Colleges and Universities on board with green technology

While visiting colleges and universities in the Upper Midwest I've been impressed with how many are actively working diligently to reduce their carbon footprints.  At the University of Wisconsin - River Falls campus they completed a student center and added $1,000,000 of addition energy savings features thanks to a vote by the students.

I recently received news that my Alma Mater, Luther College, located in Decorah Iowa, is working to reduce its carbon footprint in half by 2015, and become carbon neutral by 2030.  You can read or watch a 3 minute video about how Luther has become a leader in the clean energy economy from Energy.Gov's website.

It is a hopeful sign that tomorrow's leaders are actively aware and engaged in reducing the harmful impact of carbon emissions on the environment.

Severe weather continues

Wind damage to trees in our yard

Damaged trees in western Wisconsin

 Earlier this week strong winds passed through our neighborhood, toppling trees and breaking off large branches.  I had never seen such strong straight line winds before.

This storm paled in comparison to the strong winds that ripped through some of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin on July 1st of this year.  St. Croix State Forest lost thousands of trees in this rain and windstorm that impacted 161,000 acres.

Seems that the world's weather is in tumult.  A record 753 tornados were recorded in April of this year in the United States, eclipsing the previous high of 543 in 2003.

While it doesn't prove global warming is occurring, it certainly is concerning that all 50 states realized record high temperatures during the month of July.

Let's all do what we can to reduce waste and carbon footprints.  If we fail to do so, mother nature may not be as forgiving as we would like.

Radical simplicity

I just finished reading Jim Merkel's book Radical simplicity: small footprints on a finite Earth.  Mr. Merkel is an engineer who has radically reduced his own carbon and ecological footprint, and gives tips on why and how others might do likewise.

Merkel noted how since 1978 humans claimed the entire sustainable yield of the earth, and ever since have  been drawing down on resources at an unsustainable rate.  Americans in particular consume a vastly larger "share of the pie" than most others around the world.

He provides charts and tools to help people measure their ecological footprint.  Setting goals to live a richer and simpler lifestyle is encouraged. He also recommends readers to practice advice provided in the book Your Money or Your Life, by Vicki Robbins and Joe Dominguez.

He references the following valuable frugal tips:

• Buy what you need but don't "go shopping"
• Take care of what you own
• Do it yourself
• Anticipate  your needs
• Get it for less
• Buy it used
• Pay off your credit-card balance
• Walk or bicycle to do errands

Lastly Mr. Merkel recommends spending time daily in nature.  He notes the benefits of observing the natural environment and learning how the ecosystem works in a small defined area.

The goal of this book is to help most of us move through the following four stages.

1. Unconscious unsustainability
2. Conscious unsustainability
3. Conscious sustainability
4. Unconscious sustainability

Mr. Merkel's book is certainly a great consciousness raiser while also providing a wealth of ideas about ways to radically simplify ones lifestyle.

Interested in seeing how large a carbon footprint you have?  A website, carbon footprint, can lead you through an analysis.

Measuring and reducing carbon dioxide

The vast majority of scientist have concluded that our world's increased output of carbon dioxide is leading to global climate change.  This is resulting not only in global warming, but also increasingly severe weather patterns; floods, droughts, etc.  So, what's one person to do about this?

As Mahatma Grandi suggested, we should be the change we want to see in the world.  A website, carbonfootprint,  provides information on measuring your carbon footprint along with suggestions to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide you contribute to the environment though your lifestyle.  Lot's of great practical suggestions are provided.

You and I can't make much of a difference in changing the wasteful habits of other people, but we can change our daily habits to make changes for the good.  And, as Margaret Mead has noted, "Never doubt that a small group of committed citizens can change the world.  Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."

Please join with me in being the change we want to see in this world!