Green Technologies – A Guide For Beginners
June 29, 2010 by Contributor
Filed under Technology and Gadgets
Green technologies employ environmental science for conservation. There are some very basic green technologies, such as recycling, water purification, air purification, sewage treatment, waste management, renewable energy, and energy conservation.
Recycling is one of the most popular green technologies used around the planet. Recycling is the reuse of materials that can be salvaged and reprocessed, rather than discarded. Significant quantities of paper, metal, and plastic items are recycled each day around the world. Cartons, boxes, bottles, cans, jugs, and jars are among the hundreds of types of items suitable for recycling.
Removing impurities from water is one of the main green technologies. Whether it is the manufacture and distribution of water purification products to mount on your faucet at home or developing treatment systems for entire cities and towns, water purification is a significant and vital green technology. Clean water contributes to a healthy earth and healthy humankind. A significant number of today’s most virulent diseases are spread by contaminated water.
Green technologies can be used to improve air quality. Reforestation is an ongoing effort to continue to plant trees, which are essential to clean air and the health of the planet and all living organisms. Removing sources of contamination from carpeting and furniture, to building materials and paint, can help purify indoor air.
Wastewater treatment is a method where green technologies are used to facilitate the natural process of water purification. The primary stage of wastewater treatment allows solids to settle and be directly extracted from the water, while the secondary stage involves treating the water with a biological process that uses its own bacteria. Green technologies support the use of ultraviolet light or ozone instead of using chlorine in the water purification process.
Green technologies utilize the four R’s when it comes to waste management. Those are, recycle, reuse, reduce, and recover. Simply put, when referring to waste management, the strongest green initiative is to reduce the amount of waste that humans create. We can achieve this by recycling as much as we possibly can, reusing products or containers rather than discarding them, and recovering as much from our waste as possible.
Renewable energy is without a doubt one of the most researched green technologies. Utilizing solar power, wind power, hydroelectric and other sources of renewable energy, we reduce our dependence on fossil fuels and conserve the world’s vital natural resources. One of the fundamental premises of renewable energy is that its sources can never be depleted and its implementation is eco-friendly.
Energy conservation technology employs methodology to reduce the amount of energy we use to do almost anything from washing our clothes to illuminating our homes. This is one of the vastest of the green technologies because of its application to almost every facet of our lives. There is a means available to conserve or reduce the amount of energy we use to do nearly everything. Energy conservation technology, like renewable energy technology, is evolving everyday in its efforts to bring to a minimum the environmental impact of energy consumption.
Above, we have outlined some of the most basic green technologies. Their process and application to their particular fields are varied and detailed. The function of green technologies in our lives becomes even more important as we aim to reduce the human impact on the planet and its natural resources
If you are interested in learning more about ways to go green, save money and help the planet, visit this site to receive a FREE green living tip delivered to your email inbox each day: Sustainable Living Tips
BP Oil Leak Executives Point Fingers In Senate Hearing
June 18, 2010 by Guest
Filed under Uncategorized
The BP oil leak made its way into the political arena Tuesday when top oil company executives testified at a hearing before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee in New York. As the 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico continued unabated, suits from BP, Transocean and Halliburton each blamed the other guy for the disaster in the Senate hearings. Right now the BP oil leak totals 105,000 barrels based on an eyeball estimate of 5,000 barrels a day. That is a total of 4.4 million gallons and more is coming.
Circle of blame in BP oil leak
Responsibility for the cause of the gulf oil spill was passed among the oil company executives like an instant loan in the Senate hearings. CNNMoney.com reports that BP ended up blaming Transocean, owners of Deepwater Horizon, the rig that exploded and sank on April 20, leaving 11 workers dead. Transocean in turn blamed BP for setting specifications for the well and called out Halliburton, the company that built the well’s cement casing. Halliburton completed this circle by blaming BP once again.
Updates on oil spill
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico 2010 is wreaking much havoc. Accuweather.com explains that there are winds from the southeast threatening to push the gulf oil spill toward more of the Louisiana coastline during the next few days. The spill might be pushed northwestward which will be either closer to or on the coast land. Areas at greatest risk to the growing oil slick are from Atchafalaya Bay to Louisiana’s southeastern most point. Also threatened will be places northwest of Breton Sound. Concerns are deepening about hurricanes and the possible drift of the BP oil leak in the Gulf of Mexico Loop Current, which passes through the Florida Straits into the Atlantic Ocean.
Shareholders sue as BP stock tanks
BP stock has taken a massive hit thanks to the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010. The Wall Street Journal reported on May 3 that BP’s stock price has lost 14 percent since the oil rig it leased exploded and sank — about $20 billion in market value. The New York Times reported that BP will also take a hit on future earnings if it has to hold off on future exploration and drilling while it deals with the spill, which may cost BP at least $8 billion. The Associated Press reports that a BP stock holder filed suit against the corporation’s top executive accusing them of pursuing cost-cutting measures at the expense of employee safety, while lobbying government authorities to decrease safety regulation.
Finger pointing for BP oil leak
Executives testifying to lawmakers about the BP oil leak sought to absolve themselves from responsibility. In blaming Transocean, chairman and President of BP America Lamar McKay said Transocean was responsible for the safety of drilling operations. CNNMoney.com reports that McKay tried to divert the lawmakers’ attention to the blowout preventer valve that failed, saying it was owned by Transocean. In written testimony, Transocean said there was likely a failure of the well’s cement casing that was installed by Halliburton. Halliburton says it was BP’s fault because of their well specifications or it was Transocean’s fault for a faulty blowout preventer.
The Gulf oil spill and BP’s poor safety record
Based off of BP’s horrible safety record, the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico was bound to happen. The Guardian reports that BP has a recent history of disasters stemming from poor maintenance and faulty equipment, which includes a blast at a refinery in Texas City, Texas, in 2005 that killed 15 workers. A spill occurred in Alaska in 2006 just after BP was warned of a corroded pipeline. BP pleaded guilty to both of these incidents. In these past few years BP has paid $485 million in fines and settlements charges to the U.S. government for environmental crimes, neglect of worker safety rules and penalties for manipulating energy markets.
Article Resources
CNNMoney.com reports
http://money.cnn.com/2010/05/11/news/companies/BP_hearings/?npt=NP1
Accuweather.com
http://www.accuweather.com/
Associated Press reports
http://blog.al.com/press-register-business/2010/05/bp_shareholder_sues_executives.html
Guardian reports
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/05/congressman-bp-safety-oil-spill
Some Tips On Reducing Your Electric Bill
If you have been concerned about the enormous electricity bills you have been getting, there are things that you can do about it. You can lower your energy costs by taking some very simple actions.
This article discusses some simple, easy-to-do things to reduce your power costs.
Use Less Electricity: Whenever you leave a room, shut off any electrical appliances as well as lights. Even if an electronic is not on but is plugged in, it is consuming electricity. Unplug all chargers and seldom-used appliances.
Is it Possible to Lower Energy Costs: Find Out Here How Solar Power Works
Energy saving investments: Switch your regular bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs. These bulbs are great energy-saving tools, and can save you about $60 a year. Use an energy-saving gadget such as The Power-Save. For your showerheads, use the low-flow kind. If your water heater is in an unheated room of your home (or even if it isn’t) invest in an insulating blanket/jacket. Change air/heat filters as recommended and keep A/C coils clean. See that your house has adequate insulation. Change out your windows with the newer, more energy-efficient ones. If this isn’t feasible, at least check your existing windows for escaping air and correct it.
Household Appliances:
• Run the washer only when there is a full load of clothes.
• You’ve heard it before: Use less water!
• Keep the thermostat temperature higher in summer and lower in winter. Even a couple of degrees can help.
• Switch the computer monitor off when you’re away from the computer. It only takes a second to turn it back on.
Avoid preheating your oven more than necessary and opening the door while cooking.
Use the dishwasher only when you have a full load and use the no heat dry option. Using the no heat function saves 20% of the dishwasher’s total electric consumption.
Use cold water for your washing machine.
Make sure your appliances are energy-efficient models.
Twenty percent of the home’s electricity is used by your refridgerator. Make sure the fridge and freezer are making a good seal when closed. Set the fridge temperature to 37 degrees or as close to that as feasible.
Try turning down the thermostat on your water heater. One hundred twenty degress (120) F is usually sufficient.
Try Making Home Solar Energy: Then Discover How You Can Make Serious Savings!
Many local power companies provide free home energy audits. This can help you become aware of where and how your home is energy inefficient.
Remember, lowering your utility bill is equivalent to saving power, thus helping the world conserve energy for the future.
Reduce or even eliminate your utility bill by utilizing solar and wind power to produce your own electricity. Obtain our comprehensive guide at:
The Most Recommended Home Solar Energy Review on How Solar Power Works
