It’s Friday… time for your round-up of interesting and innovative green tech stories.

• Sony Ericsson announces the release of two new “Greenheart” mobile phones. The company claims both models have a 15% lower carbon footprint than comparable models, and feature a minimum of 50% recycled plastic. (via eWeek)
  
  
• Ever had your hat blown off in an urban “wind tunnel?” Ohio-based start-up Green Energy Technologies is trying to replicate the effect of wind tunnels, and harness the energy, with its WindCube wind speed amplifier. (via earth2tech)
  
  

Check out more green tech finds and see if you can greenify your life!




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Robert Redford really knows his stuff when it comes to the environmental movement. He advocates for a green economy revolution in America, and he has recently explained one great way for Americans to help make this dream a reality. Make sure you read this article carefully as there are a lot of really subtle yet powerful ideas presented in Mr. Redford’s article.

“Right now, we have the scientific knowledge and cutting-edge technologies we need to cut global warming pollution and build a cleaner, greener energy future. But technology isn’t quite enough—we also need to have a strong, pro-environment Congress.

That’s why I’ve decided to get behind LCV Action Fund this year. Their top-notch election campaign WILL ensure that some of the worst environmental enemies—like Senators Ted Stevens, Elizabeth Dole, and Jim Inhofe—don’t make it back for another term. But they can’t do it without our help.

Will you give today to help LCV Action Fund make sure the Dirty Dozen don’t see another term in office?

Recently, I read a piece by Thomas Friedman in the New York Times wher e he said, “The greenest thing you can do is this: Choose the right leaders. It is so much more important to change your leaders than change your light bulbs.”

And I thought to myself, that’s exactly it. I’ve been appalled by the direction dirty politicians have been leading our country when it comes to the environment. They have been sitting comfortably in the pocket of Big Oil and Dirty Coal for far too long. They are the ones who are preventing us from passing laws to protect the environment. They are the ones who have made it possible for the polluting interests to profit while American families struggle with rising gas prices.

I know you are just as frustrated as I am. And that is why I am urging you to support LCV Action Fund. They know how to defeat the Dirty Dozen who have polluted the halls of Congress for years with their shameful environmental records. But they need our help before September 30.

We can’t let this critical moment pass us by. Click here to donate today.

LCV Action Fund has a sophisticated political targeting pr ogram that carefully identifies, persuades, and mobilizes undecided voters in the Dirty Dozen’s states and districts. It’s a time-honored program—and I’ve seen it work. Being named to the Dirty Dozen is as close to a political death knell as it gets—LCV Action Fund has defeated 41 of them over the last 12 years! That is an amazing record considering 96% of incumbents have won re-election since 1996.

Elections matter. Who controls Congress matters. Change is possible. I saw it when I lobbied for the Clean Air Act and the Clean Water Act more than three decades ago. And today, all that is standing in the way of our clean energy future is the selfish, negligent politics of the Dirty Dozen.

Don’t let them block progress to a clean future for our environment any more, joyce. Click here [www.lcv.org] to help make this term their last.

Thank you so much.

Sincerely,

Robert Redford”

P .S. LCV Action Fund is leading the charge to turn our environmental values into national priorities. Give today and help them in this fight by defeating the Dirty Dozen this fall.

AUSTIN, Texas, March 26, 2008 (ENS) – To spread the gospel of energy efficiency, the state of Texas is making Memorial Day weekend a tax holiday for many Energy Star products.

Texas shoppers get a break from state and local sales and use taxes on purchases of certain energy efficient products from 12:01 a.m. on Saturday, May 24 through 11:59 pm on Monday, May 26, which is Memorial Day.

The products qualifying for the exemption are:

* air conditioners priced under $6,000, both room and central units
* clothes washers, but not clothes dryers
* ceiling fans
* dehumidifiers
* dishwashers
* light bulbs (incandescent and fluorescent)
* programmable thermostats
* refrigerators priced under $2,000

Tax savings can mount up. State Sales and Use Tax is imposed on all retail sales, leases and rentals of most goods, as well as taxable services. Texas cities, counties, transit authorities and special purpose districts have the option of imposing an additional local sales tax for a combined total of state and local taxes of 8 1/4 percent.

The Energy Star logo will identify
products that qualify for
the tax holiday

Qualifying products will display the Energy Star logo, which may appear on the appliance, the packaging or the Energy Guide label.

Energy Star is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy. Earning the Energy Star means a product meets energy efficiency guidelines set by these two federal agencies.

There is no limit on the number of qualifying items one can purchase during this sales tax holiday, and an exemption certificate is not required.

The tax-free holiday also applies to Internet and catalog sales of eligible products, provided that the items are both paid for and delivered to the purchaser during the exemption period; or the purchaser orders and pays for the item and the retailer accepts the order during the exemption period for immediate shipment, even if delivery is made after the exemption period. Layaway plans can be used to take advantage of the sales tax holiday.

Delivery, shipping, handling or transportation charges connected to the sale of a qualifying item purchased tax free during the sales tax holiday also qualify for the exemption.

Charges for installation of qualifying items purchased during the sales tax holiday may qualify for exemption depending on whether the items are permanently attached to or installed in real property and whether the realty is residential or nonresidential.

Items that are free-standing or mobile, such as clothes washers, dehumidifiers, refrigerators, portable dishwashers and window or room air conditioning units are tangible personal property. If an item retains its identity as tangible personal property after installation, then installation charges billed by the seller of the item also qualify for the sales tax holiday exemption – even if the installation is performed after the holiday period is concluded.

Labor charges are not taxable on new construction and residential repair and remodeling jobsites. Therefore, no tax is due on charges for installing items such as ceiling fans, programmable thermostats or central air conditioning units in residential property or during a new construction project.

Sellers may not advertise or in any way promise to pay or not charge sales tax that is due on the sale of taxable items. Sellers may, however, advertise that tax is included in the sales price of the taxable items that they sell.

View This Story On Eco–mmunity Map.

DALLAS, Texas, March 21, 2008 (ENS) – After eliminating 4,000 pounds of harmful chemicals, the management of Dallas Love Field airport is pledging to reduce 1,000 additional pounds as part of a national program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.

The airport plans to reduce 1,000 pounds of polychlorinated biphenyls, PCBs, as part of the National Partnership for Environmental Priorities, NPEP, program.

In addition, it is pledging to eliminate 50 pounds of mercury by replacing light bulbs, thermometers, thermostats and other equipment under the NPEP Mercury Challenge campaign.

“More and more top facilities are finding smart, simple ways to conduct business and care for the environment at the same time,” said EPA Regional Administrator Richard Greene. “It is even more inspiring when members of industry not only stick with their commitments to the environment, but expand on them, as Dallas Love Field has done.”

The management of Love Field is
reducing harmful chemicals in
the airport building.
(Photo credit unknown)

The airport will replace fluorescent light ballasts and instruments containing mercury with modern equipment that is free of the harmful chemical. It will also recycle light bulbs that contain mercury.

“Our efforts at Love Field are an extension of citywide policies pertaining to environmental responsibility, which are implemented through our Environmental Management System,” said Director of Aviation Daniel Weber.

“Our success with removing harmful chemicals from the system follows our earlier program to reduce air emissions, in conjunction with our tenant airlines,” Weber said. “Our staff will continue to work at reducing all Dallas Airport System facilities’ impacts on the environment.”

The National Partnership for Environmental Priorities promotes the voluntary reduction of 31 priority chemicals. Through work with the EPA, both public and private organizations identify activities that will reduce the use of these chemicals, preventing their ability to accumulate in the environment and cause harm to humans and the ecosystem.

The Mercury Challenge promotes the voluntary, systematic elimination of equipment continaing mercury, a potent neurotoxin that can affect the brain, spinal cord, kidneys and liver.

More than 150 organizations nationwide have joined the NPEP program, which has set a goal of reducing the use or release of four million pounds of priority chemicals by 2011.

Dallas Love Field is one of only four airports nationwide to join the NPEP program and is the first to add more goals to its original commitment.

The airport covers 1,300 acres and has three runways. Love Field was the primary airport for Dallas until 1974, when Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport opened. Love Field is now Dallas’ secondary airport and serves as a major focus city for Southwest Airlines. Continental Express and American Eagle also offer service from Love Field.

View This Story On Eco–mmunity Map.

LONDON, UK, March 7, 2008 (ENS) – In its budget for 2008-2009, the British government has allocated hundreds of millions of pounds for clean energy technologies over the next three years.

Secretary of State for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs Hilary Benn, MP, Thursday announced an increase in funding for clean energy technologies, investments and enterprises to over £400 million (US$808 million) over the next three years as part of the department’s 2008-2009 budget.

A few of the wind turbines in the giant Kentish Flats offshore wind farm (Photo courtesy Vattenfall)

“Now is the time to act together to tackle climate change and protect our environment. The government must lead the way by ensuring we are investing in building a low-carbon Britain,” said Benn, who heads the Department of Environment, Food & Rural, Defra.

Benn announced a 1.4 percent real increase in Defra’s overall budget as compared with the department’s 2007-2008 budget

“Defra spending will increase to almost £4 billion over the next three years but we must invest wisely,” Benn said. “That is why we are focusing our efforts on helping to provide sustainable options for the future as well as supporting and influencing governments, businesses and consumers locally and globally.”

Prime Minister Gordon Brown has pledged that the UK will become a low carbon economy. Specifically, he said:

* In 2008 we are legislating to put our emissions targets into law, and will create a Green Homes Service to help individuals save energy, water and money by going green.

* In 2009 we will put a strategy in place for a major increase in renewable energy by 2020

* In 2010 we will introduce a scheme for businesses and the public sector to save 4.2 million tones of CO2 a year

* By 2011 we will have phased out the sale of high-energy light-bulbs, five million more homes will have benefited from discounted or free insulation and another three million homes from discounted energy efficient appliances.

As part of Defra’s 2008-2009 budget, the Carbon Trust will receive £47.4 million (US$95.7 million) to bring forward new energy technologies such as offshore wind, third-generation solar photovoltaic power, marine energy and biomass heating.

This funding will also be used to increase the Carbon Trust’s energy saving loans plan for small and medium sized enterprises.

The UK currently has 169 wind projects in place generating 2435 megawatts of electricity, enough to power 1,361,693 homes, according to the British Wind Energy Association.

The Defra budget includes new investments in low-carbon technology to help tackle environmental challenges in developing countries over the next three years.

The sustainable waste infrastructure will receive over £2 billion (US$4 billion) in Private Finance Initiative credits provided over the next three years.

The Defra budget includes £2.15 billion (US$4.3 billion) over the next three years for flood protection.

And the resources of the Rural Development Programme for England were doubled to £3.9 billion (US$7.87 billion) available to 2013.

In addition, over the next three years the government will also provide around £10 million for a new anaerobic digestion demonstration program. Up to four commercial-scale facilities will show the potential of this technology to create renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid waste being sent to landfill.

Anaerobic digestion is a process in which microorganisms break down biodegradable material in the absence of oxygen. The process treats wastewater sludges and organic wastes, reducing both volume and mass of the input material.

As part of an integrated waste management system, anaerobic digestion reduces the emission of landfill gas into the atmosphere.

Anaerobic digestion is a renewable energy source because the process produces a methane and carbon dioxide rich biogas suitable for energy production to help replace fossil fuels. The nutrient-rich solids left after digestion can be used as fertilizer.

View This Story On Eco–mmunity Map.

In an effort to expand people’s consciousness on green topics, Sundance Channel is happy to promote the activities of Energy Star and The Environmental Protection Agency. We hope you enjoy the video and think it is great that Energy Star is making it easier for every day Americans to learn about the green lifestyle choices that can make the world a cleaner place.

Tom Kraeutler plugs devices into a power strip so as to minimize monthly electric bills

Most people don’t realize that by making simple changes in their homes they can collectively make a big impact on the environment and help fight global warming. The typical household spends $1,900 a year on energy bills and as much as half of this energy goes toward heating and cooling the home. For the podcast, EPA enlisted the help of home improvement expert Tom Kraeutler (co-host of the nationally syndicated home improvement radio show, The Money Pit) to create a 4-minute ENERGY STAR videocast.

The ENERGY STAR videocast takes you on a room-by-room tour offering energy-saving tips. From changing your five most used light bulbs to energy saver bulbs to installing a ceiling fan, taking a few simple steps today can help protect the environment from the risks of global warming. Tom hosts the videocast and walks viewers through ENERGY STAR Home [www.energystar.gov], an interactive tool which provides energy-saving tips and advice for the entire house.

From all of us at THE GREEN blog, happy holidays! We’d like to take this moment to thank you for your support and interest in our blog and all things green. Together, individual by individual, we can propel the large-scale change that is needed to ensure a sustainable future for ourselves, our children and our children’s children.

We will return with more posts in 2008. In the meantime, we leave you with these 10 tips to green your New Year’s party from Green Living Online [www.greenlivingonline.com]:

1 . Cut down on paper and use technology. Email invitations or call people to invite them to your party.

2. Get organized with your transportation. Encourage friends coming to the party to use public transportation or car pool to cut down on their driving. If you have the room, invite people coming from far away to spend the night.

3. Avoid the paper products and real cutlery, glasses and dishes for the party. You will have dishes to wash but think of the garbage you’ll reduce. If you don’t have enough glasses, borrow from a neighbor or check with local caterers who will rent out glassware at a reasonable cost.

4. If you do need to go disposable, make sure everything is biodegradable [www.sundancechannel.com]. That means no plastic, styrofoam or foil. There are lots of options available, including disposable dishes made out of potato starch that will decompose. Look for paper napkins that are at least 80 percent post-consumer recycled paper that are naturally brown or bleached. Seventh Generation [www.seventhgeneration.com] sells some great green paper products.

5. Decorate with LED lights and change your light bulbs in the house. Choose organic flowers with the VeriFlora certification and go with soy-based or beeswax candles. They are a bit more expensive but worth the investment. Way Out Wax [www.wayoutwax.com] is a good resource.

6. Lower the heat before guests arrive. You’ll save energy and the extra body heat generated by guests will warm the room.

7. Serve locally grown, organic food whenever possible. If your budget is tight, go potluck and ask everyone to bring their favorite organic snack. Serve finger food so you don’t need plastic plates and cutlery. Veggie dips, fruit and cheese are also great party food.

8. Serve local wine or organic wines that don’t use harmful chemicals during farming. If available, pick up some organic liquor as well. 67 Wine & Spirits [www.67wine.com] offers a variety of selections.

9. Set up recycling areas so people know where to put their cans, bottles and recyclables. Dedicate a garbage can for the task that is clearly labelled. Not only will it make it easier to clean up, you’ll be reducing your garbage.

10. Clean up with biodegradable cleaning supplies that are healthy. Who needs to be exposed to toxic chemicals after a night of partying?

May you and your loved ones have a joyous holiday season and a beautiful, green new year.