10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.

1. Save energy to save money.

   
   
   
   • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying.

2. Save water to save money.

   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).

   
   
   • Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4. Eat smart.

   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
   • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5. Skip the bottled water.

   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6. Think before you buy.

   
   
   
   • Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
   • Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7. Borrow instead of buying.

   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8. Buy smart.

   
   
   
   • Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9. Keep electronics out of the trash.

   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

    • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.

Garbage Enzyme

More facts on garbage enzyme:-

Credits goes to Dr. Rosukon and Dr.(H) Joean Onn for sharing this valuable knowledge

---

What's Garbage Enzyme?

Garbage enzyme is a complex solution produced by fermentation of fresh kitchen waste (fruits and vegetables dregs), sugar (brown sugar, jaggery or molasses sugar) and water. It is dark brown and has a strong sweet sour fermented scent. Garbage enzyme is a multipurpose liquid and its applications covers household, agriculture, animal husbandry etc.
Garbage enzyme is developed by Dr. Rosukon from Thailand. She has been actively involved in enzyme research for more than 30 years and encourages people to make garbage enzyme at home to ease global warming.

Garbage enzyme is the solution to recover our ozone layer and lower the global temperature.

Change Climate
From day one you start making garbage enzyme, its catalyses process Will release ozone gas (O3). O3 can reduce carbon dioxide (C02) in the atmosphere and heavy metal that traps heat in the cloud. Hence heat can be released from the Earth, reducing greenhouse and global warming effects. Enzyme convert ammonia to nitrate (NO3), a natural hormone and nutrient for plants. Meanwhile it converts carbon dioxide to carbonate (C03) which is beneficial to sea plants and marine life.

Discover the endless benefits of this Earth-saving enzyme you can make in your kitchen. It is rewarding to heal the Earth.

• Save money:
• Turn kitchen waste to DIY natural house-hold cleaners.
• Multiple usage:
• Natural household cleaner; air purifier; deodoriser; insecticide; detergent; body care; car care: organic fertiliser, etc
• Reduce pollution:
• Methane gas released from disposed garbage can trap 21 times more heat than CO2, worsen the global warming condition.
• Purify air:
• Remove odour. Dissolve toxic air released from smoking, car exhaust, chemical residues from household products, etc.
• Purity underground water:
• Enzyme that flow underground will eventually purify the river and the sea.
• Natural pesticides:
• Reduce mosquitoes. flies, rats or cockroaches etc.
• Anti-bacterial and virus:
• Natural antiseptic for your home.
• Prevent drainpipe blockage:
• Release residues accumulated in the pipe of basins or toilet bowls

Close tight - Keep 3 months (Open daily to release gases for first month)

==================================================
||Ingredients || Ratio || Example 1 || Example 2 || Example 3 ||
==================================================
||SUGAR || 1 || 1KG || 2KG || 0.5KG ||
==================================================
||VEGETABLE || 3 || 3KG || 2KG || 0.5KG ||
==================================================
||WATER || 10 || 10Litres || 20Litres || 5Litres ||
==================================================

Here's how:

1. Use an air-tight plastic container.
2. Dilute sugar in water, follow by adding vegetable and fruit dregs.
3. Leave some space in the container for fermentation.
4. Close it tight.
5. During the first month, gases will be released during fermentation process. Release the pressure built up in the container to avoid rupturing.
6. Push the floating garbage downward every once in a while.
7. Place at cool, dry and well ventilated area. Avoid direct sunlight Let ferment for at least 3 months before use.

Take notes:

1. Do not use glass or metal containers that cannot expand.
2. Garbage for making enzyme does not include paper, plastic, metal or glass materials.
3. Avoid oily cooked food, fish or meat residues (can be used as garden compost material), To make a fresh smelling enzyme, add orange, lemon peel or pandan leave etc.
4. The ideal colour of garbage enzyme is dark brown. If it turned black, add in same amount of sugar to start fermentation process again.
5. It may have a white, black or brown layer on top of the enzyme, ignore it. If you encounter flies and worms in the container, leave it and the chemical reaction of enzyme will resolve them naturally. Close and seal the cover tightly.
6. Make full use of garbage enzyme residue:
>> Reuse for next production by adding fresh garbage.
>> Use as fertilizer by drying the residue, blend it and bury in the ground
>> Grind the residue, pour into toilet bowl, add some brown sugar and flush to help purify sewage
7. If you have not gathered enough kitchen waste, you may fill up the container gradually. The 3 month fermentation period start from the day you place your last batch of kitchen waste.
8. Garbage enzyme is at its best after 6 months of fermentation. The longer it takes, the better it gets. Garbage enzyme will never expire. Do not store in the refrigerator.
9. Help protect our ozone layer, if every household utilised their garbage to produce garbage enzyme, It can stop kitchen waste from polluting our land and meanwhile generate enough ozone gas to ease global warming. You can help change the climate!

Direction for use:

Garbage enzyme can be used diluted with water at a specific dilution ratio.

FOR GARDENING OR FARMING:

Dilute to 1000 times with water for use as natural insecticides, herbicides, pesticides and organic fertilisers. Also can be used to stimulate plant hormone to improve quality of fruits and vegetables and to increase crop yield.
Spray on land for 3 months continuously to improve soil quality.

#######################################################################################################################
#DILUTION RATE # USAGE # QUANTITY # APPLICATION #
#######################################################################################################################
# # Bath (add in bath water to improves skin condition) # 50~100cc # Keep overnight #

# # Washing machine (clean and soften laundry) # 20-50cc # Soak and wash #

# Concentrated # Toilet bowl (prevent blockage & purify sewage) # 250cc # Pour and flush #

# Enzyme # Toilet cistern (purify water) # 20-50cc (two caps) # 2-3 times/ weeks #

# # Garden pond & water tank (purify water) # 1/10,000 litre water # Add occasionally #

# # Leather sofa (clean mold or stain) # Appropriate amount # Spray and wipe every 10 days #

#######################################################################################################################
# # Carpet & tatami mat (deodorise & antiseptic) # Slightly moist # Spray 1-2 times/month #

# # Shoe, inside the car (deodorise & antiseptic) # Appropriate amount # Spray occasionally #

#10-50 times # Kitchen sink, stove, cooker hood (clean oily stain) # Appropriate amount # Soak and wipe occasionally#

# # Black mold (anti-fungal) # Appropriate amount # Soak and wipe occasionally#

# # Pet excretion, pet house (deodorise & antiseptic) # Appropriate amount # Spray occasionally #

#######################################################################################################################
#200-500 times # Air-cond room (humidifier, deodorise & antiseptic) # Appropriate amount # Spray occasionally #
#######################################################################################################################
# # Bathroom sink (clean) # Appropriate amount # Soak and wipe occasionally#

# # Cabinet and refrigerator (deodorise) # Appropriate amount # Spray occasionally #

#500 times # Drain (prevent drainpipe blockage) # Appropriate amount # Flush occasionally #

# # Pet (bathing, deodorise & antiseptic) # Appropriate amount # Upon bathing or brushing #

# # Toilet (clean, deodorise & antiseptic) # Appropriate amount # Spray when wiping #

#######################################################################################################################
#500 - 1000 times # Indoor (purify air, deodorise & pest control) # Appropriate amount # Spray frequently #

# # Closet, clothes (deodorise & antiseptic) # Slightly moist # Spray occasionally #

#######################################################################################################################
#1000 times # Seeding and planting (fertiliser) # Appropriate amount # Rinse once #

#######################################################################################################################

Save on household cleaner and bodycare:

For shampoo, dish wash, laundry liquid etc: use enzyme to multiply and to reduce chemical residues.
Ratio = 1 part enzyme : 1 part detergent/cleaner : 10 parts water
Washing vegetables: Add 30ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to 1 liter water. Soak for 45 minutes.
Floor cleaning: Add 30ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to moping water. To clean and sterilise.
Car care: Add 30ml (2 tbsp) enzyme to water tank to reduce car temperature.

NOTE: I have posted some other posts / videos regarding Garbage Enzyme. You can find all these posts tagged Enzyme

China's Cars Come in Green: Dispatch from the Shanghai Auto Show

by Alex Pasternack, New York, NY on 04.21.07

The simple fact that global automakers are throwing everything they have into two auto shows spaced just months apart speaks volumes about the former Bicycle Kingdom's appetite for the car. That the second show, starting in Shanghai on Earth Day, has gone eco-friendly is an acknowledgment of just how unhealthy that appetite could continue to be -- and a reminder of China's great opportunity to leapfrog to sustainable technologies, integrating green into its growth from the get-go. What's not helping the situation are low gas prices, which are controlled by the government (in Beijing, where over 1000 new cars hit the streets a day, a gallon of 93 octane gasoline costs a paltry $2.30). What is helping -- in spite of the upper class and government penchant for SUVs and luxury sedans -- is an ongoing push for small cars. An auto consumption tax introduced last year for instance, slashed taxes on low-emission vehicles and raised taxes on high-emission vehicles. In general, too, China's economical car culture remains stuck on smaller, more efficient models. Car manufacturers are listening. Among the show's highlights:

The newest Chevy Volt, Chinese hybrids and more below the fold...

Diesel: Volkswagon's Polo BlueMotion: as we reported earlier, this diesel gets 62 mpg average fuel consumption with 102g/km CO2 output, making it one of the cleanest internal combustion vehicles in the world. Though available in Europe, the BlueMotion (pictured above) is not yet sold in the U.S. due to current emission regulations. (VW's other greenery includes the Magotan, otherwise known as the Passat, which features an economical and low-emission engine, along with their highly efficient TFSI engine, to be manufactured in China.)

Fuel-cell: GM will show off its latest version of the sweet hybrid/electric Chevrolet Volt, with a fifth-generation E-Flex fuel cell stack; the prototype is more advanced than the one shown in Detroit three months ago, no longer relying upon a small gasoline engine as a backup. Honda will show its FCX Concept Car, its new fuel-cell vehicle, alongside its experimental Home Energy Station, which would provide hydrogen home refueling. Shanghai Automotive Industries Corp. (SAIC) will display a fuel-cell sedan with a fourth-generation stack, peak power output of 60 kW / 80.5 hp and a top speed of 150 km/h / 93 mph.

Hybrid: Like Chivas or the ubiquitous Audi A6, Buick is loved in China, and soon it will repay that love with its first ever hybrid model. The hybrid LaCrosse, which will be available by 2008, will not be sold in the U.S., not yet. Even sexier -- but less of a sure thing -- is Buick's new concept car, the gullwing Riviera, which has been outfitted with the same hybrid system set to be used in the LaCrosse. Meanwhile, Ford Motor Co.'s 52 models at the show will include its hybrid SUV, the Ford Escape; the Prius, already available in China, will show, alongside some hybrid Lexuses, like the LS600h L. China's first domestic hybrid cars come from Cherry and Roewe (or Rong Wei). The latter, a subsidiary of SAIC, has hybridized a Rover 75 (the company recently bought UK's MG Rover). Chery's hybrid is based on its A3 supermini. As a so-called mild hybrid, it is not able to run in electric-only mode, but the extra help given by the electric motor allows for fuel consumption of up to a claimed 94.2 mpg. Changan has a new hybrid gasoline-electric minivan. Meanwhile, SAIC is investing one billion yuan (US$129 million) in cleaner, more energy efficient vehicle technologies. The company hopes to produce 50,000 electric vehicles of various types by 2010, about 95 percent of which will be hybrids.

Natural gas: VW's EcoFuel Touran tall wagon is fueled by compressed natural gas, reducing CO2 emissions by twenty percent and NOx and CO emissions by eighty percent. Through a joint venture with Volkswagen, SAIC is aiming to produce 500 Touran hybrids before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Flex fuel: Honda's Fit FFV, runs on either 100% ethanol or a wide range of ethanol-gasoline fuel mixtures; the company has been producing and selling this in Brazil since the end of 2006.

Two big questions remain: considering that China's love for fuel efficient cars has more to do with wallets than pollution, how will domestic and foreign car makers (along with the government) encourage more advanced (and slightly costlier) fuel efficient vehicles? The Prius may be available in Beijing, but the only one I've seen is on a billboard.

Second, and related to the first: will foreign automakers transfer their green technology to their Chinese partners? As the New York Times reports:

Multinationals face repeated demands from Chinese joint venture partners to share the most advanced technology available. Katsumi Nakamura, president and chief executive of Dongfeng Motor, a joint venture in Hubei province between Nissan Motor and the Dongfeng Group of China, said that the Dongfeng side had tried to negotiate an agreement that would require the sharing of the latest technology.

But at Nissan's insistence, the final pact only calls for the sharing of "appropriate" technology. There may not be enough demand in China for advanced technologies like hybrid engines to justify the cost of setting up production in China that duplicate those in Japan, Nakamura warned.

Auto executives are reluctant to mention the illegal copying of technology in China, a problem that discouraged Chrysler from even trying to build minivans in China in the 1990s.

But, as Larry Burns, GM vice president of R&D, put it, “It’s in the best interest of the United States for China to diversify its energy resources.”

For cars, black is still the color of choice in China these days -- it's the best way to conceal all that stuff that comes out of the cars. But as long as the car obsession continues to grow -- and as long as China wants its economic growth to be sustainable -- green will need to be the new black.

日本的全自动自行车停车场

由. Ken Wong 将文章归档于 神乎科技

　　日本的机械技术早已令人惊叹，但你可别以为它只用来做机械人。事实上，日本的机械技术早就被大量应用于民用设备里，从马桶到停车场。说到停车场，之前 你或许听说过日本已经有全自动化的停车场，你只需要把车停在指定的位置，剩下的工作会由停车场自动操作完成。现在我们来看看日本的另一种全自动化停车场， 这一次不是汽车，而是自行车。

　　在日本要找个合法的自行车停车位可不容易，尤其是在车站里。很多骑自行车到车站的人常常会因为没有地方停车而苦恼。因此日本在东京的Kasai车站推 出了一种全自动化的自行车停车场，可停泊9400部自行车。这种停车场是全机械及自动化的，你所要做的只是将自行车放在指定位置，再按下按钮，停车场会自 动把你的自行车存放至空闲位置；当你取车时，也只需按一下按钮，你的自行车就会自动被传送至你面前：



　　不要以为这种如此先进的停车场收费很贵，事实上每天的停车费只需要1美元左右，包月也只需18美元左右。在全面禁摩的广州，何年何月才会有这种东西出 现？这可能近乎于幻想了，因为广州在禁摩后，连自行车道也没有划分，自行车往往要走机动车道或人行道，更不要说停车场了。囧

100 Gold Brooklyn Green Condos

Written by Preston Koerner | April 9, 2009 | read more: Condo, Residential

Green building is bursting at the seams in New York, and if you don’t believe me, just read Green Buildings NYC. The REDD Group shot us an email of a project they’re working on in Brooklyn (or more specifically, Vinegar Hill and Dumbo) called 100 Gold. They tell us 100 Gold is one of the first green residential developments in the area, which is surprising considering all the activity I read about on gbNYC. The 10-unit, condo building will open a model apartment on Earth Day, April 22, 2009. Here is what to expect from 100 Gold:

• Radiant floor heating
• Energy-efficient mechanical systems
• Operable floor-to-ceiling windows
• Abundant interior natural light
• Energy Star appliances
• Water-efficient dual-flush toilets
• Zero-VOC Ivy Coatings paints
• Recycled finishing materials
• Locally-made hand blown glass light fixtures
• Roof pavers made from 100% recycled tires
• Rooftop gardens with landscaping and deck

The place will have free storage, a 15-year tax abatement, and bicycle storage, etc. In total, 100 Gold comprises six one bedroom units, two duplex studios—one with a private yard, and two duplex apartments with one bedroom, loft, and private terraces. Current prices range from $525k - $935k.

Rendering credits: Redd Group.

Amazing Green Roof Art School in Singapore

January 23, 2008
by Ali Kriscenski

If art school was in our future we might opt to study under, or on top of, the amazing green roof at the School of Art, Design and Media at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore. This 5 story facility sweeps a wooded corner of the campus with an organic, vegetated form that blends landscape and structure, nature and high-tech and symbolizes the creativity it houses.

The glass façade provides a high performance building envelope that reduces solar gain and heat load while allowing the benefits of natural views and daylight into creative spaces. The glass walls provide a visual exchange between indoors and out allowing students and teachers to experience the building, the surrounding landscape and the interior plaza as fluid spaces. Diffused natural daylight is abundant throughout studios and classrooms, filtered through the surrounding foliage.

The curving green roofs distinguish the building from among the other structures on campus but the line between landscape and building is blurred. The roofs serve as informal gathering spaces challenging linear ideas and stirring perception. The roofs create open space, insulate the building, cool the surrounding air and harvest rainwater for landscaping irrigation. Planted grasses mix with native greenery to colonize the building and bond it to the setting.

Finishes are intentionally raw to act as a backdrop for the art, media and design projects. Concrete walls and columns, cement-sand screeded floors, timber railings and a neutral palette define the interior spaces which vary in shape and size. This amazing design seems to offer a new experience at every elevation or perspective fulfilling the intent that a school for art should inspire creativity.

+ CPG Consultants
+ Nanyang Technical University
+ Design Share Honor Award 2007

Via DesignFlute

Is a Hydrogen Powered House Really Green?

by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 3.09

Ron Monahan is trying build an energy efficient subdivision in Aiken, South Carolina, and a few weeks ago announced that he was going to build between one and four Net Zero houses, (homes create as much energy as they use over the course of the year) in the development. However, when I looked at the site plan and the size of the houses with their two car snouts, I really wondered what was the point, given the amount of energy it was going to take just to get there.

So he has cranked up the volume to get a little more attention: He is going to power one of them with hydrogen.

The local news video gets it all hilariously wrong, calling it "Greenest Subdivision In America" and calling it the first hydrogen powered house (it's not) and saying that the house is powered by water (it's not) but the facts are more interesting. According to the press release:

Photovoltaic cells on the roofs of the homes – now being designed in much more efficient and attractive models – will run electricity through an electrolizer – a scientific bucket of water – which easily separates the oxygen from the hydrogen. Oxygen and water vapor are the only emissions and are beneficially released to the atmosphere. The hydrogen is captured in the hydrogen fuel cell to run the house, along with the solar power.

There is only one other house known in the United States that uses this revolutionary, simple and very safe system to power a home, and that was done by an enterprising engineer who retrofitted his north-eastern farm home. The Ridge at Chukker Creek will be the first housing development anywhere in the world to offer this option for sale to people who care deeply about their environment and want to live in a home that generates all of its own power – naturally and for free – without having to build it themselves.

Scientific American

Right. Scientific American covered that enterprising engineer, Mike Strizki, and his house last year. This is what his back yard looks like as he stores the hydrogen. This is not how they are storing the gas in this particular house:

"The use of hydrogen to store energy in residential applications at the Ridge is certainly unique,” said Dr Greenway. “And the highly-efficient system design using metal hydride hydrogen storage is one-of-a-kind. This truly demonstrates Ron Monahan's vision. Greenway Energy is excited to design and integrate this system."

This is what his controls look like. It is a wonderful science project and Mike Strzki did an admirable job. No doubt Dr. Scott Greenway of Greenway Engineering will be just as admirable and put into a smaller package.

But people who "deeply about their environment" would realize that this is not a solution to our problems, to drive your Prius to a house with hundreds of thousands of dollars (they say it is a fifty thousand dollar option and I don't believe it) of technology stuck on it just so you can call it Net Zero. This is what you do in space stations, not houses. We need simple, replicable and affordable solutions.

Mr. Monahan was much closer to the mark in the earlier press release, where they wrote:

Some of the strategies are quite simple, such as siting a home the way people did for centuries to take advantage of the angle of the sun, trees for shading and the prevailing breezes. Others are high tech, such as blowing in foam insulation under the roof, walls and the floor, [and] using an EnergyStar door fan test to find and seal every air leak.

Reusable Shopping Bags: Which Is the Greenest of Them All?

by Pablo Paster, San Francisco on 03.23.09

Image via HowStuffWorks.com

Dear Pablo: I want to switch to reusable shopping bags. (Yes I should have done it years ago.) However, all the stores in my area seem to sell bags made of polypropylene. Is the manufacturing process of these bags bad for the environment too? Is canvas or nylon any better? Which do I choose?

The greening of mainstream society has added additional complexity to the age-old "paper or plastic" dilemma (read more on the paper or plastic issue here. We all understand that reusable shopping bags are more environmentally responsible than disposable paper bags or plastic bags. But which reusable shopping bag--a canvas bag, polyester bag, or polypropylene bag--is really the best eco-choice? Let's look at the options.

Shopping Bags: Canvas Bag

The first reusable shopping bag to gain popularity was the canvas bag. Canvas totes are available in conventional cotton, organic cotton, or even hemp. The environmental impact of conventional cotton cultivation is well known--a major percentage of the world's herbicides are used to defoliate cotton prior to harvesting. While organic cotton is better, both conventional and organic cotton use a significant amount of water, so the environmental impact of the fabric bag is directly proportional to its weight. One of my organic cotton shopping bags weighs 187 grams but another cotton bag that I have is made of a much thinner fabric and weighs only 75 grams. If you are looking for a canvas bag, look for a lighter one. It will still hold more weight than a plastic or paper bag.

Shopping Bags: Polyester Tote Bag

Polyester tote bags, such as the ChicoBag, are easily portable shopping bags made from a very thin but durable fabric. The bag is about the same size as a disposable plastic bag used for shipping and stows neatly in an integrated pouch that fits in the palm of your hand and clips to your purse or fits in your pocket. At 35 grams, the manufacturing of the polyester material for one bag creates 89 grams of greenhouse gas emissions, which compares to the manufacture of just seven disposable plastic shopping bags. ChicoBag now also makes a bag that is made from seven recycled soda bottles.

Shopping Bags: Polypropylene Bag

Another shopping bag that has been gaining popularity is made from polypropylene and is designed in the shape of a brown paper shopping bag. These bags, such as hose made by One Bag at a Time, can now be found at the checkout lines pretty much everywhere, from Safeway supermarkets to Ace hardware stores. One Bag at a Time's website provides some great information on the environmental benefits of using these bags. At 103 grams, the manufacturing of the polypropylene material for each bag creates 138 grams of greenhouse gas emissions, which compares to the manufacture of 11 disposable plastic shopping bags.

And the Winner for Greenest Shopping Bag Is...

The difference in environmental impact between the polyester bag and the polypropylene bag is negligible, especially when compared to the disposable paper and plastic bags. The impact of canvas bags is higher, but still negligible when compared with the disposable alternatives over time. Ultimately, what is most important, regardless of your choice, is that you use the reusable shopping bag.

EGGLING: Grow Your Own Herbs!

EGGLING: Grow Your Own Herbs!
by Olivia Chen

The adjective cute doesn’t usually cross our minds when it comes to kitchen gardening — but that certainly changed when we saw these egg-shaped containers sprouting green leafy specimens. Called an eggling for the shape of its container, each little ceramic egg is shipped whole — requiring its owner to lightly crack open the top to create an opening for the plant to grow through. Seeds available are basil, cactus, red pepper, mint, strawberry, or lavender. Containers are roughly 2.25 inches tall and 2 inches in diameter and rest in a terra cotta dish — making them small enough to fit snugly on a windowsill or in a cozy corner of your desk.

Amount of Space Required to Transport People by Car, Bus, or Bicycle

by Michael Graham Richard, Gatineau, Canada on 03.12.09

Image: Press-Office City of Müenster, Germany

And That's Just Space...
They say an image is worth a thousand words. In this case, it really is. You can write about urban planning and air pollution and traffic congestion, but the three photos above show you at a glance the difference between these three means of transportation. And space isn't everything: Cars also cost more money, pollute more, increase risks of obesity and all kinds of diseases, etc.

Easy To Install Solar Panels Are City Friendly and Affordable

by Christine Lepisto, Berlin on 03.11.09

Solar start-up Veranda Solar wants to change the world of solar power the way Apple changed computers. Veranda got a big head-start on financing the start-up when the company was awarded 100,000€ as runner-up in the PICNIC Green Challenge, funded by the Dutch postcode lottery. The solar panels Veranda uses are nothing special. The prototypes were developed in cooperation with Stanford University and SunPower Corp. No new photovoltaic advances, no biomimicry.

But these solar panels are offering something new to the market. Check the photo over the fold to see what makes Veranda solar special and decide for yourself if they have what it takes for success.

Image via: Veranda Photos

Veranda Solar panels are plug-and-play. They can be installed in hours, with just a screwdriver, and without expensive solar specialists. The ease of installation on balconies and hanging out of windows will appeal to sustainably-oriented city dwellers, although solar panels will certainly join clotheslines and television dishes in the architectural eyesore wars. But this is exactly the angle Veranda Solar will use to compete. Veranda intends to win the wars by selling -- in the words of Travis Bradford, president of solar-research firm Prometheus Institute: "sexy solar."

The solar panels can be flat-packed for efficient shipping and come with everything needed for operation. At $400 for a 60 to 70 watt ($600 for a panel with inverter and cables), the Veranda solar panels are affordable, or at least in line with the cost of many electronic toys that are enjoyed by the people in Veranda's target market, but not beating the market benchmark of $1 per watt. However, Veranda can appeal to lower income buyers with the expandability concept. Consumers can start with one panel, adding additional panels later simply by snapping them on. Veranda also plans to use financing models that promote the accessibility of the technology, such as leasing the panels through utility companies.

CEO Capra J’neva is quoted in Salon:

We interact with real people to create our products, so we are reducing market risk by understanding the real needs of people.

餿水變黑金

台北　巧文

　　廚餘不是廢棄物，它可以變成黑金，化作春泥更護花！劉力學先生是隱居在東北角海岸的加拿大人，為了解決社區裡令人頭大的餿水問題，這個台灣女婿，基於對這片土地的熱愛，運用他的科學精神與知識，潛心跟著大自然學習，樂當下一波農業革命的先驅。

廚餘堆肥吸水強
　防旱防澇淨水質

　 　民國九十年九月納莉颱風侵襲台灣，挾帶豐沛的雨量，橫掃全省，降雨量創台灣四百年來的新高。住在白沙灣附近德茂村的劉力學，整夜輾轉難眠，外面傾盆大 雨，積水及胸，戶外露天堆放的一百噸廚餘堆肥，恐怕已被大水沖散殆盡，多時努力的成果，或許化為烏有。天剛亮，他立即出門查看，出乎意料地，堆肥完好無 恙！他扒開表面檢查內部，有一個更令人驚訝的發現，只有外面三十公分左右是溼的，堆肥的吸水性竟然這麼強！

　　這個結果馬 上激發劉力學的探究欲望，隨即著手做實驗，找來容器在底部打洞，裝入兩公斤的堆肥，然後不斷加水，一直加到超過六公升，才開始滴水。之後，他又做了第二個 實驗，將一公斤的堆肥混合一公斤的紅土，此時需加到十二公升以上才開始滴水，也就是堆肥混入等量的紅土之後，吸水量增加四倍。

　 　這個實驗結果讓劉力學非常振奮，這表示廚餘堆肥除了可以供給農作物豐富的天然養分外，在環保上還有非凡的價值。混入紅土的堆肥，擁有如此高的的吸水性， 可以涵養水分；苗栗以北山區多為紅土，若能在水源區使用廚餘堆肥，既可防治旱災及水災，更能預防土石流的爆發，而且它還具有過濾、淨化水質的功能，我們將 可以重新擁有清淨的水源。熱愛大自然的劉力學，對環保格外關切，主動將實驗成果和學術單位及政府機關分享，希望這個好處由公家推廣，期待台灣在不久的將 來，回復福爾摩沙的美譽。

光鮮亮麗科技人
　樂當環保收ㄆㄨㄣ郎

　 　劉力學是遠從魁北克來的法裔加拿大人，一九六四年應輔仁大學之邀到台灣，預備在輔大成立工學院；一九六六年進入台大物理系就讀，成為台大第一位外籍學 生，就此與台灣結下不解之緣，落地生根。後來輔大工學院籌設喊停，但是他已深深愛上這個小島，決定留在台灣工作。此時他得知惠普有意在台灣成立分公司，便 積極爭取這個工作機會，如願成為惠普台灣分公司第一位負責人，也因此促成中文電腦的誕生。還有一點值得記上一筆，阿波羅十一號首度登陸月球，他也扮演了推 手的角色，幫助解決電腦方面的問題；退休前他的職務是神通電腦的副總裁。

　　這樣一位科技背景的外國人，怎麼會跟廚餘堆肥扯上關係呢？

　 　廚餘，台語稱為ㄆㄨㄣ，早期台灣到處看得到ㄆㄨㄣ桶，有人專門收集拿來養豬。它的酸臭味，讓人掩鼻而過，我們很難想像一個外國科技人會去收ㄆㄨㄣ！當初 劉力學是為了解決社區焚化爐內湯湯水水的問題，而開始動念頭想製作堆肥。家庭廚餘是台灣飲食習慣特有的產物，混入垃圾不僅無法完全燃燒，更會降低焚化爐的 壽命，在焚化過程，鹽和塑膠素材，也容易產生戴奧辛等有毒氣體，因此劉力學便在社區推動垃圾分類。資源垃圾可以交給環保單位，廚餘怎麼辦呢？只有製成堆肥 一途。

　　劉力學是那種遇到問題就會去研究，想辦法解決，並且身體力行的人。他可不是說說就算，他輾轉向台大農化系吳三和 教授求救。吳教授告訴他，要有足夠量的ㄆㄨㄣ才可以，起碼要堆至一‧五公尺高約七噸的量。他二話不說，果真就開始收ㄆㄨㄣ。每天三點多起床，天色未亮就開 車到處收ㄆㄨㄣ，數年來從未打過退堂鼓，越做越起勁。從一個光鮮亮麗、乾乾淨淨的科技人，變成與髒臭的廚餘為伍的收ㄆㄨㄣ人，我們從他身上卻看不出這兩種 角色有任何衝突，不管做什麼事，他都樂在其中，研究廚餘堆肥也不例外，在他眼中，那可是價值不菲的「黑金」呢！

餿水並非垃圾物
　廚餘也能變黑金

　 　透過吳教授提供理論基礎，劉力學不斷嘗試，有問題立即回報討論。八十八年秋開始實驗，克服許多困難，雖然家人抱怨惡臭，但他從未氣餒。一個多月後，第一 堆廚餘堆肥成功誕生了。接下來他持續觀察研究，針對不同的狀況，找出最適宜的方法。通常收集來的廚餘，先讓它慢慢流出其中的液體，儲存起來，等堆肥溫度逐 漸升高，變得較為乾燥時再噴灑回去，保持濕度以利發酵。如果有異味就增加稻殼、木屑的量，總之，保持氮、碳比例為一比三十，依溫度、濕度調整，只要做對 了，就不會有臭味。同時他又把收集下來的液體加入糖漿做成液肥，幾乎是百分之百利用，毫不浪費。

　　這個階段堆肥表面三、 四公分處，住滿各種肥肥胖胖的蛆，劉力學直接用手扒開給我們看，果真蠕動迅速，活力充沛，他說這是堆肥極佳的蛋白質來源。約三十天後不再流出汁液，蛆也不 再出現，這時要定期翻攪，讓氧氣進入幫助腐熟。一般大約一百天左右就完全腐熟，有的材質需要一百二十天或者再久一點。劉力學說：「不要勉強它，你要觀察， 順應大自然的規律。」腐熟完成的堆肥，不再有異味，而且發酵過程內部溫度高達攝氏七、八十度，很多有害物質如抗生素、農藥等物質也分解掉了。

　 　做好的堆肥，每公克中都有上億的微生物，富含有機質，適合農作物的生長，劉力學又開始新的嘗試，培植蔬菜。他帶著大夥參觀他的菜園，順手抓起一棵剛採收 的青江菜，鮮翠肥美，算算大概有二十幾公分長。他自豪地說：「看！沒有一個蟲蛀的洞！」秘訣是什麼？就是用他自製的廚餘堆肥！裡面有豐富的微生物，透由微 生物的媒介，根部能充分吸收堆肥中豐富的營養素，自然長得健康又能抵抗蟲害。

　　菜之所以會被蟲吃，是因為本身不健康，抵 抗力低。以有機菜而言，會發生蟲害，若非根部受傷，讓植株不健康，就是開始老化，抵抗力逐漸下降，蟲兒就趁虛而入。舉個例子來說，青江菜收成期大約是二十 一天，白菜是十八、十九天，採收時間是關鍵點，如果看到菜上有洞還不快採收，隔天一半以上的菜都會被蟲吃了。

　　雖然慣行 農法可以透過化學肥料提供大量的氮、磷、鉀，使蔬菜快快長大，然而只是「虛胖」，並沒有抵抗病蟲害的能力，所以必需使用農藥。有機耕作採用有機肥，讓蔬菜 健康的成長，不但沒有化學肥料導致土地鹽化、酸化、耗竭地力的後遺症，也沒有農藥污染的問題，既能維持自然生態，也可以讓耕耘者、食用者都得到安心與健 康。

利用太陽能發電
　觀察研究順自然

　 　三分多的菜園，一部分是溫室，種了青椒、白菜，還有各色各樣的葉菜類。打開溫室的門，一陣涼風襲來……「好涼啊！」抬頭看看門的上方，原來不是裝了冷 氣，而是裝了一台電風扇。一台電風扇就有這麼好的效果？沒錯！劉力學說，透過風扇往外抽，空氣就能對流，可以降溫十度呢！如果室外是攝氏三十五度，那麼裝 了電扇的溫室就只有二十五度，不但避免蔬菜「中暑」，更可以防止蚜蟲滋生！可是溫室位在靜僻的角落，電力要從哪兒來呢？視線沿著電線找去，原來是接到旁邊 一張朝天的板子上，是太陽能發電啊！真不愧是科技人出身，在場的人都忍不住嘆服！

　　回憶兩年半前開始搭溫室、學種菜，劉 力學剛開始也是一點概念都沒有。由於對水、土壤種種的不了解，所以有不少失敗的經驗，直到最近一年半才上了軌道。以種番茄為例，最初一批結的果實都不能 吃，因為每個番茄裡都有蟲在蠕動，於是他找來幾個有機耕作的夥伴商量。其中吳三和教授語重心長地鼓勵他：「你不要放棄！你要繼續試，繼續澆你的水、繼續施 你的肥，會有動物來幫你的。」

　　劉力學相信吳教授的專業，繼續做下去，沒想到後來真的出現果蠅的天敵，使果蠅漸漸減少。 靠著自然界自我平衡的力量，一個星期之後，二十幾顆番茄中，已經有五、六顆可以吃；一個月後，收成的五十顆裡有四十顆是好的；而一年後的現在，已經達到每 天收成一百顆的規模，其中往往只有一顆有蟲。

　　剛收成的一籃番茄嫩紅可愛，劉力學努力找出一顆被蟲蛀了大洞的給大家看。 他說：「別看它被蟲吃成這樣，裡面可是好的！」在大家好奇的眼光下，劉力學拿起水果刀從蛀洞的地方切開，哇！裡面真的是好的，飽滿的果肉，既沒有爛也沒 臭，讓人相當驚訝，他解釋，這是因為健康的番茄在蟲咬過的地方生出了一層保護膜，所以不會爛進去。

　　一般慣行農法種植的 番茄株，只能長到第三、四節就不能再往上長，可是劉力學的番茄卻可以長到第七節還繼續結果，可見其健康豐沛的生命力。他對這樣的進展感到自豪，說：「原來 植物生存在地球上的時間比我們人類久，當它們想活下去的時候，只要我們給它支持的力量（有機肥），它們會自己想辦法跟蟲害對抗，不必用農藥去殺蟲。」

哪裡沒有服務好
　打開心門細傾聽

　　葉菜類、番茄的種植方法熟練了，以不斷學習、迎接新挑戰為樂的劉力學當然不會就此滿足，接下來他還要挑戰小黃瓜與豆類的栽種。去年他就種過小黃瓜了，不太成功，因為被蟲吃得厲害，長不好。今年我們來拜訪他時，新一批小黃瓜已經種了三個多星期，有的還是被蟲「叮」彎了。

　 　不過，這六十三歲的人還是很開朗地把小黃瓜栽種列為目前的新鮮課題。他每天都會觀察小黃瓜，看看哪一條彎起來。研究它的位置、水土、光線……再觀察附近 沒有被蟲兒「盯上」的小黃瓜，想想為什麼蟲不會吃它？對於被蟲吃的小黃瓜，「我到底是哪裡沒有服務好？」這種對植物溫柔、細心又有耐心的態度，令人不禁莞 爾卻又深深佩服。

　　「讓大自然來教你，當它來臨的時候，別忘了打開你的門、你的窗，讓訊息通通都進來。你先全部接納，然 後不要看壞的，好的才把它收起來……我天天都可以看到大自然的奇蹟！」劉力學先生如是說。許多人都愛好大自然，可是要從一個叱癍電腦界的高科技份子，變成 以身體力行、收餿水、做堆肥、耕地種菜的農夫，劉力學生命格局所開展的仍是一般人無法想像的遼闊。一位參觀過他有機農園的人問他：「你的生命中曾經消沉低 潮嗎？」你猜他怎麼回答：「連一秒鐘都沒有過！」

　　他每天清晨三點半起床，第一件事就是上網收信找資料，接下來展開忙碌 的一天：耕作、收廚餘、種種勞務、接待一批又一批來參訪的個人、團體，還要出門與機關單位分享廚餘堆肥的經驗……這不禁令人想起他的中文名字──力學，這 個名字取得真好！因為他的的確確是個「努力學習」的人，也是個快樂學習、又願意分享的人，好像永遠都保持赤子的活力與熱忱，對世間一切事物充滿好奇，即使 遇到困難或挫折，也能既認真又輕鬆、既踏實又不疲厭地學習跟超越，彷彿沒有一件事難得倒他！只要找出正確的方法、肯學、肯努力，沒有事情是不能成功的！

Garbage Enzyme环保酵素 拯救地球

风暴侵袭、土地龟裂、冰川融化、海水高涨……孕育着万物亿年的大地之母，面对人类的“杰作”，已经在咆哮抗议。环 保运动随着在世界各地兴起，其中新近研发的环保酵素，也为地球环保捎来佳音。把家里要丢弃的蔬果皮变成保护地球的酵素，制作过程简单而不复杂，你也能成为 环保一份子。


在离地面20-30公里的距离，大自然形成的臭氧层给地球以及地球上生活着的每一个生命，都建起了防止太阳紫外线和宇宙辐射的保护圈。然而，近几十年来由 于人类经济活动的快速成长，森林大量被砍伐、所制造之化学品及产生之空气污染，正以空前未有之速度，改变大气层的结构。地球的保护圈为之变得越来越稀薄， 使到地球升温、冰川融化、海水高涨淹没大地……所谓“地球暖化”，由此而来。

不管是教科书上、报章杂志、电视广播、网络上等，相关的资料与知识可是一箩筐，多得不胜枚举。在这么强烈的资讯轰炸下，相信大家对“温室效应”、“地球暖 化”等热门名词，应该不感到陌生。但知道归知道，大部份的人对于这些环保课题多少抱着与我何干的心态，觉得自己小小的力量并不能改变什么。孰不知道，其实 “地球暖化”影响着整个地球的生态，与每一个生活在地球上的生物息息相关。

近年来，全球气候异常，不是大雨引发水灾就是炎热引发旱灾，海啸、热浪、洪水、森林大火等新闻时有所闻，这都是地球发给我们的警讯，提醒大家是时候为环保尽一份心力了。每个人只要凭着自己小小的力量，就可以协力扭转地球被破坏的命运。

来自泰国的乐素昆博士(Dr.Rosukon)研究酵素30余年，成功研究出环保酵素(也称垃圾酵素，Garbage Enzyme)。环保酵素就是利用菜渣、果皮等鲜垃圾制成的，不但制作过程简单、制作材料随手可得、节省金钱、用途广泛、减少垃圾量，还对环保起着很大的 作用。

在马来西亚，我们也发现到两位极力推广环保酵素的环保达人，他们是来自槟城的温秀枝医师 （Dr.Joean Oon)及泰国的吗哈老师（Mr. Mahaprajuap），他们两位皆到乐素昆博士的健康之家（Health Farm)学习，并致力于到世界各地推广环保酵素。通过多方打听，本刊以第一时间联络上这两位充满爱心的环保达人，并与他们进行专访，将环保酵素的制作过 程及种种好处与读者们分享。

材料：黑糖/黄糖 1kg 、鲜垃圾 3 kg、水 10L
备注：搜集到3kg的鲜垃圾，就必须加入1kg的黑糖及10L的水，以此类推。

步骤：
1 将搜集到的鲜垃圾切成小块，以加速分解过程。
2 随后将鲜垃圾倒进瓷器，陶缸或者塑胶缸里。切记选用较大的容器制作酵素，以防止酵素发酵时溢出容器外。
3 加入适当比例的黑糖及水，稍微搅拌。
4 黑糖水需盖过垃圾，把浮在液面上的垃圾按下去，使其浸泡在液体中。将容器盖紧，必须发酵至少三个月。

注意事项：
1)鲜垃圾包括剩饭、鲜菜叶、水果皮等准备丢掉的蔬菜或植物，不包括废纸、塑胶、金属罐头与瓶子。
2)制作过程中会有气体（臭氧）产生，如果使用窄口的容器（如矿泉水瓶），切记每天将瓶口稍微打开，用来卸放气体（至少每星期卸气一次，否则瓶子将会被撑破）。如果使用宽口的容器，气体会自然被挤出，较无上述问题。
3)制作过程中如果发现苍蝇卵，不必担心也不必理会，发酵过程将会把它们分解掉，这也说明了环保酵素不会对生物带来危害。
4)若发现液体表面产生白色、黑色或棕色的微生物，不必理会，让它继续发酵。
5)使用蔬菜水果的厨馀而不使用鱼、肉等厨馀，是为了使制作出来的酵素味道比较清新。如果希望制作出来的酵素有较好的气味，可于制作过程中加入橘子皮、柠檬皮及班兰叶等气味较好的蔬菜果皮。
6)若一时无法搜集到这么大量的鲜垃圾，可陆续加入鲜垃圾，3个月的期限由最后一次加入鲜垃圾那天算起。
7)制作过程中可加入与黑糖同样比例的菌母，加速发酵过程。（菌母又称为菌精，可在有机店买到。）
8)成功的环保酵素应该呈棕黄色，且有橘子般的刺激气味，将制好的环保酵素过滤到瓶子中待用。若酵素呈现黑色，即腐败，不成功了，只要加入同样份量的黑糖，重新发酵即可。
9)环保酵素应置放于空气流通、阴凉的地方，避免阳光直接照射。

How to Make Garbage Enzyme

Black sugar is one of the ingredients needed for making garbage enzyme.

This kitchen waste is another ingredient used for the production of garbage enzyme.

These bottles contain kitchen waste with black sugar and water. Fermentation will take place in the bottles for 3 months. Then after filtration and removal of the residue, garbage enzyme is obtained. The residue can be used again for a new batch of production by adding fresh garbage. The residue can also be dried, then blended and buried in the ground as a fertilizer.

These bottles of garbage enzyme are ready for use.

The bioeconomy at work: renewable products from palm empty fruit bunches

Palm oil may have a bad reputation for the role it plays in tropical deforestation, but is definitely here to stay, as the industry is highly profitable and offers a ready replacement for petroleum products, prices of which will keep rising. However, in order to limit the expansion of plantations, it is crucial to get the most out of each hectare of the plantations that already exist. One way to do so is by recuperating the vast waste-streams that result from the processing of palm fruits. If these waste streams can be turned into value-added products, the pace of the expansion of new plantations may be somewhat slowed down.

For each tonne of crude palm oil (CPO) produced from fresh fruit bunches, the following 'waste' products become available: around 6 tonnes of waste palm fronds, 1 ton of palm trunks (after a life-cycle of 25 years per tree, and at 150 trees per hectare), 5 tons of empty fruit bunches (EFB, photo), 1 ton of press fiber (from the mesocarp of the fruit), half a ton of palm kernel endocarp, 250kg of palm kernel press cake, and 100 tonnes of palm oil mill effluent (POME). In short, a palm oil plantation yields a vast stream of biomass that is currently not used in a productive way (earlier post). Often, it is burned in the open air, or left to settle in ponds where the degrading biomass emits methane.

Over the past few years, many research efforts have been undertaken to make use of these waste products. Some of those look at utilizing the biomass as an energy source for green electricity and power (to power palm oil mills) or as a feedstock for the production of second-generation biofuels. Others have shown that a whole range of bio-based products can be made from the residues - products such as renewable and biodegradable plastics, packaging, paper and specialty products such as geo-textiles.


Here are some of the actual products.

ECOMAT®

	ECOMAT® is a type of mulch mat made from natural fibre for soil protection and erosion control. The major raw material used in producing ECOMAT® is palm fibres derived from empty fruit bunches (palm biomass) and it is eco-friendly material. From the invention of Ecofibrex, a fibre shredder machine, EFB are then shredded into fibres. These palm fibres are raw materials for products such as mulching, pulp and paper, packaging material, fibreboard, flowerpot, etc. With this breakthrough technology, air and soil pollution be eliminated, chopping of trees be reduced thus preserving and creating a green and clean environment.
	Mulching Mulching is a method for soil conditioning. It helps with moisture retention in the soil, thereby enhancing its quality for healthier plant growth particularly in hot countries with long periods of dry weather. In addition, it retards growth of undesirable weeds, detrimental to plants. Traditionally, various materials have been utilized for mulching. These include empty fruit bunches (EFB) from oil palm, wood chippings, plastic mats etc.
	ECOMAT® Mulching ECOMAT® is made from oil palm fibres. The nature of it allows for free flow of water through to the ground whilst also acting as a protective layer. Uses ECOMAT® is suitable for various plants including oil palm, rubber, durian and other fruit trees. Why should we consider using ECOMAT®? Essentially, ECOMAT® enhances soil quality:
	What are the advantages of Ecomat® mulching? 1. Reduce labor cost, i.e. weeding and up keeping of plants; handling of EFB. 2. Reduction on fertilizers, i.e. more efficient utilization of fertilizer. Fertilizer concentration on mats and gradual release into soil improves optimal absorption for plants. Losses of fertilizer in the surrounding areas away from plants are minimized. 3. Reduction of transportation effort and cost as the mats are easy to handle, i.e. compact and lighter. 4. Reduction in chemical usage, e.g. weed - killers and insecticides for beetles, etc. 5. Health and safety of staff are not unnecessarily compromised as there is less need to handle weed - killers that can endanger their health and well - being. 6. Easier recovery of loose fruits on the mats.

EcoPak®

EcoPak® are made from natural oil palm fibres. Using the latest technology, machinery and human expertise, EcoPak® products were developed with the following distinctions: -

Natural Product Processed by organic means, EcoPak® products contain no harmful chemical additives and colorings and are toxic-free. Natural Fibre Color EcoPak® products possess contemporarily attractive natural fibre-color unseen in any other type of packaging materials, making it a pure and natural product that is easily accepted by the general public. Eco-friendly & Environmental Friendly EcoPak® products are biodegradable within a short period of time after disposal, turning it into natural soil-like fertilizer, unlike other substances like petroleum byproducts, it takes more than a decade to biodegrade and it is poisonous. Provides the Finest Qualities for Food Packaging EcoPak® products has been tested and proven to preserve freshness of foods, even after long hours of storage, making it the most ideal packaging material for all types of food. Suitable For All Types of Packaging EcoPak® technology enables the creation of light, strong and durable packaging materials suitable for all types of products ranging from fruits, electronic item and etc.

Common LED Types and Packages

LEDs come in two basic categories: Low power LEDs commonly come in 5 mm size, although they are also available in 3 mm and 8 mm sizes. These are fractional wattage devices, typically 0.1 watt, operate at low current (~20 milliamps) and low voltage (3.2 volts DC), and produce a small amount of light, perhaps 2 to 4 lumens. High power LEDs come in 1-3 watt packages. They are driven at much higher current, typically 350, 700, or 1000 mA, and—with current technology—can produce 40-80 lumens per 1-watt package. High power LEDs come in many different shapes and sizes. Some current products from the leading LED manufacturers are shown below.		Structure of a 5mm type LED. Source: Lumileds™ Structure of a high-brightness LED. Source: Lumileds™

Cree® XLamp 7090

Philips Lumileds Luxeon® K2 Emitter

Osram® OSTAR Lighting

Luminous Efficacy

Energy efficiency of light sources is typically measured in lumens per watt (lm/W), meaning the amount of light produced for each watt of electricity consumed by the light source. This is known as luminous efficacy. DOE's long-term research and development goal calls for white-light LEDs producing 160 lm/W in cost-effective, market-ready systems by 2025. In the meantime, how does the luminous efficacy of today's white LEDs compare to traditional light sources? Currently, the most efficacious white LEDs can perform similarly to fluorescent lamps. However, there are several important caveats, as explained below.

Color Quality
The most efficacious LEDs have very high correlated color temperatures (CCTs), often above 5000K, producing a “cold” bluish light. However, warm white LEDs (2600K to 3500K) have improved significantly, now approaching the efficacy of CFLs. In addition to warmer appearance, LED color rendering is also improving: leading warm white LEDs are now available with color rendering index (CRI) of 80, equivalent to CFLs.

Driver Losses
Fluorescent and high-intensity discharge (HID) light sources cannot function without a ballast, which provides a starting voltage and limits electrical current to the lamp. LEDs also require supplementary electronics, usually called drivers. The driver converts line power to the appropriate voltage (typically between 2 and 4 volts DC for high-brightness LEDs) and current (generally 200-1000 milliamps or mA), and may also include dimming and/or color correction controls.

Currently available LED drivers are typically about 85% efficient. So LED efficacy should be discounted by 15% to account for the driver. For a rough comparison, the range of luminous efficacies for traditional and LED sources, including ballast and driver losses as applicable, are shown below.

Light Source	Typical Luminous Efficacy Range in lm/W
	(varies depending on wattage and lamp type)
Incandescent (no ballast)	10-18
Halogen (no ballast)	15-20
Compact fluorescent (CFL) (incl. ballast)	35-60
Linear fluorescent (incl. ballast)	50-100
Metal halide (incl. ballast)	50-90
Cool white LED 5000K (incl. driver)	47-64*
Warm white LED 3300K (incl. driver)	25-44*

* As of October 2007.


Thermal Effects
The luminous flux figures cited by LED manufacturers are based on an LED junction temperature (Tj) of 25°C. LEDs are tested during manufacturing under conditions that differ from actual operation in a fixture or system. In general, luminous flux is measured under instantaneous operation (perhaps a 20 millisecond pulse) in open air. Tj will always be higher when operated under constant current in a fixture or system. LEDs in a well-designed luminaire with adequate heat sinking will produce 10%-15% less light than indicated by the “typical luminous flux” rating.

10 Ways to Go Green and Save Green

How can we live lightly on the Earth and save money at the same time? Staff members at the Worldwatch Institute, a global environmental organization, share ideas on how to GO GREEN and SAVE GREEN at home and at work.

Climate change is in the news. It seems like everyone's "going green." We're glad you want to take action, too. Luckily, many of the steps we can take to stop climate change can make our lives better. Our grandchildren-and their children-will thank us for living more sustainably. Let's start now.

We've partnered with the Million Car Carbon Campaign to help you find ways to save energy and reduce your carbon footprint. This campaign is uniting conscious consumers around the world to prevent the emissions-equivalent of 1 million cars from entering the atmosphere each year.

Keep reading for 10 simple things you can do today to help reduce your environmental impact, save money, and live a happier, healthier life.

1. Save energy to save money.

   
   Armistead Booker/flickr
   • Set your thermostat a few degrees lower in the winter and a few degrees higher in the summer to save on heating and cooling costs.
   • Install compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) when your older incandescent bulbs burn out.
   • Unplug appliances when you're not using them. Or, use a "smart" power strip that senses when appliances are off and cuts "phantom" or "vampire" energy use.
   • Wash clothes in cold water whenever possible. As much as 85 percent of the energy used to machine-wash clothes goes to heating the water.
   • Use a drying rack or clothesline to save the energy otherwise used during machine drying. If you must use a dryer, consider adding dryer balls to cut drying time.

2. Save water to save money.

   • Take shorter showers to reduce water use. This will lower your water and heating bills too.
   • Install a low-flow showerhead. They don't cost much, and the water and energy savings can quickly pay back your investment.
   • Make sure you have a faucet aerator on each faucet. These inexpensive appliances conserve heat and water, while keeping water pressure high.
   • Plant drought-tolerant native plants in your garden. Many plants need minimal watering. Find out which occur naturally in your area.

3. Less gas = more money (and better health!).

   
   richardmasoner/flickr
   • Walk or bike to work. This saves on gas and parking costs while improving your cardiovascular health and reducing your risk of obesity.
   • Consider telecommuting if you live far from your work. Or move closer. Even if this means paying more rent, it could save you money in the long term.
   • Lobby your local government to increase spending on sidewalks and bike lanes. With little cost, these improvements can pay huge dividends in bettering your health and reducing traffic.

4. Eat smart.

   • If you eat meat, add one meatless meal a week. Meat costs a lot at the store-and it's even more expensive when you consider the related environmental and health costs.
   • Buy locally raised, humane, and organic meat, eggs, and dairy whenever you can. Purchasing from local farmers keeps money in the local economy.
   • Watch videos about why local food and sustainable seafood are so great.
   • Whatever your diet, eat low on the food chain [pdf]. This is especially true for seafood.

5. Skip the bottled water.

   • Use a water filter to purify tap water instead of buying bottled water. Not only is bottled water expensive, but it generates large amounts of container waste.
   • Bring a reusable water bottle, preferably aluminum rather than plastic, with you when traveling or at work.
   • Check out this short article for the latest on bottled water trends.

6. Think before you buy.

   
   Michael Reinhart/flickr
   • Go online to find new or gently used secondhand products. Whether you've just moved or are looking to redecorate, consider a service like craigslist or FreeSharing to track down furniture, appliances, and other items cheaply or for free.
   • Check out garage sales, thrift stores, and consignment shops for clothing and other everyday items.
   • When making purchases, make sure you know what's "Good Stuff" and what isn't.
   • Watch a video about what happens when you buy things. Your purchases have a real impact, for better or worse.

7. Borrow instead of buying.

   • Borrow from libraries instead of buying personal books and movies. This saves money, not to mention the ink and paper that goes into printing new books.
   • Share power tools and other appliances. Get to know your neighbors while cutting down on the number of things cluttering your closet or garage.

8. Buy smart.

   • Buy in bulk. Purchasing food from bulk bins can save money and packaging.
   • Wear clothes that don't need to be dry-cleaned. This saves money and cuts down on toxic chemical use.
   • Invest in high-quality, long-lasting products. You might pay more now, but you'll be happy when you don't have to replace items as frequently (and this means less waste!).

9. Keep electronics out of the trash.

   
   Gaetan Lee/flickr
   • Keep your cell phones, computers, and other electronics as long as possible.
   • Donate or recycle them responsibly when the time comes. E-waste contains mercury and other toxics and is a growing environmental problem.
   • Recycle your cell phone.
   • Ask your local government to set up an electronics recycling and hazardous waste collection event.

10. Make your own cleaning supplies.

    • The big secret: you can make very effective, non-toxic cleaning products whenever you need them. All you need are a few simple ingredients like baking soda, vinegar, lemon, and soap.
    • Making your own cleaning products saves money, time, and packaging-not to mention your indoor air quality.