An Earth Day Celebration That Grows Bigger and Stronger Each Year

There may be small pockets of the U.S. with higher concentrations of well-educated liberals than Santa Barbara, CA—perhaps Berkeley or Cambridge. In any case, as one could predict, Santa Barbara hosts a whale of an Earth Day celebration each year, replete with literally hundreds of booths manned by people with pro-environmental products: solar PV, zero-emission vehicles, artificial grass, cutting-edge insulation technology, solar lighting, etc. Along with the products are environmental concepts and causes more generally, e.g., sustainable fishing, public radio, progressive political candidates and encouraging the overthrow of oppressive regimes.

Some of these concepts are loftier than others. Of note is “A Year Without War,” whose purpose is to create, by the year 2020, a social movement large enough to tip history away from war as a solution to our disagreements with one another.

My first wish is to see this plague of mankind, war, banished from the earth.  – George Washington

Something to think about.

 

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The Cost of WarQuestion:  According to Australia’s Institute for Economics and Peace, how much money would the world have saved if it had been at peace since 2006?

Answer: Can be found at Clean Energy Answers.

Relevance: In addition to the obvious (death, injury, bereft loved ones, displacement of refugees, etc.) this enormous cash savings ($5600 for every man, woman and child on the planet) could have advanced world literacy and health, and/or been used to turn around the devastation we’re wreaking on our environment.

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A Guide to Sustainable Design & BuildingThe techniques and technology for increasing the sustainability and energy efficiency of your home have never been so abundant and affordable. A study by Bloomberg New Energy Finance has determined that the U.S. is spending roughly 250 billion dollars a year on sustainability, and this push for eco-friendly construction has brought down the prices of the technology considerably. The cost of solar panel installations has dropped a jaw dropping 99 percent over the last 36 years according to a PVinsights study, but the biggest benefit of the sustainability movement has been the flood of information on the subject. It is now easier than ever to read about and incorporate ingenious methods of improving the energy efficiency of your home. (more…)

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 photo 108632622_640_zpsr0kwhae6.jpgAmericans are unique in the way they shift their viewpoints, and that seems to be true regardless of which type of “viewpoint” we’re discussing: political issues, the appreciation of a new musical genre, and even the acceptance of basic science.

Having said that, when we Americans do change our positions, we do it in a big way. (more…)

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 How Green Can Your Home Be?Making your home a little greener is not only good for the environment, but can actually save you money and make your living space a little more comfortable as well.

So, How Green Can Your Home Really Be?

Here are 5 easy ways you can save energy and make your home as green as possible: (more…)

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A Guide to Energy Savings & Eco-Friendly Products for Your HomeMaking your home more eco-friendly doesn’t just help the environment in a big way. It can also increase comfort levels, make your home a healthier place to live, and ultimately save you hundreds of dollars in the long run. When you look at the statistics, decking your home out with eco-friendly products really is a no-brainer.

The Green Goods (more…)

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http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/04/fossil-fuels-just-lost-the-race-against-renewables?cmpid=WindNL-Thursday-April16-2015

Here’s an article that underlines what I’ve been telling the world for the past year or so: based on simple extrapolations for the cost and growth curves of fossil vs. renewable resources, the battle for energy resource supremacy is over, and the good guys have won.

Here’s a particularly exuberant comment: (more…)

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Why "Green" Is In The Car WashWhile its predecessors in the 20th century cleaned equally well, the latest car washes are not only a huge convenience for car owners but also makes the most of the limited natural resources that they use. In particular, 21st century car washes are extremely efficient and can even reasonably be called environmentally friendly. Here’s why:

Higher Pressure Nozzles – Originally, a little bit of cleanser and copious amounts of water were the typical “modus operandi” of the neighborhood car wash. There days, the detergents are high-tech and high pressure nozzles – designed to remove dirt but not hurt the car’s finnish – are more cost-effective and affordable for cleaning vehicles. In most cases, newer car washes use 50% less water than their old counterparts. (more…)

UK Sets New Record For Wind Power ProductionInvesting in renewable energy sources means investing in our future. While 2014 was an excellent year for wind energy, 2015 is already showing great potential. In fact, the newest statistics are indicating an annual market growth of 44 percent and installations of more than 51 GW of wind energy. Asia is holding its position as a world leading market followed by emerging markets in Africa and Latin America while Europe is facing a slight downturn.

According to research done by GreenMatch and the Global Wind Energy Council, the UK has broken its previous record for generated wind power and is now the European leader in the offshore wind industry. (more…)

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A Green Home--Cutting Bills through Environmental MeasuresEco-friendliness and sustainability are the new watchwords and we all naturally want to play a part in protecting dwindling resources. There are many steps we can take at home to increase our green credentials and an additional benefit is that in the process we will also substantially reduce our utility bills.

Heating (more…)

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