Green Technology

Do you know how much water you use each day … and what it is used for ?  Turns out it is closer to 2000 gallons per DAY.

Check out the graphic to the right for the details >>>  LINK and follow the interactive to see how your usage grows during the day.

By understanding where water is used you can make choices to save water and know where to make the biggest impact !

“ … biggest surprise may be that 95 percent of your water footprint … from the food, energy and products you use every day. C…”

Via:  Good LLC  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:38 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Infineon Raceway has a number of green indicatives underway including solar power (over 1,600 panels), recycling and using sheep to cut the grass instead of gas powered equipment.

“Since 2004 … has recycled more than 141 tons (282,541 pounds) of materials … “ including 14,000 tires.

“ … partnership with Panasonic Corporation [on a] … major solar installation that accounts for 41-percent of the raceway’s overall energy usage …”

The video below gives more details on the sustainability efforts at Infineon Raceway.

Via:  Smart Planet  LINK and Infineon Raceway LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 10:21 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

IBM creates analytics that enable watershed management in collaboration with The Nature Conservancy.  Online modeling tools allow users to understand water quality impacts.  …

…   “Typically, tools and information -- especially satellite information and analytical tools -- have been hard for the average watershed manager to obtain.

Rivers for Tomorrow will address this challenge by making the information readily available. It will even provide software so managers can take spending issues into consideration when formulating their plans.”   …

Via IBM: Rivers for Tomorrow (PDF).

Rivers for Tomorrow Website.

Posted by Green Tech at 08:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Acloa  EcoClean™ uses titanium Dioxide (TiO2) to create a building panel that can clean the air; the world's first.

When sun strikes the panels causes electrons to become energized and " ...  electrons transfer energy to water in the air and form free radicals ... [that can] oxidize the NOx molecules, converting them to a harmless nitrate ..."  NOx is a component of smog so this can fight smog.

Additionally the panels “self clean” in the rain so building maintenance costs are lowered.  See the Video below for more about the process.

Via:  Alcoa  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 07:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

SFO offers travels free water refills as a way to help reduce the use of single use plastic water bottles and the associated waste / carbon footprint.

...  innovative water bottle refill stations provide access to San Francisco's free high-quality, great tasting tap water. ... some of the purest, safest and best tasting water in the world."

The Hydration Stations are located throughout the SFO airport.

Via:  SFO  LINK and  San Francisco Public Utilities Commission LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 04:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Murphy’s Run in Cecil County Maryland offers buyers a home in a certified green development.  “ … is one of only twelve developments nationwide to be green certified by the National Green Building Certification Program. “

The homes are insulated with SIS or structural insulated sheathing and equipped with “ … energy star windows and appliances … CFL bulbs … low-flow shower heads …”

See the video for more … 

Via:  ABC News  LINK

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Burt's Bees is known for their environmentally friendly products.  They are also an environmentally friendly company.

" ... goal is to be the "greenest personal care company on earth." ... by 2020 ... be carbon free and operating on 100 percent renewable energy ... [no] waste to be deposited in landfills ... manufacturing facilities will have LEED certification. ..."

They plan on having a Platinum LEED green building by 2020 ... and recycle recycle wood, shrink wrap, and even waste water.

In addition to the usual paper and aluminum they recycle wood, corrugated cardboard, shrink wrap chipboard and fiberboard. Break rooms are equipped with composting bins and reusable / compostable utensils.

Via:  Burt's Bees  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 10:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

If you can understand your water use, you can manage it better.  NYC residents will benefit from an updated wireless water monitoring system that enables citizen updates.  Ultimately, water use could be billed at consumption breakpoints with high rates for high consumption.  …

…   “The technology could lay the foundation for a tiered rate structure whereby the heaviest users pay more per unit of water.

Tiered rates are already in place in cities like Seattle … ”   …

Via New York Times: Water Use.

Posted by Green Tech at 09:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Pepsico in Ireland takes sustainability seriously.  Caring for the environment and their impact are important considerations.  To that end ... " ... An Environmental Sustainability project ... delivered 12% reduction in water use ...  5% reduction in energy use ... recycle 95% of all waste. ..."

Via:  Pepsico  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 01:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... Philly plant in Lowville, NY ... making to reduce our carbon footprint. ... almost ¼ of the Lowville’s total energy use now comes from alternative sources."

" ... converting the waste stream from Cream Cheese production (whey) into methane gas. ... replaces about 1/3 of the natural gas usage and prevents virtually 100% of whey land-spreading. Annual energy savings are approximately 87,000 mm BTUs, or enough energy to heat around 1,100 average sized households for 1 year. ... In early 2008, ... Lowville ... replaced its interior lights with energy efficient T-8 lighting fixtures. ... saves 1,350,068 KWH of usage per year. That’s enough electricity to light 2,164 homes for a year."

" ...  In 2008, ... cut its total water use by 9%. ... [and] sent 33% less garbage to the landfill. ..."

Via:  Kraft  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:55 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Ready to drink once used water?  Folks in Cloudcroft, NM do - every day !

Cloudcroft NM runs 100% on recycled water.  From soup to nuts - washing to drinking ... toilet to tap !

" ... a town of ... 800 ... used to ... truck in upwards of 20,000 gallons of fresh water every day. ... got $600,000 from the state to put toward a $2 million water re-use system."

" ...“zero discharge” system is very unusual ... people tend get about phobic about the idea of drinking water that has been used for some other purpose ... sort of system you might find on a submarine ... everything is ... closed-loop. ..."

" ... ITT technologies ... include the Sanitaire membrane bioreactor, the WET reverse osmosis system, and the PCI ultrafiltration system.

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

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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."

Posted by Green Dude at 06:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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."

" ... 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

Posted by Green Dude at 03:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Along with Net ZERO energy houses folks are now talking about Net ZERO Water homes.  The idea is to be self sufficient - self sustaining and off the "water grid".

" ... Water ... requires energy to deliver, so excess use compounds our energy problems ... many renewable sources of power, such as solar, require massive amounts of water as an input, creating further pressure on limited resources."

"Net Zero water is an analogous concept to net zero energy. Through ... rainfall harvesting, aggressive conservation, and water recycling, buildings can achieve self-sufficiency from the water “grid.”"

Via:  TerraPAss  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 08:44 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

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

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

Posted by Green Tech at 10:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)