Deliberations and Dialogue

Comment

Comment by Carolyn J. Keating on December 10, 2009 at 6:39pm

Allen, thank you for that insight. I will certainly try to focus as you spoke about in your teachings. Thank you so much for taking the time to answer my message. I really appreciate the help.

Comment by Jami Boudinot on December 10, 2009 at 12:07pm

The fact of the matter revolving around climate change is that you or I need not believe that climate change is happening. We do not need to believe when we see snow in mid October. Our officials at the highest office do believe so henceforth we must act accordingly. The laws that are and will be implemented will have direct trickle down effect upon our community. The laws and orders that will or have been decided will have an impact on our businesses and industries. The pressures that we are receiving from other nations will continue and therefore more standards will be applied to us here in this locale. We can wait until these orders and laws are forced upon us, putting resources in to retrofit buildings and redesign systems costing millions of dollars to our local economy, or we can be proactive and innovative in our development.

I have just come off a webinar with Kevin Kampschroer and Maria Vargas. Kevin was on his way to brief the capital hill staff on EO 13514, the executive order on federal leadership in energy conservation and economy, signed on October 5, 2009. The intent of this order, that all government agencies will report their greenhouse gas emissions and reduction strategies, is that once implemented in full will be passed on down through all public and private sectors. EISA & EO 13423 calls for a reduction of 30% in energy consumption in 10 years, 20% water reduction, and 55% less fossil fuels with 100% reduction by 2030. The Recovery Act has helped to fund 17 new projects at a total of $1 billion and existing building retrofits at $4.3 billion. These funds concentrate on energy conservation and renewable energy generation systems.

New standards have been called for by the US General Services Administration on:

Lighting, ceiling replacements
LEDs or garages and parking lots
New criteria for exit stairway lighting
PV and integrated membrane roofs
Planted roofs, cool roof designs
Lighting controls
Energy audits
Meter and data feeds
And performance criteria for whole and partial building modernization

President Obama said at the United Nations Climate Change Summit on September 22, 2009, that “ We are making out governments largest ever investment in renewable energy-- an investment aimed at doubling the generating capacity from wind and other renewable resources in three years.”

That is starting now. Can we adapt enough to make the resources of this administration work for this area?

Legislation is in place to curb all emissions from new cars and trucks, to build the first off shore wind energy platform, and phasing out fossil fuel subsidies. G20 is happening right now to stop those subsidies cold without phase out. Which businesses in this region would be affected by this? Would layoffs result? Could these businesses withstand the pressure of stopping cold? Do they have the measures to use their product differently in a way to abide by these new legislative programs?

Already through congress and partly in way through the senate is a bill that will produce financing subsidies and options for new businesses promoting renewable technology. Can we, knowing that it has overwhelming support, make this area ready to receive these kinds of businesses and subsidies?

President aims at making the conference coming up in Copenhagen a stepping stone for the policy implements he plans on announcing. Most of these strategies are aimed at 2020 with regulations set for the end of 2010 as well. That’s only about a year away. He plans intently upon making Copenhagen and the remarks there ones of impact. December 7- December 18th is the Copenhagen Conference on Climate Change.

Comment by Jami Boudinot on December 10, 2009 at 12:03pm

Thank you all, for contributing. Thank you.

Comment by Allen D. Glasgow on December 9, 2009 at 10:06pm

Carolyn, I hear what you are saying and I understand. I have never really felt that way. I think primarily because when I was developing motivational concepts and facilitating Anger Management, I learrned how to used controlled breathing to relax and I learned how to focus. An example of focusing is to think about some object and all that surrounds the history of that object such as a doorknob or the key hole in the doorkob. Someone had an idea. Someone built a building. Someone trained the workers. Someone tooled the process for manufacturing. Someone made the cars that took them to work, made the electricity, developed sales and marketing, etc. This could go on and on but the idea is to transfer the thought process to another place. When I facilitate Anger Management, I take my class participants through a relaxation process using controlled breathing and then I take them on a journey to the top of a mountain. i describe the sound fo waterfalls, birds, etc. At the apex of the mountain, I encourage them to look at the horizons from all directions, listen to the silence, kiss the wind, sing their own unique song with the songs that are being played. When they are ready I encourage them to come back to me repeatedly until all of them indicate they have returned. Many of them through the years have told me they used these exercises to redirect their focus and energy into positive channels and that it works for them, thus minimizing stress and guilt.

Comment by Claire Power Murphy on November 25, 2009 at 8:03am

Thank you Jaimi for providing this opportunity to freely discuss important matters of the day in a rational manner.
May this group prosper!
Claire