Al Gore writes Editorial in NY Times

In an editorial published Sunday in the New York Times, Al Gore outlined the Repower America Plan — how to achieve 100% clean electricity within ten years. We’ve included the editorial below. Vice President Gore describes what’s required to transform our nation’s energy economy.

Can you help spread the word? An easy way to help is to simply write a short letter to the editor of your local paper. If you write today, your letter could get into the Sunday edition this coming weekend. Just go to:

http://www.repoweramerica.org/lte

This is a key moment. President-elect Obama has said that focusing on energy and climate will be a first priority in the new administration. Congress and the new President need to see that they have strong support to “go big” in solving these problems, with clean, homegrown energy — even in the face of the powerful fossil fuel lobbies.

To build this kind of national commitment, we need to clearly expose the “common thread” that connects three of our nation’s major challenges — the economy, national security, and the climate crisis. This common thread is our dependence on dirty coal and foreign oil.

As Al Gore writes, “Here is the good news: the bold steps that are needed to solve the climate crisis are exactly the same steps that ought to be taken in order to solve the economic crisis and the energy security crisis.”

Our simple online tool makes it easy to submit a letter to your local paper. And the letters-to-the-editor section is one of the most widely read sections of any newspaper, because people want to hear what other people think.

You can see the editorial on the NY Times website.

Energy Star House stops in Chicago

Join the fun with GE, the Midwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (MEEA), and ComEd, who will host the Change the World, Start with ENERGY STAR exhibit at Navy Pier. During this October weekend, Navy Pier is transformed into Navy Fear, with fun Halloween activities all day for all ages. The custom-built exhibit will be stationed right outside the Children’s Museum at Gateway Park. GE’s own ‘Mad Scientist’ booth will be across the pier; this interactive laboratory will be a fun way to illustrate the science behind energy-saving light bulbs, with lots of interactive gadgets including meter comparators, energy bikes, fun ‘monster mash’ music, and beakers with dry ice, for effect. Coupons, brochures, and giveaways will be provided. Don’t miss out, this event is sure to be a scream!

Take a room-by-room tour of the home and learn about ways to save with energy-efficient practices and ENERGY STAR qualified products, such as:

* Lighting
* Electronics
* Home Sealing and Insulation
* Appliances
* Office Equipment
* Heating and Cooling Equipment

While you’re there, take the ENERGY STAR Pledge to join in the fight against global warming. And if you’ve already made energy-efficient changes to your home, inspire others to do the same! Each event will have a “testimonial booth” where you can record your individual energy-saving story about how you have made a positive change for the environment.

Where: Navy Pier Chicago, Illinois
When: October 18–19, 2008

T. Boone Pickens Visits Chicago Navy Pier

For those of you who don’t know anything about Pickens or his Plan (http://www.pickensplan.com/), he is a Texas oilman who has acknowledged the many limitations of oil and wants to develop renewable energy and natural gas to replace our reliance on it. He is running many TV ads so you may have seen one of those, we have featured a few of his videos on our blog. Since Pickens has the ear of government and financial leaders, his ideas hold a lot of weight. The event is at 10:30am on Oct. 14th in the Grand Ballroom at the end of Navy Pier. I plan to go and hope to see you there if you can make it.

Info from his staff-

I’m working on behalf of T. Boone Pickens and the Pickens Plan here in Illinois, and I want to invite you to attend a Town Hall Meeting next Tuesday, October 14th at 10:30 am in the Navy Pier Grand Ballroom.

Congressman Rahm Emanuel will speak and introduce Mr. Pickens, who will take questions from the audience. Please pass this invite along to anyone you know who may also like to attend.

Please join T.Boone Pickens For an Energy Town Hall Meeting Where he will discuss his plan and take questions from the audience.

When: Tuesday, October 14
10:30 AM (Doors Open 9:00 AM)
Where: Navy Pier 600 East Grand Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611 in the Grand Ballroom

No ticket required, open to the public. Limited seating available.

R.S.V.P. reply to townhall@respublicagroup.com

ABC won't air ad for the environment?

Did you notice the ads after the presidential debate?

ABC had Chevron. CBS had Exxon. CNN had the coal lobby. But you know what happened last week? ABC refused to run our Repower America ad — the ad that takes on this same oil and coal lobby.

I sent a letter asking ABC to reconsider their decision and put our ad on the air, but still we haven’t heard back more than a week later. I think they need to hear from all of us. Can you help? Please send a message to ABC and tell them to air the Repower America ad this Friday on 20/20. Just click here:

http://www.wecansolveit.org/ABC

We’re working to get 150,000 public comments to ABC before 20/20′s next airing.

Our Repower America ad has a clear and simple message — that massive spending by oil and coal companies on advertising is a key reason our nation hasn’t switched to clean and renewable sources for our energy.

Here’s the script of the ad:

The solution to our climate crisis seems simple.
Repower America with wind and solar.
End our dependence on foreign oil. A stronger economy.
So why are we still stuck with dirty and expensive energy?
Because big oil spends hundreds of millions of dollars to block clean energy.
Lobbyists, ads, even scandals.
All to increase their profits, while America suffers.
Breaking big oil’s lock on our government …
Now that’s change.
We’re the American people and we approve this message.

As our country faces deep economic problems, we need to be able to have an honest debate about the root causes of our problems. As Al Gore has said, “We’re borrowing money from China to buy oil from the Persian Gulf to burn it in ways that destroy the future of human civilization. And every bit of that has to change.”

As oil and coal backed groups outspend even major party committees in this political year, it’s outrageous that ABC would deny our ad. Let ABC know what you think. Just click here.

Thank you,

Cathy Zoi
CEO
www.wecansolveit.org

(source wecansolveit.org)

Free Us From Foreign Oil

The We Can Solve It Campaign have launched a new video advertisement about how the politicians need to act now- Check out the commercial below…

$427 million. That’s what the oil and coal industries spent during the first half of 2008 on lobbying and advertising. They’re protecting their interests – and hurting ours.

This ad is running on TV right now, but we need millions more to see it. The special interests will outspend us, but we can compete head-to-head with them when we find ways to share these messages for free.

We must rebuild our economy, lower fuel costs, free ourselves from our addiction to oil, and save ourselves from the climate crisis. To do this, we need to demand that we Repower America with 100% clean electricity within 10 years. Meeting this ambitious goal would create millions of new jobs, lead to lower energy costs for families and help America lead the fight against global warming.

Visit We Can Solve It for more info

Solar Taxi powers its way through Chicago

The Sears Tower welcomes another history maker to Chicago. Swiss adventurer Louis Palmer will stop at the country’s tallest building on Monday, August 18, as part of his world tour in his solar-powered vehicle, the “Solartaxi”

With climbing gas prices, Palmer’s Solartaxi is traveling 32,000 miles – visiting 40 countries on five continents – without spending a single penny on gas or releasing a single emission into the air. It is the first car driving around the world on the energy of the sun alone, and this is the first time the car will be in Chicago.

Palmer and his Solartaxi will be on display at the Sears Tower, which is dedicated to environmental stewardship. He will also give a presentation on the Solartaxi’s background and green features!

When & Where: Monday, August 18, 2008 12:00 p.m. – 2 p.m.
You can view this beauty at the Sears Tower (on Wacker Drive, at the southwest corner near the Skydeck entrance) 233 S. Wacker Drive, Chicago

Ikea is investing in Green Technology

Ikea, the store that is known for cheap and disposable furniture is remaking its image. Ikea has begun to reshape its image by selling better quality products in the US, that last longer. Recently they began charging for plastic bags and have diverted 95% of the plastic bags that used to be common in the major retailer. They have been selling millions of their branded reusable bags which has created a flock of new users for recyclable bags. So, we know it’s hip to be a cleantech investor, but so far new cool-cred seekers have come largely from politics, the dotcoms and, well, Google. But Swedish home furnishing designer Ikea? — Yeah, at least that’s according to the Cleantech Group. The site reports that Ikea has created a green fund, Ikea GreenTech, which will invest €50 million ($77.17 million) into cleantech startups over the next five years.

Ikea’s ultimate goal is to sell consumer cleantech products like solar products, efficient lighting sources, and water purification products, says the report. The company will likely use the same mantra that it’s used for its other products — well designed and low cost. Its slogan “affordable solutions for better living,” could soon echo “for greener living.” Ikea already sells pre-fab homes in certain locations, and we can easily envision LED lamps, solar water heaters and even DIY solar panels.

Ikea GreenTech was established about 8 months ago, employs just four people, and is located in Lund, Sweden. The fund will largely invest in local and European cleantech startups.
Source Green Tech

You Know Gas Prices Are High When Texans Start Driving Golf Carts

The land of big oil and big trucks is seeing more miniature electric cars on the road – Wall Street Journal
This video and article talks about the sudden interest in electric cars and what their capabilities of these gas free alternatives.

This is a photo of Chicago’s Sopraffina Marketcaffe Zap Electric Car. They were out celebrating Earth Day with the unveiling of a new, first-of-its-kind, 100 percent solar-electric powered catering vehicle. Jessup’s Automotive in Lagrange is where you can purchase this electric car.

Zero Energy Home For Sale

GreenWerks has teamed up with 2 Point Perspective to build a Zero Energy Home in Oak Park. This excellent showcase home is across from a park and a three minute walk to the “El.” This beautiful home will have the LEED Platinum rating, from the USGBC. Zero Energy home would be delivered earth day of 2009, and we are hosting a six week educational series once the home is completed. The educational series will host a series of educational classes, workshops, fundraisers for local green non-profits and tours!

This fantastic home is 2400 sqft, has three bathrooms and four bedrooms. It is powered by the display of solar panels and geothermal for the heating and cooling. It will boast amazing features like Armstrong ceilings, r-40 walls (super insulated), eco-kitchen, bamboo flooring, over sized windows and a savings of $100,000 over a 30 year mortgage in utility costs. This home is being offered for $649,000. If you are interested in seeing detailed plans for the home, please give our office a call or you can email mark [@] greenwerkspro.com.

Offered in the mid 600’s

I Go Car Sharing

I GO is a non-profit arm of the Center for Neighborhood technology. (cnt.org) This car sharing service is an excellent resource for the Chicagoan that is looking to use a car once in a while. With rates starting at $6 an hour, which includes gas, insurance and the car, this is an excellent alternative to owning a car. GreenWerks has a few employees who are members and personally vouch for this great service.

Car sharing is a service that provides members with access to a fleet of eco-friendly vehicles on an hourly basis. Once you become a member (within 3-5 business days), you can reserve any car you like in advance and drive it for as long as your reservation. It is not like car pool because it is “yours” for that amount of time. It is not like car rental because you PAY BY THE HOUR. Therefore, the best and most cost-effective trips are those that are short in time and distance.

With the price of gas, city stickers, permit stickers, license plates, state stickers, city tickets, insurance and car maintenance- I GO Cars is an great alternative! Check them out online at igocars.org