Buddhist Temple made from Beer Bottles!

Thai monks from the Sisaket province have used over one million recycled glass bottle to construct their Buddhist temple. Mindfulness is at the center of the Buddhist discipline and the dedication and thoughtfulness required to build everything from the toilets to their crematorium from recycled bottles shows what creativity and elbow grease can accomplish.
The Wat Pa Maha Chedi Kaew temple is about 400 miles northeast of Bangkok in the city of Khun Han close to the Cambodian border. Using Heineken bottles (green) and Chang Beer bottles (brown) the monks were able to clean up the local pollution and create a useful structure that will be a visual reminder to the scope of pollution and the potential we can make with limber minds.

The water tower and tourist bathrooms are even made from beer bottle litter. The monks were able to have the local people bring them the building materials which beautifully reflect the Thai sun.

Green car rentals - A sustainable competitive advantage!

EV Rental Cars is the first US rental car company whose entire fleet consists of hybrid vehicles.
The Los Angeles based firm doubled its fleet over the past two years, and now offers fuel-efficient wheels for rent in eight cities in the Western US through a partnership with Fox Rent A Car. Airport locations include Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego, San Francisco, Oakland, San Jose, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
Rentals are priced from USD 39/day or USD 215/week. Besides being able to travel with a cleaner conscience, soaring gas prices also mean that (business) travellers renting hybrids see less of a squeeze at the pump. Another benefit is that hybrid vehicles qualify for the carpool lane in California, even when the driver is the only occupant.
EV Rental's mission is "to provide the most technologically advanced environmental vehicles to the general public as soon as they are available, to educate the public and raise the awareness of the benefits of driving clean-fuel cars, and create a market for clean car technology". The company claims to have prevented more than 100 tons of air pollution and to have passed on more than USD 1 million in fuel cost savings to its customers.
Offering three different hybrids - Honda Civic, Toyota Prius and Toyota Highlander - travellers aren't the only ones renting from EV: a weeklong rental is a popular way for prospective buyers to take an extended test drive. Following in the footsteps of hybrid taxis, this is definitely a concept that deserves to be copied across the world.

Website: http://www.evrental.com
Contact: info@evrental.com

Household recycling plant - save space, reduce waste

When discussing insperiences (the trend of bringing professional grade products and services into the domestic domain), one thinks of plush home cinemas and chef-worthy kitchens. An indoor recycling plant doesn't immediately spring to mind. But that could change with the arrival of the Ecopod.
Created in partnership with BMW DesignWorksUSA, Ecopod's E1 Series is a household recycling center that aims to change the way consumers take out their trash. The appliance houses a compactor, and provides an efficient way to crush, store and redeem recyclable beverage containers, specifically plastic bottles and aluminium cans.
Consumers throw their bottle or can in the appropriate slot, step on a foot pedal, and enjoy the satisfying sound of compaction. The compacted container falls into an internal bin, which can be removed for redemption or curbside disposal. Each pod has storage capacity for approximately 50 crushed containers, while an upper compartment has additional room for glass bottles, newspapers and other recyclable materials. Everything neatly stored away and ready to moved to the next step in the recycling chain.
Anything that makes it easier for consumers to be green is worth partnering with. Ecopod will be available for the 2006 holiday season; if you're in household goods, it's probably time to start placing your orders. (The system will also be featured in Williams-Sonoma's January 2007 catalogue.) And if you're based outside the US: snap up local distribution rights.

Website: http://www.ecopod.org
Contact: info@ecopod.org

Electronic Waste Recycling

Whether ignorant or just plain lazy, plenty of consumers and businesses don't make the effort to recycle electronics. Which is why Green Citizen's drop-off center and pick-up service are great concepts – they make it convenient for people to recycle unused electronic equipment. In their own words: "we want to make recycling electronics so easy that you’ll make it a part of your everyday routine." Which is very necessary, considering that a computer or tv monitor contains an average of 6 pounds of lead, which seeps into the ecosystem if the montior is dumped and crushed in a landfill.
Green Citizen's drop-off center is an attractive, well branded, retail-style store, usefully located behind Fry's Electronics in Palo Alto, California, and the pick-up service arranges for collection of items from business and homes around the city. Further sweetening the deal, residential customers' pick-up receipts feature discounts from environmentally committed businesses in the area.
Green Citizen only works with accountable demanufacturing and processing partners, to ensure that every piece of equipment is properly disposed of. Unfortunately, this isn't standard practice in the recycling business.
Green Citizen's appeal lies in making a green service available without sacrificing convenience, style or competitive prices. Repeat after us: make it easy and fun for your customers to be green!

Solar Panel Farm - Generate long-term income

If you're looking for new ways of creating income, consider an investment in turning a small slice of your property into a solar panel farm! Anyone with some available space can invest into solar power as a way of generating stable income by harnessing the energy of the sun.

A money making opportunity with low maintenance and overheads

You'll be making money from something that renewable and free - the sun! You'll also be able to provide your own property with clean, renewable power. (Note: under the Queensland tariff scheme, farm electricity consumption is limited to 100 megawatt hours a year)
There's next to no maintenance involved - the sun does all the hard work for you; making you money while leaving you free to do other things.

The financial benefits of a solar panel panel farm

• The maximum system size is 10kW per phase in Queensland and South Australia that means a system as large as 30kW is still eligible if a three-phase connection is available! Both states offer 44c/kWh. Note: The South Australian Government recently announced a review of its feed in tariff system that may see solar farms above 10kW ineligible or receiving lower payments. Register your interest below.

• The ACT program is a gross feed in tariff paying 50.05c/kWh for systems up to 10kw capacity and 40.04c/kWh for up to 30kW capacity for systems connected prior to June 30, 2010. From July 1 2010, the premium rate will be 47.5c/kWh for all systems right up to 30kW. Contracts locking in prices are active for 20 years. The ACT government is also considering allowing systems larger than 30kW. Register your interest below.

• The NSW program will offer 60 c/KWh on a net basis for systems up to 10 kW in size. While the New South Wales program isn't due to kick off until January 2010, now is the time to start planning! Register your interest below.

• Income of approximately $35K per annum from solar farming is possible in Queensland; based on 6 peak sun hours a day. In South Australia, based on 4.4 peak sun hours on average per day, this equates to approximately a $35K per annum return on a 30kW system if exporting energy to a retailer such as TruEnergy who are offering 64c per kilowatt feed in tariff.

• Income from solar power generation is guaranteed in all states until at least 2028 - guaranteed income over such a long period for any farming activity in the ACT, South Australia or Queensland is such a rare opportunity!

• ABN holders will be able to claim depreciation and GST credit, plus you could also be eligible for $7,500 in rebates under the new solar credits program!

A solar farm is a great return on investment, particularly considering the low maintenance involved and the reassurance of guaranteed income! Additionally, components in a grid connected solar farm have no moving parts and the solar panels have an output guarantee of 25 years.
By installing solar farm equipment, you'll also considerably boost the value of your property - it's a great selling point should you decide to sell your property in the future!

The environmental benefits of  a sun panel farm

By installing a grid connected solar power system on your property, you'll not only providing your own property with renewable energy, but any surplus will be fed into the mains grid, distributing clean electricity to the people of the ACT, South Australia and Queensland! Your solar panel farm will be playing a vital role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions that contribute to global warming.