Carbon Offsets get some attention from the House
January 28, 2008
There is a good article in The Washington Post today about how the House bought carbon offsets in their efforts to green the Capitol. I’ll let you read it and form your own opinions, but my personal belief is that it is better to try and fail, then to not try at all. Just like anything else in life, when you start an initiative, you are only going to learn over time how to improve the process.
Here is the link
Maryland and D.C. residents can now get Wind Power for their homes
January 23, 2008
As some of you know, MOM’s is a founding partner of the Clean Energy Partnership. Another of the founding members, Gary Skulnik, is the president of Clean Currents. Up until recently, the main emphasis was on helping businesses make the switch. Now, residents are able to purchase wind power for their homes as well.
For those of you aware of how the system works, this is not your normal REC (Renewable Energy Credit) purchase. It goes directly through your energy provider and currently anyone with Pepco in D.C., or Pepco or BGE in the Chesapeake region of Maryland is eligible.
It ends up being a line item on your energy bill, and does not cost that much more than your current bill does. In addition, you get to lock in a rate for one or two years, so if your current rates go up you will end up saving money over the long haul. A hidden benefit of going green.
You can check out the nuts and bolts here at Clean Currents.
Another cool blog to check out
January 22, 2008
Found another great source of information out there. It’s called Go For Change, and can be found at Goforchange.com
I’m a firm believer in supporting people who are trying to get information out, and these folks seem to be posting daily.
For those folks reading our MOM’s blog locally, Go For Change should be of special interest to you, as they are based out of Baltimore and feature many arenas of action.
greg
Wow, you know the world is coming to an end when..
January 14, 2008
The Sierra Club and Clorox have partnered up to promote Clorox’s new line of products AND…
 CHINA bans plastic bags..
 I don’t know how to feel on this one, except to say that I guess eventually everybody has to wake up to the fact that we have to change..
From Greenbiz.com
Clorox is announcing a partnership today with the Sierra Club, as part of its launch of a new line of environmentally friendly cleaning products, the company’s first new brand in 20 years. Sierra Club will help promote the cleaners, which are 99 percent derived from coconuts and lemon oil.
 The products are formulated to be biodegradable, non-allergenic, packaged in bottles that can be recycled and not tested on animals. The Green Works line includes five household cleaning products: an all-purpose cleaner, a glass cleaner, a toilet bowl cleaner, a dilutable cleaner, and a bathroom cleaner.
Also from Green Biz
China Bans Plastic Bags, Sets Tougher Fuel Standards
China banned the production of thin plastic bags Tuesday and outlawed their use in supermarkets and shops beginning June 1. Worries about pollution has also sparked the introduction of tougher fuel standards to improve air quality before the Olympics.
MOM’S featured on new site featuring Green Businesses
January 11, 2008
The MOM’s store in Columbia was selected by GenGreen as it’s site for the month. I went over and checked out the website, and it looks pretty cool so far. It’s still in beta development, but they are launching a new state each month I believe. They already have Virginia and Maryland, so that should be of special interest to folks in this area.
Check it out, dig in a little further, and let me know what you think..
Have a great weekend everyone..
Art that I actually like…
January 9, 2008
Don’t get me wrong. I appreciate all art for what it is. It’s an expression of the individual which shouts “Hey, this is me. This is what I see and feel.”
I like all kinds of art, including music, poetry, paintings, movies, dance, sculpture and pretty much everything else.
Just like some movies speak to me, and some music takes me to a higher place, sometimes other art does as well.
The work of Chris Jordan is one of those. It was sent to me by Scott, who in turn was sent it by Will, and I thought I would pass it on. As Will put it, it is a startling ER Motivator, and I couldn’t agree more.
http://www.chrisjordan.com/current_set2.php?id=7
Check it out, and let me know what you think..
greg
Green Home Open House Jan 19th
January 7, 2008
Saturday, January 19th, 1-5pm in Takoma Park, Md.
Come see solar panels! View electric, biodiesel, and hybrid cars firsthand! Eat solar-baked cookies! Learn how to landscape your yard with native plants! Buy wind power certificates and energy-saving light bulbs! Test drive a tofu-powered lawn mower! And more!
Rest of the information is listed under first comment….
Ozzy Ozbourne Rocks the Verizon Center
January 6, 2008
So, I went to see Ozzy tonight. It was a great time, and I had not seen him since 1984. Started out a metal head, and somewhere along the line turned into a Dead Head. I remember going to see the Dead and thinking I was in store for a metal show. With a name like The Grateful Dead, it had to be metal, right?
Anyway, I’m looking at all of the trash cans overflowing with plastic bottles, and just wondering how hard it would be for the Verizon Center, and any other center for that matter to put recycling bins in for all the plastic beer bottles. Maybe even charge a quarter extra or something, and give it back when you return the bottle. Got to be a way to figure it out somehow.
Collect all the bottles, and arrange for a pick up after each major event. How hard could it be? Mr. Pollin? Mr. Leonsis? Any thoughts?
greg
Earthrace- Speedboat powered on Bio-Diesel tries for World Record
January 4, 2008
This is a very cool story that Brett, our ER guru in Columbia sent my way. There is a lot of information on the website, but I’ve listed some of the highlights below, including the fact that some human fat has gone to create the bio-diesel.
About Earthrace             
Earthrace has been built to break the official UMI ‘Round the World Speed Record by a powerboat. By running on exclusively 100% Biodiesel fuel, and with a net zero carbon footprint, this not-for-profit project aims to promote awareness of the environment and the sustainable use of resources.
What can you make biodiesel from?
One of the great advantages of biodiesel is that it can be made from so many different products. In the future, countries will simply use the feed-stocks most suited to their environment. The most common forms of feed stocks used now are canola (Europe) and soya bean (USA), but there are over 350 other crops that can also be used. These include coconut, palm oil, mustard seed, sunflower and jatropha (which is becoming more widely farmed as it grows in areas where it is difficult to grow anything else). But you can also make biodiesel from tallow (animal fats), fish oil, seaweed and algae. In fact, in an extraordinary show of dedication to the project, the skipper, Pete Bethune, underwent liposuction, and the fat (all 100ml) was used to make a small amount of Biodiesel for Earthrace!You can check it out at http://www.earthrace.net
greg
The Daily Compost has a new look!
