This week, I took public transportation several times when I would normally drive and was feeling very virtuous. But yesterday I blew all that green goodness by stepping onto one of the biggest carbon contributors out there–an airplane.  For a cross-country flight.  And I’m not alone–there were 809MM passengers on airplanes in 2008.

Why does flying have such a big environmental impact?  Planes emit carbon dioxide & nitrous oxide, very potent greenhouse gasses.  According to Greenskies.org, a single flight across the Atlantic would produce the same amount of carbon per person as their home does in a year.  In addition, the CO2 and water vapors emitted at high altitude also has a bigger environmental impact–experts suggest anywhere from 2-2.7X the impact at ground level.

Yes, reducing your flights is the biggest way to reduce that impact, but that is often not practical.  Are there other ways to green your flying?  Pattie Prairie, the CEO of Brighter Planet, had some good tips in a post this week that included packing lightly, fly non-stop, picking the greenest airline you can (JetBlue is the best of the major carriers), and flying during the day.  I hit two for four on my trip–going non-stop with a small carry on.  But my airline was mediocre and the flight was at night.  Now what?

Brighter Planet also sells carbon offsets and their mantra is to conserve what you can and offset the rest.  My flight offset is $28 and that money goes to projects like the Greensburg Windfarm.  Carbon offsets have gotten some mixed reviews recently, but that’s not entirely surprising given how new the market is.  If you want to make sure you are purchasing a high quality offset, here is a ranking of providers.

I have to be honest and say I’m not 100% there yet on offsets. I like that the calculations give me a number that I should “contribute” to offset something ungreen and make it easy.  But I wish I had a better sense for where the money is going and more transparency about “middle man” costs.  So I’ve purchased them here and there, but am by no means a regular.

What about you?  Do you purchase offsets?  Who do you buy from? What do you think?

On Saturday night, I had a huge craving for a burger.  I don’t eat burgers a ton, but primarily so my pants will continue to fit than for any directly green reason. I visited one of my favorite Boston spots and the burger was delicious. But I also decided I needed to figure out one thing.  How not green, really, is that burger?

Honestly?  Worse than I expected.

1.  Livestock farming generates 18% of the planet’s greenhouse gas emissions — by comparison, all the world’s cars, trains, planes and boats account for a combined 13% of greenhouse gas emissions. Worse than cars and planes?  Had no idea….

2. The average person in the industrialized world (that’s you and me!) eats 176 pounds of meat versus 66 pounds in the developing world. Scientists believe that if every American cut their meat consumption by 20%, it would be the same benefit on global warming as switching from a regular sedan to a Prius.

Why is livestock farming so bad? Primarily, the land it takes to graze and feed the animals. The demand for land is a major contributor to deforestation, which in turn impacts global warming.  But it is also the methane and nitrous oxide, which comes from the manure and yes, the farts. We already know the health effects of red meat range from clogged arteries to obesity, but also, unless you are eating organic meat—there are the antibiotics and hormones to contend with. Here’s an easy to read article with the gory details from Time Magazine.

While I now understand why vegetarian/vegan eating is big among super green people, there is honestly no way that I’m going to forgo red meat and pork altogether. I understand the green benefit. Not practical. So what to do?

Cut Back.

Practical?  Yes. I estimate we are down to about 88 pounds per adult per year — or down 50% versus the average and maybe 25% versus where we were. Perhaps no coincidence, I’ve lost about 10 pounds in that time and our dining out/grocery budget is lower. So at least for me, it’s been good for the planet, health/wardrobe AND the wallet. I call that the hat trick of green living!

Here are a few ways we’ve been able to do it:

1.  Dark turkey burger is a good substitute for ground beef.  Not necessarily for burgers—but we use it for tacos, pasta dishes, and anything else that calls for ground meat.  If you can’t take the plunge immediately, try going 50/50.

2.  Go ethnic a few nights a week–we’ve had fun with Vietnamese and Mexican chicken/vegetarian dishes–and my standby lunch is chicken tikka masala.  I’ve yet to be able to appreciate Tofu–all recipes/recommended dishes welcome!

3.  Rethink your relationship with carbs.  I was on a low carb diet for years and hated it, even though it seemed to work.  I’ve been really enjoying my new found relationship with pizza and pasta—they are, relatively speaking, green foods!

4.  Eat more (sustainably raised) fish. I don’t generally like fish.  I know it’s good for me, but I don’t like fishy tasting fish and then the mercury and pollution freaked me out.  But the Monterey Aquarium has a wallet sized “good fish” list , regionally tailored, that is helpful and I’ve found a few I like–particularly Tilapia.

5.  When you do eat meat & pork, choose as healthfully raised as you can. Go for organic meat–or at least without antibiotics & hormones—and ideally from family farms versus factory farms.  If that doesn’t feel “in the budget”, consider recipes that stretch smaller quantities of meat further.  I’m a big believer in stir fries & entree salads.

6.  Eat that burger—just not that often AND when you do, make sure you love it! What cutting back on red meat has done is make me appreciate it more when I do eat it.  So that burger was delicious.  I loved it–and I’ll definitely eat another one.

Just not this week….

The Financial Times had a story today suggesting that companies may start to fill the void for climate reduction after stalemates in Congress and a lack of major progress at Copenhagen.

Two big US companies have decided to avoid suppliers that source fuel from Canada’s oil sands to curb their carbon footprints.

The decisions by Whole Foods Market, an organic grocery chain, and Bed Bath & Beyond, a household goods company, underline how industry is moving to fill the void left by inaction at Copenhagen and the failure of the US Congress to limit carbon emissions.

Whole Foods Market doesn’t surprise me–it’s core to their brand and their customer base. Bed Bath & Beyond did. I haven’t really considered them a leader in green. A quick check of their green ranking in Newsweek shows they were in the middle of the pack at #224.

It suggests that companies are responding to pressure from well-organized industry groups, in this case, ForestEthics. But also that they must realize this whole green thing increasingly matters to the most important person for their success—the shopper. And folks, that’s people like you and me.  Granted, most of us have probably not thought about oil from sand being better or worse from an environmental standpoint than regular oil. But I do care that Bed Bath & Beyond is thinking green–and the more they show me what they do to be green, the more I will choose them over other places for similar stuff.

I tend to believe it is going to take everyone contributing–people, businesses, and government–to make progress towards a greener, more sustainable path. But if government is going to go slow or bicker, I’m glad to have Bed, Bath & Beyond step in. Now I know my job is to reward that decision with my wallet.  I see organic sheets in my future….

Which companies are you impressed with on the green front?  Which companies do you think are the worst?

Valentine’s Day is this weekend and you either forgot, hate it anyway, or are wistfully hoping that somehow, someway you can put a little fun and romance back into the holiday without giving in to the typical not-so-green roses and cards.

For romantics like me out there, it is a formal day for love, so here are three stress-free, low-cost and green ways to celebrate St. Valentine and show your better half how much you care.

Reduce Stuff:  Say “I Love You” with a card made from things you already have

This can actually be fairly easy without looking like your 4 year-old made it. First, start with a piece of construction paper (or try to use a recycled piece of paper or even recycle a card you received from the holidays by covering the pictures and words). Second, fold the paper the way you like then start thinking of what it is you want the card to say (if you are having trouble thinking of what to write, think back to what you said in your wedding vows or use a quote from my favorite romance poet, Maya Angelou). Next, write it all down (I like handwritten cards, but you can type it if you want). Finally, add some beauty to the card by pasting a picture of you and your love, pasting pictures or designs from magazines or old cards, pasting scraps of used wrapping paper to decorate, or if you are artistic, draw something.

Improve Health/Reduce Energy:  Eat at home or dine green on the town

What can be more romantic than cooking a meal for your love and dining in the comfort of your own home? Nothing, in my perspective.  You can green your meal by selecting locally grown or organic foods, planning the courses ahead of time and being conscious of water and energy use while cooking. All that is left to do is set the table and dim the lights!

However, if cooking just isn’t your thing, you can still dine green.  Check out Dine Green for Certified Green Restaurants near you.  To be certified, these restaurants must earn good scores in categories such as water efficiency, waste reduction and recycling, energy, and sustainable foods.

Save Energy/Improve Health:  Going Outside is Green

If you are able to keep your sitter for a few extra hours, plan an outing or activity that would be fun for you and your spouse. Take a walk down the beach, to the park or down a scenic road and bring along hot chocolate or cider in a thermos. Window shop or take your spouse to a location that has meaning to you as a couple (where you went on your first date, where you were proposed too, etc.).

If you are coordinated and live up north, try ice skating at an outdoor rink or pond (only if it is deemed safe!). Here in Boston, one of my favorite places is Frog Pond ice skating rink in the Boston Common. It is cheap, fun, uses less energy than an indoor rink and the park is beautifully lit at night.

If you live in warmer areas, try searching for eco-friendly indoor rinks or indoor/outdoor “hybrid ice rinks” that use recyclable plastic panels rather than ice and do not need refrigeration devices, water or electricity.

Ultimately, enjoy love in any way that seems practical to you (and if you are being green in the process, then you are showing love to our planet too!)

How about you? Do you have any ideas on how to “green” Valentine’s Day? Share the love!

Photo Credit

It’s Superbowl Weekend, right?  I don’t know too many moms who get a full three hours to actually watch the game, but it is still a great excuse for a party, even if it’s just you and the kids watching the funny ads and a few downs in between bathtime and loads of laundry.  But if you do get to throw a party, it’s actually pretty easy to green the game. Here are three practical, simple ways to do it:

1.  Save Energy:  serve a local beer

There are over 1,500 breweries in the US so one of them has to be near you.  In Boston, that’s Harpoon Brewery and yes, Sam Adams still brews a little bit in Jamaica Plain.  In San Francisco, Anchor Steam is found pretty easily. In NYC, Brooklyn Beer is the most popular.  Here’s a site where you can find local breweries and brewpubs by zip.

2.  Improve health:  choose healthier, but still delicious chips & dips

I love Fritos.  But they are so not healthy, scoring a 2.3 in health from the GoodGuide (but we knew that already). But there are some tasty and healthy options that don’t taste like a side of cardboard with some salt. Trader Joe’s soy & flaxseed tortilla chips scored a perfect 10 in health.  We’re also fans of Green Mountain Gringo and Wild Harvest Organic Tortilla chips for the big people and Newman’s Own pretzels for the little ones.  In terms of dips, Whole Foods has a really good store-branded organic jarred salsa and  black bean dip.  I also loved this recipe for sour cream & onion dip that gets rid of the MSG and other nasty stuff from the packaged onion powders without tasting bland.

3.  Reduce Stuff:  Use recycled plastic or biodegradable serving ware

Preserve Products makes fun and colorful tableware that has all the benefits of plasticware (no breakage), but can be reused hundreds of times and is made from 100% recycled plastic.  You can find them at Target, Trader Joe’s & Whole Foods.  If you don’t want to go the reusable route, new disposable plates, cups and utensils made of cornstarch or sugar cane fibers can biodegrade in 180 days.  These are a bit harder to find offline, but one of our local Whole Foods has carried them.  If you know of where to get them nationally–let us know!  And last, but not least–use reusable napkins, or at least recycled paper ones.

Do you have other ways you are greening the game?  Let us know!  (And also, here’s a cheer to the underdog–Go Saints!)

Danny Seo’s blog entry today was devoted to the topic of laundry and had some truly stunning statistics about how much time and money is devoted to laundry (and a some good tips too).

The Environmental Protection Agency says the average family washes nearly 400 loads of laundry a year — more than load a day — and Americans spend more than $3 billion on detergent.

Who knew?  Well, you did.  Because you likely do some, if not all, of that laundry.  So why does going green with laundry matter?  Four possible reasons:  you can save energy and water, reduce stuff, and improve health.  And by greening your laundry, you can make green strides in all these areas.

1.  Switch to an eco-friendly detergent:  improve your health and your planet’s health

A typical laundry detergent contains a number of chemicals, some of which have negative environmental and health effects.  The most direct negative impact is due to chemicals in the waste water harming plants and fish, although some chemicals, particularly phthalates, can aggravate or trigger chemical sensitivities, are being found in breast milk, and research is showing some impact of exposure to phthalates on infant development.

2.  Turn to cold water and line dry (or at least clean your filter and throw in a towel!):  save energy

The majority of energy used in laundry is heating the water.  By switching to cold water, you will reduce nearly 90% of the energy used versus washing in hot.  According to the Green Book, if every house switched even to warm-cold, the US would reduce oil usage by 100,000 barrels A DAY.  The other energy hog is your dryer.  Line drying is obviously super green, but not always practical, particularly in the cold weather parts of the country.  You can save drying time, and thus energy by making sure your filter is clean and throwing in a dry towel to speed drying times.

3.  Switch to a front-loading washer–and/or wash with the washer full:  save water

An Energy Star model uses 50% less water than a standard model, and there are “Tier 3″ models that cut down an additional 40% of water usage.  You want to look for a “Water Factor” score that is under 4.5 for the most water efficient models.  And if you haven’t switched over yet, the new Cash for Appliances rebate program is either already in effect, or will be in effect, in your state this year.  But if switching just isn’t in the cards, the most water efficient thing to do is make sure the washer is full before you run it and reduce overall quantity of loads.

4.  Buy concentrated green detergent in smaller packaging:  reduce stuff

Walmart actually drove the downsizing of laundry packaging several years ago by insisting that every manufacturer double concentration.  We are now entering the era of tinier and tinier bottles–just make sure you don’t over use the detergent or it defeats the purpose.  Yes, it requires a 15 minute “laundry primer” for anyone else who might help you–kids, cleaning person, babysitter, and the spouse.  But it will cut down on packaging significantly.  And of course, recycle the bottle if you can.

Most importantly, is green laundry clean laundry?  For us, yes.  Granted, we are not working construction, but we do have lots of grass-stains and as my family and co-workers can attest,  I spill wine, coffee, balsamic vinaigrette, and Indian food on myself a decent amount.  We are fans of both Costco’s Environmentally Friendly Detergent and Seventh Generation Free & Clear.  Here also is a fun road “test” of six different detergents from Grist.org.

Boston.com reported today some great news for Massachusetts consumers that will hopefully inspire some standard-setting for other states.

After a year’s worth of haggling with the state’s utility companies, Massachusetts officials today unveiled a set of ambitious energy efficiency standards that some say are unequaled in the nation.

 To meet the new standards – a 2.4 percent reduction in electricity use across the state, and a 1.15 percent reduction in natural gas use – the state’s utilities will invest approximately $2.2 billion in expanding efficiency measures like home energy audits, weatherization, and rebates for home appliances, over three years.

Read More…

In 2008, the French designer Philippe Starck turned his attention to designing for good, and launched his first very stylish home wind-turbines. Today, he announced two new models that are, in a word, visually stunning.

However, it leads me to wonder how practical a home wind turbine really is.  Sure I want that gorgeous thing on my house.  Other than driving an electric car or putting up solar panels, it might be one of the most visible ways to market new green tech to the neighbors and perhaps convince a few of them that wind power can mean more than an ocean full of bird killing devices (can you tell I live near the Cape Wind controversy?).  My co-gen system is cool too, but not that many people are wandering around my basement.

But what’s the benefit?  What’s the cost?  How do I figure out whether I can get enough wind?  The cost for Starck’s model, according to the announcement, is approximately $3,500 USD for one of the models and $5,000 USD for the other.  The benefit:  one of them produces about 400W and the (more expensive one) 1 Kilowatts at max capacity, but “capacity factor” (how much time is spent producing at capacity) varies dramatically–in many regions it’s only between 20-35%.

There is a decent frequently asked questions section of the American Wind Energy Association about residential wind that suggests a 1 Kilowatt system is probably undersized for a typical US household’s needs.  They recommend a 5 to 15 Kilowatt system to offset the majority of energy usage.  You can also look at a map of wind in your region on the Wind Energy Resource Atlas to determine whether you have average wind of at least 10 MPH.  (On that basis alone, I think I’m out here in on a hillside in 02459.  If you are in the Great Plains, Texas or California or on a hilltop, you may be in luck).  And no one seems to provide great advice for dealing with those finicky historical commissions.

That said, even a 20% energy usage reduction would garner decent savings and Stark’s price points seem correspondingly lower than the costs quoted by the AWEA ($6K-$22K) for home systems.  So while the Philippe Starck home turbine does feel like a little bit like eco-bling, if great design helps increase interest in renewable energy, a little bling is not necessarily a bad thing.

The Federal/State stimulus program ”Cash for Appliances” is ramping up across the country this quarter, providing incentives to upgrade that energy hog of an appliance for a new energy-efficient one.  But because every state program is different, figuring out how much you save and on what can be daunting.  Fortunately, you take a problem, the Internet, and a few innovative people and you get a solution.  In this case, it’s Eco Rebates, which launched this week.

Ecorebates most useful feature is a map where you can search by state and see when the program starts and in some cases, exactly how much you will save by appliance.  A perusal of Massachusetts says the program will start in March, over $6MM in rebates will be given out, and it covers EnergyStar refrigerators, freezers, clothes washers, and dishwashers.  California’s goes further and says the program will start on March 17th, end of April 22nd, and gives the exact rebate amount for Clotheswasher (Tier 2 or greater, $100) , Room A/C, and Refrigerator.  They also have a  list of useful resources and websites for additional rebate information and links to major retailer’s appliance pages.

Like Cash for Clunkers, the funds may run out fast.  So if you are in the market for a more efficient appliance, you won’t want to wait.  And if you aren’t sure, check out your state’s rebates.  It might just be the little kicker you need to finally brave the lines at Best Buy, and hey–you can always say you were just doing your part for the economic recovery.

One of my biggest pet peeves around home energy management is that I can set and monitor the temperature and if I try hard enough— kilowatt hours—but I can’t tell how much I’m spending as I’m spending it.  So every month, when the electric and gas bill show up, it’s a surprise.  Sometimes surprisingly low.  Sometimes, like this month, surprisingly, and ridiculously, high.  Had I known how much we were on track to spend, I can guarantee we would have cut back.

Fortunately, Earth2Tech reports that help is on the way.

In early January, the Consumer Electronics Show, the harbinger of next-generation gadgets and gizmos, featured its biggest showing of consumer-facing home energy management in my recollection, and at least five different home energy management devices launched, from heavyweights like General Electric, Control4 and Best Buy. A couple weeks later news broke that Apple has filed for a patent that focuses on managing the energy of its computing devices, suggesting that the firm has been eyeing the home energy management space. And this week Blue Line Innovations announced that it has started selling the PowerCost Monitor, a $99 energy management tool, to consumers via Fry’s Electronics.

This is all very good news, but like any new technology, it may be challenging to get it installed.  I’m sure there will be limitations on who can use it, bugs, and other things that make you crazy.  But it does suggest that homeowners may finally get an opportunity to easily monitor their energy spending and there is probably no greater incentive than knowing what you spend to change behavior.  Blue Innovations claims that trial users cut back by up to 18%!

And I, for one, will be happy for a world without January energy bill surprises.

Think you need to purchase all new appliances, redo your windows or install solar to save energy?  You’d be surprised at how little changes, often simple and inexpensive, can add up to a decent chunk of energy savings.  And just think, if you could save 10%, the average family would have an extra $190 a year for something way more fun than the electric bill– and feel good about doing your part for the planet.

So before you tackle those bigger projects, make sure you’ve checked these items off the list.

1.  Turn down your water heater to 120 degrees.

Don’t worry, I didn’t know how to do that either.  It’s actually pretty simple. If you have gas, it’s near the bottom of the tank.  If you have electric, it’s often behind a panel.  If you have the manual, it will explain how.  There are also good “How To’s’ for this online.  Here’s one good explanation from EnergySavers.gov.

2.  Turn your heat down to 67 (or lower if you are a hearty soul).

You would be surprised how your body adjusts to the lower temperature.  The first few days may feel a bit chilly so grab a sweater, but you’ll get used to it over time and anything higher will start to feel hot.

3.  Use drapes, blinds and shutters proactively.

If it’s hot, shut them during the day.  If it’s cold, open them during the day to gain heat from the sun and close them at night to keep warm air in.

4.  Skip the “Dry” cycle or use the “No Heat” dry button on your dishwasher.

I didn’t believe it at first, but my dishes actually look fine and are equally clean—and it reduces energy used for washing dishes by 7%.

5.  Turn off your computer & monitor and unplug those chargers

The “sleep” mode lulls you into thinking it isn’t using electricity, but one day with a watt meter attached and you’ll realize how much energy drains even in that mode.  And unplug your chargers when they are not in use.  It’s a hard habit to break, but just picture a river of electricity flowing out of the cord every time you see one still attached to the wall.

6.  Install smart power strips.

While you’re tackling the computer, don’t forget your TV, sound system, etc.  Flat-screen Plasma/HiDef TV’s consume a significant amount of energy, even in passive mode.  There are smart power strips that enable you to turn off the TV, but keep the DVR going so you can still have the latest episodse of Wonderpets and American Idol and save energy.

7.  Switch from incandescents to LEDs and CFLs.

Yes, I know—you are tired of hearing about them, hate the color, the mercury freaks you out, the thought of paying $39.95 for an LED light-bulb is unfathomable, etc.  But they really do save a lot of energy–a whopping 80% by most life cycle assessments and the average home has dozens of lights so you will save money.  They also last a really long time, so it’s a huge bonus to use them for any light that requires a ladder.

And of course, turn off the lights when you leave a room.  My husband is laughing as I write this because I seem to always leave one on somewhere and he is a light-turning-off zealot.  What’s worked well for sloppy light-turner-offers like me are motion sensor in places like closets and timers for outside lights.

8.  Try and reduce your auto miles.

Whether it’s through combining trips, telecommuting more, carpooling one day a week to school/work/activities, picking places to go closer to home, or figuring out that bus/train schedule near you, less driving offers one of the biggest opportunities to reduce energy and save money–and if you are walking or biking–get healthy.  If you are struggling to find a way to share rides or stay organized when you do, check out GoLoco, an online service that connects you to your friends and friends of friends for ride sharing.

9.  Wash your clothes in cold water; clean the lint filter in your dryer.

Even if you just moved from hot to warm water, you would cut energy use by 50% in the washer.  And if you don’t have a dryer with a moisture sensor, be careful not to overdry.  And always clean the lint trap to keep drying times shorter.  If you are in a warm climate area or it’s summer time, consider line drying.  I haven’t made the leap, but it’s on my list for the future.

10.  Get a professional energy audit.

Sometimes the biggest energy losses in a home are hidden behind the walls or near the pipes.  A professional audit will give you a roadmap for where your greatest efficient opportunities might exist and you might be surprised how a little investment will produce a big return. Our audit highlighted opportunities to wrap our ductwork, seal up cracks, and improve insulation in several spots.  Some companies will even do some of the work after the audit and some of that work qualifies for a tax credit this year.

To get more ideas, there are great energy saving resources online including the US Department of Energy’s Energy Saver’s website and the Natural Resources Defense Councils Simple Steps site.

You want to eat locally grown, fresh food but can’t find the time or have absolutely no interest in all the weed-wacking and planting a garden requires?

Find a CSA, a farmer’s market or visit a local farm near you.   Localharvest.org offers a zip code based tool that finds relevant listings along with consumer reviews and maps.  You can also search by the type of food you are looking for, as well as find grocery stores, co-ops and restaurants that serve locally grown food.

Eating locally grown food helps save energy, but small, local farms also often use organic or integrated pest management techniques to reduce reliance of chemical pesticides.  Strike up a conversation with whomever is selling it and you will often learn a ton (perhaps more than you ever wanted to know!).  Besides possible health benefits, freshly picked food often tastes so good relative to store bought.  Maybe you can finally get your kids (or better half) to eat those green beans…

Landfills are one of two ways to bury trash. A landfill is a carefully designed isolated structure built on top of or into the ground where municipal trash can be dumped.

The danger in using landfills is that leachate (the water from rain, snow, dew, and natural precipitation that passes through the layers of trash) can leak into local water supplies. Methane gas can build up and cause fires or explosions, however, new technology can be used to trap the released methane gas and use it for energy.

To learn more, go to:

http://science.howstuffworks.com/landfill3.htm

http://ohioline.osu.edu/cd-fact/0111.html

Dual-pane windows are energy efficient windows that consist of two glass panels set in a frame, separated by a small space (1/2 inch to 3/4 inch wide). The space between the layers of glass are filled with nontoxic, inert gasses (such as argon) which add to the window’s insulating properties. The glass itself is often coated to reflect heat as well.

To learn more, go to:
http://www.consumerenergycenter.org/home/windows/todays_windows.html

http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=windows_doors.pr_windows

Hybrid cars use both a gas engine and electric motor. The energy used by the electric motor is stored in rechargeable batteries. Since hybrid cars partially use electricity, they burn less gasoline than a traditional car and release less emissions, making them more environmentally friendly.

To learn more, go to:

http://www.hybridcars.com/cars.html

Chlorofluorocarbons (CFC’s) are compounds containing only carbon, chlorine, and fluorine and are used in household, commercial, and industrial applications. CFC’s are widely used as coolants, aerosol propellants, and foaming agents in the production of foam plastics used for insulation and packing materials. They are very widely used because they are non-toxic, non-reactive with other chemical compounds and are non-flammable.

The danger in using CFC’s is that they play a major part in destroying the ozone layer in the stratosphere.

To learn more, go to:
http://www.ausetute.com.au/cfcozone.html
http://www.ciesin.columbia.edu/TG/OZ/cfcozn.html

Greenhouse gases are gases that allow sunlight to enter the atmosphere freely but absorb infrared radiation and traps its heat in the atmosphere when sunlight is re-radiated back toward space. This trapping effect of heat is necessary for life on earth but since the industrial revolution , the amount of greenhouse gases has increased, causing a global warming and climate change.

There are 6 main types of greenhouse gases emitted in the U.S.:

• Carbon Dioxide
• Methane
• Nitrous Oxide
• Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs)
• Perfluorocarbons (PFCs)
• Sulfur hexafluoride

To learn more, go to:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/energyexplained/index.cfm?page=environment_about_ghg

A zero energy home uses state-of-the-art, energy-efficient building techniques and renewable energy systems to produce its own energy. A zero energy home produces enough energy to offset the amount purchased from a local electric utility. This offsetting results in a net-zero energy consumption status from the local electric utility and a net-zero annual energy bill.

To learn more (and to see some examples of zero energy homes), go to:
http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/designing_remodeling/index.cfm/mytopic=10360
http://www.toolbase.org/Home-Building-Topics/zero-energy-homes/zero-energy-home-project
http://www.fsec.ucf.edu/En/research/buildings/zero_energy/index.htm

Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source using heat from within the earth’s core. The heat from the earth’s core is produced by the slow decay of radioactive particles found in all rocks. This heat can be recovered as steam or hot water and can be used to heat buildings or generate electricity.

To learn more, go to:
http://tonto.eia.doe.gov/kids/energy.cfm?page=geothermal_home-basics