Is Al Gore green or others Green with envy?

Gore subsidizes renewable energy: spokeswoman for Al Gore said after he went under an attack from Drew Johnson, the president of the think tank, Tennessee Center for Policy Research, which researches public policy issues.

My question is why Drew's think tank waited for such a long time, the movie was produced in 2005. Is it jealousy or political meddling ? I don't know. If I was in Drew's team I would have published more data. So far I only hear that AP (associated Press) has seen some bills and the figures do not match. Read the AP article to ge some information.
That said, if Gore is consuming energy more than others? Why Gore?
If this was the truth why only after an Oscar Drew?
But the inconvenient truth stands, let's ge to gether and fix it!
Another question is since Johnson said his group got its figures from Nashville Electric Service. But company spokeswoman Laurie Parker told the Associated Press the utility never got a request from the policy centre and never gave it any information.

Here is a part of the statement from a spokesperson for Al Gore;
"Sometimes when people don't like the message, in this case that global warming is real, it's convenient to attack the messenger," said Kalee Kreider.

She said Gore subsidizes renewable energy sources such as solar power, wind power and methane gas to balance 100 per cent of his electricity costs.

She said Gore participates in a utility program that lets people buy blocks of "green power" for $4 a month. Gore purchases 108 blocks a month, the equivalent of 16,200 kilowatt hours.

The Gore home is also under renovation to add solar panels, Kreider said.

"For every ton of carbon they emit, [Gore] offsets that by doing investments in renewable energy sources," Kreider said.

But Drew Johnson said this is not enough.

"In general, I applaud his efforts to reduce energy consumption, but if he is going to be a spokesman for global warming, he has to be willing to make the same sacrifices," Johnson said.

Links;
Associated Press release on Al Gore
An Inconvenient Truth

Lennar Corp makes Solar power standard on all it's houses in California

According to Barbara E. Hernandez of CONTRA COSTA TIMES, Lennar Corp, One of the nation's leading home builders pledged to install solar power systems in all its new homes in the Bay Area.
Lennar made the announcement at its upscale, all-solar development in the Milano housing community in Danville. Three other projects in San Ramon slated to open this year will be solar-powered.
"Our marketing platform is that everything is included," said Peter Beucke, vice president of the Bay Area division of Lennar. "So every home in Milano will come with a solar package. ... It's now a standard inclusion in our homes."

Milano looks no different from many other high-end developments in the Tri-Valley. It comes with standard maple cabinetry, granite counters, stainless steel appliances and homes larger than 3,000 square feet. But along with the roof-integrated solar electric system, it comes with an interactive digital electrical system, a 46-inch Sony Bravia flat-screen HDTV and a home automation system that controls things such as security, music, the thermostat and lighting. Also included are a pest-control system and an irrigation system that won't water if it's scheduled to rain. Prices for the homes on Wednesday ranged from $1.3 million to $1.5 million.

Putting solar energy into luxury homes is nothing new. Most of the solar systems integrated into new homes occurred in the higher-end markets of the East Bay and San Francisco. Ventana, Edenbridge Homes' solar community of 47 homes in Vacaville, is one of the few solar projects that feature moderately priced homes, from $400,000 to $500,000, in the Bay Area.

"We've got to make solar accessible and affordable for home buyers at all income levels to be successful here," Hochschild said.

Links;
Developer makes solar power standard by Barbara

Tags: bay area solar power, solar, solar energy, solar community

Get tax breaks for your efficiency in energy management

This Tax year, you can get a tax break for being energy efficient. Tax year 2006 is the first for which you can get a tax break for making your home more energy efficient.

You can take a 30 percent credit up to $2,000 for the cost of solar water heating or photovoltaic equipment in your home. You can get a 10 percent credit up to $500 for insulation and heat-reducing metal roofs, and up to $200 for energy-efficient windows. Labor costs, though, don't count.

(For more information, see IRS Form 5695. The credit is entered on line 52 on the 1040.)

This is an excerpt from an article on CNNmoney, "10 don't-miss tax breaks" which gives you much more information on other tax breaks.

Links;
10 don't-miss tax breaks

Tags: solar tax breaks, solar water heating, photovoltaic, energy-efficient windows, heat-reducing metal roofs

Greenest Cars for all of us

Even if we all cant find Hybrid cars, there are alternatives as Mother Earth Living's article "Top Picks for Fuel-efficient Cars" points out.
The posting points you to Mother Earth News, a magazine that I frequent a lot, December/January issue's "Affordable Cars, Fantastic Fuel Economy". Links for both are available below.
I found that;
"Perhaps most exciting are three new cars that are small but practical, fun but not funky, and fuel-efficient without high price tags: the Honda Fit, the Nissan Versa and the Toyota Yaris. Their prices range from about $12,000 to $16,000; their miles per gallon stats reach into the high 30s. Then there are the longtime favorites for reliability and fuel economy — the Honda Civic and Toyota Corolla — which are as good as ever, if not better. Ditto for the best-selling hybrid Toyota Prius; in its wake automakers are improving hybrids and developing new models. Honda put new spark into its Civic Hybrid, and Toyota hybridized the best-selling family car in America, the Camry. Both have earned rave reviews." A very good start.
Of course article reviews all three cars plus wealth of othe information like;

six other especially notable fuel-efficient cars:

Toyota Prius
Honda Insight
Mazda 3 i Sport
Honda Civic GX
Ford Focus SE
Chevy Aveo5 LS

Mother Earth’s Alternative Transportation Page
Green car news and ratings
Hybrids
Reliability and safety ratings
Reviews, prices and buying tips

Follow the links to get greener.


Links;
Mother Earth Living
Mother Earth News "affordable cars.."

Tags: Mother Earth Living, Fuel-efficient Cars, green cars, Honda Fit, Nissan Versa, Toyota Yaris, Prius, Insight

Another "have OIL" Country, Indonesia goes Solar

Like Venezueala, now Indonesia is trying Solar power as a national energy solution. This out to put to shame the none Kyoto pact signing and rich countries that continue to drain energy resources of our earth.

Ika Krismantari from The Jakarta Post reports that Indonesian Government is pressing ahead with its program to electrify underdeveloped regions across the nation, will next month hold a tender for the procurement of 30,000 home solar-power units.

One home solar unit can generate between 50 and 80 watts of electricity.

J. Purwono, director general for electricity and energy use at the Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry, said Tuesday that the government had allocated Rp 247 billion (US$27.4 million) for the project.

I think These will provide electricity to remote areas where national grid is unable to reach. The units are of lower power grade so they might not be enough to put power in to the grid.

Bravo Indonesia! I hope to visit you soon again.

Links;
Jakarta Post article on Solar tender

Tags: Indonesian solar, Solar power, solar energy, kyoto

An Inconvenient Truth, seen again

A fishing fleet! where is the water and fish. Watch the movie and you will know

I just finished watching "An Inconvenient Truth", again.
Remember the DVD was released a year after the movie was finalized and released. The truth continue to warm our planet and we still behind in our duties to protect our earth.
If the moronic idea of us to be the best on earth regarding everything else, why not this. The technology and knowledge we have we use for advancement and yet we remain the largest polluter on earth. more than 30% of the pollution has been attributed to USA.

I think, every human being need to see this movie even only if to strengthen the knowledge we have. Share the movie with your friends, inform your friends about the movie.
Watch and follow simple steps to reduce pollution by yourself instead of waiting for dumb politicians to sign in to Kyoto Protocol.
The following ten steps are taken from the climatecrisis.net website.

1. Change a regular light bulb to a Fluorescent bulb (I have changed to at least 8.)
2. Drive a little less (I do)
3. Recycle as much as possible. (I do)
4. Check your tires. Keeping them inflated right will save gas.
5. Use less hot water.
6. Buy products with less packaging, bring a bag when you go shopping.
7. Adjust your thermostat just a 2 degrees, down in winter and up in summer.
8. Plant a tree
9. Turn off electronic devices when not in use.
10. Teach people about global warming.

Links;
An Inconvenient Truth