The newly passed House climate-change bill has not had an easy run, from it’s inception it’s been attacked and modified, and it was with a narrow victory of seven votes that it managed to pass on June 26. Yet the most challenging times may still lay ahead for a bill that environmentalists have both praised as a necessary step in revamping American’s approach to global warming and criticized for being too weak. When the bill reaches the Senate (possibly as early as September or October) it will likely need 60 votes to be passed and it’s there that it may be jointly rejected by Senate members for being too aggressive and by environmentalist groups for being too lax. Click here to read more

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They’ve got a couple Grammies under their belt and more than their fair share of radio play, but one of the things we find coolest about the band Maroon 5 is that they were going green before it the “in” thing to do, thanks in part to their very eco-aware keyboardist, Jesse Carmichael. Carmichael has been making sure that all Maroon 5’s travel is offset–an important act with their heavy touring schedule–but recognizes that offsets are not the perfect solution and, ideally, they would be able to avoid airplane travel altogether

The band recently attended Al Gore’s Green Inaugural Ball as part of their continuing green endeavors and spoke about some of the steps they’re taking to make their rock star lifestyles more environmentally-friendly. Carmichael has decided to take his efforts to the next level by overhauling his house for healthy planet functioning, with solar panels being installed, new water systems and a greenhouse for growing his own food. Guitarist James Valentine is starting smaller and going for the little green changes that can have a big effect; he’s unplugging appliances to stop vampire power (the power drained when an appliance is turned off but not unplugged) and, whenever possible, wearing a sweater this winter in place of turning up the thermostat. He says he learned the tips from his father, whose money-saving ideas happen to be earth-saving ideas, too. Valentine foresees the current economic crisis in the U.S. having a similar result, with more people trying to save energy because of the financial savings.

Part of what we really dig about Maroon 5 and their “go green” message is that they want people to know that a more sustainable lifestyle doesn’t have to be a constantly-sacrificing downgrade from their current lifestyles. They’re big believers that you can continue enjoying the things you love but in eco-friendly ways–which is exactly what we at Greenzer believe. Click here to read more

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Air travel is one of the worst environmental offenders and, unfortunately, something most of us have a hard time cutting out of our lives (especially if we’re required to travel for work). With that understanding, many green-minded people simply try to minimize their time in the air or attempt to counter the effects of their flight through carbon offsets or even planting trees. But now the city that brought us Silicon Valley is making it even easier for travelers to take a greener trip.

San Francisco, always a front runner in new technologies, has announced plans to provide certified carbon offsets for purchase from airport kiosks. The program, scheduled to start this spring in San Francisco International (SFO) only, will make San Francisco the first airport in the nation to offer offsets right in the terminal. The service will be speedy and simple, with kiosks similar to self-service check-in stations where travelers will enter in their destinations and the computers will calculate the amount of carbon offsets needed to counter the environmental damage–although no prices have been released yet, rough estimates have predicted it will be a small amount, somewhere in the $5-$35 range. Fliers then swipe their credit cards to purchase the offsets and are given a receipt detailing which projects will receive the funds.

The idea of buying carbon offsets to lessen some of the impact of air travel is nothing new and some airlines, like Delta, already showcase the option to purchase carbon offsets for your flight as you book online. The hope of the SFO carbon offset kiosks is that more travelers will learn about the environmental effects of flying and choose to take part in solving the problem. Click here to read more

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1. If you haven’t put much thought into where you get your turkey, consider buying yourself a holiday bird that’s organic and pasture-raised. We’re talking about the heritage turkey, which is bred naturally, allowing its meat to develop slowly over time. The result is a juicier, more succulent-tasting
turkey. Pick one up at Fairway Market or online at heritagefoods.com.   

2. Don’t toss the turkey fat! Instead, see if your city has a collection service that will pick it up. That’s what the city of Plano did last year before handing it over Biodiesel Industries, a Texas-based plan that recycles turkey fat into biofuels for cars. Who knew fat could be a good thing? Check out www.biodieselindustries.com/ for more information.

3. If you plan on driving to your family dinner, make sure to check your air filter and that your tires are fully inflated. By doing both, you’ll decrease your carbon emissions and get better gas mileage. On the other hand, if you plan on flying, consider purchasing carbon credits to make up for it. Visit www.carbonplanet.com/home/shop.php for more information.

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