I'm as interested in what folks around the world think of our presidential candidates as I am in how they fare throughout the primaries. It's as important to me to know how our candidates' platforms are perceived in London, Sydney and Tokyo as it is how they're received in a civic center in Des Moines.

My global perspective is a result of many things: as an Army brat, I lived in Okinawa and France in the 50s and 60s; my wife and I lived and worked in The Netherlands for two years in the late 90s; and, for 17 years, I worked for a very global company — Nike. But it took two months in a cabin here in Jackson Hole in late 2000 for it all to sink in.

I didn't have access to mainstream media coverage of the Bush/Gore cliffhanger — no TV or daily newspaper. Instead, I took my news from the World Wide Web, and I took full advantage of the access to worldwide coverage. I found the BBC to be as informed and informative of what was going on as the New York Times.

So as this election year unfolds, I'm going to be looking for foreign points of view about our American political machinations. Today's perspective is offered by a Belgian journalist, Willy De Backer, who says in his blog:

The victory of Barack Obama in last week’s Iowa elections came as a big surprise for the EU elites who had already put all their money on a new Clinton Presidency. If Obama continues his winning streak on Tuesday on New Hampshire, European policymakers and lobbyists will have to learn more about the positions of the Illinois Senator.

Interesting, isn't it, that Obama's success in Iowa was a bit of a surprise to European policymakers and lobbyists? Even more interesting is the fact that De Backer focused on Obama's position on climate and energy issues as the topics EU elites should look at.

Popularity: 25%

Wyoming Republicans held their caucus yesterday in Casper (Wyoming Democrats will hold their caucus on March 8). All in all, it was pretty much a non-event as only Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and Duncan Hunter garnered any support, with Romney capturing eight of 12 delegates.

What about Huckabee, Giuliani, Paul and McCain? None but Ron Paul even campaigned in Wyoming during the past year.

So what does the caucus outcome tell us about Wyoming Republican priorities? Not much at all, though it's safe to assume that Romney's support for domestic drilling didn't escape notice in this resource rich state.

Popularity: 21%

Months ago, I wrote a post about a human powered gym in Hong Kong, and ended with a rhetorical question –  what would it take to convert my home trainer into a source of electricity?

Well, yesterday's Bike Bits, Adventure Cycling's biweekly e-newsletter, had the answer to my question. For all you DIYers out there, here's a link to a website with free plans and instructions for building your own bicycle powered generator.

Not being much of a handyman, I don't expect I'll jump right on this project, but I'd love to hear from any readers that do.

Popularity: 21%

A year ago, I launched this journal with two thoughts in mind:

1. My wife Alisan and I must reduce our carbon footprint, which we have.
2. I've got to share our experiences, learnings and thoughts with others.

Over the course of the year, among other things, I explored many of the choices available to folks interested in becoming carbon neutral, I applauded individuals and organizations that are doing their part, and I ranted about those who are not doing their part.

Of course, I was not alone in either my efforts to become carbon neutral, or to blog about them. In fact, my commitment pales in comparison to at least one carbon neutral blogger (No Impact Man) and my measurable results fall short of another blogger's (Donnachadh McCarthy).

While many of you may have heard/read about No Impact Man, a New York writer who set out to live without having a net impact on the environment in 2007 (no trash, no carbon emissions, no toxins in the water, no elevators, no subway, no products in packaging, no plastics, no air conditioning, no TV, no toilet paper…), I suspect Donnachadh McCarthy's story is unknown to you.

McCarthy is a writer too, author of Saving the Planet Without Costing the Earth: 500 Steps to a Greener Lifestyle. His tale is told in The Independent.

I fulfilled my dream of making my home not only carbon neutral but actually carbon negative for energy. After installing various gadgets and making some key changes to my lifestyle, my home actually reduced the amount of carbon in the atmosphere, rather than adding to it. I exported more green electricity than I imported fossil fuel (gas) over the year. And I don't live in a state-of-the-art new build but a normal Victorian terrace.

Indeed, The Independent piece is well worth reading for tips on conserving electricity, installing a wind turbine and solar panels, and heating a home with a flueless gas-fireplace and/or wood burning stove.

Even though I haven't followed No Impact Man's story closely, I have often wondered what he's learned this past year. As I scanned his blog for this post, I discovered one particularly thought provoking post, titled Happiness versus Consumption. To support the thought that "there comes a point where using more resources actually reduces your quality of life," No Impact Man has come up with a graph that depicts the relationship between the quality of life and the consumption of our planetary resources. It's a fascinating snapshot on one man's point of view and well worth consideration.

Of course, I realize that y'all probably don't aspire to be No Impact Man, and probably won't go to the length's Donnachadh McCarthy has; y'all may even think my modest efforts are over the top.

So, I thought I'd share with you a link to a modest set of New Year's resolutions and hope that there are at least a few ideas that you'll find worth pursuing.

Happy New Year!

Popularity: 16%

This post, the last in my year-in-review series, takes a look back at some of the choices I considered in 2007. Of course, we're all aware of the one really big choice looming on the horizon — the presidential election next November — and all the opportunities between now and then for American voters to express their freedom of choice.

Before we turn the calendar page, here's one last look back at the choicest Carbon Neutral Journal posts of 2007:

sugar or the stick?

As we were driving through Idaho Falls today, topping off the gas tank one more time on our 1737 mile road trip, I could hardly get to the gas pump for all the cases of bottled water stacked around it on sale. Now, I'm used to how the super markets use end-of-aisle gimmicks to get you to buy impulse items, but this is the first time I've noticed America's favorite extravagance being so blatantly displayed.

Upon my return home, I took a quick glance at last Wednesday's Jackson Hole News & Guide and noticed the following headline: Plastic bags, bottles safe from campaign. The subhed: Education, not legislation, key to Jackson's green efforts, officials say.

So, locals and visitors alike don't have to worry about any San Francisco-like bans on plastic bags or plastic water bottles. Instead, as our Mayor says:

The council believes we should continue along the lines of cultural change. When you bring people in emotionally, they are in, versus demanding compliance with rules and regulations.

Having seen the stacked-up cases of bottled water in Idaho Falls, I remain unconvinced that, when left to their own devices, most Americans will make anything but the most convenient and expedient choices. I do believe, however, that our Town Council will make more progress using sugar than the stick.

2. is it time to buy a hybrid?

3. green please

4. what would you do?

5. political choices

Carbon Neutral Journal's choices are brought to you by Jorgensen Associates.

Popularity: 17%

Given the fact that the popularity meter for my blog seems to reward older posts, I'm going to depart from the past week's format of presenting the five highest rated posts for each of my journal's categories. Instead, I'm going to present my own fave five:

Leopold continues to inspire

Just as Aldo Leopold has inspired environmentalists, so, too, should the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center, which was recently dedicated in Baraboo, Wisconsin. The farm land long celebrated for its "shack," now features the first LEED Platinum Carbon Neutral buildings in the world.

Here's what the Aldo Leopold Foundation has to say about its new facility:

The Aldo Leopold Legacy Center has received Platinum LEED ® Certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. Following a rigorous assessment, the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program awarded the Legacy Center 61 points of 69 possible points, more than any other building yet rated in the world.

The Legacy Center helps us to envision how we can use energy more efficiently and develop positive relationships to other people and the planet. Through energy efficiency, renewable energy, and an ongoing commitment to land stewardship, the Legacy Center became the first carbon neutral building certified by LEED—meaning annual operations account for no net gain in carbon dioxide emissions.

The Legacy Center is a net zero energy building, meeting all of its energy needs on site. Despite the contrasts of Wisconsin’s four-season climate, the Legacy Center uses 70 percent less energy than a building built just to code, and the center’s roof-mounted solar array is projected to meet 110 percent of the building’s energy needs on an annual basis.

You can take a virtual tour of the Legacy Center as well as read all about its carbon neutrality, energy-efficient design and use of locally-harvested wood products.

2. News Corp makes news

3. summing up the clean energy news from Oregon

4. searching for good news

5. it takes a Virgin

Carbon Neutral Journal's news is brought to you by High Country Linen Service.

Popularity: 10%

Given the fact that I've belabored the "which car should I buy" discussion — all year long, and as recently as last Saturday — I'm just going to provide a link to the most popular stats post of 2007. (By the way, this post was actually rated the most popular post overall.)

1. shopping for a vehicle

The second most popular post of 2007 was this:

baseline stats for our household

2006:
2 people
1 car driven 17,213 miles
4 bicycles ridden over 5,000 total miles
1 person didn't fly, the other took two airline trips (1 domestic, 1 international)
1,500 square foot home heated with electric baseboards and a natural gas fireplace
1 energy-sucking sauna
18,170 kilowatt-hours
354 therms (converts to 10,370 kilowatt-hours)
=====
28,540 equivalent kikowatt-hours total energy use

0 blocks of Green Power or carbon offsets purchased

Here's an update of our 2007 stats:

2 people
1 car driven 15,500 miles (10% less driving)
5 bicycles ridden over 5,000 miles
1 person didn't fly, the other took one domestic airline trip
1,500 square foot home heated with electricity baseboards and a natural gas fireplace
1 energy-sucking sauna
17,802 kilowatt-hours
228 therms (converts to 6,678 kilowatt-hours)
=====
24,480 equivalent kilowatt-hours total energy use (14% less total energy use!)

5 blocks of Green Power to ensure all energy use is renewable ($17.50/month)

100%  offset of driving and flying miles through TerraPass purchases ($80 annual car pass, $9.95 flight pass)

3. aluminum vs carbon fiber bicycle frames

4. spending $25 to save $67.29 per year

5. status quo won't do

Carbon Neutral Journal's stats are brought to you by Blue Spruce Cleaners.

Popularity: 18%