Chasing Clean Air

Recess

I'll be taking a break from blogging until the new year. :) Less than two weeks! If you're a first time visitor or have been here for awhile, may I suggest checking out the Clean Air Getaways category above, or Classic Chasing Clean Air stories below on left sidebar. I'm gearing up for exploration 2010 and considering a photo exhibit now.

Happy new year.

Photo from Dragon Lake in British Columbia. To read about my first fly-fishing experience, click here.

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The New Yorker's "Green Giant: Beijing’s crash program for clean energy"

Can China start mass producing clean energy like they once mass produced consumer goods?

According to the Dec. 21 and 28 edition of The New Yorker's "Green Giant", Evan Osnos wrote how China plans to mass produce clean energy, and America needs to take note. 

China started the 863 Program in the 1980s devoted to technological advancements.

China doubled their resources to target clean energy development in 2006, the same year China surpassed the United States as the largest contributor of greenhouse gases and air pollution.

Click here to read more of Green Giant.

There's hope in America, too. Examples of creative partnerships between private and public spheres creating accessible clean energy find my email inbox.

One example, I wrote how the Irvine school district is going solar with the help of industry partnerships. To read more, click here.

But despite America's hope, city, state, and federal agencies need our support to create mega-solar and wind power plants if we're to compete in the world's clean energy market.

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Copenhagen Climate Change Conference Videos

Free Speech TV. Just discovered it with recent videos from attendees of United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen. Click here.

How To Make Solar Energy When You Don't Have Money? Irvine School District Succeeds.

A bold ray of sun cut through the clouds as a leader emerged in the pursuit to go solar in a crappy economy. Let's learn from the teachers. :-)

Irvine Unified School District (IUSD) approved a plan that marries private business tax incentives for solar panels with the public need for less expensive, clean energy that will improve air quality & offset carbon.

SPG Solar, along with Sun Edison will rent roof space on IUSD's 21 school campuses to build & operate a solar system that sells energy back to the school up to 20% cheaper, and 100% cleaner.

Now that's a story. Worth telling over and over, so please forward this post to others.

Shelly Yarbrough, board member of the California Association of School Boards, brought this wonderful story to my attention. She hopes to inspire other school districts to follow Irvine's sustainable path. 

Their success can, naturally, be applied to other private/public partnerships seeking to clean the air and save money. So in this week of climate change talks in Copenhagen, let's get to work.

To read her inspiring review of how IUSD created a win/win partnership to pave a sustainable path, read on.

Watch Climate Change Video As Leaders Convene In Copenhagen

Increase your climate change awareness with video I created with upbeat Canadian songwriter "Turn It Around" Paul Malysa. As world leaders discuss landmark climate change solutions in Copenhagen, get inspired.If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to the Chasing Clean Air RSS feed!

Three Free Things To Do In Los Angeles: Disney Hall, LADWP, MOCA

I need levity after last post. Something upbeat. In a recession, there are many free things to enjoy in Los Angeles.

Here are three.

(Photos shot with my iPhone)

1. Disney Hall. How about checking out Disney Hall. Mom was in town, and we had a tour of Disney Hall highlighting its unusual architecture by Frank Gehry designed to be one of the most acoustically sophisticated concert halls in the world. They offer free events for kids once a month.