Archive for the ‘Carbon Footprint’ Category

Don’t forget about Lights out America, and Earth Hour

March 29th 8-9 pm, turn out your lights, for just one hour!!!

Join the World…

Earth Hour Lights Out America Lights out movement

bibi

Comments (1)

In case you haven’t heard yet, Lights Out America and Earth Hour are events that started last year where many cities throughout the U.S. and the world turned off their lights simultaneously for one hour. It was a great success and a trend has begun.This year the event will be happening on the same day, March 29th world wide…If you would like to join the Global Lights Out Movement, all you have to do is turn your lights off for one hour on March 29th, from 8-9pm, wherever you are.

Check out all the cities involved: Is your City Involved?

Sponsor a candlelight dinner at home or better yet your favorite restaurant, invite your family and friends. Make it fun… Make it every year, make it more often…

If you’d like to get more involved in this and other projects, Sign up at Earth Hour, Join the world…

Tell your friends…send them this link: Join Lights Out Movement.

Earth Hour Lights Out America Lights out movement

bibi

Comments (5)

Will your Candidate be Green enough? Do you know how they stand on the issues? Here’s a peek…

John McCain

• Believes that climate change is real and that greenhouse gases are damaging the environment, but even if the science cannot prove it, doing nothing is not an option.
• Introduced Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007 .
• Committed to using Nuclear Power, conservation, and new technologies.
• Would sign a Global treaty but has to include both India and China.

Hillary Clinton

• Would develop new treaty to replace the Kyoto Protocol, focusing on global deforestation.
• New mission for Department of Energy would be to move in the direction of energy independence towards solar, wind, bio-fuels, hydro-power, geothermal, and other renewable sources.
• Market based cap and trade system to reduce carbon pollution, including efficiency and fuel economy standards, to lower the U.S. contribution to Global Warming below the 1990 levels by 80%.
• Opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Fund new research by taking away subsidies from the Oil Companies and putting that money to work in the Alternative Energy Field.
• Believes turning the focus on Green Building and Alternative Energy could create millions of jobs for the American Economy that could not easily be outsourced.

Mike Huckabee

• Whether or not Humans have caused Global Warming or not, believes it is our responsibility to leave the planet in better condition for future generations.
• Would pursue all areas of alternative energy including Wind, Solar, Clean Coal, and Bio-diesel.
• Would put limits on Greenhouse gas emissions.
• Supports drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• Supports increasing offshore drilling.
• Would create a profitable market for alternative energy by making the government the biggest user.

Barak Obama

• Would implement an economy wide cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
• Proposes a new International Global Warming Partnership.
• Plans to introduce a National Low Carbon Standards (LCFS), to speed up the introduction of low-carbon non-petroleum fuels.
• Create a new Technology Transfer Program within the Dept. of Energy, who’s mission would be to export climate-friendly technologies to developing countries.
• Incentives to maintain forests globally and manage them sustainably.
• Domestic incentives that reward forest owners, farmers and ranchers for planting trees, restore grasslands and undertake farming practices that capture carbon dioxide.
• Believes the cap on emissions would create a market for Clean Technologies.
• Reduce our dependency on foreign oil.

Source: CNN.com: Elections 2008

candidate stance on environmental issues environmental issues political candidates

bibi

Post a Comment

From the makers of the $2500 dollar Tatanano, better known as the “People’s Car”, will also come the “MDI Air Car” which runs on compressed air. How about air for an alternative energy…

Guy Negre from MDI Industries in France is the inventor of the “air-powered technology” and has given Tata Motors, the Indian based auto manufacturer exclusive rights to manufacture and market the MDI car and it’s new technology in India. Tata will be the only large auto manufacturer to be given the rights to build the cars. He hopes to get investors to build smaller plants throughout the world.

This is thinking beyond the “Green Car”. This is the kind of thinking that Bill Gates was talking about in his speech about “Creative Capitalism” at the World Economic Forum, where companies don’t only concentrate on the bottom line but find ways to sell to and work with local communities to improve the quality of everyone’s lives, especially the poorest.

By building smaller plants, selling directly to consumers and sourcing 80% of the parts locally, it would:

1. Keep the cost of the car to a very affordable price of around $5000 dollars.
2. Create many jobs worldwide, not just at the plants but also by the sourcing of parts locally.
3. Cut emissions down from having to ship parts from long distances, saving on greenhouse gases.

The car would be made of Fiberglass composites weighing only about 770lbs and there are two possible types of engines:

• Mono: runs on compressed air in Urban Settings.
• Duel-Energy: which has a Hydrocarbon Fueled Burner which means more power and longer ranges. Can use Bio-Fuel or Petroleum based fuel.

The compressed air can be refilled at air pumping stations in about 3 minutes or at home with it’s own on-board compressor in about 4 hrs.

The same CAT technology (Compressed Air Technology) lends itself to other applications such as trucks, buses, forklifts, tractors, electric generators, boat motors, and aircraft.

The beauty of the technology is obvious, it’s good for the environment, but the beauty of the idea of this man, is that it not only helps mother earth but it’s also good for it’s people, in may ways.

Source: ENN: Thank Caron for Air Cars

air car air powered car alternative energy compressed air guy negre mdi air car tata motors tatanano

bibi

Comments (10)

Xeriscaping is a way to garden using a minimum of water and energy. The following techniques are a must in dry-weather climes, but also provide useful guidelines for environmentally conscious gardeners everywhere.

Group plants by their water needs. When possible, put high-need plants in naturally wetter areas of your property. Test your soil. Add organic matter when necessary - maybe from your own compost pile - to increase your soil’s water-holding capacity. Limit your lawn. Grass is a water hog, so limit the amount of lawn in your yard. For those plots that remain, try varieties that don’t use much water. Mulch. Cover plant beds with composted leaves or grass to help retain moisture. Plant native species. Plants that have evolved in your area’s climate are more naturally adapted to its water conditions.

Grow Green & Save Water Facing a drought this summer? Live in an arid region? You can still cultivate that green thumb! Consider xeriscaping, which involves gardening in a way that uses less water than traditional landscaping. By choosing plants that are drought-tolerant or native to the area you can save water and have a yard that is easy to maintain.

Mix compost or peat moss into the soil before planting to help the soil retain water. If your yard is sloped, reduce water runoff with terraces and retaining walls. Limit the amount of area devoted to grass. Plant ground covers, native shrubs, and add rock gardens. Choose from among the many types of low water-using trees, shrubs, flowers, and ground covers. Many need watering only in the first year or two after planting. Install drip or trickle irrigation systems in areas that need watering. These systems use water efficiently and are available at garden centers. Use mulches like pine needles, shredded bark or leaves in a layer three inches deep to keep soil moist, smother weeds, and prevent erosion.

	Leave a Healthy Footprint! Thanks to our Wear, Share, & Show You Care partnership, your purchase of Earth Footwear is good for you AND the environment! For each purchase registered online, Earth Footwear will donate $1 to help support Earth Share. Visit http://earthshare.earth.us to learn more!
Earth Share, a nationwide network of America’s leading nonprofit environmental and conservation charities, promotes environmental education and charitable giving in employee workplace giving campaigns. Click here to find out why hosting an Earth Share campaign is a good idea for your workplace and the world.

carbon footprint energy conservation water conservation Xeriscaping

bibi

Post a Comment