Going Solar in Energy-Poor Areas

The daily reality for 1.3 billion people around the world is a lack of access to modern energy.  They must rely on candles, or a kerosene lantern for any night activity. Students and shopkeepers have only a flickering, dim light, and clinics can’t refrigerate vaccines. About 1.5 million people, mostly women, die of kerosene-induced pollution annually, while even more are affected by respiratory diseases and burn injuries.

Solar energy is abundant in most parts of the world where modern energy sources are lacking and there’s a big opportunity for solar to become the leading affordable, high-quality source of energy. 
Thanks to the falling cost of LED lighting, batteries and panels, as well as new technology that allows customers to “pay as you go", solar is economically feasible without subsidies.

One critical obstacle to success is access to financing. Solar projects are capital intensive and require debt financing to scale.  Companies operating in emerging and developing markets exist in the “missing middle”—too large for micro-finance and too small for commercial lending, and subject to exhorbitant interest rates.

SunFunder is a crowd-funding platform for anyone to invest in high-impact, vetted solar energy projects in off-grid markets around the world. SunFunder solves the biggest problem facing solar businesses working to deploy affordable solar: access to financing. SunFunder unlocks a big new source of capital for solar, individual investors who will be able to invest $25 or more in solar projects, earn a return, track their project’s performance, and reinvest in more projects to grow their impact.

For other crowdfunding opportunities check out Kiva and Kickstarter.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Composting for Small Spaces

It's sometimes difficult to be as environmentally conscious as I want to be, because I live in an apartment.  No front yard, back yard, or balcony, just a narrow walkway suitable only for a few houseplants when the weather is warm enough.  So what do I do? 

From the wonderful folks at Sustainable America here is something I can do: compost.  That's right, you don't have to have a yard to compost!  Check out this info-graphic on how to do it:

           Click here to enlarge

Don't let apartment living keep you from being environmentally responsible. I'll share more tips as I come across them.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

A new age of giving~

It's a brand new year and a new age.  Let's get together and do something good to get this new age started!

Check out my latest charity:water campaign: http://mycharitywater.org/new-age---new-attitude.

Let's raise $1000.00 and help 10 families get clean water!

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Cyber Monday

Cyber Monday.  For those who survived Black Friday, it is another chance at unbridled consumerism. For some, it is an alternative to the crushing crowds and ungodly early store hours.  Depending on your perspective, it can be either a blessing or a curse.

Support environmentally-conscious businesses as much as possible.  When available, choose to offset your carbon footprint.  Of course, be sure to use local businesses whenever possible, and carpool with friends or family to cut down on gas consumption.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.

Surviving in the next age: Ancient skills for a modern world.

So much has been written, in recent years, about the end of the Mayan calendar and a possible apocalyptic end to life as we know it.  We are certainly living through some of most turbulent, globally calamitous, times in recent memory.  War, famine, economic insecurity on a global scale - the list goes on.

Times like these usually create a variety of reactions from people. Some turn to religion, some turn to escapism through drugs and/or alcohol, some give in to despair and take their own lives, or the lives of others.  In the midst of this type of highly-publicized and sensationalized media fodder, there are the intrepid pioneers of the modern world. By adapting ancient traditions to fit a contemporary world, we see hope for the future.

Bartering, and barter economies, are springing up everywhere in response to our continuing skepticism over the stability of our financial institutions.  Think that bartering is some random process among a few New Agers?  Guess again.  It is prevalent enough for the IRS to have established tax guidelines for it.

Survival courses and camps are springing up all over, teaching folks the skills of our pioneering ancestors.  A plethora of books have been written on the subject, and honestly, there are some things everyone should know.  Skills like sewing, building a shelter from natural materials, basic first aid, starting a fire from scratch, finding food in the wild, growing your own food, food storage processes, and making herbal remedies are just some basics if you ever find yourself in a primitive environment.

When I was growing up I learned some of these things while I was a Girl Scout.  Camping was an excellent way of teaching some of the skills mentioned above. And the s'mores - mmmmm...but I digress.  So let's talk about food, and the future of growing, and eating food in the next age.

Frequent readers know that I am an avid fan of the Slow Food movement, sustainable agriculture and a fervent supporter of local farmers and CSAs.  Much is being written about a resurgence in "victory gardens", such as the ones grown by families during World War II. Backyard farms, and urban gardens make sense in this age of questionable food safety and nutrition.  Food produced without hormones, antibiotics, and chemical fertilizers and pesticides are often too expensive for the average family. Growing your own food just makes sense, or purchase it from a local farmer who uses sustainable, organic processes. 

If you live in the United States, you need to be aware of the Farm Bill.  It comes up for renewal on September 30, 2012 and what your lawmakers vote on is going to affect trade, health, agribusiness, the environment, and so much more!  Here's some information:

Our Food System Is Forked Up: Why the Farm Bill Matters

Farm Bill 2012

What's At Stake in the 2012 Farm Bill?

The Farm Bill: Better Food Starts Here

Whatever your philosophy, educating yourself in practical survival skills can be fun, and economically advantageous!  The future isn't something to be feared. It is something to be prepared for.

Until next time...become the change you imagine.