Girl Scouts Forever Green

I took the Girl Scouts Forever Green pledge. The girls have pledged reduce waste, save energy, and build rain gardens. Additionally, the Girl Scouts official website encourages people to “Take Action”, just like the SouthCoast Energy Challenge does!

The Girl Scout “pledges” in Eastern Massachusetts have eliminated 2,536,973 pounds of CO2, which they calculate is equivalent to emissions from 226 cars per year. I love the way these statistics are converted in an easy to understand way.

Join the girls and pledge HERE

Believe it or not, there are many things you can do with your tap water besides washing your car and showering. Rumor has it that it is actually clean enough to consume.

To urge the use of drinking tap water, Concord, Massachusetts has recently placed a ban on single use plastic water bottles. With over 50 billion bottles of water being produced in America annually, this is a great start to decrease those numbers. More shockingly, the amount of oil used to produce these bottles of water is enough to power 1.3 million cars for one year.

There are plenty of opinions against this new law.  The first to point out is taste.
How many times have you heard “I don’t like the taste of tap water”?
People seem to have a preconceived notion that tap water is dirty or not good to drink, when in fact it is bottled water that has less regulation than the city or towns water department. On top of all this, blind taste tests prove that people actually prefer tap water to bottled water.

Want some Aquafina or Dasani? Turn on your faucet and there it is. These brands are purified tap water put in water bottles and sold to the public with the marketing idea that it is safer to drink. Not to mention drinking the recommended amount of water per day from the tap would cost about $0.49 per year versus $1,400 in store bought bottled water.

Stores will surely still sell bottled water, the fine is minimal at $25 for a first offense and only $50 for each offense afterwards.  But not to fret, gallons of water are still on shelves as well as cases of water bottles may be had in the event of an emergency.

Drinking bottled water is for the arrogant and uneducated.

To learn more visit

http://www.storyofstuff.org/movies-all/story-of-bottled-water/

Soccket Balls by Uncharted Play can capture and store kinetic energy and then use it to power a light!  They can also include an emergency cell phone charger and an energy tracking device.  Amazing!

Soccket balls by Uncharted Play

Read the full story from Time here:

Visit Uncharted Play here:

Imagine if, instead of asphalt, our roads, parking lots, and driveways were made of solar panels.  Now imagine if these solar panels could also be heated to melt snow and ice.  This would prevent roads from becoming dangerously slippy without the use of salt and sand which can be hazardous to the surrounding environment (not to mention that stuff gets our cars dirty!).  Further imagine if these panels had LED lights set in to mark lanes, instead of painting and repainting lines on the road.  This would make them easier to see in the dark and during the rain.  Imagine if these solar roadways also doubled as a power grid–no more power outages due to storms, broken wires and telephone poles falling down.  Soon we won’t need to imagine all this!  This is where the Solar Roadways project, founded by Julie and Scott Brusaw, comes in.  Their goal is the turn the above dream into a reality.  To learn more and help out, visit the links below!

http://solarroadways.com/main.html

http://solarroadways.com/intro.shtml

I posted this to a personal blog last week, but I feel that this is a great place to share!

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Today I took about an hour to read the chapter of the book Eaarth (that’s right, with two a’s).  The author, Bill McKibben, claims the earth we live on is no longer what it used to be; it’s a different place, therefore it should have a new name. Clever.

Anyhow, this book delves into how we have waited much to long to put a halt to global warming, and explains what is going on today (terrible things!!!), due to the heating of our planet.  The first chapter is really scary, packed full of statistics that I wish were not true and could be brushed off without worrying too much.  Unfortunately, that is not the case.  I think this a great book for anyone who doesn’t understand or see that climate change is occurring.  It really lays it all out for you.

I just wanted to share some of the statistics that I thought people would find interesting.

-The average temperature, having raised a bit over 1.5 degrees F, has triggered a 45% increase in thunderheads (giant clouds five miles up filled with tons of rain and hail) above the ocean.

-Increase in storms = increase in lightning. In one day in June 2008, there were 1,700 different fires across the state of California. Also, lightning strikes in the Arctic have increased twenty-fold, igniting tundra fires (which have never previously been observed).

-The Arctic ice cap is now 1.1 million square miles smaller it had once been.

-The West Antarctic is losing ice 75% faster than last decade.

-Tropical climate has expanded 8.5 million miles…expansion of the tropics push dry subtropics ahead of them, causing rain to be dumped over the ocean, rather than land.

-Australia now experiences an arid climate, the “new normal.” It is no longer considered a drought because the inflows of the past will not return.

-There is a 50% chance that Lake Mead (which sits on Colorado River behind the Hoover Dam) will run dry by 2021!

-One hundred eleven hurricanes formed in the tropical Atlantic between 1995-2008, a 75% increase over the previous 13 years.  These hurricanes are stronger and also last longer, so their destruction often hits more places.

-Oceans’ acidity has increased 30% due to our emissions

-80% oyster larvae death rate due to the high acid content in the sea (2009).

-Coral reefs, colonies of living organisms, will cease to exist by 2100, or even as early as 2050.

-Some species are even shrinking in size as an adaptation to the heat change.

This only covers the first ten pages.  The rest of the chapter dives into the carbon parts per million in the air, and the uncertainty of what is too much.  We are also brought up to speed about our reliance on oil, coal and even finances.  The book cites the fact that all of our recessions happened when oil prices increased… Interesting.

Although we are moving towards trying (at least a little bit) to fix the problem we’ve created, as other countries begin to adapt a more Western lifestyle (China, for example), we will be faced with the problem of even more pollution and emissions. And, gee, how could we ever convince so many people that the new lifestyle they’re chasing isn’t really all that good?

I will admit, the first chapter in this book is scary and intimidating, but we can not hide from these truths any longer. This chapter really focused on the negative, and I’m quite curious if there is any hope found further in the book.  So far, though, it has been an interesting read.  I recommend anyone that lives on Earth should read it. Prices start at $0.01 (used) on Amazon. Check it out.

Algae lamps have the abilityto collect more CO2 than trees.  Energy production through algae plants is being researched, and there are products like lamps being designed and developed to harness this energy. Researchers at Stanford have been studying the electrical current that algae plants produce during photosynthesis, a plants way of creating energy by converting sunlight into chemical energy.  Scientists have been developing lamps that will generate electricity from algae, and are revolutionizing the way we produce energy. So Cool!

These lamps work by collecting CO2 and sunlight, which causes the algae to undergo photosynthesis. During the photosynthesis process, the algae lamp charges a battery that will then release light. I think lamps like these will be a great way to reduce electricity consumption from dirty energy like coal, oil, and gas. The lamps even look cool, while at the same time making the air cleaner and lighting the world.

http://www.earthtechling.com/2010/06/light-up-latro-algae-pet-lights-looks-like-beaker-of-green-goo/

http://news.stanford.edu/news/2010/april/electric-current-plants-041310.html

Across the country on February 17th there will be a massive uprising, standing up to big oil. Thousands will gather in Washington, DC for a monumental action lead by 350.org, The Sierra Club, and the Hip Hop Caucus against the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline that will extend a pipeline carrying tar sands oil from Alberta, Canada to the Gulf Coast . Will you be there? It is time to stand up to big oil and special interests once and for all. The American public does not need decades more of investment in foreign oil and dangerous extraction projects that will only lead to more spills, destruction of the natural environment , and natural disasters.

We must stand together and tell Obama, Congress, and anyone else who hasn’t rejected the pipeline’s plan that drilling for MORE oil and endangering MORE of the natural environment are not the solutions to the energy crisis. The solution is investing in renewable energy like solar, wind, rain, geothermal, waves, and tides. We must take greed and corporate lobbying out of the discussions about the future of energy and change the conversation to include what is most sustainable, renewable, and environmentally sound for generations to come. Will you be there?

*When: February 17th, at 12 Noon
Where: The National Mall, Washington D.C.
Who: 350.org, The Sierra Club and the Hip-Hop Caucus

Why: To tell Barack Obama it’s time to lead in the fight against climate change, beginning with the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline. 

For more information about rides, housing and answers to Frequently Asked Questions, visit http://forwardonclimate.org

*http://act.350.org/signup/presidentsday

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. ” -Margaret Mead

The SouthCoast Energy Challenge is NOW HIRING students and local residents for the Community Outreach & Organizing Internship: WINTER / SPRING 2013!

This is a PAID INTERNSHIP!

About the Challenge:

The Southeastern Environmental Education Alliance (SEEAL) has launched the SouthCoast Energy Challenge to engage and mobilize residents to become more thoughtful and efficient energy consumers. The program aims to reduce energy consumption by 15% among 35,000 SouthCoast households over three years. This approximately 120 million pound reduction in carbon dioxide emissions is equivalent to taking about 10,000 cars off the road! The Challenge promotes individual action as well as friendly competition among towns, schools, businesses, congregations, and non-profits.

Internship Description:

The primary focus of the SouthCoast Energy Challenge Outreach & Organizing Interns will be community outreach through canvassing and tabling at events to spread awareness and increase participation in the Challenge. The successful interns will work closely with the Program Coordinators to organize and promote the Challenge in the Greater New Bedford area, with an initial focus on Dartmouth. While some of the work will be in the SouthCoast Energy Challenge Dartmouth Initiative office, the Organizing Team will be expected to work predominantly in the community at large. We are seeking college aged or older applicants for these positions, and requesting a one semester (4 month) commitment with the possibility of staying on into the Spring and Summer of 2013.

Primary Responsibilities:

• Doing outreach by attending special events and neighborhood canvassing sessions 2-3 times a week.
• Meeting agreed upon numbers of the new Challenge registrations per week.
• Weekly Blog posts about related topics.
• Contact/Registrant database maintenance and expansion–including entering hard copy registrations into the system. Some web maintenance.
• Social Media and Marketing contributions.

Desired Qualifications:

• A demonstrated interest in energy and sustainability-related issues.
• Eagerness for learning and practicing grassroots organizing skills.
• Excellent social skills–ability to fearlessly talk to anyone!
• Ability to work with a diverse group of stakeholders, both individually and as a team.
• Persistence, flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm.
• Valid driver’s license and personal transportation.
• Aged 18 or older.

Timeline & Compensation:

Internship days will be primarily Monday-Friday, with flexibility in consideration of school schedules. Interns will also be required to work up to 3-5 weekend days a month (mostly Saturdays). Internship hours negotiable upon hiring–but will require 10-15 hours per week. For more information, go to www.southcoastenergychallenge.org or contact aerickson@seeal.org. Phone: 508-910-1871.

Please submit resume and cover letter no later than January 30, 2013 to:

Andy Erickson, Community Organizer, info@southcoastenergychallenge.org or mail to: SEEAL attn: SouthCoast Energy Challenge Community Outreach & Organizing Internship, 63 Union Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.

Check out this great TED talk about moving forward to more energy efficiency by mastering the electron.

Justin Hall-Tipping: Freeing energy from the grid

New Bedford Solar Now
PROGRAM MANAGER: Scope of Services
(Resume and cover letter due March 29th, 2012)

Background:
New Bedford Solar Now is a residential program to engage and mobilize eligible New Bedford homeowners to install solar on their homes. This will reduce City residents’ electricity bills, increase local jobs, and improve local environmental health.

NB Solar Now is part of New Bedford Energy Now, and this position is supported by a Fund of the Community Foundation of Southeastern Massachusetts. NB Energy Now Partners include: the City of New Bedford, BlueWave Capital LLC, Beaumont Solar, Real Goods Solar, SEEAL’s SouthCoast Energy Challenge, Marion Institute’s P.O.W.E.R. Project, Old Bedford Village Development Corps, and Next Step Living.

Program Manager Role:
The primary focus of the Program Manager will be to drive and track demand for home solar assessments and solar installations in the City of New Bedford, MA. The Program Manager will be responsible for achieving specific benchmarks as outlined by the partnership. The Program Manager will work closely with and alongside City staff, sustainability groups, schools, businesses, and congregations, to help educate and engage town residents on solar power—and to help them sign up for a free home solar assessment. The Program Manager will be responsible for post assessment visits with residents, to maximize follow-through on installation recommendations and financing opportunities. Solar trainings will be provided—from the basics of how solar works and which homeowners fit the right criteria, to the more technical aspects of financing and installation process and steps. Grant-funded position; reliant on program productivity and availability of funds. Contractors welcome. This is a full-time position.
Some evening and weekend hours will be required.

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:
• Coordinate with NB Energy Now projects and partners, on core strategies and implementation.
• Provide overall management and support for NB Solar Now.
• Meet NB Solar Now benchmarks for number of assessments performed and solar systems installed.
• Develop and distribute materials, resources, and presentations.
• Organize and facilitate project events and workshops.
• Outreach within New Bedford, to include phone banking, door-to-door canvassing, and events.
• Collect customer information, maintain solar database, and document individual homeowner progress.
• Filter leads (online mapping) to access homeowners’ eligibility for solar (i.e.: orientation, no shading, etc.)
• Follow-up (phone, email, and vehicle travel) with leads to ensure quality customer service and satisfaction.
• Assist in maintenance and enhancement of technical resources, such as website and data collection.
• Write and submit reports, newsletter articles, press releases, and grant proposals.
• Recruit and oversee volunteers and interns to assist with outreach, data collection, reporting, etc.

Strongly Desired Qualifications:
• Valid driver’s license and/or access to reliable transportation
• A solid understanding of energy and sustainability-related issues.
• Capacity to learn in a complex, past-faced environment, with ingoing in-depth orientation and trainings.
• Experience in sales, marketing, grassroots organizing, and/or program management.
• Proficiency with navigating and managing spreadsheets and data.
• Ability to work both independently and with a diverse group of stakeholders.
• Persistence, flexibility, creativity, and enthusiasm.
• Preference will be given to a New Bedford resident.
• Basic ability to communicate in Spanish and/or Portuguese.

For more information, please contact newbedfordsolarnow@gmail.com, or call (508) 493-4343.
Please email resume and cover letter no later than March 29th, at 5 p.m., to above email address,
or mail to: Community Foundation, Attn: NB Solar, 63 Union Street, New Bedford, MA 02740.