will use only a couple of weeks a year. Outraged by the waste, he refuses to build them. His preferred size is about 1,800 square feet, 25 percent smaller than the national average; he has rediscovered the virtues of plaster walls instead of resource-intensive drywall, uses lumber harvested locally by horse-drawn teams and treats his wood with stains made from plants, not petroleum. When Jeff Martin, a program manager for Microsoft, set out to build a sustainable house near Charlotte, N.C., he specified something that looked like a house, not "a yurt, or a spaceship, or something made out of recycled cans and tires in the middle of the desert." He turned to Steven Strong, a Massachusetts-based renewable-energy consultant who says he "fell in love" with solar energy when he realized that "you could put a thin sliver of silicon, with no moving parts and no waste, in the sun and generate electricity forever." Strong designed an unobtrusive solar-cell array on the roof of Martin's conventional stucco-and-stone house to provide free electricity, and a sun-powered heater that produces so much hot water Martin can use it to wash his driveway. "We never run out," Martin boasts, "even when my wife's family comes to visit over Christmas."

The sun: sustainable energy that not even in-laws can exhaust! The same sun that for years shone uselessly on the roof of FedEx's immense Oakland airport hub, through which passes most of the company's traffic with China. Since last year, solar panels covering 81,000 square feet have been providing 80 percent of the facility's needs. The sun that also creates the wind that powers the wind turbines that Chicago—which is seeking to be known as the environmental city as well as the windy one—is building atop the Daley Center, a high-rise courthouse. But among cities, few are as sustainable as Austin, Texas, which recycles its trash so assiduously that residents generated only 0.79 tons of garbage per household last year, down from 1.14 tons in 1992. Austin's city-owned electric company estimates that "renewable" power, mostly from west Texas wind farms, will account for 6 percent of its capacity this year, nearly doubling to 11 percent by 2008. Beginning in 2001, customers were allowed to purchase wind power at a price guaranteed for 10 years. But since it was more costly than conventional power, most people who signed up did so out of conviction—until last fall, when rising natural-gas prices meant that conventional customers were paying more, and suddenly the company was overwhelmed with new converts to sustainable power.

Another thing the sun does, of course, is grow plants. Agriculture is being reshaped by the growing demand for corn to produce ethanol—which can be blended with gasoline to stretch supplies, or can power on its own the growing number of "flex-fuel" cars. Four billion gallons will be produced this year, a doubling just since 2003. Dave Nelson of Belmond, Iowa, now devotes as much land to growing corn for fuel as for food—the same variety—and after the starch is extracted for fermentation, the protein left behind gets fed to his pigs, which produce manure to fertilize the fields. "Not a thing is wasted," says Nelson, who is chairman of a farmer's cooperative that runs one ethanol distillery and is building another. The problem, though, is that people and livestock eat corn, too, and some experts see a time, not too far off, when the food and fuel industries will be competing for the same resources. Biotech companies are scrambling to come up with processes for getting ethanol from cellulose—the left-behind stalks and leaves of the corn plant, or other species such as switch grass that can grow on marginal land. One can envision vast farms devoted to growing fuel transforming the Midwest.

Misty Keasler for Newsweek
Green City: Austin's City Hall
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Even Wal-Mart wants to help shape a sustainable future, and few companies are in a better position to do so. Just by wrapping four kinds of produce in a polymer derived from corn instead of oil, the company claims it can save the equivalent of 800,000 gallons of gasoline. "Right-sizing" the boxes on just one line of toys—redesigning them to be just large enough for the contents—saves $3.5 million in trucking costs each year, and (by its estimate) 5,000 trees. Overnight, the giant retailer recently became the largest purchaser of organic cotton for clothing, and it will likely have a comparable impact on organic produce as well. This is in line with CEO H. Lee Scott's goal of reducing the company's "carbon footprint" by 20 percent in seven years. If the whole country could do that, it would essentially meet the goals set by the Kyoto treaty on global warming, which the United States, to the dismay of its European allies, refuses to sign.

Wal-Mart's efforts have two big implications. One is cultural; it helps disprove the canard that environmentalists are all Hollywood stars. Admittedly, some of them are, like "Entourage" star Adrian Grenier, whose renovated home in Brooklyn will have wall insulation of recycled denim, or Ed Begley Jr., who likes to arrive at show-business parties aboard his bicycle and markets his own line of nontoxic, noncaustic, biodegradable, vegan, child-safe household cleansers. (Begley concedes that "there are some insincere people in this community" who may have latched onto the environment because Africa was already taken, but, he says, "even if you're only into this cause for a week, at least you're doing something positive for that week.") But it wasn't movie stars who snapped up 190,000 organic-cotton yoga outfits at Sam's Club outlets in 10 weeks earlier this year.

And even as "green" products make inroads among Wal-Mart's budget-conscious masses, they are gathering cachet among an affluent new consumer category which marketers call "LOHAS": Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. "The people who used to drive the VW bus to the co-op are now driving the Volvo to Whole Foods," exults David Brotherton, a Seattle consultant in corporate responsibility. Brotherton estimates the LOHAS market, for everything from organic cosmetics to eco-resort vacations, at up to $200 billion. This is the market targeted by AOL founder Steve Case, who has poured much of his fortune into a "wellness" company called Revolution (it will own eco-resorts and alternative health-care ventures), and by Cottages and Gardens, a publishing company that is launching an upscale sustainable-lifestyle magazine in September called Verdant (a chic synonym for "green"). Their younger counterparts get their green news from places like Grist.org, whose founder, Chip Giller, sees the site as participating in a "rebranding of the environmental movement" away from preachiness and toward creating jobs, enhancing national security and having fun.

The second effect of Wal-Mart's entry into environmental marketing is to give eco-awareness the imprimatur of the world's most tightfisted company. "If they meet their [20 percent] goal," says Jon Coifman, media director of the Natural Resources Defense Council, "it's going to demonstrate irrefutably that reducing your carbon footprint is not only possible but financially efficient." Andy Ruben, Wal-Mart's vice president for "strategy and sustainability," said the company had assumed that certified organic cotton would cost 20 to 30 percent more than the ordinary kind, grown with pesticides and synthetic fertilizer. But when its representatives actually talked to farmers, they found the organic cost about the same. Within five years the company intends to sell fish only from certified sustainable fisheries in the United States. Wal-Mart, Ruben says, plans on being in business a long time, and it wants fish to sell.

Wal-Mart also has been on the defensive over the way it treats its employees, suppliers and competitors, which may play a role in its desire to be seen as a good corporate citizen. But to give it the benefit of the doubt, it's run by people, and they have children, too. It seems as if American business must be filled with midlevel executives like Ron Cuthbertson, senior vice president of supply chain and inventory management for Circuit City, who dutifully justifies each of the chain's environmental initiatives—substituting reusable bins for cardboard shipping boxes, establishing consumer battery-recycling centers and so on—in bottom-line terms, but then can't help adding: "I personally have a passion for this." It can almost be described as a struggle for the soul of American business, which might help explain why a top corporate executive once showed up in the office of Paul Anderson, chairman of Duke Energy Corp., to perform a mock exorcism. Anderson is an outspoken advocate for controlling greenhouse-gas emissions, and his fellow CEO suggested he must have been possessed by the spirit of an environmentalist. Some other CEOs, Anderson says, will agree with him in private but hide their feelings in public. "Part of it," he muses, "has to do with how close someone is to retirement: they think, if I can just get through the next few years without addressing this."

Noah Webb for Newsweek
Shining: California builder John Suppes in a solar-powered 'zero energy' house
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In assessing Anderson's soul, it should be noted that his company is particularly heavily invested in nuclear power, an alternative to fossil-fuel plants that produce no greenhouse gases, so his concern for the Earth happens to coincide with his company's interests. So much the better for him, compared, say, with Ford chairman Bill Ford Jr., a strong environmentalist who almost alone among auto executives concedes that cars contribute to global warming. Yet Ford has struggled to impose his views on the industry, or even the company that bears his name. He turned the historic River Rouge plant into one of the most environmentally sound factories in the world, at a cost of $2 billion. But Ford has had to back away from a promise to improve gas mileage on its SUVs by 25 percent and to increase hybrid production to 250,000 vehicles by the end of the decade. The company, which loses money on hybrids despite their higher sticker price, said it would join the other two U.S. carmakers in making more flex-fuel cars instead. DaimlerChrysler just announced that it will begin importing its Smart microcar from France, a vehicle just nine feet long that gets up to 69 miles per gallon. "Putting a product like Smart in the marketplace," says Reg Modlin, director of environmental and regulatory planning, "shows that we're trying."

Looked at one way, these are thrilling times, the beginning of a technological and social revolution that could vault our society into a post-post-industrial future. "If you mention green tech or biotech in a presentation," says Lane, the venture capitalist, "you'll get your funding before you get to your third slide." On the other hand, we may just be kidding ourselves. Can bicycles and switch grass really offset the effects—in pollution, resource depletion and habitat destruction—of a billion Chinese lining up to buy cars for the first time? Domestic oil production has been declining for years, and the United States now imports 60 percent of the 20 million barrels it uses every day. It's nice that Jane Cremisi, a mortgage consultant in Newton, Mass., washes and reuses her aluminum foil and patronizes ecofriendly hotels like the Lenox, in Boston, which composts its food waste. Or that Melinda MacNaughton, a former dietitian from El Granada, Calif., cleans her house with vinegar and baking soda. But you cannot save the world with anecdotes. Is the relevant statistic that sales of hybrid cars doubled last year to 200,000—or that they were outsold by SUVs by a ratio of 23-1?

Still, when you look at all the United States has accomplished, can the challenge be so far beyond us? Marty Hoffert, emeritus professor of physics at New York University, doesn't think so. "If the United States became a world leader in developing green technology and made it available to other countries, it could make a big difference. For $100 billion a year, which is at least what we're spending on Iraq," it could be done, he says. "People understand the urgency," says Fred Krupp, executive director of Environmental Defense, "and they see the economic opportunities." It will take political will, though, and in that sense every mile Howell rides on her bicycle achieves more than it saves in petroleum; it raises consciousness and awareness. And it will have to enlist people like Steven F. Hayward, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute. "There's no problem environmentalists can't turn into an apocalyptic crisis," says Hayward (who agrees that the Earth is warming but thinks civilization is likely to survive it). Yet of all things, this hardheaded acolyte of the free market worries most about species extinction, among the most rarefied of ecological concerns. But, you see, Hayward has a young daughter. And she wants to be a zookeeper when she grows up.

With Jessica Ramirez, Karen Springen, Brad Stone, Karen Breslau, Keith Naughton, Jamie Reno, Ken Shulman, Matthew Philips, Staci Semrad, Margaret Nelson, A. Christian Jean, Andrew Murr and Jac Chebatoris.

U.S. Must Help Protect Tropical Forests to Lead on Climate Change Solutions

2007-06-18T10:26:00-07:00

By Peter A. Seligmann, Chairman and CEO
Conservation International
June 18, 2007

President Bush has proclaimed he would convince the world that the United States is a leader in finding solutions to climate change. Ironically, he said that in a recent speech at the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), while at the same time his administration is slashing USAID support to reducing tropical forest deforestation, the second leading cause of greenhouse gas emissions.

Globally, tropical deforestation contributes at least 20 percent of global greenhouse gases – more than the entire transportation sector. Proposed USAID cuts will sabotage emerging efforts to protect forests in developing countries, particularly in Africa, Asia and South America, where USAID programs support the emergence of community management of natural resources.

The proposed budget cuts also undermine these regions’ efforts to develop their economies and strengthen their democracies. Poverty, political instability, and conflicts are often driven by unsustainable exploitation of timber, diamonds, wildlife, and other natural resources. Through its conservation programs, USAID has been instrumental in strengthening democratic governance and fighting poverty in Brazil, Liberia, Indonesia, and many other countries.

Once the leader in support to governments and communities in equitable management of natural resources, the U.S. Administration now risks losing that position, and at a very critical juncture. Other leaders of industrialized nations have indicated they will advocate tropical forest conservation as a key means to help battle climate change by linking reduced tropical forest deforestation to global markets for carbon credits.

The world’s largest greenhouse gas emitter, the United States is also the richest nation. Through an investment-led approach, we have a unique opportunity to help developing countries benefit from good forest (and therefore carbon) management. These countries need financial assistance to foster civil society and governmental institutions capable of protecting and managing forests. Planned USAID budget cuts will eliminate programs that help developing countries stop illegal logging, build national park systems, and provide poor people economic alternatives to cutting down their forests. Tapping the emerging carbon markets can be one of those alternatives.

Two specific and embarrassing ironies in the administration’s planned cuts are the impacts they will have on the Congo Basin and Madagascar. President Bush is proposing a one-third reduction of funding for the Congo Basin Forest Partnership. The USAID contribution to that Partnership, the Central Africa Regional Program for the Environment (CARPE), would be slashed, undermining U.S. commitments negotiated by former Secretary of State Colin Powell. CARPE has achieved great advances in protecting forests and threatened species, expanding parks, and building ecotourism and other income sources for the region’s desperately poor communities. If the cuts are enacted, the program will not provide enough support to help the people of the region stop the devastation of this huge tropical forest.

In Madagascar, USAID funding is being targeted for a 60 percent reduction, which will put the brakes on the work by Madagascar’s government to help its struggling population protect its rare and species-rich tropical forests. Again, the U.S. cuts could end promising but nascent progress supported by a pro-environment and pro-American government.

For tropical forests to play their role in preventing catastrophic climate change, we need more forest protection funding for developing nations, not less. A good example is with Indonesia, where Germany and Australia aim to provide well over $100 million to develop financial markets, improve law enforcement, manage parks and reserves, and reduce poverty in order to slow and eventually reverse deforestation.

Here we also find a positive move from the U.S. Administration. It is currently working with Congress on a debt-for-nature swap under the Tropical Forest Conservation Act. If this goes forward, at least $20 million of debt owed by the Indonesians to the U.S. government will be forgiven to generate funding that could help save Indonesia’s forests and the carbon they contain. Conservation International and many other partners stand ready to help make this happen.

President Bush has made a statement about U.S. leadership on climate change, and now he has the chance to turn that rhetoric into real action that is readily obtainable. The United States must step forward and join other nations to support efforts to help developing countries save their forests through better governance and market-driven economic growth. A concrete first step would be to protect and further the progress already under way in Africa and elsewhere through USAID assistance.

It is not too late for President Bush to be remembered for being a leader who makes a wise decision for the United States, as well as for the world’s climate, poor communities, and threatened forests.

Source: Conservation International

Conservation and the Economics of Solar Heating

2007-06-05T10:39:00-07:00

By Bob Ramlow and Benjamin Nusz
Source: Green Living Journal

WHATEVER BROUGHT YOU to this point, whether it was the realization that we are trashing our environment or the simple need to lower your living expenses, now you are here and you want to do something. But what to do first? The answer is simple: start by conserving the energy you use to heat water. Three general principles that are easy to follow will also save you money: reduce losses, increase efficiency, and reduce consumption.

To start, examine your heating system from top to bottom and look for places where heat might leak out. Heat losses in the system end up wasting the energy you just used to heat your water. Many can be reduced by just a little bit of cheap insulation. For instance, insulate all of your hot pipes. If you are working on a new construction, insulating the hot pipes is easy. Even if you don't have access to all your pipes, insulating the ones you can get at will make a noticeable difference. You should also insulate your water heater. A tank- type water heater heats a whole batch of water. As this water sits there waiting for use, it slowly cools down. The more you insulate it, the better it will retain its heat. Heat losses can also come from leaks. A faucet that leaks 30 drops of water a minute will waste almost 100 gallons a month. Fix leaky faucets promptly.

Next, try to increase the efficiency of everything in your home that uses hot water, for instance, the washing machine and the dishwasher. Upgrading these appliances to more energy efficient models will significantly reduce the amount of energy consumed. A front-loading washing machine uses half the hot water of a standard top- loading model. This results in around 10 20 gallons of hot water saved in each load you do. You can save thousands of gallons of hot water a year.

Finally, you can conserve energy by simply using less. Much can be done without a significant change in your daily habits. For instance, when washing dishes in the sink by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. Fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean, and if you are using a dishwasher, only wash full loads. Use cold water with the garbage disposal. Cold water solidifies grease, allowing the disposal to get rid of it more effectively. You can take short showers instead of baths. You should first install a low-flow shower-head. Most standard showerheads use three to four gallons per minute. Even if you take a relatively brief 5 minute shower, you can end up consuming 20 gallons of hot water. Low-flow showerheads will use half of that. A family of four can save well over 1,000 gallons a month. If you are particularly attached to your showerhead, your can install a flow restrictor that will reduce the number of gallons per minute that it uses. For only a couple of dollars, you can reduce your load substantially.

Reducing losses, increasing efficiency, and reducing consumption: these are the first steps. What should be stressed more than quick fixes, though, is the notion of conscious consumption. We have forgotten the financial and environmental costs of hot water. If everyone recognized that whenever they turned on the hot water faucet they were using up energy produced by non-renewable sources, this would reduce energy consumption more than any other measure.

People often say to me, "Bob, I have done a lot of energy conservation and now I am ready to invest in a renewable energy system. What should I do next?"

Today, homeowners and business people can choose from a wide range of renewable energy technologies. Popular options include photovoltaic (solar electric) systems, wind electric systems, and solar water heaters. In almost every case, a solar water heating system is the best place to start. It provides a higher return on your investment than any other renewable energy system. A solar water heater works 12 months a year providing hot water to your home or business with little or no additional costs, thus offsetting your previous bill for heating water with conventional energy sources. Depending on your particular situation, the savings in conventional fuel can pay for the cost of the solar water heating system in as little as three years. Most often the payback is around five to ten years still a great investment, even without taking into account the ecological benefits of not burning all that fossil fuel.

In fact, I think its time to let you in on a little secret. Solar water heaters don't cost anything. They're FREE! I know it may sound absurd, but it's true. Now I'm not recommending that you run over to the nearest solar distributor and just take a system. Don't do that. I'm just asking you to take a step back and think about solar in a different way. With a little change in perspective, you will see that in the end solar water heaters have a net cost of zero dollars.

There are two ways to take this in. The first one is easy: when you install a solar water heater you are increasing your home's value. You gain in equity what you spent on the cost of installation. Solar water heaters typically have a life span of at least 30 40 years. In most cases, the solar collectors will outlast your roof. So if you decide to sell your home, you should get back most of what you paid for the cost of installation. I said this was easily understood, I didn't say it would be convincing. Just because something retains its value over time isn't usually reason enough to go out and buy it.

The second part of this shift in perspective takes a bit more explanation, but I assure you it is even more convincing.

The True Cost of Fossil Fuel
We'll start by comparing solar with the alternatives. Unless you are reading this to find out how to fix your existing system, you probably heat your water with some type of fossil fuel like natural gas, propane, or electricity.

When you purchase fossil fuels you do not pay anywhere near their whole cost. Because our taxes subsidize the oil companies, for instance, the true cost of gas is not reflected in the price we pay at the pump. Let me say it again: oil companies don't pay taxes on all the money they earn so you and I must pay higher taxes to make up for it! It goes without saying that if they paid their fair share of taxes, our tax rates would be lower and the price we pay for fossil fuels would be higher. The same scenario holds true for electricity and all other fossil fuels.

How can this be? First, the fossil fuel companies are among the richest corporations in the world, with tremendous influence in politics. For nearly a century they have manipulated the government into granting them numerous tax breaks and outright payments that are not enjoyed by any other class of corporation. The end result is that they pay little if any taxes themselves, but significantly influence how our tax dollars are spent. They have managed to get the government to pay for lots of expensive research for their industry.

The costs to the environment of using fossil fuels are also hidden. Burning fossil fuels releases carbon into the atmosphere, leading to global climate changes that will disrupt life as we know it on every corner of the Earth. The costs of dealing with these changes will be astronomical, and are directly linked to burning fossil fuels. When we burn fossil fuels, especially coal, chemicals are released into the atmosphere that cause acid rain, polluting our rivers, lakes, and soil. Acid rain kills wildlife, trees, and vegetation, and degrades our buildings, roads, and anything else exposed to it. Although we are already paying some of the costs to fix these problems, we are not paying them all. Eventually, someone will have to pay them.

Then there are health-related costs. Whenever we burn any fossil fuel, pollutants are released into the air that harm our health. Our health insurance costs go up to help pay for the care required by those most affected. Our taxes are increased to help pay for those who cannot afford their own care, and our general health care costs go up for the same reason. Again, we do not pay these costs at the pump or with our utility bill.

Some of our electricity is generated in nuclear power plants. The waste generated by these plants is one of the most toxic substances known to science.

Bob Ramlow is the solar thermal consultant for the Wisconsin Focus on Energy Program. The owner of a renewable energy company, he has over 30 years experience with solar energy systems and is a founder and a director of the Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). Benjamin Nusz currently works as a solar water heating consultant and site assessor in Wisconsin.

Source: Green Living Journal