http://www.neutralexistence.com/index.php/begreen/ en bjmcconnell@alltel.net Copyright 2008 2008-05-01T15:21:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-goes-on-vacation/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-goes-on-vacation/#When:14:21:00Z What does vacationing mean for those out there with a green conscience? Unfortunately for travel lovers, the ultimate in green vacations may simply be to stay home this year.  Little to no travel is the ultimate in carbon natural. But, if wanderlust has the best of you and your family, there are more and more ways every day to lessen your impact along the road. The most obvious and talked about of course is the carbon offset, where travelers pay a certain amount to an organization that “offsets” the carbon emissions generated from vacation/business travel by investing it in green ventures, like wind farms, tree planting etc.  (See other posts on Neutral Existence on offsetting travel.) Should you choose to offset, do your homework. There has been some controversy over the true ecological value of some of the projects benefiting from offset credits, and in some corners fraud has been reported.  Don’t let you good intentions get high-jacked by someone who sees only a different sort of green. That said, here are some other ideas and options to get you started planning a more neutral vacation. Creature comforts Travelers used to a certain level of luxury can breathe easy – many major hotel chains have made major commitments to greening their operations and properties, including Hilton and Marriott.  Even discount chains like Best Western, Comfort Inn, Days Inn, Holiday Inn and Travelodge have been busy greening their hotels.  Check out www.environmentallyfriendlyhotels.com to find a green hotel in almost any major city or resort around the world.  The site offers detailed information on how it ranks hotels, and what environmental programs they have in place.  For instance, Alexander’s Inn in Santa Fe, New Mexico uses non-toxic fertilizers in its landscaping, and powers its property with wind.  Disney’s Boardwalk Resort in Orlando has implemented a procurement system that requires amenities, fixtures, supplies, etc, are environmentally friendly. The Rain Forest Inn in Puerto Rico was built with recycled timbers. Love the great outdoors?  Enjoy Devil’s Thumb Ranch in Colorado – 5,000 acres of Wild West living to explore and appreciate.  Open all year, Devil’s Thumb uses geothermal heat to power its buildings and cabins from the inner power of the earth.  For an economically and environmentally friendly option, consider checking in with your state’s parks department.  Many offer low-cost, bring-your-own-amenities cabins in maintained park areas, where you can learn more about regional wildlife, flora and fauna.  Think of it as the vacation equivalent of buying locally grown foods. Want to explore American History? Hotels, inns and bed and breakfasts listed on the National Register of Historic Places are a great way to green up your vacation – after all, many of these exquisite properties were saved from the wrecking ball by someone or some group with the ultimate sense of “reuse and recycle.” Consider the Montclair Bed and Breakfast in Virginia, which engages in programs to save energy, reduce waste, and conserve water, or the Lenox Hotel in Boston’s Back Bay, one of the first offset 100 percent of its electricity use. There’s even hope in Sin City. The MGM Mirage’s City Center in Las Vegas, is said to be one of if not the biggest green building project in the country right now.  It will recycle more than 80 percent of its construction waste, and – in a city not always known for easy walking to other attractions – is building a walkway to the neighboring Bellagio. Waste and energy management on the road Toiletries have become a travel nightmare, considering flight regulations and the like.  If you’re traveling for pleasure, cut down on waste by packing full-size health and beauty products in your checked luggage, instead of using hotel-supplied items.  Make sure to pack them well to prevent leakage.  If you’re embarking on a road trip, taking your own shampoos, conditioners and soaps is a must. Avoid the in-room coffee maker – it’s actually more eco-friendly to grab some joe at a café or coffee shop. (Extra points – get the Fair Trade blend…) Buying coffee cuts back on electricity use in your room, and reduces the waste from all the individually wrapped and sealed coffee, filters and utensils. Most hotels and lodges now have in-house recycling bins, and some are now offering special in-room recycling bins.  Use which ever is available to recycle plastic beverage bottles and other items you’d recycle at home.  If you can’t find a good method, keep a bag in your vehicle (if you’re driving) and add items you can recycle upon your return home. Some hotels are investing in major energy saving devices – some you won’t even have to think about.  The Westin Convention Center in Pittsburgh has installed a lighting system that turns the lights off for you after your leave the room. It reads your key card to know when you’re not in the room, and automatically turns some lighting on for you when you return.  Carry a small night light in your luggage if you need some level of in room lighting during the night. It should go without saying, but it seems that even in this day and age, we need to hear it. DON’T LITTER.  Make sure to place all trash in provided receptacles as you sightsee and visit.  If none is provided, hang onto garbage until you can find one.  Put recyclables in the proper place as well.  Nothing ruins scenery and mars the environment like litter – ask any of the gazillion maintenance workers at Walt Disney World.  People today have a strange tendency to equate “big/corporate” with un-environmental, but one of the most consistent compliments about the House of Mouse over its decades of regaling visitors is that it’s virtually litter-free. Also, teach children to put trash in its place, and make sure nothing is ever tossed from your car windows. Think Finally, as with anything environmental, use your head.  If you’re considering eco-travel, be sure to think about your trip as thoroughly as possible.  Regardless of lodging, waste management and those types of amenities; is it really necessary for you to visit elephants and wildebeests in their natural habitat?  Or is that kind of travel really more invasive than necessary for animals that are already severely threatened by human existence?  Research the outfit offering your trip as closely as possible.  Look at practices related to transportation, energy use, and fair trade with locals.  Often, vacation packages labeled eco-something, sadly, are nothing of the kind. If you decide to trim your carbon contributions by kicking back at home, look for ways to enjoy it and foster a love of nature among your children.  Take nature walks.  Visit local and regional environmental centers to learn about wildlife.  Get a butterfly net and play catch and release with some of summers most beautiful visitors.  Plant a native flower garden, nurture it and watch it grow.  Fish. Bird watch. Grow your own vegetables and try out new recipes to show them off. Green Your Travel 2008-05-01T14:21:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/some-easy-and-cheap-ways-to-green-your-home-this-spring-and-summer/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/some-easy-and-cheap-ways-to-green-your-home-this-spring-and-summer/#When:03:33:00Z Greener living. In times like these, no matter how much we think we care about the Earth, our eco-consciousness can be trumped by our wallet-consciousness.  But greening your life and home doesn’t require you to shun electricity or buy expensive green products to make a difference.  In fact, with some common sense, you can live greener this summer, easily recoup your eco-investments, and save money. Try these easy and cheap tips: Replace high-wattage light bulbs – Compact fluorescent light bulbs will soon be more than a fad – come 2012, they’ll be the law.  For those who aren’t ready to switch over completely to these more efficient bulbs just yet, have no fear.  You can still be more environmentally friendly and save money on your energy bill with incandescent. Just lower the wattage.  Take a stroll around your house look at the bulbs you have and consider what you use them for.  Replace any 100 watt bulbs with a lower wattage – and lower wattages for lamps and task lighting.  Consider doing away with the frivolous “uplight,” sweetheart of interior designers everywhere, and other needless mood lighting, like those positioned above art to showoff your good taste. And of course, remember to shut lights off when you leave a room – even a compact fluorescent left on wastes energy. Change furnace/air conditioning screens – According to the U.S. Department of Energy, heating and cooling account for 56 percent of energy use in a typical home.  Make sure your system is working at top performance by replacing filters either monthly or as needed.  Factor in your home environment – filters may need more frequent changes in industrial areas, construction zones, etc. Clean screens also cut down on household allergens. Think about a reusable “electronic” filter (between $50-$1,000), which uses static electricity to gather more contaminants, instead of a disposable fiberglass one.  Clean it as often as you would replace a traditional filter. Get some house plants – In many cases, the air we breathe in our homes is often more toxic than the air we breathe outdoors.  Clean up your indoor air by bringing the outside in.  Some research shows houseplants like peace lilies, spider and rubber plants, can filter indoor air and remove toxins, including formaldehyde (found in carpeting), benzene, acetone, and ammonia.  Different plants offer different levels of cleaning for different contaminants. Check out How to Grow Fresh Air: 50 House Plants that Clean Your Home or Office by B.C. Wolverton for details. They’ll look nicer in your home than one of those strange looking air cleaners, and may save you on healthcare costs related to asthma, allergies and other respiratory ailments. Warm your house with daylight, cool it with moonlight – Saving energy can be all about window treatments. Savvy design can keep your home warm in winter and cool in summer if you know the right time to open and close your drapes and blinds.  For natural heat, open your drapes and blinds wide during the day, and as the sun goes down, close them back up to hold in the heat.  Cool things down in the summer by lowering drapes, blinds and the like during the day.  Consider outfitting all windows with blinds, shades or lined draperies or curtains if you haven’t already.  Or think about a new product. Window energy films, which hold out heat while allowing natural light in, claim to offer a 12-18 percent energy savings. Plant trees in your yard – When the right type of trees are planted in the right places, great things happen.  Planting deciduous trees on the west, southwest, east or southeast of your home provides cooling in the summer (reducing your need to turn the air conditioning down), and in the winter, after the leaves have fallen, allow sunlight to warm your dwelling (reducing your need to turn the heat up). And of course, trees absorb carbon dioxide, dull noise, provide privacy and decrease water runoff. Use appliances the way they were meant to be used – Most of our household appliances were invented to make our lives more convenient.  Today’s models do that and then some when used properly.  Dishwashers now clean dishes with less water than we use in the sink and do a better job than we can by hand.  Don’t rinse dishes before loading – scrape them if you must, but don’t use water.  Always run your machine with a full load of dirty dishes, and if you can, use the air dry setting. Always wash full loads in your clothes washing machine as well.  Washing machines use great amounts of energy to heat water – try switching to a cold water wash if the quality of your water allows.  If you need a new machine, buy a front loading model.  They use less energy than top loaders.  Always use the moisture sensors on newer dryers to avoid over drying fabrics, and always empty the lint trap before running another load. Get a clothesline – Go old school with your laundry this spring and summer to save energy and money.  In some homes, dryers are actually the biggest single energy eater, beating out refrigerators and televisions. In fact, it can take twice as much energy to dry a t-shirt in an electric dryer than to wash it in a washing machine. Buy a clothesline, a few poles, and hang laundry out to dry, weather permitting of course.  Added bonus – a sweet, fresh smell to all of your clothes, without a chemically treated dryer sheet.  Compost – One man’s garbage is another man’s treasure.  Or in this case, another plant’s treasure.  Reduce the amount of waste you send to landfills by composting food scraps and organic waste, and then using it to invigorate your landscape or garden. Add grass clippings, wood ash and other yard waste as well. Small countertop compost keepers with carbon filters to reduce odor are available for about $25 dollars.  Larger bins and containers are available for containing compost outdoors until it’s ready to use.  Save money on gardening products and hauling expenses. Check out http://www.compostguide.com for how to info. Kick back and relax – Hot, sunny summer days can bring dangerous levels of ground-level ozone, which exacerbates respiratory ailments and lung conditions, and is unhealthy for everyone from small children and seniors to healthy adults working or exercising outdoors.  It may be the best possible excuse ever to sit back and relax with a lemonade, delay lawn and garden chores, and postpone errands on a lazy summer day.  Collect rainwater – Even though the majority of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, little of it is fresh, making it a finite and precious resource.  Climate change may potentially bring many changes to the planet – including more frequent drought conditions and increased demand for fresh water. For the cost of a collection container –around $70 – and a diversion of your downspout, you can collect rainwater for non-potable needs like gardening and landscaping.  If you live in an urban area, you’ll save on your water bill.  If you are in a rural area, you’ll save on electricity costs related to your well pump.  And of course you’ll conserve water.  Warmer seasons are also a great time to start easing yourself into shorter and cooler showers. When it comes to greener living, using your noggin can result in significant gains not only for the environment, but for your pocketbook.  Look for new ways to cut back – from unplugging non-essential electrics to getting your kids outdoors and away from that Wii™ – and share them with the community at my.neutralexistence.com. Looking for more ideas?  Check out these links: http://www.energystar.gov/index.cfm?c=products.es_at_home_tips Energy Star @ Home Tips http://www1.eere.energy.gov/consumer/tips/ Tips from the Department of Energy http://www.epa.gov/compost/ Compost Information from the Environmental Protection Agency http://www.smartenergyliving.org/cm/Home.html Smart Energy Living, from the Colorado Energy Science Center http://www.buyenergyefficient.org/ from the Consumer Federation of America http://www.ase.org/ the Alliance to Save Energy Green Your Home 2008-04-07T03:33:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/geothermal-exchange-ground-source-heating-and-cooling/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/geothermal-exchange-ground-source-heating-and-cooling/#When:04:55:00Z Geothermal ground-source heating and cooling, technically known as geothermal exchange, is the process of harnessing the earth’s constant underground temperature to heat and cool a structure. The term geothermal exchange really describes the process of exchanging heat energy with the earth. Throughout the world, while above ground air temperatures vary drastically between sub-zero and over 100°F, the earth’s temperature 6 feet below grade remains relatively constant and only varies between 50°F and 70°F. This is due to the fact that the earth is a thermal mass and has thermal inertia otherwise known as Volumetric heat capacity. This thermal inertia provides a constant source of energy which can be used effectively to heat and cool a building or residence. All geothermal exchange systems use devices called heat pumps. Heat pumps are extremely efficient at heating and cooling due to the fact that they move heat as opposed to generating heat. A typical HVAC system will use gas or electricity to generate heat in the winter and remove heat and moisture in the summer. This type of setup will never exceed 100% efficiency because you only get out what you put in. On the other hand, a heat pump, because it simply moves heat can effectively provide 4 times the heating and cooling with the same unit of energy used in a typical HVAC system. That means that in certain conditions, heat pumps can see efficiencies in excess of 400%. The only drawback to typical air exchange heat pumps is that when interior and exterior temperature differentials exceed 30°F, they have a hard time keeping up. For instance, when the outside air temperature is below 0°F, it is nearly impossible for a heat pump to move heat from that condition into the home, and it is for this reason that typical air exchange heat pumps come fitted with supplemental heaters for cold winter days. This drawback can be solved by using a geothermal exchange setup as opposed to an air exchange setup. As stated above, the sub surface temperatures of the earth stay relatively constant throughout the year, so these ground source heat pumps never see 30°F temperature differentials. Geothermal exchange systems come in many different types, sizes and configurations, but all of them have have two main components, the heat pump and the ground loop. There are basically two types of geothermal exchange ground loop systems, an open loop system and a closed loop system. Open Loop Geothermal Exchange System: An open loop system is quite uncommon due to the fact that it relies on a nearby body of water( stream, pond, lake or underground well). In an open loop system, the water from the body of water flows (underground) to the heat exchanger in the heat pump and then back out again. This type of system is slightly more efficient than a closed loop system because the source water comes into direct contact with the heat exchanger. In a closed loop system, the water or antifreeze circulating in the plastic pipe is isolated from the ground temperature, so the heat exchange is slightly less than in an open loop system. Closed Loop Geothermal Exchange Systems: Closed loop geothermal exchange systems, unlike open loop systems, use an environmentally friendly antifreeze liquid to exchange the heat between the earth and the heat exchanger in the heat pump. A closed loop system is the most common type of geothermal exchange system simply because it does not require a nearby body of water to pull from. Closed loop systems come in a variety of different configurations all of which have their own benefits and detriments. Vertical Loops: Vertical loop configurations are the most expensive of all of the closed loop configurations due to the fact that large well holes must be drilled down to a suitable depth, piped and then filled with a thermal grouting compound. These types of closed loop systems are ideal for areas where yard space is limited and the required area needed to cool the structure with a horizontal closed loop system is exceeds what is available. Also, in situations where the earth is rocky close to the surface or when the geothermal exchange system is retrofitted to an existing structure and limited land disturbance is required, the vertical loop configuration is perfect. The number of vertical drill wells is directly related to the depth of the wells, in other words, less holes for deeper wells. The depths of the drilled holes will generally vary between 150 to 450 feet where they will ultimately depend on the needs of the structure as well as the cost. Horizontal Loops: Horizontal closed loop configurations are the most popular and most cost effective of all geothermal exchange systems. Horizontal loops require the use of a trencher or a backhoe to dig to a depth of at least 8 feet. Individuals who are able and willing to do some of this work themselves can see a drastic reduction in the total cost of their geothermal exchange system. As a rule of thumb, a typical horizontal loop system will require 400 to 600 linear feet per ton of cooling capacity. Another type of horizontal configuration is the slinky loop. While a slinky loop will require less land area, it will generally require more pipe than a typical parallel type horizontal loop configuration. As with a parallel loop, the earth is excavated to a depth of approximately 8 feet and the pipe is coiled like a flattened slinky and then buried. Pond Loops: In specific situations, where an open loop system cannot be applied to a nearby body of water, a closed loop system may be the best choice. Just like the other closed loop systems, an environmentally friendly antifreeze is circulated through the closed polyethylene piping except the exchanging medium is water instead of the earth. Bodies of water, like earth are thermal masses and hold the same thermal inertia as the earth does, so at the same depth, the body of water will provide very similar constant temperatures as the earth. Pond loop configurations are generally slinky like in nature and extend a minimum of 6 to 8 feet below the the lowest water level to assure proper heat exchange. Heat Exchanger Variations: There are two basic ways of exchanging the heat from the earth to the heat exchanger inside the heat pump, using a fluid to water heat exchanger or a fluid to air heat exchanger. In both cases, the fluid refers to the water or antifreeze in the ground loop and the water or air refers to the medium used within the structure as the delivery method. In a fluid to water heat exchanger, the water in the structure is typically used for radiant heating and cooling where the floor and/or walls act as thermal masses with the water lines embedded inside. In a fluid to air heat exchanger, the air within the structure is typically ducted, using conventional ducting methods to the spaces throughout the structure. The delivery method really comes down to the preference of the end user, however, fluid to air exchangers will typically cost less due to the fact that ducting is less labor intensive than laying radiant flooring. Another heat exchanger variation is the use of supplemental heat to generate your domestic hot water. In the summer, when the heat pump is moving heat from within your home, that excess heat can be used to generate your domestic hot water for free. During the winter when the heat pump is moving heat from outside to inside, the extra heat generated from the actual heat pump motor can be recovered and used to generate your domestic hot water very efficiently, but not free. Geothermal exchange systems are extremely efficient, cost effective heating and cooling systems and can be used in almost any environment. These ground source systems can reduce energy cost by up to 60% when compared to typical HVAC system of equal tonnage. Although most geothermal exchange systems will cost more up front, if those cost are added to the mortgage, the monthly energy savings will generally offset the added mortgage cost each month. Not only can these geothermal exchange systems save money, but because of their efficient nature, they will help the environment by reducing your energy consumption. Green Your Buildings, Energy and Atmosphere 2008-03-08T04:55:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-building-introduction/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-building-introduction/#When:23:02:00Z Green building encompasses a very large field of expertise, all of which focus on increasing efficiency and establishing to some degree, some form of sustainability. Green builders accomplish this by using a variety of techniques ranging from natural building techniques, rainwater harvesting, energy harvesting, better siting and placement, more efficient design and construction methods, and better materials. Green building which is thought to be synonymous with sustainable design and environmental building, will generally produce similar benefits such as reduced environmental impacts, lower electricity and water usage, less operating cost and also improved indoor air quality causing better occupant health and well being. Unlike natural building, green building is heavily focused on creating aesthetic harmony with the surrounding environment, while remaining a positive ecological presence. Because of this, most green buildings and homes are often indistinguishable from other non-sustainable inefficient buildings and homes. Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green building is governed by standards, such as the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) standards developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED certifications is essentially a standard point system on which homes and buildings are graded and given a rankings. These rankings reflect the degree of “greeness” of each structure, and ca be used to receive federal tax credits and other state funded benefits and incentives. The ranking of LEED certified structures is directly related to the degree of energy efficiency of the structure, which will generally result in below average energy cost for the structure. Natural Building vs. Green Building Natural building, although different from green building shares similar goals and ideas. Natural building focuses on using natural local materials and construction types to minimize the environmental impact. In general, natural building is more suited for homes than for buildings, as many of the techniques and materials are not suitable for multi story structures nor will they meet local and international building codes. the commonalities between natural building and green building is that both place a very high value on using local materials and efficient construction techniques, although green buildings tends to be much more refined and “systems” oriented. Green building design encompasses the following areas: 1: SUSTAINABLE SITES a. Site Location and Linkages * Site selection * Site usage and disturbance * Flood zones * Urban/rural * Utility capability * Site infill’s * Shared boundaries b. Site orientation, shading & Landscaping * Existing vegetation * Recycled site material * Natural/existing shading * Shading of hardscapes(pavement) * Maximize green spaces * Drainage * Irrigation techniques * Plant selection * Drought resistant plants * Grass/plant ratio - little grass * Deciduous trees 2: WATER EFFICIENCY * Water Reuse ----Cisterns ----Recycled water - washing machine ----Roof runoff collection * Irrigation System ----Recycled gray water * Indoor Water Use ----Wells and pump stations --- Efficient faucets, shower heads, toilets ----Dry systems/low flush 3: ENERGY & ATMOSPHERE * Energy star products * Insulation * Air Infiltration * Windows ----window orientation ----window types * Heating and cooling distribution ----Thermal cooling/heating ----Natural heating - trombe wall ----Natural cooling - tall windows ----Volume - high ceilings * Space heating and cooling ----Geothermal products ----Heat exchangers ----HVAC systems * Water heating ----passive ----tankless * Lighting ---- Low volt lightings ----Natural lighting ----Solar exterior lighting * Alternative energy ----Solar arrays ----wind turbines 4: MATERIALS & RESOURCES * Construction Types * Material usage/selection * Recycled material * Area ratio * Windows/doors * High Radiant barrier * Reflective roofing - metal * Durability * Labor friendly * Local materials * Roof top gardens 5: INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY * Air Filtration * Moisture control * Combustion Venting 6: INNOVATION & DESIGN PROCESS Green Your Buildings 2008-01-01T23:02:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/tree-planting-carbon-offsets/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/tree-planting-carbon-offsets/#When:22:50:00Z Tree planting offsets are one of the most controversial types of carbon offsets, and for good reason. Tree planting offsets include planting new forest and re-planting forest. Although these types of offsets sound good, they are vulnerable to allot of criticism. The overall principle of tree planting offsets hinge on the idea that trees sequester carbon through photosynthesis, where they intake carbon dioxide and water and turn them into oxygen. Unfortunately the supporters of tree planting offsets fail to mention that when a tree dies or if the forest is cleared in the future, all of that stored carbon would be returned to the atmosphere. This actually makes tree planting offsets more of a carbon storage plan or carbon postponing plan as opposed to an actual carbon sequestration offset. As long as the forest stay alive then it would effectively be making the buyer of the offset,carbon neutral. This can be good as it postpones the effects long enough for our ingenuity to kick in and actually start making some changes in the way we generate and harness energy. Unfortunately according to the IPCC the estimated potential of bio-mitigation options can only offset approximately 10% to 20% of the projected fossil fuel emissions by 2050. Another interesting fact about tree planting offsets, is that the planting of new forests may initially release some of the terrain’s existing carbon stores into the atmosphere. Specifically, the conversion of peat bogs into oil palm plantations has allegedly made Indonesia the world’s third largest producer of greenhouse gases. You will not see this type of information on any tree planting carbon offset company website as most tree planting offset strategies to date have taken only the first effect into account. Trees which are planted outside of tropical zones grow three times slower than those planted in tropic zones. Also, because the trees grow so fast in tropical zones, they release more water vapor into the air causing more clouds thereby creating a measurable net cooling effect. unfortunately, trees planted in temperate zones have little or no net global cooling and very little carbon sequestration. This means that any tree planting offset programs which plant trees outside of tropical zones are not very effective in global cooling or carbon sequestration. According to Ken Caldeira, a study co-author from the Carnegie Institution, “To plant forests outside of the tropics to mitigate climate change is a waste of time. It is only by transforming our energy system and preserving natural habitat, such as forests, that we can maintain a healthy environment. To prevent climate change, we must focus on effective strategies and not just ‘feel-good’ strategies.” It is with all of this information that Neutral Existence can NOT recommend any type of tree planting carbon offsets. Instead, we do recommend and buy renewable energy carbon offsets, as they have a much more value and very little, if any, negatives. Green Your Travel 2008-01-01T22:50:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-your-travel-with-carbon-offsets/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-your-travel-with-carbon-offsets/#When:03:43:00Z Traveling, weather by plane, train or automobile is a very carbon and pollution intensive activity. While many hardcore environmentalist will say not to travel except by train, sometimes that is just not an option. When not traveling is not an option, it’s best to offset your traveling emissions with some sort of carbon offset. Carbon offsets can best be described as an environmental credit which someone can buy to “offset” their own greenhouse gas emissions, when one is unable to or unwilling to reduce their own emissions. The best known examples of carbon offsets are tree planting and clean energy offsets, which compensate for car and air travel emissions. A wide variety of offset methods are in use, however tree planting has been the mainstay of this industry. While tree planting has been the most popular and most used offset, it has also come under the most scrutiny. Here at Neutral Existence, we do not believe that tree planting carbon offsets are a valid form of offsetting carbon emissions simply because trees are carbon neutral not carbon negative. We discuss this in much more detail in the following article: Tree Planting Carbon Offsets The social push to become carbon neutral has drastically increased the popularity of these voluntary offset programs. Carbon offsets are cheaper and easier alternatives to reducing one’s own carbon emissions, which has created a bit of tension in the environmental community. Many environmentalist object to the entire principle of carbon offsetting, while others only object to particular types of offsets and certain individual projects. We at Neutral Existence do NOT believe that carbon offsets are the answer to our problems. Offsets should not be used to buy off ones responsibility as a citizen of this earth and to continue to live an inefficient lifestyle. We believe that carbon offsets should only be used to offset any remaining emissions after trying your best to reduce your own emissions. In other words, offsets should only be used to offset things out of your control. For instance, if you have to go on business trips and you must fly, then sure buying an offset in this circumstance is recommended and not frowned upon. However, buying offsets so one can continue to live the way they were living before is basically a cop-out, as no attempt has been made to reduce ones own carbon emissions. When choosing a carbon offset company, it is very important that you choose a reputable company. Unfortunately, many new “scam” companies are popping up every day ready to take you money but not follow through with the promised use. Find companies with transparency, companies that openly show and list their many different carbon sequestration projects. This way you will know exactly where your money is going and trust that it will actually be making a difference. As a service, we at Neutral Existence will research new offsetting companies and keep an up-to-date list of “legitimate” carbon offset companies. Our criteria for inclusion will be primarily based on the types of projects that these companies finance. We do not believe that tree planting offsets bring much value, therefore we will not include any tree planting offsets in the list below. Legitimate carbon Offset Companies: 1: Terra Pass - number one on our list simply because they are involved in very diverse and helpful projects, most of which deal with clean energy, biomass and industrial efficiency. 2: Easy Being Green - Easy Being Green is an Australian company that has a little different approach. They actually do home and commercial building abatements, in which they reduce the effects that homes and buildings have on the environment. Green Your Travel 2008-01-01T03:43:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/supplemental-hydrogen-fuel-add-on/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/supplemental-hydrogen-fuel-add-on/#When:18:14:00Z Hydrogen seems to be the most promising fuel of the future. It has the highest energy to weight ratio and its byproduct is distilled water. Hydrogen is non-toxic, renewable and cheap, and it only produces tiny amounts pollution when burned. The best part is that about 1600 quarts of Hydrogen and oxygen can be extracted from just one quart of water. Oxy-Hydrogen is a mixture of oxygen and hydrogen that is produced after hydrogen is extracted from distilled water through electrolysis, and this oxy-hydrogen can be funneled into an engine and burned effectively. Unlike pure hydrogen, supplemental oxy-hydrogen can be added to any car without having to make any modifications to the engine, fuel injectors or anything else. The benefits of using supplemental oxy-hydrogen greatly outweigh the price of these systems. Oxy-Hydrogen burns easily, fast and more powerfully than typical gasoline or diesel and the oxygen increases the octane value of the existing fuel. This means that by using supplemental oxy-hydrogen, you can experience higher horsepower, lower gas mileage and lower toxic emissions. Not only that, but the hydrogen will actually help to clean carbon build-up in your engine, allowing your car to run smoother and more efficiently. An Oxy-Hydrogen add-on works by using the vehicles alternator to send an electric charge through a liquid electrolyte comprised of water and Lye which causes the hydrogen molecules to separate from the oxygen molecules in the water. It then captures the hydrogen and channels it into the engine via the air intake system. These system that we recommend, will only draw about 4 - 10 Amps (no strain on the alternator), compared to 30 Amps on all other units on the market. ::-----------------------------------------------------------------:: If you would like to learn more about the our Oxy-hydrogen generator check out our eco store: Hydrogen MPG Booster Green Your Car 2007-12-24T18:14:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/gas-saving-fuel-catalysts/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/gas-saving-fuel-catalysts/#When:18:08:00Z There are many different things you can do to help eliminate pollution and fight the recent gas prices, and using a fuel catalyst is one of them. If your like most people and you simply can’t afford to buy a brand new hybrid vehicle that doesn’t me you cant improve your gas mileage and help save the environment. The problem with gasoline cars is that the combustion engine does not burn the fuel completely and this causes allot of different problems. After incomplete combustion, you are left with Carbon Monoxide, Nitrogen Oxide and Carbon Dioxide all of which cause harmful affects on our environment. So, by increasing your gas mileage, you are reducing the amount of these pollutant from entering the atmosphere. The way Fuel catalyst work, is they actually transform the fuel into a much cleaner version of the original, which makes for a better and more complete combustion. They use metallic elements which create chemical reactions between the metals and the fuel, reversing any deterioration that had been previously introduced to the vehicle. This cleansing chemical reaction increases engine power while reducing the pollutants released into the atmosphere. Unfortunately there are quite a few “snake oil” type fuel catalyst products out there like this, which promise results, but never deliver. There is only one product which has actually undergone hundreds of independent “official” scientific testing and have passed all of them with flying colors, and that is the Fitch Fuel Catalyst. Having researched many of these other “so called” fuel saver products, We noticed that all of them seem to have proof in the form of test results that show how great their products are. Unfortunately the only “proof” we have seen are test results from internal testing done by the company themselves, which of course is a biased un-scientific way of testing. Until a company actually undergoes independent scientific tests done outside of the company, it is impossible to take them seriously. It is this reason that as of today, the only fuel catalyst product that we can recommend is the Fitch Fuel Catalyst. ::---------------------------------------------------------------------:: If you would like more information about purchasing a Fitch Fuel Catalyst please follow this link: www.Krystal-Planet.com Green Your Car 2007-12-24T18:08:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/fuel-efficient-driving-habits/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/fuel-efficient-driving-habits/#When:18:03:00Z Of all the things you can do to help stop pollution and global warming, changing your driving habits is one of the easiest and least expensive of them all. As with a home, it all starts with efficiency, and efficiency in a car means that we must be more efficient with our miles traveled and our time spent in the car. Reduce Mileage: The main way to reduce pollution is to reducing the number of vehicle miles traveled by carpooling, planning and grouping trips together, or using public transportation. If our nationwide public transportation usage would increase by just 10%, we would save over 135 million gallons of gasoline each year. That’s about 1.3 million tons of Carbon Dioxide kept from entering our atmosphere. Slow Down & Don’t Idle: Another commonly overlooked way of driving more efficiently is to stay at moderate, steady speeds and reduce the time your car spends idling. When you travel at higher speeds, or accelerate too fast, you will burn much more gas, thus causing more emissions to be released into our atmosphere. Also, by idling for over 1 minute, you are burning more gas than it takes to restart your car. With that being said, you should avoid keeping your car on in the drive-through or when waiting in your car. Maintenance Is Key: Keeping vehicles properly maintained and in great running condition is another huge factor in emission reduction. Poorly maintained or malfunctioning vehicles can release as much as 10 times the emissions of a well-maintained one. Regular maintenance such as oil changes, air filter changes and even inflating the tires will keep your vehicle as efficient as possible. Use Clean Fuels: Using clean fuels whenever possible is also a great way to reduce your emissions. Clean fuels include, alternative fuels such as biodiesel, ethanol, natural gas and even reformulated and oxygenated gasoline. These reformatted and oxygenated gasoline’s can reduce toxic emissions by over 15%. Some places will not have these gasoline’s available to them, however there are many places where these gasoline’s are federally mandated and are usually sold during the colder months. Buy Fuel Efficient Vehicles: Of course the best think you can do to help curb pollution aside from not driving at all, is to buy a vehicle with good fuel economy. These generally include smaller cars, diesel trucks, hybrid vehicles and alternatively fueled vehicles. When buying a car, the following link is a great resource to compare and contrast different vehicles: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/findacar.htm Green Your Car 2007-12-24T18:03:00-06:00 http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-your-car-automobile-emissions-and-pollution/ http://www.neutralexistence.com/site/green-your-car-automobile-emissions-and-pollution/#When:17:53:00Z Contrary to popular belief automobile emissions are not the largest contributor to global warming and climate change. However, the pollution and emissions from automobiles do make up about 1/3 of all emissions and are in fact the largest polluter in most large metropolitan cities. For the average person, driving their car is the most polluting and damaging activity that they do. Cars emit a variety of different pollutants which have been know to cause cancer, acid rain, global warming and smog. Even though car companies have been forced to clean up the emissions, more people are driver longer distances making this effort have less of an impact. Automobiles release pollution through evaporation and exhaust. --Evaporation comes in a few different forms: Tank evaporation: liquid gasoline in a car’s gas tank is continually evaporating. Vaporization: when a car is on and the engine is hot, it vaporizes the gas. Vapor exchange: when refueling a car, the new fuel forces out the existing gas fumes. --Exhaust from the internal combustion engine: This is a result of the fuel not being burned completely. When hydrocarbon fuels are not completely burned, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, unburned hydrocarbons and carbon dioxide are the result. Hydrocarbon emissions is basically the unburned fuel molecules that get released into the air and evaporate, causing smog (ground-level ozone). Nitrogen Oxide emissions area result of leftover oxygen under pressure than combines with nitrogen and creates NOx which is a major contributor for acid rain. Carbon Monoxide emission is another pollutant from incomplete combustion where the carbon in the fuel is only partially oxidized creating CO which is responsible for many different health issues. Finally there is Carbon Dioxide, otherwise known as “greenhouse gas”, although this emission is not poisonous, it is still a major problem. Carbon Dioxide has been building up in the earth’s atmosphere causing a layer of gas to form, that keeps more of the suns rays from escaping, thereby causing global warming. Any Solution? Fortunately, there are plenty of things you can do to help stop these pollutants from poisoning us and causing global warming. From having more efficient driving habits and using fuel catalyst and hydrogen add-ons, to buying hybrid, flex fuel and alternative energy vehicles, we can make a huge difference in our current emission.  Green Your Car 2007-12-24T17:53:00-06:00