Archive for the ‘Green Tips’ Category
Why Choose Renewable Wind Energy
April 25th, 2009
Renewable wind energy is the fastest growing source of power of any renewable energy sources and technologies. With renewable wind energy, the flow of air turns wind turbines to create electricity. As the speed of the wind turning the turbines increases the amount of power the turbine produces increases as well. In areas where winds are strong, renewable wind energy is a smart choice for providing power to homes and businesses.
Even if you don’t live in a windy area, you can still supplement your current electricity supply by utilizing renewable wind energy. The best part is by using do-it-yourself guides; even the least skilled handymen can build their own windmills and start using renewable wind energy to lower their electric bills each month. However, if you do live in a particularly windy area you can feasibly generate an abundance of electricity from renewable wind energy systems.
It is also conceivable to build several wind turbines to power your renewable wind energy system. Most of us have seen the pictures of the wind farms being built to supplement power to whole cities. This is a little much for a homestead, but even small dwellings can benefit from multiple smaller wind turbines. In many states, it is possible to sell the excess electricity you generate from your renewable wind energy system back to the utilities companies.
The very best part of integrating a renewable wind energy system into your home or business is the environmental impact. Renewable wind energy produces little to no pollution, no harmful greenhouse gases and no methane or carbon dioxide-which contribute to global warming. And of course the savings those homeowners can realize after their initial investment in renewable wind energy.
It is definitely worthwhile to learn more about renewable wind energy. By building your own wind turbines you can add needed dollars to your pocket and help the environment at the same time. Renewable wind energy. Free power from the wind. Sounds beautiful, doesn’t it?
G Word: South by Southwest
April 23rd, 2009
Find out how this festival has become green. Watch more at http://planetgreen.discover…
Caffeinated Content – Members-Only Content for WordPress
Green movement – Missoula Hybrid Taxi Service
April 22nd, 2009
Despite downturn, ridership on the rise for Missoula’s hybrid taxi service
With a little more than a year and 70,000 miles logged, Green Taxi’s red-and-green Prius has become a fixture on Missoula’s streets. But like countless other businesses across the country, the eco-cab service is feeling the fallout of the economic downturn.
“The slowdown in the restaurant business correlates to the cab business,” said Mick Murray, who owns Green Taxi with his wife Jessica. “People are holding onto their money.”
The slowdown also derailed the company’s early plans to expand and Green Taxi is currently running only one cab instead of the two Murray had hoped for.
“We were close to getting a second when things started turning down,” he said. “I was nervous about the economic outlook.”
But even as the bad economic news keeps pouring in, Murray is hopeful about the future and viability of his young company. Despite the slowdown, Murray said ridership has been inching up over the year as their name and reputation spread.
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Green Taxi owner Mick Murray is chauffeured past the company’s Toole Avenue office.
Photo by LINDA THOMPSON/Missoulian |
“Our ridership is increasing over the year’s time,” he said. “We’re probably doing twice what we were when we started. On any given shift it seems like it has doubled.”
However, having only one cab has been a frequent challenge, Murray said. When things get busy, Green Taxi sometimes has to refer people to their competitor, Yellow Cab, and the temptation to buy a cheap, non-hybrid vehicle can be strong during peak hours. But Murray is committed to the couple’s vision.
“I could throw out a minivan or a Suburban, but I want to stay true to what I originally wanted to start,” he said. “I’m a firm believer in climate change. That’s what keeps me from buying an inefficient vehicle and just moving people around. I’m committed to trying to change this.”
Over the year the Prius, with its stellar fuel efficiency and reliability, has proved itself in Murray’s eyes. Despite the high startup costs due to the car’s price tag, Murray said the vehicle has been a good investment.
“With reduced fuel costs I believe it will pay for itself,” he said.
According to Murray, the car gets 44 to 45 miles per gallon around town and he’s only had to make one repair so far.
“Maintenance on the car has been minimal,” he said. “We’ve only had a wheel bearing go out.”
Murray said that when buying the much-needed second taxi becomes an option, it will definitely be another Prius.
“I need to do it,” he said. “There’s nothing that compares spacewise and miles-wise.”
For the company’s three part-time employees, Green Taxi provides both a source of income and an outlet for environmental sentiments.
Justin Walsh, a fishing guide in the summers and one of Green Taxi’s night drivers, said the wage and tips in tight times are important but that he gets more out of driving the Prius than just the money.
“Drawing a paycheck is obviously important,” he said. “But it does mean something. (Green Taxi) is part of the solution to our energy crisis and environmental crisis.”
Kip Herring, a local artist and weekday driver, was drawn to the job for similar reasons.
“Once I learned more about Green Taxi I was like, ‘This is perfect,’ ” he said. “I want to be doing something that has depth to it, not just mindless work.”
Beyond the environmental side of the business, both Herring and Walsh have loved the social aspect of being cabbies.
“I’ve had so many great conversations,” Herring said. “I’ve grown to love the job because of that.”
“I love getting to know the people of Missoula on a first-name basis,” Walsh said.
5 Easy First Steps You Can Do Today
April 16th, 2009
From Our Friends At eBay Green Team
1. Bag It
Today: When you go out shopping, bring your own reusable bags. This preserves resources by cutting down on the huge number of paper and plastic bags that are discarded after a single trip.
Tomorrow: Combine your routine shopping trips with other errands, which will save you time and fuel.
Save on Electricity
2. Save on Electricity
Today: Shut off the light when you leave the room.
Tomorrow: There are many ways to trim those electric bills. Wash your laundry in cold water instead of hot, line dry your linens, and use a toaster oven for small heating needs instead of a bigger electric stove. Open windows to let the light in, turn off unneeded lights and appliances, and unplug unused electronics to counter the ‘energy vampire’ effect.
Save on Gas
3. Save on Gas
Today: Check your tires to ensure they’re properly inflated, and schedule a tune-up to ensure you’re getting the best fuel economy possible. Every gallon of gasoline you burn produces 19 pounds of carbon dioxide, so it pays to conserve (in more ways than one).
Tomorrow: Resolve to reform bad driving habits. Your car will work more efficiently if you obey the speed limit and avoid rapid, unnecessary acceleration, for instance.
Shop a Farmers’ Market
4. Shop a Farmers’ Market
Today: Shop at your local farmers’ market. This will help support farmers in your area, so they won’t be forced to sell off their land for development, and it will decrease your “food miles,” meaning less fuel will be burned to get food from the farm to your table. Best, your food will be delicious and healthy.
Tomorrow: Eat as much local and seasonal food as you reasonably can. Your meals will be fresher, and will require much less fuel to transport, store and refrigerate.
Conserve Water
5. Conserve Water
Today: Drink water from the tap, instead of buying single-use bottled water, which requires much more energy to produce, store and transport. Barely 20% of those plastic bottles end up getting recycled, and most are made out of petroleum. Use filters if you are concerned about your local water supply.
Tomorrow: Buy a reusable bottle to take with you on the go, so you can always refill it from a tap and avoid buying bottled water. Stainless steel is a good choice, because you don’t have to worry about the potentially toxic chemicals that can leach out of many plastics over time.
Living Sustainably?
April 15th, 2009
By Kathleen Davidson
from- Your Guide to Green Blog
It seems that explaining sustainability is more challenging than actually living it. Sustainability is broadly defined as living and conducting business and commerce in a resource-conservative and resource-efficient manner to meet present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. Although it sounds a bit abstract, it turns out that putting sustainability into practice is pretty straightforward.
For example, on any given day in the late fall Greg Peterson, the co-founder of Your Guide to Green, grabs his colander and collects carrots, parsnips, collard greens, peas and a plethora of herbs to create a meal that he calls his “farm fall soup” grown primarily in his own yard. He has spent bits and pieces of time during the past 15 years converting his suburban yard into edible landscape and now has more than 80 fruit trees, grape vines, vegetables and flowers growing in his 1/3-acre yard. He also has chickens which he says are very easy to keep and they eat vegetable scraps and help complete the growing circle by providing fertilizer. Ahhh the circle of life.
Peterson, who earned a masters degree in environmental planning and created The Urban Farm, (an environmental showcase home and education center in the heart of Phoenix, Arizona http://www.urbanfarm.org), says many people already are living a bit of a sustainable lifestyle. Many of us are well aware of the importance of reusing and recycling as well as buying locally grown food and supporting local businesses. We might even be trying to conserve fuel by walking, using public transit, riding bikes and combining errands. But there are so many more ways we can help conserve.
It’s often simply a matter of rethinking our use patterns. For example, we can:
- pull the plug on electricity “vampires” – those appliances that consume electricity even when they are turned off
- reduce your electric bill by substituting energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs for incandescent bulbs
- turn off lights when not in use
- use cloth shopping bags rather than plastic ones and save on the limited supply of petrochemical resources required to manufacture plastic bags
- consider converting your yard to an edible landscape and reap delicious benefits from your care and watering efforts
- collect rainwater for your landscape – significantly reducing your need to turn on the tap, thus naturally sustaining your yard
- develop a simple compost pile, where you can dispose of all of fruit and vegetable scraps, egg shells and liquids which ultimately creates more rich fertilizer
- purchase biodegradable products – everything from cups, silverware, plates and bowls and once you’ve used them you can add them to your compost pile
- when purchasing your next washing machine consider a front-loading model that uses less water and cleans clothes better while saving on your water bill
- drying laundry on a clothesline is regaining popularity and providing an energy savings that translates to lower bills
The reduction of electrical consumption is a major component in the exciting journey toward sustainable living.
Peterson, admits that this has been a bit of an obsession for him during the past 10 years. So much so that his electric bill for April, May and June 2008 was an incredible $42…that was for all three months.
So how can you join him in cutting the current and accomplishing such a feat?
To start, look at your electricity consumption and get a handle on the size of the task you are facing. As a rule, the larger the electric bill, the more affordable the energy reduction options there are available to you.
Research the possibilities for:
- minimizing your use,
- increasing your efficiency and
- learning more about alternative forms of energy.
Consider options such as the following to help minimize your use: shade your windows; add insulation to your attic or around your duct system; replace your windows with dual-pane ones. Create shade by planting low-water-use trees on the sunny side of your home. Increasing your efficiency can be as easy as: changing out your light bulbs to the LED or CFL style; changing your thermostat to the programmable type; even adding a new more efficient air conditioning system. The single biggest change Peterson made was adding ceiling fans in every room. He even has one on his back patio. When appliances need to be replaced, make sure the new ones have the energy star label.
Finally, once you have covered these bases, take some time to look at how you can produce your own electricity. At the Urban Farm Peterson has placed two different types of solar panels on the roof. The first panel is a new technology linked with his water heater that produces all of his hot water for eight months of the year. The second type is the more commonly known Photovoltaic (PV) panel. He has two of these and they produce a significant amount of his electricity. Many government and utility company rebates and tax breaks are offered for solar panel users. Peterson says, “The solar panels were the icing on the cake that made my three-month bill so incredibly affordable. But remember that my journey to a $14-per-month electric bill did not happen overnight. It was a process that spanned a few years and included a significant amount of observation and planning.” Above all, remember you don’t have to be in the dark, or suffer! Just have fun riding the current… a little less.
Overall it helps to live intentionally by planning ahead enough to fulfill the goal of living more sustainably.
own communications business and has clients across the country. More recently she has focused her writing and editing efforts in the sustainability arena.
It Is Time To Utilize Renewable Solar Energy
April 10th, 2009
The sun is the life giving force of our existence. Solar energy, the light and heat radiated by the sun, is what feeds us, clothes us and provides means for our shelter. However, renewable solar energy can provide us with much more. Using renewable solar energy can provide both economic and environmental benefits as well.
Renewable solar energy is an excellent source of electricity. Rather than dwindling more fossil fuels to feed power plants, we can take advantage of huge savings and electricity by utilizing renewable solar energy. Renewable solar energies come with very little pollution when they convert electricity from solar panels or thermal devices. Renewable solar energies do not contribute to the effects of global warming.
Solar energy is a renewable resource. Yes, there are days when the sun doesn’t shine enough to generate electricity, but there are far more days when the sun is there and not being utilized to power our homes, businesses and workshops. Once you invest in renewable solar energy, you can save greatly on maintenance costs as most systems have no moving parts and require little upkeep.
By utilizing passive renewable solar energy, you can build a solar home that requires very low energy use. To use passive renewable solar energy you must include south facing windows in your home design, in combination with products like brick and stone that provide heat radiating thermal mass. In combination with a solar hot water system and solar electric panels you can take full advantage of renewable solar energy resources.
It is also possible to build your own solar panel and solar hot water systems for your design. By building your own components you can greatly reduce the time needed to pay for your renewable solar energy system. Building your own solar energy system also allows you to fully understand the mechanics and physics behind harnessing solar energy. This can be an educational benefit for all members of the family and building your own systems will lower the cost of your renewable solar energy household by at least half when compared to purchasing the system and having it installed professionally.
Start utilizing the power of the sun and design a plan for your renewable solar energy system. With research and elbow grease you can be on your way to a lower monthly budget and a more environmentally friendly home or business. Renewable solar energy is going to be the way of the future and the Earth will thank you.
Want Free Power? Build A Wind Generator
March 31st, 2009
It is true. You may have heard it and not believed it, but you can build a wind generator on your own. Even better is the large amounts of money you can save when you build a wind generator instead of purchasing one from a wholesaler or retailer. It is easy to build a wind generator with the plans and instructions available. By utilizing used auto parts, odds and ends and general supplies from your local hardware store, you can build a wind generator in no time.
You may be wondering why you should build a wind generator when you can just purchase one, but commercial wind generators cost in the thousands to buy. The materials needed to build a wind generator, the DC motor, batteries, towers and hub, are fairly inexpensive. It is possible to build a wind generator for under $500 and that means realizing the return on your investment years before you would have buying a professionally installed commercial model. Even if you invest in better quality materials when you build a wind generator, you will still find your total cost way below that of the professional installation.
Electric power generated by wind is one of the most efficient renewable power resources available. Many cities worldwide have started to convert to wind power to supplement their energy supply. It is possible to have a green energy supply by taking the time to build a wind generator. Not only are you helping the environment, but also you can save money at the same time.
It is not difficult to build a wind generator. The average do-it-yourselfer can complete this project with simple tools. There are detailed instructions and plans available to build a wind generator in your workshop or home. So build your wind generator today and put it on your roof or support pole and start generating your free power, thanks to a little breeze.
Is a Solar Electricity System Right For You?
March 30th, 2009
If you are thinking about purchasing a solar electricity system for your home or business then you are joining millions of other energy-conscious individuals around the world. Solar electricity systems provide reliable, pollution free energy from a renewable resource better known as the sun. Solar electricity systems are becoming more affordable as advancements are made in photovoltaic designs and construction.
Adding to the affordability, many solar electricity systems are able to participate in net metering in several states. This means that as your solar electricity system generates more power than you are using, your meter runs backwards resulting in an even swap of power that you use at other times when you exceed the power supplied by your own solar electricity system.
Before you invest in a solar electricity system for your home or business, it is best to understand exactly what you are purchasing and how solar electricity is generated. The building block of any solar electricity system is the photovoltaic cells, which are wired together to produce solar electricity modules. The electricity produced from the modules or panels is then passed through an inverter that changes the current from AC to DC, making it usable to power household appliances and the utility grid. It is often a popular choice to include batteries in a solar electricity system to store backup power to be used in times of low sun light and power outages.
It is important to realize that solar electricity systems work intermittently or only when the sun hits them. This is not a problem if you utilize battery backup systems or are connected to the grid. Installing a solar electricity system can also come with an initially high investment cost and it can take years before the system pays for itself. However, with net metering and government funded rebates, many are able to pay off systems much more quickly.
You definitely don’t need to know the physics of solar electricity systems to understand its appeal. A solar electricity system will never run out of fuel nor will it increase our dependency on foreign oil. Stop thinking about a solar electricity system for your home or business and start investing in your freedom by starting your research of solar electricity systemstoday.
Posted in Green Tips, Renewable Energy
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Tags: renewable energy, solar electricity, Solar Power Ideas
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Solar Energy Panels For Home or Business
March 27th, 2009
Solar energy panels have become more affordable in recent years making it a viable alternative energy option for savvy home owners looking for savings on their monthly utility bills and the environmentally conscious who also enjoy the financial advantage, but focus more on the benefits solar energy panels have on global warming and independence from fossil fuels.
If you are a beginner to the solar electric world, then you may be wondering what exactly solar energy panels are? It is really simple and yet fascinatingly complicated. Solar energy panels are also known as photovoltaic panels; photovoltaic meaning electricity from the sun. Solar energy panels work by collecting protons from the sun, which displace neutrons, and create a flow of electrons or electricity. An inverter converts the power generated by the solar energy panels from an AC current to a DC current making it usable in homes as a direct electricity supply.
You can use solar energy panels to heat your pool, workshop tools, greenhouse lights and fans or depending on you personal electric usage, your entire home or business. Most solar energy panels are designed to last 30-40 years and require little to no maintenance. Over the life-span of solar energy panels, the energy savings realized by the owner is enough to justify the initial cost of the system and prices are dropping more and more as a larger number of consumers express interest and make the change to solar energy panels or other renewable resources.
Solar energy panels for small applications can be purchased at your local hardware stores. These small versions are ideal for outdoor lighting, small water pumps and other outdoor tools. If you are purchasing a home size or business size system of solar energy panels it would be best to seek out a local retailer of solar energy panels or a green energy retailer in your area. There is also plenty of information available online about different solar energy panel providers.
Understanding the value of solar energy panels is the first step to becoming fossil fuel independent. As our traditional energy resources are falling into exhaustion, now is the best time to look in to solar energy panels for your home or business.
Posted in Green Tips, Renewable Energy
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Tags: diy solar energy panel, solar energy, solar panel, Solar Power Ideas
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Blackle Search Engine – Small Energy Saving Tip
March 26th, 2009
Blackle is a very cool black search engine duplicating Googles interface to help us save energy.
A few months ago, TreeHugger Mark Ontkush wrote a post on his blog EcoIron titled Black Google Would Save 750 Megawatt-hours a Year. The post lays out the following train of thought. “An all white web page uses about 74 watts to display, while an all black page uses only 59 watts.” Google, which has a white background and gets about “200 million queries a day” could reduce global energy use by 750 Megawatt-hours a year by simply changing the color of its homepage to black. (For more detailed calculations and assumptions check out the original post here.)
In response to this post a black version of Google emerged called Blackle.com. According to Blackle’s homepage at publication time, 4,408.917 Watt hours have been saved by. The site encourages users to “make a difference today [by] … Blackling “energy saving tips” or visit[ing] treehugger.com a great blog dedicated to environmental awareness.” Nice ideas. But how does the search measure up? Very well indeed. Give it a whirl yourself and start saving energy one search at a time. :: Blackle.com
From TreeHugger.com
