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In these four videos world renowned authors, scientists, and scholars provide convincing, illustrated discussions of the challenges we face as we restructure our economy to include environmental and social “externalities”. The concepts of national accounting methods, resource exhaustion, energy efficiency, carrying capacity, and biodiversity are clearly presented in interviews, lectures, and documentary illustrations. In “An Introduction to Ecological Economics,” you’ll learn about the field with Gaylord Nelson, the founder of Earth Day; Herman Daly, founder of ecological economics and co-author of the classic book, For the Common Good. “Investing in Natural Capital” explores carrying capacity issues related to agriculture, international trade, property rights, and over-population. “Conversation for a Sustainable Society” features Amory and Hunter Lovins, Dennis Meadows, David Orr, and others, discussing energy efficiency, economic renewal, utility reform, resource efficient technologies, and commercial retrofits. “Costa Rica Counts the Future” is produced in Spanish and English and presents examples of Costa Rica’s adoption of ecological economics as official policy. Griesinger Films: Prgfilms@ix.netcom.com 800/872-4456
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A study by the ICF Kaiser Consulting Group for the US EPA’s Energy Star Homes Program found that homebuyers are willing to pay substantially more for energy-efficient homes. Energy Star homes use at least 30% less energy than a Model Energy Code home while maintaining or improving indoor air quality and increasing comfort. EPA estimates that the cost to upgrade a new home to Energy Star levels ranges from $2,000 to $4,000, and reduces utility bills by $420 per year. For every $1 saved in annual utility bills, $20 is added to a home’s market value. Therefore, a savings of $420 a year in utility bills translates into an additional $8,400 for the home when it’s sold. To read the report: [sorry this link is no longer available] EPA Energy Star Homes: [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The CADDET Renewable Energy Centre website has international case studies on renewable technologies: biomass, geothermal, waste, hydro, solar, and wind. Some examples: Kalbarri Photovoltaic System, Australia, is the country’s largest PV system, a 20 kW grid-connected plant. It demonstrates a local current-controlled inverter and provides operating data on the benefits of distributed generation. A Heat Pump System in Japan uses ambient energy, such as natural convection, wind and solar radiation. Outdoor panels absorb and dissipate heat; storage units make ice by direct expansion refrigeration. The Brundtland Centre in Denmark employs advanced technologies and new materials to reduce grid energy consumption and provide optimum comfort for users. It includes integrated PV panels, daylighting, passive solar heating and natural ventilation. Water Current Turbines in the UK pump and generate electricity from rivers and canals. This project is used on the Nile river to provide drinking water for about 5,000 people. http://www.caddet-re.org
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A new California state law requires energy service providers to disclose the source of their power to help Californians choose an energy supplier. The “power content label” will be sent to customers along with quarterly information from electric service providers. The label indicates the energy sources used by their provider and compares them with the generic California system power mix. For Californians who choose to purchase green power, the label adds a strong measure of confidence that their energy dollars are flowing to renewable resources. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The Murdoch University Energy Research Institute and the Australian Cooperative Research Centre for Renewable Energy have placed elements of a renewable energy display site on a new website, WebRAPS. The physical site, on which WebRAPS is based, was developed and opened to the public in 1994. It demonstrates available renewable energy technologies and system options using Australian-made products from local suppliers. Visitors can view and interact with the systems. [sorry this link is no longer available]
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The new German government has launched a 100,000 solar rooftop program that is expected to create a market for some 500 MW of photovoltaic modules – valued in the billions of dollars over the next few years – almost four times greater than the entire world’s shipments of 122 MW of solar cells in 1997. In the U.S., the Department of Energy is making an additional $900,000 available nationally to fund the Million Solar Roofs Project (solar energy on 1 million buildings by 2010). About $90,000 will initially be granted in the New England region. Vermont pledged to add 1,000 solar energy systems to roofs around the state.
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At the new online EPA database, E-GRID, you can access information about the emissions produced by power plants across the U.S. E-GRID integrates information for 1996 from 12 federal databases. You can compare your local power plantto others nationally, since it is based on emissions per unit of electricity. It also displays, for individual plants, companies, states, and regions, the amount and percentage of power from different sources, such as coal, natural gas, nuclear, hydro, solar, and wind. EPA considers this information an important “right-to-know” tool. People in 18 states can choose among competing electricity suppliers; this information can help them understand the ramifications of their decisions and help them choose clean energy suppliers. egrid@epa.gov http://www.epa.gov/acidrain/eg rid/egrid.htm
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While a majority of Americans think computer mistakes due to the Year-2000 issue will cause only minor problems for themselves or in general, many will take some extra precautions just in case. Nearly half surveyed in a recent Gallup Poll say they will avoid traveling on airplanes around January 1, 2000, and nearly two-thirds say they will seek confirmation of bank account, retirement fund or other financial records. Nearly 80% of poll respondents say they have seen or heard “some or a great deal” about the Year 2000 computer problem, and over two-thirds of those polled believe Y2K problems will persist several weeks to several months, and possibly as long as a year. Other key findings are: 46% say some air traffic control systems will fail, putting air travel in jeopardy; Nearly two-thirds of respondents say banking and accounting systems will fail, possibly causing errors in employee paychecks, government payments or other automated financial transactions; Over one-third of those polled say city or county emergency “911” communications systems will fail, possibly putting citizens at risk; Half of respondents say they plan to make sure their personal computers are programmed correctly Over half believe their employers are taking sufficient steps to […]
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Ray Anderson, chairman of Interface, Inc. is a household name in sustainable business. Now he’s written a book. In it, he says: “Most of the time, when I make an environmental speech, I’m ‘preaching to the choir.’ Yet I am greatly encouraged and believe the choir is growing, that the global brain is waking up. The number of “alarm clocks” to wake us is growing, too. So, to this swelling number, I continue to say that we are all part of the continuum of humanity and the web of life in general. We will have lived our brief span and either helped or hurt that continuum, that web, and the Earth that sustains all life. Which will it be? It’s your call. Each of us is one in 5.8 billion (at this writing, but growing); yet all of us at Interface are 7,000 in 5.8 billion, more than one in a million. But Interface is 1/33,000 of the global economy. DuPont and BASF, both 50 times bigger, our major suppliers, are each 1/600! All of us are resource intensive, so together we have an even bigger impact than our numbers suggest. As a company, Interface can make an immense difference […]
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If you are a top quality recycling firm in need of equity, you might be able to participate in The Northeast Recycling Council’s (NERC) Fourth Annual Northeast Recycling Investment Forum. The deadline for applications in February 15. The one-day event takes place in Boston on May 5, 1999. It provides entrepreneurs seeking equity with direct exposure to a diverse audience of investors including individual angel investors, venture capitalists, bankers, corporate investors, investment intermediaries, economic developers and state recycling officials. Company officials present their business plans and showcase their products or services. Participants also benefit by participating in a training to refine their presentation skills and learn how to effectively approach and market their businesses to investors. Sponsors are U.S. EPA/New England Regional Office, Empire State Development Office of Recycling Market Development, Chelsea Center for Recycling & Economic Development, the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, the American Plastics Council and the National Recycling Coalition. Contact Mary Ann Remolador, NERC at (802)254-3636 mremolad@sover.net [sorry this link is no longer available]
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