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We know, there’s no shortage of ways to waste time on the computer, and we’re not trying to get you in trouble with your boss–but before you get back to work, take a look at three useful tools for folks who are concerned about climate change:

Have you calculated your carbon footprint lately?

The CoolClimate carbon calculator covers it all–transportation, energy, even the food you eat and the stuff you buy.  Be sure to check out the feature that lets you compare yourself (or your small business) to other households or businesses–but remember, even if you have the smallest footprint of any American, you’re still generating tons more carbon than most people in the world, so don’t skip the “Take Action” link.

The Good Widget

After calculating your carbon footprint, you might feel a bit despondent, so here’s something to renew your optimism.  The widget below, courtesy of the Carbon War Room, shows the number of solar watts being installed in the US.  Relax and enjoy the lovely vision of the flickering, ever-rising number.

The Wicked Widget of the West

Last but not least, prepare to get depressed again when you check out the Atmospheric CO₂ widget which, like the solar widget, is endlessly ticking upwards.  And on that note…use the tools, share them with your friends and turn off your computer when you’re done.

–Erica Etelson

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At this year’s TED conference, Bill Gates issued a clarion call for “energy miracles” that will bring global carbon emissions down to zero.  Gates’ philanthropic focus has been on education, vaccines and malaria but, in his 2010 TED speech, he said that his one wish for the next fifty years is not to pick the next President nor to discover a silver bullet vaccine–it is the global deployment of zero-emissions energy technology at half the current price.

Reflect for a moment on how earth-shattering (or, should I say, “earth-saving”) Gates’ epiphany could be:  Here’s one of the wealthiest and most influential individuals on the planet asserting what we climate freaks have been trying to communicate for the past decade–that if we want to have a life-sustaining planet, we can and must get to zero.  And when Bill Gates talks, people with money listen.

Gates begins the talk with a simple math equation even I was able to understand:  Global CO2 levels = # of people on the planet  x services people use (eg. electricity, food) x energy required per service x CO2 per unit of energy.  As you might recall from 4th grade, if the product of an equation is zero, at least one of the factors being multiplied must be zero.  Of all the factors, the only one that could conceivably be reduced to zero is the amount of CO2 per unit of energy.  To do so will require major advances in the scale and reliability of five energy technologies–solar PV, solar thermal, wind, nuclear and carbon capture.  Gates believes we must work intensively on all five fronts by investing heavily in research & development and creating market incentives to move away from fossil fuels.

We couldn’t agree more (with respect to the first three energy technologies on Gates’ list).  Dubious and unsafe technologies aside, we applaud Gates for embracing the gravity of our energy predicament and using his platform to inspire innovation.

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The Ecology Center and the City of Berkeley have teamed up to put on a workshop on How to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2010.  The workshop will be held on February 25 from 7-9 pm at the Unitarian-Universalist Church at 1924 Cedar St.  in Berkeley.  You’ll learn how to reduce your own footprint and local resources available to help your friends and neighbors get on board.  Can’t make it?  Don’t fret–check the Ecology Center calendar for future workshops.

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My Aussie mother sent me a funny joke about a not so funny subject. She got it from her sister who lives in France. Seems like everyone is finally realizing that global warming is actually happening. Now let’s skip ahead to where people take action!

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