Fresh Greens
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Power Shift Brings Young People to Washington to Lobby for Climate Action
Continue reading… 12 CommentsToday marks the start of Power Shift '09, a weekend that will bring 10,000 young people to Washington to lobby Congress for action on climate change. Those who attend will hear from speakers such as Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and learn the skills necessary to lobby on Capitol Hill. At the end of the weekend, another group, Capitol Climate Action, will be hosting the largest civil disobedience demonstration for climate change yet at the coal-fired Capitol Power Plant. Endorsed by a myriad of environmental organizations and NASA climate scientist James Hansen, young people in dress clothes will risk arrest to demonstrate at the plant. Both events are a testament to the role that young people will have in changing climate policy. I talked to Jessy Tolkan, the executive director of Power Shift '09 about how she thinks this weekend could change our climate policy forever.
You've led young people for a while now - what's the best way for them to make their voices heard all year round, rather than just this weekend?
Young people need to flex their political muscle 365 days a year. They need to do that by constantly buzzing in the ears of Congress and political leaders, being visual on their college campuses and communities, and physically building the movement. We need to consolidate our power - by that, I mean making sure that our congressional officials know we are a voting bloc and making sure corporations know that we have tremendous purchasing power. We need to consolidate so we can take on special interests that have kept us out of power for a long time. -
How Much Does Lent Decrease Our Carbon Footprint?
Continue reading… 4 CommentsIt's a time for ashes and palm fronds, sacrifice and rebirth, and occasional vegetarianism. For Catholics across America, Lent is here, and with it, meatless Fridays. As Catholics (and other Christians) forego beef and chicken for one day each week in favor of fish and vegetables, I wondered: How much does our collective carbon footprint decrease over Lent?
According to my calculations, 354 million pounds of meat will go uneaten during Lent.
- There are 67.5 million registered Catholics in America. Using figures from Audubon Magazine (referenced in this earlier post about flexitarianism) the per capita meat consumption of Americans is 12 oz a day. Let's assume all Catholics go meatless on Friday (though I recognize that many do not). This means that 810 million ounces of meat go uneaten each Friday during Lent. For the next seven Fridays until Easter, that's 5.67 billion ounces, or 354 million pounds.
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What Enviros Are Saying About Obama's Speech
Continue reading… 3 CommentsThe best of the blogosphere's commentary on Obama's speech last night, regarding energy and environmental concerns:
"Notice that 'it begins with energy'—before health care, even. Wonder if that says anything about his major legislative priorities. Also noteworthy: Obama reiterated, in no uncertain terms, his support for cap-and-trade legislation (in case anyone thought this might quietly slip under the cushions)." --Bradford Plumer, The New Republic
Mr. Obama also had kind words for often-overlooked areas such as transmission and energy efficiency...Perhaps most noteworthy for clean-energy advocates, Mr. Obama clearly stated his support for a cap on carbon dioxide emissions." --Kate Galbraith, NYT's Green Inc.
"Even the political capital of the popular Mr. Obama is not unlimited. We hope he does not spread it so broadly that he is left without the means to extinguish the fires raging now." -- Editorial board of the Washington Post
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America's Healthiest Fast Food Restaurants
Continue reading… 3 CommentsHealthy and green can often go hand-in-hand, so Health's list of the 10 best fast-food chains in America is a useful tool indeed. I wrote last week that the economic downturn may be making American diets healthier, with one exception - fast food sales are up, because people are opting for cheaper fare instead of restaurants. If you have to grab a meal on the go, consider the restaurants below for these climate reasons (I'll let Health tell you about their nutrition here):
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Academy Awards "Wall-E" an Oscar for Animation, But Not Song, Sound or Screenplay
Continue reading… 23 CommentsWall-E, the animated film dear to the hearts of Americans and green bloggers alike, took home only one trophy out of its record-tying six nominations last night. Director Andrew Stanton accepted the Oscar for the film in the "Best Animated Film" category, a win that came as a surprise to no one. The film was also nominated for Original Score, Original Song, Sound Editing, Sound Mixing, and Original Screenplay. Its six nominations put it in company with Beauty and the Beast, which is widely considered to be the best animated film of all time.
Though the film was up against steep competition in the other categories, there was talk that Wall-E had a shot at Original Screenplay, since the film paid homage to classic Charlie Chaplin films. Because much of the film was silent, score played an important role, and composer Thomas Newman, like Kate Winslet, has been a constant nominee, but never an Oscar winner. Though Newman previously took home two Grammys for Wall-E (Best Song for a Motion Picture, and Best Arrangement), the Academy decided this was not his year.
Wall-E's song, "Down to Earth," was written by Peter Gabriel but performed during the ceremony by John Legend. It was part of a medley of the two other nominated songs from Slumdog Millionaire, and was given a Bollywood tinge by being sandwiched in between. The song, naturally, continued the sustainable message of the film - that we should conserve, appreciate our natural resources, and clean up our messes. You can listen here, and read a selection from the lyrics - which speak of being "tricked" by our future - below:
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White House Shoots Down LaHood Transit Tax Idea
Continue reading… 10 CommentsShortly after Secretary of Transportation Roy LaHood raised the idea of a transportation tax based on mileage, rather than gas, the idea was shot down in both a written statement from the department and by White House spokesman Robert Gibbs. LaHood's idea, which would have placed GPS devices in cars, would have taked people by how much they drive, rather than how much gas they purchase. LaHood said that the plan, which could have raised additional funds for infrastructure, was something "we should look at."
According to a Department of Transportation statement: "The policy of taxing motorists based on how many miles they have traveled is not and will not be Obama administration policy." The idea of a mileage tax is still being floated around by a few states - namely, Idaho, Rhode Island and North Carolina. Oregon has even run a pilot program, and found the program to be viable.
The tax would have environmental implications both good and bad. When people buy more efficient vehicles, they use less gas, which is good. They're still driving just as much, though, and their cars have the same effect on the road, so the government doesn't get as much revenue from these drivers to fix our highways and bridges. As more and more people begin driving hybrids and using less fuel, this will become a bigger problem.
At the same time, green bloggers have pointed out that presently, a mileage tax would punish them for consuming less gas, and take away the incentive for others to purchase hybrids. Morgan Clendaniel of Good points out that an optimal solution would be a weight-per-mile tax, which would reward drivers of lighter vehicles, like the Prius, which presumably do less damage to the road. The problem with all of these ideas, though, is that they still require a GPS to be put in each car - a privacy concern. Surely, someone is hard at work on a better solution.
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Tendril Shows Off Smart Meter Solution at Google-GE Panel Discussion
Continue reading… 11 CommentsAt a recent panel discussion sponsored by Google and GE, experts - among them, Assistant to the President for Energy and Climate Change Carol Browner - came together to discuss the smart grid and the changing technology it requires. They couldn't have timed it better. The panel began just as President Obama was signing the stimulus bill, which ensured $80 billion in spending on renewable energy and efficiency. Of those funds, $11 billion in grant money will go towards the modernization of our electric grid.
The event came on the heels of last week's announcement from Google that they'll be developing technology to help consumers interpret data from smart meters to better control their electricity bills. Tech start-up Tendril, which produces smart meters and other energy data applications, participated in the panel and also demoed their solution. With Tendril's Residential Energy Ecosystem, or TREE, consumers can expect to save at least 10% on their bill, said CEO Adrian Tuck, who spoke on the panel.
"We thought people would be motivated to save money or save the planet," said Tuck. "It turns out, what they want is to beat their neighbors."
Tendril appeals to our competitive nature by allowing people to keep track of the cost of their utility bill from day to day, and compared to other homes near them, via an online portal. By knowing when their energy usage spikes, consumers can manage their bill to ensure there are no surprises at the end of the month. With a forthcoming iPhone application, consumers can even adjust their thermostat settings when they are out of the house, and set them to climb back towards a desired temperature as they get closer to home.
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Universal Cell Phone Charger Decision Spurred by Environmental Factors
Continue reading… 4 CommentsYesterday's announcement from mobile phone trade group GSMA brought relief to irritated consumers: beginning in 2012, cell phones will use a universal charger in the form of a micro-USB cord. This means no more asking around the office for an [insert brand name here] charger when your phone dies, or throwing out old chargers each time you switch phone manufacturers. The chargers will also become more energy-efficient, resulting in a 50 percent reduction in consumption of standby, or vampire, power. Cell phone chargers use the most energy during their lifespan while they're not charging anything at all, because people frequently leave them plugged in.
Interestingly, the GSMA has reported that the decision came as a result of environmental concerns:
"The mobile industry has a pivotal role to play in tackling environmental issues and this program is an important step that could lead to huge savings in resources, not to mention convenience for consumers," said Rob Conway, CEO and member of the board of the GSMA. "There is enormous potential in mobile to help people live and work in an eco-friendly way and with the backing of some or the biggest names in the industry, this initiative will lead the way."
The group estimates that the move will result in the elimination of up to 50 percent of all chargers produced, which means you'll see way fewer chargers in landfills. Phone manufacturers on board already include AT&T, KTF, LG, mobilkom austria, Motorola, Nokia, Orange, Qualcomm, Samsung, Sony Ericsson, Telecom Italia, Telefónica, Telenor, Telstra, T-Mobile and Vodafone. iPhone users are out of luck - as my colleague David LaGesse has pointed out, Apple will still manufacture a distinct charger.
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Economic Downturn May Be Making American Diets Healthier
Continue reading… 12 CommentsSome might consider it a silver lining to the recession: Americans are cutting back on unhealthier foods at the grocery store to save money. According to the Wall Street Journal, consumer spending on food took a nosedive in the fourth quarter of 2008, falling 3.7 percent. It's the steepest decline in all of the 62 years that the government has compiled data on the topic.
Because of the recession, we're spending less on meat, sweets, and alcohol, and more on milk, eggs and fresh vegetables. Red meat, which has a large carbon footprint, dipped 3.4 percent (no thanks to PETA's "Vegetarians Have Better Sex" campaign). Contrary to the accepted belief that a stiff drink will help us through the recession, sales of alcoholic beverages plummeted 10.9 percent. We're getting our protein through more eggs, our calcium through more milk, and our nutrients through more vegetables (hopefully they're locally-grown, but no one's holding their breath). We're also dipping into our pantries to use up our stored food, rather than letting it go to waste. Either way, the recession seems to be pushing us all inadvertently towards flexitarianism - a diet that's good for our health and the planet.
There are two drawbacks, though. Since we're spending less money on food, I doubt that people are putting their dollars towards pricier organic fare. And perhaps a worse outcome is that the Dollar Menu at McDonalds is looking mighty good to anyone looking for a filling meal that's cheap - the company's sales rose 7.1 percent in January.
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The Recycling Bin: Green Valentine's Day Tips
Continue reading… 1 CommentFlowers and candy and all that mushy stuff. You know the drill. Here are the best green Valentine's Day tips, compiled from around the web.
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SWF Seeking Attractive Male With Small Carbon Footprint for Valentine's Day
Continue reading… 5 CommentsIf only you had a Valentine to share scintillating conversation about altetnative energy policy over an organic, local meal with tomorrow night. Just as there are niche dating sites for singles who love indie rock, Sean Hannity, horseback riding or Star Trek ("Love Long and Prosper"), there are options for those who would like to weed out anyone with a large carbon footprint from his or her dating pool. They're a little on the granola Birkenstock side of the spectrum, though, so make sure you check out some profiles and see if you're a good fit for the site before joining. Here are a few:
Green Singles is the most established of the sites, and actually began as a newsletter for eco-friendly singles in 1985. You can place a free listing, but have to pay $24 for three months to be able to contact any members (many of the sites work this way). The site shares five percent of its profits with environmental organizations like Greenpeace and Oxfam America. It also congratulates prospective members on being a "kindred spirit." In the success stories section of the site, one woman gushes, "he proposed in our bean patch."
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Zumbox Presents a New Alternative to Postal Mail
Continue reading… 11 CommentsWhen I received a press release touting "the first all-digital Web-based alternative to the U.S. Postal Service," my first thought was, "Like... e-mail?" E-mail has not, of course, replaced our postal mail, but it sure would be nice if it could - paper mail is wasteful when you consider the tons of resources used, and the carbon emitted in its delivery. The USPS has always been threatened by electronic mail ever since it was created, especially as more people who care about saving time, money and the environment go online to pay their bills and correspond each day.
E-mail addresses lack geographic grounding, though, so your congressman or neighborhood association wouldn't be able to send you an online notice unless they already knew your e-mail address. E-mail addresses can come from any number of providers, and local businesses who want to advertise to a small audience would have no way of directly reaching potential customers online.
Zumbox wants to change that. The start-up, which launched this week, has created an electronic mailbox for every address in the country, and it's free for all users. Companies can sign up to send mail via Zumbox so you can check your mail from anywhere. Companies can send catalogues, bills and notifications, all paperless, and customers can decide whether or not they want to opt-out of the paper versions of the same documents. It's free for businesses, nonprofits, government entities and individuals to send mail, while marketers are charged five cents per message. Video can be embedded, and catalogues are PDFed.
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Will Carbon Offsets Survive the Downturn?
Continue reading… 1 CommentTo get through the recession, consumers are scrimping and saving, which posits an environmental catch-22. Since we're spending less, we're consuming less, but since we have less to spend, we may not be as likely to put money towards extras like carbon offsets. Recently, I caught up with Patti Prairie, the CEO of offset provider Brighter Planet, to talk about how consumers will be green in tough times. Brighter Planet partners with credit card companies to provide offsets that are accrued like rewards points for purchases. One memorable quote from Prairie: "We think this will be the year when knowing your footprint will become a classy thing."
How do you think the practice of carbon offsets will fare in this year's economy?
I think that a time like this when people are focused on doing less is a good time from an environmental point of view. If people understand where it is that they are spending and using energy, they could be more inclined to buy offsets, because there will be a heightened awareness of everyday actions. We consider conservation to be just as much of a win for us as offsetting. It's not selling something, but raising awareness of the environment - raising the sense that every person can do something about it.
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Sorry, UFO Watchers - Aliens Didn't Take Down the Wind Turbine
Continue reading… 8 CommentsA few weeks ago, a wind turbine in Lincolnshire, U.K. was mysteriously destroyed, with one blade lopped off and another twisted around. Some eyewitnesses attributed the damage to an "Octopus-shaped U.F.O." that passed through the wind farm, while others blamed ice buildup on the blades, an out-of-control fireworks display, or simply fatigue. I wrote a tongue-in-cheek post about the incident, which garnered a lot of comments from three types: First, the UFO believers, who were offended by my sarcasm (thanks for the crop circle links, guys); second, British citizens who were offended by my sarcasm (wasn't making fun of you personally, guys), and third, Simpsons fans who appreciate a good internet meme (as do I).
Proving once again the principle of Occam's razor - that the simplest explanation is also the likeliest, as Dan from California pointed out - the results of the investigation of that incident were recently revealed and it was indeed material fatigue that brought the turbine down. Aging bolts that attached the blade to the turbine were to blame. “To be honest I’m not surprised. But there was part of me that did hope it was a U.F.O. as it was a lovely story,” said Dale Vince, the founder of Ecotricity, the wind project operator. Case closed.
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Google Brings the Smart Grid to You
Continue reading… 2 CommentsForgetting to turn off a TV or the lights is a waste of energy, we know - but without knowing how much, it's an amorphous eco-sin with no real consequences. Google.org, the philanthropic branch of the search engine, aims to change that with Google PowerMeter, a tracking device that will help consumers see how much power they're using, and where it's coming from, in real time.
PowerMeter would sync up with the smart meters that many utility customers already have. Companies that partner with Google will take data from the smart meters and make it available for real time graphing via a Google widget. Consumers would be able to see when they are consuming the most, and what devices are sucking the most energy. You can also opt to share your energy data to see how you stack up to other Americans, and encourage friendly competition.
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The Stimulus: What Everyone Green is Saying About It
Continue reading… 14 CommentsAfter the Senate passed the stimulus bill, environmental and green energy groups came forward with praise for the House's version of the bill, and hope for moving forward. "Shovel-ready" is the buzzword of the day. Here's what they had to say:
Greenpeace: A new ICF analysis commissioned by Greenpeace shows that the House version of the stimulus package would be more effective in fighting global warming, cutting approximately 12 million metric tons more greenhouse gas emissions than the Senate version. Furthermore, the House version’s energy package would save government and consumers approximately $3 billion more in utility bills annually ... “The fact that the federal government could spend so much money and actually help slow global warming means we’ve really turned the page as a country,” said Kert Davies, Greenpeace’s Research Director. “This is a real sign that we’re starting to move beyond the era of fossil fuels.”
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Rep. Blumenauer on Bikes: "Republicans Don't Get It."
Continue reading… 11 CommentsAfter Senator Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) proposed an amendment to the stimulus that would prohibit funding of bicycle paths, outspoken bicycle supporter and Oregon Representative Earl Blumenauer went on the warpath. In a blog post he wrote for the Huffington Post, Blumenauer described Republicans as "out of touch."
Said Blumenauer:
To their detriment, they are continuing their trend from last Congress of using the most economical, energy-efficient, and healthy forms of transportation as their whipping post. Investment in bike paths will not only improve our economy, and take our country in the right direction for the future; it is exactly the kind of investment the American people want.
Moreover, bicycle and pedestrian paths are precisely the kind of infrastructure projects our country needs. These projects tend to the most "shovel-ready" and are more labor-intensive than other projects-- therefore putting more people to work per dollar spent.
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3 Gross Green Fuels That are Powering Vehicles Now
Continue reading… 5 CommentsCorn, soybeans and cooking oil are ingredients that can go between our kitchens and our cars, since they can be used for fuel. They're not the only sources, though, as recent headlines have been made by far more unusual - and sometimes icky - substances powering our vehicles. Here are a few:
The least disagreeable ingredient on this list is beer waste, which the Sierra Nevada Brewing will use to power the company's trucks. The waste, which is made of yeast, will be put through an on-site ethanol machine for fermentation, and then added to gasoline to be used in the brewer's fleet of biodiesel trucks. Any surplus fuel may even be given to the company's employees. Sierra Nevada generates 1.6 million gallons of beer dregs each year.
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Not Just HFCS and Peanut Butter: Here are 10 Other Risky Foods
Continue reading… 21 CommentsAs if we don't have enough to be worried about already. In the midst of food safety scares from salmonella in peanut butter and mercury in high fructose corn syrup, Sprig has produced a list of 10 other foods that can be dangerous. Their risks range from hormones to pesticides to carcinogenic substances. How to avoid many of these risks? Buy organic.
- Farmed Salmon. It's high in Polychlorinated Biphenyls, with 11 times more dioxins than wild salmon.
- Conventionally Grown Bell Peppers. They require more pesticides than any other vegetable - with as many as 64 being found on a single sample of pepper in one study.
- Non-Organic Strawberries. Some growers of strawberries irrigate their plants with Nutri-Sweet-laced water. The sugar substitute is a probable carcinogen.
- Chilean Sea Bass. The fish is high in mercury, and if eaten consistently over time, can elevate the body's mercury levels to dangerous amounts.
- Non-Organic Peaches. Pesticides easily penetrate their soft skins and permeate the fruit.
- Genetically Modified Corn. We still don't know the long-term effects of genetically modified corn, but it's been tied to an increase in allergies for humans.
- Bluefin Tuna. Not only is it high in mercury, but overfishing may drive the species to extinction.
- Industrially Farmed Chicken. Arsenic has been found in conventional chickens, as well as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.
- Non-Organic Apples. When grown in humid Mid-Atlantic states, the crop uses more pesticides than California, Oregon and Washington states.
- Cattle Treated with rBGH. Recombinant bovine growth hormone has been traced to breast cancer and hormonal disorders.
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'Inconvenient Truth' Opera Inconveniently Loses Director
Continue reading… 1 CommentA operatic adaptation of Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth has hit some snags, reports the New York Times. Academy Award-winning director William Friedkin, of films such as The French Connection and The Exorcist, has quit the production. He cited artistic differences with the poet J.D. McClatchy, who is writing the libretto, but that may not be the case: Giorgio Battistelli, the composer of the opera, told a paper that Friedkin's reasons were personal, not artistic. Battistelli was also critical of Friedkin's qualifications and background, saying "Opera isn’t Hollywood."
Either way, questions remain about how well the film will translate to opera - and if it will draw a crowd. Will a Power Point presentation look out of place on the grand stage of Milan's La Scala, where the work is set to debut in 2011?
