Thou shall not pollute the Earth - Vatican Makes Polluting a Sin

Vatican lists "new sins," including pollution

By Philip Pullella from Reuters

"A faithful holds the cross during a mass at a Catholic church on the outskirts of Changzhi, Shanxi province December 23, 2007. The Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of 'new' sins such as causing environmental blight. (Stringer/Reuters)

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of "new" sins such as causing environmental blight.

The guidance came at the weekend when Archbishop Gianfranco Girotti, the Vatican's number two man in the sometimes murky area of sins and penance, spoke of modern evils."

READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE AT YAHOO! GREEN.

Sharing Green Technology

In the spirit of sharing among corporate giants, World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD) and BM, Sony, Nokia, and Pitney Bowes are working together to share 31 new patents promoting development in renewable energy.  More companies are apparently on the docket and being actively recruited to join the Eco-Patent Commons, and according to a recent article at Bloomberg.com, IBM alone contributed 27 of the 31 patents. One of the IBM designs is a shock-absorbing tray that would replace the need to use Styrofoam in packaging.

It's a bold and innovative move from unlikely sources and I'm not certain that there is this kind of precedence in sharing patented research and technology.

GreenAndMore.com - Eco-Friendly Products & Environmental News

As their tagline suggests, GreenAndMore.com sells environmentally-friendly products so you can "care for tomorrow's world".  With product categories ranging from Baby Bedding to Reusable Shopping Bags to Patio Furniture, you can find everything you need for your home and life without the un-green guilty conscience.

For those looking for Valentine's Day gifts, take a look at their eco-gifts. They aren't that glamorous, so maybe it's a second gift for that special someone, but it's a unique idea to consider. If you can't decide what exactly to buy, just get a green gift certificate.

GreenAndMore also gives the environmental news provided by ENN.

Renewable Energy Tax Credits May Get the Axe

There is a mighty wind blowing from Capitol Hill, and it's whispering promises of a quick and painless demise for renewable energy tax credits. Leaders from four major renewable energy associations, including the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) and the Solar Energy Industries Association, are pleading their case in Congress to extend tax credits that provide income tax breaks for renewable energy developers.

Enter Ivan Drago and the poor, forgotten renewable energy sector as the minuscule, but big-at-heart Italian Stallion..."I will break you." Yes you will Washington, D.C., and just as quickly will the 45 percent increase in wind power generation and recent developments in biomass and solar photovoltaic research shatter like a glass jaw.

Historically, lapses in the tax credits have produced a 73 percent drop in renewable energy production according to AWEA, something the budding renewable industry does not need in 2008, especially with the substantial progress made in 2006 and 2007. What is most mind boggling to this admitted green energy zealot, is that the ludicrous economic stimulus plan that the Bush administration is pushing through Congress is steamrolling right over the deadline for extending these tax credits. While I'll be the first to admit that the economy needs an immediate boost, I have reservations for the following reasons:

A. Why in the name of hockey hair would you cut credits that directly correlate with thousands of current and new jobs in the U.S. economy? How is that stimulating the economy? If you want people to spend and invest to bring the market out of a possible recession, then why cut credits that encourage investing in what is quickly becoming one the of the most lucrative and expansive industries in the world?

B. AWEA has estimated that more than 75,000 jobs could be at risk if the tax credits receive the old heave ho.

Well you know what, I didn't like Dolph Lundgren's Soviet alter ego, and I sure don't like the thought of 75,000 jobless Americans because Washington is too busy playing catch up.

Wind Power Becoming Viable in the U.S.

Exciting news on the renewable energy front:

The American Wind Energy Association released 2007 statistics, citing the U.S. with a 45 percent increase in wind capacity last year alone. Though wind power only accounts for just over one percent of total energy portfolio in the U.S., 16,818 megawatts of wind power production across 34 states is definitely not something to toss aside as a mere microcosm of the energy industry.

The good news is that this indicates that the economic sector may be taking the reigns of the movement toward viable renewable standards, taking it out of the hands of Washington bureaucracy and all of the stop-gap solutions in legislation. Not to say that tax breaks for renewable energy don't help, but the real power of green lies in advancing technology. Here's hoping solar catches up.

Renewable Energy Credits Available at GreenEnergyChoice.com

GreenEnergyChoice.com, who already gives consumers in Texas and Georgia the ability to switch to a renewable source of electricity or natural gas (Green Mountain, MX Energy, etc), has added the option of offsetting your non-renewable energy usage with Renewable Energy Credits offered by WhiteFence Green.

Start off by telling the Energy Usage Calculator whether you want to offset your electricity, natural gas or both, your monthly bills and the state you live in. This will calculate how many pounds of carbon you generate by your energy usage and how many WhiteFence credits to purchase to "fix it". You can decide between purchasing on a recurring basis or make it just a one time buy, you decide.

Brett from WhiteFence warned us there was more to come... he was right. Super Cool.

Employees Being Rewarded for Buying Hybrids

A few weeks back, we told you about Fast Company's article on what some companies are doing to "go green". Number 24 gives a great example how some companies are dangling employee benefits to aid the environment. Timberland, for example, gives their employees who purchase hybrid automobiles a up-close parking spot and a $3,000 stipend. Google tosses in a $5,000 incentive on their employees' hybrid purchases.

Again, we need more companies thinking outside the box like this, it isn't just about recycling paper and cans.

GreenEnergyChoice.com Offers Texas Residents the Ability to Switch to Renewable Energy

If you're a resident of Texas, you probably already know that you can chose your electricity provider. And that you're basically the only state that can do so (Like Texans need more to brag about ;) ). Why is that important? It's not so much that you can find lower rates (which you probably can) it's that you have the ability to switch to an electric company that provides energy from renewable sources.

GreenEnergyChoice.com, which is a member of the WhiteFence network, lays out these renewable energy options in an easy-to-compare way. Once you find a plan and monthly rate you like, you order it right then and there. Your order is placed with the provider and your service is never iterrupted.

There's also this myth that green/renewable energy plans are more expensive than your standard energy plans, but if you do some research, you'll notice there's plenty of options where you not only can "go green" but you can also save money. A good place to see ALL electricity plans in Texas (compare renewable and non-renewable plans) is at ElectricityTexas.com.

Side Note: Check out GreenEnergyChoice's Green Guide... it's chalked full of good info, including definitions of the different types of renewable energy.

Another Side Note: If you're a resident of Georgia, GreenEnergyChoice also gives you the option of a renewable natural gas package, provided by MXEnergy.