A unique type of hydrogen / oxygen gas mixture

We sense a paradigm shift in technology just around the bend. Any thoughts, bloggers?

(excerpt form the Hydrogen Technology Applications, Inc. website)

"(Thier) technology centers on the ability to generate a unique type of hydrogen/oxygen gas mixture (a "unique gas", which (they) call "Aquygen™" gas) on demand from a lightweight, compact machine that uses the water electrolysis process as its underlying technology basis.

This unique gas is infinitely stable until it comes in contact with a select target media. Then it sublimates, causing a molecular surface exchange of certain elements, reacting with such excitation as to cause temperatures of up to 10,000° F, the temperature of our Sun's surface, which is currently the limits of our ability to measure."

FOR MORE CLICK ON HEADLINE - link)

Al Gore's fight against global warming

New York Times
(by Andrew C. Revkin)

The frustrations of a man whose long-sought goal remains out of reach are vividly on display in the first few minutes of "An Inconvenient Truth," a new documentary about former Vice President Al Gore's quest to spur action against global warming.

Also, catch his latest opinion presented in Vanity Fair.

So you want to Invest in Solar...

If you're a home or business owner who's thinking of installing solar and you want to get the greatest possible return on your investment, then this course (San Francisco) is for you. This one-day workshop is specifically designed for home and business owners who will not be installing their own system but still want to make an INFORMED decision before investing in a new PV system.
You'll learn:

1. Basics of electricity and PV
2. Simple ways to save money by improving energy efficiency
3. How to calculate ideal system size
4. How to select the right contractor

Kleenex linked to deforestation

Charmin, Puffs and Bounty are made from ancient and endangered trees clearcut in the southern US and Alberta, Canada.

If every household in the US replaced just 1 box of tissue made from virgin fiber with a box made from 100% recycled paper, 163,000 trees would be saved.

If US shoppers traded 1 package of virgin fiber napkins for recycled ones, one million trees would be spared.

Trees power batteries

Plenty Magazine (April/May) reports MagCap Engineering, which also manufacturers magnetic components for defense companies, has found a way to charge small batteries and power LED lights by connecting them to trees.

Magcap president, Chris Lagadinos, says output will hopefully increase to 12 volts, enough to charge a hybrid car or off-the-grid street lamp.

This new technology will compete with solar, as this new technology will charge day and night.

A 2 years a study has been researching the impact on tree growth. To date, horticulturists have found no evidence of adverse effects. Long term consequences remain to be seen.

Just another reason, everGREEN landscape architects (www.everGREEN-sb.com) is committed to the preservation of trees.

How to Recycle Practically Anything

Old Myths are Shattering and New Options Come Online.

Don’t throw away those exercise videos and ubiquitous AOL CDs. Jim Williams wants you to mail old videotapes and CDs to him, so that more than 40 disabled staffers at his ACT Recycling in Columbia, Missouri can recycle them. And, oh, don’t toss out those used Fed-Ex envelopes or broken smoke detectors; their manufacturers take them back for recycling.

New Orleans disaster in California?

Another New Orleans-style disaster is in the making in this country. Would you be surprised to learn it’s in the middle of California?

Well, it is. The Delta that forms where the Sacramento and San Joaquin rivers converge about 80 miles from the Pacific coast is a vast estuary where about 50 islands of low-lying but highly productive farmland are protected by 1,100 miles of levees. Recently, developers have moved to subdivide the islands and build thousands of suburban homes on what used to be farms. But look carefully at the photo: Do you notice the river is higher than the houses? That’s because most of the new subdivisions are being built below sea level. Sound familiar?

Wal-Mart's New Conquest: Organics

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - Wal-Mart, the world's largest retailer, is pushing into organics with a vengeance. Who stands to benefit? Organically inclined consumers because of Wal-Mart's price-busting mentality.

And so the battle between Wal-mart and Monsanto begins....

Pesticides & Water Quality

A recent study on "The Quality of Our Nation's Waters" found that insecticides are detected more often, and usually in higher concentrations, in urban streams as opposed to agricultural streams. Most commonly found are diazinon, carbaryl (sevin), and malathion. All three are commonly used by homeowners across the country. Even though malathion and carbaryl are less toxic than diazinon, they are more water soluble -- meaning they wash off lawns and streets a lot more easily so more of it gets into our waterways. It doesn't take much of some pesticides to affect wildlife and water quality.

Consider this: Bifenthrin - another common ingredient in some over-the-counter pesticides - is toxic to aquatic life at 4 parts per trillion. That's like 4 square feet of tile on a kitchen floor the size of Indiana!

http://ourwaterourworld.org/pub/ow/PesticidesWQ.pdf

At NWA - LAndscape Architecture & Construction (http://www.nwalandscape.com/), we implement Integrated Pest Management. It means fewer pesticide applications. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is an approach to pest control that utilizes regular monitoring to determine if and when treatments are needed and employs physical, mechanical, cultural, biological and educational tactics to keep pest numbers low enough to prevent intolerable damage or annoyance. Least-toxic chemical controls are used as a last resort. Call for a consultation 805-684-1718.

World’s Largest Solar Farm Taking Root in New Mexico Desert

Two start-up companies backed by venture capital are teaming up with the state of New Mexico to build the world’s largest solar power farm on 3,200 acres of mostly public land near the Mexican border. The proposed facility would be 60 times larger than the world’s biggest currently operating solar farm in Germany’s Bavaria region.

Salvaging the built environment (Calif)

Keep demoed bldg. materials out of landfills. Instead, the materials get reused. You save on dump fees. And additionally, you benefit from a tax deductable donation.

Enterprise Rent-A-Car to Offer Biodiesel Rentals

The company who will “pick you up” will now be picking up biodiesel. Enterprise Rent-A-Car has announced a program to offer diesel Jeep Liberties to its rental customers in the Portland, Ore., area.