Sierra Club Falls of the James

On the Hacked Climate Emails: Scientists Speak Out

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:56:16 -0500

On the Hacked Climate Emails: Scientists Speak Out:

I know everyone’s pretty sick of hearing about the hacked emails—believe you me, I am too. But I felt that the issue was creating enough confusion that the point needed to be driven home: these emails reflect some bad behavior by a few scientists, but reflect nothing on the overwhelming scientific consensus that global warming is occurring, and is caused by man. But don’t take it from me—here it from the scientific community firsthand. They’ve just held a press conference setting the record straight, where the scientists involved answer the questions raised by the event themselves.

A Few Coins To Be Auctioned At SCFOJ Holiday Fundraiser

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 16:06:00 -0500

I mentioned earlier this week that a solar oven will be one of the items at the SCFOJ Holly and Mistletoe “Stimulus” Holiday auction and party. Well now a local Sierra Club member has generously donated a few collectible coins to be auctioned off as well. Don’t get too excited as there really are only a few, but they might interest a few of you numismatics out there. And remember, proceeds will go to a good cause, our local Sierra Club group.

Checking in on VUU and VSU...and J.Sarge and Richard Bland

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:54:05 -0500

Too often we overlook the Richmond area’s smaller universities that might be in the shadow of VCU and U of R. It’s really too bad, since a lot of our future environmental leaders will potentially come from these places. Obviously, these quick internet scans of these institutions should not be taken too seriously, but they do often give a glance of what is happening.

Virginia Union University has gone through a lot of turbulence with its changes in leadership and a large first year class. It’s campus newspaper, the VUU Informer, while informative, does not have anything really on environmental policy. That’s not to say that there is not a lot happening behind the scenes. If anyone would like to bring me up to speed, by all means, get in touch by sending me an email.

Virginia State University also lacks news on its environmental policy. I could not find any mention of ‘green’ or ‘environment’ in its 2020 Vision Plan. With schools of agriculture and engineering, I expect better, frankly.

When you start talking two-year community colleges, what they lack in student life or campus, they usually make up for in value and efficiency. Hopefully J.Sarge’s Sustainable Agriculture Club is pulling more than its weight.

Richard Bland College, now part of the College of William & Mary’s system, is one to watch. Right on the front of their website, its mentioned that their new science and technology academic building will be LEED certified.

Maybe I will look at Richmond high schools next year….

Checking On VCU...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 15:11:21 -0500

I did not get a chance to go to Project Winterfood on Wednesday night, but I do want to commend it anyway. Graphic design students promote locally grown food and community, which is great for the environment. Click here for Commonwealth Times article.

VCU’s green initiative was discussed as part of student organization’s funding forum:

SGA Vice President Roberto Celis introduced the university’s green initiative as another key priority. Celis said students, faculty and staff will have to make a behavioral change in order to reach the goals laid out in the President’s Climate Commitment.

Grant Matthews, a representative for the VCU Office of Sustainability, said the overall goal is to develop a climate action plan that will promote energy conservation and new projects.

Matthews said over the next 41 years, VCU should reach carbon neutrality.

Note to VCU- 41 years is way too long. Click here for article.

In exciting news, VCU is looking at more solar-

VCU’s Director of Sustainability Jacek Ghosh, said the state might fund the university for more solar projects on campus, which could lead to solar panels on parking garages.

“The final details are being negotiated,” Ghosh stated in an e-mail. “The Commonwealth of Virginia can be very slow in these matters.”

Late last summer, VCU installed a system of 30 solar panels on the MCV Campus Steam Plant, which provides steam power for heating and sterilization for much of the MCV Campus, the VCU Health System and nearby state and private office buildings in downtown Richmond.

This 6.6-kilowatt solar panel array helps VCU offset about 7,000 metric tons of carbon gases each year.

The solar panels on the MCV Campus Steam Plant were installed by City Space Solar, a renewable energy company that focuses on solar energy in residential and commercial construction.

VCU has installed two PV solar-powered trash compactors, the one at the Stuart C. Siegel Center helps manage waste after sporting, concert and other large-scale events.

The solar-powered trash compactors have five times the capacity of standard trashcans with fewer collections and up to 80-percent emissions reductions.

According to the BigBelly Web site, energy from the sun is the only new input Earth receives every day and it is free, silent and non-polluting. In 20 days, the sun provides the equivalent amount of energy that is contained in all of the coal, oil and gas reserves combined.

VCU has added the first solar thermal system to the historic Ginter House on Monroe Park Campus. The system reduces the building’s hot water CO2 emissions by 77 percent annually, which saves 13,400 KBTU, according to the Richmond By Solar Web site.

Get more details by clicking here for the Commonwealth Times article.

GO RAMS!

Checking In On U of R...

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:54:49 -0500

In the not-so-good news, the University of Richmond’s Green Bikes program has hit some speed bumps.

“There was a little intentional abuse at first,” Kinka said. “It makes my life harder, but it’s almost to be expected. But the good news is we see less and less of that. Now the repairs are regular wear and tear.”

Tom Roberts, the director of recreation and wellness, wrote in an e-mail: “Some [bikes needed repairs] because of improper assembly and some because of abuse. This is something we anticipated.”

Kinka said some of the bikes had had loose bolts when they arrived, which caused a few problems on the opening day. He said this was not because of the quality, and the bikes were chosen because they were durable and easy to repair.

Doug Goad, the manager of equipment and facilities at the Weinstein Center, said he was trying to be optimistic about the program, but approximately 18 out of the original 35 bikes had been severly damaged.

Read the rest of the Collegian article by clicking here.

In much better news, the Spiders’ Climate Action Plan is now online.

Also, a student group calling themselves URot is promoting on-campus composting. A photo is on the Collegian’s News site.

Time to check in with local bicycle blogs

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 12:35:00 -0500

Help with Maymont ramp! Richmond-MORE Trail Care: Dec. 5th Click here for details.

In what maybe a mixed environmental message, there is an upcoming bike tour for tacky lights. Click here for details.

If you have not already done so, please view the new Virginia Capital Trail video. Click here to see it.

Virginia’s Commonwealth Transportation Board, the organization responsible for approving and funding transportation projects in Virginia, recently voted to prioritize federal transportation funds for “core transportation functions”. Bike and pedestrian projects are a major part of this focus. Click here for article.

Thanks to the charitable efforts of the Richmond Area Bicycling Association, over 150 needy children in central Virginia will be getting new bikes for Christmas, through RABA’s Bikes for Kids program. Click here for more info.

Climate change threatens village in Alaska

Thu, 03 Dec 2009 04:49:00 -0500

Climate change threatens village in Alaska

Smithsonian: Climate change may drastically alter Chesapeake Bay, scientists say

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:40:25 -0500

Smithsonian: Climate change may drastically alter Chesapeake Bay, scientists say

We Must Make Peace With the Planet & Act Now on Climate...

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:30:07 -0500

We Must Make Peace With the Planet & Act Now on Climate Change: Archbishop Desmond Tutu (Video)

Environment Virginia: Farm Bureau Calls for Failed Policies

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:01:59 -0500

*For Immediate Release: For More Information:*

December 2, 2009 J.R. Tolbert

Cell: (706) 594-5487

jrtolbert@environmentvirginia.org <mailto:jrtolbert@environmentvirginia.org>

*Environment Virginia Calls for a New Direction on Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
*

Richmond, VA – In response to recent comments from the Virginia Farm Bureau about the cost of Chesapeake Bay cleanup, the conservation organization Environment Virginia released data on the financial incentives for farmers within proposed bay restoration legislation while calling for a new direction in cleanup efforts.

“We have the opportunity to take a new direction in bay restoration efforts,” said Environment Virginia Advocate J.R. Tolbert. “After 25 years of unmet goals, and lax enforcement on pollution standards the federal government is serious about restoring the health of the Chesapeake Bay.”

Environment Virginia pointed out that there are many economic benefits provided to the industry in the Chesapeake Clean Water and Ecosystem Restoration Act.

* Virginia farmers are eligible for $26 million in technical
assistance grants to implement clean water strategies. This
funding will help farmers institute best management practices such
as cover crops, riparian buffers and nutrient management plans.
* A nutrient trading program which will award innovations in
practices to reduce fertilizer, manure and sediment pollution.
* US Department of Agriculture Secretary Vilsack has identified $638
million to be used by farmers in the Chesapeake Bay region to
reduce runoff and meet reduction goals set through the new
legislation.

“By arguing against this legislation, the Virginia Farm Bureau is calling for more of the same. The same failed policies that have created a dead zone that takes up one-third of the bay, depleted crab and oyster habitats, and wrecked the local fishing economy. We believe it is time for a new way forward, where everyone reduces their pollution,” concluded Tolbert.

Bike Trailer Homes for Sale, Only $1950 O.B.O

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:29:14 -0500

Bike Trailer Homes for Sale, Only $1950 O.B.O:

Travel the East Coast Greenway and Capital Trail in style…

Buy a Solar Cooker and Offset 1 Ton of CO2

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 15:23:30 -0500

Buy a Solar Cooker and Offset 1 Ton of CO2

Times Dispatch: Richmond coal-train derailment affects Amtrak service

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:39:49 -0500

Times Dispatch: Richmond coal-train derailment affects Amtrak service:

I have said it before, even though some people around here are in denial about the situation (and even though I am a CSX shareholder)- the coal trains are interfereing with better area passenger rail.

Make our country less dependent on dirty coal for energy and you lessen the prioritization of coal trains over passenger rail.

CNN: Solar Plant To Power Homes

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 01:56:19 -0500

CNN: Solar Plant To Power Homes

Solar Oven To Be Auctioned Off At SCFOJ Holiday Fundraiser

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 19:23:28 -0500

You may or may not have read last week’s post on the microfinance presentation at the Capital Ale House, where I called for more solar ovens.

Well, in effort to ‘walk the talk’, I purchased a solar oven from the Solar Oven Society, that will be auctioned off at next week’s Sierra Club Falls of the James Holiday Event. It’s a Sportster model, just like the one I bought a while ago and have been using on my back porch. It’s manufactured from recycled materials, lightweight yet sturdy and portable, and yes, it comes with thermometer, pots, and reflectors.

The great thing about the Solar Oven Society is that they use proceeds from the sale to send more solar ovens to Latin America and Africa to help reduce deforestation and respiratory disease caused by traditional open fire cooking in those places.

Locally, my hope is that we can eventually get a whole neighborhood/SCFOJ ‘solar potluck’ picnic thing going. And if nothing else, you can bid on this and give it as a unique gift this holiday season, helping the Sierra Club in the process.

Remember to mark your calendars!

CNN: Green street project aims to keep toxic water out of Chesapeake Bay

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 17:34:37 -0500

CNN: Green street project aims to keep toxic water out of Chesapeake Bay

Study Finds That Climate Change Mitigation in Land Transport Should Benefit Public Health Substantially

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 16:42:16 -0500

Study Finds That Climate Change Mitigation in Land Transport Should Benefit Public Health Substantially

Cars vs Birds: Conservation and Beach Driving in NC

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:12:00 -0500

Cars vs Birds: Conservation and Beach Driving in NC :

I know a lot of locals argue about this. Some of the OBX-stickered SUV-drivers get all worked up over the issue.

Climate Scientists' "Secret" Data Revealed!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:03:31 -0500

Climate Scientists' "Secret" Data Revealed!

Times Dispatch: Va. menhaden processor accused of polluting Chesapeake

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 11:50:06 -0500

Times Dispatch: Va. menhaden processor accused of polluting Chesapeake:

I know a lot of fishermen who consider the menhaden processing to be the biggest impediment to restoring the Chesapeake Bay.

I once traced the whole corporate tangle to one millionaire guy in Texas. What a disgrace!