324 Search Results for "Nature"

• The climate deniers of the lef The climate deniers of the left

  • From: yiehk21
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    Coca Cola greenwash at the Copenhagen climate summit.

    The scientific community has never been more united in its conviction that climate change is well on the way to rendering planet Earth a vastly less hospitable place for most species, including our own. Yet doubt about the gravity of the problem is, paradoxically, on the rise.

    Recent polls in the US, Britain and Canada reveal that fewer people take the threat of climate change seriously than five years ago.

    One likely reason is the insidious effect of the ongoing campaign — largely orchestrated and funded by the fossil fuel industry, and drawing support from a cast of right-wing pundits and politicians — to sow doubt about the existence of climate change or at least about the contribution of human activity to it.

    The contrarians don’t all line up with the forces of reaction, however.

    Alexander Cockburn, veteran left journalist and co-editor of online journal Counterpunch.com, resigned this year from a more than 40-year stint on the editorial board of the New Left Review.

    His resignation was in response to the publication of Mike Davis’ “Who Will Build The Ark?”, a reflection on the implications of climate change, as the lead article of the illustrious journal’s 50th anniversary issue.

    There are few issues that get Cockburn as hot under the collar as global warming.

    He is by far the most extreme in his wholesale denial of the very problem of climate change, but Cockburn is not the only prominent leftist to dismiss the urgency accorded to global warming by progressives.

    York university’s David F. Noble, historian of science and technology, critic of the corporate usurpation of the university and occasional contributor to Canadian Dimension, is equally irate over the Left’s attention to climate change.

    And Slavoj Zizek, one of the world’s most prominent left-wing intellectuals, dubbed the “Elvis” of cultural theory, has at times articulated an agnostic position on global warming.

    Each of these thinkers, who reflect a real, if marginal, minority opinion on the left, come at their climate change scepticism from different angles.

    Cockburn maintains that global warming is a “non-existent threat” based on flawed science. He approvingly cites naysayers such as Patrick Michaels of the right-wing Cato Institute, fingered as a paid consultant of the fossil fuel industry.

    Against the prevailing scientific consensus, Cockburn insisted in an April 2007 Counterpunch.org article: “There is still zero empirical evidence that anthropogenic production of CO2 is making any measurable contribution to the world’s present warming trend.”

    In his view, climate change is a fiction fostered by capital as part of a strategy to profit from higher energy costs at the expense of the poor — a notion bearing more than a passing resemblance to the type of conspiracy-thinking he elsewhere denounces.

    He treats the left with contempt for not only being hoodwinked by the global warming “dogma”, but for being naive in seeing it as a tipping point in the direction of radical social change.

    Noble’s emphasis is different, although he pursues the general theme of climate change as a false crisis fabricated by elites for their own purposes.

    Tracing the history of the corporate world’s warming to the issue of climate change, he depicts it as a deliberate and successful effort by a faction of the ruling class to co-opt and derail the anti-globalisation movement of the 1990s.

    He is especially contemptuous of the left for adopting what he sees as an uncritical view of science in relation to climate change, one that disconnects science from politics, and of buying into the dominant either/or logic.

    Noble argues corporate interests have succeeded in creating a false polarisation of positions that leaves no space to reject both sides: he complains that one can either accept climate change as the principal problem of our time, along with the green capitalist solutions, or join the much maligned “deniers”.

    Zizek, too, cautions against a naive view of science. However, he seems lately to be conceding more to the scientific consensus than in previous pronouncements, where he opposed any limits to development on the grounds of uncertainty about the science.

    He argued that nature is inherently unstable and crisis-ridden and that ideas about any natural balance being upset by human activity are misguided.

    He said ecology, insofar as it emphasises our finitude and calls for us to treat the Earth with respect, is inherently conservative and expresses a deep distrust of change, development and progress. He thus characterised it as “a new opium of the masses”.

    In an April 29 New Statesmen article, Zizek seemed to shift gears. On the one hand, he repeated the assertion that nature is chaotic and there is no underlying natural balance to be perturbed by human activity. Science, he reiterated, is unreliable and its conclusions are subject to the pressures of capital.

    But he asserted that our survival as a species depends on “a series of stable natural parameters that we tend to take for granted ... The limits to our freedom become palpable with ecological disturbances, as our ability to transform nature destabilises the basic geological conditions of life on earth.”

    He appeared to jettison his opposition to placing limits on development when he wrote: “What is demanded, first, is strict egalitarian justice: worldwide norms of per capita energy consumption should be imposed, stopping developed nations from poisoning the environment at the present rate while blaming developing countries, from Brazil to China, for ruining our shared environment.”

    Of course, both scepticism and the ability to change one’s mind are signs of intellectual vigour. And dissent, as US socialist Norman Thomas said, is “essential to the search for truth in a world wherein no authority is infallible”.

    But there is a question of what motivates these dissenters.

    Scepticism about climate change on the right is fuelled, particularly in the US, by the belief that global warming is a socialist Trojan horse, designed to destroy the free market by the stealth of environmental regulation.

    What seems to unite the climate change sceptics on the left is the opposite belief — that climate change is distracting and deflecting the left from the project of radical social transformation.

    It is reminiscent of the response of a significant part of the socialist left to the emerging environmental consciousness in the 1970s, which discounted concerns about pollution and the rate of resource consumption as a “petit bourgeois” affair with no bearing on the world’s masses.

    But as countless scientists have stressed, the most devastating effects of climate change will be felt first of all by the poor in the global South, who are more directly and immediately dependent on the natural world for their living.

    The sceptics are legitimately concerned that the ecological crisis will be manipulated by capital as a business opportunity.

    There is no doubt that climate change will be exploited for profit by the corporate elite — just as the oil catastrophe in the Gulf is being turned to economic advantage by some of the companies responsible for the disaster who are now cashing in on the clean-up activities — but this fact should not lead us to discount the reality or gravity of the crisis.

    What is called for is an anti-capitalist response to the ecological threat — not only to the survival of our own species but to the innumerable other species now at risk.

    Left climate change sceptics seem to ignore the emerging ecosocialist current, which has taken up the challenge of wedding the critique of capitalism to an analysis of the ecological crisis.

    As one pamphlet produced the time of the December 2009 Copenhagen climate summit pointed out: “Climate change is not just an environmental issue. It is but one symptom of a system ravaging our planet and destroying our communities.”

    Far from being distracted by climate change, ecosocialists understand it as intimately related to the reigning global system of production that endlessly reproduces the unjust disparities of wealth and power that have always been the object of the left’s opposition.

    How can Cockburn, Noble and Zizek argue with that?

    http://www.greenleft.org.au/node/45269

     

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• UAE Maritime Leads the Way in UAE Maritime Leads the Way in Green Technology

  • From: yiehk21
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    Seatrade Middle East Maritime to Host the Latest in Environmental Innovation

    

    THE UAE's maritime industry is firmly setting an industry platform for environmental innovation with the official unveiling of the region's first oil spill detection system - as well as the next generation of a multi-award winning bow designed to save fuel - at this year's Seatrade Middle East Maritime (SMEM) – just some of several new innovations to be showcased.

    As a world-leading maritime market, the UAE is constantly increasing its importance as a nation which is producing consistent innovation and progressive technologies.

    Emma Hamilton, Seatrade Middle East Marketing Manager, said: "The number of exhibitors who will be launching new products this October to help with environmental maritime issues is the most we have ever seen. Environmental issues continues to be a pressing topic and it is fantastic to see both the UAE, and the Middle East maritime industry positioning itself as a pioneer for the development of green technology."

    Making its debut for the first time in the region will be the 'Rutter Sigma – 6' oil spill detection system from Sharjah-based Zenar Marine. The technology works in all weather conditions and at a time when the potential impact of an oil spill is most pertinent, this is sure to generate substantial interest during October's three-day event at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

    Fuel-efficient technology is one of the industry's most pressing topics and SMEM exhibitor the Ulstein Group ME will be launching its next generation X-Bow®, a backward sloping bow which helps vessels gain higher speeds with lower resistance and reduced fuel consumption. Launched in 2005, the original patented design reduced fuel consumption by up to 16 percent through redistributed foreship volume and substantially reduced flare.

    Unique System FZE will also be exhibiting its latest fuel performance system, which helps to monitor fuel consumption in relation to distance and speed. The Marorka technology will be showcased for the first time at SMEM, and the Unique team will be on hand to explain how the management system can help to track and improve a vessel's fuel efficiency.

    "The industry has of course been hit by the financial crisis as most industries have, and this combined with the competitive nature of the maritime market is making the current climate very challenging," said Venkatesh Rao, product sales manager at Unique System.

    "Unique System is at the forefront of technological innovation and this combined with the excellent services we provide has helped to cushion the blow from the global downturn. We are looking to the long-term and being part of Seatrade means that we are in the limelight and this is very positive for our business."

    Those who would like to find out the latest news from the UAE's maritime industry, along with the regional and international players, should attend this year's SMEM, which will take place from October 26-28 at Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre.

    http://www.pipelinecommunity.com/Alternative-Energy-News/uae-maritime-leads-the-way-in-green-technology.html

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• School District of Lancaster i School District of Lancaster installs 'green' roofs at three elementary schools

  • From: yiehk21
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    When School District of Lancaster pupils return to classes at three elementary schools next week, they may be wondering: Who's gonna water the roof?

    

    That's because three of the schools — Lafayette, Wharton and Ross — installed "green" roofs this summer on new additions.

    The vegetated roofs, which are designed to reduce rainwater runoff and conserve energy, are the first ever installed at public schools in Lancaster County, said Mary Gattis-Schell of the county planning commission.

    Franklin & Marshall College, Lancaster Mennonite School and a few local businesses have installed the roofs in recent years, but SDL is the first public school system to try out the green technology on a large scale, she said.

    The roofs were funded with a portion of a $479,000 "energy harvesting" grant the planning commission received from the state Department of Environmental Protection.

    SDL received $118,710 for its two vegetated roofs at Lafayette and Wharton, each of which total 10,000 square feet. The district also received a $30,000 grant from the Lancaster Foundation for Educational Excellence for the 2,500-square-foot vegetated roof at Ross.

    The grants offset the higher cost — about $7 per square foot, or a total of $157,500 at the three schools — of the roofs, said Greg Collins, SDL's coordinator of capital projects.

     

     VIDEO: Greg Collins explains benefits of green roof

     

    A vegetated roof also weighs more than a conventional roof and requires beefed-up structural supports to handle up to 50 pounds per square foot of extra weight when wet.

    But green roofs can last up to twice as long as a conventional design, Gattis-Schell said, and they have multiple environmental benefits.

    Their extra insulating properties cut heating and cooling costs and reduce the "heat island" effect, the buildup of heat from idling vehicles, pavement and the flat black roofs common to urban areas.

    The vegetation also greatly reduces stormwater runoff and filters pollutants from the water that does end up in the sewage system.

    A 2009 study by Millersville University found that a vegetative roof recently installed at Novelty Brush Co. in Lancaster reduced nitrates in rainwater runoff by 97 percent.

    The green roof also reduced heat transfer by about 35 percent and is expected to cut energy costs by 25 percent.

    SDL's green roofs will serve an educational purpose as well, Collins said. Science teachers plan to integrate them into the curriculum as environmental science learning laboratories.

    What are the downsides?

    The roofs require some initial weeding and will need to be watered during droughts lasting more than four weeks.

    But that's about it for maintenance.

    The roofs are planted with sedum, a hardy plant that, like a residential lawn, goes dormant in the winter and rebounds in the spring.

    It also doesn't grow higher than a couple of inches, so there's no need for high-rise lawn mowing.

    The roofs at Wharton and Ross include a layer of soil and crushed stone planted with sedum "plugs" grown by students at Lancaster County Career & Technology Center.

    At Lafayette, workers installed the sedum in rows of 4-inch-deep plastic trays measuring 1 by 2 feet.

    The trays allow the roots to poke out the sides but not the bottom, so they don't damage the roof membrane.

    All three roofs are warranted against leaks for 20 years and equipped with electronic "vector mapping" leak-detection systems that pinpoint problems.

    That's important, because before repairs could be made, the layer of sedum would need to be dug up or lifted out.

    Collins hopes SDL's roofs inspire others in the city to use Mother Nature to reduce stormwater runoff, which overtaxes the city's sewage treatment capabilities by more than 1 billion gallons a year.

    Much of that untreated runoff ends up in the Conestoga River.

    SDL's decision to install the three roofs is "really remarkable," said Gattis-Schell, a senior environmental planner with the county agency.

    With those roofs added to the mix, she said, Lancaster city now has almost one square foot of vegetated roof per resident — one of the highest per-capita rates in the country.

    bwallace@lnpnews.com

    
    
    Read more: http://articles.lancasteronline.com/local/4/281792#ixzz0xliXVIG6

    
    

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• 10 Green Weekend Trips Near Yo 10 Green Weekend Trips Near You

  • From: arboinks
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    Labor Day is just around the corner. You know what that means? It’s almost time for your last summer hurrah!

    This could be the last time to escape your home-base before the cold bites hard (unless you’re venturing out of town for the holidays, yep they’re on their way as well).

    So, pack up the car and get on the road. We’ve found some great eco-destinations that are just right around the corner.

    New York City

    New York City has embraced the shift toward sustainable tourism, with LEED-certified hotels, organic restaurants and alternative transportation amenities readily available. This is great news for travelers looking for a quick getaway to the Big Apple with the environment in mind.

    

    With more than 8 million residents, New York City has perfected the art of making most of its space. Photo: Wikimedia/AngMoKio

    Stay: The 70 Park Avenue Hotel near Grand Central Station supports the Kimpton EarthCare program by offering environmentally friendly products and services to guests.

    From an extensive recycling program and non-toxic/environmentally safe cleaning products, to a Green Road Warrior package that offers room upgrades and discounts to guests arriving in a hybrid car, the hotel seems to encourage environmental practices wherever possible.

    Eat: Habana Outpost in Brooklyn claims to be New York City’s first “eco-eatery.” Using earth-friendly practices in its design, construction and day-to-day operations, Habana Outpost aims to reduce wasteful consumption and promote sustainable solutions.

    From 100-percent biodegradable or compostable service ware and tables built of recycled plastic bottles and sawdust, to a bicycle-powered blender and grease-powered company car, this eatery is definitely as green as they come.

    For less than $10, you can enjoy your meal, which was cooked in a restored U.S. Postal truck, under the shade of recycled racing sails and next to the organic garden.

    Activity: We all know New York City to be synonymous with yellow cabs and subway systems, making it possible for the majority of residents to live and work car-free.

    Though part of the experience as a tourist to the Green Apple may include that ride in a checkered yellow cab or subway car, a bicycle might be the more enjoyable way to actually get out and see the city. Considerrenting a bicycle for the day, or joining a walking or biking tour of the city. You’ll find yourself noticing things you’ve never noticed before!

    Los Angeles

    Though synonymous with glitz, glamour and, well, traffic, Los Angeles is also home to more EnergyStar-certified buildings than any other city. A quick getaway to L.A. can be made as green as you choose, with a variety of accommodations and activities available within a short distance.

    

    Though it's consistently listed as one of the nation's top polluted cities, L.A. has several sustainable activities for residents. Photo: Wikimedia/Thomas Pintaric

    Activity: With so many beaches nearby, beach cleanups are regularly scheduled year-round activities any eager individual can take part in. They’re also a fun way to escape the city center for a bit, meet new people, while doing something productive at no cost.

    • Seal Beach Cleanup: Fourth Saturday of each month
    • Santa Monica Beaches Cleanup: Third Saturday of each month
    • Long Beach Beach Cleanup: Third Saturday of each month

    Eat: Finding a green restaurant in Los Angeles is quite easy as the Green Restaurant Associationcertifies nearly 20 restaurants in the area. Mendocino Farms, for example, is a neighborhood sandwich eatery and marketplace.

    Mendocino Farms uses local, organic and seasonal ingredients; recycled, tree-free, biodegradable and organic products for service-ware; and of course, recycle their waste. Average menu item is $7-$10.

    Other restaurants may not be certified by the Green Restaurant Association, but they are definitely leading the way in sustainability. Street works with sustainable fisheries, local family farms and sustainable ranches to supply the menu.

    As part of the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch Program, they serve lesser known sustainable seafood and distribute pocket seafood guides to customers. They never serve bottled water, use recycled and/or biodegradable containers and only produce 3 percent pure waste, as the rest is recycled and composted. The average lunch and dinner prices are $10-$15.

    Chicago

    Chicago sets the bar high when it comes to green attractions and amenities offered in a large city. From green roofs to green technology museums, the average visitor can turn a quick getaway into a Green Chicago experience with a little effort.

    

    Green roofs are the hottest trend in Chicago. Check out some of the cities hottest spots that contribute to less pollution and improved air quality. Photo: Wikimedia/Jed

    Attractions: Chicago has long been a national leader in the use of green roofs. Though the majority of green roofs are located atop private buildings and are off limits to the general public, there are a few open for exploring. The Chicago Center for Green Technology, Pepsico Rooftop Garden and Millenium Park are all buildings that allow guests to visit the rooftop gardens, and admission is free!

    The green roofs on Chicago municipal buildings don’t just contribute improved air quality and energy cost reduction, they also contribute honey!

    Rooftop beehives are found atop buildings like the Chicago Cultural Center and City Hall, with the rooftop honey being bottled and sold at Chicago’s Downtown Farmstand and the Cultural Center.

    Chicago is home to many other green attractions, including the LEED-Platinum Chicago Center for Green Technology, and a network of Green Certified Museums as instituted by the 2005 Green Museums Initiative.

    Also, the Chicago Neighborhood Tours of South Chicago tours industrial pockets that have recently undergone green transformation into LEED-certified communities and various Green conservatories and nature centers.

    Stay: The City of Chicago runs its own Green Hotels Initiative, allowing visitors to choose from a variety of LEED certified and Green Seal certified accommodations when staying in Chicago. Chicago houses 14 Green Seal certified hotels and two LEED-certified hotels, one gold and one silver, more than any other city in the U.S.

    Get Around: With 315 miles of established bikeways, Chicago visitors may want to consider taking advantage of the Chicago B-Cycle Bike Share program, an affordable and convenient way to get around the city. Check out a bike at one of the six B-cycle locations and return it to any open station, simple as that.

    Houston

    Though Houston may have one of the lowest recycling rates nationally at a mere 2.6 percent in 2008, the city is taking huge strides to increase that percentage. Where it lacks in recycling rates, it makes up in green jobs, as Houston was recently ranked the third highest green job market by Forbes.

    

    Where it lacks in recycling rates, Houston makes up with green motivation. Photo: Wikimedia

    Activity: Discovery Green in Houston, a LEED Gold Certified center in Downtown, is home to 12-acres of eco-friendly recreation services, including public art works, amphitheater, gardens, recycling center, co-op green market, bike paths, free dance and exercise classes, free gardening workshops, restaurants and more.

    Don’t miss the September 3-17 featuring of “Las Comadres Recycled: Outdoor Sculpture Exhibition,” where artists create life-size statues promoting ideas and practices for sustainable living.

    The Beer Can House is another must-see for recycling aficionados intrigued by the weird and wacky. Named one of America’s Top 50 Roadside Attractions by Time magazine, the home project was a labor of love for owner John Milkovisch, who used more than 50,000 beer cans in what can be considered the ultimate upcycling project.

    Milkovisch, a retired upholsterer for the Southern Pacific Railroad, set out on what would become an 18-year project in 1968 of emptying cans through consumption and using them in home improvement projects.

    He used the tops, bottoms, sides and tabs of the cans to make siding, fences, sculptures, windmills, curtains and garlands for the home, actually contributing to a significant lowering of energy consumption. Admission to the house is $2.

    Phoenix

    The American Lung Association’s State of the Air 2010 report named Phoenix as one of its top 7 most polluted cities in the U.S. However, the city has embraced some green ideas from its neighboring green sister cities, Sedona and Flagstaff.

    

    An oasis in the desert: Phoenix is home to some of the most beautiful landscape, hiking and other outdoor activities. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

    Eat: Phoenix is home to local green restaurant favorite, True Food Kitchen. From its construction and design to its menu, everything at True Food Kitchen is meant to be sustainable.

    A member of the Green Restaurant Association, True Food utilizes seasonal, locally grown and organic ingredients, serves sustainably harvested seafood, eliminated bottled water and participates in a comprehensive recycling program…and the food is great. Average menu $10-20.

    Stay: For those looking to embrace the desert environment, but escape the traffic that comes with the nation’s fifth largest city, a trip north to eco-minded Sedona might hit the mark.

    The red sandstone formations that make up Sedona’s landscape attract visitors looking to embrace the outdoors, serenity and green accommodations that make up the small town.

    Volunteer Vacation: If your getaway to Phoenix includes a couple days headed up to the Grand Canyon, consider a volunteer vacation.

    The Grand Canyon Trust coordinates volunteer trips of varying lengths and effort, with projects ranging from invasive plant removal to site maintenance. Volunteer trips are free, with the organization covering the cost of food, transportation or lodging.

    Philadelphia

    Activity: Greenfest Philly, a one-day free street fair, will take place this year on September 12, featuring live music and entertainment, activities, food, local produce, composting and recycling expos, an Eco Exchange Fashion Show & Clothing Swap, green film festival and more. The theme of this year’s fest is sustainable fashion, highlighting how simple changes can make you fashionably eco-conscious.

    

    The American Commerce Center is slated for completion in 2012 and will be constructed with US Green Building Council LEED Gold Certification in mind. Photo: Wikimedia Commons

    Eat: The White Dog Cafe is a Philadelphia favorite known for its “unusual blend of award-winning contemporary American cuisine, civic engagement and environmental sustainability.”

    The restaurant purchases 100 percent of electricity from wind power, uses a solar hot water system, eliminated bottled water waste, sources its ingredients from local farmers, established a cooperative compost program for area restaurants, engages in a recycling program with the University of Pennsylvania and much more. Lunch ranges from $10-$15 and dinner ranges from $10-$35.

    Stay: Hotel Palomar, the only LEED Gold Certified hotel in Philadelphia, incorporates eco-friendly and sustainable actions throughout the hotel. The hotel provides discounts to guests driving hybrid vehicles, offers in-room recycling for guests, uses eco-certified cleaning supplies and much more.

    The hotel’s comprehensive recycling program goes beyond the commonly recycled objects to include cups, clothing, hangers, batteries and much more. Rates range from $150 and up.

    San Antonio

    Best known for housing “The Alamo,” San Antonio is becoming a surprising green scene for the lone-star state. One of the fastest growing urban areas in the country, San Antonio has been forced to consider water supply, alternative transportation and smart growth to deal with growing pains.

    

    Some regions in Texas, such as San Antonio, are making excellent strides towards improving recycling rates. Photo: Flickr/Austrini

    The popular River Walk area, lined with shops and restaurants, is slated for a multi-million dollar renovation focused on eco-tourism, which will add hiking trails, bike baths, 113 acres of aquatic habitat, 300 acres of riverbank habitat and 20,000 native trees and plants to the area.

    Eat: Green Restaurant is San Antonio’s only 100 percent vegetarian and kosher restaurant, with low impact at the center of its philosophy.

    The restaurant has installed an energy efficient thermal roof barrier to reduce energy consumption, uses biodegradable packaging and is installing a rainwater capture cistern for landscape maintenance. Menu items range from $5-$10.

    Go Local: Texas’ climate makes it the perfect place for readily available fresh produce, and the Texas Department of Agriculture maintains the Pick Texas website, which offers several resources for the locavore, including:

    • An A-Z directory of farmers’ markets by city, from Abilene to Wimberley
    • Availability of produce and recipes to help plan menus utilizing the best of what’s in season
    • A county-by-county directory of places to pick your own produce

    San Diego

    If you’re looking to plan a quick getaway to San Diego, turning it green can be done quite easily as the city engages in a variety of sustainable tourism strategies.

    

    The goal of “Zero Waste California,” stretches from Sacramento to San Diego, locals can find recycling services, reduction resources, gardening and composting outreach programs. Photo: Wikimedia/Microsomen

    Activity: California’s 26th Annual Coastal Cleanup Day is coming up on September 25, with more than 80 cleanup sites planned in San Diego County alone.

    In 2009, more than 80,600 volunteers removed more than 1.3 million pounds of trash and recyclables from California beaches, lakes and waterways. Planned to occur on the same day as International Coastal Cleanup, organized by The Ocean Conservancy, the cleanup becomes one of the largest volunteer events of the year.

    Get Around: In addition to the inexpensive light-rail  trolley system operated by the city, various trolley tours of San Diego are offered through private companies, providing a great way to see the city with a lower impact. Old Town Trolley Tours of San Diego offers open-air, hop on & off narrated tours in their propane and biodiesel-fueled fleet.

    Dallas

    Named one of the Natural Resources Defense Council’s “Smarter Cities,” Dallas is a leader in renewable energy use with 40 percent of the city’s energy purchases from renewable sources, mainly wind power.

    

    Texas is also the home of the Renewable Energy Roundup and Green Living Fair. Photo: Flickr/austrini

    From green building initiatives to community garden grant programs, the city has launched a major campaign to green its footprint.

    Activity: The Dallas Green Festival will be held on September 18 this year, an environmental stewardship event including such activities as a mass butterfly release, recycled arts and crafts, food and live music and more.

    Indulge: For those willing to splurge a bit, treat yourself to a “treehugger,” “biodiesel,” or “green freak” spa package at Spa Habitat in Dallas.

    The spa, which uses only organic and natural ingredients, plants a tree for every service performed and uses 100 percent wind power among other initiatives. Envy magazine named Spa Habitat one of Dallas’ 30 Most Ecologically Conscious Organizations.

    San Jose

    Like its neighbor to the north, San Jose has proved a leader in sustainable planning and initiative.

    

    With a year-round growing season, Californians can enjoy the freshest fruits and vegetables from local sources throughout the state. Photo: Flickr/roadofthefour

    In October 2007, the San Jose City Council adopted Green Vision, a 15-year plan to transform San Jose into a world center for clean technology innovation, promoting sustainable practices, and demonstrate that economic growth, environmental stewardship and fiscal responsibility are intricately linked.

    Attraction: San Jose’s Tech Museum houses a permanent exhibit called Green by Design, allowing visitors to explore the possibilities of renewable energy resources through hands-on activities. Admission to the museum is $5-$10.

    Drink: Many who venture to the Bay Area take a day trip out to wine country, sampling some of the state’s best wines. Santa Clara County winery, Clos LaChance, is one of a dozen area vineyards certified by the California Sustainable Winegrowing Alliance.

    The winery utilizes natural biological control, reclamation ponds to recycle water for irrigation, education and community outreach programs and organic and sustainable farming techniques among others. The winery is open daily for tastings.

    Source: http://earth911.com/news/

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• 'Maximizing urban cores' vital 'Maximizing urban cores' vitality and infrastructure must be the basis for any definition of sustainability'

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

     

    There’s a terrific article on cnn.com titled “Green Buildings Won’t Save the Planet,” written by architects Joshua Prince-Ramus, Randolph Croxton, and Tuomas Toivonen.  It states in broad, manifesto-like strokes the same concept I was trying to illustrate in my post last week on “net zero” Prairie Ridge Estates in Illinois:  ‘green’ isn’t always what it appears, and seldom is when it involves sprawl.  Some excerpts from the new article:

    “The American building-design community's vision of sustainability is myopically focused on increasing the energy efficiency and reducing the embodied carbon of individual buildings. So-called 'green' buildings are simply not sustainable if, for example:

    • Their occupants drive long distances every day.
    • The energy they consume is carbon-intensive.
    • Their technology is too complicated to use or too difficult to maintain.
    • Their impact stops at the property line.
    • They deny the use of pre-existing infrastructure or building fabric.
    • They are conceived in isolation from larger, systemic environmental change . . .

    “Only by changing behavior -- particularly suburban sprawl and its accompanying carbon intensive lifestyle -- can the United States reach ecological balance.

    “Strategies for maximizing the potential of our urban cores' existing vitality and infrastructure must be the basis for any definition of sustainability.

      

    “In short, we must make the most of what we already have. We must overcome the growing perception that new ‘green’ is our salvation [emphasis mine] . . .

    “Updating and/or adaptively reusing existing buildings close to the infrastructure our nation has built over the last 100 years is often far more sustainable than constructing new ‘green’ buildings in the suburbs (or even downtown) . . .

    “The following strategies can effectively incentivize U.S. growth and migration to move toward more dense and diverse cities, while simultaneously enriching natural resources:

    • Establish growth boundaries between city and nature that allow both to reach their full potential . . .
    • Create regional and nationwide marketplaces that allow rural and suburban landowners outside growth boundaries to transfer their development rights to areas where urban growth is desirable . . .
    • Develop a national ecological balance plan that steers development at the scale of buildings, infrastructure and ecosystem services through a comprehensive framework of guidelines and indicators.
    • Devise a quantitative indicator that analyzes and coordinates population density, programmatic diversity and low-carbon travel. This metric would provide policy makers, planners, developers and citizens with a common understanding of the underlying patterns that shape their community's carbon footprint, and inform consensus-driven systemic action, such as the drawing of growth boundaries.
    • Develop new types of urban structures that, by design, can adapt to a rich variety of unanticipated uses and accommodate new construction technologies as they evolve . . .”

    Applause, please.  The whole article is well worth reading and taking to heart. 

    To be clear, NRDC strongly supports green technology and green buildings, and so so I.  My former colleague Rob Watson has been honored as "the father of LEED" and deserves tons of credit for his work creating standards and incentives for efficient and resource-conserving buildings.  Many of my colleagues at NRDC and the US Green Building Council are still on the case, and we should all be glad of it.  I'm also not entirely comfortable with the authors' unabashed vocabulary of "behavior" modification.  Especially given market and demographic trends, I see much of our task as making it easier to satisfy demand, and taking advantage of opportunity in disinvested urban cores and town centers, rather than changing people.

      

    But the authors have emphasized something fundamental that more environmentalists - including Al Gore, if he's still around somewhere - need to grasp:  technology can help, but only if it is part of a more holistic approach that includes land use, equity, and a lot more.  Technology can even hurt if it lulls us to sleep, dreaming that sprawl is just fine if it's "green" sprawl.  It isn't fine, and let's be real about that.

    Back to the article, there is also a TED video on the site showing part of a lecture by Joshua Prince-Ramus discussing his firm’s design for an immensely flexible theater in Dallas.  Curiously, it seems unrelated to urban cores, adaptive reuse, development patterns or even green architecture (in other words, the subjects of the article), but it is still interesting if you are an architecture junkie. 

    http://switchboard.nrdc.org/blogs/kbenfield/maximizing_urban_cores_vitalit.html

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• A “Seed” that Pumps Water A “Seed” that Pumps Water

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    Consider the following situations – the garden or lawn has been over watered; the tank has been overfilled; you forget to switch off or switch on the pump on time. If you have been in any of the given situations then you need to try out this new household pump ‘Seed’.

    Seed is a centrifugal pump concept designed by Ukrainian designer Aleksander Mukomelov. The design of this pump is inspired by the shape of a seed and hence the name. The fact that the body is made from recycled plastic adds on to the eco-friendly nature of the product. Seed does not require any additional devices as its interior is fit with a layer of foam that facilitates it to stay afloat. At the same time the very bottom part has a layer of ballast that prevents it from rolling over. The vents on the sides of it stay above the water level and allow free inlet of cool air and outlet of warm air.

    

    This innovative household pump is well equipped to draw water from surface water bodies like lakes, rivers and ponds as well as wells, water reservoirs and chinks. And all this can be done without any fuss. In fact you will be set free from problems such as overfill which leads to wastage of electricity. And think of all the time to be spent on pumping out excess water.

    

    Seed does not even need your constant attendance since it comes with a remote control panel. The remote control helps preset many parameters of the pump like setting the switching off and on time, shutdown countdown, the frequency of turning the pump on and off, the amount of water to be flowed in before shutting down and many more such adjustments. In fact it is also possible to set a program to be repeated once or on a multiple basis. The additional feature of detaching the remote control from the body gives it an additional marketing edge. With the remote it will be possible to operate the pump from a distance also in cases where it is not possible to access the pump, for example chinks and wells.

    

    

    The aim of designing a product like Seed is to provide ultimate freedom to the user from everyday watering problems and it is no doubt that Mukomelov has succeeded in doing this. Seed is here to take care of all watering issues so that you can rest at ease.

    You could also go through Plants Vs Zombies Characters and Manga Vegetable Farming to make your gardens more attractive.

    Source:  http://www.walyou.com/

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• Building Green? Your Neighbors Building Green? Your Neighbors May Block You. Is It Greenfear?

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

     

    Kristi and Tom Cohen of Green Point in Marin County, California wanted to build their green dream house, and chose a modular design by renowned California architect Michelle Kaufmann. The design, called the “Sunset Breezehouse,” includes solar panels, recycled materials and a living “green” roof.

    The upper section of the house is put together in a factory, a process that is faster and more efficient than on-site construction. The defining feature of the Sunset Breezehouse blueprint is the so-called BreezeSpace at the center, which is formed by a distinctive butterfly-shaped roof. according to the architect’s website, the glass-enclosed breezeway is intended to “let the green in to your space, blurring the boundary between interior and exterior. Courtyards, terraces and decks are placed at the front and rear of the home to further integrate nature with living.” The goal is to give the sense of greater space without having to build bigger.

    Local Marin residents objected to that innovative style, however, claiming that the modernist home would severely clash with the more traditional feel of the neighborhood. Some dubbed it “trailer like.” a petition against the home was launched. The Cohens conducted meetings and went through various redesigns. In the end, the local board voted unanimously to approve the project, declaring a victory for green builders everywhere.

    Clearly, preserving the character of neighborhoods is a noble goal, but the Marin resident’s unusually strong opposition makes one wonder how much of their concerns were about the look of the building itself, or if they were merely afraid of emerging green technology that they were unfamiliar with — something we at TDG call “greenfear.”

    If neighborhoods exhibited as much revulsion to the raft of hideous McMansions popping up across the country as they did to a smallish green house, maybe it would go a long way to protecting the flavor of our towns. The story also underscores how, ultimately, it will be important to have a diverse array of green designs to fit well into the fabric of every street.

    Source : http://www.sportnooz.com/building-green-your-neighbors-may-block-you-is-it-greenfear

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• Now cars to drive on whisky Now cars to drive on whisky

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    

    Driving a car after a whisky binge has always posed risks of being caught by law enforcers, but not if the vehicle is high on whisky. 

    Scientist from Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the new biofuel, created from whisky by-products that could power cars.
     
    The innovative new super biofuel has been developed over the last two years by Professor Martin Tangney, director of the Edinburgh Napier's Biofuel Research Centre, which could help power cars currently on the road without the need to make any special mechanical changes to cars.
     
    Using samples of whisky distilling by-products from Diageo's Glenkinchie Distillery, Tangney and his research team used the two main by-products of the whisky production process – 'pot ale', the liquid from the copper stills, and 'draff', the spent grains, as the basis for producing the butanol that can then be used as fuel.

    The team focused on the £4 billion ($6.2 billion) UK whisky industry to develop the bio-butanol fuel that gives cars 30 per cent more output power than ethanol, since unlike ethanol, the composite nature of the bio-fuel could lead to ordinary cars using the more powerful fuel instead of traditional petrol.

    With 1,600 million litres of pot ale and 187,000 tonnes of draff produced by the malt whisky industry annually in the UK, the research team believes there is real potential for bio-fuel to be available at local gas stations alongside traditional fuels.

    Edinburgh Napier University has filed a patent for the biofuel and intend to create a spin-out company to make the fuel available at petrol pumps.

    "The European Union has declared that biofuels should account for 10 per cent of total fuel sales by 2020. We're committed to finding new, innovative renewable energy sources,'' said Tangney.

    "This is a more environmentally sustainable option and potentially offers new revenue on the back of one Scotland's biggest industries. We've worked with some of the country's leading whisky producers to develop the process,'' he added.

    Source: http://www.domain-b.com/automotive/2010/20100818_whisky.html

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• Green tech masters course intr Green tech masters course introduced

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

     

    

    With a focus on sustainability and the environment, the Institute of Chemical Technology (ICT) on Wednesday launched a first-of-its-kind MTech programme in green technology.

    The programme aims to develop eco-friendly technologies, with an emphasis on collaborating with the industry. It would be a two-year full-time programme.

    It would also be offered as a three-year part-time programme for industry personnel. Classes will start from this week.

    Green technology encompasses aspects like preventing pollution at source, developing chemical synthesis that is less hazardous, designing safer chemicals and designing for energy efficiency, among other things.

    Academicians said that the chemical industry could have a negative impact on human health and the environment if the use of chemicals was not managed responsibly.

    “Each stage of the chemical industry’s production cycle can affect man and nature,” said professor GD Yadav, director of the ICT.

    “Hence, production should move towards long-term sustainability. That’s why we introduced this programme, which will be a first in the country,” Yadav said.

    The programme would be divided into four semesters. While the first two would involve course work, students would do full-time research for a dissertation in the third and fourth.

    Source : http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report_green-tech-masters-course-introduced_1425916

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• Vishwa gives Green Gyan for a Vishwa gives Green Gyan for a Greener Tomorrow

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

    In an initiative to spread awareness regarding green practices that can be adopted through an environmentally friendly lifestyle, Vishwa organized a Green Gyan session in collaboration with the Green Technology Committee ( CCI ) for its members at the Cricket Club of India.

    

    Mumbai, Maharashtra, August 18, 2010 /India PRwire/ -- In an initiative to spread awareness regarding green practices that can be adopted through an environmentally friendly lifestyle, Vishwa organized a Green Gyan session in collaboration with the Green Technology Committee ( CCI ) for its members at the Cricket Club of India. The session set the example that it was never too late to adopt green practices and aimed to educate, encourage and create awareness among the CCI members to cultivate green habits and learn more about the cause and effect relationship the environment shares with society today.

    Mr. Yogendra Vora, Founder, Vishwa believes, "Today our world is at an environmental crossroads largely due to man's irresponsible consumption and production practices. You need not look too far to see and feel the effects - climate change, global warming, mounting non-biodegradable waste piles, irregular monsoons, proliferation of infectious diseases and many such environment related issues are a daily reality. The youth today are already relatively vocal & active and possess knowledge on green practices. It was amazing to see that there is an older generation too who are interested in learning about how they can contribute for a greener tomorrow. There are a number of platforms to discuss environmental issues and look for macro level answers and Vishwa aims to add to these efforts by focusing on simple steps and everyday solutions, things that you and I can do towards building a greener tomorrow."

    Mr. Yogendra Vora, a social entrepreneur, spoke on the topic" Come together for a Greener Tomorrow" which was inspiring and insightful. Mr. Vora discussed about the steps that Vishwa has under taken to have a better and greener future. He also spoke about the upcoming Vishwa 2010 exhibition in Ocotober which is a platform to promote eco-friendly business Solutions. Mr. Vora stated that change starts from a single person and one should not underestimate the power of a single person that can bring about a change in society.

    Mr. Yogendra Vora also enlisted the support of Mr. Anil Ranglani who spoke on managing waste and Mr. Sandeep Sonigra who spoke on water energy solutions.

    Mr. Ranglani discussed "compost" and the exact nature of it of its uses in city life.He discussed about the Daily Dump project which is the first product of its kind in India and elaborated on how it works and how essential it is to dump the waste hygienically. He also spoke about the various products offered like the Leave in pot and Khamba to dump and manage the organic waste. Mr. Ranglani explained that compost could serve very fruitful in urban lifestyles even if one did not have a garden and explained how one could use compost to enrich their lives & the importance of recycling.

    Mr. Sandeep Sonigra spoke on the Orange County constructions in Pune and how the buildings and flats were designed to provide optimum light and ventilation through its designs. He explained the various measures that they took with water energy solutions, elevators & electricity to ensure the maximum preservation of energy. These eco-friendly homes also generate solar energy for their homes which play a big role in their energy preservation solutions.

     

    About the Speakers

    Mr. Yogendra Vora, a social entrepreneur, founded and made Vishwa, his dream, a reality along with the support of ISVS. Vishwa is a Green Movement with the agenda to bring all green solutions on a neutral platform. Through Vishwa he is trying to enable & promote grass root level solutions in today's world with a vision to get the world together. He believes that everyone, even though from a diverse background, can play a role to make the world a better place to live in. Hence Vishwa gives people a platform to unite and bring together the available eco friendly solutions to bring about a change in the environment and to sustain a better life.

    Mr. Anil Ranglani founded Sunsaar a year ago which is the Mumbai clone of Daily Dump that was started in Bangalore. Daily Dump provides products, services and solutions that convert kitchen and garden waste to compost (i.e. organic fertilizer for plants). Essentially, this means creating wealth from waste. Sunsaar provides its solutions for individual homes, societies and commercial units.

    Mr. Sandeep Sonigra is the director of Orange County Foundation. The Orange County foundation is a cohesive group of individuals having vast experience in diverse fields like Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Water conservation, Effluent treatment, Architecture, Civil construction, Eco-restoration in their individual capacity and are clubbed together with the sole wish to ensure healthy and secured tomorrow. The group of individuals associated with Orange county foundation has been instrumental in creating, first of its kind, self sufficient green housing project at Pashan, Pune. This success motivated them to come forward and provide all possible help to individuals or organizations looking for green solutions.

    Notes to Editor

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• Recycled glass is the ultimate Recycled glass is the ultimate eco chic

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:
    • 
      
      

      recycled glass is the way forward

      Whether you want a vodka bottle transformed into a nibbles dish, a wine glass that was once a beer bottle, or a funky vase – recycled glass is unique, eco and stylish – and the way forward.

      Which is a good thing because we get through 3.6 million tonnes of glass every year in the UK alone.

      Glass facts

      • Glass comprises 7 percent of the average household dustbin
      • Over 2.5 million tonnes of this material was landfilled in 2005
      • 1 recycled glass bottle can save enough energy to power  a computer for 25 minutes!
    • The UK recycles and reuses about 1 million tonnes of glass
    • Due to the infinite nature of the material, glass continues to be re-useable without compromising quality, so glass recycling is on the increase

    

    Glass goblets

    Green Glass are specialists in this glass recycling industry and work in conjunction with African countries to make the funky gadgets and goblets, tumblers and flutes we want adorning our kitchen shelves and cupboards.

    Glasses and bottles are generally shaped by hand to achieve the desired artistic look, otherwise each tumbler would be identical and lose its unique design quirk. In addition, Green Glass try to make the most of the different shapes, sizes and colours of glass available through recycling schemes – thus ensuring a constantly changing range.

    

    recycled beer bottles make stylish candles

    Glass candles

    Another groovy use of your old beer bottles, Green Glass have hit home with these stylish candles. The bottles are strong and sturdy to withstand heat and the odd tumble. And just like the glass itself, the candle holders are re-usable. Simply pop in another of your favourite candles  any colour or scent to keep the bottle alive and glowing.

    Juice Flutes

    Ideal for kids or juice loving adults, these sturdy but stylish glasses hold their own in any dishwasher or cocktail bar. But if you prefer not to buy off the shelf – Green Glass will customise  a run of glasses especially for you, so not only can you support the recycling process but you can design your own product – essential for that individual touch to finish your new kitchen or party.

    For an exciting selection of recycled glass vases, check outBiomeLifestyle

     

    Source: http://lorettaecogirl.wordpress.com/ 

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• Ecopolis: Self-sufficient city Ecopolis: Self-sufficient city built with sustainable habitable cells

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

     

    

    Eco Factor: Conceptual global city with rainwater collection and wastewater treatment.

    Designed by Santiago Marenco, Ecopolis is a conceptual global city for the future based on the idea of a set of highly differentiated sustainable and habitable cells. These physically separate but functionally integrated urban cells cluster together to combine nature and human-built ecosystems together. The tridimensional unit comes loaded with all services and functions necessary to make it self-sufficient. It generated power from renewable non-polluting sources like solar panels and wind turbines.

    
    

    Ecopolis offers modular residential units with varying dimensions to meet terms with the resident’s requirements and its relationship with the natural world. It also has room for rainwater collection, wastewater and air treatment, waste recycling and geothermal heating. The three parabolic shaped collectors gather rainwater for future use, while a water treatment plant recycles polluted water from the cell to irrigate the hydroponic cloud garden located at every level.

    

    The interior of the structure has several plazas, pedestrian bridges and walkways connecting different areas, allowing people to walk safely and freely. The vertical plazas are landscaped with plants and gardens, while the residential area includes all necessary services like schools, shopping areas, senior citizen clubs, playgrounds and civic services. The project has been submitted to the 2010 Skyscraper Competition.

    

    

    Source: http://www.ecofriend.org/

     

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• Comparing Green Building Ratin Comparing Green Building Rating Systems: LEED or NGBS?

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    A Custom Builder's Journey to Green — Part 5: Comparing the major national green rating systems. LEED's spreadsheet is fast and easy; NGBS's online checklist was cumbersome at first. But they both have similar point structures.

    

    Two of the green rating programs we’ve mentioned in this blog series are the LEED for Homesprogram and the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) developed by NAHB. The intent of these two certification programs is similar.

    For the most part, the points available in each program are similar. The LEED for Homes checklist and spreadsheets are very user-friendly, and there is a decent amount of information on the Web site. We were very surprised that answers to questions about the LEED program came very slowly – it took a very long time to hear back from USGBC. I also felt that USGBC was very proprietary with their information.

    The NGBS checklist was done online. The Web site was very easy to navigate; most of our questions were answered in the links as we completed each section. However, it was very cumbersome to get through the first time. I think I spent about four hours going through it. It would have been nice to just go directly to a spreadsheet to fill out.

    I especially liked the sections in NGBS where it named the approved products. (With the LEED for Homes program, on the other hand, I felt like we were reinventing the wheel each time we tried to use a certain product.) Another nice feature of the NGBS Web site is that it incorporates the Builder’s Challenge into their online tool; it tells you every point that is required so you don’t accidentally overlook something.

    LEED requires more paperwork
    The required inspections were nearly much identical – a pre-drywall inspection and a final inspection. The two certification programs have similar documentation requirements, with one exception: the durability checklist required by the LEED for Homes program. This durability checklist seemed a little unnecessary, considering that the information was already on the plans or specs.

    Creating all of the accountability forms and getting the subs to sign them was a lot of work; LEED for Homes has more monotonous paperwork.

    Once we sent off our application, it took several weeks for our LEED for Homes application to get approved. In contrast, the NGBS was approved within a few days, and they even processed the Builder’s Challenge certification for us.

    I’ll say one thing: the LEED for Homes certificate is the nicest I have seen from any of the programs. It came in a nice folder and was designed to look like it had been mounted and framed (even though it was not). The Builder’s Challenge sticker is pretty nice – they put our company logo on it and it has a color HERS scale on it which could be a great marketing tool when trying to explain a home’s HERS Index to a potential buyer.

    Comparable stringency
    Although most people think that the LEED for Homes program is much more stringent than the NGBS program, I did not find that to be the case. That may be true only on the bottom rung of each program — if you compare a LEED for Homes Certified home to a NGBS Bronze level home. One of the flaws in the NGBS program is that Energy Star Homes certification is not a prerequisite.

    Once you rise up the rungs, the two programs are more in line with each other. The LEED for Homes silver, gold, and platinum levels are comparable to the NGBS gold, silver, and emerald levels.

    Our Platinum LEED home — nicknamed the Mean Lean Dream Green Platinum Level LEED for Homes house — did not get Emerald certification from NGBS, only Gold. So arguably, the NGBS program is more stringent than LEED, although I’m sure if you move the points around you can prove the opposite as well.

    A nice thing about the NGBS program: as you moved up each level, there were minimum scores for each division. In contract, the LEED for Homes program does not have minimums for each division — allowing you to be point-heavy in one area and weak in another. I believe that overall, the NGBS program results in a more balanced house.

    Point chasing
    At times I did feel like we were just chasing points, but I guess that is just the nature of these programs. There are a few requirements in these programs that are well-intentioned but may not make much sense, depending on where you are building. For example, we went through a lot of work to use locally made lumber; that meant we had to purchase some of our material from different suppliers. As a result, five different companies sent half-loaded trucks to our site rather than one large tractor trailer with all of our material in one trip. I am not sure if we reduced our carbon footprintin that case.

    Another item that may not have lessened our carbon footprint: since we were trying to get a point for ceiling joists spaced more than 16 in. on center, we had to increase the depth of the ceiling joists. Sso even though we had fewer joists, we needed 2x12s instead of 2x8s — so I am not sure if we really used fewer board feet of lumber. Some would argue that 2x8s can come out of smaller trees than 2x12s — so I’m not sure how much that point-chasing really helped.

    To me, green building is really about the performance of the building rather than the materials. So, even though rounding up the materials did require a lot of time and effort, I did not lose too much sleep over that stuff.

    A good sales tool
    Overall I have enjoyed my green building journey. I have learned a lot, and I feel our company, Kelly McArdle, is building better houses because of it. I like having a third party inspect our homes; it helps protect us and is also a good sales tool. As I had hoped, green building has really set us apart from other custom builders in our area, and we have gotten several jobs as a result of our knowledge and experience in green building.

    I am constantly amazed that builders and architects who are leaders in the industry understand so little about green building. They are convinced that it is much more complex than it actually is. This new knowledge and experience has also helped get our foot in the door with some people who would not have considered us a few short years ago.

    After attending some of the recent conferences, it appears that today’s green home is tomorrow’s code-minimum home. What was formerly something that set us apart is going to be required of every home builder. So as not to remain stagnant, you would be advised to get ready to walk, jog and run on your own journey to green.

    Personally, I’m thinking about what we need to do to fly!

    Posted on Aug 16 by Danny Kelly | Danny Kelly is a co-owner of Kelly McArdle Construction in Charlotte, North Carolina.
    Original Source: http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/green-building-blog/comparing-green-building-rating-systems-leed-or-ngbs
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• nPower PEG Kinetic Charger – j nPower PEG Kinetic Charger – just stow and go

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    A new eco-friendly charger has hit an increasingly crowded market, but the nPower PEG promises convenience rarely seen in such devices: just drop it in your backpack and carry on as normal.

    The PEG kinetic charger – made by nPower, a company better known for its Wave Energy Converter large-scale renewable energy harvesters which harness the motion of the sea to produce cheap, eco-friendly energy on a large scale – works in a similar way to the shake-to-charge flashlights that have been on the market for a while, but adds a useful modification: the ability to harvest excess energy while you’re out walking.

    According to UberGizmo, the usage is simple: just stick the 9″ device in your backpack vertically – it doesn’t work if it’s at an angle – and go about your daily business.  As you walk, jog, run, cycle, or even travel by car, bus, or train, the PEG captures the bumps and jolts and uses them to slide an electromagnet past a coil – converting the otherwise wasted kinetic energy into electrical energy, which is then stored in the device’s internal battery for later use.

    Those uses are multitudinous, too: with more than 100 tips available for the PEG, nPower has produced possibly the most versatile charger we’ve seen for quite some time.  No matter what gadget you’re trying to charge, the chances are than nPower will be able to sell you the adapter you need to use the PEG.

    As well as the passive harvesting of wasted kinetic energy, the PEG can be used as an emergency charger: just grab the device and shake it repeatedly along its long axis – while trying not to think what it looks like you’re doing – and you’ll force it to generate energy which can be used to make an emergency call on your cellphone if you find yourself in trouble.

    As with most device of this nature, the efficiency isn’t stellar: ten minutes of average walking will, the company claims, get you around a minute of chatting on an iPhone 3G smartphone – although if you’re more into music than chatting, a 1:1 ratio of walking to listening offers a better return.

    Despite the poor 10:1 return ratio for smartphone users, it’s still a useful gadget: if you’re on a ten-hour hike, you’ll get a full hour of talk time on your handset – which is certainly nothing to be sniffed at.

    However, the price is likely to keep all but the most gadget-hungry of hikers away: with pricesstarting at $149.99 with a single adapter tip, there are cheaper ways to keep your devices topped up when you’re out and about.

    Source: http://www.geekwithlaptop.com/

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• Holiday in Kerala –Tour to Won Holiday in Kerala –Tour to Wonderful Kerala

  • From: michaelhussy
  • Description:

    Kerala is one of the most sought after holiday destination in India. It is preferred destination among both domestic and foreign tourists. People from all part of the country and from different corners of world visit this “God’s Own Country”. Nature has artistically made Kerala. It is rich in flora and fauna, wonderful landscape, network of backwater, series of hill stations, etc. Tourists can find seven colors of rainbow in Kerala.

     

    There are many spots where tourists can celebrate holiday in Kerala. They can enjoy picnicking in hill stations. They can enjoy beach activities there. They can spend wonderful nights in houseboats in the isolated backwater. They can move to remote places in the backwater and discover the distinct natural beauty. They can walk in the hill stations. They can do anything there.

     

    Kerala is very famous for its long network of backwaters. The network is of about 115 kilometers crossing many coastal villages and cities. Kerala backwater tour is famous because it is very unique in itself. It is dotted with palm tree and other vegetations. There is no human intervention, it is completely natural. Houseboat provides an amazing opportunity to explore the network of backwaters. These houseboats are very comfortable. There are comfy beds inside the boat. Delicious cuisine will also be loaded in the boat. It will really be lifetime enthralling experience to enjoy dinner and night in the houseboat. Some of the popular backwater regions are Cochin, Alappuzha, Kollam, Kumarakom, Kottayam, Kuttanad, etc.

     

    Kerala is also famous because of its colorful warm beaches. In fact, tour to Kerala is incomplete without visiting the exotic beaches of this coastal state. Some of the famous beaches are Alappunzha Beach, Bekal Beach, Cherai Beach, Kappad Beach, Marari Beach, Poovar Beach, Varkala Beach, Kovalam Beach, Kappil Beach, etc. Tourists also get fond of various beach activities like sea swimming, sun bathing, sun sleeping, water rafting, scootering, kayaking, skiing, paragliding, etc.

     

    Kerala is also dotted with too many hill stations. Hill stations of this spicy land are scented with the sweet fragrance spices. These hill stations are perfect place for bird watching. Theses hills seams to be covered with green velvety carpet. If you want to explore these striking natural features make a plan for Kerala tour. You will really enjoy holiday in this wonderful land. You can visit all these places with a perfect Kerala tour package covering popular destinations. You can easily get a tour package of your choice in accordance with your budget.

     

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• Kerala Honeymoon Tours – Popul Kerala Honeymoon Tours – Popular Destinations for Honeymoon Celebration

  • From: michaelhussy
  • Description:

    Kerala, the beautiful Indian state situated alongside the azure Arabian Sea in southwestern tip of India, is honeymooners’ paradise. It attracts honeymooners or newly wed couples from all over the world. Honeymooners prefer to celebrate their romantic celebration in this state because of its scenic beauty and truly romantic ambiance crated by beaches, backwaters, wildlife, hill stations, spice plantation, etc. Have a look at some popular destinations for honeymoon celebration in Kerala, better known as the God’s Own Country.

    Kovalam: Kovalam is one of the finest beach resorts in the world and a favorite destination of vacationers and honeymooners of course. It is basically a merger of three exotic beaches and offers newly wed couples great tourism opportunity and opportunity to indulge in several exciting beach activities and water sport activities making Kerala honeymoon tours an unforgettable one.

    Alleppey: Alleppey is one of the most beautiful towns in Kerala. It is situated on banks of breathtaking beautiful Kerala backwaters. It has been a favorite destination of honeymooners. Honeymooners have a wonderful opportunity to enjoy backwater tourism and enjoy houseboat state to make their honeymoon vacation memorable. Houseboat cruise is a unique lifetime experience adding a new chapter to your honeymoon in Kerala, God’s Own Country.

    Munnar: Munnar is a picturesque hill station in the state. It is noted for its lush beauty and refreshing air filled with fragrance of aromatic tea plantations and spice plantations. Due to its exotic nature beauty it is often referred as the Kashmir of South India. It has emerged as a favorite destination of honeymooners and vacationers.

    Fort Kochi, Periyar, Kumarakom, Kollam, Varkala, Beypore, Kollam, etc are some other popular destinations most tour operators or honeymoon planners add into Kerala tour packages especially designed for honeymoon tours in Kerala, God’s Own Country. If you truly willing to plan for most exciting honeymoon tours Kerala will fulfill your needs.

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• Green living: Off the grid fam Green living: Off the grid families pioneer sustainable energy lifestyles

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    

    Once on the fringe, about 750,000 off the grid American households pioneer green living by tapping sustainable energy from the wind, sun, and earth.

    Living "off the grid" can conjure fantasies of Swiss Family Robinson-style ingenuity in paradise. Or, for those with less love of roughing it, it can simply remind them of the hardscrabble self-reliance throughout much of the developing world, where millions cook over fires, bathe in streams, and consider the glow of a bare light bulb a luxury.

    • 

    Green living off the grid: This article is part of the cover story project in the Aug. 9, 2010 issue of The Christian Science Monitor weekly magazine. Subscribe here: http://tiny.cc/4zeuu

    In the United States, off-the-grid living – without relying on government entities or utility companies to provide electricity, heat, gas, and water – often is associated with gritting it out on the survivalist fringe.

    But an increasing range of Americans are leading a snug, even smug, lifestyle totally or mostly unhitched from public utilities. Using nature – the sun, wind, water, and the earth itself – they cheaply warm and cool their homes and power everything from a blender to a giant flat-screen TV to a raging hot tub. And with the constant concern about global warming and messy dependence on fossil fuels, it's natural that growing numbers of Americans – "the foot soldiers" of energy independence, as one expert calls them – would begin taking steps to untether themselves from the grid.

    For Wayah Hall, going off the grid in a cabin 26 miles from downtown Asheville, N.C., was a way to live in harmony with nature and avoid reliance on electricity that comes from the region's coal-burning power plant that pumps smog into the famous Blue Ridge Mountains haze.

    Mr. Hall, an outdoor-skills instructor, and his wife, Alicia Bliss Hall, a natural healer, live in a kind of off-the-grid neighborhood with another young couple: Jason Brake, a professional muralist, and his wife, Diana Styffeler, a mountain bike excursion leader. Their two cabins, nestled in temperate rain forest, are powered with electricity that comes exclusively from solar panels mounted on a wagon that they wheel around the property to catch the best rays. Their water comes from a swiftly flowing stream; wood-burning stoves heat the cabins and even an outdoor hot tub; and indoor, waterless composting toilets built decoratively out of tree stumps mean they don't need a sewer system. They're installing a hydropower system in the stream that will add to the solar power.

    Their existence appears quite rustic – and the "sustainable" lifestyle depends a whole lot on them to sustain it with such work as wood chopping and wagon pulling. But they say they have all the creature comforts they need, and – if February's record snowstorm is any gauge – some their neighbors need, too. When public power outages left on-the-grid neighbors in dark and chilly homes, a dozen of them congregated in the Halls' self-sufficient glow: a lighted cabin, where they cozied up to the wood stove, recharged their cellphones, and even enjoyed a soak in the hot tub.

    "We didn't even realize the power had gone out until our friends started coming over looking for refuge," says Ms. Hall.

    • • •

    Off-the-grid living for Paula and William Cirone has a more suburban look and feel, as well as a different motive. In 2001, the Texas natives moved to central Illinois, where Mr. Cirone was taking over a family company. Their hearts were set on buying and building on woodland near Farmington that he had hunted and fished two decades before. But an issue over easements meant the utility company could not extend lines to connect to their new home. Going off the grid was the only way to realize their dream.

    Ms. Cirone was initially nervous, not wanting to give up her comfortable lifestyle – being able to throw in a load of laundry, or flip on the TV or microwave, whenever she felt like it. But the Cirones built a comfortable, spacious home powered entirely by wind and solar energy, with a geothermal system for heating and cooling.

    Read more at: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0807/Green-living-Off-the-grid-families-pioneer-sustainable-energy-lifestyles

    By Kari Lydersen, / Contributor / August 7, 2010

    Original Source: http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0807/Green-living-Off-the-grid-families-pioneer-sustainable-energy-lifestyles

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• Portugal Now Gets 45% of its E Portugal Now Gets 45% of its Electricity From Renewable Energy

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

    

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Five years ago, when 17% of Portugal’s energy came from renewable energy – about like California now – the government made a bold decision to aim for 45% during the next five years – by 2010.

    Sounds impossible, right? Yet, according to Elizabeth Rosenthal at the NYT, they will have achieved their goal by the end of this year.

    “You cannot imagine the pressure we suffered that first year,” said Manuel Pinho, Portugal’s minister of economy and innovation from 2005 until last year, who largely masterminded the transition, adding, “Politicians must take tough decisions.”

    The new power plants, mostly wind and hydro, will add a small percentage to ratepayers bills (about 5% more than the US average electricity rate rises of around 6% a year) but within a decade that initial investment expense should be gone, and ongoing rates will be much lower, due to the fuel-free nature of renewable energy. As a result the nation’s electricity rates should drop within ten to fifteen years and then remain low.

    Like China, the Portuguese government restructured and privatized former state energy utilities to create a grid better suited to renewable power sources.

    Like the rest of Europe, under Europe’s cap and trade system the nation is subject to a price on carbon, making it cheaper to build clean energy than dirty energy. In 1990, the base year for the Kyoto accord that Europe signed, Portugal had a simple agrarian economy.

    Now, along with Scotland, Portugal has shot to leadership in enabling the development of wave energy.  It set a feed-in tariff for wave energy that will pay 260 euros per megawatt-hour for the first 20 MW installed. The government has a very practical approach to radical innovation.  They say, “Let’s do it: then we’ll see.This a problem; this is not”, says WaveRoller CEO John Liljelund. Portugal nurtured the first ocean power testing centers near Peniche, off the coast in Europe for wave and tidal energy.

    Since the very capital-intensive first prototypes of wave and tidal power are still largely at the R&D stage, ocean power has yet to bring much power to the grid. But a thriving wind industry, created from scratch in the formerly agrarian society, is not only supplying the nation, along with hydro power, but now exporting wind farms to less developed nations such as the USA.

    Energias de Portugal, the country’s largest energy company, owns wind farms in Iowa and Texas, through its American subsidiary, Horizon Wind Energy.

    Portugal’s next goal is 60% by 2020. They should find that easy. When you consider the extraordinary feat of adding 28% in only 5 years to get to 45%, adding another 15% more over 10 years looks like a walk in the park.

    Image: An Oyster prototype
    Susan Kraemer@Twitter

    Source : http://cleantechnica.com/2010/08/11/portugal-now-gets-45-of-its-electricity-from-renewable-energy/

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• Turn Your Home Into An Eco Hom Turn Your Home Into An Eco Home

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    Over recent years there is huge investment to the building of eco-homes, with billions being spent globally on ensuring the next generation of housing is an eco one. These environmentally friendly housing are built to be as carbon neutral as possible and designed to be efficient to heat and light.

    However, whilst new eco friendly homes are great fro those buying a brand new house, most of us are living in properties that are decades (some even centuries) old. An while older properties like these certainly have more character than modern properties, many are quite inefficient to heat and not only does lead to more power consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, they also cost more to heat and light.

    However, much can be done with an older property to increase the eco friendly nature of the heating systems and lighting. And almost any home can be turned into a more environmentally friendly home by remembering just three key points:

    * Waste

    * Efficiency

    * Energy Monitoring

    By tackling waste, increasing efficiency and monitoring the energy consumed you can go a long way to increase the green credentials of your property.

    Waste

    Huge amounts of energy is being wasted by many homes because they lack adequate insulation. Insulating your home is perhaps the easiest way of dramatically reducing energy waste. Not only should lofts be well insulated but its important to ensure that heat is not escaping through other areas such as under doors or via chimneys. Use draft excluders and chimney balloons to ensure this doesn’t happen.

    Efficiency

    The efficiency of both heating and lighting can be greatly increased. Use energy saving light bulbs and make sure you have a good light shade to direct the light where it’s needed. Ensur4e your boiler is serviced regularly and make sure the radiator’s are bled regularly. Automatic Radiator Valves are available to do this for you. You can also use radiator panels to reflect the lost heat from the back of the radiators.

    Energy Monitoring

    Monitoring your energy consumption will enable you to identify waste and areas of high usage around the home. There are a wide range of energy and electricity monitors available that make this a simple task.

    Source: http://ecoportal.us/

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• 20 Green Gadgets For Your Gree 20 Green Gadgets For Your Green Thumb

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    Electrolux Hydrosphere

    

    (image via:ecofriend)

    The Electrolux Hydrosphere has a green design that is aesthetically pleasing. This hydrosphere is handy for people who would like to grow green vegetation but would have a hard time finding a place for their potted plants. Although it is not a requirement to live in the city or in an apartment to own one, this planter can allow you to add green to your living environment while also acting as an elegant “green” gadget and conversation starter.

    Bel-Air Domestic Spacecraft

    

    (image via:3rings)

    This air purifier makes your plants ‘more intelligent.’ The Bel-Air Domestic Spacecraft inhales polluted air and filters it through three natural filters (the plant leaves, its roots, and a humid bath) before releasing purified air back into your living space. This project was first researched by NASA for the efficiency of plants at absorbing and eliminating pollutants in aircraft. The domestic spacecraft runs off of AC power for the white LED lights, so you can have clean air anywhere you decide to put it.

    Solar Powered Plant Pot

    

    (image via:Firebox)

    Nothing tells your plant “I love you” better than a solar-powered glowing plant pot. You set the solar panel to collect the best sunlight available to you. This will charge up the pot during the day so it will glow at night. Depending on how much sunlight you get, the plant pot will glow for 2 to 8 hours before the battery runs out. The Solar Powered Plant Pot comes in glowing white or color-changing pots.

    Pet Plant

    

    (image via:Cool Aggregator)

    This Pet Plant gadget will show your plant’s emotions, such as whether it is too hot or needs water. The digital pot has sensors that process data about the soil and its surrounding environment, and then displays the information in digital pictograms. Your plant may be happy or may even scowl at you if it needs water. If you over-water your pet plant, this pot drains off the excess.

    Ponic-Home Hydroponic Planter

    

    (image via:Endrit Hajno)

    No need to dirty your hands with soil if you use the Ponic-Home hydroponic planter. The technology behind this planter allows you to grow your plant in a nutrient-enriched water solution. You might need to do your research to better understand the correct balance of nutrients needed in the water, but your house won’t get dirty from messy soil. This could come in especially handy for plant lovers with dogs or cats that dig in the soil of your indoor potted plants.

    Teach Your Babies to Live Green

    

    (images via:Firebox,ecofriend)

    If you are an environmentally-aware parent who would like to teach your kids to be like-minded, here are two fun solutions. Pictured on the left and below, the Flip Flop Q Minis may be artificial and high-tech but they are cute solar-powered gadgets for your young ones. No need for batteries, the more real or artificial light these toy-plants are exposed to, the more they will move and jiggle. They are 100% solar-powered and extremely portable play toys. Pictured on the right are Nyokki Pets egg-shaped planters. These adorable little planters come with rye grass that will grow to its full height in less than two weeks. You and your child can cut the grass and watch it grow again. Your child will learn to love plants as much as you do.

    Pekoppa Communication Plant

    

    (images via:Japan Trend Shop)

    Pekoppa Communication Plant is made by Sega Toys to appeal to you as well as your children. The Pekoppa responds to your speech with physical reactions. By using the internal chip that detects patterns in human speech, the plant’s leaves and even stem will move. You can talk to your plant and your plant can talk back to you by deeply bowing to you as if in agreement. Perhaps not a yes-man, but a yes-plant! Not a people person? No problem with the Pekoppa.

    No Green Thumb? No Worries

    

    (images via:Coolest Gadgets,Cutie Gadget)

    If you love plants, but they don’t always love you back, then these two gadgets may be for you. The Grobal Self-Watering Planters (left) are perfect for people who may not have the greenest of thumbs. You fill up the water chamber and it automatically adds water to the plant’s soil so you will never over-water or under-water your plant again. These pretty planters are available in lots of colors and have a clear plastic water level indicator so you will know when to refill the water. All you need is a plant because it comes with soil and nutrients.

    The USB Powered Mini Green House (right) is an eco-gadget for geeks who might like to have a plant nearby on their desk. You plug the USB into your computer and the USB power source controls the artificial light above the plant to help grow the plant in a scientific manner. It comes with soil and marigold seeds. It also comes with software to monitor the growth rate, a calendar, wallpaper and bookmark settings. Even with all the technology included with this gadget, you still need to remember to physically water your plant or it will die. Your software will remind you though when the plant is thirsty while your plant filters the CO2 around you. If you are tech savvy and love the environment too, then this little greenhouse may be for you.

    Flowerbox Art

    

    (images via:flowerbox)

    These flowerboxes are not so much a gadget as environmentally friendly. They are made from cardboard boxes and come in a variety of colors. They come with holes in the back so you can hang your flowers on the wall with ease. Your flower or plant fits inside a white metal cup that is designed specifically for these boxes. You can add a splash of color, flowering plants or green foliage, to decorate your wall as well as start a conversation when your guests spy your eco-friendly flowerbox.

    Living Kitchen

    

    (images via:ecofriend)

    The Studio Gorm living kitchen will help you nourish your plants with kitchen waste. This living kitchen is an example of nature and technology meeting in harmony. It provides a space to prepare your food as well as planter boxes to grow plants. The counter top has a waste bowl where you store your food scraps. Once that bowl is full, you pour the waste into the worm bin composter located underneath the counter top. The composter is full of worms that will convert the waste into nutrient rich fertilizer that can then be put back into the plants. It’s a good eco-friendly idea, if you can get past the thought of food, plants, and worms all located in your kitchen workspace.

    Sound Garden

    

    (images via:trend)

    Do you have an affinity for jamming and growing plants? JVC presents Sound Garden ‘Kirikabu’ Speakers. The speakers look like bonsai planters from the future. You can grow a plant but enjoy the thumping woofers too. When you water your plants, the speakers will generate their own electricity. Let’s hope you generate plenty of green otherwise because these cost a pretty penny. If you have plenty of cash, then you can combine your choice of potted plants with multi-directional speakers that include a woofer, left- and right-channel stereo speakers and are powered by an internal amplifier.

    Tiny Hypdroponic Reactor

    

    (images via:7gadgets)

    Thanks to NASA technology, no soil is needed to grow your plants or herbs in any or all seasons. This hydrophonic grow system allows you to have a minimal mess on your desk or wherever you feel like you want to add a little greenery. People have grown herbs, flowers, and some vegetables in this “tiny hypdroponic reactor.” Within this gadget comes a special soil-free spongy grow-medium and nutrient mixture, so all you need to add are the seeds.

    Seedbomb Plant Capsule

    

    (images via:envirogadget)

    Are you concerned over deforestation in our environment? As long you don’t mind using a biodegradable plastic pod, you can easily help to replant an area and to rebuild an ecosystem. The plastic pod acts like a mini-greenhouse to protect seeds and seedlings before exposing them to cold or harsh weather. This gadget contains some soil and nutrients to encourage seeds to germinate and to grow rapidly. Bombs away!

    A Growing Book

    

    (images via:iDasia)

    If you enjoy reading and growing plants, then this Growing Book might be for you. The idea behind this unique planter is to make the process of reading a book more interactive. The book comes with a special place to grow plants in it. You can be a “green” reader or entertain your kids by raising their environmental awareness as they watch the process of life taking place in front of their eyes.

    EasyBloom

    

    (images via:Mom’s Buzz)

    By using the EasyBloom Plant Sensor gadget, you can grow plants without the guesswork. The in-ground sensor takes advantage of the same technology that NASA uses on the Mars Phoenix mission to measure the Martian soil. The sensors read and analyze growing conditions in the spots where you “plant” it. Readings include sunlight, temperature, humidity, soil moisture and drainage to help take the guesswork out of where would be the best place to plant in your yard and what would be the best choices of plants. You leave it “planted” for a minimum of 24 hours before plugging it into your computer USB port and watching the recommendations such as what plants would flourish in what location in your environment.

    Loop Greenhouse Watersaving Gadget

    

    (images via:ecofriend)

    This is for the person with a serious green thumb who also loves gadgets. You also need a greenhouse. Growing plants in a greenhouse is truly manipulating the environment. The Loop cuts down on humidity and acts as a water-saving device. The water vapor is condensed back into liquid and can then be reapplied to the soil for the plants to reuse.

    LED Grow Light

    

    (images via:chinavasion)

    Indoor gardeners may prefer this LED Grow Light gadget. The LED lights produce red and blue colors which are the most important visible light frequencies for indoor plants. This LED light maximizes plant growth while minimizing energy consumption by producing only the light that enhances the natural process of photosynthesis. Indoor gardeners will enjoy fast growth and strong crops.

    Soil Lamp

    

    (images via:Marieke Staps)

    So you don’t have a green thumb at all but still like gadgets as well as saving the environment? Here is a lamp that runs on mud. This light is powered by soil that is enclosed in various cells. The more cells there are, the more electricity they make. Like growing a plant, however, you need to add water to the soil, to make mud, to keep this soil lamp burning bright.

     

    Source: http://webecoist.com/

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