Clean Energy Needs Your Help

The Renewable Energy Push in Congress needs your Help

It seems that many of our chosen Leaders are recieving various incentives to slow the Growth of Renewable Energy Electric Producing Systems. Otherwise they would be acting in our best Interest to: Slow Climate Change, Create Jobs, and Protect the USA- by enacting meaningful legislation for our Clean Energy Future. Do your part in Letting your Local Leaders know how you feel and that you are not in Big Oils Pocket! TellMyPolitician I just posted 2 Articles that show how much Big Oil and Gas have donated to Political Campaigns-I was astounded at the Numbers. Millions of Dollars-http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2010/07/oil-and-gas-political-contributions.html It has become even more important to contact your Legislative Department. Our only chance against Big Oil and Gas is to Let Your Voice Be Heard!!! Tell your Local Leaders to Support Clean Energy.

Dear Scotty, Scotts Contracting St Louis Renewable Energy, I just want to yell at somebody. We're in the middle of the one of the worst environmental crises in the history of our country. And a minority of Senators in the pocket of fossil fuel interests are blocking any action in the immediate future on a bill that limits carbon pollution and helps solve the climate crisis. Instead, it looks likely that the Senate will vote on a narrow oil spill response bill that only includes minor energy provisions -- and completely fails to address the underlying causes of the climate crisis and fossil fuel catastrophes like the oil spill. Make sure your Senators know that band-aid measures are unacceptable -- and that you're disappointed and not going away. Join Repower America and pledge to call your Senators this Tuesday when they're back in Washington. Tell them that you and millions of Repower America supporters won't give up until our country takes leadership on climate change and clean energy. Click here to pledge that you'll call the Senate on Tuesday, July 27. Once you sign up, we'll email you on Tuesday and give you everything you need to make the call. This disappointing announcement from the Senate follows what could only be described as a shock and awe campaign by corporate polluters. The oil and gas industry spent $213 million lobbying in this Congress alone.* Apparently, that's what it costs to block action on this crucial issue. But stopping debate doesn't just benefit big oil and dirty coal. It also robs Americans of the opportunity to reap the benefits of clean energy, including: Creating millions of new American jobs Ending our addiction to oil and dirty fossil fuels Addressing the threat of climate change Strengthening our national security We need to change this storyline. This is not the future I want to leave my kids and future generations. Like every parent, I want to provide them a world with better opportunities -- and a healthy, prosperous planet is non-negotiable. Remind our leaders of our priorities, our values and our resolve. Join me today in pledging to call your Senators. Sign up and make the pledge here. Then stay tuned for our Tuesday email with calling instructions. Thanks, Dave Boundy Campaign Manager The Climate Protection Action Fund's Repower America campaign _______ * Center for Responsive Politics, "Oil & Gas Influence & Lobbying," last accessed July, 22 2010. http://www.opensecrets.org/industries/indus.php?ind=e01 Contributions or gifts to the Climate Protection Action Fund are not tax deductible.

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-- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

10 Million Solar Rooftop Information

Here Comes the Sun: Ten Million Solar Rooftops

by Greg Chafee

Published: July 21, 2010

During the Constitutional Convention in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was waiting to sign a document that would hold the fate and destiny of the United States of America. As he stood, his eyes fell on a carving on the back of George Washington's chair, a carving of half a sun. He stared thoughtfully, questioning whether it was a rising sun that would continue to shine brightly over the nation or a setting sun that would bring darkness.

 Our Founding Father could not have imagined the symbolic power that that image now holds as our nation looks to the sun as a source of clean renewable energy to brighten our future. Today 92% of Americans want our country to develop solar energy resources, and 77% believe the federal government should make solar power development a national priority.

Despite the recession, new U.S. solar installations are rising, as are new jobs and new economic growth. Data from the Solar Energy Industries Association show that total U.S. solar electric capacity from photovoltaic and concentrating solar power technologies climbed past 2,000 megawatts (MW) in 2009. Solar industry revenues also surged despite the economy, climbing 36%. Another sign of optimism is that venture capitalists invested more in solar than any other clean technology in 2009 – over $1.4 billion. For an industry with a total U.S. volume of $4 billion, that signals huge optimism about near-term growth.

The solar industry accounts for about 46,000 jobs in the U.S., and is expected to rise to 60,000 by the end of 2010. North Carolina, a state that has embraced renewable energy development, projects that as many as 28,000 new jobs and a 10 million ton reduction in greenhouse gas emissions will be achieved by 2030 if the state can draw 14% of its electricity from solar sources.

These figures are impressive, but the development of solar energy in the U.S. remains heavily aligned with federal and state incentive programs and policy. Between 2002 and 2008 over $70 billion of federal tax dollars went towards fossil fuels and just $1.2 billion towards solar power. New nuclear plants get more than triple the government subsidy that new solar plants get.

Still, there are some bright signs. The federal ARRA stimulus legislation has deployed more than 46 MW of solar power with the help of Section 1603 Treasury grants in lieu of investment tax credits. Solar equipment manufacturers have been awarded $600 million in manufacturing tax credits under ARRA, representing investments in new and upgraded facilities of more than $2 billion.

Property assessed clean energy financing, or PACE, legislation has been enacted in a growing number of states. PACE provisions will allow homeowners and businesses to finance solar energy systems through municipal or government-backed bonds via an assessment on their property taxes. This ensures the availability of credit, reduces up-front costs and facilitates transfer of the solar system to new property owners.  [For a Recent article on PACE, click here.]

There is some innovative legislation in Congress too. Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) recently introduced a bill aimed at getting 10 million new solar rooftop systems and 200,000 new solar hot water heating systems installed in the U.S. in the next 10 years.  The cleverly titled "10 Million Solar Roofs & 10 Million Gallons of Solar Hot Water Act" will provide rebates that cover up to half the cost of new solar systems, along the lines of incentive programs in California and New Jersey, the #1 and #2 states for installed solar in the country.

The bill also includes measures to insure that those who receive assistance get information on how to make their buildings more energy efficient. The passage of this bill would dramatically re-orient our energy priorities. When fully implemented, this legislation would lead to 30,000 MW of new PV, tripling our total current U.S. solar energy capacity. It would increase by almost 20 times our current energy output from PV panels. The legislation would rapidly increase production of solar panels, driving down the price of PV systems and it would mean the creation of over a million new jobs. 

Here's how the Ten Million Solar Roofs Act works: take the example of a homeowner who decides to install a 5-kilowatt solar system which, depending on location, would produce enough electricity to cover most, if not all, of an average electric bill (the solar panels would produce excess power during the day that can be sold back to the utility, covering some or all of the cost of electricity when the sun is not shining). That system today costs roughly $35,000 to purchase and install. The federal tax credit of 30% reduces the system cost to $24,500. Most states offer additional tax incentives.  For example, if a homeowner could get an additional rebate of $1.75 per watt, the system cost is now reduced to $15,750.  

The Ten Million Solar Roofs Act would provide an additional rebate of as much as $1.75 per watt, covering up to 50% of the remaining cost. The result: the consumer now pays $7,875 for the solar system. That's pretty attractive for a family that plans to stay in its home or wants to increase its home value or a small business looking to stabilize its energy costs.  Plus, our nation would benefit by reducing expensive construction of new power plants and lowering health care and other costs associated with air and water pollution from fossil fuels.

When Ben Franklin stared at the half sun on the back of George Washington's chair, he proclaimed "I have the happiness to know that it is indeed a rising, not a setting, sun."  The power of the sun is here to harness. If we do so wisely, our nation will have the energy capacity to continue to rise as well, just as our Founding Father intended.

Greg Chafee is Chair of the Green Industry Practice at law firm Morris, Manning & Martin, LLP in Atlanta.

I will be posting additional information on this as it becomes available.

Build Green, Scotty

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Renewable Energy Report-Global Renewables

Global Renewable Capacity Continues to Grow in 2009, Fueled by Policy and Ongoing Investment

Paris, 15 July 2010: REN21 is pleased to release its annual publication – the Renewables 2010 Global Status Report together with its twin report, UNEP's annual (Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2010) report.

The year 2009 was unprecedented in the history of renewable energy, despite the headwinds posed by the global financial crisis, lower oil prices, and slow progress with climate policy. Indeed, as other economic sectors declined around the world, existing renewable capacity continued to grow at rates close to those in previous years, including grid-connected solar PV (53 %), wind power (32 %), solar hot water/heating (21 %), geothermal power (4 %), and hydropower (3 %). Annual production of ethanol and biodiesel increased 10 % and 9 %, respectively, despite layoffs and ethanol plant closures in the United States and Brazil.



Highlights of 2009 include:

• For the second year in a row, in both the United States and Europe, more renewable power capacity was added than conventional power capacity (coal, gas, nuclear). Renewables accounted for 60 % of newly installed power capacity in Europe in 2009, and nearly 20 % of annual power production.


• China added 37 GW of renewable power capacity, more than any other country in the world, to reach 226 GW of total renewables capacity. Globally, nearly 80 GW of renewable capacity was added, including 31 GW of hydro and 48 GW of non-hydro capacity.


• Wind power additions reached a record high of 38 GW. China was the top market, with 13.8 GW added, representing more than one-third of the world market — up from just a 2 % market share in 2004. The United States was second, with 10 GW added. The share of wind power generation in several countries reached record highs, including 6.5 % in Germany and 14 % in Spain.


• Solar PV additions reached a record high of 7 GW. Germany was the top market, with 3.8 GW added, or more than half the global market. Other large markets were Italy, Japan, the United States, Czech Republic, and Belgium. Spain, the world leader in 2008, saw installations plunge to a low level in 2009 after a policy cap was exceeded.


• Many countries saw record biomass use. Notable was Sweden, where biomass accounted for a larger share of energy supply than oil for the first time.


• Biofuels production contributed the energy equivalent of 5 % of world gasoline output.


• Almost all renewable energy industries experienced manufacturing growth in 2009, despite the continuing global economic crisis, although many capital expansion plans were scaled back or postponed. Impaired access to equity markets, difficulty in obtaining finance, and industry consolidations negatively affected almost all companies.


• Nearly 11 GW of solar PV was produced, a 50 % increase over 2008. First Solar (USA) became the first firm ever to produce over 1 GW in a single year. Major crystalline module price declines took place, by 50–60 % by some estimates, from highs of $3.50 per watt in 2008 to lows approaching $2 per watt.


• Wind power received more than 60 % of utility-scale renewables investment in 2009 (excluding small projects), due mostly to rapid expansion in China.


• Investment totals in utility-scale solar PV declined relative to 2008, partly an artifact of large drops in the costs of solar PV. However, this decline was offset by record investment in small-scale (rooftop) solar PV projects.


• Investment in new biofuels plants declined from 2008 rates, as corn ethanol production capacity was not fully utilized in the United States and several firms went bankrupt. The Brazilian sugar ethanol industry likewise faced economic troubles, with no growth despite ongoing expansion plans. Europe faced similar softening in biodiesel, with low production capacity utilization.


• "Green stimulus" efforts since late-2008 by many of the world's major economies totaled close to $200 billion, although most stimulus was slow to start and less than 10 % of green stimulus funds was spent during 2009.


• By 2009, over 85 countries had some type of policy target, up from 45 countries in 2005. Many national targets are for shares of electricity production, typically 5–30 percent, but range as high as 90 percent. Other targets are for shares of total primary or final energy supply (typically 10–20 percent), specific installed capacities of various technologies, or total amounts of energy production from renewables. Most recent targets aim for 2020 and beyond. Many targets also exist at the state, provincial, and local levels.


• At least 83 countries have some type of policy to promote renewable power generation. The most common policy is the feed-in tariff, which has been enacted in many new countries and regions in recent years. By early 2010, at least 50 countries and 25 states/provinces had feed-in tariffs, more than half of these adopted only since 2005. Strong momentum for feed-in tariffs continues around the world as countries continue to establish or revise policies. States and provinces have been adopting feed-in tariffs in increasing numbers as well.


• Renewable energy has an important role in providing modern energy access to the billions of people in developing countries that continue to depend on more traditional sources of energy, both for households and small industries. The number of rural households served by renewable energy is difficult to estimate, but runs into the tens of millions considering all forms of renewables. Micro-hydro configured into village-scale or county-scale mini-grids serves many of these. More than 30 million households get lighting and cooking from biogas made in household-scale digesters. An estimated 3 million households get power from small solar PV systems. Biomass cookstoves are used by 40 percent of the world's population.

 

Download:

• Renewables Global Status Report 2010(pdf, 2.32 MB)
• Executive Summary of the Report(pdf, 507 KB)
• Press Release (English), including report highlights (pdf, 645 KB)
• Press Release (French), including report highlights (pdf, 430 KB)
• Renewables Global Status Report MEDIA KIT (pdf, 824 KB)

Organic Gardening-Small Scale-Window Gardens

Helpful Tips for Organic Gardening and Window Sill Gardens

Organic gardening is a great way to enjoy fresh, healthful produce, as well as get outdoors and learn a little something about nature. But not everyone has the benefit of plantable land, or even access to community gardens. Luckily, there's an easy, time-tested way to bring a cheery splash of color or handful of fresh veggies right to your doorstep: container gardening.

Many different types of plants can do well in containers, though there are some points to keep in mind. It's usually more stressful for plants to be in containers versus in the ground, and they tend to dry out much quicker, so you'll have to water them often. Potted plants are also more susceptible to temperature changes, either too hot or too cold.

It's also tempting to crowd plants closer together in containers, particularly for that full look, although that can stress them out. It's also important to fertilize potted plants regularly, since they have less opportunity to receive nutrients from the Earth. Either use a time-release fertilizer such as Osmocote or add a quarter-strength dose of soluable fertilizer every third or fourth time you water.

Remember that the smaller and more tightly packed the container, the more water it will need. The old gardener's rule of "1 inch of rain or watering per week" must often be exceeded. However, there are also plants that are less water intensive, such as morning glories, nasturtiums, poppies, calliopsis and haageana zinnias.

In order to retain moisture and provide more nutrients and a stable environment, it's almost always best to choose as large a pot as possible. The material of the pot itself isn't terribly important, though each type has its advantages in terms of cost, weight, durability and beauty. Pay attention to your potting mix: it should be light and fluffy, like Pro-Mix from a nursery. It should be replaced if it shrinks down or if a thorough watering takes too long to percolate, or if water runs right through, a sign that the soil's packed tight and can't absorb anything. Soil used in containers doesn't last forever, and will need to be changed or at least heavily fortified with organic matter and fertilizers after a season.

Remember too that plants often have different requirements for moisture and fertilizer. So it's a good idea to choose compatible plants, just as anyone who has ever kept an aquarium knows to select fish that get along. It's also possible to nest smaller containers within a larger one, so each plant can get more targeted doses of resources.

It's worth mentioning that many tropical houseplants can be placed outside during the warm months, where they add beauty and charm to outdoor spaces.

According to 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers, most garden or hardware shops can help you get set up with a window box (measure the width and length of your sill before you browse). It's also a good idea to check with materials refurbishers, such as Habitat for Humanity's ReStores. Window boxes come in a number of different materials — wood, plastic (including recycled), terra cotta, fiberglass, etc. — although Land suggests steering clear of metal, which rusts and can damage fragile plants by retaining too much heat. Whatever you use, make sure the box is secured to the sill with bolts or wire.

Then cover the bottom with a layer of landscape fabric to hold the soil in place, while allowing excess water to drain. Fill the box about three-quarters full with soil, then stir in several trowels of perlite and organic matter, such as leaf mold, properly aged manure or compost. For the most attractive look, plant a mix of bushy, tall and draping plants.

Jeffrey Davis of the Fun Times Guide to Living Green has a great post on building a container garden out of used shipping pallets. Such pallets are widely available, and assembly is a quick task, thanks to Jeffrey's instructions. If you don't have pallets you might try other scrap wood you have lying around or can salvage.

As the pallet example shows, one needn't necessarily invest in a traditional clay pot or window box to grow things. In fact, many seasoned container gardeners prefer to mix in the occasional odd object: the more unusual, the better! This could be an old boot, a busted watering can, a used tire, a piece of worn furniture, a broken microwave...whatever you have lying around.

Just be sure to fill your unique object with good soil, and make sure excess water can drain through, particularly if your plant will get rained on.

There are many recipes for good potting soil, including tweaks for specific plants and regions. Here's an all-purpose container soil from Leslie Land's 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers:

1 part perlite
1 part moisture-retentive filler such as shredded coconut fiber or peat moss
1 part all-purpose potting soil
1 part compost or composted cow manure

Don't forget to fertilize and water as your plant grows!

Try some of these beauties:

Sun-lovers: marigolds, petunias (pictured), geraniums, African daisy, California poppy, verbena, globe amaranth, strawflower, love-in-a-mist, calendula, gazania, nasturtiums, licorice plant, dwarf dahlias, heliotrope, lantana, miniature roses, zinnia, artemisias, lavender, coreopsis

Partial Shade: ageratum, begonia, ferns, fringed bleeding heart, lady's mantle, wishbone flower, English ivy, coleus, Boston fern

Shade Tolerant: fuchsais, begonias, Jacob's ladder, coral bells, dead nettle, small hostas, wishbone flower, impatiens, browallia, vinca, English ivy

Grow your own food, right on your patio or balcony! Yields are often not as good as from true garden plots, but you gain flexibility. Shallow-rooted veggies like radishes and lettuce can be grown in window boxes. Tomatoes need big tubs, at least 16 inches high, wide and deep. In general, veggies need rich soil that drains well.

These veggies also do particularly well in containers: Swiss chard (multicolored varieties are especially pretty!), "patio" cherry tomatoes, fennel, dill and many other herbs, including rosemary, thyme, parsley, cilantro, oregano, mint, basil (pictured), bay and much more.

If you have a windswept area you'll have to take extra care with container plants: you don't want your carefully tended veggies to end up as projectiles! So make sure your plants are well anchored (large pots often do the trick, especially if they're made of heavy terra cotta). Wind is drying, so keep an extra eye on soil moisture, including through the winter if you leave your plants out.

There are some evergreens, in every size from tree to groundcover, that tend to do particularly well in high winds, and they have the added bonus of keeping their color all year long. Try rockspray cotoneaster, Japanese holly, wintercreeper, yews (pictured), wild ginger or wintergreen.

Here's another tip: tall plants in pots (or vines trained up trellises) make great screens, hiding trash cans or dividing up outdoor space into "rooms." It's not hard to make a trellis out of reclaimed materials. It's also a good idea to place smaller pots at the base of larger ones, and to have a mix of different heights and sizes, to add variety and interest.

If you live in a dry area, or won't be available to keep a close eye on your plantings, consider going with drought-tolerant plants, both for patio containers and for larger-scale rooftop gardens. Here are some examples:

Herbaceous perennials: artemisia, spurge, coreopsis, sedum, moss mullein, yarrow (pictured) and yucca

Woody plants: barberry, beach plum, cotoneaster, shrub honey locust, tamarisk, rugosa rose, juniper and yew

Get an enchanted feel, or just take advantage of limited space, with espaliers, which are woody plants trained to grow flat against a trellis or wall (often in a fan shape). The technique is believed to date from ancient Egypt, and has long been popular in Europe, particularly in formal and royal gardens.

It isn't difficult to train an espalier, though the process usually takes a few years. Any slow-growing shrub or herb can work, as long as the container is large enough. Many nurseries also sell plants in the form. Look for cotoneaster, crab apple, forsythia, holly, juniper, quince and yew as especially fine espaliers.

If you've got a lot of space, manage a large building or are feeling particularly ambitious about containers on your roof or patio, you might consider going for an elegant, peaceful look with weeping plants. Avoid weeping willows, however, which are rapid growers. Better choices include weeping varieties of the blue Atlas cedar, Nootka false cypress, willowleaf pear or crab apples or cherries. You can also try bonsai weeping trees, such as this Scots pine.

Be warned, however, that you'll have to "go Jaws" and get a "bigger container," at least 18 inches in each dimension, with bigger being better. You'll also have to prune the trees yearly to keep them from growing too large.

Pots are particularly sensitive to freezing and thawing cycles, which can make plastic brittle and crack clay and even cement eventually. You can store potted perennials in an unheated garage or shed if temperatures stay between 32 and 40 degrees F. Check the soil often and make sure it stays moist (not wet, which can promote rot and suffocate roots).

Huge "estate-size" pots can usually be left out, however, because their mass serves as insulation. If you're working with annuals, empty out small and medium-sized pots and bring them inside when the growing season is done.

To learn more check out 1000 Gardening Questions & Answers by Leslie Land, or visit Leslie's Website (leslieland.com).

A number of urban designers are taking container gardening to the next step, with the idea of creating sustainable vertical gardens, or even farms, to revitalize neighborhoods and bring the food to the people. Besides decreasing food miles, urban gardens can sequester carbon dioxide and pollutants and provide natural cooling, as well as relaxing places to hang out in.

The best way to solve the climate crisis?

Our latest movement dispatch is a global round-up by Latin America organizer, Kelly Blynn...

Dear friends,

A friend recently asked me: "What's the single best way to solve the climate crisis?"

The question made me stop and think. I've been getting so many amazing updates about the climate solutions people are working on for the 10/10/10 Global Work Party, it's nearly impossible to pick just one.

The truth is, there is no silver bullet to stopping the climate crisis, no single technological solution that can fix everything at once.  We don't just need solar power, or wind power, or efficiency. We need all of these things and more.  What we need, in a word, is diversity.

I feel the same way about building the climate movement. We can't rely on just one campaign, one event, one organization, one country, or one strategy-to build a powerful climate movement we need a bit of everything.

This is why we have such a diverse campaign plan-and such a broad alliance--at 350.org. For those of you wondering what we've been up to and how all the pieces fit together, here's a quick round-up of the latest news from our various campaigns:

10/10/10-and Grants to Support Local Climate Action!
You probably already know all about our plans for 10/10/10, "The Global Work Party."  (If not, check out the invitation here)  It's less than 3 months away, and people's plans are really starting to take shape:  teams insulating schools in London,  a bike-caravan of lighting retrofitters in Mombasa, and hundreds and hundreds more.  With events in 116 countries and counting, it will be massive. 

One new development here: we now have a small pool of MONEY to support your local climate solutions projects for 10/10/10.  Submit your 10/10/10 plan by August 7th, get enough people to vote on it, and you could receive a grant of $1,000 USD to make it happen.  Check out www.350.org/funds to learn more
 
The Great Power Race: NEW VIDEO
Next up is the The Great Power Race, a clean energy competition between students in India, China, and the United States.  Starting this September, students will get to work making their campuses models of sustainability and spur our nations to create whole new industries-and win great prizes while doing so. The race doesn't officially start for more than a month, but the registration drive is underway. India already has over 200 campuses signed up.  Can China and the USA keep up?  As the young founders of the Great Power Race are saying:

"Our parents raced for the Moon. Our generation will race for the Earth."

We also have brand new video to get people fired up about the Great Power Race--check it out: www.greatpowerrace.org/video

Put Solar On It!
Just two weeks ago we launched the "Put Solar On It" campaign, and it's making big waves from Washington DC to Delhi.  We're calling for world leaders to go solar on 10/10/10-and to couple this symbolic effort with a real commitment to pass policies that can unleash the clean energy economy we need.  We've partnered with Sungevity, a solar provider who has agreed to donate the panels to any world leader who will go solar on 10/10/10. President Nasheed from the Maldives has already committed to going solar on that day-will other leaders follow suit?  Only if we build our numbers, so get all your friends to sign on today: www.PutSolarOn.It

US Campaigning
It's nearly impossible to make global progress on climate change without getting the US to act, which is why we've been working hard to kickstart climate action in Washington DC and beyond.  We've turned up the heat on Senators to make sure they didn't settle for a weak and watered-down climate and energy bill and we helped organize hundreds of rallies against offshore drilling. 

***THIS JUST IN***
Senate democrats have decided that definitely there will not be a climate portion of a bill in the coming weeks. This is bad news--and further evidence that we have to keep working on the ground to shift the political climate as fast as humanly possible.

---

There's lots more brewing at 350.org, but that gives you a good overview. If you've read this far, thank you.

Looking over the list of campaigns above, it becomes clear: there actually is one silver bullet to solving the climate crisis, and it's not solar power.  It's people power. 

We can't do this without you. Let's keep building this movement.

Onwards,

Kelly and the 350.org team

 

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Green Contest: Win a New Computer

Green Contest: Win a New Computer. Tell Us Your Green Story.

Green IS more than just hype or the latest marketing ploy... it's a way of life - and a way to save money - by being more efficient and doing your part to be a good steward of our environment.

Big companies make headlines with their big environmental initiatives, but we know that small business are making an impact every day with their individual choices - saving energy and ultimately saving the earth. We want to know more about what you're doing and have put together a little contest fun...

We want you to tell us one of two things:

1. What has your business done to "go green" and why should you win a new green computer from HP?
2. If you are not a "green" company (yet) tell us why this new green computer from HP will help you begin.

Tell us in 300 words or less OR 2 minutes or less, and you could win an Ultra Slim desktop PC with 22" wide screen display from HP.

How to enter:

Enter through Friday, July 31, 2009

Tell us what your company has done to go green, or how this HP computer would help you get started,

OR

Create a video telling us the same thing (2 minutes or shorter, please) and post it to YouTube

Use this form to enter the GREEN contest!

We'll be posting the best entries here along with links to the videos, so enter early! The winner will be announced on Monday, August 3rd.

About the prize:

HP Compaq dc7900 Desktop PC with HP L2245wg 22" EPEAT Gold display

The HP Compaq dc7900 Business Desktop PC is designed for businesses that require best-in-class lifecycle management, solutions that help keep you up and running more securely, as well as specialized designs to fit your individual needs. Plus, you can rely on the engineering experience built in so you can make the right choice and spend more time concentrating on your business success.

KEEP THE ENTRIES COMING!

We're getting some great contest entries and it's not too late to enter. Here's a sampling from some of our early submissions:

"MSS recently performed their annual benefit renewal using a variety of the iLinc conferencing tools, video and replay capabilities. This allowed field consultants and employees to participate in the renewal process based on their individual schedules versus attending onsite meetings. The use of iLinc allowed the employees to sit with their spouse and review the benefits package presentation versus going home and communicating from notes and information presented at a corporate meeting."
- MSS Technologies, Inc.

"Back in the Philippines where I grew up, it wasn't necessarily for ecological reasons. It was because of the scarce resources. Even waste and garbage piles are picked on by poor families in the hopes of being able to salvage something to use or resell. I am really glad that here in the US, it is now not only acceptable but also praised if one is not being wasteful . . . In our company, we practice the "reduce, re-use, recycle" mantra. Some of the things we do to go green:
1. Minimize paper files and paper copies. Instead of paper, we use soft copies as much as possible or do transactions online or via phone. (Invoices, bills, receipts, payments).
2. We re-use paper internally if the back side is blank and re-usable.
3. We encourage biking and walking for our employees.
4. During department meetings, we minimize the use of disposable items and pre-packaged or small-packaged goods.
5. We let our computers "sleep" when not in use...
- Auxillium West

"For all 10 employees we offer a transit subsidy equal to 100% of their monthly commute (tax-free commuter benefit), employees are encourage to take transit to meetings, etc whenever possible, office paper is 100% recycled paper (and we print 2-sided, or reuse for scrap paer when needed), drinking cups are biodegradable and corn-based, marketing material is all recycled - paper and plastic, we use green cleaning supplies whenever possible, take advantage of power saving options on all technology."
- CommuterLink

"So many traditional metalsmithing practices use very toxic chemicals. But DeAnna Cochran takes her mission one step further in regards to making a difference. Designs are also green. They are made from reclaimed metals and materials and packaged in eco-friendly materials. It doesn't stop there. The Artist now utilizes "green" back office practices such as only printing on recycled paper (when they do print), recycling 90% of back office waste, and eco-friendly non-toxic jewelry production processes. The artist is constantly searching for ways to make her business green in everything from eliminating her commute (she runs a studio that is an extension of her personal residence) to ensuring that everything in her studio is as eco-friendly as possible. She even recently eliminated particular designs that were using a gold plating process that has a tendency to release toxic chemicals. How did she communicate to her retailers? She let them know that the process was not safe for her, her family, or the environment. "
- DeAnna Cochran Jewelry

"...and I keep records, such as purchases and receipts from sales. Keeping records of everything accumulates much paperwork, and this computer will help us eliminate paperwork and transfer the existing paperwork onto the computer, thus, saving paper. This will not only help with efficiency, but help us do our part of helping the environment and being an environmentally-conscious business."
- DNS Electronics

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Enter the 'Go Green!' Contest

How to Enter the Instructables, Popular Science, and TreeHugger "Go Green!'' Contest

by Contest Robot

intro-How to Enter the Instructables, Popular Science, and TreeHugger "Go Green!'' Contest

Popular Science and TreeHugger are teaming up with Instructables to offer some great prizes and help you Go Green!

RESULTS HAVE BEEN POSTED HERE!

We all want to do our part to improve the environment- as everyone knows, green is the new black. Sure, sustainability is hip, trendy, and socially conscious, but what steps are you taking right now to save the planet?

We want to know how you're reducing your environmental footprint, and hopefully saving some cash in the process! Are you modding your gear, simplifying your life, or building something awesome? Tell us what you're doing to go green, and teach us how- share what you know!

Inspiration
You can reuse vintage floppies, make your own cloth grocery bags, build some recycled modular shelving, a sun jar, a solar heater, or a wind generator. Move onto solar energy, worm compost, or even ditch your car for an electric bike!
Need more ideas? Check out TreeHugger's great list of simple ways to Go Green, and the green coverage on PopSci.

So, reduce, reuse, repurpose, recycle, and rebuild, then show us what you are doing to make your life a little bit greener!

Grand Prize
The grand prize winner will receive a Breezer Liberty hybrid commuter bicycle with pedal-powered lights, a brief write-up in a future issue of Popular Science, and a 1-year subscription to Popular Science magazine.

First Prize
5 first prize winners will each receive a Solio Universal Hybrid Solar Charger (TreeHugger review here), an Instructables robot t-shirt, and a 1-year subscription to Popular Science magazine.

Second Prize
10 second prize winners will each receive an Instructables robot t-shirt and a 1-year subscription to Popular Science Magazine.

Rules:
1. Publish your Instructable and add it to the Go Green! group from July 16th till August 19th, 2007. Only projects published within these dates are eligible.

2. Document your project thoroughly! Use great text, photos, and videos as necessary to make sure other people could replicate your Instructable.

3. We want to see a nice explanation of what you did, why you did it, and how it makes your life more eco-friendly and sustainable.

Judging
All contest entries will be judged for merit. Judges will evaluate each Instructable for the following:

• environmental impact
• completeness (photos and text for all important steps, video as necessary)
• clear, concise text description including a properly summarized introduction
• clear photographs (2+ megapixel preferred), use macro mode for close up shots
• use of photo-notes where appropriate
• list of parts and tools required (if appropriate)
• safety notes (if appropriate)
• usefulness
• creativity
• cost
• technical merit

Judges from PopSci, TreeHugger, Instructables, and past contest winners will evaluate the entries by the above criteria, then vote for winners using range voting, the same system used in Olympic scoring. We'll announce the winners by Friday, 24 August 2007.

Helpful Links:
How to create a great Instructable
How to add an Instructable to a group
How to embed video into Instructables
Explore popular Instructables
Take a tour of Instructables

Additional Information
You must be 18 or older to enter. If you are under 18, you can still enter, but to win you will need to verify that you had the permission of a parent or guardian (we will have a permission slip for you). Your parent could also join you as a collaborator on your Instructable.

International entries are great! Prizes and PopSci subscriptions can be mailed world-wide.

You may enter as many different Instructables as you like, however they will be judged on individual merit and you may only win one prize per contest. An Instructable may be entered in multiple contests if it meets the relevant criteria.

Winner is responsible for any potential taxes.

--
Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com