Green Colorado

Janine Benyus: 12 sustainable design ideas from nature

2011-02-02T14:24:00.002-07:00

Janine Benyus: 12 sustainable design ideas from nature

Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power

2010-06-03T08:30:00.000-06:00

Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power

Published on May 25th, 2010 by Josh Kennedy
Posted in Energy, Featured, Wind

ShareWith all the hoopla going around for and against wind farms going up all over the US, including here on the Great Lakes and off of Nantucket Sound, I feel it is important to weigh in with a little fact checking on “not-in-my-backyard” (NIMBY) claims. After reading all the comments that are inevitably posted to every article involving the wind industry, I feel it is important to quash all the falsehoods associated with wind power.

I’ll start by saying that I am first and foremost pro-environment before anything else. If “evidence” is ever found during an environmental impact study that a wind farm will harm the local ecosystem, I will be the first in line to oppose it’s construction. Now let’s see some comments from these related links.

The Myth of Mountaintop Removal Reclamation

2010-05-19T20:27:00.000-06:00

From: National Resources Defense Council

Published May 18, 2010 08:57 AM

The Myth of Mountaintop Removal Reclamation

WASHINGTON

(May 17, 2010) -- Roughly 1.2 million acres, including 500 mountains, have been flattened by mountaintop removal coal mining in the central Appalachian region, and only a fraction of that land has been reclaimed for so-called beneficial economic uses, according to new research by environmental groups.

A study by Appalachian Voices, which analyzed recent aerial imagery of eastern Kentucky, southern West Virginia, southwest Virginia and eastern Tennessee, confirms for the first time the extent of mountaintop removal throughout the region; nearly half of which has taken place in Kentucky.

"The fact that coal companies can blast away the tops of 500 of the oldest and most biodiverse mountains on the continent shows an utter disrespect for the communities that have to live with the destruction of their land, air and water," said Matt Wasson, with Appalachian Voices.

The mining industry has long exploited a federal statutory provision that exempts them from restoring the land to its "approximate original contour" if there is a plan to develop the land for "equal or better economic use" such as "industrial, commercial, residential or public use." However, NRDC's analysis -- released today in its report Reclamation FAIL -- confirms that nearly 90 percent of mountaintop removal sites have not been converted to economic uses.

"Mining companies don't love mountains but they love bragging about how they restore mine sites for the benefit of local communities," says NRDC's Rob Perks. "Our study exposes Big Coal's broken promises by proving that post-mining economic prosperity is a big, flat lie."

NRDC examined 500 mountaintop removal sites in Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia and Tennessee. Of these locations, 90 were excluded from the study due to active, ongoing mining activity. Of the 410 remaining sites surveyed:

* 366 (89.3 percent) had no form of verifiable post-mining economic reclamation excluding forestry and pasture

* 26 (6.3 percent of total) yield some form of verifiable post-mining economic development

Only about four percent of mountains in Kentucky and West Virginia, where 80 percent of the mining is occurring, had any post-mining economic activity. Virginia had the highest proportion of economic activity on its reclaimed mountaintop removal sites at 20 percent. Tennessee, which has relatively little mountaintop removal compared to the other three states, had no economic activity on the six sites examined in that state. Overall, economic activity occurs on just 6 to 11 percent of all reclaimed mountaintop removal sites surveyed as part of this analysis.

Article continues: NRDC Media Center

Rare-earth metal recycling needed to power green tech

2010-05-17T17:35:00.000-06:00

Metal recycling is the sleeper growth industry in green tech.

Specialty metals, such as lithium and indium, and rare-earth elements, such as neodymium, are required for production of many green-technology products, including batteries for hybrid cars, LED lights, fuel cells, and solar panels.

But to ensure future supply of these resources, recycling rates needed to increase substantially, according to a report from the United Nations Environment Program. Preliminary findings were issued Thursday, with a full report planned for later this year.

More recycling is needed to ensure supply of metals for common products, such as electronics and car batteries.

(Credit: U.N. Environment Program) The recycling rates for specialty metals are only about 1 percent, according to a U.N. panel on metals that is chaired by experts from India, Germany, and Yale University.

"Boosting end-of-life recycling rates not only offers a path to enhancing those supplies and keeping metal prices down, but can also generate new kinds of employment while ensuring the longevity of the mines and the stocks found in nature," Achim Steiner, executive director of the U.N. Environment Program, said in a statement.

There are substantial environmental benefits to recycling all metals, which is between two and ten times more energy efficient than smelting metals from ores, according to the report.

The report says recycling rates of more common metals, such as copper, aluminum, lead, and tin, vary greatly. They can range from 25 percent to 75 percent and are much lower in some developing countries.

Increasingly, both specialty and common metals may be "mined" from existing products and structures, such as electronic gadgets and buildings. For every person in the U.S., there is now about 530 pounds of copper that is above ground, according to the report.

Article continues on -

Small-wind turbines pick up steam (photos)

2010-05-14T14:37:00.000-06:00

Small Wind Turbines Pick Up Speed
May 12, 2010 8:22 AM PDT

Windtronics, based in Muskegon, Mich., later this year plans to release a wind turbine specifically designed for low wind speeds. The products will be sold as the Honeywell Wind Turbine and made available through hardware stores, although in most cases it will need a professional installer. One important feature with this turbine is that it doesn't have gears in the rotor of the fan, instead relying on power generation through permanent magnets on the tips of the blades.

There are dozens of different types of wind turbines aimed at homeowners or commercial customers interested in on-site electricity generation. As the industry matures, experts say that there need to be better tools for assessing the available wind resource at homes, which will produce an economically viable project.

See related story: "Good data needed for small-wind turbines to spin"

Philips Unveils World's First 60 Watt LED Bulb

2010-05-13T19:45:00.000-06:00

PHILIPS UNVEILS WORLD’S FIRST LED REPLACEMENT FOR MOST COMMON HOUSEHOLD LIGHT BULB

Las Vegas, USA (May 12, 2010) – Royal Philips Electronics (AEX: PHI, NYSE: PHG) today unveiled its 12 watt EnduraLED light bulb, the industry’s first LED replacement for a 60 watt incandescent light bulb. Shown for the first time here at the Lightfair International tradeshow, it marks an important breakthrough in the use of LED lighting technology in everyday applications. Consumers will now have an LED alternative to the most commonly used incandescent bulb, which will deliver up to 80% energy savings and last 25 times longer than its century-old predecessor.

The significance of developing an LED equivalent to the 60 watt has been recognized by many international organizations, including the U.S. Department of Energy (DoE), who created the L-prize competition to spur development of this highly sought after innovation. Philips’ entry was the first, and to date remains the only submission for the L-Prize, which was used as the basis for the 12 watt EnduraLED. Exceeding the Energy Star specifications for a 60 watt bulb, the EnduraLED uses only 12 watts of power while delivering an industry benchmark of 806 lumens.

Article continues on at - http://www.newsinfusion.com/philips/

Senate climate bill unveiled; fate uncertain

2010-05-12T17:12:00.000-06:00

Senate Climate Bill Unveiled
(Reuters) - A U.S. Senate compromise bill aimed at battling global warming would cut emissions of greenhouse gases 17 percent by 2020, according to a summary given to senators and obtained by Reuters on Tuesday.

Panel Affirms Radiation Link to Cancer

2010-05-06T18:41:00.000-06:00

From: H. Josef Hebert, Associated Press

Published June 30, 2005 12:00 AM

Panel Affirms Radiation Link to Cancer

March 3, 2008 05:21 PMWASHINGTON — The preponderance of scientific evidence shows that even very low doses of radiation pose a risk of cancer or other health problems

and there is no threshold below which exposure can be viewed as harmless, a panel of prominent scientists concluded Wednesday.

The finding by the National Academy of Sciences panel is viewed as critical because it addresses radiation amounts commonly used in medical treatment and is likely also to influence radiation levels the government will allow at abandoned nuclear sites

Environmental Cancer Risk

2010-05-06T18:36:00.000-06:00

Environmental Cancer Risk
(Click link for full report)

There is a body of evidence linking general environmental exposures to cancer. A report was released today by the President's Cancer Panel which finds that the true burden of environmentally induced cancer is underestimated. The Panel's report, "Reducing Environmental Cancer Risk: What We Can Do Now," concludes that while environmental exposure is not a new front on the war on cancer, the harm from this group of carcinogens has not been addressed adequately by the National Cancer Program.

From: Andy Soos, ENN

Published May 6, 2010 12:31 PM

Wind Power Growth Continues to Break Records Despite Recession

2010-05-06T18:33:00.000-06:00

Wind Power Growth Continues to Break Records Despite Recession

Saya Kitasei
May 06, 2010

Global wind power capacity increased by 38,343 megawatts to a total of 158,505 megawatts in 2009.1 Despite a widespread economic recession, new wind power capacity grew more than 31 percent in cumulative installations, the highest rate in the last eight years.2 (See Figures 1 and 2.) Worldwide, wind power contributed 340 trillion kilowatt-hours, or 2 percent, to global electricity consumption in 2009.3

Paper Solar Cells and other new MIT Research

2010-05-06T17:43:00.000-06:00

Gallery: Paper, bottled solar cells lead new MIT research center
See video clip -

Wasps, Eco Questions & Energy Vampires

2010-05-04T21:43:00.000-06:00

Ask Umbra on wasps, researching your own eco-questions, and energy vampires

Q. Dear Umbra,

Every time the weather gets warmer, it's the same: the wasps! They insist on trying to make their home in my balcony! I tried many different things, like citronella candles, but some of them apparently attract instead of repelling wasps. I don't want to kill them; I just want to keep them away! Also, if I don't do anything effective, the landlord will notice and will kill them himself with whatever harsh insect killer he has in hand!

Please help!

Thabata

A. Dearest Thabata,
Before we talk about how to get rid of wasps, let's give them their due as helpful insects. Most wasps are actually quite beneficial to the ecosystem as predators to other insects like caterpillars, which can wreak havoc on a garden. But wasps can be nasty too, so what to do with your balcony colony.

Generally, wasps avoid us humans. But, as you obviously know, when the nest is near a house, it's got to go. Your desire to avoid the fury of a wasp sting (I have—it's no picnic, my friend) is understandable; your desire not to harm the wasps admirable.

Continue On...
http://www.grist.org/article/2010-04-30-ask-umbra-on-wasps-researching-your-own-eco-questions-vampires

Dolphins, Like Humans, Recognize Names

2010-05-04T20:28:00.000-06:00

From: Deborah Zabarenko, Reuters
Published May 9, 2006 12:00 AM

Dolphins, Like Humans, Recognize Names

RELATED ARTICLES

Dolphin Intelligence

April 1, 2009 11:18 AMWASHINGTON — Bottlenose dolphins can call each other by name when they whistle, making them the only animals besides humans known to recognize such identity information, scientists reported Monday.

Scientists have long known that dolphins' whistling calls include repeated information thought to be their names, but a new study indicates dolphins recognize these names even when voice cues are removed from the sound.

For example, a dolphin might be expected to recognize its name if called by its mother, but the new study found most dolphins recognized names -- their signature whistles -- even when emitted without inflection or other vocal cues.

More than that, two dolphins may refer to a third by the third animal's name, said Laela Sayigh, one of three authors of a paper published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

"They are known to produce these individually distinctive signature whistles, like names," Sayigh said in a telephone interview. She said the researchers wanted to know what information in the whistles helped dolphins identify each other's names.

The scientists already knew that dolphins responded to whistles, but wondered if something in the actual voice of the whistling dolphin was making the identity clear, or if the name itself was enough for recognition.

How the Human Brain Recognizes Language

2010-05-04T20:20:00.000-06:00

From: David A Gabel, ENN

Published May 3, 2010 11:37 AM

How the Human Brain Recognizes Language

May 9, 2006 12:00 AM It is a major part of what separates us from the animals, the ability to verbalize our thoughts and understand the verbalizations of others. However, this evolutionary miracle is not exclusive to human beings — other species like dolphins and birds communicate regularly. Humans, however, have taken communication to such an advanced degree that we can verbalize even the most minute detail, and our brains are wired to understand them. Not only are we capable of multiple languages, we also have the capacity for non-verbal sign language. In fact, a recent study out of the University of Rochester focusing on sign language has reached a new conclusion on how the brain is wired for language.

Continue On - http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41283

Scientists Resurrect Mammoth Hemoglobin

2010-05-04T20:18:00.000-06:00

Scientists Resurrect Mammoth Hemoglobin

by Andrew Curry on May 2, 2010 1:00 PM

Defrosted. Woolly mammoth hemoglobin contains unique regions (blue) that interact with other regions (red) to deliver oxygen at a steady rate regardless of temperature.

Credit: (mammoth) Royal British Columbia Museum; (inset) Joerg StetefeldBy inserting a 43,000-year-old woolly mammoth gene into Escherichia coli bacteria, scientists have figured out how these ancient beasts adapted to the subzero temperatures of prehistoric Siberia and North America. The gene, which codes for the oxygen-transporting protein hemoglobin, allowed the animals to keep their tissues supplied with oxygen even at very low temperatures. "It's no different from going back 40,000 years and taking a blood sample from a living mammoth," says Kevin Campbell, a biologist at the University of Manitoba in Canada.

Campbell's team obtained DNA from mammoth bone preserved in the Siberian permafrost. It was a long journey for Campbell, whose specialty is the physiology of mammals. A decade ago, he saw a Discovery Channel program on the recovery of a mammoth specimen encased in ice and wondered if such specimens might hold clues to the physiology of the mammoth.

Artcle continues on at - http://news.sciencemag.org/sciencenow/2010/05/scientists-resurrect-mammoth-hem.html?rss=1

New EPA Regulations Target Mercury & Other Toxic Emissions

2010-05-04T20:14:00.000-06:00

New EPA Regulations Target Mercury and Other Toxic Emissions
from Boilers and Solid Waste Incinerators:

ENN Article - http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/41288

EPA Proposed Regs - http://www.epa.gov/airquality/combustion/

Which Bathroom Cleasner Gets the Go Green Light?

2009-05-27T17:53:00.000-06:00

Which Bathroom Cleanser Gets The Go Green Light?

Sure, you’ve greened your bathroom – fixing leaks and retrofitting for low-flow flushes – but what happens when you clean your bathroom? Are you undoing all your good deeds by flushing toxins down your toilet?

Many conventional toilet bowl cleaners contain corrosive ingredients like hydrochloric acid and chlorine bleach that can irritate eyes, skin, and the respiratory tract, and can be fatal if swallowed. Phosphates, which can cause harmful algal blooms, are also commonly used in bathroom cleaning products.

Natural toilet-bowl cleaners replace these harsh chemicals with plant- and mineral-based ingredients that are nontoxic and biodegradable. But are these eco-products worth a shit? I decided to find out. (Hey, it’s my potty, and I’ll try if I want to!)

I gathered eight different eco-options and wielded a toilet-bowl scrubby brush against the evils of long-mellowed toilet bowls near and far. Here are the results:

Biokleen Soy Toilet Scrub
Eco-claims: Environmentally friendly with no negative effects on rivers, streams, plants, or wildlife; kind to those with chemical sensitivities and allergies; no artificial fragrance, colors, or preservatives; 99 percent VOC free and ozone safe; contains no phosphate, chlorine, ammonia, petroleum solvents, alcohol, butyl, glycol ether, SLS or SLES, EDTA, DEA, No SARA Title II, CA 65, or EPA priority pollutants; no materials listed by the ACGIH as hazardous; no animal testing or animal ingredients
Scent: Mint
Price: $4.99 / 32 fl. oz.

This soy scrub is a thick, white paste; add that to the minty scent and it feels a bit like you’re squirting the toilet with kaopectate. It does cover the bowl well, but the opaque white coloring makes it hard to see where it’s been squirted – and also where there might be extra dirty spots to scrub. It works OK, and it’s one of the few that doesn’t require a soaking or wait time, which is nice if you’re in a hurry to freshen up before a surprise visit from the mother in law.

Clorox Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Made with plant- and mineral-based ingredients; biodegradable; not tested on animals; contains no phosphorus or bleach
Scent: Original (lemony)
Price: $2.59 / 24 fl. oz.

Don’t let the Clorox name on this one scare you – there’s no bleach in this product. Like the other Green Works products, it carries the Sierra Club logo and promises natural ingredients. It delivers on Clorox cleaning power, though – producing the cleanest bowl of the bunch. The thick green liquid fully covers the toilet bowl and the mild lemony/lime scent is pleasant. My only complaint would be that it produces long-lasting bubbles that don’t go away, even with a second flush.

Ecover Ecological Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Plant-based ingredients—not based on petrochemical ingredients; no chemical residue; optimum level of biodegradability (far exceeds legislative requirements); safe for river and marine life; no animal testing
Scent: Pine
Price: $3.99 / 25 fl. oz.

I like that the bottle notes that Ecover’s ecological factory is built using a grass roof for insulation, wood beams from sustainable forest, and bricks made from coal mine waste. However, the contents are less likable – the strong piney scent almost made me gag as I scrubbed the toilet. And the color-less liquid made it hard to see which parts of the toilet bowl were covered.

Seventh Generation Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Nontoxic; biodegradable; no dyes; not tested on animals; no animal ingredients
Scent: Emerald cypress and fir
Price: $3.59 / 32 fl. oz.

While the Ecover product left a strong artificial piney scent, the Seventh Generation cleaner had much more natural pine scent to it, leaving the bathroom smelling like a forest rather than a Pine-Sol crime scene. Unfortunately, it was not as strong a cleaner as some of the other options – getting the bowl only about 80 percent clean after a hefty scrubbing down.

Method Lil’ Bowl Blu
Eco-claims: Nontoxic, naturally derived, biodegradable; not tested on animals
Scent: Eucalyptus mint
Price: $5.49 / 24 fl. oz.

This one definitely gets points for creative design and marketing – the curvy bottle is cute enough to leave out and the wordsmiths at Method are as punny as (some) Grist staffers. The blue liquid cleans fairly well, but the strong piney-eucalyptus scent fumes are long lasting and too strong to be pleasant.

Earth Friendly Products Toilet Kleener
Eco-claims: Does not contain phosphates, dyes, or perfumes; does not contain SLS or Cocamide DEA
Scent: Natural cedar
Price: $2.99 / 24 fl. oz.

This one has a mild smell – more burnt orange than cedar. My main complaint about it (aside from the Kute product name!) is that it is so thick that it doesn’t flow down the bowl to cover it. Instead, the thick, clear get clings right where you squirt it. You’re supposed to leave it there 5-10 minutes, but I’m not sure the purpose, as it will only clean the thin line where it lands until you scrub.

J.R. Watkins Natural Home Care Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Biodegradable; no animal ingredients; free of ammonia, benzene, boron, butyl cellosolve, chlorine, dye, ether, formaldehyde, isopropanol, kerosene, mineral spirit, toxin, perfume, petrochemicals, phosphate, phosphoric acid, propylene glycol, SLS, sulfate, sulfuric acid
Scent: Lemon, natural cedar
Price: $4.99 / 24 fl. oz.

This cleaner had a mild lemon scent – not too overpowering – and got the bowl mostly clean, though it recommends soaking overnight for tough stains. It was a clearish, cloudy color, which made it hard to see what parts of the bowl it covered. Bonus points for the “Gristy” labeling on the bottle boasting its “conscience cleaning power” and “guilt/anxiety-free contents.”

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Toilet Bowl Cleaner
Eco-claims: Cruelty-free, not tested on animals; septic safe; biodegradable; no chlorine or solvents
Scent: Lemon verbena
Price: $4.99 / 32 fl. oz.

The “lemon verbena” scent was piney rather than being citrusy, but it still offered a bit of a “pick-me-up” effect. The toilet bowl was nice and white after scrubbing the blue cleaner away. This is a good choice, though more expensive than some of the other options.

The bottom line: The best clean for the least green was the Clorox Green Works Natural Toilet Bowl Cleaner. For about a dollar more, Mrs. Meyer’s is also a good option.

http://www.grist.org/article/2009-05-19-natural-toilet-bowl-cleaner

Look out, Rover. Robots are man's new best friend

2009-05-27T17:40:00.000-06:00

Look out, Rover. Robots are man's new best friend

May 27, 2009 4:00 AM PDT

By Jonathan Skillings
Staff Writer, CNET News

Sylvia the German shepherd is learning to live with robots.

The 6-year-old, curious canine was recently adopted by the Tambascia family in Brockton, Mass. There was one problem: a trio of house-cleaning robots--two Roombas, and one Scooba--already lived there.

"She didn't know whether to eat the robots or run," Joy Tambascia said. "She still tries to eat them or attack them on occasion--kind of how dogs react to the regular vacuum."

If Sylvia's conundrum sounds like a topic more worthy of Oprah's magazine than Scientific American, you're right: the robot of today and the near future is a lot more mundane (and probably a lot more useful) than the robot of science fiction.

For many people who own them, iRobot's Roomba is a regular vacuum cleaner. Roughly the diameter of a hubcap and about as thick as dictionary, it crisscrosses a floor autonomously, recognizes the difference between carpet and hard surface, senses stairs, and when battery power runs low, it automatically locates and returns to its docking station.

The Roomba is typical of commercial robotics in the early 21st century: There is no white-faced Data from "Star Trek: The Next Generation" who would desperately like to learn to whistle. Don't expect chatty C-3POs, intrepid R2-D2s, or killer Terminators. Instead, robots are humble devices that do menial labor, and they're on the verge of becoming household fixtures.

"People have such great expectations of robots because of what they see in the movies," said Jim Wyatt, director of Kablamm, a company in Reading, England, that helped develop a toy robot called MechRC. "People have this expectation that robots will be able to see you and hear you."

Robots performing relatively simple tasks have been creeping into society for years, of course. They've been a fixture of assembly lines and laboratories, such as stationary mechanical arms piecing together cars and handling pharmaceuticals. Nowadays, industrial robots comprise a roughly $18 billion annual market, according to the International Federation of Robotics.

There are going to be a lot more of them, too, as they move into homes, hospitals, classrooms, and barracks. NextGen Research has estimated that the worldwide market for consumer-oriented service robots will hit $15 billion by 2015. (The market research firm plans to issue a report next month with updated figures.)

Many expect big growth in the number of home and entertainment robots being sold to consumers. From 2000 to now, something like 5 million such robots have been sold, "and we're not done with this decade yet," said Paolo Pirjanian, CEO of software developer Evolution Robotics. "In the next decade, I really think we could see another order of magnitude--5 million a year."

Keep in mind, though, that the housecleaning won't likely be done by a multitasking Rosie from "The Jetsons."

"You're not going to just have a robot in the home that does everything, but you're going to see many forms of robots, just as you don't have a single appliance in your home that washes your dishes, washes your clothes, and cooks your food," Tandy Trower, general manager of Microsoft's robotics group, told an audience at the RoboBusiness conference in Boston in April. "I think you're going to see a variety of robots that are designed for very specialty functions."

In a three-day special report, CNET News will take a look at the growing world of commercial and do-it-yourself robotics. We'll check in with the top robotics researchers in academia, as well as with hobbyists showing off their projects at this weekend's Maker Faire conference in Silicon Valley.

We'll describe an industry where the management of simple tasks and goals is just maybe paving the way for the grand visions of science fiction. But first, the floors need to be cleaned.

Article continues on at - http://news.cnet.com/Look-out,-Rover.-Robots-are-mans-new-best-friend/2009-11394_3-6249689.html?tag=nl.e703

E-Waste Buildup Will Plateau by 2015

2009-05-09T13:44:00.000-06:00

May 6, 2009 8:44 AM PDT
Study: E-waste build-up will plateau by 2015
by Candace Lombardi (Credit: Pike Research)

The contribution to landfills from electronics will actually escalate until about 2015, but good news will follow, according to a report released Wednesday by Pike Research.
So-called e-waste will reach a global volume of 73 million metric tons by 2015, then begin to decline in the years following as recycling initiatives and practices catch up to the rate of the production of electronic goods, according to the report called "Electronics Recycling and E-Waste Issues."

The prediction is the firm's own forecast based on the premise that companies and governments worldwide will continue and expand current recycling programs and initiatives--a practice Pike Research said will likely continue now that public awareness of the effects of e-waste dumping have been brought to light.
The report found that the efforts of nonprofit groups and the media to expose the effects of e-waste dumping have influenced original equipment manufacturers and recyclers worldwide to make an effort to clean up their act.
Pike Research touted the following companies as responsible leaders when it comes to recycling e-waste: Cisco, Dell, HP, Motorola, Nokia, Research In Motion, Sprint Nextel, and Vodafone.

It blamed low consumer effort to recycle old stuff as part of the problem, as well the dumping of e-waste in developing countries.

"Consumers have few incentives to reuse or recycle used electronics equipment. In most countries, it is still too easy and relatively inexpensive to throw e-waste in the trash. An optimistic estimate of average recycle rates is about 15 percent. Inconsistent legislation, minimal controls on the recyclers, and little enforcement has also led to widespread and inappropriate dumping of e-waste in developing countries," the report said.
Candace Lombardi is a journalist who divides her time between the U.S. and the U.K. Whether it's cars, robots, personal gadgets, or industrial machines, she enjoys examining the moving parts that keep our world rotating. Email her at CandaceLombardi@gmail.com. She is a member of the CNET Blog Network and is not a current employee of CNET.

Archaeologists find earliest known domestic horses

2009-03-07T20:47:00.000-07:00

Archaeologists find earliest known domestic horses

14 Steps To Greener IT

2009-01-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

Also, see 14 Steps to Greener IT. More great resources for enterprise decision-makers:
Gartner shares data center efficiency secrets: These 11 tips will help you slash your data center power bills.
Saving power with computational fluid dynamics: Long used to optimize air cooling systems, CFD is now helping to slash data center power bills too.
Streamlining data center virtualization: Avoiding common stumbling blocks can improve your odds of finishing virtualization rollouts on time.
Plus, read all about how the Dell PowerEdge R905 and its AMD Opteron processors took home the coveted InfoWorld magazine Technology of the Year award for best virtualization server! Visit us regularly at www.accelerateresults.com. New content is available every week.

The Green IT Advantage

2009-01-29T17:48:00.000-07:00

January 26, 2009
The green advantage
By Geoffrey James

Green IT is about more than saving money.
Email to a friend

The benefits for companies that have initiated green it initiatives has expanded considerably over the past few years.

While at first companies looked at the potential cost savings of instituting ways to save energy, CIOs and C-level executives realized that taking actions to help protect the environment resulted in valuable benefits to the company overall. These companies haven’t just raised their energy efficiencies, they’ve also managed to turn green IT into a key element of their corporate strategy. In doing so, they’ve achieved several competitive advantages.

Competitive Advantage 1:
Improved Employee Productivity
Many employees are skeptical of cost-saving initiatives, particularly when top management foists them on the workforce. Green IT, by contrast, resonates with employees who are concerned about global warming and environmental degradation.
“By deciding to become a leader in green IT, you’re tapping into a deep desire people have to change the world in a positive way,” points out Martin Hingley, chief research officer at the market research firm IDC.

For example, Cadence Design Systems, a $1.6-billion-a-year software developer, has had green initiatives in place for five years and has even hired a “green architect” to help define future phases of its green initiatives. This ongoing focus on green issues has, based on his own observations, had a positive effect on morale and hence on productivity, says Dan Salisbury, the company’s corporate vice president of global IT.
“People feel better working in a company that has a social conscience and is contributing to the betterment of the human race,” he explains.
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Get Solar Panels Without Extra Bills

2008-12-09T02:01:00.000-07:00

From: , Low Impact Living, More from this Affiliate Published December 8, 2008 09:25 AM

Get Solar Panels Without Dealing with Extra Bills

Going solar seems to get easier by the day — both logistically and financially. Before, homeowners had to save up to pay the huge upfront cost of buying and installing solar panels. Now, would-be solar energy users don’t need to put up startup funds — nor do they even have to deal with an extra repayment bill!

The latest company making solar power accessible is Renewable Funding, a financial company with a new solar-friendly product called CityFIRST. CityFIRST basically allows homeowners to install solar panels with no upfront cost — using a solar installer or contractor of their choice — then pay for panels over 20 years via a line item on property tax bills.

To make this plan work, the city you live in has to work with Renewable Funding to offer this service. Berkeley’s already signed up! Renewable Funding works to educate and recruit city residents who want to go solar, then via “a unique bond transaction with the City,”� will let those solar-friendly residents pay for solar panels incrementally on their property tax bills. In many cases, the utility bill savings from the solar installation will be enough to recoup most of the installment payment for the solar panels themselves.

As evidenced by Berkeley’s embrace of this new financing strategy for solar power, solar energy’s especially popular in California. The NorCal Solar Energy Association, a nonprofit, solar education group, recently released a study showing that Californians purchased more than $2.1 billion in solar electric technology between 1998-2007. The trend’s even more noticeable if you look specifically at Northern California. As The NorCal Solar Energy Association observes: “In the Bay Area, there are 11,563 solar projects - built at a cost of $746 million — producing more than 84 megawatts of electricity according to the new report that includes all installations as of December, 31, 2007.”�

Interested in solar panels? Newbies can learn about how home solar systems work here. Then read our posts about power-purchase agreements and new solar-friendly tax credits to find out if alternative energy’s a viable option for you. Or to find a solar installer near you, click here

IBM Harvard Want Your PC For Solar Study

2008-12-09T01:58:00.000-07:00

December 8, 2008 08:54 AM

IBM, Harvard want your PC for solar power study

By Matt Daily

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Scientists at Harvard University and IBM are hoping to harness the power of a million idle computers to develop a new, cheaper form of solar power that could revolutionize the green energy world.

Researchers have launched the project using IBM's World Community Grid, which taps into volunteers' computers across the globe to run calculations on a myriad of compounds -- potentially shortening a project that could take 22 years to just two years.

Pipelines race out of the mountains; into yards

2008-12-01T12:36:00.000-07:00

Pipelines race out of the mountains; into yards
December 1, 2008 11:34 AM ET

DENVER (AP) - Massive infrastructure projects expected to help deliver energy independence have clashed with cherished rights of land ownership.
The bulk of the new natural gas supply is in the energy-rich Rockies and Texas, but landowners including a Midwestern horse farm and a family vineyard in Yamhill, Ore., are worried about leaks into water and soil, land damaged by construction, land lost to a right of way and, in some cases, loss of livelihood.
More than 20,000 miles of new natural gas pipelines have been built and brought on line in the last 10 years.

The behemoth of the new pipelines is the $4 billion Rockies Express. Construction began two years ago about 160 miles northwest of Denver.
It's expected to reach Clarington, Ohio, by next summer.
According to the Energy Information Administration, about 200 projects have been proposed to add 10,100 more miles of pipeline between 2008 and 2010.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.

Clouds of Pollution Block Sunlight

2008-11-26T16:20:00.000-07:00

Clouds of Pollution Block Sunlight

November 25, 2008 By: GLOBE-Net

The sun is fading above cities around the world as thick clouds of pollution prevent its rays from reaching the ground, says a new report by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). The dirty brown haze, sometimes three-kilometers thick, stretches from the Arabian Peninsula to China and the western Pacific Ocean.

Click link above for full story.

Pesticides More Dangerous Than Thought

2008-11-26T13:30:00.000-07:00

Pesticides More Dangerous Than Thought
UPI, November 13, 2008 Straight to the Source

PITTSBURGH, Nov. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. scientists studying 10 of the world's most popular approved pesticides say, when combined, the chemicals caused 99 percent mortality in tadpoles.
University of Pittsburgh researchers said the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency-approved pesticides, when mixed together, can decimate amphibian populations even if the concentration of the individual chemicals is within limits considered safe.

Such "cocktails of contaminants" are frequently detected in nature, the scientists said, noting their findings offer the first illustration of how a large mixture of pesticides can adversely impact the environment.

Associate Professor Rick Relyea, the study's lead author, exposed gray tree frog and leopard frog tadpoles to small amounts of the 10 pesticides -- insecticides carbaryl, chlorpyrifos, diazinon, endosulfan, and malathion, as well as five herbicides: acetochlor, atrazine, glyphosate, metolachlor, and 2,4-D.

He used each of the pesticides alone, the insecticides combined, a mix of the five herbicides, or all 10 of the poisons. Relyea found a mixture of all 10 chemicals killed 99 percent of leopard frog tadpoles, as did the insecticide-only mixture. The study is detailed in the online edition of the journal Oecologia.
Read full study here.
© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

E.P.A. Issues New Engine Rules

2008-09-05T14:46:00.000-06:00

September 5, 2008 09:03 AM
E.P.A. Issues New Engine Rules

WASHINGTON — Announcing what it called new “surf and turf” standards, the Environmental Protection Agency on Thursday set stricter antipollution rules for engines that run pleasure boats, lawn mowers and weed trimmers.

The agency said the rules would take effect in 2011 for lawn and garden equipment of 25 horsepower or less, and in 2010 for a wide range of inboard and outboard boat engines. Meeting the requirements will probably mean that catalytic converters, standard in modern cars, will become commonplace in lawn-equipment and boat engines.

As if to head off any notion that it is just not worth the trouble to make boats, mowers and weed trimmers cleaner to run, the agency’s administrator, Stephen L. Johnson, offered some attention-getting estimates.
Article Continues: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/05/washington/05mowers.html

Name The Problem To Solve It

2008-08-15T23:25:00.000-06:00

Naming the Problem in Order to Solve It
By Brad Allenby

Framing the environmental challenges that we face as simply as possible allows people to act, even if ineffectually; frame it as the complex adaptive system that it is, and ...

Green Funerals

2008-08-15T23:22:00.000-06:00

Lessons from Deathcare: The Greening of the American Funeral Home

By Andrew WhitakerPublished: July 28, 2008
Unlikely as it may seem, the obstacles, benefits and opportunities encountered in the greening of the funeral home business offers take-aways applicable to making change happen in any industry.

How Banking Became Green

2008-08-15T23:19:00.000-06:00

How Banking Became Green
By Victoria Pennington, BusinessGreen

Why the risks posed by environmental issues and climate change are similar in nature to those of the subprime crisis.

GreenBiz Resources

2008-08-15T23:08:00.000-06:00

GreenBiz is an information resource on how to align environmental responsibility with business success. They provide valuable news and resources to large and small businesses through a combination of Web sites, workshops, daily news feeds, electronic newsletters, and briefing papers.

Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability

2008-08-15T22:53:00.000-06:00

This wiki is a collaborative platform for writing a thesis for a Master's course on Strategic Leadership Towards Sustainability.

Thesis was presented May 26th - 9AM at BTH - Karlskrona, Sweden - Click here to check the final presentation on Youtube
You're invited to read the paper before watching the presentation.

You can download the final paper here.

Keywords of this thesis are Strategic Sustainable Development and Cradle to Cradle. Our main research question is: How can an organization plan strategically using the cradle-to-cradle concept?

Wind Turbine Maker Adding 1,000 Colorado Jobs

2008-08-15T16:15:00.000-06:00

Wind turbine maker Vestas adding 1,000 Colo. jobs

Associated Press - August 15, 2008 10:24 AM ET
DENVER (AP) - Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter says wind turbine manufacturer Vestas will add 1,000 jobs in the state.

Ritter scheduled a news conference for Friday to give the details.
Denmark-based Vestas Wind Systems currently employs about 200 people at a plant in Windsor, 50 miles north of Denver, producing wind turbine blades. The operation is expected to have 650 workers when it reaches full production.

Wind Energy Legislative Action Website

2008-08-15T15:49:00.000-06:00

Interested in Wind Power and the Pickens Plan? Write your represenatives by using the AWEA.org site.

Encyclopedia of Alternative & Sustainable Energy

2008-08-15T15:32:00.001-06:00

Check out the Encyclopedia of Alternative and Sustainable Energy at - http://www.daviddarling.info/encyclopedia/AEmain.html

There are plenty of links and lots of good information availble on this site.

Backing Solar Cells with Cotton & Castor Beans

2008-08-14T14:24:00.000-06:00

Backing solar cells with cotton, castor beans
Posted by Elsa Wenzel 4 comments - August 12, 2008

BioSolar has developed a plant-based plastic for making durable, less expensive, and more sustainable solar equipment, the 2-year-old company said Tuesday.
The company's BioBacksheet is a protective coating for crystalline silicon photovoltaic cells. Its material consists of layers of cotton fiber and a nylon resin from castor beans provided by Arkema, a Philadelphia chemicals company. Genetically modified crops aren't involved, according to BioSolar.

Castor beans and cotton make up the backing of this solar cell.(Credit: BioSolar)
Unlike many plant-based plastics, which are ideal for throwaway forks and food packaging, BioSolar's material is supposed to withstand extreme temperatures and moisture, keeping solar photovoltaic equipment safe when exposed to the elements. The company, based north of Los Angeles in Santa Clarita, aims to develop thin-film solar applications down the road.
Stan Levy, chief technology officer of BioSolar, was set to release details about the use of cotton and castor beans in BioBacksheet on Tuesday morning at the SPIE Symposium on Solar Applications and Energy in San Diego. "Not only is this product produced from sustainable and renewable resources, but is expected to be more cost effective than the current backsheets," Levy said in a statement.

If he's correct, then BioBacksheet could serve as an alternative to DuPont's Tedlar brand material, which is composed of polyvinyl fluoride. In July, DuPont Photovoltaic Fluoromaterials said it created one-step production of the polymer, licensing the technology to Tokyo-based Toppan Printing for commercialization within photovoltaic backsheets by 2010.
Small makers of solar cells reportedly have been waiting as long as six months for Tedlar, which is in short supply.

Silicon solar backsheets also use polyesther and ethylene-vinyl acetate. BioSolar's executives hope that rising costs for fossil fuels and concerns about the toxicity of petroleum-based plastics will drive solar equipment makers to consider its product.

Free Is Good

2008-08-11T22:02:00.000-06:00

Free Is Good

Give and Get Cool Things For Free!

What is a reuse group?
It's not a charity or a business: It's an idea that perfectly good used stuff deserves a home other than the landfill. Instead of throwing out things like furniture, dishes, bikes, and electronics, people in a reuse group give these items away for free to other people in their community who can use them.

Find a local reuse group.

BigBelly Solar Trash Receptacle

2008-08-11T19:29:00.000-06:00

BigBelly Solar Trash Receptacle

Upon first glance you may think that a solar trash can is an extravagance municipalities can certainly do without, but perhaps we need to take a closer look. The BigBelly is a self-powered compacting trash receptacle. Instead of drawing electricity from the power grid this trash can uses solar power for 100% of its energy. From the company: “The unit takes up as much space as the ”˜footprint’ of an ordinary receptacle—but its capacity is five times greater. Increased capacity reduces collection trips and can cut fuel use and greenhouse gas emissions by 80%. BigBelly also provides cost efficiencies from labor savings, fuel cost and maintenance savings, as well as environmental benefits from reduced emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.”

Solar Powered Air Conditioner

2008-08-11T19:21:00.000-06:00

Solar Powered Air Conditioner Released

A company called GreenCore Air has released an air conditioner than can be powered by a single 170 watt solar panel. The GreenCore air conditioning unit can heat and cool a 600 square foot room. It runs on DC power, so there is no need to put an AC inverter between the solar panel and the air conditioner. This eliminates the power losses associated with converting AC to DC.

Arctic Could Be Ice Free By 2013?!

2008-08-11T14:52:00.000-06:00

From: http://www.guardian.co.uk
Published August 11, 2008 11:02 AM
Meltdown in the Arctic is speeding up

Ice at the North Pole melted at an unprecedented rate last week, with leading scientists warning that the Arctic could be ice-free in summer by 2013.
Satellite images show that ice caps started to disintegrate dramatically several days ago as storms over Alaska's Beaufort Sea began sucking streams of warm air into the Arctic.

As a result, scientists say that the disappearance of sea ice at the North Pole could exceed last year's record loss. More than a million square kilometres melted over the summer of 2007 as global warming tightened its grip on the Arctic. But such destruction could now be matched, or even topped, this year.

'It is a neck-and-neck race between 2007 and this year over the issue of ice loss,' said Mark Serreze, of the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre in Boulder, Colorado. 'We thought Arctic ice cover might recover after last year's unprecedented melting - and indeed the picture didn't look too bad last month. Cover was significantly below normal, but at least it was up on last year.

Article Continues: http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/aug/10/climatechange.arctic

The Pickens Plan - Do Everyone A Favor, Sign Up!

2008-08-11T14:49:00.000-06:00

From: Reuters Published May 15, 2008 09:02 AM
Pickens' Mesa Power orders GE wind turbines

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil investor T. Boone Pickens' Mesa Power LLP said on Thursday it ordered 667 wind turbines from General Electric Co as part of the $2 billion first phase of a planned Texas wind farm. It said the turbine order was the world's largest for a single-site wind power development. The 667 turbines are capable of generating 1,000 megawatts of electricity, enough to power more than 300,000 average U.S. homes, Mesa said in a release.

The four-phase Pampa Wind Project would be the world's largest wind energy generator, with more than 4,000 megawatts of electricity, enough for 1.3 million homes, when completed in 2014, Mesa said.

GE will deliver the 1.5-megawatt wind turbines in 2010 and 2011 to the site in the Texas Panhandle, which has been one of the fastest growing wind power producing regions in the nation over the past decade because of its strong, steady winds. Upon completion, the Pampa project will grow to more than 2,500 turbines, Pickens said. "It will be about $8 billion in wind turbines and $2 billion in transmission (lines). It will probably be over $10 billion," he told CNBC.

(Reporting by Matt Daily, editing by Gerald E. McCormick and Derek Caney)

For More Information See - The Pickens Plan

Anti-Noise Silences Wind Turbines

2008-08-11T14:46:00.000-06:00

From: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft Published August 11, 2008 11:35 AM
'Anti-noise' silences wind turbines

If wind energy converters are located anywhere near a residential area, they must never become too noisy even in high winds. Most such power units try to go easy on their neighbors' ears, but even the most careful design cannot prevent noise from arising at times: One source is the motion of the rotor blades, another is the cogwheels that produce vibrations in the gearbox. These are relayed to the tower of the wind turbine, where they are emitted across a wide area — and what the residents hear is a humming noise. "People find these monotone sounds particularly unpleasant, rather like the whining of a mosquito," says André Illgen, a research associate at the Fraunhofer Institute for Machine Tools and Forming Technology IWU in Dresden.

If the wind energy converters hum too loudly, they are only permitted to operate under partial load: They rotate at a slower speed and generate less electricity. In some cases the operators have to install additional damping systems or even replace the gearbox — an expensive business. However, the effectiveness of the passive damping systems used until now is somewhat limited: They only absorb noise at a certain frequency. Since modern wind energy converters adapt their rotational speed to the wind velocity in order to generate as much electricity as possible, however, the frequency of the humming sound also varies. Despite noise attenuation measures, humming noises penetrate the surrounding area.

In a joint project with colleagues from Schirmer GmbH, ESM Energie- and Schwingungstechnik Mitsch GmbH and the Dr. Ziegler engineering office, IWU researchers have developed an active damping system for wind turbines. The project is being funded by the "Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt". "These systems react autonomously to any change in frequency and damp the noise — regardless of how fast the wind generator is turning," says Illgen. The key components of this system are piezo actuators. These devices convert electric current into mechanical motion and generate "negative vibrations", or a kind of anti-noise that precisely counteracts the vibrations of the wind turbine and cancels them out. The piezo actuators are mounted on the gearbox bearings that connect the gearbox to the pylon. But how do these piezo actuators adjust themselves to the respective noise frequencies? "We have integrated sensors into the system. They constantly measure the vibrations arising in the gearbox, and pass on the results to the actuator control system," says Illgen. The researchers have already developed a working model of the active vibration dampers, and their next step will be to perform field trials.

U.S. World Leader In Wind Power

2008-08-11T14:40:00.001-06:00

US now world leader in wind power production

US wind capacity is expected to increase 45% in 2008 although Congress' failure to extend the production tax credit (PTC) for the renewable energy industry threatens to derail further development, according to the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA).

5 Tips To Limit Cell Phone Risk

2008-08-10T17:26:00.000-06:00

5 tips to limit your cell phone risk

See Video Clip - http://www.cnn.com/2008/HEALTH/07/31/ep.cell.phones.cancer/index.html#cnnSTCVideo
By Elizabeth CohenCNN Medical Correspondent

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- "I hope you're talking to me on a speakerphone," Devra Davis barks at me when I call her on my cell phone. "You'd better not be holding that phone up to your head."

Cell phones do emit radiation. No one knows definitively whether it's enough to worry about.

Indeed, I'm not. This is a good thing, because you don't want to get into an argument with Davis on this subject. She's the director of the University of Pittsburgh's Center for Environmental Oncology, and her group recently put out recommendations that we should be using a speakerphone or ear piece. The report says children, who have thinner skulls and developing brains, should use cell phones only in case of emergency. And heaven forbid anyone should carry a cell phone in a pocket or clipped to a belt. "You're just roasting your bone marrow," Davis said.

Oh, boy. Another thing to worry about. Or maybe Davis is an alarmist. It's so hard to tell. Although there are many large studies showing no connection between mobile phones and cancer, there are a few that do. As Davis puts it, do you really want to play Russian roulette with your head? Explainer: Radiation fields and the brain » But if you do buy the cellphones-cause-cancer argument, you have to figure out the best way to talk on a cell phone, seeing as how most of us can't live without them. Should you use the wired headset that came with your phone? A Bluetooth earpiece? iReport.com: Does your kid have a cell phone?
Don't Miss
Cancer expert warns staff on cell phone use
In Depth: Empowered Patient

I embarked on a journey this past week to answer these questions and at many points have been very sorry I did. This is the mother of all "the jury is still out" issues.
Cell phones have been wildly popular for only a matter of years, and it can take at least a decade for cancers to show up. Studies contradict each other, and scientists bicker: Some will tell you with great conviction that there's nothing to worry about. Others will tell you with equal conviction that an epidemic of brain tumors may be just around the corner.
The cell phone industry itself says "the overwhelming majority of studies that have been published in scientific journals around the globe show that wireless phones do not pose a health risk." You can watch the experts go at it on "Larry King Live" » this week.

So what are we all to do until they figure it out? After enough interviews with physicists, engineers and doctors to make me want to stick my head in a microwave oven, one common line of reasoning emerged. Cell phones do emit radiation. No one knows definitively whether it's enough to worry about. Mobile phones meet federal safety limits, but if you're still worried, there are some simple steps you can take to lower your exposure to radiation. Watch more on limiting your risk »

1. Use the speakerphone
This was, without question, the favorite alternative of the experts I talked to. Nothing is near your head. "Hold it away from a minimum of a few inches. A foot or two is ideal," said Magda Havas, an associate professor with the Institute for Health Studies at Trent University in Ontario, Canada. Havas gives me a little math lesson. Every inch you can get away from your body, the radiation reduces very quickly. "Hold it out two inches, and the radiation drops by a factor of four. Hold it out four inches, and it drops by a factor of 16," she says.
In other words, said Louis Slesin, editor of Microwave News, "every millimeter counts."

2. Use a wired headset with a ferrite bead
No, this is not a piece of jewelry. A ferrite bead is a clip you put on the wire of a headset. The concern is that the wire itself emits radiation into your ear. The bead is designed to absorb the radiation so you don't. They're inexpensive and available at stores or online.
These clips are a favorite of Slesin's. "It's the way to go," he said. Another fan: Lawrie Challis, physicist and former chair of the Mobile Telecommunications and Health Research Programme, a government panel in Britain. "They did tests at the University of York and found that under even the worst conditions, if you use a ferrite bead, you can't even measure the radiation coming off the wire. This common device kills the radiation."

Of course, if the phone is in your pocket or clipped to your belt, all bets are off, because the phone itself will be radiating into your body. So if you're worried about radiation, keep the phone as far away as possible, and Challis adds to do your best to make sure the wire isn't touching your body.

3. Use a Bluetooth earpiece
A Bluetooth earpiece still has radiation, but it's at least 100 times less than the radiation you get when you hold a cell phone to your head, Havas says.

Our experts were split on which was better: a Bluetooth headset or a wired one. Israeli government recommendations issued this week specifically suggest a wire; Havas likes the Bluetooth. But even she says not to wear it when you're not talking; it still sends out a signal.
"Bluetooth is only whispering radiation into your ear. The problem is, some people wear it all the time," she says. "At the very least, switch it from ear to ear so you don't have too much exposure on one side." Michael Foley, Ph.D., executive director of the Bluetooth Special Interest Group, says Bluetooth earpieces radiate 200 times less energy than cell phones. "There is no evidence that a Bluetooth headset has any adverse effects on its users," he said.

4. Use a "hollow tube" earpiece
It's just like a regular wired earpiece, except the last six inches or so -- the part next to your ear -- is a hollow tube. There's no wire under the plastic.

Health Library
MayoClinic.com: Health Library
"You're getting the sound through the air. You're not dependent on radiofrequency waves," said Dr. David Carpenter, director of the Institute for Health and the Environment at the University of Albany. Hollow tube earpieces can be purchased on several Web sites.

5. Get a phone with less radiation
Phone radiation is measured in specific absorption rate, or SAR. To look up the SAR for your phone, check this list on CNET.com.

You might think the experts mentioned above all use earpieces or a speakerphone. Not so. Several said they hold it right up to their heads because they use their cells so infrequently, they're not worried about radiation."I use it maybe once or twice a week, no more than 10 minutes," said Challis, the former head of the British committee that studied cell phones and radiation. "I use a land line whenever I can."

It's the exposure, day after day, year after year, that matters. As Challis, who's retired, puts it, "If I were younger, I'd take this much more seriously."

Drug Prices Up 100% Or Higher

2008-08-10T17:23:00.000-06:00

Drug Prices Up 100% - or Higher
JULIE APPLEBY - USA TODAY

Yet another effect of having an illness-profit industry and not a national health care infrastructure.

Drug companies are quietly pushing through price hikes of 100% - or even more than 1,000% - for a very small but growing number of prescription drugs, helping to drive up costs for insurers, patients and government programs.

The number of brand-name drugs with increases of 100% or more could double this year from four years ago, researchers from the University of Minnesota say. Many of the drugs are older products that treat fairly rare, but often serious or even life-threatening, conditions.Among the examples: Questcor Pharmaceuticals last August raised the wholesale price on Acthar, which treats spasms in babies, from about $1,650 a vial to more than $23,000. Ovation raised the cost of Cosmegen, which treats a type of tumor, from $16.79 to $593.75 in January 2006.The average wholesale price of 26 brand-name drugs jumped 100% or more in a single cost adjustment last year, up from 15 in 2004, the university study found.

In the first half of this year, 17 drugs made the list."This does drive up the price of health care," says Alan Goldbloom, president of Children's Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota. "Hospitals are either eating the cost or passing it along to insurers, so you and I are paying it in increased premiums."Some of the drugs are administered in hospitals, which bill insurers, patients or government programs for them. Insured patients pay either a flat dollar amount, such as $20, or a percentage of the drug's cost.Last year, prices rose about 7.4% on average for 1,344 brand-name drugs, according to Express Scripts, which manages drug benefits for large employers and insurers.

Reasons for the larger increases are varied, researchers say."There's no simple explanation," says Stephen Schondelmeyer, director of the PRIME Institute at the University of Minnesota, which studies drug industry economics. "Some companies seem to figure no one is watching so they can get away with it."The price increases are drawing legal and political scrutiny:In a decision awaiting approval by the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, drugmaker Abbott agreed last week to pay up to $27.5 million to settle a lawsuit over a 400% price increase on its HIV/AIDS drug Norvir. Settlement did not lower the price.Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., asked the Government Accountability Office last week to investigate large price hikes. Klobuchar asked the Federal Trade Commission in April to investigate Ovation Pharmaceuticals, which raised prices on four drugs in 2006 by up to 3,436%.Drug companies say the price hikes cover the costs of keeping the drugs on the market. They say the drugs are often less costly than alternative treatments, such as surgery or newer, high-tech medicines.

Questcor says on its website that it had to raise Acthar's price after struggling for years to "keep (it) financially viable."Ovation says it needed to cover its 2005 purchase of the drugs and facility upgrades. "We feel we made an important investment in keeping these older products alive," says spokeswoman Sally Benjamin Young.

Five Fuel-Saving Technologies

2008-08-10T17:19:00.000-06:00

Five Fuel-Saving Technologies
Car and Driver: Explaining the latest breakthroughs that will help your car squeeze the most miles from every gallon.

August 2008
The 100th anniversary of the Ford Model T is coming up. The fundamentals of the car, including the internal combustion engines that power most of them, have changed very little as far as their basic operations are concerned. An explosion happens in a cylinder, forcing a piston downward, that in turn spins a crankshaft mated to a transmission that spins a driveshaft that turns the wheels.

This is not to say advancement has not been drastic. Four-cylinder engines have gone from making 20 horsepower to more than 250—all while being more efficient and cleaner. New engine designs and advanced technologies make this possible, but all the technobabble can make things more than a little confusing for many folks. How are you supposed to know what a salesman means when he says the car he is trying to put you in is a direct-injected, turbocharged inline-four with variable valve timing, or has a clean diesel, or is capable of variable displacement?

Automobiles are hugely complex machines when viewed as a whole, but individual systems and parts are often governed by a few relatively simple principles. If you take your time and don’t allow yourself to get intimidated, you might be surprised by what you can understand.
Read on for the basics on some current engine technologies that help make more power and improve efficiency.

Clean Diesel
Despite their far superior fuel economy, diesel cars have never been a popular choice in the U.S. That’s because the first time diesel cars came to our shores in any real numbers, they rightfully earned a reputation as loud, stinky, slow machines. Since then, diesel technology has progressed greatly. No longer the compromises they once were, diesel cars are poised to make a comeback in the U.S., although diesel fuel’s price premium might limit their appeal. Soon, many manufacturers will offer a diesel alternative for U.S. buyers, but without the noise, stink, or sluggishness. Even the Car and Driver favorite BMW 3-series will offer a diesel engine for 2009.

Old diesels produced exhaust fumes with significant amounts of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) and particulate matter (exhaust dust, or soot). The latest diesel catalysts successfully reduce NOx levels, making new diesels some of the cleanest cars on the road. A second device, known as a particulate trap, takes care of the airborne dust. The use of ultra-low-sulfur diesel fuel that the federal government now mandates also contributes to diesels cleaning up their act.

Direct Injection
Direct injection is not new to the automotive world, only new to gasoline engines for the masses. It has been the standard in diesel engines for some time. It differs from standard fuel injection, a.k.a. port injection, by injecting fuel directly into each of the already air-filled cylinders. Port-injected engines mix the air and fuel in the intake manifold—if the engine is the car’s lungs, think of the intake manifold as the mouth. Direct injection improves fuel efficiency and will generally yield more power when compared with a port-injected engine of similar displacement and design.

Fuel efficiency is improved because the system can more precisely regulate how much fuel is needed at any given time and can account for the minute differences among the individual cylinders. For example, if an engine is under light load (cruising on level ground or at idle), the injectors will wait until the last possible moment and inject a relatively small amount of fuel. Less fuel used equals greater efficiency.

At the other end of the spectrum is the power advantage. The direct-injected gasoline actually has a cooling effect on the cylinder, and engines breathing cooler air can make more power.

Blue LEDs Could Be Costing You Sleep

2008-08-10T17:15:00.000-06:00

Blue LEDs could be costing you sleep
by Doug Osborne posted on July 31, 2008 8:31 am

It’s not uncommon for many of us to have several electronic gadgets sitting on the nightstand right next to us while we sleep in bed. As it turns out though, those same brightly lit gizmos could be costing us a good night’s sleep, especially if those devices have blue LEDs in them. It seems a discovery made by scientists indicate that blue light on the eye does more to the body, than just looking blue.

The scientific discovery indicates that there is a sensitive layer on the eye unrelated to the part that is used for vision. This layer sends signals to the body which affects alertness, the daily cycle of consciousness and the need to sleep for everyone. It turns out that blue spectrum of light is the most sensitive on that area of the eye and can trick the mind into thinking it is time to be awake instead of sleeping.

This discovery could be beneficial in other areas as well. One research project at the Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia is looking to see if blue light can be used to help keep astronauts more attentive during missions. Another project going on at the Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute’s Lighting Research Center in New York is working with blue light to see if it can be used to aid crews on submarines in adjusting their watch schedules.

As for your gadgets that have blue LEDs in them? For more solid ZZZ’s each night, perhaps it is a good idea to put them in another part of the bedroom and not on the nightstand.
Read more at MSNBC.

Tech Recycling for The Upgrade-Happy

2008-08-10T17:12:00.000-06:00

August 8, 2008 1:39 PM PDT
TechForward: Tech recycling for the upgrade-happy
Posted by Martin LaMonica 1 comment

As people buy more electronic stuff, there's growing concern over hazardous electronic waste. A number of new companies are trying to keep that gear from fouling up landfills--and make a buck while doing it.

TechForward's spin on electronic recycling is getting consumers to think ahead and plan on returning their gadgets for resale.

The business model of the 3-year-old company, based in Los Angeles, is to sell consumers a buy-back deal at the point of sale. So when you buy a shiny new iPod or digital camera, you can plan on selling it back in two years. TechForward has devised algorithms that figure out how much a product will be worth. A consumer can decide to sell something back sooner for more money as well.

It makes most sense for people who expect to upgrade to a newer model within a year or two and want to see these goods recycled. "We saw an opportunity to help people be more environmentally responsible and still get the latest and greatest technology," said Jade Van Doren, the CEO. If a product has no commercial value, then TechForward will recycle it in "an environmentally responsible way."

To make its buy-back service available to consumers as they purchase electronics, the company is planning on announcing a partnership with a large regional retailer and a national retailer in the next two months, Van Doren said. The company has raised two rounds of venture funding in the past year and a half. TechForward has also started a trade association called Ownership 2.0 with other companies based on subscription-based services or temporary ownership models, like temporarily owning textbooks.

The TechForward buy-back program--like the electronics repurchasing service Gazelle--relies on the assumption that most consumers are not comfortable selling their individual gadgets themselves on eBay.

Since it's trying to sell to purchasers of new products, TechForward will be reselling goods from its customers, rather than actually breaking them down into their component parts.
But extending the life of an electronic gadget, rather than having it lie in a drawer and eventually be thrown in the trash is a good outcome from an environmental point of view, said Van Doren and co-founder Marc Lebovitz who is vice president of operations.
Also, making money in recycling is difficult, which means that there aren't many businesses competing to offer ways to responsibly dispose of electronics.

"If you're just doing recycling, it's a tough business to be in for profit. You're not creating a tremendous amount of value and you're moving around heavy devices with (big) shipping costs," Lebovitz said.

Topics:
Green IT,
Waste and Recycling

Dutch Paving Stones Clean Air Pollution

2008-08-10T16:55:00.000-06:00

August 10, 2008 6:57 AM PDT
Dutch paving stones clean air pollution
Posted by Martin LaMonica 1 comment

A Dutch University will see if chemically tricked-out paving stones can clean the air.
The University of Twente (UT) has devised a concrete capable of converting the nitrogen oxide from car exhaust--the source of smog and acid rain--into a nitrate, another chemical that will wash away in the rain.

Green chemistry: how green bricks convert nitrogen oxide air pollution into nitrates with the sun.(Credit: University of Twente)

When fertilizers are applied heavily, high levels of nitrates can enter the soil or water and be toxic to humans or livestock. The University of Twente said that the nitrate production from its paving stones will be "harmless."

The researchers came up with the air-purifying paving stones by tapping the properties of titanium dioxide, a chemical that catalyzes chemical reactions when exposed to light.

The top layer of the University of Twente paving stones contains the material mixed with concrete. So when sun shines, smog-producing pollutants will convert into nitrates and then wash away, keeping the stones surface clean in the process.
The university received a sustainability grant to test its invention in the municipality of Hengelo.

By the end of this year, researchers expect to complete construction of a road where one side is built with the specially coated paving stones. The other half will have tradition materials.
The results of how much the stones reduce air pollution should be ready by next year. If successful, the tests could be expanded further, the university said.
It's not the first time that the Dutch have been inventive with road construction. A civil engineering firm has devised a paving technique to absorb heat from asphalt to melt ice and heat neighboring buildings.

Topics:
Environment,
Green buildings

Uranimum Field Expansion In Colorado Challenged

2008-08-09T14:56:00.000-06:00

42-Square-Mile Federal Uranium Program Challenged

By: Center for Biological DiversityA coalition of conservation groups filed suit in federal court Thursday, challenging the Department of Energy's decision to vastly expand its uranium mining program on 42 square miles of public land near the spectacular Dolores River Canyon, a tributary to the Colorado River in southwest Colorado

More Cities Join National Park(ing) Day

2008-08-09T14:53:00.001-06:00

More Cities Join National Park(ing) Day

By: Trust for Public LandSeveral additional cities across America will gain temporary new downtown parks for a few hours next month because of a public project sponsored by The Trust for Public Land (TPL), a national conservation nonprofit.

U.N. To Tighten Rules On Caron Offsets

2008-08-09T14:50:00.000-06:00

U.N. to tighten rules on earning carbon offsets

The U.N.'s climate change agency on proposed to make it more difficult for speculators to earn carbon offsets from emissions-cutting projects which were already profitable.

Greenest Notebook Computers of 2008

2008-08-09T14:49:00.000-06:00

The Greenest Notebook Computers Of 2008

Earlier this week, we reviewed the greenest desktop computers, so now let’s take a look at the greenest notebooks! Notebooks are typically much more energy efficient than desktops. They are, however, no greener than desktops in other regards — they typically contain the same hazardous components, and they are not easily recycled.

MIT Splits Water Molecules

2008-08-09T03:06:00.000-06:00

MIT has developed a simple method to split water molecules and produce oxygen gas, a discovery that paves the way for large-scale use of solar power:

http://www.flixxy.com/solar-energy.htm

Microsoft Develops Energy Efficent LCDs

2008-08-09T03:02:00.000-06:00

Microsoft Ups Ante on Energy-Efficient LCDs

Microsoft researchers have developed a new liquid crystal display (LCD) technology that's three times more energy efficient than current designs. Read more...

Bulrush Plant Packaging Cradle 2 Cradle

2008-08-09T02:59:00.000-06:00

First Food Packaging Earns *Cradle to Cradle* Certification

A line of food packaging made from the bulrush plant has become the first in its category to earn Cradle to Cradle certification for its sustainable design. Read more...

Fieldbook To Sustainablity - PDF

2008-08-09T02:55:00.000-06:00

Think Big...But Take Small Steps, Too

Fieldbook to Sustainability [download it here (PDF)], offering pragmatic suggestions for incorporatin sustainable thinking in to every day design. His message to participants? Big ideas can change the world - but they can also be paralyzing.

So while we're thinking up the Next Great Paradigm Shift, we must also take action now to create a culture where sustainability simply becomes part of the everyday equation. In doing so, we may wake up one day and find ourselves much further down the path than we knew we'd come. Some of the fieldbook's simple but powerful ideas:

Make it less complex.

Reduce material variety, and make sure there's a market for the materials you choose.

Design packaging in parallel with product.

Design for "life after death."

Don't use paint - it makes plastics much harder to recycle.

Another bonus? LUNAR's Fieldbook includes a nifty wall poster to help you keep these and other sustainable design rules in front of you at all times. ~KoAnn Vikoren Skrzyniarz, SLM Founder and President

The Greenest Desktop Computers 2008

2008-08-08T13:29:00.000-06:00

The Greenest Desktop Computers Of 2008

At MetaEfficient I’ve been waiting for years to review some exciting green computers, and now finally in 2008, we’ve seen the introduction of some truly green PCs. Although the components of green PCs cost about 10% more than regular PCs, they retail for about the same price. You can jump ahead and see our list of the greenest PCs. Or you can read about the details of the green rating processes.

How do you judge the greenness of a computer? The two most important factors are power consumption, and the elimination of hazardous components inside the machine. Other factors such as the efficiency of the power supply, packaging and the manufacturer’s support for recycling programs are also important. Overall, there are a huge number of factors to assess, but thankfully there are now some eco-certifications that make it easier. The most important certifications are EPEAT (Electronic Products Environmental Assessment Tool), RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) and Energy Star 4.0. All three of these certifications are standardized, so they are more specific in their assessments than the marketing claims or green initiatives of the past. Here’s a brief description of the certifications:

-The EPEAT system is currently the most comprehensive verification of a computer’s environmental attributes. EPEAT was created by a consortium of electronics manufacturers, and partially funded by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. EPEAT evaluates computer desktops, laptops, and monitors based on 51 environmental criteria including Energy Star compliance. If a computer is awarded the EPEAT Gold rating, it is one of the greenest out there. You can see a list of all the desktop computers that achieved a Gold EPEAT rating here. A summary of the criteria can be found here
-The new EnergyStar 4.0 certification assesses the power consumption of PCs, but it doesn’t cover other criteria like toxicity. To comply with the new Energy Star 4.0 standard, a desktop PC must use under 50W in idle mode and 4W when asleep.
-The RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) directive bans from the EU market any new electrical and electronic equipment containing more than mandated maximum levels of lead, cadmium, mercury, hexavalent chromium, and two flame retardants. RoHS covers everything in a computer except for the batteries, which are regulated separately.
Another useful guide is Greenpeace’s Guide To Greener Electronics which was recently updated in June. The companies that scored the highest ratings from Greenpeace were Sony Ericsson, Sony, Nokia and Dell.
Here’s our round-up of this year’s greenest personal computers:
Dell’s Studio Hybrid PC
This month Dell introduced what it calls its greenest desktop computer. The new Studio Hybrid is not only Dell’s smallest-sized desktop, it’s also its most energy-efficient. The system uses only 1 watt of power when off or in hibernate mode, a frugal 26W while sitting idle, and 44W when the system is fully taxed, according to PC Magazine. This makes it one of the most energy efficient PCs available — it uses only a couple more watts than the power-sipping Mac mini. Like the Mac mini, the Hybrid uses an external power brick instead of an internal power supply.
The Hybrid also has Energy Star 4.0 certification and a system recycling kit that allows you easily recycle the computer at the end of it’s life. Disappointingly, it only gets a Silver rating from EPEAT, rather than a Gold.
The Studio Hybrid is packaged in 95% recyclable materials, and ships with 75% less printed documentation. You can order an optional exterior sleeve made out of bamboo (more sustainable than plastic, although it costs an extra $130).
The Studio Hybrid doesn’t come with many USB ports, but you can order an optional wireless keyboard and mouse for $50. The base Studio Hybrid configuration starts at just $499 (monitor not included). More tricked-out systems run up to $1,329 or more, depending on what options you order. The Studio Hybrid is available from Dell’s web site now, and will be for sale at select retailers in the coming months.
Link: Dell’s Studio Hybrid
Lenovo’ ThinkCentre M57/M57p
Lenovo’s ThinkCentre M57p is a very green corporate PC with a no-frills “old school” design. This compact computer has Intel’s latest 45-nanometer CPU architecture (code-named “Wolfdale”), yet the whole system consumes only about 58 watts of power at peak. It also has all the important green certifications: EPEAT Gold, RoHS and Energy Star 4.0. According to Lenovo, this machines also contains up 90% re-usable and recyclable materials and the packaging is 90% recyclable.
The system’s dual-layer DVD burner and internal 160GB hard drive are full desktop size, so they’re easy to replace with standard (and cheaper) parts in case something goes bad. Since the M57p is housed in a small-form-factor case, it has no internal expansion room to speak of, so you’ll have to plug an external USB hard drive or large-capacity USB thumb drives into one of the four available USB ports for more drive space. The system also is limited to integrated Intel GMA 3100 graphics. On the plus side, there are both VGA and DVI ports for either type of monitor, and the system does support dual monitors (one VGA and one DVI).
Link: Lenovo
It’s available at Amazon.
Apple Mac mini
The Apple Mac mini is widely known for its iconic design, but it also has a number of green credentials that earn it a place on our list here. When it was introduced, the mini set a new standard for energy efficiency. It’s still the most energy efficient desktop computer available — it consumes just 20-28 watts on average.
Tom’s Hardware reports:
During testing, our Mac min was able to shine in this respect, drawing a mere 20 watts of power; during DVD playback, this rose to only 28 W. In contrast, the power requirements of current Intel-based PC systems is anything but reasonable - under comparable conditions, these power-hungry machines draw up to 160 watts.
According to Apple, the mini is about 90 percent recyclable. It received a Silver EPEAT rating.
The Mac mini has been considered a budget Mac (prices start $600), but now that it’s equipped with a Core 2 Duo processor, it’s as powerful as a larger desktop.
Link: Apple Mac mini
It’s available from Amazon.
Zonbu Desktop Mini
The Zonbu Desktop Mini is a Linux-based, minimalist computer that contains no hard drive, instead, in the spirit of “network computing” everything is stored online. After paying $99 or $299 for the computer itself, you the Zonbu owner can subscribe for the online storage service (via Amazon’s S3 network) for $12.95 a month for two years (or $149 for a yearly subscription).
The absence of a hard drive means the Zonbu is silent, and consumes just 11 watts when running (8 watts in standby mode). It has a number of other green attributes including EPEAT Gold, RoHS and Energy Star 4.0 certifications. The manufacturer also has a recycling take-back system, and they use minimal, recycled packaging for the computer.
Link: Zonbu Desktop Mini
CherryPal PC
The CherryPal is a similar to the Zonbu Desktop Mini — it has no moving parts, and everything is stored online, including its applications. The CherryPal is designed to be used for only need basic computing and Web browsing. The machines itself measures just 1.3 x 5.8 x 4.2 inches, and it has a Freescale processsor with 256MB of RAM, a 4GB solid state drive, 802.11g Wi-Fi, a Firefox browser, and a Debian Linux operating system. Applications likes OpenOffice, iTunes (including iTunes Store support), and other CherryPal-branded apps will be accessible from the desktop. Since everything is administered by CherryPal, malware protection, antivirus efforts, and software upgrades are done automatically.
CherryPal claims that this is the greenest and most affordable PC, since it consumes just 2 watts of power, uses 80 percent fewer components (than an average desktop), and can last a decade or longer. The CherryPal’s price is $249, a bit cheaper than the $299 Zonbu. (The Zonbu was originally available subsidized with a contract for $99.)
There is no contract for the CherryPal, nor any monthly fees, and 50GB of lifetime (or at least the lifetime of the company) storage is included.
Photos and more information available at MetaEfficient.

The Food Mood Body Connection

2008-08-06T02:48:00.000-06:00

In the Food Mood Body Connection, Gary Null Ph.D. and 15 of the world’s top medical experts show you specifically how diet, exercise, nutritional supplementation and other lifestyle choices profoundly affect your moods, energy levels, overall health and longevity.

Gary Null Food Mood Body Connection
Program will air again on Monday, August 11 at 8:00 pm on Channel 12 / 12.1 KBDI - PBS Station

Watch the show "Food Mood Body Connection"On Demand at - http://www.kbdi.org/tv_schedule/program_details.cfm?id=120080811200000

Also Watch Gary Null OnDemand "Power Foods" at -
http://www.kbdi.org/tv_schedule/program_details.cfm?id=120080812020000

Power Foods is the must-see program for everyone who wants to enjoy vital health for a lifetime! Gary Null Ph.D. will help you to optimize your health by understanding the 15 most important foods that everyone needs to consume regularly and the foods that must be avoided at all costs. Join Dr. Null as he guides you through each food in this in-depth, vibrant, beautifully produced 1-hour presentation. And as a bonus, you’ll see some of the top Vegan Chefs in the world presenting mouthwatering dishes using the Power Foods

Organic Essentials PDF

2008-08-05T02:04:00.000-06:00

Cut Your Grocery Bill

Here's the list you want to take with you to the store...

The Organic Center has a free download of 'organic essentials.' (PDF File)

A list of the fruits and veggies you really want to consider only buying ORGANICALLY because of the high amounts of pesticides used on the conventional versions.

The Organic Center is a non-profit founded "to generate credible, peer reviewed scientific information and communicate the veritable benefits of organic farming and products to society".

So they have brainy industry heavyweights like Dr. Charles Benbrook working on the real world science of why green is good.

Brain Scientist Experiences Nirvana After Stroke

2008-08-05T01:56:00.000-06:00

Brain Scientist Experiences Nirvana After Stroke (video)

A wonderful story that started with pain and ended in ecstasty.

Neuroanatomist Jill Bolte Taylor had an opportunity few brain scientists would wish for: One morning, she realized she was having a massive stroke. As it happened -- as she felt her brain functions slip away one by one, speech, movement, understanding -- she studied and remembered every moment. This is a powerful story about how our brains define us and connect us to the world and to one another.

For other TED Presentations - http://www.ted.com/

The Best Alkaline Water Purifiers

2008-08-05T00:12:00.000-06:00

If you've not seen the reasearch on the benefits of going alkaline and are interested in a super Alkaline Water Purifier, email Fred Davis from Colorado and he'll share with you some of the best information we've seen on the subject.

Water For Life - Alkaline Water Purifiers

We absolutely love ours! (Thanks Fred!)

Cutting Phantom Power - Product Reviews

2008-08-04T23:16:00.000-06:00

Green Pics - Cut Back On Phantom Power
by Collin Dunn, Corvallis, OR, USA on 12. 6.06

THE Exclusives (top fives)

Call it what you will: phantom load, idle current, vampire power, wall wart; they're all euphemisms for the way devices use and waste electricity when they aren't even on, and they're everywhere. Here are some ways to save some bucks and carbon emissions and gain some peace of mind by eliminating unnecessary power use in your home.

1) Devices like the Kill-a-Watt and Wattson can point you to devices that attract the largest load, leading you to get...

2) A "smart" power strip like the Wattstopper Plug Load Control and Smart Strip Power Strip, that cut the power when your devices are off.

3) The Mini Power Minder has the smarts to shut off your computer’s peripherals and doodads when the computer itself is shut down.

4) Simply unplugging things like your cell phone charger, which is only in use a few minutes per day, will make a bigger difference than you'd think.

5) See How to Green Your Electricity to learn more about keeping phantoms, vampires and warts out of your electrical life.

See Customer's How-To Comments

For more information see - http://forums.delphiforums.com/mtnpoet/messages?msg=15411.1 and http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/35509 for more reviews.

Motion-Sensing LED Lights

2008-08-04T23:12:00.000-06:00

Motion-Sensing LED Lights: A Review

Motion-sensing LED lights — these lights are perhaps the most efficient lighting devices available today. They switch on whenever their infra-red sensors detect movement in a room — such as when someone begins to walk down a dark hallway. I’ve been testing them in my own home, and I’ve found them to be effective and non-obtrusive. At night, I’m able to go down two floors to the basement, without turning on any lights. The motion-sensing LEDs in the ceilings switch on as I move about the house.

They illuminate with a soft, bluish light - it’s enough light to easily see where you are going. After 20 seconds they turn off automatically. The lights I have in the ceilings are Philips SpotOn LED Lights. They run on three AAA batteries, you can use rechargeable batteries of course (I recommend using hybrid rechargeables because they keep their charge for many months). They cost around $17 each from Amazon.

For more information go to - http://www.enn.com/top_stories/article/37835

Recycling CFL Bulbs

2008-08-04T22:48:00.000-06:00

CFL Bulbs Accepted at Various Ace Hardware Stores
by Ashley Schiller on May 16th, 2008

Consumers in Great Falls, Montana were getting burned out looking for a place to recycle their CFL bulbs until Ace Hardware stores began accepting them this month. The Environmental Protection Agency, Montana Department of Environmental Quality and local utilities are funding the program, according to an article in the Great Falls Tribune.

Various stores in Montana, Utah and South Dakota are taking part in the project. Ace Hardware stores are individually owned and not all stores accept CFL bulbs, but the trend is spreading. Stores in many states, including Colorado, Arizona and Illinois, will take them.

CFL bulbs should not be simply tossed in the trash because they contain a small amount of mercury, which endangers waste workers and the environment. If you want to recycle a broken bulb, seal it in a zip-lock bag.

To find where you can recycle CFL bulbs in your area, use Earth 911’s Recycling Locator.

State of the Planet 2007 PDF

2008-08-04T21:34:00.000-06:00

State of the planet, in graphics

READ THE REPORT IN FULL
Global Environment Outlook [21.9MB] (downloadable PDF)
Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader

Download the reader here
Globally human populations are growing, trade is increasing, and living standards are rising for many. But, according to the UN's latest Global Environment Outlook report, long-term problems including climate change, pollution, access to clean water, and the threat of mass extinctions are being met with "a remarkable lack of urgency".

For more, go to - http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/in_depth/629/629/7056601.stm

Going Green In Colorado

2008-08-04T21:24:00.000-06:00

Know Colorado

at Earth911.org

See who is going green in the Rocky Mountains.

How To Stop Junk Mail

2008-08-04T19:37:00.000-06:00

How To Stop Junk Mail Finally, a solution that works!

Choose the paper mail you want. Stop the junk mail you don’t.

Your personal information is being collected, bought, and sold by thousands of businesses every day. Without your consent.

ProQuo helps you to remove your name and personal information from thousands of marketing lists, data brokers and other organizations that send you unsolicited mail.

How Clean Is Your Water?

2008-08-04T19:33:00.000-06:00

How Clean Is Your Water?

State by State List from The Clean Water Network.

The Solar Estimator

2008-08-04T18:54:00.000-06:00

The Solar Estimator - to give you an idea of price, savings and system size. The results are based upon many assumptions and the limited data you will enter.

An actual site assessment by a qualified Solar Pro will be needed to determine the actual costs and benefits of installing a solar system. Please read the results screen carefully, including the extensive list of Notes and Assumptions.

The Green Building Process

2008-08-04T17:54:00.000-06:00

Showing the Green Building Process

What does it look like to build a house with lots of green features? We see pictures of the finished buildings, and we read about the features that make them green. We know about the importance of good insulation and reducing electrical loads and choosing efficient equipment.

But what does it look like while it all goes together? Building Green on Montrose offers a wonderfully in-depth view into the process of constructing a green home. The project is the product of a couple of architects, Christopher & Emily Stromberg, working on the renovation of a rowhouse in south Philadelphia to turn it into a modern, efficient, green home. They are building this project as a speculative property, rather than a home for themselves, so it avoids some of the quirky indulgences that other green homes sometimes include. All of this has to make sense and be justifiable for an eventual buyer for the house.

Algae The Greener Fuel

2008-08-04T17:11:00.000-06:00

Algae Could Be The Next Cleaner, Greener Fuel

Don Shelby (WCCO) A new report this week says greenhouse gas emissions could double in the next 30 years. Not from buses and cars, but from ethanol made out of corn.

Scientists said turning forests into fields to grow fuel creates way more carbon dioxide than it saves, but with shrinking oil reserves and rising gas prices the search for a cleaner, greener fuel for transportation is critical.

However, the biofuel most likely to replace petroleum comes from the most unlikely place. In the laboratory of Dr. Roger Ruan over at the University of Minnesota, he is helping discover the fuel of the future.

The green stuff in his lab isn't just any old pond scum -- its hundreds of species of algae -- the next cleaner, greener alternative to petroleum.

Cradle2Cradle Sustainable Community

2008-08-04T16:46:00.000-06:00

William McDonough - The Hero of Sustainable Design in Action, has a new community forum fashioned after his wonderful book "Cradle To Cradle".

Check out - C2C Community Forum

See William McDonough on YouTube

A Hydrogen Driven Future?

2008-08-04T16:36:00.000-06:00

A Hydrogen Driven Future?

According to a recent U.S. National Research Council report, hydrogen fuel cells may be the best energy-saving alternative to gasoline-powered vehicles, and the technology could be economically competitive by 2023. But hydrogen-powered transportation will require a switch to alternative energy sources to avoid an increase in fossil fuel use to produce the hydrogen. The study did not include electric vehicles.

Read: Fuel Cell Vehicles 15 Years Away, Research Council Says

New Green Jobs

2008-08-04T16:33:00.000-06:00

New Jobs in the Wind

U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory

As wind energy expands across the U.S. heartland, rural America is likely to experience a revitalization not experienced since the homestead land grabs of the 19th century. Local revenues from wind development are helping to revitalize roads, schools, and other infrastructure in once-depressed regions. But the recent growth in green jobs has only just begun, as areas with the most wind have yet to be developed.

Read: In Windy West Texas, an Economic Boom

Earth 911 - Where To Recycle In Your Area?

2008-08-04T16:19:00.000-06:00

Earth 911.org is a great site to find recycling centers in your area. There are many useful resources on this site.

MIT - The Solar Revolution

2008-08-04T16:11:00.000-06:00

MIT Primed to Unleash Solar Revolution

In a revolutionary leap that could transform solar power into a mainstream energy source, MIT researchers have overcome a major barrier to large-scale solar power: storing energy for use when the sun doesn’t shine.
(video clip)

Reusable Paper

2008-08-04T15:31:00.000-06:00

The future, reusable paper

Xerox demonstrates disappearing ink

At the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo in Las Vegas, Steve Hoover, vice president with Xerox Research Center Webster, shows off a technology being developed in the company's labs that enables people to reuse a piece of paper. The paper contains a photochromic compound that makes ink disappear when hit by direct heat.
Length of Video Clip: 04:17

The paperless office obviously didn't come to fruition for most people, but this may just work!

Kudos To The Green Networks

2008-08-04T15:18:00.001-06:00

We'd like to give kudos to the Green Networks from Discovery Channel & The Sundance Channel for their interesting additions to TV.

If you've not see Planet Green from Discovery, or The Green from Sundance, we urge you to check them out. Who knows, they may just inspire you to do a little more to enhance your way of live and save some money $$.

In addition to many great resources, these networks have got the first reality based shows that I've found interesting enough to watch from week to week. Specifically, I love Ed Bagley, Jr. & his wife's show "Living With Ed" on The Planet Green Channel, and "It Isn't Easy Going Green" on Sundance.

Note to Ed: I love the idea that Bill Nye "The Science Guy" has moved into your neighborhood and has started a friendly green competition with you. But I must find out where you got that spiffy horizontal driven wind power turbine for your residential roof.

Keep up the Good* Work!!

Light Bulb of the Future?

2008-08-04T15:15:00.000-06:00

The lightbulb of the future? (video link)

Luxim's plasma lightbulb

Silicon Valley's Luxim has developed a lightbulb the size of a Tic Tac that gives off as much light as a streetlight. News.com's Michael Kanellos talks to the company about its technology and its plans to expand into various markets.
Video Clip Length: 01:34

Very Cool Lite!

Welcome to Green Colorado

2008-08-04T15:04:00.000-06:00

Welcome!

We've created the Green Colorado Blog to highlight the many new exciting technologies in Going Green. We'll post breaking news, technology reviews, and even How-To Video Clips for those interesed in making their lives and this world work better.

After all, the old adage of leaving things better than you found them is certainly a wiser course to follow in today's world.

We've been posting information like this (and much more) in our forum at Delphi - The Writers Well for many years, but decided to take it to a new level.

Please let us know if there's something you'd like to see added here.

Thanks for stopping by :-)