Re: Live Webcast-Retrofitting Cities-How to Green the Cities We've Got

On Mon, Nov 22, 2010 at 10:24 AM, Scott's Contracting <scottscontracting@gmail.com> wrote:

Retrofitting Cities: How to "Green" the Cities We've Got
Live Webcast Nov. 22, 1 PM ET / 10 AM PT

Register Now

More than half the world's population now lives in and around cities, arguably providing an excellent opportunity for efficient living in dense urban environments. But many urban areas are sprawling and inefficient, and short of tearing them down and starting anew, present barriers to reducing humanity's environmental impact.

Or do they? Recently, engineers and urban planners have suggested a number of ways to retrofit existing cities to greatly improve efficiency, reduce environment impact, and even improve quality of life for urban residents. Sustainable Cities Collective presents this discussion to explore the ideas that could make retrofitting the low-hanging fruit of urban re-engineering, and examine the potential challeng of funding them:

• Transit networks and mobility hubs
• Improving energy use in buildings
• Bike infrastructure, bike-sharing, and more
• Efficient electric grids
• Small-scale solar power and other alternative energy sources
• Funding: Where will the money come from? Can solutions like public-private partnerships help fill the gap?

Join us!

Featuring:

Martin Chávez is Executive Director of ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability USA, and a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico, during which time he was recognized as one of the nation's "greenest" mayors. Currently, Chávez directs ICLEI's ongoing efforts to empower local governments with the resources necessary to combat climate change, save energy, create green jobs, and improve life in their communities. Chávez has previously served as a member of the ICLEI USA Board of Directors and of the worldwide ICLEI Executive Committee. He also served as a Trustee of the United States Conference of Mayors (USCM), chaired the Urban Water Council, and was co-chair of USCM's Climate Change Task Force.

Chris Cheatham is the managing partner of Cheatham Consulting, LLC, providing consulting and dispute resolution services related to construction, surety, and green building projects. Chris is a LEED Accredited Professional and green building authority who frequently speaks to groups and associations and is quoted in the press regarding these issues. He has worked with attorneys, contractors, sureties, architects, engineers, and owners regarding green building growth, and risk mitigation strategies. Chris is also the publisher of the widely-read Green Building Law Update.

Thomas Brodocz is Vice President International Projects Development, Siemens One, Siemens AG, Germany. Thomas currently drives various projects in the urban sustainable environment, multi purpose and resort and developments, university campus and icon projects. He joined Siemens in 1976 after studying physics, and since has worked across a broad spectrum of businesses from medical equipment, mobility solutions, information technology, management-consulting, service business and infrastructure solutions including sports venues and alpine technologies. Currently, Thomas supports investors, architects, planners and General Contractors as well as the worldwide Siemens organization to master challenging large infrastructure projects.

Marc Gunther is a writer, speaker and consultant, who focuses on business and the environment. He worked for 12 years as a senior writer at FORTUNE magazine, where he is now a contributing editor. His most recent book, "Faith and Fortune: How Compassionate Capitalism is Transforming American Business," was published by Crown in 2004.

Register for the webcast

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

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

Quality Solar Panels will be available at $1.89 per Watt (or Less) with free delivery

January of 2011 container quantities (633 pcs) of these High Quality Solar Panels will be available at **$1.89/W with free delivery anywhere in the USA.  We are taking pre-orders so you will have the modules when you need them.  All bankable A grade 225 - 240W /Polycrystalline 60 cell modules UL 1730, CSA, including CEC/SB1 US listings. **Higher Quantity orders w/pricing even lower.

 

These modules have a double High Output Performance Guaranteed Warranty offering a full 25 years both manufacture and A.M. Best grade A or better insurance carrier.

 

Model                                    M215P M220P M225P M230P M235P M240P

Max Power Voltage Vm (V)     28.5     28.7     29.2     29.7    30.0     30.2

Max Power Current Im (A)     7.55     7.67     7.71     7.75    7.84     7.95

Open-Circuit Voltage Voc (V)  36.4     36.7     37.0     37.2    37.4     37.6

Short-Circuit Current Isc (A)   8.17     8.25     8.27     8.30    8.35    8.40

Cell Efficiency                          15.0% 15.4%  15.8%  16.1% 16.4% 16.8%

Module Efficiency                     13.1% 13.4%  13.8%  14.1% 14.4% 14.8%

Maximum System Voltage (V) 600 (UL)

Power Tolerance ± 3%

Series Fuse Rating (A) 20

Components & Mechanical Data

Front Glass High Transparency Tempered Glass, 0.125" -

CSG

Junction Box

Huber+Suhner (IP 67) Radox HA3 // Tyco, 1740971-1

Bypass Diode 3 diodes -

ST STPG1415 // Diotec SL1515

Output Cables

H+S, Radox smart // Tyco, ZHSCG - IEC and UL approved (0,0062 in² and 12AWG)

Connectors

MC4 - PV-KBT4/PV-KST4 // IEC and UL approved

Frame Anodized aluminum alloy type 6063-T5

Encapsulation Material EVA (0.019" ± 0.001" thickness)

Back Foil White TPT (0.012"+ 0.001" thickness)

Silicone Sealant

Dow Corning

Temperature Range -40°F to +194°F

Max Load 45lbs/ft² (UL Standards) -- 113lbs/ft² (IEC Standards, tested for heavy snow and ice load)

Impact Resistance Steel ball - 1.18 lbs dropped from 51" high

Specifications

Cells Polycrystalline silicon solar cells 6" x 6"

Number of cells 60 (6 x 10)

Dimensions (in.) 64.57 x 39.06 x 1.38

PCs/pallet 23

Weight (lb.) 41.9 module

 

We are also in the process of adding two new UL Listed *Micro-Inverters other than Enphase

------------------------- *lowest prices guaranteed ---------------------------

also available: SMA, PV powered, and Fronius single inverters - quote low market pricing...

 

All available Data Sheets viewable on S-Panels.com Q1 2011 in HTML format soon.

 
For Additional Information or assistance in determining how this offer can increase your Bottom Line by Eliminating the Costly Utility Bills for your Building--> contact Scott's Contracting at: scottscontracting@gmail.com.  Scotty will supply a Free Green Estimate for generating your own Electricity.  Live Green.

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

New: A Car that Runs on Human Waste

New car runs on human waste

Sunday, November 21, 2010 by: David Gutierrez, staff writer

(NaturalNews) Engineers from alternative energy company GENeco say they have designed an automobile engine that can run off methane gas produced from human waste. To demonstrate the engine, they have placed it in a conventional VW Beetle convertible, dubbing the car the Bio-Bug.

Methane, a flammable gas, is a produced naturally as animal feces decay. Already sewage works across the United Kingdom use anaerobic digesters to break human waste down more quickly and extract the useful gas. The process is often used to create fuel for electric generators on dairy farms.

"In order to reap power from poop, farms install an anaerobic digester which, over a period of twenty days or so, breaks down some of the collected poop's solids into acids, which feed bacteria, which in turn digest the manure and produce biogas," writes Alex Steffen in his book Worldchanging.

In the past, however, vehicles could not be powered by methane gas without a significant reduction in performance.

"Previously the gas hasn't been clean enough to fuel motor vehicles without it affecting performance," said Mohammed Saddiq, who designed the engine prototype. "However, through using the latest technology our Bio-Bug drives like any conventional car and what's more it uses sustainable fuel. If you were to drive the car you wouldn't know it was powered by biogas as it performs just like any conventional car. "

The key to creating a high-performance methane engine is a practice known as biogas upgrading, in which carbon dioxide is removed from the gas produced by waste fermentation. The Bio-Bug can reach 114 miles per hour. Scientists consider it carbon neutral because all the carbon dioxide it produces during methane combustion would have been released into the atmosphere anyway from the decay of human waste.

According to GENeco, just one British sewage works could fuel a Bio-Bug for 95.4 million miles in a single year, lowering carbon dioxide emissions by 19,000 tons.

Another way of looking at it is that the excrement from 70 houses could fuel a single car for 10,000 miles. Unfortunately, this means that methane engines could never supplant petroleum engines at current driving levels.

Sources for this story include:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring....

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

Traveling? want to go GREEN?

Going green when you're going away

By Chase Binder / Monitor staff

November 21, 2010

If you read last Monday's Monitor insert, Green Guide Winter 2010, you're no doubt planning to shrink your carbon footprint by driving better, buying locally, making your own cleaning products and growing some of your own food. But what about when you vacation?

Defining green: There are several levels of "green," beginning with paying attention to water usage. Many hotels and resorts will place neatly printed cards on beds and in bathrooms saying that sheets aren't changed daily and that they will assume you'll re-use your towels unless you leave them on the floor or in the tub. This is pretty basic, and something Bud and I have seen in places as unexpected as Bosnia, Cambodia, and (closer to home) Foxwoods Resort and Casino. From there, it goes up the ladder to programs like the use of bulk soap and amenities (saving landfills from individual packaging), use of composting (usually smaller rural B & B's), environmental cleaning products, recycling, serving of local food, donating leftover food and goods to local charities and, the biggie, use of alternative energy sources - think solar, geothermal and the like.

Finding green: It can be a challenge (but great fun, too!) to find a truly green lodging, but there is help. Green Seal is a D.C.-based nonprofit working towards a more sustainable world by developing standards for sustainable living and offering third-party certification for products and services that meet those standards. About 100 hotels across the country have earned the Green Seal including several (but not all) Westins, Fairmont's, Marriott's, Hiltons and Hyatt's as well some tony properties like The Muse Hotel in New York and the Sir Francis Drake in San Francisco. Visit greenseal.org for listings and links. There are only four in New England, all in the Boston area. Check out the Hotel Marlowe in Cambridge (hotelmarlowe.com).

What about New Hampshire? New Hampshire, of course, not only relies heavily on tourism, but also embraces the idea of being a good steward of the environment. Hence the New Hampshire Sustainable Lodging and Restaurant Program, which works to promote all kinds of sustainable practices and also offers a certification program. Visit nhslrp.org to check out its standards and browse certified lodgings and restaurants by geographical area.

(E-mail Chase Binder at ChaseBinder@comcast.net.)

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