Welcome to the May 2010 Green InSight eNewsletter!

Jon Dougal Editor, Green InSight

"There is a sufficiency in the world for man's need but not for man's greed."
Mohandas K. Gandhi

This insightful and progressive newsletter is concerned with energy issues as well as a sustainable future. The information is brought to you in living color, free of animal testing, on widescreen digital HD format, and sparing paper use, saving fragile water systems, with our long shelf-life phthalate free plastics, using 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. Consider reading this your attitude adjustment hour. Sustainability is not just our mission, it is our passion.

Calculating Water Use, Direct and Indirect

By: Henry Fountain
Date: April 19, 2010
Source: The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)

Ednote: Fully 55% of the energy produced in California is used to move water, because SoCal water comes from Northern California 600 miles away. In other states fully 19% of energy produced is used to move water. 2500 gallons goes into making 1 pound of hamburger. When we connect the dots to our individual use of water it becomes very scary.

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Chuck Hoberman's Buildings Adapt to the Environment

Design guru Chuck Hoberman's latest venture: buildings that can adapt to the environment

By: Tim McKeough
Date: April 1, 2010
Source: Fast Company (http://www.fastcompany.com)

Ednote: The underlying principle to green building design is that it is always changing. As the discipline rolls ever forward new technologies and principles of design forever enmesh to deliver ever greater economics. Energy efficiencies, ever the driving motivation, supersede the most innovative of last year’s designs. Adaptive facades are the latest concept to more efficient buildings.

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A Clean Well Lighted Place to Augment Your Career!

RESIDENTIAL CONSTRUCTION

Residential construction is a cornerstone of the U.S. economy with the US Census Bureau reporting 82,750 companies that specialize in residential remodeling and 62,700 contractors serving single and multi-family buildings. Although the residential construction market may have its ups and downs, the need for professionals to keep their construction knowledge current never eases. The book that professionals have come to rely on for the latest residential construction standards and specifications, is now completely revised and updated.

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PG&E Ballot Measure is a Stealthy Power Play

The proposed Taxpayers Right to Vote Act illustrates what California's initiative process has come to. It's a plaything of powerful interests using deception to line their pockets.

By: Michael Hiltzik
Date: December 28, 2009
Source: The Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)

Ednote: Every city in California could be a power producer or their own utility. All they have to do is have a City council resolution to form one. They don’t even need to act on it and actually form a power producing utility. PGE, San Diego Gas and Electric, and Southern California Edison are terrified that cities will do what Santa Monica, Riverside, Colton, Imperial Valley, Palo Alto and many others have done – form a non-profit power company and give energy to their citizens as reasonable rates, forgoing a profit. Energy in the Imperial Valley is bought at ??.14 /kwh, but in San Bernardino and LA it can run .34kwh. And going up all the time. Does it ring an alarm that PGE has spent $35million on Prop 16? If nothing else, doesn’t that tell you something?

If Prop 16 passes it gives the for profit utilities a monopoly on supplying electricity at any rate they want.

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A Bad Bet on Carbon

By: Robert Bryce
Date: March 12, 2010
Source: The New York Times (www.nytimes.com)

Ednote: Green InSight has run numerous articles on using Carbon dioxide (a major green house gas component) over the years. Minimal fixes pall in light of the massive C02 generation needing a fix. Of course fuel production from algae using C02 is a help – i.e. if all fuel was produced from algae. Climate change is a major problem and electric vehicles is a small fix. We have to stop producing C02.

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Carting Away the Oceans

Source: Greenpeace
Date: April 28, 2010

Ednote: We all have principles or at least think we do. Some of us leave our principles behind by rationalizing what we want – through our “need, greed and craving” at certain times. We drive an SUV while supporting the troops in a war over oil. We believe in recycling, but don’t pay the extra price for recycled products. We eat at seafood restaurants without asking where the seafood came from. That is whether it is raised sustainably or not. Whether it impacts the environment where it was grown. The seas are our (humanity’s) lifeline. We have used them as a dumping ground for everything from nuclear waste to black water. Now the seas need our nurturing.

The following article generated by Greenpeace is a must read. Be informed and support those organizations that are helping to nurture our lifeline to the future generations.

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SoCalGas gets OK for $1-billion smart-meter project

The California Public Utilities Commission votes 3 to 2 to let the firm bill customers to install the radio-controlled devices on 6 million homes. Critics say it's a money loser.

By: Marc Lifsher
Date: April 8, 2010
Source: Los Angeles Times (www.latimes.com)

Ednote: In line with our article on Prop 16 here is more evidence of efforts to monopolize energy in California. These radio controlled (wifi) devices allow the utility to turnoff your various appliances and even your power when they THINK a power outage is coming. More potential gaming of the energy markets.

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US Streetlight Grid Could Become Affordable Communications Back-Haul Network

By: Staff Writers
Date: May 02, 2008
Source: GPS Daily (www.gpsdaily.com)

Ednote: The information age is just beginning. Now your municipality will be data-mining your every move.

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