Green New York

• white, colored, and glossy paper (staples are ok)
• mail and envelopes (window envelopes ok)
• wrapping paper (remove ribbon and tape)
• smooth cardboard (food boxes — remove inside & outside plastic wrappers — shoe boxes, tubes from paper towel and toilet paper rolls, cardboard from product packaging)
• 
  

  yle="font-family: Times New Roman;">ight: 150%;">paper bags

• cardboard egg cartons and trays
• newspapers, magazines, and catalogs
• phone books, soft covered books (paperbacks, comic books, etc.; no spiral bindings)
• corrugated cardboard (flattened boxes)

YES - PLACE IN RECYCLING (SEPARATE FROM ABOVE)

• metal cans (soup, pet food, empty aerosol cans, dried-out paint cans, etc.)
• aluminum foil wrap & trays
• household metal (wire hangers, pots, tools, curtain rods, knives, small appliances that are mostly metal, etc.)
• bulk metal (metal furniture, cabinets, large appliances, etc.)
• glass bottles & jars only
• plastic bottles & jugs only milk cartons & juice boxes (or any such cartons and aseptic packaging for drinks: ice tea, soy milk, soup, etc.)

More to come...

 

Eating locally grown food is nothing new. A hundred years ago, over 95% of Americans lived on farms. City dwellers ate food brought by horse and cart from nearby farms. In the 1800s, Brooklyn was the top producing agricultural county in the US. In the 20th century, farms moved west and many local farms were paved over. By the 1970s, New Yorkers complained of brown lettuce and hard tomatoes while local farms went bankrupt. Greenmarket was a natural solution to a two-fold problem: by selling their homegrown crops in New York City, local farms could stay in business and bring fresh food to city neighborhoods. What began with twelve farmers in an empty lot in 1976 has grown into the largest network of its kind in the country, with rigorous "grow-your-own" standards.

To understand organic living you must read Michael Pollen’s Omnivore’s Dilemma. Mr. Pollen digs intensely deep into our food source… A special homage is paid to Joel Salatin owner of Polyface Farms www.polyfacefarms.com . Joel Salatin a self described grass farmer encourages an ecosystem within the borders of his farm. To bad we cannot get his product, but we sure can get an education; nestled in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia his farm is open for visitation, over the counter retail, and local delivery.

 

More to come...

Conserving water use

Inside your home, install aerators – available for a few dollars at your local home supply store – to your sink faucets and change to low-flow showerheads.

You can keep an eye on New York City’s water levels by logging on to www.nyc.gov/html/dep/html/drinking_water/maplevels_wide.shtml

Be wise when you buy. You Can Save Money

Why buy when you can get it free? In general, because of the generally good tap water quality in the United States, it is not imperative to filter tap water for public safety reasons. If you are curious about the makeup of your water or live in a community that has water problems, you may choose to have your water tested. Lead is a contaminant that can get into water through old pipes, and can be removed with a filter.

Flavor First

How about the myth of tap water tasting bad? Well, it’s not always a myth, but it’s also not true of every municipal water supply and it’s often an overblown perception. Both restaurateurs and customers will often argue that tap water doesn’t taste as good as bottled water, and because of trace minerals and other things in municipal tap water they are sometimes right that the flavor is affected. But odd-tasting water isn’t necessarily an indicator of contamination. In addition to traces of perfectly safe minerals, harmless algae blooms and other natural occurrences sometimes add extra—if unwanted—flavor to municipal water during parts of the year. But restaurants, and homeowners can use filtration systems for the water they serve to customers, and probably pay less than they do for stocking their back room with bottle upon bottle of water and having to refrigerate it.

Watch Penn and Teller debunking the taste myth see- www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfPAjUvvnIc&feature=related

So Why Eliminate Sale of Bottled Water?

· Tap water is better regulated and safer than bottled water, and is tested multiple times a day, and a free report on the quality of your water can be acquired from your local water utility.

· Filtering tap water can effectively remove contaminants and unusual taste at a fraction of the cost of bottled water.

· The idea that all bottled water is pure is a marketing myth. The only reason we all think bottled water is healthier than the tap is because of the marketing hype. After all, when was the last time someone opened a bottle of beer at your establishment and a Swedish bikini team arrived? Or when did someone enjoy a soft drink with their lunch and suddenly bust out with some extreme sports moves?

· As much as 40 percent of bottled water comes from the tap and is simply reprocessed in a bottling factory, so you’re just cutting out the middleman by kicking the bottled water habit.

· According to a Natural Resources Defense Council study of 103 bottled water brands, about one-quarter of the brands tested contained bacterial or chemical contamination in some samples at levels that violated "enforceable state standards or warning levels."

· The Food and Drug Administration has less than one full-time employee devoted to bottled water oversight.

· The Environmental Protection Agency requires that utility companies test municipal water hundreds of times per month, while the Food & Drug Administration requires only one water test per week by bottling companies and has miniscule staff resources devoted to bottled water oversight.

· Plastic bottles can leach chemicals into the water.

· Plastic bottle production in the United States annually requires about 17.6 million barrels of oil, enough to fuel more than one million cars.

· About 86 percent of empty plastic water bottles in the United States land in the garbage instead of being recycled resulting in two million tons of plastic waste each year. That amounts to about two million tons of PET plastic bottles piling up in U.S. landfills each year.

· Bottled water typically costs more than $1 for eight to 12 ounces, amounting to more than $10 per gallon. Most Americans pay $0.002 per gallon for tap water.

The passionate purposeful and vigilance by activist, and independent journalist such as Amy Goodman, reporting from her independent radio station Democracy Now www.democracynow.org , has encouraged the widespread investigations of fraud and piracy of our most precious natural resource-

ABC Ned potter’s “Do you think Bottle Water is Better Than Tap” www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3423231 and

ABC Eric Hong’s “Bottle Water Wasted Energy?” www.abcnews.go.com/Video/playerIndex?id=3357298 ,

Good Morning America John Stossel’s “Is Bottled Water Better Than Tap? Americans Are Spending Billions on a Drink That's Virtually Free”.

ABC 20/20’s “Source of Bottle Water is Tap” www.youtube.com/watch?v=whRqhfnqDfc ,

ABC Good Morning America Elisabeth Leamy, and Vanessa Weber’s “How Pure Is Bottled Water? Environmental Working Group Wants FDA to Require Bottled Water Manufacturers to Disclose Contaminants” www.abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=6049308&page=1

Plantastic Water Abuses On a Global Level: it is rational to think that corporations driven to increase profit margins above the previous bench marks would set aside their moral obligations.

Food & Water Watch is a nonprofit consumer rights organization based in Washington, D.C. that challenges the corporate control and abuse of our food and water resources. Visit www.foodandwaterwatch.org

Maude Barlow: Chairperson for the Council of Canadian, www.canadians.org/index.html ; author of Blue Covenant; international civil movement developer – Blue Planet Project www.blueplanetproject.net for the protection of fresh water against the threat of privatization, and everyone’s right to water www.righttowater.ca examines the Corporate culpability and will open your eyes to a real crisis looming ahead.

Irena Salina builds a case against the growing privatization of the world's dwindling fresh water supply with an unflinching focus on politics, pollution, human rights, and the emergence of a domineering world water cartel in her award winning documentary Flow, www.flowthefilm.com .

Sam Bozzo’s Blue Gold www.bluegold-worldwaterwars.com documents worldwide examples of people fighting for their basic right to water. Featuring Maude Barlow proclaiming, “This is our revolution, this is our war”. A line is crossed as water becomes a commodity.

Testimonials of water abuse

Florida Fights Back Against Bottled Water Extraction

Food & Water Watch. Posted October 16, 2008.

Over 200 residents from Gilchrist, Alachua, Columbia and Suwannee Counties in Florida came out on Tuesday to demonstrate their opposition to a proposed bottling facility along the Santa Fe River. After six hours of public testimony the County Commission voted 4-1 to deny a "special use" permit to allow Blue Springs Properties Inc. to extract water from a spring on the river. The new bottling facility would have pumped a minimum 500,000 gallons of water a day. Coca-Cola already operates a facility 5,000 feet from the proposed site that can pump up to 1.2 million gallons of water a day.

Local residents expressed concern over the environmental impacts of the facility, as extracting large volumes of water from the Santa Fe River could decrease its flow and water levels. As of September 30, the area's water management district had not completed an environmental impact study on how the proposed facility might affect the Santa Fe River. The facility also would have increased traffic in the area, with over 100 hundred trucks a day entering and leaving the area, adding a significant amount of pollution and noise, while compromising the safety of local roads.

The County Planning Commission cited an incompatibility between the facility and its own goals of containing development within the area and protecting its natural resources. In March the Commission voted unanimously to recommend denial of the proposed plant, citing a lack of compatibility with the area, insufficient public infrastructure and safety concerns associated with truck traffic. Minutes from that meeting also reveal that as of March, a number of issues such as light pollution, storm water management, site ingress and egress, site coverage, determination of water recharge areas, buffer zones and wetlands delineation had yet to be determined.

The area's economy relies on the river and its springs, which are major tourist attractions. While the precise extent of the facility's impact on the area's tourism industry is unknown, taking significant quantities of water from the springs would deplete their levels and natural beauty, making them less attractive to visitors.

Presently, the Santa Fe River is a tributary to the famous Suwannee River and both are listed as impaired rivers by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP). It is necessary to maintain the historic flow from the springs to support the delicate balance of the water ecosystem.

"We are very pleased that the Gilchrist County Commission has decided to deny this permit," said Wenonah Hauter, executive director of the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Watch, one of the groups that opposed the permit. "If approved, this permit could have ignited a domino effect where future extractions are sanctioned with little regard for the consequences they may have on the area's ecosystem and communities. Once a permit has been obtained, a bottler can request at any time for more water to be extracted. The bottled water industry is notorious for its lack of regulation. Few quotas exist to limit the amount of water a company can extract as they are self regulated in the state of Florida."

"Tuesday's hearing and vote is emblematic of the power that people everywhere have to speak up in protection of vital natural resources," said Merrillee Malwitz-Jipson, board member of Our Santa Fe River, Inc., a local citizen group opposed to the extraction of water for the bottled water business. "Public interest prevailed because citizens showed up and lent their voices to this extremely important public dialog."

This battle in Florida is just one part of a national endeavor to fight corporate efforts to bottle water from local supplies. Earlier in the year, activists in Wells, Maine halted a plan by Nestle to open a well to extract more water for its Poland Springs brand. Similarly, in McCloud, California activists mobilized to cancel a contract with Nestle to pump water from nearby Mount Shasta Springs. "What's happening on the Santa Fe River is not an isolated incident. Communities around the country are mobilizing to stop the confiscation of their water by corporate interests. They want control of their water for their own purposes, not to see it commoditized and sold back to them at over 250 times its actual value," said Hauter.

What You Can Do

· First, government agencies can lead by example by not using bottled water in their offices or at city sponsored events. Cities such as Seattle, Santa Cruz, and Ann Arbor have done just that.

· Secondly, government agencies need to work toward maintaining and updating our municipal water systems. Pipes degrade, equipment gets old. If we are going to keep our public water safe—and safer than the bottled stuff—we need to be putting money into our infrastructure and investing in our future health and well-being. Encourage your local government to endorse a federal water trust fund for water, dedicated funding for pipes and treatment plants. If you haven’t signed the Food & Water Watch petition yourself, you can do so at www.foodandwaterwatch.org/water/

· Thirdly, local governments can create educational campaigns for consumers or restaurant owners. The city of San Francisco has joined Food & Water Watch in a campaign to promote tap water and to encourage city restaurants to make the switch. You can check out city guides at www.takebackthetap.org.

What is the Tap Project?

In 2007, the Tap Project was born in New York City based on a simple concept: restaurants would ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free, and all funds raised would support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

Growing from just 300 New York City restaurants in 2007 to over 2,300 across the country in 2008, the Tap Project has quickly grown into a national movement. Restaurants, corporations, volunteers, advertising agencies, community groups, local governments and everyday diners participated to save millions of children’s lives.

During World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009, the Tap Project will once again raise vital donations and awareness for UNICEF’s water and sanitation programs. For every dollar raised, a child will have clean drinking water for 40 days. All funds raised support UNICEF’s efforts to bring clean and accessible water to millions of children around the world.

UNICEF’s Role

UNICEF has saved more children’s lives than any other humanitarian organization, and UNICEF is committed to doing whatever it takes to achieve the goal of reaching zero preventable deaths. Currently, UNICEF provides access to safe water and sanitation facilities while promoting safe hygiene practices in more than 90 countries. By 2015, UNICEF's goal is to reduce the number of people without safe water and basic sanitation by 50 percent.

PARTICIPATE

Part of The Tap Project is based on a simple, tangible and easy-to-implement concept: restaurants ask their patrons to donate $1 or more for the tap water they usually enjoy for free. During World Water Week, March 22-28, 2009, the Tap Project is asking your restaurant to join with us to help end the 4,200 preventable deaths of children every day due to water-related diseases. Your restaurant’s support can help UNICEF get that number down to zero.

It’s easy to participate! Simply decide the level of pledge commitment that is right for you—Platinum, Gold or Silver. Remember that the pledge is a commitment of your support level—with or without customer donations, which will likely be all or a significant portion of the amount.

You have your choice of three pledge levels and corresponding recognition benefits.

Platinum $500 or more pledge commitment (I want to help 20,000 children get clean water)

· Inclusion in a national print ad at the start of World Water Week in USA Today

· Customizable Tap Project digital assets

· Five Tap Project T-shirts to use as a part of a server incentive program (or other use)

· Restaurant Activation Kit

· Inclusion on tapproject.org

· Inclusion in Tap Project press outreach when possible

· Certificate of recognition

Gold, Minimum $250 pledge commitment (I want to help 10,000 children get clean water)

· Customizable Tap Project digital assets (email, web banners, and logos)

· Three Tap Project T-shirts to use as a part of a server incentive program (or other use)

· Restaurant Activation Kit

· Inclusion on tapproject.org

· Inclusion in Tap Project press outreach when possible

· Certificate of Recognition

Silver Minimum $50 pledge commitment (I want to help 2,000 children get clean water)

· Restaurant Activation Kit that includes a variety of materials for program implementation—including a Restaurant User Guide, Poster, Window Clings, your choice of Customer Donation Cards or Table Tents, and quick-reference Server Tip Cards for your wait staff

· Inclusion on tapproject.org with interactive “find a participating restaurant” feature

· Inclusion in Tap Project press outreach when possible

· Certificate of recognition

Why a campaign about clean water?

Because a lack of clean water is the second largest killer of children under age five. Clean water is essential, yet nearly 900 million people worldwide lack access to it. UNICEF believes that number should be zero.

Doing Your Homework

You can contact your local utility to request a copy of the Annual Water Quality Report, also referred to as the Consumer Confidence Report. This report is required by law to provide information about contaminant violations in the water system, and it also addresses what filters are appropriate to use for these contaminants. EPA posts many of these results on its website at www.epa.gov/safewater/dwinfo. You can also contact a local water filtration and purification installation company for advice and price estimates. Be sure to verify licensing and certifications of water distribution operators, and to factor in maintenance and installation costs. Commercial-grade water filters use many different technologies including calcite/carbon blends, Granular Activated Carbon (GAC) hexametaphosphate crystals, KDF media, UV light, softening resins and reverse osmosis. Each technology is specific to the type of particles to be filtered, so choosing the most effective one for your filtering needs is important. Whatever technology the filter uses, the most important information for you to know is whether the particular product you are considering has been certified to remove your target contaminants. And, when you’re looking for certification, don’t just trust the company selling you the filter--make sure that their product has been tested by an independent certifying agency. National Sanitation Foundation International (NSF), Water Quality Association, and Underwriters Laboratories Inc. are three well-regarded organizations that test and verify water treatment and filtration product claims. Aside from making sure your filter is working on the appropriate particles, other factors to consider when purchasing a filter for your restaurant include the capacity of the filter, water efficiency (reverse osmosis filters are less water efficient than carbon filters), and other costs, such as installation, maintenance, and replacement filter fees.

Plug air leaks

Common leaks occur around windows, doors and other wall penetrations. Plugging leaks with weather stripping and caulk can be a simple task for anyone and can reduce your energy bill by $100 or more.

Choose ENERGY STAR® appliances

A new home often means new appliances, and ENERGY STAR®-qualified products meet a high level of energy efficiency, translating into savings on electric bills. Even if an ENERGY STAR® appliance seems costlier at first glance, consider that you could save more than $50 a year per appliance.

Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs

CFLs can be a huge energy saver and typically have a much longer life than other bulbs. Replace some (or all) of your incandescent bulbs with fluorescents and enjoy reductions in heat production, energy use and electric bills. Changing five of the most frequently used bulbs in your home can save you $100 per year on electric bills.

Program your thermostat

When you are at home, keep the thermostat at 78 F or higher in the summer and 62 F or lower in the winter. Programmable thermostats allow you to program the systems to reduce output when they are not needed, like when no one is home during the day or at night when everyone is sleeping.

Tune up your heating and cooling (HVAC) system

Have a checkup for your HVAC system every two years to make sure it is running efficiently. Be sure to clean the filter monthly during times of peak usage; a dirty filter can significantly reduce the system’s efficiency.

Switch to green power

Green power is an optional utility service for customers who want to help expand the production and distribution of renewable energy technologies. With green power, you do not have to change your electricity provider. Instead, customers just choose to pay a premium on their electricity bills to cover the extra cost of purchasing clean, sustainable energy. The U.S. Energy Department has more information.

Explore solar

Photovoltaics – solar power technology that uses solar cells or solar photovoltaic arrays to convert light from the sun directly into electricity or heat – are increasingly available for residential use. Solar power can be harnessed to create electricity for your home, to heat water, and to improve indoor lighting. The U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy www.eere.energy.gov can help you find the right solar solutions for you.

Use low-VOC products

Get your new home off to a fresh start by switching to products that don’t give off volatile organic compounds, or VOCs. Low- or no-VOC products greatly improve your indoor air quality and protect your health. Look for low-VOC paints and cleaning products.

Use wood alternatives or FSC-certified wood products

The type of materials you use can have a positive effect on your health and pocketbook while reducing your environmental impacts. Consider using environmentally preferable and rapidly renewable products such as linoleum, bamboo, recycled-content tile or non-VOC carpet. Choose wood products from sustainable managed forests, such as those certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. And use locally sourced products when possible to reduce carbon emissions associated with the transportation of those products.

Plant trees to provide shade and wind protection for your house

This simple step can help you save money on heating and air conditioning bills while providing beautiful views around your home.

Use native plantings

Native plants have been growing and evolving in your area for thousands of years and, as a result, have adapted to the local soils and climate. As a result they are more likely to thrive with minimal care, unlike exotic plants. That can mean less need for water, fertilizer and pesticides. The Environmental Protection Agency has additional information on green landscaping techniques.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization that certifies sustainable businesses, homes, hospitals, schools, and neighborhoods. USGBC is dedicated to expanding green building practices and education, and its LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System™.

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, consensus-based national rating system for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings. LEED addresses all building types and emphasizes state-of-the-art strategies in five areas: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials and resources selection, and indoor environmental quality.

The LEED AP program is administered by the Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), which was established with the support of USGBC to allow for objective, balanced management of the credentialing program.

SOLAR

­­You've probably seen calculators that have solar cells -- calculators that never need batteries, and in some cases don't even have an off button. As long as you have enough light, they seem to work forever. You may have seen larger solar panels -- on emergency road signs or call boxes, on buoys, even in parking lots to power lights. Although these larger panels aren't as common as solar powered calculators, they're out there, and not that hard to spot if you know where to look. There are solar cell arrays on satellites, where they are used to power the electrical systems.

Yo­u have probably also been hearing about the "solar revolution" for the last 20 years -- the idea that one day we will all use free electricity from the sun. This is a seductive promise: On a bright, sunny day, the sun shines approximately 1,000 watts of energy per square meter of the planet's surface, and if we could collect all of that energy we could easily power our homes and offices for free.

Brief History of Solar Panels

Solar panels produce electricity from sunlight. The first solar panel-powered satellite was launched in 1958 by Hoffman Electronics, and until the late 1970s solar panels were used primarily to power space satellites, lights, and small electronics like calculators and watches. In the early 1990s Germany and Japan initiated long-term solar panel-installation incentive programs that resulted in lower costs for solar panel power and spurred the growth of robust PV industries in both countries.

California Solar Panel Initiative

In 2006 California made a major commitment to solar power by adopting the California Solar Initiative, a ten-year incentive program with the goal of installing 3,000 megawatts of solar panels on the equivalent of one-million rooftops. This program continues the solar panel incentives started in 1998, but the long-term commitment to supporting solar will have a profound effect on the amount of solar installed.

Solar panels are used extensively in rural areas that are not serviced by the utility grid. These are called off grid solar power systems. This article applies primarily to on-grid or grid-tied systems that are receiving power from an electric utility. For a wealth of information about both types of systems we recommend Home Power magazine, and the Florida Solar Energy Center.

How Solar Panels Work

Basic System Operation: When sunlight hits the solar panel's cells, direct current (DC) flows through the inverter, which converts it to alternating current (AC). The AC power then flows directly into the building (if there is demand), or into backup batteries if the system has them, or to the utility. When the power is flowing back to the utility grid, the electricity meter turns backward.

Solar Panel Components

The Components: Photovoltaic cells are the core of the solar panel. They are made up of at least two layers of semiconductor material (usually pure silicon infused with boron and phosphorous). One layer has a positive charge, the other a negative charge. When sunlight strikes the solar panel, photons from the light are absorbed by the semiconductor atoms, which then release electrons. The electrons, freed from the negative layer of semiconductor, flow to the positive layer - thereby producing an electrical current. Since the electric current flows in one direction (like a battery), the electricity generated is called direct current (DC). Many individual cells are wired together in a sealed weatherproof unit called a solar module or panel.

Types of Solar Panels

There are three types of solar panels: single crystal, multi- or poly-crystalline, and amorphous silicon. Each of these solar panel types is estimated to last at least twenty-five years. Some estimate - forty years is a reasonable expectation. The longevity rating of a solar panel refers to the number of years before the unit starts producing only 80 percent of its original power rating. For instance, some solar panels are warranted to produce at least 80 percent of their full-rated power after twenty-five years. Instead of stopping production completely, a solar panel will gradually produce less and less power over decades.

Single-crystal solar panels are currently the most efficient type available, meaning that they produce the most power per square foot of module. The cells are fragile so they must be mounted in a rigid frame, and the solar panels usually have a polka dot or checkered pattern.

Multicrystalline solar panels are made of cells cut from multiple crystals that are grown together in an ingot. They are similar to single crystal cells in module structure but slightly less efficient since they require a bit more surface area to produce the same amount of electricity.

Amorphous silicon solar panels (e.g. thin film) are made from cells created by depositing a micro-thin layer of silicon directly onto a sheet of glass, plastic, or other substrate. Although they are less efficient and require up to 50 percent more space, they can be mounted on a flexible backing, making them easier to transport and ideal for building-integrated uses, such as roofing tiles or shingles.

Solar panels are wired together into a PV array, and the electricity they produce is fed through an inverter that changes the direct current (DC) into alternating current (AC), making it suitable for homes and business, and compatible with the electric grid. The inverter is the major electronic appliance associated with a grid-tied PV system.

Solar-powering a House

­Wh­at would you have to do to power your house with solar energy? Although it's not as simple as just slapping some modules on your roof, it's not extremely difficult to do, either.

First of all, not every roof has the correct orientation or angle of inclination to take advantage of the sun's energy. Non-tracking PV systems in the Northern Hemisphere should point toward true south (this is the orientation). They should be inclined at an angle equal to the area's latitude to absorb the maximum amount of energy year-round. A different orientation and/or inclination could be used if you want to maximize energy production for the morning or afternoon, and/or the summer or winter. Of course, the modules should never be shaded by nearby trees or buildings, no matter the time of day or the time of year. In a PV module, even if just one of its 36 cells is shaded, power production will be reduced by more than half.

If you have a house with an un-shaded, south-facing roof, you need to decide what size system you need. This is complicated by the facts that your electricity production depends on the weather, which is never completely predictable, and that your electricity demand will also vary. These hurdles are fairly easy to clear. Meteorological data gives average monthly sunlight levels for different geographical areas. This takes into account rainfall and cloudy days, as well as altitude, humidity, and other more subtle factors. You should design for the worst month, so that you'll have enough electricity all year. With that data, and knowing your average household demand (your utility bill conveniently lets you know how much energy you use every month),there are simple methods you can use to determine just how many PV modules you'll need. You'll also need to decide on a system voltage, which you can control by deciding how many modules to wire in series.

Good To Be Green, www.goodtobegreen.com is a directory of green building products, sustainable building materials and green building service providers. Products must: be made out of recycled materials; ensure a low environmental impact during the construction, operation and/or demolition of the building; conserve natural resources like energy, wood and water; and improve air quality.

Green2Green: www.Green2Green.org features comprehensive information regarding green building products, materials and practices. The site offers side-by-side comparisons of products using a variety of environmental, technical and economic criteria.

Green Building Pages, http://greenbuildingpages.com is an online sustainable design and decision-making tool for building industry professionals and environmentally and socially responsible consumers.

National Geographic's www.thegreenguide.com offers staff-written reviews of a host of products, ranging from appliances, home furnishings and home improvement products to personal care and pet supplies.

GreenSpec Directory: The online GreenSpec® Directory lists product descriptions for over 2,100 environmentally preferable products. Products are chosen to be listed by Building Green editors. They do not charge for listings or sell ads.

Oikos: www.oikos.com/green_products/index.php Oikos is a World Wide Web site devoted to serving professionals whose work promotes sustainable design and construction.

PlugGREEN: www.PlugGREEN.com allows green businesses to create their own business profile, allowing them to network directly with other green businesses and green-minded consumers. In addition, PlugGREEN.com provides an organized and efficient way for consumers to find local green businesses and products in their area.