New Solar Roofing Option is Win-Win

On Tue, Nov 16, 2010 at 9:13 AM, Scott's Contracting <scottscontracting@gmail.com> wrote:

A Roof that: Generates Electricity is a Win-Win for Generating Clean Electricity and Protecting your Home-Scotty

Does your Shingle Roof need Replaced? Consider a Roofing Shingle that also creates Electricity.  The new DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle Received UL Certification as a Roofing Material that creates Clean Green Energy via the Integrated Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Producing System. 

The DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ solar shingle has chosen thin-film CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium deSelenide) as the PV material in the Solar Shingle to convert the Suns Rays into use-able Electricity for your Home and Business.

DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ solar shingle will become available to the US public mid 2011.  Till then Scotts Contracting will be researching the Electrical Out-Put, Efficiency, and Other variables that are needed to determine if the Solar Shingle is a cost-effective option for your Integrated Roofing and Solar Photovoltaic Project. 


Prior Articles Here:

Solar and the Novermber Election- Political Issues vs Industry

Oct 19, 2010-$1 billion investment Dow Chemical announced last February it is making to build a manufacturing plant in Michigan for its shingle-integrated solar PV technology.

DOW POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles Receive UL Certification

© Business Wire 2010
2010-11-02 13:12:32 -

Today, The Dow Chemical Company (NYSE: DOW) and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) announced that the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle is the first residential solar roofing shingle with an integrated connection system to receive Underwriters Laboratories (UL) safety certification.

The DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle is a ground-breaking photovoltaic solar panel in the form of a solar roofing shingle that can be integrated into rooftops with standard asphalt shingle materials. It reduces installation time and complexity using a revolutionary system design that eliminates on-roof wiring, minimizes through-roof penetrations, and allows the product to be installed in the same manner as a standard roofing shingle.


"The receipt of UL safety certification represents the successful completion of a rigorous and comprehensive multi-test process for the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles," said Dow Solar Vice President, Jane Palmieri.

"This is another important milestone towards the planned 2011 commercialization of Dow's solar shingles, and represents a
crucial third-party validation of the safety of this product.

We are dedicated to making solar easy for homeowners, builders, and roofing contractors who already trust the performance and safety of building products bearing the Dow brand."

Given the new and unique nature of the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle, Dow Solar worked closely with UL - a trusted global resource for product safety certification and compliance solutions - to indentify a series of rigorous tests to assess the safety of the unique design and of all the elements of the combined solar and roofing product. The final listing awarded to the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles represents compliance to a diverse sequence of UL's safety and building standards, specifically, UL 746, 1703, 1897, 790, 486 and 514. Over 50 individual tests were conducted to assess the safety of the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles against building code standards, including wind and fire resistance, and electrical code requirements, such as proper wiring and photovoltaic (PV) connections.

"UL has been leading the development of PV equipment testing methodologies and standards since the 1980s, and has contributed to the safe operation of PV equipment by providing safety testing and certification services for PV equipment manufacturers worldwide," said Jeff Smidt, Vice President and General Manager for UL's Global Energy business. "In the case of Dow's solar shingles, we had to take a unique approach in order to test the product as both a roofing shingle and a PV system. We are proud to provide the UL mark to this first-of-its-kind solar shingle from Dow."

In addition to the vitally important design and material safety tests performed by UL, Dow will continue with its own reliability and durability testing in support of commercialization. Dow is currently performing tests on installed systems of DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingles in addition to individual shingles in order to assess the durability of the product, utilizing Design for Reliability and Physics of Failure methodologies to measure performance against weather, extreme temperatures and more.

Dow has chosen thin-film CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium deSelenide) as the PV material in the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ solar shingle, and Global Solar Energy (Tucson, AZ) was selected as the preferred supplier in support of the product launch. CIGS technology offers the best balance of low cost and highest sunlight conversion efficiency of the commercialized thin film technologies available today, and the flexible foil substrate of the Global Solar Energy CIGS cells provides the necessary level of flexural durability to allow the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle to perform reliably in a demanding application environment.

Breaking the traditional barriers to residential solar adoption – complexity, affordability and aesthetics – this technology offers the missing link needed by the energy industry to drive solar adoption across the U.S., and will bring the possibility of safe and reliable solar power to American households. The DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle is expected to be commercially available in select U.S. markets by mid 2011.



About DOW™ POWERHOUSE™

In 2007, Dow received a $20 million grant from the U.S. Department of Energy as part of its Solar America Initiative to develop "building integrated" solar arrays for the residential and commercial markets. In October 2009, Dow Solar unveiled the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle as the first in a portfolio of building related solar energy generating products.

Since its introduction, the Solar Shingle has been hailed as revolutionary, including being named one of the "50 Best Inventions of 2009" by TIME magazine.

The innovative product design provides an unprecedented integrated roof appearance and simplified installation. It combines a roofing shingle with a solar cell, enabling the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle to be installed by a roofer along with standard asphalt roofing materials.

This makes the DOW™ POWERHOUSE™ Solar Shingle an easy choice for homeowners looking for a residential solar solution that is easy to install and aesthetically pleasing. Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV) products from Dow Solar are evidence that Dow is focused on developing energy alternatives and expanding Dow's commitment to use chemistry to solve the world's energy challenges. More information about Dow Solar can be found at www.dowsolar.com : .


About Dow

Dow combines the power of science and technology with the "Human Element" to passionately innovate what is essential to human progress.

The Company connects chemistry and innovation with the principles of sustainability to help address many of the world's most challenging problems such as the need for clean water, renewable energy generation and conservation, and increasing agricultural productivity. Dow's diversified industry-leading portfolio of specialty chemical, advanced materials, agrosciences and plastics businesses delivers a broad range of technology-based products and solutions to customers in approximately 160 countries and in high growth sectors such as electronics, water, energy, coatings and agriculture. In 2009, Dow had annual sales of $45 billion and employed approximately 52,000 people worldwide. The Company's more than 5,000 products are manufactured at 214 sites in 37 countries across the globe. References to "Dow" or the "Company" mean The Dow Chemical Company and its consolidated subsidiaries unless otherwise expressly noted. More information about Dow can be found at www.dow.com : .



®TM Trademark of The Dow Chemical Company ("Dow") or an affiliated company of Dow





For editorial information:Greg BaldwinThe Dow

Chemical Company+1 989 638-0745 gbaldwin@dow.com : mailto:gbaldwin@dow.com orChris
GramsGolinHarris+1 312 729-4364 cgrams@golinharris.com : mailto:cgrams@golinharris.com orKate
NigroDow Solar+1 989 638 9629 knigro@dow.com : mailto:knigro@dow.com

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http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com
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scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Ecosystems: Understanding Our Place

 When I read this article the Education from growing up on a Cattle Ranch in North Missouri and taking care of the Land was re-enforced- Specifically how taking care of the Soil (Earth) in the Fields directly affected the Yield from the Crops and Forage we raised for Livestock Production.  

Forage / Plants utilize the upper crust of the Earth (top 12 inches) of the Planet. This area needs to have optimum nutrients for sustained plant growth. Without optimum nutrients in the soil, vegetation fails to produce the Forage / Plant Matter which is needed for the Livestock to survive.

1. When a Forage Crop is grown the Plants utilizes the Soils Nutrients to grow.
2. The Forage Produced transforms these nutrients from the Soil into, Forage / Plant matter, which is then harvested, stored or fed to the Livestock.

The Nutrients in the Soil that were transferred inside the Plant / Forage, into beneficial attributes that supports the Livestock. (The Livestock perform best when the Plants / Forage have optimum nutrients.) Without the Nutrients in the Earth plants fail to grow and thus livestock fails to produce the needed meat we eat to survive.

This is just a small example on how the smallest minute nutrients located in our Earth's Crust is transformed into actual living products that we use every day in our Lives.

"everyone in the world depends completely on Earth's ecosystems and the services they provide, such as food, water, disease management, climate regulation, spiritual fulfillment, and aesthetic enjoyment."

 Ecosystems: Understanding Our Place in the World

Snippets from: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=manschelblog&PostId=98448

by: Michael Anschel

 Ecosystem services are arranged in four service or use categories: regulating (erosion control, gas exchange), providing (genetic diversity, pollination), provisioning (agriculture, mining), and informing (recreational, social). Much of human activity consists of taking a resource or service and, through human activity, creating a useful product for human use. When we act upon an ecosystem resource, whether it is mining, hunting, farming, weaving, or building, we add value and create a marketable product. We do this with little to no accounting as to the costs of our action to the ecosystem because historically we have held the idea that most resources are more or less infinite.  More importantly, when one resource runs out, through human activity (technological advances) we typically replace the deleted resource with another one. Human activities that alter the ecosystem are thought of as an externality; an unaccountable price of living. Hidden within that statement is the assumption that our human actions can never overwhelm the environment that surrounds and supports human activities and human life. 


According to a 2005 Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, put out by the World Resources Institute, everyone in the world depends completely on Earth's ecosystems and the services they provide, such as food, water, disease management, climate regulation, spiritual fulfillment, and aesthetic enjoyment. Over the past 50 years, humans have changed these ecosystems more rapidly and extensively than in any comparable period of time in human history, largely to meet rapidly growing demands for food, fresh water, timber, fiber, and fuel. This transformation of the planet has contributed to substantial net gains in human well-being and economic development. But not all regions and groups of people have benefited from this process—in fact, many have been harmed. Moreover, the full costs associated with these gains are only now becoming apparent."
Read the Full Article here: http://www.remodeling.hw.net/blogs/postdetails.aspx?BlogId=manschelblog&PostId=98448






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Scott's Contracting
scottscontracting@gmail.com
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com/
http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com/
scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Residential Green Roofs

Scotts Contracting is available for the building of your Green Roof.  Scotty is available to supply a Free Green Estimate for your Roofing Projects- large or small.  With more than 50 different Green Roofing options available at my preferred Roofing Supplier, RSG- Roofing Supply Group, in St Louis.  I can build a Green Roof on most every budget.

Green House

Green is a great in commercial roofing, but what about for residential roofing?

Read more articles related to: energy-efficient roofing green roof green roofing jim cory Roofing

Brett Hall/Joe Hall Roofing

Source: REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR Magazine
Publication date: May 12, 2010

By Jim Cory
Ask a roofer what a green roof on a commercial building is and he probably has a clear idea of the options. It could be a vegetation roof installed on top of a water-proofing system or a roofing system designed to save on the cost of heating and cooling the building. Or it could be both. Many such systems exist because there's a market for them. Commercial building owners budget to replace their roofs on a regular basis, and reducing energy consumption, as well as prolonging the life of the roof and thus of the building, is always a goal.

Residential Green

But for residential steep-slope roofs, where exactly does green fit in? Obviously no one is going to plant a garden on a gable roof, since it would all slide off in the first hard rain. So is the concept of green roofing restricted to commercial roofing applications?
In Naples, Fla., roofer Ken Kelly, president of Kelly Roofing, doesn't think so. He is convinced that green is the way to go with residential roofing customers, so much so that he puts green roofing front and center on the company website. "Commercial customers are the ones with the deep pockets," he says. "They can afford the $500,000 photovoltaic system or the 5,000-square-foot roof garden. But green is as big an issue in residential as it is in commercial roofing. Homeowners are asking more questions about green than our commercial customers." Driven by changes in the Florida building code and a desire to save on air conditioning bills, Kelly Roofing customers are amenable to suggestions that green products such as solar-powered attic fans be included in their re-roofing jobs.

Interest, Awareness Vary by Market

For those working on residential roofs, green means a new roof installed with attention paid to emissivity - the degree to which the roof reflects heat and sunlight away from the building - reduced energy consumption, and the recycling of tear-off materials. Different products, different practices. Once incorporated into a company's procedures, customers are often open to these. But cost remains an issue, and not all homeowners are open to green roofing or green roofing products.
Roofers who attend trade shows and read trade magazines may know about green roofing products, but homeowners generally know little. "It hasn't taken off like it has in commercial," says Chris Kamis, owner of Absolute Roofing & Construction, in Parma, Ohio, which divides its business about evenly between commercial and residential jobs. Other companies find similar.
"The customer never brings it up," notes Brett Hall, president of Joe Hall Roofing, a Pantego, Texas, company that also does both commercial and residential roofs. Hall says that it's up to him to introduce homeowners to the subject of cooling the roof with enhanced ventilation and different shingle colors. And if people are getting a new roof because they're planning to move, as is often the case, "it's not that popular a subject. Why invest in something when they can never recoup the cost?"

Demonstrate by Example

Customers may not know that much about the subject, but Absolute Roofing is no stranger to green. Five years ago the company installed the roofing, siding, and gutters at Eco-Village, a 20-townhouse pilot project sponsored by the city of Cleveland and partly funded with federal money. In that case, the cost of using green products was a factor in landing the company the job, but not the only factor.
What was more important were LEED points earned by the builder/designer. And a year ago Absolute Roofing won the business of a Cleveland-area homeowner who required the bidders to show that they would recycle roofing tear-off. Absolute Roofing & Construction did so and won the job. But projects like these are rare. In many residential jobs, which make up 50% of the company's business, green for Absolute Roofing means installing shingles that absorb heat and are eligible for tax credits under the 2009-2010 American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.
Kamis notes that one popular request in the green building line is rain barrels, which capture rainwater run-off and store it for reuse. Solar would be on the agenda, if the price put it within the average homeowner's reach. "Some people are a lot more sensitive about it than others," says Rod Menzel, co-owner of GreatWay Roofing, in Moorpark, Calif. "Some have the money to be environmentally friendly and green, and others don't."
Kelly Roofing found that the suggestion of switching from a shingle to a metal or tile roof in a re-roofing job — the metal product the company installs qualifies for tax credits — met with great receptivity from homeowners once the cost of installing a roof with any of those materials became relatively similar. Because green is all over Kelly Roofing's website, "our customers are expecting us to mention green in our presentation and to follow that up with some sort of green product," Kelly says. The company, which does business in a market where failure to recycle shingle tear-off results in a $500 fine, has "Follow Me To The Recycling Center" painted on the back of all its trucks.

Green in Increments

Other green products popular with roofing and home improvement contractors include radiant heat barriers, which reduce heat transfer through the attic by as much as 95%. Menzel says that there are a number of roofing systems his company uses to reduce heating and cooling costs in commercial products ? far fewer in residential. "We use the Solaris shingle by CertainTeed," he says — an Energy Star-qualified product that meets both emissivity and reflectivity standards. GreatWay Roofing has also seen strong demand for those same solar-powered attic fans, a hot product at this year's International Roofing Expo in New Orleans. But when it comes to big-ticket green items — say renewable energy projects such as solar systems to power the house — most residential roofers hang back. "There are some awesome ideas out there," Kamis says. "But there's not enough interest to make them practical and affordable in the market."Other home improvement companies are looking at eco-friendly roofing products that can be installed without committing to the cost of a totally green roof. Matt Weiner, general manager of Moonworks, in Rhode Island, says that his company is looking at products such as reflective shingles, although "in the Northeast it doesn't make that much difference." What does intrigue him, he says, are photovoltaic cells that can be integrated into an asphalt shingle roof. "It's a way to bring a greener product to the marketplace and differentiate us," he says. And in the end, a means to greater profitability and a higher close rate.

Not For the Faint of Heart

Hall brings up the subject of green roofing to let prospects know what kind of upgrade options are available when buying a new roof. "When we're talking about green, we're talking about ways to conserve energy in your home that relate to roofing," he says. It's as simple as that. And in Texas, where shingle recycling facilities are few, if they exist at all, the major opportunity for green roofing is in increasing emissivity and energy loss, which is chiefly caused by the roof baking away while air conditioning bills go up, up, up. "In Texas, green is emissivity. That's where they start having some return on investment," Hall says.
To prove the point, the president of Joe Hall Roofing decided to design the new home he is moving into this August with the greenest possible roof. That roof material is standing seam metal painted with a cool pigment. Underneath it is ice-and-water shield covering all the decking. Key to keeping the roof much cooler is the 1-inch pocket of air between that OSB decking and the 1-inch polyiso insulation panel. The roof system is fully vented, with removable soffit vents, for cleaning. The next step: a photovoltaic array on the roof.
Besides radically reducing what would typically be a $1,000 a month air conditioning bill during the summer, Hall will use the house to show prospects what green roofing looks like, what it feels like, and how well it works.
—Jim Cory, editor, REPLACEMENT CONTRACTOR.


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Home Energy Calculators

Finally a home energy meter that is easy to use. If you are seeking efforts to cut your energy use-age. The Micro Soft hohm energy meter can aid in reducing your energy use-age.

Dear Hohm user:

Here at Microsoft Hohm, we listened when you asked for a more immediate way to monitor and manage your home energy use. And today, we have great news: we're thrilled to announce that the Hohm-compatible PowerCost Monitor™ WiFi from Blue Line is now available!

Blue Line's PowerCost Monitor WiFi is a portable, wireless device that's easy to install (no electrician required!) and easy to use. It wirelessly sends your near real-time energy use to Hohm, providing you with more detailed energy use information than your monthly utility bill. You can view and track changes in energy use almost instantly, discovering potential energy waste in your home and areas where you can save. With Hohm and the PowerCost Monitor WiFi, you can now:

• See moment-to-moment energy use and costs
• Measure how much specific appliances are costing you, in dollars and electricity
• Track long-term energy use, which you can reset as often as you wish

Why is this a big deal? Studies show that consumers who are aware of their energy use can save up to 18% on their home energy bill on average. Just take a look at the graph below for an example: At about 9:15, Mike turned on his air conditioner for a few minutes after cleaning out the compressor. You can see the spike in energy use that it caused. At about 2:30, Mike turned on the air conditioning and let it run. That's where you see a spike followed by consistent energy use at close to 6 kilowatts. At about 3:15, one of Mike's kids also turned on a hair dryer- that's the next spike you see. Hohm captured all this information from the Blue Line device in near real time and made it easy to see and understand.

We think seeing near real-time energy data will make people smarter about how much energy things in their house use, and help them make better decisions accordingly. So if you've ever wondered how much energy you're really saving when you adjust your thermostat or wash your laundry in cold water versus hot, Hohm and Blue Line will help you find out the answer! Get the PowerCost Monitor WiFi today, and be one of the first to try it out and tell your friends! For more info on the PowerCost Monitor WiFi,

Thanks!

The Microsoft Hohm team

-- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit

Do-It-Yourself Energy Audit: Go On, Try These Improvements Yourself!

Whether you Do-It-Yourself or choose to hire outside assistance, Build Green and do your part in reducing the US Oil Dependency- while becoming an Energy Wise User of Electricity!

If you find outside Assistance is needed-Scotts Contracting if available to Help. Scotty will provide a Cost Effective solution to your Home or Business Energy Needs. Click Here to Email Scotty for a No-Cost Free Green Site Inspection

What is a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit

As a homeowner you can easily perform your own home energy audit as there are many improvements that thousands and thousands of Americans have made in their homes to save energy. Below we have compiled a list of the critical areas in your home for you to inspect and take action on to fix in order to save energy. All of these suggestions require you to walk around your home and see how your home stacks up, then make the appropriate small home improvement.

D-I-Y Home Audit Checklist

	HOME AREA	WHAT IS WASTING ENERGY?	HOW TO SAVE ENERGY?
1	Lighting	Incandescent or halogen Light bulbs; lights turned on all the time	Switch to Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs or LEDs; turn off lights in rooms that you're not using
2	Water Heater & Piping	Un-insulated	Upgrade or install insulation
3	Water Heater Thermostat Setting	Set to 125 °F	Set to 120 °F or lower
4	Electronics and small appliances	Left on when not using, plugged directly into outlets (but still using electric power even when turned off!)	Plug all electronics and appliances into power strips that you turn off when not in use (turning off power strip completely shuts off power use)
5	Heating & Cooling Equipment	Older than 10-12 years	Time to replace with energy efficient equipment; Install programmable thermostat; make sure air conditioner has proper amount of refrigerant
6	Forced Air Furnace	Dirty, old filter on the air intake	Replace or clean air intake filter once every 1-2 months during high use season
7	Electrical outlets, windows and window frames, baseboards, doors, attic hatch and wall/window mounted air conditioners	Air flowing in due to gaps or deteriorating of exterior caulking or weather stripping*	Apply new caulking, seal or weather stripping**
8	Exposed faucets, pipes, electric outlets and wiring	Cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and siding	Seal effectively with mortar or caulking to prevent any heat loss
9	Attic floor	Poorly insulated floor with gaps, thin insulation	Upgrade or install insulation including the attic hatch cover
10	Attic vents	Vent and interior air flow blocked by insulation	Clear vents of any insulation to help interior air circulation
11	All exterior corners of home; where siding and chimneys meet; and areas where the foundation and siding meet	Air flowing in due to cracks and holes in the mortar, foundation, and/or siding	Apply new mortar, sealer or siding to seal leak*

* To determine whether there is a gap for air to flow in any of these areas, consider the following: rattle your windows and doors to see if there is a proper seal; put your hand on seams or joints and see if there is any air flowing through them; and use the incense test: carefully (avoiding drapes and other flammables) move a lit stick along walls or potential openings and where smoke flutters, you have air sneaking in.

** When sealing your home, please be aware of backdrafting. Backdrafting is when various appliances and exhaust fans pull the combustion gases they emit back into the living space which can create an unhealthy situation in the home.

-- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Energy From Manure

Energy From Cow Manure Searching for 'Energy from Manure' information. I collected the top yahoo search engine listings for Energy From Manure... more to come on subject. If you have information you would like Published send article to Scotty.

Producer of Baby Nutrition Products Saving CO₂ Based on Special "Green Tariff" article found at: http://www.renewable-energy-sources.com/2010/07/16/ukraine-milk-company-powered-by-4000-cows-and-ge-biogas-engine/comment-page-1/#comment-3160

Cow manure is being converted to energy at the first biogas cogeneration plant in the Ukraine. The facility, which is powered by 4,000 cows and a GE (NYSE: GE) Jenbacher gas engine, has recently completed nine months of successful operation at the Ukrainian Milk Company Ltd., located near Kiev.

The excess power produced at the plant is being sold to the grid. The Ukrainian Milk Company, which produces milk for baby nutrition products, received the license for selling power to the grid based on the "green" tariff, which is being approved by Ukraine authorities. According to the law, the "green" tariff is "a special tariff for electricity generated at the power plants with use of alternative energy sources."

The new combined heat and power (CHP) plant is powered by a GE JMC 312 containerized cogeneration model gas engine and is able to substitute the equivalent of 1.2 million cubic meters of natural gas annually and, therefore, is projected to reduce the equivalent of 18,000 metric tons of CO₂. Once converted into biogas, the manure from the cows produces 625 kW of electricity and 686 kW of thermal output.

This is GE's first order from the biogas plant construction company ZORG. The unit was sold to ZORG through GE's distributor and service provider in the Ukraine, SINAPSE. "Based on the top service provided by SINAPSE during the commissioning and operation of the new GE CHP plant, we look forward to working with them again and using GE's Jenbacher products for future projects we have planned," said Igor Aksyutov, commercial director of ZORG Ukraine.

The first stage of operation for the plant took place during the most severe winter in the last 20 years, with constant minus temperatures reaching -25°C to -30°C. Despite the cold temperatures, the operation of the plant remained at a favorable level.

Biogas offers customers several advantages. It provides an alternative disposal of dung, liquid manure and organic waste, while simultaneously harnessing them as an energy source, a substitute for conventional fuels. It also has the high potential for reduction in greenhouse gases and is highly efficient for combined on-site power and heat generation. In addition, the remaining substrate from the digester can be used as high-quality, agricultural fertilizer, characterized by neutralizing the acid effect with a higher ph-value, keeping nutrients retained and nearly odorless.

"The disposal and treatment of biological waste represents a major challenge for the waste industry. Our Jenbacher biogas-fueled gas engines improve waste management while maximizing the use of cow manure, an economical energy supply," said Prady Iyyanki, CEO-gas engines for GE Power & Water. "We are pleased that our technology is a part of the first biogas plant in operation in the Ukraine and applaud the region for seeking new renewable and alternative ways to create cleaner energy."

GE has several biogas projects throughout the world. China has adopted both cow and chicken manure applications. Once completed, the recently announced project at the Liaoning Huishan Cow Farm in China will become the world's largest biogas project based on cow manure. In addition, GE's Jenbacher gas engines are using biogas created from chicken manure to generate needed power and heat at the Beijing Deqingyuan Chicken Farm Waste Utilization Plant, a large chicken farm north of Beijing, and in July 2009, GE's biogas engines began to power China's largest chicken waste biogas-energy plant at the Minhe Animal Husbandry.

Cow manure also is helping to address northwestern India's mounting energy environmental needs and is allowing a U.S. dairy farm to support the expansion of renewable energy production. A GE Jenbacher biogas engine is powering a successful demonstration cattle manure-methane cogeneration plant at Haebowal, a large dairy complex in Punjab, India, while GE's biogas engine technology is generating 633 kilowatts of renewable energy at United States-based Crave Brothers Farm, LLC, in Waterloo, Wisc. Crave Brothers has been able to reduce operational costs and the environmental impacts of its dairy operations, and the surplus power it sells to the regional grid helps support the expansion of renewable energy production.

ZORG is a leading supplier of turn-key biogas solutions in the Ukrainian market. The company offers a full range of engineering services for biogas, as well as designs, builds and produces biogas plants. ZORG works globally and currently has a number of projects in CIS countries.

Additional Web Search Via - Yahoo

1. USATODAY.com - Cow manure eyed as alternate fuel source

   [Aug 22, 2005] As calls increase for renewable energy sources, there is more focus on developing cow ... Sweeten said manure contains at best about a third to a quarter of the energy value as ...

   usatoday.com/tech/science/2005-08-22-cow-manure-energy_x.htm - 54k - Cached

2. Cows power plan for alternative fuel - USATODAY.com

   [Dec 6, 2006] Power derived from manure is changing from an alternative-fuel ... produce more than a tiny fraction of the energy consumed in the USA, even if all of the nation's 7,000 large ...

   www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2006-12-03-cow-power_x.htm - Cached

   
3. [PDF]

   BioTown, USA - Sourcebook on Biomass Energy

   1679k - Adobe PDF - View as html

   BioTown, USA has much more energy available than the community currently uses each year. ... simple as shifting from corn, beans, manure and timber to sugars, ...

   www.in.gov/oed/files/Biotown_Sourcebook_040306.pdf

4. TURN MANURE INTO ENERGY

   It handles manure and gives back renewable energy. "The increase in production and ... Odorants in livestock manure result primarily from the partial ...

   www.slurrystore.com/manure_energy.html - Cached

5. Value of Manure as an Energy Source - eXtension

   Some attributes of energy production from manure may be less tangible than others. ... is the most widely used form of energy production from manure in the USA. ...

   www.extension.org/pages/Value_of_Manure_as_an_Energy_Source - Cached

6. Livestock Waste Management, Animal Manure Waste to Energy ...

   Solutions to convert animal waste into energy lowering soil contamination levels from livestock

   www.guascor-usa.com/livestock_water.htm - Cached

7. Manure Use for Fertilizer and for Energy: Report to Congress

   Manure Use for Fertilizer and for Energy: Report to Congress. By James M. MacDonald, Marc ... Competition from Energy Uses of Manure, 96 kb. Conclusions, 51 kb. ...

   www.ers.usda.gov/Publications/AP/AP037 - Cached

8. Agricultural Manure Anaerobic Digester Compendium

   This document contains an extensive inventory of manure digester systems, and background information for Europe, USA and Canada; includes lists of technology ...

   gis.lrs.uoguelph.ca/.../bioenergy/man_digesters.html - 147k - Cached

9. Coaltec Energy USA, Inc.

   Yield from the gasification process includes valuable energy (including heat, steam, and/or ... EnergyWorks and Coaltec Energy USA... (www.coaltecenergy.com)

   www.coaltecenergy.com - Cached

10. Biofpr :: News Article :: Renewable energy from manure for ...

    Illinois, USA - Methane digesters on dairy farms could soon be a common source of energy for residents and ... goal that 40 percent of all manure from... New York dairy farms goes

    biofpr.com/details/news/510617/Renewable_energy_from_manure...

-- Scott's Contracting scottscontracting@gmail.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.blogspot.com http://www.stlouisrenewableenergy.com scotty@stlouisrenewableenergy.com

Green and Eco Friendly Construction Materials

Green and Eco Friendly Construction Materials.  Scotts Contracting Proudly uses these and other Green Construction Materials in the Projects they Build.  Click here to schedule a Free Green Site Evaluation for your Next Project.

Before you begin building your new home, think green with these eco-friendly construction materials.

GO GREEN, SAVE GREEN: Building your new home with green construction materials is an investment that can save you money. (Photo: Branko Miokovic/iStockphoto)

By using green construction materials, you can increase the efficiency of your home and save money without putting undue stress on the environment. Building a sustainable home not only preserves natural resources and minimizes pollution, but also creates a healthy, nonhazardous environment for you and your family.

Bamboo flooring

A fast-growing grass, bamboo is recognized as a green construction material under LEED that requires minimal fertilization or pesticides. Whereas oak takes 120 years to grow to maturity, bamboo can be harvested in only three years. Most bamboo flooring available in North America is made in Hunan Province in China where bamboo is harvested from both natural and plantation groves. This bamboo is typically certified to the standards of the Forest Stewardship Council, meaning it meets strict criteria for environmental sustainability and social responsibility.

Cork flooring

Cork tiles are a rapidly renewable flooring product that comes from the bark of the cork oak tree and can be harvested every 10 years. It's rot- and fire-resistant, transmits little sound and has low volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and its manufacturing process produces almost no material waste. Plus, suberin, a substance of cork, is a natural insect repellant that keeps termites away.

Linoleum flooring

Linoleum is made from dried and milled flax seeds mixed with other plant materials, such as pine resin, wood flour and ground cork. In fact, linoleum is made entirely of natural, renewable resources that are 100 percent biodegradable. This type of flooring also repels dirt and dust — making it hypoallergenic — and is fire-resistant.

Wool carpets

Buying carpet made from animal hair is much more sustainable than buying synthetic carpet because it comes from a renewable, biodegradable resource. Synthetic carpets are often made from Middle East oil while wool carpets are typically made from the hair of sheep and llamas in New Zealand.

Wool isn't merely an eco-friendly material — it's also resistant to soiling, moisture, static and fire, and it's been shown to be less hospitable to dust mites than synthetic fibers. These carpets are also considered superior to synthetic ones because of their texture, durability and natural crimp that preserve the springy quality of the carpet.

Plant fiber carpet

Carpet made from plant fibers is chemically untreated, biodegradable and free of VOCs. One of the most popular types of plant fiber carpet is sisal, which is made from leaves of an agave plant that's grown without pesticides. The hard, thin plant fiber provides a durable surface that doesn't capture dust mites or allergens and is antistatic and sound absorbent.

Cotton batt insulation

This type of insulation — also known as blue jean insulation — is manufactured from denim and cotton fibers. The batts don't use the toxic formaldehyde found in fiberglass insulation, and the manufacturing required for cotton batt isn't nearly as energy intensive as that require for producing fiberglass.

Cotton bat insulation is not only an eco-friendly construction material — it also presents no cancer risk from airborne fibers, doesn't require a respirator during installation and won't cause itchiness like traditional insulations.

Straw board

These green building panels are designed to replace energy-intensive 2x4 and drywall materials for interior partition walls. They're made from compressed wheat or rice straw, which is a rapidly renewable resource — 60 million acres of wheat are grown in the U.S. each year, which results in 140 million tons of leftover straw.

High temperatures force straw to release a natural resin that binds the fibers together, and the boards are then covered with 100-percent-recycled paper liners and adhered with water-based nontoxic glue. In addition to being environmentally friendly, straw board is also fire-, termite- and mold-resistant.

Sunflower seed board

This type of board is composed of sunflower seeds, which is a rapidly renewable resource that's extremely versatile. Sunflower seed board comes in a variety of hues and can be stained, cut and routed like wood. The board can also be used in table surfaces, cabinetry and furniture — its only limitations are kitchen and bathroom countertops.

Poplar OSB

OSB floors are made from sustainably harvested wood that comes from fast-growing trees like aspen poplar. The logs are cut into strands, dried and treated with natural wax, and then they're subjected to high-temperature pressurization.
OSB Toxic Levels-Tuesday, September 7, 2010 by Scotty, Scotts Contracting
Re: OSB Issues-Toxic Levels

Snippet:

• Purchase sustainably harvested wood stamped by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

• Substitute oriented strand board (OSB) for your exterior sheathing. Select boards made from formaldehyde-free glues. If the sheathing is not required for the structure, use nonstructural insulated boards for extra insulation.

By Laura Moss,Fri, Jun 25 2010 at 3:55 PM EST