Study Finds Finds Clean Energy Economy Generates Significant Job Growth

According to a report recently released by The Pew Charitable Trusts, the number of jobs in America’s emerging clean energy economy grew nearly two and a half times faster than overall jobs between 1998 and 2007.

Pew found that jobs in the clean energy economy grew at a national rate of 9.1 percent, while traditional jobs grew by only 3.7 percent between 1998 and 2007. There was a similar pattern at the state level, where job growth in the clean energy economy outperformed overall job growth in 38 states and the District of Columbia during the same period. The report also found that this promising sector is poised to expand significantly, driven by increasing consumer demand, venture capital infusions, and federal and state policy reforms.

“The clean energy economy is poised for explosive growth,” said Lori Grange, interim deputy director of the Pew Center on the States. “These jobs are driving economic growth and environmental sustainability at a time when America needs both. There is a potential competitive advantage for federal and state policy leaders who act now to spur jobs, businesses and investments in the clean energy sector.”

The report also showed that the emerging clean energy economy is creating well-paying jobs in every state for people of all skill levels and educational backgrounds. Included in Pew’s definition are jobs as diverse as engineers, plumbers, administrative assistants, construction workers, machine setters, marketing consultants, teachers and many others, with annual incomes ranging from $21,000 to $111,000.

For more on Pew's findings, download the full Clean Economy report (PDF).

Google can Help You Save Money on Your Electric Bill

Would you like to lower your electric bill? I mean who wouldn't, and it looks like Google has just the tool we could all use.It's their PowerMeter and they've begun their initial roll out partnering with electricity companies nationwide.

The Google PowerMeter is a tool that consumers can use to gauge how much energy they are using at any given day. The PowerMeter can let you know how much electricity each of your appliances use. How great is this? What if your fridge was sucking money right out of your pocket and you didn't realize it. You could then make an educated decision to buy a new more energy efficient fridge that would save you money in the long run. 

Some of the electric companies partnering with Google are TXU Energy in Texas, JEA in Florida and Glasgow EPB in Kentucky.

To read more about the Google PowerMeter and how it can help you, hop on over to the PowerMeter article on Google.

The CEA Helps Consumers Enjoy Electronics While Protecting the Environment

When it comes to protecting the environment, you can never have too many handy resources. The Consumer Electronics Association agrees, which is why they created MyGreenElectronics.org. The site covers the FOUR R's of recycling: Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Rethink!

These handy sections includes resources for every phase of buying, owning and getting rid of your favorite electronic devices. There are links to various organizations that can reuse your unwanted items, tips on buying the most energy-efficient products the next time you shop for electronics, and help for finding recycling centers near your house. They've also got a neat energy calculator that will show you the energy consumption costs of devices like your television, DVR and satellite TV system.

Buying a Greener Computer

Looking to buy a new computer that's as green as possible? Check out a program by the Green Electronics Council that can help you find the greenest machine for your home. EPAT® is a system that can help consumers evaluate, compare and select electronic products based on their environmental attributes. It currently covers desktop and laptop computers, workstations and computer monitors.

The program is based on the IEEE 1680 family of standards for electronic product environmental assessment. To help consumers find greener computers, manufacturers can register their desktops, laptops and monitors that meet 23 required environmental performance criteria. The products are then rated Gold, Silver or Bronze depending on how many of the 28 optional criteria they meet above standard.

The site lets you search by criteria or manufacturer. For more information, read about the EPAT criteria and participating manufacturers.

Five Ways to Keep Your Energy Bills Low

Whether it's summer or winter you have plenty of options and tools to keep your energy bills low. There are basic things you can do and some that will consider a chunk of change that will pay off in a few months to a year.

Below is a list of things you can do to lower your energy bills.

• Digital Thermometer - Install a programmable digital thermometer so in the summer months you can set your home to be at 78-80 degrees when no one is home.
• Ceiling Fans - Running ceiling fans in the summer months is an inexpensive way to keep your home cooler.
• Unplug Unused Electronics - A major drain on your electricity is leaving electronics that you hardly use plugged in.
• Insulation - Look into investing in more insulation for your home. This might not be a cheap solution but it will pay off in the long run. Your home will stay warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer.
• Washing Clothes - Use you're washer in the evenings when less electricity will be used. Also wash in cold water and hang dry most or all of your clothes.

For more tips on lowering your energy bill, read this article, Slash Energy Costs by 30%, that I read on CnnMoney.com.

Plastic Solar Cells Built Into Windows

How’s this for innovative yet perhaps overdue? Solar company Konarka has created a solar cell to be built into energy-generating windows in the future. Not only will it be fitted into windows, but also other building materials. With this invention, we’ll no longer be confined to overhead solar panel applications.

Two major components that will need to be worked out are efficiency at converting sunlight into electricity and the potential life of the solar cell. So far, the solar cell has reached 6 percent efficiency and the silicon solar cell version is at over 20 percent.

Before you know it, we’ll be charging our cell phones and laptops through electricity generated through our bedroom windows. How nifty is that! Head on over to the Green Tech section of CNET for more details.

Mars Bars to Earth's Rescue

Mars has announced opting into the Fairtrade movement for sustainable cocoa and fair working conditions by partnering with Rainforest Alliance. With the world’s biggest chocolate company on board, huge waves will be made on the local and national levels.

The commitment starts with the Galaxy bar, a UK bestseller, and Mars and will also include Snickers, Twix and M&Ms by 2020. Sourcing their entire cocoa beans supply from Fairtrade-compliant farms will cost more than 1 billion dollars a year. Fairtrade standards consist of “minimum wages for farmers, conserving water and biodiversity-friendly pest management”.

So, next time that Snickers bar calls your name, go ahead and reach for it and snack with a clear conscience knowing that you’re supporting a candy giant that makes the world a better place to live in. For more information on Mars plans, visit this article in Guardian.

Hydrogen Road Tour 2009 Begins

With most of the attention on electric cars lately, including the release of the new Toyota Prius and Honda Insight, it’s time to divert our eyes to hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Automakers from around the world will be showcasing their prized fuel cell cars by setting them on a road trip through 28 cities starting on May 28 in Chula Vista, California and ending on June 3 in Vancouver, British Columbia. The aim is to demonstrate the practicality of fuel cell car ownership.

The eight fuel cell cars that will be hitting the road are the Chevy Equinox Fuel Cell, Honda FCX Clarity, Hyundai Tucson FCEV, Kia Borrego FCEV, Mercedes F-Cell, Nissan X-Trail, Toyota FCHV-adv Highlander and Volkswagen HyMotion. These cars create their own electricity through a chemical process using hydrogen fuel and oxygen from the air. This technology has the potential to radically reduce energy use and harmful emissions and our dependence on foreign oil.

If you’re on the west coast and would like a sneak peek at these cars, check out Hydrogen Road Tour 09 for when the tour will be stopping in a city close to you. For more information on how fuel cell cars function, visit this article from How Stuff Works.

Saving Energy and Keeping Your Fridge Cool

I'm a big fan of my appliances. They make my life easier, and do things for me that I'm physically incapable of doing, such as making my food hot or cold. Granted, I could always do things like wash my clothes on my own, but who needs that when I can tell a machine to do it. They're not going to revolt any time soon, are they? Wait, isn't this how Terminator: Salvation starts?

Anyway, as much as our appliances make life easier for us, they also cost us money in terms of electricity and energy consumption. However, there are always things we can do to cut back and save. Just a few weeks ago, in fact, the New York Times did a piece about saving money through smart use of the freezer. Well, after doing a write-up about that, it was only a matter of time before they looked at ways that we can conserve energy with our refrigerators, as well.

Apparently, the amount of things that need cooling doesn't affect how your refrigerator runs. However, items that give off moisture do make the refrigerator work harder, in order to evaporate it. Likewise, putting in dishes that have already cooled off substantially will go a long way towards saving some money on your next bill. The less your fridge has to do, the better.

To read these and more tips about energy conservation with the refrigerator, be sure to visit the New York Times.

The Golden Arches Have Gone Green

The most readily recognized universal symbol – the infamous golden arches of McDonald’s – now represents a rise in major corporations’ attempt to greenify themselves. On April 22, McDonald’s headquarters in Chicago received the platinum level certification from Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Surprisingly, this face lift only cost them $150,000 which is considered chump change in the McDonald’s kingdom.

There are only 126 buildings worldwide that have been recognized with this highest level of certification and there are a number of factors that are examined. Energy and water consumption, environmental impact and indoor conditions are just a few.

So, the next time you gorge on that biggie-sized Big Mac and fries, eat happy knowing that you’re involved with a company that takes environmental conservation seriously. However, you may need to jog five miles to have your heart and blood vessels happy again. For more details on McDonald’s LEED certification, visit Business Week.