Staying Green on Black Friday

Black Friday, one of the busiest shopping days of the year, is only a few days away, and Environment Massachusetts is working to help shoppers make more energy efficient purchases.

As I said in a previous post, one of the fastest and cheapest ways to reduce our energy usage and cut global warming pollution in Massachusetts would be to establish television efficiency standards. And so, we urge the Chairmen of the Joint Committee on Telecommunication, Utilities and Energy, Senator Michael Morrissey and Representative Barry Feingold to move An Act Relative to Expanding Energy Efficiency in the Commonwealth (SB1524/HB3124)  to the next step toward final passage.

This bill mirrors one passed by the California Energy Commissions last week. Environment Massachusetts applauds the passage of this bill, the first of its kind in the US, and hopes it will set a precedent soon followed by Massachusetts and every other state.

However, you don't have to wait for these standards to become law in Massachusetts to buy an efficient TV. There are already more than 250 televisions that meet the proposed standards. After searching newspaper ads for Black Friday sales, we found a few TVs at Best Buy that will save you money and help stop global warming:

• Mitsubishi 73'' Class 1080p 120Hz DLP TV: $2499.98 after $300 savings
• Toshiba Regza 55'' Class 1080p Clearscan LDC LED: $2499.98 after $500 savings
• Samsung 40'' Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV: $1399.99 after $700 savings (includes delivery, hook-up, and recycling)
• Samsung 55'' Class 1080p 120Hz LED HDTV: $2649.99 after $950 savings (includes delivery, hook-up, and recycling)

The full list of televisions that already meet the standards is on the left; click to see a close-up. (Source: "Proposed California Television Efficiency Standards" by Noah Horowitz, National Resources Defense Council)

While comparison shopping, you will likely find similar TVs with lower prices that do not meet the standards. For example a Sharp Aquos 52'' HDTV costs about $400 less than the Samsung 55'' listed above, but the Samsung will actually save you much more in the long run because it is more energy efficient.

Leave a comment if you have any TV efficiency questions, or even any other energy efficient gift ideas!

Watch Last Week's Press Conference

Thanks to WEBN for attending the press conference!

Massachusetts' Global Warming Pollution Declined by 5%

Massachusetts’ global warming pollution declined by 5 percent since 1990, according to a new report released by Environment Massachusetts today.

Emerald Russell, a campaign organizer for Environment Massachusetts, announced the release of the report, Too Much Pollution, in a press conference in front of the State House this morning.

“The transition to clean energy is a marathon, and we’re just out of the starting block,” she said. “We can take back control of our energy future. By harnessing the power of the wind and the sun, we can cut pollution and transition to clean energy sources that don’t harm the environment, never run out, and create new, local jobs."

According to the report, success in Massachusetts shows that moving to cleaner energy can have a significant and immediate impact on overall emissions. A shift to cleaner forms of electricity here in Massachusetts is being lauded as the largest contributor to the decline in emissions. Electricity generated by oil decreased from 26 percent in 1997 to 6.5 percent in 2007. This sharp decline makes the elimination of oil dependency seem that much more possible.

The report also shows that emission reductions and robust economic growth can occur side by side; Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, and New York cut their pollution levels by 5 percent since 1997, while increasing their gross state product by 65 percent.

The use of fossil fuel and subsequent effects of global warming pollution have been increasing for decades in this country. We’re seeing a lot of those effects here in Massachusetts, but one of our biggest concerns is definitely rising sea levels inundating our coast and flooding our communities. According to the report, the United States must cut its global warming pollution by 35 percent by 2020 to be able to stop the worst effects of global warming.

The report recommends that the federal government build on the initial progress made by states like Massachusetts by passing strong clean energy legislation and adopting common sense EPA rules to cut pollution from aging coal plants and big smokestack industries. The Senate is in the process of considering the Clean Energy Jobs and American Power Act (S. 1733), sponsored by Senators John Kerry and Barbara Boxer (D-CA).

Unfortunately, Dirty Coal, Big Oil, and other polluters are fighting the crucial transition to clean energy. The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry lobby group, spent more than $120,000 a day last year on lobbyists and advertising on energy. Earlier this year, they hired lobbyists who forged phony constituent letters to Congress opposing action on clean energy.” It seems like the coal industry is willing to do just about anything to further its own agenda.

We’re working hard to counter those dirty tactics. Do your part to help reduce global warming pollution in Massachusetts even more. Take public transportation, invest in solar panels if possible, and take one of Environment Massachusetts’ calls to action! Tell us about what you’re doing to help stop global warming in the comments!

The Press Conference is TODAY

Come to the State House at 10 am and show your support!


View Environment Massachusetts Press Conference in a larger map

Environment Massachusetts is Holding a Press Conference!

Environment Massachusetts is holding a press conference this Thursday morning! We're releasing a report titled Too Much Pollution, a new analysis of government data on trends in global warming pollution in Massachusetts and nationally. The conference will take place in front of the State House this Thursday November 12, at 10 am. Feel free to attend and show your support!

The report investigates how the states are doing at cutting global warming pollution and moving to clean energy using the most recent data from the U.S. Department of Energy. This is the first time the state-by-state emissions data have been released for 2006 and 2007.

More information about the report and the press conference will be available on our Website and here on the blog after the event, but the best way to find out what's happening is to attend! If you're thinking of attending, or have any questions, let us know by commenting!

The Boston Globe Joins the Fight for Cape Wind

The Boston Globe spoke out against the new and unexpected opposition to Cape Wind in an editorial last week, calling the attempt to "protect all of Nantucket Sound for cultural reasons" a "cynical gimmick."

The day before the editorial was published, the Globe reported that the Aquinnah and Mashpee Wampanoag tribes claim the 130 proposed wind turbines in Nantucket Sound would disturb their spiritual sun greetings and submerged ancestral burying grounds.

The claim will more than likely be rejected because archeological excavations in Nantucket Sound have not found any signs of Native American camps or other signs of human life. In addition, federally designated traditional properties tend to be defined areas rather than bodies of water with ambiguous boundaries. In spite of that, the project will still likely be delayed.

Environment Massachusetts fully supports Cape Wind. The wind farm will generate pollution-free energy using offshore winds (a free and plentiful natural resource!), thus lowering bills, cutting pollution, and creating local jobs. Cape Wind is far too valuable to our state's well-being to allow it to get knocked of course by a last minute stalling tactic.

The Globe's position has sparked quite the Online discussion. Comments range from:

"Enough already. We all had enough. This project has been debated and dissected for how long now, nine years? It's well past time to make a 'decision'. The benefits of this project clearly outnumber any negatives."

...to:

"Wind power should be abandoned. The windmills are a complete eyesore and windpower will never compete with more efficient and reliable sources of energy such as oil, gas, nuclear and perhaps solar."

Read through all the comments on the editorial here, then come back to the blog and post your own views.

Stephen Colbert & Al Gore vs. Stephen Colbert on Global Warming

Last night, Stephen Colbert had a televised debate with himself about global warming. The debate was a stalemate until former Vice President Al Gore showed up!

The Colbert Report	Mon - Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Formidable Opponent - Global Warming With Al Gore
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor U.S. Speedskating

Voters Give Menino Four More Years to Turn "Beantown into Greentown"

Congratulations to Mayor Tom Menino for being elected to an unprecedented fifth term as Boston's mayor!

Mayor Menino has done a lot to make Boston more environmentally friendly, and during the campaign he promised to work even harder for a Green Boston:

"Mayor Menino’s substantial portfolio of environmental programming includes a plan to plant 100,000 trees by 2020 through Grow Boston Greener, a goal to expand solar installation to 25 megawatts under the Solar Boston initiative, and increasing recycling in neighborhoods by more than 50% through the Recycle More program.

Mayor Menino knows that green is not only good for our environment, but it saves residents and businesses money and stimulates our local economy.  Through these efforts and more, Mayor Menino is quickly 'turning Beantown into Greentown.'"

Based on these plans, Menino's fifth term should be his greenest. Tell the Mayor how important it is that he keep these promises by leaving a suggestion for him!

Did the candidates' environmental policies impact your vote? Was the environment a hot topic in other races across the state? Let us know by commenting!

Make This A Green Election Day! Remember to Vote!

It's Election Day! Get out there and vote!

When you go to cast your ballot today, be sure to keep in mind the stances of the candidates on the environment, clean energy, and green jobs. If you aren't sure of a candidate's stance on the environment, ask them!

I can't get into all 50 races in Massachusetts in one blog post, but I do want to talk about one we've been paying close attention to here at Environment Massachusetts: the Boston mayoral race. Mayor Tom Menino has been in office for 16 years and is running for an unprecedented fifth term. Challenger Michael Flaherty has been a Boston City Councilor At-Large for nearly 10 years.

The two candidates differ on a wide range of issues, all of which are important are important to consider. Boston residents: please remember to include the environment as a factor when you cast your vote today. Each candidate have their own respective plan to make Boston green:

Mayor Menino:

"For Mayor Menino, a healthy environment is not just a global concern; it is a local necessity.  From landmark public health legislation to pioneer environmental policy, Mayor Menino is making Boston a better place to live, work and play. It may not be easy being green, but that doesn’t stop Mayor Menino. Through his leadership, Boston has shot ahead of other cities as a leader in environmental policy and was recently recognized as the '3rd Greenest City in North America' by Popular Science Magazine."

Councilor Flaherty (scroll down to "Energy and Environmental Policies"):

"As a parent of young children, Michael Flaherty has always been concerned about the legacy that is left behind for the next generation and sees it as our shared responsibility to take aggressive action today to ensure that we have a healthy, sustainable city for tomorrow. Our city has received good marks for its bold energy and environment goals, but now it’s time to put programs and strategies into practice that will make achieving - and surpassing - those goals a firm reality." 

What do you think of the candidates' respective environmental policies?  Did the environment gotten enough attention during the campaign? Tell us what you think by commenting!