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Ideas for Saving Energy & Advancing Alternatives

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How to Use Solar Power to Produce Home Electricity

The solar cells used in solar panels to generate electricity are photovoltaic cells or modules (modules are simply a group of cells electrically connected and packaged in one frame).

Photovoltaic (PV) cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently the most commonly used. Basically, when light strikes the… Continue

Posted by Ernest Hoost on July 19, 2009 at 12:35am

My opinion, and some info on Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (I'm gonna get flamed for this)

I'll get some flack for this, but my family refuses to keep these in our house.

CFLs are often marketed as having "minimal" levels of mercury, but the fact is that the mercury in one bulb is enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water below safe drinking levels. But on a more personal level, I don't want these around my daughter. Years ago, when we were on the CFL bandwagon, a bulb broke on our floor. Luckily we knew the cleanup drill (which, depending on who you talk to, involves between 4 an… Continue

Posted by pink yoda on March 19, 2008 at 10:30pm — 7 Comments

Finally Someone Trying to Make Sense of Green Labeling

Overwhelmed by the number of “green” labels out there? Can’t tell the difference between Green-e and Green Seal? Well, ecolabeling.org has recently launched.

To date, they have databased 307 different label schemes across the world. Their objective is to help consumers and businesses make choices about their green products and services.

Ecolabelling.org is a project by Big Room, a web developing company in Canada. Site visitors can comment on and contribute… Continue

Posted by Jordan on March 16, 2008 at 9:45am

Stop supporting (almost) all kinds of biofuel production!?!

What is the impact of using ethanol (whether from corn, switchgrass, or almost any other source)? According to this thought provoking article in the New York Times, the carbon cost is much greater (93 times) than the carbon savings resulting from using ethanol!

Biofuels Deemed a Greenhouse Threat

By ELISABETH ROSENTHAL
Published: February 8, 2008
Almost all biofuels used today cause more greenhouse gas emissions than conventional fuels if the full emissions costs of producing these “green” fu… Continue

Posted by Moss on March 12, 2008 at 2:36pm

4th AustralAsian Cleantech Forum

Reposted from www.aaronfyke.com:

This is a summary of a recent cleantech conference in Australia - hot on the heels of the cleantech conference in San Francisco two week's previously.

I just returned from the two day cleantech conference in Melbourne entitled the "4th AustralAsian Cleantech Forum" (http://www.cleantechforum.com/).

Starfish Ventures was a sponsor of the event, and so Ivor and I had the opportun… Continue

Posted by Aaron Fyke on March 12, 2008 at 4:22am

Latest Activity

Jackob Martin is now a member of Wattopia.com

Welcome Them!

February 14

SustainGigs replied to Edison's discussion 'Would you measure electricity consumption of your appliances?'

Yes, I would be very interested in that. I have considered buying one of those kill a watt devices, but have not done it. Would be great to see appliance energy use in one place on my computer.

November 17, 2009

Edison added a discussion

Would you measure electricity consumption of your appliances?

If there was an easy way to measure how much power each appliance in your home uses, would you do it?

November 17, 2009

Edison updated their profile

November 17, 2009

Edison updated their profile photo

November 17, 2009

Steven Ribeiro replied to Jordan's discussion 'Solar Prius Modification'

The Aptera does have three wheels. This lowers the rolling resistance 40%. They focus on safety with four airbags, seat belts,side impact beams, crush zones front and rear etc. Legally they could get away without most of that, but they need their cu…

August 19, 2009

Jordan left a comment for Steven Ribeiro

August 19, 2009

SustainGigs replied to Jordan's discussion 'Solar Prius Modification'

Aptera is the car that has three wheels? I heard it was designed this way so it qualifies as a motorcycle and doesn't need to meet a regular vehicles standards. Very interested to hear how your father likes it. Please keep us updated!

August 19, 2009

Steven Ribeiro replied to Jordan's discussion 'Solar Prius Modification'

I checked out this site. Great find! I assume most people seeing this concept will get the simple idea that a solar panel on top of a car will power it. The truth is that it takes far more surface area of PV panels than any car could ever carry. If…

August 19, 2009

Steven Ribeiro is now a member of Wattopia.com

Welcome Them!

August 19, 2009

Ernest Hoost left a comment for Jordan

July 19, 2009

Ernest Hoost left a comment for Jordan

July 19, 2009