Nularis News

I have finally started blogging again- after about 3 months off I really missed it. I created a blog- Nularis News for my employer Nularis Inc. I was impressed with my HTML skills and used my new Photoshop software. I am looking forward to this blog because I will be updating more often with great articles and images.

A little bit about Nularis- we sell LED light bulbs for the home or business, we have a great product line and high quality products.

So if you enjoyed my writing for The Green College Student, please visit Nularis News. I look forward to get back into writing and I hope you will subscribe to my new project. As always, I would love any article recommendations and feedback.

Thanks,

Alessa

External Links: www.blog.nularis.com

The Green College Student is Graduating

I am sad to announce this is my last post as the Green College Student; while I have already graduated from Arizona State University, I am graduating in a different aspect of my life. I have officially accepted a full-time position as Marketing Manager at an up and coming environmental firm. Under my new contract any article I write in relation to sustainability or environmental technology must be representing my new employer. While I am beyond excited for my new position, I am going to miss this site.

This post is bittersweet, I am thankful for all I have accomplished as the Green College from networking to  improving my writing but also gaining experience in social media. Although I have a strong resume, I would like to point out this website really helped me get my job now. I want to thank all my followers, the business contacts I made and most importantly my readers. In the past couple months, the traffic on this site greatly increased and I want to thank each of you personally for checking out my website. At this time, all previous articles and posts will be left online until further notice.

I look forward to writing in the near future on a new website- but that's secret for now. I can't wait to start the next chapter in my environmental career, thank you Green College Student Fans!

Please follow me on Twitter @alessamar to stay up date on my new projects. 

Interview with Sustainability Minor

When I found out ASU was offering a Sustainability minor I really wanted to talk to someone in the program. Jarett and I go way back, we took many classes together in high school- algebra, economics, and social studies. Was it AP Calculus we had with Wacky O'nacki? We also were active members in the Science Club- nerd alert! 


A: What year are you in school?
J: I am enrolled as a senior but it is my fifth year because I transferred colleges.


A: What is your major?
J: I am majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Energy and Environment. I am also minoring in Math and Sustainability. 


A: Wow, that's quite the undergraduate degree. From what I understand you see your regular advisor regarding the minor? Has your advisor been helpful?
J: My Mechanical Engineer advisor has been helpful and has answered most of my questions. 


A: Have you had to go to the School of Sustainability at all?
J: No, luckily my advisor just called over to their office if she didn't know the answer. 


A: That's good, sometimes it hard to deal with different advising offices at ASU. I'm glad it is running smoothly. What classes are you taking this semester for the minor?

J: I am currently talking SOS 100, which is Introduction to Sustainability. 


A: Looking over your syllabus and based on what you've learned so far, what are you learning related to your minor?

J: After looking over the syllabus it seems like the class is set up to open your mind towards more of a sustainability thinking while giving me a good foundation on the different problems facing our earth and the ways to fix it by going green.


A: What do you hope to gain from the minor?
J: From this minor I hope to gain a better understanding and foundation of sustainability while enhancing my knowledge towards my major. My major is geared on a concentration in Energy and Environment, so in other words, it is going to educate me on how to become an engineer while thinking and implementing more green techniques. So in the long run I hope that this minor will be able to help me have a better understanding on how to do that.


A: What are your career plans and goals?
J: My career plans/goals is to first graduate! After that my dream job would be to become an Engineer working on anything regarding going green; more specifically I would love to work in the field regarding anything with alternative energy or alternative fuels.


A: Yes, graduating is always the first step. But it seems like you are planning very well and will be eligible for a great job. Anything else you would like to say?
J: I think with the world in more need of going green that this minor is a great opportunity students should definitely look into. I feel that with this minor and my major concentration that I already have an advantage in finding a job over other students. I am excited about the upcoming classes I will be taking and am very excited to broaden my knowledge on sustainability!


A: I completely agree, you will have a leg up on the competition. Well best of luck and I look forward to hearing about the rest of your classes. 


Interview with Jarett Costello. September 22, 2010. 

Freshman Advisor Award

I am honored to have eCollegeFinder to recognize me as a top Freshman Advisor. Results for the award were announced September 22, 2010 and I was selected for the Lifestyle category. Other areas were Academics, Dorm & Diet, Fashion, General, Personal Experience, and Preparation. Now a little bit about the organization:


"eCollegeFinder is education resource that provides students with the information needed to succeed with their academic aspirations. The Freshmen Advisor Award was created to recognize the top online resources that offer additional advice and guidance for freshman as they embark upon their college experience."


I was nominated for the award because of my articles about greening your dorm room, sustainability educational programs, and green collar jobs. Please visit eCollegeFinder to read more about their services for incoming and current college students. Posted below is the Press Release; to read more about the award and other winners please visit Freshman Advisors. Also, check out my new badge on the right side bar for my award.


Thank you again eCollegeFinder!

External Links: http://www.ecollegefinder.org/and http://www.ecollegefinder.org/freshmenadvisor.aspx

Wind Turbines Scramble Military Radar

In 2009, wind projects which would have produced 9,000 mega watts of energy were stalled by the Department of Defense. These wind farms have rows and rows of turbines, sometimes up to 400 feet tall. With all the spinning, it can cause overheard airplanes to fall off the radar which can be dangerous to nearby military bases. Also, some of the turbines are so big they can be confused with 747 engines. Although no serious incidents have been recorded, wind turbines can interfere with air training and testing. 

A private firm, JASON, which performs tests for the US government claimed wind projects near bases are an "encroachment" and should be avoided; but many areas where air bases are located are also areas which can capture wind power such as Washington/Oregon Border, Great Lakes Area, and Mojave Dessert. There are steps both military bases and wind project managers can take to avoid radar issues. 

• Stealth turbines with anti-radar coating
• Upgrade military software which is not affected by wind power
• Reach an agreement between the two parties

Stealth turbines make sure no reflecting surfaces face directly to the radar software. Tapered and egg shaped towers are also being designed but any redesign for existing ones would be expensive. New materials for blades and anti-radar coatings are also being developed.

Many military radar systems are out of date, some even from the 1950's; these radar systems are less efficient then modern day smart phones. While technology fixes can ease wind turbine confusion, they do not solve all the problems. Ideally, military systems should upgrade radar programs but it can be costly. 

Travis Air Force base and a wind project developer negotiated plans to build which did not produce radar scramble. The project developer hired an individual consultant who found the size of the wind turbines would not interfere with the air force base. The base accepted the findings so the wind project was able to move forward.

Overall, the conflict of national security and need for alternative energy are extremely important to our country. While use of alternative is a way of the future we must not compromise military base radar software running smoothly. We can only hope the stealth turbines will stick to their retail plan to be sold in 2011 and more wind project developers can reach agreements with military bases. 

External Links: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/27/business/energy-environment/27radar.html, http://www.defense.gov/multimedia/multimedia.aspx, http://www.vestas.com/en/media/article-display.aspx?action=3&NewsID=1956, and Los Angeles Times September 7,2010.

What's more important flawless radar systems or capturing wind energy? Please share your opinion.