Mariah Power, the manufacturer of the Windspire®, a residential and commercial wind power appliance, was recognized in “Best of What’s New” in the green tech category by Popular Science in its December 2008 issue.

Windspire turbine

The Windspire is a 30-foot tall, propeller-free, vertical-axis wind turbine designed for harnessing wind power in urban, suburban and rural locations for both residential and commercial use. Each year, Popular Science reviews thousands of new products and innovations and chooses the top 100 winners across 11 categories for inclusion in its annual “Best of What’s New” issue, the best-read issue of the year. To win, a product or technology must represent a significant step forward in its category.

This award comes on the heels of the company’s announcement of its first volume manufacturing facility in Michigan that will be up and running next year, and the first multi-unit commercial installation of six Windspires at Devon Bank the first “green bank” in the Chicago, Illinois area. (more…)

This weekend may be the last to get ready for winter.  So what do you do?

If you live in the north, your fuel bill ran approx. $977 last year and this
next year, it will go up to approx. $1182.  A huge jump at a rate of 20%.

So what can you do to reduce this?

You can change out the filter in the furnace. Rule of thumb is to change it
out every 3 months.  If you have a contract for your furnace, call and make an (more…)

Planet Green has a new series called TOTAL WRECKLAMATION …..

When a home faces extinction, what happens to all of the materials that make up
that home?  Enter Jodi Murphy – green entrepreneur, demolition auctioneer and
force of nature.  Once a house is slated to come down or be gutted, Jodi makes
it her business – literally – to save as much of its contents and materials as
possible from ending up in the landfill. (more…)

Back on the Map!

Ron Shank and Levi Garrett described how scared they were with the weather
that had the tornado whistle blowing.  Everyone hit the bunkers and waited
for the storm to pass.  Ron’s GM Dealership had some hail damage. The new
church suffered some water damage.

City Council meet to get BNIM’s Master plan approved and the presentation is made.
Council approves the plan with a 5-0 vote. (more…)

Do you think Energy Star appliances are too expensive?  Well, think again.
Energy Star estimates that the average cost of a standard refridgerator is
$1070 and an Energy Star fridge is $1100 … just $30 more.

Dishwashers have no differences at all.  You will pay approximately $540.
You can always find dishwashers on sale and may be able to get one cheaper.
You will realise a savings on either appliance from 1 to 4 years, so going
green with Energy Star is a no brainer.

One myth that has lingered for years in regard to low-flow fixtures and (more…)

The U.S. Department of Energy says you are paying about $100.00 a year for nothing and the EPA estimates that this nothing consumes $4 billion worth of power each year. Equivalent to the power generated by 12 power plants.

This energy Black Hole is the total of all those appliances that still draw power even when the power buttons are switched “off”. The average house hold has between 20-25 of these appliances that have electronic controls or smart features that still pull energy while “playing possum.” (more…)