A new book by award-winning science writer and Daily Planet host Jay Ingram explores the efforts of everyday individuals — extreme and otherwise — to reduce their carbon footprint and work toward addressing the warming of the world.
>>Keep reading “Cool ideas”

By Sophie Demarco in Gower, South Wales.
Anyone can join in Like many others, I have the dream of living in a sustainable home made from completely natural materials. But there is the problem of my complete lack ofpractical building skills.

When I heard about the ‘Down to Earth Project’ open day offering free tasters workshops in natural building, I jumped.
>>Keep reading “Down to Earth”

21 more in Tulsa This transcript of a discussion between Tulsa highrise managers shows the way the nation is getting to grips with new eco-specifications for buildings.

About 65 percent of the total U.S. electricity consumption each year derives from commercial buildings, Angela West said in opening the Tulsa Roundtable on green construction trends.
>>Keep reading “24 towers from Tulsa”

Born to Eat Wild A foraging session at Red Oak Nature Center in Batavia is a chance to meet the local varieties of garlic-mustard plants as much as other locatarians. Holding the delicate branches with one hand, one member of the group glides her fingers along the seedpods and pushes a bunch of tiny black seeds into her bag, reports Time Out Chicago.

In the spring, the now long-gone leaves can be used to make a mean pesto, it points out. But later in the year, the ground-up seeds will add kick to salad dressings, mayonnaise, even curries.
>>Keep reading “Chicago Foragers”

Susbidies being cut everywhere Last month was bad news for the solar industry in the US.

For some years investment tax credits (ITCs) of 30% capped at $2,000 per home have incentivised households to take the jump to a more sustainable energy source, while businesses had an equivalent uncapped credit.

But with the scheme set to expire on 31 December, the Senate has blocked a renewal bill eight times.

The loss of these incentive payouts from the federal government could affect much more than the number of houses powered by the sun.
>>Keep reading “Sun goes down on solar subsidies”

Wilson family: nothing Green about him VANCOUVER, British Columbia - A Canadian MP who has been rejected by his own party, joined the country’s fledgling Green Party on Saturday.

Blair Wilson MP is apparently a total scumbag who represents one of the country’s mst marginal seats and this is almost certainly an own-goal by Green Party leader Elizabeth May.

“Today we make history,” said May. Yes, but for all the wrong reasons. Wilson has no record at all of support or even interest in green issues.
>>Keep reading “Disgraced Canadian MP joins Green Party”

Palin: snakelike advocate of Big Oil Sarah Palin, is a true enemy of the ecological movement. The current Governor of Alaska is also a sharp and dangerous adversary.

Below is an interview she gave on Fox TV in May this year, advocating oil and gas drilling in Alaska, and paying a little lip service to renewable energy on the side.

Trish Rolfe, who runs the Sierra Club’s Alaska office, thinks Governor Palin has been a disaster for Alaska’s environment. “The idea that she stands up to the oil companies is a joke,” she says.

>>Keep reading “John McCain’s hood ornament”

Affleck: Green baize evening We’ve got to admire Val Kilmer, Sean Penn, Ben Affleck, Matt Gonzalez and Spike Lee — they have all put their names and faces to an event in support of Green Party Prezzy candidate Ralph Nader in Denver today.

It would have been easier …
>>Keep reading “Green stars shine at DNC”

Record profits and record prices, duh? At the same time as wholesale Gas spot prices drop 50% within a month, British Gas has raised prices by 35% for 16 million British households.

The gas grid in Britain was built out in the 1970s as a result of the discovery of natural gas in the North Sea. Somehow it was not foreseen that one day the gas would run out and the country would become dependent on imports.

The head of British Gas, Phil Bentley speaking on Radio 4s World at One, had the colossal nerve to say that people would consume less as a result and that was a good thing. He said the firm would be working hard with its poorest customers to ensure their homes were energy efficient.
>>Keep reading “Use less, pay more”