This short article is a reminder of what the numbers inside the ubiquitous triangle of chasing arrows mean. Use the link below.
http://www.realsimple.com/home-organizing/green-living/recycling-refresher-course-00000000007102/index.html
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
The Story of Stuff
For those of you who have not watched this, I highly suggest you take the time. It's only 20 mins. long and could change the way we now think as a society. Over 7 million have already view this so don't be the last.
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
http://www.storyofstuff.com/
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
FREE SOLAR HOT WATER
Free Solar Hot WaterAlthough this was built to heat a pool it can be used for other applications as well.
This is the result of an experiment to see if I could build a hot water solar panel absolutely free. AND IT WORKS!
I do tend to salvage more than the average person but if you look around your garage or shop you may find that you do as well. You can also modify to match what you have. I will post the drawings for the next proto type very soon that will cost around $100 or less to build using 1/2 copper tubing. The drawings are free and the more you can salvage or reuse the cheaper it will be. Let me know how you do.
I had salvaged the following:
(2) sets of old windows from a neighbor that was upgrading
(1) 50' 5/8"garden hose with a smashed end (not the best choice but it was free)
(1) gal. of roofing patch (left over from a repair job)
(2) male replacement hose ends
(1) old sheet of plywood
misc. PVC T's and valves
(2)steel reinforced washing machine hoses
several scrap 2x4's (various sizes)
several scrap 4x4's (various sizes)
The frame was built to accommodate three of the four window sections, if I added the fourth it would have been over 8' in length and more difficult to move around. As it is I can easily move to store or relocate. Once the frame is built drill two 5/8" holes in one side and laid out the hose so that the entire 50' fits into the box as flat as it can be to allow for maximum exposure. Cut the ends off of the hose and pushed them through the two drilled holes in the frame and attach the replacement male ends. Next stir the roof patch well and spread over the hose covering as much of the inside framework as possible. Insert the window frames and screw from the side. This will allow you to remove them for repair or to modify at anytime in the future (you will note a few walnuts in the photos from a neighbors tree and a crack in one piece of glass). Chalk the frames to water proof.
The stand is just 4x4's cut on angle and attached to a scrap piece of phywood with a 2x4 at the bottom to hold the panel in place. The panel is not attached to the stand. Think of an easel.
I will clean up this unit over the winter by staining the wood with a waterproof stain for a very aesthetic look and salvage something I can use to protect the glass.
Note the input and output hoses are washing machine hoses that are steel braided to help protect the exposed lines and they are designed for hot water.
I used a 1" valve with a 3/4" tread adapter and tapped into the high side of pumps output line. The valve allows me to control the flow of water through the panel and also allows me to shut off the water when temps are acceptable. The return line tapped into the low side of the output. I wasn't sure at first if this would work well but it did. Next year I may replace it with a downward 45 degree tap that should allow less restriction on the flow.This pump normally runs at 10PSI and there was absolutely no stress on the hoses.
When testing ( full sun) the panel rose to 175 degrees without the water flowing. When the pump was running, the panel temp. stayed around 135 degrees and the water flowed out between 100 & 110 degrees. Due to the size of the plumbing the cold mixes with the hot at an estimated ratio of 10:1. The pump only runs for 8 hours during the hottest part of the day (here 10am to 6pm) and with the help of a solar cover used at night the water temp stays between 86 & 90 degrees which is what I set out to do.
Although you can control the flow to the panel I normally leave it fully open as this is the range I was looking for.
Good luck if you decide to take on this endeavor. It was well worth the time.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Integrated Pest Management and it's biggest supporter
20 years ago I sat in front of one of the most animated man I have ever been associated with. He exploded with excitement when speaking of his trade and the way he saw the future of it. His enthusiasm impressed me so that I promptly quit my job as an electrician to work for his company.To my surprise, on the first day of my employment I found that he had only 45 customers and was still working on his logo. Today that dream of his has taken him to the 4th largest lawn care company in the nation, NaturaLawn of America...
Phil Catron, President and founder of NaturaLawn has kept his enthusiasm and dream , providing customers with an alternative to the larger chemical companies we all know. In the beginning Phil had worked for the largest of them but they didn't want anything to do with his want to integrate IPM (Integrated Pest Management) into their current format. So he set out to do it on his own. IPM in its simplest form means to treat the problem area only, not the entire lawn. I spent many hours walking lawns spot treating one weed at a time and it was my responsibility to promote the use of no chemicals at all through educating the customer. It took time back then to convince people to change but they have. The process was simple, have patience, change some minor habits (cutting height 3-4", keep blades sharp), build on the soil and the lawn of their dreams would come. I can not tell you how many times I would see other companies pull up across the street from me, jump from their trucks spraying everything in sight and disappear before I had finished surveying the current condition of my customers lawn, leaving only the smell of Diazinon (banned in 2004) wafting in the air. During the first winter months I worked there, not only did each technician have to earn their Pesticide Applicator license, but Phil would assign each of us a subject, not to learn but to teach everything we had learned to the others. After several weeks of preparation we would stand before our peers faced not only there questions but Phil's as well. He would be in the audience and only the most confident of us could smile when he raised his hand above the crowd.
Now since the growth of NaturaLawn, I am sure Phil can not be at every training session, but I guarantee he still requires each franchise to do the same as he did in the beginning.
I am not promoting NaturaLawn or am I paid to write this and the truth is I haven't spoken to Phil in years but I have followed his successes and he would be the first to tell that you can perform all the lawn care you need on your own. I have attached several links below including NaturaLawn that explain IPM, offer tips on alternative remedies or choosing a lawn care company if you are unable to do it yourself. There are also one that list many bio degradable house hold items that can be used to help fend off unwanted weeds and pest in your lawn or garden.
Before you spend your money check around. With today's unlimited access to information on the web (I recommend you stay with the .gov or extension services), it is easy to find alternatives to chemicals. It's not only cheaper and safer, it's logically green.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org./lawn/factsheets/faq.htm
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h300choosinglawncare.html
http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/yard/lawn/chemicals.html
http://www.essortment.com/home/lawnpestfungus_scpv.htm
http://www.nl-amer.com/
Phil Catron, President and founder of NaturaLawn has kept his enthusiasm and dream , providing customers with an alternative to the larger chemical companies we all know. In the beginning Phil had worked for the largest of them but they didn't want anything to do with his want to integrate IPM (Integrated Pest Management) into their current format. So he set out to do it on his own. IPM in its simplest form means to treat the problem area only, not the entire lawn. I spent many hours walking lawns spot treating one weed at a time and it was my responsibility to promote the use of no chemicals at all through educating the customer. It took time back then to convince people to change but they have. The process was simple, have patience, change some minor habits (cutting height 3-4", keep blades sharp), build on the soil and the lawn of their dreams would come. I can not tell you how many times I would see other companies pull up across the street from me, jump from their trucks spraying everything in sight and disappear before I had finished surveying the current condition of my customers lawn, leaving only the smell of Diazinon (banned in 2004) wafting in the air. During the first winter months I worked there, not only did each technician have to earn their Pesticide Applicator license, but Phil would assign each of us a subject, not to learn but to teach everything we had learned to the others. After several weeks of preparation we would stand before our peers faced not only there questions but Phil's as well. He would be in the audience and only the most confident of us could smile when he raised his hand above the crowd.
Now since the growth of NaturaLawn, I am sure Phil can not be at every training session, but I guarantee he still requires each franchise to do the same as he did in the beginning.
I am not promoting NaturaLawn or am I paid to write this and the truth is I haven't spoken to Phil in years but I have followed his successes and he would be the first to tell that you can perform all the lawn care you need on your own. I have attached several links below including NaturaLawn that explain IPM, offer tips on alternative remedies or choosing a lawn care company if you are unable to do it yourself. There are also one that list many bio degradable house hold items that can be used to help fend off unwanted weeds and pest in your lawn or garden.
Before you spend your money check around. With today's unlimited access to information on the web (I recommend you stay with the .gov or extension services), it is easy to find alternatives to chemicals. It's not only cheaper and safer, it's logically green.
http://www.beyondpesticides.org./lawn/factsheets/faq.htm
http://www.extension.umn.edu/yardandgarden/ygbriefs/h300choosinglawncare.html
http://www.govlink.org/hazwaste/house/yard/lawn/chemicals.html
http://www.essortment.com/home/lawnpestfungus_scpv.htm
http://www.nl-amer.com/
Friday, October 2, 2009
A weekend getaway
Mountain View Solar and Wind, LLC is one of those companies serious about energy efficiency. Mike goes out of his way to educate people on the advances in the industry. Again there can be high cost involved so if you are able to attended his open house keep in mind that you are there to learn, not buy, unless you can afford to. Besides, you will probably need your money for shopping in Berkeley Springs. And make sure you talk to Mike vs. the vendors, he knows more about their products then they do.
And don't forget to take a few empty jugs to bring back the free & famous spring water.
Enjoy....
Thanks to KV for reminding me about the open house
2ND ANNUAL SOLAR OPEN HOUSE OCT 3RD & 4TH
We are hosting our second annual Solar Open House October 3rd from 10AM-4PM & the 4th from 12PM-4PM. We invite you to join us on a tour of a middle-class, average-sized home that is fitted with energy efficient equipment that can be used by mainstream America. The systems installed include grid-tied & net metered solar photovoltaic (PV), Velux solar hot water system, Skystream 3.7 wind generator, SIPs walls, high efficiency heat pump, radiant floor heat and all the electronics that make it operate maintenance free. Protect against power outages, high utility rates and reduce carbon emissions. Be part of the renewable energy revolution. There will be workshops on solar hot water, solar photovoltaics, small wind power, and geothermal heating & cooling. Solar House tours will be running throughout the day, and there will be a variety of professionals representing many green building technologies & products.
WHERE: 3026 Pious Ridge Rd, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
WHEN: Oct 3rd from 10AM-4PM & Oct 4th from 12PM-4PM
COST: Free admission, food and drinks will be available to purchase. This year our open house is part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour, for more info on the National Tour click here.
NOTE: We have had a great deal of interest in volunteering to help spread the word about the Open House & helping during the event. We are still actively seeking volunteers, and if you are interested please contact our Director of Operations, Colin Williams at (O) 304.258.4733 or via email at mvscolin@gmail.com
For a brighter energy future,
Kelly Waugh
Mountain View Solar and Wind, LLC
15 Greenway Drive
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(O) 304.258.4320
And don't forget to take a few empty jugs to bring back the free & famous spring water.
Enjoy....
Thanks to KV for reminding me about the open house
2ND ANNUAL SOLAR OPEN HOUSE OCT 3RD & 4TH
We are hosting our second annual Solar Open House October 3rd from 10AM-4PM & the 4th from 12PM-4PM. We invite you to join us on a tour of a middle-class, average-sized home that is fitted with energy efficient equipment that can be used by mainstream America. The systems installed include grid-tied & net metered solar photovoltaic (PV), Velux solar hot water system, Skystream 3.7 wind generator, SIPs walls, high efficiency heat pump, radiant floor heat and all the electronics that make it operate maintenance free. Protect against power outages, high utility rates and reduce carbon emissions. Be part of the renewable energy revolution. There will be workshops on solar hot water, solar photovoltaics, small wind power, and geothermal heating & cooling. Solar House tours will be running throughout the day, and there will be a variety of professionals representing many green building technologies & products.
WHERE: 3026 Pious Ridge Rd, Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
WHEN: Oct 3rd from 10AM-4PM & Oct 4th from 12PM-4PM
COST: Free admission, food and drinks will be available to purchase. This year our open house is part of the American Solar Energy Society's National Solar Tour, for more info on the National Tour click here.
NOTE: We have had a great deal of interest in volunteering to help spread the word about the Open House & helping during the event. We are still actively seeking volunteers, and if you are interested please contact our Director of Operations, Colin Williams at (O) 304.258.4733 or via email at mvscolin@gmail.com
For a brighter energy future,
Kelly Waugh
Mountain View Solar and Wind, LLC
15 Greenway Drive
Berkeley Springs, WV 25411
(O) 304.258.4320
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Can you afford to go green, the answer is
Going green is not just doing your part, it can help everyone save tons of money, great thought huh? It always seems to cost more to do the right thing. Sometimes I believe that the term 'going green' was some marketers spin for "make'um feel bad about the environment and we will be elbow deep in the $$$$ aka 'GREEN", wink, wink....
Example, I recently attended a home show and found that the reality of it all is most 'green' systems cost so much that one, you would have to be very well off to afford them (after all you are buying bragging rights as well) and two, they would probably be obsolete by the time you broke even. When you are talking about investing $25K to $50K on these systems it is no wonder few are able to do it. Will the prices come down, eventually, after all the initial investment cost are recovered. Engineers tend to over design things at times. The more bells and wistles the better. So it takes a realitively long time to recapture the companies investment and well, with profits, bonuses, board members, think in terms of everything that has been going on and you will probably answer your own question. Doubtful.
During the last few years I have had a chance to work out a few basic systems for the average person. I did this out of necessity to get my bills down to an affordable level. My designs are based off of systems that have been in place for thousands of years. It's easy when you think about it, but so few have the kind of time to research or experiment with what works and what doesn't. Since I was laid off at the beginning of the economic breakdown, I found that I had more time than job offers. So I just started working for myself and was fortunate enough to be around friends and associates who enjoyed discussing the alternatives to these high dollar systems. Try talking to your friends over a couple of drinks and the ideas will be flowing by the third round. As for me, I found most of the materials I needed in my own garage or shed and a huge amount of information on the net. Remember, think about it all logically.....you don't have to spend a fortune buying the latest greatest gadget, you can probably make it yourself. If you don't have the time to research, stay tuned.
It is my hope going forward to provide you with helpful links, tips and designs so that you can build your own systems for pennys or nothing but your time. You may just want to make a few minor changes in your everyday life and save some bucks. Just think, you can recycle/reuse all that scrap in your garbage or garage and bring going green back to the people who need it the most, you. For those of you who can afford to have someone else help you, I hope to also include links for companies as I come across them who are making green not just affordable but cheaper than the conventional methods, believe it or not there are still a few out there who aren't seeing 'going green' as $$$$.
Example, I recently attended a home show and found that the reality of it all is most 'green' systems cost so much that one, you would have to be very well off to afford them (after all you are buying bragging rights as well) and two, they would probably be obsolete by the time you broke even. When you are talking about investing $25K to $50K on these systems it is no wonder few are able to do it. Will the prices come down, eventually, after all the initial investment cost are recovered. Engineers tend to over design things at times. The more bells and wistles the better. So it takes a realitively long time to recapture the companies investment and well, with profits, bonuses, board members, think in terms of everything that has been going on and you will probably answer your own question. Doubtful.
During the last few years I have had a chance to work out a few basic systems for the average person. I did this out of necessity to get my bills down to an affordable level. My designs are based off of systems that have been in place for thousands of years. It's easy when you think about it, but so few have the kind of time to research or experiment with what works and what doesn't. Since I was laid off at the beginning of the economic breakdown, I found that I had more time than job offers. So I just started working for myself and was fortunate enough to be around friends and associates who enjoyed discussing the alternatives to these high dollar systems. Try talking to your friends over a couple of drinks and the ideas will be flowing by the third round. As for me, I found most of the materials I needed in my own garage or shed and a huge amount of information on the net. Remember, think about it all logically.....you don't have to spend a fortune buying the latest greatest gadget, you can probably make it yourself. If you don't have the time to research, stay tuned.
It is my hope going forward to provide you with helpful links, tips and designs so that you can build your own systems for pennys or nothing but your time. You may just want to make a few minor changes in your everyday life and save some bucks. Just think, you can recycle/reuse all that scrap in your garbage or garage and bring going green back to the people who need it the most, you. For those of you who can afford to have someone else help you, I hope to also include links for companies as I come across them who are making green not just affordable but cheaper than the conventional methods, believe it or not there are still a few out there who aren't seeing 'going green' as $$$$.
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