Join us as we go Green, one step at a time
Interested in installing solar panels or making some green improvements to your home? Before you do it, did you know there’s a whole world of federal and state incentives that could help you pay for them? Check out this great site, DSIREusa.org, which lists a world of federal and state tax incentives!
I’m planning a wedding. Actually, I’ve been thinking about planning a wedding. The thought of wedding planning - to me - is so completely overwhelming that I’ve procrastinated for a good 2 months now.
As any of you who have been involved in wedding planning know, there’s a never-ending list of things to consider, like the food, flowers, and venue. With all of these items, I’m trying to think of ways to incorporate some green elements while making it a very personal and lovely affair.
Here are some things I’m considering… in no particular order.
There’s probably a lot more I can do, but this is a start. If you have any suggestions, let me know!
As you probably know by now, John McCain won the Republican primary in Florida. Congratulations, Senator McCain!
John McCain is the only Republican presidential candidate who is convincing about being serious about global warming - for instance, he co-sponsored the Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act of 2007, which:
Provide[s] for a program to accelerate the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in the United States by establishing a market-driven system of greenhouse gas tradeable allowances, to support the deployment of new climate change-related technologies, and to ensure benefits to consumers from the trading in such allowances, and for other purposes.
Having him as the Republican nominee would be good news. However, a quick glance at Grist.org’s fantabulous comparison of Presidential candidates, indicates that McCain’s approach to mitigating global warming is neither as comprehensive, aggressive nor as detailed as that of either Hillary Clinton or Barack Obama. Some points of comparison:
Take a look for yourself, and review Grist’s factsheet on McCain here.
As I noted a few posts ago, California has submitted a proposal to the EPA to cut tailpipe emissions to fight global warming.
The EPA, as of my last writing, denied this request and since then, lots of skirmishes with the EPA Chief, Stephen Johnson, have ensued. Johnson’s rationale has been pretty weak: “I believe that it is preferable, as a matter of policy, to have uniform national standards to address fuel economy issues across the entire fleet of domestic and foreign manufactured vehicles sold in the United States. I just think this is common sense.”
Well, who knows when these “uniform national standards” will pass? Time is of the essence, and many politicians are entering the fray, including Democratic hopefuls Hilary Clinton and Barack Obama.
Keep fighting the good fight everyone!
Senator Barbara Boxer weighs in below:
According to Wikipedia, cleantech is “knowledge-based products or services that improve operational performance, productivity, or efficiency while reducing costs, inputs, energy consumption, waste, or pollution.” Some technologies that are included are:
They say that a technology trend is gaining traction when you start to see investment dollars flowing. Happily it is.
From my vantage point here in Silicon Valley, things are hopping - from conferences, such as the Cleantech conferences coming up in San Francisco, Brussels and Washington D.C., to the fact that people like Al Gore are joining venture capital firms.
According to Daniel Englander at a great site called Greentech Media, in 2006, “green-technology companies received $3.9 billion in venture-capital investment and generated $55 billion in revenue.”
Based on our quick survey, here are some more resources to learn what it is and how to get involved:
Stay tuned for more! Let us know if you know of something that’s not listed here!
