Learn more about LED Street Lights

With traditional road lights maintenance costs will be killing. Here is what it takes to switch a single avenuelight bulb –
1)    Labor value – wage of 2 people.
2)    Cost of light – varies relying on the kind of bulb used.
3)    Equipment leasing cost –     
       a) Cherry picker to carry the employee and
       b) A U haul to carry the cherry picker to the location of maintenance.

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Replacing a single HPS lamp can thus cost as much as $ 800. With a median life span of four to seven years the average maintenance costs for one HPS road light can work out to $ two hundred per year. A very good high quality LED lamp used to interchange a HPS road light costs $ three hundred more than the HPS ( Price comparability of HPS and LED grouping are based mostly on 2008-09 information of Los Angeles metropolis, LED light prices have fallen since then while the quality has improved). The maintenance costs for LED street lights that have a life span of fifteen years work out to only $ 91 or much less! Projected annual savings of $ 100 or more in maintenance and electricity prices for each avenue light make for a good expense decision. The economic logic of the LED bulb is obvious. That is the reason why the Clinton Climate Initiative and plenty of other organizations are running intently with city councils to replace out-of-date sodium vapor avenue bulbs with LED systems.

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Although LED lights cost extra upfront the higher expenditure is well recouped in a couple of years through electricity and maintenance savings. The foregoing discussion has centered solely on the economics of the lighting decision. We’ve got not even mentioned the reduction in carbon emissions and mercury air pollution and light pollution accomplished by LED bulbs. Along with that is the pride that comes from using innovative technology to cut back environmental footprint and accomplish the expectations of the international community. It, due to this fact, comes as no shock that one towns after one other including Ann Arbor, Seattle, Los Angeles, New York, Raleigh, Ontario, Dusseldorf and plenty of others have realized the merits of energy environment friendly road lighting.

Using bamboo not only makes furniture very study and durable, but the bamboo can be steamed and made pliable to be bent into various shapes. The reed retains both flexibility and strength. Bamboo is naturally water repellent so it can hold up to frequent use in the home. Bamboo furniture can be colored to suit any design style, or it can be polished and kept in it’s natural beauty. Bamboo living room furniture can include chairs, coffee tables, desks, entertainment systems, anything that traditional furniture is made from can be substituted with bamboo.

Bamboo living room furniture has been popular for hundreds of years in countries like China, and now this eco friendly option is gaining momentum across the world. Consumers find that bamboo is not only better for the environment, but also stylish and practical. Sustainable furniture can be found to fit any style, from traditional to modern.

Choosing bamboo living room furniture is a smart choice for you home. You will gain a piece of furniture that will be long lasting, and therefore you will be saving money since it will not need to be replaced as soon as traditional furniture. You are also doing your part to help protect the environment by supporting sustainable furniture. Not to mention, your family will enjoy the beautiful and comfortable addition to your home for many years to come.

The breast cancer and household cleaners link was found to be the strongest among women who used several cleaning products (many different products used together).  Breast cancer risk was about two times as high for the women who used a number of different products compared to women who said they used the least.

“The use of air fresheners and products for mold and mildew control were associated with increased risk” according to Dr. Brody.

Some household cleaners contain synthetic chemical ingredients linked to cancer or other health problems.  You can find a list of hazardous ingredients in household products here.

Indoor air pollution is one of the nation’s most pressing personal health worries according to the EPA.  The EPA discovered peak concentrations of 20 toxic compounds to be 200 – 500 times higher inside some houses than outside according to a study that tested 600 homes in 6 cities.  Unfortunately several of these compounds can be found in household cleaning products.

Symptoms caused by chemicals in household products may include runny nose, skin rash, a scratchy throat, respiratory infections, itchy eyes, dizziness, fatigue, and headaches.  More serious maladies due to frequent and longterm exposure to chemicals in household products may not exhibit obvious symptoms immediately.

So what should you do, stop cleaning the house? 

If you’re concerned about the household cleaners you’re using in your home there are several things you can do.

• Use natural alternatives that don’t contain toxic chemicals.
• Read the ingredient labels on household cleaners and avoid cleaners that contain toxic chemicals.
• Get rid of household cleaners you already have in your home that contain hazardous ingredients.
• Use an air purifier instead of air fresheners that contain synthetic chemicals.

Because we have all built up a “toxic load” of health-endangering toxins from household cleaners and other sources you might also wish to consider a periodic detox to flush out toxins.

Once you purchase a hybrid, you can be sure that you are doing your bit to save the environment. Hybrid cars are made of light weight materials and are smaller in size and therefore require less fuel. Also, since it is made up of light weight material, they are smaller in size and register economical fuel needs.

Further, another good reason for you to purchase a hybrid car is its less fuel consumption feature. According to estimates, hybrid cars can give a good fuel efficient performance ranging between 15% and 50% and therefore leads to less amount of oil being consumed. And oil, as we are all aware, is now a precious commodity. Moreover, the cost of oil extraction is usually high and a very difficult task. Past incidents of war and various military expeditions have typically happened to preserve the required oil resource and therefore oil saving an important responsibility by any means.

The last of the 3 reasons to get a hybrid car is higher savings. Hybrid cars usually benefit you with their high resale value. Also, the cost against insurance for hybrid cars is less compared to ordinary cars. Also, it does not cost you a high amount to maintain your hybrid car. Nevertheless, it is noteworthy that in US, hybrid cars are directed into specific lanes with an optimal speed. In US, you will find certain lanes with defined optimal speed specifically dedicated for hybrid cars. And in UK, hybrid car owners have the facility of free parking for their cars. But, the luxury and facilities you can have in your hybrid car solely depend on your location.

The make and appearance of hybrid cars also allow you to add more features into your car as per your needs. That is why most people now prefer to purchase hybrid cars instead of going for other regular cars.

Visit this website for more information on Hybrid cars and find out the advantages of hybrid cars

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When you donate a car that is still in running condition the vehicle goes to auction where it will find a new owner and continue to be used. If the vehicle is not running it may still be sent to auction depending on the condition or sent to a junk yard. Green charities that have vehicle donation programs have a similar process except that instead of non running cars being sent to junkyards to rot they are turned in to recycled materials. Upon arrival at the junk yard all of the parts that are salvageable are taken and resold.

Donating a car is a great way to get a great tax deduction and improve the overall health of the environment by preventing a completely usable car from becoming a blot on the landscape that’s harmful to the environment. Working vehicles also provide a great way for someone who may not be able to afford a more expensive vehicle get around.

The most important part of donating your car is the good you do for the charities that receive the donations. The funds from these donated vehicles go towards a variety of purposes. The environmentally sound charities use the proceeds from donated cars that have been properly recycled to continue their programs and help keep the charity running smoothly. The health of the planet is also a very important component to consider when donating your car after all we all depend on it for our survival.

#5. A hit from Japan, Taterpots have finally arrived in the US! These cute potato-shaped planters come with a peat puck and packet of either basil, mint, or oregano seeds. From the same company who brought us the Eggling, these little guys have adorable legs to dangle from your windowsill and a cheery disposition to brighten your kitchen.
http://www.modcloth.com/store/ModCloth/Apartment/Taterpots

#4. Starting with the most mod of designs, Wolly Pocket has been sweeping our nation with its sleek design and versatility. This gift works for all ages and you can buy the right pocket to fit your budget.
http://cart.woollypocket.com/Wally-One

#3. Take advantage of this heart melting boot! The welcoming design to this little rain boot is perfect for the College student and all teenagers alike. Not only does it bring a splash of color to each window seal, but it also provides row mint, strawberry, basil or camomile.
http://www.fredflare.com/customer/product.php?productid=3766&cat=103

#2. This paradox planter is trendy and environment friendly. Although it comes with a serious price tag, it is a reusable gift for many years to come.
 http://www.anthropologie.com/anthro/catalog/productdetail.jsp?subCategoryId=HOME-GARDEN-POTS&id=974386&catId=HOME-GARDEN&pushId=HOME-GARDEN&popId=HOME&sortProperties=&navCount=40&navAction=top&fromCategoryPage=true&selectedProductSize=&selectedProductSize1=&color=014&colorName=NEUTRAL%20MOTIF&isSubcategory=true&isProduct=true&isBigImage=&templateType=

#1. If you like versatile gifts for all ages, take advantage of this truly self-replenishing gift of life. Great for the families that want to save a little cash in the new year, and heartwarming intention, this is the most highly rated GREEN GIFT for 2010.
http://survivalistseeds.com/

The main enhancement in these modern solar energy systems that has helped their wider acceptance in recent years is their higher efficiency. Because of changes to the solar panels used, most present-day solar power systems can produce more than twice the electricity of older systems. You will need fewer of the panels to deliver all the power your home needs since these solar energy systems can generate larger amounts of energy from these newer solar panels. This translates into less roof space for mounting your system and a smaller initial investment as well.

These present-day solar energy systems are more flexible and this allows you to select the ideal components for your needs. You were very limited with what parts you could use to put together your system in the past and in many cases all of the parts had to be from the same manufacturer. This made these older systems difficult to expand once they were mounted and more pricey than necessary. This was owing to the tight tolerances between components in these older systems that had to be matched perfectly to work. Mounting one of these older solar power systems had to be done as one event and did not allow you to expand your system after it was installed. The initial investment required for installation of these older and more rigid systems was a challenge for most homeowners considering it was more than they could afford. As a result, many homeowners missed a great opportunity to save money each month because they were on a tighter budget.

Most homeowners can now afford them because these present-day solar energy systems are designed to be easy to expand. With these modern-day systems a homeowner can start off with a smaller system and add components to it over time to increase the amount of power it can supply to their home. This way they can avoid the high initial investment that was required for the older solar power systems and still enjoy the savings that a smaller starter system provides. As their needs and budget changes, they can then expand their system by adding more solar panels to boost their savings. In most cases this expansion merely requires sliding the new solar panels onto the existing mounting rails on your roof and connecting them to the existing solar panels. Since the existing solar panels are already attached to your home’s wiring, the extra power from the additional panels will merely be fed into your system and boost your savings each month with the energy they supply. Because of all of these changes, these present-day solar energy systems provide a great investment for most homes that will provide savings for decades to come.

© MyDIYGreenEnergy.com

Also used in heavy equipment and emergency lights, lead-acid batteries have a capacity of six volts or more. And as its name implies, it contains hazardous material – lead and acid.

Hazardous material? So these lead-acid batteries are actually dangerous?

In a way, yes. These lead-acid batteries are dangerous once they end up damaged or are missing even just one cap. Once damaged, or missing a cap, the deadly acid can leak out of the battery and can severely damage your eyes and skin. So if you encounter a damaged lead-acid battery, make sure to use protective eyewear like safety glasses or goggles, and acid-resistant gloves. If possible, replace the missing battery cap, otherwise it will also be considered as damaged.

The damaged battery must then be double-bagged in 6mm-thick polyethelene plastic bags and sent to a proper disposal or recycling facility. Used lead-acid batteries can also be sent to recycling facilities. Just make sure to write on each and every used or damaged battery the date it was taken out of service, using a weather-resistant marker.

Rest assured that your used battery would be properly taken care of at the recycling facility. 97% of all battery lead in the United States from 1997 – 2001 have been recycled, making it one of the most successful recycling programs in the world.

When sending a shipment of batteries to be recycled, make sure the shipment has the following information, and keep it for the next three years:

• Date of shipment
• “Spent Lead Acid Batteries” in the description of waste
• Number of batteries in the shipment
• Repository’s name and address
• Transporter’s name and address
• Name and address of facility

What if I can’t send it right away to a recycling facility?

You can safely store lead-acid batteries. First, mark off a designated area solely for used lead-acid batteries; don’t mix them in with other kinds of batteries. Install an eyewash station in the area, as well as the several supplies nearby:

• Absorbents for spill clean-up
• Rags or disposable wipes for acid leak clean-ups
• Polyethelene plastic bags that can contain even the largest battery
• A weather-resistant pen or paint pen to mark used batteries
• A posted copy of the Environment Safety & Health Guidelines

Wearing protective eyewear and gloves, you can now transfer the lead-acid batteries to the area, using acid-resistant secondary containment such as polyethelene.

In the area, make sure not to stack the lead-acid batteries on top of one another. Stacking the batteries only heightens the risk of having acid leaks from the batteries, and also of short circuiting them. And just make sure to send the used batteries to a disposal or recycling facility every three months at the latest.

Yet these cans, if mishandled, aren’t the safest kinds of cans that people can use. For example, there is a possibility that aerosol cans will explode when punctured. If they don’t, the contents can leak out – and if the contents are toxic (like in the case of insecticide) or flammable (like paint), then you might have an impending disaster on your hands.

How aerosol cans work

To fully understand how these cans can be dangerous, we need to analyze how these cans work. The aerosol can has two main contents inside – a propellant and a product. The product is the one that you need to use and comes out of the nozzle when you spray it; for example, the whipped cream.

The propellant, meanwhile, is the substance that forces the product out of the can. Most modern aerosol cans use liquefied gases as propellants, which take liquid form when highly compressed. This is the reason why aerosol cans must be highly pressurized inside – the propellant must remain in liquid form. Since it’s highly pressurized inside, it can explode when punctured.

Once you press the nozzle, a valve opens that reduces the pressure on the liquid propellant. It becomes a gas layer, which then pushes the liquid product (as well as some remaining liquid propellant) into a tube and out of the can. The remaining liquid propellant expands into gas and forces down more liquid product. In some cans, the evaporating propellant can help the product become foam or be atomized (converted into a fine mist).

Dangerous propellants and disposal instructions

In the past, aerosol cans used chlorofluorocarbons (CFC) as a propellant. After discovering that CFC use contributed to the destruction of the ozone layers, they were eventually phased out. However, that doesn’t mean that propellants today aren’t harmful – a lot of propellants are highly flammable. Some propellants, like nitrous oxide, can also be harmful if inhaled.

This explains why you shouldn’t use aerosol cans near an open fire – they might ignite. It also explains why you need to have aerosol cans properly recycled and/or disposed. For home users, once aerosol cans are emptied out, they can be simply managed as solid waste. However, if those aerosol cans contain toxic material or have not been completely emptied out, then they must be brought to a recycling facility for proper disposal.

For those who own establishments that use a lot of products in aerosol cans, having a recycling facility process several aerosol cans would be quite costly. An alternative would be to buy an aerosol can recycling system. These recycling systems are a way to safely drain the remaining contents of an aerosol can into a drum. The contents can then be processed cheaper by disposal facilities, compared to the cost of processing un-emptied aerosol cans. Meanwhile, the cans themselves are to be sold as recyclable steel.

By creating your own compost, you avoid spending money on compost. That way you have you own organic compost which often times is much better than fertilizer. The end result is that you will end up with gorgeous flowers to look at and smell. Hey, you can pick a flower and give it to someone. I am certain they will be pleased about it.

Living green could also help you health wise. See with more trees and flowers to clean out the atmosphere, you will have cleaner air to inhale. There will be less carbon dioxide being inhaled and there will be less polluting of the environment overall. Also, trees look awesome. Smoking releases a good deal of toxins in the air. You might want to try an electronic cigarette as a substitute.

In a different way you benefit from living green is that you could cut down your gas and electricity bills. If you use solar panels, you are able to stock up power and not have to use the man made energy that arrives through the power lines. You can even decrease your gas heating expenses by utilizing the stored energy to warm up your house.

See, there is dozens of ways that you could benefit from this. It is not just isolated to the amount of money you will get for selling the aluminum cans. There’s more you are able to do to help mother nature. If you are a smoker, probably the greatest thing you can do is to stop smoking tobacco cigarettes and use an electronic cigarette that will give you the exact same taste, flavor and feel!