Every year, millions of Americans make sweeping New Year’s resolutions. Lose 30 pounds. Work out at the gym three times a week. Give up sugar. Quit smoking. Stop drinking. With the exception of a few hardy souls, most of us slip up before the Spring Equinox.
So why join the masses in a venture almost surely guaranteed to fail? Why not, instead, embark upon a New Year’s goal that’s easy to reach, and can be completed in just one month?

Below is a checklist of simple action steps Perhaps you’ve read about these simple tips. Maybe you’ve even tried some of them, but haven’t gotten around to implementing all of them. This year, instead of making sweeping New Year’s Resolutions, vow to spend the month of January working through any uncompleted items on this fourteen-point checklist. By February, you will have changed your life for the better, and will reap the rewards for years to come!
* Make your own Furniture Polish. In a pint-sized spray bottle, mix together 3 tablespoons of oil,
1/3 cup of white vinegar, and enough water to fill the bottle. Add in a few drops of lemon essential oil, if you like. Shake well before each use.
16

* Make your own All-Purpose Cleaning Solution. In a pint-sized spray bottle, mix together one cup of water, one cup of white vinegar and a few drops of tea tree oil. Shake well before each use.

* Check out your local food co-op or health food store for eco-friendly dish detergent sold in bulk. When purchased in bulk, vegetable-based biodegradable detergent will cost little more than the artificially-colored, chemical smelling, petroleum-based detergents that grace the shelves of most grocery stores. And by reusing containers and buying in bulk, you’ll help save on plastic packaging too!

*Stop Junk Mail. Perhaps you weren’t ambitious enough to tackle all two pages of suggestions in the Spring 2003 edition. No need to beat yourself up. Go back and read the article if you’d like. Or, to reduce your junk mail volume by 50—70% with one simple step, send your address, as well at the name of everyone in your household, to:
Mail Preference Service Direct Marketing Association P.O. Box 643 Carmel, NY 10512

* Install a low-flow shower head. If you can’t find one at your local hardware store, ask your local water company, electric company or gas company. The new-and- improved low-flow shower heads provide a good strong water flow while simultaneously reducing the amount of water you use.

* Set up a box with 8.5” x 11” scrap paper next to your printer. That way it’s easy to reuse scrap paper for printing out rough drafts, or personal copies of documents.

*Invest in a surge-protecting power strip. This will help prevent damage to your computer during a power-surge or electrical storm. It will also allow you to completely turn off the power to your computer and its peripherals, eliminating the “phantom load” phenomenon that causes some electronics to suck power even when “turned off ”.

*Spend the month of January experimenting with a prepaid long-distance calling card from either BigZoo.com or OneSuite.com. You need only buy the calling cards in $10 increments. See the Fall 2003 edition for tips on making these calling cards as easy to use as possible. If you like the service, consider dropping your long distance service at the end of the month.

*Register with the National Do Not Call Registry. Either call 1-888-382-1222 or register online at www.donotcall.gov. You must call from the phone number you wish to register. There is no way to register a “distinctive” or “custom” ring number by phone; you must register such numbers online. Despite the ample controversy over this registry, I’ve found it to be effective in virtually eliminating telemarketing calls, since most telemarketing firms are voluntarily complying with the list while they wait to see what will happen in court.

*Read your dishwasher manual. Find out just how much automatic dishwasher detergent you need to use. Call your local water company, or check the results of your most recent well-water test, tofigure out if you have soft, medium or hard water; the amount of detergent you need to use will depend in part on how hard your water is.

*Comparison shop for the best rates on auto insurance. Three simple phone calls are all you need to make. Check out Amica (800-242-6422), Progressive (800- 776-4737), and Geico (800-861- 8380). Before you call for quotes, be sure to take out your current policy so you can compare apples and apples. There are many different components to auto insurance— collision, comprehensive, liability, and uninsured motorist, just to name a few—and each component has its own deductible and maximum payout. To truly compare quotes, give the agent all the details so he or she can work up a quote for a comparable policy.

*Call 1-888-OPT-OUT. This will stop those annoying “you have been pre-approved for a credit card” letters.

Food vs fuel proponents argue biofuels replace food crops, therefore causing food shortages For the following reasons this is a short sighted argument. 1. Most crops used for biofuels production in the US aren’t for human consumption, their alternative use is as animal feed2. A co-product of the ethanol production process is a feed ingredient that replaces much of the nutrient value derived from the corn 3. Biofuels reduce the demand (and price) of oil which encourages further world trade
Discussion
Are biofuels the apt alternative to petroleum fuels while they are decreasing the supply and increasing the cost of food?

Having reasonable options for solving problems seems to be a better choice than having none. Biofuels, even 1st generation biofuels, provide a reasonable solution for a part of our petroleum based fuel problem. They are not the complete solution but make sense in the evolutionary process of how to solve our petroleum dependence issue.

In summary, let’s look at the food vs. fuel debate. Later on we’ll focus on what drove our initial leap into biofuels and how things have changed since.

The food vs. fuel debate is focused on the following premise: biofuels replace crops for food, therefore causing a shortage in our food supply. This is a short sighted argument. To help frame this point let’s look at some figures from 2008; namely US demand for crude oil and corn and the prices for these commodities. Read More

WASHINGTON — Auto-industry officials are in advanced talks with Capitol Hill lawmakers on a proposal that would aim to revive vehicle sales by giving federal tax credits of as much as $4,500 to consumers who replace older gas guzzlers with new, fuel-efficient cars.

Executives and lobbyists for domestic and foreign auto makers hope to reach an agreement on what they call a “cash for clunkers” program in the next few days so it can be added to a nearly $900 billion economic-stimulus package the Senate will debate next week. A House version of the package, valued at $819 billion, passed on a largely party-line vote Wednesday.

It isn’t clear that auto makers and Congress will strike a deal. Detroit Three executives haven’t signed off on a plan, in part because they worry that the plan would encourage people to replace their older, American-made cars and trucks with new vehicles made by overseas-based rivals. It isn’t clear how long the program would last or what it would cost the government.

The cash-for-clunkers plan is one of dozens of proposals designed to aid certain industries and companies that lobbyists are pitching to lawmakers. Together, those provisions have pumped up the cost of the economic-stimulus proposals by billions of dollars.

Full Article at: Click Here

Measure Introduced by Senators Feinstein, Collins, and Schumer Would Establish National Incentive Program for Voluntary Retirement of Fuel-Inefficient

Washington, DC – A measure introduced today by U.S. Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Susan Collins (R-Maine), and Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) would establish a national voucher program to enable and encourage drivers to voluntarily trade in their older, less fuel efficient car, truck or SUV for a more fuel efficient vehicle.

Specifically, the so-called “Cash for Clunkers” program would reimburse drivers with a credit of $2,500 to $4,500 for drivers who turn in fuel-inefficient vehicles to be scrapped, and purchase a more fuel efficient vehicle. The traded-in vehicles must have a fuel economy of no more than 18 miles per gallon, be in drivable condition, and have been registered for at least the past 120 days. Vouchers could also be redeemed for transit fares for participating local public transportation agencies. The program would operate for four years, from 2009 – 2012, and is expected to encourage the early retirement of up to one million vehicles per year.

“Last Congress, we successfully enacted legislation – which I authored with Senator Snowe and others – to improve the fuel efficiency of America’s fleet of new cars, trucks and SUVs by at least 10 miles per gallon over 10 years. But we face real challenges with trying to encourage drivers to trade in their older, less fuel efficient vehicles – particularly in this tough economic climate,” Senator Feinstein said.

“This bill will help address that problem. It will create a voucher program to reimburse drivers who trade in their old cars, trucks and SUVs with a coupon of $2,500 to $4,500, depending on the fuel efficiency of the purchased car. If enacted, this bill would be an important part of helping getting America’s struggling automobile industry back on its feet – and help consumers who are concerned about covering the cost of buying a more fuel efficient vehicle. I’d like to thank my colleague Senator Salazar for his leadership in helping to craft some of the bill’s key concepts,” Senator Feinstein added.

“This legislation would give consumers an incentive to turn over their old, inefficient vehicles, saving 80,000 barrels of motor fuel every day,” Senator Collins said. “Taking these cars and trucks off our roads and highways would help reduce our dependence on foreign oil, decrease greenhouse gas emissions, and stimulate the economy. In addition, it would help boost demand for manufacturers of newer, efficient models and bring in new business for car dealers who are struggling in the current economy.”

Senator Schumer said: “For Americans who have a clunker sitting in their driveway, this is an even better trade-in offer than they could get from any car dealership. Our proposal will take inefficient cars off the roads in exchange for a down payment on a newer, cleaner vehicle. Car owners also have the option of swapping their old car for vouchers to ride their local bus or subway for free. This is a classic win-win that can provide stimulus for the economy and make long-term gains for the environment.”

When implemented, as estimated by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the program would:

• Save between 40,000 to 80,000 barrels per day of motor fuel by the end of the fourth year, (based on an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 vouchers issued per year).

• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions between 6.6 million metric tons to 7.6 million metric tons, or the equivalent of removing 1.1 million to 2.2 million vehicles from the road in one year, (based on an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 vouchers issued per year).

• Reduce nitrogen oxides, which cause ground-level ozone (a leading cause of respiratory health problems, like asthma), by 3,043 short tons (2,761 metric tons) by 2013, (based on an estimated 500,000 to 1,000,000 vouchers issued per year).

The legislation is intended to help compliment the implementation of the new fuel economy law – authored by Senators Feinstein, Snowe and others – which would raise average fuel economy standards for America’s fleet of vehicles by at least 10 miles per gallon (mpg) over 10 years or from 25 mpg to at least 35 mpg by Model Year 2020.

Companion legislation is also being introduced today in the House by Representatives Steve Israel (D-N.Y.), Jay Inslee (D-Wash.), Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and Dennis Moore (D-Kansas).

How the legislation would work:

Eligible drivers would receive a reimbursement voucher for the purchase of a new or used vehicle with a fuel economy rating that exceeds the CAFE target for that class of vehicle by at least 25 percent. The bill also requires that the voucher be used towards the purchase of a vehicle that has an MSRP of less than $45,000, is model year 2004 or later, and meets or exceeds federal emissions standards. Vouchers could also be redeemed for transit fares for participating local public transportation agencies.

Drivers who apply for the program must ensure that their vehicles turned in for scrapping match the following criteria:

• Vehicles must be in drivable condition;
• Be currently registered in the U.S.; and
• Have a when-new fuel economy rating of less than 18 miles per gallon (as reported by the original manufacturer for purposes of CAFE compliance).

The bill specifies that during the first year of the program, vouchers will be issued for the following amounts:

• For traded-in vehicles that are model year 2002 and later, drivers would receive a voucher for:
o The purchase of a new vehicle: $4,500
o The purchase of a used vehicle: $3,000
o Transit fare credit: $3,000

• For traded-in vehicles that are model year 1999 – 2001, drivers would receive a voucher for:
o The purchase of a new vehicle: $3,000
o The purchase of a used vehicle: $2,000
o Transit fare credit: $2,000

• For traded-in vehicles that are model year 1998 and earlier, drivers would receive a voucher for:
o The purchase of a new vehicle: $2,000
o The purchase of a used vehicle: $1,500
o Transit fare credit: $1,500

In each subsequent year (2010, 2011, and 2012), the model years would be advanced by one year. Vouchers would be eligible for redemption for up to two years after the date of issuance, and no individual would be eligible to obtain more than one voucher in any three-year period. Dealers, dismantlers and scrap recycling facilities would also be eligible for a payment of $50 per vehicle, or an alternative amount to be specified by the Department of Energy

America’s New Year’s gift will be a $750 billion stimulus bill prepped and passed this month in Washington. Congress and the Obama team have made it clear that green energy jobs and infrastructure will be key elements of this package.

Building out solar jobs and installations should be a key ingredient of this platform. In terms of “shovel-ready” projects, solar is able to deliver jobs and clean energy quickly at a great return on investment.

There are two things holding back solar right now which can be easily fixed in the stimulus bill:

1. The disappearance of tax equity investors –

Since all the traditional investors in solar projects who did so to gain the tax credits to shelter profits now have no profits, they are out of the game. This includes Morgan Stanley, Wells Fargo and others.

To fix this, let’s make solar tax credits refundable for at least two years.

2. 30% is not enough in a downturn

The Congress renewed the solar tax credit at 30% this past October. While in normal economic times that might be fine, it is not cutting it in this downturn.

States have pulled back their subsidies or have delayed new ones. Residential and small commercial customers who do not seek financing in many cases would install solar with a greater incentive.

We recommend increasing the federal solar tax incentive to 50% for two years — 2009 and 2010 — that would catalyze a wave of solar installation in the US. That is great timing since the cost of solar panels has plummeted.

The cost of increasing the solar tax credit for 2 years to 50% is only $353 million — a small amount in a $750+ billion bill.

These two moves will also create the jobs for all the retrained green collar workers to fill. Congress intends on funding the Green Jobs Act at $500 million in the stimulus. Where will all these workers go to work? We must create demand for the jobs and solar is one the fastest ways to scale up green energy.

Let your member of Congress know how you feel about solar — 2 quick fixes can make a world of difference.

Link: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jack-hidary/stimulate-with-solar—le_b_155170.html