Articles tagged with: Carbon Footprint
Posted in Architecture, Green, Technology on 3 September 2008
Nigeria would not really be a place where you would be a place where you would go searching for green homes but with Aero Energy Design making the movement of global green living truly global, even the most remote location of the world can now harbor a green structure. The important aspect of the homes is that one needs to feel as if they truly are in the lap of nature. ZED designed 4500 sf concept home as the first of two thousand planned residences in a modern village in Akodo Ise, Nigeria. The TechVille project is both inspiration in design and effective in efficiency.
TechVille has passive and active cooling, PV system, on demand hot water, air exchange system, dehumidification system, low- and no-VOC materials, abundant natural light, rainwater capture, greywater system, and smart home technology. The red “sleeping tube” is super insulated and can be separated from the rest of the home to minimize the mechanical cooling load. Plus, the extended portion of the tube blocks direct solar gain while still allowing natural light into the interior.
With any amazing view of the beach which allows you to live in tranquil harmony with nature and not pollute the beach with your brilliant residence and technology that allows you to live without cables, wires and pollution, the TechVille community will be a sight to behold when done. Just make sure that you do not trash the beach with plastic waste though!
Via JetsOnGreen
Posted in Architecture, Companies, Eco-Friendly, Eco-friendly products, Efficiency, Electric, Electricity, Energy, Gadgets, Go green, Green, Power, Products, Technology on 27 July 2008
Tired of a soaring electricity bill? Concerned for nature, want to reduce global warming but are a victim of lousy habits, always forgetful about switching off the lights or fans when you leave a room? For all those who are perfect example of “old habits die hard” notion but are willing enough to adopt greener ways, California based Agilewaves has come up with a smart device- The Resource Monitor. The device is native integrated system which functions in real time to monitor the electricity, gas and water consumption of your house. With the real monitor, you can carry out your chores without being worried about a hefty bill at the end of the month as you can set specific monthly targets for consuming these three facilities. The device uses behaviorally-driven quantitative feedback by the users for effective monitory. It is fit for use inside homes and offices. Resource monitor displays the consumption details and carbon footprint of a household/office via a built-in touchscreen interface or a password protected web page.
As I already said, the system is a real time analyst so now you can get hourly details about the eco-footprints of your daily activities inside your home/office. This well-structured monitoring approach helps in tightening the noose over reckless consumptions and wasteful activities. The company says its latest resource monitor tracks the performance of major appliances and then, calculated the resource consumption room/floor wise. Features like Standard browser application, real time data display, intuitive graphic UI, temperature data in key locations, budget setting and trend analysis and visualize time-series data to name a few, make Resource Monitor the ultimate watchdog device. The appliance comes from a responsible software company and it looks after your social, environmental and financial performance in a well–organized and efficient manner. Well readers, I m thoroughly impressed and would certainly go for it! What about you?
Via: agilewaves
Posted in Animals, Earth, Efficiency, Energy, Environment on 26 July 2008
Cow power could emerge as one of the green and renewable energy sources to generate electricity in future. Till now the manure produced by bovine and livestock animals has been used in farms only (that too to a certain extent). But now, it can be used to generate electricity which might meet upto 3 % energy (read electricity) consumption needs of entire North America!
The research being conducted by scientists at University of Texas (Austin) believe the results of it will imply on all countries with a large number of livestock (including India). Production of biogas from cow dung is not a new thing and it has been used in rural India to cook food and for other heating purposes. But this research stresses upon the anaerobic digestion (a process which helps in compost formation) of manure which yields energy-rich bio-gas potent enough to generate electricity by rotating standard microturbines.
In recent times, the interest and efforts in analyzing and using cow waste for studying its effect on climate change, has seen an upward trend. The IPCC reports that nitrous oxide and methane (both are Green House Gases) produced by naturally decomposing livestock manure heat up our atmosphere many times more than what CO2 does! Hence, the panel recommends proper utilization of this livestock manure. The latter if utilized fully could generate approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity (a scenario where the Americans will thank cows profusely for providing resources beyond milk and meat!)
Concerns are raised over the carbon emissions thus procuded by burning of biogas but scientists reassure that, when compared to burning fossil fuels (read coal), burning of biogas leaves a much smaller carbon footprint! Here’s what the scientists- Dr. Michael E. Webber and Amanda D Cuellar, from University of Texas has to say over this: “In light of the criticism that has been leveled against biofuels, biogas production from manure has the less-controversial benefit of reusing an existing waste source and has the potential to improve the environment.”
I’m waiting for the day when bulbs will be lighted by burning of biogas for the latter promises to be an environmentally advantageous and economical energy resource. Hail Cow Power! 
Via: sciencedaily
Posted in Eco-Friendly, Efficiency, Energy, Environment, Fuel, Global warming, Green, Infrastructure, Pollution, public transport on 21 June 2008
All you nature lovers out there you ought to do this if you haven’t done this so far!
Well, I am talking about calculating your carbon footprint. The latter is an exercise done to find out one’s current fuel emissions. That is to say, if you say you are an eco-friendly dude then take this test and prove it that you are!! You don’t have to face brain teasers. Just fill a questionnaire comprising simple Q’s on basics, transportation, home energy, waste. Honestly answers the questions and the rest job will be done by the carbon calculator. The latter is courtesy of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
A spreadsheet version (Microsoft Excel, 63kb) of the calculator is also available; it includes descriptions of the formulas used in each step of the calculator. If your score comes out to be high then there’s help at hand as well. Ways to reduce the size of your footprint on road and at home are also suggested. I wont write any more now…because am I going to find out what’s my footprint….right away!!!
Via NewsDay