ANNOUNCING...
our new national campaign...
TRANSITION EXPRESS CAMPAIGN,
launching in 2012
please check
for details
Our sister websites are:
www.PledgeCenter.vpweb.com - sharing a menu of 16 ways for all Americans to get involved in growing an efficient clean energy world.
IN THE MEAN TIME, we share two features...
ONE - a YouTube 4 minute video, with a script by Bill McKibben, video by Stephen Thomson of Plomomedia.com:
TWO - our GOLDEN FORMULA, for getting us on track, reducing
carbon emissions, and stabilizing planet earth at 350 ppm
(parts per million of atmospheric carbon)...
in order to shift 80% to clean energy by 2020, what climate and earth scientists now claim is our need, due to accelerating climate change...
if we shift down 1/2 in all 5 of the following categories, we will get to 80%:
(following is approximate % of all US greenhouse gas production)
BUILDING SECTOR - 48%*
TRANSPORTATION SECTOR - 15%*
LIVESTOCK AGRICULTURE - 35%
COAL PLANTS - 35%
ALL US INDUSTRY - 27%
PLUS, removing carbon from the atmosphere with Professors Lackner and Keiths' inventions (see details on upcoming SolvingClimateThreat website)...
= STABLE PLANET @ 350 parts per million of atmospheric carbon (where we were globally, in 1990)
* what MOST Americans can influence, who own a home and/or business building, and by how we choose to travel (both those categories amount to about 2/3 of the problem!).
WHAT FOLLOWS:
Sustainable Design BASICS
Building Energy Efficiency BASICS
rebates
books
home decor
solar accessories
toys
Website links on issues related to climate change
SUSTAINABLE DESIGN BASICS:
What Sustainable Design offers:
- ONE: encouraging affordable solar installation, in
coordination with energy efficiency. The two are
the best combination for the demands of a building,
in the 21st century. We recommend solar leasing with www.Sungevity.com. Now partnered with Lowe's in 8 states: Arizona, California, Colorado, Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey and New York. They will work with you to keep your costs low.
- TWO: encouraging Energy Transition Teams of
friends/neighbors - best with a group of 5 or 6 - to
get savings at Home Depot, Lowe's and smaller green
home businesses (see below *).
- THREE: simplifying what the building energy efficient
process involves (see 4-part description below).
- FOUR: encouraging a Green Number Rating home
audit, once an energy efficiency retrofit is completed.
This Green Number Rating adds to the value of a home.
A LEED rating would be applicable to a commercial
building.
* we encourage cost-effective group sales of Energy
Star appliances, cellular/honeycomb R2 rated window
shades and bulk CFL/LED bulbs: what AB811 in CA and the new PowerSaver loan won't cover, because they are removable from a building.
We encourage you to organize your own Energy
Transition Team of 5-6 friends and neighbors, to bring
costs down. Home Depot offers you 15-20% savings,
if you go into their bidding room. A minimum sale needs
to be $2,500 with one buyer handling the purchase.
Contact a Home Depot Associate at the ProDesk for
more details. Deliveries can be made from one store, to
most anywhere in the SF Bay Area, for instance.
'65% of all the energy consumed to generate electricity
in the US each year is lost.'
Carnegie Mellon University,
from Al Gore's Our Choice
(and why energy efficiency is crucial)
Building energy efficiency BASICs:
ONE - heating/cooling and the 'home/building
envelope': up-to-code insulation, R- rated windows or
window coverings, addressing air leakage, heating/
cooling and sealing related ducts.
TWO - installing key Energy Star appliances: water
heater, refrigerator, washer/dryer and dishwasher
THREE - lighting: installing all-CFLs and low-wattage
halogen bulbs (up to 60 watts best), supplemented
with LED/solar lighting.
FOUR - water: interior&exterior. Dual flush toilets ,
lowflow showerheads and sprinklers,
drip irrigation, rain harvesting, low water/xeriscape
landscaping, replacing part or all of your lawn, instant
hot water in kitchen.
In other words, adapting your home/business with the
most efficient technology in all of these 4 crucial
categories.
REBATES:
Sustainable Design wants you to feel confident as you
transform your home and/or business, that you are
making the most cost-effective choices. There are
various rebates available:
from the federal govt, from utilities, and from
manufacturers.
Here are valuable links to access on rebates:
www.energytaxincentives.org
www.energystar.gov
We are a member of EFFICIENCY FIRST, a new
non-profit trade association that unites Home
Performance contractors, residential energy
consultants, building product manufacturers
and other key members of America's growing
green-collar workforce.
Phone contact: 866-959-9811 or email them at info@
efficiencyfirst.org. Based in Washington DC.
BOOKS:
All That We Share: a field guide to the Commons, Jay
Walljasper, intro by Bill McKibben; leading visionaries
in the book include RFK Jr, Maude Barlow, Peter Barnes
The Clean Tech Revolution, Ron Pernick and
Clint Wilder. Between these two co-authors, they have
expertise in clean tech research, business and
journalism. They both speak at industry events.
Great resource on this surging industry.
Climate Capitalism: Capitalism in the Age of Climate
Change, Lovins & Cohen - 'to build a future that values
people and the planet, we need to rethink how we do
business - Climate Capitalism shows how to do it':
Gregor Robertson, mayor of Vancouver BC
Down To the Wire, David Orr -
'powerful and prophetic':
Wendell Berry
The Earth-Friendly Food Chain, Linda Riebel.
One of the best hands-on resources on the growing
EcoCities: Rebuilding Cities in Balance with Nature,
Richard Register, -'EcoCities takes you on an
exploratory journey into the cities of the future' :
Jane Goodall
Forests Forever: their ecology, restoration and
protection, John Berger - 'meticulously researched
and a magnificent book': Paul Hawken; order from
Forests Forever Foundation at 415-974-3636
Plan B, 4.0 , Lester Brown. This book gets regularly
updated, by a prolific researcher/author, who worked
with the Kennedy administration as Secretary of Agri-
culture. This current book release has some remark-
able updates on the advancements being made in China.
You can get email news updates on his research, by
The Post Carbon Reader: managing the 21st century's
sustainability crises, edited by Heinberg + Lerch; recom-
mended chapter: Nine Challenges of Alternative Energy
Rebooting the American Dream: 11 ways to rebuild
our country, Thom Hartmann, 'a seminal work':
Paul Hawken
2 books for entrepreneurs - 75 Green Businesses and
Starting Green, Glenn Croston, 'A terrific resource',
Josh Dorfman, founder/CEO, Vivavi
for kids - Harmony, Prince Charles (he has other
interesting books for adults, on organic farming)
HOME DECOR:
Acacialifestyle.com
Plowandhearth.com
VivaTerra.com
SOLAR ACCESSORIES:
TOYS:
RESOURCES: RECOMMENDED WEBSITES to follow, and
get on email networks
on air carbon capture development, Prof Klaus Lackner,
geoscience dept/Columbia U:
trees.htm
id=washing-carbon-out-of-the-air -
Scientific American article, June, 2010
(need to pay to get entire article)
National Geographic article, August 2010
- part one; influenced by daughter's middle school science project/
NOVA's Science Now
- part two, on mineral sequestration
- why CO2 needs to be removed from atmosphere
funding for - Virgin Earth Challenge/Sir Richard Branson:
on algae biofuel development (see 'Green Revolution',
below, for Navy/Marines use of):
US distribution starting in 2011:
on bee colony collapse/action by EPA:
on cap and dividend/price on carbon - see more under
Climate and activism, Congressional legislation:
discussed by Bill McKibben:
=youtube_gdata;
-dividend/
on carbon sequestration into rock:
on cars for the 21st century:
on car sharing-
destructive_consumption_habits?akid=7208.108762.
dYunkR&rd=1&t=6
13/drive-star-obama-
speech-bp-spill-cut-oil-use-in-half-by-2020/
EV charge stations on the west coast:
energy.gov/afdc/fuels/stations.html
Nissan Leaf, with 100 miles per charge -
ppn.39666654.
&dcc=0.216878497#/leaf-electric-car/index
oil free tires to be available in 2013 -
sumitomo-rubber-offering-oil-free-tires/ - oil free tires
pluginAmerica.org
Plug-in conversions -
calcars.org
- A123 Systems can adapt ANY car to a plug-in, but most cost-
effective with a Prius
on China, advancing on clean energy:
www.truth-out.org/new-sputnik/1305295722
on city initatives focused on climate change:
14bloomberg.html
on clean energy standard legislation (CES):
standard68796 - getting processed in Congress now, with a
bipartisan group of 6 senators, headed up by Sen Bingaman (D-NM)
and Sen Murkowski (R-AK)
on the climate, and activism*:
350.org- Bill McKibben's global project* billsclimatelab.org - Bill Nye's call to action*
Jim Hansen's petition for fee and dividend*
climatepolicy.org- scientific discussion; can subscribe to
emailings
Science Center, Oakland CA
DC/can subscribe to emailings
millionlettermarch.org- collaboration of Jim Hansen, Bill
McKibben, Lester Brown, and others, to influence Congress
on a carbon tax*
powershift2011.org - youth movement*
realclimate.org - scientific discussion
sustainabilitycoalition.org - youth movement*
templates/story/story.php?storyId=9850473
on coal gasification in China and Texas/carbon
capture, negatives:
2010/12/
dirty-coal-clean-future/8307/
its negatives:
-dioxide-quake-risk-greenhouse-gas
on Congressional legislation:
/print/
on Copenhagen/Cancun and beyond:
cspan.com - Sec Steven Chu interview, Nov 29, 2009 formerly with Clinton/Obama administrations
SEE NATURE RIGHTS, below
on Corporate Climate responsibility:
on deforestation/reforestation:
ran.org - Rainforest Action Network
'Scientists estimate that more than 40% of
the excess CO2 that has accumulated in our
atmosphere has come from deforestation.'
Our Choice, Al Gore
on Eco-City development:
cities_greener/#paragraph3http://www.alternet.org/newsand
views/article/530923/making_cities_greener/#paragraph3
on ECONOMY:
on EPA action:
deliver-on-climate-1448811.html
on coal plants, specifically on mercury
on energy efficiency in buildings:
Ed Mazria
Performance profession
on fee and dividend legislation:
recommended by leading US climatologist, James Hansen.
on food, converting to organic agriculture:
rodaleinstitute.org - Kutztown PA
2010 best food stories (including good news on bees):
breakingnews.ewg.org/meateatersguide - new meat eater's guide,
which also includes Seafood Watch, from Monterey Aquarium,
Monterey CA
on forests, their ecology, restoration and
protection:
forestsforever.org- San Francisco CA
on Green Jobs/careers:
and resources:
greatgreencareers.com/cm/candidates/resources?utm_content=GGC+08.23.11+NH+Post+Resume&utm_campaign
=NH_MISC&utm
_source=iPost&utm_medium=email
urbanfarming.org - offers jobs
on 'Green Revolution' in the Navy and Marines:
opinion/19friedman.html
on home greening:
on Marin Energy Authority/new community
choice program:
news/local/north_bay&id=7259348
on Marine Life Protection Act in CA:
on natural gas 'fracking' and negatives:
12/13/ny-fracking-ban-david-paterson_n_
795730.html;
agreement_with_fracking_
company_over_well_contamination;
companies_hold_data
_needed_by_researchers_to_assess_risk_to_water_quality/?akid=6983.108762.rQ9m3h&rd=1&t=13
EPA getting involved on fracking controversy:
Cornell peer-review study, indicating fracking as bad as coal:
gas-from-fracking-worse-than-coal-on-climate
on Nature Rights:
9 minute explanation by water activist, Maude Barlow, on newest international effort, since April 2010 gathering in Bolivia, following the failed effort at Copenhagen16, Dec 2009.
on Nuclear Power, and negatives:
- upgrading safety and looking at graphite reactors
_032211.pdf - Ed Mazria questions officials on amount of US nuclear
use (Lester Brown supports Ed Mazria's numbers -
see Plan B, 4.0 book, page 138 - official reports are at 20%,
Ed Mazria/LesterBrown indicate 10%).
more on nuclear use negatives:
power-after-japan-disasterhttp://www.truth-out.org/obamas-
wrongheaded-stance-nuclear-power-after-japan-disaster
on solar thermal/molten salt alternative to nuclear:
other hybrid alternatives to nuclear:
media continues to advocate for non-nuclear solutions:
1303840209
need for UN inspection on all global nuclear reactors:
learned_from_chernobyl%2C_fukushima/?akid=6892.108762.AuHBlk&rd=1&t=14
from Physicians for Social Responsiblity:
with physicist Vandana Shiva and water activist Maude Barlow
on Overpopulation - as we hit a global
population of 7 billion, October 2011:
people%3A_how_much_more_growth_can_the_planet_support?page=entire
on Plan B Documentary, with Lester Brown and other energy experts - narration by Matt Damon:
on plastic-free living:
on population stabilization:
populationinstitute.org
their study on climate change:
program with Center for Biological Diversity:
on 'post carbon' living:
postcarbon.org- Post Carbon Institute, Santa Rosa CA
25 minutes with Richard Heinberg, PCI director:
how journalist Bill McKibben envisions it:
climate-and-ourselves
on Recovery Through Retrofit program:
Recovery_Through_Retrofit_Final_Report.pdf
22 region listing of 2 year pilot project:
Project_List.pdf
on Renewable/Sustainable Energy, going 80%:
on Rights of Nature - see Nature Rights
on solar thermal power, with molten salt:
404901/pa_
on solar power that is portable:
on sustainable community building, in cities
and counties:
sustainablesanramon.org - San Ramon CA
dailyacts.org- Petaluma, CA/Sonoma county CA
on urban farming:
urbanfarming.org - headquartered in MI with
city projects across the US
http://article.wn.com/view/2011/04/08/Zoning_can_boost_
urban_agricultures_renaissance/
on water:
desalination of rivers -
challenge of water privatization -
a_corporate_
takeover_of_drinking_water?page=2
on (calculating your) water footprint:
on wildlife:
lead-free hunting in CA:
2008/lead-ammunition-06-30-2008.html
on US wind development, partnering with China:
/16wind.
html?pagewanted=3&_r=1&ref=business
GOOD NEWS... on U.S. carbon emissions, from Lester
Brown, founder of Earth Policy Institute, based in DC:
We have reduced our carbon emissions 9% since 2007.
He claims this means we are finally 'walking the walk',
based on more efficiency, more alternative energy use,
lowered use of oil and coal, and clearly the recession
factors in there too.
See his article, currently featured on his website, at
Obviously, whatever can be done with energy effic-
iency, then clean energy, saves us energy and money,
and ensures a planet we wish to be living on, leaving it
as livable as possible, for the next generation...
Join us.
