Wednesday, November 14, 2007

How "Green" Are You?


Two nifty websites to compute your impact on the earth:

The Carbon Counter at http://www.stopglobalwarming.org/carboncalculator.asp

calculates ways of reducing carbon emissions in your own life, and how much money you may save doing so.

The Ecological Footprint quiz looks at how much land and resources it takes to support your lifestyle, depending on a variety of factors.

http://www.earthday.net/Footprint/index.asp

There may be parts which are not applicable to every person or household, but these two quizzes sure did get me thinking! Hope you enjoy them.

Monday, November 12, 2007

Action Item: North Star Safety Access Project

The issue: Children walking to North Star Elementary School need safe access on or along city streets, including better lighting.

What: KIB Worksession for the North Star Safety Access Project
Where: Borough Worksession Room
When: Tuesday, November 13th 2007 at 7:30 PM

Action Item: Renewable Energy Standard

This came in today from Susan Payne:
Please read the forwarded email and consider giving Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D, CA) and Sen. Harry Reid (D, NV) a call to register your shock at their actions.

Nancy Pelosi 202-225-4695
Harry Reid 202-224-3542

We received this alert from Vote Solar. As a "solar citizen", if you act now, you can influence the future of our country:

"On Thursday morning, Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi decided to drop the renewable energy standard out of the energy bill and drop the tax title. No tax title means no extension of the investment tax credit for solar, and no extenstion of the production tax credit for wind.

Let's see...nothing for solar, plus nothing for wind, hmmm, add no renewable energy standard, carry the zero...yep, that adds up to precisely nothing for renewable energy.
Got that? Congressional leadership is moving an energy bill with nothing in it for renewable energy. Dropping the biggest pro-solar provision this country has ever seen, just when the industry is gaining momentum and making an impact.
We've got maybe 24 hours to turn this around. We suggest calling until the Capitol switchboard melts. Can you ask your representative to pass the renwable energy message to Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi? A suggested script might go like this:
"Hi. My name is__. I, and 90% of America, would like more renewable energy. It's not a tough call, since it's pretty clear that the future of the world depends on it. So, please tell Senator Reid and Speaker Pelosi to include a 8-year extension for the solar investment tax credits in the energy bill. Thank you."

You can find your representative's contact information here. http://yahoo.capwiz.com/y/dbq/officials/

Call the Washington office. Don't just fill out their email form.
Additional talking points include:

Clean energy means jobs and energy independence.
America needs carbon-free renewable energy, now.
The fight against global warming will only be won by a transition to renewable energy.
The energy bill must extend investment tax credits for solar.
Our future depends on some strong leadership. Isn't that what leaders are supposed to do?

Many thanks.

Meeting: November 12, 2007

How many ways do you already make a difference?


Come and share ideas at our meeting on


November 12, 2007

7:15 pm

Rm. 106 Benny Benson Building

Kodiak College