Eco-Libris blog: green resolution

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Guy Boulianne of Mille Poetes editions

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Sammy & Sue Go Green Too!

Today we have the pleasure not only to present you with green resolutions of an author we work with, but also to update on a new collaboration on a new book!

This is the last part of "My Green Resolution for 2009" and we're happy to have it with Suzanne Corso, the author of the upcoming book "Sammy & Sue Go Green Too!" that will be published by Beaufort Books on Earth Day (April 22, 2009).

The publisher, Beaufort Books, and the author Suzanne Corso, are working with Eco-Libris to encourage the readers of this wonderful book to green up their reading and take a step to support the environment by planting a tree with us for their copy. Thanks to the support of Beaufort Books and Suzanne Corso, readers will be able to do so at a special discount on our website!

What's the book about? here's the synopsis from the publisher's website:

Join Sammy and Sue as they embark on an adventure to help the earth. Along the way they learn all about organic farming, hybrid cars, green cleaning products and even all natural ice cream! Come along with Sammy and Sue to discover how YOU can help the earth too!

The Sammy & Sue Series, based on Sammy and Sue Corso, is an eco-friendly, educational and endearing read for children. “Go Green Too!” is the first book in the series and will lead your children on thrilling adventures while teaching them to value the planet and all of its resources. Join Sammy & Sue to see what you can do too!

Hello Suzanne. What's your professional green resolution for 2009?
To get the word out by helping to save the planet and purchasing more organic foods and eco-friendly products. Start by educating ourselves and reading books that make a difference in our child's lives. The real reason I wrote "Sammy& Sue Go Green Too!" was to be able to enhance a child's eagerness to understand our environment a little bit better.

If you have a personal green resolution for 2009, what is it?

To be better equipped as an adult to better understand exactly what our environment needs. Begin slowly. It's as easy as shutting off the water, less flushes at the toilet and turning off the lights more often. If we all start somewhere, then we all make a difference.

What’s your green wish for 2009?

My green wish is for all to have more knowledge of the environment and all things around us. To better understand our neighbor and his or her needs, whether environment, being respectful or just lending a hand when needed. Being green is more than just the environment it is a way of life.

If you have any other greetings, please feel free to add them.
I want to say how happy I am that my publisher Beaufort and myself decided to partner with Eco-Libris and tell the world by using my book as a vehicle, about the importance of planting new trees to help save the environment.

Any other plans for 2009?

Yes, my plan is to embrace the change of our great country that my daughter and I call home and to take this new found change and enlighten children all over America via bringing awareness to our ever changing environment. Remember it is all done in baby steps, and believe it or not you get their quicker and that is how you make your mark.

Thanks, Suzanne and good luck with the new book!

To learn more about the Sammy & Sue series please visit their website - http://www.sammyandsue.com. You're also welcome to check out Beaufort Books' website at http://www.beaufortbooks.com. And don't forget - the book will be released on Earth Day! (we'll keep you posted :-)

We want to thank all of our partners who took part in "My Green Resolution for 2009" Series. We wish everyone a green and successful 2009!

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Patrick Darby of Novel Places

Erica Caldwell of Present Tense

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Thursday, January 29, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Novel Places

Our journey in search of green resolutions for the new year brings us today to Novel Places in Maryland. We have the pleasure to host the owner of this bookstore, Patrick Darby.

Novel Places started 2 years ago by Patrick Darby who has almost 30 years experience in book retail. The store started as an antiquarian online store, but recently, new titles and accessories were added. The books offered by Novel Places can be found online and also at Mayorga Coffee and Green Earth Goods at Clarksburg, MD.

Novel Places is also participating in Eco-Libris' bookstores program, where customers at the store can plant a tree for every book they buy there and receive our sticker at the counter!

Hello Patrick. What is your green resolution for 2009?
My Green Resolution for 2009:
Buy bulk as much as possible to cut down the amount of packaging.

What's your green wish for 2009?
My 2009 wish is for people to reduce travel time by shopping local
(and help me and my fellow businesses succeed).

Other greetings for the New Year?
Instead of greetings, I want to suggest these 2 recently released
books, "Greentailing" and "You are Here", available through Novel Places.

Greentailing and Other Revolutions in Retail: Hot Ideas That Are Grabbing Customers' Attention and Raising Profits
$29.95
ISBN - 0470288582

You Are Here: Exposing the Vital Link Between What We Do and What That Does to Our Planet
A leading environmental journalist travels to the most fragile places on Earth to show how what individuals do at home affects people, places, and things across the globe.
$25.95
ISBN - 0061580368

Any other plans for 2009 you would like to share with our readers?
Plans are continuing (slowly) to build an eco-friendly bookstore.

Thanks, Patrick!

To learn more about the books available at Novel Places, please check their website at http://www.novelplacesusa.com

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Erica Caldwell of Present Tense

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Present Tense

Today we visit a great independent bookstore in our search for green resolutions and greetings for 2009. We're happy to have with us Erica Caldwell, the owner of Present Tense.

Located in Batavia, NY, halfway between the cities of Buffalo and Rochester, Present Tense is a locally-owned independent bookstore that serves as a center for reading, writing, and the arts in Western New York. Present Tense is also participating in Eco-Libris' bookstores program, where customers at the store can plant a tree for every book they buy there and receive our sticker at the counter!

Hello Erica. What is your green resolution for 2009?
Our green resolution for 2009 is to keep looking for ways to reduce our business's impact on the environment. We carry a lot of local products, which reduces transportation needs. We also carry several lines of eco-friendly products, which we hope to expand this year.

We've made other changes too, like using only biodegradable, compostable beverage cups during store events, giving our paper (and we generally have lots of it!) to the local school to recycle as part of their fundraising program, and switching our cleaning products to environmentally friendly brands. This year, we hope to continue these small changes and if we are thinking green, I'm sure we'll find more areas were we can implement eco-friendly practices into our business.

This year, Present Tense is co-sponsoring the second annual Earth Day Art Contest, which encourages people of all ages in our community to write, draw, sculpt, knit, or otherwise craft a piece of art that reflects the spirit of Earth Day. We have prize categories for different types of media, ages, and use of recycled materials in the artwork. Last year we had over 100 entries in our first year of holding the contest, and we are looking forward to this year's entries as well!

Thanks Erica!

For more information on Present Tense please visit their website at www.presenttensebooks.com. You're also welcome to read the interview I made with her last September.

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Monday, January 26, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - the team of AboutMyPlanet.com

Our journey in search of green resolutions and greetings continues today with the team of the AboutMyPlanet.com, who created one of the leading green voices throughout the internet.

Last month we announced on our collaboration with AboutMyPlanet.com that released in December two books: "Go Green Revolution: My Life" and "Go Green Revolution: My Office Handbook".

These books focus on specific areas of your life and what you can do to go green and save money on your energy bill. A tree is being planted with Eco-Libris for every package of these e-books sold (also - for the 50 first packages of e-books sold we matched the purchase and plant one more tree for each one of the packages).

We asked Bart Babek, founder of AboutMyPlanet.com, to share with us their green thoughts for the upcoming year.

Hello Bart. What are the green wishes and resolutions for 2009 of AboutMyPlanet.com?

At AboutMyPlanet.com our daily life is green, we strive in leading eco-friendly lives and leading by example.

We have had an amazing past year, our readership has doubled and we have launched 4 new websites to be able to cover more green topics in greater detail.

Our resolution for 2009 is to reach and educate even more people, while writing green tips and news is a great way to teach people about the environment we think there are even more engaging ways to get everyone involved.

This week we have launched a new service called "Green QuestionVille", it's a new section on our website where members can submit green Questions, Answers and Votes in the community.

We hope you can join us at "Green QuestionVille" and submit a question or an answer today!

Our one wish this year is that the new President of the United States doesn't encounter much resistance in greening America. We believe that this is a pivotal point in the history of civilization and we wish him all the luck in the world.

We wanted to thank Eco-Libris for partnering up on our green tip "Go Green Revolution" book launch. We were able to plant 480 trees, remember the partnership continues and for every book still sold we will plant one tree. If you're interested in making a difference in your life and on the environment then you can find out more information here.

Thank You for reading, we wish you a warm and happy new year and hope that all your wishes come true.

Team at AboutMyPlanet.com

Thanks to Bart and the rest of the AboutMyPlanet.com's great team! For more information please visit their website at www.aboutmyplanet.com

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

eBooks - A Greener Choice or Not?

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Saturday, January 24, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Angela Wieck of EcoBrain

Our quest for 2009 green resolutions and greetings in going online today. We're very happy to have with us today Angela Wieck, co-founder of EcoBrain, an independent eBook distributor and the only online retailer of eBooks dedicated to the environment and environmentally friendly living.

We partner with EcoBrain, which offers its customers to plant trees with Eco-Libris.

Hello Angela. What is your green resolution for 2009?

1. Get tough with garbage - I am trying hard to think about what I put into the garbage and see if there is a way to reuse the item. It is so easy to throw stuff away. I’ve started keeping a pile that can be donated or given to someone in need. And using old stuff to make a craft pile that the kids can use. They find great fun making things with old bits of yarn, buttons, cardboard, and so on.

2. Use green products at home - Over the past year I have eliminated a lot of toxic chemicals that had been in use in my house. I didn’t realize that most laundry detergent is a petroleum product! So this journey continues.

3. Educate my children about green living - They remind us when we lapse because they have great memories and want to do the right thing. I left the water running between veggie washing and my son kindly reminded me to turn it off. Children make great coaches.

4. Continue to educate about the benefits of eBooks - We all know that books come from trees, but it goes much further when you add in trees being cut down, pollution to create the paper, fuel to deliver and so on. If we choose to read a few eBooks per year rather than buy paper books the difference we can make would be enormous.

What's your green wish for 2009?
World peace of course! Read eBooks! And another wish for 2009 is that manufacturers will produce less packaging; and that we consumers will not want it. A few years ago I was in Germany and noticed that at the drugstore most bottles do not come in a cardboard box. When I asked about this I was told that manufacturers are charged extra if they provide a product with unnecessary packaging. They are way ahead of us on that!

Other greetings for the New Year?
EcoBrain would like to wish everyone a happy and healthy 2009. Let’s continue to make this world a better place.
.

Any other plans for 2009 you would like to share with our readers?

EcoBrain continues to offer great eBook titles at great prices to our customers. We love to hear feedback, so let us know what you think and if there is something you’d like to see. Happy New Year!!!

Thanks, Angela!

To learn more about the eBooks offered at EcoBrain, you are welcome to visit EcoBrain's website at http://www.ecobrain.com

More articles related to EcoBrain:

The eBooks that will help your business go green!

Green Options: Want to Green Your Addiction to Books? Buy Ebooks

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Tuesday, January 20, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - author Amy Guth of the Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New Publishing

Inspired by the new President, our search of green resolutions for the new year takes us today to Chicago.

Our guest today on "My Green Resolution for 2009" series is Amy Guth, author of Three Fallen Women (So New Media Publishing, 2006), founder and director of Pilcrow Lit Fest in Chicago and the new managing editor at So New Publishing. And yes, she also lives in Chicago.

Amy Guth has also a forthcoming second novel entitled "Light of Waters". Previously, she has written for The Believer, Monkeybicycle, Ninth Letter, Four Magazine, Bookslut, The Complete Meal and Outcry, among others.

As we mentioned above she is the newly-appointed managing editor at So New Publishing. She is also an assistant fiction editor at 42 Opus and hosts the monthly Fixx Reading Series in Chicago. You're welcome to read more about Amy on her website (http://guthagogo.com) and blog (http://www.bigmouthindeedstrikesagain.blogspot.com).

We collaborated with Amy on the Pilcrow Lit Fest last year and plan to do it again this year (the festival will take place on May 17-23, 2009 in Chicago. Check out the fest website for more information - http://pilcrowlitfest.com).

Hello Amy. What's your green resolution for 2009?

Every year, one of my resolutions is always the same, and that is to do everything a bit better, greater, larger than I did it the year before. That includes maintaining the existing level of green-living I practice in my home, diet, work, lifestyle and home office, but also to look for ways in the new year to improve in each area, which I mostly do by staying abreast of developments in sustainability, environmental issues and product development.

What's your green wish for 2009?

In 2008 I founded Pilcrow Lit Fest, a small press festival based in Chicago and took steps from the beginning to make the festival as eco-friendly as possible.

Near the end of the year, I also stepped into the role as managing editor at So New Publishing, the press with which my own first novel was released. In 2009 I want to not only give Pilcrow Lit Fest and So New my very best, but also foster as sustainable and low-impact environment as possible in both.

Thanks, Amy!

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Dr. Anne Hallum of the International Alliance for Reforestation (AIR)

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Saturday, January 17, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Dr. Anne Hallum of the Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR)

We continue with our journey looking to learn more about our partners' green resolutions for 2009, and today we have a very special guest: Dr. Anne Hallum, Founder and Director of the Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR), which is one of Eco-Libris planting partners.

AIR is working mainly in Guatemala, where it plants trees and is involved in other activities such as providing environmental education for teachers and farmers, digging wells, building fuel-efficient brick ovens. AIR was founded by Dr. Anne Hallum in 1992 at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, where she serves as a Political Science Professor.

In its first year of operations Eco-Libris planted more than 25,000 trees with AIR. You are welcome to learn more about it from our annual assessment of these operations.

Dr. Anne Hallum and residents reforesting a hillside near Xetonox, 2008. Photo courtsey of AIR.

Hello Anne. What's your professional green resolution for 2009?
To plant even more trees in Guatemala, and to write successful grants for expansion. I will also be teaching two Environmental politics classes this semester, so another professional resolution is to engage and motivate students to “green the campus” (to buy Eco-Libris stickers, for instance).

If you have a personal green resolution for 2009, what is it?
My personal green resolution is to make our backyard more of a refuge for birds: more birdbaths, bird houses, planting more trees, and leaving any dead ones standing for woodpeckers. Almost 80 percent of North American bird species are in decline from habitat loss. I also resolve to continue to reduce my own use of water and carbon fuels….

What’s your green wish for 2009?
My green wish is for world leaders to quickly negotiate a new Protocol for reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and to give it some teeth. (Meanwhile, I wish for environmental activism on the ground to continue to spread.)

If you have any other greetings, please feel free to add them.
The AIR staff in Guatemala send heartfelt thanks to every person who bought Eco-Libris stickers, and to every bookstore and publisher who sold them. We have several tree nurseries in Guatemala, dedicated to growing trees in your name.

Any other plans for 2009?
AIR-Guatemala was just awarded a small grant from the United Nations (UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues), to build more fuel-efficient stoves! This is a prestigious recognition that AIR works directly with indigenous people. Every stove conserves a ton of firewood a year; and each family with a stove volunteers in planting many trees. We also plan to plant trees to protect the Mayuelas River watershed, in a brand new region of Guatemala.

Happy New Year, For the Earth!

Anne Hallum, The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR)

Thanks, Anne!

Here's more about AIR:

The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIR) is a non-profit organization working to make a difference for the people of Guatemala and Nicaragua. AIR was founded by Political Science Professor Anne M. Hallum in 1992 at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. AIR's objective is to assist local communities in Central America to conserve their environment through reforestation, sustainable farming, and education. So far, AIR planted more than 3 million trees in Guatemala and Nicaragua. In 2004, AIR was named The Best Environmental NGO in Guatemala for 2004, by the national government's forestry institute in Guatemala.

AIR works to initiate continuous reforestation programs at the community level. All of AIR's projects are based on the philosophy that direct community involvement in all phases of the projects, from their design to their implementation, is essential for the success and sustainability of project activities.

The daily destruction of forests that occurs in Guatemala is a serious problem - each year more than 1620 square kilometers are deforested. This has already had a severe negative impact on the environment: water sources are quickly disappearing, 65% of Guatemalan soil is considered highly susceptible to erosion and air quality is deteriorating rapidly. In addition, deforestation leads to the depletion of essential nutrients in the soils, especially those used for agricultural activities. As these soils become drained of nutrients and no longer support agriculture, populations migrate to virgin areas and conduct slash-and-burn activities, continuing the cycle of deforestation.

The replanting of trees on community lands, in addition to otherwise conserving the environment, replenishes soil nutrients, and therefore decelerates the destruction of the virgin forests that remain in Guatemala.

More information on AIR can be found on its website:
http://www.stetson.edu/org/air/

AIR's First Year Assessment: http://www.ecolibris.net/AIR_Assessment.pdf

Women who work at AIR's nursery in San Andres ,Itzapa, Guatemala, which is supported by Eco-Libris. AIR has worked here for six years, producing and planting tens of thousands of trees. Photo courtsey of AIR.

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Surendra James Conti of East West Bookstore

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris
www.ecolibris.net

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - East West Bookstore

Today our search for 2009 green resolutions and wishes bring us to the heart of Silicon Valley. East West Bookstore is located in the beautiful city Mountain View in California, and we are very happy to host Surendra James Conti, the manager of the store.

East West Bookshop is a resource center for the art of conscious living. It opens doors to self-discovery, higher awareness and true understanding. East West Bookshop is participating in Eco-Libris' bookstores program, where customers at the store can plant a tree for every book they buy there and receive our sticker at the counter!

Hello Surendra. What are your green wishes and resolutions for 2009?

East West has been committed to the greening of America since our opening in 1980. Whether in times of prosperity or recession, it is vital that we, as a nation and individually, serve the causes that promote a healthy planet. Eco-Libris is a concept that deserves our support, and we urge every reader to invest an extra dollar in its noble purpose when purchasing a book. A little goes a long way.

Thanks, Surendra!

East West Bookstore is located at 324 Castro Street, Mountain View, California 94041. You are welcome to visit their website - www.eastwest.com. You're also invited to read the interview with Surendra we published last April.

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Monday, January 12, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Jennifer Taylor of GreetQ

Our quest for 2009 green resolutions brings us today to the beautiful (and green) Seattle, where GreetQ, an online greeting card retailer is located. We are very happy to host Jennifer Taylor, the owner of GreetQ.

GreetQ offers a unique service: shoppers can buy paper greeting cards online, add a personal message, then schedule the cards to be sent on a specific date. GreetQ then mails the personalized card to the recipient on behalf of their customers on that specific date. The scheduled cards, which can be scheduled for up to one year in advance, are queued online in the customer’s “card-queue.”

GreetQ is collaborating with Eco-Libris to plant a tree for every 10 greeting cards purchased through the GreetQ.com's website.

Hello Jennifer. What is your green resolution for 2009?
In addition to seeking out talented independent designers, one of our main focuses when selecting new lines for GreetQ, is to make it a priority to find brands that use environmentally responsible practices. Many of our brands use recycled paper, are FSC certified or print with soy inks.

One of our resolutions this year is to better highlight these practices for our customers so that they can more easily make informed purchasing decisions. We are also introducing a “Green Glossary” which will define in detail how each of these practices helps the environment. For instance, “what is soy ink and why is it better than regular ink?”

We are also working to “greenify” our operational practices, including reducing packaging while not compromising the safe delivery of cards. We are also researching ways to decrease our overall environmental footprint by reducing energy usage and using environmentally safer ink - not just for greeting cards but for all of our printing needs including invoices and receipt.

What's your green wish for 2009?
I would hope that more companies, in the tradition of Eco-Libris, work to find solutions that help customers reduce their environmental footprint without drastically compromising their lifestyles or without introducing additional complexity into everyday living. Eco-Libris is a great example of a solution that allows book lovers to continue reading “real books” while helping the environment. I hope that GreetQ moves closer and closer to refining similar solutions, allowing customers to still send paper cards, while keeping their environmental impact at a negligible level.

Any other plans for 2009 you would like to share with our readers?

We are working to introduce features that will make sending and personalizing greeting cards even easier; this will include additional personalization options such as rich text editing, making it easier to get your personalized message formated exactly the way you want it.

Thanks, Jennifer!

This collaboration also includes a special offer for Eco-Libris customers and fans: a 25% discount off the regular subscription rate. Code to enter at checkout: ECOLBR.

So check out GreetQ's artful, beautifully made cards at their website: http://www.greetq.com.

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":

Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Madeline Kaplan, author of "Planet Earth Gets Well"

Edain Duguay of Wyrdwood Publications

Yours,
Raz @ Eco-Libris

Plant a tree for every book you read!

Saturday, January 10, 2009

My Green Resolution for 2009 - Bill Roth, author of "On Empty (Out of Time)"

Today on our 2009 green resolutions and greetings series we have the pleasure to have with us Bill Roth, the author of a great book entitled "On Empty (Out of Time)".

Bill is collaborating with Eco-Libris to plant a tree for every printed copy of the book. Each book will have an Eco-Libris sticker saying "One tree planted for this book".

Hello Bill. What are your green wishes for 2009?

My dream for 2009 is that America takes world leadership in implementing the Green Economic Revolution.

This means that as individuals we reduced our consumption of gasoline, electricity, plastics and beef by 20% to achieve the UN’s target for 2020 CO2 emission reductions this year. By the way, that would put approximately $500-$1000 annually in each of our pockets!

And here’s one path for achieving this result, make Fridays your “save to gain day” by not eating red meat, buying only locally grown food, doing something other than commuting to work in your car, not consuming anything that comes in a throw away container and turning your thermostat up or down 5 degrees in the direction that will reduce energy consumption.

It means that our governments adopts energy efficiency standards for ALL buildings designed to reduce energy and water demand by 20% and will facilitate this re-engineering of our buildings by providing 30 year financing at a 3% interest rate to pay for the upgrades. This will re-stimulate our construction and manufacturing industries with millions of good paying jobs and the 3% interest rate is not a subsidy, that’s today’s interest rate on a 30 year government bond.

In my book, On Empty (out of time) I outline the fullest range of technologies and government policies that will produce Energy Independence, lower pump/meter prices and Global Warming solutions. We have the technologies and our consumers are the best in the world in adopting new technologies. What we need is only commitment, by our government and by us as American consumers.

Any green resolutions on the personal level for the 2009?

My personal green resolution is to reduce my use of plastic water bottles. The U.S. disposes of 60 million per DAY! I am switching to a metal container and filtered tap water.

And I am happy to report that I continue to implement last year’s resolution of carrying a reusable grocery bag rather than relying upon “paper or plastic” provided by the grocery store.

Thanks, Bill!

Here are more details about On Empty (Out of Time):

(from the author's website) America's final "wake-up call". Since the 1974 oil embargo we have been promised Energy Independence and lower prices. Instead we are now paying 10 times more for oil and we are importing 4 times as much.

And we are now out of time. We face a recession because of high oil prices and the military cost of protecting someone else's oil fields. And a new crisis, Global Warming, is emerging.

On Empty graphically details the imminent threat of economic and environmental disaster and proposes fresh solutions for achieving a "Man on the Moon" crash program of deploying American-owned sustainable technologies. And it outlines how you, the American Consumer, will lead the charge.

You can buy the book at http://www.onemptyroth.com.

So far on "My Green Resolution for 2009":