Your Stories

When we built our house 3 years ago, we made sure to get energy/water efficient appliances and systems installed throughout the house, with adequate insulation and with new lightbulbs to reduce our energy footprint and consumption. Our next venture will be to get the last of our two autos more fuel efficient (a pickup) but in the meantime we drive it less and make sure trips are multi-prupose trips, not frivolous trips. We are planting trees on our property and are active in energy efficient efforts. We went to see Al Gore's slide show in Portland, OR -- before it became "An Inconvenient Truth."

As a hybrid auto driving, compact flourescent lighting, low thermostat heating, heavy blanket sleeping, tree canopy for shade and wind blocking, locally-grown food eating, reusable coffee mug drinking, green energy consuming, wind credit buying, solar powered outdoor lighting and personal electronics recharging, congress writing family, my wife and I absolutely practice what we preach. We pledge to teach our newborn son the value and necessity of creating and living a low-consumption, clean energy life. After all, it's his world we're responsible for.

I use florescent lite bulbs - no halogens, which are the SUV of lite bulbs - public transportation (I am blessed to live ina city which has it). I have a washer/dryer and now use the washer cold and use the dryer almost not at all. My dishwasher is largely a dish-rack now, and when it's full and ready to use, I open it as the drying cycle starts - the dishes dry fine by themselves as the steam escapes. I put my computer on sleep at every opportunity. Nothing fancy. I also NEVER USE the microwave. These things are real energy hogs, and more than one person in medicine has cautioned me about how they may change the dna in food. Certainly I don't know about this for sure, but I've opted to use this thing for storage instead.

Toward a Green Energy Future- My current and future contribution to a green energy economy is a project called The CONSCIENTIOUS CRUISER - Mobile Environmental Education Center. It is a nonprofit in Michigan with the paperwork in process for 501(c)(3) status.

Only because Bracken is a Red Sox fan.... I'm going to make this short, because you will know quickly if there is any use in it for you. I am just starting a non-profit. I am an architect, and the idea is to solicit funds from drivers based upon the annual mileage that they drive, and then use that money to construct clean/renewable energy production systems for/on/at public places, with an education component. I am just now assembling my Board of Directors, plan to file for incorporation within the month, and for 501(c)3 status at the same time; Hope to be in full swing by the fall. If tracking a start-up is of any interest to you, please contact me for further information. Please visit by (very rough) draft website at:

I have a 720-watt solar panel on my back patio roof, and a passive hot-water panel next to it. I have tried to copy a photo for you, but no luck . . . Still to come is a rain-water catchment barrel. I also would like to invest in part ownership of a windmill if I can ever locate one in our state. And I invest in renewable energy units with our utility, Salt River Project. When I travel, I expect to pay carbon-replacement fees in Europe. I am trying to set an example which my neighbors might emulate . . . What more can I do?

I have been getting all of our electricity from wind power for the last two years, through our local city utility company. I registered our 1 auto with the carbon trading company DriveNeutral, also approximately two years ago, and when I fly to San Diego sometime this summer for my nephew's graduation from marine corp basic training, I will off set the carbon emissions for the flight with FlyNeutral, DriveNeutral's companion carbon offset company. If I can afford it, I will try to also offset the carbon generated from our round-trip flight from Denver to Honolulu 2 years ago. Lastly, today I sent payment of $12.00 to Native Energy, which will reduce 1 ton of co2 emissions while building a renewable energy wind farm on a native american reservation.

Since 3 years we have been driving a hybrid car, mainly out of principle but also since it cuts down on our gas expenses. We are monitoring the gas consumption regularly, it is about 43 miles to the gallon, sometimes down to 49 or 50. The only disadvantage is that the trunk is a bit smaller than that of a non-hybrid model (Honda Civic). Also there is a recommended load limitation. Ours was the third of this model sold in town.

Here are the steps our family is taking. .Moved office to home .Drive less than 50 miles a week .unplug electric appliances when not in use .installed wind turbines on to rooftops .compost and have little diposeable garbage .use vinagar and soda for cleaning everything .do not eat meat (factory farming issue poluting streams and ground water and air quality issue with methane producing animal waste)

Was an Apollo fuel cell cryogenic engineer. Have recently researched developing a large facility to economically manufacture large quantities of hydrogen with virtual no CO2 pollution or nuclear waste problems. Study also address wide spread distribution for automotive application. Entire study uses current technology. Project can be implemented in less than ten years and can significantly reduce our dependence on foreign oil.