More recommended reading from BBB Editors.

How to Live off the Grid & be 100% Self Sustainable & Debt Free. Stop oil & utility dependency, Stop paying high gas & utility costs. Live self-sufficient & lower monthly utility bills from an average $500 to $0.00 per month, even sell energy back to the power companies earning an additional $500+ per month income. The book teaches you How to move & Live off the grid, set in a Easy to Read Beginners level format (process made simple). (The resources, tips & tricks provided were tes (more…)

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Global Warming: What it Means for Us (image from suneko on Flickr)

Whether or not you “believe” in global warming, if the planet does continue to get warmer than it currently is – only by a degree or two – there could be some serious consequences.  Some people claim that the current weather aberrations are just normal climate fluctuations.  Still, I cannot help but wonder whether less time should be spent arguing about its cause (my bet is that its a combination of man-made and “natural” events), and more time responding to the crisis that faces our planet.

This National Geographic video contains a primer of global warming and what it may mean for us in the future:

It almost seems nonsensical to deny the global climate change that is already underway.  Scientists from reputable organizations like the BBC and National Geographic consistently report on melting glaciers, diminishing ice caps and rising sea levels.  And, its hard to explain away the haunting images of drowning polar bears and other victims of global warming.

Global Climate change is hard to deny (image from monado on Flickr)

Don’t believe me?  Here’s an example of global warming directly impacting U.S. residents:  shrinking beachfront property on the Atlantic Coast is just the beginning:

Oh sure – I get it.  Its just erosion.  Its only natural, right?  But what if its not?

National Geographic notes that if the Earth’s temperature rises a mere 6 degrees, it will wreak havoc on eco-systems around the globe, threatening mass extinction.

Don’t just stand there helpless.  Considering global warming and what it may mean for us, its prime time to make strides towards reducing our CO2 emissions by increasing renewable energy resources.  Alternative energy is clean, abundant and relatively inexpensive, compared to the fossil fuels we have burned so rapidly and destructively for the past 150 years.

You can do your part by installing wind or solar on your property, and/or supporting renewable energy development in your hometown.  Its a lot easier than trying to debate whether global warming is “real.”

Related posts:

1. Impacts of Global Warming on Food Supply

Antarcic Glacier Melting Faster Than Predicted (image from Devil.Bunny on Flickr)

A scary new story published by the BBC reveals the results of scientific study concerning our planet’s ice caps.  An Antarctic glacier is melting faster than a decade ago – 4 times more quickly – to be precise.  Measurements of the Pine Island glacier show that ice surface is sinking at an astounding rate of 16 meters per year.  In the past 15 years, the glacier has thinned by up to 90 meters, which has scientists very concerned about the implications of sea level rise.

The research has been published in Geophysical Research letters.  Some very serious predictions were noted in the BBC article:

Calculations based on the rate of melting 15 years ago had suggested the glacier would last for 600 years. But the new data points to a lifespan for the vast ice stream of only another 100 years.

So, how much longer are we going to deny the fact of global climate change?

Global Climate Change is resulting in melting glaciers (image from apasp on Flickr)

Professor Andrew Shepherd of Leeds University, one of the authors of the Antarctic glacier melting study, predicts that the global sea levels will rise about 3 cm as a result of melting from the center of the Pine Island glacier.  He spoke with BBC News:

“But the ice trapped behind it is about 20-30cm of sea level rise and as soon as we destabilise or remove the middle of the glacier we don’t know really know what’s going to happen to the ice behind it.”

“This is unprecedented in this area of Antarctica. We’ve known that it’s been out of balance for some time, but nothing in the natural world is lost at an accelerating exponential rate like this glacier.”

Dramatic changes are also raising scientific concerns on the opposite side of the planet, in the Arctic, as well.  Global climate change has impacted the amount of sea ice near Greenland and Canada.  Scientists have discovered large new cracks on the Petermann glacier, a huge piece of which could break off in the near future.

Professor Box told BBC News:

“The science community has been surprised by how sensitive these large glaciers are to climate warming. First it was the glaciers in south Greenland and now as we move further north in Greenland we find retreat at major glaciers. It’s like removing a cork from a bottle.”

You think renewable energy projects are expensive?  We cannot afford the luxury of continuing our approach to global climate change, as glaciers continue to disintegrate at unprecedented rates.  Every little bit helps.  Distributed generation projects can take 1-100 buildings off of CO2 emitting power, using renewable resources like solar and wind.  They’ll get approved and constructed more quickly than large power plants.

What are we waiting for?

Related posts:

1. How to Save Arctic Ice
2. Are We Past the Tipping Point on Climate Change?
3. Global Warming: What it May Mean for Us

Put on by the same group as the successful MiaGreen, this Expo will focus on the consumer. The Expo will highlight all major governmental green programs and incentives in place or to be launched soon for the residents in South Florida plus several exhibitions and presentations by major suppliers and experts on hot green topics.

Miami Living Green Expo is 2-day bilingual Expo showcasing green & eco-friendly products, services, education and entertainment. Saturday and Sunday – August 15 & 16, 2009 from 10am to 5pm daily.

Admission is $10 (there is a coupon for buy one, get one free) and kids and seniors are free.

Program Highlights…

* Featured Sessions by Major Speakers & Celebrities
* Live Demos & Workshops
* Exhibit Hall
* Green Job Opportunities
* Entertainment for all Family Members…

Click here for more information or please call 305-412-0000.

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1. REpowering Southern Colorado, August 8, Pueblo, CO

Clean Energy = Green Jobs

While we all watch and wonder when and if we’ve hit bottom in the recession, one thing is abundantly clear.  Clean energy = green jobs.

That’s right.  Robust investment in renewable energy has continued, which offers the promise of careers in the wind and solar industries (among others).  Among the hottest college offerings these days are renewable energy technology training.  In fact, higher education is adapting so quickly to the new, green economy that we’ll be following up with a separate post focused entirely on college courses developed for green jobs.

Today’s graduates do not need to wait for jobs to be created.  In the heartland of America, wind turbine manufacturers are building factories to supply the great demand for wind energy.  If you prefer solar, then perhaps you’d like to relocate to Oregon.  There are plenty of green jobs with the continued investment by SolarWorld in Hillsboro.  Overall, the state is the leading solar manufacturer in the nation.  While the U.S. may be a little late to the alternative energy game, manufacturers are eager to locate operations here now, due to tax credits and other incentives.

Other states, like Texas, are also looking at what they can do to lure solar or wind companies.

There are many, many sites out there promising green jobs.  But, for you to successfully gain employment, your community has to embrace the ideal of living eco-friendly.  Is your city on board for reducing carbon emissions?  Do you live in an apartment complex or neighborhood that wants to explore renewable energy options?  Perhaps you can start the positive movement yourself!

Once you find yourself in the right place – or make that place for yourself – the green jobs will be there.

Please share in the comments below if you have a green job, or know of some great opportunities in your hometown!

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The State of the Electric Grid

Recently, a story ran on National Public Radio (NPR) about the state of the national grid. Actually, we should stop right there.  Its not really so much a “national” grid as it is a grid of independent power plants and transmission lines, owned by a variety of utilities and threaded together across the United States.  And its getting old and worn out.  Not to mention susceptible to hacking from spies.

So what are we going to do about it?

There’s no Social Security program to help the grid in its aging years.  So, its high time investments are made to update the electrical grid, make it smarter, and deal with the new energy issues facing us.  Consider this:

Electricity is generated as it is used. There is very little ability to store electricity. Because of this instantaneous nature, the electric power system must constantly be adjusted to ensure that the generation of power matches the consumption of power. On continental U.S. power grids, roughly 150 Control Area Operators serve this function by using computerized control centers to dispatch generators as needed.

This is not just something that you can read about and then put aside.  The electric grid is essential for national security, as well as public health and prosperity. We take grid-based electricity for granted, but there are so many communities around the world that lack the ability to meet requirements of food and water.  As noted by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy Reliability:

In 1940, 10% of energy consumption in America was used to produce electricity. In 1970, that fraction was 25%. Today it is 40%, showing electricity’s growing importance as a source of energy supply. Electricity has the unique ability to convey both energy and information, thus yielding an increasing array of products, services, and applications in factories, offices, homes, campuses, complexes, and communities.

Without an updated electrical grid, we’ll never get out of debt: its asset value is in excess of $800 billion, spread out through power plants, distribution facilities and transmission facilities.  A smart grid will help us implement more efficient renewable energy and reduce heavy loads on the grid, which will save us all additional money.  Prices for electricity vary widely from state to state:  If you live in Oregon, you can pay nearly half of what customers pay in California, for example!  Once we tap into our nation’s vast renewable resources, including solar and wind, we’ll be able to level the costs of electricity nation-wide.

The North American Electric Reliability Corps believes that the aging US electric grid will not be able to handle an influx of energy from new, renewable energy sources.  Fortunately, a new, smart grid is on its way.  Already in place in Miami, it is not a cheap proposition.  In exchange for investment now, we’ll reap the benefits of clean, reliable, affordable energy for years to come.

In short, Build Baby Build includes the call for construction of infrastructure to handle renewable-generated energy.

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Earth Day Everyday

Tomorrow, April 22, 2009, is Earth Day.  You may have noticed that all the major networks are showcasing “green” stories this week.  The Today Show has even changed their colors to green for the occasion.

While Earth Day originated nearly 40 years ago, it has become mainstream with the global climate change crisis that no one can legitimately deny.  This leads me to wonder…. why not Earth Day everyday?

Let’s not limit news stories concerning the environment to April.  We should be encouraging people to invest in renewable energy and make other eco-friendly changes to their lifestyles as often as possible.

Consider these facts about global warming (from National Geographic):

• Average temperatures have climbed 1.4 degrees Fahrenheit (0.8 degree Celsius) around the world since 1880, mostly in the past 30-40 years.
• The 20th century’s last two decades were the hottest in 400 years and possibly the warmest for several millennia.
• Average temperatures in Alaska, western Canada, and eastern Russia have risen at twice the global average.
• Arctic ice is rapidly disappearing, and the region may have its first completely ice-free summer by 2040 or earlier. Of course, polar bears and indigenous people have suffered habitat loss and are at risk as a result of sea-ice loss.
• Glaciers and mountain snows are rapidly melting.  Montana’s Glacier National Park now has only 27 glaciers, versus 150 in 1910.
• Coral reefs (highly sensitive to small changes in water temperature) suffered the worst bleaching—or die-off in response to stress—ever recorded in 1998, with some areas seeing bleach rates of 70 percent.

These global changes cannot be slowed or halted merely by observing Earth Day on April 22 each year.

Renewable energy options

Beyond just using canvas shopping bags and compact florescent light bulbs, we should all step up our energy savings.  A national smart grid is on the way, which can help us pinpoint household energy hogs and make us more aware of electricity consumption.  Communities like San Diego are encouraging solar panel investment through a subsidy program.  And its never been easier or more affordable to install distributed generation renewable energy projects thanks to generous tax incentives offered through the Stimulus Package.

What will you resolve to do this year to reduce your carbon footprint?  How can you celebrate Earth Day everyday?

We’d love to hear what you’re doing for your part.  And, if you have installed wind or solar on your home or business, be sure to make your mark on our interactive maps.

Related posts:

1. How to Save Arctic Ice

Save Arctic Ice

If we band together as a world, rather than think of us as separate nations, we can cut greenhouse gas emissions by 70% over the next 90 years.  Recent studies show that, with such reductions, temperatures would still increase world-wide, but at a slower pace that could avoid many of the most distressing impacts of climate change.

In other words, we can slow global warming to save Arctic Ice and stop the threatening sea level rise.

A recent study by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) shows:

“This research indicates that we can no longer avoid significant warming during this century.  But if the world were to implement this level of emission cuts, we could stabilize the threat of climate change and avoid catastrophe.”

Over the past century, global temperatures have risen about 2 degrees F (1 degree C).  Most people agree that the global climate change is the result (at least in part) of CO2 emissions from human activity.   We are literally at the tipping point, with scientists saying that an additional 2 degrees F (1 degree C) warming would result in “dangerous climate change.”

With the proposed changes, we could slow the rise of temperatures significantly, so that by the end of the century, we could see a rise of only 1 degree F, as opposed to 4 degree F if no changes are made.  In addition, sea levels would only rise half of what is predicted (14 cm instead of 22 cm).

If we can implement these changes, Arctic ice in the summertime would stabilize by 2100.  But without action, it would shrink by at least three-quarters and would continue to melt.  We are even in danger of seeing summertime ice disappear altogether in the next 50-80 years, if no action is taken.  But, when we reduce warming in the Arctic regions, we’ll be able to preserve a number of species of wildlife, including sea birds and mammals like the Polar Bear in the northern Bering Sea.

This is why we are talking about renewable energy and reducing your carbon footprint.  This is why it is so urgent that we take some specific action, rather than merely setting goals or talking about the impact of global warming.

We can slow the progress of melting glaciers and save arctic ice.  We can build our way out of this quandary with solar panels, wind turbines and the like.

Are you ready to make some important changes in energy use?

I know I am.

Related posts:

1. Are We Past the Tipping Point on Climate Change?
2. Antarctic Glacier Melting Faster Than A Decade Ago
3. Impacts of Global Warming on Food Supply

Action to slow global climate change is urgent – and not just because of rapidly melting glaciers and threatened species around the world.  Climate change threatens our food supply.  Temperatures will reach such a high degree over the coming decades that we may not be able to sustain important crops, according to a study published Science on January 9.  Studying data from 23 climate models, scientists concluded that there is:

“more than 90% chance that by the end of the century, average growing-season temperatures would be hotter than the most extreme levels recorded in the past.”

While some may argue that plants will do better in the heat, studies show the opposite is true over time.  Major heat waves in the past have resulted in decreased crop yields between 30-40%.  Of course, scarcity causes a spike in prices, and everyone suffers.

What’s more, but as the world-wide climates shift, some areas will become barren.  Too dry to produce anything.  Large areas of Africa are particularly at risk.

Can you imagine if the situation became permanent?  That is, if the “heat wave,” is not just a blip, but the norm with which we have to deal each and every year?  The most serious predictions are that half the world’s population could face a food crisis resulting from global warming by 2100.

It is an Inconvenient Truth that we’ve done little to nothing since Al Gore’s documentary was released three years ago:

As shown last week, countries wrangle with each other as to “who will do what, when,” rather than work together to address the crisis at hand.  Time Magazine reported last week:

“Developing countries like China pushed wealthier nations to accept tough short-term carbon emission targets, demanding cuts of at least 40% below 1990 levels by 2020. But developed nations demurred, refusing to commit to new cuts now, even though their existing commitments would lead to a reduction of only 4% to 14% below 1990 levels by 2020.”

We don’t have the luxury of time to wait to see what other countries will do as part of the next UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. We do not have an endless ability to adapt to a warmer earth.   Its time to drastically reduce CO2 emissions, through every means possible.

“If we fail, a warmer future won’t just be uncomfortable; it will be downright frightening. “We need to wake up and take care of this,” says [one researcher]. “We won’t have enough food to feed the world today, let alone tomorrow.”

What are you doing in your community to address global climate change?  Please share any inspiring stories.

Related posts:

1. How to Save Arctic Ice
2. Global Warming: What it May Mean for Us
3. Greenpeace challenges President Obama to be a leader on global warming

Watch the video below and see what’s ahead for the nation.

Your comments below are welcome.

Related posts:

1. Greenpeace challenges President Obama to be a leader on global warming