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  • 2015
    • August
      • Email from Students
        08/13/15
        I would like to thank Hannah for her research.

        Hannah just finished the seventh grade and her favorite subject was science. This year, her class did a lot of hands on science experiments about energy conservation, composting and gardening. Hannah has taken a lot of what she's learn

  • 2012
    • March
      • SMART-Turbine Goes Into Pre-Production
        03/16/12


        Wow, my new position makes it very difficult to make time for this blog. It's nice to see that people are still visiting it. :)

        The SMART-Turbine - a home or commercial use electricity generating wind turbine - rated to a peak of 1750 watts has entered pre-production.

  • 2011
    • October
      • Patents Approved for SMART Turbine - Granted to original inventor
        10/23/11
        I've mentioned before that I hoped some day to announce the success of my personal project here on this blog. This is not the day. However, there has been a major step forward in my progress.

        The original patent application naming me as the inventor and my business partner as the

    • April
      • Better Ways to Boil Water - Nuclear Energy vs Renewables
        04/05/11
        I just read a lengthy but well written article on earthquake preparedmess. As the focus of the article changed and stretched into related subject matter from current events in Japan, I found the following very interesting:

        From the article...

        Nuclear power is essentially an el

    • March
      • Great Resources
        03/29/11
        There are times when quality information is the best tool we have for fighting climate change. Today I received a referral to a website titled "The Homeowners Guide". Bethany, a middle school student discovered the site while doing some research.

        The site is filled with inform

    • January
      • Bottled Water vs Tap vs Tap With a Filter
        01/05/11
        Here is the short version:

        Tap with a filter that is changed regularly is the healthiest and almost as cheap as straight tap water. Straight tap water is next healthiest in most cases and definitely the cheapest. Last, costing 1,900 times as much for the same quantity and containing som

  • 2010
    • December
      • LED Lighting Closer to Mainstream
        12/01/10


        LED lighting is becoming more common. I see it in the big box store that I frequent as well as hardware stores. However, there are a couple of things keeping me from changing all of my CFL's to LED.

        Let's address the most obvious - cost. The new LED bulbs claim to

    • November
      • Mistakes We Make With The Heater
        11/16/10
        I just read this article yesterday. Some of you may have seen it. However, for those who didn't I will summarize it here.

        1. Maintaining a constant temperature

        Cause: A persistent myth suggests that you can save energy by leaving the house at a set temperature.

      • Printable Cars Rated Over 200 MPG - Meet the Urbee Blue
        11/02/10



        There are really two stories here. First, from my headline is the ability to print a car. Note, only the body is printed. You may already know that 3D printing is becoming common place. Currently you can get your hands on one that uses ABS, Syrup, and other materials as the med

    • October
      • Save Water With Drought Tolerant Grass
        10/27/10
        I know the rains have just started, but in California and other arid locations, droughts are always in the future. We consistently need to plan our water usage, conserving wherever it is convenient and continuing to be frugal with its use.

        According to statistics, about 30 percent of all

      • A Biodegradable Styrofoam Substitute Made From Milk?
        10/25/10



        In a never ending quest to be green, there are things in our daily lives that are beyond our immediate control. Styrofoam seems to sneak into my life no matter what I do. The problem with it is that it does not break down. Once you make it, it's basically here forever. The

      • Bombing Deforested Areas With Trees
        10/21/10



        This is the best kind of bombing. Using a retrofitted C-130, Lockheed Martin Aerospace is able to plant more than 90,000 trees a day! The technology is simple, the bomber drops pointed tree cones in remote areas that bury themselves in the ground at a uniform depth and spacing.

      • Water Powered Cars, Boats And Homes - Coming Soon?
        10/19/10
        Technology to get power from water comes in many forms and many ages. From the simple Grist Mill to the modern turbines that make electricity from steam. However, there is another form of water energy that comes from the Hydrogen in the water.

        A Japanese company believes they have found

      • Solar Electric Power Is Going Mainstream
        10/18/10
        The heading of this article may seem like old news. However, consider how many people you know that have solar power as a primary source for their home. We probably all have knowledge of it, we know from a previous article that it is mature at 60 years old, and we hear about it all the time but it

      • A Repeat On Wind Power - It Is Too Efficient
        10/14/10
        Is Wind Power Really Too Efficient? Click Here.

      • October Is Energy Awareness Month - Wind Energy Is On My Mind
        10/14/10
        As many of you know already, October is energy awareness month. For me, their is an added notation because of my wind turbine project.

        Things are looking good for commercial release. In the near future, you may be able to get your hands on a totally silent, high output, low RPM wind turb

      • Dirt is Attracted to Soap - A Carpet Cleaning Tip
        10/11/10
        I'm sure if you are able to read this, you understand the job of soap. However, have you ever thought about how it does its job? Soap attracts dirt and breaks the surface tension of water allowing it to stick to surfaces and rinse away the offending material.

        With this basic unders

      • Save Some Trees - Re Learn About Cloth Options
        10/07/10
        It wasn't that long ago that paper towels were not common. The idea of throwing away a towel after every use has become common place in my own lifetime. I don't know when, but what I can tell you is my grandmother didn't even keep them in the kitchen. If your experience is similar

    • September
      • Peak Oil - Oil Crunch - The 1970s
        09/29/10
        I don't know how old my average reader is, I assume at this point we are all adults. However, being an adult doesn't guarantee that you will remember the oil crunch of the 1970's. You may remember that you were only allowed to pump gas for your car on certain days, if your license p

      • Food Storage Is Green - How Long Can You Freeze Food
        09/24/10
        Making food last is good for your budget and good for the environment. When food doesn't travel as far, it is generally greener or lower impact on the environment. This means every time you make food last longer, there is no transport of the would be replacement.

        So how do we make

      • Are Incandescent Bulbs Like Fireplaces?
        09/16/10
        I really like this comparison. I can't take credit though, it was used in the article I read about a trend toward Edison's exposed element bulbs in restaurants and other locations looking for a certain ambiance. The problem is that they are energy hogs. If they are truly being used as d

      • What Is Arduino And Why I Own One
        09/13/10

        The above image is an Arduino micro controller board with a piggy back board known as a shield that is designed for data logging. Also there are two custom boards I personally made for hooking up renewable energy sources. Click the image for a bigger view.

        If you know me or read m

      • Is Solar Power New Technology?
        09/10/10
        Age is relative, so the answer to the question is really up to you. Here I will share a little history about solar power.

        The photovoltaic, (solar electric), process was discovered in the late 1800s and the creation of some primitive solar cells followed. In 1921 Albert Einstein received

      • Electronic Text Books - iPads In Pilot Program For Algebra Textbooks
        09/08/10
        In California, there are 4 school districts starting a test program for electronic text books. I have written about and talked about this before. However, the rather expensive iPad has been chosen by the guys on the hill as a pilot device for this study.

        In my own plan, the kids would b

      • Self Repairing Solar Photovoltaic Cells
        09/08/10


        Associate Professor Michael Strano (left) with graduate student Ardemis Boghossian and postdoctoral fellow Moon-Ho Ham, in one of the labs where they and their team developed the self-repairing PV technology (Image: Patrick Gillooly)

        It has been a while since my last post. I

    • August
      • DIY Solar With Grid Tie - Just Arround the Corner
        08/27/10
        A company called Clarian Power has a product in development called "Sunfish Plug-In Solar Power". The product will have several models, ranging from 200 watts at about $700 to $4000 for a 1000 watt unit. From their website:

        -----------------------
        The Sunfish plugs direct

      • Richmond Plung - The Most Efficient Pool In The U.S.
        08/27/10



        In California, we are used to being trendsetters with energy. However, it isn't often that a community or small scale energy project gets a national spotlight, even for a moment. Right now, the Richmond Plunge is having it's moment. After a 10 year renovation, adding S

      • U.S. Energy Shows Signs of Efficiency and Transition Away From Fossil Fuel
        08/26/10



        The United States used significantly less coal and petroleum in 2009 than in 2008, and significantly more wind power. There also was a decline in natural gas use and increases in solar, hydro and geothermal power according to the most recent energy flow charts released by the Lawre

      • Hydrogen Fuel Cells May Be More Efficient When Modeled Like A Lung
        08/25/10
        Scientists at the Norwegian Academy of Science have designed a new type of hydrogen fuel cell that is inspired by human lungs. The new design can reduce the amount of expensive platinum catalyst, while increasing the efficiency of the cell.

        The new approach spreads gases more uniformly ac

      • Food Expiration Dates - Reducing Waste and Staying Healthy
        08/23/10
        Expiration dates on food products can protect our health, but those dates are really more about quality than safety, and if not properly understood, they can also encourage consumers to discard food that is perfectly safe. Keep in mind, the company producing the food item is happy to sell you a rep

      • Boeings SUGAR Aircraft Concept Theoretically Reduces Fuel Consumption 70%
        08/09/10



        SUGAR Volt concept decreases aircraft fuel burn by more than 70 percent and total energy use by 55 percent.

        As this is really just a concept vehicle at this time, I will direct you to the original article for more information. You can follow the related link below.
      • The Largest K-12 PV Solar Installation In The USA
        08/06/10
        Well, I have been waiting a long time to write that headline. It isn't flashy, but it is clear. I have been working toward this goal for close to 2 years now, about 20 months. The stars have begun to align and we are asking qualified vendors to make proposals.

        The proposal informa

    • July
      • A Climate Change Dashboard
        07/29/10
        I just read yet another article confirming that climate change is real and that the last decade has been the warmest on record. Something new I picked out of the article was a dashboard with easy to read graphical representations of the climate.

        Right now it is still a Beta (test) versio

      • Cool Roofs, More Than a Triple Value
        07/23/10
        Lets start by covering what a cool roof is. Simply, a light or white colored surface on the roof. The reflective properties bounce heat back toward the sun reducing the need for cooling below. Less cooling demand reduces energy use and related pollution. Another factor is the warming effect on c

      • Hike Locally to Enjoy and Protect the Environment
        07/20/10
        Activities like hiking and biking are healthy and don't produce a lot of excess CO2. Doing these things locally is even better. So here are some websites to help you find great places to be outside.

        Nature_Find
        This is the National Wildlife Federation's map-based tool.
      • Wind Power is Still the Cleanest Source of Energy Overall
        07/19/10
        Rather than paraphrase an entire article, this is the first segment:

        As the U.S. energy industry inches away from reliance on fossil fuels, experts have heralded various greener technologies, such as ethanol, solar and geothermal power, as choice alternatives. And while each of those alte

      • Summary of BP Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill
        07/16/10
        _85 days, 16 hours and roughly 25 minutes: Number of days that oil gushed into the Gulf.

        _184 million: Estimated number of gallons of oil released into the Gulf of Mexico since April 20.

        _572: Miles of Gulf Coast shoreline currently oiled.

        _2,700 square miles: Size o

      • Oil Leak Finally Stopped In Gulf After 85 Days
        07/16/10
        As of yesterday, the oil has stopped. For now. After 85 days and up to 184 million gallons, BP finally gained control over one of America's biggest environmental catastrophes Thursday by placing a carefully fitted cap over a runaway geyser that has been gushing crude into the Gulf of Mexico sin

      • Magnetic Refrigeration May Someday Replace Hydrofluorocarbons
        07/06/10



        Hydrofluorocarbons are the chemicals that currently make the air conditioner in your car or the cooling system in your refrigerator work. These chemicals are perfectly safe in the captive environment of the equipment they operate in, however, conditions change and they escape. Ca

      • Happy 4th of July Weekend - Wear Sunblock
        07/02/10
        I've said it before and I know I will say it again, wear sunblock.

        Another note about the sun, it gives us vitamin D. Our vitamin D needs vary with age, body weight, percent of body fat, latitude, skin coloration, season of the year, use of sun block, individual reactions to sun exp

    • June
      • BMW's Vision Concept Car Could Be the 2013 Hybrid
        06/30/10



        Remember this one. It may be a reality soon. The Vision EfficientDynamics concept is a three-cylinder diesel, four-door, plug-in hybrid that generates about 356hp, 590-pound-foot output. The hybrid allows the diesel engine to drive the rear wheels directly or with assistance from

      • Painted Mountains in a Literal Sense May Help Glaciers
        06/28/10



        In Peru, the disappearance of Chalcataya, a most important glacier, was a call for action. Then a huge chunk of Hualcan, another mountain glacier in Peru, broke up causing a lakeside tsunami.

        These events led to a competition for "100 Ideas to Save the Planet.&quo

      • Home Fusion Reactors - Are They Becoming Reality?
        06/25/10



        You might be alarmed to learn a homemade nuclear reactor is being built next door. But what if this form of extreme DIY could help solve the world's energy crisis?

        By day, Mark Suppes is a web developer for fashion giant Gucci. By night, he cycles to a New York ware

      • Are Electric Vehicles Cost Prohibitive?
        06/25/10
        Prices are currently too high for electric cars to become mainstream in the UK, according to Dr Ben Lane from whatgreencar.com, who suggested that a government grant could change things.

        Mr Lane added that "more investment in the recharging structure" was also required before th

      • Wing Tip Device Promises 6% Fuel Efficiency Increase For Aircraft
        06/24/10


        Fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions are huge priorities in the aviation industry. Take the Boeing 747, which guzzles somewhere around a gallon of jet fuel per second - it's clear that even a small improvement in fuel consumption can make a huge difference to costs at the

      • Rob Thorman Electric Concept Car With A Friends Name - Ben
        06/23/10



        The concept is to create a bond like a family member by naming the car something familiar like "Ben".

        The vehicle is smaller than a Fiat 500 and packs space for four adults. The vehicle is propelled by in-wheel electric hub motors that get their juice from a

      • Charge and Electric Car with an iPhone...???
        06/22/10
        As you can tell, it has been a slow news week for environmental goodies. As for the oil spill, it is very disheartening and you don't need me re-posting all the updates available web wide.

        As for this title, I just read an article that makes the statement that an iPhone can charge a

      • Quantum Dots and Solar Cells
        06/18/10
        Well, it has come up again. Solar panel efficiency is claimed to have jumped a big step forward. I will simply give you the link to the article I read and prepare you with the following thought:

        This particular statement in the article is very important; "The next step is to constr

      • Kevin Costners Oil and Water Machine
        06/14/10
        I think the media is quick to sensationalize anything they can, even at the detriment of the environment, society and economy. They are a big "for profit" business after all. I spent some time finding out about the invention and I think this linked video will be the most revealing.

      • Gulf Oil Spill Creates Push for Alternative Energy
        06/11/10
        A new poll out of Stanford University, surveying 1,000 Americans between June 1 and June 7, found that while about three-fourths oppose new taxes on gas or electricity to force conservation, 84 percent favor the federal government offering tax breaks to encourage more wind, solar and water power.
      • Measure C Passes! -- YEAH!
        06/09/10
        The funds from Measure C will first go toward solar power as MDUSD begins construction of the second largest solar installation in the country and the largest of any school district in the country. This system should save the district over $400 Million dollars over the 40 years of the bond and cont

      • Voting Day - Don't Forget to Vote!
        06/08/10
        You can find out what is happening with the vote at the following web address:

        Contra Costa County Election Results

        Measure C Results Specifically

      • Gulf Oil Spill Reminds Us of Need to Reduce Oil Dependence
        06/07/10
        Did you know that here in the United States, we consume oil at a rate of 20 billion barrels per day? Let me re-assure you, the billion is not a mistake, we use 20 billion barrels a day and once the oil is gone, it's gone.

        When we extract it, we harm the Earth's delicate ecosyst

      • Gulf Oil Spill and No Oil Sucking Tankers Yet?
        06/06/10
        I'm sure by now we have all thought: Why isn't BP or another organization using oil sucking tankers like were used in the Persian gulf in 1993?

        There are currently 3 reasons according to Admiral Thad Allen.

        1. The tankers are specially modified for the job and current

      • Self Healing Concrete
        06/04/10


        From the article:

        Self-healing "smart building materials" have the potential to reduce structure repair costs, lower cement-production carbon emissions and even save lives. One barrier that has kept these materials from being commercialized, however, is their potenti

      • Highest Per Capita Energy User is Lowest CO2 Contributor
        06/03/10
        Iceland's energy mix has the highest share of renewables of any country, giving it the lowest emissions intensity of any developed nation that doesn't use nuclear power. And Reykjavik Energy plays a very important role in this. "In a nutshell, Reykjavik Energy provides electricity, ge

      • Car Shaped House Proves Sustainability Doesn't Have to be Boring
        06/03/10



        The Voglreiter Auto Residence is an unusual car-shaped house located near Salzburg, Austria. This unique dwelling has been created by designer Markus Voglreiter, who initially purchased a 70's style house but wanted it to look different than all other houses in the area.

      • Luna Ring - More Like a Belt for the Moon!
        06/02/10



        Every day it seems that science fiction from my childhood becomes more of an everyday reality. Now a company called Shimizu Corporation is vetting the idea of putting a ring of solar panels around the entire 68,000 mile lunar equator.

        Sunlight would be converted into e

      • Adding Fuel Cell Technology to a Gasoline Engine for Increased MPG
        06/01/10

        Glenn Old tops up with water


        "We have developed our HHO generator with safety first, designing a unit that produces enough hydrogen to safely gain up to 60 per cent increase in fuel economy and up to 30 per cent reduction in carbon emissions," Mr Old said.

      • Measure C Vote is Only a Few Days Away
        06/01/10
        First, let me remind everyone that I personally own this server, in fact some of the hardware is actually at my house. I am posting this entry as an individual who happens to know a lot about the measure and how it was formed.

        MDUSD is asking voters to continue measure C, not to create a

    • May
      • Memorial Day Weekend -
        05/28/10
        Well, it is time for me to start a long weekend. Before I do, I thought I would remind everyone to have a fun but safe weekend. Also don't forget why we celebrate. All those who gave their lives for our way of life are the reason for the holiday.

        So, have fun, wear sunblock, and r

      • Amazon Kindle - E-Books - Open Text Books
        05/27/10
        If you click over to my Environmental Resources Forum, you will see I have a request out to anyone who can help me learn from first hand experience how open source text books are working. To date, I do not have any feedback. However, there is a huge potential savings in money, paper and back strai

      • What is "Top Kill" BP is Planning to Use in Gulf Coast
        05/26/10
        Let me first say that CNN has a great article summarizing the whole Gulf Oil Spill situation today. However, it is still a few pages long. After reading headlines, one question kept hitting me, what is this "Top Kill" procedure?

        From the article I will summarize it as this: &

      • Gas Mileage Myths - What Should We Really Do
        05/26/10
        There are a few big myths that people just seem to "know" are true. This should clear things up and help you save a few drops of your own fuel with habit and choice changes.

        1. * It takes more fuel to start a vehicle than it does to let it idle.

        ~ People are really

      • Highest Green Certification Given to Bank Of America Building in New York
        05/25/10



        The project that broke ground in 2004 includes a 4.6-megawatt co-generation plant. The roof is designed to capture rainwater, while floor-to-ceiling windows reduce the need for artificial lighting. In order to save 8 million to 9 million gallons of water annually, the high-rise bui

      • Toyota and Tesla Have Partnered at Nummi in Fremont CA
        05/21/10



        Toyota just announced that it will invest $50 million in Tesla Motors and the two companies will partner to manufacture electric vehicles to meet California's growing demand for greener cars.

        Since this has been covered many places, just follow the related link belo

      • Sunscreen Sunscreen Sunscreen and Which is Best
        05/21/10



        It has been almost a year since I wrote about sunscreen and the specifics of which ones offer the best protection. If you want to read the original article click here.

        Today I want to remind you that sunscreen is one of the best ways to protect your skin and keep a heal

      • Bentley Concept Electric Vehicle Dubbed Ten11
        05/18/10



        It has been a while since I posted a vehicle here. Mainly because most of them are concept only and there are no prototypes. I prefer to include vehicles that have a real world version as it is more likely that some of the technology will work its way in to our next cars. Howeve

      • Better Bricks Protect Trees By Substituting With Pee?
        05/17/10



        Ok, I couldn't quite come up with a headline on this one. The thing is, in order to make bricks we cut down trees. This new recipe uses sand, bacteria, calcium chloride and urea, all easy-to-come-by materials. The process does not require an outside heat source, so the tree

      • Say No to Cheap Jewelry for Kids
        05/14/10
        Please take this statement to heart. I have two small children myself and I know it is difficult at times to sift through alarmist information to really know what is a potential hazard. One thing we know for certain is Lead poisoning is very real. We also know that Cadmium is a neurotoxin that ca

      • The Air Force, Sony and Market Control vs The Environment
        05/13/10



        At first glance, an article about Sony that implicates them with a little issue regarding their firmware upgrades hardly seems appropriate for an environmental blog. However, decisions like this by Sony and other companies can have far reaching impacts going all the way to the was

      • Rechargeable Battery Comparison Summary From Engaget
        05/12/10



        You can read the whole article and its references by following the related link below. However, this is the outcome.

        If you are in the market for rechargeable batteries, there is very little difference in performance. The life of the batteries is claimed to be 2x by on

      • Bladeless wind turbine to generate up to 10KW of power ????
        05/05/10



        From the article:
        _____________________________________________
        Solar Aero has recently been awarded a patent for a new bladeless wind turbine, the Fuller Wind Turbine, which is being claimed to be entirely safe for wildlife and as an added advantage, it generates electri

      • Solar Classrooms - This Modular Classroom Is Environmentally Friendly
        05/05/10



        American Modular Systems has unveiled the Gen7 - its line of green indoor learning environments. The Gen7 represents the state of the art in green classroom environments, offering a range of time, money and energy-saving features that provide a safe, healthy, eco-friendly, low-main

      • Flowers For Mothers Day - Get Local, Visit A Farmers Market
        05/04/10
        If you are going to buy flowers for mothers day, there is still time in many cases to get them at a local farmers market. This will help ensure they are locally grown and picked. This also helps support the local economy.

        Remember, honoring mom does not mean you have get her big splashy

      • Cinco De Mayo History and Celebration
        05/04/10
        The 5th of May is not Mexican Independence Day. Mexico declared its independence from mother Spain on midnight, the 15th of September, 1810. And it took 11 years before the first Spanish soldiers were forced to leave Mexico.

        So, why celebrate Cinco de Mayo? Because 4,000 Mexican soldie

      • What is Peak Oil and Did it Pass?
        05/04/10



        As I'm sure you are aware, most of our roads, fuel, energy and plastics come from crude oil sources. You have probably also heard that there is a finite amount of oil on the planet and other groups claiming that new oil is forming naturally as well. Lets take a minute to get

      • Wind Power Is Too Efficient?!?
        05/03/10



        As you may know, wind energy is something I am passionate about. If you are reading this, you may already know that the address of this blog is a subset of my website on wind power. With that in mind, you can see why I am excited for a reason to post an article like this.
    • April
      • Clean Water Just a Cactus Away
        04/30/10



        Many water purification methods introduced into the developing world are quickly abandoned as people don't know how to use and maintain them, says Norma Alcantar at the University of South Florida in Tampa. So she and her colleagues decided to investigate the prickly pear cact

      • Are We In A Drought Or Not? Yes - Mostly
        04/29/10



        I am seeing headlines that indicate certain areas around the San Francisco Bay are no longer in drought conditions. This is not a state wide condition. This is also not the condition around the whole San Francisco Bay Area.

        The city of San Francisco and County of Marin

      • Were Aerosols Helping Prevent Global Warming?
        04/29/10


        The following is a snippet from a radio show:

        ---------------------------------------------------
        "If we continue to cut back on smoke pouring forth from industrial smokestacks, the increase in global warming could be profound," Kintisch writes in an opinion pie

      • Electrical Power Along Dutch Coastline
        04/28/10



        In 1953, the Netherlands, always vulnerable to flooding, suffered a major natural disaster. The North Sea washed over half a million acres of land and killed over 1,800 people on the south-western coast.

        To protect future generations from similar harm, the Dutch governm

      • Whale Poo Fertalizer is Not for Farmers
        04/27/10



        Australian scientists have discovered that whale poo is not only helping ocean plant life to flourish, but also increasing the ocean's ability to absorb CO2.

        Because whales' diets are made up largely of iron-rich krill (small crustaceans), their droppings are a

      • Avatar - An Interesting Idea About the Environment
        04/26/10
        This weekend, one of the leisure things I did was watch the movie Avatar. While I enjoyed the special effects and the basic story line, it was clear to me that there was a message.

        The message was not as simple as implying we are all connected. There was another message. In the end of

      • Earthday Should Be Everyday
        04/23/10
        There were so many articles on blogs yesterday, I didn't feel I could add anything. However, today I want to share that everyday should be Earth Day.

        As we move through our day, if we all just make an ounce of effort to pick up an extra piece of stray trash, or turn off an extra lig

      • Climate Change - Fact or Fiction - Here We Go Again
        04/16/10
        As we approach Earth Day, this subject has popped up again.

        I have written about this in the past and it has been posted on many green blogs and news sites, I just want to summarize again.

        Weather events are not climate; climate is the accumulation of weather events over an ex

      • LBNL and DOE Concur - Efficiency and Negawatts Needed
        04/15/10
        This article is a re-post from renewableenergyworld.com.

        - Negawatts are the watts saved from not being used. Not only are they the cheapest source of New Energy but investing in them saves $2-to-$3 dollars for every dollar that is spent, savings that can be invested in New Energy megawat

      • Solar Paint and the Home Improvement Store - Coming Soon?
        04/14/10

        The above image is just a generic can of paint and a solar installation, there is no color information currently for solar paint. I would guess it is a dark brown or slate color.


        As you may have read here before, solar is good but efficiency is low. The value of solar is rea

      • Cool LED Lighting Takes On A New Look From GE
        04/13/10



        GE has announced a 40 watt equivalent replacement bulb that uses LED technology for the light source. At a draw of only 9 watts to create the light, it is about 10% more efficient than a CFL for the same job. LED's do not contain Mercury and are therefore a greener choice in

      • LED Improvements Will Speed Marketshare
        04/07/10



        As you may already know, it has been a few years since Philips dropped research into fluorescent technology in order to put it all into LED. This should make it very clear that LED is likely the next big thing in lighting.

        Cree is a leader, if not "the" leader

    • March
      • Kaiser Permanente is Installing 15 MW of Solar
        03/31/10
        This is great! I have been working on solar for the school district since December 2008 and actively researching, working out details and holding meetings with the school board since early 2009. We are very close to installing solar for the benefit of the environment and our finances.

        W

      • Smart Meters Have Security Flaws
        03/28/10



        Many people I have spoken with since smart meters have been installed in our area ask me if I have noticed an increase in the cost of electricity. My answer from my own experience is yes, but not enough to really know if the meter is to blame or if my usage has actually increased.

      • Earth Hour is Tonight - Ideas for the Time
        03/27/10
        What can or should you do during earth hour? I don't know exactly either, but here are some suggestions:

        - Have a candle light dinner

        - Play games

        - Tell stories

        - Get some friends together for a game night

        - Look at photo albums (non-elec

      • Study Shows "Global Cooling" Is Political Spin Not Science
        03/23/10



        The following segment is cut from the attached PDF:

        ---
        J. Hansen, R. Ruedy, M. Sato, and K. Lo
        NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies, New York, New York, USA

        Abstract. We update the Goddard Institute for Space Studies (GISS) analysis of global su

      • Hydraulic Cars May Be Comming Soon
        03/20/10



        This design sounds promising and seems to make sense. The following information is from the website regarding the hydraulic car design:

        -------
        1. Fuel consumption & emissions
        -- 170 mpg - instead of 27 mpg - and more than a comparable reduction in emissi

      • The Paper - Less or Paperless Office
        03/18/10
        I have written before about our project here to reduce the amount of paper we use, store and distribute. That project I'm happy to say has had an impact on our paper use. However, I can not say whether or not the receiver of the data is printing at their end. I'm fairly certain in most

      • Clothes Washer That Uses 90 Percent Less Water May Be Available Soon
        03/15/10



        The machine by UK company Xeros Ltd uses 3mm-long nylon beads that can get into all crevices and folds of clothing and absorb stains and dirt. Stephen Burkinshaw, a polymer chemist at Leeds University, discovered that nylon beads at 100 percent humidity could attract stains away fr

      • A Solar Wall May Become An Architectural Feature On Modern Buildings
        03/12/10



        From the article:

        Just a few days ago, the $41 million Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental & Energy Systems (SyracuseCoE), a 55,000 square-foot building designed to LEED Platinum certification, was dedicated. The facility was built to be a living laborato

      • Transportation Is Still The Top Contributor To Climate Change
        03/09/10
        A new study from NASA's Goddard Institute for Space Studies has identified on-road transportation as the most significant overall source contributing to global warming. Power generation, while having the greatest total impact, also includes a large number of compounds that increase cloud reflec

      • Artificial Photosynthesis or Solar Power to Collect Hydrogen
        03/08/10
        Sun Catalytix is out to show that plants are not the only means to efficiently split water into its separate elements -- artificial photosynthesis. In a presentation at the ARPA-E conference (the Advanced Research Projects Agency) Sun Catalytix founder Dan Nocera indicates that the process his comp

      • Solar Power Sensor and Battery Smaller Than a Penny
        03/04/10

        click to enlarge


        Researchers at the University of Michigan have unveiled their latest breakthrough: A tiny solar power system that contains a processor, battery, and solar cells all in 9 cubic millimeters!


        The miniature system measures 2.5 by 3.5 by 1 millim

      • Toshiba Advanced Batteries - SCiB
        03/02/10



        SCiB batteries are useful for a wide range of functions, from electric bicycles and hybrid and electric vehicles, to industrial equipment and renewable energy storage. Toshiba has now opened a US-based technical support center to aid in developing the SCiB, particularly for vehicle

    • February
      • Bloom Energy May Be Misleading
        02/25/10
        As I read other blogs in my day to day research, sometimes I come across one that sounds just like me. The following is a quote from YahooGreen:

        --
        Don't get me wrong, I'm extremely excited about Bloom Energy. I honestly think that their technology is a good thing for the

      • Trash to Fuel
        02/19/10
        This sounds great. I have heard about it on several blogs, including one that makes the following claim: "The Air Force, Navy, Army, and Marines, in a joint effort, validated their technology in November, and the results are now being published for the first time."

        I have done

      • Another Type of Solar Efficiency - Less Silicon
        02/18/10
        Any time you can reduce the amount of something needed, it is a win for the environment. All of the impact of the item is reduced. In this case, researchers have reduced the amount of silicon in their solar cells by about 99%. This is huge!

        With this reduction in material, they also man

      • Hybrid or Standard - Which is Better?
        02/16/10



        This is an interesting question. I bring it up because of an article I read about cars that cost considerably less than a hybrid and rival a hybrid for gas mileage. There are standard gas vehicles that get 40mpg on the highway. There are cars in this group that have few material

      • Organic Solar Cells Get A Boost From IBM
        02/12/10



        IBM is giving a boost to clean energy with a high-efficiency solar cell made from Earth-abundant materials.

        Created from copper, tin, zinc, sulfur, and selenium, it performs at a 9.6 percent efficiency, which is 40 percent higher than previous attempts to create a natur

      • A Green Valentines Day
        02/11/10
        This is a suggestion that I read on another blog, and I think about the best one I have seen. Many suggestions include the purchase of things you do not need, this action is not green no matter how green the items supposedly are. If you don't need it, the transit to get it, the production of

      • Beware The Bamboo Fabric!
        02/10/10
        Those of us that look for green products and try to make better choices often fall victim or find ourselves asking if something passes the smell test. If something smells funny or seems too good to be true, it usually isn't true. The most recent thing to goof us up is the Bamboo fabric.

      • Buying Used and Renewing Things
        02/08/10
        I have mentioned many times that the R's are very important, including the re-use and renew. In this pair, I include things like used cars. As I have personally had some car issues recently, the family van died, I want to share my experience as evidence that I try and practice the R's.
      • Electronic Text Books?
        02/03/10
        McGraw-Hill, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt K-12, Pearson Education and the Washington Post Co.'s Kaplan Inc. are named in a Wall Street Journal article as having plans to make electronic study guides. This is a first step toward electronic textbooks at school. I for one feel that this could be go

      • Could This Be A Revolutionay Wind Turbine
        02/01/10



        Dubbed "Revolutionair," the sleek turbines were officially debuted after a lengthy 2 years of research and work. This is supposedly a brand new, never before seen helix-shaped version of the Revolutionair unveiled by Starck today. I don't know if maybe the photo jus

    • January
      • NASA and NOAA - 2009 Is Among The Hottest Years On Record
        01/26/10
        Do the following statements conflict?

        -- NASA's conclusion: "2009 was tied for the second warmest year in the modern record, a new NASA analysis of global surface temperature shows."

        -- NOAA's conclusion: "For 2009, global temperatures tied with 2006 as

      • Were Still In a Drought? Yes.
        01/25/10
        All this rain and flooding has not filled the reservoirs. The rain and flooding is highly visible, but not necessarily going into the locations that store the water for future use. Most of the runoff is finding its way back to the bay or other water outlets.

        Another trick is the snow pa

      • Be Careful In This Weather
        01/24/10

        Click the image to enlarge. Visit here to see more of my photos.


        While we all, even nationally, were watching the news and locally hearing emergency broadcasts, I went out and took a few photos. Then I retreated into the house until the storm eased up.

        I'm su

      • Simplified Ways to Go Green
        01/23/10
        There is an article you can get to on the related link that lists 10 ways to go green that are not your typical angle on the subject. I really like what she has to say and her justifications. Follow the link for the whole article and I will summarize here:

        1. Buy less stuff - vote with

      • Did Our Oil Dependence Cause Our Economic Crisis?
        01/22/10



        Lets start by reminding ourselves that correlation does not necessarily mean something is in fact the cause. Until cause is verified, correlation means we should be suspicious and investigate.

        Now, the chart above creates some real suspicion. The correlation of our oil

      • Climate Change and Global Warming Evidence
        01/21/10
        2.4MB Glacier Comparison Images - click here

        For some reason, people are still questioning these issues. I think we are past that and the questions should be "how bad has it gotten", "what can we do about it" and maybe "how much of this is directly caused by huma

      • France Has Joined Germany Recommending Alternatives To IE
        01/18/10
        This still isn't my usual, but it is more re-enforcement for leaving Internet Explorer. If and when MS fixes the problem you can consider going back. I will not be going back, I like one of the alternatives better - Firefox.

        "Microsoft still has not released a patch for a majo

      • A Non Related Subject - FYI - Stop Using Internet Explorer
        01/16/10
        In a statement issued today, the German Federal Office for Security in Information Technology (known as BSI) recommends that all Internet Explorer users switch to an alternative browser.

        The BSI says they may resume using Explorer after a fix is issued by Microsoft for a critical vulnerab

      • Save Some Money and Reuse Some Seemingly Forgotten Items
        01/15/10
        I just read an article about making use of some seemingly obvious items that many of us already have. However, I started to realize how long it has been since I have seen anyone around me make use of these.

        When is the last time someone opened a lunch pail and thermos where you work? Ho

      • Plastics, Environment and Belly Fat?
        01/14/10
        The other day, I read an article about chemicals in plastics contributing to obesity if you are exposed during certain developmental periods. I kept thinking about how to relate the information here. Then it hit me, this is perfectly relevant, taking care of the environment is also a health benefi

      • Printable Batteries - What is the Benefit
        01/12/10



        Cost is the obvious benefit, however, lower cost means the ability to add batteries in situations that may not have allowed previously. Technology to store energy is also a means to boost alternative energy sources as they need a buffer in order to supply stable energy on demand.<

      • Is Alternative Transportation Getting a Foothold?
        01/08/10



        There are some indicators that this may be true. However, they may also be anecdotal.

        The first indicator is a drop in vehicles for 2009. The Earth Policy Institute released a study reflecting 14 million cars were scrapped during 2009 while only 10 million were purchas

      • Going Paperless
        01/07/10
        I have covered this subject lightly before. Now to share the project I mentioned in the "Working Toward Paperless" article.

        A great deal of paper used to be processed for job bids. Basically when a school district needs work done that will require a contractor, there is a bid

      • Rechargeable Batteries
        01/06/10
        There is an article on the best rechargeable batteries over on "MetaEfficient.com". To summarize, the Ni-MH batteries are the best. They break down the pros and cons of a few brands. To go a step further, they also rate a few of the "best" chargers for these batteries.
      • Electric Vehicle Myths:
        01/05/10
        These myths are from the Mother Nature Network:

        Myth 1: EVs don't have enough range. You'll be stranded when you run out of electricity.
        -- FACT: Americans drive an average of 40 miles per day, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation. Most new battery electrics h

      • First Post of 2010! Welcome Back!
        01/04/10
        I hope you had a great end of year with friends and or family. I know I did.

        Even over my vacation, I watched for news and articles that would be of interest here. There were only a few. It seems lots of organizations are off during the holidays. We have a woman who is going to paddle

  • 2009
    • December
      • US CO2 Is Going Down
        12/23/09
        I thought we could all use some good news this close to a major holiday. According to the Associated Press, the climate conference data reflects the US has reduced CO2 emissions 1.8% over the 1990-2007 time frame.

        This is good, but we are not leading the pack, although we are one of the

      • Environmentally Friendly Holiday Clean Up
        12/21/09
        I have not been real consistant this month with my articles here. After we start the new year I will be better. Today I want to share some useful information regarding clean up.

        1. Remember the tree, gift wrap and packaging are all recycleable. My recycling usually will not fit in my w

      • Free Shipping Day!
        12/16/09
        I have already covered why on-line shopping is better for the environment. Here is an opportunity to take advantage of free shipping!

        Dec 17 is official free shipping day. Over 600 merchants are participating including the following favorites:

        1-800-Flowers
        Adidas
      • Solar Panels at Lowes Starting in 2010
        12/14/09
        For the first time, U.S. homeowners can buy solar panels off the shelves from a major retailer, *-(this assumes that Fry's electronics and Harbor Freight are not major retailers, and that they have not been selling solar panels for 5 or more years now)-. Akeena Solar Inc. last week announced th

      • Architecture That Increases Building Efficiency
        12/11/09



        While it may not seem like architecture would have a significant energy impact, it does. If you really stop to think about it, something as simple as the direction a building faces and the layout of the most used rooms in relation to the direction will make a huge difference in li

      • Water Water Water - Freezing Pipes and Leaks
        12/10/09
        Well, this cold snap is something else. I know if you watch or listen to the news, you have been reminded to cover or insulate your outside water lines. However, I'm reminding you again, did you do it?

        As for conservation, water is still at drought levels. We can not let this becom

      • Working Toward Paperless Operations
        12/09/09
        Well, I have not added anything here for almost a week. I have been running to catch up on a few things, meetings, site audits, etc...

        One of the things I have committed a fair amount of time to is a new process for sharing some of our data here at the school district. I have configured

      • The Honda P-NUT
        12/03/09



        While Personal-Neo Urban Transport doesn't roll off the tongue, it seems car companies are going overboard trying to come up with catchy names, even for a concept car - (P-NUT). However, I like the look and the idea of a 3 seat vehicle. This could be perfect as a Taxi, or fo

      • Dealing with Packaging
        12/02/09
        With the holiday season, packaging is abundant. How do you deal with all of it and not contribute to the environmental issues? A recent entry in Yahoo Green addresses just this issue.

        Follow the related link to find out more.

      • Shopping For A New TV - LCD vs Plasma
        12/01/09

        click the image to enlarge.


        Well, it is hard to ignore the advertising and the deals available. I have been asked many times which is better, LCD or Plasma and it is usually followed by a nod and "LCD right?"

        Well, the question might be a little harder th

    • November
      • The Power of Waste Heat
        11/30/09



        As you probably know by now, heat is often produced by electrical devices. Easy Bake Oven's, computers, stereos, TV's, etc...

        What you may not know already is that heat can be converted to electricity and thereby get some of that energy back. Due to losses in

      • Happy Thanksgiving!
        11/26/09
        Enjoy time with your family and friends.

        Happy Thanksgiving!

        - Brad

      • Holiday Shopping
        11/24/09
        Well, the season is here. From the commercials to the retail decorations, there is no denying we will all be spending money. Keep in mind you can reduce stress and lessen your environmental impact by ordering items on-line and having them delivered. The more items from a single vendor the better.

      • Eco Friendly Emergency Shelters by HOMErgent (Home Urgent)
        11/23/09



        In disaster aftermath, a lot of things are suddenly a problem. Dysentery, shelter and food are primary concerns for those people who are displaced. This means a safe shelter with waste management and proper climate controls and a process to clean water are all critical for health

      • Eco Blue Cube Scores a Point with Students
        11/20/09



        Although students are quick to say negative things about anything they are not accustomed too, there is a very real and positive message here at Northgate High School. As you can see in the high schools newspaper clip above, the students are happy with the change.

        The a

      • Supercomputers and Climate Change
        11/18/09



        I know most people have heard the term "supercomputer" although it may have been in a movie. The fact is we really do have a class of computers called supercomputers. These computers are designed for extreme processing, able to crunch numbers and resolve problems at bre

      • Greenest School in America is South Region High School #15
        11/17/09
        This school, located in Los Angeles, will be the first to generate 100% of its own energy. Utilizing both solar PV and wind turbines. Buildings will be constructed in position specific arrangements to maximize renewable sources.

        For the full article, follow the related link.

      • Solar Spacecraft - Take Two
        11/16/09



        Well, I didn't realize that the first solar space craft crashed into the ocean a few years ago. I just read that the second attempt is scheduled for 2010. The premise is simple, the sails are dark on one side and reflective on the other. As the craft is free in space withou

      • Shrinky Dinks For Science - Michelle Khine, 32
        11/13/09
        This really can't be summarized easily. Michelle is a Biomedical engineer at U.C. Irvine. Given a problem with microfluidics, she thought back to her childhood and found a very powerful solution that no one had considered.

        Here is a snip from the article:

        ' ...the s

      • Happy Vetrans Day!
        11/11/09
        If you are a vet; Thank you for your service that we can enjoy the lifestyle and opportunities we have.

      • Repair, Don't Replace
        11/10/09
        Protecting the environment can be as simple as repairing an item instead of replacing it. Consider this, if you add 50% more useful life to an item, you have reduced the impact of that item by 33%! To go a step further, you have saved money too. The amount of energy and CO2 released from producti

      • Bacteria Packaging
        11/09/09
        I remember about 16 years ago, I was working at Egghead Software. We had these really neat packaging peanuts that the company started using, rice puffs. These were a lot like synthetic peanuts but dissolved in water. I have not seen those since.

        Now we are looking at a bacteria and sug

      • Electric Hot Rods Are Becoming Reality
        11/05/09



        When I first saw the image above, I thought "oh nice another clean hot rod at a car show." My next thought was "why is it on an environmentally focused website?" As I looked closer, I realized that is an electric vehicle battery pack where the engine normally

      • New Satelite Will Track Climate Change
        11/03/09



        This satelite was first developed to help predict floods. The probe, which also monitors photosynthesis and plant growth, can measure moisture to a depth of up to 7ft.

        It is also critical for calculating Earth's carbon cycle, the process by which heat-trapping carb

      • Stylish Solar Bags in Our Future
        11/02/09



        At $150 each, this bag is not in my future for a while. However, this is a start. With the exception of the logo, this is a semi stylish bag.

        Read the press release at the related link below.

    • October
      • Some Solar Power Systems Use Water Adding Confilct for Arid Locations
        10/30/09



        As most of you know, there are many types of solar energy systems to take sunlight and make electricity. What a lot of people do not know is that some of the systems need water to operate. The connection may seem fuzzy, but it will be clear as day in a minute.

        In the c

      • Flintstones House Had Real Life Inspiration But Was Unaware
        10/28/09



        Clearly built from local materials this house in Portugal immediately reminded me of the Flintstones house. This home is real, two stories and even the wood for interior stairs was collected locally.

        Follow the link for some more neat architecture.

      • Warning About Halloween Face Paint
        10/27/09
        Not to scare everyone, but you should know what you put on your childs skin. There are some face paints that have questionable ingredients.

        The testing, by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, a coalition of health and environmental groups, found that many face paints -- including those used

      • Vertical Farms - Do They Make Sense?
        10/27/09
        I have had my questions about this. I just didn't see how growing fresh fruit and vegetables in city environments would be economical. The related link has a lot of good points about the subject. From an economic standpoint, it really can't work with our current situation. Consider how

      • Just Good Advise - About GPS and Safety
        10/27/09
        This is not energy related, but I have been using a GPS for about 7 years now. I have had a Garmin V and a Tom Tom. I loved the Garmin, but the Tom Tom was years newer and had really cool features. By today's standards, both of mine are out of date. My Tom Tom software runs locally inside m

      • Worlds Most Efficient Solar Cell Has a New Record at 35.8%
        10/26/09



        Lets start by saying that all solar cells are not created equal. This is not a solar cell as mentioned in a previous article, this is a compound cell. This is much like stacking cells, but it is a lot more complicated. These are the kinds of cells used on satelites. The stackin

      • Neal Hot Springs in Oregon Will Be Producing Power With Geothermal
        10/23/09



        Making use of natural Hot Springs to make electricity is not new. This particular site is new. The sites second well was completed on October 15 and is known as "well NHS-5". U.S. Geothermal initiated the development drilling at Neal Hot Springs located in eastern Oreg

      • Solar Lantern for $10 Aimed at Developing Nations
        10/22/09



        The Kiran provides up to 8 hours of bright light on a single day's charge using its highly-efficient LEDs that produce about five times more light than a kerosene lantern.

        Find out more at the related link.

      • Dell Creates Covered Parking with Solar
        10/21/09



        This environmentally friendly parking lot at Dells Round Rock Texas headquarters will generate 130,000KWh of green electricity annually. This is great use of a parking lot and is something I have been actively researching for our school district.

      • 28 Percent of Power is Used for Heating the Average Home
        10/20/09
        An easy do-it-yourself project that should offer an immediate payoff in lower bills is to insulate your water heater. Particularly if your heater is in an unheated part of the house, a fitted water heater blanket can pay for itself quickly. Also insulate at least the first 6-10 feet of hot water sup

      • Wines - Boxed Vs Bottled
        10/19/09



        Many wine connoisseurs will have a hard time with this. If the aging is done in the barrels and the wine produced will be consumed within a year, the box should have equal quality wine arrive at the table as a bottle. To go a step further, the box does not allow air back into the

      • Do Low Rolling Resistance Tires Make Enough Difference To Justify Cost?
        10/16/09



        The Department of Energy says 5 to 15% of fuel economy is used for overcoming rolling resistance. This means your existing car could benefit by 5% or more from low rolling resistance tires. The trick here is that this tire type is almost never produced for your basic or larger ve

      • 6 Year Old Boy Is Safe - Never Took Balloon Ride
        10/16/09
        This really is a happy ending. I figured I better post this in case someone stumbles on this entry sometime in the future.

      • 6 Year Old Boy Not In Balloon When It Landed
        10/15/09
        (CNN) -- A runaway balloon has touched down in Colorado after a 6-year-old boy untied it from his family home in Fort Collins.

        The boy was not inside the helium aircraft when it landed, CNN affiliate KMGH reported.

      • 6-year-old Colorado boy floats away in balloon
        10/15/09



        Keep thinking positive! This is one brave kid who probably did not have any idea what kind of ride he was in for.

        See the article at CNN. I hope he makes it out of this safely.


        From the article this far:

        The helium balloon was tethered to th

      • Electric Bicycles Get Stylish
        10/15/09
        Over at the EcoFriend blog, there is a nice entry with lots of pictures showing off a new, very stylish electric bicycle. The bike is designed to be compact with 20" wheels while the configuration is for someone who would normally ride a 28" wheeled bike.

        The motor is a 250 wat

      • Drive to Link Wind and Solar Power for a Unified Grid
        10/14/09
        There is an article in the Wall Street Journal about a "super station" being proposed for connecting the major electrical networks. The purpose would be to allow renewable energies to be transported between regions without an entirely new infrastructure.

        See the related link fo

      • The Rain Has Come!
        10/13/09
        Well, if you live around here, then no doubt you have noticed the rain. Parking lots are flooding, rivers close to overflowing and roofs leaking. We have been very busy dealing with this storm. Check out my August 7th posting about El Nino and you may see some correlation with the prediction of a

      • A Reminder of the Basics - Save Energy to Help the Environment
        10/09/09
        These are easy and have an additive impact on your budget and the environment, a win-win.

        1. Turn off lights when you leave a room more than 5min, even at work. If you are the last one out the door, you are responsible for the impact.

        2. Carry your own water. Do not buy bottl

      • Save a Tree, Stop Junk Mail
        10/08/09
        A while back, if you stopped your junk mail, they probably just moved the bulk mail to another address. This is because we need to all get on board to stop it. Now with a global awareness of how trees help the environment, it is likely that stopping the junk mail will actually have an impact.
      • Green Food - Cooking for Budget and Planet
        10/07/09


        This may seem an odd fit, as you know I sometimes throw these types of subjects into the mix. The food you prepare at home has an impact on the environment as well as your budget. The budget often causes us to buy more processed or chemically altered food that has a higher yield and th

      • Is Renewable Energy Destroying Natural Landscapes?
        10/06/09

        Photo from the original blog - follow related link.


        This is a question raised on another blog. I think there are some good points in the article and heightened awareness can help prevent problems.

        We need to consider the impact of renewable energies. Solar panels

      • The Worlds Largest Windfarm Officially Went Online at 9pm Last Night
        10/05/09
        From the article:

        Texas is now home to the world's largest wind farm. The 781.5 MW Roscoe wind complex has been completed and went live last night at 9:00 p.m.

        Built by E.ON Climate & Renewables, the $1 billion farm covers 100,000 acres of land across four counties in

      • EPA Intends to Curtail Greenhouse Gas Emissions
        10/02/09
        The New York Times has an article about the EPA and GHG's. As Congress is slow to take action, the Obama administration has encouraged the EPA to regulate GHG's.

        If this happens, it will affect large producers such as power plants. After my article yesterday, this is really re

      • Do Renewable Energy Sources Pay For Themselves
        10/01/09
        It has been brought to my attention that certain renewable energy sources do not pay for themselves. I've been told there is no real return on investment - or is there? In my mind, a product or resource that I have come to depend on and refuse to do without is something I pay for. If I have

      • Avoid Toxins, Use Natural Cleaners
        10/01/09
        This subject pops up periodically - Cleaners. Keep in mind, there are options that don't come with extra packaging, advertising and expense.

        Baking Soda has a ton of uses. White vinegar is often overlooked for its cleaning properties as well. Here are a couple good recipes for cle

    • September
      • The Night Sky
        09/29/09

        Click image for a larger view.


        Although this is not a normal article, by now you know I occasionally insert something that is more of a tie-in than on target. Well, this is one of those.

        This incredible image is a perfect reminder of how small and special our plane

      • Windows Helping HVAC Systems
        09/28/09



        This is very interesting. A design firm, VetroVentilato(r), is working on a system to use the air space inside multi-pane windows as an opportunity to heat or cool a room.

        Basically, the space between the panes heats air from sunlight and is directed into a room in wint

      • Highway 101 Is An Electric Highway
        09/25/09



        From the article:

        Right now, Tesla Roadster owners can charge their batteries for free along California's Highway 101. Five charging stations between San Francisco and Los Angeles have been installed by SolarCity. Though they are currently only compatible with Roa

      • Parabolic Solar Cooker Concept - Prototype
        09/24/09

        click the image to enlarge.


        This is a great concept of a portable parabolic solar powered cooking system. There is a stove and an oven as well as a prep area. The design might seem a little bulky at first, but the idea of it storing in about the same space as a large cooler

      • Good Housekeeping Green Seal - New Entries
        09/24/09
        The following is a list of products that meet Good Housekeeping Green Seal criteria.

        Aveeno's Soothing Bath Treatment

        Physicians Formula's Organic Wear 100% Natural Origin Tinted Moisturizer

        Green Works' Natural Bathroom Cleaner

        Nature'

      • Water Bottles Again - Reusable is Definetely Better
        09/22/09


        From the most recent article:

        -----
        By now, you've probably seen the grim statistics about plastic water bottles. The issue seems to be getting more and more media coverage lately. In case you haven't heard the case against bottled water, here's a brief sum

      • 4 All Electric Vehicles Introduced By Renault
        09/21/09

        From left to right: Fluence, Twizy, Zoe, Kangoo


        At the Frankfurt Motor Show, Renault introduced 4 concept cars that are all electric, not hybrid, electric only. These cars cover city transit, family, commercial and general use categories.


        The Twizy city car h

      • LED Lighting is Getting More Affordable
        09/18/09



        With some materials and airflow design enhancements, Eternaleds Inc. has cut the cost of LED light bulbs by about 40%. This means a return on investment over incandescent of only 2 years. Up till now, the pay back for the difference in cost has been 3 to 4 years depending on the

      • San Francisco International Airport Will Have The Worlds First Carbon Offset Kiosks
        09/17/09



        If you would like to offset your carbon footprint from air travel, you will be able to buy tree plantings right at the airport. The funds will go to local carbon offset projects and the Garcia River Forest, a previously deforested conservation based management project.

      • Solar Power in Rohnert Park
        09/16/09
        From: renewableenergyworld.com

        --
        Novato-based SolarCraft announced the completion of a solar electric system at the newly completed Rohnert Park City Center Plaza. City Center Plaza is adjacent to the public safety building and the library, three-quarters of an acre filled with benc

      • LED By Panasonic
        09/15/09



        The Panasonic EverLED. This bulb is expected to produce the light equivalent of a 40watt incandescent for up to 19 years of regular use. The expected savings is listed as up to $23 a year on energy bills. This is great since they are expecting the bulb to sell for $40.

      • New California Energy Standard
        09/14/09
        Governor Schwarzenegger has vowed to veto the new legislature approved energy standard because it limits power production to inside the state only. The Governor plans to issue an executive order for 33% of the states power to be produced by renewable sources by 2020 without the in-state limit.
      • There May Be Some Excitement For Oil
        09/11/09



        Don't get the wrong idea. Oil is still generally bad as a long term energy source. We can not afford the greenhouse effect it contributes and the supplies are still finite. Even if we have made mistakes in our estimate of sites or quantities, what we do know for sure is tha

      • Reuse Items by Swapping or Borrowing
        09/10/09
        Save


        Websites dedicated to helping you trade what you no longer want or need. Swap books, music, DVDs, or video games via mail through Swaptree ,SwapaDVD , PaperBackSwap , SwapaCD , BookMooch, TitleTrader, Game Trading Zone.

        Trade kids' stuff you no longer need at

      • Greenwashing - Pretending to be Green and Environmentally Friendly
        09/10/09



        OK, this is something we have all witnessed but may not know there is actually a term for it. When we see green labels on items that just don't seem to be green in any reasonable way and wonder, "how does this product help the environment"? This question we ask our

      • Avoid Cell Phone Radiation
        09/09/09
        If you are in the market for a new cell phone, consider the radiation. Follow the related link for a top 10 list and more information.

      • Considering a GPS - They Can Be Green Too
        09/08/09
        A study done by NAVTEQ, a navigation system data provider, found that using GPS systems with real-time traffic information can save drivers four days a year of driving time and can cut emissions by 21 percent.

      • Incandescent Light Bulbs Banned In Europe
        09/04/09
        The end is near for the standard filament style light bulb. In Europe, it has been officially banned. Existing supplies are allowed to be sold, but that will be the end. The U.S. has a plan for banning the bulbs in 2012.

        This is a good reason to keep replacing the lights you use for ge

      • Re-Usable Aluminum Water Bottles May Be Unsafe
        09/03/09
        As many people make an effort to help the environment and make healthy choices, they opt for a re-usable water bottle. However, all water bottles are not created equal. In fact one company has recently shared that the liner of the aluminum bottle contains small amounts of bisphenol-A, (BPA), the

      • Advancements in Solar Concentrators
        09/03/09


        This improvement may seem obvious when you hear it, but someone had to be first to do it. Researchers in Golden Colorado have been developing a metal alternative to the large glass mirrors on solar concentrators. The metal mirror is significantly lighter weight and reduces the cost of

      • H1N1 - The Flu
        09/02/09



        This is not a typical environmental article. Lets just say it relates because being healthy helps us take care of our environment. Since school just started and everyone seems concerned with the upcoming flu season, I thought I would share the following article from CNN.com:
      • BMW Concept Car
        09/01/09



        Ok, I'm a sucker for a car. Check out this hybrid concept car from BMW.

        Click the related link below for more photos and information.

    • August
      • Green Clothing Isn't Always Green
        08/31/09



        If the logo and/or company claim the material is green, is it?

        Three companies &#8211; Sami Designs, LLC, doing business as (d/b/a) Jonäno; CSE, Inc., d/b/a Mad Mod; and Pure Bamboo, LLC &#8211; have settled FTC complaints, agreeing to stop making false claims an

      • Being Prepared Saves Energy Time and CO2 - Bay Bridge Closure
        08/30/09
        Hi, this is very relevant, an average of 280,000 vehicles cross the bridge on an average work day. Imagine that many cars stuck crowed together and idling because of a lack of planning, CO2 and fossil fuel waste along with hours of peoples lives. This message needs to reach anyone who commutes.
      • Great Pacific Garbage Patch - We Must Recycle
        08/28/09


        Someone very important to me that I do not see often enough has sent me an e-mail reminder about why we must recycle. This is a subject I happen to know a bit about. However, we as humans get lazy and fall into bad habits easily. So this is a reminder of why it is so important to proc

      • Save the Environment Download Your Music
        08/28/09



        Clearly we want to do this via legitimate websites. The impact on the environment that is removed by this process is significant. A recent Carnegie Mellon University, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and Stanford University study confirms what we already assumed: Downloading

      • Solar Cell Efficiancy Record Breaks Again
        08/26/09



        As you will see if you look back just a few posts, I just wrote about this same subject. However, this is not a multicrystalline cell as I was writing about in the previous article.

        This breakthrough came in the multi-cell combination category. This means that we are n

      • Back to School Monday August 31 Here at MDUSD
        08/25/09



        Wow, it is less than a week away. Yahoo Green had a nice article about starting school. They cover everything from keeping Swine Flu in perspective to healthy lunches, recess, backpacks, vaccinations, and references to other good sources of information.

        Check out the r

      • Solar Panel Efficiency Record Broken
        08/21/09


        On August 4th I wrote about a solar company claiming 800x improvement on the power generated and made some points about how that was attained. The article is here "Solar Cell Power Production is Increased 800x?!?".

        This article is about a breakthrough regarding the

      • BMW Launches a Hybrid
        08/19/09
        For the first time, BMW is launching a hybrid.

        See the related link for the article.

        PS - there isn't a picture on the related link either... :(

      • Human Powered Hovercraft
        08/18/09



        This is not a new project, but a recent project. What is new is that they just crossed the Thames river with this machine! There is a great deal of information and photos at their website.

        click the related link below to visit them.

      • Electric Vehicles Without Batteries???
        08/17/09



        The Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology feels that an electric vehicle would perform better without batteries. As this is not a new idea, but an idea to get back to basics, they might be on to something. I remember as a kid, the buses in San Francisco had these lon

      • Wind Turbine Performance Enhancer - The Vindicator(r)
        08/14/09



        Aside from a name that sounds like it belongs in an action movie, this is really a good idea. The premise is simple, measure the attributes of the wind and adjust the position of the wind turbines to match. This would create an optimal performance for the given wind condition.
      • Waste Into Energy on the Virgin Islands
        08/13/09



        A Colorado developer, Alpine Energy Group, plans to spend $440 million to build 49 MW of waste-to-energy capacity on St. Croix and St. Thomas that could eventually lead to the closure of landfills.

        Alpine plans to begin construction in May 2010 in St. Thomas and St. Croi

      • True Focal Eye Glasses
        08/12/09
        As many people in my life wear glasses and a lot of my research is on technology related sources, this popped up. Take a peek at these very high tech focus adjustable prescription glasses.

      • Sony Creates New Breed of Lithium Ion Batteries 4x Better
        08/11/09



        Sony has some new technology in the battery category that looks like it will be making its way into our hands soon. Due to its use of an olivine-type lithium iron phosphate for the cathode material, the battery's overall lifespan is about four times that of conventional lithi

      • Understanding a 230 MPG Rating for the Chevy Volt
        08/11/09



        How in the heck is this figure calculated. MPG used to be simple, our vehicles used 1 type of fuel and you simply averaged the range you could go on a given amount. Now, in the case of a hybrid, we have two types of fuel and one of them is often used to replenish the other!

      • Cloud Ships for Cooling the Atmosphere
        08/10/09



        This may be a cost effective and reasonable way to put a big band aid on our climate issue. This would not be a solution, but could help significantly for the immediate situation.

        As these boats would inject salty water vapor into the atmosphere, the brilliant white col

      • El Nino is Reving Up to Deliver Water This Winter - Hopefully
        08/07/09
        As water temperatures rise in the Pacific Ocean, it historically tells us a lot about the rainfall we might expect. Currently, temperatures are close to what they were in 2002 and climbing. possibly getting near the 1997 and 1998 temperatures. In the winter of 1997 and 1998, the Bay Area received

      • DOE Announces Winners of Battery and Electric Vehicle Grant
        08/07/09




        The Department of Energy announced the winners yesterday of $2.4 billion in grants for the advancement of battery and electric vehicle technology. The highly-competitive grant program had 48 lucky winners spread across the country.

        See the related link below for m

      • A Shipping Container Mall at Pier 57 NY - AKA Chelsea Pier
        08/05/09



        The competition to redevelop Chelsea's Pier 57 has been won by LOT-EK Architects who have proposed a shipping container shopping center. The plan includes a two-acre rooftop park and shipping containers recycled into artisan stores.

        Click the related link for more i

      • From Production to the Recycle Bin, LED Lights vs CFLs
        08/05/09



        We all know that CFL lights, the compact florescent spiral bulbs, are more efficient and are supposed to save us money. There were some issues with the early versions, but currently are living up to expectation most of the time. So now that the bugs are mostly gone and we are all

      • Solar Cell Power Production Increased 800x !?!
        08/04/09


        While this is a significant improvement, there are issues to consider about the claim. As shown in the diagram, a Fresnel lens is employed to gather and focus the light onto a standard solar cell. This means the cell itself is not improved as the stories seem to imply, the amount of li

      • Saving Energy Saves Money and Reduces Environmental Impact
        08/04/09
        We all know this, but how much does it really amount to? A recent report shows that the U.S. could save over a Trillion dollars with energy efficiency upgrades, and after the costs of the upgrades are subtracted it is still $680 Billion in savings.



        From the article:

    • July
      • Duct Tape Saving the Environment!
        07/30/09
        This may seem far fetched, but if you consider that any item repaired for further use is not going to a landfill or generating extra CO2 in the recycle process, it is a benefit.

        Making use of duct tape, glue or mechanical fasteners to repair items for a longer useful life is a simple way

      • Vacation - Wear Sunblock
        07/19/09
        Hi, I had a very busy couple days on the 16th and 17th. I am now on vacation! Yeah!

        In preperation to be gone until the 29th of July, I had a lot of work to do. I have a very full day of appointments on the 29th including a meeting to kick off the solar water heating system at Pleasant

      • About my meeting yesterday
        07/15/09



        It is another slow environmental news day. So I will share a bit about my meeting yesterday.

        There were over 50 employees from water districts around the bay area and I was the only "customer". The group was somewhat informal and designed to allow the water d

      • Water Water Water!
        07/14/09
        Yesterday I spent a good amount of time going over water saving strategies and products with the Contra Costa Water District. As a follow up I will be spending a good portion of the day with them again today.

        Specifically we have been talking about the Ecoblue Cube for urinals, saving ov

      • Global Warming and Developing Nations
        07/12/09
        Why not worry about helping developing nations with green energy? I have spoken to people who don't really think that developing nations contribute that much to global warming and that they should be given aid after the leading countries figure out solutions to their own problems.

        I

      • Keep a healthy lawn and save some water
        07/11/09



        Well it is the weekend and I have tasks around the house. But starting the day by checking my email and favorite news feeds I couldn't help but post this article about lawn mowing.

        We are in a drought, so the photo above is NOT my lawn or mower, mine is borderline

      • Northgate High School Solar Panels
        07/10/09



        This morning I made an early start by going to Northgate High School to check on our solar panels and do a little house cleaning. It is a really big job to clean an area that big and I will have to return to do more.

        Check out the power we are producing - click here.
      • Tires from Orange Oil?
        07/10/09



        This may sound odd, and it is. We are used to tires being made from rubber and petroleum based ingredients. The rubber will still be part of the recipe, but the petroleum will be replaced with other renewable ingredients like Orange Oil.

        The great news is that we will

      • Solar Power - In a Nutshell
        07/09/09



        As many of you may know, I have been researching solar power for the school district, both thermal and photovoltaic. What you may not know is what they are.

        Solar thermal refers to using the heat of the sun to heat something else. We use this type of solar to heat swim

      • As the song says - Wear Sunscreen!
        07/08/09



        We all see and hear the commercials, as well as get reminded by those around us that we need to wear sunscreen. Sunscreen has always been a subject that just seems to have a personal connection as much as scientific for a lot of people. The facts are simple enough, too much time

      • Environmentally Friendly Home Designs
        07/08/09



        The image above has been floating around the green forums for a few days. Although it is not the most futuristic in appearance, I think it is likely a first step toward green dwellings for the average person.

        The EcoFriend website has a list of 10 modern home design ide

      • Green After Death
        07/07/09



        Ok, I know the title is a little morbid, but I just couldn't come up with anything creative. Ecoffins USA is providing coffins that are made to rejoin the ecosystem. Using materials like banana sheaf, the coffins break down quickly and apparently the body does not require em

      • InterHome, Intelligent Home System
        07/06/09



        Welcome back from a long holiday weekend. I hope everyone had a fun but safe holiday. I enjoyed this weekend with my kids. We watched the fireworks over College Park High School, but were not fortunate enough to get in close.

        Now that everyone is back to work, I am ba

      • Gardening for Dollars - You could save $25 per crop
        07/02/09
        There is so much information on the original article that summarizing would be difficult. Follow the related link to get the details. Basically someone went to the trouble of figuring out which veggies save the most money and gives a complete breakdown from greatest return to least.

      • Green to the Extreme - Composting Toilets
        07/01/09
        Many people know that little steps add up when we all make an effort. There are differences in what people consider a little step. Some think of turning off lights when you leave a room and converting to florescent wherever possible as a little step. Others think of having a compost pile and find

    • June
      • Cash for Clunkers - Law
        06/30/09



        The law as it was signed will give the power to decide which vehicles will be eligible for the program to the dealers. The dealers will also be in charge of scrapping the older vehicles, which must be less than 25 years old to be eligible for federal funds.

        Their are som

      • Smart Fortwo $99 a Month
        06/30/09



        Well, here is another car. The smart car for two, shown above, is getting and incentive boost.

        From the article:
        "smart USA will allow qualified consumers using the federal rebate to purchase a new smart fortwo for as low as $99 a month. The smart Fortwo will

      • IRENA - Update
        06/30/09
        Abu Dhabi has been selected headquarters and Hélène Pelosse was selected as the first head of the emerging Agency during its second session in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.

      • Air Car - AIRPod
        06/29/09
        It seems like cars are a trend this weekend. Here I am telling you about another clean air vehicle. This one has already been prototyped. Now it is a matter of working it into our day to day lives.



        From the article:
        "The 2010 MDI AIRPod emits no emissions and runs

      • An Inflateable Car - Really - The XP-MUV
        06/27/09


        This sounds a bit far fetched, but the article has enough good points to make you think there is a possibility. There is a lot of theory this far and no prototypes mentioned. However, they refer to many technologies that are already available and the way they might fit together to acco

      • Ultra High Power Density Lithium Batteries in the Near Future
        06/26/09
        It looks like another breakthrough will help solidify the transition to alternate energy. With the level of energy per pound going up, the transition to energy sources that need a battery for a buffer is made easier. This also helps with the range and efficiency of electric or hybrid cars.
      • Outback Power Systems - Renewable Energy Grid Tie and Battery Backup
        06/26/09
        Outback Power Systems is a leader in power producing equipment for renewable energy. The power generated by solar or wind is not usually ready for the power grid, the Outback devices clean it up for that purpose. They can also tie a set of batteries to the system for use as backup power when the g

      • Space Based Power Plant Coming Soon?
        06/25/09
        PG&E has invested in Solaren, a company that plans to put a power collector in orbit and transmit that power to the surface using microwaves. These are not the microwaves we have in the kitchen, but the actual radio frequency that gave the magic box its name.

        Apparently the width of

      • 40x Global Power Needs Blowing in the Wind
        06/24/09
        The last time I read a number like this it was in the mid 30's for the energy blowing in the wind. Anyway, I like to see several studies from different groups that have similar findings. It really solidifies the amount of energy available through wind power is plenty for our needs if we can h

      • IRENA - Coming Soon!
        06/24/09
        So, what or who is IRENA? IRENA stands for International Renewable Energy Agency. It is not a perfect acronym, but it fits and is easy to say. Currently there are 88 member countries and a decision to choose a headquarter location will be made soon.

        There are four proposed locations, w

      • New Prefab Homes May Be Energy Self Sufficient
        06/23/09



        From the article:

        "Zeta Communities, which is headquartered in South of Market and owns a manufacturing plant in San Leandro, is close to completing its first "zero energy" townhome in Oakland."

        The idea here is sustainable living starting

      • Solar Panels are "Looking Better"
        06/22/09



        With my eye on all things green seemingly all the time, I love to see things like this that show we are still innovating to create a sustainable future without compromise.

        If there were a red color silicon to really blend this, it would be incredible. I think as years g

      • Goodbye Kodachrome
        06/22/09



        There really isn't much to say. Production has stopped and supplies are expected to run out in the fall.

        You can read the press release at the related link below:

      • Alamo Teen Saves a Life
        06/22/09
        An inspiring story like this helps make Monday a lot better. Way to go Sara!

        From the Contra Costa Times: "As her fellow passengers panicked, 15-year-old Sara Broski, of Alamo, stepped up to the plate and calmly saved the Clayton woman's life. She knew what to do thanks to her

      • Lower Green House Gases for Fathers Day
        06/21/09
        Well, it is fathers day and I had a great one. I started the morning having breakfast with my dad and sister. Later in the morning my wife, kids and I set out for 6 flags park in Valejo. Wow, what a mistake! Traffic was backed up for miles. I thought there was an accident and took the surface s

      • The Good Guide - A Helping Hand for a Healthy and Green Life
        06/19/09
        This website I just discovered today has a lot of information about household products. There is information to help you figure out healthy and green alternatives to things we use everyday.

        I think this site has potential with a more environmentally aware population. This information ca

      • Spaceport America Breaking Ground on June, 19th
        06/18/09



        "The realization of Spaceport America is upon us. New Mexico has been working towards this end for decades," said NMSA Executive Director Steve Landeene. "When we turn that first shovel of soil, we will be breaking ground on a whole new future for the people of New M

      • $20M in CREBs for Caltrans
        06/16/09


        California State Treasurer Bill Lockyer announced the sale of US $20 million in clean renewable energy bonds (CREBs) for the California Department of Transportation. The money from these bonds will be used for the installation of solar panels. The installation is expected to save tax p

      • Today is Global Wind Energy Day
        06/15/09
        The AWEA (American Wind Energy Association) has made an effort to designate June 15th as Global Wind Energy Day. The idea is to petition for the advancement of wind energy.

        I personally have a project in the wind category, a vertical axis wind turbine design that is highly efficient and

      • The Department of Energy Injects $300 Million into Green R&D
        06/12/09


        From the press release: ------------------------------------

        New Funding Boosts Carbon Capture, Solar Energy and High Gas Mileage Cars and Trucks.

        The $300 million infusion reflects Obama Administrations broad, aggressive research and development strategy.

      • The Blue Cube and Water Conservation
        06/11/09


        Well, I have been making posts for a week and this system seems to be working pretty well.

        With this in mind, I feel it is time to share some information on systems I have begun placing in our district. In an effort to conserve water, there are several systems I am currently

      • First Full Scale Floating Wind Turbine Installed off Norway Coast
        06/11/09



        Well, a region known for windmills has moved ahead and installed the first full scale floating commercial grade wind turbine. In my perpetual search for practical every day options that I can implement here at the district, I often discover the cutting edge happenings on the subje

      • LED Lights of the future come to Japan in July 2009
        06/11/09


        I don't know about you, but I am excited for the day that LED lights get to a reasonable price and a warmer more natural light. The benefits include higher efficiency than a CFL, longer life than a CFL and they are dimable.

        The problem that I have right now is that the p

      • The Department of Energy needs to monitor their monitors!
        06/10/09



        As human beings, we like to know that even big organizations can make mistakes. As it turns out, the Department of Energy didn't pass their own energy test. There was room for considerable improvement.

        I am sure they will start working on these items immediately.

      • Google and the pursuit of cheap renewable energy
        06/09/09
        While Google is not set on one particular type of renewable energy, there has been some degree of focus on solar thermal.

        In a solar thermal system, the heat of the sun is focused on a common point. The point of focus will contain salts, water or oil depending on the technology. The h

      • Budget vs. Environment
        06/08/09
        I just read a few articles on the budget situation for the state. As a district, the state budget dictates how we operate and with how many people or programs.

        From SF Gate: -----------------------------------------------

        February 2009, lawmakers passed a budget that solved a

      • Testing the system
        06/08/09
        Hi, this entry is for test purposes only.

      • Hybrid Advancements and Modifications
        06/07/09
        I just read an article about modifying your hybrid, Prius specifically.

        If you have a Prius, and want to go more than a mile in battery mode, then you might want to check out 3 Prong Power.
        3Prong Power is delivering enhanced Toyota Prius Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV) conver

      • A new blog...
        06/06/09
        I don't know if this will be seen as a valuable tool or not. I will give it try and promise to maintain it for at least the summer months.

        If there seems to be significant interest, I will try to continue. If not, I may dismiss this blog when school starts up again in the fall.