In a plan that is less surprising than audacious, Las Vegas city fathers plan to place solar panels on top of carports at a number of city-owned and operated facilities.

The $11-million plan, will reportedly cut the city’s electricity costs by about $300,000 a year when completed, and generate enough electricity to supply 170 homes.

The solar panels in question have a life expectancy of between 25 and 40 years (the first figure being closer to the expert’s usual estimates), and the city’s investment of $600,000 from a “green” building fund will reportedly be recaptured in about 15 years.

The rest of the funding – $4,150,000 of Energy Efficiency Community Block Grant funds (EECBG), $1,276,738 from Community Development Block Grant Recovery (CDBG-R, or ARRA) funds, and $5.1 million from New Clean Renewable Energy Bonds, as well as utility rebates for renewable energy – makes up the balance.

The project will initially start with three sets of panels mounted across 34 carport stalls and paid for by ARRA funding, and will be located at the new Stupak Community Center at 300 W. Boston Ave. (across the street from the Chester Stupak Park). The center, built in 2008 at a cost of $7.5 million, is nearly complete and contains 34,183 square feet of ESL and general classrooms, an indoor gym/aerobic fitness and weight control center, a kitchen, a library and a game room. Opening is scheduled for this winter.

Two other solar projects, also slated for carport roofs on public buildings, will finish the 950-kilowatt project, which is expected to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and the city’s carbon footprint by 949 tons of carbon monoxide (which would have been produced by burning fossil fuels). Stupak Center solar project construction is expected to start in 2010.

The new Stupak Community Center is slated for completion this fall, with an opening proposed for this winter. The solar carport at the center is expected to break ground sometime in 2010.

The panels, funded from the Community Development Block Grant Recovery portion of ARRA, is the first project approved in the region, which includes Nevada, California, Arizona and Hawaii, and will provide between 10 and 30 percent of the center’s power needs, depending on usage.

The panels also provide covered parking, and they, along with solar installations at the wastewater treatment plant, will move the city to 10 percent of renewable power by 2011, which is close to Nevada’s Renewable Energy Standard (RES) of 25 percent of energy from renewables by 2025.

Cooler Planet is a leading solar resource for connecting consumers and commercial entities with local solar Installers. Cooler Planet’s solar energy resource page contains articles and tools about solar panels to help with your solar project.

Cooler Planet is a leading solar resource for connecting consumers and commercial entities with local solar Installers. Cooler Planet’s solar energy resource page contains articles and tools about solar panels to help with your solar project.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/recycling-articles/vegas-sparkles-with-solar-energy-1402634.html

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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Biodegradable Urns – Environment-Friendly For Burial

Things are beginning to change. With the introduction of global warming,
Americans are becoming more aware of their surroundings and how they treat the
environment. In the United States, people are often partial to metal caskets.
Along with this comes the fact that we are burying all that metal, 100,000 tons
of steel worth. Compare this to burying paper based products that will break
down.

Why opt for such an option rather than other forms of cremation urns? It is
wonderful to have an alternative burial urn option of biodegradable and paper
based materials. This allows you to choose to be less of a burden in the
enviroemne4t after you die, which some people find great comfort in. Some people
are choosing a completely green burial at cemeteries such as Fernwood. Where the
body is placed in either a wooden casket or buried without a casket and only in
clothes.

Biodegradable means that something is capable of decay through the action
natural organisms. If cremation urns eliminate the funeral costs attached to
traditional burial, bio urns are a good idea to eliminate some of the
environmental issues linked to cremation rites. In short, these types of urns
consider the fact that you need to scatter ashes to the sea or land.

It is true that the design, color and shape choices for biodegradable urns are
the same as those offered by other forms. The only distinction is seen in how
the former works. You may still opt to scatter the ashes to the sea by allowing
the urn to sink in the water. The bio urn may be left sinking in the sea and
will achieve full degradation in two days. If you opt to use the biodegradable
urn by keeping it under the ground, it will degrade in a year’s time.

What are biodegradable burial urns? Biodegradable urns are part of the growing
market for cremation urns and memorials. Such options are increasing in terms of
popularity especially now that more people are concerned about the environment.
Yes, environment-friendly urns are now good options to consider when burying a
loved one. The Green Burial Concil is becoming more of an authority on green
burial and more information can be found on their site.

Biodegradable urns are available in different shapes, sizes, materials and
colors. You can choose from paper based products that are found in squares,
vases and pillows. Many of the customizations options for memorials can also be
used on biodegradable urns. Other shapes include sea shells, hearts and tubes.
Some of these burial urns are simple to look at yet they serve the purpose of
the one who will make use of these items. If you are conscious about your
obligations to the environment, biodegradable urns are good ways to conduct
cremation rites. Be glad that you have varied options when purchasing a
memorial.

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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Many people will throw their old iPod or iPhone in the bin when they either upgrade to the latest model, the battery stops charging, the screen breaks or they have some other fault with it, what happens next cause major problems to the environment. Millions of old Apple iPods, iPhones and other MP3 players are ending up at landfill where as many of the parts inside are non-bridgeable they are taking hundreds of years to break down, they could then potentially pollute the soil which could cause problems to natural inhabitants or even get in human water supplies.

Everyone wants the latest model which is understandable so rather than throwing your old iPod or iPhone in the bin once its finished with there are now specialized mobile recycling companies in the UK that will buy them in exchange for a cash payment. Anyone can use one of these services, simply track one down, visit the site and select the model of your old iPod or iPhone that you want to sell. The recycling site will quote a price for your old mp3 player or handset that you want to sell, if you are happy to accept simply register on the site and return your old iPod using the address that will be provided. Once your old item is received it will be checked and tested and you will be sent your money within a week, it really is easy as that.

By recycling your old iPod or iPhone you will not only earn some extra money in your pocket but you will also know that you have done your bit to help the environment. Not only that many old phones and mp3 players are sent abroad to be reused so people in third world countries who cannot afford much can make use of your old electronic products. If your old iPod cannot be reused the parts will be taken out and recycled correctly.

Stephen Roper is the Owner of iPod
Recycling which allows you to recycle your old iPod or iPhone for cash
payments. Alternately If you have a mobile phone to sell visit
Sell Old Mobile Phone.

Article Source:http://www.articlesbase.com/recycling-articles/recycle-your-old-apple-ipod-or-iphone-for-cash-1268242.html

Please Note... All links within articles are placed by their author-owners and not by this blog.Products with in those links may or may not be the best in the world.If it sounds too good to be true it could be a scam.Articles are posted for their info,ideas and or entertainment value only.

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