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Archive for the ‘Environmental Topics’ Category
Energy Secretary Steven Chu
Energy Secretary Steven Chu announced on Monday, August 1, that the Department of Energy will consider change of venue offers for Solar Decathlon 2013. The Solar Decathlon has been held on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. since 2002. The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon is a competition that challenges collegiate students from across the globe to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are affordable, highly energy efficient, attractive, and easy to live in. The purpose of the venue change solicitation is to encourage greater participation from other regions of the country.
The U.S. Department of Energy Solar Decathlon challenges collegiate teams worldwide to design, build, and operate solar-powered houses that are cost-effective, energy-efficient, and attractive. The winner of the competition is the team that best blends affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.
Solar Decathlon 2011, the fifth of its kind, will take place at the National Mall’s West Potomac Park in Washington, D.C., September 23 through October 2, 2011.
Many world-wide organizations are assisting in Japan in response to the devestating events of the past week. 
The American Red Cross is assisting the Japanese Red Cross in response to the 9.0 earthquake and tsunami. Please visit the Red Cross website to see how you can help.
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) has teams in Japan working with local medical staff.
… the WILDERNESS WORKSHOP !
2011 Academy Awards
The Wilderness Workshop is a non-profit organization whose mission, as stated on their website, is to “protect and conserve the wilderness and natural resources of the Roaring Fork Watershed, the White River National Forest, and adjacent public lands”.
127 Hours is one of ten motion pictures nominated for Best Picture this year. At this writing, we don’t know the Best Picture winner at the Academy Award Ceremony. However, we do know that Aron Ralston and the Wilderness Workshop are winners.
Aron Ralston & James Franco. 127 Hours Premiere, Los Angeles
127 Hours is a mesmerizing film depicting Aron’s evolving realization that there was only one way to free himself and save his life. James Franco portrays Aron in the Oscar nominated movie 127 Hours. Mr. Franco is nominated in the Best Actor category and is the Oscar show’s co-host this year with Anne Hathaway.
Mr. Ralston recently participated in the the NBC Network show “Minute to Win It” and won $125,000. He chose to donate his substantial winnings to the Colorado-based environmental group – Wilderness Workshop. The staff didn’t know of Aron’s winnings until the show aired February 23rd, according to the Aspen Daily News. Mr. Ralston is a member of the Wilderness Workshop Board of Directors.
Congratulations to Aron and the Wilderness Workshop!
Made in the USA. Made in Canada, Mexico, China. WindMade? Now in additon to knowing where a product was made, you will know the energy source. Windmade announced a new product label at the World Future Energy Summit this week, which will inform consumers which products were made with wind energy.
First the logo – then the standard. What are the standards for the new certification? The standards for the verification and certification are in the developmental stage and loosely follow this schedule:
- January 2011 – Logo announced
- March 2011 – “Public Consultation” and input for “WindMade” standard
- June 15, 2011 – WindMade certification program begins
Will “Made by the Sun” be next?