Quantum Quote: “If it has been done, it must be possible.” – Kenneth Boulding
April 22, 2021 is the 51st Anniversary of Earth Day – the most widely-observed non-religious holiday in the world.
Over 1 BILLION people participate in Earth Day events in virtually every nation on Earth. Earth Day events educate and mobilize on local, state, national, and global environmental issues.
The 2020s HAS to be the turning point for humanity’s transition to clean energy and a sustainable future. 90% of our carbon emissions come from burning fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas) for our electricity, heating, cooling and transportation.
The Good News is that the Forces of Nature provide 1,000 times the energy we need. The Better News is that we have the technology to channel that clean energy and meet all our needs. And the BEST news is that we can save money doing it.
This week AWESome EarthKind will re-run our interview with Denis Hayes, the first Earth Day coordinator – who then led the way to make Earth Day an international event.
Denis also did the ground-breaking work that created the first 6 story Net Energy Positive building – despite developers saying it was an impossible dream.
Dive into the world of Earth Day’s Denis Hayes and realize that we can overcome the seemingly impossible challenges that confront humanity today.
Who is Denise Hayes?
Denis Hayes is a Stanford University graduate and has been a silicon-valley lawyer, a Stanford Professor of Engineering, and the director of the National Renewable Energy Lab. He currently works as the President of the Bullitt Foundation, where he developed the first 52,000 sq ft six-story building to be Net Energy Positive. The building creates more energy than it uses, and energy is not an expense – but a profit center! And the building was built in Seattle – the city with the least amount of sunlight in the United States.
Denis was named as The Newsmaker of the Day by the New York Times, The Hero of the Planet by Time Magazine, and was also listed as One of the 100 Most Influential Americans in the 20th century by Look Magazine.
Denis became the national coordinator of the first Earth Day in 1970 after he dropped out of Harvard. That Earth Day mobilized millions of Americans and generated the momentum that led to the Clean Water Act, the Clean Air Act, and the creation of The Environmental Protection Agency.
Listen to this episode as Denis shares insights into Earth Day, the “Sea of Energy” that surrounds us, the building that World Architecture Magazine called “The Greenest Office Building in the World”, the reality that we can overcome what seems impossible, and his hope for the future.
Free Webclass
Sign up for a free webclass to discover how easy it is to get ultra-efficient geothermal heating and cooling installed in your home – without the pain of emptying your savings account.
In “The Power Of Earth With Comfort” From Climate Master webclass, you’ll discover the answers every homeowner needs to know, including:
- How geothermal heating and cooling can draw energy from the ground beneath our feet (for pennies)
- Why homeowners everywhere are making the switch
- The secrets to securing utility incentives and tax credits to pay for a large portion of your new geothermal system
and much more…
If you tired of rising energy costs and want to save up to 70% on your energy bills, Go to www.AWESomeEarthKind.com and register now for this FREE special event that will show you exactly how to get geothermal heating and cooling installed in your home
We’d like to hear from you! Please help us understand how AWESomeEarthKind can help you achieve your clean energy goals – and you’ll automatically be entered into a Sweepstakes for a Free LED Light Fixture:
Please help us understand how AWESomeEarthKind can help you achieve your clean energy goals – and you’ll automatically be entered into a Sweepstakes for a Free LED Light Fixture:
Supernova
SuperNova #1. “If it has been done, it must be possible.” While everyone said it was impossible, Denis developed the first six-story 52,000 sq ft building to be Net Energy Positive – it creates more energy than it uses.
SuperNova #2. Most of the energy we need to do are simple – become super-efficient and let the forces of nature provide our power.
SuperNova #3. We live in a SEA OF ENERGY. If it wasn’t for the sun, it would be hundreds of degrees below zero. The furnace just tops it up.
SuperNova #4. Utility scale “Solar On Demand” (Solar with batteries) is now the lowest cost power in the US.
Worst Clean Energy Moment: During the Arab Oil Embargo, Denis promoted that we do for solar energy what NASA and the Defense Department did for computer chips – buy in bulk and drive down prices. There was good and bad news.
Aha! Moment: “Energy is the capacity to do work.” Drying clothes outside takes as much energy as in the dryer, but we don’t pay for the sun and air to dry our clothes.
Best Advice Received:
Best Advice He’s Ever Received: When you hit the wall with a complex problem – take a break. Go into nature, do something else. When you come back, you’ll have the answer.
Personal Habit that Contributes to Success: Pessimism provides no survival advantage – it only leads to giving up. There is always hope – even in the face of incredible challenges (like Churchill in England during WWII).
Internet Resources: https://grist.org, The New Yorker cartoon page, and the Borowitz Report Satire.
WTF or F: Siberia in winter without a coat.
Most Energized About Today: The Green New Deal (now called “ called the American Jobs Plan”). The $3 Trillion Cares Act was passed with only a few weeks’ debate to avoid economic catastrophe. We CAN come together and decide that we are going to make the transition to a super efficient, renewable energy powered civilization.
Parting Advice: Even when everything is stacked against you – never give up.
