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Mercury is poisonous, yet it’s a critical part of most compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs), the kind that environmentalists and some governments are pushing as a new way to cut energy consumption. Mercury is probably best known for its effects on the nervous system. It can also damage the kidneys and liver, and in sufficient quantities can cause death.

There were an estimated 150 million CFLs sold in the United States in 2006 and, and Wal-Mart alone hopes to sell 100 million in 2007. Some scientists and environmentalists are worried that most are ending up in garbage dumps. U.S. regulators, manufacturers and environmentalists note that, because CFLs require less electricity than traditional incandescent bulbs, they reduce overall mercury in the atmosphere by cutting emissions from coal-fired power plants.

But some of the mercury emitted from landfills - in the form of vaporous methyl-mercury - can get into the food chain more readily than inorganic elemental mercury released directly from a broken bulb or even coal-fired power plants, according to government scientist Steve Lindberg.

“Disposal of any mercury-contaminated material in landfills is absolutely alarming to me,” said Lindberg, emeritus fellow of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

The mercury content in the average CFL — now about 5 milligrams — would fit on the tip of a ballpoint pen, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and manufacturers have committed to cap the amount in most CFLs to 5 milligrams or 6 milligrams per bulb. To prevent mercury from getting into landfills, the EPA, CFL makers and various organizations advocate recycling. Besides commercial recyclers and some municipal waste collection services, some retailers accept used CFLs.

IKEA, the Swedish home furnishings chain, has free drop-off programs at all of its 234 stores, 29 of which are in the United States. Now advocacy groups are calling on Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and other big chains to get involved.

One problem with recycling is that it isn’t cheap. The value of the metal, glass and mercury reclaimed from recycling fails to offset the cost of the process. Costs can range from 20 cents to 50 cents per bulb - not a paltry sum when some CFLs sell for less than $2 at Wal-Mart.

But, compared with the overall lifecycle cost of buying and using a bulb, recycling would be less than 1 percent. Another obstacle lies in the fragility of the bulbs and their mercury content.

The U.S. government has no single recycling plan in mind. Among the alternatives are special curbside collections by municipalities, mail-back programs by manufacturers and drop-off programs at various places, including retail stores that sell CFLs, he said.

Some methods lend themselves to certain geographic areas more than others, because of differences in population density, transportation infrastructure and proximity to recycling sites.

State laws are also a factor. Federal regulations mandate recycling of fluorescent lighting, while exempting households and other small users. Some states, however, are strict. For example, California no longer allows anyone to throw CFLs in the trash, while Massachusetts requires manufacturers to implement recycling programs and meet certain targets.

As technology advances, however, mercury could become less of an issue, at least as far as light bulbs are concerned. Last month General Electric Co. said it was working on doubling the energy efficiency of incandescent lights and eventually developing versions comparable with CFLs. These bulbs, which the company hopes to begin marketing in 2010, will cost less than fluorescents but they won’t last as long.

Meanwhile, some environmentally minded consumers in Dallas, Houston and throughout Texas are embracing CFLs and doing their best to dispose of them responsibly.

Pat Carpenter writes for Precedent Insurance Company. Precedent puts a new spin on health insurance. Learn more at http://www.precedent.com

When most people think of supporting charities, they think of money. This can be a problem for people who are struggling to support their own families. Even if your assets are limited, you can still help. Here are just a few ways to raise money for charities that won’t cost you anything.

Recycle cell phones

Fast changing technology means people replace their cell phones more often than other possessions. However the phones have toxins that damage the environment if disposed in landfills. What’s the alternative? Recycle! Cell phones can be donated to almost any charity.

Organizations such as American Cell Phone Drive partner with thousands of charities to recycle cell phones. The recycler then pays the charity cash for the phone. Any charity can raise money by joining a program to recycle cell phones.

There are more than just environmental benefits when you recycle cell phones. Many phones can be repaired and reused, and reuse is the best way to recycle. Cell phones can be donated to people in developing countries where it is not economical to install regular telephone service. Another reason to recycle cell phones is to provide emergency communications. Did you know almost any cell phone can connect to 911, even if the phone is not currently active with a carrier? Families who can’t afford even basic telephone service can still have access to life-saving emergency assistance.

You can do even more to recycle cell phones by canvassing your friends and family. You might be surprised how many of them have an old cell phone in a drawer somewhere ready to raise cash for your favorite charity.

Join a “thon”

Charities have found that walk-a-thons, read-a-thons, and similar activities are very efficient methods of fundraising. They are inexpensive to setup and operate, generate good revenue, and are fun for the participants. Often people see beneficial side effects. For example, read-a-thons promote literacy and walk-a-thons encourage exercise and good health.

To participate in one of these activities, you collect pledges from family, friends, and neighbors. Then when the time comes, you read or walk your heart out. The more you do, the more the charity raises.

If that seems to tame for you, come up with your own idea. You might be surprised how much your friends will pay to pelt you with tomatoes or watch you shave your head.

Save money to make money

Find small ways to save yourself money and pass those savings on to charity. Use coupons at the grocery store. Buy a few store brand products instead of name brands. If you eat lunch out every day, start bringing lunch once a week instead. Rent a movie instead of going to the theatre. Each time you save money, put the savings into a charity jar and donate the proceeds once a month.

You can also choose brands that donate to charities. The Paul Newman brand donates huge portions of its profits to charity organizations. Ben and Jerry’s does as well and also support local farmers and purchase products from developing countries to support economic growth.

There are many more ways to donate to charity without spending your own money. Most non-profit organizations are desperate for volunteers and even a couple hours of your time a week can make a tremendous difference in someone’s life.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on raising money for charity, visit http://www.americancellphonedrive.org/.

We should all be concerned with saving the rainforest, and we can do our part by making small changes to our lifestyles. If everyone chose to do so, the results would be amazing. Trees offer us beauty and shade of those hot summer afternoons. Trees also help reduce the effects of carbon dioxide. Planting more trees is a very easy way you can help the to preserve the rainforest.

You can help reduce the amount of waste by recycling, especially recycling paper. The number one reason why rainforests are being destroyed is to provide more wood for paper. Another reason is for building homes and businesses. There are plenty of other types of materials you can choose from so that the rainforest can be preserved.

Other products produced from rainforest trees include rubber and lumber. Take a good look at how much of these commodities you are using. Try to limit the use of them to only necessities and look for alternative materials when it comes to luxury items.

Do you drink large amounts of coffee or use spices each time you cook? If so, you can be damaging the rainforests. This is because the demand for coffee and spices are so high areas of the rainforest are being cleared away to grow them.

Americans contribute to 25% of the pollution worldwide. This is due to the fact that they consume more fossils fuels for their vehicles and factories than any other country. There are many changes you can make to cut down the amount of pollution you contribute on a daily basis.

Consider taking public transportation or carpooling to and from work. There are also many great models of hybrid vehicles that can operate for long periods of time on electricity. This is a good investment for the environment as well as to save money on the cost of fuel.

Each animal in the rainforest is important to the balance of its ecosystem. Make sure you report any illegal hunting in the rainforests as well as the illegal sell of animals that are removed from that natural habitat and sold as pets. The most common ones are parrots and iguanas.

Individuals need to realize that purchasing the parts of poached animals in the rainforest or these live pets encourages that behavior to continue. If we all do our part to make sure there is no market for such activities, then the financial motivation for doing so would be gone.

Write letters to Congress to encourage the government to place stricter laws on those who hunt illegally and remove animals illegally from the rainforest. You also need to write to encourage them to restrict how much land in the rainforest a company can clear as well as require them to plant new trees in the location afterwards.

Children need to be taught from a very early age just how important the rainforest is to our well being. They need to learn what they can do to protect the rainforest as well as to appreciate how it helps keep the air clean, affects our water cycles, and affects the climate around the world.

Children need to be educated both at home and at school. With the rainforests being completely cleared away at the rate of 6,000 acres per hour, we need to make some serious changes. Taking the right steps in our own lives and teaching our children to do the same will help ensure the rainforests and the animals that have a home there are able to survive for future generations.

The rainforests are essential to our well being. The trees produce oxygen that we need to breathe. They also help keep the air clean, and we need that due to the chemicals, emissions, and pollution we put into our environment.

Learn about Conservation & Preservation Initiatives at http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/

A lot of fuss has been made over the continual destruction of the rainforest and the amount of damage that is caused by illegal logging. But what does that really mean? Consider that there are thousands of animal, plant and bird species that live in the rainforests of the world, and that even today, scientists speculate that we still don’t have a full understanding of exactly how many species actually exist. Unfortunately, it now appears that we may never know.

At the current rate of rainforest and habitat destruction, it is estimated that around half of the known species of exotic forest birds will be extinct within fifty years. After that, scientific study has now discovered that species extinction may continue for up to a century after sections of the rainforest have been cut down and logged away. What many people don’t seem to realize is that rainforest habitats have a very intricate eco-cycle, and removing even one component of that cycle will affect many, many others - other bird species, plant species, insect populations, and ultimately exotic mammals.

While it may come as a surprise, some of the most affected rainforest habitats can be found in Southeast Asia. Severe deforestation of Indonesia and the Philippines has threatened several species of exotic doves and parrots in those countries, as well as the Philippine Eagle. Brazil, Madagascar, and areas of West Africa each have over 100 threatened bird species in their rainforests, a frightening confirmation that the current rate of logging practices simply cannot be sustained - lest all species of exotic bird life are lost.

With over 700 rainforest bird species at risk worldwide, the loss of even one of these species will affect others. In some cases, only a very small number of a species remain. For example, it is suspected that only around twenty Curassow birds survive today in the forests of El Salvador. In the West Indies, all but twelve of sixty parrot and macaw species have disappeared since human arrival, and in the jungles of South America, the intelligent Blue & Gold Macaw has slowly begun to disappear.

Clearly, it is absolutely crucial that something be done to prevent this kind of tragic loss. Better recovery plans and more effective laws need to be implemented, however it will take the cooperation of the entire globe - one country simply cannot do it alone.

Learn about preserving Exotic Bird Habitat at http://www.paradiseearthonline.com/

Monaco has led the small countries of the world in the campaign to heighten awareness of environmental issues since Prince Albert became Sovereign in 2005, and has launched a radical plan of its own to cut carbon emissions.

One of the first acts Prince Albert took when succeeding to the throne upon his father’s death was to sign the Kyoto Protocol.

Along with the USA and Australia, Monaco was one of the few countries not to sign up to the treaty intended to cut greenhouses gases.

Included in a campaign by Prince Albert to protect the environment has been an expedition to the Arctic to see for himself how global warming has begun to melt the glaciers, and shortly after his return he started a foundation to study rising sea levels and how to address what he sees as environmental challenges.

A Monaco travel guide comments that given the Principality’s position in the Mediterranean, concern at rising sea levels should come as no surprise.

‘There are plans at an advanced stage to build an island off Monte Carlo, which will change the Monte Carlo map, and the district of Fontvieille is largely reclaimed from the sea.’

The island is expected to be complete in ten years time, and will include the first new hotels in Monaco for some time.

Prince Albert recently spent time with fellow royal and campaigner for the environment Prince Charles.

‘Most notable of all’, comment the online guide, ‘Prince Albert chose a mansion in the Kalorama district of Washington D.C. to serve as Monaco’s U.S. Embassy - Monaco’s first independent embassy outside of Europe. Up to now it hasn’t been necessary for Monaco to have her own representation in the U.S. - France has always looked after Monaco’s interests. But it serves as a useful base for him to entertain politicans on Capitol Hill and get his environment message across. Expect to see more of Prince Albert in America in the coming months and years!’.

Monaco Climate

With Prince Albert punching above Monaco’s weight abroad, he has been no less active at home to prove his green credentials, and a radical plan has been introduced to cut carbon emissions, and to reduce the number of cars on the streets of Monte Carlo.

The domestic campaign began with the Monaco Yacht Show 2005, held each September, with the event successfully becoming carbon neutral. To encourage the thousands who commute to Monaco every day from neighbouring France and Italy the railway station is one of the best in Europe, with frequent and reliable services.

‘For those who work in Monte Carlo and travel in from Nice and her surrounding villages five days a week, it’s both cheaper and quicker to take the train - the trains are modern and comfortable and it’s rare for seats not to be available even during the rush hour’, claim the guide, ‘Once people are in Monaco the local transport service is equally quick and efficient. Virtually all routes are well planned and easy to understand, and the most you have to wait for a bus is ten minutes, often it’s just a couple of minutes - which isn’t exactly a hardship given the weather in Monte Carlo!’

With many major companies and the banks in Monaco also looking to see how they can improve their own environmental records the business community view the steps as prudent ones.

The routes are planned to incorporate tourist needs, with many passing by the Hotel de Paris in Casino Square and the Columbus in Fontvieille, two of the best known and popular Monaco hotels. Fares have been reduced to one Euro, making public transport in Monaco among the lowest priced, comfortable and frequent in Europe.

With the overall aim to increase bus usage by 20 per cent, the Principality is also funding five new duplex trains with a thirty per cent increase in train services, and in an innovative attempt to persuade commuters to leave their cars at home will provide free electric cycles at car park schemes.

‘The one time of year you might see fast cars being encouraged is of course for the Monaco Grand Prix in May’, conclude the Monaco travel guide, ‘But overall it’s Prince Albert who will be able to claim the winners rostrum among European leaders for the environment.’

YourMonaco.com provides a guide for Monaco at http://www.yourmonaco.com

Endless exposure to environmental pollution makes us contemplate a world that will be untainted and quiet and free of all kinds of impurities. Well, this is not impossible to achieve if we become a little careful about our environment and start using such products that cause less pollution in the world.

Biodiesel is one such product that helps to keep the environment clean and uncontaminated. This clean diesel fuel is produced from 100% natural, 100% renewable vegetable sources. The vegetable oils such as rapeseed, palm, olive, peanut, soy bean, safflower, sunflower, castor oil etc. can be used as the good source of bio-diesel.

Stepping into the new millennium, the people worldwide have become more environment-conscious and this growing sensibility toward environment is evident from the increasing use of bio-diesel generators in the businesses as well as in the households.

Here we offer the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about biodiesel generators.

What are the major advantages of biodiesel generator?
There are many reasons why you should consider switching from petroleum based diesel fuel to biodiesel generator.

- The first and foremost reason is: it is the most environment-friendly fuel.

- It is made from organic oil by-products leading to an efficient waste management system.

- Then biodiesel has high lubricating and solvent features. This reduces strain on engines and helps in cleaning out old engine oil deposits. This ensures a longer engine life.

Is bio diesel generator cost effective?
Biodiesel can be used as the most efficient fuel source for the cars that use diesel engines. It will cost you approximately $2.5o/gallon and thus you will be able to save good amount of dollars as you switch from a gas driven car to a biodiesel powered vehicle. Above all, if you use biodiesel generators in your home, RVs or businesses, you will gain considerable tax incentives.

How biodiesel is used in the generators?
Biodiesel can be used in its 100% pure form without any mixing of other materials. But its most wide spread usage involves a blending with petroleum diesel. This produces a mixture that retains the benefits of both types of fuels.
Even if you use blends of biodiesel, instead of its pure form, you are entitled to get
tax incentives.

What is the future of biodiesel generator?
The future of biodiesel generators is rather bright, thanks to its pollution free features. The cleaner burning and less wear on engine, makes it the ideal fuel for running generators in the households as well as in the businesses. It is said that the diesel powered generators can increase their efficiency almost ten times if they start using bio diesel in place of petroleum diesel. Especially for higher power applications, the usage of biodiesel is expected to increase manifold in the years to come.

Jason Uvios writes about on Bio-Diesel Generators - Some Faqs Answered to visit :- http://www.generatornews.info, http://www.generatorresearch.info and http://www.generator-research.info

The nature has paid the price for extraordinary expansion of human civilization; the non-renewable energy resources of the world have been nearly exhausted. Now scientists all over the world are trying to work out a solution to make up the energy shortage that the human civilization is going to face in the coming years.

Among many other products under development, the scientists have invested great hopes in the potentials of wind powered electricity generators. This is a system that harnesses the power of the wind to produce usable energy.

So far you have never paid any heed to the winds that apparently lack any material value. But now the situation has changed the wind can be the solution of future, the answer to the concern over energy shortage in the future world. Just imagine, you do not have to foot the fat electric bills every month, instead just generate some electric power from the wind that is blowing overhead! No, it’s not a scene from science fiction. a wind power electric generator can actually make it possible for you.

No matter, what speed the wind is blowing-low or a high speed-the wind powered generator has the capacity to harness the wind-energy to produce electricity. In general, a wind powered generator requires 3mph to 150mph wind speed to start producing electricity.

It does not matter if you reside in an area where wind blows at a lower speed. Even then your wind powered generator will be able to produce enough energy to save you from paying any electricity bill. This becomes possible because your wind powered generator works all day round, even when you are not home. As a result, electricity is produced even when they are not utilized; thus there is always enough supply of electricity generated by the wind powered generator.

If you are living in a high wind speed area, you will have many occasions when there will be excess production of electricity. Most of the wind generators provide you the facility of storage. You can store the excess electricity for future use.

There is another way of utilizing this excess electricity produced by your wind powered generator; you can send the excess electricity to the grid meter in return of either a credit, or cash.

Wind powered generators are typically small in size. They are mounted on your rooftop. They are available in the forms of propeller or turbines.

A home wind electricity generator is made of a few simple components. The major component of the system is: a tower and a small wind turbine usually mounted on the tower. It also includes such parts as inverters, controllers, and/or batteries.

In order to take advantage of increased wind speed, you have to place the system higher. The higher it is positioned, the greater will be the output.

Jason Uvios writes about on Wind Powered Generators - Some Faqs Answered to visit :- http://www.generatorsearch.info, http://www.generatorreport.info and http://www.generator-report.info