Ten Most Polluting Vehicles

Forbes put together a list of the top 10 worst auto polluters, although the actual list is hard to find in the article (check out the slideshow). It's not a surprise that most of the top 10 are SUV's or diesel-powered vehicles. One good news is that new diesel vehicles starting with 2009 models will be more efficient, thanks to new auto technology. These cars also abide by new California emissions laws, which proves that car companies can respond to new emissions legislation if necessary.

Sick Salmon

Some of our most prized fish, Alaskan salmon, is under attack.

This attack is coming from a tiny parasite called Ich, which creates white spots on the fish and makes them turn bad after being caught. Up to a third of Alaskan salmon are being tossed out because of this disease.

The increase in what used to be a rare but natural occurrence is being blamed on global warming. With warmer waters and climates, the parasite has been allowed to thrive.

Salmon is a staple of some Native American diets, and a lot of my friends’, too (I’m a vegetarian). Learn more about this problem from the LA Times and NPR.

Eat Low Carbon Diet Calculator

Want to know how much your lunch is causing global warming?

Ok, me neither. But it's interesting to be able to calculate how much carbon was used to create your meal. Check out the Eat Low Carbon Diet Calculator to see how much impact you're having on the Earth, and what you can do to change that.

New Book out on Global Warming

EARTH UNDER FIRE: HOW GLOBAL WARMING IS CHANGING THE WORLD

Written and photographed by GARY BRAASCH

"The best book on global warming I've read this year."
-- Mark Hertsgaard, author of Earth Odyssey (14 December 2007)

Endorsed by Bill McKibben, Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and Scientific American

Published October 2007 by University of California Press

Based on an eight year project (documented at http://www.worldviewofglobalwarming.org), this book surveys the science behind climate change and introduces native people, lifelong observers, scientists, and others who are experiencing changes right now. Alongside Braasch's compelling words and images, essays by eminent scientists discuss the impacts of climate change on the oceans, biodiversity, fresh water, mountain cultures, plants and animals, and our health. EARTH UNDER FIRE: HOW GLOBAL WARMING IS CHANGING THE WORLD also offers an upbeat and intelligent account of how we can lessen the effects.

"Earth Under Fire is that rare book, a vivid and consequential work that needs to be held, studied, and pondered. No one who reads this can ignore our collective destiny."
--Paul Hawken, author of Blessed Unrest and The Ecology of Commerce

You can preview and link to order here, or you can order it from your local library. I just did!

Lights Out for Earth Hour

I first heard about Earth Hour 2008 through Facebook, that almighty powerhouse. The invitation reads:

On March 29th, 2008 at 8pm local time Earth Hour will commence ALL AROUND THE WORLD.

Created to take a stand against the greatest threat our planet has ever faced, Earth Hour uses the simple action of turning off the lights for one hour to deliver a POWERFUL MESSAGE about the need for action on global warming.

Be part of making Earth Hour 2008 a huge, global success by telling your friends and family. Remember, every single light makes a statement and makes a difference.

Last year, on 31 March 2007, 2.2 million people and 2100 Sydney (Australia) businesses turned off their lights for one hour – Earth Hour. This massive collective effort reduced Sydney’s energy consumption by 10.2% for one hour, which is the equivalent effect of taking 48,000 cars off the road for one hour.

Visit earthhour.org for more information.

Candidates' Stance on Global Warming

An anonymous reader left a great comment last week, and in case you didn't get to read it, s/he says, "I am very frustrated with the fact that so few people are talking about presidential candidates and their thoughts on global warming. Now that it is down to just a few candidates I would think that this would be a bigger issue. Live Earth just picked up this topic and put out an article. Live Earth is also asking why the presidential candidates are not being solicited for their stance on the issue of the climate change. I just saw a poll on Earth Lab that says people care a lot about what their next leader thinks of global warming. Does anyone know of another poll or other results about this subject?"

Conscious Consuming is about educating people of all stripes about their consumption decisions. We are an environmental and social justice organization at heart, but believe that all candidates, and all people, can benefit by learning to "Slow Down and Green Up." We have been extremely encouraged over the past year about the increased attention being paid (in the mainstream media and by the public at large) to global warming, yet the news about how our collective lifestyles are impacting the planet is not good, overall. Each of the Presidential candidates does have a (more or less defined) plan to address global warming, and readers will find information on these plans, as well as scorecards and polling data at The League of Conservation Voters website.

Thanks for posting your comment, Anonymous. We appreciate your feedback!

Ten Personal Solutions to Global Warming

Let's continue this week with a few more life-changing lists!

The Union of Concerned Scientists has put out a list of "Ten Personal Solutions" to combat global warming in your own life.

The Green Guide's Top Ten gives great tips on little things you can do, like shortening your shower time, that will add up to a lot of CO2 being saved in the atmosphere.

If you know of any other lists, or have any of your own tips on how to fight global warming in your life, leave us a comment!

8 Ways to Save Energy at Home

Happy New Year!

For many of us, the new year brings resolutions of better living. We hope that you'll consider taking these easy steps in your life to save energy in your home.

1. Low-flow shower head. Switch to a low-flow shower head and you have just taken the most effective step in saving water in your home. This cheap fixture will pay for itself in a year in what you save in water bills.



2. Faucet water saver. This dandy fixture on your kitchen or bathroom faucet lets you adjust the amount of water when washing dishes or brushing your teeth. Those extra seconds will add up to a lot of gallons saved!



3. Compact fluorescent light bulbs. We all know we should switch from those energy-losing incandescent light bulbs. Each bulb will save over $30 in your electricity bill, and you'll be saving more than 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide from contributing to global warming, too. More info



4. Renewable energy. I opted to get my home electricity from wind energy through my electric utility, costing me 2 cents extra per kilowatt hour. For reducing my climate change impact, I think that's worth it! To find out renewable energy options in your state, ask your utility company or visit http://www.green-e.org/gogreene.shtml.



5. Paperless bills. This is so easy: choose to get your bills online from your utilities, credit card company, bank, and phone company. Sixty-three billion checks are written each year in the United States: imagine how much paper we could save if we all paid bills online?



6. Offset travel. We've become a traveling society, and all those air miles are building up carbon in our air. Offsetting each trip with clean energy for someone else is easy, and doesn't cost as much as you'd think. There are a dozen different companies out there; ones that I like are terrapass.com and nativeenergy.org.


7. Wash laundry in cold water. About 90% of energy used to do laundry is to heat water. Your clothes will also last longer when washed in cold water.



8. Unplug it! More than 5% of a typical home's energy bill comes from electricity "leaked" from appliances that are plugged in and turned off. Unplugging electronics and things like cell phone charges when not in use will save on your electricity bill.

These small changes in your life will do a big part in helping to reduce global warming and save natural resources for future generations.

We at Conscious Consuming hope that this new year will bring health and happiness to you and your loved ones!

Biofuels: Dream Turned Nightmare?

This blog post about biofuels from Grassroots International tells the reality they're seeing on the ground about the actual production of all that sugarcane that's being hailed as the new fuel of the future.

Can we have less environmentally-harmful emissions without jeopardizing the health, safety, and livelihoods of workers around the world? Will we ever find a solution to our energy-gobbling addiction without building it on the backs of poorer nations?

This issue is timely and deserves more discussion.

How I Offset My Summer Vacation

We're in the midst of summer traveling, and with all this talk about global warming, I'm feeling a little guilty about taking that plane ride to visit my parents in a couple weeks. But alas, I'd feel worse if I didn't go. What's a world traveler to do?

Lots of renewable energy companies are now offering to offset your carbon output with efforts to reduce carbon emissions elsewhere. Through a small donation to their efforts, you can feel good about neutralizing your travel. Travelocity even has a program that allows you to make those contributions as you book your ticket.

I personally like NativeEnergy, a Native American company that supports farmer-owned, community-based renewable energy projects. Offsetting my round-trip flight to Milwaukee costs $12. Considering what we pay for airplane meals these days, I think I can afford it.

ExxonMobile's still denying global warming...

...and funding it too! The Mother Jones blog announced that ExxonMobile claimed to have stopped funding the denial of global warming but is continuing to do just the opposite. According to Greenpeace, "Exxon spent $2.1 million last year on 41 groups who are leading the climate sceptic industry" last year. It has dropped funding for the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), it continues to fund The Heartland Institute, the Heritage Foundation, the George C Marshall Institute, the American Enterprise Insitute, and many other groups at the heart of Global Warming denial who have participated a plan to eliminate the Kyoto Protocol.

Mother Jones deems it "pseudoskepticism" and compares it to the strategy used by those in the tobacco industry to "cast doubt over the danges of smoking." Luckily, the government didn't let the tobacco industry get away with it, and now they are not letting ExxonMobile either. The chairman of the House Science oversight committee Brad Miller requested a list of "global warming skeptics" it has funded yesterday.

The most important thing is keeping these lies in the public. We cannot stop bugging ExxonMobile, and other gas companies of the like, about whom they are funding. We cannot allow gas companies to fund the denial of global warming just because they might get a better profit off a misinformed public.

Step it Up America!

Bill McKibben, environmental writer extraordinaire, was so pleased with his 2006 climate walk across Vermont that he decided to go further this year. He and some of his dedicated students have launched the Step it Up campaign, which will consist of rallies and demonstrations all across the country on April 14th, 2007 to call to curb carbon emissions by 80% by the year 2050. If that target sounds outrageously impossible and you feel like a naysayer by saying so, consider that the United Kingdom actually PASSED legislation in March to cut carbon emissions by 60% by the year 2050.

Even though the 2006 Vermont walk was a success, Bill McKibben couldn't believe that the 1,000 people who gathered to rally represented the largest US global warming demonstration ever...1,000 people!!! Help show Congress and our presidential candidates that we're not too busy for environmental activism. Check out Step it Up to find an event near you, and get out there to show your support for our planet.