All Things Green
Visit the Sustainable Housing Design website and blog for more green living tips, links, and articles.
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Featured Green Lenses & Groups
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Yurt Homes
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A Yurt is a portable structure much like those used by nomadic tribes in Mongolia over 2000 years ago. The domed, tent-like structure sits on top of a portable wooden frame to create an efficient shelter that is environmentally friendly. Despite the...
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Green Living And Eco Conscious Sustainability Headquarters
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A group for all green energy, recycling, solar energy, eco conscious, permaculture, green living, sustainability, global warming, food production, forests, nature, earth, activism, and environmental friendly lenses. Visit the Sustainable Housing De...
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Earthship Homes
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Earthship Biotecture homes, floor plans and construction, solar energy, green energy, thermal dynamics, food production, housing, recycled materials. Including pictures, videos, books, news, info and much more. Earthship (n.) 1. passive solar home m...
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EarthCraft Homes
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EarthCraft House is a green building program that serves as a blueprint for healthy comfortable homes that reduce utility bills and protect the environment. The aim of the program is to help home builders be leaders in smart growth management and env...
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Earthbag Homes
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Earthbag buildings are environmentally friendly, eco-conscious, energy efficient buildings that are built out of bags of earth, stacked in certain patterns and on a solid foundation. Because of their design they easily make good use of passive solar...
Contents
- Sustainable Housing Design
- Specials
- Help The Environment, And Help Your Wallet
- Share Your Green Tips
- Introduction To Green Living
- ~Green Links~
- 10 Green Living Tips
- Green Tip Of The Day
- Sustainablog
- Green News
- Environmental News
- Green Power News
- Green Living Books
- eBay Auctions
- Green CafePress Gifts
- Environmental Zazzle Gifts
- Alternative Energy
- Alternative Fuels
- Compressed Air Cars
- Earth Sheltered Homes
- EarthCraft Homes
- Earthship Homes
- Electric Cars
- Global Warming
- Green Building
- Green Energy
- Green Party
- Green Politics
- Organic Foods
- Rammed Earth Homes
- Recycling
- Renewable Energy
- Solar Power
- Sustainable Energy
- Wind Power
- Zero Waste
- [Guestbook]
Specials
Eco Friendly And Green Energy Info Products
Help The Environment, And Help Your Wallet
Make Money From Your Old Electronics
Share Your Green Tips
Have a green living tip? Share it with the world :-)
Fetching blurbs now... please stand by
jaky says:
Submit your site for free http://suasoan.com
Posted October 02, 2009
ecoreview says:
Change out all your incandescent bulbs with compact florescent, a 60 watt incandescent is equivalent to a 13 watt compact florescent. A savings of 48 watts per bulb!
Posted April 17, 2009
jp1978 says:
Here in the Philippines virtually every store uses plastic bags. A few months ago I started carrying my own bag everywhere so whenever I buy something I don't need to have it bagged. I think it's (very) slowly starting to catch on. Not fast enough though.
Posted December 31, 2008
Mike_Long says:
Read endless tips and ideas at http://www.top-alternative-energy-sources.com
Posted June 05, 2009
Introduction To Green Living
Sustainable living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce an individual's or society's use of the Earth's natural resource and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living often attempt to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet. Proponents of sustainable living aim to conduct their lives in manners that are consistent with sustainability, in natural balance and respectful of humanity's symbiotic relationship with the Earth's natural ecology and cycles.The Center for Ecological Living and Learning (CELL)-philosophy The practice and general philosophy of ecological living is highly interrelated with the overall principles of sustainable development.
Lester R. Brown, a prominent environmentalist and founder of the Worldwatch Institute and Earth Policy Institute, describes sustainable living in the 21st century as "shifting to a renewable energy-based, reuse/recycle economy with a diversified transport system.""An interview with Lester Brown" by Greg Ross [http://www.americanscientist.org/bookshelf/pub/lester-brown] American Scientist.
~Green Links~
- About Green Living
- About.com green living, sustainable lifestyles, low impact living and environmental living.
- Alternative Energy
- Alternative Energy is for our economy, security, and the environment. Read news on solar energy, wind power, geothermal, biofuel, biodiesel, hydrogen and every form of renewable energy.
- American Solar Energy Society
- Established in 1954, the American Solar Energy Society (ASES) is the nonprofit organization dedicated to increasing the use of solar energy, energy efficiency, and other sustainable technologies in the U.S.
- American Wind Energy Association
- The mission of the American Wind Energy Association is to promote wind power growth through advocacy, communication, and education.
- AutoblogGreen
- We obsessively cover the green scene.
- Better World Club
- Better World Club Provides Nationwide Roadside Assistance. We are the Nation's Only environmentally friendly auto club. Membership Includes eco-travel Services, Discounts on hybrid car rental, insurance Services, Free Maps, Auto Maintenance discounts and bicycle roadside assistance. We donate 1% of annual revenues toward environmental cleanup and advocacy.
- Betty Biodiesel
- To improve the air we all breathe by providing a dynamic and entertaining approach to education; teaching all ages about the benefits of diversity, efficiency and renewability. To empower youth in the creation of a society dedicated to providing clean air for all.
- Building Green
- Publishers of Environmental Building News and of other information resources for practictioners of sustainable design.
- Campaign Earth
- We offer simple solutions to today's most pressing environmental issue, climate change. Knowing a busy lifestyle is as American as apple pie, we've created straight forward actions that enable us all to make a difference, one step at a time.
- Carbon Fund
- Carbonfund.org is leading the fight against global climate change, making it easy and affordable for any individual, business or organization to eliminate their climate impact and hastening the transformation to a clean energy future.
- Care2
- Largest online community empowering people to lead a healthy and green lifestyle while taking action on important causes such as human rights, animal welfare and global warming.
- Clean Air Council
- Clean Air Council is a member- supported, non-profit environmental organization dedicated to protecting everyone's right to breathe clean air. The Council works through public education, community advocacy, and government oversight to ensure enforcement of environmental laws.
- Common Fire
- Common Fire helps to create and nurture model living spaces that are devoted to giving as full an expression as possible to healthy and sustainable living in solidarity with other people and the planet. Common Fire does not pretend there is one way to do this. Rather each Common Fire co-op and community, while adopting some norms on which there is strong consensus, offers a rich diversity of perspectives and strategies regarding what it means to lead such a good life.
- Cultivate Sanctuary
- A holistic approach to living. Including feng shui , green living and food energetics.
- Cyberset
- Cyberset, a music and media company based in San Francisco. Our growing family of artists blend musical elements of world, ambient, dance, vocal, and urban genres into fresh sounds that share the positive intentions and global reach of modern New Edge culture.
Cyberset artists embody this emerging culture that emphasizes community, personal growth, social conscience, and ecological awareness. Although you will find a range of genres featured on the label, a closer look at the artists' pages, blogs, and websites reveals many common values and interests. There is more than meets the ear to Cyberset! - Daily Acts
- By growing our awareness and better recognizing the power in each common action, we shape the world we wish to call home. All of our efforts involve providing the resources and support to rediscover the bits of bliss in how people live.
- DIY Power System
- Discover how to build your own wind or solar energy generator for as little as $100!
- DSIRE
- DSIRE is a comprehensive source of information on state, local, utility, and federal incentives that promote renewable energy and energy efficiency.
- Earth4Energy
- Here at Earth4Energy we have created a complete step-by-step kit so that you can setup your own renewable energy system in your backyard for less than $200!
- Earthdance
- Our mission is to promote peace by joining participants worldwide in a synchronized Prayer For Peace and to support humanitarian causes through the global language of music and dance. Our goal is to inspire participation from promoters, clubs, artists, musicians and peace-lovers worldwide to dedicate one day to support humanitarian efforts and help unite people from all nations in a day of peaceful celebration and harmony.
- Earthware Biodegradables
- Our mission is to be part of the solution. We're focused on helping to reduce waste by developing and marketing sustainable solutions - compostable, recyclable and reusable products for households, businesses, and institutions.
- Ecofriend
- 'Ecofriend' is an environmental blog. The idea behind Ecofriend is simple: to inform and educate consumers who love to possess the latest gadgets and products available in the market and who are also concerned about the environment around them. We are here to help both these ends meet. The main editorial focus of 'Ecofriend' is Alternative Energy. Our insatiable demand for energy contributes hugely to help combat global warming among a host of other environmental problems. Renewable energy and Energy-efficiency are going to be two big themes at 'Ecofriend'.
- Ecopalooza
- Ecopalooza Green Events Network welcomes your events related to environment/ecology, sustainable living, food/sustainable farming, organic food, renewable energy, bioregionalism, faith-based eco-events, sustainable transportation/biofuels, green business, localization, and other eco-related events.
- EERE
- The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) works to strengthen the United States' energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality in public-private partnerships.
- Efficient Planet
- This website will show those interested in generating their own power and how to live more efficiently, the perfect step-by-step program.
- Energy Center
- The California Center for Sustainable Energy (CCSE) is a non-profit organization dedicated to Greening Your WorldSM through public programs and services including free workshops, rebate programs, free shade trees, outreach events and public education.
- Energy4Green
- Stop being held hostage by the electric company and discover how you can transform your backyard into a mini power plant.
- Environment Directory
- Earth's biggest environment search engine!
- Environmental Defense Fund
- Founded in 1967 as the Environmental Defense Fund, we tackle the most serious environmental problems with:
Strong science
Innovative markets
Corporate partnerships
Effective laws and policy - Environmental News Network
- We publish information that will help people understand and communicate the environmental issues and solutions that face us and hopefully inspire them to get involved. We help nonprofits, governments and businesses from around the world get their information published and read by the people who want to help make this planet a better place. People like you.
- Environmental News Service
- The Environment News Service is the original daily international wire service of the environment. Established in 1990 by Editor-in-Chief Sunny Lewis and Managing Editor Jim Crabtree, it is independently owned and operated.
The Environment News Service (ENS) exists to present late-breaking environmental news in a fair and balanced manner.
ENS news reports are indexed by Reuters/Dow Jones Factiva, and KeepMedia. Hundreds of websites feature ENS headlines and story briefs. - Etopia Eco Village
- Etopia Eco-Village is a realistic representation of a semi-sustainable village showcasing the best Real Life examples in sustainable design, renewable energy production, intergated land use and human-scaled development.
- Excess Access
- We link donations of business and household items / materials with the wish-lists of nearby nonprofits that can provide pick-ups or accept drop-offs. We serve the US, Canada and beyond. Together we're keeping useful goods out of over-flowing garbage dumps. It's great for charities and the environment!
- Fields Of Green Team
- We are here to inspire and teach environment readiness and responsibility. We know that families can work together and do small things everyday that will create a huge impact. As a team, we will share powerful ideas and recommend practices and products that can begin to reverse our environmental crisis and clean up the air we all breathe.
- for Harmony
- What if we each made conscious choices every day? What if we were more conscious of how our thoughts, words and actions can impact our lives and those of the people around us. And on an even bigger scale, the global community and the Earth itself? That is why for Harmony was created. To create awareness of our thoughts, words and actions. To connect us to each other and to the world around us. And to embrace all that life has to offer. For a healthy and sustainable world.
- Free Energy Options
- Get instant access to all the information you need to create electricity right in your own backyard, including detailed step-by-step instructions, full-color illustrations, and sources for all materials.
- G Living
- The G Living Network is more than a media entertainment network for a new generation. We are a lifestyle company. We focus on all the elements that make this lifestyle possible. Currently, G Living creates original innovative content, and works hands-on to create "G" products, contemporary designs and original programming from our Venice California studio. The G Living Network produces various online media, including streaming broadband shows, a multi-media cookbook, cooking shows, featured editorial content, daily blogs, and an interactive social networking community.
- Global Citizen Center
- The Global Citizen Center ("GCC" or "the Center") is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that employs public education and demonstration to promote a set of new economic practices that are environmentally sustainable and socially just. In so doing, the Center hopes to accelerate the transition to an alternative economic paradigm that embodies these practices, a paradigm often referred to as the Green Economy.
- Global Giving Green
- Focused on helping people and the planet. We've hand-picked projects that address climate change and poverty - you choose your favorite and watch your donation make a difference! These projects have been selected using a unique evaluation system and have earned the GlobalGiving Green "leaf".
- Go Green Solar
- GoGreenSolar.com is the #1 online destination for Renewable Energy Products, Professionals and Financing. We not only retail small renewable energy systems, wind turbines, and solar panels; For larger installations we connect you to renewable energy professionals in your area. Through our extensive relationships in the renewable energy industry we deliver consumers the highest quality products, services and information.
- Green Biz
- Green business news and tools for aligning sustainability with business success. Resources for successful green strategies, covering operations, energy, product design, marketing, and more.
- Green Daily
- Green Daily is your one-stop shop for all things eco-friendly. We cover everything from environmental news and politics, to green celebrity gossip and fashion trends, to the emerging green tech industry. We also offer a host of easy, practical, money-saving tips for reducing your impact on the planet.
- Green Energy News
- The first issue of the weekly Energies newsletter was published in 1996. Green Energy News incorporated the following year. The publication was developed to offer news and commentary in regards to clean, efficient and/or renewable energy in relation to business, technology, issues and policy. Green Energy News is geared to a wide audience ranging from consumers to industry professionals to the educational community to government officials.
- Green Festivals
- Think of Green Festival as a walk through a sustainable community. It begins with finding solutions to help make our lives healthier-socially, economically and environmentally. Individuals along with business and community leaders come together to discuss critical issues that impact us at home and abroad. Organizations and businesses showcase programs and products that restore the planet and all that inhabit it. Neighbor-to-neighbor connections are formed, and skills are shared to empower people to create positive change in the world.
- Green Guide
- National Geographic Green Guide makes living in an environmentally aware way personal, practical and positive. Intended for general consumers, Green Guide shows people how to make small changes that add up to big benefits for their wallets, for their health, and, of course, for the health of the planet. Not political or activist, the Green Guide is chock full of simple, useful ideas broken down into achievable steps that make going green a gradual and affordable process rather than an all-or-nothing plunge.
- Green Harmony Living
- Green living products, organic foods, raw foods, and vegan food. Green Harmony Living online shop.
- Green Home Building
- Greenhomebuilding.com is where you can find a wide range of information about sustainable architecture and natural building.
- Green Impact
- Green Impact helps organizations implement their sustainability goals by providing expertise in strategy, program development, cross-sector dialogue and written communications.
- Green Living Ideas
- Green Living Ideas provides ideas, tips, and information to help you improve the environmental sustainability of every aspect of your life: home energy, green building and remodeling, cars, food, waste recycling-and everything in between. Green Living Ideas is the most comprehensive green living website ever assembled, with information on how to live greener in over 200 different areas of life! We've assembled the world's top green living authors and experts to bring you the latest info on green and sustainable living.
- Green Living Journal
- Green Living has been publishing news you can use, mostly related to environmental issues, since 1990. Our regular topics include organic gardening, green building, health, ecocareers and right livelihood, outdoors/sports, socially responsible investing, econotes, questions and answers, book reviews, and features on topical environmental issues.
- Green Living Online
- Whether it's sustainable seafood, pasture-raised meat, organic grains and vegetables or raw food you're after, here's where to go for a great green meal.
- Green Living Project
- To educate and inspire citizens to live and support a more sustainable lifestyle through stories focused on successful and unique sustainable projects from around the world.
- Green Living Tips
- Environmental tips for going green at home or work plus earth friendly business guides. News and advice on living a more natural lifestyle that reduces impact on the environment.
- Green Lodging News
- Unlike any other lodging industry publication in the marketplace, Green Lodging News focuses solely on environment-related issues that impact profitability. Via the website and the weekly Green Lodging News e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight, Green Lodging News offers an opportunity to reach a segment of buyers and sellers who are serious about saving money and conserving natural resources.
- Green Map
- Green Map System promotes inclusive participation in sustainable community development worldwide, using map-making as our medium.
- Green Matters
- Helping homeowners transform their lives and living spaces for simplicity, health and the environment.
- Green Maven
- Finally a website that brings the best of the Green Web together. Designed for Mavens that just can't get enough of all things Green. Use it as a research tool, or keep up to date on the latest trends in the Green Revolution.
- Green Restaurant Association
- The Green Restaurant Association (GRA), a national non-profit organization, provides services in research, consulting, education, marketing and community organizing. The GRA utilizes a collaborative strategy that involves restaurants, manufacturers, vendors, grassroots organizations, government, media, and restaurant customers. The GRA's model provides a convenient way for all sectors of the restaurant industry, which represents 10% of the U.S. economy, to become more environmentally sustainable.
- Green Search
- A leafy alternative to your daily Google.
- Green Yoga Association
- The term "Green Yoga" indicates our conscious intention to honor and care for the Earth as part of yoga. Green is also the color of chlorophyll, which represents the life-sustaining relationship between Sun and Earth. The creation of this chlorophyll came, as one of my teachers Brian Swimme likes to say, through the Earth's process of careful attention to the Sun. For 4.5 billion years the Earth attended very, very carefully to the Sun, meditating on it. Ultimately, the Earth learned how to be transformed by sunlight, resulting in the creation of chlorophyll. In a similar way, when we as humans devote sustained, loving attention to the challenges at hand, we are transformed in ways that promote life.
- Green-e
- Green-e is the nation's leading independent consumer protection program for the sale of renewable energy and greenhouse gas reductions in the retail market. Green-e offers certification and verification of renewable energy and greenhouse gas mitigation products. It is a program of the Center for Resource Solutions.
- Greeniacs
- The Greeniacs mission is to deliver unbiased, non-judgmental information regarding the environment and ecological issues to anyone and everyone at no cost to them so that they may each be better informed. We hope that this approach will lead to better environmental decisions by the broadest number of people.
- GreenNet
- GreenNet is the ethical ISP that has been connecting people and groups who work for peace, the environment, gender equality and human rights since 1986.
- Home Made Energy
- If you have ever wished to stop wasting money on your electrical bill, help the global economy and save the Earth, then you've arrived at the right page.
HomeMadeEnergy.org is the website created to help you slash your electricity bill by 80% or even eliminate it completely!
With the ever increasing costs of living, there is no better time than right now to stop throwing money out the window and start generating your own electricity.
However, you need an open mind and willingness to listen, because there are large economic interests that keep most people dependent on energy. - Ideal Bite
- Ideal Bite offers bite-sized ideas for light green living - ideas for real people who lead busy lives and want to make small changes that add up to big results. Our Daily Tips cover everything from biodynamic wine to eco-pet products to organic cosmetics. The secret sauce? A spoonful of "incremental environmentalism" combined with a keeping-it-real attitude.
- Live Earth
- Live Earth was built upon the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world community to action. A for-profit company, Live Earth seeks to leverage the power of entertainment through integrated events, media, and the live experience to ignite a global movement aimed at solving the most critical environmental issues of our time.
- Living Green
- Actions for healthier and more sustainable lives.
- Low Impact Living
- At Low Impact Living, we want to help you lower the environmental impact of your home and your daily life. To do that, we help you find the best green products, practices and service providers to help you achieve your environmental goals. And we will also help you understand the environmental benefits and economic trade-offs of your choices. Our primary goal is to make the path from inspiration to implementation as short and as smooth as possible. Only by taking action will we collectively reduce the damage to our planet and ecosystems.
- Make Natural Power
- Your ultimate all-in-one guide to home renewable energies. Make your own solar and wind power systems. If you are interested in joining the thousands of people who have chosen to say good bye to their power bill, then this is the perfect resource for you.
- Modern Green Living
- Welcome to moderngreenliving.com, your source to design, build, remodel, furnish or find a green home. Search the most comprehensive database of green residences and communities. Find green architects, builders, remodelers, interior designers, realtors, and green building consultants near you.
- Mother Jones
- Mother Jones is an independent nonprofit whose roots lie in a commitment to social justice implemented through first rate investigative reporting.
- Mother Earth News
- America's leading magazine about sustainable, self-reliant living. Topics include building, gardening, homesteading, do-it-yourself, kitchen, energy and conservation.
- NRDC
- National Resources Defense Council is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.2 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
- Natural Resources Defense Council
- The Natural Resources Defense Council works to protect wildlife and wild places and to ensure a healthy environment for all life on earth. NRDC is the nation's most effective environmental action group, combining the grassroots power of 1.2 million members and online activists with the courtroom clout and expertise of more than 350 lawyers, scientists and other professionals.
- Off Grid Living
- For the past 15 years our family has been living off the grid with only solar and wind power. We moved to our present location, built our own house ourselves and set to work to find alternative energy options for our home that we could afford. Our family is no different than yours. We are just regular people who just want to make a difference in our lives. We wanted to lower our electricity costs. It is getting very expensive out there so we figured out a way to beat it. Today we live 100% Off-Grid with our solar panels and wind generator.
- Our Energy
- Join the thousands of American consumers who have already sent over 1,540,000 letters and emails to elected officials asking about our nation's energy and climate policy.
Start by asking your elected officials these questions to get the dialogue
headed in the right direction: - Pachamama Alliance
- To preserve the earths tropical rainforests by empowering the indigenous people who are it's natural custodians. To contribute to the creation of a new global vision of equality and sustainability for all.
- Planet Drum Foundation
- Planet Drum was founded to provide an effective grassroots approach to ecology that emphasizes sustainability, community self-determination and regional self-reliance. In association with community activists and ecologists, Planet Drum developed the concept of a bioregion: a distinct area with coherent and interconnected plant and animal communities, and natural systems, often defined by a watershed. A bioregion is a whole "life-place" with unique requirements for human inhabitation so that it will not be disrupted and injured. Through its projects, publications, speakers, and workshops, Planet Drum helps start new bioregional groups and encourages local organizations and individuals to find ways to live within the natural confines of bioregions.
- Planet Thoughts
- A PlanetThought is a thought directed towards caring for our planet. The environment needs our care so Earth can remain human-friendly for the next century and beyond. You can join us to learn more and to help promote more awareness and discussion of these critical issues.
- Planetwork
- Planetwork brings a collaborative systems view rooted in conscious evolution to the intersection of sustainability & technology. We are a convening organization, gathering people from a wide variety of disciplines and vocations - science, technology, activism, business and the arts to further the conversation about earth systems, communities and the potentially constructive role of technology.
- Playgreen
- The wiki on green living.
- Raw Veg Info
- Planetwork brings a collaborative systems view rooted in conscious evolution to the intersection of sustainability & technology. We are a convening organization, gathering people from a wide variety of disciplines and vocations - science, technology, activism, business and the arts to further the conversation about earth systems, communities and the potentially constructive role of technology.
- Recycle First
- RecycleFirst is a pioneer in the consumer and corporate recycling industry. Seven years ago we started our business when cartridge recycling was in its infancy and cell phone recycling did not exist.
- reegle
- reegle is a one-stop shop for high quality information on renewable energy and energy efficiency. This includes a powerful search engine for documents and other information (Intelligent and Category Search) as well as a comprehensive catalogue of stakeholders (Actors' Catalogue)
- Run Your Home For Free
- In minutes you'll know how to build your own simple, ingenious home power supply that's perfectly legal, and will give you all the juice you need on demand for pennies.
- Sinless Buying
- Our company is a manufacturer and a sales partner with other manufacturers. Together, we put together a line of products and customizable green solutions that can serve you as the one stop shop for green packaging needs.
We provide sustainable alternatives to Paper and Plastic products. By working with various manufacturing partners, we offer the ability to customize products for various packaging needs. Our current focus is on food packaging but are not limited to other industrial packaging products. - Solar Energy International
- Solar Energy International (SEI) is a USA non-profit organization whose mission is to help others use renewable energy and environmental building technologies through education. SEI teaches individuals from all walks of life how to design, install and maintain renewable energy systems, and how to design and build efficient, sustainable homes. SEI offers trainings online and in 22 locations around the world.
- Sustainable World Coalition
- We are a coalition of individuals and supporting organizations who work toward a world that is environmentally sustainable, socially just and spiritually fulfilling. Our work is to educate, inspire and activate, fostering a strong engagement in personal and planetary sustainability. We produce events and educational materials to promote action that restores and maintains the health of the planet and the well-being of humanity.
- The Daily Green
- The consumer's guide to the green revolution.
- Thimmakka
- To create practical, quantifiable, economically-viable systemic solutions to critical global environmental problems. We accomplish our mission by transforming business-as-usual practices through the forging of new partnerships and leveraging existing Green Business Program guidelines.
- Think Green
- At Waste Management, we are dedicated to delivering on the promise of Think Green®, to promoting sustainability, and to being good neighbors with each other and the environment we share.
- Think Green Building
- We believe that good buildings unite specific people with a specific spot on the planet to the benefit of both. Through teaching, writing, consulting, designing, trouble shooting, and building, we are dedicated to helping create good buildings.
- TreeHugger
- TreeHugger is the leading media outlet dedicated to driving sustainability mainstream. Partial to a modern aesthetic, we strive to be a one-stop shop for green news, solutions, and product information. At TreeHugger we know that variety is the spice of life, so you can find all you need to go green in our up to the minute blog, weekly and daily newsletters, weekly video segments, weekly radio show and our user-generated blog, Hugg. We also extend our expertise to companies looking for a little green guidance. Past clients include Domino, Sundance Channel and House & Garden.
- Urban Alliance For Sustainability
- UAS intends to always provide a platform for those solutions that are successfully manifesting the shared vision of a more sustainable world. By returning focus on the solutions, UAS hopes to activate the energy of those individuals and organizations that are feeling overwhelmed or helpless in this currently unsustainable world. UAS wants to engage with you and hear what is important to you!
- Urth
- Urth members are creating the next generation of conscious media: global citizen media. Urth.tv encourages the merging of conscious practices into digital storytelling creating a new ecology, a new economy and a new mythology - a new Earth.
- We Can Solve It
- The We Campaign is a project of The Alliance for Climate Protection -- a nonprofit, nonpartisan effort founded by Nobel laureate and former Vice President Al Gore. The goal of the Alliance is to build a movement that creates the political will to solve the climate crisis -- in part through repowering America with 100 percent of its electricity from clean energy sources within 10 years. Our economy, national security, and climate can't afford to wait.
- Webcor
- We are committed to helping our clients produce buildings that are environmentally responsible, profitable and healthier places to live and work. As a member of the U.S. Green Building Council, our teams include accredited professionals who leverage their expertise during preconstruction by working with the design team to help the owner evaluate the benefits of sustainable features while optimizing the value of each dollar spent.
- Whole Life
- We are creating a global, collaborative, click and Mortar platform with hundreds of conscious social networks, media channels, live broadcasting, e- commerce and philanthropy for people who value healthy and ecological lifestyles, personal and spiritual development, conscious commerce and global citizenship - a Wholelife!
- Wikia Green
- Green Wikia strives to become a trusted central place to share our growing and evolving body of knowledge about environmental topics and issues with people who want to inform themselves and live in a more sustainable way.
The Green Wikia community also believes that the threats to our environment are real and that they require action. However, the wiki also strives to foster a community where respectful debate and informed viewpoints can be heard. - Women's Earth Alliance
- Women's Earth Alliance is a global organization that unites women working on the frontlines of environmental causes, through the coordination of resources, training, and technology - because when women thrive, communities thrive.
- World Resources Institute
- The World Resources Institute (WRI) is an environmental think tank that goes beyond research to find practical ways to protect the earth and improve people's lives.
Our mission is to move human society to live in ways that protect Earth's environment and its capacity to provide for the needs and aspirations of current and future generations.
Because people are inspired by ideas, empowered by knowledge, and moved to change by greater understanding, WRI provides-and helps other institutions provide-objective information and practical proposals for policy and institutional change that will foster environmentally sound, socially equitable development.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byGreen Tip Of The Day
Fetching RSS feed... please stand bySustainablog
- UNFCCC Chief Says Copenhagen Conference Will Bring Clarity, Commitment, Action
- Speaking at a press conference from Bonn last week, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer conveyed a message of “what can and must be achieved” at the COP15 climate change conference that soon gets underway in Copenhagen. Referring to the urgency of the growing climate crisis, de Boer said there was no plan “B” for the conference, only plan “A” - for “action.”
Read more of this story » - Inferno on Earth: Wildfires Spreading as Temperatures Rise
- Janet Larsen
http://www.earthpolicy.org/index.php?/plan_b_updates/2009/update85
Future firefighters have their work cut out for them. Perhaps nowhere does this hit home harder than in Australia, where in early 2009 a persistent drought, high winds, and record high temperatures set the stage for the worst wildfire in the country's history. On February 9th, now known as ?Black Saturday,? the mercury in Melbourne topped 115 degrees Fahrenheit (46.4 degrees Celsius) as fires burned over 1 million acres in the state of Victoria?destroying more than 2,000 homes and killing more than 170 people, tens of thousands of cattle and sheep, and 1 million native animals.
Even as more people move into fire-prone wildlands around the world, the intense droughts and higher temperatures that come with global warming are likely to make fires more frequent and severe in many areas. (See table of regional observations and predictions) For southeastern Australia, home to much of the country's population, climate change could triple the number of extreme fire risk days by 2050.
Read more of this story » - Green Community Models: the Ecovillage
- If you ever found yourself forced to define the term “community,” you might find yourself reverting to something akin to Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart’s attempt to define pornography: “I know it when I see it.” While different communities have different purposes, goals, and activities, they’ve all got one thing in common: resource sharing. You may not give a lot of thought to this idea in your own community life (most of us don’t), but water supplies, waste disposal, police protection, and even economic opportunity are all forms of resources that we share within our various communities.
So, what defines a green community? You may come to the same conclusion that I did: mindfulness about those resources that we share, and a commitment to do so more efficiently, with a eye towards future generations’ access to these resources… natural and other.
As such, I invite you to join me in a multipost (and multiblog) exploration of green community. What are the models? How well do they work? What can we learn from them as we move towards a (natural) resource-constrained world? I don’t know that I can provide all of the answers to these questions… but, as an online community, I’m sure there are ideas we can share…
What is an ecovillage?
The ecovillage concept is a great starting point for this discussion because its likely the most radical, and most holistic, vision of green community out there. Tony Sirna, one of the founder of Northeastern Missouri’s Dancing Rabbit ecovillage, defined this admittedly broad concept as”..places that are aiming for a village-like quality…,” which he defines as
places that allow for a full scale of human activity: “A village is … a place for work and play, birth and death, trading of goods and services, celebrations, and all aspects of healthy lives.”
places that operate on a “human scale”: “…a population where it’s still possible for people to know each other as people and not as anonymous masses…”
Read more of this story » - News Flash! Scientists Find that Cigarettes May Be Dangerous!
- A team of American and French scientists have just documented the fact that there are a lot of bacteria in cigarettes and that the bacterial population includes some human pathogens.  They don’t actually know if this leads to human disease- after all, these things are BURNED!.  Still it raises interesting issues. But at least the tobacco is not GMO!
OK, I am indulging in some irony here.  If you have shared my experience of having a wonderful dinner in Paris compromised by smoking neighbors at the closely-spaced tables you can relate.  European colonizers might have devastated native American peoples through disease and guns 500 years ago, but the original “Americans” got a little pay-back by introducing the Europeans to an addictive and carcinogenic product they had never known.
I have always found it fascinating that Europeans have mainly avoided GMO crops based on fears of theoretical problems that have not materialized over more than a decade of GMO commercialization, all the while allowing an extremely well-documented source of health problems to be widely used and imposed on non-smokers.  The “precautionary principle” that prevails in Europe does not seem to protect them from “documented risks”, only from “imagined risks”.  This new data on cigarettes should trigger precautionary responses that would say that all tobacco products should be banned until this bacterial risk can be assessed. I’m guessing that won’t happen. Â
Read more of this story » - Will Hydrogen Power Suck the Lakes Dry?
- Questions are accumulating about how water demand needed to supply a hydrogen vehicle industry might affect large water bodies like the Great Lakes.
Even as political leaders in the auto-making Great Lakes region tout hydrogen-powered vehicles as a potential catalyst for an economic turnaround, questions are accumulating about the impact of the technology on water use. While potentially clean and renewable, are hydrogen powered vehicles (and hydrogen energy generally) sustainable given their water impact?
Read more of this story » - President’s Environmental Youth Awards Recognize Green Student Leaders
- How many of the environmental education initiatives that you know of were started by teachers, parents, or non-profit organizations? That’s typical: from artistic approaches to rainwater harvesting to solar boat building, most efforts at teaching kids about environmental issues start with adults. But students often come up with their own programs, too, and the President’s Environmental Youth Awards aims to highlight those efforts that start with schoolkids.
Started in 1971 by the EPA, this awards program “…recognizes young people across America for projects which demonstrate their commitment to the environment.” Awards are given for one project in each of the EPA’s ten regions. After 38 years, the winning projects have run the gamut — everything from peer environmental education to recycling efforts to wetlands restoration. Recent winners have included
The Green Books Project in Lewisville, NC: Student Cory Adkins saw textbooks being thrown away at his school, and started his program to sell these books… and use the funds generated to support recycling in his community.
Read more of this story » - When it Comes to Food, Concern is Good - But Action is Better
- The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) has developed a career-long role that entails finding issues to worry about and writing about them. Â That can be a good thing because science is definitely about asking the hard questions. Â Sometimes however, these well-intentioned folks can let their biases and presuppositions get in the way.
UCS has just released a report linking increased pesticide use to the adoption of biotech crops. Â Their presuppositions are that both of these are bad things - GMOs and chemicals. Â Their logic flaw is that even though they note that the biggest increase was in 2007/8 (long after the major adoption of biotech), they think the use of the biotech traits drove the increase in chemical use. Â There was indeed a significant increase in chemical use in 2007/8, but what actually drove that was the unprecedented spike in grain commodity prices at that time.
There is an old saying - “the best cure for high food commodity prices is high food commodity prices.” Â When grain prices are high, growers respond by planting more acres (=more chemical use) and are move motivated to protect their now more valuable crop in the field (in some cases this may result in an additional disease or insect control application as the economic thresholds to justify these measures are more readily achieved). Â Its really simple, rational economics. Â Also, remember that the irritating, but not large, food price increases American consumers saw in 2007/8 corresponded to a huge swing in the percent of the family budget spent on food in poor countries. Â There were even food riots and export restrictions. Â The fact that American farmers ramped up production was a good thing for poor people and the chemicals were part of that. Â This year, chemical sales are down substantially, but not GMO plantings.
Read more of this story » - The Ethics of Selling Crop Seed: Part 2 - GMO Seed
- This is a followup post that will attempt to address some additional, wide-spread myths about the commercial sale of seed. Â In this case the topic with be “GMO” seed improved through genetic engineering (an industry that is now 13 years old and which has been planted on well over 2 billion acres cumulatively, much of it in the developing world). As someone with substantial direct experience with this industry over the years, I’d like to try to speak to some distorted perspectives on this technology.
The First Biotech Crops
The four earliest commercial biotech crops commercialized in 1995/1996 were squash (virus resistant), corn (insect resistant), potatoes (insect resistant), and soybeans (herbicide tolerant). For the squash, corn and potatoes, commercialization was straight forward because it was already standard practice for farmers to buy new seed (tuber seed pieces in the case of potatoes) each year.
For soybeans there was a major commercialization challenge. Â There was no question that the new technology was valuable — it would displace millions of pounds and hundreds of millions of dollars of herbicide sales. Â It would also greatly increase the efficiency and convenience of producing soybeans. The challenge was that it was standard practice at the time for farmers to save-back some of their crop to use as seed the next year - more in some geographies than others. Â If this practice were to continue with the new herbicide tolerant soybeans, it would have been very difficult for the company to recover its high risk investment in the new technology. Growers would simply buy seeds the first year, and then be set until they wanted to buy a new variety. This is not so different from the challenge that record labels with illegal file sharing via the internet.
The two standard solutions that most expected were either (a) charge enough upfront to make up for pervasive seed savings, or (b) raise the price of the herbicide to recover the genetic investment in that way. The first would have discouraged adoption; the second would have disrupted other crops and uses that also depended on the product. Instead, Monsanto tried something completely new (at least to the seed industry). They decided to charge a “technology fee” (”Tech Fee”) of a few $/bag and ask the farmers to sign a license agreement saying they would not save seed.  This was a pretty radical step at the time.  Monsanto also licensed the technology to many other seed companies and they too had to get growers to sign the licenses.
Read more of this story » - The Ethics of Selling Crop Seed: Part 1
- There is a lot of confusion and disinformation circulating today about seeds and the ethics of their commercial sale.  Actually a healthy, commercial seed industry is critical for agricultural sustainability.  Because seeds are such a fundamental component of the sustainability of our food supply, this area deserves careful thought and accurate information even if you are never going to farm or even garden. I’ll try to address some of the modern “myths” about this.  I’ll talk about “farmer-saved seed,” and “hybrid seed.” In a later post I’ll talk about “GMO seed,” and the mythical “Terminator Technology.”  But first a little history.
Seed-bearing plants start showing up in the fossil record ~350 million years ago, first as gymnosperms like cycads, conifers… and eventually, flowering plants (angiosperms) like most of the living plants today. Â Other than pine nuts and sea weed, I can’t think of any crops that are not angiosperms (Contest! - 5 virtual sustainability points to someone who can come up with another non-angiosperm crop plant)
Jarrod Diamond’s wonderful book, “Guns, Germs and Steel” talks about how the initially accidental and later intentional collection and planting of seeds is what made human civilization possible - the move beyond the hunter/gatherer state that happened about 10,000 years ago in the “fertile crescent.”
Read more of this story » - Revenge of the Angry Mermaid
- Copenhagen is a water town, and the iconic symbol of Denmark’s capital city is the Little Mermaid silently standing watch over the harbor. Next month the Little Mermaid welcomes the global community coming to negotiate at least the foundation of an international treaty at the COP15 climate conference to carry beyond the Kyoto Protocol expiring in 2012.
The Little Mermaid takes her role as a symbol of climate change seriously. And she’s angry. Angry because also coming to her town are thousands of lobbyists and business (as usual) representatives intent on holding back progress for a dangerously warming world, opting instead for short term profits over long term sustainability.
The Little Mermaid is now the Angry Mermaid:
“So the Angry Mermaid decided to launch an award ? in her own name ? to highlight how corporate lobbyists were scheming to sabotage action to save the climate. She asked people she knew if they could suggest which companies were doing the most to undermine climate action ? and she decided to publish a shortlist and ask the public to vote.”
Read more of this story »
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Alternative Energy For Dummies
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Hands-on, practical solutions to save money by making smart energy changes
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Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies
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Want to build responsibly, reduce waste, and help preserve the environment? Green Building & Remodeling For Dummies is your friendly, step-by-step guide to every facet of this Earth-friendly method of construction. Building a home-even a green home-uses plenty of resources and energy. This practical, hands-on book shows you how to build or remodel conscientiously, whether your dream home is a simple remodel or a brand-new multimillion-dollar mansion.
You'll start by identifying green materials and sizing up potential systems and construction sites. You'll weigh the pros and cons of popular green building methods and identify opportunities for saving money in the long run. Need to find some green professionals to assist you in your venture? We'll help you do that, too.
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Want to do your part to reduce energy consumption, waste, and pollution; clean up the environment, and save the planet? Green Living For Dummies is packed with practical suggestions you can follow to make your lifestyle greener by doing as little damage as possible to the planet and the animal and plant life that depend on it.
This practical guide delivers an array of realistic practices and changes you can undertake to help the environment and create a better home for yourself and your loved ones. You'll discover easy and innovative ways to make a difference by reducing energy use and waste, scaling back reliance on your car, and even making minor adjustments to your diet. You'll also find how to live green at work and in your community, and you'll develop a deeper understanding of how these changes benefit both the environment and your own health and well-being!
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Want to take advantage of solar power in your home? Whether you're looking to save on your energy costs by adding a few solar components or you want to build a solar-powered house from the ground up, Solar Power Your Home For Dummies takes the mystery out of this energy source and shows you how to put it to work for you!
This friendly, hands-on guide is packed with tips for making your home more energy-efficient though solar power-and helping the planet at the same time. You'll see how to survey your home to determine your current household energy efficiency and use, and evaluate where solar power would best benefit you. You'll also calculate what the return on your investment will be before you make any decisions. Once you've decided on a project, you'll see whether it's best to hire a contractor or do it yourself. We leave no stone unturned.
Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies
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Sustainable Landscaping For Dummies provides hands-on, how-to instruction for realizing the benefits of a sustainable landscape, from selecting sutainable hardscape materials to installing a rain-water catchment system to choosing native plants.
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Alternative Energy
Alternative energy is an umbrella term that refers to any source of usable energy intended to replace fuel sources without the undesired consequences of the replaced fuels.On site renewable energy options Typically, official uses of the term, such as qualification for governmental incentives, exclude fossil fuels and nuclear energy Note: Nuclear does not appear as a resource in any states on the DOE EERE site. whose undesired consequences are high carbon dioxide emissions, the major contributing factor of global warming according to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and difficulties of radioactive waste disposal. Over the years, the nature of what was regarded alternative energy sources has changed considerably, and today because of the variety of energy choices and differing goals of their advocates, defining some energy types as "alternative" is highly controversial.
The term "alternative" presupposes a set of undesirable energy technologies against which "alternative energies" are opposed. As such, the list of energy technologies excluded is an indicator of what problems that the alternative technologies are intended to address. Controversies regarding dominant forms of energy and their alternatives have a long history.
Alternative Fuels
Alternative fuels, also known as non-conventional or advanced fuels, are any materials or substances that can be used as fuels, other than conventional fuels. Conventional fuels include: fossil fuels (petroleum (oil), coal, propane, and natural gas), and nuclear materials such as uranium.
Some well known alternative fuels include biodiesel, bioalcohol (methanol, ethanol, butanol), chemically stored electricity (batteries and fuel cells), hydrogen, non-fossil methane, non-fossil natural gas, vegetable oil and other biomass sources.
Compressed Air Cars
A compressed air car is an car that uses a motor powered by compressed air. The car can be powered solely by air, or combined (as in a hybrid electric vehicle) with gasoline/diesel/ethanol or electric plant and regenerative braking.
Earth Sheltered Homes
Earth sheltering is the architectural practice of using earth against building walls for external thermal mass, to reduce heat loss, and to easily maintain a steady indoor air temperature. Earth sheltering is popular in modern times among advocates of passive solar and sustainable architecture, but has been around for nearly as long as humans have been constructing their own shelter.
EarthCraft Homes
EarthCraft House is a green building program created in 1999 as a partnership between the Greater Atlanta Home Builders Association and Southface Energy Institute that teaches builders the latest methods of resource and energy-efficient construction.http://www.havenproperties.com/earthcraft/
Because of the requirements for air sealing the home, EarthCraft homes are more energy efficient than conventional homes. EarthCraft House is also partnered with the Environmental Protection Agency's Energy Star Home program. Such homes are 30 percent more efficient than the benchmark 1993 Model Energy Code.EarthCraft House Integrates Building America Research to Achieve Higher Levels of Energy Savings U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, April 2005
The ECH program requires each house to be inspected and tested beforehand so that many problems involving the building envelope, or heating and cooling systems can be identified and fixed before the homeowner moves in. Homebuilders hope that the increased energy efficiency and durability of an EarthCraft House will offset a higher price tag.
Earthship Homes
Visit the Earthships Squidoo Lens for more in depth information.
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Earthship Homes
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Earthship Biotecture homes, floor plans and construction, solar energy, green energy, thermal dynamics, food production, housing, recycled materials. Including pictures, videos, books, news, info and much more. Earthship (n.) 1. passive solar home m...
An Earthship is a type of passive solar home made of natural and recycled materials. Designed and marketed by Earthship Biotecture of Taos, New Mexico, the homes are primarily constructed to work autonomously and are generally made of earth-filled tires, utilising thermal mass construction to naturally regulate indoor temperature. They also usually have their own special natural ventilation system. Earthships are generally Off-the-grid homes, minimizing their reliance on public utilities and fossil fuels.
Earthships are built to utilize the available local resources, especially energy from the sun. For example, windows on the sunny side admit light and heat, and the buildings are often horseshoe-shaped to maximize natural light and solar-gain during winter months. Likewise, the thick, dense outer walls provide effective insulation against summer heat.
Internal, non-load-bearing walls are often made of a honeycomb of recycled cans joined by concrete and are referred to as tin can walls. These walls are usually thickly plastered with stucco.
The roof of an Earthship is heavily insulated - often with earth or adobe - for added energy efficiency.
Electric Cars
An electric car is an alternative fuel automobile that uses electric motors and motor controllers for propulsion, in place of more common propulsion methods such as the internal combustion engine (ICE). Electric cars are specifically a variety of electric vehicle created or adapted for use on the road. Electric cars are commonly powered by on-board battery packs, and as such are battery electric vehicles (BEVs). Other on-board energy storage methods that are expected to come into use in the future include ultracapacitors, fuel cells, and a spinning flywheel which stores kinetic energy.
Electric cars enjoyed popularity between the mid-19th century and early 20th century, when electricity was among the preferred methods for automobile propulsion, providing a level of comfort and ease of operation that could not be achieved by the gasoline cars of the time. Advances in ICE technology soon rendered this advantage moot; the greater range of gasoline cars, quicker refueling times, and growing petroleum infrastructure, along with the mass production of gasoline vehicles by companies such as the Ford Motor Company, which reduced prices of gasoline cars to less than half that of equivalent electric cars, led to a decline in the use of electric propulsion, effectively removing it from important markets such as the United States by the 1930s.
In recent years, increased concerns over the environmental impact of gasoline cars, along with reduced consumer ability to pay for fuel for gasoline cars, has brought about renewed interest in electric cars, which are perceived to be more environmentally friendly and cheaper to maintain and run, despite high initial costs. Electric cars currently enjoy relative popularity in countries around the world, though they are notably absent from the roads of the United States, where electric cars briefly re-appeared in the late 90s as a response to changing government regulations. The hybrid electric car has become the most common form of electric car, combining a internal combustion engine powertrain with supplementary electric motors to run the car at idle and low speeds, making use of techniques such as regenerative braking to improve its efficiency over comparable gasoline cars, while not being hampered by the limited range inherent to current battery electric cars. Hybrid cars are now sold by most major manufacturers, with notable models including the Toyota Prius and the forthcoming Chevrolet Volt, a plug-in hybrid which uses a fully electric drivetrain supplemented by a gasoline-powered electric generator to extend its range. As of 2009, the world's most popular battery electric car is the REVAi, also known as the G-Wiz, which is produced by an Indian company and sold in a number of countries in Europe and Asia.
Global Warming
Global warming is the increase in the average temperature of the Earth's near-surface air and oceans since the mid-20th century and its projected continuation. Global surface temperature increased 0.74 ± 0.18 °C (1.33 ± 0.32 °F) between the start and the end of the 20th century. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) concludes that most of the observed temperature increase since the middle of the 20th century was caused by increasing concentrations of greenhouse gases resulting from human activity such as fossil fuel burning and deforestation. The IPCC also concludes that variations in natural phenomena such as solar radiation and volcanoes produced most of the warming from pre-industrial times to 1950 and had a small cooling effect afterward. These basic conclusions have been endorsed by more than 40 scientific societies and academies of science, including all of the national academies of science of the major industrialized countries.
Climate model projections summarized in the latest IPCC report indicate that the global surface temperature will probably rise a further during the twenty-first century. The uncertainty in this estimate arises from the use of models with differing sensitivity to greenhouse gas concentrations and the use of differing estimates of future greenhouse gas emissions. Some other uncertainties include how warming and related changes will vary from region to region around the globe. Most studies focus on the period up to the year 2100. However, warming is expected to continue beyond 2100 even if emissions stop, because of the large heat capacity of the oceans and the long lifetime of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.
An increase in global temperature will cause sea levels to rise and will change the amount and pattern of precipitation, probably including expansion of subtropical deserts. The continuing retreat of glaciers, permafrost and sea ice is expected, with warming being strongest in the Arctic. Other likely effects include increases in the intensity of extreme weather events, species extinctions, and changes in agricultural yields.
Political and public debate continues regarding climate change, and what actions (if any) to take in response. The available options are mitigation to reduce further emissions; adaptation to reduce the damage caused by warming; and, more speculatively, geoengineering to reverse global warming. Most national governments have signed and ratified the Kyoto Protocol aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Green Building
Category: Image - :Kansas stc.jpg|thumb|right|200px|US EPA Kansas City Science & Technology Center.
This facility features the following green attributes:
*LEED 2.0 Gold certified *Green Power *Native Landscaping
Green Building, also known as sustainable building, is the practice of creating structures and using processes that are environmentally responsible and resource-efficient throughout a building's life-cycle from siting to design, construction, operation, maintenance, renovation, and deconstruction. This practice expands and complements the classical building design concerns of economy, utility, durability, and comfort.http://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm
Although new methods are constantly being developed to complement current practices in creating greener structures, the common objective is that green buildings are designed and to reduce the overall impact of the built environment on human health and the natural environment by:
*Efficiently using energy, water, and other resources
*Protecting occupant health and improving employee productivity
*Reducing waste, pollution and environmental degradationhttp://www.epa.gov/greenbuilding/pubs/about.htm
A similar concept is natural building, which is usually on a smaller scale and tends to focus on the use of natural materials that are available locally.Hopkins, R. 2002. A Natural Way of Building. Transition Culture. Retrieved: 2007-03-30. Other related topics include sustainable design, building resiliency, building adaptability, green architecture, and energy efficient buildings.
Green Energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A broader interpretation may allow inclusion of fossil fuels and nuclear fission as transitional sources while technology develops, as long as new sources are developed for future generations to use. A narrower interpretation includes only energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a time frame relevant to the human race.
Sustainable energy sources are most often regarded as including all renewable sources, such as biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency. Conventional fission power is sometimes referred to as sustainable, but this is controversial politically due to concerns about peak uranium, radioactive waste disposal and the risks of disaster due to accident, terrorism, or natural disaster.
Green Party
A Green party or ecologist party is a formally organized political party based on the principles of Green politics. These principles include environmentalism, reliance on grassroots democracy, nonviolence, and support for social justice causes. "Greens" believe that the exercise of these principles leads to the health of people, societies, and ecosystems.
Green Politics
Green politics is a political ideology which places a high importance on environmental goals, and on achieving these goals through broad-based, grassroots, participatory democracy. Green politics is advocated by supporters of the Green movement, which has been active through Green parties in many nations since the early 1980s.
The political term Green, a translation of the German Grün, was coined by die Grünen, the first successful Green party, formed in the late 1970s. The term political ecology is sometimes used in Europe and in academic circles.
Supporters of Green politics, called Greens, share many ideas with the ecology, conservation, environmental, feminist, and peace movements. In addition to democracy and ecological issues, green politics is concerned with civil liberties, social justice and nonviolence.
Organic Foods
Organic foods are made according to certain production standards. For the vast majority of human history, agriculture can be described as organic; only during the 20th century was a large supply of new synthetic chemicals introduced to the food supply. This more recent style of production is referred to as "conventional," though organic production has been the convention for a much greater period of time. Under organic production, the use of conventional non-organic pesticides, insecticides and herbicides is greatly restricted and saved as a last resort. However, contrary to popular belief, certain non-organic fertilizers are still used. If livestock are involved, they must be reared without the routine use of antibiotics and without the use of growth hormones, and generally fed a healthy diet. In most countries, organic produce may not be genetically modified. It has been suggested that the application of nanotechnology to food and agriculture is a further technology that needs to be excluded from certified organic food.Paull, J. & Lyons, K. (2008) , Nanotechnology: The Next Challenge for Organics, Journal of Organic Systems, 3(1) 3?22 The Soil Association (UK) has been the first organic certifier to implement a nano-exclusion.Paull, J. & Lyons, K. (2008), Nanotechnology: The Next Challenge for Organics, Journal of Organic Systems, 3(1) 3?22
Organic food production is a heavily regulated industry, distinct from private gardening. Currently, the European Union, the United States, Canada, Japan and many other countries require producers to obtain special certification in order to market food as "organic" within their borders. Most certifications allow some chemicals and pesticides to be used, so consumers should be aware of the standards for qualifying as "organic" in their respective locales.
Historically, organic farms have been relatively small family-run operations, which is why organic food was once only available in small stores or farmers' markets. However, since the early 1990s organic food production has had growth rates of around 20% a year, far ahead of the rest of the food industry, in both developed and developing nations. As of April 2008, organic food accounts for 1?2% of food sales worldwide.
Rammed Earth Homes
Category: File - :Summer Vacation 2007, 263, Watchtower In The Morning Light, Dunhuang, Gansu Province.jpg|thumb|The ruins of a Han Dynasty (202 BC - 220 AD) Chinese watchtower made of rammed earth at Dunhuang, Gansu province, the eastern end of the Silk Road
Rammed earth, also known as taipaPevsner - The penguin dictionary of architecture, pisé de terre or simply pisé, is a technique used in the building of walls using the raw materials of mud, chalk, lime and gravel. It is an ancient building method that has seen a revival in recent years as people seek more sustainable building materials and natural building methods. Because of the nature of the materials used it is incombustible, thermally insulating and very strong and hardwearing. It also has the added advantage of being a simple way to construct walls. Traditionally, rammed earth buildings are common in arid regions where wood is in scarce supply.
Recycling
Recycling involves processing used materials into new products to prevent waste of potentially useful materials, reduce the consumption of fresh raw materials, reduce energy usage, reduce air pollution (from incineration) and water pollution (from landfilling) by reducing the need for "conventional" waste disposal, and lower greenhouse gas emissions as compared to virgin production. Recycling is a key component of modern waste management and is the third component of the "Reduce, Reuse, Recycle" waste hierarchy.
Recyclable materials include many kinds of glass, paper, metal, plastic, textiles, and electronics. Although similar in effect, the composting or other reuse of biodegradable waste - such as food or garden waste - is not typically considered recycling. Materials to be recycled are either brought to a collection center or picked up from the curbside, then sorted, cleaned, and reprocessed into new materials bound for manufacturing.
In a strict sense, recycling of a material would produce a fresh supply of the same material, for example used office paper to more office paper, or used foamed polystyrene to more polystyrene. However, this is often difficult or too expensive (compared with producing the same product from raw materials or other sources), so "recycling" of many products or materials involves their reuse in producing different materials (e.g., cardboard) instead. Another form of recycling is the Category: wiktionary - :Salvage|salvage of certain materials from complex products, either due to their intrinsic value (e.g., lead from car batteries, or gold from computer components), or due to their hazardous nature (e.g., removal and reuse of mercury from various items).
Critics dispute the net economic and environmental benefits of recycling over its costs, and suggest that proponents of recycling often make matters worse and suffer from confirmation bias. Specifically, critics argue that the costs and energy used in collection and transportation detract from (and outweigh) the costs and energy saved in the production process; also that the jobs produced by the recycling industry can be a poor trade for the jobs lost in logging, mining, and other industries associated with virgin production; and that materials such as paper pulp can only be recycled a few times before material degradation prevents further recycling. Proponents of recycling dispute each of these claims, and the validity of arguments from both sides has led to enduring controversy.
Renewable Energy
Renewable energy is energy generated from natural resources such as sunlight, wind, rain, tides, and geothermal heat, which are renewable (naturally replenished). In 2006, about 18% of global final energy consumption came from renewables, with 13% coming from traditional biomass, such as wood-burning and 3% from hydroelectricity. New renewables (small hydro, modern biomass, wind, solar, geothermal, and biofuels) accounted for 2.4% and are growing very rapidly.http://www.ren21.net/pdf/RE2007_Global_Status_Report.pdf Global Status Report 2007 The share of renewables in electricity generation is around 18%, with 15% of global electricity coming from hydroelectricity and 3.4% from new renewables.
Wind power is growing at the rate of 30% annually, with a worldwide installed capacity of 121,000 megawatts (MW) in 2008,REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 9. and is widely used in European countries and the United States. Global wind energy markets continue to boom ? 2006 another record year (PDF). The annual manufacturing output of the photovoltaics industry reached 6,900 MW in 2008,REN21 (2009). Renewables Global Status Report: 2009 Update p. 15. and photovoltaic (PV) power stations are popular in Germany and Spain.[http://www.pvresources.com/en/top50pv.php World's largest photovoltaic power plants] Solar thermal power stations operate in the USA and Spain, and the largest of these is the 354 MW SEGS power plant in the Mojave Desert.Solar Trough Power Plants (PDF). The world's largest geothermal power installation is The Geysers in California, with a rated capacity of 750 MW. Brazil has one of the largest renewable energy programs in the world, involving production of ethanol fuel from sugar cane, and ethanol now provides 18% of the country's automotive fuel.America and Brazil Intersect on Ethanol Ethanol fuel is also widely available in the USA.
While most renewable energy projects and production is large-scale, renewable technologies are also suited to small off-grid applications, sometimes in rural and remote areas, where energy is often crucial in human development.World Energy Assessment (2001). Renewable energy technologies, p. 221. Kenya has the world's highest household solar ownership rate with roughly 30,000 small (20?100 watt) solar power systems sold per year.What Solar Power Needs Now Renewable Energy Access, 13 August 2007.
Some renewable energy technologies are criticized for being intermittent or unsightly, yet the renewable energy market continues to grow. Climate change concerns, coupled with high oil prices, peak oil, and increasing government support, are driving increasing renewable energy legislation, incentives and commercialization. United Nations Environment Programme Global Trends in Sustainable Energy Investment 2007: Analysis of Trends and Issues in the Financing of Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency in OECD and Developing Countries (PDF), p. 3.
New government spending, regulation and policies should help the industry weather the 2009 economic crisis better than many other sectors.Clean Edge (2009). Clean Energy Trends 2009 pp. 1-4.
Solar Power
Solar power is the generation of electricity from sunlight. This can be direct as with photovoltaics (PV), or indirect as with concentrating solar power (CSP), where the sun's energy is focused to boil water which is then used to provide power. The solar power gained from photovoltaics can be used to eliminate the need for purchased electricity (usually electricity gained from burning fossil fuels) or, if energy gained from photovoltaics exceeds the home's requirements, the extra electricity can be sold back to the home's supplier of energy, typically for credit. http://www.toolbase.org/Technology-Inventory/Electrical-Electronics/pv-systems The largest solar power plants, like the 354 MW SEGS, are concentrating solar thermal plants, but recently multi-megawatt photovoltaic plants have been built. Completed in 2008, the 46 MW Moura photovoltaic power station in Portugal and the 40 MW Waldpolenz Solar Park in Germany are characteristic of the trend toward larger photovoltaic power stations. Much larger ones are proposed, such as the 100 MW Fort Peck Solar Farm, the 550 MW Topaz Solar Farm, and the 600 MW Rancho Cielo Solar Farm.
Solar power is a predictably intermittent energy source, meaning that whilst solar power is not available at all times, we can predict with a very good degree of accuracy when it will and will not be available. Some technologies, such as solar thermal concentrators have an element of thermal storage, such as molten salts. These store spare solar energy in the form of heat which is made available overnight or during periods that solar power is not available to produce electricity.
Sustainable Energy
Sustainable energy is the provision of energy such that it meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs. A broader interpretation may allow inclusion of fossil fuels and nuclear fission as transitional sources while technology develops, as long as new sources are developed for future generations to use. A narrower interpretation includes only energy sources which are not expected to be depleted in a time frame relevant to the human race.
Sustainable energy sources are most often regarded as including all renewable sources, such as biofuels, solar power, wind power, wave power, geothermal power and tidal power. It usually also includes technologies that improve energy efficiency. Conventional fission power is sometimes referred to as sustainable, but this is controversial politically due to concerns about peak uranium, radioactive waste disposal and the risks of disaster due to accident, terrorism, or natural disaster.
Wind Power
Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy, such as electricity, using wind turbines. At the end of 2008, worldwide nameplate capacity of wind-powered generators was 121.2 gigawatts (GW). In 2008, wind power produced about 1.5% of worldwide electricity usage;Wind Power Increase in 2008 Exceeds 10-year Average Growth Rate and is growing rapidly, having doubled in the three years between 2005 and 2008. Several countries have achieved relatively high levels of wind power penetration, such as 19% of stationary electricity production in Denmark, 11% in Spain and Portugal, and 7% in Germany and the Republic of Ireland in 2008. As of May 2009, eighty countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis.
Large-scale wind farms are connected to the electric power transmission network; smaller facilities are used to provide electricity to isolated locations. Utility companies increasingly buy back surplus electricity produced by small domestic turbines. Wind energy as a power source is attractive as an alternative to fossil fuels, because it is plentiful, renewable, widely distributed, clean, and produces no greenhouse gas emissions. However, the construction of wind farms is not universally welcomed because of their visual impact and other effects on the environment.
Wind power is non-dispatchable, meaning that for economic operation, all of the available output must be taken when it is available. Other resources, such as hydropower, and standard load management techniques must be used to match supply with demand. The intermittency of wind seldom creates problems when using wind power to supply a low proportion of total demand. http://www.claverton-energy.com/wind-energy-variability-new-reports.html
Zero Waste
Zero waste is a philosophy that encourages the redesign of resource life cycles so that all products are reused. Any trash sent to landfills is minimal. The process recommended is one similar to the way that resources are reused in nature.
In industry this process involves creating commodities out of traditional waste products, essentially making old outputs new inputs for similar or different industrial sectors. An example might be the cycle of a glass milk bottle. The primary input (or resource) is silica-sand, which is formed into glass and then into a bottle. The bottle is filled with milk and distributed to the consumer. At this point, normal waste methods would see the bottle disposed in a landfill or similar. But with a zero-waste method, the bottle can be saddled at the time of sale with a deposit, which is returned to the bearer upon redemption. The bottle is then washed, refilled, and resold. The only material waste is the wash water, and energy loss has been minimized (see container deposit legislation).
Zero waste can represent an economical alternative to waste systems, where new resources are continually required to replenish wasted raw materials. It can also represent an environmental alternative to waste since waste represents a significant amount of pollution in the world (garbage patch).
[Guestbook]
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- Matt Matt Oct 3, 2009 @ 5:41 am
- Wow! What a great lens for all manner of eco-friendly resources. The only thing i would add would be the world leader in 100% chemical free cleaning products, ENJO - see the ENJO Website for more info
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- Matt Matt Oct 3, 2009 @ 5:37 am
- Wow! What a great lens for all manner of eco-friendly resources. The only thing i would add would be the world leader in 100% chemical free cleaning products, ENJO - see the ENJO Website for more info
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- GeothermalVids GeothermalVids Sep 8, 2009 @ 9:00 pm
- This lens has a link to every green thing imaginable. Thanks for sharing!
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- geothermalminnie geothermalminnie Aug 11, 2009 @ 3:14 pm
- Super information! Enough for 5 lenses! I really like geothermal as well. Anything to save the earth. Thanks!
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- EnergySaverGirl EnergySaverGirl Jul 19, 2009 @ 9:49 pm
- Great source of information! Nice site!
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- QuestionAuthoriTees QuestionAuthoriTees Jul 10, 2009 @ 12:56 pm
- nice lens and Cute electric car.. LOL, you can add my site on your resources/links. my site promotes alternative energy. you can check my blogs @ QuestionAuthoriTees thanks.
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- Mike_Long Mike_Long Jun 5, 2009 @ 8:21 am
- Great lens - a credit to you.
For more information on alternative energy sources please visit Top Alternative Energy Sources.
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- Mike_Long Mike_Long Jun 5, 2009 @ 8:18 am
- Great lens - a credit to you.
For more information on alternative energy sources please visit http://www.top-alternative-energy-sources.com
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- JoDeeVale JoDeeVale May 27, 2009 @ 6:36 pm
- What an inspiring lens! I have added you as a featured link on the following lenses.
http://www.squidoo.com/BuildAnEarthship
http://www.squidoo.com/LiveEarthship
Thank you for the obvious time and effort you took to put this together!giga
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- Rayzorblades Rayzorblades Apr 29, 2009 @ 4:28 pm
- I love the multitude of information you have here. Keep up the good work and if you're interested in reading about my writing, check out my home wind power blog.
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