Mercury Pollution

Mercury pollution is a dangerous environmental problem around the world. One way in which people are exposed to mercury is through eating contaminated fish.

Some mercury is natural in the environment.Some comes from our intentional uses of mercury, and some is a polluting byproduct of burning coal and certain mining and manufacturing processes.

ENVIRONMENTAL & HEALTH EFFECTS OF MERCURY
3 most common forms of mercury:

• elemental
• inorganic and
• methylmercury

These three forms of mercury can produce adverse health effects at sufficiently high doses.

EFFECTS ON HUMAN HEALTH:

1. Eating mercury-contaminated fish is the primary route of exposure to mercury for most people

2. Inhaling elemental mercury, the vapor given off when mercury is heated, can also be dangerous

3. Mercury can damage human health because it is toxic to the nervous system - the brain and spinal cord - particularly the developing nervous system of a fetus or young child.

4. Adults who have been exposed to too much methylmercury might begin to experience trembling hands and numbness or tingling in their lips, tongues, fingers or toes. These effects can begin long after the exposure occurred. At higher exposures, walking could be affected, as well as vision, speech and hearing. In sufficient quantities, methylmercury can be fatal.

5. Damage occurring before birth or in infancy can cause a child to be late in beginning to walk and talk and may cause lifelong learning problems. Unborn children can be seriously affected even though the methylmercury causes no symptoms in their mothers.

EFFECT TO THE ENVIRONMENT:

Fish are the main source of food for many birds and other animals, and mercury can seriously damage the health of these species. Loons, eagles, otters, mink, kingfishers and ospreys eat large quantities of fish. Because these predators rely on speed and coordination to obtain food, mercury may be particularly hazardous to these animals.

Sources:

http://www.pca.state.mn.us

Inspired Students Inspire A Community

When students at Mira Loma High School in Sacramento, California return to school at the end of this month, they will have more to look forward to than homework. They will have the opportunity to experience science hands on: they can participate in the Arcade Creek Project. Designed as a facet of Mira Loma’s participation in the International Baccalaureate Program (one of sixty schools nationwide with such distinction), five instructors created the student run project to meet the discipline requirements for science and chemistry. Students in the program are required to spend a minimum of forty hours per school year in the field counting birds and fish, mapping bends in the creek, calculating the slopes of riverbanks, analyzing water samples, and generally enjoying the great outdoors—that is as long as your idea of a good time in the great outdoors involves wearing waders and carrying a clipboard. The Arcade Creek Project consists of eleven individual studies that take place in randomly selected sites along the creek which is located just north of the campus in a suburban area of Sacramento County. The studies measure and map the physical dimensions of the creek, determine the degree of erosion along the banks, analyze the water quality, and count species of animals to gauge the health of the creek. Students also remove trash and non-native plants from the creek. They plan to begin reintroducing native plants soon. This active observation of the local land feature has fostered a deep affection for the little creek, an affection that has even moved the students to political activism. When another community group tried to purchase some of the land near the creek to build a parking lot, the students organized a letter writing campaign to put a stop to the development. So far the campaign can be considered a success; the plans for the parking lot have been put on permanent hold. Another branch project encourages students to reach out to their community by participating in Creek Week and the Sacramento Urban Creek Council to help their community recognize the importance of the creek and the role it plays in the health of the ecosystem and community overall. Students in the outreach program visit local elementary and middle schools to raise awareness of the need to protect the environment and have even developed class material for local elementary school students. Their textbook? The Lorax, by Dr. Seuss. In 2004, the project was awarded the Governor’s Environmental and Economic Leadership Award for Children’s Environmental Education by California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. Now entering its sixth year, the Arcade Creek Project hopes to continue to inspire the students of Mira Loma’s IB Program and the residents of their community to protect their local environment. By: Christine Flanders
About the Author: About the AuthorChristine Flanders is a freelance writer for Indocquent.com. Indocquent.com is an online resource that allows businesses and individuals to promote their products and services in 20,000 cities in over 200 countries around the world.

The Search For Natural Gas

We often take the comfort of a warm home in the winter for granted. With the use of natural gas we are able to cook, keep warm and heat water, just to name a few benefits. Natural gas also burns cleaner than any other fossil fuel and has fewer emissions of sulfur, carbon and nitrogen compared to coal as it has no ash particles left after burning.

So what exactly is natural gas and how is it found?

The creation of natural gas began millions of years ago. The remains of plants and animals, or organic materials, that over time became covered with rock, combined with pressure and heat, slowly changed into coal, oil or natural gas. The discovery of the gas came later when humans started to notice these vapors seeping from gaps in rocks and then being ignited by lightening. Watching how the fire burned stimulated interest in capturing such gases and turning them into heat and light.

Extracting natural gas from deep beneath the earth is a complex and often expensive process. Even with modern technology, seeking a natural gas deposit large enough to invest time into drilling and exporting can be quite daunting.

So how is natural gas found? It takes a combination of processes and events – they include:

1.Geological Surveys – Geologists examine the earths surface to determine areas where it is geologically likely that petroleum or gas deposits might exist.

2.Seismic Exploration – Seismic waves are used to examine the earths crust for various underground formations that display potential gas pockets.

3.Onshore Seismology – Seismic waves are picked up by geophones and geophysicists, geologists and petroleum engineers interpret the data.

4.Offshore Seismology – Instead of using trucks and geophones, a ship is used to pick up seismic waves underwater.

5.Magnetometers – Magnetic properties of underground formations are measured with magnetometers, which can detect small differences in the Earth’s magnetic field.

6.Gravimeters – Measuring the Earth’s gravitational field helps scientists gain a better understanding of what is underground. Formations and rock types have a different effect on the gravitational field that surrounds the Earth. This sensitive equipment helps geophysicists analyze formations that lie below the ground.

7.Exploratory Wells – After digging into the earth’s crust, wells are dropped in search of deposits. Because the process of drilling is expensive, exploratory wells are only drilled in areas where other data indicates high probability.

8.Logging- Standard and electric logging consists of measuring and recording physical aspects of a well.

9.Data Interpretation – Raw data alone would be useless without careful and methodical interpretation. Geophysicists use all of the sources possible to make their best guesses as to location of reservoirs.

10.2-D Seismic Interpretation – Two-dimensional seismic imaging uses data collected from seismic exploration to develop a cross-sectional picture of underground rock formations.

11.Computer Assisted Exploration – Computers are used to compile and assemble the geological data using a technology referred to as CAEX, which is short for ‘computer assisted exploration.’

12.3-D Seismic Imaging – Three-dimensional seismic imaging has been one of the biggest breakthroughs in computer-aided exploration. Although costly, $1 million per 50 square miles, it provides more accurate placement of wells to be drilled.

13.2-D Seismic Imaging – This includes generating an image of subsurface geology in the same manner as 2-D data interpretation with the addition of computer technology.

14.4-D Seismic Imaging – A new breakthrough modeling underground rock formation. This technique is an extension of 3-D seismic imaging.

An Alternative Fuel Vehicle story

It seems apparent that the world is heading towards an energy crisis. The meter is heading towards "E" on petroleum and we need an alternative fuel vehicle. Cars can't run on good wishes alone and we need an alternative fuel source that is both economical as well as earth-friendly. One of the options for efficient energy seems to be the hybrid electric vehicle.

Hybrid electric vehicles are a top contender to be the alternative fuel vehicle, replacing the gasoline powered vehicles of today. They are efficient, reliable and becoming most cost effective every day. No wonder they're quickly becoming popular. Besides the "green" factor, the designs of these types of vehicles are also pleasing to the eye - unlike the early clunky looking models.

Popularly known as the hybrid, this alternative fuel vehicle runs on battery electric power and good old fashioned gasoline. It gets much higher mileage per gallon than traditional vehicles and dispels less carbon dioxide to boot. Not only that, this alternative fuel vehicle is being adopted by and large in the marketplace. Most major automotive manufacturers produce at least one hybrid and you can buy them at any new car dealership. Many manufacturers of vehicles are adding hybrids to their line up of available models.

Another benefit to this kind of alternative fuel vehicle is that it will last longer because there's less wear and tear. Alternative energy research has given us a vehicle with a combustion engine that stops running when you enter a traffic jam or slow down considerably and the battery electric engine takes over. This means you won't wear your combustion engine out by taking off or slowing to idle. Instead, you can rely on the dependable and less complex battery engine that gives you better acceleration and torque to begin with. You also get the benefit of recapturing waste energy via the regenerative braking system, which helps minimize pollution.

Like any new technology, hybrids run with a higher price tag than traditional gasoline powered vehicles. At the present time, the lofty price tag of an alternative fuel vehicle would put a hurtin' on any blue collar worker's pocketbook. But for some, the benefits might just outweigh the costs. For instance, the "hybrid premium" is often offset by the payback period wherein the cost is balanced out by a savings on gas over time. Not to mention that most other types of alternative fuel cars depreciate much faster than a conventional car but that isn't the case at all with the hybrid. In fact, studies have shown that hybrid vehicles will actually depreciate at a slower rate than conventional vehicles, making this alternative fuel vehicle a better choice for consumers that want to live a "greener" lifestyle.

A final positive is that the hybrids can also run on other forms of alternative fuel. Vehicle manufacturers can add a flexible fuel engine, or you can just use bio-diesel, ethanol or biogas. This gives hybrids a flexibility that most others in the alternative fuel vehicle category don't have.

After much deliberation and consideration it would appear that the hybrid is the best choice when buying an alternative fuel vehicle. You have the benefit of higher gas mileage and better engine performance. As well as the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions which will help stave off global warming. These benefits make the hybrid a very popular and tangible alternative fuel vehicle, unlike some of the other vehicles in the category.

About the Author: David Odell has been a freelance writer for over 20 years and takes a great interest in the "Green Issues" He is the creator of:Greenhouse Gas Emissions Cause Global Consequences

How Do We Use Petroleum?

Oil and natural gas together make up petroleum. This compound of carbon and hydrogen can be found in many forms. Petroleum literally means "rock oil", which refers to its solid state called asphalt. Petroleum can also be found in two types of liquid form. Crude oil is dark and sticky. It’s called condensate if it’s clear and volatile. Condensate evaporates very easily. In the semisolid state, petroleum is called bitumen. So what is petroleum actually made of? It looks like a simple black gooey mass, but it is actually a mixture of many chemicals, formed by decomposed remains of living things.
Different chemicals can be separated out at refineries and petrochemical plants. Then the chemicals or chemical groups can be made into a huge range of different things. Companies like Western Pipeline Corporation help find the oil, drill it and get it into production so that we can enjoy many of the products we use today. Polyurethane skateboard wheels, impact absorbing helmets and pads, even the polycarbonate case on your laptop are all produced from oil. Petroleum in its thickest form is called bitumen. Bitumen is mainly used for paving roads. Bitumen is also popular in waterproofing roofs. It can be mixed with sand or clay and water to produce what is known as oil sands. Oil sands are similar to tar, but the materials are naturally occurring. Bitumen is a nearly solid form of oil and is very expensive to process into gasoline or other usable fuels. Therefore, oil sands are being mined almost exclusively to extract the oil, convert it into synthetic oil, or it is being refined for other petroleum products, such as plastic.
Crude oil is a form of petroleum that is in a more liquid state than bitumen. It is mostly black or brown, but can also be yellow or green depending on its components. Crude oil from Sudan is black and North Sea oil is dark brown. Oil from Utah is amber while Texas oil is more yellow. "Sour" oils contain more sulfur and need extra processing in refineries. "Sweet" oils are much easier to refine. If someone mentions sour crude oil, they are referring to the heavier oil. Sweet grade oil usually refers to the lighter crude, found in places like Texas.
The lightest hydrocarbon molecules are so volatile that they evaporate very easily and form natural gas. Nearly every oil deposit contains at least some natural gas. Some have so much of these molecules that they are almost completely natural gas. Natural gas is a very clean burning resource that we use to cool and heat homes and businesses. It is used to generate electricity. We use it in many of the products that we utilize daily such as carpet, medicine, medical equipment, plastics and fertilizers.

Time-tested Solutions for Global Warming

Increased global temperature, a rise in the sea levels, extreme conditions of the weather. These are all attributed to a single factor - global warming. Global warming or greenhouse effect has been going on for centuries. For thousands of years, the earth's temperature continues to rise and it's not stopping. Although the catastrophic events are commonly linked with this global problem, scientists worldwide still have uncertainties as to the relation of global warming to these events AND if there's even a definite solution to global warming.
There are two possible solution to the effects of global warming as proposed by experts. It could be in the form of mitigation or through adaptation. Under the mitigation response, several actions are done to alleviate the effects of global warming, if not to totally eradicate it. The steps that could be undertaken in this response are to reduce the consumption of energy and to use appliances that are energy efficient; you could also look for other possible energy sources or alternatives that can be used to replace the present source of fuel. Possible 'other' sources of energy are solar energy (with this, pollution is decreased, thus, global warming could be controlled), wind energy, hydropower, and geothermal power, to name a few. These energy sources are reusable and highly available, not to add that they are clean sources of fuel.
Another solution for global warming is the use of other sources of energy. Other possible sources of energy that can be used are nuclear energy and biofuels. These two can be used to replace fossil fuels that take a much longer time to develop. Nuclear energy, though, is still under much consideration because of its negative effects to people and to the environment. There is no contestation as to the power that nuclear energy would be able to produce that would give electrical power. But as to the safety of this source of power, there is still much debate. Biofuel, on the other hand, is safe, economical and it is easy to produce. Methane is the main biofuel that can be produced from plant and animal wastes, and this proves to be a lot more environment-friendly than burning fossil fuels.
Another step that ingenious minds have created is capturing carbon (in the form of carbon dioxide) and properly storing them for future use. We have a high concentration of CO2 in our atmosphere, so to help in improving the climate, it should be controlled. And when needed, CO2 can also be used together with methane to make biogas. Aside from carbon capture, people have also set up the so-called Geoengineering where the main goal of this form of science is to study the effects and solutions in atmospheric problems.
In the adaptation response, people look for ways on reducing the effects of the problem and addressing the issues on these problems one-step at a time. In mitigation, people are bent on stopping or postponing the effects of global warming. In search for a better term, adaptation is like 'playing it cool' for now then slowly doing some actions to lessen global warming effects. So in adaptation, they have the thought that glaciers are melting anyway even if we stop our consumption of fossil fuels now so why not go on with modern progress? All they have to concentrate on is how to 'cope' with the effects. Both mitigation and adaptation would mean people who would join hands in fighting a common enemy.
Another way to defend ourselves from the ravages of global warming is for concerned lawmakers to create legislations that would ensure the responsible use of what's left of our fossil fuel resources. With this comes the equal responsibility of not using products or taking part in activities that would further ruin our planet's balance.
And, at the end of it all, the best person that could make a difference and help in making the solution for global warming possible would be you. You could start with yourself, and within your home, all the practices that would provide solutions to the worsening condition of planet earth, which is greenhouse effect.
Global warming solutions are not yet thoroughly proven, let alone totally administered. It is an ever-present problem. No matter what we do, it is there and there is no escaping it. And although it will take years, lots of it, before global warming will even begin to become a terrifying threat, still, it wouldn't hurt if we lift a finger now.
About the Author
For more information now go to: http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com/Global-Solution-Warming.html http://www.solutionstoearthdestruction.com/Benefit-Of-Deforestation.html

Aren't You Using Rechargeable Batteries?

When we ask ourselves why we should use rechargeable batteries, we are talking about rechargeable batteries of sizes AA, AAA, C, D and 9V. These rechargeable batteries can deliver many advantages and are intended for everyday use just like the disposable or primary alkaline batteries used everywhere.
An advantage of rechargeable batteries is that they can be recharged and reused hundreds of times and the better ones greatly outperform the everyday leading brand disposable alkaline batteries.
Rechargeable batteries can be used over and over again which produces an incredible cost reduction over their useful life. As an example, you can easily find 4 quality AA rechargeable batteries that come with a smart charger for $30 to $40 US. For such a package deal, each AA rechargeable battery costs $10 US (including the initial charger cost ). If you recharge these rechargeable batteries a minimum of 100 times, that means that these rechargeable batteries cost less than 10 cents per use.
There are many factors not accounted for in our cost analysis, but if all these other factors were included, they would only further reduce the total per use cost well below 10 cents per use. Firstly, new technology rechargeable batteries can easily provide 30% to 50% more energy than regular alkaline disposable batteries. Secondly, if you buy 4 more rechargeable batteries at $16 US or less, your per recharge cycle cost for these supplementary rechargeable batteries drops to less than 4 cents per use ( you already have the charger ! ). Thirdly, electricity costs are very small considering some of the best AA rechargeable batteries will deliver 3 Watt hours or more and electricity from the grid will cost you 6 to 10 cents per 1000 Watts per hour. Fourthly, a quality rechargeable battery may not last 1000 uses but will certainly last a lot more than 100 uses.
Another often mentioned advantage of using rechargeable batteries is that they are considered to be more environmentally friendly than the disposable primary batteries. There are pros and cons to this argument and the general practices of society and private enterprise are not really based on helping the environment. So far, helping the environment is all marketing hype and studies show that recycling is only an economic initiative. Over 90% of lead acid batteries are recycled (the rechargeable car battery for example) because of the economic costs of lead. This is far from the case for other rechargeable battery technology.
Dumping rechargeable batteries into a landfill is no better than dumping disposable alkaline batteries or any battery for that matter. Environmental friendliness has to account for the entire product life from mining to manufacturing, shipping, use and disposal. One thing is for sure, for every rechargeable battery you use, 100 or more disposable alkaline batteries are not going to the landfill.
If a quality rechargeable battery lasts 200, 300, 400 or 500 cycles, you can further divide the cost examples we just talked about by 2, 3, 4 or 5. This also applies to the number of disposable batteries that can be eliminated from the pollution factor.
Rechargeable batteries like NiMH (Nickel Metal Hydride) rechargeable batteries have proven that they can deliver greater performance in our ever demanding digital devices. Combined with the fact that they cost much less on a per use basis than disposable alkaline primary batteries and that less mass ends up in the landfill, leaves only one question.
Why are you not using rechargeable batteries instead of disposable one time use batteries? Do you question the performance or value of rechargeable battery technology? Have you been disappointed in the past when using rechargeable battery technology? Is convenience more important than saving money or helping the environment?Whatever the reason is, we would like to know. If you are thinking about using rechargeable batteries, there are resources that can help you.
About the Author: G. Bonneau is the owner of Rechargeable Battery Review, the only source of independent tests and reviews of rechargeable battery products.AAA NiMH Rechargeable Battery Performance Comparisons

Are Short Term Financial Gains Killing Our Planet?

The polar ice caps are melting, species are facing extinction and our climate has become more erratic than ever before. It is impossible to deny the need for intense change in the face of today’s gathering ecological crises. Now that scientific facts support the theories behind global warming, why aren’t more people paying attention—and how do we stop the damage?
Jonathon Porritt, adviser to the UK Prime Minister and author of the new book, “Capitalism as if the World Matters,” (Earthscan 2007) says the first step towards implementing change is to alter the approach to conventional environmentalism. To win people over and get them on board, he suggests focusing on the positive. “Change will not come by threatening people with yet more ecological doom and gloom,” says Porritt. “The necessary changes have to be seen as good for people, their health and their quality of life – and not just good for future generations.”
As the book title suggests, the biggest players in the game- businesses and politicians- must undergo a paradigm shift. “Anything vaguely resembling ‘business-as-usual’ is no less than a death warrant for the highest ideals of contemporary civilization,” says Porritt. “And that means we have to dig a lot deeper than today’s superficial, febrile political debates seem inclined to do.”
While Porritt acknowledges the big picture can be very threatening, he believes positive and profound change is possible. Through his work with Forum for the Future, an organization that works with a very wide range of some of the world’s biggest international companies, Porritt acts as an adviser to a number of chief executives. Porritt says the message that capitalism can be a change-agent for our future is starting to resonate. “Like it or not (and the vast majority of people do), capitalism is now the only economic game in town,” says Porritt. “And that, of course, means that the emerging solutions have to be fashioned with the embrace of capitalism.”
Porritt suggests that today’s model of capitalism is more and more dependent upon liquidating our necessary natural resources. This in turn has a ripple effect of magnifying divides between the rich and the poor worldwide.Porritt suggests that there are three ways we can transform capitalism in order to stop this from getting worse:

How Do Seismic Surveys Locate Oil?

The first oil was found simply by looking at an oil seep on the surface of the earth. Today, oil prospectors have extensive knowledge of the earth’s geology and can see where oil might be located underground. The first underground oil was extracted by accident while drilling for water in West Virginia during the beginning of the nineteenth century. Since then, we have learned to look for geological features, such as buckles and domes, which suggest there may be oil pushing up against the layers of earth. Prospectors also know that oil is most likely to be found in sedimentary rock basins. What used to be a never-ending exploration from the ground is now a technologically advanced operation consisting of satellite scans and radar images. Once a likely place is found, a geophysical analysis is conducted. These surveys can give us clues as to where the oil might be. Clues encompass things like gravitational fields and the earth’s magnetism that may be created or altered by the presence of oil beneath the surface. A seismic survey is another way that we can try to predict where an oil trap may be. Vibrations are sent into the ground. Different frequencies reflect differently from each unique type of rock. This data is used to draw a computer model of what the layers of earth look like beneath the ground being surveyed. Traps and bubbles can usually be seen and some of these actually contain oil and gas. The only way to really know is to drill down and see if there is anything there. Seismic survey is a lot like an ultra-sound of the earth’s surface. Seismic surveys are conducted by setting off vibrations from explosive charges or by special trucks designed to shake the ground by hitting it with a giant hydraulic pad. The hydraulic pad hits the ground with tremendous force and speed sending vibrations very deep into the ground. Geophones record and amplify the sounds that are reflected back to the earth’s surface. These recordings are translated into pictures that we can see and analyze. We can also hunt for oil under the sea by using seismic surveys. Powerful air guns are towed on cables behind the boat. The air gun releases a blast of compressed air towards the sea floor. Echoes come back and are collected by sound-detecting hydrophones. This gives us a clear picture of what the surface of the sea bed looks like. We use many tow lines behind multiple boats to collect enough data to give us a three dimensional view of the bottom of the sea. Then oil prospectors can analyze the data, compare it to similar features found on the surface of the earth and determine where oil might be found. We used to use dynamite to create the seismic sound, but the use of air guns has greatly reduced the amount of pollution and marine-life death that the dynamite once caused. Specific guidelines are followed to keep the disturbance of marine animals to a minimum.

Understanding the Carbon Footprint and How It Affects the Environment

First of all, the term carbon footprint refers to a measurement of greenhouse gases released by human activities based on the amount of carbon dioxide units that is produced. This helps scientists and government decision makers gauge how severe a particular human activity affects the environment by contributing to the so-called Greenhouse Effect.
You can compute your own primary carbon footprint, by taking into account your fuel consumption in your household and your travel activities per year.
In the first category which is fuel consumption per household, you should factor in the following:

• electricity consumption per year for your household
• natural gas consumption per year for your household;
• LPG (liquified petroleum gas) consumption per year by your household;
• household oil consumption per year by your household
• coal consumption per year by your household
• and the number of people who live in your household.
• For the second category, which involves travel activities per year, you should factor in these:
• total mileage of your vehicle per year (for those who own their own private vehicle
• total mileage of your second vehicle per year (for those who have an additional vehicle)
• miles traveled on the train per year
• miles traveled on both local buses and underground transportation systems per year
• miles traveled on long distance bus and coach per year
• yearly travel by air, in terms of short-haul return flights, medium-haul return flights, and long-haul return flights.

You can use an online carbon footprint calculator (like that found on http://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.html) and enter in all these factors. The online calculator will do the computing for you so you can see just how extensively your activities affect the environment by contributing to carbon dioxide emissions.Once you know how your activities affect Mother Earth, you can start taking steps to minimize your contribution to carbon dioxide emissions.

This is very important, particularly since African and Asian countries are revving up their economies which means a proportional increase in fuel consumption.

Some things you can do are:

• look for a green energy supplier who will supply power to your household. (A green energy supplier relies on renewable energy sources such as hydroelectric and wind power, which wreaks less havoc on the environment)
• turn off electricity-dependent machines if you really do not need to use them, or at least minimize usage of these items
• minimize your central heating by up to 2 degrees
• minimize water heating by up to 2 degrees
• use a timer for your central heating at home so that it turns off when you leave home
• only turn on the washing machine and clothes dryer if you have a full load of laundry to put in
• try reducing water to heat in the kettle if you do not need that much hot water in the first place
• do not overcharge your cellphone
• defrost freezers and refrigerators periodically, even before ice builds up
• try shopping only once a week, making bulk purchases so you can cut down on car fuel consumption
• and minimize use of the tumble dry function
• rather try using a clothesline and the sun to dry laundry.

There are many other things you can do to minimize your carbon footprint. Leave less of a carbon footprint and you will leave behind a more stable environment in the wake of your activities.

Vertical Agriculture On The Up

Over the next 40 years the UN predicts a global population boom, leading to agricultural land shortages. Great Stuff Hydroponics thinks we can overcome this problem and help to reduce the environmental impact of our cities by building vertical hydroponic agricultural buildings in urban centres.
Supplying food in the West is not an issue, where agricultural land is available and complex distribution systems are already set up. However, the UN predicts that by the year 2050, there will be an additional 3 billion people on this planet, approximately 80% of whom will live in urban centres. This poses a problem, particularly in developed societies where farmers are a dying breed and food often has to be transported over vast distances before it ends up on peoples' dinner tables.
Currently, some cities are greener than others; Singapore, Hanoi and Havana have all been cited as food producing cities. Whilst they are not yet self sufficient, other cities still have very far to go. New York, for example, has to import nearly every morsel of food which is consumed there, and trucking all that food into the city every day takes its toll on the environment and is an incredibly inefficient use of resources in a sophisticated society.
The answer, according to environmentalists, scientists and hydroponics enthusiasts is to stop all these wasteful practices by building hydroponic farms, vertically, in the heart of our cities. This would let the land around our cities return to an unspoilt ecosystem of forests or grasslands, aiding the fight against global warming and climate change. After all, we have developed into an urban species with all of the methods to produce reliable crops every year hydroponically at our fingertips. We do not need to rely on taking up large tracts of land with agriculture, polluting our atmosphere with delivery truck exhaust fumes, and leaving our crops to the mercy of the elements the way our ancestors did. Farming to excess is a contributing factor to desertification, reduced soil quality and it is unnecessarily damaging to indigenous flora and fauna.
There is already considerable popular support for town planners and city councils which take environmentally friendly decisions, dedicating themselves to keeping our countryside green and focusing on making our cities cleaner and more pleasant places to inhabit instead.
Dr. Dickson Despommier, a professor of microbiology at Columbia University, originally came up with the idea of the Vertical Farm Project, as a solution to the future pressure on land and resources and as a way of reducing the carbon footprint of our cities. Since the beginning of the project, a number of environmentally friendly 'vertical farms' have been designed for New York, Toronto and Paris.
Toronto scientist, Gordon Graff designed a concept building known as the SkyFarm which would sit in the centre of the city's theatre district. His 58 floor tower design could provide enough food at the centre of the city for an estimated 35,000 people, every day. It would comprise of different crops, vegetables and fruits, all being grown hydroponically, using water in place of soil. During hydroponic growth, plants are fed nutrients dissolved in water in a strictly controlled environment.
The benefits to the environment of producing food in vertical greenhouse-like farms in the centre of town would be multiple. Not only are distribution vehicle emissions cut by growing food in the place where it will be eaten, but there is also no need for ploughing, no digging, and no seasonal droughts. Crops are protected from the elements and run off or 'dirty water' is eliminated as water can be recycled within the hydroponic system of the building.
Also, because plants grown hydroponically are in a controlled environment, with no soil, there are also no soil borne diseases or pests to worry about; the city's food could be produced without the need for chemical pesticides or fertilizers.
Hydroponic growth requires only one twentieth of the water used to irrigate a farm growing the same number of plants, yet yields are higher. Because there is a continuous flow of nutrients to the plant, the plant can concentrate its energy on producing fruit rather than roots. Hydroponic lights and a CO2 rich atmosphere within the building could also increase food production by stimulating photosynthesis and lengthening the daylight hours available to the plants.
Gordon's SkyFarm idea would be a totally self sustainable building, powered by solar panels. He also says that non edible parts of plants could be composted, producing methane; this biofuel is a source of renewable energy which could be contributed to the local power grid. The SkyFarm could even develop into a scientific research facility or an eco-tourism attraction, creating jobs and drawing attention to the city as a whole.
The spirit and aims of the Vertical Farm Project have been enthusiastically received all over the world. An environmentally friendly Science Barge is run by New York Sun Works to prove the point to city inhabitants that food can be successfully grown hydroponically within the city. School groups and apartment communities have been particularly taken with the project, which illustrates how using the citys' 14,000 acres of sunny rooftop space to grow plants hydroponically, could feed 20 million people across the city of New York and the surrounding area.
The most exciting aspect of these concept buildings is that they are feasible with the technology already available to us. Not only that, but city inhabitants who are tired of paying a premium to buy food which has been brought into the city from afar need not even have a rooftop or garden. Great Stuff Hydroponics can supply beginners hydroponic kits along with all of the materials and equipment required by established growers, for use inside peoples' homes. Given the correct lighting and nutrients, any variety of plant can be grown in water, hydroponically, absolutely anywhere, regardless of the season or climate.
For more information about the vertical farm project, visit www.verticalfarm.com. To start growing your own hydroponic fruits and vegetables at home, purchase hydroponic kits or equipment and benefit from special offers online, see Great Stuff Hydroponics' website, www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com.
About Great Stuff Hydroponics
Great Stuff Hydroponics is based in Middlesborough (UK) and supplies a vast array of hydroponic equipment for all your hydroponic plant cultivation needs. The Great Stuff Hydroponics showroom is open Monday to Friday 9am-5pm and Saturday10am-2pm. Sales can also be placed online at www.hydroponics-hydroponics.com.

About the Author
Please direct all media queries, requests for press information and editorial details, to Anna Waters. Tel: 0208 123 5178 or email: greatstuffhydroponics@topposition.co.uk

Return to Trees for New Biofuel

According to legend, Prometheus brought fire to mankind, sparking enlightenment. Several millennia later, scientists are exploring wood chemistry to find new sources of energy.
Cellulosic ethanol, or "treethanol," is a promising new energy source with the potential to mitigate high gas prices, national security concerns, and global climate change. Ethanol derived from cellulose--the complex sugar polymer that gives green plants their structure--has a smaller carbon footprint than other fuels and could be used to supplement or replace gasoline. But anything that requires cutting down trees while purporting to save the environment should attract a reasonable dose of skepticism.
Harnessing energy from the sun in the form of biomass is not new. For centuries, man has used wood to provide warmth, cook food, and forge tools. New enzyme technologies now enable scientists to break down wood cellulose into glucose, its component sugar, which is then converted to ethanol through fermentation, turning this age-old energy source into fuel for the new global economy.
Cellulosic ethanol differs from the most common biofuels--sugarcane-based ethanol from Brazil and corn-based ethanol from the United States--in both its net energy yield and its fuel conversion process. Traditional ethanol and cellulosic ethanol are chemically equivalent: Both produce two-thirds the energy of regular gasoline. But not all ethanol is created equally. The energy balance (or energy yielded over energy added during production) for corn ethanol is roughly 1.3 and an estimated 8.3 for sugarcane. For cellulosic ethanol, the ratio can reach as high as 16. When it comes to greenhouse gas emissions, traditional ethanol shows a reduction of 10 to 20 percent compared to gasoline, while cellulosic ethanol reduces emissions as much as 80 to 100 percent.
Using trees or other biomass instead of food crops for ethanol production also has its advantages. Trees make up roughly 90 percent of the world's terrestrial biomass, grow all year round, require fewer inputs than food crops, and yield more energy. Switchgrass, a native North American plant, shows great potential for cellulosic ethanol: It can produce twice as much ethanol per acre compared to corn, it requires less water, and it can grow in places otherwise unsuitable for food crops. Poplars and other fast growing trees are also being explored as potential sources.
Food price volatility, highlighted in a report by UN-Energy, is a concern that does not apply to cellulosic ethanol production. As demand for cleaner energy grows, ethanol production increases and therefore commodity prices rise for corn and sugar. Some developing countries have already felt these effects. As Adam Dean writes elsewhere in Policy Innovations, "Due to its use in the production of ethanol, corn prices have risen more than 80 percent since last summer, from $2.17 to nearly $4 a bushel. This increase has caused tortilla prices in Mexico to rise by nearly 50 percent over the same period."
Replicating the success of other biofuels, cellulosic ethanol could also play a role in promoting rural development. Increases in commodity prices generally benefit rural farmers who rely on those prices to make a living, although this benefit is hindered by agricultural subsidies in developed countries. Ethanol production also creates more jobs for low-skilled laborers.
Domestic production of ethanol in developing countries is also an opportunity to correct trade imbalances and spur foreign investment. This is especially true if those countries are able to participate in the higher value-added production process. Annie Dufey of the International Institute for Environment and Development writes, "Domestic biofuel production offers an opportunity to replace oil imports and improve the trade balance." For example, it is estimated that the replacement of gasoline by sugarcane ethanol in Brazil saved some $43.5 billion between 1976 and 2000.
High gas prices and national security concerns have precipitated a favorable change in the political and economic climate for alternative fuel sources such as cellulosic ethanol. Policymakers around the world have made reducing reliance on foreign oil a high priority. If the price of ethanol can compete with gasoline, the effects of political volatility in oil-rich regions such as Russia, Venezuela, and the Middle East will lessen.
Because oil has a high price elasticity of demand, countries that rely heavily on oil stand to lose dramatically if demand drops: During the 1997-1998 Asian financial crisis there was a 10 percent drop in oil demand which sent oil prices plummeting 75 percent. But according to Thomas Friedman's "First Law of Petropolitics," this could also be a boon for the development of democratic institutions. Friedman claims that oil prices and the pace of freedom are negatively correlated.
Despite its benefits, cellulosic ethanol is no magic elixir for the world's energy woes. Significant hurdles hinder its adoption on a commercial scale, including feasibility, production costs, and environmental degradation. Achim Steiner, executive director of UN Environment Programme says, "Investments need to be planned carefully to avoid generating new environmental and social problems."
High cost of production, almost synonymous with any new technology, is one of the greatest barriers to the adoption of cellulosic ethanol. Right now, methods of producing cellulosic ethanol are expensive and complex, involving a multi-step enzymatic process. Significant R&D investment is needed to generate more efficient production methods, particularly better enzymes. This month, researchers in Brazil announced that they had done just that, perfecting a method of producing cellulosic ethanol that reduces its costs of production from about $2.25 cents per gallon to roughly 40 cents per gallon. If verified, this would mark a great advancement in cellulosic ethanol production.
Many argue that there is simply not enough land to meet the world's food needs and provide energy if ethanol is added to the mix. It would take about 100 million acres of switchgrass--roughly the area of California--to replace just 25 percent of the petroleum use in the United States.
Cellulosic ethanol production also promotes exploitation of forests, which threatens the climate change benefits from reduced greenhouse gas emissions. One proposed solution is to use fast-growing grasses, like switchgrass, or leftover biomass, such as corn stalks, instead of trees. But if trees are cleared to grow other biofuels, both the forest as a carbon sink and the higher energy yield of the treethanol will be lost.
Governments have an important role to play, encouraging development of this new technology through incentives and sustainable policies, but they must do so with caution. An imprudent rush to reduce reliance on fossil fuels is likely to have its own environmental and economic side effects.
About the Author
www.policyinnovations.org

When Do We Say Something is Energy Efficient?

Something is energy efficient if it uses energy efficiently. It can be used to refer to energy conversion efficiency which refers to the proportion between the amount of input of energy used in the system compared to the useful output. Useful output can mean either heat, mechanical power, or electrical power. Energy efficiency was brought to the attention of the average person on the street mainly because of the 1973 oil crisis. Amory Lovins, a physicist, popularized the concept of boosting energy efficiency rather than promoting heightened energy production at around the same time.
Lovins' idea has been expanded to apply to whole economies which are attempting to grow yet are hesitant to spur energy production as well. One US state which has managed to integrate energy efficiency policies into the daily activities of the common man, industries and even the government is the state of California. In the over 30 years since the mid-1970s when California started adhering to strict energy usage policies and programs, the state has been able to keep a flat rate of energy consumption while the rest of the country has seen their energy consumption double over that same time period. California also prioritizes energy efficiency above all, with use of renewable electricity supplies as its secondary priority.
Despite the energy savings that can be achieved when systems become energy efficient, there are still enterprises that are reluctant to set energy efficiency measures in place. It is believed that as much as 75% in savings on the current electrical consumption in the US alone can be reaped if efficient systems and measures were to be set in place and religiously observed.
Another side effect of using energy efficient systems is the corresponding decrease in real emissions without jacking up costs in the end, as stated by the Vienna Climate Change Talks 2007 Report.
We can categorize energy conversion efficiency into the subdivisions of electrical efficiency, mechanical efficiency, and thermal or fuel efficiency. The first sub-category of electrical efficiency can be computed by measuring how much useful power output is created when electrical power is used to power the system. Mechanical efficiency, on the other hand, is defined as the use of potential mechanical energy (such as water flowing from a river into a dam) to create mechanical energy. The last category refers to the use of fuel to produce heat.
In modern society, energy efficiency is used to refer to the volume of power supply (such as electricity) used by a certain system (let's say your radio) to carry out its function (which is to produce music over a certain period of time.) An energy efficient radio would be one that can produce good audio while using as little electricity from your electrical outlet as possible. A more thorough computation of the energy efficiency of your radio would mean factoring in running expenses and its expected lifespan as well.
When you, the average consumer, takes steps to choose items that are more energy efficient over items which are less energy efficient (such as switching to more fuel-efficient cars and selling your gas-guzzler vehicle to the scrap yard), that is called energy conservation. Energy conservation can be said to be successfully applied if you are able to reduce your usage of energy yet are still able to achieve the same level of functionality. In simple terms, if you use a more fuel-efficient car and can still get to work, but are able to use less gas in the process, then you can say that your attempt at energy conservation has been successful.

Understanding Global Warming and How It Affects You

The phenomenon known as global warming is already here and affecting us even as we speak. But many people are still ignorant of what this phenomenon is and how it affects even ordinary folk like you and me.
Global warming, strictly speaking, is the observed increase of the average temperature of the ocean and the near-surface air of Mother Earth as recorded for some decades now and is being felt at present. According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), much of the warming of the atmosphere and large bodies of water such as oceans can probably be directly attributed to the release of greenhouse gases starting predominantly from the middle of the 20th century, which tend to accumulate and produce the greenhouse effect.
The IPCC predicts that worldwide surface temperatures are estimated to increase further by 1.1 to 6.4 degrees Centigrade by year 2100. This estimate can be affected by the ability and willingness of the present living generation of human beings to significantly cut down on greenhouse gas emissions. The problem is, even if much of the present levels of greenhouse gas emissions can be reduced, global warming is expected to still continue, perhaps even past year 2100, due to the capacity of oceans to retain absorbed heat.
Global temperatures are now causing a rise in the sea levels, more severe weather changes to be experienced, and a corresponding negative affect on precipitation amounts and behavior. As a result, human agriculture activities may have to change to match the changes in the weather, even as polar glaciers melt at an alarming rate, various species face extinction, and disease vector ranges fluctuate.
Governments are expected to play a major role in helping their citizens reduce the total greenhouse gases emitted by their country, particularly if these governments adhere to the Kyoto Protocol which many government leaders throughout the world agreed to and signed to show their intent to participate.
Global warming falls under the much more comprehensive term of climate change. Global warming is the direct opposite of global cooling, which also falls under climate change. Climate change, as used by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, is used to refer solely to climate change caused by human activities. Climate changes due to other causes falls under the term climate variability. Anthropogenic global warming is another term used to describe change caused by human activities.
The human activity which has contributed the most to the accumulation of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere would be burning of fossil fuels (a.k.a. oil and gas) for power within the last 20 years. Other human activities that have helped in the increase in warming of the global atmosphere could include deforestation, that falls under human land-use activities. If communities throughout the world persist in using fossil fuels as a power source and cutting down forests at a rapid pace without replenishing forest stocks, then it is safe to assume that global warming will continue and may even escalate in the future.

They Cost More So Why Buy Energy Saving Light Bulbs?

Energy saving light bulbs have been available now for a number of years, but, whilst more and more people are investing in them, there are still many who are concerned about the cost and dubious about their energy saving claims. But Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs) can indeed save significant quantities of energy and don’t actually need to break the bank, so here is some information to throw some light on the situation!

On the energy saving front, CFLs, or energy saving light bulbs, use much less energy than their standard counterparts, up to 80% less in fact. They work in a similar way to traditional fluorescent lights but require a much lower wattage to achieve the same level of brightness as ‘normal’ bulbs. Straight away this indicates that savings can be made, and as lighting accounts for about 10-15% of domestic electricity bills, these savings will not be inconsiderable. And modern CFLs don’t suffer from the same issues of older varieties, which could take a short while to reach full illumination. On top of this energy saving light bulbs can also last up to 12 times longer than traditional bulbs, saving even more money.

The cost of energy saving light bulbs has often been a cause for concern. Prices have come down, however, and some varieties of CFLs are now available at less than £1 each from certain retailers. When this is then considered against the energy savings and the fact that the bulbs will need replacing much less often than standard bulbs, the savings far outweigh any extra costs.

Due to their longer lifespan, energy saving bulbs also have the advantage of reducing waste, as it is estimated that 80 million traditional fluorescent tubes alone are sent to landfill each year. Unfortunately there are few light bulb recycling schemes in the UK so waste reduction is critical.

Energy savings, which in turn mean a reduction in carbon emissions, cost savings and waste reduction add up to plenty of compelling reasons to choose energy saving light bulbs. These are now available in many varieties including dimmer bulbs so should meet the requirements of most if not all domestic lighting needs.

Everything You Should Know About Electronic Recycling

E-waste has become a serious problem that’s facing our world today. E-waste is defined as all outdated computers, TVs, cell phones, PDAs, printers, and all of the other obsolete electronic devices that we all commonly use in our homes and offices. Within the past couple of decades, the need for electronic recycling as grown just as the demands for more advanced software and electronics has increased.
Now more than every, it’s important for each person to be aware of the need for electronic recycling.While some people may not understand the dangers that are behind e-waste, the danger is there. In everyday e-waste, there are many hazardous elements that can be found. Some examples include lead in cathode ray tubes, cobalt in steel, arsenic in cathode ray tubes, mercury in switches, and even cadmium in circuit boards. Who would have thought that these dangerous elements could be found in everyday waste? This is just one reason why it’s extremely important to recycle old electronics.
Electronic Recyclers are the premier source for you to go to in order to recycle your electronic devices and help prevent e-waste. Electronic Recyclers is proud to serve over three hundred companies safely and legally. Also, the company offers extensive cost savings in shipping, packaging, and liability expenses. Electronic Recyclers are known for their ability to process claim payment faster than any of their competitors! If these aren’t enough reasons for you to trust ER, keep in mind that the company also uses the most accurate verification system in the industry that utilizes bar code tracking systems and video verification. Electronic Recyclers also do their best to make the process as convenient as possible. They are very reliable and will pick up e-waste within 72 hours!It’s time that we all take the e-waste problem into our own hands. Just think about how much worse the issue will be in another decade. With all of the technological advances being made today, it only makes sense that e-waste will continue to increase. It’s time for us to utilize Electronic Recyclers and prevent becoming overrun with e-waste.

Biodiesel Production Facility

There are many companies around the world that are involved in the production of biodiesel. The Biodiesel Company which is privately owned is one of them. The Biodiesel Company has many years of experience in the fields of sales and distribution. Based in Toronto Canada, The Biodiesel Company collects and renews fuel from the waste of cooking oil, non vegetable oils and also related feed stocks and then process them into biofuel.
When they are finished the product is then marketed. This company is always looking for new joint ventures and wants to expand from the Toronto area. They are currently working with researchers for new technology in biodiesel and its production so that only the best quality maybe available for sale on the market.
Grease Brothers make their biodiesel from vegetable oil and change it into fuel, the ultimate biodiesel guide is a company that sells instructions on how to make biodiesel so that you will be able to heat your home. Tree Hugger is a new biodiesel company that produces biodiesel through algae which has been found to be a more efficient way to make fuel. They found that algae can produce 30 times more oil per acre then the current crops that companies use do.
Other biodiesel companies include Agra Biofuels which produces over 3 million gallons of biodiesel every single year. Bently Biofuels, produce biodiesel from the oils of seeds and restaurant grease. Biodiesel production companies are the new solution to the rising prices of fuel. The fuel can be used in any diesel without having to convert it which makes it quick to Descente grate.
The majority of biodiesel production companies use canola oil. The majority of companies make it so that biodiesel meets regulatory specifications so that it can be certified for use in the engine. Although there are many companies, most use the same materials to produce biodiesel. These companies are a savior to the environment.
About the Author
If you want more information on biodiesel production companies, please visit our website: http://biodieselcorner.com

The Relationship Between Recycling and the Reduction of Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Greenhouse gas emissions are known to be directly related to the perceived heightened warming of the earth's oceans and near-surface air. But how does recycling help in cutting back on greenhouse gas emissions?

Recycling is used to refer to the reprocessing of previously manufactured products (such as plastic bottles) so that their core elements (in this case, the plastic substances that make up plastic bottles) can be used to make new products later on. It should be clarified that recycling is different from re-use, because the latter simply means that the previously manufactured product (such as a plastic bottle) will be used for other purposes aside from its original use (such as when a plastic bottle is cut in half and then converted into a plant container.)

When previously manufactured products are recycled, this helps in reducing the amount of energy used to produce new products (compared to "virgin production" where products that are manufactured from substances that were taken purely from the earth's environment – also known as raw materials.) One substance that has been quite damaging to the environment is plastic, because it does not degrade and become re-absorbed into the environment. There is also less waste that goes into disposal systems such as landfills when recycling is put into play.

When products are recycled, there is less need to look for raw materials from virgin sources. For example, aluminum is one substance which can be recycled over and over again without a decline in the quality of the substance. When plastic is recycled, up to 70% of energy is saved. If paper is the substance being recycled, up to 40% of energy is saved. When less energy is used to produce a product, that means less greenhouse gases are emitted into the atmosphere, which helps reduce the impact on the environment through the greenhouse effect.

Energy is also saved because there is less of the virgin or raw materials that has to be sought after, there is less energy needed to transport these virgin materials from their original sources, and there is less energy to be expended trying to clean up the environment when pollutants like non-biodegradable aluminum and plastic containers are dumped into landfills.

Some criticize recycling since there is still a level of energy required to transport recyclables to recycling centers and recycling plants, and in the recycling process itself. However, the energy savings derived from recycling are considerable, and much less energy will be used to make new products from recyclables compared to the use of virgin materials for manufacturing new products. Another criticism is that recycling can become impractical because the cumulative costs for recycling a certain product may outweigh the environmental benefits derived from recycling.

Despite such criticisms, it is generally accepted nowadays that recycling does help the environment by significantly reducing demands on energy supplies, so that less greenhouse gases are emitted, and can be a cost-effective solution in certain cases.

Create and Environmentally Friendly Home Starting with Your Kitchen

Are you concerned about the environment? Are you looking for way to be a little more environmentally friendly? Believe it or not the kitchen can be a great place to start with an eco-friendly household movement. For a greener home starting with your kitchen, try these great tips.

Growing and Herb Garden: Growing an indoor herb garden is a great way to start an environmentally friendly kitchen. Not only does growing your own herbs help to ensure you stay organic, but it also enhance every meal. Choose a few of your favorite spices (Basil, Thyme, Oregano, and Garlic are popular ones), get a couple clay pots, and start your garden. You’ll want to set up your plants on a windowsill where they will get plenty of sunlight. Check out your online gourmet retailers like igourmet for herb garden sets that will supply you with everything you need to start your garden.

Fair Trade Brews: If you love a morning cup of coffee, consider purchasing and brewing your own fair trade coffee. While most coffees are mass produced or made through non organic processes, fair trade products work to “fairly” compensate smaller famers for their time and product. Farmers who take part in the fair trade tradition work to utilize organic means of producing, harvesting, and selling their product. Fair Trade products aren’t limited to coffees; many gourmet retailers offer a wide selection of Fair Trade products including sugars, syrups, and teas

Take it To Go: Did you know that over two million styromfoam cups are used for a morning cup of coffee and then merely tossed into the trash. Do your part to cut down on non biodegradable waste by making your morning cup of coffee or tea and home. If you want to enjoy your warm beverage while you drive or at work, consider investing in a good travel mug may be a good idea. Making your coffee to go and taking it with you in a reusable travel mug will help you save time, money, and the environment.

Say No to Plastic: Whether your taking your lunch to work or refrigerating left over’s, consider getting rid of plastic baggies and saran wrap and replacing it with reusable Tupperware containers. Using and reusing containers will help cut back on the amount of product you waist and it will ultimately keep your sandwiches or last night’s dinner fresher longer.

Use Dish Towels and Reusable Napkins: When you’re finished washing dishes and need to wipe your hands off take a second and think about what you use. Many people use a paper towel, wipe their clean wet hands off and proceed to toss it in the garbage. A great way to cut back on paper waste and work towards and environmentally friendly kitchen is switching over to reusable napkins and hand towels. Purchase a few fancy cloth napkins for your dinner table and simply wash them after your finished using them.

I’m not saying you need to get rid of those paper towel rolls all together. Sometimes they really come in handy for messes you don’t want to clean up with reusable cloths. When you do purchase paper towels, look for brands that use recycled paper to produce the towels; after all they are simply going right back into the trash.

Soy Candles: The Clean Alternative

The graceful flame on your beautiful scented candle in your living room is actually made of fossil fuel material. Some even contain animal fats. Most people who have decreased their personal carbon output or omitted factory farmed meats from their meals are still using candles that burn fossil fuels. Eliminating these from your life offer an improvement on your "green" lifestyle. Soy candles are a totally natural product made from soy wax which comes from soybean oil. Soybean oil is a byproduct of the production process for soy-based foods which means soy candles are plant-based and made from natural soybeans. Soy candles are a wonderful alternative for people who enjoy the warmth and fragrance candles bring to a room but who are vegans and vegetarians who don't want to use the more common, animal-derived beeswax candles. As an extra plus, soy candles are harmless to children and animals, and they are completely biodegradable. Lastly, the emissions from burning soy candles have less of an impact on the environment than emissions created by burning fossil fuels. So there are many reasons why you should be happy to burn soy candles at home. Soy candles have the same qualities as regular candles. They burn and melt like regular wax candles and. Soy candles come in a variety of scents and colors, too. They are also available in different sizes and shapes, such as votive, taper, jar, and others. Soy candles burn without making the black soot that regular candles can cause. You might not even be aware that your other candles are making this mess that is accumulating throughout your house. The air you breathe can even show signs of having these soot bits in it when you burn a regular wax candle. Sootless candles are preferred because they not only do not cause cleaning problems in your home, but also don't produce the kind of sooty carbon particles that could be dangerous to your lungs. They are perfect to use around the bathtub, because ash particles will never fall in your bathwater. If you're searching for environmentally friendly candles to grace your home, look no further than soy!

Climate Change

Now-a-days we listen Climate Change more often than before. Climate change is a global phenomenon and the term “Climate Change” is indeed a straightforward expression for such a complex subject. In fact, climate change has more than we can comprehend from this phrase and that is why it is quite essential to go at defining climate change in today’s scenario. In the present glossary of researchers and scientists, climate modification as a term is no longer in use and effect. The reason behind this is that we have come to realize the effect of the changes we make to our environment will eventually increase the temperature in many parts of the world, but at the same time will also be decrease in temperature for few parts of the planet. This however, creates a general imbalance in the climate of the world which in turn leads us to the phrase, “Climate Change.”While wondering the effects of the climate change, the things you know of as climate modification is actually referred to as global a global phenomenon of climate change. However, with all the details and statistics we have in hand at present, we can definitely conclude that the world is unquestionably warming with the temperatures rising like never before. Climate change is a global problem with many natural disasters started taking shape; the general awareness of this factor is really low. For the better understanding of the issues associated with the climate change, we require a simple definition for climate change in relation to the warming of the planet. And this definition needs to be the one that brings us the essence of this problem without compromising the simplicities. However, the easiest and most precise definition is that climate change is the effect greenhouse gases have on the earth’s overall climate. Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide and methane, but are not limited to these two. While learning more about climate change, we need to understand few important facts associated with it. The first fact is that climate change is both a natural phenomena and one catalyzed by us. For instance, greenhouse gases are a natural part of the biosphere and would exist if man did not. In fact, these gases are a vital component to the existence of life on this planet. It is due to the existence of the greenhouse gases, the temperature on planet earth does not average zero degrees! These naturally occurring gases help to keep the temperature at a desirable 59 degrees. But, the climate change, which is due to the greenhouse gases, is not indeed natural. In fact, the problem we are facing is the amount of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere. These gases act as thermal blankets for the atmosphere. The more gas in the atmosphere, the thicker the blanket and the less heat escapes from earth. In the last 80years, we have been releasing this gases into our atmosphere and thus helping them to form a blanket. On the other hand, we are reducing forests around the planet, which are the natural plant collection that absorb greenhouse gases. This double whammy is starting to show negative results, the increased heating of our world, and thus the beginning of the dreaded climate change.

Alternative Power Generation for Tomorrow

Thanks to the Bush Administrations Alternative Power Initiatives we are seeing money flowing to alternative energy research and great strides being made in the private sector. America's way out of our energy situation now is the continued use of crude oilplus increased nuclear plants, solar, and wind power technologies. Understand that, within 10 years, solar, wind and nuclear energy will be widely available, helping America enjoy multiple sources of energy, still including petroleum products. While it is easy to read the solar power school initiative in Australia as a pure political ploy, it should still be celebrated. Energy efficient mortgages came to be because of a nudge from the government to lenders in an effort to promote the use of solar energy as a power source. One of the major milestones achieved in the solar power technology is the invention of photovoltaic cells. Experts have said that the technology of using photovoltaic cells and photovoltaic shingles is a major breakthrough in the harnessing of solar power. To be effective, solar power systems don't need to power an entire business community or even provide all of the power for a private residence. Of course, solar power is, in a sense, the source of many of our other forms of power, as well. Companies selling solar power equipment, panels and batteries should send out direct-mail marketing pieces to high net worth households within a 25-mile radius and also to all the small businesses in the area. Solar energy has been around for quite a while and most people don't think about it much except for the ones who are already into renewable sources of energy. Cost efficiency & economy Eskom South Africa provides our country with some of the cheapest conventional unsustainable electricity costs in the world, and that is the main reason for solar energy technology not taking off in South Africa. Electric Energy uses the power of the sun to produce electricity through solar cells, otherwise known as photo voltaics (PV). As photovoltaic cells continue to improve, the cost of solar energy will keep coming down, and eventually, it will become economically feasible for everyone to switch to solar. These are only a few of the stepping stones that make up the rich history of solar energy. Solar/Stellar Battery: Russian scientists have developed a battery that captures solar energy itself without the need for an external panel or collector. A solar energy panel collects energy from the sunlight and converts it into direct current (DC) electricity. One of the latest inventions concerning solar energy is the solar pool heater.

WEEE and RoHS Environmental Guidelines

Hazardous Substances, Electrical and Electronic Equipment have been categorized for labeling, tracking, restriction, and recycling. The objective is to promote the use of environmentally friendly materials and manufacturing processes. The financial burden to support this transition in production is assigned by requirements to provide adequate programs for collection, recycling, and disposal. These costs are primarily carried on the shoulders of the manufacturers and producers of the products. To remain competitive and to support the environmental initiatives, manufacturers and industry associations will need to work together and collaborate on solutions that facilitate consistent programs and processes.
Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE)
The Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive is a set of guidelines initially designed in Europe as a means to categorize all types of electronic goods. The directive imposes responsibility on manufacturers to label products and establish an infrastructure in such a way that end-users of the equipment should have the possibility to identify and return Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment free of charge. Manufacturers are compelled to coordinate collection for ecological disposal, reuse or refurbishment.
Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS)
The Restriction of Hazardous Materials is an internationally recognized directive with the intent to provide common standards that can be used by individual countries and regions to establish internal laws and regulations governing the proper ecologically friendly disposal of electrical and electronic waste. RoHS has often been referred to as the "lead free initiative", but it actually promotes restrictions on six hazardous substances.
1. Lead
2. Mercury
3. Cadmium
4. Haxavalent Chromium (VI or Cr6+)
5. Polybrominated Biphenyls (PBB*)
6. Polybrominated Diphenyl Ether (PBDE*)
* PBB and PBDE are flame retardants used in some plastics.
The RoHS directive applies to equipment defined by a section of the WEEE directive and numeric categories.
1. Large and Small Household Appliances, including Ovens, Toasters, Refrigerators, etc
2. IT equipment, including PC's, Printers, etc
3. Telecommunications equipment including phones, faxes, etc
4. Consumer electronics including TV's, VCR's, CD Players, etc
5. Lighting Equipment, including light bulbs and fluorescent tubes
6. Electronic and Electrical Tools, including drills, lawnmowers, etc
7. Toys, Leisure and Sports equipment, including fitness machines
8. Medical devices are current exempt, but categorized for future consideration
9. Monitoring and control equipment is currently exempt, but categories for future consideration
10. Automatic dispensers, including ATMs
Batteries are not included in RoHS, but are covered by the European Commission's Battery Directive of 1991. The European Commission is also studying possible inclusion of medical equipment, monitoring, and control equipment. These items were excluded from the original list of product categories, but it is commonly recognized that the list will be expanded and enhanced with to include categorization of additional hazardous substances
Global Participation
Environmental labeling, controls, restrictions, and recycling are gaining international attention. Japan has been proactive in introducing recycling laws and incentives for manufacturers to adopt lead-free processes. Japan has a lead-free marking requirement call J-MOSS that took effect on some products in July 2006.
China introduced regulations based on a catalogue of restricted materials. Although the marking and disclosure took effect in March 2007, China has yet to publish the catalog of materials.
South Korea introduced the Act for Resource Recycling and Electrical and Electronic Equipment and Vehicles in April 2007. This regulation adopted common framework and categorization of RoHS, WEEE and ELV.
US Corporate Social Responsibility
In the United States, several individual states have proactively introducing regulations for labeling and disposal of electronic waste. Unfortunately, it is limited to only a few states and the regulations have been disparate with inconsistent results.
- California is the only state with RoHS compliant restrictions that ban the sale of products with controlled substances. California regulations require the retailer to collect a recycling fee at the time of purchase. This fee is used to reimburse independent registered collectors and recyclers for managing the proper disposal of restricted materials.
- Regulations in the state of Maine share the responsibility for recycling between the local municipalities and manufacturers, requiring producers of the goods to support the efforts both financially and physically.
- The state of Maryland is running a five year pilot program that expires in 2010. In Maryland, manufacturers pay a registration fee to the state and the funds support county collection programs.
- In the state of Washington, manufacturers are responsible to fund their own plans or participate the centralized standard plan administered by a state approved third party provider.
It is only a matter of time before more states begin to introduce diverse controls on hazardous materials. It is in the best interest of manufacturers and industry associations to work together to establish consistent self-regulated programs, processes and initiatives that promote ecologically responsible recycling and disposal. By demonstrating reliable results, promoting consumer awareness, and establishing industry sponsored accountability, it may be possible to encourage consistent state and federal regulations. Promoting consistency to achieve these goals reduces the risk of complicated and costly state controls. Protecting the environment and global resources demonstrates good corporate social responsibility.
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Words of Wisdom
"It may be that the old astrologers had the truth exactly reversed, when they believed that the stars controlled the destinies of men. The time may come when men control the destinies of stars." - Arthur C. Clarke
"Laws are like sausages. It's better not to see them being made." - Otto von Bismark
"Quality in a product or service is not what the supplier puts in. It is what the customer gets out and is willing to pay for. A product is not quality because it is hard to make and costs a lot of money, as manufacturers typically believe. This is incompetence. Customers pay only for what is of use to them and gives them value. Nothing else constitutes quality." - Peter Drucker

Garbage: Going Green

The most important rule is to reduce the amount of garbage you create. Buy in bulk as much as you can. Avoid overly packaged convenience food since much of the material ends up in landfills. Buy products in refillable, recycled, reusable containers - each is better than the other. If possible, buy concentrated products (soaps, detergents and beverages)Reuse material in your home - jars, shopping bags, plastic bags. Buy containers that can be reused - better to buy plastic than to use aluminum foil.Pay attention to packaging. Some red and yellow dyes contain cadmium, which can contaminate groundwater.Use your own bags when grocery shopping (if possible) and try not to bag items that do not need to be bagged.Compost garbage (if your community allows it) along with leaves, and grass clippings.Don't buy what you don't need. Sell or donate used items to charities rather than throwing them away.When you buy appliances, look for the Energy Star seal from the Environmental Protection Agency. Buy good quality appliances and other items. Maintain them. Cheap appliances fail sooner, creating more junk.Stop junk mail (catalogue, brochures, and other advertising appeals) you do not want. To do so check out sites like 'Consumer Assistance (DMA)'. Don't use throwaway items when you can use permanent ones. For example, drink from ceramic cups/mugs instead of paper/single-use cups.Make cleaning rags out of your old clothes and save on paper towels/napkins.

RECYCLE:
If your community recycles metal, be sure to wash out and recycle cans. This lessens strip mining air pollution, and use of energy to manufacturing new cans.Recycle glass and plastic. Buy cooking oil in glass (the plastic used in bottles for cooking oil can produce pollutants when manufactured). Your recycling company will specify what plastic containers can be recycled - often only beverage containers. Do not throw away glass that cannot be recycled in the glass recycling bin. Window glass contains a contaminating chemical while the drinking glass has a different melting point than a bottle.Recycle paper. However, be sure to remove the glossy advertisements from the newspaper.Encourage your office to recycle white office paper.Recycle old magazines, if possible, or pass them on to a friend, nursing home, school or library.Recycle foam 'peanuts' at your mailing facility or when you next send a package. Do not forget recyclable items like motor oil, tires and cars. Every year people dump enough used motor oil down sewers to equal 10 Exxon Alaskan spills.Recycle your unwanted books by giving them to a library, school, church, thrift store. You can also donate them to organizations that send books to developing countries. Do a research on any such organization and contact them for more information.

Renewable Energy Research

The U.S. federal National Renewable Energy Laboratory offers a renewable energy program that studies and disseminates news on the latest in energy efficient building technologies. Recognizing that construction designed around energy efficiency is crucial to growing the countries energy independence, these renewable energy programs research as well as train U.S. residents. They work closely with manufacturers and others in the construction and building industry, promote renewable energy endeavours and provide information to both consumers and builders about the financial savings involved in renewable energy. NREL also works with state and municipal regulatory agencies to improve their building regulations and codes and their energy standards for appliances.

This NREL Building Technologies Program supports renewable energy research and development, helping it stay focused on areas such as materials for switch able window technology, thermodynamics, building heat transfer, and engineering of renewable energy heat and cooling systems. The engineers and research scientist of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory work closely with the industry, testing and evaluating new designs for buildings, new technology and new energy-efficient equipment for both commercial and residential structures.

The primary focus of the NREL building technologies program is the improvement of residential dwellings, commercial structures, the equipment and other components of such buildings, the energy involved in heating and cooling each and delivering the requisite water, the tools to analyze energy consumption, green energy manufacturing, and energy-efficient appliance and lighting standards. Key to these missions are such NREL initiatives as its Zero Energy building program, its initiative for Solid State Lighting, and its Electro chromic Window project. An initiative called Building America is another important offshoot of the renewable energy focus of the building technologies program. NREL also collaborates with a similar building technologies initiative of the federal Department of Energy. This is administered by the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy office.

Distributed energy is another facet of NREL initiatives. This can be used for power to our base loads, during peak time hours, as backup power, as remote power and for heating and cooling. Renewable distributed energy refers to the many small and modular technologies to generate power that work in combination with storage systems and energy management to advance the efficiency and improve the overall operation of our electricity delivery, whether connected to an electrical grid or not.

NRELs Distributed Energy Program supports renewable energy by researching various technologies that are thermally activated. It also develops the EERE program, including its Web site and other communications. NREL collaborates as well with the non-profit technology transfer associations and organizations developed throughout the various states.

From DER the consumer realizes improved reliability in its renewable and other energy, improved quality of power and its delivery, and the chance for participation in a choice of electric power markets which, through competition, brings down the cost. DER can potentially resolve transmission line congestion. Even the pricing, strengthen the security of energy and stabilize the electricity grid. With the implementation of DER technology dangerous emissions can be reduced and various applications of power and heat can become more efficient.

About the Author
James Copper is a writer for http://www.propertycareerskills.co.uk where you can get energy assessor training Source: ArticleTrader.com

Have Environmentalists Gone Too Far?

Our days are filled with one environmental issue after another. It may be an Ivory Billed Woodpecker spotted in Arkansas. It may be a landfill spilling waste into a local stream. There is one aspect of a climate crisis that many people find humorous. It is an aspect of the global warming debate and some people consider it an environmental issue. What is it? It is gas. To be more specific, it is crudely known as "farts" and is touted by vegetarians and PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) as a global warming fact.
Population levels have risen considerably in the past two centuries and are contributing to the environmental issue. This is thanks to living longer and a better quality of life. But the more humans on the planet, the more food is needed. Animals are bred for food. Animals digest plants and other materials and then give off methane gas. Groups believe that these gases are the number one cause of the greenhouse gas effect. Those of us who eat meat might laugh at this but there is a kernel of truth to the argument.
Both animals and humans are responsible for producing carbon dioxide and methane gas. If you feel that there are too many animals in existence, it can also be pointed that there are way too many humans on our Earth, contributing to the problem of greenhouse gas as well. Is there a solution to this problem? Essays suggest that by mere existence, humanity has made its own issues environmentally. They go further to suggest world wide population regulations and the actual euthanasia of humans may be a viable solution to our self created environmental problems.
Many vegetarians feel that humanity needs to reduce the number of animals that are eaten. If you are not a vegetarian, you might think that there is no reason to even discuss this controversy. What it all amounts to, in the end, is personal beliefs and opinions. Facts and percentages can, and will, be manipulated to match ones opinions or preferences. It's as simple as that.
It is our responsibility to be aware of our actions and impact on an environmental issue. Humanity has already shown that we can change our wicked ways of polluting by helping save species that are becoming extinct, before they actually do. We have voted for legislation to ensure that corporations can not dump toxic chemicals into our landfills and water streams. When there is concrete information regarding the global warming debate, then we will take our part as well.

Emergency Preparation

Importance of climate change emergency preparation
The world is getting smaller everyday because of the technological advancements of mankind. However, the same factors responsible for making human life and the human race better is also responsible for the degradation of the environment.
Man has been exposed to a more comfortable life and he wants more. He may have everything he needs to live a better and more comfortable life but he is becoming greedy to the point of wanting more than what Mother Nature can afford.
The environmental disasters that are reported in different countries almost every day should serve as a wake up call to humanity that perhaps, they should now be more considerate of the environment. Mother Nature may be generous but she can also become angry and vindictive when she has reached the saturation point.
The strong typhoon, earthquake, soil erosion leading to the collapse of residential areas are just some of the common disasters that are actually caused by men. Illegal logging, the throwing of industrial wastes in the rivers, increased used of un-biodegradable materials are only among the few sins mankind has committed against nature.
Evidence will point out to the fact that environmental retribution will most likely behold mankind soon and he should be prepared for a major disaster brought about by climate change anytime now or in the future.
The issue on the greenhouse effect is not just propaganda in order for environmentalist groups to earn their funding requirement. Global warming is upon us and this can be gleamed from the major environmental changes like too much heat, too much cold and other phenomenon that mankind is faced with.
But no matter what mankind does now, he can ever revert global warming; he can only delay it. What is important is mankind knows the possible effects of climate change and what can be done to alleviate the negative effects.
Climate change can lead to emergencies like the increasing level of the sea water, forest fires and other manifestations. When this happens, the scientists and world leaders should have an emergency program that they can implement to make sure that lives are not lost and properties are not wasted.
The first thing to do is to launch a massive information campaign to make the whole world aware of what is happening in the environment as a result of climate change. People should know what to expect in terms of the possible environmental disasters as well as the possible diseases that may be caused by climate change.
The best emergency preparation kit for people all over the world is knowledge. Knowledge on what is about to befall them once the effects of climate change becomes manifest in our environment would help societies lessen the brunt of the anger of Mother Nature.
Every country should prepare for any emergency brought about by climate change. Even the first world countries that have all the technology would have a hard time facing this disaster. How much more the third world countries that are not even past the problem of providing food resources for their citizens?
Every household should be taught how to prepare for climate change emergencies. They should no longer rely on their governments to see them through the effects of climate change because once that happens, there may be a possibility that even government will become debilitated to act.
Everyone has to act now. They do not have a choice.

Corporations Seriously Looking at Alternative Energy

In his new music video for the movie "American Gangster," best selling rapper Jay-Z flaunts the euro, not the dollar, to showcase his wealth.
Recently when asked "What is the best currency in the world to own right now?", billionaire Warren Buffet replied, "Not the u.S. dollar."
It was recently reported that supermodel Gisele Bundchen refused to be paid in U.S. dollars, because of uncertainty over its strength. She instead, asked to be paid in euros.
The examples above speak volumes about what many people with money, lots of money, think about the value of today's dollar. And many of them are beginning to hedge their bets with respect to the dollar. But what does all of this have to do with renewable energy resources?
If the dollar continues to be weak against other currencies, it will produce many unpredictable side effects. But one side effect that is almost certain to happen is a rise in the prices of traditional energy resources. All imports, but specifically oil and gasoline, will become more expensive. The days of $1.20 a gallon for gas are probably gone forever.
Grid Parity and Energy Prices
Grid parity is the point at which it becomes cheaper to produce your own electricity, from photovoltaic cells using solar power, than it is to buy it from power companies off of the electrical grid. As energy prices rise, more and more people will find themselves reaching grid parity.
Until very recently, the prospect of a community reaching grid parity any time soon seemed like a remote possibility. However, as energy prices have risen, some places in the U.S. have already reached that point. As of 2007, Hawaii has reached grid parity with the peak charging rates. Parts of California, particularly Northern California, have reached gird parity as well. As energy prices continue to rise, in large part due to the dollars devaluation, we'll see many more communities reaching grid parity.
But there is also an inverse price relationship happening with solar power and oil. As the price of oil slowly increases, the prices of photovoltaic cells are slowly decreasing. Companies are becoming more efficient at producing solar cells thus enabling them to be sold at lower price points. In addition, the solar cells themselves are becoming more efficient solar collectors, which let's the home or business owner save even more money.
And, of course, other factors pushing us towards greater uses of solar cell technology are the looming worries of global warming and the pressing need to decrease greenhouse gasses being released into the atmosphere.
Are corporations betting on solar power? One such company, SunPower, which makes photovoltaic panels for businesses, expects to pull in over one billion dollars in sales next year. Solar Power Inc. had revenues of over 8 million dollars in it's third quarter alone. Solar power companies in foreign countries such as Germany, Japan, and China have ramped up their solar power production facilities dramatically in the past few years.
For the past several years the U.S. has been borrowing money with reckless abandon. We have a national debt of over 9 trillion dollars. Now, the rest of the world is slowly deciding that they no longer want to bankroll us. For us, that means a continued low valued dollar and increased energy costs.

Renewable Fuels For Alternative Energy

The Germans have really taken off when it comes to renewable fuel sources, and have become one of the major players in the alternative energy game. Under the aegis of the nation's electricity feed laws, the German people set a world record in 2006 by investing over $10 billion (US) in research, development, and implementation of wind turbines, biogas power plants, and solar collection cells.
Germany's "feed laws" permit the German homeowners to connect to an electrical grid through some source of renewable energy and then sell back to the power company any excess energy produced at retail prices.
This economic incentive has catapulted Germany into the number-one position among all nations with regards to the number of operational solar arrays, biogas plants, and wind turbines.
The 50-terawatt hours of electricity produced by these renewable energy sources account for 10% of all of Germany's energy production per year. In 2006 alone, Germany installed 100,000 solar energy collection systems.
Over in the US, the BP corporation has established an Energy Biosciences Institute (EBI) to spearhead extensive new research and development efforts into clean burning renewable energy sources, most prominently biofuels for ground vehicles.
BP's investment comes to $50 million (US) per year over the course of the next decade.
This EBI will be physically located at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
The University is in partnership with BP, and it will be responsible for research and development of new biofuel crops, biofuel-delivering agricultural systems, and machines to produce renewable fuels in liquid form for automobile consumption.
The University will especially spearhead efforts in the field of genetic engineering with regard to creating the more advanced biofuel crops.
The EBI will additionally have as a major focal point technological innovations for converting heavy hydrocarbons into pollution-free and highly efficient fuels.
Also in the US, the battle rages on between Congress and the Geothermal Energy Association (GEA). The GEA's Executive Director Karl Gawell has recently written to the Congress and the Department
of Energy, the only way to ensure that DOE and OMB do not simply revert to their irrational insistence on terminating the geothermal research program is to schedule a congressional hearing specifically on geothermal energy, its potential, and the role of federal research.
Furthermore, Gawell goes on to say that recent studies by the National Research Council, the Western Governors' Association Clean Energy Task Force and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology all support expanding geothermal research funding to develop the technology necessary to utilize this vast, untapped domestic renewable energy resource.
Supporters of geothermal energy, such as this writer, are amazed at the minuscule amount of awareness that the public has about the huge benefits that research and development of the renewable alternative energy source would provide the US, both practically and economically.
Geothermal energy is already less expensive to produce in terms of kilowatt-hours than the coal that the US keeps mining.
Geothermal energy is readily available, sitting just a few miles below our feet and easily accessible through drilling.
One company, Ormat, which is the third largest geothermal energy producer in the US and has plants in several different nations, is already a billion-dollar-per-year business--geothermal energy is certainly economically viable.