Perhaps when our government officials (nationwide) start walking the walk and talking the talk, the example they set will positively influence the rest of the country to doing more, using less and living more consciously. That’s why I would like to ask the presidential candidates the following two questions:

• When will all US government employees (including the president) be required to drive a hybrid or energy fuel efficient car or limo?
• When will the US government enforce within their day to day work week the guidelines for Energy Star @ Work released by the EPA last month?

Some of the suggestions included in the EPA guidelines:

• Replace the bulbs in desk lamps with Energy Star qualified compact fluorescent light bulbs. These light bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than incandescent bulbs and last up to 10 times longer. Energy Star qualified lamps and light fixtures also are available for even more energy savings.
• Use a power strip as a central "turn off" point when you are done using office equipment to completely disconnect the power supply. Even when turned off, electronic and IT equipment often use a small amount of electricity when plugged in.
• Remember to turn off your lights when leaving conference rooms and your work space, especially at the end of the day.
• Use Energy Star qualified battery chargers or power adapters which, on average, use 30 to 35 percent less energy than conventional models. Don't forget to unplug battery chargers or power adapters when equipment is fully charged or disconnected from the charger.
• Get involved! Create a Green Team with your co-workers, help reduce office waste, and set a goal to earn the Energy Star label for your building.)

Source: EPA Press Release Sept 2008

What would you ask the presidential candidates?

Last Saturday, I had the pleasure and good fortune to stop by my hometown’s first Green Fair to see what my neighbors are working on and what they have to offer concerning all things green. To say the least, I was very proud to see the teenagers and a couple of fourth graders leading the way. Kids are the future, no joke!

These phenomenal kids enthusiastically presented their grassroots approach to green education outreach with GREEN (Get Ready for Environmental Education Now). This got me to thinking... if these incredible kids can think globally and outside of the box, so can everyone. Still charged by their efforts, I decided to check out some of the innovative green ideas and initiatives presented on the Internet. I was amazed at how many there are—in fact, the list is endless. There are so many neat and interesting companies doing their best to make an impact.

One company in particular really caught my attention: Earth Aid Enterprises, whose logo is, "Smart for your wallet. Smart for your world." From what I learned, they are focusing on providing sensible home energy-efficiency solutions for all Americans. EAE’s goal is to reduce America's greenhouse gas emissions by an amount equivalent to removing 1,000,000 cars from the road. In order to do that, they have created a kit (which is customized for the homeowner, apartment dweller and even student) that can help us equip our homes with energy-efficient products. One of the things I love about the site is that as you shop, the site calculates how much you can expect to save on your energy bill. Check them out at EarthAidKit.com.