Green Europe

When most people talk about renewable or alternative energy, they think about solar electricity. Getting energy from the sun is a well known technology. A lot of things are powered by the sun, from houses to workshops and pocket calculators. Whatever your need might be, solar power can fill it.

There are a number of advantages that solar power has over normal grid electricity. You can use solar power for a number of applications and it’s great to use especially in places that are remote and don’t have an electricity grid.

Also, there are photovoltaic systems, which give you solar power and they don’t have moving parts, so the maintenance needed by them is minimal. They can be expanded easily and they can be transported since many of them are small.

The compatibility with the environment is a big bonus for many people. The energy is created out of free and renewable resources from the sun. It also doesn’t bring noise pollution or any other type of pollution. A lot of people choose solar power because it offers them independence. If you live in a rural area, you know that the grid electricity isn’t always the most reliable one. There are plenty of blackouts and storms when some stored solar energy would do wonders.

What is hard about changing to a solar electricity consume is that it can be costly. Sometimes this investment can be quite expensive. Those solar installations repay themselves in a few years. If it’s installed by a professional and you usually paid $100 per month on electricity, the solar panels will pay themselves in around 5 years. If you install the solar panels by yourself then it pays for itself much faster. You also have the option of a second hand system.

Both your house and the planet benefit if you get your energy from the sun. A number of big cities from the US and Canada already get some of their electricity from renewable energy.

Most people believe that living off the grid and alternative energy means that it’s about giving up the modern amenities that they’re accustomed to. That’s why they think it’s something more suited to hippies, that love simpler ways, where technology isn’t as important.

But, the real truth is that anyone can live off the grid. You do need to invest a bit if you want to power appliances that need a lot of energy of chest freezers, but all in all, it’s about having a bigger system.

Since renewable energy systems are in demand now, components that are easier to use and more efficient have appeared, which means that anyone can life off the grid if they want to. Wish it and do something about it and you will see how easy it is.

It’s quite easy getting sources of renewable energy to work. What you need is a source of power, either wind, water or sun, that can offer you the low voltage current which you invert after that and make it on AC current, usable in a house. What you make besides your consumption can be kept in battery banks. You can later use that current if you don’t have a sufficient energy production.

People think that off the grid living is a lot of work, but it’s quite automated. The only thing you need to worry about is maintaining the batteries. You should just monitor how much energy you’re using, so that the demand isn’t bigger than the supply. What’s important when trying to live off the grid is to make sure the system you’re building can meet the demand of your appliances.

Off the grid living can be a great feeling. Think about how great it would be to have complete energy freedom, not depending on fuels and helping the planet at the same time. Find out which type of energy source will work well in your area and build your renewable energy system accordingly.

Since the world’s energy resources are being spent at such a fast rate, and the global warming phenomenon threatens our day to day life, a lot of people are looking into getting their own renewable energy, in order to reduce the carbon footprint.

Still, it doesn’t matter how much importance you put on the environment, you still need financial resources to pursue this type of endeavor. You can easily spend thousands of dollars on a system that provides you with solar energy, or you can give it a shot and try building a solar panel on your own.

Creating a solar panel on your own is definitely possible, but usually the panels will be quite small, producing low wattage, sufficient for a lamp. If you want to get solar energy and getting professionals isn’t an option, you can always go with a solar panel kit. The kits that I’m talking about give you all the stuff you need to make a solar panel, right from the living room, though it would be better in a garage.

With the demand for renewable energy, it’s no surprise that you can easily find solar panel kits that you can build yourself. Since a lot of them are made by big companies, like GE, the costs go down and a lot of people can afford to buy them. With a smaller price, you get a better return on the money you invest. Generally, they come with easy to read instructions, so most people can easily build them.

You can find a lot of guides and resources on how to make solar panels, so why not give it a try? You can even get the entire family to work with you on this project. This way they can learn with you how it works exactly and how to put the components together. Making your own panels to get solar power also allows you to make others and increase the system, without calling professionals and spending money on them.

Investing in a solar panel of your own can be a great idea, both for the future of the world and for your own future. Getting your own solar energy can help you save money while saving the environment at the same time.

One of the top eco friendly cleaning products out there today is from an international company originating from Belgium called Ecover. There are many brands out there that claim to have eco friendly characteristics but many do not match up to the standard. Ecover has been around for approximately 25 years as of 2007 and is still going strong today.

So why is Ecover doing so well in the eco friendly market? They do a large variety of cleaning products such as Dishwasher tablets, washing up liquid, laundry liquid, surface spray, bathroom spray, toilet cleaner, hand soap, and more for all your cleaning needs. Best of all, these cleaning products all work, there is no compromise with natural products. Just because a product does not have a harmful symbol on it’s packaging doesn’t mean it’s not tough on dirt.

Eco friendly cleaning products like these leave no chemical residue on your eating utensils and they are non toxic which means they are safe for the environment. These products are plant based with no harmful chemicals. You don’t have to go out of your way for eco friendly cleaning products; many large stores stock these types of products now as well as specialist health and organic stores.

Natural eco friendly cleaning products aren’t just beneficial to the environment they are also good for us too. Personal care products are kinder to skin, suitable for sensitive skin types and with a neutral PH balance. There are no petrochemicals involved, just natural refreshing cleaning.

Ecover in particular also have refill schemes in many stores that stock their product. Once you have bought an Ecover product you can keep the bottle and bring it in to refill it in the store. You then pay for the refill, not the packaging which saves you money.

Earth 911’s Act Locally section is your place to go for up to date information on what’s happening in your area. Local programs, events and news fill our Act Locally section with actionable information that you can use in your own backyard.

THE RECYCLING OF RENEWABLE PRODUCTS

• The EPA estimates that 75 percent of what Americans throw in the trash could actually be recycled * Incinerating 10,000 tons of waste creates one job; landfilling 10,000 tons of waste creates six jobs; recycling 10,000 tons of waste creates 36 jobs
• The national recycling rate of 30 percent saves the equivalent of more than five billion gallons of gasoline, reducing dependence on foreign oil by 114 million barrels
• According to the EPA, recycling (including composting) diverted 68 million tons of material away from landfills and incinerators in 2001, up from 34 million tons in 1990
• Recycling aluminum cans at the curb not only covers the cost of collecting and re-processing aluminum, but helps subsidize the collection of other recyclables.

CURBSIDE RECYCLING
Curbside recycling now serves half of the U.S. population, providing the most convenient means for households to recycle a variety of materials. While all curbside programs differ, the most commonly included materials are - The Big Five:- aluminium, glass, paper, plastic and steel. If curbside recycling is not available in your area, consider starting your own recycling program.

ALUMINIUM
Recycling aluminum cans at the curb not only covers the cost of collecting and re-processing aluminum, but helps subsidize the collection of other recyclables.

The aluminum can is the most valuable beverage container to recycle and it is the most recycled consumer product in the U.S. today. Recycling aluminum cans provides environmental, economic and community benefits to communities and organizations across the country.

Beverages packaged in aluminum cans are purchased by millions of consumers around the world each day. Have you ever wondered where does that aluminium can goes after you toss it into the nearest recycling bin?

• Two out of every three cans produced in the United States begin the recycling process either at local recycling centers, community drop-off sites, charity collection sites, reverse vending machines or curbside pick-up spots.
• Aluminum cans from these sources are then gathered at large, regional scrap processing companies. There, they condense the cans into highly dense, 30-pound briquettes or 1,200-pound bales and ship them off to aluminum companies for melting.
• At the aluminum companies, the condensed cans are shredded, crushed and stripped of their inside and outside decorations via a burning process. Then, the potato chip-sized pieces of aluminum are loaded into melting furnaces, where the recycled metal is blended with new, virgin aluminum.
• The molten aluminum is then poured into 25-foot long ingots that weigh over 30,000 pounds. The ingots are fed into rolling mills that reduce the thickness of the metal from 20-plus inches to sheet that is about 10/1,000 of an inch thick.
• This metal is then coiled and shipped to can makers, who produce can bodies (the side of a can is the same thickness as a human hair!) and lids. They, in turn, deliver cans to beverage companies for filling.
• The new cans (stocked with your favorite canned beverages, of course) are then ready to return to store shelves in as little as 60 days, only to go through the entire recycling process again!

GLASS
Glass is one of the most popular materials to be recycled today, both because of the purity of the ingredients and the quick turnaround of recycling. Your glass containers actually begin their life as readily-available domestic materials, such as sand, soda ash or limestone. Similar to paper, glass comes in a variety of colors, and this does come into play in the recycling process.

The primary end product of recycling glass is new glass bottles and jars, as glass can be recycled infinitely without losing its purity or strength. However, there are some other uses for recycled glass, including:

• Fiberglass production (second most popular use of post-consumer glass behind beverage containers)
• Frictionator for matches and ammunition
• Abrasives in sand-blasting
• Ingredient in concrete and highway reflective paint
• Ceramic tiles and picture frames around the house
• Providing additional sand to beaches that have been depleted by erosion

PAPER
Paper is one of the most versatile and important materials used in homes, schools, offices, and businesses throughout the world. Each day we enjoy the benefits of paper products, from the newspaper we read in the morning; to the box that holds our cereal; to the paper we use for homework and business purposes; and the documents that mark the significant achievements of our lives.

Paper recovered for recycling is categorized into grades. Each grade of paper has specific characteristics, as well as its own value to manufacturers. Dozens of grades exist, however, they are generally grouped into categories including corrugated (îcardboardî), newsprint, mixed (different colors and types, like inserts and circulars), and office paper. The type of paper collected determines the new product that can be made from it. Generally, the lower grades, such as corrugated and newsprint, go back into the same new products. Higher grades, such as the high quality fiber found in offices and schools, can go back into printing and writing papers, among other uses.

• It is estimated that by the year 2012, the paper industry hopes to recover 60% of the paper Americans consume.
• Every ton of paper recycled saves more than 3.3 cubic yards of landfill space.
• Nearly 80% of America’s papermills use recovered fiber to make some or all of their products. Approximately 140 papermills use recovered paper exclusively.

PLASTICS
The Seven Types of Plastic Why are most plastics marked with a number inside a recycling symbol? The simple answer is that each number represents the type of resin made to produce the plastic.

Because each resin is different, these numbers affect how and where you can recycle plastics. You don’t have to remember the name. Plastics are identified by numbers 1-7.

Here’s some common products you’ll find of each type:

• #1 PET (Polyethylene terephthalate)*: soda bottles, oven-ready meal trays and water bottles
• #2 HDPE (High-density polyethylene)*: milk bottles, detergent bottles and grocery/trash/retail bags
• #3 PVC (Polyvinyl chloride): plastic food wrap, loose-leaf binders and plastic pipes
• #4 LDPE (Low-density polyethylene): dry cleaning bags, produce bags and squeezable bottles
• #5 PP (Polypropylene): medicine bottles, aerosol caps and drinking straws
• #6 PS (Polystyrene): compact disc jackets, packaging Styrofoam peanuts and plastic tableware
• #7 Other: reusable water bottles, certain kinds of food containers and Tupperware

Plastic recycling affects a range of products, from drink containers to shopping bags to pipes. Plastic is almost always the product of petroleum, a non-renewable resource. This makes recycling plastic even more important. Curbside programs often make recycling plastic containers easier than other plastic products. You’ll likely be unable to recycle plastic bags, packaging and Styrofoam at the curb. These materials are very recyclable, but only at a qualified recycling center.

STEEL
Steel is an extremely valuable metal that is present in many of the containers and appliances we use on a daily basis. While steel is the dominant material in the cars we drive and beams of the buildings we work in, for the average person recycling steel will involve the proper disposal of steel cans and scrap metal.

Steel is the most recycled material in North America, and it can be recycled infinitely and turned into new steel products. The majority of the steel produced today, is in some form recycled content. So when you buy a steel product (from a soup can to a washing machine), it’s manufactured with recycled steel. Some of the different products that are made with recycled steel include: * Appliances * Bridges * Cans * Cars/trucks * Construction materials * Desks * File cabinets * Fire hydrants * Guard rails * Utility poles

Steel recycling is an infinite process because there is no loss of durability or quality over time. Some raw materials are mixed in during manufacturing. Starting with recycled steel makes the entire process cheaper and more eco-friendly.

Solar water heaters, also called solar domestic hot water systems can be a very cost-effective way to generate hot water for your home. They can be used in any climate, and the fuel they use is free.

Solar water heating systems include storage tanks and solar collectors. There are two types of solar water heating systems: active, which have circulating pumps and controls, and passive, which don’t.
Most solar water heaters require a well-insulated storage tank.

Solar storage tanks have an additional outlet and inlet connected to and from the collector. In two-tank systems, the solar water heater preheats water before it enters the conventional water heater. In one-tank systems, the back-up heater is combined with the solar storage in one tank.

Three types of solar collectors are used for residential applications:

Flat-plate collector
Glazed flat-plate collectors are insulated, weatherproofed boxes that contain a dark absorber plate under one or more glass or plastic (polymer) covers. Unglazed flat-plate collectors typically used for solar pool heating have a dark absorber plate, made of metal or polymer, without a cover or enclosure.

Integral collector-storage systems
Also known as ICS or batch systems, they feature one or more black tanks or tubes in an insulated, glazed box. Cold water first passes through the solar collector, which preheats the water. The water then continues on to the conventional backup water heater, providing a reliable source of hot water. They should be installed only in mild-freeze climates because the outdoor pipes could freeze in severe, cold weather.

Evacuated-tube solar collectors
They feature parallel rows of transparent glass tubes. Each tube contains a glass outer tube and metal absorber tube attached to a fin. The fin’s coating absorbs solar energy but inhibits radiative heat loss. These collectors are used more frequently for U.S. commercial applications.

There are two types of active solar water heating systems available:

Direct circulation systems
Pumps circulate household water through the collectors and into the home. They work well in climates where it rarely freezes.

Indirect circulation systems
Pumps circulate a non-freezing, heat-transfer fluid through the collectors and a heat exchanger. This heats the water that then flows into the home. They are popular in climates prone to freezing temperatures.

Hot water ‘free’ from the sun. That’s using our environmental assets to our own benefit and you can’t get better than that !

There are a few different ways to get fit while being eco friendly and they all help in different ways. One thing you can do is simply to replace short car journeys with cycling or running where ever possible. This cuts down on your carbon footprint and gets you fit at the same time so you can get fit the eco way. Around 20 Minutes of cycling can burn 100 calories and can raise your metabolic rate meaning you take the pounds off, and keep them off.

Another idea is to exercise for charity. There are many cycling and running events our there to help various causes so get involved in them more rather than signing up to a gym. If you do sign up to a gym, don’t drive to it! Try to find a gym closer to home and run or cycle in to it to cut down on pollution and get fit the eco way on route. If you can’t get to one close to home, organise a car sharing trip with friends or colleagues or take public transport.

You could also consider eco-running if you do normally participate in running regularly. Take a couple of carrier bags with you on your run and where ever you see trash that shouldn’t be there such as cans or bottles, pop them in your bag as you jog past and throw them in the next bin you see. This not only keeps you fit and works out your legs it’ll work out other areas of your body too and actively helps the environment and your local area.

When it gets to the time when you have to change your exercise gear such as clothes or trainers, find some eco friendly clothing or purchase clothing from a local charity shop.