Green energy refers to the use of power that is not only more efficient than fossil fuel but that is friendly to the environment as well. Green energy is generally defined as energy sources that dont pollute and are renewable.

There are several categories of green energy. They are anaerobic digestion, wind power, geothermal power, hydropower on a small scale, biomass power, solar power and wave power. Waste incineration can even be a source of green energy.

Nuclear power plants claim that they produce green energy as well, though this source is fraught with controversy, as we all know. While nuclear energy may be sustainable, may be considered renewable and does not pollute the atmosphere while it is producing energy, its waste does pollute the biosphere as it is released.

The transport, mining and phases before and after production of nuclear energy does produce and release carbon dioxide and similar destructive greenhouse gases. When we read of green energy, therefore, we rarely see nuclear power included.

Those who support nuclear energy say that nuclear waste is not, in fact, released into our earths biosphere during its normal production cycle. They stress as well that the carbon dioxide that nuclear energy production releases is comparable, in terms of each kilowatt hour of electricity, to such sources of green energy as wind power.

As an example of the green energy production the average wind turbine, such as the one in Reading England, can produce enough energy daily to be the only energy source for 1000 households.

Many countries now offer household and commercial consumers to opt for total use of green energy. They do this one of two ways. Consumers can buy their electricity from a company that only uses renewable green energy technology, or they can buy from their general supplies such as the local utility company who then buys from green energy resources only as much of a supply as consumers pay for.

The latter is generally a more cost - efficient way of supplying a home or office with green energy, as the supplier can reap the economic benefits of a mass purchase. Green energy generally costs more per kilowatt hour than standard fossil fuel energy.

Consumers can also purchase green energy certificates, which are alternately referred to as green tags or green certificates. These are available in both Europe and the United States, and are the most convenient method for the average consumer to support green energy. More than 35 million European households and one million American households now buy these green energy certificates.

While green energy is a great step in the direction of keeping our environment healthy and our air as pollutant free as possible, it must be noted that no matter what the energy, it will negatively impact the environment to some extent.

Every energy source, green or otherwise, requires energy. The production of this energy will create pollution during its manufacture. Green energys impact is minimal, however.

Top 5 Green Energy Companies From 2008

Author: Nick Tart

Thousands of organizations and businesses are going the extra mile and spending the extra dollar to buy utility-scale energy from renewable resources. So much so that the United States E.P.A. (Environmental Protection Agency) compiles a quarterly list of the top green power companies from their Green Power Partnership program which came out in July 2008.

Some businesses take diminutive steps towards a green campaign, but these companies are proving their allegiance to a greener environment by voluntarily spending millions of dollars on clean energy.

1. Intel purchased 1.3 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in January 2008. This compensates for 47 percent of the companies overall energy use.
2. PepsiCo purchased 1.1 billion kilowatt hours of electricity in 2007, the equivalent of powering 90,000 homes for an entire year. This accounts for 100 percent of their annual energy use. PepsiCo was named Green Power Partner of the Year in 2007 by the E.P.A.
3. U.S. Air Force has already purchasd 9 million kilowatt hours of electricity this year as of July 2008. They have invested in a number of biogas, biomass, geothermal, solar and wind energy providers.
4. Wells Fargo has purchased 5.5 million kilowatt hours of electricity from wind energy providers thus far in 2008. They are also a Green Power Partner of the Year in 2007. More than green energy, Wells Fargo has made a number of other commitments to their green campaign including LEED certifying their buildings and offering online account statements.
5. Whole Foods Market, the past two years has purchased enough green energy to compensate for 100 percent of their energy use, totalling to over 5 million kilowatt hours annually. The company is also investing in multiple other efforts to reduce their carbon footprint on the environment.

Other organizations ranking high on the E.P.A.’s list are Starbucks, Johnson & Johnson and the University of Pennsylvania.

About the Author:

Nick Tart is the editor of four main sites for Worldwide Marketing Solutions. One of which is Great Earth News. GreatEarthNews.com is ‘The Good News Site’ that provides information and tips to help you better the world. If you enjoyed reading this article, please check out The Good News Site!.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Top 5 Green Energy Companies From 2008

CASSVILLE, Wis. - When it comes back online later this year, the DTE E. J. Stoneman power plant will be the first totally “green” power plant in Wisconsin. It will have a 40-megawatt capacity.

The plant conversion will lead to the addition of 17 to 35 employees.

In July 2008, DTE Energy Services, of Ann Arbor, Mich., purchased the power plant and retained Stoneman plant manager Gary Austin, who came to the plant in January 2008.

DTE said it planned to convert the coal-fired plant to burn wood waste, a renewable fuel.

Former village president Louis Okey, now a member of the Cassville Economic Development Board, praised Austin.

“This is a big deal for Cassville,” Okey said. “He saw a diamond in the rough. He’s a knowledgeable guy who loves the area. He saw a chance for the plant to do real well.”

The plant will burn mostly urban wood waste, primarily from building demolition that would normally go to a landfill.

The conversion process is approaching a crescendo with structural - steel and concrete - work under way. It also includes converting the boilers from burning pulverized coal to a stoker technology and conversion of the material-handling process.

Forty-five to 60 people are working on the conversion. At the peak, 90 people will be involved.

The effort includes stockpiling fuel sources. DTE has a 13-acre quarry site near Dickeyville that’s almost full.

Okey and Austin agree the project will have a big economic impact on the area, adding indirect jobs related to supplying wood - chippers, cutters, truck drivers and barge operators.

“This is all going to help local companies - from trucking to storing,” Okey said. “And other small businesses should benefit.”

From naturalnews.com

(Natural News) A newly formed energy group called the Tres Amigas Project has put forth a proposal to interconnect three regional areas of natural energy sources, covering wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal generated electrical energies. The project may cost 1 billion dollars and take five years to complete.

The three regional grids to be connected are the Eastern interconnection, the Western interconnection, and the Texas interconnection. The connecting high speed substation would be placed in a 22.5 square mile area near Clovis, NM. Three high voltage converters capable of converting 5000 megawatts of direct current would be installed, forming a triangle over the Clovis 22.5 square mile area.

Those three converters would be linked with direct current superconductor cables from American Superconductor. The superconductor cables are meant to be underground, which minimizes environmental and property ownership issues. The cables are also very efficient at transmitting electricity.

Their power loss during transmission is around 3 percent, while conventional overhead cables often lose more than 10 percent of transmitted power. American Superconductor creates superconductivity with a ceramic wire that is cooled with liquid nitrogen circulated around the wires.

The proposal was announced last October, 2009 by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson. Governor Richardson had previously served as the U.S. Energy Secretary. The newly forming Tres Amigas Project has its headquarters in Santa Fe, New Mexico’s state capitol.

Why it’s needed

Most of the renewable energy is produced in American rural areas, but the highest energy demands are in urban areas nearer the coast lines. The group’s CEO, Phil Harris, says more transmission lines need to be built to take advantage of renewable energy sources.

Currently, only 2.5 percent of America’s electrical energy is supplied from renewable energy sources. With existing technology, it could go to 10 percent by 2020 according to The National Research Council’s 2009 report on renewable energy sources. The renewable energy sources available in America include wind, solar, and hydroelectric energy.

The Tres Amigas Project would be a major step toward linking with another proposed project. A 3,000-mile wind energy trail called the Green Power Express is scheduled for completion by 2020. These two new technologies would enable electrical power from renewable energy sources to exceed the National Research Council’s 2009 expectations.

Sources for this article include:

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-1…

http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ari…

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-1…

Get eco in your kitchen with these tips. From electricity, to water consumption, your kitchen can be earth-happy if you follow some simple guidelines to re-use items, minimize waste and be as environmentally friendly as you can.

Microwave - Cooking in the microwave and other small appliances can be extremely efficient compared to a stove. When buying one, go for models with the highest energy star rating.

Bamboo and aluminium steamers - Bamboo or aluminium steamers are perfect for conserving energy. Always try to combine cooking time and energy. For example, a roast and vegies can both be cooked in the oven at the same time, while a pot of pasta can also be used to steam vegies.

Food processor or blender - Making your own sauces, dips and dressing not only saves money, it’s healthier and drastically reduces packaging.

Eco bags - When you get back from the shops, put your eco carry bags back into your car or handbag to avoid forgetting them next time. Many eco-bags are made from a light weight parachute material that is easy to compact and stow away.

Water efficient fittings - As has become the standard, it is a great idea to install water=saving devices throughout the home - especially in the kitchen where taps are used the most.

Pots of herbs - Plants herbs in pots and place them close to your kitchen. That way, when you need some fresh herbs, they are already close at hand.

Recycling - Set up a system to separate your waste. Separate plastics, glass, newspaper and cans. Put a calendar up to remind yourself when different items are collected and contact your local council for more information.

Compost Pail or Bokashi bin - Invest in a small compost pail or in a bokashi bin to collect your kitchen scraps. By keeping your compost pail close by, it’s easier to collect scraps as you go and then add them to your garden or composting system later.

DIY cleaning products - ditch the chemicals and make your own cleaning products. Mix white vinegar with water for a terrific floor cleaner and add a touch of lemon for a fresh scent.

Leftover fridge calendar - Keep a calendar on the fridge to mark your leftovers. This way, you can tell at a glance if you really need to do another shopping trip.

Plastic tub - Don’t have a grey water system? Use a plastic tub in the sink to catch water from washing vegetables. If you use a grey water safe dish detergent, you can gather the water you use from rinsing your dishes as well.

Coffee and tea - Use fair trade, organic or rainforest alliance coffees where ever possible. Same goes for teas. Always go for loose-leaf teas brewed in a pot or plunger - less packaging.

Kettle - Go for the most energy efficient model. Look for ones that shut off after the water is boiled and remember to only boil the amount of water you need to avoid re heating unnecessarily.

The world of big business is making daily headlines by “going green” after discovering that what’s good for the planet is also proving good for business.

IBM recently announced “Project Big Green,” a $1 billion initiative to reduce energy consumption by offering new lines of energy-efficient IT products.

Wal-Mart is adding solar power to more than 20 stores.

PepsiCo is buying renewable energy certificates to offset its carbon footprint. Even major banks and energy firms are being asked by shareholders to prove that they, too, are going green.

It’s not just the biggest businesses that are attracting new customers and shareholders and reaping huge profits by “going green.” Small businesses also are growing eco-profits by embracing surprisingly inexpensive strategies to add value to their products, services and brand.

Consider these innovative examples:

- Bob Smith of Mad River Brewing Company in Blue Lake, California, has attracted positive publicity (and new customers) by promoting his efforts to reduce his small firm’s waste output and take other environmentally conscious steps. In turn, he has received welcome positive publicity from the press. “What PR budget? That is our PR budget,” he told the Albuquerque Tribune about “going green” to market his business.

- In Florida, Natalie Kelly formed Home Therapy Cleaning Services, which uses only nontoxic, all-natural cleaning products for her home cleaning business. She used to sell aromatherapy candles from her home, she told the St. Petersburg Times, but today uses an aromatherapy baking soda blend to freshen carpets.

Here’s what you can do:

- Two inexpensive ways any small business or solo entrepreneur can go green are to change light bulbs to energy-efficient bulbs and use biodegradable cleaning products.

- With that done, tell your customers and the media about these simple ways to go green. You will have just earned instant credibility as a green business, and also as a media resource for simple, effective ways to “go green.”

- Many communities online and offline are forming networks to exchange energy-saving ideas for home and business. Form your own energy network, enlisting neighborhood businesses that will welcome another opportunity to show they’re going green, too. The plus for you is that you will have just positioned yourself and your business as a community environmental leader.

- Copy what the New York Times called “Phase 2″ of the corporate response to global warming. Partner with an environmental group. Travelocity invites customers to donate an extra $10 to $40, which goes to the Conservation Fund to plant trees to offset the carbon used by a client to take a trip. Whole Foods invites customers to buy a $5 “wind power card” that goes to Renewable Choice Energy to build wind farms. What local environmental group can you partner with to promote on your Web site (and vice versa), to set aside a day that a percentage of profits will go to that organization or to make their fliers available at your business?

- Make use of readily available, free information to hand out with your business literature or to make available in your office. For example, create a one-page flier on your letterhead inviting clients to calculate their own carbon footprint by visiting http://multimedia.wri.org/safeclimate_calculator.cfm.

- Go deeper green! Attend a “green” conference in your community or region, and promote your attendance. (Go to Google.com and type in “green” and “conference” and your area to find out when and where they are scheduled.) Write a “green” article on simple ways you are going green and submit it to one of the dozens of “green” Web sites and blogs that invite reader contributions. It’s a great way to market your smart ideas and your business!

About the Author:

Tushar Mathur We are all About Green at : Talking About Green and selling green products at : Buy Green

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Going Green Is Not Just For Big Business-You Can Grow Profits, Too!

LEDs are solid-state semiconductor devices that convert electrical energy directly into light.
Thermal sources of light such as flames and incandescent filaments emit light when heated, either by chemical reaction (flames) or electrical heating (filament lamps). LED “cold” generation of light leads to high efficacy because most of the energy radiates within the visible spectrum.
Other common high efficiency light sources, such as fluorescent lamps and electro luminescent devices, also produce light without much thermal radiation outside the visible spectrum.
Because LEDs are solid-state devices, they can be extremely small and durable; they also provide longer lamp life than other sources.

Light is generated inside the chip, a solid crystal material, when current flows across the junctions of different material compositions.

An LED consists of two elements of processed material called P-type semiconductors and N-type semiconductors. These two elements are placed in direct contact, forming a region called the P-N junction. The composition of the different materials determines the wavelength and therefore the colour of light generated.

LED resembles most other diode types, but there are important differences. The LED has a transparent package, allowing visible or IR energy to pass through. Also, the LED has a large PN-junction area whose shape is tailored to the application. The device shown in Figure 1 is an AlGaInP LED because the semiconductor layers are aluminum (Al), gallium (Ga), indium (In), and phosphate (P).

Main LED materials

The main semiconductor materials used to manufacture LEDs are:

*Indium gallium nitride (InGaN): blue, green and ultraviolet high-brightness LEDs
*Aluminum gallium indium phosphide (AlGaInP): yellow, orange and red high-brightness LEDs
*Aluminum gallium arsenide (AlGaAs): red and infrared LEDs
*Gallium phosphide (GaP): yellow and green LEDs

Why LEDs?

LEDs have a range of benefits which is fast making them the best solution for real energy efficient lighting. Over the course of the next few years some aspects are expected to change significantly.

Lifetime
As solid-state light sources, LEDs have a very long lifetime and are generally very robust due to no mechanical or moving parts.
Incandescent bulbs have an expected lifetime of 1k to 5k hours, while good quality LEDs are often quoted of having a lifetime of 50k hours, more than 5 years continuous use. However it is important to to understand that the performance of LEDs degrades over time, and this degradation is strongly affected by factors such as operating current and temperature.

Low maintenance
The long lifetime of LEDs reduces the need to replace failed lamps, and this can lead to significant financial and environmental savings, particularly in maintenance, labour and recycling. This makes LED fixtures useful for installations in inaccessible locations, but if tasks like cleaning the light fixture are required, then the light sources could be replaced at the same time, negating the “low maintenance” advantage.

Efficiency
As a semiconductor device, LEDs are highly efficient. Current device technology is allowing the performance of these to be pushed to limits that exceed that of standard lighting.
The directional nature of light produced by LEDs allows the design of luminaires with higher overall efficiency.

Low power consumption
The low power consumption of LEDs leads to large energy savings that can often drive the installation of LED-based systems. Initial purchase costs start off higher, but can be proven to return the investment cost in a short period of time.

Brightness
Light outputs are constantly being increased and there are several products that have higher lumen output than traditional lighting.

Heat
LEDs do not produce heat in the form of infrared radiation (IR) unlike incandescent bulbs which makes them hot to the touch.
This lack of heat production allows LED fixtures to be used in locations where heating from conventional sources would cause a particular problem e.g. illuminating food, textiles, artifacts, etc.
However, LEDs do produce heat at the semiconductor junction within the device and good thermal management must be employed on high power devices to maintain operation life

Cost
In many applications, LEDs are expensive compared with other light sources, when measured by metrics such as “£-per-lumen”.
LED manufacturers continue to work towards reducing their production costs while at the same time increasing the light output of their devices.
However, the high initial cost of LED-based systems is offset by lower energy consumption, lower maintenance costs and other factors.
The initial cost may seem high, but take into account the electricity usage that is saved, they pay for themselves.

Electricity Cost savings from switching to LED Direct replacement bulbs
10W LED Bulbs Vs 75W halogen bulb running cost comparison

Small form-factors
LEDs are very small - typical high-brightness LED chips measure 0.3 mm by 0.3 mm, while high-power devices can be 1 mm x 1 mm or larger. There are many examples where the availability of small, high-brightness devices have enabled significant market advancement. The obvious example is in mobile phone handsets, where blue, green and white LEDs are now used in most models to back light keypads and liquid-crystal display (LCD) screens.

Instantaneous switch-on
LEDs switch on rapidly, even when cold, and this is a particular advantage for certain applications such as vehicle brake lights.

Colour
LEDs are available in a broad range of brilliant, saturated colours (although performance varies across the spectrum), and white devices are also available. Modules containing different colored LEDs (typically red, green and blue, or RGB) can be tuned to a huge range of colours, and easily dimmed. RGB modules provide a much wider gamut of colours than white LEDs or other traditional white light sources, which is a particular advantage in applications such as backlighting liquid-crystal displays (LCD’s).

RGB LEDs and colour mixing
LED characteristics change with time, temperature and current, and from device to device. For RGB LEDs, the performance of different colored devices changes at different rates. This can result in variation of lamp colour and intensity, and poor reproducibility.

LED Vs Halogen

LED Lighting Types

Now the LED bulbs are widely applied in household, office, street, shop, park etc for decoration and lightings LED lighting family mainly includes:
1. LED ball lamp
2. LED spot lamp
3. LED ground lamp
4. LED tube light
5. LED rope lamp
6. LED pool lamp
7. LED curtain lamp
8. LED Christmas (festival) lamp
9. LED ceiling lamp
10. LED road light
11. LED Solar light
Etc.

In a word, LED lightings will be the future of lighting, and it will definitely replace the halogen lights in soon future.

About the Author:

Leading Manufacturer of LED screen & LED Light

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - New Concept of Green & Energy-saving Lighting - LED Light