Logically Green

Ecocide & Ecocidal

2010-04-14T11:49:00.004-04:00

Ecocide & Ecocidal as found in Webster's online.

eco- 1. a combining form meaning environment or habitat
-cide 1. killer, 2.killing
-cidal 1. of a killer or killing, 2. that can kill

Ecocide: the destruction of large areas of the natural environment especially as a result of deliberate human action. eco·cid·al \-ˈsī-dəl\ adjective

Or to put it simpler:

Ecocide; the killing of the environment
Ecocidal; those who destroy the environment

These terms have become a part of our language. What do they mean to you? On what scale do you imagine they will become part of our everyday life? Like words such as iPod, AIDS, MySpace, Autism, FaceBook, Genocide… your thoughts?

Water Our Thirsty World

2010-03-30T09:27:00.002-04:00

Many do not believe there is global warming. Ok, the research may still out on that, personally I believe it is a combination of events both man-made and natural but you can not dismiss the fact that the world is suffering from the lack of clean fresh water. I suggest you take some time to read the April issue of National Geographic (click on the title above) to expand you knowledge of what is happening. It will affect you no matter where you live. Example, one major earthquake could destroy California's water supply. California grows over half of this countries vegetables, fruits and nuts. Can you imagine the effects? The Middle East is at constant war over the rights to the Jordan River. Poor decisions around the world affect you more than you will know.
We are spoiled, it magically comes from our taps, but when you look at the whole process you will find that we are just one step from disaster.
Farming utilizes 70% of our water. Recently many farmers have modified their systems and reduced their consumptions by over a third. And they continue to come up with ingenious ways of doing so. Help them out. I urge you to support the local farmers in your area, they will need to support you in the very near future; ration your use of water voluntarily, reuse and recycle water. Collect rain water, it can be filtered and will be safer than what you are currently getting from your tap and in your bottles. Change local laws and codes to allow the use of recycled water systems.
As I continue to research sustainable systems, I will, for those who are interested, post them so that you can make simple modifications to your own home. You will help the world and save money at the same time. This isn’t political or anything else. I am only becoming a realist; I have to change as well.

The Story of Bottled Water

2010-03-29T11:44:00.003-04:00

Click the title to link to this short film....

The Story of Bottled Water, releasing March 22, 2010 on storyofbottledwater.org, employs the Story of Stuff style to tell the story of manufactured demand—how you get Americans to buy more than half a billion bottles of water every week when it already flows from the tap. Over seven minutes, the film explores the bottled water industry’s attacks on tap water and its use of seductive, environmental-themed advertising to cover up the mountains of plastic waste it produces. The film concludes with a call to ‘take back the tap,’ not only by making a personal commitment to avoid bottled water, but by supporting investments in clean, available tap water for all.

Our production partners on the bottled water film include five leading sustainability groups:

• Corporate Accountability International
• Environmental Working Group
• Food & Water Watch
• Pacific Institute
• Polaris Institute

Join our team: Please consider a tax-deductible gift to support the distribution of the Story of Bottled Water.
You can make a secure contribution HERE.

The Story of Bottled Water
Year: 2010
Length: 8:04mins

Written by Annie Leonard
Jonah Sachs
Louis Fox
Produced by Free Range Studios
Executive Producer Erica Priggen
Director Louis Fox
Camera Tim Kerns
Gaffer Charles Griswold
Sound Dan Gleich
Best Girl Lauren Stocker
Teleprompter Bill Buck
Hair/Make-Up Kathleen Gorga
Production Coordinator Wen Lee
Production Assistant Juliet Unfried
Animation Script Louis Fox
Ruben DeLuna
Animators Ruben DeLuna
Sarah Dungan
Ben Johnson
Editor
Mike Farley
Sound Design Ray Sutton
Project Manager Ben Hester

Website Designer ARG Studios
Website Developer Exygy
Flash Developer Todd Madere
Content Developer Jeff Conant

Story of Stuff Project Annie Leonard
Michael O’Heaney
Christina M. Samala
Allison Cook
Renee Shade

Viral Outreach Heidi Quante

Support provided by
Park Foundation, Inc
11th Hour Project

Content Advisors
Peter Gleick, Pacific Institute, Author, Bottled and Sold (Island Press)
Nick Guroff, Corporate Accountability International
Richard Girard, Polaris Institute
Renee Sharp, Environmental Working Group
Kate Fried, Food & Water Watch

The next four years....

2010-03-25T11:26:00.005-04:00

This is the reality, if we don’t change now it will only get worst. Many of us were thought how to farm, make do with what we had or create what we needed. Are we teaching our children the same or are we sending them into the world believing that he who has the most toys wins.
Our farm lands are disappearing, our dependency on fuel oil has made us reliant on other countries, our place in the global market is dwindling along with the respect we once had because we no longer create, we only destroy.
In just Four Years, we can change everything…

Please click on the title to view video or copy and paste this link to your browser.
It is well worth your time..........
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B_6iTCo5Ci8

Free Energy Is Here as it always has been.

2010-03-15T14:06:00.002-04:00

What would you do if you had found the answer to all our energy needs? Would take the money they offer to keep it quiet or be stoned to death by the academics’ and corporations of the world for heresy against our energy dogma.

In my search for sustainable systems I have come across the principals of free energy many times. It is out there, though many will deny it, defending their PhD’s because they can’t bear to have been wrong all these years. I have enclosed links below because seeing is believing. Look these inventors up on you tube and you will be surprised at how many people have built these motors at home from junk based on the knowledge the men below have offered up for free. The principal is simple so don’t get lost in the technical details and circuitry or the arguments for and against. Just be aware that it is available to everyone. Several of the inventors have been told to keep quiet and refused, so they were debunked at every opportunity (Google; John Bedini or Tom Bearden). But magnetic motors have been around since 1269 AD.
Now, Steorn Orbo Technology (see; http://www.healthsalon.org/482/orbo-steorn-free-energy-electromagnetic-energy-is-here/ ) has put their own version out there for anyone to test and prove them wrong. If they can not find fault, and I don’t believe they can, everything we have known before will change. Imagine, cars, electricity for home and office, motors of all shapes and sizes that require no fuel. This is where we should be investing our money. And this is where we should have been years ago.

Remember the names Peter Peregrius (1269AD), Lee Bowmen (1954), John Bedini, Tom Bearden, David Hamel and now Steorn Orbo Technology. They have all built knowledge off of their predecessors and each other, they have stood in the forefront, taking their shots to the point of being called frauds but they will survive and you will benefit from their stubbornness.

To see for yourself visit the links below and the many others that will pop up.

http://www.healthsalon.org/482/orbo-steorn-free-energy-electromagnetic-energy-is-here/

http://www.icehouse.net/john1/bearden.html

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9JikYfmEdF8&feature=related

Baby steps & a lot of but...A conservative look into sustainable housing

2010-03-11T12:36:00.008-05:00

click the title to see
The Oscar the Grouch of architecture - earthship.com
earthship.com
Stephen Colbert sits down to talk trash with "Garbage Warrior" Michael Reynolds. Fri, Mar 27 2009 at 9:19 AM EST

Michael Reynolds aka ‘The Garbage Warrior’ is a person with great conviction. He has led the way for many of us to get what would be known as ‘non standard’ or ‘those crazy self sustaining designs’ through our local building departments. Many of who don’t want to make their job more difficult by dealing with the unknown and some, in my experience, even make codes up on the fly due to their personal opinion or lack of understanding. For the most part local governments are made up of very conservative people. Mr. Reynolds has broken through a number of these barriers and he has some great ideas. His homes are built with rammed earth in tires, old bottles and cans as bricks; sewage recycled and rain collection systems which are all excellent. However, there is always a however or a but, even with all of this, most of his designs are more related to an artist rather than a conventional family. Only the bravest want to brag or even admit their home is built from junk, it is a new way of thinking and a smart one I have to say. So for anyone who is willing, as I am, I appalled you.

Here comes the but again,

To get the average person to change their way of thinking, we must take baby steps. Most environmentalist believe there is no time for that but when you consider that many people still believe that there is no global warming at all, that it is just a hoax, then saving the environment as an argument is out of the question. They want their old economy back where convenience is everything. Even so, they can not argue with saving money. Even if they were right, there is still something in it for them, that’s $$$ and money talks. Now the ones who have been hit hard by that very same economy, have learned they want nothing more than to be able to live comfortably without the fear of losing their heat, electric or their homes entirely due to natural disasters or lose of income. They will easily change their way of thinking if we make it a little more, let’s say acceptable in design.
I differ from Mr. Reynolds’ ideas in several areas. The first is design; if we make it more conventional, a standard floor plan is easily accomplished with the use of concrete or block or any material that can be formed in straight or curved lines and carries a good thermal mass. You can argue that the energy involved in creating and transporting these materials is high, but, there it is again, if you consider that by using them in the short run you are eliminating the energy the home owner would have used over the lifetime of the home and that lifetime could be thousands of years. Remember we are looking at thermal mass and I am not recommending we cut down trees, if we do for design or necessity we need to replace them three fold. What I am saying is we are not going to get the majority of this country to change their vision of what a home can be, to utilize waste or even consider these ideas unless we take baby steps. Energy efficient housing is acceptable now, but there is little acceptance of underground or berm type housing. Caves, darkness and fear of collapse are the first thought that comes to the average persons mind when in reality these are the safest and can have more natural lighting than what is now standard in other dwellings. Not to mention they will save huge amounts of money on their utilities if you do nothing more than the simplest earth tubes and natural ventilation.

Second, as a nation we have become germiphobes. Although I am all for it, many people, especially those who want their economy back, as a general rule are not willing to have their waste systems or greywater running through their homes and growing their food in those systems. Remember, baby steps are the key. Maybe we take the waste outside first, process it and then bring it back through the system, or process it more efficiently so that is does not infect our ground water. I can guarantee that the average people in this country is not going to have any desire to sit on a toilet flushed with greywater no matter how clean it is, it is the thought. The thing they don’t realize is what they are drinking from their current taps can be and is probably worst, it is just a matter of out of sight, out of mind. My own municipal water system has failed miserably for the last 5 years running. Cancer causing agents etc….but the cost keeps going up to pump this crap into our home.

Rain water collection is probably the most acceptable change we can make now. Many a gardener will brag about how big their system is. But to use it even filtered completely for drinking (potable) water will take time to it get into people and our local government heads as safe. These days many people on the outskirts of town will abandon their wells completely as soon as municipal water reaches them. The convenience of having water under a steady pressure even if cold when power is out is enough to convince many a family. It is also the thought what well water has in it and we have all heard stories of local governments coming through and condemning wells as a rule by telling people they don’t pass their health standards or have a higher then recommended nitrate levels which will damage a baby’s liver. We don’t want blue babies now do we, they say? All this just to get as many people hooked up as possible. Even if their tests are actuate, many times over the government will set the accepted levels much lower than recommended to save itself from lawsuit or just to guarantee the customer base it needs to provide the profitable service. How much pressure from the city and local jurisdiction are on these departments and inspectors? Does, what is good for all, outweigh the good of an individual. Sorry I drifted, back to it, in my case a properly filtered, gravity fed rainwater system plumbing throughout my home would have to be far superior to what I am getting now.

So how do we change the minds of our local and national government? We keep pushing, pushing for acceptance of new and ancient designs as a norm rather then the opinion ‘it is just some hippie’s hobbit home fantasy.’ And we have to make it cheaper in cost so that there is more attention brought to it. Currently it will cost you about $200 per sq ft. (unless you do most of the labor yourself) for a self sufficient underground or berm style home, which is far less costly than what you are paying now in a conventional home, when you consider the savings in utilities over the years. It also has to be sociably acceptable by today’s standards, which means a little more conservative. Everybody loves to say they know someone who lives in a unique home but few are willing to try it themselves. We need to make the systems (i.e. rainwater, solar, geothermal) cheaper, simpler & easier to retro fit older homes so that it become the norm rather than the exception. Baby steps, baby steps, baby steps….

By the way Earthship Biotecture (http://earthship.net/) is currently attempting this. But the systems need to be cheaper and you can build them yourself. Over the last winter here in the northeast, many people who had lost their income or retirement went without heat. I have studied simplifying systems for 3 years now and the simplicity of earth tubes and proper ventilation can prevent this. Even retro fitting to an older homes could be as cheap as a one day rental of a backhoe and 100’ of 6 “ PVC along with modifying ventilation at the top of the structure which can be as simple as an open window in some cases, you could have a self sustaining heating and cooling system that shy of the install would be free, forever.

So why aren’t we doing this? Because most people don’t know they can. So again, I thank Michael Reynolds for leading the way along with many other designers, architects and builders out there. I hope that you will consider this so called alternate way of life, because it really isn’t. It is just a common sense, simpler and less costly way of living.

The 'sticker shock' of the new LEDs remains

2010-03-01T09:45:00.003-05:00

I have worked as an electrician and a technical manager in electronics over the years and in my opinion, LED lighting will be the way to go. So much so, I am configuring it into most of my designs for sustainable living, but there is reason for that (keep reading).
The problem is how long it will take the manufacturers to get the retail price to a point where most people can afford to cash in on the savings. As it stands now, most people get sticker shock from the prices on LED's (approx $36.00 each)and revert back to incandescents or CFL's. If you can bite the bullet and switch over you will see the amount electricity you use for your lighting fall to 10% of what incandescents use. There is a drop of 43% of CFL's currently offer. In the long run, we are talking 25 years worth of lighting here, the difference between LED's and CFL's gets down to only a 1.1% difference in savings due to the high cost of the LED's.
As it stands right now, CFL's are the greatest value for you buck in the short term but keep watching for a reduction in LED pricing. Once it gets to under $20 per bulb start replacing them. If you are utilizing solar for electricity, which now. The LED's will free up well over half of the electricity you are getting from CFL's and 90% from incandescents resulting in smaller systems, less batteries and lower cost.

Click on the title link above and see a great cost comparison chart.

Definitions
The incandescent light bulb, incandescent lamp or incandescent light globe is a source of electric light that works by incandescence (a general term for heat-driven light emissions, which includes the simple case of black body radiation). An electric current passes through a thin filament, heating it so that it produces light. The enclosing glass bulb contains either a vacuum or an inert gas to prevent oxidation of the hot filament. Incandescent bulbs are also sometimes called electric lamps, a term also applied to the original arc lamps.
A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL), also known as a compact fluorescent light or energy saving light (or less commonly as a compact fluorescent tube [CFT]), is a type of fluorescent lamp. Many CFLs are designed to replace an incandescent lamp and can fit into most existing light fixtures formerly used for incandescents.
A light-emitting diode (LED) is a semiconductor light source. LEDs are used as indicator lamps in many devices, and are increasingly used for lighting. Introduced as a practical electronic component in 1962,[2] early LEDs emitted low-intensity red light, but modern versions are available across the visible, ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths, with very high brightness.

House plants are back

2010-03-01T08:39:00.006-05:00

Back in the 70's we would all have house plants, it was in style then. It may be time to bring it back. The following is from a NASA study that list the best oxygen producing house plants.
Please Note: The following three plants from on this list should be avoided if there are cats in the home:
Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta), Dracaena “Janet Craig”, Philodendron.
For photos of these plants and the original site, please click the title link.

Top ten plants for removing formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air:
1. Areca Palm (Chrysalidocarpus lutescens)
Also called the “Butterfly Palm”. An upright houseplant that is somewhat vase shaped. Specimen plants can reach 10 to 12 foot in height. Prefers a humid area to avoid tip damage. Requires pruning. When selecting an Areca palm look for plants with larger caliber trunks at the base of the plant. Plants that have pencil thin stems tend to topple over and are quite difficult to maintain.

2. Lady Palm (Rhapis excelsa)
Also called the “Lady Palm”, this durable palm species adapts well to most interiors. The Rhapis are some of the easiest palms to grow, but each species has its own particular environment and culture requirements. The “Lady Palm” grows slowly, but can grow to more than 14′ in height with broad clumps often having a diameter as wide as their height.

3. Bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii)
Also called the “reed palm”, this palm prefers bright indirect light. New plants will lose of some interior foliage as they acclimate to indoor settings. This plant likes to stay uniformly moist, but does not like to be over-watered or to sit in standing water. Indoor palms may attract spider mites which can be controlled by spraying with a soapy solution.

4. Rubber Plant (Ficus robusta)
Grows very well indoors, preferring semi-sun lighting. Avoid direct sunlight, especially in summer. Young plants may need to be supported by a stake. The Ficus grows to 8’ with a spread of 5’. Wear gloves when pruning, as the milky sap may irritate the skin. Water thoroughly when in active growth, then allow the soil to become fairly dry before watering again. In winter keep slightly moist.

5. Dracaena “Janet Craig” (Dracaena deremensis)
The Dracaena grows to 10’ with a spread of 3’. Easy to grow, these plants do best in bright indirect sunlight coming from the east/west. They can adapt to lower light levels if the watering is reduced. Keep the soil evenly moist and mist frequently with warm water. Remove any dead leaves. Leaf tips will go brown if the plant is under watered but this browning may be trimmed.

6. Philodendron (Philodendron sp.)
One of the most durable of all house plants. Philodendrons prefer medium intensity light but will tolerate low light. Direct sun will burn the leaves and stunt plant growth. This plant is available in climbing and non-climbing varieties. When grown indoors, they need to be misted regularly and the leaves kept free of dust. Soil should be evenly moist, but allowed to dry between watering.

7. Dwarf Date Palm (Phoenix roebelenii)
A hardy, drought-tolerant and long-lived plant, the Dwarf Date Palm needs a bright spot which is free of drafts. It grows slowly, reaching heights of 8-10’. The Dwarf Date Palm should not be placed near children’s play areas because it has sharp needle-like spines arranged near the base of the leaf stem. These can easily penetrate skin and even protective clothing.

8. Ficus Alii (Ficus macleilandii “Alii”)
The Ficus Alii grows easily indoors, and resists insects. It prefers a humid environment and low to medium light when grown indoors. The Ficus Aliii should not be placed near heating or air conditioning vents, or near drafts because this could cause leaf loss. Soil should be kept moist but allowed to dry between watering.

9. Boston Fern (Nephrolepis exaltata “Bostoniensis”)
The Boston fern grows to 4’ in height with a spread up to 5’. It has feathery ferns which are best displayed as a hanging plant. It prefers bright indirect sunlight. Keep the soil barely moist and mist frequently with warm water. This plant is prone to spider mites and whitefly which can be controlled using a soapy water spray. Inspect new plants for bugs before bringing them home.

10. Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum “Mauna Loa”)
The Peace Lily is a compact plant which grows to a height of 3’ with a 2’ spread. This hardy plant tolerates neglect. It prefers indirect sunlight and high humidity, but needs to be placed out of drafts. For best results, the Peace Lily should be thoroughly watered, then allowed to go moderately dry between waterings. The leaves should be misted frequently with warm water.

Making of a dream- download it at calearth.org

2010-02-17T08:58:00.003-05:00

Making of a dream- download it at calearth.org

I believe most of you will enjoy this so take a moment.

Another comment received...

2010-02-02T11:40:00.005-05:00

Another comment received, review IPM entry. And anyone in the NJ area, check these guys out at http://debugitpestcontrol.com
Debugit said...
I recently came across your blog and have been reading along. I thought I would leave my first comment.You have a great blog.Pest Control Services NJ,practices in Integrated Pest Management (IPM) and our service approach always reflects that.We follow the environmentally sensitive approach.
November 27, 2009 7:49 AM

The height of the fountain

2010-02-02T10:58:00.004-05:00

噴泉的高度，不會超過它的源頭。一個人的事業也是如此，它的成就絕不會超過自己的信念。 ...........

Translation
The height of the fountain does not exceed its source. A person's business, its success will never exceed their belief. ...........
This comment was left on this blog in traditional Chinese and although I could not get a good translation on the name, I thank you all the same. I will never allow anything to exceed beyond my belief. Nor will I allow business to change it. There are no real experts in this field. We take ideas from each other in an open atmosphere in order to create a better tomorrow.
Now there are those of you who believe that there is no reason to change the status quo or the way we think, you will quote research take debunks any proof we have regarding the degradation of this planet as long as it agrees to your life style. Even if all the research in the world about global warming and pollution were found to be incorrect, what could recycling/reuse and self sustaining actually do to this world? It’s a safe bet that it beats using up every resource we can get our hands on. And it will be a healthier, more self satisfying way of life. Think about tomorrow because this day is almost done.

Sneak peek at concept home

2009-12-08T14:05:00.007-05:00

I have talked about this before so I thought I would give you a sneak peek of what my concept is for underground housing. Please excused the roughness, this was drawn with only a pencil and ruler on a rough dining table.

The floor plan for this model will be posted soon. The home is approx 1600 sq. ft., 3 bedroom /2 bath plus a 2 car garage.

The 2 story atrium is 18' X 18' and is accessed from the master bedroom and dining area via french doors filling these area with natural sunlight. Additional natural light is brought in via solar tubes. The atrium also includes a spiral staircase to the roof (garden) which meets code for a second exit. The two additional bedrooms are located in the front of the home.

It will incorporate solar panels for hot water and electric, along with self-sustaining plumbing system, see previous blog. The louvers over the entrance area help shade the front during the summer but allow the lower winter sun to warm the front wall. Although minimal heat is required due the earth insulation.

The venting at the top allow for plumbing ventilation, radon gas evacuation along with air circulation venting (not shown) and the wood stove chimney. I may include as an option a wood oven and stove in case of long power outages.

I am working to get the total price of construction for this model down to <200k>

This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! We have to do better!!!!!!

2009-12-03T09:02:00.008-05:00

Today as I wandered through the internet researching the latest greatest advances in solar power I came across The American Solar Energy Society, their page to had a link to a solar calculator http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme.

Hey Great! I plugged in my average power usage for a 30 day period (from my electric bill) and let it do its thing. The calculator is based on professional installations using state of the art systems. The results are below.

This sucks!!!!!!!!!!! We have to do better!!!!!!

This is what drives me and this is why I am here to promote a grassroots effort to make it better and cheaper so that anyone can afford to reduce their carbon footprint and SAVE MONEY doing so. You can not rely on corporations when everybody is in this for major profit.

The results below show it will take 30 years to breakeven. Who but the wealthiest can or will do this? By the way, the newest of solar panels have a 30 year life expectancy and from what I have seen in the real world the power accessories (i.e. inverters, controllers and batteries) have far less. If you go this route you will never ever break even unless you back feed the grid and reduce you consumption. Even then they will only pay you the whole sale price (far less than what you are charged) for what you produce. I have seen advertised 'How-To' books (@$49.95) and videos on building your own solar panel for under $200, I have not purchased these guides simply because I know how to reuse old panels but I am very tempted to see if they are worth the money so that I can advise you on a better way.

For those of you interested in alternative methods, I recommend you visit another site I found. I have yet to read everything on it but it does look promising. Low Tech Magazine at http://www.lowtechmagazine.com/ for better solutions.

Calculator found at
http://www.findsolar.com/index.php?page=rightforme

System specifications for: Ranson, WV
Utility: Other

Solar Radiance: Solar radiance (insolation) is the amount
of solar energy received on a given
surface area in a given time. Commonly
expressed in kilowatt-hours per square
meter per day (kWh/sq m/day). This
measurement varies based on weather
and latitude of the given location. 4.62 kWh/sq m/day

Avg. Monthly Usage: This is the amount of electricity you
consume on average every month. It is
either determined by your input or
approximated by your electricity bill
divided by the cost per kilowatt hour
in your area ($0.0688/kWh). 1,526 kWh/month

System Size: This approximation is for a system to
produce enough electricity to offset
50% of your yearly usage.
It is determined by taking your avg.
daily usage, and dividing that by your
(solar radiance x 80%). The 80% is used
for the inherent inefficiencies in solar
power systems (95% inverter inefficiency,
89% weather impact, 95% inefficiency due
to soiling, utility, and module
inefficiencies). 6.85 kW

Roof Size: Approximate roof size needed to
accomodate your solar power system
can be deteremined by taking the
size of the system and dividing by
10 to get the square footage
(10 watts/sq ft). 684 sq ft

Estimated Cost: The approximate cost is an estimation
based on a price of $8/watt. This is
the average rate, including parts and
installation, for systems above 2kW. $54,782.04

Post Incentive Cost: The post incentive cost is an estimation
based on the available credits/rebates for
your area. This may include kWh
production incentives for up to 25 years
if applicable in your area. This provides
an approximation of the local/state
incentives, and should only be used as
an approximation. $36,947.43

Federal Incentives
Tax Credit: 30% Federal Renewable Energy Tax Credit

State Incentives
Tax Credit: 30% ($2,000.00 max) Residential Solar Energy Tax Credit

Estimated Cost: The approximate cost is an estimation based on a price of $8/watt. This is the average rate, including parts and installation, for systems above 2kW. $54,782.04

Post Incentive Cost: The post incentive cost is an estimation based on the available credits/rebates for your area. This may include kWh production incentives for up to 25 years if applicable in your area. This provides an approximation of the local/state
incentives, and should only be used as an approximation. $36,947.43

Avg. Monthly Savings: $52.49 25

Year Savings: The 25 year savings is based on the
amount of electricity cost you save over a 25 year period assuming a yearly
4% increase in utility rates. $26,234.12 25

Year ROI: 71.00%

Break Even: 30.79 years

The electricity you use causes the release of 27,468 pounds per year of carbon dioxide (which promotes global warming). Driving 30,438 miles in an average car emits an equal amount. To offset the yearly emissions, it would require planting 69 trees a year.

This electric car would have kicked my....

2009-11-30T07:30:00.003-05:00

In my days at the track, it took 450hp in a gutted 2,900 pound race car to get me into the low 12s at 111 mph. Not to mention I also burned about 1.5 gals. of 104 octane fuel from the time I left the pit, made one pass and returned to the staging area. On a good day I would burn 8 to 10 gallons of racing fuel at $4.85 per gal. = $48.50 in fuel alone or about 40 cents per second of actual race time. This guy puts me to shame....yeah he has probably got $20 to 30K in it, where I only had about $5K in mine but that wouldn't have stopped embarrassment factor.

Click on the title to see what I mean and watch in awe...........
Thanks Jerry for forwarding this to me.

Remove the caps when recycling

2009-11-24T13:59:00.007-05:00

Please read the post in Italics below.
They may tell you about this in the beginning when a new recycling company takes over your local contract (I bet you read all the literature they may or may not have sent you) but they are a business and they only make money by doing things the most efficient way they can. It doesn't matter about the ethics of what they claim to be doing, it's all in the fine print. So the question is how many items really get recycled ? Why don't the recyclers just write it on the bins "REMOVE ALL CAPS!" There, an easy solution..........
Posted by Seth Mote on EARTH911.com Nov. 23rd (see the link)
"I work for a company that sells baling wire to most of the large recycling programs around the country. Upon a recent tour of three very large recycling facilities on the eastern coast I noticed that a fairly large amount of plastic drink bottles where ending up in the "to landfill pile". After the third tour I asked the plant manager about these bottles and I was informed that if the lids are left on the bottles they go to landfill. He told me that they don't have time to unscrew the caps for separation and that if they try to bale these with the caps on they don't hold the shape and take up too much room. This is something that I never thought about before and feel that it is a concern we all should raise awareness about."
To read more on recycling plastics click on the title of this post.

Self sustaining plumbing system

2009-11-24T11:07:00.007-05:00

I designed this plumbing system for an underground home in a remote area to provide water during power outages, however it will work for any home or cabin built on a hillside. I prefer locations like this due to the enormous weight of the cistern (which is above the roof level) when full. By burying the cistern you will also prevent freezing. In its simplest form it can provide water, both warm and cold to all interior fixtures with just a little muscle.

flat roof garden

2009-11-19T07:51:00.006-05:00

This link, designed for city dwellers or anyone who has a flat roof, shows how easy it is to save money and go green at the same time. If you live in the city and have a flat roof on your building approach the owner or association to see if you can create a little paradise on your roof. I would imagine that this would be great for those who live in the southwest and have flat roofs as well. It would diffiently save you on air coniditioning while allowing you to have a great garden as well.
http://www.livescience.com/environment/091005-green-roofs.html

Free air conditioning and heat

2009-11-12T19:46:00.004-05:00

This is a very simplistic air conditioning/heat/fresh air system found everywhere on the internet. I found a patient date as early as 1903 on one version. The funny thing is it works as well today as it did then. This is the type of system that we will use in our underground housing project. If you can imagine, 63 degree temps coming from a simple pipe on a 95 degree day. Add to that >55 degrees coming from it on a otherwise freezing day in the winter. It wouldn't take no more than a wood stove or alternate heat source to make it very comfortable. In our underground house design it would take far less to make it a very comfortable 68 to 72 degrees, but who doesn't love a fire.

What do the numbers mean?

2009-10-13T09:17:00.004-04:00

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

The Story of Stuff

2009-10-07T14:04:00.004-04:00

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/

FREE SOLAR HOT WATER

2009-10-06T09:36:00.004-04:00

Free Solar Hot Water
Although 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.

Integrated Pest Management and it's biggest supporter

2009-10-05T10:40:00.001-04:00

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/

A weekend getaway

2009-10-02T08:38:00.000-04:00

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

Can you afford to go green, the answer is

2009-10-01T14:51:00.000-04:00

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 $$$$.