Green Energy: Australia's Answer to High Energy Costs

Guest post by Australian energy retailer Lumo Energy.

"Australians are most concerned about electricity costs of all the major household expenses", according to Tim Wilson, Policy Director of the Institute of Public Affairs (IPA).

Perhaps an article by ABC News posted earlier this year stating that “Australian households are paying among the highest electricity prices in the developed world,” has heightened that concern considerably.

The article stated that the Energy Users Association of Australia (EUAA) released a report that showed that average electricity prices have increased by as much as 40 percent in the past five years – well above prices paid in the United States, Canada, Japan and the European Union.

At about the same time The Australian came out with an article that stated that energy prices will continue to rise because of higher fuel costs and the impact of climate change policies.

There are 9.5 million electricity customers throughout Australia and over 87 percent are households. Most of the residential electricity connections are along the east coast, in New South Wales, Victoria and Queensland where most Australians live.

Fortunately, both electricity and gas industries have been deregulated for residential and business consumers.

Deregulation has enabled consumers to compare energy prices and to choose from several electricity retailers in Australia.

Unfortunately, more than 90 percent of the country's electricity comes from the burning of non-renewable fossil fuels – 80 percent of which comes from coal.

Black coal is extremely efficient in producing energy but it is also one of the leading causes of global warming.

While Australia has fossil fuels like coal, the country also has abundant access to renewable fuels such as the sun and wind. In addition, falling (rain) water can be used to make hydro electricity and biomass is now being used increasingly in some States.

Renewable energy or green energy is Australia's solution to high electricity costs.

Green energy which is derived from renewable sources such as the sun, wind, biomass, wave power or hydro power not only helps in preserving our natural environment, it is also a cheaper alternative to fossil fuels.

Solar power is one type of green energy that is now gaining popularity in many countries around the world. Fortunately, the Australian Government reports that “the Australian continent has the highest solar radiation per square meter of any continent and consequently some of the best solar energy resource in the world.”

The report states further that, Australia receives an average of 58 million PJ (petajoule = 1015 joules) of solar radiation per year, which is approximately 10,000 times larger than its total energy consumption. But the current use of solar energy in Australia is still quite low. Solar energy accounts for only about 0.1 percent of Australia's total energy consumption.

However, the government's Clean Energy Initiative Solar Flagships Program managed by the Department of Resources Energy and Tourism has committed $1.5 billion to support the construction and demonstration of up to four large-scale solar power plants in Australia. These plants will use solar thermal and PV (photovoltaic) technologies. The government's goal is to establish up to 1,000 megawatts (MW) of solar power generation capacity.

According to the Clean Energy Council, it is evident from poll after poll that Australians understand that a strong renewable energy industry will secure a sustainable future for the nation. Each survey conducted in recent years has shown that more than 80 percent of Australians support renewables.

The Council states that "Australia's Renewable Energy Target has driven large amounts of investment in clean energy over the last decade." Additionally, renewable energy will also secure tens of thousands of jobs. If this goes on, it will continue to drive investments that will transform Australia's energy sector over the next decade and beyond.

Green energy is the way to go – if you want to save on energy costs and if you want to secure a sustainable future.

Guest Post: How to Make Locker Rooms more Eco-Friendly

As more people become aware of the state of the environment, they are looking for ways to decrease their impact on the planet. Even educational institutions and businesses are seeking ways to incorporate green practices into everyday operations. Some simple changes in the locker room can not only help the environment but can also potentially save cash-strapped school districts, universities and businesses money on operating expenses.

Installing low-flow shower heads and toilets is one way in which locker rooms can be made more eco-friendly. Since about one quarter of all water use in America is from toilet flushing, low-flow toilets can contribute significantly to the sustainability of a locker room. Modern low-flow shower heads reduce water use at least 50 percent over traditional models. Innovations in design assure a high pressure shower while still cutting waste.

Guest Post: Organic Job Growth: Environmental Career Paths to Consider

Guest post by Martin Valdez. A vegan environmentalist who loves crossword puzzles and Tetris, Martin would like to one day create a video game that is both entertaining and educational about how to protect our planet.

If you're looking for a career with stability that also makes you feel good, try looking at the environmental sector. Many environmental jobs have a lasting impact on the world, which that's something you can feel good about. As we work to reclaim the parts of our planet we have damaged and live in better harmony going forward, there are many career options available that feature good compensation, room for growth and long-term stability.

The National Memo: How States Ignore Climate Change At Peril Of Coastal Residents

I am writing for progressive political news site The National Memo. Click here for my story published online today about how state Republicans deny climate science and rising sea levels at the peril of millions of coastal residents.

Live Video: The Dirty Weather Report

Al Gore and The Climate Reality Project are spreading the truth about climate change and extreme weather with a 24 hour online broadcast featuring climate scientists, journalists and world leaders discussing the global climate crisis.

Here is live video of this important event in finding solutions to global warming.


Live video by Ustream

Recovery Act is the Number One Reason to Re-elect President Obama

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 rejuvenated plans for the Fulton Street Transit Center in lower Manhattan. The project is set for completion in June 2014. Photo credit: Josh Marks

Republicans keep falsely claiming President Obama’s $787 billion economic stimulus, officially known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), was a massively wasteful failure. Right now the GOP is using all the money from their right-wing billionaire donors to inundate swing state voters with their anti-stimulus, pro-austerity message.

But in reality the stimulus is a smashing success. It is more than 50 percent bigger than Franklin D. Roosevelt’s New Deal and has begun to profoundly change the United States of America in ways many of us are just beginning to realize. The economic stimulus has kickstarted our transition to a 21st Century economy built to last. For example, $90 billion was pumped into the clean energy sector. To put that in perspective, a decade earlier President Clinton proposed a modest $6.3 billion clean energy initiative that was shot down. The Recovery Act is also one of the most transparent pieces of legislation in history. Contrary to the Republican lies, there is very little fraud or abuse associated with ARRA thanks to unprecedented levels of oversight. Click here to go to Recovery.gov and track how Recovery funds are being spent and report fraud, waste or abuse.

Green Traveler: Inaugural New York City Green Festival

April 21-22, 2012 -- New York City was the place to be Earth Day weekend as the first annual NYC Green Festival launched at Javits Center North on Manhattan's West Side.

The nation's premier sustainability festival hosted a successful Big Apple event as thousands packed the convention center to hear speakers such as Van Jones and Russell Simmons discuss the green economy, browse the latest eco-friendly cars from Corporate Innovator sponsor Ford Motor Company, and check out the hundreds of exhibitors promoting everything green you can think of.

Guest Post: Land Rover goes Eco-Friendly

Everybody’s going green. You see it everywhere. Just about every company is into saving the environment. So why not car manufacturers, too? In this case, SUVs. 

World-renowned 4x4 specialist Land Rover has committed itself to building fuel and emissions-efficient vehicles to the delight of environment-conscious consumers everywhere. At the Geneva Motor Show 2011, Land Rover presented its Range-e Concept development model.

Smithsonian Folklife Festival 2012: Sustainable Solutions

The annual Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. this year celebrated the 150th anniversary of public land-grant universities and the founding of the United States Department of Agriculture. Different land-grand universities participated in a sustainable solutions competition. These universities demonstrated their sustainability projects to the thousands of visitors to the nation's capital.

Mississippi State University showed off their EcoCAR plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, Oregon State University showcased wave energy technology and how to build sustainable structures to withstand hurricane and tsunami ocean waves, UC Davis raised awareness about the environmental threat of plastic shopping bags, University of Florida focused on sustainable water uses, the University of Tennessee demonstrated their Living Light solar-powered house, and Washington State University explained the development of different biofuel feedstocks.

Guest Post: Embracing the Sun

Artist rending of Solar Impulse's solar plane. Credit: Solarimpulse.com

By Brent Hardy

On May 24, 2012 the company Solar Impulse launched an entirely solar-powered airplane to complete the world's first solar powered transcontinental flight; a practice run, they say, for an around-the-world flight in 2014. That same month, the boat PlanetSolar completed a solar-powered trip around the world, becoming the first solar-powered vehicle ever to circumnavigate the globe.

We're living in an exciting time when the advent of the practical and economic use of solar power is now at the cusp of going mainstream. As with any beginning, these first steps will be a bit awkward and may seem at times impractical, but already we can see signs of improvement. The cost of building and installing solar panels has dropped dramatically over the past few years and people all over the world are discovering new – and sharing tried and true – ways of harnessing the power of the sun.

Science Starting to Win Climate Change Debate

Climate change convert Richard Muller with his daughter Elizabeth at home in Berkeley, California. Photo credit: AP.

Global warming is real and humans are causing it. That greenhouse gas emissions are contributing to climate change is as accepted among mainstream scientists as the earth revolving around the sun. A recently published story on climate change denial in Australian current affairs magazine The Monthly cites a survey that found 97.4 percent of climate scientists agree that "human activity is a significant contributing factor in changing mean global temperatures."

But what about the few scientists still skeptical of climate change? They are starting to come around as evidenced by the highly publicized conversion of UC Berkeley physics professor and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory faculty senior scientist Richard A. Muller. On the well-read pages of The New York Times, Muller explained his conversion was a result of research done on the Berkeley Earth Surface Temperature Project, which concluded that global land temperatures have increased by 2.5 degrees Fahrenheit (1.5 degrees Celsius) over the past 250 years, including an increase of 1.5 degrees F (0.9 degrees C) over the past 50 years. And that "it appears likely that essentially all of this increase results from the human emission of greenhouse gases."

Nation's Capital Gets Greener

Bicycling past the Lincoln Memorial on a sunny day in the nation's capital.

I've been writing for the past few years about how my hometown of Washington, D.C. is leading the way in America's transition to a sustainable economy. The wildly successful Capital Bikeshare program that recently celebrated its two millionth ride, will soon be the second largest bike sharing system in North America when later this summer New York launches Citi Bike.

But bikes aren't the only mode of transportation being shared in The District these days. Car sharing service Zipcar now has some competition in D.C. with the recent launch of Car2Go. The subsidiary of Daimler AG features Smart Fortwo microcars that easily fit into the smallest parking spaces and are great for zipping around the city. Plus, unlike Zipcar you can pick up and drop off the Car2Go vehicle at any metered parking space in most places throughout The District city limits. While in D.C. and other cities the Car2Go vehicles are gas-powered, in San Diego and Amsterdam the company launched electric vehicle service with a fleet of Smart Fortwo ED (electric drive) vehicles.

Guest Post: Energy Saving Tips for the Summer Holidays

Solar-heated pool. Photo credit: Solstice Solar of Baja www.solsticesolarofbaja.com

(Guest post from U.K.-based renewable energy product comparison Web site Enerfina.)

Believe it or not, summer is a time when a lot of extra energy is used. Due to extra electricity required to cool our homes, or extra water required to make sure our gardens look fresh and green, energy is expended every day. However, there are plenty of tips that you can put into place as soon as today to ensure that you are doing your part in making sure that extra energy is not going to waste.

Many of us might have swimming pools in our yards, and whilst they are a wonderful way to cool off on those hot summer days, swimming pools are also a massive use of energy. The best thing to combat this is to be aware. Many homeowners concerned with sustainability are looking directly to their swimming pools as the first place they can make a change. The major reason behind this is that most pools are heated. Running your pool heater night and day is a massive waste of energy, especially if no one might even be going in the pool when you are on holiday!

Washington, D.C. is America's Construction Capital

CityCenterDC construction cranes with Capitol dome in background.

In the nation's capital, construction cranes are as familiar to the city's skyline as the Washington monument and Capitol dome. Recession? What recession? It is boom times in Washington, D.C. If anti-government, anti-growth Republicans in Congress ever decided to work with President Obama to get the economic recovery moving faster (or if moderates and progressives take over this November), it would be amazing to see the rest of the country build housing, retail, office and infrastructure at the rate D.C. is doing right now.

In these troubling times, construction cranes carry much symbolism. A construction crane represents jobs, progress, innovation, hope for the future. Construction cranes are the antidote to awful austerity and a stalled economy. Construction cranes are brilliant reminders that when the public sector and private sector team up for the benefit of the country, then the future of the United States of America is bright indeed.

Guest Post: The Rise of the Eco-Friendly Community

Tianjin Eco-City

(Guest post by UK-based eco-friendly roof company MyRedlandRoof)

Despite the continual stream of advancements made in the fields of technology and science, we appear to be no closer to resolving the environmental and ecological issues that blight our world. Notwithstanding a significant global drive to reduce each individual’s carbon footprint and teach environmental responsibility, there remains a significant chasm between what citizens know and how they live their everyday lives.

With this in mind, the rise of the eco-friendly community is occurring at an ideal time for the world’s population, and provides them with viable tools to put their knowledge and environmental principles into practice. With a number of structures being built and planned across the nation of China, the country is taking significant steps towards easing its environmental concerns and laying the foundations for a prosperous and sustainable future.

American High-Speed Rail Moving Forward

Despite shortsighted right-wing Republican opposition, high-speed rail (HSR) is moving forward in the United States of America. Soon we won't have to fly across the Atlantic or Pacific to experience world-class passenger train service. President Obama and Vice President Biden get much of the credit for revitalizing passenger rail travel by demanding a federal allocation of $8 billion for high-speed projects as part of the 2009 economic stimulus package.

While conservative Republican governors like Scott Walker of Wisconsin and Rick Scott of Florida have denied their residents high-speed rail by rejecting federal funding, and right-wing House Republicans like Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA) passes a meaningless anti-California HSR amendment to the Fiscal Year 2013 Transportation, Housing & Urban Development (THUD) bill, progressive states like California are pushing ahead into the 21st Century with ambitious HSR projects. The latest good news for HSR advocates comes from The Golden State where last Friday in Sacramento, lawmakers in the Senate approved SB 1029 -- $4.5 billion in construction financing through the sale of bonds, including $2.6 billion for the initial segment in the Central Valley for the bullet train line between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The legislative victory means that California will now qualify for another $3.2 billion in federal funding.

Tesla's Model S Sedan: A Beautiful Electric Car

Electric car company Tesla Motors' Washington, D.C. showroom is located directly across the street from the condo where I've been living for the past two years (this green blogger is moving to the greenest city in America -- New York). So when I look out the window of my tenth floor bedroom, I stare down upon one of the most beautiful sites in the world -- Tesla's new Model S Sedan.

You don't have to be an electric vehicle lover to appreciate automobile designer Franz von Holzhausen's sleek design, plush interior, gee whiz gadgetry and enormous storage space of the Tesla Model S. I was given a brief tour of the car and walked away even more impressed.

Right-Wing Libertarians Attack Bike Sharing

Reason TV correspondent Kennedy enjoying a ride on Capital Bikeshare.

Right-wing libertarian think tanks like Reason choose to go after the little guys getting a small piece of the government pie while ignoring the government-subsidized big players like the fossil fuel industry. This makes sense considering the climate change-denying, oil-rich Koch Family Foundation partly funds Reason. 

Now Reason TV and washed up former MTV VJ Kennedy are bullying bike sharing, in this case the wildly successful Capital Bikeshare program in the Washington, D.C. area. A recent video report makes a mockery of the Capital Bikeshare program as a wasteful subsidy for rich educated white kids.

'Avengers' Delivers Powerful Clean Energy Message

The Tesseract. Image credit: Marvel

Unemployment. Austerity. War. Terrorism. Climate Change. The world needs superheroes now more than ever. Along comes Marvel's "The Avengers" to rave reviews and boffo box office. In tough times, movie audiences crave escapist entertainment and larger than life superheroes, which could help explain why "The Avengers" set a box office record for the biggest opening weekend ever in North America, tied for the fastest film to reach $1 billion and is currently the third highest grossing film of all time with a worldwide haul of nearly $1.4 billion.

That's a lot of people that are absorbing the film's clean energy message -- the sustainable energy source called the Tesseract. There have been different reactions to the film's renewable energy message -- some positive, some critical.

Guest Post: 5 Tips for Burning More Responsibly

This article was contributed by Reid from High’s Chimney Service, a local Maryland chimney service company that knows a few things about burning wood.

Whether it’s snuggling up to a cozy fireplace or a gathering around a spirited bonfire, open flame has an allure that has persisted for millennia. However, we must acknowledge that whenever something is burned – and this goes for wood – there will problematic emissions and environmental impacts. The most concerning emission in wood smoke is airborne fine particulate matter (basically, soot). Some other areas of concern include deforestation, carbon monoxide, forest fires, CO2, and carcinogens.

Book Review: Paul Krugman’s ‘End This Depression Now!’

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

Right now the disconnect between Washington’s political-media class and the American people is astounding. Somehow in the midst of this economic catastrophe, the conversation steered away from fiscal stimulus and job creation to deficits and spending cuts. Meanwhile, millions of unemployed and underemployed Americans continue struggling to make ends meet.

Along comes Nobel Prize-winning economist and New York Times columnist Paul Krugman with his new book “End This Depression Now!”. Since 2008, Krugman (and a few other courageous individuals like former Obama economic adviser Christina Romer and economist Joseph Stiglitz) has been a voice in the wilderness calling for bigger and bolder government intervention to stimulate job growth while political leaders on both sides of the Atlantic fail to meet the challenge of this economic crisis with timid half measures and awful austerity. In America, the Republican Party is ruled by anti-government hysteria and free-market fundamentalism.

Obama, Ford and the First NYC Green Festival

2012 Ford Focus Electric charging up at inaugural New York City Green Festival, held April 21st and 22nd at Javits Center North on Manhattan's West Side. Photo credit: Josh Marks

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

Earth Day weekend the inaugural New York City Green Festival took place at Javits Center North on Manhattan’s West Side. The most striking thing about the nation’s premier sustainability event was the convergence of corporate titan Ford Motor Company with an event more known for progressive politics, vegan cooking demonstrations and lefty speakers like environmental advocate Van Jones and “Democracy Now!” broadcast journalist Amy Goodman.

The fact that Ford — a former gas-guzzling enemy of the environmental movement — was displaying its new eco-friendly vehicles, is attributed directly to President Barack Obama not just saving the United States automobile industry and more than a million American jobs, but retooling Detroit by forcing them to produce smaller, more fuel efficient vehicles.

Green Traveler: California

Nissan Leaf electric vehicle charging up in Santa Monica, California.

December 24, 2011-January 2, 2012 -- California is on the cutting edge of America's green revolution, so whenever I visit the Golden State there is always something new to write about on Green Forward.

San Francisco Airport

The last trip to the Left Coast took me first from Washington Dulles International Airport on Virgin America (the best domestic airline in my humble opinion) to San Francisco International Airport's spectacular new Terminal 2, where I was greeted by a Google representative at something called a Chrome Zone pop-up shop. He explained to me that as a promotion, Google was renting out their new Chromebook laptop to Virgin America customers. The Chromebook could either be used while waiting in the terminal for a connecting flight or on a flight to another airport with a similar pop-up shop where it could be returned.

Green Traveler: Wilmington, Delaware

April 7-8, 2012 -- A weekend in Wilmington, Delaware reveals why Vice President Joe Biden took the train up from Washington every day for 36 years (last year Wilmington's Amtrak station was named for Biden, who was instrumental in securing funding for the rail station's renovation). The city and the state provide citizens with well-planned outdoor recreational areas to enjoy nature.

The Northern Delaware section of the East Coast Greenway runs right through the heart of Wilmington and is frequented by walkers, joggers and bicyclists. The East Coast Greenway is a project to create a nearly 3,000 mile urban path to connect major cities along the Eastern Seaboard from Maine to Florida. So far, 25 percent of the trail is complete.

As Playoffs Heat Up, NHL Aims to Ice Global Warming

Photo credit: Chealion/Michael J. at Flickr www.flickr.com/photos/chealion

Game three tonight between the Boston Bruins and Washington Capitals promises to be a scorcher. But it is the heat outside of the Verizon Center that could play a factor.

Washington, D.C. and more than 90 other American cities already experienced the warmest March on record. And today temperatures are expected to reach historic highs of near 90 degrees fahrenheit in the nation's capital, which could cause problems with the Verizon Center ice surface. Despite being indoors, a hot day outside can affect ice conditions. Warm weather can soften the ice, making it difficult to skate and control the puck.

Will GOP’S Solyndra Witch Hunt Backfire?

Energy Secretary Chu and President Obama. Credit: U.S. Department of Energy.

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

Solyndra was never about the facts. It was never meant to be. House Republicans put on a cynical show trial to attack the Obama Administration’s clean energy policies. They dragged Nobel Prize-winning physicist and Department of Energy Secretary Steven Chu to Capitol Hill in order to brow beat one of the most respected scientists in the world over the DOE Loan Guarantee Program.

Sadly, Republicans might have committed serious damage to American competitiveness in the global clean energy race. The United States is attempting to compete with China, Germany, Brazil and other nations whose governments are massively investing in the renewable energy sector. The Loan Guarantee Program is crucial to ensuring success in the industries of the future. Now comes the news that because of Solyndra, the DOE is being overly cautious in issuing loans. The first victim could be California-based luxury electric car maker Fisker Automotive’s plans to build a hybrid-electric car factory in Wilmington, Delaware for their new model Atlantic. The project was supposed to create 2,000 factory jobs and more than 3,000 vendor and supplier jobs. Wilmington’s unemployment rate stood at 10.4 percent as of last December so the city could really use those jobs. So Fisker is now considering placing the plant and all those jobs in Finland. Fisker already manufactures its Karma plug-in hybrid luxury sedan in Finland. Fisker founder Henrik Fisker was quoted in ABC News as saying the following:

Is Obama Serious About Climate Change Action?

President Obama speaking recently at the Solar Panel Field at the Copper Mountain Solar 1 Facility in Boulder City, Nevada, the largest photovoltaic plant operating in the country.

(Cross-posted at Winning Progressive)

When it comes to climate change action, the Obama Administration is feeling the heat. Literally. All the president needs to do is step outside the White House doors and spend some time in the Rose Garden to feel Washington’s warmest winter on record. And cities across the United States have been experiencing record high temperatures this winter. Obama’s campaign headquarters is in Chicago, where the Windy City last Wednesday hit a high of 87 degrees Fahrenheit. The next day the temperature at O’Hare Airport was 83 degrees, capping nine straight days of record-breaking or record-tying high temperatures in Chicago.

While there is a difference between daily weather changes and climate patterns over time, the “summer in March” has climatologists concerned. “Global warming boosts the probability of really extreme events, like the recent U.S. heat wave, far more than it boosts more moderate events,” climate scientists Stefan Rahmstorf and Dim Coumou wrote recently in the RealClimate blog.

What the End of Gasoline Looks Like: Green Cars in America

The 2012 Ford Focus Electric Vehicle on display at the Washington Auto Show.

There is a green revolution taking place in the American automobile industry—cars are getting smaller, more fuel efficient, more electric and more capable of carrying cleaner burning alternative fuels like ethanol and biodiesel. This long overdue shift to low and zero emission vehicles is largely thanks to the Obama Administration's increased fuel efficiency standards. The fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions rule adopted in 2010 by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) took effect in 2011 and will increase miles per gallon requirements every year until 2025, when the window sticker rating must be 54.5 MPG. That means less trips to the gas station, more money savings, more energy security with less reliance on foreign oil, cleaner air to breathe and combating climate change by reducing CO2 emissions.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA's website www.fueleconomy.gov provides consumers with fuel saving tips, information on the new fuel economy and environment label designs for the new generation of vehicles that will begin model year 2013, and helps car buyers choose the most fuel efficient vehicles on the market.

Virginia Democrat Terry McAuliffe Charged Up About Green Economy

Terry McAuliffe in a Greentech electric car.

Yes Virginia, there are forward-thinking leaders in your state. I know it seems like all hope is lost with the Republican legislature, governor and attorney general determined to turn the clock back by forcing a radically divisive social agenda upon the residents of the Old Dominion. The right-wing regime in Richmond would like to roll back all the progress that has been made. That’s one reason why it was refreshing to hear former Democratic National Committee Chairman Terry McAuliffe give a positive message about clean energy jobs and growing the green economy.

The McLean resident spoke this past November at George Mason University’s School of Public Policy in Arlington about his electric car company and how to get Virginia and the United States competing in the global green economy. The event was titled “The Green Economy: Competing Globally for Jobs of the Future.”

Professional Hockey Player Andrew Ference Goes Green

Picture credit: National Geographic Channel

Most hockey fans know about Boston Bruins defenseman Andrew Ference because of the team's Stanley Cup championship run last season. And recently Ference made headlines for a three-game suspension he received after a hit on the New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh. But the National Geographic Channel is showing another side of Ference that many NHL fans might not be aware of: eco-warrior.

"Beyond the Puck," a web video series featuring new episodes every Thursday, provides brief glimpses (the videos average only a few minutes) into the off-ice life of Ference and his family as the Edmonton, Canada native goes green. Canadian environmentalist David Suzuki inspired Ference to pursue a carbon neutral lifestyle and helped him start in 2007 the NHL's first environmental program that encourages players to go carbon neutral and think about their impact on the environment. 

President Obama's Energy Speech at University of Miami

Today President Obama gave a great speech touching upon issues relating to American energy. He called for a comprehensive energy policy that would end oil subsidies and boost biofuels and other renewables to reduce our reliance on the volatile world oil market that is subject to so much turmoil in the Middle East.  Obama told the students gathered at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, Florida that, while his administration is doing everything in their power to tap domestic oil and gas resources, it is politically dishonest to tell the American people that "drill, baby, drill" will realistically solve all our energy problems. The president said that public investments in energy efficiency and clean energy technologies will spur entire new industries and create millions of new jobs. As an example, he cited homegrown algae-based biofuel as having the potential to eventually replace imported petroleum entirely as a transportation fuel for airplanes and automobiles.

President Obama said the following about algae:

Michael Mann: Climate Hero With a Hockey Stick

It is no secret the fossil fuel industry for years has been funding front groups denying the reality of human-caused climate change and working against clean energy technologies. These attacks on science and reason have amazingly come from the same dirty energy industry that is actually making contingency plans for the effects of man-made climate change. That's right, Big Oil is well aware that the millions of tons of carbon they carelessly pump into the atmosphere is contributing to global warming so they are planning for the consequences, while at the same time spending millions of dollars discrediting climate scientists and misleading the public.

Thankfully, climate scientists like Michael Mann (the physicist and climatologist, not the Hollywood film director) are, to use a hockey analogy, dropping the gloves and fighting back against climate-change-denying think tanks like The Heartland Institute, American Enterprise Institute, Koch Family Foundations, The Manhattan Institute, The Heritage Foundation, The Cato Institute and The Mercatus Center. Mann's new book, titled "The Hockey Stick and the Climate Wars: Dispatches from the Front Lines," is being released on March 6 and is going to expose the moneyed special interests behind the attacks on science and reason and convey to the public the fossil fuel industry giants funneling money to these anti-science front groups.

The title of the book comes from Mann's controversial hockey stick graph, which shows the temperature record over the past 1,000 years and the sharply upward warming trend during the late 20th century.

Click here for a link to an insightful profile of Mann from Mother Jones via The Guardian's Climate Desk.

Here is video of Mann discussing his new book.

Honoring Gabrielle Giffords by Embracing the Green Economy

When it comes to the green economy, sometimes it seems like the United States of America is stuck in neutral while the rest of the world is fully charged up and racing ahead at warp speed.

Take electric vehicles as an example pulled from recent headlines. The Chevy Volt, General Motors' new plug-in hybrid electric vehicle, recently became a political punching bag on Capitol Hill by a Republican-led Oversight Committee on a witch hunt against any project related to the Obama administration. Before it was Solyndra and solar energy, now it is the Volt and electric vehicles.

Lack of political will from Republican lawmakers in Congress is really the only thing that is holding back the United States of America from leading the "next industrial revolution"—the clean energy economy that is already rapidly transforming countries like Germany, Brazil, China, Canada and other governments that get it when it comes to giving the market signals with cap and trade programs and taxes on carbon. The fossil fuel industry seems to have the Republicans on too tight a leash for them to make decisions on behalf of the American people and the future of this great country.

Perhaps Gabrielle Giffords can provide some inspiration and convince at least some of the Republican lawmakers in Congress (the Obama administration and most Democrats are already onboard the high-speed clean energy train) that they must break the shackles of the oil, gas and coal industries and begin to embrace renewable power sources such as solar, wind, geothermal, hydro, biomass, biofuel, tidal and wave.

Giffords is a big advocate for solar energy because her home state of Arizona is blessed by the sun. She has supported clean energy legislation as well as ending oil industry subsidies and redirecting that money into clean energy research.

When Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL) read Giffords' letter of resignation on the House floor in January, she said the following:

"In public service, I found a venue for the pursuit of a stronger America by ensuring the safety and security of all Americans by producing clean energy here at home instead of importing oil from abroad."

Here is video of the entire speech.

Photos: New York City High Line

This past November I visited one of the finest examples of urban renewal and the greening of cities—New York City's High Line. The High Line is a 1-mile (1.6 km) linear park built on the former elevated tracks of the New York Central Railroad's West Side Line on the lower west side of Manhattan.

The recycling of the railway into an aerial greenway has revitalized surrounding neighborhoods and turned what was once an abandoned, blighted industrial area into one of New York City's biggest and greenest tourist attractions.

Here are pictures of The High Line.

A Bright Idea: LED Street Lights

L.A.'s 6th Street Bridge with LED street lights. Photo credit: Clean Tech Los Angeles

Cities across the United States are saving energy and costs by installing light-emitting diode (LED) street lights. LEDs not only consume less power for the same amount of luminance compared to traditional lighting, but they also last longer.

There are many LED street lighting pilot projects taking place, including in my former home of Los Angeles, California. L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has partnered with the Clinton Climate Initiative to undertake the largest green street lighting program in history. According to the Bureau of Street Lighting website, as of February 9 the city had replaced 62,064 traditional light fixtures with LED lights, going from 10,740 kilowatts down to 4,205 kilowatts for 60.8 percent energy savings, or 26,664 megawatt hours. The program has also reduced carbon emissions by 15,766 metric tons and saved $2,357,567 in energy costs.  The city expects annually to save $10 million, save energy by 40% and reduce carbon emissions by approximately 40,500 tons.

Arlington, Virginia is where I currently reside and this forward-looking county across the Potomac River from Washington, D.C. is installing LED street lights as well. Arlington's project is funded by the US Department of Energy’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) program and local capital funds. In 2010 the county spent $1.5 million to replace 1,800 existing streetlights with LED fixtures. Arlington plans to replace all its street lights with LED technology, a move that will save the county $1 million per year.

LED street lights are a smart and efficient way for cities to save money, save energy and save the environment. Expect to see many LED street lights in cities across America and the world.

Up in the Air: Tel Aviv to Istanbul to Washington, D.C.

A Turkish Airlines plane at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport.

August 28-29, 2011 -- After traveling around Europe by train and Israel by bus for one-and-a-half months this past summer, including working on a kibbutz for two-and-a-half weeks, it was time to fly back home to the United States. I took Turkish Airlines from Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport to Istanbul Atatürk International Airport and then an 11 hour flight from Istanbul to Washington Dulles International Airport.

An airport shuttle picked me up at my hostel in Jerusalem very late at night and made the rounds to pick up more people—all Orthodox Jews—in different neighborhoods in West Jerusalem. We then drove to Ben Gurion, the best-secured airport in the world. Being the only non-Orthodox passenger in the van, I was singled out with questions upon arriving to the security checkpoint just to drive into the airport. The security guy asked me to take off my hat and then asked me where I was going. I was tired and irritated, and answered loudly "Washington, D.C.!" Once you finally enter Ben Gurion, you must wait in a long security line where you will be asked pointed and personal questions to make sure you don't have any bad intentions once you board that plane. Your luggage will also be thoroughly examined and, as in my case, will sometimes be double checked by airport security. Sometimes passengers will be taken for another line of questioning and inspection if the authorities are not satisfied with the first round of questioning. While it can be a maddeningly frustrating and humiliating experience, Ben Gurion will not take any chances when it comes to security, which is why it is the safest airport in the world to fly into and out of. It is not a pleasant experience to be looked at with suspicion, especially at 4 a.m. before a long flight. But it is the reality of Israel and there is some comfort in knowing all the intense security precautions that took place once you finally board that flight. It was around a two hour flight from Tel Aviv to Istanbul.

Although half of Istanbul is on European soil (it is the only metropolis in the world situated on two continents, the other being Asia) and it is the third largest metropolitan area in Europe after London and Moscow, my initial impression upon arriving at Atatürk airport was more Eastern and Muslim than Western and secular. It was somewhat of a culture shock after having traveled around Europe and Israel to see passengers arriving on a flight from Barcelona who were almost entirely young bearded Muslim men in full Islamic garb. The international terminal was an interesting mix of religious Muslims and secular Turks and visitors from across the world. I was wearing a Jerusalem t-shirt from the Old City and I was definitely getting some not-so-nice stares from the Muslims making their way around the terminal.

The international terminal at Istanbul Atatürk International Airport.

The security precautions to board my flight to Dulles were like nothing I have ever experienced. There were at least three rounds of thorough baggage checks and questioning. Some passengers were taken aside and questioned even more. And there was a security check just to enter the boarding area. The authorities at Atatürk do a great job in making sure everyone has a safe flight to their destination.

Turkish Airlines is a world-class airline with fantastic service. We even had our own chef! It was a wonderful flight up until we hit some bad turbulence over the Atlantic Ocean, just east of Boston. The pilots had to change to a more southerly route at the last minute but couldn't avoid the incredibly choppy weather front. We were violently tossed and turned and everyone was praying in whatever their faith was (I became an Orthodox Jew for about 15 minutes). It was a harrowing experience. Moments like these, when you feel out of control at 35,000 feet, are the times when you really feel blessed to be alive.

There is no way around it, turbulence is no fun. But it is part of flying and I've started to learn to embrace the bumps as part of the total experience of flying. I now enjoy flying a lot more knowing to expect turbulence. So when it is a smooth flight it's even better, but when we hit a few bumps it's no big deal because I can just look back at that awful turbulence I experienced on the Turkish Airlines flight and be reassured it likely won't get that bad again, and if it does I'll know that I got through it before and I'll get through it again. It is also good to remember that the perception of turbulence in the passenger seat is almost always worse than the reality from the cockpit seat, where the experienced pilots are in control and know what they are doing. Educating myself about the mechanics of air travel and and the science behind turbulence has really relieved much of my anxiety and fears. I suggest Googling "airplane turbulence" to find websites that will help you understand turbulence and way to overcome fears and anxiety when it occurs. Education and awareness are really the keys to enjoying your flight and even learning to welcome turbulence as a normal, everyday in-flight experience.

The airplane finally reached smoother air after about 10 to 15 minutes of turbulence and the prayers changed to thanking God, the heart beats slowed down and the adrenaline stopped flowing. The descent into Dulles was relaxing and enjoyable. Turkish Airlines has cameras on the nose and underneath the plane and as we approached Dulles, passengers were treated to the view of the runway from the cockpit and the landscape passing by below the plane.

Having gone through major security checks at Tel Aviv and Istanbul, it would have been nice to know I was home and could leave Dulles right away. Not the case. A border patrol agent marked me down for a further inspection, so I had to wait in line at a Department of Homeland Security area for international arrivals for another 45 minutes to be questioned again about my travels through Europe and Israel and my flight from Istanbul. I finally was approved to enter back into the United States.

From when I left the hostel in Jerusalem to the moment I collapsed in my own bed in Arlington, Virginia, it was a total of around 18 hours of travel time. When you didn't get any sleep the night before, have to go through three rigorous security checkpoints, sit on an airplane for 11 hours and have to suffer through some bad turbulence, you will sleep like a baby. And that's exactly what I did.

Here are more pictures of the trip from Istanbul to Washington, D.C. Click here for the Flickr set.

Green Traveler: Jerusalem, Israel

Jerusalem's new light rail powers forward along a grass track between Damascus Gate and Jaffa Gate.

August 19-29, 2011 -- Jerusalem was the last city I visited on my summer 2011 journey through Europe and Israel and it is also one of the most environmentally-friendly cities in the world thanks to its mix of ancient and modern infrastructure, traditional religious observations and forward-thinking political and economic leadership.

Before I get to Jerusalem's new light rail line that is providing residents with a clean, green form of transportation, there are a couple of ancient factors that automatically make the city green. The most obvious factor in keeping the air clean is that the Old City was settled during the Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, in the 4th millennium BCE (Before the Common Era). The last time I checked, the internal combustion engine had not been invented yet so the Old City was not made for vehicular traffic. That means there is a large section of the city that is car-free and therefore pollution-free. Also, Jerusalem almost completely shuts down from sundown Friday to sundown Saturday for Shabbat. That means thousands of cars and buses are taken off the roads for 24 hours every week, thereby dramatically reducing the city's carbon footprint.

Now with the new light rail line, Jaffa Road is permanently closed off to motor vehicles, reducing pollution along West Jerusalem's main artery from the Old City to Mount Herzl. In fact, there has been a dramatic 80% decrease in air pollution on Jaffa Road since cars and buses were replaced by light rail trams. And in addition to reducing air pollution, light rail reduces noise pollution. In contrast to honking taxis and rumbling buses, light rail is incredibly quiet.

In addition to new green public transportation projects like the light rail line, Jerusalem is also on the forefront of promoting the use of electric vehicles. Electric car operator Better Place is partnering with the city to add a network of electric car charging stations all over the city.

Biking is also big in Jerusalem. There is a group that gives midnight bike tours of the old and new city. And it is easy to rent a bike like I did and get to know the City of Peace on two wheels. I biked during Shabbat when the streets are empty. I started at Davidka Square where my hostel is located, and biked along the light rail tracks up Jaffa Road to Mount Herzl and then down to the Christian village of Ein Karem. While Jerusalem doesn't have a bike sharing system like Tel Aviv yet, the city is on its way to becoming the bicycle capital of Israel.

And of course, as in the rest of Israel, there are rooftop solar water heaters everywhere in Jerusalem. I even saw solar water heater systems on top of the ancient buildings in the Old City, like those pictured to the left in front of a church in the Armenian Quarter. And Jerusalem has many white roofs, also called cool roofs because they reduce heat transference to buildings by reflecting sunlight, thus reducing the need to power air conditioners and saving energy and greenhouse gas emissions.

While Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world, it is also taking environmentally friendly actions such as the new light rail line to ensure that future generations will be able to enjoy The City of Peace.

Click here for more observations from Jerusalem on Josh's Travel Blog.

Here are more pictures from Jerusalem. Click here to see the full photo set on Flickr.



Here is a musical video montage of Jerusalem's new light rail system.



Here is video of me bicycling across the Chords Bridge and up to Mount Herzl on a Shabbat Saturday when the streets are empty and the light rail line is not in service.

Boarding the Bus: Beersheba to Jerusalem

Passengers hoping to board an already crowded bus on a Friday afternoon at Beersheba Central Bus Station.

August 19, 2011 -- After a couple of days exploring Mitzpe Ramon and Midreshet Ben-Gurion, I was going to travel via bus south to Eilat and then Petra, but a big terrorist attack on the same bus route I was going to take made for a change of plans. The roads were closed around Eilat and the Israeli Defense Forces were advising the public to avoid the area after a well-coordinated ambush near the Egyptian border murdered eight innocent civilians and injured dozens. So instead of soaking up the sun along the Red Sea and visiting Al Khazneh (featured in "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade"), I took a bus north to Beersheba and then transferred to another bus to Jerusalem.

I crowded onto the packed bus with Israeli soldiers on leave for the hour-and-a-half ride north. Friday afternoons are very busy at Beersheba Central Bus Station because everyone wants to catch the last buses to their destination in order to be able to spend Shabbat dinner with their families and friends. I arrived at the Jerusalem Central Bus Station just in time for the Friday opening of the new light rail line along Jaffa Road and preparations for Shabbat in the Holy City.

After checking in to Abraham's Hostel next to Davidka Square in the heart of Israel's undivided capital, I was ready to explore my favorite city in the world—from Mount Herzl to the Western Wall and beyond. Jerusalem. Yerushaláyim. יְרוּשָׁלַיִם‎.

Here are more pictures of the bus trip from Beersheba to Jerusalem. Click here to see the photo set on Flickr.

Green Traveler: Mitzpe Ramon, Israel

August 17-19, 2011 --  Israel's water crisis really comes into focus when traveling through the arid Negev desert. But the potential to power the nation through solar energy also becomes clearer as the sun shines down upon uninhabited, non-arable land as far as the eye can see. The Jacob Blaustein Institute of Desert Research, on the Sde Boker campus of Ben-Gurion University near Mitzpe Ramon, is a world-class research facility with world-class researchers hard at work finding solutions to water resource sustainability and tapping into solar power in Israel. The institute operates the Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center, which is home to the world's largest solar dish. The director of the Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center, David Faiman, believes that the Negev could be home to massive solar energy plants that could meet Israel's future energy needs.

For eco-conscious travelers, a visit to The Jacob Blaustein Institute of Desert Research and Ben-Gurion National Solar Energy Center should definitely be on the itinerary. However, make sure to reserve a tour ahead of time. I did not book ahead of time, and therefore was not able to walk through the facilities. The Mitzpe Ramon area offers much to do for the outdoor enthusiast. There are great hiking trails at Makhtesh Ramon (a stunning geological formation cratered out through millions of year of erosion) and Tzin Canyon next to Ben-Gurion University and the tombs of Israel's first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, and his wife Paula. There are also places to rent mountain bikes and explore the Negev using pedal power. Geofun Desert Cycling Center specializes in Negev bike tours. For those travelers interested in animal conservation, there are lots of Nubian ibex and other animals to observe. Although unfortunately you will probably see many people illegally feeding the ibex human food despite the many signs warning visitors that human food can injure or even kill the ibex.

And a green place to stay is the aptly named Green Backpackers Hostel, which uses rooftop solar water heaters like many buildings throughout Israel. In fact, Israel is the world leader in the use of solar energy per capita with 85 percent of the households today using solar thermal systems, estimated to save the country 2 million barrels of oil a year, the highest per capita use of solar energy in the world, according to Wikipedia.

Click here for more observations of Mitzpe Ramon and Midreshet Ben-Gurion on Josh's Travel Blog.

Here are more pictures from Mitzpe Ramon and Midreshet Ben-Gurion. Click here for the Flickr set.



Here is a panoramic video montage of Mitzpe Ramon and Makhtesh Ramon.

The End of Occupy DC

On Saturday, February 4, 2012 in Washington, D.C.'s McPherson Square, U.S. Park Police in riot gear, some on horseback, along with a hazmat team, raided the Occupy DC encampment and set up a perimeter around the park and began to clear out tents, bedding, debris and other belongings with forklifts and trucks.

They said they were enforcing the no camping regulations and not evicting the demonstrators.

This occurred in front of protesters, onlookers and the media on a cool, rainy, dreary winter day in the Nation's Capital.

Streets were blocked off to traffic around McPherson Square by the Metropolitan Police Department traffic enforcement division.

While many in the Occupy movement are criticizing the heavy-handed tactics and unnecessary show of force by law enforcement, the U.S. Park Police are actually doing the movement a favor by shutting down the encampment. It will allow the next phase of the movement to begin, whatever that may be.

Occupy DC was one of the last remaining encampments after other cities such as New York had evicted their demonstrators. Frankly, the encampment at McPherson Square was beginning to become an eyesore and attracting anarchists and others not interested in reshaping our democracy to benefit the 99% but in destroying the system altogether. And the reports of rats and filthy conditions were becoming a distraction from the main message of this movement, which is to address the unsustainable social and economic inequality in America.

The slogan "you can't evict an idea" that gained traction after Zuccotti Park was cleared out, will certainly apply to Occupy DC. Their heroic actions and sacrifice on behalf of working people everywhere will always be honored and one day there will be a plaque at McPherson Square remembering the brave men and women who slept under the stars to dream of a better America. But for now, it's time to move on.

Here are more pictures taken Saturday afternoon of the end of Occupy DC at McPherson Square.

Arrested Anti-Fracking Filmmaker Fights Back

It is a rare sight to see an Oscar-nominated documentary filmmaker arrested while recording a public congressional hearing. But that is exactly what happened yesterday as "Gasland" director Josh Fox was handcuffed before a hydraulic fracturing hearing at the request of the Republican leadership of the House subcommittee on Science, Space and Technology.

Fox is making a follow-up to his critically acclaimed movie about the risks to public health and contamination of the water supply from chemicals used by the natural gas industry when they drill and then administer high-pressure injections into shale rock to fracture the shale and extract natural gas. His sequel explores the corrupt connection between the oil and gas industry and the United States government.

Anyone concerned about the First Amendment, Freedom of the Press and civil liberties should be outraged that the Republicans would first deny Fox a media credential, as was reported on many news sites, and then ask for him to be arrested for filming without a credential. This despite the fact that it was a public hearing where people take pictures and shoot amateur video of proceedings all the time. I have attended many of these public hearings and sat there with my video camera shooting and never have been asked to be removed.

And anyone concerned about the stranglehold the oil and gas industry have on Republicans in Congress and our government should be appalled at the arrest of Fox. There are serious questions that need to be asked about chemicals seeping into groundwater from the fracking method. This is about the public health of the citizens of the United States, not just about jobs and the economy in this rush to tap into every inch of shale rock for every drop of natural gas in this country.

And remember that these are the same anti-science Republicans who have done nothing to implement a renewable energy policy in America. Millions of jobs are being lost overseas because the United States does not incentivize clean energy nearly enough compared to subsidizing the fossil fuel industry. Republicans are in no position to talk about jobs when they refuse to allow America to compete in the global clean energy race with biofuel, biomass, wind power, solar power, tidal power, wave power, hydroelectricity and geothermal energy.

Here is Fox's statement to the press followed by video of him talking about his arrest on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" with Ed Schultz.


I was arrested today for exercising my First Amendment rights to freedom of the press on Capitol Hill. I was not expecting to be arrested for practicing journalism.


Today’s hearing in the House Energy and Environment subcommittee was called to examine EPAs findings that hydraulic fracturing fluids had contaminated groundwater in the town of Pavillion, Wyoming. I have a long history with the town of Pavillion and its residents who have maintained since 2008 that fracking has contaminated their water supply. I featured the stories of residents John Fenton, Louis Meeks and Jeff Locker in GASLAND and I have continued to document the catastrophic water contamination in Pavillion for the upcoming sequel GASLAND 2.


It would seem that the Republican leadership was using this hearing to attack the three year Region 8 EPA investigation involving hundreds of samples and extensive water testing which ruled that Pavillion’s groundwater was a health hazard, contaminated by benzene at 50x the safe level and numerous other contaminants associated with gas drilling. Most importantly, EPA stated in this case that fracking was the likely cause.


As a filmmaker and journalist I have covered hundreds of public hearings, including Congressional hearings. It is my understanding that public speech is allowed to be filmed. Congress should be no exception. No one on Capitol Hill should regard themselves exempt from the Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution states explicitly “Congress shall make no law…that infringes on the Freedom of the Press”. Which means that no subcommittee rule or regulation should prohibit a respectful journalist or citizen from recording a public hearing.

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