The new House energy bill passed earlier this week might amount to little more than empty rhetoric, but at least at home we're doing things right: Austin came out on top as having the #1 Green Power Program in the nation, according to U.S. Department of Energy rankings as reported by News8Austin.

Green Power, or renewable energy, refers to any natural source that is both renewable and non-polluting; this includes wind-, solar-, and certain forms of hydro-power. In our case, much of our energy comes from a few dozen wind turbines in the nearby Kings Mountain, about an hour northwest of Austin.

Curious as to how you can be a part of all this feel-good environmentalism? Switch to a GreenChoice Renewable Energy Program at home. It'll run you about an extra five bucks each billing cycle, easily recompensed by skipping that midday mocha or leaving the Hummer at home once a month.