I learned something new in the past couple of weeks.  We recently closed on a house (yay!) and one of the first things I mused with our realtor about was, “should we install A/C?”  The Bay Area in general has great weather, but the last few summers have had a few days here and there where temperatures were above 90 degrees, making it unbearably hot indoors as well.  Today happens to be one of those days – yesterday, temperatures were almost 90 in our apartment, and today, it definitely went past the 90 F mark.  It’s hard to resist the temptation to install A/C on days like this.

Anyway, our realtor mentioned installing an attic fan instead.  Have you heard of these?   During the summer, the temperature in your attic can get well over 100 F.  Without an attic fan, heat gets trapped, and it makes your house warmer.  An attic fan helps cool down your attic, making your house much cooler.  IF you also happen to have A/C running, an attic fan improves efficiency; there’s less work required by your A/C unit to cool down the house.  I’ve read that it can save up to 30% on cooling costs, so in the long run, it may be cheaper for you to install one in your own home.

By the way, attic fans are electric or solar.  I think they may also come in hybrid versions but I haven’t seen any so far.  We’re thinking of installing the solar fan since no energy would be required to run it.  Now we just need to figure out where to buy one of these and who can install it.  Anyone have any recommendations?

Raise your hands if you own one of those nice flat-screen TVs? My hand is up. I replaced my old tube television about six month’s ago, and opted for a large, flat-screen LCD. It turns out these TVs are really bad for the environment in a couple ways.

First, these TVs contain nitrogen trifluoride (NF3), the same environmentally harmful gas found in the new 3G iPhone. This gas is estimated to be 17,000 times more potent than carbon dioxide, and there will be about 4,000 tons of it will be produced per year.

In addition, large, flat-screen TVs use much more energy than traditional tube television sets. I was a bit suspicious when I felt the huge amount of heat my LCD TV emitted when compared with my old TV set. Next time you think about getting a new TV, you may want to think twice. I was going to replace another old TV of mine, but now I think I’ll hold off on doing so.

Unless we see a huge decrease in gas prices (I’m talking about a nearly impossible sustained decrease of 50 percent or more), I don’t see consumers changing their new habits any time soon. Unfortunately for the oil industry and fortunately for the environment, consumers have picked up some good habits they’re likely unwilling to change.

• Vinod Khosla, Founder Khosla Ventures.
• John Doerr, Partner, Kleiner Perkins.
• Elon Musk, Chairman, Tesla, Chairman, CEO SolarCity
• Steve Jurvetson, Partner Draper Fisher Jurvetson.
• Bill Gross, Founder Idealab.
• Al Gore, Chairman Generation Investment Managment, Partner Kleiner Perkins.
• Bill Joy, Partner Kleiner Perkins.

Unfortunately, unless you’re a big shot, it’s unlikely that you’d be able to invest with them or in them, but one thing you could do is join them! Here, thanks to earth2tech.com, is a map of 101 cleantech startups. Take a look at what’s around you, or somewhere you wouldn’t mind living, and get in on the ground floor!

View Larger Map

To our readers: Sorry about the delayed post, but we were having problems with our servers last night.

San Jose is hosting the Plug-In 2008 conference this year which runs through July 24. It is the largest and first dedicated plug-in hybrid conference. This year, representatives from government, auto, and utility are discussing what is needed to make plug-in hybrids and electric vehicles a reality. In other words, they are dealing with the when scenario, not the if. One big issue being discussed is the electric grid upgrade that will need to happen in preparation for a surge in demand once plug-in hybrids are mass produced and sold.

Also in attendance are scientists, engineers, entrepreneurs, and exhibitors. New technology and research will be shared along with the latest innovations in plug-in technology and power grid infrastructure improvements. What makes this conference particularly exciting is that the conversation has changed from speculation and theory to planning for the inevitable introduction of plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles.

I’m encouraged conferences and conversations like this are occurring. You can be sure more will come in the near future. Currently, the general consensus is that Toyota and GM will offer plug-in hybrids some time in 2010. You can be sure other automakers will be right behind them!

One area bucking this trend is green technology. A United Nations report indicates over $148 billion was invested into alternative energy last year, up a whopping 60 percent from the $92.6 billion spent in 2006. The report describes this as a “green energy gold rush”. Wind energy led with $50 billion in investments, but solar was the largest gainer with a 90 percent rise, totaling $28 billion in investments. Even high profile venture capital firms such as Kleiner Perkins have established funds and partner areas earmarked for green investments.

What’s great is that this appears to be a global trend led by Europe, which as we all know is far more advanced from clean tech and alternative energy perspectives than the rest of the world. There appears to be strong and growing interest in emerging countries such as Brazil, China, and India as well, as these countries recognize their growth and development will soon be hindered by their consumption and dependence on foreign energy. In case you’re wondering, not only do we pollute the most in the U.S. (on both an absolute and per capita basis), but we are one of the worst, least advanced clean tech, developed countries in the world.

• Increase the life of your roof
• Save energy for cooling in summer, and heating in the winter
• Reduce noise
• Help improve air quality
• Reduce stormwater runoff
• Look bitchin’

Before you go off and plant some sod on your roof, you should know that they’re not exactly easy to install – according to Green Roofs for Healthy Cities, they consist of, “a high quality water proofing and root repellant system, a drainage system, filter cloth, a lightweight growing medium and plants.”So they are a somewhat complex, and perhaps mostly suited for larger buildings, although there are some who are pioneering planting them on residential buildings.But if you’re interested, the really good news is that cities like New York  and Chicago are offering tax credits for installing green roofs.  Regardless, it’s really fascinating and gorgeous stuff. Take a look! 

Instead of a 40 hour work week over 5 days, workers are being asked to work 10 hours a day, 4 days a week.

It is estimated that 1000-3000 state buildings will be closed on Fridays, resulting in a reduction of about 20% in energy costs.

What do you guys think?  Good idea?  Bad idea?

The microeconomic changes needed to increase carbon productivity at the levels required will not occur without the active leadership and collaboration of governments and businesses globally. We need new policies, regulatory frameworks, and institutions focused on four areas: creating market-based incentives to innovate and raise carbon productivity; addressing market failures that prevent abatement opportunities from being captured profitably; resolving issues of allocation and fairness, in particular between the developed and developing worlds and between industry sectors; and accelerating progress to avoid missing critical emissions targets. 

Thanks to Climate Progress for pointing this out.

According to the EPA, gas mowers use 800 million gallons of gas annually and account for five percent of U.S. air pollution.

Because of this, according to one of our favorite new blogs, the Dwell Daily Blog, several cities are hosting an exchange program that allows residents to trade gas mowers for an eco-friendly alternative at a reduced price: the battery-powered Neuton CE 5.2.

Ah, but hold the phone! As it turns out, according to researchers at the University of Florida, even battery powered electric mowers cause plenty of pollution – mostly when producing the battery, and when those same batteries are not disposed of properly. (it’s the same reason that you shouldn’t necessarily replace your perfectly good car with a hybrid)

Their suggestion? Buy a corded mower – there’s no battery, and the only energy you use is the energy to run the mower.