F6 FWD: HOW MANY WAYS CAN WE GO GREEN IN '09

EDITOR: This is an excerpted forward from my original post on my personal blog F6 for your perusal. You may read the information in full context by clicking on the above previous link.

1. Commit to using less power by switching to CFL or LED lighting. They are going the way of the dinosaur and the 8 track cassette tape, oblivion in 2011. The Enviromental Working Group released the results of their study into the best, least toxic, long lasting CFL bulbs on the market. Listing in the top seven were: Earthmate, Litetronics, Sylvania, Feit, MaxLite and Philips. (Photo: Towle Road)

2. Claim your tax credits for 2009 by making your home more efficent now. One of the things accomplished by the Wall Street Bailout was the restoration of the home energy efficency tax credits that had expired in 2007. For more information and a detailed list of tax credits, visit the US Government's ENERGY STAR website.

3. Attend workshops at Allen Co. Public Library to learn how to make your home energy efficient. The Indiana Office of Energy Development (OED) is hosting monthly workshops on different areas that affect Hoosier Homeowners. There are two remaining courses Basic Photo Voltaics on the 4th of February and Introduction to Residential Wind on the 17th of March this quarter. To register for the free OED workshops contact: Chris Dorman (info is @ bottom of page), as space is limited. Once you register, more detailed information will be sent to you.

4. Watch the Docu Drama LIQUID ASSETS when it rebroadcast in February on PBS 39. "Liquid Assets" tells the story of essential utility systems: drinking water, wastewater, and stormwater. These complex and aging systems-some in the ground for more than 100 years-are critical for basic sanitation, public safety, economic development, and a host of other necessities of life. The documentary highlights communities from across the United States, providing an understanding of hidden water infrastructure assets, demonstrating watershed protection approaches, and illustrating twenty-first century solutions. On the 28th of January Fort Wayne City Utilities is hosting a screening and discussion at the Allen Co. Public Library.

5. Get a little dirty for clean rivers and water. Participate in Save Maumee and other organizations river clean up projects. For now the fourth year in a row, Abi and Ryan Bailey are planning putting together Save Maumee's Earth Day Project this year it will take place on Divine Mercy Sunday, the 19th of April, 2009 from 11A-4P.

6. Insist that the City uses pedal power for all concerts and events Downtown. We have all heard of Rock The Vote initiatives since the early nineties to get people out to exercise their civil duties and participate in the political process. Do you want to see something really cool and a way to literally return the power to the people? Then check out Rock The Bike and these soon possibilities of people generated power supplies coming to a concert venue near you.

SoyLent Green, Here We Come! This is just the beginning of the list to find out the last three and view more detailed information and analysis check out this post on F6 at your leisure.

Finally all the hot air coming from Washington D. C. can power your car

NYC provides an example of local entrepreneurial initiative in making the City beautiful!

As most are aware I serve on the Board of Heartland Communities, Inc., which is the fiscal agent for and partner with Abigail Frost @ Save Maumee Grassroots Organization. Recently we have received a lot of attention in regards to the local controversy over the City's plan to amend to the green infrastructure around the area in order to satisfy a consent decree with the EPA. We are currently discussing alternatives to the previous best laid plans of the Administration. The City Council shot them down, rightfully so, I will add. In an effort to bring the City and her citizens to an awareness of what can be done both locally by the people and through entrepreneurial initiative, I offer this video narrated by Ethan Hawke courtesy of Andy @ Towleroad:



To visit the Highline's website click here

Citilink trying to cut services before improving them while they have the greatest opportunity to do so

Scott Bryson writes over at American Societal Review and covers the story pretty well so I will defer to him for now.

The Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation/Citilink will host the following community information sessions:

Monday, June 2, 6:45-8:30am & 3:45-5:30pm Citilink Superior Street Transfer Facility

Tuesday, June 3, 4:30 - 6:30pm, Fort Wayne Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna Street

Wednesday, June 4, 10:30-Noon, Citilink Administrative Offices, 801 Leesburg Road

Thursday, June 19, 4:30-5:30, Public Hearing, Citilink Administrative Offices, 801 Leesburg Road

Copied from What's Going Down(town) by Scott and Brian Spaulding

FW CITY COUNCIL: draining the coffers two projects at a time...

In a never before seen event on this blog, LPAC is actually going to promote David Roach's X-Wire for challenging City Council on a recent "rubber stamp purchase of sixty some odd police" and other city operated vehicles for a mere 1.8 million, yes million, dollars. Why do we need 60 new police cars? And furthermore after City Council frivolously authorized how much money for Harrison Square (which will result in a loss of 10 years of equity that we just payed off) and the Omni Source debacle we have now added another debt of 1.8 million to the tax payers? Come on people, stand up and demand that City Council be responsible for protecting your investment- that is right- Our City! Our Investment!

Some other questions I would love to have a valid and well thought answer for are:

The police cars:

Why did you buy the same traditional police models that are fuel inefficient when there are hybrid vehicles available in police models (or that can be easily converted) that achieve thirty plus miles per gallon of alternative fuels in the city?

Why not seek advertising or corporate sponsorships for the purchase of at least half of the police cars which are replaced by the ad company every three years and we only spend a few dollars per car?

Now granted, I will say that, I wouldn't want to see a car completely littered with ads but at the same pointe having advertising on the back window and the quarter panels is something we already do. I do also think it would be a great way to promote City festivals and events that reoccur with a stable date parameter referenced. In other words City Council could issue a rule that 1. there can only be so many ads per car and at certain locations with certain dimensions and 2. at least one of the ads per car has to be from a local non for profit community organization and or City-County agency. And besides what better way for a criminal to know the number of a bail bondsman or lawyer then to have the advert on the back of the front seat in the cruiser?

Anyway back to the questions:

What is this about 3.7 million dollars in overtime to our police officers?

I'm sorry but in business if you are paying any amount of regular overtime it is time to add at least one to five new employees rather than paying time and half or double time and overworking your employees. Now I do realize that some of that comes from officers working at banks and schools on their days off, but still. If you aren't paying them enough in the first place it makes the previous necessary as a supplement; however the practice of loaning out police officers should be curtailed, if the City is loosing more money then it is getting for their services in the private sector. I can see charging the businesses or events for their time and service but it should be done on the clock and as part of the officers normal schedule and pay. I also have major issues with Police Officers working certain types of Private Events in Public Uniform and Dress or acting in a position of Authority of Law Enforcement, when all they are is a Security Guard. Take the double sided edge of misinterpretation or abuse of power seriously and don't say that it wont happen because it has already several times over in this City and County alone.

And now for a couple other more GoGreen or Enviroliving based questions:

As most people are aware Main Street westbound between Clinton and Calhoun has been blocked off for installation of a new heating and cooling unit on top off the City County building. What I haven't been able to find is any details on the unit its self.

Is it an eco friendly unit?
Are there plans to eventually use grey water from the CCB to feed the unit or is it going to waste fresh water?
Is it solar/wind powered since the bulk of the cooling mandate and power draw is in the "heat of the day"?
If solar power is so awesome then why hasn't City Council issued a mandate that all City owned and operated properties be outfitted with Solar Panels in the next four years?

I would love to read everyones' answers to all the questions.