The New York Green Advocate

Transition Movement Takes Off In Upstate New York: My Hometown Starts Transition Town Initiative

2012-01-09T14:12:00.000-08:00

Marbletown, Ulster County, New York area becomes the 108th official Transition Initiative in the USA!

Instead of waiting for answers to the challenges facing our region and world at large, a group of committed Ulster County, New York residents, inspired by the worldwide Transition Town movement and its founder Rob Hopkins, is asking questions and forming a community initiative to come up with ways to make Ulster County more resilient and sustainable.

Transition Marbletown joins an ever increasing network taking root in diverse communities, countries and cultures around the world - all joined together with common goals. For the passionate people that started Transition Marbletown, the initiative is sure to be a personal journey, but also a journey for the community as a whole. Rob's ideas of Transition and personal resilience are intertwined with society. He writes: “The concept of resilience works on a range of levels, not just that of community resilience. Personal resilience is vital to sustaining both our own and our initiative’s momentum.”

Rob Hopkins, founder of the world wide Transition Town movement. Rob is a man at the center of world dialog about how to create a life resilient to changes and organizing each household member and each dwelling to fit into a daisy chain of positive energy that makes up a sustainable, self sufficient community.

Below are excerpts from an hour long Skype interview I did last year with Rob Hopkins, founder of the Transition Town movement. Rob said during my interview with him: “Transition is an invitation to be part of an experiment on a historic scale with people all around the world who are trying to figure out what to do at this really crucial point in history to make places we live in more resilient and less vulnerable.”

Rob Hopkins in the UK with his Green Community Heroes Award from EnergySavingTrust.org

EXCERPTS FROM INTERVIEW WITH ROB HOPKINS:THE NATURE OF TRANSITION

Paul: There was a good piece called "The End Is Near!(Yay!)" about Transition in the New York Times where they followed a Utah town that was doing a Transition and it was a really well done piece I think.

Rob: Yes.

Paul: The article described how the town really reacted to the Transition initiative and it seemed that it really did come together in a really interesting way.

Rob: Yes, absolutely.

Paul: When I read that article, the writer in the New York Times said: “Transition dismisses Al Gore Types as Techno optimists.” Do you? What does he mean by that and is that true? There's a lot of stuff I've seen about the Transition and a lot of the Transition ideas. Some people seem to think that it's a little bit anti technology.

Rob: Yeah.

Paul: But, I don't personally think that's the case. You even address this in the Transition Handbook, saying it's not anti technology.

Rob: It's not anti technology, but technology is also not a silver bullet, you know. So, actually, there are technologies that we have, the technologies that we already have, and, so, if we decide we are not going to do anything and wait around till somebody invents a car that runs on toothpaste or something, then, actually, we are going to be waiting a very very long time. And so, also, I think what it's really about, is no matter how impressive our phones are or how fast our broadband is that actually at the end of the day the things that matter the most are our core needs which are met in terms of food, energy, building materials, that kind of stuff. And, actually, at the moment those things are carted half way around the world from wherever they can be found cheapest. And, so, we would argue that, yeah, of course, there is a role for technology and, actually, what we see with Transition is, in effect, an international movement of communities that are re-localizing, but are using the web and all of the resources that are available to share what they are doing.

So, it's a sort of global movement of communities localizing, but sharing it globally. It's quite an interesting juxtaposition of things made possible by technology. But, we don't have a kind of blind faith in technology. I think a lot of things that are put forward at this point are trying to convince everybody that business as usual will be possible. That it's just the case that we are still able to have economic growth, globalization, food being brought and materials being flown around the world, wherever we can find them cheapest, and we are somehow going to run the whole thing on soda power instead. So, what we argue is that actually it's the full implication of peak oil, of energy descent, actually taking climate change seriously and that we are going to need to rethink the basic things we do, the scale on which we do things which will still embrace technology, but will be technology focused on addressing the right questions.

Transition Brazil

WHAT IS SURVIVABILITY? HOW TO PLAN FOR THE FUTURE?

Paul: I like that piece you wrote, “How Survivalists Got it All Wrong.” Can you comment on that article?

Rob: Well, I guess it's really, particularly in that U.S. context, there is often that perception that fleeing to the hills and living in a bunker with four years of baked beans is an option. And, actually, I think that I've never written anything on the Transition web site that has generated so many comments than that piece. I had all kinds of people emailing,entirely from the States I think, that were slagging off and saying you don't understand, you're naive. They said—and, of course, when everything breaks down and you come knocking on my bunker door, I won’t be letting you in! There was a link to one survivalist web site that said: “What's better, a gun or a club? A gun, because you can use a gun as a club, but not a club as a gun!” And, I thought – my god! So, for me, I suppose the point of that piece was to make the distinction that Transition is about – it's a compassionate response. It's not a selfish response. It's not a response that goes – Uhmm. Everything is me, mine, bring it all and protect it. Hide away and shut off from everybody else. If it's just about everything breaking down and people living in bunkers with years of baked beans, I don't really want to be around to see that.

Paul: Do you think that is more of a North American response?

Rob: Absolutely.

Paul: In other places of the world, people aren't so bunker mentality?

Rob: I have not really encountered it from anywhere else I think. I think it's very much a kind of particular thinking within that kind of peak oil kind of community. You know, people like Matt Savinar who has a web site which forwards people info about peak oil. And, the idea of peak oil for them means, inevitably, the irrevocable crash and collapse of absolutely everything. It's really a North American idea. And, the reason why I wrote that piece, “How Survivalist Got it All Wrong”, is because it struck me as being something really quite dangerous actually. And, quite alarming. Well, people do what people want to do, but it struck me that within that kind of peak oil thinking, the peak oil mindset, there also needs to be something which we are saying that is different. Well, actually, there is another way to do this which is about rebuilding community, assuming there is good in the people around you...assuming that actually they have skills and insights and connections that you can all benefit from sharing. And, so there, that was the reason for writing that article really.

Paul: Well, have you talked with the American chapters of Transition U.S.? Are the American chapters getting flack from “survivalists” or are people really embracing Transition here? I have to talk with the head of Transition U.S., Carolyn Stayton, a little more. But, do you get the feeling that people in the U.S. are being a bit less Armageddon or paranoid about things and getting more into the sharing concept?

Rob: I think the people involved with Transition; I think there's some extraordinary things happening in the U.S. There are some very active initiatives and some really great projects starting to emerge and, yeah, I think it's really fascinating to see actually. I mean one of the great things about Transition is it's very much about a viral thing where people take and make it their own wherever they are and it blends into and arises from the culture and it arises from the place. It's really exciting to see that happening and to see that happening in the U.S. Which is, of course, a quarter of all the resources are consumed in the U.S. So, if Transition is really going to have an impact, the U.S. is really where it really needs to take hold.

Transition Town, Cambridge, Participants in a course called Grow Your Own. Photo by Dave Fox

ROB'S INSPIRATION TO BECOME A PERMACULTURIST

Paul: I read an interesting thing you wrote about a trip to the Hunza Valley in Pakistan in 1990. That trip seemed to have really affected you in some major way. What did you see there that made you start to think about permaculture? What were they doing? It sounds like a fascinating trip.

Rob: It's just one of the most beautiful places you have ever seen really. And, they had a kind of agricultural system. There are lots of books you can read that go back to the first people that went there in the 20s and 30s and describe that kind of closed loop agricultural system where they – the whole thing is irrigated off a glacier -- where they have a very exact way of moving the water around through channels where they have slate in one place and blocking the water off so it goes somewhere else. And, the mixture of fruits and nuts and vegetables and grains. It's renowned for everybody living till they are a hundred and leaping around like mountain goats. It was somewhere I was very touched by. There was a sort of quality to it which I thought was quite amazing. And, I didn't know anything about permaculture at the time. And, I was traveling with an Australian permaculturist who kept talking about permaculture and I didn't know what he was talking about. And then, when we got to Hunza, he said, this is permaculture! So, it really stuck with me. I think if I had learned how to say 'Will You Marry Me' in Hunzanize, I would have stayed there!

Paul: Is it completely self sustaining? Were they so cut off they had to completely self sustain, they just sort of lived without trading a lot? Is that what it was like there?

Rob: Yeah. But, they were just on that really interesting cusp and opening up to trade. So, they were just, you were just starting to see empty bags of nitrogen fertilizer in the corner of the fields where they had this system (before) where everything was composted and everything was recycled -- human waste was recycled and composted and they had the most incredible fertile soil. Then development was coming along and saying – what you need is nitrogen fertilizer! And, they were going on okay. And, it was just in that really fragile cusp. And, no one was saying, but this is fantastic, it works! We should go for development around this without chucking out what was so special and completely irreplaceable.

Recent Meeting of Transition London

STAY TUNED FOR NEWS ABOUT TRANSITION MARBLETOWN in Ulster County, New York

Click Here for Further Info About Transition Marbletown

Designer and architect, Eliel Saarinen, echoes the thinking of Transition: He said: “Always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context -- a chair in the room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city.”

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2011

Collapsible Plans: Jason Mraz & His Song Collapsible Plans Featured in The Big Fix: New Film About Gulf Oil Spill

2011-11-27T09:39:00.000-08:00

"The Big Fix" Blows Audiences Away With Shocking Truth About The Spill That Never Went Away

Check out the Video below of Jason Mraz singing "Collapsible Plans" on a Street in Europe. The song is featured in the film.

Click on Here to Buy Tickets to see "The Big Fix" in NYC from Dec 2nd-8th and take part in "The Big Fix" NYC "7 Nights of Awareness" happening at the AMC Village 7 theater after each 6 pm screening. The "7 Nights of Awareness" will involve interaction with the filmmakers and leading environmetal advocates from around the country who will participate in a post-screening discussion with the audience.

NYC Film Premier of "The Big Fix": The BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Is Still Very Much on the Horizon

2011-10-28T08:46:00.003-07:00

Wide Coalition of Environmental Advocates To Gather for "7 Nights of Awareness" To Conclude Each Screening of "The Big Fix" at AMC 7 in East Village December 2nd-December 8th

Posted by Paul E. McGinniss

Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell-Tickell uncovering the truth about the oil spill in the Gulf.

Disclaimer: I am a huge fan of Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell-Tickell, the dynamic duo behind the Sundance Award winning documentary, "FUEL". I met them when they drove cross country from California in a green vehicle caravan and arrived to premiere "FUEL" in NYC. Josh and Rebecca are also the producers - directors of an astonishing new film, "The Big Fix". They weave together beautiful, haunting imagery of the Gulf coast. There are spot-on interviews with a diverse assortment of people and plenty of helpful, historical information - all the while uncovering the dirty truth about the BP oil spill.

The BP Deepwater Horizon rig exploded on April 20, 2010. Most of us thought the spill was "cleaned up" and the problem "went away". Unfortunately, to a large extent, the entire event has been supplanted in the media/mass consciousness by other major news stories and events from around the world.

After watching "The Big Fix", it is hard to conclude that things are so rosy down in the Gulf. In fact, the bottom line message from this well-documented film is that the BP oil spill in the Gulf never really went away. And, in fact, the oil is still spilling into the Gulf. Not to mention, the absolutely horrific fact is that the chemical dispersant, Corexit, which was and is still being used in the Gulf to "clean up" the oil, is an extremely toxic substance. The film reports that Corexit is wreaking havoc on the health of the people and marine life in the Gulf. It's the kind of "this can't be true" fact that is so terrible, you don't want to believe it, but must.

Film Poster for the Josh Tickell - Rebecca Harrell-Tickell film, "FUEL", which won the Sundance Award for best Documentary in 2008.

When you see and hear how the the Gulf residents captured in "The Big Fix" have been affected by Corexit and the spill which keeps on spilling, beware, it is both heart wrenching and frightening. When you see and hear Gulf residents driven to tears by this environmental tragedy, you want to cry with them. Rebecca Harrell, herself, was seriously sickened by Corexit during their filming in the Gulf. It is, literally, sickening to watch this toxic crime covered up.

And, when you listen to Marine/Eco-Activist, Jean-Michel Cousteau, son of champion of the seas, Jacques-Yves Cousteau, state so emotionally, "We're being lied to", you realize that the "cover up" depicted in the film is not the rant of uninformed "trouble maker activists", but a real cover up. We all need to unify our voices and join Rebecca and Josh and say - Enough is Enough.

Watch this video from Jean-Michel Cousteau's Ocean Futures Society which investigated the BP Oil Spill one year after it occurred.

When Josh and Rebecca emailed to tell me they were opening the film in NYC at the AMC 7 in the East Village and wanted to create "7 Nights of Awareness" in the theater, post-screening, I immediately jumped on board to help build the events and gather as many people and groups in NYC together to see this watershed film. Our purpose for the "7 Nights of Awareness" is, yes, to divulge the truth about what is going on in the Gulf, in addition to stimulating a dialog that will foster positive action and create solutions which will help our planet become less dependent on fossil fuels, more healthy and truly sustainable.

Despite the negative events depicted in the film, the filmmakers make a point to highlight, towards the end of the film, an endearing bayou local. He wears a yellow t-shirt and dons a Mardi Gras-like necklace across his tanned neck while installing solar panels on the metal roof of his modest home. Josh Tickell narrates at the end. He urges the audience to "unite and take a stand" and deal with the truth and get on with implementing clean energy solutions that are at hand. Tickell concludes, powerfully, asking: "In a struggle for true justice and a better world, where do you stand?"

Being solution-based, Josh and Rebecca, currently, have an additional film out, FREEDOM, which focuses on sustainable and renewable energy options already available which will enable us to be free from the use of oil and other sources of not-clean energy.

To date, the inspiring and passionate people and groups that have come on board for the "7 Nights of Awareness" include: NYC-based Fabien Cousteau (grandson of Jacques and son of Jean-Michel Cousteau) and founder of Plant A Fish; Rocky Kistner from the NRDC; Stefanie Spear and the new web site/newswire EcoWatch; Justin Bloom and colleagues from Waterkeeper Alliance; Dan Miner, founder of Beyond Oil NYC; New Orleans native and NYC-based architect, Drew Lang; Paul Mankiewicz, The Gaia Institute; Margaret Lydecker, Green Drinks NYC and Denise Katzman, EcoEdifier™ and Anti-Fracking activist; Stephen Del Percio, GreenBuildings NYC and Peter Fleischer of Empire State Future.

Any one interested in knowing more about this important film and the events we are organizing in NYC, please contact me asap to discuss. A full press release will be sent out in the next few weeks with additional details.

Please save the dates of December 2nd to December 8th and tell as many people as you can to come to the December 2nd - 8th AMC 7 screenings of "The Big Fix" and meet the inspiring Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Tickell and the passionate NYC people mentioned above - all of whom are making a difference and helping to transform The Big Green Apple into being even more ecologically sound and resilient.

Copyright 2011 Paul E McGinniss

Contact Paul E McGinniss at: Info@PaulEMcGinniss.com

Check out the trailer to "The Big Fix" below.

International Living Future Institute asks: "What if every single act of design and construction made the world a better place?"

2011-10-12T06:33:00.001-07:00

by Paul E McGinniss

Jay Kosa, Community Coordinator of the Living Building Challenge, at the International Living Future Institute, emailed me recently to tell me about the Understanding the Living Building Challenge Workshop which is taking place in NYC on Thursday, November 3, 2011.

Jay said: "We at the Living Building Challenge have been a fan of your blog dating back to your "Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification Plays Lady Ga Ga to USGBC LEED's Madonna" piece. We're making steady headway with the pursuit of Living Buildings in the Northwest and around the world, and we'd really like to cultivate some discussion about what the city of New York could accomplish through the Challenge."

Cool. Bring on the challenge! What's great about the Living Building Challenge is it is a challenge. And it's part of a growing number of international eco-educational groups taking root in the Big Apple - groups like the Transition Town movement and Kitchen Gardeners International - social media networks which are spiraling out and reaching people online and also on the ground, block by block, trading information and creating social consciousness.

Picture of the Hawaii Preparatory Academy Energy Lab which was built under the Living Building Challenge standard. Conceived as a high school science building dedicated to the study of alternative energy, the new Energy Lab at Hawaii Preparatory Academy functions as a zero-net-energy, fully sustainable building.

What's appealing about the Living Building Challenge is how much it talks about building not so much just from a structural or technical standpoint but also from a philosophical, even metaphysical standpoint. For instance the challenge is described as: "A visionary path to a restorative future" And it is "at once a philosophy, advocacy platform and certification program". The challenge clarifies: "It defines priorities on both a technical level and as a set of core values, it is engaging the broader building industry in the deep conversations required to truly understand how to solve problems rather than shift them."

Despite how abstract the Living Building Challenge might sound, it is definitely performance based. Thus, while having specific, measurable, technical goals, it "leads teams to embrace regional solutions and respond to a number of variables, including climate factors and cultural characteristics."

And speaking of being performance based - The International Living Future Institute has just announced that it unveiled a Net Zero Energy Building Certification program. This new initiative will surely help foster the idea that all buildings should "perform" and be self sustainable, much like the Earthship model has tried to emphasize, and like the Passive House concept emphasizes as well.

Training and certification programs don't come super cheap these days of "Occupy Wall Street", when lots of the world is just managing to tread water. And there are more and more "green" educational and certification platforms to consider - running the gamut from the NAHB to USGBC. For some, the Living Building Challenge Workshop is a bit pricey, with the cost in the hundreds of dollars for the day, but for building professionals and those serious about green building, it is well worth the cost.

The NYC workshop takes place November 3rd at Acuity Brands Lighting, 5 Penn Plaza, 24th Floor (8th Ave between 33rd and 34th), New York, NY 10001.

It looks like the "Living Building Challenge", which grew out of green building initiatives in Cascadia, Washington State, is taking off internationally with projects emerging around the globe. Currently there are active programs in the United States, Canada and Ireland, with discussions occurring in other countries for future international launches.

In July 2010, The Living Building Institute of Ireland was established by a founding circle of local practitioners to oversee the operation of the Living Building Challenge in both Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

The Institute reports: "It is interested in expanding its program in countries around the globe that have an interest in promoting truly sustainable design and construction practices"

Anyone reading this blog post who has an interest in seeing the Living Building Challenge program in their country can contact the Living Building Challenge to begin discussions. And if you start a challenge anywhere in the world, please let me know as I would love to follow the story and see where it goes.

Copyright Paul E McGinniss 2011

Woodstock Film Festival Premier of "Cape Spin: An American Power Struggle"

2011-09-24T07:36:00.000-07:00

EPIC BATTLE OVER "CLEAN ENERGY" BECOMES ENTERTAINING FILM PLATFORM EXPLORING UPS AND DOWNS OF AMERICA'S ENERGY FUTURE

By Paul E. McGinniss

Film poster for new must see film.

A thought provoking, almost surreal new feature documentary film called Cape Spin: An American Power Struggle cleverly captures the monumental ten year battle over Cape Wind, America's first proposed off shore wind farm planned for a 25 square mile area in the cherished blue waters of Nantucket Sound in Massachusetts.

This epic, often bizarre battle over the Cape Wind project is a red white and blue microcosm of America's struggle toward a green energy future. Cape Spin has a great soundtrack containing rock, pop, cabaret and Broadway style music. The film has engaging editing and colorfully depicts the rich, transcendent natural beauty of Cape Cod, Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket Sound, all the while showing the down to earth, comical, even ugly side of human nature, as the people depicted in the documentary take sides on a dramatic battle raging within their own "idyllic" community.

Cape Spin has a real ying yang pull, taking the audience from one side of the controversy to the other, showing how complex and layered the developing green energy revolution is, with unlikely alliances forming for and against the proposal to build one hundred and thirty, 440-foot wind turbines five plus miles off the coast of Massachusetts.

Pic Robert Kennedy Jr. on Nantucket Sound as he holds a demonstration against the wind farm. Following Kennedy's boat is a Greenpeace led boat demonstrating for the wind project and against Kennedy. Pic Courtesy Cape Cod Times.

An article in Cape Cod Times called Strange Boatfellows Clash in Nantucket Sound gives one an idea of what strange bedfellows this battle has made. Indeed, some of the eye opening revelations and ironies captured in the film is that Jim Gordon, the seemingly good intentioned developer behind Cape Wind, made a fortune in not so green and friendly gas fired power plants, some of which he still owns. Meanwhile, legendary environmental activist Robert Kennedy Jr is strongly against the clean energy project while the notorious activist group Greenpeace has taken the side of big energy developer Jim Gordon against the Kennedy eco icon.

Anti Cape Wind Demonstrators. Pic Courtesy Stage Coach Improv

What's wonderful about Cape Spin is that it manages to leave the viewer agreeing with and then questioning the logic and motives of both the anti wind farm camp and the pro wind camp. At times, the citizen activists in the film, both privileged and not - upper, lower and middle class - actually seem like characters trapped in a fictional drama; one gets the feeling "what a long strange trip it's been" for the subjects who jump out at you from the screen with an intensity and passion captured eloquently by the filmmakers who seem to be invisible and almost like all-seeing flies on the wall.

From left to right: Producers of Cape Spin Josh Levin, Libby Handros, Director and Producer, Robbie Gemmel and Director and Editor John Kirby. Pic Courtesy Woodstock Film Festival

I had the pleasure of seeing the film festival premier of Cape Spin at the Woodstock film festival and attend a lively Q & A with the film's directors and producers. After the Q & A I had the opportunity to interview one of the directors, Robbie Gemmel, the passionate young filmmaker who was the genesis of the film. Robbie was inspired to tackle the subject by a professor while an undergraduate at Emerson College in Massachusetts. Gemmel even went so far as to get a job on a fishing boat in Nantucket Sound to study the subject of Cape Wind. For him the making of the film was a battle all to its own because of all the barriers that come with creating an independent film with more passion than deep pockets.

Pro Cape Wind Demonstrators. Pic Courtesy Enterprise News

Before seeing the film I was hell bent on getting Robbie to tell me what side he took in the Cape Wind skirmish, since the previous press for the film proclaimed it was the filmmakers' objective to be objective and not take sides in the controversy. Despite the successful efforts of the filmmakers not to take a stand, I imagined, surely Robbie had formed an opinion by now.

Robbie said when I spoke with him: "I can honestly convince myself either way - to be for or against the Cape Wind farm. I think both sides have a lot of valid points and there are reasons to build it and not to build it. But in the end I ultimately think the controversy is really good for the course of conversation around renewable energy development and for the awareness it's brought to where our current energy is coming from and the challenges we face to build large scale renewable energy sources."

I also met the film's other director and editor of Cape Spin, John Kirby, who became part of a creative team that produced the film. By meeting and speaking with John along with Robbie, I saw how they, even amongst themselves, debated the merits and downfalls of Cape Wind and still to this day continue the debate by questioning the up-sides and down-sides of the Cape Wind project.

John Kirby elaborated: "This Cape Wind controversy is happening all over the country. There are solar projects that are in contention, there are other wind projects in contention right here in New York. So if there is a lesson to take from this controversy it is - don't wait for a developer or the federal government to come in and say - this is where we are going to put this new energy facility - go ahead and build your own. It belongs to you - the wind, the sun, this belongs to you. That to me is the message to Cape Spin- power to the people."

The Colony Cafe in Woodstock, New York, hub for the Woodstock Film Festival. Pic Courtesy the Woodstock Film Festival.

So what does this writer think about Cape Wind and whether or not it is an appropriate project in that location at this specific time? After seeing the film I was not so sure what I thought. It became clear to me that maybe in eco cinema one not need take a firm position to still get a clear pro environmental message across.

As I told the one of the producers of Cape Spin, Josh Levin, when we spoke at the Colony Cafe in Woodstock, part of me is RFK Jr who has come out swinging against the project. And part of me is Greenpeace which has come out vociferously promoting the project, ironically taking the side of the project's developer Jim Gordon, who as I mentioned the film points out, made a fortune on gas fueled power plants and stands to make another fortune on the Cape Wind project if it ever gets completed.

Picture Wind Farm in Denmark

Offshore wind farms are fairly common in other parts of the world, such as Denmark, where large portions of their electricity are generated from wind and other renewables. But as Cape Spin masterfully depicts, here in the USA, a whopping $70 million dollars has been spent by the opposing sides fighting for and against our country's first offshore renewable energy project. One could imagine what good $70 million dollars would do toward making the the Nantucket Sound region more "renewable" with energy efficiency and small scale renewable power than thrown out the window in a surreal fight that seems as absurd as it does endless. But like the team behind Cape Spin points out, despite the enormous amount of money spent, with no clean, renewable energy generation to show for it, the controversy has created awareness about the issues and that helps.

In the end, no matter what you think about Cape Wind, and the film about it, what Cape Spin really becomes is a sly educational tool showing the do's and don'ts about how to move forward to a clean energy future. Cape Spin asks more questions than it answers, raises both red and white flags and shows all the gray within the green.

Pro Cape Wind Image via Greenpeace

To further educational goals, the producers and directors of the film are collaborating on a multimedia educational platform called the Electron Project which was inspired by the Cape Wind controversy and the decade long journey of the film and its subjects. The Electron Project will show citizens across the country, exactly what amount and type of energy they are using and where it comes from. And it will offer resources to show people regionally how to become more energy self-sufficient.

As Robbie Gemmel explains: "The idea is that the Electron Project will accompany the film and as we roll out the film we are going to educate people about where their energy comes from and get them involved in it. We want to make an interactive process and connect audiences to local resources so they can live more sustainably and help develop a cleaner energy future for our country"

The Woodstock Film Festival stated appropriately "Cape Spin was “Fueled by a satiric ‘revolutionary’ soundtrack, and is a gripping and entertaining study of eco-capitalism and grassroots democracy.” One puzzled looking woman in the film says simply yet profoundly at one of the many heated, over-the-top demonstrations about the wind farm: "It's interesting to see the public process unfold at these events - this is what America is all about."

Anyone who gives a damn about giving a damn should check Cape Spin out.

Copyright 2011 Paul E. McGinniss

Check out the trailer to Cape Spin below.

Cape Spin Trailer from Rebirth Productions on Vimeo.

Green Security: The U.S. Military Fights Climate Change and Declares War on Fossil Fuels

2011-09-11T07:07:00.000-07:00

by Paul E. McGinniss

Picture Courtesy Pike Research

When thinking of protecting the environment and fighting climate change, one hardly thinks about the U.S. Military. But in fact, according to a new study by Pike Research, "Increased access to clean and reliable energy has become a leading priority for the U.S. Department of Defense and military agencies around the world."

In a ground breaking speech at a 2010 Energy Security Forum in Washington, D.C., Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff spoke like a leading environmental activist: "We are in fact seeing evidence of climate change’s potential impacts on our security." Mullen's inspiring speech sounded more in line with the NRDC than Exxon/Mobile, as Mullen stressed "how important it will be to take a holistic view of energy security and, more broadly, our overall sustainability." He emphasized how vital it is we all focus on these issues: "Americans around the country are starting to connect the dots between energy, security and our future."

It's refreshing to think there's a whole new way to look at green army fatigues, now that the U.S. military has declared war on use of fossil fuels.

Ray Mabus, the Secretary of the U.S. Navy, and a former ambassador to Saudi Arabia, proclaimed he wants 50 percent of the power for the Navy and Marines to come from renewable energy sources by 2020. Just a few renewable products our forces are developing: hybrid ships and extended range hybrid jeeps, uniforms incorporating thin film solar textiles which charge devices, tents with thin film PV woven into them, rollable solar panels, portable wind turbines and hydrogen fuel cells. There's even plans to take exhaust from vehicles in Iraq to make drinking water for troops, and efforts to cut back on water needs by recycling shower water.

Secretary of the Navy Ray Mabus said about the military's push toward environmental and energy security in the new York Times: "There are a lot of profound reasons for doing this, but for us at the core it’s practical”

The fact that U.S. forces in oil rich Iraq are becoming paragons of sustainability and lessening dependence on natural resources like oil and water, should make the rest of us stand at attention and listen. Average citizens should hear the green bugle call and take note that military forces are going green, so fast, with such a sense of urgency, and start thinking about how we can do the same. As Admiral Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said: "while leadership at the top certainly matters, this can’t be just a top-down effort. True innovation doesn’t work that way. "

Importantly, Chief of Staff Admiral Mullen emphasized that green military initiatives are not just about fighting battles in some inhospitable, far off bases, in dangerous territory. Mullen stressed: "We can also make improvements closer to home. For instance, each of the services is bringing several bases up to a net-zero energy standard within the next few years." Like a conservationist, he said: "These efforts will not just achieve savings in the long run but will ensure the environment around our bases is cleaner and healthier for our people and their surrounding communities. At Twentynine Palms, California, for example, a new micro-grid controller will make the Marine Corps’ largest base an even better neighbor by reducing its energy consumption, diminishing its carbon footprint and better enabling it to be independent of California’s power grid when needed."

With renewable technology prices coming down and the cost of other fuels going up, getting a little green security has never made more sense or been so affordable. And our military's support of the environment and renewable energy technology will be a help to us all. According to Pike Research: "Military investment in renewable energy and related technologies, in many cases, holds the potential to bridge the “valley of death” that lies between research & development and full commercialization of these technologies. As such, the myriad of DOD initiatives focused on fostering clean tech is anticipated to have a substantial impact on the development and growth of the industry as a whole. "

Having a sustainable military certainly gives the whole idea of winning the battle for clean energy and fighting climate change a whole new meaning. I think it's time we all get drafted into the growing army of green and be part of this fight to protect ourselves by protecting our planet. As Admiral Mullen said in his rousing speech: "Every American must play a part – changing how we live, how we work and perhaps most importantly, how we think about these challenges. "

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2011

Solar Decathlon 2011: Shout Out for Two New York City Teams Competing in the Upcoming U.S. DOE Solar Decathlon

2011-08-22T08:39:00.000-07:00

by Paul E. McGinniss

The public takes a first look at the solar-powered houses on the first day of the 2009 U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon. Photo Credit: Stefano Paltera/U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon

The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon takes place every two years and challenges 20 collegiate teams from around the globe to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective and energy-efficient. Anyone wanting to check out cutting edge home design and how to live 21st century style needs to check out what the student teams are up to. Two NYC teams are competing in this year's decathlon which takes place September 23rd to October 2nd on the National Mall in Washington, DC.

This New Yorker is excited to have two local student teams going down to Washington D.C. to build their prototype homes on the National Mall; even if neither team takes first place in the competition, they will be winners for New York and show the rest of the world their innovative, smart dwellings and highlight NYC as the hot bed of green activity that it is has become.

Students and faculty from the Bernard and Anne Spitzer School of Architecture and the Grove School of Engineering, of the City College of New York, comprise the culturally diverse and interdisciplinary called: Team New York.

One NYC team participating is called Team NYC and is from the City College of New York. Team NYC at CCNY is interdisciplinary, comprised of creative minds from architecture, engineering, and the arts. The students, were engaged in all the project phases, from initial concept design to through to the fabrication of cabinetry. Their Solar Decathlon entry is called “The Solar Roofpod.” It is designed for the most underutilized real estate in the city: the flat rooftops of existing mid-rise (4 to 10-story) residential or commercial buildings.

Picture of the “The Solar Roofpod.” which was designed by Team New York, comprised of students from the Spitzer School of Architecture and the Grove School of Engineering at The City College of New York

The Team NYC web site states: "These roofscapes offer tremendous potential as living space because of their direct access to solar energy, ventilating breezes, and nourishing rain. Team New York’s Solar Roofpod is designed to enable eco-conscious urban dwellers to live lightly, as stewards of a more resilient urban environment, cost-effectively producing solar power and heat, cultivating roof gardens, and retaining and recycling stormwater."

The second NYC team participating in the upcoming Solar Decathlon is a team comprised of students from a consortium of New York institutions and was designed through a collaboration between Parsons, The New School for Design, The Milano School of International Affairs, Management and Urban Policy at The New School, and the Stevens Institute of Technology.

The Parsons, the New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology Solar Decathlon team (Courtesy of the Parsons the New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology Solar Decathlon team)

The house by the consortium is called Empowerhouse, and will consume up to 90% less energy for heating and cooling than a typical home in Washington, D.C., with its use of passive house technologies.

By working in collaboration with Habitat for Humanity, the team has arranged so Empowerhouse will eventually be moved and serve as a future residence for a family in the historic Deanwood community of Washington, D.C. The team web site explains: "Empowerhouse embodies Habitat for Humanity's vision that all people deserve safe, comfortable, affordable homes. The compact 1,000 sf one-bedroom structure showcases the whole-life approach while being sensitive to the existing urban fabric. The shape, building envelope, window placement, and shading were optimized through feedback from energy modeling. In addition, sustainable materials reduce maintenance costs and create a healthy environment."

A computer-generated rendering of Empowerhouse, the house of Parsons, The New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology (Courtesy of the Parsons the New School for Design and Stevens Institute of Technology Solar Decathlon team)

New Yorkers should consider heading down to D.C. to see all the homes that are part of the 2011 Solar Decathlon and support our teams from NYC. This writer is headed down to D.C. for a few days on the convenient, low cost bus that leaves from Chinatown in NYC and costs only $35 round trip.

You can hop on the bus in the morning and by afternoon meet the Solar Decathlon students as you tour the Solar Decathlon homes which will be on he National Mall between Sept 23rd and October
2nd.

These clever, inspiring students are leading our city and country by building with their own hands, in a spirit of collaboration, homes that are designed to generate all their own energy, be affordable, practical and beautiful. They are showing us that clean energy for all is possible right now, and not at some far off place in a fossil free future. I for one am inspired to "hop on the bus" and head down to D.C., eager to learn from all their hard work.

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2011

Nick Rosen: Man on a Mission

2011-07-23T06:28:00.000-07:00

Help Fund Nick's New Film About Worldwide Movement Of People Going Off Grid

by Paul E. McGinniss

Confession: I am a big fan of Nick Rosen. He's raising money to support a new film called "Off the Grid and on the Cloud" and everyone should check out info about it on indiegogo and support the film. It's actually planned as a series of stories about a dozen efforts around the world to "go off grid" and become totally self reliant.

I just had the chance to do a phone interview with Nick while he was in the UK after getting back from China where he is filming a documentary on billionaires in China. When we spoke Nick reflected on the dramatic changes going on in China. Despite increased awareness, he explained how little is still understood by the general public about what is happening there and how it affects us in the west. He said: "A lot of people talk about the great Chinese economy and how it's going to be the number one economy in ten years time, but basically it seems for everybody like a black box."

Nick also reaffirmed what I have seen reported elsewhere, that despite the massive environmental problems resulting from China's incredible, fast paced development, the Chinese are actually at the forefront of renewable energy technology production and use of renewable energy. Clearly, development in China is interconnected with the world economy and environment. Nick reported: "In a way China is a very interesting example of the sort of reason that we are all going to have to make a radical change in our lifestyle."

Luckily, Nick's journalism and exploration of the Chinese economy, which is delicately intertwined with ours, will help shed some light on the good and bad of what is happening there, and help us determine the best steps for the world to take, collectively, as it is hurled into the 21st century.

During our dialog I asked Nick what he meant by the title of the film "Off the Grid and on the Cloud" and he said: "On the Cloud is partly about using mobile Internet - also about floating free as a cloud."

In 2003, the power grid failed in NYC, and residents were left without basic services and commuters were left stranded unable to travel. Picture Courtesy LightRailNow.org

Nick has written two books about living off the grid. His first was: "How To Live Off Grid", which was about people in the UK. His second book on the subject was: "Off The Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government and True Independence in Modern America", which is about people in the USA. Interestingly, his idea of writing both these books grew out of him being in NYC during the huge blackout in 2003 where power in many parts of the USA shut down. A few years after experiencing the massive power failure in NYC, Nick drove across the UK and then the USA to document the stories of people who have gone off grid.

The book "Off The Grid: Inside the Movement for More Space, Less Government and True Independence in Modern America" has an excellent history of the American "back to the land" movement that started back in the 1960's and brings us into the present time. There's a great chapter in that book too which explains how the power grid came into being in the first place and the entire book is worth buying just to open
your eyes with the history of the grid and how and why it came to exist. (Another great book to read that explains a lot about the history of the grid is Big Coal: The Dirty Secret Behind America's Energy Future.

Nick Rosen also started an excellent web site - www.off-grid.net that is creating a global community of people who want to go off grid or already are. I read it regularly and consider it a must read.

Picture of pedestrians in NYC literally taking over the Brooklyn Bridge in attempts to get out of the city during the 2003 Power Failure. Because of subways and trains being shut down millions of people trying to exit the city blocked traffic causing massive traffic jams. Picture Courtesy LightRailNow.org

Personally, my goal is to become independent from the grid in the near future and it's totally inspiring to see people across the world all unifying in the common goal of being more independent and more resilient. The "grid" was invented only 125 or so years ago so this avant garde concept of living "off grid" i.e. not relying on centralized energy sources (or food sources or other fragile networks) is really, going back to the future.

To conclude, I have to add, I'm excited that Nick will be part of my upcoming Ebook, Survival Cool, which includes information from stimulating talks I've had with some other really awesome people like Sylvia Earle, Fabien Cousteau and Ray Kurzweil, all of whom are part of the change agents who are actively trying to make the world a better place.

Copyright Paul E. McGinniss 2011

Click on the image below to see info about how to support the film "Off the Grid and on the Cloud" and help support this film which will capture the worldwide movement to go off grid.

City Inspired: Green Seeds Sprouting Up Throughout Toronto

2011-06-16T09:19:00.000-07:00

Picture of James Thoem from Walk T.O. (in white T shirt) with my awesomely cool fellow journalists on top of the Green Roof at the Robinson Building in Toronto. Left to Right: Francisco Frausto, James Thoem, Raquel Manero and Lisa Davis.

I had some doubts about the greenness of Toronto while entering the city for the first time from Pearson International Airport. I was invited by Tourism Toronto with four other journalists to cover "Living Green In Toronto" and the weather on arrival was gray and dreary. As I was whisked by car into the city, the blah weather seemed to be an appropriate back drop for the many new, generic, glass box condo towers I saw on the Toronto horizon that my driver melancholicly told me popped up in Toronto in a rash of development over the past ten years. At first glance upon entering downtown Toronto, thinking about the former, natural waterfront landscape lost to growth, there seemed to be a kind of urban sterility to the skyline and the highways. On the thoroughfare entering Toronto, amidst all this new development, I hardly noticed Lake Ontario off in the distance or observed any trees or vegetation anywhere.

View of Downtown Toronto from Ward Island, an aquatic oasis that is part of a growing park system within the city.

Luckily, first impressions are not always correct. I learned during my recent trip that Toronto is, step by step, transforming itself, bringing nature back to urban development. A range of green initiatives are, literally, growing from the ground up, as well as being initiated from the top down. One transformative initiative coming from the top down is Toronto's Green Roof By Law, the first local bylaw in North America to require a green roof on all new development. Another city initiative by the Toronto Environment Office is the Eco-Roof Incentive Program which provides grants to promote green and cool roof retrofits on Toronto’s existing industrial, commercial and institutional buildings. (50% of green or cool roof costs, up to $100,000, can be given to building owners who take the plunge.) According to the Toronto Environment Office, the City is also actively planting trees. Torontonians have planted over 400,000 new trees over the last seven years with a goal to double Toronto’s tree canopy to 34% coverage.

Looking at Toronto Skyline from a corner of the Green Roof at the Robinson Building located at 215 Spadina Avenue in downtown Toronto.

From the ground up, grass roots sustainability initiatives include those by Transition Toronto which is part of the world-wide Transition movement. One of the community programs Transition Toronto offers to help make Toronto more green and resilient is a workshop on organic gardening and permaculture. It includes hands-on teaching that introduces permaculture theory while showing how to apply the concepts to your home or community garden.

So, despite perhaps not being so obviously green upon first glance, by the end of my trip I found myself inspired by the green wave washing over Toronto. And, with so many more trees being planted on the ground and so many more green roofs coming to the city, Toronto could blossom fully into a lush, green urban landscape that could rival the sustainability of any of the other world cities which are also trying to balance economic growth and development with a healthy, sustainable, locally-powered resiliency.

Picture of the Grande Dame, Fairmont Royal York, in the heart of downtown Toronto. This famous hotel was one of the first buildings in the city to grow food on the roof. It has bee hives along with an herb and vegetable garden on a 14th floor rooftop.

What's cool about Toronto's green wave is that visitors to the city can easily explore and see first hand what is going on. Here are two suggestions for green minded trekkers heading to Toronto:

**Fairmont Royal York Hotel offers an Urban Forest Excursion package that includes a walking tour with arborist, Kent Nielsen. It's a fantastic way to learn about different kinds of trees and the importance of caring for them, all the while enjoying the streets of the city. The package also includes a tour of the hotel's rooftop herb and vegetable garden on the 14th floor of the hotel. (FYI: There are awesome views to enjoy.)

**And, if green globe trotters want to see some of the inspiring green roofs popping up in Toronto, you should definitely seek out James Thoem at Walk T.O. He does a great Green Walking Tour and can get you up on hidden green roofs with spectacular views of the city. James was passionate, yet fun, and by the end of the tour we all felt like we had met a new school chum. Check out the video of James below as he talks about green roofs in Toronto.

Copyright 2011 Paul E McGinniss

Toronto Green Finds: Blog BEC Green Is A Must Read

2011-05-27T04:04:00.001-07:00

Could the Jetson Green of Canada be BEC Green?

Photo of Royal Ontario Museum, (ROM), Toronto

Before my journey to cover "Living the Green Life" in Toronto, I discovered, while surfing the web, a kindred spirit by the name of Cathy Rust. Cathy is author of the excellent blog BEC Green. The tag line for BEC is "Locating Green Building Materials Just Got Easier" and it's full of insight and information that made me an immediate fan.

While in Toronto, fellow journalist, Lisa Davis, Cathy and I had the most invigorating conversation with Andrew Knox and Martina Rowley from Transition Toronto over some java.

Cathy Rust of BEC Green across from ROM in Toronto.

Thanks to everyone who helped facilitate an amazing trip to Toronto,especially SeeToronto, Melanie Coates and the Fairmont Royal York.

There are many amazing green things happening in Toronto. Anyone looking for a cool place to go should check out this multi-cultural city on the shores of magnificent Lake Ontario. Look forward to my next posts about Green Roofs in Toronto. I'll also be telling you more about the bee keeping at the hotel, Fairmont Royal York, which is part of a network of creative Toronto locavores harvesting honey!!!

Melanie Coates, Director of Public Relations for the Fairmont Royal York, in her bee keeping suit as we head up to the 14th floor roof where the bee hives are kept. One of the honey bee hives on top of the Fairmont Royal York in downtown Toronto is called "Honey Moon Suite" and the views are sweet as well! Bee keeper Melanie reported that the Fairmont bees even socialize with bees tended by a nearby opera company.

Copyright 2011 Paul E McGinniss

Musings on Earth Day 2011: Man Shops Globe vs Low Impact Man

2011-04-24T11:05:00.000-07:00

Is it Possible to be an avid LOHAS Consumer and a diehard LOCAVORE at the same time?

by Paul E McGinniss

Barbara Kruger, Untitled (I shop therefore I am), 1987
photographic silkscreen/vinyl

THE EARTH DAY 2011 INVITE

Last week on Earth Day I left the bucolic countryside of Ulster County, New York and attended a media lunch hosted by Ted Ning and LOHAS at the restaurant, Rouge Tomate, in NYC. Rouge Tomate is a soaring, elegant space hidden just off bustling 5th Avenue in the East 60s. Barneys Men store is across the street, a place where you could easily spend 400 dollars on what are, basically, sneakers. Just to give a non-New Yorker a sense of the territory.

I'd been to Rouge Tomate before - the first time for the swanky Eco-Luxe happening, a luxury off shoot of the more pedestrian national eco event series called Go Green. If you had to explain the difference between Go Green and Eco-Luxe, I'd say Go Green was more New York Post and Eco-Luxe was more Wall Street Journal - same focus of "going green", but different economic strata and spin. Underneath the consciousness raising, both of these green events were essentially about shopping. And, I wanted to mention this because the concept of green shopping is at the heart of my current reflection.

So, I was happy to head back to Rouge Tomate again. Despite being a native of New York City, I chose the refuge of living upstate in Ulster County, NY--land of post 911 NYC refugees who have fled the hyper-tourist consumerism of the ever-expanding Big Apple. As a “noveau townie”, I still love hopping on the low carbon footprint, everyman Trailways Bus from crunchy New Paltz to enjoy a splashy day out with my ex i.e. New York City.

William Burroughs once said about heroin, (and I paraphrase), which I think really applies to New York City: "Doing heroin is like being in a relationship. Even if you break up with your lover and don't see each other for a long time, when you see them again, in the back of your mind, you know you might just end up sleeping with them again.”

So, my point in telling you all this is this. Ever since moving upstate to the Hudson Valley and becoming somewhat of an obsessed enviro-journalist, green-truth-seeker-of-all-things-on-how-to-have-no-impact-and-save-the-planet, I have been in a conundrum of sorts. Let me explain.

Image of poster for the film "No Impact Man." The story revolves around Colin Beavan and his family's attempt to live as much as possible without consuming all that modern society has come to rely upon.

THE EARTH DAY CONUNDRUM: ON THE BUS OR OFF THE BUS?

Standing on the asphalt parking lot at the somewhat dowdy bus station in New Paltz, on my way to the LOHAS media luncheon, I'm thinking of Ken Kesey's line from "The Electric Kool Aid Acid Test": On the bus or off the bus? I'm waiting for the bus. To NYC. Happy to get out of Bumbletown--as my friends in Long Island call upstate NY. (Actually, for them, anything north of Central Park IS upstate.) On the bus I decide to get a little “light” reading in, namely an article entitled “Temporary Recession or End of Growth” by famous Peak Oil prophet, Richard Heinberg. (Heinberg is on the list of people I plan to interview for my book "Survival Cool", so I needed to brush up on his thinking.)

Heinberg proposes that we can not shop and consume our way out of the current world dilemma and, in fact, continuing to consume like we do now, no matter how "green", is not remotely sustainable. The opening of the text I read on the bus is: "Everyone agrees: our economy is sick. The inescapable symptoms include declines in consumer spending and consumer confidence, together with a contraction of international trade and available credit. Add a collapse in real estate values and carnage in the automotive and airline industries and the picture looks grim indeed."

Picture: Book Cover for "Pipe Dreams" which is “dedicated to the people of Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey who are linked by a post-Soviet oil pipeline." The haunting photos in this book explore the negative impact the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline has had on the region.

Heinberg- a die hard locavore if there ever was one – goes on: “Thus a high priority must be placed on the building of community resilience through the preferential local sourcing of necessities and the maintenance of larger regional inventories, especially of food and fuel.”

As I read his exquisitely argued text, essentially an attack on much of modern culture and commerce, (I am not sure Heinberg thinks there is a difference between modern culture and commerce), I pause and think about what is going on in upstate New York, where I live, and elsewhere and around the country. There is a whole back-to-the-land/back-to-the-garden kind of migration. There are more and more people like me who have tried to flee the rush rush of modernity for something a tad more simple, a tad more affordable on both economic and stress related levels. A tad less consumer focused,as well,I hope. I keep musing on all the people who author/advocate Nick Rosen writes about in his excellent book, “Off the Grid”, people who want to set up a life system where they have the basics covered, people who are secure even if laid off, even if peak oil makes many things we now take for granted unaffordable...people thinking of how to be safe and secure even if Fukushima happens here....

Book Cover for Nick Rosen's new book - a must read for anyone who wants to be on the pulse of what is going on in post-peak-oil America.

The final stretch into Manhattan requires a descent that takes our bus down the tube (tunnel) and under the Hudson River before being hurled into the canyons of New York City. Paradoxically, it's more like a take-off than a splashdown. I always liken the experience to being catapaulted into the future so fast we don't even realize it is happening, the Singularity , as Ray Kurzweil calls it.

My head is spinning, no, swimming with the idea of hob nobbing at the expensive and luxurious Rouge Tomate. But, as I start to salivate on chilling with the media elite invited to LOHAS' shin dig, there is that gnawing feeling in my gut about the compound in the woods. That current obsession I have; I can not get it out of my head or ignore. The fact that what I really want to do with all my heart is create a grid-connected but grid-independent community that grows its own food and generates more energy than it needs without fossil fuels, a community that is removed from mega malls and strips malls and shopping centers or anything even remotely resembling anything “retail”. A place, though, that stays connected and has its own servers connected to independent satellite channels and even has flying robot drones that look like real birds which circle above to keep watch on the compound from above. A magical, secure, secluded place that will protect me from strife and literally change my life.

As my bus pulls into the Port Authority, Heinberg's text goes on and I hear it as if this mad max academic is reading to me: "A case can be made that dire events having to do with real estate, the derivatives markets, and the auto and airline industries were themselves merely symptoms of an even deeper, systemic dysfunction that spells the end of economic growth as we have known it."

SO WHAT DOES END OF GROWTH MEAN FOR THE LOHAS MARKET AND FIFTH AVENUE, NYC?

So, I get to the Big Apple and all I can think about is if the world is going to destroy itself if we don't stop shopping so much and end growth AND what is going to happen to 5th Avenue and all the luxury shops? It would be just my luck that just as I could afford luxury it would be gone. And, if growth ends, what is going to happen to Rouge Tomate? From my readings on the bus I gather Heinberg thinks that ending growth could mean endless recession. Everywhere. But, what are the alternatives?

Now, all this intense economic theory should have been my sole and primary concern while walking through the 21st century streets of Manhattan to Rouge Tomate. And, until recently, there were semi-quiet streets, even in midtown, on which deep thoughts could be indulged. However, now, walking the streets of New York is somewhat of a battle, not because of crime, but because of congestion. I had to pay close attention to defend against getting run over by a double decker bus, or the more difficult to avoid groups of tourists or being clipped by bikers both in and out of the bike lanes multiplying in every city like New York. Considering the incredible, astounding amount of human beings on the street before me, I really needed to stop thinking about Heinberg and sophisticated economic theory - which I barely understood anyway - and pay attention to the dangers at hand.

I weave my way through the current bursting-at-the-seams insanity of New York. I walk across 42nd street and up through Times Square. It is teeming with throngs of people from all over he world. They are eating and buying and walking and spending time and money and talking on their phones and texting and moving like one large organism in unison. I wondered in amazement whether these individual "consumers" of the brand that is New York realized that THEY were part of an unending, unified sea of breathing consumption.

I laughed at myself, now in control, walking like the New Yorker I am. Surely, I was NOT part of this consumption machine, was I? No way Jose Cuervo. I was a lone enviro commentator trying to make sense of the world at the dawn of the 21st Century. NOT. Despite my “neo Thoreauvian” Walden Pond sincerity, I absolutely had to marvel at the astounding amount of screens and moving images before me. So much for the endless trees of the Castkills and Adirondacks! Ha - this was human nature at its finest! Before me was a digital forest, whole buildings as TV screens – block after block of virtual reality merging with the street reality. As I pass through the madness of Times Square, the organism continues. In Central Park there are more crowds, unending crowds, all vying to take the right picture of themselves to send through the atmosphere to friends back home. Look! Here I am consuming New York!

As I get closer to Rouge Tomate, off 5th Avenue, I wander past the Apple Store thinking I could cruise in there and look at the latest iPad which I have my eye on. Lo and behold the store is literally too crowded to enter. No more people could physically get into the store. It was like the ark was so full not one more pair of animals could get on board to be saved from extinction. Too hyper to wait to get into the APPLE wonderland, I continue on, like an amoeba circulating in the blood stream of a huge all encompassing entity. Instead of checking out the Apple technology, I end up killing some time perusing the latest, as David Bowie would say, "fa fa fa fa fashion" at DKNY and ARMANI, art gallery-like shrines to "feel good looking" shopping.

THE LOHAS MEDIA LUNCH

At Rouge Tomate, almost first thing, I meet Ted Ling--Mr LOHAS, as he calls himself. Ted was as cool as an organic cucumber mask, in a good way. You could tell he was master of his game. His resume almost seems eco fiction to me. Some excerpts from his bio: international expert and lecturer to CEOs on “green” i.e. LOHAS consumerism. He's, naturally, an outdoor enthusiast, his family developed a nonprofit that helps impoverished women in Vietnam and Guatemala through micro credit financing. He's studied Chinese, in Asia. Lived in Japan where he was a ski coach during the 1998 Nagano Winter Olympics. I mean, you couldn't make this stuff up if you were a Hollywood screenwriter and coming up with the back story for a green wonder boy! And, here's part of his bio close to my heart: Ted's a member of a community supported organic farm where he gets his meals, he recycles and composts to reduce family waste and lives in a green built home powered by solar.

Ted Ning, otherwise known as “Mr. LOHAS". Ted has been the executive director of the LOHAS Forum, executive editor of the LOHAS Journal and www.lohas.com and is the epicenter of all things LOHAS. He is a strategist, key trend spotter and guru of the expanding $290B LOHAS marketplace who teaches effective communication strategies to businesses on LOHAS consumers and the integration of LOHAS values into corporate cultures and personal lives. (Via Lohas.com)

As the mini crab cakes pass by, Richard Heinberg and Peak Oil is the farthest thing from my mind. I have a quick chat with Jack Walsh from ECOBonus.com (Penny Wise Planet Brilliant) which is a new incentivized shopping system where you can get points and rewards for eco conscious purchasing choices. He tells me that they have a relationship with the well respected GoodGuide - a credible web site that gives you the LOHAS lowdown on whether green products are bxxxsxxx or not, a kind of "Cradle to Cradle" Consumer Reports.

As the artful appetizers glide before me, my mind is racing for story ideas. It is a media lunch after all and I'm thinking, as my grandmother used to say, "There's no Free Lunch." A few crab cakes later, I'm introduced to Susan Alpin from Bambeco, (Hot Style for a Cool Planet), purveyor of products made with sustainable materials in a sustainable way. I check out the catalog for Bambeco. I'm thinking my friend, Nan (The Mistress of Hospitality on Long Island who calls upstate Bumbletown), would absolutely adore the Bambeco organic cotton tablecloths that had intricate weaves and color designs, fabric art that would make any meal a feast for the eyes.

As I sipped an intoxicating green mint tea concoction, a beverage that was sure to be anti-oxidizing something, I forgot about about melting ice shelves, Libya or the fact that I lived within 50 miles of a major nuclear power plant. I forgot about the latest bloodbath in Syria and the robotic spy drones that looked like real birds circling over my yet-to-be-Fukushima-proof compound.

For the luncheon I sat at a table with, among others, Caroline Chin, Director, Integrated Solutions Digital, Whole Living. We chatted a bit about Martha's green venture with KB Homes: a venture that got some criticism from certain green enviro commentators for being a bit of green washing. (I do not particularly agree, because if anyone can help sway the masses to build net zero energy homes, it's Martha.)

Picture of Net Zero Energy Concept Home called KB Home GreenHouse™: An Idea Home Created with Martha Stewart. Image courtesy Builder Magazine Concept Home

At the table I also sat next to Jenny Cross, Global Sustainability Director for Mohwawk Industries, one of the sponsors for the event. Mohawk makes many products including rugs and flooring and was one of the many corporations out there that had people like Jenny working full time on how to be more sustainable and profitable at the same time. I told Jenny I wanted to do a Skype Q & A with her about sustainable business practices and product development at Mohawk for "Green Real Estate Daily." She happily agreed to talk with me after I got back to the garden, back to the country and continued my Skype search for all things green and sustainable.

Thus, by the end of the LOHAS lunch, hidden behind the exclusive walls, mere steps from Central Park, I managed to completely forget about the looming doom and gloom and end of growth concept, the end of glorious unending shopping. I forgot about "The Long Emergency" as James Howard Kunstler would describe it. I forgot about gas heading toward $5 dollars a gallon and global warming. In fact, the enthusiasm and forward thinking of one of the sponsors I met helped to sway me towards the positive. Steve Davies, Director of Marketing & Public Affairs for NatureWorks LLC, provided hope for my post-peak-oil worries as he heralded the development of a new bio plastic venture called Ingeo. (Ingenuity from plants, not oil.)

Upon leaving the fancy, eco chic restaurant, my mind was at ease, momentarily. Half way back to the Port Authority, I was back to clawing my way through the hungry tourist throngs, maneuvering around tiny "Earth Day NYC" booths scattered haphazardly around Times Square, booths almost invisible in the ocean of consumption. Once again, I was happy at the prospect of returning to Bumbletown and disappearing into the woods.

Photo Jeff Greenbery, Courtesy NYC & Co.

BACK ON THE BUS: THE LOHAS vs LOCAVORE SHOWDOWN: Does one or the other really have to win?

So, yes, I am back on the bus. On this leg of the proverbial journey I decide to
reread parts of "Beautiful and Abundant" by Bryan Welch. Bryan is a contributor to the dialog about how to grow this little planet of ours up, so to speak. He lives on a farm all the while running Ogden Publishing which issues, among many titles, "Mother Earth News."

Bryan says in the book: "Abundance is healthy. Excessive consumption for consumption's sake is a kind of pathology." Aha! I start thinking. Maybe there is a healthy a way to consume. Maybe I don't have to worry about 5th Avenue. Maybe we can have abundance without cutting off our Rain Forest nose despite our Dolce and Gabbana meets Lady Ga Ga Polaroid glasses face.

As I get lost in this must read book, I realize that Bryan Welch is indeed addressing the same concerns as Richard Heinberg. Bryan, like the peak oil worry warts, was also looking at the kind of eco conundrum we are in. Welch says in his book: "As our economies are now structured, we depend on population growth. The rule is so deeply ingrained in our economics that it's seldom acknowledged. As population grows, so grows the demand for housing, food, automobiles, refrigerators, furnaces, Tupperware, movie theaters, restaurants, airplanes, hotels, computers, toys, clothing, shoes and jewelry."

Toys, clothing, hotels, theaters! OMG,Bryan was talking about New York City. NYC. The Big Apple. All that wonderful abundance. Welch's book washed over me and was a kind of antidote to the Peak Oil paranoia I felt on the way down to NYC. Bryan Welch was talking about the same thing as Heinberg,but in a different way. Welch speaks about how to solve the conundrum: "We love to climb. But, the first step in our journey toward true sustainability is relatively simple. If we are to form the global consensus, we will need to support sea changes in human attitudes, in economics, and culture, then we need to visualize, as individuals, and as a species, successful outcomes."

Image of ceramic product found in Cyprus during an episode of Sundance Channel's TV show Man Shops Globe.

VISUALIZING SUCCESSFULL OUTCOMES: WORLD IN A YOGA POSE

So, there I was lost and then finding myself on the bus. I started to think I was beginning "to get the conundrum" of the avid LOHAS Man Shops Globe vs Locavore showdown. From what "Beautiful and Abundant" seems to be saying, maybe, there does not have to be a showdown between shopping and end of growth. Sustainability is a new way of living that we have to find together. We are not sure what the answer is yet, but we are now asking the right questions. Maybe I don't have to choose between being an advocate of the LOHAS approach and that of the die hard - I'm freaking out -the-world-needs-to-stop-shopping-before-it-drops hermit in Walden 2.0.

Now I am thinking - thank God I don't have to abandon fashion to be a peak oil activist locavore off gridder. I mean, the anti consumerism - head - to the commune -sixties were cool, but my God that awful hair. (Not to mention the bell bottom pants!)

As the bus left New Jersey and barreled northward toward the Catskill region, I thought about Bryan Welch's advice to visualize the future. And, I visualized the change that I needed to make. I saw myself at my neighbor's Yoga Studio. I visualized that yoga pose where you stand like a tree on one leg and balance with your hands behind your head.

Then, I visualized the world as if it was a person doing yoga. Yes, that was it. We need to all visualize the world in balance and doing its own kind of yoga. It was like what Bryan Welch said: "The First step toward sustainability is relatively simple." Just like yoga is so simple. You can do yoga just by moving and breathing if you know the stances and poses. It is that simple.

But, then, the secret shopper within me starts to grin. Surely, if I am going to do yoga again, I'll need to get a new yoga mat. And, while I am at it, I'll need a really cool t-shirt made of bamboo, dyed organically. I mean, if I am gonna sweat that much, I want to look good. Who wants to look like a schlep when pointing your backside skyward in a downward facing dog? (Hey, that god like guy up there wearing the Prana outfit is pretty hot. And, I love that backpack with the solar PV on it!)

Why should I feel guilty because I want to do sun salutations and stand on one leg while ordering some new things via bluetooth. I mean, I'm sure even the Dalai Lama has more than one of those awesome robes he wears. He must with the travel schedule he keeps. (I do wonder if he considers the carbon footprint of his jetting trails.) And, he surely must have an iPAD by now to keep in touch with his followers at the KTD Monastery in Woodstock, near where I live in upstate New York.

His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama of Tibet, Dharamsala, India, on April 22, 2011.

SILENCE OF THE GREEN LAMBS.

As I race through New Jersey and the glamour of the Upper East side fades away, I stop to ponder one last time. Am I cornucopian or dsytopian? I realized then, even if momentarily, that I didn't care anymore if my green glass was half full or half empty. Do I even have a glass? (Maybe I lost it at the party and picked up someone elses instead.) I don't have to choose between being a No Impact Man and a globe trotting shopper of all things cool a la the TV show Man Shops Globe. I want my vegan flourless chocolate cake and I am going to eat it too, thank you very much.

As Exit 18 on the New York State Thruway neared and I was getting closer to my Bumbletown, the many green voices inside my head began to quiet down. Despite all the contradictions and opposite ends of the spectrum that all the obsessed greenies like me were looking at the world from, it occurred to me that all these people were looking at how to make the world a better place. I mean, I'm not naive. Lots of these "voices", these change agents, were making money or wanted to make money. We all have to make money. The point is that all, in their own way, big and small, are trying to help the world figure out how to get through the next Tornado, the next Tsunami, the next Fukashima, the next Holiday Season with the in-laws, the next Day After Tomorrow.

I'm not going to snub my green nose at the LOHAS marketers and the LOHAS consumers because I'm one of them and I want to shop, therefore I am shopping.

Granted, I'm not going to live in a mall and spend the majority of my time thinking about buying stuff. But, I mean, who does? The fact of the matter is, the majority of people, even in wealthier countries, have to work so much now to make ends meet. And, most of these "consumers" aren't exactly raking in so much dough they have nothing better to do than throw their hard earned money out the window as mindless consumers trying to rape the planet of natural resources. They're just trying to get by and put a little comfort and beauty in their lives whether it be falling in love, getting some make up at Sephora, doing some volunteer work or wanting to buy a really nice house and fill it with nice things.

BACK IN BUMBLETOWN

Picture of a Diver descending from the cliffs outside New Paltz, New York into the glacial Lake Minnewaska.

The bus pulls into the New Paltz parking lot. I see the Mohonk Tower in the distance, a vantage point from which one can look out over thousands and thousands of acres of preserved land on and below the Shawangunk Ridge. Just a stones throw from where I stand are glacial lakes with "National Geographic" photo worthy waterfalls and views to die for. Out of the corner of my eye, I see the Starbucks across the street. And, there are a string of restaurants catering to the SUNY New Paltz crowd. Everything from pizza pies to Thai, shawarma, falafel, burgers and beer, sushi, pretty much anything you'd ever want to eat from around the world. Yes, this is the nouveau country, bliss at the end of the road with the rest of the world creeping in. The whole world trying to get away from each other and ending up back together again.

Standing at the bus stop, waiting for my ride, I hold my Chico bag full of LOHAS promotional items. I turn on my new iPAD and check out one of my favorite REM songs, actually a video of it on YouTube. The manic, magical, frenetic, fun words of Michael Stipe wash over me like the pineapple sorbet at Rouge Tomate:

"Uh oh, overflow, population, common food, but it'll do to save
yourself, serve yourself. World serves its own needs,
listen to your heart bleed.....

It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it.
It's the end of the world as we know it and I feel fine."

And, I do. Happy Earth Day 2011. My Earth Day greeting is a little late in coming, but here none the less.

Copyright Paul E McGinniss 2011

Check out REM performing "It's the End of the World As We Know It" on the streets of Toronto.

Beyond Oil New York City

2011-03-09T07:13:00.000-08:00

Q & A with Dan Miner on Green Real Estate Daily

by Paul McGinniss

Dan Miner wrote the 2008 report "Sustainable Energy Independence for New York City" while Chair of Sierra Club New York City. He co-founded Beyond Oil New York City to "catalyze the transition to a greener, more sustainable and more resilient New York City." A volunteer organizer with Post Carbon Institute and 350.org, Miner has been involved with a variety of urban sustainability volunteer projects including the current White Roof Campaign in New York City. As Senior Vice President of Long Island City Business Development Corporation, Miner promotes green business services to Queens.

Read Here Now

New Plug and Play PV Products will Transform PV Landscape

2011-01-27T07:15:00.000-08:00

Product Pick: The PV Solar Shutter by Plug N Save Energy Products

by Paul McGinniss

The Solar Shutter by Plug N Save Energy Products is made with Bamboo with thin film PV incorporated.

The Solar Shutter from Plug N Save Energy Products is the latest in a new wave of increasingly cheaper, thin film, self-install solar technology products that will help bring affordable DIY Solar Photo Voltaics to the mass market.

San Diego, California-based Plug N Save, led by a father-son team, Dan and Dave Curran, launched their debut product in Fall, 2010 so they could “create an easy way for people to produce their own power and a viable, small step entry into personal power production.”

Plug n Play solar PV systems, basically, allow you to take solar-generated energy and plug it directly into your home electrical system via an electrical outlet. For grid-tied homes, the systems come with inverters to convert the solar generated DC power to AC. (For those off the grid, the DC power generated by the PV can be tied directly to DC lighting and appliances.)

What's great about Plug N Play systems is there's no need for complex installation thus reducing a large cost of solar systems as they are typically installed today. Another great thing about the Plug n Play products is they are portable, meaning, if you “plug n play”, the investment doesn't have to stay tied to a piece of real estate. You can take it with you when you move, so even renters can make the investment.

The Solar Shutter from Plug N Save Energy Products can be made in custom sizes.

I spoke with David Curran, co-owner of Plug N Save and co-inventor of the Solar Shutter, about the flexibility of their PV shutter concept. He elaborated: “Our shutter functions very similar to that of the solar arrays that people place on the roof. It is possible to hook that up into your DC lighting (via) a battery bank or direct wired through an inverter. For an off grid application, I would recommend hooking the shutters up directly to the system you have in place. This shutter will then serve as a supplement to what is already in place.”

I asked David if most people net metered (meaning: to sell the surplus power generated back to the grid) after installing the shutters and he reported: “How this system works is the homes will actually use the power from the shutters first because it is the grid-tied inverter which sends the power collected by the PVs directly into the wall and into the system. So, if enough power is produced by the shutter system that the home is fully offsetting their usage, then they will need some sort of net metering in place.” He explained, when I asked for details on the inverter's component: “The shutter does not directly come with an inverter because we want to allow for the freedom of the owner to be able to hook it into a system they already have or to use a grid-tied inverter that we also offer as an add on for the shutter.”

Many other portable power options are in development. Veranda Solar's Plug N Play concept (pictured above)was designed so it could be affixed to windows or balconies. Panels can be snapped together and plugged in directly to an outlet. (Not available commercially, as of yet.)

So, how easy is it to actually install a Solar Shutter? David explains: “As far as the set-up goes, the grid-tied inverter allows us to make this a DIY application. The inverter is capable of inverting a 250 watt system. So, for systems about that size, this can be installed on your own and is relatively easy to do so. If the system is bigger than 250 watts and you do not want a bunch of grid-tied inverters lying around, we recommend getting a certified electrician to help you either direct wire it or give you the best advice on how you can use the energy (i.e. battery bank).”

The Plug N Save web site explains the watts of power generated by different shutter sizes and the amount of usable power that results. David Curran explained a bit about pricing: “Our grid-tied inverter is capable of having 4 or 5 shutters at a 2x3 ft size hooked up to it. We do not have any prices listed on our website. If you were to ask for a quote from us on a 2x3 ft, it would retail for about $560. We offer quantity pricing and are able to offer specials, also. That price is to give you a basic estimate because each job is custom. So, no exact price is black and white, but that is the general area it would be in. Each grid-tied inverter also costs $120.“

According to Plug N Save: “The PV Solar Shutter is the first in a series of sustainable, life-friendly energy products and solutions designed to make personal power production from renewable sources more accessible.” David Curran said, when asked about future products: “We definitely have a few products in the pipeline with our research and development that would definitely fit into this same category. It is a condo-sized wind generator, but I don’t really want to go too deep into detail because we are working on some proprietary parts of it still.”

Click here for further info about pricing and the amount of power that can be generated by the Solar Shutters.

Another Plug N Play PV product on the market is Clarian Power's SmartBox Plug In Solar Module which has a micro inverter and can be plugged right into an outlet. Pictured above is Clarian Power's "Sunfish" used as an awning.

While the majority of us are still contemplating the return on investment for solar PV and solar thermal systems, many people around the world have eagerly embraced solar and other renewable technology. Granted, in many cases, this is because simple, DIY-style renewable technology is the only alternative to get power where there is none. For these parts of the world population, the many millions, perhaps billions, still accustomed to living without modern conveniences, there was no other practical choice for power except to use thin film PV and other small, renewable, energy-power-generating devices. But, we must not confuse hanging small DIY solar devices on windows, porches and rooftops with a third world mentality. Just because the underprivileged had no choice on how to get access to power does not mean we should not all make the choice they are making, especially now that so many affordable, self-install, portable renewable power devices are finally hitting the American market. Plug N Play products might have been developed first out of third world necessity, but we should all embrace this kind of thinking.

Three Harvard Students designed the Soccket to help bring a fun, affordable lighting solution to developing nations.

Plug N Play portable, renewable energy options will make PV price competitive with grid rates. As the cost of generating power DIY style reaches the price we are paying to the power company, we'd all be foolish if we didn't get a bit of the third world mojo and get some plug n play power systems to slowly wean ourselves from centralized sources of power, most of which are still fossil fuel based.

The Soccket generates power by its own motion and has a rechargeable LED light embedded into it which can pop out after a game.

Some of the most amazing technology and ideas are coming out of the third world paradigm and the whole world should get on board and be part of this creative vortex. One of the coolest products I found last year that was created for developing nations is a soccer ball light called the Soccket. It is charged by the motion of using the soccer ball. It has an LED light embedded right into the usable soccer ball. So, the kids using it can go home after the game and do their homework with the light.

Anyone who has kids or knows kids should buy them one of these balls for a present and inspire them to start powering and empowering themselves. Then, if you have a few extra bucks to splurge - go out and buy your significant other, family or friend their first solar shutter. Tell them there ain't no sunshine (see video below)when they're gone - but there's no reason why they can't generate a few killowats of their own while they're out buying you the solar backpack you've had your eye on.

Copyright 2011 Paul McGinniss

Check out a Music Video of Bill Withers' 1971 Classic "Ain't No Sunshine" below.

Grow Your Own

2010-12-24T12:07:00.000-08:00

How To Avoid Flesh Eating Ghouls In The 21st Century
(Or, was that How to avoid becoming a flesh eating ghoul in the 21st Century?)

by Paul E. McGinniss

In Case of Zombies Photo via InCaseofZombies.com

In the wonderfully bleak post-apocalyptic film, "The Road", an endearing father and son team travel a barren landscape trying to stay alive.

Miracle of Miracles - the father & son characters in the film, "The Road", manage to find what is apparently the last can of Coke left on earth. (A surely nutritious meal to get up the energy necessary to fight off the cannibals.) Photo via IMDB

One of the biggest fears the ragged, dirty and hungry duo have is being eaten by packs of well-armed, low-life cannibals who eat human flesh because, apparently, all other sources of food are gone.

The Father & Son in "The Road" hiding from very hungry cannibals. Photo via IMDB

In the darkly sunny Denzel Washington film, "The Book of Eli", a similar post-Armageddon scenario unfolds with lack of food and cannibalism also running themes.

Two characters (foreground) from "The Book Of Eli" decide to abruptly leave the remote house of what appeared to be a nice old couple when they find out the old couple planned to eat them. Photo via IMDB

Apparently, the dystopian world of the future doesn't include being able to feed yourself, even meagerly. When the inevitable dystopian breakdown of central services occurs, we are left hungry, unable to fend for ourselves. (Just like most of us had to do, not so long ago.)

Luckily, just as I was getting severely depressed about the state of our future dystopia, I watched a marathon session of the delicious series, "The Walking Dead", on cable's AMC.

Hot hunk, good cop and former pizza delivery boy run from the hungry ghouls in "The Walking Dead."

In "The Walking Dead" nightmare future, also involving yet another version of flesh eating ghouls and lack of food, a small group of feisty, still civilized survivors manage to fish and feed themselves off the land without resorting to cannibalism. Albeit, their food growing skills are minimal and leave a lot to be desired, especially since they need to spend so much time making sure they are not eaten by the virus-infected, living-dead cannibals.

Another hunky cop in "The Walking Dead" cooking up some non human flesh meal.

SO, here are some things we ALL need to do to prepare ourselves for whatever the future might include, or not include, such as takeout food or the inevitable flesh eating ghouls that are sure to pop up one way or another:

*Watch "The Road", "The Book of Eli" and "The Walking Dead" to get yourself motivated to have a happy, greener, non-human-flesh-eating future.

*Proclaim 2011 as the "Year of Growing Your Own" and make a vow to discover ways to grow some kind of food, somewhere, whether it be on the barbed wire enclosed roof or in other protected areas free from ghouls.
(Perhaps a local, preferably well-armed, CSA farm would do.)

*Start a seed library to save and store securely as many kind of seeds as possible so you will not be limited in your choice of chow after civilization collapses and all the Zagat guides are burned for fuel.)

*Get some renewable energy of some kind to power your house and grow lights.
(I am not sure of the best kind of renewable power to use if there is some kind of nuclear or volcano induced winter, but I will get back you on that issue asap.)

Happy New Year Everyone! Looking forward to a great 2011!

Copyright 2011 Paul E. McGinniss

PS: No, I am NOT a communist, but everyone should check out Roger Doiron from Kitchen Gardeners International as he talks about the urban food revolution born out of dire necessity in Havana, Cuba. I saw Roger accept an award at the Daily Green's Heart of Green Awards ceremony a few years back and he is someone to keep an eye on.

Havana Homegrown: Inside Cuba's Urban Agriculture Revolution from Kitchen Gardeners on Vimeo.

Check Out My Q & A With The Daily Green's Brian Clark Howard That Was Posted On Green Real Estate Daily

2010-11-22T08:28:00.000-08:00

Brian Clark Howard is a multimedia journalist, editor, writer and photographer based in New York City and Connecticut. He is a web editor at The Daily Green, part of Hearst Digital Media. I've gotten to know Brian over the years, having run into him at everything from Green Drinks NYC events to the awesome Greener Gadgets conferences in Manhattan and Earth Day happenings around the Big Green Apple.

Brian is the co-author of several recent books including "Green Lighting" and "Geothermal HVAC" from McGraw-Hill (2010). I recently spoke with Brian about his new books and some other things!

Here's a link to the Q & A on the Green Real Estate Daily

Click on the video below which was shot & edited by Brian Clark Howard. The video was done with Eco-Chick.com blogger and host, Olivia Zaleski, and is a behind-the-scenes tour of the NYC set for the Project Earth Day Fashion Show which took place in 2007. It's very cool!

The above video, filmed by Brian Clark Howard with Olivia Zaleski as host and Starre Vartan as producer, was recorded the night before the fashion show. Check it out to hear from some of the designers who showed their designs and to learn about the sustainable aspects of the show’s set design. Please click on video to see full frame. Video Courtesy Eco-Chick.

Report From Woodstock Film Festival: Is Eco Film Helping Trigger a Revolution of Renewable Thinking?

2010-10-05T07:04:00.000-07:00

The Film panel entitled "Environmentally Speaking – Improving Our Planet with the Power of Film" shows us how the film world is making a difference

by Paul McGinniss

I was excited to attend the recent Woodstock Film Festival(WFF). I was also lucky to spend some time talking with Brian Geldin of Film Panel Notetaker and Brian Geldin Public Relations, the co-organizer of the "Environmentally Speaking" film panel. The panel gathered some of the film industry's leading voices to talk about the power of film to make an impact in the arena of environmental action. The event was moderated by Lydia Dean Pilcher, President of Cine Mosaic--a New York City-based production company. She is also the Chair of the Producers Guild of America Green Committee.

I met Brian initially at the Woodstock Film Festival's opening party which was held at the great local restaurant "New World Home Cooking". Ilene Marder, Communications Director of the festival, made sure Brian and I connected and had a chance to talk all things green. The panel he co-organized with the Woodstock Film Festival asked the questions: "Can film make an impact on how we take care of our planet? Do we need to be more environmentally responsible in how we make our films to get our messages across? Where is the intersection of making films about the environment and making films that are environmentally conscious?"

Brian Geldin of Brian Geldin Public Relations and the blog, Film Panel Notetaker

I asked Brian how the environmental film panel came about and he told me the history: "Last year, I programmed a similar panel called "How Green Was My Production?" at another film festival, The Royal Flush Festival in New York City, where I gathered filmmakers and green production experts to present case studies of films and TV shows that were greening their sets. While that was very informative, I felt as if there was much more to explore, so I approached Woodstock Film Festival Co-Founder and Director Meira Blaustein at the beginning of 2010 with my idea for "Environmentally Speaking: Improving Our Planet with the Power of Film" where we would focus on a broader discussion that involved both the delivery of environmental storytelling through documentaries and narrative films, and green practices and strategies to move toward carbon neutrality. Once moderator Lydia Dean Pilcher and the panelists were assembled, Lydia and I conceived the questions."

What was great about "Environmentally Speaking – Improving Our Planet with the Power of Film" was that, in addition to exploring how films can positively encourage audiences to be environmentally conscious, it also discussed how filmmakers, film productions and film festivals can be more green. One of the guests on the Woodstock Panel was Larry Fessenden who wrote a book in 1991 called "Low Impact Film Making: A Guide to Environmentally Sound Film and Video Production." Others at the panel included Katie Carpenter who is "a green production consultant and an award-winning documentary producer specializing in environmental subjects from climate change to bio-diversity."

For a full report, go to Brian Geldin's web site The Film Panel Notetaker

Actor and Producer Larry Fessenden (left) and Director Joe Maggio take a peek at how the viewing of their film "Bitter Feast" is going at the Woodstock Film Festival. Image courtesy Woodstock Film Festival.

After the festival, I asked Brian Geldin what he got most out of the "Environmentally Speaking" panel. He reflected: "I had a good understanding of environmental issues and greening practices going into the panel, but I came out with much greater knowledge and a strong desire to become more active and involved in the green film community, especially in the area of film festivals, as that is where I am most involved. I would like to ask the Woodstock Film Festival to complete the Producers Guild of America Green Committee's "carbon calculator" to determine its carbon footprint, and then set goals for next year's festival to improve its environmental impact."

At the WFF, I also caught the film "Windfall" about the controversy in upstate New York over industrial wind turbines (think 400 feet tall) in rural residential settings. I also saw the fantastic film about Ray Kurzweil, "The Singularity Is Near", which explores our future and includes a mention of nanotechnology solar panels that will be super affordable and enable us to power our entire planet cleanly by the abundant rays of the sun. I'm writing about both films next month in "New York House" magazine so check out my November Columns of "Our Green Future" and "What You Don't Know."

The Cast and Crew of INUK attend the film screening party of "Lennon NYC" at the Woodstock Film Festival. INUK is a film set in Arctic Greenland, a country being seriously affected by climate change. Image courtesy Woodstock Film Festival.

In conclusion, I have to mention that I wrote a previous post on this blog about Planet Green TV called "Saving the World By Turning on Your Television." So, the Woodstock Film Festival event, "Environmentally Speaking – Improving Our Planet with the Power of Film", was close to my heart.

I'm a big believer in the social and political power of eco cinema. I've personally witnessed how filmmakers whom I've met, namely Josh Fox of "GASLAND" and Josh Tickell of "FUEL", have made real impact by telling powerful stories through film and inspiring audiences in person at film screenings to take action to make change. Larger budget feature films, along with such documentary films and grassroots efforts, can also have a significant impact. "Erin Brockovich" (starring Julia Roberts) and "A Civil Action" (starring John Travolta) are but two examples of Hollywood movies that are extremely entertaining, but also serve as an awakening and a call to arms regarding serious environmental issues. Both were artful films that made me care about the characters as much the issue affecting their lives. Both actually managed to get me inspired AND motivated (angry even) to make people more aware about the true stories of criminal pollution such as those depicted in all of these films, and encouraging a holding of responsibility for corporate practices that harm the environment.

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

For an example of the best in powerful films making an impact, check out (below) the official trailer for the documentary film "CRUDE". (PLEASE click below twice and video will open full screen in new tab)

The documentary film "CRUDE" by Joe Berlinger tells the story of grassroots environmental action in the Amazon rainforest in Ecuador where 30,000 indigenous residents of the Amazon have sued Chevron over alleged contamination of the rainforest.

How Big Bucks Competitions To Solve Problems Are Changing the World

2010-09-21T09:46:00.000-07:00

Open Source Competitions With Serious Prize Money Create International Strategies To Solve Problems

by Paul McGinniss

2010 Award Ceremony for the Zayed Future Energy Prize, Abu Dhabi

What's the incentive to solve worldwide problems so large the solutions almost seem impossible? How about multi million dollar prizes and access to the most powerful people in the world to realize your dreams? In the past few years there's been a renaissance of world-changing competitions that are sparking international scientific research and creating incredible, socially-conscious dialog. This groundbreaking paradigm is called incentivized competition. The dynamic competition process unifies students and corporate leaders, academics and entrepreneurs, world leaders and diverse populations.

Here are some of the World Competitions that were established to tackle specific problems in exciting and profound ways:

Zayed Future Energy Prize: Middle East Efforts For A Clean Energy Future

One of the coolest prizes to be launched in the past few years is the Zayed Future Energy Prize which was started by the United Arab Emirates in 2008. The prize is named after the late Sheik Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the former ruler of Abu Dhabi and founding father of the U.A.E. The yearly prize awards $1.5 million to individuals, NGOs, corporations or other organizations "for their excellence in the innovation, development and implementation of sustainable energy solutions." Up to two finalists will also receive $350,000 each. The prize "seeks to encourage innovation across a wide spectrum of renewable energy solutions, energy conservation and sustainability."

The Zayed prize demonstrates the amazing interest around the world in these large prize competitions. In 2009 there were just 204 entries to the Zayed Future Energy Prize, but the 2011 Prize competition has exploded to 633 entries from 86 countries. (Applications for the 2011 prize are open until Oct 8, 2010.)

The Zayed prize also demonstrates the range and diversity of organizations that participate in this open source, international exchange of ideas. The 2010 Prize was won by the large corporation, Toyota, for the company's groundbreaking fuel efficiency system in the third generation Prius. On the other end of the spectrum, one of the other winners of the 2010 prize was International Development Enterprises which was selected for its successful deployment of low cost, energy saving irrigation technology for small scale farmers in India. Judges for the 2011 prize include architect extraordinaire Lord Norman Foster, Olafur Ragnar Grimsson, President of Iceland and Susan Hockfield, President of M.I.T.

The X Prize Foundation: Mind Blowing Brilliance

The X Prize Foundation has a motto: "Revolution Through Competition". Revolutionary, indeed. The foundation is an educational non-profit that designs and administers competitions with prizes of up to $30 million. Yes, you read that correctly--up to $30 million dollars! That's serious money and it's no surprise there's great interest from Pakistan to Peoria in the X Prize competitions.

I've been to X Prize events and I can tell you what they are doing is incredibly exciting and inspirational. The foundation was established "to bring about radical breakthroughs for the benefit of humanity." The X Prize Foundation states: "We believe that a small group of people with passion for a cause can achieve that which has never been attained. This is why we stage competitions that challenge issues that matter most."

The Progressive Automotive X PRIZE was one of the latest efforts from the X PRIZE Foundation. Three teams were awarded part of a $10 million purse for developing super fuel-efficient vehicles. The Progressive Insurance Automotive X PRIZE was launched in 2008 to inspire a new generation of viable, safe and super fuel-efficient vehicles capable of achieving at least 100 miles per gallon or the energy equivalent (MPGe).

The X PRIZE Foundation, like the Zayed Future Energy Prize, also focuses on needs in the developing world. It is now working on a new prize with the Government of India’s Ministry of New and Renewable Energy and the Indian Institute of Technology to create a global competition to develop and deploy clean and efficient cookstoves. Details of the competition, including the announcement of the launch date, prize purse and competition guidelines, are forthcoming.

Saltire Prize: Scottish Prize to Tap Into Wave Power

The Government of Scotland has organized a 10 million pound competition to seek the best ways to tap into the world's wave power to generate clean electricity. The purpose of the Saltire Prize is "to stimulate innovation across the world that will lead to delivery of commercial scale wave or tidal stream energy technology." £10 million will be awarded to the team that can demonstrate in Scottish waters a commercially viable wave or tidal stream energy technology that achieves the greatest volume of electrical output over the set minimum hurdle of 100 GWh over a continuous 2 year period using only the power of the sea. Applications are due by 2015.

The Scottish Government was motivated by a number of factors in setting this challenge including the following. Inspiring innovation that will help to harness Scotland's immense marine energy resources and achieve the national renewable energy target of 50% of Scotland's electricity consumption being generated through renewable sources by 2020. And, inspiring innovation that will help to achieve Scotland's carbon reduction target of an 80% reduction in emissions by 2050.

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

Passive House Concept from Germany Taking Off In America

2010-08-13T09:31:00.001-07:00

The R House Project in Syracuse, New York Shows That
Zero Energy Homes Are More About Smart Design & Building Than Renewable Technology

by Paul McGinniss

View from Backyard of R House in Syracuse which is now being built as part of "From the Ground Up" building competition. The home was designed to fit into an existing urban landscape.

The R House was one of the winners of a recent building competition called "From the Ground Up" which was held in conjunction with the Syracuse Center of Excellence and Syracuse-based Home Headquarters as part of their initiative to revitalize the near west side neighborhood of Syracuse.

A goal of the competition was "to draw out the most advanced thinking about design, sustainability, and cost-effective building practices." And, draw out the most advanced, cost-effective thinking, it did. The 1,150 sf R House, which has an additional 1,150 sf in the basement, was built for only $125,000 and was designed to be an almost-zero-energy home, meaning it will consume almost no energy at all. The small amount of energy it uses can be easily offset by adding some minimal renewable technology.

Picture of R House Model at various proposed locations in Syracuse.

The home was built according to the Passive House (Passivhaus in German)
criteria which adheres to the concept that homes can be so well designed and built they need no conventional heating and cooling systems whatsoever. The R House is one of only a few homes in the U.S. built under the standards established by the Passiv Haus Institut in Darmstadt, Germany.

David White of Brooklyn-based Right Environments consulted on the project and explained some technical details: "The main heating system is a hot water coil in the fresh air stream. This is the classic Passive House heating system. The original Passivhaus concept was based on heating the house by doing no more than heating up the (circulating) fresh air (which was needed anyway for hygienic reasons). This eliminated the normal boiler, pump, hot water piping and radiator with thermostat in every room that is typical in Germany where the Passivhaus system originated."

Picture of R House under construction this summer. Competing teams in the "Built From the Ground Up" competition had eight weeks to develop designs for a low-cost, sustainable home capable of being built for no more than $150,000 inclusive of fees and site work.

The R of R House refers to R value of insulation and it was no huge surprise to learn the house has R-70 insulation and an extra thick frame filled with blown cellulose insulation that creates an air tight house.

The design of R House was a collaborative process executed by the team of NYC-based architects Della Valle Bernheimer and Architecture Research Office. David White reported that he "introduced the Passive House concept to the team, critiqued many iterations of formal concepts, gave guidelines for glazing ratios, developed the construction details for thermal insulation and air tightness, did all the energy and peak load calculations, designed the entire mechanical system and trouble shot the air leakage."

Picture of R House Initial Frame. The finished interior will have insulation that is 16" deep with a value of approximately R-70.

Garrick Jones, studio director of Della Valle Bernheimer, was very excited to be part of the R House project and told me: "The Passive House tenets are hard to achieve, but basic. In a Passive House it takes very little energy to heat and cool. We incorporated an HRV system which captures the heat as it exhausts the air. The home is inspired by the Passive House model which is an amalgamation of thirty years of green and net zero practices." Garrick emphasized the basic tenets of Passive House design: "Design an air tight envelope, have high R value walls and windows, locate and size the windows correctly and utilize passive solar gain from the south."

Garrick Jones let me in on some breaking news. Della Valle Bernheimer has developed a pre fab inspired by Passive House principles to market with Hometta, a design-oriented home company. (Garrick Jones clarified that the Hometta design is based on Passive House principles but is not necessarily to be designed and/or built strictly by Passive House standards and registered and tested by the Passive House Institute.)

In speaking with members of the team behind R House, I learned that the house was not exactly net zero energy. The house uses natural gas to heat both the hot water and heating coil in the air system. This I did not like because of my aversion to Natural Gas and all the downsides and environmental costs associated with extracting gas from the ground, especially by hydraulic fracturing. The R House also has a few small electric heaters as back up.

But, all in all, the R House performs extremely well, using a small fraction of the energy that similar sized homes use. Besides, for not an unreasonable additional up front cost, the gas used in the R House could be offset by investing in a solar thermal hot water system. Or, the home could utilize an on demand electric hot water heater for the domestic hot water and to heat the heating coil for the air system. The electric used by the on demand heater could easily be offset with a small solar PV system.

David White explained further: "On the coldest day of the year a typical passive house can be heated with the amount of energy from a hair dryer. Strictly speaking, we did not get that low. The amount of glass made it so that we need about the equivalent of 1.5 (1 1/2) hair dryers or so, although all that glass also means less energy used over the course of the winter." (As a result of passive solar gain.)

The R House designers state: "Wrapped within its iconic exterior are expansive and luminous spaces..."

The real exciting point to the Passive House concept is it shows us how to practically build an almost zero net energy home which does not over rely on expensive renewable technology or fancy bells and whistles. Yes, Green technology is extremely important. Yet, technology can almost make us immune to understanding that energy efficiency and cutting back on the initial consumption and demand for power is far more renewable than the renewable technology that is breaking into the market.

The R House and Passive House concept stands as a testament that building zero energy homes, even in climates that can get very cold and/or very hot, is feasible and affordable right now and not just in the far distant future. There is just no excuse not to do it.

The designers of the R House intended to "present an affordable, innovative paradigm for minimal to net-zero energy consumption embodied in architecture that is meant to nurture the spirit and engage the community as much as it is meant to perform in terms of cost and sustainability."

I spoke with inventor Brian Wiley of Wiley Electronics who plans to build a Passive House in Ulster County, NY. In explaining why he chose to build a Passive House, Brian said he was not happy with the way most people were building homes today. So, he took a Passive House training course in Boston to learn how to build his own home in Woodstock, NY. Brian was very enthusiastic about the training program: "The great thing was to connect with a lot of people building this way. The Passive House idea is to reduce the amount of energy needed. Reducing energy needed is so much easier to fulfill than finding new sources of energy."

The R House and the Passive House building method demonstrates that hi tech green building is low tech to start and, really, a simple concept.

As Russian poet and writer Boris Pasternak--author of the legendary novel Doctor Zhivago--told his ambitious friend Vladimir Mayakovsky--the futurist Russian revolutionary writer who wanted desperately to change the world: "Despite all your grand schemes and revelations, sometimes simplicity is the greatest need."

For more information about Passive Houses check out the Passive Institute US (PHIUS)

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

CHECK OUT THIS INFORMATIVE VIDEO ABOUT THE R HOUSE
(PLEASE click twice so video opens full screen in new tab)

LUMENHAUS: A brighter way. Everyday.

2010-06-28T11:48:00.000-07:00

A LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO DAYLIGHT: Virginia Tech's LUMENHAUS Snags Top Prize at European Solar Decathlon

By Paul McGinniss

The LUMENHAUS at Times Square in NYC before it traveled to Madrid, Spain

The Virginia Tech Solar Decathlon team is flying like a high altitude wind turbine after winning the amazing European Solar Decathlon which just took place June 18th - 27th in Madrid, Spain. With 17 University teams from 7 countries (China, Spain, Finland, United Kingdom, United States, Germany), the competition to build the most efficient and clever zero energy home is a sister show to the United States Department of Energy Solar Decathlon which takes place every two years on the Mall in Washington, DC.

Virginia Tech's win comes after years of hard work and research. The school has participated in four previous Solar Decathlons including the U.S. Department of Energy Sponsored 2009 Solar Decathlon where the university placed only 13th with its entry.

LUEMNHAUS on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. During the United States Department of Energy 2009 Solar Decathlon

When Virginia Tech took the top honors at the Solar Decathlon Europe awards ceremony last week in Madrid, Spain, they received a standing ovation. Teams from Germany won both the 2007 and 2009 U.S. Solar Decathlon, so it was great to see a team from America so honored while besting the German team and the other exciting, cutting edge, zero energy concept homes from around the world. This win by an American University is of particular importance for our country. The United States is behind the curve on use of renewable energy systems and there is a crucial need to encourage deployment of renewable technologies. Countries such as Germany consistently outperform America in both manufacturing and use of practical, affordable renewable energy systems for homes and buildings. The United States needs to be at the forefront of renewables both for economic and security issues.

The Student Team from Virginia Tech with Secretary of the U.S. Dept of Energy, Steven Chu

The importance of the United States participating in and winning international competitions supporting renewable energy use in homes can not be overstated. Breakthrough Institute senior adviser and Stanford University professor, Teryn Norris, recently referred in an email blast to a new Time Magazine Special History Issue which reports that "clean power could be to the
21st century what aeronautics and the computer were to the 20th, but the U.S. is already falling behind. China, South Korea and Japan are set to invest more than $500 billion combined in clean technology over the next five years, while the U.S. is likely to invest less than $200 billion, and that’s assuming [current] clean-energy legislation makes it into law. Meanwhile, Congress remains largely paralyzed."

Members of the Virginia Tech Lumenhaus team celebrate victory.

Teryn Norris, who is also Director & Founder of Americans for Energy Leadership,
goes on to state: "When the United States aims to overcome a challenge -- be it defeating fascism, leading the space race, or winning the Cold War -- we make a national commitment and invest the necessary resources. The federal government currently invests $30 billion per year in health R&D through the National Institutes of Health, and $80 billion per year in military R&D. Energy receives $3 to $5 billion -- less than our national expenditure on potato chips."

Over 190,000 visited "Villa Solar" where the student teams built the homes in Madrid. The European Solar Decathlon reported: "Today, the Villa Solar has closed its doors, after 10 days of competition, with the last award ceremony announcing the winner of the Solar Decathlon Europe. The house, LUMENHAUS, from the team from Virginia Polytechnic Institute & State University, has been pronounced the most efficient of the competition, and following it in second and third place, respectively, were the University of Applied Sciences Rosenheim and the Stuttgart University of Applied Sciences."

Below is information from Virgina Tech and the U.S DOE Solar Decathlon which details components of the Virginia Tech House:

Inspiration

The Virgina Tech team reports that LUMENHAUS was "Inspired by the Farnsworth House by Mies Van Der Rohe, and the house offers an open configuration which connects the house's inhabitants to the outdoors.

Design

The interior and exterior of the house are joined together by a smooth transition when the Eclipsis System is open, contributing to a feeling of transparency. When the weather is nice, the windows can be opened to expand both the physical and psychological appearance of the space. The floor of the house doubles in size, and the southern and northern walls disappear to make the rooms seem as if they have no barriers or limitations. The multilayered wall-changing system allows for various forms of spatial organization and therefore different perceptions of the house. The central core plays an important role in allowing different configurations in the house's interior.

Exterior depicting the Eclipsis System. The Eclipsis system is an advanced building façade comprising two layers: a metal shutter shade and a translucent insulating panel.

Each area of the house is set up for specific activities, but they are designed to be flexible and can be adjusted according to individual needs. For example, the doors within the central core incorporate the work area, storage and entertainment units, but may be shifted to close off the bedroom from the rest of the house in order to create a more private area. The kitchen can be transformed into a bar, and the dining table can be left outdoors during warm summer evenings. The modular design also means that the entire house is flexible and that multiple units can be connected or placed one above the other (connected by stairs) to create a house with 3 or 4 bedrooms.

Technology

From its construction to its transportation, the house employs responsive architecture and other similarly advanced technological features.

Radiating heat in the concrete floor

The concrete floor features a radiating floor heating system. This heats the house through a geothermal pump which draws in heat during the winter and cools the floor during the summer. This procedure requires less energy use, making the house more efficient. In addition, the geothermal heat pump produces hot water as a byproduct during the summer.

Photovoltaic System

The rooftop photovoltaic system has the ability to vary its angle in order to maximize the efficiency of the power gained from the sun. It is controlled through a computerized user interface that can be connected to an iPhone. In fact, the user can control all of the functions, including the Eclipsis System, the photovoltaic system, the temperature, the electricity and the entertainment devices with the simple use of an iPhone.

Here are some links to news about LUMENHAUS on the green blogosphere:

Inhabitat

Jetson Green

Popular Mechanics

Fast Company

TreeHugger

From its inception, the creation of LUMENHAUS was documented in the ten-minute video produced by Summer Productions. Check it out:

All Pictures Above Courtesy Virginia Tech. Article Text Copyright Paul McGinniss 2010

Wooly Pockets Vertical Garden System

2010-06-12T06:44:00.000-07:00

by Paul McGinniss

I've been feeling a bit guilty about the lack of posts recently. Between my monthly columns at New York House, several book and media projects and, well, life in general, I've had a hard time this past month getting more posts out on this blog. So in lieu of an article, I found a great video on the McGraw Hill Construction Video Library. It's about a company called Woolly Pockets Garden Company which partnered with The New York Restoration Project to construct a planted wall in Manhattan's Union Square.

The temporary garden wall was done to celebrate the recent 40th anniversary of Earth Day. This living wall is gone already, but I thought anyone loving New York City or wanting to grow a garden might want to see how the recent installation was done. The Wooly Pockets growing system is a clever way to create vertical urban gardens. I can imagine them in country settings too - where they'd be great "walls" on the side of a yard or patio area. The Wooly Pockets are made out of recycled PET plastic so they're green in more ways than one. Check out the video below.

BKLYNDESIGNS Sublime Finds

2010-05-15T16:56:00.001-07:00

The 8th Annual BKLYNDESIGNS Offered Up Some Tasty Locavore Design Treats.

by Paul McGinniss

NYC Interior Designer, Kelly McGinniss, relaxes on UHURU's chair made of reclaimed wood salvaged from the Coney Island Boardwalk.

It's been said in Big Apple real estate lingo that Brooklyn is the new Manhattan. But, it's BKLYN, thank you very much. And, maybe BKLYN isn't so much the new Manhattan as it's a mini Milan--as in Milan Furniture Fair. This thought took shape last weekend while observing some pretty GRVY international design denizens milling around catching the laid back vibe at BKLYNDESIGNS which features only products made in BKLYN.

St. Ann's Warehouse in DUMBO, NYC

NYC Interior Designer, Kelly McGinniss, and I stumbled onto some cool products and people that showed the depth of creative sustainable design energy lurking out there in BKLYN. The creativity seems to emanate from all parts of Brooklyn-everywhere from DUMBO, where BKLYN Designs took place at St. Ann's Warehouse, to Greenpoint to Red Hook, where the folks at UHURU have been conjuring up some amazing objects for years running.

Erica Rosenfeld of Auster PR Agency which promotes BKLYNDESIGNS

Some Highlights below.

INHABITAT BKLYNDESIGNS Green Awards

The editors of Inhabitat were on hand to hand out awards to some of the designers at BKLYNDESIGNS. Inhabitat is one of my daily reads along with TreeHugger and my other fav e-news blasts. I got a chuckle from the Inhabitats upon asking if they were "Inhabitats" or "Inhabitots", the latter a reference to Inhabitots which is the "kid" version of Inhabitats. I love the positive energy of Jill Fehrenbacher and the Inhabitat posse. They are a shining example of the dynamic green energy in NYC. They celebrate the creative design happening in the Big Green Apple while bringing news of the best international design back home. Indeed, as Inhabitat says: "Design Will Save The World!"

Inhabitat Editors (Left to Right)Rebecca Paul, Yuka Chino, Mike Chino, Jill Fehrenbacher with Kelly McGinniss.

UHURU

Jason Horvath and Bill Hilgendorf, two of the principals of Red Hook based UHURU DESIGN

I have been following UHURU since they founded their company over 5 years ago. They make sublimely beautiful objects meticulously designed with scrap wood. Their new Coney Island Line crafted from reclaimed wood salvaged from the legendary Coney Island Boardwalk is incredible.

MADBUTTER

Madbutter installation at BKLYNDESIGNS

Madbutter's interactive LED video installations might not make sense for the average home or apartment. However, they definitely would be a dynamic visual statement at a club or public venue. The holodec-like display at BKLYNDESIGNS was interactive. By either touching or walking on the screens, the color and light changed.

ANDRE JOYAU

Andre Joyau with his assistant Angie Higdon.

These two, Andre Joyau and his assistant, Angie Higdon, were definitely an engaging, feisty pair. The furniture and lighting that Joyau makes is elegant. I felt like sitting down at his booth and having a meal at the long table made from reclaimed wood. When I asked Angie how she would describe the work, she enthused: "Modernism with a soul!"

And, finally...

Corey DiStasio of CoreHealthNY.com.

While conversing at the UHURU booth, Corey Distasio related that he has years of experience in Industrial Design and Design Management. He's now, also, a licensed acupuncturist and expert on Chinese herbs and medicine. He posed an interesting question: "Instead of talking about renovating a home, what if your home renovated you?" I liked Corey's concept that home design should not only feature sustainably made products, comfort and convenience, but also work to create a healing environment. Russian poet and author of Dr. Zhivago, Boris Pasternak, wrote a line in a poem just before he died: "The Whole Wide World is a Cathedral." Indeed, our homes, our places of work, worship and the buildings we create should be places of transendence and healing that reflect the beautiful mystery that is the world. Green Design might not on its own save the world, but it surely has a place in the pantheon of green possibilities that can create a sustainable future while soothing our souls.

Click on For More About BKLYNDESIGNS

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

FUEL: Change Your Fuel Change The World

2010-05-12T12:40:00.000-07:00

Mark your calendars!! The FUEL DVD will be available on June 22nd. Let your favorite retailer or online subscription service know you want this DVD!

by Paul McGinniss

One of the most inspirational things I have ever done in my entire life was hang out with filmmaker and environmental advocate and force of nature Josh Tickell in NYC for the 2009 premier of his film FUEL. Before the film premier in Times Square, I road through NYC as part of a Green Vehicle Caravan , along with his co force of nature and partner, writer, actress and environmental advocate, Rebecca Harrell and a dedicated team who had driven across America with them to promote clean energy. I saw first hand what two people can do to change the world. Anyone who has any concern for the state of our planet and who has not seen FUEL needs to get a copy of the FUEL DVD and show it to as many people they know as possible. The FUEL story has at its root, childhood experiences involving family illness, pollution and the gas industry, that Sundance Award winner Josh Tickell had in Louisiana.

Josh says on his web site: "This past month has brought many unexpected events. Earth Day is rarely a time to morn tragedy. But with the events in the Gulf of Mexico and BP’s noncommittal response to demands they clean up their oil spill and pay for the damages, it is clear our movement has a long way to go. To become sustainable, we are going to have to stand strong and stand as a unified force for change. We cannot continue to allow the environmental movement to be categorized as “soft” or “without a backbone.” The continuation of abuse of land, resources and people in Louisiana is a microcosm of what we are allowing to take place all over our planet."

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

The State of [Local] Food

2010-04-28T05:57:00.000-07:00

A live international webcast forum on the Hudson Valley Sustainable Food Movement will take place on May 12th. The event is organized by Hudson Valley Green Drinks and sponsored by Glynwood of Cold Spring, New York.

by Paul McGinniss

If anyone had any doubt that the Hudson Valley was at the forefront of the sustainable food movement, they should attend or watch the live webinar called "The State of [Local] Food" that was organized by Marie Celeste Edwards, founder and chapter coordinator of Hudson Valley Green Drinks. I asked Marie Celeste what inspired her to organize this event and she explained: "The title, The State of [Local] Food, came after really hashing out what am I trying to tell the world here? The Sustainable Food Movement is alive, growing and, for the most part, healthy, but help is still needed."

Photo Courtesy Glynwood. Glynwood’s mission is to help communities in the Northeast save farming.

The moderator of "The State of [Local] Food" will be Diane Hatz of The Meatrix and Sustainable Table fame. Diane Hatz is also Co-Founder and Director of the Glynwood Institute for Sustainable Food and Farming. As part of this live webinar, Glynwood’s President, Judith LaBelle, will give a presentation on The State of [Local] Food. Marie Celeste enthused about the upcoming webinar: "The Hudson Valley is full of fantastic people doing wonderful new things in sustainable food production. This happening creates an opportunity for us to showcase a few of them to the world."

Photo Courtesy Glynwood

As an Ulster County, New York resident, I have to give kudos to the organizers and participants of this event. The more farms we can save, the more land we can make productive generators of healthy food, the closer we are to creating a region that is self sustaining. Participants of the webinar include: Ken Greene of the Hudson Valley Seed Library, Jill Rubin of the Phillies Bridge Farm Project, Mike Picinelli of Thunderhill Farm, Chris Harp, the “Bee Doctor”, Jim Hyland of Winter Sun Farms and Marcus Guiliano of Aroma Thyme Bistro.

The event will be held Wednesday, May 12, 2010 from 6:30pm-10:00pm at The Rhinecliff Hotel, 4 Grinnell Street, Rhinecliff, NY. (Cost is $5 at the door and a business card to check-in. Cash bar and hors d'oeuvres are compliments of HVGD.)

Anyone wanting to attend the live event, instead of tuning into the webinar, should RSVP by the end of biz on May 11th. (RSVP to mce@hvgreendrinks.org)

Here is the link to tuning in on line

GREEN DRINKS USA & GREEN DRINKS INTERNATIONAL TIE IN

What's cool about this local event is that Hudson Valley Green Drinks has contacted other Green Drinks chapters to post the webinar on their websites and to participate online. 30 chapters of Green Drinks around the world have signed on already including Green Drinks NYC, Annapolis, Maryland; Las Vegas, Nevada; and chapters in New Zealand and Canada. Green Drinks is a world wide phenomena with chapters in almost 700 cities on every continent. This writer is a huge fan of Green Drinks as a social and enviromental force and over the years I have been a big supporter of Margaret Lydecker and Green Drinks NYC, the largest Green Drinks Chapter in the world.

As Hudson Valley Green Drinks' Marie Celeste passionately explained: "The people that are running Green Drinks chapters with their hearts in the right places are doing amazing work and I'm proud to be among them. I personally long to be more connected to the greater Green Drinks community and this is the first vehicle that's come along that makes it look like that's posssible. From those chapters that have responded, they too want more connection and the excitement they've demonstrated through their emails has fueled me through the late nights of pre-event prep!"

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

Check out the video below about Glynwood

Happy Earth Day

2010-04-22T13:56:00.000-07:00

Repower America Earth Day Remix

Repower America is one of the many excellent groups that send me their email blasts so I can keep up with what is going on in the green space. On today's Earth Day blast from Repower America there is a fantastic music video by Biz Markie called "Biz Markie Earth Day Remix 2010" and anyone reading this needs to click on the video below. It's got just the kind of positive energy that we all need to find and keep up so we can "Segway" into our green future. Enjoy!!!

For the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day, Repower America supporters and staff joined hip hop legend DJ Biz Markie to record a clean energy remix of his classic song, "Just a Friend." Click on video above. Once it starts playing click on again to see video full screen. You won't be disappointed!

Saving the World By Turning on Your Television

2010-04-06T12:49:00.001-07:00

How Visionary TV Executives Like Laura Michalchyshyn, President and General Manager of Planet Green, Are Helping Us Entertain Our Way Into Giving a Damn

By Paul McGinniss

With the Natural Resource Defense Council(NRDC) as one of Planet Green’s content partners and advisors, it’s hard not to think Planet Green isn’t up to a little bit of advocacy. The cable network and web site are, after all, self described as “a multi-platform media destination devoted to the environment.” When I asked Laura Michalchyshyn, President & General Manger of Planet Green, how she draws the line between advocacy and entertainment, or, even if you have to draw the line, she said: “We are primarily – we are a television network. Our primary mandate is to entertain and create programming that people want to watch. So, that is our goal.”

Laura Michalchyshyn, Planet Green President and General Manager

But, I have the sneaking suspicion Laura and the Planet Green cable channel is up to more than just entertainment. Then again, maybe it is JUST entertainment i.e. entertainment about doing justice to the earth--an earth which has taken somewhat of a beating in the past few centuries and is now going through a world-wide environmental awakening the likes of which have never been seen before.

Picture from the Planet Green Show “Blood, Sweat and Takeaways.” In the show, “six young, fast-food junkies embark on a grueling month-long journey into a world they know nothing about to discover the tough truth behind their fast food fixes.” The show states: "If you spent a month finding out the truth about your fast food habits, would you be so quick to guzzle them?"

I originally met Laura at the inspiring 2009 Daily Green Heart of Green Awards where she won the “Influencer” award. So, clearly, it’s not just me who thinks she’s trying to influence something. And obviously, Laura has the support of Planet Green’s parent company, Discovery Communications, which announced in 2008 that it had established a multiplatform environmental initiative and created partnerships with ten of the world’s leading non-profit environmental organizations and advocacy groups: Ashoka, Earth Pledge, Earthwatch Institute, Environmental Media Association (EMA), Global Green USA, Global Inheritance, National Wildlife Federation (NWF), Oceana, Ocean Conservancy and The Nature Conservancy. The intent was for these groups “to work with Discovery’s Planet Green on a broad range of activities and initiatives including grassroots community outreach, public affairs and content creation. “

Planet Green has a commitment to documentary programming
and serves as a platform for independent filmmakers needing
exposure.

When I queried Laura further about how she views her mission as a television executive, she elaborated: “In answer to your other question about advocacy – we are honored to help many of these groups that are either in the environmental space, the activism space, the change space, the progressive space. They are affiliated partnered or advisors and, in some cases, producers of content. And, what we have is the great privilege of being able to tap into them on a case by case basis. One example was our project "Blue August" where for the whole month of August, 2009 we launched a whole initiative about water issues – clean water whether its rivers or lakes or oceans. We had the Cousteau kids, Phillip and Alexandra Cousteau, who are the grandchildren of Jacques Cousteau and are kind of spokespeople for the oceans. We had NRDC. We had all these groups as part of the exercise, as part of the initiative.”

Blue August was a whole month of programming on Planet Green this past summer that focused on the health of our planet's water.

It’s refreshing to think that the goals of corporate television programming can be combined with the goals of societal and environmental benefit. Knowing that Planet Green is also a sister company to the blog/web site, TreeHugger.com, I guess we can safely say this green TV - web site hybrid isn’t simply Corporate Social Responsibility. Rather, it’s Corporate Social Media Responsibility at its best.

Laura went on to excitedly explain the unique synergy Planet Green is creating with outside groups. “What is great about our vision and our mission is that we really are about passionate people who are doing forward thinking things that make change. So we are a forward thinking network. We are a network of the future. We are a network about forward activity whether it’s in design or fashion or environmental issues...whether it is science, technology, innovation. So, we have expanded the programming filter to say we are not just about the environment. We are more than that. We are really about looking at the future, about how we live on this planet and our affect on this planet.”

Still from the show "Operation Wild" which follows colorful members of the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission as they encounter all sorts of crazy people, places and things in their efforts to keep Florida’s environment in order.

Anyone with any sense knows, if you want to make people change, you can’t hit them over their heads. You have to get inside their heads. You can’t make them feel bad or guilty. You can’t lecture them and act smarter than them. With a clever mix of programming and consistent messaging and with some of the content done in collaboration with the prestigious non profit groups mentioned above, Planet Green’s proactive environmental messaging might just seep into viewers heads and make some real change.

The show "World's Greenest Homes" follows host John Bell as he gives us tours of the most sustainable, yet luxurious, homes around the globe.

Despite mixing the message into the medium, it was clear from having so much fun speaking with Laura that one can be effective without any heavy handed proselytizing. There’s nothing more tiring than an advocate of any sort who can’t mix some charisma and good chemistry into their cause. I gleaned a sense of mischievous fun from Laura when I last met her during a recent party for the launch of the web site, shft.com. (The latter, too, has an eco consciousness.) Whether in person or on the phone during this latest interview, Laura effuses the energy of someone who loves her work and mission. She makes you feel how privileged and lucky she feels to be in the wonderful position she is in. Clearly, if you go along for a ride on her journey, it is going to be filled with inspiration and good times.

Laura sums up with her characteristic enthusiasm: “I think what’s important is Discovery – at Discovery our mantra is satisfying curiosity. And, I really think we approach every thing we do from that kind of mantra--whether you are our channel or one of the sister channels or our family of channels. So, Planet Green really is about that. How do we live a different life? How do we live in a manner that is better? We are using that saying a lot. What is the better way to live, not just greener, but better?”

Satisfying curiosity. I like that. Well, maybe Planet Green hasn’t completely satisfied my curiosity. I doubt anything ever really will. At the same time, not being satisfied is perhaps just my impetus to keep on living, learning and exploring. Planet Green surely has at least peaked my curiosity so much so that I want to keep on listening and tuning in for more.

Copyright 2010 Paul McGinniss

In Summer, 2009 Planet Green broadcast the World premiere of the documentary produced by the NRDC called “Acid Test: The Challenge of Ocean Acidification” which was narrated by Sigourney Weaver. Watch this stunning and powerful film below.

Twinfire: The Most Efficient Wood Stove In the World

2010-03-24T11:41:00.000-07:00

New York Based Wittus Stove Has Developed A Super Efficient Wood Stove in Collaboration With NYSERDA

by Paul McGinniss

Twinfire Stove from Wittus

A recent walk in the country, just a few weeks after the major blizzards of late winter 2010, made it quite apparent the amount of free "biomass" available to many residents and communities in upstate New York. The amount of felled wood from the storm was astounding.

Luckily, there are New York initiatives to do something practical with all that wood. The primary objective, of course, is to use it to heat the homes it falls down next to. With help from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, Westchester, N.Y. based Wittus Stove is positioned to import a new high efficiency stove called Twinfire. The development of the German manufactured stove, which is being sponsored by NYSERDA, is reported by the distributing company to be the most efficient stove in the world.

Sandra Lena at Wittus told me "NYSERDA is sponsoring the unit and it is being imported and made to US standards exclusively for Wittus." While not available yet, Sandra explained when I spoke with her: "NYSERDA is actually funding the R&D on the unit. The unit has been approved and we are working on the manual & label."

Although, not marketed as a primary heat source, the Twinfire will heat a 1300 s.f. space with models ranging in price from $6,000 to $10,000. This may seem expensive, costing as much as some "regular" home heating systems. But, if you look at it in perspective, they are not a waste of money because they can be used to heat up to 1300 sf and offset a major part of the heating fuel used in the home. And, consider the added eco-benefit--that these systems can use the embodied energy in that free "biomass" that is literally falling down around us. Wittus reported: The "regular" US household burning wood as their main heat source will burn (on average) 4 full cords of wood per season. I think that any client that will purchase the Twinfire will used it primarily as a back-up heat source, and will burn 1-3 cords per season."

There are many New York State homeowners with trees on their property who would benefit greatly from these kind of high efficiency wood stoves. And, importantly, in an emergency, having a heating source like the Twinfire means you can continue to heat your house while the rest of the neighbors might be worried about when power will come back on. The Twinfire looks cool to boot. So it's a no brainer and worth the investment if you can afford the up front costs. If I was buying or building a home upstate, I'd try and include the cost in the purchase price along with the solar thermal and solar PV.

High efficiency wood stoves like the Twinfire are made a bit more affordable because there's a Federal Tax Credit for them. Their purchase and installation costs can qualify for a 30% tax credit,(up to a maximum of $1,500), that was authorized for biomass-burning home heating stoves by the Economic Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

Proper forestry maintenance, when coupled with the cleaning up of fallen trees and limbs from storm damage, could have a major impact on energy security for our state if the "biomass" was burned in super clean burning, high efficiency wood stoves like those sold by Wittus. If this reclaimed wood is harvested properly, it is virtually an endless supply of heating fuel.

And, importantly, reports on the green blogosphere state that the amount of CO2 released into the air from clean burning stoves is no more than the amount of CO2 released into the air just from letting the wood rot on the ground. Like I said, it's a no brainer.

Copyright Paul McGinniss 2009

Standing Up To The Man For U.S.

2010-03-06T11:18:00.000-08:00

United States Congressman Maurice Hinchey's (D-NY22) Local Legacy of Doing the Right Thing For His Community and Now The Rest of America

Part 1 of A Continuing Report about the activities of U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey

by Paul McGinniss

Maurice Hinchey in Washington, 2004

As a New York State legislator for almost 20 years, Maurice Hinchey wasn't afraid of taking on General Electric (G.E.) to clean up PCBs their factories dumped into the Hudson River. This seems all the more meaningful considering the news that exploded in the media last week about fish oil pills being laden with PCBs. What's so disturbing about PCBs in fish oil pills isn't just that the fish are absorbing PCBs because waterways are so contaminated, but that there is now a lawsuit claiming that companies selling fish oil supplements are knowingly selling contaminated merchandise.

This is something that maverick legislators like Maurice Hinchey won't abide. I wouldn't be surprised if sometime in the near future Congressman Hinchey, or one of his colleagues on Capitol Hill, begins to investigate this issue.

In 2007 Maurice presides over the House floor from the Speaker's chair as the House debates the first 100 hours energy bill which included a provision that the Congressman helped author to close a loophole that has allowed energy companies to avoid paying royalties to the federal government for oil and gas taken from publicly-owned coastal waters. The measure passed.

I had the privilege of getting to know my Congressman (Hinchey) as part of organizing "The Forum on the Future of Gas Drilling in New York" that will take place this Monday, March 8, at SUNY New Paltz. The closing keynote will be given by Congressman Hinchey--a graduate of the University. The Congressman is at the forefront of the gas drilling issue in the United States. Through Congressional action, he is leading our nation towards correcting a 2005 loophole (the "Halliburton Loophole") in the Safe Drinking Water Act that exempts gas companies drilling for natural gas from basically all environmental oversight.

The fact that any industry can be exempted from Federal environmental legislation that was clearly considered a good thing for the American public might seem hard to believe. But, if this kind of legal maneuvering seems too bad to be true, read my Q & A with Congressman Hinchey that gives some backstory on how all of this came about on MetroGreenBusiness.com

Maurice Hinchey has a distinguished legacy of being the man for the common man. Decades ago, while serving as Chairman of the Environmental Conservation Committee for the New York Assembly, the committee conducted a successful investigation into the causes of "Love Canal"--the nation's first major toxic dump site.

This post is the first in a series of reports I will write about my Congressman. For now, make sure you all read up on the issue of Gas Drilling and what Congressman Hinchey has to say about it.

Before I leave you, I want to make clear that my impression from talking to Maurice Hinchey is that he understands the seriousness of both energy security and economic security of the state--(New York)--he represents. He knows we need income and jobs and a major boost to our economy. He is not against gas drilling per se. He just wants this industry to be transparent and regulated with the oversight necessary to prevent pollution of the very land we live in.

Congressman Hinchey is putting real green money into helping New York State. For instance, he was a key participant in the 2007 creation of The Solar Energy Consortium in Kingston. On Friday, March 5, Congressman Maurice Hinchey (D-NY), New York State Assemblyman Kevin Cahill (D) and The Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) President and CEO, Vincent Cozzolino, announced that solar manufacturer, Solartech Renewables, will relocate its operations to Tech City in Kingston and create 100 new jobs within one year.

2007 Congressman Hinchey with members of Cornell University's Solar Decathalon Team on the National Mall.

The Congressman's office announced: "Solartech Renewables' move to Tech City was made possible due to a variety of funding sources, including federal money Hinchey personally obtained from Congress and various sources of state funding, as well as extensive assistance from TSEC." Congressman Hinchey said: "Over the last three years, we've developed a strong core network of solar companies in the Hudson Valley. Solartech Renewables is a company with a bright future that will create 100 jobs in the Hudson Valley over the next year and help further our effort to develop the Hudson Valley as a solar energy research, development and manufacturing cluster,"

Besides trying to keep New York environmentally sound and make it a national center for renewable energy business and technology, another battle our Congressman is taking on to help not only the people he represents in his Congressional district in upstate New York, but also the rest of our country - is the housing and financial crisis that has yet to really be rectified.

When I spoke to Congressman Hinchey last week, I asked him about Congressional legislation he is co-sponsoring to extend the first time home buyers tax credit, set to expire April 30, till the end of 2010. He reported that a few weeks ago he and Congressman Cummings (D Maryland - 7th District) sent a letter to President Obama and Federal Reserve Chairman Bernanke supporting the continuation of this and other key programs affecting homes and real estate that are set to expire. I asked: "What has the response been from the Administration?"

Congressman Hinchey expounded: "We haven’t gotten any response back yet. I’m glad you mention that because this is something that I strongly support. And, it’s something that we are doing everything we can to try and maintain it. The problem with the loss of homes has a major effect on the economic circumstances that we are dealing with. And, some of the manipulation of mortgages was one of the reasons that economic decline came about so quickly and so badly. So, these are things that really need to be dealt with. And, is something else we are focusing our attention on and trying to get something done constructively to deal with it."

I have no doubt that if anyone can get to the bottom of mortgage fraud, or pretty much anything else worth fighting for, it'll be Maurice Hinchey. I look forward to keeping you up to date on other things he is doing. One such effort I hope to tell you about is the Congressman's quest to preserve 9.1 million acres in Utah. Through his incredible Red Rock Wilderness Act, he is working to maintain Federal land for the benefit of the American people. This reminds me of what legendary oceanographer and explorer Sylvia Earle is accomplishing with the creation of national marine life sanctuaries to protect our oceans.

Look out for Part 2 of my continuing report about Congressman Hinchey in the coming months.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

A MUST ATTEND EVENT -- ABOUT THE COMPLEXITY AND RAMIFICATIONS OF GAS DRILLING IN NEW YORK STATE

2010-02-23T15:21:00.001-08:00

SCHEINMEDIA AND SUNY NEW PALTZ ENVIRONMENTAL TASK FORCE TO CO-SPONSOR FORUM ON THE FUTURE OF GAS DRILLING IN NEW YORK STATE at SUNY New Paltz on March 8th

by Paul McGinniss

There's lots of talk about Natural Gas being a "clean alternative" to oil. Natural Gas is also promoted as being a safer alternative to unstable foreign sources of energy. The development of natural gas resources in the United States is, potentially, a way to make our country more energy secure and independent from potential conflict in other countries.

Natural Gas drilling, no matter how safely done, is an industrial process and has an impact on a region's landscape, homes, businesses and real estate. Despite potential economic benefit, there are serious environmental issues associated with gas drilling. Of special concern is the drilling process called hydraulic fracturing which has enabled drilling for gas deposits in hard to reach shale formations.

The Marcellus Shale spans four states including large swaths of New York. It is one of the largest gas deposits in the country. With energy and economic security issues facing the country, the future of gas drilling in New York is one of the most important economic and environmental issues the State has ever confronted.

Anyone interested in the future of New York State should attend this interactive town hall meeting to discuss pros and cons of drilling for natural gas. The event will feature a closing keynote by U.S. Congressman Maurice Hinchey. A panel moderated by the publisher, Jonathan Schein, will include representatives from New York City, New York State, environmental groups and gas industry representatives. Community groups and various stakeholders are encouraged to attend and participate in the audience forum.

The event will take place Monday, March 8th, from 5:45 to 8 pm
on the SUNY New Paltz campus.

For Details and directions click on here

The video below is a trailer from the documentary film, "Split Estate", which highlights gas drilling in Colorado. Anyone wanting to know how gas drilling could, possibly, impact a community in New York State should check out this important film.

Click on here for another excellent video from Propublica about gas drilling in Wyoming called "A Reporter’s Journey Through the Gas Fields".

Planet 100 Eco News From Planet Green

2010-02-14T10:00:00.001-08:00

Check out Sarah Backhouse on Planet Green's timely roundup of eco news called Planet 100. An article about Laura Michalchyshyn, President and General Manager of Discovery Channel's Planet Green will be appearing on this blog shortly. And look for the future Q & A with Laura that will be coming up on MetroGreenBusiness.com.

Watch more Planet 100 at PlanetGreen.com.

Fantasy or Reality: Zero Net Energy Homes Not Worth It If Price Too High

2010-01-30T15:59:00.001-08:00

Self Powering Dwellings Like ZeroHouse Good Idea, But Not At $500 per Square Foot Price

by Paul McGinniss

Computer Image of ZeroHouse by architects Scott Specht and Louise Harpman. Image from Specht Harpman

When you read about the $500 per sf ZeroHouse design by NYC-Austin architects, Scott Specht and Louise Harpman, you wonder if only Saudi Sheiks can afford zero net energy homes and not working-class greenies who listen to Duncan Sheik in their old VWs. I mean, there's green - and then there's "green" i.e. money - and saving the planet makes no sense when you price yourself out of a roof over your head.

I've been in several Zero Net Energy homes in the Hudson Valley of New York. Trust me, these homes can be built affordably. My favorite example is one in the New Paltz area that looks like a country farmhouse from the distance. It cost less than half of what ZeroHouse is reported to cost.

Exterior of Zero Net Energy Country House in Hudson Valley, New York

As New York House magazine reported about the zero net energy farm house: "This rustic-looking home set on a meadow overlooking the Shawangunk ridge was built using a repurposed antique timber-frame barn and has antique hemlock flooring and a gracious great room-style dining and kitchen area, anchored by a large stone fireplace. An 8.5-kilowatt solar photovoltaic system meets the home's electricity needs and is used to power its geothermal heating and cooling. The owners learned from a previous home they owned nearby to place most of the windows on the south side, and just three small windows on the north side, optimizing solar gain while reducing exposure to bitter winter winds. The building envelope of Structural Insulated Panels comprised of plywood sheathing, 6-10 inches of EPS foam and sheetrock, combined with R40 roof insulation and R26 side walls make for a house so tight a whole-house ventilation system was installed to ensure air quality. The result is a net-zero-energy, Energy Star-rated house."

Check out an article here that reports on the zero net energy home depicted above and below and other green homes in the Hudson Valley.

Interior of Zero Net Energy Farm House in Hudson Valley of New York

A zero net energy home design that is also priced closer to reality than fantasy is the House About Saving a Planet (ASAP) which received a barrage of publicity in the Hamptons and around the green blogosphere a few years back. (See picture below.) Laszlo Kiss, the architect who built the house in Sag Harbor, told me he can deliver a house like the one he built for himself at a retail cost of about $255 a square foot. This includes a 10kw PV system and a Geothermal HVAC that makes the house 65% energy neutral. Kiss has another modular home design he is marketing through his line called ASAP Modular. The price tag for this finished house with full basement, 6 kw PV array and Air Heat Pump HVAC is between $230 sf to $250sf, depending on the location.

Rendering of the original 2,520 sf ASAP Modular house built in 2008 in Sag Harbor on Long Island, NY. Courtesy ASAPHOUSE.com

Just as I was finishing this post, Jetson Green published an item about The Eco-Cottages which is a new line of modular homes that will be built in Martinsville, Virginia. One and two bedroom homes are priced between $50,000 and $100,000 and are ready for renewable energy installations. This seems to be in the $100 per sf range, not including installation. The Eco-Cottage designs are really great. From modern to more classic looking structures, the buyer has choices that could fit well into different kinds of neighborhoods and communities.

Above, Picture of a beach Eco-Cottage--a new line of green modular homes

It's cool to have the pricier options for the more privileged among us. However, the zero net energy home concept, whether the design is modular or not, won't really take off until the homes are priced closer to earth than the space aged prices often thrown about for this "futuristic" concept. Indeed, the concept of self-powering homes is not so futuristic after all, especially with affordable designs like the Eco Cottage coming onto the market. Anyone looking to build a house who doesn't look into these green, affordable options with built in renewable energy systems is surely missing the green boat that's taking off like the Nina, Pinta and Santa Maria on the way to discover a glorious new world.

Picture of i-House modular from Clayton Homes.

The i-House from Clayton homes is another affordable, green modular concept that can be made zero net energy. They are reported to come in at a cost of about $100 per sf, not including installation and the optional renewable energy systems. Add-on amenities include solar panels, tankless water heaters and rainwater collectors. Yes, they look a tad like mobile homes. This is no suprise since Clayton Homes is one of the largest manufacturers of mobile homes in the country.

Check Out Jetson Green's article about the i-house--news coverage from when the homes were first announced in May, 2009.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Who Killed the Gas Car: Electric Car Companies of Course

2010-01-20T08:26:00.000-08:00

New PlaNYC Report: NYC Will Have 70,000 Electric Cars by 2015

by Paul McGinniss

Photo of Aptera Electric Car in NYC, photo from Popular Mechanics blog

With all the buzz about electric vehicles at the recent Detroit North American International Auto Show, the 2006 film, "Who Killed the Electric Car", seems like an old science fiction movie. The idea of the electic car being killed by some grand oil and car company conspiracy is so outdated. It seems almost as silly as those films directing school kids to crawl under a desk in order to protect themselves from nuclear war heads heading at any moment in the school's direction.

Last week, NYC Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the results of a study on what City government and other sectors can do to foster the usage of electric vehicles (EVs) and what factors would lead New Yorkers to drive them. The study, developed in partnership with McKinsey & Company, a global management consulting firm, found ways to facilitate adoption of EV technology and heralded a bright future for EVs in the Big Green Apple.

In 2008, the New York State Department of Motor Vehicles reported that there were approximately 1,750,000 cars registered in the five boroughs of NYC. Based on data in the new PlaNYC Report, NYC residents will buy 70,000 Electric Cars by 2015. Most of these are likely to replace older cars. This means that in just 7 short years nearly 5% of cars owned by residents in the Big Apple could be either battery or hybrid electric.

This is great news for NYC's near future since EVs are so much cleaner for the streets and atmosphere. And, with solar power to charge the cars, it's win-win all around. NYC is greener than most people think. For instance, New York City already has the largest clean-air-diesel-hybrid and compressed-natural-gas bus fleet in the United States. What's more, bicycle lanes are being integrated throughout the city and more than half of all households in NYC do not have cars because the public transportation system is so affordable and extensive. (In comparison, approximately 90% of all households in the United States own a car.)

Solar PV Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station made with old cargo shipping container in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York.

There are lots of smart New York companies, big and small, who are gearing up to have EV charging stations to service all the new EVs soon to invade NYC. From Brighton Beach through Manhattan and north to the Bronx the electrification of Manhattan vehicles is going to happen faster than we might imagine. Large residential buildings are already starting to add the EV charging amenity. To name a few--the Helena, a rental tower at 11th Avenue and 57th Street, and many of the buildings in Battery Park City, like the Verdesian and the Solaire, have EV charging stations already.

California-based Coulomb Technologies has an EV charge network called ChargePoint and is surely to be a big player. They have started to establish themselves on Long Island and in NYC. The New York Times reported that Coulomb installed four EV charge stations for electric cars in a 400-car parking garage at the 569-unit Emerald Green on 38th Street between Eighth and Ninth Avenues.

‘Solar Tree’for the Museum for Angewandte Kunst in Vienna by designer Ross Lovegrove

But, it won't just be huge internationally-branded EV charge station chains like Coulomb that will invade NYC a la Starbucks. Like local coffee houses that compete with the big corporate chains, there will be funky neighborhood charging points where locals kibbitz while waiting for their EVs to charge up. In Red Hook Brooklyn, a group called Beautiful Earth Group (BE) unveiled New York's first solar-powered electric vehicle (EV) charging station which charges its electric MINI E with the help of solar panels on top of an old cargo container.

Surely, grandmothers with homes that have driveways in Queens--(first in number of cars amoung the five boroughs)--will be parking their new EV cars under solar PV canopies that they will use to power the EV outings to the local Cineplex with the grandkids. Or, better yet, tell Santa to give electric granny a solar tree to "plant" in the front yard so she can charge her EV and electric lawn mower with it. After all, one must keep up with the electric Jones', and all their green gadgets, next door.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Check out below a promo for the 2006 film "Who Killed the Electric Car"

Happy New Years: Message From The Australian Youth Climate Coalition

2009-12-31T14:16:00.000-08:00

Inspiring Video By Youths Around the World Proclaims: "Our future will not be written for us but by us".

The Video below was created by the Australian Youth Climate Coalition as a post-COP15 response to world leaders about their efforts to address climate change at the recent United Nations conference in Copenhagen.

I couldn't think of a better post to end 2009 with than this. Watch it. Keep the Faith. Keep on working hard and being inpsired by the green awakening that is happening around the world. Here's to the amazing opportunities for change that lie ahead.....

Double click video after it starts to see fullscreen:

Music Video "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" by MC Lars

2009-12-26T08:38:00.001-08:00

Yo Santa. Let's Be Sustainable Sunstainable Sunstainable Y'All!

by Paul McGinniss

EarthFirst alerted me to a new video by MC Lars which is so much fun it needs to be shared. Kurt Loder at MTV called MC Lars "amusing and intellectual" and I couldn't agree more. Lars' energy is infectious and he treads an entertaining balance between sheer fun and seriousness. The "I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas" song features Jaret Reddick from Bowling For Soup. It's from "The Green Christmas" EP--available at iTunes, Amazon and Rhapsody. The video is illustrated and animated by Richard Barham.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Happy Holidays: New Web Site Discovery - Recyclart.org

2009-12-24T09:47:00.000-08:00

Goodbye 2009: Brainstorm Your Creativity Into 2010!

by Paul McGinniss

When I saw the awe-inspiring picture (below) of an elegant Christmas tree made out of old beer bottles on the Inhabitat web site, I thought immediately: That's a pic for a holiday web post.

The Inhabitat post linked back and led me to Recyclart.org which not only discovered the Christmas tree in China, but is a discovery of what clever people around the world dream up to do with "junk". Recyclart.org is done by a French company called Neomansland.com and depicts an amazing assortment of practical products made out of what would most likely become garbage. To list just a few of the objects: rubber boots made into flowerpots, an oil drum made into a comfortable seat and track lights made from Illy coffee tins. And, just because the products are made from "crap", it doesn't mean they look like it. Some of the goods made from refuse were astonishingly beautiful and beyond the kitsch so often a result of this kind of DIY experimenting.

Christmas tree in Shanghai made with 1000 Heineken beer bottles.

Recyclart states: "The goal of Recyclart.org is to bring you good products that are made from re-cycling, re-using, up-cycling,etc. We will not bother you with a lot of text or details, we prefer to give you inspiration through pictures and the link where you can find more information. The goal is to be a kind of portfolio based on ideas in which you can brainstorm your creativity."

Close up Christmas tree in Shanghai made with 1000 Heineken beer bottles.

Brainstorming your creativity hits the nail on the head and is the essence of what is happening on the green front these days.

Be sure to go to the architecture section of Recyclart where you will see an assortment of buildings, small and large, made from discarded objects and materials. The real structures highlighted include: a home made out of an old plane, a railway car church and a building made out of old kitchen sinks. Looking at these homes made me realize how important it is to think out of the box AND how many new concepts, materials and technology will be coming to the green building movement in the next years.

Some of the building structures discovered on Recyclart were in the spirit of renegade, visionary, Earthship architect Michael Reynolds who builds homes made out of used cans and bottles. For example, a magnificent Buddhist temple in Thailand was made out of old beer bottles. I'm not sure if a temple made out of "dead soldiers" makes me want to go out and get a six pack or do some yoga. Probably both, albeit, perhaps it is best to not drink beer and do yoga at the same time.

Monks from the Sisaket province in Thailand used over one million recycled glass bottles to construct their Buddhist temple.

Click on the video below about visionary "bad boy" Michael Reynolds who takes dirt and recycled materials and transforms them into living structures. They don't call him the "Garbage Warrior" for nothing.

Happy Holidays. 2009 has been a really fantastic year. The world is bursting at the seams with inspiring creativity. Let's keep the world brainstorming going. See you next year.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Paul's Product Pick: LUMENATRIX LED BACKLIGHTING

2009-12-21T14:52:00.000-08:00

Hey All You James Turrell Art Lovers Out There: You Might Not Be Able to Afford a Turrell Art Commission, But You Might Afford a DIY Light Sculpture with the Help of Duo-Gard's New LUMENATRIX LED BACKLIGHTING

by Paul McGinniss

Picture of James Turrell Light Installation called "Bridgets Bardo" at the Kunstmuseum Wolfsburg, Germany. From the “Wolfsburg Project" Turrell exhibit which continues through April, 2010

I've long been a fan of James Turrell. The guy has created a fantastic shrine to light and space in a volcanic crater in the desert of Arizona--what's not to like about a creative soul like that? Ever since I saw the Turrell skyscape/skyhole installation called "Meeting" on the second floor at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center in Long Island City, NY, I have wanted my own Turrell. "Meeting" is an epiphany-inducing, site-specific installation, almost hidden on the second floor of the museum. You discover "Meeting" by opening an unmarked closed door and entering a room lined with a wooden, church-like bench. Above ones head, there is a concave-like hole in the ceiling, which, unexpectedly, naturally pulls your senses upward, revealing a gorgeous patch of sky. The sky, despite being framed, seems infinite. Inside the room, as with much of Turrell's work, time almost stops. His art creates a meeting of man's often-cluttered mind with the power of silent nature--moments and eternity combine.

Computer Picture depicting Lumenatrix LED backed lighting "sculpture" on floor

I've also been a fan of Duo-Gard, the makers of the cool light walls called Illumawall, ever since meeting some of the Duo-Gard reps in Chicago at Green Build 2007. Illumawalls are kind of Turrell like--having the potential to create shifting moods and atmosphere, similar to what Turrell's site-specific light installations and light paintings can do. Albeit, Illumawalls are not so sublime unless you have a super fine artistic sense of how to install them and incorporate them into space and building design. However, the Dan Flavin in me lusted after the soothing Illumawalls of light and I imagined using them to create a glowing New York loft worthy of DIA Beacon.

Photo Dan Flavin installation courtesy famousinstallations.wordpress.com

The Duo-Gard web site states: "Lumenatrix makes creating with light more functional, more decorative, more sustainable, more affordable for walls, ceilings, canopies, facades. Control the intensity to suit your space. Lumenatrix systems combine with Duo-Gard’s structural frames and translucent glazings to produce unique illuminating approaches. This structural LED lighting system has the flexibility to combine art, sculpture and performance in your designs. Lumenatrix configures for all types of standard illumination, indirect and backlighting."

Computer Picture depicting use of Lumenatrix LED backed lighting to create a kind of light painting on wall

The idea of making light and space itself into art is the essence of environmentally conscious thinking: the embodiment of sustainable living. How much more natural and low impact a material could light and space be? Clever use of light in exterior and interior design, whether it be daylight, as with using skylights or Solar Tubes, or from man made LEDs, makes one feel in tune with one's surroundings. Similar to how plants get nourishment and grow with light, effective use of light inside and outside buildings and homes somehow feeds us and makes our spirits grow.

Like the way light and space interact inside well designed religious spaces or cathedrals, artistic use of light in homes and offices can make people feel more connected to themselves and their environment. Thoughtful interplay of light and space in design helps make humans feel they are an integral part of the earth and sky, not just intruders on the natural landscape. There's nothing more green than feeling part of nature, as opposed to being cut off from, or worse, dominating nature.

Close up picture of the Lumenatrix grid LED lighting system

The video below shows a glimpse of James Turrell's "Meeting" at P.S.1 in Long Island City, New York. One has to experience "Meeting" first hand to really appreciate how something as simple as framed natural skylight can transport you to the heaven that surrounds us, a heaven often overlooked or lost within our more mundane thoughts.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

The New Eco Lifestyle Web Site SHFT Heralds a New Kind of Green. Or Maybe We Should call it Post Green. Or just skip Green altogether.

2009-12-17T12:19:00.001-08:00

There's a Paradigm Shift in World Consciousness regarding the Environment going on right now. But, it's so 20th Century to call it a shift. SHFT is so much better, post Y2K. And, yes, this shft towards a more sustainable culture is about being green. But, maybe, our green days have had their day (Don't take this personal Green Day).

by Paul McGinniss

I recently received a party invitation from Entourage star Adrian Grenier, architect and TV host Lauren Gropper, producer Peter Glatzer and Gary Hirshberg, founder of organic yogurt phenomena Stony Field Farm, to attend the launch party for their new web site, SHFT

I distinctly noticed that the SHFT press material, which has the tag line "Curating the Culture of Today's Environment", did not highlight or stress the word green. I thought this most interesting given SHFT was being promoted as a web site about the planet's current environmental awakening.

The look and feel of the beta web site was immediately intriguing. The cover page of the web site was gray actually - and depicted an anonymous gray wall somewhere. Maybe the wall was in Europe, Montreal, Singapore. Could it be New York? It felt foreign and familiar, very understated, like a neighborhood East Village NYC bar without a name or street sign, but a place that everyone seemed to know about any way. This anonymous gray wall almost begged to be tagged by the latest graffiti artist a la Bansky. The bold, graphic colored text SHFT actually seemed like a graffiti tag - calling out with its street-chic misspelled mystique.

Founded by Adrian Grenier and producer Peter Glatzer, with Stonyfield Farm and Lauren Gropper as Founding Partners, SHFT.COM "offers curated shopping, original viral video focusing on art and music, and a host of resources that speak to a modern, eco-conscious lifestyle." I liken it to a marriage of "TreeHugger" and "Dwell" -something that mixes up the medium with the message in a way that is fresh AND opens the door to a new way of proactively celebrating the environment without ominous-peak-oil-the-Arctic-ice-shelf-is-melting-Armageddon-like proselytizing."

Adrian Grenier, sans entourage, talking about SHFT and introducing producer Peter Glatzer.

The coming out party for SHFT took place at the WIRED Pop Up Store in the Meat Packing District of New York City. Despite the fact that the sprawling space was filled with a fairly large group of some of the most connected people in the environmental, media and entertainment world, the "E"vent seemed intimate and anything but "wired." The super-connected yet low-key energy was wi-fi cool - laid back, with a purpose, full of intent with a super mellow bent.

It was easy to wander over and talk to Adrian Grenier as there was no high-octane, rat-pack kind of entourage in sight. When I remarked how cooly subdued the SHFT site was and how much I loved the empty gray wall graphic, Adrian calmly enthused: "We've been moving full steam ahead on a destructive path. We need to downshift. You can't go up a hill in fourth gear." Considering what he said about shifting to a lower gear, I thought to myself, well, there is the Sundance Channel's Lazy Environmentalist, (aka Josh Dorfman, thank you--very much), and now there is Adrian Grenier, the Laid Back Environmentalist. Yes, Adrian and SHFT might be laid back, however we're not talking about tuning in/turning on/dropping out style laid back. We're talking laid back with meaningful finesse as opposed to being so laid back that your mission, good form and design are thrown out the Prius window.

Adrian Grenier, producer Peter Glatzer, architect Lauren Gropper and Pamela Lippe, founder Earth Day NYC.

I asked Adrian how involved he was in the "curating" of the content and the products sold on the SHFT web site. He and his friends who started the site, Adrian answered, all had a similar sensibility and it all seemed to come together organically like it should. Elaborating, he explained how they curated some of the green products sold on SHFT: "We are looking for unique, cool stuff. Not wholesale kinds of things. One of a kind of things. Something you can actually use. Use over and over. Not throw away tomorrow." He stressed that the SHFT style, in addition to having some practicality, must have originality and beauty combined with function: "If it doesn't have a great design, and a beautiful form...."

The SHFT web site states that Adrian and Peter founded SHFT "to build a platform that uses media to curate the myriad sustainable choices now available to us and to highlight the cultural shift taking place. Their philosophy is that living an eco-conscious life shouldn't be devoid of good design or good times; that we are in the midst of a shift towards a more sustainable culture where "environmentalism" will be seamlessly folded into the fabric of our lives."

Some of the SHFT-Y People I SHFT-ED With at the WIRED POP UP STORE

And, speaking of functionality and beautiful form - one of the first people I ran into at the SHFT launch party was Seth Grizzle from Graypants in Seattle. Their elegant, upcycled cardboard lamps called Scrap Lights were hanging in the SHFT team's curated green section of the WIRED store. The Graypants' lamps fully demonstrated what Adrian was telling me about SHFT's focus on products that combine beauty with environmental sensitivity and practicality. Recyled Cardboard is transformed into glowing sculptures, capturing the eco mind-SHFT going on. Originally, I met Seth Grizzle at a party for the International Contemporary Furniture Fair at MOMA last Spring. I knew when I met him that he was on the cutting edge of our environmental zeitgeist. Seth was accompanied this evening by Alina Munoz who co-founded Culintro, a Culinary Trade Organization. Alina and I made plans that night to talk further about organizing some restaurant events in NYC involving local farms and chefs.

Graypants' Seth Grizzle and Culintro's Alina Munoz. Standing in front of Graypants' Lamps made out of cardboard.

As the evening progressed, I said hello to Laura Michalchyshyn, President of Planet Green, who I last saw this past February at the Daily Green's Heart of Green Awards ceremony in the Hearst building. Laura introduced me to John Mundy, project manager for the Majora Carter Group, which was serendipitous because a colleague had mentioned just prior to the event that they saw Majora Carter, of Sustainable South Bronx fame, on CNN and I had remarked that I hoped one day to meet her. John spoke with Alina and Seth and me about an urban farming initiative Majora Carter Group is undertaking in Detroit and I will surely be talking with him soon about the Detroit farming initiative. They plan to use it as a model to develop urban farms (and jobs) across the country. Last, but not least, I made the acquaintance of Killy Smith from VEEV, (The Worlds First Acai Berry Spirit), which was one of the event's beverage sponsors. (FYI: VEEV like SHFT is definitely worth trying.)

John Mundy, Project Manager for Majora Carter Group, and Laura Michalchyshyn, President of Planet Green

So is Green Dead? Passe? Fini?

Since the title of my blog is "The New York Green Advocate", it might seem a tad incongruous that I am asking if using the term green is outdated. Am I outdated? Am I just a CFL light rather than LED? DVD never to be Blu Ray? But, seriously, the "is green getting old" question is an issue I have noticed being talked about in the "green camp" for several years now. I think part of it is that some of us eco activists have become slightly bored, realizing we are on to a good thing, but wanting to manifest a new improved version of our eco conscious selves.

Luckily, while at the SHFT shin dig, I ran into Pamela Lippe who founded Earth Day NYC in 1989. Pamela has a long track record of activity in the environmental movement. Few people have as much insight and perspective on the environmental movement over the past three decades as Pamela. I was intrigued to learn from Pamela, in the spirit of reinvigorating the aforementioned eco conscious selves, that Earth Day 2010 in NYC will be called EDAY40, marking the 40th annivesary of the founding of the first Earth Day events. EDAY40 will launch an E campaign "to put a fresh face on and draw new people into the environmental movement." The aim to "promote a new symbol of hope and commitment" and inspire continued E activism in everyday lives echoed the message of the SHFT launch party. All who attended the night's festivities surely seemed in eco sync.

But, does the green movement, in fact, need a new hue? It's not like the U.S. Green Building Council or Greenpeace or Greenorder or Green Globe or one of the many many green groups or companies like Planet Green are going to change their names. Are they? I asked Pamela: "Is the best way to be "green" now to change colors? Is green over, done with, kaput?" Pamela responded with a laugh: "No way ... Green is going mainstream. It is time for green to become standard operating procedure." She made me realize - Green isn't going anywhere. And neither was she!

Killy Smith from VEEV,a beverage sponsor for the SHFT launch.

Just like packaging needs to be re-designed to be more green, maybe it's good the green movement is rebranded to be, well, maybe less "green". But, you know, green isn't going anywhere even if it changes colors. It's not like us greenies have reached a dead end and have to throw the green baby out with the Seventh Generation bathwater. As Gary Hirshberg remarked at the SHFT launch: "We got into this mess (our relations with the planet) through a whole series of unconscious steps. And, that's how we are going to get out of it. We're not on a dead end. We're on a cul de sac."

The whole point is to keep driving. Keep on trucking. That's the whole essence of what SHFT really is - keeping on keeping on. Keep on SHFT-ING. And, keep caring. As Lauren Gropper pointedly clarified regarding the SHFT focus: "At one point we were thinking of the slogan: "Do you give a SHFT?"

Being green is not about the word green. Just like we can't be labeled by the underlying meanings of our birth names. Life is defined by the process of living. The process of being. The process of change. How do we curate our life? What do we fill it with? What do we leave behind? The whole point to the eco zebra we call life is that life has many stripes and can change color. Green was green. Then green became the new black. Then Blue was green. Now gray can be green, if it wants to.

Peter Glatzer and Keleigh Thomas from Sunshine Sachs.

Adrian Grenier, Lauren Gropper, Peter Glatzer and Gary Hirshberg are repositioning our "green" future with SHFT. They call it "Green 2.0". It's smart. It's casually slick, a cultural blend. Think Grace Kelly meets Grace Slick. It has a heart, but it's not too warm and fuzzy. Instead of being like the web site GRIST, aka "A Beacon in the Smog", SHFT is more a solar-powered Lava Lamp with lots of colors that morph in and out of each other. (I do like GRIST as well, none the less.)

Adrian Grenier, Gary Hirshberg, Peter Glatzer and Lauren Gropper, the team behind the SHFT web site

VEEV La eco revolution!

There's a SHFT-load of great stuff on SHFT including videos on the greening of the music industry with the Honey Brothers that you should check out. And, look for the SHFT original animated short called "One Belongs" from Liz Klein. The animation is descibed as "surrealistic animation which beautifully juxtaposes the undersea movement of a jellyfish and a plastic bag, offering some poignant commentary on marine pollution in the process." See, blue is back as the new green. I'll have to call crusader, explorer, legendary oceanographer - lover of our blue planet Sylvia Earle and tell her not to put her scuba gear in the closet just yet!

Check out the Fortune video below where Stonyfield Farm CEO Gary Hirshberg talks about Stonyfield Farm's efforts to reduce its climate footprint.

Text and Photos Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

A London Art Show About the Environment Begs the Question: Does Art Really Mean Anything When Saving the World at COP15 Seems to Be All That Matters?

2009-12-15T11:11:00.000-08:00

Reading Critiques of COP15, The UN Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen , and looking at the "EARTH: Art of a Changing World" Exhibit in London Makes Me Think International Climate Conferences and Contemporary Art Shows Might Just Have Something In Common

by Paul McGinniss

Mona Hatoum, 'Hot Spot', 2006. Stainless steel and neon tube, 220 x 220 cm. From the show "EARTH: Art of a Changing World" Exhibit at the Royal Academy of Art in London. David Roberts Collection, London. Photo Stephen White, courtesy White Cube

With Climate Change and the Copenhagen UN Climate Change Conference dominating so much of the news lately, I wonder if recent International art shows really matter. There is a real climate revolution going on right now and the ivory tower nature of the art world by and large seems a kind of cop out. Despite clinging to notions of world impacting significance and being a place of serious money, the rarefied world of international art is hardly a place that can take credit for effecting serious change.

For example, the trendy parties, nee celebration of the art dollar, at the recent Art Basel Miami schmooze fest seem incongruent with the implied message coming out of "EARTH: Art of a Changing World" exhibit at London's Royal Academy of Art i.e. that EARTH and ART share some symbiotic relationship in a Climate Changing World. Art Basel Miami, like much of the art world, seems farcical, if compared to the serious issues being addressed at COP15. This seems especially so when considering that in 50 years much of Florida could be flooded from rising sea levels. I hope the jet set collectors with Miami addresses are building vanity museums that float so their valuable holdings can be moved when the time comes. This would be a perfect way for the art to get to the Venice Biennale as Venice is already under water a good bit of the time. In 2050, I envision Art Basel Miami performance art videos projected through the LED sided hulls of art museum ships that float through Miami on the way to Venice. A new version of Peter Gabriel's "Here Comes The Flood" will be in order.

But, just as I was thinking art world fakery and real world issues don't have a thing in common, The Contrivance in Copenhagen by Breakthrough Institute's Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus appears in my Inbox. This thought-provoking commentary by the founders of Breakthrough Institute and authors of the controversial polemic "The Death Of Environmentalism" said about COP15: "From the opening ceremony's video of a little girl running from a global warming earthquake to the promises of emissions reductions, everything taking place in Copenhagen is contrived."

The authors expounded, Jacques Derrida-like (ahem--French literary theorist and philosopher), about the UN Climate Change conference in Copenhagen: "Everyone Pretends It's Real" and that "Copenhagen is pure simulacrum"

Simulacrum? I could have sworn they were talking about the art world.

Stills From four-minute film called "Please Help the World," produced for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark to show at the opening ceremonies of COP15. It's like the art world and environmental world were "separated at birth" and now almost seem like surreal conceptual twins.

Indeed, the COP15 film looks like something one could "consider" at the New Museum of Contemporary Art or "discover" conceptualized at a high end gallery in Chelsea, New York. Shellenberger and Nordhaus conclude that the Copenhagen Climate Change summit's "final result is a conference that is desperately fake from beginning to end." Hello Whitney Biennial. The Contrivance in Copenhagen essay elaborates: "There is no better symbol of the phoniness, the manic self-referentiality, and the desperation of global warming politics today than the one created and projected by United Nations diplomats upon the screen: a scared little girl with a video camera." Phoniness and manic self referentiality? I am transported to MOMA's PS1 cutting edge Queens outpost again.

The essence of "Contrivance in Copenhagen" is that environmental efforts have been ineffective across the board. The authors argue that politicians aren't creating significant change and that the masses aren't even really concerned or demanding it. The essay's message is clear. The impact of environmental activism on Climate change is producing negative results. "Greens have not only failed to achieve action, they have made the situation worse, alienating the public even more than they had alienated them before..."

Picture From "Okay Mountain Corner Store" which was a fake store created in Miami for the Pulse Art Fair during Art Basel Miami. The store sold made up products and was created by an art collective in Austin Texas called Okay Mountain. Photo Courtesy Okay Mountain collective. .

When it comes to alienation, the singular worlds of environmental politics and art have something in common. Both, in the end, are distanced from the masses. Since green activists and artists seem to know how to alienate the public so successfully, maybe it's time for them to join forces. It might be a way for these two groups, both out of touch with the populations they say they serve, to accomplish more than they have managed to achieve separately.

What would Andy Warhol do if he were alive today? Would he substitute Liz Taylor for a Polar Bear? Would Andy Warhol even care unless he could sell limited edition RECS - silk screened Renewable Energy Certificates at a new Sotheby's Climate Art Division? On the other hand, Politicians in these "end of days days" should take a break from pretending they are not pretending as they pander to special interest groups. Perhaps, like artists, they should embrace the emperor that has no clothes. Politicians from Denmark to Detroit should use more art, even if it is just the art of diplomacy and politics, to make change.

Mariele Neudecker, '400 Thousand Generations', 2009. Steel, fiberglass, water, salt GAC100. 153 x 113 x 55 cm. Courtesy the artist and Galerie Barbara Thumm. © the artist. Photo courtesy the artist. From the show "EARTH: Art of a Changing World" Exhibit at the Royal Academy of Art in London

Not to end on a negative note, let me say that I think the exhibit "Earth: Art of a Changing World" is proactive despite the lack of hammer and sickle hitting us over the head--Lenin style. Perhaps, I am too negative about the art world's purpose and potential societal impact. (I am sure I would have had a blast at Art Basel Miami) Inhabitat had a great post about some cool art exhbits going on in and around COP15 and it made me want to revisit some old art world haunts.

At the same time, I might need to stop being so positive about the green movement and talk more objectively about its flaws and drawbacks. Lately, I've felt too much like a teenage eco cheerleader with no one in the audience except other green rah-rah-ites who look and sound just like me. We can't forget that saving the world is not the immediate concern for most people. Little things such as paying the rent or the next doctor's appointment take precedence in most lives. And, maybe, essays like "The Contrivance of Copenhagen" are too negative and somewhat of a cop out in and of itself. The events in Copenhagen might have been, to a large extent, pre-negotiated and pre-ordained, but I have a hard time embracing the authors' strict analysis that the entire event was just pretend. At least the political world is engaged in, hopefully, constructive talk about the environment and using conferences like COP15 as a stepping off point to advance towards the next level of necessary, universal change.

Maybe next year's UN Climate Change conference should merge with an international art fest somewhere. If Venice and Miami are going to flood, we should talk about Climate hand in hand with the Culture we purport to want to save and vice versa. An art world climate conference can be a kind of better dressed "Burning Man." But, instead of escaping to the desert a la "Burning Man" to create a temporary fantasy world, artists and politicians alike can convene around the naked emperor called Truth in a large trade center in some pleasant city somewhere. There they can try to figure out how to design a green world execrcise plan so our king of kings can put on a running suit, like the rest of us, and go out and kick the world's ass into better shape than its ever been in before.

Watch the short video below for an entertaining explanation of the Burning Man festival in the Nevada desert. Music is by Nouvelle Vague. Video by pseudonymproductions.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Planet Earth is Blue and There Is Something We All Can Do To Keep it That Way

2009-12-05T07:24:00.000-08:00

Green Drinks NYC To End 8th Year With Oceanic Bash Featuring Famed Ocean Explorer Sylvia Earle

There's A Lot of Talk About Too Much CO2 in the Atmosphere, But It May Be The Oceans We Really Need to Worry About

by Paul McGinniss

David Bowie sang in his famous 1969 song, "Space Oddity", "For Here, Am I sitting in a tin can, far above the world, Planet Earth is blue and there's nothing I can do." I think Oceanographer, Explorer, Adventurer, Environmentalist, Author Sylvia Earle would disagree with the idea that there is nothing one can do when it comes to proactively dealing with Planet Earth. Sixteen years prior to man landing on the Moon and Major Tom's misadventure, Sylvia donned a wet suit and decided to jump feet first into the vast unexplored ocean and go where no man or woman had ever gone before. To her, the earth itself was as unexplored as outer space. A one woman NASA for the sea, she helped launch the whole idea of modern oceanography. For over five decades her actions say loud and clear: "The planet earth is blue and I am going to make sure it stays that way!" We all need to join her in that quest.

Earle's new book, "The World is Blue: How Our Fate and the Ocean’s Are One", is being called the "Silent Spring" of Our Era. In the book, she articulates, through personal experiences and scientific documentation, how the decline of the oceans is happening parallel-to-and-delicately-intertwined-with the fate of the atmosphere and what is happening on land.

Cover of new book published by Random House Fall 2009 by Sylvia Earle

I had the opportunity to speak with Sylvia prior to her planned travel to New York to be the honored guest at OUR OCEANS, the December 8th, 2009 Green Drinks NYC Holiday event.

Sylvia is also scheduled to speak the prior
Monday, Dec 7th, at the Explorers Club's second annual Oceans Forum in Manhattan. (Look for my future web posts about both of these events.)

Sylvia Earle did seem larger than life to me while preparing to speak with her for the first time. I imagined an Indiana Jones-esque type character, fearless and mythical--almost too amazing and colorful a story to believe is more than a fantastic Hollywood invention. (Are you listening Jodie Foster?) I mean, it's near impossible to not be at least a tad bedazzled by Sylvia Earle. Among other accomplishments, she is a National Geographic Explorer in residence, a woman who led a five year sea voyage and participated in almost 75 other expeditions, logged more than 6500 hours underwater, lectured in 70 countries and authored more than 170 publications. She won a TED Prize, has been scuba diving for over half a century, walked the ocean floor some 1,250 ft. below the surface, and utilized 30 different types of submarines. She was named “Her Deepness” by the New Yorker and the New York Times, a “Living Legend” by the Library of Congress, and Time Magazine’s first “Hero for the Planet.”

1970 Picture of Sylvia Earle (in wet suit). From the book "Exploring the Deep Frontier" by Sylvia Earle & Al Giddings

Sylvia Earle's life story is one of adventure and determination, - the Amelia Earhart of the Seas. Except, luckily, this explorer has not gotten lost. In fact, her recent, increased visibility is making a major difference in how the general public and world leaders view the oceans. For just one example of her influence: Sylvia Earle is a key reason why Google Earth developed Google Oceans - a phenomenal learning tool that is going to help protect and maintain the ocean's health.

Sylvia reflected on how Google Oceans came about: "It really began as a chance encounter at a meeting in Spain with John Hanke who helped start something called Keyhole which was a predecessor to Google Earth. He is now leader of Google Earth...I did not know John really well but...I looked him straight in the eye and said - I love Google Earth but I hope one day you'll finish it!" Sylvia went on to explain how she encouraged Hanke to jump into the ocean with her: "All of the ocean out there is just a big blob of blue. You should call Google Earth, Google Dirt. You've done such a good job with the land, but the ocean is missing." Sylvia, with obvious admiration for Hanke and Google, noted, with great relief, that "John Hanke could have been offended and never spoken with me again, but instead he sought me out afterward and he said: you know, you're right. We need to do something."

In February 2009, Sylvia Earle was on hand with the likes of Jimmy Buffet for the launch of Google Earth 5.0 which includes new sections on the ocean that are narrated by Earle.

There's definitely an activist streak to Sylvia Earle. I suppose, if you are willing to battle the vast, tempestuous sea for fifty years, we shouldn't be surprised that she is not afraid to jump into the turbulent, sometimes-unforgiving, political waters of Washington DC to promote her cause. She was, after all, former Chief Scientist of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under President George W. Bush. She currently has her sails set on attracting more Federal funding and backing for increased sea conservation and research. Many people do not realize it, but the unprecedented Marine Sanctuary that President Bush established in the Pacific Ocean was due in large part to a personal encounter that Sylvia Earle had with our Forty Third President. After the 2006 screening of a Jean- Michel Cousteau film at the White House, Sylvia sat at the President's dinner table with the Chief Executive and a half dozen other people. Soon thereafter, in mid-2006, President Bush decreed 140,000 square miles of ocean in Northwest Hawaii as a marine sanctuary. At the end of his second term in 2008, President Bush designated almost 200,000 additional square miles of the Pacific Ocean as a national monument. This historic marine conservation is the largest protected area of ocean ever established.

Over a 90 minute dinner, Syliva helped President George W. Bush see the necessity to take decisive action to protect the oceans. I hope Sylvia Earle and her colleagues have the opportunity to have dinner soon with President Obama to lay out an International health plan for our oceans. (President Obama are you listening?)

A NOAA archaeologist uses a towboard to search for shipwrecks in the Papahanaumokuakea Marine National Monument.

From Washington DC to around the world, Earle is calling for the world's political and business leaders to unite and protect these oceans which connect us all together. Compared to the magnitude of the ocean, the amount of sea that is protected is infinitesimally small. To advance this conservation effort, Sylvia started a foundation, Deep Search, in 2008. Today, it now works with international organizations in over 100 different countries to advance technology of the sea and identify and protect critical areas in the ocean. Sylvia said: "These groups work with the governments and we have to work with them to bring into place the policies needed. We also need to get people everywhere to be aware of issues and insist that their governments take action, while there is still time."

Towards the end of my conversation with Sylvia, I brought up the enormous amount of money being directed towards renewable energy. For example, the U.S. Department Of Energy has seen its budget double in the past few years to over $50 billion. Though we have seen a recent increase in funding and attention being paid to the health of the air and land, Sylvia believes the efforts in research and protection of the seas are too modest especially given the fact that we are talking about the world's largest producer of Oxygen and absorber of more CO2 than all of the world's forests combined. Sylvia, regarding efforts to combat climate change and global warming on land and in the air, said: "It needs to be paralleled with the urgent need to protect the engine, the blue that holds the planet steady."

CLOSING NOTES

Before I knew it, Sylvia and I had been talking with ease for sixty minutes. Knowing how busy she is, I knew I needed to let her go. She would be flying to New York City in a few days and I was looking forward to seeing her at the Explorers Club and the Green Drinks NYC event. Given the demands on her time, I asked Sylvia: "Do you ever get green fatigue?" She paused ever so briefly and replied: "I've lived long enough to see many people and places that I love disappear. That, and I value life fiercely. So, it's a gift just to wake up and know that I'm alive. That I have another day to do something. So - green fatigue - is a thought I have not imagined."

I rarely watch long videos on the web. Yet, I watched the entire 20 minute talk given by Sylvia Earle at the TED Conference in 2009. It's one of those captivating moments where you realize you have the rare privilege of listening to someone of incredible, historical consequence. Check it out below.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Spotlight on Green Drinks NYC Founder Margaret Lydecker

2009-12-05T07:23:00.001-08:00

Green Drinks NYC Founder, Margaret Lydecker, Inspired by Those That Came Before Her

by Paul McGinniss

2009 Photo of Margaret Lydecker, Founder of Green Drinks NYC, with Edwin Datschefski, founder of the world's very first Green Drinks Chapter (London). There are now over 650 Green Drinks Chapters worldwide..

by Paul McGinniss

Riding high on the waves of yet another incredible, event-filled year, Margaret Lydecker, founder of Green Drinks NYC, is ready to take on 2010 with the same energy and enthusiasm with which she is ending 2009. Like famed oceanographer/explorer Sylvia Earle, the honored guest at the Green Drinks NYC 2009 Holiday event entitled "Our Oceans", it doesn't look like Margaret is having green fatigue either.

"I've followed Sylvia Earle for years", Lydecker enthused with excited admiration when I spoke with her recently as she was putting the final plan together for the "Our Oceans" event. Margaret proclaimed: "She is one of my top 5 environmental heroes. I call her my SHEro."

Margaret founded Green Drinks NYC almost a decade ago and since then she has become an unofficial ambassador for Green Drinks around the world. She has advised others who want to start chapters in Cities and Towns in both the U.S. and on other continents. In the past year's globe-trotting, she has attended Green Drinks from Seattle to Beijing to Amsterdam. One of her favorite moments abroad this year was the opportunity to share a drink with Edwin Datschefski who started the world's first Green Drinks in London, England in 1989.

I had the chance to speak further with Margaret about Sylvia Earle's participation in the special programming planned for "Our Oceans". Margaret believes Sylvia's multi-media presentation will inspire others as she has been inspired by Syliva to be active and engaged. Margaret told me she wants to be even more of an activist for environmental issues as time moves forward. This was eye opening for me to hear for Margaret has long been involved with promoting environmental issues. She can hardly be considered a couch potato when it comes to environmental activism. Margaret continued, reflecting on 2009: "This year I've gotten more concerned with the state of the planet. The role of Green Drinks for me is changing, could change. I'm changing. Leaning toward advocacy and being more political. Engagement, more physical engagement has to happen."

Margaret Lydecker, Founder of Green Drinks NYC, at the First Ever Green Drinks USA Summit in Seattle, Washington, Fall of 2009

Since the Green Drinks Holiday event in 2008, Margaret began to focus Green Drinks events by championing one topic at each event. Her goal is to bring to New York leaders in different fields, like Sylvia Earle, to give real life testimony and connection to what is happening with the environment around the world. Last years 2008 Green Drinks NYC Holiday event was called "Island to Island". New Yorkers heard first–hand accounts from representatives of Palau and Tonga about how climate change is already seriously affecting their island nations. They warned how rising sea levels resulting from global warming will soon effect many other coastal areas including New York City. Margaret emphasized: "People are already being relocated. There's really not enough attention about this. That these nations are now affected -it's not something in the future. It's something happening now." She continued: "I have such admiration for environmental groups like Greenpeace, because they are out on the front lines saying NO you can't have that whale. Someone needs to stick up for the environment for the benefit of everyone."

Image of U.S. Green Drinks Chapter Founders in Seattle for the First Ever USA Green Drinks Summit.

In this activist vein, the beginning of "OUR OCEANS" is set aside for a talk and video presentation by Sylvia Earle and presentations by other guests including Carl Safina, President of Blue Ocean Institute. The event will also benefit Citizens Campaign for the Environment which is involved in protecting sea areas on the East Coast of the USA. With guidance from Sylvia and groups like The National Resource Defense Council, Green Drinks NYC identified this local non-profit to benefit. So, not only will attendees be enlightened by Sylvia Earle, but our region's local waterways can possibly benefit from their participation in the event. Margaret explained: "Sylvia Earle will talk about the big picture. She will mention hope spots in the sea she wants to create - areas of protected environment in the oceans. Citizens Campaign for the Environment, which is also part of our "OUR OCEANS" event next week, is looking at beautiful areas on the east coast - sea canyons that need protecting, that can also become hope spots."

We will surely be hearing a lot more from Green Drinks NYC in 2010. This is one New Yorker who is looking forward to more events that are not only fun and socially engaging, but also highlight subjects of real consequence and feature leaders in the environmental movement.

For information about next week's Holiday party, "OUR OCEANS", featuring Sylvia Earle please click on this link to Green Drinks NYC.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Will The International Living Building Institute Become a Bigger Green Rock Star Than the U.S. Green Building Council ?

2009-11-28T16:14:00.001-08:00

Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification Plays Lady Ga Ga to USGBC LEED's Madonna

by Paul McGinniss

If USGBC was a rock star, we could call it the "Madonna of Green Building". Past struggling from its "Desperately Seeking Sustainability Susan" days, the USGBC has gone from a small, off beat gathering of people who stood out to people who stand together in unison at stadium sized events.

Madonna in her early days in the hit Indy film "Desperately Seeking Susan"

Greenbuild, USGBC's annual, green, eco-networking love fest, opened in Phoenix, Arizona this past November, 2009 with mega greenie Al Gore as keynote speaker at a ceremony that closed with a pop concert featuring Sheryl Crow. Tens of thousands of green groupies flew en masse to celebrate the yearly event which has a frenzy more akin to a concert attended by die hard fans than a trade show filled with people just doing their jobs.

Well, watch out USGBC, because if The International Living Building Institute was a musical performer, it could very well become the new Lady Ga Ga of the green building world - that is make older established stars seem a tad out of date. The mandatory zero-net-energy and carbon-neutral building attributes required to become certified under The Institute's "Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification" program pushes the envelope of green building standards so far past LEED that it opens up a whole new (and needed) look for the next gen green building movement.

The "Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification" is subtitled "A Visionary Path to a Restorative Future." And, visionary it is. While technically quite specific above and beyond LEED, the program is also refreshingly philosophical. There are sections on "Beauty and Spirit" and stipulates that "the project must contain design features intended solely for human delight and the celebration of culture, spirit and place appropriate to its function." Other sections of the certification program are almost manifesto-like, particularly the section on "Democracy and Social Justice."

Image above from International Living Building Institute web site. The program sets its standards sky high and is set to expand internationally.

Technical standards mandatory to receive certification include:

*That certified buildings generate 100% of all energy needed on site with renewable energy on a net annual basis.

*The construction carbon footprint must be carbon neutral.

*The structure must capture or reclaim more water than is used by inhabitants.

*That all projects integrate opportunities for agriculture and have mandatory agricultural allowances based on the floor area ratio of the project.

Naturally, there are cost issues associated with building to such high standards. Hopefully, the Living Building Challenge will lay the groundwork for implementing this kind of building as standard practice and help bring costs down via improved building methods and technology. For a great article about this issue click on this link to the web post on The Daily Green from the editors of E/The Environmental Magazine.

Being an inhabitant of the Hudson Valley of New York, I was happy to hear that The Omega Center for Sustainable Living, upstate in Dutchess County, New York, is one of the first buildings ever to be built under the guidelines of the Living Buildings Challenge program. This Omega Center building is on track to become the first green building to achieve both LEED Platinum and the Living Building Challenge certification.

Omega Center for Sustainable Living, which includes a natural waste water treatment facility that captures waste water and uses it in four constructed wetlands

The building uses solar PV and geothermal systems to be net-zero energy. The waste water treatment facility includes an Eco Machine that captures waste water that is purified with plants, fish and microorganisms. Eventually, Omega hopes to recycle the waste water and use it to irrigate gardens, flush toilets and maintain outdoor gardens.

Click here for detailed info about Living Building Challenge 2.0 Certification Challenge.

You can see more about the Omega Center For Sustainable living here.

And, PLEASE check out Lady Ga Ga's new music video below. Like zero-net energy, carbon-neutral, self-sustaining buildings that grow their own food, it's new, it's futuristically hot, groundbreaking fun and makes a wall flower like me want to get on top of a solar panel, eat an heirloom tomato and dance like there's no tomorrow.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Cool Picks: Mind Expanding Finds on the Web About the Future Metropolis

2009-11-20T12:35:00.000-08:00

Some Recent Inspiring Finds From Web Surfing Expeditions

by Paul McGinniss

Image "Aqualta: Times Square at Night, NYC," from NYC architecture firm Studio Lindfors

When I saw the Blade Runner meets Jetson Green meets Monet water lily image of a futuristic Times Square, NYC depicted above on Alex Aylett's Blog openalex, I thought - wow - we share the same taste. Not that Alex or myself particularly want to live in a flooded metropolis. But, how cool are these dreamy, wonderful, devilishly playful images from NYC architect Studio Lindfors?

Image: "Aqualta: Shibuya Station, Tokyo," by Studio Lindfors

Despite the nod to problematic sea levels rising, the images made me feel hopeful, if only because I found out I am not the only one particularly fascinated (obsessed) with futuristic floods and other things now thought abnormal, yet potentially soon to be normal, headed our way, like a Segway, which at first seemed oddly futuristic, but now seems, somehow, oddly quaint.

Image "Aqualta: W. 29th Street & Broadway, NYC" by NYC Architect Studio Lindfors.

Alex says his blog is "for news and views on the future of sustainable cites." You can also find his writings on urban redesign and sustainability in ReNew Canada worldchanging.

Here's a link to Alex Aylett's full post about Studio Lindfors images of flooded New York and Tokyo streets:

Images of A Flooded City : NYC & Tokyo

Here's a link to Studio Lindfors.

If you want to see some of my musings about floods and the architecture of the future, see this blog's summer 2009 post: Water World Here We Come

The openalex blog also had a totally cool post about a guy named DJ/Rupture in New York who does a sort of eerie trance music for people who might have a tendency to be high on E (the Environment). Check it out:

Electro-dub-ocalypse: fishing in NYC with DJ /Rupture

Check out the animated music video from DJ/Rupture's new album Solar Life Raft:

Article Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

New State Financing Program in New York Will Make Buying Renewable Energy Systems Easier

2009-11-18T07:28:00.000-08:00

New York Joins 14 Other States Which Now Authorize Municipalities to Offer Low Cost Financing to Help Property Owners Pay for Energy Efficiency Improvements & Renewable Energy Systems

by Paul McGinniss

Finally, our prayers for wide-spread availability of "green loans" have been heard.

The New York State Legislature's recent passing of the PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) municipal loan program legislation is good news for all of us who are still waiting for the banking and appraising industries to finally get their acts together and begin to offer green loans and appraisals that take energy efficiency into account as part of their standard operating procedure.

It's great news for energy efficiency contractors, renewable energy system installers and companies selling clean energy systems. And, there will be great benefit as well for property owners who can now more easily make energy efficiency improvements and buy renewable energy systems with no money out of pocket, at all, whatsoever.

This news is a far cry from the doomsday-like report in the Febraury, 2009 article in the "New York Times" called Dark Days for Green Energy which stated: "...Because of the credit crisis and the broader economic downturn.....installation of wind and solar power is plummeting."

Representative Steve Israel (NY 2nd District) recently commented regarding this important PACE program, "I am thankful that Governor Paterson and the State Legislature see the potential for PACE programs in New York and I look forward to working with our local communities to launch PACE bond pilot programs across New York."

Based on a financing model originated in the city of Berkeley, California, PACE programs eliminate the upfront cost for energy efficiency improvements and renewable energy systems. Both residential and commercial property owners are allowed to pay for these upgrades with cash borrowed from funds raised by selling low-interest bonds to investors. A PACE bond or lien is a debt instrument whereby the proceeds are lent to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy retrofits (efficiency measures and small renewable energy systems). They repay their loans over 15-20 years via an annual assessment on their property tax bill.

Solar Install in Berkeley, California

For most energy retrofit projects completed with PACE financing, property owners can expect to realize an immediate energy savings of 20 to 40 percent. PACE bonds finance a range of energy efficiency upgrades such as double insulated windows and the installation of clean energy technologies including solar PV panels, solar thermal systems and geothermal heat pumps.

“From Long Island to the Hudson Valley, Capital District, Southern Tier and Niagara Falls, PACE financing will enable solar energy projects to move forward without upfront costs and for property owners to make improvements that will pay off in energy cost savings,” said The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA) President Ron Kamen, senior vice president of EarthKind Solar in Kingston, New York.

Property owners who utilize PACE financing will benefit over time with real cash savings. The long term repayment mechanism results in annual energy savings that exceed the increased annual property tax cost thus making PACE financing highly attractive to home and building owners. Lowering monthly costs due to energy saving also increases the property's overall value and increases the creditworthiness of the existing mortgage holder.

PACE bonds can be issued by municipal financing districts or finance companies. The payment plan for the property owner is transferable to the next property owner if the current owner decides to sell the property.

The great thing about the PACE loan program is that States and Municipalities authorizing PACE bonds not only create green jobs, but they have no added debt or credit risk. This is because PACE finance creates no credit or fiscal burden as the entire liability resides directly with those property owners who opt in to receiving PACE loans. It should not be a problem for municipalities to raise funds via PACE bonds as PACE bond holders/investors benefit from a very safe investment given that they are secured by long term tax liens that are senior in right to mortgage debt.

Photo of a group of workers with KPS Solar on Long Island. Kevin MacLeod of KPS in Bayshore, Long Island is Vice President of The New York Solar Energy Industries Association (NYSEIA)and represented the interests of the association to lawmakers who passed the PACE legislation.

PACE programs are a recent innovation in finance and have emerged nationwide over the past year during which time 15 states have passed enabling legislation. Current PACE-enabled states are: CA, CO, IL, LA, MD, NV, NM, NY, OH, OK, OR, TX, VT, VA, & WI. According to PACE Now, an independent coalition of PACE bond supporters, it is estimated that the potential for PACE bonds could exceed $500 billion nationally.

An additional benefit to the PACE legislation is that it allows municipalities to leverage federal funds in order to provide loans to commercial and residential property owners to finance energy efficiency retrofits and renewable energy systems. "New York State can now tap critical federal dollars to create much-needed jobs with PACE programs," said Jack D. Hidary, Chairman of Americans for Clean Energy and one of the leaders of the PACENOW coalition. He added, "PACE will put more people to work and will bring energy efficiency and solar to buildings across the state with loans that make it easy for owners to pay for this cost-reducing work."

“By passing the municipal sustainable energy loan program bill during the extraordinary session, we are putting New York municipalities in a position to compete for $454 million in federal stimulus funds,” U.S. Congressman from New York, Steve Israel said. “PACE programs will save home and business owners money, create new sustainable green jobs, bring clean energy companies to the State to compete for our business, and help wrench New York out of this painful recession.

Governor Paterson said about PACE: "Now, thanks to the leadership of President Obama and Congressman Israel (U.S. Representative Steve Israel NY 2nd District) the federal government is offering programs that encourage the use of PACE loan programs ... I want to thank the Legislature for recognizing this opportunity and for agreeing to pass this critical legislation."

One of the most progressive things about the PACE program is it makes the whole debate about the unavailability of "green loans" and energy efficient mortgages out of date. With funding from PACE bonds, homeowners are able to borrow money to make the necessary improvements to their homes without the hassle of finding a lender who is familiar with green lending principles. It also puts the concept of a green loan right where it should be by defining financing-worthy green home improvements as ones that result in concrete energy savings that reduce monthly cash overhead, thus being good for the bottom line while protecting the environment.

PACENOW.org is the advocacy and educational non-governmental organization for PACE finance. For more information about PACE finance go to www.pacenow.org

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

If you want to become inspired to install some renewable energy systems, check out the AMAZING VIDEO below about the 2009 Solar Decathlon House designed by Team BeauSoleil from the University of New Orleans at Lafayette. This affordable, self-sufficient home can be elevated in flood prone areas, withstand hurricane force winds and is powered entirely by the sun!

Hudson Valley, N.Y. Green Real Estate Development Conference Sets Stage For Healthy Regional Growth

2009-11-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

ScheinMedia's October 28th, 2009 Event at Tech City In Kingston, New York Heralds a Region-Wide Green Network That Will Play Major Role in Developing Hudson Valley Economy

By Paul McGinniss

On Right Jonathan Schein, President & CEO ScheinMedia with Allen Ginsburg, Owner & Chairman Tech City Properties

The first region-wide conference devoted to green real estate development in the Hudson Valley was held recently. From the reaction of attendees, speakers and panelists, it is sure to be the first of many annual green real estate development conferences produced by ScheinMedia.

ScheinMedia is parent company of Kingston-based "New York House" magazine. The monthly periodical is a widely-respected, real estate-focused publication founded in the Hudson Valley region and now covering the NYC Metropolitan area as well. It is distributed throughout the Hudson Valley and New York City.

The conference opened with a Keynote delivered by Ned Sullivan, President of Scenic Hudson--the largest environmental group in the Hudson Valley. It was apropos to have an environmental group lead off the conference which gathered a wide cross section of eco-minded attendees sensitive to finding the balance between growth and sustainability. The audience included real estate developers, builders, renewable energy companies, government officials, media and others from the entire Hudson Valley region--the Counties of Albany, Rockland, Orange, Sullivan, Putnam, Westchester, Greene, Ulster, Columbia and Delaware. The event will surely help further the crucial agenda of creating both sustainable communities and jobs in the Hudson Valley area.

The conference was held, appropriately, in Kingston at Tech City--a sprawling, 260 acre, office-industrial park with 2.5 million square feet of existing buildings. Tech City was once an important office and manufacturing base facility for IBM. When the corporation left Kingston in the 1990s, it left behind a facility burdened with inefficient design, set apart from the surrounding community and in an accelerated state of decline. Today, due to the valiant efforts of Allen Ginsburg and his team, Tech City is in the initial phase of a much needed and massive green face lift.

Gerald Schein & Susan Piperato, Editorial Director Schein Media

Tech City has generated plans that will essentially take what was a white elephant and establish a whole green neighborhood. Tech City says it "will create a mixed use eco-village that is a model for green development – a place where people can live, work and play – and a true showcase for the future of economic development." If realized, Tech City could become a model for adaptive reuse.

With all that is going on with green building and renewable energy, Tech City is at the right place at the right time. Tech City is already home to the Solar Energy Consortium (TSEC) - a group that has already secured millions in state and Federal funding to promote research, production and distribution of solar energy systems in New York State. Tech City is also home to some of the leading firms in solar technology including EarthKind Energy, Inc. The recent Solar Thermal Roadmap Symposium was also held recently at Tech City. This is yet another sign that committed regional players with vested interest in the area, groups like ScheinMedia, the TSEC, and the New York Solar Energy Industries Association, will be using Tech City for other events on a regular basis.

Some of the people I met at the conference were the folks from New World Home, makers of energy efficient modular green homes, green roof company
Semper Green and Big Green Oil which sells heating oil comprised of 20% bio fuel made with locally sourced waste grease.

For a full list of attendees and detailed conference information click on this link to Schein Events.

Mark Jupiter, President Product Division, New World Home, LLC

The Hudson Valley Green Real Estate Development Conference is proof that green real estate development and local renewable energy production and installation will play a major role in the Hudson Valley economy. Like many less-developed areas near large urban centers, the Hudson Valley is struggling with the dual goals of preserving the natural beauty of the region while creating new jobs and a healthy economy. Conferences like this lay groundwork for a public-private dialogue that will help balance growth with preservation while retaining current businesses and residents in the region as new talent and investment is attracted to the local economy.

NOTE: Paul is a columnist and Green Advocate for "New York House" magazine which is part of ScheinMedia. He also writes sometimes for ScheinMedia's MetroGreenBusiness.com

Nancy Meyer (center), Editor New York House Magazine, Jonathan Schein (left), President & CEO ScheinMedia & Lance Matteson (right), President Ulster County Development Corporation

Copyright 2009 by Paul McGinniss

New Orleans as a Phoenix: From Disaster a City Grows Wings and Is Reborn

2009-11-06T09:13:00.000-08:00

With A House That Floats, Zero Energy Neighborhoods & Whole Communities Designed With The Collaboration of Artists, New Orleans Could Become a Model of How to Take Tragedy and Turn it into a Down to Earth Jazzy Sci Fi Green Success Story Instead.
by Paul McGinniss

Image from St. Roch Art Walk project in New Orleans. Integrating an art walk into sustainable building is part of the redesign of the entire St. Roch neighborhood.

Everyone knows the horror that was Hurricane Katrina. It showed us how terribly unprepared many cities are for natural disasters. Reassuringly, many creative forces from all walks of life have come up with ways to not only rebuild a devastated city, but out fox future problems that Mother Nature might throw our way.

Einstein said: "We can't solve problems by using the same kind of thinking we used when we created them." In the same spirit as Einstein, three groups working in New Orleans are developing green building and design projects that demonstrate new, holistic, hi-tech thinking. People across the country have joined forces with inhabitants of New Orleans to not just rebuild what was lost, but to grow a new neighborhood dynamic that incorporates the old roots of a historic city into futuristic green growth.

The Faubourg St. Roch Project

Image is design for St. Roch neighborhood space amongst new green buildings and housing

New York-based Architect, Drew Lang, is one of the visionaries behind The Faubourg St. Roch project in New Orleans. A nine block neighborhood is being redesigned. Lang is the principal of Lang Architecture and is from New Orleans. He knows the city as an insider. Post Katrina, Drew initiated the Faubourg St. Roch Project which is meant to revitalize an entire neighborhood. His firm also designed a home that was selected as a finalist in the Global Green USA Sustainable Design Competition for New Orleans, co-sponsored by Brad Pitt and Global Green USA. (see info below about Global Green and Brad Pitt's Make it Right foundation)

The Faubourg St. Roch project mission states: "The Faubourg St. Roch Project is committed to a holistic revitalization of the St. Roch neighborhood in New Orleans. With community participation, new building, restoration, advanced environmental technology, through partnerships with other non-profit groups, with progressive energy policy work, and with spirited conviction, we will create a model and catalyst for neighborhood revitalization in New Orleans."

The Faubourg St. Roch Project operates in partnership with a dozen groups including the Arts Council of New Orleans and the Office of Recovery and Development Administration. They are working with residents, architects, artists and landscape designers to revitalize varied neighborhood components including historic homes, a cemetery, a market and a school.

Entrance to the historic St. Roch cemetery

Make it Right

Image of Float House which is a prototype for affordable, green housing that can be mass produced for flood-prone areas.

Brad Pitt's Make it Right Foundation is engaged in a variety of initiatives in New Orleans including greening schools and rebuilding the 9th ward of the city. One of the coolest things Make it Right spearheaded is the creation of the Float House which can fulfill its own water and power needs during emergencies and survive floodwaters as high as 12 feet. The house was designed and developed by Morphosis architects and graduate students at UCLA’s School of Architecture and Urban Design. It is the first floating house permitted in the United States.

Make it Right is thankful for all the help they have gotten from people around the world: "From its inception, the Make It Right project relied on the good willed generosity of acclaimed local, national and international architects who donated their cutting-edge designs for single family homes and duplexes that could be considered as projects to be built in the lower 9th ward. Twenty-one architects have now given their time and talent to make the Make It Right site the largest congregation of smart-design homes created by different, award-winning architects working on the same project."

Check out the cool Float House and other super cool designs here

Global Green USA

Global Green was founded in 1994 by activist and philanthropist Diane Meyer Simon. It is the American arm of Green Cross International (GCI) which was created by Mikhail S. Gorbachev, last head of state of the now former U.S.S.R. Gorbachev was one of the best things to come from the breakup of the Soviet Union and actually deserves credit for making the Hammer and Sickle fall in the first place. Because of his openness to new ideas and ways of thinking, Gorbachev was instrumental in enabling Perestroika--an economic, political and social restructuring of the entire Soviet society.

Gorbachev founded Green Cross International during the wonderful historic period of Perestroika "to foster a global value shift toward a sustainable and secure future by reconnecting humanity with the environment." Global Green USA, like the groups working on projects described above, is doing so many amazing things in New Orleans that it's too much to summarize for this blog post. Since the August 2005 devastation of Hurricane Katrina, Global Green USA "made a dedicated commitment to sustainable building in New Orleans and the Gulf Coast." In doing so, they have become a research lab and information center for the world. Among other programs, they are developing a green affordable housing community and are working on greening schools throughout the area under the auspices of their Holy Cross Project.

Working in collaboration with Brad Pitt's Make it Right, Global Green USA helped to coordinate the New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition during the summer of 2006. More than 125 entrants competed to design a net zero energy, affordable housing and community center development in the Holy Cross neighborhood of the Lower 9th Ward. As mentioned, locally-grown architect Drew Lang was one of the amazing finalists. Be sure to look at all the entries.

Check out the entries to the New Orleans Sustainable Design Competition and what Global Green USA has been doing in New Orleans since then.

Former Leader of the U.S.S.R., Mikhail Gorbachev.

Yes, Katrina was a tragedy. But, as the Buddhists say, "life is tragedy". It's sometimes a fact of life so we might as well do some good zen planning and prepare for potential problems by being healthy--mentally and physically.

In original Greek, tragedy defines a disastrous event, a calamity, or a series of terrible events. In this context, tragedy implied there would be some kind of greater understanding gained by the tragic figures. By experiencing the tragedy, they were taught a lesson. Greek Tragedy was intended to mean rebirth. In the end, for the Greek masters of tragedy, a tragedy was not so much bad news as a means to understanding and recreating the consciousness that led to the mistakes made in the first place.

Katrina was a Hamlet-like moment for America--a time when our leaders' blindness and faults caused much pain and suffering. But, in the end, perhaps that Hamlet-like moment will bring back a romantic comedy--the Mardi Gras that was New Orleans--even better than it was before.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Bourbon Street, New Orleans

See the Video below: "Moments and Markings" about the St. Roch Art Walk and Neighborhood Revival in New Orleans

The World's Eco Flux Moment: The October 24th International Day of Climate Action

2009-10-27T13:37:00.001-07:00

An obscure 1960s art movement called Fluxus and groundbreaking, activist artists like Yoko Ono laid fertile groundwork for 350.org's International Day of Climate Action on October 24.

by Paul McGinniss

"Give peace a chance"; newlyweds John Lennon and Yoko Ono stage a "bed-in" at their hotel suite in Montreal, Canada, May 26, 1969. Courtesy UPI/Corbis-Bettmann

Yoko Ono's and John Lennon's anti-war Bed Peace performance art action laid the creative groundwork for Bill Mckibben's and 350.org's magnificent International Day of Climate Action which just happened on October 24th. 350's amazing worldwide action included over 5,200 events in 181 different countries. Both events utilized simple, hand-written placards in an attempt to provoke change with unified, social action. One against war. The other against our own war against the planet.

350 action in Egypt October 24th 2009

Last week's environmental action included an event in Hungary where hundreds of bathers jumped into the public baths in Budapest to participate in a 350 synchronized swimming performance. In Nepal, a thousand young people and monks marched to the Swayambhunath world heritage site temple where they formed a large 350with traditional lanterns. Cambodian citizens from across their country gathered at the famous Angkor Wat to take a giant 350 action photo. 350 Americans danced to Michael Jackson's "Thriller" in Seattle because, as Bill McKibben warned, "if we don't stop global warming, we might as well be undead."

McKibben noted prior to the event this past weekend that "350 is the most important number in the world. Scientists have told us that 350 (parts per million) is the most carbon dioxide we can have in the atmosphere. We're making sure everyone knows."

350 image from the "The Slumdog Millionaires" at a slum in Mumbai for the 350 action

Though decades apart, the events of the 1960s and 2009 are kindred spirits. By hanging the simple sign "Bed Peace" above their bed, John and Yoko's notoriety allowed them to make this event widely known in a pre-Internet world. Mass media coverage quickly spread the message to a global audience. The couple took the ordinary moment of sitting in bed and made it a daring statement. They called out for action less we just sleep and let unordinary things like war become ordinary and acceptable. Fueled by the power and reach of the Internet, 350 and McKibben do the same. 350 takes the ordinary moments of people coming together to take a picture and makes a unified statement of concern for our shared global condition.

Photograph of Fluxus group performing their Street Cleaning Event taken June, 1966 at Grand Army Plaza (58th Street and 5th Avenue), New York City. Photograph by George Maciunas, 1966.

Many of the artists working in and around the Fluxus movement were not so clearly political as John and Yoko. Yet, they oftentimes joined together with artists around the world to do the same thing at the exact same time. For instance, musicians in different cities around the world would converge at the exact same time and play the same music on a cello on a street corner. This spoke to joining creative forces around the world in common action.

So, here's to Bill and John and Yoko. And, kudos to the other artists in the 1960s that used their art to make world wide connections, artists such as Naim June Paik, George Marciunas and John Cage. Congratulations and thank you to the many thousands of people around the world who joined this month to bring attention to the importance of the number 350. The message is clear that the world needs to listen to itself and join together to effect important change.

Picture American Troops in Afghanistan making environmental statement, October 24th, 2009.

Thank you Yoko, John and Bill. Let us all Give Peace a chance. And, give the world a chance to heal from self inflicted wounds. There's no doubt in my mind, that by working together, the world's many diverse cultures and countries can solve any problem that comes before us.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Picture on Campus of State University of New York, New Paltz. Courtesy Ariana Basco, NYPIRG

CLICK HERE FOR AN AMAZING SLIDE SHOW DEPICTING THE INTERNATIONAL DAY OF CLIMATE ACTION

Solar Thermal Road Map Being Formulated for New York State

2009-10-20T15:22:00.000-07:00

Watch Out Solar PV: Your little brother, Solar Thermal, has grown up and he might very well become more popular than you are.
by Paul McGinniss

Some of the organizers of the Solar Thermal Roadmap Symposium with Congressman Maurice Hinchey, (U.S. Representative for New York's 22nd District), standing third from the right.

With the green revolution taking off like the hula hoop in the late 1950s, renewable energy systems that generate electricity such as Solar PV and the new vertical axis wind turbines (VAWT) have become like the captain of the high school football team and the head cheerleader--hot and sexy, the most popular kids on the renewable energy block.

Well, solar thermal, which has been overshadowed by its better known sustainable siblings, is having a coming out party and might very well push the other "cool green kids" out of the way and grab the title of new Green Prom King for itself. It's no surprise. In other countries solar thermal has become a standard accessory for homes, as common as a television or computer. For example, almost 100% of the homes in Cyprus have a solar thermal system.

A Solar Thermal Roadmap Symposium was held at Tech City in Kingston, New York, on October 20th. Organized by the New York Solar Thermal Consortium, it launched plans for a Solar Thermal Road Map for New York State. The consortium is comprised of a committed group of business, government and academic groups. It's part of a country-wide initiative by States which are organizing to finally put Solar Thermal at the adult table. Solar Thermal is expected to be a major part of the near-term solution to finally make our homes and buildings 100% carbon neutral and free from having to use imported oil and other fossil fuels.

WHAT IS SOLAR THERMAL?

Unlike solar PV, solar thermal systems do not generate electricity but rather capture heat from the sun for use in homes and buildings. There are several basic types of solar thermal. Solar thermal for hot water is one. In this process the sun heats a fluid running through solar collectors. This heated fluid circulates through a storage tank where it transfers its heat to the water in the tank. Utilizing an evacuated tube solar collector, solar thermal systems can also be used for radiant heating. Solar Thermal systems like this can also be used to heat pools. And, they can cool homes via absorption chiller technology. (See diagram below that depicts a solar thermal hot water system. Image is from Earthkind Solar.)

Solar Thermal Air is another basic form of solar thermal technology. In this process solar collectors heat air that is drawn into the building. The solar pre-heated air is ducted into a building via existing ventilation systems or distributed via fans and ducting.

Picture of the SolarDuctTM from Solarwall. This rooftop installation heats air and sends it into the building via ducts.

THE SOLAR ROAD MAP AND NEW YORK SOLAR THERMAL CONSORTIUM

The goals of the Solar Thermal Roadmap and the New York Solar Thermal Consortium are "to catalyze the construction of 2,000 megawatts of solar thermal power and create highly skilled solar thermal jobs in the state." To realize these objectives, the pressing need is "to involve all stakeholders in developing a comprehensive list of the questions, issues, and approaches to solving the current under-utilization of solar thermal technologies in New York State."

The Solar Thermal Roadmap Symposium came about in no small part due to the efforts of Ron Kamen of EarthKind Solar who is also President of New York State Solar Energy Industry Association (NYSEIA).

Some of the attendees I encountered at the Solar Thermal Roadmap Symposium were Congressman Maurice Hinchey, Rick Alfandre of Alfandre Architecture, Sebastian Gores from the German company Droege & Company, Kevin Wert and Win Hayes from Sunshine Solar in Jericho Long Island, Betsy Ferris Wyman from Sundogsolar in Columbia County, NY, Larsen Plano from Community Environmental Center in NYC, Joerg Gaebler from Smart Energy in Massachusetts, Richard Klein from Quixotic Systems NYC, and Adam Farrell from Silicon Solar in Bainbridge, NY.

Ron Kamen of Earthkind Solar

FACTS ABOUT SOLAR THERMAL

*Solar Thermal is 1/3 the price of Solar PV and the pay back period is less than 10 years.

*Solar Thermal has four times the energy output of solar PV.

*There is a federal tax credit for solar thermal water systems equaling 30% of the cost of the system. There is also a state tax credit equaling 25% of the system's cost. (Note: these incentives do not yet apply to solar air systems.)

*18% of all household energy consumption is for hot water.

*51% of all energy used in NYC Buildings is for heat and hot water. Outside NYC, the percentage is higher.

*In Germany, solar thermal will be mandatory in new and existing buildings by 2015.

NOTE: You can read the New York Solar Thermal Consortium Whitepaper "The Development of a Solar Thermal Market in New York State" on Sebastian Goeres' web site Renewable Energy in the U.S.

Copyright 2009 by Paul McGinniss

Check out the video below about Solar Thermal in Europe.

Europe is way ahead of the curve with this affordable and important technology where, in the near future, more than 50% of energy to heat homes and hot water will come from solar thermal technology.

Pathways to Peace: Green Building Blocks East - West

2009-10-02T12:02:00.001-07:00

Sulaiman AL Fahim, President of the Arab Union For Real Estate Development, Is Offering Green Cooperation With NYC
by Paul McGinniss

Sulaiman Al Fahim, President of the Arab Union for Real Estate Development

From Hollywood to Dubai, jet setting, thirty-something Sulaiman Al Fahim has cast quite an image for himself in the past few years. And, with plans to do an affordable green real estate project in NYC, he might be a name we hear about in New York City more often.

Lately, he's been big news all over Great Britain as he is involved in the takeover (via his Al Fahim Asia Associates Ltd. and a Saudi investor) of the English Premier League soccer club in Portsmouth. Al Fahim was well known in England before that as he was also initially linked to the recent buyout of the Manchester City soccer team when he acted as figurehead for the buyer, the Abu Dhabi United Group.

In 2006, "Arabian Business" magazine named Al Fahim one of the 100 most powerful Arabs. This past spring he was chosen from the leading real estate figures in the Arab world and named President of The Arab Union for Real Estate Development (AURD). This is the first trade association of its kind for the region's real estate industry, encompassing 22 Arab countries. AURD is affiliated with both Arab League, Council of Arab Economic Unity, and ICREA (International Consortium of Real Estate Associations).

There's more to Sulaiman than sports teams and real estate. I first became acquainted with him while attending the International Renewable Energy Organization's (IREO) second annual event at the United Nations in New York City this past summer. Sulaiman is a supporter of the IREO. He is also the good will ambassador and benefactor of the United Nations NGO, Intergovernmental Institution for the Use of Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition, IIMSAM. The goal of IIMSAM is "to help create a world that is free of malnutrition and hunger." It was organized to support the United Nations Millennium Development Goals. Specifically, IIMSAM "aims to mainstream the use of Spirulina to eradicate malnutrition, achieve food security, and bridge the health divide with a special priority for the developing and the least developed countries."

Sulaiman Al Fahim (to right of woman in wheelchair) in Kenya as part of his Micro-algae Spirulina Against Malnutrition efforts.

When I spoke to Sulaiman recently, he espoused his desire to "bridge relations between Arabs and Americans." He stated that "Green does not have to mean expensive. It can be affordable." He spoke about a project he wanted to develop in Puerto Rico that involves a green hospital and green affordable housing for the workers. Besides using green construction materials, he said his objective is to grow spirulina (algae) on site and use it as a bio fuel to run the hospital. Sulaiman summarized: "We are combining healthcare and housing in the same development. It's not just real estate: it's community."

I'll surely be covering what Sulaiman Al Fahim is up to in NYC as it unfolds. With all the strife going on in the world, it's encouraging to think that there might be some creative dialogue between Arab nations and the United States about mutually beneficial real estate investments and projects, especially if it also involves community based affordable green housing.

It makes perfect sense that a pathway to real peace and stability in the world could revolve around the building blocks of green building. What better way to lay the foundation for world cooperation than with real estate, especially real estate that can benefit not only powerful international investors, but also real working communities.

Investments in working class communities across the globe are sometimes overlooked for flashier, higher-profile projects. Too often these working communities are separated from other similar communities in other countries, creating miscommunication and misunderstanding. Joint green affordable housing initiatives between the Arab world and the United States could create mutual ecomomic benefit and common goals that establish long lasting cultural understanding.

Stay tuned for more news.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Great Expectations: Are Green School Curriculums To Become Like the Novels Great Expectations and The Great Gatsby: Required Reading?

2009-09-29T15:32:00.001-07:00

Sir Richard Branson Helps Launch New Green Curriculum For Schools

by Paul McGinniss

Sir Richard Branson talking about the Green School Curriculum

NYC September 24

Sir Richard Branson joined Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell, the team behind the Veggie Van Organization and award winning Sundance documentary, "FUEL", to announce a new green curriculum for schools that meets national education standards. The curriculum will help educate the next generation about renewable energy and fuels of the future.

Developed by the non profit Veggie Van organization, the curriculum aims to "empower students to take action". It grew out of demand from "FUEL" theater goers, particularly mothers and teachers, who wanted to have a classroom version of the "FUEL" film which highlights unique green energy solutions for the future. The school program involves a dynamic, interactive, web-based curriculum hub that will enable a country-wide dialogue between teachers and students about green fuels of the future.

Jonathan Schein, founder of Schein Media and publisher New York House magazine, with Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell in front of the Algaeus, an algae fueled car, with containers of Algae fuel

Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell were in New York as part of a cross-country tour in a green vehicle caravan that includes the "FUEL" movie bus and the Algaeus, a Prius hybrid that runs partially on algae bio fuel.

Curiously, as I was on a bus leaving NYC, I read an article in the New York Times entitled "Oil Everywhere: It's a boom year for new finds". The article seemed to defy the entire raison d'etre of the "FUEL" film and the Veggie Van organization, that is, to make the world see that it is time to move beyond the pollution and climate change problems due to the continuing use of oil and non-renewable, carbon based fuels and embrace a green renewable future. The New York Times article said: "The oil industry has been on a hot streak this year, thanks to a series of major discoveries that have rekindled a sense of excitement across the petroleum sector, despite falling prices and a tough economy."

All I could think was: Should we be excited about this?

Sir Richard Branson about to pour Algae Fuel into the Algaeus, with Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell and Steve Howard, CEO of the Climate Group

This dichotomy of reality made me recall Charles Dickens' opening lines of his classic novel, "Tale of Two Cities"-- "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times". Is New York City today such a tale of two cities? Is it the best clean energy city or the worst city? Will the oil keep flowing and the coal keep burning? Do New Yorkers really understand the importance of the green energy revolution and how shifting to renewable energy now is extremely important for both economic and environmental survival?

As my bus neared the Hudson Valley in upstate New York, birth of the environmental movement in the United States, The Talking Heads song, "Once In a Life Time", kept playing in my IPOD head. David Bryne's haunting words captured the lost mood I was in: "Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was. Same as it ever was."

Is it same as it ever was? Has anything really changed? Has our society crossed the threshold of outdated thinking and technology? Are we ready to unify and give up the wasteful and environmentally damaging energy policies of the past? Or, are we still unsure and questioning the validity of what the "FUEL" film and the Veggie Van organization is all about?

"And you may ask yourself
How do I work this?
And you may ask yourself
Where is that large automobile?"

FUEL film and Veggie Van supporter, NYC Councilman James Gennaro (left), speaking with FUEL director Josh Tickell

I said goodbye to Josh and Rebecca on 14th street in Manhattan after the excitement of the green curriculum announcement with billionaire, visionary, green energy advocate Sir Richard Branson. Branson, featured prominently in "FUEL", is investing in renewable energy ventures and has already tested jet fuel made from algae for his Virgin Airlines. It was exciting to meet him and be part of the event. But, after he left, the palpable energy slowly dissipated and in the end it was, once again, just Josh and Rebecca and their crew ready to load up their caravan and drive onward. They and a dozen additional dedicated souls were headed to Philadelphia with their green vehicle caravan to open "FUEL" in that city later that night. And, there were more cities on the horizon after that. Same as it ever was, or not?

It's been a long road for the couple who have been working for years on this journey to free America from oil addiction. With the New York Times touting a boom in new oil discoveries, in many ways, their work has just begun. Optimistically, with a new green curriculum for schools headed our way, despite resistance from oil industry forces, and any momentary doubts, it is no longer the same as it ever was.

And so Josh and Rebecca you may ask yourself
Where does that highway go?
And you may ask yourself
Am I right? ...am I wrong?
And you may tell yourself
My god!...what have I done?

You've inspired us by your getting off the couch of indifference and standing up for something. You've demonstrated that a few grass roots visionaries with commitment and sincerity can make change. You've turned a dirty old yellow school bus into a clean bio fueled big green energy classroom. You've inspired me to help you bring your green caravan and film and school program to Southampton and New Paltz and the New York communities I am part of because what you have done is open up possibilities for future generations.

I hope the green curriculum that Josh and Rebecca want to give away for free to all schools in America does become required reading and teaching. As we teach our children about the historic battles in our country fought for Independence,Civil Rights and freedom from world tyranny during the second world war, why not educate them as well about the Green Revolution that is happening right now in real time? Why not work to involve everyone in America in the process of learning how to live sustainably and preserving the beauty and wonder of our planet. Of course, the future is the children of the world and their active participation is of paramount importance to realizing the end goals that will make the world a better place to live and be. The green curriculum is of vital importance to be implemented without delay.

With the rise in green building requirements and energy efficiency in building, what's the point in building green school buildings if the curriculum itself does not inform the students about inspiring developments like algae gasoline and high altitude wind turbines, as well all green focused industries creating jobs that will make the world a better place for all those students about to graduate?

Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell and their green vehicle caravan are on a trip that is, as the Talking Heads said in the title to their song, "Once in a Life Time."

Check out the Talking Heads video below. And contact the Veggie Van Organization about how you can be part of this trip of a life time and how their green curriculum program can be brought to a school near you.

NOTE: Last week, when the Green Curriculum initiative was announced, was Climate Week NY°C which coincided with the NYC United Nations Summit on Climate Change .

Edited By Joseph S Walker.
Photos by Paul McGinniss. Text and Photos Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Green Luxury High and Low: While Some Eco Products are High Priced Others Come at a Lower Price

2009-09-23T09:59:00.000-07:00

Highlights From Eco Luxe Event in NYC September 22
by Paul McGinniss

Editor of New York House Magazine, Nancy Meyer, standing in front of one seat, all electric vehicle from Ohio based Myers Motors

Confession. At first I was a bit afraid (more like guilty) of embracing the concept of the Eco Luxe event in NYC at upscale restaurant Rouge Tomate on East 60th Street in Manhattan. It's not that I mind luxury, really, who doesn't want to be pampered. It's just that in this turbulent recessionary era I questioned the necessity of attending an event that billed itself as eco friendly, but emphasized luxury green products that one seemed to need lots of green to buy.

Happily, I attended Eco Luxe and left feeling optimistic. Yes, in the mix were impressive high end toys like the sexy $100K plus Tesla electric vehicle and the $1500 energy propulsion system by Canadian based BionX that can be retrofitted on any bike to make it electric. But, also included in the luxury mix were more affordable items like the cool T shirts with printed slogans made out of recycled plastic by California company "A Lot To Say" and delicious chocolate from the company Divine Chocolate that not only pays fair wages, but is actually owned cooperatively by the farmers in Ghana that grew the cocoa beans in the first place.

Here are some of the other highlights, high and low priced, from the event last night:

Hydro Flask

So simple. A reusable stainless steel container, sans toxic BPA leeching plastic liners, that keeps liquid inside cold or hot for hours without sweating from condensation on the outside. I forgot my last metal beverage bottle at the Montauk Yacht club a few weeks ago and I am happy to have found Oregon based company Hydro Flask. Now I don't have to worry about my bottle sweating and getting things wet in my bag or sipping hot water on a sunny day. The smart design takes into account the size of ice cubes so, if desired, you can add them to your bottle and take it on the go.

Nature's Cork

Who knew that cork could be used to make luggage, clothes, and all sorts of things normally reserved for leather or other materials? These not cheap, but reasonably priced, luxury Portuguese products, use cork grown sustainably and they feel more like expensive Coach made goods than a thrifty green substitute.

Divine Chocolate
A Farmer Owned Fair Trade Company

I love the idea that the farmers in Ghana own the whole company. This way the chocolate tastes good physically as well as spiritually.

A Lot To Say Apparel

Sisters Alison Stanich Power and Jennifer Stanich Banmiller are a blast and so are their shirts made of 100% recycled plastic. Celebrities love them and so will you. Don't forget to check out their line of underwear with slogans on them. These undies might very well inspire some late night reading.

BionX
Electric Bike Systems

Yes, to retrofit a bike with the new wheels, battery and electric motor is expensive at $1500. However, the system lasts a super long time and in bike friendly cities and areas this system can actually make a commute by bike much more feasible. The BionX reps at Eco Luxe told me that Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger just personally purchased 50 of them so his whole staff could cut down on the need for cars.

Soda Stream

I'm still loving the Soda Stream machine I have. Haven't used one water or soda bottle or can since I got one. No more wasting money on seltzer water and no more trips to the transfer station with a bag of empty bottles and cans that very well could end up in a landfill.

Tesla Roadster

Tesla Roadster in front of Rouge Tomate Restaurant, NYC

Okay, I admit it. I want one. Even a green advocate needs a day off and I couldn't imagine anything more awesome than cruising in this vehicle and making all the gas guzzlers and Prius drivers green with envy.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

Green Vehicle Caravan Driving Cross Country to New York for FUEL film premier in NYC

2009-09-15T08:34:00.001-07:00

Photo of Director Josh Tickell

JOSH AND REBECCA'S EXCELLENT ECO ADVENTURE

Film maker activists Josh Tickell and Rebecca Harrell Make History By Driving Cross Country in a Green Vehicle Caravan to Promote Opening of Award Winning film FUEL.

by Paul McGinniss

Back in the 1990s, Josh Tickell might have created the Veggie Van, an old Winnebago which runs on used fryer grease, but when he drove cross country in the colorfully painted van that smelled like french fries, he wasn't vegging out. He was on a quest to get America off its oil addiction and to promote green energy.

Ten years, several books and a film, "FUEL", later, Josh is at it again with his road tripping missionary work. This time he's traveling with actress and "FUEL" producer, Rebecca Harrell, and 9 other people. And, instead of having just the Veggie Van, they have a whole green caravan that includes an electric motorcycle and a bio-diesel-powered school bus. The latter, converted into a hi-tech classroom, also has a whole roof of solar panels. Leading the caravan, Josh, Rebecca and their trusty dog, Mr. Brown, cruise in the Algaeus--a Toyota Prius that has been pimped up with extra batteries and is fueled, in part, with gasoline that includes a blend of Green Crude, America's first Algae gasoline.

Photo of FUEL family Director Josh Tickell, Producer Rebecca Harrell and Mr Brown in the famous Veggie Van.

I spoke with Josh and Rebecca as they left Sacramento, California, the second city on the tour, heading toward the final destination, New York City. Their enthusiasm and sheer sense of inspiration wasn't close to being preachy and their concern for the environment wasn't so much doom and gloom as wishing for the moon and getting there Apollo 11 style. It was fun talking with them via cells phones as they traveled down the highway using bluetooth wireless, cameras filming them, in a one of a kind car with its own Algae gasoline stash, and their pooch, Mr. Brown, along for the ride.

I mentioned to Josh that they were a new version of the Merry Pranksters who traveled cross country in an old school bus as memorialized in Tom Wolfe's book "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test". Josh pondered the comparison with the Sixties road trip: "It's like Ken Kesey. But, we're driving 12 hours a day, having press conferences and film screenings in each city. This is the upgraded young America version of that trip."

And, it's true, unlike many creative radicals in the past who would have preferred to "tune in, turn on and drop out", Josh and Rebecca, despite the psychedelic- looking Veggie Van, are hardly about dropping out to find inner bliss. The passionate duo may be mirthful like the Merry Pranksters, but they're on a mission. As Rebecca said: "We have a very specific agenda. We want to wake people up. We want people to see the movie "FUEL". But, we want people to be empowered and to change the world from a place of enthusiasm and inspiration."

Photo from the FUEL film

Naturally, being filmmakers, Josh and Rebecca are making a film about their trip across country that will end with a planned, grassroots campaign in Manhattan's Time Square. The goal, they say, is "to jump start the Green Revolution."

The famous anthropologist, Margaret Mead, once said: “Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it's the only thing that ever does.”

Yes, people like Josh Tickell, Director of "FUEL", and Producer Rebecca Harrell, along with a handful of people driving cross country, can change the world. And, they are. Yet, it's a difficult journey. Josh reflected on all of the years of hard work that lead to this moment as the green vehicle caravan headed towards Reno, Nevada to meet up with Governor Jim Gibbons: "It's hard to save the World all by Yourself."

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

FUEL opens in NYC on September 18th. Please click here to buy tickets. In NYC on the evenings of Sept 18th, 19th and 20th there will be special premier screenings where you will meet the FUEL director and producer and special guests.

The Obamas Grow Their Own: New Video of The Obama White House Garden

2009-09-06T09:22:00.001-07:00

by Paul McGinniss

In Spring of 2009, the Obama White House broke ground on the first vegetable garden at the White House since First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt's victory garden during WWII.

Using seeds passed down from President Thomas Jefferson's garden at Monticello, the new garden serves as an example for the rest of the country and, hopefully, will inspire more people to grow food just outside the doors of their own kitchen.

The Roosevelt victory garden was more symbolic than practical and was a small fraction of the current White House plot. In contrast, today's garden has already supplied hundreds of pounds of fresh produce incorporated into the range of White House meals from Obama family meals to state dinners.

Watch the video below in which First Lady Michelle Obama and White House Chef Sam Kass discuss the story of the garden.

Since the Spring 2009 planting of the Obama garden, it has not been widely reported why the garden got planted in the first place. The major impetus was due to the efforts of Roger Doiron, founder of Kitchen Gardeners International and his Eat the View Campaign. Launched in February 2008, "Eat the View" proposed that the Obamas replant a White House victory garden. Over 100,000 people signed the petition and asked the Obamas to plant an organic garden on the 18 acres of the White House lawn.

"Eat the View" continues its campaign to plant high-impact food gardens in other high-profile locations. For his efforts, Doiron won one of The Daily Green's 2009 "Heart of Green Awards".

To learn more about the history of the new White House garden, watch the video below where Roger Doiron is interviewed in July 2008 at his "white house" in Scarborough, Maine by New England Cable News.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss

NYC Leads Way in Developing Local Food Production and Distribution

2009-08-31T16:52:00.001-07:00

by Paul McGinniss

“If we can have a fast food restaurant on almost every corner, then we can certainly have a garden."
NYC Council member, Bill de Blasio

The average New Yorker and visitor to New York City might not realize it, but NYC already has 87 farmers markets and 82 Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) programs throughout the five boroughs. For a city of many millions of people, this might seem a drop in the farm bucket and not really that much urban agriculture. But, watch out all you doubting locavores, because with the citywide initiative called the NYC Foodprint Alliance, the Big Apple is poised to become a leader in developing urban agriculture, local food production and distribution.

The NYC Foodprint Alliance is a multi-organizational effort that includes the
New York City Community Gardens Coalition, New York Coalition for Healthy School Food, Sierra Club New York City, and Slow Food USA. The NYC Foodprint idea builds upon Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg's 2006 Plan NYC which aims to reduce NYC's carbon footprint and create a more sustainable New York, but did not specifically address urban agriculture and local food production.

In June 2009, the NYC Foodprint Alliance helped introduce a resolution to the New York City Council called "Foodprint NYC" which calls for the immediate implementation of the recommendations in the report “Food in the Public Interest" by Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer. These initiatives address our city's "foodprint"—our food system's carbon footprint and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change. In addition to addressing NYC’s food carbon footprint, the Foodprint Alliance and its resolution will foster greater access to local, fresh, healthy food, especially in low-income communities as well as city-run institutions.

The Foodprint NYC resolution, as of August 2009, had the support of Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer and 23 of the 50 NYC Council Members.

Do We Really Have to Worry About Our Food Carbon Footprint i.e. Foodprint?

It may seem somewhat of an eco overkill to worry about one's food carbon footprint i.e. "foodprint", but not when you know the facts. According to the "Agricultural Role on Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Report", conducted by the Pew Center on Climate Control, it is estimated that, globally, one-third of all green house gas (GHG) emissions comes from agriculture and land use changes. And, approximately 12% of the total GHG emissions per U.S. household result from growing, packing, preparing and shipping food nationwide.

New York Reaches Out to Rest of America

Foodprint NYC has reached out across America and started Foodprint USA which aims to be a resource network to create local urban food systems which simultaneously cut down on a city's carbon footprint and provide healthy, affordable locally grown produce. The goal of Foodprint USA is: "to reduce our climate "foodprints" ~ our food system's contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and global climate change through the production, processing, packaging, shipping, storage and disposal of food."

Foodprint USA already includes the cities of Chicago and Birmingham. Anyone wanting to add a city or learn more should contact Nadia Johnson at Just Food in NYC. Just Food was one of the founding members of the NYC Foodprint Alliance.

For a small taste of what's to come in NYC's great buffet of urban agriculture, check out the video below by Mike Lieberman at The Urban Organic Gardener in Brooklyn, NYC.

Copyright 2009 Paul McGinniss