Wind is free, and by capturing it efficiently using advanced technologies, it can produce energy that does not create green house gases or other types of pollutants. Examples of man harnessing the energy of the wind to create wind power dates back to almost 7,000 years ago. New technologies look to increase efficiency levels even more at affordable price points.

My last blog focused on ways to eliminate the amount of energy consumed by interior and exterior lighting. You may recall one of the tips was to replace inefficient fixtures/lamps with those rated as high efficiency.

Thank you for continuing to read my four week blog series that uncovers the four, primary culprits of wasted energy in a typical manufacturing setting.  In my previous three blogs, I’ve dissected and offered tips to mitigate the inefficient operation of three of the four energy hogs in a typical manufacturing setting – compressed air, HVAC, and the equipment/machinery. Today, I will investigate the final element that is often overlooked because of its rather basic function – lighting.

In my previous two blogs, I've analyzed the inefficient operation of two of the four primary energy hogs in a typical manufacturing setting – compressed air and HVAC. Today, I will direct my attention towards the third string of the quartet – the actual equipment and machinery.

My blog last week focused on one of the top energy users in a manufacturing environment – compressed air.  This week I will focus my attention on a utility that gives compressed air a run for its money in respect to the amount of energy used and wasted during its operation – HVAC.

I plan on devoting my next few blogs analyzing the four primary energy consumers in a typical manufacturing environment. Obviously, every facility relies on different utilities to run their operation depending on processing needs, but the majority would see compressed air, HVAC, production machinery/equipment, and lighting as the big four energy users.

On January 17^th, I posted a blog about the importance of reporting sustainability goals from both a normalized and absolute perspective. In summary, companies can report one result instead of the other to paint a picture they are making tremendous strides to reduce their impact, when in fact, they haven’t made any progress or have even gone in the opposite direction. This leaves consumers feeling uncertain as to whether companies believe in changing their ways to preserve the environment, or they are egocentrically piggy-backing on the green movement to increase sales.

Is Lawn Irrigation a Good Use of Our Drinking Water? 

I’ve always wondered how homeowners can continue watering their grass during a drought with a clear conscience. Sure, a nicely manicured green lawn is appealing, but is it worth depleting valuable drinking water to attain such a trivial asset?

Being Transparent and Truthful With Sustainability Results. 

I’ve never liked how companies report their progress either as a normalized or absolute result depending on the spin they can put on the numbers. Why not report both?  Too often companies skew the underlying cause of how certain environmental goals were attained to paint a positive picture for the consumer, when in fact, they might have been neutral or actually increased their impact. This often contributes to consumers believing companies are “green washing” to increase sales.

The following article is a good entry step into conserving energy in a manufacturing environment for those in the initial stages of reducing their footprint. Although some manufacturers may not utilize all of the utility equipment described in the article, it should present most not just some opportunities but a way to think about how to analyze their own facility to identify areas to save electricity...

Finding Innovative Alternatives Rather Than Junking the Steel Containers

Each year more than 10 million shipping containers arrive in the United States ports, with more than 3 million being left to rust in salvage yards. The excess inventory results from the trade imbalance with China in which our country continues to import more material goods than export. Although stackable, the containers are typically either twenty or forty feet in length and take up significant amounts of space in salvage yards, landfills, or whatever alternate dumping grounds are being used to amass the boxes.

Sports Apparel Manufacturer Looking to Compostable Merchandise

In 2007, the EPA reported there were 3091 active landfills and over 10,000 old municipal landfills in the U.S. They also estimated there were over 10,000 private landfills. We are all familiar with the harm landfills pose to the environment and human health, so why do companies continue to sell products that will ultimately end up in one?

More than 60 million plastic bottles are diverted to landfills in the United States every single day! My gut reaction would be to ban plastic bottles indefinitely, although playing devil’s advocate, there are many times where filling a canteen or water bottle to satisfy one’s thirst just isn’t practical. So how can we minimize the quantity of bottles being sent to landfill?

Plum Waste Converted Into Gardening Accessories

We’ve all used the slogan “one person’s waste is another’s treasure”, and environmental pioneers are taking this phrase to heart in every aspect of their lives.  

I sometimes feel like I'm unsympathetic towards my family's needs during the late fall and winter months in my household. Why? I don't believe in cranking up the furnace to achieve Caribbean-like temperatures so we can all sit around in shorts and T-shirts drinking Margaritas...

I was pleasantly surprised the other morning when I received an email from my youngest daughter's school – Davis Drive Middle School - asking if anyone would be interested in volunteering to join a newly formed "Green" team. I jumped at the opportunity for several reasons.

To become knighted by the royal family means an individual has achieved excellence in several facets of their life.  Richard Branson was bestowed the honor in 2000 for his “services of entrepreneurship”, and has recently partnered with two companies to innovate a technology that can be his best creation ever -this one focused on preserving the environment.

There's no denying that we are fully immersed in the age of technology.  It seems like a new innovation or the next generation of an existing product is being launched every other month.  Computers, televisions and stereo equipment use to dominate the electronics market, but now they are being rivaled by MP3 players, smart phones, tablets and ERDs.

The Latest and Greatest in Packaging & Processing Equipment

Next week I'm off to Las Vegas to attend Pack Expo 2011 being held at the Las Vegas Convention Center from September 26-28.   I will be working at Oden Corporation’s booth #C2011. Please stop by to learn about the equipment they offer, from their mass/blend processing technology to their in-line fillers.

When most companies and individuals speak about sustainability, they typically focus solely on environmental sustainability.  The economic and social aspects of sustainability complete the triad, but some experts also like to include education as a fourth lever.