What can you possibly do for your ailing green thumb when all that is allotted to you is a patio, a balcony, or a postage stamp of an urban backyard with little room to roam? Don’t grow out…grow UP! With a vertical herb and vegetable garden, you can make a mountain of your molehill and
Search Results for: renewable-energy/wind-technology-wind-generators/vertical-axis-wind-turbine
Vertical Farming
Vertical farms, urban agriculture, hydroponic vertical farms, urban hydroponics, urban skyscraper farms, urban vertical agriculture, skyscraper farming…
Wind Chimes
Wind chimes have been used by many cultures going back as far as 1100 BC. Believe it or not, they weren’t created to irritate cranky neighbors, but in fact were thought to ward off evil spirits. They’re considered a percussion instrument, and because their sound is created at random by the wind, their soothing, melodic
20 Soothing DIY Wind Chimes
Wind chimes: They’re soothing, relaxing, and add a beautiful, decorative addition to your garden or backyard. Wind chimes come in basically any color, material, size, and price tag, and nowadays, you can find some pretty artistic options on Etsy and at other retailers. But if you’re the do-it-yourself type that wants the ultimate satisfaction of
Offshore Wind Energy Development Picking Up Pace
Wind power is the world’s leading source of renewable electricity, excluding hydropower, with 238,000 megawatts of capacity installed at the start of 2012. Thus far, almost all of this wind power has been tapped on land; worldwide just 4,600 megawatts of offshore wind farms were operating as of mid-2012. Offshore wind capacity is growing quickly, however, expanding nearly six-fold since 2006. Twelve countries now have wind turbines spinning offshore, and more will be joining them to take advantage of the powerful winds blowing over the oceans.
Living Off-Grid: Our Micro Hydro Alternative Energy System
As a follow up to Sean’s post on Micro Hydro Essentials, I thought I would share an overview of my system, which has powered my home for over 13 years. We are fortunate to live on rural mountain property in Northern California with a creek that is not seasonal, although the volume of water does
Best Log Splitter
A log splitter will make short work of a job that’s notoriously labor intensive. A log splitter means less stress on your back, less time clearing your yard, and more time stacking firewood for the coming autumn and winter. There are a couple of different categories of log splitters, and we’ve selected a few products
Plastic To Fuel
All around the globe companies and individuals are starting to produce fuel from waste plastic. As only 8% of waste plastic is recycled in the U.S., 15% in Western Europe, and much less in developing countries, this reuse of plastic could potentially keep enormous amounts of plastic out of landfills and out of the oceans.
Generation Gap: Wind Power Opens Big Lead over Nuclear in China
In China, wind power is leaving nuclear behind. Electricity output from China’s wind farms exceeded that from its nuclear plants for the first time in 2012, by a narrow margin. Then in 2013, wind pulled away—outdoing nuclear by 22 percent. The 135 terawatt-hours of Chinese wind-generated electricity in 2013 would be nearly enough to power
Scientific American’s Solar Grand Plan
Scientific American has a thought-provoking proposal in its January 2008 issue. The magazine proposes a massive, far-reaching plan to get solar power generating 69 percent of America’s electricity 35 percent of our total energy by 2050, thus replacing all of our foreign oil needs and slashing global warming emissions. Below are some of the highlights
Pallet Garden: 20 Clever Ideas For The Ultimate Upcycle
Wooden pallets are more than “having a moment”. In recent years, they’ve made their way in and onto nearly surface imaginable. From furniture to shutters, to walkways and light fixtures, wood pallets are one of the best upcycling opportunities around. And you can often get them for free. Not only are old pallets an eco-friendly
26 Affordable Shoe Rack Ideas To De-Clutter Your Space
The current shoe rack situation in my home is not ideal. We’ve struggled to find a way to store shoes in our tiny, awkward entryway. When my husband came home with plastic racks from the hardware store last year, I admitted defeat. The stackable plastic shelves are practical, but they’re so utilitarian that I’m itching
Hawai’i Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Hawai’i used solar power, it would take 15 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover all of the
The Great Transition, Part I: From Fossil Fuels to Renewable Energy
The great energy transition from fossil fuels to renewable sources of energy is under way. As fossil fuel prices rise, as oil insecurity deepens, and as concerns about pollution and climate instability cast a shadow over the future of coal, a new world energy economy is emerging. The old energy economy, fueled by oil, coal, and natural gas, is being replaced with an economy powered by wind, solar, and geothermal energy.
Climate Change Organizations
Developing Countries: www.aiaccproject.org Assessments of Impacts and Adaptations to Climate Change(AIACC) is a global initiative developed in collaboration with theUNEP/WMO Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)and funded by the Global Environment Facility to advance scientificunderstanding of climate change vulnerabilities and adaptationoptions in developing countries. www.unido.org United Nations Industrial Development Organization(UNIDO) helps developing countries and economies
Maryland Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Maryland used solar power, it would take 45 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover an area more
Planetsave Considers the Benefits of Living Off the Grid
We tend to think that living off the grid is always a good thing, but our sister site Planetsave wants us to think it through better. What do you think?
13 Savvy Small Bathroom Ideas
Whether you live in an apartment, a tiny house, or a Harry Potter closet, small bathrooms can be a challenge, especially when you’re living with roommates, a significant other, or little ones. Not only do you have to coordinate shower and bath times, but storing away all your toiletries can get tricky. So before you
Iowa Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Iowa used solar power, it would take 79 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover 83% of the
Indiana Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Indiana used solar power, it would take 219 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover an area more
Propane: The “Dirty Little Secret” of Living Off the Grid
Living off the grid sounds romantic…no more bills from dirty energy companies, self-sufficiency, green power, etc.; however, there is one “dirty little secret” found in most alternative energy homes. Without it, some off-gridders couldn’t cook, refrigerate, heat water, or dry clothes. That dirty little secret is propane. Propane is a “by-product of natural gas processing and petroleum refining,”. Due to
Living Walls (Green Walls)
Green walled buildings, green wall inspiration…
Succulent Art
Just a spritz of water here and there and succulents take care of themselves. These artistic sculptures utilize wireframes and other methods to keep succulents in place. Succulent Topiary, created by Pat Hammer, Director of Operations of the San Diego Botanical Garden. Image ©Inspiration Green. “Succulent People” with clay faces and a bit of metal
Storage Sheds
Whether it’s time for some spring cleaning or winter decluttering, chances are the biggest project on your to-do list is organizing the garage and backyard. You’ve got your kids’ bikes in one corner, garden tools strewn about in another, and let’s not even get started with the holiday decorations that are shoved in that less-than-weatherproof
Colorado Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Colorado used solar power, it would take 88 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover nearly half of
65+ Gardening Gifts
‘Tis the season of gift-giving. Since colder weather has many of us stuck inside instead of in the dirt, we figured this holiday season is the perfect time to find the best in gardening gifts including gear, decor, reading – and of course, don’t forget some of those extra homesteading specialties. We’ve compiled over 70 of
Books
Inspiration Green Book Recommendations. Selected green, eco, sustainable books to read. Plus- sources of digital books.
Alaska Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Alaska used solar power, it would take 8 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover 2.8 million acres
Green Roof Resources
Inspiration Green. Green roofs and green walls. Organizations,info,photos,products and research.
Top 10 Reasons to Live in an Electricity-Free Home (PPB #27)
When I designed my cob house here at Dancing Rabbit Ecovillage two years ago, I decided that I was going to live without electricity. I had no plans to buy a solar power system or a wind turbine. I was going to make the leap to live electricity-free in my home, in order to live
Garden Shed Kits
I vividly remember parasailing across a South Dakota home improvement store parking lot. Not on purpose. I’d picked up a vinyl shed panel in the wind. It was 6:15 am and I’d just been sent to clean up after a recent blizzard. Sleeting snow and wind stung my face as I skated across the slush-filled
Kansas Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Kansas used solar power, it would take 71 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover more than half
Vermont Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Vermont used solar power, it would take 27 million pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover 10,245 acres of
U.S. Nuclear Power in Decline
Nuclear power generation in the United States is falling. After increasing rapidly since the 1970s, electricity generation at U.S. nuclear plants began to grow more slowly in the early 2000s. It then plateaued between 2007 and 2010—before falling more than 4 percent over the last two years. Projections for 2013 show a further 1 percent drop. With reactors retiring early and proposed projects being abandoned, U.S. nuclear power’s days are numbered.
Arkansas Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Arkansas used solar power, it would take 80 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover 89% of the
Earthbag Homes
Earthbag Construction, Sandbag Buildings
Florida Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Florida used solar power, it would take 251 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover an area more
Rhode Island Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Rhode Island used solar power, it would take 8 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover an area
Utah Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in Utah used solar power, it would take 71 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover more than half
West Virginia Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in West Virginia used solar power, it would take 145 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover an area
Best Water Purifier
Not all public water supplies are thoroughly purified before getting to you, the customer. When you really want to be sure that your family is not ingesting harmful contaminants, invest in one of these water purifiers. A good water purifier will also filter out unwelcome odors that some public water has. Before we go over
Best Miter Saws
No matter the project, a miter saw will make quick and accurate cuts to speed up your work progress. A miter saw is an essential power tool for any cutting job that requires repetitive and consistently accurate cuts. If you’re wanting clean miter and bevel joints, and also a saw to cut through a wide
Self Watering Planters
Every gardener has that one plant that seems to have a never-ending thirst. You water it, tend to all your other plants, and next thing you know, the soil is all dried up again! Plants that like (or tolerate) wet soil include mint, snowdrops, canna, astilbe, and calla lilies. This soil preference makes all of
Hanging Planters Perfect For Flowers And Succulents
Every spring it seems like even after the garden beds are filled and the containers are sprouting with flowers, we always want to grow more! So if all the grounds in your garden are filled, it’s time to start taking advantage of all that vertical space that you probably haven’t thought twice about. Hanging planters
25 Pipe Shelves To Add Rustic Flair To Your Home
Nothing brings rustic vibes to home decor quite like pipe shelves. The antique and vintage feel of exposed pipes contrasts well with farmhouse-inspired wood shelves. That being said, if rustic isn’t your style, these shelves can still be for you! There are plenty of more modern, industrial pipe shelf options that would fit with your
15 Small Backyard Ideas To Make Your Space Feel Larger
No, you won’t be building an Olympic-sized swimming pool back there, but your small backyard can still be an oasis for your plants, your friends, and your mind. We’re going to take a look at several small backyard ideas that can transform your cozy yard for maximum use and enjoyment. 1. Make Use Of Your
Firewood Storage – 30 Sheds, Racks, And Shelves
A firewood shed will keep your logs dry and well-organized. Whether you need a small log rack to store your firewood indoors or a large shed to stock up for the winter, we’ve found both rustic and modern firewood storage options for indoor and outdoor use. Cord Woodshed Prepare your homestead for the winter with
Shipping Container Homes
Shipping container homes seem like a no-brainer. Approximately 30 million steel shipping containers are in existence, filled and floating, or standing empty in a port. 8 feet wide by 8.5 feet high, and either 20 or 40 feet long, the steel shipping container has been the globally standardized transportation module since 1956. Sending empty containers
Fresh Drinking Water Resources & Links
Inspiration Green Fresh Water Resources. Links to water associations and organizations. Info on conservation, data, water and climate change, fresh water research organizations and much more.
North Dakota Solar
Going solar? Good call. It’s the right choice for your pocketbook and for the climate. If everyone in North Dakota used solar power, it would take 67 billion pounds of carbon out of the atmosphere every year—according to the EPA’s greenhouse gas calculator, that’s the equivalent of planting a forest that would cover more than