... "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. " ...Via IBM: Solutions Help Community Hospitals Reduce Operating Costs
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!" »
... "Several U.S. States are using recycling bins with embedded RFID chips. Bins are scanned and weighed right at the curb. An RFID enabled system, tallies credits for households that are above average for recycling. The system then issues recycle dollars that can be used at participating businesses for discounts. " ...Via AIM Global: RFID Technologies in Green Applications
... "What is needed, Mr. Sachs and others say, is the development of radically advanced low-carbon technologies, which they say will only come about with greatly increased spending by determined governments ... " ...Via New York Times: Shift
... "At the heart of the technology is a new process for extracting carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and making it available for fuel production using a new form of electrochemical separation. By integrating this electrochemical process with existing technology, researchers have developed a new, practical approach to producing fuels and organic chemicals that permits continued use of existing industrial and transportation infrastructure. Fuel production is driven by carbon-neutral power. " ...Via Los Alamos National Laboratory: Synthetic Fuel Concept to Steal CO2 From Air
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."
Some discussion points:
Via: GreenerGadgets.com Link
Continue reading "Greener Gadgets Conference in N.Y.C. Feb 1, 2008" »
... "Availability of these patents will encourage researchers, entrepreneurs and companies of all sizes in any industry to create, apply, and further develop their consumer or industrial products, processes, and services in a way that will help to protect and respect the environment. " ...Via IBM: Eco-Friendly Patents This video highlights innovative patents pledged by IBM. ...
Generally I am all for going green. So when I first saw this ... hmmm. But .... there is more to it than meets the eye.
Here is one idea that at first may not make a lot of sense ... but when you consider the life cycle (i.e. how many have a very short life and end up in the can == garbage!) of the average umbrella - it makes sense.
>>>> Read on for all the details ... it is more interesting than it first seems.
I am not so sure makes all that much sense. But I appluad the innovation! A biodegradable umbrella!
"... the "Melt umbrella" ... Under the "correct conditions," it will melt into the soil--or rather, into soil. ... made of garden film, and ... waxed cardboard and bamboo. "... Most umbrellas bite the dust when too many of those metal spines break. And then the whole thing--metal spines, plastic handle and all--gets thrown out. It'll almost certainly break before it would decompose, right? So maybe a biodegradable umbrella is actually a great idea..."
Via: GoodClenTech.com Link
Want to learn more about green building? Want to meet others who share this desire and learn what is new in the industry?
>>>> Then check out greenbuild in Chicago on Nov 7 - 9, 2007 in Chicago!
"... Come join 18,000 other people who agree that green building is a good idea and good for business at the Greenbuild International Conference and Expo. ... will take place in Chicago at the new McCormick Place West Building."
"At Greenbuild 2007 we'll explore "Accelerating Green Communities" with outstanding educational sessions, exciting speakers, special events and tours, and our largest exhibit hall ever."
" ... is an unparalleled opportunity to connect with peers, industry experts, and influential leaders as they share insights on the green building movement and its diverse specialties."
Via: greenbuild Link
Continue reading "Greenbuild Conference - Nov 7 - 9, 2007 in Chicago" »
Continue reading "Nanotechnology Role in GreenTech Discussed" »
... "The WHE is a self-starting, external combustion engine that operates in a low pressure, low temperature range. This feature allows the engine to run on waste heat emanating from an external source, such as the exhaust from an internal (or external) combustion engine, or the direct burning of biomass (i.e., processing garbage into methane is not required). The WHE is also designed to run efficiently on solar heat without the installation of costly photovoltaic panels. " ...
Oct 13, 2007: Al Gore Wins Nobel Peace Prize.
"OSLO, Norway (AP) - ... Al Gore and the U.N.'s climate change panel won the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize on Friday for spreading awareness of man-made climate change and laying the foundations for counteracting it."
"We face a true planetary emergency," Gore said. "The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity."
"... an advocate of stemming climate change and global warning well before his eight years as vice president, called the award meaningful because of his co-winner, calling the U.N.'s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change the "world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis."
"... plans to donate his half of the $1.5 million prize money to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan nonprofit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion worldwide about the urgency of solving the climate crisis."
Via: Katu.com Link
... "The organism, Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, known affectionately as Chlamy, has long fascinated scientists because it is an ancestor of plants and animals that retains characteristics of both. Like green plants, Chlamy (a type of green alga) uses photosynthesis to convert solar energy and carbon dioxide into biomass. " ...
"Wal-Mart ... [NYSE: WMT] ...will open ... [Jan. 18, 2007] in Kansas City, Mo. the first ...High-Efficiency stores that will use 20 percent less energy than a typical Supercenter. ... will help the retailer move one step closer to achieving its environmental goals, which include using less energy and producing less waste."
"In 2005, Mal-Wart opened two experimental stores in McKinney, Texas, and Aurora, Colo., to test several different environmentally friendly technologies, ranging from wind power to pervious pavement, from waterless urinals to light-emitting diodes. ... plans to open the next High-Efficiency store in Rockton, Ill., this spring."
"To achieve the 20 percent energy reduction ... the company will target two main energy-consuming units: the heating and air conditioning system (HVAC), and the refrigeration system. ... the new HVAC and more efficient refrigeration systems are fully integrated so that 100 percent of the heat rejected by the refrigeration system is reclaimed into the HVAC. The reclaimed heat is then converted into usable energy. By incorporating a loop-piping design, the ... system also reduces the amount of installed copper and the total refrigerant charge required."
"Other energy-saving technologies ... include the installation of ultra-efficient case fans, glass doors on medium temperature grocery cases, RollSeal® quick response doors to seal air in areas such as the Garden Center, and a top-of-the-line dehumidification system. ... a daylight harvesting system, which uses skylights to refract daylight throughout the store and light sensors ... During periods of higher natural daylight, the system then dims or turns off the store lights when they aren’t needed, ..."
"... also features GE’s energy-saving light-emitting diode (LED) refrigerated case lighting. LEDs have a longer life span than fluorescent bulbs, produce less heat and use significantly less energy than typical grocery case lighting. ... motion sensor-driven LED lights have been installed in all freezer and medium-temperature refrigerated cases. ... the lights in these cases automatically turn off, and quickly turn back on when a customer approaches."
"...is committed to selling products that sustain our resources and our environment. As part of this store’s grand opening events,...donation of 21,000 compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), Wal-Mart will aid the city’s campaign to distribute CFLs to low-income and senior citizen households in Kansas City, Mo. ..".
Via: Wal*Mart.com Link
The Taiwanese company "Evergreen" is building Green Cargo Ships. One major source of pollution takes place when cargo ships are docked at port - either loading or unloading. Read on how Evergreen solves this and other typical pollution sources from ocean going cargo ships.
>>>For details read on ...
Among the Green features ...
• "A double-skinned hull aimed at preventing accidents and oil spills. Oil tanks also are situated to minimize fuel spillage if there is an accident."
• "The ability to plug into “shore power” at ports, allowing the ship to turn off its generators while tied to a terminal. The Port of Los Angeles is the only port to require that ships shut down their diesel generators while in port. ...ships’ engines and generators also have the capability to use low-sulfur fuels while in port."
• "Large holding tanks that allow the ships to keep wastewater onboard until it can be properly disposed of at shore. Oily water separators help reduce the oil content in the wastewater."
• "Tin-free, anti-corrosive coating on the underwater hull. Older coatings contained tin, which can be harmful to marine life."
" ... ... technologies added $2 million to the cost of each ship ... said the green ships are worth the money."
“... our market is price-driven and highly competitive … we know most” of our customers “are also very aware of the environmental issues,” said Evergreen’s founder and Chairman Dr. Y.F. Chang. “We can assure them that Evergreen will provide first-class service (while) maintaining the highest environmental standards.”
Via: The New Tribune.com Link
EPA Conference this week focuses on the use of nano-materials in applications that prevent polluting. ...
... "EPA invites you to attend, Pollution Prevention through Nanotechnology,
September 25-26, 2007, in Arlington , VA -- a forum to exchange ideas and information on using nanotechnology to develop new ways to prevent pollution. " ...
Via EPA: 2007 Nano P2 Conference | Nanotechnology under TSCA
New Jersey's Clean Energy Conference,on September 27 - 28, 2007 will honor nominees that are saving energy and advancing the state of clean energy in New Jersey. The winner will be named at the conference.
Nominees include Home Builders, Colleges and Universities, and Vendors.
The annual conference is in it's 3rd year. " ...brings together ... leading energy professionals and businesses to learn, network, and discuss the issues shaping the energy market and the New Jersey energy market in particular."
" ... provides an excellent forum ... to learn more about the economics of renewable energy and energy efficient technologies and how to hedge against rising energy costs, to leverage the financial and environmental benefits of clean energy."
" .. Conference ... has been expanded to 2 days. New workshops and programs are being added ... A special Municipal track and evening networking session will be the focus of day 1. Day 2 will have new workshops and sessions and the luncheon presentation of the Clean Energy Leadership Awards. ... "
"... Special workshops include:"
Via: NewJerseyCleanEnergy.com Link
... "Rensselaer researchers infused this paper with aligned carbon nanotubes, which give the device its black color. The nanotubes act as electrodes and allow the storage devices to conduct electricity. The device, engineered to function as both a lithium-ion battery and a supercapacitor, can provide the long, steady power output comparable to a conventional battery, as well as a supercapacitor’s quick burst of high energy. The device can be rolled, twisted, folded, or cut into any number of shapes with no loss of mechanical integrity or efficiency. The paper batteries can also be stacked, like a ream of printer paper, to boost the total power output. " ...
Via Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute: Power in a Sheet of Paper
The amount of and type of packaging determines the quantity of material that ends of as trash vs. degradable / recyclable material.
Here is a company that is developing a wide variety of "earth friendly" packaging materials.
Read on for more ...
" ... EarthShell Corporation licenses and commercializes proprietary composite material technology for the manufacture of EarthShell Packaging ... including cups, plates, bowls, hinged-lid containers and sandwich wraps, ... Based on a unique composite technology that combines organics such as starch from potatoes and inorganic materials such as limestone, ... is designed to be high performing and cost-competitive compared to other food service packaging options."
" ... an alternative within the $25 billion market for paper and plastic disposables. ... business model is to license this unique technology to operating partners who will manufacture, market, sell and distribute - EarthShell Packaging products. ... is committed to protecting its unique technology and holds over 100 patents covering material composition, manufacturing processes and product designs to protect the EarthShell technology."
Vision, Mission and Values:
"To make EarthShell Packaging the preferred choice in disposable food service packaging."
A History of Commitment
" ... founders Essam Khashoggi and Simon Hodson were committed to finding environmentally preferable alternatives to ... packaging ... offered by traditional plastic or paper packaging. EarthShell was created from the beginning with a focus on sustainable development ... ".
Via: EarthShell Corporation Link
... "ChemNova adapts green chemistry principles and uses nanoscale approaches to develop innovative coating technologies and products. In the green chemistry paint formulations, ChemNova has developed and patented and is working to market a chrome-free single-step in-situ phosphatizing / silicating coating (ISPC) technology. The one-step coating process uses a chemical bond to enhance paint adhesion to metal surfaces and inhibit substrate corrosion. ChemNova focuses on the ISPC process, which eliminates the need for potentially toxic chromating baths and other high-waste procedures found in more traditional coating methods. " ...
Via Northern Illinois University: Spin-off
Steve Glenn (founder of PeopleLink Inc.) has built the first LEED Platinum certified residential house in the US. It offers many unique features - though the house was not inexpensive. 
"... house is the prototype for LivingHomes. ... sells prefabricated houses with this design by architect Ray Kappe, for about $250 per square foot (not including land, site development, or transportation). ... green features add about 20% to the base cost of the home and generate about $1,500 in savings per year. (disclaimer: these are all estimates, but if you take these figures seriously, there is no breakeven on a 30 year mortgage...but this calculation comes with a load of assumptions.)"
Among the features and approx costs:
To see a slide show follow the Link to a BusinessWeek site.
To see a video of the the home being build follow the Link to www.livinghomes.us
Via: BusinessWeek Sept. 11, 2006 Link
... "I believe we need to make a virtue out of investing in clean technology andrenewable energy and not be ashamed to want to make profits out of it, Sir Richard told the Saab website. For too long, environmentally-friendly technology and issues about the environment have been seen as a corporate social responsibility issue and not an opportunity to create new wealth in the future. " ...
Via Saab BioPower: Saab BioPower and Sir Richard Branson
Clean Green! Sounds great. But ...
>>> How do I do it? What is involved?
Here are some ideas:
* use the least toxic cleaner that will do the job or IDEALLY a non toxic one
* use all materials if possible rather than throw away
* check the label to determine how to dispose of unused material
* use towels rather than paper towels (waste issue to be balanced against germs ...)
* if buying paper towels buy those made from post consumer recycled paper
* look to green or non toxic cleaning materials
CO2 Action Tip Via: WholeFoodsMarket.com Link
... "The New England Energy Innovation Collaborative (NEEIC), one of the conference's platinum sponsors, announced that StarSolar Corp, an MIT-led team commercializing a technology that increases the efficiencies of photovoltaic cells, won its $150,000 Energy Business Creation Competition. " ...
Via MIT: MIT Energy 2.0
Geo-Processors USA has developed a Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology, that it piloted in Australia. The technology supports the efficient capture of CO2 from point-sources and converts it to mineral byproducts for industrial use or recycling. Industries, such as oil and gas, mining, coal-fired utilities produce large volumes of bicarbonate-rich water, which increases their operational costs. Geo-Processors Pty Limited is a private greentech company headquartered in Sydney, Australia. ...
... "A typical CCPR system commences first with treatment of the alkaline produced water in Geo-Processors’ proprietary SAL-PROC technology using cheap lime - or dolime - to generate a caustic spent water and a useful byproduct. The caustic spent water is brought into contact with CO2 of ambient air (or from a point-source) and then reacted again with lime to regenerate calcium carbonate and an alkaline water which is suitable for the next round of CO2 capture. This system is a closed-loop system because beyond the first reaction step a steady-state chemical situation is set up, thus enabling the repetition of the CO2 Capture-calcium carbonate precipitate cycle. Depending on the scale and number of cycles applied in each case, the spent water from the last reaction step can be either treated in the SAL-PROC process to recover other valuable byproducts or converted to dry salt for landfill disposal. The byproducts recovery steps may include production and recycling of calcium oxide. The co-generated high-grade CO2 gas from the calcining step may be partly used in the process for production of a high-value mineral product and the unused portion sold for other industrial applications or sequestrated. " ...
Via GeoProcessors: Geo-Processors Breakthrough in Carbon Capture and Storage Technology ...
footprint. This was a carbon neutral event. ... ... "With guidance