GEAR

GEAR = Green Energy Action & Research

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GREEN HOMES

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CONSUME LESS, CONSERVE MORE

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West Virginia Citizens’ Energy Plan

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Last updated 01/29/2008

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Send your useful energy links to Robin Wilson singingplow@igc.org – thanks

Net Metering - The ability to take energy generated by a renewable source like wind or solar PV's and have it reduce ones eclectic bill. Allegheny Power noted they have about 200 people now using this system. They do not pay customers for excess power but excess power credit can be applied to months when there isn't much sun or wind. More information From

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Net_metering

WV Net Metering Policy WV Net Metering Application Net Metering Engineering Manual

http://www.wvagriculture.org/ – This URL has all the state Agricultural publications to order or to look at on line.

WWW.greensburggreentown.org – Town destroyed by a tornado rebuilds on green principles

http://www.1sky.org/blog/ - Blog networking local actions to prevent global warming

http://www.focusthenation.org/ National effort to avoid global warming, national teach in

http://www.fightglobalwarming.com/ website link from Ad Council billboard

www.healthhouse.org Helps with tips form the American Lung Association on building and maintaining your home with healthy products for your family’s safety.

http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/ Lots of information and more links to green building ideas plus granting possibilities.

http://www.usgbc.org/ US Green Building Council has products, creates information networks mainly focused toward business buildings.

www.lungusa.org

http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147 Green standards for LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environment Design) home building.

http://www.greenhomeguide.org/ Green home building ideas for LEED certification. Encouraging energy savings, toxic free, environmental friendly homes.

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html instructions on using the greenhouse gas calculator

http://www.usctcgateway.gov/tool/ Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies Calculator

http://www.focusthenation.org/greendemocracy.php Green Democracy teach in on Global Climate Change. Contact your representative to encourage participation.

http://www.eere.energy.gov/buildings/tech/ - Information on DOE Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EFRE)

Rocky Mountain Institute - great research on energy savings for many years http://www.rmi.org/

Student Environment Action Coalition - had a conference in Glenville about a month ago on energy and in Washington DC last weekend looking to find solutions to global warming. Dana Kuhnline dana@seac.org and Danny Chiotos danny@seac.org web www.seac.org
515 Maxwell Apt. A
Charleston WV 25311
Cell: (415) 606-3953

Help from the US government on how to save energy on your home http://hes.lbl.gov/

http://www.greenbuild365.org/Videos/ - mostly upscale homes but still interesting. takes broad band internet connection

http://www.ase.org/ Alliance to Save Energy

www.consumerenergycenter.org

www.energywv.org

Participant in January 14, 2008 GEAR Meeting

Marilyn Wrenn Harrell

Center for Economic Options

910 Quarrier Street, Suite 206

Charleston, WV 25301

(304) 345-1298 ext 14

www.centerforeconomicoptions.org

Sustainable Cities

The following web site lists US cities with sustainability policies or programs, and ranks them.

www.sustainlane.com/us-city-rankings/overview.jsp

These are their top 10 cities, with links:

PORTLAND, OR www.portlandonline.com/osd/ (Office of Sustainable Development)

SAN FRANCISCO, CA www.sustainable-city.org (Sustainability Plan for the City of San Francisco)

SEATTLE, WA www.seattle.gov/light/conserve/sustainability/ (Seattle City Light)

CHICAGO, IL www.believechicago.org/guide (Chicago Sustainability Action Guide)

OAKLAND, CA www.oaklandnet.com/government/ceda/revised/planningzoning/sustainability/default.html (Oakland's Sustainable Development Initiative

NEW YORK, NY www.nyc.gov/html/oec/html/home/home.shtml (NYC Office of Environmental Coordination, links to “PlaNYC: a greener, greater New York”)

BOSTON, ma www.cityofboston.gov/environmentalandenergy/greenawards (links to Boston Environmental and Energy Services)

PHILADELPHIA, PA www.philaplanning.org/plans/sustain.pdf (Policy paper: “Sustainable Planning and Development”)

DENVER, CO www.greenprintdenver.org/ (City of Denver action plan for sustainable development)

MINNEAPOLIS, MN www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/sustainability/2007sustainabilityreport.asp (City of Minneapolis report on their Sustainability Initiative)

http://www.goingreen.co.uk/store/content/testimonials_cus/ electric vehicles, including small buses and utility trucks

DOE's Building Technologies Program works to improve the energy efficiency of our nation's buildings through innovative new technologies and better building practices. The program focuses in two key areas:

merging Technologies: Research and development of the next generation of energy-efficient components, materials, and equipmentTechnology Integration: Integration of new technologies with innovative building methods to optimize building performance and savings

www.fsec.ucf.edu Hampton Bay Gossamer Wind fan saves $ 20 / year on cooling costs

www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/your_home/insulation_airsealing/index.cfm/mytopic=11320? Has rating for insulation / R value

www.Grenhotels.com tips to make hotels can be run more energy efficiently

Food Issues:

www.organicconsumer.org Works to prevent the USDA form weakening organic standards, helps shoppers know what to watch for in organic labeling.

www.foodnews.org lists which fruits and vegetables are most and least likely to have chemical residues

www.eatwellguide.org has list of organic restaurants and stores

www.secureusa.greenpeace.org/mecury/ for $ 25 they will test your hair for mercury that has accumulated in your body.

Conservation Issues:

www.rainforestweb.org/Rainforest_Protection/Wood_Alternatives/Tree-Free_Paper/ Source for tree free paper

www.ReuseableBags.com – Alternative to disposable bags

www.Recycles.org Helps recycle electronics to those in need

www.zerowaste.org Aim at both reducing toxic waste and fossil fuels

Transportation Issues:

Transportation article by Bill Howley

www.fueleconomy.gov or www.geencars.org or www.hybridcenter.org for comparisons of hybrid cars

www.ibike.org has benefits of biking

www.evworld.com/evguide.cfm?secion=evguide&evtype=conversion plans for converting your small car to all electric. Not easy and costs $ 10,000.

www.nativeenergy.com/travel/ or www.carbonfund.org/site/pages/calculator/

Calculator to determine your travel offset balance (CO2 created that you could use carbon credits to offset)

www.CarbonCounter.org Funds projects to provide diesel trucks with electricity so they don’t need to idle.

www.VirginEarth.com Contest to encourage solutions to global climate change. $ 25 million as a prize.

Policy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zORv8wwiadQ – Series of You Tube clips arguing for action to prevent climate change.

http://climatechallenge.org/groups/new?filter0=&filter1=&filter2=132 – List of three groups at Marshall, WVU, and Shepherd College working on climate. Home page coordinated around policy.

SAVE ENERGY AT HOME

Energy-efficient lighting www.efi.org or www.nolico.com/saveenergy/

Energy-efficient appliances www.energystar.gov/products

Properly operate and maintain appliances http://aceee.org/consumerguide/chklst.htm or http://eartheasy.com/live_energyeffic_appl.htm

Heating, cooling, and insulating your house www.simplyinsulate.com or www.buyenergyefficient.org

Home energy audit www.energyguide.com

Standby power waste www.standby.lbl.gov/index.html

Efficiency of your home office www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?ofc=equip.pr_office_equipment

Switch to green power www.eere.energy.gov/consumer/renewable_energy

Solar Energy www.ases.org

Wind Energy www.awea.org

Net metering (now in WV) www.awea.org/faq/netbdef.html