Podcast: 2010 Clean Energy Predictions from the Gang of Four

David Wescott, Tim Hurst, Jeff McIntire-Strasburg and I got together again for our Gang of Four Earth & Industry podcast (we're even on iTunes).

Check out our clean energy predictions for 2010.

Podcast: Our Reactions to Copenhagen

My cohorts over at the Earth and Industry blog - David Wescott, Tim Hurst and Jeff McIntire-Strasburg - and I got together discuss the results of the Copenhagen climate talks. Check out our podcast at Ecopolitology.

Copenhagen: Dr. Suess Style

I'm slowly starting to emerge from maternity leave and getting back on the blogging wagon (it helps when you sleep completely through the entire night for the first time since July). Tip of the hat to ecopolitology for the link to this spoof on the Copenhagen negotiations by BBC Radio's "Now Show."

Maria Energia's Personal Sustainability Plan

Baron Edward Manka was born Tuesday, September 29 at 2:47PM. He was 7 lbs., 2 oz. and 21 inches long. My husband and I are getting to know the little man and enjoying every second of it.

Still Composting (I Think) and Company Review

I started composting about a month ago, when a company called Algreen Products sent me a compost bin to review.

While I think the bin is working fine so far, I'm less than thrilled about the customer service from Algreen. For starters, the instructions for the compost bin were very vague: the brochure suggested watering and aerating the bin, but never said how often to do it. So I emailed the rep that contacted me in the first place. I asked:

Should I be mixing my browns and greens in the bin? If so, how often do I do that? Also, how often should I water the mix? More details like these would be helpful in your instruction manual.

I don't think anything got lost in translation between me (in Minnesota) and the rep (in Ontario, Canada), but he answered my email with instructions on how to make compost tea...

So I emailed him again, clarifying what I was asking - that was 27 days ago and I haven't heard anything back. Although I can't yet comment on how well the compost bin works (my materials haven't composted yet and with the days becoming so cool, I'm skeptical I'll get anything yet this year), I would not recommend this $200 product based on the vague instruction manual (especially frustrating if you've never composted before) and the lack of customer service from Algreen.

Wind vs. Solar: If I Had a Million Dollars...

David Wescott, Tim Hurst, Jeff McIntire-Strasburg and I got together again recently to debate which industry - wind or solar - we would invest in if we had a million dollars. Check out the podcast here on Earth & Industry.

What I'm Reading...

Planet Green's "Know the 7 Key Senators in the Climate Bill Battle." You should know them too, especially if one of them represents your state.