Solving Our Nation’s Energy Predicament

T Boone Pickens wrote an editorial that appeared in papers on Tuesday morning.  In it, he applauded the new stimulus package that was approved last week.  “The American Recovery and Reinvestment Plan has $90 billion of investments and incentives for energy efficiency in buildings and homes, renewable electricity and other clean-energy programs that could potentially create 500,000 jobs while reducing energy use and saving oil.”  I’m actually on-board with what Pickens says next.  He lists what he feels should be the top three priorities to come out of the stimulus package. 

1) Fix the grid.  The current energy grid is archaic and outdated.  The new grid must be reliable, efficient, and have the ability to handle the transmission of new alternative energy sources.

2) Develop “smart grid” technology.  A smart grid uses digital technology to efficiently deliver electric at a cost savings. 

3) Reduce our foreign-oil dependency and develop a clean, alternative transportation fuel infrastructure.

They really boil down to two main points: a)  fix the grid by updating it to this century and beyond and b) develop new alternative fuel sources  for transportation.  If we can fix these two things, then the United States can be well on it’s way to energy independence.  People on the east coast could be receiving power from a solar concentrator in Arizona.  Wind power could be delivered across the grid without much degredation.  Tidal power, algae power, cowshit power, whatever could be delivered across the country if the grid were sufficient.  Now we have that opportunity. 

This leads to things that are available and could be even more readily available like smart meters.  Meters that will give you real-time residential pricing on your kilowatt.  Meters that can shut down your air conditioner for periods of time to save energy. 

All in all – I liked the piece that Pickens put out.  It didn’t overtly push his plan.  I hope that some people who are already invested in this dream read it, too.

Move over Tupperware, It’s A Worm Composting Party

I was reading the Trib this morning and my wife told me to checkout page 4 of this particular section.  Much to my disbelief, there was an article on vermicomposting – or worm composting for the layman.  So not only was the article talking about worm composting – which my wife and I are happy to know we’re not the only “weird” ones around the area – but it was talking about a house party – like a Tupperware party – for getting started.  Who knew there was an Urban Worm Girl in Chicagoland?  Stephanie Davies is her true identity and she hosts worm composting parties.

Whatcha do is gather up a bunch of friends for a little party – just like these crazy ladies do with Lia Sophia jewelry, candles, or “Surprise” toy parties – but this time they will be buying vermicomposting supplies.  Stephanie will show up and push the wares and more importantly educating all in attendance.  It’s a pretty phat idea if you can get the people there to suck it up and enjoy the worms.  They’re not going to hurt anyone.  Host Stephanie at your house, buy a starter kit complete with a three tray worm bin and all the red wigglers you need.  Then pick yourself up a kitchen compost pail to hold your scraps – you can get them at Target, Amazon, Crate and Barrel, and World Market (among numerous other places).

We’ve had worms in our basement for about two years or so now.  They are hearty little suckers.  We feed them and feed them and get a crapload (pun intended) of castings and worm tea.  Why don’t we just throw away the food scraps?  Food scraps just break down in a landfill and go away, right? Well – yes and no.  The food scraps do start to degrade in the landfill – but what happens is that they decompose and create a leachate.  The leachate is the liquid that mixes with who-knows-what that is in the landfill and then it seeps into the groundwater and soil.  It starts to flow away from the landfill.  Another huge benefit is the brilliant compost and tea you get from these guys.  It’s like organic Miracle Grow.  It’s thick and rich and buttery (maybe not buttery).

Check out Urban Worm Girl - and maybe even buy a t-shirt – they’re pretty pimp!

PS – Hey Stephanie – you should check out Chicago Green Drinks if you haven’t.

10 Dumbest Green Buildings On Earth

 



A section from our friends over at Green Options is a site called Green Building Elements and they have an article on their today about the 10 Dumbest Green Buildings on Earth.  They take a look at several LEED buildings around the world and highlight the dumbest ones of all.  They include a car dealer, a golf course club house (where they use tons of water and pesticides), an airport terminal, a gas station, a bottled water plant, and pretty much every new building Dubai, UAE.

I think the concept of the post is brilliant.  It’s like the “old” adage where the person orders a dozen cheeseburgers with a diet soda.  As more and more cities offer tax breaks and have mandates for LEED building, I’m sure we’ll see more and more examples of “dumb” green buildings.  In all honesty, though, I think that any building that is built to be a healthy, green, LEED certified building is good.  Who knows – it might not always be a Dunkin Donuts or a headquarters for a bottled water plant.  Buildings emit the majority of CO2 – so even if there is irony in the purpose of the building – it’s not such a bad idea.

Source: Green Options, Green Daily

Grist Spreads The Love on Valentine’s Day

Grist.org has a brazilliant video up for Valentine’s Day. 

Before you get down and dirty, there’s something you oughta know: Sex toys can contain nasty toxic surprises. In today’s Umbra video, two lovebirds sing the praises of alternative playthings, just in time for Valentine’s Day.   Ditch your pthalate sex toy or  your blow up doll and make some eco-friendly love this year!  Go with glass, go organic (think Veggietales), go natural…

Energy Chief, Steven Chu Gives First Briefing And It Ain’t Pretty

It was the first interview with the Energy Secretary since Obama took office and he didn’t sugar coat it.  To quote the Grist book, people need to wake up and smell the planet, yo.  “Climate change is real and it’s going to F us up – so pay attention peeps,” Chu said.  Okay – so maybe that isn’t a direct quote.

In a worst case, Chu said, up to 90 percent of the snow pack could disappear in the Sierras by the end of the century, sucking the bulk of California’s water supply nearly dry.   That’s sheer death for the agriculture of California.

Chu said the threat of warming is keeping policymakers focused on fossil-fuel alternatives, even though gasoline prices fell over the past six months from historic highs. But he said public awareness needs to catch up. He compared the situation to a family buying an old house and being told by an inspector that it must pay a hefty sum to rewire it, or risk an electrical fire that could burn everything.

“I’m hoping that the American people will wake up,” Chu said, and pay the cost of rewiring.

Source: Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-warming_04feb04,0,5830664.story

BOBO Wrap Winner!

CONGRATULATIONS TO ARLENE FROM THE GREAT STATE OF WASHINGTON!   

What is a  BOBO Wrap you ask?  Well, hopefully you just watched the video above on some of the different ways you can use a BOBO.  A BOBO Wrap is the earth friendly art of wrapping with fabric.  These are perfect for wrapping those sexy gifts for Valentine’s Day… 

Eco-Luxe: A multi-purpose reusable accessory that is also ultra-stylish and luxurious.

User Friendly: If you can tie your shoes you can tie a wrapping scarf. In Asia, children traditionally use wrapping scarves to wrap their lunch for school.

More Convenient: No scissors, tape or other tools needed.

Multifunctioning: The wrapping scarf can wrap wine bottles, stacks of paper or a packed lunch, as easily as it can wrap gifts.

A Custom Fit: Unlike bags, the wrapping scarf adapts itself to the size and shape of the object being wrapped to create a custom fit.

Great for Small Motor Skills: Asians are famous for their dexterity with their hands. Many consider the wrapping scarf along with chopsticks to be key factors in helping develop small motor skills in children.

Sustainable: BOBO Wrapping Scarves are made in the USA in fully inspected facilities. Instead of using virgin materials to create new fabric, BOBOs are made from carefully selected fabrics that already exist in the world.