October 25th, 2007 · Comments Off on “Cashing in on Green Energy”
The Union of Concerned Scientists has done a series of studies looking at the economic benefits of moving toward a greener economy. In particular, they have examined the implications of a 15 percent renewable portfolio standard (RPS) by 2020, as included in HR3221, the House Energy Bill.
Consumer Savings $13 billion to $18.1 billion in lower electricity and natural gas bills by 2020 (growing to $27.7 billion to $31.8 billion by 2030)
Climate Solutions Reductions in global warming pollution equal to taking between 13.7 and 20.6 million cars off the road
Pretty impressive opportunity from just one straightforward measure. This is one way people can make good by going good. (Or, alternatively, make green by
October 25th, 2007 · Comments Off on Water, Fire, Global Warming … blending crises
Humanity faces serious challenges today and in the coming years. Clearly, core to emerging from this century whole will be adequate and appropriate addressing of Peak Oil and Global Warming. The reality is, however, that these mega-crises are intertwined with numerous other very serious challenges, such as ‘peak’ water and fires like those hitting California as I write.
Just yesterday, in a speech to the Society of American Foresters
U.S. Forest Service chief Gail Kimbell says the nation can expect more wildfires like the ones raging through Southern California as global climate change heats up the world’s forests.
“Fires are burning hotter and bigger, becoming more damaging and dangerous to people and to property,” Kimbell said Wednesday. “Each year the fire season comes earlier and lasts longer.”
October 25th, 2007 · Comments Off on Shifting Power, Stepping It Up, Confronting a Warming Globe
How the world the world is changing. We have melting ice. Smoke clouds heading into the Pacific from California. The oceans hitting their limits of carbon dioxide absorption. A shrinking, threatened Amazon. Story after story showing a world being damaged by CO2, other emissions, and by warming. It is not hard to find reasons for serious pessimism.
But …
But …
But there are other changes occurring.
One is that more people are finding their voice, are recognizing the threat, are moving to take action to have their voices heard and mobilize others to confront the threats of Global Warming.
A little more than a week from now, PowerShift 2007 hits the University of Maryland and the Halls of Congress.
When discussing any particular disaster and its relationship to Global Warming, one needs to be cautious, to avoid saying “Global Warming caused X” as it is quite difficult to show a direct cause and effect relationship with a global trend to any particular activity. Thus, stronger storms are correlated with rising temperature which correlated with a storm like Katrina. Did Global Warming cause Katrina? Who knows? Was Katrina’s strength, differentiation from past storms, within what Global Warming analysis/modeling suggests could happen? Yes.
Well, be careful if anyone says that Global Waming “caused” the California fires. On the other hand, it seems clear that Global Warming is a contributing factor to the conditions in which the storms have occurred. As per Daniel James Brown’s OPED, Smarter ways to handle fire,
increased fuel loads in our wild lands are only one element of a converging series of fire-related threats that now challenge us in unprecedented ways. Our penchant for building homes in fire-prone areas is another obvious and much-discussed factor. And a third, now undeniable, one is the role that global warming plays in raising ambient temperatures, promoting drought in already drought-prone regions and lengthening our fire seasons.
October 24th, 2007 · Comments Off on California Fires Threaten San Diego’s Electricity
To start with, let me express my sympathy to all those who have been hurt, lost property, or are threatened by the California fires. My — our — thoughts are with you.
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The threat from the fires is quite direct. Images of a burning home, fleeing families, roaring flames engulfing a mountain side, smoke clouds billowing through the sky, firefighters pouring water onto flames. The images are compelling, the threat striking to the core.
There are many threats that come from disasters, this is a short discussion of one threatening San Diego as I type.
Reuters is reporting that the wildfires threaten the power transmission links into San Diego, risking making San Diego an electricity island, cut off from the larger power infrastructure. If cut off from external supply lines, Sand Diego would have a real risk of major blackouts. San Diego’s mayor has called for reduced power use.
October 23rd, 2007 · Comments Off on Seven Principles for Seven Generations
Consider the implications of one’s actions, one’s decisions for Seven Generations. That is truly a path toward a sustainable society. Below the fold are Seven Principles for energy/global warming legislation from Sierra Club and other organizations. These Seven Principles could be called “Seven Principles for Seven Generations”.
October 23rd, 2007 · Comments Off on Labour Party about face on Climate Change?
The Guardian is reporting that Gordon Brown’s advisors are calling Tony Blair’s renewable energy targets are too expensive and face ‘severe practical difficulties’.
October 22nd, 2007 · Comments Off on Christmas Lights … scrooge or savior? (Revisited)
Do you love those displays of Christmas (or Hannukah or Kwanza or …) lights? Are you awed by those so impassioned that they string up 1000s of lights in awesome displays worthy of a city center? I once did, pausing on cold winter nights, white clouds issuing from my mouth, enjoying being in the glow of beautiful displays. And, in a way, I was inspired that they would spend $1000s (or $10,000s) on displays and the electricity to power them so that others could enjoy the sight on those cold winter nights.
But … no longer … not for awhile. Far too often nowadays, my winter evenings I can wear short sleeve shirts rather than bulky coats and gloves. And, energy is no longer a question simply of money. I’ve reached the point of feeling like a Scrooge; feeling outrage over the tons of C02 going into the atmosphere via neighbors’ 10,000 light displays rather than feeling ‘joyous’.
But, a compromise does exist; a path to cut sharply those CO2 emissions while still putting out those lights: LED lights. But, far too many are unwilling to spend the money upfront to cut their electricial use, reduce their pollution, and — actually — save quite a lot of money.
There are many ways to take action to change the world’s heedless path toward the precipice of Catastrophic Climate Change (and Peak Oil, Peak Water, etc …). We can act as individuals, families, communities, businesses, nations … And, we can foster action by others through our own actions … directly and indirectly.
When it comes to the easiest first steps toward a better relationship with the environment, for the rich developed world, two easy actions have real impact and start the path toward real change: replacing incadescents with compact fluorescent bulbs and using canvas bags.
As for the second, here is a video that is worth watching and helping go viral.
U.S. Forest Service chief Gail Kimbell says the nation can expect more wildfires like the ones raging through Southern California as global climate change heats up the world’s forests.
families, roaring flames engulfing a mountain side, smoke clouds billowing through the sky, firefighters pouring water onto flames. The images are compelling, the threat striking to the core. 
beautiful displays. And, in a way, I was inspired that they would spend $1000s (or $10,000s) on displays and the electricity to power them so that others could enjoy the sight on those cold winter nights. 
rather than bulky coats and gloves. And, energy is no longer a question simply of money. I’ve reached the point of feeling like a Scrooge; feeling outrage over the tons of C02 going into the atmosphere via neighbors’ 10,000 light displays rather than feeling ‘joyous’.