Ecotourism as a political act

Posted on October 23, 2010 by quest

When travel writer Rick Steves talks about “Travel as a Political Act,” the title of his new book; to me what he is essentially talking about is incorporating ecotourism principals into a travel experience. As a writer, and producer of the popular television series Rick Steves’ Europe, and through his travel books, he encourages Americans and readers to discover not only major cities, but also cozy villages away from popular tourist routes. In a recent Sacramento Bee interview he said he felt that in some ways ecotourism was a marketing hook; yet making a difference through responsible travel seems like something everyone can do. While it’s sometimes called sustainable, green or even adventure travel, ecotourism seeks to recognize the environmental, economic and social impact travel can have on the traveler as well as with people and places visited.

With respect to his own travel experience Steves says “I fondly remember the confusion I felt when I first met someone who wouldn’t trade passports with me. I thought, “I’ve got more wealth, more freedom, more opportunity than you’ll ever have—why wouldn’t you want what I’ve got?” I assumed anyone with half a brain would aspire to the American Dream. But the vast majority of non-Americans don’t. They have the Bulgarian Dream, or the Sri Lankan Dream, or the Moroccan Dream. Thanks to travel, this no longer surprises me.

RICK STEVES – TRAVEL AS A POLITICAL ACT

In fact, I celebrate it. I was raised thinking the world is a pyramid with us on top and everybody else trying to get there. Well into my adulthood, I actually believed that if another country didn’t understand that they should want to be like us, we had every right to go in and elect a government for them that did.” Steves believes that Americans who approach travel thoughtfully — as a political act — can have the time of their lives and come home with a better understanding of the interconnectedness of today’s world and just how our nation fits in. His book, “Travel as a Political Act” is now available in stores and online. It was Mark Twain who wrote, “travel is the enemy of bigotry, narrow-mindedness, and prejudice.”

NEW WATER

Caltech activates and researches solar energy

Posted on October 22, 2010 by quest

National power financier Perpetual Energy Systems and California Institute of Technology (Caltech) today announced the activation of a 1.1 mega watt (MW) solar energy system. The system is part of Caltech’s goal of 1.3MW of solar power installed by 2010. The project is expected to generate an estimated 1,646,668 kilowatt hours of clean energy in its first full year of operation. The new solar power system will eliminate approximately 1,150 metric tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) in its first year of operations, which is equivalent to removing 222 cars from the nation’s roads or planting 252 acres of trees.

John Onderdonk, Caltech’s Sustainability Manager said,“This recent installation, which brings Caltech’s total installed solar capacity to 1,300 kW represents two percent of the Institute’s energy consumption and contributes significantly to our plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020; Our agreement with Perpetual allows the Institute all the advantages of solar, but without the financial outlay for the installation and maintenance. This is a win-win situation for us and we look forward to working with them again on future solar installations.” Caltech entered into a power purchase agreement (PPA) with Perpetual to host the solar installations, enabling Caltech to host solar with no capital outlay. Under the agreement Caltech will purchase clean solar energy produced by each installation at a predetermined, fixed rate. The system is owned and operated by Perpetual.

More than 4,500 solar panels comprise the system, which will generate electricity from the rooftops of seven structures on the Caltech Campus.The Cahill Center is one of the selected buildings and is Caltech’s first building to achieve USGBC LEED gold-level certification. Back in July U.S. Deputy Secretary of Energy Daniel Poneman awarded Caltech $122 million to research solar energy over five years with a multidisciplinary team of top scientists to establish an Energy Innovation Hub; aimed at developing revolutionary methods to generate fuels directly from sunlight. The hub will include Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and will be directed by Nathan S. Lewis, George L. Argyros Professor and professor of chemistry at Caltech.

ROBERT F KENNEDY JR ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

GREEN: WEBINARS

EPA gives San Francisco Green Leadership Award

Posted on October 22, 2010 by quest

Green city by the bay San Francisco has just received the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) 2010 Green Power Leadership Award. Mayor Gavin Newsom in announcing the award said, “San Francisco’s commitment to clean energy is producing green jobs and real benefits for our City today. The economic advantages of a green economy are very tangible and we can feel the effects of clean energy in the air we breath; with each solar panel, day-by-day, we’re fueling San Francisco’s transformation into a green economy powered by increasingly clean, renewable energy.” In the past the EPA has given San Francisco other awards , including an award for its Moscone Convention Center Solar Array.

The EPA Green Power Leadership Awards recognizes winners in several categories such as; Green Power Partner of the Year; On-site Generation; Green Power Purchase, and Green Power Community of the Year. The City of San Francisco was one of only two organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. By using more than 25 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) annually from its biogas facilities and nine municipal solar installations the City has become a nationwide leader. These solar installations are located on nine facilities and rooftops throughout the City, including the City’s largest reservoir and the San Francisco International Airport. San Francisco is soon set to begin generating up to 5 megawatts (MW) of solar energy at the Sunset Reservoir Solar Array just completed by Recurrent Technologies at what will be California’s newest and largest municipal solar project (nearly 24,000 solar panels).

Speaking for the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) General Manager Ed Harrington said, “We’re honored to accept this Green Power Leadership Award. Our solar and low-impact hydroelectric projects, as well as our ongoing wind and wave power studies are making San Francisco a focal point for emerging technologies that are greening our economy and power.” The SFPUC is responsible for the installation and operation of the City’s renewable energy generating network. San Francisco is also currently studying the feasibility of offshore wave power generation.

WAVE ENERGY

NEW WATER

October is solar energy month in California

Posted on October 21, 2010 by quest

Earlier this month California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger declared October “Solar Energy Month.” In his proclamation that “under the California Solar Initiative we are moving toward our goal of installing 1 million more roof systems by 2018.” This is in response to California’s Climate Change Initiative which set a goal that 2020 33% of California’s energy consumption will come from clean renewable energy sources.

Because California produces 6.2 percent of the total U.S., greenhouse gases the state has been working on and finding solutions to reduce on climate since 1988. In 2005 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s signed an executive order on climate change that kicked into high gear to further advance clean renewable energy and other solutions to lower our state’s greenhouse gas emissions.
He also praised the job-creating value of increasing reliance upon solar power from commercial and residential projects springing up all the round the state. While the benefits of an ever expanding California solar market seem obvious, sponsors (Texas oil) of Proposition 23 want to smack the bill back into yesterday. What do Californians have to say about it?

CALIFORNIA ENERGY SMACK DOWN

CARL POPE SIERRA CLUB CHAIRMAN

Taking Initiative

GO MOBILE GO QUESTPOINT

New solar solutions to offer lower costs and options

Posted on October 20, 2010 by quest

New advancements in solar technology continue to find their way to the market. From the recent Solar Power International show comes “stick on solar introduced by Lumenta a California roofing and solar developer. The stick on the roof solar mounting system called Power Ply “Peel and Stick Solar” means no more drilling holes in your roof to install solar panels. Lumenta also designs solar panels systems that integrate into tiled roofs.

From MIT researchers are creating a device that will help manufacturers design window systems that bring more daylight into buildings while controlling incoming solar radiation. The result should be significant energy savings and more contented occupants and the new solar blinds business. Solar blinds and spray on solar options are part of the next generation of solar solutions that offer some alternative energy creation.

More than a third of the energy used in the United States is consumed in buildings, and 25 to 40 percent of that third is used to run electric lights. In many cases, daylight could be used instead. “Depending on the building and how it’s used, a good daylighting strategy can reduce the need for energy-consuming electric lighting by 20 to 80 percent,” said Professor Marilyne Andersen of the MIT Department of Architecture.

VISIT THE SOLAR WALL

This BP Thing

Posted on October 20, 2010 by quest

It’s been just over six months since the BP oil rig explosion released well over 200,000,000 gallons of toxic oil into the Gulf of Mexico. The figure is staggering, making it the largest environment accident in US history. What is also mind boggling is that according to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) Americans use 800 million gallons of oil a day. 800 Million PER DAY. Now that’s a serious habit. If there’s a silver lining to every dark cloud maybe, just maybe this tragedy can be a catalyst to begin an honest national discussion about how we move the nation forward in what’s still a new century.

Solar, renewable energy and climate change are issues that must be addressed and yet there is the need to explore the economic condition of what’s happening now in the Gulf.

This month NRDC, Story Corps and Bridge the Gulf went to the Gulf region to interview and share the stories and experiences of those living through the BP oil disaster. What you will see and hear is not traditionally heard in the mainstream media. The NRDC hopes that by getting these stories out there we all can help prevent another BP oil rig explosion.

GEORGE BARISICH – THIS BP THING

NRDC is a well established and highly regarded international environmental action organization. Founded in 1970 by a group of law students and attorneys at the forefront of the environmental movement NRDC lawyers helped write some of America’s bedrock environmental laws. With the support of 1.3 million members they use law, science, policy experts and and online activists to protect the planet for all living things.Today they operate in Beijing, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco and Washington.