Walmart plans to make their supply chain greener

Walmart just recently announced to make their supply chain greener by 2015. They want to cut 20 million metric tons of green house gases and to do so, they have asked their supply chain to look for greener alternatives. This is great that big companies are starting to do this more and more. This may also help Walmarts bottom line and make them more profitable in the future. So Walmart has everything to gain from this.

Solar Energy -Google Develops Prototype new Mirror technology

Google has set its sites on developing a new technology that can cut energy consumption by half in a building using a new mirror technology. This new technology should be ready in about 3 years or sooner. The sun heat would heat this mirror material and create steam to run a turbine. Google is investing in 2 companies for this new technology. If this technology turns out to be feasable they could reduce green house gas by 2x.

Capitalizing on Clean Tech in 2010

Germany to cut solar tariffs by April?

Germany is expected to reduce solar feed-in tariffs by July 2010, but a report on Reuters Thursday said that the German government will move ahead early with a 16%-17% reduction in its solar incentive scheme by this April. Though the source was an anonymous source fueling speculation on solar stocks. Most solars stocks like CSIQ and TSL dropped almost 20 percent over the last 2 trading days right after this was reported. We can only speculated if this was done on purpose to lower shares. It was also options expiry week too. Though, a move to reduce solar tariffs quickly would be difficult for Germany to pull off due to the government approval process. So this news report may be unfounded

Future of Alternative Energy -3D solar cells

On CNBC - New Technologies in Alternative energy - 3D solar cells

Alternative Energy living: Green and Greener in Suburban Towns

By MIREYA NAVARRO
Published: October 9, 2009
"FOR two years, Valerie Williams had been considering making the five-bedroom home she grew up in more energy efficient — hoping to shrink her $350 monthly utility bill — but more pressing expenses always came first.

Then the town of Babylon came up with an offer she couldn’t refuse: if she and her husband, Carlos, paid $250 for an energy audit, the town would finance the recommended upgrades. The couple would repay the town at a monthly rate below the savings on their utility bill. The audit, done this month, found that by insulating walls, basement and attic, at a cost of $6,879, the Williamses could save about $1,300 a year." Read More from NYtimes

Alternative Energy Video - Charging Capitol Hill for Climate Change

Alternative Energy Video - Time to buy solar Stocks?

Green Celebrity - Michael Jackson - Earth Song - World Environment Day

Well, not really a Green celebrity but this was the only song that came close that Michael Jackson did for the environment, so I thought to post his video here. The song did raised awareness of eco issues and made climate change a more pressing concern among the younger generation. Rest in peace Michael.

Green Celebs and their causes - Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Hayden Panettiere

These days, most articles is more about celebrity oops then writing about their green eco causes. I won't write much as their are links to read more but here are 6 celebs that are doing something good for the environment. 2 thumbs up!

Green celeb: Leonardo DiCaprio
Eco cause: Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation
Read more: leonardodicaprio.org

Green celeb: Brad Pitt
Eco cause: Global Green USA Holy Cross Project
Read more: holycrossproject.globalgreen.org

Green celeb: Courtney Cox Arquette and David Arquette
Eco cause: Blue Planet Run Foundation
Read more: blueplanetrun.org

Green celeb: Barenaked Ladies (Canadian)
Eco cause: Reverb
Read more: reverbrock.org/barenakedplanet

Green celeb: Hayden Panettiere
Eco cause: Save the Whales Again
Read more: savethewhalesagain.com

Green celeb: Sienna Miller
Eco cause: Global Cool
Read more: globalcool.org

Eco Green Living - Are LED Lights any good for your home?

Home LED lights are a new cool technology. Most bulbs only use 1 - 1.5 watts and have 30,000 hours of life. Imagine the power savings if everyone were to use them. The draw back right now, they are kind of expensive. You can picked them up a Walmart right now for about 9 dollars each bulb. The good thing it lowers your energy consumption and your carbon footprint but when they say its equivalent to a 40 watt bulb, I highly doubt it. When using these bulbs, the rooms are much darker. Anyways, they are 90 percent more efficient than incandescent bulbs but because of the price, it was a total turn off and not what I expected, so I return them back to Walmart. I'll wait a little longer when they are cheaper. The spotlight LED ones were not to bad. For now, I'll stick with the Christmas LED lights during the winter as they look good, saves money and you don't need it that bright.

Telephone Voip Magic Jack actually bad for Environment?

Here is an interesting tibit or review about the popular telephone Magic Jack. They have sold millions around the world because of their very cheap telephone rates and setup (only 19.95 a year and 39.95 to buy it), also you get free long distance calling, free call forwarding, free call waiting, free call display etc.. but there is a drawback. You need to keep your computer on. Imagine all of these users leaving on their computers 24/7. How much energy does this drain? This is like an office building leaving on their lights at night when no one is in the office. Hopefully, most people still turn off their computers and just forward incoming calls to the cell phone or land lines. See for yourself below...cheers

Eco Green Living - China's Beijing closes coal plants to lower pollution

Less electricity demand due to the global financial crisis has given China the ability to close small coal-fired power plants. 60 percent of China's Energy comes from Coal.

"This couldn't be done when power demand was very intense," Sun said at a news conference. "Due to this financial crisis, the power generation has slowed down, so we took this opportunity to accelerate the shutdown."

China Finance Ministry last week announced to pay up to 70 percent of the cost of new solar systems and are trying to reduce demand for imported oil and gas by shutting down smaller, inefficient power plants and to change to more of an Eco friendly energy like wind, solar and other clean sources. This will lower sulfur dioxide emission by an approx. 1.1 million tons and carbon dioxide output by 124 million tons per year.

Watch out, Alternative Energy Solar Stocks on the rise! SPWRA

SPWRA is the first alternative energy solar company to announce earnings and they did not disappoint investors. They are up about 20 percent in after hours. Investors are looking for signs of a recovery in solar panel market and since SPWRA has raise their guidance going forward, it looks like the solar stocks are back. More solar companies report earnings in the coming weeks but with solar panel prices falling fast, there is still a risk that earnings may not see an improvement until 2010 but it looks like the stock markets are more concerned about guidance and this will bold well for all solar stocks like LDK, STP, CSIQ, TSL, FSLR (as long as they all up their earnings outlook).

For the past year the demand for solar panels has suffered because a lack of available financing for solar projects and a cut in government subsidies like in Spain and Germany. For those reason, prices were sent tumbling and most solar companies missed earnings and lower guidance.

Eco Green Living - Granite countertops radioactive with radon?

It is possible that some granite counter tops can emit radon radiation. Radon is invisible and odourless which makes this very dangerous for your home and family. This cancer causing gas "Radon" can be in your house and may emit a lethal level of radiation so it is important to get it checked out. See news video on CityTV in Toronto.

Renewable energy sources - How are solar panels made?

Great Video on Discovery Channel on how alternative energy solar panel is made. Very informative from start to finish.

Tips in how to Go Eco Green and Save Money!

Here are many small simple tips you can follow to go ECO GREEN and save power without using Solar and wind power:

• Plug your television into a power bar and turn that off when you aren’t watching.
• Wash your clothes in cold water. Since a high amount of the electricity is used in washing your clothes because of heating the water, using cold rather than hot water will save you tons of money
• Install a low-flow showerhead.
• Set the photocopier to print double-sided only. It takes ten times as much energy to make a piece of paper than it takes to copy onto it
• Boiling water for tea in a pot on your gas stove uses one-third the energy of a plug-in kettle

• Choose a laptop than a desktop - it uses about six times less electricity than a desktop
• Turn the screen saver off. Screen savers don’t save electricity. Rather, set your computer to go into sleep mode when you’re not using it.
• Get rid of that old Fridge and get a new Energy Star model
• Make sure you clean and replace your furnace filter often. A dirty filter forces your furnace to work harder to heat your home.
• When summer comes, keep the blinds closed and run a couple of fans instead of air conditioning
• On sunny days during the winter make sure you open your south-facing drapes and let the sun in
• See the commercial on TV? - Unplug your chargers i.e. cell phones, PDAs, digital cameras, cordless tools and other gadgets when you’re not charging.
• Turn your thermostat down at night, even a 4-degree Celsius could cut your gas bill by 10 per cent

• Get some foam sleeve insulation to insulate your hot water pipes and wrap it around the first nine feet off your water heater.
• Go from Gas-powered lawnmower to an old-fashioned push-and-pull model.
• Hang your laundry on a clothesline instead of throwing them in the dryer
• Drive at the speed limit. Going from 120 kilometers an hour to 100 cuts your fuel consumption.
• Buy a reusable coffee mug.
• Plug the gaps around pipes, ducts, fans and vents. This is done to save heating or cooling your house.

• Don't throw out that toner cartridge. Instead, reuse it.
• Use Energy-efficient automatic dishwashers that use half the energy and less water to the old fashioned way
• Fix Dripping taps
• Use a microwave instead of a conventional oven. You can save to 50 per cent of your cooking energy.
• Don't idle. You will save you gas and populate less
• Switch off your computer before you leave work.

In conclusion, simple lifestyle changes can make a big difference. It does not take much of your time to do all of these things. Think about how it changes things especially your pocket book, especially if you are not Green minded. Please add your comments on other ways to Go Green and Save Money.

Article also posted on:

http://forums.treehugger.com/viewtopic.php?f=49&t=10732

http://ezinearticles.com/?Tips-in-Growing-Green-Today-or-at-Least-Saves-Some-Money-If-Youre-Not-Green%21&id=2439474

Renewable energy sources - Massive African solar energy project

The massive alternative energy solar project would use largely solar thermal power plants. This solar technology uses mirrors to focus the suns' energy to heat a special oil, create steam and power generators. Many plants are running in the U.S, Spain and many other countries and that is why 12 European businesses are try to promote this into reality. See rest of story on CNBC news http://www.cnbc.com/id/31890647

Renewable energy sources - Building better wind turbines

Excellent article about how they are looking for better ways to harness the wind. The federal lab's wind projects are trying to drive down costs by improving how efficiently turbines operate.

"Wind is very random; it's very active," he said. "You get gusts, you get all kinds of phenomena. Machines need to be designed to withstand all those variabilities." Read rest of aticle on CNBC here. http://www.cnbc.com/id/31855708/for/cnbc/

Renewable energy sources - Are Vertical-axis wind turbines better?

Are alternative energy Vertical axis wind turbines better? These types of Wind power turbines are usually used mainly for homes in urban, suburban, and rural areas which make sense and does not look as threatening as the traditional types. Did I also say this type of wind turbine is "bird friendly"? The traditional ones kill many birds and bats, as the tradition wind turbines are way too fast and noisy. The birds are able to see the verticle axis wind turbine types, thus avoid crashing into them, plus they are very quiet.




See Video about the traditional wind turbines compared to the Vertical-Axis Wind Turbine.