Cities Get Green for Buildings to Go Green

The AP reports that sixteen cities around the world will get financing to "go green" by renovating buildings they own with technology designed to cut carbon emissions, former President Bill Clinton announced Wednesday. Clinton's foundation has created an arrangement among four energy service companies and five global banking institutions that will result in major environmental upgrades in the cities, which include New York, Chicago, Houston, Toronto, Mexico City, London, Berlin, Tokyo and Rome. "If all buildings were as efficient as they could be, we'd be saving an enormous amount of energy and significantly reducing carbon emissions. Also, we'd be saving a ton of money," Clinton said. The planned projects include replacing heating, cooling and lighting systems with energy-efficient networks; making roofs white or reflective to deflect more of the sun's heat; sealing windows and installing new models that let more light in and keep the elements out; and setting up sensors to control more efficient use of lights and air conditioning. The former president said Citi, Deutsche Bank, JP Morgan Chase, UBS and ABN Amro have each committed $1 billion to finance the upgrades. Clinton announced the partnership Wednesday, joined by mayors of several of the cities, as part of an international climate summit he is hosting this week in New York City with Mayor Michael Bloomberg. It is the second meeting of the C40 Large Cities Climate Summit, which was created so mayors and local governments could share strategies for reversing the trends of climate change. "It really is groundbreaking; it really is going to make a difference," Bloomberg said.

Hagel and the Bagel--Chuck Hagel and Michael Bloomberg possibly running as Independents?

The Raw Story reports that Nebraska Sen. Chuck Hagel says it may be time for an independent presidential ticket _ perhaps with the names Bloomberg and Hagel on it. Of Course he was on Bloomberg's television network when he said it.

After dining recently with former New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who is also considering a run for president as an independent, Hagel said people might want to consider the two on a ticket.

"We didn't make any deals. But I think Mayor Bloomberg is the kind of individual who should seriously think about this," Hagel said.

"It's a great country to think about _ a New York boy and a Nebraska boy to be teamed up leading this nation," he said.

Hagel said it was time for the political system to be shaken up with a third-party candidacy. He explained that the GOP is no longer the party of "Eisenhower, of Goldwater, of Reagan," but rather a group hijacked by "single-minded, almost isolationist insulationists, power-projectors."

"I think the elections next year for president and other offices will be settled on the basis of what America will be looking at and wanting and demanding _ honest, competent, accountable leadership," Hagel said.

"This country is in trouble. The world is in trouble. And we need some new, fresh, independent ideas to lead this country forward," he said.

Hagel spoke on "Face the Nation" on CBS.