People in Glass Houses Should Throw Parties

I had done some research and pasted to my virtual vision board a green, pre-fab home where I want to retire in comfort and with a clear conscience that I've done a small, anonymous part in sustaining life on this tiny rock for the next generation. I found the modularity, greenness, and affordability of blu homes products like the Element to be particularity fetching. But that was a month ago. Earth Techling presents David Fanchon's eco-friendly pearl-dome home. Check this domicile out! Some kind of passive solar collector/deflector showplace. Some kind of style. Some kind of bragging rights. The bay windows beckon the lower winter sun, the shielded, insulated roof dampens the summer sun. It's geometric. It's scientific. It's green and it's cool. I'm sitting here in the rainy, cold Northeast, fervently waving my hand in case Fanchon deigns to choose a passel of bloggers to see his eco-friendly, aesthetically-stunning piece of practical architecture. "Ooo, ooo, ooo, Pick me. Pick me, Please!" Enjoy the tour at the link.

Clean Energy Investment Race: China Repeats Gold

The Pew Charitable Trust's Environment Group released its latest Clean Energy Investment report today. Not surprising, China remains at the fore, contributing more than $54 billion in 2010 to clean energy technology. Germany took silver with more than $41 billion invested, and the US dropped to third, even though its clean energy investments increased 50% to more than $34 billion. Italy, the first country to achieve grid parity between traditional fossil fuel and renewable fuels, followed in fourth place, just under $14 billion, just out of (but very much in) the "money." It seems the green business trend is alive and well, especially in those countries that promote an environment of cooperation via national policy. Because European countries - for the most part - have national policies that embrace green energy technologies, investors put their money where it is less likely to encounter political ambivalence which tends to produce development (and subsequently, ROI) delay. The Pew Charitable Trusts Environment Group website has posted a summary of report (with a fun, interactive world map) and a download of the entire report. The report is a curious aggregate of statistics, issues, and international motivation. It's conclusions are reassuring. Take a read.

Elcriton - Food for Fuel, Food for Thought

A rousing Ignite Newark #1 presented some great ideas tonight. Among them, Elcriton.

I was fortunate to make the acquaintance of Bryan P. Tracy, Ph.D, CEO of Elcriton, a biofuel start up that "develops microbial catalysts and industrial bioprocesses that generate next-generation biofuels and petrochemical replacements through the conversion of renewable, non-food biomass."

That mouthful may sound like it was scripted by Ed Wood for Christopher Lee to declare as a demented scientist in a SciFi film, but in actuality it means Elcriton creates/engineers the ingredients and refining processes that drive production of or result in green-fuel products.

Currently, biobutanol, a vegetable-based biofuel that appears to have higher energy content, is less volatile, and is less hygroscopic (moisture loving) than ethanol, stands as Elcriton's incipient improved, green, and sustainable gasoline alternative.

With fossil fuels nearly depleted, greenhouse gases wreaking ecological havoc, and battles for limited energy resources always imminent, efforts like Elcriton's have seemed almost Quixotic: well-intentioned moralistic imperatives, but ultimately feckless. I mean, a fuel that is renewable, doesn't pollute, and provides similar energy bang as gasoline has been stuff more of science fiction. Elcriton has made it stuff of science.

Check out the company's website and see if you agree that smart, scientific stuff is happening at Elcriton. The Green Write will keep you posted on the bio-tech firm's latest.

Here's the website: http://elcriton.com/Home_Page.html

The Green Write Re-commences

After an 8-month hiatus because I was handling the social media marketing for Vitalize Consulting Solutions, Inc., I renew my intent to deliver insight, information, and a wow-factor or two here on The Green Write.

Topics will attain orbit around green initiatives, ideas, practices, but, hey, it's a blog and I can go off on tangents when I want, right?

So, as I begin my second half century on this planet, and AARP begins regular, frequent delivery to my mail box, I'm hopeful that I can provide some value, humor, & poignance for those who tarry here momentarily.

For example, consider the insidious effect on a couch potato's ticker from both sex and exercise as reported here.

Or check out my new (local) favorite green business - Tangent Energy Solutions. This company helps commercial and industrial enterprises use less energy and even create energy to give back to the grid by tapping a company's own "behind the meter grid." Kinda cool and quite forward thinking.

Til next post, remember Frost's immortal words " Nature's first green is gold -"

We Interrupt Your Regularly Scheduled Program . . .

This is a challenging post. First, it's not green oriented, so "off-topic" charge could be leveled. Second, I'm touting myself, so the cynic could sardonically ask what about the five qualities of the Green Knight's star, or where's the license for shameless self-promotion?



I don't have answers but to say that if a writer must write, then when that writing gets published a writer must engage his/her brand. And tomorrow begins my life as a published book author.



Arcadia Publishing releases my pictorial history of New Garden Township (Pa.) for its Images in America series. I've got my own ISBN (139780738572673). I'm permanently lodged into the Library of Congress. My resume attains added luster. (Now, I await the call from Hollywood!)



Green-wise, the tome will be available on Amazon and Barnes & Noble websites, so if you are so moved to purchase, do so without driving!



I now return you to your regularly scheduled, albeit sporadic, green programming . . .



This Tuesday, 7/20/10 between 6 - 8, Green Drinks will be served at 821 Chelsea Tavern on Market Street in Wilmington, DE (for those living in close proximity of the Green Write). Lori Lake is once again in charge, the weather will be warm, the drinks cold, and the palavers about all things green should be incisive. And of course, wherever you live, you can see if Green Drinks are served by checking the global schedule on the top banner at http://www.greentv.com/.

GreenTV: Initial Encounter!

Did the Green Drinks networking event in Newark on Tuesday and met Lori and Jon Lake, green mavens, entrepreneurs, and all-around good folk from Delaware. Check out their baby -- GreenTV -- at http://www.greentv.com/. Humorous. Fun. Informative. Provocative. Be prepared to spend some time at GreenTV getting a conscience-ful amount of keen ideas to keep this good old earth (or at least life on it) spinning greenly. This is but a brief entry as a new job has kept me busy this week. More to come this weekend.
Be green. Be great.

Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge

A good friend always encourages working on the solution, not focusing on the problem. After all, a solution awaits; the problem is history. Consider the gulf oil spill. Or any oil spill. Consider all the finger pointing at any ecological boogey man: industrial emissions, toxic run-off from mineral mines, poisonous leaching into the ground, nuclear waste.

Disasters happen and somebody takes the fall, perhaps rightly. But you'd think that maybe, once in a while, an ecological disaster would be averted, neutralized by some bolt of inspiration. Instead of waiting to form a solution once the problem commences, a solution -- or two or three -- was already in place.

Only a cynic possessing extreme conviction could admit that no disaster is ever averted -- or inadvertent; after all, what kind of headline is "good news" worth? Still, efforts continue to ameliorate potential, looming disasters. But without interest, few of these stories ever get to a mass audience.

Ergo, The Green Write. And today's post links to Reuters.com and a summary of winners in the annual Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge. The first link is the article. The second is the EPA website that explains the PGCCA.

So, if you know of any chemists worthy of national recognition for green practices -- for heading off future problems by addressing solutions now, let 'em know about this.

I'm thinking my friend Ron Simonetti and his MCR, LLC are deserving.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS16160649420100622

http://www.epa.gov/gcc/pubs/pgcc/presgcc.html