Environmental

Recyclable Preserve Toothbrushes

2011-11-09T14:55:00.005-05:00

I've been hooked on these Preserve toothbrushes! The package is self-addressed and stamped. Just plop in your old brush, mail it off, and BAM.

I love this!

2011-10-04T17:42:00.001-05:00

http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/90gopu/www.metacafe.com/watch/788955/hydrogen_combustion/

BOTTLES UP! Fiji’s First Recycled Plastic Bottle Boat Read more: Fiji's First Plastic Bottle Boat To Inspire Others to Reuse | Inhabitat - Green De

2010-11-20T18:44:00.000-05:00

2010-11-17T17:57:00.001-05:00

NYC roof gardens are the bomb diggidy!

Stop!

2010-11-05T17:51:00.001-05:00

Don't throw that away. See if you can donate, recycle, reuse it!

Nature. Oh nature. Keep doing what you do. Cause you do it so well.

2009-07-15T12:16:00.000-05:00

McDonald’s Tries to Go Green with EV Charging Stations!

2009-07-07T20:48:00.000-05:00

Virtually Waterless Washing Machine Cuts Water Use by 90%

2009-07-01T19:10:00.000-05:00

Solar Impulse Unveiled: Sun-Powered Airplane to Circle the Globe

2009-06-30T19:16:00.001-05:00

2009-06-25T12:30:00.000-05:00

2009 EcoCAR Competition

2009-06-24T01:50:00.001-05:00

MR. W

2009-06-23T18:44:00.001-05:00

Tent Leeches Solar Power While Campers Leech Your Wi-Fi

2009-06-23T18:30:00.002-05:00

Shared by Steve G.

Eco-ABC's

2009-06-23T17:59:00.000-05:00

Gotham Greens Building First Hydroponic Rooftop Farm in NYC

2009-06-17T19:03:00.001-05:00

New York City imports $1 billion in vegetables every year to feed the city's constantly growing population. In the future, the majority of the city's produce might be grown a little closer to home if Gotham Greens gets its way.The start-up, which recently won the grand prize in New York's Green Business Competition, is building NYC's first hydroponic rooftop farm on top of a church in Jamaica, Queens.

Gotham Greens' $1.4 million, 12,000-square-foot hydroponic rooftop farm will produce 30 tons of fruits and vegetables every year using a water-based, soil-free method of farming. The farm will be powered by 2,000 square feet of solar panels located on a neighboring roof, and the operation will use rainwater gathered from a giant sistern. Gotham Greens plans on delivering its produce in a biodiesel van, cutting out middle men who often charge farmers a 10% to 15% markup.

Construction of the Gotham Greens farm will begin in the fall, with the first harvest expected early next year. The start-up's first customer is Whole Foods--70% of the farm's produce will go to its New York stores--but Gotham Greens also hopes to deliver produce to farmer's markets around the city.

New York Sun Works estimates that hydroponic farms installed in NYC's 14,000 acres of unshaded rooftops could feed up to 20 million people in the city and surrounding suburbs, so don't be surprised if a Gotham Greens garden pops up on a rooftop near you.

Shared by Hunter

I love our planet!

2009-06-16T22:54:00.004-05:00

Nokia Working On Infinite Cellphone Battery

2009-06-11T20:46:00.001-05:00

MY BAR

2009-06-10T17:44:00.003-05:00

Soon I will open a not-for-profit environmental bar. Power will be supplied by kinetic energy via the dance floor, solar panels, horizontally mounted wind turbines, and rain water.

A jukebox, free pool table, darts, skeet ball, and game area will be in the front, with a dance floor in the back. Game and trivia nights will be a staple. Once in a while an Astrophysicist will show up to lecture on the universe.

Alcohol: Beer and wine only. Lots of Magic Hat and Belgian beer on tap.

Music: Radiohead, Bowie, TLC, Janet Jackson, MGMT, LCD Soundsystem, Burial, Hot Chip, The Stones, Neil Young, Daft Punk, Tinariwen, Animal Collective, Erlend Oye, Lemon Jelly, The Who, R.E.M., Queen, Ween, Mexican Institute of Sound, Modest Mouse, Tom Petty, Prince, 2pac, Placebo, Mariah Carey, The Pixies, The Ramones, Bob Dylan, and much much more! NO house and NO Gun's n' Roses.

Crowd: Anyone who supports social equality, green projects, progressive thinkers, intellectuals, and sci-fi nerds.

All profits will go to select causes like; building more parks, planting trees, helping those in the U.S. and abroad (food/water), education, smart developing, and much more.

WWF Bankrupt Companies Commercial

2009-05-26T13:08:00.001-05:00

Taiwan’s Solar Stadium is 100% Powered by the Sun

2009-05-20T22:14:00.000-05:00

2009-04-28T14:43:00.001-05:00

Baby You Can Drive My Electric Car!

2009-03-26T23:37:00.000-05:00

http://www.boingboing.net/2009/03/19/interview-with-elect.html

The Depression And The Environment

2009-03-10T19:22:00.003-05:00

This is a great article from the 'Daily Dish'

As we watch China's economy crumble, and the developing world seize up, greenhouse gas targets may become more reachable:

In India, enough small steel-rolling mills around Delhi have closed that levels of sulfur dioxide (which forms acid rain) fell 85 percent in October 2008 compared with a year earlier. The recession is bringing a green dividend in the developed world, too. Reduced economic activity is projected to cut Europe's emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief man-made greenhouse gas, by 100 million tons in 2009, and the United States' by about the same amount.

Don't you wonder, as this massive global event gathers pace, if there isn't something inherently healthy about some of this retraction?

I don't mean to discount the real human suffering involved, the poverty that will come back, the jobs destroyed, or the lives interrupted. I just mean that the capitalist machine we had built, when harnessed to the entire world since the early 1990s, had begun to overtake itself. The immense complexities of international finance have been shown to be terrible weaknesses as well as strengths, and the entire planet becoming America was clearly pushing the climate past the point of no return. Our values had become distorted, and the almost addict-like demand for the spigots to stay open suggests they are distorted still.

From a longer term perspective, this sudden collapse in momentum may look like a global attempt to digest change so rapid and bewildering it needs to be ratcheted back to a level where it does not overwhelm our capacity to control it. Or maybe I'm just looking too eagerly for a silver - and green - lining.

(Photo: Peter McDiarmid/Getty.)

(Thanks Steve for Sharing)

The EPA wants you...

2009-03-08T21:34:00.003-05:00

to leave a comment.

Please follow the provided link and let the Environmental Protection Agency know that you want to grant California the permission to set tougher pollution standards on all vehicles entering the golden state.

Here's the big idea:

Currently, pollution from autos accounts for about 20% of CO2 emissions in the country. With the EPA's permission, California will have the authority to reduce its overall emissions and help pave the way for other states to implement similar policies. Plus, this action will put even more pressure on the auto industry to develop more environmentally fit vehicles.

http://www.RepowerAmerica.org/epawaiver

RepowerAmerica.org

And now an update from your CA green news team

2009-03-04T23:13:00.003-05:00

Huge Solar Facility Planned For California Desert

California Edison and solar startup BrightSource Energy announced a deal to build a solar-thermal plant that would generate 1,300 megawatts of power, slightly more than a modern nuclear plant, in the Mojave Desert. BrightSource CEO John Woolard discusses the project.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101242458

Cargo Hauling At Calif. Ports Will Go Greener

The neighoring Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach have some of the dirtiest air in a region that helped make smog famous. This week, a new all-electric, nonpolluting cargo hauler goes into service that may help make the nation's busiest freight center a little greener.

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=101177695

What is Clean Coal Technology?

2009-02-26T17:24:00.004-05:00

This 30 second commercial spot promotes 'Clean Coal Technology'

And these 2 are from the thisisreality.org

Don't be a hamster spinning an endless unfulfilling purchasing wheel

2009-02-24T11:44:00.018-05:00

Okay...What I'm about to say should not shock anyone...(at least I hope not). WE, yes WE Americans consume way too much. Our voracious appetite for the latest product and quick disposal of that now not so new product, is a mammoth sized problem. Alright, I get it. There is that tiny insignificant ever present issue of commercial inundation. It's just so hard to pass up a new 'breathe your song request' ipod (patent that). Come on guys! We're more intelligent and can see through the BS. Of course there's also our own governments contradicting economic advise. Save more... NO! Spend more! Help stimulate the economy. If we keep spending and adding cash to our current economic problem, we're only setting ourselves up for a much harder and longer recession later, and we're encouraging the unnecessary purchase of unneeded products.

Let's stop gadget stuffing our obese faces and start making a steady change. Try to Borrow books, pick up less fliers on the street, buy used, and stop throwing away reusables (craigslist them). We can do this!

Watch these teaser videos then watch the full video posted via link on the bottom of the page OR better yet, watch the full video first. It's about 20 min long and worth every second.

Teaser video 1:

Teaser video 2:

Teaser video 3:

Maybe I do have an excuse for my lack of style and homemade Christmas/birthday gifts.

Thank you Hunter for sharing this.
http://www.storyofstuff.com

Hamburgers are the Hummers of food in global warming

2009-02-17T15:12:00.004-05:00

I don't want you to stop eating beef, just be more aware. Plus our bodies don't need that much meat in the ol' system. It's not healthy.

When it comes to global warming, hamburgers are the Hummers of food, scientists say.

Simply switching from steak to salad could cut as much carbon as leaving the car at home a couple days a week.

That's because beef is such an incredibly inefficient food to produce and cows release so much harmful methane into the atmosphere, said Nathan Pelletier of Dalhousie University in Canada.

Pelletier is one of a growing number of scientists studying the environmental costs of food from field to plate.

By looking at everything from how much grain a cow eats before it is ready for slaughter to the emissions released by manure, they are getting a clearer idea of the true costs of food.

The livestock sector is estimated to account for 18 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions and beef is the biggest culprit.

Even though beef only accounts for 30 percent of meat consumption in the developed world it's responsible for 78 percent of the emissions, Pelletier said Sunday at a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science.

That's because a single kilogram of beef produces 16 kilograms carbon dioxide equivalent emissions: four times higher than pork and more than ten times as much as a kilogram of poultry, Pelletier said.

If people were to simply switch from beef to chicken, emissions would be cut by 70 percent, Pelletier said.

Another part of the problem is people are eating far more meat than they need to.

"Meat once was a luxury in our diet," Pelletier said. "We used to eat it once a week. Now we eat it every day."

If meat consumption in the developed world was cut from the current level of about 90 kilograms a year to the recommended level of 53 kilograms a year, livestock related emissions would fall by 44 percent.

"Given the projected doubling of (global) meat production by 2050, we're going to have to cut our emissions by half just to maintain current levels," Pelletier said.

"Technical improvements are not going to get us there."

That's why changing the kinds of food people eat is so important, said Chris Weber, a professor of civil and environmental engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pennsylvania.

Food is the third largest contributor to the average US household's carbon footprint after driving and utilities, and in Europe - where people drive less and have smaller homes - it has an even greater impact.

"Food is of particular importance to a consumer's impact because it's a daily choice that is, at least in theory, easy to change," Weber said.

"You make your choice every day about what to eat, but once you have a house and a car you're locked into that for a while."

The average US household contributes about five tons of carbon dioxide a year by driving and about 3.5 tons of equivalent emissions with what they eat, he said.

"Switching to no red meat and no dairy products is the equivalent of (cutting out) 8,100 miles driven in a car ... that gets 25 miles to the gallon," Weber said in an interview following the symposium.

Buying local meat and produce will not have nearly the same effect, he cautioned.

That's because only five percent of the emissions related to food come from transporting food to market.

"You can have a much bigger impact by shifting just one day a week from meat and dairy to anything else than going local every day of the year," Weber said.

For more information on how to eat a low carbon diet, visit www.eatlowcarbon.org.
http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=CNG.e36a67d49c1127a8c17cc38ed4a4c27e.211&show_article=1

Thank you Mary Johnson

walk

2008-12-08T15:44:00.001-05:00

Don't burn electricity burn calories. Take the stairs.

I love this idea!

2008-10-20T22:41:00.005-05:00

According to the World Health Organization, approximately 4,500 children die every day due to a lack of clean water. In sub-Saharan Africa UNESCO reports that it’s women and girls who bear the brunt of the water crisis as they cannot go to school or earn extra income because they must travel up to six miles every day just to get enough water for their families to survive.

Nam’s Human Pump is essentially a 12-meter-wide boardwalk designed to be placed in areas of heavy foot traffic, such as the main route to a school or market. Though the details are few, presumably kinetic energy from walking and playing would be absorbed throughout the day and stored, either mechanically or electrically. At some point later in the day the structure would have enough stored energy to pump water to the surface and trigger the transformation from boardwalk to waterfall/play area.

It’s an elegant application of kinetic energy harvesting as seen here on Inhabitat in everything from mobile phone chargers and dance floors, to cameras and lamps. Detractors may cite the projected figures: “1 step -> pumping -> 1 liter water”, and “50 visitors/day = 5000 steps = 50000 liters water”, not to mention the fact that in Nam’s drawings, precious, life-saving water seems to be spilling into the desert unimpeded. However, similar kinetic energy prototypes such as MIT’s Crowd Farm demonstrate that the technology is certainly feasible.

As part of the Urban Re:Vision series of competitions, the ‘Human Pump’ project will be a part of the collaboration between Re:Vision and the city of Dallas to construct an entire city block in a completely sustainable way. According to Suzanne Hackett, “Re:construct, is the fifth of six competitions to collect and generate ideas around building with sustainable and reusable materials, and in more innovative and meaningful ways.” We’re looking forward to hearing more in the upcoming months.

http://www.inhabitat.com/2008/10/20/the-human-pump-by-gunwook-nam/

Union Square Sept 27th 12am-2am

2008-09-25T18:00:00.002-05:00

What's so important about Greensburg, KA?

2007-06-04T14:10:00.000-05:00

On May 4th the town of Greensburg, KA was hit hard by a massive wind twister, which shredded and toppled much of its infrastructure. Political water cooler conversations circle around an environmentally sound green future for the small town. Governor Kathleen Sebelius announced a plan that will update the destroyed city using the most advanced green materials available. She states, "Why go back to 1950 standards when you could rebuild to 21st century standards?"

The plan would call for many archaic materials like fiberglass insulation to be replaced with new alternatives such as recycled denim scraps. Fiberglass insulation is energy-intensive to make, and a huge health hazard. The denim insulation has no adverse health effects, and can be installed using bare hands. The price tag is about 20 percent more, but may be less when you factor in production proximity. (Side note: Recycled clothes are being used more and more for insulation purposes. Yet another reason why you shouldn't throw away last years unwanted garments.)

Greensburg is essentially a blank canvas. If successful, rebuilding from the ground up using green alternatives could really help shape the way developers start planning for the future.

Let's just hope storm shelters are on the green blue prints as well.

The Human Species Survival Guide

2007-04-05T12:45:00.001-05:00

TIME, who is partnered with CNN, has released 51 ways in which we can help save the environment. I will be paraphrasing on only 15 of these ideas, so if you would like the full skinny then click on the link provided below.

1. CHANGE YOUR LIGHTBULBS: The compact fluorescent lightbulb (CFL). Look for the swirl which cost more but lasts much longer. And as a NY renter I suggest keeping them when you move to a new location.

2. LIGHT UP YOUR CITY: Ask your city to illuminate public spaces with LEDs, or light-emitting diodes. They use 40% less energy.

3. HANG UP A CLOTHES LINE: Uses less energy than conventional dryers. I suggest a major improvement on washing/drying machines. Let's not go backwards here.

4. GIVE NEW LIFE TO YOUR OLD FLEECE: Certain companies like Patagonia are collecting used clothing regardless of label and reusing them. My suggestion, don't throw away clothes. Use donation drop boxes.

5. TURN UP THE GEOTHERMAL HEAT: Diane Von Furstenberg, a company in which I worked for in the meatpacking industry is using ground water to cool and heat her building.

6. TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT VINTAGE CLOTHES: Buy used clothes. Except try to find non-ripoff places. For some non-comprehensible reason, Vintage clothing store owners try to sell used clothes for ridiculous prices.

7. RIDE THE BUS

8. PAY YOUR BILLS ONLINE: Simple, this eliminates paper waste and truck delivery.

9. COZY UP TO YOUR WATER HEATER: Insulate the heater with a water heater blanket.

10. SKIP STEAK: Don't eat as much beef. Sure enjoy one every once in a while, but seriously people, our bodies don't need that much meat. Plus the beef industry produces 18% of the greenhouse gases.

11. COPY CALIFORNIA: CA is the top state at taking initiatives to change it's environmental effects. Write to your state members and ask to copy California.

12. SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL FARMER: Buying local saves on gas caused by long transportation treks.

13. PLANT A BAMBOO FENCE: I like this one. Bamboo looks cool, it grows fast, and it consumes a lot of Co2.

14. SHUT OF YOUR COMPUTER: Your computer uses a lot of energy. Turn it off after use.

15. DRIVE GREEN ON THE SCENIC ROAD: Support alternative vehicles.

Check out all 51 ideas at http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/environment/

Hello Future and Hello Mr. Lloyd

2007-03-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

Yes!
Two double fists pumping the air several times.

No I'm not listening to the Ramones.
I'm reading Popular Science.

This months issue tackles that oh... little concern we call, "what to do with all that excess garbage?"

Joseph Longo, or as some are calling the Prophet of Garbage, has created a freaking cool machine that eats garbage heats it up and spits out usable by-products such as glass and hydrogen/carbon. Which can be used for tiles and the hydrogen/carbon mixture as fuel.

The machine details and specific aspects of its performance are all in the link that I have provided at the bottom of this page. I will tell you though that it runs off of an electrical current that spits out 3 times the heat of the sun at its peak. The plasma converter can consume almost any type of garbage, except for nuclear waste which is virtually indestructible. The machine takes up the space of about 2 full size garages and can power itself by the usable energy that it omits. Landfills will become obsolete in our lifetime. Ha, take that you trash pile (imaginary kick to the trashes groin).

As you can see I'm very excited about this machine. Mainly because it has been tested for a decade and has proven as a reliable method. Of course I will miss the annual trips to the dump with my mom, and the smell memories that those wonderful sites provided shall live in my brain forever.

Thank you Prophet G. for guiding us out of Egypt. I shall heed all your words of wisdom.

http://www.popsci.com/popsci/science/873aae7bf86c0110vgnvcm1000004eecbccdrcrd.html

This will only take a minute of your time

2007-03-17T00:24:00.000-05:00

Al Gore

On MARCH 21ST, I will testify before Congress on the immediate action that needs to be taken to end the climate crisis. Help me fill the committee room with 350,000 messages.

Can you commit to finding 10 friends to send a message to Congress demanding they take action?

Ask them to visit:

http://algore.com/cards.html

Dear Lindsay,

On March 21st, I will testify before Congress on the immediate action that needs to be taken to end the climate crisis. At the hearing, I will deliver the 294,374 messages you signed, demonstrating that hundreds of thousands of people share my sense of urgency.

If an additional 55,626 people sign our message, it will be as though 350,000 of us are there at the hearing expressing our determination to convince Congress to act. Having served in the House and Senate, I can tell you that members of these committees would find this to be a meaningful and impressive show of support.

There are only 5 days left before the hearings begin, so please do not pass up this opportunity to join in showing the broad public support we need in order to solve the climate crisis. I know you have friends or family who care deeply about this issue but have yet to sign our message to Congress.

Ask them to help fill that committee room with 350,000 messages by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

The reason Congress has so far failed to act is not because there are no solutions to the problem. Nor is it because the majority doesn't believe that the climate crisis is real. They have failed to act, because they have not yet faced a sufficient expression of political will on the part of the American people demanding they confront our climate crisis head on. You and I know that political will is a renewable resource, and enough already exists to start solving this crisis. We just have to communicate that forcefully to the political leaders of our country.

In the last two weeks alone 101,673 people visited AlGore.com and signed our message to Congress. This is an incredible demonstration of the energy behind this issue.

In my testimony, of course, I will speak about the scientific evidence for global warming - just reiterated six weeks ago by the world's scientists in the latest report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. But frankly, the debate on the science has long been over - except for a diminishing number of skeptics and deniers.

At this point, it is far more important to deliver your message about the urgency with which this crisis must be faced. Political leaders need to know that you intend to reward those who do the right thing and that you will work to replace those who do not.

That's why it's vital we fill up the hearing room with 350,000 messages.

Please ask your friends to sign our message to Congress today by visiting:

http://www.algore.com/cards.html

Together we are building a movement that has the potential to translate your strong feelings into effective change for our country. And we all know that when the United States changes - and offers leadership - the entire world will follow.

Thank you,
Al Gore

Al Gore

(Thanks Lindsay)

Watch the video link; Should we recycle?

2007-01-08T23:13:00.000-05:00

Check this out.

Penn & Teller, on their show BULLSHIT, ran an investigative report on the recycle, reduce, reuse motto. Does it really benefit our environment?

You be the judge.

I personally thought the guys were broad-based in their investigation and on delivering the material. They continually force-fed the cost issue, while ignoring other issues like diminishing raw materials.

They also ran an earlier episode on how global warming wasn't actually occurring. Yikes, sound like they just wanted to create a stir and draw in ratings. That's no good. Nonetheless, they are well-spoken, intelligent, and have some compelling arguments that are worth viewing.

Recycling is a Grigri: Just Plain Bullshit

RECYCLING BULLSHIT VIDEO LINK

The Volt

2007-01-07T15:55:00.000-05:00

I promise a new original blog is coming soon, one that isn't a copy and paste. I just had to share this article since it's about a company whom I had lost all faith in.

General Motors and the DeBacker name go way back. My great grandfather started the tradition with his first GM product, and the bulky vehicles stayed in the tree for quite some time after that. I owned one of the biggest gas-guzzlers in Santa Maria (which was hard to do), a 1988 full sized extra cab truck, with a long bed. Luckily due to a fallen drive shaft, I was forced to switch to a smaller newer version of the same truck. It wasn't until I moved to LA that I realized what a dirty smog trixy I was. Thus I ditched the tail pipe and opted for pedals. I haven't looked back since. I also live in NY now and have no need for a vehicle of any sorts. Let me tell you, life got a lot less stressful with the move. Sure it's hard some times to get into my book when a man dressed as a clown is performing magic tricks on the subway, but I manage. Fortunately for Chevy, a recent article from CNN has blow torched a link in a self-cut chain. I won't be buying one anytime soon, but if I get offered a great job in a city with poor public transportation then I will choose the mentioned vehicle.

GM shows Chevy plug-in concept

Volt runs on electricity, uses gas engine as back-up generator.

POSTED: 9:34 a.m. EST, January 7, 2007

DETROIT (CNNMoney.com) -- General Motors will unveil a plug-in hybrid vehicle Sunday that, the company says, offers a preview of a high-mileage vehicle platform that GM could use in future vehicles.

The Chevrolet Volt, which is driven by electricity alone, uses a small three-cylinder gasoline engine only to recharge its batteries. The batteries can also be charged by plugging into an ordinary electrical outlet.

Starting with a full charge, the car could theoretically operate for about 40 miles at suburban street speeds without needing to burn any gasoline at all.
It would take about 6.5 hours to fully charge the Volt's batteries from an outlet. The vehicle could, however, be driven without a full charge but would need to rely on its gasoline engine sooner.

Unlike other hybrid cars, such as the Toyota Prius, the Volt's gasoline engine would never power the car's wheels. Instead, it would recharge the car's batteries if needed while the car would continue to run on electric power alone.
The Volt's electric motor can produce up to 121 kilowatts, the equivalent of about 161 horsepower. It can produce 320 newton-meters, or about 236 foot-pounds, of torque. Electric motors offer more torque - the pulling power a car uses to accelerate - relative to their kilowatt or horsepower output than gasoline engines do.

Building an affordable car using the technology will require advances in battery technology, the company said. Batteries powerful enough to allow the kind of highway speed and power drivers are accustomed to also tend to produce a lot of excess heat. Battery companies are researching ways to produce batteries last longer and don't run hot while still being able to store and release ample power.

Hybrid history

Until recently, only Toyota, Honda and Ford sold gas/electric hybrid vehicles in the U.S. Nissan will begin offering a hybrid version of its Altima sedan, which will rely on Toyota's hybrid technology, later this year. (CKCK)

General Motors Saturn Vue Green Line SUV, which has a "mild hybrid" system. That means the Vue cannot drive, even at low speeds, on electric power alone. The advantage of the system, according to GM, is its low cost compared to more robust hybrid systems.

GM will begin selling vehicles with a more advanced "two-mode" hybrid system later this year. That system will be available initially in the company's large SUVs. It is housed entirely within the vehicle's transmission tunnel and is engineered to provide optimal performance in both low-speed, stop-and-go driving and highway driving. Most hybrid systems provide the most benefit in stop-and-go driving but not help much in high-speed cruising.

Electric cars

At the Los Angleles Auto Show in November, General Motors outlined a strategy to prepare for the future "electrification" of the car.
GM's reputation had suffered because of the company's reliance on large SUVs for profitability. A recent documentary film, "Who Killed the Electric Car?" focused on GM's role in ending California's experiment in the 1990s with promoting all-electric cars.

GM and other companies, including Toyota, produced electric cars that were sold in California at that time. All those companies dropped plans to make and market the vehicles once California changed rules requiring them.
Plug-in hybrids are seen as a more viable alternative to all-electric vehicles because they do not need to stop and recharge when their batteries run out. They can still run on purely electric power at relatively low speeds and for relatively short distances. Charging an electric takes hours, not a the few minutes it takes to fill a car with gasoline.

Supplementary power for a vehicle like the Volt could come from gasoline, "renewable" fuels like ethanol or biodiesel or from compressed natural gas. It could also be provided by hydrogen with using a fuel cell, which creates electricity in a chemical produces that produces water.

Hearst Tower ( Leed Certified in “Gold” )

2007-01-05T11:31:00.000-05:00

I’m sorry for not updating this page lately. New information has definitely been pouring in, especially since I signed up for google environmental alerts. I want to blame my lack of inspiration on several universal cosmic forces working for an anti-environmental agenda to keep me from continuing my pursuit for a more sustainable environment. But, unfortunately, I’ve just been burning car tires and pissing on sidewalks.

For my first written blog back (not the copy and paste kind), I would like to discuss a recent addition to the crowded Manhattan skyline. Her name is Hearst Tower, and she is but a mere mole on mother earth, a scar hidden under a thick layer of make-up, a bruise caused by some ridiculous nighttime fall. Am I making sense? Probably… not, metaphors are not the sharpest tools in my brain shed. I’m trying to say that this new building causes very little impact on mother…Earth that is. You see South central park as of 2006 can now, without shame, extend its five mile circumference to include a wonderful new green family member. Aunt Low Impact.

The tower is the first official green building in all of New York, a building so green that it can safely be certified as “Gold” in the LEED guidelines (see bottom for definition). Oh heck, I’ll tell you now. (LEED) stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. LEED recognizes those designs that have little to no impact on the environment. This step in moving towards more efficient buildings will help (the obvious) NYC reduce pollution and increase conservation. And it will hopefully encourage others to follow like Lemmings, hmmm… that’s not a good word, caring citizens on a new less destructive path.

The building is 46-floors tall, and can house more than 2,000 employees. Its frame has about 20% less steel than a conventional design, which saves roughly 2,000 tons of steel. And over 90% of the structural steel contains recycled material from the previous building. Special Low-E coating on the glass allows for the inter-workings to be filled with natural light, while at the same time keeping out solar radiation which causes excess heat. Lighting sensors with highly efficient bulbs add light when natural light fades. The tower also has the technology to sense the amount of activity in a room. If no activity is occurring (i.e. during lunch time or after work) then the sensors will shut of computers and lights. Let’s just hope the sensors don’t fail while in the middle of an important document. I’m sure they thought of all possible problems though.

Hearst has high efficiency heating and cooling systems. The lobby is kept cool by a giant indoor waterfall, while the ventilation system uses outside air to cool the offices. Oh, and of course all appliances come with the Energy Star sticker of approval. All of these systems are expected to improve energy efficiency by 22 percent if compared to typical office buildings.

One of the smartest additions I think, is how the building conserves water. The roof collects rainwater which is then stored in a 14,000 gallon tank. Once in the tank, the employees are free to go into the basement and fetch a pale for a refreshing drink. NO, I kid. The rain water will replace evaporated H2O from the AC systems. The water also nourishes the in and outdoor plants. Lastly, the remaining water will service that nifty and functional lobby waterfall that I mentioned earlier.

I thought that I was done, but then I found this last bit of info on the building. I’ll condense it. The tower was designed with few walls to allow the most possible light. The walls that do exist are coated with low vapor paint. All office furniture is formaldehyde free, and concrete surfaces are covered with low toxicity sealants. Lastly, the ceiling tiles, and parts of the floor are manufactured with recycled material.

To say hello to Aunt Low Impact, first visit NYC, then go to Columbus circle, tilt your head up towards the south and look for the most magnificently designed building in all of NY, No Joke.

Maglev trains

2006-12-23T18:54:00.001-05:00

How would you like to ride from one distant location to the next at speeds in the 200’s and on a track where friction is a thing of the past, all while enjoying a shake free meal? You can, in China that is, and soon Germany. I present MAGLEV a train that travels, well rather floats from one local to the next. Maglev is propelled by superconducting magnets and something called linear motor technology. It floats about 10mm off the ground and because it floats, it is NOT accompanied by that loud noise wheels on steal can make, and maintenance is virtually non-existent. Why? Well because there are no moving parts with conventional trains.

The downside to these wonders is that Maglev’s require their own infrastructure, which is costly. And, Maglev’s are only slightly better in terms of energy consumption from their industrial revolution cousins.

It is my wish though that NYC had enough money to change all conventional subway trains in Manhattan to the Maglev. Trust me our ears would thank us, but our tax dollars probably wouldn’t. There would also be a greater risk of getting hit, unless of course we followed London’s lead and installed graffiti proof glass dividers between train and man. Do graffiti proof glass panels even exist?

Perhaps, perhaps

http://www.rtri.or.jp/rd/maglev/html/english/maglev_frame_E.html

Plastic Alternatives

2006-12-04T13:34:00.004-05:00

The following companies carry Biocorp products. These products such as plates, cups, bowls, lunch boxes and cutlery along with biodegradable and compostable bags and liners are great alternatives to plastics. These products break down faster, and are more heat resistant than ordinary plastics.

Biocorp Bio-Solo Bag-To Nature Biodegradable Bags are available at these retail locations:
• Ace Hardware
• Cub Foods
• Festival Foods
• Menards
• Rainbow Foods
• Snyder Drug Store
• True Value Hardware
• Walgreens
• Wal- Mart
Contact your local retail for availability at these fine stores.

Eco-Wise
110 West Elizabeth
Austin, TX 78704
http://www.ecowise.com

http://www.biocorpaavc.com/index.asp

How To Stop Junk Mail

2006-12-04T13:34:00.003-05:00

1. Contact the DMA (Direct Marketing Association). They sell your name to advertisers. Tell them that you want to be taken off their list.

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
P.O. Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512
Tel: 1- 212-768-7277
www.dmaconsumers.org

2. To avoid getting on even more lists write this phrase when filling out forms such as warranty, subscription, raffle, etc. PLEASE DO NOT RENT, SELL, OR TRADE MY NAME OR ADDRESS.

3. If you receive something that you don’t want, immediately call their 1-800 number and asked to be removed. If you cannot find a phone number, return the label portion of the mailing to their address with a note requesting removal of your name and address.

4. Call 1 888 567 8688 (that's 1 888 5OPT OUT) or visit www.optoutprescreen.com to end pre-approved credit card requests.

5. These are other companies not associated the DMA in which you may need to contact to stop junk mail

R.L. Polk & Company
Name Deletions, List Compilation Dept.
6400 Monroe Blvd
Taylor, MI 48180-1814
1-800-873-7655 (Opt-out program)

Val-Pak Coupons
Label Order Department
8605 Largo Lakes Drive
Largo, FL 33773
Tel: 1-888-797-1896

ADVO, Inc.*
One Univac Lane
Windsor, CT 06095
Tel: 1-860-285-6100
* ADVO administers the "Mailbox Values."

Database America
Compilation Department
100 Paragon Dr.
Montvale, NJ 07645-0419

Abacus, a Division of DoubleClick, Inc.
11101 West 120th Ave.
Broomfield, CO 80021
303-410-5100

http://www.ecocycle.org/index.cfm

Rubber Sidewalks

2006-12-04T13:34:00.001-05:00

We may soon be experiencing the bounce of rubber sidewalks.

Rubber last longer than concrete and it works perfectly on streets where trees with high roots cause sidewalk damage.

The rubber is much more shock absorbent than concrete, which is a relief for city runners/joggers. (P.s. Don't run on concrete, it is sooooooo bad for your knees!)

And rubber sidewalks are more environmentally friendly because they use recycled tires, and they give trees growing room.

http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/07/25/rubber.sidewalks.ap/index.html

Boycott Exxon Mobile

2006-12-04T13:33:00.004-05:00

If there was ever a time to boycott a company, now is that time.
Exxon/mobile has just recorded the second largest earnings for a quarter 10.4 billion, losing to its last quarters earnings of 10.7 billion.

This excerpt was taken from a cnn interview asking if the company will take its massive earnings and invest in renewable energy.

"When asked about investing in renewable energy technologies, an Exxon official said that, apart from ethanol, it's generally not part of the company's plan" (http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/27/news/companies/exxon/index.htm?cnn=yes)"

Plug In Electric Cars

2006-12-04T13:33:00.003-05:00

Check out this site:

http://www.pluginamerica.com/

Car companies like Toyota will soon be making plug-in hybrid vehicles that use an electric motor for the first 60 miles, while the rest of the trip is finished by burning clean fuel. The prototype for these cars has been getting 100+ MPH!
The best part is that most people do not travel more than 60 miles a day, which means that most people might not need to fill up for a long time.

5 simple ways to help improve the environment today

2006-12-04T13:33:00.001-05:00

I got some of these ideas after watching the discovery channels non-political program entitled, Global Warming: What You Need To Know.
www.dsc.discovery.com/convergence/globalwarming/globalwarming.html

1.) Buy and install at least one energy efficient light bulb. Now, I know that that these bulbs aren't the best when it comes to mirror close-ups, but using them can help bring down each households annual Co2 deposits.

2.) Turn off lights when vacating a room. You can also, if you have the cheddar, install dimmer switches and sensor lights that turn on automatically when entering a room. These sensor lights, like the ones already used in most colleges, will stay on automatically after motion is detected. They will also turn off automatically after a predetermined preset time has been chosen, and movement has seized.

3.) Ride your bike to work once in a while, carpool, ride public transportation, or if you have money, and are looking for a new car, consider purchasing a hybrid or a more EPA efficient vehicle. (Read a list I published earlier entitled, great low-emission vehicles.)

4.) Purchase products that are more energy efficient, i.e. that have the energy efficient seal of approval. Some cool new products, like these nifty power strips I found in Cargo magazines green issue, automatically cut off power from the outlet when not in use. This type of technology can help save money. And, instead of a costly AC unit, consider other options, like a water-cooled self-powering air temperature regulating machine.

5.) Don’t trash unwanted items, instead read my article about Craigslisting them. The benefits: It’s free to post, you receive more cheddar, and you won’t be adding extra waste to Co2 emitting landfills.

These changes are not hard to implement, they just take a little effort. Hence, if you want to lose weight then you change your eating habits, right? If you want Co2 levels to drop, thus promoting a healthier environment, then you change your lifestyle habits. Ultimately, a positive environmental change will benefit us all. A bad environment is kind of like smoking. We started banning its use indoors when we realized that 2nd hand smoke killed, so we should do something similar with environmental controls. Start banning products that add excess pollution to the air, and start promoting a more clean way of life.

Don't throw it away ,Craigslist it!

2006-12-04T13:32:00.003-05:00

I have recently discovered the raw selling power of craigslist. A short time ago I posted some furniture items for sale on this site, and immediately received a pool of interested buyers. Perhaps the strong attraction occurred when I marked each well-crafted item much lower than its market resale value or because these particular pieces are in great demand. It’s hard to tell, but whatever the reason, they will soon be off my hands and out of the garbage.

In the past and way before this exciting adventure started, I would follow in the footsteps of the pre-craigslist masses before me by having a garage sale. I would often hope for the best, and if there were useful items left over they would soon be in the trash. Now I have no excuse for throwing away perfectly good recyclable items, I’ll just craigslist them, and you should too!

www.craigslist.com

Great parks in and around L.A.

2006-12-04T13:32:00.001-05:00

The inner city is in need of some more recreational/park areas, but there are some picnic locations in and around the city of Los Angeles that should not be overlooked. For instance…

This city has one of the best parks ever, and that park is Griffith Park. If Central Park were a child, then Griffith Park would be its stocky older brother. I once did an extra job for C.S.I. NY there, and was amazed at its overall size, and beauty.

www.lacity.org/RAP/dos/parks/griffithPK/index.htm

Runyon Canyon is a great little hideout that is located just north of Hollywood Blvd/La Brea. If you are interested in walking your dog off its leash, hiking, or just want a panoramic view of the city, then I suggest you find this location and explore for yourself.

www.laparks.org/dos/parks/facility/runyonCanyonPk.htm

Point Mugu State Park is a place worth its weight in trails. The park is located in the Santa Monica Mountains, and is lined by five miles of ocean shoreline, has over 70 miles of hiking trails, and is home to the Boney Mountains State Wilderness Area.

www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=630

Will Rogers State Park is a park which occupies 186 acres of Pacific Ocean viewing land, has a 31-room ranch house, a stable, corrals, riding ring, roping arena, polo field, golf course, and hiking trails.

www.parks.ca.gov/default.asp?page_id=626

Malibu State Park is only 25 miles from downtown, and offers hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding. The park has also helped add the settings for both Planet of the Apes and M*A*S*H.

www.parks.ca.gov/?page_id=614

Thank you Lisa Shaw for mentioning these parks.

Indoor plants that purify

2006-12-04T13:31:00.000-05:00

If you are planning on visiting a nursery soon, or just want to add color to your house (god I sound like Martha right now) then, before you go, remember the names of at least one of the seven houseplants listed below. The following plants can help improve the overall air quality in your home. These plants purify the air by digesting the toxins in it. And they are especially good to own if you have just painted, added new carpet, or live in a smog filled city.

The plants:
Green Spider plant
Bamboo Palm
Dracaena "Janet Craig"
Mother-in-law's tongue
Dracaena marginata
Peace lily
Golden Pathos

(YOGI TIMES June 2006 issue)

Will it work?

2006-12-04T13:28:00.003-05:00

All right, I don't know if this idea will ever work, but I will certainly throw it out there. I have thought about this vehicle invention for some time, but since I am not an engineer, I have no idea if it will actually work. Here it goes…

What if unlimited supplies of three energy sources could power a car; the wind, sun, and water? You may be saying to yourself, ‘Water, for the most part, is not unlimited. ‘

Well I say, technically neither is the sun or wind. So, lets get back on track you naysayer.

Imagine a car that is covered with nanotechnology-built solar panels (www.crnano.org/whatis.htm). Disguised as an eye-appealing paint job, the solar cells would be small enough to go virtually undetected by the human eye.

The sun energy collected from these nanotechnology panels would send power to bacteria batteries (http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/sci_update.cfm?DocID=196) stored along the lower portion of the vehicle. Once the car is in motion, forced air would generate enough energy to turn a specifically designed high output fan (www.nrel.gov/wind/) that would, in turn produce electricity for the moving vehicle.

Combined with the solar energy, wind-generated energy would be stored in the bacteria batteries, to be used when needed.

Lastly, there would be a device (www.drinkingwaterfromtheair.com) to extract water from air. This water would be used to not only cool the vehicle, but also to power through use of high-pressured steam.

Having all three components is necessary as back-up if one system fails.

As far as I know, this technology is currently available; it is only a matter of fitting everything into one vehicle and making all the different components work cohesively.

Written by Kevin DeBacker
Edited by Julie DeBacker

Great low-emission vehicles!

2006-12-04T13:28:00.001-05:00

I have decided to publish a post that includes 2006 or newer clean vehicles, and of which are currently available on the market. These vehicles are great because they will help to reduce the overall air pollution in and around L.A., and will hopefully wean us from our thirst for oil. I have put the vehicles in order of cost efficiency, and availability. The first vehicles are called PZEV (Partial Zero Emissions Vehicles). PZEVs are good because they meet California's stringent tailpipe emission standards, are readily available, and will only cost about $100 dollars extra per sticker price. Next on the list are Hybrids; most people already know that these vehicles use a combination of electricity and gasoline, are becoming more available, and that they deliver low emissions. Electric vehicles are good for the obvious reasons, non-polluting, and they do require expensive gas. The bad thing about these vehicles is that they are almost nonexistent. Lastly, I have included Fuel Cell vehicles, yes you will notice that there aren't actually any available on the market, but I thought that it was important to see a variety of upcoming alternate fuel vehicles. So far the bad thing about these vehicles is that they don't go far on a fill up, about 120 miles, and the plants that produce the hydrogen pollute more than the car would benefit.

PZEV:
2006 BMW 325Ci
2006 Ford Focus ZX3; S, SE & SES Models
2006 Ford Focus ZX4; S, SE & SES Models
2006 Ford Focus ZX5 S, SE & SES Models
2006 Ford Focus ZXW SE & SES Models
2006 Ford Fusion
2006 Honda Accord LX, SE, EX Sedan
2006 Hyundai Elantra GLS & GT
2006 Kia Spectra
2006 Mazda 3 2.0L
2006 Mazda 3 2.3L
2006 Mazda 6 2.3L
2006 Mazda Tribute HEV 4WD
2006 Mercedes-Benz E350
2006 Mercury Milan
2006 Mitsubishi Galant
2006 Nissan Altima 2.5 OR 2.5s
2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited
2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Limited Wagon
2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Sedan
2006 Subaru Legacy 2.5i Wagon
2006 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited Sedan
2006 Subaru Outback 2.5i Limited Wagon
2006 Subaru Outback 2.5i Wagon
2006 Toyota Camry
2006 Volkswagen Beetle
2006 Volkswagen Beetle Convertible
2006 Volkswagen Golf
2006 Volkswagen Jetta 2.5L
2006 Volvo S40
2006 Volvo V50
2006 Volvo V70

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
Gasoline vehicles with a PZEV rating are mass-produced in a variety of makes and models and are available to the public today. They have an immediate impact on air quality because they are popular models at affordable prices. PZEV vehicles emit only two pounds of hydrocarbons over 100,000 miles of driving, which is equivalent to spilling a pint of gasoline. Plus cars with a PZEV emission rating have such tight pollution controls, and the burning of fuel is so complete, that in very smoggy urban areas, exhaust out of the tailpipe is actually cleaner than the air outside.

HYBRID VEHICLES:
2006 Ford Escape Hybrid
2006 Honda Accord Hybrid
2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
2006 Lexus RX 400h
2006 Mercury Mariner Hybrid
2007 Toyota Camry Hybrid
2006 Toyota Highlander Hybrid
2006 Toyota Prius

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
More efficient cars can make a big difference to society in terms of environmental benefits, and the serious deterioration of urban air has motivated regulators to require cleaner cars. Production HEVs will reduce smog-forming pollutants over the current national average. Hybrids will never be true zero-emission vehicles, however, because of their internal combustion engine. But hybrids certified to the ARB’s super ultra low emission standard can significantly reduce ozone precursor emissions and global-warming pollutants by a third to a half, and future models may cut emissions by even more.

ELECTRIC VEHICLES:
2006 Global Electric Motors e2
2006 Global Electric Motors e4
2006 Global Electric Motors e6
2006 Global Electric Motors eL
2006 Global Electric Motors eS

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
EVs have: no tail pipe exhaust, no evaporative emissions, no emissions system which can degrade or fail with time, no emissions from the refining of fuel and service stations. And with widespread use EVs can: reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, a green house gas that contributes to global warming, lessen our cancer risk from exposure to toxic air contaminants such as benzene, reduce oil consumption and dependence on imported oil.

FUEL CELL VEHICLES:
I couldn't find any yet, sorry.

ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS:
When operating directly with hydrogen, there are no polluting emissions and no greenhouse gases from a fuel cell, only water and heat. If the hydrogen is generated by reforming fossil fuels, some greenhouse gases are released, but much less than the amount produced by conventional vehicles. In addition to these benefits, fuel cells could dramatically reduce urban air pollution, decrease oil imports, reduce the trade deficit and produce American jobs.

www.driveclean.ca.gov

Write a letter to your Assembly Member

2006-12-04T13:27:00.002-05:00

HELP IMPROVE CALIFORNIA'S ENVIRONMENT: Write a letter to your State Assembly Member

Write a letter to your State Assembly Member urging their support on issues like the CALIFORNIA GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2006 (AB 32). Your input, time, and personal message is extremely valuable and will help California in becoming a leader for change.

*Keep it simple. The shorter, the better
*Be polite yet opinionated
*Feel free to handwrite your letter
*Include the bill name and number, or if you have a different environmental issue, let it be known
*Include your name, address and contact information
*Mail your letter to:

Capitol Address
State Capitol
Room 4140
Sacramento, CA 94249-0001
(916) 319-2042

-OR-

District Address
9200 Sunset Blvd. Penthouse 15
West Hollywood, CA 90069
(310) 285-5490

SAMPLE LETTER (please use your own words/perspective)

Dear Assembly Member Paul Koretz, (VISIT www.assembly.ca.gov TO GET YOUR LOCAL
ASSEMBLY MEMBER)

I'm Writing to ask you to support the CALIFORNIA GLOBAL WARMING SOLUTIONS ACT OF 2006 (AB 32 NUNEZ/PAVLEY). I'm very concerned about global warming and what it is doing to our state. California has a chance to step up and become a leader in stopping global warming, especially within cities like Los Angeles. We can do that by passing AB 32. Please take this issue as seriously as most other Californians do by supporting AB 32.

Thank you for your time

MaryAnn Nichols
7474 Main Street
Anytown, Ca, 95010
555-555-5555

*Please feel free to write about other environmental concerns as well. Also, go to http://www.assembly.ca.gov (CLICK ON THE LEFT UNDER "FIND MY DISTRICT) to find the local mailing address and local Assembly Member.

Famous environmental quotes

2006-12-04T13:27:00.001-05:00

"Treat the earth well: it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children. We do not inherit the Earth from our Ancestors, we borrow it from our Children."
-Ancient Indian Proverb

"There must be a reason why some people can afford to live well. They must have worked for it. I only feel angry when I see waste. When I see people throwing away things we could use."
- Mother Teresa

"Trees are contagious; as soon as one neighborhood or street is planted, citizen pressure builds up for action from the next street."
- William H. Whyte

"Until man duplicates a blade of grass, nature can laugh at his so-called scientific knowledge."
- Thomas Edison

"Every American expects and deserves clean air, and then we act on that belief, then we will set an example for the rest of the world to follow. "
- George H. W. Bush

"Laws Change; people die; the land remains."
- Abraham Lincoln

"One Touch of nature makes the whole world kin."
- William Shakespeare

"Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."
- Margaret Mead

"It is in man's heart that the life of nature's spectacle exists; to see it, one must feel it."
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau

"Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's need, but not every man's greed."
- Mohandas K. Gandhi

"It is our collective and individual responsibility to protect and nurture the global family, to support its weaker members and to preserve and tend to the environment in which we all live."
- Dalai Lama

Ideas on how to improve LA

2006-12-04T13:26:00.000-05:00

Los Angeles is a great city, but one that is in need of some vast improvements. I love this city, as do many others, therefore I have tried to come up with a few ideas on how to improve the overall appearance, environmental quality, and transportation. Please feel free to add some more ideas if you have them. My goal is to eventually take some of these ideas off the computer and implement them into the city.

BIKE LANES ON 70% OF THE STREETS:
As of right now, bike lines around West Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Miracle Mile, Hancock Park, etc. are almost non-existent. The development of safe bike lines like those in Orange County would not only drastically improve the safety of riders, but also, those with combustion engines would be more enticed to wipe the dust off their steel horses and travel to work with a smile. These bike lanes, in my opinion, are only really necessary on the busy streets like Santa Monica, Melrose, etc.

ADD THOUSANDS OF NEW TREES:
Planting dozens of new, already half-grown shading trees throughout the city (i.e. on busy streets like La Brea, Sunset, and Melrose) would definitely help the environment, but would also help with the aesthetics and the temperature on hot summer days. Beverly Hills is a great example of what trees that provide shade could do for a city.

BUILD MORE PARKS:
This city has some parks, but none that compare to the lush landscapes that NYC, London, Spain, and many other cities have. Parks with tennis courts, baseball diamonds, tracks, and basketball courts could help create more of a community feel, and would definitely help with the overall air quality. I am in favor of a huge Central Park somewhere within the limits of Brentwood and Hancock Park. Unfortunately though, I don't think that this idea will ever really take off, especially since most if not all of the land is already taken up, and the cost to buy out businesses and homes would be tremendous.

FINISH THE UNDERGROUND METRO:
I can't stress how important this one is. The public transportation as of now is slow, unclean, and sometimes unsafe. I think that we should hire a public transportation developer from New York to come in to complete a highly efficient system. The new underground railway should only include major artery streets like Wilshire, with the rest being covered by a new bus system that rivals that of London. And, London has one of the best metro pass systems, called the Oyster. The Oyster card allows a person to purchase days, weeks, months, and years all from the convenience of their computer. The card also allows its holder the ease of just touching it to a barcode on the bus.

DEVELOP TOUGHER POLLUTING STANDARDS:
Businesses who pollute should be forced to add green or solar roofs to their buildings. Solar roofs should also be added to many homes, either through huge tax breaks or special rebates. Wind power should also be tapped. Wind farms could easily be developed on the west side of the Channel Islands.

DEVELOP TOUGHER CITY RESTRICTIONS ON VEHICLES THAT GIVE OFF 7.0 TONS OR WORSE EMISSIONS A YEAR:
Citizens should be encouraged through incentives to drive cars with 7.0 or less annual emissions (i.e. free parking at meters, riding in carpool with only one occupant, etc.). London actually has a congestion tax within its inner zone. I am actually in favor of a congestion tax, but I don't think that this city would embrace this notion with open arms. And as a side note, I do not, like some people, hate SUV'S, trucks, or other large vehicles. Instead, I would like to see the companies who produce them drastically improve their gas mileage, and emissions output.

GET CELEBRITIES INVOLVED:
I would love to see celebrities like George Clooney, Julia Roberts, and many more, take an active role in marketing for a more clean and improved L.A. They could use their status and visual presence by adding billboards, commercials, news articles, and publicity stunts, encouraging all citizens within the city to help with the overall quality of life.

Is it me or is it hot in here?

2006-12-04T13:25:00.000-05:00

I am trying to write my first blog while simultaneously attempting to learn Spanish from an Instant Recall CD. I don't suggest it.

I just thought that I would share my latest thoughts:

I just finished reading a really good article in the TIMES on global warming.
The unfortunate downside to reading that piece is that I am now hyper aware about any publications that mention the subject. I use to pass through Barnes and Nobles with little distractions, but now my head is on a constant swivel. Books and magazines that read, HELP our malnourished planet, or Co2's next victim, seem to be screaming at me from the shelves. Okay, so I am not a super green left machine, and no I dont think that the world is going to end, but I do care, and am always interested in what new fuel alternatives have surfaced. (Read the article if you want to know about these alternatives)

Lastly, the difference has to come from us. I am not saying to ditch the car for a pair of peddles, but I am asking everyone to research a cars emissions output before purchasing. !Audios amigos!