Green Construction
It used to be that years ago home builders weren’t terribly concerned about building materials and their impact on the environment. The goal, especially during the post-war housing boom in the United States during the 1940s and 50s, was to put up a lot of houses and put them up fast. Keeping building costs down was also a concern of most builders, and inexpensive materials were used in favor of maintaining a healthy bottom line.
For this reason, the housing industry has indeed had a huge effect on the environment. Many building products are far from eco-friendly, including such materials as asbestos insulation and other products containing similarly dangerous toxins. And when those products wind up on the scrap heap during remodeling projects, they can cause even more hazards.
Fortunately, home builders of the new millennium have begun to stand up and take notice of their industry’s huge impact on the world around us and have been providing new home owners, as well as those remodeling their old homes, with options that are more eco-friendly. Today, one might say, “green building” is more than just the color you’ve selected for your siding.
It used to be that years ago home builders weren’t terribly concerned about building materials and their impact on the environment. The goal, especially during the post-war housing boom in the United States during the 1940s and 50s, was to put up a lot of houses and put them up fast. Keeping building costs down was also a concern of most builders, and inexpensive materials were used in favor of maintaining a healthy bottom line.
For this reason, the housing industry has indeed had a huge effect on the environment. Many building products are far from eco-friendly, including such materials as asbestos insulation and other products containing similarly dangerous toxins. And when those products wind up on the scrap heap during remodeling projects, they can cause even more hazards.
Fortunately, home builders of the new millennium have begun to stand up and take notice of their industry’s huge impact on the world around us and have been providing new home owners, as well as those remodeling their old homes, with options that are more eco-friendly. Today, one might say, “green building” is more than just the color you’ve selected for your siding.
Environmental Finance, 7 August 2008 - 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).
Total US installed wind power capacity now stands at 19,549MW, up 2,726MW from the end of 2007, making the US the world leader in wind electricity generation, according to the AWEA's second quarter 2008 market report. Germany has installed generating capacity of about 23,000MW, but the US produces more electricity because of stronger winds, the AWEA said.
Total US installed wind power capacity now stands at 19,549MW, up 2,726MW from the end of 2007, making the US the world leader in wind electricity generation, according to the AWEA's second quarter 2008 market report. Germany has installed generating capacity of about 23,000MW, but the US produces more electricity because of stronger winds, the AWEA said.
Barrels for collecting rainwater from roofs can get expensive. There are a few other cheaper options worth looking into if you are tight on cash like me.
1. Municipalities and Water Utilities
Many municipalities these days are encouraging water saving devices like rain barrels, and as a result, often give them away for free. They probably have a limited supply or may only offer them on certain days or at specific events. They may refer you to the water utility company.
2. Non-profit Organizations
If your municipality has no advice, then check out non-profit environmental organizations. They may have giveaways or know of places where you can get free or inexpensive rain barrels.
3. Car Wash
I’ve heard that car washes may have 55 gallon barrels that can be retrofitted as rain barrels but have never investigated it myself. I’ve also heard that they recycle them back to the supplier, but it never hurts to ask.
4. Feed Supply Store
If you live in a rural area, then another resource to try is the feed supply store where grains might be sold in large containers suitable for rain barrels.
5. Food or Beverage Manufacturing Facility
I’ve heard that in Atlanta, GA people can get 55-gallon drums from the Coca-Cola bottling plant for free. This may hold true for other food and beverage manufacturing or bottling facilities.
1. Municipalities and Water Utilities
Many municipalities these days are encouraging water saving devices like rain barrels, and as a result, often give them away for free. They probably have a limited supply or may only offer them on certain days or at specific events. They may refer you to the water utility company.
2. Non-profit Organizations
If your municipality has no advice, then check out non-profit environmental organizations. They may have giveaways or know of places where you can get free or inexpensive rain barrels.
3. Car Wash
I’ve heard that car washes may have 55 gallon barrels that can be retrofitted as rain barrels but have never investigated it myself. I’ve also heard that they recycle them back to the supplier, but it never hurts to ask.
4. Feed Supply Store
If you live in a rural area, then another resource to try is the feed supply store where grains might be sold in large containers suitable for rain barrels.
5. Food or Beverage Manufacturing Facility
I’ve heard that in Atlanta, GA people can get 55-gallon drums from the Coca-Cola bottling plant for free. This may hold true for other food and beverage manufacturing or bottling facilities.
17/08: Top 5 Polluting Countries
Note: Please keep in mind that these are just estimates and that these figures are going up and down each year.
1. China - Probably not a surprise. China comes in at #1 among developing countries and #2 worldwide (new reports show that China may actually be #1 in both categories). At 18.4% of global CO2 emissions, no one even comes close to China (except for the United States). The next country to even begin to offer a challenge is Russia, at a mere 5.6%. China also accounts for almost 20% of the worlds population with 1,325,507,000.
2. India - Pumping out 4.9%, this quickly developing country is home to roughly 1,136,665,600 (over 17% of the global population). Including developed countries, India still ranks 4th.
3. South Korea - earns a Bronze with 1.7% of global emissions, and 9th when factoring in the developed world. With a population just slightly larger than South Africa, at 48,224,000 people. #3,4 and 5 are all pretty close in terms of CO2 emissions, though Mexico has double the population of South Korea or South Africa.
4. Mexico - Also 1.6% of global emission (slightly higher than South Africa if you look at actual tons), the roughly 106,682,500 people of Mexico are 11th in the world when you include developed countries.
5. South Africa - Responsible for 1.6% of global CO2 emissions, South Africa has a population of 47,850,000 people. Cheers to South Africa for recently announcing its plans to stabilize and reduce CO2 emissions by 2025. (#12 in the world if you include developed countries).
1. China - Probably not a surprise. China comes in at #1 among developing countries and #2 worldwide (new reports show that China may actually be #1 in both categories). At 18.4% of global CO2 emissions, no one even comes close to China (except for the United States). The next country to even begin to offer a challenge is Russia, at a mere 5.6%. China also accounts for almost 20% of the worlds population with 1,325,507,000.
2. India - Pumping out 4.9%, this quickly developing country is home to roughly 1,136,665,600 (over 17% of the global population). Including developed countries, India still ranks 4th.
3. South Korea - earns a Bronze with 1.7% of global emissions, and 9th when factoring in the developed world. With a population just slightly larger than South Africa, at 48,224,000 people. #3,4 and 5 are all pretty close in terms of CO2 emissions, though Mexico has double the population of South Korea or South Africa.
4. Mexico - Also 1.6% of global emission (slightly higher than South Africa if you look at actual tons), the roughly 106,682,500 people of Mexico are 11th in the world when you include developed countries.
5. South Africa - Responsible for 1.6% of global CO2 emissions, South Africa has a population of 47,850,000 people. Cheers to South Africa for recently announcing its plans to stabilize and reduce CO2 emissions by 2025. (#12 in the world if you include developed countries).
With expanded and tougher criteria on toxic chemicals, electronic waste and new criteria on climate change only Sony and Sony Ericsson score more than 5/10 in our latest Guide to Greener Electronics. Nintendo and Microsoft remain rooted to the bottom of the Guide.
13/06: Benefits of a "Green" Office
There are some very good reasons for making your office an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly place.
First, buying and using energy-effecient equipment saves you money. It can provide enormous savings in electricity use alone, saving you up to $180 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours of energy and cutting up to 80% off your electricity bill. It can also cut 20-30% off your air-conditioning bill because you are reducing the amount of heat that your equipment generates and that needs to be cooled.
Paper costs can be almost halved simply by printing double-sided, and you can save $100 on toner and $30 on ink by refilling your cartridges. You can also save on waste disposal costs because the amount of waste you generate is reduced.
First, buying and using energy-effecient equipment saves you money. It can provide enormous savings in electricity use alone, saving you up to $180 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours of energy and cutting up to 80% off your electricity bill. It can also cut 20-30% off your air-conditioning bill because you are reducing the amount of heat that your equipment generates and that needs to be cooled.
Paper costs can be almost halved simply by printing double-sided, and you can save $100 on toner and $30 on ink by refilling your cartridges. You can also save on waste disposal costs because the amount of waste you generate is reduced.
23/05: Water Turbine for Home Use
What if every time that you flushed your toilet you could generate just a little bit of power? That is the idea behind the Benkatine Turbine by Leviathan Energy, which aims to get power from any pipe that water rushes through. So not only could you install this within a municipal system, but according to the company, you could get power from the water rushing down your gutter drains!
Category: General Green
Posted by: Mason
Everyone should check this out. This search engine uses some its profits to buy carbon credits on behalf of its users and for every 1,000 searches done they contribute to the growth of 2 trees. They offset their own carbon emissions, as well. Of course, they are powered by Yahoo and can't keep them from polluting.
