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[+] Get in touch with a Coulomb CT500 Distributor.

While not as sexy as the WattStation, Coulomb Technologies today unveiled a new charging station that could be found in thousands of homes across the country over the next few years. Referred to as CT500, the Level II charging station is compatible with electric vehicles using the SAE J1772 standard and is perfect for residential or light commercial use.

This is a 7.2 kW single output station with 208/240 V @ 30 A charging.

CT500 is networked and has a host of potential features, including smart card reading, energy-theft prevention, intelligent power control, integrated fault detection, wireless upgrading, power metering, and compatibility with the smart grid.

Pricing starts at $2,500, not including installation, says Coulomb spokeswoman Anne Smith, according to Green Car Advisor. If you’re in the market, the new station is available nationally through Coulomb distributors.

Credit: Coulomb Technologies, Inc.

Energy Efficiency and the World of 2030

Jul 28th

BASF, one of the largest chemical companies in the world, created the following video on how important energy efficiency is to the world of 2030 and beyond and how energy efficiency may help ease the global demand for energy. This is particularly interesting in light of the fact that the current dialogue coming out of Washington and other national capitals is how are we going to power the next generation. Is it going to be with more fossil fuels like coal and oil or are we going to make a national commitment to more nuclear power or renewable energy like solar or wind?

In this video, BASF makes an interesting case that perhaps a solution to our global energy demand is already out there: energy efficiency. According to the following, if industry, cars and homes maximize their energy use more completely, the global energy demand can be reduced by almost 75% from what it otherwise would be along with a similar reduction in CO2 emissions. Ultimately, the real solution to the rising global energy demand for 2030 and beyond will include energy efficiency as well as new energy sources. However, as the climate/energy bill continues to languish in congressional debate, we need to make sure that making a national push for energy efficiency is front and center in any resulting bill. Ensuring that we as a nation continue to use our existing resources more effectively and efficiently seems to be one of them most bipartisan ways in which we as a nation can continue to grow and thrive economically without having to rely heavily on new energy sources, regardless of whether those sources are controversial or contested.

To see what you can do to make your home more energy efficient, please visit the MyEnergySolution.com home energy audit page for information and solutions!

MyEnergySolution.com Helping San Diego Residents Go Solar

Jul 28th

San Diego, as many around the country realize every winter, resides in an ideal climate of seemingly endless sunshine and moderate temperatures. America’s finest, however, is not just simply a vacation spot but has quickly become a leading center for residential solar power and currently leads California in solar installations per capita. With an abundance of single family homes and direct sunshine, San Diego is a natural place for residential solar power and offset the relatively high cost residents pay to utility companies for gas and electric.

According to MyEnergySolution.com, San Diego has the highest solar adoption rate in California. “San Diego has the perfect physical and economic environment to capitalize on solar power and combined with strong large rebates & incentives, home owners have and will continue to reap benefits of improving their home’s energy use with solar.” said co-founder Omer Atesmen.

First and most obviously, San Diego has over 248 days of sunshine per year, a must for solar. But more importantly, San Diego residents suffer with generally high utility rates that can be offset for potentially large monthly savings. On average, San Diego residents have much higher electric bills than the national average. Fortunately for San Diegans, generous rebates and incentives currently exist through federal and state governments and local utilities. Residents that have taken advantages of these rebates and installed solar panels have typically cut their bills by approximately 70% (source: CSI database).

Despite San Diego’s positive attributes, too many local residents are missing out on the opportunity to drastically cut their energy bills with solar. According to Clairemont resident, Kurt Davidson, “Last month I paid over $300 on gas and electric alone for my small home. It feels like I am burning money just to maintain a comfortable home, and other than shutting everything off, I don’t know what to do.”

Solar adoption rates in San Diego could be even higher than they are now. Why? Government and utility-sponsored rebates and incentives are peaking. The cost of solar panel is dropping and there are more financing mechanisms than ever for home solar power. Yet, most homeowners remain ill-informed or confused about how to incorporate solar power into their homes, how to finance an investment in solar or how solar power could potentially save them a great deal of money over time.

But why? Particularly in an area like San Diego, why are homeowners still hesitant to pull the trigger on solar power for their home? In simplest terms, it comes down to information, too much of it actually. Many homeowners simply do not have the time or the expertise to sort through the barrage of information about residential solar power and other ways to save energy. From the types of solar panels, to which solar companies to use, to the myriad of current financing programs, the available information can be overwhelming and difficult to synthesize and understand in a short timeframe.

MyEnergySolution.com was created to solve this problem: to simplify the nature and flow of information about solar energy for actual use by homeowners. MyEnergySolution.com is easily accessible source for San Diego residents to find quick and usable facts about energy efficiency, residential solar power and all of the relevant financing mechanisms. We will even help connect you with the correct local professional so that consumers have everything they need to make the right decision for their home.

Co-founder Dr. Beau Peelle discusses the inspiration for MyEnergySolution.com, “While consulting for large companies on energy and cost efficiency, our friends and family kept asking us how they could save energy at home. We quickly realized that there was a large segment of the market that would love to save money and go green, but there is simply not enough time to weed through all of the good and bad information out there. So we left our jobs to found MyEnergySolution.com and focus on educating homeowners on clean energy. We are dedicated to finding consumers the best energy saving solutions for their homes.”

The MyEnergySolution team also provides a simple online tool to help San Diego and California residents determine in less than 2 minutes if solar makes sense – before getting bogged down in the details. If you qualify, MyEnergySolution.com will connect you directly to the best local solar experts to receive a free detailed assessment of your home. This is critical before making any further investment of your time or money – and most homeowners find this risk-free step quite informative.

With the rise of solar panels and generous rebates from government and local utilities, saving energy AND money is reality for homeowners. And companies like MyEnergySolution.com are allowing San Diegans to make smarter energy decisions at home.

Top Five Mistakes When Considering Home Solar Power

Jul 28th

So you’ve decided to invest in solar power for your home to lower your utility bills. Great! But before you proceed any further, it’s important to know some of the more common solar mistakes that homeowners make so you can avoid them. Here are five of the most common mistakes:

Mistake # 1: Missing out on limited time rebates and incentives.

Nothing’s worse than making the right step towards solar power and then realizing that you missed out on a large incentive or rebate. These programs are great for homeowners, but they can have very strict requirements and most expire after a set period. Make sure you know what solar financial incentives and rebates are available from the federal, state, and municipal government and your local electrical utility. More importantly, make sure your home solar power system meets every requirement necessary to qualify for the programs and that these programs don’t expire before you’ve completed your installation. Professional solar installers are intimately familiar with the programs and can make sure that you are able to take advantage of all applicable solar rebates and financial incentives.

Mistake # 2: Not using an experienced solar professional to install your system.

The best solar installers undergo extensive training and are able to rely on years of solar installation experience. These professionals know the incentives and rebates in your area and will ensure that your home solar power system meets the requirements. They also will optimize your system’s position in relation to the sun, which will guarantee peak performance resulting in the lowest possible electrical bill for you. What’s more, professional solar installers are unlikely to make the installation mistakes that are common in ‘do-it-yourself’ jobs. Whether it is a leak in your roof or an electrical connection that doesn’t meet county code, there are many ways that a solar installation can go wrong. Finally, professional solar installers can help you through the mountain of paperwork and permits necessary to install your system and get it online. To top it all off, professional solar installers can also help you secure financing for your system. For more information on qualified professionals, you can check out this report on California solar companies written by the research analysts at Clean Energy Experts.

Also, click here if you are ready to learn more about solar power and need estimates from solar companies.

Mistake # 3: Forgetting to look at financing and leasing options.

The average home solar power system costs between $10,000 and $30,000 after rebates and incentives. For most of us, this represents a major investment, comparable in cost to a new car. Financing a home solar power system can reduce your initial out-of-pocket expenses and make the entire process easier. Most solar installers will work with you to find the purchase option that makes the most sense and help you get the financing you need. Leasing is another attractive option if you don’t want to pay for the solar equipment or installation up-front. Instead, you simply pay for the electricity that the solar system generates each month. Both financing and leasing are great ways to reduce your out-of-pocket expenses and still experience the benefits of going solar. To learn more, visit our financing information page.

Mistake # 4: Not making your home energy-efficient first.

A good first step toward solar is to check your home’s energy efficiency. You can do a simple home energy audit on your own or hire a contractor to help you. Most homeowners discover that they can lower their electric bill simply by making their home more efficient. In fact, the average home energy audit finds potential electricity savings of up to 30%. Common energy efficiency problems include leaky air ducts, inefficient appliances and incandescent light bulbs. Solving these problems increases the likelihood that your home solar system will be able to completely eliminate your electric bill and that you may even get a check from the local electric utility every month.

Mistake # 5: Miscalculating your solar savings.

Figuring out exactly how much you can save with your solar panels is a complex process. It involves a careful evaluation of the installation site, the available sunlight and amount of shading on your home, and the characteristics of the solar panels. Most solar websites (including ours) have simple calculators that provide estimates of how much you can save, but these are only approximations. Having a professional solar installer visit your home to provide a consultation is the best way to get a more precise estimate. With these estimates of costs and savings, you can be sure that solar power is an investment that makes sense for you.

Now that you know “what not to do”, you are better prepared in your solar undertakings! Be sure to check our solar consultation page if you would like to receive a consultation from some of our local solar professionals.

Obama Executive Order Pushing Government and Private Sector Towards Energy Efficiency

Jul 28th

While I know this does not exactly qualify as fresh news, but as we wait and see what will happen with the cap and trade legislation in Congress, I thought it would be interesting to mention one of the measures that the federal government already has in place to promote energy efficiency. Back in October of 2009, President Obama signed an executive order that calls for a 30% cut in vehicle fuel use by 2020, a 50% increase in recycling by 2015, and to establish 2020 greenhouse gas reduction targets within 90 days.

Under the executive order, all federal agencies will be required to meet a series of environmental targets over the next ten years. These targets include 50% recycling and waste diversion by 2015, a 30% reduction in vehicle-fleet petroleum use by 2020, and a 26 percent improvement in water efficiency by 2020. In addition, the executive order requires that federal procurement offices promote environmentally responsible products and encourage sustainable business practices among federal vendors and contractors by requiring 95 percent of applicable contracts to meet sustainability requirements.

President George W. Bush signed an executive order in 2007 that asked four agencies to draw up regulations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions from cars and trucks by the end of his administration, but didn’t ask for specific targets.

There are several things that I like about this. First, the federal government is one of the largest, if not the largest, landlord in the country as it occupies nearly 500,000 buildings throughout the country. In addition to the energy consumed in these buildings, the federal government operates more than 600,000 vehicles and employs more than 1.8 million civilian workers. That’s a lot of energy used every day. By having the federal government make this move, the potential savings in energy consumption and carbon emissions could be enormous.

More than anything, what is great about this executive order is that the federal government is leading the way on the push for greater energy efficiency in our daily lives and the potential impact on the private sector could be huge. There are many private sector companies that exist to service the government and most of them exist in the government procurement field. Whether it is supplying the government with office supplies or actually constructing commercial office buildings for government use, the private sector is intimately tied to the fulfilling the directives and prerogatives of the federal government.

By insisting on energy efficiency in its practices, the federal government is helping to push private sector businesses to re-think how they service the government and move towards technologies that may be unknown or little used. Now, those technologies can brought to the forefront of day-to-day application and further refined/developed as they are increasingly being implemented in our daily lives.

Also, as a natural consequence, this energy efficiency mandate will force many existing government buildings and other government services to be retrofitted or altered in some manner in order to meet these new energy efficient guidelines. The federal government cannot completely rebuild its infrastructure from scratch in order to comply with this executive order, so it is going to have work with existing buildings and processes to make them more efficient. What that means to me is jobs, particularly green jobs. From solar installers to energy efficiency experts, this executive order could have a dramatic impact on the clean energy industry as it ramps up its operations in order to fulfill a long overdue federal initiative. And while we wait for some climate bill to work its way through Congress, at least this executive order is one thing that we can celebrate out of Washington.

How Solar Panels Work

Jul 28th

As more and more of my friends know that I work for a company that is focused on clean energy, the more questions I receive on some of the more technical aspects of certain clean energy technology. Believe it or not, the question I receive most often is how do solar photovoltaic systems (or solar panels) actually work? Solar power has been around for so long that for many people, its effectiveness is a given but many never stop to think exactly how they work. At MyEnergySolution.com, we have an entire section of our website dedicated to solar power, how it works and how it can help you save money. But today, I decided to post a video clip that illustrates in about as simple manner as possible how solar panels work and what makes them so unique. It’s pretty basic but I hope you enjoy it! Also, if you are interested in solar for your home, please click here and we’ll have some of our expert solar installation parters contact you!

What Does a Zero Waste Policy Really Mean?

Jul 28th

There is no one definition of the term zero waste. It means different things in different places, and it is popular with many politicians around the world, as it answers a popular wish perfectly.

The only way it is possible to define the zero waste philosophy is to study the schemes which describe themselves as zero waste projects around the world.

However, let me make it clear, nowhere that I know of does it mean literally “zero waste” to landfill. As I said, this is a term coined by politicians rather than waste management engineers.

The “Zero Waste” or “No Waste” goals in the places which were studied by the Green Alliance in 2006, were found to mean in effect no un-recycled waste, and not much more.

Yes, most are articulated as Zero Waste to landfill, however, none of the places in question at that time seemed to be planning an increase in incineration for example, which would reduce the waste tonnage greatly, and some appear to have ruled it out (Canberra, Kamikatusu, New Zealand, Philippines) citing negative public opinion.

Some of the Zero Waste goals have target dates attached (Kamikatsu, Japan, 2020; New Zealand, 2020; San Francisco 2020). For others, “Zero Waste” provides a notional target with some interim targets (Bath, Philippines).

Canberra’s target of no waste by 2010 is acknowledged to mean in practice 95 per cent diversion from landfill.

Those municipalities espousing zero waste will nevertheless be some of the highest recycling rate achievers, and studies appear to show recycling rates are and will be raised to between 37 per cent and 80 per cent

The experience of a Flanders, France experience was thought in 2006 to indicate that household recycling rates of 60 per cent ought to be obtainable in the UK with the right mix of instruments – although until the new UK government was elected in May 2010, it was expected that local authorities would be allowed to charge householders extra for non-recycled (black bag) waste, as way to achieve these high goals. However, the Conservative/Liberal Coalition has already announced that no such an incentive will be allowed by the new UK Government.

A common feature to many of the Zero Waste targeted schemes is rigorous source separation and collection of recyclables, but so far, in no case, does this appear to be mandatory.

In many places zero waste recycling is driven by pricing of landfill (Bath, Canberra, Flanders, New Zealand) and variable charging of householders (Flanders, San Francisco).

All case studies assume that good markets will exist from now onward for most recyclates, although some will always be awkwardly distant (China and India). So, this raises questions as to whether the goal of zero waste is sustainable, in a market sense, or whether recycling will continue to suffer from the recessionary effect on China’s need for imported secondary materials.

The notions of designing out waste, changing the nature of products and making producers responsible for the consequences of wasteful consumption are still not really on the agenda for zero waste advocates, but shouldn’t they be?

Beyond European or European-style agreements on recycling of packaging and WEEE, there seems little real appetite for imposing more biting producer responsibility. The “Cradle to Cradle” concepts of beneficial products and continual recycling of biological and non-renewable materials are being developed, but are not yet necessarily a part of the Zero Waste philosophy in many places.

The UK is well investing heavily to take a lead on waste prevention with large amounts of landfill tax money being channelled into bodies such as WRAP, Envirowise, BREW, and the Centre for Sustainable Design. Let’s hope they will soon be able to produce some truly ground-breaking ideas and initiatives to actually achieve close to what the public must think the politicians and the waste industry mean by zero waste..

Underpinning the philosophy of zero waste is an aspiration for continuous improvement that goes beyond being compliant with legislation, targets or contracts. While practically delivering zero waste is a significant challenge, the desire to do more and do it better is perhaps the most important lesson we can draw from these case studies.

Zero waste had been portrayed as utopian and undeliverable, yet getting as close to it as possible is worth striving for, and the zero waste concept is already delivering results. Let’s hope the backwash from the press and media, and the public when they realise that most of the landfills will stay open, is not too great.

Visit the web-site: www.green-alliance.org.uk .

Tags: landfill, management engineers, incineration, recycling, uk government

UK Sees Sustained Drop in Waste to Landfill

Jul 28th

Waste for landfill reduced by 3.1% since last year. How much is truly related to increased recycling and how much to the recession is not known.

The amount of waste going to landfill in the United Kingdom has continued to fall in 2009, according to figures from the government environmental department Defra.

Provisional estimates from the department’s survey of municipal waste in England incorporate the first quarter of the 2009/10 financial year and are based on information supplied by local authorities to WasteDataFlow.

To minimise the effects of seasonal fluctuations, comparisons are made between the year April 2008 to March 2009 and the year July 2008 to June 2009, that is, encompassing the provisional results for the quarter April to June 2009.

Total municipal waste decreased by 0.28 million tonnes in the year to end June 2009, to 27.06 million tonnes. A decrease in total household waste was observed, from 24.3 to 24.1 million tonnes, or 1.1%. Waste going to landfill dropped by 3.1% (13.4 million tonnes).

There was also an increase in the household recycling rate, from the average rate of 37.6% between April 2008 and March 2009 to 38.3% between July 2008 and June 2009. The average residual household waste (which is the amount of household waste which is not recycled) decreased from 295 kg per head between April 2008 and March 2009 to 289 kg per head between July 2008 and June 2009.

Defra explained that the data are provisional as not all returns have completed full validation and returns to WasteDataFlow can be revised by local authorities during the scheme year. “There are also seasonal effects on waste arisings and management which means care needs to be taken when assessing trends,” it explained Final figures will be released in the annual National Statistics release in November 2010.

For April to June 2009, all local authorities submitted data to WasteDataFlow and at the time the data were downloaded for this release, all authorities (358) had completed validation.

Tags: united kingdom, seasonal waste, household waste, provisional landfill estimates, landfill statistics release

Landfill Final Storage Quality – Academic for Us But Life and Death for Future Generations

Jul 28th

Final Storage Quality of a landfill is a term which, for each and every one of the modern “Sanitary” and “EU Directive Landfills” ever constructed, is at the moment a purely academic concept. None of them will ever reach it in the lifetime of any of us alive today.

The term “final storage quality” was first defined twenty years ago by Baccini and Henseler and other members of a Swiss working group on landfills. In the meantime, the definition has been modified by several authors in various published papers.

In essence, final storage quality is used to imply an “environmentally sound flux/load for short, medium and long term periods”, to use one of the academic versions that I rather like for its brevity.

Which criteria should be used to determine when the “Final Storage Quality” has been reached, is being debated.

What will be the final contaminating parameter of the large number of potential pollutants in a landfill at the end of that that long awaited transition from active aftercare management to passive aftercare?

Which contaminant will be the most critical in the long term, which when it is dissipated, we can all stop concerning ourselves that what was once a landfill no longer has a potential to harm the environment which surrounds it?

Well, having I hope now wetted your curiosity, I am going to disappoint you by saying that I don’t think that academia really yet knows for certain the answer to that. Given the huge number of sanitary (lined and capped landfills) now being filled around the world as I write this, I think we should all think hard and get a little worried for our offspring.

However, two aspects of long term landfill which are of direct economic importance and about which more can be said, are:

1. The longevity of economic landfill gas production for energy production,
2. And, (for those tasked with landfill aftercare duties) it is from the point of economic aftercare, how the escape of the remaining methane to atmosphere without first oxidising it, can be achieved.

It is important to achieve “final storage quality” while consistently burning/flaring the methane in landfill gas, or in another way oxidising the methane to prevent serious climate change implications.

We can be sure that in the long-term, gas produced by landfills will be characterized by low methane content.

The methane content and rate of gas production will be so low that there will be scarcely any possibility for its use in economically-sound energy recovery procedures and yet it will still amount to a significant discharge due to the very long period of its slow discharge.

There is no escaping that the gas produced in the long tail of the “elk” requires treatment due to its global warming potential.

New low-cost technologies must be found, either to extend the phase of profitable landfill gas utilization, or methods developed to, if possible, reduce the landfill gas aftercare phase and mitigate long-term emissions.

At our sister landfill gas web site we have started to look at possible aftercare strategies with respect to dwindling landfill gas, and we have written about:

• The proportion of total Active Landfill Gas Recovery that can be economically utilised by active landfill gas extraction
• The developing concept of bio-oxidation of landfill gas instead of flaring, either in specially designed vessels or within modified landfill caps during landfill aftercare.

Click on the linked text in the above lines to read more.

Tags: energy production, methane, economic importance, pollutants, lifetime

Coalition Moves to Stop Labour “Pay as You Throw” Waste Charges

Jul 28th

According to the BBC web site the new UK Government rules out ‘pay as you throw’ waste charges. the Waster wonders whether this means that Labour’s recent announcement of a Zero Waste policy will similarly be dropped. Certainly, achieving zero waste will need both the carrot and the stick to achieve, and this seems to go against the zero waste culture.

“Pay as you throw” charges for household waste have been ruled out by Communities Secretary Eric Pickles.

Plans to let English councils pilot schemes which would charge or reward people according to the waste thrown out had been drawn up by Labour.

But councils shunned the trials, aimed at cutting landfill, and Mr Pickles said the government backed rewarding people for recycling instead.

Labour said it should be up to councils to choose how to collect waste.

The UK must reduce the amount of waste sent to landfill by nearly two-thirds by 2020 to meet EU targets.
‘Bin tax’

Government says No! To bin tax.

Labour had proposed giving households which recycled the most rubbish and left the least in their bin a rebate, while charging those who put out the most non-recycled rubbish.

Powers to allow five councils in England to trial the scheme from April 2009 were included in the Climate Change Act – but none applied, saying they had not been told how it would operate.

Critics said the “bin tax” idea could encourage fly-tipping and prompt people to burn rubbish at home.

You should treat people with respect instead of having a bunch of bin inspectors

Eric Pickles Communities Secretary

Mr Pickles has effectively ruled out a charging scheme, instead backing a recycling reward scheme pioneered by Windsor and Maidenhead council in Berkshire.

Households in the borough – which Mr Pickles visited on Monday to draw attention to the scheme – are being awarded points for the amount they recycle, which can be redeemed at shops, restaurants and leisure centres, or donated to schools.

Mr Pickles said the scheme had increased recycling by 35% and an incentive-based approach was more effective than taxes or fines in reducing the amount of rubbish sent to landfill sites.

“You should treat people with respect instead of having a bunch of bin inspectors, bin police,” Mr Pickles told BBC Radio 4’s The World at One.

Incentivising people was the quickest way to increase recycling levels, which he said would be badly needed if the UK was to meet its target of becoming “one of the green economies of Europe”.

“It does not put the costs up,” he added. “Actually what it does is it increases the recycling rate and puts money into the local economy.”

Windsor and Maidenhead council is inviting more than 60,000 households to join its RecycleBank service from Monday.

Councillor Liam Maxwell said: “Paying the public to recycle works. It increases recycling rates, reduces our environmental impact, reduces council tax and helps local businesses.

More at BBC News.

Tags: bin-tax, recycling, rubbish collection, pay as you throw

Scrapped Plasterboard No Longer Classified As Waste In Scotland

Jul 28th

In a welcome development toward waste avoidance, SEPA has announced that scrapped plasterboard that meets BSI PAS109:2008 won’t count as waste. This is very encouraging to the recycling companies invloved as it will cut down on their costs and also on paperwork when it comes to reprocessing it.

Between 1.1 and 1.75 million tonnes of plasterboard enters the waste stream each year in the UK, which is not only a waste of resources but also, potentially, an environmental problem.

Scotland’s environment watchdog is hoping to encourage more businesses to increase the amount they are recycling, by confirming that waste plasterboard which has been processed to the correct specification, is no longer classified as waste.

If gypsum comes into contact with biodegradable waste in landfill, toxic and smelly hydrogen sulphide gas is produced. However, if producers separate it for recovery and recycling, it can then be used to replace virgin gypsum in the plasterboard, cement and soil conditioner markets.

To promote the market for quality gypsum recycling, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) has taken the position that where waste plasterboard is processed in accordance with BSI PAS109:2008, it will no longer be regarded as waste.

The recently published BSI PAS 109:2008 “Specification for the production of recycled gypsum from waste plasterboard” specifies minimum requirements for the recycling process itself. It covers the selection, receipt, handling of inputs, specification of product grades and the storage, labeling, dispatch and traceability of the products that are produced from that process.

BSI PAS 109:2008 compliant gypsum which has been recycled to the correct specification and is to be used for plasterboard manufacture, cement manufacture and as soil conditioner, will no longer be regarded as waste by SEPA. This means the subsequent storage, movement and use will not be subject to the requirements of waste legislation, meaning it does not need to be transported by a registered waste carrier or accompanied by a controlled waste transfer note.

Kenny Boag, SEPA’s Head of Waste Policy, said:

“SEPA supports the responsible processing of waste materials into high quality products as part of achieving a Zero waste society. SEPA’s policies on the disposal and recovery of gypsum from plasterboard will reduce pollution from landfilling and will also facilitate the recycling of this valuable resource.”

Iain Gulland, Director of Zero Waste Scotland, said:

“We are delighted that SEPA has adopted the BSI PAS 109:2008. Scotland has a vibrant building industry and SEPA is sending strong signal to industry that it takes the issue of construction waste very seriously.”

To take advantage of this position the local SEPA team must be contacted and a demonstration of compliance with PAS109 must be provided. BSI PAS 109:2008 covers the selection, receipt, handling of inputs, specification of product grades and the storage, labelling, dispatch and traceability of the products that are produced from that process.

Processors and users are not obliged to comply with these terms, but reprocessed gypsum that is not BSI PAS 109:2008 compliant will remain classified as waste.

The full position is available under the category “regulatory guidance” – click here.

Tags: PAS, waste, regulation, plasterboard, traceability

Turner Solar Powered LED Lamps are an Elegant Lighting Solution

Jul 28th

The Turner Lamp is a simple, elegant LED light that is powered by the sun. During the day, turn the lantern upside-down so it can soak up the sun’s rays. In the evening, turn the lantern back and it will light up with a warm and cozy glow. The wind will never blow the Turner light out, and since it is lit by LEDs, the lantern will not attract insects.

Funky Stools and Tables Made of Recycled Pieces of Waste Wood

Jul 28th

If you’re looking for a side table or stool with some edge, then the Stump just might be just the piece to show off your inherent flair for funkified style. Ubico Studio sources discarded hardwood pieces from carpenter studios surrounding their factory and transforms the smallest bits of scrap wood into sustainable, sturdy, and decorative tables for the home.

Read the rest of Funky Stools and Tables Made of Recycled Pieces of Waste Woodhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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Post tags: green furiture, recycled furniture, Recycled Materials, recycled tables, recycled wood stump series, stools, Tables, ubico studio, waste wood

Light-Filled Gateway Unveiled for Sydney University of Technology

Jul 28th

Read the rest of Light-Filled Gateway Unveiled for Sydney University of Technologyhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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Post tags: australia, Daylighting, eco design, green design, green roof, lacoste + stevenson, lacoste and stevenson, Sustainable Building, sydney, university of technology sydney, UTS, UTS podium extension

Intelligent Plant Pot Will Give Anyone a Green Thumb

Jul 28th

Being green is no guarantee that you’ll have a green thumb — a number of us at Inhabitat will vouch for that! Although we’d all like to be able to grow a plant or two, the thought of an inevitable death at our hands is enough to keep most of us from even trying to maintain a cactus. But fret no more, a new pot designed by 22-year-old Briton, Natalie King, just may be the solution to that black thumb. Equipped with a built-in sensor, the Tulipe Pot is a smart product that lights up whenever a plant is in need of attention.

Read the rest of Intelligent Plant Pot Will Give Anyone a Green Thumbhttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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Post tags: disability, handicapped accessibility, natalie king, potted plants, tulipe

Transform Any Flat Surface into a Table with Re-vive Legs

Jul 28th

Have you ever seen a perfectly good sheet of glass or a plank of wood lying on the sidewalk and thought “That would make a great table for my house” but decided to abandon your idea for lack of table legs? Well it’s Cohda Design to the rescue. Their clever Re-vive clamps can transform any flat surface — be it a piece of wood, a surfboard, a skateboard… the possibilities are endless — into a custom table. Now there’s no excuse not to reclaim and recycle that glass or wood you see on the street and turn it into something awesome and new!

Read the rest of Transform Any Flat Surface into a Table with Re-vive Legshttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/ohttp://www.inhabitat.com/wp-admin/options-general.php?page=better_feedptions-general.php?page=better_feed

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Post tags: “green furniture”, eco furniture, eco table, green products, green table, make flat surface a table, re-vive clamps, re-vive legs

Elegant, Recycled, Solid Surface: Glass2

Jul 28th

This newly certified Cradle to Cradle product, Glass2, is an elegant material that can be used as a countertop, vanity, wall cladding, flooring, or almost anything else you can think of. The product is made with 99% recycled glass and no resin and can be worked on by stone and glass fabricators. Glass2 is sold through dealerships dotting the nation, available in thickness anywhere from 16 to 35 mm, and made in 12 colors ranging from Glacier White to Azurite.

[+] Get more information about Glass2.

Credits: Glass2.

Northwest Modern Solar Home in PDX

Jul 27th