Thomas Friedman just chastized our president's poor planning when it comes to America's dependency on oil. According to Severin Boreinstein of the University of California Energy Institute, on Apollo Alliance blog, "the world consumes about 86 million barrels a day of petroleum, and the United States uses nearly 21 million barrels a day of petroleum and liquified hydrocarbon fuel, or nearly 25% of everything the world produces daily. The US has 5% of the world’s population."
President Bush now wants us and the Saudis to increase production: this from a president who, as Friedman says, "has for six years resisted any pressure on Detroit to seriously improve mileage standards on its gas guzzlers; this from a president who’s done nothing to encourage conservation; this from a president who has so neutered the Environmental Protection Agency that the head of the E.P.A. today seems to be in a witness-protection program...But, most of all, this deadline is from a president who hasn’t lifted a finger to broker passage of legislation that has been stuck in Congress for a year, which could actually impact America’s energy profile right now — unlike offshore oil that would take years to flow — and create good tech jobs to boot."
Friedman is referring to H.R. 6049 — "The Renewable Energy and Job Creation Act of 2008," which extends for another eight years the investment tax credit for installing solar energy and extends for one year the production tax credit for producing wind power and for three years the credits for geothermal, wave energy and other renewables.
I truly believe that we as a country and as a world need to get off the petrochemical "teat" and start investing in solar, wind, and geothermal power.
What types of green activities are happening in your community or in your business? We all can take small steps to change our behavior: many people are now doing things like:
commuting using public transportation, bicycling, or a cooperative approach
bringing their own bags to the grocery store
only buying local foodstuffs or produce generated within 100 mile radius
conserving energy or installing solar panels
None of us wants to be in a position where we are in crisis due to a lack of oil. When we change our behavior and our purchasing decisions NOW, we are better prepared and we contribute to the solution.
Please find five ways to integrate green thinking and sustainable living into your business and your life TODAY. There are methods to increase your energy conservation, your water usage, your appliances, your commute, and even your printing habits (why print if you can use online documents?)
I will be going over a number of ideas over the next few days on more ways to go green for your business.
If you have ideas, please send them to me at monica at sisters in biz.
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