For weeks, observers worldwide have been awaiting Bloom Energy's big announcement about its "disruptive" next-generation power alternative. Well, that announcement came Wednesday and it's big.
The company is producing the Bloom Energy Server, or "Bloom Box" a stand-alone solid-oxide fuel cells that will allow homes and businesses to generate their own electricity. The fuel cells use hydrocarbon fuel and one cell should be enough to power a home. The cells do not require combustion and therefore produces half the greenhouse gas emissions of more conventional energy sources, the company claims.
The Server is a game-changer because it creates power at the spot where it's being consumed. It's disruptive because it's a potential killer app for the electric power and utility industry.
The problem with today's distributed energy power generation is that it is very inefficient, and has a volatile cost structure. Almost two-thirds of the energy produced by coal and natural gas-fired plants is lost in heat before it's transmitted, with about another 10% lost as the electricity travels over transmission lines.
Among the Server's advantages: it's an always-on power source, unlike renewable sources such as wind and solar, which are intermittent; it efficiently converts a wide range of carbon-based or renewable fuel to electricity, while cutting their carbon footprint; it can use a wide range of fuels, such as biodiesel, natural gas and petroleum.
Bloom Energy's biggest hurdle right now is cost and scalability. The current product can power roughly 100 U.S. homes or a mid-size business and costs $700,000 each. Bloom obviously wants to shrink the box in size and cost so that a homeowner can have one for around $3,000.
With a three-to-five-year estimated payback for a business, it could recoup server costs in savings by lowering what it pays for buying power from a utility.
Bloom already has on board customers such as Bank of America, Coca-Cola, eBay, FedEx Express, Google, Staples and Wal-Mart. As a matter of fact, Bloom's unveiling was announced at eBay's San Jose, Calif. offices.
Don't believe the hype? Let's wait and see if the Bloom Box has any staying power and real growth potential as a next-stage disruptive technology.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Surge protectors can save your equipment and money
We use them all the time, but do we really know what we’re using with surge protectors, and can they be green?
Surge protectors are devices that are between your computer or other electronic equipment and an electrical outlet that and protects your equipment's power supply from electrical surges. A surge protector regulates the current to connected equipment by either blocking or shorting to ground any "unsafe" voltage.
Usually set up in a "strip" or a box, surge protectors have several power outlets to plug into. Better versions will also have at least one data outlet to protect a telephone, fax machine or modem because these are also in danger from a surge of electricity through a phone line.
The other function of a surge protector is even more important. They also should act as surge suppressors. A surge suppressor prevents the peak AC voltage from going above a certain level. In normal U.S. homes, the standard voltage is 120 volts. If the voltage rises above 120 volts, the surge suppressor tor helps to prevent that problem from destroying your computer.
There are four basic levels of surge protectors:
• Basic power strip: These are just extension cord units with five or six outlets and only provide basic protection.
• UL-rated power strip: Look for models that meet Underwriters Labortories criteria. Look for at least UL 1449, UL's minimum performance standard for surge suppressors. There are a lot of power strips listed by UL that have no surge protection components at all. They are listed only for their performance as extension cords.
• Surge station: These large surge protectors fit under your computer or on the floor. They offer superior voltage protection and advanced line conditioning. Most models also have an input for a phone line, and may have built-in circuit breakers.
• Uninterruptable Power Supply: This design converts AC power to DC power and stores it on a battery. The UPS then converts the battery's DC power back to AC power and runs it to the AC outlets for your equipment. If the power goes out, your eletronic equipment continues to run, off the stored battery power.
Green technology in surge protectors, some suggestions:
• Monster Green Power uses propriety technology to save energy and money. It has six devices, ranging from six outlets to 10 outlets, ranging from about $50 for the Monster Power MDP 500 Digital PowerCenter to the HDP 900G PowerCenter, for about $150. All these devices protect equipment from dangerous spikes and surges while an audible alarm lets you know your gear is protected. It keeps your electronic devices at their peak with a filtering system designed to remove electrical noise and interference. It saves money by connecting your HDTV or receiver to the control outlet and your other components into the other switched outlets. When you turn off your HDTV, receiver, scanners or PC, other devices will be automatically disconnected from power and switched back on again when the unit plugged into the control outlet is turned back on.
• If you want a surge protector that provides power in case of black out or brownout, then your best buy is Cyberpower Intelligent LCD 585VA 8-Outlet UPS. Estimated backup runtime: 2-47 minutes. It has a real-time display system for eight outlets -- four backup/surge and four surge only -- dataline protection. It also has a proprietry software system, called PowerPanel Plus, that automatically saves and closes open files, and shuts down a computer system in a orderly manner. It’ll cost between $60-$130, and can be found on Dell, TigerDirect, Staples and CompUSA web sites. It’s least expenseive at Staples.
• Another good buy is the APC Performance SurgeArrest 11 Outlet with Phone, Coax and Ethernet Protection. On the APC web site, there is a surge protector selector, where you can determine what might work best for your needs. I went through the selection process and came up with 12 recommendations. I choose the Performance SurgeArrest because it had re-settable circuit breaker, dataline protection, and overload indictor and, of course 11 outlets. Cost: $45. Also check out APC Power-Saving Home/Office SurgeArrest, 8 Outlets with Phone Protection. It’s priced at about $30.
• Then there’s the “Green Power” surge protectors from Stellar Labs. Check out 8 Outlet Smart Green Power Surge Protector. It has eight outlets, five "Green Power" outlets and three outlets that are always on. This device monitors power usage, and when consumption drops 70% from peak for three minutes, the five Green Power outlets automatically switch off, saving you money and reducing harmful carbon emissions. Stellar labs have about seven different devices, ranging in price from $20 to $40.
• Cyber Power surge protector systems provide the right mix of uninterruptible power supply technology, which also reduces energy consumption. They call it GreenPower UPS™, and they plan on leading the surge protection industry in green technology.
It is estimated that seven percent of the world's electricity usage is consumed by electronics in standby mode. So reduce that usage, by cutting off power to all the devices when they are not needed, or saving your equipment from being destroyed because of spikes and surges, and surge protectors can be green in at least a couple of ways.
Surge protectors are devices that are between your computer or other electronic equipment and an electrical outlet that and protects your equipment's power supply from electrical surges. A surge protector regulates the current to connected equipment by either blocking or shorting to ground any "unsafe" voltage.
Usually set up in a "strip" or a box, surge protectors have several power outlets to plug into. Better versions will also have at least one data outlet to protect a telephone, fax machine or modem because these are also in danger from a surge of electricity through a phone line.
The other function of a surge protector is even more important. They also should act as surge suppressors. A surge suppressor prevents the peak AC voltage from going above a certain level. In normal U.S. homes, the standard voltage is 120 volts. If the voltage rises above 120 volts, the surge suppressor tor helps to prevent that problem from destroying your computer.
There are four basic levels of surge protectors:
• Basic power strip: These are just extension cord units with five or six outlets and only provide basic protection.
• UL-rated power strip: Look for models that meet Underwriters Labortories criteria. Look for at least UL 1449, UL's minimum performance standard for surge suppressors. There are a lot of power strips listed by UL that have no surge protection components at all. They are listed only for their performance as extension cords.
• Surge station: These large surge protectors fit under your computer or on the floor. They offer superior voltage protection and advanced line conditioning. Most models also have an input for a phone line, and may have built-in circuit breakers.
• Uninterruptable Power Supply: This design converts AC power to DC power and stores it on a battery. The UPS then converts the battery's DC power back to AC power and runs it to the AC outlets for your equipment. If the power goes out, your eletronic equipment continues to run, off the stored battery power.
Green technology in surge protectors, some suggestions:
• Monster Green Power uses propriety technology to save energy and money. It has six devices, ranging from six outlets to 10 outlets, ranging from about $50 for the Monster Power MDP 500 Digital PowerCenter to the HDP 900G PowerCenter, for about $150. All these devices protect equipment from dangerous spikes and surges while an audible alarm lets you know your gear is protected. It keeps your electronic devices at their peak with a filtering system designed to remove electrical noise and interference. It saves money by connecting your HDTV or receiver to the control outlet and your other components into the other switched outlets. When you turn off your HDTV, receiver, scanners or PC, other devices will be automatically disconnected from power and switched back on again when the unit plugged into the control outlet is turned back on.
• If you want a surge protector that provides power in case of black out or brownout, then your best buy is Cyberpower Intelligent LCD 585VA 8-Outlet UPS. Estimated backup runtime: 2-47 minutes. It has a real-time display system for eight outlets -- four backup/surge and four surge only -- dataline protection. It also has a proprietry software system, called PowerPanel Plus, that automatically saves and closes open files, and shuts down a computer system in a orderly manner. It’ll cost between $60-$130, and can be found on Dell, TigerDirect, Staples and CompUSA web sites. It’s least expenseive at Staples.
• Another good buy is the APC Performance SurgeArrest 11 Outlet with Phone, Coax and Ethernet Protection. On the APC web site, there is a surge protector selector, where you can determine what might work best for your needs. I went through the selection process and came up with 12 recommendations. I choose the Performance SurgeArrest because it had re-settable circuit breaker, dataline protection, and overload indictor and, of course 11 outlets. Cost: $45. Also check out APC Power-Saving Home/Office SurgeArrest, 8 Outlets with Phone Protection. It’s priced at about $30.
• Then there’s the “Green Power” surge protectors from Stellar Labs. Check out 8 Outlet Smart Green Power Surge Protector. It has eight outlets, five "Green Power" outlets and three outlets that are always on. This device monitors power usage, and when consumption drops 70% from peak for three minutes, the five Green Power outlets automatically switch off, saving you money and reducing harmful carbon emissions. Stellar labs have about seven different devices, ranging in price from $20 to $40.
• Cyber Power surge protector systems provide the right mix of uninterruptible power supply technology, which also reduces energy consumption. They call it GreenPower UPS™, and they plan on leading the surge protection industry in green technology.
It is estimated that seven percent of the world's electricity usage is consumed by electronics in standby mode. So reduce that usage, by cutting off power to all the devices when they are not needed, or saving your equipment from being destroyed because of spikes and surges, and surge protectors can be green in at least a couple of ways.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
Solar panel self-installation heating up
What seems to be gaining momentum across the USA is self-installation of solar panels in homes.
Home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, are attempting to capitalize on an increasingly trendy form of alternative energy because the costs of solar panels are falling.
The price of solar panels fell between 20 percent to 30 percent last year, but demand is expected to pick up in 2010 because the worldwide market is expected to surge. The prices of equity share of solar-centric manufacturing firms and suppliers reflected that same glut in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Solar is becoming increasingly popular. The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates up to 250,000 U.S. homes generate some solar energy. And, U.S. solar electric capacity grew by 63 percent in 2008, triple the growth in 2005, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
Several suppliers that have equipment in hardware stores are Akeena Solar Inc., Sunforce, Sunlinq, Sharp and Duracell.
Costs range from about $1,200, for the Sunforce 200 watt CIGS panel, to $130, for the Sunling’s 6.5 watt folding solar panel.
Once you make the decision to install panels, there is myriad amount of paperwork, including permits and certifications that are needed. If there is any doubt, it’s wise to seek an installation company. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, has a voluntary national certification program, and can help locate installers near where you live.
You can also go to Service Magic enter your zip code and provide some basic information about type of installation you are looking for, i.e., roof or ground mounted, grid tie-in, direction it will face.
Costs of the panels usually do not include what’s needed for installation including parts. So expect installation costs to amount to about a third of the total bill.
Home improvement stores, such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, are attempting to capitalize on an increasingly trendy form of alternative energy because the costs of solar panels are falling.
The price of solar panels fell between 20 percent to 30 percent last year, but demand is expected to pick up in 2010 because the worldwide market is expected to surge. The prices of equity share of solar-centric manufacturing firms and suppliers reflected that same glut in the fourth quarter of 2009.
Solar is becoming increasingly popular. The Solar Energy Industries Association estimates up to 250,000 U.S. homes generate some solar energy. And, U.S. solar electric capacity grew by 63 percent in 2008, triple the growth in 2005, according to the Interstate Renewable Energy Council.
Several suppliers that have equipment in hardware stores are Akeena Solar Inc., Sunforce, Sunlinq, Sharp and Duracell.
Costs range from about $1,200, for the Sunforce 200 watt CIGS panel, to $130, for the Sunling’s 6.5 watt folding solar panel.
Once you make the decision to install panels, there is myriad amount of paperwork, including permits and certifications that are needed. If there is any doubt, it’s wise to seek an installation company. The North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners, has a voluntary national certification program, and can help locate installers near where you live.
You can also go to Service Magic enter your zip code and provide some basic information about type of installation you are looking for, i.e., roof or ground mounted, grid tie-in, direction it will face.
Costs of the panels usually do not include what’s needed for installation including parts. So expect installation costs to amount to about a third of the total bill.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Turning green (devices) into gold @ CES
Most of the gadgets, gear and technology that grabbed attention at last week’s 2010 International Consumer Electronic Show in Las Vegas, the world's largest consumer technology tradeshow, focused on 3D TVs, smart mobile devices, wireless applications in autos and e-readers.
Green technologies had there biggest presence ever, but were still dwarfed by the ubiquitous consumer electronics. I was on the lookout for low-cost devices and applications that most of us could afford, and which would provide a cost or energy savings payback quickly.
Although there's already an established market for green-minded consumers, we aren’t willing to pay a premium for super energy-efficient electronics just yet. High energy prices will make energy-efficiency tools more appealing to a much broader audience. That needs to happen first before the people will start to make green-minded choices when buying everyday products.
There were several products that got my attention:
• YoGen handheld charger. This handheld emergency charger makes electricity generation easy because users simply pull on the string to generate a 5-watt charge. The YoGen generates the same charge as a plug-in charger, so one minute of pulling generates the same amount of power as one minute using a wall charger. Check out the charger at the YoGen online store.
• NAVTEQ's Green Streets. This digital map data provider enable drivers to save fuel and cut carbon emissions by choosing better routes, optimize cruise control, and make other efficient adjustments that economize fuel and carbon emissions. NAVTEQ is the leading provider of digital map data, navigation software and devices.
• Sony’s Vaio W Series laptop. This “Eco Edition” mini laptop comes in a green-tinted plastic enclosure made from 23% recycled CDs and a carrying case made from recycled plastic bottles. The device is energy efficient too, with an Energy Star 5.0 rating and EPEAT certification. Sony’s latest offering also has a high-definition, 10.1-inch LED screen, 250 gigabytes of hard drive storage, and up to seven hours of battery life.
And a green product that was at the show, but was unveiled in November:
• The Electronic Housekeeper. The “dashboard” by Denmark-based Electronic Housekeeper, is a wall-mountable console that interacts wirelessly with your appliances and devices at home. It monitors heating and air conditioning, and electric and water meters. What sets it apart from so many other dashboards hitting the market is that it is one of the first to give consumers monitoring of all utilities, including water.
Right now, other than Energy Star appliances, electronic devices don’t have labels to help consumers make decisions based on energy consumption. That needs to change. That will prompt people to buy based on cost and energy savings.
Brand-name manufacturers are innovating more around energy and environmental sustainability, driven both by economic interests and regulations. That, too, will drive down prices as well.
Like with everything technology-based, wait long enough and capacity will increase and costs will drop.
Green technologies had there biggest presence ever, but were still dwarfed by the ubiquitous consumer electronics. I was on the lookout for low-cost devices and applications that most of us could afford, and which would provide a cost or energy savings payback quickly.
Although there's already an established market for green-minded consumers, we aren’t willing to pay a premium for super energy-efficient electronics just yet. High energy prices will make energy-efficiency tools more appealing to a much broader audience. That needs to happen first before the people will start to make green-minded choices when buying everyday products.
There were several products that got my attention:
• YoGen handheld charger. This handheld emergency charger makes electricity generation easy because users simply pull on the string to generate a 5-watt charge. The YoGen generates the same charge as a plug-in charger, so one minute of pulling generates the same amount of power as one minute using a wall charger. Check out the charger at the YoGen online store.
• NAVTEQ's Green Streets. This digital map data provider enable drivers to save fuel and cut carbon emissions by choosing better routes, optimize cruise control, and make other efficient adjustments that economize fuel and carbon emissions. NAVTEQ is the leading provider of digital map data, navigation software and devices.
• Sony’s Vaio W Series laptop. This “Eco Edition” mini laptop comes in a green-tinted plastic enclosure made from 23% recycled CDs and a carrying case made from recycled plastic bottles. The device is energy efficient too, with an Energy Star 5.0 rating and EPEAT certification. Sony’s latest offering also has a high-definition, 10.1-inch LED screen, 250 gigabytes of hard drive storage, and up to seven hours of battery life.
And a green product that was at the show, but was unveiled in November:
• The Electronic Housekeeper. The “dashboard” by Denmark-based Electronic Housekeeper, is a wall-mountable console that interacts wirelessly with your appliances and devices at home. It monitors heating and air conditioning, and electric and water meters. What sets it apart from so many other dashboards hitting the market is that it is one of the first to give consumers monitoring of all utilities, including water.
Right now, other than Energy Star appliances, electronic devices don’t have labels to help consumers make decisions based on energy consumption. That needs to change. That will prompt people to buy based on cost and energy savings.
Brand-name manufacturers are innovating more around energy and environmental sustainability, driven both by economic interests and regulations. That, too, will drive down prices as well.
Like with everything technology-based, wait long enough and capacity will increase and costs will drop.
Monday, January 4, 2010
Want to go green this winter? Buy a digital thermostat
It’s January, and I have resolved to … lower my heating bills. Easier said than done, you say, like most New Year’s resolutions.
With that said, the HVACs we live and work in use the most energy either heating or cooling the building, or lighting the rooms and powering the appliances and equipment in them. Normally, a third of the energy consumed in a building is used to heat or cool it.
Heating/cooling are controlled by thermostats, and most US homes have manual ones that are inefficient because they have to be manually adjusted. Newer digital thermostats use thermistors (thermal resistors) to detect changes in temperature. The thermistor changes resistance as its temperature changes, so by connecting it to some chips and other electronics, the digital thermostat can easily detect the room temperature.
You can save energy with a programmable thermostat from the first day its properly installed because you can tell it when to automatically make adjustments based on time and temperature.
Need help selecting a thermostat? Check out http://www.prothermostats.com/ and look under the resource library and the thermostat-buying guide for homeowners. The site contains great information to help you decide what to look for based on your home heating system, what kind of electrical wiring system you have and what features you might want in programmability.
The site carries information on multiple brands including Honeywell, White-Rodgers, LuxPro, Robertshaw, and Braeburn. It also has information on installation, wiring and disposal of hazardous mercury thermostats. How much do thermostats cost? They run from about $29 all the way to about $150, but you can buy a good mid-range device for about $50-$80. You can recoup these costs in a couple of months of lower bills.
Lastly, for those of you who haven’t read my first blog post, the purpose of myBTU.com and my website, which is under development, is:
• I’ll support and discuss what new and working with green technology
• I’ll post and point to information that will hold the fossil-fuel industry accountable for its pollution
• I’ll point out individual steps and products you can use, buy, investigate and invest in to conserve energy at home and at work. This will include product reviews and suggestions.
• I’ll push the use of valid alternative and renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and nuclear power
• I’ll keep an eye on energy policy – worldwide, nationwide and state by state -- because without informed and enlightened governmental road map, we are doomed.
With those goals in mind, pay attention to the 2010 International Consumer Electronic Show, the world's largest consumer technology trade show, with more 2,700 exhibitors, in Las Vegas this week. The Consumer Electronics Association represents thousands of companies involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products The must-see list for this year includes ebook readers, digital cameras, digital TVs, GPS devices and sound systems, and automotive smart systems, for communication and mapping.
CES has always had green technology area and, this year’s focus will be on smart appliances, many types of power-management devices and tools for managing home and industrial power consumption.
I’ll talk next week about some of the cool energy-efficiency devices unveiled at CES.
With that said, the HVACs we live and work in use the most energy either heating or cooling the building, or lighting the rooms and powering the appliances and equipment in them. Normally, a third of the energy consumed in a building is used to heat or cool it.
Heating/cooling are controlled by thermostats, and most US homes have manual ones that are inefficient because they have to be manually adjusted. Newer digital thermostats use thermistors (thermal resistors) to detect changes in temperature. The thermistor changes resistance as its temperature changes, so by connecting it to some chips and other electronics, the digital thermostat can easily detect the room temperature.
You can save energy with a programmable thermostat from the first day its properly installed because you can tell it when to automatically make adjustments based on time and temperature.
Need help selecting a thermostat? Check out http://www.prothermostats.com/ and look under the resource library and the thermostat-buying guide for homeowners. The site contains great information to help you decide what to look for based on your home heating system, what kind of electrical wiring system you have and what features you might want in programmability.
The site carries information on multiple brands including Honeywell, White-Rodgers, LuxPro, Robertshaw, and Braeburn. It also has information on installation, wiring and disposal of hazardous mercury thermostats. How much do thermostats cost? They run from about $29 all the way to about $150, but you can buy a good mid-range device for about $50-$80. You can recoup these costs in a couple of months of lower bills.
Lastly, for those of you who haven’t read my first blog post, the purpose of myBTU.com and my website, which is under development, is:
• I’ll support and discuss what new and working with green technology
• I’ll post and point to information that will hold the fossil-fuel industry accountable for its pollution
• I’ll point out individual steps and products you can use, buy, investigate and invest in to conserve energy at home and at work. This will include product reviews and suggestions.
• I’ll push the use of valid alternative and renewable energy, including solar, wind, biomass, geothermal and nuclear power
• I’ll keep an eye on energy policy – worldwide, nationwide and state by state -- because without informed and enlightened governmental road map, we are doomed.
With those goals in mind, pay attention to the 2010 International Consumer Electronic Show, the world's largest consumer technology trade show, with more 2,700 exhibitors, in Las Vegas this week. The Consumer Electronics Association represents thousands of companies involved in the design, development, manufacturing, distribution and integration of consumer electronics products The must-see list for this year includes ebook readers, digital cameras, digital TVs, GPS devices and sound systems, and automotive smart systems, for communication and mapping.
CES has always had green technology area and, this year’s focus will be on smart appliances, many types of power-management devices and tools for managing home and industrial power consumption.
I’ll talk next week about some of the cool energy-efficiency devices unveiled at CES.
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Think ahead: Christmas (tree) 2010
Now that Christmas is over, did you have a real tree or an artificial one? And which is more environmentally friendly? What should you do in 2010? Read on.
Two Christmas tree associations try to push consumers in either direction, real or fake. The American Christmas Tree Association, which says buying a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree is less expensive over 10 years than buying real trees, suggests there is less of an environmental impact because dead trees don’t end up in landfills.
The National Christmas Tree Association, which represents real tree farmers, emphasizes the environmental sustainability of natural firs, and that for every tree cut down, three new ones are planted. Yet, an ACTA-sponsored study suggests that the carbon footprint of artificial trees is actually lower.
The 10-year "cradle to grave" ACTA analysis looked at every aspect of a natural tree’s life cycle, from seedling through commercial farming, cultivation and harvesting, transport to retail, transport to consumer homes, and finally transport and disposal. The study also examined the manufacturing of an artificial tree including resource harvesting, raw material transport, each stage of the manufacturing process, transport to retail, transport to consumer homes, and finally transport and disposal.
The study, conducted by international sustainability firm PE Americas, found the most significant environmental impact was fuel consumption in transporting real Christmas trees from farms and lots to peoples’ homes. It also said driving out to a tree farm to cut down a tree has the worst environmental impact because of the use of fuel.
The NCTA counters: "According to research, most fake trees are only used 6 to 9 years before they're disposed. Even if you would use one for 20 years or more, it will eventually be thrown away and end up in a landfill. And unlike Real Trees, which are biodegradable and recyclable, fake trees are always a burden to the environment."
Of course, real trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit oxygen. Somehow, the ACTA study missed that positive environmental impact. The NCTA says there are about 450 million natural trees in the United States. When produced or burned, the artificial trees release toxins that can cause health problems.
Another fact that might cause some discomfort: between 85%-90% of artificial trees are made in China, and have a measurable carbon impact to get to America.
Now, how do you recycle the Christmas tree, if you can’t mulch or compost it yourself? It’s best to leave it to a municipal or private trash service, which usually will take it to a recycling center, or take it to a recycling center yourself. However, if I were you, I’d check with that municipal or private service to make sure they are recycling and simply not dumping trees in a landfill.
The most-eco-friendly solution – which you can do next year, if you didn’t do it this Christmas -- is to get a tree with roots and replant outside. Make sure you buy a species that will work with the soil type and climate at your house. Or buy a living potted tree.
Yea, it’s way too soon to decided what you’ll do in 2010, but the consensus among environmentalists is that natural trees are clearly better.
Two Christmas tree associations try to push consumers in either direction, real or fake. The American Christmas Tree Association, which says buying a pre-lit artificial Christmas tree is less expensive over 10 years than buying real trees, suggests there is less of an environmental impact because dead trees don’t end up in landfills.
The National Christmas Tree Association, which represents real tree farmers, emphasizes the environmental sustainability of natural firs, and that for every tree cut down, three new ones are planted. Yet, an ACTA-sponsored study suggests that the carbon footprint of artificial trees is actually lower.
The 10-year "cradle to grave" ACTA analysis looked at every aspect of a natural tree’s life cycle, from seedling through commercial farming, cultivation and harvesting, transport to retail, transport to consumer homes, and finally transport and disposal. The study also examined the manufacturing of an artificial tree including resource harvesting, raw material transport, each stage of the manufacturing process, transport to retail, transport to consumer homes, and finally transport and disposal.
The study, conducted by international sustainability firm PE Americas, found the most significant environmental impact was fuel consumption in transporting real Christmas trees from farms and lots to peoples’ homes. It also said driving out to a tree farm to cut down a tree has the worst environmental impact because of the use of fuel.
The NCTA counters: "According to research, most fake trees are only used 6 to 9 years before they're disposed. Even if you would use one for 20 years or more, it will eventually be thrown away and end up in a landfill. And unlike Real Trees, which are biodegradable and recyclable, fake trees are always a burden to the environment."
Of course, real trees absorb carbon dioxide and other gases and emit oxygen. Somehow, the ACTA study missed that positive environmental impact. The NCTA says there are about 450 million natural trees in the United States. When produced or burned, the artificial trees release toxins that can cause health problems.
Another fact that might cause some discomfort: between 85%-90% of artificial trees are made in China, and have a measurable carbon impact to get to America.
Now, how do you recycle the Christmas tree, if you can’t mulch or compost it yourself? It’s best to leave it to a municipal or private trash service, which usually will take it to a recycling center, or take it to a recycling center yourself. However, if I were you, I’d check with that municipal or private service to make sure they are recycling and simply not dumping trees in a landfill.
The most-eco-friendly solution – which you can do next year, if you didn’t do it this Christmas -- is to get a tree with roots and replant outside. Make sure you buy a species that will work with the soil type and climate at your house. Or buy a living potted tree.
Yea, it’s way too soon to decided what you’ll do in 2010, but the consensus among environmentalists is that natural trees are clearly better.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
A meaningful agreement in Copenhagen?
Did I call it or what? Look what happened in Copenhagen. Infighting, confusion, developing countries aligned against industrialize nations. Alas, a “meaningful agreement” was finally reached. While there was so much attention being paid to what was happening – and not – as the world’s top leaders arrived last week, the summit will be known more for what didn’t happen than for what did.
A meaningful agreement? With no commitment to a legal treaty, no firm target for limiting the rise in global temperatures, no target year for peaking emissions, and developing countries left out of the deal-making, all the hot air expended in Copenhagen did nothing but increase global warming by some unknown degree.
They did come up with target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times as a requirement to stave off the worst effects of climate change. There also was agreement by rich nations to jointly mobilize $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. However, environmentalists are not happy, neither are those from the developing nations in Africa and elsewhere. Over the next weeks and months in Copenhagen’s wake, we’ll see what real progress was made, and what it will mean for you, I and America.
In Washington as the Christmas recess approaches, the Senate is occupied with health care reform, leaving little time and energy to extend tax credits that expire at the end of the year, jeopardizing jobs in the biofuels and alternative energy sector. The House has already passed an annual tax extenders package, extending three dozen tax incentives for another year, but that's not enough.
That means tax credits for biofuels, research and development and hybrid trucks may expire in two weeks, creating investment uncertainty and possible job losses in those industries that rely heavily on the development tax credit for labor and equipment costs. So, stay tuned. We’ll see what happens after we pop the champagne on News Year’s Day.
Now that most of these United States are in the throes of winter, did you know that homes lose most of their heat energy through drafts arround windows? Poorly insulated roofs are problematic, too, but whose going to replace a roof in the dead of winter?
We can reduce our home heating costs by up to 30 percent through proper insulation and air sealing methods around drafty windows. Sealing out the cold around windows, doors, electric outlets, anywhere where there’s an opening that air gets in or out will save you money. Replacing windows is costly, though there are lots of tax credits and incentives available in many states. If replacing windows isn’t possible, there are ways to reduce those cold-air drafts.
First, test for leaks by holding a lit candle, a match or lighter near windows and doors. Once problem areas are identified, there are plenty of plastic window-covering products that will work to cover them. They can be found anywhere from Home Depot, Lowe’s, ACE, Kmart, even Target. You can find the material just about anywhere this time of year. Before you buy any pre-packaged kits, it‘s more cost-effective just to purchase a heavy-duty clear, plastic sheet, cut it to the size you need and tape it to the inside of your windows. This will cost about $20-$25, depending on the number and size of windows in your home. That’s clear, polyethylene sheeting and just plain old Duct Tape or clear packaging tape.
A tip: If using pre-packaged kits, the adhesive double-sided tape issued with them might not work properly on window and door molding if the outside temperature at 40 degrees or below. The tape just won’t stick, especially if the molding is metal or fiberglass. You can pre-heat the molding before you use the tape but that’s tedious and doesn’t work very well.
I'll provide simple energy- and money-saving suggestions each time I blog. Stay tuned, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
A meaningful agreement? With no commitment to a legal treaty, no firm target for limiting the rise in global temperatures, no target year for peaking emissions, and developing countries left out of the deal-making, all the hot air expended in Copenhagen did nothing but increase global warming by some unknown degree.
They did come up with target of limiting global warming to a maximum 2 degrees Celsius over pre-industrial times as a requirement to stave off the worst effects of climate change. There also was agreement by rich nations to jointly mobilize $100 billion a year by 2020 to address the needs of developing countries. However, environmentalists are not happy, neither are those from the developing nations in Africa and elsewhere. Over the next weeks and months in Copenhagen’s wake, we’ll see what real progress was made, and what it will mean for you, I and America.
In Washington as the Christmas recess approaches, the Senate is occupied with health care reform, leaving little time and energy to extend tax credits that expire at the end of the year, jeopardizing jobs in the biofuels and alternative energy sector. The House has already passed an annual tax extenders package, extending three dozen tax incentives for another year, but that's not enough.
That means tax credits for biofuels, research and development and hybrid trucks may expire in two weeks, creating investment uncertainty and possible job losses in those industries that rely heavily on the development tax credit for labor and equipment costs. So, stay tuned. We’ll see what happens after we pop the champagne on News Year’s Day.
Now that most of these United States are in the throes of winter, did you know that homes lose most of their heat energy through drafts arround windows? Poorly insulated roofs are problematic, too, but whose going to replace a roof in the dead of winter?
We can reduce our home heating costs by up to 30 percent through proper insulation and air sealing methods around drafty windows. Sealing out the cold around windows, doors, electric outlets, anywhere where there’s an opening that air gets in or out will save you money. Replacing windows is costly, though there are lots of tax credits and incentives available in many states. If replacing windows isn’t possible, there are ways to reduce those cold-air drafts.
First, test for leaks by holding a lit candle, a match or lighter near windows and doors. Once problem areas are identified, there are plenty of plastic window-covering products that will work to cover them. They can be found anywhere from Home Depot, Lowe’s, ACE, Kmart, even Target. You can find the material just about anywhere this time of year. Before you buy any pre-packaged kits, it‘s more cost-effective just to purchase a heavy-duty clear, plastic sheet, cut it to the size you need and tape it to the inside of your windows. This will cost about $20-$25, depending on the number and size of windows in your home. That’s clear, polyethylene sheeting and just plain old Duct Tape or clear packaging tape.
A tip: If using pre-packaged kits, the adhesive double-sided tape issued with them might not work properly on window and door molding if the outside temperature at 40 degrees or below. The tape just won’t stick, especially if the molding is metal or fiberglass. You can pre-heat the molding before you use the tape but that’s tedious and doesn’t work very well.
I'll provide simple energy- and money-saving suggestions each time I blog. Stay tuned, Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
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