McCain and the Environment

UPDATE (9-05-08): A far more accurate description of McCain's current environmental views can be found HERE. 

UPDATE (8-29-08): This post was written many many months ago before John McCain more clearly delineated his environmental policies. Thousands of people stumble on this post all the time, looking for insight into McCain's view on the environment. For quite a while, I have felt I was doing readers a disservice by leaving this post out there even though it doesn't reflect the current beliefs of John McCain. For that reason, I am now including links to several recent posts that will provide a more complete portrait of what John McCain will do, if elected President, with the environment...

• To see a short description of McCain's VP, Gov. Sarah Palin's environmental views, click HERE.
• To read about McCain's interest in drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, click HERE.
• To read about McCain's misleading campaign ad on wind energy, click HERE.
• To read about the sudden campaign cash influx McCain received from oil executives after his flip-flop on offshore oil drilling, click HERE.
• To read about McCain's 0% rating by the League of Conservation Voters, click HERE.
  

I don't mean to offend anyone, but most Republicans pay lip service to the environment. Theodore Roosevelt set a great example for Republicans through his dedication to conserving our natural environment. He sowed the seeds for the Wildlife Refuge system, the United States Forest Service, and the National Park system. Unfortunately, an emphasis on supporting business has trumped conservation in the Party and their environmental policies have suffered.

Senator John McCain offers hope to those who are both Republicans and environmentalists (no, they are not mutually exclusive). Among a Republican primary pack of candidates who are more interested in old energy technologies then new, McCain stands out as a realist. What are McCain's views on the environment and what is his record?

John McCain has kept pace with the environmental movement.

• In 2002, McCain introduced a bill that would raise fuel-economy standards to 36 miles per gallon by 2016. It took five years for a similar law to pass in the Senate.
  
• In 2003, before "An Inconvenient Truth," McCain co-sponsored the first bill in the Senate to mandate reductions in the emissions. A watered-down version of the law passed last Fall.
  
• He held hearings in 2003 & 2004 on climate change while he was Chair of the Senate Commerce Committee.
  
• He opposed the 2005 Cheney energy bill (like Clinton, but not Obama) because of its oil industry give-aways.
  
• He has always opposed drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
  
• Finally, he supports a cap-and-trade program for factory emissions.

To label McCain as an environmentalist would be misleading, however. In keeping with his "maverick" reputation, McCain has supported some issues that make true environmentalists unhappy.

• The League of Conservation Voters has scored McCain a paltry 26% compared to Obama and Clinton in the 90% range. However, they did endorse McCain in his 2004 campaign.
  
• Supports the development of more nuclear power plants.
• Believes continued coal use should be considered. Also supports development of coal gasification and carbon capture/storage for coal plants.
  
• Voted against the 2007 energy bill which mandated improved fuel economy standards by 2020 (to be fair, it isn't clear why he voted against this very watered-down bill)
• Voted against a 2005 bill that set standards for the U.S. to diversify its energy portfolio to include 10% renewables by 2020.
  
• Opposed President Clinton's "roadless rule" in the National Forest system which would have prevented timber companies from taking trees from reserves.

Frankly, McCain's environmental record is far more good then bad. He has truly been at the fore front of some controversial issues, and he should be applauded for that. In the past 2 years, it seems he has regressed in his support for some of these issues.

If you want to read an interview with Senator McCain about the environment, go HERE.

To read Senator McCain's environmental platform straight from his '08 candidacy website, go HERE.

Plastics Recycling by the Numbers

Out of sheer boredom, I bet there has been a time when you've flipped your Coke bottle over and seen that little number on the bottom by the recycling triangle. "What does that mean?" you've asked yourself. Well, I asked myself the same thing, so out of sheer boredom, here is the explanation.

Just as aluminum and glass cannot be recycled and blended together to make a new product, different types of plastics cannot be mixed to make new plastic products. For this reason, a number system was created to discern one type of plastic from another. When corporations buy recycled plastic from recyclers, they request the plastic number that will best meet their needs.

Here are the various number distinctions and what products they are generally used for...

1. Plastics marked #1 - These contain Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Most 1 products are soda, beer, and food bottles or trays. When recycled, PET turns into long fibers which are generally used for carpets, jacket filling, t-shirt fabrics and shopping bags.
   
2. Plastics marked #2 - Milk and water jugs fill the 2 category. These are high-density polyethylene (HD-PE) plastics. Clear HDPE is easy to recycle into new containers. Bottles that are made of colored HDPE is often found in plastic lumber.
3. Plastics marked #3 - These products are made of vinyl or polyvinyl chloride. They make up the clear food packaging and plumbing pipe category. Very few products can be found in this category, so unfortunately recyclers focus more on the bigger money makers instead.
   
4. Plastics marked #4 - This is low-density polyethylene (LDPE). This type of plastic is very flexible so it works great for plastic bags. The problem is that plastic bags are very difficult to recycle because it actually requires less energy to make a new bag then to recycle an old one. They go to the dump. This is why it is sooo important to use cloth bags rather than plastic bags at the store. BRING YOUR OWN BAG!
5. Plastics marked #5 - You know this plastic, its the one your yogurt, butter and these types of containers are made of. Unless there is an industry near your home that really needs this type of plastic, it is not likely recycled and is sent to the dump. Try re-using them yourself in place of tupperware.
   
6. Plastics marked #6 - This is polystyrene. The most evil plastic of all. This is what CD jackets, eating utensils, and take-out food containers are made of. Styrofoam is also made of this plastic. This is almost never recycled and takes a very long time to decompose. It also hurts wildlife by getting stuck in digestive tracks.
   
7. Plastics marked #7 - Only buy this plastic if you plan on keeping it forever. It is impossible to recycle. Look for #7 plastics on imported goods and lids. Just stay away from #7!
   

So there you go. A breakdown of the plastic number system for recycling. I guess the moral of the story is that plastic is not a natural product. It was created by scientists. Technology is great, but not often great for the environment. Whenever you can, stay away from plastic, and always recycle.

My thanks to Jane Bogner for the info

Congo's Gorillas Threatened by Rebels

From MSNBC...

VIRUNGA NATIONAL PARK, Congo - Not far from a hillside where several mountain gorillas shot dead last summer lie buried, park ranger Innocent Mburanumwe peers across a primordial canopy of treetops into what may be the most dangerous game reserve on earth.

The lush sanctuary — home to some of the world’s last mountain gorillas — was thrust onto the front lines of Congo’s latest war in September. Since then, the fragile habitat in the Central African highlands has been overrun by rebels and soldiers, transformed into an off-limits war zone.

In the world of wildlife conservation, the biggest worry most rangers face is the extinction of endangered animals. But in Virunga National Park, where more than 120 rangers have been killed over the last decade, they also worry about their own survival.

Read the whole story HERE...

Apple's Green-Up at Macworld

Today marks the beginning of the Macworld Conference in San Francisco. This is the annual convention that brings together Apple, Inc. and companies who manufacture Apple software or accessories.

Apple has always taken a lot of flack from Greenpeace and other environmental organizations for having a pretty mediocre record on non-toxic merchandise and recycling programs. Obviously, Apple is an easy target with its popular iPod and Mac product lines. But being a successful company impugns upon Apple more responsibility than your average consumer electronics company.

Back in May of 2007, Apple CEO Steve Jobs published an open letter addressing concerns about Apple's environmental impact. In it, Jobs explained Apple's plans to move to LED back lit technology in their computer screens, which eliminates the use of mercury in manufacturing. He also noted Apple's computer recycling program which... "Recycled 13 million pounds of e-waste in 2006, which is equal to 9.5% of the weight of all products Apple sold seven years earlier. We expect this percentage to grow to 13% in 2007, and to 20% in 2008. By 2010, we forecast recycling 19 million pounds of e-waste per year — nearly 30% of the product weight we sold seven years earlier."

You can read more about Apple's environmental stance HERE and recycle your Apple product by going HERE.

There are many predictions out there about what great new product Steve Jobs will unveil during his infamous key note address on Tuesday morning at Macworld. Last year he introduced the world to iPhone. This year he could introduce a thin, ultra-portable version of the amazing Macbook laptop called, "Macbook Air."

In addition to new products, Jobs is expected to address the progress Apple has made in reducing their environmental impact since May. He could also discuss new ways Apple plans on progressing their environmental efforts. Keep in mind, Al Gore is a member of the Apple Board of Directors!

Paying for the Air

Every single day you take advantage of products and services that are provided to you absolutely free. Its happening right now as you read this. It happens all the time, every day and I bet you don't even realize it.

For instance, when it rains and your home isn't flooded, thats a service you received for free. The low price you pay for fruits is due to the fact that farmers receive free pollination services from bees. The constant decomposition of our garbage that sits in the city dump happens at no cost to you. The cycle of seasons that brings the right amount of rain, snow and new growth is free. And of course, the air you are breathing as you read this boring blog post is free too.

All of these different services, both tangible and intangible, are provided naturally and are called "ecosystem services." Its easy to forget that we rely on all of this stuff in order to survive. But just imagine how much it would cost if you had to pay a person to engineer a way to provide these services.

Ecosystems Services can be divided into five different categories...

• provisioning: production of food and water

• regulating: control of climate and disease

• supporting: nutrient cycles and crop pollination

• cultural: spiritual and recreational benefits

• preserving: guarding against uncertainty through the maintenance of diversity

Several well-respected scientists and environmental experts have spent their lives trying to put a price on ecosystems services by trying to calculate the cost of businesses providing these same services to all of us.

Although its not a perfect science, the guesstimated current value of our biosphere and the services it provides is approximately $33 trillion per year. Thats a lot of cheddar.

So what is the point of all this? Most city, state and federal government planning decisions incorporate an economic value into them. So when Best Buy is given a permit to build a new store on a specific piece of property, the city and state analyzed the economic impact that store will have on the community. Its almost always a win-win situation for Best Buy. Its often a win-lose situation for the community.

The forest area on that land where people once hiked or hunted will be gone. The dirt that absorbed rain water for our drinking water will be covered by asphalt. The trees that provided habitat for birds who spread seeds and ate disease carrying bugs or rodents will be gone. Etc. Etc. Etc.

The value of all those services destroyed by the development aren't taken into account when cities and states do their economic analysis. The argument had been that there was no economic value placed on those services, so how could they be analyzed? Hence the development of ecosystem services.

To me, what is most important is to appreciate these services and to try to ensure they will continue to be free. Nature is very sensitive to change and if we don't protect it, we may have to spend all our beer money on air.

Man Saves Garbage in Home for 1 Year

This MSNBC story might seem gross at first, but it makes a really interesting point about just how much garbage we create in one year. It is definitely a great reminder of why its important to 1) recycle, 2) buy products with less packaging, 3) consume less, and 4) reuse more.

The Tax Cut of Champions

Last night the Republican candidates for President had a big debate down in South Carolina. One of the issues discussed at great length was tax cuts. Republicans love talking about tax cuts because almost everybody likes keeping more of their own money. The thing is...there are already a ton of great tax cuts available now!

I recently came across a website called the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency. Its a pretty sexy website name isn't it? The DSIRE site is a listing of all the tax breaks you can earn for making changes to your home so it is more energy efficient. The site is easy to use and features a map of the U.S. with "clickable" states so you can easily find how much of a tax break you can get for greening up your place.

Now, what you have to realize is, this is the best tax cut you'll ever earn. It is going to benefit you in 3 ways. First, you're going to pay less taxes. Second, you're going to save money every month on your utility bills forever. Third, you're going to brag to everyone you know about how green and hip you are.

I dug through the listings and found one example from the District of Columbia, where I live...

In the District of Columbia, a tax credit is available to those who purchase high efficiency equipment or an energy efficiency home. If a resident installs or upgrades equipment or insulation in a residence, the following tax credits are available:

• 25% of expenses for double-paned windows, insulation of doors and caulking for windows
  
• 20% of expenses for energy efficient water, heating and cooling systems and insulation of water heating and existing duct work
  
• 20% of expenses for insulation of walls, floors and ceilings
  
• 20% of expenses for major home appliances and ceiling fans
  
• 15% of expenses for lighting and lighting fixtures
  
• 10% of expenses for programmable thermostat or lighting controls

If a resident purchases a new home, a 5% tax credit may be taken, up to $2000, if the home is designated as 50% or more efficienct than the 1995 model energy code.

This listing reads like a guide to making your home more energy efficient and it describes just how easy getting this tax credit is.

• Lets start with fluorescent light bulbs. If you go out and buy energy efficient light bulbs for your entire home, you will get 15% back on the purchase of the bulbs. Thats 3 times the sales tax.

• Next, if you buy caulking to put around your windows to keep cool or hot air out, the city will give you a tax credit of 25%.

• If you replace those ugly light fixtures in your home with really cool fans, you get 20% of the cost back.

• Get a programmable AC/Heater controller so it turns off when you're gone and back on before you get home and get 10% back.

These are all changes you probably would have made in your home anyways, but why not get back the sales tax and more? Plus, I can guarantee that if you make these few changes to your home, you will see a very significant reduction on your utility bill. I know, because I've made most of these changes.

If you want to see what tax cuts your state is offering for energy efficient home renovations check out the DSIRE website HERE. You can also learn about federal tax cuts for these renovations by going HERE.

David Beckham Has Huge Feet

Green Party members in the UK undertook the very serious task of measuring L.A. soccer star David Beckham's carbon footprint. Apparently, its the biggest in the world!

Just what has David done to deserve this distinction? In 2007, Becks flew over 250,000 miles (the distance to the dark side of the moon). He owns 15 of the worlds priciest, most powerful sports cars.

His demanding travel schedule caused the release of over 163 tons of CO2, compared to 9.4 by the average UK citizen. By far, it is all the flying around that has made David's carbon footprint so huge. During a four month span, he actually spent 8 days worth of time in the air. His dedication to playing soccer in UK competitions while he is still a member of the L.A. Galaxy means he has traveled 163,000 miles by plane.

The Green Party is calling on Beckham to make big changes to his lifestyle to reduce his carbon footprint since he is considered a hero to many young people.

Do you want to measure your carbon footprint? Go HERE

Obama vs. Clinton on the Environment

Grist.org has some great information on the various presidential candidates and their environmental platforms. Of course, one of the most compelling stories from the primary election is the competition between Senators Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

To give you some insight into both candidates' environmental record, I've summarized the bios from Grist.org on them below. Hillary first, by way of coin toss.

Senator Hillary Clinton -

• Since becoming Senator of New York in 2001, Clinton has earned a 90% lifetime voting score from the League of Conservation Voters.
  

• She proposed the Strategic Energy Fund that, would raise $50 billion over ten years by ending tax subsidies and credits to oil companies and investing the money in clean energy technologies.

• She has made her presidential campaign carbon neutral.
  

• Hillary proposes to: Raise fleet-wide fuel-economy standards to 40 mpg by 2020 and 55 mpg by 2030, Cut U.S. consumption of foreign oil by 2/3 by 2030, Get 25% of US electricity from renewable sources by 2030, and Reduce greenhouse-gas emissions 80% by 2050

• Clinton supports coal power plants if they emit 20% less carbon over their life cycle compared to "conventional fuels." She has also supported federal loans for coal projects.
  

• She is "agnostic" on the issue of nuclear power because she feels that nuclear power is a clean source of electricity that is also a potential target for terrorists.
  

• She opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
  

• She has been a co-sponsor of Senator Boxer's global warming bill that enacted strict emission cutting standards. This was three months after the bill was introduced and after she co-sponsored a less strict bill by Senator McCain.

• She is a member of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.
  

• Voted Against Dick Cheney's industry loving Energy Policy Act.
  

• She successfully lobbied the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to let International Paper burn tires at a mill in upstate New York in '05. The pollution from the burn was so bad that the operation was suspended.
  

Senator Barack Obama -

• In 2003, State Senator Obama was one of six state senators to receive a 100% environmental voting record from the Illinois Environmental Council.

• Among the other 6 Democrats running in the primary for the Illinois US Senate election, Obama was the only one endorsed by the Sierra Club and League for Conservation Voters. In 2004, the League named Obama their Environmental Champion

• In Illinois, Obama worked to block the Bush Administration's rollback of the Clean Air Act's new-source review rules from being carried out in the state.

• As a State Senator, Obama co-sponsored a measure that would require 10% of energy generated in the state to come from renewable sources by 2012.

• Obama's environmental pitch is that it isn't a rich white issue anymore, that is transcends class and race. He pushed low-income communities in Chicago to block toxic dumping in their neighborhoods and volunteered with an organization that educates poor black communities about the importance of recycling.
  

• As a US Senator, Obama voted against President Bush's "Clear Skies" bill.
  

• He supports liquefied coal technology and ethanol use.
  

• Wants 30% of the federal government's electricity to come from renewables by 2020, Calls for 25% of US electricity come from renewable sources by 2025, Pushes a cap-and-trade system that would reduce carbon dioxide emissions 80% by 2050.
  

• Revenue from the cap-and-trade plan would fund a $50 billion economic package for developing clean energy technology, creating green jobs, and helping the poor cover the utility bills.
  

• Supports many of the same fuel-economy and building energy efficiency standards that Senator Clinton supports.
  

• Wants incandescent light bulbs phased out by 2014.

• Cosponsored Senator Boxer's Global Warming Pollution Reduction Act, the most stringent in the Senate.

• Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

• Supports some use of nuclear energy.

• Promises to fix the changes Bush made to environmental laws.
  

• Supports labels on food that are from foreign countries or were genetically modified.
  

• Received $159,800 in campaign contributions from execs and employees of Exelon, a nuclear power-plant operator.
  

• Supported Dick Cheney's Energy Policy Act, with all of its oil-friendly giveaways.
  

Green Tech At CES

The Consumer Electronic Show (CES) will be wrapping up soon in Law Vegas. The huge convention brings consumer electronic and accessory makes together from all over the world to show off their wares. Lately the trend appears to be emphasizing thinner, lighter, more portable electronic equipment. There is also growth in the number of electronics that are easier on the environment.

Electronics makers and retailers are notoriously bad stewards of the environment. Most consumer electronics contain a great deal of toxic ingredients including lead and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). These products are churned out year after year with new technology that induces consumption but ignores the obvious side-effect of that consumption, waste. Very few companies have a reasonable recycling program and most consumers simply throw their old technology in the garbage where it is left to leak all that nasty stuff into our water supply.

To offset the impacts of that bad behavior, tech companies have created some greener products this year. One corporation, Marvell, has created new power converters for laptops and desktops that actually power computers by using less...power. Thats up to 50% less. Fujitsu has had a laptop for sale in other countries that comes with a recyclable and biodegradable corn based case. Now the laptop is coming to America! Several solar companies unveiled products like backpacks with solar panels attached to batteries so they power your laptop using the sun. Other solar products include solar powered wi-fi equipment and some better solar powered battery options.

CES itself is trying to green up its act. Food containers are biodegradable. Carpets are recyclable. The paper used for maps, guides, and information is recycled and the ink is non-toxic. All of the light bulbs at the convention center are fluorescent and a special air conditioning system that uses less electricity is in place. As if that weren't enough, CES is offsetting its carbon emissions for the show by buying carbon credits that will be invested to develop more advanced renewable energy sources for all of us.

These electronic makers aren't the only ones responsible for reducing the impact technology has on our environment. As consumers, we also have a responsibility to take the right steps when we're done using a gadget. After all, its our water, our air, and our planet at stake. If you have batteries that are dead, you can recycle them at most Staples and Office Depot locations. Old cellphones can be donated to "Cellphones for Soldiers." Or you can simply bring them into your local UPS store. As for old computers and monitors, look for local schools that accept technology donations. You can also call your city's waste department and ask them how they accept computer waste. Finally, you can go HERE and find a recycling area in your community.

China Bans the Bags

China takes a lot of heat for being a very environmentally unfriendly place. Over the past few years, China has experienced an incredible boom in its growth. As a result, ecosystems have been destroyed by development of dams and cities. Due to the lack of environmental regulations air pollution has reached such high levels that people cannot leave their homes. Its a pretty disgusting situation.

It must be said, however, that China has been quick to respond to criticism of its environmental situation. Slowly, the Chinese government is considering restrictions on global greenhouse gases. China has also shown interest in participating in the development of solar and wind power generators. Now, China has decided to ban all plastic bags from being produced, sold, or used.

This is obviously a pretty extreme ban. I guess thats one of the benefits of a totalitarian communist regime. Beginning June 1st, anybody providing thin plastic bags with the products they sell will be heavily fined.

The reason for this new ban is the reason why every person should seriously consider using reusable cloth bags rather than accepting plastic bags. In China's case, over 3 billion plastic bags are used daily. This requires the refinement of 37 million barrels of crude oil per year for manufacturing of the bags.

The bags you take from the grocery store, or from any store, also require oil for their creation. Think of all the bags you get every time you go shopping, its a lot! The best way to confront the terrible waste of oil is not necessarily to pass a government ban on the bags, but to educate people about the many benefits of cloth bags, both environmental and economical. They're also more reliable and convenient.

I'm sure you have cloth bags around your house that you could use for the grocery store. If you don't, Martha Stewart has a great guide to making bags from old t-shirts HERE. You can also purchase cloth bags in a 5 pack for $10 at AMAZON.

Just keep your bags in the trunk of your car or in your main bag and you'll always have it with you.

With Obama, is it the 1970's Again?

Barack Obama Ba-rocked the Iowa caucuses last Thursday and judging by today's polls coming out of New Hampshire, he is in a very good position to win the "first in the nation" primary.

Obama's theme is that he is the candidate best equipped to unite the country behind a non-partisan set of ideals. Hopefully, one ideal in that set is the creation of innovative solutions to our modern environmental challenges so we can have a healthier planet, create new jobs, and lead the world in green technology development.

There have been times in the history of this country when politicians did unite behind the goal of protecting our environment. In fact, the modern environmental movement, and the laws we rely on to protect our environment, were born from a shared interest by the political parties to legislate solutions to America's pollution challenges in the early 1970's.

It is difficult to pin down exactly what singular event caused politicians to finally realize something had to be done about the condition of our environment. Some believe that the Cuyahoga River fire was the symbolic beginning of the environmental movement.

In 1969, the Cuyahoga River in Cleveland was so polluted and filled with oil that when a passing train threw a small spark into the river's water, a large fire ignited and burned for 30 minutes. This was the 10th major fire in the river. Not long after that highly publicized event, the country's first Earth Day was held on April 22nd, 1970. The first Earth Day was marked by massive rallies and marches.

Reading the writing on the wall, many politicians (including Richard Nixon) began campaigning on a platform of conservation and environmental protection. The strategy for both parties was to peel moderate voters away from their rivals by emphasizing the environmental issues. In 1970, President Nixon signed the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), which required federal agencies to submit thorough assessments on environmental impact prior to any new federally approved development.

Quickly after passing NEPA, the United States Congress amended the clean air laws to create the Clean Air Act. The Clean Water Act, Consumer Product Safety Act, the Environmental Pesticide Control Act, the Endangered Species Act, the Safe Drinking Water Act, the Toxic Substances Control Act, the Superfund legislation to clean up hazardous waste sites, and the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act all followed. Although Nixon was President during the passage of several of these important environmental laws, he didn't receive much recognition at the time for his work. He muddied his environmental record by supporting subsidies and less regulations for pollution creating industries like the oil and automotive industries.

As the years have passed, environmental laws have not adapted to new challenges facing our planet. Many environmental groups and environmental attorneys have tried to squeeze modern issues like global warming into existing environmental laws through law suits in an attempt to bring these laws into the 21st century.This is a bad strategy because these older laws are simply not equipped to properly regulate such diffuse threats to our environment.

The best strategy is to convene a meeting of the best scientists and environmental experts to design a new set of environmental laws that comprehensively confront the greatest challenges to our planet and its inhabitants. We've learned a lot about the successes and failures of statutes like the Endangered Species Act and we can put that knowledge to work in new legislation.

Like in the 1970's the public is very concerned about the state of our environment and has united behind the idea of finding solutions to stop the destruction of our planet. Like the 1970's a bipartisan group of politicians, including Obama, Clinton, McCain, Huckabee, Schwarzenegger, etc., are campaigning on platforms of protecting the environment. And like the 1970's there are environmental catastrophes all around us that are sounding the alarm about the need for immediate attention.

If Barack Obama is the only candidate who truly can organize the country and its leaders to make important changes, I hope he is elected. I'm not sure our planet can wait much longer.

Solar Power Is Fastest Grower

The Earth Policy Institute of Washington, DC has released a study that finds that production of photovoltaic cells for solar panels has doubled every two years.

This means that solar power is the world's fastest growing energy source. In 2007, solar energy panels generated 3,800 megawatts of energy worldwide. Thats a 50% increase over 2006.

This growth is not isolated to the United States. Many nations around the world are adopting solar energy for use in residential and nonresidential settings. The experts at the Earth Policy Institute expect that by 2010, solar power will be priced at the same rate as coal.

I read recently about solar panels produced in the U.S. that are printed on aluminum foil which reduced the price of manufacturing these new panels to almost the same cost of obtaining coal for energy. You can read that story HERE.

If you are interested in installing solar panels on your home click HERE.

Energy Resolution

I took some time off from Green Piece Blog to enjoy the holidays, but now I'm back.

I am a New Year's Resolution kind of person. I like the opportunity for a fresh start and re-focusing.

One of the things I resolve to do every year is to reduce my impact on the environment. The great thing about making this type of resolution is that it means I'm going to save more and more money on my utility bills every year.

If you follow this blog closely, you'll know that last year I changed my recycling habits by taking the garbage can out and replacing it with a recycling can, forcing myself to think about recycling first. I replaced all the bulbs in my home with fluorescents and used less heating/A.C. I started replacing the filter in my A.C. more regularly and discovered public transportation. All of these things have made a huge impact on my utility bill and have greatly decreased my carbon footprint.

As I move into 2008, I've started thinking about new ways that I can make a difference. I hope you incorporate some of these new things into your life as well.

First, I am going to plug a surge protector into the outlet in my wall that is controlled by a light switch. All of my stereo, TV, DVD/VCR, and video game equipment will be plugged into that surge protector so that when I'm not using any of this equipment, I can easily switch off the power and reduce the "Phantom Energy" burners. If you don't have a light switch in your home that controls a wall outlet, you can learn about a remote controlled surge protector HERE.

Second, I am going to switch to green energy from my local utility company. We use Pepco here which means I can move to wind or green energy for my energy needs rather than using coal or oil as energy sources. The city contracts out their renewable energy sources and buys the equivalent amount of power I use from these different sources. Its a slight cost increase, but I'm buffering that increase by doing things in my home so I'll be using less electricity.

Third, I am going to begin volunteering in my community to help clean-up dirty rivers, streams, and open spaces so that more birds and wildlife will inhabit the area. You can also do your part by avoiding fertilizers with chemicals and un-natural nutrients that poison water sources, picking up your dog's waste, eliminating un-natural pesticides and planting native trees or plants.

Fourth, I'm going to try to buy local, organic food at farmer's markets. Its about making the trip from farm to table shorter so less gasoline is required for transportation. Its also about using less pesticides, fertilizers, etc. that are bad for our oceans, rivers, and drinking water. Finally, its about keeping money in the local economy.

These are four relatively simple things I'm doing immediately to try to change the impact I am having on the earth. If you have more ideas suggest them below. As always, I'll let you know as I find new ways to make this a healthier planet.

Quick Green Links

Ok, so I'm getting a little lazy right around the holidays. Sue me!

At least I'm taking a break from blogging about all the ways Christmas decorations can kill your children. Here is a blog entry with some good links...

• Vampires Suck - Your electronics are betraying you right now. As you sit at work, earning money, your stereo, TV, and Wii are back at your place burning a hole in your wallet. GoodMagazine.com has an awesome graphic to explain just how much money your electronics on stand-by mode will cost you. Maybe you should have asked for a SmartStrip for Christmas.

• Ocean Power is all the Wave - California has just signed a deal that will allow for buoys to be placed in the ocean and generate electricity. The project will produce 2 megawatts of electricity that will offset 245 tons of carbon dioxide per year and could be expanded to 100 megawatts if successful. Read more HERE.

• Cheapest Source of Power Yet - Skeptics beware, solar power has finally become less expensive than coal. There goes West Virginia's entire economy. The New York Times is reporting on a start-up company, whose investors include Google's founders, that is manufacturing voltaic cells on aluminum at incredibly low prices. They have taken orders through the next 18 months. Read the story HERE.

• Dead Zone Expanding - The Dead Zone is an area of the Gulf of Mexico where fertilizers from farms along the Mississippi River are causing oxygen to be completely depleted from the water, killing every type of life that once existed in this zone. The new reliance on corn for ethanol means more farms using more fertilizers which is making the Dead Zone bigger. This has to stop, by all indications, Ethanol isn't even cleaner than gasoline! We need an all renewable electricity economy people. Read about it HERE.

• Greek River Turns Purple from Pollution - The people of a Greek city along the Asopos River have been experiencing high rates of cancer for years without knowing what the cause might be. Although highly populated towns up the river were warned, people in Oinofyta weren't told that the purple water in the river was the result of factories dumping waste lik