There are many ways to reduce your impact on the environment, and not all of them are that difficult. In fact some of them can even save you money while you do your bit to curtail the destruction of life on earth. Earth Dream's Five Things series outlines a few painless changes that we could all make and stops well short of insisting we are doomed and should all go and live off-grid in a smelly self sufficient commune.
1) Your right foot
This one should be a fairly obvious start. You know when you are driving your car? On the road? Well try just relaxing your right foot a little bit. Rev the ol' lump a little lower, and if you drive a manual (stick if you wear cowboy boots) you could even change gear a touch earlier. Saves petrol (gas if you chew tobaccy), reduces emissions, saves you money, might even save your life as slower drivers won't be crashing so often. Finding this difficult? Try turing off the Motorhead CD and listen to talk radio instead. Oh yeah and make sure your tyres are pumped up and turn the air-con off once in a while too.
2) Your square eyes
Here's an interesting fact. We all know that LCD and plasma televisions consume less power than chunky old CRT's right? But did you know that as we are all replacing our worn our cathode ray goggleboxes with shiny new LCD devices the average power consumption per TV set is actually going up? The reason of course is that we are now buying such huge screens that the benefit from an energy point of view is being cancelled out. So what can you do? Well if you've not upgraded yet and are thinking about it how about asking yourself this simple question. Do I really need a 150 inch wall mounted HD TV to view soaps, talent shows and 24 hour rolling news making my lounge look like a cross between ace 80's Schwarzenegger vehicle Total Recall and the stuff of Orwellian nightmares? You probably don't live in a Sports Bar so why not buy a smaller but better quality set that suits the size of your room? And don't forget to turn them off rather than leave them on standby overnight.
3) Let there be light
...and let there not. Remember when you leave a room you can turn your lights off. Even if you have replaced the bulbs with energy savers no energy is better than low energy.
4) Bin there done that
Tins, bottles, newspapers, clothes, plastic bags...there are collection bins for all manner of household waste. Use them. Even better, if like most of the UK you are provided with multiple bins or bags for your waste don't be negative about it and moan, use them properly. And if you have a problem with that maybe you should stop reading the Daily Mail. OK so most of these schemes aren't ideal (for a start half this recyclable stuff is shipped halfway across the world for sorting) but when you consider that there is a floating island twice the size of the USA made of plastic rubbish trapped in currents in the North Pacific there are worse choices.
5) Bit much like hard work that
No. Work is what you (hopefully) do during the day. At a place with other people who probably don't want to be there either. Why not amuse yourself by encouraging a bit of social and environmental responsibility around your office. Suggest that people turn off their PC's overnight, that they consider whether they really need to print every single e-mail they ever get sent, if they can recycle their toner cartridges rather than throwing them in the bin, if the last person out of the office at night can turn off the lights, if old noisy power hungry desktop PC's can be replaced with sleek efficient laptops, if a recycling policy can be implemented, if they can offer incentives for people to cycle to work...you get the idea - use your imagination, it'll make your day go quicker and if your company runs with the idea you may even find that it gives you a break from the more mundane aspects of your job once in a while.
These steps may seem like a small start, but with so many millions of people capable of making these type of changes - and more - the combined impact could be huge.
About the Author
EarthDream.co.uk is a site dedicated to making the world a better place but without the preachy hippie right-on baggage that usually goes with the territory.
Sunday, February 24, 2008
Snakes - Its Ecological Importance
Since time immemorial people have been fascinated and awed by snakes. Many people dislike and fear them. In reality they are beneficial creatures. It is time to learn a little more about them. With sufficient background and knowledge of them, we can put our fears in proper perspective. Truth to the matter, is that most venomous snakes would not attack people unless they are provoked.
Fear of snakes should not deter people from enjoying the great outdoors out there. While poisonous snakes are dangerous, there are just few areas where their abundance would prevent people from enjoying the beauty of nature. There are thirty two genera of land snakes known in most tropical countries and five of these are endemic.
The natural habitat of snakes are rural and remote forested areas. Snakes are in many cases are arboreal (tree climbing) but some are natatorial (swimming). Many are very shy and will not attack people unless they are harassed or cornered. Comparatively, little is known regarding their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their contribution is not widely appreciated either that a considerable number of them control agricultural pests like rats and the likes. Their skin is used for making shoes, belts, purses and other items beneficial to man.
There are certain selective poisonous species now raised in captivity for venom production. There is a growing list of foreign buyers of crystallized snake venom at an estimated price of US$ 75000 per kilogram. The venom is used to produce antivinems which physicians administer as an antidote to snake bites. Venom extractors buy poisonous snakes from trappers or hunters raise these in captivity and milk them with their venom. It is not however, an appropriate job for the faint of heart since milking is done with live snakes.
In milking the extractor holds tightly the neck of the snake and let it bite on a glass covered tightly with cloth to collect the venom. Another method involves stroking of its poisonous glands until it ejects the poisonous venom through its fangs. Small doses of the venom then are injected into an animal at intervals until the same develops immunity to the venom. The blood serum of the animal soon contains the desired level of antivenim. The serum then is extracted and the antivenim is packed in dry form, use in making solutions for hypodermic injections in snake bite victims.
Interestingly, snake extracts are said to have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Extracts from the reproductive organ of the snakes, livers and galls are processed into pills and taken by people to strengthen their kidneys and improve their reproductive sexual functions.
About the Author
Arnold Cafe is the author of Ideas Galore, http://www.affleap.com/blog and an active internet marketer.
Fear of snakes should not deter people from enjoying the great outdoors out there. While poisonous snakes are dangerous, there are just few areas where their abundance would prevent people from enjoying the beauty of nature. There are thirty two genera of land snakes known in most tropical countries and five of these are endemic.
The natural habitat of snakes are rural and remote forested areas. Snakes are in many cases are arboreal (tree climbing) but some are natatorial (swimming). Many are very shy and will not attack people unless they are harassed or cornered. Comparatively, little is known regarding their crucial role in maintaining ecological balance. Their contribution is not widely appreciated either that a considerable number of them control agricultural pests like rats and the likes. Their skin is used for making shoes, belts, purses and other items beneficial to man.
There are certain selective poisonous species now raised in captivity for venom production. There is a growing list of foreign buyers of crystallized snake venom at an estimated price of US$ 75000 per kilogram. The venom is used to produce antivinems which physicians administer as an antidote to snake bites. Venom extractors buy poisonous snakes from trappers or hunters raise these in captivity and milk them with their venom. It is not however, an appropriate job for the faint of heart since milking is done with live snakes.
In milking the extractor holds tightly the neck of the snake and let it bite on a glass covered tightly with cloth to collect the venom. Another method involves stroking of its poisonous glands until it ejects the poisonous venom through its fangs. Small doses of the venom then are injected into an animal at intervals until the same develops immunity to the venom. The blood serum of the animal soon contains the desired level of antivenim. The serum then is extracted and the antivenim is packed in dry form, use in making solutions for hypodermic injections in snake bite victims.
Interestingly, snake extracts are said to have medicinal and aphrodisiac properties. Extracts from the reproductive organ of the snakes, livers and galls are processed into pills and taken by people to strengthen their kidneys and improve their reproductive sexual functions.
About the Author
Arnold Cafe is the author of Ideas Galore, http://www.affleap.com/blog and an active internet marketer.
Concentrating Solar Power: Biofriendly Technology of the Future?
Looking like a science fiction scene, the brilliantly lit giant solar collector tower near Seville, Spain, dominates the landscape. More than six hundred huge mirrors on the ground illuminate the 377 foot high concrete tower. The movable computer controlled mirrors are angled in such a way as to point the beam of reflected sunlight and heat to a specific spot atop the tower. There it heats up water filled pipes to create steam, which in turn drives turbines to generate electricity in a biofriendly manner.
As Europe’s first solar power station it provides 11 megawatts of power enough to power 6,000 homes. The plan is to ultimately provide enough power for all of Seville, a city with a population of about 600,000. (1)
An advantage of this method of harnessing the power of the sun is that the plant can continue to generate power for some time after sunset, because there is adequate steam remaining. However, the highest demand for electricity is for air conditioning during the day when the sun is at its hottest.
While this system is currently more expensive than coal generated power, it is expected that prices will come down when more solar powered plants will be built. The biggest biofriendly advantage is that it produces absolutely no air pollution or greenhouse gases. This plant is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tons per year, compared to conventional power plants. (2)
This is not the first concentrating solar power plant in the world. In the 1980s and 1990s, two solar power plants were built near Barstow in California. These demonstration plants were capable of generating 10 megawatts each. The second plant, named Solar Two, used molten salt to store the surplus heat in the day and released it after sunset. Using this enhancement, the plant could operate 65% of the year without the need for a backup fuel source, like natural gas, to generate steam during the night and on cloudy days. (3)
Concentrating solar power holds promise for a “greener†future, but currently we still rely on fossil fuels for most of our power needs. Biofriendly Corporation is making a significant contribution to using fossil fuels more effectively. Their liquid fuel catalyst Green Plus® provides a cleaner burn with resulting higher torque, improved fuel economy and reduction in harmful emissions.
References:
(1)http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm
(2)http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/448#fn1
(3)http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28751.pdf
About the Author
Author, Peter Verhoeff, contributes articles on environmental issues for Biofriendly Corporation. More information on these and other topics can be found on the Biofriendly site.
As Europe’s first solar power station it provides 11 megawatts of power enough to power 6,000 homes. The plan is to ultimately provide enough power for all of Seville, a city with a population of about 600,000. (1)
An advantage of this method of harnessing the power of the sun is that the plant can continue to generate power for some time after sunset, because there is adequate steam remaining. However, the highest demand for electricity is for air conditioning during the day when the sun is at its hottest.
While this system is currently more expensive than coal generated power, it is expected that prices will come down when more solar powered plants will be built. The biggest biofriendly advantage is that it produces absolutely no air pollution or greenhouse gases. This plant is estimated to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 16,000 tons per year, compared to conventional power plants. (2)
This is not the first concentrating solar power plant in the world. In the 1980s and 1990s, two solar power plants were built near Barstow in California. These demonstration plants were capable of generating 10 megawatts each. The second plant, named Solar Two, used molten salt to store the surplus heat in the day and released it after sunset. Using this enhancement, the plant could operate 65% of the year without the need for a backup fuel source, like natural gas, to generate steam during the night and on cloudy days. (3)
Concentrating solar power holds promise for a “greener†future, but currently we still rely on fossil fuels for most of our power needs. Biofriendly Corporation is making a significant contribution to using fossil fuels more effectively. Their liquid fuel catalyst Green Plus® provides a cleaner burn with resulting higher torque, improved fuel economy and reduction in harmful emissions.
References:
(1)http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/6616651.stm
(2)http://europa.eu/rapid/pressReleasesAction.do?reference=IP/07/448#fn1
(3)http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy01osti/28751.pdf
About the Author
Author, Peter Verhoeff, contributes articles on environmental issues for Biofriendly Corporation. More information on these and other topics can be found on the Biofriendly site.
Novel Truck Loading Technique Saves Energy and Cuts Emissions
S. C. Johnson & Son, Inc., a Wisconsin-based provider of household goods, is a family business that has evolved an unusual biofriendly approach to improving the environment. By implementing their innovative Truckload Utilization Project the company has eliminated 1,882 tons of greenhouse gases over a 12 month period. In addition, they used 2,098 fewer trucks, cut fuel consumption by 168,000 gallons and saved $1.6 million. (1)
This environmentally conscious company decided to look for ways to save energy. After a six-month study, they discovered that trucks could be loaded more effectively than in the past. A truck loaded with small but heavy items would not be filled to capacity, because of maximum weight restrictions, while a truck filled with bulkier but lighter goods would not be anywhere near its load carrying capacity. By devising a system to combine these different goods in a way that would optimize weight and volume, the company cut the number of trips required.
Then they found a way to improve efficiency even further. Many trucks have a sleeping compartment for the driver, but on trips that can be completed in a day that facility is not needed. By using so called “day cabs†without sleeping facilities on shorter trips, the trucks gained another 3,000 pounds in carrying capacity that could be used for payload.
The effectiveness of the program was further increased by modifying their customer incentive program. Better and more effective loading of the trucks resulted in fewer road trips, with consequent reductions in fuel consumption, greenhouse gases and pollutants, as well as considerable financial savings.
S. C. Johnson’s example demonstrates that biofriendly solutions to environmental problems do not always have to resort to unusual high technology methods. Often the simple solutions are the best. On a smaller scale, more effective use of transportation can also be accomplished by car pooling, using mass transportation, combining errands, and the like.
Of course, fuel savings can also be achieved making internal combustion engines more efficient. Biofriendly Corporation does this with their Green Plus® liquid fuel catalyst, which causes a more complete burning of the fuel. This results in improved torque, reduced emissions and better fuel economy.
References:
(1) http://www.csrwire.com/News/10246.html
About the Author
Author, Peter Verhoeff, contributes articles on environmental issues for Biofriendly Corporation. More information on these and other topics can be found on the Biofriendly site.
This environmentally conscious company decided to look for ways to save energy. After a six-month study, they discovered that trucks could be loaded more effectively than in the past. A truck loaded with small but heavy items would not be filled to capacity, because of maximum weight restrictions, while a truck filled with bulkier but lighter goods would not be anywhere near its load carrying capacity. By devising a system to combine these different goods in a way that would optimize weight and volume, the company cut the number of trips required.
Then they found a way to improve efficiency even further. Many trucks have a sleeping compartment for the driver, but on trips that can be completed in a day that facility is not needed. By using so called “day cabs†without sleeping facilities on shorter trips, the trucks gained another 3,000 pounds in carrying capacity that could be used for payload.
The effectiveness of the program was further increased by modifying their customer incentive program. Better and more effective loading of the trucks resulted in fewer road trips, with consequent reductions in fuel consumption, greenhouse gases and pollutants, as well as considerable financial savings.
S. C. Johnson’s example demonstrates that biofriendly solutions to environmental problems do not always have to resort to unusual high technology methods. Often the simple solutions are the best. On a smaller scale, more effective use of transportation can also be accomplished by car pooling, using mass transportation, combining errands, and the like.
Of course, fuel savings can also be achieved making internal combustion engines more efficient. Biofriendly Corporation does this with their Green Plus® liquid fuel catalyst, which causes a more complete burning of the fuel. This results in improved torque, reduced emissions and better fuel economy.
References:
(1) http://www.csrwire.com/News/10246.html
About the Author
Author, Peter Verhoeff, contributes articles on environmental issues for Biofriendly Corporation. More information on these and other topics can be found on the Biofriendly site.
Water Conservation In The Shower... Is It Really Necessary?
Just ask any resident who lives in Orme Tenn., a small town where the water supply completely dried up last August.
Residents there can tell you firsthand what it's like to have to meet the needs of an entire family, when you only have access to water just once a day from 6 pm. to 9 pm.
Drought has hit more than just the Western States this past year -- the Midwest and Southeastern States are also experiencing record breaking droughts, as politicians from Florida, Alabama and Georgia, argue over how to distribute water from Georgia's Lake Lanier -- a lake that's already overburdened and hard hit by the drought as well.
Georgia's governor has asked restaurants to serve water only to those customers who ask for it, and he's asked the residents to help conserve water by taking shorter showers. Considering the fact that Georgia has nearly 10 million residents... would taking shorter showers be enough?
Consider this fact! A family of four taking a 10 minute shower once a day with a 2.5 gpm low flow showerhead, will use 1400 gallons of water a week That's enough for a 6 year supply of drinking water for one person.
Ask yourself... "is it really necessary to have the water running throughout your entire shower... and how much of that water do you actually use?"
Showers waste more water and energy than anything else we do in our homes, heavy appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers are designed to use every drop of water to do their jobs... but showers are another story.
When you're shampooing your hair (depending on how much hair is on your head,) how much time does it take to wash it before you're ready to rinse? How much water could be saved if you turned it off until you're ready to rinse?
The same thing applies when lathering and scrubbing up ... shaving or a number of other things we do in the shower... how much could be saved until you're ready to rinse?
Each of us have our own techniques or habits when showering, and here in the US when water use to be cheap and plentiful... we never worried much about the length of our showers or how much we used.
But times have changed, global warming has seriously affected our freshwater rivers and lakes as drought breaking records continue.
The cost of delivering freshwater to our homes and businesses has increased from one year to the next because of higher energy rates, and a growing population that puts even more demands on our precious resources.
We can expect utility rates to continue to rise as the demands on our water systems and utility companies increase, and as the availability of this liquid gold becomes even more scarce with each record breaking drought season.
It takes a lot of energy to deliver fresh water to our homes, and return it to processing plants where it has to be treated and cleaned, before releasing it back into our rivers and lakes.
Saving a few gallons in the shower really can make difference, just ask any resident in Orme Tenn. what they think.
About the Author
Fred Rahaming is the inventor of the "It Makes Sense Shower Head", a unique self-closing showerhead that will save up to 88% on Energy and Water... saving a family of four up to $300 or more a year on their utilities. For more information please visit: http://itjustmakessense.net/ To see a demonstration video of this unique showerhead click here: http://itjustmakessense.net/Video.html
Residents there can tell you firsthand what it's like to have to meet the needs of an entire family, when you only have access to water just once a day from 6 pm. to 9 pm.
Drought has hit more than just the Western States this past year -- the Midwest and Southeastern States are also experiencing record breaking droughts, as politicians from Florida, Alabama and Georgia, argue over how to distribute water from Georgia's Lake Lanier -- a lake that's already overburdened and hard hit by the drought as well.
Georgia's governor has asked restaurants to serve water only to those customers who ask for it, and he's asked the residents to help conserve water by taking shorter showers. Considering the fact that Georgia has nearly 10 million residents... would taking shorter showers be enough?
Consider this fact! A family of four taking a 10 minute shower once a day with a 2.5 gpm low flow showerhead, will use 1400 gallons of water a week That's enough for a 6 year supply of drinking water for one person.
Ask yourself... "is it really necessary to have the water running throughout your entire shower... and how much of that water do you actually use?"
Showers waste more water and energy than anything else we do in our homes, heavy appliances such as washing machines and dishwashers are designed to use every drop of water to do their jobs... but showers are another story.
When you're shampooing your hair (depending on how much hair is on your head,) how much time does it take to wash it before you're ready to rinse? How much water could be saved if you turned it off until you're ready to rinse?
The same thing applies when lathering and scrubbing up ... shaving or a number of other things we do in the shower... how much could be saved until you're ready to rinse?
Each of us have our own techniques or habits when showering, and here in the US when water use to be cheap and plentiful... we never worried much about the length of our showers or how much we used.
But times have changed, global warming has seriously affected our freshwater rivers and lakes as drought breaking records continue.
The cost of delivering freshwater to our homes and businesses has increased from one year to the next because of higher energy rates, and a growing population that puts even more demands on our precious resources.
We can expect utility rates to continue to rise as the demands on our water systems and utility companies increase, and as the availability of this liquid gold becomes even more scarce with each record breaking drought season.
It takes a lot of energy to deliver fresh water to our homes, and return it to processing plants where it has to be treated and cleaned, before releasing it back into our rivers and lakes.
Saving a few gallons in the shower really can make difference, just ask any resident in Orme Tenn. what they think.
About the Author
Fred Rahaming is the inventor of the "It Makes Sense Shower Head", a unique self-closing showerhead that will save up to 88% on Energy and Water... saving a family of four up to $300 or more a year on their utilities. For more information please visit: http://itjustmakessense.net/ To see a demonstration video of this unique showerhead click here: http://itjustmakessense.net/Video.html
They laughed when I said One day cars would run They laughed when I said One day cars would run on water...Guess whos laughing now
Article Summary: This article shows how I was thoroughly laughed at by my friends when I told them cars would run on water... but guess who's laughing now.
Many years ago I remarked to my friends during one of our chatting sessions- "One day cars will run on water". I can still remember how they all laughed at me as if I was crazy. Among them was someone who knew so much about the mechanics of a car and how it works. He was the one that laughed the loudest and took time to explain to us, especially me, how it wasn't possible for cars to EVER run on water, even 30% water. I wish I could see his face right now while demonstrating the water car technology to him. For the rest of my friends who were there that day that I still contact, they are so filled with shame for ever laughing at me that day. If you know anyone that has also doubted the workability of the water car technology, tell them that not only is it now workable but anyone can make it work from the comfort of their home. That's right. The water car technology can be made workable by just about anyone, who has access to the right information and the right devices needed. How exactly this water car technology works? This water car technology is the use of simple technology of putting together of home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy. And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline. To get started, learn more about how this works and how you too can do it yourself on your car. With the power of the Internet you can find this information for free. When you arm yourself with this information you will be amazed at how easy it can be to make this water car technology work for you.
About the Author: To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://qualitytw.blogspot.com
About the Author
A person who is concerned with global warming, gas prices and the environment. An advocate of promoting each person can individually and collectively change the world and environment.
Many years ago I remarked to my friends during one of our chatting sessions- "One day cars will run on water". I can still remember how they all laughed at me as if I was crazy. Among them was someone who knew so much about the mechanics of a car and how it works. He was the one that laughed the loudest and took time to explain to us, especially me, how it wasn't possible for cars to EVER run on water, even 30% water. I wish I could see his face right now while demonstrating the water car technology to him. For the rest of my friends who were there that day that I still contact, they are so filled with shame for ever laughing at me that day. If you know anyone that has also doubted the workability of the water car technology, tell them that not only is it now workable but anyone can make it work from the comfort of their home. That's right. The water car technology can be made workable by just about anyone, who has access to the right information and the right devices needed. How exactly this water car technology works? This water car technology is the use of simple technology of putting together of home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car's battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown's Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully and by so doing provides TONS of energy. And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline. To get started, learn more about how this works and how you too can do it yourself on your car. With the power of the Internet you can find this information for free. When you arm yourself with this information you will be amazed at how easy it can be to make this water car technology work for you.
About the Author: To learn more about water for gas technology and how you too can build your own water for gas powered car, visit http://qualitytw.blogspot.com
About the Author
A person who is concerned with global warming, gas prices and the environment. An advocate of promoting each person can individually and collectively change the world and environment.
Biodegradable Bags - Helping Our Planet Earth
Biodegradable bags are becoming extremely popular throughout parts of the world, with many businesses and organisations choosing these over the usual plastic carrier bags. The biodegradable type are much better for the environment, as they are manufactured to gradually degrade over a short amount of time, compared to standard plastic carrier bags that generally last dozens of times longer, and aid the build up of toxic chemicals in land fill sites.
There are two types of these eco friendly carriers available within todays marketplace. The first being a biodegradable bag. This bag is made from a natural material, which once manufactured, starts to degrade slowly. These are generally the most expensive, and are not ideal if they are to be kept for any great length of time. The second type is a degradable carrier bag. These are basically a plastic carrier bag that has a formulated agent added to it during the manufacturing process. This agent gradually breaks down the plastic material over a fairly long amount of time, and eventually degrades into a harmless vapour and dust, none of which are toxic in any way. These are the cheaper option and probably the most popular. This type are about the same quality as a standard plastic carrier bag, the only difference being that they are far more environmentally friendly.
These biodegradable bags are also great to use as a promotional tool. They can be branded with a companies logo and details, and are an excellent product for use in stores, trade shows and open days. It gives the opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves to a huge amount of people attending the event, as well as give the visitors something to carry there freebies and literature in. Most companies do not think of using this promotional method, and you often find just one company who benfits from it.
Most councils and government organisations have switched to using biodegradable bags due to their eco-friendly nature. With the government actively promoting environmental issues and solutions, they have to be seen to be operating in a greener way themselves. There are all kinds of eco friendly products available these days, for both domestic and commercial purposes. They can come in the form of recycled pens, desk accessories, clothing as well as energy saving products. We are all becoming more aware of the damage we are causing the earth. If more people, and businesses made a few changes to their daily practices and changed their habits with the products they bought and used, the world would be a greener, safer place to live.
About the Author
Written by Andy Black. Get a FREE quote for {a href=" http://www.pps-ltd.co.uk/biodegradable_plastic_bags.html"}Personalised Biodegradable Bags. A wide range of information available for saving energy advice.
There are two types of these eco friendly carriers available within todays marketplace. The first being a biodegradable bag. This bag is made from a natural material, which once manufactured, starts to degrade slowly. These are generally the most expensive, and are not ideal if they are to be kept for any great length of time. The second type is a degradable carrier bag. These are basically a plastic carrier bag that has a formulated agent added to it during the manufacturing process. This agent gradually breaks down the plastic material over a fairly long amount of time, and eventually degrades into a harmless vapour and dust, none of which are toxic in any way. These are the cheaper option and probably the most popular. This type are about the same quality as a standard plastic carrier bag, the only difference being that they are far more environmentally friendly.
These biodegradable bags are also great to use as a promotional tool. They can be branded with a companies logo and details, and are an excellent product for use in stores, trade shows and open days. It gives the opportunity for businesses to advertise themselves to a huge amount of people attending the event, as well as give the visitors something to carry there freebies and literature in. Most companies do not think of using this promotional method, and you often find just one company who benfits from it.
Most councils and government organisations have switched to using biodegradable bags due to their eco-friendly nature. With the government actively promoting environmental issues and solutions, they have to be seen to be operating in a greener way themselves. There are all kinds of eco friendly products available these days, for both domestic and commercial purposes. They can come in the form of recycled pens, desk accessories, clothing as well as energy saving products. We are all becoming more aware of the damage we are causing the earth. If more people, and businesses made a few changes to their daily practices and changed their habits with the products they bought and used, the world would be a greener, safer place to live.
About the Author
Written by Andy Black. Get a FREE quote for {a href=" http://www.pps-ltd.co.uk/biodegradable_plastic_bags.html"}Personalised Biodegradable Bags. A wide range of information available for saving energy advice.
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Electricitiy Demand Is Soaring
Electricity Demand Is Soaring
The demand for electricity is soaring virtually everywhere you look. Not only is the price of all fuels rising, so is the risk for blackouts.
Economic growth is one of the main drivers of this demand not only in the United States, but also in Europe, Asia, India, and China. The use of DVD’s, appliances, TV recorders, and other devices designed to use power 24 hours a day could account for 3 to 13 percent of residential power use. This percentage is expected to increase as more people use home and office computer networks.
The demand for electricity in China continues to climb every year. The power demand in India is controlled through power constraints, whereas, in Asia and Japan the demand is on the rise. In Europe, occasional blackouts have occurred due to supply problems. In the U.S. many regions have been registering significant growth even before the peak summer temperatures.
To reduce the chances of rolling blackouts in the future, let’s explore other ways to save on the use of electricity.
Takes these steps to save money and reduce the amount of energy you use: 1. Lower your thermostat. You will save on your heating bill for every degree you dial down. 2. Add an extra blanket to your bed. 3. Set your water heater temperature at 120 degrees. 4. Clean or replace the furnace filer often. 5. Replace weather stripping and seals on windows and doors 6. Keep furniture, carpeting and curtains from blocking heat registers and air return ducks.
If you live in a climate where it snows during the winter months, don’t forget to check on your elderly neighbors to make sure they are warm.
About the Author
After 15 years in training & development as a Computer Instructor, Coach, and Mentor, Candyce returned to school and is currently working on her Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. Her claim to fame is making every mistake a network marketer could make. She has finally found the ultimate MLM opportunity and claims if she can do it, you can do it.
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The demand for electricity is soaring virtually everywhere you look. Not only is the price of all fuels rising, so is the risk for blackouts.
Economic growth is one of the main drivers of this demand not only in the United States, but also in Europe, Asia, India, and China. The use of DVD’s, appliances, TV recorders, and other devices designed to use power 24 hours a day could account for 3 to 13 percent of residential power use. This percentage is expected to increase as more people use home and office computer networks.
The demand for electricity in China continues to climb every year. The power demand in India is controlled through power constraints, whereas, in Asia and Japan the demand is on the rise. In Europe, occasional blackouts have occurred due to supply problems. In the U.S. many regions have been registering significant growth even before the peak summer temperatures.
To reduce the chances of rolling blackouts in the future, let’s explore other ways to save on the use of electricity.
Takes these steps to save money and reduce the amount of energy you use: 1. Lower your thermostat. You will save on your heating bill for every degree you dial down. 2. Add an extra blanket to your bed. 3. Set your water heater temperature at 120 degrees. 4. Clean or replace the furnace filer often. 5. Replace weather stripping and seals on windows and doors 6. Keep furniture, carpeting and curtains from blocking heat registers and air return ducks.
If you live in a climate where it snows during the winter months, don’t forget to check on your elderly neighbors to make sure they are warm.
About the Author
After 15 years in training & development as a Computer Instructor, Coach, and Mentor, Candyce returned to school and is currently working on her Master of Arts degree in Organizational Management at Spring Arbor University in Michigan. Her claim to fame is making every mistake a network marketer could make. She has finally found the ultimate MLM opportunity and claims if she can do it, you can do it.
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Shop For Natural Products
We sell only All Natural products. Check us out. FREE shipping on orders over $50 Go Green | Think Green!
Greengamma is your source for the green web! Search information, products, videos and more. Go Green - Work at Home!
Why waste time and $ commuting? Check out this proven home biz!
Tipping Point Typical Warming Warning
When you receive the Seal you will recognize global warming as it truly is--the sign of the end-times approaching. Scientists agree that global warming is threatening the viability of life on earth, and new warnings verify the urgency.
These days scientists are warning about "thresholds" in nature. There are "tipping points" in nature that are not commonly understood but that can bring big changes fast.
One of these tipping points is the melting of the Greenland ice sheet. The ice sheet could melt in 300 years and raise sea levels nearly 7 feet (2 meters) each century.
And that is with modest predictions. All the climate change happening in the last few years has been faster than predicted. That means sea levels could rise up to threaten coastal cities within 50 years or less.
Much sooner than this the arctic sea ice could disappear. That means the dark waters of the arctic will absorb more heat yet than the ice and snow. This could happen in just decades.
Both the Amazon and the northern pine forests are predicted to die off too in coming years. Warming temperatures and drier surroundings will also cause more fires and damage to the forests by pests.
These are dire predictions. And unfortunately the climate changes already happening have come much faster than predicted so far. Predictions aside, what has already begun happening in the world is devastating.
Natural disasters are already on the rise. From the mid-1980s into the 21st century, natural disasters have seen a sharp increase. These include the hurricanes that hit the United States in 2005.
Those were high-profile for the US, a country that has forsaken its typical lead in the world to lag behind in addressing climate change. The warming temperatures around the world make hurricanes more severe.
And there are other natural disasters on the rise due to the disturbance of the delicate balance of nature. More floods and droughts have already begun happening, affecting the poor people of the world who have not contributed to global warming.
Many of the poor people in the world have enough challenge just finding clean water to drink and wash with every day. With more floods and droughts this has become even more difficult.
Jesus predicted the end-times. When He was teaching His disciples, He mentioned the coming of the end. He told them the simple parable of the fig tree: when the fig tree blossoms you know that summer is near.
Jesus likened the end-times to a "summer." And now scientists all over the world agree that the end is coming like a summer. All the seasons are becoming more like summer as the world warms.
The fig tree is blossoming and you can see summer approaching. What can you do about it? You can vote and switch to clean energy whenever possible. But you need to get closer to God.
When you are sealed you will see the sign of the end-times in global warming, and you will get closer to God. And you will share God with other people who urgently need Him when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
These days scientists are warning about "thresholds" in nature. There are "tipping points" in nature that are not commonly understood but that can bring big changes fast.
One of these tipping points is the melting of the Greenland ice sheet. The ice sheet could melt in 300 years and raise sea levels nearly 7 feet (2 meters) each century.
And that is with modest predictions. All the climate change happening in the last few years has been faster than predicted. That means sea levels could rise up to threaten coastal cities within 50 years or less.
Much sooner than this the arctic sea ice could disappear. That means the dark waters of the arctic will absorb more heat yet than the ice and snow. This could happen in just decades.
Both the Amazon and the northern pine forests are predicted to die off too in coming years. Warming temperatures and drier surroundings will also cause more fires and damage to the forests by pests.
These are dire predictions. And unfortunately the climate changes already happening have come much faster than predicted so far. Predictions aside, what has already begun happening in the world is devastating.
Natural disasters are already on the rise. From the mid-1980s into the 21st century, natural disasters have seen a sharp increase. These include the hurricanes that hit the United States in 2005.
Those were high-profile for the US, a country that has forsaken its typical lead in the world to lag behind in addressing climate change. The warming temperatures around the world make hurricanes more severe.
And there are other natural disasters on the rise due to the disturbance of the delicate balance of nature. More floods and droughts have already begun happening, affecting the poor people of the world who have not contributed to global warming.
Many of the poor people in the world have enough challenge just finding clean water to drink and wash with every day. With more floods and droughts this has become even more difficult.
Jesus predicted the end-times. When He was teaching His disciples, He mentioned the coming of the end. He told them the simple parable of the fig tree: when the fig tree blossoms you know that summer is near.
Jesus likened the end-times to a "summer." And now scientists all over the world agree that the end is coming like a summer. All the seasons are becoming more like summer as the world warms.
The fig tree is blossoming and you can see summer approaching. What can you do about it? You can vote and switch to clean energy whenever possible. But you need to get closer to God.
When you are sealed you will see the sign of the end-times in global warming, and you will get closer to God. And you will share God with other people who urgently need Him when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
Gardening with Organic Fertilizers
Why should you use organic fertilizers in your garden? Simply because they are good for your plants and good for the environment. Nearly 70 percent of water pollution comes from agricultural areas that use chemical fertilizers, according to the EPA. These chemicals leach into the water and cause soil erosion. While large-scale farming operations are a chief source of chemical fertilizers in water, home gardeners are also guilty of such pollution. However, many growers are attempting to correct their mistakes by using organic growing methods.
Organic fertilizers are those that use organic soil amendments to raise the nutrient content and improve the soil characteristics of a garden. The addition of decomposing organic materials in an organic garden provides a natural fertilizer, supplying plants with the nutrients they need for optimal growth. These fertilizers also improve the nature of your garden soil, not matter what type you have. If your garden has clay soil, organic fertilizers preserve its tilth, which prevents it from clumping together. Organic fertilizers are also an excellent means of holding water in the soil. This is a boon if you have sandy soil in your garden. Fertilizers made of organic materials have properties that make micro-nutrients like iron and zinc available to your garden plants.
Plants need three important nutrients in order to grow: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. All three of these are found in organic fertilizers. One organic material - manure, for example, does not have all three of these nutrients, however. Therefore, most organic fertilizer suppliers combine and mix different materials to ensure an appropriate mix. Alfalfa meal is a green manure favored by gardeners who grow roses. It is a good source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and it also contains Triacontanol. This is a hormone that helps to regulate the growth of your plants. Blood meal is another good organic fertilizer. It is an excellent source of readily available organic nitrogen. Bone meal is a good source of calcium and long-lasting phosphorous. These two materials can be blended together for better results. Kelp meal has a high potassium content, but it has no phosphorous. This organic fertilizer must be used together with bone meal to make up for its lack of phosphorous.
It is important the gardeners check the exact composition of any organic fertilizer they buy, since they can contain a number of micro-nutrients and lack others
About the Author
Discover more articles and information about gardening and fertilizers at http://environmentadvice.com
Organic fertilizers are those that use organic soil amendments to raise the nutrient content and improve the soil characteristics of a garden. The addition of decomposing organic materials in an organic garden provides a natural fertilizer, supplying plants with the nutrients they need for optimal growth. These fertilizers also improve the nature of your garden soil, not matter what type you have. If your garden has clay soil, organic fertilizers preserve its tilth, which prevents it from clumping together. Organic fertilizers are also an excellent means of holding water in the soil. This is a boon if you have sandy soil in your garden. Fertilizers made of organic materials have properties that make micro-nutrients like iron and zinc available to your garden plants.
Plants need three important nutrients in order to grow: nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorous. All three of these are found in organic fertilizers. One organic material - manure, for example, does not have all three of these nutrients, however. Therefore, most organic fertilizer suppliers combine and mix different materials to ensure an appropriate mix. Alfalfa meal is a green manure favored by gardeners who grow roses. It is a good source of nitrogen, phosphorous, and potassium, and it also contains Triacontanol. This is a hormone that helps to regulate the growth of your plants. Blood meal is another good organic fertilizer. It is an excellent source of readily available organic nitrogen. Bone meal is a good source of calcium and long-lasting phosphorous. These two materials can be blended together for better results. Kelp meal has a high potassium content, but it has no phosphorous. This organic fertilizer must be used together with bone meal to make up for its lack of phosphorous.
It is important the gardeners check the exact composition of any organic fertilizer they buy, since they can contain a number of micro-nutrients and lack others
About the Author
Discover more articles and information about gardening and fertilizers at http://environmentadvice.com
Chemical or Organic - Which Fertilizer Do You Use
Agricultural specialists and home gardeners alike often debate the benefits of organic versus chemical fertilizers. There are advantages and disadvantages associated with each type, but it is necessary to understand the differences between them before wading into the argument.
The term ‘organic fertilizer’ refers to materials that contain nutrients that are obtained from the byproducts or remains of an organism. Cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, manure, sewage sludge, and cottonseed meal are examples of organic fertilizers. These substances are naturally high in phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium, which are the three chief nutrients required for plant growth. These types of fertilizer rely on microorganisms living in the soil to break them down so they can release these nutrients.
In contrast, chemical fertilizers are plant nutrients that are produced synthetically from inorganic materials. Many contain acids that can hard the soil’s natural population of microorganisms. Because of this, they have the potential to stunt the growth of plants.
A major problem faced by the home gardener arises from nutrient deficiencies in the target soils. An advantage of chemical fertilizers over organic types is that they contain all three of the most important nutrients ��" phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, either have high levels of one of these critical nutrients or low levels of all three.
Organic fertilizers are less expensive and more cost-effective than chemical fertilizers. Home gardeners can create their own organic fertilizers by combining manure from cows, sheep or poultry with other organic matter. They can tailor the mixtures to their own specific needs. Chemical fertilizers must be purchased from gardening stores or horticulturists.
A distinct feature of organic fertilizer is that it releases its nutrients slowly. This can be both beneficial and potentially harmful to plants. While the slow release of nutrients reduces the risks of over-fertilization, it may also mean that if there is a need for immediately nutrition, the organic fertilizer would not provide the level of nutrients needed. Chemical fertilizers are able to provide plans with an immediate supply of the necessary nutrients when circumstances require this.
A number of chemical fertilizers are high in acids. Acids in chemical fertilizers, including sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, result in high soil acidity levels. These destroy nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the microorganisms that are important for supplying the nitrogen needed for plant growth.
Plants don’t know the difference between organic and chemical fertilizers, and their roots will absorb the required nutrients wherever they come from. However, in the light of increasing worries about the environment overall, the use of chemical fertilizers as a source of plant nutrients is being strongly questioned.
About the Author
Discover more articles and information about the environment and fertilizers at http://environmentadvice.com
The term ‘organic fertilizer’ refers to materials that contain nutrients that are obtained from the byproducts or remains of an organism. Cottonseed meal, fish emulsion, manure, sewage sludge, and cottonseed meal are examples of organic fertilizers. These substances are naturally high in phosphorous, nitrogen, and potassium, which are the three chief nutrients required for plant growth. These types of fertilizer rely on microorganisms living in the soil to break them down so they can release these nutrients.
In contrast, chemical fertilizers are plant nutrients that are produced synthetically from inorganic materials. Many contain acids that can hard the soil’s natural population of microorganisms. Because of this, they have the potential to stunt the growth of plants.
A major problem faced by the home gardener arises from nutrient deficiencies in the target soils. An advantage of chemical fertilizers over organic types is that they contain all three of the most important nutrients ��" phosphorous, potassium, and nitrogen. Organic fertilizers, on the other hand, either have high levels of one of these critical nutrients or low levels of all three.
Organic fertilizers are less expensive and more cost-effective than chemical fertilizers. Home gardeners can create their own organic fertilizers by combining manure from cows, sheep or poultry with other organic matter. They can tailor the mixtures to their own specific needs. Chemical fertilizers must be purchased from gardening stores or horticulturists.
A distinct feature of organic fertilizer is that it releases its nutrients slowly. This can be both beneficial and potentially harmful to plants. While the slow release of nutrients reduces the risks of over-fertilization, it may also mean that if there is a need for immediately nutrition, the organic fertilizer would not provide the level of nutrients needed. Chemical fertilizers are able to provide plans with an immediate supply of the necessary nutrients when circumstances require this.
A number of chemical fertilizers are high in acids. Acids in chemical fertilizers, including sulfuric and hydrochloric acids, result in high soil acidity levels. These destroy nitrogen-fixing bacteria, the microorganisms that are important for supplying the nitrogen needed for plant growth.
Plants don’t know the difference between organic and chemical fertilizers, and their roots will absorb the required nutrients wherever they come from. However, in the light of increasing worries about the environment overall, the use of chemical fertilizers as a source of plant nutrients is being strongly questioned.
About the Author
Discover more articles and information about the environment and fertilizers at http://environmentadvice.com
When Can the USA be Fossil Fuels Independent?
We know the technologies that could lead the USA to fossil fuels independence. These technologies are (1)wind, (2)bio energy, (3)geothermal, and (4)solar energies. We collectively need the resolve to adopt and execute a roadmap to use these technologies and install renewable energy electrical generation plants. This resolve has to start with our politicians to adopt and fund a bold plan to free ourselves of fossil fuels.
If left unchecked heat trapping emission such as carbon dioxide, CO2, are projected to cause dangerous global warming that threatens our health and environment. Increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy would provide a roadmap to reduce fossil fuel demand, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from the largest US source: Electrical Power Plants. Reducing and eventually eliminating fossil fuels for our electrical power generation would make America's energy supply more reliable and secure. The use of renewable energies could free our citizens from the chains of increasing oil and natural gas prices. The use of renewable fuels could actually put dollars back into the pockets of consumers. Just as importantly, we could reverse the pollution of our atmosphere and provide a brighter future for our heirs.
Of the four renewable energy technologies, solar has the greatest potential to universally replace fossil fuels. The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. The U.S. is endowed with a vast resource of at least 250,000 square miles of land in the Southwest alone that would be suitable for constructing solar power plants. That land receives more than 4,500 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of solar energy a year. Converting only 2.5 percent of that radiation into electricity would match the nation's total energy consumption in 2006.The Southwest is used as an example and one could also think of land holdings in the south to accomplish the same mission.
There have been great strides in the past several years in the development of materials for solar energy photovoltaic cells and modules. The modules account for 65% of the cost of a solar installation. Current developments project that thin films made of cadmium telluride or copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGN) will be the least expensive materials for solar modules. To provide electricity at six cents per killo-Watt-hour (kWh) , thin film modules would have to convert electricity with 14 percent efficiency, and system would have to be installed at $1.20 per watt of capacity. On January 28, 2008 Global Solar Energy Inc. (CSE) claims to have achieved 10 percent efficiency for copper indium gallium diselenide on a flexible, lightweight substrate over several production runs. The company is demonstrating its confidence in this development by expanding its production with a new plant in Tucson in addition to a new plant in Berlin which is slated for production in mid-2008.
Scientists express confidence that continued developments in the next several years will achieve the 14% conversion efficiency. Cadmium telluride cells at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are now up to 16.5% and rising. Today, the lowest thin-film module price is at $3.66 per watt from a European retailer. With the rapid development and increasing installed manufacturing capacity one can readily project the $1.20 per watt capacity with 14 % efficiency by 2015. These milestones would yield six cents per kWh. As comparison commercial electricity generated by fossil fuels today is nine cents, and rising, per kWh . We can realize major savings to the consumer and reduction in environmental pollution with the projected solar energy plants.
There are other major intra structure projects to complete in order to utilize the solar farm. The generated energy would have to be stored to provide electricity 24 hours a day. Molten salt storage could store the solar energy and generate steam to drive a turbine for the hours of non sun generation. The first plant using this technology is being built is Spain. To transmit the power for the solar farm we would need to build new high-voltage direct current transmission to replace our AC current grid. This will be necessary for any future grid to provide a more reliable, robust transmission of power. This replacement will have to be done in the future or we will be subject to shortage of power like California. has experienced. The good news is that DC grids are cheaper to build.
To build the solar farm the federal government would have to invest more than $400 billion over the next 40 years to complete the installation. It is a substantial investment but our return on investment is greater. The plan would save billions of dollars in fuels each year. Six hundred coal and natural gas power plants could be replace eliminating the pollution that they produce.
The solar farm described above can technically be built. It will require a lot of money and strong leadership to start and complete. At the project completion we would have cheaper electricity and reduce our pollution for future generation. When it is possible please write or speak to your political representative to campaign solar energy electrical generation for a brighter tomorrow.
About the Author
I have a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering. Thirty six years spent in the development of semiconductors. Business experience in start up business plan. Currently, an oyster farmer and interested in helping the environment by deploying solar energy. Visit my Blog, http://environmentalhelp.typepad.com/ for continued information on renewable energy
If left unchecked heat trapping emission such as carbon dioxide, CO2, are projected to cause dangerous global warming that threatens our health and environment. Increased energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy would provide a roadmap to reduce fossil fuel demand, thereby reducing CO2 emissions from the largest US source: Electrical Power Plants. Reducing and eventually eliminating fossil fuels for our electrical power generation would make America's energy supply more reliable and secure. The use of renewable energies could free our citizens from the chains of increasing oil and natural gas prices. The use of renewable fuels could actually put dollars back into the pockets of consumers. Just as importantly, we could reverse the pollution of our atmosphere and provide a brighter future for our heirs.
Of the four renewable energy technologies, solar has the greatest potential to universally replace fossil fuels. The energy in sunlight striking the earth for 40 minutes is equivalent to global energy consumption for a year. The U.S. is endowed with a vast resource of at least 250,000 square miles of land in the Southwest alone that would be suitable for constructing solar power plants. That land receives more than 4,500 quadrillion British thermal units (Btu) of solar energy a year. Converting only 2.5 percent of that radiation into electricity would match the nation's total energy consumption in 2006.The Southwest is used as an example and one could also think of land holdings in the south to accomplish the same mission.
There have been great strides in the past several years in the development of materials for solar energy photovoltaic cells and modules. The modules account for 65% of the cost of a solar installation. Current developments project that thin films made of cadmium telluride or copper indium gallium diselenide (CIGN) will be the least expensive materials for solar modules. To provide electricity at six cents per killo-Watt-hour (kWh) , thin film modules would have to convert electricity with 14 percent efficiency, and system would have to be installed at $1.20 per watt of capacity. On January 28, 2008 Global Solar Energy Inc. (CSE) claims to have achieved 10 percent efficiency for copper indium gallium diselenide on a flexible, lightweight substrate over several production runs. The company is demonstrating its confidence in this development by expanding its production with a new plant in Tucson in addition to a new plant in Berlin which is slated for production in mid-2008.
Scientists express confidence that continued developments in the next several years will achieve the 14% conversion efficiency. Cadmium telluride cells at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory are now up to 16.5% and rising. Today, the lowest thin-film module price is at $3.66 per watt from a European retailer. With the rapid development and increasing installed manufacturing capacity one can readily project the $1.20 per watt capacity with 14 % efficiency by 2015. These milestones would yield six cents per kWh. As comparison commercial electricity generated by fossil fuels today is nine cents, and rising, per kWh . We can realize major savings to the consumer and reduction in environmental pollution with the projected solar energy plants.
There are other major intra structure projects to complete in order to utilize the solar farm. The generated energy would have to be stored to provide electricity 24 hours a day. Molten salt storage could store the solar energy and generate steam to drive a turbine for the hours of non sun generation. The first plant using this technology is being built is Spain. To transmit the power for the solar farm we would need to build new high-voltage direct current transmission to replace our AC current grid. This will be necessary for any future grid to provide a more reliable, robust transmission of power. This replacement will have to be done in the future or we will be subject to shortage of power like California. has experienced. The good news is that DC grids are cheaper to build.
To build the solar farm the federal government would have to invest more than $400 billion over the next 40 years to complete the installation. It is a substantial investment but our return on investment is greater. The plan would save billions of dollars in fuels each year. Six hundred coal and natural gas power plants could be replace eliminating the pollution that they produce.
The solar farm described above can technically be built. It will require a lot of money and strong leadership to start and complete. At the project completion we would have cheaper electricity and reduce our pollution for future generation. When it is possible please write or speak to your political representative to campaign solar energy electrical generation for a brighter tomorrow.
About the Author
I have a BS and MS in Metallurgical Engineering. Thirty six years spent in the development of semiconductors. Business experience in start up business plan. Currently, an oyster farmer and interested in helping the environment by deploying solar energy. Visit my Blog, http://environmentalhelp.typepad.com/ for continued information on renewable energy
Where Humans Live, The Corals Fail
The world's coral reefs are in alarming decline, and a recent groundbreaking study singles out human settlement, especially coastal development and agriculture, as the main culprit, even more so than warming sea waters and acidification linked to global warming.
The study found that declining reefs are endangering species of wildlife as well as tourism and fishing, which are vital for the local economy", says Camilo Mora, of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. This meant continuing degradation of coral reefs may be soon beyond repair. And there certainly won't be enough time for second or third chances.
In the study, Mora decided to compare several large-scale databases that had never been systematically cross-referenced. Focusing on coral, fish and macro-algae, or seaweed, in 322 sites across 13 countries in the Caribbean, the study matched environmental and ecological data against patterns of human population density and land usage. Also included were data on hurricanes, biodiversity, fish population and coral disease. What was discovered was the number of people is the main driver of the mortality of coral, along with declining fish biomass and increases in algae.
Even more interestingly, different kinds of human activities had different impacts. Higher population density in coastal areas produces more sewage and depletes fish stocks, causing coral mortality. Human expansion in coastal areas disrupted the maintenance of complex ecosystems and while Marine Protected Areas help restore fish populations, they do nothing to protect coral life. Right now, a- fifth of the world's marine reefs have already been destroyed and more are threatened, causing problems for many species that depend on reefs for shelter, reproduction and foraging.
These coral reefs also provide livelihoods for 100 million people and form the basis for industries such as tourism and fishing, which is a multi-billion industry. So, the next time a plot comes up along the coast for development, lets be very aware of how we are changing the ecological landscape of marine and coral life.
About the Author
This article was contributed by one of the staff members at KrabiDivers.com, the premier dive centre at Krabi Thailand. At our dive centre, all our instructors, guides and crew faithfully follow diving safety standards. We also conduct all levels of dive courses and have the philosophy of small-groups for instruction, to ensure our customers are given our full attention.
The study found that declining reefs are endangering species of wildlife as well as tourism and fishing, which are vital for the local economy", says Camilo Mora, of Dalhousie University in Halifax, Canada. This meant continuing degradation of coral reefs may be soon beyond repair. And there certainly won't be enough time for second or third chances.
In the study, Mora decided to compare several large-scale databases that had never been systematically cross-referenced. Focusing on coral, fish and macro-algae, or seaweed, in 322 sites across 13 countries in the Caribbean, the study matched environmental and ecological data against patterns of human population density and land usage. Also included were data on hurricanes, biodiversity, fish population and coral disease. What was discovered was the number of people is the main driver of the mortality of coral, along with declining fish biomass and increases in algae.
Even more interestingly, different kinds of human activities had different impacts. Higher population density in coastal areas produces more sewage and depletes fish stocks, causing coral mortality. Human expansion in coastal areas disrupted the maintenance of complex ecosystems and while Marine Protected Areas help restore fish populations, they do nothing to protect coral life. Right now, a- fifth of the world's marine reefs have already been destroyed and more are threatened, causing problems for many species that depend on reefs for shelter, reproduction and foraging.
These coral reefs also provide livelihoods for 100 million people and form the basis for industries such as tourism and fishing, which is a multi-billion industry. So, the next time a plot comes up along the coast for development, lets be very aware of how we are changing the ecological landscape of marine and coral life.
About the Author
This article was contributed by one of the staff members at KrabiDivers.com, the premier dive centre at Krabi Thailand. At our dive centre, all our instructors, guides and crew faithfully follow diving safety standards. We also conduct all levels of dive courses and have the philosophy of small-groups for instruction, to ensure our customers are given our full attention.
Exploring the Oceans for Oil and Minerals
As accessible coastal oil reserves in shallow waters near the shore become exhausted, alternative sources must be continually found. A synthesis of advanced technologies has opened up new frontiers in deeps sea oil and gas explorations. With over 70% of the earth covered in water there is a lot of territory to explore, which makes starting in the right place a paramount issue. Sensors aboard satellites, surface ships, and submarines have helped locate and access oil reserves in areas previously thought impossible to reach. Currently drilling in the Gulf of Mexico is taking place at depths as low as 2500m’s.
Satellite imagery is an area continually undergoing innovation. In the past satellite data has been used to identify “macroseepsâ€, or large pools of oil at the surface leaked from reserves below. Using advanced sensing equipment and lasers, satellites can now pick up traces of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere above suspected oil reserves. Comparing images taken at various times can help pinpoint locate the exact sources of the seeps.
Determining actual depth seabed has traditionally been done with surface ships using depth sounding equipment, but now satellite altimetry is used to create images of the seabed below. Dips and bulges at the surface of the ocean, not visible with the naked eye, follow the ocean floor can be identified by measuring signals sent through a network of satellite and ground stations.
Until recently the intense pressures of the deep sea has limited submersible exploration. Robotics has allowed submersibles to dive as deep as 3600m’s, or 12 000ft. These craft can take pictures, videos, and scans as well as collect material samples from the oceans floor. Samples can be examined for hydrocarbon contents, and imagery can be used to locate oil seeps coming from the sea bed.
With oil wells successfully operating nearly a mile below the surface mining and mineral exploration companies have begun to cross the rift to deep sea operations. If you can go 2 km’s through solid rock to reach mineral deposits why not 2km’s below sea level? Hydrothermal vents near volcanically active places superheat sea water as it seeps below the porous ocean floor. As the water shoots out the vent dissolved minerals precipitate forming mineral rich towers known as black smokers. These towers collapse over time forming vast fields of resources. Some suggest that mining in these sea beds are far less environmentally destructive than mining from the earth’s surface. Deposits lying on the sea floor are immediately accessible without extensive excavation efforts. Acid drainage released from the process would be neutralized in the alkaline sea water. Another benefit advocates point to is that no permanent structures or rock waste piles would be left behind.
With emerging superpowers, China and India, driving the demands for oil exponentially upwards American companies, such as Triple Diamond Energy Corp, are continually seeking new ways to reduce the need for foreign oil importation.
About the Author
About the Author: Robert Jent is President & CEO of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy is an independent producer of oil and natural gas. Located in the Dallas area, the company specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties.
Satellite imagery is an area continually undergoing innovation. In the past satellite data has been used to identify “macroseepsâ€, or large pools of oil at the surface leaked from reserves below. Using advanced sensing equipment and lasers, satellites can now pick up traces of hydrocarbons in the atmosphere above suspected oil reserves. Comparing images taken at various times can help pinpoint locate the exact sources of the seeps.
Determining actual depth seabed has traditionally been done with surface ships using depth sounding equipment, but now satellite altimetry is used to create images of the seabed below. Dips and bulges at the surface of the ocean, not visible with the naked eye, follow the ocean floor can be identified by measuring signals sent through a network of satellite and ground stations.
Until recently the intense pressures of the deep sea has limited submersible exploration. Robotics has allowed submersibles to dive as deep as 3600m’s, or 12 000ft. These craft can take pictures, videos, and scans as well as collect material samples from the oceans floor. Samples can be examined for hydrocarbon contents, and imagery can be used to locate oil seeps coming from the sea bed.
With oil wells successfully operating nearly a mile below the surface mining and mineral exploration companies have begun to cross the rift to deep sea operations. If you can go 2 km’s through solid rock to reach mineral deposits why not 2km’s below sea level? Hydrothermal vents near volcanically active places superheat sea water as it seeps below the porous ocean floor. As the water shoots out the vent dissolved minerals precipitate forming mineral rich towers known as black smokers. These towers collapse over time forming vast fields of resources. Some suggest that mining in these sea beds are far less environmentally destructive than mining from the earth’s surface. Deposits lying on the sea floor are immediately accessible without extensive excavation efforts. Acid drainage released from the process would be neutralized in the alkaline sea water. Another benefit advocates point to is that no permanent structures or rock waste piles would be left behind.
With emerging superpowers, China and India, driving the demands for oil exponentially upwards American companies, such as Triple Diamond Energy Corp, are continually seeking new ways to reduce the need for foreign oil importation.
About the Author
About the Author: Robert Jent is President & CEO of Triple Diamond Energy Corp. Triple Diamond Energy is an independent producer of oil and natural gas. Located in the Dallas area, the company specializes in acquiring the highest quality prime oil and gas properties.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Excessive Noise Exposure Can Cause Heart Disease
A new data has provided the link showing that there are earlier deaths because of noise. Until now noise is a form of pollution that most people are not aware of, that it has a detrimental impact to their health. Thousands of people around the world are dying untimely from heart disease brought about by long term exposure to excessive noise a research by World Health Organization (WHO). The world body’s working group on the Noise Environmental Burden on Disease has began working on the health effects of noise in Europe in 2003.
In addition to the heart disease link, it has found that two percent of Europeans suffer severely disturb sleep because of noise pollution and fifteen percent has suffered severe annoyance. Chronic exposure to load traffic noise causes three percent of tinnitus cases, in which people constantly hear a noise in their ears.
Research in recent years has shown that noise can increase the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body, even during sleep. The longer these hormones stay in circulation around the blood stream, the more likely they are to cause life threatening physiological problems.
High stress levels can lead to heart failure strokes, high blood pressure and immune problems. The WHO came to its figures by comparing household with abnormally high exposure to noise with those in quieter homes.
According to WHO guidelines, the noise threshold for cardiovascular problems is chronic night time exposure of fifty decibels (50 db) or above-the noise of light traffic. For sleep disturbance, the threshold is forty two decibels (42 db), for general annoyance it is thirty five decibels (35 db), the sound of whisper.
With our environment getting busier and noisier, noise pollution can be stressful and it can trigger heart attack to people with heart ailment.
About the Author
Arnold Cafe is an active internet marketer and author of Ideas Galore, http://www.affleap.com/blog
In addition to the heart disease link, it has found that two percent of Europeans suffer severely disturb sleep because of noise pollution and fifteen percent has suffered severe annoyance. Chronic exposure to load traffic noise causes three percent of tinnitus cases, in which people constantly hear a noise in their ears.
Research in recent years has shown that noise can increase the levels of stress hormones such as cortisol, adrenaline and noradrenaline in the body, even during sleep. The longer these hormones stay in circulation around the blood stream, the more likely they are to cause life threatening physiological problems.
High stress levels can lead to heart failure strokes, high blood pressure and immune problems. The WHO came to its figures by comparing household with abnormally high exposure to noise with those in quieter homes.
According to WHO guidelines, the noise threshold for cardiovascular problems is chronic night time exposure of fifty decibels (50 db) or above-the noise of light traffic. For sleep disturbance, the threshold is forty two decibels (42 db), for general annoyance it is thirty five decibels (35 db), the sound of whisper.
With our environment getting busier and noisier, noise pollution can be stressful and it can trigger heart attack to people with heart ailment.
About the Author
Arnold Cafe is an active internet marketer and author of Ideas Galore, http://www.affleap.com/blog
Odour Control In a Bucket
Anotec Odour Control now supplies convenient portable odour systems. Client can benefit from either purchasing outright or hiring these effective units for the duration of any projects.
Built specifically for use with Anotec Odour Control's specialty odour control solution 0307, portable odour system is flexible and robust and can be used in many types of applications like landfill, site remediation, waste management, fugitive emissions etc.
Due to the ease of transportation and installation, the portable odour systems and the 0307 solution is referred to as Odour Control in a Bucket. When you hire or buy our odour control package in a bucket, you get a unit packed in a reusuable bucket, a 25 litre drum of Anotec 0307 and a 200L reservoir tank.
All can be put together and ready to go in 3 minutes. No retention time, no waiting - instant odour control at your fingertips.
http://anotec.com.au
About the Author
Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute With Over 20 years research into various odour issues for industry.
Built specifically for use with Anotec Odour Control's specialty odour control solution 0307, portable odour system is flexible and robust and can be used in many types of applications like landfill, site remediation, waste management, fugitive emissions etc.
Due to the ease of transportation and installation, the portable odour systems and the 0307 solution is referred to as Odour Control in a Bucket. When you hire or buy our odour control package in a bucket, you get a unit packed in a reusuable bucket, a 25 litre drum of Anotec 0307 and a 200L reservoir tank.
All can be put together and ready to go in 3 minutes. No retention time, no waiting - instant odour control at your fingertips.
http://anotec.com.au
About the Author
Chartered Chemist and Member of the Royal Australian Chemical Institute With Over 20 years research into various odour issues for industry.
The Alternative Energy Revolutions Starts With You
Developing alternative energy sources is an undertaking that should appeal to people of every political persuasion. Whether you are concerned about global warming,or whether you are concerned about the national security implications of our dependence on imported oil, getting our civilization un-hooked from its addiction to fossil fuels is an issue that everyone should be ableto agree on. There are many things every individual can do today to improve our energy situation without waiting around for "them" to take care of it.
Some of the biggest alternative energy ideas will require vast concentrations of capital to bring to reality. Hydrogen fuel cell cars, plug-in electric hybrids, wind farms, cellulosic ethanol plants, thousand-acre photovoltaic farms, and wave energy projects all require research and development expertise and capital sources that are far beyond the reach of the average citizen.
However, one of the cheapest, easiest and potentially most effective forms of "alternative energy" is available to everyone. Unfortunately, it doesn't get as much press as it deserves. This form of alternative energy is CONSERVATION -- not using energy that we don't have to use. Also called "nega-watts", energy conservation is a vast potential reservoir of energy that we are currently letting go to waste. Energy conservation does not require making sacrifices. In many cases, using energy more efficiently actually improves quality of life and generates a far above average return on nvestment.
The best thing about energy conservation is that it doesn't require complex government regulations or advanced technology to implement. Almost every person living in a technologically advanced society can look around and find ways that they can use energy more efficiently.
In the past few years, we have done some simple things around our house that have resulted in about a fifteen percent reduction in our home energy consumption. We cut our electricity use by changing out most of our incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescents and by hanging our laundry outside to dry when the weather is pleasant. We turn off the power strips connected to our computers and other electronics when we shut them down. We replaced a 4 watt night light that stayed on all the time with a 0.37 watt LED night light that also stays on all the time. This tiny change cost $2.99 and will pay for itself in about a year by saving 31 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Of course, these things are a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the total electricity consumption in the United States, but if one hundred million American households figured out a way to save similar amounts, we could eliminate the need for a new power plant here and there.
We cut our natural gas consumption by plugging up obvious air leaks around the house. We put an insulating plug in the flue of a fireplace we never use, which keeps cold air from falling down through the damper which did not seal well. We use insulating panels in our windows at night, which keep a significant amount of cold air where it belongs in the winter -- on the outside. And, yes, we keep our thermostat turned down as low as we can in the winter and supplement our central heating by wearing sweaters and draping blankets on our laps to watch TV. It is a small "sacrifice", it saves a lot of money, and the cats love curling up on our blanketed laps in the evening.
All of these things cost very little money. Any investment we made quickly paid for itself in reduced utility bills. Plus, the savings go on and on year after year, representing significant tax-free returns on our investment.
Now that we have taken advantage of most of the "low hanging fruit" around our house, we are planning ahead for making some more serious investments which will also pay back in a short time and reduce our home energy consumption even more. In our near future, we see an extra twelve inches of attic insulation, an enclosed sun-space out our back door, and thermosiphoning air panels along our south-facing walls. By the time we are finished, our home energy consumption will be a tiny fraction of what it was a few years ago when we rarely gave it a thought.
Concerned about global warming and national security? Stop waiting around for the government to do something about it. Look around and do what you can do right now. For ideas on what you can do in and around your own home, visit Alternative Energy Resources and GreenRealist.Com today.
About the Author
John Erwin is a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the energy industry. He believes that global warming is the most critical issue facing this and future generations.
Some of the biggest alternative energy ideas will require vast concentrations of capital to bring to reality. Hydrogen fuel cell cars, plug-in electric hybrids, wind farms, cellulosic ethanol plants, thousand-acre photovoltaic farms, and wave energy projects all require research and development expertise and capital sources that are far beyond the reach of the average citizen.
However, one of the cheapest, easiest and potentially most effective forms of "alternative energy" is available to everyone. Unfortunately, it doesn't get as much press as it deserves. This form of alternative energy is CONSERVATION -- not using energy that we don't have to use. Also called "nega-watts", energy conservation is a vast potential reservoir of energy that we are currently letting go to waste. Energy conservation does not require making sacrifices. In many cases, using energy more efficiently actually improves quality of life and generates a far above average return on nvestment.
The best thing about energy conservation is that it doesn't require complex government regulations or advanced technology to implement. Almost every person living in a technologically advanced society can look around and find ways that they can use energy more efficiently.
In the past few years, we have done some simple things around our house that have resulted in about a fifteen percent reduction in our home energy consumption. We cut our electricity use by changing out most of our incandescent light bulbs with compact flourescents and by hanging our laundry outside to dry when the weather is pleasant. We turn off the power strips connected to our computers and other electronics when we shut them down. We replaced a 4 watt night light that stayed on all the time with a 0.37 watt LED night light that also stays on all the time. This tiny change cost $2.99 and will pay for itself in about a year by saving 31 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year. Of course, these things are a tiny drop in the bucket compared to the total electricity consumption in the United States, but if one hundred million American households figured out a way to save similar amounts, we could eliminate the need for a new power plant here and there.
We cut our natural gas consumption by plugging up obvious air leaks around the house. We put an insulating plug in the flue of a fireplace we never use, which keeps cold air from falling down through the damper which did not seal well. We use insulating panels in our windows at night, which keep a significant amount of cold air where it belongs in the winter -- on the outside. And, yes, we keep our thermostat turned down as low as we can in the winter and supplement our central heating by wearing sweaters and draping blankets on our laps to watch TV. It is a small "sacrifice", it saves a lot of money, and the cats love curling up on our blanketed laps in the evening.
All of these things cost very little money. Any investment we made quickly paid for itself in reduced utility bills. Plus, the savings go on and on year after year, representing significant tax-free returns on our investment.
Now that we have taken advantage of most of the "low hanging fruit" around our house, we are planning ahead for making some more serious investments which will also pay back in a short time and reduce our home energy consumption even more. In our near future, we see an extra twelve inches of attic insulation, an enclosed sun-space out our back door, and thermosiphoning air panels along our south-facing walls. By the time we are finished, our home energy consumption will be a tiny fraction of what it was a few years ago when we rarely gave it a thought.
Concerned about global warming and national security? Stop waiting around for the government to do something about it. Look around and do what you can do right now. For ideas on what you can do in and around your own home, visit Alternative Energy Resources and GreenRealist.Com today.
About the Author
John Erwin is a mechanical engineer with an extensive background in the energy industry. He believes that global warming is the most critical issue facing this and future generations.
Wednesday, January 23, 2008
Energy and Your UK Home
As part of the newly regulated energy performance certificate required of all new and existing residential dwellings in England and Wales, every homeowner must submit a Home information pack to the UK government. The UK Housing Minister is the head of the energy efficiency program in the UK. Certified home inspectors, called Domestic Energy Assessors, will advise home buyers, builders and sellers on what energy efficient measures could help improve their home efficiency. These measures could include thicker attic insulation, solar panels and energy efficient appliances.
Without the requisite home information pack and an assessment by a licensed domestic energy assessor, a new home will not be constructed and an existing home will not be able to be sold.
The Home Information Pack is designed to assist in reducing energy costs at the rate of what the UK government has assessed as 1 million daily. This home information pack, part of the energy performance certificate compliance, includes a report of Home Condition, the terms of the sale of the home and any details of the search. A report of the homes energy efficiency rating must also be included in this report. The purpose behind the rating is to let the potential buyers know the likely costs of the energy to run their new home.
An energy performance certificate, in addition to complying with mandatory government regulations, could be seen by sellers as a help rather than a hindrance to the sale. Potential buyers who see that the home has earned the energy performance certificate will be assured that their energy costs in their new home will be comparably lower than others who havent complied.
There are additional benefits for the consumer of this energy performance certificate. It will provide the assessment that will let owners know what needs improving to save energy and the affiliated costs. It will also guide them on how to accomplish the improvements. It will help improve the condition and saleability of the home as well as improving the environment for all. It may well reduce the cost of repair for those things that might have gone on undetected had it not been for the energy performance certificate inspection. As we all know, finding a problem while its minor is less time consuming and less costly than repairing or replacing when disaster strikes.
First time buyers will now, with the initiation of the energy performance certificate and the home information pack that must accompany it, be armed with more information. They can confidently assess and compare, and find the lowest cost of entry for the purchase of their new home.
A home information pack is not free. Its cost varies by local market, although the average seems to be 600 to 700. This cost is typically divided between buyer and seller although there are home energy performance certificate providers that have pledged to provide their assistance at no charge or at least reduced cost.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk where you can find out about plumbing training
Without the requisite home information pack and an assessment by a licensed domestic energy assessor, a new home will not be constructed and an existing home will not be able to be sold.
The Home Information Pack is designed to assist in reducing energy costs at the rate of what the UK government has assessed as 1 million daily. This home information pack, part of the energy performance certificate compliance, includes a report of Home Condition, the terms of the sale of the home and any details of the search. A report of the homes energy efficiency rating must also be included in this report. The purpose behind the rating is to let the potential buyers know the likely costs of the energy to run their new home.
An energy performance certificate, in addition to complying with mandatory government regulations, could be seen by sellers as a help rather than a hindrance to the sale. Potential buyers who see that the home has earned the energy performance certificate will be assured that their energy costs in their new home will be comparably lower than others who havent complied.
There are additional benefits for the consumer of this energy performance certificate. It will provide the assessment that will let owners know what needs improving to save energy and the affiliated costs. It will also guide them on how to accomplish the improvements. It will help improve the condition and saleability of the home as well as improving the environment for all. It may well reduce the cost of repair for those things that might have gone on undetected had it not been for the energy performance certificate inspection. As we all know, finding a problem while its minor is less time consuming and less costly than repairing or replacing when disaster strikes.
First time buyers will now, with the initiation of the energy performance certificate and the home information pack that must accompany it, be armed with more information. They can confidently assess and compare, and find the lowest cost of entry for the purchase of their new home.
A home information pack is not free. Its cost varies by local market, although the average seems to be 600 to 700. This cost is typically divided between buyer and seller although there are home energy performance certificate providers that have pledged to provide their assistance at no charge or at least reduced cost.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk where you can find out about plumbing training
Those Fish Stealing Eagles!
The morning was slightly overcast with marshmallow clouds hovering over the lake as we made our way to one of our favorite fishing holes. The fish were still on the beds in only couple of feet of water and if you dangled a minnow anywhere near them, you could pull up a big slab crappie almost as soon as you threw the bait into the water.
We were on Jessup Lake in central Florida, about twenty minutes from Orlando in very early spring. Nature had sprinkled the surrounding shoreline with bouquets of wild flowers of every imaginable shade of pinks, whites and reds, as shrubs and trees changed from winter coats to springtime plumage.
We'd only been fishing for a couple of hours and had a nice string of fish that would go in the freezer after we'd gotten back to the dock and cleaned them. Another one had just pulled my bobber under the water when I saw a large bird dive out of the sky and hover about twenty feet above the water, just a good casting distance from me!
Having seen them before on this lake, I knew I was watching an osprey tracking breakfast, or maybe lunch. As I pulled the crappie into the boat the bird dropped feet first into the lake and immediately came up with a fish that looked larger than his captor; though ospreys usually can lift and fly with an object only half of their weight.
While I was sitting in the boat gawking at this awesome sight, two other slightly larger birds soared out of the clouds and dove at the osprey as he headed for shore with his catch. Before I realized what was happening, one of the birds dove at the osprey as if was trying to knock him out of the sky! I was witnessing an aerial battle between two young eagles and the osprey for possession of the fish!
They'd obviously found that harassing the osprey to the point where he dropped the fish was a lot easier than catching the fish themselves. I guess stealing is learned at an early age in the wild, maybe even in civilization.
By the coloring of the eagles I guessed they were between one and two years old. Young eagles don't develop the white head and feet until their fourth to fifth year; these were a mottled black and gray color. Both were a little larger than the osprey, despite their youth.
Adult eagles are larger than the osprey, having a wing span of 6 to 8 feet, while the osprey is smaller, about 4 to 6 feet. Both however have similar lifestyles. Each species catches fish the same way, diving toward their prey and then plunging into the water feet first, grabbing the fish with their talons. Both mate for life, only taking another mate if their current companion dies.
Eagles' builds their nests high atop trees, living or dead, while ospreys prefer nesting in dead trees so leaves won't get in their way when they return to their nests. Both bird's nests are between 5 feet and 10 feet in diameter.
As I was watching one of the young eagles soared high into the air and dove straight at the osprey as he struggled to carry the fish to the shore. As soon as the first bird flew away, the other eagle shot from high above the heavily laden bird and came so close to it they almost collided, causing the osprey to drop the fish near the bank of the lake!
Immediately the other young eagle snatched the fish off the ground and flew away, dropping it onto a fork in the tree where the mother waited. The osprey was not about to try and recover his stolen property!
I always look forward to going to Lake Jessup because I always witness things I can't see anywhere else, like alligators by the thousands!
The morning was slightly overcast with marshmallow clouds hovering over the lake as we made our way to one of our favorite fishing holes. The fish were still on the beds in only couple of feet of water and if you dangled a minnow anywhere near them, you could pull up a big slab crappie almost as soon as you threw the bait into the water.
We were on Jessup Lake in central Florida, about twenty minutes from Orlando in very early spring. Nature had sprinkled the surrounding shoreline with bouquets of wild flowers of every imaginable shade of pinks, whites and reds, as shrubs and trees changed from winter coats to springtime plumage.
We'd only been fishing for a couple of hours and had a nice string of fish that would go in the freezer after we'd gotten back to the dock and cleaned them. Another one had just pulled my bobber under the water when I saw a large bird dive out of the sky and hover about twenty feet above the water, just a good casting distance from me!
Having seen them before on this lake, I knew I was watching an osprey tracking breakfast, or maybe lunch. As I pulled the crappie into the boat the bird dropped feet first into the lake and immediately came up with a fish that looked larger than his captor; though ospreys usually can lift and fly with an object only half of their weight.
While I was sitting in the boat gawking at this awesome sight, two other slightly larger birds soared out of the clouds and dove at the osprey as he headed for shore with his catch. Before I realized what was happening, one of the birds dove at the osprey as if was trying to knock him out of the sky! I was witnessing an aerial battle between two young eagles and the osprey for possession of the fish!
They'd obviously found that harassing the osprey to the point where he dropped the fish was a lot easier than catching the fish themselves. I guess stealing is learned at an early age in the wild, maybe even in civilization.
By the coloring of the eagles I guessed they were between one and two years old. Young eagles don't develop the white head and feet until their fourth to fifth year; these were a mottled black and gray color. Both were a little larger than the osprey, despite their youth.
Adult eagles are larger than the osprey, having a wing span of 6 to 8 feet, while the osprey is smaller, about 4 to 6 feet. Both however have similar lifestyles. Each species catches fish the same way, diving toward their prey and then plunging into the water feet first, grabbing the fish with their talons. Both mate for life, only taking another mate if their current companion dies.
Eagles' builds their nests high atop trees, living or dead, while ospreys prefer nesting in dead trees so leaves won't get in their way when they return to their nests. Both bird's nests are between 5 feet and 10 feet in diameter.
As I was watching one of the young eagles soared high into the air and dove straight at the osprey as he struggled to carry the fish to the shore. As soon as the first bird flew away, the other eagle shot from high above the heavily laden bird and came so close to it they almost collided, causing the osprey to drop the fish near the bank of the lake!
Immediately the other young eagle snatched the fish off the ground and flew away, dropping it onto a fork in the tree where the mother waited. The osprey was not about to try and recover his stolen property!
I always look forward to going to Lake Jessup because I always witness things I can't see anywhere else, like alligators by the thousands!
About the Author
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: http://www.bluemarlinbob.com http://www.redfishbob.com
We were on Jessup Lake in central Florida, about twenty minutes from Orlando in very early spring. Nature had sprinkled the surrounding shoreline with bouquets of wild flowers of every imaginable shade of pinks, whites and reds, as shrubs and trees changed from winter coats to springtime plumage.
We'd only been fishing for a couple of hours and had a nice string of fish that would go in the freezer after we'd gotten back to the dock and cleaned them. Another one had just pulled my bobber under the water when I saw a large bird dive out of the sky and hover about twenty feet above the water, just a good casting distance from me!
Having seen them before on this lake, I knew I was watching an osprey tracking breakfast, or maybe lunch. As I pulled the crappie into the boat the bird dropped feet first into the lake and immediately came up with a fish that looked larger than his captor; though ospreys usually can lift and fly with an object only half of their weight.
While I was sitting in the boat gawking at this awesome sight, two other slightly larger birds soared out of the clouds and dove at the osprey as he headed for shore with his catch. Before I realized what was happening, one of the birds dove at the osprey as if was trying to knock him out of the sky! I was witnessing an aerial battle between two young eagles and the osprey for possession of the fish!
They'd obviously found that harassing the osprey to the point where he dropped the fish was a lot easier than catching the fish themselves. I guess stealing is learned at an early age in the wild, maybe even in civilization.
By the coloring of the eagles I guessed they were between one and two years old. Young eagles don't develop the white head and feet until their fourth to fifth year; these were a mottled black and gray color. Both were a little larger than the osprey, despite their youth.
Adult eagles are larger than the osprey, having a wing span of 6 to 8 feet, while the osprey is smaller, about 4 to 6 feet. Both however have similar lifestyles. Each species catches fish the same way, diving toward their prey and then plunging into the water feet first, grabbing the fish with their talons. Both mate for life, only taking another mate if their current companion dies.
Eagles' builds their nests high atop trees, living or dead, while ospreys prefer nesting in dead trees so leaves won't get in their way when they return to their nests. Both bird's nests are between 5 feet and 10 feet in diameter.
As I was watching one of the young eagles soared high into the air and dove straight at the osprey as he struggled to carry the fish to the shore. As soon as the first bird flew away, the other eagle shot from high above the heavily laden bird and came so close to it they almost collided, causing the osprey to drop the fish near the bank of the lake!
Immediately the other young eagle snatched the fish off the ground and flew away, dropping it onto a fork in the tree where the mother waited. The osprey was not about to try and recover his stolen property!
I always look forward to going to Lake Jessup because I always witness things I can't see anywhere else, like alligators by the thousands!
The morning was slightly overcast with marshmallow clouds hovering over the lake as we made our way to one of our favorite fishing holes. The fish were still on the beds in only couple of feet of water and if you dangled a minnow anywhere near them, you could pull up a big slab crappie almost as soon as you threw the bait into the water.
We were on Jessup Lake in central Florida, about twenty minutes from Orlando in very early spring. Nature had sprinkled the surrounding shoreline with bouquets of wild flowers of every imaginable shade of pinks, whites and reds, as shrubs and trees changed from winter coats to springtime plumage.
We'd only been fishing for a couple of hours and had a nice string of fish that would go in the freezer after we'd gotten back to the dock and cleaned them. Another one had just pulled my bobber under the water when I saw a large bird dive out of the sky and hover about twenty feet above the water, just a good casting distance from me!
Having seen them before on this lake, I knew I was watching an osprey tracking breakfast, or maybe lunch. As I pulled the crappie into the boat the bird dropped feet first into the lake and immediately came up with a fish that looked larger than his captor; though ospreys usually can lift and fly with an object only half of their weight.
While I was sitting in the boat gawking at this awesome sight, two other slightly larger birds soared out of the clouds and dove at the osprey as he headed for shore with his catch. Before I realized what was happening, one of the birds dove at the osprey as if was trying to knock him out of the sky! I was witnessing an aerial battle between two young eagles and the osprey for possession of the fish!
They'd obviously found that harassing the osprey to the point where he dropped the fish was a lot easier than catching the fish themselves. I guess stealing is learned at an early age in the wild, maybe even in civilization.
By the coloring of the eagles I guessed they were between one and two years old. Young eagles don't develop the white head and feet until their fourth to fifth year; these were a mottled black and gray color. Both were a little larger than the osprey, despite their youth.
Adult eagles are larger than the osprey, having a wing span of 6 to 8 feet, while the osprey is smaller, about 4 to 6 feet. Both however have similar lifestyles. Each species catches fish the same way, diving toward their prey and then plunging into the water feet first, grabbing the fish with their talons. Both mate for life, only taking another mate if their current companion dies.
Eagles' builds their nests high atop trees, living or dead, while ospreys prefer nesting in dead trees so leaves won't get in their way when they return to their nests. Both bird's nests are between 5 feet and 10 feet in diameter.
As I was watching one of the young eagles soared high into the air and dove straight at the osprey as he struggled to carry the fish to the shore. As soon as the first bird flew away, the other eagle shot from high above the heavily laden bird and came so close to it they almost collided, causing the osprey to drop the fish near the bank of the lake!
Immediately the other young eagle snatched the fish off the ground and flew away, dropping it onto a fork in the tree where the mother waited. The osprey was not about to try and recover his stolen property!
I always look forward to going to Lake Jessup because I always witness things I can't see anywhere else, like alligators by the thousands!
About the Author
Bob Alexander is well experienced in outdoor cooking, fishing and leisure living. Bob is also the author and owner of this article. Visit his sites at: http://www.bluemarlinbob.com http://www.redfishbob.com
Global Warming And Getting Right With God
When you receive the Seal you will prepare yourself, because global warming is ushering in the end times. As global warming progresses the end of the world is approaching and you will prepare yourself spiritually.
2007 was tied as the 2nd-hottest year in recorded history. In the north, thaws are already happening a week earlier in the spring and freezing does not happen now for another week.
This has changed in the past century, and most of the change has happened in the past decade. Since global warming is speeding up, you can see it is a sign of the end times.
When the disciples of Jesus asked Him about what the end-times would be like, He told them a simple parable. It was the parable of a fig tree. When the fig tree blossoms, you know that summer is near.
Jesus said the end of the world would come like a summer. And what do you have happening now? Global warming turning your winters into summers. The fig tree is blossoming. That "summer" is approaching.
Natural disasters are rising along with world temperatures. There are more wildfires now. There are more droughts. There are more floods. The hurricanes that do happen are more severe.
These natural disasters are going to affect the poor people of the world much more than they will affect the wealthy people like the inhabitants of the United States. But most of the pollution causing global warming is from the US.
The US is the world's biggest polluter of carbon dioxide, the "greenhouse gas" blamed for trapping in the heat of the sun much like a greenhouse keeps the plants inside it warm.
But much of the CO2 emitted by the US is from coal-fired power plants. This is something that can be changed quite easily. And another large amount of CO2 is from automobiles. New technology can soon replace this old-fashioned way of getting around.
But for now nothing is being done in the US, the place with the most capital and ingenuity to solve the problems of global warming. Nothing is being done by the biggest offender, also the one most able to make changes.
But the capital and the ingenuity are not enough. That will not change the people. And even changing people so they are not polluting as much is not enough. People need to change spiritually now.
You need to change spiritually. You need to get right with God because global warming is the ushering in of the end times. This is not prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled. This has already started happening.
You need to be sealed. Then you will please God. Then God will write His Name upon your forehead. And then you will belong to God. And when you belong to God you will enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
The world is coming to an end but you can have eternal Life in Heaven. Then your life will never end. And Heaven will not be destroyed by an unscrupulous bunch of people.
When you are sealed you will be right with God. And that is what you need today--to get right with God. Because global warming is the beginning of the end of the world. And at the end God will accept you when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
2007 was tied as the 2nd-hottest year in recorded history. In the north, thaws are already happening a week earlier in the spring and freezing does not happen now for another week.
This has changed in the past century, and most of the change has happened in the past decade. Since global warming is speeding up, you can see it is a sign of the end times.
When the disciples of Jesus asked Him about what the end-times would be like, He told them a simple parable. It was the parable of a fig tree. When the fig tree blossoms, you know that summer is near.
Jesus said the end of the world would come like a summer. And what do you have happening now? Global warming turning your winters into summers. The fig tree is blossoming. That "summer" is approaching.
Natural disasters are rising along with world temperatures. There are more wildfires now. There are more droughts. There are more floods. The hurricanes that do happen are more severe.
These natural disasters are going to affect the poor people of the world much more than they will affect the wealthy people like the inhabitants of the United States. But most of the pollution causing global warming is from the US.
The US is the world's biggest polluter of carbon dioxide, the "greenhouse gas" blamed for trapping in the heat of the sun much like a greenhouse keeps the plants inside it warm.
But much of the CO2 emitted by the US is from coal-fired power plants. This is something that can be changed quite easily. And another large amount of CO2 is from automobiles. New technology can soon replace this old-fashioned way of getting around.
But for now nothing is being done in the US, the place with the most capital and ingenuity to solve the problems of global warming. Nothing is being done by the biggest offender, also the one most able to make changes.
But the capital and the ingenuity are not enough. That will not change the people. And even changing people so they are not polluting as much is not enough. People need to change spiritually now.
You need to change spiritually. You need to get right with God because global warming is the ushering in of the end times. This is not prophecy that has yet to be fulfilled. This has already started happening.
You need to be sealed. Then you will please God. Then God will write His Name upon your forehead. And then you will belong to God. And when you belong to God you will enter into the kingdom of Heaven.
The world is coming to an end but you can have eternal Life in Heaven. Then your life will never end. And Heaven will not be destroyed by an unscrupulous bunch of people.
When you are sealed you will be right with God. And that is what you need today--to get right with God. Because global warming is the beginning of the end of the world. And at the end God will accept you when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
Save Money--In the Utility Closet
IN THE UTILITY CLOSET: Air Conditioner and Furnace Filters: Instead of replacing your disposable air filter several times a year, consider buying a permanent one that can be washed and reused indefinitely. Most of these filters have lifetime warranties, so you'll save money in the long run as well as reduce the amount of waste you send to the landfill. If half of all U.S. households replaced their disposable air filters with a single reusable one, the number of air filters saved form landfills each year could blanket the entire land area of Washington, D.C. Dry Cleaning: If you must use dry cleaners, try to go less frequently. You will not only save on drive time and fuel, you'll save plastic. Dry cleaners bunch items together into plastic garment bags, so the more items you bring at once, the better. If one in ten households took one less trip to the cleaners each year and saved two plastic garment bags, the plastic stitched together would make more than nine thousand hot air balloons. Better yet: Request no plastic bags, and return your paper hangers to the dry cleaners for recycling. You can also try eco-freindly dry clearners, or wet cleaners (whcih use biodegradable soap). Dryers: Clean your dryers lint screen, and don't overload the dryer. You'll save up to 5 percent on your electricity bill. If everyone did it, we'd save the energy equivalent of 350 million gallons of gasoline per year. Better yet: Use a clothesline when possible. Phone books: Recycle them. Better yet: Call a stop phone book delivery and then use an online telephone directory instead. Telephone books make up almost 10 percent of waste at dump sites. These hints come from "the green book" ....buy the green book and go to www.readthegreenbook.com.
About the Author
just an individual who's concerned with treating the world more gently along with saving money. for more tips go to http://saveapennysavetheworld.blogspot.com
About the Author
just an individual who's concerned with treating the world more gently along with saving money. for more tips go to http://saveapennysavetheworld.blogspot.com
Prediction Of Jesus Has Been Happening
When you receive the Seal you will see the sign of the end-times: global warming. This is the end of the world as predicted by Jesus Christ Himself. You will thus prepare yourself accordingly.
The world is growing warmer and it is happening faster than predicted. You may not believe the "consensus" on global warming. After all it is not proven by reputable scientific processes but by a simple consensus or agreement among scientists.
But the scientists do not need to be right. The scientists are not even needed. You can see that global warming is already happening by simply looking at records of temperatures taken in the last 100 years.
So it does not matter what is causing global warming. It does not matter who was at fault. What matters is it is the sign that the end-times are coming. And you must prepare yourself to meet God.
When the disciples of Jesus asked Him about the end-times He told them a simple little parable of a fig tree. This is not one of His more complex and mysterious parables. This one is easy to understand.
When the fig tree blossoms you know that the summer is near. That "summer" is the end of the world. And that "summer" is the summer that is being caused by global warming.
Global warming is making winter more like summer every year. The winters are warming and that is throwing out of balance the delicate ecosystem of the earth. That will be catastrophic.
The main culprit is carbon dioxide. This gas is considered a greenhouse gas because it is blamed for trapping the heat of the sun in the atmosphere so the world is getting warmer as if inside a greenhouse.
The United States is the world's biggest polluter with carbon dioxide. Most of it comes from coal-fired power plants. Then American automobiles are producing another large amount of CO2.
Both these polluters can be changed relatively easily. It will not hurt the economy of the US to change the electricity sources and the cars. It will rather create new profitable industries.
But there are growing economies like China in the world that will be much harder to change. China is now producing nearly the same amount of CO2 as the US. But China has much more corruption and much fewer resources to clean things up.
So it is unlikely that the world will stop polluting soon enough to save itself. At this point no commitment to change has been made by either the US or China. And time is running out.
Because all the harmful effects of global warming are happening faster than predicted. And natural disasters like floods, droughts, tsunamis, and hurricanes are all increasing in number as well as severity, caused by the warming climate.
But there is something you can do today. You can get right with God. Jesus predicted that the end of the world would be a "summer." Now His Words ring truer than the words of any other prophet.
When you receive the Seal you will be prepared to meet God, because God will write His Name in your forehead. And when the world ends you will go to live in Heaven, your eternal home when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
The world is growing warmer and it is happening faster than predicted. You may not believe the "consensus" on global warming. After all it is not proven by reputable scientific processes but by a simple consensus or agreement among scientists.
But the scientists do not need to be right. The scientists are not even needed. You can see that global warming is already happening by simply looking at records of temperatures taken in the last 100 years.
So it does not matter what is causing global warming. It does not matter who was at fault. What matters is it is the sign that the end-times are coming. And you must prepare yourself to meet God.
When the disciples of Jesus asked Him about the end-times He told them a simple little parable of a fig tree. This is not one of His more complex and mysterious parables. This one is easy to understand.
When the fig tree blossoms you know that the summer is near. That "summer" is the end of the world. And that "summer" is the summer that is being caused by global warming.
Global warming is making winter more like summer every year. The winters are warming and that is throwing out of balance the delicate ecosystem of the earth. That will be catastrophic.
The main culprit is carbon dioxide. This gas is considered a greenhouse gas because it is blamed for trapping the heat of the sun in the atmosphere so the world is getting warmer as if inside a greenhouse.
The United States is the world's biggest polluter with carbon dioxide. Most of it comes from coal-fired power plants. Then American automobiles are producing another large amount of CO2.
Both these polluters can be changed relatively easily. It will not hurt the economy of the US to change the electricity sources and the cars. It will rather create new profitable industries.
But there are growing economies like China in the world that will be much harder to change. China is now producing nearly the same amount of CO2 as the US. But China has much more corruption and much fewer resources to clean things up.
So it is unlikely that the world will stop polluting soon enough to save itself. At this point no commitment to change has been made by either the US or China. And time is running out.
Because all the harmful effects of global warming are happening faster than predicted. And natural disasters like floods, droughts, tsunamis, and hurricanes are all increasing in number as well as severity, caused by the warming climate.
But there is something you can do today. You can get right with God. Jesus predicted that the end of the world would be a "summer." Now His Words ring truer than the words of any other prophet.
When you receive the Seal you will be prepared to meet God, because God will write His Name in your forehead. And when the world ends you will go to live in Heaven, your eternal home when you receive the Seal.
About the Author
And now Jason would like to invite you to get your FREE report Are You Making These Mistakes as a Christian? and "Get God's 'Seal of Approval' and Get the Victory Over Evil" Jason Witt
"100% water", the new sustainable finishing
The italian furniture company Mazzali, a real protagonist in the search advanced products and solutions for a design with low environmental impact, launched finishing "100% water."
Founded in 1962 by two experienced carpenters who saw in the wardrobe a flourishing market, Mazzali is today one of the most significant and innovative reality of the Italian furniture industry. A modern company that traces its success on flexibility and on a strong customization of the product. The offer is characterized by high quality, attention to detail, the design of research, ranging from sleeping area to living with a great proposal of finishes and infinite colors. Sustainable development, social responsibility, environmental impacts are values and commitments that characterize the entire production Mazzali: using wood reforestation program, low-emission paint solvent, improved environmental technologies, continuous research materials and solutions to reduce the impact and ensure sustainability at the production process, maximum attention to the health of consumers. Over the years, Mazzali wanted wanted to support sustainable production with initiatives in the social and environmental Mazzali celebrate in 2008, the 10 years of commitment and research in the sustainability and social responsibility. A corporate vision strongly focused on the environment and the protection of consumer health. It is 1998 when Mazzali launched "Green Island", the green brand that gathered a collection of products with low environmental impact. Of them Mazzali supply becomes increasingly rich and articulate up to embrace a broader project that involves the company as a whole, with a governance strongly oriented to a sustainable vision of the company and with a direct approach and wanted to corporate citizenship .
"100% water" is presented in 26 colours and realized on essence open pore, "100% water" features, environmental optics, for its low solvent emissions with a reduction of over 90% compared to traditional finishes. With this new finishing Mazzali confirms and reaffirms its leadership role in the field of sustainable development with an offer that articulated by the choice of raw material to the painting of the product, poses sustainability as a primary vector for growth and development.
"100% Water" boasts the LIFE brand, the EU's instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects, and certifications UNI EN 71-3 in the paint and to the safety of toys and 97/48/EC as paint suitable contact food for an absolute guarantee of protection of consumer health and the environment.
About the Author
Mauro Zanandrea, marketing & csr manager
Founded in 1962 by two experienced carpenters who saw in the wardrobe a flourishing market, Mazzali is today one of the most significant and innovative reality of the Italian furniture industry. A modern company that traces its success on flexibility and on a strong customization of the product. The offer is characterized by high quality, attention to detail, the design of research, ranging from sleeping area to living with a great proposal of finishes and infinite colors. Sustainable development, social responsibility, environmental impacts are values and commitments that characterize the entire production Mazzali: using wood reforestation program, low-emission paint solvent, improved environmental technologies, continuous research materials and solutions to reduce the impact and ensure sustainability at the production process, maximum attention to the health of consumers. Over the years, Mazzali wanted wanted to support sustainable production with initiatives in the social and environmental Mazzali celebrate in 2008, the 10 years of commitment and research in the sustainability and social responsibility. A corporate vision strongly focused on the environment and the protection of consumer health. It is 1998 when Mazzali launched "Green Island", the green brand that gathered a collection of products with low environmental impact. Of them Mazzali supply becomes increasingly rich and articulate up to embrace a broader project that involves the company as a whole, with a governance strongly oriented to a sustainable vision of the company and with a direct approach and wanted to corporate citizenship .
"100% water" is presented in 26 colours and realized on essence open pore, "100% water" features, environmental optics, for its low solvent emissions with a reduction of over 90% compared to traditional finishes. With this new finishing Mazzali confirms and reaffirms its leadership role in the field of sustainable development with an offer that articulated by the choice of raw material to the painting of the product, poses sustainability as a primary vector for growth and development.
"100% Water" boasts the LIFE brand, the EU's instrument supporting environmental and nature conservation projects, and certifications UNI EN 71-3 in the paint and to the safety of toys and 97/48/EC as paint suitable contact food for an absolute guarantee of protection of consumer health and the environment.
About the Author
Mauro Zanandrea, marketing & csr manager
Energy Blowing in the Wind
Wind power has long been a source of renewable energy, as evidenced by the many windmills of centuries past. The flow of air is used to run wind turbines, some of which can produce up to 5 megawatts of power. The most common wind turbines for renewable energy used commercially produce between 1.5 and 3 megawatts. The renewable energy that a wind turbine gives off is derived by the cube of the speed of the wind. As the speed of the wind increases the power that the turbine puts out increases almost exponentially. In places where wind is strong and nearly continual such as at high altitudes and offshore are the best places to locate wind farms.
Wind is the fastest growing source of power through any of the renewable energy resources and technologies. In the past ten years, the maximum capacity of wind power installed the world over went from a 1992 high of 2500 megawatts to a high of 40,000 in 2003 and continued to grow each year after that by another 30 percent. This shows no signs of abating. Due to wind being an intermittent energy resource most wind turbines in the European Union only produce an average of one fourth of the power they are actually capable of. Under favourable wind conditions, however, some reach 35 percent or more. In winter the EU realizes a higher load factor. What this means is that wind as a renewable energy in Europe typically has a capacity for 5 megawatts maximum per turbine but regularly produces 1.7 megawatts.
The long term potential for wind as a reliable renewable energy resource throughout the global is probably about five times what it currently produces and forty times what is currently demanded of it. Large pieces of land that are not now being used for wind turbines could easily do so, especially in high wind areas. The offshore areas, where wind is nearly twice as fast and dependable as that of inshore land masses could be increased substantially as renewable wind energy sources.
The strength of the wind near the surface of the earth varies considerably and scientists cannot assure that the earth would have continuous renewable wind energy there unless it was combined with other sources of energy or stored in some way. Some suggest that 1000 megawatts of the capacity for conventional wind gathering could be counted on to produce 333 megawatts of power that is continuous. This could change as our technology evolves, but most experts suggest using wind in the context of a renewable energy system that has an expansive capacity for reserving the energy. Examples of these would be hydro power, desalination plants, reserve loads and the mitigation of the economic impact of variability of resources.
Not only is wind power a renewable energy, but like other renewable energies it gives off no harmful greenhouse gases while being operated - no methane, no carbon dioxide. The one negative of wind power is that bats and birds get caught up in the turbines and get killed. Wind turbines should, therefore, be built where this impact would be least felt.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk
Wind is the fastest growing source of power through any of the renewable energy resources and technologies. In the past ten years, the maximum capacity of wind power installed the world over went from a 1992 high of 2500 megawatts to a high of 40,000 in 2003 and continued to grow each year after that by another 30 percent. This shows no signs of abating. Due to wind being an intermittent energy resource most wind turbines in the European Union only produce an average of one fourth of the power they are actually capable of. Under favourable wind conditions, however, some reach 35 percent or more. In winter the EU realizes a higher load factor. What this means is that wind as a renewable energy in Europe typically has a capacity for 5 megawatts maximum per turbine but regularly produces 1.7 megawatts.
The long term potential for wind as a reliable renewable energy resource throughout the global is probably about five times what it currently produces and forty times what is currently demanded of it. Large pieces of land that are not now being used for wind turbines could easily do so, especially in high wind areas. The offshore areas, where wind is nearly twice as fast and dependable as that of inshore land masses could be increased substantially as renewable wind energy sources.
The strength of the wind near the surface of the earth varies considerably and scientists cannot assure that the earth would have continuous renewable wind energy there unless it was combined with other sources of energy or stored in some way. Some suggest that 1000 megawatts of the capacity for conventional wind gathering could be counted on to produce 333 megawatts of power that is continuous. This could change as our technology evolves, but most experts suggest using wind in the context of a renewable energy system that has an expansive capacity for reserving the energy. Examples of these would be hydro power, desalination plants, reserve loads and the mitigation of the economic impact of variability of resources.
Not only is wind power a renewable energy, but like other renewable energies it gives off no harmful greenhouse gases while being operated - no methane, no carbon dioxide. The one negative of wind power is that bats and birds get caught up in the turbines and get killed. Wind turbines should, therefore, be built where this impact would be least felt.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk
Hydro Energy
Water is a renewable energy resource, and one that offers the greatest variation in power production. We can harness the water energy through what is known as motive energy or through the differences it experiences in temperature. Water is nearly one thousand times as dense as our air. What this tells us, then, is that a slow moving stream of water is more powerful, in terms of renewable energy than wind. A wave or swell of the sea can deliver many times that energy.
We have many forms of renewable water energy from which to choose. There are many forms of water energy.
The first type of water energy, and the one we most commonly think of when we think of renewable water power, is hydroelectric. This is the power that commonly is created by large hydroelectric dams.
You can also have what are called micro hydroelectric systems. These are small power installations that produce as much as 100 kilowatts of power. The most common places to find these renewable water energy sources are in areas where water is abundant and the hydro system can be used as a remote area power supply RAPS. While there are many RAPS around the globe several are functioning in the Solomon Islands.
Wave power is another way of using water as a renewable energy source. The waves are used to create an up and down affect for pontoons that float in the water. This has just started to be used commercially as renewable energy.
Tides can produce renewable energy as well. As the ocean tides come in the water level is raised in the water basin. Then, at low tide the basin water gets discharged through the water turbine. Tidal stream power is different in that it captures the energy produced by the tidal flow. This usually is accomplished through the use of an underwater plant that looks like a small-scale wind turbine. While governments have set up demonstrations for this type of tidal power, any large scale commercialization of this renewable tidal energy would require extensive upfront capital. This has yet to be attempted.
Ocean thermal energy conversion OTEC is yet another form of water energy. OTEC uses the different in temperature between the oceans surface water and the water at deeper points. To do this it uses a cyclic heat engine. This form of renewable energy has had no large scale field test as yet.
Though not technically a form of generating renewable energy the cooling of the water in deep lakes is an efficient way to save energy during the hot summer months. Pipes are submerged and used as heat sinks. The bottom of these lakes typically stays at less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Blue energy, which is really desalination in reverse, is a renewable energy resource still being researched. There is no data at this point to show whether it will work.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk where you can find a plumbing course
We have many forms of renewable water energy from which to choose. There are many forms of water energy.
The first type of water energy, and the one we most commonly think of when we think of renewable water power, is hydroelectric. This is the power that commonly is created by large hydroelectric dams.
You can also have what are called micro hydroelectric systems. These are small power installations that produce as much as 100 kilowatts of power. The most common places to find these renewable water energy sources are in areas where water is abundant and the hydro system can be used as a remote area power supply RAPS. While there are many RAPS around the globe several are functioning in the Solomon Islands.
Wave power is another way of using water as a renewable energy source. The waves are used to create an up and down affect for pontoons that float in the water. This has just started to be used commercially as renewable energy.
Tides can produce renewable energy as well. As the ocean tides come in the water level is raised in the water basin. Then, at low tide the basin water gets discharged through the water turbine. Tidal stream power is different in that it captures the energy produced by the tidal flow. This usually is accomplished through the use of an underwater plant that looks like a small-scale wind turbine. While governments have set up demonstrations for this type of tidal power, any large scale commercialization of this renewable tidal energy would require extensive upfront capital. This has yet to be attempted.
Ocean thermal energy conversion OTEC is yet another form of water energy. OTEC uses the different in temperature between the oceans surface water and the water at deeper points. To do this it uses a cyclic heat engine. This form of renewable energy has had no large scale field test as yet.
Though not technically a form of generating renewable energy the cooling of the water in deep lakes is an efficient way to save energy during the hot summer months. Pipes are submerged and used as heat sinks. The bottom of these lakes typically stays at less than 40 degrees Fahrenheit.
Blue energy, which is really desalination in reverse, is a renewable energy resource still being researched. There is no data at this point to show whether it will work.
About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.plumbingcareer.co.uk where you can find a plumbing course
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
How to Bring Nature to the City
Well, you’ve just spent an incredibly long week at work, shut inside your cubicle working on the quarterly report. You’ve had little time outside ��" basically the time it takes you to go from your house to the car to the office and back. By the end of the week you ate your lunch from the vending machine in the lounge rather than take the time to run out to visit your favorite hot dog vendor, just to get the work done. Now that you’ve finished and are ready for a much-needed and well-deserved weekend, you head home with nothing but relaxation on your mind.
Stepping into your apartment, you are greeted with a hungry cat (did you feed Speckles this week????), a basket of dirty laundry (the elves didn’t pick it up?) and a dead houseplant. Not very inspiring.
Spruce It Up!
What to do? You’ve neither the desire nor cash to head out to the mountains for the weekend (packing, unpacking and then more laundry), but can’t see spending a dreary two days with these uninspiring surroundings. It’s easier than you think (and less expensive) to liven things up for yourself. Since you probably plan to eat this weekend and to do so must go to at least one store to get said food, take a look at what your friendly supermarket has to offer in respect to plants and flowers. Go ahead and buy yourself a bouquet. Get a big one that you can separate into smaller arrangements to spread throughout your home. Try again with the houseplants…pick out a few hardy looking ones and bring them back with you. Pick up a new watering can ��" just having something new to use can inspire you to actually use it. It’s a lot more satisfying to water the plants with a groovy little watering can than with your coffee pot.
Once you’ve returned home with your new plants or flowers, open up! Even if it’s hot or cold outside, it’s a good idea to freshen up the place with some outside air. You may only be able to keep the windows open for a little while, but it will do you and your place a world of good. (Of course this wouldn’t apply if you’re currently in the midst of a dust storm, blizzard, hurricane, or plague of frogs…I would assume that if any of these things were happening you would not be looking to bring quite THAT much nature into your surroundings…)
If you’ve the benefit of a balcony, patio, or even a communal outdoor area where you live, take advantage of it. Get out there with a lawn chair and soak up some rays. You might discover that you have one or two interesting neighbors that are worth getting to know. One of them might even have some pointers for your houseplants. You could invite them over for a drink on those cool summer nights by your toasty chimenea; or you could plan a clean-up and planting day followed by a BBQ or a glass of wine or cup of coffee. You’ll reap the benefits in more ways than one.
About the Author
Find your perfect fire pit here. Cool outdoor fire pits. 100's of fire pits. Sweet firepits.
Stepping into your apartment, you are greeted with a hungry cat (did you feed Speckles this week????), a basket of dirty laundry (the elves didn’t pick it up?) and a dead houseplant. Not very inspiring.
Spruce It Up!
What to do? You’ve neither the desire nor cash to head out to the mountains for the weekend (packing, unpacking and then more laundry), but can’t see spending a dreary two days with these uninspiring surroundings. It’s easier than you think (and less expensive) to liven things up for yourself. Since you probably plan to eat this weekend and to do so must go to at least one store to get said food, take a look at what your friendly supermarket has to offer in respect to plants and flowers. Go ahead and buy yourself a bouquet. Get a big one that you can separate into smaller arrangements to spread throughout your home. Try again with the houseplants…pick out a few hardy looking ones and bring them back with you. Pick up a new watering can ��" just having something new to use can inspire you to actually use it. It’s a lot more satisfying to water the plants with a groovy little watering can than with your coffee pot.
Once you’ve returned home with your new plants or flowers, open up! Even if it’s hot or cold outside, it’s a good idea to freshen up the place with some outside air. You may only be able to keep the windows open for a little while, but it will do you and your place a world of good. (Of course this wouldn’t apply if you’re currently in the midst of a dust storm, blizzard, hurricane, or plague of frogs…I would assume that if any of these things were happening you would not be looking to bring quite THAT much nature into your surroundings…)
If you’ve the benefit of a balcony, patio, or even a communal outdoor area where you live, take advantage of it. Get out there with a lawn chair and soak up some rays. You might discover that you have one or two interesting neighbors that are worth getting to know. One of them might even have some pointers for your houseplants. You could invite them over for a drink on those cool summer nights by your toasty chimenea; or you could plan a clean-up and planting day followed by a BBQ or a glass of wine or cup of coffee. You’ll reap the benefits in more ways than one.
About the Author
Find your perfect fire pit here. Cool outdoor fire pits. 100's of fire pits. Sweet firepits.
Safe Tree Planting, Powerlines and You
Planting Guidelines We've put together a list of helpful points on the best way to develop your garden without interfering with dangerous overhead powerlines.
* When mature, trees should not grow to within 2 metres of powerlines, that is, the powerline from the street to your home and the powerlines that run along your street or in easements (diagram 1). * Before planting on easements always contact your local electrical supplier to check if there are any special planting requirements. * If you want to plant taller plants, apply the 45-degree rule: Plant at a distance from the powerline at least equal to the expected mature height of the plant (diagram 2). * Generally, palms shouldn't be planted within 5 metres of powerlines. However, several palms are suitable to plant near powerlines. * Do not plant climbing trees or plants near the base of power poles. They can grow up into the lines and pose a safety risk or interrupt electricity supply.
Important note: High voltage powerlines have different planting guidelines. Please contact your local electrical supplier for more information.
Naturally Occurring Species When planting, ENERGEX recommends you consider species which naturally occur in a particular area. By selecting naturally occurring species whenever possible, you will be helping the environment in many ways. The Department of Natural Resources, your local Council or local environmental groups, will be able to assist you with more information.
Planting Tips To help provide your new 'powerline friendly plants' or seedlings with a good start, consider the following planting tips: 1. Check the quality of the soil the plant is to be placed in. Does the soil appear too sandy, heavy, clay or wet? If so, your local nursery can advise you how best to rectify the situation. 2. Always keep your new tree moist while it is in its nursery pot. Generally, water daily. 3. When planting, dig a hole for the plant that is twice the width and once the depth of the container the plant is currently housed in. 4. Water the hole you have dug for the plant, then let it drain slightly. 5. To remove your tree from its pot: Place your hand on top of the pot letting the stem of the plant sit between two of your fingers. Place your other hand under the pot. Turn the pot upside down, being careful not to damage or break the stem of the plant. Rotate the pot gently and lift it off. Using both hands, turn the plant upright again. 6. Back-fill the hole to the required depth. (When the plant is placed in the hole and covered with soil, the stem should enter the soil in the same place as when it was in the pot). 7. Place the plant gently in the prepared hole. 8. Fill the hole with soil and press firmly around the roots, do not use your foot to tread the soil down near the plant. (Consider using water crystals when back-filling to assist with moisture retention in soil). 9. Create a basin around the stem of the plant to help retain water. Place mulch around the planting area (however, not up against the stem of the plant). 10. When planting is complete, always water plants thoroughly. Water your new tree every second day for one to two weeks and then water and fertilise as required.
Always read and follow any care or planting instructions that accompany your new plant. The above tips are designed as planting and care guidelines only; following these tips does not guarantee that your plant will flourish. If you are concerned with the progress or health of a plant, consult your local nursery for advice.
About the Author
Energex is a leading Australian energy supplier providing valuable information on electrical safety, renewable energy sources, and clean energy.
* When mature, trees should not grow to within 2 metres of powerlines, that is, the powerline from the street to your home and the powerlines that run along your street or in easements (diagram 1). * Before planting on easements always contact your local electrical supplier to check if there are any special planting requirements. * If you want to plant taller plants, apply the 45-degree rule: Plant at a distance from the powerline at least equal to the expected mature height of the plant (diagram 2). * Generally, palms shouldn't be planted within 5 metres of powerlines. However, several palms are suitable to plant near powerlines. * Do not plant climbing trees or plants near the base of power poles. They can grow up into the lines and pose a safety risk or interrupt electricity supply.
Important note: High voltage powerlines have different planting guidelines. Please contact your local electrical supplier for more information.
Naturally Occurring Species When planting, ENERGEX recommends you consider species which naturally occur in a particular area. By selecting naturally occurring species whenever possible, you will be helping the environment in many ways. The Department of Natural Resources, your local Council or local environmental groups, will be able to assist you with more information.
Planting Tips To help provide your new 'powerline friendly plants' or seedlings with a good start, consider the following planting tips: 1. Check the quality of the soil the plant is to be placed in. Does the soil appear too sandy, heavy, clay or wet? If so, your local nursery can advise you how best to rectify the situation. 2. Always keep your new tree moist while it is in its nursery pot. Generally, water daily. 3. When planting, dig a hole for the plant that is twice the width and once the depth of the container the plant is currently housed in. 4. Water the hole you have dug for the plant, then let it drain slightly. 5. To remove your tree from its pot: Place your hand on top of the pot letting the stem of the plant sit between two of your fingers. Place your other hand under the pot. Turn the pot upside down, being careful not to damage or break the stem of the plant. Rotate the pot gently and lift it off. Using both hands, turn the plant upright again. 6. Back-fill the hole to the required depth. (When the plant is placed in the hole and covered with soil, the stem should enter the soil in the same place as when it was in the pot). 7. Place the plant gently in the prepared hole. 8. Fill the hole with soil and press firmly around the roots, do not use your foot to tread the soil down near the plant. (Consider using water crystals when back-filling to assist with moisture retention in soil). 9. Create a basin around the stem of the plant to help retain water. Place mulch around the planting area (however, not up against the stem of the plant). 10. When planting is complete, always water plants thoroughly. Water your new tree every second day for one to two weeks and then water and fertilise as required.
Always read and follow any care or planting instructions that accompany your new plant. The above tips are designed as planting and care guidelines only; following these tips does not guarantee that your plant will flourish. If you are concerned with the progress or health of a plant, consult your local nursery for advice.
About the Author
Energex is a leading Australian energy supplier providing valuable information on electrical safety, renewable energy sources, and clean energy.
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