Weddings are wasteful. Typically, a lot of the expense goes into things that don’t get used again, like decorations, presents, and attire. Even those that strive to be eco-friendly end up clocking in with potentially huge environmental impact from family and friends driving or flying in for the wedding. (more…)
Living a sustainable, eco-friendly life can be a year round pursuit. No matter what day, month, or year it is, there are things you can be doing to help do your art to protect mother nature. Winter is just another season rife with ways to not only save resources, but also to save money at the same time.
We’ve compiled a list of just some of the things you can do this winter to keep warm whilst not badly impacting on the planet.
Lifelong friend Jim Price wrote this about his new granddaughter (pictured): Annalee Rose Price, 3:52 yesterday AM (yes a very long night), 9 lbs even, Mom, Dad and baby doing great.
Holy mackerel, Jim, she sure LOOKS like she’s doing great. She’s perhaps the most angelic thing I’ve ever seen in my entire life.
I also want to remark that she’s an extremely lucky baby to be born into a family of such warmth, sanity and competence.
I actually feel the same way personally, FWIW, having been adopted in late 1955 by Pat and Craig Shields. Every time I think about that, I’m awe-struck by the good fortune I had when I was five months old. Annalee Rose has similarly hit the jackpot.
As I write this I’m listening to a wonderful webinar on mobility, featuring presentations from Shell Oil and the market research giant Frost and Sullivan.
There is a fantastically complex array of different forces that are rapidly transforming our world with respect to how we move our bodies and our things around. (more…)
In a recent survey, thousands of people from all over the world were asked if they aspired to emigrate from their homeland into another country, and, of those who answered in the affirmative, the United States was by far the most popular destination. In that respect, I’m very proud to be an American, and I certainly see the attraction of living here. But here’s something that most of these would-be immigrants aren’t anticipating, and so I caution them: when you get here, don’t expect to find a democracy in any meaningful sense of the word.
Perhaps the best example is the American people’s attempts to establish some level of gun control; 89% of US voters want enhanced background checks for prospective owners of handguns, assault rifles, etc. But, shamefully, Congress can’t take a single step in that direction.
Here’s another painful reminder, this one directly related to energy and the environment. 26 of our 50 states are suing to overturn the restrictions that the Environmental Protection Agency has set on power plant emissions. That would be hard enough to swallow if it weren’t for the fact that 61% of the people living in those states approve of the emission controls. (more…)
2GreenEnergy super-supporter Gary Tulie sent me this piece on solar PV in India, noting: I realise that lower prices have been achieved in other markets, but in India, there are no tax breaks, and the cost of money is high.
In my way of thinking, this is fabulous news. $0.073/kWh is very good, and the fact that it’s happening in India is excellent news, as these people are well on their way to becoming the worst polluters on Earth if they can’t make the migration away from coal. This subject is discussed in great length in this article, sent to me by my colleague Dean Linden.
Jennifer, a reader on my Quora feed writes: Can we buy solar panels outright in California?
I responded:
Yes. If we eat all our broccoli, we can buy solar panels outright for dessert. Now why did I just write such a smart-ass remark? I’m not sure, Jennifer; I’m out of control this morning, and something just came over me. Uh-oh, here comes another: They can be sold for medicinal purposes here, but for recreational use you’ll have to purchase them in Oregon, Washington, Colorado or Washington DC. Seriously, check this out as an example.
To save money while running a business in the winter, you must implement procedures to reduce your energy costs. For example, by contacting your local utility, you can gather great information about rebates and incentives that are available in your area.
General Procedures (more…)
When I read articles like this one on 1366 Technologies that my colleague Gary Tulie just sent, I’m reminded of two businesses I’m glad I’m not in:
• Manufacturing solar PV. This stuff is so advanced, and it’s changing so quickly that I would be terrified to make an investment in any one technology and the capital equipment to support it. Gary notes: High performance wafers at around 20% efficiency at less than half the cost of current wafers. Overall. I would estimate around 9 cents a watt saving on the wafer, rising to around 12 cents a watt due to higher efficiency (more watts per area of glass). (more…)
The humble doormat is the gateway to your home. It needs to be carefully chosen to reflect the care and dedication you have put into creating your perfect home. It should complement your decor, but, perhaps most importantly; it can prevent the ingress of damp, dirt and debris into your home. There are great many things which need to be considered when choosing the right door mat for your house: (more…)
