In June Co-op America and Clean Edge Inc. released an assessment of the potential of solar energy in the next fifty years entitled Utility Solar Assessment Study. The 75 page report is detailed enough to include data and evidence to support it’s claims while refraining from being written in a dry, unengaging fashion.

The report’s analysis includes a general introduction to solar energy, including CSP (concentrated solar power), PV (Photovoltaics) technology and the electric utility industry. The report goes on to give a comparison of projected solar energy costs per megawatt with fossil fuel costs. I found this section especially intriguing because the solar cost projections given here, which are based on progressions in similar computer technology and the annuals decreases in solar energy costs in the last 20 years, are what will inevitably draw electric utilities toward major solar investments. Solar Utility investment as well as updating an aging, one way electrical grid are the greatest obstacles that stand in the way of major U.S. solar development according to solar energy experts. Presently, .1% of U.S. energy consumption is produced from solar energy, but Co-op America and Clean Edge Inc believe that this could reach 10% by 2025 if solar energy continues to grow at a rate of 40% each year as it has for the last decade. It’s an excellent report and I’d highly recommend it to anyone interested in solar energy.

Los Angeles-based design company Stolen, Inc. was researching a project they were working on and came across some staggering information.

came across “Life Expectancy at Birth.” Andorra was the highest with 83.51 years, and all the way at the bottom was Mozambique with 31.1 years

They decided to do something about it. They’ve created a line of tshirts to educate and raise funds. It’s called StatAttak. Stolen will be setting aside 20% of the money from the sale of the shirts to build an orphanage in Mozambique.

Since Mozambique was the country that inspired all of this, the Sons of Stolen are putting 20% of the money from the sale of the shirts towards building an orphanage in Mozambique. Instead of giving the money to a charity, we will go to Mozambique with a group of volunteers from the design industry and build an orphanage from the ground up. We hope that this will help us better understand Africa and that a personal interaction with the local population will inspire everyone involved to keep working towards solutions to the many problems facing that continent.

Not only is this a great opportunity to make a change in the world, the shirts are also beautiful. Mollie and I will both be sporting StatAttak tshirts.

Creative problem solving has become a very valuable tool in my life. My husband and I regularly use it to address problems that come up in our business, relationship, and various life issues.

I also use creative problem solving regularly when it comes to environmental and human rights issues and the growing need to make changes to my lifestyle that can be difficult. Sometimes the difficulty arises because I am being a stubborn mule, other times it is because I have a major or minor need or want stands in opposition to a lifestyle change I feel I need to make. To keep from getting stuck or from just not doing anything at all I have to figure out a way to get enough of what I need/want without compromising the more important need.

There are times, like when the issue of buying fair trade coffee came up for me, that I needed to decide what I was going to do about it. I evaluated the situation, and my want (I don’t think that you can ever call coffee a need in any sort of seriousness) for coffee was never going to be more important than the well being of the person(s) that work on the coffee farms and therefore I made the decision to only support fair trade coffee. This means I have to ask if it is fair trade and do research on the local coffee shops. It also means that there are times when I don’t buy a cup of coffee even though it sounds like the perfect treat. Again, when the situation of switching to florescent light bulbs came up I wasn’t thrilled about the idea. Florescent light bulbs are depressing and sterile, which is the last thing I want my home to feel like when I am snuggling in to read a book at night. My solution was to have lampshades that are warm colors and therefore, soften the florescent light and allow my home to still feel warm and cozy.

There are times where I find myself picking the wrong battles to fight, or taking the wrong stance. I get resentful at times of life being hard and feel that I am entitled to not think of other people, or the world around me. Times where I feel I have earned the right to be selfish or not make one more sacrifice. However, part of life is making various sacrifices and it is best to come to terms with that. Some sacrifices are small (like the examples I listed above) and some are large and extremely difficult. Life is not about getting everything we want and getting it right now. Immediate satisfaction does not always equal long term satisfaction, pleasure, peace, happiness, or health. I have found that in many of the sacrifices I have made have ended up bringing me such a greater depth and joy to my life.

I want to encourage you all to use creative problem solving as much as possible. The more you do it, the better you get at it. At times solutions will easily surface and other times you will have to dig for them. Let’s not get stuck because an easy solution to what we want/need and what is best for other human beings and the Earth is not presented to us. Each of us has the ability to think and it can be such a wonderful thing when used.

TED (Technology Entertainment Design) is a conference that brings together leaders and innovators in technology, entertainment and science.

The TED prize is used

[e]ach year [to] honor a maximum of three individuals who have shown that they can, in some way, positively impact life on this planet.

We are looking for inventors and entrepreneurs, designers and artists, visionaries and mavericks, protectors and persuaders. Our goal is to honor and empower these people by connecting them to the formidable resources of the TED community. Our prize-winners may be very different, but they will have this in common: They will be doing something that has extraordinary potential. Something whose positive influence could spread, transcending borders. Something that can contribute to the future of life on earth.

(Read more about what the TED prize is and how they make it happen.)

This year Bill Clinton won the TED prize and gave a great talk on his acceptance.

It is 25 minutes long. There were a couple of times where I nearly stopped it because I didn’t think I had the time, but I am so glad that I watched the whole thing and I would highly recommend that you do the same (you can skip the BMW ad at the end). This video gave me hope, chills, and made me teary. There is a lot that needs to be done in this world and a lot that we can do about it.

This is a very short summary of what Clinton says and does not come close to capturing all that he says or the spirit in which he says it.

Accepting his 2007 TED Prize, Bill Clinton says he’s trying to build a better world to hand to his daughter. Unequal, unstable and unsustainable, our world must correct its course, and private citizens (”like me”) can be powerful forces for change. His Clinton Foundation, fresh from its success negotiating down pharmaceutical prices in the developing world, is now running a pilot health care system in Rwanda, based on the work of Dr. Paul Farmer in Haiti. In 18 months, it has shown potential as a model for the entire developing world. Clinton’s TED wish: Help him build this system in Rwanda, to bring world-class health care to a people who have overcome deadly hatred to rebuild their nation.

There has been so much for me to think about since our big move across the country. We came out to Seattle for an adventure and to build a life that reflected our values. There was nothing set up for us here before we moved and in fact, neither Kendall or I had even been to Seattle before we drove in with our moving truck. Because of this we had the luxury and the struggle to examine almost every part of our life, right down to EVERY material object we own. All that had at one point seemed important was thrown before us and we had to look at it all and prioritize. Many conversations took some shape or form of the following, “Kendall, which is it more important to you when we are looking for apartments, the community it is in or the size/quality of the apartment?” or “What sort of things does the area we are going to live HAVE to have?”. We would look at our values and ways in which our lifestyle encouraged or stifled them.

There are so many ways that our life has changed and continues to do so on a daily basis. Our life now reflects our values more coherently. Things are simpler and we each seem to have more of an ease about us. There was a great inner stress as a result of not living out what we knew was important and in some cases not being able to for various reasons.

I feel happy for and proud of us and daily feel blessed to have such a wonderful partner in my husband with whom to figure this life out. There is a lot that I/we get wrong. However, I do know that everyday we do what we can and there are many days we do the best we can. At times it has felt and continues to feel scary to take honest examinations of our life and put all excuses aside. The reason it is scary and the reason it is also can be so beneficial is because the conclusions we draw will force us to make a decision. Are we going to make the difficult change or are we going to make an excuse that will allow us continue our current behavior? What is it that is truly important to us: values, convenience, money, time, morals, human rights, health, beauty, popularity….?

As soon as I can better organize my thoughts I am going to publish a few follow-up posts that discuss some of my thoughts and some of the changes we have made and are planning/hoping to make.

The following are all of the links that were submitted for this week’s Carnival of the Green which One/Change is hosting. Below the links I have included the comments provided by the submitters (when applicable). If you are interested in making submissions of your own or hosting future carnivals, check out Treehugger. I hope you enjoy this weeks carnival!

Mel Rimmer presents A Load Of Old (Laundry) Balls posted at Bean Sprouts.

I tested eco washing balls to see whether they were any better than just using plain water. It seems they’re not, but surprisingly they’re also no worse for most washing than using branded detergent. So eco washing balls are a rip-off, and so is laundry detergent.

Mallory presents Denim Therapy posted at Miss Malaprop.

Denim Therapy specializes in reviving your old jeans and breathing new life into them before they make a trip to the landfill.

Riversider presents Riverworks “Undemocratic”: Michael Lavalette posted at Save The Ribble!.

We have kept blogging away with our points about the dangers of the proposals to barrage our river and build housing in its’ greenbelt. Now at last we are winning counselors to our side - proof that blogging works as a method that determined community campaigners can use to get their message across in a powerful and sustained way.

Patrick Quinton presents Breaking Up is Hard to Do posted at Cars Are Evil.

This post does not refer to any time sensitive links. It is more of a reflection on a particular topic that relates to the theme of my website. Thanks for your consideration.

John presents It is good to find a deal killer posted at hell’s handmaiden.

Suzanne Roman presents Polar bear “protected” posted at Towards Green.

Phil presents Plant Trees on Public Land « Phil for Humanity posted at Phil for Humanity.

Ever think of a new way for everyone to easily help the environment? Well, I think I just did.

Vihar Sheth presents Zero Waste posted at green | rising.

Victoria E presents Nau News posted at Groovy Green

Our second question comes from Beo aka Robert: I have heard of a new eco fashion company called Nau with founders stemming from Big Names like Marmot and Patagonia. Can you give us an update on them?

Rey Thomas presents The Thomas Political Report: What The President Said, What The President Meant posted at The Thomas Political Report.

Don Bosch presents Creation: The Not-So-Silent Sermon posted at The Evangelical Ecologist.

Is God silent? Does He even exist? Look up! All Creation reveals God’s presence continuously and universally. Don Bosch invites you to a green meditation on the 19th Psalm over at The Evangelical Ecologist.

Darrick Dean’s presents Back to the Future: Cast Iron posted at The Evangelical Ecologist.

Sue Richards presents Auntie Aging posted at My Menopause Blog

Before you invite Auntie Aging into your life, check to see how green she is.

John presents Urban Ecosystems and Nature Writing posted at A DC Birding Blog.

Avant News presents Lipodiesels Shine at 2010 LA Auto Show posted at Avant News.

Zane Parker presents Coming to Terms: on bringing a kid into this world posted at Groovy Green.

This past summer and fall, the prospect of a child has provided abstract motivation for work on our small earthen house.

Wise Bread presents Seven ways to maximize your gas mileage posted at Lynn Cognito.

Lynn shares seven sure ways to maximize your gas mileage.

Matthew presents UPDATE: EPA to deny ‘Brokovitch’ carcinogen for residential use posted at EPA may allow ‘Brockovich’ carcinogen in wood preservative.

Matthew presents Study: Hybrid cars save money in long run posted at Enviroblog.

An Intellichoice.com study finds that hybrid cars, whose fuel efficiency alone may not justify their higher initial purchase price, are in fact more economical in the long run.

Biologist Sally Kneidel presents The House Was Rockin…The Night We Socked It to the Utilities Commission posted at Veggie Revolution.

The local struggle in North Carolina to reject Duke Energy’s plans for 2 new coal-fired power plants. The resistance is supported by the Clean Air Coalition and the Sierra Club.

Sally Kneidel presents Chimps and Gibbons Have Human Elements to their Language posted at Veggie Revolution.

It is about Sally’s earlier work, as a graduate assistant, teaching American Sign Language to surly young chimpanzees. This post begins with a December study about the recent discovery of human elements in vocalizations among wild gibbons.

Jennifer Killpack-Knutsen presents Sundance 2007 Films for Greenies and Environmentalists posted at Jen’s Green Journal.

Connor presents The Homemade Revolution: Why DIY is Better posted at Matisse & Jack’s Blog.

Homemade eco friendly energy bars and how they may be safer.

Greener News Room presents Journalist fights subpoena in Lt. Watada court-martial case posted at Greener Magazine

Journalist fights subpoena in Lt. Watada court-martial case. The Society of Professional Journalists, military reporters and editors, the editorial staff of the LA Times, Greener Magazine/NRP, Media Alliance and scores of community groups join in denouncing the Army’s attempt to turn journalists into an investigative arm of the government.

Nina presents Ten Money Questions for Mark Brand posted at Queercents.

Award-winning architect, Mark Brand discuss big vs. small houses in the Queercents series: Ten Money Questions.

Andrea presents Organic Fertilizers posted at Buy Organic.

Discusses the benefits of using organic fertilisers in your garden and how to improve your soil naturally.

January 8th - Hippy Shopper
January 22nd - Clay & Wattles

Greenfibre is having their biggest ever January sale. For those of you who don’t know Greenfibre “sells ethical, natural and organic bedding, organic clothing, organic and biodynamic skin care products, organic fabrics and wool and eco-friendly household cleaning stuff”. Right now they are having a sale of everything from organic cotton flannel duvet covers to men’s organic cotton blue jeans. This is not a call for needless consumption, but if you were in need of making some purchases anyway check out their site and see if you can find it on sale.

I wanted to let you all know that I have not forgotten about the water series. My computer broke over a month ago and Kendall has been nice enough to share his computer with me during this time. Unfortunately, all of my information for the water series is on my computer and I haven’t been able to access it. I should have my computer back soon and will resume the series shortly after that.

In the meantime, here is a clip from a documentary, Water Warriors, that shares the experience of a community in Highland Park, MI as they fight to maintain their basic human right to have access to water while living next to the largest body of fresh water in the world. I would love to hear anyones thoughts on this.

Lately, my life has been full of conversations revolving around the topic of relationships. Being connected to other people is something that has always been very important to my husband and me. I believe that human beings were created to be in relationships with other human beings and the conversations as of late have consisted in figuring out what that practically looks like. We all need to be known and deeply cared for, as well as, to know and deeply care for someone else. However, it is not unusual for people to go most of their lives without being known or knowing someone else. There are some who say that this is a consequence of technology. While I agree that technology in some ways contributes to the problem (last night a friend of mine said that it gives us a false sense of connection to others); I believe our relational inhibitors run more deeply than this throughout our history as human beings.

Human beings in all societies have both spoken and unspoken social etiquette. Before I go any further I want to make clear that I don’t believe that social etiquette is bad, in fact, I think in many ways it serves a very positive function. However, there are ways that I feel we have become relationally hindered them; especially with respect to that which is unspoken. Unspoken social etiquettes are full of problems: they are vague, change from person to person, and are usually only verbalized after we have broken one (or more) of them. This isn’t too big of a deal until we are in a relationship, want to deepen it, and we don’t know the rules. The truth is that relationships can get very messy. People are going to let us down and not everyone we are in relationship with is going to be as willing or able to work on it as we would like. There are going to be those who do though. When approaching relationships and life in general, we have to think with more longevity and with less of a demand for immediate satisfaction.

I have very few close relationships. Maintaining close relationships takes a lot of love, work, energy, and time. However, those relationships teach me everyday how it is that I am supposed to treat other human beings and to be aware of what it is that people need. As a result of those relationships I am better able to care about those I don’t know as well or at all. I believe that without intimate relational connections of our own, it is very hard to connect or care about those we don’t know around the world. When we hold everyone at arms length, it is much easier to hold the world’s problems at arms length as well.