Who is to Blame For the Flooding Brought on by Typhoon Ondoy? A Message For the Filipinos
October 28, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
Oil spills in bodies of water mean big trouble. Fortunately, there are tools that will help contain the spill and make clean-up possible.
One of the key tools for containing oil spills in water is the floating boom. As its name indicates, it floats on water, which is, of course, what oil does as well. So the floating boom is perfect for keeping the oil where it is and preventing it from spreading. This is crucial for containing any contamination and damage.
Reports of oil yield per acre per year for green crude vary wildly from 5,000 to 150,000 gallons. One company, Valcent Products, claims that 150,000 gallons of green crude per acre is possible using a carefully controlled, closed loop system. Actual yields, though, currently top out at about 33,000 gallons per acre per year. Even by conservative estimates, it would take about 40,000 square miles of land to produce enough green crude oil to completely replace the United States’ consumption of conventional oil. That’s an area about the size of the state of Tennessee.
The rivers and the waterways of Metro Manila are clogged and dirty. Anyone who believes otherwise must be living under a rock for the last fifty years or so. The legendary Pasig River is all but dead and even the much vaunted Marikina River is known to have spots of garbage here and there. The only reason why our waterways are so dirty is that we have made them our garbage bins.
Moreover, it is important to know whether there will be boat traffic, and if therefore the boom might have to be moved to let ships and boats through. This could be the case in a harbor area.
One example for a floating boom suitable for calm waters is the EconoMax oil spill containment boom. It is lightweight and compact, and has flat panels, so it can even be folded into sections. It is perfect for storing in boats, vehicles or trucks so you can quickly deploy it by hand if necessary.
If there is any lesson that needs to be learned from the coming of Typhoon Ondoy, it is definitely this: It is high time that we learned to respect our waterways. If we cannot help to clean and rehabilitate our waterways, then we should at least stop treating them as if they are our personal garbage bins. If Typhoon Ondoy, which was merely a Category 2 storm, could flood Metro Manila the way it did, what more would a stronger typhoon?
Instead of blaming other people for the disaster that happened, we should all becoming proactive and prevent another similar disaster from happening again. We need to start cleaning our waterways now!
Resource Author Francisco Rodriguez Higueras
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Little Changes, Big Impact- Going Organic
October 28, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
We only have one world to live in. We need to take our own share to keep this world going in a natural way and as clean as possible. The footprint that many people leave are so large as they deplete natural resources without the thought of replenishing them. At this rate we could really be in trouble when it comes to
Nowadays, large numbers of individuals are using organic products and that number is growing. From organic food, to organically grown products like clothes, extra long hemp shower curtains, bedding and even household furniture.
“Green house” is the new term for an environmentally clean home. The house is built using organic, environmentally friendly materials. Walls and floors are made of wood while the decor, bedding and shower curtains are also made from natural materials. The windows are designed to keep the energy bill down and the house is equipped with a tankless water heater and solar panels. The ability to generate power and water in your own home makes going organic very unique and it intrigues many people. Being less wasteful and more organic at home can be done in many different ways.
Being environmentally friendly even goes into the kitchen where the foods are organic and more healthy. The homes are complete making them more natural and healthy to live in. They have gardens that supply large quantities of food so the homeowner don’t have to buy vegetables elsewhere. They have even build a chicken coop in the back yard to help produce some eggs. Upfront costs on all of this can be no laughing matter, it’s expensive. The short term costs are worth the long term benefits.
Be prepared to have a large bill when setting all these organic items into your home but realize you are helping the planet last longer. Even if you only do one thing, that is better than nothing at all. Go organic you might like the benefits.
Environmental Education – Working Towards A New Education For Our Kids
October 23, 2009 by Contributor
Filed under Education
I’m not sure what it’s like in your country, but here in Australia, I’m deeply concerned about the lack of environmental education being taught in our schools. As a father, an individual, a member of the community and a concerned global citizen, I think it’s vitally important for our education to be responsible and relevant in the 21st century.
Just like in past generations, values, principles, behaviour, goals and priorities will change as a way of life, it has to, and our education needs to not only follow, but where possible, server as a catalyst for these changes. The issue is not related to questioning whether environmental education is essential, but which kind of environmental education is important, in order to incite a change of values and behaviours. Undoubtedly, if you’re a regular on www.EarthHuddle.com, you too are concerned about the social, economic and environmental changes currently sweeping our planet and the urgent action required for change.
When I was attending school about twenty five years ago, I was questioning the content, the relevance, and adaptation of my education. Today, as a wiser individual in an ever changing world, my questions and concerns back then have been justified. It is my opinion that the current ‘curriculum’ has changed little in this time despite the enormous changes witnessed in so many other areas. Twenty five years later and a hugely different world, with a whole set of new values, challenges and opportunities, it’s definitely time for a change in education. It’s time to properly introduce environmental education to our children.
The aim of environmental education should be to create a global population that is aware of, and concerned about, the environment and human impact on the environment. We must gain the knowledge, skills, attitudes, motivations, and commitment to work individually and collectively toward solutions of current problems and the prevention of new ones. Environmental education is also about bridging social borders. It is an essential endeavor for the re-evaluation of modern society, thereby helping us in transitioning to a sustainable society.
Environmental education is, in most cases, a non-compulsory component of schools and, as a result, struggles for acceptance in mainstream formal and teacher education. ‘Alternative’ schooling such as Steiner and Montessori could be considered a slight exception. Because environmental education is multi-disciplinary, it is hard for teachers to work it into their narrowly-defined lesson plans. The framework for environmental education is in some ways radical, ambitious and transformative.
Environmental education, however, is the foundation for creating the green workforce of the new economy. It is for men, women and children of all cultures, including those for whom English is not the native language. It should not be restricted to in-class lesson plans for it is often taught or enhanced through outdoor experiences.
Environmental education is also good for student academic performance, and hands-on environmental education connects children with nature. Experience in environmental education is an asset and should be strongly encouraged.
The true aim of any environmental education is not only to raise kids with a healthy respect for the environment, but to help create a generation of leaders who will discover new ways to live in an environmentally and socially responsible manner.
If you are interested in learning more about environmental education, consider joining www.EarthHuddle.com – a free online community focused on all areas of sustainable living, including renewable energy, recycling, water saving and eco-living.
For more information, plus environmental videos, articles, a discussion forum and a whole lot more, visit www.EarthHuddle.com
Electric Vehicles come to Seaside Town
October 20, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
Brighton City Council has recently revealed it will be installing 20 roadside charging stations for electric vehicles. This is part of a big project to try and make Brighton a more Zero-emission city.
One question we have to ask is do people with electric cars think they are bigger and better than everybody else? If you consider an episode of South Park it would certainly seem so. The South Park characters who bought an electric car suddenly seemed to think they were better than the people without the car.
Naturally this was of course nonsense and just put there to annoy all the people of Chicago (where most of the episode was based) as well as everyyone who owns an electric vehicle.
Is the answer to all the pollution in the world actually in these cars or maybe it can cause more hassle than good? Due to the power stations being unable to shut down overnight, there is in fact a lot of unused electric, so we could power millions of electric cars at no extra cost to the environment because no new stations will need to be built. Even if we should end up having to build more power plants, they would probably be cleaner plants. Also, the price per mile works out a lot cheaper for an electric car than it does for a gas car. The truth comes down to the efficiently of the cars, a gasoline car is approximately 25% efficient, whereas an electric car is around 95%, meaning that travelling for a mile on electric costs a penny and a mile on gas costs around 15 cents.
So if you are about to buy a new BMW or buy a Renault you should hold off and wait until an electric car comes your way. Whether it is used cars for sale there is sure to be an eventual upgrade for a car to help take down your C02 emissions.
Brighton Gets a Bit Greener
October 14, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
Brighton Town have recently divulged that they will be installing 20 roadside charging stations for electric vehicles. This is all part of a big scheme to try and make Brighton a more Zero-emission city.
It is worth considering that maybe some people who own electric vehicles think they are bigger and better than the rest of us? Well if you take an episode of South Park it would seem so. The South Park characters who bought an electric car suddenly seemed to think they were better than the people without the car.
Of course, this was all just craziness put there to annoy the people of Chicago (where a lot of the episode was based) as well as to wind up everyone who owns an electric vehicle.
Do we all believe that the answer to the worlds pollution can be found in these cars, or maybe it is it just too much hassle? At night there is already a lot of unused electric as the power stations cannot just close down for twelve hours, so without building more stations we could power millions of electric cars with no detrimental impact on the environment. Even if we do have to build more power plants, they would hopefully be cleaner plants. As well as this the price per mile is a lot cheaper for an electric car than a gas car. The bottom line is the efficiency of the cars, a gasoline car is 25% efficient, whereas electric is around 95%, so travelling a mile on gas costs around 15 cents, whereas electric costs a penny.
So if you are about to buy an Audi or buy a Toyota you should hold off and wait until an electric car comes your way. Whether it is used cars there is sure to be an eventual upgrade for a car to help take down your C02 emissions.
How Windmills Work
October 14, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
With a wind mill, you will be able to trap the kinetic energy of the wind and successfully convert it into electrical energy. Regardless of its design and ultimate purpose, every windmill is made up of either blades or sails which by rotating produce mechanical energy.
For some more great articles regarding wind power for home. see: Home Wind Power
One more beneficial wind power fact is that energy provided from the wind can be widely distributed. It’s found to be 100 percent clean and it doesn’t output any harmful emissions into the planet.
Used in ancient times for activities such as water pumping and grain griniding, there is no denying the long use of windmills. In many ways the wind turbine can be considered as the younger cousin of the windmill. Today it is employed in the generation of clean electricity. Since a wide number of individuals are making the transition to alternative sources of energy, both commercial and DIY windmills are growing in demand. A lot of people want to benefit from owning their own windmills, which are characterised as being highly efficient and long lasting when it comes to the production power. As a result of this, they seek to better familiarize themselves with the working of a windmill.
The volume of power generated from a windmill depends on a couple of factors some of which are as its size, its positioning, and the quantity of windmills employed. A good example of an effective system would be a wind farm, where multiple wind turbines of massive size are grouped together to produce massive quantities of electrical power. These farms stand as the green version of a conventional fossil fuel power plant. Still, single windmills can efficiently power the bulk of the electronic equipment in a household and represent a valuable money saving addition to any home. And with solar energy included alongside wind power methods, many individuals will be able to produce enough energy for the home.
Click here to check out some awesome articles especially for those people exploring the possibilities of generating their own energy to power their homes. see: Facts About Using Wind Power At Home
The fundamentals behind how windmills operate are uncomplicated and change slightly depending on what kind of windmill is being used. For the most part, the basics are the same. The blades of any windmill are the essential components that achieve the bulk the work. For example, a wind turbine generates electrical power through the following process; when the wind runs over the propeller type blades, it automatically makes them rotate.
This motion results in the generation of energy. The rotor transports this energy through the shaft to the generator. With very little differences between them, most windmills employ a similar mode of operation with only slight changes. For the most part, the basics are the same. Without blades on a windmill, not very much would be achieved. For instance, a wind turbine produces electricity
through the following process; When the wind comes in contact with the propeller type blades, it automatically makes them rotate. In turn this motion creates energy. The energy is then passed from the rotor through the shaft and transferred into the generator. The generator is the one that turns it into electricity. The generation of electricity through windmill is absolutely free of pollution and thus environmentally friendly.
The wind turbines are designed with blades that have been installed on a pole. The length of the stand plays an important part in the windmill’s functioning since it allows the blades to be fixed at higher altitudes for better access to faster and less turbulent winds. It is not uncommon to find towers that go as high as a 100 meteres. They need to have a stable base and be sturdy in order to function properly. More power can be produced by using higher poles. Modern turbines range from a 100 kilowatts to as large as several megawatts.
The two most common types of wind turbines are defined by the kind of axis in which their turbines rotate. The horizontal axis variety, which is the most common, usually comprises of three blades operating “upwind” with its blades in the direction of the wind. Not as frequently used is the egg beater-shaped vertical axis wind turbine. The benefit of this is that it remains productive even if it is not position windwards.The various types carry with them individual advantages and disadvantages . Nowadays, it is hardly uncommon to find wind turbines thanks to it wide spread use. For a first hand take on the working behind a windmill, visiting one will greatly benefit you.
Hopefully this short overwiew has given you a slight insight into the inner operations of the windmill . The future is one which must accept safe energy. For all of those with the intention in learning more about how windmills work or how to actually construct them, the best approach would be to use a detailed guide providing comprehensive instructions on the subject .
If you enjoyed reading this article, check out : Designing Wind Power For Home. Here you will discover a great guide with step-by-step instructions and video lessons to help construct and complete your very own windmill which you can use to start generating power of your own instantly.
How To Get A Solar Power Grant
October 14, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
In this modern era, with both global warming and greenhouse gases on the rise, it’s important to take note of the importance of renewable energy resources. Paying attention to the reduction of carbon emissions and further harmful effects upon the environment is essential.
Everyone is responsible for reducing their impact on the environment. Whether it be finding more environmentally friendly means of heating their home, or driving their car less, everyone can contribute.
For those willing to put in some effort in relation to improving the environment, governments normally offer tax breaks, grants or concessions. The problem is that it’s easy to get confused when trying to work out what you’re entitled to and how to get it (how to get a solar power grant being one such thing).
So, how does one find out whats on offer and how do you go about getting grants, concessions or tax breaks?
The website for the ‘Database of State Incentives for Renewable and Efficiency’ is a good place to start. The site provides a map of the United States which allows Americans to click on the state in which the live and a host of further links will be presented that will outline the incentives or grants which are on offer at individual state levels.
Before you jump on the renovation or implementation of these green friendly resources, check out this site first which will help you know what you’re entitled to and what money you can save. This is probably the first step in order to understand how to get solar power grants for instance.
Of the items you’ll find there, look specifically for:
– The policy or incentive type, whether it be a tax credit, net metering or similar program.
– What sectors are entitled to the benefits, whether it is residential, government or commercial premises.
– Is the grant a state or federal one?
– A direct link to the website of the organization which is offering the incentive or grant.
– The purpose the grant is on offer for, whether it is for the installation of solar power, wind energy or insulation, etc.
Both state and federal governments offer grants and hopefully this website will point you in the right direction in order to receive them. The benefits can be quite numerous, with the possibility of receiving thousands of dollars or the complete purchase and installation price of some of these renewable energy resources or environmentally friendly facilities.
I’d also be inclined to monitor the website on a regular basis in order to be updated on new developments on how to get solar power grants. Both state and federal governments are constantly increasing what’s on offer to encourage people to go green in order to reduce their own carbon emissions at both the state and national levels.
Read On : Solar Power Grants
Is Vegetable Oil Diesel A Viable Fuel Option?
October 14, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
Rudolph Diesel in known for the engine that bears his name. The diesel engine had no spark plugs, used less fuel than petrol engines and was designed to run on vegetable oil diesel. However, petroleum was cheaper than oil made from plants, and so the diesel engine was developed to run on diesel fuel.
Interestingly, in 1912, Diesel was quoted as saying “The fact that fat oils from vegetable sources can be used may seem insignificant today, but such oils may perhaps become, in the course of time, of the same importance as some natural mineral oils and tar products are now.”
Vehicle enthusiasts played around with using vegetable oil to fuel a diesel engine throughout the 20th century, but serious research into it’s use was largely prompted by shortages in petroleum, from time to time, in that same period. Biodiesel often proved to be a preferrable option because it didn’t rquire modifications to the vehicle.
Both new and used oil can be utilized as a diesel fuel. Waste or used vegetable oil (WVO) comes from restaurants and food processors, after it has been used for frying food. Unused oils are called straight vegetable oil (SVO) or pure plant oil (PPO) to avoid any confusion with the blended fuel called biodiesel.
The most commonly used plant for vegetable oil diesel is the rapeseed, also called canola. There is research into using sunflower oil because of its lower freezing point. There are island nations in the South Pacific that use coconut oil diesel fuel, because of the ready availability of coconuts and the desire to be independent of the oil-rich countries. Coconut oil only works in warmer temperatures; above 17 degrees Celsius.
The main problem with using vegetable oil as a diesel fuel is its viscosity or thickness. It needs to be thinned by heating it prior to use, otherwise it could damage the engine. This is a particular problem in cold climates. It is possible to convert the engine to ensure the safe use of vegetable oil diesel. Some exponents also blend the two fuels to avoid the viscosity problem.
The response from government, on the subject, varies from country to country. Some governements allow the fuel to be used, other have legislated against it, some have formal trials operating but there seems to be more concern over lost revenue in fuel taxes than in the fuel itself.
There continue to be many issues to be resolved before vegetable oil diesel becomes a common fuel, including availability of supply and a united approach to making the oil more suitable for diesel engines.
Get free and useful resources about biodiesel fuels including vegetable oil diesel when you visit: http://www.energysolutionshub.com/
Indoor Lighting with Solar Lights
October 7, 2009 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
When it comes to any form of solar energy, what automatically comes to ones mind are cost efficiency and convenience. Therefore many modern homes in the United States have at least one solar powered object within their households. With the evolution and success of the many solar powered products and outdoor lighting in the world today, it was only a matter of time before people decided that solar power could be used in order to generate energy towards something on a larger scale. This led to the evolution of the usage of Indoor Solar Lights in many households and became a recommended method of electricity in areas with constant sunshine throughout the globe. Want to learn more about true renewable power?
Indoor solar lights not only help you save electricity, but it also help reduce the green house effect, helping the envitonment. It has been estimated by the Energy Star website that if America were to switch to using Indoor Solar Lights, over 0 million of the annual energy costs would be saved.
By switching to indoor solar lights, you can save a lot of hassle that you may otherwise go through with replaceable bulbs.You obviously need a solar panel system installed in your home in order to utilize indoor solar lights. Indoor Solar Lights can ideally be used in extra rooms such as the garage, storage room or even barns as there is no need for wiring and is extremely convenient. True renewable power is here!
However, using indoor solar lights for your entire house is not recommended as sunlight is something that cannot be predicted. Another reason why indoor solar lights are not suitable for your household is because they are not as bright as electrically powered ones. If you live in a country where seasonal changes take place, indoor solar lights may not be the ideal solution for the entire home. Once installed, Indoor Solar Lights will be available for usage during the day and the night. The reason for this is that what was accumulated during the day can be used successively at night. Though using solar energy is recommended throughout the globe, it is not recommended that people have entire houses powered by solar energy due to the unpredictable nature of the sun. Totally green energy for your home – are you ready?
