TAX CREDIT FOR EV

The FalconEV is a supplier of electric scooters and bikes in the southeast. On February 25th, New Leaf Market is sponsoring a presentation on adapting to this fuel efficient alternative to gasoline power.

Buried within the American Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, the $787 billion stimulus bill passed by Congress and signed into law by President Obama, is a modest, but important tax credit for a special class of electric vehicles.

Light electric vehicles or LEVs, electrically-driven machines, now qualify for a ten percent federal tax credit up to $2,500. Included for the first time in the amended federal tax credit code are two and three-wheeled electric vehicles. 

Also qualifying are four-wheeled, lithium battery-powered neighborhood electric cars known as NEVs. Also known, from personal experience, as those vehicles driven by dangerously angry residents of The Villages.

In order to qualify for the credit, two and three-wheeled vehicles must have a battery pack with a minimum of 2.5 kWh of stored energy capacity. NEVs would have to have a 4 kWh battery capacity.

The Xebra Xero, solar powered supported, electric vehicle plugs into any 110 outlet.goes up to 30 mph at a little over $ .03 per mi with initial investment of $11,000 and up.

Bicycles, however, either factory-made or conversions start around $700 and go up from there. Recumbents are one choice as well as the folding EV bike that is intriguing for travel. Despite its $1300 price tag, it seems to have a practical application for travel.

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WHERE TO RECYCLE

Green Drinks last night featured our two recycling gurus:  Paul Hurst from the City of Tallahassee and Carole Gentry from Leon County.

For answers to 'can I recycle my yogurt container and what do I do with this StyrofoamTM' go to Green Tallahassee Where to Recycle.  Contact information for both coordinators is there, too.

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GREEN DRINKS Tonight!

Don't forget to stop by Waterworks on Thomasville Road for the monthly
Green Drinks. Tonight's conversation will be on City and County
recyclying efforts and future plans.
Starts at 5:45 PM.

--
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ENERGY CHALLENGE RESULTS

After months of fierce competition among neighborhoods to see which
one could reduce their consumption of electricity the most, it is time
to find out who came out on top!

To announce the winners and celebrate the accomplishments of all the
participants and neighborhoods, CONA is hosting this event. The
winning neighborhoods will be presented with prizes! Also, those that
attend this event will be eligible to participate in a drawing to win
an energy challenge-related prize.

This is a lunchtime event and food and refreshments will be available.
If the weather cooperates, the event will be held on the lawn outside,
so bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on. In the event of inclement
weather, we will move inside. Please plan to come out and join in the
festivities and congratulate the winners.

Saturday, January 23 from 11 AM until 1 PM.
Faith Presbyterian Church
2200 North Meridian Road, Tallahassee

Also learn what Faith Presbyterian has done to reduce its carbon
footprint and become more energy efficient.

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17 DEGREES PUTS A FROST ON ALL THINGS GREEN

Yes, it's cold outside and yes, like most Green Readers, we are ready for the customary warm front to blow away the chill.  Human nature tells us that we will long remember this winter and the length of time we've experienced below freezing temperatures and that we'll most likely remember this event longer than a not too distant heat wave.  Why?  Because, as Floridian's we're more accustomed to the heat, making the cold more memorable.  

The downside is not our personal memory banks, but the fact that any cold snap seems to fuel the fires of the climate change deniers, pointing to frigid temperatures in south Florida as scientific fact that global warming is a myth. 


Climate change creates extreme temperatures at both ranges, as well as drought, hurricanes and other extreme weather events.  A good discussion of the context in which we view a short winter cold snap versus the generations of global climate change is over at A. Siegel's blog and this news article from the Associated Press. Both are worth taking a look. 

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SOLAR INVESTMENT IN FLORIDA

Here's a good recap of current solar investments from Florida's major utility companies:  Florida PV Market

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AIRPORT RECYCLING PART TWO

My original question in this earlier post was:  Where do I recycle a glass bottle at the airport?

Looks like I have to have to go back through security to recycle my glass bottle purchased on the departure gate side or take it with me to my destination, at least until later this year when plans include adding receptacles for glass containers to those areas indicated below:

Here's the answer from 

Helen Ash Ible, CPM,Superintendent - Facilities Maintenance

Your concern has been received and reviewed, and we appreciate your commitment to recycling here in the City of Tallahassee.  Tallahassee Regional Airport participates in the City's recycling in Public Spaces program and currently has various recycling containers not only in the Terminal building, (e.g. customer lounging/seating areas, all office work spaces, Airlines offices and all tenant lease hold areas), but also in both the Short and Long Term parking lots.  These include labeled containers for paper, plastic, aluminum cans, and glass. 

Specifically, we have glass recycling containers at the following locations on airport premises:

• at the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) area checkpoint; 
• and in the Long Term and Short Term parking lots.

This year, as part of improvement and upgrades to the recycling program, Tallahassee Regional Airport is in the process of adding glass containers in both the seating areas on airside and landside of the terminal including the Baggage claim area.

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CLIMATE CHANGE AND PUBLIC HEATH

A Climate Change and Public Health Workshop will be held January 8
from 9:30 AM until 3 PM at the Easley Center, Room 152, 4075 Esplanade
Way, Tallahassee.

To register, E-mail kmorris@1000fof.org

Lunch is brown bag or pre-order $10.

The workshop is designed to examine the public health related impacts
of climate change and to assist Florida's Dept. of Health in
formulating a climate change strategic plan.

Climate change can affect an increase in the number and duration of
heat waves, infectious diseases, exposure to air pollution, loss of
water resources and exposure to severe weather.

The workshop's goal is to educate and engage public health and
community planning stakeholders concerning the effects of climate
change on public health and to identify promising practices, standards
and partnerships to address these potential effects.

--
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GREEN CONVENIENCE STORE?

These are the type of convenience stores we could encourage in our community:  

The Green Spot Market & Fuels in Dallas, Texas is the first healthy convenience store and gas station with regular unleaded gas, diesel gas blended with biodiesel and B100 biodiesel. The Green Spot offers healthy, organic, natural food and beverages as well as some personal care products. They also have organic and fair trade coffee, a natural soda fountain, fresh produce, gourmet sandwiches, breakfast tacos and more. The Green Spot utilizes eco-friendly cups and utensils made from corn plastic and other compostable materials and other eco-friendly supplies.

All biodiesel distributed by Green Spot Biodiesel meets ASTM 6751 standards and is produced from 100% waste and/or virgin vegetable oil without the use of any animal fat or tallow.

Green Spot Biodiesel has provided onsite fueling services to music and other tours including Coldplay, Radiohead, Nora Jones, Sheryl Crow, Willie Nelson and more.  Not to mention their space-age fuel pump decor!  They may even sell franchises.  

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HOW SOLAR CHALLENGES THE IMPOSSIBLE

 Bertrand Piccard wants to fly non-stop around the world using only solar power, but his mission (Solar Impulse) is about considering the possibilities of the impossible and how it applies to sustainability and our world's future.  His inaugural flight in December was successful.


Link to Piccard Talk

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RECYCLING AT TALLAHASSEE'S AIRPORT

Dear Tallahassee Airport:


Recently, I flew out of TLH and before my flight I purchased a beverage in a glass container.  Although there was a recycling receptacle for newspapers and cans, I could find none for glass. 

Where do I recycle a glass bottle at the airport?

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IDENTIFY YOUR ENERGY GLUTTONS

If Santa didn't leave you a P3 Kill A Watt Electricity Load Meter and Monitor in your stocking, you may want to put one of these in your new year's resolution cart.

This electricity monitor is an inexpensive way to measure the usage of anything. Leaving a device plugged can show how many kWh are burned over time. Seeing how much power a DVR uses in stand-by mode may convince your household to start using the off button on the power strip or may be the deciding factor in whether to replace an older appliance with a more energy efficient one.

Now, who can tell how much wattage a Load Meter uses?

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GREEN THE NEW YEAR BY REMOVING HAZARDOUS WASTE

Leon County Solid Waste Management Division hosts its Household Hazardous Waste & Electronics Collection Event on Saturday, January 2nd, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at its Public Works Operations Center, 2280 Miccosukee Road.

Clean out the clutter and bring old aerosol cans, antifreeze, rechargeable batteries, cleaning products, paint or oil, as well as electronics, including TVs, stereos, computers and mobile phones, to the collection this Saturday. ***NOTE: the new Goodwill Computer store at

2800 West Tennessee Street, will accept your working and non-working (repairable) computers and accessories. Don't send to trash what can be reused.

No vacuum cleaners, electric can openers, fans, microwaves, medical sharps, medicines and radioactive waste (!) will be accepted.

There is a 50-lb. weight limit per household and a limit of one large electronic item, such as a TV or computer, per household. Propane tanks must weigh less than 40 lbs. Tires will be limited to one per household.

If you have Styrofoam (tm) packing, the Hazardous Waste Center at 7550 Apalachee Parkway will accept it anytime it's open, Monday through Saturday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., excluding holidays, and is free to Leon County households.

For more information, contact the Leon County Solid Waste Management Division and view monthly drop-off schedules, at the County's website.

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