University of New Hampshire - Energy Leadership

The University of New Hampshire ranked in the top 5 percent in a recent DOE study for energy efficiency among a group of 180 colleges and universities.   Comparing their energy expenditures to the average they save approx. $7 million per year in energy costs (and it gets cold in New Hampshire in the winter)

" ...  in 2000. In our peer group, UNH was in the top five percent for energy efficiency. ... one of the most energy efficient colleges that offers 4 year programs through post-Doctoral research."

" ... on-going energy efficiency program for the past 25 years. ... energy awareness programs to encourage energy conserving activities ..."



Via:  University of New Hampshire  LINK

UPS Deploys 200 Additional Hybrid Delivery Trucks

UPS " ... put 200 additional hybrid electric delivery trucks to work in Austin, Houston, Philadelphia, Washington, New York, Minneapolis and Louisville. ... had 50 of these vehicles in Atlanta, Dallas, Houston and Phoenix; ... another 20,000 low-emission and alternative fuel vehicles throughout its fleet ... In all, about 1,000 of the fleet is hybrid while the rest are low emission types."

" ... will cut its fuel consumption by 176,000 gallons annually, compared with putting an equivalent number of new diesel trucks on the road. .. reduction in carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gas emissions is about 1,786 metric tons, ..."



Via:  Smart Planet  LINK

Hallmark - Long History of Being Green

Hallmark, the maker of greeting cards and other products, has been green since before it was the "in thing".

" ... began recycling paper in the 1940s, have used recycled paper in products and packaging since the 1970s ... established a corporate-wide environmental conservation program in the 1990s...."

Other efforts include ... " ... sponsors e-waste events to collect and responsibly dispose of employees' discarded electronics ... actively participate in the Environmental Protection Agency's WasteWi$e and Energy Star Building programs ...Since the early 1990s we have reduced solid waste by 70 percent and hazardous waste by 90 percent ... waste-to-energy program at our distribution center in Enfield, Conn., has resulted in an ongoing zero percent waste program since 1998. Materials not recycled are used as electrical generator fuel."


Via: Hallmark LINK

Business Goes Green Conference

What can GREEN IT bring business in the way of energy savings? Listen to the panel discussion with members from IBM, Cisco and VMware talking about what each of their organizations is doing to help green the enterprise.

" ... Business Goes Green conference in San Jose, Calif., on June 6, Forrester Research Senior Vice President Christopher Mines moderated a discussion on data centers and the green technologies that panel members believe will have the most significant impact in the future ... "

There are some rather simple things that can reduce energy consumption like straightening cables under the floor so A/C can flow better to reduce A/C load.  







Via: ZDNet LINK

Smart Roof Panels Turn White When It is Hot and Black When Cold

The next advance in roofing materials may be smart roofing tiles that can change color based on outdoor temperature to maximize or minimize solar gain.

"MIT researchers have developed roof tiles that change color based on the temperature, turning white when it’s hot to deflect heat and turning black when it’s cold to absorb it ... the tiles can reflect about 80 percent of sunlight when they’re white and 30 percent of sunlight when they’re black. ... white state ... could save as much as 20 percent of present cooling costs ..."

" ... system ... made of a ... polymer in a water solution ... encapsulated between flexible plastic layers, with a dark layer at the back. When the temperature is above a certain level ... the polymer  ... produce a white surface and scatter light.  ... Below that temperature, the polymer stays dissolved, revealing the tile’s black backing and absorbing the sun’s heat ..."



Via: SmartPlanet LINK

Dilbert's Ultimate House (DUH) is Green

Dilbert's creater, Scott Adams, is building Dilbert's Ultimate House (DUH for short). This ahs some interesting GREEN features. In addition to eliminating wasted space like a large foyer or rarely used dining room there are the usual energy efficient design elements and appliances.

"... building the greenest home in the area ... for its size ... definition of green isn't about giving up what you want so much as finding the greenest way to do it ... energy-saving features include ... Solar panels ... Clay roof with lighter colors for best reflective properties ... Thermal barrier in roof ... Windows minimized and shaded on the hot West side ... Efficient lighting ... Energy Star appliances ..."

" ... goal was to get our use of AC use down to a few days per summer ... my current office ... I have to run the AC full-blast for about 9 months a year."

" ... back yard will be artificial turf. Water is a big issue in California. ..."

Via: Dilbert's Blog LINK

2009 Building Codes Feature Greater Energy Efficiency

The 2009 IRC and IECC codes will make newly constructed homes both more energy efficient and more sustainable. One point addressed is programmable thermostats.

"... 2009 International Residential Code (IRC) or International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) will ... increase energy efficiency... also address sustainable building practices ..."

"Where the primary heating system is a forced-air furnace, at least one thermostat per dwelling unit shall be capable of controlling the heating and cooling system on a daily schedule to maintain different temperature set points at different times of the day...."

" ... typical programmable thermostat will add between $20 and $40 over the cost of manual thermostats. ... can save about $150 a year in energy costs."

Via: GreenBuildingAdvisor.com LINK

Green Rubber™

Modern tires are a wonderful thing ... the last a long time and make modern auto travel possible ... however the same long lasting aspect makes them hard to safely dispose.

Land-filling tires is a waste of valuable resources and piles of tires can breed mosquitoes and / or catch fire - emitting toxic smoke.

" ... vulcanised rubber is nearly impossible to recycle ... Last year 1.3bn tyres were thrown away,..."

"Green Rubber provides an environmentally friendly alternative ... rubber can be devulcanised and made into new products. ... process will also significantly reduce their costs at a time when virgin rubber prices are at a record high. ..."


Via: Green Rubber™ LINK

Do It Yourself Insulated Curtain Panels - Save Energy and A/C

One way to save energy is to keep the heat out in the summer (when you are trying to cool the house with A/C and keep the heat in in the winter (when you are trying to heat the house).

Home with large expoanses of glass can bring in light and warmth in the winter but cvan aslo make it expensive for A/C to kleep cool in the summer. Keeping heat out is a great way to keep the A/C bilss and cost down.

" ... to keep out the summer sun and keep your energy bills down, consider making a DIY insulation panel ... using reflective material to keep the scorching sun out ... constructing simple wooden frames and stretching reflecting insulation over them, ... five huge panels cost under $200 and took five hours to build."


Via: LifeHacker LINK

Green Home and Business Consulting / Audits

I found this link from a MainLineNeighbors.com email ...

" ... we strive to reduce Home and Business Owners expenses by providing strategies for reducing your energy utility costs. Every dollar saved on utilities is an inherently Green practice with less energy and CO2 produced. ... Andrew Horning Consulting LLC provides Efficiency Consultation Services for both the residential and commercial markets. ... provide a menu of recommendations for energy saving eco-friendly strategies. ..."



Via: Andrew Horning Consulting LLC LINK