President Barack Obama was sworn in as the nation’s 44th President on January 20, and while it obviously takes time for real change to happen (especially in an organization as large as the Federal Government), the administration is already hard at work when it comes to the environment. Many of us who supported and voted for President Obama did so with the understanding that he would address the environment in an honest, and non-partisan manner once elected. In looking over some of his first actions as President, it appears that Obama is sticking to this agenda, and that the environment is not going to be swept under the rug for another 4 years.

The EPA has serious work to do in the next few years, and Obama’s pick to head the organization shows that he is serious about not allowing politics to derail the process. By tapping Lisa Jackson – a career civil servant who has dedicated her professional life to protecting the environment – Obama sent a message that EPA will not be run by outsiders. Jackson worked for the EPA for 16 years, and spent another 6 years at the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection. Having spent her career regulating greenhouse gases, pollution and hazardous waste, Jackson is well suited to tighten regulations and demand compliance from businesses used to the Bush Administration’s somewhat ‘lax’ environmental policies.

To introduce herself and her governing principles, Jackson sent a memo to the EPA staff on January 23 (the day Congress confirmed her to the post). In her memo, Jackson sums up the new philosophy of the EPA in stating the 3 core values that will guide the EPA:

1. To uphold Science as the backbone for EPA programs.

2. To not compromise the integrity of EPA experts in order to advance a particular regulatory outcome.

3. To follow the rule of law – to exercise policy discretion and follow the directives of Congress and the courts.

Before the Bush administration took over the EPA, I would have simply assumed that the organization was being run according to these policies; after watching science, ethics and legal mandates being tossed aside for the past 8 years however, it’s refreshing to know that Obama’s surrogates are returning rationality and science to the forefront of the nation’s governance.

In addition to these administrative changes, Jackson outlined the directions in which she plans on taking the EPA during her tenure. Over the next few years, Jackson is going to guide the nation towards a low-carbon economy by reducing carbon emissions and creating “green-collar” jobs. She wants to improve air quality and intends to comply with legal air quality standards and tighten regulations to close loopholes that allow polluters to side-step current laws.

Jackson also intends to clean up the nation’s Superfund sites, protect consumers, employees and the environment from risks posed by the introduction of toxic chemicals into every day products, and address the health of the nation’s streams, rivers, lakes, bays, oceans and aquifers. With the backing of an environmentally-focused President and the legislative support of Congress, Jackson should be able to address these basic issues and allow the EPA to fulfill its mission of protecting human health and the environment.

Let me start by admitting that I am a total news junkie. I spend way too many hours researching, reviewing, investigating, bookmarking, and searching for information on all kinds of issues, especially those relating to all things green. In the year that I’ve been writing for GreenBuyGuide, I’ve compiled a list of 1000+ eco-based resources, blogs, organizations, companies and news sites that I use when researching upcoming blog posts.

When writing these posts, I try to find the most up-to-date, accurate and interesting research to support my claims and add credibility to our site. In doing so, I’ve noticed that it takes time to really know which sites offer reliable, substantive data, and which sites are compromised by political agendas, corporate sponsors, or incomplete offerings.

As a holiday gift to my readers and to the other environmental researchers and writers trolling through the web in search of good sites, I have compiled 2 blog posts packed with excellent eco-resources. As always, I am open to suggestions and appreciate learning what others out there already know about the eco-issues affecting our communities, nations, and world.

General Interest & Data Sources

Environmental News Network (ENN) – The Environmental News Network is a mainstream news site that publishes comprehensive environmental news in an easy-to-understand format.

EnviroStats – A good resource for statistics, fact-checking and research related to environmental (and other) topics. The site also includes links to government agencies, environmental organizations and eco-information portals in the US and Canada.

Treehugger - Treehugger covers all kinds of green issues, has a wealth of links and resources to check out, and is a great starting place for learning about a range of eco-issues. The site’s “How to Go Green” guides are particularly helpful.

Business & Corporate Governance

Business Ethics Magazine – An online magazine that examines the intersection of business and society, and rates companies based on their corporate responsibility and programs. You can find resources about corporate responsibility, including 19-years of lists of the 100 Best Corporate Citizens.

Coop America – Coop America’s mission is to harness economic power?the strength of consumers, investors, businesses, and the marketplace?to create a socially just and environmentally sustainable society. The Coop America site provides resources and tools to help businesses and organizations realize a greener future by leveraging their financial muscles.

GreenBiz – Concerned with aligning environmental responsibility with business success, GreenBiz offers over 8000 resources, (including daily news, feature stories, reports, checklists, case studies, and links to organizations) in an effort to educate and inform the public on these issues.

Government & Public Policy

EarthTrends – Committed helping drive responsible decisions by governments and individuals by providing accurate information on critical issues, EarthTrends offers the public a large breadth of statistical, graphic, and analytical data in easily accessible formats. EarthTrends is sponsored by government-focused organizations including the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the World Bank Group.

Environmental Protection Agency - Federal agency with a mission to, “protect human health and the environment.” I use the EPA to confirm information, learn about government programs and policies, and find how the government defines environmental issues.

FedStats - A search portal for official statistical information produced by the Federal Government. This site has several search options (by state, by agency, by topic), so you don’t have to know exactly which agency produced the information you’re seeking.

Science & Technology

Carbon Fund - The Carbon Fund site is packed with resources and information to help people and businesses reduce their carbon emissions. Start at Carbon Fund if you’re interested in basic information about carbon emissions, carbon offsets, or your carbon footprint.

EarthPortal – Governed by the Stewardship Committee of the Environmental Information Coalition (EIC), Earth Portal is a comprehensive resource for timely, objective, science-based information about the environment.

Seed Magazine - Though not entirely eco-focused, many of the science articles and sections in Seed Magazine intersect with environmental issues and current events.

Sustainability

Business for Social Responsibility – An organization that works with an extensive network of companies to develop sustainable business solutions and strategies for the business community.

Green Options – If you’re looking for blogs about sustainability and making sustainable choices, check out Green Options. The Green Options site includes a range of articles from the company’s network of environmental writers and bloggers.

Sustainable Communities Network – An organization that links citizens to resources and to each other in an effort to promote, build, and understand sustainable communities.

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So apparently the Bush administration has figured out a new way of getting around those tricky executive agency reports and recommendations – they simply ignore them! On June 25, the New York Times reported that the Bush administration decided they didn’t need to read the EPA’s report on carbon emissions, so they simply ignored the email containing the document.

Written in response to the 2007 Supreme Court ruling re: Massachusetts Et Al. v. Environmental Protection Agency Et Al., the EPA report concluded that greenhouse gases produced are harmful pollutants, a danger to people and to the environment, and must be controlled. Before the court handed down its April 2007 decision on the matter, the EPA had refused to determine whether greenhouse gases were pollutants and subject to regulations laid out under the Clean Air Act. Because of this (in)decision, the EPA promulgated a lack of regulatory authority over matters pertaining to the environmental impact of greenhouse gases.

In an effort to force the federal agency to regulate carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases as pollutants, Massachusetts Et Al. (consisting of 12 states, 3 cities, 13 organizations and America Samoa) sued the EPA, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, National Automobile Dealers Association, Engine Manufacturers Association, Truck Manufacturers Association, CO2 Litigation Group, Utility Air Regulatory Group, and 10 carbon emitting states in federal court. Arguing that greenhouse gases are pollutants and must be regulated, as mandated under the Clean Air Act, Massachusetts Et Al. brought suit in an effort to force the EPA to begin regulating the pollutants.

In the 5-4 decision, the Supreme Court determined that the EPA must in fact make a determination as to whether greenhouse gases pose a danger to people and the environment:

In short, EPA has offered no reasoned explanation for its refusal to decide whether greenhouse gases cause or contribute to climate change. Its action was therefore arbitrary, capricious, . . . or otherwise not in accordance with law. We need not and do not reach the question whether on remand EPA must make an endangerment finding, or whether policy concerns can inform EPA’s actions in the event that it makes such a finding. We hold only that EPA must ground its reasons for action or inaction in the statute.

In response to the court’s findings, the EPA drafted a report which conclusively determined that greenhouse gases are pollutants according to the Clean Air Act, and must be regulated and controlled to avoid further harming people and environment. Once submitted to the White House for review however, the report ended up in a kind of email-purgatory, where it sat unread and lacking official status. I guess it would have been hard for the President to claim that Barney ate his email, so instead he just pretended that he never got the message.

So instead of being forced to read the report and accept the fact that it really is the EPA’s job to regulate carbon emissions, the administration, by stonewalling, prompted the EPA to go back and revise their original report. Since receiving the original report (but not reading it), the White House put pressure on the EPA to scale back their findings, and draft a new, less conclusive version. The new report reviews the legal and economic issues presented by declaring greenhouse gases a pollutant, but offers no recommendations and does not conclusively classify greenhouse gases as pollutants.

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I’ve compiled a list of small things you can do in your home and everyday life to live a Greener life. Some of these tips are tried and true (turning off the tap), while others are just gaining momentum (replacing incandescent light bulbs). Try a few and remember, even if your contribution to the green movement seems small, every little thing helps.

1. Bring your own reusable bags to the grocery store – or any store for that matter. According to the EPA, Americans consume over 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps every year. Those plastic bags end up in trees, waterways, and in the stomaches of animals – hundreds of thousands of sea turtles, whales and other marine life die from ingesting plastic bags. Even if you reuse plastic bags (for garbage, cat litter, etc), chances are that you don’t end up using ALL of the bags you bring home – so mix it up and bring reusable bags when you shop.

2. Put down the keys when you’re going less than a mile. The less you drive, the less gasoline you use, the less Carbon Monoxide (CO) is released into the atmosphere. If you live in a walkable (or bike-friendly) area, try walking or biking when you go for coffee, cigarettes, beer or other sundries. Even if it takes a few minutes longer to walk (it takes about 20 minutes to walk a mile), the benefits of walking well outweigh the inconveniences.

3. Unplug your charging devices. You know all of those pesky chargers laying around the house – cell phones, wireless mice, battery chargers – when they’re plugged into the wall, they’re using energy. Try pulling the plug when you’re done charging your devices and reduce your energy consumption – even if just by a little -only 5% of power drawn from chargers is used to charge devices – the other 95% is wasted.

4. Turn off your lights and replace burnt-out incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs are 4 times more efficient than incandescent bulbs, last up to 10 times longer, and use 50-80% less energy. While the expense of buying all new bulbs seems high (I would recommend replacing bulbs as the old ones burn out), consider that you’ll be saving money through decreased energy consumption and increased lifespan of the bulbs.

5. Plant flowers, vegetables, shrubs, tress – anything but grass! Maintaining a grass lawn is environmentally damaging – according to the EPA, up to 5% of US carbon emissions are produced by lawn mowers. And to power all of those mowers, Americans use 800 million gallons of gasoline! By planting your yard full of flowers, vegetables and trees, you reduce the amount of grass you need to maintain and diversify your habitat. The more flowers you grow, the more likely you are to invite birds, butterflies and other small creatures into your yard. Trees shade your home and clean the air, are fun to play in and are habitats for squirrels, birds and insects. And by growing vegetables and fruits, you provide food for your family and rely less on agribusiness for your dietary needs.

6. Throw a heavy blanket on the bed and turn down the thermostat while you sleep. The more you set back your thermostat at night, the more heat you save overall. By setting your thermostat back 5 degrees during your nightly 8-hour slumber, you save 5% in energy costs. The recommended thermostat setting is 68 degrees during the day and 55 degrees at night during winter months – settings which will save you 13% in energy costs.

7. Buy Local. From food and drink to clothing, crafts and furniture, the more locally-based businesses you frequent, the more green you can consider your purchases. By cutting out the need for your products to be shipped (via truck, train or airplane), you reduce the carbon footprint of your purchases. Plus, the more money you spend locally, the more likely that money is to stay in your region and boost your local economy.

8. Pick up trash when you go for a walk. Don’t be embarrassed to reach down and pick up someone else’s discarded drink bottle or plastic bag, be embarrassed that the trash is on your streets. By picking up your neighborhood you show a commitment to keeping the earth clean and beautiful, and you encourage the behavior in your neighbors.

9. Turn off the water when you’re brushing your teeth, shaving or washing the dishes. Every minute you run the faucet, 1.3 gallons of water runs out. By switching the faucet off while brushing, washing dishes or shaving, you save small amounts of water that add up over time. Check out other water conservation tips here.

10. Read your newspapers online. Newspapers are widely recycled – over 88% of all newspapers are diverted to recycling plants. At the same time, 12% of newspapers aren’t recycled and that contributes to the largest category of solid waste in landfills – paper and paper products. While there is a certain romanticism to reading the newspaper around the breakfast table, on the subway, or in bed on Sunday mornings, is that romanticism really justified given the environmental impact of tossing out the news?

I’ve been meaning to calculate my carbon footprint for several months, but have held off until now because I knew I would be ashamed once I entered my information into the calculators. My shame comes from the 1996 Jeep Cherokee that I was given, and the 70 miles I drive each day back and forth to work. I knew that the combination of an older, gas-guzzling SUV and daily treks up and down the highway would make my carbon emissions high. For the purposes of this blog however, I put my shame and guilt aside and took a few carbon quizzes that let me see where my personal carbon emissions rank compared to the rest of the nation.

The Nature Conservancy Carbon Footprint Calculator was the most in-depth of all the quizzes I tried. They asked questions about my home (energy usage & conservation efforts), my travels (driving & flying), my food choices (meat vs. vegetarian, organic food use), and my recycling efforts. The Nature Conservancy calculator also lets you take the quiz based on the habits of all the people in your house or on just your answers. Once I’d answered all of the questions, my total was calculated with a comparison against the national average. Let’s just say I exceeded that number.

On the Conservation International site, their Carbon Calculator let me decide if I wanted to do a simple calculation or a more detailed analysis of my carbon usage. In addition to asking me basic questions about my lifestyle, this calculator has a feature that tells you how much it will cost if you want to offset your carbon emissions. You can also calculate the carbon footprint of events you plan on throwing (such as weddings) and your vacation plans.

The Environmental Protection Agency has their own Greenhouse Gas Emissions Quiz that asks you questions about your lifestyle, but also provides solutions for how to lower your emissions. First you find out how many pounds of carbon dioxide you produce in a year. Once you’ve completed that section of the quiz, you can fill in boxes that indicate how many fewer pounds of carbon will be produced if you do things like replace incandescent light bulbs with energy-efficient bulbs or cut-down on how much you drive. Once you’ve finished the second portion of the quiz, it recalculates your score and lets you know what your overall score would be if you changed your habits.

Filling out these calculators is a good way to gauge your personal carbon use and think of ways to reduce your overall carbon footprint through conservation. And while it’s going to take large-scale change from the government and corporations, any little bit you can do will help bring about greater overall change.