Solar Panels or Wind Energy? Which Is Best For You?

Solar power and wind (power) turbine generators have both become front-runners in energy-saving technology.  They are the two main focal points in renewable energy systems today. Residential capabilities and accessibility in Bay Area neighborhoods lean more toward solar, however, wind generators have their advantages in rural or open areas.

Solar panels attract the sun’s rays, where wind turbines do not rely on the sun. They are most effective where there is a breeze or chances of high winds, such as on the shoreline, to generate power.

Solar and wind turbines are both advantageous to our environment, where they produce clean energy. They both can produce energy to heat a home, swimming pool, and even be a “driving” force for your electric car.

Solar panels are attached to a roof, are easy to install, and they provide no noise. A wind turbine’s effectiveness on a roof would not be as productive citing noise coming through walls, for example. (Check with your city about installation, as some cities might frown on wind generators within normal city or town limits.)

Both solar and wind turbines can be tied to or not tied to the energy grid; however, both will need a battery bank if you decide to use an “off-the-grid” system. They both can save us money, although, solar panels are more costly.

Wind generators will produce energy from the wind 24/7. They do not require the sun to be effective in saving energy and money. Solar panels require the power of the sun and can only be harnessed during sunlight hours. Where solar panels are pretty much maintenance free after installation, they will need to be cleaned. They will collect dust and dirt which prevents sunlight from coming in. Solar panels do have a 25-year guarantee, and are more reliable. There is a chance, though, for damage from something like a baseball, rock, or hail. They, however, have no moving parts and produce no noise. Where pretty much the only maintenance of a solar panel would be cleaning, wind turbines have moving parts.

Wind generators may require repair and replacement of its moving parts on occasion. Their propellers are detrimental to birds, and they also provide noise coming from the propellers. Where wind turbines are less expensive to obtain, maintenance can be more costly.

By doing research on solar power vs. wind power, you will determine which system for your energy savings, is best for you.

Make Money By Recycling

To reach or surpass your diversion goal, we encourage you to support the three R’s-“Reduce, Re-use,
and Recycle”. “Reducing” and “Re-using” materials is the cost efficient strategy to waste management.
What’s left after reduction and reuse takes place, is recyclable material. Recycling has become a huge
business unto itself! The logistics of what type of garbage and how it’s is diverted and dispersed has
opened up myriad opportunities for a profitable business!
SOUND BITE: Russ Collar, Owner of “The Original Hot Logs”. “This whole uh, process started, from
the fact that we’ve got, uh, wax produce boxes in mass, been going to landfills for years, nobody knew
what to do with them, a couple of vintners came up with the idea of how to chip ‘em up and turn them
into a firelog and, I saw the process, liked the whole process, um, and stepped in and said, yeah, it’s a
good idea, let’s see what we could do. Holiday Market actually was very instrumental from the
beginning seeing that they could save money by getting the wax boxes out of their waste stream, they
saved, they estimated 125 or150 thousand a year leaving the tipping fees and hauling waste costs and
it made it very feasible for them to deliver the waste product to us and pick up firelogs and take them
back to the store to make it very close loop, total transformation product-taking something out of the
waste stream, out of the landfill, and turning it into a real value added, real, uh, quality product.”
When you divert your waste, the recycling industry cycles billions of dollars back into California’s
economy thus adding jobs, sales, and other economic activity that are generated when those materials
stay in circulation!
SOUND BITE: Roberto M. Gomez, Facility manager at BFI, Fresno. “Recycling makes economic
sense. One is we divert material from the landfill. Two is we use less raw material, and third is we
employ people to sort the recyclable material from the landfill.”
Economically and environmentally-sound manufacturing businesses are making money by re-using
“feedstock” such as food scraps, yard and grass clippings-known as “green waste”, paint, batteries,
wood and other construction materials. The item either finds a new life as a different product, or is used
as the same product with a different owner.
Collecting, sorting, cleansing, treating, and reconstituting materials that would otherwise become waste,
and returning them to the economic cycle in the form of material for new, re-usable, or recycled
products makes CENTS (sense).
We should all look at waste as a valuable resource for the materials it contains

CalRecycle: California residents disposing less garbage per resident

California residents threw out 4.4 pounds of garbage per day in 2011, a record low, the Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle) announced.

The rate is calculated by taking the total waste disposed at residential facilities and commercial businesses and dividing that by population. The rate has been calculated since 1989; the state had a high of 6.3 pounds per resident in 2005.

The state’s overall diversion rate remains unchanged from 2010 at 65%, CalRecycle said.

“These rates are proof that we have strong and effective resource management efforts in the state,” CalRecycle Director Caroll Mortensen said in a statement. “Now we have a new goal: 75% recycling statewide. We’re excited to work with local communities and support emerging markets to recycle and divert even more solid waste in the years to come.”

Clear Out Clutter and Bring Your E waste to Shepherd’s Gate in Livermore, CA

Clear Out Clutter while Helping Shepherd’s Gate — Recycle Used Electronics!

The Shepherd’s Gate Thrift Store is partnering with Blue Star Electronics to raise funds for the women and children of Shepherd’s Gate by recycling electronics.

We will be accepting electronics from 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday through Saturday.

We can recycle most consumer electronics, including televisions, computer monitors, LCD monitors & TV’s, LED monitors & TV’s, plasma TV’s, computers, hard drives, computer peripherals, laptops, DVD players, VCR’s, printers, scanners, fax machines, copy machines, telephones, answering machines, radios, cassette players, CD players, and much more!

Please help us by dropping off your used electronics! If you have questions, please contact Patti at (925) 606-1924.

Livermore Thrift Store:

• 1362 Railroad Ave. Livermore, CA (925) 606-1924 Driving Directions
• Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm
• Saturday 10am – 4pm
• Sunday Closed

Donation Center

• 1362 Railroad Ave. Livermore, CA (925) 606-1290
• Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 3:00pm
• Sunday Closed

If you would like to contact us regarding donating clothing or household items, please call (925) 606-1290. Please call (925) 606-1722 for large furniture pick-up.

Go Green Article We Can Learn From A 13 Year Old Girl

Go Green! By
Gianna Tabellija

Today I took a quiz
and realized that I am not green at all, when really I thought I was. So I did
some research on simple ways to go green.
Three simple things
you need to remember to do are:

Save water,      save energy,    and reduce waste!

Doing these things
can be complex or they can be a piece of vegan pie. Here is how to do them…

Save water-

•            Use barrels of water outside the next time it rains, so when you
  want to water your plants just use the fresh rain water

•         When using the dishwasher or laundry machine make sure it is a
  full load. Using just half loads uses twice the amount of water.

•          After boiling water wait till it cools, then save it for watering
  plants.

•         When running a bath or shower put a bucket under the faucet while
  you are waiting for it to get hot. Use it for plants, pets, cleaning, etc.
  

•          Turn off the faucet when washing your face, shaving, or brushing
  your teeth when you don’t need it,

•         When printing use both sides of the paper. And on your e-mail put
  “think before you print” footer.

•         When in the shower turn off the water when you are shaving, etc.

•         Keep some water in the fridge for a quick glass, instead of
  having to use the tap.

 

Save energy-

•     When starting up the car go ahead and drive the car right away.
  Today’s cars don’t need to be warmed up. That causes unnecessary pollution.

•     As the day gets chillier closing the curtains will stop the heat
  from escaping the windows.   

•     Use your window for natural lighting, instead of using lights
  during the day.

•     Use the window as a fan, electric fans are so out.

•     In our lamps use energy saving bulbs.

•     Don’t leave your phone plug in all night. It only takes a few
  hours. Charge it when you get home, then take it out before you sleep.

•     Pull all plugs out after you are done using them. And turn off
  cables.

•     Give your computer a good night’s rest too. Turn it off and save
  $ and CO2

•     Turn off your laptop/ computer when you take a short break or use
  the restroom.

•     Turn of the heater when you go to sleep, once you are snuggled up
  you will never notice.

 

Reduce waste-

•     Donate your old furniture to a furniture recycler.

•     Have garage sales or donate it to goodwill.

•         Mow your lawn when its dry, and leave the clippings lying on the
  grass to break down and feed the lawn underneath.

•         If you have a water cooler at work or home use a plastic cup
  instead of using paper of plastic cups.

•     Go thrift shopping to find vintage clothing. It cuts our carbon
  emissions made by making new clothes.

•        Use scraps of material from curtains and old clothes to make
  unique gift bags. You will not only reduce waste, but save cash!

•     Rather than throwing away wine, put it in an ice maker for next
  time you need to cook with wine.

•        Add a “think before you print” footer to your e-mails.

•     Instead of buying little plastic packets of herbs, grow your own.
  Don’t have garden? A port or window box will do.

•        Buying non-perishable products in bulk is a good way of cutting
  down unnecessary packaging.

The following tips were from the website furutefriendly.com

 

Here are some of my own tips, tricks, and products!

I used smaller font than I first planned. This helped save paper& ink.

• Spread the word: E-mail this page to your friends or just show
  them on your computer, but think before you print 😉

• Spread the word: Use and old t-shirt, sweats, or sweatshirt to
  make Go Green clothing. You can draw, write, tie- dye, stitch, or iron on go
  green icons or words.

• Eat organic food, they don’t have nasty chemicals in them and
  they are all natural.

• Use less paper in school. At the beginning of the year I always
  buy too much college ruled paper. So this coming school year just buy one pack
  and a binder. During the year if you need more, then buy it then. Also using a
  binder instead of notebooks help. Because the packaging in the notebooks we
  don’t use and never end up recycling.

•  After buying beauty products no matter how cute the packaging is
  you need to recycle it!

• When shopping if the bags are paper go ahead and save them to use
  them as gift bags (if you think having a Hollister bag for a gift is lame go
  ahead and decorate it!) if the store you are shopping at has plastic bags,
  put  your items in a different bag or bring a canvas bag.

•  When grocery shopping either have no bags or canvas bags. If you
  forgot and have to many items to stick in your car get the plastic bags then
  use them for garbage bags, picking up your dog’s solid waste, or if you are
  having a garage sale use them for the people with a bunch of stuff.

• Go through your old clothes and give them to younger siblings,
  cousins, or friends.

• Every season go through you house and just get rid of stuff you
  don’t need any more.

• In your bedroom have a garbage can for recycling, plastic
  bottles, and garbage. I have recycling and plastic bottle separate because you
  can bring in plastic bottles to a recycling company and get money off of that.
  

• Have old electronics you don’t need? Recycle them to Blue Star
  Electronics for free. Call (510) 259- 1879

  Use eco- friendly beauty products. At the drugstore some good

• brands would be: Bert’s bees, Aveeno, St. Ives, Physicians formula, Sally
  Hanson, and more. At Sephora or Macys: Origins, Josie Maran, Tarte, Korres,
  and more!

• Go to Starbucks every morning? Use a portable coffee mug instead
  of getting the new paper cups every time.

• Use henna to dye your hair instead of actually hair dye.

• Make a compost

• Lush products are great for the earth and their bags are 100%
  compostable

 

I hope you enjoyed this and you will be using the following tips,

Gianna Tabellija

P.s. Think before you print 😉 How about forwarding?

 

 

Written By

Gianna Tabellija

A 13 Year Old Girl

Shepherd’s Gate in Livermore and Blue Star Electronics Joined Hands

Clear Out Clutter while Helping Shepherd’s Gate — Recycle Used Electronics!

The Shepherd’s Gate Thrift Store is partnering with Blue Star Electronics to raise funds for the women and children of Shepherd’s Gate by recycling electronics.

We will be accepting electronics from 9:30am – 5:30pm, Monday through Saturday.

We can recycle most consumer electronics, including televisions, computer monitors, LCD monitors & TV’s, LED monitors & TV’s, plasma TV’s, computers, hard drives, computer peripherals, laptops, DVD players, VCR’s, printers, scanners, fax machines, copy machines, telephones, answering machines, radios, cassette players, CD players, and much more!

Please help us by dropping off your used electronics! If you have questions, please contact Patti at (925) 606-1924.

Livermore Thrift Store:

• 1362 Railroad Ave. Livermore, CA (925) 606-1924 Driving Directions
• Hours of operation: Monday – Friday 10am – 6pm
• Saturday 10am – 4pm
• Sunday Closed

Donation Center

• 1362 Railroad Ave. Livermore, CA (925) 606-1290
• Hours of operation: Monday – Saturday 9:30am – 3:00pm
• Sunday Closed
If you would like to contact us regarding donating clothing or household items, please call (925) 606-1290. Please call (925) 606-1722 for large furniture pick-up.

Hard Drive Shredding-Hard Drive Destruction-Secure

Blue Star Electronics, LLC in Hayward, CA 94513 provides secure HIPPA compliant destruction, shredding and disposal services of hard drives, backup magnetic tapes and other storage devices.

Please Call us at numbers below to schedule  the  destruction of Hard Drives

408-210-4121 Direct

510-259-1879 Office

http://www.bluestarco.com

Why is e-waste growing?

E-waste is growing exponentially simply because the market in which these products are produced is also growing rapidly as many parts of the world cross the so called ‘digital divide’. For example, between 2000 and 2005, the Organisation of Economic and Cooperative Development (OECD) notes a 22% growth in Information Communication Technology (ICT) in China¹.

Furthermore, China was the 6th largest ICT market in 2006, after the US, Japan, Germany, UK and France.² This is astounding when one considers that just ten years ago, under 1% of China’s population owned a computer³. Computers are only one part of the e-waste stream though, as we see that in the EU in 2005, fridges and other cooling and freezing appliances, combined with large household appliances, accounted for 44% of total e-waste, according to UNU’s Study supporting the 2008 Review of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) Directive.⁴ Rapid product innovations and replacement, especially in ICT and office equipment, combined with the migration from analogue to digital technologies and to flat-screen TVs and monitors, for example, are fuelling the increase. Economies of scale have given way to lower prices for many electrical goods, which has increased global demand for many products that eventually end up as e-waste.

Call us for your e-waste recycling needs

Blue Star Electronics, LLC (e-waste recycling company)

(510) 259-1879

New record PWB prices

According to E-Scrap News The gross value of printed wiring board scrap hit yet another all-time high in April at $5.64 a pound, up 4.4 percent from March’s totals of $5.39 per pound and 29.9 percent higher than the year-over-year value of $3.95 per pound.
This data represents the full metallic values of boards over time and are not the recycling values, as those values do not include the costs involved in actually extracting metal from boards, including freight, sampling charges, assay assessments, smelting, refining, process loss, return on investment, and penalties for various elements, including beryllium, bismuth and nickel.
These values are for the estimated intrinsic metal content of recovered PC boards. Some consumers label such material as mid-value. Lower-value scrap includes monitor and television boards. Higher-value scrap includes network and video cards, and motherboards.
The average value of board scrap for the first four months of 2010 is $5.40 per pound, a 27.7 percent jump over the same period last year.

Earth Day 2010

April 22, 2010 will mark the 40th anniversary of Earth Day.

Blue Star Electronics, LLC reminds you to recycle your E-Waste.

For a recycling day at your company or School Call  Blue Star Electronics, LLC at (510) 259-1879 or email us at recycle@bluestarco.com

Blue Star Electronics recycles all types of Electronic Scrap such as:

Hard drives, Computers, Notebooks, Servers, PCB Boards, Monitors, TVs and much more.

Don’t Worry about your information on your hard drive we have a shredder onsite that shreds the drive into small little pieces. For more information please go to our website http://www.bluestarco.com

Thank you for recycling your e-waste with us…

Louis Sarkis