Monday, August 31, 2009

We all can make a difference

We all can make a difference

With continual advancements in energy technology, and the increasing public demand to eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, the future of America’s energy looks promising. There will surely come a day when we no longer have to deplete our planet’s natural resources nor pollute our environment in order to satisfy our energy needs, but we do not have to stand idle and wait for that day to come. We can take action right now!

If everyone made the decision to generate only half of their total home energy needs from solar or wind, it would reduce the nation’s energy expense by more than $100 Billion annually. That’s $100 Billion dollars which can be put into savings for our childrens' college funds, invested in clean alternative energy projects, or spent on consumer goods which would help stimulate our economy.

On an even smaller scale, making tiny changes can create huge results. For example, if every U.S. household replaced only one burned-out bulb with an energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR rated compact fluorescent bulb, it would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of nearly 800,000 cars. It would also save enough energy to light 2.5 million homes for a year.

The average home has anywhere from 50 to 100 light bulbs. When you consider the fact that you can cut your energy costs by about $30 over the life of one compact fluorescent bulb, that equates to $1500 - $3000 in savings just by changing your light bulbs. Now isn’t that enlightening?

LED bulbs can save you even more money, without the mercury content and hazardous waste problems CFL introduces. The life of one LED bulb can save you $136.21 over the ten year lifetime of the bulb.

Costs Over 10 Years
Calculated at 8 Hours Per Day and $.10 per kWH
ZetaLux Pays for itself in a little over 2 years!
ZetaLux Incandescent
Initial Cost $49.99 $1.00
Electricity $20.00 $175.2
Replacement $0.00 $30 (30 Bulbs)
Total Cost $69.99 $206.20

As you can see, ZetaLux Saves you over $13 per light fixture per year and pays for itself in just a little over 2 years! That’s just by replacing one light and that doesn’t even count other important considerations such as cooling costs and costs associated with purchasing the over 30 incandescent light bulbs needed over that 10 year period. Just think of how large your savings would be by replacing all of your lighting with high efficiency EarthLED LED light bulbs.

Yes, we can all make a difference.

Brought to you by: http://www.neutralexistence.com/shop/7w-earthled-zetalux-led-replacement-bulb/ The Turn Back Your Meter Team & http://www.ecoearthmall.com

Friday, August 28, 2009

We all can make a difference

We all can make a difference

With continual advancements in energy technology, and the increasing public demand to eliminate our dependency on foreign oil, the future of America's energy looks promising. There will surely come a day when we no longer have to deplete our planet's natural resources nor pollute our environment in order to satisfy our energy needs, but we do not have to stand idle and wait for that day to come. We can take action right now!

If everyone made the decision to generate only half of their total home energy needs from solar or wind, it would reduce the nation's energy expense by more than $100 Billion annually. That's $100 Billion dollars which can be put into savings for our children's college funds, invested in clean alternative energy projects, or spent on consumer goods which would help stimulate our economy.

On an even smaller scale, making tiny changes can create huge results. For example, if every U.S. household replaced only one burned-out bulb with an energy-efficient, ENERGY STAR rated compact fluorescent bulb, it would prevent greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to that of nearly 800,000 cars. It would also save enough energy to light 2.5 million homes for a year.

The average home has anywhere from 50 to 100 light bulbs. When you consider the fact that you can cut your energy costs by about $30 over the life of one compact fluorescent bulb, that equates to $1500 - $3000 in savings just by changing your light bulbs. Now isn't that enlightening?

LED bulbs can save you even more money, without the mercury content and hazardous waste problems CFL introduces. The life of one LED bulb can save you $136.21 over the ten year lifetime of the bulb.

Costs Over 10 Years
Calculated at 8 Hours Per Day and $.10 per kWH
ZetaLux Pays for itself in a little over 2 years!
ZetaLux Incandescent
Initial Cost $49.99 $1.00
Electricity $20.00 $175.2
Replacements $0.00 $30 (30 Bulbs)
Total Cost $69.99 $206.20
As you can see, ZetaLux Saves you over $13 per light fixture per year and pays for itself in just a little over 2 years! That’s just by replacing one light and that doesn’t even count other important considerations such as cooling costs and costs associated with purchasing the over 30 incandescent light bulbs needed over that 10 year period. Just think of how large your savings would be by replacing all of your lighting with high efficiency EarthLED LED light bulbs.

As you can see, we can all make a difference.

Brought to you by: http://www.neutralexistence.com/shop/7w-earthled-zetalux-led-replacement-bulb/ The Turn Back Your Meter Team & http://www.ecoearthmall.com

Wednesday, August 19, 2009

Water Conservation Tips

Water Conservation Tips
Did you know that of the entire Earth's water supply, less than 2% of it is fresh water, and only about 1% is drinkable (the rest is frozen)? It is this precious 1% that is responsible for practically all life on earth. While it may not seem to be cause for alarm to use water indiscriminately, because it is so readily available, fresh water is not in unlimited supply. It is both environmentally responsible and financially beneficial for all of us to do what we can to reduce our wasteful water use. By installing products like an Oxygenics Showerhead or a Titan Tankless Water Heater, you can save thousands of gallons of water annually.

Below are some additional easy to follow, water saving techniques you can start implementing today:

• When washing dishes by hand, don't let the water run while rinsing. If you have dual sinks, fill one sink with wash water and the other with rinse water.

• Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.

• Run your washing machine and dishwasher only when they are full and you could save 1000 gallons a month.

• Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Consider composting instead and save gallons every time.

• Keep a pitcher of water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap for cold drinks, so that every drop goes down you not the drain.

• When washing a car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for rinsing.

• Avoid flushing the toilet unnecessarily. Dispose of tissues, insects and other such waste in the trash rather than the toilet.

• Put a brick in the toilet tank in order to reduce the amount of water needed to flush the toilet.

• When washing dishes by hand, fill one sink or basin with soapy water. Quickly rinse under a slow-moving stream from the faucet.

• An automatic dishwasher uses 9 to 12 gallons of water while hand washing dishes can use up to 20 gallons.

• Water lawns during the early morning hours, or evening when temperatures and wind speed are the lowest. This reduces losses from evaporation.

• Do not hose down your driveway or sidewalk. Use a broom to clean leaves and other debris from these areas. Using a hose to clean a driveway wastes hundreds of
gallons of water.

• Don't leave the water running when brushing your teeth or shaving. Get in the habit of turning off the water when it's not being used.

• Use of bowl of water to clean fruits & vegetables rather than running water over them. You can reuse this for your house plants.

• Collect rain water in a barrel or trash bin to use for watering plants. Plants prefer it over tap water.


The Turn Back Your Meter Team & http://www.ecoearthmall.com

Tuesday, August 18, 2009

U.S. FOODSERVICE-FORT MILL SHRINKS DEPENDENCY ON PLASTIC WRAP, STRETCHES DOLLAR WITH SWITCH TO RUBBER BANDS

AJ Marin

U.S. FOODSERVICE-FORT MILL SHRINKS DEPENDENCY ON PLASTIC WRAP, STRETCHES
DOLLAR WITH SWITCH TO RUBBER BANDS
Using reusable rubber bands to secure products for storage and shipping
is environmentally friendly and cost-effective
FORT MILL, S.C., August 17, 2009 - Rubber bands are replacing plastic
shrink wrap at U.S. Foodservice-Fort Mill. The operation's innovative
application of large, reusable rubber bands instead of clear plastic
wrap to secure food products for delivery has proved to be a great way
to stretch the dollar and improve environmental stewardship.
In a five month pilot program to test the use of rubber bands in
securing smaller product loads on warehouse pallets, Fort Mill used 11
percent less shrink wrap and saved nearly $8,000.
"Plastic shrink wrap is made from petrochemicals and can only be used
once, but rubber bands are reusable with an average life span of six
months to a year," said Dan Harris, President, U.S. Foodservice-Fort
Mill.
"We were using tens of thousands of pounds of shrink wrap in our
warehouse every year to secure products on pallets while stored on
racks, and we knew there had to be a more cost-effective way to manage
this process," Harris said. "Replacing shrink wrap with rubber bands
really helped bring our costs down and make our warehouse operations
more environmentally-friendly."
"These are not your average rubber bands," Harris added. "They are about
1/16 inch thick and can stretch to fit around a pallet up to 4 feet by 4
feet. While we can't replace shrink wrap in every situation, the
decrease in plastic wrap use has been significant, amounting to
reductions of more than 100,000 pounds of wrap per year."
This new rubber band strategy is just one example of the sustainability
improvements U.S. Foodservice has implemented recently at its Fort Mill
operations, Harris said. A dedicated sustainability team aggressively
seeks out new ways to reduce energy consumption, eliminate waste, and
add recycling programs. These efforts have resulted in a number of
innovations that demonstrate the Fort Mill division's commitment to
sustainability in three key areas: environment, products and community.
"We are committed to sustainability in everything we do," said Harris.
"We are proud of our environmental leadership on behalf of our customers
and the communities we serve."
About U.S. Foodservice
U.S. Foodservice is one of the country's premier foodservice
distributors, offering more than 43,000 national, private label and
signature brand items and an array of services to its more than 250,000
customers. The company proudly employs 26,000 associates in more than 60
locations nationwide who are poised to serve customers beyond their
expectations. As industry leaders, with access to resources beyond the
ordinary, U.S. Foodservice provides the finest quality food and related
products to neighborhood restaurants, hospitals, schools, colleges and
universities, hotels, government entities and other eating
establishments. To find out how U.S. Foodservice can be Your partner
beyond the plate(r), visit the company's website at
www.usfoodservice.com.

Monday, August 17, 2009

Solar on the Go

Solar on the Go

Did you know that the sun provides over 35,000 times the total amount of energy that humans use every day? Solar energy is the most abundant, reliable, and cleanest form of renewable energy on the planet. With the rise energy costs, and increased environmental awareness, solar power is quickly becoming a feasible and affordable energy option for home use, but the best part about the sun is that it follows around even when you leave your home. That creates virtually unlimited potential for mobile solar applications such as RV Solar Kits and Solar Back Packs. Mobile solar gives you the freedom to go more places and do more things without having to sacrifice the use of your favorite comforts and conveniences. Plus, solar battery charging can play a very important role in any traveler's precautionary emergency arsenal.

The Turn Back Your Meter Team &
www.ecoearthmall.com

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

It's Electric!

It's Electric!
No one wants to spend more than they have to for heating or cooling their home. A programmable thermostat like the Aube TH106 can cut your heating or cooling costs by up to 20%. An electronic thermostat can be used to control all types of electric heating systems such as electric baseboard heaters, electric radiant ceiling heaters, electric radiant floor heat and electric convectors. The programmable features of an electronic thermostat allow you to accurately set the temperature in your home even when you're not there; so no more forgetting to turn down the temperature before you leave for work!
Having precise control of your heating and cooling is a top priority when it comes to cutting your energy costs. And with the significant savings you get from an electric thermostat, you can easily recover the cost of the thermostat in a relatively short period of time.

Programmable Thermostat Facts
1. You'll need a thermostat for each heating/cooling unit that you have for your home.
2. Many thermostats have advanced programmable features which allow you to set the temperature for every day of the week, 4 settings or more per day.
3. Programmable thermostats allow you to temporarily override its settings to accommodate custom situations. It will automatically resume the programmed settings at the next time interval. Some even have a vacation setting for long periods away from home.
4. Installing an electronic thermostat yourself is relatively easy.
5. Make sure your thermostat has a battery back-up feature to save the program in case of a power outage.
6. Many thermostats have easy to follow instructions printed on the inside plastic cover of the thermostat.
7. If you work at home every day, or have family members who are home every day, the benefit of a programmable thermostat will be less.
For more details on the Aube TH106 and other Programmable Thermostats, click on the link below in the featured products section.
The Turn Back Your Meter Team &
www.ecoearthmall.com

Monday, August 10, 2009

Advantages of LED over Fluorescent and CFL Lighting

Advantages of LED over Fluorescent and CFL Lighting

Much has been said to support the use of CFL, or Compact Fluorescent Lights, to help the environment. CFLs and Fluorescent tube lights make light using the same method. Electricity is passed through mercury vapor in a phosphor tube, this produces short-wave ultraviolet light which then causes the phosphor to fluoresce, making visible light.

Mercury vapor is a cost effective and useful method but the bulbs produced, once used, create a great deal of waste. A typical 4 foot fluorescent lamp contains about 40 milligrams of mercury. Remember that Mercury is poisonous. Estimates are that up to six million bulbs are disposed of in the United States per year. Mercury waste requires special handling, including bulbs.

What happens when your favorite lamp is knocked over by your child? Broken CFL’s require special clean up. Vacuuming or sweeping up broken glass is not recommended. The clean up procedure can be found online, but don’t sweep or vacuum so as not to spread mercury vapor.

LED lights on the other hand, contain no mercury, last much longer and are cheaper to use. The EarthLED ZetaLux ,a 7 watt LED is the equivalent of a 60 watt CFL or Incandescent bulb. The savings over a lifetime, i.e. 10 years, is $130.00 per bulb, not to mention the waste savings for not having to replace the incandescent or CFL repeatedly.

The ZetaLux line of bulbs can be found at http://www.neutralexistence.com/shop/led-light-bulbs/C102/