green's blog

April 22nd, 2010, 1:00pm - 6:15pm
Santa Clara University
Followed by: Networking Reception at 6:15pm
Free

The environmental benefits of clean and renewable energy technologies are widely touted, yet many communities worldwide currently have little access to them. Innovation is required on several fronts for vulnerable and underserved communities to fully benefit.  The history of the cell phone shows that affordability and wide adoption are realized as new technologies co-evolve with innovative business models and adaptive regulatory environments.  Will the renewable energy industry follow a similar path?

This conference will bring together social benefit entrepreneurs, investors, policy innovators, energy technologists, and community organizations to examine innovations in technology, business models, and public policy required to deliver cost-effective renewable energy solutions to the underserved both domestically and in the developing world. 

Saturday March 27th   
8:30pm to 9:30pm

Participation is pretty easy. By flipping off your light switch on March 27th at 8:30 p.m. local time you will be casting your vote for action on climate change.
 

Earth Hour started in 2007 in Sydney, Australia when 2.2 million homes and businesses turned their lights off for one hour to make their stand against climate change. Only a year later and Earth Hour had become a global sustainability movement with more than 50 million people across 35 countries participating. Global landmarks such as the Sydney Harbour Bridge, the CN Tower in Toronto, Rome’s Coliseum, and our very own Golden Gate Bridge all stood in darkness, as symbols of hope for a cause that grows more urgent by the hour.
 

To be counted in the numbers, go here and register.

Thursday March 4th   
12:00pm - 1:30pm
50 Post Street (Promenade level)
San Francisco
Hosted by Green Zebra
http://thegreenzebra.org
 

Confused about what material goes into which bin? Want to find out how to get your property manager to begin composting and recycling in your building? The Mandatory Recycling and Composting Ordinance requires everyone in San Francisco to separate their refuse into recyclables, compostables, and trash. All property owners are required to maintain and pay for adequate refuse service.
 

February 3rd - 7th.
Theatre 39 | Pier 39
San Francisco

More than 50 Films have been selected for the 2010 San Francisco Ocean Film Festival, coming up February 3-7, 2010 at Theatre 39. This event was the first film festival of its kind in North America and the second in the world. This year will feature an expanded education program and continue its tradition of Festival Awards for works featuring the magnificence of our oceans, threats to marine life, and the human connection with the marine environment.

On Friday, January 22, 2010, musicians and celebrities from around the country and the world will come together to host what is being called the "most widely distributed telethon in history." Starting at 8 pm eastern, the "Hope For Haiti" telethon—an effort to raise relief money for the country after the devastating January 12 earthquake—will air on a number of networks simultaneously including Discovery Health, and Planet Green.
 

Featuring artists such as Haiti-born Wyclef Jean, Bono, Dave Mathews, Shakira, Jay-Z, Rihanna, Justin Timberlake, to name only a few, the telethon will take place in Haiti, New York, Los Angeles, and London and be broadcast online and on television.
 

Coca-Cola’s downtown San Francisco billboard has been replaced with an LED display that is 80% more energy efficient that the original sign. Caps off to Coca-Cola.

Earlier this month, the World Meteorological Organization reported that the decade of 2000 to 2009 appears to be the warmest one in the modern record. A decade warmer than the 90’s, which were warmer than the 80’s and so on.
 

Last week the climate talks in Copenhagen came to a close.  Are we at a historical threshold?  Will the decisions made in Copenhagen be closely examined by future generations? Will they look back on the conference as a time when leaders dropped the planet? Did they fail to establish a fair, binding and effective agreement to combat climate change? Or could this be the celebrated turning point when we united as a global community and steered the planet away from impending devastation?  I'm certainly hoping for the latter, but only time will tell.
 

A few tips for a greener Christmas …

Buy a potted Christmas tree so you can replant it in the backyard or donate it to the parks department. Friends of the Urban Forest of San Francisco rents nontraditional trees, such as Southern Magnolia and Strawberry, for $150, and replants them on city streets. 
 

Still using those inefficient Christmas lights? E-light retailer HolidayLEDs.com offers a free Christmas light recycling program anyone can take advantage of.