Welcome to the January 2009 Green InSight eNewsletter!

Jon Dougal Editor, Green InSight

"Not much is said of the roughly $450 billion spent worldwide on advertising each year to manufacture wants … the unstated assumption is that we can summon neither the civic and moral wisdom to create a more equitable distribution of wealth nor the wit to redefine well-being in a less stuff-oriented and ecologically destructive manner." David Orr

This insightful and progressive newsletter is concerned with present energy issues and technologies as well as the future of energy. The information is brought to you in living color, on widescreen digital HD format, and sparing paper use with our long shelf-life, greedy little electrons to deliver the latest from the far corners of the alternative and renewable energy empire to foster sustainable development. We exalt your feedback and contributions of your latest experiences and reactions to our content. Sustainability is not just our mission, it is our passion.

Recommendations For Improving Leed Transportation And Parking Credits

By: Todd Litman
Date: August 18, 2008
Source: Victoria Transport Policy Institute (www.vtpi.org)

While we support the LEED rating system as the strictest of the rating systems we know there are deficiencies inherent in the protocol. We give credit to the USGBC and the dedicated staff for opening to the public comment those new changes and editions of EB, CI, ND, NC, etc.

Here is a contributing article on how to help LEED become more aware of an important change and help the comment period to augment new versions of LEED.

Read the full article ►

Algae Farm In Mexico To Produce Ethanol In '09

By: Martin LaMonica
Date: June 12, 2008
Source: CNET News (www.cnet.com)

Breakthroughs in oil from algae are coming at an almost daily rate. In the big picture it is a simple technology, but on a more local level there are performance issues, in-vitro issues, temperature & light, marine vs Aquatic, volume/quantity & extraction issues and then there are the political issues.

There a many students (masters and PhD candidates) as well as rank, but passionate amateurs working in backyards, primitive laboratories and garages. One thing is sure we have enough CO2 in the atmosphere that algae growth doesn’t need to be near a power plant to have enough of the gas.

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Hardy Earth Bacteria Can Grow In Lunar Soil

By: David Shiga, Houston
Date: March 14, 2008
Source: NewScientist (www.newscientist.com)

It is our intent to report the most real developments that we can hang our hats on as being “Real” or possible, but occasionally it is pleasing to expound on what could be, the “what if” of science and technology. This is one of the wonderful possibilities of tomorrow’s world – the world where the US has money again and we can explore the possibilities.

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BMW Works to Clean Up Diesel's Rep

Think Clean. Think Green. Think, Um, Diesel.

By: Suznne Vranica Date:
January 12, 2009
Source: The Wall Street Journal (www.wsj.com)

Anybody with a brain in their head knows that fuel prices are going up and up and UP! Coupled with the fact that there could be fuel shortages. Peak Oil has arrived even with all the claims of huge new oil deposit finds. If you were smart you’d buy a diesel vehicle. Yes, diesel vehicles cost more now, but they will probably be more available than gas-o-line for a couple of reasons: less refining needed; stores without its potential energy diminishing and that vehicle could be altered to use “bio-diesel for very little money.

Green InSight has run many articles on the breakthroughs coming in biodiesel from algae.

The fact:
Check this one out for example: http://cc.pubco.net/www.valcent.net/i/misc/Vertigro/index.html

There is a whole underground of biodiesel purveyors if you search for them. Having a diesel-fueled vehicle opens options for transportation you wouldn’t otherwise have.

All in all, carmakers are toying with diesel vehicles (along with hydrogen as a fuel), but since the largest car market in the world is California and that state has been tough on the emissions from diesels, production is being held back.

The Wall Street Journal just ran an story (a virtual advertisement) from BMW on stoking up the reputation for their diesel rig ...

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Assembly Bill 811

What does the Palm Desert Energy Independence Loan Program (AB 811) Mean for You?

Source: www.ab811.org

Only in California? No this idea is taking hold all over the country. Colorado and many forward thinking state and municipalities are endorsing free power from the sun. Essentially they’re bottom line oriented. Solar energy is not about the environment it’s about cost effective electrical security.

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Sustainability In A Clean Well Lighted Place To Read

By: Jon Dougal

There are a whole host of new books on the market lately. Coming out as fast as the green revolution is going mainstream. More and more information is sought by more and more potentially green advocates seeking enlightenment. Here are a few touching on varying subjects.

HEATING, COOLING, LIGHTING – Sustainable Design Methods For Architects
Norbert Lechner
Published December, 2008
ISBN-978—0-47004809-2

PACKAGING SUSTAINABILITY – Innovative Packaging Design
Wendy Jedlicka
ISBN 978-0-24669-6 $50

URBAN DESIGN – for an Urban Century – placemaking for people
Lance jay Brown, David Dixon, and Oliver Gillham
ISBN- 978-0-470-08782-4

RETROFITTING SUBURBIA – Urban Design Solutions For Redesigning Suburbs
Ellen Dunahm Jones and June Williamson
ISBN – 978-0-470-04123-9.

Read the full article ►

Interested in sponsoring our next eNewsletter issue? Contact Jon Dougal at (415) 798-1933 or editor@greenmotion.org.