Green Leaf Report

About five years ago, a real estate agent told me about a friend of his; this friend had recently declared bankruptcy and then, one week later, had been approved for a mortgage. The point, at the time, was that anyone could qualify for a mortgage. The many under-qualified buyers created exuberant demand for homes […]

Years ago, miners carried canaries deep into coal mines to detect high levels of methane and carbon monoxide gas: If the canaries died, it was time to evacuate.  Interestingly, the National Audubon Society recently issued a report on the declining numbers of common bird species in America.  Some bird species are down over 80% in […]

  TXU has received their permits to build two more coal plants in Oak Grove, TX.  In classic TXU style, the two plants will be lignite burning; the dirtiest, most polluting form of coal will be used because it’s cheap. The fact that the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality gave the green-light to this project on Wednesday helps clarify […]

After all my venting about the phonebook that we received last week, what did I find on my doorstep yesterday?  Another phone book.  This second book was from a different phone company, but with the same lawyer advertising on the front cover.  So now I want to revise my analysis: I’ll multiply the total number […]

We just received our new phone book, but not through personal choice. Itcomes sneakily, quietly arriving without warning on our front step.  I weighed the book on my bathroom scale- it wasn’t the most accurate measure, but it weighedin at around 4 pounds.  On the cover of the book I noticed the smallcaption ‘Made from […]

On a lighter note (getting away from nuclear war, the end of mankind, blah blah blah), let’s talk about gardening. Specifically, let’s talk about adapted plants that are more aggressive than our own native flora.
This article highlights an ongoing problem in the South: kudzu vines grow a foot a day and were introduced into the US […]

For the last few weeks leading up to the 2007 G8 summit, I’ve read a lot of articles about different posturing by the US and occasional other G8 nations that don’t want to agree to emissions controls.  Bush rolled out an optional plan for developed and developing nations to perhaps follow, if they sort of […]

Another Atlantic hurricane season starts today, but the fearful headlines started weeks ago.  Will this year bring another Hurricane Katrina…? I won’t belittle the effects of Katrina.  It was a nasty storm that brought a lot of damage into my home town, we lost family members also.  But I don’t believe the storm alone caused […]

I’ve seen several articles recently about solar panels made from plastics.  While I agree a lighter weight solar panel option can open greater possibilities for the technology, I’m uncomfortable with the idea of solar panels made through any association with the petroleum industry.  Doesn’t this seem like a contradiction of basic principals: reduce our dependency […]

That’s the direct quote from Shelley Dahlburg, an attorney for the state of Texas, during the arguments over the governor’s right to fast track the 11 proposed new coal plants.  I’m not clear which side Dahlburg is arguing; but if it’s for the coal plants, well, it’s good to know that the lack of future clean air […]

Yesterday I saw a commercial for one of those scented plug-ins - it’s a small plastic device which plugs into an electrical socket and makes the living room or bathroom smell like flowers. I wonder if I’m the only person in America who watched that commercial and thought of the coal or natural gas being […]

So TXU is trying to rush in the coal plants so that if carbon dioxide emission caps come into play they’ll have a higher cap level to work within.  Great.  But some large TXU investors are also questioning the intelligence of the planned new coal plants.  Maybe we should join these other investors at the […]

Ah well, with all of the drought and extreme weather of the past year, it’s easy to forget about the locally grown Christmas tree farms.  Luckily for someone, the irrigation methods of North Texas tree farms have sustained most of these Christmas trees through the two-year drought.  So our clean water supply is dwindling while […]

It’s almost a cliche how global warming affects polar bear and artic species.  I saw a mention of it recently on Saturday Night Live, as part of a ‘Debbie downer’ skit (the annoying friend who always sees the worst, most depressing aspects of any siuation).  But, cliche or not, there is a real trend in […]

The North American Electric Reliability Council has a very one-sided suggestion for handling the projected energy demand increases in upcoming years: increase the energy supply. After I read this article I had to go look up more information on this non-profit council; it appears to largely consist of members of the utility industries. 
Businesses want to make money.  But […]

Felicity Barringer wrote an excellent article about the recent California actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. 

Legislation is awaiting the CA governer’s signature that would require the 20 proposed new coal plants outside of California’s borders to meet the lowest possible carbon dioxide emissions for CA to buy the energy.
2006 legislation to reduce CA industrial carbon dioxide emissions […]

I read an article this morning about how green CEOs are bad for business.  Steve, these billion dollar companies have made so many good moves and bad moves over the years; you can’t possibly blame their failures on any single marketing strategy.  I’m sure $100M sounds like a lot of money to a journalist, but it’s a […]

I’m proud that one of our two Texas senators is a woman, but it looks like Kay Bailey Hutchinson may need to get some better aides.  A friend of mine was in a grass-roots mood and recently wrote a letter to Kay Bailey asking her to help support alternative fuel sources.  My friend received a reply; it […]

We’re bad at moderation.  Stop hitting the buffets when you eat multiple plates just to make sure you’re getting your money’s worth, stop driving your car across town to find cheaper gas, and stop turning your AC on 68 because you like to cuddle under your quilts.  Here in Dallas, a recent newspaper article highlighted the […]

I’m giving a thumbs up to Zap (Zero Air Pollution) for minimizing the bad stuff you and I have to breathe. CNET featured them recently in one of their Green reports.  I have to give them a thumbs down, though, for manufacturing in China.  Isn’t it possible to help the environment while also minimizing our trade deficit?  […]