Tag Archives: Environment

Elections and Love Letters

The summer and fall raced by in a whirlwind of tensions around the election process in the U.S.  Like many American families, we have loved ones in both parties.  Election years seem to have become more difficult as each side … Continue reading

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Åland’s Visionary Hero and His Windmills

Dear All,  Henrik Linqvist looks like a giant boy. With crinkly eyes and a ready laugh, his sandy mop of hair looks like Daryl Hannah’s crazy do in ‘Blade Runner.’ He’s apparently about 6’6” when his hair is wet. All … Continue reading

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Local Incentives Help U.S. States Reap Wind Power Benefits

When it comes to wind energy production, some U.S. states clearly have the wind in their sails! One state reaping the benefits of wind power is Iowa. As of January 2011, Iowa was home to 80 wind farms and 2500 … Continue reading

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Los Angeles Going Dark Sky Compliant

In March 2003, astronauts on the International Space Station snapped a photo of Los Angeles at night.  From 240 miles away in space, the city of 498.3 square miles (1,290.6 km2) and 3.9 million people looks like a giant luminescent … Continue reading

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From North-to-South and Coast-to-Coast: American Citizens Embrace Earth Day

On April 22nd, countries around the world will celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. In a recent video address to commemorate the event, President Obama highlighted Washington’s role in protecting the environment. The 2009 Recovery and Reinvestment Act has … Continue reading

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(Almost) No Heater Required for Finland’s High Standard Energy-Efficient Housing

Imagine a newly-built apartment heated only with the excess energy produced by your television, your computer, even your own body. Now imagine that same apartment in Helsinki, Finland – one of Europe’s northern-most cities where winter climes can dip to … Continue reading

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Natural Capitalism Solutions’ Paul Sheldon Presents the Profitability of Going Green

Former US Representative Thomas Barrett once said, “Chaos in the world brings uneasiness but it also allows the opportunity for creativity and growth.” And it was this opportunity for creativity and growth, which Paul Sheldon, Senior Consultant for Natural Capitalism … Continue reading

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Finland and US: Partners in Tackling Climate Change

To say that the Finns have a certain reverence for their summer season is no understatement. From May to August, nearly every Finn heads outdoors to take advantage of the twelve-plus hours of sunlight before the long, dark winter creeps … Continue reading

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USAID Making Development Clean and Green

Having lived in Africa for six years, I consider myself a veteran traveler to the continent.  This is particularly true of Mali in West Africa where I spent the last two weeks visiting good friends living in the city of … Continue reading

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Earth Day

Mothers have Mothers’ Day.  Dads get Fathers’ Day.  In the US even the groundhog gets his own day on February 2.  So it seems only fitting that Mother Earth should get her spot in the limelight on April 22.  After … Continue reading

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