The Art of Wind Energy

Innovation is a beautiful thing- but it isn’t always pretty. Advances in energy production and distribution can provide added convenience and comfort to our lives, but the assemblies can be eyesores upon the landscape. The wind turbine for example can appear garish upon a tranquil landscape. A new wind energy concept, the Windstalk, attempts to create an energy source that is not only renewable but beautiful. Establishing a connection between technology and nature, the Windstalk transforms energy production into a work of art.

The Windstalk was initiated by the New York design firm Atelier DNA for an international competition held by the Land Art Generator Initiative, an organization that promotes the construction of installations that serve not only as sources of large scale renewable energy but also as public art displays.

The designs were to be created for one of three possible tourist destinations that would draw people from around the world to experience the installations: in Dubai, adjacent to Ras Al Khor Wildlife Santuary, in Abu Dhabi between Yas and Saadiyat Islands, or on the airport road near the Masdar City site in Abu Dhabi, the site chosen for the Windstalk. Designs were to be three-dimensional, have a sense of beauty, utilize energy from nature, create no emissions, be safe to viewers, and be feasible in their construction and technology.

The Windstalk concept takes queues from nature itself, designed to imitate the motions created in nature by the very element it uses to produce energy- the wind. An array of tall, slender stalks, sway in the wind like a field of wheat. Kinetic energy from this swaying is converted into electrical energy by generators in each stalk base.

How does this new design work? The team from Altelier DNA explains: “Within each hollow pole is a stack of piezoelectric ceramic discs. Between the ceramic disks are electrodes. Every other electrode is connected to each other by a cable that reaches from top to bottom of each pole. One cable connects the even electrodes, and another cable connects the odd ones. When the wind sways the poles, the stack of piezoelectric disks is forced into compression, thus generating a current through the electrodes.”

The creators estimate the Windstalks could create a comparable amount of energy to that of a traditional wind farm. Although each stalk will produce less energy than a single turbine, more Windstalks will fit into a given area. The Windstalk would be one of the first tests of piezoelectrics used at this large of a scale.

Windstalk is composed of 1203 stalks, approximately 180 feet high, with circular bases ranging from 32 to 66 feet in diameter. The stalks are just under a foot in diameter at the base, slimming to two inches at the top. 20 inches at the top of the stalk are lit with LED lamps that glow as the stalks sway with the wind and go dark when the stalks are still.

As a public art installation, the Windstalks become much like a park since visitors can walk from one stalk base to the next and explore the installation. As the circular bases of each stalk are sloped, visitors can comfortably sit or lie upon them, watching the Windstalks sway in the wind. The Windstalk concept illustrates how advances in technology do not have to compromise the beauty of our environment, and that the best solutions to keeping our world sustainable are often the most appealing choices.

Written by :

Samantha Longshore

Green Life Store - Wind Turbines

The Future We Want Is Already Here, It's Just Unevenly Distributed by Lloyd Alter, Toronto

Jonathan Hiskes at Grist describes The Future We Want, a multimedia exhibition, website and IMAX movie that projects a positive, uplifting view of a "clean energy economy that creates jobs, protects the environment and provides a secure and prosperous world for our children." Hiskes focuses on a short video showing the impact of a light rail system being installed in Kansas City, shown above.



To be fair to the Future We Want project, the video is not part of the project, although it was prepared by one of the partners in it, Jonathan Arnold of Arnold Imaging. And one has to agree that a positive vision of the future would be a nice change from the usual dystopian stuff. But Arnold's view of Kansas City has lovely new buildings and light rail, and no cars and few people. The present doesn't and the future won't look like that.

In fact, I'm not certain that we need to do computer imaging of a future we want; it already exists.


Wikipedia Commons

There are many good examples of light rail, but to be realistic, they also have to show lots of cars, because the rail actually displaces them when it is a dedicated right of way, or slows them down in a shared street. That's why the new Mayor of Toronto wants to rip them out and replace them with buses. People take transit when roads are full and driving is less comfortable; Empty streets means empty streetcars. A future we want will have crowded streets.


Image Credit Lloyd Alter

We have a future we want in cities like Paris where streets are walkable,


Image credit Mikael at Copenhagen Cycle Chic

Or in wind-powered, dense, cycle crazy Copenhagen;



Or in car-free, solar powered Freiburg.

As William Gibson said, The future is already here, It's just unevenly distributed.

More in The Future We Want

More Visions of the future:


From the Past: Cities of the Future

GPS Devices Installed in African Rhinos' Horns

Original photo: Jim Epler / CC
by Stephen Messenger, Porto Alegre, Brazil

In addition to their thick, leathery hide and imposing stature, now a group of African rhinos have one more tool to help protect them against poachers -- GPS locating devices embedded directly into their horns. Five such animals in South Africa's Mafikeng Game Reserve were recently equipped with the small tracking chips which will help park officials monitor their movements and alert them to any possible threats from illegal hunting. Conservationists hope that by upgrading the animals with technology of the 21st century it may help ensure this endangered species will still be around at the end of it.

According to a report from the BBC, after initial testing earlier this, five rhinos on the reserve were equipped with the GPS chips. Park veterinarians were able to add the tracking devices with very little discomfort to the animal, by placing it in hole drilled into a 'dead' portion of the animals' horns.

The satellite locating device can be monitored by cell phone, allowing officials to know the rhinos' whereabouts and to be alerted to any suspicious movements within the park -- or a concerning lack of movement.

Lead security officer of the park, Rusty Hustler, explains to the BBC how the GPS chips will help officials protect the animals from threats from poachers when an alarm sounds indicating unusual activity:

There are a number of alarms that can be programmed: one for excessive movement, so if the rhino starts running, and another that goes off if the rhino sleeps for longer than six hours, which is abnormal.
Not only will the tracking devices help keep the rhinos alive, says Hustler, but it also could be used to track down any poachers who manage to hack off the chipped horns and elude the authorities. And given the likely success of the program, soon more rhinos may be similarly tagged in the future and in other wildlife reserves throughout the region.

A bit of extra protection couldn't come any sooner for the Africa's endangered rhino population. In recent years the animals have been under increasing threat from the onslaught of poachers who can make a small fortune selling their prized horns in the illegal wildlife trade. Some cultures believe that rhino horns have medicinal qualities -- though they're composed primarily of keratin, like fingernails.

But perhaps, where logic and stepped-up enforcement have failed thus far in adequately protecting one of the world's most majestic and endangered species, this technical upgrade could actually be the thing that helps save them. And, with any luck, we can return to Rhino Beta before too long.

Why the World Must Not Consider Nature 'Priceless'

If Mother Nature had a bank account, she would be one wealthy lady -- at least that's according to a report released today on The Economics of Ecosystems and Biodiversity (TEEB). In hopes of countering the notion that environmental systems are literally priceless -- that is to say, without an agreed upon monetary value -- the 10th UN conference for the Convention on Biodiversity aims to quantify nature in economic terms. It is only when the environment is considered a financial asset, claims the report, that the most devastating of human activities will be truly robbed of an economic incentive.

The lead-author of the TEEB report, Pavan Sukhdev, draws a direct parallel between harmful human-caused problems like pollution and habitat loss, and the lack of economic value to placed upon the world's ecosystems:

We argue that the economic invisibility of nature is one of the main drivers for the loss of biodiversity and the ongoing degradation of ecosystem.
In a previous report from TEEB, the convention estimated the value of devastated environmental assets to be at least $2 trillion dollars a year. Now, the group is trying to find a way to enact their assessments in a meaningful way that governments will agree upon globally. The Convention on Biodiversity hopes their latest report will help establish a new international goal for curbing the loss of biodiversity by 2020.

One such example of nature's service that has yet to be measured monetarily is the tireless work of pollinating insects which makes agriculture possible. "A bee doesn't send you and invoice," says Sukhdev, indicating the importance of determining the value of its labor, lest it be exploited or placed in jeopardy.

Reports have placed the value of insects that pollinate human crops at over $211 billion.

Other examples of the economics of nature are as follows, taken from a 2005 report from TEEB, via Time.

US$ 50 billion
The annual loss of opportunity due to the current over-exploitation of global fisheries. Competition between highly subsidized industrial fishing fleets coupled with poor regulation and weak enforcement of existing rules has led to over-exploitation of most commercially valuable fish stocks, reducing the income from global marine fisheries by US$50 billion annually, compared to a more sustainable fishing scenario (World Bank and FAO 2009).

US$30 billion - US$172 billion

The annual value of human welfare benefits provided by coral reefs. Although just covering 1.2% of the world's continent shelves, coral reefs are home to an estimated 1-3 million species including more than a quarter of all marine fish species. (Allsopp et al. 2009). Some 30 million people in coastal and island communities are totally reliant on reef-based resources as their primary means of food production, income and livelihood. (Gomez et al. 1994, Wilkinson 2004) Estimates of the value of human welfare benefits provided by coral reefs range from US$30 billion (Cesar et al. 2003) to US$172 billion annually (Martinez et al. 2007)

While it might be hard to argue with the importance of giving nature the monetary value she's due, getting governments and corporations to acknowledge it will be an up-hill battle. "It could happen, but not in today's environment," Patrick Michaels of the Cato Institute told the New York Times. "Right now, people -- and not just in the US -- people are worried about the economic contractions more than they are about environmental protection."

But monetizing nature, if you will, would not necessarily create a new financial burden to a world in troubled economic times. The NY Times cites a situation in which farmers in New York were given a $1 billion incentive to reduce water pollution caused by runoff. In the long run, the state saved $8 billion dollars by not having to build a wastewater treatment plant that would have been needed to combat the problem without better agricultural management.

So far, developing nations like Brazil and India have stepped forward in support of the TEEB report's findings, and they aren't alone. The EU has also voiced their willingness to comply with creating a system by which the environment would be placed into the marketplace along with other global assets.

Sukhdev says he hopes that, despite however long it may take to achieve a international consensus on the TEEB report, it will only be a matter of time before the United States signs on as well. "We are at a state now where the rate of loss of ecosystem services and the rate of loss of biodiversity is so severe we cannot treat them as mere externalities of economics," he said.

It only makes sense that Mother Nature be valued appropriately in a world that runs on money -- after all, if she continues to be exploited without consequence, perhaps one day our currencies may only be valuable for kindling.

Solar blast heading toward Earth - 3 August 2010

Massive sun flares which have sent a wave of solar supercharged gas toward Earth are expected to reach New Zealand later today, NASA warns.

The first visual effects could be on display tonight with a display of aurora australis or southern polar lights.


NASA's Solar Dynamics Observatory says Earth's natural magnetic shield will protect the planet but warn of spectacular displays of the aurora or northern and southern lights.

Aurora australis, or the "Southern Lights", are common in the southern hemisphere and included a spectacular display across parts of New Zealand in April, 2001. The sky over the South Island also treated stargazers and photographers to a magical display of aurora australis in April this year.

Auroral activity results from atomic particles spiralling into the earth's north and south polar atmosphere along magnetic field lines and then colliding with atmospheric molecules, resulting in the emission of energy in different forms including light.

Scientists have warned that a really big solar eruption could wreck satellites, power and communications grids.



BRIGHT LIGHTS: Aurora Australis, or the "Southern Lights", glow in the sky over the town of Glen Oroua near Palmerston North, on April 1, 2001, in the area's most dramatic display since 1989.

Earth's Upper Atmosphere Suffers Record Breaking Collapse

by Jerry James Stone, San Francisco, CA on 07.17.10
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

The collapse occurred during a period of low solar activity known as a "solar minimum." During a solar minimum, sunspots and solar flare activity heavily diminish. Since the date range of a solar minimum expands over a 12-month period, it can take up to 6 months to identify one.

This collapse occurred during the 2008-2009 solar minimum. While these minimums are known to cool and contract the thermosphere, this collapse was 3-times greater than low solar activity could explain.

"This is the biggest contraction of the thermosphere in at least 43 years," said John Emmert of the Naval Research Lab, lead author of a paper announcing the finding in the June 19 issue of the journal Geophysical Research Letters. "It's a Space Age record. Something is going on that we do not understand."

Earth's thermosphere ranges in altitude from 55 miles to 370 miles above ground, so it is heavily affected by solar activity. This layer is responsible for intercepting extreme ultraviolet light (EUV) before it hits the Earth's surface.
When solar activity is high--known as a solar maximum--solar EUV warms the thermosphere causing it to expand--a lot! It's like sticking a marshmallow peep in the microwave. When it is low, the opposite happens. While the 2008-2009 solar minimum was an extreme low for solar activity, the collapse was bigger than the sun's activity alone could explain.

It's worth noting that during a solar maximum, power outages, satellite function and communication disruption, and GPS malfunctions are all very common. For solar maximums and minimums are the two extremes of the sun's 11-year cycle.

Emmert suggests high carbon dioxide (CO2) levels might play a role. As you know, CO2 acts as a coolant, shedding heat through infrared radiation. He speculates that the CO2 could magnify the cooling period during a solar minimum.

But if it is CO2, wouldn't solar maximums also be affected?

"But the numbers don't quite add up," notes Emmert. "Even when we take CO2 into account using our best understanding of how it operates as a coolant, we cannot fully explain the thermosphere's collapse."

Finally, BP Stopped the flow of oil...

(Reuters) - BP Plc said on Thursday it stopped the flow of oil into the Gulf of Mexico from its deep-sea well for the first time since it ruptured in April, prompting hope that the leak can be plugged for good.

BP conducted a test in which it closed valves and vents on a tight-sealing containment cap installed atop its the well earlier this week. BP said results early in the test showed the cap had completely contained the flow of oil.

"It's a great sight but it's far from the finish line," Doug Suttles, a senior BP executive, told reporters.

President Barack Obama, who has seen his U.S. public approval ratings drop as the crisis dragged on, called it a "positive sign" but noted that the latest effort was still in the testing phase. BP's huge oil spill has caused an economic and environmental disaster along the U.S. Gulf Coast.

The British energy giant's U.S. shares initially jumped 10 percent on the news and posted strong gains for the day.

The Coast Guard said BP likely will release the flow of oil again after the test is done -- siphoning it to ships on the ocean surface in an improved system able to handle up to 80,000 barrels a day until a relief well seals the well permanently.

As the company pushed ahead on the spill-control effort, U.S. energy company Apache Corp was moving forward on a possible $10 billion deal for some BP properties, including major assets in Alaska, CNBC reported.

After a delay to fix a leak, BP began the test on Thursday afternoon on the cap that could stop all or most of the flow of crude that has been polluting the ocean and coastline since April 20 in the worst offshore oil spill in U.S. history.

The test, which could last up to 48 hours, gauges pressure in the well -- which extends 2.5 miles under the seabed -- to assess its condition. Officials said it will show whether the cap can safely shut off the flow from the well if oil-capture vessels at the surface must disconnect.

The Coast Guard calls the containment cap at best a temporary fix to the leak while BP finishes two relief wells it is drilling. BP intends for a relief well to intersect the blown-out well and permanently seal it next month.

The test is intended to determine whether the structure of the lengthy well is damaged or intact. Retired Coast Guard Admiral Thad Allen, the U.S. government's point man on the spill, compared the test to placing one's thumb over the end of a garden hose -- if the pressure does not increase that means there is a leak somewhere.

Regarding the BP well, a build-up of pressure would signal that the well is intact, which would make it easier to seal it with the relief wells.

The cap is a crucial step toward a multi-vessel oil-capture system that is hurricane-ready and can collect up to 80,000 barrels per day.

That should be more than enough to capture the whole well output, as estimates put the spill rate between 35,000 barrels (1.47 million gallons/5.56 million liters) and 60,000 barrels (2.5 million gallons/9.5 million liters) a day.

There appeared to be fresh hope in Gulf Coast communities reeling from the spill. "It's a great thing, it's a wonderful thing," said Jerome DeGree in Larose, Louisiana when he heard that BP had at least temporarily stopped the flow.

"This has been hurting this whole area," the shallow-water oil driller said. "I couldn't buy my shrimp, I couldn't buy my oysters, I couldn't take my boat out."

BP STOCK

Reports that Apache was seeking $6 billion to $7 billion for the purchase helped boost BP's U.S. shares from midday. The shares then rose further on the initial test results and ended up 7.6 percent at $38.92.

"It's been one of those headline things we've heard for 87 days, lots of people waiting for some good news," said John Massey, portfolio manager at Sunamerica Asset Management in Jersey City, New Jersey.

Analysts surveyed by Reuters Insider predict that BP will spend between $63 billion to $100 billion over the next 15 years in fines, cleanup costs and legal costs.

BP's shares have been ravaged since the well rupture, with $100 billion in market value being knocked off at one stage, before a three-week rally sparked by takeover talk, speculation about investment by a sovereign wealth fund and hopes that the well would be capped.

The news that BP had finally stopped the leak -- at least during the test -- was a bit of good news for the British company, which has seen its share value plummet and reputation battered since the April rig explosion that killed 11 workers and led to the spill of millions of gallons of oil.

BP also faced new measures in the U.S. Congress. Lawmakers are mulling a range of new laws that could require tougher safety regulations on offshore drilling or bar companies like BP from new offshore exploration leases.

The U.S. government, which has vowed to make BP pay for fixing the well and all cleanup efforts, told the oil giant that it was responsible for paying all royalties on the oil it is collecting from the ruptured well.

Currently, energy companies pay the government a royalty rate of up to 18.75 percent of the value of the oil and gas drilled in offshore tracts.

Through its containment systems, BP has collected or burned more than 800,000 barrels of oil.

The Gulf spill has soiled hundreds of miles (km) of shoreline, shut down about a third of Gulf fisheries and hurt tourism and fishing in all five U.S. Gulf states. It has also created problems for Obama as the government works to respond to the crisis while area residents struggle financially.

In an issue unrelated to the spill, but illustrating the pressure BP faces in the United States, the company confirmed on Thursday that it had lobbied the British government to speed up a prisoner transfer agreement with Libya in late 2007.

In August 2009, Britain released a Libyan convicted of blowing up a U.S. plane, angering the United States. Many of the 270 dead in the 1988 Lockerbie bombing were American.

Advantages Of Green Products

By Alfred Blaine

Alternative energy or green energy has gotten a lot of attention in recent years. As the world struggles to find cleaner ways to power our lives, green fuels and alternative energy products take center stage. There are some tremendous benefits to using green energy in your home or business. With a little bit of research, you can find ways to include green energy and products in your life.

The first advantage that you will notice is the cost savings. The initial cost to go green in your energy consumption may cost you quite a bit, but once this expense is paid, you will not have to purchase energy again. Solar panels are one of the many ways that you can create energy, but the start up cost to outfit your home with the alternative energy source might put you off the installation. However, when you factor in the amount of money that you will be saving, the benefit clearly outweighs the cost. The energy savings will continue long past the time when the cost of the solar panels is recouped.

Of course, one of the main benefits of green fuels for your home is their impact on the environment. Or rather, their lack of an impact on the environment. Green fuels and products can help to stop the pollution and damage to the environment caused by the use of fossil fuels. No one wants to see the planet damaged and with green fuels and green products, you can do your part to keep the earth clean for the next generation.

The advancements in alternative energies has made significant progress in home use, but the use of alternative fuels in cars is currently a hot area of research. All over the world, scientists are dreaming up new ways to power our vehicles at a substantial savings for the consumer and the benefit of the planet.

Research in green products will soon give us an alternative to fossil fuels that will allow us to reduce their use or stop using them completely. Homeowners and car owners can support the progress that is made by seeking alternative green products and create a demand for them. When the public demands that these products be available or even created, the business and scientific community will move quickly to provide the products we need.

Take a little time to explore how you can use green energy solutions in your home. Not only will you be doing the financially smart thing, but you will also be supporting an industry that is gearing up to help us control our pollution of the planet. The benefits that this gives us are endless. Get started today with green energy products in your home and enjoy the savings that they already provide.

Get your FREE Report and information on how not to pay a single dime to the power company at http://www.greenfuelproducts.com.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alfred_Blaine
http://EzineArticles.com/?Advantages-Of-Green-Products&id=3891897

Puma unboxes new eco packaging

The cat's reducing its carbon paw print with a shoebox that's more bag than cardboard. Showcased recently at the Design Museum in London, the new packaging will supposedly help the lifestyle apparel company reduce paper use by 65 percent and carbon emissions by 10,000 tons every year.

The Clever Little Bag, designed by Yves Behar offuseproject, reduces cardboard use and does away with the need for a plastic carrier bag. Instead, the package features a reusable shoebag with an attached loop that goes through a cutout to double as a carrying handle.

According to Puma, the redesign will see the company saving 8,500 tons of paper, 20 million megajoules of electricity, 1 million liters of fuel oil, and 1 million liters of water every year.

The Clever Little Bag is only one part of Puma's ambitious long-term sustainability program as the company aims to replace current plastic/paper bags for its apparel with biodegradable ones. The new packaging and distribution system is expected to launch in the second half of 2011.

by Damian Koh

Go eco Packaging : www.greenlifestore.co.za or www.green-living-store.com

How Green is your love life?

How to have a green sex life

Los Angeles - You drive a hybrid, eat organic, and are passionate about recycling. But how green is your love life?

Think about those lovely Valentine's Day roses and the environmental costs of growing them and the carbon miles involved in flying them in from faraway lands.

And what about used condoms, tossed into the toilet and making their way into sewers that perhaps pollute the ocean?

If an ecologically sustainable life between the sheets hasn't crossed your mind, you're still a "total environmental neophyte", according to author Stefanie Iris Weiss.

But help is on the way with Weiss's new handbook Eco-Sex, which leaves no stone unturned in its mission to bring the bedroom front and centre into the battle to save the planet.

"I have always wanted to write a sex book. I am a very committed greenie, and I have been a vegetarian for 20 years. I saw a gap in the market and I couldn't believe no-one had written about this topic," Weiss, 38, told Reuters.

"I think green sex is having its moment right now. I think it is the next big thing in green. People are realising that their every day, most intimate habits, are deeply connected to this horrible crisis we are in," she said.

No more toys?!

From hand-cranked sex toys (and websites where old battery-driven devices can be recycled) to healthy, eco-friendly underwear (bamboo) and dating sites for ecological warriors, Eco-Sex aims to show readers how to reduce the carbon footprint of their love life - and have fun doing it.

Weiss, who says she either tried out or reviewed every item in the book, interviewed raw food chefs to get recipes for aphrodisiac meals for two, suggests the ideal first eco-date (biking), and recommends natural latex mattresses (but warns they are less bouncy than those made of springs, coils and synthetic foam).

She finds a vast range of natural or organic cosmetics, condoms made of latex that are also biodegradable, and resources for eco-sexy bling - because neither diamonds nor gold are a self-respecting green girl's best friend.

"It was the most fun I have ever had researching a book in my life," she said.

As for flowers for your sweetheart - the true eco-sexual would grow them in the backyard, or at least buy them locally from a farmers' market.

Weiss admits that "some people are going to make fun of the notion of eco-sex. I expect that".

Green baby-making

She says eco-sex doesn't have to be tame, adding you can be passionate in bed and about Mother Earth "without coming off like you're (a 1960s hippie) trapped on the set of Hair the Musical."

Despite all the fun replacements for essential accessories in the dating game - like plain old baking soda instead of chemical-heavy commercial teeth whiteners - there is a serious side to Eco-Sex.

With the planet headed towards a population of around nine billion oxygen-swilling, carbon-emitting people by 2040, according to the UN, the ultimate carbon offset is to choose sex that does not result in having babies.

"The No 1 thing people can do to be an eco-sexual is to have fewer kids, or have none at all," said Weiss, who is childless.

If that sounds outrageous, just give a thought to the 90% of the estimated diapers sold each year that end up in landfills. Or how the carbon footprint of one extra person far outweighs all the energy-saving light bulbs you've installed.

"I think over-population is an important conversation for people to have. It is something people think about in terms of third world countries. But it is also a conversation that would benefit us in America to have," she said.

- Reuters

Save energy, Zuma urges Sunday, 02 May 2010 06:43

President Jacob Zuma has called on South Africans to save energy in an effort to avoid the load-shedding that plunged the country into darkness in 2007 and 2008.

In its efforts to save the limited resource, Government is embarking on an initiative to implement the use of alternative forms of energy - cheaper and cleaner forms which saves money and the environment.

Solar water heating is one such option that has many benefits as compared with other forms of water heating. Once installed, you have free hot water.

On Wednesday, Zuma launched Government's Solar Water Heating Programme in Winterveldt, which saw families in the area receive solar panels, Zuma reiterated that energy was not an unlimited resource and people needed to work harder at conserving it.

"We took energy for granted. Things have changed drastically. You will recall that the period 2007 and 2008 saw a number of noticeable disruptions in the electricity supply.

"Large sections of the country were plunged into darkness as a result of Eskom not being able to meet the electricity demand nationwide," he said.

Wednesday's launch is in line with government's target of installing at least one million solar water heaters by 2014 to reduce the water heating load on the national grid. Winterveld was chosen as the sight of the launch for the fact that the people living in this area derived wealth from available natural resources such as land and are very innovative.

Zuma said plans were afoot in government to convert water heating for hospitals, clinics, prisons, barracks and other government buildings to solar water heating.

"You will see a lot of that happening in the next few years," he said.

Currently 270 heaters have been installed in some homes in the area and phase two of the installation will supply at least 10 400 additional heaters in Tshwane this year.

Phase three of the project, starting during 2010-2011, will target the whole country over a longer period.

"As we continue to look for other alternatives to save energy, let me remind all that we must continue to save electricity. We must switch off our appliances when they are not in use. Let us share this responsibility as citizens of this country and electricity users," said Zuma.

Commenting on the programme Energy Minister Dipuo Peters said that residents were keen on having solar power heaters in their homes.

"We know that after this launch - a lot of people who have started to see their neighbours having hot water in the morning while they are busy pumping their prima stoves, will want the same," she said.

She added that the advantage of installing solar heaters was that people would save money towards their electricity bill and that they will get rebates for installing it.

"We will be calling a press conference on how the standard offer relates to how you as an individual can save electricity and how you will be able to monitor it and make sure that you can be able to benefit from a particular rebate, "she said..

During the president's visit to the area, three houses that had been fitted with solar water heaters were visited including that of a disabled man.

Austin Maluleka a 36-year-old unemployed man was one of the recipients of a solar water heating system. The married father of two said that the heater, installed in November 2009, has made his life easier.

"We no longer have to boil water to bath; we use our electricity to cook. I no longer spend a lot of money buying electricity, our tap has hot water," he said. - BuaNews

Go visit www.greenlifestore.co.za

Washed Up Whale Found with Gallons of Our Garbage In Its Gut

A young 37-foot whale stranded on the shore in West Seattle, and it had a summary of what we're doing to our oceans held within its stomach. As photographer Chris Jordan documented in birds' guts, our marine animals are filling up not on nutritious sea life, but the junk we toss out that makes its way into the oceans. Fifty gallons of contents were examined from this near-adult male gray whale, and you won't believe some of the garbage this poor beast had swallowed.

According to Cascadia Research Collective, 50 gallons of stomach contents were sorted through. Most of it was real food - algae and other bits common to a gray whale diet - but also included were more than 20 plastic bags, small towels, surgical gloves, sweat pants, plastic pieces, duct tape, and a golf ball.

If there were any doubt before, there is none now - the ocean has become a landfill. However, if there's a bit of a silver lining, the trash made up just about 2% of the total contents, and it doesn't seem to have been the cause of death. But what Cascadia Research points out, "It did clearly indicate that the whale had been attempting to feed in industrial waters and therefore exposed to debris and contaminants present on the bottom in these areas."

Gray whales are bottom feeders and get their nutrition from the sediments in shallow waters. They filter small organisms as their food, but apparently they aren't always able to filter out human pollution. Researchers are currently studying the whale to find out the cause of death, which could be anything from not getting enough food (three other whales that died in April during migration appeared emaciated and perhaps didn't get enough to eat in Alaska last year) to pollution and chemicals in the water. The results won't be known for several weeks.

Green your Picnic

Enjoy the summer sunshine by planning an outdoor picnic for the family, your friends, or get romantic with a spread just for two. Here’s how to green your picnic basket, reduce your carbon footprint and still dine in style. When picking a venue for your picnic choose a central location for all those attending, saving on petrol is always welcome. Organize transport or car pool to reduce the amount of cars driving to the venue, this not only saves on your carbon emissions but also saves people getting lost or being unable to find parking. If you live in the Cape Town area, then catch the Sunday train to Simon’s town for your picnic. This will save petrol and you may even spot whales as your train rolls past Kalk bay. When picking a venue also consider going to botanical gardens or heritage areas. These will benefit from your patronage and can be a fun way to educate yourself and the kids about the environment and South Africa’s rich biodiversity. For the romantics, plan an evening picnic in your own garden. You can decorate with soy or beeswax candles and use low voltage LED light strings in your trees to set the mood. When it comes to the all important picnic basket, try to use non-disposable cutlery and packaging, as this will save on waste. If you are not looking to use the porcelain plates outside consider investing in a picnic cutlery set. Many stores are now stocking cutlery made from bamboo, chic and eco-friendly these are definite winners. However if you must go disposable, consider keeping all packaging bio-degradable, green home supplies biodegradable cups and all kinds of packaging that can be used for your picnic. Look for paper napkins that are recycled or unbleached, buy drinks in aluminum cans rather than plastic bottles as these are easier and more efficient to recycle. Also don’t forget about recycling just because you are not at home. Take small bags to keep your cans, bottles and recyclables separate ready to be taken home and recycled. Find a picnic blanket that is produced locally and via fair-trade methods, if it’s made from organic materials such as hemp or bamboo even better. For your menu choose as much local and organic food as possible and serving seasonal foods will also save you money, provide a delicious fresh menu and help the environment. Think sautéed veggie’s and char-grilled organic chicken wraps, which is easy to eat outdoors and don’t require plates. Others items can include fresh fruit salads, artisanal breads with homemade preserves, purchased from your local farmers market, organic chocolates and all topped off with an organic cheese and fruit platter served with one of the many delicious local organic wines South Africa has to offer. If you are heading for a picnic spot with braai facilities, green your braai by using natural and organic meats. Look for natural charcoal or propane and don’t use lighting fluid. (Read More: Greening Your Braai ) Outdoor pets and insects intent on taking over, can ruin a picnic but don’t resort to spraying chemical repellants at these unwanted guests. There are some great organic pests control sprays available thatwill leave no smell and stop the trail of ants from heading for your food. Most of all relax and unwind, there’s nothing better than a delicious fresh meal, eaten outdoors in the sunshine. Enjoy your green picnic.

www.mygreenchoices.co.za

LED Lighting

ABOUT LED LIGHTBULBS

LED LIGHT BULBS

There is a new kind of light bulb out now, the LED light bulb. This Bulb fits in a standard light bulb socket and is filled with bright Light Emitting Diodes. Compared to the standard incandescent bulb, or even to the highly efficient CFC(Compact fluorescent bulb) the LED uses miniscule amounts of electricity.

They also tend to last forever – manufacturers claim lifetimes of 40,000 to 60,000 hours. (Normal light bulbs can have a lifetime of up to 1000 hours).

Benefits of LED Lights Bulbs vs. Incandescent Light Bulbs

2Watt LED Light Bulb Regular 60 Watt Light Bulb

Life Span of the bulb 50,000 hrs 1,000hrs

Number of bulbs used

over 50,000 hours

1 50

Total Cost: R76.32 R299.50

(50 bulbs @R5.99each)

Electricity Usage –

kWh of Electricity used

over 60,000 hours 120kWh 3000kwh

Cost of Electricity –

60,000 hours at

50c per kWh R 60.00 R 1 500.00

TOTAL SAVINGS:

Money saved by using

one LED Light Bulb

R1663.18 /BULB!

The Real cost of lighting:

The greatest expense over the lifespan of a typical light fixture is your electricity, the cost of the

light fitting and even installation is negligible in the long run. By changing to energy efficient

lighting the extra costs of the new technology can be recouped in a short period.

LED bulbs and tubes last longer than cfc, rsquo;s and incandescent. With replacement,

maintenance and labor costs being higher than the original fitting, total saving with long life LED

lights can be very significant.

www.GreenLifeStore.co.za

PROJECT: Green Life Store - DRAGONS LAIR GOES GREEN

Project: Green Life Store, Dragons Lair Goes Green

Location: Gordons Bay, Western Cape

This Project is the first documented green project, Georgia and I will be blogging and documenting as we consult and supply a newly built home owner in Gordons Bay with her new Green and Sustainable products for her Home.

We will keep our followers and fans up to date on the task of turning Mrs Dragon's(names have been changed to protect our client) home Green.

The first Task: IDENTIFYING Key Components of a Green Home

Green homes incorporate environmental considerations and resource efficiency into every step of the building and development process to minimize environmental impact. The design, construction, and operation of a home must focus on energy and water efficiency, resource efficient building design and materials, indoor environmental quality, and must take the home's overall impact on the environment into account.

Energy-Efficient Features

Many of the energy-efficient qualities of a green home are easy to spot. Appliances, windows, and water heating systems will likely have ENERGY STAR® ratings. The home should also include efficient lighting fixtures and bulbs. Renewable energy sources, such as photovoltaic electricity and water heating systems, further decrease the overall energy consumption within the home.

Water-Efficient Features

Fixtures and appliances such as low-flow showerheads, faucets, and toilets, and ENERGY STAR dishwashers and washing machines all conserve water. Programmed, low-volume irrigation systems, rainwater collection systems, wastewater treatment systems, and hot water recirculation systems also save water.

Resource-Efficient Features

These decisions—from home size, to orientation on the lot, to floor plan layout—are made in the design of your home and development of the lot. The house orientation and design should take advantage of natural daylight to reduce lighting needs, and should use strategies to reduce heat gain in the summer and heat loss in the winter. The home should contain renewable materials, including rapidly-renewable wood species such as bamboo, and recycled-content materials in carpets, tiles, and concrete formulations.

Indoor Air Quality Features

The heating, air conditioning and ventilation system (HVAC) must be appropriately sized for an efficient and properly ventilated home. Fans in the kitchen and bathrooms should cycle fresh air inside, and release stale air. Low-VOC paints and finishes and wall papers should be used as well.

Outside the Home

In a green home, care should be taken to preserve trees and other vegetation native to the area. Landscaping should contain plants that are appropriate for the climate, and grouped according to water needs. Driveways and other impervious surfaces should be reduced as much as possible, and may be composed of gravel, permeable block pavers, grids, or other permeable systems.