My Green Mission

Every year parents spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars on toys and activities for their kids. While many of things are great for keeping young minds and bodies active, many of them are unnecessary. Sure kids need structured play, but they also need “free” plan and this is easy to do when the world’s largest playground is right outside your back door. Why not let them play outside?

Every toy, book, and TV show that comes out has been designed and redesigned several times in order to make it educational and entertaining for children.  The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it’s also educational. Nature can teach children the basics of science, economics, and creativity.

It’s cheap. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually have low cost fees or memberships). This way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational play.

It makes them think. Lately there’s been a trend in education towards inquiry based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be able to learn things on their own later. What better environment to learn things than out in nature.  There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.

It may help the world. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career, or world saving invention.

It’s fun. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.

While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find a lot of places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.

Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature.  That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well.

Alkane Energy (ALK.L) (London) Alkane Energy is an international renewable energy company that designs, builds, operates and services methane treatment and generation plants.

Boralex Inc (BLX.TO) Boralex owns and operates hydroelectric power stations in Canada as well as a natural gas-fired cogeneration plant. Boralex also operates in the United States where, in addition to a small hydroelectric power station, it owns one of the largest wood waste power generation plants in North America and it has recently ventured into wind energy in France.

Canadian Hydro Developers (KHD.TO) Producing certified green power from a diverse portfolio of renewable wind, water and biomass resources.

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais (CIG) Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais—CEMIG engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Brazil. As of December 31, 2005, it operated 49 hydroelectric plants, 4 thermoelectric plants, and 1 wind farm, which had a total installed generation capacity of 6,113 megawatts. The company’s transmission network in Minas Gerais consisted of 1,345 miles of 500 kV lines, 1,228 miles of 345 kV lines, and 467 miles of 230 kV lines, as well as 32 substations with a total of 92 transformers and an aggregate transformation capacity of 15,393 MVA, as of the same date. Companhia Energetica also owned and operated 245,714 miles of distribution lines, through which it supplied electricity to approximately 6.0 million consumers, as of the above date. In addition, Companhia Energetica distributes natural gas in Minas Gerais; provides telecommunication services; and offers national and international consulting services.

Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) is the nation’s largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation’s largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. This national fleet of plants is diversified by fuel, location and technology, and includes nuclear, coal, natural gas, oil, and renewable and alternative fuel (solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass) facilities. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

Econergy International PLC (LON:ECG) is a renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP) focused primarily in the Americas. Our strategy is to develop, build, own and operate renewable power plants as well as optimize clean energy assets that add economic value.

Endesa SA (ELE) Endesa, S.A., an electricity company, engages in the generation and distribution of electricity primarily in Spain, Portugal, southern European region, Latin America, and north Africa. It also involves in the renewable energies and cogeneration activities, as well as distributes natural gas. As of December 31, 2005, it had a total installed capacity of 45,908 Megawatts; and supplied electricity to approximately 23.2 million customers in 15 countries.

Energy Developments Fpo (ENE.AX) (Australia) Alternative energy power generation: technology for and running of plants. Power generation from landfill gas, coal seam mine waste, cogeneration and combined cycle power plants.

EnerSys (ENS) EnerSys engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of reserve power and motive power batteries, chargers, power equipment, and battery accessories worldwide. Reserve power batteries, marketed primarily under PowerSafe, DataSafe, and Genesis brands, are used in the telecommunications and utility industries, uninterruptible power suppliers, and various applications requiring standby power. Motive power batteries are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles and are marketed under the Hawker, Exide, Fiamm Motive Power, Uranio, and General brands. It also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers. EnerSys markets and sells its products in approximately 100 countries through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and an internal sales force.

Evergreen Energy, Inc. (EEE) Evergreen Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides energy, environmental, and economic solutions to coal-fired power generating facilities and industrial coal users in the United States and internationally. It produces lower emission fuel utilizing its proprietary K-Fuel process. The K-Fuel process uses heat and pressure to physically and chemically transform high moisture, low-Btu coals, such as subbituminous coal and lignite, into lower emission fuel. The K-Fuel process also enables the removal of certain impurities, including mercury and the reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The company also licenses its technology to third parties. It has strategic alliance with Lurgi South Africa Technology Company for the implementation of the K-Fuel process.

Iberdrola (IBE.L) (Spain – traded on London Exchange) Electricity provider firmly committed to clean energies, and in particular to wind power, hydroelectric power, and combined-cycle facilities, which operate with natural gas, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the regions in which we operate.

IdaCorp, Inc. (NYSE: IDA), through Idaho Power is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in a 24,000 square mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon with an estimated population of 943,000. Its electrical generation comes from hydroelectric, natural gas, diesel, coal, and geothermal plants.

Jackgreen Energy – (ASX:JGL.AX) the only licensed electricity retailer in Australia dedicated to reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy. Every product we sell is accredited by GreenPower, and every Jackgreen customer makes a contribution by reducing carbon emissions and combating the impact of climate change.

Laidlaw Energy Group (OTCPK: LLEG) is engaged in the development of independent power plants that generate electricity from renewable resources. LLEG’s mission is to build and manage a profitable portfolio of renewable energy facilities through the development of new facilities and acquisition of existing facilities. www.NYENRG.com and www.greenenergyfacts.com

Maxim Power Corp (TSX:MXG.TO) Based in Calgary, Alberta, MAXIM is an Independent Power Producer, which acquires or develops, owns and operates innovative and environmentally responsible power projects. Upon conclusion of the acquisition in France, MAXIM will own and operate 30 power plants in Western Canada, United States, and France, having 482 MW of electric and 95 MW of thermal generating capacity. MAXIM will continue to execute on its strategy as an Independent Power Producer and is targeting significant growth through acquisitions and development of power projects which utilize hydrocarbon based fuels and renewables in the markets of Western Canada, United States and France.

Northwestern Corp. (NWEC) NorthWestern Corporation, doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and natural gas in the upper midwestern and northwestern regions of the United States. It engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as in purchase, transport, distribution, and storage of natural gas for commercial and residential customers.

Novera Energy (NVE.L) (London) An international renewable energy company, developing and owning renewable and low emission electricity generators, supplying mainstream power grids. Hydro, landfill gas, biomass electricity generation and windfarms.

PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is an energy-based holding company headquartered in San Francisco, California. With assets valued at $34 billion, its operations include electric and gas distribution, natural gas and electric transmission, and electric generation. PG&E is actively adding renewable electric power resources to their supply of delivered power to include solar, biomass, geothermal and wind.

Plutonic Power Corporation (TSX:PCC.V) Plutonic Power is an emerging renewable energy producer in British Columbia. Its proposed 22 run of river projects have a design capacity of over 870 MW and the potential to generate approximately 2900 GW.h per annum of green energy, enough energy to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 300,000 homes. Included in the 22 projects is the creation of the Green Power Corridor, a series of non-storage hydroelectric projects in southwestern BC, which hold the potential to catapult British Columbia to the forefront of green energy generation in North America.

Renewable Power and Light Plc (ROL.L) – UK based – Renewable Power & Light (RPL) plc was created in 2006 to build a substantial independent power producer (IPP) through the acquisition of low-cost conventional power generation assets that can be easily converted to use renewable fuels. To do this, RPL has put together a world-class management team consisting of skilled power generation engineers and senior power utility executives with a proven track record of rehabilitating economically distressed power assets and managing portfolios of power assets.By running its power plants on biodiesel and aggregating available renewable energy credits and incentives, RPL plc believes it has identified an opportunity to turn power assets that have become unprofitable due to the high price of gas and petroleum diesel, into assets .

Run Of River Power Inc. (TSX:ROR.V) Run of River Power Inc. owns and operates a hydroelectric power generation station at Brandywine Creek, near Whistler, BC and sells the power to BC Hydro on a long-term 20 year contract.

Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE.L) (London) Britain’s largest generator of energy from renewable sources.

SFC Smart Fuel Cell ( Germany – F3C ) SFC is the market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets. As one of Germany’s most successful technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards. In a US Navy Assessment in 2005, SFC was awarded the highest score for technical maturity of all fuel cell products. SFC has alliances with the German Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and other leading military organizations.

Theolia (TEO.PA) (France) Electricity producer using renewable energy: wind, biomass, solar and thermal.

Thomas & Betts Corp. (TNB) Thomas & Betts Corporation engages in the design and manufacture of electrical connectors and components used in industrial, commercial, communications, and utility markets.

TransAlta Corporation (TSX:TA.TO; NYSE:TAC) TransAlta is a power generation and wholesale marketing company focused on creating long-term shareholder value. The company’s focus is to efficiently operate our coal-fired, gas-fired, hydro and renewable facilities in order to provide our customers with a reliable, low-cost source of power.

TrustPower Limited Ordinary Sha (TPW.NZ) (New Zealand) Electricity retailer with hydro and wind farm electric power generation.

Turbo Power Systems Inc (TSX:TPS.TO; LSE:TPS.L) Turbo Power Systems develops innovative products for power generation and power conditioning. The Group was established in 1993 as a spin-off from Imperial College, London and was floated on the London stock exchange in July 2000 and soon after obtained a secondary listing in Toronto. In July 2001, the Group acquired Intelligent Power Systems Limited (I-Power) specialising in power electronics.

Verbund AG Oesterreichische Ele (OEZVF.PK) (Austria) Verbund generates and distributes electricity. The Company operates local hydro and thermal power stations. Verbund also offers power plant, waterway, and sewage treatment plant construction services.

Vicor Corp. (VICR) Vicor Corporation engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of modular power components and power systems using its patented power conversion technology called as ‘zero current and zero voltage switching’ in the United States. Its product portfolio comprises modular power converters, including component-level DC-DC power converters designed for the printed circuit board assembly; configurable products that provide power solutions configured to a customer’s specific needs; factorized power architecture products; accessory power system components for the integration of other functions of the power system; and other customer specific products. The company sells its products through independent sales representative organizations in Americas and internationally