Energy

Eco-friendly, Organic, and Green

Sounds like a song, but what makes product manufacturers eligible to claim products eco-friendly, organic or green? According to a recent survey by Green Seal and EnviroMedia Social Marketing, 21% of consumers say a product‘s reputation is the biggest factor they weigh when making purchasing decisions, but one in three consumers say they don’t know how to tell if green product claims are true.

New economy, jobs, and climate change solutions—just what everyone hopes for, may be giving us something more to grasp onto in this era of uncertainty. 

The work of academia at Duke University and non-profit leader, Environmental Defense Fund (EDF) as well as union and trade association sponsorship are showcasing climate change solutions that may be what feeds the government’s economic plan to create 5 million jobs in environmental industries.  

Since its' inception in 1999, First Solar, Inc. has drawn attention to the solar renewable energy sector and continues to demonstrate a bright future, especially now in creating jobs and manufacturing capacity as market demand grows.

In a recent announcement, the Tempe, Arizona based company will open two new manufacturing facilities, one in the U.S. and one in Vietnam that are expected to open in 2012.

The promise of renewal energy sources and agriculture enrichment from biomass go hand in hand for the greater good: healthier lives. 

Biochar, as described by leading soil scientists Johannes Lehmann and Stephen Joseph, is the carbon-rich product obtained when biomass, such as wood, manure, or leaves, is heated in a closed container with little or no available air(1).  

Biochar is one byproduct of burning biomass and has been the subject and pursuit of recent studies, startups, and political debate growing around the USA, mostly in the last few years. Biochar has been identified as a soil nutrient similar to the composition of the rich, black soils found in the Amazon region, often referred as Terra preta.  

Imagine education taking a role in renewable energy resource planning and development, along with reaping financial rewards, science curriculum, and sustainable development.  Believe it.

Northern Indiana is prime land for generating wind power with its’ abundant wind natural resources, and the design-build firm, Performance Services, Inc., is positioned to make the best use of it with minimal environmental impact.  Furthermore, the power of collaborative partners in planning and development of this alternative energy project has produced impressive results for the areas education, city, public utility provider, and economic development.   

Green jobs that will deliver the smart grid's energy saving choices to the largest user technology base through wireless networks may be the new frontier.

Imagine a monitoring device that measures energy usage in your office or home sending an alert to your cell phone, notifying you there are energy zapping devices plugged in that are not in use.  

Save Energy and Money

It is not too late to claim tax credits on your income tax form for energy efficient green products. The U.S. Federal Government is extending tax credits of 30% of the cost to consumers to make energy efficient home improvements through 2016.