It’s almost here, 2008!  Looking back at 2007 I have made a good effort to make small changes in my everyday life that will benefit the environment; or at least lessen our impact.  So what are going to be my environmental resolutions for 2008? 

• I’m in need of a new vehicle this year; so I’m going to research hybrid cars and other non-hybrid alternatives to the regular car.  I promise right here to stay with something mid-sized and not but a gas guzzler!
• My first home project for 2008 is to remodel our guest bathroom.  I am going to try to find a reuse for many of the items that I am replacing; at the very least I am going to find a way to recycle things like the tub, toilet, and vanity.  Also when purchasing the replacements I’m going to think green.
• I resolve to use my green bags more often at the grocery store (and other stores as well).
• I want to start a small garden in the back yard.  With that garden I also want to start a compost pile and a rain barrel.  My garden is going to be organic with no pesticides or chemicals used. 
• Continue to replace our incandescent light bulbs with CFLs when they burn out. 

So what small steps can you take in 2008?  I’d like to hear your resolutions for the environment.  Have a great New Years Eve and be safe.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Congress approved HR 6 today!  I don’t normally follow all the polital stuff that happens up in Washington but lately it’s been really interesting.  The new legislation also called the Energy Independance and Security Act of 2007 and it addresses fuel economy, alternative fuels and light bulbs.  It sounds kind of strange to bunch all of those topics in one bill but the primary focus is to begin to address the climate change/global warming issue.  Here are a few places to read up on the Energy Act: http://www.energy.gov/, http://biz.yahoo.com/usnews/071219/19_faq_the_end_of_the_light_bulb_as_we_know_it.html?.v=1&.pf=banking-budgeting, and http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/politics/5388632.html. 

In brief the new act will increase the fuel economy of all vehicles over the next several years; work to increase the production and availability of alternative fuels (such as ethanol); and eliminate incandescent light bulbs!  The easiest one for us to relate to is the light bulb.  We’ve all seen the curly shaped light bulbs (compact fluorescent light bulbs, aka CFLs) at the stores but what do you really know about them?  I’ve wrote about them before.  They are more energy efficient and last up to 10 times longer than the traditional light bulbs.  They also use less energy and produce less heat thus saving in your energy bill.  You can go to www.18seconds.org to read more interesting facts on the savings of the CFL. 

I really wanted to note the significance of this Energy Act.  It was 1975 the last time Congress addressed fuel economy in vehicles.  That was shortly after my birth!  I know I’m aging myself but it makes me ponder what will be normal for my son in 10 years.  He’ll be 15 and won’t have any idea what an incandescent light bulb is.  He already knows the difference between them and CFLs, in fact he really likes the CFLs cool shape.  What will the vehicles be like when he starts to drive?  Will fuel cell vehicles be popular yet?  What will be the hot environmental issues when he’s 10?  Will we really be that far removed from where we are now?  When he’s my age will gasoline powered vehicles be a thing of the past?  

Ok…sorry I started to ramble again that’s my cue to sign off for the day.  What do you think of the new legislation?   

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

So here is an article that will speak more clearly on the Climate Change debate the the compromise between the US and the European Nations.  I’m usually not very in tune with all the political talks but this one I have been paying close attention to.  As American’s do you think the majority of people believe in Global Warming/Climate Change?  Do you think we are doing everything we can to prevent a major katastrophe in the future?  I really believe that we need to be less dependant on oil driven modes of transportation; and really stiving for the use of renewable energies.  There are some things in which oil will always be need for but transportation need not be one of them.  We have the technology available today to provide us with multiple different types of renewable energy sources for our transportation.  However; unless drastic measures are taken in the U.S. we will never see those resources in use to their potential.  Do I think E-85 is the answer; not by itself.  Do I think Hybrid is the answer; not by itself.  There are so many other scientific advances out there; the one I hear the most about is the hydrogen fuel cell; which I’d really like to learn more about.   What will it take for the U.S. to break loose from the demands on oil?

By CHARLES J. HANLEY, AP Special Correspondent 1 minute ago

BALI, Indonesia – The U.S. and Europe headed toward a compromise solution Friday at the U.N. climate conference, breaking a deadlock over how ambitious the goal should be in negotiating future cutbacks in global warming gases, the German environment minister said.

“I think the situation is good and the climate in the climate conference is good, and we will have success in the end,” Sigmar Gabriel told reporters, declining to give details of the talks.

The outcome may help determine how high the planet’s temperatures rise for decades to come.

In the final day of the two-week conference, delegates sparred over the wording of a conference final document until 2:30 a.m. Drafters then retired to craft new formulations in contentious passages — notably the European Union‘s suggestion of a goal of emissions reductions from 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020.

Trying to break the deadlock, Indonesian Environment Minister Rachmat Witoelar — the conference president — later proposed revised language dropping those mid-range numbers but still reaffirming that emissions should be reduced at least by half by 2050.

The U.N. climate chief, Yvo de Boer, told reporters the mid-range 25 percent to 40 percent was implicit — “an inevitable stop on that road” — in the 50 percent goal by 2050.

Witoelar’s proposal gave the two sides room to work out the long-expected compromise, producing a relatively vague mandate for two years of negotiations.

“We are sure we are able to reach an agreement,” said Gabriel. “All parties are ambitious to tackle climate change and to have success and the development of the international climate policy.”

The annual assembly’s main goal was to launch negotiations for a regime of deeper emissions reductions to succeed the Kyoto Protocol, which requires 37 industrial nations to cut output of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases by 5 percent below 1990 levels by 2012.

The United States is the only major industrial nation to reject Kyoto. The Bush administration instead favors a voluntary approach — each country deciding how it can contribute — over internationally negotiated and legally binding commitments.

For years, the rest of the world has sought to bring the Americans into the framework of international mandates. At this point, however, many seem resigned to waiting for a change in White House leadership after the 2008 U.S. election.

In a series of landmark reports this year, the U.N.’s network of climate scientists warned of severe consequences — from rising seas, droughts, severe weather, species extinction and other effects — without sharp cutbacks in emissions of the industrial, transportation and agricultural gases blamed for warming.

To avoid the worst, emissions should be reduced by 25 percent to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2020, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning panel said.

The Kyoto Protocol nations have accepted that goal, and the numbers were written into early versions of the Bali conference’s final document — not as a binding target, but as a suggestion in the preamble. The text also called for “comparability of efforts” — that is, U.S. cuts comparable to those of other industrial nations.

The U.S. delegation immediately opposed any inclusion of such numbers, complaining they would tend to “drive the negotiations in one direction,” as U.S. negotiator Harlan Watson put it.

In a countermove, the Americans early Friday had submitted amendments that would introduce the idea of voluntary cutback programs.

Environmentalists accused the U.S. of trying to wreck future talks.

“The United States in particular is behaving like passengers in first class in a jumbo jet, thinking a catastrophe in economy class won’t affect them,” said Tony Juniper, a spokesman for a coalition of environmentalists here. “If we go down, we go down together, and the United States needs to realize that very quickly.”

The European Union had threatened to withdraw from separate U.S.-led climate talks if Bali did not endorse the numbers.

President Bush started those talks at the White in September, seeking pledges from 16 other nations to curtail greenhouse gases according to their own formula. The 16 countries are responsible for 80 percent of global emissions.

On Friday morning, Gabriel said the Americans were being constructive on some issues, but Russia was now arguing against the target range. Russia, Japan and Canada have often sided with Washington at these talks.

The draft final document also calls for developing countries to take new steps toward restraining growth in their emissions. The exemption of fast-growing economies like China and India from the Kyoto pact was a major U.S. complaint.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

I live in Florida and we do have a public bus system but that’s the only form of public transportation available.  The closest grocery store is about a half mile to a mile away, my only friend within walking distance is my neighbor, all of my other friends are over 5 miles away, and there is nothing fun within walking distance.  It seems a little impossible for me to celebrate CarFree Day but I can try.  We haven’t made any plans today other than watching a little football at home; but then again we have no food either.  I guess a trip to the grocery store might be necessary but I still don’t see us walking or taking the bus.  Even if you can’t go CarFree here are some tips to make your trips a little more environmentally friendly.

• Combine your trips to minimize the number of stops.
• Don’t idle your car; it’s better to turn it off and start it again.
• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• Keep you vehicle tuned up.
• Purchase a vehicle with good gas milage or try a hybrid or alternative fuel vehicle.

  Visit CarFree Day to learn how to live without your vehicle or Green Driving Tips on Trip Net to learn how to drive green.   To learn more about alternative fuel vehicles, like E85, visit the Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center.  I know my next vehicle is going to be a hybrid, more on that later.

No related posts.

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.