Terracycle reuses / recycles sall sorts of stuff such as juice boxes and turns them into bags and totes.
They take e-wast and turn it into useful products ... keeping waste out of the landfill.
"Made from 100% e-waste (such as crushed computers and fax machines) that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. These ingenious little pots help you garden sustainably! "
Via: Terracycle.net LINK
Enviance makes a carbon reporting system for the " ... Apparently close to 61 percent of companies still don’t have any sort of carbon emissions tracking system in place."
" ... Enviance Greenhouse Gas FastTrack program is specifically focused on businesses that need to comply with ... requirements put in place by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency ... call for companies to submit their first batch of information for fiscal year 2010 by March 31, 2011. ..."
Via: ZDNet LINK
Movie theaters are embracing the the green movement including LEED.
" ... theaters are making an effort to help viewers go green ... including Georgia-based Carmike Cinemas ... built a LEED-certified theater in Chattanooga, Tenn., which opened in November ... "
" ... Environmentally conscious theater construction and design are growing trends ... Some theaters are installing solar panels ... and using recycled building materials for new theaters and existing facilities that are under renovation."
Via: FORBES LINK
Darden Restaurants - owner of Red Lobster and other restaurant brands - is embracing the USGBC LEED Standards.
" ... launching a sustainable restaurant design initiative ... will require that all new restaurants be built to the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED standards ... need to be built following the LEED Rating Systems code when feasible."
" ... launching with eight restaurants that have been built, or are in the process of being built, to achieve LEED certification."
Via: FORBES LINK
Chicago's ConEd is conducting an experiment to determine how consumers manage their energy use when they have metrics on use, cost and use patterns. Home will be outfitted with solar panels and some homes will be allowed to sell back to the grid and others will not.
" ... will install smart electric meters and price the homes’ electric use by the hour. Half of the homes will be able to gain credits by sending stored solar power back to the grid. The other half won’t be able to store their energy."
" ... whether consumers have the ability, with this technology, to become little utilities. They will be able to buy and sell electricity at a real-time hourly price, which is very close to the wholesale price, from their homes."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
DASANI® Water (part of the Coca-Cola Company) is rolling our plant bottles in the western US. These bottles have UP TO 30% plant-sourced plastic and are just as recyclable - 100% - as their normal #1 PET bottles.
" ... Today, the plant-based material is made from sugar cane juice and/or molasses, which is a by-product of producing sugar."
" ... in Denmark, 65 percent of PlantBottle packaging will come from a combination of recycled and plant-based material ... "
" ... Ultimately, our goal is to develop recyclable plastic bottles made from plant-based waste -- thereby turning waste into a resource."
Via: DASANI® LINK
Dixon Golf's "GREEN" golf balls are truly green - made with recycled materials and themselves recyclable.
" ...first high-performance eco-friendly golf balls ... all balls manufactured by Dixon Golf are "green" to the core ... 100% recyclable and made from reprocessable materials ... packaging is made from 100% recycled material."
Via: LINK
![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=63db0d7a-1dbe-441b-98ff-18689621b8d6)
Chemists at UCLA have created a "gene" that might capture CO2 and help control CO2 emissions.
"UCLA chemists report creating a synthetic "gene" that could capture ... carbon dioxide emissions, which contribute to global warming, rising sea levels and the increased acidity of oceans."
" ... taken organic and inorganic units and combined them into a synthetic crystal which codes information in a DNA-like manner ... no means as sophisticated as DNA, but it is certainly new in chemistry and materials science."
" ... could lead to cleaner energy, including technology that factories and cars can use to capture carbon dioxide before it reaches the atmosphere."
" ... invented a class of materials called metal-organic frameworks (MOFs), sometimes described as crystal sponges ... openings on the nanoscale ... which ... can store gases that are usually difficult to store and transport. ..."
Via: UCLA LINK
BloomEnergy has announced a novel fuel cell and unlike typical fuel cells if does not require precious metal catalysts. Fuel cells are typcially "cleaner" than other power sources.
" .. an innovative new fuel cell technology ... derived from a common sand-like powder ... technology is able to produce clean, reliable, affordable power,... practically anywhere,... from a wide range of renewable or traditional fuels."
" ... Energy Servers™ are among the most efficient energy generators on the planet; providing for significantly reduced electricity costs and dramatically lower greenhouse gas emissions ... "
" ... Originally called Ion America, Bloom Energy, was founded with the mission to make clean, reliable energy affordable for everyone on earth."
" ... After two years of successful field trials in Tennessee, California, and Alaska, to validate the technology, the first commercial (100kW) products were shipped to Google in July 2008."
" ... Bloom's Energy Servers have helped our customers generate millions of kWhs of electricity and eliminate millions of pounds of CO2 from the environment."
Via: BloomEnergy LINK
David de Rothschild has built a boat from recycled plastic bottles and plans to sail it from San Francisco in the US to Sydney, Australia.
Yes he is from the famous Rothschild family.
The boat and crew will travel in a green manner (composting toilets and vertical green garden fertilized by composted poop) Power for on board electronics comes from solar cells and wind turbines. The boat uses glue made from cashew nuts.
Follow the journey and check out the web site for lots of geen info.
Via: Plastiki LINK
" ... The number of affordable, energy-efficient modular homes continues to increase as Pennsylvania-based builder Excel Homes offers a new line aimed at first-time buyers ... targeted to be sold for under $100,000, and depending on region, for as low as $60,000. ..."
" ... Excel Homes ... has built 28,000 modular homes since its founding in 1984 ... built in sect
ions ... in Liverpool, Pa., and Marlboro, N.Y., and transported ... where they are assembled... come with the government's Energy Star label for energy efficiency ... prices do not include the cost of land...."
Via: USAToday LINK
Can your car - or your hybrid - help power the grid?
" ... exploring plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV) that not only use grid electricity to meet their power needs, but also the car's potential to store electricity from the wind or sun, or even feed electricity back into the grid, earning money for the owner."
" ... vehicle-to-grid (V2G) integration ... improve the sustainability and resilience of the transportation and electric power infrastructures ... new era in which vehicles and electric "fuel" infrastructure become a system."
" electric cars become "distributed" storage, doubling as mobile holding tanks for electricity, ready to serve in their down time."
Via: University of Michigan LINK
" ... solar-powered sensor system developed at the University of Michigan is the smallest that can harvest energy from its surroundings to operate nearly perpetually."
" ...could enable new biomedical implants as well as home-, building- and bridge-monitoring devices. It could vastly improve the efficiency and cost of current environmental sensor networks designed to detect movement or track air and water quality."
" ... can run nearly perpetually if periodically exposed to reasonable lighting conditions, even indoors ... "
" ... could enable less-invasive ways to monitor pressure changes in the eyes, brain, and in tumors in patients with glaucoma, head trauma, or cancer. In the body, the sensor could conceivably harvest energy from movement or heat, rather than light, the engineers say."
Via: University of Michigan LINK
San Francisco is known for embracing many things green. The city recently developed and released an iPhone app for recycling information.
"San Franciscans already lead the nation in recycling – in May [2009] we announced a 72% diversion rate of all materials going to the landfill ... pledged to recycle 75% of the materials that would otherwise go to the landfill by 2010 and zero waste by 2020."
" ... find out where to recycle or properly dispose of materials using ... location-based mobile application. Instead of dumping old electronics or furniture on the sidewalk, the EcoFinder iPhone app tells you where these materials should go, based on your location."
" ... EcoFinder iPhone app is part of our ongoing effort to provide residents and businesses in San Francisco with the information and tools to be environmentally responsible."
Via: CleanTechnica LINK
"AT&T ... deployed its 1,000th alternative fuel vehicle in its fleet ... latest deployment is part of a $565 million 10-year investment to replace 15,000 vehicles with fuel efficient models through 2018."
Of a total fleet size of over 77,000 vehicles ... AT&T spent " ... $350 million to buy 8,000 compressed natural gas vehicles over 5 years ... " and will spend "$215 million through 2018 to replace 7,100 fleet passenger cards with alternative fuel models ... estimates it will save 49 million gallons of gas over 10 years."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Via: Ford LINK
Scientists from CalTech have developed technology that might lead efficient solar cells from silicon nanowires. This could lead to all sorts of configurations for solar cells including fabrics.
" ... CalTech scientists say they have the underlying technology. Silicon nanowires, arranged in arrays, have been engineered that ... grab power from visible light ..."
" ... a cell geometry that not only uses 1/100th the material of traditional wafer-based devices, but also may offer increased photovoltaic efficiency owing to an effective optical concentration of up to 20 times ...”
" ... CalTech’s cells have efficiency comparable to solar panels now being installed on roofs.""If nanowires can be woven into a viable matrix, combined with other material, it means fabrics can double as solar connectors, once they have a way to off-load the power they create."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
I was looking at Bo
se Wave radios and noticed an interesting section about recycling batteries ... they have 3 easy ways for you to recycle the rechargeable batteries in their Wave radios ...
... call Bose toll free, go to a Bose store or visit rbrc.com ... which takes you to call2recycle.
call2recycle has a look up by ZIP code feature for the US and Canada. In my ZIP code I found a number of drop off locations including K-Mart, Radio Shack,. hardware stores and Home Depot.
"Call2Recycle® offers consumers a free and easy way to care for the environment through its nationwide battery and cell phone recycling program ... follow these three easy steps ... If it's rechargeable, it's recyclable. Look for used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones in your home that are dead or not being used any longer ... Find the recycling drop-off location nearest you and drop off your used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones."
Via: call2recycle LINK
Scientist have long suspected they could modify an existing microbe to produce biofuel from plant products. They may now be one step closer with a strain of e. coli.
"Scientists with the Department of Energy's Joint BioEnergy Institute (JBEI) recently published a paper in the journal Nature explaining how they engineered the e. coli strain to spit out fatty esters (basically biodiesel) ... tweaked the e. coli so that it produces more fat than it normally would in a form it normally wouldn't, and they also made sure the bugs didn't eat their own fatty production. ..."
"Ideally ... would lead to a tiny, self-contained oil well: In comes plants, out comes fuels or chemicals. ..."
"... biofuels breakthroughs are published with some regularity. But no one has been able yet to turn these breakthroughs into industrial processes that can produce something useful on a large scale at reasonable cost. ..."
Via: Forbes LINK
" ... what to do with the 30 billion metric tons of carbon dioxide the human race produces every year by burning fossil fuels. Half ... is absorbed by oceans, plants and trees. The rest contributes to the atmospheric build-up of greenhouse gas ..."
" ... a bold solution that will inevitably come up is to capture and sequester some of that carbon dioxide deep underground. Onshore geologic cavities in the U.S. could hold 2 trillion tons of CO2 ... enough to soak up 300 years of national output ... and would generate a good deal of anxiety for those living above the gas...."
" ... put the carbon where nobody lives ... a perfect place 130 miles off the eastern U.S. seaboard and 2 miles below the ocean ... porous sandstone formation, trapped under 3,200 feet of hard shale, that stretches from New Jersey to Georgia ... "
"SCS Energy ... aims to start injecting CO2 into this undersea rock by 2016 and to make a profit ... "
" ... technique called coal gasification that heats coal and partially combusts it in pure oxygen to make carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Adding water turns the carbon monoxide into CO2. The 5 million tons of CO2 produced annually by the plant would be piped out to sea and injected into ... sandstone. Almost all the hydrogen would be used to power a turbine during hours when the price of electricity is high. When power prices are lower, more hydrogen would be diverted to make ammonia or urea for fertilizer."
"Carbon capture and storage on a large scale is still more theoretical than real ... Sequestration's critics are legion, but it may be a requirement to meet the 2020 greenhouse-gas-reduction goals most countries set for themselves prior to the Copenhagen talks...."
Via: Forbes LINK
" ... meeting with taxi operators ... found considerable interest for vehicles that run on alternative fuels ..."
"According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, CNG is less expensive and burns cleaner than gasoline, resulting in 30 percent to 40 percent less greenhouse gas emissions. Propane also burns cleaner than gasoline."“ ... they provide an overall lower emission of greenhouse gases compared to gasoline. Additionally, operating on CNG or LPG provides the operators lower fuel/operating costs ..."
Via: Ford LINK
The GSA is renovating the 18 story federal building in Portland, Oregon. Green features include a vertical green wall and reduced water usage with low flow fixtures and recycled roof water.
"... part of a $133 million renovation, the General Services Administration wants to grow “vegetated fins” on the western facade of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building ... save energy year-round using one of Mother Nature’s own tools."
" ... will use 60 to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings. That translates to an energy cost savings of $280,000 per year."
"Solar panels could also provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. Energy use for lighting will be halved."
"... building in question was already slated for an energy efficiency upgrade, but funds from last year’s federal stimulus package stressed projects that were environmentally friendly."United Technologies is looking at how blood captures CO2 to see if this has potential for larger scale carbon capture / sequestration. One targeted industry is coal-fired power plants.
"Blood cells in all breathing creatures are constantly capturing carbon dioxide and moving it someplace better--just what coal-fired power plant operators may soon have to do with all the carbon dioxide produced by burning coal."
" ... trying to develop industrial blood--a synthetic version of the enzyme that blood uses to capture CO2 ... best known chemistry for CO2 management ... "
"Current carbon capture approaches use chemicals ... system has to be huge and the process requires a pile of heat, which means a pile of energy and therefore a pile of cash. The cost of electricity from a coal-fired plant is projected to rise 80% in order to pay for a 90% reduction in CO2."
" ... envisions a simpler, cheaper system involving membranes that sift carbon dioxide out of the flue gas ... hopes to do is dope the membrane with a substance based on the enzyme that blood uses to capture CO2, called carbonic anhydrase."c--are also working to develop carbon capture devices based on carbonic anhydrase.
Via: Forbes LINK
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
"San Francisco based, Climate Earth has developed new software technology that measures and analyzes the carbon impact inside the supply chain, from the production of a carton of orange juice to the construction of a giant skyscrape ...
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
"Pratt & Whitney Power Systems ... recently demonstrated a mobile geothermal power generation unit at the 2009 Geothermal Energy Expo in Reno, Nev. ... PureCycle® technology allows customers to relocate valuable energy generating capability from one geothermal or waste heat resource to another as circumstances dictate. ..."
" ... system can generate electricity from various heat sources with temperatures between 190 and 325 degrees Fahrenheit ...."
" ... new feature is the self-contained cooling system that uses resource water to replenish the cooling tower water, thus eliminating the need for a separate fresh water source ... demonstrates how low temperature geothermal technology that can diversify the nation’s energy supply with base load renewable energy while creating jobs and economic benefits."
Via: United Technologies Corp. LINK
RecycleMania 2010 started on Jan 17th, 2010 and ends March 10th, 2010. In these 10 weeks participating schools compete to see who collects the largest quantity of recyclables PER CAPITA and in several other categories.
" ... record number of colleges and universities across the United States, Canada and as far away as Qatar, have begun collecting their recycling and trash weights as part of the first two weeks of trials ... "
" ... a friendly competition and benchmarking tool for college and university recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities to their campus communities.... ranked according to who collects the largest amount of recyclables per capita, the largest amount of total recyclables, the least amount of trash per capita, or ... highest recycling rate. ..."
Good luck to all and there really are no losers in this competition !
Via: RecycleMania LINK
Green buildings and designs are being found all across the country ... the Housing Authority Administration building in Newport, Tennessee is green. Read about the many green features and technologies used.
" ... 8,585 square foot administration building ... Design included multiple "green" features: photovaltaic solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, premium insulation package, Energy Star windows and lighting, low flow faucets and toilets and low impact site design. Project cost was $1,000,000.00."
Via: McGraw-Hill Construction Community LINK
There is a new Green building in NYC - at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park City. Read about the Visionaire - it is one very green building - though a very expensive place to live with pricing startling at just under $700,000 and going to a little over $6 million.
" ... the Visionaire ... a testing ground for urban green architecture."
"... All building fixtures reduce use of potable water, and a blackwater treatment system means that all toilet water in the building is recycled, treated wastewater. Stormwater collection reserves irrigate the green roofs, which cover 70 percent of the roof surface ... a natural gas-powered microturbine on the structure’s roof harnesses its own waste energy to heat water."" ... saves an estimated 42 percent in energy costs against a base-line average. This is largely the result of efficient building systems and the building envelope ... goal was achieved through exhaustive attention to detail ... "
Via: Greensource LINK
"A 200kW UTC Power fuel cell ... at the new Connecticut Science Center in Hartford ... will generate 100 percent of the electricity demanded by the facility on an annual basis once operational ... will be the first such facility to generate most of its own energy on-site with ultra clean, quiet fuel cell power."
" ... reduce the burden on the New England power grid and its impact on the environment ... will prevent the release of more than 270 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually by using the Model 200 PureCell® system rather than relying on a traditional fossil-fuel-burning powerplant ... one of the first fuel cell installations in the state to employ net metering, a process by which surplus power from the fuel cell is fed to the utility grid at night when the facility’s power demand is less."
Via: United Technologies Corp. LINK
Fluxxlab has an idea to harness the "energy" in revolving doors. Already an energy saver compared to traditional doors in office buildings ... these could generate significsant power in large building with hundreds of workers.
" ... work to date has been focused on sustainable energy harvesting, specifically in the form of converting small amounts of human energy into electricity ..."
"... Revolution Door is a modified revolving ... a redesigned central core replacing that of any existing or new revolving door, a mechanical/electrical system that harnesses human energy and redistributes electricity to an output, and an output device that maps the harnessed energy ... the Revolution Door will directly communicate a single person's contribution to an energy cycle possible through the metabolic relationship between people, technology, and architecture."
Via: Fluxxlab LINK
In addition to being know for its green efforts (solar panels and highly efficient servers) Google is possibly entering ther power business by applying for a license to buy and sell wholesale power.
"... are other non-utilities already in the power business. Usually other firms with similar heavy power needs. ... Google Energy subsidiary was formed in late 2009 ... putting it into a stronger position to balance Google’s energy needs with its goal to promote the use of alternative energy for electricity generation ... it will shop for the best sources of renewable energy to run its operations ... stated goal is to become carbon-neutral."
Via: ZDNet LINK
Google has been at the forefront of energy efficiency quite some time. Read on to learn more about Google current initiatives.
They also have lots of data and metrics to compare their energy use per Google search to other activities.
" ... Data centers ... account for most of Google’s energy needs ... take our energy use seriously and, from the very beginning, Google has focused on designing systems that use as little energy as possible ... operating what we believe to be the world's most efficient data centers."
" ... Google-designed data centers use about half the energy of a typical data center ... energy used per Google search is very small ... currently use about 1kJ (0.0003 kWh) of energy to answer the average query ... roughly .2g of CO2 ... often take the place of more carbon- and time-intensive activities, such as driving a car to a library or spending hours navigating shopping malls."
" ... commitment to sustainability goes beyond just electricity and carbon ... two Google facilities currently run on 100% recycled water, and by 2010 we expect recycled water to provide 80% of our total data center water consumption ... share our own data center best practices and are encouraging our industry peers to do the same ..."
" ... if all data centers operated at the same efficiency as ours, the U.S. alone would save enough electricity to power every household within the city limits of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C."
Puppy Toys have gone GREEN.
We recently got a puppy and have noticed there are lots of GREEN puppy (and cat) things to be had ...
" ... In an age of disposability, these products stand the test of time. ... Utilizing eco friendly materials, such as reclaimed cotton, organic cotton, eco fabric and stuffing made with IntelliLoft™ recycled fibers, reyclable Zogoflex, and recycled fabric that can be recycled again ... "
" ... developed a manufacturing process that minimizes waste (currently as low as 2.4%!) ... our state-of-the-art building ... was constructed using the latest developments in energy efficient design in 2001 ... building expansion in 2009 and 2010 ... reclaiming 30,000 lbs of concrete."
" ... Reclaimed and reused old boxes are utilized to store finished goods rather than plastic manufacturing totes ... also incorporate recycled material in our shipping boxes."
Via: West Paw Design LINK
Nissan has announced the Nissan Leaf - a zero emission electric car that is designed for "the mass market". In addition to the car, Nissan is working with partners to develop the required infrastructure to support an a all electric car. The LEAF is expected to be priced similar to other family sedans.
" ... Nissan LEAF zero-emission, all-electric car ... five-passenger, five-door, gasoline-free car ..."
"Nissan is the only automaker committed to making all-e
lectric vehicles available to the mass market on a global scale. ... has partnered on the development of an electric-vehicle infrastructure through partnerships in the State of Tennessee, the State of Oregon, Sonoma County, San Diego, Phoenix, Tucson, Washington D.C., Seattle, Raleigh, and Vancouver. Additionalpartnerships will be announced in the near future."
Via: Nissan LINK
I am always on the lookout for something GREEN to write about ... the advertising on some Chinet products caught my eye.
While at my local Costco last night I saw some interesting information info on Chinet plates ... they are now compostable !!
"Preserving natural resources for future generations i
s important to us, and to our extended family, which includes you. So, start to finish, we pursue sustainable practices, from using recycled materials to produce our disposable tableware products to reducing the amount of energy we use and waste we create to make them. "
They have "how to do it" instructions for composting their plates along with other compostable material ... LINK
Chinet is made by Huhtamaki Americas
Via: Chinet LINK
" ... began recycling paper in the 1940s, have used recycled paper in products and packaging since the 1970s ... established a corporate-wide environmental conservation program in the 1990s...."
Other efforts include ... " ... sponsors e-waste events to collect and responsibly dispose of employees' discarded electronics ... actively participate in the Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWi$e and Energy Star Building programs ... Since the early 1990s we have reduced solid waste by 70 percent and hazardous waste by 90 percent ... waste-to-energy program at our distribution center in Enfield, Conn., has resulted in an ongoing zero percent waste program since 1998. Materials not recycled are used as electrical generator fuel."
Via: Hallmark LINK
RecycleBank developed a program to help communities encourage recycling by combining recycling participation with a rewards program.
" ... RecycleBank, is a rewards and loyalty program that motivates households to recycle and adapt other positive green behaviors. As CEO and Co-founder, Gonen is revolutionizing the way people view recycling."
" ... launch in 2004 ... grown to servicing over one million people across 20 states and in the United Kingdom. RecycleBank is increasing participation in recycling from single digits to over 90% in communities along the way."
In an earlier post we showcased a CBS TV profile of Recyclebank. In this post we visit with Ron Gonen and get more of his perspective on the business and creating wins for so many stakeholders.
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Starting Oct 1, 2009 NC residents can no longer put plastic bottles in their trash cans as plastic bottles are banned from NC landfills.
" ... new law taking effect Oct. 1 bans plastic bottles from landfills as a way to encourage recycling and reduce the amount of trash in the ground ... state regulators won't rummage through people's trash ... Some local government sanitation departments say they won't pick up trash that contains the plastic bottles until they are separated."
""Just because you can no longer dispose of plastic bottles and pallets in landfills does not make it okay to burn them," said Sheila Holman, deputy director of the N.C. Division of Air Quality. "It is always illegal to burn plastics, paper and other trash in North Carolina.""
Portions or all of more than 90 other laws also take effect Thursday. Some are designed to help protect more residents from identity theft, foreclosures, unwanted telephone solicitations and false concert advertising.
Via: Durham County - MyNC LINK
Cagoule, a small company from Portland, Oregon, sells a line of gloves, hats, blankets and scarves made from post consumer recycled plastic beverage bottles.
My wife found these at our local Whole Foods Markets (Devon, Pa) and thought they looked like a great idea ... quality warm fleece gloves from post consumer recycled bottles.
" ... everything we make is still created from superbly soft fleece itself made from post-consumer recycled materials ... We recycle absolutely everything we can and run the entire show with waste reduction firmly in mind ... "
" ... BottleFleece™ ... made from 85% post-consumer recycled fibers obtained from plastic soda bottles and post industrial waste ... soda bottles are collected by recyclers, then shredded, melted, and extruded into fibers which then become ultra-plush fleece ... about 2 one-liter bottles in every BottleFleece hat ... "
Via: Cagoule Fleece Link
The USPS has made great efforts to be green and help others be green. Through an arrangement with several electronics companies select USPS locations are offering prepaid mailers that can be used to recycle small electronics.
" ... committed to leaving a “green” footprint across America. ... are pioneers in using alternative fuel-capable vehicle ... support recycling and offer eco-friendly products."
Via: USPS LINK
On November 12, 2009 Dow and Caltech " ... announced ... a multi-year research collaboration ... in solar energy ... aimed at aligning Dow’s capabilities in CIGS based materials with Caltech’s research in next generati aterials."
" ... research ... will initially focus on direct band gap materials that incorporate elements that are less expensive and more commonly available than those used in today’s thin film PV semiconductors. ..."
"Photovoltaics provide carbon free electricity, however the cost and aesthetics of current PV systems has limited its adoption ... Dow recently announced its first building integrated photovoltaic product, the DowTM POWERHOUSETM Solar Shingle ..."
Via: The Dow Chemical Company LINK
Claren Power, a Arlington, Virginia company, " ... partners with sugar mills in Brazil to build modern, cogenerational (making heat and power simultaneously) facilities. The fuel comes from sugar cane waste—called bagasse... "
"Most plants consume about a third of the energy (steam and electricity) that we generate during the harvest, leaving the other two-thirds to export to the electrical grid. Our goal is to help make plants more efficient so that we have more excess energy. We’re using the same resources but providing three times more energy."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
FedEx is adding 51 hybrid trucks to its Bronx, NY faciltiy - making it FedEx's first 100% all-hybrid site.
" ... will pick up another 51 gas-electric hybrid trucks from Azure Dynamics ... Most of those trucks will be added to its Bronx, N.Y. station, which will become its first all-hybrid facility."
" ... Bronx location will have 100 hybrid trucks. FedEx has 325 hybrid trucks total."
" ... FedEx hybrid fleet has logged more than four million miles of revenue service since 2004. ... estimates that it has reduced fuel use by 150,000 gallons and carbon dioxide emissions by 1,521 metric tons. ... received a grant from the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority for the latest round of hybrid trucks."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Here is an interesting approach toi reducing waste and CO2 at the same time. Using fly ash (waste and high in CO2) to make bricks solves both.
Read about CalStar's approach >>>
" ... CalStar directly addresses global climate change and CO2 emissions ... Brick is an energy- and carbon-intensive industry ... U.S. demand for brick is almost 10 billion units in a typical year. At 1.3 pounds of CO2 per brick, the industry footprint equals almost 13 billion pounds of CO2 per year. ..."
"Our commitment to green extends to product safety ... to ensure they are safe throughout their lifecycle, from manufacture to placement to use (and reuse) to end-of-life disposal ... process for making fly ash into bricks binds the materials within a strong crystalline matrix that holds even if exposed to the intense acids found in landfills. ..."
"CalStar ... promotes pragmatic solutions to climate change .... reducing the carbon footprint of cement, the biggest lever for industry has been and continues to be substitution of fly ash for CO2-intensive Ordinary Portland Cement. "
Via: Calstar LINK
Data is presented that shows solar photovoltaic costs decreasing. Over the past decade, photovoltaic module and non-module elements have contributed to the cost decline. ...
... "From 1998 to 2008, installed costs declined by about 3.6% (or $0.3/W) per year, on average, starting from $10.8/W in 1998. Preliminary cost data indicates that the average cost of projects installed through the California Solar Initiative program during the first 8½ months of 2009 rose by $0.4/W relative to 2008, while average costs in New Jersey declined by $0.2/W over the same period. " ...
Via Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory: Tracking the Sun : The Installed Cost of Photovoltaics in the U.S. from 1998-2008 (PDF)
San Francisco now accepts compostable materials as part of its waste stream pick up ... there are now 3 bins:
black = trash
blue = recyclables
green = compostables
" ... designed to make recycling easier, reduce waste, and control litter. ... green cart is for all compostable items, such as food scraps and yard trimmings. ... allows San Francisco to ... achieve the state-mandated 50% recycling goal."
Acceptable for composting are food scraps, yard waste, paper and cardboard and select otehr items. For a complete list see San Francisco COMPOSTABLES". They accepts more than you would expect ... lots more!
Do you compost? Why not?
I do (myself in my back yard) and it quickly turns into nice mulch ...
Via: San Francisco Recycling LINK
There is a new "movement" underway in the recycling space - call it extreme recycling ... "... a new movement afoot that is raising the bar on what’s good enough. ... story from the New York Times [Oct. 19, 20009 - Nudging Recycling From Less Waste to None] explains what’s being called the “zero waste” movement ... not only to dispose responsibly of the waste that commercial enterprises create BUT ALSO to drastically reduce the amount of waste... create less garbage, period."
" ... Honda now recycles so much of the trash created at eight of its North American facilities that it has gotten rid of the trash dumpsters at those sites. At Yellowstone National Park, concessions now use cups and utensils that dissolve when heated. ..."
Via: Smart Planet LINK
Continuing the very green theme at SFO Airport ... you can also rent green cars ... and offers an incentive in the form of a rental discount for renting HYBRIDS.
" ... offers the nation’s first Green Rental Car program that rewards customers for renting “green” alternative-fueled vehicles. ... rent hybrid cars ... such as the Honda Civic Hybrid, Nissan Altima Hybrid or Toyota PRIUS will receive a $15 discount at the counter."
" ... estimated that more than 4,000 tons of CO2 emissions per year will be eliminated through the implementation of this program."
" ... 10 percent of the rental car fleet ... is comprised of high-mileage cars—such as the Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Ford Focus—in addition to alternative-fuel cars. ... SFO hopes to increase the total number of these cars to greater than 15 percent."
Via: San Francisco Int'l Airport LINK
Data centers use lots of energy ... from electricity to power the servers to electricity to power the AC units to keep things cool ...
Some are looking allowing the temperature to be set a little higher ... a recent 5 year pilot with Toyota and IBM was able to reduce consumption by 10% by looking at inefficiencies in the system.
Read on for more ...
" ... by visualizing where hot spots and cooling inefficiencies existed and moving to address them, Toyota Motor Sales USA has been able to reduce the electricity demand ..."
"During a five-year pilot program ... Toyota was actually able to switch off two computer room air-conditioners even while maintaining a cooler ambient air temperature and reducing hot spots throughout its facility, ... relied on software from IBM Research called IMB Measurement and Management Technologies ... uses thermal readings from floor to ceiling ... and creates a three-dimensional chart that can be used to find power and cooling inefficiencies ..."
" ... assessment by Southern California Edison verified that these actions have helped reduce energy demand in the data center by more than 10 percent. ..."
Via: ZDNet LINK
San Francisco International (SFO) is committed to being green. They have efforts underway to reduce their environmental impact by reducing noise, reducing global warming and preserving natural resources like air and water.
" ... recognize the importance that environmental sustainability plays in helping achieve this goal ... committed to drastically reducing its environmental impact over the next decade. ... working to reduce contributions to global warming, improve air and water quality, reduce noise impacts, and preserve natural resources." 
SFO n
ow offers the Climate Passport program; a way to help travelers reduce their travel carbon footprint by purchasing offsets.
Here is how it works ... " ... drop by a kiosk that will calculate the carbon impact of your travel ... buy offsets from the kiosk manager, 3Degrees, ... Some of the money will also go to the San Francisco Carbon Fund ... offsets purchased ... are verified by the Climate Action Registry."
Check out the interactive carbon calculator ...
On Sunday Oct 18, the cost for a carbon offset for a round trip flight from Philadelphia to San Francisco and back would cost $22.82 and off set 3,727 lbs of CO2.
White roofs are the "hot" thing in roofing ... allowing for a lowed burden on a/c systems.
But dark colored roofs can bring solar gain to warm buildings ... if only roof tiles were smart enough to know ...
The next "hot" thing in roofing might be roofing that can change color based on outdoor temperature to maximize or minimize solar gain.
"MIT researchers have developed roof tiles that change color based on the temperature, turning white when it’s hot to deflect heat and turning black when it’s cold to absorb it ... the tiles can reflect about 80 percent of sunlight when they’re white and 30 percent of sunlight when they’re black. ... white state ... could save as much as 20 percent of present cooling costs ..."
" ... system ... made of a ... polymer in a water solution ... encapsulated between flexible plastic layers, with a dark layer at the back. When the temperature is above a certain level ... the polymer ... produce a white surface and scatter light. ... Below that temperature, the polymer stays dissolved, revealing the tile’s black backing and absorbing the sun’s heat ..."
Via: SmartPlanet LINK
Oberlin College's Living Machine® is a waste water treatment system that teaches students how nature purified water for years ... but is unlike most modern systems.
" ... treats wastewater using a system of engineered ecologies that include microbes, plants, snails and insects, and is designed to treat up to 2,000 gallons of ... wastewater daily in a beautiful, garden-like atmosphere. ... Upon completion of a water- pressurization system, the treated wastewater will be recycled back through the building for non-potable re-use."
"Invented by Dr. John Todd, of Living Machines, Inc. ... Wastewater flows from the building into two underground reactors ... an anaerobic biological process begins digestion of the wastes. ... wastewater flows through two closed aerobic reactors ... where the remaining organic compounds are further degraded. ...[then] ... enters the Living Machine® solarium and flows through three open aerobic reactors. ... plants such as papyrus, calla lilies and willows root into the planted aerobic reactors and assist in the treatment process."
" ... biosolids are settled out of the wastewater in a clarifier. ... then flows through a constructed wetland surrounding the open aerobic tanks for final ‘polishing.’ Ultraviolet disinfection is the final step prior to the treated wastewater being reused in the buildings’ toilets."
Starting October 1, 2009 North Carolina banned PET (#1 plastic) from landfills.
" .... banning all rigid plastic containers from landfills ... focus largely on the recovery of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET). ... plastic, commonly identified by the number “1″ inside a recycling symbol on the bottle, is the resin of choice for most soda and water bottles."
" ... building the nation's largest facility to recycle PET bottles, ... process 280 million pounds of material per year. One of the primary partners ... is carpet manufacturer Shaw Industries Group, LLC, which can turn recycled PET into polyester for use in carpeting."
" ... state will be inspecting landfills starting in October, but it’s unlikely that individuals will be fined for trashing plastic bottles unless they are caught unloading a large amount."
Solar Decathlon 2009 is in full swing on the Mall in Washington DC.
With the US Capital on one end and the Washington Memorial on the other it is an amazing site. Sponsored by the U.S. DOE there are 20 houses showing what is possible with green technologies - using current off the shelf products and some very creative thinking.
Most of the teams are from US colleges with several international entries ... including Spain and Germany.
Given parameters of 800 sq ft there are some very creative solutions. Some stress extreme insulation, all have some sort of garden area, all have solar PV and some have solar hot water. Most interesting is the creative use of 800 sq ft ...
As of this writing RICE is in the lead ... thought the difference between top and bottom on the ranking is not all that great. Yesterday was very sunny so anyone with LOTS of PV was sure to get extra points ...
Look for more posts and some GREENTECHNOLOG pictures ...
Via: Greentechnolog.com LINK
The Dow Chemical company is active in the green energy space with several innovative products. They recently announced their entry into the solar cell market with the " ... POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, ... panels in the form of solar shingles that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. ... expected to be available in limited quantities by mid-2010 and ... more widely available in 2011, ..."
"... integrates low-cost, thin-film CIGS photovoltaic cells into a proprietary roofing shingle design, ... design reduces installation costs because the conventional roofing shingles and solar generating shingles are installed simultaneously by roofing contractors ..."
"... addresses two of the biggest challenges associated with solar power – cost and acceptance. "
CDs are a great way to store lots of data in a small place ... and take up much less space when tossed in the trash then VHS cartridge. Now you can easily recycle CDs and DVDs along with lots of other media at GreenDisk.
Read on for more ... 
" ... responsibly and securely dispose of ... your computer-related waste, spent supplies and obsolete accessories. GreenDisk handles all your technotrash disposal needs ... destroy your old data, recover reusable components, and recycle all of the rest of your accumulated technotrash - all at your convenience, at home or at work."
I really love their tag line is " GreenDisk: because good planets are hard to find. "
Via: GreenDisk LINK
The new Sands casino was build on part of the old Bethlehem Steel Mill site ... and effectively turned an eyesore into a productive revenue generating property for the community.
" ... Las Vegas Sands Corp. (LVSC) ... started working on the site categorized as both the largest Brownfield redevelopment project in the nation and the largest casino development investment made to date in the Commonwealth. ... the historic Bethlehem Steel plant is ... transformed into a fully integrated resort consisting of ... 200,000 square feet of premium retail outlet shopping, and 46,000 square feet of flexible multi-purpose space. ..."
Via: Sands LINK
Rail is one of the most efficient transportation methods ... and keeps significant number of truck off the roads and highways ... CSX is taking it to the next level by voluntarily reducing CO2 emissions byu 8 pct by 2011.
"... plan to reduce the CO2 emissions ... 8% per revenue ton mile by 2011. ... part of its participation in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Climate Leaders Program, a voluntary program for businesses to inventory and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. "
" ... first ever from a major U.S. transportation provider. CSX's commitment will reduce C02 emissions by 2.4 million tons - the equivalent of taking 441,000 cars off the road each year, or burning 5,598,000 fewer barrels of oil.
"
In CSX's non-railroad operations, the company plans to use building space more efficiently, improve HVAC systems, and install energy-efficient lighting and automatic computer-shutdown software.
"Since 1980, ... has invested more than $1 billion to upgrade its fleet with more efficient .... locomotives and has improved locomotive fuel efficiency by over 80%. By the end of 2009, an additional 1,200 CSX locomotives will be upgraded to further reduce emissions and lower fuel consumption by nearly 10 million gallons. ..."
Via: CSX LINK
o
Change yourself - change the world. The No Impact Project " ... is an international, environmental, nonprofit project ... inspired by the No Impact Man book, film, and blog."
" ... empower citizens to make choices which better their lives and lower their environmental impact through lifestyle change, community action, and participation in environmental politics. ... Living low-impact provides a clear entry point into the environmental movement. ..."
Goals are to "Promote behavioral change .... Enable the public ... Engage people who are not already tree-hugging, bicycle-riding, canvas-bag-toting, eco-warriors ..."
Via: No Impact Project LINK
Learn more about Green building and design trends .... see booths, vendors, exhibits ... listen to seminars and speeches and see demonstrations.
Open to industry professionals on Thursday Oct 8th and the public on Friday Oct 9th at the Edison NJ Convention and Expo Center.
The Green Dude and Green Tech visited this same show earlier in the year in Philadelphia and found it both interesting and worth the time to attend ... we may try to get to this one as well ...
Via: GoGreenExpo Link
" ... 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
Boston's entry in the Solar Decathlon is called Curio House and is built mostly from off the shelf technologies and powered by the sun. Cobuilt by Tufts University and the Boston Architecture School the building will be on its way to the Solar Decathlon competition in Washington, DC in October.
See related post on the Solar Decathlon.
" ... designed to run entirely from solar energy. ..."
" ... team has focused its design on affordability, making an 800-square-foot building using almost entirely off-the-shelf products and technologies. ... lined up a buyer for the home in Cape Cod where it is supposed to be the first unit in a green housing development. ... projected cost of the building, big enough for two people and a small child, is about $200,000. ..."
Via: ZDNet LINK
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
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
" ... 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
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
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."
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 comm
itment 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
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 ..."
" ... for some homes, small appliances are the second biggest use of energy ... consider turning off your TV ... or ... put your electronics on a SmartStrip to prevent them from creating “phantom loads,” which draw small amounts of power ... even when items are turned off."" ... 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
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."
"For every gown purchased, Oak Hall said it will make a contribution to a campus environmental group. At Penn, the contributions will be designated for the University’s Green Fund."
Via: University of Penn LINK
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 ..."
Prairie Bunkers LLC is repurposing WWII ammunition depots into secure energy efficient data centers. These structures are built to withstand force 5 tornadoes.
In addition to the green aspect of repurposing an existing building ... there are others green features.
"Saves approximately 5000 cubic tons of carbon emission which would be produced by construction of a similar structure ... electrical provider .... has a high percentage of renewable energy, including hydro, wind and nuclear ... On-site solar and wind energy systems in planning stages ... Air Economizers to use “free cooling” from average annual temperature of 54 degrees ... Optional active geothermal ... heat pump system ... Passive Geothermal, provided by the bermed earth covering on three sides and top of bunkers ..."
" .... Native vegetation landscaping minimizes irrigation ... Fire suppression agent has zero carbon foot print ... UPS Options including flywheel technology ... Recycled building products including flooring tiles and cable trays ..."
Via: Prairie Bunkers, LLC LINK
Gainesville Regional Utilities, Gainesville, Florida's utility pormots solar and offers assistance to businesses and residences that will install solar.
" ... energy-producing solar panels in Gainesville has skyrocketed since the city implemented its new solar incentive program ... waiting list for the program - which is the first solar feed-in tariff in the United States and offers above-market-rate prices for electricity produced by privately owned and installed solar panels - now stretches until 2016."
Between the price GRU offers for the electricity and state rebates for solar panel installation, the feed-in tariff should prove lucrative for those installing solar photovoltaics in the program.
However, the program is limited on a first-come, first-served basis to 4 new megawatts of electricity a year from solar power - more than double the megawatts produced locally a year ago.
The first change proposed Thursday would allow those people waiting in line to install solar panels in 2010 to install the panels now and be paid market rate for the energy the panels produce until the contract they've signed up for kicks in and they are able to receive the higher rate.
"We don't have anything in the program that allows us to pay them for electricity," said Ed Regan, assistant general manager of strategic planning at GRU. "If they're in the queue for 2010, a year for which we know the price, then we would let them build it early."
Another part of that is that GRU is proposing to reinstate the commercial net-metering system that was discontinued when the feed-in tariff was adopted.
Net metering allows people with solar panels to use their own electricity, and if there is any excess energy produced, GRU credits the bill.
The other changes are largely administrative in nature.
"There was a fair amount of gaming or jockeying for position that made us institute additional rules," Regan said of the somewhat unexpected rush that filled up all 4 megawatts of solar panels for the first year in a matter of days.
At least one person has challenged technical terms in the ordinance, arguing the language in the ordinance allows more solar energy to be installed every year, or that the ordinance has fixed prices out to the year 2030.
Regan recommended the commission approve language for the ordinance specifying that only 4 megawatts will be permitted in the program every year and that the ordinance should be changed so that the payout rate after the year 2010 says "to be determined."
"I think Gainesville can be proud to be on the forefront," Hunzinger said. "We have heard some criticism saying 'do not use Gainesville as a model.' To me that's personally, professionally disturbing to hear. However, I do understand there will be criticism. No good deed goes unpunished. The primary reason for implementing the (feed-in tariff) was to encourage solar PV installations in our service area."
Via: GRU.com LINK
Old WW II Ammunition bunkers in Nebraaka may have a 2nd life as secure data centers. Their location and construction make them ideal facilities for secure data centers ... and goethermal cooling allows them to be less energy intensive compared to the normal data center.
" Prairie Bunkers LLC said this week that it has completed a test well for a geothermal cooling system at its 760-acre Prairie Bunkers Data Center Park near Hastings, Nebraska. ... paves the way for the company to offer geothermal cooling for its innovative project."
"... hopes to convert dozens of World War II ammunition bunkers into data centers, hoping to capitalize on interest in ultra-secure data storage ... plans for geothermal power will help tenants achieve Platinum status ... (LEED) ... for energy-efficient builfings."
" ... pioneering the use of geothermal cooling to reduce electricity usage in one of the most power intensive industries in the nation, ... ”
" ... will convert the average ground temperature of 55 degrees at the site into ‘free cooling’ that will reduce ... costs for a typical data center ... by 30 percent ... start with very low electrical rates, so a 30 percent reduction ... translates into one of the lowest operating costs for any data center site in the U.S.”
Via: Datacenterknowldege LINK
The constant temperature of fluids deep (say 200 - 400 feet deep) can be used for heating and cooling. Check out this geothermally cooled ACT data center in Iowa.
" ... new data center for American College Testing in Iowa City, Iowa ... becomes the first data center in the U.S. to complete LEED Platinum certification. ... data center opened in February 2008 ... 4,000 square feet of raised-floor ... within an 8,000 square foot building ... geothermal “bore field” - a system of vertical holes drilled into the earth’s surface which house a closed-loop piping system filled with water and/or coolant. ..."
" ... other environmentally-friendly attributes include a high performance HVAC system, 30% recycled content during construction, and numerous renewable materials used in the interior design. ..."
Via: datacenterknowledge LINK
Welcome to the 1st 100 % Wind Powered City in the U.S. !!
Rock Port, Missouri get's its renewable energy from
" ... four wind turbines ... within the city limits ... Rock Port uses approximately 13 million kilowatt hours of electricity each year ... predicted that ... turbines will produce 16 million kilowatt hours each year."
"Excess ... electricity ... is expected to be move onto the transmission lines to be purchased by the Missouri Joint Municipal Utilities for use in other areas.
"A map published by the U.S. Department of Energy indicates that northwest Missouri has the state's highest concentration of wind resources and contains a number of locations potentially suitable for utility-scale wind development."
Via: ScienceDaily LINK
Here are some energy saving tips from the New Belgium Brewery in Fort Collins, Colorado. Check out earlier posts about this GREEN and environmentally friendly brewery.
For the rest of the list, more details on the items listed and more info about this environmentally friendly brewery ... follow the link at the end of this post.
"Hang your clothes out to dry ... clothing-dryer is the 2nd-most energy consumptive household appliance after the refrigerator ... if you don’t have space for an outdoor clothesline there are indoor racks that are compact and work like a charm."
"Put on a sweater ... When the temperatures drop, ... put on some soft booties, and sip a steamy hot drink. It’ll make you feel all warm and fuzzy."
"Drink tap water ... Shipping bottled water around the world in plastic bottles burns a heap of fuel, pollutes our air, and puts more plastic into an increasingly plastic-sheathed world. ... if tap water is not up to your standards, there are ... filters available at much more affordable prices than the cost of purchasing bottled water."
"Use your own shopping bag ... asked, “Paper or plastic?” say, “Neither, I have my own bags.”
Via: New Belgium Brewing LINK
For those who follow this blog and live in Cherry Hill, NJ - check out Sustainable Cherry Hill.
" ... The goal of Sustainable Cherry Hill is to help educate and empower our community to view the world through a different set of glasses and to act upon this new understanding of the world. We are all in this together and the one resource that Cherry Hill possesses is PEOPLE! Lots of folks making small changes will result in large scale transformation."
"Stay tuned for lots of great information about how we are creating and organizing SCH into a non-profit group. ... "
Join one of 11 task forces ... "Green Building, Educating for Sustainability, Community Composting, Green Business, Bike Path/Sidewalks, Transportation, Renewable Energy, Local Food/Gardening, Land, Air & Water Conservation, Zero Waste, Urban/Regional Partnerships for Environmental Justice"
Via: Sustainable Cherry Hill LINK
We experienced a Vail, Colorado hybrid bus sighting while on vacation ... See pic below.
The hybrid buses are in service and delivering value to the community. ...
... "the town will add a hybrid bus to its transit fleet in 2006, seven more in 2008 and two in 2011, resulting in the conversion of 30 percent of its bus fleet to hybrid ... " ...
Via Town of Vail: Hybrid Bus Fleet
Vail Transit also uses GPS-based transit times for online tracking via the NextBus service.
Continue reading "Vail Colorado Hybrid Electric Diesel Bus" »
Gainesville Florida has been active in alternative energy since 1997 offering rebates for solar water heating and now for solar PV. They are now looking to increase the amount of PV electricity generated by offering more incentives.
" ...offered solar water heating rebates since 1997 and solar photovoltaic (PV) systems rebates since 2007 ... now ... created a solar feed-in-tariff (FIT) program to increase the number of solar PV systems in Gainesville."
" ... May 2009, ... approved a 30-year contract between GRU and Gainesville Renewable Energy Center ... build, own and operate a 100-megawatt biomass power plant ... fueled by forestry-waste material generated by ... paper pulp, chip and saw timber – as well as urban wood waste. "
" ... using biomass ... will promote our energy independence, add diversity to our fuel supply and shield customers from anticipated increasing fossil-fuel prices. ... allow Gainesville to achieve its carbon-reduction goals, which are based on the Kyoto Protocol."
" ... plan to purchase energy that G2 Energy, ... generate from methane gas collected at the Marion County Baseline Landfill ... "
Via: Gainesville Regional Utilities LINK
Imaging a ZERO energy home. Sound realistic? GE thinks so !
GE's “Net Zero Energy Home” ..." ... combines GE’s most efficient appliances and lighting, GE’s new energy management systems, and GE power generating and storing technologies. ... together, the system will enable a homeowner to achieve net zero energy costs by 2015."
" ... the Home Energy Manager, the central nervous system for the Net Zero Energy Home. ... smart thermostats will also be introduced ... to work in tandem with the energy manager. ... plans to develop residential power generation products like solar PV and residential wind products that will also contribute to the net zero concept."
" ... respondents in the U.S. and ... in the U.K. say they are willing to pay an increased monthly rate for smart grid technology if there is a corresponding reduction in overall energy costs by 15 percent."
Via: GE LINK
I have this recollection from years ago that VW offering "Start - Stop" engines in the US. Basically the engine turned off at stop lights and fired back up when the accelerator was pushed. Automatic "Start - Stop" systems eliminate wasteful idling at lights and other stops.
Do you recall this in earlier VWs - from the mid 1980s?
In any case ... Ford is bring this technology to it's fleet over the next several years.
" ... start-stop systems ... shut down the engine to prevent idling ... in the US, only hybrids have that capability ... Barb Samardzich, VP of Global Powertrain engineering stated that over the next several years all Ford vehicles will get the auto-stop capability. Currently, only the Escape, Mariner, Fusion, and Milan hybrids have it here ..."
Via: autobloggreen LINK
A current trend in office space for smaller companies or those looking for a remote presence is to rent by the day. the HUB offers "GREEN Meeting and Event Centers" on an as needed basis.
" ... only privately-held LEED Silver Rated Meeting and Event Facility in the U.S. ...[LEED is] ... nationally accepted standard for certifying high-performance green interiors that are healthy, ... less costly to operate and maintain, and reduce environmental footprint ...achieved a LEED-CI Silver rating at its Cira Centre location ..."
There are many GREEN design elements incorporated including use of recycled materials, reduced water usage, brownfield redevelopment, and use of local materials.
"... The Hub is 100% wind powered, ... aggressively recycles ... discontinued the use of plastic water bottles in all of its facilities ... More than 15% of the new materials ... were recycled ... More than 20% of the materials ... are of local origin (manufactured within 500 miles of the location) ... constructed on a rehabilitated "brownfield" railyard ..."
Via: the HUb LINK
Coke designed and produced " ... "Drink2Wear" fashion apparel made from recycled plastic bottles ... T-shirts are made from a blend of recycled plastic bottles and cotton and feature playful slogans such as "Make Your Plastic Fantastic" and "Rehash Your Trash." ..."
" ... we expanded ... to include totes, loungewear and caps ... the designs and messages on the product, are intended to promote recycling and eco-friendly food and clothing. ... are reusing and diverting more than 5 million PET bottles from our waste stream."
Via: Coka Cola LINK
PSE&G, a New Jersey based utility, will double its current solar capacity with a program called "Solar 4 All."
Components of the program are (1) utility pole mounted solar cells and (2) roof top solar installations.
"... invest $515 million in 80 megawatts of solar projects ... creating green jobs ... expects to complete the installations by the end of 2013."
" ... installing a solar unit ... on 200,000 utility poles in PSE&G’s service territory ... the largest pole-attached solar installation in the world ... power ... sold into the PJM wholesale grid."
" ... effectively double the size of New Jersey’s installed solar capacity ... more solar capacity than ... any state other than California ..."
New Belgium Brewing is a green brewer ... read about some of their efforts and innovations in green brewing ... there are many many more on their web site.
Green building ... " ... using UV blocking windows, sun-tubes, and light shelves. .. evaporative coolers, we can condition our 55,000 square foot packaging hall with no compressors, using much less energy ... "
Green energy ... " ... methane produced by process water treatment is used to fuel a ... co-gen—which creates electricity and heat for the brewery. ... co-gen ... full-time, it can supply 15% of our electrical needs ... In 1999, New Belgium became the first wind-powered brewery ..."
Walk the Talk ... " .... members of 1% For The Planet ... through donations and fund-raisers, 1% of our revenue goes to environmental non-profits ... encourage sustainable transportation, every employee gets a custom cruiser bike after one-year of employment."
Zeba has developed an interesting product that can help conserve water. A white granule is mixed with the soil and it holds 500 x weight in water. When it rains it absorbs th
e extra water and releases it slowly over time. This lets farmers take advantage of rain by having more soaked up near the plant and released when needed - rather than run off into streams.
" ... superabsorbent polymer based on natural cornstarch, making it biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless. ... a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water for use by plants as needed.
" ... able to absorb more than 500 times their original weight. ... slowly releases just the right amount of encapsulated moisture in response to plant root suction. T... process is repeated hundreds of times over a growing season or more before Zeba loses effectiveness.
" ... cornstarch based material is biodegradazble"
Via: Zeba LINK
Scientists at the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory may have a new process to produce plastic from plant fibers (cellulose). ... convert glucose directly in high yields to a primary building block for fuel and polyesters," ... ... called HMF, which stands for hydroxymethylfurfural. It is a chemical derived from carbohydrates such as glucose and fructose and is viewed as a promising surrogate for petroleum-based chemicals."
Here is an interesting non turbine wind power generator. I saw the idea for this in the TerraPass Blog; another one of the Blogs I follow.
See the link below for a video with the details ... basically the vibrating film causes a magnet to move between coils ... which is effective in light breezes ...
" ... Shawn Frayne, a 28-year-old inventor ... saw the need for small-scale wind power to juice LED lamps and radios in the homes of the poor. ...took a new tack, ... Frayne's device, ... is a taut membrane fitted with a pair of magnets that oscillate between metal coils. Prototypes have generated 40 milliwatts in 10-mph slivers of wind, making his device 10 to 30 times as efficient as the best microturbines. ..."
Via: Popular Mechanics LINK
Yesterday I found packaged green peppers in what looked like a paper tray rather than #6 PS foam trays. The product is labeled 100 compostable and 100% biodegradab
le and is made by Biospherecorp.
Compostable and biodegradable beats PS foam! Made from starch that is used as it is and not converted to plastic first ...
" ...Biosphere® Industries joined forces with Sealed Air Corporation, ... as a joint venture partner to bring a new class of sustainable biodegradable packaging products to market. ... Renew-a-Pak® and Blueware™ product lines are ... ultra earth friendly starch based packaging systems. ... do not convert starch into plastic, but bake it, similar to the process of making bread, waffles or ice cream cones. ... manufacture rigid packaging products that perform unlike anything else on earth."
" ... made primarily of starches such as tapioca and potatoes and a smaller percentage of grass fibers making them not only biodegradable, but Earth friendly ... Custom engineered packaging shapes and sizes may be infused with signature colors and custom aromas."
" ... Renew-a-Pak's product line is readily naturally compostable and garbage disposal safe. ... biodegrade completely in 40 days outdoors ... or 10 days in a commercial compost environment while enjoying an indoor shelf life of many years ..."
Via: biosphereindustries LINK
You cannot manage what you cannot measure ... everyone is hearing about the increasing carbon / greenhouse emissions .. but just how big a number is it? How fast is it growing?
To get a real time view take a look at the 10 character - 70 foot "meter" in New York's Times Sq on the Deutsch Banks billboard.
" ...displays the amount of equivalent greenhouse gas emissions in terms of carbon in the atmosphere, and is constantly updated based on measurements from NASA, NOAA, and supporting research from MIT. ... the number is a reflection of all greenhouse gas emissions (methane, nitrous oxide, etc.) by their impact equivalencies in carbon. It even accounts for dips and rises in the amount of carbon in the atmosphere due to seasonal changes so not to appear to be slowing down certain times of the year.
"Before ... the information was only updated every five years. ... displaying the count in real time "allows people to begin to engage in the debate around the issue." ... the counter creates a sense of urgency, a call to action, and is intended to spur action to take the steps necessary in saving our planet."
Track the carbon count in real time on your PC ... download the Carbon Counter widget ... LINK
Via: SustainLane LINK
Fat Spaniel Technologies provides real time monitoring of your solar PV system. Read their case studies of Jay Leno's car garage and SF International Airport.
Track your actual generation / performance and see ... "... display total power generated by ... day, week, month, or year ... local irradiance, cell temperature, and ambient temperature ... avoided greenhouse gases (CO2, NOx and Sox) over the lifetime ..."
It can be used to proactively guide behavior changes ... " Generate Energy 
Savings Via Behavior Modification ..." ... Educate ... by publishing real-time and historical data ... Cut electricity usage up to 10% by changing habits of building occupants ..."
" ... Fat Spaniel provides ... an industrial-grade, Software-as-a-Service renewable energy plant management system that enables plant operators to: ... Manage renewable energy plants in real-time ... Communicate and interact with mobile personnel ... Generate revenue utilizing back-end services for regulatory agency reporting, renewable energy certificate (REC) registration, and environmental reporting"
Via: Fat Spaniel Technologies LINK
Zwahlen's is a local (Audubon PA) ice cream and chocolate establishment that just so happens to have the first commercial use of SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile Roof.
I was driving past the store last evening when my son told me about the sign on the front that said --- something along the lines "the best ice cream under the sun is now powered by the sun". I needed to check this out ...
" SRS Energy, ...installed ... the first building-integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) roofing product designed for curved roofing systems, ... the first commercial installation of the Sole Power Tile(TM) system ..."
"T...a great example of how time-tested traditions and cutting-edge technology can meet to create something beautiful," said Marty Low, CEO of SRS Energy and owner of Zwahlen's. "
" ... designed to blend seamlessly with several styles of US Tile's clay tiles, providing energy without the use of traditional solar panels that can compromise a building's roofline and curb appeal. ... preserves Zwahlen's charming Swiss chalet look."
"SRS Energy recently introduced the Sole Power Tile(TM) system to the greater Philadelphia region at the PV America show, held at the Pennsylvania Convention center during the week of June 7, 2009."
SRS Energy's Sole Power Tile can generate 500 Watts per sq ft.
Via: EarthTimes LINK
Via: SRS Energy LINK
Philadelphia is a city of row houses ... unfortunately many are in blighted condition and when they are town down the newly created "end units" are poorly insulated. Cleaning up the blighted homes causes the other homeowners to have basically little or no insulation on a large surface of their home.
"In the interest of creating local green jobs, the city hopes to find a local manufacturer." " ... product consists of layers of insulating foam (for thermal protection), high-density foam (to absorb impact), fabric (to prevent penetration of sharp objects), and a latex-stucco finish. ... produce it in 2-by-4-foot panels that will be affixed to a wall with a foaming adhesive."
" ... Philadelphia University's help was enlisted after the city determined that existing exterior-wrap products were too expensive and not sufficiently durable."
Via: Philadelphia University LINK
ComEd, a Exelon company has bought 50 Toyota Prius to add to
its already substantial GREEN fleet of cars and trucks.
" ...One of Nation's Largest Green Fleets ... save utility 6,500 gallons of gas in 2009, ... including 10 Priuses that have been specially converted into electric plug-in hybrids. ..."
" ... Compared to an average subcompact, the Prius hybrid and plug-in electric version consume about 30 and 65 percent less fuel, respectively. ... reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 60 metric tons."
" ... 63 percent of the ComEd fleet uses a fuel source other than 100 percent gasoline.... 1,774 trucks that use biodiesel fuel ...250 E85 flex-fuel vehicles ... 91 hybrid Ford Escape SUVs; one biodiesel-electric hybrid bucket truck; one liquid petroleum gas (LPG) bucket truck; and the 50 new Prius vehicles. ..."
Via: Exelon LINK
e-waste has been in the news a lot --- there are enormous quantities of electronics buried in landfills ... and more to follow as the US switches to all digital TV this week ... and the expected replacements of TVs follows ... and the junking of old TVs.
e-Recycling of California offers a better solution ... and unlike some of the horror stories you read of e-waste being handled unsafely .. they take the proper steps.
" ... turnkey electronic waste recycling capabilities throughout California from transportation, container options, logistics, administration, and labor."
" ... GUARANTEES THE SAFE DISMANTLEMENT OF ALL ELECTRONIC WASTE IN CALIFORNIA, NO WHOLE UNITS WILL BE SHIPPED OVERSEAS OR OUT-OF-STATE, DOES NOT USE OR PROMOTE THE USE OF PRISON LABOR , ... ACHIEVE AN OVER 90% DIVERSION RATE FROM OUR PROCESSING CAPABILITIES EXCEEDING THEIR AB939 DIVERSION OBLIGATIONS ..."
Via: e-Recycling LINK
John O'Hurley ... of Seinfield fame as J. Peterman ... has co-founded Energy-Inc. The Las Vegas, Nevada company has a variety of services and technologies for producing power from waste ...
>>> Their tagline is ... a profitable solution to a zero carbon footprint.
>>> Their message is Waste to Energy rather than waste to landfills.
They design, build and manage waste to power systems. Rather than paying to dispose of waste you can turn it into power ... Listen to the video for more ... and see how they plan to make landfills obsolete. They guarantee performance and up to 100% financing ...
Via:: Energy-Inc. Link
Wired Magazine has created their Smart Home .. which is Green + Wired. The design uses green materials and techniques along with tools to allow you to be GREEN with energy.
" ... high-design demonstration homes ... technologies we present aren't stuck in beta, but are available now. Trends driving the developments? Environmentally smart architecture, affordable automation systems, and real-time energy monitoring."
" ... use prefab construction ... automation systems we use are affordable, and upgradeable ... same access to energy data as the latest car dashboards, showing daily and weekly electricity and water consumption, as well as up-to-the-minute electricity pricing to help homeowners make smart decisions."
The Wired Home is open from March 19th, 2009 through January 3red, 2010. If you are in Chicago and want to tour the home ... CLICK FOR DETAILS.
Via: Wired Link
San Francisco has developed a mapping system that can show, by ZIP CODE, greenhouse gases and track it to the source ... I follows the time honored management maxim - you cannot manage what you cannot measure ... so they are using this to reduce overall GHG emissions ...
" ... Urban EcoMap. ... tracks ... carbon emissions by zip code, and even breaks down the information to the source of the greenhouse gases: transportation, energy use or waste. .. goal ... to reveal San Francisco residents' bad habits and lower the City's emissions back to 20% below their 1990 levels (as per the Kyoto Protocol). ... a great case study for local action providing a global impact. "
Via: WholeTravel blog LINK
Green living options are increasing in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. Manayunk is accessible to the R6 regional rail line to center city and is a very walkable village ...
Sheldon Crossing is a new Platinum LEED (to be certified) development ...
" ...16-unit carriage home development in Manayunk, PA, ... to meet and surpass green standards, which will earn us a LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design) Platinum level of certification. As we are redefining eco-conscious living, we have not lost sight of the importance of design. ..."
" ... less energy and resources consumed ... will result in significant savings for the homeowner as utility bills dwindle. ... Sheldon Crossing homes will use less energy, water, and natural resources. They create less waste, have less exposure to mold, mildew and other indoor toxins. ... features to highlight are PV solar panels, green roofs, Icynene insulation, high efficiency heaters, WaterSense plumbing fixtures, water purification, heat recovery ventilators, smart home technology, Energy Star appliances, windows and doors and much more. ..."
Via: SheldonCrossing LINK
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson has introduced legislation to produce energy from bio-waste. Nebraska has the potential to make great use of this given the large number of cattle in the state ...using what is today a waste products to generate power serves to reduce waste disposal costs, help keep water sources clean and reduce consumption of oil ... as animal waste is likely to be a renewable fuel source for t he near if not long term.
"... already have the technology to break down these wastes to create biogas but it needs encouragement from the federal government to become a commercially-viable alternative to natural gas. ... would benefit rural communities and the environment while lessening our dependence on fossil fuels ...We shouldn't waste the waste; we should promote biogas development."
" ... produced through technologies such as anaerobic digestion (AD) that can convert animal wastes and other agricultural or organic wastes into at least 50% methane (the principal ingredient of natural gas). Biogas can be used as is on the farm or co-located with another facility such as an ethanol plant, or as a renewable substitute for natural gas, propane or other fossil fuels. "
"... would encourage greater production of biogas for energy purposes by providing ... a tax credit of $4.27 for every million British thermal units (mmBtu) of biogas produced. This could mean more jobs and a boon for rural communities. ... offers environmental benefits such as a reduction in the greenhouse gas emissions of both carbon dioxide and methane and improved water quality through better manure management."
Via: BenNelson.senate.gov LINK
" ... evolved from over 30 years of environmental research conducted by the Center for Environmental Studies at Arizona State University (ASU).... conducts research, education, and problem-solving related to sustainability, with a special focus on urban environments. ... initiates and nurtures work on issues of sustainability across ... ASU, and collaborates with other academic institutions, governments, businesses and industries, and community groups locally, nationally, and globally."
"Greater Phoenix is one of the fastest-growing urban environments in the US, ... is a preeminent laboratory for solving problems that face urban areas ... strive to discover new knowledge and develop new solutions for our own region, we also provide models and solutions that can work in Los Angeles, New York, Dubai, and Beijing."
Via: Arizona State University LINK
.jpg "POTUS Oboma at Nellis with Solar Panels")
May 27th, 2009 - Nellis AFB - Nevada.
U.S. president Obama went to Nellis AFB to see " ... the nation's largest photovoltaic array and speak ... about the importance of alternative energy initiatives. ... highlighted Nellis' 14-megawatt solar project as a stellar example of environmental stewardship and innovative energy technology."
Facts about the Nellis system:
" ... completed in December of 2007, is America's largest solar photovoltaic array. ... will generate more than 30 million kilowatt-hours (kWh) of clean electricity annually and supply approximately 25% of the total power used at the base, ... covers 140 acres ... 33 acres of which are a capped landfill which has been reused for this "green" energy project. ... over 72,000 solar panels which track the sun to maximize the solar renewable energy we can receive. ... will reduce carbon emissions by 24,000 tons annually."
Via: WhiteHouse.gov Link
Via: Nellis Air Force Base Link
Continue reading "Nellis AFB Solar Array - 30 million kWh System" »
The U.S. Geothermal Energy Technology, Finance and Development Workshop will be held June 3rd, 2009 in Seattle, Washington.
Geothermal is becoming more popular as a renewable source of clean energy ... LINK
" ... U.S. Geothermal Energy Association is a trade association composed of U.S. companies who support the expanded use of geothermal energy and are developing geothermal Resources worldwide for electrical power generation and direct-heat uses."
" ... GEA advocates for public policies that will promote the development and utilization of geothermal Resources, provides a forum for the industry to discuss issues and problems, encourages research and development to improve geothermal technologies, presents industry views to governmental organizations, provides assistance for the export of geothermal goods and services, compiles "
Via: U.S. Geothermal Energy Association LINK
The western part of the US has a large geothermal potential ... as ween from the map below ... the red areas have temperatures of over 100 C. Nevada Geothermal Power is making the most of this potential ...basically energy free energy ... 
Read on for more >>>
" ... Nevada has over 16 power plants, with ...approximately 333 MW of geothermal power. ...Geothermal is not the future; geothermal is NOW!" 
Geothermall is / has " ... Clean, renewable electricity, Low or no emissions. Proven technology, No fuel required; energy cost not an issue, Low operating costs ..."
Via: Nevada Geothermal Power LINK
The Obama administration has announced significant fuel economy standards to be effective by 2016 and a single emissions standard country wide - rather than allowing some states - like California - to have their own emission standards.
Washington - DC - May 19th, 2009 -
" ... President Barack Obama outlined ... the nation's first comprehensive effort to curb vehicle emissions while cutting dependence on imported oil, ... will save 1.8 billion barrels of oil over the lifetime of the vehicles sold in the next five years. ..."
" ... new fuel and emission standards for cars and trucks will save billions of barrels of oil, they are expected to cost consumers an extra $1,300 per vehicle by the time the plan is complete in 2016. Obama said the fuel cost savings would offset the higher price of vehicles in three years."
" .... requiring ... carbon dioxide emissions be reduced by about one-third by the target date,... requires the auto industry to be building vehicles that average 35.5 miles per gallon."
" ... by 2016, with passenger cars reaching 39 mpg and light trucks hitting 30 mpg ..."
Via: Yahoo News Link
I first saw the Big Belly at the Green Expo in Philadelphia in April [LINK]. The benefits seemed compelling ... solar power allows siting away from power sources, ability to compact trash 5:1 and it can be outfitted with a wireless connection to signal when full so trash / recycling trucks bypass containers that do not need to be emptied.
This morning [May 18th, 2009)] I saw several being installed along Market St East in center City Philadelphia. Th.jpg "BigBelly - 8th and Market St, Center City Philadelphia")
is photo is of a container on the SE corner of 8th and Market.
"BigBelly is the world's only solar-powered cordless compaction system. ... Increased capacity reduces collection trips and can cut related fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. ... has proven successful in urban streets, parks, colleges, arenas - and in all weather conditions."
" ... can hold 150 gallons of trash, ... gets 100% of its energy from the sun and uses less than 5 watt hours/day ..."
Philadelphia is scheduled to get approx. 500 Big Bellies!
Via: BigBelly LINK
Starbucks is solidly behind the green 
movement ... from it LEED roasting facility to it "take the mug pledge". Some folks just want / need a "to go " cup ... and Starbucks is working to make that a greener cup.
Read on for more >>>
" ...environmental impact of our disposable ... cups is a big area of concern to our customers and we are committed to significantly reducing this impact by 2015. ... spent more than ten years looking for ways to decrease the environmental impact of our disposable cups ... In 2006 we launched the industry's first hot beverage paper cup with post-consumer re
cycled fiber. ... in 2008,... we rolled out a new plastic cup that has less of an environmental impact than our original plastic cups."
" ... a 10-cent discount in the U.S. and Canada to ... customers to use their own reusable mugs for their beverages. Customers staying in a store can also request that their beverages be served in a ceramic mug."
Via: Starbucks LINK
The former Strawbridge and Clothier flagship department store in Philadelphia is being remodeled in a green way. PA. REIT has posted window signs and made green dioramas in the store's street side display cases (most of the building has been closed for some time).
" ... bring together 16 state agencies in a former retail space, a 13-story historic building on Market Street, bringing renovations and modernizations throughout the space. ... the arrival of the state agencies will bring 750. employees to the Market East section of Center City, as the state consolidates agencies ... PREIT, which controls everything from the sub-basement to the sixth floor, will renovate vacant space to make room for retail on the first, second and third floors, while maintaining the historical aspects of the building and complying with LEED silver certification requirements."
Photos to follow ...
Via: Phila Biz Journal LINK
I noticed an improved packaging design while buying some sunscreen at my local Costco. The packaging was 
marked as 100 % recyclable and called EnviroShell ; made by Winterborne, Inc.
Basically there is a top and bottom cardboard layer with a cut-out in the top layer for the items ... these are protested by a #1 plastic inset ... the package is sandwiched together and is all secure ... but comes apart into cardboard and a recyclable plastic that most locals can recycled.
The packaging is secure / tamper resistant / proof, uses eco-freindly adhesives, has post consumer recycled content and is recyclable!
Via: EnviroShell LINK
eBay has many green aspects to its business model ... including the basic eBay design - helping people sell unneeded / unused stuff ...
They are also greening their campus by making the most of available sunlight, using a smart irrigation system, recycling / using recycled materials, using SOLAR and designing for and achieving LEED ... ...
" ... newest building, in San Jose, California, was designed and built to the ... (LEED) Gold standard."
" ... automatic dimming system detects the amount of natural light ... and adjusts the electric light accordingly, resulting in an estimated 39% energy savings.... Recycled materials are used throughout, including 95% recycled structural steel, 38% recycled carpet tiles and 100% recycled workstation fabric. ... smart irrigation system ... monitors weather conditions, including forecasts, dewpoint and relative humidity levels to determine the optimal and most efficient irrigation pattern."
" ... a 650 kW solar installation at our San Jose North location ... 3,248 panels cover more than a football field of roof space and will take up to 18% of our energy demand at that campus off the grid completely."
Via: ebay Link
Most potted plants come in #5 PP containers that are not very easy to recycle (few facilities) or in plastic that is not marked. Bonnie Plants offers plants in biodegradable containers so there is no plastic to throw away ... 
" ... Bonnie Plants ... introduced a new line of earth-friendly products this season under the "Going Greener for You" banner. ... is a company-wide effort toward environmentally friendly products. ...Included in the first phase ... are ... Exclusive biodegradable peat pots ... Jumbo biodegradeable fiber pots ... New recycling and reuse practices and facilities"
"Peat pots,... have already prevented more than 100 million pounds of plastic from ending up in landfills. ... are the country's largest wholesaler of vegetable and herb plants for home gardeners."
" ... recycling facility at our headquarters reuses and recycles supplies, tags, pots, and plant container trays."
Via: Bonnie Plants LINK
Preserve Products are recyclable, made with 100% recycled content and made in the US.
" ... products that offer more. ... perform
ance and style are every bit as important as their impact on the earth. ... make our products from 100% recycled materials, ... all of our products are designed to stay out of landfills when you are finished with them."
" ... products are powered by you and your recycling efforts. ... Preserve's Gimme 5 program, you can recycle your #5 plastics—a kind of plastic that many towns and cities won't recycle...."
" ... Preserve team is made up of 17 people and a host of talented interns who bike, walk, train, and drive (some in bio-diesel fueled cars) to our office outside of Boston i..."
Via: Preserve Produts LINK
Here is an interesting area for green technology ... many folks use water filters but these end up being thrown in
to the trash when spent - and represent an opportunity for recyclers. This is very much in line with the manufacturers and 3rd parties that "rebuild / recondition laser and ink jet print cartridges.
"... Take Back The Filter campaign is thrilled to announce that Brita and Preserve have teamed up to create a take-back recycling program for Brita pitcher filter cartridges ... beginning in January [2009], ... drop off filters at Whole Foods Markets or mail them in. Preserve, a U.S. company manufacturing household products from recycled plastic, will recycle 100% of the plastic casing. And the filter material will be regenerated or converted to energy."
"Contact your local Whole Foods Market and ask the store manager to join Preserve's Gimme 5 program. Each individual store can decide whether or not to participate in collecting #5 plastics, including Brita filters, ..."
Via: takebackthefilter.org LINK
I found what seems like an environmentally friendly packaging material at Whole Foods.s .. they use Bio-Plus
Earth packaging for take out foods ... made by Fold-Pak.
Read more about Fold-Pak Bio-Plus >>>>
" ... Fold-Pak... favorite packaging choice for environmentally conscious restaurants because our containers are made from paper ... Our paper comes from environmentally managed 
forests, using no old growth trees.
" ... our newest product offering, Bio-Plus Earth®. ... is made from 100% recycled paper; using a minimum of 35% post-consumer reclaimed paper. Bio-Plus Earth is endorsed by the Green Restaurant Association and carries the endorsement printed on the bottom of each container. "
Via: Fold-Pak LINK
I have been paying a lot more attention to the packaging in the consumer and other products I use ... recently I saw the Green Restaurant Association logo on a non prepackaged salad package from a local Whole Foods. Most of their plastic containers are #2, well marked and therefore recyclable.
Their non prepackaged containers previously were plastic clamshells (I recall) ... now they area recycled paperboard ...
Read on for more about the Green Restaurant Association >>?
" ...Green Restaurant Association℠ (GRA), a national non-profit organization, provides services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing. ... involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, grassroots organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. ... provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, ... to become more environmentally sustainable."
Check out Dinegrenstore for an idea of the available green materials ... in a wide array of product lines.
Via: dinegreen LINK
Comcast's HQ in Philadelphia is now LEED Gold certified ... and the tallest such building in the US.
Read on for more >>>
" ... received LEED Gold certification for the building's core and shell from the national organization. ... using 40 percent less water than a typical office building, with fixtures that save more than 3 million gallons of drinking water annually and waterless urinals in all restrooms that save 1.2 million gallons."
" ... a shaded plaza reduces the heat-island effect caused by pavement by 70 percent and ... low-E coating ... blocks 60 percent of heat while allowing in 70 percent of the sun's visible light, reducing energy used for air conditioning while using natural light to its fullest."
Via: Philadelphia Business Journal LINK
... "We do this not only to acknowledge the environment's central role in the development of our Nation but also to recognize the strong ecological interdependence among nations. History has shown that as we sow, so too shall we reap. Let us rededicate ourselves to a world that provides bountiful harvests for us all not just today, but for many generations to come. " ...Via The White House: Presidential Proclamation on Earth Day
What do you get when you take a Segway "scoote
r" and put a seat and "body" on it? GM and Segway are prototyping this concept to develop a P.U.M.A. - personal urban mobility and access device.
Read on for more ...
" ... Project P.U.M.A. (Personal Urban Mobility & Accessibility) prototype. ... working concept ... in collaboration with General Motors Corp. ..."
"... demonstrate a dramatically different approach to urban mobility ... Built off of the proven reliable and safe technology you find in Segway Personal Transporters (PTs), the prototype truly does expand upon the exhilarating riding experience…"
Via: Segway LINK
I was in Washington DC this past weekend and saw some small buses with the Smithsonian log on the side - promoting them as green hybrids. This prompted me to see what else our nations museum is up too in the green space.
Turns out quite a bit ... Read on for more >>>
" ... in 2008, 3.7 percent of our electricity came from renewable energy sources. ... reducing our carbon footprint [by]... 4.2 metric tons of greenhouse gases..."
" ... Smithsonian manages a fleet of ove