http://www.green-talk.com Turning the Planet Green, One Conversation at a Time Mon, 16 Nov 2009 06:02:14 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.5 en hourly 1 Green Talk is a green living blog sprinkled with personal antidotes geared towards creating the conversation to live a greener lifestyle. Topics centers around green living ideas, green building, organic gardening, recycling, or a mix bag of green content. If you missed something on the podcast, then don't worry. All Podcasts are transcribed on http://www.green-talk.com. What are you waiting for? Be part of the conversation. Turning the Planet Green, One Conversation at a Time Green Talk green,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,business no Copyright 2009 Green Talk LLCgreen,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businessKids & Familyinfo@green-talk.comGreen Talkgreen-talk/KavEhttp://feedburner.google.com http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/R1IrltXD6ns/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/10/29/dreaming-about-installing-a-solar-hot-water-system/#comments Thu, 29 Oct 2009 23:59:36 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=3598
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/10/29/dreaming-about-installing-a-solar-hot-water-system/feed/ 10 <p></p><p><a title="3486473785_b9ccc4d520 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/4056532788/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2663/4056532788_2a3f69ef5f.jpg" alt="3486473785_b9ccc4d520" width="450" height="315" /></a><br /> Attribution: <a rel="cc:attributionURL" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinitaly/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinitaly/</a> / <a rel="license" href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nd/2.0/">CC BY-ND 2.0</a></p> <p>Solar Hot water Evacuated tube collectors  seem to be the rage at <a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2009/01/21/live-from-the-international-building-show-feeling-like-a-pig-in-mud/">the International Builder’s Show</a> last winter.  I don’t know why,  but those gleaming dark tubes just caught my eye.  The more I learned about them, the more I liked the whole concept.  Putting a solar hot water flat panel collector on my roof just did not appeal to me.  I had my share of roof leaking/ water issues and just did want to go there again.  (Whether this actually happens with panels does not matter. Fear is a powerful motivator.)  Evacuated tubes on the other hand can be installed vertical or horizontal like a fence as well at an angle similar to the solar hot water panels. I like flexibility.</p> <p>In addition, every vendor I spoke to touted that these tube were <em><strong>so much more efficient</strong></em> than its cousin, the flat panel collector.  Are they more expensive than the panels? Yes.  But, I was assured I would make up the difference in no time.  My eyes grew wider and wider every time a different vendor spoken about these tubes.  At the end of the show,   I  penciled in my Anna’s green wish list,  ”I want an evacuated tube collector.”  Promise me efficiency, good payback, and you have won my heart.</p> <p><strong>Until…</strong></p> <p><strong><span id="more-3598"></span><br /> </strong></p> <p><a title="October 2009 011 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/4055700201/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2701/4055700201_4efb02f112.jpg" alt="Solar hot water flat plate collector" width="500" height="375" /></a></p> <p>Martin Holladay  of GreenBuildingAdvisor.com  thumped me on the head and told me to wake up.  In his <a href="http://www.greenbuildingadvisor.com/blogs/dept/musings/solar-hot-water"> article</a>, “Solar Hot Water  Heating Water with the Sun Isn’t Cheap,”  he discusses the argument that evacuated tubes are better than flat panels. He states,</p> <blockquote><p>“Evacuated-tube fans like to point out that flat-plate collectors experience more heat loss at cold ambient temperatures than evacuated-tube collectors. (True enough — if the snow ever slides off the evacuated tubes). Moreover, evacuated-tube collectors perform better during cloudy weather, and begin collecting heat earlier in the day, than flat-plate collectors.</p></blockquote> <blockquote><p>Remember, though, that you’re not going to be collecting much useful energy on cloudy days or very cold days anyway. As explained by the author of <a href="http://www.skyfireenergy.com/downloads/EVAC_flat_plate%20June%2010%202009.pdf">a technical bulletin from EnerWorks</a>, a Canadian manufacturer of solar equipment, ‘On overcast days the evacuated-tube collector will perform better than a flat-plate collector. [...] Attribution: http://www.flickr.com/photos/ukinitaly/ / CC BY-ND 2.0 Solar Hot water Evacuated tube collectors  seem to be the rage at the International Builder’s Show last winter.  I don’t know why,  but those gleaming dark tubes [...] Green Talk 7:00 clean green,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businesshttp://www.green-talk.com/2009/10/29/dreaming-about-installing-a-solar-hot-water-system/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/rZ7gVHpL7Ks/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/30/solar-decathlons-team-beausoleil-home-marries-culture-with-the-environment/#comments Thu, 01 Oct 2009 03:26:09 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=3485
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/30/solar-decathlons-team-beausoleil-home-marries-culture-with-the-environment/feed/ 0 <p></p><p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="425" height="350" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/FvhZvuHiYI0" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/FvhZvuHiYI0"></embed></object></p> <p><a href="http://www.beausoleilhome.org/index.html">Team BeauSoleil from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette </a>will be entering their solar home in the  <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.org/">Solar Decathlon</a> from October 9-13 and  October 15-18 in Washington DC.  20 Universities will be participating. (See <a href="http://www.solardecathlon.org/">here</a> to watch videos of all the teams. ) This is the first time any team from the University has entered the contest.  What makes the Ragin’ Cajuns’ home so unique is that the students took their first hand experiences of the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita to help design their  coastal home.</p> <p>Why the name? It means “Beautiful Sun in French” or “Sunshine” in Cajun French. Watch the video above to see how they married their culture and the environment into this modest 800 highly functional space.<span id="more-3485"></span></p> <p>It features:</p> <li>Generates more energy than it consumes.  Totally solar powered.</li> <li>Withstands hurricane-force winds</li> <li><a href="http://www.beausoleilhome.org/media/videos/beausoleil_360_kitchen_tour.mov">State-of-the-art kitchen</a> for entertaining and cooking.   According to the University, “good conversation and great food are important elements of Louisiana.”</li> <li>Attractive and affordable housing, ranging from $120,000 to $150,000</li> <li>Self-sufficient housing that is especially ideal for coastal regions</li> <li>Wide exterior porches for social interaction and entertaining</li> <p>For updates on how this team does during the Decathlon, follow them on their <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/BeauSoleil-Louisiana-Solar-Home/82536101286?ref=ts">Facebook page</a>.</p> <p><strong>Similar Posts:</strong> <ul class="similar-posts"> <li><a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/28/green-speed-links-for-september-27-2009/" rel="bookmark" title="September 28, 2009">Green Speed Links for September 27, 2009</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/14/home-depot-bp-solar-partnership-no-installation-deals-here/" rel="bookmark" title="May 14, 2009">Home Depot BP Solar Partnership. No Installation Deals here.</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2008/10/29/dreaming-of-a-white-halloween/" rel="bookmark" title="October 29, 2008">Dreaming of a White Halloween</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2008/10/15/architect-michael-mcdonough-a-green-living-perspective-video/" rel="bookmark" title="October 15, 2008">Architect Michael McDonough: A Green Living Perspective Video</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2007/04/18/cheap-solar-is-this-for-real/" rel="bookmark" title="April 18, 2007">Cheap Solar–Is this For Real?</a></li> </ul> <p><!-- Similar Posts took 4.859 ms --></p> Team BeauSoleil from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette will be entering their solar home in the  Solar Decathlon from October 9-13 and  October 15-18 in Washington DC.  20 Universities will be participating. (See here to watch [...] noGreen Talkgreen,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businesshttp://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/30/solar-decathlons-team-beausoleil-home-marries-culture-with-the-environment/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/1Z1TMd7xV-w/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/23/rainxchange-rainwater-harvesting-with-a-unique-water-feature-twist/#comments Wed, 23 Sep 2009 16:33:55 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=3428
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/23/rainxchange-rainwater-harvesting-with-a-unique-water-feature-twist/feed/ 4 <p></p><p><a title="Rainwater Illustration Hi-Res by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3946297871/"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2557/3946297871_7e201aff8b.jpg" alt="Rainwater Illustration Hi-Res" width="450" height="306" /></a></p> <p>I had the pleasure of  podcasting with Dave Kelly, Vice President of  Product Developement at <a href="http://www.aquascapeinc.com/">Aquascape, Inc.</a>, the maker of the <a href="http://www.rainxchange.com/">RainXchange</a>, explaining the virtues of the Company’s residential and commercial rain harvesting system.  To hear the podcast, click the link below.</p> <p>I have been having a ongoing love affair with  rainwater harvesting systems ever since I learned about the concept.   My chance came when I was building my house six years ago.   My then irrigation specialist discouraged me from installing a system.  I looked to him for guidance since I had no idea where to find one.</p> <p>When we discussed the system, he gave me one of those discouraging looks and told me it would be expensive and ugly.  ”Did I really want a big old cistern in my yard?”  he responded.  But when I explained I wanted an underground cistern attached to my dry wells, again  he explained it would be very expensive.  The concept of rainwater harvesting for residential was like discussing your family’s dirty secrets.  Keep it to yourself, otherwise, everyone will think you are foolish.  The cost of water is cheap. Why would I want this?</p> <p>But for years, I yearned for a rainwater harvesting system, and would constantly search the internet looking for someone in New Jersey who installed them.  Perhaps today would be the day some company would pop up on the internet that would fulfill my dream.  Buying a big old cistern from Texas seemed silly when I live in New Jersey.  I knew that retrofitting at this point would be expensive since it meant excavation.  But it did not stop a girl from dreaming.<span id="more-3428"></span></p> <p>One day my landscaper handed me a brochure about the RainXchange which illustrated the above residential rainwater harvesting system with a beautiful water feature.   I looked at him in disbelief.  See, my landscaper is one of those old timers.  When I suggest adding compost when you plant, he thinks I am crazy.  All you need is good old soil, he would reply. But here  he was handing me a very new age concept.  (The green age.)  I guess he was puzzled by my look and explained , “everyone is going green these day.”  That they are.</p> <p>What I love about the RainXchange  is you are not only installing a rain harvesting system, but gaining the added benefit of a bubbling urn water feature.  My neighbor has a water feature in her yard and it produces the most amazing soothing sounds.  In addition the water features attract wildlife, and keep the water circulating in the below ground modules.   No West Nile virus here.</p> <p>From a design perspective, these 26.5”L x 16”W x 17.5 <a href="http://www.rainxchange.com/products/aquablox_matrix.php">AquaBlox™ Water Matrix® Tank Storage Modules</a> can be layouted in any configuration.  If you want to install a system under a driveway, alongside a driveway or in a limited space, the blocks can be arranged to accommodate your configuration.  85% of the content of the  module is made out of recycled polyethylene. For more information about the installation of the system, see <a [...] I had the pleasure of  podcasting with Dave Kelly, Vice President of  Product Developement at Aquascape, Inc., the maker of the RainXchange, explaining the virtues of the Company’s residential and commercial rain harvesting [...] 65:00 rainwater harvesting, Aquascapes, RainXchange clean Green Talkhttp://www.green-talk.com/2009/09/23/rainxchange-rainwater-harvesting-with-a-unique-water-feature-twist/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/Ib1R-1b02ZU/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/27/urban-sustainable-cities-the-challenges-and-priorities/#comments Wed, 27 May 2009 14:38:29 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2660
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/27/urban-sustainable-cities-the-challenges-and-priorities/feed/ 4 <p></p><p><a title="may 2009 130 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3568481821/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3355/3568481821_14a1d34e42.jpg" alt="Sustainable Urban Communities at FDU's Jumpstart conference" width="450" height="356" /></a></p> <p>(From left to right, Panelists Paul Miller, Dr. dt ogilvie, Marty Johnson, and Robert Antonicello)</p> <p>Last week, I attended the <a href="http://jumpstartgreen.org/">Jumpstart the New Green Economy conference </a>at Fairleigh Dickinson. Although this conference was in New Jersey, many of the discussions  at the conference were applicable to situations through the country.</p> <p>One of the most profound seminars that I attended dealt with  the sustainable challenges of  urban communities.  The panelists were<a href="http://business.rutgers.edu/default.aspx?id=630"> Dr. dt ogilvie</a>, Founding Director, <a href="http://business.rutgers.edu/default.aspx?id=1667">the Center for the Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development </a>as well as an Associate Professor of Business Strategies at Rutgers University, Bob Antonicello, <a href="http://www.thejcra.org/">Jersey City Redevelopment Agency</a>, Marty Johnson, CEO of <a href="http://isles.org/main/">ISLES</a>, a nonprofit corporation, and <a href="http://greenventuresconference.org/?p=1181">Paul Miller</a>, Director of Sustainability Programs for the <a href="http://www.morristown-nj.org/index.html">Morristown Partnership</a>. (A short podcast is listed at the end of the article  summarizing their thoughts.)<span id="more-2660"></span></p> <p>As a short background for those readers who are not familiar with New Jersey, each of the above groups interact daily with urban environments in different ways.  One of the missions of the Center for the Urban Entrepreneurship and Economic Development is to “build a world-class research-driven, teaching and practitioner-oriented urban entrepreneurship and economic development program that will transform the economy of the City of Newark, New Jersey, and other urban centers.”  The Jersey City Redevelopment Agency’s responsibilities  include “the direct reinvestment of billions of dollars in Jersey City and tens of thousands of jobs. The Agency is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all residents of Jersey City by guiding responsible development and reinvestment in all neighborhoods and communities in Jersey City.”  Jersey City is a riverfront urban community near New York City.</p> <p>On the other hand,  ISLES is a nonprofit organization fostering urban community self-reliance, through various programs.  Lastly, the Sustainability Programs of the Morristown Partnership helps create a more sustainable town, in which sustainability has been driven by the local businesses. Although much smaller than its urban city counterparts, it faces the same urban challenges as larger urban centers face.</p> <p>The main focus of the discussion was the challenges of making urban environments sustainable.  The discussion that ensued dealt with the difficulties surrounding urban flight, establishing small and medium size businesses who would employ people in those cities, and educating our young.</p> <p style="text-align: left;"> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Cities Need to Work</strong></p> <p><a title="marty johnson by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3569335480/"><img [...] (From left to right, Panelists Paul Miller, Dr. dt ogilvie, Marty Johnson, and Robert Antonicello) Last week, I attended the Jumpstart the New Green Economy conference at Fairleigh Dickinson. Although this conference was in New Jersey, many of the [...] Anna Hackman 5:00 urban sustainability, green, cities and sustainability, sustainable panel discussion, Jumpstart the Green Economy clean http://www.green-talk.com/2009/05/27/urban-sustainable-cities-the-challenges-and-priorities/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/Fz6EbZDQS3k/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/04/08/vast%c2%ae-pavers-are-the-green-choice-leeding-the-way/#comments Wed, 08 Apr 2009 18:03:56 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2270
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/04/08/vast%c2%ae-pavers-are-the-green-choice-leeding-the-way/feed/ 8 <p></p><p><a title="VAST_Pro1 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3423371829/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3562/3423371829_a53b1172cd.jpg" alt="Environmentally friendly VAST® Composite Pavers" width="333" height="500" /></a></p> <p>When I read the initial press release on <a href="http://vastpavers.com/">VAST® Composite Pavers </a>, these pavers had me at hello.  I know. How can pavers be so interesting?  Using words like made out of recycled content materials, helps storm water management and the pavers looks like brick can give an eco- building girl palpitations!  The fact that the <a href="http://vastpavers.com/professionals/leed.php">use  of these composite pavers contribute to several LEED credits </a>was just the icing on the cake.  I scratched my head and asked, where was VAST® Pavers when I installed my ugly unenvironmentally friendly asphalt driveway  four years ago?</p> <p><a title="VAST_Andy2 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3424179238/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3063/3424179238_0137529c23.jpg" alt="Andy Vander Woude, president of Vast Enterprises LLC" width="333" height="500" /></a></p> <p>I had the pleasure of interviewing Andy Vander Woude, chief executive officer of VAST Enterprises LLC on the above podcast.  He meticulously and patiently answered all my questions about the product. I encourage everyone to listen to it since it is more detailed then my summary of the product below.<span id="more-2270"></span></p> <p>So, why does VAST Pavers make me swoon?  For starters, <a href="http://vastpavers.com/products/composite_paver/composite_paver.php">the composite pavers </a>are made out of 95% post-consumer recycled materials consisting of  tires and scrap plastics.  At the end of their life, they can be recycled again into new materials.  In addition, the Company offers a <a href="http://vastpavers.com/products/composite_paver/permeable_composite_paver.php">permeable composite paver </a>, which allows water to infiltrate into the ground to reduce storm water run-off.  Most towns, including mine, require storm water management for new construction.</p> <p>In the summer, you could fry an egg on my asphalt driveway.  The beauty of these pavers is there use eliminates the intense heat that you feel when you walk across an asphalt driveway or parking lot in the summer. That heat island effect causes the adjacent building, whether it is a house or office building, to use more energy to keep it cooler.</p> <p><object classid="clsid:d27cdb6e-ae6d-11cf-96b8-444553540000" width="480" height="295" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always" /><param name="src" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/sp7o4LCYWFQ&hl=en&fs=1" /><param name="allowfullscreen" value="true" /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="480" height="295" src="http://www.youtube.com/v/sp7o4LCYWFQ&hl=en&fs=1" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></p> <p>Have you sacrificed beauty or spent alot more green for these pavers?  Absolutely not.  They come in <a [...] When I read the initial press release on VAST® Composite Pavers , these pavers had me at hello.  I know. How can pavers be so interesting?  Using words like made out of recycled content materials, helps storm water management and the [...] 26:00 clean Green Talkgreen,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businesshttp://www.green-talk.com/2009/04/08/vast%c2%ae-pavers-are-the-green-choice-leeding-the-way/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/Gz3v3mX4s70/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/03/26/mr-beams-affordable-led-lights-keep-you-out-of-the-dark/#comments Thu, 26 Mar 2009 20:36:17 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=2120
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/03/26/mr-beams-affordable-led-lights-keep-you-out-of-the-dark/feed/ 199 <p></p><p><a title="MB360 Garage by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3387485973/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3615/3387485973_e09013950b.jpg" alt="Mr Beams' LED spotlight on a Garage" width="450" height="376" /></a></p> <p>Editors’ note: This is a transcript from the above audio, which is 26 minutes long. It has been slightly edited so it is more readable. See the <strong>giveaway contest</strong> and <strong>purchase discounts</strong> at the end of the transcript!</p> <p>Read on how to see <a href="http://www.mrbeams.com/">Mr. Beams’ </a>LED lights will not only decrease those hard to light areas in your house, but save you a little green as well.  How? The lights are battery-operated and sensor controlled, so say good-by to the electrician and hello to more energy efficient lights in your home.</p> <p style="text-align: center;"><strong>Transcript</strong></p> <p>Anna Hackman: Hi everybody. I’m here with Mike Recker co-founder of Mr. Beams and Ashley Fantz, Mr. Beams’ Marketing Director. We’re here to talk about Mr. Beams products. Tell us about what Mr. Beams is and what products you sell.</p> <p>Mike Recker: Mr. Beams makes LED lights that are battery-powered motion sensor and RF controls that you can attach anywhere. In addition to indoor use, most of our products are [sic] weatherproof, and are designed for outdoor use, so that allows our customers to attach them anywhere <strong>without the need</strong> for<strong> calling an electrician</strong> for wiring. We’ve found that the LED technology, in addition, to controls and battery power, offered customers a great product for adding lights in places where they previously had not been able to add light. We are launching three new products in March and three more new products in May to go along with the six products we already currently offer.</p> <p>AH: Could you be a little bit more specific as to what products that you do offer?</p> <p><a title="MB360 Vanity Shot by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3387486029/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3580/3387486029_6c4c671fd2.jpg" alt="Mr. Beams' LED, battery operated spot light" width="253" height="333" /></a><br /> (Mr. Beams’ spot light.)</p> <p>Ashley Fantz: You can put our products basically anywhere. We have a spotlight which is great. You can put it outside your house on any entry areas, and it’s also perfect for inside the garage. It’s basically two screws …a third if you want the little extra support, but basically two screws, and it’s installed. Whenever it detects motion when it’s dark out, it comes on brightly. So, it’s kind of like light on demand. Whenever you need light it’s there for you.</p> <p><a title="MB350 Vanity Shots by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3387485921/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3387485921_978f65d781.jpg" alt="Mr." width="500" height="318" /></a><br /> (Mr. Beams’ step light)</p> <p>We also have a stair light, which works great. You can put it in your stairwell, you can put it in your hallways, [sic] or anywhere as a path light. My Aunt actually has a boat and she puts it in her bathroom on her boat, and she also has a few on her dock as well. So basically, it can go anywhere. As Mike said, many of our products actually are weatherproof now. So, you can use them for indoor and outdoor use. Put in [...] Editors’ note: This is a transcript from the above audio, which is 26 minutes long. It has been slightly edited so it is more readable. See the giveaway contest and purchase discounts at the end of the transcript! Read on how to see Mr. Beams’ [...] noGreen Talkgreen,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businesshttp://www.green-talk.com/2009/03/26/mr-beams-affordable-led-lights-keep-you-out-of-the-dark/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/6avcLGfOlnE/ http://www.green-talk.com/2009/02/27/fords-green-intiatives-interview-with-fords-plastic-tech-leader/#comments Fri, 27 Feb 2009 05:33:49 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/?p=1738
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2009/02/27/fords-green-intiatives-interview-with-fords-plastic-tech-leader/feed/ 4 <p></p><p><a title="Ford And Lear Will Produce A Soy-Based Foam Seat by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/3307208831/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3466/3307208831_6661c2888a.jpg" alt="Ford And Lear Will Produce A Soy-Based Foam Seat" width="427" height="460" /></a><br /> Ford’s soy based seat.</p> <p>Editor’s note: This interview is the transcript for the above podcast. It has been slightly edited to make it more readable.  The audio is 20 minutes long.  Consider signing up for my podcasts.  (Not to be confused with Odiogo, which is a computer generated audio podcast.)</p> <p>AH: Hi everybody. Welcome to today’s Green Talk Podcast on a snowy January day. It’s frigid cold in New Jersey. My guest today is Deborah Mielewski. She is the Polymer Technical Leader of Research and Advanced Engineering at Ford Motor Company, and she’s here to speak today about Ford Motors Green Initiatives. Welcome Deborah.</p> <p>DM: Thank you very much for talking with us, Anna.</p> <p>AH: Give us a little background. I mean that’s a mouthful, you know the Technical Leader, Polymer Research Advanced Engineering. What does this all mean?</p> <p>DM: I’m not sure I understand my title myself. [Laugh.] I have a Bachelor’s [degree], Master’s and PhD in Chemical Engineering, and I am more of a Research Scientist.  I lead a group of Engineers, who develop new novel plastic materials for cars of the future. So, that’s how I see my job. [It is] much simpler than the title.</p> <p>AH: And how long have you been at Ford?</p> <p>DM: I’ve been at Ford for twenty-two years. I came with my Bachelor’s degree and the Company put me through school for both the Master’s and PhD.</p> <p>AH: Tell us a little bit about what are these green initiatives that Ford’s sponsoring.<span id="more-1738"></span></p> <p>DM: We are working in about every area that we can find sustainable or bio material to take a look at. We have a project in soy foam, which we launched last year on the 2007 Mustang, but basically it’s incorporating functionalized soybean oil into the cushions and seat backs of our vehicles. We are looking at soy meal and soy flour, the other half of soybean, putting that into Composites or plastics to strengthen it, make it stronger or as a filler. We are looking at natural fiber as filler for plastics to replace heavy glass fiber that we traditionally use. Fibers such as hemp, coconut coir, [and] Indian grass that grows on the sides of the roads in United States [and incorporating] any of those into any of the plastic material. We are also looking at long term plastic resins made entirely from vegetable sugar such as corn, sugarcane, and sweet potatoes.</p> <p>AH:  When you mention the natural material, are any of these being used right now?</p> <p>DM: We started the soy foam project in 2001, and we launched it in 2007. So, it’s not a really quick and easy process. We are inventing and formulating brand new materials, and in order to put them in the car, you have to pass rigorous, rigorous testing, at high temperature, low temperature and long, long term durability requirements. So the soy foam, we worked on it here in the lab for a good five years formulating it, and we finally got it onto the vehicles in 2007 in the Mustang, and now we have it in six vehicle programs.</p> <p>AM: And is it something that’s going to be [added] to all of the vehicles down the road?</p> <p>DM: We’ll it certainly has traveled like wildfire. I mean I haven’t seen a material that went from one vehicle in late 2007 to six Ford vehicles. Here we are at the beginning of 2009. So, I’m really proud of the [...] Ford’s soy based seat. Editor’s note: This interview is the transcript for the above podcast. It has been slightly edited to make it more readable.  The audio is 20 minutes long.  Consider signing up for my podcasts.  (Not to be [...] Anna 20 Ford green initiatives, Ford green, automotive and green clean http://www.green-talk.com/2009/02/27/fords-green-intiatives-interview-with-fords-plastic-tech-leader/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/green-talk/KavE/~3/cr8JH88sg5c/ http://www.green-talk.com/2008/03/24/learning-sustainability-through-the-national-building-museums-green-building-exhibit/#comments Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:45:31 +0000 info@green-talk.com (Green Talk) http://www.green-talk.com/2008/03/24/learning-sustainability-through-the-national-building-museums-green-building-exhibit/
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]]> http://www.green-talk.com/2008/03/24/learning-sustainability-through-the-national-building-museums-green-building-exhibit/feed/ 2 <p></p><p><a title="GH_logo_2x2 by green talk, on Flickr" href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8119225@N02/2359841136/"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3046/2359841136_ef7f6f2fc0.jpg" alt="GH_logo_2x2" width="430" height="344" /></a></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><br /> </span><br /> <span style="font-family: Verdana">Recently, I was alerted by the director of NJ’s <a href="http://www.green-talk.com/2007/10/28/njs-community-greens-upcoming-green-kitchen-design-seminar">Community Green</a>, a terrific green organization, about this wonderful green building exhibit at my local museum.<span> </span>I just could not fathom a green building exhibit in my hometown.<span> </span>Sure enough <a href="http://www.morrismuseum.org/">The Morris Museum</a> in Morristown, New Jersey was the host of <a href="http://www.nbm.org/Exhibits/greenHouse2/greenMaterials/materials.html">the National Building Museum’s Green Building exhibit</a> (“NBM”) from February 11 through May 4, 2008. At first, I thought why do I need to go to an exhibit to see green building products?<span> </span>I lived, breathed, and ate green building products for two years when I built my house.<span> </span>I arrogantly thought, what possibly could I learn there that I already did not know?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana">The minute I walked into the room I realized I was in the company of some of the most incredible architectural displays of contemporary green buildings.<span> </span>My arrogance turned to humility then to awe as I perused the 21 different contemporary residential and mix use exhibits that contained scaled models of the buildings and large boards of their notable features.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana">  Some of my favorites were as follows:</span><span id="more-186"></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><a href="http://www.mcdonoughpartners.com/projects/greenbridge/default.asp?projID=greenbridge">Greenbridge</a>, a multi-use development by <a href="http://www.mcdonoughpartners.com/">McDonough and Partners</a> between Carrboro and Chapel Hill, North Carolina, which will consume 35% less energy than a similar designed building according to the National Energy Code.<span> </span>When it is built, it will be LEED gold certified, and feature cradle to cradle design.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><a href="http://www.aiany.org/NHNY/Legacy_About.html">Verde Via</a> in the Bronx, NY, is an affordable and sustainable planned housing development, which will be built on a Brownfield. Anticipated Completion is 2011. It will contain a dynamic garden, and the project is anticipated to be LEED gold certified.</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: Verdana"><a href="http://www.hel.fi/static/ksv/julkaisut/eco-viikki_en.pdf">Vikki</a> located in Finland is being designed to generate solar and wind energy as well as direct rainwater to communal gardens to preserve the [...]   Recently, I was alerted by the director of NJ’s Community Green, a terrific green organization, about this wonderful green building exhibit at my local museum. I just could not fathom a green building exhibit in my hometown. Sure [...] noGreen Talkgreen,eco,friendly,environment,nontoxic,green,building,green,living,organic,gardening,recycling,sustainable,businesshttp://www.green-talk.com/2008/03/24/learning-sustainability-through-the-national-building-museums-green-building-exhibit/ Copyright 2009 Green Talk LLCGreen TalknonadultTurning the Planet Green, One Conversation at a Time