Go Solar Power For Homes

As the creator of a blog about solar power for homes, it is incumbent upon me to present the argument for alternative energy. It is not such a big leap from there into the world of politics. As my valued readers, I hope I don’t offend you by taking this blog off in that direction occasionally, as I did yesterday in covering the outcome of the UN Climate Change Conference. Well, I’ve done it again today in focussing on Al Gore. This really is not a left/right, republican/democrat issue. This is something we ALL could get involved in.

For me,  (aside from everyone who ever played for my favourite football team, ) there are very few genuine heroes in the world. Were he still alive, Mahatma Gandhi would be one. Nelson Mandela would be another. For the stand that he takes and the risks that he faces in taking that stand, in my view, Al Gore is fast becoming another true and genuine hero.

Some of you may have seen the following video from TED.com before. Nevertheless, while we are on the subject of Al Gore, I thought it a good idea to hark back to the days prior to the release of his award winning documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

Here is a short speech in which, with the same humor and humanity he exuded in An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore spells out 15 ways that you can address climate change immediately. He discusses everything from buying a hybrid to inventing a new, hotter “brand name” for global warming.

Click on the text link to watch the video that outlines the 15 ways to avert a climate crisis according to Al Gore.

… and below are the 15 ways to avert a climate crisis spelled out for you if your technology does not allow you to see the movie, or if you are in some parts of the world like China where such movies may not be able to be seen.

15 ways to avert a climate crisis

1. Reduce emissions from your home energy use (better design insulation, green electricity)

2. Reduce emissions from your home and other transportation (buy a hybrid, use light rail, carpools, biking)

3. Buy the most energy-efficient appliances and other products. Be a green consumer

4. Live a ‘carbon neutral’ life. It’s easier than you think. Reduce then offset the rest

5. To find out how, go to http://www.carboncrisis.net. Use the carbon calculator there.

6. Make your business carbon neutral. (It’s not as hard as you might think.)

7. Whether you work in the design, technology or entertainment industries, integrate climate solutions into all your innovations.

8. Invest sustainably in companies and funds that are part of the solution. (Avoid making sort-term decisions with your money.)

9. Become a catalyst of change in your community. Teach others about the climate crisis.

10. Raise awareness by promoting An Inconvenient Truth in your community

11. Send someone to Nashville who can learn how to give Al Gore’s slide show in your community

12. Become politically active – Speak Up! Contact your elected officials. Make Democracy work!

13. Urge the U.S. to join the rest of the world community in capping and trading carbon emissions.

14. Rebranding global warming, use the term, “Climate Crisis”, though the name could easily be “Planetary Emergency”.

15.  Join together to avert the climate crisis. We are one.

These 15 points are as valid today as they were back in 2006 when the speech was made. What other points would you add to the list now? I encourage you to give us your comment below.

From Sam Deane,
your solar power for homes guide,
at www dot go solar power for homes dot com.

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Info via: TED.com Pic via: AP photo

The Trackback, http://www.gosolarpowerforhomes.com/solar-power-for-homes/al-gore-15-ways-to-avert-a-climate-crisis by Sam Deane, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

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As the U.S. election approaches, it’s pleasing to see that energy is one of the most central issues for both presidential candidates. Here’s a look at what Democratic candidate Barack Obama and Republican rival John McCain are saying about solar power for homes and other energy issues.

ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Obama proposes a $7,000 tax credit for those buying “advanced” vehicles. He wants one million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015. Obama wants to increase the Renewable Fuel Standard to at least 60 billion gallons of advanced biofuels like cellulosic ethanol by 2030. He suggests we should build out ethanol distribution infrastructure, making it law that all new vehicles be running on “flexfuel” within four years. By 2013, Obama wants to see the U.S. producing 2 billion gallons of “cellulosic” ethanol from switchgrass and other non-corn sources.

McCain meanwhile opposes all ethanol incentives saying he’d take away any import tariffs on sugar cane-based ethanol. He is opposed to all kinds of tariffs and subsidies that distort the marketplace. McCain has supported moves for a $5,000 tax credit for those buying zero carbon emission cars while other cars should benefit from tax credits on a graduated scale where lower carbon emission cars receiving higher tax credits. McCain agrees with moving over to “flexfuel” vehicles.

ELECTRICITY

Obama’s plan is to have US utilities taking a quarter of their electricity from renewable sources like wind and solar power by 2025.

McCain opposes the red tape blocking increased investment in the national grid. He sees a massive potential for the grid in charging for refilling electric cars. McCain supports SmartMeter technologies that offer customers a more accurate picture of their energy usage, thereby gaining more cost efficiency in this area.

OFFSHORE DRILLING

There is a congressional moratorium on drilling in federal lands off the U.S. coastline. Obama opposed lifting this ban but would agree to limit offshore drilling to help solve America’s energy problems short term.

McCain wants to expand offshore drilling, pointing to an estimated 18 billion barrels of oil on the US outer continental shelf.

WINDFALL PROFITS TAX

Obama supports a five-year windfall tax on large oil company profits. The proceeds from Obama‘s tax would go towards a $1,000 tax rebate for low- and middle-income families to support them as they struggle with increased energy prices.

McCain does not agree with raising taxes on oil companies.

NUCLEAR POWER

Obama supports nuclear power, but is concerned about the issue of disposing of U.S. nuclear waste. He opposes the suggestion to store nuclear fuel at the Yucca Mountain repository in Nevada desert. Obama is also urgently seeking a solution to nuclear proliferation.

McCain wants to build 45 new nuclear reactors by 2030, and ultimately wants 100 new nuclear plants built in U.S. He supports the Yucca Mountain plan.

GASOLINE TAX HOLIDAY

Obama opposes temporarily lifting the federal tax on gasoline. He believes the suspension of this tax would only amount to a saving for each American family of less than $30. It is therefore not a real solution.

McCain agrees with a gasoline tax holiday. He wants to divert funds from general government revenues to pay for transportation projects funded by the tax.

CLIMATE CHANGE

Obama makes the radical pledge to cut carbon dioxide emissions to 80 percent below 1990 levels by 2050 while reducing emissions to 1990 levels by 2020. This would mean fuels suppliers would have to cut carbon content by 10 percent by 2020.

McCain prefers a cap-and-trade CO2 approach. Last year, he sponsored a bill to cut emissions by 30 percent by 2050.

OIL USE

Both Obama and McCain advocate cutting down on U.S. dependence on foreign energy imports. Obama would reduce overall oil consumption by at least 35 per cent (10 million barrels per day) by 2030, to offset imports from OPEC nations.

McCain wants the US to be independent from foreign oil by 2025.

ARCTIC NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE

Obama opposes drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

McCain supports increased offshore oil drilling, but does not support ANWR drilling “at this time.”

ENERGY RESEARCH

Obama suggests the U.S. should invest $150 billion over 10 years on low-carbon energy sources. He wants to double research and development spending on solar and wind resources as well as biomass. Obama wants to invest in low-emissions coal plants while creating pressure to accelerate the commercialization of plug-in hybrids.

McCain meanwhile wants to make a $300 million prize up for grabs to the auto company that develops a next-generation car battery that will move the U.S. away from their dependence from oil. He wants to put $2 billion annually into the advancement of clean-coal technology.

VEHICLE FUEL ECONOMY

Obama wants to see a doubling of fuel economy standards over the next 18 years. He would give car manufacturers added tax credits to upgrade their plants with a focus on the addition of advanced lightweight materials and new more eco-efficient engines.

McCain voted against the energy amendments in 2003 that would have boosted the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) to 40 mpg by 2015. He aims to increase fines for car companies that fail to meet CAFE standards, offering tax credits relating to vehicles’ carbon emissions.

From Sam Deane,
your solar power for homes guide,
at www dot go solar power for homes dot com.

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Info via: US Chamber of Commerce, campaign websites. U.S. Election Logo via blog.nielsen.com
The Trackback, /solar-powered-celebrities/obama-or-mccain-on-solar-power-and-more
by Sam Deane, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.

Another famous celebrity has fallen in love with solar power for homes. Woody Harrelson has embraced solar power for homes, creating an off-grid, solar-powered lifestyle for himself and his family.

Just like Johnny Depp, Woody Harrelson is a huge fan of solar power for homes. They just love to live that true, green Hollywood lifestyle that only solar power for homes can give them.

As he prepares to welcome into his eco-village community yet another Hollywood star who loves the solar power for homes lifestyle, the UK-based Times Newspaper caught up with Harrelson for an interview. They discussed the solar-powered community in Hawaii in which he lives. Harrelson, a vegan and raw-food enthusiast who once scaled the Golden Gate bridge in San Francisco to protest against deforestation, also discussed how his move to solar power for homes is inspired by his wife and three daughters.

Famous for his roles in Cheers, Indecent Proposal, Natural Born Killers, The People vs Larry Flynt, for which he got an Oscar nomination, and most recently No Country for Old Men, Harrelson now lives in an off-gird, eco-village in the tropical paradise island of Hawaii. The community members there have been living with solar power for homes as a community for years before the celebrity got there.

“Everybody in the neighborhood has solar power for homes,” he says. “People get the concept that it’s like a commune, but this was a neighborhood that’s been there long before I got there. They just never wanted power lines.”

It’s a completely sustainable eco-village community that incorporates organic farming as well as the solar power for homes … what you might call a 100% alternative green living eco-village community.

… and who is that other Hollywood celebrity?

None other than Owen Wilson, who will be moving into Harrelson’s community shortly! Wilson seems to be very much on the mend after his brush with death last year.

It is so good to see those in the public eye actively promoting solar power for home and the whole “green” living concept. This will impact positively making it more likely that we will have a sustainable world for our children to grow up in. We love it when celebrities go solar power for homes!

Here is the rest of that Times Newspaper interview for you to read.

From Sam Deane,
your solar power for homes guide,
at www dot go solar power for homes dot com.

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Pic: snarkerati.com  Info via: ecorazzi.com
The Trackback, http://www.gosolarpowerforhomes.com/solar-power-for-homes/woody-harrelson-loves-solar-power-for-homes by Sam Deane, unless otherwise expressly stated, is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.