Thanks to a unanimous vote by the California Air Resources Board, the state must have 1.4 million electric or hybrid vehicles on the road by 2025, which translates into 1 in 7 new cars.

As recently reported, consumers have evidently lost interest in electric vehicles. But new auto emission rules announced today should help remedy that. Though limited to California, the state tends to lead the nation in auto emission standards.

Thanks to a unanimous vote by the California Air Resources Board, the state must have 1.4 million electric or hybrid vehicles on the road by 2025, which translates into 1 in 7 new cars.

Beyond the requirement of 1.4 million electric or hybrid vehicles, by 2025 the same regulations also call for:

• 75 percent reduction in smog-forming pollutants
• 50 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions

If other states follow previously established patterns, we can expect a number of them to follow suit. Consider that 14 states have previously adopted California’s smog emissions rules and 10 states its zero-emissions mandates.

All of this stands to bode well for the electric vehicle industry. As I blogged earlier this month:

As reported by the Environmental News Network, in 2009, 48 percent of those surveyed were extremely or very interested in PEV’s. In 2010, that number dropped to 44 percent. And in 2011, that number fell again to 40 percent.

Beyond consumer reservations regarding the driving range and the state of the technology, the survey showed that price was at the top of the list of cited objections. The same is true of critics of California’s new regulations. However, the California Air Resources Board says their research shows otherwise. Though the cost of vehicles may go up from $1,400 to $1,900, consumers probably stand to save $6,000 in gas over the lifetime of the vehicle.

Meredith Simonds Electric Vehicles auto emissions, California, California Air Resources Board, California auto emissions, electric vehicles, greenhouse gas emissions, Hybrid Vehicles, smog, vehicles

hydraulic fracturing involves the mixing of water with chemicals and sand. This combination is blasted into the earth, whereby the sand holds the fractures apart so that natural gas can seep up out of the earth.

Slowly but surely, one government after another is banning the hydraulic fracturing process. Okay, it’s only three government bodies so far, but still, we are making progress. Last week came news that Bulgaria has banned fracking throughout the country.

Hydraulic fracturing is the process by which natural gas is extracted from the earth. Though previously deemed safe by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency some 7 years ago, the EPA recently announced results from a new investigation that turned up findings to the contrary. Based on regional tests in Pavillion, Wyoming, the EPA now says fracking likely does cause groundwater pollution.

France banned fracking last year, as did the state of New Jersey.

Specifically, hydraulic fracturing involves the mixing of water with chemicals and sand. This combination is blasted into the earth, whereby the sand holds the fractures apart so that natural gas can seep up out of the earth.

The Bulgarian ban on fracking – by a vote of 166 to 6 – puts a damper on Chevron’s plans to explore the country for natural gas opportunities. Any violators of the fracking ban in Bulgaria will face a fine of $65 million.

As I blogged at news of New Jersey’s fracking ban last year:

“Though environmentalists have long expressed concerns over the chemical contamination of our earth and water through the fracking process, the BP oil spill last year increased scrutiny.

“If the drilling industry isn’t responsible enough to regulate themselves on oil – cutting corners to inflate profits – it stands to reason they could be doing the same with natural gas.”

Meredith Simonds Natural Gas Bulgaria, EPA, fracking, France, gas, hydraulic fracturing, Natural Gas, New Jersey, Wyoming

Select photos from the EPA State of the Environment Photo Project will have a chance to be in the nationwide traveling exhibit starting in April 2012.

You probably already do it just about every day, in all kinds of places and all kinds of ways – taking pictures of the world around you. Why not focus your efforts a bit and zoom in on shots for a good cause – the environment?

The Environmental Protection Agency is hosting a photo project challenging Americans to document the “State of the Environment.” It’s an undertaking inspired by a similar project back in the seventies when the EPA actually hired photojournalists to document our country’s environmental state, the good, the bad, and the ugly.

Evidently, the seventies project, entitled “Documerica,” turned up some pretty sobering views on pollution and hazardous conditions across the nation. This go-around, it’s being reported that most participants are sending in the prettiest of pics. That presents a wide open window of opportunity for you to go out into your community and seek out environmental “violations” of sorts that we need do to know about.

Select photos will have a chance to be in the nationwide traveling exhibit featured by EPA and the U.S. National Archives and Records Administration starting in April 2012.

In addition to original photos, you may also participate in the Locations challenge, in which you duplicate the same shot, in the same location, as a picture featured in Documerica three decades ago.

To learn more about submission guidelines through Flickr.com, visit the official blog of the State of the Environment Photo Project.

Meredith Simonds Environment, Solar Documerica, environment, Environmental Protection Agency, EPA, State of the Environment

Consumers cite three main reasons they're losing interest in PEV's - price, technology and range.

According to the most recent Electric Vehicle Consumer Survey, interest in plug-in electric vehicles has declined over the past two years. Though the reasons cited are legitimate concerns, it seems to be public perception that has changed, not the promise of PEV’s themselves.

As reported by the Environmental News Network, in 2009, 48 percent of those surveyed were extremely or very interested in PEV’s. In 2010, that number dropped to 44 percent. And in 2011, that number fell again to 40 percent.

Specifically, consumers cite three main reasons for objecting to PEV’s:

1) Price. Granted plug-in electric vehicles are expensive compared to their gas-powered counterparts. But PEV’s are cheaper than ever.

2) Technology. For something that started in the mid-1800′s, it is hard to believe electric vehicles haven’t come further. However, PEV technology has grown by leaps and bounds in recent times, particularly in the last two years.

3) Range. Though PEV’s cannot travel long distances relative to gas-powered vehicles, again, the technology is advancing toward longer and longer distances all the time.

In other words, it is not any lack of advancement in the PEV industry that is to blame for declining interest on the part of consumers. On the contrary, it’s an industry that is making advances every day. Instead, it is consumer perception that has changed which, in turn, could result in a self-fulfilling prophecy of sorts. The less expressed consumer interest in PEV’s, the lower the demand. The lower the demand, the more expensive they will be and the less effort that will go into advancing this eco-friendlier alternative to gas-powered vehicles.

What do you think? Why are consumers losing interest in electric vehicles?

Meredith Simonds Electric Vehicles consumers, electric, Electric Vehicle Consumer Survey, electric vehicles, plug-in electric vehicles, price, range, technology

For better or worse, the U.N., 'fracking' and the Keystone XL Pipeline dominated the green-geared news in 2011.

1) On Heels of Kyoto Extension, Canada Pulls Out of Protocol. On the heels of the U.N.’s climate change agreement came sobering news that Canada is pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol. Though the Environment Minister notes the country’s genuine frustration that Kyoto cannot work without U.S. and China participation, it sounds like money could be at the heart of the issue. If Canada didn’t pull out now – giving one year’s notice – they would have had to pay $14 billion in penalties next year for failing to meet their own emissions targets.

2) EPA Says ‘Fracking’ Likely Pollutes Groundwater. Last year, the EPA announced plans to review the hydraulic fracturing industry. Well, the verdict is in and it’s a big one. Contrary to previous findings, the EPA says “fracking” is the likely cause of groundwater pollution. Though this finding is evidently based on regional results in a small Wyoming community, it speaks volumes to the concessions the federal government is now making regarding this controversial issue.

3) Obama Pushes Decision on Keystone XL Pipeline Until After 2012 Election. Though his motivation is certainly suspect in light of the upcoming election, President Obama’s decision to extend the review and approval process of the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline is welcome news indeed. Of course, by the time the 12- to 18-month review process is over, so will be the 2012 elections. In other words, politically, it is probably in Obama’s best interest to avoid making a decision altogether, at least until he’s re-elected or it’s not his responsibility anymore.

4) New Jersey Leads Nation in First Ban on Fracking. If and when we see a worldwide ban on hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” New Jersey gets credit for leading the fight. By a clear majority, the state’s legislators have approved a statewide fracking ban on this controversial process used to extract natural gas from the earth. The state senate voted 31-1 in favor of the ban, and the assembly 56-11.

5) U.N. Predicts 77 Percent of World’s Energy From Renewables by 2050. Representatives from 194 nations approved U.N. findings that as much as 77 percent of the world’s power could come from renewable energy by the year 2050. These findings are based on the conclusions of more than 120 researchers of the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) – research outlined in the Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN).

Meredith Simonds Solar Canada, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Keystone XL Pipeline, Kyoto, Renewable Energy, renewables

From tracking the top green search trends of 2011, to a new $94 million investment in solar power, Google continues to play a high-profile role on the eco-homefront.

On the heels of the announcement last month nixing its “Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal” initiative, it’s good to see Google ending the year on a couple of good green notes. From tracking the top green search trends of 2011, to a new $94 million investment in solar power, Google continues to play a high-profile role on the eco-homefront.

Wondering what’s on the minds of eco-conscious consumers like yourself? Google knows, as trends reveal the top green searches of the year include:

• Sustainable development
• Sustainable energy
• Sustainable agriculture
• How to compost
• Solar
• Nuclear power
• Wind energy
• Reusable bags
• Reusable diapers
• Reusable water bottles
• e waste recycling

The question is, how is this helpful? Personally, as a blogger, it helps me focus my efforts on topics readers are most interested in. And I think that speaks to the larger impact of this type of data. Consumer interests drive the marketplace. And if interest is particularly high in reusable diapers or e waste recycling, for example, expect to see a marketplace gearing itself more toward those interests.

As for its recent $94 million investment, Google’s latest solar power project will fund four solar power plants near Sacramento, California. The power will be sent straight to the grid where it will provide enough energy to power 13,000 homes.

Again, these are both welcome developments from Google, as it recently announced plans to discontinue the “Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal” initiative which launched in 2007 with the aim of investing in the research and development necessary to drive down the cost of renewable energy until it’s cheaper than coal. But now with a new CEO at the helm, it looks like the greening of Google is getting an overhaul, but surely with fewer green discontinuations than developments.

Meredith Simonds Green Living google, green search trends, Nuclear Power, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal, Solar, sustainable, wind energy

The Kyoto Protocol has now been extended to 2017. Dovetailing this development is news that the same countries have agreed to draft and sign a new agreement by 2015, intended to replace Kyoto and go into effect in 2020.

As you may recall, participating countries at last year’s climate change talks failed to hammer out a plan for dealing with the expiration of the Kyoto Protocol, set to expire at the end of 2012. So that was at the forefront of this year’s recent talks in Durban, South Africa, where some 200 countries managed to reach an agreement.

The Kyoto Protocol has now been extended to 2017. Dovetailing this development is news that the same countries have agreed to draft and sign a new agreement by 2015, intended to replace Kyoto and go into effect in 2020. It’s unclear what framework will apply between 2017 and 2020, but it’s probably safe to assume Kyoto would be extended the additional three years until the new agreement goes into effect.

In a nutshell, the Kyoto Protocol sets limits on the greenhouse gases participating nations are allowed to emit. Unfortunately, two of the world’s biggest emitters are not participants – the United States and China – which is the very reason for Canada’s dramatic announcement yesterday.

On the heels of the U.N.’s climate change agreement came sobering news that Canada is pulling out of the Kyoto Protocol. Though the Environment Minister notes the country’s genuine frustration that Kyoto cannot work without U.S. and China participation, it sounds like money could be at the heart of the issue. If Canada didn’t pull out now – giving one year’s notice – they would have had to pay $14 billion in penalties next year for failing to meet their own emissions targets.

Meredith Simonds Climate Change Canada, Climate change, climate talks, Durban, emissions, greenhouse gases, Kyoto Protocol, South Africa, U.N.

Last year, the EPA announced plans to review the hydraulic fracturing industry. Well, the verdict is in and it’s a big one. Contrary to previous findings, the EPA says “fracking” is the likely cause of groundwater pollution. Though this finding is evidently based on regional results in a small Wyoming community, it speaks volumes to the concessions the federal government is now making regarding this controversial issue.

The EPA previously reviewed the fracking industry some 7 years ago. The official results showed no threat, thus no need for federal regulation. However, critics have long suspected political maneuvering played an unfortunate role in that decision.

Now, it seems, the political climate is ripe for a change in the environmentally-responsible direction, at least when it comes to the natural gas drilling industry.

Specifically, the EPA’s most recent findings are based on groundwater tests in Pavillion, Wyoming, where residents say their water wells reek of chemicals. So it is of little surprise that Wyoming, last year, joined the growing list of states that require drilling companies to reveal the chemicals used in the fracking process.

In the wake of this latest EPA announcement, it will be interesting to see how many states take their fracking stance a step further, perhaps following in the footsteps of New Jersey, the first to ban the fracking process throughout the state.

Now we must wait and see what comes of the second phase of the EPA review process – submitting the findings for peer review and public comment.

Meredith Simonds Natural Gas EPA, fracking, hydraulic fracturing, Natural Gas, New Jersey, Wyoming

As though we need yet another reason to launch criticism at big banks, a new report confirms they are among the biggest investors in coal. So if you bank with any on the list, and consider yourself an environmentalist, you may want to move your money to a more environmentally-friendly community bank or credit union.

As reported by Treehugger, a new BankTrack analysis shows JPMorgan Chase leading the pack of big banks that are making investments in coal, including dirty mountaintop removal operations.

While many on the list are foreign banks, you’ll recognize a number of them for the billions that Americans have invested in them (and their dirty coal ways):

1. JPMorgan Chase

2. Citi

3. Bank of America

4. Morgan Stanley

5. Barclays

6. Deutsche Bank

7. Royal Bank of Scotland

8. BNP Paribas

9. Credit Suisse

10. UBS

11. Goldman Sachs

12. Bank of China

13. Industrial and Commercial Bank of China

14. Credit Agricole / Calyon

15. UniCredit / HVB

16. China Construction Bank

17. Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group

18. Societe Generale

19. Wells Fargo

20. HSBC

This is a big wake-up call for me, personally, as I bank with both Chase and Wells Fargo. I was tempted to move my money on Bank Transfer day – in the wake of their proposed monthly debit card programs – but then both Chase and Wells Fargo scrapped the idea. But I imagine this latest news will be just the motivation I need to change my banking ways.

What about you? Will your bank’s investment in coal inspire you to change banks? Why or why not?

Meredith Simonds Green Living banking, big banks, Chase, coal

Google's RE<C was launched in 2007 with the aim of investing in the research and development necessary to drive down the cost of renewable energy until it's cheaper than coal.

As I’ve blogged before, Google is a major investor in green-geared initiatives. That’s why it comes as some surprise that Google has nixed one of its most celebrated programs: Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal (aka, RE<C).

Google’s RE<C was launched in 2007 with the aim of investing in the research and development necessary to drive down the cost of renewable energy until it’s cheaper than coal. But now with a new CEO at the helm, it looks like the greening of Google is getting an overhaul. As reported by Treehugger, CEO Larry Page (and Google co-founder) evidently wants to streamline Google’s focus.

Fortunately, RE<C already accomplished quite a bit since its launch four years ago. As stated on the official website of Google.org, RE<C:

• Invested in Brightsource Energy and eSolar to help expand their work on concentrating solar power technology.

• Invested in Potter Drilling to advance its innovative geothermal drilling technology.

• Sponsored research to develop the first Geothermal Map of the U.S., helping better understand the potential for geothermal energy to provide renewable power that’s always available.

• Worked to improve a type of concentrating solar power technology called the solar power tower.

Learn more about Google’s other green-geared initiatives.

Meredith Simonds Green Living coal, google, RE<C, Renewable Energy, Renewable Energy Cheaper Than Coal

Green your Thanksgiving meal by featuring in-season fruits and vegetables native to your region.

Eco-friendly living is not only good for the planet, but also your pocketbook. That’s especially important to remember around the holidays when entertaining can take a heavy toll on your bank account. Fortunately, the greener your choices the more green you can save!

1) Stay close to home. Instead of planning a cross-country trek to visit relatives thousands or even hundreds of miles away, make plans closer to home with local friends and family.

2) Plan meals around in-season fruits vegetables. Yes, we all have our favorite Thanksgiving dishes our families have been making for years. But try experimenting with dishes featuring in-season fruits and vegetables native to your region.

3) Simplify your decor. Why spring for a brand new “Thanksgiving” centerpiece that will only sit in storage collecting dust the rest of the year? Opt instead for a centerpiece of pumpkins, squashes and gourds, or fresh flowers (potted, not cut). The same goes for Thanksgiving-themed plates and napkins. Yes, it makes clean-up easier to just toss them in the trash, but there’s nothing easy about our growing landfills. Besides, the nice plates and cloth napkins you already own are better-suited to this special occasion.

4) Clean with homemade, eco-friendly products. A mixture of vinegar, dish soap, tea tree oil and water makes for a great multi-purpose cleaner. And baking soda is great natural alternative to abrasive chemical cleansers.

5) Watch your waste. Designate three waste bins for clean-up – trash, recycling and compost. Lighten the load by carefully making only enough to feed everyone on Thanksgiving, not for days to come, as leftovers so often go to waste.

Meredith Simonds Green Living compost, Eco-Friendly, green, Recycling, Thanksgiving, waste

If approved, the $7 billion Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline would run from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast.

Though his motivation is certainly suspect in light of the upcoming election, President Obama’s decision to extend the review and approval process of the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline is welcome news indeed. Of course, by the time the 12- to 18-month review process is over, so will be the 2012 elections. In other words, politically, it is probably in Obama’s best interest to avoid making a decision altogether, at least until he’s re-elected or it’s not his responsibility anymore.

If approved, the $7 billion Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline would run from Canada to the U.S. Gulf Coast. It’s not carrying common crude oil though. This is thick, toxic bitumen that will not be refined until it reaches its destination – nearly 2,000 miles across the country, underground.

Protests by environmentalists have been growing for months, led by350.org’s Bill McKibben, including last week’s human chain of 12,000 protestors wrapped in unity around the White House. And as you may recall, an August protest at the White House resulted in the arrest of 1,253 protestors.

Evidently the public outcry has been strong enough to urge second thoughts on a project that was considered a done deal just six months ago.

As reported by Treehugger, President Obama issued this statement:

“Because this permit decision could affect the health and safety of the American people, as well as the environment, and because a number of concerns have been raised through a public process, we should take the time to ensure that all questions are properly addressed and all the potential impacts are properly understood.”

Meredith Simonds Oil 2012 election, 350.org, Bill McKibben, bitumen, crude oil, Keystone, Keystone XL Pipeline, Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Obama, President Obama, tar sands

Assuming everything goes according to plan, we can expect to see the oldest nuclear reactors in Belgium phased out by 2015 and the rest by 2025.

With the potential danger of radiation leakage, I’ve never been a fan of nuclear power. So it comes as welcome news to me that Belgium is joining Germany in the phasing out of nuclear power within the next decade. That’s a big deal for a country like Belgium, where nuclear provides more than half of the energy necessary to meet the country’s power needs.

The Environmental News Network reports that Belgium’s announcement is in response to public outcry over the Fukushima disaster in Japan. Though plans to phase out nuclear power started way back in 2003, the Belgium powers-that-be have been dragging their feet in the execution.

Currently, Belgium relies on two nuclear power plants:

1) Doel Nuclear Power Station on the northwest side of the country, near the port of Antwerp

2) Tihange Nuclear Power Station on the southwest side of the country, along the Meuse River

These two nuclear power plants are home to seven reactors, generating 45 billion kilowatts-hours of energy each year. All of this begs the question, of course: What is going to replace the nuclear energy source? Well, worked into the phasing-out plan is the requirement that all nuclear power be replaced by renewable energy sources. And if the country fails to meet this obligation, the timeline for nuclear power elimination will be tweaked accordingly.

Assuming everything goes according to plan, though, we can expect to see the oldest reactors in Belgium phased out by 2015 and the rest by 2025. Germany is on track to phase out nuclear power by 2022.

Meredith Simonds Nuclear Power Belgium, Germany, nuclear, Nuclear Power, renewable, Renewable Energy

Avoid green guilt with savvy choices for the spookiest day of the year!

Candy, costumes and parties, oh my! Without eco-conscious consideration, it’s easy for Halloween to turn into a night of unnecessary excess. Avoid green guilt with savvy choices for the spookiest day of the year!

The Candy. Make it fair-trade, organic. No, you probably won’t find this option in the behemoth of a candy aisle at your local grocery store or Walmart. Make a special trip to a local health food store instead, like Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods or Sprouts. And instead of sending the kids out trick-or-treating with brand new plastic pumpkins, give them canvas bags to carry instead. You could even turn it into a fun art project, buying plain bags for them to decorate with spooky ghouls and goblins before the big night (with non-toxic markers and paints, of course).

The Costumes. Make them yourself or buy secondhand at your local vintage/thrift store. Why buy new “Made in China” garb when you can recycle and reuse something you already have or that would have otherwise gone to the landfill? 

The Party. Make your Halloween party meet the same eco-conscious criteria you strive for in every other area of your life. Buy locally-grown, organic fruits and veggies. For all else, buy fair-trade. And instead of buying throw-away cups, plates and utensils, opt for the real thing. It’s not only the green thing to do, but classier too. As for clean-up, make it easy on yourself with three bins clearly marked for guests – trash, recycle and compost.

Meredith Simonds Green Living

Facebook is partnering with the NRDC and Opower to give Facebook users an app that will help track energy use.

Though it smacks of an obvious disconnect between what Facebook asks of its users, and what its asks of itself, the social networking behemoth is launching a new app to help users be more energy efficient. This development is in spite of Facebook’s plan to run its new Oregon data centre on coal-generated electricity.

Facebook is partnering with the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Opower to give Facebook users an app that will allow you to:

• More easily track your home energy consumption
• Compare your energy use with that of friends and other Facebook users
• Compare your energy use with the national average for homes similar to yours
• Learn from energy consumption tips inspired by NRDC expertise

The technology that enables Facebook to offer this app is provided by Opower, an organization that partners with dozens of utility companies nationwide. Opower provides utility customers with tools for better tracking and impacting their energy consumption.

The new Facebook app is expected to roll out in early 2012, starting with just three utility companies – Commonwealth Edison, City of Palo Alto and Glendale Water and Power. However, these three utility companies alone have 4 million customers – 4 million people who will have the opportunity to be among the first to try out the new app.

Clearly, this is a notable step in the right direction, considering that Facebook has over 500 million users worldwide. Still, it smacks of hypocrisy encouraging Facebook users to become more energy conscious when the company is planning on a future in dirty coal.

Meredith Simonds Green Living coal, dirty coal, energy, energy efficiency, Facebook, Facebook app, green, green Facebook app

The bill goes to the upper house of Parliament next month where it is expected to easily pass.

Despite protests, the lower house of the Australian parliament has passed a controversial carbon tax set to go into effect next summer. Hundreds of businesses will be impacted, expected to help the country reach the goal of reducing carbon emissions 159 million tons by 2020.

As reported by Treehugger, Australia is one of the world’s biggest carbon polluters – per capita and nationally – positioning this carbon tax as a pivotal development in the effort to reduce worldwide carbon emissions – greenhouse gases proven to contribute to manmade climate change.

Under the new law, starting July 1, 2012, 500 of Australia’s biggest polluters will be required to pay A$23 per ton of carbon emitted. I was pretty impressed by this until reading further: the agriculture and forestry industries are excluded.

The agriculture industry not only emits a significant amount of carbon dioxide, but is also responsible for the world’s greatest emissions of methane and nitrous oxide, both of which are climate-changing greenhouse gases.

As for the forestry industry, deforestation contributes significantly to carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere, as trees are such important absorbers of CO2.

That said, perhaps a successful execution of the carbon tax as is will ultimately result in more widespread adoption – not only across all Australian industries, but worldwide.

The bill goes to the upper house of Parliament next month where it is expected to easily pass.

The alternative to a carbon tax is a carbon credit system, which we have written extensively about here at AltFuelsNow.com. Check out our carbon articles here – from carbon 101 to the basics of carbon credits.

Meredith Simonds Carbon Footprint agriculture, Australia, Carbon, carbon credits, carbon tax, forestry

"Solutions for a Sustainable World" is the theme for the 2011 SWSX Eco Conference in Austin, Texas.

This week marks the first annual SXSW Eco Conference in Austin, Texas. October 4th through 6th, executive-level decision makers and thought leaders from all around the world are gathering to share and learn ideas for solving sustainable/environmental challenges.

The theme is “Solutions for a Sustainable World,” with dozens of conference sessions that include:

• Achieving 100 Percent Renewable Energy by 2050
• Austin, TX – The Clean Energy Capital of the World
• Bright Green Urbanism
• Building a Better Climate Movement
• Climate is Culture
• Growing an Eco-Culture to Replace Our Consumer Society
• No More Coal: The Business Case for Ending an Industry
• Texas and China: Non-Obvious Energy and Environmental Bedfellows
• The Campaign to Bring Congestion Pricing to NYC – and the U.S.
• The Gulf Coast: Aftermath of an Unnatural Disaster
• Using Carbon Financing to Provide Sustainable Access to Drinking Water

SWSX stands for South by Southwest. Though this is the first SWSX Eco Conference, you are probably familiar with the term, as there are other SWSX conferences, all with emphasis on launching new ideas.

As stated on the official SXSW Eco website:

The South by Southwest Conferences & Festivals offer the unique convergence of original music, independent films, and emerging technologies. Fostering creative and professional growth alike, SXSW is the premier destination for discovery.

Year after year, the event is a launching pad for new creative content. New media presentations, music showcases and film screenings provide buzz-generating exposure for creators and compelling entertainment for audiences.

Click here to watch live streaming coverage of select sessions.

Meredith Simonds Environment Austin, carbon financing, eco, environmental, Renewable Energy, South by Southwest, sustainable, SWSX Eco Conference, SXSW

“Go Solar!” has been one of the mantras of the Green Energy movement since the ’70s, but how many of you reading this right now have any idea of how a solar power system really works? Well, to being with, you’ll need to have solar panels installed on your roof. These are the photovoltaic panels that collect sunlight and covert into DC power. However, since most homes run on Alternating Current (AC power), the DC current is sent to an inverter. This device converts the DC power into the AC your house is wired for. From the inverter, the AC power is sent to your breaker box or electrical panel. From there, it is ready to power the multitude of electrical devices found within the 21st Century home.

Now you’re probably aware of your utility meter, right? That’s the little gizmo usually found on the side of your house that tracks how much electricity you’re using. Well, once you’ve got your solar panels installed on your roof, and the sun comes out, your utility meter may start running backwards, because your solar power system is feeding excess electricity into the central power grid. If you have a big enough solar array on your home, you’ll not only offset all of your electricity usage, you’ll probably be creating a surplus, which is a good thing because it offsets the overall load on the power grid. Of course, being tied into the grid works two ways.

You can sometimes be passing excess power to the grid, which offsets some or all of your monthly electric bill, but when it’s nighttime or it’s too overcast, your solar panels aren’t generating any power, and you’ll need power from the grid for your electrical systems to continue to function normally. Some people, who live in remote locations, or places where it’s simply too expensive to run power lines to a home, have stand-alone solar arrays, along with windmills, gas generators, and other power systems that can act as back-up power when the sun’s not cooperating.

Storage batteries are another component you can add to your home power system, if you have room to house them safely. Some consumer opt to have their solar panels charging battery arrays so they can have power at night and during periods of inclement weather. By the way, having an overcast day does not always mean that you can’t get power from your solar panels. Some panels are built to absorb different light spectra so that they can be generating electricity under a wider variety of sun/weather conditions.

But remember, not all batteries are created equal. Wet cell batteries, such as those used to run golf carts need to be mounted, stored, and kept at a different temperature than other battery types such as sealed or gel cell batteries. Be sure to do your research and purchase right kind of batteries for your power storage needs. If you use 6-volt (size T-105) golf cart batteries for your battery bank, it’s best to buy them in pairs to obtain a 12-volt power output.

The reason why golf cart batteries are a better choice than car batteries is that they’re designed for hours of sustained heavy power output, but can be recharged quickly in only a few hours. This is ideal for solar applications, since people need sustained power throughout the night, but then, during the day, the battery array can be recharged for the night at the same time that the solar array is supplying AC to the home. For more information about installing a home battery array to go along with your solar power set-up, check out this web site:

http://www.backwoodshome.com/articles2/yago87.html

Kristy Wesh Solar batteries, golf cart batteries, grid tied, solar power

With government subsidies of renewables lagging behind, innovation is left to private investors.

A new report provides proof that renewable energy doesn’t get as much government-subsidized love as nuclear power or fossil fuels. Thankfully, this discouraging news is balanced by an exciting development in solar that reminds us of the importance of private investments.

As reported by The New York Times, during the 15 years immediately following World War II, government subsidies for nuclear power represented 1 percent of the federal budget. In the first 15 years of oil and gas development, subsidies for these fossil fuels represented .5 percent of the federal budget. By contrast, just .1 percent of the federal budget has gone toward subsidizing renewable energy.

Worldwide, fossil fuels receive 12 times more government subsidies than renewables do.

Fortunately, we have private investors like PayPal cofounder Peter Thiel investing in projects like Eden Full’s.

Eden Full is a 19-year-old Princeton student who took time off after her sophomore year so as to develop her SunSaluter technology. At a cost of just $10 per installation, Full’s SunSaluter solar panels improve solar power capacity by 40 percent!

Without the use of electricity, the SunSaluter bamboo and metal solar panels follow the sun throughout the day so as to capture optimal solar power. Two of Full’s prototypes are already operating at full capacity in two villages in Kenya, providing power to 1,000 people.

Eden Full presented this technology at the 2011 Mashable Social Good Summit where she was awarded a $10,000 prize in the Startup for Good Challenge. Now if only we could get the U.S. government to invest more in the social good of renewables than the good of nuclear, oil and gas companies’ bottom line.

Meredith Simonds Renewable Energy Eden Full, federal budget, fossil fuels, Mashable, Nuclear Power, PayPal, Peter Thiel, Princeton, Renewable Energy, renewables, Social Good Summit, subsidies, subsidized, SunSaluter

World Green Building Week brings attention to the permanent, long-term impact of construction practices.

Of all the green living decisions we make, few have such a permanent, long-term impact as the practices we use for construction of our buildings. To that end, World Green Building Week brings attention to this all-important, universal issue.

World Green Building Week is every third week of September. Last year, the number of participating countries tripled, and is expected to grow even stronger in 2011.

In recognition of this World Green Building Week – September 19-23, 2011 – a number of countries are hosting special events. Official registered events are taking place in:

• Amman
• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Bulgaria
• Canada
• Chile
• Columbia
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Ireland
• Mauritius
• Oman
• Peru
• Philippines
• Republic of Serbia
• Romania
• South Africa
• Spain
• The Netherlands
• Turkey
• United Arab Emirates
• UK
• Vietnam

Events include seminars, tours, training classes, round tables, webinars, conferences, ceremonies, workshops and film screenings.

Though the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) counts itself among the participants, no U.S. events are registered on the official World Green Building Week website. However, the USGBC is hosting its Greenbuild International Conference and Expo October 4-7, 2011, in Toronto, with expected attendance of more than 25,000 people.

USGBC developed the internationally-recognized Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification program. This is a third-party verification that certifies homes and buildings are constructed according to the highest of green standards, taking into account:

• Sustainability
• Water Efficiency
• Energy Use
• Materials and Resources Used
• Indoor Environmental Quality
• Location and Linkages
• Awareness and Education of its Tenants
• Innovation of Design
• Regional Priority

At the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo in Toronto next month, the USGBC is expected to unveil “Road to Rio +20,” an initiative that will highlight the important role buildings and cities play in ensuring
sustainable economic development.

Meredith Simonds Green Living energy, green building, green building practices, green living, Greenbuild International Conference and Expo, LEED, U.S. Green Building Council, USGBC, World Green Building Week