Living Green.

[biodieselman]

Originally Posted by lipmixgirl

... - my city RECYCLES! NYC offers a comprehensive recycling program for paper,
metal, plastic, and glass - along with electronics recycling

- my city plans to ban the use of plastic bags in stores. it encourages people to use cloth bags for shopping
...

Good for you! I love it when people don't use the planet for a...

Not that many seem to know about E-waste. How does NY handle E-waste pickup? In LA, they have rotating Hazardous Waste Roundups in different areas around the city. One can usually find a Roundup near the home once or twice per year. Ris & I have a section in the garage to store old paints, household chemicals, etc. We have a box for old electronics & another smaller box for batteries.

I don't throw old circuit boards from work into customer's trash either. I bring replaced parts home & remove the circuit boards for proper disposal. Nearly all of the commercial a/c part stores take old mercury thermostats, which have been outlawed in LA. The free Roundups are only for homeowners. They see the biodiesel bumper stickers on my truck & ask if I'm a business. I also recycle copper, aluminum, brass & steel. I got $240 a couple weeks ago for salvage. It pays to be green.

Originally Posted by David Bowie

oh so what kinds of plants do you grow...

I cleaned up my Photobucket account & must have deleted the seed catalog photo. We have several varieties of fruit trees, blackberries (ollalie), a vegetable garden & flowers.

The birds got my first planting of broccoli last fall. The second planting has just finished producing & the last of the winter garden broccoli isn't quite ready yet. In the photo you can see broccoli in the front, mustard greens in the middle & bok choy in the rear of this bed. There is another whole bed of broccoli that's a little bit bigger. In the bottom photo you will see fistfuls of broccoli from the second fall planting.



Just last week we started picking Sugar Snap peas, with lots & lots of peas soon to enjoy. Yum... fresh picked peas!



Last Sunday, Ris made stir-fry using garden peas, bok choy & broccoli raab. Damn, that woman is a good cook!


We also grew something called broccoli raab; leaves, stalks and florets are edible.


Ris has sprouted seeds of several tomatoes for me & flowers for fresh bouquets in the house to plant this spring. I'm pouring worm tea from our worm ranch into the flats for gentle fertilizer.

[stan_der_man]

You guys always have incredible fresh veggies!

We are one step closer to getting a diesel truck... We went to Riverside yesterday and looked at a '97 Ford F-350 (7.3L of course...) from a private individual which leads me to my question... What sort of fuel milage should I be expecting from a big diesel like this? The guy told me he got about 11 mpg city, 18 mpg highway. Is that typical?


Don't worry, I won't let you down Bio... I'm definitely getting a diesel!

[biodieselman]

Originally Posted by fa_man_stan

You guys always have incredible fresh veggies!

We are one step closer to getting a diesel truck... We went to Riverside yesterday and looked at a '97 Ford F-350 (7.3L of course...) from a private individual which leads me to my question... What sort of fuel milage should I be expecting from a big diesel like this? The guy told me he got about 11 mpg city, 18 mpg highway. Is that typical?...

My kids were 13 & 14 when I brought that '90 Cummins home. They absolutely hated it. Now that they are grown, they both have diesels. My son has probably hit 500,000 with my old Cummins. My daughter, like me, isn't a Dodge fan & she bought a 7.3L Powerstroke. She drives a ...



for a living, my little tom-girl. She drives it like her truck & transfer, obeying speed limits, anticipating street lights to avoid jackrabbit starts & unnecessary sudden stops & keeps the engine in the 'sweet spot' with the manual transmission. I assume you know diesels have 'sweet spots', much like a two-stroke engine. Her fuel economy isn't quite as good as this guy's.

So, yes, those are pretty typical MPGs for a 7.3L Powerstroke. Add about 4-5 MPG for a Cummins.

I had assumed that you would want to go the biodiesel route. Biodiesel is costing me about 80 cents per gallon to brew since the price of methanol has increased. The cost of methanol isn't tied to the cost of petroleum since it's mostly made from natural gas. Problem is, more & more biodiesel plants are sprouting up in the mid-west & east coast & the cost reflects the increased demand for methanol.

I know I don't live that close to you, & I don't know how often you come down off the mountain to see your Mom, but I would be happy to process any oil you have into biodiesel if you don't want 'Junior' around potentially dangerous chemicals. I would gladly teach you how to brew biodiesel if you bought or made your own processor.

I've been looking for a 'bio-partner' to help pay off the initial cost of the processor equipment. What is the availability of Waste Vegetable Oil up in the mountains? What does the university's cafeteria do with their WVO & how much do they produce a month? I would be more than happy to work out an arrangement where we both can be 'carbon neutral'. How about forming a fa_man_stan/bio_man co-op?

[stan_der_man]

Originally Posted by biodieselman

...

I've been looking for a 'bio-partner' to help pay off the initial cost of the processor equipment. What is the availability of Waste Vegetable Oil up in the mountains? What does the university's cafeteria do with their WVO & how much do they produce a month? I would be more than happy to work out an arrangement where we both can be 'carbon neutral'. How about forming a fa_man_stan/bio_man co-op?

We are going to look at an '01 Ford F250 (7.3L 4x4, short bed). I'm hoping to get something as short as possible to fit into our driveway... You and I should definitely talk about it more. I was hoping to have a couple thou $ extra to possibly put together a bio-diesel setup like yours but last night our house furnace (literally) blew. My extra money is going to that at the moment. With my Wednesdays off I could dedicate some time to "hanging out behind restaurants..." I would be interested in some possible working together (especially if it brings down my fuel costs! ) I know a lot of people in La Verne, that may have more potential than the mountains. You never know... We'll talk more, definitely!


Stan

[Ho Ho Tai]

Originally Posted by biodieselman

My pet topic is biodiesel. I can give you pointers if you're considering ending your petroleum addiction. Future cars & trucks with new era diesel technology & Ultra Low Sulfur Diesel fuel will be cleaner than gasoline engines plus get up to 40% better fuel economy. New diesels are as clean as a Prius & in my case of burning 100% biodiesel much cleaner than a Prius.

BDMan -

I'm sending you both a link to our local paper and the text in clear (there are photos on the website.)

Augsburg College is a small, local, private Lutheran-based college of sterling reputation, given neither to hyperbole nor proselytizing. [ http://www.augsburg.edu/ ] I don't think that this is another cold fusion story. I will post this story on the board too (in the BD thread). I ask your considered opinion here and on the board.

Let's just hope that they don't succumb to Big Oil interests before this thing has a chance to escape into the wild.

Ho Ho Tai

Link: you may have to register to read it, but it's free. http://www.startribune.com/business/16404276.html

text:
StarTribune.com
Augsburg boasts discovery of biodiesel 'miracle'

By THOMAS LEE, Star Tribune

March 7, 2008

The setting was modest but the rhetoric was anything but.

Inside a drab third-floor chemistry lab at Augsburg College, a group of scientists on Friday unveiled a technology they claim could "revolutionize" energy production and free the United States from its dependence on foreign oil.

That's a tall order for a small liberal arts college in Minneapolis that, at least until now, was not particularly known for its energy acumen.

Nevertheless, Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow suggested the technology, which makes cleaner and cheaper biodiesel fuel, could be "one of modern day's greatest discoveries." ("Miracle," "history making" and "dream" were also liberally tossed about during the 30-minute news conference.)

more at link

[biodieselman]

Originally Posted by Ho Ho Tai

... Inside a drab third-floor chemistry lab at Augsburg College, a group of scientists on Friday unveiled a technology they claim could "revolutionize" energy production and free the United States from its dependence on foreign oil.

That's a tall order for a small liberal arts college in Minneapolis that, at least until now, was not particularly known for its energy acumen.

Nevertheless, Augsburg President Paul Pribbenow suggested the technology, which makes cleaner and cheaper biodiesel fuel, could be "one of modern day's greatest discoveries." ("Miracle," "history making" and "dream" were also liberally tossed about during the 30-minute news conference.)...

There have been many recent promising developments in biofuels, bioplastics & bio-based materials. I've read several articles in "Biodiesel Magazine" of companies using different technologies, searching to lower the costs of biodiesel production but I can't find the magazines.

A company has developed a process using microwave technology for thermal depolymerization, another using a variation of Fisher-Tropsch gasification and catalysis, and yet another using proprietary solid catalysts which aren't consumed in the transesterfication process.

Recent advances in enzyme production for cellulostic ethanol also promises cheap affordable fuels from non-food biomass.

I believe petroleum prices will continue to climb well above $100/barrel oil. IMO, because many investors believe we are on the back side of Hubbert's Peak, we will soon see many new scientific developments from many diverse technologies.

I hope these guys are onto something. I tend towards optimism.

[Crystal]

Since I began attending the University of Tennessee, I've found myself becoming more and more green.

The University has done an excellent job promoting recycling and saving energy. There are nearly 1,000 recycling bins scattered around campus, as well as two on every floor of every dormitory.

They also plan to change each current light bulb on campus to the LCD version during this week, while we are on Spring Break.

It's my understanding that they even won an award at the beginning of the year for their promotion of green energy.

It's refreshing to see such a massive university like UT take steps to maintain a cleaner environment.

[LarryTheShiveringChipmunk]

im pretty dern green except for my car...since i cant really afford a new one now, but it still gets 20+ mpg usually, and i still bike when i can to some places.

i recycle everything that it's good to recycle (ie i dont recycle the things that cause more pollution to recycle than to get new material) and im one of the apt complex's trash picker uppers.

i think living in a chicago apt where they "force" certain things was good when i was just out of college. now its instinct.

mine you im one of those GW skeptics too, but my thought is, theres many other reasons to be green

[Fire_in_AK]

Yo! What up CHippy!! Guess who lol. I am green as I can be. I use organic food and cleaning supplies from 7th generation. I recycle what the city offers and do what I can. Other then that I use my car, I consume fuel and keep on living.

[swamptoad]

My first time posting in this sticky!

Yesterday, I spent an hour sorting through the apartments recycling bins and then placing appropriate items in the outside recycling bin, where the apartment care-taker said that they needed to go. Most of the stuff was recyclable, but there was still some trash mixed in.

Lots of plastic, newspapers, crushed cans, glass ---- I had to sort through to make sure were clean and such.

Oh well, I really am not all that angry or bent out of shape. Glad that more and more people are recycling around the apartment. My wife actually got me more involved into recycling.

[biodieselman]

April 3, 2008 -- Aircraft maker Boeing flew a plane earlier this year that was powered by a hydrogen battery in a first for the aviation industry...

"For the first time in the history of aviation, Boeing has flown a manned airplane that was powered by a hydrogen battery,"...

The development was "a historical technological success for Boeing" and was "full of promises for a greener future,"...

The plane, which used propellers, flew at a speed of 62 mph for about 20 minutes at an altitude of about 3,300 feet. It used only the hydrogen battery for power...

The cost of fuel cells is dropping & hopefully will become affordable. Two other major stumbling blocks of hydrogen might possibly be solved: a cheap, efficient source & safe storage.

The energy in biodiesel is typically released by combustion, or more simply, by burning it.... Diesel engines are more efficient than other internal combustion engines, but they still waste a lot of energy as heat... One alternative for converting biodiesel and other biofuels into useful energy is a technology once almost exclusively associated with the space program, but is rapidly finding more uses in everyday life—the fuel cell....

The downside of fuel cells is that until recently, they were expensive.... However, with research and innovative manufacturing techniques the price of fuel cells has fallen to the point where they are competitive in many applications including replacing batteries in back-up power systems. “Fuel cells are being used all over right now,” Irving says. “They could be used more than they are now if a source of hydrogen could be made more available. They are being used now, but they have many, many, many more potential markets in the future.”

Fueling the cells, however, remains problematic. Hydrogen must be stored at high pressure to be economical, and is explosive when released. Most hydrogen is also manufactured from natural gas, meaning that ultimately it’s not a carbon-neutral fuel.

One way to solve the problem of transporting and storing hydrogen is to make it on the spot. The process for making hydrogen is fairly straightforward. A hydrocarbon is heated with steam at high pressure and temperature to form hydrogen and carbon dioxide, a process called steam reforming. Usually this is done in large production plants. “What Innovatek has done is scale that plant—that large plant—down to something that is actually portable,” Irving says.

Innovatek’s device is called the InnovaGen fuel processor. It uses microscopic channels and proprietary catalysts to continuously produce hydrogen from a variety of hydrocarbon sources. “Rather than natural gas, which is something we can also use, we have been focusing on liquid fuels,” Irving says. “That includes things like biodiesel, vegetable oil and other renewables.”

The fuel processor works by combining two feeds, one of a hydrocarbon and the other of water, in a catalytic reactor. “We use microtechnology to scale down the system into something that can be held in your hand, and produce hydrogen that can be fed directly into the fuel cell,” Irving says. “Rather than using a huge plant that produces hydrogen that is compressed into cylinders, our device can be integrated directly into the fuel cell as a component of an overall system.” ...

[Hawksmoor]

What an excellent thread! It somehow evaded my notice until now. I am a huge advocate of living as environmentally responsible as possible and have done everything I can think of along those lines. I recycle; this includes glass, plastic, cans, paper, cardboard, batteries, and hopefully light bulbs soon - assuming I can find some place locally that takes them.

I am also very vigilant about my water usage and do everything I can to keep it to a minimum. This includes not running the tap when I brush my teeth, not separating whites and colors when doing laundry (and only doing laundry when I have enough dirty clothes to fill up the entire machine), and cutting the water off in the shower after I'm completely wet and keeping it off while I lather myself with soap and my hair with shampoo. I also refrain from getting my car washed and watering my lawn and observe all state and local water restrictions.

There is always more than can be done, and I actively look for ways to be even greener than I am. It's pretty much a way of life for me.

[SocialbFly]

Green as in brocolli??

[ekmanifest]

Originally Posted by SocialbFly

Green as in brocolli??

No, Diana! Green as in four-leaf clovers!

[swamptoad]

I don't know if this has already been shared in this sticky but I thought I'd share it here with you all.

Grindzilla

Website:

http://www.grindzilla.com/

Video:

http://climate.weather.com/video/?bc...tid=1487554928

About Us --- (first portion)

Green Jobsites, parent company of Grindzilla, was formed because of the overwhelming need for an eco-friendly yet cost-effective alternative to hauling scrap building materials to our overflowing landfills. The Grindzilla can efficiently recycle those materials from C&D waste, house renovations/demolitions, pallet disposal, plastic recycling, pallet recycling, tire shredding for TDF and asphalt production and bio-energy as well as many more uses! ...further reading on website

Recycle uses created by Grindzilla™

* Grindzilla wood can be used for erosion control, landscape mulch, walking paths, animal bedding, and biomass fuel;
* Grindzilla gypsum can be used in the production of Portland cement, as a soil or composting amendment, flea powder, or for oil absorption.
* Grindzilla nails extracted during the grinding process can also be recycled.
* Capable of grinding plastics to create more value to recyclers

[starrbbw]

While bicycling is a fantastic alternative, not all in this community can easily get on and ride a bike.

And even though I can ride a bike...everywhere I work (I'm a substitute teacher and work part-time at Clinique) is at least 15-20 miles away by freeway so biking around is not as feasible in my community.

I did change my lightbulbs to energy effecient ones though!

[stan_der_man]

Originally Posted by ekmanifest

No, Diana! Green as in four-leaf clovers!

Originally Posted by SocialbFly

Green as in brocolli??

I'll 'fess, I'm more of a brocolli kinda guy myself.... Brocolli is more tasty than four-leaf clovers, although I suppose that's arguable.





I was a good boy, I got myself a greenie reusable grocery bag from our local grocery store! So now I won't be wasting grocery bags (although the plastic bags do come in handy as little garbage bags in our trailer...)

[stan_der_man]

One thing I heard the other day on the radio that I wanted to comment on... (Maybe this is more of a Hyde Park rant... if so forgive me.) They were talking about "green washing" (I believe it was called...) on KFI (a local Los Angeles, AM talk radio program...) This guy was taking about how he was part of an organization which rated products on how "green" they were (if the products rated were made out of recycled material, how clean the manufacturing process was... etc...) He used as an example a company that made paper towels. He got into the specifics of good (clean) manufacturing techniques, using recycled paper stock etc... I sat there listing to him talking and though to myself that there is nothing "green" about disposable paper towels. Am I totally off base on this? To me being "green" and being environmentally "friendly" is going to mean doing without many things. Disposable products (whether they are fast food rappers, disposable bags from the store, paper towels... etc.) are ultimately thrown into garbage dumps. So what is the point whether or not they are made out of recycled materials or not? The trees that were originally cut to make the first generation of products, later to be recycled, are ultimately just being thrown away one or two generations (of manufacturing...) later anyway? And this guy who is supposed to be an "expert" doesn't seem to see this? I don't know, maybe I'm taking this idea to the extreme...

Just pondering what "green" really means...

[pagan22]

I'm not green at all, but I try to be. I live in the country and the recycling service is $$$$$ and they have stupid rules, so we don't buy that service. I drive a big ol' Dodge pickup because it has 4WD (needed in our winters) and it's safe, so my auto insurance is really low. I refuse to get rid of it. Besides, it's a formidable beast on the roads.

On the flip side, I use all organic materials and non-harmful chemicals for my gardening. I also keep a compost pile and find uses for magazines and newspapers in the yard. Usually for killing grass for new gardens. In effect, less grass means less to mow, so I'm using less gasoline and I'm not putting more exhaust into the air. I also live only 1/4 mile from the grocery store, gas stations, bar, restaurants, and library so I walk everywhere when possible. Especially since gas hit $3.75/gal Tues.

[pagan22]

Originally Posted by starrbbw

I did change my lightbulbs to energy effecient ones though!

The spiral ones? I read somewhere in the paper that they actually contain mercury. It said if one busts, you need to call the 1-800# on the box to have a special cleaning crew come in and clean your floor.

In one of my classes, someone mentioned LED lights were expensive, but saved the most energy in the long run.

http://thefraserdomain.typepad.com/e...ghts_save.html

[bigsexy920]

Ok - So I started watching this show they have on TLC - i cant remember the name of it. But it has made me realize that Im not nearly as green as I can be.

Since watching that show I've been making sure that all the lights, TV and computer are off during the day when Im not home ( I was leaving the TV on for dog). In addition Ive been better with recycling. I have a really small kitchen and it is taking up a lot of space.

Does anyone have any space saving ideas? Ive been using the old big plasic container that the cat litter comes in. they stack well and they have handles so that makes it easier for me to take them down stairs. It just looks horrible in the kitchen.

[Risible]

Originally Posted by CG_8

I'm not green at all, but I try to be. I live in the country and the recycling service is $$$$$ and they have stupid rules, so we don't buy that service. I drive a big ol' Dodge pickup because it has 4WD (needed in our winters) and it's safe, so my auto insurance is really low. I refuse to get rid of it. Besides, it's a formidable beast on the roads.

On the flip side, I use all organic materials and non-harmful chemicals for my gardening. I also keep a compost pile and find uses for magazines and newspapers in the yard. Usually for killing grass for new gardens. In effect, less grass means less to mow, so I'm using less gasoline and I'm not putting more exhaust into the air. I also live only 1/4 mile from the grocery store, gas stations, bar, restaurants, and library so I walk everywhere when possible. Especially since gas hit $3.75/gal Tues.

I think the biggest violators of pollution are Big Business and Big Oil; currently, it seems, our government is protecting them and their foul practices (I have hopes for the next administration, that the next president, be it Obama or McCain, is sincere in wanting to protect the environment). However, I think we all need to do what we can to pitch in; sounds like you're trying, CG_8.

Originally Posted by bigsexy920

Ok - So I started watching this show they have on TLC - i cant remember the name of it. But it has made me realize that Im not nearly as green as I can be.

Since watching that show I've been making sure that all the lights, TV and computer are off during the day when Im not home ( I was leaving the TV on for dog). In addition Ive been better with recycling. I have a really small kitchen and it is taking up a lot of space.

Does anyone have any space saving ideas? Ive been using the old big plasic container that the cat litter comes in. they stack well and they have handles so that makes it easier for me to take them down stairs. It just looks horrible in the kitchen.

I use a basket. Bio complains about how girly it looks when he carries it out to the garage to empty it into the recycling bin, but, hey, it works, and in a stylish way!

[Admiral_Snackbar]

Originally Posted by biodieselman

To be honest, the real reason for worm wrangling is that my garden has sucked for the last two or three years. I'm doing the same practices as when I lived in San Diego, buying trailer loads of composted chicken manure each year & deep digging it into the soil late winter between the end of fall planted crops & the start of spring plantings. Everything is the same except, living on a smaller lot, I don't have room for a compost pile. Our city supplies a separate container for landscaping green waste to be composted.

My niece did a paper on composting and mentioned this. Are there any good sites on buying kits/designing/managing worm composting?

I know it's an option I want to consider, mainly because standard compost piles are restricted according to my neighborhood bylaws. The worm hotels are at least aesthetically pleasing, have a smaller footprint and do just as well (I think) in terms of waste processing.

Also, secondary question. I have gerbil cages and use primarily aspen bedding. Are there any sites to go to with regard to recycling or composting the used small animal bedding? I normally extend the life of each bedding round by adding in chlorophyll-soaked bedding (1 scoop of chrlorophyll bedding for every 4 scoops of standard) and found I use less of it overall and the smell isn't as strong over time. I tried using it as an inexpensive garden mulch but it didn't turn out as I would have liked (I am guessing the aspen isn't as efficient as standard mulch, or else I need to treat it beforehand).

[Risible]

Admiral, haha, you've stumbled across one of our hobbies - vermicomposting, i.e., worm ranching!

I'll have Bio get back to you with the details.

[pendulous]

I recycle as much as I can, use eco friendly lightbulbs, I voted Green.

I'm still waiting for an apocalyptic end though.