396 Search Results for "battery"

• The hottest Renewable Energy s The hottest Renewable Energy stocks and IPOs

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    

    Renewable Energy is posing to shoot up on the various stock markets, and if you want to be in the game, you’d better wake up and make some sense of it fast, so you can ride the Renewable wave as it starts and all the way to its peak.

    First and foremost, China is showing some great potential with Renewable Energy  IPO’s coming just about the horizon:
    Propelled in part by the backing of powerful Beijing bureaucrats, Renewable-themed Chinese companies are poised to reap billions of dollars from public offerings to new investors in coming months. 

    Among a spate of clean-energy initial public offerings heading to market in the next few months is Chinese wind-turbine maker Xinjiang Goldwind Science & Technology, which scrapped a $1.2 billion Hong Kong IPO in June. It is reviving its plans with a $1 billion Hong Kong offering in the next few weeks. Mingyang Electric plans to raise $300 million to $500 million from a U.S. IPO this year. China Suntien, the renewable-energy division of Hebei provincial government’s investment arm, is seeking about $500 million in Hong Kong.

    Add to that Huaneng New Energy Industrial, China Huaneng Group’s wind-power unit, which is looking to tap markets for a $1.5 billion IPO in October, and Chinese clean-technology IPOs this year alone could reach record levels.

    Wind-power generator China Longyuan Power Group raised $2.2 billion in an IPO in Hong Kong in December last year, in one of the biggest clean-energy deals in Asia. Many are hoping to follow the success of China battery and car maker BYD, which won backing from U.S. billionaire Warren Buffett and has seen its shares surge in recent years.  http://bit.ly/b4ggRz

    Second, with the bloom box raising so many positive waves in the market, fuel cells (one of the most promising Renewable Energy sectors)  are looking brighter everyday; one company which looks as if it is going to benefit from this wave in a huge way is the Canadian Ballard Power Systems Inc. (NASDAQ: BLDP) :  It provides clean energy fuel cell products that enable optimized power systems for a variety of applications. The company designs, develops, manufactures and sells fuel cell products for a variety of applications. The company is also involved in proton exchange membrane fuel cell development and commercialization.

    Last month, Ballard announced the deployment of the world’s largest hydrogen fuel cell generator. The company entered into a deal with Ohio’s FirstEnergy Generation Corp., which will enable the U.S.-based utility to activate Ballard’s fuel cell generator known as CLEARgen™. CLEARgen is based on Ballard’s proton exchange membrane (PEM) technology. The technology will assist during peak demand period by taking the strain off the power grid and will also ensure uninterrupted power during the summer.  http://bit.ly/bqZ7OP

    Third, as the rule goes, you always follow the big guys, and T Boon Pickens is one hell of a big guy, which is going very strong when it comes to green and Renewable Energy: Investor T. Boone Pickens spoke in the National Clean Energy Summit in Las Vegas and he talked to CNBC about his energy plan. For him, anything -- wind, solar, natural gas – anything reduces our reliance on foreign oil is a step forward to achieve national security in energy.

    Pickens lists the pillars to the Pickens Plan: 

    
    
    1. Create millions of new jobs by building out the capacity to generate up to 22 percent of our electricity from wind. And adding to that with additional solar generation capacity; 
    
    2. Building a 21st century backbone electrical transmission grid; 
    
    3. Providing incentives for homeowners and the owners of commercial buildings to upgrade their insulation and other energy saving options; and 
    
    4. Using America's natural gas to replace imported oil as a transportation fuel in addition to its other uses in power generation, chemicals, etc.

                                                                                                                            http://bit.ly/93hGop

    And last, from down under, there are some great opportunities which can make things turn Renewable and fast :

    Top of the list is Sims Metal. "It's the largest recycler," Thomas says. "It does what BHP does except uranium and oil, making it a good proxy for the resources sector."

    Another is CBD Energy, "a great little company." It has a foot in just about every renewable camp: wind, solar and storage using a graphite battery.

    The stock has very low gearing, has just moved into profit and the two brokers following it value it at 30¢ or 40¢, more than twice its current price. But, like all fast-growing stocks, it is capital hungry: there have been two raisings so far this year.

    AGL, with both wind and solar farms, is also a well-regarded green chip that has outperformed the sharemarket during the past 10 years.

    One of the smaller stocks Ethinvest favours is solar panel and pump supplier Solco, which has just posted its third consecutive and so far biggest profit, is debt-free as well as paying a tiny dividend.

    The other is Dyesol, which is also debt free but loses money. It's the only solar energy company that doesn't need much sun to generate electricity. It has adapted photosynthesis from the plant world and using its special dye can generate power more cheaply than traditional silicon-based solar cells, working in low light and not even having to face the sun.   http://bit.ly/aJoEZp

    So, if I were you, I would look into these Renewable energy stock options, especially the natural gas one, there are some great findings in the market right now, which you really do not want to miss. Good luck, and please write to us back and share with us you techniques of  “going Renewable in the stock market” !!
    
    

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• Ten Tips for Handpicking the U Ten Tips for Handpicking the Upgrade Mini Laptop Computer

  • From: toponscom
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    With the recent popularity of the mini notebook or netbook, I’m not at all surprised that you are doing some research on what they are and if they are a good fit for you. They are extremely light and affordable, while still providing all the function someone would need. Below is a list of something you should take into consideration when purchasing a Mini Laptop Computer. They really deserve you to hold them dear. 1. Cost – It’s at the top of everyone’s list when they look to purchase anything, not just a laptop. While price is often related to quality, some companies do offer superior products at a low cost, it’s just about putting in the time to find them.
    2. OS – The operating system is almost as important as the hardware or brand that you choose. Get Windows XP. Windows Vista and Windows 7 look awesome, but require much better hardware to run efficiently. Windows XP does a great job and running quickly and without problem on these Laptop Computers.
    3. Processor – You don’t have a lot of choices when it comes to the processor on the mini notebook. You’ve got the tried and true Atom processor. Lately however the companies have been working on a new Atom processor called the Ion. If you can find a model with the new Ion processor it’s definitely worth spending a bit more to get it.
    4. RAM – It’s best to get as much RAM as possible, especially with the decent decline in cost of RAM. Unfortunately most mini notebooks only allow for a maximum of 2GB’s of RAM so if you purchase a model with less, make sure you purchase some extra RAM and install it.
    5. Hard Drive – You’ve got two choices for hard drives. A solid state drive or a standard laptop hard drive. You’re really looking at size versus durability. Pick the SSD if you want durability and pick the standard laptop hard drive if you need size.
    6. Battery – All mini notebooks have a decent battery life, but some models, specifically the Asus 1005HA offer amazing battery life. Over 10 hours in fact. That lets you go almost an entire day before you need to search for a wall outlet to keep your laptop running.
    7. Screen - You’ve got two big choices just like with the hard drive and it’s a pretty clear cut case. You’ve got a 9 and 10 inch screen to choose from. Go with the 10 inch screen. After owning both models it’s an easy choice, pick the 10 inch model. It also might be worth looking into a touch tablet style screen. Some of the newer Asus models have them and I was really impressed after using one.
    8. Keyboard – The keyboard is directly attached to the screen size. The larger screen allows for a larger keyboard and the 10 inch keyboard is much better to type on than the 9 inch. The 10 inch screen and 10 inch keyboard go hand in hand in being to best choice for the ideal mini notebook.
    9. Weight – Weight isn’t really a concern when choosing what mini notebook you want, mainly because they are all so small that they all fall into the light category. None of them exceed anywhere near 3 pounds.
    10. Wireless – I don’t think you could find a mini notebook computer wireless, but I suppose they do exist. Instead look for the latest 802.11n models which offer a much faster and updated wireless experience compared to the now standard 802.11g which is what comes standard on most notebooks.
    I bet the above ten golden tips will do you a great favor, helping you find the perfect mini laptop computer on the Online Marketplace or at real stores. If you find something that fits these requirements you’ll definitely be happy with your final purchase. Just remember to take your time and find the perfect model for yourself.
    Sourceby http://blog.topons.com/?s=+Ten+Tips+for+Handpicking+the+Upgrade+Mini+Laptop+Computer

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• Brad Pitt and the Green Army Brad Pitt and the Green Army

  • From: arboinks
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    Being is a celebrity is all about me myself and I, there are exceptions to the pack, but as a general rule, as the Chinese saying goes, “you have a hard time to look when fame and money cover your eyes”.   Celebrity events are all about glamour, fashion, beauty and abundance, living the dream and forgetting the nightmare; but that usually spells as a recipe for wasteful, harmful, not environmentally friendly and not sustainable fiasco.
    This is why it is so refreshing to see some real movement in the opposite direction. Brad Pitt for example, has just finished to do a lot of real good, sustainable developments in the Mississippi region :  The brainchild of actor Brad Pitt, the “Make It Right Foundation” is an organization created to help rebuild the devastated 9th Ward in New Orleans. By focusing on green and sustainable building practices, the members hope to create a sustainable community that residents can be proud of.

    
    The foundation began in 2006 as a group of 13 architecture firms hired by Pitt to design affordable, eco-friendly houses for New Orleans residents. So far, Pitt and the “Make It Right Foundation” have begun building homes on the exact spot where the Industrial Canal levee breached on Aug. 29, 2005. The goal (which it is very close to reaching) is to have 150 homes built by December, 2010. For the residents of New Orleans, the project provides a way to return home.   http://bit.ly/aDMnPR

    
    Prince Charles, on the other hand, is supporting a green festival which is celebrating and promoting everything which is green, in his own official residence, for the first time! :   Clarence House, the official residence of Prince Charles, will be opened to the public for the first time for the Garden Party to Make a Difference. The 12 day festival will allow the public to inspect the Prince’s own efforts at green living, such as the vegetable patch in the garden and solar panels on the roof.

    
    More than 100 displays and exhibitions will offer advice on building green homes, bee-friendly gardening or saving electricity. There will also be live performances from well-known comedians, musicians and campaigners on the issue of tackling climate change.

    
    Alan Titchmarsh is talking about organic gardening, Kevin McLeod will demonstrate eco-cars and Dame Vivienne Westwood is on hand to talk about recycling clothes...
    
    Visitors will learn how to cook in an environmentally friendly way and how to design and sew bags from recycled materials. There will also be interactive displays detailing the latest green technologies, like the people powered dance floor. http://bit.ly/8XxNd5
    
    It is amazing how much good you can do when you put your mind and resources to it, and it works much better if you have a lot of both.  The effect becomes exponentially better when you combine the group effort of a large numbers of people into a unified effort. For example, the Eco-Clothing industry just got an amazing push from a whole battery of celebrities : The power of celebrity endorsement was demonstrated with the much-trumpeted launch of Emma Watson's new collection for the Fair Trade, environmentally friendly brand People Tree. While the firm claims the Harry Potter actress has given sales a lift, it was unable to back this up with figures.

    
    Industry watchers believe that environmentally friendly fashion needs to be more design-led if it is to compete. "As much as I admire eco-shops, it has got to be in mainstream fashion shops," said Hamnett. Her 30-piece denim collection is going to be sold in major upmarket retailers, and will cost between £100 and £150. http://bit.ly/coJTVH

    
     As the main event of celebrity power, there are very few other events that comes close to the Eco-Emmy, which was just finished with surprisingly positive results :  Debbie Durkin successfully hosted her 4th Annual Eco-Emmys Celebrity Chateau celebrating the 2010 Emmys while promoting green values and giving back. Honorees enjoyed signature well drinks at the Tierras Tequila Organic margarita bar while hydrating with LifeSource Water served by LifeSource LifeGuards, sampled gourmet grilled foods, discovered eco-luxury lifestyle brands, and were pampered with five-star beauty services in the Eco-Makeover Style Suite, all while taking in the breathtaking views from the Green Greenberg "Green" home nestled in the Hollywood Hills (www.gosvh.com).
    
    Generous door donations benefited charity partners, the American Red Cross and Green Wish. Hybrid Solar Light, the best eco-invention of our time, a flashlight powered by the sun and holds a charge for three years, in promotion of the American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) prepareLA+ disaster preparedness program by launching their worldwide donation campaign. A celebrity-autographed Luna Guitar was also donated to the America Red Cross for auction at their annual fundraising gala. Patie Maloney of Green Wish (www.greenwish.com), representing board members Raphael Sbarge, Ed Begley, Jr., Sharon Lawrence, Rachelle Carson-Begley, and more, was on hand to film their PSAs asking “What is your Green Wish?” of celebrities who share a passion for the planet.  http://bit.ly/dywkz6

    
    Maybe hope is not lost, and there is still an option that being a celebrity and being green would one day be a natural fit? If there is one quote that I think summarise there whole concept (at least for me) it is from Shel Horowitz’s book Principled Profit :  Horowitz's book demonstrates that honest, ethical, people-centered businesses are far more likely to succeed, especially if they understand how to market their ethical commitment. "Signing the pledge is one way that businesses can demonstrate they care about their customers, about the wider world, and about doing what's right even when it isn't easy. This public commitment can be a powerful marketing aid to any business--and not just at Christmas but all through the year," .  Amen
    
    

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• Carteret Adds 4 Hybrid Vehicle Carteret Adds 4 Hybrid Vehicles To Police Fleet

  • From: yiehk21
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    CARTERET — Four hybrid vehicles have been added to the Carteret Police Department’s fleet, according to Mayor Daniel J. Reiman and Police Commissioner and Councilman Skippy Sitarz.

    The 2010 Ford Escapes have been outfitted for police patrols, according to Patrol Division Commander Dennis McFadden. All four will be leased from the Middlesex County City Improvement Authority for three years, after which time they will be purchased by the borough for $1.

    
    

    The vehicles are being used in place of conventional 8-cylinder Crown Victorias, and will allow for an expected annual savings of $5,080 in fuel consumption per year, or $20,000 total for all four hybrids. This estimate does not include fuel consumed while idling during police stops, which will be virtually negligible for the hybrid cars. The Ford hybrid Escape gasoline engine only turns on after the car exceeds 25MPH. While in idle the car will operate by running off of the battery pack.

    The acquisitions are a part of the town’s continuing agenda for implementing green technology within the borough’s facilities and resources, according to Reiman. In 2007, Carteret applied for and received an $8,000 rebate for the purchase of two construction code enforcement vehicles, both hybrids, through the NJBPU Office of Clean Energy’s Alternative Fuel Vehicle (AFV) Rebate Program. The NJBPU also provided approximately $33,000 towards an energy efficiency audit of municipal facilities, allowing for “green” retrofitting.

    “Congestion mitigation and air quality improvement are major concerns in any area,” Reiman said. “As a part of our efforts towards improving local government, we have made energy efficiency a priority. With the acquisition of these new hybrid police vehicles and active participation in many NJBPU initiatives, we are doing our part and beyond in contributing to a cleaner New Jersey and more cost-effective government. These vehicles will save tens of thousands of dollars over their usable lifespan.”

    http://www.greenecopath.com/transport/carteret-adds-4-hybrid-vehicles-to-police-fleet

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• Mercedes-Benz USA Driving the Mercedes-Benz USA Driving the USTA's Green Mission at the 2010 US Open

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    

    Fuel Cell Vehicles and Hybrids Create Eco Advantage for US Open Fleet

    MONTVALE, N.J., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- As the Official Vehicle of the US Open, Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announces today that it is a driving force behind the USTA's commitment to green initiatives by providing Mercedes-Benz S400 HYBRID sedans and Mercedes-Benz F-CELL (Hydrogen Electric Vehicle powered by a fuel cell) vehicles representing 60 percent of the fleet used for player and VIP transportation during the 2010 US Open tournament.

    As an innovator in luxury eco-transportation, Mercedes-Benz is dispatching its F-Cell hydrogen fuel vehicles with zero emissions in addition to 75 S400 Hybrid vehicles in an effort to reduce the overall carbon footprint of the US Open tournament.  The US Open launched its comprehensive environmental program three years ago and continues to expand green initiatives each year.  In 2010, key initiatives include recycling, energy management, composting and utilizing paper products comprised of at least 30% post-consumer waste.  In addition, a new green PSA campaign is planned featuring Alec Baldwin.

    “We are very excited to participate in the USTA’s environmental strategy and positively impact the US Open green initiatives through the Mercedes-Benz transportation fleet.  By tapping our portfolio of eco vehicles, we can provide athletes, staff and officials with green transportation without having to sacrifice luxury or safety,” said Stephen Cannon, Vice President of Marketing for Mercedes-Benz USA.  “Over the next four years, Mercedes-Benz is committed to exploring new ways through innovative eco mobility to help the USTA expand their environmental initiatives.”

    MERCEDES-BENZ S400 HYBRID

    The S400 HYBRID features the world's first lithium-ion battery designed specifically for automotive use.  The light-weight, high-capacity lithium-ion battery works with a 20-horsepower electric motor and a 275-hp V6 gasoline engine to provide hybrid power with impressive fuel economy estimated at 30 miles per gallon on the highway making it the clear GREEN choice for the US Open transportation fleet.

    An added bonus of driving green cars like the Mercedes-Benz Hybrid, beyond not sacrificing space, safety or luxury, is the IRS alternative-powertrain tax credit. The Mercedes-Benz hybrid credit for the S400H is $1150.

    MERCEDES-BENZ F-CELL

    Essentially an electric car that makes its own power on board, the new Mercedes-Benz F-CELL has a range of about 240 miles refueling with refueling taking only a few minutes. Running on compressed hydrogen, the F-CELL boasts an equivalent fuel mileage of 71.3 city-highway combined miles per gallon and water is the F-CELL's only emission.

    ABOUT MERCEDES-BENZ

    Mercedes-Benz USA, headquartered in Montvale, New Jersey, is responsible for the sales, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz and Maybach products in the United States.  MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 12 model lines ranging from the sporty C-Class to the flagship S-Class sedans and CL coupes.   More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.maybachusa.com.

    ABOUT THE USTA

    The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and the leader in promoting and developing the growth of tennis at every level -- from local communities to the highest level of the professional game.  A not-for-profit organization with 750,000 members, it invests 100% of its proceeds in growing the game. It owns and operates the US Open, the highest attended annual sporting event in the world, and launched the Olympus US Open Series linking 10 summer tournaments to the US Open. In addition, it owns the 90 Pro Circuit events throughout the U.S., is a minority owner and promotional partner of World TeamTennis, and selects the teams for the Davis Cup, Fed Cup, Olympic and Paralympic Games. The USTA philanthropic entity, USTA Serves, provides grants and scholarships and through tennis, helps underserved youth and people with disabilities to improve academics, build character and strive for excellence. For more information on the USTA, log on to usta.com.

    Accredited journalists and editors can access press materials by registering at www.media.mbusa.com and www.media.maybachusa.com.

     Orignal Source: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/mercedes-benz-usa-driving-the-ustas-green-mission-at-the-2010-us-open-101977518.html

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• Is the electric car feasible f Is the electric car feasible for Israel?

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    Government issues tender to analyze alternative energy vehicles.

    

    The National Infrastructures Ministry on Thursday issued a tender for a consultant to do an economic analysis of the feasibility of electric cars compared to gasoline-powered and other alternative energy vehicles.
    
    The ministry said it was committed to cleaner transport to reduce air pollution and wean Israel as much as possible off of foreign oil.
    
    Electric cars are one option for more environmentally friendly transport, and they have their advantages and drawbacks. For example, there is no air pollution and little noise from the electric car itself. However, if the electric car charges from electricity that is produced by a polluting power station, then it can make the power station work harder, which in turn generates more pollution.
    
    On the other hand, it is not yet clear how much additional generator use a network of electric cars would require, since charging would be governed by a “smart system” that charges the cars during off-peak times, such as at night.
    
    It is theoretically possible that the network would not put any extra strain on the electricity grid.
    
    Once electric-car infrastructure developer Better Place enters the Israeli market next year, more data will become available.
    
    Other alternatives to gasoline include hybrid cars that use both a gasoline engine and an electric motor. Regular gasoline-powered cars can be retrofitted to run on natural gas as well, which is cleaner. In the future, cars might run on hydrogen fuel cells.
    
    The deadline for the tender is September 19. The contract would be for a year, with an option to extend it for another two years.
    
    According to the tender, the consultant will be asked to evaluate cleantransport options and the electric car and its components, including its infrastructure requirements such as the electricity grid. Energy needs of current electric cars and those in development and the environmental ramifications based on energy use will also be examined.
    
    The consultant will prepare a comparison of costs of an electric-car network versus those based on liquid oil (gasoline, diesel and hybrid).
    
    The consultant will estimate the impact of electric cars on national infrastructures, particularly the electricity grid, and prepare a presentation of the current regulatory and legislative picture.
    
    Finally, the consultant will predict the development of the electric car in Israel over the next decade and prepare recommendations.
    
    Meanwhile, Better Place announced Thursday that it has extended its switchable-battery electric-vehicle (EV) taxi pilot in Tokyo to operate through the end of the year.
    
    “Up to this point, there has been very little information about how an EV battery will perform in heavily used, realworld taxi conditions,” said Kiyotaka Fujii, president of Better Place Japan.
    
    “This program has provided us with critical insights into the battery performance in a switch model and switch-station performance for the toughest customers – taxi drivers.
    
    “By extending this program, we hope to gain further insights into the battery performance and durability of the switch station itself, which will be invaluable as we move toward commercial launch later next year in Israel and Denmark.”
    
    The current trial began on April 26.
    
    Operations were to be temporarily suspended during August, so that EV battery and onboard vehicle data could be analyzed. Service was expected to resume again on September 1, the company said.
    
    “While a comprehensive analysis of the data is still being conducted,” Better Place said, “some initial data points about the taxi project include: 40,311 – number of kilometers driven; taxi drivers went through the switch station 2,122 times; average switch time was 59.1 seconds; 3,020 passengers have ridden in the taxis.”
    
    Better Place is building an infrastructure of charging points, battery-switch stations and the technology to control them for electric vehicles.

    By:EHUD ZION WALDOKS | August 26, 2010 

    Original Source: http://www.jpost.com/Business/BusinessNews/Article.aspx?id=186135

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• Efficient Solar Garden Lights Efficient Solar Garden Lights for Homeowners

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:
    
    by lozwilkes

    Efficient Solar Garden Lights for Homeowners

    You might belong to those home owners who are having second thoughts on purchasing his own solar garden lights (or any other type of solar lighting or gadgets for that matter) if only because you have doubts about the efficiency of these gadgets. People somehow doubt whether or not these sun-powered gadget would really deliver what the manufacturers advertise they can do.

     

    If many of the home owners who have already bought and installed their solar garden lights on their yards are really happy about the quality of the product that they get. Most outdoor lights nowadays are really efficient and reliable regardless of the kind of brand – this is because manufacturers are in fierce competition with one another and so they want to capture a good share of the market by selling excellent quality solar products.

     

    What makes this type of outdoor solar lighting click? Here are some of the reasons why garden solar lights are better than the conventional outdoor lights.

     

    Solar lights are made up of solar cells, without which the lights will not be able to work as no solar energy is harnessed. And so PV or photovoltaic cells are the special components not found in ordinary lights; they make the collection of energy from the sun and its conversion to solar power possible.

     

    Solar garden lights are built with light emitting diode lights or LED lights. They are made of advanced materials making them several levels higher than the ordinary lights in terms of quality in providing illumination to your garden and home exteriors.

     

    What makes garden solar lights a hit among home owners is that they are known to run efficiently for many hours in a day without any need for any battery changes. Of course being sun power-run, you never need electricity for these sun-powered gadgets. Normally, these lights that are fully exposed to the rays of the sun will be able to gather energy and transform it to power, enough for the lights to illuminate for 8 to a maximum of 10 hours non-stop.

     

    Overall, the benefits that we can take advantage of solar garden lights are significant, although there is one drawback. In terms of illumination, these lights are not as bright as the usual lighting. Hence, many home owners really buy solar lighting as mainly accents to beautify their homes.

     

    If you are greatly interested in other solar lights, solar panels and sun-powered gadget topics and discussions, do visit our http://solarlightsandgizmos.com/ blog.

    Writer, Abstractor and Blogger.

    Find More Solar Garden Lighting Articles

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• Sun Core's solar products Sun Core's solar products

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    

     

     

     

     

     

    SunCore is a little known Irvine-based company that’s on the cusp of shipping some potentially revolutionary technology

     

    SunCore’s products charge cell phones using light.
    
    That’s “light” power and not “solar” power.
    
    What’s the difference? SunCore, a five-year-old company, has patent-pending technology for absorbing light along with a “high-rate charge transfer” that makes it possible to charge a cell phone using room light, sunlight, or any light. Their systems get power from the entire spectrum, all the way up to ultraviolet and all the way down to infrared and are efficient enough to charge a cell phone in a normal room, according to SunCore CEO Steve Brimmer.
    
    
    SunCore's upcoming Novacell external solar charger. You can plug in a mobile device and charge it via a USB connection. China gets it first, though. Photo courtesy SunCore.
    According to SunCore, the company is preparing an $800,000 test order of its external Novacell chargers for China Mobile that will be followed by a $21 million order if the product is successful. Yes, China and their millions of built-in customers get this tech first.
    
    Novacell is an external charger that will power mobile devices via a USB connection. That’s the connection found on most cell phone chargers today.
    
    That’s not all SunCore is working on.
    
    
    
    SunCore's embedded battery technology puts a solar cell into the battery cover of a cell phone. Photo courtesy SunCore.
    The company also develops embedded light-powered batteries. Boy, that’s strange to write – light-powered. I’ll just go back to solar-powered for the rest of this post now that you know what I mean.
    
    Virtually any phone can be retrofitted with SunCore technology before or after manufacturing. Which means the manufacturer can sell you a solar-powered phone that’s ready to go or you can rip the back off your current phone and install Suncore’s solar-powered battery yourself.
    
    According to SunCore, cell phone maker HTC has ordered 100,000 of the company’s embedded batteries for a market test. RIM, makers of the Blackberry, are allegedly also testing out SunCore’s batteries.
    
    “The only behavior change that we have to ask of consumers is that when they put their phone down they put it back side up. It’s actually a small change in behavior to more or less continuously charge your phone,” Brimmer said during an investment presentation at VC in the OC last week.
    
    iPhone owners will note the iPhone doesn’t have a removable battery. You’d have to use Novacell or wait until Apple releases an iPhone with a removable battery.
    
    Solar-powered phones are not new. They do exist and have been used for years, but there are limitations. I, for one, would never leave my phone to bake in the sun for four hours as it powers up.
    
    Yes, this tech has the potential of uncluttering your life with one less wire to worry about, but it also has the potential of enabling more powerful applications to run on mobile phones. You’d be lucky to go a day on many of today’s smartphones given the way they suck juice if you’re watching video, listening to music or surfing the web.
    
    Then there are the hundreds of millions of people in poorer countries who don’t have access to cheap or reliable electricity. Imagine the impact a cell phone that’s powered by light might have on those people.
    
    I’ll be following SunCore closely and as soon as they have one of their Novacell products off the production line I’ll have hands-on impressions for you.
    
    What do you think of this technology?
    
    http://irvineretail.freedomblogging.com/2009/10/14/a-cell-phone-you-dont-plug-in/5757/

     

    August 28, 2010

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• California’s Governor Schwarze California’s Governor Schwarzenegger Asked US Automakers to Go “green”

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

    The remarkable speech delivered by California’s Honorable Governor Schwarzenegger has turned the afternoon at the Georgetown University into an inspiring event.

    

    Here is the print version of the keynote address of Gov. Schwarzenegger (with the introduction part cut):

    GOVERNOR: Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you, John, for the wonderful introduction, I appreciate it very much. And it is great to be here today at Georgetown University, also known in my house as the alma mater, because of course my wife went to school here, and she graduated here at Georgetown. (Applause)

    So I want to thank my wife also for coming here today and sitting here in the front row. And she is, of course, the most terrific first lady that the United States has ever seen, so give her a big hand again. (Applause)

    So I have to say that I am somewhat amazed to be here, and the reason is because three and a half years ago when I ran for governor I was followed around by environmental protestors with signs. They didn’t like my Humvees and Hummers, and my SUVs, or anything that I did. As a matter of fact, when I promised that I would improve the environment when I became governor, they didn’t believe that either. So here we are, three and a half years later, and I’m on the cover of Newsweek as one of the big environmentalists. Only in America, that’s all I can say. (Applause)

    But let me tell you something; even though I love being on the cover of Newsweek, but there should have been some other people on that cover as well, and those are people that were my partners in the Legislature. They have worked very hard, they were incredible partners, and I’m talking here about, first of all, Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez and Senator Perata. I invited both of them to come here but they couldn’t make it, but I just wanted to thank them publicly for being such great environmentalists and such great leaders in the environment. So let’s give them a big hand, even though they’re not here. (Applause)

    And I want to thank also someone that is here with us today, and this is Assemblywoman Fran Pavley. She has been such a great, great warrior. (Applause)

    Let me tell you something; this is the real deal. This is the real deal. This woman has been fighting for the environment way before I ever became governor, and she has really been the author of these very important legislations, and she has worked with our office, and she is a team player. And this is, you can see here, she’s a Democrat. Also the Speaker is a Democrat. Senator Perata is a Democrat. So this is what I’m talking about, working together in a bipartisan or post-partisan way, and this is how we get things done, because we work what is best for the people of California and for America. So thank you again to Assemblywoman Pavley. (Applause)

    Now, I know this is an environmental conference, but I do want to start talking first about bodybuilding. And the reason is because bodybuilding is another passion of mine, as you probably know, and it has similarities there. Bodybuilding used to have a very sketchy image. As a matter of fact, so much so that some people that worked out seriously and pumped weights didn’t admit they were doing bodybuilding. As a matter of fact, say in the old days, some of the very famous Hollywood actors like Kirk Douglas, Clint Eastwood, Charles Bronson, and the list goes on and on, they all worked out with weights, but they never admitted it publicly because they didn’t want to be associated with the gymnasiums that were like dungeons and that had fanatics, and that had weird people training in there. That is the kind of an image that it had.

    But we changed that, we consciously changed that. And what we did was, we came out with a book called Pumping Iron—I know a lot of you are familiar with that, especially the students—then the movie Pumping Iron, and that changed bodybuilding, the image of bodybuilding, dramatically. As a matter of fact, the perception of bodybuilding began to change and it became more and more hip and more and more attractive. And then all of a sudden, everyone wanted to exercise. As a matter of fact, today you can go to any place in the world and you will find a bodybuilding gymnasium or a place where you can do weight resistance training, and you can go into any gymnasium and you will find ordinary people talking about their abs, their lats, their deltoids, body fat, and all those kinds of things. So this is how much it changed. It became mainstream, it became sexy, attractive.

    And this is exactly what has to happen with the environmental movement. Like bodybuilders, environmentalists were thought of as kind of weird and fanatics also. You know, the kind of serious tree huggers. Environmentalists were no fun; they were like prohibitionists at a fraternity party. (Applause)

    So someone the other day just showed me a cartoon that was of a car salesman in a showroom talking to this couple. And the car salesman pointed at the car and said, “This car runs on an ordinary gasoline-powered engine, and then when it feels a little guilt, when it senses guilt, it switches over to battery power.” Now, that’s funny, it’s a cartoon. But let me tell you something; there’s a lot of truth to that. For too long the environmental movement had been powered by guilt.

    But I believe that this is about to switch over from being powered by guilt to being powered by something much more positive, much more dynamic, something much more capable of bringing about major change. You know the kind of guilt I’m talking about; the smokestacks belching pollution that are powering our Jacuzzis and our big-screen TVs, and in my case powering my private airplanes. So it is too bad, of course, that we can’t all live simple lives like the Buddhist monks in Tibet. But you know something? That’s not going to happen.

    So ladies and gentlemen, I don’t think that any movement has ever made it and has ever made much progress based on guilt. Guilt is passive, guilt is inhibiting, and guilt is defensive. You remember the commercials a number of years ago, the commercials specifically of a Native American who sees what we have done to the environment and then a year runs down his cheek. You all remember that? Well, let me tell you something; that approach didn’t work, because successful movements are built on passion, they’re not built on guilt. They’re built on passion, they’re built on confidence, and they’re built on critical mass. And often, they’re built on an element of alarm that galvanizes action.

    The environmental movement is, to use a popular term, about the tipping point. It’s about to get to the tipping point. There’s a tipping point, and I believe the tipping point will be occurring when the environmental movement is no longer seen as a nag or as a scold, but as a positive force in people’s lives. Now, I don’t know when that tipping point occurs, but I know where—in California. In California, we are doing everything that we can to tip the balance on the environment.

    Now, first, let me start with government policy. I don’t want to go into all the initiatives that we have passed and all the laws that we have passed, because that was already eloquently explained by John when he introduced me. But there are two things that stick out that have gotten us the most attention.

    1. We passed a law to cap greenhouse gas emissions by 25 percent by the year 2020. That basically means we are rolling back the greenhouse gases to the 1990 level by the year 2020, and then we go 80 percent below that by the year 2050.

    2. I ordered a 10 percent cut in the carbon content of transportation fuels.

    Now, do I believe that the standards that California sets will solve global warming? Of course not. But what we are doing is applying leverage so that at some point the whole environmental thing tips. That’s what we are trying to do. It’s like a seesaw. You walk up to it and then slowly it tips the other way. That is what we are trying to do. California, as you know, is big, California is powerful, and what we do in California has unbelievable impact and it has consequences. As a matter of fact, when you look at the globe, California is a little spot, but the kind of power of influence that we have on the rest of the world is an equivalent of whole huge continent.

    We are sending the world a message. What we are saying is that we are going to change the dynamic on greenhouse gas and on carbon emissions. We are taking actions ourselves. We are not waiting for anyone, we are not waiting for the federal government or for Washington. We are creating our own partnerships. We are partnering with Great Britain, we are partnering with provinces in Canada, with states in the United States, with the western states, with the northeastern states. And you know something? Every year we are adding more and more partners to our team. We are increasing the momentum for change.

    Now, there’s a billboard in Michigan that accuses me of costing the car industry 85 billion dollars. They say because of our new carbon fuel standards I cost them 85 billion dollars. The billboard says “Arnold to Michigan—drop dead.” The fact of the matter is, what I’m saying is, Arnold to Michigan—get off your butt. Get off your butt and join us. (Applause)

    In fact, California may be doing more to save US automakers than anyone else, because what we are doing is we are pushing them to make changes, to make the changes so they can sell their cars in California. And we all know—let’s be honest—that if they don’t change, someone will. The Japanese will, the Chinese will, the South Koreans will, the Germans will, they all will. So what I want to do is, I want to prevent that from happening. I want them to sell their cars in California. I believe strongly in American technology, and I think in the end it will be technology that will ultimately save Detroit.

    Now, California, for instance, has already a car company that’s called Tesla Motors. Tesla Motors has just designed and produced a car that’s called the Tesla Roadster. It’s 100 percent electric. Now, why is it that a car company that has never produced a car before is already producing a car with zero emissions—zero emissions—and Detroit is still lagging behind? Now, this car, let me tell you something, is a very sexy looking car. It’s really cool. I mean, I test drove it. It goes from 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. It drives 130 miles an hour, and it has 250 miles on a charge, and then the recharging only takes 3 1/2 hours. Now, that’s what I call cool. And the car cost 100,000 dollars—to be exact, 98,000 dollars—and it is so popular, it sold out immediately. And now the second version is being produced, and that car, the cost will drop down to 50,000 dollars.

    So we can see where that is heading, economics tells us where this is heading. It’s like the cell phones. I remember when I bought a cell phone, the first cell phone, which was kind of a radio phone, 20 years ago. It was 1,600 dollars. The next version I bought a few years later was 1,200, and the next one was 750. I just recently bought a cell phone for my daughter and it was below 90 dollars. Now, because of the costs that have dropped down, almost everyone can afford a cell phone, and the same thing is going to happen to the environmental technologies in cars. Government can give a push by setting standards, so California is giving the nation and the world a push.

    Now, beyond government policy, the second tipping factor is economic. California is the leading edge of what I call ‘the environmental economy’. The aerospace industry built the modern economy of southern California. The computer industry and the internet built the economy of Silicon Valley. And now the green clean technology, along with biotech, will be the next wave of California‘s economy.

    Right now in California‘s university labs, corporate research parks, even in plain looking offices and in strip malls, something very exciting is happening—something very exciting. The nation’s brightest scientists and the smartest venture capitalists are all racing to find alternative or new technologies for alternative energy. It is a race that is fueled by billions and billions of dollars. Capitalism, interestingly enough, which was the alleged enemy of the environment, is today giving new life to the environmental movement.

    Daniel Jurgen, the famous oil analyst, says that if this all-out activity continues, expect dramatic results. And the head of PG&E, California‘s largest utility, says that the energy industry is on the brink of a revolution. And you know something is up when General Electric says that it’s selling its plastic business because it sees more potential in growth and profits in environmental goods and services.

    In an environmental economy the great thing is that we can do both; we can protect the environment and protect the economy, and that’s what I’ve been saying for years. Of course, people didn’t believe in it. People said that you have to choose between one or the other; we have to choose between the environment and the economy. And I said no, we can do both. We can protect the economy and protect the environment, and we have proven that in California.

    Now, the third tipping point that I want to mention is the attitude of the people. I believe the environmental movement is in the midst of redefining itself as something more modern, more confident, and more positive. As governor, I talk to scientists in our universities, I talk to CEOs that run major corporations. And let me tell you, those are not wacky people. Mainstream scientists are convinced, mainstream CEOs are convinced, and if you look at the surveys, mainstream Americans are convinced that global warming and climate change is real and we have to do something about it. So who are the fanatics now? Who are the fanatics? They are the ones who are in denial. They’re in environmental denial, they’re in economic denial, and they are in political denial. Who are the fanatics when DuPont has hired the former head of Greenpeace International? Who are the fanatics when major companies are now demanding that the federal government once and for all passes new laws to set standards for greenhouse gas emissions? Major companies like DuPont, GE, Wal-Mart, BP and PG&E believe that the climate change is real. That is the mainstream speaking, that is the establishment speaking.

    Now, some of you have maybe seen the cable TV show called Pimp My Ride. Have you seen that? Maybe not, maybe not everyone has seen it. But the fact of the matter is, it’s a real cool show. It’s a real cool show, and what they do is, they take old junk cars that we normally should crush, and they make them into lowriders and they make them into muscle cars. Now, my teenage son watches that show all the time, and sometimes I watch it with him.

    As a matter of fact, I recently did a segment of that show that will air on Earth Day, and the reason why it will air on Earth Day is because we take this cool show and they did something, and added something that was environmentally hip. Here’s what we did. We took a 1965 Impala, and we made it into a lowrider, but not an ordinary low-rider. We dropped in an 800 horsepower engine, and that 800 horsepower engine goes from zero to 60 in 3 seconds. Now, you know how fast that is—in 3 seconds. But it is biofueled, and that means that it emits 50 percent less greenhouse gases and it goes twice as far. Now, that’s what I call cool.

    You see, now we cut down on the greenhouse gas emissions, so we don’t have to really go and take away the muscle cars, we don’t have to take away the Hummers or the SUVs or anything like this, because that’s a formula for failure. Instead what we have to do is make those cars more environmentally muscular. That is what we have to do. Now, because of that, one of my Hummers now is running on biofuel, and another one of my Hummers is now running on hydrogen. So those are the kinds of changes that we have made instead of getting rid of the Hummers. (Applause)

    So the new environmental movement is not about guilt, it’s not about fringe, and it’s not about being overwhelmed by the enormity of the problem, but it is about mainstream momentum, exactly what I talked about earlier with bodybuilding. We have to make it mainstream. We have to make it sexy. We have to make it attractive so that everyone wants to participate.

    So finally, let me just say something about politics. Politics plays a big part in the tipping point here. If you are against taking action on greenhouse gases and common emissions your political base will melt away as surely as the polar icecaps, I can guarantee you that. You will become a political penguin on a smaller and smaller ice floe that is drifting out to sea. Good-bye, my little friend. That’s what is going to happen. (Applause)

    Because the environment is a public value, and politicians who ignore it are doing so at their own peril. Now, privately I know many politicians have come up to me and said, “How can we do what you are doing in California?” And I tell them there are only two words that I have to mention, and this is mandates and markets, mandates and markets, like we have in California. And then I also added, I said, “And you have to have political courage.” I said, “Just remember that political courage is not political suicide.”

    Now, some of my fellow Republicans, of course, are raising a very valid point. They say, “What good does it do if we do all of those great things for the environment, and in the meantime the developing world, where emissions are growing the fastest, doesn’t do anything?” Now, I believe in free trade, and I believe that it lifts everyone’s standard of living. But eventually, we will look at the countries that produce goods without regard to the environment the same way as we look at countries that produce goods without regard to human rights—and that means that those countries, of course, that I’m talking about are the ones that have sweat shops. My guess is that within the next decade or so if an economy ignores the damage that it’s doing to the environment, the civilized world will impose environmental tariffs, duties, and other trade restrictions to those countries. This is a matter of fair trade. Nations cannot dump products, nations cannot dump anything, and in the future they will not be able to dump carbon or greenhouse gases either, because this is an unfair trade advantage.

    Now, ladies and gentlemen, in closing let me just say that there are still a lot of people that are pessimistic about how we’re going to deal with the environmental problems. I am optimistic—but I’m always optimistic—but in this case I’m very optimistic, and the reason is because I feel things tipping. I feel things tipping, I feel things moving forward. As a matter of fact, I say do not be downhearted about the environment, because things are about to tip our way.

    Look what has happened this last month. A documentary about global warming has won the Oscar. You can today open up any newspaper and they’re talking about global warming and how we all can participate. Any television show, any radio show you can turn on, they’re going to talk about global warming and about the greenhouse gas emissions and green technology and so on.

    Today I went to a magazine store, and in the magazine store I saw eight covers—eight covers. As a matter of fact it was nine, I found another one just an hour ago. Nine covers—nine magazine covers, all talking about green technology, about plug-in cars, and about Mother Earth, and Town and Country has a green issue, and it goes on and on. Including, of course, let’s not forget the best issue of all, Newsweek. You all saw that, right? (Applause)

    So basically what I’m saying is, things are tipping our way. Thank you very much for listening, and I really appreciate you being here. Thank you very much. Thank you.

    Thank you. Thank you very much. And now, if you don’t mind, I’d like to bring over to the podium my friend and a great environmentalist, great leader, great warrior for the environment, Fran Pavley, our Assemblywoman. Please. (Applause)

    It can be noted that the speech of California’s Governor is directed to US automakers asking them to be vigilant in helping to resolve environmental problems by producing environment-friendly vehicles. The most popular “green vehicles” employed in the US today are hybrid cars and most of the brands that we love have joined the bandwagon except for the iconic Jeep brand which has not yet turned “green”. But in fairness to the Chrysler’s iconic brand it has improved its auto components like for instance its Jeep Wrangler parts to reduce harmful emissions.

    Source: http://technology.sustainablelivinginhawaii.com/1313/californias-governor-schwarzenegger-asked-us-automakers-to-go-green/

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• Energy Savings Can Be Created Energy Savings Can Be Created When The Green Technology Is Selected

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

     

    

    Energy Savings may be created when the inexperienced technology is selected.

    1. Home workplace and other home electronics.

    2. Lighting with room occupancy sensors.

    3. LED lighting.

    4. Control programs that permit for automated control, dimming control and scene control.

    5. Solar energy systems.

    Home Office and Home Electronics

    In the U.S., almost 4.2 million folks worked from house in 2000, up from 3.4 million in 1990. Working from home saves energy and time by chopping out the commute, but it may increase your property energy bills a lot unless you utilize energy-saving workplace equipment.

    ENERGY STAR labeled office equipment is extensively available: it provides customers with dramatic savings, as a lot as 90% financial savings for some products. Overall, ENERGY STAR labeled office merchandise use about half the electricity of ordinary equipment. Along with saving vitality directly, this tools can cut back air-conditioning loads, noise from fans and transformers, and electromagnetic subject emissions from monitors.

    Home Office Tips

    Shop for ENERGY STAR Products for Offices

    • Computers

    • Copiers

    • Fax Machines

    • Monitors

    • Multifunction Devices (fax, scanner, copier)

    • Printers

    • Scanners

    Keep Your Home Office Efficient with ENERGY STAR.

    Home offices are more and more popular. Be sure to make use of ENERGY STAR workplace equipment to save electricity.

    • Selecting energy-efficient workplace equipment-personal computer systems (PCs), monitors, copiers, printers, and fax machines-and turning off machines when they don’t seem to be in use may end up in enormous power savings.

    • An ENERGY STAR labeled computer uses 70% less electricity than computers with out this designation. If left inactive, ENERGY STAR labeled desktop computers enter a sleep mode and use four watts or less. Spending a large portion of time in low-power mode not only saves energy, however helps gear run cooler and last longer.

    • To maximize savings with a laptop, put the AC adapter on an influence strip that can be turned off (or will turn off automatically); the transformer in the AC adapter draws power continuously, even when the laptop is just not plugged into the adapter.

    • Common misconceptions generally account for the failure to show off equipment. Many people consider that equipment lasts longer if it is never turned off. This incorrect perception carries over from the times of older mainframe computers.

    • ENERGY STAR labeled computer systems and screens save energy only when the ability management features are activated, so be sure that power administration is activated in your computer.

    • There is a standard misconception that screen savers scale back energy use by monitors; they do not. Automatic switching to sleep mode or manually turning screens off is all the time the higher energy-saving strategy.

    • Long-Term Savings Tip- Consider shopping for a laptop on your next laptop upgrade; they use a lot less power than desktop computers.

    Home Electronics Tips

    Shop for ENERGY STAR Home Electronics

    • Cordless Phones

    • Televisions

    • VCRs and DVD Players

    • Combination Units (TV/VCR; TV/DVD)

    • Home Audio

    • Set-Top Boxes

    • Smart power strips assist save wasted energy.

    • Look for energy-saving ENERGY STAR labeled residence electronics.

    • Many home equipment continue to attract a small quantity of power when they are switched off. These “phantom” loads occur in most appliances that use electricity, comparable to VCRs, televisions, stereos, computers, and kitchen appliances. These phantom loads may be avoided by unplugging the appliance or using a power strip and utilizing the switch on the ability strip to cut all energy to the appliance.

    • Unplug battery chargers when the batteries are fully charged or the chargers are usually not in use.

    • Studies have shown that using rechargeable batteries for products like cordless phones and PDAs is more economical than throwaway batteries. If it’s essential to use throwaways, check together with your trash removal company about protected disposal options.

    Lighting with room occupancy sensors.

    Occupancy sensors and controls are packed with innovative options and options.

    This kind of product line ensures that lights and plug hundreds are turned off when areas are unoccupied. Occupancy sensors use passive infrared ultrasonic, or patented dual technology to sense movement. Wall Switch Sensors

    Wall Switch occupancy sensors can be found in Passive Infrared, Dual and Ultrasonic technologies and feature enhanced reliability and a glossy low profile appearance. Ceiling Sensors

    Ceiling occupancy sensors are packed with options and choices that streamline sensor installation and strengthen efficiency in a low profile package. With a full 360° of coverage, these sensors are capable of control a variety of applications, either individually or for giant areas and in zones that overlap. The lights need not stay on for your entire length of the time delay if someone is just dropping off mail or other items. With our smart Walk Through Mode, lights flip off three minutes after an space is initially occupied if no motion is detected inside 30 seconds.

    LED lighting.

    A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is a semiconductor system which converts electricity into light. LED lighting has been around since the 1960s, however is just now starting to appear within the residential market for space lighting. At first white LEDs have been only doable by “rainbow” groups of three LEDs — red, green, and blue — by controlling the current to each to yield an overall white light. This changed in 1993 when Nichia created a blue indium gallium chip with a phosphor coating that’s used to create the wave shift essential to emit white light from a single diode. This course of is much inexpensive for the amount of mild generated. The efficacy of a typical residential utility LED is approximately 20 lumens per watt (LPW), though efficacies of up to 100 LPW have been created in laboratory settings. Incandescent bulbs have an efficacy of about 15 LPW and ENERGY STAR® qualified compact fluorescents are about 60 LPW, depending on the wattage and lamp type. Some manufacturers claim efficacies much greater than 20 LPW; make certain to examine system efficacy, which accounts for the facility use of all components. In December 2006, the U.S. Department of Energy studied the efficacy of four luminaries. All four fell in need of the manufacturers’ claims; the examine implies that producers are counting on measurements of how much gentle an isolated LED produces, somewhat than how much light an LED luminaire actually delivers. LED lights are more rugged and damage-resistant than compact fluorescents and incandescent bulbs. LED lights don’t flicker. They are very warmth sensitive; excessive heat or inappropriate functions dramatically reduce both mild output and lifetime. In South Florida visit Atlantic Smart Technologies for more information. www.atlanticsmart.com

    Uses include:

    • Task and studying lamps

    • Linear strip lighting (under kitchen cabinets)

    • Recessed lighting/ceiling cans

    • Porch/outdoor/landscaping lighting

    • Art lighting

    • Night lights

    • Stair and walkway lighting

    • Pendants and overhead

    • Retrofit bulbs for lamps

    LED Information offered by Tool Base Services.

    Control methods that allow for automatic control, dimming control and scene control.

    Home management technology can streamline and simplify all of the technology in your house and offer the ultimate lifestyle of consolation and convenience. Total dwelling technology solutions can eliminate the necessity to walk from room to room to adjust drapes, lights, temperature, and audio/video components. Whether from an easy-to-use coloration touch panel, distant or a personalized keypad, total control is all the time at your fingertips.

    Numerous manufactures let you indulge in luxury with a single contact of a button. Imagine with just a single touch the lights dim, the shades close, the plasma TV turns on and your favorite movie begins. All you need is the popcorn and soda. Imagine your window treatments are programmed to regulate at pre-set times to cut back glare and shield delicate materials and fine art from dangerous direct sunlight. Imagine at night the hallway lights mechanically illuminate as you stroll by.

    Crestron Total Home Technology Solutions provide integrated lighting automation and control. Lighting sets the right scene and creates the desired ambience for any occasion. Whether it’s movie night, an intimate dinner for two, a business party or a quiet Sunday brunch reading the newspaper, lighting establishes the correct mood. Traveling out of city or working late? The lights can execute pre-programmed scenes to simulate established way of life patterns. Dimmers can regulate internal lighting in keeping with natural light levels in the home or incrementally over a pre-determined time period.

    Total Home Technology Solutions keeps your property comfortable always monitoring temperature and humidity levels automatically. No want to rise up or even be home to adjust climate controls, with Crestron, you can control multiple zones from one location and simply pre-set temperature set points. Keep your house at a more energy efficient temperature whereas you’re out, and programmed to robotically adjust to more comfortable levels by the time you get home. Getting residence early? Use your PDA or PC to control the HVAC remotely, even monitor the wine cellar or greenhouse atrium temperatures.

    Enjoy music throughout your complete home or in simply the room you select with Total Home Technology distributed audio. Experience a movie with digital surround sound. Listen to your jazz CDs while you read in the den while the youngsters play video games within the media room and your spouse listens to the radio on the terrace. Control the music of your life from any room in the house – no need to walk to the stereo to decide on a component, choose a CD, change tracks or adjust volume. Relax. You deserve it.

    Create the final word Home Theater with Total Home Technology. With a single contact of the controller the lights dim, the shades close, the display opens, the temperature adjusts, the AV components flip on, the inputs are selected, the amount is set and the DVD server begins to play your movie. Total dwelling technology places you in complete control right out of your comfortable seat. For fashionable movie lovers, nothing stirs the soul just like the impact of an earth shaking sound impact or the enveloping heat of a lushly orchestrated soundtrack, Total Home offers unlimited prospects for including an elective dynamic encompass sound experience.

    Monitor the entrance door or gate; watch the kids by the swimming pool; or verify on the infant napping within the nursery. You can control security cameras and watch what’s going on around the home right from your touch panel.

    Audio and video intercom solutions provide for the ultimate integration of whole-house AV, video security and voice communications. While listening to your favourite music or watching a DVD within the home theater, you will know the moment someone rings the doorbell or enters the driveway as the audio is gently muted, the camera picture seems on the contact panel or television, and you’re in a position to speak with the customer and grant entry to your home on the simplest press of a button. In South Florida visit Atlantic Smart Technologies for more information. www.atlanticsmart.com

    Imagine what the Total Home Technology experience can carry to your lifestyle!

    *Control Systems data provided by Crestron Home Automation.

    Solar power systems.

    There are several ways to make use of the sun’s energy to generate electricity. One of probably the most promising is photovoltaic panels, displayed on the rooftops of homes and office buildings. The downside to solar energy is that it’s expensive to produce: generating power from photovoltaic panels prices more than four instances as much as coal, and greater than twice what wind energy costs. In the United States, the federal government and states have offered quite a lot of incentives to encourage householders and businesses to put panels on their roofs, and for utilities to purchase power from massive displays. Solar panels produce no energy at night, but that is not a significant problem as a result of the electricity is commonly most needed within the daytime, when consumers activate lights and televisions and air-conditioning. For now, electricity technology from the sun’s rays must be subsidized as a result of it requires the purchase of new equipment and funding in evolving technologies. But costs are quickly dropping. And regulators are still learning methods to structure stimulus payments in order that they yield a secure green industry that helps itself.

    Photovoltaic cells convert daylight directly into electrical energy and are fabricated from semiconductors reminiscent of crystalline silicon or numerous thin-film materials. Photovoltaics can provide tiny amounts of energy for small electronic devices or large amounts for the electric grid, and every part in between. You could also be more aware of PV cells as photo voltaic cells that energy watches and calculators. But PV can do much more. It can present electricity for residential and business buildings, together with power for lights and air conditioning. PV can be a convenient supply of energy for pumping water, electrifying fences, or aerating ponds in distant applications.

    As an energy-conscious consumer, you want to do all you can to make use of energy efficiently and add extra clean, renewable energy to your life. This section accommodates information and analysis tools that can assist you evaluate your options and make an informed decision. If you’ve already decided to install solar electrical panels (also referred to as photovoltaic or PV panels) on your roof, you’ve got given it cautious thought and regarded all the benefits of using a reliable, abundant, and environmentally smart supply of power – the sun. If you have not decided yet, we hope the information in these pages will help making a decision about purchasing PV panels for your home or business.

    Energy is Life. Save energy and save money by using magniwork. For more information aboutmagniwork. Visit our website at http://www.gosavepower.com/magniwork-review for moremagniwork review .

    http://diysolarwaterheater.net/energy-savings-can-be-created-when-the-green-technology-is-selected

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• Feds Propose Letter Grades For Feds Propose Letter Grades For Vehicle Efficiency

  • From: ashleysoon
  • Description:

    

    The feds, eager to make fuel economy stickers easier to understand even as new technologies enter the market, suggest assigning all new vehicles a letter grade based upon their efficiency. The best fuel misers would, as you’d expect, get an A while the worst guzzlers would get a D.

    Assigning each new car an overall grade based on fuel economy and greenhouse gas emissions would the biggest change to vehicle window stickers in 30 years. The proposal is one of two the Environmental Protection Agency and Department of Transportation are considering under a sweeping effort to revamp vehicle window stickers for the 2012 model year. That’s when electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are expected to hit the market in (relatively) significant numbers.

    Current stickers provide each vehicle’s fuel economy in miles per gallon and an estimate of its annual operating costs. Under one proposal, the feds would add a letter grade summing up a vehicle’s energy efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions. Under the second, current stickers would be updated to include comparison of various vehicles’ fuel economy and emissions.

    The goal is to provide consumers with a simple, straightforward way to compare the energy consumption and environmental impacts of all types of vehicles, from internal combustion vehicles to electric and plug-in hybrid. Regulators want some public feedback before deciding which proposal to adopt.

    “New technologies such as battery electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids are entering the American market in greater numbers,” Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said in a statement. “We need to provide consumers with labels that include fuel economy and environmental information so that buyers can make better informed decisions when purchasing new vehicles.”

     

    The grades would range from an A+ to a D, perhaps to spare automakers from having to see their least efficient vehicles slapped with an F. To earn top marks, a vehicle would have to get at least 59 mpg or the equivalent, while anything getting 14 or below would earn a D.

    Clearly some vehicles will blow the curve. An electric vehicle like the Nissan Leaf would get an A+, while a plug-in hybrid like Toyota’s forthcoming Plug-In Prius would earn an A. The average car like, the Toyota Camry, for example, would score a B-, while most SUVs and pickup trucks like the Ford F-150 would fare no better than a C+. Extreme performance machines like the Ferrari 512 Scaglietti would get a D.

    A second proposed label would retain the current label’s focus on miles per gallon and annual fuel costs but update the overall design and add comparison information on fuel economy and emissions.

    Automakers are, as you might expect, skeptical of the proposed changes.

    “A car is generally a consumer’s second biggest expenditure, and automakers support providing our customers with meaningful information for decision-making on vehicles that meet their particular needs, but the proposed letter grade falls short because it is imbued with school-yard memories of passing and failing,” Dave McCurdy, president and CEO of the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, told the Detroit News. The trade association represents the Big Three, Toyota Motor Corp., and seven other companies.

    Automakers also worry letter grades amount to the government making a value judgment on vehicles.

    “Grades may inadvertently suggest a government label of approval, when what we really want to do is encourage consumers to consider buying one of the many new technologies on sale,” Gloria Bergquist, spokeswoman for the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers, told the Wall Street Journal. The alliance is the auto industry’s largest trade group.

    Both labels expand on the data currently available by providing new info about fuel consumption, tailpipe CO2 emissions and smog-related emissions. The new labels would provide information on a web-based interactive tool also accessible by smart phone.

    When it comes to electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, the feds propose showing energy use by translating electricity consumption to miles per gallon equivalent, but the labels also would express energy use in terms of kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. GHG emissions would be measured only at the tailpipe and would not consider any “upstream” emissions from, say, electricity generation. That’s sure to be a bone of contention among EV naysayers who argue electric vehicles simply transfer emissions from the tailpipe to the power plant, even though some studies have shown the well-to-wheel emissions of electric vehicles are lower than internal combustion even when the electricity comes form coal-fired plants.

    The feds will take public comment for 60 days after the proposal is published in the federal register, so click here if you want to sound off.

    Photo: Ford. A dealership employee prepares a Ford Escape Hybrid for delivery. Under the feds’ proposed window sticker revisions, customers shopping for cars would more easily be able to compare different vehicles’ fuel efficiency and emissions.

    

    Under one proposal, the feds would assign all new cars a letter grade based upon energy efficiency and tailpipe emissions. The label also would outline projected annual savings in fuel costs over the average vehicle. Electric vehicles would get an A+, while plug-in hybrids would get an A.

    

    The most fuel efficient gasoline cars would earn high marks, and most SUVs would get a C+. Anything getting 14 mpg or less would earn a D. Just like so many schools these days, no one would get an F.

    

    A second proposal calls for updating the current stickers. Electric vehicles would showenergy use by translating electricity consumption to miles per gallon equivalent, but the labels also would express energy use in terms of kilowatt-hours per 100 miles.

    

    The feds say the redesign is meant to make it easier for consumers to compare the fuel efficiency of various vehicles and technologies.

     

    By: Kunani | August 30, 2010

    Original Source: http://www.budez.com/topics/2010/08/feds-propose-letter-grades-for-vehicle-efficiency/

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• 5 Green Gadgets 5 Green Gadgets

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    1. Six-in-One Solar Robot electronic cigarette starter kit

    This little robot is perfect for a budding nature-lover scientist’s birthday or as a Christmas present. Requiring no battery, this educational electronic cigarette starter kit has 21 parts that can be snapped together to form an airboat, a windmill, a puppy and two different planes, which can all move thanks to a small solar-powered motor. Available for about $15.

    

    2.    SimpleTech [re]drive by Hitachi

    This energy efficient 500GB Turbo USB 2.0 external hard-drive uses less power than a regular drive and is made with renewable materials (naturally grown bamboo and recyclable aluminum). The bamboo’s natural cooling quality replaces the need for a fan, thus reducing the amount of energy used. It is PC and MAC compatible, automatically switches on and off with your computer, and comes with an Energy Star power adapter. It also includes award-winning Fabrik back-up software. Available for about $85.

    

    3.    Crank-powered Rechargeable Batteries by Yanko Design

    Most of us already know the crank-powered flashlight or radio. Now rechargeable batteries can be cranked-up back to life, too.  These innovative batteries are comprised of the cell (the battery itself) and a capsule with a small built-in hand-crank. Five minutes of winding up will restore 45% of the battery juice (an indicator light shows the level of charge). Not currently available for AA batteries.

    

    4.    Solar Clock by Suck UK

    Well before clocks as we know them existed, people used sundials. This solar clock too uses the sun to give the time, but it will work at night and during a power outage as well. Sleek, modern-looking and battery-free, it comes with two sets of hands, a short one for free standing, and a long one for wall-mounting. Four different positions possible as the clock can be upright or on its sides. Excellent for a gift or for yourself.  Available for about $35.

    

    5.    The ‘Ecobutton’ by Brite Ideas Global Ltd

    This smart  little button is an award-winning retro-fit computer power saving device that selects the lowest power saving mode available while you are away from your screen and keyboard.  It sits next to your keyboard, connected to your computer via a USB cable. (MAC users will have to wait a bit longer for a MAC version). Simply press  it and your computer goes into “eco-mode”, i.e. the most energy-efficient saving mode available, while you take a break, talk on the phone, go for lunch etc.  Come back later and press it again: all your data is restored  faster than when in sleep mode, and you can resume what you were previously doing. No data lost, no electricity wasted, carbon footprint reduced.  It also displays how much energy and money you have saved by using it. Available for about $20.

    

    Source: http://www.hypnotikworld.com/

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• Electric Cars Will Have Fewer Electric Cars Will Have Fewer Gadgets. Here's Why.

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    

    Texting while driving: Just the beginning of the distractions. (Flickr/Jason Weaver)

    What high-tech feature would you want to see in your car (that's not there now)? Autobytel.com asked that question as part of its "What's Hot Now?" report, and the results indicate that people must get lost a lot-30 percent, by far the largest number, would like to have an in-dash GPS navigation device. Me, I can live without one.

    In fact, just as cars are connecting big time, we're electrifying them, and many of the early EVs will be kind of skimpy on personal tech, trying to increase battery life and increase range.

    In the old days, the advertised list price of an entry-level car got you a really bare-bones vehicle with a "blanking plate" where the radio would have been. In England, even the heater was optional, which makes no sense in a country with perpetual "pissing down rain." But now everybody wants cars loaded (try to find one without air conditioning) and CD players and iPod Connectivity are nearly standard. And that's why it's interesting that the second-most popular choice in the survey (24 percent) was "I can live without technology."

    Spoken like true Luddites!

    After none of the above, people chose voice-controlled phone, radio and navigation (14 percent), rear-seat entertainment (eight percent), Bluetooth connectivity (six percent). An iPod/MP3 input (just six percent, I'm surprised) and "ability to surf the Internet" (five percent). With me, the iPod connector is tops-it compares to the invention of the wheel.

    It's really interesting that the top choices are mightily distracting. I know, voice recognition is supposed to be anti-distraction, but I have my doubts – it's still very engaging, and takes your mind away from the road, if not your hands.

    Thirty-five percent of drivers told Autobytel that they have either been in an accident or were close to one from using tech devices such as cell phones and iPods while at the wheel. According to Chris Allen, an associate website editor at Autobytel, those people who said they can live without technology "are saying they can live without technology, because they're concerned with not being distracted." The GPS lovers, he added, "are sick of being lost, which is one of the biggest distractions there is. Navigation means you don't have to worry about keeping track of where you are." That's only with the good ones – bad navigation is a distraction all its own.

    By 2016, 90 percent of cars are expected to have some form of wireless connectivity, says the tech industry (which is rubbing its hands at the new market). Sixty-eight percent of the niche known as Echo Boomers say the ability to surf the net in the car is either "very important" or "nice to have." Right now, you can't surf when cars are moving, which sort of defeats the whole purpose. You're going to sit in the immobile car and look at the web?

    Interestingly enough, electric cars promise both to be more and less connected. EVs are likely to be "smart," which means you'll be using your cell phone to schedule charging sessions or to find an available station. The car will be able to interact with the utility on charging schedules, too, dialing in the electrons at low-stress times.

    But, and it's a big but, EVs have no on-board alternator churning out electricity. All the juice comes from the batteries, which means that loads of power-hungry personal tech will drastically reduce their range. I was given pause in New York recently when a company that converts Chevy Equinoxes to EV said that customers will be able to order everything on GM's options list, including rear-seat TV monitors.

    Well, don't expect to drive too far if you have Date Night cranking in the back and the stereo roaring in the front.

    Larry Burns, a former General Motors VP, told me that in the near future electric cars will drive themselves, closely linking and responding to wireless congestion messages to avoid gridlock. By that time, battery packs will have unlimited capacity and we'll be able to click away with abandon as Big Brother drives.

    Photo Credit: flickr/Jason Weaver

    Source: 

    http://www.thedailygreen.com/

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• Electric Car Made From Hemp Is Electric Car Made From Hemp Is Ready to Roll

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

    Don't Bogart that go cart! Made from hemp fibers, The Kestrel borrows from history to move eco-friendly EV technology forward.

    

    Some Canadians are putting a cheeky twist on the term "green technology" by constructing a car from industrial hemp. Project Eve, a collaboration between  companies Motive and Toronto Electric, along with several universities in the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Quebec, are behind the innovation inelectric vehicle (EV) transportation technology.

    Their prototype electric car is dubbed The Kestrel. As CBC News reports, the compact car will have space for three passengers and an all-electric power train with different battery options that will permit a driving range between 25-100 miles before it'll need a recharge. Top speed for The Kestrel will clock in at about 55 miles per hour — but perhaps the fact that it's made from hemp will make it seem much faster.

    While making automotive structures from hemp fibers may seem surprisingly novel, the fact that it really isn't at all, may come as a bit of a surprise. CBC notes that Henry Ford's earliest cars relied on hemp fibers and resin a century ago, but as the young industry began to evolve and mature, manufacturers migrated toward steel and other materials for car manufacturing.

    Revived interest in composite fibers has been fueled by the material's strength, but also by its low weight, which helps to support the goal of improving energy efficiency. Industrial hemp produces an especially strong structural material, and producing it is far preferable, environmentally speaking, compared to energy-intensive and potentially polluting production of synthetic fibers such as carbon and glass.

    And the team backers note that industrial hemp, which grows easily in a wide range of environments and conditions without the need for extensive use of water, fertilizer or pesticides, remains illegal to grow in the United States, which leaves The Kestrel team looking to their southern neighbor and sensing an advantageous opportunity.

    CBC reports that The Kestrel will be unveiled next month following the September EV 2010 Conference and Trade Show in Vancouver.

    http://www.tonic.com/article/electric-car-made-from-hemp-kestrel-canada/

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• Green is Great in the Long Run Green is Great in the Long Run

  • From: yiehk21
  • Description:

    Green is Great in the Long Run

    

    Take rising gasoline prices, add in a compelling political race for United States President, sprinkle in a dash of technological advances and…voila, you have a major boost for green-focused automotive manufacturers and suppliers that will have long-range implications on the future of consumer transportation.

    With gasoline prices at record levels, automotive technology occupied center stage in the US presidential campaign. One candidate proposed a 0 million prize for the inventor of a next-generation battery powerful enough for long-range electric cars. Another candidate suggested a billion plan for development of plug-in hybrids with the stated goal of 1 million vehicles to be ready for sale by 2015. Regardless of one’s political affiliation, either of these plans looks like big steps are in the making.

    Environmental concerns are playing a much bigger role with today’s eco-conscious consumers. The disciples of global warming are making a case about the long-range effects of gasoline and diesel-fueled engines, which produce carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide and unburned hydrocarbons. And while automakers and their suppliers are busy researching and developing alternatives to the internal combustion engine, the reality is that it will take years before innovative, effective and non-cost-prohibitive solutions are ready for the marketplace.

    Much of hybrid technology falls into one of three classes: full hybrid vehicles, medium hybrid vehicles and mild hybrid vehicles. Full hybrids propel vehicles without using any gasoline. An example would be a full EV (electrical vehicle) that is powered by a nickel-metal-hybrid or lithium-ion battery pack. Medium hybrids can use a combustion engine, an electric motor or a combination of the two to propel the vehicle. In mild hybrid vehicles, the combustion engine runs whenever the vehicle is in motion. Mild hybrids are available in dealerships today, and one of the more popular, and simplest, systems available is the start/stop system.

    In 2007, vehicles began using the Belt-Alternator-Starter (BAS) systems, commonly known as start/stop systems. BAS hybrid systems deliver improved fuel economy, most notably in city driving where fuel economy usually suffers. Efficiency is improved by shutting off the engine when the vehicle is brought to a stop, minimizing engine idling. The engine restarts when the brake pedal is released. It also cuts off fuel to the engine during vehicle deceleration and captures vehicle kinetic energy during deceleration to help charge the advanced nickel metal hydride hybrid battery. This is referred to as regenerative braking.

    Hybrid technology will continue to flourish until battery technology is able to catch up, but some automakers and environmentalists remain skeptical about other alternatives, such as the potential of hydrogen-powered fuel-cell vehicles. “I don’t think we’ll ever have hydrogen-powered passenger fuel-cell vehicles because the alternatives are more attainable and more affordable,” says the founder of a California-based advocacy group that favors plug-in hybrid cars.

    Hydrogen-powered fuel cell vehicles would have some advantages. As well as reducing fuel bills and emissions, hydrogen-powered cars could also help automakers by lowering material costs. A fuel-cell car has about 10% of the moving parts of a conventional vehicle. In a sign of hydrogen’s emergence as an automotive technology, one automaker recently moved fuel cells from its research and development division to its powertrain development business unit though automakers generally agree that fuel-cell powered vehicles are not likely to be in mass production in the near future.

    Rising gas prices have given a boost to new technologies. A recent research report forecasts that motor vehicle technology would “change more significantly over the next five years than it has in the past 100.” Not coincidentally, it’s been about a hundred years since the Model T revolutionized the way cars were assembled and marketed, but a new day is dawning as today’s automakers are looking to reduce their reliance on the internal combustion engine by developing new hybrid, hydrogen and electric models.

    Mike Trudel, Freelance Writer. Delphi Corporation is committed to contributing state-of-the-art technologies and the best of automotive innovation to help achieve greener roadways. For more information, visit www.Delphi.com/4green.

    http://moso-technology.com/blog/2010/08/green-is-great-in-the-long-run/

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• Recycle Everything – Recycling Recycle Everything – Recycling Tips

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    

    Here are some non obvious recycling tips from our local garbage carrier, Allied Waste.  Check with your local company to verify how they handle recycling.

    1) Rinsed coated milk and juice cartons. Plastic caps and plastic pour spouts must be removed before recycling.

    2) No Pizza boxes

    3) No black plastic (any type)

    4) No nursery plant containers – See Recycle Plastic Nursery pots

    5) No Toys

    6) No Plastic Clam shells. Tetra Pak can be recycled.

    7) Cardboard boxes like detergent ones cannot be recycled unless they are thoroughly cleaned.

     Allied Waste recycles single use batteries if you place them in a plastic bag on top of recyclables.  Best Buy has recycling bins for rechargeable batteries. Earth911 can help you find local battery recycling.

    Harder to Recycle Items

    Most supermarkets have bins that recycle plastic bags. Recycle Wine Corks.

    Recycle CFL – compact fluorescent light bulbs at Home Depot.

    TerraCycle makes affordable, eco-friendly products from a wide range of different non-recyclable waste materials. Capri Sun – Honest Kids juice pouches can be recycled at Terracycle as Candy Wrappers, Starbucks Coffee bags, Zip Loc Bags, Cookie Wrappers, Colgate toothpaste, and more.

    Recycling styrofoam is a challenge. Recycle Tyvek Envelopes. Recycle Shrink Wrap. Recycle Gift Wrap and Holiday Cards. Recycle Gift Cards.

    Recycle Bike Tires.

    Recycle Clothes. Recycle Eyeglasses

    Recycle Carpet.

    Cell phones and Electronics can be readily recycled or donated. Recycle Appliances.

    Earth911 has recycling options for other products. Get paid to recycle.

    Be sure to donate unwanted items.

    Source: http://www.easyecoblog.com/

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• Thinking Strategically about g Thinking Strategically about green

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    6 Future Green Gold Mines

    
    1. Green application developments – The modern world, which is already hysterically wired and technology focused, is getting greener in huge leaps. This connection means – a need for endless amounts of greener application. If you are a programmer or involved with programming commercially, I would go into developing green application and widgets. http://bit.ly/dn8FaL / http://bit.ly/cBgLOj
    
    2. EVs - Fleet charging management & storage (software & hardware) Utilities are very afraid that too many electric vehicles could one day plug into their grids in the same time and cause huge blackouts…. While the market for electric vehicle network management is massive — estimated to pull in $297 million in the U.S. by 2015 according to Pike Research – the vast majority of utility-smart charging projects are research experiments, and involve only a couple cars. … Money has been flowing into utility energy storage projects… In July 2010, the US DOE says it offered AES its 14th loan guarantee — a $17.1 million conditional commitment — to build a battery storage system. http://bit.ly/bXzlod / http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20013609-54.html / http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=6941
    
    3. Lithium: The Next Frontier in Alternative Energy Lithium, the lightweight silver-white alkali metal that stores energy in lithium-ion batteries, has been attracting growing attention from automotive and energy companies over the past several years and the mineral’s meteoric rise to global prominence is seemingly set to continue unabated as a new generation of electric cars begins rolling off the assembly line.
    
    “We believe that the use of electricity as the energy source of choice for vehicles will become dominant over the next 20 to 30 years,” said Dr. Jon Hykawy, who specializes in lithium and alternative energy industries at Byron Capital Markets. “The rationale is simple; GM noted that it takes 25 kWh of electrical energy to move their Volt 100 miles down the highway, while a conventional four cylinder gasoline-powered car might consume 75 kWh of equivalent energy from gasoline to do the same thing. Electrical vehicles are more efficient than internal combustion-based vehicles, and with increasing energy costs, we need to do more with less.” http://bit.ly/9lv6Jd
    
    4. Training, education and the green executive search market : Lack Of Technical Talent Is Slowing Clean-Tech Industry -New Energy Finance CEO Michael Liebreich said that the rapid influx of capital and strong demand for clean technologies is at the root of the talent problem. Hundreds of new clean-tech companies have been created over the past five years. Job boards in the field have plenty of unanswered listings for clean-tech related jobs, including C-level positions. http://www.rattlemahler.com/?p=209
    
    5. Renewables = Energy security, so your main market is the ones that value security, with Biofuels as the leading “scout” : The U.S. Navy is looking to have half of its total fuel use come renewable energy sources by 2020, while the Marine Corps wants those sources, particularly the biofuels, to come from sources near its bases. The New York Times reports that Navy Secretary Ray Mabus wants to dramatically cut the Navy and Marine Corps’ dependence on fossil fuels, especially from sources that might not be so friendly: http://bit.ly/b6fK3P
    
    6. Renewable energy park/ industry center is the key: At the heart of all of these is the Fife Energy Park atMethil, first seen by some when it was mooted in 2005 as a 'pie in the sky' attempt to rejuvenate the area's former Kvaerner rig yard, which had lain empty for over three years. ... However, Scottish Enterprise Fife and the council joined forces, pledging to invest millions of pounds into the site and turn it into a hub for Scotland's renewable energysector.... With continued Scottish Government backing, that reputation is likely to be enhanced in the years to come — especially in light of the fact that up to 8000 wind turbines could be installed in waters around the UK over the next decade. Council leader Peter Grant believes Fife's expertise will not only attract new companies but also help indigenous firms grow and diversify. He said, "We believe the challenging targets set by the Scottish Government are achievable and we believe that by 2013 Fife will be in the enviable position of producing enough greenenergy to power every one of the kingdom's homes." http://bit.ly/bztQbE

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• Every Day Recycling Tips Every Day Recycling Tips

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:

    
    Every Day Recycling Tips

     

    Recycling not only saves raw materials, but it also reduces the size of community landfills--garbage dumps. Every year Illinois takes 9.1 million tons of garbage headed for the dumps and diverts it to their recycling centers. This saves 53.3 million trees, creates 10 times more jobs, saves energy and creates more cost effective products that are reintroduced into the economy. Simple recycling at home can save resources and money.

    Recycle Plastic Tubs

    All those butter or margarine tubs can be washed and reused to store leftovers. Prepared foods come in a variety of plastic containers and reusable packaging. This saves money on buying new plastic storage packages or bags for storing foods and other items. They can be also be used to hold nails, screws, pins, paper clips or other loose items. Plastic containers are a great organization tool. Fill them will all those loose items in the kitchen junk drawer and label them for easy access later.

    Use Rechareable Batteries

    The electronic age has produced many products integral to our daily lives, and most of these items use some form of battery. Americans toss out around 179,000 tons of batteries per year, according to INFORM, a consumer information organization. Battery waste can leak toxic substances and heavy metals into the environment.
    
    
    
    Rechargeable batteries can be used repeatedly. There are standard battery sized rechargeable batteries such as double and triple As. Other rechargeable batteries are made for specific devices such as toothbrushes, electronic equipment and power tools. 
    
    
    
    Always recycle rechargeable batteries at a toxic waste disposal center when they finally wear out, recommends the California Energy Commission.

    Recycle All Paper Products

    Recycling your newspaper just one day per week will save 36 million trees a year, according to the California Energy Commission. Any type of paper can be recycled: notebook paper, egg cartons, cereal boxes, computer paper, magazines and any other paper products in the home.

    Compost

    Recycle vegetables, fruits, coffee grounds and other organic material by composting. Composting decomposes scraps of food and lawn scraps into rich soil for the garden or lawn. By composting all your food scraps, you cut down on the amount of garbage hauled to landfills and enrich your garden, notes the Consumer Energy Center. 
    
    
    
    People in apartments can compost by using a small bin under the sink filled with shredded newspaper, a small amount of dirt and 1 lb. of red worms per lb. of food scraps you use per week.

    
    
    Source: http://www.livestrong.com/ 
    

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• Top Recycling Tips Top Recycling Tips

  • From: arboinks
  • Description:
    

    Getty Images Angela Wyan

     

  • First things first, a little R & R & R
    The aphorism is so tired it almost might seem like “reduce, reuse, recycle” should go without saying. But in fact, most of us have only really heard the last third of the phrase, and they’re ranked in order of importance. Reducing the amount that we consume, and shifting our consumption to well-designed products and services, is the first step. Finding constructive uses for “waste” materials is next. And tossing it in the blue bin is last. (The garbage can is not on the list, for good reason.) Through a balance of these three principals you can easily see your landfill-destined waste dwindle fast. A good example of recycling is setting your empty water bottles in the bin on the curb. But by using a water filter and reusable container you can reduce or completely eliminate your need for disposable plastic bottles.
    
    
  • Know what you can and can't recycle
    Read up on the recycling rules for your area and make sure you don't send anything in that can't be processed. Each city has its own specifics, so try to follow those guidelines as best you can.
    
    
  • Buy recycled
    The essence of recycling is the cyclical movement of materials through the system, eliminating waste and the need to extract more virgin materials. Supporting recycling means feeding this loop by not only recycling, but also supporting recycled products. We can now find high recycled content in everything from printer paper to office chairs.
    
    
  • Encourage an artist
    If you know someone interested in making art from recycled materials, offer to provide supplies. Many school children need items like paper towel tubes for art projects. Older artists use everything from rubber bands to oven doors. If you know someone who teaches art classes, suggest that an emphasis be put on making art from trash. While you're at it, remind them to use recycled paper and biodegradable, earth-friendly glues, paints, and pencils whenever possible. See below for inspiration and groups that connect artists and students with useful “trash.”
    
    
  • Recycle your water
    If you're a homeowner, consider rearranging your plumbing so that rainwater or wastewater from your shower and tub is used to flush your toilet. If you have a garden, water it with leftover bathwater or dishwashing water (as long as you use a biodegradable soap). For more on water recycling see How to Go Green: Water.
    
    
  • Recycle your greenery
    William McDonough and Michael Braungart, authors of the groundbreaking Cradle to Cradle, envision so-called “waste” divided into two categories: technical nutrients and biological nutrients. Biological nutrients are those that, at the end of their useful life, can safely and readily decompose and return to the soil. Composting is one of the simplest and most effective recycling methods. Both your garden cuttings and your green kitchen waste can go into an outdoor or indoor composter (with or without entertaining a population of worms). If you don't have a garden yourself, find neighbors or a community garden that can make use of your soil. Composting food scraps will mean your regular kitchen wastebasket fills up more slowly and also won’t smell. Hotter, more active compost heaps can also consume tougher stuff like newspaper and paper napkins. After Christmas, many cities also have programs for turning your tree into mulch.
    
    
  • Recycle your robots
    Electronics recycling is becoming more common in many urban areas, battery recycling is ubiquitous (rechargeable batteries are ecologically sounder, but even they wear out after a while), and there are a number of non-profit organizations that will take computer parts and turn them into working computers for others. Companies like Ebay have also developed programs to help your electronics find new homes. Other groups will gladly recycle your cell phone or give it to a senior citizen, as even without a contract it can still make emergency calls. If you have a major appliance that doesn't work and you'd rather replace it than try to fix it, offer it to local repair shops, trade schools, or hobbyists to tinker with. Many cities now offer hazardous waste recycling days when they will take not only hazardous waste, but electronics.
    
    
  • Anticipate recycling
    In addition to buying recycled goods, keep a keen eye out for recyclable goods. Whenever you purchase something packaged, think about how you can reuse the packaging, return it to a shipping store for reuse, or try to otherwise recycle it. If you get something likely to run down or wear out over time, such as an electronic component, give preference to the model that can be easily upgraded or cannibalized for parts so that you don't have to junk the whole thing if one part breaks. Products that are impossibly fused together are often called “monstrous hybrids” and are, while often cheaper up front, frequently unfixable and unrecyclable.
    
    
  • If you don’t love something, let it go
    Lots of charities welcome your donations. Groups like Freecycle and Recycler's Exchange exist to help you get rid of useful objects that you just don't want to make use of. If you're in a Craigslist city, make use of the "free stuff" section. Give away clothes that don't fit, the boxes you used in your last house move, or scented soaps that don't appeal to your sensibilities. Make it a rule in your house that nothing useable goes in the trash until you've given the community a fair shot at it.
    
    
  • Become a waste-stream analyst
    To better understand the kind of materials that enter and leave your home, office, or school, consider conducting a waste audit. Set a span of time like a week or a month, and separate your waste categories. Weigh the different kinds of material flows that go out the door (landfill waste, organic compost, aluminum, recyclable plastic, reusable material, etc.). Design a “material recovery” program that minimizes the amount going to the landfill. This is a great exercise to do with kids but can be very convincing to corporate higher-ups, too, especially since most companies pay to have their trash hauled away and can get money for recycled paper, containers, toner cartridges, corrugated cardboard, and such.

  Source: http://planetgreen.discovery.com/

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