Vermont Winter Landscapes

LoveEarthAlways continues to evolve.  We are moving soon to a new home at Etsy. You can see the emerging photo gallery here: http://www.etsy.com/shop/LoveEarthAlways and it will include seasonal pictures of Vermont and Vermonters, fall foliage, winter nature scenes and Vermont landscapes and the verdant seasons of spring and summer. I will be adding photos every day!

We hope that you hook up, check out our stuff, find favorites, tell others in your circles, on facebook, pinterest and twitter, and other places and of course, buy what you can afford! After all, it does cost money to support the photography obsession! If you live in the northeast and are looking for a professional photographer with reasonable rates and an intrinsic motivation and some would say, talent, look no further! Hope to hear from you!

Photo Credit: Addison Fay

We are happy to announce that our well-established blog and commercial website is for sale and will be listed with an online broker soon. It has been four years since LEA was launched in fall of 2008 and what a ride it’s been. We have had a an Earth-loving business with a health and wellness flavor that has evolved into a popular destination for guest blog posts, award-winning photography and outstanding healthy food recipes.

LoveEarthAlways.com has amassed 10,000 followers on twitter, hundreds of facebook friends, a mailing list totaling near 1,000 and hundreds of contacts in the green business sector in Vermont and across the US, and had a presence at Vermont area green shows and conferences. We have fulfilled product orders from as far away as Finland and as close as Burlington, Vermont.

Now it is time to pursue other interests and for new owners to take this company to the next level. Are you interested or know someone who might be? Let’s talk! Contact us as soon as possible.

As the housing market continues to recover from a serious downturn just a few years ago, many Americans are looking for eco-friendly housing options that help to save them money on their utility bills, as well as reduce their overall carbon footprint and reliance on traditional energy sources. Surprisingly, American consumers are not alone in this quest. A number of great programs setup by the federal government actually issues loans — and even mortgages — to consumers who are looking for a “green” housing option near them. These programs vary in terms of their disbursement and requirements, but each of them is an essential way to take advantage of green energy, eco-friendly construction, and a march toward energy independence.

Grants from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

One of the best sources of financial assistance is the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. The specialized federal agency actually invests in consumers, businesses and research firms, if it believes they’re firmly committed to developing and using green technologies to further the goals of energy independence and American innovation in the green technology sector.

To qualify for funds, an application must be filed with the office detailing the reason that funding is being requested. This can be anything from the conversion of an old building to eco-friendly standards, or the development of a new system to provide green energy or reduce carbon emissions. Each application is reviewed individually, with the agency releasing funds to those they deem most worth of its investment.

Tax Credits for Seeking Greater Energy Efficiency

While it’s not actually a loan, one of the most effective government programs for those consumers looking to “go green” is actually a tax credit. Established in 2005, the Energy Policy Act provides a reimbursement to consumers and businesses who use their own funds to adopt green technologies. That covers the acquisition of an eco-friendly automobile, the installation of solar panels or wind farm technologies, or the conversion of an old building into one that is energy efficient and ready for the 21st century.

As with all tax credits, this popular option must be filed for between January and April, using standard tax forms issued by the federal government. The claim will be reviewed by the IRS, and the credits will be issued to the filer in the form of a greatly increased annual tax refund. The tax credit is available to U.S. citizens during each year in which an eco-friendly improvement is made to their commute, business, or place of residence.

The FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program

One of the best loan programs for those home buyers who are considering going green is the FHA’s Energy Efficient Mortgage Program, or EEM. The program actually gives consumers a loan that’s greater than the overall value of their home by between 5 and 15 percent. That extra money is then used by the consumer to make eco-friendly improvements the home’s construction, reducing energy use and promoting greater energy independence.

As with virtually ever FHA mortgage or loan program, the federal government will inspect the residence frequently to ensure that the extra funds are actually being used for eco-friendly purposes. As long as the home’s owners stay true to their stated goals of a green residence, the funds will remain in place and the improvements to the home’s carbon footprint can continue unabated.

Veterans’ Administration Energy Efficient Mortgages

Another great option for America’s veterans is the VA’s own EEM program. The program is similar the one offered by the FHA, but differs in terms of the amount of money that can be dedicated to energy-efficient improvements made to an existing home. While the FHA offers between 5 and 15 percent of the home’s actual value on top of its own mortgage loan, the VA’s program caps improvements at a maximum of $6,000. For homes with a lower overall value, those improvements are capped at just $3,000 instead.

Lots of Great Ways to Go Green and Save Money

With the backing of tax credits, government loans, and programs from the FHA and the Veterans’ Administration, there are lots of great ways to make eco-friendly improvements to a new home without breaking the bank. Homeowners should take advantage of at least one of these programs while the government still offers them, combining excellent loan savings with long-term savings on the cost of fueling and enjoying a new home.

Provided by refinancemortgagerates.org/

Owners of the Nissan LEAF are a passionate group and you could be missing out. With the 2013 model set to hit the market complete with upgrades improving the car’s range by a possible 25 percent, it’s really no wonder used car dealerships in Phoenix are selling this year’s model at competitive prices. If you are wondering what all the fuss is about electric cars, maybe it’s time to join the conversation. Here are a few secrets from Nissan LEAF drivers.

Why Choose the LEAF

Kelly R. Olsen is a filmmaker, former Santa Monica City Councilman and avid lover of electric car technology. As the owner of a Nissan LEAF, he reportedly calls the experience of driving his car or any like it, lovingly, “The EV Smile.”

“It’s the ear-to-ear grin that almost everybody gets the first time they drive a Nissan LEAF,” he says on on Nissan USA.

Olsen decided to put his film-making skills to use in an effort to help others discover the benefits of electric vehicles. He has made videos of Nissan LEAF owners talking about their experiences and concluded there are five basic reasons why drivers choose to keep EV smiling.

Environmental Improvements

According to Olsen on Nissan USA, many of the interviewees were concerned about pollution. Without gas or a tailpipe, the LEAF doesn’t emit smog-producing, climate-changing emissions into the air. Using the technology as a green effort to help the earth is a common and popular choice among EV drivers.

Cut Costs

Obviously if you don’t have to fill up with gas then you are saving substantial amounts of money each month. But this isn’t the only cost benefit of driving an electric car. Never needing a tune up, oil change, transmission job or other maintenance work necessary with a gas-powered vehicle saves owners time, headaches and cash.

Local Economics

The fact that America sends hundreds of billions of dollars out of the local and national economy to purchase gasoline made from imported oil is something LEAF drivers are concerned about, according to Olsen on Nissan USA. Because of this, people are turning to electric cars to keep money circulating through local utility channels in hopes of boosting local and regional economic infrastructures.

National Security

Some of the interviewed drivers told Olsen they felt the money spent on imported oil might allow for the purchase of weapons intended to use against American military personnel. Because of this possible activity, drivers looked for other options. They found that using domestically produced electricity severely restricts that possibility.

Fabulous Fun

The last reason the LEAF lover found why people choose this Nissan electric car model is because it is just plain fun to drive. According to his friend and fellow LEAF owner, Paul Scott, the newness and excitement of driving the LEAF doesn’t wear off. Even after a year and a half of driving it, he still claims to find a smile on his face every morning when he buckles in.

Olsen said on the site that some people were influenced by all five reasons, some by only one and others a varying combination of two or three. But to him, it doesn’t matter why people choose EVs.

“A person needs only one of the reasons to be valid for them to make the decision to drive electric, because each is compelling enough on its own,” Olsen said on Nissan USA. “I believe that the reasons why a person chooses an electric car are also responsible for making the EV Smile last.”

This blog has another Nissan Leaf post here.

When I was a boy my Grandma had a jar of home made potpourri in her bathroom- dried wild rose flower petals and other fragrant plants. To me it was exotic and delectable and I remember rugosas in her front yard as well, pink, with a refined scent. When I look at these flowers I can smell Gram’s potpourri and the image takes me back to that special place. I hope that it does for you too.

Land of Green Mountains, Valleys and Business

Indian Brook, Essex, Vermont

Anyone who is fortunate to live in Vermont knows  we are green in many ways. When you have a state that is named after it’s green mountains, then you have a reputation to live up to. Vermont is no slacker in the green department.  Hopefully some of this Vermont photography will prove this point.

Gorgeous early Vermont spring greenery

Water is plentiful in Vermont due to our usual winter snow pack and ample precipitation, sometimes too plentiful. Ponds, streams rivers and lakes swell in the spring and by fall they tend to moderate.

An early bud pops open in the forest.

After the long winter the first leaves that unfurl and swell with their delicate structures are almost magical. Leaves tend to start out yellowish green and get greener as they mature and chlorophyll takes over.

Patches of tiny flowers such as these Forget-Me-Nots cover valley floors catching sunbeams spilling through the forest leaves above.

One of the first signs that spring is progressing is dandelions gone-by, ready to spread their seeds to the wind.

A droplet of water refracts an image of the tree.

Driving along Vermont roads it is not uncommon to see scenes like this one that seem to permeate the visual senses with luminosity!

When the first white settlers came to the Champlain Valley of Vermont they found forests of pine and oak like this one, well over 2oo years old.

Like our photography? You can find more at our Vermont photography gallery, in our LoveEarthAlways store and on our etsy page http://etsy.com/shop/LoveEarthAlways  Like something you see? You can buy cards or high resolution prints of any photo you see. Just send an email and let us know what you like. And don’t forget to tell your friends!

All photos by Glenn Fay, Jr. and are shown in small size here. If you click on a photo you will see it in a slightly larger image. We can print them poster size in clear high resolution if you like!

Supporting Fossil Fuel Companies Makes Not Sense! Here is You Chance to do Something!

A majority of Americans now believe that excess carbon in the air leads to climate change and the weather extremes we have been experiencing are going to get worse. Rather than continuing to support companies who enjoy enormous profits for contributing to climate change shouldn’t we support alternatives and try to reverse the ominous forecast?

Why are fossil fuel companies getting tax breaks, financial assistance, royalty relief, and many loopholes that benefit the fossil fuel industry? Under current law, more than $113 billion in federal subsidies would go to oil, coal and gas industries in the coming decade. Do they need this money? No! In 2011 alone, the Big Five oil companies, alone, made $137 billion in profits!

Sen. Bernie Sanders introduced legislation Thursday to end billions of dollars in oil, coal and gas subsidies.

You can support this new legislation and end polluter welfare by making your voice heard here.

The COTS Walk Needs You

http://www.cotsonline.org/component/content/article/34-who/105-cotswalkregistration.html

Volunteers are needed too!

Extreme Weather Survival In “The New Normal”

Recently we had a week of weather with temperatures 40 degrees above normal!  A few weeks before, 75 tornadoes ripped through Indiana, Illinois, North Carolina and other states, with winds as high as 175 mph, completely wiping towns off the map, killing people and destroying billions of dollars of property. As hundred thousand people mourn and try to begin to put their lives back together, those of us a safe distance away wonder why no one is looking at the big picture and wondering who is going to pay for this?

FEMA – The Bottomless Barrel of Money

Last spring when Lake Champlain flooded over 200 year records, and last fall when Irene washed away villages in Bermont, FEMA the Federal Emergency Management Authority came to the rescue with human power and money to restore thousands of miles of roads and infrastructure. Now, once again, FEMA will be be counted on to rescue Americans who had the misfortune of living in the path of mother nature during a new era, the era of cataclysmic weather!

NASA and NOAA predict the frequency and intensity of freakish weather will not only increase over time but the rate of increase will climb as carbon dioxide and methane levels climb in the atmosphere. This means that we can expect more powerful storms and other extreme events more frequently, going forward, as they say! No worries, though, because FEMA has plenty of money to rebuild after each Katrina, Irene and tornado hit.

Survival of Extreme Weather Events

How can you be prepared for the next unexpected epic extreme event? FEMA suggests:

A basic emergency supply kit could include the following recommended items:

• Water, one gallon of water per person per day for at least three days, for drinking and sanitation
• Food, at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food
• Battery-powered or hand crank radio and a NOAA Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries for both
• Flashlight and extra batteries (better yet a hand-crank, solar charged flashlight!)
• First aid kit
• Whistle to signal for help
• Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic sheeting and duct tape to shelter-in-place
• Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
• Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
• Manual can opener for food
• Local maps
• Cell phone with chargers, inverter or solar charger

And don’t forget your portable Aero Press Coffee maker! It’s a necessity for quality coffee under any circumstances, whether camping or emergencies.

It is reassuring to know that FEMA will always be there for us, unless at some point in the future, our leaders decide that part of government is too big! But in the meantime, there is plenty you can do to ensure the survival of yourself and your family in coming extreme weather events. Be prepared!

Obamacare in One Minute

President obama spoke to a raging crowd at the University of Vermont on Friday. Among the topics, his health care law that has resulted in improvements for all Americans.  Here is all you need to know about Obamacare in one minute: