It is unfortunate that most transitions result from a reactionary cause rather than from an assessment. We all try to catch up to newer technology not because of its hip to society, but to convenience, affordability and sense of investment on the choice of expense. Change is one of the most reluctant decision to commit to – especially on lifestyle. Obviously, there are hand counts of factors that greatly depend on those considerations. Nevertheless, some of those decisions are bound to change; only a matter of time. Decisions on alternative energy resources is one of them. It is a course we gravely appear to lag – for the most part the east coast. Solar energy with solar roof panels, wind power with wind energy credits, green remodeling or energy efficient endeavors with car or audits are varieties of choices to consider on the basis of affordability or sense of investment.
Fortunately, the awareness seems to be growing and the push to educate and inform our communities can’t fit in no better time than now. The profound oil spill disaster is more than an awakening for a shift to renewable efficiency energy, it is a commitment that would be our safest resort but sadly under reactionary consequences. President Obama laid out this idea in his Oval Office address on the BP oil spill.
President Obama’s Oval Office Address
From the 11th (11.33) minute, the president expressed this same idea that Sobuka believes in. In addition, we try to inform consumers that these technologies and choices do exist. There is a lot of confidence to move onto these choices. There are also incentives being developed as encouragement for more people to consider these smarter energy-efficient choices. So this message is for you – it is for every energy consumer ranging from the car owners to the homeowners. Don’t wait to react, take on this hard bout which will certainly serve more than its worth.
Start today by getting quotes on solar installs or wind renewable energy credits, or an energy efficiency audit, or green remodeling materials, or simply sign up for our free newsletter to get more information about eco-friendly issues.
Depending on who you ask, Father’s Day has been around for several thousand years. It gained popularity in the United States due to Sonora Smart, a resident from Spokane, Washington. She came up with the idea while listening to a Mother’s Day sermon. At that time the only parent she had was her father… and you can guess how the tradition in the US expanded with gifts and remembrance to all fathers. At this time, we came up with several green gift ideas for Father’s Day.
2. You may not have to buy any products for your father. There may be furniture around the home that can be recycled or beefed up. If you have an old wooden chair that your father may like or anything antique, think about refurbishing them with replacement parts and/or gloss material to make them look like new.
3. Another great gift idea a book. Check out these green books ranging from topics such as green design, green living, and sustainable practices to help improve a home. There are also books available on green facts such as climate change and topics relating to the physical science of our planet. If you want to go super green, Amazon also has the Kindle, an electronic tablet, where you can download from a list of hundreds of books all on-line while saving trees.
4. Save energy for your father by purchasing energy star rated products ranging anywhere from fluorescent/LEDs light bulbs to a new washer/dryer.
5. For handymen out there, tools can be a great gift. For example the Black and Decker Thermal Leak can help weatherize the home. The thermal detector has a color (green, blue, red) module to check for energy leaks. We created an article sometime ago to help people weatherize their homes by sealing their windows by themselves. Check out our previous blog post on weatherization.
If you are looking or shopping the web for appliances or home related goods, you can stop by our on-line store here: Shop Sobuka.
Tell us what gifts you are giving your dad by leaving a comment to share with our green world. You can also check out ZapRoot for some great ideas on media based technology:
If you would like to learn more about what you can do to go green, a nice energy audit will send you in the right direction. The insight you gain from it will give you plenty of ideas for a little green remodeling, so you can become part of the solution. Sign up for an energy audit through Sobuka by typing in your zipcode and selecting contractors in your area.
Washington DC’s SmartBike, the first bike-sharing program in the USA, is about to be supplanted by a much bigger and better bike-share. It will be based on Montréal’s Bixi and grow the number of bikes and stations almost ten-fold!
Bike-Sharing is Awesome SmartBike has only 120 bikes and 10 stations, but the new version of the project will have about 1,100 bikes and 114 stations all around the district and in the neighboring Arlington County.
by Michael Graham Richard, Ottawa, Canada. View full article here.
If you live in the Washington DC area, commuting on a bike sounds like a good idea to avoid traffic during the weekdays and even the weekends. Think about how much money you can also save and how you can reduce your carbon footprint.
Who knows, maybe one day you’ll be around K street or Logan Circle, and we may have bike rush-hour traffic like this…
If you would like to learn more about what you can do to go green, a nice energy audit will send you in the right direction. The insight you gain from it will give you plenty of ideas for a little green remodeling, so you can become part of the solution. Sign up for an energy audit through Sobuka by typing in your zipcode and selecting contractors in your area.
We bring back this article to help reflect on last year’s oil spill event on the Gulf:
Non-renewable Energy (Oil)
If you have watched the news or read the newspaper in the last week or so, you know about the devastating “Oil Spill” near the Gulf Coast Region which is effecting tourism, commerce, and the coastline. However, most importantly it is effecting the animals as the pictures display above. This is a dirty way to produce energy, waste money and at the same time hurt the environment!
Renewable Energy (Solar and Wind Power)
Wind:
1. Rotating generator converts wind energy to electricity. 2. Transformer increases voltage for transmission to substation. 3. Substation increases voltage for transmission over long distances. 4. Transmission to the grid.
Solar:
1. Photovoltaic array converts solar energy to direct current electricity. 2. Inverter converts direct current to alternating current. 3. Breaker box provides an interconnection point to the consumer or grid. 4. Meter measures the energy from the solar array and the building load.
Renewable Energy on the other hand such as Wind or Solar is much cleaner, it doesn’t hurt the enivironment and it also can save everyone money! Going Green and Clean is the BEST way to go. Make the right choice and Go Green and Clean…do it for me, do it for yourself, do it for your children, do it for the poor little animals, and do it for the environment!! Start today and search for Green Resources in your community by entering your zipcode here!
Sobuka connects people to green minded contractors. To find a contractor in your area, please visit us at www.sobuka.com and enter your zip code.
Talk about bang for your buck!!! Nissan’s Leading Environmentally-friendly, Affordable, Family car is a trend setting type of engineered battery car. Its battery pack estimated at (£6000) which is $8,896 raises a lot of interest as well as reasonable pricing that is drawing tons of reservation for this car when it launches in not so far 2011. Nissan LEAF will be in tough competition with GM’s Volt in terms of driving range; then again there will be “logical” reasons to give when the time comes. Nevertheless, Nissan LEAF has been designed to be self-sustaining. Annual car maintenance doesn’t apply with this vehicle (except yearly brake pad inspection) and its navigation system is globally connected especially for re-charging purposes for stations. I guess we will soon start hearing more about charging station expansion and infrastructure in 2011.
I hope other manufacturing car company can follow suit or compete to bring the best of clean energy to the United States as well as getting back to leading in manufacturing [which interprets as more long lasting green jobs]. Nissan LEAF offers more with its new technology and affordability with all things considered ( pricing for 5-car seater, driving range and up-keep). These are the immediate factors that need be trendy so that climate changes and environmental technology become the new “hip” for the decade.
If you would like to have an analysis of heat loss at your home or small business, a nice energy audit will send you in the right direction. The insight you gain from it will give you plenty of ideas for a little green remodeling, so you can become part of the solution. Sign up for an energy audit through Sobuka by typing in your zip code and selecting contractors in your area or visit www.sobuka.com
April 22, 2010 was officially “Earth Day” according to our calendar. However, Earth Day should be Every Day and we all must make a commitment to make sure mother earth is preserved for future generations. Let’s all get excited about making Earth day Every day and contribute to making the earth greener. Now if you are serious about going green but having a brain fart and don’t know what to do, here is an easy suggestion RECYCLE! If you don’t know where to recycle certain items such as old TV’s, old coat hangers or things we don’t regularly recycle then I have a solution for that as well, Call the Police (911) …no not that police …the Earth Police…Earth911.com!
“Earth911.com is your one-stop shop for all you need to know about reducing your impact, reusing what you’ve got and recycling your trash”and they believe that Earth day should be Every day and their slogan reads “Making Every Day Earth Day”. You can find many resources about recycling materials such electronics, hazardous cleaning materials, paper, platics, glass, automotive, Metal, and much more. They also have a recycling database, where you can find over 100,000 recycling locations across the country. With information provided by local governments, industry insiders, organizations and everyday consumers, you can recycle hundreds of products from packing peanuts to computers. They know where you need to go to get things done. Check out the Earth Police at www.earth911.com.
Remember…Be part of the SOLUTION so that we may have a BRIGHT FUTURE!!! Feel free to start by searching for green contractors for something as simple as an energy efficiency audit by entering your zipcode here!
Sobuka connects people to green minded contractors. To find a contractor in your area, please visit us at www.sobuka.com and enter your zip code.
2010 was a big year for wind energy in Massachusetts. We recall why by looking back at a previous article:
Finally these fans can cheer!!! A big congratulations hailed to the city of Boston on its big step of clean energy development. After long debate on this decision, Massachusetts will become the first state to initial a major clean energy in offshore wind farm project. As their secretary of Interior noted United States wants to lead in clean energy revolution that will reshape our future, other states and organizations should look to expand this initiative as its country and world demands it.
Amid several environmental and political controversy revolving this project most prominent supporters believe “the future of wind power in the United States will be stronger knowing ..[that] this is jobs and clean energy for Massachusetts. I have seen wind energy excel at it best. Certain parts of Britain’s suburbs such as Barking – London, Dagenham – Essex, Havering – London or Tower Hamlets – London, have one or two wind turbines serving their communities. This is old news to them but a big step and development United States is “hoping” to explore baring all political hurdles. How sooner is a question I am afraid to hear unless the improbably satisfaction “to the powers that be” catch up to other clean energy countries’ business achievements. This is the future in technology we no longer can hold off for “the future”.
Sobuka connects people to green minded contractors. To find a contractor in your area, please visit us at www.sobuka.com and enter your zip code.
