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There is a very real environmental battle taking place, which you can help. If you own a laser printer and end up throwing those empty toner cartridges away. You can reduce your carbon footprint by starting to reuse them.
Remember the mantra for our day has to “reduce, reuse and recycle”

The very simple fact is that it’s easy to save valuable resources, for instance start filling up your laser toner cartridges for instance. Nearly 50 million laser cartridges are bought each year just in Europe, 95% of these only get used once. Considering each new cartridge takes between 1 and 2 litres of oil to produce, that’s a lot of waste.

These cartridges very often end up as landfill, thousands of tons all across the planet. The materials don’t exactly decompose quickly either, the plastics are usually non-biodegradable. Every single time you reuse a cartridge you save on waste landfill.

Don’t throw these cartridges away or even send off to the many ‘so-called’ environmentally friendly remanufacture schemes, designed to simple make the company look good nothing more. Remember these empty toner cartridges all used to come with a little stopper which you could use to refill with compatible toner ink, now that’s eco friendly. However the printng companies realised they were missing out on a huge source of revenue here – so they removed them. 

There are many companies who can provide you with simple kits which can refill most empty toner cartridges. Many of these cartidges can be refilled 4 or 5 times with no real problems and each time you are saving up to 87% of the cost of a new laser toner cartridge.
All you need is one of the kits and some compatible toner to refill it, most cases it’s a 5 minute job, and requires no real skill.  Have a look at my refill toner review page to see how easy it is. The empty toner cartridges still work they just need some more ink.

The cartridges are perfectly fine, they’re not broken just empty. If you notice a little plug or stopper on your cartridge, it means that your toner is one of the lucky few and is designed to be refilled. Simply buy a bottle of replacement toner and refill the cartridge.

Other cartridges need you to create a refiller hole but it’s very simple with the right kit anyone can do this. You don’t need to touch the workings of the cartridge itself, so there’s little that can go wrong. You’re just filling it up with ink, have a look at this Refill Toner Review .
They won’t damage your printer, and you can refill the cartridge until you see a deteriation in the print quality and then buy a new one. You will be saving yourself lots of money and helping the environment.

Imagine if every one did this, saving millions of dollars and hundreds of thousands less toner cartridges being produced and thrown away.   So explore this possibility and please don’t throw away those empty toner cartridges, refill them and save some money.

We are all becoming progressively more aware of steps  that can be taken to make our working environments more ‘eco friendly’ ie switching off lights, when leaving rooms not in use, by not leaving electrical appliances on standby, recycling where possible and ditching disposable cups in favour of china or ceramic items.

In addition to these, there are further measures  which may be taken towards making our working lives even more eco aware. 

A range of products are now available for us to use in our offices and homes which are readily available to order easily and safely on line. This shopping method, saving both our time, and the most precious commodity, fuel.

An easy method of making a difference is by using recycled paper, ideal for office use and produced from 100% household waste. Great for the environment, accredited by Greenpeace and guaranteed for use in laser and inkjet printers alike and also good for photocopiers.

Continuing with the paper theme, why not use recycled notepads? These are available in varying  sizes and styles  and may have been juice cartons, tyres, cardboard boxes or packaging in their previous life.

When we write on our eco friendly paper and note pads, we can use recycled pens and pencils. These products may have been made from items such as games consoles, car parts or crisp packets which may have ended their days in a land fill site. A full range is available from ballpoint and roller ball pens, permanent and whiteboard markers, pens with super fine tips to colouring pencils. All work just as well as their non recycled counterparts.

An innovation is the stapler that doesn’t need staples!  How much metal could be saved each year with one of these?  It’s handheld and will clip up to three pages together by utilising a clever cutting and folding action.

Another super idea – the water powered calculator. Unlike the solar powered variety, it will function regardless of light supply. It is powered by an H20 battery, which will last two to three years with continuous usage and all of it’s components are recyclable. A constant energy supply is maintained by refilling the battery as the water evaporates. If kept in it’s dry state, it will last indefinitely.

Did you know that most padded envelopes are not recyclable?  it is sensible therefore, to re use them as much as possible. There’s a handy adhesive label dispenser available which sits well on your office desks.It’s  produced from 100% recycled cardboard and dispenses adhesive labels simply and cleanly.

Becoming ‘eco aware’ really is becoming easier.

Did you BYOB the last time you went shopping?This is a question every person must ask themselves.  We are flying through 2010 and there has in no way been a more vital era to bring your own reusable grocery bags. When you BYOB, rather than using single-use plastic or paper disposable bags, you immediately become a piece of the answer to the enormous urban waste quandary linked with disposable shopping bag waste.  As of July 1, 2010, it is estimated that over 240 billion plastic bags have been consumed in 2010 alone.  What ís yet even more alarming is the impact that plastic and paper throw-away bags are continuing to have on the natural environment.   The function of this article is to review the latest reports regarding large-scale efforts to cut down on the use of plastic and paper disposable bags along with the associated waste, and discuss what options are available to us individual consumers in order to know for sure we are a part of the answer to this crisis.  

The good news is that BYOB momentum is increasing quickly in 2010.  Provided you havenít heard the news yet, the California legislature has proposed a bill; AB 1998 (to be voted on by the Senate in August), which would ban disposable bags sold within supermarkets, drugstores, convenience, and liquor stores and take complete effect by 2013.  Even ìThe Governatorî, Arnold Schwarzenegger, said that he would sign the bill if it makes it to his desk.   This certainly could be a gigantic victory for all friends of the natural environment to have the biggest state, within the third biggest nation in the world, to place a prohibition on throw-away plastic bags. Considering that China first cracked down on plastic bags in 2008 and Ireland legislative efforts to diminish plastic bag consumption all started in 2002, it is so terrific to be made aware that California legislators have brought this possible law to the table.  

In the United States, metropolitan areas from San Francisco to Los Angeles to Washington DC have approved or enacted laws and regulations that either tax patrons for the utilization of plastic bags or prohibit them altogether, but California would be the first American state to take action if this bill were to pass.  Believe it or not, even state representatives from the state of Texas have written legislation that would insert a seven-cent tax for every throw-away bag used.   It is so exciting that there is a possibility that both Texas and California may possibly soon have laws and regulations in place to battle the plastic bag epidemic.  Efforts by individuals and governments to shrink large-scale use of throw-away shopping bags is a wonderful technique to motivate people and spread the word regarding the overwhelmingly positive benefits of ecologically friendly reusable shopping bags.

Plastic bags can take up to a thousand years to biodegrade completely, and before that it just decomposes down in smaller and even tinier toxic pieces that find their way inside our food, water, and soil. Biodegradable reusable grocery bags, are a good quality alternative, once thrown away in landfill sites, the subjection to daylight, air, and high temperature will convert these bags into liquid, carbon dioxide, mineral salt and biomass.  Akin to a fallen leaf, it will disappear over time and leave NO Dangerous Residue in the soil.  Plastic grocery bags finish up inside our landfills as well as regularly get tangled and bring about permanent problems in waste management equipment.   Hundreds of millions if not billions of other bags end up as urban litter and commonly find their way in to rivers, resevoirs, streams, as well as the ocean.  Creatures, especially nautical animals, get intertwined in plastic bags, and/or consume them and often suffocate or starve to death.  

So the remedy brings us back to BYOB, which is incredibly effortless.  Just remember to utilize ecologically friendly reusable grocery bags or recycled green bags, or reuse an old bag, period.  Be sure to keep spare reusable bags in your car or in your rucksack, because you will want to ensure that they are handy when you want them.  Also remember to wash your bags following use, especially after transporting raw foods or cleaning supplies.  You should also present them to your friends as a reminder to BYOB.  Of course, continuously remember to recycle every time the chance presents itself, recycling is always a win-win situation for the natural environment.  Instituting a BYOB habit in our personal lives and organizations is in truth the finest way to guarantee we are truly part of the resolution rather than the problem.  Right now is the time to go out and lead by example.

While a great deal of attention has been focused on Congress, the real action in U.S. climate policy over the past two years has been at the state and local level and in the U.S. EPA. Municipalities like New York City have moved to reduce greenhouse gasses emissions with more energy efficient building codes and programs like Mayor Bloomberg’s plan to plant one million trees. Meanwhile EPA’s tortoise-like regulatory process has been making slow and steady progress to set a regulatory cap on greenhouse gas emissions. Since the U.S. Supreme Court’s 2007 ruling that greenhouse gasses could be regulated as an air pollutant under the Clean Air Act, EPA has been moving to collect information on emissions and then put in place a set of rules that would gradually kick in over the next decade.

Meanwhile, the fellahs in the Senate, Senators John Kerry (D-Mass.), Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) are putting together an energy and climate bill that would strip EPA of some of its authority to regulate greenhouse gasses under the Clean Air Act and prohibit state and regional cap and trade programs. Now that the health bill is finally off the agenda, the climate and energy dance begins in earnest.

There are a number of political facts that will guide this process between now and the mid-term elections in November. First, President Obama will be focusing on jobs and the economy between now and November, so climate and energy will only gain traction as part of an economic initiative to create jobs. Second, a Senate bill that is substantially weaker than Waxman-Markey will not survive a conference and could be opposed explicitly or implicitly by the White House with the argument that EPA’s regulatory cap is a stronger environmental law.

Clearly the move against EPA in the Senate is a political strategy to appease anti-regulatory forces in the Congress and the business community. A new national standard limiting greenhouse gases could be established without removing old authorities in the Clean Air Act. A Senate bill could easily add to EPA’s regulatory authority and encourage them to shift their administrative initiative from the Clean Air Act to a new and better crafted piece of legislation. The choice could be left to EPA. In fact, due to the need for certainty and the possibility of legal challenges to a new bill, EPA and the Administration should retain the right to use the Clean Air Act to limit greenhouse gasses. Limiting EPA’s authority is not necessary and creates a symbolic debate that Kerry and his colleagues will lose.

A comprehensive approach to climate policy is needed and should include efforts to address the energy crisis, However, a plausible case can be made that the U.S. is putting in place a workable, if imperfect greenhouse gas regulatory program. It is unlikely at this point that President Obama will expend massive amounts of political capital to get a climate bill out of Congress. If a reasonable one emerges, he probably will support and sign it, but a controversial bill limiting EPA and state authority is not going to get anywhere. Health care became a must-win battle for the President. Climate policy will not develop in the same way.

The energy issue may very well get separated from the climate issue, by the argument that EPA is handling climate. If this happens, a bill that provides capital for green energy efficiency retrofits and infrastructure, pays for energy research and development, and creates jobs in a massive effort to create a green energy economy could get somewhere. I work at a university, so to some degree I should be seen as a lobbyist for research funds. Special pleading aside, I really think that in addition to moving energy technology off of the shelf into more rapid use, we need to focus resources and attention on energy research. Research should focus on solar cells and batteries, smart grids, carbon capture and storage, non-fission nuclear, wind and geothermal technologies. We need to unleash our brainpower on all possible solutions to the transition to the post-fossil fuel energy economy. Just as defense and interstate highways steered economic development in the U.S. after World War II, investment in the energy future can make our economy more efficient, secure and prosperous in the 21st century.

Investment in the research and development of improved energy will pay off. One of the problems with the federal budget is the absence of a capital budget. It is difficult to separate deficits that come from overspending on annual expenses from borrowing for capital facilities and investments that result in wealth creation or long term benefits. There is a long tradition in America of public investment in infrastructure. Government has always invested in roads, trains, ports and power. An important part of that tradition is a division of labor and funding with private partners. The Defense department invented the internet, but at a crucial point in its development, the department made an effort to commercialize the web through the private sector. We need to develop a sophisticated national strategy of research, development and commercialization of the energy technologies I mentioned earlier. In the midst of all of this posturing and symbolic energy and climate politics, it would be great if somebody in Washington could focus on the serious business of creating a real energy policy for the 21st century. Perhaps we could do it next winter in the 90 days between the mid term election and the start of the 2012 presidential campaign.

Each summer, I visit the Chequamagon National Forest in Wisconsin. An amazingly beautiful and lush forest, this place is my sanctuary. I stay at a low-key resort, in a cabin overlooking Lake Namekagon. It’s a breath of fresh air – quite literally – to spend two weeks each year at this place, away from bustling streets and busy people. It’s like a different world.

Or, at least, it was. I had a very different experience this past July. Upon entering our cabin, my fiance and I were greeted by a large television, equipped with Direct TV. Don’t get me wrong: I’m a TV-lover, through and through. There was, however, something strange about having to look around the television to see the lake.

We overlooked this; after all, we don’t own the cabin. Some resort-goers might crave 500 channels before they crave hiking and fishing. Convinced that the TV (both the sight of it and the temptation to watch it) would put a damper on things, we went out on the water.

As I started the old, rented pontoon boat, something occured to me. We were no better than the TLC, MTV, and MSNBC addicts. Yes, our boat was used for the enjoyment of the outdoors; however, it left a muddy, green wake behind it. Yes, we came to the resort to get away from everyday conveniences and to surround ourselves with nature, but we were staying in a cabin – not a tent or a sleeping bag. We cooked our breakfast every morning on a fairly modern stove, we drank coffee made in a Bunn coffeemaker, and we turned on the electric heat if the cabin got too cold. It turns out we weren’t roughing it; we were faking it.

Since this realization, I’ve been troubled. I don’t understand where our appreciation for nature went. I don’t understand how misguided travelers – myself included – consider themselves to be experiencing nature, when really all we’re doing is glancing at it between commercials. Granted, everyone experiences nature in a different way. For some, glancing at it through a window – or on a TV screen – might be enough.

I’m concerned, though, that by accepting this as a legitimate way to experience nature, we are missing something. Or, perhaps, we are missing everything. On a basic level, there is something satisfying about feeling a different kind of air on your skin, and about feeling the crunch of leaves and dirt beneath your feet. Where city lights don’t corrupt the night sky, we can see stars in a new way, and the level of darkness is foreign and exciting.

There more to this simple human/nature combination than deep satisfaction, though. There is a danger present in the ways we currently explore nature. It is common for travelers to hop on boats, jetskis, waverunners, or ATVs to travel through lakes and forests. In these cases, vacationgoers are experiencing nature – while leaving a trail of pollution behind.

And what about our cabin? Built in the middle of the forest, trees had to be removed in order for the resort to exist. There is an inherent disconnect, here: the resort was designed to house nature-loving travelers who want to see the forest’s natural beauty, and yet in order for the resort to exist, some of the forest had to be cut down. Instead of experiencing untouched and unscathed nature, vacationers are experiencing a forest marred by human interference.

This is the way with us. We, whether intentionally or accidentally, can’t help but tinker with nature in its natural forms. Even when we attempt to truly experience it, we are also hindering it. So, we must consider some simple pieces of advice if we wish….

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Additional Resources : HHO Gas Kits , Magniwork , Magnetic Electricity Generator

CIBC has become the first major Canadian bank to form an investment team focused on green energy and clean technology markets, forging a path that industry experts say is likely to be followed by its big-bank rivals.

Canada’s fifth-largest bank announced Tuesday it has appointed Don Roberts, a former managing director and forestry analyst at CIBC World Markets Inc., as vice-chairman of the new wholesale banking team.

Roberts told the Star the decision sends a clear signal to the market and internally at the bank that renewable energy and clean technologies are more than a passing investment fad.

“We’re really looking at a structural change in the economy to low-carbon energy sources,” he said. “So this isn’t just to take advantage of a short cycle. This is a long-term move for us.”

The 10-person team plans to offer a range of wholesale services, including pre-IPO private placements, project financing, public equity issues and corporate loans. It will also advise on mergers and acquisitions.

Tom Rand, head of the clean technology practice at Toronto’s MaRS Discovery District, said CIBC’s plan to more aggressively pursue the market – including everything from solar and wind projects to water technologies to biochemical production – could send ripples through the sector.

“The big banks don’t like to put their foot out first, but they also like to move in lock-step,” said Rand. “CIBC making the first move will certainly force the other four to move.”

The big banks have dabbled, but as Roberts explained, most of the activity has taken place in “silos” and not as part of a coordinated plan. For this reason, Canada banks have been labelled laggards relative to their European peers.

The opportunities of getting into the game now are still enormous. Bloomberg New Energy Finance estimates that global expenditure on renewable energy projects alone will reach $150 billion (U.S.) in 2020, up from $90 billion in 2009. By 2030, the research firm predicts the market will reach $200 billion.

Progressive provincial policies in Canada, including Ontario’s Green Energy Act and feed-in-tariff program and B.C.’s carbon tax and forthcoming Clean Energy Act, are creating a long pipeline of renewable energy projects that will need billions of dollars in financing.

Meanwhile, venture investments are on the rise again after being hammered in 2009. Clean technology companies raised $1.9 billion during the first quarter of 2010, up 29 per cent from the previous quarter and 83 per cent from the same period a year ago, according to market research firm Cleantech Group.

Roberts said only $35 million in venture capital was raised by Canadian companies in the quarter. “It’s not great,” he said. “Clearly in Canada finance has been a problem. The whole financial community has to educate itself on this.”

Nicholas Parker, co-founder and executive chairman of the Cleantech Group, called CIBC’s new focus on the market “timely.” He said there’s no reason Toronto can’t become North America’s top centre for eco-financing, in the same way Canada’s largest city is the continent’s mining finance capital.

“This (CIBC announcement) can be the thing that sparks it,” said Parker.

The Toronto Stock Exchange is getting ready. The parent company of Canada’s senior stock exchange announced March 25 that it had partnered with credit-rating agency Standard & Poor’s to create a new clean technology index.

Roberts said CIBC plans to recruit for this new index. “Clearly our focus will be Canadian, but also taking other technology companies in the U.S. and elsewhere and bringing them to the TSX.”

Added Roberts: “I feel passionately that there’s opportunity here.”

Disneyworld advertises it is the “happiest place on earth” although the most fulfilling country on the globe to live is officially little Costa Rica, winner of the 2009 Happy Planet Index.

Sure,you have heard something about great Costa Rica vacations. 800 miles of pristine beaches on two oceans.  Mighty volcanoes and five percent of all the species of plants and animals on earth. In a land of mighty volcanoes with an astounding five percent of every kind of plant and animal on the globe (higher than any other country on earth), Costa Rica is spoken of in superlatives.   All that and. . . top of the Happy Planet Index, too!

What, exactly, is the Happy Planet Index? Generally, it is an index that evaluates both  human well-being and the environmental impact that was introduced by the New Economics Foundation in 2006.  It  is best imagined as a measure of the environmental efficiency of supporting well-being in a given country, now and in the future.

Seems a bit complex, for sure, but  the concept behind it is basically fairly simple and, more importantly, this Index is adapted to   the 21st Century.

The Index  is generally based on three principles, namely, that:

(1)  Most people alive today want to live long and fulfilling lives;

 (2)  Their descendants are entitled to the same kind of lives, too; and

 (3)  What we do with our resources today will have an impact on the well-being of those who follow us.

Most indices evaluating any country’s development  commonly look to its current situation  using metrics about Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and the Human Development Index (HDI) to get a sort of snapshot of a nation’s current situation and then compare that to how it has done over time and, of course, how it compares to other countries.

GDP  is a metric  of a country’s overall economic output.  Though it does not measure a country’s standard of living, it it is often used as such an indicator, on the rationale that all citizens could theoretically benefit  from their country’s increased economic production.

The HDI is a broader index that considers Life Expectancy, Education, Standard of Living, and GDP.

Though both remain useful, they are so. . . 20th  Century.

Each has limitations and fails totake into consideration  the effect our lifestyles and impact on the environment will have on thosepeople who haven’t yet been born .   Put another way, neither of the standard indices take sustainability or future inhabitants of the earth into account.

Stop and consider that last point.

“Me.”  “Us.”  “Money.” “Get rich quick.”  “I want it all.”

“Today.”

You get the drift.  So, 20th Century.

The Happy Planet Index takes exception  to measuring a country’s development by looking at its economic output (GDP)  since most people’s aim  in life is not to get rich but, instead, to live happy, fulfilling and healthy lives and to pass on the same opportunity for their kids and grandkids.

 For example, consider Saudi Arabia which possesses the largest oil reserves on the planet.  While its Gross Domestic Product is relatively high, its peoples’  overall satisfaction with the quality of life leaves  much to be desired.  Certainly that is true for 50% its population, women, whose quality of life is completely dependent upon men who are legally viewed as their decision making guardians.  Women aren’t permitted to drive or make important decisions affecting their live, whether going to college to going on trips.

And, of course, the country’s current  wealth is dependent upon exploiting and depleting an ever decreasing supply of one of the most environmentally hazardous materials on the face of the earth, raising the question of whether the well-being of future Saudis is at risk.  Put another way, to the extent that a country’s wealth today is the result of exploitation and diminution of finite resources, there will be less of those available for those who come after us and this could have an adverse impact on their quality of life and well being.

Since the Human Development Index takes into account several factors beyond Gross Domestic Product, it is perhaps more useful as a current  measure of well-being of humans but its methodology fails to take into account something very important.  Specifically, it fails to take into account the cost of today’s actions to  future generations.

Therefore, the Happy Planet Index takes into account sustainability, something that neither the Indices for Gross Domestic Product or Human Development  consider.

In the view of the Happy Planet Index, the country which is doing the best is the one that allows its citizens to live long and satisfying lives while not  infringing on the opportunity of future people and people in other countries to do the same.

143 nations around the world covering ninety nine per cent of the world’s inhabitants,  were rated,  for three things: life expectancy, satisfaction with the quality of life, and ecological footprint.

 Costa Rica was the champion—and by a lot.

Yes, though Costa Rica ecotourism is famous across the globe, this little country sits alone sits atop the 21st Century index because, while other nations talk about providing quality living to its inhabitants today and into the future, it has acted to ensure that this is the case today and will continue to be so in the future.

The most developed countries on earth, those at the top of the 20th Century GDP Index, don’t fare nearly as well on the Happy Planet Index.  America languishes in 114th place, the U.K. rests at number 74.  Indeed, the highest ranking developed western nation, the Netherlands, only occupies the 43rd position.

The difference between Costa Rica and the USA is striking. Costa Ricans live longer than Americans (health care is nationalized, nearly free, and universal in Costa Rica), report much higher levels of life satisfaction (they are very happy with their life), and yet have a carbon footprint which is less than a quarter the size of the States.

Costa Rica reached the top of the Happy Planet Index for many reasons. The country does not just talk about sustainable development, it is committed to it. While the developed world and rising powers of China and India rely upon nonrenewable resources (think oil) for power while contributing to serious global pollution and global warming, an incredible 99% of Costa Rica’s energy is completely renewable and sustainable. Its people are already among the longest lived in the world and their satisfaction of life is very high already.  The aim is to ensure those same levels of longevity and fulfillment of life to the next generation, and the next, and the next, by sustainable—not exploitative—development.

As the States and other developed countries dither about how to address power needs, chase more and more resources to use up, and argue about the challenges of global warming, tiny Costa Rica has been taking action. Even as more and more of the world is being deforested, there are 20% more forested areas in Costa Rica than just 20 years ago.  And, incredibly, in the last 30 years, 25% of its lands have been permanently set as Costa Rica National Parks.

So, if considering a Costa Rica vacation, be happy!  In the champion of the Happy Planet Index!

It seems that Montana is in trouble.

Her glaciers are melting into oblivion; apocalyptic forest fires ravage her vast forests every summer; bark beetles threaten to eviscerate her natural forest ecosystems (the result of a more hospitable, warmer climate for these critters) and agricultural output is faltering due to prolonged drought conditions. As for the rest of the nation, the Tufts community and the world at large, energy reform is an increasingly pressing issue in Montana.

While it is difficult to find feasible, creative and effective ways to address such a complex issue, with the help of its trusty governor, Brian Schweitzer, Montana is rising admirably to the challenge.

Namely, nestled between two dramatic mountain ranges lies the Judith Gap Wind Farm in central Montana — a visual, technological and energy−production wonder. With over 90 turbines, this single wind farm produces over 135 megawatts, enough to power a small city and equivalent in production output to a large coal−fired power plant.

But most importantly, this solar farm is located in Montana — a state that contains vast coal and petroleum reserves, and a state frequently associated with the dirtier, more environmentally destructive forms of energy. For smaller, less resource−rich states, it is easy to write off states like Montana — saying that it is not in our economic interest to pursue progressive policies, but regardless of this preconception, the state is witnessing an energy revolution that stands as a remarkable testament to the evolution of energy production in the United States.

The Tufts Energy Conference, organized and administered by the Institute for Global Leadership’s Tufts Energy Forum, will be delving into this precise universe of topics during its annual conference on April 16 and 17. The keynote speaker, Michael T. Eckhart, founding president of the American Council on Renewable Energy, in addition to a wide array of expert panelists and speakers, will flesh out the complex realities of energy in the United States in the 21st century.

Specifically, the conference will focus upon such things as evolving fossil fuels, green energy, urban design and a number of practical economic concerns — all in an attempt to characterize the long history of energy evolution in the United States, and in an effort to answer many pressing questions brought up by this evolution.

Montana is slowly embracing the challenges of the green movement and hammering out the kinks inherent in any evolutionary process. Under Governor Schweitzer, Montana has been gradually decoupling the state’s electric utility monopolies, making alternative, greener options more feasible. Early deregulation efforts to move away from the inefficient steam turbine that have historically been the primary source of the state’s electricity has sparked a state−wide wave of technological innovation.

This concept of distributed generation — the process of decentralizing and diffusing energy production into local communities — pioneered to a large extent in Montana, has been a boon not only to the environment but also influential in preserving reasonable energy costs in a time of great uncertainty.

Another initiative that Schweitzer has undertaken involves creating incentives for renewable energy, in the form of a rebate, on an individual level. While a two−kilowatt−hour photovoltaic cell normally runs for $9,000, these rebates, in addition to the Obama administration’s national energy program, work toward making such investments feasible for average Americans.

In addition to rebates, the U.S. Department of Energy has also taken steps to foster the creation of “green−collar” jobs through a number of tax incentives aimed at rewarding individuals, small businesses and even corporate America for their green efficiency−minded consciousness. Moreover, the administration has provided some $500 million for “green−collar” training programs that endeavor to promote such things as home weatherization and the installment of renewable resources in a distributed generation spirit.

While as native Montanans we are a bit biased and profuse in our Montana−promoting rhetoric, we believe that issues such as Montana’s changing energy policies are objectively important to us as global citizens. For ecosystems the world over, Montana is not only the proverbial canary in the coal mine of environmental integrity, but an excellent example of how change can be affected on the energy front to alter our destructive ways.

The key to changing the gluttonous, selfish attitudes most Americans have adopted toward energy consumption is education. As intellectually curious students, we should engage with experts and professionals in energy industries as well as politicians to fully embrace the economic and moral future of this nation — we can halt the deterioration of our environment and rout our nation’s current economic woes.

As citizens of a state battered by environmental perils, citizens of Tufts and of the United States, we urge you to attend the Tufts Energy Conference to further your engagement with our generation’s most important issue.

Choosing to commit to an eco-concious wedding is a direct expression of your desire to protect our precious planet. The ability to incorporate that passion into all facets of a wedding is a matter of good planning and foresight. Before you are deterred by the thought of extra work, keep in mind that even a few small changes or additions to your plans can help your wedding become more environmentally friendly.

Let’s say, for the sake of argument, that you are planning a wedding with an eco-friendly theme. Planning such an in depth event is not something that should be kept secret. It should be announced with the invitations or save the date cards, letting the guests know the goal from the start.

Grandiose schemes are always a joy, however if they will require extra planning on the part of the guests, information should be provided as soon as possible. Be sure to allow them enough time to prepare for the luscious treat of a wedding that they will be attending.

Using recycled paper for all wedding stationery is a fitting first step to take and it presents an ideal way to pass along all the little details. Gone are the days when recycled paper always looked discolored and unimpressive. Finding recycled paper in all varieties of colors, finishes and textures is now a simple delight.

It is easy to be green and elegant in the same moment.

There are many different ways to inform your guests of your plans, however the key is to do so as politely as possible. If you include a note with your invitations that you want only environmentally friendly gifts and a list of expectations for your guests, the reception is likely to be rather chilly. When it comes to encouraging your guests in a certain route, the key is subtlety. Include instead a link to your wedding website. They are widely available and can often be created simply and at no charge.

It is expected that gift information and wedding registries will be found on such websites. Here is where you can politely mention if there are any particular requests regarding gifts. Guests often find it helpful if a list of preferred gifts is available to them.

If you would rather not have a registry or be given gifts, you might wish to suggest that your guests make a donation to an organization that protects or restores the environment. Or perhaps you would rather that guests purchase and protect an area of threatened tropical rainforest on your behalf. There are many options, however it helps to choose one that is close to your heart, and will have more meaning to you.

There will inevitably be some people who do not look at the website or ignore the suggestions, but this is something that must be accepted and taken in stride. Most people prefer a safe bet and will stick to the ideas you offer them.

You may wish to include, on your website, a list of ways that your guests can support your goal. List eco-friendly wedding favors option that guests can choose from, but will not feel obligated to carry out. Suggestions to carpool on the way to the wedding, or offset the carbon emissions from their flight, would be suitable here.

An added bonus to the wedding website is that it will enable you to save on the amount of paper that you use and all updates can be sent via e-mail.

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