"We are addicted to Oil' George W. Bush announced in 2007.  What is your Carbon Footprint?  Knowledge is Power.   I think most people are very responsible and given the information, will do everything in their power to make society better.  Global warming is a very contentious issue, but too much Carbon in the atmosphere is a no brainer. Smog, temperature inversions,  for example are just 2 direct result of Carbon. Fossil fuels are a major source of Carbon. An what about the cost?  The USA, while only 4% of the world population uses 25% of all the Fossil Fuels produced.  That is 21 million barrels a day of the 84 million barrels produced each and every day of the year.  We import 64% of that Oil, or 13.65 m barrels each and every day.  For those of you old enough to remember, in 1963, the first Oil Embargo, we were using 11 million barrels of oil a day of which we were importing 34%.  Didn't we learn anything?  Apparently not, or at lease we were lulled into a complacency that maintaining the status quo was OK.  According to T. Boone Pickens, at this consumption rate, in the next 10 years there will be a $10 trillion transfer of wealth from the USA to foreign producers.  At a projected population of 320 million Americans in 10 years, that amounts to $125,000 for each and every family (of 4) in America. This does not sound sustainable.  Pickens is an Oil man.  He has made a fortune in Oil and is now spending a fortune in alternative energy production. This guy knows his stuff and is walking the walk. So what can each of us do?

Again "Knowledge is Power"   Here is my 5 step plan to start;

1.  The USA, Congress and Administration DO NOT HAVE A PLAN.  Get a copy of the Pickens Plan, (web-link below)  and read.  This is a very common sense, approach that is very doable and could have huge effect on our economy and our environment . Contact your local and national leaders and suggest that they also read the Pickens Plan.  Our leaders need to get a clue, they are supposed to lead not just try to get re-elected.

2. Calculate your Carbon Footprint.  (web-link below)  It is very interesting and you will quickly see what you and your family are adding to the Global Carbon total.

3.  Look at your living habits and choices.  What can you do to reduce your use of fossil fuels?  Change light bulbs for a start.  Plan you automobile use, take mass transit, trolly or bus;  walk, carpool. Evaluate how you live, what is necessary and what is excessive. Look at your  lifestyle and the results.

4. Keep your eyes open and ears to the ground and become aware of the influence each of has on our Sand Box.  Lets encourage our fellow playmates to help in the process.  

5.  Recalculate you Carbon footprint every 30 days for the first couple of months and every 60 to 90 days over the next year.  It will astound you what an effect each of us has.

Many Native Americans tribes understood a very basic premiss;  how we live our lives effects those that follow, a common view was  the next  5 generations.

We do not inherit the Earth, we only get to borrow it from our Great-Grand Children. 

The available options for design and materials vary widely depending on the experience of an architectural firm and the circumstances of an individual project. Even if you choose not to plug into a photovoltaic array or a backyard wind turbine, smart choices in many other areas allow you to make significant gains. Consider using recycled and nontoxic materials, solar or passive water heaters, efficient insulation, and a trustworthy thermostat. Because many of these measures involve whole-house systems, it's essential for you to establish criteria (link to Eco-Build) that addresses them.

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