Posted by Rebecca Langley on Thu, Aug 12, 2010
With all the buzz about alternative energy and less dependency on fossil fuel, creativity has taken over to create hybrids, electric cars, and cars that run on anything from water, air and poop? That’s right! GENeco Sustainable Solutions, owned by Wessex Water, has a live VW Beetle that runs on compressed methane gas, which is extracted from human waste.
The car is nicknamed the Bio-Bug and uses gas generated through the sewage treatment process at Bristol sewage treatment works in Avonmouth, United Kingdom. It takes about 70 home’s worth of waste to generate enough of the methane gas to power the car for 10,000 miles.
How does it work?
The waste is put into a decomposition container and broken down using oxygen starved bacteria. This biogas works in conjunction with unleaded gas to run the car. The unleaded gas is used to start the engine and achieve the correct temperature needed for performance. Once the temperature is reached, the methane gas becomes the primary source of fuel. The car has a modified engine to accommodate both fuels. The methane gas is gathered and put into tanks located in the boot space of the car.
Why run your car on methane gas?
Although the car produces carbon dioxide, it can be considered carbon neutral because the carbon would have been released anyway. The GENeco Beetle produces 3 metric tons of carbon dioxide while the average car produces 3.5 metric tons per year. The Bio-Bug will be traveling around England to bring awareness to using alternative fuel sources.
Tell Us What You Think
Would you want a car run on methane gas? Do you think this is a viable alternative fuel or publicity ploy?
Posted by Rebecca Langley on Thu, Jun 03, 2010
With the warm weather upon us, many homeowners are looking forward to working outside gardening and landscaping. But, did you know you can increase your home’s curb appeal and energy efficiency by strategically planting shade plants or pruning your current landscaping?
Trim the Trees
Unruly branches on large trees may be preventing a breeze from entering your home. By pruning the branches of the tree as to not obstruct the windows of your home, you can open up the space to allow a welcoming breeze that may help you save money on your energy costs. Placing shrubs under windows also allows the air flow to move upwards and into your window.
The more shade, the cooler the home
Trees and scrubs shade your home thus slowing the home’s heat absorption rate. This will naturally make your home cooler during the summer months, saving you money on energy costs. To maximize effectiveness, examine your home and see which sides of the home get direct sunlight or what areas are affected by the late-morning/early afternoon sun, which is when the rays are strongest. By planting the trees and shrubs in this area, you can assure you are getting the most bang for your buck as shaded air is about 6% cooler than air in direct sunlight.
Another item to consider is the type of tree or shrub you want to plant. If you want to shade the roof, planting a tree with a large canopy is best but will take a while to grow to the height needed. However, if you want to shade the lower portion of the home, planting a tree that grows quickly will allow you to start reaping the energy savings sooner. Vines and ivy also cool down your walls by creating a natural canopy. Just be careful not to plant trees and scrubs too close to the house- you want to give the tree enough room for root growth as to not damage the home’s foundation in the future. Just be sure to read up on which plants and trees thrive in your location and soil.
Enhance your cooling technology
By surrounding the outdoor air conditioning unit with plants, you can save up to 10% on your energy costs. Plants help offset the energy exerted by the unit during the hot summer months work that the unit Just be careful not to create a natural wall that may block the unit from getting the air it needs to perform. Leaving about 2 feet around and five feet above the unit should be sufficient. If you have a window air conditioning unit, place it on the north side of your home, which typically receives the least sun.
If you are looking for other ways to make your home more green and energy efficient, Moonworks offers energy efficient roofing shingles, replacement windows, and renewable energy solutions.
For a FREE estimate, contact us at 1-800-975-6666 or visit us at www.moonworkshome.com.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Apr 13, 2010
I'm sure by now most of you have passed it but do you know the details behind it? What am I talking about? This:
The 11,000 square foot "Box Office" (Box Office 460) is located right on Route 95 in Providence RI. The office was designed by Distill Studio and constructed 
by Stack Design Building. 12 office/studio spaces are available and include lease discounts for tenants that agree to energy conservation behaviors.
This eclectic building was constructed from 32 old shipping containers. Aside from looking really cool as you pass by it on the highway, this new-age building is packed with many cutting edge building technologies. The structure utilizes 25% less energy than a conventional new office building. Efficiency gains were achieved by utilizing high-performing windows, air-to-air heat pumps (HVAC), and daylight response sensors. Additionally, bio-swales (rain gardens), which allow rainwater to penetrate the ground, will reduce storm water runoff by a projected 67%. Be sure to check out the time lapse video below of the construction process.
Are you interested in making your home more energy-efficient (and saving money)? Moonworks specializes in saving New England homeowners money with Renewal by Andersen replacement windows, blown-in insulation, Cool Roofing technologies, and Solar Power. Contact Us today to Learn More.
Photo and Source Credits: Jetson Green and TreeHugger
Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Feb 09, 2010
Are you
tired of listening to all this talk of installing the smart grid and
not seeing results? Well why don’t you install a smart grid technology yourself? Now you can!
Picowatt, a Rochester New York based start-up, is building Wi-Fi enabled smart plugs and putting homeowners in charge of their energy usage. Picowatt produces smart plugs that are strategically placed throughout the home to
minimize energy usage and
report real-time on energy consumption. The smart plug device is easily installed by placing it over an existing outlet.
The Picowatt plugs are essentially miniature routers running a Linux operating system. Each plug runs independently and collects data and controls the power released to the attached devices. Devices can be controlled remotely or set on automatic timers to control energy flow to appliances and home electronic devices.
The Picowatt system provides real-time data that can easily be summarized in energy usage reports. Both reporting and operation can be controlled from a traditional PC, Facebook Application, and even your Smart Phone.
Some useful applications of the Picowatt smart plug include:- Set the system to run you dishwasher during off-peak hours to lower your utility bills.
- Have the smart plug shut your refrigerator off for three hours overnight. You will save energy and your food will stay cold as long as you don’t open the refrigerator during this time frame.
- Eliminate standby power by using a smart plug on televisions and computers.
The Picowatt smart plug system will be released on Earth Day, April 22nd, on
Amazon.com for $79 per device. The manufacture claims you can save from 20-30% on your yearly utility bills. I know I will be buying one of these right away. What other purchase allows you to save money and comes with the same cool factor?…Well maybe a
Solar Hot Water system from Repower Home.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Mon, Feb 01, 2010
Energy-Efficient Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades by Hunter Douglas
While it may just seem like the catch-phrase or trend of the moment, there are many advantages to “going green” besides the fact that you are helping the environment; saving money being one of the biggest. How select your window treatments can have a huge impact on your utility bills and in some cases, can even qualify you for tax credits.
The main property you want to look for in an energy-efficient treatment is how effective it is at preventing heat loss or heat gain. If cold weather is more common where you live, you obviously want to prevent heat loss as much as possible. Draperies (when used correctly) can reduce heat loss by up to 25%. For the best results, use two drapes instead of one and place them as close to the window as possible. Use Velcro or magnets to seal the sides and bottom of the drapes and be sure to always keep them closed at night and even during the day if there is no sunlight coming through the window.
In warmer climates, blinds are probably your best option for preventing heat gain. Blinds are not as effective at preventing heat loss as the numerous openings between the blinds make it hard to control how much heat you are losing. But these openings can be adjusted to control ventilation and light. Heat gain can be reduced by as much as 45% with highly reflective blinds when they are completely closed and lowered on a sunlit window.
The type of material you choose is factor as well. Looking at the R-Value and Shading Coefficient of a material can help you figure out what would be best for your insulation needs. The R-Value tells you how effective the material is at preventing heat loss and the Shading Coefficient will tell you how much heat will come through the window. So, if your primary concern is heat gain, you want a material with a low R-Value and high Shading Coefficient.
When it comes to window treatments being eligible for tax credits, the law is very specific. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 states that, in order to be to be eligible for tax credits the window treatment must be "specifically and primarily designed to reduce heat loss or gain". The problem is that most window treatments are specifically and primarily designed for decoration and privacy. However, if the window treatment comes with a manufacturer’s certification statement, the consumer will get the credit even if the certification is later found to have been wrongly issued. Two products that come with this kind of certification are Hunter Douglas’ Duette Architella Honeycomb Shades and Comfortex’s Comfortrack Plus system.
Keep in mind that just because a type of treatment may be energy efficient for one home, it doesn’t necessarily mean it will be for yours. There are many factors involved including the type of windows you have and what your primary insulation concerns are. Hopefully, with this information, you’ll have an easier time selecting green treatments for your windows.
Guest blog by Richard Moyle of Horizon Window Treatments
Posted by Damien Cabral on Fri, Jan 22, 2010
Really? Well let's explore the argument some more. As many of you probably know, over the past few years Bill has slowly been removing himself from the day to day operation of Microsoft to focus more, and now solely, on his charitable foundation,
The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. The foundation focuses on philanthropy and is the champion of many novel causes including: Global Health, Poverty and Development, and Education world wide.
(Random Factoid: Bill Gates recently signed up for Twitter and received over 100,000 followers in under 8 hours! Follow him @BillGates.)
Recently, Bill Gates posted a note arguing
"Should society spend a lot of time trying to insulate houses and telling people to turn off lights or should it spend time on accelerating innovation?"..." Innovation in transportation and electricity will be the key factor."
The meat of his argument in this article claims we have a huge challenge ahead of us and merely becoming more energy efficient is not enough to help slow climate change. In a sense, he is right, but he is going about the argument in the wrong way. Energy efficiency and innovation via renewable energy are not
mutually exclusive. To solve climate change, we need to maximize the energy we are producing currently through weatherization, insulation, and energy efficiency, while also innovating in the renewable energy arena. Consumers should be evaluating existing technologies to improve their home and gain immediate cost savings while they wait for the world's leaders and businesses to break through with the next great idea. Tell us what you think and comment below.
If you are interested in making your New England home more efficient with Fiberglass Insulation, Renewal by Andersen replacement windows or would like to explore solar energy for your home contact us today.
Posted by Rebecca Langley on Thu, Jan 14, 2010
The Fox drama "24" announced in March, 2009 that they were to become the first carbon neutral television series. The series started to gradually become greener after its fourth season. For their eighth season, which premieres this Sunday night, they made it a priority. While there is no way to be truly carbon neutral in a series that prides itself on car chases and explosions, they bought 1,291 tons of carbon credits to offset the carbon from the action scenes. That is enough to offset the carbon emissions for half of the season. The difficult part was trying to determine how much greenhouse gas was being emitted. Fox hired consultants to measure the carbon output. They evaluated every component of the series, not just the scenes being shot. This included, the cars used to deliver scripts, memos and schedules and airplanes used by executives and the actors.
Once they pinpointed the biggest offenders, they made cut backs to increase their energy efficiency. 95% of the emissions came from the electricity used on set and in the offices and fuel used for transportation, special effects and generators. To reduce fuel consumption, the cast and crew started sending scripts, memos and schedules electronically, instead of delivering them and if transportation was necessary, drove in hybrid vehicles. The fuel used in the trucks and generators were 20% biodiesel. These improvements eliminated over 1,300 gallons of gasoline, the same amount used to drive cross country 10 times!
Electricity conservation was another energy efficient upgrade implemented by turning off all electrical equipment when it is not being used. Additionally, motion detectors were installed in bathrooms, and kitchens and they switched the light bulbs to compact fluorescent. While not all lighting used is energy efficient, namely the set as it would compromise the quality of the filming, the show uses renewable power (solar, wind & hydroelectric) whenever possible. They also pay more for utility fees to aid California is buying wind and solar power.
24 was awarded the Environmental Media Association's Green Seal Award. This award was created to promote sustainable practices in the entertainment industry.
If the show 24 inspired you to "go green", Moonworks carries many green products including, Renewal by Andersen windows & doors, the Repower Home Solar Thermal Energy System, Solaris Shingles and Cool Colors Shingles.
Photo Credit: Flickr user Claire Beardsley.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Tue, Jan 12, 2010
Today everyone is concerned with what chemicals are in their food and if there is lead in their child's toys. However, there isn't as much attention paid to the
chemicals and composition of the building materials in our home. A recent start up, the
Pharos Project, seeks to change that. The Pharos Project is a network of building professionals and manufacturers committed to transparency. Pharos is a subscription based service, similar to Consumer Reports, that allows consumers to evaluate the chemical composition of building materials as well as the process used to manufacture the material. This allows consumers to be informed on the
environmental effects,
health effects, and
social benefits of building materials used in their home.
Right now Pharos offers ratings on three products: MDF-Particle Board-Wheatboard, Resilient Flooring, and Batt Insulation with plans to expand their product mix in the future. If you are interested in taking a look around sign up for the trial here or become a fan on Facebook. The Pharos project will bring more transparency to an industry that is suffering from rampant green washing. Here at Moonworks, we are anxiously awaiting the for the Pharos Project to expand their product mix and act as a resource to our homeowners across the Northeast.
Moonworks is proud to offer several green and energy efficient products including: Energy-Efficient Renewal by Andersen Replacement Windows, Blown-in Insulation, and Solar Hot Water Systems.
Posted by Damien Cabral on Wed, Jan 06, 2010
The Green Life Smart Life home is receiving national attention. Recently, the home was featured in a news story on CNET.
The Narraganset, Rhode Island home is the first home to get the LEED for Homes certificate in Rhode Island. One of the most novel features of the home is the Geothermal HVAC system. Geothermal energy is a renewable energy source that harnesses the temperature from the earth’s crust (constant temperature around 50 degrees) for heating and cooling.
The home integrates numerous recycled materials including reclaimed wood plank floors that were sourced from an abandoned barn. Additionally, a rainwater harvesting system collects rainwater that falls on the roof. The system is projected to collect more than 113,000 gallons of water a year, which can be used for irrigating the landscape.
Control4 provided the “brains” of the home. The Control 4 system provides an energy management system as well as an entertainment system. The system provides real-time energy monitoring as well as graphed historic trends. The increased visibility into energy use should create the “Prius Effect” (people drive better when they can instantly see how their behavior effects their mpg). The system even shuts the energy to refrigerator off for 3 hours every night to conserve energy. Be sure to watch the video below to learn more about the system (truly the gem of the home).
Be sure to check out the Green Life Smart Life Blog
Posted by Rebecca Langley on Tue, Dec 15, 2009
The federal program of cash for caulkers would allow each household to get a 50% rebate, up to $12,000, for making energy efficient repairs and improvements to their home. While it is still uncertain how the program will be structured, many believe that it will be based on the home energy efficiency program currently in place in New York State. If so, you would hire a contractor to come into your home and conduct an energy audit to check how much energy is being wasted. The audit consists of using a giant fan to draw the outside air into the home, showing leaks in siding, windows, insulation and doors. They will also look at your appliances and determine how much energy is being exerted. Then, a checklist will be compiled of items that need to be improved, how much savings in your monthly bills you can expect and how much it will cost upfront. It is up to the homeowner to determine which of the repairs they would like to make and negotiate the price. Once the improvements are completed, paperwork is submitted by the contractor and the homeowner would receive the 50% rebate (up to $12,000).
One notable question with this program is, what if I don't have enough money to pay for the improvements outright? Currently in New York, you can opt to take out a low interest loan instead of receiving the 10% rebate. Considering the federal rebate will be much greater, financing options are a must. The financing guidelines in terms of credit, income, etc are also a concern because financial institutions have become strict in their lending requirements. Also being considered is partnering with large home improvement stores to help offset the homeowners upfront costs.
It is also important to note that due to the large amount of money being allocated to this stimulus program, fraud is a huge concern. Therefore, it is unclear if the program will cover DIY projects. In the New York State program, you must hire a contractor that is licensed through the Building Performance Institute, a third party certification program. Currently, over 27 states have programs similar to New York. Due to the fact that over half of the states have some rebate program in place, the most time efficient solution would be covering the rebates and licensing on the state level. As with the tax credits that are currently in place, there will be stringent guidelines to be sure the product is indeed energy efficient.
Moonworks supplies New England homeowners with several of these qualifying products including: energy efficient Renewal by Andersen windows and doors, cool roofing technologies, Repower Home solar hot water systems, and Ownes Corning blow-in insulation. We also hire our own installers, making quality control and professionalism a priority.
Photo Credit: Photo courtesy of Flickr member: energy.circle.