Academy Awards -- Red Carpet, Green Movies, eco friendly dresses?

On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 10:37 AM, SustainLane <community@sustainlane.com> wrote:

Red Carpet, Green Movies Issue No. 167 | February 2011 Dear Green Builder, Scotty,  Wouldn't it be great to see the red carpet rolled out for an Eco-Themed Academy awards? We could watch celebrities donned in hemp and organic cotton saunter up to the stage to claim their coveted Green Oscars.... Well, we're not quite there yet. But in the spirit of the upcoming Oscars, we thought it would be nice to take a look at deserving films that taught us to think a little harder about sustainability and dig a little deeper for the truths behind our planet's problems. IN THIS ISSUE Green Film of the Century More Top Green Films Green in the Media GREEN FILM OF THE CENTURY Since its debut in 2006, An Inconvenient Truth has brought more awareness to climate change than any other film. Both the movie and its high profile producer have inspired plenty of controversy, but no other film can even come close to claiming the mantle of most influential green film. Share Your Thoughts on An Inconvenient Truth Have your own thoughts on the most influential green film of the century? Share the wisdom on SustainLane.com! MORE TOP GREEN FILMS Kate C. thinks that Who Killed the Electric Car? is "required viewing. This film should be shown in High School civic classes, so that kids, who are now wanting and about ready to join the car buying public can see..."read more.      The footage from this first of it's kind documentary has been reused and redone, but Abendingo R. can't get enough of the original Planet Earth: "I am blown away by the beauty of Mother Earth. She inspires me, and I feel that we all have a responsibility to..." read more. Janet P. thinks Super Size Me does one heckuva job of supersizing our obesity problems: "Great flick. And, although Morton S went over the top to prove something, he did. McDonalds sucks..." read more.  Hilary P. thinks no list of green films is complete without a little something for the kids: "I laughed, I cried, and then I went home and composted. Wall-E made it easy to understand the perils of consumerism, in a feel good family format..." read more. Have your own suggestions for the best green films? Let everyone know what you think on SustainLane.com! GREEN IN THE MEDIA The Story of Stuff and The Story of Cosmetics The first two installments in Annie Leonard's educational series from the "Story of Stuff Project." The goal of the project is to educate and empower people to change the way things are done. With great productions like these, they might actually have a chance. Netflix: The Greenest Way to Watch Movies? With worldwide rentals shipped to your front door, and now the largest selection of films accessible online, has Netflix changed both the way we watch movies and the physical impact those films have on the planet? What do you think about the stories in this edition? Let us know at SustainLane.com! WHAT'S HOT ON SUSTAINLANE.COM   Life After People Documentary: The Age of Stupid Film: Erin Brockovich Subscribe to our RSS feeds and choose how and when to read our content. Subscribe to: Daily Editor's Picks The Latest Blogs Visit Our Sponsor   HOT JOBS ON SUSTAINLANE.COM   Resource Economist Washington, DC Training Development Manager - Solar One New York, NY Chemist Post Doctoral Fellow Berkeley, CA  Search All Green Jobs Did you know? Our featured products and businesses are 100% paid-placement free. They are solely intended to represent the views of the SustainLane community. FIND A FARMERS MARKET To find a Farmers Market or CSA near you, just follow this link to SustainLane.com, click on Local Search, and type your city or town into the space provided. CONTACT INFO community@sustainlane.com 1-866-455-7533 http://www.sustainlane.com About SustainLane | Advertise | Widgets | Contact Us | FAQ

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

MO Senator Roy Blunt on the EPA

Note: I do not support Senator Roy Blunt.  I provided his latest email to me because I think my Fellow Missourian's deserve to know how he stands on the Environmental Issues Facing our State and Nation. Besides his stand with the Big Oil and Big Coal Industry with his fellow Republicans. 

I believe and the facts from his previous Lobbying / Lobbyist Activities not to mention the Earmarks he supported creates conflicts of Interest-Scotty" 

• Mr Blunts past behavior of
1. Ear Marks,
2. reckless and wasteful spending habits,
3. Lobbying Activities create Conflict of Interest,
4. He is Part of the Reason that "Washington is Broken"
• Mr Blunt supports Big Business. (from:http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/2010/10/robin-carnahan-election-news-invitation.html)
  

Prior St Louis Renewable Energy Blog Posts in re to Roy Blunt:

• Roy Blunt-Political News-Worst of Washington Sep 19, 2010
• Re: Did Roy Blunt Hire an Illegal Worker? Oct 21, 2010
• Carnahan Election News-Message to Roy Blunt Oct 28, 2010
• A musing about Roy Blunt Oct 05, 2010
• Robin's Carnahan vs Roy Blunt Debate News Oct 14, 2010

Earmarks Data from Open Secrets (http://www.opensecrets.org/politicians/otherdata.php?cid=N00005195&cycle=2010)

Roy Blunt sponsored or co-sponsored 22 earmarks totaling $22,602,000 in fiscal year 2010, ranking 188th out of 435 representatives. See details. To learn more about earmarks, visit our Earmarks section.

On Thu, Feb 10, 2011 at 3:17 PM, Senator Roy Blunt wrote:

 

 
Dear Scotts Contracting:
 

Thank you for your email on the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) regulation of greenhouse gases. 

The EPA's efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions are outside of the authority given to it by Congress.  It stretches the Clean Air Act to include emissions that the authors of the act never intended to regulate, and I will work to prevent the rule from being implemented and further harming our fragile economy. 

I am co-sponsoring the Defending America's Affordable Energy and Jobs Act (S. 228).  This bill restores Congress' role in the development and implementation of our nation's climate and energy policy by blocking backdoor attempts by regulatory agencies to regulate carbon emissions.

Environmental regulations, while important, should not place undue burdens on Missourians and all Americans, who depend on economically-priced energy on the job and at home.  Protecting our environment and jumpstarting our economy are not mutually exclusive goals. 

We can create better paying jobs at home by developing more American energy, relying on clean fuel alternatives, and promoting conservation.  I continue to support more reliance on alternative fuels and greater investment in research for our energy future. 

Again, thank you for contacting me.  I look forward to continuing our conversation on Facebook (www.facebook.com/SenatorBlunt) and Twitter (www.twitter.com/RoyBlunt) about the important issues facing Missouri and the country.  I also encourage you to visit my website (www.blunt.senate.gov) to learn more about where I stand on the issues and sign-up for my e-newsletter.

Sincere regards,

Roy Blunt
United States Senator

______________________________

Use the Following Link to -Find Your Elected Representatives-Republican or Democrat, and Let Your Voice BE HEARD! Active Participation is Suggested TellMyPolitician  

If your Elected Leaders do not know where you stand on the issues they will not be able to vote for the issues that are affecting: You, Your Family, Work, Health, and Educational Needs.   

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Scott's Contracting
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http://scottscontracting.wordpress.com

Webinar Invitation: Business Sustainability through Safety: Live Webcast March 2

On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 3:11 PM, Sustainable Cities Collective <info@socialmediatoday.com> wrote:

Safety & Sustainability: Manufacturing Excellence in a Changing World Live Webinar 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT, March 2 - Free Ebook Download With Registration Register Now Today most companies claim to care about workplace safety, but some feel that sentiment is not always present in corporations' day-to-day operations. After a chain of high-profile accidents that have had both human and environmental costs, some large corporations have been accused of putting profits ahead of workers' safety. But the resulting accidents have instead cost those companies dearly. Shouldn't a safe, responsible operation also be a productive one? Posturing aside, what exactly is the relationship between safety and business sustainability? To answer this question, the Sustainable Business Forum brings together an expert panel to explore the strategic connection between safety and sustainability, and suggest best practices. We invite you to read these contributions from leadership expert Ted Coine, Bruce Piasecki and Mark Coleman of the AHC Group, National Safety Council research director Mei-Li Lin, and Patricia Walters of Dupont's Crisis Management team in this new ebook report, then join us on March 2 for a live webcast to delve deeper into safety's strategic importance and get your own questions answered. The thread running through each of these arguments is that, while building safety culture requires an initial investment, smart corporations view workplace safety as an essential driver of economic success. Download this ebook and join us for the webcast for fresh perspectives on: How to mitigate potentially brand-killing safety crises "Competing for sustainability" by broadening traditional definitions of risk Building a safety culture through strong analytics and a commitment to continuous improvement A focus on one company's holistic approach to crisis management and its response to the 2009 H1N1 flu epidemic Join us! Featuring: Jim Johnson is Group Vice President, Workplace Safety Initiatives for the National Safety Council, responsible for leading NSC advocacy initiatives to reduce deaths and injuries in the workplace. Jim partners with a diverse group of stakeholders to establish and promote best practices for safety and health systems that reduce risk, injuries and deaths. He is also responsible for the Council's Workplace Safety businesses that support organizations in their journey to safety excellence, focusing on management leadership and employee engagement, safety management systems, risk reduction strategies, and performance measurement. Dr. Bruce Piasecki is the president and founder of AHC Group, Inc., a management consulting firm specializing in energy, materials, and environmental corporate matters since 1981. Dr. Piasecki facilitates leadership workshop seminars focused on linking sustainability, enterprise risk and safety. He is the author of seven seminal books on business strategy, valuation, and corporate change, including the Nature Society's book of the year, In Search of Environmental Excellence: Moving Beyond Blame. His articles have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun, the MIT Technology Review, and more. His latest book, The Surprising Solution, is available online as an e-book. Patricia B. Walters is a Public Affairs Consultant in Crisis Management for DuPont Global Public Affairs. Patti manages the many processes that maintain crisis management preparedness for DuPont worldwide. Over the years, she has established standards and developed guidelines for DuPont crisis management facilities, a database for housing global crisis team information, and a notification system to activate emergency response and crisis teams. Patti's role involves guiding the crisis team leaders so they are in compliance with DuPont standards for crisis management plans and related materials. Her responsibilities also include developing and facilitating full-scale drills and tabletop exercises with the crisis teams. Richard McGill Murphy moderates the Sustainable Business Forum. Murphy is a journalist and media consultant with 15 years of experience covering business, technology and international affairs. He writes for Fortune and BusinessWeek and serves as managing partner of Walled City Media LLC, a media strategy firm. Previously, he has worked as a top editor at Fortune Small Business and CNNMoney.com, and earlier served as editorial and program director at the Committee to Protect Journalists. He holds a bachelor's degree in literature from Harvard and a doctorate in social anthropology from Oxford University. Register for the webcast and ebook

Sent to scottscontracting@gmail.com:

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

Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo North America

two weeks away…register today and save

On Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 3:42 PM, Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America <rewna@rencd-media.com> wrote:

View Online | Forward to a Friend | Register

	Save $100 on your full conference registration Use promo code REWNAPV when registering
	Register in the next 48 hours and save $100 on your full conference registration. Use promo code REWNAPV when registering. REGISTER HERE EVENT HIGHLIGHTS More than 4,000 delegates expected 125+ speakers in the Conference Program 200+ exhibiting companies Competitive Power College (CPC) Pre-Conference Workshops Technical Tour: Green Buildings Tour Powerful Networking Events 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards THE CONFERENCE Conference sessions will cover the latest topics and issues in the industry offering you professional development that you can't get anywhere else. Keynote Session Tuesday, March 8, 2011 at 3:00 pm Open to ALL registered attendees Featuring a special keynote address by Mr. Kurt Yeager, Executive Director for Galvin Electricity Inititative, the keynote session will also include a Leadership Roundtable titled, Getting from Here to There. Featured roundtable participants are Mr. Karl Gawell, Executive Director, Geothermal Energy Association and Mr. James Dehlsen, Founder, Clipper Wind Power. 2011 Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Presented by the editors of RenewableEnergyWorld.com and Renewable Energy World North America magazine, these awards recognize the most outstanding projects, programs, technologies and leaders in the wind, solar, biomass, geothermal and hydroelectric sectors. Winners will be recognized during the keynote sessions and awards will be presented during the opening reception. TECHNICAL TOUR Special Ticketed Event! Green Buildings Tour Monday March 7, 2011 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Space is limited. Registration cut-off date February 25, 2011 The Green Buildings Tour will leave the Tampa Bay Convention Center and travel to the Beck Building in the Heights via water taxi. Attendees will then travel to the Tampa Bay History Center and will take a behind-the-scenes tour. For more information and to register, click here NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES Opening Reception Tuesday March 9, 2011 at 5:00 p.m. Join us as we kick off the 8th annual Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo with a networking reception in the exhibit hall. Attendees will enjoy hors d'oeuvres and drinks while networking with colleagues and exhibitors. Special Ticketed Event! Networking Breakfast Wednesday March 10, 2011 at 7:30 a.m. The networking breakfast takes place in an informal give-and-take format, providing an ideal way to get information and ask questions about industry specific topics. Moderated by specialized industry experts, each table addresses a different topic. Spend the entire time at one table or move around to different tables to gain insight into a variety of issues while enjoying a hot breakfast buffet. Register Here	CONFERENCE TRACKS: Biomass Geothermal Hydro Policy, Market & Finance I Policy, Market & Finance II Solar Utility Integration/ Smart Grid Wind REGISTER for North America's leading all renewable event! PRE-CONFERENCE WORKSHOPS: Monday, March 7, 2011 #101 Capital Investment Analysis for Renewable Energy Projects Tuesday, March 8, 2011 #201 Geothermal Energy 201 and Geothermal in the Southeastern U.S. #203 Renewable Energy Venture Development For details on these pre-conference workshops and to register, click here
	CO-LOCATED EVENT Photovoltaics World Conference & Expo provides a forum dedicated to the manufacture, distribution and implementation of solar power produced by photovoltaic solar cells. REGISTER ONLINE & SAVE $100 Register in the next 48 hours and save $100 on your full conference registration. Use promo code REWNAPV when registering. REGISTER HERE
	HOTEL Online CLICK HERE Or, contact Preferred Convention Services directly: 888.472.7462 reservations@preferred1.com
	ATTEND Renewable Energy World Conference & Expo North America brings together more than 4,000 attendees and over 200 exhibitors. Don't miss the largest all renewables event in North America. We hope to see you in Tampa! REGISTER>> EXHIBIT There is still space left! Meet renewable energy prospects as well as your existing customers and book your space today! CLICK HERE to view the floor plan and for more information.

________________________________________________________________________________ You may also contact us at: PennWell Corporation 1421 S. Sheridan Rd. Tulsa, OK 74112 USA

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Scott's Contracting
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http://scottscontracting.wordpress.com

Mortgage Interest Deduction-Guest Post

This post was removed or lost I left the contact name below of the Author.

The mortgage interest deduction helps make home ownership more affordable by allowing homeowners to deduct the interest that they pay on the mortgage for their home when calculating their annual federal income tax.

Guest Post: Contact: ruth@savemymind.info

$100+ Oil Barrel Break-even in Low Carbon Economy

The billions being invested in renewable energy, nuclear and 'clean' coal will pay off financially if oil is over $100 a barrel in 2020, says the energy and climate change secretary-

UK-Break-even for low-carbon economy is $100 a barrel oil, says Chris Huhne

Traders set the crude oil price in the options pit at the New York Mercantile Exchange. Illustration: Mario 

 

The UK's ambitious low-carbon energy plans will mean energy consumers paying lower bills in 2020 if oil is over $100 per barrel, compared to a fossil-fuelled future. That price is the break-even point, said the energy and climate change secretary, Chris Huhne, today.
I think it is an important number, because it clearly shows why a failure to invest the large sums of money needed into renewable energy, nuclear power and carbon capture and storage would be a false economy.

Here's what he told a conference at the Royal Geographical Society in London today. Bear in mind the price of oil (Brent crude) is $104 as I write:

If we relied on oil and gas, and the price stayed relatively low at $80 a barrel then consumers will pay more under our policies – about an extra 1% on their bills by 2020.

At the oil price reached this month - $100 a barrel or more – consumers will pay less through the low carbon energy policies than they would pay for fossil fuel policies.

And if the US administration is right, and the price is $108 a barrel in 2020, then our consumers are winning hands down.

So, as Huhne put it, when people say the energy policies his government are pursuing are far too costly, the reply is "hang on, what is this other world?" Predicting oil prices is a black art of course, but the question is do you think the price of oil is going to remain flat for the next nine years?

He also made another argument for low carbon energy investment: insulation from oil and gas price shocks. He said:

I asked economists at DECC to look at how a 1970s style oil price shock would play out today. They found that if the oil price doubled, it could lead to a cumulative loss of GDP of around £45 billion over 2 years. [The oil price rose fivefold in the 1970s].

And this is not just far-off speculation: it is a threat here and now. The Office of Budget Responsibility forecast that if oil prices rose by 20% - as they have since October – the total cost to the economy would be £4.5bn.

Oil and gas will play an important role in the low-carbon shift. But in the long term, getting off the oil hook will make our economy more independent, more secure and more stable.

We rightly hear a lot about the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and are promised that the UK's economic recovery should include an industrial resurgence based on clean technology. In terms of the three crucial tests of energy policy - low carbon, security and cost - it's the latter that had been least convincing, making the arguments above significant.
One other part of the speech stuck out for me: more startling numbers from China, which just might change the world with its new five year economic plan. China is undoubtedly running fastest in the race for leadership in green technology.

Huhne reeled the numbers off - China's $34bn pumped into the low-carbon economy in 2009 - by way of arguing that even if the UN climate talks look like dragging on for years, some countries were acting anyway. These two stuck out for me:

China will build 24 nuclear power stations in the time it takes us to build one. By 2020, their nuclear capacity will have increased tenfold.

-

They will complete 16,000km of high-speed rail in the time it takes us to go from London to Birmingham.

Does a low carbon future really look so scary?

Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies- free ebook download

free ebook download linkLos Angeles When Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies was published in 2010, it skyrocketed to the top of Amazon.com's charts in both the "energy" and "engineering" categories – a clear hit as a #1 best-seller. Now, just a couple of months later, author Craig Shields is offering an electronic copy of the book -- to anyone -- for free. Why? 

 

As I imply in the book's title, we live in a world in which not everything is possible, and we must make difficult choices as we migrate away from fossil fuels in the direction of clean energy. Craig Shields

“Writing Renewable Energy – Facts and Fantasies was a great project.  I had fun doing it, readers loved it, and a whole bunch of people bought it within the first week or so,” says Shields.  “Now it's time to move along – but before I do that, why not put it in as many people’s hands as possible?”

Download the free book:
http://2greenenergy.com/renewable-energy-facts-fantasies-ebook/
There is no doubt that the migration to clean energy is the most pressing issue of our time.  Whether our worries are global warming, peak oil, national security, or simply America’s competitiveness in world markets, or our siphoning off another $1 billion in our wealth off to foreign entities every day, 365 days a year, there is definitely room for concern.  In fact, you’ll have to try hard to find anyone who thinks that our addiction to oil and coal is a good thing.  But, looking at the problem in practical, realistic terms, how can we “get there from here?”

According to Shields, “The truth is that we face tough realities. The technologies are constantly improving, albeit at an uneven rate.  And big money and politics make this ten times more complicated than it would have been if we were not talking about energy – home to the largest and most sophisticated business interests on Earth.  As I imply in the book’s title, we live in a world in which not everything is possible, and we must make difficult choices as we migrate away from fossil fuels in the direction of clean energy.”
The book is based on interviews with 25 of the world’s top researchers, authors, analysts and industry leaders – a surprisingly large percentage of whom point to these “tough realities” that exist in the technology migration, the economic implications, and the political issues that affect the world energy industry.

Shields continues, “All of us – well, almost all of us – want clean energy.  Whether our concerns are healthcare issues caused by emissions, enriching terrorists, military conflicts, social chaos and injustice, global climate change, or other forms of long-term environmental damage, there is no doubt that we need to put an end to our reliance on fossil fuels.  But it’s just not that easy. We would do well to understand the realities if we are to have informed, relevant discussions as to what we must do as a nation – and as a civilization.”

Though Shields is by nature a modest gentleman, he doesn’t hide the fact that he believed in the book’s success from the onset. “I wrote it for several different groups – each fairly large. There are people who simply want a broad and objective treatment of the subject.  There’s a great deal of science, current events, international relationships, and economics to keep tabs on; that’s not an easy task for anyone,” Shields explains.  “But there is also a significant business audience,” as folks see a multi-trillion dollar industry forming and say, ‘Hey, I’d like to be a part of that too.’”