Green Technology

 Element is a new hotel chain from Westin - owned by Starwood.  Element takes into account the 3Rs .... Reduce, Reuse and Recycle.  For those who would like to continue being GREEN when they travel this might be the way to go.

Read on for more >>>

" ...  being kind to the environment. All ... guest room ...  kitchen appliances are Energy Star rated. ...use as many recycled materials as possible in design and construction."

" ... incorporates eco-friendly materials wherever possible. ... carpets with up to 100% recycled content and recycled carpet cushions. Art ... is mounted on a base made from recycled tires. And low VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints improve indoor air quality ..."

" ... silverware and glassware to reduce waste generated by plastic utensils and paper cups. Bath amenities are in a dispenser system rather than wasteful multiple mini-bottles. ... guest rooms include recycling bins for paper, plastic and glass."

The first locations are:  Lexington, MA, (summner 2008), element Summerlin (Las Vegas, NV);
element Houston Vintage Park (Houston, TX), and element Arundel Mills (Baltimore, MD)

Via:  Element by Westin  Link

Continue reading "Element by Westin - New Eco Friendly Hotel Chain" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:11 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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... "Power management software not only reduces energy costs and helps eliminate IT energy waste, but empowers companies to achieve environmental sustainability faster and in a measurable, sustainable way. Equally important, SURVEYOR reduces energy consumption by an average of 200 KWH per PC annually, equal to a 30 percent reduction in network energy use. In an organization with 10,000 PCs, SURVEYOR results in a carbon dioxide savings equal to taking 220 mid-sized cars off the road for an entire year. " ...

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... "As an additional benefit to the community, the highly reliable IBM BladeCenter Servers offer a proven open, easy and green technology that demands less energy and is easier and less costly to cool than other alternatives. " ...

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... "This program enables clients to measure their energy usage while earning energy efficiency certificates for reducing the energy used to run their data centers. The certificates earned -- based on energy use reduction verified by a certified third-party -- provide a way for businesses to attain a certified measurement of their energy use reduction, a key, emerging business metric. The certificates can be traded for cash on the growing energy efficiency certificate market or otherwise retained to demonstrate reductions in energy use and associated CO2 emissions. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 04:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Nokia has an intersting "concept" phone that incorporates some green thinking ...

Read on for more >>>

" ... two parts – a wearable sensor unit which can sense and analyze your environment, health, and local weather conditions, and a dedicated mobile phone. "

"... sensor ... made from solar cells that provide power to the sensors. ..."

" ...phone and the sensor unit will be as compact as possible to minimize material use, and those materials used in the design will be renewable and/or reclaimed. Technologies used inside the phone and sensor unit will also help save energy."

Via:  Nokia   Link

Continue reading "Nokia Eco Sensor Concept Phone -- Looking Green!" »

Posted by Green Dude at 05:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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The newly opened ACME in Concordville, PA is GREEN. 

How GREEN?  Very Green !!

Read on for more >>>>

" ... What makes this supermarket so special? LEED registration and hopefully soon - certification!"

... Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ... promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality."..."

The complete listing of all the GREEN work / thought / materials / concepts that went into this building go on and on but here are some of the items ...

Via:   Dever Architects   Link

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Radnor Township (Delaware Country, Pa) recently opened their new Middle School.  It was designed from the ground up to be environmentally friendly as well as to provide a healthy environment for the students and staff.

Some of the energy saving features include: " ... Geothermal heating and cooling, ...'green roof' with plants that absorb storm-water, keep the building cool, and give off oxygen, Waterless urinals and motion-activated sinks, Motion sensors that adjust / turn off classroom lights reducing electrical load..."

" ... is the only green-roof school in Delaware County [PA]  ... . is eligible to receive LEED certification from the U.S. Green Building Council ..."

Via:  PhiladelphiaSustainabilityAwards.com   Link

Continue reading "Radnor (Delaware County, PA) Schools Go Green" »

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... "An Intelligent Utility Network is a digital, open standards-based network of sensors, metering, communications, computer processors, and analytics which connects an entire utility company - from power plant to plug. These connected systems provide a utility with near real-time data and information to better manage the grid infrastructure, enabling fewer and shorter power outages, improved customer service, and the ability to source and deliver power more efficiently, including renewable energy. Country Energy is pursuing the Intelligent Network concept to improve reliability, support the growth of renewables like solar and wind, and make energy efficiency simpler for customers. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Fortune's "Brainstorm Green" is an invitation only event on April 21 - 22, 2008  in Pasadena, California. 

Set to occur during Earth Day, 2008 (April 22) the event brings " ... environmentally-minded business leaders and the green movement's brightest thinkers ..." together for "... for FORTUNE's first-ever Brainstorm: GREEN Conference."

" ... will be an unprecedented gathering of business and environmental leaders, as executives, academics, politicians and NGOs join to discuss the impact of the green movement and explore the opportunities and challenges facing FORTUNE 500 companies, entrepreneurs, government, and the financial world."

Continue reading "Fortune Brainstorm Green - April 21-22, 2008" »

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"... a whole-home solution that benefits the environment and your wallet. Designed to lower overall household energy consumption, emissions and indoor water consumption,... combines building science with high performance products ..."

Source: GE Consumer & Industrial

Via:  GE ecomagination Homebuilder Program  Link 

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... "As kika/Leiner expands throughout central Europe and the Middle East, their need for information technology (IT) services has increased considerably. To meet this demand, the market-leading furniture retailer in Austria turned to IBM to design an energy efficient data center using new green technologies that are part of IBM's Project Big Green. The new data center is planned to begin operation in May. As kika/Leiner expands throughout central Europe and the Middle East, their need for information technology (IT) services has increased considerably. To meet this demand, the market-leading furniture retailer in Austria turned to IBM to design an energy efficient data center using new 'green' technologies that are part of IBM's Project Big Green. The new data center is planned to begin operation in May. " ...

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New Flyer manufactures both standard and hybrid buses.  They have delivered many to Philadelphia's SEPTA transit authority.

New Flyer " ... the industry leader in bringing new technology to the market ...  offer a complete range of hybrid-electric bus solutions ...".

"New Flyer hybrid buses have been on the road since 1997, longer than any other manufacturer in the US or Canada. ... have accumulated over 12 million service miles – more than all other manufacturers combined. ..."

Hybrid Bus Benefits Include ...  

"Increased fuel economy"
"Reduced emissions"

Via:  New Flyer Link 

Continue reading "Hybrid Bus Manfacturer" »

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... "One third of consumers claim they already changed their driving behavior when gas prices reached $3 a gallon by cutting back on driving and maintaining their vehicle better, according to the survey. But when gas prices hit $4 a gallon, more than 65 percent of American drivers will change their driving behavior. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 07:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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" ... toward the goal of creating a building that functions like a home and serves as a laboratory ... will provide an exemplary model and testing environment of an improved approach to home life while specifically improving the lives of the individuals inhabiting the house."

The sSmart House will focus research on 5 Areas:

• "Environment ... decrease the environmental footprint ...implement sustainable and environmentally friendly products"
• "Energy ... investigate alternative energy sources, such as solar and geothermal, ... ultimate goal is to generate all energy on site.
  
• "Interaction ... addressing the way in which people interact with technology ... to create an intelligent and aware living environment. "
• "Health ... Indoor air quality ... will be incorporated into the Smart House. "
• "Lifestyle ... increase the efficiency of our day-to-day living. ... more efficient living and work spaces..."

Via:  Drexel University SmartHouse  Link

Continue reading "Drexel University Smart Home" »

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... "At a Climate Savers summit held this week in Tokyo, HP officials pledged to reduce emissions from operations and the use of its products by six million tons below 2005 levels by 2010. In addition, the company committed to reduce energy consumption by 15 percent in its operations from 2005 levels, while achieving a 25 percent reduction in the energy used by its products and operations combined below 2005 levels by 2010. " ...

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... "This year’s teams have been selected from universities in the United States, Canada, and Germany and each team will receive $100,000 from DOE to uniquely design, build and operate an energy efficient, fully solar-powered home for this unique competition. Each home will utilize energy efficient technology and demonstrate that homes powered entirely by the sun do not have to sacrifice all the modern comforts and aesthetics Americans are accustomed to. The Department's Solar Decathlon complements the President's Solar America Initiative, which seeks to make solar power cost-competitive with conventional forms of electricity by 2015. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 06:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Your cars fuel injectors or carburetors can get gummed up so it is not hard to imagine the same happening to airplane engines.  Dirt can degrade fuel economy. 

Problem is ... planes only make money when they are is service and there are no "plane washes" at the airport.

Pratt & Whitney has developed a closed loop, on-wing engine cleaning system that can boost economy by up to 1%.  While not a large number it translates to saving big bucks as the price of Jet Fuel keeps rising.  The process is called "EcoWash"

Read on for more >>>

" ... "washing" is meant the use of water and, in some cases, detergents, flowed through the engine to clean the turbine blades and the core.  ... carbon buildup is minimized and operating efficiency is maximized. ... applied to the interior components to ensure economical operation  ..."

" ...Pratt & Whitney, ... has developed a means of conducting these engine washes while the engine is "on the wing,"... is superior in terms of cleaning efficiency, environmentally friendly  ...and it can be done in a fraction of the time taken for traditional engine washes."

" ... EcoPower ... can wash engines in as little as one quarter the time (roughly 60-90 minutes), and the water used is between 16-42 gallons (60-160 liters), ..."

Via:  Aviation Maintenance Magazine   Link

Continue reading "Cleaning Airplane Engines Improves MPG" »

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Several complaints about compact fluorescent bulbs is that:

- they contain mercury
- they do not fit in the same space as an incandescent bulb

Philips has solved these problems with their ALTO bulbs. 

Read on for more >>>

" ... Philips Energy Savers ... don't just provide the light of your standard light bulb, they also have the same classic shape. ..."

These bulbs are better for the environment because they use less wattage for similar light, can last years longer than incandescent bulbs as there is no filament to burn out and have less mercury than other CFB. 

Mercury is a highly toxic material that can pollute air and water and improper disposal of CFB can lead to pollution (though probably off set by the pollution of less fossil fuels ... ?)

Via:  Philips Lighting - Link

Continue reading "Philips ALTO Bulbs" »

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Toyota indicates that "... there’s still considerable battery development work to be done ... [in] the prototype HV models the additional MiMH capacity is gained by installing a second battery pack in the trunk area, ... Toyota is testing the Plug-in HV in Japan and is the first manufacturer to have a PHEV certified for use on public roads."

Continue reading "Toyota Prius Plug In Hybrid" »

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New York City is hosting the Greener Gadget Conference on Feb 1, 2008.  The one day event details:
 

10am - 6pm
McGraw-Hill Conference Center
1221 Avenue of the Americas
New York City, NY

"... industry leaders, entrepreneurs, [and others] ... will gather to discuss the business case for the greening of the consumer electronics industry. ... featuring ...  consumer electronics companies ..., innovators from academic thinktanks, members of startups ... and some of the leading minds in the word of sustainable design and business. Topics to be addressed include: design for sustainability, product life cycle management, take-back and recycling programs, energy efficiency, greener materials, and green lifestyle and product marketing. An attached gallery space will feature a green prototype office display and technology exhibits from companies on the cutting edge of green tech."

" ... will showcase revolutionary design and tech innovations that will shape the future of the consumer electronics and change your world... for the better."

• "Environmental initiatives from leading consumer electronics companies, such as take-back and recycling programs"
• "New environmentally sensitive materials, product lifecycle and design for sustainability"
• "Innovations in renewable energy technologies, such as fuel cells, kinetic energy, wind and solar power"

Via:  GreenerGadgets.com  Link

Continue reading "Greener Gadgets Conference in N.Y.C. Feb 1, 2008" »

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China is manufacturing a mini car called the Nobel and plans to sell it in Europe.  This tiny car has an intersting history including claims that is is copied from Mercedes-Benz's SMART car.   See photos left (Nobel) and below right (M-B SMART).

The car is made by the Chinese maker Shuanghuan. 

"The EU importer of the Xiao Gui Zu ... known as the Little Nobel, and now simply ‘Bubble’, ...has put the super mini car on the market in the EU." 

"... The 1.1l, 68bhp motor is going on sale in Italy for just 9,000 Euros."

Via: China Car Times Link

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Some schools are already green.  Others are just getting started.  Many need help with a structured program to guide them. 

Green Flag promotes 4 key areas:

-- Indoor Air Quality - looking at mold, irritants, etc
-- Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, - pretty self explanatory
-- Non Toxic Products - cleaning products and others
-- Integrated Pest Management - for grounds and indoors
 

"Schools across the nation are using the Green Flag School Program to make their schools healthier places to work and learn. ... Achieve recognition for ... your school already does, and improve your program with the support of teachers and field experts across the country. ... check out the Green Flag School Program today!"

Via:  Green Flag Program  Link 

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... "ICF is one of many new construction techniques that builders, architects and engineers are learning about as they adapt their methods to meet the increasing demand for sustainable building practices in the Gallatin Valley. " ...

Continue reading "ICF Energy Efficient Construction Technique" »

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... "While not as flashy as the concept cars, technologies such as Ford's EcoBoost engine offer notable fuel economy improvements with near-term, high-volume potential. " ...

Continue reading "Ford EcoBoost Fuel Economy Improvement" »

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Antarctica is probably one of the last pure pristine place on earth.  It is also home to the Belgian research station Princess Elizabeth, in Utsteinen, Antarctica. 

Can the two exist in harmony?  Can a research station be GREEN?

Read on for more >>>

"... will use only 20% of the energy used by a comparable station. Heating will be done via a mixture of passive and active systems, including a heat recovery system ..."

Via: Inhabitat  Link

Continue reading "Zero Emision Research Station" »

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... "The Peoples Car has a rear-wheel drive, all-aluminium, two-cylinder, 623cc, 33 PS, multi point fuel injection petrol engine. This is the first time that a two-cylinder gasoline engine is being used in a car with single balancer shaft. The lean design strategy has helped minimise weight, which helps maximise performance per unit of energy consumed and delivers high fuel efficiency. Performance is controlled by a specially designed electronic engine management system. The Peoples Cars tailpipe emission performance exceeds regulatory requirements. In terms of overall pollutants, it has a lower pollution level than two-wheelers being manufactured in India today. The high fuel efficiency also ensures that the car has low carbon dioxide emissions, thereby providing the twin benefits of an affordable transportation solution with a low carbon footprint. " ...

Continue reading "Tata Nano PeopleCar Fuel-Efficient Environment-Friendly" »

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