renewable-energy

Since I’m currently living as an expatriate in Sweden, I have been watching the stimulus package action from afar — with envy! Details are now emerging on how U.S. homeowners can take advantage of tax credits for energy-efficient improvements: a 30 percent rebate, up to a max of $1,500 for most projects. (The old federal tax credit was 10 percent up to a max of $500.)

Every week we highlight the best articles, blogs, news, videos and interesting Web tidbits to help you live green, be healthy, and connect with your sense of spirituality. Read our roundup for info that just helps you live better.

Green Living

Obamas Hire Green Chef

What if you could generate energy simply by walking? Or by boogie-ing on a dance floor? Or by driving your car on any old road?

That’s the premise behind piezoelectricity. Certain crystals or ceramic materials can generate an electric charge simply by having stress applied to them — the stress, for example, of a person walking on or a car driving over them.

It’s mid-December, and you’re still not sure what to get your sweetie? Try one of these green tech goodies.

Solar Gorilla, $250

The Solar Living Institute just published its amazing 2008 class schedule. This nonprofit is doing more to promote solar energy than any other organization I know of — especially with its recent focus on green careers and green workforce development.

Welcome to my blog!

It’s been nearly 30 years since I founded Real Goods, a renewable energy and ecological living company — and I have been living “off-the-grid” on solar and hydroelectric power most of the time since. I live on a 320 acre working biodynamic farm we named Sunhawk Farms. Here in the hills of Mendocino County, Calif., my wife Nancy and I (and frequently my 20-something daughters Sara and Ashley).