A solar panel is an interconnected congregation of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, intended to produce electricity. HT Kelly does a good job of giving a short but informative primer on building your own solar panels.
Build Homemade Solar Panels And Make Your Own Electricity by ht kelly
A solar panel is an interconnected congregation of solar cells, also known as photovoltaic cells, intended to produce electricity. A single module of photovoltaic cells can only create a definite amount of wattage, which is not enough to supply power to the whole house. Hence, several modules or photovoltaic arrays are required to generate larger electrical power, and also to supply low- potential heat. A homemade solar panel installation is an assortment of small solar panels, panel batteries, interconnection wiring, and an inverter.
Materials Necessary To Build Homemade Solar Panels:
Solar cells are the essentials required to build solar panels. These are really small cells consisting of silicon molecules that react to sunbeams and generate power. To make these panels, use plywood as a foundation, copper wire to attach all the solar cells together, and an appropriate substance to construct a frame for the whole structure. Also, you must ensure that the structure is completely weather-proof.
The Basic Process
Building homemade solar panels is no rocket science. A general understanding of the procedure and a well written manual is all that is required.
Procedure
* To start with, place the solar cells on the base with best possible gaping. Mark the photovoltaic cells and make holes in the foundation board for the copper wires that will help connect the cells together.
* Fix the cells to the foundation board, and cautiously line them together taking help from the manual you are using. Do not forget to put another board over the copper wiring to guard it from breakage.
* Build the frame of the homemade solar panel, put the board with the cells into the frame, and attach a glass for the front cover safely.
Once you are done with the whole procedure, you should have a professional-looking solar panel ready for use. You are now left with the only task of linking the panel with an appropriate battery arrangement that will help supply electricity to your home.
Some Useful Advice For Building Solar Panels
Take One Step At A Time
When trying to build a solar panel, do not rush into things. The best way to begin is to first construct a smaller solar panel. Like this, you will get better acquainted with the whole procedure including the shortcomings that you may face. Once you are done making a smaller panel, you will be able to do more justice to your bigger project. You can now begin constructing more panels till you attain the number sufficient to supply for all of your electricity requirements.
One of the biggest advantages of solar panels is that they do not require high maintenance. This quality makes them an extremely favorable home improvement project for numerous homeowners. If you are ready to put in the necessary hard work initially required in the making of homemade solar panels, you can actually save a large amount of cash on your electricity bills.
Learn more about using diy solar power guides to make homemade solar panels www. makehomesolarpower.info
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
The Happy Minimalist
This is a sponsored guest post written by Peter Lawrence on behalf of Peter Lawrence. Post powered by Sponzai.
Being a minimalist simply means being efficient: – using the minimum resources to achieve your goal
After all, isn’t it futile to do with more what can be done with fewer?
The principle is not earth shattering. Albert Einstein, Diogenes, Lin Yutang and many others have extolled the virtues of simplicity. Yet, only a few realize the wisdom and possess the fortitude to actually live simply.
Normal is getting dressed in clothes that you buy for work and driving through traffic in a car that you are still paying for - in order to get to the job you need to pay for the clothes and the car, and the house you leave vacant all day so you can afford to live in it.- Ellen Goodman
We call someone who is dependent on drugs a drug addict; someone who is dependent on nicotine a smoker and someone who is dependent on booze an alcoholic. If you are not a drug addict, chain smoker or an alcoholic, you probably feel grateful that you are not dependent on drugs, tobacco and alcohol. Likewise a minimalist is happy because he/she is not dependent on material stuff for his/her happiness. Many of these material stuff, just like drugs, tobacco and alcohol are not needs but rather wants. The less your happiness is dependent on them, the better off you are.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Just How Green is Your Home?
A home that is green is a home built and run with the environment in mind. With the threat of global warming becoming more urgent everyday, the average family needs to do their part to make as little impact as possible. Susan Banks Sr. tells us how to tell just how green your house is.
How Green Is Your Home? by Susan Banks Sr
A home that is green is a home built and run with the environment in mind. With the threat of global warming becoming more urgent everyday, the average family needs to do their part to make as little impact as possible. Going green is a way to do this and the first place to start is with your home. You can find a lot of home supplies from bathtubs to faucets at fuzing.com. Whether you are constructing your toilet or your kitchen, it will help you in the long run if you build it from an environment friendly perspective. The greener your home will be; the healthier environment it will have. You can use environment friendly things from paints to drapes and other objects that will add to the overall décor of your home.
Possible Building Materials You Can Use
If you are looking to build a new home, think with the environment in mind. You can use renewable resources such as lightweight concrete, manufactured, stone, straw, wood or earth. Each one of these materials has its own merits and disadvantages, but they all have the environment in mind.
* Earth is an abundant resource. What can be more environment friendly than the very dirt beneath your feet? You can choose from earthen materials kind to the environment such as cob, adobe and rammed earth.
* Lightweight concrete has been used for building for the last 50 years in the United States. Its strength is not as great as the usual concrete used for construction, but you can rest assured that it will weather the elements just as well. Advantages to using this building material is that can be used for insulation, it has great fire resistant properties, it will require a smaller foundation and there isn't as great a need for reinforcement of structural steel. This impacts the environment in a positive way.
* Manufactured building materials appeal to those who have concern for the environment but don't want to live in a home made of dirt, tree parts, straw, etc. Usually a home made with this type of material once built will make an excellent home that is energy efficient with thought to the environment.
* Wood is one of the most versatile materials for building. It used to be considered a sustainable material for construction, but with the over harvesting of forests worldwide, the world's greed has outpaced the capabilities of forests to regenerate. You can build a green home with an eye to the environment by using stick framed, timber framed and log wood if wood is what you must have.
Styles of Green Homes You Can Choose
There are quite a few styles of green homes available. Styles can range from conventional, to rounded, earth-sheltered and organic. Each style has many plans you can choose from to make your home unique, comfortable and concerned with the environment.
* A conventional styled home typically means that it will fit the normal concept of a home according to the opinions of the Western world. Homes that are considered conventional usually have vertical walls and a rectilinear floor plan. Styles that are considered conventional can include traditional, contemporary, bungalow, Victorian or southwestern to name just a few.
* A home that is rounded or curved in appearance is considered rounded styling. This means that the plan for the house has a significant part that is curved or rounded. It is said that when you use natural materials and this style of home you will feel in touch with nature to the extent that your home feels like you are part of the environment itself. This style of home is very environment friendly.
* Earth sheltered styles of green homes can be situated either partially or entirely into the earth. There are many advantages to you and to the environment when you choose this style of home. When you go about six feet below the surface, you will notice that the temperature only fluctuates a few degrees all year round. The benefits to this are that it will require much less energy to heat and to cool your home, saving the environment from the depletion of natural resources.
Building green can mean a lot to the environment. The environment and its natural resources is something that needs to be passed on to our children. If we don't start thinking towards the future there will be nothing left of the environment to pass on.
Article highlights: Building materials that can be used to construct a green home. The different styles of green homes you can choose when you decide to build a green home.
Interesting Fact: A recent report states that with all the huge costs associated with the building of a new home, there is no significant difference in the price of building green.
Susan is a personal contributing editor to Fuzing.com where you can discover hundreds of thousands of free sales leads for Solar Panels.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
How Green Is Your Home? by Susan Banks Sr
A home that is green is a home built and run with the environment in mind. With the threat of global warming becoming more urgent everyday, the average family needs to do their part to make as little impact as possible. Going green is a way to do this and the first place to start is with your home. You can find a lot of home supplies from bathtubs to faucets at fuzing.com. Whether you are constructing your toilet or your kitchen, it will help you in the long run if you build it from an environment friendly perspective. The greener your home will be; the healthier environment it will have. You can use environment friendly things from paints to drapes and other objects that will add to the overall décor of your home.
Possible Building Materials You Can Use
If you are looking to build a new home, think with the environment in mind. You can use renewable resources such as lightweight concrete, manufactured, stone, straw, wood or earth. Each one of these materials has its own merits and disadvantages, but they all have the environment in mind.
* Earth is an abundant resource. What can be more environment friendly than the very dirt beneath your feet? You can choose from earthen materials kind to the environment such as cob, adobe and rammed earth.
* Lightweight concrete has been used for building for the last 50 years in the United States. Its strength is not as great as the usual concrete used for construction, but you can rest assured that it will weather the elements just as well. Advantages to using this building material is that can be used for insulation, it has great fire resistant properties, it will require a smaller foundation and there isn't as great a need for reinforcement of structural steel. This impacts the environment in a positive way.
* Manufactured building materials appeal to those who have concern for the environment but don't want to live in a home made of dirt, tree parts, straw, etc. Usually a home made with this type of material once built will make an excellent home that is energy efficient with thought to the environment.
* Wood is one of the most versatile materials for building. It used to be considered a sustainable material for construction, but with the over harvesting of forests worldwide, the world's greed has outpaced the capabilities of forests to regenerate. You can build a green home with an eye to the environment by using stick framed, timber framed and log wood if wood is what you must have.
Styles of Green Homes You Can Choose
There are quite a few styles of green homes available. Styles can range from conventional, to rounded, earth-sheltered and organic. Each style has many plans you can choose from to make your home unique, comfortable and concerned with the environment.
* A conventional styled home typically means that it will fit the normal concept of a home according to the opinions of the Western world. Homes that are considered conventional usually have vertical walls and a rectilinear floor plan. Styles that are considered conventional can include traditional, contemporary, bungalow, Victorian or southwestern to name just a few.
* A home that is rounded or curved in appearance is considered rounded styling. This means that the plan for the house has a significant part that is curved or rounded. It is said that when you use natural materials and this style of home you will feel in touch with nature to the extent that your home feels like you are part of the environment itself. This style of home is very environment friendly.
* Earth sheltered styles of green homes can be situated either partially or entirely into the earth. There are many advantages to you and to the environment when you choose this style of home. When you go about six feet below the surface, you will notice that the temperature only fluctuates a few degrees all year round. The benefits to this are that it will require much less energy to heat and to cool your home, saving the environment from the depletion of natural resources.
Building green can mean a lot to the environment. The environment and its natural resources is something that needs to be passed on to our children. If we don't start thinking towards the future there will be nothing left of the environment to pass on.
Article highlights: Building materials that can be used to construct a green home. The different styles of green homes you can choose when you decide to build a green home.
Interesting Fact: A recent report states that with all the huge costs associated with the building of a new home, there is no significant difference in the price of building green.
Susan is a personal contributing editor to Fuzing.com where you can discover hundreds of thousands of free sales leads for Solar Panels.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Monday, December 28, 2009
How Can an Instant Hot Water Heater System Help the Environment?
One of the absolute best ways to help our environment is to put an instant hot water heater in your house. William Lund does a great job of telling us how this system impacts the Earth.
Instant Hot Water Reduces Greenhouse Gasses and Saves You Time and Money! by William Lund
Things that make our lives more convenient usually are not good for our environment and things good for the planet are detrimental to our comfort. For example, water saving shower heads do not make for great showers. Gas efficient cars don’t go as fast. Water saving toilets don’t flush as well as the old inefficient ones. Even energy efficient light bulbs don’t seem to put out as much light.
It’s a rare thing to find a product that provides us with a convenience and at the same time produces benefits to the planet and our environment.
Here’s one; instant hot water.
When you do not have to run water down the drain waiting for hot water to arrive, then you save water. (I don’t know anyone who jumps into the shower before the water gets warm.) Any water saved is water that did not have to be pumped, purified, re-pumped, and eventually run down the sewer to a processing plant, etc. All of that pumping, purifying, chlorinating, filtering, etc. uses energy and costs money. Most of the electricity used for the pumping and processing is produced by burning gas, oil, coal and other fuels which ads green house gasses to our atmosphere.
So how can we get instant, or nearly instant hot water without harming the environment? Traditional hot water circulating systems don’t qualify, since even though they provide you with nearly instantaneous hot water, they used a huge amount of energy. The electricity to run the pump is fairly small and inconsequential compared to the energy consumed by the water heater when used with a traditional circulating system.
With such a system your plumbing system is like a giant radiator and you are radiating heat out of your hot water piping, which your water heater must replace, burning gas or electricity which in turn is creating more greenhouse gases.
There are however, some types of hot water delivery systems that provide you with the convenience of faster hot water and yet don’t run any water down the drain in doing so. These systems are known as hot water demand systems. They consist of a small pump that goes under a sink. When you “demand” hot water by pressing a button, the pump turns on, pumping water rapidly to your sink, and returning the cooled off hot water from the hot water piping back to the inlet of the water heater, forming a big loop.
When the hot water arrives at the fixture, the pump shuts off so that hot water does not go into the cold water piping. You get fast hot water, and no water gets run down the drain. Studies have shown savings are possible of over 10,000 gallons of water per year for a typical family of 4. The pumps typically use less than $2.00 per year in electricity.
Demand type hot water systems are especially nice for tankless hot water heaters. Tankless water heaters take longer to get you hot water and so they waste more water. Be careful though, not all brands of demand hot water pumps will work with tankless water heaters. Check with the manufacturer of the system to be sure it pumps at least ¾ gallons per minute, which is enough to turn on any of the tankless units.
William Lund is a successful inventor with over a dozen patents and a webmaster with an online presence since 1998. More information about instant hot water systems at: Faster Hot WaterFaster hot water from your storage or tankless water heater without running water down the drain. A green product
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Instant Hot Water Reduces Greenhouse Gasses and Saves You Time and Money! by William Lund
Things that make our lives more convenient usually are not good for our environment and things good for the planet are detrimental to our comfort. For example, water saving shower heads do not make for great showers. Gas efficient cars don’t go as fast. Water saving toilets don’t flush as well as the old inefficient ones. Even energy efficient light bulbs don’t seem to put out as much light.
It’s a rare thing to find a product that provides us with a convenience and at the same time produces benefits to the planet and our environment.
Here’s one; instant hot water.
When you do not have to run water down the drain waiting for hot water to arrive, then you save water. (I don’t know anyone who jumps into the shower before the water gets warm.) Any water saved is water that did not have to be pumped, purified, re-pumped, and eventually run down the sewer to a processing plant, etc. All of that pumping, purifying, chlorinating, filtering, etc. uses energy and costs money. Most of the electricity used for the pumping and processing is produced by burning gas, oil, coal and other fuels which ads green house gasses to our atmosphere.
So how can we get instant, or nearly instant hot water without harming the environment? Traditional hot water circulating systems don’t qualify, since even though they provide you with nearly instantaneous hot water, they used a huge amount of energy. The electricity to run the pump is fairly small and inconsequential compared to the energy consumed by the water heater when used with a traditional circulating system.
With such a system your plumbing system is like a giant radiator and you are radiating heat out of your hot water piping, which your water heater must replace, burning gas or electricity which in turn is creating more greenhouse gases.
There are however, some types of hot water delivery systems that provide you with the convenience of faster hot water and yet don’t run any water down the drain in doing so. These systems are known as hot water demand systems. They consist of a small pump that goes under a sink. When you “demand” hot water by pressing a button, the pump turns on, pumping water rapidly to your sink, and returning the cooled off hot water from the hot water piping back to the inlet of the water heater, forming a big loop.
When the hot water arrives at the fixture, the pump shuts off so that hot water does not go into the cold water piping. You get fast hot water, and no water gets run down the drain. Studies have shown savings are possible of over 10,000 gallons of water per year for a typical family of 4. The pumps typically use less than $2.00 per year in electricity.
Demand type hot water systems are especially nice for tankless hot water heaters. Tankless water heaters take longer to get you hot water and so they waste more water. Be careful though, not all brands of demand hot water pumps will work with tankless water heaters. Check with the manufacturer of the system to be sure it pumps at least ¾ gallons per minute, which is enough to turn on any of the tankless units.
William Lund is a successful inventor with over a dozen patents and a webmaster with an online presence since 1998. More information about instant hot water systems at: Faster Hot WaterFaster hot water from your storage or tankless water heater without running water down the drain. A green product
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Sunday, December 27, 2009
10 Energy Saving Products That Work and Help Save the Environment
A lot is said about energy saving products but not all of them are all they are cracked up to be. Rob Colbourn gives us 10 energy saving products that actually work. If you really want to make a difference in becoming green and helping the environment, you need to read this short and informative article.
Ten energy-saving products that actually work by Rob Colbourn
There are a lot of gadgets available in the markets that conserve energy. These products are a win – win situation for all helping to cut your energy bill as well as contribute to the cause of conserving our environment. High cost of energy recently has given a push to the use of these devices. Let us look at some of the common energy saving products available in the market.
Ten energy-saving products that actually work by Rob Colbourn
There are a lot of gadgets available in the markets that conserve energy. These products are a win – win situation for all helping to cut your energy bill as well as contribute to the cause of conserving our environment. High cost of energy recently has given a push to the use of these devices. Let us look at some of the common energy saving products available in the market.
CFL Lamps.
Although higher in cost than the incandescent lamps, these compact fluorescent lamps consume a quarter of the energy used by them. Hence your initial investment is returned with a profit as these bulbs lost longer and cut your electricity bill drastically.
Energy saving cooking tops.
A lot of energy that goes in preparing of meals can be conserved by using energy saving induction cooking tops. On average these induction cooking tops save 40 percent more energy as compared to the electric and the conventional gas cooking tops.
Solar water heaters.
Solar water heaters are the most efficient way to heating water for various purposes. They are usually installed at the roof of the house and use sun’s energy for heating water and to operate the pump used for pumping water. Since solar energy is (till now) free (and is not taxed), these solar water heaters cost nothing to operate.
Energy saving Dehumidifiers.
Less energy is used by the dehumidifier devices that are certified to adhere to Energy Star criteria compared to the ordinary dehumidifier removing the same amount of moisture.
Power Strips.
Power strips save energy by turning off the power consumption when the connected device is switched off or put in standby mode. Some of the more sophisticated ones like Smart strip cut down the power supplied to the computer peripherals when computer is shut down and have features like motion sensors and remote control. On an average power strips can save 100 pounds a year worth of electricity.
Programmable thermostat.
These devices can be set to convenient temperature to suit the requirements. These programmable devices have been found to use 15 percent to 20 percent lesser energy as compared to the conventional ones.
White LED Lighting.
White LED lighting is a recent development that saves energy by converting more amount of electrical energy for the intended purpose of lighting instead of heat energy as is the case with incandescent lamps.
Tankless water heaters and Insulating Blankets.
These appliances do not have tanks for storing water to be heated which can lower the energy consumption costs by approximately 50 percent. Further 4 to 9 percent of the electricity can be conserved by using insulating blankets that prevent heat loss by radiation.
Solar cookers.
They use sun’s energy to cook food also maintaining the nutrition value of the food.
Indoor and Outdoor Clotheslines.
Instead of using dryer to dry clothes you can use these to air – dry your clothes especially in summers. It can knock off about 50 pounds from your electricity bill.
If you are looking for green gifts for all occasions - then check out the range of products available from Caperol.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Although higher in cost than the incandescent lamps, these compact fluorescent lamps consume a quarter of the energy used by them. Hence your initial investment is returned with a profit as these bulbs lost longer and cut your electricity bill drastically.
Energy saving cooking tops.
A lot of energy that goes in preparing of meals can be conserved by using energy saving induction cooking tops. On average these induction cooking tops save 40 percent more energy as compared to the electric and the conventional gas cooking tops.
Solar water heaters.
Solar water heaters are the most efficient way to heating water for various purposes. They are usually installed at the roof of the house and use sun’s energy for heating water and to operate the pump used for pumping water. Since solar energy is (till now) free (and is not taxed), these solar water heaters cost nothing to operate.
Energy saving Dehumidifiers.
Less energy is used by the dehumidifier devices that are certified to adhere to Energy Star criteria compared to the ordinary dehumidifier removing the same amount of moisture.
Power Strips.
Power strips save energy by turning off the power consumption when the connected device is switched off or put in standby mode. Some of the more sophisticated ones like Smart strip cut down the power supplied to the computer peripherals when computer is shut down and have features like motion sensors and remote control. On an average power strips can save 100 pounds a year worth of electricity.
Programmable thermostat.
These devices can be set to convenient temperature to suit the requirements. These programmable devices have been found to use 15 percent to 20 percent lesser energy as compared to the conventional ones.
White LED Lighting.
White LED lighting is a recent development that saves energy by converting more amount of electrical energy for the intended purpose of lighting instead of heat energy as is the case with incandescent lamps.
Tankless water heaters and Insulating Blankets.
These appliances do not have tanks for storing water to be heated which can lower the energy consumption costs by approximately 50 percent. Further 4 to 9 percent of the electricity can be conserved by using insulating blankets that prevent heat loss by radiation.
Solar cookers.
They use sun’s energy to cook food also maintaining the nutrition value of the food.
Indoor and Outdoor Clotheslines.
Instead of using dryer to dry clothes you can use these to air – dry your clothes especially in summers. It can knock off about 50 pounds from your electricity bill.
If you are looking for green gifts for all occasions - then check out the range of products available from Caperol.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy Options
Peter Lenkefi does a good job of telling us the advantages and disadvantages of some of the alternative energy options out there. This article is a short but very informative post and should be helpful if you are just starting to look at alternative energy options.
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy by Peter Lenkefi
It is essential that we find affordable and workable sources of alternative energy before the world completely consumes the already limited stock of fossil fuels. Many countries have started to introduce renewable energy schemes and more still have invested money into researching and even producing different sources of alternative energy. While it is essential that we become less reliant or not reliant at all on fossil fuels, many forms of alternative energy have their disadvantages as well as their obvious advantages. It has to be said though, that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages in many cases.
Wind Energy.
Harnessing the power of the wind and using it to our ends is hardly a new idea. Windmills have been and still are used for many different purposes and have been for a great many years, but the improvement of turbines combined with the improved technology to turn the motion of turbine blades into an energy source has seen the use of turbines explode.
Wind power is very popular, but in order to provide a reasonable amount of power it may prove necessary to have large amounts of turbines. On windy days, and even not so windy days some turbines make a noise that many residents consider to be unbearable. Areas of open countryside are protected by conservation orders, which means they can’t be built there either and if there is no conservation order there are still protestors willing to do almost anything to stop the turbines being built. The only viable option left is to use offshore wind farms and these are being investigated, developed and planned all around the world but it takes too many turbines to create a reasonable amount of power and eventually they will have to be built inland; a matter that will be contested wherever the wind farms are proposed to be built.
Solar Energy.
Solar energy is probably the most common form of alternative powers for everyday people and you can see solar lights ad other solar accessories in many gardens. Governments are beginning to offer grants to assist in paying for photovoltaic roof tiles; these tiles are easily fitted onto your roof and collect the heat from the sun. This heat can either be used to heat water or can even be converted into electricity. The advantage for the consumer is that by including a grid tie system you can actually sell unused electricity back to the grid. Photovoltaic tiles take the place of ordinary roof tiles and can be perfectly blended to fit the look of the outside of your house. With solar energy you too can help the environment.
Biomass.
Ask most people which renewable energy source is the most widely used and they would say either wind or solar, but they’d be wrong or at least they certainly would in America. Since 2000 Biomass has been the most highly produced alternative energy in the United States. Using plant and animal material to create energy isn’t without its downfalls. It would almost certainly meet with competition from residents if biomass power stations were to be created in built up areas. The decomposing plants and animal waste creates an awful smell that is incredibly difficult to mask but it is very renewable (there’s always plants and animal waste).
Other renewable energy sources.
These are the main three renewable energy sources that the countries of the world are creating at the moment but there are others. Whether nuclear power is a viable alternative or not is a debate that will undoubtedly rage on forever, but it is a renewable energy and some countries already have extensive capabilities to produce it. Modern technology means that nuclear power stations are safer than they’ve ever been and damage to people, animals or plantation is highly unlikely. However, it takes a long time to develop nuclear power station and even plants that are already being built may take ten years to come to fruition.
Hydropower is used in some countries and uses the motion of waves to create energy. While it is a possibility, the amount of energy produced is minimal and the outlay to set these schemes up is quite large. Without further investigation and improvement in the techniques used it is unlikely that Hydropower will become a major player in the renewable energy world.
For more more information about alternative energy please visit http://www.alternative-energy-solutions.com
Article Source: U Publish Articles
The Advantages and Disadvantages of Alternative Energy by Peter Lenkefi
It is essential that we find affordable and workable sources of alternative energy before the world completely consumes the already limited stock of fossil fuels. Many countries have started to introduce renewable energy schemes and more still have invested money into researching and even producing different sources of alternative energy. While it is essential that we become less reliant or not reliant at all on fossil fuels, many forms of alternative energy have their disadvantages as well as their obvious advantages. It has to be said though, that the advantages far outweigh the disadvantages in many cases.
Wind Energy.
Harnessing the power of the wind and using it to our ends is hardly a new idea. Windmills have been and still are used for many different purposes and have been for a great many years, but the improvement of turbines combined with the improved technology to turn the motion of turbine blades into an energy source has seen the use of turbines explode.
Wind power is very popular, but in order to provide a reasonable amount of power it may prove necessary to have large amounts of turbines. On windy days, and even not so windy days some turbines make a noise that many residents consider to be unbearable. Areas of open countryside are protected by conservation orders, which means they can’t be built there either and if there is no conservation order there are still protestors willing to do almost anything to stop the turbines being built. The only viable option left is to use offshore wind farms and these are being investigated, developed and planned all around the world but it takes too many turbines to create a reasonable amount of power and eventually they will have to be built inland; a matter that will be contested wherever the wind farms are proposed to be built.
Solar Energy.
Solar energy is probably the most common form of alternative powers for everyday people and you can see solar lights ad other solar accessories in many gardens. Governments are beginning to offer grants to assist in paying for photovoltaic roof tiles; these tiles are easily fitted onto your roof and collect the heat from the sun. This heat can either be used to heat water or can even be converted into electricity. The advantage for the consumer is that by including a grid tie system you can actually sell unused electricity back to the grid. Photovoltaic tiles take the place of ordinary roof tiles and can be perfectly blended to fit the look of the outside of your house. With solar energy you too can help the environment.
Biomass.
Ask most people which renewable energy source is the most widely used and they would say either wind or solar, but they’d be wrong or at least they certainly would in America. Since 2000 Biomass has been the most highly produced alternative energy in the United States. Using plant and animal material to create energy isn’t without its downfalls. It would almost certainly meet with competition from residents if biomass power stations were to be created in built up areas. The decomposing plants and animal waste creates an awful smell that is incredibly difficult to mask but it is very renewable (there’s always plants and animal waste).
Other renewable energy sources.
These are the main three renewable energy sources that the countries of the world are creating at the moment but there are others. Whether nuclear power is a viable alternative or not is a debate that will undoubtedly rage on forever, but it is a renewable energy and some countries already have extensive capabilities to produce it. Modern technology means that nuclear power stations are safer than they’ve ever been and damage to people, animals or plantation is highly unlikely. However, it takes a long time to develop nuclear power station and even plants that are already being built may take ten years to come to fruition.
Hydropower is used in some countries and uses the motion of waves to create energy. While it is a possibility, the amount of energy produced is minimal and the outlay to set these schemes up is quite large. Without further investigation and improvement in the techniques used it is unlikely that Hydropower will become a major player in the renewable energy world.
For more more information about alternative energy please visit http://www.alternative-energy-solutions.com
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Saturday, December 26, 2009
What Effect is the Destruction of the Rainforests Having on the Climate?
Ever wondered what the destruction of the Rainforests is having on our climate? David Craythorne gives us a great explanation in this short article.
Rainforest Destruction and Climate Change by David Craythorne
Extending over Africa, South America and Australasia, rainforests are the richest repositories of life forms on planet earth and its green lungs. One of our oldest ecosystems, rainforests are estimated to harbor 66% of all the species on earth! Today however many of the estimated 30-40 million species living in these ecosystems are being lost, even before they can be catalogued, at a rate estimated at an astounding 50,000 species per year.
Not only are rainforests a vast repository of potential medicines they also play a very important role in producing oxygen and in maintaining global climatic patterns. The Amazon rainforests alone for example are responsible for 28% of the global oxygen turnover.
The role of green house gases like methane and carbon dioxide in global warming and climate change is well documented. Automobiles, ocean liners and aircrafts have been roundly criticized for belching these gases that threaten to bring doomsday to the earth's doorstep. What is little understood and appreciated is the fact that rainforest destruction releases more than 1.5 billion tons of green house gases (IPCC estimates), one fifth of the overall global emissions and more than all the other sources mentioned above put together (Houghton, 2003; BBC report). Destruction of an acre of rainforest releases a thousand tons or more of carbon dioxide (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/16/australia-forest-carbon.html). The importance of conserving rainforests thus becomes obvious. Detractors have long hidden behind Odum's view propounded in the 60's that old rainforests do not help in trapping carbon dioxide. However a 2008 study has revealed that these old forests continue to trap close to a billion tons of carbon dioxide every year. (Luyssaert et al., "Old-growth forests as global carbon sink," Nature, 2008).
Rainforests have been at the receiving end of mans' insatiability and short sighted harvesting. Unchecked rainforest destruction has diminshed rainforests to 50% of their earlier size, limiting them to a mere 6% of the earth's surface. Estimates of the extent of rainforests lost vary from 17 million acres (United Nations estimate) to 50 million acres every year. The WWF puts destruction rates at 25 to 50 acres every minute. To put this into perspective, an area of tropical forest large enough to cover North Carolina is deforested each year. Today rainforests are being lost in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Zaire, Guinea and many other countries. Some projections suggest that the remaining rainforests could be lost within the next 4 decades.
Aspirations of economic growth in third world countries and lifestyle choices in the developed world are the twin driving force behind deforestation in poorer Latin American, Asian and African countries. Livestock grazing to meet the increasing demand for beef is alone responsible for a large part of deforestation. Close to 55 square feet of rainforests are cleared for every pound of beef produced releasing 500 pounds of carbon dioxide in the process (The burger that ate a rain forest - London Times, Feb 26, 1989)! Forest land converted to pasture also contributes to global warming by increased emissions of methane by cattle.
In Brazil alone 24,000 square kilometers of rainforests are cleared every year (Santilli et al., Climatic Change; 2005). Besides pasture, rainforests have been cleared for timber - with concessions sold as cheap as $ 2 per acre, cropland, biofuel cultivation, to feed iron mills with charcoal and paper factories with wood pulp. A single multinational pulp manufacturing project in Brazil consumes close to 2000 tons of pristine rainforest every day!
International debt repayment obligations have also played their part in encouraging some nations to hawk their forest resources for hard cash in place of higher returns they could have realized in the longer term by sustainable forest management practices.
Robert Craythorne writes on behalf of the Rainforest Foundation, an international charity supporting people living in and around the world's rainforests.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Rainforest Destruction and Climate Change by David Craythorne
Extending over Africa, South America and Australasia, rainforests are the richest repositories of life forms on planet earth and its green lungs. One of our oldest ecosystems, rainforests are estimated to harbor 66% of all the species on earth! Today however many of the estimated 30-40 million species living in these ecosystems are being lost, even before they can be catalogued, at a rate estimated at an astounding 50,000 species per year.
Not only are rainforests a vast repository of potential medicines they also play a very important role in producing oxygen and in maintaining global climatic patterns. The Amazon rainforests alone for example are responsible for 28% of the global oxygen turnover.
The role of green house gases like methane and carbon dioxide in global warming and climate change is well documented. Automobiles, ocean liners and aircrafts have been roundly criticized for belching these gases that threaten to bring doomsday to the earth's doorstep. What is little understood and appreciated is the fact that rainforest destruction releases more than 1.5 billion tons of green house gases (IPCC estimates), one fifth of the overall global emissions and more than all the other sources mentioned above put together (Houghton, 2003; BBC report). Destruction of an acre of rainforest releases a thousand tons or more of carbon dioxide (http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2009/06/16/australia-forest-carbon.html). The importance of conserving rainforests thus becomes obvious. Detractors have long hidden behind Odum's view propounded in the 60's that old rainforests do not help in trapping carbon dioxide. However a 2008 study has revealed that these old forests continue to trap close to a billion tons of carbon dioxide every year. (Luyssaert et al., "Old-growth forests as global carbon sink," Nature, 2008).
Rainforests have been at the receiving end of mans' insatiability and short sighted harvesting. Unchecked rainforest destruction has diminshed rainforests to 50% of their earlier size, limiting them to a mere 6% of the earth's surface. Estimates of the extent of rainforests lost vary from 17 million acres (United Nations estimate) to 50 million acres every year. The WWF puts destruction rates at 25 to 50 acres every minute. To put this into perspective, an area of tropical forest large enough to cover North Carolina is deforested each year. Today rainforests are being lost in Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Zaire, Guinea and many other countries. Some projections suggest that the remaining rainforests could be lost within the next 4 decades.
Aspirations of economic growth in third world countries and lifestyle choices in the developed world are the twin driving force behind deforestation in poorer Latin American, Asian and African countries. Livestock grazing to meet the increasing demand for beef is alone responsible for a large part of deforestation. Close to 55 square feet of rainforests are cleared for every pound of beef produced releasing 500 pounds of carbon dioxide in the process (The burger that ate a rain forest - London Times, Feb 26, 1989)! Forest land converted to pasture also contributes to global warming by increased emissions of methane by cattle.
In Brazil alone 24,000 square kilometers of rainforests are cleared every year (Santilli et al., Climatic Change; 2005). Besides pasture, rainforests have been cleared for timber - with concessions sold as cheap as $ 2 per acre, cropland, biofuel cultivation, to feed iron mills with charcoal and paper factories with wood pulp. A single multinational pulp manufacturing project in Brazil consumes close to 2000 tons of pristine rainforest every day!
International debt repayment obligations have also played their part in encouraging some nations to hawk their forest resources for hard cash in place of higher returns they could have realized in the longer term by sustainable forest management practices.
Robert Craythorne writes on behalf of the Rainforest Foundation, an international charity supporting people living in and around the world's rainforests.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
College Dorms Go Green
Avi Yashchin presents an informative article on how college dorms have gone green. This is an area of construction that is growing rapidly.
College Dorms Go Green With LEED AP Certification by Avi Yashchin
You know how lots of times we get direction from young people? A good current example is college students interested in sustainability and energy efficiency. Their efforts are turning dorms across the nation into green residences.
According to an article titled "Eco In the Halls of Academe", written by Lini Kadaba and published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, across the region and the country, the green movement has taken up residence on college campuses.
Kadaba reports that new or renovated dorms have organic suites at Drexel University, green roofs at Princeton, geothermal cooling and heating at West Chester, and eco-friendly furniture at Villanova. Known as green dorms, they are building in popularity as economics make more sense and eco-wise collegians expect and demand it.
In her piece Kadaba quotes Paul Rowland, executive director of the Lexington,
Kentucky-based Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
"More and more students are saying, 'We want to know how green the campus is before we come there,' " Rowland told Kadaba.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which gives its seal of approval, LEED, to new buildings that meet its standards, has certified 76 dorm projects since it first offered the rating in 2000. An additional 307 are registered to pursue certification.
"Since 2006, the number of green dorms that have registered for LEED certification has doubled each year. Moreover, there has been a continuous rise for Leed Training and Leed Ap Certification among students.
In 2008, a record 127 projects applied. Through August of this year, 87 more projects had been submitted," Kadaba writes. "The data doesn't reflect renovations, popular with colleges and arguably more environmentally conscious."
Also quoted in Kadaba's piece is Amy Seif Hattan, director of the Advancing Green Building in Higher Education program at Second Nature, a Boston-based organization. "In most cases, a dorm is just a shell in which to throw your stuff and sleep," Hattan told Kadaba. "A green building is an ecosystem. It's a pleasant place, it promotes health, it encourages dialogue."
While environmentally conscious housing can trim the campus energy bill, it also offers less prosaic advantages, Kadaba writes. "Green dorms expose students to the science of sustainability in practical ways and instill a way of life."
"You're getting a generation of kids who will be green natives," Marie Coleman, a communications associate for the USGBC told Kadaba. "It's what they know."
Examples of what the students are up to at the dorms include timed showers with a 10-minute maximum, composting food scraps, hanging laundry to dry, and using lights with certain stinginess. A green meter installed in a common room displays real-time consumption of electricity while another device shows water usage.
While environmentally conscious housing can trim the campus energy bill, it also offers less prosaic advantages, Kadaba writes. "Green dorms expose students to the science of sustainability in practical ways and instill a way of life."
"You're getting a generation of kids who will be green natives," Marie Coleman, a communications associate for the USGBC told Kadaba. "It's what they know."
Examples of what the students are up to at the dorms include timed showers with a 10-minute maximum, composting food scraps, hanging laundry to dry, and using lights with certain stinginess. A green meter installed in a common room displays real-time consumption of electricity while another device shows water usage.
Preparing for the LEED exams to get LEED certfied ! Visit cleanedison.com for best and helpful information on how to get LEED certification, Leed Ap Certification, Leed Training etc.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
College Dorms Go Green With LEED AP Certification by Avi Yashchin
You know how lots of times we get direction from young people? A good current example is college students interested in sustainability and energy efficiency. Their efforts are turning dorms across the nation into green residences.
According to an article titled "Eco In the Halls of Academe", written by Lini Kadaba and published in the Philadelphia Inquirer, across the region and the country, the green movement has taken up residence on college campuses.
Kadaba reports that new or renovated dorms have organic suites at Drexel University, green roofs at Princeton, geothermal cooling and heating at West Chester, and eco-friendly furniture at Villanova. Known as green dorms, they are building in popularity as economics make more sense and eco-wise collegians expect and demand it.
In her piece Kadaba quotes Paul Rowland, executive director of the Lexington,
Kentucky-based Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education.
"More and more students are saying, 'We want to know how green the campus is before we come there,' " Rowland told Kadaba.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), which gives its seal of approval, LEED, to new buildings that meet its standards, has certified 76 dorm projects since it first offered the rating in 2000. An additional 307 are registered to pursue certification.
"Since 2006, the number of green dorms that have registered for LEED certification has doubled each year. Moreover, there has been a continuous rise for Leed Training and Leed Ap Certification among students.
In 2008, a record 127 projects applied. Through August of this year, 87 more projects had been submitted," Kadaba writes. "The data doesn't reflect renovations, popular with colleges and arguably more environmentally conscious."
Also quoted in Kadaba's piece is Amy Seif Hattan, director of the Advancing Green Building in Higher Education program at Second Nature, a Boston-based organization. "In most cases, a dorm is just a shell in which to throw your stuff and sleep," Hattan told Kadaba. "A green building is an ecosystem. It's a pleasant place, it promotes health, it encourages dialogue."
While environmentally conscious housing can trim the campus energy bill, it also offers less prosaic advantages, Kadaba writes. "Green dorms expose students to the science of sustainability in practical ways and instill a way of life."
"You're getting a generation of kids who will be green natives," Marie Coleman, a communications associate for the USGBC told Kadaba. "It's what they know."
Examples of what the students are up to at the dorms include timed showers with a 10-minute maximum, composting food scraps, hanging laundry to dry, and using lights with certain stinginess. A green meter installed in a common room displays real-time consumption of electricity while another device shows water usage.
While environmentally conscious housing can trim the campus energy bill, it also offers less prosaic advantages, Kadaba writes. "Green dorms expose students to the science of sustainability in practical ways and instill a way of life."
"You're getting a generation of kids who will be green natives," Marie Coleman, a communications associate for the USGBC told Kadaba. "It's what they know."
Examples of what the students are up to at the dorms include timed showers with a 10-minute maximum, composting food scraps, hanging laundry to dry, and using lights with certain stinginess. A green meter installed in a common room displays real-time consumption of electricity while another device shows water usage.
Preparing for the LEED exams to get LEED certfied ! Visit cleanedison.com for best and helpful information on how to get LEED certification, Leed Ap Certification, Leed Training etc.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
How to Create an Eco-Friendly Home
Vikram Kuamr tells us how to create an eco-friendly home in this short but informative article.
Establish an Eco Friendly Home Without Trouble by Vikram Kuamr
You have heard about all of the reasons why going green is a smart idea for you to take a closer look at. The truth is that by becoming more environmentally conscious, you are taking active steps toward doing the right thing and helping to ensure that the Earth is going to be in the best possible state it can be in for future generations. On top of this, an eco friendly home is actually going to be a cheaper one for you to manage. This is why getting your home eco friendly will be an essential task which you are going to want to consider implementing right away.
There are many different ways to start taking an eco friendly home approach. The easiest one, which you will be able to handle on a very small scale, comes when you look for green products that you can start using in your home. These products are going to help you make a big difference in a very small way. The more money which you give to green home products, the more popular those items will start to become and the more frequently they will be purchased. Above this simple fact, however, is the one that you will be reducing your own carbon footprint every time that you turn to green products for your home over the traditional ones.
The green products which you could turn to may actually range between the fluorescent light bulbs which have a longer life span than the traditional incandescent bulbs to eco friendly cleaning products. Many of the cleaning products which are on the market now will be harmful to the environment because they make use of harsh chemicals which only introduce pollution into the air. Turning to green products can give you the same strength of cleaning using only natural elements.
You will also want to look at the tools which you are using in your home. If you want to make your home eco friendly, you need to reduce the amount of waste that you produce as much as you possibly can. This could require you to look into finding washable and reusable cloths instead of napkins and paper towels. Combining as many elements as possible can also be important when you are trying to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. Learning how to cut back is going to be one simple step of making your home eco friendly.
To have an eco friendly home, you will also want to consider upgrading your appliances to energy efficient models. The less electricity which your home needs to operate, the more of an eco friendly home it will be. This is precisely why, when you need to make your home eco friendly, you will consider all of the options which go along with making smarter choices. Once you learn how you can cut back, you will be enabled to make the right decisions always. That alone can prove to be important if you want to start taking the steps that you need to take for an overall smarter lifestyle.
Turn to Home eco friendly when you are looking for the best practices that you can adopt to help make your home eco friendly. An Eco friendly home will not only help you to reduce your carbon footprint, but it will allow you to save money over time as well.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Establish an Eco Friendly Home Without Trouble by Vikram Kuamr
You have heard about all of the reasons why going green is a smart idea for you to take a closer look at. The truth is that by becoming more environmentally conscious, you are taking active steps toward doing the right thing and helping to ensure that the Earth is going to be in the best possible state it can be in for future generations. On top of this, an eco friendly home is actually going to be a cheaper one for you to manage. This is why getting your home eco friendly will be an essential task which you are going to want to consider implementing right away.
There are many different ways to start taking an eco friendly home approach. The easiest one, which you will be able to handle on a very small scale, comes when you look for green products that you can start using in your home. These products are going to help you make a big difference in a very small way. The more money which you give to green home products, the more popular those items will start to become and the more frequently they will be purchased. Above this simple fact, however, is the one that you will be reducing your own carbon footprint every time that you turn to green products for your home over the traditional ones.
The green products which you could turn to may actually range between the fluorescent light bulbs which have a longer life span than the traditional incandescent bulbs to eco friendly cleaning products. Many of the cleaning products which are on the market now will be harmful to the environment because they make use of harsh chemicals which only introduce pollution into the air. Turning to green products can give you the same strength of cleaning using only natural elements.
You will also want to look at the tools which you are using in your home. If you want to make your home eco friendly, you need to reduce the amount of waste that you produce as much as you possibly can. This could require you to look into finding washable and reusable cloths instead of napkins and paper towels. Combining as many elements as possible can also be important when you are trying to reduce the amount of waste that you produce. Learning how to cut back is going to be one simple step of making your home eco friendly.
To have an eco friendly home, you will also want to consider upgrading your appliances to energy efficient models. The less electricity which your home needs to operate, the more of an eco friendly home it will be. This is precisely why, when you need to make your home eco friendly, you will consider all of the options which go along with making smarter choices. Once you learn how you can cut back, you will be enabled to make the right decisions always. That alone can prove to be important if you want to start taking the steps that you need to take for an overall smarter lifestyle.
Turn to Home eco friendly when you are looking for the best practices that you can adopt to help make your home eco friendly. An Eco friendly home will not only help you to reduce your carbon footprint, but it will allow you to save money over time as well.
Article Source: U Publish Articles
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Tree Recycling
A few places that offer Christmas tree recycling. Please post your city's plan.
Maui County's Department of Environmental Management, Recycle Maui County program announced today that it will be sponsoring free recycling of Christmas trees in an effort to preserve the life of landfills.
Phoenix, AZ – Harvest for Humanity Foundation, a non-profit foundation that farms vacant lots using natural/sustainable practices with community volunteers and donates the produce to the local Food Banks and shelters to help stop hunger, is announcing their 1st Annual Christmas Tree Recycling Program on Saturday, Jan. 2, 2010. Residents all across the metro Phoenix area can drop off trees at 1006 E. Guadalupe Road,Tempe, Arizona, 85283 and recycle them for FREE on this date. Drop-off time is from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Greenville Tree Recycling
The City of Greenville is once again sponsoring its annual “Grinding of the Greens” Christmas tree recycling program. For the convenience of city residents, trees can be placed at the curb for collection on regularly scheduled pick-up days or taken to one of four convenient locations for recycling. All trees must be free of debris such as ornaments, tinsel, ribbons and lights to be recycled.
Drop-off locations include:
• Holmes Park (Twin Lake Road & Holmes Drive)
• Timmons Park (Oxford Street & Blackburn Street)
• Gower Park (Laurel Creek Lane & Laurens Road)
• West Greenville Community Center (8 Rochester Street)
The drop-off locations listed above will be open through January 22, 2010. Curbside pick-up within the city limits will continue for as long as needed. Trees and trimmings are ground into mulch, which can be picked up free of charge from Twin Chimneys Landfill from 9:00 a.m. – 12 p.m. and 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. Thursdays - Sundays. Please call the Twin Chimneys Landfill at (864) 243-9672 for more information.
All holiday boxes, tissue paper and wrapping paper (except foil-lined) can be recycled at the curb and at the City’s Recycling and Environmental Education Center at 800 East Stone Avenue.
Colorado Recycles has compiled a Christmas tree recycling guide atrecycleyourchristmastree.com.
Adams County is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 4. Trees can be dropped off from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Adams County Regional Park, 9755 Henderson Road, Brighton. (Per e-mail)
Aurora will be recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 12 in the following locations: Del Mar Park, 6th and Peoria in the west parking lot; Olympic Park, 15501 E. Yale Ave.; Murphy Creek Golf Course, 1700 S. Old Tom Morris Road; and Saddle Rock Golf Course, 21705 E. Arapahoe Road.
Free mulch will be available anytime Jan 2-12 at tree drop-off locations while supplies last. Take your own truck, bag and shovels. Info: 303-739-7177.
The city of Boulder is recycling trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 at Western Disposal's Brick Yard site, 5900 Butte Mill Road. After Jan. 31, use the city of Boulder's Yard Waster Drop-off Site at Western's Transfer Station, 5880 Butte Mille Road.
Brighton is offering Christmas tree recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 11 at the following locations: Brighton Park south parking lot, 9th and Midland; Brighton Sports Complex, 1111 Judicial Center Drive; and Ken Mitchell Park, 889 Kinglet Court. In addition to the drop-off sites, Brighton is offering curbside pickup for recycling of Christmas trees on Jan. 7. Trees for pick-up must be placed at curbside by 7 a.m.
Mulch from the recycled trees will be available on a first-come-first-serve basis at Brighton Park in the south parking lot, 9th and Midland. Info: 303-655-2089 or 303-655-2054.
Broomfield is recycling trees Dec. 19 through Jan. 19 at the following sites: Bronco Park, Westlake Drive and Grove Circle (drop-off is north of the backstop); Broadlands Park West, Sheridan Boulevard and Meadow Mountain Drive (drop-off is on the west side of the parking lot; Lac Amora Park, Miramonte Boulevard and Oak Circle North (drop-off is west of the backstop); Community Park Ball Fields, Community Park Drive and Lamar Street (drop-off is west of George Hall Field); Recycle Center, Industrial Lane and Commerce Street (drop-off is west of the recycle bins); Meridian Park, McKay Circle and Park Cove Way in McKay Landing (drop-off is west of the backstop; and Anthem at Broomfield, 160th Avenue and Lowell Boulevard.
Mulch will be available at the Recycle Center after Feb. 1.
Castle Rock is offering Christmas tree recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 at the following locations: Centennial Park, 22 N. Gilbert St.; Founders Park, 4671 E. Enderud Blvd.; Metzler Ranch Park, 4175 Trail Boss Drive; Fairgrounds Regional Park, 500 Fairgrounds Drive; and Paintbrush Park, 3492 Meadows Blvd.
Mulch will be available, while supplies last, Jan. 15 through March 31 at the same parks where the trees were dropped off. Info: 720-733-3598.
Englewood's Parks Division is recycling Christmas trees Jan. 1-31 at the following locations: Bates/Logan Park, 2938 S. Logan St.; Centennial Park, 4630 S. Decatur St., in the south parking lot; Belleview Park, 5001 S. Inca St., in the south parking lot; and Miller Field, 3600 S. Elati St. The trees will be turned into mulch, which will be available at no cost for residents to pick up. Info: 303-762-2520.
Fort Collins is offering Christmas tree recycling Dec. 26 through Jan. 19 at the following locations: Wellington recycling drop-off site, 6th Street and Grant Avenue; Edora Park, 1420 E. Stuart St. in the parking lot near the tennis courts; Rolland Moore Park, 2201 S. Shields St., in the parking lot, southeast corner; Streets Department, 625 Ninth St., northeast corner of Lemay Avenue and East Vine Drive; and from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday at the Larimer County Landfill, 5887 S. Taft Hill Road.
Mulch will be available sometime in the spring.
The City of Golden is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 25 at the City Recycling Facility off Golden Gate Canyon Road. Mulch is available free to the public all year at the same location. Info: 303-384-8141 or e-maildhigh@cityofgolden.net.
Highlands Ranch is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 25 through Jan. 18 at the following locations: Redstone Park, 3280 Redstone Park Circle; Toepfer Park, 9480 Venneford Ranch Road; Dad Clark Park, 3385 Asterbrook Circle; and Highland Heritage Regional Park, 9651 S. Quebec.
Free mulch is available on a self-serve basis at each of the tree recycling sites. Info: 303-791-0430.
Jefferson County is recycling Christmas trees at the Rooney Road Recycling Center, 151 S. Rooney Road. There is a fee per tree for the recycling. Info:rooneyroadrecycling.org.
South Suburban Parks and Recreation will recycle Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 13. Residents can drop off trees at the following locations: Willow Spring Service Center, 7100 S. Holly St.; and at Cornerstone Park's parking area, which can be accessed from Windermere Street south of Belleview Avenue.
During the recycling effort, tress will be mulched. Free mulch will be available shortly after the recycling process begins. Residents can obtain mulch from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at each of the tree drop-off sites. Info: 303-798-5131.
Littleton is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 at Highlands Heritage Regional Park, 9651 S. Quebec, Littleton. Info: 720-733-6990.
The City of Longmont is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 at the following locations: Eco-Cycle, 140 Martin St.; Roosevelt Park's parking lot south of 8th Ave.; Garden Acres Baseball Park West side of parking lot off 18th Ave.; Kanemoto Park Parking lot south of Pratt Pkwy.; and Centennial Park East parking lot off of Alpine St.
Parker is recycling Christmas trees Dec. 26 through Jan. 31 at Challenger Regional Park, 17299 E. Lincoln Ave. Info: 720-733-6990.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
A Cool Place for Green Gift Giving
I want to state right up front that I am not affiliated with the company that I am telling you about in this post. I do not want you to think that I am merely writing this post in order to make a commission. I truly do like the company and that is why I posting it.
Weems Creek Solutions provides products that can help with energy solutions and energy preparedness. Some of the products they offer will make a very unique and green gift. I suggest that these gifts would be greatly appreciated and would have no chance of ever being regifted.
The Eco-Button is one of those gifts that people who use a computer a lot will love. Here is the description that Weems provides:
Save money and reduce your carbon footprint with the touch of a button! Simply plug the ecobuttonTM into the USB port of your computer and give it a touch each time you take a break, make a phone call or attend a meeting. The ecobuttonTM will then put your computer into an energy-saving “ecomode” which will ensure that your computer and monitor only draw the same power as when they are shut down! When you want to get back to work, touch any key on the computer and it will instantly return to where you left off. There’s no need to waste time shutting down and restarting your computer.
Each time you put your computer into “ecomode”, the ecobuttonTM software will record how many carbon units, power and money you are saving by using the ecobuttonTM. These savings can be multiplied if you have several computers around your office or home.
The small ecobutton measures only 2 1/4" in diameter and sits next to your computer. With its illuminated face it will provide an easy-to-see reminder to save power and energy each time you leave your computer.
The environmental impact of PCs running idle:
Computers and monitors can account for half of the electricity used in a typical office. A single monitor left switched on overnight can use the same energy as a laser printer producing 800 letter printed copies, - and don’t be fooled by a screensaver – the computer is still working at full power to run this!
According to a recent study on energy usage, there are some 104 million office PCs in the USA and approximately 60 million home PCs. Over 30 million are regularly left on overnight or all weekend. This means that over $1.7 billion dollars and almost 15 million tons of CO2 emissions are wasted each year in the USA.
All this office computer waste can be easily avoided by adopting simple energy saving policies which are supported by energy saving devices like ecobutton™.
Nationally, with one small click, 15 million tons of office PC carbon waste could be easily avoided.
I love this product and hope you see it as a solution for a gift for that person who might be otherwise difficult to buy for. Weems can be found here.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Your Body Absorbs Cosmetics
Did you know that the average woman absorbs over 4 pounds of cosmetics into her body each year? It's true. According to Planet Green, the body's largest organ, the skin will absorb up to 60% of the products you put on it each day. That includes soaps, shampoos and even sunscreen. Look at the ingredients list on your soaps, shampoos, and cosmetics and it might just scare you. It might even make you want to look for natural hygiene and cosmetic items. By the way, men are at danger too. They do put things on their skin.
Saturday, December 5, 2009
What is Coca-Cola Doing for Green Initiatives
I know that $3 million is a lot of money but when you see that Coca-Cola is spending that much to make green upgrades, it makes you think. To me, coke spending $3 million is comparable to me buying a single energy effecient lightbulb. After all, Coca-Cola has about $500 quadrillion so $3 million is just a drop in the ocean of their total budget. Here is what Coca-Cola announced: It will spend $3 million to perform green upgrades to its headquarters in Atlanta. Coke intends to cut energy use in the building by 23%, and cut water consumption by 15%. To achieve this goal the company will install energy-efficient lights and air-conditioning equipment, and also harvest rainwater. Coke expects that the entire overhaul will be complete within the next 18 months and help eliminate 10,000 metric tons of CO2 emissions annually, as well as save over $1 million in annual operating costs. I sincerely hope Coke is doing more than this. I would think an upgrade to their transportation system or green updates to to their bottling plants is where real green efficiency could be made. Again, this is just my opinion and I hope you will tell me yours.
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