Showing posts with label HOME. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HOME. Show all posts
Thursday, January 7, 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Friday, December 12, 2014
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Monday, September 22, 2014
The Rockefellers are getting out of oil and starting to buy the sun - what's next?!
Rockefellers to withdraw fossil fuel investments
NEW YORK — The scions of the American oil industry are divesting from fossil fuels.
The Rockefeller Brothers Fund, established by Standard Oil Co. tycoon John D. Rockefeller, will begin untangling its $860 million of investments from fossil fuels and shift those dollars toward renewable energy, the philanthropy will announce Monday.
The action is another symbolic step away from greenhouse-gas emitting fuels, which most scientists blame for warming the planet. It also shows the expanse of the "divest-invest" push led by environmental activists. The effort aims to persuade large endowments to shift their investments from fossil fuels to cleaner sources, such as renewable energy, that first targeted universities.
The theory is that policies aimed at restraining carbon emissions will make investing in fossil fuels more risky. Environmental activists point to credit downgrades of coal companies and coal-based utilities following proposed Obama administration cuts to carbon emissions from power plants as an example.
Events around New York timed around Tuesday's United Nations climate summit — such as a march Sunday that organizers say drew 300,000 — have underscored the push to address climate change.
The Rockefeller move highlights some of that sentiment. Standard Oil, after all, spawned the likes of ExxonMobil and Chevron.
The divesting movement is picking up steam. The Rockefeller announcement will come as part of a broader coalition of philanthropies, non-governmental organizations and faith groups that will reveal $50 billion worth of assets divesting from fossil fuels.
Philanthropies are a newer target. More than 160 environmentalists from 44 countries last week prodded philanthropies — particularly those that offer grants and other funds to projects aimed at curbing climate change — to pull investments in fossil fuel companies.
Institutional lenders also have begun exploring ways to offer more environmentally friendly options for their clients. Activists are pressuring traders as well — on Monday, they protested on Wall Street with a rally that reminded many of the Occupy movement.
But the divestment push is still fairly new and faces some roadblocks.
Deborah Gordon, director of the climate and energy program at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said she doesn't envision that markets — especially commodities traders — will quickly respond to longer-term climate threats.
"I'm a little less hopeful when it comes to the investment community," Gordon told the Washington Examiner. "They are very much trying to take advantage of the instance in trade. And climate change is very much not that."
Pension funds, too, are a bit trickier for the divestment movement. They're a big target, controlling billions of dollars in assets. But they are run by boards with a responsibility to their pensioners — and fossil fuel companies have provided fairly stable returns.
Scott Stringer, the comptroller for New York City, told the Washington Examiner that withdrawing the city's $160 billion pension fund from fossil fuel investments is "on the table," but he noted he is just one person on the board.
"I'm the fiduciary of the fund. It's not my money. There's five other people — I don't have a unilateral role in this," Stringer said at the People's Climate March on Sunday. "But there's so much more we can do, like on corporate governance. So we're looking at all those options."
Friday, September 12, 2014
.JPG)
Thursday, August 21, 2014
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
Summer Energy Tips from Monolith Solar
IT'S EASY BEING GREEN!
We want to help our solar partners save some moolah - here is a list of the best tips that we have seen for those looking for some green.
1. Install a programmable thermostat (and use it!)
Whatever you buy, remember to program it to save you money- heating or cooling less when you are not generally home or are sleeping.
2. Replace air filters
3. LED or CFL lightbulbs
Although it is tempting to go for the nice & cheap lightbulbs- these babies will save you lots of money over time. According to one source, changing to CFL bulbs can take the lighting portion of your energy bill from $264 / year to $66 / year. If you switch to LED, the cost goes to $26 / year. Woah (remember this is for an average light user- whatever that means).
4. Energy Star Appliances
Lucky for us, the only appliance that we need to buy is a washer & dryer. You may have to pay more upfront for Energy Star appliances but you will save big in the long run.
5. Caulk & Insulate
This may seem silly, but a lot of houses dont have enough insulation or properly caulked windows. Make sure to check all of your seems and add insulation where you can. It will help you be cool in the summer & cozy in the winter.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)