In the city known for it's bright lights, dense traffic and cultural wow factor, New York City is adding an attractive label to it's eco-friendly repertoire. NYC is set to become the first U.S. city to require electronics recycling, rather than adding to the already overflowing city landfills.

What the city council calls "trailblazing environmental legislation" amounts to stiff fines if companies fail to meet specific recycling standards. New Yorkers introduce 25,000 tons of wasted electronics to landfills annually, which produce a large percentage of lead, mercury and other toxic chemicals.

By 2012, manufacturers are required to take back 25 percent (weight) of old TVs, computers, etc. That percentage will increase to 65 percent by 2018, but the city won't begin refusing to accept wasted materials until July 2010, so it will be up to companies to start the charge when the legislation kicks off in 2009.

That's right, I used a word that did not previously exist in the English language, but hey, can you blame a guy for trying to break the mold? Spending countless hours researching the world of green energy has its side effects. In my constant quest to champion renewable energy and its many tentacles growing and extending throughout the economic sector, I stumbled upon a very important program in the great state of Texas.

The Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation recently announced a $6 million funding initiative to help combat global warming and air pollution while expanding and stimulating the Texas economy. The Energy Foundation—several donating partners from San Francisco—are teaming up to implement the funding initiative, which will support further development of clean technologies and policy development to spurn growth in the renewable market.

I thoroughly applaud the Mitchell Foundation for taking a stand against climate change, as well as reinforcing what I've always believed is the key to renewable energy standards in the U.S.—technology and economic growth.

The largest photovoltaic plant in the U.S. is now online, as Air Force's Nellis Base currently using it's silicon solar panels to power about a quarter of the entire base with solar energy. The technology is traditional solar electric, meaning that the heat from the sun is absorbed in the photovoltaic cell to produce electricity. Though the power output hovers around 14 MW, the solar electricity process is far more compact and efficient when compared to solar thermal technology that uses the sun's radiation to heat water and produce steam for turning generators. The facility includes more than 72,000 solar panels with six million cells on 140 acres of Nevada land, and providing more than 30 million kilowatt-hours of clean power annually.

What does all of this mean? There seems to be a growing consensus that photovoltaic, while more expensive to install and operate, has a greater power potential than solar thermal technology, meaning that the plant at Nellis Base is an important step to implementing solar power standards that actually equate to real options for commercial and residential use. AND... Nevada Power will support the program by purchasing Renewable Energy Credits generated by the solar facility.

Worried over winter highs and the approach of summer making your energy bill skyrocket? Despite common miscalculations regarding the cost of using renewable energy in your home, the Texas Public Utility Commission points to more than 20 renewable energy plans available in North Texas, showing that going green doesn't necessarily mean fewer options. The plans vary from 100 percent renewable to smaller percentages of the electricity derived from clean resources.

The average cost of said plans were 12.3 cents per kilowatt-hour as of late November, with fossil-fuel electricity plans running an 11.5 cents per kilowatt-hour average in Texas—about $12 per month difference.

With 1,185 megawatts of wind capacity already added in 2007 alone, and more anticipated to come, Texas electricity customers have access to a growing renewable energy marketplace, and a competitive one at that. Year to year, purchasing renewable energy in Texas becomes more convenient, and cheaper, giving customers access to the latest in green power technology, and a chance to help protect the environment.

The recently formed Make It Right Foundation is pushing it's unique architectural and artistic concepts as a means to build 150 new homes for resident of New Orleans Lower 9th Ward, devastated by Hurricane Katrina.

The concept was formed while Pitt was on location for a film, and is currently a series of decorated building components—roofs, walls, foundations, etc.—draped in pink material to create a unique visual representation of the new neighborhood Pitt and the foundation hope to build. Each individual home is environmentally efficient, utilizing solar and wind energy to reduce utility costs by nearly 65 percent.

Pitt has pledged $5 million of his own money, with estimated cost of each home running about $150,000. There is also options for donors to purchase green products for NOLA residents, ranging from solar paneling to low-flush toilets. In a recent interview with NBC's Today, Pitt expressed his desire to eventually create these homes to be completely self-sustaining, using and possibly generating completely renewable energy from the Earth's natural resources—Sun, wind and water.

The nation's largest manure-to-natural gas plant is now operational, taking 10 truckloads of dairy-cow manure daily and producing natural gas for energy consumption. In the quest for alternative energy—specifically biomass research—it's refreshing to see the agricultural sector try and take the reigns of the technology race. After all, the economy only benefits more as companies invest in green technology and research.

I recently attended the Energy Marketing and Customer Service Conference (EMACS). EMACS is an annual conference that brings together some of the biggest electric and natural gas companies in the United States.

Exceptional business leaders within the industry discuss the hottest topics, share ideas in interactive round-table discussions and workshops, and learn from one another as to how to apply best practices. Overall, EMACS was created to guide energy companies in providing you—the consumer—with the best products, customer service and practices possible.

The main focus this year was on renewable energy goals set by the government. Did you know that every energy company has a goal to meet on producing renewable energy? For example, Southern California Edison (SCE)—one of California's biggest electric company that services more than 13 million people— has a set goal of 20 percent to be reached by 2010. They are well on their way of meeting that goal since at the moment 16.7 percent of their energy portfolio is renewable. This is exciting for the future of the energy industry.

To my surprise, many companies are taking on new energy conservation initiatives, and are being more proactive and smarter at implementing those ideas. The one that stood out the most for me was that some companies—such as Sacramento Municipal Utility District (SMUD)—are encouraging their communities to switch out old light bulbs with Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) at schools, home-owner associations and government-owned facilities. Per Harry Hudchison, VP of Customer Services and Operations at SCE, by switching out your light bulbs to CFL's you can save up to one-third off your electric bill every month. Hearing that made me want to jump out of my seat and buy a dozen of them! It's well worth the cost.

Overall the conference was great. I learned that companies do actually have our best interest at heart, as well as the interest of the environment.

An economical way of going green

The days of mindlessly using products and discarding them without a second thought are over. We need to change our ways today to save the planet for tomorrow. I know some of you are thinking it's hard to change habits and it costs too much money to think green. Well I'm here to tell you it really doesn't have to cost much and if you're like me, you'll have to take baby steps towards the big picture.

Saving the environment is not something you do in one day and that's it &mdash on the contrary it's a way of life, a green way of life. Below are some tips to help you change those bad habits and get you on the road to an economically friendly green way of living.

First, the easiest way to a green life is to think small. Normally you're told to think of the big picture, which in most cases is true, but we already know the big picture &mdash saving the environment. Change slowly and change the little things in life before deciding to do it all at once.

• Transportation - Ride the bus to work or even carpool with other co-workers that live in your area. If feasible walk or ride a bike. Now for those of you who can afford it then look into buying a green automobile.


• Recycle - It is always better to set aside items to recycle instead of putting them in the trash to over-fill a landfill. It's even easier if your community has a recycle curb side pick up.


• Cooking - Use a slow cooker, microwave or a toaster oven instead of an electric range. Did you know that a meal that requires one hour to cook in an electric oven uses 2.7 pounds of C02?


• Washing Clothes - Use cold water and save money on your electricity bill. Hang dry at least some of your clothes and save about 700 pounds of C02 a year.


• Lights - Turn off lights when you're not in that particular room and save money and energy.


• Car Tires - Keep your car tires inflated to save money on gas and save the environment from C02 emissions.


• Cleaning Supplies - Save money by not buying several products to clean your home. Vinegar and baking soda are all purpose cleaners that also happen to be environmentally friendly.


• Grocery Bags - Take your own grocery bags back to the store and reuse them until they are worn.

These are just a few things you can do to get you started to a greener way of life. Remember, Rome wasn't built in a day &mdash it takes time. We just need everyone to do their part no matter how small or how big to have a cleaner tomorrow.

If you would like to see more tips on living green then see our press release. I've included a few more easy steps on how you can save the environment and they are also economically friendly to your pocketbook.

The Capital Master Plan, a 1996 proposal to completely renovate the international organization's Manhattan home, is surging forward after nearly a decade-long stalemate. The $1.9 billion budget to improve the security, IT infrastructure, and energy-use shortcomings was finally approved at the end of last month, as five architectural companies will combine with the Swedish construction company Skanska and collaborate on the estimated $1 billion construction.

Scheduled for completion in April 2014, the new design will look to reduce energy costs by 30 percent, as opposed to the energy bill of just over $15 million that the U.N produced in 2006. Proposed improvements include energy-efficient light fixtures, room sensors for lighting and solar energy systems. The U.N. building will also feature a more open-faced design to allow natural light to work it's way through the 39-story building.

The design goals include aiming for LEED silver rating from the U.S. Green Building Council, a green building rating system that determines the level of sustainability and energy efficiency in various areas of a buildings function and design.