Bright Idea: The BigBelly

Philadelphia has just gotten a little cleaner, a little greener, with the help of the BigBelly. The BigBelly (I love typing that!) is a solar powered trash compactor used in place of traditional waste bins, which allows for more trash to be collected and reduces the number of pick-ups necessary from garbage trucks, thereby reducing fuel usage and emissions. They even send a text message when they are full, so that pick-ups can be routed to where they are needed most, saving even more time and energy. Brilliant!

Bright Idea: Start a co-op to green your neighborhood

Check out this article from Scientific American on starting a green co-op. It's actually a great idea to join up with like-minded neighbors and share the burden of doing all the research and coordinating for larger projects, such as installing solar panels. Houses in the same neighborhood are likely to face similar issues regarding zoning permits and finding a suitable contractor, and families can work together to split up the necessary tasks. Also, as a group, there is the chance that you will have more sway in getting local government support, make it easier to get permits approved, and possibly get a discounted rate for materials and installation. As an added bonus, you may get to know some of your neighbors a bit better, while also doing something great for the environment!

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=the-pleasant-way-to-go-solar-neighb-2009-08-13