8th Annual Renewable Energy Roundup & Green Living Fair

September 28-30, 2007
Fredericksburg, TexasFor Information on Energy Roundup, Click Here

Included in Entrance Fee:

• Exhibits and demonstrations
• Speakers and workshops (view schedule of speakers)
• Fun learning activities for kids
• Musical performances
• Tent talks
• Live music
• New Belgium beer & ales for sale (made in wind-powered facility)
• natural, organic food cafe

Gate entry fee $10 for Friday or Sunday, $12 for Saturday or $20 for a 3-day pass (children under 12 free)

Four different threads for workshops and exhibits:

• Renewable Energy
• Organic/Sustainable Growing
• Green Building and Sustainable Living
• Water Use and Reuse

Tags: annual renewable energy roundup, green living, green building, sustainable growing, water conservation, Fredericksburg, Texas

You may watch Live Earth : Concerts for a Climate in Crisis on MSN. Select bands are being featured on the Sundance Channel. Look around your TV dial, some other independent stations may be carrying it as well.

The entire idea behind Live Earth is that, if we care about the Earth, which we should, we may each take small steps toward positive change. The impact of many small steps is HUGE. Do not think you cannot make a difference–you can!

If you would like more information about steps toward positive change that you may take, please visit my other blog, Endangered Spaces or the Live Earth site.

I would like to share a funny story with you.

When organizers for Live Earth concert where looking for venues (7 concerts on 7 continents on 07/07/07), they wanted to schedule a concert in our nation’s capital, Washington, DC.

They were unable to because of the objections of a small group of Republican lawmakers, led by Oklahoma Senator James Inhofe. Inhofe blocked a bipartisan resolution that would have permitted Gore to choose the Capitol’s West Front as a Live Earth concert venue. “There has never been a partisan political event at the Capitol, and this is a partisan political event,” said Inhofe in March.

So the native people of the USA stepped up and offered the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian as a venue.

From the website of National Museum of the American Indian:

Preserving the health of Mother Earth is the gravest responsibility of our generation. Taking up this challenge begins with a call to consciousness. . . . there is no more important matter before humankind today, we are honored to bring to the museum musical and cultural talent, and speakers from the scientific and American Indian cultural communities, in the spirit of the Live Earth message.

Back to the funny story:

Live Earth maintains that it is not a partisan political event but is supported by people of all political stripes. “The calvary didn’t ride to the rescue, the American Indians did,” Gore told CBS TV today.

Only in America . . .

Tags: Live Earth concert, Al Gore, SOS, American Indians

Ford Airstream Concept displays one piece grille/headlights combo
and windows that are each uniquely shaped.

Ford Airstream Concept doors are asymmetric, providing easy
access, like passenger side power clamshell door (above) .

Rear Area of Ford Airstream Concept includes a 360-degree screen for
gaming and entertainment that also provides provides mood lighting.
Note the 3-door rear hatch.

The Ford Airstream Concept car was introduced at the 2007 Detroit Auto Show is a collaborative effort between Airstream and Ford Motor Company. Although not as sleek as the Base Camp developed by Airstream, Nissan and Kelty, the hydrogen-fuel cell, battery-powered plug-in vehicle, is definitely different.

Using a HySeries Drive with hydrogen fuel cell that kicks in to recharge the lithium-ion batteries, this powertrain technology could deliver 40+ miles per gallon. Fueled by batteries for the first 25 miles, the hydrogen fuel cell automatically recharges the batteries, giving the car a range of 225 miles between hydrogen fueling.

Whether this concept will ever be realized and on the road, Ford appears to be committed to alternative energy . . .

Other Ford vehicles with this technology, like the Edge (above) unveiled at the 2007 Washington Auto Show, are now being driven as test vehicles for alternative powertrains. Ford appears to be making a commitment to alternative fuel vehicles.

At the 2007 Washington Auto Show, Ford displayed the first Ford Escape Hybrid E85 (above). The Escape E85 is a vehicle fueled by hybrid electric power, and using flex fuels, including blends of 85 percent ethanol fuel.

Tags: Airstream Ford Concept, Ford Edge, Ford Escape Hybrid, HySeries Powertrain, alternative fuel