Solar is already a source of power. Now some hope solar projects’ striking appearance can also make them a powerful marketing tool.

For the Fourth of July, concentrating solar-thermal startup eSolar programmed a quarter square mile of mirrors in Lancaster, Calif., to form the American flag and the Statue of Liberty.

The point? To celebrate Independence Day, and to help lobby for the American Clean Energy and Security Act, also known as the Waxman-Markey bill, which would enact a carbon cap-and-trade program and other emission-reduction measures if approved and signed into law. The House of Representatives passed the controversial bill last month, and the Senate is now considering it.

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The best crafts, in my opinion, are thematically appropriate (red, white, and blue, you know) without being too slavish (the flag isn’t for wearing, my friends) or too country (denim is best if it’s ironic).

And, of course, the best project has to be eco-friendly–what’s up with craft foam, anyway? It’s like wool felt for anti-environmentalists(not that I’m automatically a fan of wool felt, mind you–it comes from sheep).

Anyway, here are five 4th of July projects that satisfy my own discerning tastes AND are quite able to be completed by the big day. Fireworks away!

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Pittsburgh, PA.  A place known for its peoples’ good ol’ blue collar fervor, our enthusiasm for everything from our football team (STEELERS!!) to our beer (Iron City) to our hoagies (Primanti’s, brother!).  We are thus naturally inclined to encourage bombastic public demonstrations of our affection–in this case, in celebrating ourselves!

I viewed the record-setting Pittsburgh 250 fireworks display from a wonderful vantage point on the North Shore, as I cheered my city on from the balcony of McFadden’s with a massive group of Couchsurfers visiting Pittsburgh for their regional meet-up weekend.  All the while I was marvelling at the bright splashes and the thundering bursts–thirty minutes in duration!–the thought kept flitting across my mind: “what exactly is IN that massive smoke cloud pooling across the river?”

The Composition of Fireworks, a page compiled by Reema Gondhia at Imperial College in London, gives you the factual rundown of the makeup of fireworks.  A firework’s chemical arrangement, however ingeniously designed to manifest our titillating visual delights, provides some unsettling names–chemicals with long rap sheets from research institutions indicating their threat to living systems.  Read on for some distrubing examples.

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Via:  www.abc.net.au & Grist

Image:  dcJohn on Flickr under a Creative Commons license

Related posts on fireworks, ozone, and the environment:

• The Sensibility of Sabbaths for Sustainable Living : Sustainablog

• Tip o’ the Day: Red, White and Bang : amystodghill - Green Options

• Environmental Defense Fund: Asthma and Idling - A Bad Combination …

With this certain demand, our faithful suppliers are getting geared up and stocked up as well. So as you head down the aisle of your local grocery store or supercenter or what have you, you are sure to encounter lots of possible choices for what to spend your money on. And I can guarantee that most of them will be disposable. Plastic or paper plates, plastic cups, plastic utensils (including the beloved spork), paper napkins and tissues, plastic garbage and grocery bags, styrofoam or plastic coolers, etc., etc., etc. The list is endless…and this is only for party favors!

I do as much as I can to conserve resources and live sustainably. I remember at one family holiday smorgasbord, I believe it was Thanksgiving, I cunningly hid all of the plastic plates, cups, and utensils in a trunk in the closet in order to force my family to use the real, washable ones instead. No one was very happy with me, though I did convince one aunt to play along and stand up in my defense, but by using the normal stuff we reduced the amount of trash that day significantly compared to usual holidays. (And yes, for you cynics out there, I did indeed help out doing the dishes!)

Despite my ecological consciousness and consumer conscience, and despite my stratagems to thwart the forces of disposability, I cringe at the many disposable items that I still use in my own home. For example, disposable razors. These oh-so-convenient, many-to-a-pack, everything’s-a-dollar mainstays of male grooming seem rather benign at first glance (unless you nick yourself shaving, of course). Yet each one consists mostly of plastic, which is made from petroleum, and after a few shaves that plastic and the metal goes into the trash…and so on then to a landfill where it sits amidst all the other non-biodegradable garbage into perpetuity.

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While the number of display fireworks has declined by half since 2000, and make up about 10% of the total amount of fireworks used by Americans each year, these big bursts of color that light up the night aren't without their environmental impacts. The gun powder used to propel the fireworks, and accelerants and heavy metals used to color them can linger in the air and water for days. Fine particulate matter produced during the blast also adds to air quality concerns (all major displays must abide by local fireworks laws and the Clean Air Act.) Disney pioneered a technology in 2004 that propels fireworks using compressed air, and non-heavy metal colorants are available. These alternative technologies are available and are approved by the American Pyrotechnic Association, but are not widely practiced.

Does this mean you shouldn't watch fireworks? Of course not. But, if you're going to check out a big display, see if there is a public transportation option available. Some locations may offer shuttle service from a parking lot to a designated viewing area. Or you can gather up a group of family or friends, meet up at a central location and carpool. That way there's also less cars to fight traffic with when everyone is leaving after the show.

You could always stay home and watch the display on TV (with the lights off). Firework displays from around the U.S. are usually boradcast with patriotic music accompaniment, and this year will more than likely be shown in HD.

If you plan on purchasing and setting off your own fireworks be safe, and sweep up as much of the firework litter from the streets as possible (drivers the next morning will thank you.)

Amy says: I'll admit, I'm a sucker when it comes to grand firework displays. Although, when I was growing up my family went down the street and watched the neighborhood kids set off fireworks they got from the Native American reservations. That was fun until one of those ground-spinning fireworks took flight and buzzed by my head. These days, I stick to sparklers and enjoy the big public displays.

Tree Hugger (The Prettiest Pollutants)

About.com (Declare Your Independence from Toxic Firework Pollution)

American Pyrotechnic Association