[RP TownTalk] Clean Energy Open House, Sat. 11/17

Thu Nov 15 18:59:34 UTC 2007

Interesting article in the Post today A16 "World's Power Plant Emissions 
Detailed" 
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/14/AR2007111402010.html

It would have been nice if the article had included how many KWs of 
electricity these plants generate so that people could think about how 
many windmills, soler cells, treadmills and, dare I say, nuclear plants 
need to be built to replace the power generating capability.

To get a scale of our (U.S.) contribution to the problem; the US power 
plants generate 2,790 Million tons of CO2, China 2,680, Russia 661, 
India 583, Japan 400.  The way I read that US is first, China is 2nd, 
and by a factor of 4 there is no 3rd. Or either the US's or China's 
power plants generate more CO2 than the next 7 countries combined.

There was also an interesting NPR bit today about the environmental 
impact of China's Three Gorges Dam (also see Post today A1 above the 
fold). As part of the NPR bit there was an allusion to the impact of big 
reservoirs on global warming.  All the vegetable matter collected and 
rotting in the reservoir generate methane which is "25 time as bad as 
CO2" as a greenhouse gas.

This is all to say, don't take the rants of the old coot the wrong way. 
The problem is real. Its the half-baked feel-good solutions that *get 
the gets me up on my soapbox. *

Better go lay down, take my blood pressure, think nice thoughts, eat 
chocolate.

Lou
Rob Oppenheim wrote:
> For those interested in learning about alternative energy and reduced 
> CO2, the clean energy home in nearby Takoma Park is again on display...
>  
> * You're invited: Clean Energy Open House*
> Saturday, November 17th, 1-5pm in Takoma Park, Md.
>  
>
>     * Come see solar panels!
>     * View all-electric, biodiesel, and hybrid cars firsthand
>     * Eat solar-baked cookies and see a a grill that burns corn kernels
>     * Learn how to landscape your yard with native plants
>     * Buy wind power certificates and energy-saving light bulbs
>     * Test drive a tofu-powered lawn mower
>     * And more
>     * Free admission to all ages.
>
> .
> Sponsored by the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and Chesapeake 
> Native Nursery.
> http://chesapeakeclimate.org/
>  
> * About the Open House *
>  
> The Chesapeake Climate Action Network will once again open to the 
> public Maryland's only 95-percent renewable energy household on 
> Saturday, November 17th from 1pm - 5pm. The home, owned by Mike 
> Tidwell of Takoma Park, is equipped with energy-efficient appliances 
> and light bulbs, and is powered by photovoltaic solar panels, a solar 
> hot-water system, and a corn-burning home-heating stove.
>  
> The house has been featured in magazines, newspapers, and TV and radio 
> stations (including NPR) all across the United States and Europe, and 
> was recently featured on the Voice of America all across the world. 
> One of the most newsworthy aspects of the home is the fact that all of 
> these energy changes were made for the cost of just a cup of coffee a day!
>  
> Come learn how you, too, can affordably reduce your home fossil fuel 
> use by 50-90 percent and so help fight global warming. As a special 
> feature, we'll also have two hybrid cars and an electric truck for you 
> to view and learn about their affordable, climate-protecting features. 
> And as a new feature, we'll show you how to landscape your yard with 
> native plants and water them with rain barrels that catch rooftop runoff.
>  
> Plus, there will be a solar food cooker on display (free solar-baked 
> cookies) and we'll be selling energy-saving compact fluorescent light 
> bulbs for a big discount. We'll also have lots of free literature on 
> the rising threat of global warming and steps you can take to help 
> save the planet.
>  
> * WHAT* : A tour of the first home in Maryland/Virginia/DC powered 
> almost entirely by renewable energy and landscaped with native plants.
>  
> * WHEN* : Saturday, November 17th , 1- 5pm
>  
> * WHERE* : 7125 Willow Ave, Takoma Park, MD
>  
> * DIRECTIONS:*
>  
> By car from Riverdale Park/Hy/UP:
> Go west on East-West Hwy/MD-410 about 4 miles.
> "Slight left" at Carroll Ave (MD-410 takes a right here, you don't)
> Go 0.5 mi on Carroll (it takes a right at Laurel, you do too)
> Go a bit further to the corner of Willow and Carroll Ave
> Park in the lot on the right.
> Walk up Willow Ave 4 houses to # 7125 on the right.
> Google map: http://tinyurl.com/3ymfsk  <http://tinyurl.com/3ymfsk%A0> ;
>  
> * PARKING* : Please park in the parking lot at the corner of Willow 
> Ave. and Carroll Ave., just four houses down from the expo.
>  
> By bike or car from DC: Take 16th Street north to Aspen. Turn right on 
> Aspen and follow under the Metro Bridge. Take your second left after 
> the bridge onto Willow Street. At the first light, turn right on 
> Carroll Ave and take an immediate left onto Willow Ave. See Parking above.
>  
> By bike or car from the Beltway: Exit at New Hampshire Ave heading 
> south. Take a right on Piney Branch and a left on Carroll Ave. Follow 
> Carroll till you're almost in downtown Takoma Park and take a right on 
> Tulip Ave. Take your next left onto Willow Ave and we're the third 
> house on the left. See Parking above.
>  
> By Metro: Take the red-line train to Takoma Station and walk east 
> along Carroll Ave. toward downtown Takoma Park. After three blocks, 
> turn left on Willow Ave. We're the fourth house on the right. 
> Five-minute walk from the Metro.
>   
> For more information or to volunteer call 240-396-2025 or send email to
> jay at chesapeakeclimate.org
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
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> For more information about Riverdale Park, visit http://www.ci.riverdale-park.md.us
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