Green cars
Posted on July 3, 2009
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The latest in environmentally friendly hybrid cars use a combination of a double power source in most instances. The most common hybrids currently on sale in the market today use both an electric motor and the petrol combustion engine. Batteries are used to charge and act as the main storage device to power the electric motor engine, usually working when the vehicle is moving at low speed or in traffic, this is ideal when driving in cities. The combustion engine is used to recharge the battery cells along with regenerative braking; therefore hybrid cars do not need to be plugged into an external power supply.
Electric cars are powered by an electric motor which gets its power from on board battery packs which act as the main energy storage. Batteries, which usually contain Nickel metal-hydride or Lithium ion are charged by connecting the car to a mains power supply, and it takes overnight to charge fully.
Also on the market today are ethanol powered cars. Grain alcohol (Ethanol) is a production of plant extracts, most of the time sugar caine. The fuel has a large high octane rating which in turn means high engine efficiency. Ethanol is widely used around the world as a fuel and is increasing has an increased popularity in Europe.
There are so many green options in todays world check out what you could do to become more eco friendly. Home energy review will open your eyes.
A survey was carried out around motor organisations and the interesting fact which was firmly established was that bio diesel was leading in the world of renewable energy. Bio diesel environmentally green because it has potential to be carbon-neutral.
There are a number of companies who offer a great deals on environmentally friendly cars, they are seen as making there mark on the auto business are out the word. Auto leasing environmentally friendly cars are becoming more of an attractive option for some people. Auto leasing companies offer the latest hybrid cars and many more of the well know think green options.
Diesel run vehicle sales are on the rise in the United Kingdom as consumers are becoming more cost conscious and the demand for more efficient vehicles is on the rise. The growth of diesel sold cars has grown to a massive half of all cars sold in Europe, this is an impressive rise. Diesels operated cars today are30 % more fuel efficient than petrol powered vehicles this is done by using higher compression ratios and higher combustion temperatures.
Light bulbs: make that switch with ease
Posted on July 3, 2009
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If you ask for explanations for starting to use the environmental light bulbs instead of the traditional ones, you usually get two answers: the new type of light bulbs is 1) Earth-friendly and 2) pocket-friendly at the same time. The environmental bulbs are economical in several ways: they can be used up to ten times a longer time than the “normal” bulbs, and the amount of emanated warmth is smaller, therefore there is less air conditioning necessary, which is significant mostly for large offices. Another fact is that the fluorescent bulbs use only one-third of the energy usage of the traditional bulbs, which is good both for the Earth and also your pocket.
Except for running a MLS GTA agency, I’m always looking for quick and easy tips to make my lifestyle a bit more greener. Most customers are not experts and may feel that the selection of environmental light bulbs is very wide, making it very difficult to pick the right one. In order to help you decide while shopping for light bulbs, we have summed up some easy tips for you.
The perfect light bulb for you
The environmental light bulbs are produced in all types, forms and dimensions, so it would be easy to pick one that doesn’t fit. In order to prevent this, you should take your old bulb with you to the shop and match it with the available assortment. When using the fluorescent bulbs, check the wattage - the new bulbs use up only one quarter of the energy needed by the traditional ones (60 watt traditional bulb = 15 watt fluorescent bulb). If you need a bulb for a dimmer light, make sure your new bulb works in these - it should be mentioned on the packaging.
The right place
Think about the place where you are going to use the new bulb - if it is too warm with no or little air circulation, the environmental bulb won’t be a good choice here (for example in recessed ceiling fixtures). It is also important to take into account the fact that the environmental bulb needs one to three minutes to start functioning fully and it is not good to switch it on and off too frequently. So the fluorescent bulbs are best to be used in rooms where the light usually stays on for at least 15 minutes, otherwise the bulb could get destroyed too early.
How to dispose of environmental bulbs
Always recycle your bulbs at appointed places. Among other materials, fluorescent bulbs are made of mercury, which is a dangerous heavy-metal. If you smash a light bulb in your home, the mercury cannot be vacuumed. You also shouldn’t touch it with bare hands. Instead, try to sweep the mercury bits with a piece of carton paper. Smaller pieces can be rid of with a scotch tape. Then mop the whole room with a wet cloth and open the window for at least 15 minutes to make sure the air circulates properly and you don’t breath in the mercury vapours.
Living Is Learning, Discovering The Natural Self
Posted on June 29, 2009
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The ecological crisis is real. These are seriously being discussed. No doubt most of this is a result of human interventions. There are massive oil spills as in Alaska by Exxon in 1989. Toxic wastes from industries are polluting the rivers and ground water. The sea levels are increasing, many islands as Maldives are expecting to go under the sea and so are many islands in the Pacific region. The depletion of ozone layer is permitting the harmful radiation from the sun to reach the earth. This is the result of the emission of green house gases. Global warming is heating up the earth. Many species are getting extinct from desertification and deforestation. Deforestation in the mountains is leading to devastating floods in the plains. Between 17,000 and 100,000 species are reportedly becoming extinct every year. The last 50 years have seen most of the forests estimated at seven million square kilometers have vanished. Just twenty percent of the original forests still remain.
The inter-relationship between species as well as the non-living physical factors of the environment is well recognized. The inter-dependency between them is considered vital for the survival of species whether plants, animals or micro-organisms. Scientists believe that it is humanly impossible to recreate such ecosystems. So the only option for species survival is to let ecosystem where they exist to survive. The stress therefore is in protecting and conserving the remaining natural eco-system. However, the excessive pressure of development and growth on nature acts as a counter.
Appreciation of nature and natural reserves in a widespread manner, it is hoped, will ultimately triumph and bear fruits. One way to promote this is by encouraging responsible eco-tourism. A living experience through camping in such sites requires the use of camping tent. You have to choose the tent from amongst a wide variety of tents. Kelty Green River 4 person tent can also be utilized as a base camp tent. It can house four persons. There are tents that easily accommodates up to ten people. The tents also have different features such as in its ability to withstand the winds, rain and the cold.
It is important that visitors to the camping site do not interfere with nature. They should also respect local cultures as well. Appreciating nature for its complexity is vital. Understanding the different roles that nature plays reveals its mystery. What is more important is to recognize the fact that we belong to nature, and nature does not belong to us. We are related to nature as between children to their mother.
Why should we go abroad when the weather is so hot at home?
Posted on June 28, 2009
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The planet is heating up, year after year everything is getting warmer. So if the world is getting warmer, then the original ideas for going to the Caribbean for a sunny hot holiday are being dismissed. Even in the south of England the sun prevails over the beaches and wards off the clouds.
In any case, is there other reasons for us to visit these places for our Caribbean holidays, or should we just enjoy a cheaper, maybe just as warm holiday closer to home. Global warming has been having increased effects on our world since we started burning fossil fuels; one slight advantage was that the cooler places on the planet have seen a rise in temperature. We need to take into account the global warming is unpredictable and the only way to slow it down is to do something about it immediately. The changes in temperature between the atmosphere and the temperature from the ground created by us, have helped exacerbate the problems the Hurricanes present us with. These storms are damaging not only to us but also to the surrounding environment. Tobago holidays will suffer because they rely heavily on Scuba diving tours.
Now it might be getting warmer at home, but in the Caribbean it is heating up as well, and they will be suffering from other increased environmental disturbances like hurricanes or mesoscale connective systems. These Mesoscale systems are a connection of rain, thunder and lightening, all in a line and are very rare, but becoming more likely and more deadly. Relatively soon these areas are going to be changing rapidly, so heading to these destinations is of importance because in some cases you may not be able to visit there later in life. Even if you can still make it to the Caribbean in the future, it will be a very different place to what it is today. Across the world the coral reef and the great barrier reef is fading away, but this isn’t the only problem, marine life is dying to. Some of the places that may have large populations like, Barbados or Cuba will have culture changes because of the change of the environment. Cultures are going to be damaged by the changes in the environment and so will tourism.
Popular destinations to get married like St Lucia holidays will slowly decline and this magnificent island will lose its tourism trade.
About Eco-friendly Shower Curtains
Posted on June 21, 2009
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In recent years people have started realising the importance of saving the environment any way they can. With that in mind, many house owners have started incorporating the “green” movement in their homes. It therefore make sense to realize that shower curtains even your lovely disney mickey mouse shower curtain, especially those made from plastic, can be changed as well. Take a few minutes to read about some of the recommendations you can consider.
One thing I hate about plastic shower curtains is that they emit bad odour. They are even worse when they are new. Let us delve right into our topic for the day.
If you live in a dry climatic area then consider buying Hemp shower curtains. My reason for saying only those living in drier areas should consider this is because it takes a longer time to dry.
Wet curtains for the shower are a breeding ground for mold and mildew and therefore calls for a regular wash. The more it is washed the quicker it wears out so you need to realize the opportunity cost here . You can find this one selling at about $90.
My best recommendation is for you to buy one made from cloth and not plastic. Make sure the one you buy dries up quickly and can be washed using a washing machine. My best pick is nylon but you can try out other options. You can buy yourself a nice fabric at $20, which comes with a very tight weave and repels water perfectly fine. I prefer this one from Hemp because it is capable of drying faster and repels mold growth better. When buying you have an options like paisleyshowercurtains or simply find discount shower curtains of your choice. Just make sure it fits well with your bathroom deco.
I said I hate plastic, yes, but I will not withhold the truth and not tell you that there are a few green curtains that you can buy – if you must stick with plastic.
If Africa is affected by the change in Global Climate, how long does it have left as a tourist destination
Posted on June 20, 2009
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Africa is the place of complete open space, the place where animals and plants run wild and free, but is it always going to be like this…
The world is changing, and more importantly the environment is changing. Africa is one of the hottest location on the planet, and where it is positioned, on the equator line, it can only get so much hotter. We wont be able to accurately predict how much the environment will change in the distant future, but we do know that action is required to make good changes happen.
The temperature all over the world is rising every year, places like Africa won’t be able to support a decent amount of life in around one hundred years. We all try to say that we will do our bit to help save the planet, but how many of us actually do something about it, you will find the numbers are quite low. Now without seeming like a pessimist, people won’t take serious action on global climate change until the very last minute.
So what is the best immediate option? Well I would recommend visiting Africa now. The Safari holidays give you amazing insight into what Africa is all about, and the chance to see these animals in the wild will allow you to experience something that millions of others never will. We can all go down to the zoo and see a lion, but it doesn’t have the same impact as if you saw one in their natural environment.
These animals are also endangered by poachers; people think that because they are in reserves or national parks that they are now safe and the poaching has stopped. This is not the case, they are still being killed, although not in the numbers it was, it is still happening.
So consider Kenya holidays in the Masai Mara reserve, or Zambia holidays and visit this glowing location while you can.
Go Green With A Low Flow Shower Head
Posted on June 12, 2009
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If you’re looking to go green, one of the best places to start is by taking a look at one of our daily rituals: taking a shower. Have you ever considered where the water comes from and how much of it is being used?
The EPA estimates that showering accounts for 17 percent of indoor residential water use in the United States. That amounts to an astounding 3.3 billion gallons of water per day, and 1.2 trillion gallons per year. This torrent of water is being taken from delicate ecosystems, causing great harm to the environment. While some of this water returns to the environment through water treatment plants, much of it does not or does so only with pollution. It may be no surprise, then, that lowering water use must be a top priority of governments and individuals trying to make a difference for the environment.
One of the best ways to save water is to install a water-saving, low flow shower head. These shower heads are engineered to provide a powerful flow of water without sacrificing the luxury or comfort you’re used to in your showering routine. Technology can vary from creatively designed orifices that focus the stream and control the size of water droplets, to showerheads that inject air into the water stream to increase the blast.
Low flow shower heads typically use 1.5 to 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). By contrast, older or non-efficient fixtures use more than 2.5 gpm, with those older than 15 years sometimes using more than 7 gallons per minute!
Not sure if you need one of these water saving shower heads? Do this test: place a bucket marked in gallons under your shower head, then turn on the shower at its normal rate. Use a watch to figure out how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the one-gallon mark. If it takes 20 seconds or less then you definitely need a low flow shower head because you’re using a lot more water than necessary.
In addition to helping the environment, you also save money. Whereas a low flow fixture could run you as little as $15 (a bit more for higher quality ones), the 20% or more in water savings you’d realize would translate to $50-$75 a year on water bills and another $20-$50 a year on energy bills for heating the water. In other words, the showerhead pays for itself almost immediately.
Installing a new shower head is easy. You usually just unscrew the old one, screw in the new one, and you’re done!
If going green matters to you, there is every reason to change to a water saving shower head. There’s not much else you can do that is so easy and makes such a big difference for both the environment and your wallet without sacrificing one bit of luxury.
Ionic Air Purifier - Scientific Peer Reviews, Where Are They?
Posted on June 5, 2009
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Criticism of the ionic air purifier industry is fashionable. “Absence of scientific peer reviews” has been a frequent criticism posted on influenza, air quality and indoor pollution blogs.
Mr. John Moore who is a researcher at New York’s Cornell University may surprise believers of the peer review system.
He says:
• “a lust for profit has led to too many journals,…all too easy to find…poor-quality work”
• “not everything in the peer-reviewed literature is correct. Indeed, some of it is downright bad science”
• “the peer review system…it’s the least-bad system that can be devised”.
The general public, warns Mr. Moore, must not regard every scientific peer review as the “gold standard” as “even reviewed literature can be cherry-picked to support any argument.” It is enlightening that “professional scientists…know that scientific truth evolves on the basis of a mounting consensus, not through an isolated paper that adopts a maverick position, even if it has been peer-reviewed.”
These nuggets of wisdom from an “insider” like Mr. Moore is of great value to all industries, including the ionic air purifier industry, that have fallen short on the burden of proof.
Critics of the ionic air purifier demand the gold standard. So do the powers to be as well. How did we discover that? We simply asked. The US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) responded thus:
“NIOSH is not aware of any peer-reviewed scientific studies that demonstrate the effectiveness of ion generators/ionic air purifiers against viruses. NIOSH does not have any studies planned to evaluate these devices nor do we have a policy on their use.”
But it was encouraging that the NIOSH has not pronounced final judgment as they also said:
“NIOSH provides support for investigator initiated research. Should someone want to conduct such studies they may apply for funding by mechanisms available and described under “Funding Opportunities” at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/oep/. Proposals are funded annually based on availability of funds, relevance of the proposed work to the NIOSH mission, and the quality of the science proposed.”
At our Ezine article (accessible via The Ionic Air Purifier Blog Ezine widget), we have reproduced the NIOSH’s exacting parameters of a scientific peer review.
Funding shortage is definitely not the problem. Neither is it outright rejection by the authorities. Why aren’t there any scientific peer reviews of the ionic air purifier after all these years? It would be great to hear from an insider of the ionic air purifier industry.
In our view, with the advancements in ionic air purifier technologies, manufacturers see the advantages of tapping on the prestige of official funding. It should take just one successful scientific peer review to make all the difference? Of course, the ideal should be Mr. Moore’s “mounting consensus” in the scientific community in attesting to the safety, efficacy and effectiveness of the ionic air purifier.
Ionic Air Purifier – Without Scientific Reviews, Do We Just Give Up On It?
For the time being, users hunting for the ideal ionic air purifier can look to our Ionic Air Purifier Review – 4 Key Factors Model.
Encouragingly, we now know that a scientific peer review that is acceptable by any authority must cover the 2 safety aspects in our model.
NIOSH states categorically: “…a scientifically valid study would need to be designed to test whether ion generators are effective in killing viruses to the extent that a hazard no longer remains, and that such technology does not by itself generate new hazards of its own, e.g., ozone or oxidized by-products. The design of such a study would be challenging.”
Sign up at the Ionic Air Purifier Blog to follow our ongoing research.
Can You Help Antarctica with a Homemade Solar Water Heater System?
Posted on May 30, 2009
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With so much urgent talk of the the perils of the greenhouse effect and global warming these days, there is a growing public conscience about the fate of Antarcia as the harbinger of the fate of the earth itself. In fact, there is a growing trend of concerned citizens turning to homemade solar water heater systems to help our sick earth. A more dedicate sector of the population is committing to homemade solar water heater and that is the homemade solar generator. If you are going to do this, make sure you do your research. Electricity is very serious. Start by reading homemade solar water heater system and solar generator reviews. Doing so empowers you to help the earth and Anartica. If not for our gross dependence on traditional polluting energy sources, the fear is that Antarctica would not be in such peril. The concern is that the ice that the continent is made up of is melting quicker than normal and not freezing again as it typically does with a very predictable pattern. The fear is that this will inevitably increase the sea level to a degree that will cause major metropolis and land mass to go under water and leave millions of people without shelter and even causing death.
So who are making these claims? Well there are many scientists that have been looking at the earth’s climates and weather systems for a long time and trying to make sense of them. The earliest reason for doing this was not to measure the affect of the greenhouse gases that are magnifying the suns intensity and causing the heat to stay within it. They originally wanted to learn about the earth so that they could by recognizing signs be could warn of natural disasters like earth quakes and hurricanes and tsunamis. Since they have kept data to look for these signs they have noticed disturbing trends in things like the average temperature and the increasing sea level and other things like the sized of the ice cap over Antarctica and they seem to only be going in one direction which spells trouble.
Then they start seeking out answers to why this is occuring and the answer is typically global warming. They cite the increase in certain gases like CO2 which are purportedly on the rise do to the millions of different engines that burn fossil fuels across the world. Supposedly this changes the qualities of the atmosphere that hold in the energy from the sun much like a green house does. What is not commonly known is that these are all hypotheses to try and understand the general direction of the environment that no one currently has a grasp of. We know that Antarctica melts in places and at certain times and since we have been measuring these things it appears that the land mass has gotten smaller—but this is very flawed thinking.
Of course it has only been a few decades since we have had the ability to make specialized measurements like this. It may seem like that is enough time to make good predictions about the earth which is millions of year old (some say billions). It’s not possible to make an conclusive declaration about patterns that might just be natural cycles that are 500 years long. No one has yet even measured 100 or 50 year cycles. So we must cool our jets and not take ourselves so seriously. We know much less about Antarctica’s slow meltdown and many other phenomena that appear to be trending towards the same critical point than we realize. Whatever the truth is, you can make a difference by installing a homemade solar water heater or solar generator. Make and impact today.
Ralph Somers, editor
Homemade Solar Water Heater Information
Effects of Natural Disasters
Posted on May 25, 2009
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Natural disasters have increased dramatically over the past few years. We all saw the forecasts of deadly hurricanes that approach shorelines, and we witnessed tornadoes that appear out of the sky without warning. No one could ever forget the tsunami that struck the Indian Ocean that took thousands of lives and hurricane Katrina a few years ago.
Tornadoes can be discovered a few moments before they hit but most of the time, there is not much forecasters can do to warn the people ahead of time. It happens so fast that often times, people barely have enough time to make it to shelter.
Right now, we’ve learned about natural disasters more than before. Thanks to the people who are willing to risk their lives to do research for the sake of everybody. As of now, no one knows how to prevent them but at least we know how they happen and why. Natural disasters throughout history have been studied and yet, there is something about it that will keep them somewhat of a mystery.
In every corner of the world, natural disasters have had some sort of impact. Nature has its way of letting human beings know that it has more control over the planet than we like to believe. Natural disasters cannot be prevented. They can, however, be forecasted at times and some of the outcomes can be prevented. Thanks to modern day technology, we can see hurricanes coming before they have the chance to perform a sneak attack.
Early planning saved a lot of lives but additional planning could have prevented the mass amounts of destruction. No matter if you live in an area that is prone to natural disasters, learning safety tips and having a plan of escape is always a good idea. There are lots of sources online for tips and information about being prepared.
Article by Chris B, you can find more about him on his profile.
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