CAR FREE DAY 22 SEPTEMBER 2011

CAR FREE DAY AROUND THE WORLD

22 SEPTEMBER CAR FREE DAY

Peolpe around the world will be seeking alternative transportation to celebrate this event.

Car-free day urges EU capital residents to get greener

(Reuters) - Brussels will free its streets of cars and heavy traffic this Sunday as it celebrates its 11th annual car-free day, marking a week when cities across Europe promote cycling and other green transport.

The seat of the European Union and home to environmental legislation for its 27 member states wants to encourage efforts to cut vehicle emissions -- and get citizens out on their feet.

While planners recognize that one day will not make much difference to the environment's bill of health, the event is supposed to create awareness that leads to change in the future.

But will it?

Brussels has held a car-free day each year since 2000 -- but was given an F-grade this year for progress in reducing "soot emissions" by the Soot-free for the Climate campaign run by a group of German environmental and consumer associations.

Mirroring Brussels; London, Madrid and Rome were also given failing grades. Berlin did among the best with a B, but none of the 17 cities assessed secured an A grade.

Brussels has also been dubbed the most congested European city by car navigation firm TomTom -- though its blockages are nothing compared to, say, parts of China. In 2010, drivers suffered a 60-mile traffic jam on a highway from Beijing to Mongolia.

Brussels and more than 1,900 other cities will bring "alternative mobility" experts together to discuss cycling infrastructure and behavioral changes during European Mobility Week from September 16-22.

During the week, the Brussels embassy of the Netherlands will be holding Orange Bike Days, which include expos, organized rides and workshops to encourage cycling, long a part of the Dutch national identity.

RESPECT FOR PEOPLE WHO PEDAL

Roelof Wittink, director of the Dutch Cycling Embassy, a network organization, said Brussels had some way to go to improve the lot of its cyclists.

"In Amsterdam we have segregated cycling facilities or we have situations where we have calmed down the car traffic so much that in fact cyclists feel at least equal to car drivers," he said.

Many bike riders in the Belgian capital would agree, but say there are still some things which need improvement.

"There is not enough respect for cyclists," said Mark Grassi, who rides his bicycle to work but said he struggles to find anywhere to park it safely.

Even the European commissioner for climate action, Denmark's Connie Hedegaard, finds cycling a bit stressful in the European capital. When she lived in Copenhagen, she used to cycle 9 km (6 miles) from her home to her ministry.

"Sometimes I do bike, but it is a very different experience. It is not... relaxed," she said. Shortly after she arrived in the Belgian capital in February 2010, her bike was stolen.

"It was where I live in Brussels, it was locked to a tree, but it was gone," she said.

Brussels wants cycling to make up 20 percent of transportation by 2020. But its current share is estimated at only about 4 or 5 percent, said Julian Ferguson of the European Cyclists' Federation.

And EU-wide, only 7 percent of citizens cycle daily, according to a European Commission report.

Spain and Austria will take the lead in the Mobility Week effort this year, with the most cities participating -- 627 and 446 respectively.

If a city was able to reduce its traffic by half, it would be making big improvements, said Jos Dings, director of green policy campaigning group Transport and Environment.

But when it comes to harmful chemicals in the air, there is really no safe level of nitrogen dioxide and particle emissions, which are emitted more heavily by diesel vehicles, he said.

Nitrogen dioxide can cause respiratory problems; particle emissions can cause long lasting damage or diseases such as cancer, Dings said.

But "every reduction you make toward zero still makes sense," he added.

(Editing by Paul Casciato)

Environment

Read more (in new window)at: uk.reuters.com/article/2011/09/16/us-brussels-bicycles-idUKTRE78F1ZE20110916


Read more on other websites:

Read more (in new window)at: www.commuterconnections.org


Read more (in new window)at: www.carfreemetrodc.com


Our friends at 350.org are organising a day of action against fossil fuel use on the Saturday 24 September after World Carfree Day. Click here for more info and to find events near you
Read more (in new window)at: www.moving-planet.org


To top of blog usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

8,000 SOLAR PANELS AT FEDEX FIELD REDSKINS

8,000 SOLAR PANELS WERE INSTALLED AT FEDEX FIELD



LANDOVER, Md. & PRINCETON, N.J., Sep 18, 2011 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- NRG /quotes/zigman/337115/quotes/nls/nrg NRG -1.71% and the Washington Redskins today celebrated FedExField's energy future with the help of former NFL quarterbacks and Redskins' fans during the "NRG Solar Bowl" Quarterback Challenge and an official "flipping of the switch" at halftime to inaugurate the new NRG solar power installation at FedExField.

The solar power system - with more than 8,000 solar panels - is capable of providing all power to the stadium on non-game days and up to 20% of its needed electricity on game days -- the equivalent of providing 300 homes with energy for a year. In addition to being the largest solar installation at an NFL stadium, it is the largest solar installation in the D.C.-metro area.

With the help of the football fans gathered at FedExField, NRG CEO David Crane along with Redskins legends Joe Theismann and Mark Rypien "flipped the switch" on the new solar installation from the field during the game's halftime. Prior to the game between the Redskins and Arizona, Theismann and Rypien teamed up with pro and college greats Joe Montana and Doug Flutie to coach fans in a series of skill drills during the "NRG Solar Bowl" Quarterback Challenge.

"Today's activities were developed to engage fans, call attention to the power of solar energy and demonstrate how renewable energy is a real and tangible option for a more secure energy future, said David Crane. "Many thanks to the legendary quarterbacks, the Washington Redskins and all of their fans for working with us to show renewable energy is not just a dream for the future, but a reality today."

The solar power installation by NRG, one of the largest solar power developers in the United States, includes three different types of solar panels that collectively can generate two megawatts (MW) of electricity. By using solar power, the Redskins and NRG look to keep 1,780 metric tons of carbon out of the atmosphere -- the equivalent of replacing 349 vehicles with gasoline engines with zero emission electric vehicles.

In addition to generating power for FedExField, the stadium's 8,000 solar panels will provide shaded parking in an 841-car lot. The design includes 10 electric vehicle charging stations from NRG's eVgosm charging network for use by fans. The NRG solar entry plaza at Gate A will generate power through a variety of green energy technologies, including translucent solar panels and a specially designed sculpture created using thin film solar technology. The sculpture -- a 30-foot tall silhouette of a football player dubbed "solar man" --showcases the flexibility of this innovative solar technology and also is a one-of-a-kind work of art welcoming fans to FedExField.

NRG subsidiary Reliant will be the official provider for all the additional electricity to.....


Read more (in new window)at:www.marketwatch.com/story/nrg-washington-redskins-celebrated-fedexfield-solar-installation-with-nrg-solar-bowl-quarterback-challenge-2011-09-18

To top of blog usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

Solar Homes Tour 2011 Washington DC Area

Take the Solar Homes tour

October 1 thru 2. 11am to 5pm.

Guide and maps are available at Mom's Organic Markets and other locations.


Read more (in new window) at: solartour.org

To top of blog (in new window) at: usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

Solar Decathlon 2011 Washington DC National Mall

Solar Decathlon 2011 Washington DC

September 23 to October 2

Come see the Solar Decathlon on the National Mall
near Potomac Park

You ask what is a solar decathlon?
It's an annual international solar homes contest.
Teams design and erect solar homes on the national mall. They are judged on design and performance. Come watch them erect the homes and later come see the winner of this years award.


Read more (in new window) at: www.solardecathlon.gov

To top of blog usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

Passion For The Planet Radio and Website

Passion For The Planet Radio and Website offer many ideas on ways to save energy and improve our environment.
Nice music. Give it a listen.

Link to their website (in new window) at: passionforfreshideas.com


Link to their radio (in new window) at:passionforfreshideas.com/webplayer/AIMplayer.html


To top of blog (in new window) at:usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

Bloomberg Energy Prices

July 19, 2011

Energy and Oil Prices
Oil ($/bbl) Price Change %Change Time
Nymex Crude Future 97.90 0.40 0.41% 09:54
Dated Brent Spot 117.93 0.57 0.48% 10:05
WTI Cushing Spot 98.60 1.10 1.13% 08:59

Oil (Cents/gal) Price Change %Change Time
Nymex Heating Oil Future 310.70 0.90 0.29% 09:54
Nymex RBOB Gasoline Future 311.46 -0.03 -0.01% 09:53

Natural Gas ($/MMBtu) Price Change %Change Time
Nymex Henry Hub Future 4.49 -0.04 -0.88% 09:55
Henry Hub Spot 4.60 0.01 0.22% 07/19
New York City Gate Spot 5.09 0.10 2.00% 07/19

Electricity ($/Megawatt Hour) Price Change %Change Time
Mid-Columbia, firm on-peak, spot 32.56 3.51 12.08% 07/19
Palo Verde, firm on-peak, spot 44.88 0.62 1.40% 07/19
BLOOMBERG, FIRM ON-PEAK, DAY AHEAD SPOT/ERCOT HOUSTON 63.50 -1.58 -2.43% 07/19

Unless indicated otherwise: intraday data is at least 15 minutes delayed; mutual fund NAVs are updated at the close of every market day; all prices are in the local currency; Time is ET.



Read more (in new window) at: bloomberg.com/energy




To top of blog (in new window): www.usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com

ARE YOU ADDICTED TO OIL?

Fighting the oil addiction

Unrest in the Middle East has raised concerns about how dependent the United States is on foreign oil. The price of gasoline has been skyrocketing. And the recession has continued to make many Americans feel more economically vulnerable. Americans continued to feel the painful pinch of gasoline prices in 2010 – and they still do today.

This report updates the Natural Resources Defense Council’s (NRDC) 2007, 2008, 2009, and 2010 research identifying the states whose citizens feel the greatest economic pain from gasoline prices — and those states that are doing the most to break their addiction to oil. Like the previous editions, this report again ranks U.S. states in two critical areas related to our nation’s continuing addiction to oil.

First, it calculates gasoline price vulnerability – how heavily each state’s drivers are affected by increases in gasoline prices. Second, it ranks states based on their adoption of solutions to reduce their oil dependence – measures they are taking to lessen their vulnerability and to bolster America’s security.

The data yield some clear conclusions:

Oil dependence affects all states, but some states’ drivers are hit harder economically than others. Drivers in almost every state in 2010 spent a higher percentage of their income on gasoline than they did in 2009, and drivers in the most vulnerable states spent more than twice as large a percentage of their income on gasoline as drivers in the least vulnerable states.
Drivers are being hit even harder right now than they were in 2010.
While some states are pioneering solutions and many are taking some action, many states are still taking few (if any) of the steps listed in this report to reduce their oil dependence.
To curb America’s perilous oil addiction, we need effective government policies that will increase the availability and use of efficient vehicles and clean fuels, as well as promote smart growth and public transit.


ARE YOU ADDICTED TO OIL?

Here is a link to nrdc org issue paper May 2011:

Read more (in new window) at: www.nrdc.org/energy/states/files/Oil_Vulnerability_May_2011.pdf



Read more (in new window) at: www.nrdc.org/energy/states


To top of blog (in new window) at: usaalternativeenergynow.blogspot.com