2009 Prius Best New Car Value

DETROIT — The 2009 Toyota Prius Touring edition offers the best new car value, says Consumer Reports magazine.

The magazine, known for its annual ranking of top vehicles, says it added a "best car value" rating as consumers are looking for the best deals on a new car in a troubled economy.

The ranking takes into account the total cost of ownership over five years, weighing fuel costs, maintenance and repairs, insurance costs, depreciation, financing rates and taxes against the purchase price of the vehicle.

The April edition of the magazine, which focuses on cars, will be available Tuesday.

Biden Task Force today in Philadelphia

By DARLENE SUPERVILLE

WASHINGTON (AP) — Green jobs, where are they and how to get them, will be the focus when President Barack Obama's task force on middle-class working families formally begins its work on Friday in Philadelphia.

The panel, chaired by Vice President Joe Biden, will hear from experts on the potential to create and fill these jobs.

The $787 billion economic stimulus bill Obama signed last week includes billions to help create such jobs as installing solar panels and building wind turbines, which also is part of his goal to nudge the country away from dependence on foreign oil and toward reliance on renewable forms of energy.

It is Obama's belief that such jobs will help raise living standards for middle-class families, who didn't fare well before the current economic downturn set in and are now feeling pinched along with millions of other people who have lost their jobs and homes, and watched retirement and college savings disappear.

Obama announced the panel last month at the White House. Its purpose is to recommend ways to boost the nation's middle class. It also will evaluate new and existing policies to determine whether they are helping or hurting the middle class.

"Quite simply, a strong middle class equals a strong America. We can't have one without the other," Biden said at the time. "It is our charge to get the middle class, the backbone of this country, up and running again."

Jared Bernstein, the task force's executive director, said middle-class incomes have fallen by about $2,000 in real terms since the start of the decade and that violates a basic American tenet: that you'll get ahead if you work hard and your children will fare even better.

"Part of this election was about recognizing that a key part of any effective government's economic agenda had to be reconnecting the living standards of the middle class to that of the expanding economy once it starts expanding again," said Bernstein — Biden's chief economist and economic policy adviser.

"We are fortunate enough to be here now and we have a responsibility to carry through on that," he said in an interview Wednesday.

Green jobs, broadly defined as related to improving the environment, pay up to 20 percent more than other jobs, are more likely to be union jobs and likelier held by men, less so by minorities and city dwellers, according to a draft copy of a staff report to be released at Friday's meeting at the University of Pennsylvania. Green jobs also are largely domestic jobs that cannot be shipped overseas.

The stimulus bill provides $11 billion for investments in a new smart grid to create more than 3,000 miles of new or modernized high-tech transmission lines; $6 billion for a loan guarantee program to encourage banks to finance green investments; $5 billion to help people weatherize their homes, potentially saving them money on their utility bills; and $500 million for a "green job" training program to be run by the Department of Labor.

Labor unions welcomed the administration's focus on the middle class.

Anna Burger, who leads the Change to Win group of seven unions, said the task force shows government understands that rebuilding the American Dream and fixing the economy means "creating good jobs with a wage that can support a family, benefits that can keep them healthy and a secure and dignified retirement."

Bill Samuel, the AFL-CIO's director of governmental affairs, said the makeup of the task force increases its visibility, even though the panel is only advisory.

"This is a high-profile task force with someone in charge who is really committed to this and has been throughout his entire career," Samuel said. "So we don't see this as a flash in the pan."

Biden will be joined at the meeting by several Cabinet members and others on the task force, including the secretaries of energy, transportation, education, agriculture, and housing and urban development, labor secretary-designate Hilda Solis and Melody Barnes, Obama's domestic policy chief.

12-year-old Makes Shelter from Trash!

Written by Jerry James Stone

12-year-old Max Wallack stole the show at Design Squad’s Trash to Treasure contest with his “Home Dome.” The contest asked kids to repurpose trash into practical inventions.

The dome provides shelter for the homeless and is made from plastic, wire and packing peanuts. Pretty much, trash.

The trash-plex looks like a Mongolian yurt, and let Max walk away with $10,000 and a Dell laptop. He also got a trip to Boston out of it. But Max had this to say, “I don’t really care about the money. I care about helping people.”



This isn’t his first big win. “When I was six,” Max said, “I won an invention contest that included a trip to Chicago. While there, I saw homeless people living on streets, and beneath highways and underpasses. I felt very sorry for these people, and ever since then, felt that my goal and obligation was to find a way to help them. My invention improves the living conditions for homeless people, refugees, or disaster victims by giving them easy-to-assemble shelter.”

Go Max! We all look forward to your future inventions.

Great Texas Refrigerator Roundup

by Lori Brown

Have an old refrigerator or freezer lying around the house? Live in Texas? If you answered “yes” to both questions, you could have $50 headed your way. Oncor, in partnership with Appliance Recycling Centers of America (ARCA), has begun the second annual “Great Texas Refrigerator Roundup,” encouraging customers to get rid of out-of-date and inefficient refrigerators and freezers. Refrigerators and freezers contribute to hazardous waste if landfilled improperly.

For a limited time, Oncor residential electric customers can turn in up to two refrigerators or freezers per household, earning $50 per appliance. The units will be dismantled and the parts recycled, reducing the amounts of materials headed to the landfill.

“Out-of-date, inefficient refrigerators and freezers waste energy,” said Michael Stockard, Oncor’s director of energy efficiencyprograms. “Oncor’s program can help consumers save energy, protect the state’s natural resources through proper recycling, and earn $50. It’s hard to argue with that offer.”

The Great Texas Refrigerator Roundup is part of Oncor’s “Take A Load Off, Texas” tour, an educational campaign designed to speak to consumers about the importance of energy efficiency. The program has reached more than 2.8 million consumers throughout the state.

According to the U.S. EPA, older refrigerators and freezers can put a great strain on local power grids, often using more than twice the energy of a new ENERGY STAR qualified model. By upgrading to an energy efficient model, consumers can save between $50-100 in energy costs annually.

ENERGY STAR estimates there are over 47 million refrigerators over ten years old in the U.S. If every American home replaced its pre-1993 refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model, enough energy would be saved to light more than 8.1 million homes for an entire year.

If you’re looking to recycle a refrigerator or freezer outside of Texas, check out the Recycle My Old Fridge Campaign.

ZEM, Zero Emissions Machine Goes Zoom!

by Warren McLaren, Sydney

The ZEM is a Zero Emissions Machine, from a Swiss company of the same name. One that “promotes, develops, produces and deals with sustainable mobility systems mainly in Europe, and provides consulting on environment, ecology and sustainability.”

Originally designed as a four person human powered vehicle, so it could carry around a car-less family in comfort, the ZEM is also now available in the two person version pictured here. An important difference with the ZEM and other multi-person pedalcraft is each rider pedals at their own strength, rather than trying to keep up with the fittest.



With all its high tech components (like hydraulic disc brakes) and Swiss heritage a ZEM is not a cheap initial purchase. Prices start at € 3,450 ($4.400 USD) for the base model and climb from there. Mind you, as there are no ongoing petrol, oil, car registration costs, and so on, it could work out to be reasonably priced transport for some families. Though, in an article for Bike Culture magazine (PDF) the inventor, Reudi Frey says, "I don't think many people will replace their cars with the ZEM, or their bikes either. But we hope that people my have a go on a ZEM and like it, and in the long term this could bring more people back to any kind of pedal-powered mobility." Just the sort of behavorial change that would gladden hearts around here.



Other niceties include: a parking brake, 4-point Elastomer shocks, Hella/Basta lighting, individually adjustable ergonomic bucket seats with removable and washable padding, safety harnesses for passenger, large baggage platform, vertical parking, bow and seats foldable for minimal storage space and longer transports.

Financial Opportunities for Consumers

Although the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy does not directly fund consumer energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, many other opportunities exist. To learn more about financial opportunities for consumers and homeowners, visit the following sites:
Alliance to Save Energy

Through the Alliance to Save Energy Web site, you can get an overview of energy efficiency financing.

Database of State Incentives for Renewables & Efficiency (DSIRE)
This database includes state-by-state financial and regulatory incentives (such as tax credits, grants, rebates, and special utility rates) for renewable energy technologies.

Federal Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
Information from ENERGY STAR on federal tax credits for home improvements, efficient vehicles, solar energy systems, and fuel cells.

Financing an Energy-Efficient Home
This fact sheet from the Department of Energy features an overview of energy-efficient financing programs from mortgages to home improvement loans.

Residential Energy Services Network (RESNET)
RESNET is a national network of mortgage companies, real estate brokerages, builders, appraisers, utilities, and other housing and energy professionals. This Web site offers state contact information for certified energy raters and lenders who know how to process energy efficiency mortgages, a home energy rating systems primer, and an overview of energy efficient mortgages.

U.S. Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance Program
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program works with states and local governments to enable low-income families to permanently reduce their energy bills by making their homes more energy-efficient.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program
The Energy-Efficient Mortgage Program is one of many Federal Housing Authority programs that insure mortgage loans to encourage lenders to make mortgage credit available to borrowers, such as first-time homebuyers, who would not otherwise qualify for conventional loans on affordable terms.

Home Energy Tax Credits Save Thousands

By Dan Shapley

When Congress passed the financial bailout bill late last year, it included a range of federal tax credits and cash gifts for businesses -- but also a suite of new and renewed tax credits for individuals who want to make energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements to their home or cars. When President Obama signed the economic stimulus bill in February, the federal government expanded and extended some of those credits.

So what's in it for homeowners and other regular taxpayers? There are several important provisions anyone can take advantage of (changes made by the economic stimulus bill are in bold). This list includes:

$1,500 Home Tax Credits for Energy Efficiency
You can claim a home tax credit for energy efficiency improvements made in 2009 (but not for improvements made in 2008) if you installed new insulation, energy-efficient windows or an energy-efficient furnace, boiler or air conditioner.

A tax credit of up to $500 that expired in 2007 has been renewed for 2009 by the bailout bill, and expanded to $1,500 by the economic stimulus bill. It covers up to 30% (expanded from 10% by the economic stimulus bill) of the cost of a range of projects that meet certain specifications. Do $5,000 worth of qualifying work, and you not only get a $1,500 rebate, but also savings on energy bills for years to come.

The economic stimulus bill also stripped out most caps on individual home improvements, which had applied to windows, heating equipment and other energy efficiency improvements.
Note that the tax credit applies only to equipment, not labor.

Find more information about these home energy efficiency tax credits at the Alliance to Save Energy or Energy Star or Department of Energy Websites. Note that much of this information reflects the tax incentives in place in 2006 and 2007; for the most part, the 2009 tax credits are identical, but check updated criteria for which products qualify, for instance.

$2,000 or More In Home Energy Tax Credits for Geothermal, Solar, Wind Turbines or Fuel Cells

The economic stimulus bill removed the $2,000 cap that had applied to geothermal heat pumps, leaving in place the 30% tax rebate on qualified solar energy systems, geothermal heat pumps, small wind turbines, and fuel cell systems. Install all four and that's $8,000!
Ground-source heat pumps are installed underground and use the constant 50-degree subsurface temperature to cool air or water in the summer, and heat it in the winter — both of which reduce the cost of heating or cooling year round. The solar energy tax credit is now good through 2016.

$500 Home Energy Tax Credits for Fuel Cells or Microturbines
The tax incentive that had covered 30% of the cost of fuel cell or microturbine systems in homes, which lapsed in 2008, has been restored for 2009 and through 2016. It covers up to $500 per 0.5 kw of capacity.

$7,500 Energy Tax Credits for Plug-in Hybrid Cars
The first 200,000 buyers of plug-in hybrid vehicles from each manufacturer now qualify for a $7,500 tax rebate. A similar tax credit for hybrid vehicles had been capped at $3,500 before the bailout bill.

$2,500 for Plug-in Electric Motorcycles or Low-Speed or Three-Wheeled Vehicles
The economic stimulus bill established a 10% tax credit through 2011 with a cap of $2,500 for new electric plug-in motorcycles, low-speed and three-wheeled vehicles. There's also a 10% tax rebate and a $4,000 cap for converting an existing vehicle to a plug-in.

$50,000 for Installing a Clean Fuel Refueling System
While few homeowners may be ready to take advantage, those who want to install a clean fuel refueling system, like a natural gas refueler or a recharging system for a plug-in electric vehicle, can now qualify for up to $50,000 -- up from $30,000 -- if the system is installed in 2009 or 2010, thanks to the stimulus bill. Go with hydrogen and the credit increases to $200,000, and you have until 2014 to take advantage of it.

Wildcard: State Energy Tax Credits
Keep your eyes out for new incentives from your state, since the bill also authorizes an $800 million government bond program that encourages states to create incentives for new and existing energy conservation and related programs. Some of that money is likely to be used toward state tax breaks and other incentives that will vary by location. Among the incentives to watch for is up to $6,500 per qualifying home in the Weatherization Assistance Program. The Department of Energy's Office of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, which provides grants to states and local governments that trickle down to individuals, had its budget increased nearly 10-fold.

Beautiful Dairy Barn Renovation in Somerset

by Bridgette Steffen

This stunning home designed by Skene Catling De Le Peña was once a barn for a dairy farm. Now renovated into a 5-bedroom house with a small pool, the home re-used as much material from the original building as possible. Originally, the owner’s plan included tearing down much of the lean-to sheds to create a house with well-proportioned rooms, better circulation and more new construction. But as the design formed, the owner changed his vision and wished for a secluded retreat that would mold in with the original layout of the barn. Upon completion, the room layout and sizes may not be ideal, however the architects were able to preserve a sense of the old barn.

On the outside, the home appears similar to a barn — with an entrance designed to deter any would-be callers despite the warm glow that seems to exude through the horizontal slats. Upon entering, any guest would be astounded to find the transition from exterior to interior. Inside, the rooms have a light, airy quality filled with inviting, beautiful furniture.

Local materials were utilized as much as possible for the renovation. Estate timber was felled on site, then planked and dried in storage barns in the farmyard. The slats were separated by spacers as they dried, and this look actually inspired the final horizontality of the exterior. In between each slat, glass was layered in a similar fashion as the wood. The separation between the slats increases as you reach the ground to “reinforce a sense of weight and rustification.”

The laminated float glass between the wooden slats produces a filtered light throughout the house and contributes a significant amount of daylight into the interior. As the sun rises in the morning, “low light floods the east with the glass acting as a prism that projects watery green lozenges over floors and walls.” At midday, clear white light streams in, brightening the rooms and penetrating a two-way mirror bridge. And at night, warm lights glow from within and the fireplace can be seen through the floor of the landing.

Renovations have amazing charm and character that is impossible to replicate in the construction of a brand new building. Little quirks, faults and cracks are beautiful in older buildings because you appreciate them for their age and the experiences they hold. This secluded home is a perfect example of this rather sentimental notion — the rooms may have uncommon sizes and shapes, but the interior is absolutely beautiful.

The Sliding House by dRMM

by Jorge Chapa

The Sliding House, by dRMM Architecture, may look like a simple timber barn or shed, and you may not be impressed by it — until you discover that it contains a surprise within it. The design of this home is so unique that, well, there is no real actual architectural term to describe it. In fact, the best way to describe it is to say that the house slides!

You see, what appears to be house’s exterior walls and roof are actually a second skin that slides across a longitudinal axis to reveal a second facade. Sliding back and forth, the mobile exterior offers the house’s residents incredible flexibility with the look and behavior of the building. The lighting and mood of the interior spaces can be altered with the simple movement of the exterior. The building’s architectural trick also mean the heating and cooling loads of the house can be manipulated throughout the year.

The house was designed by London-based practice de Rijke Marsh Morgan for a client who desired a retirement home. The house is made up of three buildings arranged along a longitudinal axis, with a garage set perpendicularly, off to the side. A small patio was located in front.

Glass and red rubber work in unison with the timber of the roof/wall enclosure to create a pleasing and unassuming shape that resembles the barns and sheds of the rural countryside. The entire house sits on a concrete bed, which partially hides the surprising mechanism that allows the home to reveal a second facade.
If achieving a flexible outcome within tight planning constraints is truly the hallmark of a great architect, then dRMM architects can clearly take a bow. We absolutely loved this one.

The New Macbook: IS IT GREEN?:

by Adrianne Jeffries

Two years ago, Greenpeace challenged Apple and other major laptop producers to reduce the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants (BFRs), which are commonly found in electronics. PVC is made from a known carcinogen, and can release chlorinated dioxins when burned for disposal or leach chemicals if buried in a landfill. BFRs bioaccumulate and can release bromine in hazardous forms when burned for disposal. Children in India and China who dismantle our used electronics are then exposed to these toxins.

After Greenpeace determined Apple to be one of the electronic companies that were least responsive to their concerns about electronic waste, Greenpeace launched its “Green My Apple” campaign specifically targeting Apple’s environmental policy and asking for greater transparency.

Steve Jobs issued a statement in May of 2007 titled “A Greener Apple,” pledging to reduce the BFR and PVC content of its products by the end of 2008 and “explore the overall carbon ‘footprint’ of our products.” To evaluate the verdancy of the new Macbook, I looked at five things: toxic content, carbon footprint, recycling potential, energy efficiency and commitment to continued progress.

TOXIC CONTENT:
While Apple has not reduced the use of BFRs and PVC to zero as they promised, they have reduced the allowable level of bromine and chlorine to 900 parts per million, or .09% of the product’s weight. This level is low enough that it becomes impractical to rely on BFRs, which are normally used to prevent fire, because they are ineffective in such small volume. Producers that use BFRs to fireproof their electronics add 50,000 ppm of bromine on average, so 900 ppm is a large reduction. Still, the company is careful to say “No BFRs in logic boards and all internal cables are free of PVC” instead of claiming that the entire Macbook is BFR- and PVC-free.
The battery is lead, cadmium and mercury free, which complies with EU directives. The Macbook display contains no mercury or arsenic, which are still found in other notebooks (including some made by Apple). In September, Dell announced it would transition to mercury-free displays.

CARBON FOOTPRINT:
The new Macbook is lighter and its packaging has been reduced by 41%, allowing the company to transport more units at a time. Apple would not release specific information about where its products are made, how far they travel or by what method, but the company is claiming that transport only accounts for 10% of the product’s carbon footprint, while production accounts for 50%, customer use for 39%, and less than 1% for recycling, for a total of 460 kg of greenhouse gas emissions - the equivalent of about 52.2 gallons of gasoline.
It surprised me that Apple says transport is such a small part of the carbon cost, since the company has factories in China and transports its Macbooks at least part of the time by air.

RECYCLING POTENTIAL:
Apple has a fairly convenient (you have to pack it and FedEx it) recycling program for anyone buying a new Mac in 95% of the regions where Apple products are sold. If you are buying a new Apple, you can recycle your old computer, even if it’s a PC. All the recycling collected in North America is processed in North America, not shipped overseas. In contrast, Dell will recycle any old Dell product without requiring a new purchase.

The new Macbook body is made from a single piece of aluminum, which makes it “highly recyclable.” The Macbook got full points for recyclability from the EPA’s EPEAT (Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool) rating system, which declared the laptop to be at least 90% recyclable, however it received 0 out of 3 points for materials selection from EPEAT for not using any post-consumer recycled content or bio-based plastic.

ENERGY EFFICIENCY:
The new Macbooks are ENERGYSTAR 4.0 compliant and Apple brags that the Macbook can run on a quarter of the power needed for one lightbulb. Its LED-backlit display uses 30% less power than conventional LCD displays. Apple is claiming a battery life of up to 1,000 charging cycles (complete charge and discharge of the notebook battery), up from 200 to 300 cycles for existing Apple batteries, which is fantastic if true

Casa de los Pinos: High Above it All

by Daniel Flahiff

Living ‘close to the earth’ can mean many things — living in harmony with nature, living in touch with natural processes, or in the case of Casa de los Pinos (House Among the Pines), living on the top of a mountain, smack in the middle of a stand of breathtaking pine. But that is just the beginning of this terrific project by architectural firm XPIRAL.

The house showcases a host of sustainable features including the use of rocks from the site for stone-work, vegetation from the grounds remade into construction material, and timber on the site used in the pathways. And to top it all off, the architects replanted the same number of trees on the property that it took to clear the building site!

Located in El Esparragal, Murcia, Spain, Casa de los Pinos came together as a collaboration between XPIRAL lead architect Javier Peña Galiano and Susana Velasco, Malte Eglinger, Lola Jimenez, Luis Fernando Perona and Miguel Ángel Cárceles. The team went to great lengths to create a full-time residence sensitive to both the local site and our global ecology.

Envisioned as an “interface between domenstic life and the land“, Casa de los Pinos is set deep into the mountain and features a grassy inner courtyard surrounded by uniterrupted glass walls that allow a radical openness to nature without compromising privacy. The materiality of the project is apparent everywhere; from the natural materials gathered from the site and used in the house, to the fully exposed industrial materials that make up the bulk of the project like concrete, thermo-clay and the steel cover that covers the home like a veil.

In terms of high-tech building features, Casa de los Pinos makes liberal use of engineered Robertson sandwich panels, “heat mirror” glazing and A.S.K. grill equipped windows mitigate the effects of the local climate. We love the combination of world-class architecture and sustainable design used in Casa de los Pinos. Kudos to the XPIRAL team and everyone involved - we can’t wait to see what they come up with next!

5 Steps To A Solar Home

by Lynn Jurich

It's a lot easier and less expensive to take your home solar than most people think. Thanks to generous financial incentives from the government and innovative alternatives to purchasing a system, homeowners are discovering there aren't really any risks remaining to going solar.

Like many things, home solar was first adopted by people who were concerned about their environmental and energy footprints. Now, others are following suit, primarily because it makes financial sense. Our electricity rates are going up: the price we pay for residential electricity rose on average 26.8 percent from 2002-2007 in the U.S. With home solar, you essentially lock in a low rate for all the electricity you'll consume in the future--for instance, think about how much you'd save if you could lock in your gasoline price at $1 per gallon for the next twenty years.

Over time, going solar today will save you serious cash. Here are five easy steps to get you started:

1. Figure out your home's solar potential
If your electricity bill is higher than $100 on average per month, solar can save you money--depending on which purchasing option you choose and your prevailing utility rates, you could see savings of up to 60% within the first month of going solar.

You'll need enough sunlight on your roof. Geography, roof orientation, and shading are all factors an expert can assess for you.

2. Research your options
There are a lot of resources on the web. States that offer incentives frequently have websites with good information, and many solar companies have good general information about going solar on their sites as well.

Most people choose to work with a professional solar company to design and install a home solar system. You can get a good feel for a solar company from its website.

3. Decide what's best for your home and finances
Questions to ask include:

Should I purchase a system outright or pay as I go? There are alternatives to buying a system all at once that dramatically reduce the upfront costs of home solar and still provide the long-term benefits, including power purchase agreement (PPA) or leasing options.

What's the best return on my investment?
Make sure to consider how your home solar solution will reduce your energy costs over time. Also, investigate how having home solar will factor in if you sell your house.

Are maintenance and repairs included? Some companies take care of your system for you, others don't.
Does my solar company have happy customers?

Talk to everyone you can before choosing a solar solution and installer. Ask to speak with recent customers to make sure they're happy with their solar experience.

How will the panels look on my house?

Not all home solar installations are created equal when it comes to aesthetics. Choose the product you're most comfortable with.

4. Install your system
A typical home solar installation will take only four to six days. There will be some additional delays before your system can be turned on after it's installed: your local utility company will need to come out to approve the system and properly connect it to the utility grid.

5. Enjoy your savings
There's nothing quite like seeing your utility meter spin backwards because of solar. In order to make sure your system delivers all the electricity (and resulting savings) you expect, however, you need to monitor it. Some companies will do this for you, and with others you'll have to buy a separate monitoring solution.

I think the following statement from one of my company's customers sums it up:
"I can't complain. My utility bill dropped from $275 to $5.25 the first month I went solar."--Harry, Fresno, California.

Lynn Jurich is the president and co-founder of SunRun.

Clinton Climate Initiative and the city to refit 140,000 Los Angeles street lights

By Marla Dickerson

Former President Clinton at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. Los Angeles’ street light plan is projected to save taxpayers about $48 million over seven years. He announces a partnership between his Clinton Climate Initiative and the city to refit 140,000 street lights in L.A. with energy-saving light-emitting diodes

It's the green economy, stupid.It was hard not to think of this twist on his long-ago campaign slogan as former President Clinton toured the Los Angeles area on Monday, making the case that the quickest way out of the country's latest economic morass lies in the wonky topic of energy efficiency.

Subjects as mundane as lightbulbs and insulation would be deadly-dull stuff in the hands of a less gifted public speaker, but since leaving office in 2001, Clinton has become something of a crusader for unsexy fixes such as building retrofits to generate U.S. jobs, cutting dependence on foreign oil and slashing carbon dioxide emissions. Appearing at City Hall with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Clinton announced a partnership between his Clinton Climate Initiative and the city to refit 140,000 Los Angeles street lights with energy-saving light-emitting diodes, or LEDs.

The program is projected to save taxpayers an estimated $48 million over seven years in lower energy costs while removing the carbon dioxide equivalent of 6,700 cars a year from the road."If every city followed the example of Los Angeles and reduced the electricity used by their street lights by 50%, it would be equivalent to eliminating over 2 1/2 . . . coal plants per year," Clinton said.

Clinton later led an environmental roundtable discussion at a solar-powered airport hangar at Bob Hope Airport in Burbank. Designed by Shangri-La Construction of Century City, the 60,000-square-foot facility generates enough clean power to run the building's lights, recharge ground equipment and operate an aircraft's electrical system while it's being worked on inside the hangar. Built for $17 million, it cost about the same as conventional construction to erect, its owners say, but with a fraction of the carbon footprint and future operating costs.Clinton said making such projects profitable was the only way to advance a green agenda domestically and persuade the rest of the world to join the United States in fighting climate change."The Chinese and the Indians and the Thais and the Indonesians are not going to get serious about this unless we can prove that it's good business," Clinton said. "If the world decides tomorrow to change the way it uses energy, it would create more jobs in more places than anywhere in human history. . .

But we have to change the mind-set . . . that we can't do it without hurting the economy."

UN: Need for 'Global Green New Deal'

NAIROBI (AFP) — The United Nations called Monday on rich nations to forge a "Global Green New Deal" that puts the environment, climate change and poverty reduction at the heart of efforts to reboot the world economy.

Leaders from the Group of 20 nations, meeting in April, should commit at least one percent of gross domestic product over the next two years to slashing carbon emissions, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) said in a report released at the opening of its world forum in Nairobi.

"Reviving the world economy is essential, but measures that focus solely on this objective will not achieve lasting success," the UNEP cautioned, invoking the US New Deal launched by Franklin Roosevelt in the 1930s.

"Unless new policy initiatives also address other global challenges -- reducing carbon dependency, protecting ecosystems and water resources, alleviating poverty -- their impact on averting future crises will be short-lived."

The world's most developed economies must take the lead by adopting national plans to slash their use of the fossil fuels -- oil, gas and coal -- that drive global warming, the report says. Measures could include the elimination of fossil fuel subsidies worth hundreds of billions of dollars, and the development of carbon pricing, either through taxes or cap-and-trade schemes.

The G20's rapidly emerging economies such as China, India, Brazil, South Africa and Turkey "should aim, as far as possible" for the same one percent of GDP targets, the UNEP urged.

Poorer and developing nations cannot be expected to make the same carbon-cutting commitments, but should spend at least one percent of GDP on expanded access to clean water and sanitation for the poor, it said.

Twenty percent of people in the developing world lack sufficient clean water, and about half -- some 2.6 billion -- do not have basic sanitation.

Is America Ready to Quit Coal?

By MELANIE WARNER

A new campaign against coal by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., a prominent environmentalist, and the Waterkeeper Alliance is called “The Dirty Lie.” Other clean-energy advocates are equally passionate. “If you care about being a leader on solving global warming problems, you don’t build new coal plants, especially ones that don’t have a way to capture carbon,” said Stephen A. Smith, executive director of the Southeastern Alliance for Clean Energy. (Mr. Smith’s group was not involved in the decorating of the Duke executive’s lawn. That was the handiwork of a small group called Rising Tide, in Asheville.)

This green chorus also includes Al Gore, the former vice president, Eric E. Schmidt, the chief executive of Google, and Harry Reid, the Senate majority leader, who has called for a moratorium on new coal plants.

Mr. Reid and other Democratic leaders in Congress, emboldened by support from the Obama administration, have promised climate change legislation by the end of the year. While the exact outlines are yet to be determined, lawmakers are discussing plans to force companies to reduce carbon emissions or be required to pay some form of penalty.

Some conservatives in Congress, and the coal industry itself, say the clean energy push is an affordable luxury — and a pet cause — for people in states that don’t have to rely primarily on coal to produce electricity.

“The costs for those customers in the heartland who get more of their electricity from coal, not only residential but commercial customers, could be significantly higher, at a time when we can least afford it,” says Jim Owen, spokesman for the Edison Electric Institute, which represents electric utilities. “So we want to make sure that a climate change program is properly designed.”
Moreover, getting more and more of our energy from squeaky-clean sources like wind, solar and biomass sounds like a great idea, but whether renewables can keep the lights on and our iPods charged remains an open question.

THE coal industry is aware of all of these issues and is fighting back. An industry-financed group called the American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity spent $38 million last year informing Americans, via TV and newspaper ads, that coal is the source of 50 percent of their electricity, that it is an abundant domestic resource and, most importantly, that there is the promise of “clean,” or carbon-free, coal. This argument is what Mr. Kennedy’s group calls “the dirty lie.”

Nevertheless, the industry sees clean coal technologies as its best hope for joining the ranks of green power. The problem is that the technology, called carbon capture and storage, is still being developed and could make electricity generated by coal more expensive than power from other sources.

Clinton vows to deepen US bonds with Asia

NEW YORK (AFP) – US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton pledged Friday to deepen US bonds with Asia in order to tackle the global economic crisis and climate change as well as prevent nuclear proliferation.

On the eve of her tour of Japan, Indonesia, South Korea and China, her first foreign trip, Clinton said in a speech she is "ready to deliver a message about America's desire for more rigorous and persistent commitment and engagement." She added she is "ready to work with leaders in Asia to resolve the economic crisis that threatens the Pacific as much as any other region, ready to strengthen our historic partnerships and alliances while developing deeper bonds with all nations."

In her first foreign policy speech, which she delivered before the Asia Society, a non-partisan educational institution, Clinton said she is "ready to help prevent the proliferation of nuclear weapons in Asia." She added that North Korea's nuclear program remains "the most acute challenge." She said the administration of President Barack Obama would build a strong relationship with the reclusive Stalinist regime if it scraps its nuclear program, which alarmed the world in 2006 with the test of a nuclear device.

If Pyongyang "completely and verifiably" eliminates the program, Washington "will be willing to normalize bilateral relations, replace the peninsula's longstanding armistice agreements with a permanent peace treaty." She added Washington would also "assist in meeting the energy and other economic needs of the North Korean people," who face hunger and economic hardships.
Under a landmark deal in 2007 with the United States, China, South Korea, Japan and Russia, North Korea agreed to scrap its weapons-grade nuclear programs in exchange for energy aid.
The talks stalled late last year when North Korea balked at its five partners' demands on inspections and other steps to verify disarmament.

As part of the multilateral talks, Japan has tried to determine the fate of Japanese citizens whom North Korea abducted during the Cold War to train their spies, but fears Washington has put it on the back burner. "I will assure our allies in Japan that we have not forgotten the families of Japanese citizens abducted in North Korea and I will meet with some of those families in Tokyo next week," Clinton said. She also sought to assure Japan about the enduring nature of the security alliance with the United States, saying it "has been and must be unshakable."

Analysts say Clinton appears to have chosen Japan as her first stop to smooth feathers she ruffled when she wrote during the presidential campaign that the US-China relationship will be the most important one.

Clinton stressed that climate change would be a key topic on her visit, particularly with China's rapid industrial growth. "Climate change is not just an environmental nor an energy issue, but also has implications for our health, our economies and our security," Clinton said.
She said accompanying her to Asia is Todd Stern, her special envoy for climate change, to "begin the discussions that we hope will create the opportunities for cooperation." She set a conciliatory tone after eight years of president George W. Bush's administration, who minimized the threat from global warming and rejected the Kyoto protocol.

"Our nation has been the largest historic emitter of greenhouse gases and we acknowledge that we must lead efforts to cut harmful emissions and build a lower carbon economy," Clinton said.
But she expected the governments in Asia to reciprocate.

"I will press the case for clean energy in both Japan and South Korea and look for ways to work with Indonesia as well," Clinton said.

Clinton is due to visit Japan February 16-18, Indonesia from February 18-19, South Korea February 19-20, and China February 20-22.

Last-Second Green Valentine's Guide

by Dave Burdick

OK, you put off getting something for Valentine's Day until the weekend, only to realize that V-Day is TODAY! No problem. We've got your last-second Valentine's Day gift ideas that are both romantic and (sometimes sneakily) eco-friendly. And before you get scared away at the idea, let me promise that two of them involve nudity. OK? Got that? Naked is on the list.

5. ECO-JEWELRY
Hey, you're probably too late for this, but if you're a smooth talker, maybe you can get away with something like, "it was on back order," or, "time is an illusion propagated by The Man, and our love transcends that." Anyway, if you can swing getting a late Valentine's Day gift, there are always fancy baubles that use recycled metals, as Zem Joaquin recommends, or send a cool message.


For my money, the coolest eco-necklace I've ever seen raises awareness of the world's water issues (and doesn't break the bank). But if you're in a rush, here's an idea: I recently bought my lady friend a very cool necklace made from an old watch face. It's something that was discarded, cleaned and reclaimed. I know you can find an old watch and a chain. Just make sure you clean it up and make it special. (If you're in New York, you can pick one up ready-made at 3R Living.)


4. WHAT'S VALENTINE'S DAY?
Don't celebrate it. Sarah Newman has plenty of ideas for a sustainable Valentine's Day, but her most sustainable idea might just be abstaining from the holiday altogether:
For those of us who are single, we might have the following instincts for dealing with February 14th: hide and pretend the day doesn't exist (I sometimes use the Jewish card to explain to people that I don't celebrate a holiday honoring St. Valentine), embrace it as International Quirky Alone Day or comb through all of your Facebook friends to find a group of like-minded single people to spend time downing lots of alcohol and chocolate while also paying for an over-priced meal. Whatever your take is on February 14th, it's an opportunity to actually not spend much money (and who has any left to spend in this economy?) and make it a sustainable day.

Burning mementos may be the most cathartic method of disposal -- but it might also be the worst for your health. If your old love letters are on glossy or colored paper, setting them aflame can create funky gases and, unfortunately, should be avoided. Ceremoniously dump them into the recycling bin instead, since inks and coatings are best -- if anticlimactically -- dealt with by a recycling center. And since burning that sentimental trinket can create cancer-causing dioxins, the trash is actually the best option if something can't be recycled. Besides, it'd be a shame to call the fire department -- if I Heart Huckabees taught us anything, it's that fire trucks are not green.


3. EATS
Go vegetarian or vegan for Valentine's Day because alliteration is awesome and so it the earth. Make a vegan chocolate cake, a decadent vegan chocolate pecan tart, or try chocolate-dipped strawberries.


2. AS PROMISED... NUDITY
OK, you've made it to the naked portion of our Valentine's Day tips. From Planet Green:
I've had a few different boyfriends on Valentine's Days past, and the quest to secure the perfect gift while still being eco-minded has always been a tough one. But finally, I've got an idea for a perfect Valentine's Gift: Digital Boudoir Photos.


1. SIMPLICITY AND CONSERVATION
Reduce! It's first 'R!' Just cut back on water use and share a shower!

Science Role seen in Global Warming Cure

By JOHN M. BRODER and MATTHEW L. WALD

WASHINGTON — Dr. Steven Chu, the new secretary of energy, said Wednesday that solving the world’s energy and environment problems would require Nobel-level breakthroughs in three areas: electric batteries, solar power and the development of new crops that can be turned into fuel.

Dr. Chu, a physicist, spoke during a wide-ranging interview in his office, where his own framed Nobel Prize lay flat on a bookcase, a Post-it note indicating where it should be hung on the wall.
He addressed topics that included global warming, renewable energy sources like solar and wind power, the use of coal and a proposed repository for nuclear waste at Yucca Mountain in Nevada.

Dr. Chu said a “revolution” in science and technology would be required if the world is to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels and curb the emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases linked to global warming. Solar technology, he said, will have to get five times better than it is today, and scientists will need to find new types of plants that require little energy to grow and that can be converted to clean and cheap alternatives to fossil fuels.

Dr. Chu, who once called coal “a nightmare” in the way it is currently used, said the United States must also lead the world in finding a way to burn the fuel cleanly, because other countries with big coal reserves, like India and China, will not turn away from coal.

But Dr. Chu said such developments were not impossible. At the turn of the last century, he noted, scientists like Fritz Haber and Carl Bosch made Nobel-winning discoveries that allowed the development of cheap nitrogen fertilizers, saving Europe from starvation.
“I think science and technology can generate much better choices,” Dr. Chu said. “It has, consistently, over hundreds and hundreds of years.”

Dr. Chu said members of Congress who are drafting legislation to limit emissions of global warming gases had not yet sought his advice, although he added, “I would expect that they might.”

He said that while President Obama and Congressional Democratic leaders had endorsed a so-called cap-and-trade system to control global warming pollutants, there were alternatives that could emerge, including a tax on carbon emissions or a modified version of cap-and-trade.
Dr. Chu said reaching agreement on legislation to combat climate change would be difficult in the current recession because any scheme to regulate greenhouse gas emissions would probably cause energy prices to rise and drive manufacturing jobs to countries where energy is cheaper.

“The concern about cap-and-trade in today’s economic climate,” Dr. Chu said, “is that a lot of money might flow to developing countries in a way that might not be completely politically sellable.” But, he said, he supports putting a price on carbon emissions to begin to address climate change.

The Energy Department is involved with efforts as varied as developing nuclear weapons and sequencing the human genome. Dr. Chu said the department’s nuclear weapons program, which the White House is considering moving to the Defense Department, should be more tightly coupled to science in critical tasks like safeguarding nuclear materials and detecting nuclear proliferation.

One major decision facing his department is what to do about Yucca Mountain, a site 100 miles from Las Vegas chosen by Congress for burial of high-level radioactive waste. Mr. Obama and the Senate majority leader, Harry Reid of Nevada, have opposed the project.

Dr. Chu said the political difficulties in trying to obtain a license for the Yucca Mountain site should serve as a guide in searching for other nuclear waste repositories in the future. “There are political realities,” he said.

Last year, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has the final say, began work on an application from the Energy Department for a license for the project. Dr. Chu said the Energy Department should continue to answer questions from the Nuclear Regulatory Commission about the application and then let the commission make a decision.

Dr. Chu would not say whether the department would open the site if allowed to do so. But, he said, “you can put a hold on” preparation.

The electric utilities, he noted, expected the department to live up to contracts signed in the 1980s for it to dispose of the nuclear waste.

Dr. Chu said he was still adjusting to his surroundings and title after most of a career spent as an academic scientist. Asked whether he preferred to be called “Dr. Chu” or “Mr. Secretary,” he answered, “Steve is fine.”

Create Your Own Green Job!

Charles Karel Bouley

It started with a call to arms at a time of inspiration: "But I cannot do this alone, government cannot solve the problems, it's up to each of you..."

As I stood, transfixed to the podium along with 80,000 of my closest friends watching the first African American man become the Democratic Nominee for 44th President of the United States (an office he would later win) I was called to action. Yes, Barack Obama said I had to actually do something. That We, the People were going to have to do everything we could now, not later, now, to start solving the problems. We were, are, going to have to change.

I've known what to do for years. We all have. We all do. But, like most, I've said that being greener either costs too much money, takes way too much effort for the return, on and on, reason after reason I told myself that going green was for Ed Bagely, Jr., not me.

Well, Barack said nope, better get busy. So, what could I do, right now? What can everyone?
In my world, the two biggest areas of power consumption are my home (which is also my work and studio, both radio and TV) and transportation.

I live in an 1800 square foot house (Park Howard) on a 8000 square foot lot a mile from the beach. During the winter, monthly light bills average about $275 and during the summer, $500. I have central air and heat, a 300 gallon marine fish tank, koi pond, and a fully functional audio/radio broadcast/recording studio (and video), computers, flat screens...you know, your house (minus the AV stuff and small ocean). There had to be a better way.

Enter SunRun solar. I found SunRun through my radio show, and after grilling a principal of the company Nat Kreamer for over an hour, my curiosity was peaked. For a very small fee up front, I could supply my home with all the power I need, even sell some back to Edison so I could use it at night. I wouldn't have to finance $40k or more and if I watched day time consumption I could end up with a zero Edison bill. Zero? $500 to Zero. Hmm.

Thanks to a return to science and reason, solar is now a very viable energy source. However, 6-8kw systems (what the average family home would need) have been cost prohibitive for most in the past. Enter SunRun and companies like them. They do power purchase agreements instead of sales of equipment. Now, it's not the only way to harness the sun, and each way to get solar on your roof has pros and cons. But all in all, Power Purchase was for me.

I now pay a fixed rate for power, about ¼ what Edison charges, power that was hitting the roof every day anyway for the last 10 years. Except now, it's working for me. SunRun's project representative Katie Brodnik arranged for the design and installation of the system through Borrego Solar in Orange County, CA. Borrego is an area leader, and specializes in installation, sales and leasing themselves.

Chris Lacher is an energy consultant for Borrego. Lacher, Brodnik and people like them are the consumer's liaison to the solar world. Lacher and Brodnik took me through the permit process and explained the letters I'd be getting from the California Public Utilities Commission and Southern California Edison (I'm a registered Power Plant now, how exciting). Borrego and SunRun worked closely and seemlessly, in a unique partnership. Power Purchase companies are new, whereas companies like Borrego have been around for some time; they are symbiotic now.



"We can get these systems up quickly, buy, rent, lease, power purchase, it's all the same," Lacher told me. "It often depends various utilities and permitting agencies.. Luckily, because of the need and interest, not to mention demand, the agencies are faster and easier to work with," he added. "Everyone is on board to get as much solar and alternative energy going as we all can, it's a partnership with state, local and commercial agencies and it's working," he concluded.
It took about three months from start to finish (planning, permits, etc), with the actual installation taking less than four days. Now Park Howard's roof (my home is named, why isn't yours) is covered with the latest solar panels. I can log on to a user interface and see how much the system is generating and how much carbon I'm keeping out of the atmosphere.

And the beauty of a power purchase agreement is that should something go wrong, SunRun maintains the system. Should the technology change, needs, etc, they work with you. And the bill? I pay about $40 a month to SunRun, and $5 to Edison. $45 down from $500 and I've kept over 1000 pounds of carbon out of the air so far. The agreement is for 18 years and is assignable should you sell the house.

There are other ways to get solar other than Power Purchase Agreements. As mentioned, companies like Borrego Solar design, sell, lease and maintain panels and their are loan programs and incentives in various states. There are leasing agreements, and of course, downright purchase. Systems can go from $25k all the way up to $75 k or more, depending. After rebate, it can still be a good amount to finance. And once you own them, they're yours, financed, paid for or not.

That's why many, like myself, are going with the Power Purchase or Lease agreements.
Renting? Form a coalition and urge the landlord to go solar. Right now in CA there are rebates of up to $35k to install systems. It can be done. I will never live in a home without solar from this point onward. It just makes sense.

Green Couples Rock!

From actors to activists, see who's pairing up for the planet. It seems everyone's going green these days -- but some couples are doubly committed to the cause. In honor of Valentine's Day, we take a look at prominent pairs who share a certain planetary passion.

Brad and Angie....Yes, the ever-expanding footprint of this family might raise a few eco-eyebrows, but they make up for it by, oh: green-rebuilding New Orleans, funding a wildlife sanctuary in Cambodia to the tune of $5 million, narrating a PBS series on green design, supporting Haiti's Clean Streets Project, partnering with an eco-cosmetics company to raise funds for charity, and buying an organic winery (OK, that one's a glittery indulgence). Angie reportedly ate organic to get back into shape after having the twins, and buys bamboo pants for her kidlets too! How do we get adopted?

Portia and Ellen Amiable talk-show host Ellen DeGeneres is, along with her partner Portia de Rossi (also known as "Really? Wow, good for her!"), raising awareness of a lifestyle that's often marginalized by the mainstream. Yeah, we're talking about veganism. After celebrating their marriage last year with a vegan ceremony, the two have apparently converted to a 100 percent vegan diet. De Rossi is designing a vegan shoe line, and DeGeneres promotes vegan companies on her show. Over the years, she's also hosted eco-guests ranging from Al Gore to a six-year-old recycler from Columbia, S.C. Plus, did you see her dance with Obama? Maybe teh veganz are OK after all.

Erykah Badu and Jay Electronica Soulful singer Badu, who's been a vegetarian for 20 years, converted to veganism two years ago and has taken her family along for the ride; in one interview, she referred to her children as "vegan vegetarians, organic babies from birth." Her charity organization, Beautiful Love Incorporated Non-Profit Development (BLIND), focuses on building culture and community in her hometown of Dallas; in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita, she sponsored programs for young evacuees. On top of it all, Badu and her rapper boyfriend tweeted the birth of their child this month -- think of all the paper they saved on birth announcements.

Bono and Ali HewsonIn 1975, Paul Hewson met a girl and joined a band. The girl would become his wife; the band, U2. Over the years, the eco-causes taken up by Bono and Ali Hewson have included anti-nuclear activism, poverty and AIDS relief, and fair trade. In 2005, they launched EDUN, an eco-clothing line whose goal is to support sustainable business in the developing world.

Riken Yamamoto’s Ecoms House

by Haily Zaki

Riken Yamamoto’s Ecoms House exemplifies a new kind of home economics. Constructed out of aluminum panels, this diminutive 24-foot by 24-foot box demonstrates how economy in size and fabrication can lead to surplus in style and coolness. A prototype residence for SUS Corporation, a manufacturer of aluminum precision machine parts and furniture, this home was initially an experiment to create something out of aluminum that could not be expressed with steel. The exterior is inspired by the traditional use of tatami mats in Japanese homes — each of the four sides featuring transparent, opaque, and glass-covered aluminum lattice panels.



The prototype is located in the Saga Prefacture at the southernmost tip of the Japanese archipelago. Perfect for either commercial or residential use, it offers two bedrooms, a bathroom, and storage on one floor and a kitchen, dining, and work space on the other. Flexible configuration allows for the work-live and private spaces to be interchangeable, depending upon the inhabitant’s needs and preferences.

Grid for Renewable Energy Could Be Costly

By REBECCA SMITH

A substantial increase in the amount of electricity produced from renewable energy would require building a transmission system that would carry a price tag of up to $100 billion, according to a new study.

The new system would be needed because the existing eastern grid couldn't handle the volume of power coming from the wind-producing states. In addition, the new grid would need to be able to handle the fluctuating nature of wind power, which can surge at some moments and drop sharply at others.

There is strong political and public support for increasing production of renewable energy, and Congress is considering enacting a nationwide standard that would require utilities to garner more of their power from renewable sources. However, there is only an emerging understanding of how new standards would affect the country's existing electricity infrastructure.

The study, sponsored by some of the nation's biggest grid-running organizations east of the Rockies, is the most comprehensive attempt by the industry to figure out what kind of infrastructure upgrades would be needed if the U.S. attempts to sharply increase the amount of power it gets from sources such as wind and solar. In 2007, according to the Energy Information Administration, about 7% of the nation's electricity came from renewable sources, including less than 1% from wind.

If the U.S. wants to get 20% of its electricity from renewable energy by 2024, the study says, it would be necessary to build a new electricity circulatory system, including 15,000 circuit miles of extremely high voltage lines. The system, which would be laid alongside the existing electric grid infrastructure, would start in the Great Plains and Midwest -- where the bulk of the nation's wind resources are located -- and terminate in big cities along the East Coast.

The transmission system would cost up to $100 billion. Building the wind turbines needed to generate the desired amount of power would cost about $720 billion, the study estimates -- making the total investment about equal to the size of the current stimulus bill. The money would be spent over a 15-year period, and would be financed primarily by utilities and investors.
The purpose of the study was "to make clear that if you need large sums of energy that's not carbon-based, these are the kinds of numbers involved" to achieve it, said Clair Moeller, head of transmission planning for the Midwest Independent System Operator.

The report was prepared by organizations responsible for electric-system reliability in roughly half the states, including the Midwest Independent System Operator, SERC Reliability Region, PJM Interconnection LLC, the Southwest Power Pool, the Mid-Continent Area Power Pool and the Tennessee Valley Authority.

The projected cost of the system is only one hurdle. Getting the high-voltage power lines build across the country would require the assent of local authorities and landowners, and might require federal intervention. "For that 15,000 miles of lines, I promise about 15,000 lawsuits," said Mr. Moeller.

The report is generating controversy because there is no guarantee that expensive power lines, if built, would be used primarily to move renewable energy. They could just as easily carry energy from coal-fired power plants in the Midwest or Great Plains.

New York and New England grid operators provided information for the report but say there might be ways to build resources in their regions more economically than hauling power from the Great Plains. "This study doesn't look enough at alternatives to huge transmission additions," said Stephen Whitley, chief executive of the New York Independent System Operator.

Utilities are proposing to build some new transmission lines already, but nothing on the scale of what the report says would be needed.

Kohinoor Skyscraper Two Green Towers

Perkins Eastman recently unveiled two soaring green high-rises in Kohinoor CTL’s competition to design a sustainable mixed-use skyscraper for Mumbai, India. The proposals incorporate an abundance of green building strategies and will harness alternative energy for the buildings’ essential functions, harvest rainwater, make use of solar technology, and provide abundant planters and green spaces to filter and freshen the air.

Both of Perkins Eastman’s designs juxtapose modern technological advancements with traditional Indian culture - colorful terracotta stones shine alongside photovoltaic cells. One takes the form of a towering 33 story spire with a two-story retail base, while the other is envisioned as a circular mid-rise topped with a verdant green roof.

As the second most populous country in the world, India has swiftly moved into the central ring of international business and continues to make strides in sustainable development. Globally, large-scale urban centers working with, and not against, the environment are vital to future growth as the 7 billion population mark comes hastily around the corner.

What is Insulation In Your Attic Made Of?

By Seth Leitman

What Is The Insulation In Your Attic Made Of?
The two most popular types of insulation that are in your homes are fiberglass and cellulose fiber.

In my house, we use fiberglass batts. Fiberglass comes from glass that has been crushed and packed into these things called batts.

Fiberglass Insulation
Fiberglass insulation can come in loose-fill (what you can get at the hardware store) or blown-in material. Blown-in materials are usually contracted out to a professional. Batts of insulation are rolled up blankets of insulation that you install in between the beams in the attic. They are flexible products made from mineral fibers, such as fiberglass and rock wool.

Cellulose Fiber Insulation
Cellulose fiber is a whole other type of material. Cellulose consists of ground-up newspaper material, which is then treated with fire-retardant chemicals. It can get into any nook or cranny. This makes cellulose the better, more complete insulation. Cellulose fiber insulation is also less subject than open fiberglass to what builders call "wind wash," which is simply air currents moving through insulation, robbing it of its R-value. Source: US Department of Energy, Energy Saving Tips: Insulation.

Green Guard Label
Most insulation that I have seen in stores carry the Green Guard label. This label certifies that the formaldehyde levels are less than 0.5 parts per million (ppm) of particles in the air.
That is pretty clean.

What Type of Insulation Is Better?
Green Guard and Green Insulation All forms of attic insulation are great: fiberglass vs cellulose—I personally use cellulose in cracks and building cavities. I then try to use GreenGuard Energy Star rated fiberglass insulation for the majority of the attic and walls. The Green Guard makes sure that the particle counts of fiberglass do not become airborne. Older insulation is really not as green as Green Guard so I am glad that there is a better standard to meet indoor air quality or Energy Star codes.

If you can, remove the old insulation. If not, try to place (not pack down) greener insulation.
If you have the ability to get jeans for insulation, cellulose, green blown insulation that is the best. One thing is for sure though, insulation will continue as a whole to get greener with its standards.

However, we know there are Greener insulations out there on the market.
We'll talk about that later!

Norman Foster’s Sperone Westwater Gallery

by Bridgette Steffen

The Sperone Westwater art gallery in New York City recently filed plans for an incredible new gallery on the Bowery designed by none other than Inhabitat favorites Foster + Partners. Envisioned as a stacked set of lucid glass rectangles suffused with daylight, Foster + Partners’ design features an innovative layout that allows the interiors to change and morph to accommodate different exhibitions. The 9 story art gallery will also boast a moving exhibition hall that can be raised to any of five levels of public gallery space, and is set to be completed by December 2009.

Sperone Westwater’s need for increased space and more flexible exhibition areas prompted the design for their new home. The inclusion of a 12 x 20 foot moving hall not only extends the exhibit space of each floor, but also offers visitors an easy and engaging way of accessing the other floors. The hall can also be anchored at any one floor to provide extra space for an exhibit, and Sperone Westwater hopes that the moving hall will “set a new standard in experiencing art and pioneer a novel approach to vertical movement within a gallery building.

Sustainable design elements will also pervade this new exhibit space, and it will make extensive use of daylighting. The street facade will be constructed entirely out of glass, and the library on top will feature a light well that provides natural light to readers below. The building’s facade is composed of two layers in order to provide a buffer zone that insulates the interior from temperature and noise. The outer layer of the facade features a series of openings that, coupled with the movement from the moving hall and outdoor air flow, will help provide natural ventilation and cooling.

Additionally, the gallery will feature a double-height display area at street level, a sculpture terrace, a private viewing gallery above the public galleries as well as an extensive library at the top of the building

Study shows California faces historic drought

By Clare Baldwin

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A new survey of California winter snows on Thursday showed the most populous state is facing one of the worst droughts in its history, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said.

The state, which produces about half the United States' vegetables and fruit, is in its third year of drought and its main system supplying water to cities and farms may only be able to fulfill 15 percent of requests, scientists said.

The snowpack on California's mountains is carrying only 61 percent of the water of normal years, according to the survey by the state Department of Water Resources. Last year the snowpack held 111 percent of the normal amount of water, but spring was the driest ever recorded.

"California is headed toward one of the worst water crises in its history, underscoring the need to upgrade our water infrastructure by increasing water storage, improving conveyance, protecting the (Sacramento) Delta's ecosystem and promoting greater water conservation," Schwarzenegger said in a statement. "We may be at the start of the worst California drought in modern history," added Water Resources Director Lester Snow in a separate statement.

Schwarzenegger has pushed for new dams and reservoirs to catch melting snow which feeds rivers, although environmentalists have opposed the measures. The Sierra snowpack alone provides two thirds of California's water supply.

December through January tend to be the wettest months but thus far the Sierra has only received one third of its expected annual snowfall. "A third of normal is devastating," said Elissa Lynn, a meteorologist with the state. "January is the biggest month for precipitation in the Sierra." "Climate change does indicate the possibility of more frequent droughts," said Lynn, "but it's hard to tell over a short time span."

This year ocean temperatures in the equatorial Pacific are cooler than normal in a weather system called La Nina. In northern California, that means less precipitation. Last year was also a La Nina year, but precipitation didn't slow until March and April. "This could be a crisis situation," said Lynn. "In addition to conservation and rationing we could be paying higher prices for produce." Lynn said that some farmers have left fields unplanted based on expected lack of water.

The state's largest irrigation district, Westlands Water in the major farming counties of Fresno and Kings, told growers on Wednesday to brace for zero water supply this year.
"We thought it was a critical time to tell them, being that it is time for planting tomatoes and a lot of other crops," Westlands Water spokeswoman Sarah Woolf told Reuters on Thursday. "They need to make decisions right now whether they put seeds in the ground."

Twenty-five local water agencies are already mandating rationing. The state Department of Water Resources is arranging water transfers through its Drought Water Bank program and expects to release a full snowpack runoff forecast in two weeks.

(Additional reporting by Mary Milliken in Los Angeles; Editing by Peter Henderson and Eric Walsh)

Environmentalism Should Be Taught In Schools

Celine Cousteau: Environmentalism Should Be Taught In Schools

It must be eco-school day. This morning, we wrote about a contest for America's Greenest School and 5 Green Tips For Students, and now we come across Celine Cousteau -- that's Jacques Cousteau's daughter -- saying kids ought to be taught environmentalism at a young age.

What would you advise parents who want to educate their children about environmental issues during their travels?

First of all, I don't understand why environmentalism isn't part of every curriculum in schools. You teach biology, so why not make that connection for the kids? In terms of travel planning, I would really pay attention to where you choose to go and teach the kids why you decided to bring them to a particular place: because they compost, because they have solar panels, because they have educational eco programs, etc. The consumer demand has to be the driving force for places to go green.



What are some eco-focused kid's programs you would recommend?

Not just to plug my father's non-profit, but I really do think the Jean-Michel Cousteau "Ambassadors of the Environment" (http://www.aote.org/) programs are really great for kids. And they've been really successful in promoting awareness and educating. At the Ritz-Carlton Grand Cayman, for instance, they launched the kid's program but soon the parents started coming along, so they had to expand the program.

Another place I have heard about is a program called Green Chimneys(http://www.greenchimneys.org/), based in Brewster, NY, where city-kids learn about nature and the environment. Clean up the World (http://www.cleanuptheworld.com/ ) is another program I am involved in as ambassador; they have tangible programs with partners around the world and anyone can get involved.

From home builder to wind booster

By Diane Mastrull

After spending a decade carving this region's countryside into housing developments, Craig Poff had a bout of introspection. That led to a radical step: He left the business.

Granted, the economy had turned a boom industry into a bust. But Poff said his decision to abandon his trade came from a more philosophical place: "I was becoming increasingly distraught at the brokenness of residential land use."

That's no small statement from a man who had reached the top post of the Home Builders Association of Chester and Delaware Counties. Three weeks after he was sworn in as president, he decided to throw his career to the wind - literally.

"Wind is where it's at for me right now," said the 41-year-old resident of East Bradford Township, Chester County, and father of three.

Poff is developing wind farms for Iberdrola Renewables, an international wind-energy provider based in Oregon with a regional headquarters in Radnor. He entered the field a year ago when he couldn't budge this region's long-entrenched land policies.

Poff had pushed for zoning changes on the municipal level - where land-use decisions are made in Pennsylvania and New Jersey - that would steer development away from farm fields to existing towns.

He had added his voice to the New Urbanism refrain, urging communities to allow walkable, high-density, multi-use patterns of development.

Yet in most towns, tradition prevails and, consequently, so does sprawl, Poff said. When he decided that he "just didn't have the energy" to keep fighting for change, the avid fisherman and hunter raised in northwest Missouri turned to alternative-energy companies for a job.

With no energy background or related degree - he was an accounting major in college - Poff got many "don't-need-you" responses until he heard from Dave Shadle at Iberdrola.

Shadle saw a natural fit in Poff, a former partner in Bentley Communities, the land-acquisition and development arm of Bentley Homes in West Chester.

"Our wind-power development process focuses on building relationships with communities and landowners," said Shadle, vice president of development. "We speak frequently and openly about the development steps we take, work closely with many stakeholders and educate the community. Craig . . . can do all that."

Poff said that siting wind farms was "becoming increasingly difficult" because of the industry's early years, when turbines were noisier and more of a threat to birds. Comparing current models with those of 20 years ago, Poff said, is "kind of like comparing an automobile to a horse-and-buggy."

In his new career as senior project developer at Iberdrola, Poff still is scouring the landscape for building sites - but for turbines more than 265 feet tall with blades 290 feet in diameter. One to two acres is required per turbine, with each generating up to 2 megawatts of power. One turbine can provide energy to 300 to 600 homes, depending on the size of the turbine and the home.Poff's territory is primarily Pennsylvania - specifically its higher-altitude terrain, where wind is more reliable.

Lately, he has been a fixture in Clearfield County, in central Pennsylvania, where Iberdrola has plans to build 35 turbines in 2010 and 2011, followed by 90 more in subsequent years.

Poff manned a booth at the Clearfield County Fair in July and has held several informational meetings. And sometimes, he's just around. Two weeks ago, Doug Beard was getting gas in Curwensville, and Poff "pulled in and chatted like he's known me all my life."

The developer's readiness to answer questions, along with Beard's own visit to a wind farm, gave the 54-year-old bookkeeper enough confidence recently to sign an open-ended lease with Iberdrola. While providing no details, Beard said the agreement allows Iberdrola to place turbines on 200 acres outside town that have been in his family for three generations. The site is in the Appalachian Mountains, 2,500 feet up.

With just a summer cottage there, "why not take advantage of the wind?" Beard said, adding, "I'd rather look at a wind turbine than 50 houses." Oddly, the environmental community isn't rejoicing over there being one fewer home builder in the world.

"I sort of wish that people with his sense of environmental awareness would stay and build and develop green buildings," Nathan Willcox, an energy and clean-air advocate at the lobbying group PennEnvironment, said of Poff.

Said a still-reeling developer, Jason Duckworth: "It's the ultimate sign of the times - he goes from being president of the home builders association to leaving the industry. I was just blown away." He did not intend the pun.

While insistent "every one of the communities that I developed is absolutely the best that could have been done . . . given the land-use regulations," Poff said he had "a little more pride" about the mark he was now trying to leave on the world.

"Let's face it," he said, "nobody needs a 5,000-square-foot home. Nobody needs a 2-acre lot - unless you're a farmer."