]]> http://ourgreenstreetsblog.com/wordpress/2012/01/harvest-power-brings-sustainable-solutions-from-organic-waste/feed/ 0 http://ourgreenstreetsblog.com/wordpress/2012/01/1380/ http://ourgreenstreetsblog.com/wordpress/2012/01/1380/#comments Wed, 11 Jan 2012 22:43:21 +0000 grmeyers http://ourgreenstreetsblog.com/wordpress/2012/01/1380/

Disposable Chopsticks and Global Deforestation

Humans are eating up our wood resources at an incredible rate – so fast, in fact, that the forests don’t have ample time to regrow. The result? Loss of crucial forested areas. This creates more problems than just a lack of resources for wood products. Humans (and other species, too) depend on trees to create much needed oxygen. In addition, forests provide habitat for a variety of species, so without trees, these species are likely to become endangered or extinct. Finally trees help to soak up carbon emissions from human activity, which is yet another issue of concern.

What can be done to reduce deforestation? While this seems like a large issue to tackle, changes can be made by starting small. One way would be to stop using disposable chopsticks. Although people in some countries only use chopsticks occasionally, China’s growing population consumes roughly 45 billion pairs of disposable chopsticks per year, states Greenpeace China. China also exports another 18 billion pairs. The high demand for this simple and seemingly harmless product actually requires that 100 acres of forest be cut down every day.

A case study from American University claims, “If consumption continues at its present rate, valuable, non-replenishable resources such as the much-needed rain and temperate rainforests will vanish forever.”  Thus, reducing consumption of wood products like disposable chopsticks may be one of the best ways to tackle the issue of deforestation.

A number of organizations and national governments have already made the call to action, advocating against the use of disposable chopsticks. However, the movement faces strong opponents such as the potential loss of thousands of jobs in the manufacturing industry, and the increased costs to restaurants of reusable utensils.

While every issue has two sides, the repercussions of deforestation are incredibly far-reaching. Should society not be willing to pay a little more or shift some jobs to keep the very lungs of our planet intact? In this age of environmental degradation, we must become more forward thinking.

With a little education and effort, we can all create positive change. The more people around the world make the switch to reusable utensils, the more impact we can create and the faster this battle can be won. Make the vow today to stop using disposable utensils and join the movement to save our planet from deforestation.

Photo: nhanusek

Brittany Lyons aspires to be a psychology professor, but decided to take some time off from attending one of the top online PhD programs to help people learn to navigate the academic lifestyle. She currently lives in Spokane, Washington, where she spends her time reading science fiction and walking her dog.

“The solar industry got a turbo-boost of both name recognition and mainstream credibility on Wednesday as a subsidiary of billionaire Warren Buffett’s investment company MidAmerican Energy Holdings announced plans to purchase the Topaz Solar power development from thin-film PV module maker First Solar. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“The 550-megawatt Topaz project in San Luis Obispo County, Calif., is among the world’s biggest solar farms under development, and many times larger than any project currently in operation. The First Solar project was not able to close its conditional loan guarantee with the Department of Energy prior to the Sept. 30 deadline, but it has gone ahead anyway. Construction on the project began in November and is expected to run through 2015. According to First Solar, it will create about 400 construction jobs.

The $2 billion project will include First Solar’s thin-film panels, and the company will build, operate and maintain the project for MidAmerican. Pacific Gas and Electric will buy the electricity under a 25-year power purchase agreement.

“Based in Iowa, MidAmerican, a subsidiary of Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway, is already a big player in wind energy. Some analysts are saying that the company’s move into solar power could be linked to the expiring Production Tax Credit for wind power, which is set to go away at the end of 2012. The solar industry, which is hoping for an extension of the Treasury Department grant that expires at the end of this year, still has an Investment Tax Credit that runs through 2016. That could make solar a safer bet.

“Regardless of the reason, MidAmerican clearly sees the Topaz project as a financial opportunity even without federal backing. SolarCity recently took a similar route when it announced that Bank of America Merrill Lynch was helping it move ahead with its $1 billion Solar Strong project, which also failed to close on a loan guarantee from the DOE.

“The project “demonstrates that solar energy is a commercially viable technology without the support of governmental loan guarantees and reflects the type of solar and other renewable generation that MidAmerican will continue to seek to add to its unregulated portfolio,” said Greg Abel, chairman, president and CEO of MidAmerican Energy Holdings Company in a press release.”

This is good news for renewable energy growth and its positive impacts on climate change!

Edward Linacre's Airdeop

Thanks to the inventive spirit of young Australian inventor Edward Linacre, there may one day be no such thing as a water shortage.

He recently won the £10,000 international James Dyson Award for a “low-tech” device – the Airdrop – that can draw water from the air, besting the work of 500 other inventors.

Linacre, a graduate of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, wanted to solve the drought problem afflicting farmers in parts of Australia suffering from drought conditions. His solution, Airdrop, can harvest 11.5 milliliters of water for every cubic meter of air in the driest deserts such as the Negev in Israel, which has an average relative air humidity of 64 percent. A small-scale prototype Linacre installed at his parents’ house created about a liter of water a day. Linacre will use his prize money for further testing on increasing the yield.

As reported in The Sidney Morning Herald, instead of using complex, energy-intensive methods such as desalination, Airdrop’s source of water is abundant – the air – and so it can be used anywhere in the world.

Linacre’s Airdrop can deliver water to the roots of crops in dry areas by pushing air through a network of underground pipes, cooling it down to the point where water condenses. The water can then be pumped to the roots of plants using drip irrigation methods.

This video interview  posted by gizmag helps explain the invention and the sound reasoning behind it.

Linacre said he was inspired by the Namib beetle, which survives in landscapes that get just half an inch of rain per year by consuming the dew it collects on the hydrophilic skin of its back. Similarly, the desert rhubarb can harvest 16 times the amount of water than other plants in its region by using deep water channeling cavities in its leaves.

“Biomimicry is a powerful weapon in an engineer’s armory,” said James Dyson, whose charity sponsors the award. “We chose Edward’s project because it was a very good and original solution to what has become a real problem.”

He said the device was a low-tech solution that could be installed and maintained by the farmers themselves. It powers itself using solar panels.

In addition to Linacre’s cash prize, a further £10,000 has been awarded to Swinburne University. Linacre said without the university’s help he would never have got his idea off the ground.

The James Dyson Award is run by the James Dyson Foundation and each year students of product design, industrial design or design engineering from around the world are invited to enter.

Photo: Arsineh Houspian, The Sidney Morning Herald

While it may be easy for you, a parent, to change your old ways and convert your lifestyle to save the planet, living “green” may be bit of a complicated idea for your young child to grasp —it’s hard for them to truly understand the impact humans have on environment at such a young age. While you can try explaining it to them, it may resonate like a boring teacher’s lesson: in other words, one ear and out the other. But an easy (and fun) way to introduce your child to the importance of conserving the earth’s natural resources is via animated movies. There are tons of available that concentrate on eco-themes. To learn my top 5 favorites, continue reading below.

5. Finding Nemo (2003): Featuring the voices of Albert Brooks and Ellen DeGeneres

One of Pixar’s more popular films, this movie follows a clown fish’s journey to recover his lost son (Nemo) who is abducted by a fisherman and turned into a pet fish. While trapped in his tank, Nemo discovers that “all drains lead to the ocean”—this is a good thing as it makes way for a plan of escape, but it also suggests that all trash and rancid materials can be submerged into the ocean as well.

4. Yogi Bear (2010): Featuring the voices of Dan Aykroyd and Justin Timberlake

This combo of live-action and computer-animation might not do the classic cartoon justice in terms of being as witty as the original, but it can serve as a greater purpose for younger audiences unfamiliar with the characters—it teaches them the importance of preserving wildlife and endangered species. As a way to compensate loss funds due to mismanagement, the mayor of the town tries to sell Jellystone Park to loggers in order to reap some big cash. The “pic-a-nic” basket-stealing Yogi and his loyal sidekick Boo Boo are then prompted to find a way to save their home.

3. Over the Hedge (2006): Featuring the voices of Bruce Willis, Steve Carell, William Shatner, and Avril Lavigne

While this light-hearted film is made to make your children laugh, there is a serious underlying eco-message that is brought to light throughout the movie—human wastefulness. The movie follows a group of wild animals who embark on a dangerous trip from the woods across the street and over the hedge to forage for needed food, which according to a mischievous raccoon, is something humans take for granted.

2. Wall-E (2008): Featuring the voices of Ben Burtt, Elissa Knight, and Jeff Garlin

This futuristic computer-animated film gives children fair warning of what could happen if we are not eco-conscious, no longer recycle, and deplete all of Earth’s resources—it can ultimately become unlivable. Wall-E is a small robot who picks up trash and other waste humans have left behind in order to diffuse his boredom and give him purpose. One day he stumbles upon a lady-robot friend and a key ingredient that may just be able to restore planet Earth to normalcy. This family-adventure film is a great segway to implement recycling programs within your own home.  To see the film’s short trailer, click here.

1. FernGully: The Last Rainforest (1992): Featuring voices of Robin Williams, Tim Curry, Christian Slater, and Samantha Mathis

It may be the most dated animated movie of the bunch, but FernGully is still one of the most effective movies when it comes to explaining the ramifications of deforestation and the destructive nature of pollutants—after all, the main villain is a clump of oil named Hexxus who not only sings of toxic love, but grows larger, more powerful, and more evil the more smog he absorbs.  It’s Crysta’s responsibility (a magical Australian rainforest fairy) to help ward off human loggers who are helping Hexxus thrive. Take this opportunity to discuss the effects that pollutants and emissions have in the air and why using different forms of transportation and energy can help save the Earth.

Runner Ups: The Lorax, A Turtle’s Tale: Sammy’s Adventure, 9, Once Upon a Forest, and Happy Feet.

Which movies did we miss?

This guest post is contributed by Lauren Bailey, who regularly writes for best online colleges. She welcomes your comments at her email Id: blauren99 @gmail.com.

Is your home green?  I’m not talking about the forest hue you painted your shutters to compliment your front door.  I’m not even talking about your front lawn.  These days, the term “green” is synonymous with eco-friendliness.  And these days, you don’t have to build a roof out of solar panels to be eco-friendly.  If you’re interested in doing your part to save our planet, you may be surprised to find out how easy it can be.  Here are five things you can do to create a greener household.

Compact Fluorescent Lamp (CFL) Bulbs

Switch all the light bulbs in your house out with these little electric powerhouses.  Trading out just six traditional bulbs for CFL bulbs saves 600 pounds of carbon dioxide, and roughly $160 on you power bill, per year.

Recycling

It is not unusual for garbage collection companies to pick up recyclables, and even to provide garbage containers designated solely for recycling.  Recycling is easier than you might think.  There is no need to separate recyclable materials (glass, plastic, paper and metal) from each other; all you have to do is separate recyclables from non-recyclables.  Here is a simple way to recycle: arrange two garbage cans, side by side, and throw your garbage in either one or the other.  You may be surprised to find that your recyclables outweigh your garbage – by a long shot (I recycle about four times what I throw away).

Recycled Products

It used to be that the end product of all your hard recycling work cost more than traditional, non-recycled product.  But that is no longer true, and it is therefore no longer necessary to skip on the recycled goods to save money. Look for recycled paper towels, toilet paper, and regular paper, amongst other things.

Green Clean

Avoid using chemicals that contaminate the earth’s resources by cleaning with eco-friendly products.  You can either purchase specially-formulated green cleaners, or you can use common household items like vinegar, rubbing alcohol, club soda and hydrogen peroxide for a wide variety of cleaning purposes.

Adjusting Settings

By adjusting your thermostat by two degrees (up in the summer and down in the winter), you can save thousands of pounds of carbon dioxide and hundreds of dollars per year.  Additionally, making sure your water heater is never set above one-hundred, twenty degrees and keeping your refrigerator’s freezer at zero can considerably lower your energy use.

As you can see, there are a number of things you can do right now to make your home more green, and you don’t have to spend a lot of money.  If the thought of going completely green seems intimidating, start small.  Work your way through this list and you may find that, in no time, you are calling on those solar panels.

Photo: dontcallmeikke

About the Author: Patty Kleen is a full-time writer with a passion for eco-friendly living. She also spends a lot of time researching and writing about energy sources and companies like Eagle Ford Shale, Marcellus, Bakken, and more. Knowledge is half the battle.

Habitat pioneer George Nez and architect Doug Eichelberger stand in front on their organic structure using scrap materials

A vacant city block near downtown Denver, once home to a rundown public housing project, happens to be collecting a remarkable set of innovations that can serve as sustainable tools for the world’s poor.

The Denver Sustainability Park, opened this last April, is evolving into a demonstration for what can happen when renewable energy proponents, champions of urban agriculture, affordable housing, and sustainability sit at a table with a land owner who wants to demonstrate something good.

The rundown public housing project that used to dot this land has since been razed and its residents moved to better digs courtesy of its owner, the Denver Housing Authority (DHA), the largest landowner in the city. Colorado Renewable Energy Society (CRES) manages the project.

The first look at this demonstration park under development is enough to amaze. It brings to mind Kevin Costner’s memorable line when he dug up his cornfield to create a baseball diamond: “If you build it, they’ll come.”

In this case, they have come, indeed. What many believed was blighted land is being transformed into a number of luminous examples for how a sustainable solution might really look. The park already showcases a number of impressive models for renewable energy, practical housing for impoverished or displaced people, urban gardens and aquaponics systems capable of providing low-cost fresh produce and fish.

DHA junior project manager Chris Spelke, reflects on the implications of what he sees being built: “Sustainability Park is meant to serve as a demonstration and education center for programs, technologies, and design elements that advance the vision for healthy, vibrant communities and sustainable development.”

Add a hands-on educational component to spread the word and the picture gets even better. Plus a complete bicycle station where a bike can be rented for an affordable price tag. “Transportation is critical to this idea,” adds Spelke.

The Denver Sustainability Park has attracted a coterie of humanitarian architects, designers, engineers, students and social entrepreneurs interested in demonstrating cost-effective ways to increase access to food and water, energy, education, healthcare, revenue-generating activities, and affordable transportation for those who most need them.

It’s fitting somehow that a block away Denver’s Redline Gallery has shown an exhibition, “Design for the Other 90%.” Scheduled to close this month, this national exhibit was developed by New York’s Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum. Concerning the rationale for this show, Cooper-Hewitt writes: “Of the world’s total population of 6.5 billion, 5.8 billion people, or 90%, have little or no access to most of the products and services many of us take for granted; in fact, nearly half do not have regular access to food, clean water, or shelter. Design for the Other 90% explores a growing movement among designers to design low-cost solutions for this “other 90%.”

Spelke says there is nothing quite like this demonstration site anywhere else in the United States. It’s a demonstration worth exploring. In upcoming articles on the Denver Sustainability Park, I will visit with some of the people who are building and teaching here.

Source: Clean Technica (http://s.tt/13gbA)

Photos: DHA & Meyers

“1 in 6 people in the world lack stable access to electricity. Many people must rely on dangerous and toxic kerosene lamps as a primary source of light and spend upwards of 30% of their income on this kerosene. With the increasing developments in small scale solar technology, there is no reason why individuals and families should not have a safer, less expensive, and more reilable source of light. The LuminAID solar light is a cheaper, safer alternative to kerosene lamps.” ”Some of you may have heard us talk for some time now about finding a new name for our product. We are excited to announce that we are renaming both our product and our company. The Solar Light Pillow Project will now be known as LuminAID Lab, and our light is now the LuminAID solar light!  Our new name came to us with help from our talented friends Stevie Belchak and Jess Tom. While we are sad to retire the well-liked “light pillow” nickname, we felt the change was necessary in order to better market our product. We consider it one more of the many lessons learned so far in having started our venture. There are many new exciting developments to come, so be sure to join our mailing list to keep up to date!

“The LuminAID solar light proposes a new direction for solar technology. Flexible, photovoltaic film is laminated to polyethelenevinyl acetate plastic (PEVA). The LuminAID solar light inflates to produce a quality of light similar to a lantern. The LuminAID solar light provides 5 hours of light and fully charges in 6 hours. The inflatable core measures 9″ L x 9″ W. Printed on the core is a frit pattern that consists of white dots. The frit pattern diffuses the LED light.

“The LuminAID solar light inflates to diffuse light like a lantern.

“The circuit and photovoltaic panels are sandwiched between the two layers of plastic, protecting it from damage and making the pillow waterproof. When inflated, the LuminAID solar light can float. The outside layer of plastic can be printed with additional logos or patterns.

“Restoring normal life in regions affected by natural disasters or war plays a vital role in recovery efforts. Re-establishing electrical grid infrastructure in those cases can sometimes take weeks or months. There is a need for a solution that can be deployed easily and immediately and with minimal maintenance. Sustainable lighting solutions, including photovoltaic cells coupled to rechargeable batteries, are an ideal approach to providing on-demand lighting with no operating cost. However, current solar-charged light solutions are expensive and difficult to manufacture and transport. This makes them unattractive for large-scale deployment. The LuminAID solar light addresses these issues while providing a useful and portable form of light for disaster victims.”

Bravo!