Commercial buildings in the United States alone contribute to an estimated 18% of total energy usage and also contribute to an estimated 4% of global Carbon Dioxide emissions. In 2006, lighting alone constituted about 25% of energy use by the Commercial sector, making it the largest single component of energy usage, which also contributed to about 42% of a commercial building's cooling load. Needless to say, it is about time that this issue was addressed by the Department of Energy.

On May 5th, 2009 the United States Department of Energy introduced Commercial Lighting Solutions, the latest innovation designed to improve the energy efficiency of commercial buildings. Commercial Lighting Solutions is an interactive web tool that is designed to help commercial building owners improve lighting efficiency by at least 30%. The tool provides the user with energy savings projections based on user input and selections. The solutions that are produced are designed to meet or exceed energy savings levels required to qualify for tax incentives put in place by the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Commercial users and designers can also use the tool to document performance against energy goals which can support end-user applications for incentives and rebates from utilities and state or regional energy efficiency programs.

Commercial Lighting Solutions is the first commercial technology solution to be launched as a part of the Department of Energy's Net-Zero Energy Commercial Building Initiative (CBI). Hopefully the next installment will not be too far off, as this is a huge leap in the push towards global energy efficiency. 

Earth Day is a very special day that is celebrated on April 22nd every year. Earth Day was actually founded by a United States Senator by the name of Gaylord Nelson in 1970 as an environmental teach-in (a kind of educational forum). This special day is not only celebrated here in the United States, but is now celebrated by countries all over the world. Essentially, that day, April 22nd of 1970, marks the beginning of the modern environmental movement. As such, this is a day that is indeed worthy of celebration, education, and awareness. At its inception in 1970, there were over 20 million Americans who participated, including thousands of colleges and universities who staged protests against the deterioration of the environment. That first Earth Day in 1970 also saw the birth of the Earth Day Network, an organization that promotes environmental citizenship and year-round progressive action worldwide. Through this network, activists can connect change in local, national, and global policies. Earth Day Network's international network reaches over 17,000 organizations in 174 countries, while the domestic program engages 5,000 groups and over 25,000 educators coordinating millions of community development and environmental protection activities throughout the year.

While the Earth Day Network and billions of others are making their contributions, you can be doing the same. You do not need to stage a protest or clean up an oil spill to take part in Earth Day. While we should be aware of our environment every day, Earth Day is a special time to heighten this awareness. Do you usually drive to work? On Earth Day, take the bus. Do you usually pack your lunch in a plastic bag? Pack it in a reusable bag on Earth Day. Do you usually throw that newspaper in the garbage? On Earth Day take that extra step to make sure it gets recycled. Whatever you do, just be aware that this is a special day for our planet, and billions of people worldwide recognize that and celebrate the world in which we all live. So have a Happy Earth Day and...until next year! 

So you have more than likely heard a lot lately about how our current administration is addressing the nation’s most critical energy and environmental issues. To quell any concerns and clarify any existing confusion, I have taken the liberty of providing an overview of the Obama-Biden “New Energy for America Plan”, a plan with many various aspects that will confront some of the difficulties that America is experiencing both in the realms of environment and the economy. The new plan will:

Provide Short-term Relief to American Families

• Crack Down on Excessive Energy Speculation.

Eliminate Our Current Imports from the Middle East and Venezuela within 10 Years

• Increase Fuel Economy Standards.
• Get 1 Million Plug-In Hybrid Cars on the Road by 2015.
• Create a New $7,000 Tax Credit for Purchasing Advanced Vehicles.
• Establish a National Low Carbon Fuel Standard.
• A "Use it or Lose It" Approach to Existing Oil and Gas Leases.
• Promote the Responsible Domestic Production of Oil and Natural Gas.

Create Millions of New Green Jobs

• Ensure 10 percent of Our Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources by 2012, and 25 percent by 2025.
• Deploy the Cheapest, Cleanest, Fastest Energy Source – Energy Efficiency.
• Weatherize One Million Homes Annually.
• Develop and Deploy Clean Coal Technology.
• Prioritize the Construction of the Alaska Natural Gas Pipeline.

Reduce our Greenhouse Gas Emissions 80 Percent by 2050

• Implement an economy-wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.
• Make the U.S. a Leader on Climate Change.

While this may sound like a concept of the future, the fact is that converting your conventional gas-powered engine to become a water-powered engine is closer than you think. By following a do-it-yourself guide and using tools that you can most likely find around your house or in your garden shed, you can replace the expensive and pollutant-producing fossil fuel that currently runs your vehicle with ordinary tap water.

So how does this work? The system, based on the Hydrostar system that was developed by William S. Power, is run by an engine that operates on hydrogen and oxygen, which is generated through the electrolysis of water. Without delving to deeply into the mechanics of the system, electrolysis is basically the breaking down of water into its hydrogen and oxygen atoms by passing an electric current through it. The heart of the system is the Hydrogen/Oxygen Generator, which ultimately converts the water into the gases that will power the vehicle. As a result of this hydrogen and oxygen combustion, the only by-product that is expelled from the exhaust is water, which produces cleaner drastically cleaner emissions when compared to its fossil-fueled counterpart.

While many questions have already undoubtedly arisen in your mind, be assured that this engine conversion, if performed correctly and accurately, is completely safe, efficient, and effective. Traveling around in a car containing 15-20 gallons of highly combustible gasoline cannot compare to the safety of traveling around in a vehicle with a tank full of noncombustible water. In the realm of efficiency and effectiveness, the water-powered engine system dwarfs that of the gas-powered version. With the water-fueled system, a vehicle will be potentially capable of traveling from 50-300 miles on a single gallon of water. Of course this depends upon many factors, including the vehicle's weight, the driver's habits, and driving conditions. One thing that can be certain is that you will be saving a ton of money on gas and doing a favor for the environment by reducing your output of harmful emissions.

So while this system may sound great, you may have reservations about beginning the project. This is a conversion system, meaning that it does not require you to remove or disable anything in your vehicles system, leaving you the ability to run your vehicle on its traditional gas-powered system or the water-fueled system. Through the detailed do-it-yourself guide and some ordinary tools that you would most likely find around your house (or perhaps one of your friend's or family member's houses) the system is relatively easy to install in a manageable amount of time.

So what are you waiting for? Help the environment and help your budget by grabbing a water-powered conversion guide and get started today! You'll thank yourself when your project is complete, and Mother Earth will thank you as well.

"Clean Coal" - A term that has been thrown around for years and has gained significant popularity in recent times. Perhaps you asked yourself the same question that I did when I really considered this term; How exactly can coal be "clean"? Personally, saying "clean coal technology" is along the same lines as saying "clean dirt technology". 

Although some new specific technologies and policies can contribute to a reduction in the deadly emissions produced by coal burning plants, the reality is that "clean coal" just does not exist, and never will. Putting the words "clean" and "coal" together is blatantly misleading to the public and only contributes to this destructive industry's hype, which acts as dirty cover for their deadly and baneful practices. To see one of the many faces of this deceit and environmental devastation, watch excerpts from this speech given by Don Blankenship, CEO of Massey Energy, the fourth largest coal producer in the United States: Big Coal, Big Lies

So if coal can't be clean, then why is it so dirty? Check out "The Coal Hard Facts" given by www.coal-is-dirty.com and see for yourself. Coal increases rates of disease and kills jobs, burning coal emits mercury pollution and significantly contributes to global warming, it kills miners, wastes huge quantities of water, pollutes seafood and freshwater fish, destroys mountains, kills freshwater streams, and costs billions in taxpayer subsidies. Need I say more?

So you are still not convinced that coal is dirty and destructive? Well consider the following:

• According to the American Lung Association, 24,000 people per year die prematurely from pollution emitted at coal-fired power plants. In fact, the ALA found that coal plants are responsible for 38,000 heart attacks, 12,000 hospital admissions, and 550,000 asthma attacks every year.
• Being the most carbon-intensive fossil fuel, burning coal contributes to 40% of U.S. Carbon Dioxide emissions (those most greatly responsible for global warming). As a result, the U.S. produces 25% of global carbon dioxide emissions.
• Between 1992 and 2002 the Centers for Disease Control estimates that 12,000 coal miners died from black lung disease.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency reports that the amount of mercury in the atmosphere is estimated to have increased by 200% - 500% since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, when coal use began to become prominent. Mercury can have devastating neurological effects, especially on infants and young children.

First some background on this addiction that America has to foreign oil.

It is an addiction that has been worsening for decades and threatening our national security, our environment, and our economy. According to T. Boone Pickens' website, in 1970 the U.S. imported 24% of our oil. Today, that figure has skyrocketed to 70% and with no end in sight. In addition, with oil at its current price, we will send over $700 billion to foreign countries this year alone. It is projected that this figure will reach $10 trillion over the next 10 years. With the United States consuming 24% of the World's oil demand for just 4% of the World's population, what is the solution?

Wind power. The states of the Great Plains are said to have the greatest potential for wind energy in the World. According to Pickens, the wind power that could be produced in North Dakota alone is enough to provide power for over 1/4 of the country. The development of wind power also makes an investment in rural America by providing numerous high skilled jobs without threatening local food production operations or economies.

Natural gas and bio-fuels. Cleaner, cheaper, and domestically available, natural gas and bio-fuels are essential in the process of kicking America's addiction to foreign oil.

These solutions and other essential information is all a part of the Pickens Plan, "a bridge to the future -- a blueprint to reduce foreign oil dependence by harnessing domestic energy alternatives, and buy us time to develop even greater new technologies." Stop being a part of the problem and take the first step towards becoming part of the solution. Visit www.pickensplan.com today and find out how to help kick America's addiction to foreign oil.

The Simple Green company has been producing non-toxic and biodegradable cleaning products for over 30 years and has a simple mission: "We, the Sunshine Makers, as a socially responsible company, are committed to being worldwide market leaders providing quality, environmentally safe, cleaning products."

Although Simple Green makes over 20 different types of cleaning products for home and professional use, they are perhaps most well-known for their all-purpose cleaner. All of Simple Green's products are non-toxic and biodegradable, making them the perfect option for the environmentally conscious individual. They have also developed the Simple Green Naturals line, which are derived from 100% natural bio-organic sources including coconut, chicory, corn, palm, naturally occurring minerals, sugar, salt, and water. These Naturals also offer zero synthetic fragrances, zero petroleum-derived ingredients, 100% sustainable ingredient sources, no animal testing, a full ingredient disclosure, and much more.

Bruce FaBrizio and the Simple Green company have greatly contributed to the national community as well. In 1989, the Everything Is Going To Be Alright Foundation, or EGBAR, was created. The Foundation is funded by a percentage of Simple Green sales, which goes directly to a national education curriculum designed to teach children about the environment and how to care for it. These funds also support community clean-up projects, as well as partnerships with The Catalina Island Conservancy and The SEA Lab. The EGBAR Foundation is making a difference by teaching everyone to "Think Globally, Act Locally". For more information on the Simple Green company and the EGBAR Foundation, visit www.simplegreen.com