Get Energy Smart! NOW!

Steve Levitt‘s and Stephen Dubner’s Freaknomics was a great read. Interesting and provoking writing, underlining the value of taking commonly understood items, shaking the data, and seeing whether the common understandings could hold up to the light of day. Worth the read, especially because it is the sort of work where if you finish it […]

[Read more →]

Courtesy of the camera and work of Chris Jordan, decaying Albatross chicks are sending a message from the Pacific gyre about the plastic footprint that humanity is leaving across the planet.  Chris’ introduction to this searing set of photos: These photographs of albatross chicks were made just a few weeks ago on Midway Atoll, a […]

[Read more →]

This morning, U.S. Chamber of Commerce President Tom J. Donahue will make a statement regarding the Chamber’s stance on pending climate legislation in Congress. Mr. Donahue will be available to answer questions regarding the Chamber’s position on the bill, as well as the recent departure of several prominent members of the Chamber. So started the […]

[Read more →]

Pressure is mounting, from many sides, on the US Chamber of Commerce, which has been actively fighting moving forward with sensible climate legislation. The Chamber’s position is so severe that, in fact, multiple businesses (such as PG&E) have left the chamber, others have stepped down the board with public statements distancing themselves from the Chamber’s […]

[Read more →]

This guest post is from RLMiller [Subscribe]who is becoming a strong and impassioned blogosphere voice on climate issues, serving the organizing role in the “Adopt a Senator” effort to track positions taken by Senators on climate issues and pressure them to adopt reality-based policy approaches. The key take-way from this post: Do not lose sight […]

[Read more →]

The incisive Natasha Chart of Campaign for America’s Future has a must read discussion of the standard economist’s failures when considering large scale, complex social and environmental issues like climate change. It’s remarkable how often economists ignore physical reality. Whether they’re suggesting that economies can act as perpetual motion machines or suggesting that resource availability […]

[Read more →]

This guest post from Think2004 provides one homeowner’s story about moving a home from energy glutton to net zero re electricity. This discussion provides a clear window on the many things that can be done, rapidly, to reduce existing building infrastructure energy use. And, it shows that existing homes can be made ‘net zero’. And, […]

[Read more →]

Anheuser-Busch makes much of its commitment to the environment: Today, many companies are “going green.” But at Anheuser-Busch, we’re proud to say our tradition of environmental stewardship dates back to our founder, Adolphus Busch. In the late 1800s, he began recycling leftover grain from the brewing process, using it for cattle feed, a practice that […]

[Read more →]

With the last moments of competition, with the last event, the German team of Decathletes surged forward to seize the lead, seize the victory of the fourth Solar Decathlon, topping second-place Illinois (The Gable House) by less than 11 points out of 1000 possible (908.27 to 897.3). The margin of victory came from just one […]

[Read more →]

The University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign (UIUC), entry into the Solar Decathlon could be called understated from the outside, a form and boarding reminiscent of 19th century barns with a stunning interior, all built to Passiv Haus standards.  The Gable House is a well-conceived residence, combining 100 year old wood boards on outside with leading edge […]

[Read more →]