Like most children, Halloween is one of my kids' favorite things about the month of October. However, it is a holiday that's celebration can have a real negative impact on the environment. From the disposable costumes and plastic candy wrappers that are littered throughout the neighborhoods, to the electrically lit pumpkins and blow up lawn decorations that are kept inflated night after night, Halloween can have a SCARY effect on our planet. Luckily there are many simple steps we can take as parents to make Halloween an eco- friendly holiday.

Costumes - I know this is a difficult one with all the commercialism and cartoon bombardment our kids get at every turn, but avoiding brand new store bought costumes each year can significantly reduce our carbon footprint. Costume ideas that are more eco friendly include renting a costume, passing on your older costumes to someone else’s kids or have someone else’s kids pass down their costumes to your kids. You can also make cute and simple costumes out of old sheets and clothing. September and October are also times of the year when thrift stores carry many costumes. These eco-friendly costume ideas not only promote recycling but will also save you a lot of money.

Treat bags - Instead of buying a new plastic bucket every year for your kids to collect their treats in, try using a cloth bag, a bucket from home, a pillowcase or a basket which you can decorate to match your kid’s costume. In September and October, you will likely find recycled Halloween buckets/baskets for sale at your local thrift store as well.

Treats - Try to buy treats that use as little packaging as possible or treats that use eco-friendly packaging. We as parents can also remind our kids and neighborhood trick-or-treaters to keep plastic wrappers and all other garbage off the ground and in the garbage. Some chidlren may even feel inspired to pick up wrappers found on their trick or treating route.

Pumpkins - If you are able to purchase your pumpkin from a local farmer instead of a large supermarket, your local farmer will receive a larger portion of the food dollar supporting endangered family farms and ensuring that healthy, flavorful, nourishing and abundant food will be available for future generations. Buying local keeps your dollars circulating in your community and builds a stronger regional economy. When your pumpkin has lost its Halloween flair, you can compost it in your yard waste bin and save precious space in our landfill.

 SOLAR FAIR

 Saturday June 20

11-6 pm

Finley Center, Santa Rosa

http://www.solarsonomacounty.com/

 I heard about this on NPR and thought I would pass it on.....

I am happy to hear that "green" is going mainstream. There are some down sides to greening mass production that's done overseas ( as you will hear when you listen to this story), but I am still happy to hear about the direction we are slowly heading in.

  Zoe&Zac, the new "green" shoe collection from Payless Shoes, hit shelves last week on Monday, April 13. The collection offers shoes featuring organic cotton canvas, hemp, linen, EVA (non-PVC) foam beds, recycled rubber and water-based glues.

The entire collection for women and girls is offered at a budget friendly price of under $30. The packaging is also eco-smart and uses 100 percent recycled shoe boxes printed with soy-based inks.

Also, for every Zoe&Zac item bought, Payless will contribute $1 to The Nature Conservancy's Plant a Billion Campaign.

They’ve developed a washing machine that only needs 23 milliliters (a cup) of water per load—about 2 percent of the usual dose.

 Xeros

I just found out about  Solar Living Institute through a friend who visited there last week and said it was a great place to visit for those who are interested in alternative energy sources.

They have a sun powered carousel, electricity generating bikes, and solar panels that save 1600 tons of carbon emissions every year. 

Its in Hopland which I think is about 50 miles north of Santa Rosa.

I encourage you to check out their  website and maybe sometime we can take a "field trip" up there. 

From Ode magazine....probably my favorite mag at the time. Check it out if you are unfamiliar. I thought this article would be of interest to you all. Talk about, uhm...obsessed?!? But in a good way! But...don't expect to find this type of 'toilet' at this greenmommy's house!

Rebekah and Stephen Hren took a 75-year-old house and turned it into a model zero-carbon home. Here’s how.

If you and your kids haven't gone to see the movie WALL-E yet, you should. You will love it!! Oh and your kids may enjoy the cartoon too : ) Here are excepts from an NPR review I found online.

Pixar has always focused on loss, decay, and the dark side of materialism. Here that theme extends to the ruination of the planet — and Wall-E ranks among the most sublime feature-length works of animation ever made in this country.

Apparently, humans never changed course on pollution and consumerism, and sometime in the 22nd century they were forced to leave a planet they had turned into a giant garbage dump. But they left without turning off a robot they'd left behind. He's basically a trash compactor on treads — a Waste Allocation Load-Lifter: Earth Class, or WALL-E — who has, over the course of 700 years, developed a personality.

This movie highlights how many people are still focused on material gain often at the expense of the environment as well as some people's apathy about their connection to the earth as well as to others. I won't spoil it but it does have a great ending, so you won't leave feeling depressed but rather, maybe.....hopeful.

We got our Santa Rosa Recycling Newsletter today and I found this link on their website about a planned Center for the Environment that will hopefully start being constructed in 2 years. If you support this idea and want to take the "Go Green" pledge, click here.

North Bay Corporation's Planned Center for the Environment

The North Bay Corporation's planned Center for the Environment is a materials recovery facility (MRF) designed for sustainability and will expand the management of Sonoma County's waste disposal far beyond California's current recycling mandates.

What is a Materials Recovery Facility?

A Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) is a state-of-the-art plant designed specifically to recover recyclable materials from our waste stream. Through a series of manual and automated sort processes recyclables are classified into separate areas, baled and transported to a re-manufacturing facility where they can be further processed and made into new marketable materials.

Environmental Impact

Our goal is to achieve 90% diversion, directing valuable resources away from area landfills...propelling us years ahead in the fight against global warming.

The North Bay Corporation's Center for the Environment will offer:

• Enhanced Sorting of Residential and Business Waste for Recyclable Recovery
• On-Site Green Waste Processing for Compost Preparation
• Bio-Diesel Refining Station
• Extensive Processing of Construction and Demolition Materials
• On-Site Restaurant and Grocery Store Food Waste Processing
• Environmental Education for School Children and the Community
• Further Reduction of Sonoma County's Carbon Footprint

Sustainable Building Design and Construction

• Silver LEED Construction Certified
• Solar Panels Covering Rooftop Generate Facility Power
• Wind Turbine Power Generation
• Recycled Building Materials Used in Construction of Facility

Financial and Environmental Benefits for Sonoma County and Area Cities

Jurisdictions that dedicate their waste and recycling stream to the North Bay Center for the Environment will recognize many benefits including:

• Maximizing diversion of waste stream away from area landfills
• No rate increases associated with the cost of construction of new facility
• $10 per ton rebate on all refuse passing through the facility
• Reduced Greenhouse gas emissions, vehicle traffic and noise on area roads

Construction Timeline

Upon receipt of permits we will begin construction on our state-of-the-art recycling complex. We anticipate breaking ground within two years.

This afternoon, I have been listening to an interview on NPR's "Speaking of Faith" with Barbara Kingsolver regarding her family's year of eating only locally and seasonally. A year she writes about in her book "Animal, Vegetable, Miracle" which I think I have mentioned a few times on this blog. Such a fantastic book!!! I would encourage anyone looking for a good summer read to pick it up.

Anyway, this is an interview that will give you a taste of what her book is about.

Some of the questions explored are:

-How did we (the U.S.) get to the place we are now where eating locally and seasonally is considered "elite"? 

-What are the hidden costs of  eating cheap food from the grocery store and  fast food? Why don't those costs turn up in our grocery bills?

-What has the effect of the U.S. Farm Bill been on our health and the environment? 

-How can eating locally reinforce the idea of gratitude?

We were at a birthday party yesterday and they used compost-able plastic ware. Then I noticed today that the  zucchini from Trader Joes comes in a compost-able plastic tray. So my immediate reaction was "oh, that's great"

But now I am thinking "what does that mean?" Can I really throw it in my compost with the veggie scraps? That just doesn't sound right......

Does anyone know what compost-able plastic really is and how you can compost it, if at all? I will look into it too but I was just wondering if anyone has already done the research..... 

It looks like solar power is going to be a part of the answer to clean energy.  (As evidenced by Emily's post about solar bras.)  Following are excerpts of two articles on solar I found interesting...

Solar power has been expanding rapidly, growing an average of 40 percent per year since the beginning of this decade.

In the past five years, global solar installations have expanded more than fourfold from approximately 600 megawatts (MW) in 2003 to nearly 3000 MW (the equivalent of three conventional power plants) in 2008.

Many industry analysts and experts believe that solar offers the promise of contributing a significant percentage of America’s and the world’s energy needs.

Today, solar still represents a tiny amount of U.S. energy supply — less than half of one percent of total electricity generation. What would it take to dramatically increase this number to make solar a significant portion of electricity use, transforming the way U.S. utilities think about solar in the process?

Our research indicates that the solar contribution could be quite considerable, realistically reaching 10 percent of total U.S. electricity generation by 2025 by deploying a combination of solar photovoltaics (PV) and concentrating solar power (CSP).

To read the rest of the above article visit www.coopamerica.org/

It's nice to see a local company is making a major investment in solar...

Agilent Technologies is installing a 1-megawatt solar power system at its Santa Rosa Campus, Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal reports.
Sunpower will install its SunPower Tracker, which follows the sun’s movement throughout the day. The system is expected to generate an estimated 1.8 million kilowatt-hours per year, offsetting more than 33 million pounds of carbon dioxide over the next 30 years.

This is equivalent to planting more than 4,700 acres of trees or removing 3,300 cars from California’s roadways, SunPower said.

Agilent will purchase solar-generated electricity for a period of 20 years. At the end of the term, Agilent will have the option to renew the agreement, transfer the equipment to a new site, or buy the system.

That article was found at www.environmentalleader.com

If you are looking to buy a bike or have an old one you don't use any more or have one that needs a little repair, then here is a great web site for you......

Community Bikes is a volunteer run bike shop that refurbishes used bikes to keep them out of landfills and encourages to people to get on their bikes and out of their cars.

They are looking for volunteers at any skill level, bicycle donations, and people who want to purchase a bike.

 LOCATION:

4009 Sebastopol Rd,
Santa Rosa, Ca.
707 579-5811

HOURS: 

Thursdays 5:00 pm - 8:30 pm
Sundays 1:00 pm - 4:30 pm
and by appointment
 

I guess today is world environment day (they have a day for everything I tell ya). There is a petition I found pledging to wash only in cold and when signing it, you can receive a book produced by seventh generation.

Might be a good greenmommy book club selection....?

There is a website for everything I tell ya!

I thought it would be helpful to post a site that I was told about on this blog. I know we are all trying to take small steps, and this site might help educate and inform in regards to laundry.

www.laundrylist.org 

Yesterday and today for May standards around here (Santa Rosa) have been incredibly HOT as most of my fellow bloggers know.

What are some ways you and your kids are staying cool while keeping your "carbon foot print" light? 

Here is my "Green Corner " contribution to my son' s schools newsletter this month. I know it's  an easy one but I still see so MANY plastic bags being used at the store, I thought I would remind us all of the importance of BYOB. Last month the Green Corner was on the environmental benefits of hanging laundry to dry  instead of using the dryer and the month before that , it was about composting. I should have posted those too but forgot to. Noah's school is out for the summer after this month but I am taking over the newsletter responsibility next year and will post all of my Green Corners for any of you who want to use the same tips for your school newsletters. It's an easy way to get the word out about simple changes we can all make and about GreenMommy.org too.

Paper or Plastic? Neither, please. Did you know that we use 8 percent of the world's oil supply to produce plastic, including BILLIONS of plastic bags each year? Not only is this a huge waste of resources, it results in lots of unnecessary long term landfill (each bag is projected to take nearly 500 years to decompose). It takes 14 million trees to produce the 10 BILLION paper grocery bags used every year by Americans. To help preserve our planet's resources and create a healthier environment for our children, try bringing your own reusable bags with you when shopping. (TIP: Leave a supply of reusable bags in the car to make it easier to remember)

Did you know that appliances plugged in and kept in "stand by mode" can use up almost the same amount of energy as when they are in active use? Unplugging electronic equipment when not in use can cut your household electric bill by 10%.

We have our TV, stereo, and computer all plugged into the same power strip. This way it is easy to turn the power strip off when we aren't using these appliances. I try to unplug the coffee maker and toaster etc as soon as we are done using it to conserve energy. Sometimes I forget, but its good to at least have this information and know that even little changes like these count for something...... 

Joaquin and I went to the performance part of this great traveling educational program called Common Vision. I'm very inspired by the work of this volunteer group. I would highly recommend viewing their calendar and participating someday with your kids if you have the chance. It is fun, green, participatory and educational! Great drumming and dance too! View the video on the website for an overview of the program.

I give a green-thumbs-up to this program! 

I found this series of cute animated videos that help to explain the relationship between carbon and global warming.

National Public Radio and National Geographic have collaborated to create a series of programs dedicated to global warming called Climate Connections if you are interested in listening on line.

I was listening to the Public Radio International (PRI) show "The World" yesterday and thought this was a really interesting story  (click on "wheat prices soar") about  the effect that  corn over-production is having on wheat production which then has an effect on  prices of goods at the supermarket, oil at the pump and ultimately global poverty. Corn production has trumped and wiped out so many of our other traditional U.S. crops in the recent decades since the dawn of processed foods (high fructose corn syrup and the like), eating more animals world wide (as developing countries become more affluent) who are fed on corn and now our vehicles are starting to be run on corn. As a result of the over production of corn, there has been some severe environmental and social consequences. I hope you have a chance to listen to the story (link above). It sums this up in about 4 minutes. However, if you are interested in learning more, I am reading a book by Michael Pollan (who was interviewed for the story), author of the books among others, In Defense of Food: An Eaters Manifesto and Omnivores Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals.

Currently I am reading Omnivores Dilemma which I think would make a great GreenMommy book club selection if anyone is interested in reading along with me.

The omnivore’s dilemma has returned with a vengeance, as the cornucopia of the modern American supermarket and fast-food outlet confronts us with a bewildering and treacherous food landscape. What’s at stake in our eating choices is not only our own and our children’s health, but the health of the environment that sustains life on earth.......

Pollan follows each of the food chains that sustain us—industrial food, organic or alternative food, and food we forage ourselves—from the source to a final meal, and in the process develops a definitive account of the American way of eating.  His absorbing narrative takes us from Iowa cornfields to food-science laboratories, from feedlots and fast-food restaurants to organic farms and hunting grounds, always emphasizing our dynamic coevolutionary relationship with the handful of plant and animal species we depend on.  Each time Pollan sits down to a meal, he deploys his unique blend of personal and investigative journalism to trace the origins of everything consumed, revealing what we unwittingly ingest and explaining how our taste for particular foods and flavors reflects our evolutionary inheritance.

In this week's Bohemian (a free North Bay weekly publication), an article was featured on the new renaissance in meat eating. It's a quick read that explains the history of meat eating (from family farms, to factory farms, to vegan, to vegetarian to mad cow and now....back to the pasture (full circle). The "back to the pasture" meat eating movement which is starting to become popular is a opportunity for meat eaters to eat meat with less impact on the environment and less cruelty to the animals. Vegetarians of course have the least impact on the environment and the animals who are (or aren't eaten) but if you eat meat, the back to the pasture movement in meat eating is a great alternative.

Here are some excerpts from the article.... however I think  the entire article is a quick and informative read if you have time to follow the link above......

.....just as the discovery of mad cow disease and the unsavory details of factory farming and stockyard practices came to light, organic farmers began raising chickens not only for eggs, but also for their meat. Looking to the free-pastured practices of West Marin's own Niman Ranch—not to mention the profitability of chops, steaks and roasts bearing the Niman brand—ranchers began putting pigs on their pastures, letting them roam and forage freely before taking them down to the road to be slaughtered, and then selling the all-natural, artisan-butchered cuts at farmers markets and small local restaurants........All of this expands the possible solutions to the "omnivore's dilemma," a term coined by psychologist Paul Rozin and popularized in the book of the same name by Michael Pollan. Centering on the issue of choosing what to eat when you can eat everything and anything, the dilemma seems to have eased, thanks to the growth of traditionally raised, naturally fed and humanely treated animals.

Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) system for buying meat in the North Bay: 

 As with fruit and vegetables, the trend in meat is toward sustainable, locally raised and organic. But unlike with plants, there has so far been no CSA system in which growers provide their products direct from farm to consumers. That's all changing with the Sonoma County Meat Buying Club. Here's how it works: club members sign up for three months of food at a time, designating whether they want seven, 15 or 25 pounds of meat per month. Each month, a different provider is highlighted and the packages feature a mix of beef, pork and lamb in prime and unusual cuts. Members receive a handmade designer bag to pack their products in, as well as special sauces and butters to accompany the food, rancher bios to better learn where it came from and laminated recipe cards from UC Davis that tell how to prepare the stuff.....It comes out to $7 or less a pound.

My husband and I have talked about eating less meat and then trying to buy the bulk of the meat we do eat from a Meat Buying Club such as the one mentioned in the article. What are your thoughts?

This green tip might be a little late in the season but you can do it any time of year and it will save money and energy. 

Wrapping your water heater tank and hot water pipes  can significantly reduce the amount of "standby" heat loss. A tank wrap is a thick fiberglass blanket, secured around the tank by waterproof tape. You can find water heater insulation kits at your hardware store or home center for about $20. This cost can be paid back in energy savings in just a few months.

Now that the torrential rains are behind us (or at least for the most part I hope) I have started to hang our clothes out to dry again. I know not everyone loves doing laundry.....I am weird like that.....but it feels very satisfying to do a household chore, carbon free. The feeling I think is comparable to getting food out of your own garden or walkiing / biking to an errand you would normally drive to.

If you don't already hang your clothes to dry and are interested in trying it, you don't have to have a traditional clothesline in the backyard to do so. We have a clothesline double strung the width of the garage inside the garage that works great. When we are home, we just leave the garage door open and during the summer months the clothes are dry in less than a day, sometimes less than a few hours. 

 Apparently, Martha Stewart even likes the idea of hanging laundry (or at least having someone do it for her : )

While googling hanging +laundry, I came across this green tip on her website.

Did you know that the tumble dryer consumes the most energy of all of your household appliances? To cut back on energy usage, you can easily hang your clothes to dry instead, and use the dryer as a last resort. Drying outside will make them smell fresher, and the added humidity is great for your plants, skin, and hair. Cutting your tumble dryer use reduces your home's CO2 emissions, and there's strong evidence that human emissions, such as CO2, are changing the world's climate. If you have to use the dryer, keep the filter lint-free and run loads back to back while the drum is still hot. And to save energy with your washing machine, reserve hot water for very dirty loads, and always rinse in cold water.

When choosing detergents, go with phosphate-free detergents. Phosphates go through the sewage system and can cause problems in the waterways. Algae feeds on phosphates, and high levels can use up the oxygen in the water, suffocating plant and animal life. So next time your clothes need drying, try the healthy alternative.

What do all you GreenMommies know about the 2008 presidential candidates running for office in November and their records on environmental protection?

Do you have an idea of who you will be voting for in November? 

What are the most important issues for you when voting someone into office?

Do you know of any websites that fairly and objectively sum up the presidential candidates past record on environmental issues and/or feelings about protecting the environment?

So, I know it isn't official "turn off TV week" (I think it is in April), but I am planning a little experiment to keep the TV off for a week, and then blog of my experience.

  Anyone want to join me? 

I have been thinking of some green goals for myself and the family for 2008.

One of the main  ones is to reduce the amount of driving I do. I would like to have one car-free day a week as a goal. As I would think of the environment, simplicity, frugality, and waste reduction, I quickly distilled out how much of an impact driving has.

I thought that when I drive I am consuming gas ($ & ethics), polluting ,  sometimes going somewhere that involves consumption like the store ($) or entertainment/food (more $), then the resources involved in packaging or getting goods home, and time involved.  I know I have missed something, but the simple act of driving really does impact a whole bunch of things. I think it would be nice to have a low-key day, to just be with family instead of doing with family, like a 'Sabbath for the soul'. I think that might be the title of the next Chicken Soup book. :)

So...now it's your turn...any green goals for 2008? 

I finally put in 5 CFL light bulbs around the house today.

I have 7 left that I need Dan's help since he's taller than me.

I noticed they are not as bright when they first turn on, but as they warm up, it gets brighter.

My next PG&E bill should be interesting, especially since I've only used the heater twice since we've been back from vacation. 

A couple weeks ago I posted on PG&E making the first step and offering a carbon offsetting program for our residential energy use. I said that I would update you on the actual cost and my bill just came to my inbox. The grand total to offset the carbon my family emitted during the month of October (9/26-10/26, actually) was $2.55.  I would say that its worth it. 

 The following information was taken from the Santa Rosa City web site

The Environmental Projects team is helping the City reduce its Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions and  helping facilitate the reduction of community-wide GHG emissions. The City's objective to reduce its emissions is being accomplished by encouraging the use of renewable energy through implementing solar, biomass, wind,  and alternative fuels into their every day operations.

As well as encouraging the use of renewable energy the City has reduced its energy demands and water consumption  through various conservation projects. beneficial reuse of recycled wastewater and biosolids. The City is also in the process of educating staff about Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, and encouraging  municipalities and residents to build green.

Currently, the City has installed 3 photovoltaic (PV) systems totaling 81.5 kilowatts (kW) which together are estimated to be producing approximately 153,000 kWh of green energy each year. Another project is currently in the works, which will add an additional 30 kW and reduce the City's GHG emissions even further.

In June of 2003 the City of Santa Rosa adopted a voluntary green building program, Santa Rosa - Build it Green, that promotes building and remodeling homes in a way that reduces energy demands, releases fewer pollutants into the atmosphere, conserves water and reduces construction waste. The City has also committed to utilizing guidelines set by Build It Green when constructing or renovating municipal buildings

The City of Santa Rosa continues to take bold actions towards bettering itself as a sustainable community. The City has been innovative in its pursuit of public-private relationships. These relationships are what has changed the culture in Santa Rosa and allowed us to be placed on the top 10 list of Green Cities in the U.S. for 2006. 

For more information, comments or suggestions please feel free to contact us at: Environmentalprojects@srcity.org

Day light Savings is a week late this year due to a provision in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. Usually we would be getting an extra hour of sleep this weekend but it has been postponed until next Sunday, November 4th. The Energy Policy Act, among many other provisions, lengthened the day light savings period starting in 2007. Here is an explanation:

Delaying the announced time of sunrise and sunset increases the use of artificial light in the morning and reduces it in the evening. It is presumed that more people need evening light than morning light, and energy is conserved if the evening reduction outweighs the morning increase.

 It will be interesting, after this first year of lengthening the day light savings period, to see how much energy this change actually saves.

CNN is presenting a 2 part special called Planet in Peril. It premeires on Tuesday and Wednesday October 23th and 24th at 9pm, both nights.

CNN takes viewers around the world in a two-part, four-hour documentary that examines our changing planet. This worldwide investigation, shot in high definition, looks at four key issues: climate change, vanishing habitats, disappearing species and human population growth.

View  the trailer below: 

This is a little ways away but I figured the sooner we know about it the more people we can tell, right?

Lights Out America is a grassroots community group now organizing a nationwide energy savings event on Saturday, March 29, 2008. On this night, we invite the entire country, including businesses, city and federal government agencies, schools, and individuals to turn off all non-essential lighting to save energy...

This is a great concept and I really hope it delivers some great results. If March 2008 is just too far away for you and you really want to participate sooner then you're in luck! Tomorrow, October 20th, is Lights Out San Fransisco. Residents and business' all over SF are turning their lights off from 8-9 pm, only one hour to greatly reduce energy consumption and environmental impact. We are close enough to SF right? Right!

San Francisco Green Festival

Show Hours
Friday – 2pm – 8pm
Saturday – 10am – 8pm
Sunday – 11am – 6pm

Unless I am missing something, most people here in California do not have the ability to purchase renewable energy such as wind or solar. PG&E however is now offering their new ClimateSmart Program. I first heard of this back on our blog from Erica, but at the time the program was not up and running. As of June 28th of this year it is all set and ready to go- this is how it works:

• The energy you use emits greenhouse gases, such as CO2 (carbon dioxide) , into the atmosphere due to the burning of fossil fuels.
• By signing up for ClimateSmart, you can pay a separate amount on your monthly energy bill to make your home or office energy use "climate neutral"
• Through ClimateSmart,  PG&E will invest 100% of your payment in independently certified greenhouse gases reduction projects in California, like conserving and restoring forests and capturing methane gas from dairy farms.
• ClimateSmart projects absorb or reduce over time an equal amount of CO2 from the atmosphere, balancing out the climate impact of your energy use.

This is similar in concept to Terrapass which balances the emissions from your car (or other mode of transportation). There are different viewpoints in regards to purchasing carbon offsets. Some believe it is a passive way to be green. You live your life the same way and then "buy" your way out of actively helping our environment. Others are skeptical of purchasing offsets because it is difficult to know what exactley your money is going to. These are both good points but here is why I am impressed with the program and why I just might sign up. 

Like I said earlier, currently here in California, this is our only option in "greening" our energy (beside of course just not using it). This is the first program of its kind and I feel that the more supporters it gets the more other major companies will move in the green direction. ,I like the fact that the money we put toward the program (an average of $5 a month) goes to local carbon reduction programs, not obscure programs that may even be in other countries. I do realize that PG&E isn't the greenest company out there but I do think they deserve credit for this effort. I support green change and that is what they are offering. Until I can purchase myself some wind or solar energy it looks like this will have to do for now.

This is a commercial from climateprotect.org illustrating how much CO2 the average household contributes to the climate crisis. I thought it was a great visual... and I just like posting videos.