Greenway will be offering a complete transportation package for The Inauguration, including a 100% biodiesel powered bus for up to 47 passengers, catered lunch, drinks, and dinner on the return at famous Bottoms Up Pizza in Richmond.  We will be leaving from Durham and its Green Oil Campus on January 19th at 8:00AM, arriving Franconia-Springfield Station Metro Station at 2:00PM.  And returning the 20th at 5:00PM, leaving Franconia-Springfield Station, arriving Durham… who knows when?!  Price for the complete package will be $200, which includes a $50 donation to The Forest Foundation.

For transportation and Inaugural details:

http://inauguration.dc.gov/index.asp

http://www.wmata.com/getting_around/metro_events/inauguration.cfm

Accommodations

Greenway will not be offering official overnight accommodations, but some limited space is available for first come first serve.  Prices for accommodations that are Metro walkable (30 mins. to the Mall) vary from floor space camping, to couches, to bedrooms.

Pedicabs on the Mall

In addition, Greenway’s new Pedicab Manager, John Bair, will be bringing our two pedicabs up to service the Inaugural festivities on and around the Mall starting Jan. 9th.  He will be running multiple shifts and two of Greenway’s founders will be on hand to drive and to make policy suggestions to any errant decision-makers who decide to “Go Green” and ride pedal power!  If John is smart, he may be able to get in the parade and give us some real nationwide publicity!

Sponsorship

The Bus and Pedicabs are looking for sponsorship for the Inauguration tour.  The Bus will have sign space on either side and on the rear, and the Pedicabs will have their back panel space available.  We expect hundreds of thousands to see us on tour, so given our high profile as probably the only biodiesel bus headed to DC and one of only a few pedicabs on the Mall, we think this will be a great marketing opportunity. Contact us for pricing.

Proceeds from the trip and sponsorship will help fund The Forest Foundation’s non-profit work.

Trip Stipends and Discounts

For those who can not afford the full price of the tour, but can show volunteer service and dedication to the cause will be provided stipends or discounts.  Other non-profit and environmental groups may also be offered discounts.  Two stipends of $100 each are available to students on a first come basis from Dr. Sandy Smith-Nonini of YIKES!  Contact us for details.

Deadline for Deposits:

Jan. 16th

Email us at:

info@greenwayrides.com, or info@theforestfoundation.org

See the following website for data

http://www.tufts.edu/tie/tci/sequestration.htm

http://www.globalcarbonproject.org/carbonneutral/TropicalForestry.htm

Mitigation as not as crucially important as reduction in emissions. All strategies are needed at this point. See:

http://www.terrapass.com/blog/posts/science-corner-1

Though there are strong arguments for ecosystem services that trees provide, if the right ones are selected. The issue of water consumption also plays a large role as both young trees require a lot of it and trees in general may alter hydrology.

Explaining CO2-e (carbon dioxide equivalents)

Different greenhouse gases have differing abilities to warm the planet (“global warming potential”). To enable us to estimate how much a given mass of greenhouse gas is estimated to contribute to global warming, the gas is compared to a baseline of one unit by weight of carbon dioxide (CO2), and is expressed in “carbon dioxide equivalent” (CO2-e). Many scientists also calculate the amount of carbon stored as carbon (C). To convert to CO2 or CO2-e, multiply by 44/12.

For example, methane (CH4), another common greenhouse gas, has a global warming potential 21 times that of CO2.

It’s good to hear from you. It’s impressive work you’re doing. As far
as starting a campaign to reduce exposure from bus emissions, I would
recommend you apply for a grant and or do a web search and see what the
other grantees have done. There have been a lot of successful programs
put into place as a result of the National Clean School Bus USA
Campaign. My contact is Sally Newstead, in Ann Arbor, Michigan,
newstead.sally@epa.gov, 734-214-4474.

Mailing Address

USEPA National Vehicle and
Fuel Emissions Laboratory/OAR
2565 Plymouth Road
Mail Code: AAISG
Ann Arbor, MI 48105

She’s very responsive and passionate about the campaign: Clean School
Bus USA
http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/.

You may be aware that recently “The Magic School Bus” book was published
by Scholastic in partnership with EPA and can be ordered free of charge.
Be sure to visit
http://www.epa.gov/cleanschoolbus/outreach.htm#order_pubs which has the
following:
Outreach Materials
(Embedded image moved to file: pic01763.gif)Clean School Bus USA

October 2007, “Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up” book available for
order. For more about the book. Order the book.

Materials and publications related to Clean School Bus USA are
available free. You may read or download EPA publications below, order
EPA publications to be mailed to you, download Clean School Bus USA
event planning materials, or download Earth Day materials.
Ordering EPA Publications
Clean School Bus Event Planning Materials
General Information about Clean School Bus USA
Bookmarks
Publications about School Bus Idling and Smart Driving Practices
Publications about School Bus Retrofit and Clean Fuels
Technologies
General Information about Diesel Exhaust
View or Download EPA Publications
Earth Day Materials

You will need Adobe Reader to view some of the files on this page. See
EPA’s PDF page to learn more.

Ordering EPA Publications

The publications below are available free from the National Service
Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP). Telephone orders can be
placed by calling 800-490-9198. Business hours are Monday through
Friday, 9:00 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (EST). After hours you may leave a voice
mail order. The web address for information and links for ordering is
www.epa.gov/ncepihom/ordering.htm. You may also send an e-mail message
to nscep@bps-lmit.com to request publications. Your order may take up
to 3 weeks to process. If you need your materials before a specific
date, please provide your FedEx account number so that your order can
be expedited. Be sure to specify the date you need the books in hand.

Clean School Bus New Publication

The Magic School Bus Gets Cleaned Up book. (EPA420-K-07-001, September
2007)
Ordering information:
The item number is EPA420-K-07-001, which is needed for
ordering.
Quantities must be limited due to the popularity of the book.
Individuals, schools and library may order five copies
each.
Non-profit organizations working on diesel emissions
issues and outreach may order up to 500 copies.
Other organizations, such as for-profit companies, may
order up to 100 copies.
Larger numbers may be approved on a case-by-case basis. For more
about the book.
Clean School Bus Event Planning Materials
EPA has created materials to assist you with planning a Clean School
Bus USA event. They include ideas for clean school bus events, a list
of EPA contacts, resources available, sample proclamations, and a
sample certificate of recognition.
Ideas
Resources
Sample Press Release (Also available as a word processing RTF
file that can be modified, 1 pp, 6K).
Clean School Bus Proclamation (Also available as a word
processing RTF file that can be modified, 1 pp, 6K).
Idling Proclamation (Also available as a word processing RTF
file that can be modified, 1 pp, 6K).
EPA Certificate of Recognition (PDF) (1 pp, 2.6M).
New! Young Students’ Activity – Clean School Bus USA Logo to
Color (PDF) (1 pp, 160K).
EPA Contact List

For more information or to request the materials in Microsoft Word
format, e-mail Clean School Bus USA cleanschoolbususa@epa.gov

I know that you are also interested in asthma education and EPA has
done a great deal of work. A number of years ago we did a national
campaign that included the televised PSA – “I feel like a fish with no
water.” I believe most of those materials are still available – in
particular is an activity book that I try to keep on hand for exhibits,
posters, fact sheets, etc. These can also be order from our NSCEP
warehouse.

Asthma Education
http://www.epa.gov/Region4/air/naaqs/asthma.htm

Susan Stone is our Health Scientist for ambient air issues
(stone.susan@epa.gov) and my contact for the asthma campaign in DC is
Kristy Miller (miller.kristy@epa.gov). Kristy is very knowledgeable and
could be very helpful with ideas and materials.

Reformulated Gasoline
http://www.epa.gov/region4/air/naaqs/reform.htm

Our goal is to create materials that the public can use to educate the
public. I’m sure there’s so much more that I haven’t mentioned.

I have worked to help develop air quality curricula and programs for
students and teachers: Air Pollution: What’s the Solution, Smog City 2
and in draft – AQI Toolkit for Teachers which can be found on the
Internet.

Let me know if you have additional questions. I wish you the best.

Donna Rogers
Innovative Programs and Outreach Group
US EPA
Office of Air Quality Planning and Standards (C404-05)
RTP, NC 27711
rogers.donna@epa.gov
T: (919) 541-5478
F: (919) 541-0242

Project 2. The Forest Foundation and Clean Energy Durham are requesting assistance in developing a carbon mitigation catalog to be funded by grants, donations and carbon mitigation offsets, working with local Government, non-profits, corporations and universities. Carbon mitigation calculations are needed for energy efficiency home and building improvements, biodiesel consumption, pedicabs and green transportation, greenspace and tree planting, solar PV and hotwater, and other creative local carbon reduction projects. Research is needed on catalog structure and management, to determine administrative and operational needs as well as marketing strategy. (Carolina Biodiesel, Clean Energy Durham, Greenway Transit and The Forest Foundation.)

Project 3. Engineering and revitalization of the Green Oil Campus fuel terminal. Help engineer biodiesel production, waste oil collection and processing and biodiesel distribution systems using old oil terminal infrastructure. This includes: sustainable energy and electrical systems, cogeneration, water recycling, waste reuse, heating and winterization, all under the constraints of the existing infrastructure and new and evolving technology. (Carolina Biodiesel, Bull City Biodiesel Coop, Reclaimation Station, Triangle Biodiesel, Orange Recycling)

Project 4. Help develop a grant and begin implementation of a Green Oil Campus Environmental Training and Learning Lab, working with local NGO’s like Clean Energy Durham, YIKES and SEEDS. Recondition space on the site for educational and vocational training in alternative energy, green transportation and environmental science. Build a learning lab on biodiesel, alternative energy, water catchment treatment and recycling, composting, and urban and rooftop gardening operation. Goal will be to outreach to local schools and the neighboring communities and train young adults in a range of environmental health, sustainable livelihoods and life skills. We are also looking for Liasion Coordinators for outreach to each university and schools in the area, to act as a communication conduit on activities and events on campuses that may be interested in and making sure campuses know of the work we are doing. (The Forest Foundation)

Project 5. Consulting, communications and marketing. Taking the above models, documenting the work we do and using this to educate and inform as well as provide assistance in technology transfer. Models may be used to help other local, decentralized alternative energy companies and organizations establish similar projects in their communities and may be used to assist in economic self sufficiency for NGO’s working in environmental conservation and sustainable development in developing countries. Synergistic and closed loop models such as these are needed in a number of areas and we have received requests for support from many organizations. This information and these services may provide an additional income generation source for the work of the non-profit. (The Forest Foundation)

The site’s Building I has over 10K ft2 and 3 large office areas and Building II has 4 garage bays, two of which house our biodiesel operation and the other two have been sublet to My Taller mechanics shop. Having a mechanic on site has helped immensely, servicing Bull City customers as well as the fleets of Greenway and CBL. The site’s infrastructure lends itself to efficiency’s and closed loop engineering. We have partnered with Biologix of the Triangle to create a waste oil recycling and processing operation to provide feedstock for the biodiesel reactor. Forest of the World is comfortably housed on the warehouse space of which the new site abounds.

Since our move, we have had articles in the Durham News and Observer on our green transportation business and our biodiesel operation, and picked up our largest biodiesel customer, Orange Recycling (the Triangle’s largest commercial recycler), who is now running their fleet of 15 trucks on B100. ShimarRecycling came on board as well with their fleet of 6 trucks. CBL’s sales are expected to quadruple in 2007 and Greenway is slowly building its pedicab, limo and bus service, reaching out to restaurants and businesses for underwriting. We received a $20K grant from Triangle Clean Cities and have installed a card swipe B100 pump and tank.

The Site is located in an urban redevelopment zone and a great deal of funding and support is available as the site is an historic property, built in the 20’s, and qualifies for tax credits and low interest loans. The site boasts 400K in above ground storage tanks, rail spur, spill containment and oil/water separator system. We expect the site will need several hundred thousand dollars to bring it up to full operation and we are seeking investors and donors. We took on a new, part-time coordinator for Greenway, Dana Demaio, who has done a great job in managing the business and have some additional help with FOW and TFF. Kyley Schmidt worked with FOW this summer as an intern and helped with IT and sales of overstocked items. Katie Weber came on in August to help with our Grand Opening on Sept. 14th (among other super helpful things), before she headed out to South America again.

In other news, TFF and FOW exhibit again at the NY Gift show and introduced Peace Goods, a Malagasy silk company to the show. FOW entered into negotiations with Gecko Traders to purchase their line of silk and recycled rice bags. FOW sales have slowed and we have back-burnered investment in the handicraft business until we can stabilize the other businesses and their high time and capital demands during their rapid growth. MK and Marc took a vacation in April and visited Lake Tahoe, San Francisco and Monterey Bay (see their blog on the trip).

Fossil Fuels have provided us with host of benefits, including: fertilizer, fabrics, electricity, plastic, and fuel, to name just a few. In fact, nearly all advances in the last 100 years since its discovery can be laid at the feet of inexpensive energy. Now, we are beginning to understand the consequences and true costs of carbon emissions from chemical pollutants and global climate change to hyper resource consumption and poorly designed communities. We have yet to begin to commit to the large-scale changes necessary to create an emissions-free energy structure. To do so will require a number of innovative strategies, of which internalizing into our economic decision-making the true costs of our emissions is critical. Political capture, in action and slow response on the state, national and international levels are forcing municipalities to take leadership in the effort to combat climate change. The development of a carbon mitigation system at the local or community level may be the most effective mechanism for immediate action. Durham recently contracted for an greenhouse gas emissions characterization, see:

www.durhamnc.gov/ghg

The massive economic growth created by industrialization and market society has completely altered human expectations about living standards, and in the developed world, demolished our immediate sense of dependence on the earth. Thomas Berry calls this detachment “the incapacity of humans in the industrial cultures to be present to the Earth and its various modes of being in some intimate fashion.” As consumers and as industry, we have begun to respond to ecological crisis by calling ourselves “green,” by recycling on a personal level and by purchasing carbon offsets on an institutional level. As Thomas Friedman writes, “The dirty little secret is that we’re fooling ourselves.” We are not changing our patterns of consumption, because we are not fully appreciating our human role on the planet.

Addressing the post-industrial challenges of global warming and species loss requires not only scientific research, but a universally renewed attachment to nature. As places of research and learning, universities will have to lead this transformation. The institutions leading the way have realized that the possibilities for real change lie in the politics of the local and relationship to place, specifically collaborative sustainability efforts on a local and regional level. The real plan to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels lies in local initiatives. By forming a coalition for local carbon mitigation projects, we can engage our community with the Earth in such a way to allow a deeper transformation in how we live our lives.

Goals

The primary goal of the Working Group is to create a local fund to support the Community Carbon Mitigation Catalog, that offer the largest carbon mitigation equivalents (”bang for the buck” and “low hanging fruit”), such as:

energy conservation,

transportation,

green space, and

solar electricity and hot water.

By creating a way for individuals and businesses to make recognizable donations (i.e. “trades” in money for carbon) locally, the Working Group can begin to internalize external costs of pollution while instilling a sense of community, keeping money local (with a multiplier effect on the economy), and supporting worthy local projects.

Together with other organizations, it is hoped that a system of resources and services in education, training and consulting can be developed to support these field projects. The Working Group can develop a program to not only help and support the area’s clean energy, but to provide a training system that can give university students and faculty experience and opportunities.

To fulfill its goals, the Working Group proposes four objectives:

A. Development of an Advisory Board:

The first step is to have a meeting and establish an advisory board. Jeff Chase, of Duke’s computer science department, did a thorough equivalence for bio-diesel, using a $15-30/metric ton price for carbon emissions. He has offered to host the first Working Group meeting at his house. Most important is the determination of the management structure of the entity of this Community Carbon Mitigation Catalog. Will it be a non-profit or not-for-profit? Should it be run as a business? What overhead should be added? To date, Clean Energy Durham has agreed to take the lead and The Forest Foundation has offered it’s offices and infrastructure to house a staff member and operations.

B. A Carbon Equivalent Catalog:

CED’s intern James Hicks will work with Self-Help’s Jane Brown through June 13 to prepare a business plan for the local carbon mitigation catalog, including the sales model and the items to be sold. This catalog can become a precursor to a more sophisticated mitigation and trading system, helping to establish carbon equivalents and identifying local projects.

CED’s intern Rob Baird will work part-time in his fall semester to finalize the business plan and confirm the participation of product suppliers.

C. Marketing:

A student marketing consultant can begin to market these projects to for-profit companies that might underwrite them for tax credits, like: Duke Energy, GlaxoSmithKline, IBM or SAS.

These projects can also appeal to already existing commitments for mitigation, who, for the most part, are using projects outside the Triangle and the State to achieve their carbon reduction. Examples are Pratt School of Engineering, Fuqua School of Business and Nicholas School of the Environment.

D. List of participating organizations:

Compiling a list of both potential buyers of credits and sellers of credits as well as possible sponsors or underwriters of the infrastructure to create and update the catalog and operate the trading/mitigation system.

Each organization interested in participating in the Catalog should compile their own catalog or carbon offsets with carbon equivalents. For example, Clean Energy Durham could list 100 CFLs installed for $1,000 ($5 for the bulb and $3 for labor and $2 for overhead) would achieve 1/3 of a ton x 100, or 33.3 tons (2240 lbs/ton) over 12,000 hours. That’s .033 tons per $1, or 75 lbs. per $1 over the lifetime, approximately 5 years. That’s a great deal! Triangle Land Conservancy could list an acre of land, or 10 tree plantings, and Carolina Biodiesel could list 100 gals of biodiesel, displacing 100 gals of diesel, achieving roughly 2000 lbs of carbon for $350 (plus 70% less air pollution and locally produced fuel). Each equivalent should be certified or confirmed by a third party, say by The Nicholas School at Duke’s students.

Protocol for Membership

· A letter is required from all possible Members and Organizations stating their interest in participation;

· Attendance at meetings, conferences or lectures;

· Input on draft and finished publications of the Working Group;

· Assistance in identifying Board members and/or funding sources.

Copy produced by James Hicks, intern (with edits from Marc Dreyfors)
for
Clean Energy Durham (CED) and
The Forest Foundation, Inc.

In addition, each shipment to over 100 churches in North and South Carolina will include:

– Frank De Pasqualle’s handbook on greening the church, published by the Episcopal Diocese of NC;

– How to conduct an Earth Justice Fair at your church, edited by Bob Rodriguez;

– How to have a Fair Trade Sale;

– information on Climate change, published by Inner Faith Power and Light;

– examples of an Earth Covenant; and

– works of Thomas Berry.

Each shipment will be packed with ideas for transformational change in our spiritual life.

Make social and environmental justice part of your parish’s Lenten observation

“The economy should work for people, not the other way around.”
Economic Justice for All, US Catholic Bishops, 1986

Why order Eco Palms?
Your purchase will ensure that palm harvesters in Mexico and Guatemala are earning a fair income for their labor, and that palms are being harvested in an environmentally sustainable way. Fair Trade Programs support a trading partnership for sustainable development for excluded and disadvantaged producers. Harvesting palm products is an important source of supplemental income for many indigenous families and communities in Guatemala and Mexico. Profits from your purchase support impoverished communities in Guatemala and Mexico so that,

– women can buy fruits and vegetables for their families,

– communities can bring health-care providers into their area,

– young children can go to school,

– harvesters can be covered with health care insurance.

For a fuller explanation of the benefits of Eco Palms go to
http://cinram.umn.edu/ecopalms/index.html

What is the cost?
Each frond costs 24 cents or less, depending on the quantity, slightly higher that the palms customarily used, which are really a grass grown in Texas and Florida. A more important question might be “Can a faith based community ignore it’s social teaching regarding stewardship of the earth’s resources and the value of labor?” A little creative thinking could provide for the cost differential and make a difference in the lives of our brothers and sisters in poverty.

What are Eco Palms?
Eco Palms come from the Maya Biosphere Reserve region, the biological diverse rainforests of the Peten of Guatemala, Quintana Roo, Yucatan and Chiapas States of Mexico. Known locally as the “Xate” palm, each frond is 16-20 inches long and 10-12 inches wide and is low forest floor species.

Where can Eco Palms be purchased?
CRS is routing all orders through Eco Palms at the University of Minnesota. Order forms are available at www.cinram.umn.edu/ecopalms . Distribution will be though Forest Foundation in Durham http://www.forestsoftheworld.com/.

How reliable is this source?
The Eco Palms project filled every order on time in2006. Either Guatemala or Mexico can meet the demand alone.

What is the deadline for orders?
Orders for Palm Sunday in 2007 must be received by March 12.

Make a difference in the health and education of the poor in Tikal and Chiapas by advocating in your local church community for purchase of Eco Palms, then pass along this information to others. Together we can make a difference!

(Below is a LANDSAT image of the Yucatan, red dotes are fires from “milpa” farming and forest clearance.)

The Great Work: Our Way into the Future, by Thomas Berry, 2000.

(A must read, providing us with our spiritual guidance and a thorough critic of our culture and society. Berry creates a transcendent understanding of being on the planet and oneness with creation. He borrows from indigenous and Eastern cultures, though well grounded in understanding of Judeo-Christian traditions. All his books are a must read, but this is where you should start)

Last Child in the Woods: Saving Our Children from Nature-Deficit Disorder, by Richard Louv, 2005.

(Must read for parents, teachers or educational reform advocates… in other words, everyone. See previous Book Review in Nov. 2006)

Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution, by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, 1999.

(”bible” for the future, covers market externalities and efficiencies of creating socio-economic structures in tune with ecological systems. IT is natural capital from which all forms of capital follow.)

The Small-Mart Revolution: How Local Businesses Are Beating the Global Competition, by Michael H. Shuman and Bill McKibben, 2006.

(How to build “Local Living Economies” and why community leaders need to shift the way they promote growth and development)

Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble, by Lester R. Brown, 2006.

(Best summary of our impending ecological collapse and what we can do about it. Depressing as hell the first half, but full of hope and promise, the second. With just 2% of GDP invested in sustainable development we can save the planet and lift the growing population out of poverty)

The Weather Makers: How Man Is Changing the Climate and What It Means for Life on Earth, by Tim Flannery, 2006.

(Best written/supported summary of human induced climate change, brilliant and scary)

Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed, by Jared Diamond, 2004.

(Very thorough assessment of the human condition, using historical case studies of collapsing civilizations, primarily due to environmental negligence. Don’t be surprised if we collapse the planet, which it is where we seem headed without radical shift in the way we think and act)

The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals, by Michael Pollan, 2006.

(Brilliantly written review of our primary form of connection with our world, Chapters on Industrial Corn and Ag. and Permiculture are fabulous. He fails to see the environmental consequences of eating meat, even raised under sustainable systems and goes to light on the ethical aspects, though his review of industrial meat production should turn anyone away. Sustainable food production is primary and we must support local small farmers.)

The Republican War on Science, by Chris Mooney, 2006.

(Great review of major issues of our times, the role of science in our life and formation of policy and the criminal actions of the far right, corporations and social conservatives. Time for a revolution to save truth.)

Crimes Against Nature: How George W. Bush and His Corporate Pals Are Plundering the Country and Hijacking Our Democracy, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 2004.

(If you aren’t outraged, you aren’t paying attention, and the Dems. aren’t so great either. Time for political reform, place to start: www.fairvote.org)

Must see DVDs:

“Life and Debt”- IMF and World Bank austerity and free trade neo-liberalism demolish Jamaica’s home-grown industries, tourism fails to be a vehicle for development

“Mindwalk”- Quantum mechanics rules over Newtonian-Cartesian thinking

“The Corporation”—Reform of Capitalism must start with the Corporations legal right to be viewed as a person, an outrage resulting in pathological behavior.

Now, instead of having to pay for the disposal service, you can receive a tax break by donating to TFF’s Program. Key is making sure your waste oil collection is free of any other contaminants, like food, paper, water or other waste. Educating your staff and utilizing a clean oil protocol will allow this resource to be utilized easily and efficiently. The option also exists for us to provide high quality, low trans/partially hydrogenated and saturated fats oils to restaurants, and change and pick up their waste oil.

Revenue generated will help increase the use of renewable and sustainable fuels, and promote environmental education, sustainable energy and green business projects here and abroad. Other groups supporting this project are: Duke University Energy Club and CleanEnergy Durham.

Why donate your oil?

· Donating will allow you to reduce cost as we will provide you tax deduction forms for your records for the full value of the cleaned and filtered oil, rather than having to pay to have the oil removed.

· Using waste oil for fuel is better than paying a renderer to sell it into the animal feed industry, particularly given the problem of prions and mad-cow disease infecting foods.

· Using higher quality oil in your fryers will improve taste and your customers’ health (See www.bantransfats.com ) as well as provide a higher quality waste oil for conversion to fuel.

· Donating will help support a local, decentralized energy and sustainable community program, helping build a BALLE chapter (See www.localeconomies.org). TFF will provide a window sign and brochures detailing this project and your support of it.

· Additional benefits will accrue as, together, we build sustainable business relationships, and support the types of projects our community needs to become more viable long-term.

Simply displacing diesel fuel with biodiesel will make a huge difference in our community, reducing air pollution and exposure to children, and carbon emissions that contribute to global warming and climate change. Studies have shown that biofuels can reduce emissions by 70%. This will be a huge benefit to the Triangle as we are currently in non-attainment by EPA, and making the fuel from local sources will help “close the loop,” benefiting farmers who grow the oilseeds, while promoting recycling and keeping energy money local. TFF is working with several businesses in the area to help build a biodiesel cooperative and B100 tank trail Statewide.

Energy Conservation- An additional benefit is that TFF can help your business reduce overall energy footprint with a variety of technologies, saving you lots of money, while making your customers feel good. Other opportunities exist to “green” your restaurant using the Green Restaurant Association guidelines.

Green Events- TFF has launched a project with several consultants and companies in the area to “green” events, such as catered weddings, conferences and meetings, offering a variety of ways to purchase organic, fair trade and sustainable products and/or mitigating the impacts associated with events, like through green transportation (See www.GreenRides.org).

Carbon Mitigation- TFF is also initiating a voluntary, Triangle-wide carbon mitigation and banking system that can allow your business to offset its carbon by investing in local, alternative energy, energy efficiency and carbon sequestration projects. We are working with several local and State-wide organizations to find the most efficient ways to lower our carbon footprint and keep our resources and investments local.

Feeling your “carbon obesity,” get a CFL. Tired of mercury ending up on your plate in your fish? (Fish are tired of it too BTW!) Worried climate catastrophe is
around the corner? Too much of your hard earned money going to big
corporations that lobby and fund poor political leadership? We have a
simple solution (one of many). Just think, if everyone in America used
one, we would not have to build another nuclear or coal fired plant in the
States for years. What a concept!

Q: What do light bulbs have to do with carbon dioxide emissions?

A: When you go home and replace an ordinary 60 watt incandescent bulb with this 13 watt CFL, you will be saving 47 watts for the entire lifetime of the bulb. These bulbs provide the same lumens (or amount of light intensity) as incandescent, but have a rated life of 12,000 hours (15-20 times longer than an incandescent). That’s 564 kWh. That equates with about 1/3 of a ton of carbon emissions saved by this one bulb over its lifetime!

Q: Can changing a few light bulbs make a difference?

A: One compact fluorescent light bulb can reduce a lot of carbon emitted and energy consumed. Just think if everyone used them in their homes and offices. America would not need to build another nuclear or coal fired plant in the next 20 years. Combined with other alternative energy sources and adjustments in our lifestyles we could become fossil fuel independent in a matter of few decades. Now that’s something to crow about!

Q: Why should I bother?

A: Over the life of the bulb, you can expect your electricity bills to be reduced by $50. If used it 3 hours a day, you will save about $4.63 a year (for 11 years.) Your savings accrue faster if you replace frequently used bulbs. And savings will increase with rising electricity prices and costs. Beyond the pure utilitarian/money saving aspect, there are a host of other benefits listed on the below. Do it for you and your kids!

Q: Do all CFLs have this twisted shape?

A: There are many shapes and sizes available in stores. This includes bulbs with an outer glass shell that look much more like traditional bulbs, for open light fixtures. Vanity, spot, dimmer, three-way and candelabra bulbs are also available.

Q: I tried CFLs when I first heard about them, and they were very low quality.

A: Early CFLs had many quality control problems. They sputtered, hummed, and/or broke quickly. Quality is much better today, but there are still lower quality bulbs on the market. When buying bulbs, be sure to look for the Energy Star logo. Bulbs with the Energy Star logo have passed rigorous testing.

Q: Are there other benefits?
A:
1. Saving electricity also cuts emissions of other pollutants from power generation, such as NOx, SO x, and mercury.
2. Electricity generation is one of the largest users of fresh water. A typical coal or nuclear power plant will evaporate 3 gallons of water to produce 1 kWh of electricity.
3. Reducing your energy use delays the necessity of building new power plants and transmission lines, which helps to keep everyone’s electricity prices low.
4. When your air conditioner is running, the extra heat created by lighting has to be removed from your home. Taking this into account, your new CFL will be saving 62 watts during the summer months, compared to the 47 watt savings in the winter.
5. Many light fixtures have maximum watt ratings. With CFLs, you can use a much brighter bulb without exceeding the recommended wattage.
6. Because CFLs last much longer than traditional bulbs, they need to be changed much less often. This can be reason enough to use them in hard-to-reach light fixtures.

Q: Is there anything I can’t use them for?

A: Most CFLs do not work in dimmable light fixtures, although special dimmable bulbs are available. More styles are available for floodlights, various lampshade styles and decorative bulbs. And since CFLs produce little heat, they should not be used to protect your outdoor plants from frost, as is sometimes done with incandescent bulbs.

Q: What’s the downside?

A: Like all fluorescents, CFLs have a slight delay before they come on.

Q: Don’t fluorescent lights contain Mercury?

A: Some bulbs each contain about 2 mg of mercury. The reduction in mercury emitted by coal fired power plants (about 4 or more times as much, depending on the type of coal) will more than compensate for any mercury released into the atmosphere if the bulb breaks on disposal. While you are not legally obligated to recycle CFLs, it is clearly better for the environment if you do. Lamprecycle.org has information on how and where to recycle used CFLs. Clearly LED’s (Light Emitting Diodes) are the way to go as they last forever, are low in energy demand and can be made with lower environmental impact (See www.theledlight.com)

Q: Where can I get more bulbs?

A: Home improvement, hardware, and grocery stores also carry CFLs. Remember to look for the Energy Star logo. You can expect to pay $3 to $8 for CFLs.

The Forest Foundation is offering Autocell (EnergyStar and consumer rated highest quality) bulbs at a discount because of our commitment to environmental education and real, practical solutions to alternative energy and climate change. Help us help you. Make a tax deductible donation, or buy a bunch of these guys from us! Thank you for participating and don’t forget to write your elected representatives and ask them why more isn’t being done about climate change and transitioning our economy and society to a more sustainable future!

We have several extra cases of Autocell, Compact Florescent
15w(60watt equivalent) light bulbs, which we sold at our State Fair booth.
These are the “best of the best,” have no lead (a big plus, but do have mercury, sorry for the heavy metal confusion) and we have them on sale as a
fundraiser for our non-profit, The Forest Foundation.

They are $3.50, or 2 for $6.
We can also quote a case price of 40 units. And can drop ship to
those loved ones out of town. Come by and visit us at our warehouse.
We also have 25w(100watt equivalents) bulbs too, $4.50, or 2 for $8. As well, we have a range of fair trade crafts from the “last great places on the planet”… ah, but that isn’t as nearly an easy sell.

The Forest Foundation, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that promotes sustainable livelihoods around the world… and around the block. We provide both environmental education and “green” business development through a number of ongoing programs and projects. We have a lot of really creative and innovative ideas, done a great deal of good with very limited resources and low overhead and need your support. Contact us at:

The Forest Foundation, Inc.
607 Ellis Rd., Bldg. 53-A1
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 957-1505 / Fax: -1502 info@theforestfoundation.org, www.theforestfoundation.org