Designing a garden to attract birds is an excellent idea and has many benefits that you may not have considered. Birds are fun to watch and they add beauty to your garden, but there are other environmentally and people friendly reasons to design a garden to attract birds.
Some of the reasons you may want to consider designing a garden to attract birds include:
Soil conservation – some plants used in landscaping can help to prevent soil erosion
Increased wildlife populations – various species of birds will flock to your garden
Natural insect control – birds eat insects so naturally the more birds you have the better insect control you will have in your garden
Educational opportunities – children and adults alike will have the opportunity to view and learn about many different types of birds and plants
Food production – many of the plants that attract birds also produce foods that humans can eat
Now that you know a few of the benefits of designing a garden to attract birds it will be important to know the necessary elements to incorporate into the design of your garden.
Garden Elements that Attract Birds
Bird Feeders - Bird feeders are one of the easiest and least expensive elements that you can add to your garden to attract birds. You can use a feeder that hangs from a tree or you could opt for a free standing feeder. By using several different kinds of bird seed you can attract various types of birds. You may attract birds such as sparrows, robins, and doves.
Bird Friendly Plants - Certain types of plants will attract birds to your garden. Some plants will be a place of shelter for the birds while others will provide a haven for mating and nesting. Plants such as berry trees will be a food source for birds. Plants that are bird friendly include things such as: creeping vines, holly bushes, butterfly bushes, larkspur, and evening primrose. Flowers that are nectar producing and brightly colored attract birds such as hummingbirds.
Water Features - Water features not only provide a place from which the birds can drink or in which they can bathe, but water features will also provide aesthetic appeal to your garden. Small fountains, bird baths, or a dish of water on the ground will all be sufficient water features.
There are a lot of companies going green and best green companies, but today's post is featuring a very cool company who is making Playgrounds out of used Milk Cartons.
Green Energy TV gave Progressive Design Playgrounds the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for their green inventions and eco friendly products. They are also creating green jobs, and not only a place for kids to play, but also providing Environmental Education for for Children.
Are you familiar with a cloud computing environment to more easily allow professors around the world to incorporate technology into their curricula? Listen up Professors...
We know about globalization, but how are we preparing our future leaders and younger generation to prepare themselves to be ready to connect to the rest of the world.
There are more Entrepreneurship Programs opening up across the US and the world, and so how are we preparing them to be Global Entrepreneurs?
IBM has a solution, don't they always...This is a really cool video about how IBM has already helped over 200 schools. The video airing on Green Energy TV is titled: Smarter Students for a Smarter Planet
There's a really cool video airing on our main site Green Energy TV showing how IBM's technology saves water.
IBM Fellow, John Cohn does a great job using humor to explain How Technology Saves Water.
How do they do it? IBM is gathering and analyzing information from vast sensor networks in our planet's rivers, oceans and waterways and making that information available in real-time so that smarter decisions can be made about how we manage this critical resource. (Source IBM) Check out the video: http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=26da6a961e8b3190
Upcoming posts will focus on energy innovations, green inventions, companies going green, best green companies and hybrid vehicles. Stay Tuned...
On Wednesday, NASA said that it is working on a personal flying suit. It was unveiled by Mark D. Moore, an aerospace engineer at NASA’s Langley Research Center.
NASA says it can fly 150 MPH and reach 30,000 feet.
The energy innovation is called the Puffin. The Puffin is on paper, a self-contained design with proper “cockpit” and helicopter-style blades that allow for high-altitude flying.
According to NASA, the conceptual design focusing on the ability of a redundant electric propulsion system to provide new capabilities for Vertical Takeoff and Landing aircraft.
Check out the video on this energy innovation and potentially new way to travel with an Electric Motor.
I walked across campus today, was tired and walked into a Starbucks. I asked for a iced coffee, and yes, I forgot my reuseable mug, and they handed me a coffee in a plastic cup.
I drank it, read a book and looked for a recycling bin. None were found. I went to the counter and asked the workers if they have a recycling bin for my plastic cup and they said no, even the manager shook his head no.
Why not? Look, I am no treehugger, but I believe in recycling. I should have been using my resuseable mug, but forgot it. I was very surprised and maybe it was just this location that did not have it. I looked into Starbucks sustainability programs and also on their site their Environmental Stewardship page talked about the great things they are doing.
The one thing that was missing was recycling bins in many of their stores. This could help prevent millions of cups from entering landfills. There are many companies going green and doing great things to reduce energy consumption, water usage, etc., but sometimes even they forget the easiest green measures to put in place, a recycling bin.
I took the cup back to campus, put it in a recycling bin, and will not forget my mug in the future! - Jenny M., Guest Blogger for Green Energy TV
There are many alternative fuel ideas and a variety of alternative fuels program.
A video was uploaded to our main site Green Energy TV that shows how how a Danish company is taking a waste product from making paper and turning it into an alternative fuels program.
The company is named Haldor Topsøe, and they are a an energy innovation technology which can transform black liquor (a waste product from paper production) into DME (DiMethyl Ether).
DME is a clean fuel, but can also be used for cars. Volvo, one of the project partners, has tested DME and named it 'the preferred fuel' among the green fuels available. The project taking place in Sweden, uses the entire technology chain: from the paper mill supplying black liquor via gas stations for fueling DME to trucks actually running on DME.
Learn more about their eco friendly inventions in the video below:
You hear a lot of positive news about companies going green, and the best green companies.
Well, Panasonic announced that they aim to be the No.1 Green Innovation Company in the Electronics Industry.
Below are some of the ways they plan on being the top of the list for best green companies in their industry:
Green life innovation- Panasonic will make the green lifestyle a reality by implementing Panasonic ideas for life and offer better living to people around the world with a sense of security, comfort and joy, in a sustainable way. For example, the ideas will include "lifestyle with virtually zero CO2 emissions for the entire home and the entire building," "lifestyle with recycling-oriented products," "evolving and expanding eco cars," and "encouraging eco-conscious products in emerging and developing countries."
Green business innovation - Panasonic will cut its environmental impact stemming from its business activity to the maximum extent possible and introduce to the market its technologies, ideas and measures derived from such efforts. For example, the company will strive for "minimizing CO2 emissions in all business processes," "recycling-oriented manufacturing," "green work-style" and "offering eco-solution using its own expertise."
1) Global networking: Creating a network of strong autonomous Panasonic bases across the world, Panasonic will pursue management approaches that will optimize business efficiency on a global scale.
2) Individual-customer touch points No.1: Taking advantage of the vast array of its products, Panasonic will establish new IT-driven relationships to provide to each individual customer a maximized life-time customer value.
3) Synergy creation: Panasonic believes group synergy occurs when Panasonic companies collaborate spontaneously and autonomously in diverse fields. The Panasonic Group aims to become a flexible and dynamic company, consistently promoting collaboration and creating synergies within the Group through spontaneous initiatives and autonomous management.
Green Energy TV is giving Panasonic the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for being one of the best companies going green. Keep up the great work!
We hear a lot of bad news lately when it comes to the economy, but there's still a lot of positive stories about companies going green, new green inventions, energy innovation, and the Best Green Companies.
Meet these student entrepreneurs who recently launched a business out of their Dorm Room, and will be moving into a new 4,000 square feet office space.
History: Bob and Rich, friends and founders of YouRenew.com, launched this green business out of their dorm room at Yale University.
What do they do? According to their site YouRenew.com is here to make sure that you get paid for being good to the environment. They pay you to recycle. On their site they say "No seriously — we actually will pay you to recycle your old electronic devices. If the device doesn't have any value, we’ll pay for you to ship it to us for recycling. For every device we take in, we contribute to environmental causes."
Green Energy TV has given YouRenew.com the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for being one of the Best Green Companies.
They are also launching a site for Companies. Its called CorporateRenew.com. The site, which functions similarly to YouRenew, aims to make it easier for companies to unload and recycle unwanted devices.
There's a lot of positive news of companies going green and the best green companies. One company that we believe is overlooked, is Facebook.
We consider Facebook to be Green for some of the following reasons:
Facebook has over 350 Million users and they connect without using paper, exchanging traditional mail, or people having to drive to get together.
Companies and organizations using Facebook are connecting with potential customers and eliminating paper advertisements, TV ads, etc. which all require lots of energy, ink, paper, etc.
Users write 1 message that can be shared and posted with numerous people so they don't have to call, email or try to get together with everyone at once.
All LEED Gold Data Centers - Each of the data centers hosting Facebook’s servers are on track for Gold certification under the LEED rating scale. All four of the leases are in facilities designed to attain the highest energy efficiency ratings under the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program operated by the U.S. Green Building Council.
We have a Sustainable Fashion in Copenhagen video airing on our main site www.GreenEnergyTV.com
The video shows and features how the Danish fashion industry made a green statement with the fashion show 'Innovating Sustainable Fashion' in Copenhagen on December 3.
"I wanted to make rainwear that is functional, yet cool, and of course sustainable" said Karin Eggert Hansen, student at the Danish Design School. Her collection is made out of the material from 100% recycled plastic bottles. The Fashion show was organized by Center for Responsible Design in cooperation with Copenhagen Fashion Fair.
Check out the Sustainable Fashion in Copenhagen video below:
We have been featuring some green videos and alternative energy videos from kids showing what they are doing to be green. Many teachers are using these videos as environmental education for children in the classroom and helping to create awareness on what other kids can do as well.
Below is a video that talks about Junk Mail and how students can eliminate the Junk Mail that's being sent to their homes.
Many kids are beginning to hear words such as Carbon Footprint, but they do not know what it is.
There are teachers who are implementing environmental education for children in classrooms all around the world.
Below are two (2) videos that were uploaded to our main site www.GreenEnergyTV.com and they help explain what a Carbon Footprint is and use the Eco Bunnies to do it.
Check out both videos below and let us know what you are doing in your school: The Eco Bunnies
Green Energy TV airs green videos showing what people are doing to be green around the world.
We have had many request from teachers asking if we have any alternative energy videos showing what kids are doing to be green.
We have a lot, and will begin to feature more in upcoming posts. If you are looking to show some green videos in your classroom, we have almost 1,000 videos airing on our main site www.GreenEnergyTV.com
Below is a video about Saving Water and it also provides environmental education for children and what they can do to be green:
If you are looking to green your Christmas, this may be the best way to green your Christmas Tree.
In a Copenhagen town square, the people there are demonstrating energy saving measures by pedaling bikes to power the Christmas Tree.
Volunteers ranging from professional cyclists, school children and politicians are taking turns pedaling to power the lights until December 18th.
Basically, unless you pedal the bikes, then the lights will not come on, but it looks like the people are determined to keep this tree light up this Christmas.
Pizza Fusion is a restaurant that is looking to save the environment, one pizza at a time.
Pizza Fusion was born in February of 2006, and founded by Michael Gordon and Vaughan Lazar and they now have locations in 11 states.
They are getting the Two Green Thumbs Up Award for being one of the Best Green Companies serving Pizza.
Here's some of cool green things about this company:
Serve certified organic products and organic natural foods
Their restaurants are Leed Building certified
Have 100% recyclable plates, recyclable napkins, pizza boxes, menu's
Deliveries are made using Totoya Prius Hybrid Cars
Offset their energy use with Wind and Solar Energy
Use biodegradable toilet paper and more!
If you would like to check out a video on this company, here's a link to it airing on our main site: http://greenenergytv.com/Watch.aspx?v=1378397358 - Keith E, Guest Blogger for GreenEnergyTV.com
There are more and more Entrepreneurship Programs popping up on college and university campuses throughout the country. There are also many Entrepreneurship Programs being offered in High Schools.
I have been asked many times by students and others what are the best green business ideas to launch and the best green ideas and growth areas to focus on.
Everyday, there are more and more entrepreneurs launching green businesses, creating new energy innovation, green inventions, eco friendly products, green building, growth in renewable and alternative energy as well as organic food and products. I would recommend signing up for Google Alerts in the area of interest so you can receive emails when there is news in the subject area of your interest.
Below are some examples of Green Business Ideas and opportunities that students can start:
We have more than 10 Green Business Ideas to share with you and we will continue to do so in upcoming posts. There are many schools going green, sustainable campuses, green campuses, and various green initiatives taking place in schools around the world. Feel free to share what's going on at your school and we will keep feeding you more ideas. -Stay Green!
There are a lot of companies going green and new types of energy innovation and green inventions.
In the video below, you will see how this company is getting rich during a recession. The company is called Agromin, and they are a making a lot of money from waste and benefiting the environment in the process.
What does Agromin do? Agromin, a green waste recycler in Ventura County, California processes over 300,000 tons of green waste a year. They process the material into soil products and makes the material avaialbe to consumers (in bags and bulk) farmers, cities and landscapers--thus closing the recycling loop.
Check out their video below & you guys get theTwo Green Thumbs Up Award!
Maybe we should start exploring the planets looking for aliens to help us solve our issues on Climate Change and Energy.
Well, since I do not have a contact on my LinkedIn or Facebook profile with aliens from other planets, maybe we should take a close look at Japan for now. Their equivalent of our NASA, is called Japan's Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).
JAXA is moving forward with plans to harvest solar energy from space to covert to electricity for earthly use. The power from the Space Solar Power System (SSPS) will cost Japanese consumers a sixth of what they pay for power now and it will provide energy 24 hours a day. A 2008 CNN article stated that NASA technologists estimate the cost of space solar power infrastructure at $1 trillion, but that sounds like money well spent in comparison to the US $1 trillion bailout.
Interesting comment: Charles Miller of the Space Frontier Foundation told CNN, "The country that takes the lead on space solar power will be the energy-exporting country for the entire planet for the next few hundred years," and right now Japan is winning the race. - Evan Guest Blogger for GreenEnergyTV.com
Check out the video: 
The one thing that was missing was recycling bins in many of their stores. This could help prevent millions of cups from entering landfills. There are many companies going green and doing great things to reduce energy consumption, water usage, etc., but sometimes even they forget the easiest green measures to put in place, a recycling bin. 
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