South African mining company AngloAmerican is using a waste product of coal mining to make bricks for homes.  Gypsum a by-product, is mixed with cement to make “ …‘low cement’ bricks for housing in the city of eMalahleni.” 

Operations recover about 200 tons / day of gypsum and at a rate of about 8 tons / house can be used to make close to 25 homes / day.

Estimates are that the low cement reduce 3 metric tons for each house build compared to houses made from traditional bricks.

See this CNN video for more information.

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

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

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

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

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

Via:  Smart Planet  LINK and Infineon Raceway LINK

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

Germantown Friends School’s (Philadelphia) new science center is very green.  The facility is energy efficient, has rainwater cisterns, a green roof, solar panels and a dashboard that provides real time data on water and power usage. 

Click HERE to see the current dashboard information and to learn more about this unique facility.

The building uses geothermal wells for heating and cooling to greatly reduce the energy costs.

The cisterns collect rainwater for use as gray water for flushing toilets leading to significant water savings.  The green roof absorbs rainwater that would otherwise have to be treated by the city sever system.

The facility will receive LEED certification.

Via:  Germantown Friends   LINK

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

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

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

Via:  Alcoa  LINK

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Greenversations is the official blog of the US EPA !  Check out the various sections including the Question of the Week".

A good source for green information you  can use ...

Via:  EPA  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:49 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

TD Bank recently opened a call center in Auburn, Maine that is 100% powered by green energy sources.  The center is designed for US LEED Gold certification. 

Among the green design elements / features are " ... plumbing fixtures that use 33 percent less water, drought tolerant plants ... a recycling system that will collect paper, glass, metal, plastic, cardboard, fluorescent lamps and batteries."

For more on the green features check out the link at the bottom of this post.

TD has also committed to going carbon neutral and is one of the largest US Banks to commit to being carbon neutral.

Via:  Environmental Leader  LINK

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

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

The Hydration Stations are located throughout the SFO airport.

Via:  SFO  LINK and  San Francisco Public Utilities Commission LINK

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San Francisco's new Terminal 2 was retrofitted to be green by design.  It is the first Airport Terminal in the US to achieve GOLD LEED. 

Among the green features in the design were waste reduction (achieved by reusing or recycling all construction waste), reduced water use (achieved by a closed loop reclaimed water system for the toilets and urinals that is treated on site) and Greenhouse Gas - GHG - reductions (achieved by eliminating the need for airplane auxiliary power units by providing preconditioned air and power at the gate).

Via:  SFO  LINK

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American University new School of International Service is expected to receive LEED-GOLD certification.

The building is designed by architect Willam McConough, ... "renown for sustainable design and his "cradle-to cradle" philosophy for recycling and reusing building materials...." .

Some of the many green and environmentally friendly features include: a 33 KW solar energy system, rainwater collection (60,000 gallons) for flushing toilets, LED lighting in the car park, rain gardens, and much more.

Read more by follwing the link below.

 Via:  American University  LINK

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

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

See the video for more … 

Via:  ABC News  LINK

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

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

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

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

Via:  Burt's Bees  LINK

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Follow the simple directions on the bag and you could be on your way to saving 2000 gallons of water a year with Scott Smart Flush^™.  Smart Flush^™ is a bag that sits in the water tank of the toilet and reduces each flush by 1 liter. 

Currently available in 8 and 12 pack rolls of Scott Naturals.

This is a simple and for now free way to save water and money - and be GREEN.

Via:  Scott  LINK

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San Diego is currently in a Level 2 - Drought Alert Condition.  San Diego imports over 80% of its water so when water supplies get tight water conservation and reuse is critical. Two new plants provide for 45 million gallons / day of water from waste ...

" ... has built ... plants [to] treat wastewater to a level that is approved for irrigation, manufacturing and other non-drinking, or non-potable purposes. ... Recycled water gives San Diego a dependable, year-round, locally controlled water resource."

Via: The City of San Diego LINK

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

Via:  Pepsico  LINK

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

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

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

Via:  Kraft  LINK

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

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

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

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

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

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Terracycle reuses / recycles sall sorts of stuff such as juice boxes and turns them into bags and totes.

They take e-wast and turn it into useful products ... keeping waste out of the landfill.

"Made from 100% e-waste (such as crushed computers and fax machines) that would otherwise have ended up in a landfill. These ingenious little pots help you garden sustainably! "

Via:  Terracycle.net  LINK

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The UTS Tower in Sydney, Australia is may get a proposed upgrade - a solar skin.  This PV "wrap" would turn the tower into a very green and energy efficient structure.

The University of Technology Sydney (UTS) Tower "upgrade" is " ... Fueled by the university’s sustainability drive ... turn the building into a “landmark environmental tower” by wrapping it in a photovoltaic skin."

"The sustainable energy system, devised by postgraduate students in 2008, has been funded to allow students to build and test the project."

 There are a number of propose upgrades including wind turbines and cogeneration ... the solar skin " ... stretches around walls and roof elements ... the building is covered in a lightweight composite mesh textile that can collect rain water, generate electricity and complement the plan’s passive ventilation system that uses natural convection."

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

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H-P's newest data center in Wynyard England is cooled ENTIRELY by wind blowing off the nearby North Sea.  The North Sea is cold and so are its winds. It is H-P's greenest data center yet ...

The " ... new 360,00 sq. ft. Wynyard center is 40 percent more energy-efficient than conventional data centers ..."

" ... Traditional data centers use thousands of megawatt hours per year ... if they were classed as a separate industry, they would be the sixth-largest user of electricity ... "

 Other energy saving / carbon saving features of the Wynyard data center are: " ... harvesting rainwater ... to maintain proper humidity levels in the air that’s brought in from outside ... light-colored server racks because they reflect light, allowing for 40 percent less lighting to be installed compared to using black cabinets."

"HP had previously announced that it plans to reduce the combined energy consumption of operations and products by 25 percent below 2005 levels by 2010."

Via:  SmartPlanet LINK

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The GSA is renovating the 18 story federal building in Portland, Oregon.  Green features include a vertical green wall and reduced water usage with low flow fixtures and recycled roof water.

"... part of a $133 million renovation, the General Services Administration wants to grow “vegetated fins” on the western facade of the Edith Green-Wendell Wyatt Federal Building ... save energy year-round using one of Mother Nature’s own tools."

" ... will use 60 to 65 percent less energy than comparable buildings. That translates to an energy cost savings of $280,000 per year."

"Solar panels could also provide up to 15 percent of the building’s power needs. Energy use for lighting will be halved."

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

Via:  SmartPlanet  LINK

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Green buildings and designs are being found all across the country ... the Housing Authority Administration building in Newport, Tennessee is green.  Read about the many green features and technologies used.

" ... 8,585 square foot administration building ... Design included multiple "green" features: photovaltaic solar panels, geothermal heating and cooling, premium insulation package, Energy Star windows and lighting, low flow faucets and toilets and low impact site design. Project cost was $1,000,000.00."

Via:  McGraw-Hill Construction Community   LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

There is a new Green building in NYC - at the southern tip of Manhattan in Battery Park City.  Read about the Visionaire - it is one very green building - though a very expensive place to live with pricing startling at just under $700,000 and going to a little over $6 million.

" ...  the Visionaire ... a testing ground for urban green architecture."

" ... saves an estimated 42 percent in energy costs against a base-line average. This is largely the result of efficient building systems and the building envelope ... goal was achieved through exhaustive attention to detail ... "

Via:  Greensource  LINK

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Google has been at the forefront of energy efficiency quite some time.  Read on to learn more about Google current initiatives.

They also have lots of data and metrics to compare their energy use per Google search to other activities.

" ... Data centers ... account for most of Google’s energy needs ... take our energy use seriously and, from the very beginning, Google has focused on designing systems that use as little energy as possible ... operating what we believe to be the world's most efficient data centers."

" ... Google-designed data centers use about half the energy of a typical data center ... energy used per Google search is very small ... currently use about 1kJ (0.0003 kWh) of energy to answer the average query ... roughly .2g of CO2 ... often take the place of more carbon- and time-intensive activities, such as driving a car to a library or spending hours navigating shopping malls."

" ... commitment to sustainability goes beyond just electricity and carbon ... two Google facilities currently run on 100% recycled water, and by 2010 we expect recycled water to provide 80% of our total data center water consumption ... share our own data center best practices and are encouraging our industry peers to do the same ..."

" ... if all data centers operated at the same efficiency as ours, the U.S. alone would save enough electricity to power every household within the city limits of Atlanta, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Washington, D.C."

Via:  Google  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 09:25 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Looking to add a green roof?  Lots of building are now sporting green roofs.  There are a number of environmental and economical reasons to green the roof.  A green roof can even help get a LEED certification.

"Urban Heat Island Mitigation ... Green roof vegetation helps by cooling the air, slowing air movement and acting as a substrate for pollution to settle out and detoxify. ... Noise Reduction ... Plants, soil, and air trapped in the soil are great acoustic insulators.  ... green roofs can reduce indoor sound by as much as 40 decibels ... Fire Prevention ... Succulent green roof plants help reduce the risk of fire. ..."

"Water Conservation/Reduction of Storm Water Runoff ... green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water ... green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 90+% annually ... Habitat Recreation
Plants and soil help recreate habitat for butterflies, insects, and songbirds. "

Check out LiveRoof for more information.

Via:  LiveRoof LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

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

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

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

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

PC manufacturers have long craved a long live battery ... one that provides many hrs per charge as well as one that last several years.  Consumers see this as a GREEN selling point and manufactures are looking to fill this need.

"HP has partnered with Boston-Power to offer a longer lasting notebook battery ... notebook batteries—powered by Boston-Power’s Sonata® lithium-ion battery cells— deliver like-new performance for three years ... longer-lasting power with Sonata cells that are Nordic Ecolabel certified. PLUS, enjoy the protection of HP’s 3-year battery warranty—an industry first!"  

Via:  HP  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 04:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Imagine a toilet that uses no energy and turns waste into compost.

Virginia Gardiner is doing just that ... check out the VIDEO of this interesting GREEN device.

" ...working on a new waterless toilet system  ... create a toilet for city dwellers that uses no energy, and turns waste "into a commodity.""

" ... portable, low-tech LooWatt effectively captures odor and allows human waste (... to  be turned into a source of energy via anaerobic digestion. With 40 percent of people globally in need of sanitary facilities, it's well worth imagining a solution that doesn't flush drinking water down the toilet."

Via:  SustainLane  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 03:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Zeba has developed an interesting product that can help conserve water.  A white granule is mixed with the soil and it holds 500 x weight in water.  When it rains it absorbs the extra water and releases it slowly over time.  This lets farmers take advantage of rain by having more soaked up near the plant and released when needed - rather than run off into streams.

" ... superabsorbent polymer based on natural cornstarch, making it biodegradable, nontoxic and odorless. ...  a water-insoluble, net-like matrix in the form of a hydrogel that holds and releases water for use by plants as needed.

" ...  able to absorb more than 500 times their original weight. ... slowly releases just the right amount of encapsulated moisture in response to plant root suction. T... process is repeated hundreds of times over a growing season or more before Zeba loses effectiveness.

" ... cornstarch based material is biodegradazble"

Via:  Zeba LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The former Strawbridge and Clothier flagship department store in Philadelphia is being remodeled in a green way.  PA. REIT has posted window signs and made green dioramas in the store's street side display cases (most of the building has been closed for some time).

" ... bring together 16 state agencies in a former retail space, a 13-story historic building on Market Street, bringing renovations and modernizations throughout the space. ... the arrival of the state agencies will bring 750. employees to the Market East section of Center City, as the state consolidates agencies ... PREIT, which controls everything from the sub-basement to the sixth floor, will renovate vacant space to make room for retail on the first, second and third floors, while maintaining the historical aspects of the building and complying with LEED silver certification requirements."

Photos to follow ...

Posted by Green Dude at 05:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

China is full of business opportunities and is also looking to become / embrace the green movement.  The China Green Business Summit - 2009 is being held May 13 - 15th in Beijing, China.

Via:  China Green Business Summit 2009  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 05:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

eBay has many green aspects to its business model ... including the basic eBay design - helping people sell unneeded / unused stuff ...

They are also greening their campus by making the most of available sunlight, using a smart irrigation system, recycling / using recycled materials, using SOLAR and designing for and achieving LEED ...  ... 

" ... newest building, in San Jose, California, was designed and built to the  ... (LEED) Gold standard."

" ... automatic dimming system detects the amount of natural light ... and adjusts the electric light accordingly, resulting in an estimated 39% energy savings.... Recycled materials are used throughout, including 95% recycled structural steel, 38% recycled carpet tiles and 100% recycled workstation fabric. ... smart irrigation system ...  monitors weather conditions, including forecasts, dewpoint and relative humidity levels to determine the optimal and most efficient irrigation pattern."

" ... a 650 kW solar installation at our San Jose North location ...  3,248 panels cover more than a football field of roof space and will take up to 18% of our energy demand at that campus off the grid completely."

Via:  ebay  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Comcast's HQ in Philadelphia is now LEED Gold certified ... and the tallest such building in the US.

Read on for more  >>>

" ... received LEED Gold certification for the building's core and shell from the national organization. ... using 40 percent less water than a typical office building, with fixtures that save more than 3 million gallons of drinking water annually and waterless urinals in all restrooms that save 1.2 million gallons."

" ... a shaded plaza reduces the heat-island effect caused by pavement by 70 percent and ... low-E coating ... blocks 60 percent of heat while allowing in 70 percent of the sun's visible light, reducing energy used for air conditioning while using natural light to its fullest."

Via:  Philadelphia Business Journal  LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

HAPPY EARTH DAY

... make every day Earth Day !!!!

Posted by Green Dude at 06:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Starbucks Shared Planet is " ...  commitment to doing business in ways that are good to the earth and to each other ... it's using our size for good....committed to minimizing our environmental footprint, tackling climate change, and inspiring others to do the same"

One shining example of this is their new (Feb 19th - 2009) South Carolina " ... state of the art roasting plant ... an example of the company's global commitment to green design and has been awarded LEED® Silver certification for New Construction by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)."

" ...20 percent – of building materials were from recycled content and over 75 percent of construction waste was recycled. ... drought tolerant landscape and a portion of the power used for operations will be green power supplied by wind energy."

Via:  Starbucks  Link

Continue reading "Starbucks Shared Planet" »

Posted by Green Dude at 04:32 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Google has some energy saving tips on their web site .... some are easy / low cost / DIY ... here they are for your review and use >>>

" ... Weatherstrip and caulk your windows and doors ... Cover your hot water heater with an insulation blanket ... Reduce the temperature of your hot water heater to 120F or less ... Install a low flow shower head ... Learn how to set power management on your computer ... Plug home electronics into a powerstrip and turn off when not in use. ..."

Via:  GOOGLE  Link

Continue reading "Energy Saving Tips from GOOGLE" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ...  uniquely interactive format and high caliber of participants, ECO:nomics debuted last year as the premier forum for CEOs and entrepreneurs driving growth at the intersection of business and the environment...."

Snippets of the Program ... "... Green People - What do consumers want, and what will they pay for it? ... Power Play - What will keep the lights on: nuclear energy or "clean coal"? ... Fresh Juice - Can wind and solar grow big enough to matter? ... The Future of Coal ... The Future of Biofuels ... The Future of Solar ..."

Via:  eco-nomics LINK

Posted by Green Dude at 06:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Here is the first I have read about Green Dentistry ... an established practice (over 50 years) in Aston, Pa that is renovating to become GREEN.

" ...Dental Health Care Associates ... undergoing a major renovation ... and will soon become the first LEED certified "green" dental office on the East coast."

"... measures are being taken to create a state-of-the-art facility that will meet or exceed the Gold certification standards for LEED  ... buildings. ... renovations include, but are not limited to:

    " ... recycled building materials ... Geothermal HVAC ... Solar and wind-powered energy ... No-VOC cabinetry, carpets, flooring, and paints ... rainwater collection tank ... Water-free landscaping ..."

Via:  PAGreenDentist.com  Link

Posted by Green Dude at 06:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

" ... SUBWAY® ... has made a commitment to do its part to save energy and help protect the environment. ... take the Pledge to Change the World by starting with ENERGY STAR. Change at least one light to an energy-efficient one or make other energy-saving improvements at home,  ... small step that's already making a big difference."

"As one store, we can take steps to become more environmentally friendly. Together, with the more than 29,000-plus stores in the SUBWAY® chain, we can make a difference!"

Via:  Subway LINK

Continue reading "Subway Restaurants Provides Energy Saving Tips" »

Posted by Green Dude at 06:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)