Pascal Didn't Talk About Environmentalism, But He Would Have If He Were Here Today

Seventeenth Century mathematician and philosopher Blaise Pascal wrote, “Human sensitivity to little things and insensitivity to the greatest things:  sign of a strange disorder.”

Wow, I love that.  And it’s so true.  I have such admiration for this fellow that, if we had had another boy, I would have considered petitioning my wife to let me name him Pascal.  Pascal Shields — it kind of grows on you.

Be this as it may….exactly what Pascal meant by “the greatest things” is unclear, though he was very wrapped up in things like the unknowability of humankind’s purpose and meaning in the cold, dark and hidden universe.  Think of how little mental energy most people spend on things like that—or on the disastrous effects we’re creating on our environment–and how much we care about the minutia in our lives.

Tagged with: ,

PBS’s Ask This Old House Recommends Energy Efficiency – But Misses the #1 Reason To Care About ItI like to watch the PBS show “Ask This Old House” on Saturday mornings.  I’m so impressed with the incredible level of professionalism and the cleverness of the solutions these folks come up with.

Whenever it’s possible to mention energy efficiency or solar energy, the plumbing and heating guy, Richard Trethewey (pictured on left), normally dives right in.  (more…)

Tagged with: , , , ,

Wind EnergyHere’s an article summarizing where the world is with respect to the installation of wind energy.  2013 saw a dramatic decline in the overall implementation of wind, based largely in the U.S., where new installations were down 90% from the previous year.

The real issue, of course, is the whipsawing of federal tax incentives.  If  U.S. law-makers could have some level of stability and predictability, the big players (and the little guys) contemplating clean energy investments would be far more comfortable making commitments than they are now, where this subject is constantly under attack in Congress, and the fossil fuel industry is spending heavily to make sure renewable energy fails.

 

 

Tagged with: , , , ,

Adopting eco-friendly practices is one of the most strategically important decisions a business can make. Apart from saving the environment, becoming greener can reduce business costs and even improve the business’ standing in the eyes of customers and potential customers. As such, it can make a business more profitable, efficient and competitive.

(more…)

Tagged with: , ,

A Few Ideas for Those Who Want To Make a Difference Re: SustainabilityI thought readers might be interested in this note I just sent to an old friend who’s getting on in years and has become concerned that humankind has gotten off the track vis-a-vis sustainability.  As a man of reason and compassion, he wants to use a healthy chunk of his life savings to make a difference in the outcome.  When he asked for my advice, I gave him a few ideas, which I summarized in the email below. (more…)

Tagged with: , , , , , ,

If buying a home alone was a daunting task, you need to understand that purchasing home decor items to suit the needs and theme of your home is also going to burn a hole in your pocket. However, just because you can’t spend a good chunk of your savings on home decor does not imply that you will have to settle for something that is less than perfect. In today’s times, DIY trends are fast catching up and homeowners are constantly coming up with witty ideas to recycle old or existing fabrics and other products which can be substituted for the different home decor needs. (more…)

Tagged with: ,

Green Future

Close your eyes and imagine a world where money and politics, greed and wealth, power and domination aren’t the driving forces for many people. Imagine if we were able to put our differences aside, forget about trying to be the best or to have the most, and just work together to protect this world we live in. What you’re imaging is a greener future… A world where everyone understands the significance of Mother Nature and the many gifts she has to bestow upon us. As a whole, we’ve got to realize how fragile our ecosystem is on this planet, and how countries have been playing a game of chicken that’s been going on for far too long.

(more…)

Tagged with: , , ,

Five Reasons To Switch To a Sustainable "Natural Room"

Kids are sensitive, emotionally and physically. They need to be taken care of and watched over. Since they are growing, it becomes important for parents to provide them with the right nutrition and proper surroundings.

A number of toddlers are in a habit of chewing their pillows and licking the wall. (more…)

Tagged with: , ,

Apparently, Renewable Energy Is Viewed as ControversialAt the risk of stating the obvious, there is a real debate going on as to the legitimacy of renewable energy, smart grid, distributed generation, energy storage, efficiency, etc.  Do we, as a society, have the right to implement these things—just because our scientists are telling us that our current approach is rapidly ruining our planet?  Not according to FirstEnergy Corp. President and CEO Anthony Alexander, who attacks all this as a “social agenda.”

Yes, I suppose that’s exactly what it is: an agenda by which society can remain healthy.  Somehow, that doesn’t sound too bad to me.

 

 

 

Tagged with: , , ,

What Science Can Tell Us – And What It Can’tI’ve always enjoyed helping my kids with their homework, and, as they’ve gotten older, I’ve been learning a great deal myself from what I’m helping them study. Last night, I spent a few happy hours helping my son Jake study for a botany test, during which I came across something rather surprising: many of the uses that plants have for their essential micronutrients – elements like chlorine, iron, manganese, copper, cobalt, zinc, molybdenum and boron are “not well understood.” I.e., we know they’re important, albeit in concentrations of a few parts per million, but we’re not sure exactly why, and neither do we understand the transport mechanisms for these nutrients that are active within the organism. (more…)

Tagged with: , ,