Fresh articles from ARTICLE GALLERYhttp://www.articlegallery.net/Tue, 09 Feb 2010 17:30:11 CSTArticleFriendly.com http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/352075/238/Wisconsin-No-Child-Left-Inside-Coalition.html
The information was supplied by EE IN WISCONSIN, A guide to Wisconsin's environmental education organizations, programs, materials, and professionals

The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition is working to develop an Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin that will address the environmental education needs of Wisconsin's pre-kindergarten through twelfth grade schools and will pay special attention to creating more opportunities to get kids outside The Plan will recommend a comprehensive strategy to ensure every child graduates with the environmental skills and knowledge needed to contribute to a sustainable future

Wisconsin has a strong environmental education foundation already established, with active schools, supporting organizations, and abundant opportunities to get outside in rural and urban settings The Environmental Literacy Plan will build upon these strengths, and suggest priorities for present and future attention It will lay out the next steps towards fulfilling on our State's commitment to ensure all people in Wisconsin are environmentally literate

State Superintendent Evers has formally asked the Coalition to develop the Environmental Literacy Plan for Wisconsin A Steering Committee meets each month to draft the Plan The Wisconsin No Child Left Inside Coalition Steering Committee is made up of representatives from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Wisconsin Center for Environmental Education, Wisconsin Environmental Education Board, Wisconsin Environmental Education Foundation, Wisconsin Association for Environmental Education, Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Wisconsin Environmental Science Teachers Network, Milwaukee Public Schools, the Green Charter School Network, and the US EPA's Environmental Education and Training Partnership The broader Coalition is kept updated on progress, provides input and feedback to guide the plan development, and ultimately, will play a key role in implementing and evaluating Wisconsin's Environmental Literacy Plan

Wisconsin's Environmental Literacy Plan will be compliant with the pending national No Child Left Inside (NCLI) legislation The No Child Left Inside Act requires States develop, implement, and evaluate a State Environmental Literacy Plan in order to be eligible to receive funding associated with the Act Currently, the bill suggests an appropriation of $100 million to support the State Environmental Literacy Plans You can learn more about the national NCLI Act and its various provisions and requirements here: www cbf org/Page aspx?pid=948

For more information about Wisconsin's NCLI Coalition, contact Jesse Haney (Jesse Haney@uwsp edu)

Nature Summer Camps provide a excellent place for kids to get outside and enjoy nature

Swift Nature Camp is one of a handful of Wisconsin Science Summer Camps for boys and girls ages 6-15. Our focus is to blend traditional Overnight Camp activities with an appreciation for nature, animals and the environment.]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/352075/238/Wisconsin-No-Child-Left-Inside-Coalition.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351787/238/DIY-Homemade-Solar-Panels.html
As energy prices rise, it is always good to look for cheaper alternatives to slash bills After initial costs, solar power is energy for free Getting the kit installed can be pricey though; here are a few tips to help build your own solar panel

The first thing is ensure you have the necessary tools and equipment This will mean sourcing the best solar cells for you, which should be given a good portion of time to decide There are many out there

Having made that choice, you will also need; plywood, circular saw, 1 x1, screwdriver and screws, caulk, outdoor paint, solder and iron, glue, copper wire, a diode, batteries and Plexiglas

The first step will be to draw a grid, suitable to your solar cells, on the plywood, (use them as a template) Having determined the size of the panel by this, you can cut the plywood to size and the fun can really start

Take your 1 x 1 and cut to size; determined by the size of your plywood panel The panel should be attached to these using your screws, and applying suitable amounts of caulk and painted with outdoor paint to protect from the elements

The solar cells now need to be glued into place However, they first need to be attached in a series This is quite simple; soldering the tabs at the back of each together It does need to be done carefully though, as the cells are delicate

Once all set into place, the copper wire and diode line can be attached from the panel to the electrical system The diode is necessary here, as it will prevent power being lost through reverse transfer from the batteries

The final step is to entirely weatherproof the panel through Plexiglas over the cells Secure in place with caulk and allow to dry You have now managed to build your own solar panel

By learning to build your own solar panel you can save money, help the environment, and generate electricity using free energy from the sun with DIY solar panels. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351787/238/DIY-Homemade-Solar-Panels.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351664/238/Main-Reasons-For-Making-Solar-Panels.html
The popularity of people having or even making solar panels at home has increased dramatically in the past few years Because of this, costs and availability have also changed massively, thus making such a technically recent new source of renewable energy more easily available for the general public

The very most important reason for making solar panels for your house is the fact that the energy is one hundred per cent renewable As it is very well known the current supplies of gas and oil are rapidly running out so it is vital that we can find replacements very quickly indeed

To make a small investment in the future of renewable power will also save a fortune in the costs of bills in the coming years It is said that savings of up to fifty per cent of your current bills can be had Just by using solar panels instead of your current type of energy can make huge differences to what you currently pay

The much lower levels of pollution caused by renewable energies are also very high up the list of reasons to go solar powered This is also the case with wind power, but is less accessible for the home user

It is usually thought that solar panels can only be used to power general electrical items but they are already used for items such as satellites out in space or cars and water heaters Of course, depending on how many solar panels you have installed depends on what you can power and for how long

People living either in the desert or simply very far way from a small town or city, receiving a power source can be very difficult This is where solar power can become very useful as it can be used absolutely anywhere in the world

More Information: make solar energy or solar energy for home]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351664/238/Main-Reasons-For-Making-Solar-Panels.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351550/238/How-Electricity-Is-Produced-From-Wind-Energy.html
Wind energy has been used for many years as individuals have used wind power for sailing, wind mills for manufacturing and pumping water and more recently conversion into electricity using wind turbines Wind power is a renewable energy that is considered a good option instead of burning fossil fuels Of all the renewable energy sources it is the most efficient and you only need a light breeze to produce electricity

The very first uses of wind for energy was in the form of wind mills and sailing as people have been using wind for more than thousands of years to propel ships Windmills have also been used for many years for milling grain as well as pumping water for irrigation These irrigation windmills was the main reason that farming and ranching could occur in the US, as there are vast stretches of land that do not have ready access to water

The very first usage of wind to create electricity occurred in 1888 The first wind turbine was used to create hydrogen in the 1890s but it was soon converted to producing electricity Small wind turbines are used to provide power to rural buildings and today there are larger wind farms that are being used to produce electricity for large networks What is known as the modern wind industry really began in 1979 when wind turbines began to be regularly produced

Wind occurs because the surface of the earth is not evenly heated, as the poles get less sunlight than the equator This causes cooled and heated air to move which in turn produces wind It is projected that the amount of power that could be harnessed form the wind is more than the human population currently uses So just think about having almost cost free power

The amount of power that is generated by the wind is dependent on the speed and as the wind speed doubles the amount of power produced increases eight fold However there is a cap as wind turbines can only go so fast and generate so much energy You do not need high winds at all time though as a lot of energy can still be produced with 15 mph breezes As such, wind power is a valuable method for alternative energy

The main issue with wind energy is storage as wind power cannot be dispatched at different times but needs to be used immediately Many companies have looked into different types of batteries, storing it within the energy grid and even hydroelectricity Many times surplus energy from domestic wind turbines are fed back into the electrical grid and the energy company will purchase this energy and you will receive electricity credits

A wind turbine used to collect the power of wind will contain a rotor shaft, gearbox and brake assembly Generally within a wind farm the different turbines are interconnecting for power collection and communication networking Wind energy uses induction generators to collect the power and change it to electricity

The best types of generators are doubly fed machines as they will function when errors occur within the grid You need to be aware of the power factor, dynamic behavior and frequency constancy when a system fault should occur

Wind power should be thoroughly considered in order to promote a greener society. Educate your children to become future scientists by purchasing them science lab equipment.]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351550/238/How-Electricity-Is-Produced-From-Wind-Energy.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351346/238/An-Overview-Of-LEED-Leadership-In-Energy-And-Environmental-Design.html
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a voluntary process whereby a building can be granted "green" status This means that it manages resources in an environmentally friendly manner Since the inception of the program in 1998, nearly 15,000 buildings have been certified Current estimates are that at least ten percent of new construction during 2010 will seek certification

Certifications are categorized as Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum The requirements increase as the levels rise from the lowest, Certified, to the highest, Platinum Each category has a level of points that must be earned to receive the designation Points are earned in several different areas, including sustainable sites, water efficiency, energy and atmosphere, materials and resources, indoor environment, and innovation and design

Points are earned in the category of sustainable sites for various reasons These include habitat protection, utilization of open space, and light pollution Access to alternative transportation, such as public transportation access, bicycle storage, and utilizing low emission vehicles, also falls within this category Parking capacity and design of storm water drainage are included as well

As the name implies, water efficiency measures how efficiently a building uses water Landscaping and waste water are two of the items included Energy and atmosphere addresses such issues as the control of refrigerants, the use of wind or solar power, and overall efficiency in energy use Materials and resources focuses on whether any materials used are from recycled sources, including existing roofs or walls Waste while construction is under way is also rated

Indoor environmental quality points require meeting indoor air quality standards and controlling tobacco smoke as prerequisites Next, outside air delivery must be monitored, ventilation systems must be excellent, and materials such as glues and paints must be low fume types Ratings also are based on temperature comfort, employee views, and daylight

Innovation and design covers the engineering and architecture of the building Factors evaluated include the carbon footprint, the use of fossil fuels, and the greenhouse gases emitted If the architect or engineer is LEED accredited, extra points may be awarded

Each type of building has different standards applied Certification can be obtained for homes and schools as well as retail construction and renovation and commercial new construction Buildings being renovated are judged under different criteria Entire housing developments also have a category

LEED certification is not compulsory Should a building wish to be certified, an application is submitted detailing which points have been addressed The process requires payment of certain fees for registering and if certification is granted

Having a LEED certification will be a great way to expand your opportunities in fields related to the environment. It's easy to learn more about the steps you can take to begin achieving your LEED goals today!]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/351346/238/An-Overview-Of-LEED-Leadership-In-Energy-And-Environmental-Design.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/350913/238/Choosing-Solar-Panels-For-Your-Home.html
More of us are now concerned about the source of the electricity we use There are daily news stories about the consequences of burning fossil fuels that have brought the state of the environment into everybody's mind But today most of the energy we use is still produced in power plants that burn coal and oil which add to the amount of greenhouse gas present in our planet's atmosphere You can choose to switch to a "green technology" such as solar panels for your home that will not be adding to global warming or climate change

There are immediate benefits to using solar power to produce your electricity The financial savings can be considerable when measured over a number of years but there are also grants and tax breaks you may be eligible for through switching to an alternative energy source All local authorities are now encouraging people to conserve energy and switch to green practices Find out if there are any grants available in your area to cover the cost of the installation charges

Solar panels can also be an excellent purchase if you have a property that is not connected to the national grid or which is in area prone to power cuts and shortages In this day and age there really is no need for us to rely on our government and utility companies to provide us with a necessity such as electricity

It was not so long ago that solar cells had a reputation for not being efficient Today this is not the case Every year there are improvements in solar technology, you will find that even on a rainy day they will still be providing you with adequate power

It is possible to run your home completely off solar panels or use the cells to produce a proportion of your needs Either option is simple to plan and put into operation The more panels you use the greater amount of electricity that will be produced

There are professional tradesmen that can install the panels on your property or if you understand DIY it is not such a complicated job to do yourself

The price of solar panels is decreasing. To make it even more affordable you can craft your own DIY solar panels. Get a totally unique version of this article from our article submission service]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/350913/238/Choosing-Solar-Panels-For-Your-Home.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/350811/238/What-You-Should-Know-Before-Heading-To-Costa-Rica.html
It's always a great idea to do some research of the country you are traveling to when going abroad Laws change and sometimes travel guides have out of date information Since Costa Rica is on the rise for travel destinations, I thought I would share some important facts with you

While traveling through Central America, you will be required to show your passport at each boarder crossing Once you arrive in the country, it is all right for you to copy your passport face page and stamp page to carry with you when you are out and about It's better to leave your passport at the hotel in a safe place so you don't risk loosing it

If you decide to rent a car in Costa Rica, best to know that deposits are going to be expensive but they are refundable upon return of the car Check your car for damage before you leave to insure your refund and remember to never let you tank get below one-quarter of a tank; stations can be hard to locate You have to have your driver's license with you and passport copy while driving a motor vehicle in Costa Rica

There are some laws that you should know about if you are going to drive in Costa Rica If you have the misfortune of being involved in an accident you are supposed to leave the car where it was and wait for the police and the insurance adjuster to arrive Be sure to obey the laws of the road and drive safely so you don't waste valuable vacation time because of an accident

In Costa Rica, numbers or street names do not identify most street addresses Addresses' will read something like 100 metros sur Burger King Women should do well driving here since all of our directions come with landmarks

The currency in Costa Rica is the colon or colones Bills start at c1000 denomination and go up to c10,000 The c10,000 is approximately $20 US dollars depending on the exchange rate at your time of travel Coins start as low as c5 up to c500, which is approximately $1 00; again, depending on the exchange rate, but you can also use US dollars

As of December 2009, the exchange rate in Costa Rica was 570 colones to one American dollar When you want to figure the price of something listed in colones, you would divide that price in colones by the current exchange rate If you need to figure out the price listed in dollars, you take the dollar amount and multiply it by the exchange rate and that will give you the price in colones

The national language in Costa Rica is Spanish However, there are many Costa Rican's, especially in high tourist locations, that do speak English All the roads signs are in Spanish so it might be a good idea to brush up on the road signs and their meaning, especially if you are going to drive on your vacation

As we all know, tourists are prime targets for petty theft As for Costa Rica, this amazingly peaceful country abolished its army back in 1947 and to this day is a very safe country However, we suggest you always keep an eye on your things to ward off petty thieves who prey on the unsuspecting

Visiting Costa Rica? Leslie J. Riannen Asks that you go in style while being Eco Friendly by choosing the only Green Costa Rica Car Rental Company. Mapache offers Costa Rica San Jose Car Rental for its total fleet of low emission vehicles. Visit their website to reserve safely and securely before your next trip.]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/350811/238/What-You-Should-Know-Before-Heading-To-Costa-Rica.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349901/238/Guide-to-Part-L-Regulations-Code-For-Sustainable-Homes.html
Part L Building Regulations are primarily concerned with the sustainability and energy efficiency of buildings and homes throughout the UK Whether the building is for business or for residential purposes being aware of Part L is imperative as it is part of the wider general Building Regulations which must be met

The area directly concerned with Part L is assessed through a number of different criteria and tests The most well known are SAP Calculations and Air Testing The focus of all of the assessments is energy efficiency and rating how well the building performs with regards to its carbon emissions

The different areas of Part L that need to be met can also vary depending on the building type Consulting with an expert in the field should help determine which assessments are required

An example assessment that is common for most buildings is an air test Air tests are used to find out how much air is escaping from the building If this is air that has been heated up with a heating system, or cooled using air conditioning it is obviously better to keep this air in the building and to save on energy When an air test has been completed a result can usually be given straight away

Code for Sustainable homes is used to measure the carbon emissions of a home and is mandatory for all new homes in England They make up part of the planning application and many local authorities set a target emission reduction rate at this time that must be met for the house to be fully compliant with building regulations

Part of the Code for Sustainable Homes assessment is the Ecohomes assessment An Ecohomes assessment takes the sustainability of an entire development project into consideration From the energy efficiency of the building companies used, for example, if local building companies were used, to how far the nearest shops are, will many car journeys be required, or are there enough local amenities nearby

To start caring for our planet and Environment there is no better place to start than at home Part L of the Building Regulations and the Code for Sustainable Homes are certainly a step in the right direction and one that only looks set to grow and continue

Energist UK are Part L Regulations Experts and can offer advice on Ecohomes and any of your other Part L Regualtions queries.]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349901/238/Guide-to-Part-L-Regulations-Code-For-Sustainable-Homes.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349663/238/Keeping-Up-With-Disposing-Of-Your-Trash-Affordably.html
One might ask themselves what the best way to dispose of trash affordably is Well, you start asking yourself this question when you start getting a large pile of trash in your home

After all, it is an impossible feat to try and stick all of our mess into our home trash-can Something different must be done to get rid of the waste

Don't become to upset over this though because there is a right and affordable way of doing this, I promise

You might even being to ask yourself where the hell all your trash came from? Well consider all your surroundings, and what your trash is mostly consisted of You might never have considered this before, but the more room you have to make trash in, the more trash you're likely to put into that room

One might think that the more space you have, the better However when it comes to dealing with trash, that might not always be the case When you have more space, that means you also have more space to make a mess

Upgrading to a bigger yard/home might just mean having to deal with bigger amounts of trash And noticeable trash is not the best thing

Having trash everywhere makes your home look unattractive, and makes you look lazy Most people hate leaving their homes piled up with trash

In fact, some cities give tickets out to homes who do not keep up with their trash

One way that you end up with so much junk is by working on handy jobs around the house Simple yard work, handy-man jobs, pipe fixing, roof patching etc can have you dealing with loads of trash

You must dispose of your waste, or you will be in a big mess Literally

My advice to you if you're already to the point where it is simply too much is to do a simple Google search and find out what landfill is nearest to you

Load all your trash into it and take it to the nearest landfill It would be much better to your wallet if you take it to a city landfill

If you visit a landfill that is owned by the city you will more likely than not save a pretty penny as opposed to visiting a profit landfill

Also, just to make you aware There are many other alternatives of disposing of your trash I only spoke of one in this article Good luck, and remember to recycle as many things as you possibly can!

Want to find out about other possible options for Getting Rid of Waste, then visit Alpha Waste Services for your all of your trash needs.]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349663/238/Keeping-Up-With-Disposing-Of-Your-Trash-Affordably.html http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349486/238/Top-Tools-For-Demolition-Projects.html
There are quite a few kinds of demolition and associated tools For instance, demolition derbies require no tools at all but rather demolish cars by drivers intentionally running into one another and sustaining the most possible damages Then, there's the demolition agency that provides deconstruction and demolishing services for ransacking buildings - for a fee, of course

There are agencies all around the world who will be ready and willing for demolishing just about anything you can think of destroying One of the most utilized tools, and therefore the one that's usually associated with building demolishment, is known as a wrecking ball Most wrecking balls are owned by companies who impose a lot of damage onto internal structures and exterior walls, combining all junk materials and crashing it to the ground

Another very popular power tool for building demolition is the chain saw Now, a chain saw isn't just used to chop down trees and cut firewood for the fireplace, plus, it doesn't take an expert to handle it A chain saw can aid in deconstruction and destroying thick house beams and thick wood doors

Another tool popular for this reason is the sledgehammer A sledgehammer is a manual tool, not an automatic one like the chain saw There is a hefty head on one end of a very long handle, which can inflict a horrendous amount of destruction to doorframes, windows, walls, and more

The crowbar is just another of these equally useful demolition tools A crowbar is equipped with two ends used to pry apart hard-to-get-to places, like jammed doors It can also smash in windows and remove two-person-size objects as well as appliances

It doesn't matter whether you're getting rid of a just a little shed or an enormous warehouse; demolition tools both automatic and manual, large and small, can all be utilized to destruct unwanted structures You can either choose to do it yourself and rent these tools, or hire a professional demolition company to do the job for you

Looking for some demolition to be completed? Why not locate the right demolition services in your area by going online. Find out more by going online now!]]> http://www.articlegallery.net/Art/349486/238/Top-Tools-For-Demolition-Projects.html