Jan 06
In 2000 San Francisco’s mayor, Willie Brown, announced a goal to have 10,000 solar-powered homes in the city by 2010. 8 years later we’re only at 660, with just 2 years remaining. The California Solar Initiative has provided the much-needed financial incentives to adopt solar across California, with rebates averaging 30% of the total cost of solar. There’s also a Federal solar tax rebate of $2,000. Despite these incentives, we’re still nowhere near our 10,000 homes goal in SF.
Last month Gavin Newsom announced a new Solar Energy Plan that would provide $3,000-5,000 in incentives on top of the California and Federal rebates. Between the three incentives San Francisco residents could have over 50% of the cost of solar funded by the city, state and Fed.
Dec 24
Honda hasn’t fared too well in the hybrid vehicle game so far. It’s Accord and Civic hybrids just haven’t come close to the Prius. In fact, the company abandoned the Accord hybrid altogether. My opinion is those hybrids just looked way too much like their non-hybrid siblings. Let’s face it, a lot of ‘green’ people want others to know how green they are. The Prius is perfect for that - it’s unmistakably green.
Honda’s had enough of that, and plans to make hybrids a key part of the company’s growth strategy. In 2009 they will launch hybrid sedan with production estimated at 200,000 units per year. In 2010 they’ll launch a zero emission sports car, the CR-Z, pictured below. And you thought all hybrids were boring… can’t wait to put name on the list for one of these. Curious what the performance will be. Stay tuned.
Dec 18
Mayor Newsome today announced that all official travel will be carbon neutral. The City will invest in carbon offsetting activities to compensate for every flight taken by a member of City Hall. The program will not require any additional funding or taxes and will be paid for by savings from overall reductions in official travel (another good way to reduce the carbon footprint).
The best part is they intend to invest the carbon offset funds in local activities such as tree planting, converting restaurant grease into fuel, and installing solar panels.
Dec 18
Yet again California leads the nation in a critical new initiative, and will set an example of what is possible, feasible, and effective. This initiative seeks to set requirements for the minimum percentage of energy production from renewable sources across California. Specific goals are:
2010 - 20% energy production from renewable sources
2020 - 40% energy production from renewable sources
2025 - 50% energy production from renewable sources
To anyone who thinks these are unachievable, consider this: Alameda Power and Telecom produces 85% of their energy from renewable sources TODAY!
The initiative is being led by a former San Francisco supervisor, Jim Gonzalez, and Californians for Solar and Clean Energy. Please visit their site. I will surely sign the petition and encourage all others to do so. And why wait for PG&E to adopt solar on a large scale. You can do this today, cost-effectively, for your own home.
Note, the initiative needs over 400,000 signatures to get on the November 2008 ballot. Please sign up and encourage others to as well!
Nov 24
If you haven’t heard of the Vectrix electric scooter you will soon. It’s a 100% electric powered scooter - the word scooter doesn’t really do it justice, it’s much closer to motorcycle. It’ll do 62 mph and travel 40-60 miles on a single charge. You can recharge the batteries in just 2 hours. And the best part is you could power your very own Vectrix with a fraction of your solar panel production. Translation: zero emmission, zero consumption. Turn sun rays from your roof into transportation.
Vectrix has now officially launched in California, www.vectrixcalifornia.com. Swing by their showroom at British Motocs on 999 & 901 Van Ness Ave. San Francisco and they’ll give you a free test ride.
You can get a closer look at this awesome bike at the SF Auto Show running now through December 4th.
