Modular building has many benefits: it’s cost-efficient, it’s time-efficient, and it can be just as design-savvy as traditional stick and brick construction. But there is yet another advantage to modular building: it’s greener and more sustainable.

LEED-certification is often the first guideline that comes to mind when considering green building best practices. While LEED-certified modular buildings can and have been constructed, just like traditional construction, it only comes at great expense. There are many simple, cost-effective alternatives that modular builders use every day to reduce construction waste and make their buildings more energy efficient.

First off, the fact that modular buildings are constructed in a factory and then shipped to the site produces less waste than traditional on-site construction. There is also less site disturbance with modular buildings, further reducing the impact on the environment.

Modular buildings commonly incorporate high-tech materials and features for superior efficiency. For example, thick high-quality insulation conserves air conditioning and heat. The use of white roofing material instead of black reduces superheating of the roof and summertime HVAC use. Energy-efficient lighting with occupancy sensors, programmable HVAC systems and window glazing are also frequently incorporated into the design of modular buildings, further improving the energy efficiency and reducing operating costs of these designs.

Modular buildings are a sustainable option. The material used on modular units is both durable and recyclable. So buildings last for years, and can be recycled when the time is right. The key to the sustainability of modular buildings is their ability to be reused for in other locations and for other purposes. Ground offices have been repurposed to ski lodges, storage units, or temporary classrooms, to name just a few.

The end result is a superior, cost-effective, quality-controlled product that can help you meet and exceed your project schedule, operating costs and sustainability goals.

- – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – - – -

Jeff Dusing is the Creative Communications Manager at ModSpace, a leading provider of temporary and permanent modular building solutions with 80 branch locations across the United States and Canada. ModSpace offers innovative products for a variety of industries, including commercial, education, government, and healthcare. ModSpace offers the best solutions for your space needs such as mobile office trailers, modular office buildings, portable storage containers, modular complexes, and much more.

If you are like most people, the thoughts occupying your mind these days likely include the recession, losing weight, high unemployment rates and going green. While I can’t give you advice on how you can shed those unwanted pounds or finally land your dream job, I can help you do your part to save the planet. Without a doubt, going green and reducing your carbon footprint is the single best thing you can do for dear old mother earth.

And best of all, while all of these suggestions are good for the planet, many of them are also helpful in leading a healthy life, too.

#1-Say Yes to Tap Water

Bottled water has become fashionable and trendy in the past decade. The health-conscious declare that bottled water is “better” for you and that there are scary germs lurking in your tap water. Actually, most studies show that bottled water is little more than tap water that has been disguised by a shiny bottle and a fancy name. And seeing that almost 90 % of plastic bottles end up in landfills, kicking your bottled water habit is an easy way to do something immediate.

#2-Buy Local

We all know that international food production is incredibly taxing on the environment and makes the food we eat less healthy. A lot of food producers have to modify their products to be able to survive transportation. Instead of rushing out to your local Wal-Mart, why not try buying local at your neighborhood mom and pop store? See if you have any natural markets or farmers markets in your town. In turn you will be supporting local farmers, growing your state’s economy and even losing weight by chomping down on healthy and delicious fruits and veggies.

#3-Recycle

It might seem a little elementary, but recycling is one of the best ways to save the planet. Luckily, recycling is no longer restricted to your newspapers and old cans. There are many recycling programs that will actually pay you for being kind to the planet. Electronics stores like RadioShack will give you money for your old gadgets and second-hand clothing stores like Plato’s Closet will pay you for your gently used clothing.

#4-Machine Wash Cold

90% of the energy used up by washing machines goes to heat the water. Give your washing machine (and the environment) a break and only wash in cold water. Additionally, vow to completely give up dry cleaning. It is an unnecessary expense and the chemicals used in the dry cleaning process, like perchloroethylene, are bad for the planet and actually bad for your clothing. These solvents can alter fabric colors and weaken the fibers of your favorite clothes. Additionally, some of these harmful chemicals can remain on your clothes, bringing them in contact with your skin.

#5- Bust Out Your Bike

Even though biking to work might seem like a major pain and a sure way of getting all sweaty before the day even begins, it is one of the best ways to go green. Not only will you save money on gas and parking and get in fabulous shape, but you will be doing your part to save the planet at the same time. Plus, most of us work in offices where we sit all day long, and this prolonged sitting has some seriously negative effects on our health. Biking to work not only keeps you from burning gasoline, but can actually help you live longer.

#6-Strip Down

Even though the cold months are quickly fading away and the temperature is constantly rising, don’t turn on the air conditioner. This is one of the surest ways to drive up your energy bill and put unnecessary strain on the environment. Instead, get a swamp cooler, crack open a window and pull your summer shorts and tank tops out of storage.

#7-Pay Bills Online

Are bills flooding your mailbox lately? Getting tons of mail is not only annoying, it is incredibly bad for the planet. Mail usually ends up in the trash (creating extra waste) and is a major drain on natural resources such as trees. Enroll in a bill-paying program for your credit cards, student loans and utility payments and never get a pesky bill in the mail again!

#8- Buy a Faucet Aerator

Unless you are a plumber, you probably don’t know what a faucet aerator is. Well, they are very important little gadgets that you put on water faucets that help conserve water and reduce splashing. And because they only cost a couple of bucks, the money that you will save on your water bill will more than make up for the cost.

#9-Take Advantage of Energy Tax Credits
The federal government is willing to pay you (and pay you big in some instances) in the form of tax credits if you do your part to save on energy. For people that purchase an energy efficient product for their home, you will be eligible to get a credit of up to 30 % of the cost you paid for it.

#10-Borrow Things Instead of Buying New Ones

If you are like me, you run out to the store every time you need something without giving it a second thought. And you probably only used that new gadget you just “had to have” a couple of times right? The waste that it took to produce and package that item that you only used once is probably more than you might think. Instead, call up your mom or a friend the next time you need cleaning supplies or want a new dress for a night out. When you borrow, you save money and reduce your carbon footprint.

One lucky college student will find themselves the owner of a new iPad next month as winner of the first “Greenest Student College Challenge.” ThinkGreenLiveClean, an environmental news Web site, launched the contest yesterday to showcase the most inventive and ingenious “green” ideas emerging from the nation’s college campuses.

College students are being asked to make green resolutions for the “New ‘School’ Year.” A panel of judges will review the resolutions and award the student with the best idea a new iPad and matching case valued at more than $500. The winner’s name, college and green resolution will also be posted on the homepage of ThinkGreenLiveClean.

Entries will be judged on creativity of the green resolution and details about how the resolution will be fulfilled.

“Since our contest’s green resolutions can be viewed by anyone anywhere, the Greenest Student College Challenge is essentially a national brainstorming session with an iPad as an incentive,” said Wyatt Taubman, founder of ThinkGreenLiveClean. “Students will be able to read what other students have written and will hopefully become inspired by all the great green ideas floating around. These students are going to have the ideas that will change the future so we want to let their ideas be heard now on a national level.”

Contest entrants must enter by October 18, as follows. The winner will be announced November 1. Official rules are available at ThinkGreenLiveClean.com. No purchase is necessary to enter or win.
1. Become a Fan of ThinkGreenLiveClean on Facebook;
2. Sign up for the ThinkGreenLiveClean newsletter;
3. Provide an active college email;
4. Post a green resolution on the ThinkGreenLiveClean comment box. Must be 300 words or less.

The panel of judges include:
• Dr. Diana Nemergut, environmental studies professor, University of Colorado at Boulder
• Dr. Michael Boudrias, environmental studies & marine science department chair, University of San Diego
• Shanah Trevenna, student sustainability coordinator, University of Hawaii
• Devon Fisher, University of San Francisco Master’s Program and Think Green Live Clean writer
• Kaelin McAtee, University of San Diego and Think Green Live Clean writer
• Wyatt Taubman, founder, ThinkGreenLiveClean

iPad and matching cover provided by Duke’s Restaurants.

The Greenest Student College Challenge marks the first in a series of contests to be hosted by ThinkGreenLiveClean to run throughout the school year. Future contests will explore different aspects of students living sustainably.

ThinkGreenLiveClean is an environmental news Web site that provides people with the simplest, easiest and smartest solutions for living a ‘greener’ lifestyle. Launched in 2009 by Wyatt Taubman at age 23 and now a graduate of University of San Diego, ThinkGreenLiveClean currently boasts 19 writers hailing from colleges across the country who write daily articles about anything relating to the ‘green’ way of life from a young adult’s perspective. ThinkGreenLiveClean can be found at ThinkGreenLiveClean.com.

Who would have thought those words would go together a few years ago? Not many I would guess but in fact over the last ten years there has been a big push to provide effective pest control that is also green in that it does not poison the environment or contaminate our living spaces with chemicals that are also harmful to humans and pets.

Orange extract has been used for termite control instead of the gas fumigation methods of ridding houses of those pests. I found a company out here in the west that is using the best reduced toxicity or non-toxic products in their pest control. Alpha Ecology has locations in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Dallas Texas, Arizona, and Denver Pest Control. It seems they work to do an integrated approach to pest control that includes controlling access to your house by sealing off entry points fro pests, applying to nests and concentrated areas rather than blanket application. They use organic and natural-based pest control products when possible.

Seems like a great idea to control your pest problems in your home. Don’t have a company spray toxic chemicals all over the place, don’t get your house gassed. But use the new breed of companies that can treat your problems without endangering your family or the environment.

Ethanol fuel biomass may be defined as vegetable substances or plants currently in use to generate gasoline or sustaining energy. More particularly this is a biological origin that is extracted from the living matter. Ethanol has derived its alternative energy coming from plants like corn, switchgrasses, hemp, willow and sugar cane along with additional vegetation which provides or hold sugar. A large number of plant life either is made up of sugar or simply has a number of component inside it that can be converted to sugar. This valuable sugar is required for ethanol production which is done through fermentation, distillation coupled with dehydration. Non-renewable fuels do not fall into this category. They aren’t polar solvents as is ethanol, as a substitute they are hydrocarbons.

Extracting cellulose from specific plants like corn is a challenging practice. Cellulose consists of a component of strands which contain sugars and also all these sugars must be extracted so that they can make the carbs needed to create ethanol. The method employed is a mix of heat with pressure and particular basic acidic ailments. A chemical substance must be used in order to break up one of several chains of glucose and connects on the freely end of the chain and performs its way through the chain breaking down units of sugar (glucose). The closing step is to break up the sequence straight into two molecules and ferment this straight into ethanol. That is a costly strategy to get to ethanol. Researchers have offered a way of biologically engineering a bacteria that would certainly break down the actual components needed to make ethanol biomass.

Ethanol biomass is a controversial issue specially in the process of biologically designed microorganisms as well as the concern of it escaping to the atmosphere. On the other hand, there was significant hot debate around the usage of ethanol in the us. Controversy isn’t always a deterrent to continue no matter whether it’s industrially or even scientifically. We all view controversy as nothing more than thoughts and we all might need thoughts to better our own opinions, transform our system of doing anything and most of all as a means to advance forward, to improve. After all bio ethanol fuel is essential for the future of our planet.

New ViroPOP video- May 2008

Al Gore is planning on making An Inconvenient Truth 2 – but not really, Crocs starts recycling and donating their “shoes”, Green Gorilla will entertain and educate your kids, and we check in on some Green Celebs.