Affordable 'green homes' being built in Frederick

I saw this article in the WaPost a few weeks ago, about Frederick's new North Pointe community, which features new homes from the mid-$200,000s with green qualities such as solar panels, geothermal heating, and a computer system to manage energy usage.

Each house will have about 20 solar panels, which will generate more electricity than the house uses during the day. The excess electricity will go to the grid and be credited to the home; the residents can essentially cash in that credit at night when they use more power. The homes should have net-zero energy usage.

This is a great new development (in more ways than one) and I hope we see more of them in the DC region!

Al Gore’s ‘Our Choice’ Book App Could Revolutionize Publishing

Just after Earth Day, Rodale and Push Pop Press released the Our Choice app for iPad and iPhone. Our Choice is an interactive, 18-chapter e-book about all aspects of climate change (evidence, causes, possible solutions), featuring color photos, videos, interactive graphics, and animations.

The print version of Al Gore’s “Our Choice” was published in November 2009.

This e-book app is just incredible! Although I had to download and install it twice before it would work (be sure you have a high-speed connection), and pay $4.99, it was well worth it.

The many videos, animations, and interactive graphics—just slide your finger over them to get more info about each part of the graphic—enrich the reading and learning experience in an amazing way. Instead of just reading about the Great Smog of 1952 in London, for example, you can tap a video and watch a BBC report—and actually see what the smog looked like and how poor visibility was. (The smog lasted for five days and killed 12,000 people.)

Similarly, the app includes animations explaining concepts such as how the two types of solar power work, and how wind power is generated. In the latter, you can actually blow into the iPad’s microphone to make the wind turbine spin! (View demo video of the app)

The interactive graphics cover statistics such as wind power generation—but instead of being a flat graph, you can tap the graphic to see the 5-year trend or the latest year, as well as installed capacity, power generated, power per capita, and percent of consumption for the leading wind power nations.

It’s jam-packed with info, but it’s fun to use!

I highly recommend it if you’re a climate or publishing geek.

Two Free Films at 'Celebration of the Seas,' May 20

Enjoy an evening of ocean-themed art at the “Celebration of the Seas,” at the Carnegie Institution for Science, Friday evening, May 20. It’s free and part of the four-day Blue Vision Summit 3, a gathering of the international marine community to work towards the enactment and enforcement of national ocean policy, addressing climate change impacts and Gulf restoration.

The Friday night free events include an 8:00 p.m. screening of “This Is Your Ocean: Sharks,” directed by a former colleague of mine from AOL, George C. Schellenger. Back then, he would use his vacation time to swim with sharks and film them. I'm glad to see it has paid off with an acclaimed documentary (the film won the MacGillivray Freeman Films Award for Excellence in Documentary Filmmaking)!

According to the film’s website:

“This is Your Ocean: Sharks” looks at the global plight of sharks and introduces the audience to a massive 14-foot tiger shark named Emma. (Shark expert) Jim Abernethy’s connection and love for this animal plays a key role in the film with never before seen footage that will have some revaluating their perception of sharks. “We can no longer look at sharks as monsters. My relationship with Emma hopefully dispels that misconception and reveals the truth about these awesome animals. It’s time to share this message with the world.”

You can view the trailer here.

The May 20 event will also feature Jon Bowermaster's film, "SoLa: Louisiana Water Stories," as well as art, dance, live music, authors and book signings, and a silent auction, all ocean-themed. If you're interested in ocean and shark conversation--or learning more about these efforts--go to Celebration of the Seas and check out George's film!

Fields of Green Internship Fair for College Students, May 7 at Bethesda Green

If you're a college student or a college-age person looking to get experience in a "green," environmentally friendly field, come to the Fields of Green Internship Fair, this Saturday, May 7 at Bethesda Green.

They've got 31 internships listed by 15 organizations, including corporations and non-profit groups. Browse the listings and stop by Saturday--it's free!

Happy Earth Day! See events in Washington, DC, area

Happy Earth Day, everyone! Do your part by picking up trash in your community, planting a garden or tree, or foregoing that extra car trip!

Although many events took place last weekend, here's a bit of what's happening in the Washington, DC, area for Earth Day, plus links to find more info:

- April 22, Earth Day Clean Up at the National Zoo

- April 22: Green Programs at the U.S. Botanical Gardens

- EPA Earth Day Event Finder

- More Listings for DC, MD and VA from About.com

Recycle Computers and Software, Donate Monitors in Montgomery County

Two more electronics-related e-cycling opportunities in Montgomery County I saw this week.

Project Reboot is in need of used computer equipment and software. They'll take computer equipment, refurbish it, and donate it at very low cost to non-profit, educational, religion-based, and charitable organizations. Their site says, "We help schools, senior centers, religious organizations, and other groups that work with low and moderate income families, and other needy, local clients." Drop-offs are Mondays 1-5 and Wednesday 10-4 in Gaithersburg.

OASIS is in need of working computer monitors. Monitors can be dropped off on April 22 between 9 AM and 12PM at the Bethesda-Chevy Chase Regional Services Center 2nd floor, 4805 Edgemoor Lane in Bethesda. RecycleMyComputer is a 501c3.

Both of these are opportunities to let someone else reuse your old equipment. So don't throw it away, donate it to someone who can use it!

Hearst Community Freecycle and E-Cycle Event in NW DC, April 2

Saw this mentioned on a list-serve and then found the website.

Phoebe Hearst Elementary School will host its 3rd annual neighborhood e-cycle event, Saturday, April 2, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Their website adds:

"Please also note that there will be a free-cycle section at this event so that attendees may donate working electronics which other folks may then take with them . We will be collecting the following electronics for a new life in our free-cycle or for transport to Ft. Totten for recycling."

See site for list of items they will accept. The school is located at 3950 37th Street, NW, Washington, DC, 20008.