[GWSG] Efficient to sustainable; frequent floods; Canadian perfidy; Heartland shuck; big battery?; soot & CH4; regional planning

[Tilley, Al]

1.  Some production builders such as Pulte are experimenting with highly energy efficient homes, and some such as David Weekley Homes have routinely build energy efficient homes for years.  So have such Jacksonville custom builders as Dan Hovis and such construction companies as Mary Tappouni’s Breaking Ground. http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=147  Green homes accounted for 17% of residential building in the US last year and are expected to take an increasing share of the market.  http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2012/02/10/422633/green-homes-construction-market-2011/?mobile=nc  Building code revisions are moving the transition along.  http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/story/2012-02-02/more-homes-conserve-energy/53098306/1  Energy efficient housing is essential to creating sustainable communities.  http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=148

2.  A study of the vulnerability of New York to storm surges under the changing climate projects “100 year floods” every 3 to 20 years.  http://www.physorg.com/news/2012-02-climate-today-year-years.html

3.  Information from a retreat for Canadian government officials and oil industry executives revealed how deeply the Canadian government has become involved in attempting to block or undermine climate action in favor of profits from oil sands.   At the retreat Canada was advised to present the appearance of listening to environmental concerns and to build a spurious impression of taking action.  Such a cooptation strategy is consistent with current oil industry ad campaigns (“We Agree”).  http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/lobby%20retreat%20urges%20feds%20deliver%20climate%20change%20solutions/6141130/story.html

4.  Leaked documents from the Heartland Institute, funder of deniers, promise curricular materials presenting global warming as scientifically controversial.   http://openchannel.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/15/10415410-leaked-a-plan-to-teach-climate-change-skepticism-in-schools  Heartland funders include Microsoft, GM, Bayer, Pfizer, Charles Koch, and the US Chamber of Commerce.  http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/james-blog/2152717/-denier-gate-scandal-uncovers-flaw-pick-mix-green-strategies?WT.rss_f=Home&WT.rss_a=%E2%80%9CDenier-gate%E2%80%9D+scandal+uncovers+the+flaw+in+pick+and+mix+green+strategies  Several academics and publicists are on the Heartland payroll.  http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/15/climate-sceptics-pai-heartland-institute

5.  Research at MIT intends to produce a low cost utility-scale battery which would even out the power intermittency of some renewable sources.  The high temperature liquid battery is composed of common, cheap materials.  http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/02/mit-research-liquid-batteries-for-utilities-could-make-renewables-competitive??cmpid=WNL-Wednesday-February15-2012

6.  The US, working through the UN, is leading a group of 6 nations in a pilot program to reduce methane and soot emissions.  http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/us-will-lead-new-effort-to-cut-global-warming-from-methane-soot/2012/02/15/gIQAoYtUGR_story.html

7.  Without regional planning, local measures to adapt to climate change (such as sea walls) may actually cause more trouble than they prevent.  The San Francisco Bay Area is an example. http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/17/science/earth/bay-area-climate-change-plans-lack-regional-cooperation.html?tntemail0=y&_r=1&emc=tnt&pagewanted=all
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