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Embracing Clean Energy Solutions
Embracing Clean Energy Solutions
By Ann-Marie Fleming, December 2005
As the nation works towards meeting the growing energy demands
while maintaining security, energy independence and
environmental protection, many industry...
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Solar Cooling - Air-Conditioning From the Sun
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At their...
When Asphalt and Dinosaurs Roamed the Earth
You may not be aware of it but a part of the highways and
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considerable history can be attributed to one if its key
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Clean Wisconsin provides easy tips on how to stay Green during the holidays
Kermit the Frog might think it's only natural to be green during
the holiday season, and maybe you can too by making a couple of
easy changes to reduce spending and waste. For many people the
holidays signify stress and over-spending. This year you can
take a couple of easy steps to enjoy the holidays more and
reduce the impact on our environment. Between Thanksgiving and
New Year's Day, 5 million extra tons of trash are produced in
the U.S., not to mention the extra energy used during this
period. Below are some simple ideas on how to help you to remain
green during the holidays.
Gifts Ideas:
1) Purchase gifts that are consumed like food, beverages, mixes,
sweets.
2) Purchase recyclable gifts like books and magazine
subscriptions.
3) Purchase consumable gifts like candles, natural body creams
or soaps.
4) Purchase gift certificates to the person's favorite
restaurant, book store or clothing store. You are giving twice
with a certificate. Once when the person receives the
certificate and again when they use it.
5) Give an "experience" like a massage, tickets to the theatre
or music event, day at the spa, movie tickets, etc. This works
for kids too. Kids love going to the movies or a music event.
You could also share this experience and go with the person.
6) Purchase a membership to an environmental organization like
Clean Wisconsin that helps the environment year round. (Visit
www.CleanWisconsin.org or call 1-608-251-7020).
7) Get together instead of giving gifts. The holidays are a
great time to spend time with friends and relatives. Instead of
exchanging gifts, spend some quality time together.
Wrapping Ideas:
1) Buy recycled gift wrap. There are few options for recycled
gift wrap, but www.smithandhawken.com has three varieties.
2) Make your own gift bags and reuse them.
3) Wrap gifts with brown grocery bags and decorate them. This is
a great family activity. Kids love drawing, stamping, coloring,
etc on the packages. Other materials could be used to wrap the
gifts too - i.e. comics, newspaper, etc.
4) Reuse ribbons and bows.
5) Use your holiday cards from the previous year as gift tags
for the current year. Cut portions of the cards out, hole punch
and add ribbon. This could be a family activity.
Holiday Cards:
1) Purchase cards on recycled paper only.
2) Purchase cards with a purpose. Most charities sell holiday
cards where part of the proceeds goes directly to the charity.
3) Make
your own cards. Again this could be a great family
activity - get the kids involved.
4) Send electronic cards to as many family and friends as
possible. If Americans sent just one out of every ten holiday
cards electronically, it would save over 30,000 trees.
Decorations:
1) Purchase your Christmas tree from a vendor that uses
sustainable forest practices. Or buy a potted tree and plant it
after the season.
2) Go artificial. It can be used year after year, doesn't leave
a huge pile of needles on your carpet and it help protect our
forests.
3) If you need to purchase new decorations for the tree this
year, use biodegradable decorations like cranberries and
popcorn.
4) Use compact fluorescent/ LED light bulbs. Or use small bulbs
on outside lights. Smaller bulbs equal lower wattage which
consumes less energy and gives off less heat, making the lights
safer. Also purchase light strands that are wired in parallel
which have separate circuitry. With separate circuitry if one
bulb blows the other bulbs will continue to shine.
5) Use a timer on your outdoor and indoor lights.
The holidays are a great time of year. Most people are in such
a mad rush to get things done, buy gifts and entertain that they
don't take the time to enjoy the moments with friends and
family. The holidays are meant to be enjoyed and with some
thoughtful changes, you can create memories with your family and
be a more environmental-friendly consumer. Being green isn't
difficult during this holiday season. A couple of simple changes
can help you reduce stress, create lasting family memories and
protect our natural resources.
Clean Wisconsin, an environmental advocacy organization,
protects Wisconsin's clean water and air and advocates for clean
energy by being an effective voice in the state legislature and
by holding elected officials and corporations accountable.
Founded in 1970 as Wisconsin's Environmental Decade, Clean
Wisconsin exposes corporate polluters, makes sure existing
environmental laws are enforced, and educates citizens and
businesses. On behalf of its 10,000 members and its coalition
partners, Clean Wisconsin protects the special places that make
Wisconsin such a wonderful place to live, work and play. Phone:
608-251-7020, Fax: 608-251-1655, Email: info@cleanwisconsin.org,
Website: www.cleanwisconsin.org.
About the author:
Rebecca is the Public Relations Manager for Clean Wisconsin. She
has 10+ years of marketing, public relations and writing
experience. www.cleanwisconsin.org
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| Governmental department whose mission is to advance energy technology and promote related innovation in the United States. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Department of Energy - Page not found! |
| US Department of Energy information for consumers, business, and communities. Links to many energy pages of the DOE. |
| www.energy.gov |
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| Energy Quest Room |
| California Energy Commission's energy and environmental education site for students, parents and teachers. Includes information, Q&As, projects, ... |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| The Energy Story - Introduction |
| Detailed guide explains what energy is and where it comes from. |
| www.energyquest.ca.gov |
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| EIA Energy Kids Page - energy facts, fun, games and activities |
| Features various sections about energy including what it is and the forms it comes in. Find out how humans use energy through quizzes and a 'fun facts' ... |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy Information Administration - EIA - Official Energy ... |
| Section of the US Department of Energy (DOE) providing statistics, data, analysis on resources, supply, production, consumption for all energy sources. |
| www.eia.doe.gov |
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| Energy - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia |
| Free encyclopedia article explaining the scientific notion of energy. Includes units of measure, energy transformation concepts, types of energy, ... |
| en.wikipedia.org |
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| Department of Energy - Homepage |
| U.S. Department of Energy Awards Contract for Management and Operation of Ames ... The Energy Star label is the government's seal of energy efficiency. ... |
| www.doe.gov |
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| Home : ENERGY STAR |
| US EPA Energy Star programs and products help save the environment and save consumers money by using less energy through advanced design or construction. |
| www.energystar.gov |
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| National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) Home Page |
| Facility of the US Department of Energy (DOE) for renewable energy and energy efficiency research, development and deployment. |
| www.nrel.gov |
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| European Commission - Energy - Home page |
| Welcome to the European Commission's "Energy" website ... A European Strategy for Sustainable, Competitive and Secure Energy ... |
| ec.europa.eu |
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| DTI - Energy - Introduction |
| The DTI’s Energy Group deals with energy-related matters, ... UK energy statistics are provided, including production, consumption and prices. ... |
| www.dti.gov.uk |
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| U.S. DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Home Page |
| US Department of Energy web site for information on energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies. |
| www.eere.energy.gov |
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| Energy for America's Future |
| Provides an overview of President Bush's energy policies. |
| www.whitehouse.gov |
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| International Energy Agency |
| Energy Security, Growth and Sustainability through Co-operation and Outreach. |
| www.iea.org |
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| energywatch: Home Page |
| Independent gas and electricity consumer watchdog, providing help to domestic, commercial or industrial energy (gas and electricity) consumers. |
| www.energywatch.org.uk |
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| EnergyAustralia - Home |
| Details of one of Australia's largest and oldest gas and electricity supply companies. Includes information on accounts, energy saving tips, appliance sales ... |
| www.energy.com.au |
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| U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources |
| Has jurisdiction over energy policy, regulation, and research. Also deals with energy and mineral conservation, ports used for energy transport, irrigation, ... |
| energy.senate.gov |
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| bloomberg energy prices |
| www.bloomberg.com/energy/ - Similar pages |
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| Energy Bulletin |
| A clearinghouse of information concerning the peak in global energy such as oil and gas. |
| www.energybulletin.net |
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