Environmental Pictures

9 Benefits Of Using Solar Energy

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 10 May 2011 16:54:00 +0000

The sun has long been recognized as the most important and primary source of energy, as it is a ball of gases and every day the sun radiates an enormous amount of energy.

In order to harness alternative solar energy from the sun, many technologies continue to be developed, such as solar panels, and solar cells, among others. Here are the benefits of solar energy:

It’s Renewable!

1. Because alternative solar energy is renewable, we never have to worry about running out of it. The sun consistently provides radiant energy every day, and this can be saved through certain sources on earth.

It’s Free!

2. Solar technology may be costly such as purchasing solar panels in the beginning, but eventually it will pay for itself and you never have to worry about seeing another electric bill again. The sun produces energy for us completely free of charge!

It’s non-damaging!

3. The electricity produced by the sun does not damage the environment or contribute to the current problem of climate change.

It’s safe!

4. Alternative solar energy is completely safe for installation in your home. Even if you have children, the technology is located at your roof and it does not emit harmful chemicals or gases.

It can be used by anybody!

5. Just about anybody can start using alternative solar energy, various models are available that can fit your budget and the size of your home.

It can be used to heat water!

6. Through solar water heaters, we can enjoy warm water in homes, schools, offices, and even swimming pools.

It can be used to warm or cool homes!

7. The sun’s energy can also be used to heat and ventilate homes and commercial as well as industrial buildings. Depending on the climate and daylight availability of the location, we can use technologies such as thermal mass methods to cool or heat indoor spaces.

It can be used for cooking!

8. Alternative solar energy can also be used for cooking and pasteurization methods. Through the use of panel cookers, box cookers, reflectors, and other methods of harnessing the sun for use in the kitchen, we can now rely on the sun to help sustain us.

It can be used to filter water!

9. We can also enjoy clean, potable water through alternative solar energy. This works by combining the sun’s energy with other methods, sometimes making use of plants, to clean water and kill bacteria.

20 Ways To Live Green!

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 04 May 2011 18:52:00 +0000

Small changes made by individuals can add up to big changes for the environment. Here are 20 Ways To Live Green!

1. The most effective way in which energy can be conserved is to use it ‘less’.

2. Plug all the places from which air can pass – go out or come in. Simply ‘air seal’ or ‘weatherize your home for energy conservation.

3. Heavily insulate your entire house to stop heat being transferred from one place to the other.

4. Turn down the thermostat of your house and slip on a cardigan, jacket or a sweater instead. Increase personal insulation rather than burn so much energy. Apply the same rule for winters.

5. Cleaning air conditioning units’ air filters at least once in a month is a good idea.

6. Empty rooms should be kept closed so that the heat or the cold does not escape to those rooms.

7. Instead of turning up the heat, simply staying under covers during night and insulating yourself is a better idea.

8. Use solar energy as much as you can.

9. Although using ceiling fans may seem outdated, it actually helps is reducing your utility bills largely as it helps cool your room faster by air-circulation.

10. Cook foods that require the same temperature together in the oven and preferably with a lid if on gas top, to conserve energy in the kitchen.

11. Switch off all the light that you are not using.

12. Cleaning your dryer lint filter regularly helps save on energy.

13. Using a microwave as an alternative to a conventional stove or an oven is a great idea!

14. Washing clothes in tepid water instead of cold or hot water helps you conserve energy.

15. Proper ventilation in the kitchen area helps in removing heat, dampness and cooking smells.

16. Unplug all electronic appliances not frequently used.

17. Save money as well as energy by using compact fluorescent light bulbs.

18. Hook up your outdoor lights to a timer device.

19. Do not keep the door of your refrigerator open for a long time. Conserve energy by opening
it once and taking out all that you need in one go.

20. Conserve water while dishwashing. Also reduce the use of heated water.

Top 8 Benefits Of Using Solar Powered Landscape Lights!

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Sat, 23 Apr 2011 18:27:00 +0000

Solar-run appliances are a great way to preserve energy and lessen your carbon footprint on earth.

If you haven’t made the switch to solar outdoor lights yet, here are some benefits of it and why you should switch soon:

1. Solar outdoor lights use a photovoltaic cell that charges the light’s batteries throughout the day with the use of the sun’s rays; this provides sufficient electricity to power your solar outdoor lights. The lights will be able to power just about any type of outdoor environment for you at nightfall, and will last anywhere between 8 to 10 hours.

2. It’s also a much safer choice if you have children and want to avoid the use of electrical wires as much as possible. The lack of electrical wires also makes your home safer against fires.

3. If your area has power outages, you don’t need to worry about darkness because you can depend on your solar outdoor lights to work and provide light even when there is no electricity.

4. These types of lights are also very easy to maintain.

5. Solar outdoor lights come in various sizes and styles to suit your needs for lighting in various locations. These can be used as street lights, parking spaces, doorbell lights, gate lights, patio or garden lights, and even by your pool.

6. When used in gardens and outdoor areas, solar outdoor lights can also provide excellent aesthetic value; you can use the light to highlight certain areas in your garden and give focal points to outdoor areas.

7. Well-lit outdoor spaces add to your safety and lessen your risk for burglar attacks.

8. One of the best advantages to solar outdoor lights is that they are very cost-efficient. Also because they provide powerful lighting, you don’t need to purchase several types of fixtures. You don’t have to worry about high installation fees, because they are very easy to install yourself.

Choosing the right solar outdoor lights for your home is a breeze, because most home depots carry a wide variety to choose from.

Be sure to measure your sockets before you purchase any replacement bulbs, and also be sure that you carefully consider the use of the lighting spaces when you go shopping.

Each space has different requirements, so it’s also important that you use the right kind of light.

The Jabuticaba – Amazing Plant

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:05:00 +0000

The Jabuticaba (also called Brazilian Grape Tree, Jaboticaba, Jabotica, Guaperu, Guapuru, Hivapuru, Sabará and Ybapuru) is a fruit-bearing tree native to Argentina, Brazil and Paraguay. The fruit is purplish black, with a white pulp;
it can be eaten raw or be used to make jellies and drinks (plain juice or wine).

The fruit tree (named jabuticabeira in Portuguese) has salmon-colored leaves when they are young, turning green posteriorly. It is a very slow growing tree which prefers moist, lightly acidic soils for best growth. It is widely adaptable, however, and grows satisfactorily even on alkaline beach-sand type soils, so long as they are tended and irrigated.

Its flowers are white and grow directly from its trunk in a cauliflorous habit. Naturally the tree may flower and fruit only once or twice a year, but when continuously irrigated it flowers frequently, and fresh fruit can be available year round in tropical regions.

We Never Imagined Top 3 Green Mobile Phones

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 19:03:00 +0000

"Green" and "gadgets" haven't always intersected, but cell phone manufacturers have jumped on the eco-warrior trend. We now have handsets that are made from recycled materials, use less power, and come cradled in recycled packaging.

Very few of us can live without a mobile device that keeps us connected while on the go, but our cell phones and PDAs contribute to toxic waste and lost resources, especially at the rate with which we upgrade. You can do your part by choosing a greener cell phone the next time you’re looking to trade-up.

GreenHeart by Sony Ericsson

With some of the greenest features of any cell phones on the market, Sony’s two new options—the Elm and the Hazel—are being billed as devices that go above most other green phones out there. Part of their GreenHeart project which aims to integrate environmental advances across Sony Ericsson’s entire product lines, these phones are loaded with eco-friendly features.

Both are constructed in part of recycled plastic and are made without toxic chemicals commonly found in electronics. And both come with energy-efficient chargers to cut back on phantom energy losses. Additionally, they’re packaged in minimal packaging and use eco-friendly paints.

Samsung’s New Blue Earth Phone

Already available in the UK, Samsung’s Blue Earth Phone is another take on the solar-powered mobile phone. It is a touch screen smart phone that can generate its own power with a built-in solar panel on the back.

What makes this mobile device even more green is that it is made from post-consumer recycled content—PCM, which is a plastic made from recycled water bottles (recycled waste).

Additionally, it has a super efficient charger (where traditionally you lose a lot of wasted energy), and is made without toxic chemicals like phthalates, brominated flame retardants (BFR), and beryllium, to name a few. Plus, it’s delivered in recycled packaging, too.

LG Pop GD510

LG is another company that has recently launched a cell phone with solar cells embedded in the actual phone. A slim-line phone with simple, sleek design features, the LG POP (LG GD510), can capture enough energy for 2.25 minutes of talk time in about 10 minutes of charge-time. And like the other green phones mentioned here, it comes with additional eco-friendly features.

These include the fact that it is PVC-free and made without BFR. And it has a feature that will notify you when the phone is fully charged so that you can unplug the charger to save additional energy. It was released in Europe during the fourth quarter last year and should be available in other regions soon.
MOTO W233 Renew Green Phone

The MOTO W233 Renew green cell phone for T-Mobile has four intriguing claims to fame:

The world’s first cell phone crafted from recycled water bottle plastics (the Samsung Blue Earth S7550 is made from recycled water bottle plastics as well, but it came later, and the Samsung Reclaim is a green phone for Sprint).
The world’s first carbon-neutral phone, Motorola says.
A phone so cheap it’s practically free.
A remarkably long-lasting battery.

Sticky phone

A concept design by Liu Hsiang-Ling integrates solar cells into mobile phones in a simple, elegant design. Though many are concerned that they can’t leave their phones charging in the sun for several hours (can’t be without my phone), this new design (which can be found on Yanko Design) tries to work through that problem by incorporating a suction system for easy charging.

Simply peel back the protective cover from a sticky surface and then stick the phone to a nearby window getting full sun.

Both phones also some with the Walk Mate feature which helps the user find a walking route to where they need to go so that they can leave the car behind.

The aim is to encourage phone users to walk more than they drive. The Walk Mate even calculates how much carbon dioxide is saved by using this more eco-friendly method of transportation. These phones are slated to be available during the second quarter of 2010.

Several Effects Of Plastic Bag On Environment

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:49:00 +0000

Plastic bags are widely used for carrying purchases for they are lightweight, strong, cheap, functional, and also hygienic. But, do you know that they are very harmful for environment? These bags have great contribution to causing pollution and killing wildlife. In addition, they are responsible for using up the natural resources of the earth.

In the USA, plastic bags which are used each year reach about a hundred billion. It means that the non-biodegradable rubbish is a hundred billion as well. Along with some other waste which is non-biodegradable, can you imagine how many waste produced each year? It is only a little fact in the US. What about in another populous country such as China and India? There will be a lot of waste produced without being biodegradable.

All those waste above can contribute to some effects on the environment. You can see some of the effects in the following account.

Plastic bags are one of the main factors which litter the landscape. From year to year, these bags have been widely used and ended up to littering the environment such as parks, streets, waterways, beaches, and some other places. In addition, if burned, they will infuse the surrounding air with the toxic fumes.

They can also kill the animal. A shocking fact is that they have killed for about 100,000 animals including turtles, whales, dolphins, and also penguins. Those animals are died since they ingest them as their wrong food. The worse news is that the plastic still remains even after the animals’ decomposition.

Plastic bags become one of the main problems since they are non-biodegradable. Totally, the decomposition for plastic takes around 1,000 years. It means that these bags will remain as rubbish along those years. With all the plastic rubbish produced each day, plastic rubbish problem will never be solved well.

Furthermore, plastic bags use up the petroleum. It is the main material which is used for creating the plastic. With large production of plastic bags each day, there are a lot of nonrenewable natural source used up. On the other hand, it is one of the main resources which are highly needed for daily energy supply. In other words, plastic bag will also spend the natural resource. Then, why should we spend the important natural resource for producing plastic?

It seems like there is no right solution for this problem. However, you can try to minimize the use of plastic bags by using single plastic bag for daily use. Although it is only a very small amount, it will help. Another good solution is to recycle the plastic. It can be recycled into the products for various purposes such as the garbage bins.

What's greener: A refurbished laptop or a new one?

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 07:03:00 +0000

My last laptop lived till the ripe old age of six, but toward the end of its life, it went downhill fast. It took its sweet time to complete even the simplest of tasks. I developed a nervous tic of saving my blog posts every two or three minutes, since I never knew when my browser would freeze or suddenly quit. And since its battery was only good for about five minutes, my laptop was basically a desktop with a tiny screen. I considered replacing it with a refurbished model, but in the end I was seduced by a brand new laptop that I figured could probably do more tricks than a used one. Besides, I had heard that newer models were actually better for the environment, since they used energy more efficiently than older models.

I'm not the only one who prefers shinily new over gently used. According to a survey by Resource Recycling, a company that publishes industry news for recycling businesses, consumer sales of refurbished electronics have dropped in recent years, since retailers are "flooding the consumer electronics market with new devices that are comparable in price to used goods, but are packed with more features." So are newer computers really a better deal than refurbished models in the long run? And which kind is better for the planet?

Environmentally speaking, refurbished computers are the clear winners. "An astonishing amount of resources go into making these products," says Barbara Kyle, the national coordinator of the Electronics TakeBack Coalition. According to a 2003 UN study (pdf), the manufacture of one desktop computer requires 48 pounds of chemicals, 1.7 tons of water, and 529 pounds of fossil fuels—about 10 times the weight of the computer itself. (By comparison, new refrigerators and cars require roughly their own weight in fossil fuels.) "The more we can reuse old products, the fewer new resources need to be extracted," says Kyle. And the less we add to the world's pile of e-waste, which is giant and growing bigger every day.

What's more, even though newer computers use energy more efficiently than older models, it's not the energy use by the consumer that's the main problem. A 2004 UN study (pdf) found that about four-fifths of the total energy consumed over a desktop computer's lifetime is used during production of the computer—and only one-fifth was consumed during its use.

Buying a refurbished computer also makes financial sense. Though prices of professionally refurbished computers vary widely depending on hardware age, software packages, and warranties, you can often find deals for as little as half the price of a brand new machine, and in many cases refurbished models will last just as long as new ones, says Willie Cade, the CEO of PC Rebuilders and Recyclers, a computer refurbishing company. (For specifics on various brands and price comparisons, check out this excellent Gizmodo post on the topic.) Cade and his team recently outfitted desktop PCs from 2001 with the latest software, then had college students use both the refurbished computers and brand new ones in a blind test (the monitors were identical). Thirty-six percent of the students couldn't tell the difference between the old computers and the new.

If you do choose a new computer, you can extend its life by cleaning up its software when it starts to get slow. People keep their new computers for an average of 2.5 years, but the majority of them can last a whole lot longer if you upgrade the software. "People often think computers slow down after a year or two," says Cade. "But that's usually a problem with the software—either there's too much of it or it's not working efficiently. If you refresh or clean up the software, it will usually get quicker." According to Cade, as a general rule of thumb, if you refresh your computer's software after its second birthday (which will usually run you a few hundred bucks), you can extend its life for three years if it's a laptop, and five or six if it's a desktop.

What you should look for if you're buying a refurbished computer: Make sure the software is legally licensed and genuine—that way you'll be able to get the necessary updates. Ideally, your refurbished laptop should come with a three-year warranty and a tech help phone number. "Someone that says 30 days—run away," says Cade. Make sure your refurbisher is registered and/or authorized: In the Microsoft world, that means being a member of the Microsoft Refurbisher Program.

If you're getting rid of your old computer, make sure you do it responsibly. Chances are it can be fixed and sold or donated to someone else: The refurbishing company Gazelle.com pays cash for used computers and gadgets. PC Rebuilders and Recyclers will sell your spiffed-up computer to a needy school or organization for about a third of the cost of new. Most manufacturers will take back your used electronics; the recycling information group Earth911 has a good guide to those programs, plus a list of organizations that accept donations of old computers, here. The EPA has more resources here.

Special thanks to the folks at the Story of Stuff Project, who helped me research this post. Can't wait for the new Story of Electronics, out November 9!

This article was written by Kiera Butler.

What to do with bathroom plastics

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 17:56:00 +0000

I decided that Step One of my Plastic Detox Program would be to find out what I have. It's both worse and a bit better than I thought.

The bad news: Virtually every product in my bathroom (save the hand soap and one moisturizer in glass bottles -- and even they come with plastic tops, but let's not split hairs, okay?) is in a plastic bottle or tube. And I have a LOT of products.

The good news: A lot of these plastic containers are made from the safer types of plastic.

(Not sure what type of plastic you're dealing with? Flip the item over and check the number in the little recycling symbol on the bottom. Then read on.)

Here's the breakdown in my bathroom:

#1 Plastic

What Is It? -- PETE. Polyethylene terephthalate ethylene, used for soft drink, juice, water, detergent, cleaner, and peanut butter containers.

What's Wrong With It? -- #1 plastics are designed to be disposable, meaning they create more waste. If you try to reuse them, they can break down on you. The good news is, they are usually recyclable.

Where Is It? -- Facewash, eye-makeup remover, and body scrub.

Goal -- Recycle these when they're used up and look for reusable containers when I replace them.

#2 Plastic

What Is It? -- HDPE: High density polyethylene, used in opaque plastic milk and water jugs, bleach, detergent and shampoo bottles, and some plastic bags.

What's Wrong With it? -- Not so much in terms of health -- this is one of the "safe" plastics (along with #1, #4 and #5). But it's still made from petroleum products and ends up in landfills, so like all plastic, is not ideal from an environmental standpoint.

Where Is It? -- Facewash (yes, I use two different kinds), shower gel, shampoo, several kinds of hair gel, and hairspray.

Goal -- Look for more sustainable options as I use up these items (can I find them sold in glass containers? Can I make them myself?), and try to pare down the number of products I'm using to reduce waste. But if I do buy a plastic bathroom item, it should be #1, 2, 4, or 5.

#3 Plastic

What Is It? -- PVC or V: Polyvinyl chloride, used for cling wrap, plastic squeeze bottles, cooking oil and peanut butter containers, and detergent and window cleaner bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Just about everything. So much, in fact, that I'm referring you to IATP's Smart Plastics Guide:

PVC -- THE POISON PLASTIC: Polyvinyl chloride, also known as vinyl or PVC, poses risks to the environment and human health. PVC is the least recyclable plastic.
Vinyl chloride workers face an elevated risk of liver cancer.

Vinyl chloride manufacturing creates air and water pollution near the factories, often located in low-income neighborhoods.

PVC needs additives and stabilizers to make it usable. Lead is often added for strength, while plasticizers are added for flexibility. These toxic additives contribute to further pollution and human exposure.

Dioxin in air emissions from PVC manufacturing and disposal, or from incineration of PVC products, settles on grasslands and accumulates in meat and dairy products, and ultimately, in human tissue.

Dioxin is a known carcinogen. Low-level exposures are associated with decreased birth weight, learning and behavioral problems in children, suppressed immune function and hormone disruption.

Where Is It? -- A bottle of toner and a clay face mask, which comes in a tube.

Goal -- Follow Annie Leonard's advice to pack these up and mail them back to the manufacturer with a letter explaining why I want them to stop selling, making, and advocating for this junk.

#5 Plastic

What Is It? -- PP: Polypropylene, used in most Rubbermaid; deli soup, syrup, and yogurt containers; and straws and other clouded plastic containers, including baby bottles.

What's Wrong With It? -- Like #2, this type of plastic seems to be OK from a health perspective (though, as with all plastic, I'd be leery of microwaving it in case chemicals leach out during the heating process). But this thicker type of plastic is usually not recyclable and will take centuries to break down in a landfill.

Where Is It? -- Two big tubs of moisturizer and body lotion, a stick of deodorant, a tub of conditioner and a tub of face mask.

Goal -- Figure out ways to reuse these containers when they're empty, since I can't recycle them. If I can punch a few holes in the bottom, they're all about the right size for re-potting seedlings.

#6 Plastic

What Is It? -- This is a catch-all category for plastics that don't fit into the #1-6 categories. It includes polycarbonate (usually, but not always, labeled #7-PC), bio-based plastics, co-polyester, acrylic, polyamide, and plastic mixtures like styrene-acrylo-nitrile resin (SAN). Number 7 plastics are used for a variety of products like baby bottles and "sippy" cups, baby food jars, 5-gallon water bottles, sport water bottles, plastic dinnerware, and clear plastic cutlery.

What's Wrong With It? -- For one thing, it's hard to know what type of plastic you're even dealing with, since so many fall under the Number 7 umbrella. For another, the list includes polycarbonate, which is the type of plastic found to leach Bisphenol-A, a known endocrine disruptor.

Where Is It? -- A tube of sunscreen, a tube of self-tanner, an exfoliating scrub, some acne medicine, and a pump container of an SPF face cream.

Goal -- I'm really not into BPA in my body lotion, or unknown mystery plastics -- though it's worth noting that a lot of "compostable" and bio-based plastics get this number, too -- so I'm going to avoid these in the future unless the manufacturer makes the type of plastic very clear. Not sure what to do with the containers I've got, though -- tubes don't lend themselves well to reuse or recycling. Which is another good reason to avoid them in the future!

So, what kinds of plastic are in your bathroom cabinet? Have you found any great non-plastic personal care products or DIY versions?

While I don't want to waste perfectly good (and nearly full) facewash, acne medicine, masks or scrubs, I am almost out of shampoo, conditioner, shower gel, deodorant, and moisturizer, so I'll be hunting up non-plastic replacements for these guys over the weekend. If you have a favorite source to share, do tell! Source: Green News

Solar-Powered Courtesy Light For Your Garden

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 22 Sep 2010 07:02:00 +0000

Everyone who owns a beautiful garden wants to make it shine at night by adding effective lighting.

Because lighting can increase your power bill substantially, many garden lovers go for smaller lights, to light up dark corners.

Want to try a cheap option? These days, solar lights have become popular as they can light up your garden without increasing your power bill by much.

Besides being functional and able to fit in a variety of spots, the solar powered courtesy light is affordable and the best solution to minimize your lighting needs.

Features of solar powered courtesy light:

Works on solar batteries, so no wiring is required to supply power to it.
The lighting from the solar-powered courtesy lighting is bright white LED lighting.
The lighting can cover up to 8 meters.
The light has detection facility; it gets on when someone is roaming around the light.
The detection angle in this light is about 100 degrees.
Simple and easy to install.
This light must be charged in direct sunlight once a week for proper working.

For more information regarding this product, visit: Gizoo

Consarc's Langdon Park is a beacon for the neighbourhood and for London

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 07:03:00 +0000

Consarc won the opportunity to deliver a new station and replacement pedestrian bridge of landmark quality in the Langdon Park area. Now fully operational, the station has won a number of awards including being short listed for the ‘Prime Minister’s Better Public Building’ Awards 2008 and Winner of the UK Best Regeneration Project Award 2008 at the British Construction Industry (BCI) awards.

The design and realisation of the bridge canopy was a particularly clever element to the scheme. It was developed using 3D software, which was extrapolated by Gurit the world specialist in FRP system design. Fabricated off site the final canopy was then transported by barge and lorry to the site from Southampton. Given its lightweight nature the canopy was then hoisted into position in one weekend minimising long track closures. By creating a transparent covered bridge and sculptural lift towers all visual connections from the track and platforms are constant, making the station welcoming and secure and reducing the potential of vandalism.

Through careful negotiation with the local authority we were able to change the highway access and create a shared surface entrance for pedestrians, buses and drop off vehicles, enabling a clear access from pavement to station platform, a device rarely employed. This permeability is central to the success of the scheme which links directly to a newly landscaped Park, previously unused grass land beyond. The station is also immediately adjacent to a school where the station and crossing now acts as a fulcrum point connecting together two large and otherwise alienated communities.

As a mark of the projects success the judges at the Prime Ministers Better Building Awards 2008 rated this project at 9 out of 10 for Client satisfaction regarding both the end product and service delivered by the design team. The creation of a welcoming public realm to both sides of the track (at grade) has enabled a vastly improved high quality hard landscape and disabled users. It has also providing greatly improved the safety for children accessing the adjacent School, where as previously local residents described the area as a ‘muggers paradise’.

The station and improved accessibility has provided the catalyst for development on two key adjacent brown-field sites into mixed tenure housing developments with integrated doctors’ surgeries, public realm and retail / commercial premises at ground floor. One of these developments alone received planning approval for over 500 units of mixed tenure social housing. Known locally as 'the Beacon’ this station has evoked an improved scene of community spirit and greater social wellbeing through connectivity to local amenities and jobs. Via: Architecture News

Fighting The Flood With Floatable Green Living Spaces

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 15 Sep 2010 15:38:00 +0000

The floods in Pakistan have caused dramatic consequences. Thousands of people suffered the disaster as their houses were flooded and destroyed.

Therefore, many architects and designers are now trying to help the citizens with unusual ideas for green building that is going to be resistant even in case of an eventual flood.

The Architecture for humanity is the first organization that suggested an interesting housing that can be a good decision for people living in areas with potential risk of flooding.

Therefore one of the best green designers in the world shared their ideas for creating green and flood resistant homes.

Andrew Maynard is one of those designers; moreover he is a winner of the Best of Green Young Architect Award. His project is called Poop House and represents a floating home, made out of entirely green and recyclable materials.

Alas, it is true that the greenest buildings on the world aren’t exactly buildings; therefore Poop House has an unusual structure. It represents an inner and outer layer of polyethylene forms.

The idea behind this project is simple – a home that can be used for floating. The architect has used only sustainable materials to build this home.

The good news is that the floating home is equipped with water turbines, which will generate the house with electricity.

The Poop House is also very affordable, but it is of course just a variant that can replace your home in times of crisis situation such as floods.

There is another project that really amazes. It is eccentric and green, therefore it is not sure that it will ever work, but so far this seems like the only alternative, especially for the victims of floods.

The project is called the Airdrop house and it is made out of materials that no one has used before.

The Airdrop house is entirely created of dried-sponge-like materials and it looks like a floating sphere. The unusual home is actually extremely safe, when it comes to floods, for it soaks up water just like a sponge.

The good news is it expands and increases in volume.

The designers behind the Architecture of Humanity organization have equipped the floating sphere with seeds, which will form some green roof over the house.

The German variant of floating housing is called Schwimmhaus and it is designed by the German architect studio Confused-Direction.

Their project is compact and green. The floating house is built only with reclaimed wood and other reused materials. The home provides enough space and it is equipped with water and wind turbines to generate electricity.

A Fresh Trend Of Zero Energy House Designs

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 07:01:00 +0000

Turning to renewable sources of energy have become the need of the hour. Now, imagine that you have a house which is so eco-friendly that for the many coming centuries it can fulfil all your basic needs for which you will not have to depend on non renewable resources. This kind of house will surely be an asset for anyone.

These smart theories have been made into reality by the Michelle Kaufmann Studio, who has called these houses the Zero Series.

Zero, in this case, is meant as zero waste. When the Studio did the Glidehouse designs, it made everybody wonder if these designs would really be energy efficient and absolutely green.

This time, the Studio has taken this concept a step forward in the form of Zero houses which are better and improved in any possible way.

Just like the Glidehouses, the Zero houses are well-designed, attractive, built using eco-friendly materials, have means to save and conserve water and generally have a healthy atmosphere around them. The print of the house, as the Studio says, is very green and clean.

According to the designer Kaufmann, the six years which have passed between the Glidehouse and the Zero Series were quite helpful in understanding what should be modified and what should be avoided.

Some of these points include that more work needs to be done not on the site but also off site. Also, the client’s needs can be easily accommodated as the designs have more flexibility and can be changed well modifying the construction.

The company has three trademarked variations within the Zero series – the Contours, the Vista and the Ridge.

Zero energy buildings (ZEBs) are not a new thing. These structures, the Zero series are ZEBs, which means that energy from renewable energy can very well run the house. There are photovoltaic panels which help in tapping the solar energy.

In addition to this, there are rainwater harvesting systems and gray water gathering systems. These homes are LEED certified and also qualify for NAHB Green Building Standard and Build It Green certificates.

The Ridge is based on the Passivhaus principles of shading, light and insulation while Contours and Vista allow a lot of natural light and ventilation to pass. The latter duo has outdoor rooms as well as indoor ones.

These eco friendly and energy efficient houses truly represent the need of the day and are available at an affordable cost of $66,500.

Peugeot to Lease iOn Electric Car for €499/Month in France

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 06:07:00 +0000

Peugeot has released the specifications for the iOn EV—based on the Mitsubishi iMiEV (earlier post)—in advance of the Paris Auto Show. Peugeot is planning to put the electric vehicle on sale at the end of this year.

Peugeot says that it will market the iOn based mainly on an “all-inclusive” mobility offer. As an example, in France this offer lasts for five years and costs €499 (US$643) including VAT per month, which includes: the vehicle and its battery; 5-year warranty covering the battery and electric power train; servicing and maintenance for five years or 50,000 km (31,000 miles); specific electric assistance; and Peugeot Connect, Electric Driving (smartphone application) services and access to the Mu by Peugeot mobility program.

Peugeot is targeting the iOn mainly at local government, local authorities and public services and companies active in the transport and energy sectors, leasing companies, car sharing companies and the fleets of large corporations. In the first half of 2010, Peugeot has already signed 15 letters of intent with:

three public transport companies, including two for an offer in different European countries;
six leasing companies in three European countries; and
six energy companies in six European countries.

Peugeot is also a partner in the consortium VTLIB’ (Veolia urban transport), still in the running as a candidate for the Autolib’ project, a future electric car self-service system planned for Paris and nearby suburbs in 2011. To a lesser extent, the company says, private individuals are also target customers.

Powertrain. The iOn is a rear-wheel drive vehicle in which the electric motor and single-ratio reduction gearbox are installed in front of the rear suspension. The motor is supplied with a 330 V three-phase alternating current (AC) from the inverter which is supplied with a 330 V direct current (DC) from the main battery pack.

The inverter regulates the current, frequency and voltage according to the position of the accelerator pedal. The inverter, the motor and the reduction gearing provides a potential speed range from 0 to 130 km/h (81 mph). The single reduction gear provides an overall ratio of 6.066 in both forward and reverse gears. Reverse gear is obtained by reversing the direction of the motor’s operation.

The compact synchronous permanent magnet electric motor delivers maximum power of 47 kW (64 bhp) and has a maximum torque of 180 N·m (134 lb-ft) from 0 to 2000 rpm.

The lithium manganese oxide (LiMn2O4 battery pack was developed by Lithium Energy Japan (LEJ, a joint venture between Mitsubishi/GS-Yuasa). The batteries are produced in Kusatsu in Japan. Each battery module has four or eight 3.7 V cells and a capacity of 50 Ah. With a total of 88 cells, connected in series, the battery pack can store 16 kWh of electrical energy with a nominal voltage of 330 V.

The recharging of each cell in the battery pack is controlled continuously by a control system which includes monitoring of each cell and a central battery controller.

The battery can be fully recharged in six hours using a single-phase 220 V household supply via a five meter cable fitted with a standard socket and a special plug for connection to the vehicle.

For quick charging, the 50 kW charging unit directly supplies voltage and direct current to recharge the drive battery. The unit operates on a three-phase 380 V supply (supplied directly from the country’s electrical network). The car’s battery is, therefore, supplied with a single-phase direct current of up to 125 A. A quick recharge fifteen minutes to provide 50% battery capacity and 30 minutes for 80% capacity.

Range per the European standard cycle is 150 km (93 miles).

The inverter, on-board charger, (DC) converter and electric motor are cooled by circulating water supplying a radiator positioned at the front of the vehicle. To optimize the life of the battery, if certain temperature thresholds are reached by elements of the battery pack during quick charging, ambient air or air cooled by the air conditioning is circulated through the pack.

The instrument panel features a battery charge indicator (with sixteen positions) letting the driver know the battery charge level. A power meter encourages economical driving by providing an instantaneous readout of levels of energy consumption or energy recovery during deceleration and braking, by means of a needle which moves across coloured zones:

the green zone, driving with minimal energy consumption,
the white zone, “energy hungry” driving,
the blue “Charge” zone, level of energy recovery;
the trip computer, as well as the usual information, indicates the available range calculated on the basis of driving conditions recorded over the last 25 kilometers. Parameters taken into account include the type of driving, traffic conditions, the type of journey and use of the heating or air conditioning; and
gradual range reduction warnings and an emergency strategy.

When the battery charge level falls to two bars, the “gauge” symbol flashes, warning of the need to recharge the battery (17% of energy remaining). When the last bar is reached, it too flashes in addition to the “gauge” symbol. Charging is now essential.

When no bars are displayed any more, the “gauge” symbol stays on and the trip computer indicates no range. The heating and air conditioning are switched off by the vehicle’s onboard systems. The vehicle inertia allows the heater blower to diffuse any remaining hot or cold air. The power of the electric motor is gradually reduced.

When the requested acceleration can no longer be fully supported a “tortoise” symbol appears on the instrument panel and the vehicle’s performance is reduced; the vehicle comes to a complete stop when the minimum battery level is reached.

The electrical air conditioning and heating systems of the passenger compartment are powered from the lithium-ion battery pack.

The heating system operates via the circulation of coolant which is electrically heated. It provides warm air immediately after a cold start or when the vehicle is at a standstill. The power of the heating can be adjusted to obtain just the right level of comfort in order to minimize the consumption of electricity.

An optional “cold pack” is available which includes a heated driver’s seat ensuring good thermal comfort when only the driver is present, and optimizing the energy usage for the heating of the passenger compartment.

Air conditioning is provided by a refrigeration unit with an electric compressor controlled electronically so that only energy required for the current setting is consumed. Via: Tree Hugger

Life after the Olympics for Richmond Olympic Oval

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 29 Jun 2010 17:07:00 +0000

The Richmond Olympic Oval serves as the centerpiece of a new, urban, waterfront neighbourhood featuring mixed development. This signature speed-skating venue for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games has transitioned to an international centre of excellence for sports and wellness, and venue for community events, creating a lasting legacy beyond its Olympic Games purpose.

Historically, indoor long-track facilities that have been built solely to host Olympic speed-skating events have faced significant revenue and operations challenges post-Games because of their size. Facilities must be convertible for other uses to be cost-effective.

The Oval’s level of program convertibility and multi-sport use is unprecedented in high performance sport buildings. The main activity space allows ice sports to co-exist with other sports or community uses simultaneously; at any time, the facility can revert to the speed skating oval. A model for cutting-edge sustainable design, the facility is breaking new ground for sports and wellness facilities. Its green features earned LEED® Silver and are expected to yield significant operational cost savings over its lifespan.

The main structure is comprised of 15 composite wood glulam arches, spanning 100 m in length and made from locally-harvested B.C. Douglas Fir lumber carried on 30 concrete buttresses. One million board feet of pine-beetle-killed wood from recently devastated pine forests in British Columbia form the roof deck and the secondary structural panels. The roof integrates heating, ventilating, air conditioning, plumbing, acoustical, electrical and lighting systems and their appurtenances. HVAC ducts are integrated within the glulam arches with motorised nozzle jets that deliver conditioned air to the activity areas. Sprinkler pipes and heads are also integrated into the ceiling panels and the arches. Via: World Architecture News

Sea and Oceans depth around the world [Info Graphic]

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 07:02:00 +0000

It seems the oceans of the world are doing their best to show that global warming is a fact. It is common knowledge that the world waters are rising because of the poles “melting” so monitoring it is a very good idea.

But out of the need to know basis, the people should do this measuring and monitoring at constant time intervals in order to see a pattern.

Here is an Infographic about the Sea and Oceans depth around the world.

Green Chemistry: Scientists Devise New "Benign by Design" Drugs, Paints, Pesticides and More

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Sat, 12 Jun 2010 07:02:00 +0000

Chemists are usually asked to invent a solution, but without considering hazardous by-products. Green chemists now are doing both with success, but will it take regulations to enforce the approach broadly?

Back in the days when better living through chemistry was a promise, not a bitter irony, nylon stockings replaced silk, refrigerators edged out iceboxes, and Americans became increasingly dependent on man-made materials. Today nearly everything we touch—clothing, furniture, carpeting, cabinets, lightbulbs, paper, toothpaste, baby teethers, iPhones, you name it—is synthetic. The harmful side effects of industrialization—smoggy air, Superfund sites, mercury-tainted fish, and on and on—have often seemed a necessary trade-off.

But in the early 1990s a small group of scientists began to think differently. Why, they asked, do we rely on hazardous substances for so many manufacturing processes? After all, chemical reactions happen continuously in nature, thousands of them within our own bodies, without any nasty by-products. Maybe, these scientists concluded, the problem was that chemists are not trained to think about the impacts of their inventions. Perhaps chemistry was toxic simply because no one had tried to make it otherwise. They called this new philosophy "green chemistry."

Green chemists use all the tools and training of traditional chemistry, but instead of ending up with toxins that must be treated and contained after the fact, they aim to create industrial processes that avert hazard problems altogether. The catch phrase is "benign by design".

Progress without pollution may sound utterly unrealistic, but businesses are putting green chemistry into practice. Buying, storing, and disposing of hazardous chemicals is expensive, so using safer alternatives makes sense. Big corporations—Monsanto, Dow, Merck, Pfizer, DuPont—along with scrappy start-ups are already applying green chemistry techniques.

There have been hundreds of innovations, from safer latex paints, household cleaning products and Saran Wrap to textiles made from cornstarch, and pesticides that work selectively, by disrupting the life cycles of troublesome insects. Investigators have also developed cleaner ways of decaffeinating coffee, dry-cleaning clothes, making Styrofoam egg cartons, and producing drugs like Advil, Zoloft and Lipitor. >>more...

How to clean up after the holidays

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Thu, 10 Jun 2010 07:03:00 +0000

The gifts are unwrapped, the guests are gone, and your house is littered with tinsel, paper, and empty boxes. Not to mention, there's a big tree sitting in the living room. What's the best way to dispose of all this junk, preferably without digging a new landfill in town?

With just a little bit of sorting, you can clear out the house for the New Year. Here's how:

Recycle the Christmas tree

If, like 30 to 35 million American households, you bought a freshly cut, real tree for the holiday, you can easily recycle this renewable resource.

Go to Earth 911, type in "Christmas tree," and then enter your ZIP code to find one of the 4,000 recycling programs around the U.S. Many communities have curbside pick-up for trees after Christmas, while other towns have drop-off locations.

Before you recycle the tree, make sure to prepare it correctly:

Remove lights and decorations, including all strands of tinsel.
Take the tree out of the stand.
Be sure there is no metal attached to the tree.
Don't wrap the tree in a bag for pick-up unless instructed to do so.
Check to see what size trees are accepted; if necessary, cut the tree in pieces.

Flocked trees usually can't be recycled and must be put into the garbage. "Living" trees (with root balls) shouldn't be recycled; they should be planted as soon as possible after the holiday.

Also, artificial trees can't be recycled. If you need to get rid of an artificial tree, try to donate it to charity or give it away on Craigslist or Freecycle. Otherwise, it will sit in the landfill forever.

Recycled trees are used throughout the country as mulch in public gardens. Some communities offer this mulch back to individuals for free. Christmas trees have also been used to help rebuild dunes in Gulf Shores, Alabama, following Hurricane Ivan. Nearly 1.5 million Christmas trees were recycled into waterway conservation projects in Louisiana.

Recycle the gift wrap

First step is to sort: Remove ribbons and bows, tear off remaining bits of tape, and separate out any metallic or glitter-encrusted papers. None of that stuff is recyclable, although some of it may be reusable (especially ribbons!).

Now, can you recycle the paper that's left? This will depend on where you live. Look for the website of your local waste management company, because that's who will decide what to take. Plain wrapping papers can be added to mixed-paper recycling in some communities.

Next year, try using less wrapping paper. You'll save money and have more fun being creative with fabric wraps, reusable bags, and recycled wrappings.

Recycle the boxes and packing material

Cardboard and paperboard boxes are easy to break down and recycle in most curbside programs. If you have a lot of material, you might need to bundle the cardboard in small packets with string.

If you have space, you might want to keep a few boxes around to give next year's gifts in. Or give them away -- people can always use large shipping boxes as moving boxes.

Bubble wrap and packing peanuts can be reused. If not by you, then by someone searching Craigslist or Freecycle. Mailing centers such as The UPS Store and Mail Boxes Etc. will also accept them.

Wondering what to do with other packaging stuff? Find out what else can be recycled and what should be trashed. Via: Green Yahoo

Guys Are Like For Green Gals

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:05:00 +0000

A new survey conducted by footwear company Timberland, the “2010 Timberland Eco-Love Survey“, shows that men are looking for eco-friendly and adventurous girls.

54% of men would question starting a relationship with a girl who litters, 27% would question doing so if the girl didn’t recycle, 25% if she didn’t turn the lights off when leaving home, and 21% would ponder starting things with a girl who drove a gas-guzzler.

Similarly, 24% of men think green women make better life partners and 27% think they make better friends.

On a slightly different note, but in the same sort of green vein, the survey found that 41% of men would be more interested in an “adventure” date (such as hiking or rock-climbing) or a charity or service-oriented date (like going tree-planting) than the traditional “dinner and a movie” date.

The strange thing, in my opinion, is that Timberland only focused on what guys preferred, but maybe a survey of what women are looking for will come out next year.

I have always fit into the category of guys who care about how green-friendly a girl is, but I am genuinely surprised to see the percentages reported above. Perhaps it is because of the association between females and nature (e.g. Mother Nature). Or perhaps it is all of those “I’d rather go naked than wear fur” PETA ads. Or all those female celebrities with a green focus. Or, perhaps, people just care about the environment!

The survey did also find that 72% of respondents think Americans need to switch to energy-efficient lighting, 57% think Americans need to green their transportation by bicycling, carpooling or walking to work more, and 47% want people to take showers instead of baths to save water.

It is great to see more and more people concerned about these things, but hopefully those percentages will rise even much higher in the near future.

Loq•kit Modular Homes Made With Interchageable Parts

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Sun, 06 Jun 2010 07:06:00 +0000

The concept behind Loq•kit homes is the use of modular and interchangeable parts – kinda like Legos for homes. Loq•kit homes were originally conceived by PAF Architecture back in 2003 and they’ve been working on configurations and snap-lock parts ever since. Their designs have a strong focus on solar passive design, simple but striking exteriors and use several renewable energy systems.

The Loq•kit house is system of standardized and interchangeable prefabricated parts that enable rapid assembly and great variety. Essentially there are hundreds of different possible configurations based on how you put the parts together. Each home would be assembled from three types of components: modular metal frame, modular infill, and modular snap-cladding. The goal of these homes is to reduce waste and reach an affordable price point for many who can’t afford to build right now. Parts and pieces can also be sent back to the factory for refurbishment or recycling for a complete zero waste loop. In fact, the Loq•kit home concept won second prize in the international C2C Home sustainable design competition in 2005.

PAF Architecture hasn’t quite built any of the Loq•kit homes yet as the designs are largely still in concept phase due to a lack of funding, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t interest. PAF is currently working on a project in Massachusetts for a personalized home, which is slated to start construction this summer. While the house will not be constructed from the bio-plastic and bio-foam Loq•kit house parts proposed by PAF Architecture, it will showcase a unique method of panelization. The home will also feature SIPs construction, passive solar design, and geothermal heating and cooling, and the layout and exterior design is based on the modular coordination of the Loq•kit house parts. Via: http: Inhabitat

7,000 Miles Nonstop, and No Pretzels

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 07:01:00 +0000

In 1976, the biologist Robert E. Gill Jr. came to the southern coast of Alaska to survey the birds preparing for their migrations for the winter. One species in particular, wading birds called bar-tailed godwits, puzzled him deeply. They were too fat.

“They looked like flying softballs,” said Mr. Gill.

At the time, scientists knew that bar-tailed godwits spend their winters in places like New Zealand and Australia. To get there, most researchers assumed, the birds took a series of flights down through Asia, stopping along the way to rest and eat. After all, they were land birds, not sea birds that could dive for food in the ocean. But in Alaska, Mr. Gill observed, the bar-tailed godwits were feasting on clams and worms as if they were not going to be able to eat for a very long time.

“I wondered, why is that bird putting on that much fat?” he said.

Mr. Gill wondered if the bar-tailed godwit actually stayed in the air for a much longer time than scientists believed. It was a difficult idea to test, because he could not actually follow the birds in flight. For 30 years he managed as best he could, building a network of bird-watchers who looked for migrating godwits over the Pacific Ocean. Finally, in 2006, technology caught up with Mr. Gill’s ideas. He and his colleagues were able to implant satellite transmitters in bar-tailed godwits and track their flight. >>more...

Castle in the Sky Italian Water Tower Creates its Own Rain!

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 07:02:00 +0000

Castle in the Sky is a water tower concept for Latina, Italy that goes above and beyond just storing water for the city. Dreamed up by Atelier Ramdam Architects out of Paris, France, this heavenly design includes public garden space, a sky deck and an incredible mechanism that vaporizes water to create the tower’s very own rain!

The slender water tower sits in a below grade reservoir full of incoming water. The tower’s shaft is coated in highly reflective metal in order to “disappear” as it rises up into the sky, where it meets the water storage tank and the sky deck and gardens. Public access is achieved through an elevator in the shaft and the sky deck can be used for festivities, parties or just viewing the city.

At the bottom of the tower is a large landscaped public park which also acts to filter rain and storm water into the reservoir. Water is pumped up into the tank to irrigate the sky gardens, and as moisture builds up in the air around the tower it is expected to precipitate onto the park underneath. The bit about making rain seems somewhat questionable, but the concept seems interesting and could help cool the city. Via: Inhabitat

Japanese town to test solar-to-electric cars

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Tue, 25 May 2010 07:06:00 +0000

Right now, electric cars may not emit greenhouse gases themselves, but the coal-fired power plants that provide the electricity that fuels those cars do. That may be the
ugly reality now, but ideally in the not too far future, EVs will juice up with clean, renewable energy. One Japanese town is getting a jump on that beautiful future by serving as a testing ground for solar-powered electric vehicles.

Tsukuba City, Japan, which is near Tokyo, is playing host to a project brought together by various companies, including Mazda, Think Global, EnerDel and Itochu. As part of this project, Mazda2 vehicles have been outfitted with electric drivetrains built by Think, using EnerDel lithium ion batteries.

These cars will solely fuel-up at rapid-charging stations powered by solar-powered stationary grid storage units. The charging stations will use DC current to facilitate a quick charge. The cars will be tested by the Tsukuba City community in a ZipCar-type set up. The residents will have smart cards that grant them access to the cars and charging stations, track the charges and bill them for their use.

Via: EcoGeek blog

Solar power will take over soon

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Sun, 23 May 2010 07:02:00 +0000

The surface of the Earth receives an amount of solar energy equivalent to roughly 10 000 times the worlds energy demand. Of course there isn’t always sunlight, but the solar panels can store the energy, and they are getting better and better at it. A solar panel converts one sixth of the sunlight into electrical energy. Although they also are getting able to turn more and more of the sunlight into energy, they are already so efficient that space isn’t much of an issue anymore. The area of solar cells needed to supply a family with electricity is usually much smaller than the roof of their house. And when including the land required for mining and excavation of coal, CPS-plants (power-plants that rely on solar energy) are more space-efficient than power-plants fueled by coal. Solar power is roughly fifty times as space-efficient as growing crops for bio fuels. And that’s just with the technology that currently is commercialized. Read more...

Easy Green Tips For Simple Living

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Fri, 21 May 2010 07:04:00 +0000

There is nothing wrong with thinking of our environment’s state and coming up with green tips on how to preserve it.

It is awareness of the current problem of mass production, industrialism, and advancement in society that is seen as the first step in accepting green tips and their purpose.

It is human responsibility to take initiative and take charge of his personal and everyday consumption of resources that are available before we are left with depleted resources and an irreversible pollution problem.

Although, the sad truth to it is that a lot do not seem to concern themselves with the current situation, and just go about with their everyday lives.

This is the reason why those who are aware and those who care have practiced green tips passed on from one individual to another in hopes of changing the habits of everybody involved.

Like mentioned earlier, the first step is awareness. Knowledge of the current status of the environment should be taken seriously. There are a lot of green tips that people practice in their own homes, and here are some of them that you may want to follow as well:

1. Recycle newspapers and magazines

The amount of paper made in a month’s time numbers to a quantity more than we can imagine. The growing number of human population pushes forth a demand for more production of paper[paper recycling] which, in turn, demands more trees to be cut down. green tips is one of the most practical green tips to follow, and they can be used for other household purposes to be used later on.

2. Recycle bottles

This green tip show us that it is more cost efficient to reuse old bottles to contain water we use when we are out.

It saves the environment to use them again instead of throwing them away they will be burned in waste compounds and eventually contribute to harmful toxins to the environment.

3. Use energy saving bulbs

This is the most cost efficient, green tip solution possible to conserve energy used at home. It uses up less energy which in turn lowers electricity bills and electricity consumptions.

4. Do not use dryers

Cloth dryers consume too much electricity just to dry clothes. It is an advisable green tip to use natural ways of drying them by simple hanging them outside for the sun to do its job. It saves a lot of money and very light on the bills.

5. Conserve gasoline

If it is possible to use non gas powered vehicles, then do it. There are alternatives such as walking and using a bicycle. It is also a good idea to plan your trips to maximize your time and minimize energy wasted.

Whatever the case, green tips should be an everyday lifestyle that should come natural to us. In essence, it is the responsible choice to follow. Another responsibility we should take into consideration is to set an example for others to follow.

A Breath Of Fresh Air Transformed Green Architecture

mariamwilliams786@gmail.com (Mariam Williams) — Wed, 19 May 2010 07:03:00 +0000

In case you are going to visit the Island of Mallorca, there is surely something that will amaze you. This is not some local attraction, or the stunning beaches of the island. It is called Casa Son Vida and that’s the most incredible architecture that you have ever seen.

The house is located in the exclusive Son Vida community near the capital Palma and it is equipped with super luxury goods and an unusual construction.

This house looks more like a spaceship, then like a common beach home. Casa Son Vida is built in 1960s as a typical Mediterranean villa, but lately its owners decide they don’t want a house that possesses a common design. So they simply rebuilt the house in a futuristic and movie style design.

The interior and the exterior are made like a movie-set. The rooms in the house are made in different style that reminds masterpieces such as Tomorrow land, Mickey Mouse, Finding Nemo and Alice in Wonderland.

The retro synthetic vibe of the house, as well as the unusual interior is often called an extraordinary adventure. There is nothing typical in this home. The chaos is everywhere, which is why you can expect a real adventure when you enter this spaceship, called home.