An albino moose is an exceedingly rare sight. The person who spotted the fellow in this first photo was lucky enough to see two at once.
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
20 Years and Still the Oil Kills
Twenty years after the Exxon Valdez turned the Alaskan coastline into a toxic brew, the coastline continues to suffer, highlighting the need for a rapid response to future spills that is still elusive.
Elusive not because the technology is unavailable but because political leaders have still failed to hold industry leaders accountable for past actions and to demand preparedness against future ones.
If you have not read about the NH company offering a cradle to cradle green solution, click here.
Elusive not because the technology is unavailable but because political leaders have still failed to hold industry leaders accountable for past actions and to demand preparedness against future ones.
If you have not read about the NH company offering a cradle to cradle green solution, click here.
Monday, March 23, 2009
LED-illuminated gas station sees higher traffic and reduced costs
From LED Magazine
Most of us are consumers of gasoline, whether we drive an automobile or use mass transit. We are also a society insisting on convenience – fast food, quick service and easy access. These two demands have been leading the charge for the approximately 164,300 stand-alone gas stations in the United States and 115,000 combination convenience store (c-store) and gas stations.
While demand is high, regardless of pump or shelf prices, profit margins are extremely tight in these
industries, requiring c-store and petroleum operators to be astute. Owners need to realize customers are often drawn to their properties because of perceptions of cleanliness, safety and a friendly atmosphere. Given how important the company’s corporate identity and curbside look is to generating business, lighting choices should be carefully evaluated.
Previously thought about primarily for aesthetic purposes, lighting can have a tremendous impact on the bottom line. In an industry such as gasoline and c-store retailing, where competition is fierce and profit margins are increasingly shrinking, cost containment is vital to profitability. Advances in technology and engineering are now making it possible to use high-efficiency LED lighting for commercial applications. This new light source provides a way to reduce energy costs while still meeting properties’ lighting needs.
This article was published in the April 2008 issue of LEDs Magazine.
To read the full version of this article, please visit our Magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine.
You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for their free weekly email newsletter.
Most of us are consumers of gasoline, whether we drive an automobile or use mass transit. We are also a society insisting on convenience – fast food, quick service and easy access. These two demands have been leading the charge for the approximately 164,300 stand-alone gas stations in the United States and 115,000 combination convenience store (c-store) and gas stations.
While demand is high, regardless of pump or shelf prices, profit margins are extremely tight in these
industries, requiring c-store and petroleum operators to be astute. Owners need to realize customers are often drawn to their properties because of perceptions of cleanliness, safety and a friendly atmosphere. Given how important the company’s corporate identity and curbside look is to generating business, lighting choices should be carefully evaluated.Previously thought about primarily for aesthetic purposes, lighting can have a tremendous impact on the bottom line. In an industry such as gasoline and c-store retailing, where competition is fierce and profit margins are increasingly shrinking, cost containment is vital to profitability. Advances in technology and engineering are now making it possible to use high-efficiency LED lighting for commercial applications. This new light source provides a way to reduce energy costs while still meeting properties’ lighting needs.
This article was published in the April 2008 issue of LEDs Magazine.
To read the full version of this article, please visit our Magazine page, where you can download FREE electronic PDF versions of all issues of LEDs Magazine.
You can also request a print copy of LEDs Magazine (available by paid subscription) and sign up for their free weekly email newsletter.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Biochar Research Yielding Promising Results
By Roger Harrabin
Environment analyst, BBC News
Environment analyst, BBC News
 Biochar brings benefits to soils, boosting plant growth |
Green guru James Lovelock claims that the only hope of mitigating catastrophic climate change is through biochar - biomass "cooked" by pyrolysis.
It produces gas for energy generation, and charcoal - a stable form of carbon.
The charcoal is then buried in the ground, making the process "carbon negative".
Researchers say biochar can also improve farm productivity and cut demand for carbon-intensive fertilisers.
There's a flurry of worldwide interest in the technology, but is the hype justified?
Full Story from BBC
This story relates to the Carbon Negative Bio-Energy System described in a previous story on Greener Minds.
Monday, March 16, 2009
Green Oil Spill Remediation with MOP
One of the biggest challenges faced by green products is the common misperception that by creating a sustainable product you must, by necessity, leave something out that really makes it work. We call it the methyl-ethyl-bad-stuff argument - well we use a different word than stuff but not in a family environment. 
Not so with Maximum Oil Pickup. In fact, we'd wager that MOP, and its compliment of deployment products, is the most effective, environmentally sound, invention to date for rapidly mitigating oil spills of any size from the Exxon Valdez to your garage.
More
Friday, March 6, 2009
Connecting Learning to the Real World
Whether you are a parent or a teacher, the Futures Channel provides a diverse selection of videos that are great tools for creating a teachable moment with your student or child.
You will also find lesson plans and exercises that you can do with the children as well.
The Futures Channel
"Twin Windows"
Order this image
You will also find lesson plans and exercises that you can do with the children as well.
The Futures Channel
"Twin Windows"
Order this image
Clinton hails L.A.'s shift to LED street lights
Calling it a "great day in Los Angeles," former President Bill Clinton joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa today in unveiling what is billed as the largest effort by a U.S. city to reduce pollution by ...
Read full story from LA Daily News
If your company or Government has outdoor lighting and would like to save 80% on your costs by retrofitting with LED lighting, contact us directly for the only American made option. 603-786-9378
Read full story from LA Daily News
If your company or Government has outdoor lighting and would like to save 80% on your costs by retrofitting with LED lighting, contact us directly for the only American made option. 603-786-9378
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Green Bar and Bat Mitzvahs
The average life-milestone party, like a wedding or Bar Mitzvah produces 600 pounds of waste and that's before you begin to address the issue of things that are not considered "waste" but end up in drawers or are rarely re-used.
That's why more and more people of the Jewish faith are looking for ways to make their Mitzvahs more sustainable.
There are a growing number of planners and websites providing services in this area like GreenMitzvot.com.
For any of these life-milestone parties, your first focal point should be on what can be eliminated or reused from previous parties and events as well as borrowed from friends and temples. After this - and only after this - one should begin to look at more sustainable consumables and making alterations to aspects of the party that represent a greener approach.
In the coming months we'll be bringing you ideas for greening these life-events.
"Beach Silhouette"
Order this image on cards or prints, here.
This image is available for use in nonprofit fundraising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.
That's why more and more people of the Jewish faith are looking for ways to make their Mitzvahs more sustainable.
There are a growing number of planners and websites providing services in this area like GreenMitzvot.com.
For any of these life-milestone parties, your first focal point should be on what can be eliminated or reused from previous parties and events as well as borrowed from friends and temples. After this - and only after this - one should begin to look at more sustainable consumables and making alterations to aspects of the party that represent a greener approach.
In the coming months we'll be bringing you ideas for greening these life-events.
"Beach Silhouette"
Order this image on cards or prints, here.
This image is available for use in nonprofit fundraising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.
Introducing the Water Footpint
People use lots of water for drinking, cooking and washing, but even more for producing things such as food. clothing and other products.
The water footprint, like the carbon footprint, is an indicator of use that looks at both direct and indirect use by consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.
Calculate your water footprint
Expect to see more and more companies adding water to the sustainability calculations in the future. Levi Strauss has already announced that it will be changing the label on certain jeans to say "wash only when necessary and line dry when possible."
"Sandstone against the Sky"
Order this image as a print or poster.
This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.
Links:
Water Footprint.org
The water footprint, like the carbon footprint, is an indicator of use that looks at both direct and indirect use by consumer or producer. The water footprint of an individual, community or business is defined as the total volume of freshwater that is used to produce the goods and services consumed by the individual or community or produced by the business.
Calculate your water footprint
Expect to see more and more companies adding water to the sustainability calculations in the future. Levi Strauss has already announced that it will be changing the label on certain jeans to say "wash only when necessary and line dry when possible."
"Sandstone against the Sky"
Order this image as a print or poster.
This image is available for use in nonprofit fund raising efforts with permission of the artist. At no cost to your organization you may adopt an image(s) for your organization and receive 1/2 the net revenues. Follow this link to learn more.
Links:
Water Footprint.org
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