“ilsr” Charts
Composting: A Savvy Economic Investment »
Composting systems—even high-tech ones—do not require the same level of capital investment as landfills or incinerators. While more research is…
More Composting, More Jobs? »
In 2012, we set out to document the contribution of composting and natural wood waste recovery to Maryland’s job base.…
Affordable Solar in Your Future »
This chart gives the big picture on solar costs with the most conservative example: solar energy in the Midwest –…
Newsflash: Scientists Agree On Global Warming »
Above is the percentage of Americans that believe global warming is occurring. While most Americans agree that the planet is…
Is Owning A Solar Panel Right For You? »
The answer depends on a variety of factors. This chart uses best estimates for leasing and financing terms based on…
Why You Should Buy Your Own Solar »
Robert Borlick of Harvard’s Electricity Policy Group finds that in Southern California, solar homeowners give up 80% of their project’s…
Amazon's Unfair Advantage »
When online retailers don't have to collect sales tax it disadvantages local businesses, undermines state and local governments that use…
Loans Get Tougher for Smaller Small Businesses »
Over the last few years, the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) has dramatically reduced its support for smaller small businesses…
This Dirty Power Isn't Coming From Where You Might Expect »
The highest levels of gross pollution come from big utility companies, like American Electric Power Company, Duke, and Exelon. But…
Germany's Clean Power Revolution »
Twenty-five percent of Germany's power now comes from renewables. Even better, 47% of this wind and solar energy is owned…
What Does a 21st Century Power Grid Look Like? »
In a grid centered on distributed renewable energy resources, the best energy supply is one that is flexible (can rapidly…
FCC Face Palm: Net Neutrality v... Janet Jackson »
The FCC received over 1 million comments on net neutrality, with so many citizens weighing in that they briefly crashed…
Walmart In The Grocery Market »
We are well on our way to a future in which Walmart controls half of our food system. Since 1998…
In the Long Run, It Pays to Own Your Own Solar Panels »
Any car buyer can tell you that ownership tends to be a better deal than leasing. That’s why only 25%…
We've Got a Long Way to Go When It Comes to Composting Food »
This chart shows the amount of municipal food scraps and yard trimmings generated and recovered over the last 15 years,…
This Tax Could Fund Our Highways—If It Were Ever Raised »
In 1956 the Highway Trust Fund was established with revenue generated from a dedicated fuel tax of 3 cents/gallon. Presidents…
German Renewables: A Democratic Movement »
We've been following local ownership of renewable energy in Germany since early 2011, and it’s abundantly clear that the Germans…
Where's the Love for Small Businesses? »
Since 2000, the overall volume of business lending per capita at banks has grown by 26 percent (adjusted for inflation).…
The Real Value of Solar »
The basic concept behind value of solar is that utilities should pay a transparent and market-based price for solar energy,…
Local Solar Power is Best »
For solar power, bigger isn't better. Instead, solar sized to the community and built in the community can be built…