Green Technology

... "The billions in government funding being allocated globally in clean technology have begun emboldening private capital, which has in turn helped propel clean technology to the leading venture investment sector, now eclipsing biotech and IT, said Dallas Kachan, Managing Director, Cleantech Group. The two largest venture deals (Solyndra and Tesla Motors) and the largest IPO (A123Systems) this quarter were all recipients of U.S. government funding. ... " ...

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... "Fluor will provide design optimization to rapidly scale eSolar’s 46 megawatt power plants. The undisclosed contract value was booked in the company’s third quarter of 2009. ... Bill Gross, CEO, eSolar: We believe that Fluor’s superior engineering strength will lead to faster and broader deployment to meet the rising global demand for renewable energy. " ...

Fluor solar project example:

LDK Solar Polysilicon Facility: Fast-Track Engineering and Construction: "The $1.2 billion LDK Polysilicon Facility in Xinyu City, People’s Republic of China (PRC), is the world’s largest polysilicon facility under construction at this time. "

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... "The U's ICON house, named for how its asymmetrical roof may come to symbolize solar homes in the future, is powered entirely by the sun. It has solar panels aplenty plus the latest in energy-efficient materials. " ...

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... "Natural Fusion is the first residential project to utilize the Solyndra cylindrical photovoltaics, which captures more sunlight throughout the entire day than traditional flat panels, which can only capture the most intense sunlight in the middle of the day. It's a system called Green Roof Integrated Photovoltaics (GRIP V) where the properties of the green roof beneath the panels create greater efficiency in powering the house. " ...

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" ... Coca-Cola Company and United Resource Recovery Corporation (URRC) ...  celebrate the grand opening of the world's largest plastic bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Spartanburg, S.C. ... a key milestone in our goal to recycle and reuse 100 percent of our bottles and cans in the U.S. and ensure the sustainability of our packaging ..."

When fully operational, the plant will produce approximately 100 million pounds of food-grade recycled PET plastic each year -- the equivalent of nearly two billion 20-ounce Coca-Cola bottles. ... Over the next ten years the plant will prevent the release of one million metric tons of carbon dioxide emissions -- the equivalent of removing 215,000 cars from the road. ..."

Via:  Coca Cola  LINK

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... "The joint commitment represents more than 10,000 vehicles and potential revenues of at least $600 million for manufacturers who can produce viable plug-in electric vehicles. The conversion has the potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by more than 125,000 metric tons over the next 10 years. Duke Energy and FPL Group will begin this transition in the coming years - with the goal that 100 percent of all new fleet vehicles will be plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs) or plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) by 2020. " ...

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... "The size of the site has now expanded to include a twelve-square-mile area within the larger Coyote Springs development in Lincoln County. The site is located on private property near transmission lines and, as part of the broader development site, has already received environmental permits from the Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife and various other federal, state and county agencies. The power generated from the Coyote Springs site could meet demand generated in the Coyote Springs development, southern Nevada, as well as deliver power to California. Located northeast of Las Vegas, the Coyote Springs development will also include several residential and commercial components. " ...

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... "Solar City, a Silicon Valley neighbor of Tesla, has installed a whole corridor full of charging stations between the Bay Area and LA. " ...

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... "Better Place designed the software with a single goal in mind, calming the fears of owners of EVs who believe drained batteries will leave them stranded in the middle of nowhere. " ...

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 Samsung unveils a very green phone ... the casing is made of biodegradable plastic made from corn.

" ... SAMSUNG Reclaim™ is the first phone in the U.S. made with bio-plastic materials, which are 100% biodegradable. ... comes with an Energy Star-approved charger. ... packaging is made with recycled materials. ...  Bio-Plastic materials make up 40% of the phone’s casing. "

And because cell phones are made of hard to recycle innards Samsung offers easy recycling.  "... commitment to a greener future doesn't end when our products are sold. We have fixed drop-off locations in all 50 states, making it easy for you to recycle your old Samsung TVs, camcorders and other electronics."

Click to find a recycling location near you.

Via:  Samsung  LINK

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... "For 2009, Motorola is purchasing more than 78 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of Green-e certified renewable energy certificates (RECs), generated from wind-power sources. This represents 20 percent of the company’s U.S. electricity purchases. Motorola is buying the RECs from NativeEnergy that support the Langdon Wind Facility in North Dakota. " ...

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Composting is a way to reduce demand on landfills and create great soil for plants in your own back yard. Composting can even reduce the number of trash pickups you need and might save you some money .... going from twice a week to once a week. It's good for you and good for the environment. Want to learn more about composting? check out BPI ... " ... a not-for-profit association ... from government, industry and academia ... Through our innovative "Compostable Label" we educate manufacturers, legislators and consumers about the importance of "Scientific standards for biodegradation" for biodegradable materials. ... promote the use and recovery of compostable materials through municipal and backyard composting." " ... the amount of waste that has been diverted from landfill disposal through composting has quadrupled since 1990, from 2% of total MSW to 8.4% today ... 62% of all yard trimmings are composted in more than 3,500 municipal yard trimming composting programs in the US and 23 states ban at least some organics disposal in landfills, mostly leaves, grass and other yard debris. "

Via:  BPI - Biodegradable Products Institute LINK

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 " ... Coca-Cola ... unveiled ... a new plastic bottle made partially from plants.  The "PlantBottle™" is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles."

" ... a significant development in sustainable packaging innovation ... builds on our legacy of environmental ingenuity and sets the course for us to realize our vision to eventually introduce bottles made with materials that are 100 percent recyclable and renewable." 

"... made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials. ...  process that turns sugar cane and molasses ... into a key component for PET plastic.  ... exploring the use of other plant materials for future generations of the "PlantBottle™."

" ...  analysis ... indicates the "PlantBottle™" with 30 percent plant-base material reduces carbon emissions by up to 25 percent, compared with petroleum-based PET... can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET. "

Via:  Coka-Cola  LINK

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... "The California Energy Commission proposes to make changes to the Appliance Efficiency Standards contained in the California Code of Regulations (CCR), Title 20, Sections 1601 through 1608. The proposed energy efficiency standards would cover new televisions offered for sale in California beginning in 2011 and 2013. The standards would improve the energy efficiency of televisions without affecting the quality of the television. " ...

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"International Paper ... seek ways to improve our environmental impact while creating better solutions for our customers. ... partner with companies who share our values. ... goal is to create packaging made from fully renewable resources that leave a smaller environmental footprint. ... first step is ecotainer® - ... line of BPI certified compostable packaging ... includes paper hot cups, paper cold cups, food containers, ...  ecotainer® uses a plastic lining made from plants. All products are compostable ..."

Via:  International Paper  LINK

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... "24th European Photovoltaic Solar Energy Conference (PVSEC) and Exhibition, to be held in Hamburg, Germany from the 21 to 25 of September 2009 ... " ...

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... "Photovoltaic metallization pastes are screen printed onto the surface of solar cells in a pattern of grid lines which serve to collect electricity produced by the cell and transport it out. To maximize efficiency in the solar cell, the multiple printing technology will reduce the shadowing effect of wide grid lines on solar cells and improve electrical conductivity. Applied Baccini Esatto Technology together with DuPont Solamet photovoltaic metallization pastes enables narrower and taller grid lines to be precisely printed in two or more layers. In addition to demanding precise alignment of the patterning system, multiple printing requires the paste to be finely tuned to perform consistently during all printing passes. " ...

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Good Energy is a British " ... independent renewable energy company based in Wiltshire. ... started by a group of people ... committed to addressing climate change."

" ... Mission ... is to fight climate change by EMPOWERING INDIVIDUALS to make a difference, ... giving them practical ways to make positive changes in their attitude towards energy, and the way they use it ... switching to pure 100% renewable electricity ... improving their energy efficiency ... generating their own renewable energy, and ... playing a part in the campaign for

renewable energy in the UK"

Via: GoodEnergy LINK

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... "The college recently received approval from state high education officials to offer three solar energy certificate programs: basic solar photovoltaic, solar thermal installation and photovoltaic installation. " ...

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... "Kodak NexPress prints eco friendly pictures using nontoxic dry inks that are easily removed for recycling. " ...

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So you are going on a trip and want to be green and rent a hybrid.  Sounds easy enough ... except that only approximately 1% of the rental fleet consist of hybrids.

"Booking a hybrid rental car can be a big hassle. To boost your chance of scoring one of these green rides, follow Budget Travel's advice in four easy steps ...".

For the Video "How to Rent a Hybrid" click the LINK ...

Via: BudgetTravel  Link

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The EPA has recognized Applied Materials with a 2009 Green Power Leadership Award for its dedication to green power from on-premise generation and renewable energy procurement.  Applied has responded to the EPA Fortune 500 challenge with solar energy generation and the purchasing of green power.  ...

 ...   "Applied Materials was one of only three organizations nationwide to receive a Leadership Award for the on-site generation of green power. The award recognizes EPA Green Power Partners who distinguish themselves using on-site renewable energy applications, such as solar photovoltaic (PV) or wind energy projects. Applied Materials is currently generating 3.2 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of green power annually in the U.S. using on-site solar power generation at the company’s California and Texas facilities. In addition, Applied Materials purchases more than 31 million kWh of green power annually. In total, the company uses enough green power to meet more than 15 percent of its electricity use. "   ...

Via Applied Materials: EPA Green Power Leadership Award

The company's commitment to sustainability has been recognized through other awards.  ...

Applied Materials Goes Green: "Applied's Austin, Texas campus was recognized for its continued green initiatives ... "

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Audi's e-tron is no Prius (gas / electric hybrid) or Volt (electric with gas powered battery charging engine). 

Check out this prototype high performance electric car ... from Audi.

" ... e-tron, a high-performance sports car with a purely electric drive system. Four motors – two each at the front and rear axles – drive the wheels, making the concept car a true quattro. ... the two-seater accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h (0 – 62.14 mph) in 4.8 seconds, ... The lithium-ion battery provides a truly useable energy content of 42.4 kilowatt hours to enable a range of approximately 248 kilometers, or 154 miles.

Via:  Audi LINK

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UK is dedicating two weeks to showcase sustainability across its campus.  The University will offer lectures, tours, and events to raise student and community awareness.  ...

...   "The entire community can participate in the Sustainability Pledge. There are many things we can do daily that will simultaneously promote economic vitality, ecological integrity, and social justice. By pledging to undertake some of these activities individuals are making a commitment to building a sustainable campus ... "   ...

 Via University of Kentucky: Sustainability Event

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As both wind and solar power are intermittent - unlike gas, coal, oil or nuclear fired power plants - there is a need for an effective way to store these energy sources until they are needed.  The ability to smooth the supply with the demand is becoming more important as solar and wind start to power the grid.

Compressed Air Energy Storage - CAES " ... stores off-peak energy, in the form of compressed air in an underground reservoir, and releases this energy during peak hours. ... used for load management of intermittent renewable energy resources or as a stand-alone intermediate generation source for capturing energy arbitrage, capacity payments and ancillary services. ..."

"Renewable power sources are critical to addressing climate change. CAES greatly enhances the value of renewable power sources by (1) storing energy produced by renewables when demand is low and releasing it when it is needed, and by (2) rapidly providing power in the event of a sudden loss of renewables generation. ..."

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Integration of turf temperature measurement with water system and process enables conversation of water usage at local golf courses.  ...

 ...   "Instead of watering all the greens to cool them down, we use the laser thermometers to tell us which greens are too hot and need to be cooled down, Hayman said. Greens with temperatures below 97 degrees receive no water ... "   ...

 Via San Diego Union-Tribune: Golf Course Turf Management Success Story

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Casino Group is implementing a portfolio of renewable energy projects and has selected SunPower to enable its rooftop solar program.  ...

 ...   "Casino Group will use the panels to install solar power systems ranging from 900 kilowatts to 5 megawatts on rooftops and parking structures on supermarket locations in mainland France and the islands of Mayotte and La Reunion. "   ...

 Via SunPower Corp: Casino Group Solar Panels

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1366 Technologies, an MIT spinoff, brings incremental improvements to the solar design and manufacturing process, that are resulting in cheaper and efficient cells.  ...

...   "The company’s first technology - texturing - etches silicon wafers with a honeycomb pattern that refracts more light into the base of the cell. "   ... 

Via Xconomy: Solar cell design

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... "About 150 homes and businesses are participating in the Illinois Solar Tour next month. Some people are looking to purchase systems and they'd like to talk to homeowners as opposed to installers to really get a greater understanding of the energy difference. " ...

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The Omega Center for Sustainable Living in Rhinebeck, NY is " ... a state-of-the art education center and natural wastewater treatment facility. "

" ... is a pioneering project in the Living Building Challenge and is expected to be the first building in the United States to receive the Living Building designation in addition to receiving LEED Platinum certification."

" ... the Living Building Challenge requires buildings to be informed by their eco-region's characteristics; generate all of their own energy with renewable resources; capture and treat all of their water; operate efficiently; and be designed for maximum beauty. ... six performance areas—site, energy, materials, water, indoor quality, and beauty & inspiration—and certain criteria to be met in each category in order for a building to be designated a Living Building."

Via:  Omega Center for Sustainable Living  LINK

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" ... Mohawk has been an industry leader in actively seeking innovative ways to recycle, reduce, reuse and renew. ... successful energy-saving initiatives and eco-friendly flooring options work for everyone ..."

Mohawk's environmentally responsible and sustainable approach to business is reflected in these numbers ...

"500: ... number of ... products ... containing recycled materials."
"3 Billion:  ... recycled plastic bottles we take in each year to manufacture ... carpet ... and other ... products."
"1.75 Billion: Pounds of pre- and post-consumer waste Mohawk diverts from landfills each year."
"1 Billion: Pounds of foam trim ... made into ... cushion  instead of taking up space in landfills."

Via:  Mohawk  LINK

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... "The residual heat released is used to heat the building. In addition, an innovative Borehole Energy Storage (BES) system is being laid. The system uses 100-metre-deep boreholes to temporarily store cold energy deep underground. This air is then transferred to the building via an ingenious, energy-conserving piping network, for climate conditioning. Solar panels are placed on the roof to preheat warm water for the building’s restrooms." ...

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Lawrence Township joins other communities that want to promote green aspects of their community and are working toward that end ...

"Sustainable Lawrence is... dedicated to creating a sustainable community in Lawrence Township, NJ. ...  community in which the present needs of all of its citizens are met without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs ... "

" ... policies and practices that ultimately ... Reduce ... fossil fuel dependence and wasteful use of scarce metals and minerals ... Reduce ... dependence on harmful chemicals and wasteful use of synthetic substances ... Minimize ... encroachment upon nature (e.g., land, water, wildlife, forests, soil, ecosystems) ..."

Via:  Sustainable Lawrence LINK

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... "Clairvoyant Energy is working with Oerlikon to bring the Swiss company's solar manufacturing technology to the United States. Clairvoyant plans to make utility-size solar panels at the site. Xtreme Power builds large-scale battery systems for storing renewable power. " ...

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... "The researchers proposed that the country could produce 640 gigawatts from wind farms, assuming they ran at 30 percent average capacity ... " ...

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... "Google is looking to cut the cost of making heliostats, the fields of mirrors that have to track the sun, by at least a factor of two, ideally a factor of three or four. " ...

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Serious Materials produces a line of green environmentally friendly building products that help homeowners save energy ...


"... develops and manufactures sustainable green building materials that dramatically reduce the impact of the 'built environment' on the climate."

" ... aim for breakthroughs in product performance, without requiring changes in customer behavior or in how products are used – thus speeding market adoption."

" Serious Windows high-performance insulated windows and glass, which can reduce heating and cooling energy costs and emissions up to 40% ...QuietRock soundproof drywall & QuietHome Windows, which can reduce material use, GreenRock™, a green alternative to standard drywall ... uses 80% less energy to produce its core, resulting in 80% lower CO2 emissions. ... "

" ... manufacture products in ... Sunnyvale, California; Newark, California; Boulder, Colorado; Vandergrift, Pennsylvania. ... to create thousands of green collar jobs ... in the U.S. Products are widely available through building products dealers in the U.S. and Canada."

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... "Located in Luckenwalde near Berlin, the fully-automated factory processes Nanosolar cells into finished Nanosolar panels using innovative high-throughput manufacturing techniques and tooling developed by Nanosolar and its partners. The panel factory is automated to sustain a production rate of one panel every ten seconds, or an annual capacity of 640MW when operated 24x7. " ...

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... "Phase 1 will be a 30 megawatt demonstration project that will begin construction by June 1, 2010 and be completed as soon thereafter as practicable. Phases 2, 3 and 4 will be 100 megawatts, 870 megawatts, and 1,000 megawatts. Phases 2 and 3 will be completed in 2014 and Phase 4 will be completed by 2019. " ...

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle with Oak Hall Industries.

They have a selection of eco-friendly 100% recycled graduation gowns.  Each gown is made from approx. 23 plastic bottles helping to reduce landfill space and reusing materials.

" ... Colleges and Universities are making the commitment to turn their campuses green. ... this movement can be carried forward to graduation. "

" ... new line of graduation wear, named "GreenWeaver" is made of fabric spun from molten plastic pellets. ... fabric so comfortably soft you have to feel it to believe it! It takes an average of 23 bottles to make each gown."

Via:  Oak Hall Industries Link

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... "Placencia's project proposal aims to resolve three issues: remounting of the existing photovoltaic panels and reinstalling a wind turbine at David Douglas High School; designing and installing the monitoring system; and designing and installing the human-machine interface, which will provide the interactive features of the system. " ...

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... "Fab 2 is designed to produce 500 megawatts per year. The new facility will enable Solyndra to fulfill its announced contractual backlog of over $2 billion and create additional jobs. Solyndra's two Fabs will produce enough solar panels over their lifetime to cut over 350 million metric tons of CO2 emissions or 850 million barrels of oil. " ...

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... "Sustainable Waves, a company that provides solar-powered sound and staging, was in charge of the Eco Lands section located at the Panhandle Stage in Speedway Meadow. " ...

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... "With half of its structure made of plastics reinforced with carbon fiber, a composite that is both lighter and stronger than aluminum, and more efficient engines, the 787 could cut fuel costs by up to 20 percent, Boeing says. " ...

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... "A second phase for the Loveall farm will add more solar panels, plus move an existing 66-foot wind turbine next to the barn to produce wind power to allow the farm to be 100 percent energy independent. " ...

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It is amazing that there are so many energy using  devices in our homes.  What many fail to realize is that some devices, like TVs, and PCs may still be drawing power when "turned off".

You can save energy by changing the type of appliance - if old it may be worth upgrading to an energy efficient (Energy Star) model.

Sometimes you just need to "turn if off".  Sometimes you can made simple substitutions like CFL for incandescent bulbs.

Read on for the 5 Big Energy Hogs in your home ... and how to ZAP them !

" ...  Turn down your thermostat to 68 or 69 degrees in fall and winter, and to 76 in the summer ... Heating and cooling are the top uses of energy ... consider upgrading ... to Energy Star ..."

" ... refrigerator runs constantly. It can pay off to recycle your current model and buy a new EnergyStar rated model."

" ... likely have an inefficient hot water tank  ... tankless water heater ... save energy and money by not keeping water hot 24/7. Rather ... heat your water when you demand ... make sure your tank heater and the pipes supplying the water to it are insulated."

" ... swap out the incandescent bulbs in the most used areas of your home ... replace them with CFLs. Here’s a trick you may not have heard of for CFLs: once you’ve installed the fluorescent bulb, turn on the light and leave it on for at least 15 minutes. Doing so “burns in” the lamp, which improves its function, and its lifespan. ... dispose of them properly when they burn out in 7 years!"

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

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... "Building Teams should assess the remaining life of the existing roof covering as part of a PV project, says Dregger. He says serious consideration should be given to replacing the existing roof covering as part of a PV project. " ...

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Penn's Class of 2010 will wear gowns made of recycled plastic bottles to graduation.  Each of the approx. 2,500 gowns are made the with the equivalent of 23 plastic bottles.

" ... GreenWeaver line of regalia by Oak Hall Cap & Gown, ... is Penn’s latest greening effort. ... adorn its Class of 2010 seniors in gowns and caps made of 100 percent, post-consumer recycled plastic bottles."

“Penn will begin this academic year announcing our Climate Action Plan, the long-range strategy to reduce our carbon footprint ... Part of that effort is to partner with vendors that promote eco-friendly options. "

" ... fabric will be spun from molten plastic pellets, ... average of 23 bottles needed to make each gown. Recycled plastic bottles are already used to make sweatshirts and other clothing, the company said, and the result is apparel virtually indistinguishable in color, feel or fit from traditional polyester material."

Via:  University of Penn LINK

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... "The U.S. Department of Energy National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colo., independently tested the efficiency of the Spectrolab cell in June, validating that it surpassed the previous record of 41.1 percent held by the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany. High-efficiency solar cells in concentrator systems require fewer cells to produce the same electrical output as conventional solar cells. " ...

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The Great Valley School District (Chester County, PA) is the FIRST school district to switch to B20 biodiesel for its bus fleet.  B20 is a blend of 20% bio fuel and 80% diesel.

" ... assistance from The Energy Cooperative to make the transition to B20 and a state grant to pay for the added cost ... received a $28,340 Alternative Incentive Fuels Grant (AFIG) ... to pay for the incremental cost of using biodiesel ... estimates it will use approximately 130,000 gallons of B20 ..."

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