What makes a company "green" in your opinion?

[rgramjet]

Two words:  Bloom Box

Google it.

[Triple J]

Two words:  Bloom Box

Google it.

That was a really interesting 60 Minutes piece!  Cool technology.

[Triple J]

as to storing spend nuclear fuel

that process is called vitrification

and it exists already as well

http://www.srs.gov/general/programs/solidification/index.htm

Still have to put it somewhere.

[Rufus120]

Kind of off the subject of a green company:

One major problems with our grid is the inefficiency of the transport of the power once it's produced.  If we could invent some form of transport that is more efficient we wouldn't need to produce as much power to begin with. 

Can't remember off the top of my head, but I think we loose almost half of the energy produced once it is transported over line more than 100 miles.  I'm sure those aren't the exact numbers, but I do remember being amazed at them when I read about it.  I think they are trying to drop the temps of the lines to make them more efficient.  But that in turn takes more power, negating the whole thing.

On subject:

"Green" is a marketing term imo. Companies I look up to use as little resources as possible to produce whatever their product is.  Hell I have a "biodegradable" plastic cup that I got from Burgerville in portland in my compost pile.  Damn thing has been there over a year and you could pull it out, wash it and use it again.  So far it doesn't seem very biodegradable to me.

[GAAN]

Still have to put it somewhere.

no

it's magically safe after glassification

we will put it in everyones homes

[GAAN]

I hate this

<hangs head and deep sigh>

I have to agree with Jud

the only real "solution" is nuclear

and nordog is right about the unrealistic scam of "green" energy

by the time you build all the windtowers, wave generators, solorpanels, dams, etc etc, build a UPS for every building, all the switchgear and monitoring systems and subswystems for power switching when one source depletes and design a protocol to make it all work...even with a coal fire back up...it is economically unrealistic without a radical shift in current planetary wide politics and priorities.

maybe if we were the Federation and operated under the prime directive...

[angler]

Let's continue this 'jack, shall we.

What many have been arguing in favor of for years is decentralizing power production.  We have very efficient fuel cell technology.  The Japanese and other Asian countries use it on a wide scale.  All you need is water and natural gas and you have your own fuel cell.  This is time tested technology.  No transport loss.  No more maintenance than your current furnace.  You produce what you need.  I've said this before but I know people that power their off the grid compounds, errr I mean ranches, with this type of technology.   

I also agree nuclear is a viable alternative, but sheeple are so darn scared of it. You will see MUCH more nuclear and very soon.  On the East Coast very few people realize how close they actually live to some nuclear facility that has never had an accident affecting the citizenry outside the plant.

Back on topic.

BEWARE of all labels - organic, green, sustainable, etc. - especially those not certified by a third, non-gov't party.  Please see recent stink over organic labels where the USDA was pretty much handing them out to any farmer that smelled like patchouli......

I have done a ton of research in the use of green labels for seafood.  In theory they work to fix "dirty" seafood.  In practice, they rarely do ("dolphin safe" tuna is an exception).  Trouble is, with the wide proliferation of these "green" labels, people quit paying attention.  Soon these labels will be the equivalent of "NOW with a 30% shinier label" type marketing claptrap.

[Le Pirate]

I think the best short term solution will be thorium nuclear power. Much safer than the current, less long term storage problems.


wired article about it:

http://www.wired.com/magazine/2009/12/ff_new_nukes/

[ducpainter]

<snip>
Back on topic - Green Labels.

There is absolutely no regulatory authority about the use of "green" like there is for "organic" or "USDA prime."  Buyer beware.  Anybody can label themselves green for any reason.

You're incorrect on the organic thing.

The only term regulated is 'certified organic'...and even that might not be what you think.

[angler]

You're incorrect on the organic thing.

The only term regulated is 'certified organic'...and even that might not be what you think.

Hairs.....your splitting them. 




http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

This authority is supported by the National Organic Program (NOP), created in 2002 based on the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act.  The certification is a process, not part of the label.  As you see above, the label only says "USDA Organic."  Actually, producers can use whatever label they want, but if they use any of the regulated words, they have to meet certain standards.  NOP does not accredit producers directly but uses a number of private accrediting agents.

Organic Foods Production Act - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo  If you read the law, the law regulates the use of all sorts of terms including but not limited to; certified organic, organically produced, organic plan, organic, 100% organic etc. 

"Labeling standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product. Products labeled "100 percent organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients. Products labeled "organic" must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. Products meeting the requirements for "100 percent organic" and "organic" may display the USDA Organic seal. "  (source = http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004443&acct=nopgeninfo)

Organic Foods Production Act - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo

[mitt]

I just got a new laptop, and one of the dozen stickers plastered on the top side said "Green Screen LED technology".  

Then, you flip the laptop over, and on the bottom, there is a sticker that says "Do not dispose of in landfill, screen contains mercury"

   


mitt

[ducpainter]

Hairs.....your splitting them. 




http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/nop

This authority is supported by the National Organic Program (NOP), created in 2002 based on the 1990 Organic Foods Production Act.  The certification is a process, not part of the label.  As you see above, the label only says "USDA Organic."  Actually, producers can use whatever label they want, but if they use any of the regulated words, they have to meet certain standards.  NOP does not accredit producers directly but uses a number of private accrediting agents.

Organic Foods Production Act - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo  If you read the law, the law regulates the use of all sorts of terms including but not limited to; certified organic, organically produced, organic plan, organic, 100% organic etc. 

"Labeling standards are based on the percentage of organic ingredients in a product. Products labeled "100 percent organic" must contain only organically produced ingredients. Products labeled "organic" must consist of at least 95 percent organically produced ingredients. Products meeting the requirements for "100 percent organic" and "organic" may display the USDA Organic seal. "  (source = http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3004443&acct=nopgeninfo)

Organic Foods Production Act - http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5060370&acct=nopgeninfo

I cannot comment on most of your post without breaking the rules.

I used to be a certified organic grower in NH...

until the federal program was initiated.

Take that as you will.

[angler]

I cannot comment on most of your post without breaking the rules.

I used to be a certified organic grower in NH...

until the federal program was initiated.

Take that as you will.

We are both correct.  You say tomatoes, I say tomatoes (not as funny written down).  That was my point.  I don't doubt that the man had a problem with you calling yourself a "certified organic grower." The law regulates the production of inputs to other processes and the production of final consumer goods.  It regulates what you can call yourself as a producer; certified organic grower or organic producer or other terms.  It also regulates the label you can place on your product.  As far as the label used on your product, you cannot use the words 100% organic or organic (referring to the ENTIRE product) or use the USDA label unless you have at least 95% organically produced (another regulated term) product therein.  

[ducpainter]

We are both correct.  You say tomatoes, I say tomatoes (not as funny written down).  That was my point.  I don't doubt that the man had a problem with you calling yourself a "certified organic grower." The law regulates the production of inputs to other processes and the production of final consumer goods.  It regulates what you can call yourself as a producer; certified organic grower or organic producer or other terms.  It also regulates the label you can place on your product.  As far as the label used on your product, you cannot use the words 100% organic or organic (referring to the ENTIRE product) or use the USDA label unless you have at least 95% organically produced (another regulated term) product therein.  

You misunderstand I believe.

The NH program was far more stringent than the federal regs and easily fell within the guidelines. I left the program because the standards as written now do not provide truly organic food to the consumer.

If I grow something now I can call it organic and have less pesticides (yes the federal program allows that) than a comparable USDA product may have.

[Preisker]

The Green term, in my  opinion, is a Public Relations Term.   It really doesn't mean anything.   At least not yet.   And John Deere sells tools.   That's it.   They have no control over who uses what for what.  If you manufacture weapons, is it your fault when someone shoots someone else?    What about baseball bats, if someone caves someone elses head in, are you at fault? 

Organic means more expensive, smaller, nastier fruit, fruit and vegetables with bugs in it, and hippies. 

Joe Rogan sucks.