http://machinedesign.com/batteriespower-supplies/looks-conveyor-works-wind-turbine

Mothers Day Special – Free Biodiesel / Vegetable Oil Fuel eBook package – http://essnmag.com/wordpress/products/

http://watermotorstory.blogspot.com/2010/08/hartvigsens-post-to-group-dec12-05-and.html 

Hartvigsen and Ruyter started making these claims when they began producing and selling this type of turbine them selves. Their company is now the largest producer of this particular design. The prevention of the public from using this design has been a great loss to the world wide alternative energy community. This turgo design is generally the best all around type of turbine wheel for small scale water power uses. It is very easy to build in small local workshops, or in schools. Uniquely, this design has the potential to revive the use of small scale water power. Small scale water power remains a valuable and nearly untouched resource in many parts of the world.

Over the years Hartvigsen and Ruyter stated a number of times that they would be able to provide definite and clear proof of their design ownership to any competent patent attorney “in minutes”. On Dec. 24,09, Joseph Hartvigsen met with patent attorney Brian Kunzler in Salt Lake City in order to present proof of ownership claims made by himself and supporters on the Internet regarding the turgo design. According to Kunzler Hartvigsen was unable to provide any proof whatsoever that his years of claims to the public were other than completely fraudulent.

Very recently (May 2013) the issue of ownership of this design has again been raised on the microhydropower.net water power discussion site. There has been a renewed request to Hartvigsen and Ruyter to present proof of their turgo design ownership claims to the public, which they are still unable to do, or to stop preventing others from using it. They have refused to reply.

In light of an ongoing seven years of apparently fraudulent turgo design ownership claims and various threats of legal action against anyone in the world who would use this design without their consent, the world wide alternative energy community should consider taking some type action against Hartvigsen and Ruyter to prevent them continuing to make these claims to the public and continuing to profit from these claims. At the least the same amount of publicity should be given to the fact that the ownership claims of Hartvigsen and Ruyter were completely false.

This is a matter of concern for the entire alternative energy community. While pretending to be contributing to the use of natural energy Hartvigsen and Ruyter have actually done a great deal with their false design ownership claims to prevent people around the world from using a great source of natural energy, small scale water power.

The exact method which Hartvigsen and Ruyter used to use their fraudulent claims is called “copyfraud”. Copyfraud takes advantage of the relative looseness of copright laws to take over designs in public domain. False ownership claims are made to the public, then can be dropped with little legal consequence if the fraud become untenable. Of course, as any attorney will confirm, the very claim that copyright protection applies to an internal working machine part such as a turbine wheel is in itself fraudulent.

Ron Davis
Watermotor@yahoo.com
Watermotor.net
Watermotor on Facebook
Watermotorstory.blogspot.com
Watermotorturbine on Youtube

So Here Goes:

One surplus ammo can, water proof, can hold two 12v 10ah battery packs (20ah total)

http://goo.gl/CmYqs

One 8 D cell holder (12v) (get a 10 cell holder if you can find one, or just add a 2 cell holder in series), add a second set for 20ah capacity instead of 10ah.

http://goo.gl/eyAcB

One set of  eight 10ah NiMH D cells + 2 more for 12vdc (second set for 20ah).  Alkaline D’s are 1.5v (8 = 12v) but NiMH are 1.2v (10 = 12v).

http://goo.gl/U91lo

One marine waterproof 12v power port (can connect the solar panel here for charging, or add a second one)

http://goo.gl/Xq0lm

Optional waterproof dual usb charging port

http://goo.gl/yJFOO

Optional 40 watt solar panel (add a second one for the 20ah solution).

http://goo.gl/8ZecS

Optional second ammo can to hold a 150 watt inverter until it’s needed for low wattage ac gadgets, like a laptop or portable tool charger.

http://goo.gl/Uk7NV

As long as the charge rate is C5 or greater, you don’t need a charger, as solar is only going to charge 3-5 hours full sun daily anyway. A 10ah battery / C10 = 1 amp charge rate. Divided by C5 = a 2 amp charge rate.

You could also add a 1amp 12vdc power pack for ac charging. Charging at higher rates than 2 amps require temperature monitoring and a smart charger, which we will be building at http://arduinotronics.blogspot.com

Everyone who has a system with pumps relies on the grid to keep the pumps running. In certain cases, systems need to be shut down immediately upon loss of power, either to avoid damage to the system or for safety reasons. In the case of oil or gas fed furnaces, fuel is shut off when power fails. In the case of wood or coal burning furnaces there is a need to avoid any buildup of steam. In such cases the fire cannot usually be extinguished and re-ignited quickly upon return of power. A reliable battery backup system can help to avoid such situations and the inconveniences associated with power failures.

Hopefully, this paper offers readers, from the casual reader to the technically competent reader, an opportunity to learn enough to understand generally how a battery backup system works and specifically how a controller functions. The casual reader can get a grasp of the system by reading and understanding only sections 1 and 2, while a more detailed description follows in sections 3 and 4. The material presented in this paper concentrates mainly on the Control Board. Another paper will describe the interface connections, internal and external to the electrical enclosure.

Battery Backup Article_10

Paper bags or cut up pieces of paper are glued to the floor (concrete or wood) and stained, then polyurethaned for a unique and pleasant looking floor. The Author did a 10′ x 12′ room for about $80.

Read the tutorials:

http://www.domesticimperfection.com/2013/03/paper-bag-floors-a-tutorial/

http://lovelycraftyhome.com/2011/11/09/the-ultimate-brown-paper-flooring-guide/

The emerging answer appears to be that building with sustainable, environmentally responsible materials is the one, true “green” way to build. And one of the best materials for deck or fence building happens to be redwood, which is not only beautiful and durable, but is a material that can actually reduce the greenhouse gases that contribute to global warming.

The California Redwood Association recently commissioned a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) to better understand and compare redwood to other materials, such as plastic composite decking. A Life Cycle Assessment  is a scientific technique commonly used to quantify the environmental footprint of producing and consuming products we use in our everyday life.

The results of the LCA were conclusive, showing that considerable differences exist between redwood and alternative decking products such as plastics and plastic composites. In fact, in terms of global warming potential, plastic-based decking materials are contributors, while growing, harvesting and using redwood for decks do not contribute to global warming.

Indeed, using redwood is a great way to actually reduce greenhouse gas emissions. While plastics and composites rely on chemical resins and fossil fuels that release carbon and increase emissions, redwood trees take carbon out of the air and store it in wood fiber.

As they grow, redwood trees will absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. Through photosynthesis, that carbon gets stored in wood fibers in the tree’s roots, trunk and branches and the oxygen is released back to the air. The faster a tree grows then, the more photosynthesis occurs and the more carbon is removed from the atmosphere. Since redwood is a fast-growing species, managed redwood forests excel at removing carbon from the atmosphere.

When such redwood trees are harvested, that carbon they captured continues to be stored in the decking, fencing and other wood products they become. In fact, wood is about half carbon by weight and so a redwood deck can actually store a half-ton of carbon. As the managed redwood forests regenerate, more carbon is removed from the air by the newly planted trees, which continues an ongoing cycle of carbon removal and storage.

Moreover, redwood is also recyclable and cleaner to produce than composites or plastics. The trees are grown and harvested in accordance with the highest environmental standards in the world as the they tap the sun for energy while soaking in California’s famed North Coast fog. In fact, roughly 90 percent of all product-producing redwood forests are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council or Sustainable Forestry Initiative.

The next time you wonder about what green building products to use in deck or fence building, remember that red is green-redwood, that is.

“‘It’s too late, two years too late,’ said Helen Kzan … ‘I’ve been to the doctor. They told me to move. My stress level has skyrocketed. My physician told me my stress will kill me before the wind turbines.”

Many people attribute these illnesses to the reported sounds, vibrations, and light patterns made by the moving blades. What’s wrong with this picture?

The wind farm hasn’t been built yet.

These people are reacting to the anti-wind advocacy groups reports on what they think will happen. It’s not wind turbines that make you sick, it’s listening to the lies and made up statistics of the anti-wind groups.  It’s their own fears that are making them sick, and the anti’s are creating self fulfilling prophecy.

http://www.powerofwind.com/blog/post/wind-farm-neighbors-stressed-but-its-not-the-turbines_1

Heated Vegetable Oil Fuel System Facts

Heat in tank causes condensation/water. Water in fuel causes bacteria. Heat in tank can cause “waxing” or “drying” which = plugged pipes.

Too much heat on filter isn’t good. Diesel fuel loses its lubricity when hot. Cold vegetable oil is thick. Therefore heat your fuel only when you need to.

Injector pumps have very tight tolerances. Thick oil can seize metal with tight tolerances, especially at high speeds and pressure. Cold diesel in injector pump = cold injector pump even if the engine is hot. Hot vegetable oil pumped into a cold pump = cold oil = thick oil = possible seizing or severe wear of pump.

This truck is equipped with a dual tank vegetable oil fuel system

One tank/fuel system is designed for diesel fuel. The other one is specifically designed for running used vegetable oil.

It starts on pure diesel fuel. When it’s hot enough, it can be switched over to pure vegetable oil. A few minutes before shut-down, switch it back to pure diesel. The basis changes from original is a second tank and fuel system, and a method to switch between the two fuel systems. The vegetable oil fuel system is heated with engine coolant and has larger sized pipes and filters.

Do’s and Don’ts:

Do switch to diesel before shut-down and run on diesel on restart until the engine is fully warm. It gives easier starts, less fuel system wear from cold oil, less gumming of engine, and less gumming, sticking, and corrosion of fuel system parts from prolonged exposure to vegetable oil.

Don’t rev engine right after switching to vegetable oil until the injector pump has warmed up. Extreme pump wear can result even if the engine is hot.

Do use a strong dose of injector cleaner and lubrication fuel conditioner in the diesel system. Also consider using a anti-bacteria fuel conditioner.

Don’t spill vegetable oil without cleaning it up. In time it makes a terrible mess.

Do work the engine hard. Hard working engines run cleaner and have much less trouble with carbon buildup.

Don’t let the engine idle for extended periods of time, especially on vegetable oil.

Do enjoy the ride.

Don’t put dirty oil in your tank

The Down Side To Vegetable Oil

1. you can’t start the car or truck when it’s really cold out on it.

2. It can seize up your injector pump.

3. You have to have a diesel car or truck to make this work.

The Good side To Vegetable Oil

1. It saves you money on gas.

2. It’s fun to find out about how it really work’s.

3. Good for the diner’s to get rid off their old used oil in a good way

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2013/04/15/explosion-reported-near-finish-line-boston-marathon-spokesman-says/

“Have you ever wondered how wind turbines work and why they look like they do? Are you interested in adding wind power to your off-grid electric system, but have been put off by the high cost of equipment and installation? Well, now you can build and install your own wind turbine!

Harnessing the wind can be a tricky business, but in this groundbreaking book the authors provide step-by-step, illustrated instructions for building a wind generator in a home workshop. Even if you don’t plan on building your own turbine, this book is packed with valuable information for anyone considering wind energy. It covers the basic physics of how the energy in moving air is turned into electricity, and most importantly, will give you a realistic idea of what wind energy can do for you–and what it can’t.”

Get the book here

Homebrew Wind Power

and if you email us your Amazon order confirmation, get the DIY ebook package of your choice from

http://www.essnmag.com/wordpress/products/

absolutely free.

To learn more about electronics, and how to monitor off grid power systems and control devices, see http://arduinotronics.blogspot.com

Check out the free resources at:

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DIY_Generator/files/

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DIY_Propane_Gen/files/

http://tech.groups.yahoo.com/group/DIYSolar/files/

To view, go to:

http://preparemember.com/go/march/

More info:

http://www.preparemag.com/about-us/

Scientists are working on artificial photosynthesis cells that convert sunlight into hydrogen at much higher efficiencies than solar electric electrolysis.

We know it’s possible with semiconducting materials like the ones used in solar panels, but a different set of materials like platinum and silicon, to actually take those materials, and instead of covering them with electrical wires, we immerse the material in water. And adding sunlight, one can split that water and produce hydrogen gas and oxygen gas directly. You would collect the hydrogen, and then could use it later in a fuel cell. Or you could convert it into a liquid fuel, or use it for other things. You would then get the oxygen back from the air at the point of combustion of the hydrogen or the other fuel you made. We know this already works.

http://earthsky.org/human-world/nate-lewis-on-artificial-photosynthesis

http://nsl.caltech.edu/nslewis

http://bigthink.com/videos/the-key-to-solving-the-energy-crisis-a-leaf

Trojan’s single-point watering kit is designed to take the guess work and mess out of properly watering flooded batteries. The flexible tube routing allows the watering system to work with various battery bank sizes and configurations. It also features an automatic valve shut-off to control the electrolyte level within each cell which prevents overwatering. In addition, the kit enables users to fill their deep-cycle batteries without having to remove the vent covers, an important safety feature which reduces the chance for contact with the battery’s electrolyte.

“Proper maintenance and periodic watering are important factors in maximizing the performance and life of Trojan deep-cycle, flooded batteries,” said Bryan Godber, senior vice president for renewable energy at Trojan Battery. “With Trojan’s new single-point watering kit, precise battery watering is made easy and can fill a set of batteries in 30 seconds, saving valuable time and money.”

The single-point watering kit comes in three configurations to fit 12V, 24V and 48V battery models. The kits are designed for single string installations with Trojan Premium, Industrial and Signature lines of flooded batteries. For systems with multiple strings in parallel, additional kits can be added at the required system voltage.

About Trojan Battery Company
Trojan Battery Company is the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries, offering a complete portfolio of technologically-advanced deep-cycle flooded, AGM and gel batteries that provide maximum long-lasting performance to meet the requirements of today’s advancing renewable energy systems. Trojan Battery Company, founded in 1925, is ISO 9001:2008 certified with U.S.-based operations in California and Georgia. For more information, visit www.trojanbatteryRE.com

Even the best silicon panels collect only about 20% of available solar radiation and they require additional devices to convert the energy to usable electricity. A new technique using nano-sized antenna arrays could theoretically harvest more than 70% of the energy in sunlight, but the technology required to build and test them has been lacking. These nano-antennas, called “rectennas” because they can both absorb solar radiation and rectify the radiation waveform to generate direct current, must operate at the frequency of visible light and be fabricated with the core set of electrodes just 1 or 2 nm apart.

A novel fabrication process called selective area atomic layer deposition (ALD) developed at the University of Connecticut offers a potential solution to this challenge. In a rectenna device, one of the two interior electrodes must have a sharp tip, similar to the point of a triangle. Using ALD the tip of the rectenna can be coated with layers of individual copper atoms until a gap of about 1.5 nm is achieved. The best that could be done with previous lithographic fabrication techniques was a separation about ten times the required value.

The gap size is critical because it forms an ultra-fast tunnel junction between the rectenna’s two electrodes, enabling maximum current transfer. The nano-sized gap gives energized electrons on the rectenna just enough time to tunnel to the opposite electrode before the potential reverses. The triangular tip of the rectenna makes it hard for the electrons to reverse direction, thus capturing the energy and rectifying it to direct current.

Read more:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atomic_layer_deposition

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rectenna

Wayne Keith has spent a lot of time learning how woodgas works. He can answer all your questions and give detailed advice. We have a detailed video tutorial and some written material supporting it. Wayne documented his latest build in depth with video footage, and we’ve posted instructional videos from start to finish. You can follow along with Wayne, from selecting the materials all the way through firing up the truck the first time. Lots of folks have started building, some have completed trucks already. They are actively discussing their projects on the Premium-only Builders’ Discussion forum. Here you can see what folks like you have done and ask questions about the Keith gasifier. There’s also the Ask Wayne and Beta forums. Plus, all premium members get Wayne’s book FREE!

http://driveonwood.com/store

Touro University Worldwide (TUW) recently announced the establishment of its newest program, a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and Management (BSBA). In honor of this announcement and with International Earth Day coming in April, we thought it was only fitting to discuss a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: how “living green” can impact your finances. Below are some suggestions that we put together on how you can reduce your carbon footprint and credit card bills.

· Turning down the Amount on Your Electricity Bills: With tuition fees and household bills, most online students are looking to save money any way they can. Something as simple as unplugging your appliances when you leave your residence can save cash. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the average U.S. household spends about $1,900 a year on energy costs and 5% to 10% of this residential electricity comes from devices that are plugged in 24 hours a day.

· Recycling to Start Your Cash Flow Cycle: Recycling can be tough. We’ve all been tempted to throw our glass bottle in the trash bag when the blue recycle bin is only ten steps further. But trust us; the ten extra steps are worth it. There are many places where you can participate in “pay-as-you-throw” programs which will give you money back for each bottle. Some charities also accept bottles as donations which is a great way to give back to your community. If that isn’t motivation enough, recycling also has a huge impact on our economy. According to Recycling Revolution, “recycling creates 1.1 million U.S. jobs, $236 billion in gross annual sales and $37 billion in annual payrolls.”

· Washing Away Your Laundry Bills: Laundry can be expensive, especially if you live in a an apartment where you are paying for each individual wash and dry. By washing your clothes with cold water, you are saving money and the earth. According to World Watch Institute, “as much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.” Hanging your clothes to dry will also save money and energy.

· Burning Away Calories and Car Bills: One of the great advantages of an online university is that you are saving money on travel cost, which in turn reduces carbon monoxide emissions. World Watch Institute recommends that you bike or walk to a place of study or work whenever possible. This is a great way to get your exercise, reduce car-costs even more, and save the planet. Several studies have shown that exercise also improves your ability to study and retain information, which is important for your college career.

The Bachelor of Science in Business Administration & Management degree provides students an opportunity to complete an undergraduate degree while advancing their career in the most efficient way. So this month, take the initiative to kick start your education and live greener!

Interested students should visit http://www.tuw.edu/ or call 888-586-5193 to learn how they can apply today.

When I came across this home built special, it intrigued me. The machine does most of the work, but the operator is in total control, with no fuel, no noise (except the wood cracking), and pretty low budget, both on funds, and labor. Enjoy!

There’s a great site for prospective UK buyers of solar hot water & photo-voltaic power systems. http://www.solarpanelsuk.co.uk has online tools that help answer these questions, from siting a system properly, to selecting the correct equipment, to taking advantage of tax breaks and rebates. They will even help find you an installer if you need one. Check them out!

Our mission is to bring renewable energy to more homes within the UK and to help educate consumers on exactly how affordable renewable energy can be.

With our range of free tools, our users can explore the benefits and rewards that renewable energy can bring. To get started, click one of the buttons above to discover how much you can save or even earn from solar power.

If you are visiting us from overseas, why not check out our free iPhone and iPad app that works worldwide.

For further details click here to visit the Solar Panels UK website.

By adding one of our power panels, consisting of a Inverter / Charger and a Solar Charge Controller, you have an ideal base for a solar charged vehicle with onboard 120vac. The Van version even makes a nice camping vehicle, just customize interior as wished. Combine with a Solar Tarp with integrated rain water harvesting capability.

The first is a “normal” 120vac electric fridge, running off an inverter, and typically is responsible for a large chunk of your power consumption.

The second is a propane fridge, which is friendly to your electrical system (no power, or minimal power for the controls), but requires a regular replacement of the propane, and requires periodic cleaning of the combustion system.

The third solution is a low voltage, energy efficient model, but these tend to be very expensive. These are usually based on the DC Danfoss Compressor.

The fourth solution is also based on the low voltage dc compressor, but comes as a kit (you could also roll your own with a bit of study). A prepackaged and charged compressor and evaporator is installed by you, into a box of your choosing. I suggest a fridge only, as a separate chest freezer (or no freezer) is more efficient, and has more capacity.

Other solutions could include the no moving parts but power hungry peltier cooler, and the converted chest freezer project.

Further reading:

Adler/Barbour Cold machine

Refrigeration for Pleasureboats: Installation, Maintenance and Repair

This revised and expanded second edition increases potential for on-site harvests with more integrated tools and strategies for solar design, a primer on your water/energy/carbon connections, descriptions of water/erosion flow patterns and their water-harvesting response, and updated illustrations to show you how to do it all.
Volume 1 helps bring your site to life, reduce your cost of living, endow you with skills of self-reliance, and create living air conditioners of vegetation, growing beauty, food, and wildlife habitat. Stories of people who are successfully welcoming rain into their life and landscape will encourage you to do the same!

Order this book from Amazon, email us the order confirmation, and we will email you the link to our DIY Rainwater Harvesting, Filtration & Solar Water Heating Guides for free.

Read More ……

Order this book from Amazon, email us the order confirmation, and we will email you the link to our DIY Solar and DIY Generator package for free.

Read more on this subject ….

There are cost effective mortgages for (a) homes that are energy efficient and (b) property owners who want to make their current property energy efficient. Energy Efficient Mortgages or Green Mortgages provide homeowners the opportunity to borrow money for upgrades to energy efficient levels in their properties. Renovations can include:

• Repairing or replacing the current chimney

• Installing passive or active solar technology

• Installation of a tankless water heaters

• Installing double paned windows

• Installing a modern HVAC systems

• Installing insulation

The idea is to encourage eco-friendly living spaces that use fewer resources for cooling and heating. Fannie Mae, the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veteran Affairs have green mortgage programs. Freddie Mac offers projected utility savings by taking upgrades into the equation when establishing loan amounts.

Types

While details may vary depending on mortgage lenders and companies, there are three distinctive types of green mortgages.

• Conventional EEM
  Offered by lenders selling properties to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac. Borrow up to 15% of the property’s appraised value to upgrade green levels

• Federal Housing Administration EEM
  Borrow up to 5% of property value or $4,000, whichever’s greater. The maximum on the loan is $8,000

• Veteran Administration EEM
  For past and present military personnel. If purchasing an existing property, allowed green upgrades of up to $6,000, regardless of property value

Eligibility

If your home is currently energy efficient, financing could be approved. Approval will also depend on the inspection rating. If the property needs some upgrades, improvement cost must be determined before contacting a lender. After an initial consultation, they’ll suggest a licensed energy rater to inspect the property. The rater will present a report in the form of a Home Energy Rating System, or HERS, which is provided to both homeowners and lenders. HERS costs between $300 and $800 and usually includes:

• Rating of property as is

• Recommendations for upgrades

• Estimated pricing, savings and life of upgrades

• Estimate of property’s rating after upgrades

• Before and after estimations of property’s annual energy costs

Advantages

Green mortgages are not second mortgages since it is rolled into a current mortgage and the owner continues making one payment. There are green mortgage with discounts on fees and/or interest rates for energy efficient certified properties.

Summary

A green mortgage is an excellent way for homeowners to save money in the long term and an incomparable way to change one’s footprint. You can get credit for existing eligible utilities. They also provide peace of mind to you, your family and your guests as you all benefit from a healthier environment.

Brentt Taylor is a staff writer of MortgageLoan.com. For 18 years of existence, the website has been providing news, articles and finance-related tools that aim to help consumers create smart financial decisions.

Planned Parenthood was founded to reduce the African American population, under the guise of “family planning”. They were wildly successful. How many Scientists, Doctors, Artists, and more have been eliminated long before they were able to reach their achievements? How many illnesses like Cancer would have found cures, had these people been able to live and discover. How many discoveries in the fields of renewable energy, food safety, science and technology did we miss out on?

We will never know.

The real threat to our children is not Guns, it’s a society that places so little value on life, and allows these atrocities to happen. God help us!

The Prototype Lunar Greenhouse (LGH)
is equipped as a Bioregenerative Life Support System (BLSS) through the design and construction of an innovative hydroponic plant growth chamber. Centered on using plants to sustain a continuous vegetarian diet for astronauts, a typical BLSS employs plants and crop production in addition for food, to also provide air revitalization, water recycling, and waste recycling for the crew. Fulfilling the requirement of NASA’s GES and the late Mr. Steckler’s dream of space colonization, the LGH aims to deliver more than supporting a sustained human presence in space. The LGH aspires to bring practical commercial-ready technology to Earth’s CEA forefront.

Ellen Gustafson

As we start 2013, many people will be thinking about plans and promises to improve their diet and health. But we think a broader collection of farmers, policy-makers, and eaters need new, bigger resolutions for fixing the food system – real changes with long-term impacts in fields, boardrooms, and on plates all over the world. These are resolutions that the world can’t afford to break with nearly one billion still hungry and more than one billion suffering from the effects of being overweight and obese. We have the tools—let’s use them in 2013!

Growing in Cities:  Food production doesn’t only happen in fields or factories. Nearly one billion people worldwide produce food in cities. In Kibera, the largest slum in Africa, farmers are growing seeds of indigenous vegetables and selling them to rural farmers. At Bell Book & Candle restaurant in New York, customers are served rosemary, cherry tomatoes, romaine, and other produce grown from the restaurant’s aeroponic rooftop garden.

Creating Better Access:  People’s Grocery in Oakland and Fresh Moves in Chicago bring mobile grocery stores to food deserts giving low-income consumers opportunities to make healthy food choices. Instead of chips and soda, they provide customers with affordable organic produce, not typically available in their communities.

Eaters Demanding Healthier Food: Food writer Michael Pollan advises not to eat anything that your grandparents wouldn’t recognize. Try eating more fruits, vegetables, and whole foods without preservatives and other additives.

Cooking More: Home economics classes have declined in schools in the United Kingdom and the U.S. and young people lack basic cooking skills.  Top Chefs Jamie Oliver, Alice Waters, and Bill Telepan are working with schools to teach kids how to cook healthy, nutritious foods.

Creating Conviviality: According to the Hartman Group, nearly half of all adults in the U.S. eat meals alone. Sharing a meal with family and friends can foster community and conversation. Recent studies suggest that children who eat meals with their families are typically happier and more stable than those who do not.

Focus on Vegetables: Nearly two billion people suffer from micronutrient deficiencies worldwide, leading to poor development. The World Vegetable Center, however, is helping farmers grow high-value, nutrient rich vegetables in Africa and Asia, improving health and increasing incomes.

Danielle Nierenberg

Preventing Waste:  Roughly one-third of all food is wasted—in fields, during transport, in storage, and in homes. But there are easy, inexpensive ways to prevent waste. Initiatives like Love Food, Hate Waste offer consumers tips about portion control and recipes for leftovers, while farmers in Bolivia are using solar-powered driers to preserve foods.

Engaging Youth: Making farming both intellectually and economically stimulating will help make the food system an attractive career option for youth. Across sub-Saharan Africa, cell phones and the internet are connecting farmers to information about weather and markets; in the U.S., Food Corps is teaching students how to grow and cook food, preparing them for a lifetime of healthy eating.

Protecting Workers: Farm and food workers across the world are fighting for better pay and working conditions. In Zimbabwe, the General Agricultural and Plantation Workers Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), protects laborers from abuse. In the U.S., the Coalition of Immokalee Workers successfully persuaded Trader Joe’s and Chipotle to pay the premium of a penny-per-pound to Florida tomato pickers.

Acknowledging the Importance of Farmers: Farmers aren’t just farmers, they’re business-women and men, stewards of the land, and educators, sharing knowledge in their communities. Slow Food International works with farmers all over the world, helping recognize their importance to preserve biodiversity and culture.

Recognizing the Role of Governments:  Nations must implement policies that give everyone access to safe, affordable, healthy food. In Ghana and Brazil, government action, including national school feeding programs and increased support for sustainable agricultural production, greatly reduced the number of hungry people.

Changing the Metrics: Governments, NGOs, and funders have focused on increasing production and improving yields, rather than improving nutrition and protecting the environment. Changing the metrics, and focusing more on quality, will improve public and environmental health, and livelihoods.

Fixing the Broken Food System: Agriculture can be the solution to some of the world’s most pressing challenges—including unemployment, obesity, and climate change. These innovations simply need more research, more investment, and ultimately more funding.

Danielle Nierenberg and Ellen Gustafson are the co-founders of Food Tank: The Food Think Tank (www.FoodTank.org). Danielle is based in Chicago, IL and Ellen is based in San Diego, CA.

Ecological consultancy from Arbtech is beneficial in several ways. The company has the obligation to check whether or not all the government policies stated on the environmental act are followed without any failure before constructing a building. It also helps in providing a comprehensive ecological survey on the actual site where people need to start work.

Arbtech ecological consultancy is one of the most successful green consultancy firms in UK. People hire its services in so as to reduce the hidden business or home costs to a great extent. Arbtech helps in making sure that the building or the business is established under the category of environmental friendly strategies. This reduces energy consumption considerably. It’s experienced and competent environmentalists advises clients on the right area of land to buy where the energy will not be wasted and also alternate sources of energy that can be adopted. In addition, different types of losses that can be incurred due to environmental catastrophes such wind and floods can also be avoided. Such risks and the losses are formerly estimated and steps are taken to minimize or avoid them as much as possible. Furthermore, ecological consultancy from Arbtech can help in avoiding the extra water and electricity bills by suggesting ways to reduce their consumption.

As species of Fauna and flora are getting extinct due to human activities, the government has issued a rule that no planning project will be approved without conducting an environmental survey to show the effect of the project on other living organisms. This course of action is intended to protect the extinct species like otters, great crested newts, dormice and bats. Thus a BAT survey must be conducted to make sure that the planned will not harm any bit of bats which may reside in the area. Only after several surveys have been conducted and submitted to the government, then the planned project proposal can be accepted.

The bat surveys are very important and should be reported along with the project proposal so that there will be no delays to the project due to the tough and slow process granting of planning permission by the government. To ensure the wildlife survey is accurate, you need ecological consultancy from Arbtech. They certainly have what it takes to do the best wildlife survey and make sure there will be nothing missed in the survey. This is to avoid any further problems on the project planning permission especially if the survey does not provide adequate information about the project.

What makes a new or remodeled home eco-friendly are the following components: a tight building envelope/insulation, roofing, siding, windows and heating system, all built utilizing green materials. These earth – friendly building materials are manufactured with a minimal amount of hazardous materials, are proven to last for decades without requiring maintenance and repairs, do not waste energy and can be recycled at the end of their service lives.

Tight Building Envelope/Insulation

A tight building envelope and high quality insulation are necessary to achieve superior durability and energy efficiency. If you already have a house and it does not have insulation, consider adding blown-in cellulose product. Not only is it eco-friendly (derived from 85 percent recycled paper products), but it is also three times more dense than fiberglass, thereby greatly reducing your home’s energy waste. For new construction, consider fiberglass or spray-foam insulation. While more expensive than fiberglass, spray-foam insulation offers tighter, more dense and more energy-efficient insulation for your walls and ceilings. On the other hand, one of the major benefits of fiberglass is that it is removable, and does not require any special equipment to install.

Roofing That Lasts

The roof is one of the most important components of making your home safe, durable and long lasting, and yet it is often the most overlooked. Installing a green roof on your home will prove to be one of the most financially sound home improvements you make. You will not know the pain of roof damage and leaks and will not have to deal with costly, maintenace, repairs and replacements for years to come.

When it comes to green roofing materials, you have a few choices depending on your home type, taste and budget. If you have a sloped roof home, one of the best investments you can make is to install a metal roof. Metal is considered to be the only truly green roofing material, when you factor in the manufacturing process, lifecycle costs, longevity, high energy efficiency and recyclability and the end of the roof’s service life. Metal roofs are considered cool roofs, which means that they reflect solar heat, thereby reducing energy waste produced by the home’s HVAC system throughout the year. A metal roof can save you up to 15% on your annual cooling costs. Additionally, during winter time, metal roofs eliminate ice dams, which can cause thousands of dollars of damage to your house. Keep in mind that metal roofing installation is a highly intricate process that requires specialized knowldege, equipment and training, and therefore should only be left to metal roofing professionals. One such company that operates in the Northeast is New England Metal Roof (newenglandmetalroof.com)

If you have a low slope/flat roof, a green material to go with is PVC single ply roofing membrane. A PVC roofing system is designed as a green roofing material. PVC is a fully recyclable roofing material that does not use any petrolium products in its manufacturing process. It also offers superior energy efficiency by reflecting upto 95% of solar heat. PVC is designed to last over 40 years and can be easily repaired if needed, which elimates costly replacements and landfill waste. Moreover, PVC roofs can withstand ponding water, ice build-ups and can be easily be applied around most complicated roof penetrations.

Green Siding

Amongst the wide range of choices available for siding, fiber-cement siding stands out as the green choice. It is composed of 50% recycled content and wood fiber pulp that is sourced from sustainably managed forests. While fiber cement siding may be a more costly option, it is more durable than wood and vinyl siding. It also requires very little maintenance, does not create hazardous waste when removed, and can be further recycled.

Another green choice to consider is steel or aluminum wall panel systems. With a variety of available integrated insulation, ventilation and heat absorption metal wall panel systems, you can reduce your heating and cooling energy consumption, by as much as 40%. Additionally, these systems are fully recyclable and are manufactured from up to 95% recycled metal.

Energy Efficient Windows

Windows are one of the most vulnerable parts of the home, through which both hot and cold air can escape, wasting tons of energy and driving up your heating and cooling costs throughout the year. To avoid these issues, its crucial to invest in energy efficient windows. Consider installing fiber glass frame windows with triple glazing and argon/krypton gas, which can offer up to 7R insulating value (a typical double pane window is only 3R). There are also specialty window products filled with heat absorbing liquid that absorb solar heat in the winter. These windows can supply up to 75% of your heating for the entire house, even on a very cold night.

Green Heating Systems

If your goal is to have a truly eco-friendly home, then a geothermal heating system is the way to go. Geothermal heating uses thermal energy stored inside the ground and extracts it by using a heat exchange process. This system only requires 25% of the energy to operate, when compared to traditional gas or oil systems of the same size. A geothermal system can also be used for air conditioning in the summer.

Geothermal heating systems are a costly investment, so if you are not ready to make the switch, consider going with gas heating. Gas heating is cleaner, more efficient and currently costs half the price of oil.

In case you have a south-facing roof, you can install solar thermal panels, which will heat your water throughout the year, and will also supplement your radiant heating system.