Solar, wind and other clean technologies are key to fighting climate change. But what do you do if you can’t put solar collectors on your home or buy an electric car or tap into your own windmill? RE Royalties has an answer: invest in “Green Bonds” that help finance investments in renewable energy generation, energy efficiency management and sustainable infrastructure.

When RE Royalties offered to sponsor a post here so we could all learn more about their unique approach to fighting climate change and protecting the planet, I immediately said “yes!” Here’s what I learned by interviewing electronically their chief operating office and co-founder, Peter Leighton, a veteran renewable energy executive with over 20 years of experience in the energy sector, including wind energy and more. This year Peter was named as an Honouree to Canada’s Clean50 for 2020.

In a nutshell, what is RE Royalties?

RE Royalties Ltd. is a specialty finance company created in 2016 that provides innovative financing for climate change solutions. It does so by using a “royalty financing model” to build and support renewable and clean energy projects and companies globally. In other words, it collects royalties from the companies it finances, and uses those royalties to build more projects.

With climate change a pressing issue globally, RE Royalties has become an important and innovative source of capital for renewable energy projects. Royalties is a publicly traded company on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol “RE,” It is the first to pioneer the royalty-financing model for renewable energy projects.

Green Bonds enable you to reduce your personal carbon footprint and directly fund the growing green economy.

Why invest in clean energy at all? It seems like the market for solar, wind and geothermal is taking off nicely on its own.

Renewables are currently the lowest cost source of new electricity generation in two-thirds of the world. But, we have many clients who still have trouble accessing low cost capital to help them deliver their renewable energy projects. Our goal is to help these clients build more renewable energy while delivering our investors with growth, yield and the opportunity to help the planet.

The fundamental vision of RE Royalties is to:
1. Help build a cleaner and more sustainable world; and
2. Generate a strong, economic long-term return for our investors.

Why do you need investment dollars when governments subsidize companies like yours so heavily?

This is an interesting question and I would like to answer it in three parts.

Firstly, RE Royalties does not receive any form of government subsidy, whatsoever. We pay tax, we pay our employees and our suppliers on a competitive market basis, and the capital we raise is priced based on investor choice.

Secondly, there is a broad perception that renewable energy is subsidized. I would agree that historically, government policy was necessary to develop the renewable energy industry and subsidies were required to get the monopolistic public utilities to encourage innovation. The fact is that today, renewable energy is the cheapest source of new electricity generation in two-thirds of the world and will be the cheapest everywhere by 2030.

Thirdly, I note that on your excellent website www.biggreenpurse.com, you state that you believe that “… the fastest, most effective way to stop polluters is by pressuring them in the marketplace.” I could not agree more!! I would turn your question around and ask it a different way. Why as a society, are we OK subsidizing the fossil fuel industry by not asking them to pay for the negative impact to the planet that they create?

Personally as a consumer, I am happy to pay a deposit fee to encourage me to recycle a pop bottle, or to pay an extra charge if I forget to take my knapsack to the grocery store and have to use a plastic bag. I am happy to pay for transit to get to work, if it is snowing and I cannot ride my bike. I am also happy to pay a premium for organic produce because I think that is better for my family and better for the global environment. In other words, I am already paying for the negative externalities associated with bottle production, plastic bag production, transportation, and industrial scale farming.

Our society has the opposite view of the fossil fuel industry. There is a groundswell of anti-carbon tax sentiment even though we know that global carbon emissions are causing climate change. Just ask the citizens of California, Washington and Oregon whether they would like to remove the subsidy that prevents the oil and gas industry from paying for their product’s negative externalities. This would be like me saying that I don’t want to pay the city for garbage pickup – that I would prefer to just throw it in the woods.

How risky are Green Bonds compared to other types of energy investments?

It is difficult to compare risk across investments unless you have a clear view into all of the details of each investment alternative, and a clear view of the investment risk horizon for each individual investor. The assessment of Green Bond risk depends on the following: the individual investor; the financial strength of the issuer; and the details (terms, conditions, covenants, etc.) of the offering.

RE Royalties Green Bond offering is different from others in the marketplace because the Bonds are senior-secured against the assets of RE Royalties Ltd. Think of this being like a car loan where the bank’s loan is fully secured against the asset, or car.

The RE Royalties Green Bond also pays a fixed annual rate of interest of 6%, paid on a quarterly basis for the life of the bond. This means that a potential investor knows exactly how much they will earn on this investment. Finally, the International Capital Markets Association oversee the Green Bond Principles governing the issuance of Green Bonds and this means that investors can be sure that the bond proceeds will be used only for truly green investments.

Would Green Bonds ever invest in nuclear power companies, given that some who are concerned about carbon see nuclear power as a solution?

Our investment mandate at RE Royalties would preclude us from using the proceeds of our Green Bond financing from investing in nuclear power companies.

Can Americans or Europeans or the Chinese invest, given that the company is based in Canada?

Yes, investors from the US, Europe or China can purchase our RE Royalties Green Bonds, but they will need to have a Canadian investment account to buy and hold the securities. Canadian securities regulations require a high degree of disclosure and transparency, so the fact that we are traded on the Canadian exchange may be an advantage for some foreign investors. The fact that we trade in Canadian dollars may also be some advantage to  US and foreign investors who are looking to increase their exposure to the Canadian dollar. Some investors in very low interest rate environments such as Europe or Japan may also find the 6% yield on our green bonds very attractive.

In addition to solar, wind and geothermal, are there other promising renewable technologies that Green Bonds might help boost?

Our vision is to create a cleaner future by investing in renewable and sustainable energy. We are agnostic to technology, meaning that we will support any technology. We like proven technology and we have a bias for operating projects. This is because we really like near term cash flow!

It is important to note that to meet our goal of helping to build a cleaner and more sustainable world, we are focusing on both renewable and sustainable energy. Put simply, the world’s carbon emissions are very broadly speaking, driven approximately one-third by electricity generation, approximately one-third by building heating and cooling, and approximately one-third by transportation. Currently we are focusing on the electricity generation piece, but we do see lots of opportunity to utilize our royalty financing product to advance projects in the energy efficiency and transportation sectors.

Is the 6% per annum interest rate guaranteed, regardless of how the economy (nationally and globally) performs?

Yes, the 6% interest rate is guaranteed for the term of the bond. There is no relationship between the interest rate and the performance of either the national or global economy.

What is the projected growth rate of the renewables economy over the next 5 to 10 years?

Globally, $289 billion was invested in renewable energy projects in 2018, according to the United Nations. This investment is expected to increase to $534 billion by 2030 according to the UN Environment Programme as of June 18, 2019.

You can learn more about investment opportunities with RE Royalties Green Bonds here.

The post RE Royalties Green Bonds Power Clean Energy appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you care about the environment, you must vote for Joe Biden for president in 2020 — and not for the Green Party, the Libertarian Party, or any third party candidate.

That is the message of more than 170 longtime environmental activists, including me, expressed in an “Open Letter to Green Voters” released this morning. The letter is now being widely circulated, especially in the key battleground states, where in 2016 Donald Trump carried Michigan, Wisconsin and Pennsylvania by margins of less than 1 percent. He would have lost all three races if the votes cast for the Green Party had gone to Hillary Clinton instead.

There is no environmental problem we faced in 2016 that is not even more problematic today, from climate change to air and water pollution to endangered spaces and plastic pollution. Each of these problems — and many more — will get exponentially worse if we don’t get Trump out of office.

But just as importantly, in Joe Biden, we have the opportunity to elect someone who could become the strongest environmental advocate in the history of the presidency.

We can’t sit this election out. We can’t write in “Thoreau” or some other entity. And we can’t vote for third party candidates who could ensure another four years of Donald Trump.

Green voters need to vote for Joe Biden, not a third party!

OPEN LETTER TO GREEN VOTERS:

DON’T BE TOO PURE TO BEAT DONALD TRUMP

See the complete list of Open Letter signatories here.

See the press release about the Open Letter here.

PLEASE USE OUR FACEBOOK AND TWITTER LINKS ABOVE TO SHARE THE LETTER AS WIDELY ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA AS YOU CAN.

#GreenVote4Biden

The post Why Green Voters Need to Vote For Joe Biden, Not Third Party appeared first on Big Green Purse.

If you’re considering solar panel installation but don’t know how to pay for it, you’ve got to read this post. We’ve teamed up with Ecotality.com, which specializes in “everything solar,” to help you figure out how to pay for the clean energy you want, starting with solar panel installation. Read on!

The number of homeowners considering having solar panels installed on their homes is growing. People love the idea of using clean, non-polluting energy that doesn’t cause climate change or air pollution. They’d like to lower their utility bills, too. No wonder 70% of Americans say they “support a version of California’s rooftop solar policy being mandated nationwide.”

Yet, if solar is so popular, why isn’t there more of it?  One big reason is that many homeowners think they can’t afford it.  We wanted to provide some perspective on the costs and suggestions for how to cover them.

What Could Solar Panels Cost?

There are four elemental aspects when installing solar: solar panels, an inverter to convert solar electricity to current you can use in your home, a controller to manage the system, and batteries to store generated power.

Costs for each of these can differ depending on where you live, what finance options you consider and are qualified for, and how much electricity your home both uses and could produce via the installed solar panels.

Generally, total costs could start at $20,000 and more, depending on how many panels you install. However, before you run for the hills, keep in mind that this is just the “sticker price,” not necessarily the final price you’ll pay.

Once you factor in statewide energy tax credits, company discounts, zero-down financing, and federal tax cuts, you might actually pay for only half that cost. And once the system is installed, your lower or zero utility bills additionally offset the initial cost of your system, which might eventually cost you nothing over time.

For example, say your electricity bill averages $200 a month, or $2400 a year.

Your solar panel installation might cost $20,000 at the sticker price, but various incentives and tax credits mean the actual cost outlay is $10,000.

After a year, your utility bills are zero, which means you’re saving $2400 a year.

In less than 5 years, you’ve paid for your solar panel installation through money you’re NOT paying to your utility. Thereafter, you’re “making” $2400 a year on your system by relying on your own solar rather than power from the utility.

Here’s another way to think of it.

You were already spending $2400 a year on electricity. You shifted that money into payments for solar panels. After 5 years, you paid for your solar system. If you live in your home another 10 years, you’ll actually pocket almost $25,000 in money saved on electricity.

By the way, many states allow solarized homes to sell money back to their utility. Not only can your home’s solar system save you money, but it might make you a little, too.

Available Loans for Solar Panel Installations

One solar panel financing option is solar loans.

Solar financing companies include: Urban Solar Group, Florida Solar Design Group, Sun-Tec, Fun In The Sun Solar, and ESD Solar. Know that obtaining multiple quotes can help you better decide which package best suits your budget. (You can choose to finance the complete cost of your solar infrastructure by using a property as collateral, should a financial company require that from you.)

Why Solar Loans Could Work For You

You will need to decide if you should purchase your panels outright or take out a loan to finance their purchase (some companies also install panels for free, but then charge you for the electricity generated, like a standard utility does – see below). Ecotality believes loans make sense if the monthly savings you get from lower electric bills are higher than the amount of the loan you need to repay monthly.

Typically, solar loans have very similar terms and conditions as other home improvement loans. A few States even extend below-market interest rates that are paired with subsidized solar loans. Additionally, many secured solar loans have a tax-deductible interest, so this also already lets you save more on income taxes.

Solar Leases and Power Purchase Agreements

Solar leases and power purchase agreements (PPAs) allow you to rent a solar panel system without having to purchase it.

With a PPA or lease, it is the third-party owner’s (TPO) responsibility to set up the solar panels on your home. You will pay a below-market rate as payment for the solar electricity for the entire duration of the term. So, instead of paying your utility for electricity it generates from polluting coal and oil, you’ll pay a solar provider for solar power. You still turn the lights on, but the power source is cleaner!

Under this arrangement, you won’t need to worry about having to pay a hefty upfront figure.

However, you will not be eligible for all the tax credits, rebates, and other government incentives available to solar panel owners. These perks go to your TPO. Furthermore, at the end of the lease, TPOs may either remove them from your property or sell them to you. They will also be responsible for taking care of all the solar panel maintenance fees, should there be any.

Compare Your Solar Financing Options

Before you decide to take on a financial product, examine every solar financing option you’re qualified for, including PPAs and solar leases.  Discuss your choices with a financial advisor to tax consultant. Be cautious as you weigh the pros and cons of your options. Look for sites online that discuss solar panel installation costs and present side-by-side computations and comparisons of packages provided by solar providers.

Benefits of Installing Solar Panels

Environment-Friendly – Compared to other available energy sources, solar energy is among the cleanest. It doesn’t pollute the water, nor does it produce greenhouse gases or nuclear waste. It also doesn’t produce noise, ensuring households aren’t bothered by unwarranted buzzing sounds.

Lower Utility Bills – Using your own electricity translates to not needing as much from your usual electricity utility. This automatically means you get to cut back on the amount of money you would have spent on your electricity bills. It also helps that it’s possible to sell unused electricity back to the grid.

Solar Energy Can Be Used In More Places Than You Think –  Really shady roofs? No. But as long as sunshine is penetrative, solar energy can be put to use. For example, you can install solar panels on sunny property near your home, like in your backyard. Panels don’t need to go on your roof to provide electricity to your home.

Ecotality offers many more in-depth explanations of how solar works. They also provide excellent product review buying guides and list solar companies to check out state-by-state.

NOTE: Partners and sponsors enable us to bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

The post Solar Panel Installation: Costs, Financing, Loans appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Why is the Green New Deal such a big deal? And what impact could it have on your life and the life and future of your family and community?

I’ve read the Deal from top to bottom and here’s what I’ve figured out:

What the Green New Deal aims to do is:

Eliminate the carbon emissions fueling climate change and
the resulting extreme weather events, economic disruption, and disease it causes.

…and 

Do it in the next 10 years.

But what, specifically, does the Green New Deal call for? Here’s a rundown of the Deal and what it means for us and our kids.

First, what actually IS it? The Green New Deal is a resolution, not a proposed law. It does not suggest specific legislation. Instead, it sets an exciting goal that calls for the US to reach “net zero” greenhouse gas emissions by 2029. In doing so, it acknowledges how current energy production affects every aspect of our lives, including employment, health, housing, and education.

Still need to know more about climate change? Don’t miss this post:

Top 10 Reasons to Take Climate Change Seriously!

Why Is It called a “New Deal”? The reference is to the New Deal President Franklin D. Roosevelt created in the 1930s to save the United States from the worst depression in its history. FDR’s New Deal not only put people back to work but established a host of federal agencies and programs to protect farmers, the unemployed, youth, and the elderly.

Several of those programs, including the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC), the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), as well as the Social Security System and the Securities and Exchange Commission, endure today and continue to benefit millions of Americans.

How would the Green New Deal benefit the environment? This past year, rampant forest fires and severe hurricanes destroyed millions of acres of forests. Climate change has made it possible for voracious pests like the pine bark beetle to extend their range northward, killing additional millions of acres of trees. Every year, oil spills pollute lakes, rivers and streams. Fracking for natural gas emits horrible air pollutants and contaminates the drinking water of hundreds of communities.

Phasing out the coal mining, fracking, and oil drilling whose emissions cause pollution and climate change would improve air and water quality. Reversing rising global temperatures could stop the spread of many pests and illnesses like Lyme disease, which have been on the rise as ticks extend their range into what were once cold climates.

How would the Green New Deal get us off dirty energy and onto cleaner energy sources? The Deal suggests a multi-step plan that begins with efficiency. It would upgrade all existing buildings to “achieve maximal energy efficiency, water efficiency, safety, affordability, comfort, and durability.”

New energy would be achieved by “Meeting 100 percent of the power demand in the United States through clean, renewable, and zero-emission energy sources”  like solar and wind. The GND also advocates investing in “clean, affordable, and accessible public transportation,” and expanding high-speed rail to reduce the need for polluting air travel. It would spur “massive growth in clean manufacturing” while “removing pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from manufacturing and industry as much as is technologically feasible.” Helping farmers and ranchers eliminate pollution and greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., the methane cows and pigs emit when they belch and fart) is on the list, too.

Would the Green New Deal benefit children’s health?  Yes! The Deal advocates an immediate transition away from burning the fossil fuels whose emissions are the primary source both of climate change and dirty air.

That would be good news for all kids, but especially for the millions who suffer from asthma and other respiratory illnesses. Less air pollution would also mean fewer “code red” or “code orange” air quality days, so kids could play outside more. In the long term, reducing the extreme weather events associated with climate change would protect children from threats associated with hurricanes, wildfires, and floods. It would also help stop the spread of infectious diseases, poison ivy, and the ticks that cause Lyme disease.

Who’s going to pay for it? The sponsors of the resolution, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Edward Markey (D-MA), view the Green New Deal as an investment, not an expenditure. “We will finance … the Green New Deal the same way we paid for the original New Deal, World War II, the bank bailouts, tax cuts for the rich, and decades of war–with public money appropriated by Congress.”

In all likelihood, individual programs would be paid for by some combination of re-allocated federal program budgets and private entrepreneurial investments, like those Elon Musk made to create the Tesla electric car and John Mackey made when he established the Whole Foods grocery chain.

Anything as ambitious and creative as the Green New Deal is bound to generate detractors and naysayers, and the Deal is no exception.

But with sixty-nine percent of Americans saying they are “somewhat worried” or “very worried” about climate change, according to a December survey by Yale University in Connecticut and George Mason University in Virginia, it would seem that a majority of Americans want government to do much more than they’re doing to rein in this catastrophe-in-the-making.

Of course, you don’t have to wait for Congress to act to do your own part to start saving energy and using  solar and wind.

Start by reading this post:

18 Smart Ways to Save Energy At Home

Then,

Check out the Sunrise Movement, a non-profit coalition that’s working to advance the Green New Deal across the country.

And stay tuned! I’ll have more specifics coming your way soon about how you can take advantage of the Green New Deal.

NOTE: A version of this post originally appeared on Moms Clean Air Force. Make sure you check them out!

The post 6 Reasons Why The Green New Deal Is Such a Big Deal appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Nature and WildernessAlaska Wilderness League leads the effort to preserve wild lands and waters in Alaska. I’ve served on their board and worked with them on many campaigns to keep oil drilling out of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Their work is particularly important right now, as the Trump Administration has set its sights on opening the refuge to drilling, which would destroy habitat for millions of animals, including calving caribou and denning polar bears.

Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance has successfully helped protect wilderness lands in the heart of the Colorado Plateau. I worked with them to help create the 2.3 million acre Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Now they’re battling to keep that region off limits to development, along with the gorgeous Bears Ears National Monument. If you love the wild, wild West, support SUWA!

Center for Biological Diversity proclaims their mission simply but boldly: Saving life on Earth. Right now, the group is fighting to protect elephants, wolves and bears, and make sure the effective Endangered Species Act is not abolished.

The Jane Goodall Institute works to inspire people to “conserve the natural world we all share,” thereby improving the lives of people, animals and the environment. “Everything is connected–everyone can make a difference.” I should note that Jane Goodall inspired me to become a conservationist when I was just a young girl. She continues to inspire and motivate me!

Climate Change

Moms Clean Air Force is mobilizing one million parents, especially moms, to help stop climate change, advance clean energy, and protect the air we breathe. I’m proud to say I’ve been a member for years, and have written dozens of articles for them on climate science, plastics and toxic chemicals, and more.

By the way, Moms Clean Air Force made my list of “5 Trustworthy Climate Change News Sources You May Not Know About.” What are the others?

Chesapeake Climate Action Network has devoted the last 10 years to fighting global warming, mountaintop removal, coal mining, and fracking while advocating for solar and wind power. They’re doing a great job protecting the nation’s Chesapeake Bay region and one of the most important estuaries in the United States.

Toxic Chemicals

Safer Chemicals, Healthy Families is leading the charge to protect families from toxic chemicals. In a recent major victory, they persuaded seven major retailers to commit to reduce their use of toxic chemicals in products and packaging. Yay!womens

Womens Voices for the Earth researches the impact that toxic chemicals in women’s hygiene and home cleaning products have on women’s health, then mounts campaigns to pressure manufacturers to clean up those products. They’re tackling some of the most toxic chemicals in the everyday products we buy – and helping to get rid of them!

Savvy Women’s Alliance is creating a national network of community chapters for people who want to live non-toxic lives. The group offers regular healthy living tips and many other resources to help you get off the bad stuff and onto the good stuff.

Family Planning

Planned Parenthood is on the list because they provide essential reproductive services and birth control that help limit population growth. Population growth has huge environmental impacts – more people mean greater demand for natural resources which leads to more consumption and waste. Climate change, water scarcity, air pollution are all linked to population growth. Planned Parenthood directly benefits women and Mother Nature both.

Environmental Justice

Dig Deep brings an essential natural resource to thousands of Americans who don’t have it: clean water. As hard as that is to believe, it’s true. Families living across the western US don’t have indoor plumbing or clean water to drink. Dig Deep is changing that by helping these communities dig wells and create low-cost systems that bring safe, hot and cold water into homes, schools and community centers.

I took Dig Deep’s 4 Liters Challenge and lived on 4 liters of water – only 1 gallon- for just one day. Could you do it? Read all about it here. 

Plastic Free

The Plastic Pollution Coalition is on a mission to stop plastic pollution and its toxic impact on humans, animals, and the environment. It’s mobilized a coalition of 500 member organizations, plus many individuals, that is working to find sustainable solutions to stop plastic pollution and empower you and me to list plastic-free.

Want to consider other organizations for Giving Tuesday? Check out Great Non Profits, a non-profit itself that makes it easy to find organizations doing good work on the issues you care about most.

You can skip to their list of environmental groups by clicking here.

Once you’re on the site, you can also easily find charities working to stop fracking, protect animals, safeguard clean water, and more.

Thanks for giving!

The post Can You Give to Just One of These 12 Eco Charities On Giving Tuesday? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Has your community set a goal to go carbon neutral? When you start planning, make commercial LED lighting a priority.

LEDs aren’t just for the lamps in your living room. They can meet pretty much any lighting need your city or town has. They work in office buildings, retail developments, transit centers, hospitals, schools, factories, communal workspaces, show rooms, libraries, and more.

In fact, if a space needs a light, there’s no good reason why it shouldn’t be an LED.

That’s why we’ve teamed up with the LED lighting experts at Alcon Lighting in Los Angeles: to explain the many benefits of commercial LED lighting.

Why Choose Commercial LED Lighting?

LED lighting is popular for some reasons you’d expect, and maybe a couple you’ll find surprising.

LEDs are modern, stylish, and functional. As you can see from these photos, they look as cool in the kitchen at work, pictured above, as they do lighting up building corridors, which is why Sustainable Los Angeles chose them for their space.

But in this day and age of climate change, extreme weather events, and expensive energy, the added bonus of using an LED is that it’s a climate saver.

“An LED light bulb can reduce heat and energy consumption by 90% while increasing color rendering and light quality,” Alcon points out on its website.

Put another way, LEDs are the best way to get the affordable, quality light you want without the climate change or environmental impact you don’t.

LEDs also help keep the air in your communities cleaner.

Most lighting is powered by electricity that’s generated by coal-fired utilities. Burning coal releases carbon dioxide (CO2), one of the major causes of climate change. It also emits tiny toxic pollutants that turn into smog and make our air dirty to breathe. When you use LEDs, you cut the CO2 AND the air pollution.

That, on top of the money saved and the high quality of the light LEDs exude, is why, if your goal really is to have a carbon-neutral city, you actually can’t achieve that goal without switching to commercial LED lighting.

Here’s one additional benefit to LEDs.

If you walk or drive through your community or city at night, how many buildings seem to have every office light turned on, even when no one is there working?

With commercial LED lighting in place rather than old fashioned bulbs, you can reduce energy use in these buildings by 90% – even when the lights are left on (though, of course, we still want them turned off when they’re not in use).

Lighting accounts for almost 20% of the energy a commercial building uses (it’s about 11 percent for residential buildings, which is still a lot!).

Whether you’re building new construction or renovating existing structures, make sure that the architect understands that commercial LED lighting is a top priority. If the architect is not familiar with LED lighting options, the experts at Alcon Lighting can lend some expertise.

By the way, if you’re wondering how LEDs compare to CFLs (compact fluorescents), this post explains: 

7 Ways LEDs are Better than CFLs

NOTE: Sponsors like Alcon Lighting help us bring you the expert content you need to lead the greener life you want. All editorial opinions remain our own.

The post Commercial LED Lighting Can Help Your City Go Carbon Neutral appeared first on Big Green Purse.

The environment is under assault in many ways, but one of the worst is the attacks on the planet at the federal level. The president of the U.S. opposes measures to stop climate change. The head of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is rolling back laws that protect clean air and water and limit our exposure to toxic chemicals. The head of the Interior Department, whose job it is to safeguard public lands, is looking for national monuments whose status he can revoke, and is considering turning over our national parks to private companies to run for their personal gain. You could not accuse the Trump Administration of being a sustainability leader in any stretch of the imagination.

That’s why it is heartening to see many corporations stepping up to embrace sustainability as an operating principle. James Andrews of KDA Incorporated explains in this guest op ed article why he urges his corporate clients to adopt sustainable practices: not only because it is the right thing to do but because they’ll be more successful leaders if they do.

“Protecting the planet has become more important than ever, and that’s as true for corporations as it is for the environment at large. Indeed, sustainability must form an essential part of any company’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) polices. The public demands it, and a company’s profits will be strengthened because of it.

You can get a better idea of whether you, and your management team, have the required skills, by having a leadership assessment carried out. This can give you a base on which to build your success with sustainability. But first, let’s consider the many benefits of operating sustainably.

Why is sustainability important?

The simplest answer to this question is because the human race cannot continue to live on this planet without it.

Let’s just look at one example: energy.

The worldwide supply of fossil fuels is depleting, and global warming is an ever-increasing concern.

These may sound like distant issues that have little to do with your business; but in fact, energy and climate change affect every aspect of your ability to operate: the cost and delivery of the materials you buy, the impact higher energy prices have on your bottom line, even the ability to operate if a climate change-related extreme weather event occurs.

The fact is that being a good leader means that you need to be able to see this bigger picture. You can see it in two ways.

The first is by acknowledging that protecting the environment is a priority that must be addressed.

The second is by acknowledging that you have a responsibility to do your part by operating your business sustainably.

How to succeed as a leader promoting sustainability

The most important step you need to take as a business leader is embrace sustainability. You need to educate yourself about it, and believe in what you are doing.

Here are some tips to help you achieve that success:

Start with the basics. Do you recycle effectively? Are all electronic devices switched off at the end of the day? Do you have a sustainable business travel programme?

Learn about what others have done. Read case studies and use advice and techniques.

Keep well informed about developments in your industry that advance sustainability as well as achieve operational goals, and make sure your plans reflect latest opportunities to use energy and resources wisely while minimizing waste.

Lead by example. If you constantly drink bottled water, instead of using the water fountains provided, you are not setting a good example. Do not just talk about sustainability, act in a way that supports it.

Give your employees access to the advice and support they need in order to ensure that all of their work activities support sustainability.

As a leader who sees outside your own business, you must recognize how important sustainability is as a global issue.

Remember that a business which operates sustainability is increasingly what your customers and clients are clamoring for.

If you want to expand your customer base and increase sales and profits, operating sustainably is the key.”

NOTE: Guest opinions by thought leaders who support our work help us bring you different and new perspectives that help you live the greener life you want. Our editorial decisions remain our own. Thanks.

The post If You Become a Successful Sustainability Leader, Business Success Will Follow appeared first on Big Green Purse.

When you were learning to drive, were you taught anything about ways to save gas? Probably not. Yet transportation contributes 14% to total global greenhouse gas emissions. Fumes and air pollutants coming out of vehicle tail pipes are one of the biggest sources of smog and dirty air, too.  I’d love to see driver’s ed programs include information on driving efficiently and cleanly for new drivers. Until then, we’ve teamed up with DrivingOffice.com, which helps new drivers in my home state of Michigan pass their driver’s test by taking the Michigan permit practice test. Here are 10 ways to save gas this summer you need to know, whether you’re new to the wheel or have a lot of miles under your tires.

1-Follow the 10-second rule before you idle your car.

It’s easy to think you’re only stopping for a short time when you idle in park, and not worth turning the engine off.

The truth is that, any time the engine is on and you’re not moving, you’re wasting gas and money.

In fact, idling a car for as little as ten seconds actually uses more fuel than turning off the engine and restarting it. If you spend five minutes idling, you’ll waste a perfectly good gallon of gas!

When Should You Turn Off Your Car?

⇒Turn the car off when you’re stuck at a railroad crossing, or waiting to pick someone up at school or their house, and skip the drive-throughs when the lines are long.

⇒Turn off your car when you’re waiting for a pick-up if it’s going to take longer than 10 seconds to get your goods.

⇒Never idle at a school, especially when you’re waiting to pick up little kids. You’ll just be filling the air with toxic fumes they shouldn’t have to breathe.

Don’t Miss: Ways to Save $20 – $50 Every Month on Gasoline

2-Drive at a constant speed.

The more you accelerate quickly and brake suddenly, the more fuel you use.

How should you start and stop?

⇒Don’t be a “jack rabbit.” Ease up to a stop sign or stop light then ease away at a moderate speed.

3-Drive the speed limit.

Obviously, you want to drive the speed limit to avoid getting a ticket.

Driving the speed limit will keep you alive, too, since speeding leads to so many accidents.

But driving faster than 65mph gobbles up gas, too. In fact, driving at a speed of 85 mph uses 40% more fuel than if you drove at 70 mph.

How fast should you drive?

⇒Stick to the posted speed limit.

⇒Drive 65 on the highway to use a lot less fuel.

4-Keep your car tires properly pumped up.

Not having enough air in your car tires can reduce the number of miles you get per gallon of gasoline by 3%. That may not sound like a lot, but it could amount to as much oil as is in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. Instead of destroy that wilderness, we can all simply keep our tires pumped up to the proper psi, or pounds per square inch.

When should you pump up your tires?

⇒ A good rule of thumb is to check the tire pressure every time the seasons change, so maybe four times a year. If you don’t know the psi, it’s easily found on a little sticker right inside the door jamb of the front driver’s-side door.

Keep a tire pressure gauge in the glove compartment of the car so it’s easy to check the tire pressure.

5-Change the oil regularly and get an annual tune up.

Maintaining your vehicle is important for lots of reasons. Cars tend to have a longer life if they are well maintained. They also run more efficiently, which means you do not have to buy as much fuel.

How often should you get an oil change?

⇒Read your vehicle manual, but most manufacturers recommend an oil change every 3,000 – 5,000 miles. You can find lots of coupons online for discounts that will bring oil change costs down to only around $20 bucks a pop.

⇒Tune ups are recommended annually.

6-Use air conditioning instead of opening windows.

You may think that opening the windows in your car, instead of using air conditioning, is a good idea. But it turns out that the opposite is true. Open windows increase the amount of drag, which means that open windows in a fast-moving car actually slow the car down, so you end up using more gas than you would if the air conditioning was switched on.

When to use AC?

⇒Use the AC when you’re traveling at speeds above 40 mph on the highway. You can use the lowest fan setting and keep cool air circulating to make it comfortable.

⇒Roll the windows down when you’re just driving around town at lower speeds.

⇒Use a windshield shade to reflect sunlight away from your car and keep internal temperatures cooler.

7-Carpool and share the gas – and the cost.

Carpools are a great idea. Not only do you save on the cost of gas, because you use your vehicle less frequently; you also get to chat with a group of friends during the journey.

8-Combine trips and use apps to shorten distances traveled.

If you do not plan your week effectively, you can end up driving a greater distance than required. If you need to go to the doctor and the mall, and they are both in the same direction, go to both on the same journey where possible. As a result, you drive a shorter distance and you save on the cost of extra fuel.

What apps are the best for creating gas-saving travel routs?

⇒Waze is popular, but Google Maps is great, too!

9-Park where you are

How many times have you driven around for a while, looking for a parking space that is closer to your destination? If you are able, it’s a much better idea to park in the first spot you can, and simply walk a little further. You end up saving money and time.

What apps make parking quick and easy?

Parking Panda

Park Whiz

Best Parking

10-Put your car on a diet.

Many people keep too much stuff in their car. Extra weight makes the vehicle heavier, increasing fuel consumption.

⇒De-clutter your vehicle and save money on gas. If you’re not going to use it, don’t keep it in the trunk or on the roof rack.

NOTE: Sponsors and partnerships like these allow us to bring you expert content at no cost to you. All editorial opinions expressed are our own. Thanks!

The post New Driver? The 10 Ways to Save Gas This Summer You Need to Know appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Stupid. Short-sighted. Ignorant. And just plain wrong. Those were the words going through my head as I watched Pres. Trump announce he wanted to withdraw the United States from the Paris Climate Accord.

The Accord is a voluntary agreement by every country on earth but two – Syria, and Nicaragua – to commit to reducing the build-up of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Climate change, also known as global warming, is the most serious environmental threat the world has ever faced.

It took decades to get global agreement to address the problem, an agreement the United States helped broker under President Obama.

It would have helped create jobs, reduce air pollution, improve public health, and increase energy security by speeding up our use of solar and wind – domestic energy sources that we, and we alone control.

Instead, Trump brought down the wrath of many Americans, as well as the leaders and citizens of virtually every country around the world, by rejecting the Accord in favor of supporting burning more coal. To all the above words, add this one: DUMB!

Burning coal releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere to build up and raise the earth’s global temperatures. Another side effect of burning coal? It releases deadly soot and toxic particles into the air, causing levels of pollution that contribute to asthma, heart disease, respiratory infections, and cancer.

Minutes after Trump’s announcement, I was on my way to a protest across the street from the White House. I joined at least a thousand other citizens in rejecting the decision and proclaiming that America’s sorry excuse for a president couldn’t rein in the global momentum that has built to save our planet and indeed, life as we know it.

Said one friend who saw this photo of me standing outside the White House, “You looked pissed.” Yes! To say the least!!

A week later, I’m still mad. But I’m also determined. Because as irresponsible as Trump’s actions are, they have also empowered millions of people to defiantly step forward and say:

“President Trump:
You do not speak for us.
You do not control us.
And we will do what you refuse to do:
Solve the biggest environmental problem the world has ever faced.”

That’s what I intend to do, and I’m going to help you do so, as well.

In the coming days, I’ll be offering you a series of helpful articles filled with action steps that show what we can do as individuals and communities to stop the build-up of carbon dioxide and other “greenhouse gases” in the atmosphere.

I’ll tackle everything from using energy more efficiently to wasting less food to plugging in our cars and riding our bikes to voting and helping to elect candidates to public office who will work to stop climate change locally and nationally.

If there’s anything in particular you want me to address, please let me know in the comments below.

Ask your friends and family what they want to know, too.

Trump may be the president, but as Malcolm in the Middle used to say, “You’re not the boss of me.”

Let’s show Trump who actually is boss – now, in the way we use energy ourselves, and ultimately, at the polls.

The post Trump Paris Climate Accord Withdrawal Robs America of Jobs, Health, Safety, Security appeared first on Big Green Purse.

Why Is Climate Change So Serious?

It’s the most serious threat we face because it has the potential to devastate every pillar on which our country is built.

The catastrophic storms linked to climate change are draining our economy of trillions of dollars.

The spread of infectious diseases is killing thousands of people.

Droughts, wildfires and floods related to sea level rise and changing weather patterns are affecting our ability to grow food and keep our cities and towns intact.

We will be swamped, burned up and blown out if we don’t put the skids on the causes of climate change – and fast.

Speaking of which, it’s solving climate change that creates so many opportunities for us.

Why Does Climate Change Create So Many Opportunities?

Burning coal and oil are the largest sources of the carbon dioxide emissions that cause climate change.

Transitioning to solar and wind energy are two smart solutions. They’re also the fastest growing source of jobs in the energy industry.

You know that employment crisis we keep hearing about?

Get out of coal, get into solar. It can work in every state in the US.

Solving climate change through increased energy efficiency and using more solar and wind is also our ticket to energy independence.

Tired of worrying about our oil fields in the Middle East?

So am I. With domestic solar and wind, those worries can be a thing of the past.

Want cleaner air and water?

Banishing climate changing fossil fuels is a good way to get started.

Burning coal and oil (and gasoline) are primary causes of air and water pollution. When’s the last time there was a code “red” day attributed to solar panels?

Can you remember any time when turning on a wind mill led to the pollution of a river, lake or ocean with toxic oil that couldn’t be cleaned up?

Me neither.

The People’s Climate March Statement

The People’s Climate March is a project of dozens of organizations working together to solve the climate crisis.

First and foremost, it will focus attention on the anti-climate policies of the new Trump Administration. President Trump has called climate change a hoax. In fact, Trump is trying to increase use of the very fossil fuels that cause climate change. Say the organizers of the People’s Climate March: Not on our watch!

At the end of April, Donald Trump will have been in office for 100 days.

We need to mark that day with a massive demonstration that shows that our resistance is not going to wane or fade away.

So far, our resistance has been beautiful — and it’s beautiful because at its heart is a vision of a future that inspires us and gives us hope.

It’s a vision that protects our families, our communities, and our climate.

Most importantly, it’s a vision that we are building together.

Since his inauguration, we’ve seen what people power can achieve: Trumpcare? Withdrawn. Muslim ban? Blocked. Now Trump’s entire fossil fuel agenda is next.

Join us on April 29th.

Here’s how you can participate in the People’s Climate March.

The post People’s Climate March: For Jobs, Justice and the Climate appeared first on Big Green Purse.