Tree Hugging Family » Alternative Energy

Book Review: The Carbon Free Home

Jennifer — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 00:00:38 +0000

At Offbeat Homes I just reviewed a pretty cool book. If you’re looking to go green at home, it’s a perfect read for you. However, since I’m not interested in re-writing the entire review post here, you’ll have to shoot over to Offbeat to learn more.

It’s worth the click though – it’s a stellar book. In fact, I’ll even give you click choices; click the link or book image to whisk off to the book review.

Book Review: The Carbon-Free Home: 36 Remodeling Projects to Help Kick the Fossil -Fuel Habit

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in September 2008

[image via Chelsea Green]

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Green Science Fair For a Better Planet

Jennifer — Sat, 07 Jun 2008 19:00:56 +0000

Instructables and Discover magazine have joined forces and right now are running the Green Science Fair For a Better Planet contest and event. I actually meant to post on this sooner (bad me). The contest is complied of every sort of green project you can think of, but each project needs to be instructions, a how to go green, make a green something, or use green ideas for something off the charts odd.

Voting ends tomorrow. So right now you can go vote or even still submit, if you’re quick. There are all kinds of things to see at the event page. I picked out a variety of interesting entries…

Easy Recycled Compost Barrel
Solar Powered Trike
How to Turn Junk Mail and Paper into Very Nice Bowls
Film Canister LED Flashlight
A sort of odd butter pen
Make Your Own Biodiesel Processor
And more.

There are some very cool items entered, and also some that might make you go hmmm? But it’s fun to see everyone being creative.

Click here to learn about all the current contests, themes, and green challenges going on at Tree Hugging Family in June 2008

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Solar Cynergy: Smarter Lights for the Planet

Jennifer — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 12:33:22 +0000

This is a very cool company, Solar Cynergy, who nicely sent me an e-mail a long time ago (you don’t want to know how long) but the e-mail ended up at the end of my list. I found it today. Lucky for you, because if you’ve ever considered solar this is a great company to go with. I like their lights because they’re really beautiful to look at. The earth likes their lights because they’re solar; which of course, holds many benefits.

Solar runs on the sun! Ok, that one was obvious. But solar also saves you money and you aren’t a slave to electricity. Solar Cynergy has created a Solar LED Series that not only is perfect for residential use, but also have a line for commercial or “City & Transportation” uses.

Their system combines your basic LEDs with a tiny photovolatic cell. In this case, their LEDs are made of Polycarbonite Resin (read strong) and PC/ABS. These specific lights are so strong you can supposedly drive right over them – with no ill effects. Plus these lights are reported to run for 15 hours after charging for 8 in the sun.

John Huang of Solar Cynergy noted that these lights are “Currently being specified and used in upcoming commercial “green-building” projects, and are growing rapidly due to our unique product designs combining both function and aesthetic.” Which is true. Their solars are some of the most pleasing I’ve seen.

Here are some specs from Solar Cynergy:

“Working Temp: -4 degrees to 158 F-
10 Year Warranty, 25+ year life
Uses quality Nichia LEDs
Weather resilient!”

I like the green garden path lights:

Commercial / city use:

Next up, Solar Cynergy is releasing a brand new line of high quality OEM Solar Photovoltaic modules. (Solar panels if you want to be less technical. More information about these panels will be released soon.

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