Here is the project I am applying for a grant to fund

I Myspaced President Obama today about the project I am suggesting in a grant proposal, the important parts of which are here below.

To : President Obama

What: A Checklist each household could get/seek to adopt for greening up their impact.

When: May 20, 2009

Dear Sir:

A few weeks ago, I attended an Earth Day speech given by a woman who stands before Congress to deliver vital information on climate change. She made it clear that even if every country kept on doing what they are doing, if the US and 9 other top polluters/consumers of energy/stuff just changed their ways to reduce their impact by 40%, we would bring things into balance.

She then illustrated how in the past four years, Californians have brought down their average per capita consumption levels by 30% over the last few years, and that they still had light and heat and cold beer. This made it clear to me it’s possible. That we really do waste an awful lot of the power and resources. It’s not even being used! Just wasted.

That’s just dumb. Time is now to change that.

She then proceeded to give Denmark as an example of what we could do. Within the span of a year the citizens adopted the programs suggested by the Danish government. Done. The task is accomplished.

When I heard this, it made it clear that it is possible. Not only that, it would bring people together in this country and would increase commerce and possibly create new green jobs we do not yet foresee.

How about creating a ….

How about creating a checklist for each household to participate in. This list would outline to the individual householder, whether renting or owning, what each household needs to do to bring consumption down by 40%, and what is suggested if they want to go even further to help.

It would do such things as:

a) explain the way in which their participation adds up to make enough of a difference;

b) outline exactly what the problems are, and what our goals are;

c) give specific directions: e.g.

* get your house inspected for energy efficiency which would result in suggestions for improvement that are practical. Same with greening up one’s house by a certified green inspector.

* ways to reduce water use: such as lawn suggestions for types of grasses that subsist on less water; appliances that use less water.

* ways to reduce power consumption: appliances upgrade, behavior changes such as turning off lights when not in room, unplug equipment when not in use… more.

* ways to reduce carbon impact…

* ways to reduce poisoning of the soil, and still get results desired (such as mulch rather than spray weed killer every three weeks)

* options available to produce power on site for own use, then for refilling the grid.

* provide a “things to do, things not to do” list, perhaps such as “do not use plastic bottles anymore. Use refillable glass and purify your water at home. Illustrate the floating mass of plastic bottles floating in the ocean the size of TEXAS!”

* teach a bit about gardening? maybe?

* create new guidelines for new construction that would adhere to the these new energy use standards and introduce minimum requirements for these new buildings (passive solar design on any that can achieve the use of it)

Then if the government wants to get it’s houses compliant with this new standard, it could have links ready and available for when the family has replaced the appliance they get reimbursed, whether partially or fully, in a quick manner.

As I asked the speaker at the Earth Day Event about such a checklist, she said there is no such list.

When I think of me and my friends, we would all feel very good about adopting a new code of behaviour and using new appliances, whether the government paid for them or not, bringing our own bags to food shop, using less plastic.

I suggest the research be done to establish this list, that it be given out to the public with practical “How-To’s” to download if need be, replete with recommendations, and links made available for the poorer to get these new appliances and new windows and new methods of heating/cooling and consumption habits.

I am currently drawing up a grant proposal that would accomplish the goasl listed above. I also would like to propose another aspect to you that came to me as a retired teacher. To be brief, the youth today are listless and do not want to work in things they do not care about. How about some kind or Green Corps, that asks every high school grad or college grad to give up a year or so, on basic pay just like th emilitary g=night get in the beginning, to go work towards changing the US’ consumption and resource wasting problems. Well that’s the idea. Glad to talk details whenever you might like, Mr. President.

Thank you for your time and attention.

Very Very Sincerely,
Ines Q Compton

Here is a short video from Obama that just might give you some ideas of some project you want to start or participate in.