Monday, August 25, 2008 Soaring Gas prices bring us long-term cures! POST A COMMENT Look around, notice anything different? -- I sure do. 'People are changing how they go about their daily lives; the Highway Administration says: Americans drove 12 billion less miles in June '08 than last June -- the biggest monthly drop in eight months. An even bigger decline than what we saw in the oil-shock of the 1970s. 'Bus and train usage is up. More people are looking for ways to conserve energy. 'News today shows gas prices have temporally dropped 15 cents a gallon in the past two weeks; but, isn't the better news, at least from where I sit, that sense-of-crisis has forced people to change their behavior. 'Back in the 70's the country made promises to increase gas efficiency, reduce our dependency on foreign oil, and find alternative forms of energy...'sound familiar? 'None of that happened. Today, we get-a-do-over: 'There's every reason to continue to chase alternatives. 'Right now, our oil-dependent economy is shaped by oil's arbitrarily determined price. It's become like a fake-currency. And we're slaves to that black gold standard -- (with most of those profits shipping off to foreign soil). Obviously, we can't over simplify all the issues. "The soaring cost of energy is causing plenty of pain for Americans, especially at a time when they're being hammered by declining house values and rising food prices. The pain isn't about to ease, either - 'We haven't yet seen the cost of heating,' warns Business Week. 'Expensive energy is a powerful medicine. It may hurt when taken, but it brings long-term cures for a host of ills. Focus on what High energy prices is bringing us: (1) Military-funded researchers have made jet fuel from plants. (2) Toyota and General Motors are testing plug-in hybrid cars that can run 40 miles on electricity alone. (3) Companies are building vast expanses of mirrors in the desert to make steam, and thus electricity, from the sun. (4) There are new systems to control power consumption by homes and businesses from afar and programs to insulate inner-city houses, providing energy savings—and jobs. (5) All this cuts pollution and slash carbon dioxide emissions, which cause global warming. They reduce the need for a military presence to ensure global commerce in oil. (6) And they slow the flood of dollars to the Middle East, Russia, and Venezuela, keeping more wealth in the U.S. instead of handing it over to often unfriendly suppliers. Source: Business Week Labels: Business-101, capitalism, cars, economy, Elections, emissions, Energy-101, environment, fuel economy, Go-green, green living, mudprint.com, Oil Prices, smaller carbon footprint, Solar Power, Tech posted by Henry Cruz at 3:17 AM Friday, August 22, 2008 The world keeps getting...Greener POST A COMMENT Some trends are just good all around. Like if everybody decided to end extreme poverty, what would be the down side? So, because I'm starting to tip-toe towards a lighter carbon footprint, I've decided to pass along a few tips that came accross my desk. Here are a few 411-links to get ya thumbs-greener: - Want to Be a Green Mommy? - There's Oil in that cartridge! - Jay Leno's smart car advice - Millions of Gallons of Bio Diesel from Algae? - Big Apple gets a windfarm? - Eco-Swapping: hand-me-down Parties? - Hydrogen Power...from Water? - Eco-Clubs powered by Sweat equity ** (Note, these are from my sister eco site, Muprint.com, but ya'll can add your own Green friendly links by leaving me a comment - no spam, just helpful info please). Labels: Business-101, Energy-101, fuel economy, green living, Media Trends, mudprint.com, Well-Balanced Life posted by Henry Cruz at 11:12 AM Tuesday, August 19, 2008 Should we Shame-out-the-Garbage? POST A COMMENT 'Some guilt is good for you. Like the Ten Commandments, engraved on stone tablets, passed along to Moses to offer to his flock of 'guilt-filled-hearts... 'reminding them each day of the divine law, and their 'sustainable-eco-duties: (1)'Thou shalt not waste, when you should recycle (2)'Thou shalt not use Styrofoam, because it'll never disintegrate... (3) 'Thou shalt be mindful about your daily impact on the environment. (4) 'Thou shalt religiously separate your cans, bottles and newspapers in those blue recycling bins 'So these will be the commandments of the green crusaders -- (a kick ass costume is optional -- because after all, being green should still be fun). If the Batman taught us anything with his fancy moves; 'Fear is a strong motivator. It's even spilling into the workforce, also looking for more of that street cred in environmental responsibility, adapting -- "Less packaging. More beautiful" -- green mantra... Not only makes for smart $$ business, it's yet another way to outdo the competition by saying you're much more green and ethical to our planet. 'Showing up other companies, by showing your company's blood runs extra green. One quick fix, suggested in Business Week, that'll give your workplace an instant membership in that in "go green" crowd: Throw down tiny wastebaskets for non recyclable trash; making workers empty them into a central dumpster...'makes them think twice before tossing out trash. "At California’s Sonoma State University, recycling rose by 55%...'as people put cans and bottles in their proper place instead of in newly installed five-inch-tall bins." How 'bout adding a special sign: 'Would Jesus Christ Refuse To Recycle? - 'I smell an Ad Campaign (that could replace those I honk for Jesus bumper stickers). Check out this video showing that shame strategy at work (in a green hotel): Source: Business Week Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, brain-power, Business-101, economy, Energy-101, environment, Go-green, green living, mudprint.com, Trash, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 1:15 PM Wednesday, August 13, 2008 Making sure that job is...Green? POST A COMMENT College students ain't interested in just "Working for the man" -- unless they get a touch of green -- and by green, I don't mean just cash: "Young people are thumbing their noses at companies that don't offer green-collar jobs," This according to a survey by the career network Experience. 'Sorta become the "in" thing for Students -- (and recent grads) -- to make more environmentally-conscious decisions when it comes to their career choices: In that nationwide poll: "Four in five (81%) said it is important to work for a green company and nearly as many (79%) said they would be more likely to accept a job offer at an eco-conscious company over a company that wasn't, when evaluating two similar offers." Since not everybody can wake-up an all-out expert on topics like sustainable technologies... 'Schools are adapting this eco-trend and offering a crop of courses -- "that help you safeguard the planet while boosting your skills." Ultimately, one-hand-washes-the-other fits perfectly for that green economy to stick...'Hitting the workplace from all angles: When a company has to appeal to both consumers and future employees...it then makes fiscal sense. Source: Time Out Labels: An Inconvenient Truth, Business-101, College Students, Energy-101, environment, Go-green, green living, News Trends, recycling, smaller carbon footprint, Waste management posted by Henry Cruz at 12:55 PM Sunday, August 03, 2008 Energy-101: Here Comes the Sun! POST A COMMENT Storing solar-energy inside batteries right now is way too costly to be used in everyday usage. But, a new breakthrough is about to change all that... Basically, scientists have now figured out a Cheaper way of storing electricity from the sun-rays...'and as one expert offered, this means "you've answered everything." "The breakthrough uses a relatively simple way to use electricity to produce oxygen and hydrogen from water...When the two gases later are recombined in a fuel cell they cause a chemical reaction that spins off electrons that are forced through a circuit, reproducing the electricity." "The discovery shatters the biggest barrier to widespread use of solar power, namely that it's unavailable after dark, said Daniel Nocera, an MIT energy professor. Similar to the way plants store energy from the sun -- "The process uses nontoxic natural materials to convert sunlight into gases..." Researchers also say this could make solar power "in homes a mainstream energy option and might even make power companies obsolete, at least for residential needs." "This is the nirvana of what we've been talking about for years," Nocera told the MIT News Service. "Solar power has always been a limited, far-off solution. Now we can seriously think about solar power as unlimited and soon." "This is a major discovery with enormous implications for the future," offered another MIT expert. ''It opens up the door for developing new technologies for energy production." Ultimately, this breakthrough would aid us in getting off of our dependence of Foreign Oil. So...I'm sure we'll all be watching this story carefully. Here's a great primer video --(with MIT's Nocera) -- offering a break down of how this actually works: Source: ABC News Labels: Business-101, economy, Education, emissions, Energy-101, environment, fuel economy, hybrid, ideas, MIT Research, News Trends, Oil Prices, science 101, smaller carbon footprint, Solar Power, Trends posted by Henry Cruz at 4:30 PM     ARCHIVES October 2005 . November 2005 . December 2005 . August 2007 . September 2007 . October 2007 . November 2007 . December 2007 . March 2008 . April 2008 . May 2008 . June 2008 . July 2008 . August 2008 . September 2008 .