Leading through the hard times

Oil- and green-groups criticize new ethanol rules
2011 will see a doubling of the amount of ethanol permitted in fuel for cars in Germany. E10 is supposed to address European Union environment goals for cutting transport emissions, but critics say it may backfire.

Read more on Deutsche Welle

R.I. regulators look into agreement for energy generated by Portsmouth turbine
The wind turbine installed last year by the Town of Portsmouth has been held up as a model for the state, heralded not only as a generator of clean, renewable energy but also as a dependable source of income for a municipality feeling the squeeze in tough economic times.

Read more on The Providence Journal

The Renewable Energy Sector is Fundable in 2011
My picks for favorite startup sectors to improve your fundability in the new year include green, biotech, and renewable energy (also called alternative energy or sustainable energy).

Read more on Business Insider

Water power pays off for cities
Hastings is among seven Minnesota cities and two counties that own hydroelectric plants.

Read more on Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune

Leading through the hard times
Marc Basnight, who is bowing out of the state Senate after 18 years at the controls, became the dependable guide star of North Carolina state government while his Democratic Party enjoyed its lengthy stretch in power.

Read more on The News & Observer

2011 International CES Exhibitor Profiles A through K

Pa. allows dumping of tainted waters from gas boom
The natural gas boom gripping parts of the U.S. has a nasty byproduct: wastewater so salty, and so polluted with metals like barium and strontium, most states require drillers to get rid of the stuff by injecting it down shafts thousands of feet deep.

Read more on The Reporter

Welcome to Healthy Green Gardening With AOP; Company’s Organic Products Target the “Edible Revolution,” Involving …
SPRINGFIELD, OH–(Marketwire – 01/04/11) – AOP Worldwide, a subsidiary of Talisman Holdings (Pinksheets: TMHO – News ) — The size of the enormous home gardening world is staggering. There are 100 million U.S. households with a yard or garden, who are a part of the $175 billion worldwide fertilizer industry. People tend to think of gardening as greening the world… but it has been proven that …

Read more on Marketwire via Yahoo! Finance

Green Project and Wiley Announce Licensing Agreement
Inkjet and Toner Cartridges For Dummies Debut at CES (PRWeb January 04, 2011) Read the full story at http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/01/prweb4937104.htm

Read more on PRWeb

Pa. allows dumping of tainted waters from gas boom
Associated Press The natural gas boom gripping parts of the U.S. has a nasty byproduct: wastewater so salty, and so polluted with metals like barium and strontium, most states require drillers to get rid of the stuff by injecting it down shafts thousands of feet deep.

Read more on The Mercury

2011 International CES Exhibitor Profiles A through K
2011 International CES takes place Jan. 6 – 9, 2011, at the Las Vegas Convention Center , the Las Vegas Hilton and The Venetian in Las Vegas, NV. For additional information about CES visit www.cesweb.org or follow CES on Twitter at http://twitter.com/intlCES.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

3D City model fly through

This fly through of the City of Sydney shows you how our City might look in 2030. (Brent Grayburn, Design Director – Compositing; Jack Barton, Jack Barton Digital Design, JBDD.com – 3D modelling and animation; Benjamin Driver, Hill Thalis Architecture and Urban Projects – 3D modelling)

Coal industry seeks to export through Wash. state

Coal industry seeks to export through Wash. state
The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state.

Read more on AP via Yahoo! Finance

Coal industry seeks to export through Wash. state
The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state.

Read more on San Diego Union-Tribune

Coal industry seeks to export through Wash. state
The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state.

Read more on Seattle Times

Fiat-Chrysler to Put Its Flag on Figueroa
DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES – Detroit carmaker Chrysler and its Italian partner Fiat are set to open a new five-brand dealership early next year, activating a Figueroa Street structure that Chrysler built, and then abandoned, six years ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Downtown News

Coal industry seeks to export through Wash. state
(AP:SEATTLE) The coal industry is maneuvering to sharply ramp up its U.S. exports to Asia out of the West Coast, with the first of several potential port expansions along the Columbia River now before officials in Washington state.

Read more on INO News

Hydrogen Tap(Electricity Through Magnetic Field ) 100

Electricity Moves over a wire, not through it. In this video I have a picture of “something moving over a field”. All power stops but the “Electricity” didn’t. Check this out. “THIS IS NOT A SPARK”. TELL ME…WHAT IS IT?

Environmental Protection Through Small Changes

Environmental Protection – Is green living possible with limited resources? What environmental issues can I tackle? What difference can I make about global warming? Find out how small sustainable changes can make a big difference for our environment. For more ideas, please visit www.FutureEnvironment.Org Environmental Protection, environment, global warming, environmental issues, green living, conservation, wind turbines, alternative energy, compact florescent lights, cfl

Insight Management Corporation Mobilizes Additional Revenue Stream Through the Launch of Its Photovoltaic Solar …

Greener Expressions Attracts Seed Funding, Start-Up-Seasoned Executive
The First Integrated Consumer, Business, Non-Profit, and Government Platform for Local Market Sustainability, Start-up Greener Expressions Makes Leap Toward Launch via Newly Acquired Funding and Marketing Executive.

Read more on PRWeb via Yahoo! News

Subramaniam: Government to go ahead with minimum wage
Friday, October 1st, 2010 21:08:00 GENTING HIGHLANDS: The government will continue with the proposed minimum wage policy despite objection by the Malaysian Employers Federation, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Friday. He said the government would however continue to convince MEF on the importance of implementation the policy. “It is hoped that MEF will agree to it when the …

Read more on The Malay Mail

Candidates optimistic about city’s future – UPDATED
Most North Bay mayor and council hopefuls have optimistic and rose-coloured views of the city’s future.[...]

Read more on The North Bay Nugget

Subramaniam: Government to go ahead with minimum wage
GENTING HIGHLANDS: The government will continue with the proposed minimum wage policy despite objection by the Malaysian Employers Federation, Human Resource Minister Datuk Dr S. Subramaniam said Friday.

Read more on The Malay Mail

Insight Management Corporation Mobilizes Additional Revenue Stream Through the Launch of Its Photovoltaic Solar …
NEW YORK—-Insight Management Corp., , a growing provider of sustainable land use solutions and event services, has formulated their marketing plan to utilize and represent green engineering products that conserve natural resources through passive solar design and solar power systems.

Read more on Business Wire via Yahoo! Finance

Looking Through The Window to Eco Friendly Living

To some people living green is a catchphrase.  It’s trendy and everyone wants to be green or at least be perceived as being green.  Recently the biggest place to be reminded of green living is in the checkout aisle of the supermarket. It seems everyone has reusable cloth bags.  Some have the store name; others promote cancer research or some other
cause. If you actually buy a reusable shopping bag, you might even think about being green later on at home.  As you unpack your groceries you look out the window and think…what is green?

Windows are probably the biggest contributor to energy loss and cost, making them probably the least green feature of the house.  Windows transmit heat readily, which means that in the winter; heat is literally sucked out of the house.  Even if the windows seal well and have no drafts, windows will be significantly colder than the surrounding walls.  And the more windows the more heat loss.

In the summer, there can be two issues.  First, the windows will bring heat in to the house (heat always goes from hot to cold). Second, infrared heat from the sun can pass through the windows to heat objects in the room and thus heat up the room.

Probably the easiest way to combat heat loss or gain through the windows is simple window treatments.  A thin, semi transparent curtain called a shear can create an air space between the window and the room, mitigating heat loss.  Like the reusable cloth shopping bag, a little cloth can address a big environmental problem.

Newer houses usually have double pane glass, which have two layers of glass with an air space or vacuum.  This can allow you to not have a window treatment while not loosing heat, although even double pane glass looses more heat than an insulated wall, so cloth shears can still help you to have eco friendly living.

If you have an old house, it will cost a bit more to truly get green and eco friendly windows. There are several ways to improve your windows and they vary in cost.  The cheapest is to put poly film over the outside of the windows in the wintertime.  Thin plastic film can be put up with double face tape and or staples. By having the film on the
outside, it helps to seal drafts as well.

The second least costly way is to put storms and screens on your windows.  Storm windows are a single pane glass that goes over the outside of your windows, much like the film. These are mounted on made to order frames and attached to the house.  Most also come with a provision for screens, allowing them to be opened up for natural cooling in the summer.

Finally if you really want to have the best and most eco friendly windows, you can put in replacement windows.  This will replace your old fashioned windows with modern insulated double pane glass windows.  If you are going to do this you are probably the person who doesn’t buy just any reusable shopping bag, but an organic cotton bag! These
windows can have a payback time of 5 years or so, but represent the greenest option.

Go look out your window, then look at your window and ask, can I be greener?

Greening your Catering Operation through Environmental Assessments

Managing and operating a catering company based on eco friendly norms and with an environmentally conscious mandate has become the moral responsibility of many catering entrepreneurs today. There are several reasons why you should consider “going green” in your catering operation especially if you are committed to your social responsibility, increasing your market share and generating multiple income streams by providing catering services to several events simultaneously. However, before you can embrace the latest environmental standards of operation, you need to identify the various functional subsets of your catering operation—areas in which you foresee the possibility of improvement from an ecological standpoint. Here are two environmental assessments you should conduct prior to articulating your eco friendly Green Action Plan. If you have a functional subset that is unique and specific to your catering niche, incorporate it as well because you will be perceived by your prospects, existing customers and the media as a responsible operation. Conducting an environmental assessment is a fancy way of saying that you should give your catering company a thorough look-over to see how you can become an environmentally friendly operation. This incidentally, is very good for business in these days of carbon credits, ecological footprints and innumerable discussions about GHG and other related subjects.

Energy Assessment

According to a recent survey conducted by a utility research group, the food services industry, of which the catering industry is a part, spends approximately $10 billion each year for energy consumption. Most unfortunately, 80% of the energy, regardless of the source—electricity, gas and others, is wasted due to energy inefficient appliances and human activated waste. A periodic assessment of your use of energy resources will keep you updated on the amount of energy you spend during a specific period of time. Let a representative from your neighborhood utilities company, of which you are a customer, come to your assistance to conduct an energy audit. Most utility companies provide this as a free service where as others may charge a small fee. A highly effective way to conserve energy resources without compromising on quality and service delivery is by investing only in commercial kitchen appliances that carry the Energy Star logo. This is a reliable, federally mandated program that is sure to reduce your utility bills. Visit the Energy Star Resource Page at energystar.gov for more information.

Water Assessment

Conducting periodic and timely water assessments of your catering operation is as vital as conducting energy assessments. A dripping faucet will always come as an additional burden on your budget in the form of increased water bills. The best way to perform this function is by asking your plumbing company to go on a calendar-based retainer and visit your catering company’s cooking premises to check for leaks and other related problems. If you are a small operation and prepare your food only on customer sites, there is not much you can do about conserving water resources except to ask your employees to use water judiciously. However, you are bound to expand into your very own commercial kitchen in due course where you can implement the suggestions we have offered in this regard. You can also consider calling your local water treatment plant and request a quick and thorough water consumption audit. Very often, the problems that cause water wastage are to be found outside your building.

The most efficient method of saving the environment from potential disaster is to educate yourself and your employees about the various environment friendly and energy efficient alternatives available today. Teach your employees the habits, which will help your catering business to go green, and your catering company is sure to soar to new heights of success.

Simple Tips to Increase Your Gas Mileage Through Better Driving

The inflation in gas prices shows no sign of slowing down and people are getting plenty worried about spending more and more of their income at the gas pump. Those who can afford it have switched to hybrids, or have switched to smaller, lighter vehicles. Some institutions are looking for alternative sources of energy and the rest have resorted to gas engine fuel savers and various gas mileage increasing devices. However, I just need to point out that you can already do a lot to increase your gas mileage merely by improving your attitude on the road.

One of the driving habits that hurt your fuel mileage is erratic driving. If you are constantly accelerating or decelerating, you tend to use up more gas than if you are cruising at a constant speed. The way the engine works is that it needs to use more gas to jumpstart the engine if the gears are shifted. Try to maintain a consistent speed and also try to keep your shifts in speed smooth. Gas mileage won’t benefit from jackrabbit starts.

Another way you can conserve gas is by slowing down your overall speed if the situation permits it. Of course, you need to speed things up if you’re on the highway, since slowing down is actually against traffic rules in that situation, but if you’re on the freeway, you can safely get away with driving below the max speed limit. Just remember to keep to the right when slowing down, so you won’t impede the people who are wasting gas.

Check your manufacturer for the recommended tire pressure and maintain the recommended psi. Bear in mind that the average tire loses about 1 psi per month. The reason for this is that under-inflated tires will have more resistance and will keep your car from moving as fast as it could. When a car struggles to move, it tends to use up more gas.

You should also cut down on the bling, or to be more specific, avoid souping up your car to the point that you have wider tires installed. These fancy plates and mags may look cool and some will even improve handling, but they tend to create more rolling resistance than stock tires. The more resistance it has, the more fuel your car needs. Saving up on gas by avoiding fancy tires acts in two ways; first, it saves money on long-term gas consumption, and as a bonus, also saves on the money you would have used to buy a fancy tire.

At the end of the day, if you really want to save on gas, avoid driving as much as you can. If you’re going somewhere that is only a few blocks away, try walking or bicycling. This has an additional health benefit, since the workout you will get from the physical activity may actually improve your fitness. Instead of going to a drive through fast food, park your car and eat inside. Ideally, spend the evening at home and enjoy a home-cooked meal. You don’t really need to use your something unless it is necessary, particularly if it’s a gas-guzzling car.

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