AECP’S 8 TH GREEN LIVING AND ENERGY EXPO IS BIG SUCCESS
AECP’s 8 th annual Green Living and Energy Expo held on November 2 and 3, 2007 at the Roanoke Civic Center was a major success. There were 70 exhibits and over 2000 people attended the event. These figures well exceeded those of last year when we had 50 exhibits and about 1200 people attending.
Highlights of this years Expo included:
- Moving into the new Special Events Center, which is the new exhibit hall at the Roanoke Civic Center.
- Significant increases in the variety and number of exhibits and people attending.
- A presentation by Roanoke City Councilwoman, Gwen Mason, who opened the event on Friday morning.
- Hosting two full days of presentations that ranged in topic from global warming to residential solar to hybrid technology to on-demand water heaters.
- Workshops with Anthony Cox and the “House of Pressure”.
- A “Green Tour” of green buildings in Roanoke – hosted by the U.S. Green Building Council SW VA Chapter.
- A Bio-fuels Seminar hosted by the Virginia Clean Cities organization.
- A visit from the Dept. of Energy’s Energy Hog.
- Activities and crafts for children of all ages hosted by the Virginia Skyline Council Girl Scouts of America.
- Extensive media coverage by all the major media outlets in the area – newspaper, radio, and TV.
Special thanks to all the AECP members who helped plan and host the event. Thanks to Floyd RSVP volunteers who helped in a variety of ways and to the brave souls who volunteered to wear the Energy Hog costume.
U.N. REPORT: URGENT ACTION NEEDED ON “SEVERE” CLIMATE CHANGE
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations sponsored group comprised of 2,500 scientists from all over the world, declared in its fourth and final report on the science of climate change and the impact of human produced greenhouse gases, that the problem is “severe and so sweeping that only urgent global action” can head it off. This report produced by the Nobel prize-winning panel warns of the devastating impact for developing countries and the threat of species extinction posed by the climate crisis.
The report warns that in spite of protocols adopted by many Western countries after Kyoto, greenhouse gas emissions will continue to rise by between 25 and 90 per cent by 2030. The report also predicts a rise in global warming of around 0.2 degrees Celsius per decade. The IPCC says up to an 85% cut in carbon dioxide emissions is needed to head off potential catastrophic changes that could lead to more floods and famine. The panel recommends mandatory caps on carbon emissions that should begin immediately. Opponents of the caps – including the United States – fear caps are barriers to economic growth and favor voluntary caps instead. Even though there continues to be disagreement over how cuts in greenhouse gas should be managed – the U.N. Panel remains optimistic that there are real and affordable ways to deal with climate change.
ITS TIME TO RAISE THE FUEL EFFICIENCY STANDARDS
As the threat of global warming looms large we all must consider the most effective strategies that exist to combat this potentially devastating phenomenon. Saving energy in our homes and being less wasteful with our resources is the immediate opportunity that all of us have to make a difference and this does not require enlightened leadership from our government but rather simple behavioral change and personal accountability.
There is something immediately effective and powerful that the U.S. Congress could do and that is to double the current fuel efficiency standards for all vehicles. Two-thirds of petroleum consumed in the U.S. is used in transportation and 14% of all greenhouse gas is produced by the combustion of fossil fuels in vehicles. Doubling our current fuel standards would improve national security by decreasing our reliance on imported oil, improve our economy through reduced production and transportation costs, significantly reduce carbon emissions and consequently improve the quality of our air and water and also slow the impact of global warming. No single government action would have a greater immediate impact. Allowing the free market to determine our energy policy is absurd and effective mandatory legislation is needed immediately.
ENERGY TIP
When you drive your car save fuel by:
- Minimize idling and avoid quick acceleration
- Observe the speed limit and use cruise control
- Keep your car tuned-up and maintain proper tire pressure
- Change your oil regularly