that GREEN blog

The discussion continues regarding the potential of a no cost power system. The idea being that, by harnessing the best technology, power may be created in a fashion that might provide an infinite and abundant supply. Although many aredebating whether or not this know-how even exists – i have identified other people that have moved forward, having experienced these types of units in action but are asking questions like how much power do they generate and could it be used on a much larger scale.

Now the technological know-how exists nonetheless it seriously has not taken that huge leap forward to be used on a mass scale. For the ordinary homeowner, this really is still excellent news. Most home owners are not interested in powering vast structures. Should this technology create sufficient electricity to run a normal size house, then the questions which we should be asking might be how much may it cost and will it be reliable.

The idea of perpetual motion has been around for quite some time. A device which once started does not require an outward power source to continue working is certainly not science fiction, but is based on technology. The problem that most individuals have on the subject of perpetual motion is that it is not easy to perceive that a machine might continue to work with no external factors, in fact, the perpetual motion devices that function produce more energy than they require to operate.

It isn’t uncommon for hydrogen plants to make use of the power they produce to continue to run while the remaining energy is stored and used in our households, so why is it so difficult to suppose that a smaller device is able to do a similar thing within each of our very homes.

Magnetic power is resulting from the polar influence that magnets have. This flux of attraction and repulsion allow for motion which in turn will be modified into power. The science has not been given a lot of newspaper and tv attention, chiefly because the larger corporations can’t see a way to manufacture these systems on a large scale and profit by them. For your ordinary man on the street, these devices are outstanding, needing very little maintenance and will make an incredibly consistent and justifiable output.

The home magnetic generator is a excellent diy undertaking for anyone who has fair do-it-yourself skills and needs to save money on their electrical energy bill.

To find out more about how this technology works, visit our site at Free Magnetic Energy for Your Home. Check out the most userfriendly Diy Magnetic Generator Manual Here and start making money from electricity rather than paying for it. More articles on Free Home Power

The clean energy industry may not be popping the champagne cork, but it is at least holding the bottle in hand. While not unscathed by the recession, the industry sees growth in several sectors, according to recent reports.

For example, use of smart meters—a key technology for better energy management and efficiency – is increasing at a rapid clip. A study by ABI Research, “Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMM and AMI),” forecasts that the number of smart meters installed worldwide will reach 76 million this year, up from 49 million in 2007. Smart meters will benefit from an estimated $4.5 billion that the US plans to spend on smart grid initiatives as part of the federal stimulus package.

“We don’t think that the economic crisis is having a significant effect,” says Sam Lucero, senior analyst for ABI Research. “Utilities’ smart metering deployments are typically multi-year plans developed in the context of regulated market environments, and not terribly susceptible to short-term economic fluctuations.”

Press reports indicate that two other energy-cutting products are poised for significant growth this year. Moneynews.com quotes analysts who say demand response companies are likely to see recovery in 2009 following a dramatic fall in stocks of some leading companies. Meanwhile, industry insiders say they expect continued expansion for combined heat and power, a resource that has won new federal tax incentives and state support. See my article in the January/February issue of Cogeneration and Onsite Power Production magazine for more details.

Not all the news is good though. Greentech Media and the Prometheus Institute for Sustainable Development project that the global market for photovoltaics will shrink 15% this year to $12 billion. This is solar energy’s poorest performance since 1994, according to the report. At the same time, Lux Research says this year’s solar shakeout – caused by oversupply of cell and module capacity – will push solar prices closer to grid parity and precipitate expansion.

Meanwhile, expect to read a lot more about the clean energy sector in the coming year. William Brent’s Search for Cleantech reports that members of the media foresee heightened coverage of the cleantech sector in 2009 (and it certainly wasn’t light coverage last year.) Seventy-five percent of bloggers, mainstream newspapers, magazines and broadcasters surveyed say readers and editors will demand more coverage of the sector. So while the champagne may not be flowing yet, the information certainly is.

Visit Elisa Wood at www.realenergywriters.com and pick up her free Energy Efficiency Markets podcast and newsletter.

Article Source: http://www.alternativeenergybase.com

Sustained Excellence
Marriott International Inc.
Bethesda, Maryland

Marriott International Inc. is a leading lodging company with about 3,000 properties located in the United States and 67 other countries and territories. In 2007, Marriott continued to lead the hospitality industry in the energy management efforts that are the core of its environmental initiatives. The company significantly reduced its environmental footprint and again achieved impressive cost savings. This is the second time Marriott has received ENERGY STAR Sustained Excellence recognition. Key accomplishments include:

• Saving nearly $7.8 million in 2007 on energy bills-equivalent to a cost reduction of $0.13 per occupied room night, or an increase in the company’s average daily room rate of $0.15.
• Reducing greenhouse gas emissions by more than 3 percent per available room since 2004-putting Marriott well on track to meet its goal under EPA’s Climate Leaders program of achieving a 6 percent reduction per available room by 2010. Benchmarking the energy performance of more than 95 percent of its properties using EPA’s energy performance rating system.
• Earning the ENERGY STAR for more than 200 hotel properties to date in more than 20 states.
• Expanding on initiatives that have resulted in superior achievements in energy efficiency, such as the Marriott Retro-Commissioning program, the appointment of an Energy Champion for each property, the installation of alternative laundry systems, and procurement policies requiring ENERGY STAR qualified products and more efficient building equipment.

In 2007, Marriott increased efforts to promote employee awareness of energy efficiency by organizing its first “Green Fair” to present Marriott associates with ideas on how to “go green” at home and at work and by continuing outreach well beyond this single event. Marriott emphasized employee involvement in energy efficiency through daily meetings, its Intranet, electronic communications, online training, and rewards for energy efficiency solutions.

Marriott continues to publicly promote its successful participation in the ENERGY STAR program and has made energy efficiency a cornerstone of its expanding sustainability and climate efforts. Never resting on previous accomplishments, Marriott has set a new goal to increase the number of properties earning the ENERGY STAR by 33 percent in 2008.

Lighting equipment such as the venerable light bulb has radically evolved since the early days when Thomas Edison first invented it in the 18th century.  Today, consumers are able to choose from a wide array of home or office lighting options, and halogen light bulbs are one of the most efficient lighting alternatives.  However despite the many innovations, the standard ‘Edison caps’ are still utilized in some light bulbs, and almost all variants still use the same simple materials, albeit with a new high-tech twist.  The lighting devices available today may be utilized for domestic or commercial purposes, and they can also be handy, carry-anywhere devices.

Standard light bulbs are famous for being less-efficient devices and only have a lifespan of around 750 to 1,000 hours of normal usage.  Why is this so?  Because in the process of providing light, standard light bulbs radiate large amounts of infrared heat which are far more hotter than light.  In the long run, the filament’s thin spot would break down and cause the light bulb to burn out.  Basically, a standard light bulb is made from a fairly large, thin, frosted glass envelope wherein gases such as nitrogen and argon are filled inside the glass.  Alternative lighting experts promote halogen bulbs as being amongst the ‘brightest’ of lighting innovations and claim they are environmentally-friendly products as well.

Halogen lights differ from other energy-efficient light bulb variant because of their very precise lighting focus which makes them ideal devices for use in display cabinets and other special effects requirements.  Halogen lighting equipment also offers a wide array of benefits, and these include an extended lifespan that should be twice as long as that of standard incandescent bulbs, and also produce as much as 25% more light whilst utilizing the same wattage levels.

The lighting innovations introduced by halogen are now widely utilized in many industries and are also a viable alternative for your home lighting needs.  Consumers are now seeing the benefits of using these devices since halogen lighting is known for creating amazing lighting outcomes in bathrooms, kitchens and living rooms, and other halogen variants are utilized as well in creating a cozier, more relaxing feel in many other rooms.  These lighting equipments are also fully dimmable, unlike other energy-efficient lighting equipments.  In addition, the filaments inside the halogen lighting devices are encased in quartz, enabling these to withstand higher temperatures as compared to traditional glass light bulbs.  With quartz-encased filaments, halogen light bulbs are able to produce brighter lighting for homes and offices.  Nowadays, many are replacing conventional incandescent lighting devices with halogen light bulbs.  These devices help to cast brighter, whiter lights than the usual yellow hue released by incandescent lighting.  These devices last much longer because they utilize a rather different type of gas and housing, making it emit a whiter light as well as attain a longer shelf life.

According to environment advocates, the rate of high carbon dioxide emissions today is linked to increasing levels of electricity consumption,which leads to higher levels of greenhouse gases as well. This phenomenon is a major contributor to global warming and climate change and needs a quick response from governments and industries as well.  The Kyoto Protocol, signed in 1997, affirms the need to set doable targets towards considerably reducing levels of global carbon dioxide emissions.  In light of the need to protect our environment, manufacturers and consumers are now moving towards the production and use of greener lighting alternatives like halogen bulbs.  The aim is to change consumer habits and make lighting more eco-friendly, as well as to become truly energy-efficient.

Roger is an author and publisher for ‘Litelec’ (http://www.litelec.co.uk), a UK firm that specializes in the distribution of electric light bulbs, light fittings, electrical accessories and related products for domestic and company purposes which they trade at extremely competitive prices.  If you wish to reduce your electricity charges and also play a vital role to the safety of the environment then begin by using Halogen Bulbs at home and if you have further electrical products and accessories requirement then have a look at Litelec.

More information on Energy Efficiency

I think the choice of corn based ethanol is politically motivated. It looks good, it sounds good but has absolutely nothing to do with efficiency, economy, or green consciousness. it’s another cynical bit of window dressing allowing huge amounts of money to be funneled to favored interests.

But, we cannot simply call all biofuels bad, we need to concentrate on solutions that address the issues. This is a young industry with a lot of growing room, and many options to be considered. Many companies and even the US government, are working on better sustainable solutions.

Of course energy efficiency and less use need to be part of the solution, but the world will need fuel, and fossil fuels will disappear.

By using figures that are based on current technologies and systems in the biofuel arena, one is painted only a bad picture of biofuels, giving ammunition to those who don’t want petroleum to go away. It is very important to separate one biofuel from another when talking about them. It’s foolish to use figures from corn ethanol as it is done today and just say “ethanol” or “biofuels”. Believe it or not but even the US Dept of Energy/NREL/Biofuels recognizes we need to switch from starch (corn) to cellulosic ethanol in order to have a sustainable and efficient supply. Alternatives to soy are also being developed. Algae-based biofuel will be ~100x less resource intensive and many times over more efficient to produce, so the input-to-output ratio versus petro will be very high compared to soy, corn, even sugar cane. Biofuels can also be made from woody-based biomass like poplar trees that can be planted in deforested and deleted lands, not taking away from food production.

However, biofuels – made by producing ethanol, an alcohol fuel made from maize, sugar cane, or other plant matter – may be a penny wise but pound foolish way of doing so. Consider the following:

• The grain required to fill the petrol tank of a Range Rover with ethanol is sufficient to feed one person per year. Assuming the petrol tank is refilled every two weeks, the amount of grain required would feed a hungry African village for a year
• Much of the fuel that Europeans use will be imported from Brazil, where the Amazon is being burned to plant more sugar and soybeans, and Southeast Asia, where oil palm plantations are destroying the rainforest habitat of orangutans and many other species. Species are dying for our driving

If ethanol is imported from the US, it will likely come from maize, which uses fossil fuels at every stage in the production process, from cultivation using fertilisers and tractors to processing and transportation. Growing maize appears to use 30% more energy than the finished fuel produces, and leaves eroded soils and polluted waters behind

• Meeting the 5.75% target would require, according to one authoritative study, a quarter of the EU’s arable land
• Using ethanol rather than petrol reduces total emissions of carbon dioxide by only about 13% because of the pollution caused by the production process, and because ethanol gets only about 70% of the mileage of petrol
• Food prices are already increasing. With just 10% of the world’s sugar harvest being converted to ethanol, the price of sugar has doubled; the price of palm oil has increased 15% over the past year, with a further 25% gain expected next year. Little wonder that many are calling biofuels “deforestation diesel”, the opposite of the environmentally friendly fuel that all are seeking.With so much farmland already taking the form of monoculture, with all that implies for wildlife, do we really want to create more diversity-stripped desert?

Others are worried about the impacts of biofuels on food prices, which will affect especially the poor who already spend a large proportion of their income on food.

The BBC international version website gives a different viewpoint from the news we get fed here in the US.

I recommend it.

Douglas Savage
The Mill River Company
www.crystalcleanglass.com
The smart (albeit, not popular) thing to do is FIRST cut waste, cut BACK on consumption, THEN find replacements … provided replacements would even BE needed with proper and responsible conservation.