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August 2004

Intro to renewable energy

There are still places for the Intro to Renewable Energy course by the Midwest Renewable Energy Association on the 11th Sept 2004. The course is for anyone interested in living a more sustainable life based on renewable energy, but doesn’t know where to start.

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Energy

Micro hydro revolution

Micro hydro is the most cost-effective and efficient source of alternative energy.

Hydro
A micro hydro plant

A micro-hydro system will produce 10 to 100 times more power than photovoltaic or wind power systems for the same investment.

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Gas barbecues

We all love barbecues. But what’s best, gas or charcoal?

Gas barbecues are more eco-friendly than charcoal — they are more energy-efficient and release less pollution. Gas won’t give a funny flavour to your food like charcoal briquettes. Gas barbecues are not all expensive, and some are small enough to be taken on camping trips. Here’s where to find some online.

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Energy

Small is powerful

If you’re grid-connected, a small wind turbine will reduce your electricity bill 50 to 90%… Small wind turbines are silent and easy to set up.

Small wind

A small turbine should be placed at an unobstructed site, for optimum efficiency — a rooftop is fine, small turbines don’t need towers.

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Land

Don’t bin it — compost it

Clean and easy to use, a compost bin to recycle your organic waste is this year’s off-grid must-have accessory. Compost bins can be used in the city, placed in a garden or on a balcony. They reduce the mountain of waste and make something out of nothing. Here are the best ones available online.

Composting

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Community

Solar Jam & Rally

SolarJam For those in the northeastern United States, a new half-day event called Solar Jam & Rally might be of interest. The event will be held Sat 28th Aug 2:00 to 6:00 pm at Burlington City Hall Park in Burlington, Vermont.
This solar-powered event is free and will feature live music, educational exhibits, and vegetable oil vehicles.

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Mobile

Uganda eco-retreat

Bushara is no ordinary holiday destination. This island on lake Bunyonyi in Uganda was turned into a sustainable eco-tourism facility in the late 90’s by the Ugandan NGO The Lake Bunyonyi Development Company (LBCD).

Bushara

The lake is one of the rare swimmable lakes in Africa and the area is teeming with wildlife – it’s not too far from the mountains, where you can spot gorillas.

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Energy

GE to open renewable energy lab

Megacorp General Electric doesn’t intend to be left out of the race for the new oil. The energy giant is opening a new $52 million research lab for renewable energy technologies near Munich, Germany.

Wind

The new lab is just another card in GE’s game to dominate the market for renewables.

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Energy

US-Russian wind turbine breakthrough

A team-up of engineers from the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and the Makeyev State Rocket Center in Miass, Russia has developed a new model of wind turbine for home use.

VAWT

The turbine, which will be produced by company Wind Sail, is a vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) to be used as generator for off-the-grid and distributed-grid systems.

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Food and health

Oct 10th – 12th 2004 At Penrhos Court, an old manor farm on the Welsh border.

What you eat can have an enormous effect on your health. Daphne Lambert, nutritionist and chef, shows you which foods to choose and how to prepare them to create a diet that helps keep you healthy.

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Energy

And then there was street light

Japanese city streets will soon have solar powered lights. Sharp Corporation is launching the new light, which combines a new type of solar cells with high-intensity LED lights.

Street light

The “Lumiwall” street light will be marketed from mid September at a retail price of 500,000 Yen ($4,000).

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