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The necessity for finding a sloution to water scarcities for the coming future generations is of utmost importance, and it is in that context that this article is felt relevant  Bhujangadev Tumuluri

Cheaper desalination

Current thinking

Oct 29th 2009
From The Economist print edition

A fresh way to take the salt out of seawater

THERE is a lot of water on Earth, but more than 97% of it is salty and over half of the remainder is frozen at the poles or in glaciers. Meanwhile, around a fifth of the world’s population suffers from a shortage of drinking water and that fraction is expected to grow. One answer is desalination—but it is an expensive answer because it requires a lot of energy. Now, though, a pair of Canadian engineers have come up with an ingenious way of using the heat of the sun to drive the process. Such heat, in many places that have a shortage of fresh water, is one thing that is in abundant supply.

Ben Sparrow and Joshua Zoshi met at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, while completing their MBAs. Their company, Saltworks Technologies, has set up a test plant beside the sea in Vancouver and will open for business in November.

Existing desalination plants work in one of two ways. Some distil seawater by heating it up to evaporate part of it. They then condense the vapour—a process that requires electricity. The other plants use reverse osmosis. This employs high-pressure pumps to force the water from brine through a membrane that is impermeable to salt. That, too, needs electricity. Even the best reverse-osmosis plants require 3.7 kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy to produce 1,000 litres of drinking water.

Mr Sparrow and Mr Zoshi, by contrast, reckon they can produce that much fresh water with less than 1 kWh of electricity, and no other paid-for source of power is needed. Their process is fuelled by concentration gradients of salinity between different vessels of brine. These different salinities are brought about by evaporation.

The process begins by spraying seawater into a shallow, black-bottomed pond, where it absorbs heat from the atmosphere. The resulting evaporation increases the concentration of salt in the water from its natural level of 3.5% to as much as 20%. Low-pressure pumps are then used to pipe this concentrated seawater, along with three other streams of untreated seawater, into the desalting unit. As the diagram explains, what Mr Sparrow and Mr Zoshi create by doing this is a type of electrical circuit. Instead of electrons carrying the current, though, it is carried by electrically charged atoms called ions.

Salt is made of two ions: positively charged sodium and negatively charged chloride. These flow in opposite directions around the circuit. Each of the four streams of water is connected to two neighbours by what are known as ion bridges. These are pathways made of polystyrene that has been treated so it will allow the passage of only one sort of ion—either sodium or chloride. Sodium and chloride ions pass out of the concentrated solution to the neighbouring weak ones by diffusion though these bridges (any chemical will diffuse from a high to a low concentration in this way). The trick is that as they do so, they make the low-concentration streams of water electrically charged. The one that is positive, because it has too much sodium, thus draws chloride ions from the stream that is to be purified. Meanwhile, the negative, chloride-rich stream draws in sodium ions. The result is that the fourth stream is stripped of its ions and emerges pure and fresh.

It is a simple idea that could be built equally well on a grand scale or as rooftop units the size of refrigerators. Of course, a lot of clever engineering is involved to make it work, but the low pressure of the pumps needed (in contradistinction to those employed in reverse osmosis) means the brine can be transported through plastic pipes rather than steel ones. Since brine is corrosive to steel, that is another advantage of Mr Sparrow’s and Mr Zoshi’s technology. Moreover, the only electricity needed is the small amount required to pump the streams of water through the apparatus. All the rest of the energy has come free, via the air, from the sun

The Island-Features

 

The Island-Features

Best options to light up homes and offices

by Harsha Wickramasinghe

Different lamp types have different uses. Last week’s series discussed the many types of lamps available in town, with particular reference to their efficiencies. Hence, this week’s series would extend the discussion by analysing the many options of using these lamps under different lighting requirements.

The behaviour of light

Light is emitted by light sources. The Sun and the stars in the faraway skies and the lamps in your home are both light emitting sources. If light hits a mirror, it is reflected. If it hits a black surface it is absorbed. Coloured objects on the other hand, fall in between these two and therefore absorb a portion of light and reflects the remainder. The light our eyes grasp or ‘see’ is actually this reflected portion of light.

Daylight harnessing

A window with clear glass planes in your home would let in natural light. It is of course a very common observation, but science holds a brighter explanation to express this phenomenon. Light, apart from being absorbed and reflected, can also be transmitted. Transparent material (i.e., material which lets light pass through completely) and translucent material (i.e., material which lets only a faction of the light pass through), such as glass and plastics are capable of transmitting light. Hence, the simple window at home is actually an ingenious lighting device which transmits sunlight indoors, at the same time cutting short Nature’s vagaries like the scorching heat, cold and dust.

Since daylight harnessing does not incur any operational cost, windows and even roofing material ranging from glass tiles to translucent corrugated sheets have been used in the construction industry for many a decade to illuminate enclosures during day time. Another way to use daylight is to have daylight shafts where light is taken through a skylight and channelled towards a reflective surface, rendering a pleasant light in enclosed spaces. The best example for this in Sri Lanka is the guest rooms of Hotel Ranwali.

However, one must be careful in letting in sunlight to air-conditioned spaces. If not, the sunlight streaming into a room would cause the cooling system to work on a higher key, thereby increasing the energy bills in many folds.

With the escalation of energy costs, newer ways of harnessing daylight have been invented. A simple pipe having mirror like reflective surfaces built-in, has been used as a duct to convey light from a roof top to a work floor, effectively replacing the many day time light fixtures. The light tube is fashioned in such a manner, that it has a hemispherical light inlet at roof level and a suitable diffuser at the task end – resembling a common luminaire. This device has been further streamlined by incorporating an additional component capable of sensing the prevalence or the absence of sunlight up above, and accordingly switching on an electric back up lamp in response.

Advanced research on daylight harnessing has rendered special material capable of greatly cutting off heat emitted by the device, which in turn has also encouraged the increased usage daylight harnessing options in modern building designing. Yet another innovation in the optical fibre technology that enables an enclosed room to capture sunlight elsewhere and channel it to specific locations, even as far as many floors below the point at which daylight is harnessed – often the rooftop.

The cardinal principle in harnessing daylight in less developed countries like ours lies in the usage of colour within buildings. Colours of walls, ceilings, floors and even curtains really matter in daylight utilisation. Lighter the shade, better the efficiency of daylight utilisation. This is due to the ability of lighter colours to reflect more light than darker colours.

Hence, make it a point to select appropriate colours and drapery during the coming festive season.

Strategic Lighting Choices

When choosing lamps, most of us are in the practice of considering the aesthetic appeal but energy implications.

Not all rooms in home are equally occupied. As in the general case, we tend to occupy certain rooms more whereas others tend to be less occupied. This also depends on the lifestyle of the individual as well as the family as a whole. Therefore it is important to identify the proper lamp types that best fit the lighting requirements of a given room.

Given below is a simple guide to help identify suitable options.

Hours of use – In case you wish to replace lighting equipment in your home, please consider the following. Opt to use linear fluorescent lamps (LFLs) in places where lamps are burnt more than 3 hours a day. It is cheaper and more efficient than using an incandescent lamp for the purpose. Compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) can be used in locations where aesthetic appeal is of prime concern, like that in the living room. Incandescent lamps may be retained in locations where lighting is used sparingly, like that in toilets, store rooms…etc.

Location factor – If aesthetics matter, go for warm white LFLs or CFLs. Even tulip shaped CFLs, suitable for chandeliers are now available in the market. IFLs may be retained in places where lamps are lit up very rarely, probably for special occasions. However, if aesthetics is not a major concern, say in the kitchen or pantry, always opt to use LFL or CFL. Apart from these, the position at which the light is fixed too matters. If the distance between the lamp and the lit up surface is greater, the effective strength of illumination decreases. Thus, opt to use the lowest hanging / mounting position without of course jeopardising the safety of users.

Purpose – If lamps are for general lighting purposes such as rooms, use either wall hung or ceiling hung devices. If lighting is for a task such as reading or sewing, always use a lower powered table lamp. For instance, a 100 Watt IFL ceiling lamp used for reading can be easily replaced by a 75Watt CFL table lamp. If more than one person uses the same table for reading, the ideal option would be an LFL of 36 Watts

What’s in a fitting?

Probably many things we do not realise. A simple LFL mounted on the cheapest fitting comprising of a box of sheet metal gives you less light than when mounted on a good fitting. The reason that of being, nearly all the light from the upper side of the lamp is dissipated on the ceiling or surroundings, leaving you much less light for the task at hand. A good polished aluminium reflector can increase the light output tremendously. Thus, if proper fittings are used, you could effectively replace a 4 foot LFL with a 2 foot LFL. This is because a good fitting incorporates a reflective surface to redirect light from upper side of the lamp back to the task area. A good fitting also helps to scatter light in required direction, adding to efficiency as well as aesthetic appeal. Studies carried out by the Sri Lanka Sustainable Energy Authority have shown that one out of every three LFLs can be removed by fixing simple polished aluminium reflectors in the apparel industry.

Another key feature of a good fitting is the avoidance of glare from the lighting source. This aspect is clearly displayed in many shop lighting solutions in Sri Lanka. Several lamps are just fixed onto show cases or hung up to ‘illuminate’ merchandise, little realising that the target consumer is blinded by the glare before he actually sees the merchandise. A good fitting will shield the lamp from the user and illuminate the objects in a very attractive manner. A case in point is where jewellry shops that showcase jewellry with sufficient light, but in the absence of the blinding glitter of the light source. The source is carefully placed underneath the edging of the glass structures. This approach will not only illuminate places in a better aesthetic sense but will also save a lot of energy.

New Technology

Getting the best use from electrically operated lamps require the use of newer technologies such as people sensors and movement sensors. In bygone days when electricity was cheap, it was a common practice to keep security and perimeter lamps burning right throughout from dusk to dawn. However, with the fast rising electricity tariffs in the present context, these practices are no longer favourable.

A simple infrared sensor – that is capable of detecting moving warm blooded creatures – can be used to trigger a lamp turn on, instead of leaving it light unnecessarily throughout the night. Perhaps, security lamps too can be operated in a similar fashion and can be rendered more advantageous if it were combined with an audible alarm, alerting the security personnel or inhabitants of the incoming person / animal. This devise costs only 600 rupees, but is capable of saving money and electricity tremendously.

Let’s be more energy conscious when planning our homes and offices. Let us make strategic choices when choosing lighting equipments bearing in mind that saving energy is a matter of undisputable importance. Such wise decisions would benefit the country as well.

California Beverage Bulletin: CGI & Wal-Mart Announce Student Winners

 

CGI & Wal-Mart Announce Student Winners

For Immediate Release October 9, 2008
Press Contact: press@clintonglobalinitiative.org
Clinton Global Initiative Announces Student and University Winners of CGI U Outstanding Commitment Award
Wal-Mart Foundation will support philanthropic projects
through forty-five student grants and two university grants
New York, NY - On September 26th, Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U) and the Wal-Mart Foundation announced the winners of forty-four student grants and two university grants through the CGI U Outstanding Commitment Awards. The grants, made possible by the Wal-Mart Foundation, will support innovative, high-impact commitments to improve communities and lives around the world.
"CGI U is an empowering platform that brings together students and universities to make a positive difference, whether locally or on a global scale," said Bob Harrison, CEO of the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). "The Outstanding Commitment Awards funding from the Wal-Mart Foundation will expand the impact and reach of these exceptional commitments, which were made by students and universities who are working hard to improve the lives of others."
Through a grant from the Wal-Mart Foundation, winners will receive funding for their CGI U Commitments to Action: new, specific, and measurable plans to address a global challenge of the winners' choosing. The CGI U Outstanding Commitment Awards are designed to support innovative, high-impact work that creates lasting and positive social change, most notably within CGI U's focus areas - energy and climate change, global health, human rights and peace, and poverty alleviation. The awards recognize students and student organizations from a wide variety of graduate schools, historically black colleges, Ivy League institutions, religious and tribal universities, and state schools.
"As a company focused on environmental sustainability at every level, the Wal-Mart Foundation is proud to partner with CGI U to reach hundreds of students and university officials who, like Wal-Mart, are committed to making a change to improve the environment for generations to come," said Margaret McKenna, president of the Wal-Mart Foundation. "By partnering with organizations like CGI U, we are also able to connect with pioneering experts that will, in turn, help Wal-Mart in our goal to become a more sustainable company."
In March 2008, President Clinton encouraged students and universities attending the inaugural meeting of CGI U at Tulane University in New Orleans to apply for the awards. More than 1,000 commitments have been made through CGI U since its launch in September 2007. CGI U is a youth-focused project of the Clinton Global Initiative, which was founded by President Clinton in 2005 to mobilize world leaders to take action on major global challenges.
The forty-five student award recipients include Patricia Compas from the California Polytechnic State University, whose new water treatment device will revolutionize same-day relief efforts and quell the spread of water-borne diseases, and Julie Carney from Yale University, whose Artemis Project will digitize documents and records gathered by truth commissions around the world to be made available globally online. Additionally, Mark Young of Tulane University will receive a grant for a commitment he made based on his invention, SafeSnip, a low-cost method for cutting umbilical cords in the absence of proper medical delivery services; and Tony Anderson of Morehouse College will be recognized for his pledge to deliver one million energy efficient light bulbs to low-income areas.
Two awards were granted to universities: one to support a commitment made between Providence-based Brown University and Dillard University in New Orleans, whose initial partnership was announced at the 2006 CGI Annual Meeting. Their 2008 CGI U commitment builds upon this partnership by focusing on sustainability at Dillard University, ensuring that Dillard is rebuilt in an environmentally sustainable manner, encouraging faculty, students, and staff from Brown and Dillard to collaborate in advancing energy efficiency, curriculum and research development, and community projects, incorporating recycling and transportation improvements into Dillard's new community.
The second university award was given to the College of Menominee Nation in support of its commitment to ensure that principles of sustainability are adopted at all tribal colleges in the United States. The Sustainable Development Institute at the College of Menominee Nations is developing a toolkit which will enable other tribal colleges to monitor their own sustainability performance.
Below is a full list of CGI U Outstanding Commitment Award winners.

UNIVERSITY AWARDS
Building a Sustainable Campus: Advancing the Brown-Dillard Partnership
Ruth Simmons & Marvalene Hughes (University Presidents)
This commitment will expand the Brown-Dillard partnership by providing Dillard with the academic, administrative, technical and consulting assistance to support the University's efforts to become a more environmentally sustainable campus. The commitment focuses on greening the physical infrastructure on Dillard's campus, but also includes strong research and education components. Faculty, students, and staff from Brown and Dillard will work together to advance energy efficiency, course and curriculum development, research activity, and campus and community projects in areas ranging from recycling to sustainable food and transportation improvements.
Tribal College Sustainability Indicators
Verne Fowler (College President)
This commitment will develop sustainability indicators and establish a process and guidelines for tribal colleges and universities to measure and monitor sustainability performance in a realistic, reliable, and culturally appropriate way. These indicators will be identified, bench-marked, and disseminated by the Sustainable Development Institute (SDI) at the college, and will integrate students into the process. All the data, frameworks, and processes identified by SDI will be collected into a toolkit that other tribal schools can use as they assess prospects for increased sustainability efforts on their respective campuses.
STUDENT AWARDS
LendforPeace.org
Sam Adelsberg of the University of Pennsylvania is connecting Palestinian micro-entrepreneurs with individual lenders across the globe through his website, LendforPeace.org. The website facilitates direct loans to Palestinians working towards a peaceful community, and aims to create a virtual, multi-cultural network to promote the growth of business amidst current conflict.
Let's Raise a Million
Tony Anderson and his colleagues from Morehouse University have committed to financing, distributing, and installing one million energy efficient, compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) in low-income areas. His student group, Let's Raise a Million, aims to empower an underrepresented demographic to take part in the clean energy movement.
A Locally Sustainable Food Loop for Lafayette College
Jennifer Bell of Lafayette College is leading a group of students who have committed to reducing food waste and increasing the use of organically grown local foods on their campus. They aim to develop an institutionalized composting system and create gardens which will incorporate the entire university community into the process of a sustainable food system.
Threads That Teach Public School Program
Patricia Brady's NYU organization connects university students with New York City public schools, facilitating entrepreneurial-based art classes and fundraising efforts that can offset shrinking arts education budgets. Workshops organized by the program help students design, market, and sell apparel within their communities, and guide them towards understanding the basic principles of management through hands-on business experience.
Campus INPower
Joanna Calabrese of the University of Maryland and her student group Campus INPower focus on encouraging university students to bring clean energy awareness to the administrations and the curriculums of schools around the nation. Campus INPower members facilitate student action by giving "An Inspiring Truth" presentations, developing campus toolkits, connecting an online network of INPower students, and gathering commitments from high-profile university presidents.
The Artemis Project
Julie Carney of Yale University and the Artemis Project aim to establish databases of truth commission documents for global availability through the internet. By establishing a central database of data and helping countries which lack technological capacity to digitize their documents, Carney and her colleagues have committed to creating a method to upload relevant media from a wide range of truth commissions.
Gardens for Health International
Emma Clippinger of Brown University and her organization Gardens for Health International (GHI) work to provide healthy food for people living with HIV/AIDS in Rwanda, which in turn increases the effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy. GHI aims to establish community agriculture throughout Rwanda, and has committed to create five additional co-ops, expanding their support to 1,500 people living with HIV/AIDS.
Water Treatment for Disaster Relief
With the help and guidance of several students and professors at California Polytechnic State University, Patricia Compas is working to develop and distribute the Polytech Waterbag, a lightweight device which can provide drinkable water within a day to people living in disaster zones around the world. This device has the potential to play a crucial role reducing refugees' exposure to deadly water-borne diseases that all-too-often arrive in the wake the disaster itself. Compas is currently collaborating with the CDC and the Red Cross with the hope of bringing these filtration systems to relief efforts by the end of 2009.
Peace in Focus
Kyle Dietrich and Kate Fedesova of Tufts University are using photojournalism to engage underprivileged youth who are affected by violence and political instability. Peace in Focus uses creative, interactive workshops to encourage grassroots peace photojournalism. As the first phase of the commitment, two pilot workshops have already been taken place in Boston and Bujumbura, Burundi during the summer of 2008.
Mali Signs Project
Lizzy Dupont of the University of Texas is working through the UT Rural Enhancement through Education and Design program to connect schools for the deaf with university institutions and resources, and provides educational health materials online based on community needs. Dupont's initiative, the Mali Signs project, has committed to creating a three-way partnership between two Texas schools and the University of Texas ASL department, and is currently researching ways to expand their operations into West Africa.
Banaa.org
Through his website, Banaa.org, Evan Faber of the George Washington University provides talented Sudanese youth who have lived through atrocity with undergraduate scholarship opportunities in the United States. Faber has made a commitment to help Sudanese scholars further their education in public health and political sciences, in order to eventually improve Sudan's communities through peace in the future.
Climate Change and Indoor Air Pollution Abatement in the Himalayas through Novel Solar Technology
Frank Scot of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and fellow students are aiming to develop a solar cooker and heater which could be distributed in the remote Himalayan regions of China. Scot's group is hoping to teach communities to construct, use, and repair these devices, while increasing their availability across the region. These solar cookers and heaters will reduce indoor air pollution, reduce rural fuel combustion and its effects on climate change, and diminish the time spent by women on gathering fuel, freeing them to cultivate their educations and incomes.
World Faith Emergency Rest Centers
Frank Fredericks of New York University has committed to mobilizing a team of religiously-diverse youth to train members of houses of worship for emergency situations. The team will work with other disaster management centers and local governments in order to enable houses of varied faiths to satisfy the needs of a crisis. Fredericks has made a commitment to expand the World Faith work internationally.
Community Reintegration Program
John E. Goetz of the University of Alabama and his group are working to establish a community re-entry program for ex-offenders within Tuscaloosa County area. Their goal is to successfully reintegrate this population into the business community with faith-based mentoring programs, employer networking, and relationships with Alabama social service providers that could assist with résumé-building and interview skills.
Implementing Holistic Responses to Health Problems in Pemón, Venezuela
Yongjun Heo of Swarthmore College has made a commitment to send students to an understaffed medical clinic in Venezuela every summer. As a result, this work will have a major impact on addressing the crises of pollution, malnutrition, and malaria for over 3,000 Pemón people. Heo will also lead students to create and expand a waste management program, to reduce the incidence of bacterial infections, improve crop yields, and use low-cost incentives to promote community involvement in recycling and the reduction of pollution.
Multifunction Energy Platform (MFP) Pilot in Uganda
Janelle Heslop and Columbia University's Engineers Without Borders chapter have committed to implement a Multifunction Energy Platform in Uganda, which will use jatropha oil as a sustainable fuel source. The program will work with a Ugandan NGO to install one MFP on a farming cooperative, and will further gauge the viability of using MFPs and jatropha oil in eastern Africa.
Improving Health Literacy Through Health Information Resources Books
Maria Kambouris of Charles Darwin University has committed to producing a resource book which will provide basic health information to young people in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Personal Health Resource Book will indicate positive health strategies, and through a two year pilot period, will test the ability of the program to increase health literacy throughout the region.
Loyola Microfinance Initiative
Aaron Kirsh of Loyola University New Orleans is working with his group to provide capital to under-financed entrepreneurs in the New Orleans region who are attempting to rebuild the post-Katrina economy through grassroots micro-enterprise. The students at Loyola have committed to collaborating with other student-managed microfinance organizations, to create a national network of loans which will alleviate poverty by facilitating small business.
Designing Peace
Arianna Kouri and fellow University of Florida architecture students have committed to designing and constructing a recreational space for young members of the New Hope Ministries in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They plan to construct the building adjacent to the current New Hope facility, with the help of the founder of the Ministries, Edson Souza.
Global Peace Exchange, Free IT Center for Rwandan Orphans
Maria Kuecken of Florida State University and the Global Peace Exchange have committed to funding the creation of a self-sustaining IT center in Gitarama, Rwanda. The IT center will provide free primary and technical education to the boys of the Umuryango Children's Network and the surrounding communities. It will also support itself economically by functioning as an internet café in off-hours.
Improving Health and Well-Being Through language Access in Post-Katrina New Orleans
Victoria Lattone of the Tulane University School of Social Work and her colleagues at Tulane have made a commitment to establish interpretation services which will connect low-income, Limited English Proficient (LEP) populations in Post-Katrina New Orleans with healthcare and social services. Latton's group is devoted to helping the growing Spanish, Portuguese, and Vietnamese speaking LEP demographics to find necessary care in the recovering city.
Innovative Healthcare Financing in Sikoroni, Mali
Rachel Levenson of Brown University and the Mali Health organizing Project (MHOP) have made a commitment to exploring the potential for a community-based health financing program (CBHF) in Sikoroni, Mali. The Brown University students will create locally-specific models designed for each Malian community, and will investigate whether the CBHF scheme will actually increase access to healthcare for low income citizens.
Diagnostic Lab in a Backpack
Di Ling of Rice University and her peers have committed to prepare a medical diagnostic backpack for nomadic doctors working with the Pediatric AIDS corps in Tanzania, Lesotho, Botswana and Malawi. The group will provide specialized items to suit the needs of the different regions.
Ensuring the Sustainability of Donated Medical Technology
Mambidzeni Madzivire of the Mayo Graduate School is committed to examining ways in which her peers at Mayo can assist in providing medical technology through the donation and rehabilitation of used medical equipment to communities that need it the most. Those involved with this commitment will identify the needs of health care facilities, build a database of students and staff who have expertise in global health, and train engineers and technicians in developing countries to repair donated medical equipment.
Creating Waste Management Solutions in the Slums of Mali
Waste build-up is the cause of innumerable public health issues in Malian slums. Caroline Mailloux of Brown University and her peers will collaborate with Malian leaders and the Mali Health Organizing Project to implement a waste management system in Sikoroni, Mali, which will extend higher levels of waste management to three times as many community members by the end of 2008.
Giving Hope through Universal Education
Kroo Bay is a slum located near Freetown, Sierra Leone which holds over 2,000 children. Joseph Martin of the University of Texas and the Kroo Bay Initiative have made a commitment to ensure that these children receive renovated solar-powered educational facilities with a computer literacy program. Additionally, they plan to secure funding which will decrease instruction fees and supplement the salaries of local under-funded teachers with merit-based pay.
Improving Lifestyle Health
Rachel McCandless of the University of North Florida is one of the many students who have committed themselves to reducing health disparities in urban populations by highlighting the benefits of physical activity and proper diet. Students at the university will set up community gardens, provide classes on culinary arts, and train mentors on how to forge a sustainable, socially responsible community.
Design and Implement Teen Fatherhood Program
A teen father himself, Rajen Mehta of the University of Michigan Ann Arbor aims to develop a program which will teach other teen fathers to become actively engaged in their families. The program will help young fathers understand their paternal responsibility, and demonstrate the principles of basic care and parenting.
A's & Aces
Tulane University student Anna Monhartova's program A's & Aces works to provide academic assistance, life skill education, and tennis lessons to New Orleans public school children. The program brings together the greater New Orleans community with Tulane University and local businesses to help children gain access to quality athletic and academic programs.
Bicycles Against Poverty
Through fundraising efforts at Bucknell University, Dick Muyambi was able to commit to create the project Bicycles Against Poverty, which will provide at least 100 bicycles to low-income families in the district of Gulu, Uganda. Each bicycle will be shared among a group of five individuals who will maintain the bicycle and contribute 1000 shillings (50 cents) every month to go towards expansion of the program.
VVOCF: Psychosocial Support for Children and Youth Made Vulnerable by HIV/AIDS
Through collaborative efforts of Michigan State University and the community of Zonkizizwe, Guateng (South Africa), Ramya Naraharisetti and her peers have committed to maintaining a children's center which will provide physical and psychosocial support to orphans and children made vulnerable by HIV/AIDS. During the upcoming year, these commitment-makers will focus on increasing attendance to programs and increasing the availability of testing for children in the community.
Use of Mobile Phone Technology to Create Better Disease Surveillance System
Mayuri Panditrao of the University of California at Berkeley has committed to developing a method of reporting cases of vector borne diseases in India through mobile phones. The use of mobile phones to submit data will increase the accuracy of geographical studies of disease, and will expedite responses to outbreaks while enabling efficient allocation of resources to potential epidemic areas.
Addressing Pesticide Exposure in Paraguayan Farming Communities
Alison Quady of Tufts University will work with Alter Vida, a local Paraguayan NGO, to implement pesticide monitoring workshops for Paraguayans living near genetically modified soy plantations. Quady will implement her monitoring program in five communities, in addition to teaching individuals to test for water contamination and studying the prevalence of disease in individuals in exposed versus unexposed communities.
Using Solar-Energy to Power Telemedicine Services in Rural Sindh, Pakistan
Ambreen Rahman of Columbia University has committed to providing solar-powered telemedicine terminals to regions with scarce access to reliable electricity in Sindhi, Pakistan. These terminals will allow doctors in major cities to communicate with patients and caregivers in rural areas, and the solar power will allow these terminals to be consistently available.
ESL Initiative
Shelley Ramsey of Trinity University in San Antonio and the Trinity ESL Initiative have committed to providing the janitorial and dining staff of the University with free English lessons from student tutors. Tutors will benefit from the practice of speaking Spanish with employees who serve them during the semester, while the project will be a serve as a small step towards educational equality within the greater San Antonio community.
New Orleans Project
Lafayette College student Katherine Reeves, a member of the Economic Empowerment and Global Learning Project Team (EEGLP) at Lafayette, has committed to partnering with residents in the Lower 9th Ward (L9W) of New Orleans. The EEGLP will help to develop the community in a way which is environmentally conscious and economically just.
Gage Based Flood Relief in the Dominican Republic
Hilary Robinson of Rice University has committed to organizing the implementation of a flood alert system in the community of Bonao in the Dominican Republic. In a region highly susceptible to flash floods, the system will utilize a network of rain gauges to provide input to a hydrologic model and alert system which will be able to warn residents of future floods by cell phone messages.
An Easily Replicable Recreational Therapy and Anti-Obesity Program for Autistic Young People
Noah Rosenberg of the University of Massachusetts Medical School has committed to create a program of recreational therapy and anti-obesity training for children ages 6-12 with autism in Worcester, MA. The after school program will stress collaborative development within the group, which will both cultivate social skills and promote physical health and fitness.
It Is Only Through Attempting the Absurd...
Philip Schapker of Tulane University and his Juggling Club has committed to using startup capital to create a community garden and bicycle shop where free lessons will be provided on bicycle mechanics and gardening. The garden and shop will eventually support itself through revenues from vegetable and bicycle sales.
Building a School for Burmese Refugees on Thai/Burma Border
Jordan Spatz of the University of California Los Angeles, working with the Engineers Without Borders chapters at UCLA and MIT, has committed to building a new, three room school building for the Burnese/Thai refugee children of No Lao, Thailand in December 2008. Spatz and his colleagues plan on building the school in response to a request from His majesty, The King of Thailand's Royal Foundation, and the group will also conduct a health assessment of the villages surrounding the school.
Housing Opportunities Program: Preventing Homelessness through Micro Loans
Lekha Tummalapalli of Harvard University and the Housing Opportunities Program (HOP) have committed to providing 100 no-interest loans of $500-$1000 to clients in danger of eviction from homes. These loans can ultimately help to sustain the long-term stability of those in danger of homelessness.
Recycle to Eradicate Poverty
The One Million Cell Phone Challenge invites participants to recycle one million cell phones, saving 350 trillion gallons of water and allowing 100,000 women to rise from poverty through microfinance. Brian Weinberg of the University of North Texas and the Recycle to Eradicate Poverty program at UNT have committed to beat this challenge, and to use the resulting funds from recycling donated phones to directly provide loans to the poor.
Brown-Providence Microfinance Collaborative
Mollie West of Brown University and the Brown-Providence Microfinance Collaborative have committed to connecting students with community organizations to help provide loans to low income people. In addition to providing small loans of less than $5,000 to individuals without the collateral or legal status to utilize the formal banking system, the collaborative will also establish a program to teach business skills to that population.
SafeSnip
Mark Young of Tulane University and his group of undergraduate students have committed to produce and distribute a device called SafeSnip, which provides a low-cost method to clamp, cut, and disinfect the umbilical cord, in a method that significantly decreases the risk of infection. SafeSnip will ensure healthier births in regions of the developing world that suffer from the absence of viable healthcare infrastructure.
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About Clinton Global Initiative University (CGI U)
CGI U, a new project of Clinton Global Initiative (CGI), challenges college students and universities to address global problems with practical, innovative solutions. At CGI U, young people and universities do more than simply discuss the world's challenges - they take real, concrete steps towards solving them.
About the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI)
CGI is a project of the non-partisan Clinton Foundation that brings together a community of global leaders to identify and implement innovative solutions to the world's most pressing challenges. Since 2005, CGI's Annual Meetings have brought together more than 100 current and former heads of state, hundreds of leading global CEOs, heads of foundations and major philanthropists, directors of the most effective non-governmental organizations, and prominent members of the media. These CGI members have made nearly 1,200 commitments valued at $46 billion to address poverty alleviation, climate change, global health, education and other issues. These commitments have already impacted more than 200 million lives in 150 countries. Commitments made at the 2008 Annual Meeting are expected to impact almost 160 million people.
About Philanthropy at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and the Wal-Mart Foundation are proud to support the charitable causes that are important to customers and associates in their own neighborhoods. Through its philanthropic programs and partnerships, the Wal-Mart Foundation supports initiatives focused on enhancing opportunities in education, job skills training, sustainability and health. In 2007, Wal-Mart, Sam's Club and the Wal-Mart Foundation gave $296 million to communities across the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfoundation.org.

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California Beverage Bulletin: CGI & Wal-Mart Announce Student Winners

Architectural Window Tinting & Films @ Feng Shui Tints, Inc.

 

Energy Saving Options For Your Business With Quick Payback

October 8, 2008

Here are some great tips by the folks at Go-Green.com to help your business protect the environment as well as saving a few bucks. We think adding a reflective window film is a great start!

Exact payback time depends on energy costs and other factors. For example, payback time for heating and cooling systems depend on local climate. However, payback time for the following energy-saving actions are approximately 1-3 years.

Lighting
Occupancy sensors are more reliable than expecting employees to turn off lights. Sensors in restrooms and closets save up to 60% of energy used with a manual switch. Timers or photo-sensors help employees to use more daylight. Photo-sensors also adjust for natural light with dimming.

Delamping, (taking out bulbs that are not needed), saves more energy and money in the long term than replacing fixtures. Many older office buildings have too many lights due to outdated codes and the new trend of widespread computer use. Excess lighting glares on computer screens and wastes energy. Payback time for removing two to eight-foot fluorescent lamps, lamp holders, and ballasts is less than a year.

Install CFL pendants and wall sconces for hallway and corridors. These areas don’t need as much lighting as a computer workspace to be safe and attractive.

LIGHTING: Quick Facts

• Compact fluorescents are 75% more efficient than incandescent and last ten times longer
• T-8 fluorescents are more efficient than T-12s,
• Super T8s are more efficient than standard T8s
• T-5 fluorescents (used in Europe) are more efficient than T-8s
• Electronic ballasts (for fluorescent and HID lamps) are more efficient than magnetic ballasts
• Electronic ballasts don’t contain toxic PCB’s
• Occupancy sensors save up to 60% of energy used with a manual switch
• LEDs used in an exit sign can save $50 per year

Change to LED exit signs. Save $50 per year by changing exit sign lights to LEDs (light emitting diode). LEDs also last longer than incandescent or fluorescent bulbs (50,000 – 100,000 hrs).

Space Heating and Cooling
HVAC systems tend to be oversized and inefficient. A Package Terminal Air Conditioner (PTAC) heats and cools smalls spaces efficiently. Payback time depends on local factors like climate, but a PTAC pays for itself in approximately three years. Consider other investments like reflective window film or variable speed drive systems for HVAC fans that control speed for energy savings.

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Little Village | Iowa City’s News and Culture Magazine » Features » Green Light

 

Green Light

By Sara Pralle • Oct 9th, 2008 • Category: Features

Energy crisis?

This phrase makes the nightly news every week. The rising costs of nearly everything, including food, gasoline and home energy, has become a slow, insidious flood of its own that shows no signs of receding during the long winter months ahead. Both presidential candidates produce sound bites saying they understand the challenges facing ordinary citizens. Each promotes his plan to help us cope with rising utility bills.

However, the election is still a month away, whomever wins won’t take office until the dead of winter and Congress will have to actually agree on a bill before any legislative help reaches the American people. Where does that leave us?

You might think that your home energy usage is just a drop in a very big bucket. But according to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Home Energy Saver website, nearly 25 percent of the U.S. energy bill is attributed to households.

Closer to home

In fact, the site calculates the average energy bill for Iowa City homeowners at $1802/year (adding up energy used for heating, cooling, water heating, major appliances, small appliances and lighting). Sound about right? On the other hand, the average energy costs of an efficient Iowa City home are $897/year. Where does your home weigh in?

If you’re like most of us, you’re leaving a potential savings of $905 on the table each year.

Want to cut your energy bill in half? Then maybe it’s time to take a proactive approach to energy conservation and do your part to lower those worrisome bills. Websites are springing up right and left with helpful suggestions to lower your energy consumption.

With all these options, how will some homeowners might know where to start? How do you know whether your green investment will pay for itself?

Here’s a snapshot of energy saving tips for your home:

Starting Today . . .

• Use Your Dishwasher (full loads only): The machine actually uses less water than doing dishes by hand, saving more than 2,000 gallons/year on average.
• Keep Lamps Away From Thermostats: The heat produced can cause your furnace to run less than needed or your air conditioner more than needed.
• Dust Light Fixtures: A heavy coat of dust can block up to 50 percent of the light output.
• Lighten Your Home Décor: Pale colors on walls, ceilings and floors, and high-gloss paint reflect more light, so you can use lower wattage bulbs and delay turning on lights.Cover Up Your Cooking: Use lids on pots and pans to reduces cooking times.
• Use Fans With Your AC: By circulating the air you can set the thermostat up to five degrees higher and maintain the same comfort level.
• Clean Your Lint Trap: Lower your energy bill by cleaning your clothes dryer’s lint trap before every load to improve air circulation and cut down on energy-wasting drying time.
• Don’t Overdry Clothes: Operating the dryer for an extra 15 minutes per load can cost as much as $34 per year.
• Remember Your Computer: Enabling your computer and monitor’s power management features so they go into sleep mode when idle (no screen savers) can save from $25 to $75 each year in energy costs. Also, turn off computers and peripherals at night.
• Think Old-fashioned: Use reel mowers, manual can openers, carpet sweepers, whisks and wooden spoons instead of electric mixers.

On Your Next Shopping Trip . . .

• Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) Bulbs: They last 10 times longer than ordinary bulbs and use 75 percent less energy. You’ll save $40 over the life of just one bulb!
• Install Dimmer Switches: Can’t or won’t go with CFLs? Use dimmer switches to shave a bit off an incandescent bulb’s energy use and makes the bulb last longer (Note: Most compact fluorescent bulbs can’t be used with dimmer switches).
• Check Your Furnace Filter: A dirty filter can make your furnace and central air conditioner run harder, quickly reducing its operating efficiency and life span.
• Winterize Your Home: Plastic sheeting and caulking on windows will cost about $50, but you can save two to three times that much in energy savings in just one winter.
• Reduce Outside Lighting: Install motion sensors, photocell controls or timers so outdoor lights are only on when needed.
• Get a Programmable Thermostat: This device can reduce energy bills by as much as $150 a year by automatically adjusting the temperature when you leave the house or go to sleep.

Long-term Payback . . .

• Do Some Landscaping: Trees and shrubs can provide windbreaks and shade to help reduce your heating and cooling costs. Keep an eye out for tree giveaways and savings sponsored by local energy companies and conservation organizations.
• Look for the Energy Star: Sometimes to save a lot, you have to spend a little. Energy Star-qualified appliances may cost a bit more than standard models, but they use 10 to 50 percent less energy and water, which means more money in your pocket year after year.
• Check Your Ducts: Get your ductwork routinely checked for leakage, especially when installing a new heating and cooling system.
• Upgrade Your Fridge: You should consider replacing it if it is more than 15 years old. New efficiency standards went into effect in 1993, and older units are typically two to three time more expensive to run than new ones.
• Install a New Generation Attic Fan: Solar-powered attic fans exhaust hot air and help keep your home comfortable while reducing cooling costs.
• Replace Old Windows: To keep heat inside during winter and outside in the summer, choose double-pane windows with an appropriate energy rating for our climate.
• Consider Radiant Flooring: Unlike forced-air systems, radiant floor heating doesn’t blow dust and other allergens around. Thanks to warm water circulating in flexible tubing installed under the floor, heat radiates evenly up through the floor, providing quiet, even warmth while using less energy.
• Reflect the Heat: Attic radiant barriers can help keep homes comfortable and reduce cooling bills. Made of a reflective foil, radiant barriers block the transfer of radiant heat from a hot roof into the attic.
• Think Beyond Shingles: Cool roof products come in a variety of colors and materials (including ceramic or concrete tiles, metal and synthetic membranes) and reflect more of the sun’s heat, lowering the roof’s temperature by up to 100 degrees.

Audit: It’s not a dirty word

MidAmerican Energy understands conserving energy can be an intimidating task, and the company’s supplying experts so you don’t have to do it alone. In fact, with the Energy Advantage® program, you won’t even have to pay for it alone. The power company offers two options that help homeowners calculate the potential savings/costs of improving their property’s energy efficiency: HomeCheck® Online Audit or For Your Home.

The online audit asks you a series of questions about your home and then provides an appliance calculators to show you how much you can save by replacing old appliances; a comparison of your energy bills for the past year to the average home of similar size; and tips on how to make your interior lighting and heating and cooling system more efficient.

Your other option—and my personal favorite—is the on-site energy audit, available for any property that’s at least 10 years old. Here’s how it works: MidAmerican hires an independent energy specialist to make a personal visit to your home and give you a free energy assessment.

While the auditor’s there, he’ll also install a bunch of freebees to lower your energy cost right away, including:

• A water heater insulation blanket
• Six feet of water pipe insulation
• Up to two low-flow faucet aerators
• Up to two low-flow shower heads
• A waterbed mattress pad (if you need one
• Up to six energy-efficient light bulbs
• A programmable thermostat (for only $30)

In addition to these immediate improvements, your energy auditor will also review the status of your insulation. If it’s not up to snuff, he’ll refer you to a local insulation contractor and estimate the cost of the work, the rebates you’re eligible for and the overall savings you can expect. And did I mention that MidAmerican will pay up to 70 percent of the instillation costs for basement insulation and 70 percent of any wall and attic insulation (maximum of $600 each)?

Auditors have noticed that more and more Iowa City households are buying compact florescent light bulbs and low-flow showerheads of some kind, according to energy expert Alan Dornick. But homeowners can do a lot more to lower their heating and cooling bills.

“We rarely see low-flow faucet aerators or pipe insulation on the hot water line. And approximately 80 percent of the homes need some kind of insulation work, either in the attic, side walls or basement.”

If your primary heating energy is supplied by MidAmerican, you can call 800-545-0762 to schedule your own energy audit. Don’t wait too long, though. As winter approaches and energy bills increase, appointments are likely to fill up quickly.

If all American homeowners made their homes more efficient, the Department of Energy estimates a national energy savings of $100 billion between 1998 and 2010. Not a bad drop in the bucket!

Little Village | Iowa City’s News and Culture Magazine » Features » Green Light

Is energy-saving lighting always best for the environment? | Energy Efficiency News

 

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Is energy-saving lighting always best for the environment?

Researchers from Yale University have found that switching to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) may not always be best for the environment.

Energy saving CFLs are being implemented around the world in a bid to improve efficiency and tackle global warming. But CFLs have a downside – the bulbs contain mercury, which is extremely toxic and can lead to a variety of health problems. And that mercury can be released into the environment when those bulbs break or are disposed of through incineration or landfill.

CFLs are touted as a ‘green’ technology because their efficiency and long life time reduces both overall energy demand and the actual number of bulbs that need to be produced. A large portion of current mercury emissions arise from industrial processes such as coal combustion, so moving to CFLs should be a solution.

Concerns about potential mercury emissions have also led manufacturers to reduce the amount of the toxic metal in CFLs and adopt a voluntary code limiting mercury to 5 mg per bulb.

However, the Yale researchers calculate that there is a tradeoff between the reduction in mercury emissions through the use of CFLs and the emissions that are produced when they are disposed of.

Regions where coal is a major source of power and have an effective recycling programme for CFLs will benefit the most from their introduction. Parts of the US, China, and parts of Europe including Romania, Bulgaria and Greece would see great benefits from introducing CFLs.

However, in other areas such as California and many parts of east coast US the increased use of CFLs will actually lead to an increase in mercury emissions, according to the researchers’ calculations. Norway and most countries in Latin America, Africa and the Middle East could see a similar pattern emerging.

“CFL is an area where we’re really pushing this alternative and all these policies are being enacted, but we’re not looking at the potential unintended consequences of what we’re doing,” says researcher Julie Beth Zimmerman.

Unfortunately, many of the regions where introducing CFLs could have the most benefit in terms of reducing emissions from power generation are also those with limited recycling programmes.

“It’s always good to promote energy efficiency, but it’s also a tradeoff,” says graduate student Matthew Eckelman.

The researchers caution that nationwide or global strategies to ban incandescent light bulbs and replace them with CFLs could be too general and a local approach could garner better overall results.

For further information:
M. J. Eckelman, P. T. Anastas, and J. B. Zimmerman. Spatial Assessment of Net Mercury Emissions from the Use of Fluorescent Bulbs. Environ. Sci. Technol. (2008) doi: 10.1021/es800117h

Is energy-saving lighting always best for the environment? | Energy Efficiency News

Calculating the Financial Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs): the case of a condo building

 

Calculating the Financial Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs): the case of a condo building

September 30th, 2008 · 1 Comment

We have all become armored against advertising and the claims of “save $26” (or more) on a CFL package are hard to believe. In addition, in our culture, we focus on the cost to buy (CTB) rather than the cost to own (CTO). Thus, in a weird perversion of Benjamin Franklin, we focus on the $0.99 purchase price rather than the cost through the years that we might use something. These factors combine to make it difficult for most Americans to pursue energy efficiency choices, such as CFLs.

This reality of condominium structures worsens this situation. With shared utility costs (electricity, water, gas), but individual owners controlling purchases within their own units, it is hard to capture savings opportunities. Let us say that a $1 investment in an individual unit would save $2 every year. While the “savings” would be quite real, the individual home owner making the investment would see very little of the benefits ss this savings would be split between hundreds of owners. (With 200 owners, the $1 investment would reap $0.01 in savings for all 200 owners, including the one who put in the investment themselves.)

This is an example of a very common Catch-22, where the person “buying” something doesn’t directly pay for the “cost” of running it. We see this with builders vs the building buyer, the landlord versus the tenant, the employee with a personal lamp vs the employer, etc … It is time to break through the Catch-22 and arrive at sensible solutions, to work for real solutions to real problems.

To get past this barrier, condominiums must consider path to have both the costs and the benefits for energy efficiency choices become common among all owners.
Let us take the case of Maryland, where electricity prices have soared in recent years. Many condominium buildings are paying 14.5 cents per kilowatt hour (kwh), nearly double the price of a few years ago, and are experiencing electricity bill overruns as they did not fully account for massive electricity price increases. This should foster an environment with aggressive pursuit of energy efficiency, but the barriers remain in place.

In the face of these rising prices, however, condominium boards would be well advised to revisit the issue. While there are many financially beneficial energy efficiency options, the CFL can stand in very well for them in providing a common description.

Let us take a very simple case for a light bulb pay back period. Assume that a light is on 40 hours per week. With a 100 watt incandescent light bulb, that would mean 4000 watt hours every week or 4 kwh/week. At a price of 14.5 cents per week, that translates into a weekly electrical bill of $0.58 or an annual cost of $30.37 for 208 kwh. For equivalent lighting, a CFL would use 27 watts. 40 hours of use would be 1080 watts or 1.054 kwh with a cost of $0.16 and an annual cost of $8.14 for 56 kwh. The CFL uses 42 cents less of electricity every week. For one year’s use, the CFL would cost $22.23 LESS than the use of the incandescent while using 152 fewer kilowatt hours.

Okay, for a large building, $22.23 really isn’t that much. But, what if there were 200 units and all of them had just one bulb changed? That would be a $4446 reduction in an annual electrical bill.

The problem, of course, is that CFLs have a higher cost-to-buy (CTB). A normal price differential could be $2 per bulb, with an incandescent costing 50 cents and a CFL $2.50. (But, as per the photo of a $2.98 for a package of four 60 watt equivalent CFLs, it is not hard to find them at lower cost.) In a 40 hour per week scenario for 100 watts of lighting, that $2 difference is repaid in just under five weeks. And, then the savings continue for years to come. There is, in addition, another benefit in that CFLs last roughly eight times longer than incandescents. Thus, over five years or so, one would spend more just to buy incandescents in addition to the higher electricity costs.

Shucks, listen to Nike and “just do it”, no? The problem, again, is that the individual home owner has nearly no incentive to do this because CFLs have a higher cost-to-buy (CTB) and the individual owner shares the benefits of the lower cost-to-own (CTO). And, while a condominium has a budget to pay for utilities, it likely has no normal practice of or budget for buying appliances or items to go within individual units.

It is time to break the Catch 22 of this cycle, to Get Energy Smart! NOW!!!

Imagine a building with, let us say, 278 total units. (An actual, but unnamed Montgomery County, Maryland, condominium building.) If the overall Condominium board would buy two bulbs per unit to give out to owners/tenants, this might cost in the range of $1112 for 556 CFLs at $2 each. Assuming the 100 watt, 40 hours per week scenario, this would reduce the overall building’s electricity cost by $233.42 per week with, again, a repayment period of under five weeks. Annual reduction in an electricity bill for that $1112 purchase? $12,143.04 in lower electricity bills. Take out the $1112 purchase cost and the building would save only $11,031.04.

By the way, the reduced electricity usage translates quite directly into reduced green-house gas emissions. This scenario reduces emissions by about 85 tons of CO2 per year. This doesn’t ’solve’ Global Warming, by any means, but it is one of the contributing paths to reducing the problem.

Okay, perhaps this whole scenario is far too optimistic. Perhaps some light bulbs aren’t on 40 hours per week. Perhaps not all owners would use the CFLs. If only half the owners used the CFLs, the payback period would be under 10 weeks with a weekly reduced electricity bill of $57.96. If only one-in-four bulbs were used, the weekly savings would be $57.96 and the total payback period would be 19.19 weeks (under five months) with an annual savings of $3013.92 or nearly three times that $1112 investment.

There are quite clear reasons why it can be difficult to make energy efficiency investments, even more so in situations with splits between the “cost to buy” and “cost to own” implications. Condominium buildings are a clear case of this. But, the case can be quite compelling as to the benefits. In the face of rising energy prices and the realities of a tightening economy, condominium boards where utilities are a shared expense should examine the situation and seek paths for taking steps that are clearly in the common good of every owner. In the case of compact fluorescent bulbs, that path might best be to simply buy and distribute, every year, some number of CFLs for every unit, recognizing that not every bulb will be used and the full potential savings won’t be realized — even a small proportion of usage will pay off in reduced electricity bills.

Energy efficiency offers real “win-win-win” potential. In this case,

The condo as a whole and individual owners will save money through reduced electricity use.

This will contribute to lowering pressure on the Maryland electrical grid and, potentially, contributing to lower prices per kilowatt hour.

And, this reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

Now this is a real solution to a real problem.

Calculating the Financial Benefits of Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs (CFLs): the case of a condo building

Green Energy-Saving Tips, Tricks and Hacks | WebEcoist

 

15 Tips, Tricks and Hacks for a Greener Home

Written by Ecoist on September 29th, 2008 - Topics: Energy and Fuel, Home and Garden, Technology and Gadgets, Tricks and Hacks

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Part 5 in an 8-Part Exclusive WebEcoist Series on How to Go Green

Image via tomsaint11

You’ve tricked out your car and you’re an expert hypermiler. You know where to find the freshest, cheapest local food. You’ve greened your consumption habits and you know all the basics of living green. What’s next? The home. As stated in the Beginner’s Guide to Going Green: “The home is the easiest place to start greening. There are literally hundreds of relatively easy home hacks - many free and most inexpensive.” Here are just a few common-but-useful ones to get you going.

Quick Upgrades for a Greener House

Image via Jeff Kubina

- Lights

Replace dead light bulbs with CFLs and watch your energy savings increase. CFLs are far more efficient than standard bulbs (they can last years longer). However, because they contain mercury they are an environmental and health hazard unless properly recycled. Home Depot now offers a free take-back program, even for CFLs not purchased there, so make sure you drop dead CFLs off at the nearest Home Depot - definitely don’t toss them into the trash. (Curious why they’re that funny squiggly shape? Here’s why.)

- Thermostat

Buy a programmable thermostat and watch your dollars pile up even further (the average person will save $15 a month). By setting your thermostat on a timer you’ll save energy but still enjoy heating and cooling when you need it most.

- Water heater

Lower the temperature on your water heater by a few degrees to save gas and/or electricity. You won’t need to take a Navy Shower to compensate - though that’s a great idea to help the environment, too. Most people don’t even notice the difference.

- Efficient Appliances

It’s not eco-friendly (or affordable, for most of us) to toss out perfectly good appliances and replace them with newer, greener models. But when the washing machine or the coffee maker or the refrigerator does start showing signs of age, be sure to replace the dying appliance with the most efficient model possible. As with the other tips in this section, the great thing about “going green” around the house is that it tends to save the other kind of green, as well. If you rent, encourage your landlord or landlady to invest in efficient bulbs, thermostats, heating and appliances. Show them a cost comparison.

- Household Remote Control

Spend a little money (under $30) on a wireless home remote control that can shut off lamps, televisions, computers, and any other electronics or appliances at the touch of a button. This is a great way to ensure that your home isn’t using needless (and expensive) energy. No more yelling at the kids to turn off the lights.

Simple Tips for a Greener House

Image via Friends of Water

- Compost

Even if you don’t garden, composting is essential. Americans on average throw away 1/3 of their food, and there’s no reason for it to go to the landfill. Community gardens will take compost, but so will a green thumb neighbor. Start with a simple compost kit or a countertop bucket that’s attractive - you’d be surprised what you can compost. This will only cost about $20.

- Eliminate bottled water use

Bottled water is one of the worst environmental and health offenders. Put a stop to purchasing bottled water and install a faucet filter or buy a Brita pitcher instead. Tap in the United States especially is completely safe and the need for bottled water is an engineered one on the part of marketers. You can also make your own seltzer for sparkling water anytime without resorting to bottled seltzer.

- Adjust the temperature

Set your thermostat two degrees cooler and your A/C two degrees warmer. You’ll barely notice the change in temperature, and while you’ll still feel comfortable the energy savings will really add up.

- Stop using disposables

For centuries humans relied on towels for cleaning up around the home. Then paper napkins, towels and cloths came along and landfill waste is the result. There’s no need to cut down threatened forests for simple spills. Get back into the habit of using washable cloth towels and napkins to help the environment.

- Cleaning supplies

There are so many household chores and supplies that can quickly be “greened” by simply choosing the right product in the cleaning aisle at the supermarket. You can use eco-friendly detergent, carpet cleaner, soap, plant fertilizer, pet food, wood polish, shower cleaner, dish soap, shampoo, lotion, and more. Visit The Green Guide for a comprehensive directory.

DIY Hacks

Image via Abbey Carpet and Wood

- Carbon impact

Assess your home’s carbon impact with the easy Low Impact Living carbon calculator. After determining areas for improvement, you can begin to make simple improvements with the calculator’s suggested ideas - some include the above listed tips but there is also information about carbon offsets, green power, and even light structural changes that you can make.

- Seal it up

An incredibly easy way to improve efficiency and prevent energy leaks is to seal up drafts and cracks. Do an annual audit of your home to ensure that doors, windows, attics, basements and piping are sealed and secure. (Or you can hire someone.)

- Around the yard

To improve eco-friendliness around the yard, use a push mower (lawnmowers are worse for the environment than cars). In fact, lawnmowers account for 5% of the United States’ pollution. Plant large shrubs and trees near your house to help cool it by as much as six degrees! Just make sure to choose zone-appropriate (native) species. Consider alternatives to a lawn.

- Remove carpet

Ah, carpet - that toxic off-gassing petroleum-based breeding ground for tics, fleas, bacteria, grime and germs. Carpeting is inherently filthy, no matter how often you get it cleaned, and it’s bad for you and the environment. Tear it out and enjoy the wood, parquet or cement floor beneath. Or purchase “green” carpet.

- Repaint

Like carpet, paint contains all sorts of harsh chemicals that “off gas” and create unhealthy, environmentally unsafe indoor pollution. Repaint your walls with non-VOC or low-VOC paints to make your home greener.

Be sure to visit next week for part 6 in the going green series

Green Energy-Saving Tips, Tricks and Hacks | WebEcoist

Dell laptops to be 100% mercury free by October 2009 - CNET Asia Blogs: High on a Hill by Hillary Chan, Malaysia

 

Dell laptops to be 100% mercury free by October 2009

Sep 29, 2008 13:37

I am amazed how Dell is constantly setting new green standards for this industry. The last time, they set a goal that the Dell US office must be 100% carbon-neutral by end of this year. It achieved this five months ahead of schedule. Now, Dell has a new goal - within 12 months, all new laptops must be 100% mercury-free.

They plan to reach this green target by switching from using cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) to light-emitting diode (LED).

How Stuff Works explains how Fluorescent Lamps light up your LED display

A fluorescent light is most often a long straight glass tube that produces white light. Inside the glass tube there is a low-pressure mercury vapor. When ionized, mercury vapor emits ultraviolet light.

Human eyes are not sensitive to ultraviolet light (although the human skin is). The inside of a fluorescent light is coated with phosphor. Phosphor is a substance that can accept energy in one form and emit the energy in the form of visible light.

For example, energy from a high-speed electron in a TV tube is absorbed by the phosphors that make up the pixels. The light we see from a fluorescent tube is the light given off by the phosphor coating the inside of the tube. The phosphorfluoresces when energized, hence the name.

Cold-cathode fluorescent lamps (CCFL) are already a step ahead of fluorescent lamps.

The CCFL contain half the mercury of conventional "hot cathode" fluorescents. They have a thinner tube diameter, which allows them to run cooler, and last up to four times as long (a lifespan of 25,000 hours).

This means that the mercury is reduced by 85% over the life of a cold cathode bulb, because a regular CFL would have to be replaced three times during that period.

- from Treehugger.com

But Light Emitting Diode (LED) is even better than CCFL because it is smaller, lasts longer, generates very little heat, doesn't waste precious energy to generate heat, and is 100% mercury free.

Dell's U.S. customers can get the first LED lighted laptop as early as this December 15th.

• Latitude E4200,
• Latitude E4300
• Latitude E6400
• Latitude E6400 ATG
• Latitude E6500.

Also shipping with LED back lighting as a standard display:-

• Dell Precision™ M2400
• Dell Precision™ M4400

By the way, Dell is not the first pc maker to use LED technology.

Apple has been shipping Macbook Pros that uses LED backlighting as early as June 2007. Click to see the side-by-side comparison of a Macbook Pro that uses CCFL vs a Macbook Pro that uses LED at Engadget.com.

We can also expect more pc makers to use LED backlighting in the near future as the display makers - Samsung, Sony, TMD, et cetera, have already showcased their displays that uses LED backlighting.

Dell laptops to be 100% mercury free by October 2009 - CNET Asia Blogs: High on a Hill by Hillary Chan, Malaysia

LedEngin, Inc. Announces Production Release of Its 5, 10 and 15 Watt Neutral White High Power LED Products

 

SANTA CLARA, Calif. - (Business Wire) LedEngin, Inc. today announced the addition of Neutral White products to its high power product portfolio. Product availability includes 5, 10 and 15 watt emitters. LedEngin’s 15 watt emitter features a 7 mm X 7 mm package and achieves 750 lumens, setting new records for neutral white products and enabling LedEngin’s ultra-small packages to achieve the highest flux densities and the lowest thermal resistance (reaching 2°C/W) in the industry.

The nominal color temperature of these products is 4100 K with a range spanning 3700 K to 4700 K. The color binning structure developed for Neutral White products aligns with the new ANSI standard, enabling customers to meet the Energy Star lighting criteria for solid-state lighting luminaire development. With the addition of its Neutral White LEDs to its Cool White and Warm White product offerings, LedEngin now spans the entire white color spectrum. The typical color rendering index (CRI) of LedEngin’s Neutral White products is >75.

The combination of proprietary LedEngin packaging technology with advanced material developments enables a high quality light source with industry leading flux density. LedEngin’s LEDs are engineered to optimize light extraction, minimize stress and maximize thermal performance, resulting in monumental reliability, color point stability and lumen maintenance. Target markets for these products include office, retail, hospitality and other general lighting applications, as well as outdoor lighting.

“We are very excited about these new additions to our product portfolio,” said David Tahmassebi, President and CEO of LedEngin. “Our Neutral White products offer an environmentally friendly alternative to conventional CFL and other light sources for high performance lighting applications. The combination of high flux density and high light quality will enable the development of new lighting fixtures which capitalize on the miniaturization benefits of our LEDs. We look forward to supporting our customers in their design-in activities,” added Tahmassebi.

About LedEngin, Inc.

LedEngin is a solid-state lighting company specializing in high power LEDs. LedEngin develops and manufactures ultra-bright LEDs capable of emitting 1,000+ lumens, delivering extreme flux density and industry leading reliability. Commercially available products range from 3 to 15 watts in Cool White, Neutral White, Warm White, direct colors, RGB, RGBA, UV, Dental Blue and horticulture colors. LedEngin also develops modular solutions and provides application support on optics, drivers and thermal management to simplify design integration and accelerate time to market.

LedEngin, Inc.

LedEngin, Inc. Announces Production Release of Its 5, 10 and 15 Watt Neutral White High Power LED Products

//……imagiNation……\\ » Blog Archive » Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming

 

Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming

Global Warming is a dramatically urgent and serious problem. We don’t need to wait for governments to find a solution for this problem: each individual can bring an important help adopting a more responsible lifestyle: starting from little, everyday things. It’s the only reasonable way to save our planet, before it is too late.<!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]--><!--[if !vml]--><!--[endif]-->

Here is a list of 50 simple things that everyone can do in order to fight against and reduce the Global Warming phenomenon: some of these ideas are at no cost, some other require a little effort or investment but can help you save a lot of money, in the middle-long term!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->1. <!--[endif]-->Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb (cfl)
CFLs use 60% less energy than a regular bulb. This simple switch will save about 300 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->2. <!--[endif]-->Install a programmable thermostat
Programmable thermostats will automatically lower the heat or air conditioning at night and raise them again in the morning. They can save you $100 a year on your energy bill.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->3. <!--[endif]-->Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
Almost half of the energy we use in our homes goes to heating and cooling. You could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple adjustment.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->4. <!--[endif]-->Clean or replace filters on your furnace and air conditioner
Cleaning a dirty air filter can save 350 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->5. <!--[endif]-->Choose energy efficient appliances when making new purchases
Look for the Energy Star label on new appliances to choose the most energy efficient products available.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->6. <!--[endif]-->Do not leave appliances on standby
Use the “on/off” function on the machine itself. A TV set that’s switched on for 3 hours a day (the average time Europeans spend watching TV) and in standby mode during the remaining 21 hours uses about 40% of its energy in standby mode.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->7. <!--[endif]-->Wrap your water heater in an insulation blanket
You’ll save 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year with this simple action. You can save another 550 pounds per year by setting the thermostat no higher than 50°C.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->8. <!--[endif]-->Move your fridge and freezer
Placing them next to the cooker or boiler consumes much more energy than if they were standing on their own. For example, if you put them in a hot cellar room where the room temperature is 30-35ºC, energy use is almost double and causes an extra 160kg of CO2 emissions for fridges per year and 320kg for freezers.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->9. <!--[endif]-->Defrost old fridges and freezers regularly
Even better is to replace them with newer models, which all have automatic defrost cycles and are generally up to two times more energy-efficient than their predecessors.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->10. <!--[endif]-->Don’t let heat escape from your house over a long period
When airing your house, open the windows for only a few minutes. If you leave a small opening all day long, the energy needed to keep it warm inside during six cold months (10ºC or less outside temperature) would result in almost 1 ton of CO2 emissions.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->11. <!--[endif]-->Replace your old single-glazed windows with double-glazing
This requires a bit of upfront investment, but will halve the energy lost through windows and pay off in the long term. If you go for the best the market has to offer (wooden-framed double-glazed units with low-emission glass and filled with argon gas), you can even save more than 70% of the energy lost.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->12. <!--[endif]-->Get a home energy audit
Many utilities offer free home energy audits to find where your home is poorly insulated or energy inefficient. You can save up to 30% off your energy bill and 1,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Energy Star can help you find an energy specialist.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->13. <!--[endif]-->Cover your pots while cooking
Doing so can save a lot of the energy needed for preparing the dish. Even better are pressure cookers and steamers: they can save around 70%!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->14. <!--[endif]-->Use the washing machine or dishwasher only when they are full
If you need to use it when it is half full, then use the half-load or economy setting. There is also no need to set the temperatures high. Nowadays detergents are so efficient that they get your clothes and dishes clean at low temperatures.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->15. <!--[endif]-->Take a shower instead of a bath
A shower takes up to four times less energy than a bath. To maximize the energy saving, avoid power showers and use low-flow showerheads, which are cheap and provide the same comfort.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->16. <!--[endif]-->Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year) instead of hot.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->17. <!--[endif]-->Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->18. <!--[endif]-->Insulate and weatherize your home
Properly insulating your walls and ceilings can save 25% of your home heating bill and 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year. Caulking and weather-stripping can save another 1,700 pounds per year. Energy Efficient has more information on how to better insulate your home.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->19. <!--[endif]-->Be sure you’re recycling at home
You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide a year by recycling half of the waste your household generates.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->20. <!--[endif]-->Recycle your organic waste
Around 3% of the greenhouse gas emissions through the methane is released by decomposing bio-degradable waste. By recycling organic waste or composting it if you have a garden, you can help eliminate this problem! Just make sure that you compost it properly, so it decomposes with sufficient oxygen, otherwise your compost will cause methane emissions and smell foul.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->21. <!--[endif]-->Buy intelligently
One bottle of 1.5l requires less energy and produces less waste than three bottles of 0.5l. As well, buy recycled paper products: it takes less 70 to 90% less energy to make recycled paper and it prevents the loss of forests worldwide.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->22. <!--[endif]-->Choose products that come with little packaging and buy refills when you can
You will also cut down on waste production and energy use… another help against global warming.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->23. <!--[endif]-->Reuse your shopping bag
When shopping, it saves energy and waste to use a reusable bag instead of accepting a disposable one in each shop. Waste not only discharges CO2 and methane into the atmosphere, it can also pollute the air, groundwater and soil.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->24. <!--[endif]-->Reduce waste
Most products we buy cause greenhouse gas emissions in one or another way, e.g. during production and distribution. By taking your lunch in a reusable lunch box instead of a disposable one, you save the energy needed to produce new lunch boxes.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->25. <!--[endif]-->Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime. Shade provided by trees can also reduce your air conditioning bill by 10 to 15%. The Arbor Day Foundation has information on planting and provides trees you can plant with membership.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->26. <!--[endif]-->Switch to green power
In many areas, you can switch to energy generated by clean, renewable sources such as wind and solar. In some of these, you can even get refunds by government if you choose to switch to a clean energy producer, and you can also earn money by selling the energy you produce and don’t use for yourself.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->27. <!--[endif]-->Buy locally grown and produced foods
The average meal in the United States travels 1,200 miles from the farm to your plate. Buying locally will save fuel and keep money in your community.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->28. <!--[endif]-->Buy fresh foods instead of frozen
Frozen food uses 10 times more energy to produce.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->29. <!--[endif]-->Seek out and support local farmers markets
They reduce the amount of energy required to grow and transport the food to you by one fifth. Seek farmer’s markets in your area, and go for them.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->30. <!--[endif]-->Buy organic foods as much as possible
Organic soils capture and store carbon dioxide at much higher levels than soils from conventional farms. If we grew all of our corn and soybeans organically, we’d remove 580 billion pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->31. <!--[endif]-->Eat less meat
Methane is the second most significant greenhouse gas and cows are one of the greatest methane emitters. Their grassy diet and multiple stomachs cause them to produce methane, which they exhale with every breath.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->32. <!--[endif]-->Reduce the number of miles you drive by walking, biking, carpooling or taking mass transit wherever possible
Avoiding just 10 miles of driving every week would eliminate about 500 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions a year! Look for transit options in your area.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->33. <!--[endif]-->Start a carpool with your coworkers or classmates
Sharing a ride with someone just 2 days a week will reduce your carbon dioxide emissions by 1,590 pounds a year. eRideShare.com runs a free service connecting north American commuters and travelers.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->34. <!--[endif]-->Don’t leave an empty roof rack on your car
This can increase fuel consumption and CO2 emissions by up to 10% due to wind resistance and the extra weight - removing it is a better idea.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->35. <!--[endif]-->Keep your car tuned up
Regular maintenance helps improve fuel efficiency and reduces emissions. When just 1% of car owners properly maintain their cars, nearly a billion pounds of carbon dioxide are kept out of the atmosphere.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->36. <!--[endif]-->Drive carefully and do not waste fuel
You can reduce CO2 emissions by readjusting your driving style. Choose proper gears, do not abuse the gas pedal, use the engine brake instead of the pedal brake when possible and turn off your engine when your vehicle is motionless for more than one minute. By readjusting your driving style you can save money on both fuel and car maintenance.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->37. <!--[endif]-->Check your tires weekly to make sure they’re properly inflated
Proper tire inflation can improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Since every gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere, every increase in fuel efficiency makes a difference!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->38. <!--[endif]-->When it is time for a new car, choose a more fuel efficient vehicle
You can save 3,000 pounds of carbon dioxide every year if your new car gets only 3 miles per gallon more than your current one. You can get up to 60 miles per gallon with a hybrid! You can find information on fuel efficiency on FuelEconomy and on GreenCars websites.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->39. <!--[endif]-->Try car sharing
Need a car but don’t want to buy one? Community car sharing organizations provide access to a car and your membership fee covers gas, maintenance and insurance. Many companies – such as Flexcar - offer low emission or hybrid cars too! Also, see ZipCar.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->40. <!--[endif]-->Try telecommuting from home
Telecommuting can help you drastically reduce the number of miles you drive every week. For more information, check out the Telework Coalition.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->41. <!--[endif]-->Fly less
Air travel produces large amounts of emissions so reducing how much you fly by even one or two trips a year can reduce your emissions significantly. You can also offset your air travel carbon emissions by investingin renewable energy projects.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->42. <!--[endif]-->Encourage your school or business to reduce emissions
You can extend your positive influence on global warming well beyond your home by actively encouraging other to take action.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->43. <!--[endif]-->Join the virtual march
The Stop Global Warming Virtual March is a non-political effort to bring people concerned about global warming together in one place. Add your voice to the hundreds of thousands of other people urging action on this issue.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->44. <!--[endif]-->Encourage the switch to renewable energy
Successfully combating global warming requires a national transition to renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass. These technologies are ready to be deployed more widely but there are regulatory barriers impeding them. U.S. citizens, take action to break down those barriers with Vote Solar.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->45. <!--[endif]-->Protect and conserve forest worldwide
Forests play a critial role in global warming: they store carbon. When forests are burned or cut down, their stored carbon is release into the atmosphere - deforestation now accounts for about 20% of carbon dioxide emissions each year. Conservation International has more information on saving forests from global warming.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->46. <!--[endif]-->Consider the impact of your investments
If you invest your money, you should consider the impact that your investments and savings will have on global warming. Check out SocialInvest and Ceres to can learn more about how to ensure your money is being invested in companies, products and projects that address issues related to climate change.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->47. <!--[endif]-->Make your city cool
Cities and states around the country have taken action to stop global warming by passing innovative transportation and energy saving legislation. If you’re in the U.S., join the cool cities list.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->48. <!--[endif]-->Tell Congress to act
The McCain Lieberman Climate Stewardship and Innovation Act would set a firm limit on carbon dioxide emissions and then use free market incentives to lower costs, promote efficiency and spur innovation. Tell your representative to support it.

<!--[if !supportLists]-->49. <!--[endif]-->Make sure your voice is heard!
Americans must have a stronger commitment from their government in order to stop global warming and implement solutions and such a commitment won’t come without a dramatic increase in citizen lobbying for new laws with teeth. Get the facts about U.S. politicians and candidates at Project Vote Smart and The League of Conservation Voters. Make sure your voice is heard by voting!

<!--[if !supportLists]-->50. <!--[endif]-->Share this list!
Send this page via e-mail to your friends! Spread this list worldwide and help people doing their part: the more people you will manage to enlighten, the greater YOUR help to save the planet will be (but please take action on first person too)!

//……imagiNation……\\ » Blog Archive » Top 50 Things To Do To Stop Global Warming