Green Living Q & A

The Expert answers:

Methane, Water vapor and CO2 are greenhouse gases. Three Mile Island accident, Chernobyl accident and Fukushima nuclear plant explosion aided by earthquake and tsunami and the threat from terrorists and suicide bombers makes nuclear energy source riskiest. Better emit greenhouse gases than radioactive emissions that are capable of making 4000 sqkm area around Chernobyl unlivable for mankind till date. Land is required to sustain a huge population. Humans exhale CO2 so they are also a source of greenhouse gas. Countries like France whose 80% of electricity comes from nuclear stand a high risk for not only French but the whole European continent. France should be made to bring this 80% value to as low as 20% (contribution of nuclear in US power output) by using the alternatives that other European countries are using. France should be taxed for consistently keeping the danger of nuclear accident for Europe. Every source has its pros and cons but the sources whose cons will cause the most severe disaster have to be used minimally. Nuclear is such a source. Equally important are population control, control of power theft and saving of power which are totally sidelined in developing countries like India and China. Renewable energy sources are good for small capacities but for long capacities oil and gas and coal are good. Brazil has been using ethanol. But rest of the world has shortage of farming land and growing food price inflation which restricts use of foodcrops for energy usage. Ultimately all available energy sources have to be used and the one with most hazard should be the lowest contributor. A country has to consider its population and land area before selecting this mix of contributors. Dutch people use bicycles to travel even to their offices instead of vehicles needing oil or natural gas. Riding bicycles reduces energy consumption, keeps the people healthy and keeps the environment clean. Bicycle accident will be preferred over a car accident. U will see in the US a big car having only one person who is driving the long distances and that car still has place for atleast 4 people to sit. Office location and town planning has to be done in such a way that people dont have to travel long distances for their work-people should be able to come walking or using bicycle. Energy has to be used like a miser.

The Expert answers:

Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as a fuel, other than conventional fuels. Conventional fuels include: fossil fuels (petroleum (oil), coal, propane, and natural gas), and nuclear materials such as uranium.

Some well known alternative fuels include biodiesel, bioalcohol (ethanol, butanol), chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, non-fossil methane, non-fossil natural gas, vegetable oil and other biomass sources.
Compressed natural gas (CNG) is a cleaner burning alternative to conventional petroleum automobile fuels. The energy efficiency is generally equal to that of gasoline engines, but lower compared with modern diesel engines. CNG vehicles require a greater amount of space for fuel storage than conventional gasoline power vehicles because CNG takes up more space for each GGE (Gallon of Gas Equivalent). Almost any existing gasoline car can be turned into a bi-fuel (gasoline/CNG) car. However, natural gas is a finite resource like all fossil fuels, and production is expected to peak soon after oil does.[11]

There are large but finite coal reserves which may increasingly be used as a fuel source during oil depletion. The Fischer-Tropsch process converts carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide into heavier hydrocarbons, including synthetic oil. It is used today in South Africa to produce most of that country’s diesel from coal. The Karrick process is an improved methodology for coal liquefaction, with higher efficiency. Since there are large but finite coal reserves in the world, this technology could be used as an interim transportation fuel if conventional oil were to become scarce. There are several companies developing the process to enable practical exploitation of so-called stranded gas reserves, those reserves which are impractical to exploit with conventional gas pipelines and LNG technology.

Methane hydrate is a form of natural gas. This substance consists of methane molecules trapped within the crystalline structure of water ice and is found in deposits under ocean sediments or within continental sedimentary rock formations. It is estimated that the global inventory of methane hydrate may equal as much as 10x the amount of natural gas. With current technology, most gas hydrate deposits are unlikely to be commercially exploited as an energy source. In addition, the combustion of methane results in the formation of carbon dioxide the production of carbon dioxide is no different to any conventional petrolium fuel. Methane itself is also a greenhouse gas, so if it is “spilled” or released it will contribute to global warming. In other respects methane hydrate has the same problems of fossil fuel.

The Expert answers:

Let me quote Obama himself:

“There are things you can do individually, though, to save energy,” Obama said. “Making sure your tires are properly inflated – simple thing. But we could save all the oil that they’re talking about getting off drilling – if everybody was just inflating their tires? And getting regular tune-ups? You’d actually save just as much!”

The Expert answers:

Currently most of the energy that we use has a side effect of pouring CO2 into our atmosphere which is probably contributing to global warming. We would like to find energy that doesn’t do this.

We can use nuclear energy but that also has waste harmful to humans that is tricky to deal with.

It would be nice to get away from them by using solar or something similar.

The Expert answers:

1. Lawrence technological University has an alternative energy engineering program.
2. The University of California, Berkley, offers a minor in Energy and Resources.

3. Graduate programs at UC Berkley offer specialisations in Energy and Resources.
4. Graduate programs at some engineering colleges offer specialisations in renewable energy.

The Expert answers:

I would love to live in Australia but the US is SO much larger and richer. I would think the US would be safer as far as job security, choice and advancement goes.

The Expert answers:

Be a bureaucrat. You won’t be expected to produce anything. All you’ll need to do is harass the people who are actually trying to run a business.

The Expert answers:

Renewable energy is energy which comes from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, which is mainly used for heating, and 3% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for another 2.4% and are growing very rapidly.The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3.4% from new renewables.

Refer this site for more information http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Renewable_energy

The Expert answers:

First off, I’ve been working as a renewable energy engineer for the past 6 years. I’ve worked on a broad spectrum of projects, my primary interest has always been biofuels, but I’ve worked in other renewable energy and renewable resource industries as well. My degree is in chemical engineering.

It depends on what you actually want to do. Wind and solar power industries depend on mechanical and electrical engineers. The biofuel industries like ethanol, biodeisel, biomethanation, bio-gas (syngas and biomethane), and geothermal power industries depend on chemical engineers.

Chemical engineering as a discipline is incredibly diverse, you’ll have opportunities to work in any chem engineering role, as well as the ability to branch out and do work that would typically be fit for mechanical or electrical engineers also. I’ve worked on wind power generation as well as water power generation projects in addition to EXTENSIVE cutting edge research in biofuels.

As far as creating and researching technology goes. I strongly recommend chemical engineering, and I STRONGLY recommend pursuing an advanced degree, and load up with electives to suit renewable energy including bioseparations, biochem processing, electrical engineering/power generation, fluid mechanics, etc etc. If you want to go the biofuels route, add membrane technology to the list. Also take internships that are industry based, not research based, that way you’ll diversify your experiences so you can run the lab with the “real world” in mind. Industrial experience is invaluable for implementing new technologies, but the advanced degree will help make sure you stay involved with research instead of just processing and production.

There are a lot of great RESCO’s to work for around the country. (Renewable Energy Service COmpany). Black and Veatch is expanding their renewable energy interests, Koch engineering as well, NREL is obviously a leader in renewable energy, GE, Ameresco, TetraTech, etc etc. To name some bigger houses, GEVO inc, Edenspace Inc, Midwest Research Institute, CH2M Hill, ICM etc etc to name some middle ground and smaller players that have big influences in the industry.

All that said, good luck with the career choice. I love what I do and I do it well. Some people choose to be a cog in the wheel that makes the world go round… But some of us choose to take charge and guide the world in the right direction. Renewable Energy is the right direction.

The Expert answers:

It’s ownership of the Congress by corporations.

Unrestricted and untraceable funding of the election process in this country is the root of corruption. Companies don’t spend money without an expectation of return and you can bet that the candidates know where the money came from and what’s expected of them. Consider Medicare Part D, the Government can’t even negotiate prices (for the love of Mike!). How much did that cost the pharmaceutical industry and how many billions did it bring them? Add big oil, and big banking and the infection is pernicious and deep.

President Obama is right on this one.

The Expert answers:

Most grocery stores in the U.S. Give you the option of paper or plastic. Almost all department stores use plastic. The only thing I think paper bags are good for is keeping cold and frozen foods cold while you travel home.

The Expert answers:

Two-stroke street bikes are not sold here due to emissions regulations. Same with dirt bikes, soon if not already. The last 2-stroke sport bike widely available here was the Yamaha RZ350. The 1970’s was about the last time you had a wide choice of 2-strokes. The kawasaki triples of that era were fast and evil-handling. The Suzuki triples were relatively refined and handled decently.

My first bike was a Yamaha 2-stroke twin, and I rode a Bultaco Metralla extensively in the ’60s. More recently I have had a number of east European 2-strokes. I still run an MZ, a CZ dirt bike, and a Puch split single. You can still find them for sale, but very few riders run them for daily transportation. Modern 2-strokes, even from the gray market, are almost unheard-of here.

The Expert answers:

We live in a representative democracy. Our representatives will not be re-elected if the economic welfare of the citizenry is not maintained. The wealthy of this country sometimes forget that without the infrastructure that the government provides wealth itself would not exist. The wealthy are only a small portion of the population. The rest of the population will out vote the wealthy to get the government to get a more level playing field.

The Expert answers:

R u serious? Wow

The Expert answers:

This is difficult, because the suburbs by design are far away from where people work and shop. While the green expanses of lawn do prevent water runoff that a parking lot wouldn’t, grass is still a monoculture that does little to benefit wildlife and much to pollute when it needs a shave.

Still there are ways… There are always ways…

I like your term ‘environmental efficiency’. To me that means how to allow ecosystems to coexist with people in suburbs. By replanting native trees cleared when the suburb was created (why must they always do that? Never mind, i know the answer) homeowners can recreate a portion of the local ecosystem. If there were marshes before, create basins to simulate them. Replicate nature. Plant and manage small garden plots and fruit bearing trees, instead of large expanses of grass. Not only will the wildlife be less affected by abrupt changes in the landscape, but the land values will be affected positively by these changes.

Design suburbs with adequate shopping and job opportunities, so residents won’t have to spend 90 minutes in their cars every day. Shade trees and parkways vs six lane ‘boulevards’? Mass transit opportunities? All bonuses when planning and constructing ‘new’ communities… And ‘existing’ rights of way and structures need not be affected, because there are few or none.

Suburbs offer opportunities for sound planning that are hard to implement in existing cities. If we look at them as chances to make fresh starts, they don’t seem quite as scary environmentally.

The Expert answers:

Perhaps you are thinking of Ecoversidade? Http://www.livingroutes.org/programs/e_ecoversidade.htm

Hope this helps!

– Aaron Dalton, Editor, http://1GreenProduct.com

The Expert answers:

Yes, but there is no link for that website…

The Expert answers:

It is? That’s news to me.

The Expert answers:

Fossil fuel is the chemically stored energy of the sun collected by photosynthesis over millions of years. Sustainable fossil fuel consumption would be to use strictly solar energy rather than energy that had been stored by nature over time.

The Expert answers:

These guys are really just bean counters. They just keep track of costs, or estimate costs for proposals of a new building. Maybe they can find savings from one part of a project to spend on a “sustainable” part of the project.
You need the architect of record to be the one pushing for sustainable construction. Also the owner of the project has to really want to do it. Things like geothermal HVAC systems and living roofs with solar panels are great for sustainable construction. But the up front cost are ENORMOUS! A typical HVAC sytem for a commercial building is about $40,000. A geothermal system in the same building is $500,000. It will pay itself off in the long run, but that could be 15-20 years. Govenment might be able to afford those kinds of upgrades for a school or library that they plan on using for 80 years; but a developer that’s trying to make money isn’t going to want to spend 10 or 20 times the cost just to “be green”.

The Expert answers:

Get a he front-loading washer with the highest spin rate you can get use an eco friendly detergent (I use ECOS) hook the washer up to rain barrels and for dryer use a clothesline when possible and a dryer with a moisture sensor when not possible. If you choose not to go with the rain barrels there are systems that store one loads rinse water to be used for the next loads initial wash water which would effectively cut water use in half and as the water from the final rinse would have some detergent may cut down on need for detergent.

The Expert answers:

Could be offensive to muslims

The Expert answers:

Yes, I would, but only if they were as you say just a bit higher priced.

The Expert answers:

American appearal and urban outfitteres

The Expert answers:

I would definitely go into a store like that

but it all depends on whether the clothes is fashionable and affordable

those are the main factors that would decide if i was gonna buy anything and come back the store.

The Expert answers:

Yes-this will help you gain entrance to college. There will probably be hundreds of students with SAT scores and GPA similar to yours, so admissions staff look for something extra in applicants. Community service shows that you multifaceted and willing to give back to the community.

The Expert answers:

Because the environment provides our air, food and water. If we pollute or destroy our resources, we kill ourselves. Also, what about future generations? If anyone has kids, grand kids, nieces, nephews, etc…why not leave something behind for them. Of course if someone does not value life at all, and are totally self absorbed or egotistical they might not care about future generations. You say saving the environment impinges on rights…well if you are dead from eating poison food, drinking polluted water or no water at all, and breathing toxic air…I think your rights would be pretty non-existent then too.

The Expert answers:

We fall down and rot away ( or be eaten) unless there is a social structure or religion

The Expert answers:

It’s because people in this day and age don’t really know what real Free Market Capitalism is. Free Market Capitalism means businesses can pay workers as little as they want, lets say 2 cents an hour. Businesses could also charge as much as they want, so while you are payed your two cents, prices for basics for human survival could be jacked up. For example, $25 dollars for a loaf of bread.

In that society, we are no better off than in a communist country where elites in government control us, and quite honestly the private business owners would probably run this government too. So, Communism and True Free Market Capitalism can end up the same way. We tried Free Market, we stopped because IT FUCKING SUCKS!!!!

The Expert answers:

Republicans have a pretty good record on environmental issues.

1. Among Abraham Lincoln’s vast contributions to the betterment of humanity, one of the lesser known is his conservation record. In 1864, the first and greatest Republican president signed legislation deeding Yosemite Valley and the Mariposa Big Tree Grove to California for public enjoyment and recreation.
Lincoln’s unprecedented action was the seed from which our national parks grew.

2. Benjamin Harrison is one of those obscure 19th century presidents who wore a lot of facial hair and didn’t leave much of a mark on history. Give Harrison credit, however, for signing into law the 1890 Forest Reserve Act, which authorized the establishment of national forests for public uses rather than pell-mell exploitation. The federal government’s forest management record has been checkered, but imagine what would have happened in the law’s absence.

The next time you go snowshoeing in the White River National Forest or rafting in the Monongahela, thank Harrison for his foresight.

3. In 1906, a Republican Congress passed legislation to stop looting of historically significant artifacts on public lands. The law authorized the president to establish national monuments to protect “objects of historic or scientific interest.”

4. Theodore Roosevelt signed the bill into law and ran with it, establishing monuments protecting Devils Tower, the Grand Canyon, Mount Lassen and other rather large “objects.” As president, Roosevelt established 155 national forests, two-thirds of the present system, five national parks, 18 national monuments and 55 bird and game preserves, the cornerstones of our national wildlife refuge system.

5. 1970 was a banner year for Nixon’s environmental achievements. On New Year’s Day, Nixon signed into law the National Environmental Policy Act. Six weeks later, he put a sweeping legislative program of clean air and water, waste reduction and open space acquisition before Congress. Six months later, Nixon established EPA

6. John Saylor represented Pennsylvania in Congress from 1949 to 1973. Saylor kept dams out of Dinosaur National Monument and the Grand Canyon. He crusaded for protecting wild rivers and expanding national parks. And, he was the Republican co-sponsor of the Wilderness Act of 1964, one of the great conservation achievements of the 20th century.

7. The Alaska Lands Act is the single largest land protection achievement in U.S. History. Protection of an overpowering wild landscape of remote mountains, vast forests and free-flowing rivers was secured for future generations in 1980, thanks partly to Senator William Roth of Delaware. Later, with the bill safely passed, Roth sponsored legislation to designate the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge’s coastal plain as wilderness, a cause he championed throughout his remaining years in Congress. Roth is perhaps better known as the author of the Roth IRA retirement plan.

8. Gerald Ford started the U.S. Down the long road to a rational energy policy, by signing, in 1975, a bill containing his proposal for motor vehicle fuel efficiency (CAFE) standards.

9. Reagan championed the1987 Montreal Protocol, which Reagan called a “monumental achievement,” It was the most important international environmental agreement in history.

10. Bush…those four national monuments that he established out in the Pacific Ocean are not easily forgotten either.

The Expert answers:

Hi Yea,

A great benefit is that it will lead to a lot of job growth. We’re basically starting a brand new (for the most part) industry. This can bring employment to a lot of people at all levels.

Also, this will eventually lead to the private sector coming up with their own products and we could create an entirely new market which has competition. With competition comes lower prices on products and services, as well as a higher quality.

Anyways, thats just my opinion. 🙂

Hope this helps.

The Expert answers:

Wind Power is probably the next cheapest compared to your normal electric company. Just make sure you understand your rates for both.

The Expert answers:

Oil companies are in the energy business. If they feel that oil will be running low soon, they will certainly try to corner the market on whatever will replace oil. They are sincere in keeping thier jobs and not being out on the street. Their profits really aren’t that big percentage wise compared to most other industries. They make about a 10% profit on sales while MIcrosoft makes around 95% profit on what they sell. If Exxonmoble did that, you’d be paying upwards of $8 per gallon.

The Expert answers:

Yeah the bums, doing all that damage stuff just so you can turn your computer on.

If they hadn’t done all that damage we’d be hanging them about now.

The Expert answers:

Cars are built by car companies not oil companies. Up till now car companies have had little interest in changing because until about a decade ago there was not that much wide spread interest. The success of the Prius (regardless of how good it actually is) has shown the way Nissan are Mitsubishi are both about to release full electric cars with several of the other large manufacturers not far behind.
Such vehicle are going to be much cheaper due to mass production than the vehicles we have seen so far, that were produced by small start up companies.
Http://www.caradvice.com.au/60462/mitsubishi-i-miev-lands-in-australia-tomorrow/
http://www.nissan.com.au/webpages/about/Electric_vehicles.html

The Expert answers:

I don’t know where you copy/pasted that from but it sounds like a bunch of ” intellectual look how smart I am bull shit ” to me.

The Expert answers:

Yes….

But I’d rather discuss something even MORE basic, let’s talk taxes on a level that a fifth grader can understand…

If the economy is BAD, and the president, congress…It doesn’t matter WHO wants to CUT taxes to STIMULATE the economy….The FACT is, ANYONE wanting to CUT taxes to STIMULATE the economy is working on the (correct) ASSUMPTION that it WILL WORK, and in a free market economy, people who MAKE more money SPEND more money…AND they should be able to KEEP what they have earned…

Instead of the government taking their (my) money AWAY from those who have earned it and giving it to those who have NOT earned it….(social programs).

The MORE the government TAXES, the LESS money is LEFT in the private sector….JUST BY ADMITTING that CUTTING TAXES DOES STIMULATE THE ECONOMY, THEY HAVE ADMITTED THE INVERSE….THE MORE THEY TAX, THE MORE IT HURTS THE ECONOMY….

IS THIS A REVOLUTION FOR THE DEMOCRATIC (party) MINDSET?

IF SO, I’D SAY ABOUT TIME. Then all we need is to get Democrats to admit that unborn babies are human and God belongs in public…I could VOTE Democrat….

I’m not holding my breath on ANYTHING that the new President and Congress do or don’t do, and if ANYONE thinks that all is peaceful between the Democrats, you ARE more naive than a sixth grader….And definitely NOT smarter than a fifth grader.

The Expert answers:

That’s because the private sector is what runs the economy, and not the government. Private spending vs. Govt spending.

Government can’t help the economy by “spending money on thigns that are really needed”. This spoiled generation always thinks there is something we NEED to buy or spend money on. The best thing government can do with the money it steals from the public is to give it back to them and let them control how it is spent, the public always does a better job spending money than the government. Did you know that out of ever dollar spent on welfare, only 20 or 30 cents actually go to those who need it? Whereas in a church, at least 90% goes to people who need it.

The only big things the government really needs to spend money on collectively is the military, schools, and roads. And even many libertarians don’t support publicly funded roads and education.

There is nothing wrong with the govt giving money back to the people, in fact it is the right thing to do. Especially when you have a government who mismanages how money is spent. The sooner the public has money to spend, the sooner the economy will get back in shape. There are also a lot of other factors, obviously, but the bottom line is businesses need buyers.

Boy Wonder

The Expert answers:

I believe there are reasons to be skeptical about implementing a Cap and Trade (CAT) system and only time will tell if such skepticism is validated. At the same time, I believe there are very good reasons why a CAT scheme should be implemented.

On the downside are the brokers who stand to make vast sums of money. In my mind these people are no better than the bankers. They place themselves as intermediaries, deal in something that isn’t theirs in the first place and change a fortune for doing so.

I think it’s highly likely that the major financial markets of the world will empower themselves so that they control the reins of the CAT schemes – in much the same way that many other commodities are controlled. In doing so the market will become regulated by a small few and the trading and price of credits will be controlled by third parties who are only interested in making money for themselves.

In theory, the total amount of equity in a CAT scheme should be a constant amount moving around within a closed system. However, the brokers will eat heavily into this and undoubtedly there will be exorbitant auditing fees and all the costs associated with the implementation and administration of such schemes.

As a consequence, the value of trades within the loop will be eroded thus undermining the whole system, alternatively some form of premium or levy will need to be added to cover the external costs. In short, for every $1 within the CAT system the participants will end up paying $2.

However… if the governments that implement CAT schemes keep a tight control, or hand control to an agency that doesn’t receive remuneration or commissions on trades, then the equity within the system can be maintained more effectively and thus the value of credits will remain close to their original value (less inflation, admin costs etc).

The other alternative of course is to throw the CAT market wide open and make it very easy for the participants to buy and sell credits directly from one another without the need to go through a third party. Thus the cost of a $1 credit is just that – $1, no commissions, admin charges, handling charges, processing charges, procuration fees, costs, disbursements, consultancy fees or other third party parasitic charges.

If, and it’s a big if, the system can be allowed to operate without hindrance within a free market and with a fixed value per credit and where direct trading between participants is permissible then the system should work. But it’s going to take a strong government to stand up to the powerful moneymen and industry controllers to tell them to keep their grubby little hands out of the pot.

What then are the alternatives? Clearly the problem isn’t going to go away and it’s not something that will be addressed through voluntary measures. Many corporations have implemented their own voluntary schemes, this is a step in the right direction and is certainly helping but isn’t going to be anywhere near enough.

Alternatively of course we could just do nothing and deal with the consequences as and when they arrive. We could adopt this selfish approach and let future generations deal with the aftermath of our incompetence and reluctance to take action. This would appear to be the preferred option of some of the skeptics and deniers but perhaps they don’t realise that the economic cost of climate change is already $600 billion a year – and rising.

These costs are ‘hidden’. They’re the extra we pay on our insurance premiums, that additional bit of tax that goes towards flood defence schemes, the bit extra we pay for a loaf of bread because crop harvests half way around the world have failed. We all have to pay these costs and charges but because they’re not in the form of a direct taxation or something that is physically purchases they’re much less apparent.

If we don’t act soon then these hidden charges are going to keep escalating and perhaps in 10, 20, 30 years time when we’re all forking out $1000 extra a year to cover the cost of climate change we may look back and wish we’d acted sooner.

Another option would be one of direct taxation – a financial impediment imposed on businesses, goods, products, services and calculated based on the size of the respective carbon footprints. Given the track record of many governments, this would be little more than a tax raising exercise with much of the money raised being used to subsidise other areas of public spending.

Then there is the option of geoengineering – physically removing greenhouse gases from the atmosphere or implementing a scheme (or schemes) to reduce the amount of sunlight that is converted into thermal radiation.

My own feeling is that this is the avenue we should be pursuing. Not some crazy scheme that tries to replicate nature or interferes with the complex climatological processes of our planet, but a simple scheme that removes greenhouse gases from the atmosphere; the amount removed being equal to the amount we emit.

Such a scheme would take time to implement and time is something we don’t have. As an interim measure CAT may be the best option, it has the potential to be a fair system but could so easily be abused. It also has the distinct disadvantage of not actually moving toward a solution, even if it were to be introduced, we would still need to make very substantial progress in other area such as alternative fuels.

The Expert answers:

Here is a web site for a federal program. I don’t know if it will fit your situation. Http://www.dsireusa.org/library/includes/incentive2.cfm?Incentive_Code=US48F&State=federal&currentpageid=1&ee=1&re=1

This is the main page that leads to the one above, your state may have grants or a loan program in addition to the one from the feds. Http://www.dsireusa.org/

I live in Wisconsin and got a grant for almost $12,000 from the states Focus on Energy program for my wind turbine. I had to take out a home equity loan for the rest.

Thank you for your service to our country.

I did some checking over the past few days and I did find a few banks/credit unions but they are charging 10% interest or more. This is almost as much as they are charging for unsecured debt and they will only loan a small amount, equivalent to less than 6 months of your gross income. If you can swing a refinance on your property that would probably be the least expensive way to go with the banks being nervous right now about anything out of the norm.

The Expert answers:

Most will argue that a “Living Wage” doesn’t make economic sense. While that may or may not be true, to than cut welfare, food stamps & other Government assistance for the WORKING POOR because of taxes is the height of human greed & selfishness.

Most of the people who make use of Government assistance are the working poor & not the individuals who abuse the system. While there are some that know how to bilk the system, back during the Clinton administration the welfare system was revamped.

Republicans don’t understand that the unskilled workforce tend to do seasonal work or work in industries where layoffs are common. This often means that at some point in time they are between jobs / job hunting (far more than professionals).

The Notion that there is a professional level job for every American if they only got good grades and got a College Degree is absurd. Even now College Educated students are joining the enlisted rank in the military or taking unskilled jobs because of our economy. The simple fact is that our society only has a limited number of professional jobs that need to be done.

The Expert answers:

There is a model global village near pondicherry in India. There a many volunteers who work for the surrounding rural people and the betterment of mother earth. I think this is the best way to make rural living sustainable.

The Expert answers:

Hi. Any system that relies on growth to sustain it is ultimately going to fail. Growth cannot be sustained indefinitely.

The Expert answers:

We’re sustaning it right now…as for what the next 500 yrs holds, who knows? I don’t know of anyone that can see into the future…none of us presently living (of course) will find out…

The Expert answers:

I don’t disagree but some folks can’t afford a $30,000+ hybrid car, or $20,000 to get solar panels or even a $5 light bulb. No body is saying no to “greener” technology but right NOW to be green you have have the other green.

The Expert answers:

Try World Vision or Oxfam Alternative Catalogue – very eco-friendly and with several price ranges.

The Expert answers:

This insert card says:

Casey wants you to:

1. Bring gifts.

2. Bring expensive gifts.

3. Bring cheaper gifts that may no longer be to code or rated “safe” for babies, or may not meet my personal requirements for “gently used.”

4. Buy gifts, here, there, and everywhere!!

First, I would make it less about the gifts. Second, if you really want to be “green,” how about an e-vite? Will you be recycling and composting trash items accumulated during the shower? Using real dishes and cups? Not using inexpensive decorations that are not ethically sourced? What about ethically sourced food items?

By all means, register for the items you need at the stores you like. Regardless of those choices, some will follow it and some won’t. Let it go.

The Expert answers:

Breastfeed – no bottles needed 🙂 Most every bottle out there, or at least most that I’ve seen, all say BPA free.

Use cloth diapers and cloth wipes – cloth wipes are the best thing. I never thought I would say that, but they work loads better than disposables. I have 50, and I keep them folded in a huggies container, with a squirt bottle of water next to them. I have a 7 month old daughter, and haven’t bought wipes since December! I never thought I would love cloth diapers either. But they hold explosions far better then any disposable diaper out there. They’re also loads better for baby’s bottom

I wouldn’t trust huggies to have all natural anything. Method, California baby, Burts Bees, etc. Most places have these brands. The best place to go looking is your local health food store.

As far as gifts go – register for whatever you would like. And realize it’s not the end of the world if someone gives you a bottle of Johnson and Johnson soap. Accept it with thanks – and save it. It all comes in handy 🙂

The Expert answers:

Oh, awesome!! I’m trying to have a green wedding too, so here are some ideas I’m using that I wanted to share with you:

Skip the monogrammed paper napkins in favor of reusable cloth napkins, available through a party rental company or restaurant

For centerpieces, have beautiful potted flowers, such as hydrangeas or a mini rosebush, instead of cut flowers. Have a guest at each table take the centerpiece home so they can plant it in their yard. That way, no flowers have to die unnecessarily!

Instead of throwing rice, throw birdseed.

Look for invitations made from 100% recycled paper. They’re all over the place these days!!

If your ceremony and reception venues are close enough together, organize a Euro-style “wedding parade,” in which the bridal party and guests follow the bride and groom on foot to the spot where the party’s going to be. Not only does it cut down on emissions from the cars of all the guests, but it also looks cool and causes a bit of a stir in the street!

Give packets of easy-to-grow flower seeds as favors, rather than other things that may be discarded after the event. It’s the gift that keeps on giving!

If the bride is into it, she could buy her wedding gown from a vintage shop or secondhand dress shop rather than buy a new one. It is such a waste of fabrics and human labor to buy a dress that is only going to be worn once! The bridesmaid dresses and suits for the groom and groomsmen could be bought at similar stores.

Recycle the flowers for the ceremony by reusing them to decorate the reception area. It is such a waste to buy separate flowers for both locations, especially since flowers can easily be stripped from the arch and other areas to be brought to the reception venue for table decorations, etc.

Instead of driving off into the sunset in a traditional limo with a “Just Married” sign, hire a pedi-cab, horse-drawn carriage, bicycle built for two, rickshaw, or some other quirky mode of transportation that doesn’t emit any pollutants. You’ll still get to make a grand exit, but you won’t be hurting the environment while doing so.

In lieu of wedding gifts, ask for charitable donations to an environmental organization such as the EPA or the National Wildlife Federation.

Ask guests to carpool if possible, or better yet, arrange for a charter bus to pick up guests for transportation to and from the wedding. Not only will this reduce pollution from all the cars, but it is also a great way to make sure slightly inebriated guests get home safely.

Good for you, wanting to be environmentally conscious on your big day. Hope my suggenstions helped!

The Expert answers:

It’s too bad there’s not more people like you.I just recently built my own Solar Panels and 2 Wind Generators very easily and very inexpensively.The only help I needed was from an Electrician.All he did was hook up my Solar Panels & Wind Generators to the power grid on my house.The Electric company now pays me.I am now 100% free of electric bills and even make extra money every month.Just imagine what your High School could do with all that extra money.Like I said earlier,The Electric company would actually pay the School every month on top of the money they would be saving by not having any more electric bills.I wish you the best of luck with your project !!! I hope this information helps you and others alike.It’s helped me out tremendously.