Green Technology

 
How can you be green and travel - especially by plane?  Air travel is one of the largest contributors to global warming by virtue of all the greenhouse gases emitted.

You want to travel ... you want to be green ... you can only install so many Compact Fluorescent bulbs ...
>>>> What Can You Do?

"Commercial aviation worldwide ranks among the biggest single emitters of greenhouse gases linked to global warming ... So, a few entrepreneurs and environmental groups have devised a simple way to compensate for this damage: Plant a tree."

"Trees serve as what scientists call a "carbon sink," each absorbing more than a ton of carbon dioxide from the air over the course of roughly a century. At least two companies, the Welsh-based Treeflights and the U.S.-based travel booking site Travelocity, now offer a way for travelers to plant trees for every trip they take." 

"For about $18.70, ... will plant the tree of your choice ... estimates that the typical tree absorbs 1.25 tons of carbon dioxide over the course of its lifetime, which is equivalent to the amount emitted by a commercial airline during a round-trip flight between New York and London."

>>> See www.treeflights.com for details   Link 

Via:  Philly.com   Link

Posted by Green Dude at 10:16 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Corporate Data centers are major energy users.  They use electricity to power their equipment - much of which generates HEAT.  Then they use electricity to provide cooling.  It is a vicious cycle and one that is taking a larger and larger chuck of the corporate IT budget.
>>> Not good news! 

Help may soon be on the way ...  

Portland, Ore. — February 26, 2007 — "The Green Grid, a non-profit consortium dedicated to advancing energy efficiency in data centers and business computing ecosystems, today announced the completion of its formation, membership structure, technical charter, and made available three new white papers."

"The collective viewpoint of Green Grid members is that energy efficiency in the data center is the most significant issue facing technology providers and their customers today. This situation is not only due to exponential increases in power and cooling costs over the past few years, but also because customer demand for concentrated computing is outpacing the availability of clean reliable power in many places around the world. The Green Grid is the first industry initiative chartered to take a holistic view of the computing ecosystem, with a focus on addressing the pressing issues facing data center users."

Member Companies include ...AMD, APC, Dell, HP, IBM, Intel, Microsoft, Rackable Systems, SprayCool, Sun Microsystems, and VMware. 

Green Grid's Mission Statement:

The Green Grid is a global consortium dedicated to developing and promoting energy efficiency for data centers and information service delivery by:

• Defining meaningful, user-centric models and metrics
• Developing standards, measurement methods, processes and new technologies to improve performance against the defined metrics
• Promoting the adoption of energy efficient standards, processes, measurements and technologies.

Via:  GreenGrid.Com   Link 

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One of Toyota's newest concept cars is the FT-HS Hybrid.  This hybrid is both fast and relatively inexpensive ...

Read on.

"Pairing a potent hybrid powertrain with essential sports-car fundamentals, the FT-HS is a mid-priced sports car that integrates ecology and emotion in a concept that addresses the question, “What is a suitable sports car for the 21st century?”

"Boasting a powerful V6 3.5L engine, the FT-HS is coupled with Toyota's Hybrid Synergy Drive® to produce a target power output of approximately 400 horsepower and a projected zero-to-60 acceleration in the four-second range. At a mid-priced market position, the FT-HS would be a true “attainable exotic” with 21st-century performance."

While no date is given for delivery to dealerships or even promise that it will go into production it is a very hot hybrid!

Via:  Toyota.Com     Link

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So, you want a Natural Gas powered car, and you found one.  Honda sells the Civic GX at select dealers in NY and California. 

Now about the lack of fueling stations for the average consumer ... There are approximately 16 in the NYC metro area and 200 in California.  Not enough for comfort?  Hmmm.  What to do?

Honda's sells the Phill - a home fueling system that turns a home natural gas into the required "gas" for the Civic GX.  The Phill can be mounted in a garage and pressurizes the low pressure natural gas found at home to the require 3500 - 3600 psi needed for fueling.  Though slower than a "gas station" it allows flexibility for those far from a Natural Gas station.

The Phill is safe and easy to use .... see pictures in this post above and below. 

Via:  Honda     Link     and     EVWorld     Link 

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... "Through the 2006 Florida Energy Act, the Florida Legislature appropriated $15 million for renewable energy technologies grants to stimulate capital investment in the state and promote and enhance the statewide utilization of renewable energy technologies, including ethanol and bioenergy. The funding was awarded to eight organizations with at least $5 million to support bioenergy projects and $10 million for projects that generate or utilize other renewable energy resources, including hydrogen, biomass and solar energy. " ...

Via Florida Governor Charlie Crist: State Awards Grants for Renewable Energy Technologies

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... "At the Piper Jaffray Alternative Energy Symposium which focused on industry and investment trends in solar, cleantech and biofuels, Ranieri reviewed global biofuels opportunities, the future of cellulosic ethanol and next generation biofuels, such as biobutanol, as replacements for gasoline transportation fuels.

Sample of Dupont's progress in biofuels:

DuPont had more than $300 million in revenues in 2006 and growing at greater than 20 percent per year from seed and crop protection solutions that increase yield per acre and enhance ethanol yield of grain through biotechnology.

DuPont and the U.S. Department of Energy are jointly funding a research program to develop technology to convert corn stover into ethanol.

DuPont's partnership with BP to develop biobutanol is based on its strategy to bring advanced biofuels to market to expand the use of biofuels in gasoline. Biobutanol will be the first product available and offers improved performance. " ...

Via Dupont: DuPont Biofuels Leader Provides Business Update at Alternative Energy Symposium

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... "With guidance and assistance from the Natural Resources Defense Council, a non-partisan environmental and advocacy organization, we learned that it was easy (and often cost effective) to make simple changes to reduce Oscar's ecological footprint. " ...

Via Oscar.com: Green Academy Award Event

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Toro will introduce biodiesel-capable (up to B20) commercial equipment and provide retrofit kits for products in the field.  ...

...   "With a commitment to exploring new and more efficient technologies that are both customer-valued and environmentally responsible, The Toro Company is proud to announce that all diesel-powered golf course and sports fields and grounds equipment will be Biodiesel Ready by 2008. This includes the Toro Reelmaster, Groundsmaster, Greensmaster, Workman and MultiPro product families.  Beyond these specific product families, Toro will continue to expand the use of biodiesel fuels in other diesel-powered equipment lines.  As part of this initiative, the company is also creating upgrade kits for the above-mentioned product families to convert diesel models already in production or in the field to be compatible with biodiesel fuel. The kits are expected to be available by June 2007. "   ...

Via Toro: The Toro Company's Commercial Equipment Biodiesel Ready By 2008 (Doc) ...

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President Bush views demonstration of plug-in hybrid automobile technology as he strives to confirm if his Twenty in Ten vision is achievable.  ...

... "I also met with people that are working to help us develop a fuel industry that will be able to have ethanol derived from produce other than corn. In other words, I'm talking with people on the leading edge of change. And the reason why I've asked them to come in to see me is because I want to make sure that the goal I set by reducing gasoline usage by 20 percent over a 10-year period is a realistic goal. I know it's a necessary goal: it's necessary for national security purposes; it's necessary for economic security purposes; and it's necessary in order to be good stewards of the environment. My question is, is a practical goal, can we achieve that goal. And the answer is, absolutely. Now, it's going to require continued federal research dollars, and I call upon the Congress to fully fund my request for alternative sources of energy. " ...

Via White House: President Bush Alternative Fuel Automobile Demonstration

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... "Naturener's first announcement was its intention to more than double the size of the proposed McCormick Ranch Wind Park from 120 to 300 megawatts. " ...

Via Great Falls Tribune: Wind Energy Expansion

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You can save gasoline costs with a Hybrid.  Want to determine how Much? 

Follow the link below ... enter the current price of gasoline, the miles you drive and the fuel efficiency of your current vehicle and the calculator will provide 5 and 10 year savings figures. 

"Calculate The Fuel Savings.
Pulling up to the pump less often is about the only adjustment Civic Hybrid drivers find they have to make. And with gas mileage of up to 51 mpg, you can just imagine the savings. But why just imagine when you can arrive at a figure? Simply enter a bit of data below and let our Savings Calculator do the rest. Savings"

Via:  American Honda Motor Corporation  Link

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American Honda Motor Company may be the first automaker to offer a car line - the civic - in standard gasoline, Hybrid and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) 

"The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized the natural-gas Civic GX as the cleanest internal-combustion vehicle on Earth. Plus, the California Air Resources Board gave the GX an AT-PZEV emissions rating, which means it's still the "Cleanest on Earth."

 "Civic GX owners can purchase their own home-refueling appliance called Phill, which installs easily to a home gas line. With Phill, GX owners fill up when they come home, instead of having to go to a gas station."

The gasoline and Hybrid version are offered pretty much nation-wide.  The CNG version is only available at select dealers in California and New York.

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... "Although ethanol can be produced from virtually any plant substance, more intensive chemical processes are required to make the fuel from fibrous materials like grass or wood than from starch materials like corn or sugar cane ... " ...

Via Arizona Daily Star: Bioethanol Challenges

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... "In a world-first for a national government, households and commercial users will be pushed to use energy-efficient alternatives, such as compact fluorescent lights, which have been on the market in Australia for 10 years. " ...

Via The Australian: Light Bulb Legislation

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... "Biodiesel is derived from natural and renewable substances such as vegetable oils and animal fats and has become increasingly popular as an environmentally friendly alternative to petroleum-based fuels. As with other natural substances, if left untreated, biodiesel is susceptible to oxidative degradation. Degradation of biodiesel leads to the formation of lower molecular weight acids, peroxides and gums that can result in unwanted changes in both the properties and performance of biodiesel. These deposits and gums can result in damage to the engine and fuel injection systems. To help ensure that fuel quality is maintained during storage, handling and use, specifications have been established in standards such as ASTM D6751 and European Standard DIN EN 14214. IRGASTAB BD 100 can help biodiesel meet these standards and offers extended protection to help maintain fuel quality and consistency. " ...

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... "Along with that awakening, environment-friendly products have proved that they can be profitable, said Andrew Beebe, president of Pasadena-based Energy Innovations, which builds solar power systems. " ...

Via Los Angeles Times: Green Business

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... "A small group of new investors joined existing investors the new fund which was capped at EUR350. Index Ventures IV will pursue the firm's strategy of partnering with highly talented entrepreneurs to build global companies in the information technology, life science and green tech sectors." ...

Via Index Ventures: New Fund to Invest in Green Tech

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... "By contrast, the solar-panel industry is booming, growing at about 40 percent a year. Demand in Germany is so high, it engendered a worldwide silicon shortage. " ...

Via CNet: Alternative Energy Debate

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... "The key to an energy efficient home is insulation, insulation, insulation. Even Alfandre’s basement is insulated. He built his walls 8 inches thick, compared to about 5 1/2 inches for an ordinary house ... " ...

Via Canton Repository: Options to Build Greener Homes

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... "However, not all automakers are racing to join the bandwagon for each type of green car. Many have chosen their angle and are sticking to it. " ...

Via Driving, Canada: Automotive Green Technology

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Nike has a commitment to reduce toxins in the environment by reducing them in their products. 

"One approach is to implement restricted substances lists (RSL). These are ... substances restricted or prohibited in Nike brand footwear, apparel and equipment."

"Phasing out PVC ...PVC, a material linked to a host of environmental concerns, is everywhere – in our industry and in many others. And while PVC is not widely banned by legislation, it is a material we voluntarily chose to phase-out from Nike brand products. ... We’re not 100% PVC-free, but have made significant progress."

"Eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs) ... VOCs are solvents used in such manufacturing inputs as adhesives, primers and cleaning fluid. ... have the potential to be a health hazard to factory workers and contribute to air pollution, particularly urban smog.  ...we have dramatically reduced the amount of VOCs used to make our footwear – from an average of 340 grams per pair of shoes in 1995 to the current level of 16 grams."

"Embracing organic cotton ... we set out to successfully integrate organic cotton into our apparel products. Organic cotton is made without synthetic pesticides, fertilizers and defoliants .. Nike’s goal is for all cotton garments to contain a minimum of 5% organic cotton by 2010."

Creating an Environmentally Preferred Rubber ... Our goal was simple enough: Eliminate as many of these chemicals of concern as possible while still maintaining performance, price and aesthetics ...We even mixed in a small amount of recycled rubber, facilitating a tiny step toward our other major goal of eliminating waste."

Via:  Nike   Link 

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... "The carbon briquettes contain networks of pores and channels that can hold methane at a high density without the cost of extreme compression, ultimately storing the fuel at a pressure of only 500 pounds per square inch, the pressure found in natural gas pipelines.

In addition to efforts to commercialize the technology, the researchers are now focusing on the next generation briquette, one that will store more natural gas and cost less to produce. Pfeifer believes this next generation of briquette might even hold promise for storing hydrogen. " ...

Via US National Science Foundation, NSF: Farm Waste to Fuel Tanks

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HP is committed to using packaging materials effectively ... protecting its products while minimizing waste.  Here is some of how HP approaches Product Packaging. 

"Packaging provides essential protection during transit ... as well as ensuring that products arrive in working condition, we also strive to minimize the environmental impacts of packaging in a cost-effective manner."

"Material quantity and type, transport mode, and recyclability influence the environmental impact of HP packaging. Our ... engineers ... following these guidelines:"

• "Design to reduce packaging material use while protecting products."
• "Eliminate the use of restricted materials such as lead, chromium, mercury and cadmium in packaging."
• "Eliminate the use of ozone-depleting substances (ODS) in packaging materials."
• "Design packaging components for ease of disassembly by the end-user."
• "Maximize the use of post-consumer recycled content in packaging materials."
• "Use readily recyclable packaging materials such as pulp, paper and corrugated materials."
• "Reduce packaging size and weight to improve transportation fuel efficiency."

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

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There's energy in them rocks!  

Thermal (heat) energy in deep rock can be used to generate steam that in turn can be used to generate electricity. 

>>> And best of all it is virtually unlimited .... as long as the earth has a molten core.

Currently GEOTHERMAL is the 3rd largerst source of renewable energy in the United States 

"There are three geothermal power plant technologies being used to convert hydrothermal fluids to electricity. ...dry steam, flash and binary cycle. The type of conversion used depends on the state of the fluid (whether steam or water) and its temperature. "

"The Earth's magma and hot dry rock will provide cheap, clean, and almost unlimited energy as soon as we develop the technology to use them. In the meantime, because they're so abundant, moderate-temperature sites running binary-cycle power plants will be the most common electricity producers."

"Before geothermal electricity can be considered a key element of the U.S. energy infrastructure, it must become cost-competitive with traditional forms of energy. The U.S. Department of Energy is working with the geothermal industry to achieve $0.03 to $0.05 per kilowatt-hour. We believe the result will be about 15,000 megawatts of new capacity within the next decade."

Via:  US Department of Energy, Geothermal Technologies Program    Link 

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... "The study found that in 2005, total data center electricity consumption in the U.S., including servers, cooling and auxiliary equipment, was approximately 45 billion kWh, resulting in total utility bills amounting to $2.7 billion, with total data center power and electricity consumption for the world estimated to cost $7.2 billion annually. The report also examines the growth in electricity demands since the year 2000, concluding that over the last five years server energy use has doubled. " ...

Study Commissioned by AMD Reveals Scope of Annual U.S. Data Center Energy Consumption: 45 Billion kWh, at Cost of Nearly 3 Billion Dollars

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... "The company expands its business from Boston, where it operates a fleet of hybrid vehicles to serve environmentally aware corporate customers and individual consumers. Operating from its San Bruno headquarters, PlanetTran offers Bay Area travelers an alternative to travel via fuel-hungry, high-emissions vehicles in a fleet delivering two-and-a-half times the fuel economy of traditional black car sedans. " ...

Via PLanetTran: All-Hybrid Airport Car Service in San Francisco

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Sail Power may be the next big thing in energy savings for ocean going cargo vessels. 

"A simple fact: wind is cheaper than oil and the most cost-effective offshore energy source. Yet, ... it is not presently being used by cargo ships ... "

"SkySails is now offering a wind propulsion system based on large towing kites, which, for the first time, meets the requirements of shipping companies."

"By using the SkySails-System, a ship‘s fuel costs can be reduced by 10- 35% on annual average ... Under optimal wind conditions, fuel consumption can temporarily be reduced by up to 50%. Even on a small, 87 metre cargo ship, savings of up to 280,000 euros can be made annually.

"In 2007 the first SkySails-Systems with towing-kite areas of up to 320m² for cargo vessels, superyachts and fish trawlers will be available. Series production will start in 2008."

"Virtually all cargo ships can be retrofitted with the SkySails technology trouble-free."

Via: SkySails GmbH & Co.   Link 

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Ford has announced the Edge "with HySeries Drive™ ... the world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric vehicle with plug-in capability."

"The HySeries Drive technology is able to operate using a fuel cell, small gasoline or diesel engine connected to an electric generator to make electricity."

The "world’s first drivable fuel cell hybrid electric plug-in ... combines an onboard hydrogen fuel cell generator with lithium-ion batteries to deliver more than 41 mpg with zero emissions. ... For those who drive less than 50 miles each day, the average jumps to more than 80 mpg."

“This vehicle offers Ford the ultimate in flexibility ... We could take the fuel cell power system out and replace it with a down-sized diesel, gasoline engine or any other powertrain connected to a small electric generator to make electricity like the fuel cell does now.”

Via:  Ford  Link

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I like beer, so I did not need an excuse to try another brand.

However, I am going to try one of the beers from New Belgium of Fort Collins, Colorado.  I think it will be a Fat Tire Amber Ale ...

What makes New Belgium so unique among brewers?

->>>  How about the fact that they ...

Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions • " ... took an employee vote and decided to commit to being the nation’s first 100% wind-powered brewery. ... after our engineers, l... discovered that city’s power  plant, which supplied the brewery with electricity, created the bulk of our emissions. Employee owners voted to dip into their bonus pool to help finance the conversion."

Have a Green Building • "New Belgium has been a long-time participant in green building techniques. ... From sun tubes and daylighting throughout the facility to reusing heat in the brewhouse, we continue to search out new ways to close loops and conserve resources."

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle • "Our reuse program includes heat for the brewing process, cleaning chemicals, water and much more. Recyling at New Belgium takes on many forms, from turning “waste” products into something new and useful (like spent grain to cattle feed), to supporting the recycling market in creative ways (like turning our keg caps into table surfaces).  We also buy recycled whenever we can, ... Reduction surrounds us – from motion sensors on the lights throughout the building to induction fans that pull in cool winter air to chill our beer – offsetting our energy needs is the cornerstone to being environmentally efficient."

I will let you know if I can find the beer locally (Western Suburbs of Philadelphia) and my humble opinion.

Via:  New Belgium Brewery   Link 

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... "SOS is designed to trigger a global movement to combat our climate crisis. It will reach people in every corner of the planet through television, film, radio, the Internet and Live Earth, a 24-hour concert on 7/7/07 across all 7 continents that will bring together more than 100 of the world's top musical acts. Live Earth alone will engage an audience of more than 2 billion people through concert attendance and broadcasts. MSN has partnered with SOS to use its reach to make the Live Earth concerts available across the globe. The Live Earth audience, and the proceeds from the concerts, will create the foundation for a new, multi-year global effort to combat the climate crisis led by The Alliance for Climate Protection and its Chair, Vice President Al Gore. SOS was founded by Kevin Wall, who won an Emmy as Worldwide Executive Producer of Live 8. " ...

Posted by Green Tech at 08:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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Convert your car to use vegetable oil as fuel. Via Lovecraft Biofuels, see video ...

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... "The combined company will be the first within the cellulosic ethanol industry to possess integrated end-to-end capabilities in pre-treatment, novel enzyme development, fermentation, engineering, and project development. It will seek to build a global enterprise as a leading producer of cellulosic ethanol and as a strategic partner in bio-refineries around the world. At the same time, the company will continue to pursue broad market opportunities for specialty industrial enzymes within the areas of alternative fuels, specialty industrial processes, and health and nutrition, with a primary focus on enzymes for the production of biofuels. The combined company will be headquartered in Cambridge, Massachusetts and have research and operations facilities in San Diego, California; Jennings, Louisiana; and Gainesville, Florida. Celunol has recently commenced operations of the nation's first cellulosic ethanol pilot facility in Jennings, Louisiana and expects to complete a 1.4 million gallons-per-year, demonstration-scale facility to produce cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse and specially-bred energy cane by the end of 2007. " ...

Via Diversa Corporation: Diversa and Celunol Announce Merger to Create a New Biofuels Industry Leader ...

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... "As part of the commitment to creating an LED City, Raleigh plans to deploy LED lighting, through its living-laboratory initiative, to serve a number of lighting applications, including garage and parking lot lights, street lights, architectural and accent lighting, portable lighting and pedestrian and walkway lighting over the next 18 months. Cree, the City of Raleigh and Lighting Science Group Corporation of Dallas, TX, also announced initial results of the first installation of the LED City initiative. LED-based lighting fixtures, provided by Lighting Science Group, were installed by Amtech Lighting Services in the Raleigh Municipal Building parking deck in December 2006. Progress Energy, Raleigh's primary electric utility provider, says the floor equipped with LED lights uses over 40 percent less energy than the standard lighting system. Plus, according to Progress Energy's research, the quality of light in the garage is greatly improved. " ...

Via CREE: Raleigh, North Carolina, Nation’s First LED City

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"HP recycled more than 164 million pounds (74 million kilograms) of hardware and HP print cartridges globally in its 2006 fiscal year – an increase of 16 percent over the previous year and the equivalent weight of more than 600 jumbo jet airliners."

"In addition, HP collected more than 2.5 million units of hardware globally – weighing
more than 50 million pounds (22.6 million kilograms) – to be refurbished for resale or donated."

"To date the company has recycled more than 920 million pounds (417 million kilograms) of hardware and HP print cartridges globally. This puts the company on track to surpass its goal of recycling 1 billion cumulative pounds (455 million kilograms) by the end of this year.(2007)"

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eBay and a number of computer manufactures, retail stores, telecoms and charitable organizations have formed ReThink to "apply some fresh thinking to the problem of e-waste".

Every year, or sooner, new models of computers, cell phones and other electronic gizmos are being developed and sold.  What happens to the older "stuff"?  The older "stuff" is often referred to as e-waste and its disposal can be a problem.

eBay and others have joined forces to help solve the problem by providing "information, tools and solutions that make it easy – and even profitable – to find new users for idle computers and electronics, and responsibly recycle unwanted products."

To find out more about ReThink, and ways to sell, donate or recycle "e-stuff", check out www.ReThink.com

Become part of the Solution! 

Via:  ReThink   Link

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We all hear that we should recycle.  It reduces the amount of trash sent to landfills and that means lower garbage costs.  It means less garbage to possibly pollute and land and air.  So it seems obvious to recycle. 

Did you know that recycling ... :

1. "It’s EASY. ...use a rag to wipe spills rather than a disposable towel or a cloth bag that can be constantly reused to shop for groceries."
   
2. "Saves money. You can also make money by turning in your bottles and cans."
3. "Creates jobs. Recycling is big business in California. ... accounting for approximately $85,000 jobs and producing $10 billion in products and services per year."
4. "Saves energy. ... Recycling also frequently saves energy because it can take less energy to clean or convert materials. For example, less energy is required to produce a gallon of re-refined oil than creating new oil."
5. "Saves natural resources. Reducing, reusing, and recycling materials help prevents the need to cut down new materials such as trees or digging into new mines. Also, it saves natural resources by not creating new landfills to hold new waste. Reducing, reusing, and recycling materials eliminates the need to build the equivalent of one new large landfill each year in California."

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... "An Ohio farmer wondered if he should replace his fuel-oil furnace with a geothermal heating system. The idea got high marks from a farmer in Indiana who said a geothermal system leaves no smell or residue and makes less noise. Then he offered tips on insulation and heat distribution. " ...

Via Yahoo! News: Read

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Did you ever wonder what happens to your trash?  Every day we pile things into our garbage cans - collect them and take them to a can outside our home and then once or twice a week take it to the curb where a Garbage Truck picks it up and takes it "away".  

But where is "away"  Did you ever wonder ... ? 

"Every Californian generates approximately 6 pounds each of trash per day! There’s everything from paper, uneaten food, construction leftovers, cut grass, plastic, glass, metal, old batteries, computers, phones, and tons of other "stuff." ... What happens to that trash once it gets thrown away?"

"The trash ... gets picked up by your ... "garbage collector"--and then makes its way to a "materials recovery facility (MRF)" to be sorted. ... MRFs sort out the reusable and recyclable materials that accidentally get put into the trash can, like plastic bottles and glass."

"The things that can be used again are then taken to recycling facilities. ... The rest of the trash is transported to a landfill ... A landfill is not a simple hole in the ground to dump waste! A landfill is a lined opening to put trash. ... The trash is poured into the landfill and covered by a layer of soil so that the trash doesn’t fly away, get wet, or get into the surrounding area to affect wildlife. Each day’s layer of trash and soil is a "cell" of trash that gets stacked on top of one another like a row of dominoes. They repeat this process until the landfill is full."

You can imagine how big the landfill can get ... and see the need for and value of recycling.  The less trash that actually makes it to the landfill the lower the cost that you are charged by your garbage collector ... and the less land that is needed for landfills ... and the less chance for landfills polluting the environment.  The national average fee for of trash "tipped" at a landfill is $35. / ton.

The answer?

>>> Reduce, Reuse and Recycle

Via:  State of California Web Pages   Link

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California is the land of highways and cars. 

Roads are everywhere and part of having road means road repairs and that means waste.  

So, The State California has taken a stand and has a "Green Roads" program to reduce waste and recycle where possible ... resulting in less initial cost and less disposal cost.  Some of the highlights:

• "Rubberized Asphalt Concrete - (RAC) is a road material made with recycled tires."
• "Recycled Aggregate - comes from crushing old concrete and asphalt for base in road projects."
• "Tire Derived Aggregate - (TDA) is made up of shredded tires."

"Our State has long been an innovative leader in the environmental arena ... protecting natural resources and diverting unnecessary waste from landfills. We have also recognized significant cost savings ... by using recycled-content and environmentally friendly materials."

Via:  State of California Web - Green Roads   Link

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Recycling is one way to reduce waste sent to landfills but sometimes governmental "push" is needed.  Many cities (two ex: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Radnor, Pennsylvania) require recycling of certain waste streams.

In California - the state has put in place a program to help pay for recycling by having retailers collect a fee.


"California has enacted landmark legislation to establish a funding system for the collection and recycling of certain electronic wastes."  "Starting January 1, 2005, retailers collect the Electronic Waste Recycling Fee on covered electronic devices from consumers. Retailers remit these fees to the Board of Equalization (BOE)."

Plan goals are:

• "Reduction in hazardous substances used in certain electronic products sold in California."
• "Collection of an electronic waste recycling fee at the point of sale of certain products."
• "Distribution of  recovery and recycling payments ... covering the cost of electronic waste collection and recycling."
• "Directive to recommend environmentally preferred purchasing criteria for state agency purchases of certain electronic equipment."

An example of the fees:

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 8, 2007

Almost live from the Philadelphia Auto Show at the Philadelphia Convention Center ...

Along with the expected Hybrid cars offered by Honda, Toyota, Ford and Saturn was a unique vehicle ... The "World's First Hybrid Supercar".  

The Hybrid Attack was developed and built by students from the Academy for Automotive & Mechanical Engineering at West Philadelphia High School.

Specs:

Fuel:              100 % Biodiesel
Performance:   0 - 6- in less than 4 seconds
Economy:        50+ MPG
Power:            Modified VW 105 HP TDi and AC motor
Weight:           2290 pounds

The car won t he 2006 Tour De Sol.

According to students and booth attendees the total cost of the car was approx. $100,000.  Components were donated by Toyota and Suburu via dealers and board members.

Still ... Quite amazing for students ... a challenge for Detroit and the rest of the auto industry????

Via:  The Green Dude   Link

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... "Claiming the prize as the greenest model year 2007 vehicle is Honda's natural gas-powered Civic GX. The Toyota Prius and Honda Civic Hybrid, stalwarts on the annual Greenest Vehicles list, claim spots two and three, while the Nissan Altima Hybrid and Toyota Yaris, market newcomers for model year 2007, round out the top five. Others in the list include conventional and hybrid-electric vehicles from Honda, Hyundai, Kia, and Toyota. Domestic automakers were shut out of the top-twelve list. " ...

Via American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: Clean Sweep by Imports in Annual Ranking of Top Eco-Friendly Vehicles

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How does a socially responsible organization, WorldChanging, that is both socially responsible and green - publish a 608 page book?  Think of the energy and waste involved!

One would think this would be an oxymoron - AND one would be wrong!!

"World: A User's Guide to the 21st Century" is broken into 7 sections:

Stuff, Shelter, Cities, Community,  Business, Politics, Planet.

It may well be uniquely "green" book as "Publisher Harry N. Abrams ... bought wind-power credits to offset the energy used to produce the book, made from post-consumer recycled paper". 

To counter the environmental impact of their multi-city book tour "the group is investing in greenhouse gas reduction ". 

The book of course can be recycled! 

More on WorldChanging.Com    Link 

Via:  BusinessWeek   Link 

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... "scientist John Kessels said on Wednesday he had managed to reach optimal engine performance more often by adding a piece of software to a car's computer. " ...

Via Yahoo News: Read

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... "City-owned Hutchinson Utilities wants to study the availability of locally produced biomass fuel produced in the treatment process at the wastewater plant or Creekside Compost to replace some natural gas use. " ...

Via Hutchinson Leader: Read

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... "After careful assessment the experts of the German technical inspection authority TUV determined that the development process of the new C-Class accords with the requirements of the internationally recognized ISO standard 14062. Applying the concept of Design for Environment, this standard governs the integration of environmental aspects into product design and development. In addition, TUV checked and confirmed the data and statements contained in the environmental product information provided for the new C-Class. " ...

Via DaimlerChrysler: New Mercedes-Benz C-Class with Environmental Certificate

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... "To encourage renewable fuels, the White House also proposed to allow farmers to harvest biomass crops on 27 million acres enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program. " ...

Via Illinois Farm Bureau: Energy Crops

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... "As part of the EBI, some 340 acres of farmland at the Urbana campus will be devoted to the study and production of feedstock for biofuel production. Researchers will explore the potential benefits of using corn crop residues, switchgrass, Miscanthus (Miscanthus x giganticus: a hybrid grass that can grow 13 feet tall), and other herbaceous perennials as fuel sources. The initiative will explore how adequate supplies of high quality plant biomass can be sustainably produced and utilized in facilities that convert the biomass to fuels. " ...

Via University of Illinois: Initiative will put Illinois at forefront of farm bioenergy production

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... "Algae BioFuels is considering sites in Arizona, New Mexico, California, Louisiana and Michigan for its initial commercial cultivation of algae feedstock in the United States. Australia and China are the leading candidates for production and refinery operations in the foreign marketplace. The Company has modified its initial plan to locate its biodiesel refinery in Arizona to include other areas of the United States that prove to be commercially viable in the cultivation process. " ...

Via PetroSun: PetroSun Announces Field Testing

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... "Thursday morning, President of Imperium Renewables John Plaza announced that the company is beginning this week to use Washington state-grown canola to produce one million gallons of their biodiesel. Cantwell hailed the move as a sign that the region has the potential to grow and refine a significant portion of the fuel it uses within our state's boundaries. Cantwell said she would continue working to level the playing field for alternative fuels, and to encourage growth in the market. " ...

Via U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell: Northwest Energy Leadership at Senate Biofuels Conference ...

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... "The group of seniors and one junior began its project by producing biodiesel from canola oil and vegetable oil in the science laboratory. From there, the group did some research on local restaurants and began to collect used fryer oil to produce biodiesel. " ...

Via Nashua Telegraph: Education

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... "What are the long-term effects on the environment if I were to use pure biodiesel? " ...

Via Fort Wayne Journal Gazette: Biodiesel

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... "In today's world, America faces major challenges, both politically and environmentally, about how we will meet our energy needs. Renewable energy is quickly becoming one of the most sensible solutions. Colorado State University is sponsoring a two-day conference that will educate Cooperative Extension agents and others about the various types of renewable energies that are currently being developed. " ...

Via Colorado State University: Renewable Energy Options Workshop

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... "The use of dry polymer technology to purify biodiesel was developed by Rohm and Haas to respond to the main issues of biodiesel production: the cost of purification and the related yield loss. Indeed, the conventional processes for removing residual glycerol, soap and catalyst traces from biodiesel consume significant amounts of water which must then be handled as a waste, and impact yield through losses of methanol and biodiesel. " ...

Via Rohm and Haas: AMBERLITE BD10DRY SPECIALTY POLYMER TECHNOLOGY FOR BIODIESEL PURIFICATION: A SIMPLE PROCESS AND COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTION

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

E85 flex fuel is a blend of 85% ethanol (derived from corn or soy) and 15% gasoline.  Only E85 capable cars can use this fuel. 

B20 is a of 20% biodiesel and 80 % regular diesel fuel.

Fuel stations that carry E85 and / or B20 have been slow to emerge in the northeast part of the U.S.

>>>> Today, Feb 1st, 2007 at 1:30 pm EST, Philadelphia gets its first E85 / B20 Station.  The Shell station is at 12th and Vine Sts in the Chinatown section of the city.

Via:   Phillycleancities.org   Link

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"GOVERNOR RENDELL UNVEILS ENERGY INDEPENDENCE STRATEGY TO SAVE CONSUMERS $10 BILLION OVER 10 YEARS, REDUCE RELIANCE ON FOREIGN FUELS"

 

HARRISBURG — "Citing the urgent need to cut energy costs, move toward energy independence and stimulate the economy, Governor Rendell today released his Energy Independence Strategy".

 

 “This plan will cut Pennsylvanians’ energy bills by $10 billion over the next 10 years,” said Governor Rendell.  “It will give us the ability to produce enough homegrown fuel to replace every gallon Pennsylvania currently imports from the Persian Gulf."

 

"The enactment of new laws, regulatory policies and the creation of the $850 million Energy Independence Fund will enable Pennsylvania to achieve three key goals:"

• "Save consumers $10 billion in energy costs over the next 10 years;
• Reduce Pennsylvania’s reliance on foreign fuels and increase Pennsylvania’s clean energy production capacity; and
• Expand Pennsylvania’s energy production and energy technology sectors to create more jobs."

 

 

See Link for full text, 

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... "As an example of this way of working, Scott also announced the company’s intention to introduce Global Innovation Projects - one of which is a challenge for WalMart associates and suppliers to start thinking about how to remove non-renewable energy from the products the company sells. " ...

Via Walmart: Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott Unveils Sustainability 360

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