There’s a UK company that’s pioneering carbon capture in the UK.

How do they do that?

They study each client’s energy use, and determine the best products to help not only reduce their carbon footprint but lower their utility bills at the same time.

recycling center

Just look at these photos of the before and after of a recycling company (already a green business). Big difference right?

You bet it was!

Carboncatcher.org.uk installed a IP65 low energy lighting system enabling the recycling center to save 46% in their energy costs! The expected payback? About 2 1/2 years.

That’s a great deal!

They help not just big warehouses, but office buildings, and new commercial construction too. But wait! They didn’t just stop with lighting, no, Carboncatcher.org.uk also looks at the entire operation and submits suggestions to lower energy costs.

Such as:
Switching to a near paperless system
Car Sharing systems
Alternative transportation methods
and more…

Carboncatcher.org.uk is a great model for all of us to follow, whether we’re based here or overseas.

One of the biggest launches in recent years has been the Nissan Leaf, which came in with a price tag of around £30,000 and underlined many of the advances in electric car technology. The Leaf is a much roomier car than many that have gone before and it claims a top speed of around 93 miles per hour.

The question of battery range was the subject of some controversy and while Nissan claimed that it was around 100 miles, the US Environmental Protection Agency declared that in tests, the average range worked out at around 73 miles. Even so, these figures are heading in the right direction as far as electric cars are concerned and the range is certainly enough to cover most domestic journeys.

Elsewhere, the Toyota Prius has made good strides since its introduction into the electric car market back in 1997. One of the issues for many consumers is the cost of a new electric car but you can now find a good selection of Toyota Prius cars from a number of sources. The Prius has come in for praise and criticism in equal measure over the years. One issue was over the life of the battery and many people found that it needed replacing after about ten years and at considerable expense. However, with every new model the range improves and battery life and range can only get better as this particular car evolves.

Many of the big manufacturers either have an electric car in production or in the pipeline and the Chevrolet Volt is an interesting vehicle that has split opinion in America where it was released.Many feel that the Volt is little more than a publicity stunt from a company that has been associated with gas guzzling cars throughout its existence. At a top speed of around 100 miles per hour and with a bigger, more comfortable design, the Volt has answered two main issues but with a battery range of between 25 and 50 miles, it is unlikely to have much of a worldwide impact.

All across the automobile world, manufacturers are working on electric vehicles and maybe we can expect to see Smart take a lead in the race to develop a car that finally makes a huge breakthrough in the market.

At the other end of the scale from the small electric vehicles, Rolls Royce unveiled an electric version of their Phantom at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2011. At the moment, it is still in test stage but Rolls Royce has stated that they fully intend to explore the as yet untapped market for luxury electric cars.

Whatever happens, the market for electric cars is set to grow and with design evolving and improving all the time, the world awaits the new developments with great interest.

Opening that big energy bill will make you seriously think about how you can improve your home and make it more energy efficient. The soaring temperatures outside, and the future weather forecast as enough to get you started.

But where do you start?

You might wish to start with a home energy audit from a pro.

Home Energy Team are trained professionals with certification from the most trusted and respected certification bodies RESNET and Building Performance Institute (BPI). They’ll come to your house and perform tests to help you find out exactly what you can do, implement or improve in order to save household energy.

You might learn that some of your appliances are energy hogs. You’ll learn about the optimum amount of attic insulation for your area.

You’ll learn about new programmable higher efficiency lights, fans, heat/air and available rebates. Implement just one or two “Home energy efficiency tips” is a great start!

For those jobs that are just too big for you (like attic insulation) be sure to call in a “home insulation contractors” to do the dirty work for you.

Just don’t put it off another month! Anything you can do to save energy will help our local utilities conserve energy and will help your bottom line as well.

Oh, not your email inbox, your physical mailbox.

Some days, all there is in there is junk mail!

You know there’s a way to help stop all that unwanted mail!

Just head over to the non-profit Catalog Choice where you can join over a million others who have also signed up to ‘opt out’ for free. You first create an account (it’s free) then search for the catalog/phone book, coupons and other unsolicited mail senders, fill out the form and they’ll work for you to get your name removed.

Less junk in your mailbox, means more trees saved.

In some parts of the states, you get to choose your electrical power, and when you have that option it only makes sense to choose a power company that’s environmentally friendly and one that gives back, to the community, the arts, the earth.

GoFerEnergy is the place to go checkout your options.

WANT TO FEEL EVEN BETTER ?

You can help save the environment and improve the US’s energy independence. Choose NAP Green™ and 100% of your monthly electric use will support the production of cleaner power from renewable energy sources like wind and water.

Learn more at GoFerEnergy today.

Feel empowered because some of you DO have a choice!

GoFerEnergy

wind power

High heat is hard to work around and is hard on the life of the industrial equipment.

The answer is high temperature insulation. High Temperature Insulation is a ceramic material manufactured from alumina silicate glass and is used for thermal insulation in temperatures of up to 1,300 °C.

High-temperature Mineral Wool Insulation allows industrial machinery to have lighter weight construction via smaller wall thickness and thinner linings thereby increasing their efficiencies.

Aluminum silicate based ‘ceramic fiber’ products have been around for a few decades and are invaluable in high heat situations. Products made from ‘ceramic fiber’ or those incorporating the ceramic product have high temperature resistance and are the standard for high temperature installations.

You’ll find this energy saving Thermal Insulation material in many places. It’s used in boiler and water heating linings, insulation of pipes, flues and ducts. It’s being used in kilns and furnaces, burner assemblies as well as anywhere heat shielding is desired. Another common use is in fire and welding blankets where the material is used to slow heat flow and block fire.

High temperature insulation, with it’s low thermal conductivity and heat storage make industrial applications safer, more affordable and reduce energy consumption.

(1) Buy gas in the morning. Gas is denser at cooler temperatures.

(2)Shop for lowest price What’s a few cents? Cents add up to dollars. Try GasBuddy.

(3)Keep your vehicle maintained. Proper inflated tires save gas as do as property tuned car.

(4)Drive within the speed limit. The faster you go, the more gas you use.

(5)Combine errands. Yes, you’ve heard that before, but it does save fuel.

This is by no means everything you can do to save fuel, but every little bit helps.

fuel_gauge

Solar has come a LONG way since the eighties.

Today, you hardly find anyone making their own solar, especially if they’re looking for a system that will run a whole house, or even just hot water.

Today’s systems are far advanced. So far advanced that many people get overwhelmed with the science and the choices and end up doing nothing.

But there are places where you can LEARN about today’s Solar. Solar Mash is one of those places with a wealth of comprehensive information on solar energy, power and new technologies. Up to date information about new products and innovations.

They can walk you through choosing the right Solar Installers for your job and location and even help you find sources for solar financing.

If that’s not enough, you’ll also find helpful articles like Solar Leasing 101. Who knew you could lease?

Information the help you in Researching Solar Warranties and even a glossary of terms, so that solar company doesn’t talk over your head.

If you’re even thinking about solar, you must check out Solar Mash.

The North American Manure Expo will be held at the Northeast Community College’s Agricultural Complex on July 20, 2011. The event is hosted by the University of Nebraska and other land grant schools in partnership with Nebraska custom manure applicators and businesses and the Iowa Commercial Nutrient Applicators Association. The annual event travels to a new venue every year and has previously been held in the Upper-Midwest including Michigan, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Ohio and Iowa and most recently held in State College, Pennsylvania in 2010. The event may be a once in a lifetime opportunity because it will not return to Nebraska for some time.

It is an industry trade show with manure technology demonstrations and many educational events. Anyone with an interest in agriculture should plan to attend including livestock producers, manure handlers, consultants, and the general public.

About 50 exhibitors from across the United States and Canada will display and demonstrate all types and sizes of manure handling equipment including manure and fertilizer spreaders, manure incorporation equipment, GPS equipment for manure application, and manure storage options. New this year are sprinkler irrigation systems for manure application. Ride-and-drive style demonstrations will be available at the end of the day for those that want to get behind the wheel. All demonstrations will be held on 40 acres adjacent to the Complex.

Leslie Johnson, co-chair for the 2011 Expo states, “I’ve attended two previous expos and both were very different and informative. There’s something for everyone, including anyone (even those not directly involved with agriculture) that is concerned for the environment and wants to know how livestock producers are handling manure to avoid water contamination.”

Previously, the event has drawn between 1,200-1,500 people from all across the United States and Canada.

“Professionalism in Manure Management” is the theme of the Expo. Educational topics will include: manure stockpiling, applying manure on frozen ground, manure pit foaming and safety, center pivots for irrigation of manure, nutrient management plans and much more. Many of these sessions will be approved for continuing education units for certified crop advisors and others.

The University of Nebraska’s Mobile Computer Lab will also be there to help producers with manure related computer programs such as the P-Index (revised in 2011), the Purdue Manure Management Planner, and the National Air Quality Site Assessment Tool (NAQSAT).
EPA will be at the Expo to discuss Nutrient Management Plans. Another session will discuss the latest research on winter application of manure on frozen soils. A panel of crop consultants will discuss how to value and market manure.

This event will meet recertification (not initial) training requirements from the Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality for livestock operations that have a Waste Control Facility Permit (NPDES). Attendees need only attend two hours of sessions to obtain their certificate.
There is no cost to attend. To learn about the North American Manure Expo, visit http://manureexpo.org.