Wind Energy Voice » green

Buildings That Think Green

admin — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 05:38:56 +0000

Buildings are the SUVs of US energy consumption,

gobbling up 71 percent of the nation’s electricity.

In this talk, Arun Majumdar, Director of Berkeley Lab’s Environmental Energy

Technologies Division, discusses how scientists are creating a new generation of net-zero energy, carbon-neutral buildings.

FYI, Professor Majumdar starts speaking at about 3:33

-(He will get you thinking)-

Technorati Tags: Berkeley Lab's Environmental Energy Technologies, Buildings, Carbon neutrality, carbon-neutral buildings, friend of science, green, net-zero energy, Think, UC Berkley, Zero-energy building

Green Rim – Towards a Sustainable Pacific Rim – Preview

admin — Tue, 07 Dec 2010 09:05:48 +0000

**Film Premiere on Thursday November 12, 2009 at SJSU’s College of Engineering** More info about the premiere here: www.engr.sjsu.edu As the worlds top two carbon emitters, China and the US face significant challenges reducing their carbon emissions while keeping up with each nations growing demand for more energy. Is there the potential for cooperation between both Pacific Rim nations around this important issue, or is each nation seeking its own distinct solutions? Green Rim documents how people from universities, NGOs and industries in both countries can learn from each other as they work to reduce CO2 emissions, increase energy efficiency, create new methods to produce renewable energy and conserve natural resources. Filmed on location in China and Silicon Valley (California), Green Rim shows why clean tech energy solutions to climate change problems can only be effective if they also address the underlying social values which hinder or enable those solutions to be integrated into the everyday lives of members of each society. (57 Minutes) Produced by Bob Gliner in association with Belle Wei, the Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering at San Jose State University, Sandy Chau, and the US China Green Energy Council. Copyright Charles W. Davidson College of Engineering, 2009. Bob Gliner is an award winning documentary producer with more than 40 programs to his credit. His programs have appeared on PBS stations throughout the United States, been used by many nonprofit …

Technorati Tags: green, Pacific, Preview, sustainable, Towards

The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

admin — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 00:06:31 +0000

The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

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Home Page > Computers > Information Technology > The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

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Posted: Oct 15, 2008 |Comments: 0

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The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

By: Aaron Guyton

About the Author

Mr. Guyton serves as the public relations account executive, armed with determination and a press release. A graduate of NC State University with a degree in Communication and a concentration in Public Relations, he can quickly augment any public relations needs that may arise. You can usually find him in his office buried in newspapers and trade magazines from all over the country.

(ArticlesBase SC #604351)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ – The Pantry Inc. Goes Green With the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center

The Pantry Inc. Goes Green with the Implementation of New Energy Efficient Data Center designed by Altruent Systems

Raleigh, N.C. (October 15, 2008)– – Altruent Systems, a systems integration company headquartered in Raleigh, N.C. that specializes in the consulting, design, and installation of mission-critical infrastructure, announced today, that the firm has completed a new energy efficient data center for Sanford-based The Pantry Inc., (NASDAQ:PTRY). Altruent Systems was selected to design, engineer and construct The Pantry’s new data center with state-of-the-art infrastructure that allows for energy savings on power and cooling.

With rising energy costs now becoming a major concern for most large organizations, the interest in reducing data center and IT energy, where the majority of a company’s utility costs are incurred, is now becoming a necessity. “Green” organizations, such as LEED and Green Grid, are stirring interest within C- level executives to turn their companies into eco-friendly, energy efficient consumers and producers.

When The Pantry decided that it was time to expand their headquarters’ data center, Ed Collupy, VP of Information Technology commented, “we saw an opportunity to take advantage of new power and cooling technologies, which were environmentally friendly yet more productive.”

The Pantry had already begun taking advantage of new computing technologies such as blade servers, whereas one server chassis consists of multiple circuit boards, or ‘blades’, that each act as an individual server. This allows more computing power in a smaller space, which drastically reduces power consumption, but results in highly concentrated, or ‘high density’ heat output. The ability to capture and remove this concentrated heat, in order to maintain an optimal temperature requires a new approach to data center design. With this in mind, The Pantry chose Altruent Systems for their proficiency in high-density data center design using APC’s (American Power Conversion) scalable InfraStruXure® architecture.

Altruent’s design and construction of The Pantry’s data center allowed The Pantry to make a significant contribution to Energy and Atmosphere conservation and preservation. This is done by using multiple InRow, ‘close-coupled’ cooling units, which eliminates the need for an inefficient raised floor, and places the cooling units closer to the servers. This captures the heat directly from an intentional ‘hot aisle’ and distributes cool air to the ‘cold aisle’. This prevents the hot and cold air from mixing, which highly improves cooling efficiency, and thus reduces the total energy required to maintain the proper temperature. With the implementation of such a system, The Pantry was able to greatly increase their computing capacity and reliability, while simultaneously going Green!

“Working together with Altruent, we successfully transformed an outdated data center into one that will carry us forward for many years to come,” said Collupy. “These initiatives have positioned The Pantry for continued technology growth along with an outlook towards smart energy-related controls.”

While more and more companies such as The Pantry are looking towards a “Greener” future, it’s no wonder why companies like Altruent Systems are being selected to reconfigure, design and provide solutions to outdated data centers. With energy costs rising and many companies trying to incorporate a green ideology within their business model, it makes sense to start going green at the core of your business, where most energy is consumed — the data center.

Brad Thompson, Project Engineer for Altruent Systems said, “Technology is constantly evolving, and our job is to stay on top of state-of-the-art innovations from the industry leading professionals, in order to provide our customers with the best possible solutions available.”

About The Pantry Inc.:
Headquartered in Sanford, North Carolina, The Pantry, Inc. is the leading independently operated convenience store chain in the southeastern United States and one of the largest independently operated convenience store chains in the country, with revenues for fiscal 2007 of approximately $6.9 billion. As of February 22, 2008, the Company operated 1,644 stores in eleven states under select banners, including Kangaroo Express, its primary operating banner. The Company’s stores offer a broad selection of merchandise, as well as gasoline and other ancillary services designed to appeal to the convenience needs of its customers.
About Altruent Systems:
Headquartered in Raleigh, NC, Altruent Systems Inc. is a systems integration firm providing consulting, design and installation of mission-critical, power and cooling infrastructure. To learn more about how your company can benefit from an energy efficient data center, visit www.Altruent.com, or call 1-888-843-9392.

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Article Tags:
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Green Plumbing Provides Water Conservation and Energy Efficiency

admin — Sat, 30 Oct 2010 09:16:39 +0000

Green plumbing is the most energy efficient plumbing system that also provides for water conservation. Green products associated with plumbing systems are hot water demand systems and tankless water heaters.

Green plumbing products, energy efficiency, and water conservation

Green plumbing is plumbing designed to be the most energy efficient and at the same time conserve the most water. This boils down to the hot water plumbing since the cold water side does not consume, lose, or waste energy or water. Typical products associated with such plumbing systems are tankless water heaters and hot water demand systems.

Hot water plumbing systems

The hot water plumbing is another story. The pipes end up full of hot water after each use, then cooling off, wasting a huge amount of energy. Then the cooled off hot water in the pipes from the previous use must be purged in order to obtain hot water at the fixture the next time it’s used. This is not a good way to provide water conservation.

If the water heater is located a long way from the point of use, the water temperature will be lower at the fixture than at the outlet of the tank due to the heat energy lost along the length of the pipe.

Having identified the factors involved in efficient plumbing systems; water wastage and energy loss from the distribution piping, we can try to find ways to make the plumbing system more efficient.

Pipe Insulation

Insulating the hot water piping contributes to efficient plumbing. Since while you wait for the hot water to arrive, you are wastefully running water down the drain, minimizing the wait for hot water will minimize the amount of water being wasted.

Part of the delay in the arrival of hot water is due to the fact that the piping material absorbs the heat from the water as it travels through the pipe, so when the hot water arrives it has already cooled off and you have to wait a little longer. The longer the piping run is the worse the problem becomes.

By insulating the pipes, they do not get as cold and thus they absorb less heat from the hot water traveling to the fixture. Your hot water reaches you faster and you run less water down the drain. Insulating your pipes contributes to water conservation.

The temperature drop long the pipe on those long runs is less due to the insulation, resulting in more energy efficiency.

Point-of-use tankless water heaters

Tankless water heaters are seen as green products these days, but you have to be careful about opting for tankless. Due to the capacity limitations and temperature rise limitations on tankless heaters, they generally best used as point of use water heaters. In other words they would be located at the fixture or fixtures where the hot water is to be used.

Point of use water heaters eliminate that long pipe run, virtually eliminating the energy and water wastage attributable to the distribution piping.

Hot water demand systems

If point-of-use water heating is not feasible with your plumbing layout, then consider a hot water demand pumping system. A hot water demand system is a pumping system similar to a standard hot water circulating system, except the pump only comes on when you demand hot water by pressing a button.

Pressing the button causes a small pump mounted under the fixture furthest from the water heater to begin pumping the hot water from the water heater to the fixture at high speed, turning off when it detects the arrival of hot water.

Then when you turn on the fixture you have instant hot water and no water was run down the drain. Demand systems only consume about $1 to $2 per year in electricity to run. Some models are under $200 retail, and are very easy to install, they hook up with hoses. They save you time, water, and money.

Plumbing products and a green plumbing layouts

Make your plumbing system green, add insulation if possible, and use plumbing products like point-of-use water heaters, and use a hot water demand systems if you can’t use a point of use tankless water heater.

If you have long pipe runs, loop your hot water piping from fixture to fixture and install a demand system at the end of the line.

Save time, water, energy and money! Green Demand Hot Water Systems Explored and Compared: Save Water and Energy!

For more information about green tankless water heaters: Green Tankless Water Heaters Tankless and tank type water heater information.

Technorati Tags: conservation, efficiency, energy, green, Plumbing, provides, Water

WIND HANDCRAFTED BLADE TURBINE WINDMILL ALTERNATIVE GREEN

admin — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 23:38:22 +0000

www.greenpowerscience.com This blade design is cut with only a table saw in less than 1/2 of an hour. One person could rough cut 50+ 8 foot turbine blades in one day. GREENPOWERSCIENCE.COM This is the Quad Design.

Technorati Tags: alternative, BLADE, green, HANDCRAFTED, turbine, wind, windmill

How to make a home more green energy efficient?

admin — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 13:22:40 +0000

With an increased stress on environmental friendly and energy efficient technologies making a home more green energy efficient has become easy as well as cost effective. So if you are thinking of some simple ways to save up on electricity bills you can bring in some smart changes to your home by making it more eco friendly and end up in saving up a considerable amount of money on the long run.

The term green energy basically refers to the usage of heating and cooling devices which use much less energy or renewable energy such as solar and wind which is environmental friendly as well as cost effective. Contrary to popular belief installing energy efficient devices in one’s home does not involve a huge investment as there are a numerous companies in the market offering green energy solutions for homes at highly competitive and bargain prices. The following section lists some convenient ways by which you can make your home more green energy efficient:

1. Install a solar water heater: Installing a solar water heater is a great way to turn your home more green energy efficient. While purchasing a solar water heater from the market can be expensive one can also build their own solar powered heaters at relatively low prices.

2. Put up photovoltaic solar panels: Using the sun’s renewable energy and converting it into electric power can be easily done by putting up photovoltaic solar panels on the rooftops of your home.

3. Opt for a domestic windmill: If you live in a windy area, installing a domestic windmill or a wind turbine is another great way to generate power through wind energy.

4. Switch to passive solar technology: If you are constructing a new home you can make it more green energy efficient by using bricks that are made of insulated materials, installing energy efficient doors and windows as well as deigning the home to allow the optimum passage of natural light into your rooms.

5. Build a compost pit in your garden: A great way to recycle your biodegradable kitchen waste and make your garden area more green and fertile is by building a compost pit.

Turning a home green energy efficient involves utilizing renewable energy such as sun, wind and water into power through innovative technologies which are easily accessible in today’s times for domestic use. So go ahead and do yourself and the environment a great favor by adopting a more eco – friendly lifestyle by turning your home more green energy efficient.

Melanie Hogeveen is an expert writer in varied fields and has been doing research on several topics for the past several years. She is renowned for her advices and tips to help people and environment. For more details please visit Green Energy.

Technorati Tags: efficient, energy, green, Home, More

My Green Home – My Wind Turbine – Air-X 12v Land

admin — Fri, 24 Sep 2010 10:54:23 +0000

My Air-X Land 12V wind turbine is up and running. Connected to 2 Xrantex portable power packs (65ah batteries and 1500w inverter in each pack), on a good wind day will charge the batteries from dead in less than 12hrs, usually takes 2-3 days in average winds. I have it mounted on a 27′ pole with #10awg wire to the base where the power packs are located. The system runs my 16 – 11 volt deck lights, 2 strings of 100 LCD patio lights for a few hours at night, electronic bug zapper all day, charges all my rechargable tools, flashlights, camera batteries and has lots of power left available for runing small tools like my drill and weed wacker when needed. Free Green Energy – got to love it!

Technorati Tags: AirX, green, Home, Land, turbine, wind

Green Kitchen Guide to Energy Efficient Stove Cooktops

admin — Thu, 23 Sep 2010 10:09:57 +0000

When it comes to designing a green kitchen, evaluating stove cooktops for their energy efficiency can cause you to make a decision between convenience or your preferred method of cooking and being eco-friendly. But, if you really want to conserve energy and help to reduce your carbon footprint, your stove cooktop is something you need to consider in your kitchen design.

Unless you are going to cook in your fireplace over an open flame, you’ve got to consider the energy usage of the model of stove or cooktop that you buy. Most cooks prefer a gas cook top. With gas, the heat is easier to control and this can make cooking a lot easier.

However, gas stoves are powered by natural gas which is a fossil fuel and, as we know, fossil fuels are not that environmentally friendly. On the other hand, the electricity that powers electric cook tops comes mainly from coal burning power plants which, once again, are not that environmentally friendly. So, what’s an environmentally sympathetic cook to do?

When it comes right down to it, choosing stoves and cooktops that are practical and good for the environment boils down to one thing – the efficiency of energy usage.

Which Stove Cooktops Are Most Energy Efficient?

When looking for energy efficiency, the electric cooktops are going to beat the gas ones hands-down. They are simply more efficient, so if the environment is tops on your list, go with electric.

But, there are many different types of electric cooktops that you’ll need to evaluate for your green kitchen. In today’s electric cooktops, there are many choices between the surface elements. These include induction elements, halogen elements and the traditional electric coil that seemed to be almost old-fashioned today. Each of these has it’s advantages and disadvantages and they are not all equal when it comes to energy efficiency.

Needless to say, the newer technology cooktops are going to be more costly but they will also be more energy-efficient. The induction stove is the most energy-efficient because it transfers energy electromagnetically right to your pan. Of course, these are the highest priced.

The ceramic glass cooktops that use halogen elements are the next best when it comes to using energy, however if you don’t have very flat pans, you will be wasting energy because they do not work efficiently if there isn’t good pan to cooktop contact.

The least expensive – the electric coils are also the least energy-efficient not to mention the least attractive so please cross these right off your list when shopping for new cooktops for your kitchen!

When considering stove cooktops for your kitchen, you’re going to have to weigh your budget with your desire to lower your carbon footprint. Just like most things in life, you have to compromise to achieve your goals. Going with a higher-priced and more efficient model might cost you more upfront but can save on your energy expense as well as your impact to the environment over time.

To find out more about which stove cooktops are more energy efficient as well as get more tips for an eco-friendly green kitchen, visit the Green Kitchen Design Guide.

Technorati Tags: Cooktops, efficient, energy, green, guide, Kitchen, Stove

IBM TV Archive — Big events. Big green. Big cats.

admin — Fri, 10 Sep 2010 01:50:30 +0000

Get ready for three big IBM software events, including IBM Pulse 2008, the first IBM global conference dedicated to service management. Get an update on IBM Project Big Green and the IBM energy efficiency certification program. Then things get wild. IBM and Cisco help protect big cats and other wildlife with the donation of high-performance server and networking infrastructure.

Technorati Tags: Archive, cats., events., green

They’re Not Green Episode 3

admin — Sat, 04 Sep 2010 22:32:31 +0000

wind power Wind Power Dominated Countries will be left with millions of Tons of Scrap Metal which Cannot be Recycled. Burning Wind Turbine Blades Spew Toxic Fumes.

Technorati Tags: episode, green, They're