Having your groceries delivered is no longer just a convenience for those who dread the weekly trip to the store. Studies have recently shown that having your groceries delivered to your home could also help us to live a more eco-friendly life.

Over the years I have slowly changed my way of living to a "green" life, and what at first seemed to be an inconvenience is now proving to provide more convenience in my life. From the little things like using energy efficient lighting all the way to my not so regular trips to the grocery store, it seems I spend a lot less time doing tedious things, leaving more time for work and fun.

Up until the last few weeks I was against using a delivery service for my groceries. I didn't think it was possible that the big diesel trucks used to deliver items from my local grocer could be better for the environment than my car. Then I stumbled upon an article that told me just the opposite. University of Washington engineers Ann Goodchild and Erica Wygonik recently c... See entire blog item

Americans' health, security, and economic well-being are tied to climate and weather. In the last 2 years, the United States experienced 25 climate- and weather-related disasters exceeding $1 billion ($115 billion total) in damages and claiming 1,019 lives. The public, businesses, resource managers, and policy leaders are increasingly asking for information to help them understand how and why climate conditions are changing and how they can prepare.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a primary provider of climate science, data, tools, and information used by stakeholders and citizens in decision-making contexts. These resources... See entire story

As of March 18, 2013

The Green Power Partnership works with a wide variety of leading organizations — from Fortune 500® companies to local, state and federal governments, and a growing number of colleges and universities. The following Top Partner Rankings highlight the annual green power use of leading Green Power Partners within the United States and across individual industry sectors.

Using green power helps reduce the environmental impacts of electricity use and supports the development of new renewable generation capacity nationwide. Usage amounts reflect U.S. operations only and are sourced... See entire news item

The tragedy of the killings in Newtown Connecticut on December 14th is unspeakable. What could be more chilling than the intentional killing of innocents? You are shocked and appalled, shaken to your core. Remember this feeling and do not let it go.

Think of your own children sitting in their classrooms, think of your neighbors' kids waiting at the bus stop, think of the millions of children throughout the country who will be returning to school on Monday. Get inside their heads and their hearts.

Think about the world you want them to see–and think about how painfully far we are from that world at this moment. If you are against violence and for peace this is your moment. This is your time to come forward, to step up, to sound out and make yourself seen and heard. Do not be dissuaded or deterred, stand tall, stand proud. Shout loud and long. Don't stop shouting. You will not be alone. You will not be alone... See entire blog item

Financing a Greener House

With all of the focus on green technologies and efficient housing, many consumers are looking into ways to turn their existing home into a bold, eco-friendly statement. And, while that process is often an attractive one, it comes with a pretty large number of expenses and overall costs that can be hard for people to afford. That's especially true in economic times like the present, when words like "uncertainty" and "turmoil" dominate the headlines. Luckily, however, there are a few great programs to help finance these environmentally-friendly changes.

And, even better than excellent financing options, consumers will find many home improvements that are more simple and cost effective than they might have... See entire blog item

When I was young, I said to God, "God, tell me the mystery of the universe." But God answered, "that knowledge is for me alone."

So I said, "God, tell me the mystery of the peanut." Then God said, "Well George, that's more nearly your size."

The Department of Energy wants to give the Southern Company a nuclear power loan guarantee at better interest rates than you can get on a student loan. And unlike a home mortgage, there may be no down payment. 

Why? 

The terms DOE is offering the builders of the Vogtle atomic reactors have only become partially public through a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit filed by the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. ... See entire blog item

Arctic sea ice reached its annual maximum extent on March 18, after reaching an initial peak early in the month and declining briefly. Ice extent for the month as a whole was higher than in recent years, but still below average.

As the melt season begins, researchers look at a variety of factors that may contribute to summer ice melt. While the maximum extent occurred slightly later than average, the new ice growth is very thin and likely to melt quickly. Ice age data indicate that despite the higher extent compared to recent years, the winter sea ice continues to be dominated by younger and thinner sea ice.

The future of nuclear power now hangs on a single decision by President Obama---and us.

His Office of Management and Budget could cave to the unsustainable demands of reactor builders who cannot handle the standard terms of a loan agreement.

Or he could defend basic financial procedures and stand up for the future of the American economy.

You can help make this decision, which will come soon.

It's about a proposed $8.33 billion nuke power loan guarantee package for two reactors being built at Georgia's Vogtle.   Obama anointed it last year for the Southern Company, parent to Georgia Power.  Two other reactors sporadically operate there.  Southern just ravaged the new construction side of the site, stripping virtually all vegetation.

It's also stripped Georgia ratepayers of ever-more millions of dollars, soon to... See entire blog item

A recent report from The Nordic Council of Ministers ( title: Flexible Emission Fees: an incentive for driving sustainable production and consumption) is optimistic that growth and environmental goals can be reconciled. If the conclusions of the report can be implemented, it could set a new direction towards sustainable development.

The starting point for the investigation that forms the basis of the report is an economic innovation from Swedish engine innovator, Anders Höglund, from the Swedish Sustainable Economy Foundation. Höglund postulated that the principles of control engineering that he had applied to make diesel engines burn clean could be applied to the economy. '

Control technology is the application of control devices to a process to ensure it performs to requirements. In the case of the engine, advanced micro-processor and sensing technology is applied to a rather "dirty" invention like the diesel engine. Fast feedback, computer control and some final stage cleaning ensure that the combustion in the engine is controlled precisely. The height of control technology is possibly the modern fighter jet that is unstable without the help of the advanced computer control.

In the old days, the economy was paper-controlled;... See entire blog item