SOLAR Christmas Lights

As the holidays are quickly approaching keep these Christmas Solar String Lights on your list! Recharge by day and save energy by night!

PROBE for Sustainable Business

"PROBE (PROmoting Business Excellence) is one of the world's leading business assessment and best practice benchmarking tools, used in 40 countries to promote and support the pursuit of Business Excellence."

PROBE for Sustainable Business is a new tool developed in collaboration with TNS (The Natural Step). It can be used by businesses of any type, scale and location in conjunction with TNS framework to help businesses move toward sustainability.

View this PowerPoint presentation for more in depth information.

What is the Carbon Content in your Food?

Sweden is leading the charge once again...they are the first to administer food emissions calculations to help consumers make more informed decisions about the food they eat. "New labels listing the carbon dioxide emissions associated with the production of foods are appearing on some grocery items and restaurant menus around the country."

Food production is an energy intensive industry, responsible for emitting GHG's into the atmosphere resulting in climate change. Altering ones diet by selecting foods with lower embodied energy can greatly reduce your footprint.

Read more in this New York Times Article.

Labels here, Labels there, Labels everywhere

Having a difficult time sifting through the endless sea of 'EcoLabels'.

Look no further...GreenerChoices.org has created a comprehensive guide to Eco-Labels.

What does CARBON have to do with it?

All this talk about the greenhouse effect and climate change, but what does carbon have to do with it?

When the sun heats the earth, the atmosphere naturally retains some of the heat while the rest escapes back into space. GHG's (Green House Gases), such as carbon dioxide (CO2), help capture this heat so as carbon and other GHG's systematically increase in the atmosphere, the amount of heat in the atmosphere systematically increases as well.

Human activities have enhanced this process by emitting a tremendous amount of GHG's from burning fossil fuels such as coal, natural gas and oil to power our cars and buildings. Cutting down trees (the most efficient cabon sinks in nature), generating waste and farming also produce GHG's.

As a result, the earths average temperature has increased causing more frequent natural catastrophies and subjecting the earths natural cycles to imbalance. For thousands of years, carbon has naturally cycled through the atmosphere. Today the levels of CO2 are quickly approaching 400ppm whereas scientsists agree that the safe upper limit of CO2 in the atmosphere is 350ppm.

Now if only a global climate treaty would recognize this number...then nations would have a common goal and local governments could start forging policies and standards to ensure a safer climate future!

Largest Climate Action Event EVER!!!

On 24 October 2009, people held rallies around the globe to bring attention to the most important number of our time, 350. Over 4000 events simultaneously took place in 175 nations, making this the largest climate action event the world has even seen.

So what is it all about? "350.org is an international grassroots campaign that aims to mobilize a global climate movement united by a common call to action. By spreading an understanding of the science and a shared vision for a fair policy, they will ensure that the world creates bold and equitable solutions to the climate crisis. 350.org is an independent and not-for-profit project."

"350 is the number that leading scientists say is the safe upper limit for carbon dioxide in our atmosphere. Scientists measure carbon dioxide in "parts per million" (ppm), so 350ppm is the number humanity needs to get below as soon as possible to avoid runaway climate change." Watch this video to find out more.

In Madison, we had around 100 activists participate in a human '350' formation on the Capitol lawn. A videographer captured the event on film, watch here.

InterCONNECTED

All things on earth are interconnected just as all things in nature are. We are all part of the same system which is composed of nature, humans and the things we create and dispose of. As part of this system, what we do as humans directly effects the environment. If you do not agree then look at the graphs from this article - clearly the two are linked.

Therefore, there is no one solution to sustainability. Rather than looking at individual problems, it would be much more effective if we took a step back for a broader perspective. We need to take a whole systems approach to analyzing the issues and strategizing solutions for a safer and sustainable future.

Passive House Movement

Super-efficient.

Cost effective.
Carbon-neutrality within reach.
Today.


This is the slogan of The Passive House Institute US (PHIUS), a consulting and research firm working to further the implementation of Passive House standards and techniques nationwide, which is much more evident throughout Europe at this time.
 
PHIUS has developed software and tools to aid in this effort along with a Passive House certification to award projects that meet their strict energy efficiency standards.

To Feed a City

As more people around the globe are moving into cities each year, the Western diet is becoming more readily apparent - a diet that is not necessarily healthy nor sustainable.

How we produce our food and feed our cities is an escalating problem. Agriculture and cities are bound together and are dependent on eachother. The modern food system has distanced us from nature. Rather than importing food from far-off, massive monoculture fields we need to produce more food within the cities we reside.

For more information, listen to Carolyn Steel talk about "How food shapes our cities" on TED Talks.

What is Your Footprint

Carbon footprints are the talk of the time and people seem to be more concerned about the amount of GHG emissions being emitted into the atmosphere, in particular carbon which contributes to climate change. There are numerous carbon calculators available on the web, some which analyze your personal footprint while others look at carbon footprints of entire nations.

These tools were created to raise awareness on the issue and to simulate change. As you are probably aware, North America has an astounding footprint in comparison to most other continents in the world. As Americans, it is our responsibility to bring this statistic down by knowing our numbers and living lighter on the earth.

Cities: A Source of Innovation

The Martin Prosperity InstituteCities recently published an instersting article, CO2 - Bigger is Better. "Their findings suggest that our largest cities are not only centres of innovation but also energy efficiency as well, and will be a key part of our economically and ecologically sustainable future."

Nuclear...the Necessary Evil?

NO! I recently read the article The Necessary Evil of Nuclear Power which prompted me to delve into the topic further. This article suggests that nuclear power is a huge part of our green energy future...simply because it is a low emission alternative to fossil fuels, unlike coal and natural gas power plants which emit carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, contributing to climate change. This perspective seems a bit one-sided to me. Granted, carbon is the talk of the time and an issue to be addressed, it is certainly not the only criteria for green energy.

We need to take a whole systems perspective on the matter and analyze the process from beginning to end. In looking at nuclear in this way, it becomes grossly apparent that this is NOT a viable long term solution.

Uranium, the source of energy for nuclear power, is a scarce natural resource. This metallic chemical occurs naturally in low concentrations but when it is mined to a large degree higher concentrations are brought to the earth's surface, at rates faster than nature can cycle through it. Therefore, the concentration of urnaium builds up over time essentially as toxins to our earth.


Not to be overlooked are health concerns, afterall, uranium is radioactive. Perhaps it is only weakly radioactive at best but when in high concentrations this becomes a concern. Ever wonder why workers in nuclear power plants wear safety gear and have higher rates of cancer....hmmmm


And, the biproduct of this so called green process is plutonium, highly radioactive waste that has no use other than for nuclear bombs!

For a more well rounded perspective of this subject refer to this article:Time for Change

The POWER behind the electrical grid

Is the massive electrical grid that provides power to all things we know, including the laptop I am typing on, sufficient enough to take on renewable energy sources? As population continues to soar, the exisitng electrical infrastructure becomes more stressed and less reliable. Just as our natural resources are not infinite energy sources, the power lines are only capable of carrying a finite amount of energy, oh the irony of this all.

Rather than continually repairing this obsolete grid (the easy option), perhaps it is time to focus on a Smart Grid that will take us into our renewable energy future. Though this huge undertaking will not happen overnight, it is a necesity of our times, one that we need to invest in NOW.

And in the meantime, we should be more aware of the amount of energy we consume, and take steps to reducing this load in each household, each office building and each community.

The Botany of Desire

The apple, the tulip, the marijuana plant and the potato are the stars of the film adaptation of journalist Michael Pollan's best-selling book, The Botany of Desire.


These four famous plants have evolved to take advantage of the human desires for sweetness, beauty, intoxication and control. The interconnected relationship between plants and humans is what Pollan terms "The Botany of Desire."

The Whole truth about MILK

With all the mixed messages about dairy today, how do we know if milk is a healthy option for us? Most farmers would like you to believe it to be, though some people are concerned. The conventional process of producing milk has led rise to so many health issues that simply were not apparent in the generation of our grandparents. So the question is, is milk the real issue or is it the highly pasturized and homogenized process that should be of concern? Watch this video and decide for yourself.

Then ask yourself, is raw milk a viable option? It is a more natural approach.

They say you are what you eat (and drink)...wouldn't you prefer to drink milk from a happy cow :)

e2

e2 is an ongoing PBS series about The Economies of Being Environmentally Conscious. The series looks at design, energy, transport and various other topics through a sustainability lens.

Powering the Future in a Finite World

Climate change aside,  the real issue at hand is that we are quickly running out of the natural resources that our global economy depends upon. Rather than focusing on bandaid approaches to sustainability, we need to think upsream and address the actual symptoms. Rather than sequestering carbon underground (which has unforeseen long-term consequences), we need to stop drilling, stop burning and stop depending on the Earth's finite resources to support our societal needs.

Sometimes it takes a crisis....and I think the global economic crisis will spawn more innovation, creativity and leaders than ever before.

Dave Hughes’s guide to The End of the Fossil Fuel Age paralells just this, read on!

Mission Zero

Ray Anderson, CEO and sustainable visionary for the world's largest (and quite possibly greenest) carpet manufacturer Interface, is at it again. He is a leader extraordinaire in this movement, and his latest quest, to create an online platform for like-minded people to connect, share and move forward is up and running. With some of the most prominent sustainability figures behind this, Mission Zero is sure to be a success.

One of the early adopters of TNS (The Natural Step), and a personal inspiration of mine, Ray Anderson has so much to share about his journey of leading a corporation toward sustainability. So many videos, so little time, this is one person not to lose sight of!

My next read, Anderson's latest book, "Confessions of a Radical Industrialist: Profits, People, Purpose - Doing Business by Respecting the Earth."

Stand Up and Be Heard

24 October is an International Day of Climate Action. Activists around the globe are organizing events in their community through 350.org. Scientists say that 350 ppm CO2 in the atmosphere is the safe limit for humanity, and we want to assure that the people representing us at COP15, the United Nations Climate Change Conference, in December support this.

350 photos from around the world will be displayed on the massive screens in Times Square, in the heart of New York City, with global media standing by to broadcast the story worldwide!

The photos will all have the number 350 depicted in them somehow, and will act as a huge visual petition that will be sent to world leaders. On the Monday after October 24th, the 350.org crew will be visiting UN headquarters to hand-deliver the photos to diplomats and delegates the world over.

Join people from around the world in this historic event. Visit 350.org to find out what is happening in your hometown. If you live in Madison contact me, I am looking for people to form a huge 350 formation on the Capitol lawn!

tcktcktck....

The tcktcktck campaign is a brilliant example of mass mobilisation towards the climate talks in Copenhagen - which we desperately need.

Check out this inspiring video that they creatively produced to bring people together and take action!

Sustainability Primer - Step by Natural Step

If you don't want to take 9 months off and move to Sweden to rigorously study sustainability as I did, read the Sustainability Primer, developed by The Natural Step Canada (TNS).

The document is a succint explanation of sustainability from a whole-systems perspective, including a very clear definition of TNS Framework, the Sustainability Principles and the ABCD Methodolgy for moving forward.

Find a Walkable Place to Live

Do you live in a walkable neighborhood...one where you can use your two feet for transportation rather than having to hop in a car everytime you want to go somewhere. Walking not only improves your health but it reduces GHG emissions which are contributing to climate change. Also, those who walk tend to shop, eat and play closer to home, supporting their local economies.

Take the Walk Score test, it is as easy as typing in your address, and find out just how pedestrian friendly your neighborhood is.

Surprise Sustainability Index

Much to my surprise, the for so long evil conglomerate of Wal-Mart is taking a bold move and developing a sustainability index. How in depth is this index you ask, and just how relevant will it be....we all want to know. What I do know is that Wal-Mart, being one of the largest retailers in the world, has an incredible opportunity (not to mention responsibility) to influence the retail sector all the way through the supply chain.

This is a HUGE step in the right direction, let's just hope they get it right. I am not about to start shopping at Wal-Mart just yet, but the future is hopeful....

Net Zero is Next

For the first time in history, more than half of the global population now resides in cities. The evolution of cities therefore has a huge impact on our future and can be viewed as a leverage point for developing a sustainable future.

In recognition of this, Sitra, the Finnish Innovation Fund, in collaboration with the City of Helsinki, has launched a sustainable development design competition.

The Low2No Design Competition consists of three parts. 1 Design a Strategy 2. Design an Indicator 3. Design a Vision. Seems simple enough, right? Not exactly...click here for brief presentations by selected entries to see just how involved and complicated it is. What an incredible opportunity to shape the way we develop cities in the future!