Missing Michael Jackson — The Long View
Posted by Sonja Ebron
These summer electric bills remind me that I need new windows in my home. I still have a few incandescent bulbs to replace, but I’m waiting for them to die. There’s so much going on with energy these days, from the new climate bill to the “pullback” of U.S. soldiers in Iraq, that I’ve been overwhelmed every time I wanted to write.
But losing Michael Jackson has forced me to the keyboard. I’m old enough to remember him as a pre-teen marvel, before he became a cultural icon. Reflecting on his four-decade expression of musical genius, I wonder what we’ll remember in 40 years about the lifestyles we enjoy today. We’ve gone from telephone answering machines to the iPhone, from radio antennas to HDTV, from the Ford Mustang to the Toyota Prius. Michael has left us at the Great U-Turn, trying to be the Jetsons but decked out like the Flintstones.
We’re at the most startling turning point in human history, supporting 7 billion people on resources fit for 2 billion. In 40 years, we will all wonder how we let ANYone drive a Hummer or burn coal to make electricity. The concept of the “job” and the “grocery store” will be gone, and we will know our neighbors well.
But Michael’s is the spirit we’ll need going forward. His exuberant commitment to sharing his God-given talent, even in the face of slander and fear of his grown-man innocence, may give us the courage to share ours in the decades to come. We will need this spirit, cause my new windows and light bulbs ain’t gonna cut it.
Social Networks for Green People
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Social networks are popping up everywhere, Facebook-like platforms that let users upload pictures and profile information and connect with other users on a regular basis. There are social networks for everyone from knitters to hikers. Now a few green networks are helping people learn to live more sustainably together. Take a peek at these:
- 2People is focused on democratic action to find and promote solutions to climate change.
- Carbonrally lets you join or form a team and compete to save energy.
- Celsias lets you join projects and actions around the world and keep up with what others are doing on those projects.
- CoolTribe is a great site for connecting with environmentalists of all stripes doing work all over the world.
- GreenWala is the place to find and share great low-tech ways to replace bad habits and lower energy consumption.
- MakeMeSustainable is a joint carbon calculator that lets you suggest energy-saving actions to members of your group and get good suggestions in return.
- WiserEarth is for businesses, nonprofits and regular people who want to combine their efforts on many global projects.
There are tons more, but it’s great to see people connecting on ways to treat the earth better.
Your Life On Energy With WattzOn
Posted by Sonja Ebron
We all want to treat the planet better, but not knowing what to do is a huge barrier. What kind of damage does our lifestyle cause, and where do we start? If this is you, check out this WattzOn primer on the energy impact of common activities:
There are lots of carbon calculators out there, but what makes WattzOn different is crowd-sourcing, letting everyday people contribute to improving a product. WattzOn asks users to measure the energy used in their daily activities so other users can better predict their carbon footprints. It measures the impact of lots of things, like the kind of food you eat, the size of your house, even the taxes you pay.
BusinessWeek called WattzOn the best idea of 2008, and it’s hard to argue. Take the survey and learn how to start powering down your energy-hungry lifestyle. And see if you can beat my results!
Eco-Friendly at Lower Cost
Posted by Sonja Ebron
Conventional wisdom says environmental improvements cost money, that we can’t do anything about climate change without sending prices skyward. The most exciting thing I ever heard from Al Gore was that protecting the environment would provide economic benefits as well, but I was never clear on how that would work. Industry has begun to understand that our response to climate change will force them to think in new ways. There’s good news that may help manufacturers move faster.
Must See: The Story of Stuff
Posted by Sonja Ebron
I’ve always felt that power and natural gas utilities provide more than kilowatts and therms. They provide light, heat, hot water and data transmission (electronics). Likewise, energy is larger than utilities and gasoline. It’s the basis of our whole consumption society, driving everything from fast food to home construction. If you really want to understand how your use of everyday “stuff” affects the energy and environmental chain, take a peek at The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard. It’s 20 minutes long, the most entertaining and informative discussion of these issues I’ve seen, and well worth the time!