Do It N Green

Remember those red faced digital watches of the 70’s and how everyone thought it was such a technical marvel how the red LEDs (Light Emitting Diodes) lit up to show the time? Who would have thought at the time that LEDs would eventually compete with incandescent and fluorescent lights for a place in our homes as energy saving light sources with fixture lifespans in excess of 8 years. Colored and white LED light sources are commercially known as solid state lighting and have now begun to make inroads into home lighting applications. We’re going to take a look at the three best ways that solid state lighting or LED lights can be used around your home for energy savings and aesthetics.

The first obvious energy saving application for the home can be found in the outdoor illumination of your home. Regular incandescent bulbs that normally soak up sixty watts or more to floodlight or spotlight the exterior of a home can be replaced with an LED light bulb fixture consuming a minimal 5 to 10 watts of energy. How about a 90 watt equivalent floodlight being replaced by a 13 watt LED fixture? Of course, the volume of sales are not yet high enough to bring down per unit costs of LED fixtures to a level so that it becomes a no-brainer decision to use them. LED light fixtures, especially in the higher power outputs (60 watt equivalents and up) run in the $25 to $150 range depending on fixture type, light output, efficiency , spread, and hue of the light it produces. However outdoor home lighting is not so demanding an application and so the less expensive, lower quality but higher powered LED light fixtures may be used for this purpose. Then there are the lower voltage/wattage equivalent LEDs (40 watts and under) which tend to be the most cost effective with prices starting at $8 to $12 and power consumption running from 2 1/2 watts to 8 watts. These are well suited to the second group of uses that we’ll discuss for LED light fixtures in the home.

Smaller areas in the home like hallways, foyers, bathrooms, and kitchen areas can effectively utilize the lower voltage LED fixtures that provide the 15 to 35 watt equivalent and are in the more affordable range of $15 to $25 and consume between 3 watts to 5 watts, a significant energy savings. Many of these fixtures will screw into the standard Edison screw based sockets. When you couple the energy efficiency to the approximately 8 year life of the fixtures you can see that the savings can add up.There are less expensive LED fixtures to be had however these may have a lower level of illumination, or a narrowness in the cone of the illumination, or the light color may be too blue and cold looking. These may be too unattractive for some who prefer the more yellow toned, warmer white LED lighting in their hallways and foyers. This leads us to the third group of LED lighting applications in the home whose narrower light directionality can be put to better use.

The third best way to utilize low voltage LED fixtures is in areas where low level but concentrated lighting is required. Reading lights and desk lamps are perfectly suited for LED fixtures that won’t break your budget. Fireplaces, paintings on a wall, indoor potted plants, and fish tanks are all areas that can be lit with lower voltage LED lighting that is concentrated and focused. LED light fixtures come in a range of white light hues from the steely bluish white (that can be unflattering to skin tones) all the way to a pure yellow light. So you can bathe your wall paintings in a more yellow toned LED light and use the more bluish white type of LED fixture for your fish tank to bring out the vibrant colors of your tropical fish.

As discussed, there are many Solid State (LED) lighting fixtures whose cost, energy savings, and long life make them a good fit for low power applications throughout the home like simple task lighting, night lights, desk lighting, led flashlights and for smaller areas of the home. The higher quality and higher powered LED lights are still not cost effective for your average home budget. However with advances in LED lighting technology, increasing scales of LED light fixture production, and rising energy costs, we can see a future where there will be an appropriate LED lighting fixture or LED light bulb for practically every lighting application in the home resulting in dramatic energy savings and environmental benefits for the planet.

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Special Thanks to Author: Lauren Zwiebel

When most people think of auto detailing, they focus on the cleaning agents and machines that will do the best kind of job. There is a popular misconception that harsh chemical cleaning agents are the only way to get your vehicle really clean. However, these kinds of products aren’t always the best way to deal with tough stains like brake tar or tree sap deposits. Apart from that, chemical cleaning agents do not break down easily and can pollute the soil or water if they are allowed to run off into the ground. Hazardous ingredients found in these chemicals can also harm the health of the user. The good news is that green chemicals can provide an auto detailing option that is not only more effective, but ecologically friendly too.

Green Technology

The best kinds of eco-friendly cleaning agents for auto detailing are those that are plant based. This means that these products can break down naturally and completely in the environment; they leave no harmful traces in the soil or water. Additionally, they should be non-toxic. Auto detailing green cleaning solutions that are non-toxic are safe for the health of all users.

In addition to the misconception that harsh chemicals are the only solution, there is another that often deters people from buying green chemicals: plant-bbased auto detailing products must not be as powerful. This is simply not true. Green auto detailing chemicals are highly effective and powerful, in addition to being safe. They use molecules smaller than traditional soaps to penetrate dirt and grease molecules, breaking them down from inside. This makes it much easier to remove them completely.

Another thing to bear in mind is that these kinds of auto detailing products work best with the right kind of cleaning machines. For instance, conventional pressure washing equipment isn’t always a good option since the high pressure rates can damage the vehicle body. When choosing this kind of equipment, always keep an eye on the kind of pressure levels and flow rates that the unit offers. The ideal rates would be a pressure rate of around 1000-1500 psi and a flow rate of about 0.5 GPM. This will ensure effective cleaning power that will not damage your paint job in any way. The relatively low flow rate will ensure there is no water wastage, which can be especially useful for areas where drainage may be a problem. For the most advanced results for your auto detailing job, pair a low-flow pressure washer with green car wash chemicals.

The Right Kind of Wash

Another thing to bear in mind is that different vehicles require different kinds of cleaning agents. For instance, the wash used on large trucks and fleet vehicles will be more powerful than those designed for ordinary vehicles. Eco-friendly truck washes should be powerful yet versatile enough to clean different kinds of surfaces, from metal to vinyl and fabric. You should be able to apply it to rugged areas like the tires as well as your interiors and the windows. It is even better if the auto detailing solution can also work to prevent the re-adherence of grease and mud onto a freshly cleaned surface.

By opting for green chemicals for your auto-detailing projects, you aren’t just choosing an environment-safe product; you are also opting for cleaning solutions that are more effective. Plus, you will never have to worry about these products leaving behind toxic traces which may corrode the vehicle’s body.

Auto detailing is a great method to make your vehicle spotless and looking like brand new with different car washing equipment & techniques like steam car wash, portable care wash, mobile car wash with cold water or a steam pressure washer.

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When the future of electricity is discussed, quite a number of thoughts come into mind. Let’s look at a few of such ideas.

Electricity will be wireless!
Wouldn’t it be delightful to see no wires in the house even with an uninterrupted supply of electricity? Will the future see wireless supply of electricity? Apparently, it will, according to industry experts. Last year, a team at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology conducted a wireless electricity experiment successfully. This dream has never been far-fetched, and with the success of wireless electricity experiments, this dream will soon come true. So, it is not very far that we will see electrical appliances charging themselves off air!

Consumers will have complete control!
Industry experts believe that in future, your power supply will not be dependent on the electricity department but on you. You will have complete control on how you want the power supply to reach your place. You may not be required to pay the mandatory amount when you are vacationing around the world, shutting off the house. Experts see a variety of control options for consumers in the future. Now, whether this future is in the next ten years, or twenty, or a fifty years is not known, but what is known is that the future will see the consumers in control of what they use.

Electrical energy will be clean!
Do you know that the remains of electricity production emit enormous amounts of carbon dioxide in the air? The future of electricity is perceived as green and clean. Given the concern for the environment, the electricity in future will make use of renewable sources of energy, leading to a clean environment. Currently, electricity is produced mostly by consuming fuels that are on the verge of being extinct.

All things will be electric!
OK, we have already seen electric cars and electric shavers, what else will the future see? May be, electric shoes! Combs, toothbrushes, watches, glasses, even clothes may become electrical gadgets. If these sound far-fetched ideas, visit the futuristic shops at Akihabara in Japan for a glimpse of the future.

There will be no outages!
More than anything, consumers look forward to seeing a future with absolutely no power outages. Alternate power solutions promise to take us into a future that has no power interruptions. With increased dependency on power for everything, consumers need to have an uninterrupted supply of power.

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When the whole world is looking for ways to cope with the severe energy crisis, what is the least we can do? We need to begin by saving the power we have and generating more power using alternate power solutions like solar and wind power generators.

The implementation of a windmill is not considered very cheap; however, it turns out a huge money saver in the long run when the cost of producing power becomes zero. It has been observed lately that people are implementing wind power solutions even at places with the average speed of power less than 11 miles per hour. Ideally, the average speed of wind at the site you propose to set up the windmill at should be 11 miles per hour, but a slightly lower average is also reaping good results for people.

One thing that dissuades people from setting up a windmill is the initial cost. However, one can set up a windmill at home at a much less price. It is, however, important to consider certain things while setting up a windmill on your own.

• Get a good plan to make a windmill at home. Keep in mind the output you want the windmill to generate.

• Look for sturdy components. Your homemade windmill should not get damaged by heavy winds.

• Compare the prices of the equipment in the market and go for the components that suit your budget and your site.

Make power at home with a homemade windmill and rid your electric bill.

Check out a complete guide here.

When looking for a windmill plan, look for the following features:

• Illustrations: Visual descriptions work better than only-text ones. If your windmill guide has illustrative descriptions for making a windmill, it makes your task easier.

• Easy language: If your windmill-making guide uses a lot of jargon and technical information, it is better to look for a different one. Look for one that has easy-to-understand language making your task fluid.

• Component descriptions: Your homemade windmill guide should be able to provide you with detailed visual and textual descriptions of all the components you need to use. It is also important that the guide tells you which type of component works best for a site like yours.

• Local information: If your guide gives you information about the best available equipment in Europe while you are reading it from a countryside location in western USA, your guide is as good as useless. Look for a guide that provides equipment information of places around you.

A wind turbine or solar panel can generate 24 kilowatt of power that is enough to operate a laptop, television and a mobile phone charger. Free energy will run for at least for a few years.

Get a complete guide here.

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When I first moved from Hawaii to Texas, I noticed an odd thing. Whereas in Hawaii – and, indeed, in any State I’d ever lived in, the school buses were a uniform yellow, in Texas the sides of the buses were yellow, but the tops were painted white. I thought this was strange, until I realized the reason for it. White paint reflects sunlight better than any other color. By painting the bus roofs white, the drain on the bus’s air-conditioning unit would be that much less, and gas would be saved as a result.

The same thing can happen with the color of car you drive.

It is well known that the color black absorbs heat, rather than reflecting it. For this reason, the state of California recently opened a debate on whether or not it should ban the use of that color in all new car models.

A light-colored car simply cools off more quickly when the air-conditioning is turned on, and requires less energy to remain cool on those very hot days.

This proposed plan from California met with some outrage. It was not so much because the science was thought to be faulty, but because people believed that if they wanted to have a black car, and suffer the consequences of an air-conditioner that had to work a little harder and cost them a few more gallons per fill-up, that should be their choice.

At the moment the color of the car one wants to buy is still up to the consumer.  The manufacturers of car paint are working on new formulas that will allow heat to dissipated more quickly, or to not absorb heat at all.

In addition to reflective paint, car glass is also being improved. California is drafting a regulation that would require automakers to start using solar management glass for windshields, side and rear windows in the 2012 model year. The new glazing technology “can bounce solar rays away from the car without causing glare for other drivers on the road, or can absorb energy and release most of it away from the car. State regulators estimate that the new glass could save over 500,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide per year by 2020, and over one million metric tons per year by 2040,” according to Adam Stern of the TerraPass Footprint.

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Get it now! 2009 Electric Cars Report (0)

The green revolution in transportation has begun. Electric bicycles have already started making inroads in the market. They are currently the most popular in Asian countries such as China and Japan, where bicycle travel has always been a accepted mode of transport for commuters and they are now being mass-produced for the U.S. market as well. The electric motorcycle has also hit the streets. Many car companies have plans for electric-powered cars as well. The major drawback for electricity-powered vehicles is that their battery charge lasts little more than an hour or 40 miles. The success of e-cycles and e-cars in the United States will depend on how soon a recharging-grid can be put in place across the country.

Contents

• E-bicycles
• E-motorcycles
• E-cars
• Infrastructure
• What You Can Do

Free for you!  Enjoy. 2009 Electric Cars Report (0)

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The windiest states in the nation are:

North Dakota, Texas, Kansas, South Dakota, Montana

Which I don’t need to tell you if you live there! Other states that have locations that are pretty windy are Rhode Island, Wyoming (the area around Caspar and Cheyenne), the area around Erie, Pennsylvania, and areas around Mansfield and Cleveland, Ohio to name just a few.

If you live in a chronically windy location, why not consider purchasing a small wind turbine to provide your electricity needs? According to the U.S. Department of Energy, it makes economic sense to have a wind turbine if the following conditions are met:

• Your average monthly electric bill is over $150

• Your property has a good wind resource

• Your home or business is located on at least one acre of rural land

• Your local zoning codes or covenants allow wind turbines

• You are comfortable with long-term investments

It makes sense to purchase a wind turbine now, as the Federal government is currently offering a 30% tax credit to those who purchase a turbine from a dealer participating in the program, up to $4,000 for either residential or business use. The tax credit will be available until 2016. In addition, a few states will also offer you rebates!

These are: California, New Jersey, New York, Illinois and Massachusetts.

In California, for example – the state with the most expensive electricity bills in the nation – the cash rebate is for qualified purchases of small wind systems up to 30 kW. The CEC (Cal. Energy Commission) rebate for wind (effective January 1, 2006) is $2.50 per watt for the first 7,500 watts and then $1.50 per watt for additional wattage up to the limit of 30 kW.

If you live in a remote area, and are “off-grid,” with no electric lines running up to your home, a wind turbine may be just the ticket.

In order to find out if you live in a location that is windy enough to make a wind turbine worthwhile, Every state and local government that is windy enough to make wind turbines worthwhile will have its own rules and regulations on whether or not residential home owners, or businesses, can build wind turbines. Check with your local government to find out what the rules are in your area.

The American Wind Energy Association (AWEA) maintains a list of U.S. manufacturers and suppliers of wind turbines for use in residential, farm, and commercial/industrial applications.

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Moving is always a messy process. You discover things you had forgotten about and it is always likely that you will uncover a load of junk that you no longer want or need. In addition, there are all the moving materials that you will use during the move and then be ready to throw away when you are done. Moving can produce an amazing amount of trash. So, how do you make your move a little greener? There are many things you can do to have a greener house move. You just have to get organized, focused and be willing to take a little time to keep things green.

Disposing of the Junk

The first step in moving is packing. This means dragging everything out of closets and storage spaces. Instead of simply packing it all away or just tossing it, take time to go through it. See what items you want and what you can get rid of.

Instead of throwing things away think about whether they are still useful. They may not be useful to you, but someone could use them. Go donate them or have a yard sale. If something is not usable then recycle it, if possible.

Try to reduce the amount of things you throw away. Always look for an alternative option. Remember keeping it green means reducing waste, so just keep that in mind. It may take a little longer to go through everything and get packed, but the green pay off is worth it.

Packing Materials

Again, the attitude about convenience and getting things done fast seems to really take a toll on your green lifestyle when moving. Slow down and think through your packaging material options. You have options that are more environmentally friendly. You do not have to resort to packing peanuts and cardboard boxes. Even if you do – reuse them!

Some options you can use instead of cardboard boxes are plastic containers that can be reused once you unpack as storage bins. Everyone can always use more storage, right? Consider buying these containers and using them to pack at least some of your stuff to reduce the amount of cardboard boxes you need.

Instead of packing peanuts, try newspaper. It works just as well and it is recyclable. If you do use packing peanuts then try to find recyclable ones. The traditional kind can not be recycled and are simply just waste waiting to go to a landfill.

There is even more you can do to make your move a little greener. You can look for environmentally friendly moving company. They are becoming more and more available. Just look in the yellow pages under movers or do an online search. These companies are focused on ensuring that your move is green by using green packing materials and hybrid vehicles.

It is not impossible to make a move green. In fact, this can be a great way to revamp your green lifestyle by getting rid of junk and starting out in your new home on the right foot.

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If you are concerned about the environment and how you can make a difference, there are many things that you can do today to reduce your carbon footprint and to help save the environment. One thing that is easy to do is to start using clothes lines to line dry your clothes instead of using a dryer. This is one thing that many people never even think of these days. Unfortunately most households in the United States don’t line dry clothing for a variety of reasons. This can include no room for a clothesline, inability to have one because of a neighborhood association, and more. If you really want to work on saving energy and improving the environment, this is something that you should definitely give a try.

The Benefits

There are definitely a variety of great benefits that you can enjoy when you decide to use a clothes line to line dry your clothing. One of the main benefits is that it is cheaper than purchasing a clothes dryer. Clothes lines are not that expensive to purchase, especially when you consider what you’ll pay for a dryer. Not only will save you on the dryer, but you’ll save on energy. You won’t have to keep paying for the energy to run that clothes dryer. The power of the sun and wind to dry clothing is free. It is better for the environment as well. There are not any greenhouse gas emissions from using a clothesline like there is with a dryer.

Another great benefit of using a clothes line to dry your clothing is that the sun can kill off any bacteria that may still be on your clothing. Also, instead of having to use chemicals to get that great smell in your clothing, line drying outside will provide you with that fresh smell through all your clothes for free.

Various Clothes Lines Available

There are a variety of different types of clothes lines that are available today. In fact, you can find them for use indoors and outdoors as well. One type of clothesline is called the rotary hoist, which is a rotary line that lets you easily hang out a whole lot of clothing at once. Many actually collapse when you aren’t using them. There are retracting clothes lines as well. The line is stored in a box that is easily mounted, and you only pull out the line when needed. There are easy folding frame clothes lines that are easy for drying clothing indoors and they won’t take up space when you are not using them.

The Cost of Energy

When you consider the cost of energy, you will definitely find a great savings by line drying clothes instead of using a clothes dryer. Over its lifetime usually a clothes dryer will cost you $1500 or more in electricity. They really hog electricity, which is not good on your budget or the environment.

This is just one more thing that you can do to help the environment today. Add it to other small things and you can make a difference in the environment. So why not give the dryer a break and start using a clothes line to line dry clothing instead.

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Definition Of Global Warming – The True Meaning

The definition of global warming can be described as an increase in the air temperature near the surface of the earth and an increase in the water temperature of the oceans. This increase of temperature has been steadily on the rise and studies show that there is not an end in sight.

Global warming is often referred to as the greenhouse effect. It is believed that greenhouse gasses are responsible for the warming trend the earth is currently experiencing. Much of this greenhouse gas is attributed to an increase in commercial industry which releases pollutants into the air. There are many scientists who agree with this definition of global warming.

Within this scope of the global warming definition you will find there are changes in the weather patterns and the levels of precipitation. The levels of precipitation have a direct impact on agriculture and the expected agricultural yield. There are more occurrences of extreme weather conditions such as tornados and tsunamis. There has also been a rise in hurricanes and these hurricanes have increased in their intensity. The effects of global warming are slowly beginning to emerge on a world wide basis.

Definition Of Global Warming And Expected Effects

There are currently many events that are being blamed on global warming. Many areas across the world are experiencing warmer temperatures and for a longer period of time. Areas where spring was usually a mild warming trend which led into summer now are experiencing much higher temperatures during the spring months. The same holds true for the fall; temperatures are staying hotter during the later months of the year. These weather extremes will affect both human and animal life as well as the environment around us. Decreases in rainfall have a direct impact of vegetation which is a food source for both humans and animals.

When you experience a decrease in rainfall you also experience a decrease in the quality of available drinking water. Since mankind is dependent on water, this will often lead to the spreading of diseases. Diseases and germs usually thrive much better in a warmer climate as do insects. You will notice an increase in the insect population if you have had a mild winter.

The definition of global warming can also refer to the depletion of the ozone layer which prevents many of the harmful rays from the sun. Many scientists believe the ozone layer is being damaged as a result of the many gasses and pollutants we are putting in the air. Not everybody can agree to the causes but everybody can agree that we are experiencing environmental changes in our world around us.

Tell me what you think in the comments!

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