Archive for the ‘green energy’ Category

Purchasing green energy through the electrical grid :

In several countries with common carrier arrangements, electricity retailing arrangements make it possible for consumers to purchase green electricity (renewable electricity) from either their utility or a green power provider.

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When energy is purchased from the electricity network, the power reaching the consumer will not necessarily be generated from green energy sources. The local utility company, electric company, or state power pool buys their electricity from electricity producers who may be generating from fossil fuel, nuclear or renewable energy sources. In many countries green energy currently provides a very small amount of electricity, generally contributing less than 2 to 5% to the overall pool. In some U.S. states, local governments have formed regional power purchasing pools using “Community Choice Aggregation” and “Solar Bonds” to achieve a 51% renewable mix or higher, such as in the City of San Francisco.

By participating in a green energy program a consumer may be having an effect on the energy sources used and ultimately might be helping to promote and expand the use of green energy. They are also making a statement to policy makers that they are willing to pay a price premium to support renewable energy. Green energy consumers either obligate the utility companies to increase the amount of green energy that they purchase from the pool (so decreasing the amount of non-green energy they purchase), or directly fund the green energy through a green power provider. If insufficient green energy sources are available, the utility must develop new ones or contract with a third party energy supplier to provide green energy, causing more to be built. However, there is no way the consumer can check whether or not the electricity bought is “green” or otherwise.

In some countries such as the Netherlands, electricity companies guarantee to buy an equal amount of ‘green power’ as is being used by their green power customers. The Dutch government exempts green power from pollution taxes, which means green power is hardly any more expensive than other power.

In the United States, one of the main problems with purchasing green energy through the electrical grid is the current centralized infrastructure that supplies the consumers electricity. This infrastructure has lead to increasingly frequent brown outs and black outs, high CO2 emissions, higher energy costs, and power quality issues . An additional $450 billion will be invested to expand this fledgling system over the next 20 years to meet increasing demand . In addition, this centralized system is now being further overtaxed with the incorporation of renewable energies such as wind, solar, and geothermal energies. Renewable resources, due to the amount of space they require, are often located in remote areas where there is a lower energy demand. The current infrastructure would make transporting this energy to high demand areas, such as urban centers, highly inefficient and in some cases impossible. In addition, despite the amount of renewable energy produced or the economic viability of such technologies only about 20 percent will be able to be incorporated into the grid. To have a more sustainable energy profile, the United States must move towards implementing changes to the electrical grid that will accommodate a mixed-fuel economy [75].

However, several initiatives are being proposed to mitigate these distribution problems. First and foremost, the most effective way to reduce USAs CO2 emissions and slow global warming is through conservation efforts. Opponents of the current US electrical grid have also advocated for decentralizing the grid. This system would increase efficiency by reducing the amount of energy lost in transmission. It would also be economically viable as it would reduce the amount of power lines that will need to be constructed in the future to keep up with demand. Merging heat and power in this system would create added benefits and help to increase its efficiency by up to 80-90%. This is a significant increase from the current fossil fuel plants which only have an efficiency of 34% .

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A more recent concept for improving our electrical grid is to beam microwaves from Earth-orbiting satellites or the moon to directly when and where there is demand. The power would be generated from solar energy captured on the lunar surface In this system, the receivers would be broad, translucent tent-like structures that would receive microwaves and convert them to electricity. NASA said in 2000 that the technology was worth pursuing but it is still too soon to say if the technology will be cost-effective

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Technorati Tags: arrangements, CO2emissions, Consumers, Electricity, energies, ENERGYSOURCES, Green, Incorporation, Issues, Power, Producers, Providers, Purchasers, Quality, renewable, Retailing, SolarBonds

If you’re wondering does green tea have caffeine, the answer is “yes”, but the amount varies.  Here’s a little Q&A that can help you make good beverage choices and even find the best dietary supplements.

Does green tea contain caffeine in the same amount as black teas?

Many sources will tell you that green teas have less than black, but that is not necessarily true.  Some varieties have the same amount.  The caffeine-content of the green varieties varies from 30mg to 50mg per 8 ounce cup, more or less depending on a variety of factors.  Black teas average 47mg per cup.  So, the real answer to does green tea have caffeine equal to black varieties is “maybe”.

Does green tea contain caffeine equal to what you find in coffee or soda?

An 8 ounce cup of drip brewed coffee contains 95mg.  A 16 ounce Starbucks Cafe Latte contains 150mg and a “Grade” contains 330mg.  Sodas have differing amounts depending on the brand.  The soda with the highest caffeine content is Mountain Dew, coming in at 54mg per 12 ounces.  When your caffeine-intake gets up to 500mg per day, you are likely to start having problems, such as poor sleep, headaches and nervousness.  

Does green tea contain caffeine when you make it at home?

Brewing at home is one of the big variables.  The longer that the leaves are allowed to seep, the higher the caffeine-content becomes.  The amount also depends on the country where the leaves were grown.  Those grown in India, for example, tend to have more than others.  If you are worried about the answer to does green tea have caffeine, use a shorter brewing time.

Does green tea contain caffeine when you buy it bottled from a store?

Most of those bottled beverages don’t actually contain much tea.  So, does green tea have caffeine when it is bottled?  8 ounces of Sobe regular contains only 14mg per 8 ounces.  Of course you have to double that for a 16 ounce bottle.  The beverages with the highest caffeine-content are those energy drinks.  They claim that the “jolt” comes from green tea, ginseng and other herbs, but the stimulating effect that you get from those drinks is really due to caffeine, not herbs.  If you want to really improve your energy level, start taking a good nutritional supplement instead.

Does green tea contain caffeine when it is used in dietary supplements?

The amount that is present in the best dietary supplements is minute, less than one milligram per serving.  Numerous health benefits are believed to be associated with the antioxidants found in green and black teas.  Antioxidants are good for your health.  They protect the cells of your body from free radical damage and perform other functions.  They may help you live a longer, disease-free life. 

Now that you know the answer to does green tea have caffeine, you might want to learn about the benefits of antioxidants and other nutrients.  Everyone can benefit from an excellent nutritional supplement. If you have two minutes to spare, please take a look at my website now.

Gordon Hall
http://www.articlesbase.com/supplements-and-vitamins-articles/does-green-tea-have-caffeine-719270.html

Fluid Power is Green Energy. This video clip is an excerpt from NFPA’s “Fluid Power: A Force for Change” ½ hour TV program. The full video, viewable at www.nfpa.com, is a fascinating exploration of the fluid power industry and its positive effects on our current and future society, as well as the promise it holds for a rising generation of young engineers looking for exciting and socially-responsible careers. Fluid power—hydraulics and pneumatics—is one of our most reliable technologies, and its advancement will have transformative effects on our world and society.

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Technorati Tags: Association, Careers, control, energy, Engineering, Fluid, Green, Hydraulics, motion, national, NFPA, Pneumatics, Power, solar

One can help to reduce the negative impact that hotels have on environment by staying at a green hotel.

Green hotels use energy and resources efficiently thereby implementing recycling of products. Using nonrenewable resources efficiently and utilizing renewable resources is what Green hotels concentrate on.

The staggering figure of guests in the hotels, the meals prepared for them, water consumption, and energy required for lighting, cooling and heating all indicate that there is an enormous need to implement green hotel practices.

While you are at a green hotel, you are sure to receive quality service. Apart from the service quality, you will also be helping the environment.

Adopting green hotel practices helps hotels to realize cost savings which can be used for enhancing services provided to the guests.

Finding a Green Hotel

Finding a green hotel that suits your style, needs and pocket is not easy. But, with little effort one can easily find a hotel that makes you feel at home or in the lap of nature.

Choosing a Green Hotel

The key component of green travel is to book an eco-lodge. Many hotels are now making their ambience and implementing practices which make hotels- green homes away from homes for the guests.

Being a Green Hotel guest

When staying in a hotel, the following steps help you to become a green hotel guest:

· Ask the hotel staff not to change the sheets and towels on a daily basis.

· Switch off the lights and electrical appliances if any like television, air conditioner and close the drapes when leaving the room.

· Participate in the recycling efforts which the hotel promotes.

· Pass the newspaper provided by the hotel to someone else after you have read and encourage the hotel management to implement recycling.

· Take short showers

· While brushing teeth, don’t let the water run

· Turn off the exercise machines when done

· Place the brochures and other tourist information back in the racks after reading rather than throwing

· If disposable utensils are used in the hotel, bring your own disposable cups etc.

· When having food, if you don’t drink water along, ask the staff not to pour in your glass

· Thank the staff and management- managers and employees for embracing green hotel practices and appreciate their effort

Be a nice guest to encourage the hotel become ‘Green’

What if you stay in a hotel that is not green i.e. not following green practices?

Being a guest a positive effort in this case would be to encourage the hotel to become Green.

Following the steps given below will encourage the staff at the hotel:

· Asking the hotel managers and staff to follow green practices and tell them the importance for guests

· If you know some tips that will help hotels to be environmentally friendly, discuss them with managers

· Try to contact hotel’s president or CEO or send him a letter that will say the importance of following green hotel practices and how will it make a difference.

Thus, Implementing Green Hotel Practices is a challenge that hotels should face and help in conserving our resources and environment.

So, the next time you travel, make a difference for the environment by Going Green.

For more information visit: www.ecogreenhotel.com

M. Scott Parisi
http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/whenever-you-travel-go-for-a-green-hotel-745740.html

We have tons of coastal area. Why not harvest the tides and get our energy that way. That way the money would go to people here.
Its energy that looks green……no, if your serious its energy that comes from nature and not the remains of million year old decayed animals……
Keerok, you wouldn’t have to convert it, just use batteries and whatnot. Electricity is electricity. We get ours from power lines. All you have to do is hook it up to the green power plants. Oil electricity is the same thing as green electricity.

Actually most of our oil comes from Canada, believe it or not. I guess we do that because we want the last reserves. They have made changes to go green, but the oil companies have them all bogged down. The last President who tried that was none other than Jimmy Carter, and it was political suicide. Now that people are more aware, we will make an effort to go green.