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Librarian

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It’s starting to look brighter. The Europeans are on the ball with it. Even China and India are investing heavily into solar and wind. I imagine now that more people are aware of global climate change, more will come to fruition. Plus, with the economic recession, part of President Obama’s plan is to create lots of new green jobs that cannot be outsourced. It won’t happen overnight, but once we start, we won’t stop.

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I don’t think the certificates are designed to save you money. My utility company has a program called greeen energy that cost me about 1/2 of 1%, so about $10 in the summer. They will buy electricity from renewable/clean sources in the amount that the participants in the program use. This helps build the demand for renewable energy and fund new projects. Part of the program also helps with the rebates offered for homes and businesses to install solar systems.

I know you can buy credits to offset travel and a variety of other things, but again I don’t think they are designed to save money. It is a way for people who want to do their part to reduce carbon emissions to help fund programs that will help reduce CO2 in other ways.

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You could invest the money in a variety of renewable enrgy projects and sell the carbon credits on the Chicago Climate Exchange or some other carbon trading market. The offset receipts could be applied towards additional investments in renewable energy, which would generate more offsets for sale, and so on. Given enough returns, those wishing to sell thier offsets to our non-profit could do so at a certain percentage above the market price based on the type of offset as an incentive at the organization’s expense (granted, it would take the hit). Those wanting to buy carbon offsets from our non-profit could do so at market price BUT commission-free as an incentive.

Of course, this is hypothetical. I’m not an economist and I’m not sure if selling credits off the Climate Exchange would constitute market manipulation.

For the record, some of the members of the VOLUNTARY Chicago Climate Exchange include:
Ford Motor Company
DuPont
Sacremento County, CA
Eastman Kodak Company (Kodak Film)
Bayer Corporation
Motorola

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It’s a term for putting a plan into action that will look after the current generation now, (in terms of energy) but makes sure that the needs of future generations will be met as well.

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A. No Pollution – Wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro turbines emit no pollutants during operation. However, if they are manufactured in a non-green manner, they will create pollutants during the manufacturing and construction process. This answer could use a qualifier, which makes me think it is NOT the correct answer.

B. Saves Money – Wind turbines, solar panels, and hydro turbines technically have no operating costs. But, they do not begin to save money until the initial cost of production is less than the cost of using an alternative source of energy up to that same future date. In other words, renewable energy sources do not save money until they are used for a long period of time, but they theoretically will save money if they are used properly. This could be the correct answer, but let’s still look at the other.

C. Clean Fuel – Wind, the sun, and water are clean fuel sources. Collecting wind, the sun, and most water sources does not require mining, or extracting like natural gas, oil, and coal. Renewable energy sources are clean and usually free. I think this is the BEST answer.

D. Sustainable energy – This is NOT the answer, as you said.

— This question could use more details, but I think the best answer is “C”.

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Let’s wait to see what they’ll have to say in a few decades when one of their lives is saved by gene therapy or a stem-cell derived treatment.

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I don’t know any web sites but I can tell you why I don’t like the idea of tax credits for alternative energy. Tax credits are a penalty against conventional energy sources. If the alternatives are so great they shouldn’t need tax credits to make them competitive. Using tax credits to make alternative energy able to compete with conventional sources doesn’t encourage the companies that make alternatives from improving their products to compete in a free market. The tax credits have to be replaced with some other source of revenue or savings. The term “savings” is not known to the government so they raise taxes or increase the deficit. Their is also the administrative cost of monitoring the tax credits. That means more government. Let the laws of supply and demand work without government interference

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Well, first off, if anyone knew the exact answer to your question, they would be a bazillionaire. That being said, I’m going to make a feeble attempt to predict:

I think that the national security/defense/military sector, while always a big market, may slow down in the next ten years. Despite the explosion of the national security market since Sept. 11, it will begin to slow, especially if a Democrat gets elected president in 2008, and the US pulls out of Iraq.

RFIDs, and related technologies, will be growing, and people who really get creative about marketing new applications for this technology will make it big.

The internet, despite the dotcom “bust”, is always evolving and growing. Blogging, podcasting, collaborative and social networks, and all of the other new developments will be big players. However, be wary of “e-fads” which will come and go quickly.

China is going to be HUGE. Experts are predicting that China will replace the US as the major world economic power. China’s massive population and the outsourcing trends from the US and Japan have come together to create massive economic growth in China. Their use and applications of technology are head and shoulders above the US. For example, in Asia you can wave your cell phone in front of a Coke machine and it will automatically dispense a drink and charge your checking account or credit card.

Sustainable energy and alternative fuels could be big, but there will have to be a LOT more investment in research and development, and consumer acceptance will have to grow dramatically. The major automakers have rolled out several hybrid vehicles, but sales have been slow due to lagging performance, increased cost, and the fact that they are marketed to the super-progressive ecowarriors instead of the average Joe Autobuyer.

Finally, despite talk of a real estate bust, there is always a need for housing and office space. There is a huge trend of urban revitalization, and outdoor shopping malls called “lifestyle centers” are leading the way. Case Study: Atlanta’s Atlantic Station. The developers replaced an abandoned steel mill with a massive shopping center, movie theatre, and enough housing for 100,000 people.

Nanotech and biomed will continue to grow, but super high-tech industries such as these can have large barriers to entry for the entrepreneur.

Hope this helps.

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If we switch from oil-based energy reliance to a local resource like biomass it would bring $ to the US that would have gone to the middle east or elsewhere, boosting the US economy. HOWEVER, the real opportunity is not just sustainable energy but a sustainable society – one where we reduce consumption dramatically and insist on renewable natural resources. One where we embrace abundant living (wind and sun, gardens, music, friends) and minimize economic living (oil, steel, walmart, plastic). If that happens, we won’t even think to ask about “economic impact” as a primary concern. But don’t bet your Prius on it!

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I would not get hung up on the renewable energy piece in terms of a degree. It’s not an industry in itself, but a competing service against coal, oil, water and nuclear. Figure out the energy part before focusing on the renewable.

You should look to figuring out what aspect of renewable energy you like then go with that. While you are studying, you can then seek faculty guidance and concentrate on renewable energy there.

Example – Become a civil engineer to build buildings and structures. Then focus on what you learned to do a senior project about hydroelectric dams.

Example – Study organic chemistry and develop an organic compound that can compete against silicon for solar generation. You don’t need to know about renewable energy to do organic chemistry, but you need organic chemistry to make the technology work.

Learn the basics, then make it better.

Good luck!

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Renewable energy can supply a significant proportion of the United States’ energy needs, creating many public benefits for the nation and for states and regions, including environmental improvement, increased fuel diversity and national security, and regional economic development benefits.

It provides environmental benefits such as cleaning air pollution. It can also be a good sources of sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxides.

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* The European Energy and Climate Policy:
————————————————————–
=> Proposed by the Directorate General of Environment (DG ENV) and the Directorate for Energy (both part of the Commission)
=> Based on approaches and recommandations/inputs from independant private consultants
=> Input from the civil society (industry lobbies and NGOs as well)
=> Final legislative package decided by the directorates
=> Vote by the EU Parliament
=> Once a directive has been implemented by the parliament it is mandated that national states translate it into their national law.

* National laws of EU countries:
————————————————————–
* For example, garuanteed purchase price for renewable electricity (as first implemented in Germany), known as “feed-in tariff
* Based on EU aggregated goal for renewable energy (20% by 2020) and the split of the effort into national goals
* Put in national legislations

Some US states and even developing countries (total of 50 countries) have adopted equivalents of the european concept of feed-in tariff for renewable power generation

Low chances of similar sustainable development goals in the US as a result of MUCH MORE DIFFICULT AND SLOW POLICY MAKING. The reasons are: dogma of parties, low consensus, low interest and off course the lobbying of established industries which prefer to fight change than to adapt.

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Http://www.garretthardinsociety.org/articles/art_tragedy_of_the_commons.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainability
http://dieoff.org/page110.htm
http://www.energybulletin.net/node/3834
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Energy_intensity
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Complexity,_Problem_Solving,_and_Sustainable_Societies
http://greedgreengrains.blogspot.com/2009/10/ifpri-report-on-climate-change-and-food.html

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Financially the most profitable for an individual that would have to be sales.

Personally I find more satisfaction in using my mind and my hands over the use of my mouth in making a living and a contribution to the world.

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Consider God’s divine hand and how he has the the four seasons to give different stages for life. In spring life spouts up from the old, among the decayed matter which it uses for growth – food, in summer it grows and blooms, in Autumn it begins the dying or hibernation process and shed the growth – such as leaves on the tree which insulate the ground to keep the tree roots warmer and to nourish the earth. Then in spring those decayed leaves have formed a rich layer of peat or black dirt from which the plants must grow.

Now do you see how recycling is part of God’s own plan?

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Every president for the past 40+ years has said that we will become independent of imported fuel within 10 years….. Sadly, that has not happened yet.

The problems are many, but, in my opinion, primarily one of politics. The people in congress are more concerned with fund raising and being reelected than with <> addressing energy issues. One administration may start up some very forward looking programs and policies, then when the presidency changes parties, or the congress does, the other side defunds or cancels those programs and mocks the attempts to help develop sustainable energy policies.

Then it reverses the next time. There has never been a consistent, rational, long term approach from the government towards the issues of energy.

Pretty sad, if you ask me, and has been an absolutely terrible waste of energy.

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Conservatives aren’t wrong about war and tragedies stimulating economies as the need to supply the effects of those occurrences. However the recent natural disasters too did cause economic stimulation however government supply as much capital as some desired. When reconstruction from this disaster began insurance companies paid out for damages to their customers. This capital was not being used in the economy before and now it is, therefore more capital in those regional economies means economic stimulation in those areas. As to why the same energy systems were put in place is because joule for joule there is no more effective and efficient system in existence. Alternative energies are currently not anymore economically more sensible than conventional energies. When individuals decide to rebuild they choose the most economically sensible choice to maximize their reimbursement from insurance. I’m sure there are some individuals that decided that using more green technology as it may be economic feasible.
As to why it may be ideal for the government not to be directly involved in introducing green tech in to the effected areas may be that rushing in and not Analyze the economic structure of an area may not make economical sense. An example of something like this occurring is an ethanol plant near my house. Several years ago the government rushed in and subsidized for a plant to be build, However economic reasons the plant was shut down within a year. (Is now used as a water draw point for frac water). Point being in a situation as such it may not be economically sustainable for government to offer when it comes to certain systems.
As our climate changes (not necessarily due to human related causes) humans will do as they have been for centuries when the climate and environment change: Adapt and overcome. In these adaptions, economic stimulation can occur as it becomes more economical to change.

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Hi, This is a good question and I have your answer, This is a very simple thing to do you can buy all your materials in any store as simple as using a 6″ PVC Tube to make the blades for your wind generator. E-bay has a lot of DC Generators that are good to use as a wind generator. I bought a guide named earth4energy and they show how to make a wind generator in 3 simple steps. You can find this guide at : www.greenproductsolutionpr.com and also a lot of information about renewable energy.

Steps to make a wind generator :

Definitions:

Generator:
This wind turbine transforms wind power into electricity, with the use of an A DC Motor that generates the power to spin the blades,
Options include:
 Electric lawn mower motors that have been recycled.
 All motors made by Ametek.
 Alternators with a permanent magnet (car alternators).

In order to find a DC motor you can check eBay, or look for inexpensive power tools. Drills, screwdrivers and other tools are a great way to find inexpensive DC motors although they do not generate much energy they are great for smaller projects. A great DC motor/generator is the Ametek 30VDC as pictured below. I purchased this DC motor for about $50 from ebay.

Http://www.earth4energy.com/recommends/ebay-ametekwindgenerators.php

Blades:

building PVC blades from an old pipe please watch our instruction video from the members page.
 Acquire a 6-inch wide, 24-inch long PVC pipe.
 Quarter the piece of pipe around its circumference, cutting it lengthwise into four pieces (diagram on the next page).

This is only a preview of the step-step guide that they include in their package for more information please visit : www.greenproductsolutionpr.com

I can share with you more information because is a copyright information

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The theory is that all the tax revenue would then be put towards developing new renewable sources of electricity.

The flaw in this agruement is that the government does a horrible job at investing money where it will make any real impact. In addition to that it has been proven that raising taxes is a sure fire way to collect less revenue.

Energy development should be left in the private sector. Time and time again the free market system has done the job of filling the need of the consumers. Not the government.

Oboma is using logic that is flawed from the start. While he may have good intentions as do most politicians when they first start out they often find themselves in way over thier heads once the buracracy takes hold.

History in this country is more or less forgotten at the expense of the greater population. It is like saying that you have 20 years of experience doing something, but making the same mistakes for all 20 years. You end up with 1 year experience 20 times in a row. We need to put more time into learning from the past instead of simply repeating it.

Doing the same thing over and over again expecting diffrent results each time is the definition of insanity.

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Effects: hunger, lack of water, wars for the water, new diseases.

Solutions:
-Alternative energy sources affordables.
-Less weapons and more food technology
-More walking less driving
-Prepare each one a more balanced life…
-Doing more sport
-Watch less tv and internet addiction.
-Share the things that we dont use with someone who needs them.

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I must agree that for many of the Celebs it is more of a marketing ploy than a real lifestyle choice. However, there is an increasing number of people with money who are willing to really make a difference.

Larry Hagman, (from I dream of Jeannie and Dallas fame) has a very eco friendly home, he has a huge solar array which feeds enough back into the grid to supply energy for a couple other homes, he has worked it out with the utility company to give the extra to low income families.

That is just one example, many others are doing the right thing. I think we need to learn how to consume less energy and other resources without giving up our lifestyle. If a person becomes aware of how their spending impacts the environment they are more likely to reduce their impact by purchasing less and when they do buy, they will look for a sustainable solution. For those that are doing it for PR, who cares they were going to buy things any way, at least they are buying sustainable things this time.