energy efficiency, sustainability, green buildings, solar, hybrid cars and alternate fuels.
"A society built on green design, sustainable energy and closed loop systems, a civilization afloat on a cloud of efficient, non-toxic, recyclable technology."~~Alex Nikolai Steffan
The Florida legislature recently passed House bill 277 which exempts the value of renewable energy devices from the assessed value of new and existing residential property. The bill awaits the governor’s signature to become law.
The exemption not only applies to solar energy systems, but also exempts wind energy and energy derived from geothermal systems. Once signed into law, any increase in the value of residential property, for property tax purposes, can’t be attributed to the value of a newly installed renewable energy device. It applies to assessments beginning January 1, 2014, and would remove homeowners’ concerns that the installation of solar thermal or solar photovoltaic (PV) system will inadvertently increase their property taxes.
At a recent Sustainable Tallahassee Green Drinks event, the sustainability coordinator for Publix Supermarkets told the audience that Publix had no intention of discontinuing use of plastic shopping bags or charging a fee for using them, as they do in many countries in Europe. Give customers a credit for bringing their own bag? No, says Publix we won't do that either. Meanwhile this link tirelessly tallys
Plastic bags consumed this year: www.reusablebags.com The place where shopping is supposed to be a pleasure displeases those, who choose to not only bring their own bags for groceries, but would like every shopper to have the choice not to use petroleum-based, non-recyclyable bags in all transactions. Subsequently, many consumers have taken their shopping experience to alternative markets as much as possible. In other parts of the world, use of plastic bags for retail purchases is often the only option. Until we are able to eliminate plastic bags in their entirety, young women like these in Kenya have turned to entrepreneurship to not only make money, but remove plastic bags from their immediate environment:
We collect these bags from rubbish tips and around our neighbourhood. We clean them, cut them into strands and crochet them into table mats, laptop cases, phone cases, handbags and more, which we sell to tourists. The money generated gives the girls financial independence and benefits the wider community. The only costs are protective gloves and boots, scissors and crochet hooks.
Unfortunately, there are not enough crafters or customers to stem the tide of plastic bags that are clogging our waterways and sitting in our land fills for the next 1,000 years. I guess after the end of man on planet earth, the ever-surviving cockroaches will have plastic bags to keep them company.
Today is World Water Day, which is observed as part of the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. Although about 70 percent of the Earth’s surface is covered in water, only 0.001 percent of that is available for human consumption. 70 percent of our water is used in agriculture, and as water supplies face mounting pressures from a growing population, climate change, and an already troubled food system, critical action on water security has become necessary. For more on the state of our local water, plan to attend the discussion on Tuesday, March 26th at the Leon County Main Library. A panel of local water experts will present on where our water comes from, its vulnerability to pollution and depletion and the status of efforts to protect it. There will be a question and answer session following. Speakers include Harley Means, Florida Geological Survey, Hal Davis, US Geological Survey (retired) and Dan Penniongton, 1000 Friends of Florida. The conversation begins at 6:30 PM in the program room. The event is free and sponsored by Sustainable Tallahassee. p.s. note for the day: there is not enough water to frack our way to energy independence.
Showing in theaters in south Florida later in December, Chasing Ice is a movie about the Earth's changing climate photographed by environmental photographer James Balog. He conceived the Extreme Ice Survey, using time-lapse photography in the Arctic. He documented a multi-year record of the world's changing glaciers. The video compresses years into seconds showing the disappearing ice. April 19 - 21 All Saints Cinema 918 Railroad Avenue (Amtrak Station), Tallahassee See the trailer with more information on the movie at this previous post.
The Green Business Workshops are coming soon. Are you registered? Designed for businesses already operating with green products or businesses looking to expand their green footprint as well as for individuals considering starting a green business, the workshops will be held: Thursday, April 4th 3:00 - 5:00 PM Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce 115 North Calhoun Street, Tallahassee Sustainable Business Development is part one of a two part series. This workshop is designed for new or existing business owners who wish to engage in sales of green products and services. The workshop will focus on the nuts and bolts of how to do this.
Thursday, April 11th 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce 115 North Calhoun Street, Tallahassee Marketing Your Green Business is part two of a two part series. It will focus on the essential process of offering your goods or services to the community. The workshop will discuss areas such as target market selection, competitive analysis, developing your value proposition, and promotion.
Recently, ReThink Energy Florida featured a lunch and learn conversation about how to answer Climate Change deniers. [hint: using supporting facts doesn't dissuade someone who uses no facts.] For example, here's a recent comment by Washington state Representative Ed Orcutt (R):
Orcutt told Seattle Bike Blog that "you would be giving off more CO2 if you are riding a bike than driving in a car," although he admitted to having no evidence to back the claim. [underline mine.] You can’t just say that there’s no pollution as a result of riding a bicycle. . . the activity causes cyclists to have an increased heart rate and respiration.”
Yes, there have been studies that show that biking is more environmentally friendly than driving a car, just in case common sense doesn't win the argument. A report documenting how to quantify C02 savings from cycling is featured on the Bike Portland blog, or click here if you want to read the entire report from the European Cyclists' Federation [downloads as PDF].
You can try this flow chart for debating with denialists, created as part of theClimate Deskcollaboration. by James West who writes for Slate Magazine.
This short video shows water conservation is 'easy peasy.' For a global and insightful look at the looming worldwide water crisis, attend Sunday's Transition Tallahassee's video series, Blue Gold. Details below:
Blue Gold Video and Discussion Sunday, February 24
4:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church, Room L
2810 N. Meridian Road, Tallahassee
Transition Tallahassee presents Blue Gold, a film screening and discussion, free and open to the public. The documentary follows worldwide examples of people fighting for their basic right to water--including court cases to violent revolutions. Is water is a controlled commodity or a human right?
Yes, this is the Climate Change Ad that Exxon successfully got pulled from the State of the Union coverage last week. Exxon issued a Cease-and-Desist Order to Comcast. According to Huffington Post:
The satirical spot, which is brazenly titled "Exxon Hates Your Children" and urges Congress to eliminate fossil fuel industry subsidies, was produced by progressive advocacy groups Oil Change International, The Other 98% and Environmental Action.
Unfortunately, I saw one of these today in a local retail store. The solar panel is on the Queen's handbag. When charged, the statue swivels and waves. Was this what we meant when we said 'solar innovation?'
This year, one of the choices is a fruit tree! Tallahassee city residents are again eligible to request the planting of two trees. Residents can apply to receive one or two trees though the Adopt-a-tree program. Applications are available online here.
To receive trees from the City, a citizen must live in the city limits, plant the tree in the front yard, receive not more than two trees per address per year, and acceptirresponsibility for watering the tree. Trees available are:
Check out the new tab at the top of this page Repurpose Friday for innovative tips and resources on how to reuse or repurpose stuff you have in your life. Need a space to work on your stuff or need someone with expertise on how to fix something? There's information on the new Tallahassee Makers Space called Making Awesome. Want to reduce electronic clutter? There's a cancellation guide for almost everything on-line. The tabRecycle Where? will guide you on how and where to get rid of that stuff you're not going to use or repurpose.
The Economics of Happiness is a documentary film about the worldwide movement for economic localization. *****NOTE: although the screening listed below has passed, the DVD is available for lending to any group who would like to show it! A free showing and discussion will be held this Sunday, January 27th from 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM at the Unitarian Universalist Church, 2810 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee. Light refreshments will be available.
The film describes a world moving simultaneously in two opposing directions. On the one hand, government and big business continue to promote globalization and the consolidation of corporate power. At the same time, all around the world people are resisting those policies, demanding a re-regulation of trade and finance—and, far from the old institutions of power, they’re starting to forge a very different future.
Climate change and peak oil give us little choice but to localize, to bring the economy home. The good news is that as we move in this direction we will begin not only to heal the earth, but also to restore our own sense of well-being.
More information is at: http://www.theeconomicsofhappiness.org/ This event is co-sponsored by: Transition Tallahassee, ReThink Energy Florida, FSU Center for Participant Education, UUCT Green Sanctuary, UUCT Social Justice Committee, FSU Environmental Service Program, Tallahassee Citizen’s Climate Lobby, and Tallahassee Sustainability Group. The “Tallahassee in Transition” Film and Discussion Series is held on the 4th Sunday of the month. Please mark your calendars and bring a friend!
This platinum LEED certified home in Gainesville, made from used shipping containers, is near the downtown. Tom Fox built his home from 12 containers he brought from Jacksonville. He said his goal was to have a home that was affordable, able to withstand natural disasters and green. AND, he is selling excess electricity generated by solar back to the grid. Can one imagine zoning approvals for a home like this in Tallahassee?
“We, the people, still believe that our obligations as Americans are not just to ourselves, but to all posterity. We will respond to the threat of climate change, knowing that the failure to do so would betray our children and future generations. Some may still deny the overwhelming judgment of science, but none can avoid the devastating impact of raging fires, and crippling drought, and more powerful storms. The path towards sustainable energy sources will be long and sometimes difficult. But America cannot resist this transition; we must lead it. We cannot cede to other nations the technology that will power new jobs and new industries – we must claim its promise. That is how we will maintain our economic vitality and our national treasure – our forests and waterways; our croplands and snowcapped peaks. That is how we will preserve our planet, commanded to our care by God. That’s what will lend meaning to the creed our fathers once declared.”
The way to institutionalize alternative energy is to think alternatively. Not thinking differently is the same as trying to make the internal combustion engine more efficient without changing the mechanics of the engine. People say daily: 'well, solar isn't cost effective, it needs to scale, etc., etc.' Instead of just talking, a project in Minnesota combines innovative thinking with applying solar in a cost effective manner. According to a recent article in the Star Tribune, an electric power cooperative is offering its customers the opportunity to invest in a number of solar panels in an array that equals the amount needed for that customer's residential power needs. Recognizing that not everyone can or wants to install solar panels on their home, this joint effort between the Wright-Hennepin Cooperative Electric Association, a utility serving 46,000 customers northwest of the Twin Cities, and Clean Energy Collaborative, a company based in Boulder, Colorado. The project is similar to ones in Colorado and New Mexico. The solar panel will generate its power to the grid, while customers who invest in an ownership unit will receive a credit on their utility bill. All available units have been sold in increments of one to 27 panels. A trust will be set up to cover maintenance and repairs for 30 years. The full article is here. Leon County has an electric cooperative and a 400 megawatt solar farm is being built outside Havana. Investors announced a deal to sell the solar generated power to Progress Energy, which will most likely use the power to offset peak-load demand. Are there opportunities for something innovative for local customers or is it the same conventional thinking?
Number of green roofs on City, County, State owned buildings in Tallahassee: ZERO Chicago response to increasing high temperatures in their city is a plan to add
. . .green space and vegetation wherever they can, which has a natural cooling effect.
Chicago's City Hall, for example, contains a spectacular rooftop garden. From native woodland grasses to sunflowers and asters, plants arranged in radiating bands of color bloom throughout the seasons in a sunburst pattern. The roof, 12 stories high, contains 23,000 square feet of more than 100 plant species.
"It's really the Rolls-Royce of green roofs." said Michael Berkshire who administers green projects for the city. Some areas of the roof have rolling terrain with an added 18-inch layer of soil to support trees and shrubs. A rainwater collection system irrigates the roof and several bee hives pollinate the many flower varieties.
If every rooftop in Chicago was covered with a green roof, the city could save $100 million in energy every year.
From the PBS series, Coping with Climate Change, which broadcast in October 2012, the full report is here. Here's a look at Green Roof performance in high winds, rating green roofs a good idea in hurricane-prone areas and an effective way to capture/redirect rain water: Comprehensive Wind Uplift Study of Modular and Built-in-Place Green Roof Systems, UF Project ID #: 95620, completed for the Florida Building Commission in 2012. Downtown Tallahassee has a lot of rooftops------ _____________________________________________
Happy New Year! A great way to start 2013 is the resolution to conserve water. Here's 100 tips to get you started from the IFAS Extension office. Some you may already be doing, a few may be new. Great to share with your kids!
In this holiday season: To my enemy, forgiveness. To an opponent, tolerance. To a friend, my heart. To my community, service. To every child, a good example and unconditional love. To all, an open mind. To myself, respect. Peace, 2013.
As a follow-up to the article posted by the Natural Resources Defense Council that outlined how the President can use the Clean Air Act to reduce carbon pollution from power plants, New York Times columnist, Andrew Revkin, conducted a follow-up Q & A that poses interesting questions, including what happens to other forms of pollution? And in reference to states having renewable energy standards, Florida does not.
Showing in theaters in south Florida later in December, Chasing Ice is a movie about the Earth's changing climate photographed by environmental photographer James Balog. He conceived the Extreme Ice Survey, using time-lapse photography in the Arctic. He documented a multi-year record of the world's changing glaciers. The video compresses years into seconds showing the disappearing ice. The movie's trailer:
You can help bring the movie to Tallahassee by going to the Chasing Ice website here. Below is a video clip filmed by Los Angeles videographer Justin Kanew, said to be of a woman who was previously a climate denier:
On this Thanksgiving, thankful for family and friends and for all the millions of people who care about the environment and who are working daily to see this planet survives the antics of humans. A tiny part of the circle comes as this Thanksgiving story of the Loggerhead sea turtle that survived a shark attack and lived to see another day from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Here’s the back-story: In late July, the Sea Turtle Rehabilitation Facility (STRF) at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center in Boca Raton took in a Loggerhead Sea Turtle that had been rescued by fishermen. Cindy – as she came to be known – had been attacked by a shark. The tussle had cost her her entire front left flipper and badly damaged her front right flipper. She was given months of intense medical treatment, including sutures to her flipper and daily doses of antibiotics and unpasteurized honey, which was used to fight infection. When she’d first arrived at the STRF, she was 115 pounds, but by the time of her release, she tipped the scales at more than 130 pounds. Read the full story at the On the Trail with FWCblog:
"Over 500 people gathered atGumbo Limbo, located on the west side of A1A near Boca Raton, FL, to watch Cindy’s release into the Atlantic Ocean.
A green and yellow John Deere Gator rolled slowly down to the designated release area, with Cindy safely nestled in the back inside a children’s plastic wading pool. Staff and volunteers hoisted the turtle and pool out of the back and set her gently down on the sand. While I wouldn't want to imply that I could decipher a turtle’s emotions (particularly from my vantage point), it seemed clear that instinct was taking over as the smell of the salty air hit Cindy’s nose. She seemed antsy; she was ready to go home and it was an honor to watch her get there.
Photo by Gumbo Limbo Nature Center
A team of five people carefully lifted the turtle from under her shell and carried her to the water. As they set her down, the crowd broke into applause, as Cindy swam south away from the shore and navigated a sandbar. It was a great day to be someone who appreciates nature."
Gumbo Limbo is located in Palm Beach County and is on the Great Florida Birding Trail, more information and a link to the TripPlanning Wizardhere.
While we're waiting for the wind turbines to be constructed above our Interstate highways, maybe we could have gardens of bamboo, as pictured here. This project by Urban Air in Los Angeles, is a Kickstarter project conceived by artist, Stephen Glassman. Living, suspended bamboo could create living forests in place of billboards. See more on the project at their Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/UrbanAirProject
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