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

The National Science Foundation awards Iowa $20 million for renewable energy research.

Though a leader in the renewable fuel industry, Iowa has much room for growth in the renewable power sector. Since the state has not received any significant funding toward renewable energy research, the National Science Foundation has awarded Iowa millions of dollars to that end.

The National Science Foundation’s Experimental Program to Stimulate Competitive Research will distribute the bulk of $20 million in research funds among Iowa State University, the University of Iowa and the University of Northern Iowa. The project will also include the Iowa community, private colleges, K-12 schools, state agencies and regional businesses

As reported by Iowa State University, the program objectives are as follows:

Bioenergy, investigating challenges of sustainably producing large quantities of biomass and using thermochemical processes to quickly heat the biomass to produce liquid or gas products suitable for generating electric power or upgrading to transportation fuels.

Wind energy platform, using advanced engineering principles to improve the reliability of wind turbines.

Energy utilization platform, studying building energy science and how human behavior influences energy conservation decisions.

Energy policy platform, exploring ways for engineers and economists to collaborate and advise lawmakers on renewable energy and energy efficiency issues.

“This investment in Iowa by the National Science Foundation will position our state as a research and technology leader in renewable energy and energy efficiency,” says Sharron Quisenberry, Iowa State’s vice president for research and economic development.

“The project’s vision of a transition from fossil fuels to sustainable energy systems matches the state’s aspirations to use science, technology and human creativity to meet the challenges of the 21st century and to build an innovative Iowa economy.”

Meredith Simonds Renewable Energy bioenergy, Iowa, Iowa State, National Science Foundation, Renewable Energy, renewable fuel, renewable power, University of Iowa, University of Northern Iowa, wind energy

Instead of revising smog standards to 60 to 70 ppb, Obama has decided to stick with Bush-era smog standards set at 75 ppb.

Per usual, the latest lobbying efforts in Washington are benefiting big business over the best interests of the American people. President Obama has withdrawn his support of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed improvement of air quality standards.

The EPA had been working toward the adoption of tighter smog standards. Currently, ground-level ozone standards are set at 75 parts per billion (ppb). New standards would have lowered that to 60 to 70 ppb.

Proponents of the new smog standards note the tens-of-thousands of lives that could be saved each year through healthier air quality. Chemicals in smog are known contributors to lung and respiratory illnesses.

Opponents to the new standards are, of course, the biggest smog polluters – businesses whose factories would require upgrading so as to meet the 60 to 70 ppb standard. Local governments would also be impacted, as power plants would need to upgrade their systems as well.

Lobbyists chipped away at the President’s resolve via threats job losses, presumably because upgrading factories would mean less revenue available for supporting a workforce. This is, of course, a sore spot for Obama as the country is already experiencing a decline in job growth.

Despite the argument that upgrading factories (as well as city power plants) should create new jobs, there seems to be no possibility of reprieve for improved smog standards. We’ll either have to wait for a president for whom public health trumps big biz bullying, or a second-term Obama whose decisions are not tainted by the agenda of re-election.

Meredith Simonds Environment EPA, ground-level ozone, lobbying, Obama, ozone, smog, smog quality standards

South Dakota is among six U.S. states through which the proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would run, including Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas.

Exactly what is motivating protests over the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline?

This proposed 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.

Specifically, the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline would be:

• 1,702 miles long
• 36 inches wide
• Capable of transporting 900,000 barrels per day (bpd)
• Running from Hardisty, Alberta to Nederland, Texas
• Transversing Montana, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Oklahoma and Texas
• Expected to be operational by 2012

As of this writing, the pipeline is only a proposal, thus the protests urging President Obama not to give it his okay. Unfortunately, the State Department has just issued its last environmental impact report, essentially saying we have nothing to fear.

Here’s the problem. As outlined by the NRDC, the State Department’s reports do not address critics’ biggest concerns:

• Threats to the Ogallala Aquifer and the the Sandhills of South Dakota
• Effects of toxic pollution from corrosive tar sands refineries on the residents of Houston and other communities
• No existing federal safeguards for the safe transport of tar sands crude oil, one of the dirtiest and most dangerous forms of oil on Earth

Bottom line: The proposed Keystone XL tar sands pipeline is a toxic plan not worth the risk. We will all be much better served focusing our efforts on the six renewable energies the U.N.’s IPCC predicts will provide 77 percent of the world’s power by 2050.

Meredith Simonds Oil Alberta, bitumen, Canada, crude oil, Houston, Keystone XL, Keystone XL tar sands pipeline, Ogallala Aquifer, South Dakota, tar sands pipeline, Texas, toxic, U.S. Gulf Coast

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) hosts and organizes World Water Week, a global gathering established in 1991.

Considering what we know of population growth over the next four decades, it seems the 2011 focus of World Water Week in Stockholm August 21 through 27 is right on target – Water in an Urbanizing World.

Between now and the year 2050, 95 percent of the world’s population growth is projected to be concentrated in urban areas. And we can expect a rate of growth so significant that population in urban areas alone will skyrocket to the same population of people on the entire planet today!

The Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI) hosts and organizes World Water Week, a global gathering established in 1991. The focus is different each time, though fitting within an over-arching theme that spans a number of years. For instance, the 2011 focus – “Water in an Urbanizing World” – fits within the wider theme of “Responding to Global Changes” that spans 2009 through 2012.

There are well over a hundred workshops, seminars and events going on this week, a number of which touch on the most timely and/or controversial of water issues, such as:

• Recovering Nutrients, Water and Energy from Waste: A Business Perspective
• Water and Climate in Focus: Raising the Profile of Water in the Global Climate Discourse
• Making Sure That Dams Don’t Create More Problems Than They Solve
• Challenges in Access to Drinking-Water: Equity, Safety and Sustainability
• Living on the Edge: Management in Coastal Cities
• Which Water Quality for Which Uses? A Regulators’ and Practitioners’ Perspective
• Forum on Water Stewardship in the Forest Products Industry
• Urban Water Reuse for Food Production: City to the Field
• Creating a Sustainable City – The Stockholm Experience

What seems to be missing from the lengthy list (that goes on for three web pages) is any reference to the use of water for energy. 

Water plays a significant role in the six renewable energies the U.N.’s IPCC predicts will provide 77 percent of the world’s power by 2050. Though this may be the focus of future World Water Weeks, it seems a fitting topic for “Water in an Urbanizing World.” Perhaps this is covered in “Living on the Edge: Management in Coastal Cities” or “Making Sure That Dams Don’t Create More Problems Than They Solve.” But wave power, ocean thermal energy conversion, hydropower and geothermal power seem topics broad and important enough to warrant a separate workshop, seminar or event, a la “Sustainably Harnessing Water to Power Urban Areas.”

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” also seems a topic worthy of exploration, as this process for natural gas extraction has so much potential for the chemical contamination of ground water systems.

Meredith Simonds Water cities, SIWI, Stockholm, Stockholm International Water Institute, urban, water, water power, World Water Week

What sort of trade-off are we making, sacrificing truly fair wages for Chinese workers in exchange for increased solar capacity?

What makes our slow conversion to a solar-powered world so frustrating is this: The sun provides enough solar energy in a single day to power the entire energy needs of the planet for a full year! The challenge to us is making the manufacturing process affordable compared to fossil fuel alternatives. So recent research on the immediate future of solar certainly seems welcome news, and from the unlikeliest of places – China.

As reported by Treehugger, Chinese researchers believe the cost of solar power will be on par with that of coal by 2015. Evidently, this is news China is taking to heart, as they recently announced plans to double their solar capacity by the end of the 2012. Doing so will move them from 7th place for installed solar capacity up to number five.

In the past, I’ve been critical of solar as it relates to China – not for a lack of their emphasis on solar energy, though clearly it could be better, but for the U.S. dependence on China for own solar panels.

As I blogged in July of last year:

What’s the point of investing in clean American energy only to inflate our carbon footprint by transporting the necessary parts from thousands of miles away?

But we’re dependent on China for solar panels, and countless other goods, for a reason – they make them cheaper than we do. How? Cheap labor, of course, which makes China’s news of more “affordable” solar bittersweet, if not just plain bitter.  Yes, The New York Times reports Chinese cities raising the wages of workers 20 percent, but that’s not saying much when factory workers in Southern China make only about 75 cents an hour!

What sort of trade-off are we making, sacrificing truly fair wages for Chinese workers in exchange for increased solar capacity?

Meredith Simonds Solar China, Solar, solar capacity, Solar Panels, solar power

From reports of an increase in natural gas production, to approval for oil drilling off the Arctic Coast, to investments in nuclear energy research, where is the love for alternative fuels?

In the first quarter of 2011, coal’s share of U.S.-generated electricity dropped to its lowest level in more than 30 years. Sounds like a pretty impressive eco-friendly soundbite, right? All that’s missing is this all-important follow-up fact. It’s not alternative fuels that are making up the difference, but an increase in electricity generated by natural gas – a fossil fuel the acquisition of which requires a hydraulic fracturing process that is anything by earth-friendly.

Unfortunately, that’s not the worst of fossil fuel news this week. The Obama administration has given formal approval for Shell to start exploratory drilling off the Arctic Coast. Specifically, Shell will be drilling in the Beaufort Sea, which is home to an abundance of marine wildlife – from whales and seals, to walruses and polar bears.

Shell, of course, claims to have the most impressive safety contingency plan in the world. But according to the top official of the U.S. Coast Guard, the Coast Guard is completely unprepared to respond to an oil spill in that area off the Arctic Coast.

Couple this disturbing fossil fuel news with developments on the nuclear energy front, and it’s clear where U.S. loyalties lie.

The Department of Energy has just announced its awarding of $39 million in grants for nuclear research to more than 30 institutions of higher learning in more than 20 states. Specifically, the DOE reports that the grants are designated as follows:

• $12.4 million for Fuel Cycle Research and Development
• $11.9 million for Reactor Concepts Research, Development, and Demonstration
• $4.9 million for Nuclear Energy Advanced Modeling and Simulation
• $9.8 million for Transformative Research

This emphasis on nuclear energy research is being attributed to the need for greater nuclear safety measures made evident in the wake of Japan’s Fukushima disaster. Too bad these same resources aren’t being put toward truly clean alternative energies that pose no safety threat at all. The same may be said of the emphasis on natural gas and oil.

Where is the love for alternative fuels?

Meredith Simonds Solar

Though you can probably find recycled paper, pen and pencil options in brick-and-mortar stores close to home, most of your shopping will need to be done online, meaning you need to allow for delivery time.

If you want to green your child’s school supplies this year, it’s a good idea to start shopping at least two or three weeks in advance. Though you can probably find recycled paper, pen and pencil options in brick-and-mortar stores close to home, most of your shopping will need to be done online, meaning you need to allow for delivery time. Otherwise you’ll be missing out on an abundance of opportunities to take the greening of your child’s school supplies to the next level.

There may be a number of online retailers to which you may turn, but the “Kids” and/or “Teens + Dorm” sections at TheUltimateGreenStore.com are a great place to start. GreenOffice.com also has some respectable offerings, but not with the fun, kid-friendly flair of The Ultimate Green Store, which lives up to the name.

Look for:

1. Recycled folders and binders

2. Recycled, chlorine-free paper and notepads

3. Biodegradable, refillable pens

4. Recycled newspaper pencils and colored pencils

5. Biodegradable mechanical pencils

6. Soy crayons

7. Recycled, biodegradable markers and highlighters

8. Recycled staplers, staples and paper clips

9. Recycled scissors

10. Recycled rulers

11. Non-toxic glue and glue sticks

12. Eco-friendly backpacks

13. Eco-friendly lunch box systems

14. Organic cloth lunch bags

15. Reusable sandwich bags

16. Organic cloth napkins

17. Reusable water bottles

For double eco-friendly impact, include your child in the school supply shopping process.

Products from The Ultimate Green Store are hip and fun. The more your child knows about where their school supplies came from – and why they’re so cool (beyond the aesthetic factor) – the better environmental ambassadors they’ll be in helping to spread the green word.

Meredith Simonds Green Living biodegradable, Eco-Friendly, green, green school supplies, green store, non-toxic, organic, recycled, school supplies, The Ultimate Green Store

There's a stronger push toward solar in New York City these days, where two-thirds of the 1 million buildings are suitable for solar panels.

When New York City heats up in the summertime, so does pressure on the power grid, resulting in blown transformers and blackouts. Why not put all that hot summer sun to good use by installing solar panels on the tops of city buildings? There’s a big push in that direction in the Big Apple, where two-thirds of the 1 million buildings are suitable for solar, but only a fraction of them are so equipped.

As reported by CNN, the following factors are driving the development of solar in NYC these days:

• State-mandated requirement that 30 percent of New York’s energy come from renewables by 2015
• Plan to put solar farms on top of old landfills
• New financial incentives that add to existing city, state and federal subsidies
• Overall streamlining of the solar power permitting bureaucracy
• New hyper-accurate map of the city that is designed to gauge solar’s potential building-by-building:

“This solar map can pinpoint objects down to the size of a coffee cup, and factors in things like shadows from trees or other buildings, fire code setbacks or stairway entrances to give the most accurate reading of just how much solar energy a building can generate.”

Of the 13,000 megawatts of power used by New York City, only 6 megawatts is generated by solar. However, that’s twice as much as last year and expected to maintain similar growth over the next three years.

New York City’s increased emphasis on solar is a sign of things to come worldwide. In fact, the U.N.’s IPCC predicts solar will be one of six renewable energies providing 77 percent of all power by 2050. Considering that the sun provides enough energy in a single day to power the entire energy needs of the planet for a full year, solar could very well top the list.

Meredith Simonds Solar IPCC, New York City, renewables, Solar, solar farms, solar map, Solar Panels, solar power, subsidies, summer, sun, U.N.

Of all new power capacity in 2010, wind power represented 25 percent - a drop of more than 15 percent from 2009.

Going into 2010, we had a pretty impressive track record of introducing new wind power capacity in the U.S. In both 2008 and 2009, wind  represented more than 40 percent of the nation’s new power overall. Last year that number dropped more than 15 percent!

As reported by Treehugger, though new wind power projects were approved to move forward by 2010, the global recession of 2008/2009 may have hampered construction.

Last year, wind power represented just 25 percent of new power overall, compared to 42 percent in 2009 and 43 percent in 2008 – years for which construction presumably received funding prior to the global financial crisis.

So what new energy sources beat out wind for the top spots in 2010? Natural gas came in first with coal a close second. This broke a 5-year streak in which wind power held the number two spot.

To put all of this in perspective, it helps to look at a timeline of new wind power generation over the past 10 years.

Of total new power generated in the U.S., wind represented:

• 25% in 2010
• 42% in 2009
• 43% in 2008
• 34% in 2007
• 18% in 2006
• 12% in 2005
• Less than 4% 2000-2004

In that context, 25 percent growth of new wind capacity in 2010 seems a respectable number, as we’re comparing it to less than 4 percent just 10 years ago. Let’s just hope 43 percent in 2008 wasn’t our peak.

The global recession certainly seems a likely reason for a cut to new wind power generation last year, but it’s not a comforting one. The cheapest way of doing things now (i.e., investing in carbon-emitting natural gas and coal) will only cost us more in the long run.

When will we stop valuing the short-sighted, easy way out today over the long-term look to a sustainable future?

Meredith Simonds Wind Power coal, Natural Gas, recession, sustainable, Wind, Wind Power

More than 16 percent of China's rivers are unfit for crop irrigation, much less drinking water.

After a year-long investigation, Greenpeace reports that some major clothing manufacturers are sourcing from companies in China that routinely pollute rivers with hazardous, hormone-disrupting chemicals. They’re names we all know, and many of us love, including Adidas, Nike, Calvin Klein, Lacoste, and Abercrombie and Fitch.

The investigation focused specifically on two major Chinese suppliers – the Youngor Textile Complex in Ningbo on the Yangtze River Delta and the Well Dyeing Factory Ltd in the Pearl River Delta near Hong Kong.

Both Adidas and Nike admit doing business with these two suppliers, but they have their justifications.

Adidas says the supplier only cuts and sews their garments, thus not directly contributing to the runoff in rivers. And Nike says that though they do source materials from one of the two offending suppliers, their garments come from factories that do not discharge hazardous chemicals into the water supply.

Those seem weak justifications to me.

Though their production of garments may not be directly contributing to water pollution in China, they’re still supporting the suppliers who do. And the chemicals polluting their waters are nothing to take for granted – akylphenols and perfluorinated chemicals, both of which are restricted in the Europe and across the U.S., as they cannot be removed by water treatment plants.

Of course, none of this would be an issue if China had a systematic chemical management policy. They don’t, which means manufacturers are responsible for policing themselves. They’re not:

According to Greenpeace:

“None of the corporations mentioned in our report have a comprehensive, publicly available policy that ensures that their suppliers are eliminating hazardous chemicals from their supply chain, so we believe they are perpetuating toxic pollution.”

You know what this means: It’s up to us, the customers, to make environmentally-responsible clothing choices.

The closer to home your clothes are made, the more eco-friendly. I buy most of mine from resale or vintage shops where the origination of a garment in China, for example, is less important than keeping this now used (but perfectly usable) item of the landfill.

Beyond buying secondhand, look for these labels when buying brand-new:

• Certified Organic
• Pesticide Free
• Untreated
• Uncolored
• Fair Trade
• Made in the USA

Looking for eco-friendly fashion can be seem overwhelming. Ecomall.com and HappyHippie.com are good places to start, both impressive, comprehensive directories of eco friendly products, including clothes and shoes.

Meredith Simonds Environment Adidas, akylphenols, China, Greenpeace, hazardous chemicals, manufacturers, Nike, perfluorinated chemicals, pollution, water pollution