Green Technology - Solar Building Blocks

New invention on Building Integrated Photovoltaic (BIPV). Integration of solar cell with building blocks.

Green Practices in The Hospitality Industry

Pretty much everyone these days is getting environmentally conscious; in fact, the Tourism industry has long since been following green ways. But this was quite limited to the extent of reusing towels or saving power consumption. However more and more hotels and restaurants are coming out with new ways and means to go green and woo the environmentally conscious customer. Many customers are choosing hotels or resorts that advertise and practice as being environmentally conscious.

Many businesses have realized that by going green in a big way, it's serving a dual purpose. One, they are gaining foothold in terms of their reputation. Two, in the bargain they are saving a lot.

So, what are some of the energy saving ways that hotels/restaurants or the hospitality business are using?

Green Computer with Biodegradable Peripherals

Imagine this: you buy a new computer monitor, take your old one and just bury it in the garden. 3 years later the monitor has biodegraded and your prized tomatoes are growing better than ever. The world's first 100% biodegradable computer components have arrived from MicroPro, a company based in Dublin, Ireland who produces eco-friendly computers, keyboards, mice and flat-panel monitors. The company, established in 1992, has just 17 engineers but has made a big impact with their innovative designs.

The product is named iameco, and is the brainchild of MicroPro's Managing Director, Paul Maher.

Energy Efficiency in Building

Energy Efficiency in Buildings means use less energy for heating, cooling and lighting. It also means buying energy-saving appliances and equipment for use in a building.

The important concept for energy efficiency in buildings is the building envelope, which is everything that separates the interior of the building from the outdoor environment: the doors, windows, walls, foundation, roof, and insulation. Various approaches could be done to improve the building envelope. For instance, windows with special glazing can let in daylight without heat gain and storm windows and doors can reduce heat loss when temperatures drop. These techniques can significantly improve a building's energy efficiency.

Cooling and lighting systems typically use the most energy in a building in our country. The addition of efficient controls, like a programmable thermostat, can significantly reduce the energy use of this system. For commercial buildings, maximizing the use of Building Energy Management System (BEMS) can provide the best approach to energy-efficient cooling. The energy used to heat water can be reduced by both heating water more efficiently and by reducing hot water use especially in hotel and hospital application. A wide variety of fixtures, such as low-flow showerheads and faucet aerators, can reduce hot water use. In a home, the older water heater can be replaced with a newer, more energy-efficient one, and the water heater and hot water pipes can be insulated to minimize heat loss.

Today, most common appliances and electronic devices are available in energy-efficient models—air conditioner, washing machines, fans, refrigerators, copiers and computers. Several energy-efficient lighting options, such as compact fluorescent light bulbs, are also available. There are many ways to determine energy efficient in building, measures and improvements can be made. Owners can conduct energy audits on their premises or have professional audits done.

During the commissioning of new commercial buildings, a number of tests and adjustments can be performed to ensure that the heating, cooling, lighting, ventilation, and other mechanical systems work together effectively and efficiently. Once the systems are commissioned, their proper operation and maintenance is critical to efficient energy use.

Green Technology

Green technology (abbreviated as GreenTech) or clean technology (abbreviated as CleanTech) or Environmental Technology (abbreaviated as EnviTech) is the application of the environmental sciences to conserve the natural environment and resources, and to curb the negative impacts of human involvement. Sustainable development is the core of environmental technologies. When applying sustainable development as a solution for environmental issues, the solutions need to be socially equitable, economically viable, and environmentally sound.

Some environmental technologies that retain sustainable development are; recycling, water purification, sewage treatment, remediation, flue gas treatment, solid waste management, and renewable energy. Some technologies assist directly with energy conservation, while other technologies are emerging that help the environment by reducing the amount of waste produced by human activities.

Energy sources such as solar power create less problems for the environment than traditional sources of energy like coal and petroleum. Scientists continue to search for clean energy alternatives to our current power production methods. Some technologies such as anaerobic digestion produce renewable energy from waste materials. The global reduction of greenhouse gases is dependent on the adoption of energy conservation technologies at industrial level as well as this clean energy generation. That includes using unleaded gasoline, solar energy and alternative fuel vehicles, including plug-in hybrid and hybrid electric vehicles.

Since electric motors consume 60% of all electricity generated[citation needed], advanced energy efficient electric motor (and electric generator) technology that are cost effective to encourage their application, such as the brushless wound-rotor doubly-fed electric machine and energy saving module, can dramatically cut the amount of carbon dioxide (CO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) that would otherwise be introduced to the atmosphere.