Carbon Nation [HD]

Very upbeat green energy solutions
This documentary is unique in its genre (climate change & green energy) in that it is very positive and solution-oriented. There is minimal alarmism, scant blame, no preaching, avoidance of controversy, and they even claim it doesn't matter whether or not you believe climate change is anthropogenic (caused by humans).

In 80 minutes, they breeze through CO2, climate change, receeding glaciers, water shortage, pine borer beetles, wind energy, solar photovoltaic, ethanol, algae biodiesel, geothermal, carbon sequestration, land use, deforestation, electric cars, electricity storage in car batteries, carbon taxes, green buildings, roof gardens, rain catchment, green jobs, conservation, efficiency, freon, recycling, white roofs, and more.

So much is covered that it is necessarily just a cursory overview. If you listen closely, there's a lot of concepts and a lot of numbers, although they just fly by in a feel-good manner. A few of the numbers (for savings) sounded too...

Positive outlook on ways to slow global warming
I had actually watched this movie in the theater but also wanted to own a copy of the DVD. What I like in particular about this climate-change documentary-style movie, is the positive outlook. The movie doesn't point fingers. Instead it focuses on solutions we can do to help the environment. What I liked is that the solutions are being implemented now, are typically low-cost, and show collaboration at the local level. No matter what level you're at, the movie points out steps you can take to positively impact the environment.

Things To Reduce Carbon Use
Overall a good set of things people can do to curb climate change. The movie is a little over produced, a tiny bit too glossy, and tries too hard to be VH-1 / MTV.

Bill Kurtis (Chicago newscaster, television personality, host of Investigative Reports, and environmentalist) narrates this movie. The film builds nicely from the basics about carbon dioxide and the effect it has on climate, to more complex ideas about how to curb carbon dioxide generation. The film works on the level of showing real tangible things people can do to reduce our dependence on carbon based energy. Where the film doesn't work is trying to be too cool and too slick. I was reminded of the VH-1 pop up video with icons and phrases popping up on screen along with the popping / swoosh noise. Sometimes rough around the edges is better and more impactful.

The content presented was outstanding. If you are a true disbeliever in climate change, then you should pass on this film. On the other hand, if...

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