green building – Page 2 – Creative Greenius

The Greenius Solution To All California’s Problems: AB 920 + AB 811 UPDATED

August 10, 2009August 13, 2009citizen volunteer, climate change, electric cars, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green jobs, Killer Coal, plug-in cars, politics, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Yes We Can!6 Comments

AB 920 + AB 811 = Solar Powered Electric Cars & PV Powered Charging Stations

I used to get frustrated with people when they couldn’t grok what was so blatantly obvious to me. The dots that other folks were failing to even see, already looked pre-connected to me – like those incredibly real artificial Christmas trees with the lights already set in place and ready to plug-in.

It took me about five decades to realize that I was just wired to see things a certain way and that most other people come at the same things from a very different angle.

What I’m seeing plain-as-day right now is the simple and obvious solar solution to all of California’s budget and growth problems.

But I’m also seeing something even bigger and better than that. And you’ll be seeing it too, right after the jump…

Continue reading ➞ The Greenius Solution To All California’s Problems: AB 920 + AB 811 *UPDATED*

California Goes To Hell In A Handbasket But Greenius Says AB 811 is Our Route To Green Heaven

July 25, 2009July 25, 2009carbon producers, climate change, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green buildings, green education, green jobs, News Media, politics, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability4 Comments

P1040763 As my beloved state of California’s driftless and leaderless economy was being driven deeper and deeper into the toilet by the least impressive occupants of Sacramento in modern history, I hopped in my del Sol Greeniusmobile and motored to downtown Los Angeles last month headed for the palatial headquarters of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority, the MTA.

I had ventured forth from the calm, cooling breezes of my mellow beach community because the treasure map I had recently discovered showed that over $600 million was available inside that building.

The treasure chest was cleverly disguised in the form of Federal stimulus money from the ARRA, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. Imagine that.

While it’s sad but true that the entire gang in Sacramento can no longer figure out how to make California work, President Obama and his “Yes I Can” team do know what they’re doing. That’s why they have authorized over $7 billion bucks in energy efficiency and clean energy programs for the USA. And damned if California isn’t going to score like a horny Republican Governor on Viagra in Argentina.

Continue reading ➞ California Goes To Hell In A Handbasket But Greenius Says AB 811 is Our Route To Green Heaven

The Most Powerful Greenius In America

July 19, 2009July 19, 2009carbon producers, climate change, energy efficiency, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability, Yes We Can!1 Comment

FOLLOW ME IF YOU WANT TO LIVE

As our planet’s atmosphere overheats because the greenhouse gas firewall we’ve built by burning fossil fuels works so damn well, there is one secret weapon we can all still whip out if we want to fight back and try to save ourselves from frying.

It’s not sexy and it doesn’t make a bunch of old school, balding, white, male, carbon collaborators stinking filthy rich, so it’s no wonder they’ve done every evil and despicable thing in their power to keep this weapon from being aimed at them.

But nothing can stop the Creative Greenius, the most Powerful Man in America, and now I am going to put this same secret weapon in your hands and together we are going to use it to destroy the carbon-based economy and create a new, stronger, more American green economy in its place. Won’t that be fun?!

And the people who are going to try to stop us will be decimated along with their evil, hell-based philosophy, the one they’ve been spewing without fear of justice – until now. But now justice is going to come down upon them like the mighty Thor’s hammer, except we’re going to add a little squeak toy noise at the end just before we clobber them – you know, for the kids…

So come on along with me now to my clandestine and ultra sophisticated weapons laboratory and discover how to arm yourselves…

Continue reading ➞ The Most Powerful Greenius In America

That Super Sexy Clean Tech Roundtable, Part II of a Greenius Exclusive

July 2, 2009July 2, 2009climate change, electric cars, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, Killer Coal, News Media, plug-in cars, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability, Yes We Can!2 Comments

If you’re like me you would have found yesterday’s gathering in Santa Monica a very sexy day at the beach. And by sexy I mean hot and arousing, the way I get when serious people talk serious talk about renewable energy, about the revolution that’s needed to respond to climate change and about the reality of current world situation. You know, the kind of stuff never discussed on television or in the newspapers anymore. The kind of stuff that transcends the bread and circuses offered to the masses today.

P1040894 — The Broad Stage at Santa Monica College Parking Lot post Roundtable

But let’s face it, I’ve got a pretty unconventional sense of sexy and as one of the ace marketers of my generation I know what brand of sex sells best to the people. That’s why I’d always like the features and benefits of any product I introduce to the mass market to be pointed out by someone like the young woman in the sunglasses above. Having the world’s greatest car is nice. But knowing how to sell it best is the kind of genius I can appreciate.

Continue reading ➞ That Super Sexy Clean Tech Roundtable, Part II of a Greenius Exclusive

Electric Company Too Scared To Tell Truth About Climate Change

June 26, 2009June 26, 2009carbon producers, climate change, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, greenwashing, Killer Coal, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability, Yes We Can!1 Comment

If SCE Won’t Tell The Truth About Climate Change Why Should We Trust Them About Anything?

I attended the Southern California Edison’s free Solar session for homeowners last night. I was there as a volunteer for the South Bay Environmental Services Center. After my volunteer stint was over I stayed for the presentation and workshop.

P1040773 Overall it was a good workshop with lots of solid basic information for people who don’t know much about solar but are considering a solar electric system. Javier Burgos, a Project Manager with the SCE’s California Solar Initiative program gave a nice, if overlong and overwordy PowerPoint presentation.

The workshop was very well attended with over 130 local people showing up. Their interest level was very high and they were a very attentive audience.

But it’s too bad Javier was too afraid to tell the truth about climate change to the people who came to his presentation hoping to get the facts and the straight story.

Continue reading ➞ Electric Company Too Scared To Tell Truth About Climate Change

Superstars of AB 811 Rock Palm Desert @ EcoMotion Conference

June 16, 2009June 18, 2009climate change, environment, green building, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, water conservation, Yes We Can!5 Comments

Part I – Burning Man’s Got Nothing On This “World Changing Revolutionary Movement”

P1040634 — Left: Bob Williams, Royal Bank of Canada Capital Markets Right: Cisco DeVries, Renewable Funding

You know you’re at some kind of special conference when all the sessions seem to end way too soon and the eight hour agenda blasts by like the all star jam session at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame dinner.

But that’s the way it felt to the Creative Greenius as I covered the EcoMotion Palm Desert AB 811 Conference on Friday at the University of California Riverside Graduate Center. Admittedly I am a geek when it comes to AB 811 type programs that give people loans to put solar on their roof and add energy efficiency to their homes. And I tend to get a little fired up when I’m around people who actually make things happen instead of just pontificating about it. Imagine that…

EcoMotion’s President, Ted Flanigan made sure Friday was one of those rare days filled with all substance and no smoke, mirrors or dog & pony shows. What an exhilarating difference a well organized and smartly thought-out lineup can make. Just ask Los Angeles Lakers Basketball fans.

Continue reading ➞ Superstars of AB 811 Rock Palm Desert @ EcoMotion Conference

Solar Powered Greenius Producing Massive South Bay Energy

June 11, 2009June 12, 2009citizen volunteer, climate change, electric cars, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, plug-in cars, politics, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability, Yes We Can!5 Comments

Marilyn Lyon of the SBESC with your Creative Greenius at the PV Street Fair June 7

As our climate change crisis worsens and spins out of control with each passing day there’s no time to spare for those of us whose job it is to educate and motivate our fellow citizens to actions that cut our greenhouse gas emissions. I’m talking about committed environmental journalist/activists like myself who believe we have a responsibility to play more than a stenographers role in covering the single greatest threat to our civilization of our lifetimes.

That’s just one reason I spent 12 hours on behalf of the South Bay Environmental Services Center talking to people at the Palos Verdes Street Fair last weekend. And when you hear the questions folks ask at events like these you instantly realize just how little people know and understand about what’s happening to our climate and their world. Most have no idea. It’s not their fault either – their local governments and the mainstream media have failed them big time. That’s certainly the case here in Torrance, California where I live and work.

The good news is that positive things ARE happening and our efforts are starting to make a difference. It’s all happening excruciatingly too slowly of course, and at the pace we’re currently on we are quite simply as doomed as doomed can be – but in the meantime it IS starting to happen and the first signs of momentum are now starting to show. As all Lakers and NBA fans know, if you’ve got Mr. Momentum wearing your jersey you’re going to go on a scoring run. It’s a slam dunk.

Continue reading ➞ Solar Powered Greenius Producing Massive South Bay Energy

Greenius Goes All AB 811 Over Green Task Force

May 31, 2009June 1, 2009citizen volunteer, climate change, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, green building, green education, Killer Coal, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Sustainability2 Comments

Creative Greenius talks AB 811 Financing to the Green Task Force / photo (c) Debra Bushweit Galliani

Last Thursday afternoon your Creative Greenius took yet another step on my journey to employ my professional skills, talents and resources for greater green good and not just to line my own pockets.

And so it was that I found myself in the Hermosa Beach City Council Chambers addressing the Green Task Force audience you cannot see in this photo as I presented my Finding The Green To Green The Grid House By House PowerPoint. (Click Here to Download a PDF copy of my presentation)

That audience is made up mostly of city staff members from the 17 different cities that make up the South Bay COG plus some interested citizens of those cities. On this day it also included several board members of the Environmental Priorities Network, the Reverend Ron and even Mrs. Greenius.

Fortunately I suffered no stage fright or stress because I had spent many weeks researching, interviewing, analyzing and then crafting a presentation that simplifies the information and makes the subject clear and easy for everyone to understand. For the past two decades I’ve been one of the top freelance pros in the United States doing this kind of work for my multinational corporate clients. I bring the same level of focus, dedication and work ethic to the pro bono work I’m now doing.

But I also bring something more on top of all that.

Continue reading ➞ Greenius Goes All AB 811 Over Green Task Force

Solar Smackdown in Torrance – Installer Sues City on Behalf of the Sun

May 14, 2009November 21, 2009carbon producers, climate change, environment, environmental legislation, Environmental Politics, fossil fuels, green building, green education, greenwashing, plug-in cars, politics, renewable energy, Saving Energy, solar power, Yes We Can!3 Comments

After a decade in the solar power installation business, Bradley Bartz is tired of being Mr. Nice Guy. He’s tried the sugar and honey approach for ten years but instead of catching flies he’s caught hassles and obstructions from local Southern California city officials who haven’t kept up with modern technology and remain both ignorant and adversarial when it comes to helping their citizens go solar.

“Idiots!” is what Bartz calls them and he’s doing more than name calling. He’s filed suit against Torrance, the proud home of Exxon/Mobil’s refinery, for stopping him from installing solar panels in the Hillside Overlay district.

In this exclusive and wide-ranging interview with your Creative Greenius, the outspoken Bradley Bartz of ABC Solar shares the inside story of not only his legal suit against Torrance, but his broader plans to force cities to live up to the state’s California Solar Rights Act, his unique views on the California’s solar rebate program and his red tape experiences in dealing with Southern California Edison.

Continue reading ➞ Solar Smackdown in Torrance – Installer Sues City on Behalf of the Sun

Greenius & Obama Celebrate Our First 100 Days!

April 30, 2009May 1, 2009citizen volunteer, environment, green building, renewable energy, solar power, Yes We Can!Leave a Comment

Answering the President’s Call To Serve A Higher Purpose

hfh-intsall-4_14-080 — April 14, 2009 GRID Alternative solar install for Habitat for Humanity

That’s your Creative Greenius in the orange hardhat, and my buddy the Reverend Ron giving the Hang Loose salute, atop the roof of a Habitat for Humanity home we successfully installed a Solar PV system on. And when I say “we” I mean GRID Alternatives the non-profit whose mission is to empower communities in need by providing renewable energy and energy efficiency services, equipment and training.

That’s Steve from GRID on the far left. He’s a great guy, working for the modest Americorps paycheck he and the other GRID staff folks make. It was an honor to work with them and I can’t wait to do my next install with GRID.

Continue reading ➞ Greenius & Obama Celebrate Our First 100 Days!