Alternative Energy Time

Green Living Kitchen Energy Savers

2010-11-22T20:34:00.000-08:00

Green Living is a lifestyle that attempts to reduce one's use of the Earth's natural resource and his/her own resources. Practitioners of sustainable living try to reduce their carbon footprint by altering methods of transportation, energy consumption and diet.

Anyone can start on the sustainable living path by heeding with these simple kitchen energy saving tips.

Kitchen Energy Savers

Move your refrigerator away from the stove, dishwasher, or heat vents. Make sure the door seals are airtight.
Wait until your dishwasher is full before you run it but don’t overload it.
Use pots that fit the size of the burners on your stove. Use lids so you can cook at a lower temperature.
Match the water level and temperature settings on your washer to the size of your load. Don’t fill the machine for just a few items.
Clean your dryer lint filter before you put in a new load.
Make sure your water heater is set to 120 degrees. Some thermostats are preset to 140 degrees, which can cost you more money.

Taking advantage of these home energy savers not only saves energy, it saves you money.

source: ftc.gov

Green Businesses Offer Promise For The Unemployed

2010-05-31T22:17:00.000-07:00

If the BP oil catastrophe isn't enough to kick start green businesses, nothing will. No longer will the public be ignorant to the dangerous reality of off-shore drilling. I think all Americans now agree it is time to forge ahead to find clean alternative energy sources for our future energy needs.

The good news about alternative energy development is that even before the BP oil leak, clean energy had become the most popular area of the green energy industry. This was largely due in part by government incentives in renewable energy technologies and the explosion of venture capital investment in clean energy businesses.

In the past, clean energy technology focused on renewable energy. It has now spread to include water, air, energy efficiency, green building, smart power and even transportation. With this expansion, so has the need for green businesses to support it.

As more businesses in clean energy begin to grow, so will the demand for workers. Sure, clean energy businesses will need individuals experienced in science and engineering, but there will also be a need for those with core competences in areas like business development, marketing and finance.

If you want to explore business and employment opportunities in the clean energy industry but don't have a science or engineering background, it's time to get educated. Many colleges and private organizations offer classes and alternative energy certification programs. A certification in solar training and renewable energy education is one example.

Another thing you can do is get involved in trade associations and volunteer your time. This is a great way to learn about the industry, create a network and expose yourself to professionals in the business.

The future of the alternative energy sector is bright and green businesses offer promise for the unemployed. Imagine working for a company where your contributions truly make a difference.

Alternative Fuel Vehicles Are Here To Stay

2009-12-17T20:43:00.000-08:00

Consumers looking to reduce carbon emissions and save money on fuel costs should consider vehicles that run on alternative fuels. Recent advances in alternative fuel technology by the giant automakers have resulted in more eco-friendly and economical vehicle choices.

If you're a potential new car buyer you can choose between the hybrid cars, electric cars or the hybrid electric vehicles available. Looking for a used car? How about one of the pre-owned hybrids or used electric cars. Another option is to convert your current vehicle to run on two other alternative fuel sources, biodiesel or hydrogen.

Hybrid cars are the most popular of the alternative fuel powered vehicles. Hybrid vehicles use a combination of energy sources for power. A hybrid car burn gasoline and an alternative fuel. Common alternative fuel sources are hydrogen, compressed air, liquid natural gas and even electricity.

Electric vehicles exclusively use one alternative fuel source, electricity. The advantages of electric cars is they are virtually emissions free and buyers get a tax credit in the year they are purchased.

The disadvantages of electric cars are they have a limited range before they need to be recharged. They also have limited storage space because electric cars need lots of the space for the batteries.

If you have a diesel engine you can convert it to use an alternative fuel source called biodiesel. Biodiesel is a non-petroleum based product made by converting vegetable oil to fuel. Biodiesel can be used directly in diesel powered vehicles. Some consumers are using cooking oil from fast food restaurants to make biodiesel.

Another alternative fuel source available to power cars is hydrogen gas using an old technology called "Brown's Gas". It works by splitting the hydrogen and oxygen atoms in water to generate energy that increases fuel efficiency. The addition of a fuel cell is required.

The variety and choices of alternative fuel vehicles available to consumers is steadily increasing and becoming more affordable.

Hydrogen Fuel Cell Kit (15 Cell)

New York City To Reduce Greenhouse Gas By Thirty Percent

2009-12-10T00:53:00.000-08:00

The City Counsel of New York City has passed legislation that will reduce greenhouse gases by thirty percent by 2030. According to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, NYC will focus on reducing the greenhouse gas emissions generated by the hundreds of thousands of buildings in the city and it's boroughs.

This legislation, the most sweeping of its kind, is aimed at reducing the greenhouse gas emissions produced by buildings using fuel oil, natural gas, electricity and steam for power. A 2007 report by the Mayor's office showed that almost eighty percent of the city's greenhouse gases were emitted by buildings using these conventional power sources.

The new legislation puts New York City out in front in the green energy effort and a model for the rest of the country to follow.

"It's one of the most comprehensive, aggressive efforts anywhere in the country," said Donna De Costanzo, a senior attorney specializing in energy policy at the Natural Resources Defense Council.

Part of the measure calls for the city to create a New York City energy code that existing buildings will have to meet whenever they make renovations.

A third bill requires buildings larger than 50,000 square feet to upgrade their lighting systems to comply with the new energy code by 2025.

The passing of this legislation is a great step toward the use of viable alternative energy and green living.