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I sat down yesterday with Eric Garland to explain my opinions on cleantech, green, and more. Here's what Eric had to say on Competitive Futures:

"With a philosophy straight from the European Enlightenment and with credentials from the heart of the environmental movement, Scott Edward Anderson is a rare voice amongst the crowd of green economy hypesters and cynics. In a style that strongly recalls our own approach to holistic, data-based, rational analysis of the future, Scott advises companies, governments and investors on how to think about cleantech with all the complexity and cold logic that it deserves.

"In this edition of the Competitive Futures Podcast, Scott shoots a hole in most of the "green" technologies that are supposed to save us, tells us why China is rapidly outpacing the West on cleantech investments, and why fixing 100 year old buildings is just as important as adopting brand new, shiny silver, nanotech-injected technology when it comes to the long-term future of our energy-efficient, green and clean 21st century economy."

I've decided to postpone this week's carnival until next week. I think with the holiday weekend, less people spent time online (which is a good thing!) and we received less submissions than we would have otherwise.

Hope everyone had a good ... [visit site to read more]

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View from Club Akumal, Mexico

Sure I'd love to be in Cancun this week, as the chill winds of November blow into December. But I'd go for the diving rather than the hot air of another conference of the parties on climate change.

I just don't think anything will come of more meetings on how to stop climate change.

The Economist agrees with me it would appear from the cover story in this week's issue.

"In the wake of the Copenhagen summit, there is a growing acceptance that the effort to avert serious climate change has run out of steam," the editors write before suggesting that we may be better focused on adapting to the inevitable changes that are already set in motion.

"Since the beginning of time, creatures have adapted to changes in their environment. Unfortunately, such adaptation has always meant large numbers of deaths. Evolution works that way," the Economist asserts. "But humankind is luckier than most species. It has the advantage of being able to think ahead, and to prepare for the changes to come. That's what needs to happen now."

Indeed, that is what we've been suggesting for some time here at The Green Skeptic, and we see adaptation as one of the three key focus areas, along with increases in energy efficiency and R&D into energy innovations that will help us deal with the changes that may come.

It is, as the Economist suggests, "the craziest experiment mankind has ever conducted. Maybe in the long run it will be brought under control. For the foreseeable future, though, the mercury will continue to rise, and the human race must live with the problem as best it can."

But first we need to stop focusing on solutions that will not work and meetings that only lead to more meetings. We need to shift our focus to pragmatic solutions by doing what we do best as a species: adapt and innovate.

Once again, cold season has hit my local area. Being one of the many people hit with a head cold, I decided to look into what organic remedies are available. It is a well-known fact that one cannot cure a cold, ... [visit site to read more]

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The EPA Releases The Preliminary Label For The Chevy VOLT CNN Chevy VOLT Video: …. as the green future unfolds.

Image via Wikipedia Many of us have grown accustomed to making sacrifices, and cut-backs, in order to save money, and energy in this economic crisis. On the plus side, for our efforts of this economic recession: Carbon dioxide pollution, dropped  last year for the first time in a decade. But, that was here in the [...]

A few months ago I posted my Green To Do List. Time to dust it off and see how I am doing.

1. Do my final check on the SunChips bags in my composter and garden *Need to check the garden2. Find a way to store "special waste" *Still haven't started this
3. Hook downspout up to rain barrel *Next spring (I keep telling myself this)
4. Tend to veggie garden *Part done...just need to bring the bean and tomato poles inside
5. Think about ways to cut down on plastic consumption *Working on this
6. Make own oven cleaner and window cleaner. *Still using up old one's
7. Start to use vinegar as a rinse agent in dishwasher *Starting next load
8. Look for a new facial cleanser and moisturizer *Still looking.....
9. Figure out if I love my steam cleaner or if I should return it/beat the hell out of it *I hate it. Will not use for deep cleaning. Only daily basic cleaning.
10. Research an environmentally friendly mattress. *Waiting for boxing day sales
11. Sell baby stuff  *Ongoing
12. Buy a 1/4 or 1/2 cow from a local organic farm *Not started yet
13. Start to think about EF Christmas gifts *Making awesome progress on this!

Dear lord that was depressing. I thought I would have more done....

Just a reminder that the Otterbottle Insulated Lunch Tote Giveaway ends this Sunday.

A short week with the holiday in the US, so a little spare on the links today:

EnerNoc says it is well-Positioned to grow Demand Response market in PJM territory: $ENOC

Jim DiPeso of Republicans for Environmental Protection, says "Don't let Congress handcuff EPA," in FrumForum.

Stephen King (no, not that one, the one at HSBC)asks "Who needs who? America and China must avoid making past mistakes again," in The Independent.

Kiran Stacey writes in Financial Times that greens are waking up to China’s coal boom: China Coal

And speaking of China, The Economist, featured an obituary of the great Liang Congjie, China's first environmentalist, who died on Oct 25: China green.

Martin Lamonica of CNET suggests that energy technology entrepreneurs need to think more like chess players and look to China and elsewhere, where the regulatory environment is simpler and governments are more welcoming: Look Overseas, Young Startup.

T-T-That's all folks, I now return you back to your leftover turkey already in progress.


(Disclosure: I hold a long position in ENOC. This post is for informational purposes only and is neither intended to be investment advice nor an offer, or the solicitation of any offer, to buy or sell any securities.)

Enjoy your friends and family and don't let them drive you too ... [visit site to read more]

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Wishing you and yours, A Happy and Wonderful Thanksgiving!

* diapers - our compost system does not allow these
* peel off top to yogurt - does this count as a foil?
* wrap from a chicken
* styrofoam from under a chicken - not picked up in our recycle program but can be dropped off
* wrapper from B's cookies - does this count as a foil?
* wrapper from B's cereal bars - does this count as a foil?
* bag from inside of a cereal box
* milk bag
* plastic from a wine bottle - I didn't want/need it but he had already put it on
* onion bag
* breastmilk storage bag
* saran wrap
* plastic seal from cottage cheese container

Notice it is almost all plastic? That is really what made me start to do this in the first place.

What do you do with any of these items? Any suggestions are welcome if you aren't able to recycle them as part of your local program.

Related Posts - Check them out
Home vs City Compost
The Disappearing Bag
Hair Raising Problem

While it may be a little late to change your travel plans or go searching for specific food items, there are still some steps you can take to lessen your impact this Thanksgiving.

No Plans

No plans for tomorrow? Consider spending your time helping others at a soup ... [visit site to read more]

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Six years ago today I launched The Green Skeptic as a blog devoted to challenging assumptions about how we live on the earth and protect our environment.

It's been fun and I'm cooking up a lot of changes for my 7th inning ahead.

For the 5th anniversary last year, I wrote:

People often ask me why I'm skeptical and what I'm skeptical about.

Well, the answer is, I believe that skepticism is a hallmark of human nature. Without it, we are sheep.

I think we need to constantly challenge our assumptions about the way the world works or how others tell us it works. We must question even what our leaders tell us, regardless of what side of the aisle their derriere rests upon or what side of the issue they claim to represent...

...So, I'll remain a skeptic and try to stop the bleating where I can.

I am neither a climate skeptic nor a climate denier, but I do believe the rhetoric on both sides is spoiling our chances to achieve true prosperity through innovation.

We need to stop all the bleating and blathering and get on with a new agenda for our economy, a new green economy that balances technological progress and environmental impact.

As my pal Andy Swan says, we need "a 'green' that embraces the technological efficiencies that can make our world more productive and cleaner while concurrently lowering the barriers to entry for persons and businesses requiring energy to succeed."

Succeed. Innovation. Prosperity.

Sensing a theme here?

Ultimately, my skepticism about the way "we live on the earth and protect our environment" all gets back to making our world a better place -- a better place for all of us to thrive and grow and, to use one of Andy's favorite words, win.

Thanks for reading; I hope to continue to provide value for the next seven years.

Traded Corn for Votes?

Despite being a proponent of corn ethanol policy in the past, former vice-president Al Gore now says corn-based ethanol in the United States was "not a good policy."

His comments, made at a green energy business conference in Athens, came as tax breaks for ethanol are up for renewal at the end of this year.

According to the International Energy Industry, ethanol subsidies reached US$7.7 billion last year and biofuels as a whole garnered more subsidies than any other form of renewable energy.

"First generation ethanol I think was a mistake," said Gore. "The energy conversion ratios are at best very small." But, he went on to say that it is difficult to change such programs once strong lobbies keep it going.

He blamed his own support on his presidential ambitions.

"One of the reasons I made that mistake is that I paid particular attention to the farmers in my home state of Tennessee," Gore offered. "And I had a certain fondness for the farmers in the state of Iowa because I was about to run for president."

In other words, Gore wanted support from the corn lobbies for his failed presidential candidacy.

The unintended consequences of ramping up US corn ethanol production became apparent in 2008 when food prices skyrocketed, in part because of the conversion of food crops to biofuel production.

This year, according to Goldman Sachs analysts, the ethanol industry will consume about 41 percent of US corn or about 15 percent of the corn crop worldwide.

We've been saying for some time that corn ethanol was the Abilene Paradox of alternative energy, in which a group of people collectively decide on a course of action that is counter to their better judgment.

With all the folks who jumped on the bandwagon standing to benefit from the widespread production -- from farmers and producers in the US Midwest to presidential candidates -- it appears self-interest may have been the real driver of the ethanol-powered bus to the west Texas town.

Nissan has given a test drive with CNN’s Ali Velshi on the LEAF with CEO Carlos Ghosn… Great Stuff! Now let’s talk about how to charge the LEAF

Be sure to Stumble the posts you like, or submit them to other social bookmarking services. Let's promote each other, as well as ... [visit site to read more]

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