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My opinion, and some info on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (I'm gonna get flamed for this)

I'll get some flack for this, but my family refuses to keep these in our house.

CFLs are often marketed as having "minimal" levels of mercury, but the fact is that the mercury in one bulb is enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water below safe drinking levels. But on a more personal level, I don't want these around my daughter. Years ago, when we were on the CFL bandwagon, a bulb broke on our floor. Luckily we knew the cleanup drill (which, depending on who you talk to, involves between 4 an… Continue

Posted by pink yoda on March 19, 2008 at 10:30pm — 7 Comments

Finally Someone Trying to Make Sense of Green Labeling

Overwhelmed by the number of “green” labels out there? Can’t tell the difference between Green-e and Green Seal? Well, ecolabeling.org has recently launched.

To date, they have databased 307 different label schemes across the world. Their objective is to help consumers and businesses make choices about their green products and services.

Ecolabelling.org is a project by Big Room, a web developing company in Canada. Site visitors can comment on and contribute… Continue

Posted by Jordan on March 16, 2008 at 9:45am

Stop supporting (almost) all kinds of biofuel production!?!

What is the impact of using ethanol (whether from corn, switchgrass, or almost any other source)? According to this thought provoking article in the New York Times, the carbon cost is much greater (93 times) than the carbon savings resulting from using ethanol!

Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: February 8, 2008
Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fu… Continue

Posted by Moss on March 12, 2008 at 2:36pm

4th AustralAsian Cleantech Forum

Reposted from www.aaronfyke.com:

This is a summary of a recent cleantech conference in Australia - hot on the heels of the cleantech conference in San Francisco two week's previously.

I just returned from the two day cleantech conference in Melbourne entitled the "4th AustralAsian Cleantech Forum" (http://www.cleantechforum.com/).

Starfish Ventures was a sponsor of the event, and so Ivor and I had the opportun… Continue

Posted by Aaron Fyke on March 12, 2008 at 4:22am

Alternative Energy for a Better California

As Published In the UCLA Anderson Forecast: Solutions For Our State, March 2008

California is a global economic powerhouse with a population of 38 million trending, by US Census Bureau estimates, toward 50 million in 2025. Like many thriving economies, our state has its share of problems: poor air quality and an increasing appetite for energy to name just two. But these particular problems have the potential to dramatically affect the quality of life and economic stability of California’s resid… Continue

Posted by Jordan on March 12, 2008 at 4:00am

Latest Activity

Jordan added a discussion

Home Energy Audits

Anyone have any experiences with these? Did you hire someone? Did you do it yourself? Resources?

on Sunday

Jordan left a comment for Theodore L. K ing

Welcome to Wattopia Theodore. Great to have you. Please spend some time on the site and let me know if you have any suggestions for how to make it better.

June 2

Jordan left a comment for Kathy Lambert

Welcome Kathy. Great website. You've got lots of great information there. Consider blogging for Wattopia with respect to some of the energy related information that other Wattopians might find useful.

May 30

Kathy Lambert is now a member of Wattopia.com

Welcome Them!

May 30

Theodore L. K ing is now a member of Wattopia.com

Welcome Them!

May 21

Paul Hoffman is now friends with sandra and Jordan

May 13

rripken replied to Draya's discussion 'Solar Panels for homes'

I'm all for conservation, installing solar and solar thermal but stating that "solar PAYS for itself and then keeps on paying for FREE!" Is misleading. There is something called the time value of money. By investing in solar you are losing the opp...

May 12

Aaron Fyke joined Jordan's group

Energy Technology Investing

For those interested in energy technology investing: early stage to public equities.

May 12

rripken replied to Jordan's discussion 'Tankless Water Heaters'

I don't have either but I don't see why a tankless water heater wouldn't work with solar hot water system. The solar could pre-heat the incoming water. What doesn't make sense together is a tankless heater with a hot water recirculating pump. My b...

May 12