Date: 08/10/2010 | Source: PR Newswire
Source: ActiveRain
In a survey released today, 59 percent of Americans considered green alternatives for their home improvement projects in the last quarter. However, only 19 percent of homeowners surveyed were motivated to conduct home improvement projects because of tax credits. The survey was part of ServiceMagic’s Q2 2010 Home Remodeling and Repair Index. When homeowners did go green, they focused largely on window upgrades for the home with an increase in window service requests up 81 percent from last year in the same quarter. For homeowners who did not consider green alternatives, 50 percent of them were not aware of the green options, while 27 percent did not like the green product choices and 16 percent found the cost of green products outweighed the benefits. Click here to read more about the results of this study.
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Date: 08/10/2010 | Source: Mother Nature Network
Source: J. Scott Applewhite/AP
As Elena Kagan raised her right hand to be sworn in as the 112th U.S. Supreme Court justice, she remained an environmental mystery. Yet, an examination of her background reveals flashes of green that should calm uncomfortable environmentalists who are saying goodbye to their judicial champion, Justice John Paul Stevens. Kagan’s time as Harvard’s Law School dean, her feelings about the executive branch’s power and even a few of her comments during her confirmation hearings offer signals that the newest member of the high court may be as green-leaning as Stevens. Click here to read about the Supreme Court’s newest member!
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Date: 08/10/2010 | Source: The New York Times
Source: Rupert Eden/New York Times
Five years ago, the leaders of this sun-scorched, wind-swept nation made a bet: To reduce Portugal’s dependence on imported fossil fuels, they embarked on an array of ambitious renewable energy projects — primarily harnessing the country’s wind and hydropower, but also its sunlight and ocean waves. Today, Lisbon’s trendy bars, Porto’s factories and the Algarve’s glamorous resorts are powered substantially by clean energy. Nearly 45 percent of the electricity in Portugal’s grid will come from renewable sources this year, up from 17 percent just five years ago. Click here to read how this European country has become a clean-energy leader.
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Date: 08/09/2010 | Source: Sunpluggers.com
Source: Leslie Carlson/Solar Home & Business Journal
Buying a quarter-century or more of electricity upfront is not only daunting, it’s out of the question for many. Some prospective solar electricity buyers are so intimidated by the upfront price tag, they don’t investigate any further. That can be a mistake. New ways of financing solar energy are appearing and evolving rapidly. It’s no longer just a novelty for the well-heeled. And although solar PV incentives are dwindling in places, prices also have come down (though not always in tandem). Several types of financial approaches are used in the United States to encourage consumers to generate or buy solar electricity. Once you have investigated the available incentives in your area, apprehensions about the high upfront cost of solar may start to fade a bit. Click here to read about the options that exist for solar today!
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Date: 08/09/2010 | Source: Startribune.com
Source: Startribune.com
Driving a gas guzzler? Don’t plan on always getting a primo parking spot. Signs that read “ECO VEHICLE PARKING Violators Towed at Vehicle Owners Expense,” have appeared near the door of the 8200 Building at Normandale Lake Office Park in Bloomington, which is home to the new Parma 8200 restaurant. Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op in St. Paul also has designated three prime spots for fuel-efficient cars. Jim Gefre, property manager of the 8200 Building, sees it as a way for companies promote green alternatives. “We will definitely see [eco-friendly spots] more and more,” he said. “It’s already popular out West, in Colorado and California. But you’ll see it pick up more in the Midwest and the East.” Click here to read more!
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Date: 08/06/2010 | Source: Sunpluggers.com
Source: California Solar Initiative
Californians who install residential solar photovoltaic systems are twice as likely to be motivated by saving money as by saving the environment, according to a survey conducted for the California Solar Initiative. The survey found that 52 percent named financial reasons as their primary motive for choosing solar and 26 percent said concern for the environment was the chief factor. The survey also included residential property owners who have not considered installing solar electric systems, and probed their reasons. Not surprisingly, high initial costs were mentioned by 55 percent of those questioned. Many non-participants remain unaware of the existence of leases, power purchase agreements or tax-assessed energy programs, all of which allow solar installations with little or no upfront cost. Click here to read more about this topic!
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