Every toy, book, and TV show that comes out has been designed and redesigned several times in order to make it educational and entertaining for children.  The great thing about nature is that, while being entertaining and stimulating to the imagination, it’s also educational. Nature can teach children the basics of science, economics, and creativity.

It’s cheap. Depending on where you live, exploring nature is usually pretty inexpensive, if not free. It may mean going out in your backyard, local park, or perhaps going to the local nature center or state park (which usually have low cost fees or memberships). This way, you don’t have to pay for expensive toys, jungle gyms, or memberships to expensive entertainment centers, but you still get the benefit of stimulating and educational play.

It makes them think. Lately there’s been a trend in education towards inquiry based learning. Researchers have found that if students explore and experiment to figure out answers on their own, they’re going to learn better, and retain more information. It also helps them develop skills to be able to learn things on their own later. What better environment to learn things than out in nature.  There are lessons for kids of all ages to discover about the world around them.

It may help the world. Everyone these days is trying to be more green and more environmentally conscious. What better way to help do your part than to get your children interested in their own planet than right now when they’re young and impressionable? What might be a fun time for them now, might be a future hobby, career, or world saving invention.

It’s fun. While it’s easy to forget, childhood isn’t just for learning about how to be an adult, it’s also about having fun. Nature gives kids a chance to use their imagination and be free to just be kids.

While unstructured play outside is great for kids, you can also find a lot of places offering structured classes and learning sessions for kids that focus on the natural world. Check your local park, zoo, or museum. There’s a good chance they have classes you can sign up for, and since many of these places are not for profit, they’re usually affordable as well as informative.

Across the world, there are millions of dollars being spent to help promote sending your kids outside to learn from nature.  That’s because spending time in the outside world is so important for developing minds. It can also be a great escape for you as well.

Boralex Inc (BLX.TO) Boralex owns and operates hydroelectric power stations in Canada as well as a natural gas-fired cogeneration plant. Boralex also operates in the United States where, in addition to a small hydroelectric power station, it owns one of the largest wood waste power generation plants in North America and it has recently ventured into wind energy in France.

Canadian Hydro Developers (KHD.TO) Producing certified green power from a diverse portfolio of renewable wind, water and biomass resources.

Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais (CIG) Companhia Energetica de Minas Gerais—CEMIG engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity in Brazil. As of December 31, 2005, it operated 49 hydroelectric plants, 4 thermoelectric plants, and 1 wind farm, which had a total installed generation capacity of 6,113 megawatts. The company’s transmission network in Minas Gerais consisted of 1,345 miles of 500 kV lines, 1,228 miles of 345 kV lines, and 467 miles of 230 kV lines, as well as 32 substations with a total of 92 transformers and an aggregate transformation capacity of 15,393 MVA, as of the same date. Companhia Energetica also owned and operated 245,714 miles of distribution lines, through which it supplied electricity to approximately 6.0 million consumers, as of the above date. In addition, Companhia Energetica distributes natural gas in Minas Gerais; provides telecommunication services; and offers national and international consulting services.

Constellation Energy (NYSE: CEG) is the nation’s largest competitive supplier of electricity to large commercial and industrial customers and the nation’s largest wholesale power seller. Constellation Energy also manages fuels and energy services on behalf of energy intensive industries and utilities. It owns a diversified fleet of 78 generating units located throughout the United States, totaling approximately 8,700 megawatts of generating capacity. This national fleet of plants is diversified by fuel, location and technology, and includes nuclear, coal, natural gas, oil, and renewable and alternative fuel (solar, geothermal, hydro and biomass) facilities. The company delivers electricity and natural gas through the Baltimore Gas and Electric Company (BGE), its regulated utility in Central Maryland.

Econergy International PLC (LON:ECG) is a renewable Independent Power Producer (IPP) focused primarily in the Americas. Our strategy is to develop, build, own and operate renewable power plants as well as optimize clean energy assets that add economic value.

Endesa SA (ELE) Endesa, S.A., an electricity company, engages in the generation and distribution of electricity primarily in Spain, Portugal, southern European region, Latin America, and north Africa. It also involves in the renewable energies and cogeneration activities, as well as distributes natural gas. As of December 31, 2005, it had a total installed capacity of 45,908 Megawatts; and supplied electricity to approximately 23.2 million customers in 15 countries.

Energy Developments Fpo (ENE.AX) (Australia) Alternative energy power generation: technology for and running of plants. Power generation from landfill gas, coal seam mine waste, cogeneration and combined cycle power plants.

EnerSys (ENS) EnerSys engages in the manufacture, marketing, and distribution of reserve power and motive power batteries, chargers, power equipment, and battery accessories worldwide. Reserve power batteries, marketed primarily under PowerSafe, DataSafe, and Genesis brands, are used in the telecommunications and utility industries, uninterruptible power suppliers, and various applications requiring standby power. Motive power batteries are utilized in electric forklift trucks and other commercial electric powered vehicles and are marketed under the Hawker, Exide, Fiamm Motive Power, Uranio, and General brands. It also provides aftermarket and customer support services to its customers. EnerSys markets and sells its products in approximately 100 countries through a network of distributors, independent representatives, and an internal sales force.

Evergreen Energy, Inc. (EEE) Evergreen Energy, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, provides energy, environmental, and economic solutions to coal-fired power generating facilities and industrial coal users in the United States and internationally. It produces lower emission fuel utilizing its proprietary K-Fuel process. The K-Fuel process uses heat and pressure to physically and chemically transform high moisture, low-Btu coals, such as subbituminous coal and lignite, into lower emission fuel. The K-Fuel process also enables the removal of certain impurities, including mercury and the reduction of emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide. The company also licenses its technology to third parties. It has strategic alliance with Lurgi South Africa Technology Company for the implementation of the K-Fuel process.

Iberdrola (IBE.L) (Spain – traded on London Exchange) Electricity provider firmly committed to clean energies, and in particular to wind power, hydroelectric power, and combined-cycle facilities, which operate with natural gas, thus contributing to the sustainable development of the regions in which we operate.

IdaCorp, Inc. (NYSE: IDA), through Idaho Power is involved in the generation, purchase, transmission, distribution and sale of electric energy in a 24,000 square mile area in southern Idaho and eastern Oregon with an estimated population of 943,000. Its electrical generation comes from hydroelectric, natural gas, diesel, coal, and geothermal plants.

Jackgreen Energy – (ASX:JGL.AX) the only licensed electricity retailer in Australia dedicated to reducing carbon emissions through renewable energy. Every product we sell is accredited by GreenPower, and every Jackgreen customer makes a contribution by reducing carbon emissions and combating the impact of climate change.

Laidlaw Energy Group (OTCPK: LLEG) is engaged in the development of independent power plants that generate electricity from renewable resources. LLEG’s mission is to build and manage a profitable portfolio of renewable energy facilities through the development of new facilities and acquisition of existing facilities. www.NYENRG.com and www.greenenergyfacts.com

Maxim Power Corp (TSX:MXG.TO) Based in Calgary, Alberta, MAXIM is an Independent Power Producer, which acquires or develops, owns and operates innovative and environmentally responsible power projects. Upon conclusion of the acquisition in France, MAXIM will own and operate 30 power plants in Western Canada, United States, and France, having 482 MW of electric and 95 MW of thermal generating capacity. MAXIM will continue to execute on its strategy as an Independent Power Producer and is targeting significant growth through acquisitions and development of power projects which utilize hydrocarbon based fuels and renewables in the markets of Western Canada, United States and France.

Northwestern Corp. (NWEC) NorthWestern Corporation, doing business as NorthWestern Energy, provides electricity and natural gas in the upper midwestern and northwestern regions of the United States. It engages in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity, as well as in purchase, transport, distribution, and storage of natural gas for commercial and residential customers.

Novera Energy (NVE.L) (London) An international renewable energy company, developing and owning renewable and low emission electricity generators, supplying mainstream power grids. Hydro, landfill gas, biomass electricity generation and windfarms.

PG&E Corporation (NYSE: PCG) is an energy-based holding company headquartered in San Francisco, California. With assets valued at $34 billion, its operations include electric and gas distribution, natural gas and electric transmission, and electric generation. PG&E is actively adding renewable electric power resources to their supply of delivered power to include solar, biomass, geothermal and wind.

Plutonic Power Corporation (TSX:PCC.V) Plutonic Power is an emerging renewable energy producer in British Columbia. Its proposed 22 run of river projects have a design capacity of over 870 MW and the potential to generate approximately 2900 GW.h per annum of green energy, enough energy to meet the annual energy needs of approximately 300,000 homes. Included in the 22 projects is the creation of the Green Power Corridor, a series of non-storage hydroelectric projects in southwestern BC, which hold the potential to catapult British Columbia to the forefront of green energy generation in North America.

Renewable Power and Light Plc (ROL.L) – UK based – Renewable Power & Light (RPL) plc was created in 2006 to build a substantial independent power producer (IPP) through the acquisition of low-cost conventional power generation assets that can be easily converted to use renewable fuels. To do this, RPL has put together a world-class management team consisting of skilled power generation engineers and senior power utility executives with a proven track record of rehabilitating economically distressed power assets and managing portfolios of power assets.By running its power plants on biodiesel and aggregating available renewable energy credits and incentives, RPL plc believes it has identified an opportunity to turn power assets that have become unprofitable due to the high price of gas and petroleum diesel, into assets .

Run Of River Power Inc. (TSX:ROR.V) Run of River Power Inc. owns and operates a hydroelectric power generation station at Brandywine Creek, near Whistler, BC and sells the power to BC Hydro on a long-term 20 year contract.

Scottish & Southern Energy (SSE.L) (London) Britain’s largest generator of energy from renewable sources.

SFC Smart Fuel Cell ( Germany – F3C ) SFC is the market leader in fuel cell technologies for mobile and off-grid power applications serving the leisure, industrial and defense markets. As one of Germany’s most successful technology pioneers, SFC has won numerous innovation awards. In a US Navy Assessment in 2005, SFC was awarded the highest score for technical maturity of all fuel cell products. SFC has alliances with the German Federal Army, the U.S. Army, the U.S. Air Force and other leading military organizations.

Theolia (TEO.PA) (France) Electricity producer using renewable energy: wind, biomass, solar and thermal.

Thomas & Betts Corp. (TNB) Thomas & Betts Corporation engages in the design and manufacture of electrical connectors and components used in industrial, commercial, communications, and utility markets.

TransAlta Corporation (TSX:TA.TO; NYSE:TAC) TransAlta is a power generation and wholesale marketing company focused on creating long-term shareholder value. The company’s focus is to efficiently operate our coal-fired, gas-fired, hydro and renewable facilities in order to provide our customers with a reliable, low-cost source of power.

TrustPower Limited Ordinary Sha (TPW.NZ) (New Zealand) Electricity retailer with hydro and wind farm electric power generation.

Turbo Power Systems Inc (TSX:TPS.TO; LSE:TPS.L) Turbo Power Systems develops innovative products for power generation and power conditioning. The Group was established in 1993 as a spin-off from Imperial College, London and was floated on the London stock exchange in July 2000 and soon after obtained a secondary listing in Toronto. In July 2001, the Group acquired Intelligent Power Systems Limited (I-Power) specialising in power electronics.

Verbund AG Oesterreichische Ele (OEZVF.PK) (Austria) Verbund generates and distributes electricity. The Company operates local hydro and thermal power stations. Verbund also offers power plant, waterway, and sewage treatment plant construction services.

Vicor Corp. (VICR) Vicor Corporation engages in the design, development, manufacture, and marketing of modular power components and power systems using its patented power conversion technology called as ‘zero current and zero voltage switching’ in the United States. Its product portfolio comprises modular power converters, including component-level DC-DC power converters designed for the printed circuit board assembly; configurable products that provide power solutions configured to a customer’s specific needs; factorized power architecture products; accessory power system components for the integration of other functions of the power system; and other customer specific products. The company sells its products through independent sales representative organizations in Americas and internationally

· Ditch the usual paper invitations, instead you can use other services like e-mails to invite your guests or if you really need to send invites to them, you should consider making use of eco-friendly supplies like home made or recycled paper for making cards for your kids green parties. This way, you will not only save money needed for postage but will also save trees and other natural resources. There are many stores that offer eco-friendly supplies of recycled cards, so make sure to shop accordingly. Some of these cards are made up of materials not provided by trees.

· As far as eco-friendly goodie bags and eco-friendly presents are concerned, you must wrap them up in recycle paper and even newspaper. After all, the actual gift is more important than the wrapping paper. You can use old-fashioned colors to brighten up your wrapping papers. In addition to that, you can mention in your invites made up of eco-friendly supplies also that your guests must bring only eco-friendly presents and wrap them up in eco-friendly supplies only keeping in mind the theme of kids green parties. While going to children green parties, try to give cash to the birthday child because this way the child will save something in his or her without harming the environment.

· While enjoying your children green parties, try to make use of eco-friendly toys to play, enjoy and have fun. These are one of the best green party supplies that a person can imagine. Explore your imagination and play with eco-friendly toys like hand-knit dolls and balls that are made up of safe and natural materials.

· Instead of accessories like paper plates and dishes, use should use green party supplies like table clothes made of linen rather than plastic and use dishes and plates that can be washed and re-used rather than use and throw ones.

· Eco-friendly goodie bags should be made up of green party supplies and you can even try to hand out healthy snacks and fruits and eco-friendly toys made up of eco-friendly products in an eco-friendly way.

At www.littlestarcreativeparties.com, you can find innovative ideas about eco-friendly goodie bags, eco friendly toys and eco friendly presents and get some of the best green party supplies in the market. The site will also teach you how to make eco friendly goodie bags and eco friendly presents.

By: lucygray

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If you noticed that there is another increase in the already expensive gasoline prices, you couldn’t help but think that you need a car that conserves fuel efficiently. Also, if you are concerned about the increasing air pollution in the planet today, you can’t help but think that you should stop using a regular car and start using alternative modes of transportation.

However today, you don’t need to worry about either the constant oil price hikes or the environment with the latest technology being integrated today by car manufacturers in their new car models. Today, car manufacturers are now designing hybrid cars. Some even added a new line in their factories devoted to producing hybrid cars.

Car manufacturers, such as Toyota and Honda, are now considered to be one of the leading companies to produce one of the best hybrid cars available in the market today. Because hybrid cars are both fuel efficient and emits far lower levels of pollutants, this car is definitely the car of the future.

Hybrid cars work by combining the gasoline engine and electric motor to run the car. With this kind of innovation, it will enable you to cut fuel consumption in half. With this kind of benefit, you will definitely want to have a hybrid car of your own. However, you first need to fully understand how hybrid cars work or at least have an idea on how it works.

First of all, hybrid cars have two engines. The first is the electric motor and the second is the conventional gasoline engine. When your car is running idle, or it is not in motion but is turned on, the gasoline engine automatically switches off and will purely run on electricity. When you step on the accelerator pedal, the gasoline engine will automatically switch on again and use the fuel to propel the car. This means that when you are stuck in gridlock traffic, you will not waste precious and expensive gasoline when the car isn’t even running at all. It will purely run on electricity.

Also, when the car is running, the electric motor and the gasoline engine will share the task of propelling the car. This is the reason why hybrid cars emit far lower pollutants than conventional cars that only has gasoline engines.

This is also the reason why hybrid cars are so quiet when running.

Today, other car manufacturers are now following to develop their version of their hybrid cars. In fact, some car manufacturers have now shown the public their concept hybrid cars and are now planning to include a hybrid car line in their production. The hybrid car is indeed the car of the future.

Not only will a hybrid car enable you to save a lot of money from the rising cost of gasoline, but it will also allow you to help reduce the pollution in the environment. In the near future, most people will be driving hybrid cars. With this car, you can help in reducing the consumption of expensive and finite fuel supply, and you will also help in creating a healthier environment.

Hybrid cars have two engines for it to effectively conserve fuel consumption. It has the traditional gasoline engine and it also has an electric motor and batteries. The two engines work together in order to cut fuel consumption. With this technology, you will be able to cut fuel usage by more than half. Just imagine, with a hybrid car, you will be able to go more than 60 miles to the gallon. With this kind of savings, hybrid cars are definitely the car of the future.

Hybrid car owners virtually don’t feel the increasing cost in fuel prices. This is the main advantage of the hybrid car. There are other advantages that a hybrid car can give you. Recently, the President of the United States has signed an agreement that hybrid car buyers will be able to enjoy tax incentives. This means that by owning a hybrid car, you will be able to save money on taxes.

There are other benefits that the government imposes on hybrid car owners, such as free parking, and free entry to car pool lanes. Some even offer discounted fees on toll gates.

The braking in hybrid cars is also configured to capture the energy released and uses it to charge the batteries inside the hybrid car. This means that unlike electric cars, hybrid cars don’t actually need to be charged from your home electric outlet.

However, with all the advantages that a hybrid car can give you, there are also disadvantages. The main disadvantage of hybrid cars is that the retail price is quite expensive. Only people who have enough money can purchase hybrid cars. However, the twist in all this is that hybrid cars are actually cheaper when compared to conventional cars in the long run. If you compute the total fuel consumption of both cars, you will actually see that you can save a lot more money on hybrid cars.

The only thing is that hybrid cars are expensive right from the car lot.

Hybrid cars are relatively heavy because of the heavy batteries installed inside the car. This is why hybrid car manufacturers integrates smaller internal combustion engines and are constructed with light materials and should be aerodynamic in order to maximize efficiency. This means that hybrid cars can never really go fast.

Another issue about hybrid cars is that it is very risky in accidents. What makes a hybrid car work effectively is also what makes it risky if it ever gets involved in an accident. This is because hybrid cars stores high amount of voltage in its batteries. This means that there is a high chance of getting electrocuted when you get involved in an accident. This also means that it is relatively difficult for rescuers to get the drivers and passengers out of the hybrid cars because of the dangers of high voltage in the car.

These are the advantages and the disadvantages of hybrid cars. Car manufacturers today are now looking for ways to get rid of the disadvantages of hybrid cars. In the near future, you will see that hybrid cars will be lighter and also contains less risk due to high voltage dangers.

A hybrid car combines an electric motor and gasoline engine to provide sufficient power to the vehicle with least fuel usage and fewer emissions. They are also far more fuel-efficient than purely gas-powered cars, and far more practical for everyday use than purely electric-powered cars. Combining the two sources of power, a vehicle then is created that is relatively non-polluting and will lead to less fuel consumption which means it possesses enough power to have freeway speeds that does not need too much fuel, it is also great for the stop and go driving in traffic laden areas.

The hybrid car was created due to the result of the demand and clamor to clean the environment from pollutions and for the need to rely less on fuel. To be able to recharge, plugging the hybrid into an electric outlet is not necessary.They charge themselves by means of power usually lost during coasting and braking and can also be charged by the car’s gasoline engine.

It can offer more benefits than the usual regular gasoline engine type cars. Here is a list of the many advantages hybrid cars offers.

1. Pollution is less promoted

It is a fact that the continuous damage to our ozone layer is due to the greenhouse effect, and one of the factor that contributes to its damage is pollution in the air, in which dangerous chemicals are transferred to the air, like carbon dioxide that are emitted by vehicles. The measure of carbon dioxide emitted by the hybrid vehicle is principally relative to the quantity of fuel it consumes; thus hybrid cars can absolutely be a contributing factor in lessening the advancement of global warming.

With the use of hybrid cars, fewer fuel is consumed because hybrid car do not totally use gas in order to operate, it also makes use of electricity, a power source that doesn’t bring any danger to the environment.

2. More mileage with less fuel consumption

The obvious advantage of hybrid car is that it saves on gas. With the use of hybrid cars, you are able to save gas money because you don’t need to buy gas after every long trip wherein you can go several miles consuming less fuel.

3. Hybrid cars can help lower your taxes

Tax rebates are given to hybrid cars buyers, so if you buy a hybrid car your tax refunds can be withheld from your taxes and will provide you with additional savings.

4. Your money gains more value

A hybrid car can retain a higher resale value. If you ever want to trade or sell a previously owned hybrid car you can be sure that you will get more of what you paid for it.

5. Efficiency and performance are what defines Hybrid Cars

Hybrid cars have smaller engines than the regular gasoline cars since the power is obtained form two sources, so the smaller engines are closer to the normal power necessity of engines that will give an efficient performance.

6. “Hybrid car technology” is the greatest solution to today’s increasing problem in car air pollution

Hybrid cars uses lesser fuel and a groundbreaking technology that may avoid possible damages to the environment caused by the usual cars

Despite of many uses and advantages, there is one thing to be considered regarding the hybrid cars, its actual price in the market is not yet that affordable to a lot of people, but it is an investment that will pay a hundred fold.