Green

Coke Increases Production of New Plant Bottles

As part of its “Go Green” initiative, Coca-Cola has announced that it has begun distributing Coke and other beverages in plastic bottles that are made of up to 30% plant-based material. Coca-Cola is a well-known consumer brand across the world and its logo is the most widely recognized business symbols. This new initiative highlights how serious Coca-Cola is, in making the earth green.

Coke has already christened the new packaging as PlantBottle, and is proud of the fact that it is the first to introduce and promote such an idea in the corporate world. The bottles were already on shelves, just in time for the Copenhagen summit in Denmark. The company has already introduced the bottles in Canada and plans to do so in January in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Seattle.

Coke has announced that it has plans to increase the PlantBottle production to two billion by the end of this year. This according to the press release is the first step in achieving the vision of marketing plastic bottles that are 100% recyclable. Interestingly, the CEO of Coke is already calling the product, “the bottle of the future.”

The reason for the bottles not being 100% plant material is that they cannot handle hot or carbonated drinks. Hence, the product has to be PET plastic, which can be easily recycled. The company is also planning to set up recycling plants in countries where there is no recycling infrastructure. It is no surprise that the Climate Group has praised Coca-Cola for this “revolutionary solution”.

Lighting Ideas – Ways to Save on Your Electric Bill

There are a few things that you can do to bring your electricity bill down. Nothing is very complicated and all these suggestions are practical enough to implement in your home.
Change those bulbs

Get rid of all your standard bulbs and replace them with CFL (Compact Fluorescent Lamp) bulbs. These are long lasting and more importantly very good at energy saving. The initial cost of each bulb is slightly more than normal bulbs but the saving you make in electricity and long life more than make up for this.

Control lighting
Use dimmers to control exactly how much light you need. It is not always that you will need to have your lights on full strength, so you should consider installing dimmers for all your lights.

Use task lighting
Certain areas can benefit by having specific lights installed just for them. For example, inside kitchen cabinets, at your basement workbench and over your study table, etc.

Use natural lighting
Consider installing a skylight to reduce the amount of electrical lights you use during the day. Small tubular skylights do a great job and are small and cheap enough for anyone to consider.

Rearrange your setup
Move your furniture around so more natural light streams into your room.

Paint it light
Consider painting your walls a lighter color, as it helps to bounce the light in a more efficient manner. Lighter colors and a white ceiling also make the room feel larger.

Kill Dracula
Vampires exist, at least in the electrical world. TVs on standby, phone chargers still in the power socket, and stereos, etc. Anything that is on standby power or any power converters (like phone chargers) consume electricity. Since they are left on like that 24/7 you have steady power consumption going on which you do not realize. Put a stop to this at once!

Roof Solar Panels

If your aim is to produce enough electricity to be self-sufficient or at least ease your energy bills, you should consider installing Solar Panels on your roof.

Solar Panels contain photovoltaic cells. The cells in these panels are interconnected and sealed in from the sides and from above by Plexiglas or normal glass. The panel produces electricity by converting sunlight. What this essentially means is that even if it is winter, it will produce electricity as long as there is some sunlight. The amount of electricity produced is dictated by the number of cells in each panel, the number of panels you have installed and of course, the amount of sunlight that falls on the panels. Depending on how many panels you decide to install, you can power anything from a tiny portion to the whole house.

If you live in an area that experiences snowfall during winter, you should consider mounting the panels in an accessible location. This is so that you can clean the snow of the panels regularly to let the sunlight through. To make this easy can opt to not mount the panels on your roof and instead place them elsewhere on your property in an easily accessible location. Wherever you decide to place them, make it a point to ensure that they are facing south so that they catch the maximum amount of sunlight in winter. Some panels can be fitted with tilting mechanisms so that they can be moved to follow the sun’s path during the day. Automated systems that do this are also available.

Save Money and Energy with Window Blinds

Heating and air-conditioning bills can be killers when they arrive. However, there is nothing you can do about it, is there? After all, you need both these amenities to live comfortably, so you will have to pay these bills regardless of the cost. Do you think this statement is right or wrong? Wrong, actually.

The truth is that you can reduce these bills just by making the proper choices when it comes to windows and window blinds. A little known fact is that you can bring down your utility bills by about 25 % by implementing this change. However, before you begin, attended a few things are in order. Make sure you seal all the leaks in and around your doors and windows. Next, install a programmable thermostat that will help you regulate the temperature more efficiently.

Now you should think about installing some blinds for your windows. Studies show that 45 % of heat can be cut from the sun by using blinds. Wood blinds are excellent at this and they help to keep the heat in, during the cold winter months. Blinds are very useful in summer because along with cutting out the heat they allow the cool breeze into the house.

Another measure you can take is to install Honeycomb shades. The design helps to trap air in to insulate your house. They are also customizable in the sense that you can buy particular shades that let in the exact amount of light you want, completely blackout everything or even get the solar version that cuts out the heat but allows you to still look out and enjoy the view.

Before you run off to buy them and make changes to your house, make sure you do some research. Find the closest locations where you can get them, its costs, installation costs and any limitations that come with these shades. Be prepared and informed and you will enjoy the benefits!

Do LED Bulbs Save Energy?

Many environmentally conscious consumers are moving towards using LED bulbs in their homes. The switch is not an altogether easy one, as it requires some adjusting to the limitations of the technology. LED bulbs are relatively directional, so the spread of light is limited unlike a regular bulb where the light spread is 360 degrees.

Some people have complained that the light is dimmer than what you get from a regular bulb. They also claim that the light is somewhat bluish. Apart from all this, the biggest complaint is that the bulbs do not work for as long as they are supposed to. This is more to do with the way they are shipped and handled rather than any inherent faults that exist in the bulb itself.

However, longevity can be a problem, as consumers have to pay around $100 for a bulb every time. Therefore, manufacturers must address this problem immediately if the LED bulb should opted for by consumers, because LED bulbs do conserve energy and are environmentally friendly.

These two qualities are rapidly becoming ever important in the world today. They reduce carbon footprints, contain no mercury, have no consequence on whether you turn them on and off rapidly or even if you leave them on constantly.

It is only a matter of time before LED bulbs become the norm in every home. However, getting people to accept them and adjust to their particular ways will take a little longer. So, it is up to the manufacturers and the government to encourage and educate consumers to make the transition easier.

Energy Saving with Window Film

Saving energy is a top priority in the world today. The main reason being: everyone’s commitment towards saving the planet. Energy savings can benefit you immensely in terms of saving costs, especially in the wake of rising fuel prices.

Today, people across the globe are quite concerned about the effect any practice has on the environment, while most companies are striving to reduce their carbon foot print. This then boils down to saving money spent on energy obtained.

At home or in your office, you must know of the cost effectiveness of utilizing double glazed units, wall cavities and loft insulation. Another solution still not entirely known is the use of window film. Using it can help cut down greatly on air conditioning bills during summer and even winter heating bills.

The types of window film you can use are two-fold. One of them, once installed, helps conserve energy; while the solar window film stops heat from the sun from entering the building. Low E also referred to as low emissivity window film is fabulous in preventing any summer heat coming in or winter heat loss.

Solar film is designed to block infrared rays. These are parts of the sun that carry the heat it emits. Coolclear is one such item which is spectrally selective solar film that comes in an un-tinted format, is clear to the eye and blocks off 70% of solar heat. Reflective window film blocks over 80% of solar heat.

Low-E film stops solar heat from entering the room and also prevents winter heat loss. The film comes with a solar coating that prevents over 80% of solar heat from penetrating the building and vice versa. The use of low-E film is known to cut down winter heat loss by as much as 33%.

The Best of Green Home Designs

Adapting a “green home design” can be a relatively new term for most but being environmentally friendly is a very simple concept. The principle revolves around: using materials that have been recycled or making sure you get the most out of the materials you use and it also involves conserving energy while saving money. Small changes in your home can create a healthy safe enviroment that is both clean and efficient.

There are many options that you could choose to make your home an environmentally friendly one. When choosing a type of flooring, look for materials that have been sanded down, painted or refurnished. If you prefer a more modern design, why not opt for a cement floor. Cement floors are green because they use no glues or finishes. You could also consider using concrete on your kitchen and bathroom counters.

By installing windows, glass and skylights you would be able to use natural light during the day and also retain heat within your home. The more natural light you use the less energy you would consume, which is a great way to save on your energy bills.

White goods can often drain a large amount of electricity. In order to make sure your kitchen is environmentally friendly check on how much energy your appliances use. When purchasing or replacing white goods, ask a sales assistant about brands that use less energy.

Before changing your home design to a greener one, make sure you plan on the areas you intend to concentrate on first. Being environmentally friendly does not mean that your entire home should be transformed all at once. Just know that even the smallest changes can bring you closer to creating a home that is environmentally sensitive.

Save Water While Waiting for it to Warm

When most of us take hot showers we wait for the cold water to flush out before we actually take a shower. What most of us fail to realize is that by understanding why your water takes long to heat up and making a few easy changes, you could make a big difference to your energy bills.

The reason why water takes so long to warm up due to:

– The Distance of the water heater- When the water heater is far away from the faucets the water would take longer to reach the faucets.

– The width of the pipes- When the water pipes are smaller, less water would be heated and it would take longer for the hot water to reach the faucets.

– Flow rate- When using low flow shower heads it takes longer for the cold water to flush out before the hot water arrives.

If changing your pipes, water heads, water heater and faucets is out of your budget opt for a few simple changes. You could start off with getting used to taking a cold shower. Cold showers are great for your skin and circulation, while saving you money on your energy bills. If taking a cold shower is out of the question, why not just save the water in a bucket. You could reuse this water for watering your plants, washing your clothes or dishes.

By using a circular system you would be able to fix the problem. A circular system would take the cold water out of your pipes and direct it elsewhere, while at the same time draining hot water from another part of your home. These systems very efficient and reduce your energy bills significantly but they come at a price.

Ways to Consume Less Water

Consuming less water is a great way to reduce your utility bills and be a more environmentally responsible citizen. It is important to understand that by working towards reducing your water consumption you can save energy. This is because in order to pump water into each home, the state of California alone uses 6.5% of its energy. By changing your daily habits, you can to give back to your enviroment and save money at the same time. Here are some quick handy tips:

Water your lawn only when necessary – If you step on your lawn and it springs back, your lawn does not need watering. By setting your sprinklers at lesser times a day, you could save up to one and a half gallons of water every month.

Fix leaky taps – This can save you approximately 600 galloons of water per month.

Use a bucket to wash your car – Instead of using a hose to wash your car fill a bucket of water or opt for a dry spray wash. This can save you 150 galloons on each wash.

Install water saving shower heads – These shower heads reduce the flow of water, which means that you would be using less water per wash or you could just simply time your showers. This can save you up to 500 to 800 galloons of water per month.

Make sure your loads are full – When washing your clothes in the washing machine make sure you have enough clothes for a full wash. This can save you upto 800 galloons of water per month.

Does Closing Vents Save Money

In the olden days most people believed that closing off parts of your home that are not being used, can save energy. This happened generally in the winter months, where people huddled into their living rooms near a fire place and closed off all other rooms that were not in use.

Most people believe that the same concept can be applied to modern homes that use either gas or electric ducked heating and cooling systems. Research done in 2003 by Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory stated that although this may have worked for homes using a fireplace, this would not work in today’s homes fitted with modern energy systems.

The research was undertaken on consumers in California who believed that closing their registers was an easy and effective way to save energy. The researchers studied the changes in duct leakage as registers were closed and the changes in energy consumption.

The results of the study confirmed that by closing the registers there was an increase in energy consumption within the research subject’s homes. The reason behind this is that when registers are closed; although there is an energy saving, this saving is offset by the increases in duct system losses. This can be minimized if the registers which are further away from the handler are closed. If you close the vents further away from the handler the system would have to use less pressure to push the heating to those areas of your home.

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