http://www.gereports.com/post/129651952243/ian-bremmer-5-political-risks-set-to-disrupt-the-world/Eminent American political scientist Ian Bremmer is an incredibly impressive guy when it comes to looking at the world at the macro level.  When I Googled what he thinks about climate change just now, I found this incredible piece—which I’ll discuss right after I tell you this: The only sponsored link in that search was from the ultra-deceitful and hyper-conservative Heartland Institute with its message: “Don’t Believe the Myths About Climate Change.”  I suppose if my organization were supported financially by the Koch Brothers, I might be inventing destructive bullcrap like this too.    (more…)

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Earth-friendly is one of the biggest trends in construction and interior design today. However, many earth-friendly additions amount to little more than an extra expense because they do not make a significant impact on the home’s environmental footprint. There are, on the other hand, several proven techniques that do make a real difference when it comes to earth-friendly factors like energy usage and sustainability. (more…)

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Six Ways You Can Save Money By Going GreenWhen people think about going green, they may not completely understand just how much money can be saved by making more environmentally-friendly choices. You might be surprised to know just how much money can be saved while bettering the environment at the same time. Simply by reducing your water use and energy consumption, you can help to cut back on greenhouse gas emissions and fight against the pollution of the planet while protecting your wallet at the same time. (more…)

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Sustainability: Young People Actually Care About This StuffWhen I speak in public about the macro trends associated with sustainability and the environment, I always mention the importance of the huge generational differences that exist regarding this topic. In general, young people are far more interested in environmental justice and social responsibility than their parents. (more…)

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Solar Panels--How Much Do They Cost in the UK?With the ever rising cost of energy, increasing numbers of home- and business owners are considering making the switch to solar power. Their reasoning is that once the original cost and installation is paid for, they get free energy from the sun–and maybe even enough to sell back to the grid for a residual income. That’s a nice thought, isn’t it? But how much do solar panels really cost in the UK?  Can you afford to make the switch? (more…)

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Geothermal Provides Clean Power To Nations Wishing To Escape Diesel's Costs and EmissionsFrom the perspective of energy, everything you need to know about the French-owned island of Guadalupe in the Caribbean is that it’s making terrific progress in replacing its legacy power resource, diesel, with geothermal.  The world leader in geothermal, Ormat Techologies, has purchased and will operate the existing Bouillante plant, currently generating 10MW, with the capacity for expansion to 45 MW(more…)

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The Dalai Lama: A Powerful Force for GoodIt’s the birthday of the 14th Dalai Lama, who, IMO, is rivalled only by Pope Francis as the most effective person on this planet at influencing our civilization for the better.  (more…)

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From Shell Oil: Green Finance Database

A long-time subscriber the clean transportation sector writes:  Craig: Maybe you can draw some ideas from this concept for a green finance database initiative, aimed at helping environmental start-ups.

Thanks.  I played around with this a bit, and entered some sample data.  Maybe as more people use this and more investors come on board it will be useful; currently, it’s not really that helpful.  It’s a cool idea, though, and I hope it goes on to play a major role in the financing of cleantech enterprises.

Of course, I’m always skeptical when oil companies promote competitive solutions in the energy space, though I try not to be too cynical.

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Happy 4th of July, America!It’s Independence Day here in the U.S., and here’s a quick reminder of an important concept:  Real patriots are those who uphold America’s core values.

OK, so what are these values, exactly?  Well, at a minimum they include: (more…)

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Robo-Consumerism Is Incompatible with SustainabilityCommenter “Rob K” offers a good insight into the ever-escalating struggle between consumerism and environmental stewardship:

Car manufacturers “stage” development of cars so that the “next” models would look “cooler ” and technologically more advanced. It is not beneficial for a car company to give the public what we should really be driving.  This is not about big oil or the automotive industry. This is about consumer ignorance and how the “sheep” can be led to water.” We, the American public, are the reason that (environmentally beneficial) technologies escape us.

In my book, manufacturers and consumers alike have a responsibility to lead us in the right direction in terms of the health of both our bodies and our environment.  (more…)