Not All LED Lights Are Created Equal

One Stop Green Editor's Note:  This article is written by CEO of Ringdale, Klaus Bollmann, whose company manufactures the longest lasting LED lights in the world.

This article is an introduction to the world of LED Lighting and Controls. I will follow up with more articles specific to various lighting and control issues that you may have in your environment. The technology discussed is truly leading to a sustainable lighting environment guiding away from the consumption model.

In 2007 anyone who could put a white LED onto a Printed Circuit Board tried to sell a light bulb replacement. Having been involved with laser diode design and in specific blue lasers in their early stages I had a high curiosity whether those devices could replace the light bulb or fluorescent tube.

Like others we attempted to make a light bulb replacement only to find out that the cost of the technology is still very high and in order to justify that cost the device would have to be more efficient than a fluorescent tube and keep its light output for a very long time to get a return of investment.

Deeply understanding the quantum physics involved I knew that the junction where the light is created, that is deep in the solid state structure, had to be kept rather cool to not get damaged over time by heat and to perform with high efficiency.

When we saw all players not to care about efficiency or keeping their devices cool but to try and develop a light bulb with a slightly longer life but not too much longer, the opportunity arose to make a very long lasting light fixture. We are talking 10 years plus without light degradation or change in color.

Fortunately we also came from the networking arena so we developed a protocol of communication between the light fixtures that allows uniform dimming over an infinite number of devices by one low cost dimming device.

Imagine that in future a supermarket does not have to change its light fixtures every 3 years but can leave them in place for 15 years or more, no more light bulbs or tubes to be replaced.

Oh by the way, LEDs do not have Mercury like fluorescent tubes and "Energy Saving" lamps. The wattage on the fixture is the actual wattage consumed unlike your "Energy Saver" bulb that consumes 30..50% more than advertised.

To further cement commitment to the environment manufacturers should recycle all their product as long as the user finds a way to get it to a recycling centre and guarantee to pay back to the customer a recycling value on return. All parts of our light fixtures are 100% recyclable and in fact the aluminium in our lights is 100% recycled aluminium.

However, it is difficult for the non-specialist person to understand that not all LED devices are created equal and to recognize what is marketing hype and what is real. The DOE or Energy Star are not helping as they lag years behind technology and generally support the consumption model brands rather than lasting and really efficient technology to the point of being hostile to new and better technologies.

Our struggle is to educate that LED is not always better but good LED product like ActiveLED are better than any other LED or conventional lighting product in the market today. In conclusion, not all LED light fixtures are created equal and only very few have a non-consumption model. Our brand ActiveLED has all light fixtures guaranteed to be designed to last more than 10 years while maintaining their light output and efficiency of its power supply also known as drivers.

Klaus Bollmann is a 30 year veteran in energy conservation, resource saving and innovative products for a sustainable environment.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/7104043

Greening My Apartment

I recently had the pleasure of moving into a new apartment and my goal has become to make it as green as possible. One of the first elements I look to address is the lighting. Why lighting first?  Lighting is one of the easiest ways to cut energy use in a home.  There are 2 ceiling fans with 3 light sockets each on them, and the apartment came with 60W incandescent bulbs in each socket, equaling 180W of total lighting per fixture!  I simply replaced those 60W incandescent bulbs with 13W CFLs.  The 3 CFLs in the fixture equal less energy use than one of the incandescent bulbs, which means I get nearly instant savings.  Even more attractive was my utility company’ offer to cover some of the cost. You see, my local utility company offers rebate program for switching to CFLs, so I get money back for making my apartment more energy efficient. Everyone, including the environment and perhaps most importantly my pocket books, win in this scenario.

Obviously lighting is the first choice, but what other ways can I make my apartment more efficient?  Well, your AC use plays a big part of that.  Living in Texas means it’s HOT, and I mean HOT! So you can imagine it’s hard to ever want to lay off my AC, but I generally try to manage my air conditioner use to when I am actually in the apartment. Now I like it COLD, but when I am leaving the apartment, I turn off of change the AC setting to Auto so as to limit the amount of time its in operation.  In addition, I use ceiling fans and other fans to help move air around the house and keep it cooler.

Another way to keep my energy bills down is to take advantage of natural light.  I specifically chose an apartment that has ample light so I can just open the blinds and naturally light my room. This contributes to the energy savings I already generate when I switched to CFL bulbs as they are only on in the evening.

Finally and perhaps the most literal way to make my apartment ‘green’ is to bring in some plant life. Plants offer a natural filtration system and the fresh air does wonders for my indoor air quality. A few plants not only add to the décor, but bring in some much needed freshness to my apartment!

What are some ways you make your home more Green and efficient?  Tell me, maybe I’ll borrow some of your ideas and adapt them to my own apartment.  I’m going to try and blog more, so are there any topics you would like me to write about?  Let me know in the comments below!

Making Recycling Easy…

Remember back in the day when you had to sort out all your recyclables? Paper, Glass, Metal, and Plastic - all had to be sorted and arranged before that day of the week when it finally got picked up. Welcome to 2012 - where many municipalities have switched to the concept of single stream recycling. A fancy term meaning that everything goes into one bin because it greatly increases the likelihood that people will actually recycle. According to a recent study, US Households are almost 90% more likely to recycle if they don't have to put the effort into separating their trash. These numbers were convincing enough to municipalities in California who began implementing single stream recycling in the late 1990s. Since then, single stream programs have been popping up all over the nation moving its way eastward. Today, an estimated 220 city and regional single stream programs are in operation in 27 states serving about 72 million people; this is compared with 11 states and 16 million people in 2005, according to Government Advisory Associates (CBS, 2011). Once picked up, these comingled materials are separated at the single-stream Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) through the use of various magnets, screens, optical scanners and manual sorting techniques. As a result of waste processors handling the separation of these materials, consumers and municipalities alike are seeing the value of this technology, enabling it to become a more widespread recycling solution in the U.S. that creates jobs and helps our environment.

How it Works…

So your mixed recyclables container is picked up once or twice a week and taken to a single-stream recycling facility. Depending on your region, it will be taken to your local plant that processes recyclables on an hourly basis. The incoming materials start the journey on a conveyor belt where workers remove trash, large objects, and plastic bags, anything that can clog the machinery or be removed from the recycling process at its beginning stages. The conveyor belt then leads into something called a ‘disk screen’ where rows of spinning disks push large pieces of cardboard up and out of the stream as the smaller recyclables fall below.

The remaining materials are then dropped on to another conveyor belt where more workers are separating trash and leftover cardboard that may cross their path. This belt the leads into another disk screen – a double decker that separates out lighter paper products such as newspapers so that soda cans and water bottles fall below. The remaining enclosures enter an enclosure where a magnet removes any steel objects from the stream. At this point glass bottles and jars are screened out and shattered into small pieces by large disks as their shards fall below. Aluminum cans pass through an eddy current which imparts an electrical charge so another magnet can repel them onto a separate belt. The items remaining in the stream, plastics and some trash pass through a device that uses an ultra-violet light to scan each items composition. When a plastic item is scanned, its position is registered on the belt and then reaches its precipice before the moment the item plunges below it is sucked up into the appropriate receptacle above while everything else falls to the seemingly pit-less dark depths below.

Case Study

The City of Madison, Wisconsin began single stream recycling with automated collection in September of 2005, following two years of planning. The time was perfect for this transition since recycling trucks needed to be replaced, the transfer station needed redesign, and the recycling contract was up for renewal. According to the Solid and Hazardous Waste Education Center who conducted the case study, 2006 was the first full year of implementation of the single stream recycling system and Madison experienced a significant increase in tonnages. The City increased overall recycling by 25% from the year before. Additionally, the City achieved over $103,000 in landfill tipping fees savings in 2006 as compared to 2005.

Single stream recycling is gaining popularity across the United States because many residents prefer it because of convenience in terms of not having to sort materials. Municipalities and collectors also prefer the method due to increased ease and efficiency of collection with mechanized lifting of carts, associated cost savings, reduced injuries on the job, and increased overall participation and tonnage collected. However, it must be warned, Single stream systems are not always cheaper alternative. Cost increases can come in the form of new carts/bins, new trucks, education of residents, and the construction or renovation of a MRF or recycling center. Single stream recycling systems should be targeted towards areas where there is lack of recycling centers or dramatically increase tonnage the amount of tonnage collected. Communities really need to analyze their specific situations in order to decide which type of program is the best fit for them.  Implementing this type of process requires the coordinating of Municipalities, collectors, processors, and manufacturers who must all work together to organize the logistics to share costs equally figure out the highest amount and percentage of quality recyclables that can potentially be recovered.

One Stop Green, LLC facilitates environmentally friendly improvements to residential and commercial properties through distribution of green, energy efficient products and services. They offer every product needed for sustainable energy independence enabling homeowners, businesses and commercial property owners to master their usage by reducing waste and implementing efficient energy consumption methods. Their goal is to provide user friendly and practical long-term solutions to existing inefficiencies and their carefully selected products and professional installers offer a higher level of satisfaction and service for their customers.

Product Reviews: Celadon Road Laundry Detergent

Celadon Road Makes Green Products for a Green Home

By Nathan Kaufman

So, I would like to start this by saying that I am about to have a “first” moment.  I have never written a product review for a blog before, whether for a product carried by One Stop Green, or anyone else.  I would like to thank those in the blogosphere for trusting in my writing abilities and knowledge to give a fair and balanced product review.  So, here we go!

Things have been very busy with One Stop Green, and networking has been a huge part.  I found this networking site called Ozoshare for the green community (www.ozoshare.com) and created an account.  It was like joining Facebook all over again, I had tons of people wanting to be my Partner and I gladly accepted all of them.  Since I work for One Stop Green, I tried highlighting them on my Ozoshare page as well.  I got caught up in setting up the profile and remembered this was for networking purposes, and proceeded to start telling everyone hello and recommending the check out One Stop Green.  One of those people who I talked to was Amanda Arkans, an Independent Senior Manager for Celadon Road, and that’s where the basis for this product review comes from.

Celadon Road is a great company that was founded to promote a greener and healthier lifestyle.  Its products are all high quality and eco-friendly and are many products we use every day.  When I saw what some of their products were, I wanted to see about carrying them through One Stop Green, however Celadon Road markets its products through Independent Consultants.  Still, I like what they do and what they have, so Amanda asked if I could test a couple of products and review them.  Since I love new content to write about, of course I agreed!

The product I tested was the Celadon Road Laundry Detergent.  As a young twenty-something, I admit I have quite a bit of laundry I leave lying around my apartment.  While I am adept at using a washer and dryer, my apartment does not have them so I enlisted the help of my girlfriend, Stephanie.  The Lavender Celadon Road Laundry Detergent (item #020-006) came in a small sample Ziploc bag and is a light colored powder.  “There’s no way this little bag can do a load of laundry,” I said to Stephanie.  It actually ended up doing two large loads, living up to my statement (though not the way I meant it).  Celadon Road says their detergent can do a load of laundry with 1 to 2 tablespoons.  That’s much less than the name brand stuff I use, whether it’s liquid or powder detergent.  The Celadon Road website advertises their laundry detergent can also be used to clean floors and walls when dissolved in water.  The clothes came out smelling clean and feeling soft as ever, and that’s without fabric softener (another thing you don’t have to buy)!  The Celadon Road online catalog states that the laundry detergent was developed in response to “a child with eczema aggravated by commercial laundry products” which, as far as I’m concerned is a great reason to make a new type of laundry detergent.

I must say, I was very impressed with the Celadon Road Laundry Detergent.  It got my clothes clean, which is definitely to be expected from a laundry detergent, but the amount of detergent needed, or lack of detergent needed, was amazing.  When I first heard from Amanda, I asked if it were possible to carry their products on our website.  While that is not the case, I hope this review of their products will help Celadon Road because they definitely have a fan.  Overall, the detergent had a good smell and I loved that so little detergent could do so much laundry.  The clothes came out smelling clean and fresh as well.  Connect with Amanda and check out their other products at http://www.myceladonroad.com/amanda/ so you can get great products like their laundry detergent.  Or, help make the world a Greener place by becoming a Celadon Road Independent Consultant with Amanda’s great startup deal through Celadon Road!

Celadon Road is dedicated to promoting greener, healthier and more socially responsible living by offering our customers the highest quality natural, eco-friendly products for their everyday needs.  In following our mission, we inspire individuals to discover and explore their shade of green and to purchase with a purpose.  We strongly believe if we all make small changes toward a greener lifestyle, collectively we can have a profound impact on our world.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

See the Light with CFLs

By Nathan Kaufman

Lighting is one of the least expensive ways to go green in your home and business.  It also generally takes the least amount of work, just unscrewing the old bulb and screwing in the new one.  Standard incandescent light bulbs for home lighting are 60 watt bulbs and cost $.50-1.00 each.  By spending a couple dollars more, you can save 75% on your lighting energy expenses by using compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs.

75% is a huge reduction, but that is the average ratio of energy savings when switching from incandescent light bulbs to CFLs.  If you keep a brighter home, 100 watt incandescents translate to a 25 watt CFL and so on.  Another energy saving fact, calculated by ENERGY STAR, states “if every American home replaced just one light bulb with a light bulb that's earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save enough energy to light 3 million homes for a year, save about $600 million in annual energy costs, and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions per year, equivalent to those from about 800,000 cars.”  Think of all the energy (and yes, read that as money) we would save!

So, CFLs do have their fair share of myths and controversies surrounding them.  One of the biggest legitimate concerns is the mercury in CFLs, which although a very small amount, is important for the functionality of the CFL.  CFLs contain about 5 milligrams of mercury, which in comparison, is less than that of old mercury thermometers.  However, they do require special care when being disposed of.  Mercury disposal guidelines vary by city, so check with your local officials when yours burns out.  Another common complaint is the color of the light emitted by CFLs.  Like their straight-tubed cousins, CFLs come in a variety of colors, called the Correlated Color Temperature.  Without getting into technical details, to get the best results when comparing the light to incandescent bulbs, get bulbs with a 2700K to 3000K Correlated Color Temperature.  CFL packaging should soon be displaying this detail, along with better explanations, on packaging, since it will be required to receive ENERGY STAR certification.  Gone will be confusing color names, like “natural white” or “soft white,” because that does not help any.

In addition to energy savings, I pose a question: how many times do you change your bulbs over the course of a year?  Typical incandescent bulbs are designed to last between 750 and 1000 hours, or about 100 to 200 days when using the light 8 to 12 hours per day.  CFLs are generally rated between 6000 and 15000 hours.  At the high end of things, CFLs can last up to 15 times longer than incandescent bulbs.  At a 100 to 200 day lifespan, incandescent bulbs are almost guaranteed to need at least one replacement during the year.  Even a 6000 hour CFL, running 12 hours per day lasts almost 2 years, the span that between 4 and 6 incandescent bulbs would be running in the one CFL’s place.

An unexpected advantage of CFLs that is rarely touched upon is the heat reduction.  After an incandescent light has been on for a while and you put your hand up to it, how does it feel?  It is pretty hot, right?  Take that 60 watt incandescent bulb and try the same thing with its 15 watt CFL replacement.  The CFL is much cooler after being on all day than the incandescent!  If your home has a lot of lighting, think of all the heat those incandescent bulbs are adding to the air, and how much the air conditioner is running to cool things back down.  While the added heat may be great in the winter (well, where I live we don’t believe in winter!), the amount of energy saved by keeping your home cooler can surprise you, all because of light bulbs.

CFLs are one of the easiest, cheapest ways to make your home more green.  I will admit, there is a surprising amount of negative press surrounding these funky looking bulbs, but if you do research, you will see there are answers and solutions to every problem that people seem to find.  Through energy savings, lower replacement frequency, and even the heat reduction, CFLs can help save costs across the board and can be a way to jumpstart your path to a greener future.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Power on the Go

Keeping Charged in College

By Nathan Kaufman

As a college student, I am always on the go and always within arm’s reach of some piece of technology.  Whether I am checking emails on my smartphone or taking notes on my new tablet, the batteries in them are constantly running and draining.  I needed a way to keep them running without bringing cords to class and having to find a seat where I could plug in when needed.

I came across a functional set of bags called Powerbags that can help me with my problem while wandering campus.  Powerbags may look like your average backpack, messenger bags, or briefcases, but these appropriately named totes have a powerful rechargeable battery inside that allows me to charge my electronics while I walk from class to class and even in while listening to lectures in class.  It gives me the flexibility to sit anywhere and not potentially trip classmates when my cord runs across the aisle.

Now, Powerbag has a variety of bags to choose from, so the hardest work was finding the one that fits me.  With my long class days, I needed one of the more powerful bags, which rock a 6000 mAh rechargeable battery that can charge my Blackberry four times over (not that I’ve killed my Blackberry that much in a day).  I needed something large enough to carry all my class materials (3 classes per day) including binders, books, and other essentials.  It needs to be light enough to spend a day with and not cause any back pain.  I limited my choice to Powerbag backpacks.  I was never a messenger bag kind of guy, and briefcases and wheeled bags don’t suit college campuses well.  I also have a laptop (which unfortunately can’t be charged in a Powerbag) so I needed something that would fit that as well.  I went with the Deluxe Backpack because it was comparable to the only other large bag in size (the Business Class Pack) but was a little bit cheaper.  My laptop is also kind of big, so the extra-large laptop compartment was a definite plus.

The Powerbag has definitely served its purpose, keeping my phone and tablet alive while saving me from having to bring a bunch of cords.  When its battery is running low, I just plug it into the wall to recharge overnight.  The Powerbags are also pretty stylish for those that are concerned about their image, and are exclusively designed by fūl.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Going Green in 2012

Green New Year’s Resolutions and Outlooks

By Nathan Kaufman

The New Year is a time to make resolutions, start changing yourself for the better, and create ideas to become a better person.  By Going Green and adopting a Greener Lifestyle, you can greatly reduce the impact on the environment and help promote a cleaner way of living.  So here are some hand-picked Green New Year Resolutions and notable news for 2012

1.       Going Green, like any resolution, starts with baby steps.  In your home, Going Green can have a profound effect on your lifestyle.  Switching over to environmentally friendly products can save so much money in the long run, but sometimes the initial investment is a turnoff.  So start small!  Find one, easy part of your lifestyle to change.  At home, one of the simplest is using energy efficient lighting.  CFL and LED lighting can last many years beyond the life of an incandescent bulb and the energy saved from incandescent to CFL is around 75% (60W incandescent to 13W CFL).  From CFL to LED, it is another approximately 75% energy reduction (13W CFL to a 4W LED).  Some CFL bulbs have been reported to last 5 years, and many LEDs advertise they last 10 years, so you will not be changing bulbs as often.  In addition, existing incandescent bulbs are going to be phased out by newer, more efficient versions, however they still do not come close to the efficiency of CFL and LED bulbs.

If switching your light bulbs out for more efficient ones is still out of your budget, try simply turning the lights off and opening windows during the day.  Natural sunlight is the perfect light source for much of the work you do, and best of all, it’s free!  Opening windows to let in a cool breeze can also save from running your air conditioner, and bundling up while inside can save you from running your heater.  The heating, ventilation, and cooling system in the home is one of the largest energy users.

While roof mounted photovoltaic systems and efficient Energy Star rated appliances would be a big help, those are something you can put your energy savings towards from simply switching your light bulbs.

2.       The Electric Vehicle field expands, and other Green Transportation ideas.  What started in the United States with the Chevy Volt and Nissan Leaf has exploded as the next great thing in personal vehicles.  The issues with the Volt’s battery should be resolved shortly since Chevy has found a fix, and many well-known brands are rolling out electric vehicles of their own to compete with the Volt and Leaf.  Something to note, not all the cars are straight electrics, some are Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles, including the already mentioned Volt.  Ford has started production on a straight electric Focus as part of Ford’s plan to Green their product line.  Mitsubishi’s much-hyped MiEV is also going to be available for sale starting in 2012 and is especially noted for being the most affordable mass produced electric vehicle in the US.  Toyota has its popular RAV 4 SUV ready to launch as an electric vehicle, the only all-electric SUV available in the US as well, marking a big change from all the currently produced small cars.  Toyota is also coming out with a Plug-In Hybrid Electric version of its extremely popular Prius.  Not to be outdone, Honda is releasing its popular Fit as an Electric Vehicle with an outstanding range of 123 miles between charges.  For higher-end clientele, Tesla is coming out with its Model S sedan with many upgradable features that extend range and increase comfort, and the sporty Fisker Karma is also ramping up production.

Not in the market for an Electric Vehicle?  That’s still ok, all the major manufacturers are seeking ways to increase fuel efficiency across the board, even SUVs and pickup trucks are getting the Green treatment and becoming more efficient, and more and more Hybrid Vehicles are coming out every year.  With new fuel standards mandated by the US Government fast approaching, now is a great time to find a fuel efficient ride.

A much cheaper option would to find alternate transportation to your current car.  As a college student in a college town, I ride my bike to and from campus frequently, as well as between classes.  Living close to campus helps, because going to class all sweaty after a long bike ride is unappealing, but the couple miles I do ride are refreshing and a great way to wake up in the morning.  Taking public transportation is also an option in many locations.  My university has a very busy bus system that sometimes fills up with students going to and from campus, and many cities have their own transit agencies.  Leave your car parked and let someone else do the driving for you and many others.  Many times, transit agencies have passes that allow unlimited use for a monthly payment that will be far less than your average monthly gasoline bill.

3.       Try to find ways to get out and do things that do not consume.  I am even guilty of not doing this, I sit on my couch, writing blogs for you and watching the TV all day.  But Going Green is a Lifestyle, and part of that is being active.  Going outside is free, and you can do nearly anything.  Just going on a walk, whether down the street or on a park trail, gets you active and uses energy you have been consuming in the form of calories instead of using energy generated from a power plant.  Being active not only promotes a Green Lifestyle but also a Healthy Lifestyle.  Many resolutions revolve around improving appearances, and this Green Resolution definitely falls in line with that.  Instead of driving, using gas, bike.  Instead of playing Madden 12 on your Xbox 360, get some friends and play touch football at a local park.

Going Green and adopting a more environmentally lifestyle should be a part of everyone’s New Year Resolutions.  Simple lifestyle changes can generate impressive results when Going Green and every little bit pays off.  Also, as illustrated, your Green Resolutions do not have to be expensive to be successful.  So go out and help make the world a Greener place, one Resolution at a time.

One Stop Green is looking towards a Greener Future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and Green Technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going Green is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

12 Green Days of Christmas

12 Tips to Have a Green Christmas

On the twelfth day of Christmas: Get that closet ready! Almost 100,000 tons of old clothes will be thrown away this Christmas, so if you know your getting a new wardrobe, be sure to get your closet ready by donating your old clothes to a local charity.

On the eleventh day of Christmas: Avoid buying gifts that require batteries! New gifts at Christmas often mean that households go through a lot of batteries. But remember, batteries contain toxic chemicals, are not biodegradable and are difficult to recycle. As an alternative, One Stop Green recommends using rechargeable batteries or better yet, try buying new USB rechargeable batteries! By opening the batteries cap and plugging it into a USB connector, you can recharge them pretty much anywhere and save them from otherwise being disposed!

On the tenth day of Christmas: Buy in bulk! Instead of purchasing cans of soda and individual small bags of chips, go ahead and stock up on bulk goods you know you’ll end up using to reduce packaging waste and save on trips to the grocery store.

On the ninth day of Christmas: Getting a new cell phone or electronic product for Christmas? Be sure to dispose of that old phone or electronic through an e-recycling program. Each year, approximately 130 million cell phones are thrown out that weigh over 65,000 tons. Recycle your old phone or electronic responsibly to prevent hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from leaking into our landfills.

On the eight day of Christmas: Buy a Real Christmas Tree and be sure to Recycle! Ninety-eight percent of Christmas trees were grown on farms, not in forests, so it's not as if you're cutting down an ancient tree. Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfills and while your tree won't fit in the recycling bin, you can recycle it through various other methods, one of which is through programs offered by the city to turn your tree into mulch.

On the seventh day of Christmas: Add Organic and Local Foods to Your Holiday Feast! Support local farms that grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only does it taste better, but its more humane towards animals and you'll be doing your part for the planet too. Speaking of buying local foods...

On the sixth day of Christmas: Buy Local Gifts - The impact of transportation contributes significantly to greenhouse emissions and global warming so this Christmas, buy locally made and manufactured gifts from places such as fairs and artisan shops that reduce the added costs of transportation.

On the fifth day of Christmas: Christmas is expensive and that means lots of bills! This Christmas, be sure to sign up for paper free billing and pay all your bills online. Not only will this help you cut down on the amount of junk mail you receive but you'll save some trees as well!

On the fourth day of Christmas: Not all gifts have to be store-bought. Give more while spending less by making personal and unique gifts from scratch. Need some ideas? Check out how to make your own Green Terrarium! fwd4.me/0he8

On the third day of Christmas: Use LED Christmas lights to decorate your home! Save money, use less energy, and invest in long term LED energy saving Christmas lights that will give you all the festive cheer without the holiday electricity bill.

On the second day of Christmas: Re-use gift bags! Save your gift bag or wrapping paper and re-use them for other gifts to use less paper. Try also using the comic section of your daily newspaper to wrap gifts – it’s free, saves money, and helps the environment!

And on the first day of Christmas: Buy Green! This Christmas, consider giving the gift of green and give recycled and up-cycled gifts and ornaments! For more eco-friendly gift ideas and tips, visit OneStopGreen.com – your destination for green living! 

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Repair vs. Replace: Repair to Extend the Life of your Appliance & Save the Environment

By Adria Saracino


Did you know that the U.S. is the #1 trash-producing country despite only having about 5% of the world's population? Surprisingly, appliances are a huge part of that waste. In 2009, there were 3.8 million tons of major appliances thrown away.


Some of this waste may be unnecessary. When an appliance breaks, many homeowners spend a lot of money either replacing the whole unit or hiring a repair man to diagnose the problem. While these professionals can offer valuable insight, oftentimes the most common appliance problems can be easily fixed by homeowners.


PartSelect Appliances created this interactive infographic highlighting some of the most common appliance problems in our homes. It shows each common issue and the parts required to correct the problem. It also compares the average cost of replacing the appliance to the cost of the parts required to fix the problem, with a scale showing the difficulty of the repair.










So before you spend a lot of money on a new appliance or handyman services, determine if you can easily fix the problem yourself. Repairing vs. replacing is an environmentally-friendly way to extend the life of your appliance!

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner. 

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

About the Author:Adria Saracino is the Head of Outreach at Distilled.net. When she's not talking to interesting people on the web, you can find her writing about Seattle style on her personal fashion blog, The Emerald Closet.

Keystone XL Pipeline - Why it Matters

When the Numbers just don’t add up…

The two main arguments for proponents of the Keystone XL pipeline, a 1,700-mile stretch of pipe and pumps that would link a gargantuan oil patch in Alberta to refineries on the Texas Gulf Coast is that it will create jobs, thus improving the economy, and that it will secure America's future energy resources. Both arguments are refuted in the second of two articles by Tom Zeller at the Huffington Post about the controversy surrounding the development of the oil pipeline. The first installment can be found here, but in summary, the number of jobs and the amount of money the XL pipeline is expected to generate has been greatly over exaggerated. Furthermore, the risks entailed to the environment with a pipeline of this sort far outweigh the proposed benefits that TransCanada, the company behind the project claims. This resistance has in many ways taken on a symbolic tone, putting supporters of clean energy against those who are not and may just be one of the most important decisions the Obama administration makes in its first term.

How does the XL Oil Pipeline effect the environment?

While the estimates on how bad this pipeline will actually be for the environment vary, what we do know is that it will undoubtedly have a negative impact on it. Estimates of the increase in carbon footprint have ranged anywhere from 5 to more than 30 percent depending on who you are asking and the potential for disaster that is a result of a spill or crack in the pipeline makes risks to the environment that much more substantial.

All About Jobs

Perhaps the biggest argument for proponents of the pipeline is that it will create hundreds of thousands of jobs and invest billions into the American economy.  These figures, claimed by TransCanada, which sometimes cites "numerous studies" as its source, have been highly refuted causing TransCanada to adjust their original claims. In the end, the pipeline will undeniably create jobs, just how many and where is the question. Independent studies claim that the impact on the U.S. economy would be at the most 2.3 billion, a far cry from the 7 billion that TransCanada originally declared. A sizable percentage of materials for the pipeline would be obtained from foreign markets, while the direct construction and manufacturing jobs would be only be temporary, with pipeline builders being imported to camps along the planned route. If the jobs argument is not there, is this pipeline really worth risking the preservation of our environment?

But what about Energy Security?

Finally, changing up how America imports its oil is unlikely to provide much security. Oil is a global commodity and thus responds to complex and often unpredictable global events. Last year, an analysis commissioned by the Department of Energy noted that securing America’s energy would have little to do with the Keystone XL. The global nature of the oil market makes it difficult to answer even the most simplest of questions in what will the Keystone XL do for me in terms of reduced gas prices? Perhaps most surprisingly, analyst have suggested that Keystone XL would actually drive up gas prices by 10 or 20 cents a gallon in the Midwest, where tar sands crude is currently bottlenecked. Not only are we failing to secure our country’s energy future but we are also further burdening our economy by asking driver’s to pay for it at the pump.

What do we do now?

It's time for us as a country to think about long-term solutions to our energy crisis and the Keystone XL Pipeline is simply not it. If it weren't for the controversy that has erupted since the announcement of the proposed pipeline in the forms of mass demonstrations and protests, this pipeline would have already been approved and we would have set our country upon yet another doomed path. We need to learn from our past mistakes and quit thinking in terms of how to satisfy our next quick fix and instead, concentrate more on sustainable solutions taking into consideration the long-term impact it will have on our country.

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Want to Go Solar?

Blog Week of October 16, 2011


Read This First!

The best advice for a homeowner interested in a Solar PV system for their home is to first do your homework! Prices for Solar PV systems will vary depending on the size and type of system, as well as the overall structure of your home. An average solar PV system costs between 16k -28k and may be more depending on the type of solar panels you use, however, the industry has seen a 30% drop in solar panel prices in the last six months alone, meaning that solar for the home is becoming more affordable.

Generally, the more electricity the system can generate, the higher the savings – but the bigger the initial cost. A 4kW system typically provides around a quarter of your home’s electricity needs and will save you money on your annual electricity bill.

The Database of State Incentives for Renewable Energy (DSIRE) has information regarding incentives available in your state. You can use energy calculators available on various websites (such as OneStopGreen.com) to determine how much potential your home has to produce electricity from solar.

How much electricity you will generate will depend on:

• The tilt angle of your roof and its orientation (maximum output is for a perfectly south facing roof with a tilt angle of 30 degrees)
• Where you live: the south-west gets more sun than the north, which could impact the amount of electricity your system will generate, although not too significantly.

Our initial site survey will first complete a comprehensive energy audit of your home in order to determine potential problems areas. Otherwise, it’s as if you are just pouring water into a bucket with a hole in it – no matter how much water you pour in, its going to continue to leak out. In much the same way, it is important to address all the other problem areas of the home before even thinking about adding a solar PV system.   

Also, be sure to:

• Make written notes – Inspect your roof and make note of all the measurements, in particular the orientation of the roof.
• Look at the roof – from both inside and outside.
• Be safe – Use access equipment for closer inspection where roof quality is uncertain.
• Record any possible risk of shade – Shade will reduce the effectiveness of your system.  Look for shady spots on the roof from trees, neighboring houses and chimneys.
• Examine the house – Measure the tilt angle of the roof, this is important when determining how big of a system is needed.
• Look at electrical use – Look at your fuse box and metering to see how much energy you are using.
• Identify your main electrical appliances – The biggest users and when you use them can help set a baseline for a solar system.
• Look around your property – Plan and discuss where to locate cables and equipment.
• Be sure to ask about other costs – This includes scaffolding, panel/module information, details of warranties, details of the inverter, the company’s terms and conditions, and information on how it has calculated the payback, rate of return and savings.

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Easy Ways to Reduce and Reuse

Blog week of September 18, 2011


Start With Around the Home


We have a number of useful tips on easy ways to reuse or recycle in the home that are available on both our website and mobile app. However, the following are probably the most creative and have been chosen as our staff favorites:

Be sure to make full use of your water! Inserting a bucket to collect water while waiting for your shower to warm up is perfect for watering plants!

Get twice the use out of your sink water! In homes across the U.S., the bathroom accounts for 74% of total water usage. Install the AQUS System to capture water from the bathroom sink, then filter and disinfect it to provide reused water for toilet flushing! Reduce metered water usage in a two-person household by 15–20 gals a day – or approx. 6,000 gallons a year!

You have got to Clean Green! Old newspapers are great for washing windows, just crumple up and wipe clean of all dirt and grime. Be sure to also save your worn or old t -shirts and use them as cleaning rags for anything from drying a freshly washed car to dusting or polishing your furniture!

Save that Sponge! Don't clean things with a dirty sponge, but don't toss it out either! 2 minutes in a microwave can effectively destroy 99% of bacteria and other harmful buildup in a sponge and it can then be re-used to clean anything!

Finally, be sure to Pee in the shower! Save wasted toilet water by peeing in the shower. Just kidding...One Stop Green in no way endorses peeing in the shower (except under extraordinary circumstances).

As you can see, being ‘green’ doesn’t necessarily mean spending lots of money to make excessive upgrades to the home, at its very core, its just living your life in a smarter, more efficient manner in order to reduce your overall negative impact on the environment.


One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.

Greener Searching

Blog Week of Sept. 4, 2011

What Google’s Energy Transparency Can Teach Us

Google, in response to recent criticisms, compiled data to reveal its energy use, greenhouse gas production, and put its environmentally friendly initiatives on display.  This all started from a claim by The Sunday Times, a British newspaper, stating “Googling” something uses the same amount of energy as boiling a teapot (British people love their tea, and so did I when I visited, with cream even).  This bold claim put Google on defense and spurred an investigation into how much energy its ever-growing data centers use.  The Sunday Times accepted Google’s response that most searches use 35 times less energy than The Sunday Times suggested, however Google wanted to be sure.

Google’s concern is valid; it is regularly seen as one of the best places to work in the United States and the perks its employees enjoy are subject to jealous comments by other office workers across the country.  Google’s statistics could be considered high, using 2.3 billion kWh of electricity last year, enough for a medium sized city (207,000 homes according to Edison Electric Institute). However, that is about half of the biggest power users, mostly oil companies, automobile manufacturers, and steel mills.

In defense, Google has decided it will now publish numbers regularly to track progress in reducing its carbon footprint.  Google has also pointed out that searching for something for a research project is more efficient than going to a library and looking in books for the information.  In addition, Google, is pushing customers to use their centralized data centers to store and process data, called cloud computing.  Cloud computing is more efficient and cheaper for a company than that company using its own information technology department (Google states an in-house email server uses 75 times more energy than using Google’s Gmail).

Google’s own in-house green initiatives have also spread beyond the company itself.  Google has invested nearly $1 billion in renewable energy projects across the United States.  Wind farms in North Dakota, California, and Oregon, and solar projects in California and Germany all have received investment from Google to help reduce the reliance on fossil fuels for our everyday electricity.  In addition, a transmission system, one of the key hindrances to many renewable energy projects, has been started with the help of Google to help jump start offshore wind farms on the Atlantic Coast.

Google’s transparency should be an example for companies across the United States.  For Google to sit down and plot out its carbon footprint was no easy task, and the results opened even their eyes to how much they use.  Companies like One Stop Green can help companies and households help identify changes that can be made to improve their own carbon footprint in order to help make the world a greener place.

One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs. Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green. We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner. 

Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP

Electric Vehicle Technology on the Move Again….

New Advances That Increase Options and Utility

It’s no secret that electric vehicles now have a foothold in the car industry and are gradually being manufactured by more and more companies.  Toyota, Nissan, Chevrolet, and other car manufacturers are hard at work in making their products competitive not only against one another’s, but also against traditional gas-run vehicles as well.  There have been some recent developments in the world of electric vehicles and we have taken the liberty to track and discuss them below.

Toyota has announced that its RAV4 EV, an electric compact SUV, will be available for sale to the general public in 2012.  After being released back around the turn of the century, Toyota discontinued its production quickly and as a result, very few were released.  This four door SUV will be more spacious than competitors like the Nissan Leaf and Chevrolet Volt and will thus offer more spacious options for consumers.


Luxury brands are also on board with the electric movement.  Mercedes, for example, offers the choice of ‘electric’ for some of its S-class models.  Most recently, Rolls Royce has began leasing its new 102EX that can travel over 100 miles per charge. However, it is still a Rolls Royce and thus gas savings will not be worth the high asking price for everyday consumers.


Car2Go, the company that loans Smart cars, is adding a new service to its repertoire.  By the end of 2011, it will have launched an all-electric car-sharing program based out of San Diego, CA.  These electric Smart cars will be capable of about 84 miles of driving per charge.


Finally, the first electric vehicle highway will undergo construction during fall of 2011 in the state of Washington.  AeroVironment has been chosen by the Washington Department of Transportation to build an extensive network of charging stations along Interstate 5 and U.S. Highway 2.  The purpose of this project is to combat inefficiencies that arise when traveling long distances in an electric vehicle.


One Stop Green is looking towards a ‘greener’ future, sharing the latest and greatest ideas in green living and green technology with you through our staff written blogs.  Going 'green' is no longer a choice, it's our responsibility, that's why it's so important to try and do the small things that can help change the outlook of the planet - and this is essentially the purpose of One Stop Green.  We believe even the little things like recycling or using less water helps the environment out in a big way, and that's why our various solutions seek to nurture and edify your home or business in an eco-friendly manner.  Visit our website at www.onestopgreen.com or download the mobile app at http://fwd4.me/01gP