Words from the SoapBox

It is a common sight across this country, bulldozers felling trees making way for new subdivisions and shopping malls, often the property becoming available because it was the only financially viable option for the original landowner. In Georgia, however, Valley Wood Inc. hopes to change all that by giving landowners the option of forest sequestration. Valley Wood Inc is part of the Chicago Climate Exchange program which is an initiative to help off set carbon emissions.

Richard Ramey, owner of Valley Wood Inc., manages “tree plantations” or carbon offset farms, which allow the land to generate income and hopefully prevent them from being sold for development.

The Georgia carbon offset farm was recently profiled on “Attainable Sustainables” a program airing on MXTV and created by MXenergy, a leading independent energy provider and a carbon neutral company itself. MxenergyTV is a creation which attempts to make the public more aware of energy programs and how they affect the planet.

“At MXenergy we feel very strongly about our obligation to maintain carbon neutrality,” says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director and MXTV host. “When you walk through this forest you instantly see the value of these trees and the numerous benefits they bring to the environment. By allowing our customers to purchase carbon offsets and our involvement in this forest it presents a tangible way for people to grasp the impact each one of them can have on our environment.” The planting of these trees directly helps to offset carbon emissions that are created by our lifestyles in the form of emmisions from our cars, houses and the energy we use.

The trees purchased through the CCX-registered afforestation program naturally sequester carbon dioxide through photosynthesis. This project was developed with the sole purpose of creating a permanent solution for sequestering greenhouse gas emissions. The Georgia climate offers an excellent environment for such a project due to its abundant rainfall, warm temperatures and longer growing seasonThe climate in Georgia is perfect for planting trees as well as having those trees mature and having a positive effect on our environment by offsetting harmful green house gases.

John Ramey, son and co-owner of Valley Wood, says carbon neutrality is a reasonable goal for everyone and we should all work towards achieving that goal and therefore protecting mother earth for future generations.

“If you are willing to pay to have your carbon footprint measured, you can be carbon neutral.” Ramey says. MXenergy is proud to be a carbon neutral energy company. Doing its part in the fight against global warming is an important aspect of this energy companies overall business model.

MXenergy TV, or MXTV for short, can be found on Cablevision iO Channel 654 in the Northeast United States. “Greener Trees” is just one of many programs focused on energy efficiency and “green living.” The complete episode and others can be viewed at http://mxenergy.com/mxenergytv-video-archive.html. If you do not have Cablevision just follow the link and see the episodes on Mxenergy’s website.

MXenergy customers can also visit the MXenergy Wizard website to learn how they can purchase carbon offsets for themselves.

Author Bio: MXenergy is a green conscious energy company. For details on MXenergy Initiatives visit the MXenergy Blog.

If a recent national poll is any indication, home energy improvements stand to take a big hit in the coming year. The survey released last week by the Shelton Group, indicates federal energy saving incentives and rebates were the primary motivating factor behind Americans decisions to make energy efficiency changes to their homes. Now with incentives and rebates coming to an end the expected outcome is less spending in that direction as American tighten their belts once more to deal with rising gas prices at the pumps.

This news comes just as many of these federal incentives are set to expire and the incentive budget has been slashed.

Each year Shelton Group conducts four national polls examining the state of power in the United States and how consumers are saving electricity and why. The February 7th poll revealed 23% of Americans received a rebate or financial incentive for home energy efficiency improvements. 25% said they would not have made the changes without the incentives. So you can see by these numbers once incentives have been slashed naturally this will reflect a decline in energy saving spending by Americans.

“At a time when money is tight for all Americans, this survey reveals just how valuable and motivating these incentives are,” says Jeffrey Mayer, President and CEO of MXenergy, a leading independent energy provider. “I believe most Americans want to make efficiency changes and improvements. For many people, the rebates and incentives may make the difference between their ability to make changes or being forced to stay with the status quo.”

The new tax law dramatically reduces incentives on many improvements from 30% of cost to 10%. It also lowers caps on many improvements as well. This will have a devastating effect on energy saving improvements being made to homes since the write offs that were once available are no longer in existence or are far less rewarding than before. As much as some homes need the upgrades to make them energy efficient many home owners simply cannot afford to make the investments without government incentives.

“This does not mean homeowners should abandon their efficiency improvement plans,” continues Mayer. “What it does represent is a call for all of us in the energy business, from utilities to retailers and manufacturers, to look at what new and creative incentives we can provide to help consumers in this process.” Mayer is very passionate about energy conservation as well as green energy and anything that is oriented towards renewable energy which he believes is the future, as well as the correct direction for energy companies to take. MXenergy has therefore started several initiatives in this direction. MXenergy Wizard is a site that was started for the purpose of offering energy audits to businesses as well as home owners, and MXearth is an initiative that sells carbon offsets allowing individuals to become carbon neutral.

Among the most common energy improvements, according to the Shelton Group poll, were replacing incandescent bulbs, adding sealing, caulking and weather stripping, adding insulation and purchasing ENERGY STAR appliances.

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity in Georgia as well as 15 other deregulated states.

When it comes to building a new home, few people would look to paper, recycled glass and old blue jeans for building materials. However, according to The Center for Green Building in Bridgeport, Connecticut, all of those items provide greater health, energy efficiency and sustainability than the materials most of us are used to using. We Americans are very much behind when it comes to recycling when compared to our European brethren.

Erin Buckley started the eco-friendly building supply business after her husband, a building contractor, was constantly sick. “As we did our research, we discovered that so many of the traditional building materials contain formaldehyde and other hazardous chemicals that can be so damaging to our health.”

Some of the more popular items carried by Buckley include solar roof shingles, made from recycled glass which reflects heat away from the roof, and Icestone, composed of recycled glass, and Paperstone, which is made from recycled paper from the local school districts. According to Buckley both of these make for excellent, strong, durable countertops without the health risks of granite.

“Many people don’t realize that granite emits radon gas, which is the leading cause of lung cancer,” says Buckley. “These other materials present a great option for homeowners without the health risks.”

According to Buckley, The Center for Green Building is founded on three basic principles: Health, Energy Efficiency, and Sustainability, “We find people often come in looking for healthy building options and leave being excited about the ability to be energy efficient as well.”

And where do those old blue jeans come in? The Center partners with a company that turns people’s old blue jeans into insulation. Buckley says they have found that the blue jean insulation is three times as effective and lasts six times as long as traditional fiberglass. Making blue jean recycling in to insulation quite a proficient solution to what to do with those old jeans.

The Center and its building supplies were recently featured on “Attainable Sustainables” a program carried on MXTV, a cable channel created by MXenergy, one of the nation’s leading independent energy providers. This company has made it its mission to not only provide reasonable rates for power but to also work with the community an the country in becoming more energy efficient as a whole.

“We are constantly looking for ways to educate our customers and viewers about ways they can become more energy efficient in their own lives,” says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director. “The company offers truly innovative options for people who are building or remodeling their homes. Not only can people make their homes more energy efficient, they can also make them healthier as well.”

In order to educate people about the importance of energy efficiency and other environmental issues, MXenergy has created its own On Demand cable channel, MXenergyTV, or MXTV for short, which can be found on Cablevision iO Channel 654 in the Northeast United States. The piece “Green Home” is just one of many programs focused on energy efficiency and “green living.” The complete story can be found on the MXTV archive at http://mxenergy.com/mxenergytv-video-archive.html.

More information about The Center for Green Building can be found at www.centerforgreenbuilding.com.

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity in Georgia as well as 15 other deregulated states.

The temperatures are brutal, the cost of natural gas is on the rise and household budgets are tight. So why are so many homeowners essentially throwing money away each and every month on their home utility bills?

The vast majority of American homes are not energy efficient. A Home Energy Audit can save the average homeowner several hundred dollars annually on their home utility bills. Setting up the audit is as simple as a phone call and government rebates can cover most of the cost. Yet many Americans do not take advantage of these programs or services. The question is Why?

There are a few basic reasons people do not perform home energy assessments according to Mxenergy, one of the nation’s leading independent energy providers.

After speaking with home energy auditors we have learned there are several common reasons why more people don’t complete a home energy audit, says Marjorie Kass, MXenergy Managing Director.

According to Kass, reasons given for not completing an audit include:

1. Lack of Knowledge About the Program.

2. Time: Fear it will take too long – The typical assessment can be completed in just a few hours so don’t worry about it taking a lot of your time.

3. Fear of Cost – Government rebates can cover the majority of the cost as well as some energy companies will provide you with an energy audit free of charge for their customers.

4. Not Understanding the Benefits – An energy efficient home can save hundreds of dollars annually and provides important environmental benefits as well. If you can get your home energy efficient, your electric and or natural gas usage will reflect the savings in the form of a much lower light or gas bill. This alone should be a motivator when it comes to making your home energy efficient.

“It is unfortunate that more people do not recognize the benefits and take advantage of this important service,” says Kass. “For most Americans money is tight right now and heating a home that is not energy efficient is the equivalent of taking your hard earned dollars and tossing them in the fireplace. Something as simple as a Home Energy Audit can literally save people hundreds of dollars each year and benefit our planet at the same time.”

In order to educate people about the importance of energy efficiency and other environmental issues, MXenergy has created its own On Demand cable channel, MXenergyTV, or MXTV for short, which can be found on Cablevision iO Channel 654 in the Northeast United States. The piece “Home Energy Check-up” is just one of many programs focused on energy efficiency and “green living.” Also you can visit MXenergy Wizard for an energy audit in areas that they service. Also if you want to find some great tips on weatherizing your home you can find that at the wizard site which is one of MXenergies many initiatives.

More information about home energy assessments can be found at the United States Department of Energy website (http://www.energysavers.gov/your_home/energy_audits/).

Author Bio: For MXenergy initiatives on preserving energy and on how to become carbon neutral MXenergy can offer you information on both as well as offering you MXenergy Promotional rates on natural gas as well as electricity.

Why is everyone talking about saving the Earth by riding the smart transportation being offered by most green revolution companies all over the world? Science fiction as it may sound, covering miles with a smart car can really do help save energy and in the end, help conserve the planet you live in. But fear not that you have to purchase anything just yet, when you can go around with some of the most accessible green transportation you already might have.

Have you ever wondered why big corporations in transportation have been in their drawing boards lately? They have been releasing energy efficient models of cars, motor bikes, public vehicles, and the many technological transport services that are slowly dominating the market.

The reason behind all the rush is the knowledge about the poor conditions of our planet. Energy conservation and sustainability has become one of the most influential aspects of consumers in buying their transport means. And most manufacturers are now aware of how this factor can affect their market sales and they decide to go with the flow of the end users.

But as a normal consumer, how would you know that you are doing part of the green revolution? Well, it is pretty easy to participate in this revolution of a better planet change without having to buy pricey green cars just yet.

Walking not only gets you somewhere, it gets your health better. Most of you might have forgot to stretch your limbs in reaching your destination. This might sound a little too primitive, but with the amount of fuel energy walking can save, you should be glad it can be done for free. Since man learned how to walk in two feet, walking has never failed human kind to find his way around his location. Walking can help you exercise, thus keeping you healthy as your circulation can get a better pumping. Walking also depends on your location, as most suburban dwellers are prone to walking with the more inviting scenarios around the local neighborhood and not to mention the lesser exposure to pollution. Metropolitan folks tend to be adverse in the method of walking because of the high level of pollution and of course, the many other city people crowding the pedestrian lanes. Ask your physicians also if you are fit for walking to check if your physical condition is ready to walk miles. To have a good measure of good average walking, any 15 to 20 minutes radius to your destination is a healthy gauge to start. Just imagine how much you can save by cutting transportation budget in getting groceries, having a coffee, walking towards your office, or any distance that does not take you hours to reach.

Cycling is another option for the green revolution transportation. Most states have already installed bike lanes for people who opt to use their bicycles in going to work or really getting around town. Cyclists also tend to have a healthier and sound physical condition with the exercise they get from paddling their equipment to get to where they want to be. Although motor bikes and scooters have also been in the limelight in some countries who just have too many cars on the road. Some countries even encourage bikes to be used by their citizens to lessen the pollution in the air and also lessen the traffic jams apparent in their cities. Motor bikes also tend to consume lesser fuel but cover the same or even further miles than cars.

Public transportation could also be a choice. Public vehicles tend to use lesser fuel in moving around a lot of people towards their destinations in the city. Buses, trains, and other means of public transport can give better chance of saving fuel and gets people from point A to B without too much resource wasted. You can start your part by sacrificing a little bit of convenience in the daily transportation you choose.

Author Bio: Lars Camroun has mastered the balance of time, money, and practicality when it comes to finding the best Minneapolis limousine company out there. As a busy business executive looking for a comfortable, yet stylish ride for special events, Lars has found Aspen Limo and the Minneapolis town car service option the right fit every time.

When you think of solar power, you think of solar panels on rooftops and hot sun beating down on fields of silver panels soaking up the rays.

The power of the sun is essential to life on earth so it just makes sense that we harvest this power for renewable energy. Earth’s resources are limited. So far, the sun is one resource we haven’t had to conserve. In fact, by using the sun’s energy instead of other sources of power, we are actually able to keep the sun as a resource. By reducing our carbon emissions, we can keep the ozone layer intact and continue to reap the benefits of the sun without any of the downside.

Without the sun, there would be no life on earth. Our bodies need at least a minimal amount of sunlight exposure for us to remain healthy. The sun is possibly the most important thing in our universe. Without it, we couldn’t even eat. We would be unable to grow food. We would not survive as a plant.

Why not harness this resource for other areas of our life, such a power?

Solar energy just makes sense. Why use up resources that cannot be recovered when there is something like solar power out there. As technology for and about solar power increases, this technology is changing lives around the world. The introduction of solar energy into India has changed lives. These changes could even save lives, as people are able to extend their daylight hours through solar-fueled lights.

In some cases, the changes we are seeing in these families and villages will affect many generations to come. In addition, more profoundly, these changes could actually save lives. As workloads are decreased thanks to power being brought to tiny outpost villages, people don’t have to work so hard to do their daily chores. Children have more light and more time to study. Houses that are in darkness 90 percent of the time are now filled with light. As a result of this, they are cleaned more often and become less a source of disease and illness.

The impact of something like solar energy in these small villages in India is mind-boggling. The concept that solar power can change lives in third-world countries might not interest some people in wealthier nations. That is unfortunate because even if you don’t care about your fellow man, which is sad, you still will benefit personally from these changes.

Economists and world leaders predict that as countries continue to spiral into poverty and starvation in these third-world countries, the rest of the planet will be affected by whatever outcomes this leads to. We are now a global economy. What happens in one country is bound to have repercussions nearly everywhere. As we are seeing in Egypt, even this small country has the ability to affect Americans in the Midwest, even if the only repercussion they see is skyrocketing prices at the gas pump. It is about time we look to solar energy as a solution.

Author Bio: Frank Yocanis has been writing about Solar Phoenix for more than a decade. He is an expert on how Arizona Solar will enhance our world and our lives.

The importance and impact of the sun on human beings is greatly underestimated. We say we enjoy feeling the sun’s rays on our bare skin, but we don’t know why. We like sunny days, but we’re not sure what about them makes us so happy. The sun is all-powerful.

The sun’s power is only lately being harvested as it should be. Despite Jimmy Carter’s efforts in the 70s, Americans have overlooked solar energy as an alternative to traditional fuel sources. The sun is possibly the most important and powerful resource this planet has.

In the past few years, scientists are also discovering how the sun’s rays affect people. They have pinpointed everything from depression to migraines as a result of decreasing sunlight on a person’s body. With the prevalent use of sunscreen, we and our children are actually dramatically decreasing the amount of sun we get. Our bodies are starting to crave it. More and more doctors are prescribing the supplement Vitamin D. It is recommended on a daily basis to help combat the effects this lack of sun is having on our health and our bodies.

Doctors especially tell people in northern climates who not only experience fewer daytime hours, but also are often trapped indoors for months at a time during harsh winters. They could go for months without the sun directly touching them, with only occasional exposure through car windshields and windows.

This lack of sun could have something to do with why so many more people get sick in states located in the Northern United States. It seems like people who live in the southwest, such as Arizona, experience less illness and sickness overall as a population.

These sun-drenched states are becoming leaders in harnessing the power of the sun, using solar panels to capture energy. This energy can be stored and even allows some people to completely disconnect from the electrical grid.

People can use their solar harvesting to contribute to the electrical grid during the daytime and then borrow back from it at night, when the sun doesn’t shine. In some cases, residents use even less energy than they contribute. In those exciting instances, the electrical companies actually send the resident a check for use of the energy. Can you imagine never again having to send the electric company a check? And instead, receiving a check from the company each month? Hard to believe, but it is a reality for some people.

As more and more people jump onboard the solar power wagon, this will not be such a rare occurrence. It will become more and more common and we will see more solar energy and less power from traditional and no sustainable energy sources.

This is exciting. The sun has not only kept humans alive for centuries, but it may be what keeps this planet alive for centuries to come. We lost some time when greed turned people away from solar energy in the 70s, but it’s not too late to do something now and ensure the future of our grandchildren.

Author Bio: Frank Yocanis has been writing about Solar Panels Arizonafor more than a decade. He is an expert on how Solar Jobs in Arizona will enhance our world and our lives.

For the longest period of time, human beings have relied on fossils as their only source of power. This power is used to facilitate some of the day to day activities people are involved in. The demand for this type of power is on the rise, leaving behind a trail of consequences. The best way to avoid the impact of increased consumption is to try and look for sources of eco energy.

Green power is one of the alternative sources of power that can be adopted. There are so many benefits that can only be enjoyed once people start using this source of power. Most people are reluctant about implementing this alternative source of power since they think it is not possible for someone to generate enough power to service a large number of people. There are so many sources of this type of power, so the issue of producing enough quantities of power should not act as a hindrance for development.

Sources of green power include wind, geothermal, solar, wave and hydropower. The advantage of using the alternative sources of power is that they do not affect the environment negatively. They are therefore a safe option for those who are wary of using coal or nuclear.

The problem with producing power from coal is the emission of harmful gases into the atmosphere. If the number of coal power plants is minimal, there is a very little chance of pollution. However, this is not the case since more and more people are finding it easier to set up such power plants to meet the growing demand for power.

Nuclear plants do not emit any harmful gases during production of power. The only faltering issue is how the spend rods are being disposed. People are also afraid of experiencing a nuclear accident in the event that something goes wrong. Researchers have probably come up with ways of handling the production process safely. There have been cases of leakages of nuclear gases from production plants but the situations have been contained before they got out of hand.

The maintenance of such sources of power is not entirely cost-free, but it is cheaper that the conventional sources of power. A lot of money is saved during the production of green power.

Green power is a good example of sustainable power. There is no chance that the human population will ever be in apposition to deplete such sources of power. The use of the sun rays and the ocean breeze makes it possible for people to reduce their dependence on oil. Oil is a non renewable resource and there will come a time when it will no longer be available for mining. If people decided to adopt the safer sources of power, they will save future generations from facing a shortage of power.

The current generation should be encouraged to adopt alternative sources of power. Since the technology to harness eco energy is there, people should make the most out of it. Once these sources are adopted humanity, need not worry about a depleted ozone layer or global warming.

Author Bio: Thinking of a home energy audit Toronto? Canada’s Eco Energy Toronto company can help! With our team of energy experts we can help advise you on how to retrofit your home.

Everyday lately we hear more and more information concerning the environment come to light and today we know more than ever about the things that harm the environment. Attempts are constantly being made to reduce emissions, find alternative sources of energy, enforce recycling, and stop pollution but still enough are not being done because the damage to the planet continues. One of the biggest reasons for this increase in environmental problems and subsequently an increase in the concern of the environmentalists is the increase in the population. More people require more vehicles, produce more pollution, and need more land. So along with all of the damage done to the environment due to pollution more land is being cleared as well. One area of pride for any country that suffers from all of this is the national parks system. Everything from encroaching on park space to littering is detrimental to the health and longevity of the parks that many of us so cherish. So if you are one of those individuals that love your national parks and don’t think that there is enough being done to protect them then listed are some ways that you can help to preserve your nation’s parks. It starts with one person who is concerned and can grow into a national cause. Don’t wait; preserve your parks before it is too late.

- The most important thing that you can do to keep your national parks beautiful is refrain from littering in and around the park. Not only is littering bad because it is bad for the environment but also because it is not good for the animals. Many animals die every year because of litter left behind in national park preserves by humans. Be sure to carry a bag or something else that you can put your garbage in if you take something into the park with you. The rule of thumb is if you bring it in with you then you should be bringing it back out too.

- Another way to protect your national parks that many people do not know about is to leave your natural surroundings as they are. Many people go into these parks and gather fire wood and sticks for marshmallows and just generally move things around that are better left alone. Not only are some of these things homes for certain plants and animals but moving things around also moves creatures from one area to another when maybe they shouldn’t be moved.

Finally, if you really are serious about protecting your national parks you can volunteer to help care for them. It takes many hard working individuals to keep the parks looking nice and keeping them clean and more hands can always be used. Many parks have volunteer programs in which you can help them out and sometimes you can even find volunteer vacations and stay for a week and volunteer and vacation at the same time.

Out national parks is one of our most important and most treasured assets. We need to do all we can do to protect them and you have the power to help.

Author Bio: Mitch Gleason has been a business writer for the past 15 years contributing to many business periodicals. Read some of his articles about Wholesale bath bombs. For more article and resource, visit Bulk bath products site.

Having trees around us make our surroundings more presentable and conducive for outdoor play. Children love to play outside especially with trees providing shade against the heat of the sun. In Birmingham, tree service is employed to maintain the appearance of the trees especially with overhanging branches and falling leaves. The entire town is teeming with variety of tree species, providing diversity of natural resources for everyone to appreciate and enjoy. It is a fact that the presence of these natural resources make a big difference in the quality of air the people breathe. This is why the municipal government of Birmingham has ties with various tree services to provide regular maintenance as well as administer responsible cultivation and plant management.

Birmingham has many tree services in existence, ready to provide professional service and management to those who need them. These services are applicable to homeowners and businesses like residential developers. For one, these clients have land areas that are dedicated to landscaping where trees and plants that will require professional assistance to make the setup more beautiful. Also, taking care of these natural resources means regular upkeep for these to be in tip-top shape at all times. This setup is not only applicable with Birmingham tree services but also to other towns that have providers of the same nature.

The way trees are becoming a part of our everyday lives have extended to their presence in their natural form instead of being limited to their end products. In Birmingham, the presence of trees is being managed with tree service to ensure that they will survive the change in the weather as well as the new habitat. This way, their lushness reflects the level of maturity and responsible behavior of the Birmingham community. The people in return will be inspired to be environmentally aware of their surroundings in relation to their own plot of greenery.

In the part of urban planning, any form of greenery is used to make the whole area more nature-friendly and appealing to many. This kind of approach is gearing towards green living is widely being accepted in many towns like Birmingham that it also brought about the growing number of businesses offering tree services. As most residential developments are incorporating the use of trees in strategic locations, this becomes an opportunity for these businesses to expand their client base and prove their professionalism. As they establish credibility, these businesses will go a long way of providing Birmingham quality tree services with regular updates on certifications and new tree species that are resilient to change of habitat.

The importance of having trees in our urban surroundings have taken a level higher, to instill the idea that change is good when done for the better. Birmingham, like any other towns, it ensures that the availability of tree services is also open to the residents who need professional assistance in maintaining their own share of nature in their backyards. The possibility of inspiring other people to do the same is greater as the motivation increases a hundredfold.

Author Bio: Gael V is an evironmentalist who loves to talk about trees in general. She can give you the best advice on how to take care of your trees with professional help for Birmingham tree service. You can also get more information on tree services in general at http://birmingham.premieretreeservices.com