Go Greener Tips

I’ve talked to some authorities, who support me fully in starting a recycling program here at CalU. I’d just like to know how to start one, who I should talk to, where should I go, etc to start one. I really don’t know that much about recycling, so any tips would be helpful. I just hate seeing everything thrown into a dumster, and I hope recycling will make the campus a better place. What steps should I take?

Like everything in life, there are a number of laws that govern the use of both renewable and non-renewable resources. All law is the same really – laws are what are known as the primary authorities such as case law, statutes, rules and regulations. In terms of renewable energy law you may hear about policies or politics of energy, these too will be discussed in detail here.

In the U.S. energy is regulated through the United States Department of Energy. The Energy Policy Act of 2005 is a bill that was passed on July 25 2005 and it stated that the country needed to do something about the growing energy problems and the US Energy Policy changed from this point forward. Tax incentives were provided as were loan guarantees for anyone taking part in finding alternative energy sources. The Energy Policy Act is the key piece of renewable energy law.

As part of renewable energy law, a production tax credit (PTC) was included in the 2005 cornerstone policy as an incentive for domestic wind power technologies. Investors can claim for 10 years a 1.9-cent-per-kilowatt-our deduction. This is actually one of the things that drove the growth of the wind industry here in the United States. Currently, our wind industry is growing faster than any other developed country. The government included this in the bill because they could see it being effective, but not only has it been effective it has been very low cost as well. A renewable energy law such as this is required in order to boost the renewable energy economy. It is important that the government continues with an incentive such as this so that the industry will continue to grow.

Not only did the Energy Policy Act of 2005 allow wind energy to develop, but it also put geothermal power on the map too. As well as having a production tax credit, (PTC) Geothermal power received increased funding and support from a number of federal agencies.

In 2007 renewable energy law was discussed in a number of pieces of legislation but nothing was made into a law. At least noise was made, and congress is now aware that legislation will be questioned again. However, further energy bills have been passed since then and they have stated that the Department of Energy will spend no less than $95m annually in research and development into geothermal energy.

The renewable energy law also takes marine energy into consideration. Marine energy involves using the power of the waves and the tides to generate electricity. As part of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the Department of Energy was required to consider ocean energy in its group of alternative energy sources. After this act was passed, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) looked into developing projects involving wave and tidal technology. A number of projects have been started up in the United States the biggest ones being in New York, San Francisco Bay, Rhode Island and Washington State.

The great thing about renewable energy law is that it forces congress to do something about alternatives to energy sources. In five years since this bill was passed, there has been so much research and development down into these alternative sources that the general population is considering these options over more traditional fossil fuelled power sources.

About the Author

Paul Goldman, is a “transplanted” Australian living in Florida who got tired of sky-high electricity prices, gas prices and things that were damaging the environment (and his wallet) so he investigated ALL the options. The ones that WORKED and the others! Went “Green” and wallet went “Greener”

http://www.blogger.com/profile/16413845487555374119

Author: Paul Goldman
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When talking about green energy, what are we really talking about? In a nutshell, green energy is energy that comes from any one of the following renewable energy sources: wind, Sun/Solar, water/ hydroelectric, geothermal, biofuels and biomass energy. There is no way that you are not going to find some form of green energy in play anywhere in the world at any given moment. This article will discuss how each renewable energy source is considered to be green energy, starting with wind power.

Geothermal Energy

Although geothermal energy is not as widely used as the others are it is a green energy source; as it comes from the movement of the magma beneath the Earth’s crust and from the volcanic activity all over the planet. The hot springs that have been created and kept warm all over the planet are clear cut evidence of the geothermal energy that is there for the taking.

Water/ Hydroelectric Power

There is a great deal to be said for the worldwide appeal of hydroelectric power. As a matter of fact, there are not many countries on this planet where water is not being put to use to create the hydroelectric power that is so abundant and is also a source of green energy. The only way we will ever lose this renewable energy source is if our atmosphere gets stripped away and we have to deal with the full brunt of cosmic radiation that will evaporate our water. Hydroelectric power generation is precisely why the Hoover Dam was built in the first place folks!

Sun/Solar Power

You’ve got to admit that the power that our Sun provides is another readily available source of green energy for anyone who cares to take the time to get some solar panels that will harness this nearly endless supply of the renewable energy that we, as a planet, are beginning to look to. While some solar panels are not that cheap, you can find some that are within your price range. Look at all the solar powered items on the market already!

Wind Power

There are two main reasons why wind power and wind mill/wind turbine generated electricity are considered to be green energy: they will not be gone any time too soon and they do not cause any more pollution to or of the environment around us. There is always going to be a wind blowing somewhere and it really does not matter whether that wind is only a slight breeze or a brisk wind or hurricane/ tornado strength winds. Wind turbines are getting more and more popular as we begin really embracing green energy as a way of life.

For more information check out my Renewable energy blog at Green Energy [http://www.renewable-energy.infoarticles.org]

For more articles like this visit Green Energy

Mick Purcell

Author: Mick Purcell
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Most of us agree that global warming is on the rise. We all worry about it from time to time, generally before carrying straight on with whatever we were doing beforehand; watching telly, playing on the Xbox, turning the lights on and off willy-nilly. But we all have the same sense of creeping, ever-rising guilt about it.

If you, like me, are the type of person who wants to make a few changes to make your life a little more “green”, but won’t give up your beloved smartphone until it’s prised from your cold dead hands, here are a couple of ideas that won’t destroy your savings or the environment.

First up is the Wind Up Mobile Phone Charger / Torch, which looks like it could be ideal for festivals, camping trips and long journeys. Small and lightweight, it harnesses your own energy to keep your mobile phone charged up and ready. I always find myself scrabbling around in the dark in tents for my phone/ water/ deodorant, but luckily the Wind Up Charger also has a bright LED torch.

If you’re a bit too lazy to crank a handle round and round and round yourself, you can let the sun do all the work instead with the iPhone Solar Power Charging Case, a sleeve that is fitted snugly around your iPhone and then keeps your battery life topped up throughout the day. It will charge in any well-lit area rather than only in direct sunlight, so it should give a battery boost even at drizzlier times of year.

None of these devices can be carbon-neutral, of course, but mobile phone companies are hard at work trying to make devices more environmentally friendly, such as the Sony Ericsson Greenheart and the Samsung Tobi. These and other eco mobile accessories can be found now at MobileFun.

Author: Natalie Guest
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Against a global backdrop of rocketing oil prices and concerns about climate change and security of energy supply, interest in renewables has never been more intense. Renewable energy is energy from natural sources – the wind, sun, geothermal, waves and tides, and water – which, unlike fossil fuels, such as coal, gas and oil, will never run out. Furthermore, most renewable energy technologies produce little or no greenhouse gases – the main cause of climate change.

The key challenges with renewable energy are how to extract it, turn it into usable energy and deliver it to where it is needed. Not renowned for being the sunniest of places, the UK has some of Europe’s best wind power resources and is a world leader in marine power technology. Although wave and tidal power technologies are still in their infancy, the Carbon Trust estimates that marine power sources could provide up to 15% of the UK’s electricity. In May 2008, the world’s first commercial tidal turbine was installed in Strangford Narrows, Northern Ireland providing power to 1,000 homes.

Growing at a global rate of 30%, wind power is the most mature and cost-effective renewable energy technology: worldwide in 2008 there was 121 GW of installed wind capacity, with the UK accounting for some 4 GW of installed capacity by the end of 2009. Under the EU Renewable Energy Directive, the UK government has signed up to a legally binding target of generating 15% of UK energy from renewables by 2020. This is a seven-fold increase from the 2008 level of just over 2%. Renewable power production in the UK is at a very low level compared to other countries such as Denmark, Spain, Germany and the US. There is a mountain to climb if the 15% target is to be met.

The UK’s Renewable Energy Strategy 2009, published in July 2009, sets out how the government plans to achieve its ambitious renewable energy target. Specific objectives include generating more than 30% of electricity from renewable sources (compared to around 5.5% today), mostly on- and off-shore wind, but also hydro, biomass and marine power technologies. Transport energy from renewables will need to increase from the current 2.6% to 10%, and 12% of heat energy is projected to come from sources such as biomass, solar and biogas.

Along with carbon capture and storage technologies, carbon emissions trading, new nuclear capabilities, and energy saving and efficiency measures, renewable energy is part of the government’s plan to shift the UK to a low-carbon, more self-sufficient energy economy that addresses both climate change and security of supply issues.

If the strategy achieves its goals, the UK will reduce its carbon dioxide emissions by more than 750 million tonnes between now and 2030. Fossil fuel consumption will decrease by around 10% and gas imports by 20-30% by 2020. The strategy predicts that achieving the targets could create half a million jobs in the renewable energy sector by 2020, and leverage £100 billion worth of investment opportunities.

Renewable energy can help you save money and save the planet. Find out more about renewable sources of energy.

Author: Gwen Clarke
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Recycling

During the 1960s and ’70s it was thought that emissions from factory chimneys and sewage pipes constituted the biggest environmental problem. But since then, due to new, worldwide “Eco-laws”, these discharges have decreased considerably. Instead, the focus has switched to the environmental problems associated with the goods that are produced and consumed in modern society. Many of the most environmentally damaging substances are currently being supplied through glass bottles, newspapers, plastic bags, coke cans, cardboard boxes and sweet wrappers just to mention a few.

To tell you what recycling is and what the word actually embodies may seem strange to you. I am sure all of you think you know exactly what it entails. But in theory recycling involves the separation and collection of materials for processing and re-manufacturing old products into new products, and the use of these new products, completing the cycle.

Glass is one of the most common man-made materials. It is made from sand, limestone and sodium carbonate and silica. The ingredients are heated to a high temperature in a furnace until they melt together. The molten glass from the furnace cools to form sheets, or may be moulded to make objects. Actually glass is completely recyclable and making products from recycled glass rather than starting from scratch saves energy resources. Recycled glass is made into new beverage bottles, food jars, insulation and other construction materials. Usually, clear glass containers are recycled into new clear glass products, while coloured glass containers are recycled into new coloured glass products.

In fact, the recycling of glass as well other products, such as aluminum and steel cans, cardboard, car tyres, newspapers and certain plastics is a growing industry in most of the world today. In South Africa however, we don’t have a very high level of recycling. There aren’t enough people who take an active interest in the environment and try to do their bit in preserving nature, by for example, taking used bottles, aluminum cans or even leaves and other garden refuse to recycling sites. This is probably due to a lot of reasons. The first and foremost being that, in South Africa, we don’t have many recycling centres and, lets face it, how many of us really sort our rubbish before throwing it in the rubbish bin?

Since it is now these products, and no longer industrial emissions, that accounts for most of the environmentally harmful substances being discharged in nature the conditions for environmental efforts have fundamentally changed. As the “release sites” or the polluters, have become so numerous, a totally new system for controlling and handling environmentally harmful wastes is needed.

One way could be to transfer the responsibility for this to the producer of goods, according to the established principle “the polluter pays.”

However, I found this principle not be all that efficient in practise. To find out what is actually being done at the industrial level, I spoke with William Footman, one of the regional managers of Nampak, which is one of South Africa’s 2 glass manufacturers. He told me that the reason we don’t have a very developed glass recycling programme in this country, is due to the fact that we only have two factories where glass can be recycled back into beverage bottles. And as it is far too expensive for the companies to transport old bottles back to their factories for recycling, they would rather produce new, rather than re-use the old glass.

But, producers who put a product on the market should, quite simply, be responsible for taking back as much as is sold. What is important for environmental policy is the creation of a system in which each producer assumes his responsibility. But should all the responsibility lie on the producers? Every consumer who buys these products should make an asserted effort to help keep our planet clean.

I searched the Internet to find out exactly how poorly we as South Africans compare to the rest of the world in recycling. The country that has been in the forefront of recycling, particularly for household waste, is Sweden. Swedes have to carefully recycle and separate their own rubbish for the refuse collectors on a daily basis. Even in the middle of their very cold winters, in raging snowstorms, the Swedish people go to the recycling stations with their household trash to perform the daily ritual of separating cardboard from plastics and glass from biological waste.

Actually nearly all 1st world countries and many developing countries have developing or already highly developed recycling programmes, and South Africa desperately needs to jump on the ‘recycling wagon’. A step in the right direction could be to build recycling plants all over the country. Every town should set up a sufficient number of collection stations and every household should share the responsibility and sort their rubbish to ensure that batteries and electrical appliances are not thrown in landfills, that glass, aluminium cans and plastic bags don’t clutter the country-side. Working together with the producers, consumers should send items back to factories, to be recycled and thereby reused.

The process of recycling, for example paper, entails the conversion of waste paper to various types of finer grades of paper. First, careful sorting is required so that items such as plastic wrapping, paper clips and staples can be removed. Waste paper is divided into categories such as newsprint; typing and computer paper; and magazines, which have shiny paper and coloured inks and need special treatment. Next, the ink must be removed. This is done by soaking the paper and breaking it up into small pieces in giant washers, then treating it with chemicals that loosen the ink so that it can be rinsed away. Sometimes more than one such chemical must be used because many types of ink must be removed. Finally, the wet, shredded waste paper is blended with other materials according to the type of end product that is desired. Old pieces of cloth, which are used to produce the finest, most expensive grades of paper, may be mixed in. Wood pulp and other forms of cellulose such as straw may also be added in varying proportions. If white paper or paper for greeting cards or stationery is to be produced, bleach may also be added to lighten it; if newsprint is to be produced, a mixture of red and blue dyes is added to reduce the greyness of the final product. Chemical preservatives are also added at this point.

At this time, the fully treated material is a sort of liquid sludge that is ready to be made into paper. In most papermaking operations, the sludge passes through a machine called a beater, which is essentially a very heavy roller that presses the fibres in the sludge together and squeezes out the water. The paper is formed and held together by the natural interlocking of the long cellulose or cloth fibres as they are pressed and dried. No glue is used in the process and in fact, the natural glue in wood is removed chemically before the paper is made.

A refining machine brushes the roll of sludge to smooth out irregularities. The papermaking machine presses the sludge into thin slices, which are then further dried by pressing or by being placed in furnaces. Finally, the paper is polished or chemically treated to give it the proper finish and lastly packaged and sent to customers.

The papermaking process itself is pretty much the same whether one uses virgin materials, recycled materials, or a mixture of the two. The difference is in the preparation of the sludge. Recycled material requires careful sorting. This in turn means that the paper mills must have a place to store waste paper and the staff to sort it, as well as a means of disposing of waste paper that cannot be used. Removing ink from waste paper also requires special chemicals, equipment, and equipment operators. As a result, some paper mills are not set up to use any recycled materials. That’s why the forests are getting smaller and smaller.

Also, not all paper products c
an be made with recycled paper. Brown grocery bags, for example, can be recycled into other types of paper, but they must be made, at least partially, out of virgin materials because only virgin materials have the long unbroken fibres that give the bags their necessary strength. Unlike glass bottles and aluminum cans, which can be recycled an infinite number of times, paper cannot be recycled indefinitely. Each time it is recycled, its quality degrades slightly because the fibres become more and more broken. At some point recycled paper has to be mixed in with virgin material, and eventually after repeated uses, it ends up in a landfill or and incinerator.

Obviously as recycling plants and collection sites have to be set up all over the country and for all the various types of materials we use in every day life, it is going to be a very expensive process to start, but it is vital that the wheels are set in motion before it is too late! In turn this will lead to many new jobs opening up for unskilled as well as skilled people in South Africa helping to keep our country cleaner as well as decreasing unemployment and thereby promoting the economy.
I know that to fully understand why recycling is important and to have a general feeling of responsibility and to want to keep the environment clean stems from having an education and understanding the concept of pollution. I also understand that it is not easy for the many people in our country without a proper education, to feel the need to recycle, as they may not understand they urgency of it. But if all of us in this room today already knew and understood what recycling is and how much damage is done to the ecosystem by not recycling, why do we not feel the need to take action and start taking care of our beautiful country!

References:

[http://www.recycle-tec.co.za/index.htm]

Author: Nina K
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Welcome to Film Fights TV! The new Indy Mogul show where we take two short films from the site Film Fights, and pit them against each other in a battle of epic proportions! Who decides the winner? Random people on the street and YOU, the voting public. We also get expert advice and tips from filmmakers on how you can make your films better. Who knows, maybe in our next episode you’ll be seeing your film on the show, too! We want your feedback! Tell us if you like the show! Learn more about Film Fights: youtube.com Connect with indymogul: Website: www.indymogul.com Submit Email: comments@indymogul.com Facebook: www.Facebook.com Twitter: www.Twitter.com Call us! (866) 575-1384

Today’s technology is working wonders for convenience, but is doing a number on the already-limited amount of energy resources available to us. By doing a once-over at home with these tips and replacing some of your less environmentally-friendly gadgets, you can learn how to make your home appliances and entertainment systems run more efficiently (and lower your bills in the process). Do your part to help save Mother Earth, without sacrificing your love of technology.

Luckily, forward-thinking companies have caught on and are beginning to create green gadgets to help you preserve energy from the very beginning. Slick HD flat-screen television monitors are now available with an energy-saving standby mode, while power-saving light sensors will automatically adjust screen intensity, significantly cutting down on power needs without depleting your high definition viewing pleasure.

Addicted to your iPod? Get rid of your big stereo and all of the messy, but necessary hook-up cords required to access your iTunes through the speakers, and pick up an iPod dock. The sustainable handmade Vers Mamboo dock comes in eco-friendly bamboo and requires very little energy to get great sound out of its two speakers and two rear subwoofers.

Just can’t give up your all-in-one phone? Fortunately, there is a new planet-friendly model available from Nokia, featuring plastic made from plants and a low-energy touch screen. Laptop users that require a mouse might want to switch over to the the heat-converting DORmino mouse, that finds a practical use for the heat pumped out from the nearby laptop.

It’s not just techie gadgets that are being power-proofed, either. Household appliances are getting a facelift, as well – not only do they cut down on energy use and costs, but they come in slick, smart designs to help your home look good. Slow-cookers (that’s crock pot to your mother) are a smart and efficient way to prepare dinner, especially now that some come equipped with insulated lids to hold the heat in and require less effort from the energy source.

Maybe one days, chemical laundry detergents will be completely replaced by soap nuts. Popular in India but not as well-known elsewhere, the new Electrolux E-Wash is specially designed for washing with soap nuts. Since just one kilo of nuts will last a household an entire year, the extra cost of the high-tech machine will quickly pay off. Or, try washing with 1,000-wash eco-balls, that ionize water to help get your clothes extra clean. Watch as the grocery bills deplete, happily missing laundry detergent from the list.

Coffee, tea, and soup can be eco-friendly, too, when prepared with water boiled in an energy-efficient kettle. Set the kettle to heat the water to the precise temperature you need, using 25% less electricity that a boiling stovetop pot.

Help save the planet in the bedroom, too, with an organic latex mattress. With no metals or chemicals added, latex mattresses are also useful for allergy-prone sleepers.

And to top it all off, some green companies are packaging their funky, friendly wares in recycled cardboard boxes.

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Author: Tom Macintosh
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Making maximum use of renewable energy sources is not only a good way to save money, but it also helps in making the environment better.Renewble energy sources like solar, wind, water and geothermal energy are considered to be best environmental friendly energy sources that do not discharge toxic substances in the environment like Fossil Fuels and Nuclear Energy creates. These renewable Sources are becoming a viable alternative to burning Coal, Oil and Gas. They have become a perfect medium to render electricity along with heating and cooling our home and work area.

Complimenting the energy resources some experts developed ‘smart fridges’. These are capable to assert an average temperature and also determine the power consumption from renewable energy generators like solar panes or wind turbines. A solar panel creates ample amount of energy which is able to keep the content of fridge cold at night. Another benefit is that the usage of electricity is minimal so the need to construct more power stations is minimized.

Additionally, may the usage of Solar heating panel at your home be the perfect idea. These panels are helpful in maintaining the overall energy usage of your home and lower your monthly electricity bill. Moreover, you can also opt for a Solar Heating Device outside your home area so that you are less dependent on heating oil, gas or electricity. If you think that installing a range of renewable sources like solar panels, solar heating system, solar water tank and wind turbines are costly then probably you are wrong. These renewable technologies are available at minimal costs and save a huge amount of your monthly bills.

Global climate change is constantly affecting all of us. It can be controlled with usage of renewable sources; these sources will also provide cost advantages over fossil fuels. Presently, scientists are finding ways to make the most of renewable resources and developing effective measures to make renewable resources more widespread and easier to use. The concept of renewable energy is as old as man kind – think of windmills back in the Netherlands or sail boats that use the power of the wind. Still, the re-invention of renewable energy is not as popular as it should be. Renewable resources can be utilized by anyone, anywhere. The only requirement is knowledge and means of utilizing the technology.

It’s time for you to begin investing in the renewable energy sources, the more you are be informed about the technology the more it will help in making correct choices.

New Energy Portal is a Renewable Business Directory for companies to find Solar Heating Panel suppliers, manufacturers, distributors, producers and operators worldwide.

Author: Robin Schroeter
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Some people are under the mistaken impression that you have to live in a mud hut without any electricity at all to go green. Nothing could be further from the truth. In fact, many of the green technological advances that have come out in recent years will keep you living in comfort and style while enjoying the cost savings that your green efforts will bring.

Green energy is much more accessible than it has been in the past. You can build and install your own solar panels for a much lower cost with all of the information that is available online and off. More people realize how easy it is to build solar panels and begin using them in their home to produce energy to power virtually everything in their home.

More people than ever before are exploring their options with green energy and deciding that the benefits far outweigh any cost or work involved. Once you have green energy systems installed in your home such as wind energy or solar panels, you will hardly notice any change at all in the way that your appliances function. You may become more aware of the amount of power that you use and conserve your energy once you begin creating your own.

The ability to make your own electric power can actually make your lifestyle much better. Far from living in a mud hut, you will have more money in your budget to spend on something other than electricity. Your lifestyle may actually get better.

Using alternative energy such as solar panels and wind energy is also an environmentally responsible way to live your life. Everyone must do their part to conserve energy and seek out different ways to power our lives. Using green energy is more and more popular today as people begin to realize the importance of finding new ways to make power.

Explore all of your options with green energy to gain the many benefits that come with it. There is a huge amount of information available for making and installing green energy in your home. Many people are able to build their own solar panels with the information that is available online. Guides teach users the correct materials to use and the different methods for creating electricity with solar panels and wind energy. Solar panels were once a very big expense for a homeowner, but today they are becoming more and more commonplace.

Don’t worry about your lifestyle when you are considering going with green energy. In fact, you will probably find that your lifestyle improves and you will be doing your part to keep our environment clean and healthy. And you will have the added advantage of more money in your pocket at the end of the month.

Get your FREE Report and information on how not to pay a single dime to the power company at http://www.GreenFuelProducts.com.

Author: Alfred B
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