Photo: Kelly Rossiter
Right about now people are wondering about how to use up their tomatoes, and of course, all the zucchini they have from their garden. Here is a soup that takes advantage of both of those while adding some protein from the black beans. I used tomatoes and zucchini from my own garden, and garlic from my n...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Source: IHS CERA Oil Sands, Greenhouse Gases, and US Oil Supply PDF
Hundreds have been arrested at the White House in the protest against the Keystone XL pipeline. James Hansen has said "it's essentially game over" if it is built. But today Energy Secretary Steven Chu implied that it's a done deal, saying "It's not perfect, but it's a trade off." He suggests that the problem is not supply, but demand. According to Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image: Radio Nederland Wereldomroep via flickr
The tiny South American nation of Suriname has recently joined its neighbor Guyana in creating an agency dedicated to dealing with climate change. Suriname, the continent's smallest country, is a low-lying nation on the northern coast of South America, with the majority of the population concentrated along the coast where the capital is located.
More importantly, Suriname counts itself as one of ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo: Jungbim via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
Much to the contrary of the rhetoric used by the Keystone XL's supporters (which now appear to be not only the U.S. State Department, but Obama's Energy Secretary Stephen Chu), the tar sands pipeline that thousands of citizens are pro...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo by chapmankj75 via Flickr CC
Noise pollution from humans is guilty of many things -- causing whales to lose their way, killing giant squid, leading baby fish away from good habitat, and generally stressing out animals. But while we know noise pollution in the oceans is causing whales to yell their songs, scientists have only just discovered that it is also causing birds to change their tune -- and it seems to lead to a problem with fidelity and mate selection. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo credit: cliff1066 via Flickr/CC BY
Good news from Alexandria, Virginia: Its dirty GenOn coal plant, which has drawn the ire of residents and activists, is shutting down next year. The plant had failed to comply with Clean Air Act standards for years, and occupied some of the city's prime waterfront space to boot. A recent report confirmed that the plant wasn't ne...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photos by Jaymi Heimbuch
Fondue is the perfect dish. Yes, it is tasty (very tasty!) but it also a very social dish. Good friends gather around the fondue pot just waiting to see who'll be the first to lose their bread chunk--it's usually me! Enjoy this dark chocolate fondue with a late harvest Mourvèdre, you won't regret it. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Photo by ericmcgragor via Flickr CC
When we stated our seven ideas we want Tim Cook to focus on as the new leader of Apple, we included detailed tracking and transparency of the environmental footprint of the company for every product. We, of course, aren't the only once concerned with the impact of Apple's supply chain. Five Chinese environmental NGOs published the findings of a seven-month study, showing that Apple has a lot of clean-up work to do ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
photo: Mark Rain/CC BY
A new deal has been reached between Exxon and Russian oil firm Rosneft. Under the $3.2 billion agreement oil exploration in the Arctic Kara Sea will take place in what The Guardian describes as "one of the last unconquered drilling frontier...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Shwood Eyewear
Whether it's a tiny, off-grid home for $2500 or DIY Appalachian Gothic architecture from recycled pallet wood, unconventional, natural homes are often as much about personal expression as they are sustainable building. And that certainly holds true of the incredible, fantasy-like structures build by one Washington artist/home builder. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
The Gulf region may be experiencing declines in employment and suffering under the weight of environmental degradation as a result of the Deepwater Horizon oil leak in 2010, but the prospect of recovery seems closer than it has in a long time with the introduction of the bipartisan coalition-sponsored RESTORE Act. If properly structured, this act could have a major positive impact on the green jobs sector in the region, benefiting the local citizens through sustainable employment and environmental restoration.
The RESTORE Gulf Coast States Act is legislation that aims to direct penalties paid by BP and others involved in the oil disaster to programs that will direct the communities and local environment specifically. The idea of using these funds for cleaning up the Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf Coast is strongly supported by Americans (83% nationwide).
“The damage from the oil spill was done in the Gulf, so Congress should ensure that oil spill fines go to the Gulf, not to unrelated federal spending,” reads a joint statement issued by Environmental Defense Fund, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, The Nature Conservancy, Ocean Conservancy and Oxfam America. “This Gulf state agreement paves the way for Congress to do what voters expect: hold the parties responsible for the Gulf oil disaster accountable for restoring the Gulf because our nation’s economy depends on a healthy Gulf region.”
Let’s hope they choose to funnel the money to long-term, sustainable green jobs that benefit the communities for many years to come. Express your support for the bill by telling your politicians that you want to create green jobs with oil spill money.
Image Via Flickr: Editor B
Photo by U.S. Army Environmental Command
New "smart collars" that use GPS and accelerometer technology are being developed to track not only a wild animal's location but also how it is moving, when it is hunting, what it is hunting -- in other words, these collars can tell us its every move. Researchers hope that knowing exactly what animals such as mountain lions, wolves and coyotes are up to, we can understand these animals like never before and possibly even predict their behavior, helping to reduce human-animal conflicts. ...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: anwerpenR, used under Creative Commons license.
Apologies in advance if this turns into a rant, but I have to get something off my chest.
Only this weekend, I was listening to a popular radio show about money, and the theme was all about downsizing and thrift—talking to Americans about how they had modified their spending habits, and established a more sustainable, mindful relationship with their money. Then yesterday I'm listening to another episode of that same show, and the presen...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Joanna Eede has an excellent piece on Huffington Post Green discussing the western idea of "wilderness" and how it often excludes indigenous peoples.
"In attributing other-worldly qualities to nature, however, and in seeing them as sacred spaces where God lives but man must not, ideas developed which were arguably at the root of conservation policies. 'For decades, the idea of 'wilderness' has been a fundamental tenet of the environmental movement,' wrote the historian William Cronon. Such policies adversely affected the indigenous...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image credit: Tar Sands Action, used under Creative Commons license.
Leading environmental leaders have called for civil disobedience against the Keystone Pipeline, and James Hansen has argued that if Obama approves Keystone, i...Read the full story on TreeHugger
Image: USACE Europe District/CC BY 2.0
The Institute of Medicine, an independent non-profit organization that works without political or commercial agenda, just released a study that should further Read the full story on TreeHugger
Since they became something homeowners and environmentalists could install around their own properties, solar panels have proved incredibly popular. But whether you want them to save money or save the planet, it is important to have things like safety signs around to protect others.
Solar panels aren’t cheap, so if you do happen to be investing in them and are not confident of your own DIY skills, it may be advisable to contact a professional. The complexity of the installation will depend entirely on the make, model, size and position you choose – so think very carefully about whether or not it is something you will be happy doing on your own.
If you do decide to take on the project yourself, it is best to be prepared. Even if you are only installing compact solar panels, it is likely to be a messy task and will require electrical equipment and tools. Therefore, warning or hazard signs might be useful while you are doing the job. Of course, this is something to consider whenever you tackle a home improvement project – especially if yours is a family home where inquisitive hands are likely to be around.
When you start the installation process, try to do some research to help you understand roughly how your solar panels or system is going to work. If you don’t have at least some knowledge of the reasons why you are drilling holes and stringing cables up all over the outside and inside of your home, you are more likely to come unstuck – or worse still, damage the equipment itself before you’ve even had chance to enjoy its benefits.
If all of this sounds too complex, rethink the possibility of employing a professional. You’ll want to figure out whether the panels are to be flush against the roof of your property or tilted up, as well as whether they need individual panel mounts. This is all information that a 
qualified person will be able to help you with – so don’t hesitate to contact one if you find yourself scratching your head! Regardless of who ends up putting them in though, make sure you fit trip hazard signs where necessary to make sure people are a aware they are there.
Solar panels can be a great addition to your home and, in the long term, could help you save money on your energy bills. Installing them properly will help you make the most out of them too and reduces the risk that they will need attention or replacement later on.
I am an eco entrepreneur, author, and admin here on People Planet Profit Blog. Let me know if you have any questions I am here to help. I’ll show you how to make a rewarding and profitable career in the Energy Industry... just contact me.
