And now for a shameless plug

Follow me at my latest project: TREEconomist

A site for environmental policy, alternative energy and the economics of climate change.

also follow TREEconomist on twitter

Happy Earth Day 2008!

If you’re looking for the Carnival of the Green #111, I have decided to host it on my new environmental policy site, TREEconomist.

Please subscribe to the RSS feed for updates.

Image Courtesy NASA

I thought I would celebrate Earth Day by offering some suggestions of ways you can make a positive impact, or at least less of an impact, on the Earth. Many of these are links I’ve rounded up over the past years and tagged on del.icio.us.

Go for a bike ride

First of all, why not leave your car keys on the kitchen counter and ride your bike or walk today? If you’re looking for a new bike, check out the Trek Lime. This has got to be the tastiest looking bike ever. The Lime is perfect for commuting: it shifts gears automatically, offers a “trunk” under the seat, and comes in custom colors. Will someone please buy me the green one?! If you need some ideas for good bike routes near you, check out Bikely, a site that “helps cyclists share knowledge of good bicycle routes.” I’ve been riding a bike exclusively for over 7 months now since I’m without a car and I must say it is pretty liberating. It is much easier than you would imagine to rely only upon your own two feet or a bike to get around your town. Go ahead, give it a try today and scout out a good route to work or school, pledge to walk or ride to school at least twice per week. It is a healthy and relaxing alternative to driving a gas-guzzling vehicle.

Conserve energy

Did you know that the average American home produces twice the greenhouse gas annually as the average car (18seconds.org )? So, once you’re out of the house with your bike, head to your nearest hardware store and pick up some compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) to replace those inefficient, archaic incandescent bulbs that have been around since Thomas Edison’s days. If you change just 5 of your most frequently used bulbs in the house, you can have a huge impact not only on cutting emissions but also on cutting energy costs since you will save over $60 per year. So don’t worry that they cost a little extra, they pay for themselves!

Kenny Luna, an 8th grade teacher and treehugger has come up with a bright idea for CFLs. Mr Luna wants to give every student in America (pre-kindergarten - 12th grade) just one CFL. This would save Americans $2.3 billion over the life of the bulbs! Who needs tax cuts? Remember, that’s just one for every student in the US. Imagine what a difference could be made if every family changed their 5 most-used bulbs.

If you want to really make a difference, purchase carbon-free bulbs. These guys at ECOfuture have taken the CFL to the next level by offsetting the carbon dioxide produced:

All CO2 emissions generated from the use of THE Bulb are offset through a donation to the Carbonfund.org Foundation making THE Bulb the world’s first Carbonfree™ light bulb. All donations are used for the development of renewable energy.

Who said saving the world was difficult?

Take political action

If you are up for some more intensive Earth-saving efforts, I’ll give you a few things to tackle. First of all, you can boycott bottled water as I have done for the past few months. The amount of fuel and water used to make and deliver a bottle of imported water is astounding. Not to mention the profits made from the most basic and widely available liquid on Earth. Secondly, did you know that the UK has a $4 per gallon gasoline tax compared to a paltry 40 cents in the US? I challenge the biggest treehuggers to join Greg Mankiw’s Pigou Club, no membership dues required. Read Dr. Mankiw’s manifesto for gasoline taxes and let me know what you think. Often the simplest solution to reducing oil consumption is the best. Finally, get involved with political action against global warming. It is appalling to me that this even has to be a political issue, but that’s what happens when big energy companies have governments on their side. For further information, visit the Earth Day Network.

So to end on a positive note, I wish you all a Happy Earth Day today and every day. Now turn off your computer and enjoy a great day outside!

Well, obviously I missed it. World Water Day was yesterday, but that doesn’t mean it’s too late to participate.

In 1992, the UN General Assembly designated March 22 as “World Water Day” to draw international attention to the critical lack of clean, safe drinking water worldwide.

According to the site, 1 billion people in the world do not have access to clean drinking water which makes it even easier for me to boycott bottled water. One billion people! This is truly sad. What’s even worse is how many of us spend $1.50 or more on the stuff because it’s convenient and an alternative to soda. I encourage all of you to boycott bottled water and start carrying around a Nalgene bottle or similar. If you must purify it, get a Brita filter pitcher and keep it the fridge.

As I mentioned just because World Water Day was yesterday, doesn’t mean you missed your chance to participate. There are plenty of water walks in the US this Saturday, 24 March (didn’t see any elswhere) or join the Virtual Water Walk. Finally, you can join me and boycott bottled water. I’ve kept my promise since the beginning of February, with just one exception and I’ve been reusing that plastic bottle since. Take the money you will save and give to others so they may have clean drinking water.

Al Gore brought 500,000 messages with him as he testified before Congress yesterday on the threat of climate change, urging legislators to take action. Unfortunately this has become a political issue and it doesn’t help matters that Gore is identified with the Democrats. It is unbelievable that there are people out there like Republican Senator James Inhofe leading a defensive charge.

“It is my perspective that your global warming alarmist pronouncements are now and have always been filled with inaccuracies and misleading statements,” Mr. Inhofe said.

And this is the guy that is the ranking Republican on the Environment and Public Works Committee?!

When will this stop being a political issue and start being a real threat that we can all discuss without taking sides. We have a very narrow window of opportunity to change the course of destruction of our world and parties are bickering over taxes and protectionism.

A twitter friend, baratunde just sent this to me. If you care about saving the planet from irreversible damage, make yourself heard TODAY. Al Gore is testifying to Congress on global warming tomorrow, Wednesday, March 21st. He will hand deliver your message of support for immediate legislation. Click on Hurricane Katrina now and take 2 minutes to fill out the card. Here is my personal message:

The best solutions to reversing global warming are also the simplest: 1) Increase the federal gasoline tax 10 cents per year incrementally over the next 10 years as Dr. N. Gregory Mankiw suggests. You can keep your tax revenue even if you reduce paryoll taxes by the same amount 2) Ban incandescent light bulbs. 3) Invest in public transportation instead of building new roads.

You have to do it today since Mr Gore is testifying to Congress tomorrow.

NASA photo of Hurricane Katrina sea surface temperatures

Why are you still reading? Fill out the card now!

Like last week, I gave another presentation for a different class today. The course is called Economics of Technological Change and covers diffusion (adoption) of technology in a given industry and time frame, among other things. My semester project for this class is to examine the diffusion of solar power in the United States. I am looking at the rate of adoption, the impact solar power has had on innovation and R&D in the industry, effects on economic growth, effects of subsidies, impact on the environment, as well as how solar power has fared with other sources of renewable energy in terms of adoption rate.

The presentation went well considering we were limited to just 5 minutes. There are 48 students in the class so we had to be brief. As I have mentioned earlier, it seems to be a trend in Ireland, or at least at NUI Galway, to present research while in progress, long before the paper is due. Last semester I was hesitant about this procedure, but I have grown to like it and have quickly realized the benefits. For example, the professor has a chance to guide your research and offer suggestions. Dimitri, my instructor, seemed impressed by my topic but cautioned that there is enough material on solar energy diffusion to complete a PhD program. He suggested ways of focusing the research by looking at data for just the past 10 years within the commercial sector, for example. It’s good to air thoughts in front of a group and bounce ideas off others to enhance the focus and I’m much more excited about my project now.

This week, I was able to use Apple Keynote properly on my own notebook and it worked out nicely making for a smooth presentation. I must admit, I felt a little like Nobel Prize nominee Al Gore during An Inconvenient Truth. [grin] I enjoyed speaking in front of the class, it felt very comfortable. I even received some compliments about the slide presentation, thanks to Apple Keynote. Everyone else had the same boring PowerPoint theme, except one student that distributed an outline.

So far, two projects started and another one starting next week with a group of three of us. The semester is really heating up, no pun intended, but I will keep chugging away on the blog posts as well. I welcome your comments and suggestions about my project below.

Photo courtesy of National Renewable Energy Laboratory Credit–Robb Williamson

As some may know, I have an interest in the environment and so does a recent Academy Award winner and Nobel Peace Prize nominee, Al Gore, so I came across this site and had to post something.

Yahoo just partnered with Nielsen to create 18seconds.org, a flashy (no pun intended) site aimed at keeping track of the number of compact flourescent lamps, CFLs purchased in the in the United States. Apparently over 16 million bulbs have been purchased which is the equivalent of keeping over 100,000 cars off the road. Since the average American home is responsible for twice the greenhouse gas as a car, these bulbs are an easy way to make a dent without buying a Prius. The bulbs produce similar light color and output with 70% less energy and heat output. This may death of the incandescent bulb may be near pending legislation in California and the ban of them in Australia by 2009.

I just purchased 2 of the CFLs for my apartment to do my part to reduce carbon emissions. Sure they cost more, but in the long run you’re going to save money and the environment. If you’re in the US, check out the site and see how your city and state fare with others. Congratulations to Al Gore and An Inconvenient Truth.

The dinner was great, but I think we went a little overboard on the scope of it. The scallops were delicious and the cake was chocolatey but not too sweet. Yesterday I spent most of the day periodically hunching over with stomach pain. Needless to say, I didn’t eat much yesterday and certainly didn’t feel like posting anything on this blog.

I had a meeting with my research advisor today. My project consists of an 8000 word essay on the research of gasoline taxes in the US. I’ll keep you posted on the progress. In addition, I have an econometrics project using STATA as well as a short (2000 word) essay on the diffusion of solar technology in the US. The workload for the semester is finally piling on at a rapid pace. I might have to be brief with some of the posts, but stay tuned…

I have loads of fun content coming your way and I plan to do a weekly Irish culture post. See you soon!

What a no-brainer headline. I chose it only to illustrate the point of the uphill battle still faced by scientists when it comes to convincing the public, especially Americans, that global warming exists AND is caused by humans. According to the San Jose Mercury News a bleak new report (PDF, 2.2MB) was released today with solid evidence laying the blame on humans for global warming.

Perhaps Senator Inhofe will finally eat his words that “global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people?” Maye now I can move on and refrain from using obvious headlines.

Al Gore has been nominated for the prestigious award along with Inuit environmentalist Sheila Watt-Cloutier, in recognition for their efforts to put the danger posed by climate change on the global political agenda. Though many here in Europe seem to dismiss films such as An Inconvenient Truth with a response of “tell us something we don’t know already,” it is wonderful to see this issue getting the coverage it deserves.

read more | via: digg

The NFL announced that it would offset the greenhouse gas emissions created by the game through the planting of hundreds of native tree seedlings and the purchasing of renewable energy certificates. In fact, the league reports that these initiatives will allow the Super Bowl to be carbon negative.

It’s nice to see this getting some Super Bowl-sized press. As for the outcome of the big game, I’m torn up about it. I grew up in between Indianapolis and Chicago…I’d like to see the Colts win since they have come so close recently, but you also gotta love da’ Bears!

read more | via: digg

I just read a CNN article about the U.S. population hitting 300 million tomorrow and I don’t agree with this statement at all:
“America…will continue to be the world’s premiere economy for at least another 40 years.”

Ask anyone outside of the U.S. and they will completely disagree as well. America needs to wake up and change its economic policies concerning trade deficits, budget deficits, oil consumption, and urban sprawl if it wants to stay competitive. Globalization is a dirty word in the U.S. but it is a fact of life.

The price of gasoline in the US is artificially low compared to the rest of the world as a result of taxes. Read this and quit bitching, America:

Thanks for listening to my political rant and have a nice day. Why not try something different and walk or ride your bike or the bus to work or school today?

via Digg: “So here’s the idea: Create a carbon tax — a tax on energy calculated based on its carbon content — and use the new revenue to provide offsetting cuts in the income tax, the payroll tax, or both. The whole package should be revenue neutral, meaning that it will not increase or decrease the total amount of revenue the government collects.”
This is an interesting proposal that derserves further review. The major unfortunate problem I see is opposition from Big Energy lobbyists.

read more | digg story

My family lives in Slidell, LA. Fortunately they are safe now. Here are some videos shot by a film crew from Baton Rouge, LA.

August 29 Slidell report:
http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate/08292005-39.html
(you can probably stop when they return to the studio after the
interview with the couple, it’s pretty long…)

08/29 I-10 bridge toward Slidell:
http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate/08302005-6.html

08/29 Slidell: http://media.swagit.com/s/wbrz/The_Advocate/08302005-5.html

here are the rest if you want to browse more:
http://www.2theadvocate.com/wbrz/video_index.shtml