energy efficiency

Bob Tuke attended 2nd Annual Southeast Energy Efficiency Alliance Associate Meeting yesterday and saw that "technology exists today and more technology could exist tomorrow that will help lower energy bills and gas prices for working families, but it will take committed leadership to increase energy efficiency and produce clean energy alternatives."

Rep. Stacey Campfield discusses energy efficiency in state government:

Here are some of the things rumored to be happening regarding state education funding for this year.

No BEP growth.

No Pre K expansion.

No teacher raises.

House bill 9 (money for school improvements based on the number of kids in the school)looks good for passage as does the energy efficiency loan/match program.

The following exchange is from a posting on a yahoo chat group I belong to called "Climate Concern." Climate Concern is a good group for anyone concerned about the issue of global warming and environmental issues.

• The New York Post reported today Sony BMG and Warner Music Group are both near deals with MySpace for its new music site. One source said, "Everybody's operating with a sense of urgency to try to close it out." Major music companies are taking an equity stakes in MySpace Music and will share in the advertising revenue. Expect both ad-supported streams and paid downloads at the site.

The Donkey’s Mouth reports that a liberal environmental advocacy group gave high marks to Tennessee’s Democrats and yet low marks to Tennessee Republicans:

Today's edition of the subscription-only Tennessee Journal reports that Gov. Phil Bredesen has flip-flopped on using surplus lottery revenue for school construction.

With well over $400 million sitting in lottery reserves - much of it accumulated before the scholarship program had matured - Bredesen indicated several weeks ago he wouldn't resist the idea that some of it could be for K-12 construction.

No kidding. GM had a big, green, full page ad in the Sunday New York Times touting their commitment to the environment and energy efficiency.

It says that because they have a large environmental footprint they have an obligation to change. They say the are one of the leading users of renewable energy, that they have reduced CO2 emissions at their facilities by 80% since 1990, that they have 14 facilities that send no waste from production operations to landfills.

So far so good.

Joseph Somsel asks, "Who Will Control Your Thermostat?"

In California, we have 236 pages of state-mandated standards for building energy efficiency, known as Title 24. ...

A new revision to Title 24 is in the works for 2008 ... .