Once the weather gets warmer and spring has set in we often think about more time to spend with friends and family entertaining or just leisurely relaxing. One of the areas of the home that is often neglected is energy efficiency when it comes to beautifying our spring homes. While you may remember to turn off the lights when leaving the room or have cranked the thermostat warmer in order to conserve energy, energy efficient lighting is another avenue to consider. This spring brighten your home beautifully with lighting that helps save you green and conserves energy.

LED lighting has taken the home interiors world by storm over the last few years. Light-emitting diode or “LED’s” were commonly used for appliances, and indicators lights for your favourite portable electronics are now proving to be the safer, and more energy efficient lighting choice for today’s modern home.

Utilizing LED lighting to perk up your task lighting:  When lighting your home, especially task areas such as a home office desk or kitchen countertops, look to energy efficient LED lighting. Under cabinet lighting in the form of “puck lighting” create a beautiful aesthetic to your kitchen and illuminate your kitchen preparation area for increased safety. LED lights tend to be whiter and give off a crisper illuminated experience. In your home office, consider using LED bulbs in desk lamps and also beautify your built-in bookshelves to help reduce eyestrain.

Beautifying your outdoors with LED lights: Outdoor lighting can range from simple string lights used to add ambiance to your barbecue party this spring, or it can be used to illuminate landscaping. Many LED light manufacturers make bulbs that can fit in your everyday fixtures. Flood lights that are used to protect your home from intruders as well as “flood” your exterior home with illumination can be used in flood lighting fixtures. Incandescent and halogen bulbs tend to burn out quickly and use more energy to produce light.  This means you will be changing out your bulbs more often and throwing money away, look to LED bulbs as a smart alternative, and save even more money by buying in bulk at wholesale prices on sites like this.

Innovative uses for LED lighting: While the practical uses of LED bulbs are a plus, homeowners are enjoying the innovative benefits of these bulbs in a variety of applications. LED lights can be found in bedroom and dining room soffits to illuminate the ceiling, and also around kitchen countertops, seating, and even around barstools to give a funky glow to any interior. Architectural elements such as columns, stairs and even balconies are now creating new experiences for homeowners that were once reserved for high-tech lighting applications.

Brightening your home this spring shouldn’t require your pocket to take a punch, and energy efficient LED lights are great option for many homes. Your interiors and exterior home can see the benefits from crisper lighting and colourful varieties to a cooler output of light, you will love how your spring home benefits from the uses of LED lighting.

This is a guest post by Ronique Gibson. Ronique is a home lifestyle writer and owner of Stagetecture.com where she helps homeowners love their homes. She enjoys helping solve everyday challenges with simple home solutions.

Hamburg is a world-famous industrial city and port, or, at least it was until 2011. This is the year Hamburg was honoured with a title of European Green Capital, emphasizing the efforts and achievements of local authorities in promotion of green lifestyle, recycling technologies, eco-friendly manufacturing, etc. Thanks to the project “Hamburg – HafenCity” Hamburg turned into a vivid vision of sustainable development. Having a population of 1.8 million, it demonstrated both it has urgent environmental problems and ambitions plans to solve them, thus outranging nearly 35 European cities of the same size.

To be more specific, HafenCity covers an area of about 400 acres, between the downtown and Elba River. Previously this district was a heart of Hamburg industrial manufacturing, especially facilities on the river. On the contrary, its modern view is far from the past: upon completion the reconstruction, 5,500 houses (some of them falling under the subsidy for low-income residents), as well as shops, parks, recreation and entertainment, schools and kindergartens, office buildings and the university will be located on previously neglected areas. Everything will be equipped with pedestrian walkways and public transportation, meeting environmental standards of Hamburg.

The other part of the city, requiring immediate improvements, is Wilhelmsburg, located south to HafenCity, across the Elba River. The dynamics of local livelihood was characterized mainly by busy and noisy port operations, cars heading to waste deposits and plants and municipal houses taken by immigrants. However, the reconstruction of Wilhelmsburg is not the only goal of local community; promotion of green lifestyle should encourage inflow of permanent residents, and turning it into one of the now famous “green residential estate (neighbourhoods).”

Greening of the Hamburg port is one of the key features of the environmental agenda. The main achievement, which distinguishes Hamburg from other green cities, is the introduction of “container taxi” floating along the Elba River. It was offered in 2004 by Carl Robert Eckelmann Transport und Logistik (local firm). New transportation service uses well-equipped stevedore barges, which are 76 meters long and 11 meters wide. These container taxis can load 1,100 tons of bulk, which will be transported across or along the Lower Elba. Above all, implementation of such a tool in the water reduces the load on port roads: one voyage of a fully loaded container taxi replaces about 50 trucks runs. During one year, 150,000 containers are transported from terminal to terminal.

Speaking of sustainable development agendas, it is impossible not to mention renewable energy issues. Hamburg is not an exception in popularization of eco-friendly power generation. Hamburg has set itself an ambitious goal: to reduce emissions of climate-damaging carbon dioxide at 40% by 2020, and 80% by 2050. Then the city will be operated completely without fossil fuels. So, for the past 12 years Hamburg has almost tripled the amount of renewable energy sources thanks to embedded solar panels and windmills.

Clearly, not all of these plans have been accomplished to date, but the whole idea of altering Hamburg industrial landscape could not but astonish and inspire the following European green capitals – Vitoria-Gasteiz (2012) and Nantes (2013).

This is a guest post by Maria Kruk, a green tech author for Patentsbase.com.

Your commute may not be your favourite part of the day, and, depending on how you travel, it may not be particularly green either. Of course, we can’t all go and splash out on brand new electric or hybrid cars, but there are ways to make your commute just a little more eco-friendly. Although it may not seem like a few changes will make much of a difference, if we all reduce our carbon footprints by a fraction, imagine how much difference it could make as a whole. If you’re interested in finding ways to make your commute a greener one, this guide from PassSmart has a few top tips to help you make the changes.

Car Share

It’s an obvious tip, but one of the most effective. Car sharing means you don’t have to tackle public transport at rush hour, you can split fuel costs, and you’ll produce significantly less CO2 emissions. Of course, it’s not always possible to share rides every day, especially if you travel to different places for work, but car sharing for just a few days out of the week can really make a difference.

On top of the financial and eco benefits, because you can take the driving in turns, you’ll also have the added bonus of not having to tackle the traffic every single morning.

Life on two wheels

If you’re really serious about becoming an eco-commuter, it might be time to invest in a brand new, shiny bike. In the UK, Barclays bank run an eco-friendly initiative dubbed the ‘Boris bikes’ which allows commuters to get from A to B the eco way. Simply go to a bike docking station, pay for your ride, and return it when you’re done!

Even without schemes like this, it’s possible to be a two-wheeled commuter, whether you live near the office or not. Consider driving half way and cycling the other half. Not only will you save money on fuel and reduce your carbon footprint, but you might even shed a few pounds too.

Have an eco-friendly breakfast

More and more of us are eating on the go, and even the food you eat can make a difference to how eco friendly you are on your commute. Instead of pre-packaged cereal bars or processed foods, try a healthy fruit salad or organic yoghurt. The less packaging the better, so anything natural is a good eco breakfast.

You should also try to avoid plastic bottles, so carry drinks in hard reusable containers and refill them as you go. Many coffee shops now offer to fill your own travel mug up as you go too, so, don’t worry, you can still get that much needed caffeine fix.

Take the train

As tempting as it is to jump in the car every morning, taking public transport is actually a much more eco-friendly option. If more people choose public transport, the number of cars on the road will obviously be significantly reduced, and, therefore, so will the harmful emissions. You might even find taking the train is cost effective, too, depending on how far you travel and how fuel efficient your engine is.

This is a guest post by Isabelle Guarella. Isabelle is a blogger for PassSmart.com; the UK-based site matching learner drivers with driving instructors in their area.

Camping can be a great way to enjoy the wonders of nature. Enjoying the camping experience while having as small an impact on nature as possible is known as green camping. This is the most responsible way to spend time in the wilds. With some planning and forethought, the green camping adventure can be every bit as enjoyable as any time spent with nature.

Trash

Think about trash while you select the supplies for the camping adventure. Bottled water may be convenient but creates large amounts of trash with the empty bottles. Instead, have each person bring a reusable water bottle that can be filled from a container or potable water source at the campsite. Use a water filtering system if the water quality is questionable. Select food stuffs based on the amount of packaging. Look for items with as little waste material as possible. Plan on packing out and properly disposing of any garbage created during the camping excursion.

Transportation

Get to the camp area in the most fuel efficient and green manner possible. This may include public transportation, riding a bicycle or even traveling by the most efficient car possible. This can also reduce the overall cost of the camping adventure. In some instances, such as biking to the camp site, the transportation becomes part of the adventure of the excursion. Another option is to bring bikes along and use them as transportation for side trips or excursions from the central camping location. This allows the campers to enjoy more territory without utilizing fuels and contributing to emissions.

On the Trail

Hiking is often a part of any camping adventure and is among the best ways to enjoy the outdoors. Best practices include staying on established trails and avoiding walking on natural areas. Overtime, foot traffic can kill the native grasses and lead to soil erosion. Never remove any materials from a natural area. A souvenir rock or pine cone, for example, may not seem like it would damage the ecosystem. However, thousands of campers taking materials from an area can lead to problems. Take pictures to preserve the memories instead.

Play Nice with the Wildlife

Observing wildlife is another enjoyable aspect of a camping trip. The goal should be to observe without disturbing the animals. Some good ways to be less obtrusive on the wild animals encountered on the camping trip include watching with binoculars and moving slowly through wild life areas. The binoculars allow you to observe from a distance rather than having to crowd the animal. This can also serve as a safety factor while observing large mammals. Moving slowly when hiking allows shy animals the opportunity to avoid you rather than spooking the animal with a rapid encounter. Never disturb nesting animals or animals with young.

Take it all Home With You

A good camper takes only pictures and memories and leaves only footprints upon the paths. Take any garbage home with you and recycle as much as possible. Make a last minute check of the campsite for any garbage or waste and pick it up. Leave the campsite better than you found it.

This is a guest post by Ivana Butler. Ivana is an avid traveller, an animal lover, an eco fighter and, of course, a blogger. Her suitcases are always packed and while travelling the world and taking care of our environment she like to put her thoughts and experiences to the paper and share that with her readers. She enjoys exchanging ideas with people and learning new things whenever she get the chance to.

40% of all solar energy that hits the earth lays in the infrared spectrum. Imagine if this energy could be harnessed in much the same way that traditional photovoltaics cells convert sunlight (in the visible range) into useful electricity.

This is exactly what a small research group at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) claims they have just done. While traditional solar cells usually are made out of silicon or a silicon substrate, the researches have designed their new cells with carbon.

It is believed that the already established solar technology including amorphous thin-film, poly- and mono-crystalline can be combined with the new solar cells that are carbon-based to create a solar cells that harnesses both infrared and visible light – resulting in a boost of old conversion rates.
Fundamentally Different Approach

Single-walled (pure) carbon nanotubes in the form of C60 was the breakthrough that enabled them to build the new solar cell – as opposed to convectional cells that is relying on a layer of polymer to hold the nanotubes in place.

Michael Strano, professor of Chemical Engineering at MIT had the following to say about the team of researchers new invention: “It’s a fundamentally new kind of photovoltaic cell. It has only been within the last few years or so that it has been possible to hand someone a vial of just one type of carbon nanotube.”
When are the New Solar Cells on the Market?

Not anytime soon unfortunately. Even though the team has been able to come up with a remarkable solar cell, the laboratory results only shows photoelectric conversion efficiency of 0.1% – not anywhere close today’s solar cells that lay in the range 15-20%. It will be interesting to see if Strano and his team are able to improve on the solar cell in the near future.

Source: MIT

This is a guest post by Mathias Aarre Mæhlum. Mathias is studying Energy and Environmental Engineering and writes about topics including solar, wind, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy in his spare time. Visit his blog at Energy Informative.

It’s not many years ago since the first hydrogen-powered cars were created. Using hydrogen as a fuel source is superior to conventional combustion-based engines in many ways. The main one is this: Extracting energy from hydrogen molecules is not polluting in any way. In fact, the only byproducts from this process are water and heat! A small team of researchers at Israel Institute of Technology has now discovered a way to harness solar energy with rust:

“We have found a way to trap light in ultrathin films of iron oxide that are 5,000 times thinner than typical office paper. This is the enabling key to achieving high efficiency and low cost. ” states lead researcher Prof in materials science Avner Rothschild.

This opens up for several new applications in solar power. Using the research of the Rothschild and his team, iron oxide can possibly be used as a layer on top of solar cells “trapping” a certain amount of incoming sunlight for higher conversion rates – or as a form of energy storage.

Iron oxide is not only ridiculously cheap, but also simple to produce and. These are all characteristics that are wanted when looking for new materials to produce solar cells with. Unfortunately, iron oxide does not have the best electrical transport properties.

The research team seems to have found away to overcome this limit: “The light is trapped in quarter-wave or even deeper sub-wavelength films on mirror-like back reflector substrates. Interference between forward- and backward-propagating waves enhances the light absorption close to the surface, and the photogenerated charge carriers are collected before they die off.”

We can only speculate in whether or not the new technology will actually root itself in the future of solar power – or if hydrogen ever will become the energy carrier of choice. But the research sure is interesting and holds a lot of promise.

This is a guest post by Mathias Aarre Mæhlum. Mathias is studying Energy and Environmental Engineering and writes about topics including solar, wind, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy in his spare time. Visit his blog at Energy Informative.

The U.S. Green Building Council’s rating system LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) has become increasingly important and popular in recent years. Since its creation in 1998, LEED has grown to include over 12,000 projects in more than 30 countries. However, even basic LEED certifications can be incredibly difficult to achieve.

Before your building project can even be considered for LEED certification, it must comply with all environmental laws and regulations, occupancy scenarios and share all electrical and water usage data for five years. As the goal of the LEED certification is to provide building owners with a framework for more environmentally friendly building solutions, more astringent requirements are in place for its certification levels. These may include:

• Energy efficiency
• Transportation access
• Use of recycled materials
• Non-toxic paint
• Overall environmental and human health impact

While these may seem simple, a commercial business must earn a minimum of 40 points on a 110-point rating scale to earn LEED certification. Homes must earn at least 45 of 136 points. The survey and accreditation process involves a lengthy survey process that can cost upwards of $1,200. However, there are many benefits of earning a LEED certification.

Buildings that have met all requirements have been demonstrated to save an average of $6.08 per square foot of building space in operating costs. In large company facilities, these savings can allow a company to better provide for their employees. Google’s company benefits and facilities are notoriously generous and comfortable. The mega-search company has been involved in many LEED certifications and recently committed to reduce energy and water use and waste by 2014. Energy efficient lighting, low-flow toilets and other simple innovations can help reduce these costs. The benefits of the LEED program clearly help companies reduce cost while making a commitment to the environment.

If you have been considering applying for a LEED certification in your business, the benefits can extend further. As the green movement has gained popularity and support, LEED certifications have become selling points for possible customers, employees and tenants. Including information about your building’s certifications in the lobby and on your website can gain attention and support from many people. Certain states have even put property tax incentives in place; Cincinnati, Ohio has a 100 percent property tax exemption for newly constructed buildings that meet LEED certification standards. Other states have incentives in place for building materials.

The many benefits of meeting LEED standards can help your business thrive. The savings on energy costs, reduced property taxes and positive view of consumers all make the accreditation process worth the investment of time and capital. Meeting these standards sends the message that your company is committed to bettering its workplace and protecting the environment, goals that have become increasingly important as environmental impacts have become far-reaching. To get started on applying for your LEED certification, survey the U.S. Green Building Council’s standards and certification process and see if your building meets the requirements. There are many different levels of certification available, so carefully assess which is right for your building.

This is a guest post by Jessica Stark from Eat Breathe Blog. Jessica is interested in social media and environmental issues. She also enjoys learning about technology and loves spending time outdoors.

Gemasolar CSP-plant in Spain – eight times smaller than the upcoming power plant near Ouarzazate.

North Africa is one of the sunniest regions in the world. No wonder why solar power, and especially concentrated solar power (CSP) plants, have seen a tremendous growth in the last couple of years.

Morocco is confident that they will become a world-class solar energy producer in the near future.

“Our target is that in 2020, 42 percent of our power supply will come from renewable energy, including 14 percent from solar,” stated Deputy Energy Minister Mohammed Zniber at the 18th SolarPACES Conference in Marrakesh.

Unlike it’s neighbor countries, Morocco does not have rich reserves of fossil fuels. This is forcing the country to develop their renewable energy sector.

The country has a long way to go before it reaches the target of 14 percent of solar. At the time of writing, there is only a 20MW solar power installation in the country. On the other hand, a lot of new and upcoming projects have started to take shape.

The next big project will be located near the town of Ouarzazate. When finished, the massive CSP-plant covering 3,000 hectares will generate 500 MW of power – by far the largest solar power plant in the world. For comparison, the capacity of today`s largest photovoltaic plant only has a capacity of 247 MW (Agua Caliente Solar Project, U.S.)

The CSP-plant near Ouarzazate is the first of many projects that are part of the DESERTEC-foundation, which promotes the development of renewable energy in Northern Africa, the Middle East and Europe.

With a surge in economical development in the country comes a hunger for more electrical power – the current rate of energy consumption is rising by ten percent in Morocco.

This is a guest post by Mathias Aarre Mæhlum. Mathias is studying Energy and Environmental Engineering and writes about topics including solar, wind, geothermal and other sources of renewable energy in his spare time. Visit his blog at Energy Informative.

When electrical systems or power grids become overloaded, blackouts can occur. A blackout, or power outage, poses a great inconvenience to those affected — especially businesses. An electricity shortage not only leaves a business without power, it can also prevent a business from operating altogether. After all, without power, manufacturers can’t function, restaurants can’t serve food, grocers lose perishables and offices are forced to close and may lose important data at the time of power loss.

Just this past March, for example, Boston, Massachusetts businesses were hit hard by a blackout. The Boston blackout left more than 21,000 people without power in the city, forcing many businesses to shut their doors. The massive power outage was caused by a 115,000 volt electrical transformer that unexpectedly caught fire. Main lines of transportation were forced closed, businesses shut down and the local economy took a temporary hit.

Electrical fires aren’t the only cause of blackouts. In fact, anything that causes a short circuit, electrical main overload or damaged power line can cause a power outage. These are often caused by environmental conditions or inclement weather, such as high winds, lightening or fallen trees. Even severe droughts and excessive heat can be a cause for controlled power outages in what is known as a ‘rolling blackout.’ During a rolling blackout, specific sections of a power grid are shut off temporarily to conserve energy and prevent circuit overload.

Businesses in some states are at a greater risk for experiencing rolling blackouts than others. For example, the Electrical Reliability Council of Texas admonishes business owners and residents at the beginning of nearly every summer against over-the-top energy and water usage during times of peak demand. Water shortages make it more difficult to cool power plants as they become overheated due to high energy demands. Furthermore, Texas is notorious for its hot and dry summers that can easily place strain on the state’s power grid.

Preparing Your Business for a Power Outage

So what can you do if you’re a business owner? Whether you’re at an increased risk for a power outage or not, you should have a plan of action in place to help minimize the effects of a blackout. In fact, being prepared for a massive blackout could even place your business at an advantage over competitors who are under-prepared. This is especially true if you carry inventories. If your business has access to power, you can continue to conduct business transactions, which could earn you more customers. Even if you only have access to a limited power supply, at the very least you can prevent losses and maintain a normal level of security for your property.

One of the most efficient ways of preparing for a power outage is investing in power supplies such as an electrical generator. Commercial generators can sustain a sufficient amount of power to a business until electricity is restored. Many business owners, manufacturers and factories actually consider power generators to be an investment in their businesses. Furthermore, with advancements in commercial generator technology, generators are more affordable and effective than they ever have been before. Most are automatic, turning on within seconds when incoming electrical voltage is turned off or lowered.

Another way of protecting your business long-term is by reducing your dependence on traditional energy sources altogether. As demand for energy continues to increase, more and more business owners and warehouses are investing in solar energy panels as a way to power their businesses. Solar panels are also useful as independent temporary power sources during blackouts. A small solar generator can power a laptop or other small device for several hours if necessary.

Businesses must prepare for power outages in advance. After all, for many business owners, being without power can mean thousands of dollars in lost revenue, not to mention security system failure and other associated problems. Don’t get left in the dark. By taking time to protect your business, you may not only save money, you might even be able to thrive during a blackout.

This is a guest post by Jessica Stark from Eat Breathe Blog. Jessica is interested in social media and environmental issues. She also enjoys learning about technology and loves spending time outdoors.

Most of us are well aware of the health and economic benefits of bicycle commuting, but in most cities the car is still king. Even in cities such as Victoria, which have ample bike lanes and paths, the majority of people still drive almost everywhere. Is fear of a serious bike injury the motivating factor?

Fatalities from bicycle injuries account for about 2% of all road-related deaths in Canada, nearly all due to vehicle collisions. 2007 data from Transport Canada reveals that while there were 65 fatalities, nearly 7,500 bicycle injuries were serious enough to require hospitalization, and it’s estimated that as many as  70,000 more required visits to the emergency room for non-life threatening injuries. In the United States, 698 people died from bicycle injuries in 2007, and more than half a million others required treatment in hospital emergency rooms.

However, death and injury rates in several European countries are substantially lower. Cyclists in North America are twice as likely to be killed and eight times more likely to be seriously injured than cyclists in Germany and three times as likely to be killed and 30 times as likely to suffer serious injuries than cyclists in the Netherlands.

Experts offer several reasons as to why there’s such a large difference in bike injury rates, including the availability of more bicycle-dedicated routes, and greater awareness of cyclists on roadways. More people riding bikes creates greater awareness by cyclists and car drivers which translates into lower bike accident rates.

In cases of a vehicle bicycle collision, it’s no surprise that the cyclist usually fares the worst. Certain safety precautions can be taken to reduce the chances of suffering a bicycle injury:

• Always wear a helmet.
• Always obey the rules of the road.
• Use a light (front and back) at night.
• Wear bright or reflective clothing when riding, especially at night.
• Be vigilant at both intersection and non-intersection locations, especially in urban areas.
• Never assume that motorists will yield, even if you have the right-of-way.
• Maintain your bicycle in good working order.
• Be as visible as possible to others.
• Learn the skills needed to control your bike.
• Cycle in traffic safely and predictably.
• Know and obey the rules of the road.