Jason Keath at “Jason Keath - Where Old Media Goes to Die” offered up his 5-step plan to “Green Hosting”.

1. Buy Your Own Offset Credits -Resources: How to buy carbon credits (Ehow.com) | Carbon credit price comparisons. Read Jason’s tip.
2. Use Hosting that Buys Credits - Jason’s recomendation - One good option in this direction is Dreamhost.
3. Use Hosting that Buys Green Energy - Better than buying credits when you use energy from wind farms, solar panels, and so on. Jason’s Resources: ThinkHost | HostPapa | HostGator
4. Use Hosting that Produces Green Energy -
   Some, but not all, in this category (from Treehugger.com):

   WebCtel – Solar

   SolarWebWorks – Solar

   EcoSky – Solar & wind

   The Green Web Host – Mixed sources, mostly wind I think

   Locomotive Media – Wind

   Elfon – Wind

   SustainableMarketing – Wind

   Aiso - Solar

   Taproot Hosting

   SolarHost - Solar

5. Use Your Own Green Powered Servers. Build you own wind turbine or hang solar panels.

Great ideas, Jason! Thanks!

Image courtesy of Nico Macdonald

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Ever heard the legendary Bruce Lee talk about how the perfect weapon is “an extension of the fighter’s mind and body”? Well, in the exact same fashion, the perfect green structure must be an extension of the planet. It must be one with the ecosystem, around it rather than stick out like a sore spot. That is precisely what The Cley Marsh Center in England accomplishes with both its ergonomic and visual structure blending it seamlessly into its surroundings.

Designed by LSI Architects, Cley Marsh is a nesting place for many birds and a delight for all bird livers in the UK. Now the nature admirers have a green retreat in the form of the Center that received Emirates Glass LEAF Awards for its superb green design. The wind energy, solar power and underground heating systems make the building stay completely off the grid, which helps reduce the carbon emissions by 80% compared to traditional structures of the same size.

Another great addition is the water harvesting system and the green roof covered by moss that gives the building a pleasurable green look. Really gets your attention at the first glance, doesn’t it? Check out a pictures gallery after the break. (more…)

Nature - an energy-capturing powerhouse

A London-based company, Solar Botanic, claims to have developed life-like artificial plants and trees that have the ability to trap solar and wind power. The prominent feature of these plants is the ‘Nano Leaf‘ which can harness these powers.

Its photovoltaic and thermo voltaic cells absorb the sun’s energy while the branches produce electricity whenever the wind brings movement in them. According to the company’s calculations, an average-sized tree with a 6sq meter canopy can produce reasonable energy to suffice a single household.

The company also plans to use this energy to power motorways, suburban streets and parks and everywhere else that trees can be planted. What lies in future for this invention is yet a distant thought? Since Solar Botanic has not divulged much of its plans, we will just have to watch for its developments. - via CleanTechnica

Nano-leaf technology : Environmental Benefits

When the US Army takes a small break from those unnecessary and probably unnecessary wars, or don’t plan new ones, they manage to amaze us. I’m talking about the latest initiative to build a 500MW solar thermal plant in the Mojave Desert near Fort Irwin, CA, that will help them cut down $21 million a year from their $3 billion energy bill.

Set to be ready in 2014, the new solar plant is not only going to reduce the risk of power interruptions but will also reduce the carbon footprint by 4,015,000 tons. No word on how much money it will cost to build this military installation but it sounds like a better way to spend money.

Keith Eastin, the Army’s assistant secretary for Installations & Environment said that the new solar thermal plant will be built in the name of energy security and not necessarily the environment. However the US Army plans to buy 4,000 electric vehicles for maintenance and operations and also a joint geothermal initiative with the Navy that should be ready by 2012 and would provide 30 megawatts of power at Hawthorne Army Depot, Nevada.

Is the US Army turning eco-friendly?

Image courtesy of Schwarzerkater

Though I’ve seen eco-cabs and electric rickshaws by now, this new solar rickshaw by SolarLab have something to be proud of. Most of the energy, 75-percent, will come from the roof-mounted photovoltaic cells while the rest of 25-percent will be delivered through pedaling so better be prepared if there’s no sun outside.

I can see a battery in this sketch but to be honest, what kind of engine is that? Any details about it, would be great. Don’t plan to drive during the night unless SolarLab has an extraordinary battery to help you out or you’re training for the Olympics on that hill.

SolarLab via Dezeen