Green Thinking in the Delaware Valley, Hope for Green Initiatives by You and Us.

Energy saving, Eco-friendly,
thinking green Around the Delaware Valley.

Green Thinking by You and Us Magazine.   Add Your Input Here . Writing About You . You and Us Link Exchange.
"Green" has become the forever way of thinking for everyone of us.  The responsibility is on us to keep it that way.
 
There are hundreds of ways to "think green".
  We've listed some of the most popular but please send your ideas to us.
Green Initiatives by You and Us: Recycling (there are a hundred ideas on this alone). Replacement Windows using new glass technology. Weather-caulking and sealing the exterior. Gathering Water Run Off, stone and other exterior surfaces to drain water. Green Property Insulation, Energy-Conserving Lighting Fixtures and Light Bulbs. Energy-Conserving Air-Conditioners and set-back thermostats. Green Roofs, Earth-Friendly Solar Panels, LED Lighting, Energy-Conserving Attic Fans, AND >>
Know more about it ...
                   Think more about it!

Your Next Car Could Run on Natural Gas. Natural gas fuel for cars costs about half of what conventional gas costs. Ford has taken the lead in developing alternative-fuel vehicles. These autos are friendly to the environment and offer real choices to consumers. Of the domestic automakers, Ford Motor Co. is several car lengths ahead of the competition in one "Earth-friendly" category: alternative-fuel vehicles. Alternative-fuel vehicles do not burn gasoline. Instead, they are powered by electricity, propane, natural gas, methanol or ethanol. Some experimental models employ fuel cells, flywheels and similar technology.
"Flex-fuel" vehicles run on gasoline and other fuels. "Hybrids" combine two propulsion systems - electricity with a small diesel or gasoline engine that acts as a generator when the battery runs low. Why use compressed natural gas in the first place, and why use it for cars? For one, Natural Gas is cheaper than gasoline or diesel. Lots cheaper, in fact – in some cases about a third of the price of an equivalent amount of gasoline. In addition, natural gas burns significantly cleaner than other fossil fuels.
The United States EPA lists the following statistics about vehicles running on natural gas:
Reduce carbon monoxide emissions 90%-97%
Reduce carbon dioxide emissions 25%
Reduce nitrogen oxide emissions 35%-60%
Potentially reduce non-methane hydrocarbon emissions 50%-75%
Emit fewer toxic and carcinogenic pollutants
Emit little or no particulate matter
Eliminate evaporative emissions
Those are all great reasons to want a car that runs on natural gas, but there are others that are equally as important. For instance, when CNG is released into the atmosphere, it disperses quickly since it's lighter than air, so it's not harmful to someone standing next to the car. Lastly, the majority (about 87 percent) of natural gas here in the United States is sourced locally, not from other countries.
 





Information provided by Owens Corning. For existing walls, there's no need to tear down and rebuild. Simply have an insulation contractor seal them with loose-fill blown insulation. For new homes and remodeling, FOAMULAR® rigid foam insulation is best for exterior walls. It's the best for saving energy with its extra insulating power. FOAMULAR insulation can be attached directly to the studs or over exterior plywood. Exterior walls are built using 2x6 studs or 2x4 studs. Because the 2x6 studs give the wall more depth, it allows more insulation to be used. If you have a specific R-value* you would like to use, you may use either of these two types: 5 1/2" thick R-21, or 6 1/4" R-19 fiber glass batt insulation. However, condensing it into a 2x6 space will lower its R-value to R-18. 2x4 studded walls, have the options of R-15 or R-13, which are both 3-1/2 inches thick. *R-value is the measurement of resistance to heat flow. The higher the R-value, the more the material absorbs heat, therefore slowing the transfer of heat through it.

Green Roofs

       They are conventional flat roofs that have plants mounted on top of them.  The plants are living ecosystems and they act in the same process as natural plants and trees.  A layer of soil and a drainage layer are applied directly to a roofing membrane.  The roofs are stable and carefully designed to provide economic, environmental and social benefits to companies and communities.  Green roofs are a natural fit with the move toward LEED certified buildings (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), so they will be very popular in the near future.
 
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What are the environmental benefits of Green Roofs? 
 One of the most important environmental benefits is the expansion of green life, which increases the amount of CO2 (carbon dioxide) removed from the atmosphere and releases O2(oxygen) back into the atmosphere.  Another benefit is the assistance with water conservation/reduction of storm water runoff.  The soil in the green roof systems acts like a sponge and absorbs excess rain water. Research has shown that extensive green roof systems can reduce runoff by up to 95% following a 1” rain.    In turn, it reduces the impact of each new building on the municipal storm drainage system and surrounding watershed.  Green roofs are also a solution to the "urban heat island effect."  This effect is the temperature difference between urban areas and their rural surroundings. This temperature difference causes air currents and dust, and even contributes to violent weather events within urban settings.  The green roofs help to balance out these temperature variations to decrease the likely-hood of these events.

What are the economic benefits of Green Roofs?
 One of the economic benefits is that green roofs cost less to install than other energy efficient systems. They can be included as part of new construction or retrofitted to existing buildings.  Another benefit is the evapotranspirative effect of the plants and four inches of growing medium, usually reduces indoor temperatures 6 to 8 degrees during warm/hot weather.  This can reduce air-conditioning costs 25 to 50 percent in single story buildings.  Another economic benefit is it extends the life of the roof.  Plants and soil act as a protective shield from the sun, rain and wind.  This means no U.V. radiation/photo degradation of roofing components and minimal thermal contraction and expansion which can double and in some cases triple the roof life.  This will also cut down on maintenance costs and reduce the need to resurface the roof every few years.

Green roofs are much better looking than asphalt or tar. Natural views create more productive, healthy, happy, creative, relaxed people. Green roofs expand the usefulness of buildings via patios, gardens and vistas. Green roofs beautify the urban landscape and are more attractive to look at.

Your Electric Utility Meter, are you wasting money? Answering your questions about: "Your electric meter".

Energy-Conserving Air-Conditioners. Prices and installation costs for combination heat pump, the energy factor, room sizing and the different sizes and types available.

Green Roofs — Construction, Costs, and Benefits. The Green Roof - Flat Roof Growing in Philadelphia.

Energy-Conserving Lighting Fixtures and Light Bulbs. Energy Saving Light Bulbs with the answers for your questions.

Earth-Friendly Solar Panels. Information, costs and details regarding: code compliance, structural concerns, the proper angle requirements, the expected energy savings and calculations and selling power back to the utility company.

Earth-Friendly LED Lighting. Maintenance-free for healthcare, task lighting for commercial spaces, unique benefits for retailers, comfortable illumination for the home.

Energy-Conserving Attic Fans. Cooling at low cost. A ventilated attic will do it.

Rooftop Sun & Patio Rooms. Elegant and Energy-Saving Sun Rooms for the Roof. Rooftop Solar Sun Rooms - Windows, Doors, Sky-Lights.

Ductless Heat Pumps for Supplemental Heating. The heat pump for energy saving electrical heat and air conditioning. Energy efficient HVAC and split system, ductless, central air conditioning heat pump.

Home Inspections. Home Energy Auditing and Inspection Services information around Philly.

Insulation Contractors. Insulation for Wall, Ceilings and Foundations. Insulation contractors, roofing, insulators, energy management, energy consultants and weatherproofing.

Ceiling Fans. Service for Your Ceiling Fan anywhere: Public Assembly, House of Worship, Theatrical Facilities, School Auditoriums and Industrial Warehouses.

Caulk & Weatherproofing Caulking, sealing and waterproofing for doors, windows and seams. Weatherization is maximizing energy savings and preservation for the property. The cost is small, and the value is great.

Apartment Utility Separations. The cost of separating each of the utilities. The property codes that apply, and legal aspects of the landlord's concerns. Commercial tenant expansion limitations. "The House Meter".

Occupancy Sensors. An occupancy sensor is an energy conservation device designed to detect the presence of human occupants in a given area.

Whole House Fans. Whole house fans, belt driven and direct drive for gable end mounted or ceiling mounted ventilation system - energy efficient fresh air

The Green Property for residential and commercial properties.  We have information on;   solar panels, weatherproofing, green roofs, LED lighting, etc.  Low cost and energy saving air conditioners,  lower utility bills, electric bills, insulation, flat roof, green, eco-friendly, panels, eco, solar, soil, growing, snow, contractors, additional support, membrane, Philadelphia PA. The need to conserve energy while reducing carbon emissions has been the focus of most energy reducing projects. Some households have made changes large and small in an effort to tackle global warming, yet the purpose of installing loft insulation, solar panels and other such green energy measures is not entirely about saving the planet; indeed, the process can also save homeowners substantial amounts of money on energy bills. Serving information to these areas - Ask us about it.

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