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Phantom Loads - Increasing Your Carbon Footprint and Your Electricity Bills
2008-04-20 21:56:29
Find out about phantom loads and the simple solutions to help you save money and lower your carbon footprint. A phantom load isn’t the name of the next blockbuster thriller, but the concept is frightening. Phantom load refers to the small, but constant, power use of most modern household electronic equipment . Appliances use energy even when they appear "off" just so they can be ready for action. |
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Blog for Youth Coming Soon
Stay tuned for an insightful blog targeted at highschool and college-aged people. |
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Going Green - Why Bother?
2008-04-23 23:15:37
Can the average citizen have an impact on global climate change? The answer is a resounding "YES" and in many ways. Consumers have an enormous influence on: the marketplace and its offerings, politicians and their political will, and each other. Although global climate change cannot be successfully taken on without money to invest in the technological advances necessary to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels and laws that support the environment, this is a movement that starts with you and me. |
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Clinton and McCain - Policy Making the Unsustainable Way
2008-05-14 21:48:15
McCain and Clinton propose to suspend the federal excise tax on gasoline, 18.4 cents a gallon, for this summer’s travel season. At a time when so much attention is being paid to global climate change, and the need to reduce our use of fossil fuels, Clinton and McCain have devised a policy that actually encourages people to drive more. It is all in the name of getting our economy back on track, but wouldn't we all be better served with a proactive energy policy that invests in clean technology rather than a short-sighted reactionary policy that gets us through the summer months? |
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Carbon Neutral Olympics?
2008-05-08 15:00:35
China is billing the Beijing Olympics this summer as "basically" carbon neutral. Although China rivals the U.S. as the greatest contributor of carbon emissions in the world, the country is making an effort with this summer's Olympics (this was part of China's bid for the Olympics). From implementing solar, wind and other alternative energy sources to using hybrid electric vehicles in the central areas of the Olympics, China is taking a decidedly "green" approach to this world event. They are hoping that their efforts will serve as a model for future large-scale international events.
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Which Reusable Water Bottles Are the Safest?
2008-09-10 13:33:40
Hopefully most have made the switch from purchasing bottled water to using reusable water bottles and filling from the tap. But which reusable water bottles are the safest? There is much confusion out there regarding the safety of plastic water bottles - read on to get the latest information. |
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Obama Priority: Cap and Trade System
2008-08-28 14:09:41
Obama has indicated that a cap and trade system for carbon emissions will be one of his top three economic priorities if he is elected President. |
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Code Green - U.S. as Environmental Leader?
2008-09-08 11:47:29
Thomas Friedman wants the U.S. to declare "Code Green" on global warming. In his new book, Hot, Flat and Crowded, Mr. Friedman makes the case for the the U.S. to become a world leader in tackling global warming through innovation and inspiring an ethic of conservation toward the natural world. |
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California's Proposition 7
2008-09-15 11:34:32
The initiative, Solar and Clean Energy Act, requires utilities to buy half their power from alternative energy sources such as wind, solar, biomass and geothermal by 2025. Currently, 10.9 percent of power comes from alternative sources. Utilities are trying to hit 20 percent by 2010; the governor and legislators are working on a plan to hit 33 percent by 2020.
But it's not aggressive goals that doom this plan. Rather, energy producers and environmentalists fear Proposition 7 would lead to less alternative energy by pushing small producers out of the market and creating dual oversight that would slow approval of transmission lines. |
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U.S. Utilities Start to Shift Away from Coal
2008-09-22 09:43:13
Although coal still plays a key role in the U.S. energy mix - supplying the U.S. with over half of its energy needs - recent steps by utilities to shift away from coal-fired electricity generation is a hopeful sign of things to come. |
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Good News - Candidates Actually Agree on Global Warming
2008-09-22 23:23:53
At least when it comes to global warming, the presidential candidates agree more than they disagree. The two candidates share the same main strategy to fight global warming: a comprehensive cap and trade system to curb emissions. There of course are differences on the finer points of such a system, but both candidates appear to be embracing a private sector led program with public sector assistance. They also agree that all countries have to be players in this global problem. |
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Tankless Water Heaters - Proven Energy Savers
2009-01-08 14:56:11
If you are in the market for a new water heater, consider buying a tankless water heater that delivers hot water on demand rather than wasting energy by heating the water all the time. |
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Food Crisis is Global Warming's Biggest Threat
2009-01-08 19:23:55
Scientists at Stanford University and the University of Washington, in a report published in Science, predict by the end of this century that global warming will cause crop yields to fall 20-40 percent. |
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Obama Putting His Stamp on Energy Policy
2009-01-26 21:19:57
Today, Obama directed the EPA to take another look at California's request to enforce tougher fuel emissions standards than the federal law requires. This represents a clear break with the Bush Administration policy under which California's request was denied. |
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Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency Upgrades Now Available in 2009
2009-01-26 22:04:03
Home improvement tax credits are now available for home improvements “placed in service” from January 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009. Any qualified home improvements made in 2008 are not eligible for the tax credit. This is as a result of President Bush signing into law the “Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008.” |
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LA and SF - Stars of Energy Efficiency
2009-04-22 10:10:15
Energy efficient upgrades can save nearly 50% of a building's energy costs. Energy Star, through its Portfolio Manager program, tracks the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. LA and San Francisco ranked at the top for most number of efficient buildings. |
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What Does the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 1990 Mean for You and the Environment?
The American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 1990 provides up to a $1500 tax credit for energy efficient improvements that are put into effect in 2009 and 2010. Home energy retrofits have been shown to save homeowners from 30% to 70% on their utility bills. Take advantage of this tax credit and do something for your pocket book at the environment - a win/win if there ever was one! |
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What Does the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 Mean for You and the Environment?
2009-04-22 12:34:08
The American Recover and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009 provides up to a $1500 tax credit for energy efficient improvements that are put into effect in 2009 and 2010. Home energy retrofits have been shown to save homeowners from 30% to 70% on their utility bills. Take advantage of this tax credit and do something for your pocket book at the environment - a win/win if there ever was one! |
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What Do Snackwells and Energy Efficiency Have in Common?
2009-04-22 13:25:26
Snackwells are the infamous low calorie cookie that dieters have been binging on for years. This same undermining behavior can be seen in some consumers' approach toward energy efficiency. Just because one gets an energy upgrade and has energy efficient appliances in their home or business, does not mean that they can stop being vigilant about their energy usage. |
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The Case for Low Carbon Development
2010-05-10 14:27:05
Low carbon development is imperative in developed as well as developing countries, though the concept has slightly different meanings in each of these domains. As economies continue to function and grow throughout the world, a low carbon development approach needs to be in place that addresses each country's unique set of circumstances. In the industrialized world, increased prosperity has come at the expense of the environment, and now the transition away from fossil fuels is like pulling teach. If developing countries can learn from the current industrialized world's mistakes, not only will they be ahead of the game for continued prosperity, but we will all benefit. Case in point: China. The country’s surging demand for power from oil and coal has led to the largest six-month increase in the tonnage of human generated greenhouse gases ever by a single country. Although China has set ambitious goals for itself regarding renewable energy and energy efficiency, the wheels were already in motion for an intensive industrialization based on fossil fuels. Now China, too, will have to reconcile its rapid industrialization with environmental concerns. Whether through commitments to address current emissions and/or actions to avoid emissions, low carbon development should be everyone's mantra. |
