Planet Forward
Planet Forward is an innovative web-to-television-to-web experience anchored on user-generated ideas and content about energy, climate ch...Education
Video Episodes:
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18:05:30 02/06/12
Monitor Power Usage With Smart Meters
[LESS INFO] 9 VIEWS | ADDED 18:05:30 02/06/12
THIS WEEK: Did you know that the cost of using electricity changes throughout the day depending on the level of stress on our grid? In this webisode, Planet Forward talks to Quadlogic Controls Corporation in New York City about how smart meters can save us energy and money. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out PFF Sayre Swarztrauber’s blog post about smart meters and energy management. ALSO: Want to see other ways small businesses are working to de-stress our electricity grid? Duke alumnus David Brewster talks about how his company, EnerNOC, helps drive energy efficiency. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: The results are in! Here are 12 smart grid companies to watch in 2012.
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19:16:04 01/25/12
From Fryer To Fuel: Making Biofuel from Vegetable Oil
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THIS WEEK: Did you know the vegetable oil we use to make our french fries could also power our cars? In this webisode, Planet Forward drops by GreenLight BioFuels’ new plant in Maryland where they’ve been turning cooking waste into biofuel. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward host, Frank Sesno’s blog post about an innovative way to turn landfill trash into sustainable fuel. ALSO: Want to learn more about renewable fuels? President of Shell Oil, John Hofmeister talks about the importance of biofuels in a secure energy future. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Berkeley scientists are looking into seaweed as a potential fuel source. Find out what they’ve discovered about this underwater alternative. Want to stay up to date with Planet Forward? Click here to subscribe to our email list!
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17:28:08 12/02/11
Learning How to Adapt from our Ancestors
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THIS WEEK: This week Planet Forward is taking a look at the work PISA, a GW-based group, is doing in Nam Dinh, Vietnam. The women in Nam Dinh are adapting to a changing planet and they say they learned their tricks from none other than their ancestors! ASK AN EXPERT: Don't forget to ask a question to PISA expert, Linda Yarr, about the ladies of Nam Dinh and climate adaptation in Southeast Asia. MORE IDEAS: Worried about rising sea levels? Check out this idea from PFF Chutayaves Sinthuphan about floating houses and how they can help in our future. FROM OUR BLOG: Want to know what other countries are doing to be sustainable? Check out PFF Sarah Cahlan's photo blog about sustainable communities around the world! NEXT WEEK: Want to know who gets the title for the world's first LEED platinum auto plant? Tune in to next week's webisode and learn about what innovations make this auto plant the first of its kind!
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16:16:18 11/21/11
How does YouTube Consumption Affect the Environment?
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THIS WEEK: Have you ever wondered 'What's something I do everyday that impacts the environment and I don't even know it?' #Thinkfwd student Charles Pulliam-Moore sheds light on an idea you might never have thought of: how green is YouTube? FROM OUR BLOG: Check out PFF Hayley Milon's blog post about how your YouTube consumption could be affecting the atmosphere. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Facebook is already thinking about greening their servers. Check out what their plan is for their massive server farm in Sweden. FROM NBR: Tune in this week to the PBS Nightly Business Report to learn more about Ogranica's BlueHouse, which says it can turn your sewage into water you can use to water your plants!
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17:44:29 11/11/11
Building Green for the Future
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THIS WEEK: Wish more of your tax dollars could stay in your pocket? This week Planet Forward spoke with some experts at the US Green Building Council about the potential savings in building more efficient schools! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out USGBC's statistics on improving schools and universities around the country and how much it can save in this week's guest blog. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: We could use the savings too, according to this article submitted by Planet Forward's Charlie Rybak which says the U.S. is seeing the most expensive natural disasters in history! FROM OUR PARTNERS: For more from USGBC experts Rachel Gutter and Rick Fedrizzi check out their ideas by going to the COMMIT!Forum group on PlanetForward.org!
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16:50:56 11/04/11
An Innovative Approach to Water Conservation
[LESS INFO] 6 VIEWS | ADDED 16:50:56 11/04/11
THIS WEEK: Our rapidly increasing consumption of water is creating concerns about what the world would be like without any! One team, however, created an innovative solution to the planet's quickly disappearing water. Check it out in this week's webisode! ASK AN EXPERT: Also get the facts from AIA expert Bill Worthen about any risks related to recycled water and its systems. FROM OUR BLOG: Ever wanted to walk on water? How about live on it? Check out PFF Sarah Cahlan's blog postabout what these Thai houses are doing to stay afloat. TOP TWEET: Thanks to PFF Jordan Petitt for keeping us informed about issues with water: @justpetitt: Well this is frightening- the next 500 years of #sealevelrise@planet_forward ow.ly/7agJ3 #thinkfwd Before we let you go: At least we know these guys wouldn't be unhappy in a world without water! See how they make the best of a waterless pool!
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17:45:38 10/28/11
Living Sustainably on a College Campus
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THIS WEEK: Our friends at Second Nature have launched Campus Sustainability Day, so this week’s webisode features videos submitted to Planet Forward from audience members like YOU! We profile three schools that are working toward more sustainable college campuses. FROM OUR EXPERTS: See what sustainability chief Meghan Chapple-Brown has to say about what campuses can do to become sustainable. FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Thanks to PFF Joel Goldberg for offering a little support! Check out this article he submitted about how women's bras could be used as fuel. FROM OUR PARTNERS: Planet Forward showcases videos from across the country, submitted by viewers like YOU. Show us what's happening on your campus just like Caldwell College and University of Nebraska have done! FROM NBR: Middlebury College of Vermont knows what it means to be sustainable. The team won Planet Forward's contest and was featured in last week's PBS Nightly Business Report!
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17:13:05 10/21/11
Empowerhouse: Community-Based Sustainable Living
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THIS WEEK: In this week's webisode: how to turn a Solar Decathlon house into a home. GW students Melissa Turley and Jon Fenech followed Team Empowerhouse through the Solar Decathlon. Their innovation? Making it affordable enough to be a Habitat for Humanity home. PLUS: Max Burns' blog post which takes a deeper look into affordable green housing. ANNOUNCEMENT: Congratulations to Team Middlebury for winning Planet Forward's Solar Decathlon Contest! You voted 'em so tune into the NBR piece on Oct. 20th, which will feature Middlebury and the team's major innovations. FROM OUR BLOG: Check out this week's blog post by Anthony Cefali about how some living plants in your home can improve air quality. Brown thumbs need not apply... FROM OUR NEWSDESK: Thank you to PFF Sarah Cahlan for submitting this piece about Participant Media's upcoming documentary. Check it out to learn more about water conservation and how it's plaguing our planet. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: We know that sometimes the search for affordable housing can make people feel stuck, so we're trying to shed some humor on the situation!
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14:46:32 10/06/11
Secretary Chu Weighs in at the Solar Decathlon
[LESS INFO] 8 VIEWS | ADDED 14:46:32 10/06/11
THIS WEEK: Check out this week's webisode where Planet Forward's Frank Sesno interviews Secretary of Energy, Dr. Steven Chu on site at the 2011 Solar Decathlon! Chu talks about some of the coolest innovations in the houses, and even wonks out a bit on r values and building materials. STANDINGS: The official DOE final standings for the solar decathlon put the University of Maryland on top (congrats, Terps!) followed by Purdue, New Zealand and Middlebury. But we have our own contest and YOU are the judge. Vote for which team was your favorite at www.PlanetForward.org and maybe you can see them featured in a PBS Nightly Business Report! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward's Max Burns' blog post this week about the University of Maryland's 1st place win! FROM OUR PARTNERS: Want to know what a professional architect has to say about the different solar decathlon houses? Check out Planet Forward's Ask an Expert page and ask Bill Worthen what he thinks about your favorite innovation! FROM NBR: Check out last week's Nightly Business Report where Frank Sesno discusses the functionality and marketability of different innovations from the solar decathlon! TRENDING TWEETS: Follow the USGBC this week and their Green Build Next Conference at #GBNext! TOP TWEET: Thanks to PFF Sara Snyder for the Top Tweet! SSnyd: You have to check out the way this guy uses his space. @planet_forwardshould try this with the office.look@ 2m http://ow.ly/6IzsV #thinkfwd
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15:03:38 10/03/11
SD2011 Trend: Green Roofs
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THIS WEEK: Check out this week's webisode where Planet Forward's host Frank Sesno speaks with Don Ferrier, President of Ferrier Custom Homes. Ferrier discusses the costs and benefits of green roofs -- LITERALLY -- some costing up to $20,000. See why Ferrier himself thinks the benefits of this cooling system outweigh the costs. FROM NBR: Have you been watching this solar decathlon stuff and thinking: "Yeah, but does this all really WORK?" Tune in for Planet Forward's PBS Nightly Business Report to learn about some of the coolest innovations at the Solar Decathlon and hear some tough questions about how practical they really are. Check your local listings to find out when to tune in! VOTE: Want to see your favorite Solar Decathlon team featured on PBS' Nightly Business Report? Log on to Planet Forward now and Like your favorite team! The winner gets featured on NBR in Ocotber! ASK AN EXPERT: Planet Forward expert Bill Worthen is at the Solar Decathlon answering your questions. TRUE LOVE: Which Solar Decathlon house is your dream home? Take our quiz and find out! MORE ON ROOFS: Which is better green or white? We addressed that common question in one of our weekly webisodes from our archives.
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18:17:07 09/26/11
Solar and the City - Team New York's Solar Decathlon House
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THIS WEEK: We continue our journey to the Solar Decathlon! The teams are in Washington DC and showing off their homes. Check out Team New York's Roof Pod -- it sits atop a sky rise building and helps generate power. PLUS: Brendan Owens, Planet Forward's newest Expert weighs in on New York's use of bamboo and other new building materials. See more from Brendan and Planet Forward's Experts on our Ask an Expert page. CONTEST: Want to see your favorite Solar Decathlon team featured on Nightly Business Report? LIKE the team on Planet Forward.org. Get your likes in by October 10th! We'll showcase the team that has the most likes! TRUE LOVE: Which Solar Decathlon house is your dream home? Play our Matchmaker Quiz and find out! MORE: Like Team New York's plan for sustainable living in the city? There's plenty more where that came from! Check out these videos from the C40 -- mayors and Governors share their ideas to bring sustainability to their city. BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: Feeling left out of all the creativity that's going on at the Solar Decathlon? Visit this interactive world of doodles and exercise your creativity!
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17:54:13 09/19/11
Solar in the Southern Hemisphere
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THIS WEEK: In this week's webisode check out the New Zealand team's neat innovations like the hydronic drying cupboard that can dry 6 bath towels in an hour and a half using...water? MORE FROM THE SOLAR DECATHLON: Don't forget to check out all the other Solar Decathlon teams and let us know what you think. LIKE your favorite and it could be PF's next webisode!! We'll feature the team that got the most likes next month on Nightly Business Report! STANDINGS: Right now, Team New York is crushing with more than 200 likes! University of Maryland is in a close second with 130 likes. Show your school spirit and help your favorite team get on TV! FROM OUR BLOG: Check out Planet Forward's Susanna Murley and how she thinks the Solar Decathlon could help create green jobs for Americans!! See her blog post on Huffington Post! FROM OUR PARTNERS: Bracken Hendricks argues that we can still grow green jobs in a tough economy. FROM NBR: Did you know the Empire State Building just received the GOLD standard for LEED certification? Check out our PBS Nightly Business Report to see how! NEXT WEEK: Keep checking in to see what teams are in the lead for the Solar Decathlon!! Like YOUR favorite team and maybe you'll see them come out on TOP! TOP TWEET: Thanks to @franksesno for this #sunnyideas: Climate changing? Gonna do something about it? He's already started. http://ow.ly/6q6N0 for more ideas go to Planet Forward #sunnyideas BEFORE WE LET YOU GO: Feeling nerdy? Want to make your own solar lamp out of household materials?
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17:23:01 09/09/11
Solar Decathlon - Tennessee's on Top
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Viewers voted and TENNESSEE is on top in the race for the Solar Decathlon! Check out the Tennessee team's use of solar energy, insulated windows and a remote control iPad in their innovative new approach to a sustainable lifestyle. Also this week, ask expert Bill Worthen what HIS thoughts are on the Tennessee team's Living Light House. GET ON TOP: Want to see your favorite solar decathlon team's video featured here? LIKE them! FROM #SUNNYIDEAS: #Sunnyideas is Planet Forward's Solar Decathlon hashtag. Share your #Sunnyidea and maybe YOU can be featured here! Thanks to @MPGomatic for this #Sunnyidea RT: No hot water? A (n)ice cold shower saves water while eliminating the need for that third cup of coffee. IN THE NEWS: A solar powered charging kit brought to you by PFF Kristina Sgueglia. Thanks, Kristina. Submit your news item to our Newsdesk. FROM the AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS: Meet Planet Forward Expert Bill Worthen. Bill will be commenting on the Solar Decathlon videos throughout the month. Got a question for Bill or one of the other Planet Forward Experts? Check out Planet Forward's Ask an Expert. (Experts are standing by.) NEXT WEEK: More from the Solar Decathlon. Want to influence which team we feature next? LIKE your favorite team! FROM @SOLARCRICKET: Do you like solar energy? Help stop the haters like this guy and LIKE your favorite Solar Decathlon teams. The @SolarCricket is counting on YOU!
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17:02:09 09/02/11
DOE's Solar Decathlon Brings #SunnyIdeas to Planet Forward
[LESS INFO] 5 VIEWS | ADDED 17:02:09 09/02/11
This week, we begin Planet Forward's coverage of the Solar Decathlon! 20 collegiate teams from around the world are designing and building sustainable solar homes. 11 of the teams have submitted their innovations to Planet Forward. In this week's WEBISODE, we take a look at the unique use of water in The University of Maryland's home. WE'VE GOT SPIRIT, HOW 'BOUT YOU? Want to participate in Planet Forward's coverage of the Solar Decathlon? LIKE for your favorite team, VOTE your favorite idea and TWEET #SunnyIdeas MORE ON #SUNNYIDEAS: Planet Forward's Innovator Danny Kennedy is the founder of solar company Sungevity. In our Innovator Update, we see how he is doing on his goal of eastward expansion. FROM OUR BLOG: Have a twitter account? We're taking your ideas about the Solar Decathlon teams through twitter. Planet Forward's Susanna Murley, tells you what PF is looking for. FROM NREL: Ever heard of a sky trough? Planet Forward visits the National Renewable Energy Labs to find out. FROM NBR: Last month, Planet Forward was on PBS Nightly Business Report introducing the Solar Decathlon. How do you think the liberal arts students at Middlebury will do against the engineering schools? NEXT WEEK: More from the Solar Decathlon. Want to influence which team we feature next? LIKE for your favorite team, VOTE your favorite idea and TWEET #SunnyIdeas. Got it?
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13:48:29 08/18/11
Bangkok Underground
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In this week’s WEBISODE we travel to Bangkok to see what they are doing to cope with floods. PF Producer Victoria Riess talks with Porntep Techapaibul, the Deputy Governor of Bangkok.
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13:44:26 08/18/11
The Big Uneasy,' The PF Interview with Harry Shearer
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In this week's WEBISODE Planet Forward host Frank Sesno sits down with Harry Shearer, the multi-talented comedian who is the voice of more than 21 Simpsons characters and host of his own radio program, "le Show." Shearer, a part-time resident of New Orleans, recently directed a documentary on what he calls the 'hard truths' behind Hurricane Katrina. The Big Uneasy takes a look at the real reasons why New Orleans flooded (hint: think man-made screw-ups, not natural disaster) and how marshlands can be nature's buffer against storms.
11/21/11