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" »

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Want to help reduce waste and get recognition for it?  California's WRAP program rewards businesses with the right to use the WRAP logo on products and advertising. 

Read on for more info: 

" ... Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP) ... administered by the California Integrated Waste Management Board. ... an opportunity for California businesses to gain public recognition for their outstanding waste reduction efforts and lets the community know your business takes waste reduction seriously. ... also provides businesses with examples of successful waste reduction techniques, which they may adopt as their own."

" ... businesses ... with California facilities are encouraged to apply for an annual WRAP award. ... Award winners receive authorization to use the WRAP winner logo with their products, advertising, and business websites to publicize waste reduction efforts."

Via: WRAP - California Integrated Waste Mgt Board Link

Continue reading "California's Waste Reduction Awards Program (WRAP)" »

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Junk Mail seems to be an inevitable part of life; but it does not have to be.  Here is a possible solution that helps you and the environment.

Read on for more ... 41pounds.org is named after the approx. 41 pounds of "junk" mail received annually by each adult in the US.

Did  you know that ".... average adult receives 41 pounds of junk mail each year. ... stops 80-95% of unwanted catalogs and junk mail for you. We’ll contact dozens of companies on your behalf to STOP YOUR JUNK MAIL and PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT."

" ...  Junk mail wastes an incredible amount of natural resources and contributes to global warming. Our nonprofit service covers your entire household for five years, " 

" ... donate more than 1/3 of your fee to the environmental or community organization of your choice: EcoMom Alliance, StopGlobalWarming.org, Sierra Business Council, The Ocean Project and others. "

Via:  41pounds.org   Link

Continue reading "41pounds.org - Reduce Junk Mail!" »

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Wondering how to recycle that old cell phone so it does not go into a landfill??

Wonder no more .. Nokia to the rescue!  Fill in the on line Web form and Nokia will send a postage paid mailing label for your old phone.

"Nokia is committed to the environment. ...Be gentle on the environment and let Nokia recycle it in a way that conserves our natural resources at no charge to you. Recycle your old phone today."

See site for more details ... 

Via:   Nokia  Link

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Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.  Plastic bottles are already recyclable (#2 type).  Now companies are looking at the amount of plastic per bottle.

Now Pepsico (owner of Pepsi Cola) has announced that they are " ...  introducing its lightest 500mL flavored non-carbonated beverage bottle yet.  ... has reduced the plastic in this bottle by 20%, which will eliminate approximately 20 million pounds of waste ... The lighter bottles will begin hitting store shelves this month."

" ... In addition to a 20% reduction in the plastic resin, there will be a 10% reduction in the label size and a 5% reduction in the shrink wrap film used to wrap the multi-packs."

“ ... challenge was to deliver significantly lighter packaging that would provide the same shelf life as the heavier bottle, withstand the manufacturing and distribution process yet not compromise aesthetics,” ..."

Via:  Pepsico.com   Link

Continue reading "Pepsi to use Less Plastic in Bottles" »

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How do you recycle old subway cars?  Many have already been re purposed into artificial reefs off the coasts of NY and NY.

NY City's MTA  " ... made more than 1,200 “retired “Red Bird” subway cars available to Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, Delaware and New Jersey.  [for] a new purpose-- to help form artificial reefs and become habitats for marine life. After we stripped the subway cars of components that float (oils, solids, etc.) and decompose, NYC Transit steam cleaned the cars, which were loaded on barges and “buried” at sea."

Via:  NYC MTA    Link

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One of the initatives of IBM's Project Big Green is to look for ways to resuce its' own energy needs and those of its clients.

"GIB-Services today announced a new energy efficient "green" data center ... will offer a first-of-its-kind energy model where a direct heat exchange will take place between the data center and a public swimming pool in the town."

"Located in Uitikon, Switzerland, ... is expected to create 2,800 MWh of wasted heat per year ... at full capacity -- the same amount of energy needed to supply up to 80 houses with heating and warm water for one year...."

"... Through reclaiming the heat, approximately 130 tons of carbon emissions can be saved. This corresponds to the carbon dioxide discharge of mid-size cars driving 500,000 miles."

Via:  IBM  Link

Continue reading "Excess Data Center Heat Heats Pool" »

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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!" »

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RecycleBank helps communites increase participation in their recycling programs via incentives.  The incentives take the form of awards that can be used at participaing local stores.
 

"Cherry Hill [NJ] was looking for a cost-effective way to reduce waste and curb rising landfill fees, and double ... its existing recycling program. By offering a reward-based initiative and streamlining recycling efforts, RecycleBank makes it easy for citizens to participate in the program. "


"... RecycleBank ... provides communities with a cost-effective and environmentally conscious solution to the rising cost of waste collection."

"RecycleBank ... [provides] ... tools to quickly and easily measure the amount of material each home recycles. ... then converted into RecycleBank reward dollars that can be used with hundreds of local and national reward partners. ..."

Via:  Recycle Bank   Link

Via:  Cherry Hill, NJ  Link

Continue reading "Recycle Bank and Cherry Hill, NJ: Increasing Recycling Rates" »

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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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Freecycle is a group that uses the network of its members to keep "stuff" out of landfills .. by making "stuff" available at no cost to its members. 

Think Recycle for Free.

"Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community."

To join a Freecycle group or look for one near you ... Link.

Via:  Freecycle.com   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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Happy Earth Day from Greentechnolog!

Earth Day stared in 1970  (did you know that?). 

There is no one official Earth Day as it is a movement without an official HQ.  For more on the origins of Earth Day ... Link

Please do something GREEN today ... For ideas LINK

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Friends Select, an independent Quaker school in center city Philadelphia, Pa, is constructing a thermal energy system,.

Drilling holes " ... 1,500 feet below the sidewalk ... in search of energy savings."

" ... will use the ambient temperature of the ground, about 50 degrees, to heat and cool the Quaker-run office complex."

" ... costing $1.3 million, ... will help eliminate the center's emissions of greenhouse gases and cut its energy costs by an estimated 46 percent. The payback period: six to eight years."

Via:  www.philly.com   Link

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ebags, and online retailer of bags and travel gear ... offers a line of eco-friendly bags ... including recycled, repurposed and sustainable products.

"Many designers and bag brands have recognized their effect on the environment. As a result, they’ve created products using earth-friendly manufacturing processes and properties while maintaining design, form and function."

Via:  ebags.com  Link 

Continue reading "Eco Friendly Briefcases and Backpacks" »

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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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Earth Day is coming - Sat Arpil 19th, 2008. 

>>> Read on for more ...

" .... 1-800-GOT-JUNK? invites you to get rid of electronic waste the green way ...  will be out in numerous communities across North America offering free e-waste collection.* ... will properly collect and recycle thousands of pounds of e-waste on this one day. ..."

"*In some cities a nominal surcharge will be added for each electronic disposed."

See WebSite for locators by State ...

Via:  1-800-GOT-JUNK   Link

Continue reading "1-800-GOT-JUNK to host free Earth Day E-Waste Day" »

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" ... Japan will urge citizens to carry their own chopsticks ... and go shopping with their own bags instead of using plastic ones, in a bid to more than halve the garbage it produces."

"Japan aims to reduce the total amount of garbage — produced by both industries and individuals — by 60 percent of the fiscal 2000 level to 25.3 million tons by fiscal 2015 under the plan posted on the ministry's Web site." 

Via: Time.Com  Link 

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"PHILADELPHIA (March 24, 2008) – ... ARAMARK today announced a variety of environmentally-friendly practices that it will incorporate into its operations at Major League Baseball stadiums."

"... ARAMARK is working c... to enhance existing in-stadium environmental efforts as well as implement new programs to reduce environmental impact.  ..."

“...Our environmental strategy provides us with an opportunity to reduce our carbon footprint, while continuing to deliver exceptional ballpark services and menus for our baseball partners and fans.”"

Ball Parks included are:

Citizens Bank Park,
Coors Field'
Fenway Park,
McAfee Coliseum,
Minute Maid Park,
Oriole Park at Camden Yards'
PNC Park. 

Waste reduction / carbon footprint reduction efforts include " Recycling glass, plastic and cardboard generated from game day preparation, bio-degradable service ware and cups and napkins made from 100% post consumer fiber, Recycling frying oil to be used as bio-diesel fuel."

Via:  Aramark   Link

Continue reading "Aramark Brings Recycling to Ball Parks" »

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Microsoft " ... created the new position of chief environmental strategist ... Rob Bernard, to fill it. Here's his mission, as described in an e-mail from a company spokesman:

"... to assess the company's environmental impact and opportunities at all levels, ... to minimize their impact on the environment, assuring responsible business practices that work to reduce the company's direct and indirect environmental impact, and working ... on global environmental issues."

Via:  SeattlePi.com   Link

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We all have heard the phrase "one man's junk is another's ...". 

One way to "recycle" is to reuse and one way to reuse is to swap your stuff rather than throw it in the landfill.

The Chester County (PA) Refuse Authority has an online swap page where people can list stuff they are willing to part with ... and what they will take in return ...

" ... seccra-swap.com - the online place where people meet to get rid of their things of value.... Help one another to recycle and save precious space in our landfill. The environment thanks you. Don't throw it away, give it away!"

Via:  SECCRA Link

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Not all recyclers take old phone books.

Know why ???

" ... fibers used to make the books’ lightweight pages are too short to be reformulated into new paper. ... mixing old phonebooks in with other waste paper can even contaminate the batch, hindering the recyclability of the other paper fibers."

" ... phonebook papers are 100 percent recyclable and are used primarily to ... make new phonebooks! ... Old phonebooks are also sometimes recycled into insulation materials, ceiling tiles and roofing surfaces, as well as paper towels, grocery bags, cereal boxes and office papers."

>>>>>  To find out where to recycle your phone book, click the link and enter phone books and you ZIP, or city:  Link 

Here's some ideas ...  " ... pages make excellent fire starters in a wood-burning fireplace or outdoor fire pit. Balled up or shredded phonebook pages also make nice packaging filler in place of problematic polystyrene “peanuts.”"

" ...can also be shredded and used as mulch to keep weeds down in your garden. The paper is biodegradable and will eventually return back to the soil. ..."

Via:  About.Com  Link

Continue reading "Recycling Phonebooks" »

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Everyone gets Junk Mail and most people do not like it ... most of it goes straight to the trash - unopened.  Want to get less .. Here's one way ...

" ... Southeastern Chester County Refuse Authority (SECCRA),... announce[s] the availability of a "Junk Mail Reduction Kit" for the residents of its service area. ..."

" ... the average person receives approximately 70-90 pounds of unsolicited junk mail annually. ..."

" ... "Junk Mail Reduction Kit" ... includes tear-off postcards ... to take their names off the mailing lists of the nation's four largest direct mail advertisers. It also provides the toll-free phone numbers to stop five of the biggest data-compiling companies from selling their names and addresses to marketers."

Via: SECCRA Link 

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Everyone, I hope, knows that plastic bottles labeled #1 or #2 can be recycled.  Some even know that these plastic bottles can be recycled ... into fibers that make clothes!

Today it's holding your drink - tomorrow it's holding in your body heat!  

"EcoSpun is a high-quality polyester fiber ... developed by the U.S. company Wellman Inc.  Many different fabrics are made using EcoSpun, including fleece fabrics ...One would never guess the source of the fiber - recycled plastic pop bottles!"

" ... can also be blended with other fibers, such as wool, cotton and tencel,... EcoSpun is used mostly for vests, jackets, pants, blanket throws and accessories...."

The outdoor gear maker Patagonia is one company that uses recycled plastic bottles to make their clothes.

Via:  eartheasy.com   Link

Continue reading "Recycling Plastic Bottles into Clothing Fibers" »

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Used tires can be an eyesore and even a fire hazard (recall the incident of an illegal tire dump catching fire under I-95 in Philadelphia in March 1996).

The can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes due to the stagnant water they hold.

Here is an innovative solution. 
>>> Lehigh Technologies has developed a method of cryogenic grinding tires that results in a fine powder that can then be used as a component for a variety of products ... and imparting some of rubbers properties  (elasticity and flexibility) into the final products. 

Reusing recycled rubber can help reduce the carbon footprint of a finished good.

" ... Lehigh's flagship plant - one of the largest and most advanced rubber powder manufacturing facilities in the world. This ... plant in Tucker, Georgia, ... generates no environmental waste of any kind and requires no air, water, pollution or other permits."

Via:  Lehigh Technologies   Link

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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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Nokia has made a commitment to reducing its impact ....

Read how Nokia makes sustainable choices in:

- Design
- Manufacture
- Use and
- Take back and Recycling

Via:  Nokia - Susatinable Choices    Link