9.27.2016
1.11.2016
5.10.2014
Lower level greenish rehab project
On the first floor of our 1960s slab built home we had a large room with a cold concrete floor. Due to the age of the home the slabs are uninsulated. I installed a barricade insulated subfloor which aledgedly will warm up floor by *9 degrees F. The product is insulated with an inch of styrene foam (excluded from green claims here in). Sandwiched to the insulation is a tounge and groove mdf.
We have low voc paint from several manufacturers on the walls. More on that soon.
The baseboards are hand made by my brother and I using standard Home Depot Forestry Stewardship Council certified pine 1x6 that we hogged out a racing stripe into using a dado blade on the table saw. #homeade
To protect the sex trim We debated the merits of stain, sealer, varnish, oiling, shellac, milk paint, cca treated lumber, creasote etc. in the end we opted for the lowest possible setting on the carbon footprint dial...all nude. No preservatives.
Fsc coc,
Recycled carpet
Led
Linoleum
5.03.2014
3.15.2014
analyze this!
http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=cm_br_js_fo?_encoding=UTF8&jstidx=7&node=166781011
Department
Material
12.01.2013
11.10.2013
Amazon sustainability fail
#amazon.com, #fsc,
This packaging would not fly in Walmarts supply chain!! Aim for 100% recycled fsc not SFI, 100% soy inks and adhesives, and get the packages engineered correctly. It's not 1970s
I'd enjoy a seat at the table if you are asking customer's perspectives on this.
This small rectangular knife wall magnet arrived from amazon.com in a box capable of shipping safely perhaps 100 or more of the same object.
:-( see the sad smile in photo
The box was way larger and deeper than it needed to be. To further emphasize my point below is a photo of the boxes shipping load / stack capacity. Amazon is professional enough to use quality boxes. This one has a "gross rate limit" of a stout 65 lbs. The side crush rating is 32 lbs/inch.
Over engineering may help protect products / quality... But there has got to be a sweet spot. Maximized shipping package protection, maxed out woodlands protection. #fsc. Also while I'm on this rant "corrugated recycles" on a presumable 0% recycled box is akin to greenwash, maybe?
It's tough love amazon. Best shopping and customer service online but you exude a Bigfoot / Sasquatch like sized Eco footprint. Inside the box was over 4 feet of all natural biobased tree, country of origin unknown. 4.5ft by 2.5 ft.
My plan is to bail you out as much as I can for all of this. I'll up cycle all this square footage of 'art paper' to my tots. And the box will go to the recycle center.
I'd enjoy a seat at the table if you are asking customer's perspectives on this.
10.11.2013
Blowing the dust off this blog! To get started on the ..
To get started on the right foot here's a double layer cake of green goodness.
12.02.2010
Filthy Ohio Polluters Pay 50K for killing 4,917 dead fish
Ohio Valley Electric Corporation Will Pay $50,000 for Ammonia Spill ($10.168 per fish)
In a settlement with Ohio EPA, the Ohio Valley Electric Corporation (OVEC) has agreed to pay $50,000 for last year’s spill of ammonia into Kyger Creek from OVEC’s Gallia County facility, located at 5758 State Route 7 near Cheshire in Addison Township.
On July 25, 2009, OVEC determined that it was necessary to drain ammonia solution from its ammonia-on-demand tank to its south fly ash pond. This activity was not reported to Ohio EPA. The tank draining continued for two days until OVEC noticed several dead fish in the pond and stopped the draining process.
The company did not notify Ohio EPA about the high concentration of ammonia discharged from the pond to Kyger Creek or the subsequent fish kill. An anonymous caller notified Ohio EPA of dead fish in the creek on July 27, 2009. Ohio EPA and Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) investigated. ODNR found 4,917 dead fish, including large catfish, in the 1.5 miles between the OVEC pond’s discharge point and the Ohio River. Ohio EPA sampled the creek and confirmed that ammonia concentrations downstream of the pond were lethal to aquatic species.
As part of the settlement with OVEC, the company agreed to implement an approved plan for eliminating similar ammonia solution discharges to waters of the state. OVEC also agreed to pay $50,000 in civil penalties, $10,000 of which will go to Ohio EPA’s Clean Diesel School Bus Program Fund. The remaining $40,000 will go to the administration of surface water programs. OVEC has already paid $2,085 to ODNR for the cost of the dead fish and ODNR’s investigation.
Green Pressure Cookers ?!?
I look at a lot of green and "green" shite. I greatly enjoy hearing new applications for retro tech that is eco-chic now that one can claim being frugal is evergreen. This pressure cooking article is a great example. I use to be scared of em a'cause of a story my gramma told me. Now I have em on my great green radar screen, im cruising consumer reports for the best value.. and I am going to reel one in. Thank you UK Telegraph.
4.28.2010
Eco-Tuesday Cleveland Rocks! Featuring Chris Clark from Sunflower Solutions
Chris started things off by sharing the vision behind Sunflower Solutions. His invention is amazingly straight forward and he builds a strong case for simplicity of design. Conventional solar trackers with servo motors, microchips, and maintenance contracts have so many moving parts because they are adjusting some 60,000 times per day....over engineered for sure. Chris's solution is the world first manually adjustable system of its kind. Radical simplicity that must be driving down the cost of P.V. installations in Africa while driving up efficiency of the panels by some 40% over a fixed installation (like on the roof your your next house). Not only that but have you ever tried to hunt for a spare servo in Haiti post quake?
His customers are NGOs operating in the 100-130 billion U.S.D. per year aid/ relief effort market targeting third world countries. Systems are going on line in Haiti to power hospitals as well. The system in Haiti has a 3 month payback period because the price of fuel is so high. His competition is the combustion powered generator market. Cheap but fuels is not cheap there, just like in other third world locales. His product has fewer moving parts compared with traditional solar tracking systems and generators alike. Far more akin to the solid state nature of P.V. today.
The system is so well balanced, I could adjust it with one hand, moving seemingly hundreds of pounds of P.V. and support rack.
These systems are providing power to some of the worlds most remote places and to those most in need. They are powering a small cybercafe to get folks online where users pay a small fee to access the web. Proceeds go directly to a nearby orphanage for children with AIDS.
Here is the system to guide the users through alignment with the sun.
This video shows just how agile the system is and how easily it moves.
Kudos to Sudhir and the Eco-Tuesday Cleveland team for another job well done. I really enjoyed learning about Sunflower Solutions. Its nice to meet businesses hell bent on pushing the next industrial revolution. Looking forward to hearing about Tremont Electric at the next Eco-Tuesday
10.05.2009
Disney - Environmentality - Storm Drain Labeling!
Now featuring Jimminy Cricket! Here is some storm water pollution prevention program drain labeling. Viva La Storm Water Pollution Prevention Plans! Long Live the Clean Water Act!
9.21.2009
The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (Marysville, OH) 24 PRODUCTS BUSTED BY USEPA!
Another eco-bust made by the USEPA! Under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide Rodenticide Act, the USEPA regulates and approves all 'pesticides'. Pesticides are a broad category of chemicals under the regulation that can even include bleach (if its intended for disenfection ie killing germs).
SCOTTS of Ohio, a noted sustainability enthusiest, and that probably has as many BHAGS, as it does organic products, was BUSTED for bringing to market 20 illegle pesticides and ordered to cease and dissist all production. All major retailers nationwide have received STOP SALE ORDERS as well as a part of the legal action.
Maybe i'm off target but I find it funny (smelling) how they have organic products but manufacture pesticides. Seems oxymoronic, but then again with green wash so rampant these days perhaps its more like ying and yang. The two acts balancing each other out. Deceitful business practice emitting negitive energy credit generating type vibrations only to be offset in true cowboy market fashion with past, present, and future eco-chic and organic product launches from the conventional pesticide and fertilizer company.
Its almost like a chemical factory with a LEED certified warehouse. They are green, yea green green, champion green ;-)
Enough rant, here's the dish... from USEPA's new page on SCOTTS.
I'm betting you have heard of at least some of the recalled products. I found a bag in my garage.
SCOTTS of Ohio, a noted sustainability enthusiest, and that probably has as many BHAGS, as it does organic products, was BUSTED for bringing to market 20 illegle pesticides and ordered to cease and dissist all production. All major retailers nationwide have received STOP SALE ORDERS as well as a part of the legal action.
Maybe i'm off target but I find it funny (smelling) how they have organic products but manufacture pesticides. Seems oxymoronic, but then again with green wash so rampant these days perhaps its more like ying and yang. The two acts balancing each other out. Deceitful business practice emitting negitive energy credit generating type vibrations only to be offset in true cowboy market fashion with past, present, and future eco-chic and organic product launches from the conventional pesticide and fertilizer company.
Its almost like a chemical factory with a LEED certified warehouse. They are green, yea green green, champion green ;-)
Enough rant, here's the dish... from USEPA's new page on SCOTTS.
I'm betting you have heard of at least some of the recalled products. I found a bag in my garage.
9.19.2009
Wind, Solar, Worms, Moebius Nature Center, BSI, and the Next Classroom Revolution
Here is a table we did to support the science fair at Craddock Elementary School in Aurora | Portage County | Ohio on behalf of Moebius Nature Center. Mara and Matthew (first graders now) gaze upon the display with wide ey
es! =-).
Buckeye Sustainability Institute has a venerable arsenal of arrows in its quiver in support of the battle for sustainability. We are strong proponents of the arms race of green technology. If is indeed the next industrial revolution, than BSI's gear represents one of the cache's that will help us win the battle.
For this gig I brought hands on eco_tec displays including:
es! =-).Buckeye Sustainability Institute has a venerable arsenal of arrows in its quiver in support of the battle for sustainability. We are strong proponents of the arms race of green technology. If is indeed the next industrial revolution, than BSI's gear represents one of the cache's that will help us win the battle.
For this gig I brought hands on eco_tec displays including:
- Classroom / residential single family sized worm bins (handles about a pound of food per week),
- Voltaic solar power cells (integrated into the courier bag at right)
- Two direct current (dc) generating micro wind turbines. The turbines are each equipped with a display unit which conveys power generated at various wind speeds by varying LED intensity /brightness and also has buzzers.
8.15.2009
7.31.2009
BSI's Research Vessel 'Optimum Power' - Sails To K.I.
BSI's research and exploration vessel the Optimum Power sets sail on the longest sail of the year so far. Here is a snazzy time lapse I shot off the mast of the co-captain in action.
7.15.2009
6.30.2009
The Vestas Murders
It is widely believed that wind turbines are the answer to our green energy needs no matter where they are going to be erected and without regard for the various environmental attributes of a given site. Take the installation of wind turbines in marine environments... say Lake Erie for example.
Seagulls fly over and around the sea. Do you believe that there are avian impacts (bird fatalities) associated with turbines? Do you think that those impacts vary based upon seasonal bird population in the given area? How about bats, do you think an Indiana Brown Bat could be killed by a wind turbine?
Beyond avian impacts, the visual pollution that results from the installation of wind turbines in a previously undeveloped marine wilderness area is another political hot potato. This facet of the impact has received a tremendous amount of press in recent times especially in the battles to stop turbine installation near Cape Cod.
Environmental / pollution type impacts are real as well. The installation of the engineering superstructure if you will necessary to support the turbine will require the use of significant anchoring and mooring systems. Our lake bottom is comprised primarily of ultra-fine clay particles forming a soupy silt on the bottom. These sediments are known to contain copious quantities of insidious pollutants like PCB's, and mercury. Whats worse, this fine silt clay lake bottom is comprised of such small particles that once they are disturbed or stirred up by say an anchor or pilings associated with the moorings necessary for a marine turbine install job.... we could be unleashing quite the toxic underwater cloud. Next they will tell us that our drinking water intake a few miles away is safe from all of this because your water will "meet the usepa standards'. 0 ppm is safe in my book, and in my glass of koolaid that I am making to feed my kids. We'll save fructose for another time.
Seagulls fly over and around the sea. Do you believe that there are avian impacts (bird fatalities) associated with turbines? Do you think that those impacts vary based upon seasonal bird population in the given area? How about bats, do you think an Indiana Brown Bat could be killed by a wind turbine?
Beyond avian impacts, the visual pollution that results from the installation of wind turbines in a previously undeveloped marine wilderness area is another political hot potato. This facet of the impact has received a tremendous amount of press in recent times especially in the battles to stop turbine installation near Cape Cod.
Environmental / pollution type impacts are real as well. The installation of the engineering superstructure if you will necessary to support the turbine will require the use of significant anchoring and mooring systems. Our lake bottom is comprised primarily of ultra-fine clay particles forming a soupy silt on the bottom. These sediments are known to contain copious quantities of insidious pollutants like PCB's, and mercury. Whats worse, this fine silt clay lake bottom is comprised of such small particles that once they are disturbed or stirred up by say an anchor or pilings associated with the moorings necessary for a marine turbine install job.... we could be unleashing quite the toxic underwater cloud. Next they will tell us that our drinking water intake a few miles away is safe from all of this because your water will "meet the usepa standards'. 0 ppm is safe in my book, and in my glass of koolaid that I am making to feed my kids. We'll save fructose for another time.
5.20.2009
Japan Recommends Solar Output Increase 55 Times by 2030!
You better get off your arse and buy some solar panels likety split for goodness sake...
Ministry Recommends that Solar Power Output to Rise 55 Times by 2030
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) "Study Group Focused
on Measures to Expand the Use of Renewable Energy towards Building a Low
Carbon Society" reported its recommendations about how to expand the use
of renewable energy to the Global Environment Committee of the Central
Environment Council on February 10, 2009. In particular, the study group
members suggest specific policies to spread the use of solar power
generation significantly in order to regain the global top spot.
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028982.html
Ministry Recommends that Solar Power Output to Rise 55 Times by 2030
The Japanese Ministry of the Environment (MOE) "Study Group Focused
on Measures to Expand the Use of Renewable Energy towards Building a Low
Carbon Society" reported its recommendations about how to expand the use
of renewable energy to the Global Environment Committee of the Central
Environment Council on February 10, 2009. In particular, the study group
members suggest specific policies to spread the use of solar power
generation significantly in order to regain the global top spot.
http://www.japanfs.org/en/pages/028982.html
5.19.2009
Exclusive Eco BUST! MELT LAKEWOOD POLLUTES in fuzzy 12 Megapixel hirez
The time, 948 pm, the date, May 10th, the location, MELT in Lakewood, Ohio. Our food service sector patrolmens nose detected the strong odor of bleach while walking past this storm drain. Note the drain most likely dischagres directly to Lake Erie, and the bleach most likely has a USEPA ID number on the bottle causing it to be regulated as a pesticide. A classic example of a violation of Federal, State, and local laws all in one fault swoop. Now, what does MELT have to say about this?
What does the USEPA and Ohio EPA have to say about this?
What do you have to say about this?
5.18.2009
Japan Cuts TV TV Shows To Save The Globe!
Shortened TV Broadcast in Japan Contributes to Cutting CO2 Emissions
As a special one-day environmental event, Japan's public broadcaster,
Japan Broadcasting Corporation (NHK), shortened the airtime of its
educational TV channel on December 29, 2008, to reduce its carbon
dioxide (CO2) emissions and save electricity.