Marketing Teams Have Earned Their Money with "Clean Natural Gas" and "Clean Coal"

Every time I read about "clean natural gas" or "clean coal," I cringe...and I suspect most of you do, too. It's simply amazing what marketing can do. In fact, some people don't even realize that CNG stands for Compressed Natural Gas, NOT Clean Natural Gas. Thank the marketing folks for that intentional confusion.

Anyway, this week's Business Week had an article about natural gas that I felt was pretty worthwhile. Although natural gas may be slightly better than regular gas from an emissions standpoint, folks often don't factor in the environmental price of getting to that natural gas - and the harmful chemicals that are polluting our drinking water.

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_47/b4109000334640.htm

WSJ article- Green construction in the news

A friend of mine sent me this article. The article discusses the overwhelming demand for quality green construction. It feels good to be ahead of the curve. Now we just need to stay there!

http://sec.online.wsj.com/article/SB122661046508725685.html

Green Festival in DC Nov 8-9

Don't forget about the Green Festival this weekend. Loads of great speakers and exhibitors.

http://www.greenfestivals.org/washington-dc/

"A planet in peril..."

After two long years of campaigning, we finally have a president-elect. Barack Obama, as we all know by now, won in a landslide at the end of an historic race against John McCain. Millions of us were glued to our seats Tuesday night in anticipation and hope. And of course that hope was based on the issues that were and are so important to each of us.

For me, obviously the environment was a big issue. Towards the end of the campaign, as the financial crisis took center stage, the issue of the environment quietly and disappointingly took a back seat. In a number of polls, environmental issues even became an "other" when asked what issues are most important in this country.

So when Barack Obama spoke of the country's major challenges - two wars, a financial crisis, and "a planet in peril" - in his speech Tuesday night, it was nice to hear. Granted, we all know many of these issue are inextricably linked; without solving one effectively, we lessen our odds at success with another. But the more we explicitly talk about it, the more likely real action will be sought.

In other election news, a handful of lawmakers in the House, who consistently vote against clean energy and better environmental policy, lost their seats.

And of course dozens of environmental advocacy groups have undoubtedly reminded the president-elect of his promises during the campaign.

So provided the president-elect keeps some of his promises, including building efficiency goals, there is hope!