Tagless T sweepstakes, no purchase necessary. More details coming soon…
National Bike to Work 2012
Friday May 18th 2012 is Bike to Work Day, a nationally recognized event celebrated annually on the third Friday in May. Bike to Work 2012 supports bicycling as a viable, environmentally friendly, cost-saving commute choice.
Green Yourself and get yourself moving forward as you ride the city with a great guide to the best bike routes and energy efficient ways to charge your EV. Don’t get caught in traffic again with an ideal way to move instead of an idle “drive” through traffic congestion.
Green Yourself: Be the engine of change
Lose the use for carbon emitting transportation by taking the chance at traveling by bike. Its a fun, healthy way to help San Diego.
To learn more about the biking community as well as FREE discounts for popular San Diego shopping and restaurants just for biking be sure to explore SD Bike Commuter.
A business discount program for cyclists. There are no cards to carry around and no secret handshakes. Just go to a participating small local business on a bicycle, you get a discount. The logo on the right would normally be seen as a small wooden sign in the window of participating businesses. The signs are pretty easy to see from the street, but click on the logo to see which businesses are offering discounts.
Ride your bike more and support small local businesses. Don’t forget to ask for the discount.
Posted in News, Sustainability
Tagged 2012, best bike routes, bicycle, bike, bike routes, bored, bucket list, business, cheap eats, city, commute, cost-saving, critical mass, date, discount, energy efficiency, enjoy, environmentally friendly, fitness, free, Friday, fun, health, ideas, May, May 18, national bike to work day, outdoors, public transportation, restaurants, ride, sale, san diego, shopping, south park, Things to do, transport, transportation, viable
Trash Travels
Andy Pag has traveled to Timbuktu in a truck powered by chocolate. He’s gone round the world on donated vegetable oil. And in 2008 he organized the “Grease to Greece Rally” for cars running on restaurant discards.
Pag wants to keep on proving that there’s value in a lot of what we currently waste, and he wants to have fun doing it.
A modern-day Lindbergh, Andy is attempting to show us the power of a new kind of fuel by flying the length of England using only garbage to power his flight.
The fuel is made by a British company using Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, a process of making synthetic fuels that dates back to before WWII. By taking tonnes of plastic household and industrial waste which cannot be recycled because it’s mixed and soiled, this process breaks apart the long hydrocarbon chains in plastic to create petrol, diesel and aviation fuel that will power cars, truck and planes. Pag says the fuel is worth highlighting because it produces limited CO2, and reduces the volume of plastics that otherwise would go to landfills.
“This is the first time a plane has been fueled from trash as far as I am aware,” Pag says. “It’s uplifting when you are taking a load of trash and turn it into fuel, and with that you can fly a length of the country. It’s really inspiring.”
Pag’s plan is to fly two or three hours a day, making regular stops to show off the plane and educate people about non-fossil fuels. “We want to make the flight local, as well as national,” he says. “It gives us an opportunity to engage with communities along the way.”
Flying a microlight plane — plastic-based fuel or not — is certainly risky, but adventure-seeker Andy seems ready to get this idea off the ground. Now if Pag could just tackle a flux capacitor, he would really give Doc Brown some competition.
“It’s a pioneering demonstration of the technology, rather than a test flight.”
Save your valuable trash for that next trip because with BioPlane – Plastic Bags Fly for Free.
Posted in Articles, Energy Efficiency, News, Sustainability
Tagged air, aircraft, alternative energy, alternative fuel, andy pag, biofuel, bioplane, biotruck, british, c02, chocolate, climate, co2, Community, cooking oil, diesel, education, energy, england, expedition, fischer, fischer-tropsch, flight, fly, flying, fuel, garbage, Global, grease, greece, green, hydrocarbons, ideas, journey, landfill, microlight, plastic, pollution, press release, race, rally, recycle, school, synthesis, technology, timbuktu, tour, trash, travel, travelogue, tropsch, uk, united kingdom, vegetable oil, visit, waste, world travel, zero waste
The Avengers Environment
Enjoy Mark Ruffalo as Bruce Banner or The Incredible Hulk in the latest Hollywood blockbuster The Avengers as he battles alongside other Marvel characters for whats sure to be an action-packed movie.
Mark Ruffalo is best known as an indie-type actor who has appeared in romantic comedies like “13 Going on 30″ and “Date Night,” and most notably the critically acclaimed drama “The Kids Are All Right.” Some may also remember him from his role on the soap opera “One Life to Live.” So it might strike some as an odd choice for the nice guy to play mild-mannered scientist Bruce Banner, who is capable of such anger it turns him into the Incredible Hulk, an enraged green monster. But maybe that’s the point. One review called Ruffalo’s portrayal in “The Avengers” “a revelation, turning Banner into a wry reservoir of calm ready to become a volcano.”
A wry reservoir of calm ready to become a volcano is a great description of Mark Ruffalo and as in another role he is playing as a community activist. He turns into a green giant in “The Avengers.” In real life, this actor is playing a role in the community as a green activist… or blue. His organization, Water Defense, works to stop natural gas drilling (fracking) and looks for cleaner alternatives. The 44-year-old told the May issue of Vogue, “I really consider myself an actor, but right now, I am driven to get this going and get people involved.”
On April 13, 2012 Water Defense released the first video of their new campaign Natural Gas Exxposed, a video series which documents the gas industry’s assault on American health and prosperity. The videos feature individuals on the front lines of the gas boom whose lives have been devastated by gas drilling, as well as experts debunking pro-natural gas propaganda.
“Gas companies like Exxon Mobile have filled the airwaves with television ads selling us the lie that natural gas is the answer to our energy needs. The reality is, if we don’t end America’s growing dependence on natural gas, the gas industry will ruin our communities, our health and our climate,” said Mark Ruffalo. “That’s why we’ve launched Natural Gas Exxposed; it’s a people-powered campaign to educate the public about this bridge fuel to nowhere.”
The first ad, “Home Invasion” deals with the destruction of property values, contamination in the homes, and sham royalties from gas leases. It also features residents of Dimock, PA, who were left without a source of water after Cabot Gas & Oil polluted their wells.
In the video, Dimock residents Craig and Julie Sauntner discuss their inability to sell their home, which is now worthless because it lacks a clean source of water. “I can’t sell my house. I tried,” said Craig Sautner.
“We’re industrial now,” adds Julie Sautner. “We live in an industrial zone.”
“It’s natural gas vs. the American Dream,” said Claire Sandberg, Executive Director of Water Defense. “People in rural areas have welcomed this industry with open arms, only to find their water contaminated, their homes rendered unsafe to occupy, their property values destroyed, and their communities left unrecognizable. Meanwhile, the gas industry is making billions of dollars by systematically evading responsibility. We can’t allow this kind of injustice to become our national energy policy.”
So, Mark Ruffalo has no reason to be blue about being green with the wonderful work he does in the community.
The Incredible Hulk character has had several big-screen attempts, with Eric Bana hulking out in 2003 and Ed Norton becoming the angry green giant in 2008. Director Joss Whedon wanted this version of Hulk to channel the sadness of Bill Bixby’s character from the popular 1970s TV series. Maybe this turn’s the charm.
The actor said in an interview with the Collider that he had to sign a six-movie deal when he came on to “The Avengers.” With the all the super reviews, and the whopping $185 million the movie has already made overseas, we may be seeing a lot more of Mark Ruffalo’s Hulk.
Posted in Articles, News
Tagged action, activist, agent phil coulson, america, angry, astrophysicist, Avengers, black widow, captain america, ch4, Chesapeake Energy, chris evans, chris hemsworth, clark gregg, clint barton, Community, dont make him angry, drilling, earth, energy, energy efficiency, erik selvig, every team needs a captain, Exxon Mobile, frack, fracking, gas, gasland, green, gwyneth paltrow, hawkeye, hero, Hulk. Mark Ruffalo, hydraulic fracturing, Incredible Hulk, iron man, jarvis, jeremy renner, loki, Marvel, Marvel Avengers, methane, mightiest heroes, natasha romanoff, natural gas, NATURAL GAS EXXPOSED, natural resources, nick fury, not a team, oil, paul bettany, pepper potts, range resources, robert downey jr, samuel l jackson, scarlett johansson, SHIELD, some assembly required, Stan Lee, steve rogers, Strategic Hazard Intervention Espionage Logistics Directorate, Strategic Homeland Intervention, superhero, Supreme Headquarters International Espionage Law Enforcement Division, sustainability, thor, throw down the hammer, time bomb, tom hiddleston, tony stark, Water Defense, world
Compassion Without Borders
Compassion without borders… except if you did not have a ticket to this sold out San Diego event.
Photo Courtesy of David Dannecker/Prospect Journal
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet opened his “Compassion without Borders” tour with a visit to UCSD on Wednesday, April 18, 2012 by encouraging “a sense of global responsibility” in addressing the challenges of climate change.
He was joined by two distinguished professors from the Scripps Institute of Oceanography, Dr. Richard Somerville and Dr. Veerabhadran Ramanathan.
The Global Impact of Climate Change: Balance through Universal Responsibility, Compassion and Human Consciousness was a conversation on humanitarian values and our interaction with nature. The panelists discussed the atmospheric phenomena presented by air pollution and the greenhouse effect, and the effects these have on our planet, our natural resources, our economies, and ultimately human life.
Human-caused changes in the composition of the air and air quality result in more than 2 million premature deaths worldwide every year, and threaten water and food security – especially among those 3 billion people who are too poor to benefit from the technological advances made possible by military industrialization.
As sea levels rise and glaciers disintegrate worldwide, including the Himalayan-Tibetan glaciers – and as human populations continue to grow – water for drinking is becoming increasingly scarce.
His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama teaches the importance of compassionate thought, ethics, and universal responsibility in motivating our relationship with our neighbors and our relationship with the natural environment.
How can each one of us incorporate these principles or values into our lives and actions to prevent suffering and ensure the sustainability of our planet and its natural resources?
“At a time when humanity faces great environmental and economic challenges, the Dali Lama’s message of compassion and his promotion of humanitarian values are especially important.” UCSD Chancellor Fox
As Dr. Somerville explained, “our generation today now controls what the climate will be for our children and grandchildren. We did not seek this power, but we have it because we have long used the atmosphere as a free dump for the side effects and waste products of human activities.” While all nations contribute to climate change, there is a lack of effective international cooperation to mitigate its effects.
His Holiness the Dalai Lama said “It is not a religious matter. Of course we can draw from the resources of religious tradition to further reinforce our commitment to this kind of responsibility, but for me what is more convincing is scientific explanation.”
Dr. Ramanathan expands, “When we talk about climate change, we normally talk about what’s going to happen 100 years from now. So economists say, ‘do you want to take that benefit now or wait 100 years?’ But what we are finding is that climate change is happening now. We need to sensitize our economists [to the fact] that changes are happening now. Fact awareness would take this argument and help us work together.”
His Holiness spoke of “The political process has been so slow and ineffective in many ways in doing what needs to be done. I think [this is] because we have to educate our political leaders and tell them that this is important. When polling in this country, and many other countries, shows that the environment ranked very low compared to things like economic prosperity, national security and education, then we find that politicians can conveniently ignore it. So I ask people that take this issue seriously to tell their politicians that it is important to them. We have a democratic government and politicians react to pressure from voters.”
The Dalai Lama professed his genuine respect and admiration for science by praising the scientific inquiry that brings us new knowledge.
“Scientists are very skeptical. Skepticism [is] very necessary, skeptical attitude brings questions, questions bring research, research can analyze our problems and analysis brings answers”
We Can’t Wait to Share More as we really set-up an exciting Season 3 experience, but stay connected with Facebook and Twitter to see if we drop some fun clips on the way… Enjoy!
Read More Prospect Journal
Photos courtesy of David Dannecker, Lee Neuwirth, and AP Photos.
Screenshot from our Dalai Lama footage…
Uncut Dalai Lama Press Conference courtesy of BDCiTV.
Posted in News, Sustainability
Tagged Avalokiteshvara, Buddhism, Buddhist, chancellor fox, Chenrezig, China, climate change, compassion, compassion without borders, culture, Dalai Lama, Dharamsala, earth, education, ethics, global impact, greenhouse, His Holiness, holistic, human consciousness, India, Lhamo Dhondup, marye anne fox, news, peace, ramanathan, religion, richard somerville, Rimac Arena, san diego, science, scripps institution of oceanography, sustainability, Tenzin Gyatso, Tibet, UCSD, universal responsibility, veerabhadran ramanathan
Lighter Side of Green
Ever wonder what the real deal with those energy efficient bulbs is about, discover the difference in lighting to brighten up your green lifestyle.
Start by breaking down the basics on energy use in buildings.
Buildings account for roughly 40% of all U.S. energy use. To be more specific, residential buildings account for 22% of all U.S. energy use and commercial buildings account for 18% of all U.S. energy use.
Of course, every region and building has its differences. For example, in Texas, you might use a lot more energy running the air conditioning equipment and maybe a little less energy running the heating.
On average lighting accounts for 11% of residential energy use and 26% of commercial.
This makes energy efficient lighting very important in reducing energy consumption at the residential and commercial level.
As we explore alternative energy sources over the next few weeks its important to consider the fuel source. Our current energy resources are largely non-renewable and effect the environment in many ways including drilling/mining for resources (offshore oil drilling), transporting materials (direct from war zones around the world), using the fuel (burning coal), and proper disposal (nuclear waste) so its important for the environment to be energy efficient.
Sustainability is an issue not only concerning the environment, but considers economics and social aspects as well. Please consider being sustainable.
Find your personal preferences with accessible energy efficiency and the affordability to match…
Various green aspects of the New York Times Building continue to make high profile news and it’s only been a year since the modern building opened. Here’s the deal: The Times Company installed a total light management system that includes daylight, occupant, target set point, time clock, and emergency lighting controls.
Although the building was originally designed to use approximately 1.28 watts per sf of lighting power, with the light management system, it’s actually using only 0.38 watts per sf of lighting power or a 70% reduction in lighting use. That means, based on New York City electric rates, New York Times is saving approximately $315,500 and preventing the emission of 1,250 metric tons of CO2 annually.
Here’s where they recognized the most in terms of lighting energy savings:
30% – daylight harvesting
10% – occupancy sensing
2% – scheduling
58% – light level tuning
Its pretty good proof that significant savings can be recognized by using smart systems that optimize lighting based on the amount of natural light already in the building.
Building systems are all related and energy savings are only one aspect of an owner’s considerations. In setting up the advanced lighting system, the Times Company was particularly worried about glare control and employee comfort. Apparently, though, everything went as planned and employee satisfaction has increased since the installation. The New York Times has lower operating costs and higher employee satisfaction. Write On!
Find more Green Yourself Energy Efficiency Tips and Lighten Up.
Part of our Energy Efficiency Series which started with Explore, Explore Oil and Trouble. Stay tuned to learn more about alternative energy options, coming soon. Real soon!
References: We used these articles to help us write ours Breaking Down Building Energy Use and Smart Tech Helps NY Times Building Cut Lighting Costs Dramatically!. Both of the articles were published by Preston of Jetson Green
Posted in Energy Efficiency, Sustainability
Tagged bills, buildings, business, CFLs, efficiency, electricity, energy, energy use, green building, incandescent, LEDs, LEED, light bulbs, lighting, manage, new york times, office, save energy, tips
Explore, Explore, Oil and Trouble
As gas prices continue climbing many consumers are feeling the pressure at the pump and looking for answers. Energy issues are an area worth understanding so lets look at the current situation to determine the options available in a more sustainable solution.
To understand oil prices we must consider 3 things: Our Needs, Production or Supply, and Global Demand. This is actually quite complicated and economists fight about it all day, but here is a simply way to look at it.
1) Our Needs
2) Production or Supply
3) Global Demand
Facts about oil consumption…
We are importing less oil, which is good because our proven oil reserves are not our biggest natural resource…
Many people see the price of oil as less than alternative sources of energy, but consider this…
At the pump isn’t the only price we pay for oil. Many subsidies, taxes, and infrastructure go into maintaining this energy source.
Here is a new option for an energy efficient future…
Over the next few weeks we will explore many energy efficiency and fuel source options.
Posted in News, Sustainability
Tagged alternative energy, drilling, efficiency, energy, environment, facts, fuel, gas, gasoline, news, offshore drilling, oil, petroleum, sustainability
Take a View at Season 2
Catch up on the excitement with all the environmental episodes from Season 2 now available online. Its a green adventure with Ronnie Das as he explores the issues involved in creating a sustainable San Diego.
Start your engines for the fast-paced action of episode one and learn all about electric vehicles. Episode 1: Electro-Go!
Cuddle up with episode two to learn tips on treating your pet with sustainable choices. Its a treat for anyone interested in adopting, fostering, or volunteering to help our pawed pals and feline friends. Episode 2: Animal Housing
An energy source literally blowing in the wind, become a fan favorite of this wind energy episode. Episode 3: Blown Away
More or less this episode is about how less is more and reducing our use of water with conservation is terrific for the environment. Part 1 of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Series. Episode 4: One Less Mess
See it all before with something new and sustain our city with Re-use. Part 2 of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle Series. Episode 5: Twice as Nice
Leave the landfill to waste away, because with recycling in our day, we can make a difference. Episode 6: Think Again
Posted in Episodes, TV Show
Tagged adopt, animal housing, blown away, business, cat, Community, dog, education, electric, electric vehicle, electro-go, energy, energy efficiency, episodes, foster, How Can I Help, ITV, municipal, non-profit, one less mess, pet, recycle, reduce, renewable, reuse, san diego, season 2, think again, TV show, twice as nice, wind
La fin de l’acte 2
Despite what the groundhogs of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania believe… You can warm up with an awesome ALL NEW episode of “How Can I Help?” this Thursday February 2nd at 6:00 PM exclusively on ITV in San Diego.
THE SEASON 2 FINALE is this Thursday February 2nd at 6:00 PM on ITV
(Channel 16 on Cox and Time Warner, Channel 99 on AT&T)
The 3rd Part to the Reduce, Re-use, Recycle series. This episode is entitled “Think Again” and is all about taking a product and recycling to make it a creative outlet for someone else’s imagination like the incredibly career of riding the waves and shaping surfboards. Take advantage of this episodes easy tips on Recycling and if you can’t make it Thursday February 2nd at 6:00 PM than be sure to put in on your DVR to “Think Again”
Posted in Episodes, TV Show
Tagged 1 800 GOT JUNK, Community, eco boardworks, education, Episode 6, green business, How Can I Help, i love a clean san diego, non-profit, recycle, san diego, season 2, Season Finale, Special Event, think again, TV show
Happy New Yours!
Get going green in 2012 with these daily differences for a better world, community and you.
Meatless Mondays
Vegetarian options are always an eco-friendly alternative to any meat choice, but going green over grilling some meat is tough. So just go meatless on Mondays. It’s a growing nationwide trend with its own organization and Website. Eating vegetarian one day a week will give you the space you need to get comfortable with new vegetarian recipes, and before you know it, you’ll be eating more vegetarian meals throughout the week.
Trashy Tuesdays
Take a cue from New York City schools, which started Trayless Tuesdays as a way to experiment with reducing the number of polystyrene (Styrofoam) trays thrown out in its cafeterias. Focus your attention on Tuesdays on your personal waste stream – at mealtime, at home, at work, at the grocery store, at play. Just like time, waste is money: You can learn a lot about how you’re wasting money, as well as energy and natural resources, if you examine what you’re throwing out each day.
Wacky Wednesdays
Looking for creativity and self-sufficiency, but you struggle to find the time to start and complete new projects. The solution? Set aside a couple hours every week to give yourself the time to create. Whether you’re reducing waste by turning trash into treasure like new crafts or hunting through your home to boost its value and efficiency, the key ingredient of success is taking the time to observe your world.
Thankful Thursdays
So much of life’s anxieties – especially when it comes to goal-setting – is focused on what we’re not doing well, and what we’re not doing right. Take the time once a week to relax and appreciate what you have. Spend time with family or friends, write a letter – or reflect on all the progress you’re making on those other resolutions.
Fruitful Fridays
Did you know that three-quarters of Americans don’t eat enough fruits and vegetables? At a minimum, U.S. health agencies recommend eating three servings of vegetables and two servings of fruit every day. Even if you are in the minority of Americans that achieves this goal, it can’t hurt to diversify with new fruits and vegetables that have different phytonutrients. So make Fridays a day to try a new fruit or vegetable – and make it a fresh seasonal fruit or veggie whenever possible for the best flavor and nutritional profile.
Get Outside Saturdays
Most of us start the New Year with some sort of exercise goal – whether it’s hitting the floor for some pushups, or the gym for a daily workout. But for those of us who have tried and failed to make exercise a part of our routines, a big problem is fatigue – not physical fatigue, but mental. The treadmill isn’t any more exciting on Saturday than it was on Friday. So start an exercise regimen, or spice up your existing routine, with a regular workout outdoors. Whether it’s biking on a new rail trail, hiking at a forest preserve or ice skating on a local pond, adding an element of exploration to your week will deepen your connection with the outdoors while improving your health – naturally.
Good Samaritan Sundays
Generosity takes practice, just like anything else. Make good works a habit by doing one new good deed once a week. Maybe it’s volunteering (or planning a volunteer vacation), donating money (or even cell phones, clothes or other items) or just lending a hand to a neighbor. Whatever it is, you can make doing good a habit in 2011 by doing one good deed once a week.
Posted in Articles, Sustainability
Tagged 2012, choices, Community, fruitful fridays, get outside saturdays, going green, good Samaritan sundays, green, green living, Green Yourself, habit, Happy New Years, health, ideas, meatless monday, practice, resolutions, start, sustainable, thankful thursdays, tips, trashy tuesdays, try, wacky wednesdays
