Free Home Energy Audits in DC
May 28, 2008
I wanted everyone to be aware of these free energy audits. Several states across the U.S. do them and I’ve heard a lot of success stories. You can’t go wrong with free…
greg
Free Home Energy Audits Available to DC Residents
Washington, DC – With air-conditioning season just around the corner and energy costs on the rise, the District Government is again offering free energy audits to single-family homeowners. The DC Department of the Environment’s Home Energy Rating System (HERS) program identifies a home’s energy deficiencies and provides homeowners with cost-effective, energy improvement recommendations.
“I hope our residents will take advantage of the free audits,” said George Hawkins, Director of the DC Department of the Environment. “We have found that many consumers don’t consider energy conservation because they’re not sure what to do. The HERS program will give homeowners new insight.”
The HERS Program will send a RESNET certified Auditor to evaluate a home’s existing energy condition, including walls, floors, ceilings, windows, doors, hot water heating, heating and cooling mechanical systems and other related aspects. Once the home audit is complete, a detailed HERS improvement analysis report is provided to the homeowner. Recommendations range from no-cost behavioral changes to major improvements to reduce energy loss in the home.
District residency and DC homeownership are the only program eligibility requirements. To schedule a free HERS audit, interested residents should call Willie Vazquez at 202.671.3304 or LaKeisha Estep at 202.673.6733.
To learn more about the HERS program, visit ddoe.dc.gov.
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
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….
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 Clean Energy Partnership
December 4, 2007
MOM’s is a founding member of The Clean Energy Partnership, and we just had one of our quarterly meetings last week in Bethesda.
For those of you that do not know what CEP is, it is a group of local businesses that care about the environment, and have decided to purchase wind power to offset their carbon footprint.
There are a varied group of members, from 94.7 The Globe to Congressional Bank, to American Plant Food to Blacks Bar and Grill. There are no membership dues, just the desire to lead the way environmentally.
Doug Duncan was there, the former Montgomery County Executive who is now the VP of Administrative Affairs at the University of Maryland. Representative Chris Van Hollen of Maryland was there, and spoke about some upcoming bills that need our support. Cerphe, a distinguished and well respected DJ on 94.7 was there with his wife, Susan. Both Cerphe and his wife have long been committed to the environment.
His wife, Susan, is the president of My Green Cottage which is a company specializing in building homes that look normal, but hiding within are energy efficient processes that save money while saving our planet.
The reason each member joins is because of a desire to help the world, but the not so obvious benefit is that we all help each other with referrals. By sending our clients to another CEP member, we can feel good by knowing that we are promoting responsible business and supporting other companies that share an interest in renewable energy.
If you belong to or own any business interested in becoming a partner of the CEP, please feel free to write me for any information at gregk@myorganicmarket.com
MOM’s on the Radio
November 14, 2007
I had the pleasure of going on air on Tuesday with Mike Tidwell, the host of Earthbeat.
The show airs locally on WPFW, and reaches twenty stations across the U.S.
Yesterday, the topic was Feast or Famine and it was about how Global Warming affects our food and vice versa, and the benefits of eating local.
If you would like to hear a copy of the show, or any of the archived shows, please visit http://www.earthbeatradio.org The actual mp3 is at http://www.earthbeatradio.org/media/111307.mp3
Also on the show with me was Bernadine Prince, who is the co-director of Freshfarm Markets. She is a very nice person, not to mention very knowledgeable and sincere in her efforts to better our food.
Lastly, I just want to thank Mike Tidwell as well as Aries Keck for inviting us on. For those of you that don’t know, Mike Tidwell is also the founder of the Chesapeake Climate Action Network.  Â
The Daily Compost has a new look!
