Scientists serve as climate detectives

Scientists have to think like detectives. They look for clues to help them understand how the world works. Then, they investigate the clues to find evidence—real facts that can give them a better idea of what is going on. Here are some of the ways that scientists gather evidence about climate, both past and present:

Weather Stations

Weather stations help us find out the temperature on the surface of the Earth. Weather stations use special thermometers that tell us the temperature. They can be set up almost anywhere on land. Weather stations also can tell us how fast the wind is moving and how much rain falls on the ground during a storm.

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A green laugh break

Because everything green doesn't need to be so serious, we would like to share with you this video promoting Earth Hour 2009. The song and video parody Sarah Silverman's I'm F'ing Matt Damon Song. The parody entitled I'm Flicking The Lights Off is very funny and worth watching.

Earth Hour 2009 is March 28th at 8:30 p.m. All you need to do is turn off your lights for an hour to help impact climate change.

Stimulus bill remains green after compromise

With the debate in Congress surrounding the specifics of the stimulus bill, many environmentally-friendly onlookers worried that much of the spending on green technology and initiatives would be taken out.

However, now that the debate over the bill is finished and a compromised has been reached, nearly $100 billion remains in the bill to fund programs that reduce our dependence on oil and generate more electricity from renewable sources.

In the past, environmentally-friendly programs were viewed as mutually exclusive to those that create economic development. What the Obama administration has done through this bill is prove that the U.S. can become more green and create jobs at the same time.

Economic recovery bill includes $100 billion for clean-energy initiatives

The $819 billion economic package that recently passed the U.S. House of Representatives includes about $100 billion worth of initiatives that will promote clean energy while creating jobs.

The Daily Green said the bill includes the following parts:

• $3.4 billion for states for clean-energy projects.
• A grants program for renewable energy technologies covered by the renewable energy-tax incentives.
• $6.2 billion for weatherization of low-income homes.
• $3.5 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program (supports clean energy projects primarily at the city and county levels).
• $2 billion for clean-energy research & development.
• $6 billion for increasing energy efficiency in federal buildings.
• $12 billion for transit.
• $2 billion for ready-to-go drinking water infrastructure projects.
• $6 billion for ready-to-go sanitation infrastructure projects.

While The Senate may add several billion dollars in incentives for non-clean energies, such as coal and nuclear energy, the bill will still likely do more good than harm in making the United States' energy more clean and more green.

Boston-Power expands sustainable, long-lasting battery development

Laptop battery maker Boston-Power has reported that it has raised over $55 million to expand its development of lithium ion batteries.

Boston-Power seeks to make its batteries environmentally sustainable by not using PVC plastic or heaving metals in its manufacturing processes.

The company is also manufacturing batteries than can charge to 80 percent battery life within 30 minutes and last almost 10 times more charges than current batteries before degrading.

For more information, check out this story on CNET.com.

You may be more green than you think

The Daily Green provides a personality test that uses your snack, transportation, and reading preferences to tell you how green you actually are.

Check it out here.

Hydroponics brings farming to urban environments

Researchers-turned-growers are using hydroponics—the process of growing plants in water instead of soil—to bring farming to urban environments, including apartment buildings, rooftops, and vacant lots.

Once thought of as only a niche technology, hydroponic farming is getting a second look from researchers and public health advocates because of several factors, including the environmental cost of shipping produce from farms to cities and the risk of bacteria across extensive, insecure food chains.

Here's a story from cnn.com, if you are looking for more info on hydroponics.

President-Elect Obama calls for urgent fix to global climate change

At the Governor's Climate Change Summit in Los Angeles this week, President-Elect Obama made strong statements about the global climate changes affecting the world.

"Few challenges facing America–and the world–are more urgent than combating climate change. The science is beyond dispute and the facts are clear. Sea levels are rising. Coastlines are shrinking. We've seen record drought, spreading famine, and storms that are growing stronger with each passing hurricane season," Obama said at the summit.

As if that statement weren't enough, Obama had some other things to say that left little doubt whether he will push environmental policy changes during his presidency. Among them:

• "My presidency will mark a new chapter in America's leadership on climate change that will strengthen our security and create millions of new jobs in the process.
• "Climate change and our dependence on foreign oil, if left unaddressed, will continue to weaken our economy and threaten our national security.”

The Daily Green has an opinion piece responding to what Obama said, if you are interested.

GreenPrint

If you were ever interested on saving the world without doing anything, then we have the program for you. GreenPrint is a revolutionary way to save money, trees, and waste. Add this program to your computer, and you will no longer print out useless pages with a URL, signature, or legal jargon. The best part is that if you have Windows 2000 or Vista you can get it free.

Just check it out here for all the details and happy printing.

Less toxic antifreeze may be on the way

Performance testing of using glycerin, a byproduct of bio diesel production, as a base in antifreeze has shown that it should be reexamined as a possible less toxic base.

This Eco Geek article supports the use of glycerin in antifreeze because the current bases are much more toxic. Check it out for more info on the subject.

The 10 most fuel-efficient cars for 2009

Thedailygreen.com has a slide show today with details of the 10 most fuel-efficient cars and SUVs of the 2009 class. The slide show provides the cost, city/highway fuel economy, CO2 emission rate, and air pollution score of each car or SUV as well as some additional information. Click here to see it.

In related news, the 2009 Toyota Prius, which was the most fuel-efficient car on the list, may include an option for built-in solar panels, according to Toyota officials. More info and pictures of the 2009 model is here.

A look at the Presidential candidates stance on green issues

The Daily Green (http://www.thedailygreen.com/) has an interesting analysis of the seven biggest green-related election issues, including energy costs, global warming and offshore drilling. The article includes a short background of each issue as well as the position of Republican nominee Senator John McCain and Democratic nominee Senator Barack Obama.

The next President will play an important role in shaping the policies that our country takes in relation to these green issues. Do yourself a favor and check out this analysis piece at http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/green-elections-guide-47082517.

Commonwealth passes 5 new energy bills

On Aug. 2nd, 2008, Gov. Deval Patrick and the Massachusetts legislation passed five "green" bills. The passage of these initiatives puts Massachusetts at the forefront of energy and environmental policy in the United States. The measures include: The Green Communities Act, Oceans Act, Clean Energy Biofuels Act, Global Warming Solutions Act, and Green Jobs Act.

These first-in-the-nation policies mean gasoline tax exemptions for cellulosic biofuel, mandating a blended biodiesel, investments in and development of wind, wave, and tidal power generation while protecting state waters. The Global Warming Solutions Act mandates greenhouse gas emissions reduction by 80 percent from 1990 levels by 2050.

For more information please check out the Boston Globe article "Green, with Envy."

For a transcript from the Energy Bill Signing or the press release, visit the Boston Government website.