Category Archives: Environment

Environment

Maybe it is easy to be green

LED Fluorescent Replacement Tubes last up to 50,000 hours which is up to 50 times longer than standard incandescent bulbs. They do NOT contain toxic mercury as compact fluorescent(cfl) bulbs do which makes LED bulbs MUCH more environmentally friendly, safer, more energy efficient and more durable.

Section9 LED you will find the most advanced LED lighting products available. And really why wouldn’t you want to save yourself some money while also helping the environment? Kermit says it’s not easy being green, but this seems pretty simple to me. =o)

Sponsored post.

Environment

Water, Waste, Energy and Green Building

The Center for ReSource Conservation has been around for over 30 years (in one form or another) educating people about energy technology. It has only been during the last 5 years they have branched out and begun working within four realms: Water, Waste, Energy, and Green Building.

In May of 2007 they released an article to the press titled, “Spring greening: 50 simple ways to be environmentally responsible.” The article includes tips such as, “Water before 10 a.m. and after 6 p.m. to prevent evaporation.” Helpful green tips like that are important to share because a lot of people honestly just don’t know why or what to do to “be green.”

They are also responsible for installing solar hot water systems in low income housing units around Boulder, Colorado, their home base. On Sunday, September 30, 2007, they will be presenting The Boulder Tour of Solar and Green Built Homes. If you can make it out there you should check it out to “see first-hand that solar and green built homes are comfortable, practical, reliable, and affordable.” It’s all part of Solar Week in Boulder.

Environment

Let’s talk biofuel

Of course I checked out the Sierra Club website today, it’s something I try to do everyday. There was an article about biofuels, so I decided to give it a read through.

It seems that these are the days in which because are scrambling to figure out how to fix the mess that our environment is in…and figuring out other sources to make fuel from is a topic that keeps coming up. Biofuels produce less carbon dioxide.

BUT

Biofuel crops are typically grown on land which is burnt and reclaimed from tropical forests. Of course also, if you are clearing land to grow brops to make biofuel, there will be less land for farming and therefore the cost of food will rise. Like high yielding crops of corn and soy that will most likely be used to make biofuel. Corn will be the new caviar.

And I digress.

There will probably always be a Catch 22, an equal and opposite reaction…Murphys law, etc.

Back to the drawing board folks. How can we make carbon-free, renewable energy? If only the sun would shed some light on this problem…

Environment, Geekery

Windmill cell phone charger

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Hehe.
Got wind?

That’s the motto for the Orange wind charger prototype. “The wind generator produces enough power to trickle charge an independent rechargeable battery.”

They say that it is a convenient solution for people who spends a lot of time outdoors camping or hiking or whatever it may be…and still must have their cell phone attached to them. =o/

Windmills for energy is nothing new, but thinking outside of the box and figuring out ways to store energy for even small products like a cell phone is pretty darn cool.

Environment

Solar Cell Initiative

Working for the University of Delaware as their web developer has been such an amazing experience. Being fortunate enough to be the developer for their College of Agriculture & Natural Resources in addition to their Cooperative Extension Programs for each county in Delaware has been an even greater experience. I’m learning so much about what is going on with the farms and environment around my own home. Things I never would have known about otherwise. This has piqued my interested in finding more Energy resource information to do my part in helping out.

For the last two years, UD has been leading the solar cell initiative. There are fifteen other participating colleges in the nation. Partial funding is being received from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA). At UD, the goal is to create solar cells that operate at about 54 percent efficiency in the laboratory and 50 percent in production.

This spring, the U.S. Department of Energy highlighted 13 industry-led solar technology development projects for negotiation of up to $168 million (FY’07-’09), subject to appropriation from Congress; Newark, Delaware (home to the University of Delaware’s main campus) was one of the 13 highlighted. There has been an abundant amount of people furiously working to find alternative energy plans. There are websites which give more information and explanations of why this is so important. Energy resources information.

I believe more and more colleges and companies will begin to put forth stronger efforts to harness solar energy as a form of electricity. Solar energy is a clean, renewable energy source and with the price of electricity and gas these days it is imperative to find other means of not only creating, but storing solar power. It is very exciting for me to be able to spread the word about what my employer is doing to aide this cause. And it’s even more thrilling to know I will be developing sites to further promote alternative energy methods.

Disclosure:
This is a sponsored post.

Environment

Earth Day

Founded 37 years ago, Earth Day has always been about celebrating the nature in the present tense and making sure we leave it in good conditions for the future.

Defenders of Wildlife are asking parents to take a pledge stating they will be taking their child out to celebrate Earth Day. You could take them to a State Park or to a Wilderness Area, whatever it is that floats your boat.

The Earthday Network has a lot of great information to read up on and share with your children as well. And you know, you don’t have to be a parent, you can take your nephew or niece out or maybe the child you babysit on occasion.