Ecofriendly water bottles: Eco Canteen > Plastic waste
By Nick |February 25, 2009
The folks at EcoCanteen.com contacted me awhile ago regarding their metal water bottles for the environmentally conscious. I feigned interest but said they could go ahead and send me some to check out. Well, turns out they just came in and I am impressed.
I received the 26 ounce aluminum Eco Canteen outfitted with a carabiner and insulated black covering with strap. The value here (besides the green factor) lies in the nice size and insulation. I was skeptical of the fact that they’re aluminum, since hot liquids would burn you holding it while ice cold liquids would do the contrary. But the insulation is high quality, and definitely a plus.
More importantly, the Eco Canteen was developed to counter the huge problem our nation has with plastic waste, especially in regards to plastic water bottles. Very little plastic is actually recycled, and what is recycled often goes to China or Indonesia to be processed because of their lower environmental restrictions during the recycling process. In my package I received many many other enlightening statistics that really bring this issue to the forefront in my mind now.
The benefits to society that these sturdy canteens offer are astounding, and to think if everyone made a little more effort in regards to limiting plastic consumption our dependence on petroleum (major product in plastic) would decrease, our landfills would be less full, and less resources would be wasted on silly products like bottled water.
I encourage everyone to check out the EcoCanteen and make an investment in the earth and your grandchildren’s future by utilizing reusable containers, whether it be the EcoCanteen (which I think is worth the $10 price tag) or another type of reusable bottle. Also, look forward to some more great products coming from this company as I’ll more than likely be featuring them in the future again.
Topics: Consumer Products, Recycling | No Comments »
Green Habitats Foundation Makes Sustainable Technology Luxe
By Nick |February 12, 2009
Conservation exploratory non-profit foundation Green Habitats, located just outside of Atlanta, Georgia, works to promote sustainable building, support research and educational programs to design and build housing that conserves water and energy. Their most recent project is one that achieves this mission by encapsulating some of the most advanced sustainable technology and housing resources on the market today. The 800 sq ft Solar Decathlon House was originally designed and built by architecture and engineering students at Georgia Tech for an international competition. The House was recently moved to the brand new, state-of-the-art Tellus Museum, in Cartersville, GA, where it will execute Green Habitats ultimate goal of educating and inspiring an estimated 100,000 visitors to the museum in 2009 alone.
Eco-friendly specs:
The building’s base is insulated with high-density polyurethane and soy-based open cell foam.
The opaque walls and roof are comprised of two layers of extruded cellular polycarbonate. In between these layers is Cabot aerogel insulation, a unique material that is dense enough to insulate but transmits light effectively.
The translucent roof is shaded and covered by 27 solar panels and a set of 27 exterior movable shades that can be adjusted from season to allow more or less direct sunlight into the interior of the house.
In all, the 39 solar panels on the roof and 12 south-facing wall, produce around 8,500 watts of electrical power on a sunny day or 60 kW an hour, enough to power a typical single family home.
The house uses an evacuated tube system to capture the energy of the sun, concentrating it to heat an anti-freeze solution and piping the hot water into the house’s 80-gallon tank.
A water capture and reclamation system collects rain and grey water from the house and centralizes it in a 500-gallon tank. The water is then filtered and sprayed back onto the roof in the summer to promote cooling.
The energy, plumbing, HVAC and lighting systems of the house are fully- automated, constantly monitoring the weather, solar energy production, and occupancy/ energy use and adjusting to meet the current and projected needs.
John Lie-Nielsen, Founder of Green Habitats, believes visitors will see first-hand how accessible and aesthetically pleasing sustainable building can be. Through education programs and projects like this one, Green Habitats remains at the forefront of sustainable building.
Topics: Uncategorized | No Comments »
The Green, MOTO W233 Renew Mobile Phone
By Nick |January 8, 2009
The talk of the recent consumer electronics show is, well, not much actually. Tech is one of the first sectors to dive with a bad economy, and such is the case this year. However, one bright spot is Motorola’s new carbon neutral, green, phone ‘comprised’ of recycled materials via water bottles. The struggling handset maker hopes to target the green market with basically the first phone targeting uber environmentally consumers.
As for its green specs:
- All the energy used to produce the handset is offest by Motorola = Carbon neutral certified by CarbonFund.org’s CarbonFree.
- The phone is recyclable (obviously) and is comprised of recycled water bottles. (Greenbang notes the possible tricky difference between term ‘comprise’ and ‘composed’. Benefit of the doubt given to Motorola though)
- Packaging is recycled, and reduced
While it does succeed as a green phone, it’s actual features are what you’d expect in an average candy bar phone. It boasts a crystal clear talk ability and a good battery, but it’s surely no blackberry. So if you’re just an average joe when it comes to phones and want to support a noble cause (while sporting a nifty green phone and story) maybe check out the phone this year which will be available to T-Mobile customers this first quarter already.
Check out the Moto W233 Renew Press release and the Motorola website for more info.
Topics: Consumer Products, Recycling | No Comments »
New Mercedes BlueTEC engines: Diesel Engines Greening SUVs
By Nick |November 20, 2008
While Detroit automakers GM, Ford, and Chrysler are literally on the verge of bankruptcy or another reckless government bailout, BMW is still trucking along, and doing so in a manner that consumers actually demand and appreciate unlike their domestic competitors. BMW is promoting their new, innovative diesel engines which are some of the most efficient and cleanest diesel engines in the world.
These beastly green machines are Mercedes-Benz BlueTEC engines.
So for the facts:
- When the BlueTEC engine was used first in 2007 in a Canadian Mercedes, and the vehicle was voted “World Green Car of the Year” due to it’s clean, efficient characteristics
- The engine is 20-40% more fuel efficient than its comparable gas counterparts
- It reduces the polluting nitrogen oxide normally released in emissions by an astounding 80%
Currently, the engine is utilized in Canadian Mercedes models, and is supposedly one of the only vehicles to meet the future, stricter emissions standards.
So a quiet running, fuel efficient, green, low emissions [renewable] diesel powered vehicle. You’re thinking, great, but I cannot afford it. Which is the same thing I’m thinking, but….
Mercedes is not keeping their innovative engine technology proprietary, but they’re instead opening up the technology to other car manufacturers. Presumably, they’ll license this great technology as a socially responsible company so it could potentially be available to the masses very soon.
While diesel technology inherintly has its drawbacks like every current, plausible energy source, it does have its environmentally sound niche as shown by BlueTec. So if/once US automakers get on the right foot and begin making green cars people want, lets hope that BluTEC esque technology finds its ways into our automobiles.
Topics: Energy, Transportation | No Comments »
Economic Recovery through Green Recovery
By Nick |November 8, 2008
A fairly recent report was created titled “Green Recovery” which takes a fascinating look at how a government ran economic recovery plan would succeed if it revolved around the green energy niche. The report is the Center for American Progress (and again) and the entire PDF can also be downloaded there.
As a statistics freak, I love the article due to the in depth look at the possibilities available to our nation for implementing such a Green Recovery Plan which would greatly help 2 of the few things I’m passionate about: The environment and economy.
I’m not going to go into a deep examination of the plan or its potential benefits, but here are some key statistics:
- For every $1 million invested in Green energy jobs, 17 jobs are created
- For every $1 million diverted away from oil jobs to green jobs, there will be a net increase in jobs of 12
- Green Recovery is “domestic content” meaning that a majortiy (~90% I’d presume) of the money spent on recovery would stay in the US for construction, jobs, and manufacturing
- On the opposite side, government support of oil only keeps 20% of spending domestically
This report may give you the idea that we need to totally turn away from oil in favor of Green. That’s the right spirit, but we still need oil very badly (unfortunately), so it’s not practical. However, I think limiting all new incentives to green energy can make a substantial impact on our economy since it creates new jobs, and also on the environment.
In such tricky economic times with falling oil and a deficit increasing exponentially, the $100 billion price tag may seem like a lot to swallow for a new administration set on balancing the budget. Nonetheless, Green Recovery seems like it will surely play a part in Obama’s plans in the future, and I’m excited.
Topics: Government | No Comments »
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