Northeast News Briefs

The Breakfast Club

Looking for a hint of something wild to spice up your morning coffee and bagel? If you live in the vicinity of Portsmouth, NH, you can get just that at the Bagel Works in Market Square, where CA-CP’s new global warming photo exhibit, Wild New England, is on display through January. These stunning pictures, created by local photographers Jerry and Marcy Monkman, are a pointed reminder of the beautiful landscapes we enjoy here in New England—and the risks climate change poses to our quality of life. To see the exhibit (and get some tasty, healthy goodies while supporting a great local business) visit Bagel Works at 9 Congress Street in downtown Portsmouth—or, see links to an online version of the show on our homepage: http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org. To find out how to bring Wild New England to your potential exhibit space, contact Jennifer Andrews at (603) 422-6464, ext.7.

Moving reminders of the regional riches threatened by climate change.
Photos courtesy M. & J. Monkman, Ecophotography.

Regal Rides Will Help Us all Breathe Easier

Regal Limousine Service, Inc. of North Hampton, N. H., is in the process of making half of its airport sedan fleet cleaner The new-and-improved vehicles will run on compressed natural gas (CNG), a fuel that is significantly less polluting than regular gasoline or diesel.

In cooperation with the New Hampshire Governor’s Office of Energy and Community Services, the Granite State Clean Cities Coalition, and the U. S. Department of Energy, Regal received last fall nearly $100,000 to cover the increased cost for the purchase of 10 new natural gas Ford Crown Victorias.

Because Regal’s airport limousines travel an average of 6500 miles a month, burning as much as 3200 gallons of gasoline annually, using CNG vehicles will reduce by more than three tons the amount of CO2 they release annually into the air within the I-95 “non-attainment” corridor, where poor air quality is a perennial, and a federal, issue.

GM to Get Modern, with Hybrids

General Motors is the latest automobile manufacturer to catch on to a crucial new technology: the hybrid gas-electric drivetrain. While Honda and Toyota have been enjoying success with their clean-running, gas-sipping hybrid vehicles for many months, domestic auto producers have been slower out of the gate. Ford stepped into the realm of hybrids with its Escape SUV, to be available at the end of this year. And G.M. is now finally expected to announce plans to offer a hybrid sport utility vehicle, the Saturn Vue, for calendar year 2005, as well as four other models with lesser variations of the hybrid technology by 2007.

The Honda Insight,
a snazzy two-seater,
was the earliest version
of hybrid available

Other, existing options for these climate-saving vehicles are the Honda Insight and (HEV) Civic, and the Toyota Prius; additional promised hybrid offerings over the next few years include a Ford Escape SUV, a Dodge Ram, a Chevy Silverado, and others. The IRS offers a $2,000 tax deduction for these fuel efficient vehicles, and many state governments and even some employers offer incentive programs as well. To find out more the tax benefits of buying a hybrid vehicle, check out http://www.ott.doe.gov/hev/faqs_ans3.html. To learn more about the technology, its benefits, availability or pricing, http://cartalk.cars.com/info/hybrid/ is a good place to start. Happy (fuel-efficient, low-emission) driving!

Winterize Your Home and Save in More Ways than One

For many of us in the Northeast, the season of cold and snow also brings with it the dread of the monthly heating bill. But there are options available to home owners and renters alike that can help minimize winter’s wallet squeeze and the detrimental environmental ramifications of using more energy to keep warm—without resorting to dressing in layers. Home energy audits, offered (often free!) by most utilities and some state energy offices, can help you target opportunities to make your abode energy-tight. To get more information about money-saving, climate preserving, comfort-enhancing home efficiency opportunities, check out http://www.epa.gov/hhiptool/. To find out about energy auditing, efficiency incentives or rebate programs, give your local utility or state energy office a call.

Fare Well, Friends!

We here at Clean Air-Cool Planet wish the very best of luck to two colleagues who are going on to pursue other opportunities. To Katurah Mackay, communications manager and tireless teller of inspiring solutions stories, and to Rebecca Scott, office organizer and administrative guru extraordinaire, we offer MANY THANKS; your dedicated work on behalf of climate and energy solutions for the Northeast will continue to be a much-appreciated inspiration. We’ll miss you both!