Global Public Articles

The search to get an acceptable all round economical biofuel to power cars and be non harming to the environment and the global warming situation has recently brought to public attention another devastating revelation.

A lot has been said and written about the pro’s of having a part biofuel powered car, that it is less polluting than a pure petrol or diesel engined vehicle and also the need to have an alternative fuel developed to replace our reliance on oil, now even more so since the world economic crisis resulted, for a while, in record prices for barrels of crude.

Why biofuels you might ask, well quite bluntly it is mainly because governments around the world, as well as the huge multi- conglomerate businesses are all investing BILLIONS to gain an advantage in this industry and thereby hopefully grow to be as powerful as the big oil companies.

Electric powered vehicles have not yet cracked the market, and will not do so until the everlasting puzzle of storing electricity is solved.

For the last few years here in the UK there has been a target set by the government for the year 2010 that 5% of all ethanol and diesel should come from biological sources, primarily crops including corn, sugarcane and rapeseed.

Simply by setting this target the UK government is ensuring that the sugarcane, corn and rapeseed production to support that target will not go towards food resources, leading to the possibility of food shortages and rising food prices.

The UK government has very recently “slightly relented” on their position by stating “they would slow its adoption”. But the damage is already done.

Brazil is the second largest producer of sugarcane after the USA but its industry is considered the most efficient. Ethanol, a biofuel produced from sugarcane as opposed to corn is estimated to provide carbon dioxide emissions 90% lower than petrol.

Despite the above even environmentalists and Oxfam are having second thoughts about supporting this green issue because of the involvement of slavery and child labour.

Although Brazil has introduced new laws which carry big fines both slavery and child labour abound in the upland regions
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On the large plantations working conditions are fairly well regularized, health and safety laws dictate that nobody must work more than 10 hours in the field, but each of those 10 hours is a hard, dusty, hot slog which leaves even the fittest shattered.

Travel up to the hills and it is a different story .The sugarcane has to be cut just the same but the workforce is different. Men of all ages, young children from families who need money leave school to harvest the cane, widows young and old who have no other income slave in the hot dusty fields.

The easiest way to harvest the cane is to set it on fire, cut it, move on, set it on fire, cut it, move on, repeating this all day, hardly stopping because what you cut is what you get paid for.

When you consider that a “legal” lowland plantation worker has to slog for 10 hours to cut 4.5 tons of cane and get paid the equivalent of $10 per day, imagine what the pay is for a hill worker who probably gets up at 4 a.m. and does not see his/her house again until 8 p.m., probably 6 days per week.

All this to produce a biofuel, using land that could produce vital foodstuff for humans, plus exploiting child and slave labour, is this ethical, is this right?

Would it not be wiser if governments put more emphasis on the water to fuel process which already proves that it hugely lowers carbon gas emissions which cut the main cause of global warming giving a more pleasant environment plus nearly doubling the m.p.g. of cars and other vehicles and is available now.

Bill is now retired but as a keen motorist has driven on most continents of the world and has a keen interest in environmental issues, these account for only a couple of his many varied interests. For further info on the Water4gas fuel conversion system please visit..http://www.the-car-hub.co.uk/

Tropics can be associated with those parts of the earth that are warm and humid through out the year. These spots are the ideal vacation spots for many people. The skies are clear and blue and these places are usually associated with sandy beaches.

People from all over the world often head to these parts for a quality vacation time. With the weather warm and humid these parts are abundant in fauna. The flowers that grow in these parts of the world are called tropical flowers. These flowers are rich in color and are beautiful to look at.

The health of these flowers is because of the climatic conditions of these parts. Some of the most exotic flowers on earth grow on these parts. Hawaii flowers are an example of such flowers. Hawaii is a well known tropical island that is known for its beaches and its warm welcoming weather.

The flowers of Hawaii are beautiful and some of the most exotic kind found on earth. These flowers are highly in demand by customers form all over the world because of their beauty and their color.

There are many outlets that export these flowers to different parts of the world therefore obtaining these flowers are not that difficult. With the internet, these flowers have become even more obtainable to people around the world.

There are many sites today that are selling the blooms of Hawaii. You can obtain these flowers to make a beautiful bouquet that you can gift to someone special. These bouquets make great gifts for weddings, birthdays or any other such similar occasions of joy.

These flowers have exotic shape and size. Also these flowers are rich in their color and they are found mostly in specific shades. Also tropical bouquets last for a longer time than other bouquets. This is because of the long life of the tropical flowers as compared to the other flowers. Making a tropical flower bouquet is simple and easy.

All you need to do is obtain these flowers and arrange them in a specific fashion. You can make some exotic flower arrangements with these flowers from Hawaii or from any other tropical part of the world. First you should decide your theme.

Choose a color tone for the bouquet and then get flowers that only match with the color tone that you have chosen. If you have decided to choose contrasting colors then make sure that the brighter color flowers are in the center and the darker color flowers make the border.

The key to making a good looking tropical flower bouquet is to use the right amount of flowers. These flowers are unique and they do not look good in a bunch. Your bouquet should be carefully made so that the beauty of each flower is displayed well in the bouquet.

You can take inspirations from the Hawaiian gift baskets that contain beautiful arrangements of flowers. These bouquets will surely make a great gift for your loved one for any occasion that you want to celebrate.

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Palm oil is currently the most commonly produced vegetable oil in the world. For many rural poor countries, particularly in Southeast Asia, income received from the production of palm oil is the sole source of income.

Palm oil is extremely versatile. While it is extremely high in saturated fats, it is almost solid at room temperature. However when heated, palm oil turns into a liquid. It is used for a variety of purposes, from producing margarine, to a source of alternative energy.

Palm Oil As Biodiesel

Palm oil is used as a fuel in biodiesel internal combustion engines. It is being researched as an alternative to crude oil for its benefits in reducing greenhouse gases and depleting the ozone layer. It is also a renewable source of energy, which means we can always get more; whereas energy sources such as crude oil are finite in their resources.

Greenhouse Gas Makes Palm Oil Inefficient

While it has been discovered that utilizing palm oil can help reduce greenhouse emissions, it is still not considered a safe alternative for the environment. In most cases, the bark of the palm tree is not used for anything, and is then burned as a bi-product of producing the oil. This actually emits more greenhouse gases into the ozone layer than we would save by using palm oil as a bio diesel fuel.

Oops! Palm Oil is a Finite Energy Source

We also need to evaluate how much forest clearing there is when we are trying to produce mass quantities of palm oil. If more forest is being cleared than being replaced, we have taken a renewable source of energy and turned it into a finite energy source.

Better Sources of Alternative Energy

There are other sources of renewable energy instead of bio diesels. We are currently actively researching wind power, solar power, and water power for lighting our homes and propelling our vehicles. While it is more difficult to harness the energy of wind, sun, and rain, it is a more environmentally friendly alternative to burning biofuels.

Biofuels Are Not The Answer

Many biofuels, while more environmentally friendly than crude oil, are still harmful to the environment. There is a lot of clearing of plant and forest life to obtain enough oil to produce a viable source of energy. A larger portion of the plant is wasted, as a result, instead of used. This results in a backup of waste, which takes up more space on our green earth.

Three fuels that don’t take up valuable resources are wind, sun, and rain. If we could find an effective way to harness the power of the three main elements of life, we would have a viable energy source with infinite possibilities.

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Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFLs) and Energy Saving Tips From Your Energy Saving Superstore

Choosing to incorporate green business practices into your organization is a big step, but an important one. Utilities, corporate waste, and traditional procedures are becoming more expensive and impractical as time goes by. As the green trend becomes more mainstream, consumers are making the choice to pass up many non-green companies in favor of those who take a leading role in protecting and preserving the environment through everything from bins for recycling to sponsoring global initiatives.

This doesn’t necessarily mean making massive changes to its operational structure all at once, but even the smallest changes can make the biggest difference. Recycling containers, energy conservation, and fundraising for non-profits are just three of the options you have available.

Recycling Bins For Corporate Waste

Many businesses never truly realize how much paper, ink cartridges, cardboard, electronic waste, and other items they throw away until it is all together in a set of recycling containers. This makes using bins for recycling effective on two separate fronts.

First, recycling containers prevent all of this ’stuff’ from entering the landfills and further harming the environment. Secondly, bins for recycling encourage companies to cut down on the purchase of these items because they see exactly how much of each thing they throw out every day. You will likely find yourself printing fewer items. To encourage the use of bins for recycling, make the garbage inconvenient to use, move the recycling containers closer, and find alternative uses for cardboard and other items.

The Conservation Of Utilities

Limiting the amount of water, power, and gas takes some of the strain off the environment, but the financial savings can be significant. In many cases, utilities take up a large portion of a company budget. To lower water consumption, you can start with small things such as automatic efficient faucets and low flow toilets and eventually move up to a tankless and/or solar heated water systems.

Saving energy is just as easy. Change over to energy efficient light bulbs, make use of natural lighting, switch to energy efficient devices, and use cooling systems less often. Since gas is most commonly used as a heat source, turn the heat down or switch over to electric baseboard that the heat can be turned down or off in unused spaces.

Cutting Emissions

When you consider all of the business trips, shipping, and receiving, even the smallest companies can release a large amount of greenhouse gasses. Cut down on your travel as much as you can by making use of online conferences and combining as many trips together as you can. You may also want to replace company vehicles for greener versions and offer incentives and opportunities for staff to walk, bike, or use public transportation. In addition, you can try to bring in supplies locally to limit the travel time on the items you buy.

Green Fundraising

The possibilities are endless when it comes to environmentally friendly events. Donating time or money to local environmental groups is satisfying for both organizations. It is a great chance to interact with the public, and do a little local direct marketing. Another effective way to help all sides is to plan an eco-friendly event such as a sponsored clean up or recycling drive. The world is a little cleaner, the charity makes money, and your company gets the satisfaction from helping your local area while gaining from the advertising.

Going green doesn’t mean you have to worry about going broke. You can start out small by adding recycling containers and light bulbs and gradually add in bigger and more prominent things such as including a full set of bins for recycling and raising money for eco-friendly charity organizations. You can stand with pride and enjoy the added profits your business receives.

Author is a freelance copywriter. For more information on recycling containers, visit http://www.wastewiseproducts.com/.

This means of energy production uses the heat of the earth to generate power. Currently around 8,000 MW of electricity, with 2,800 MW in the United States alone. As with many other alternative sources, geothermal shows great potential. In a report released last year, the U.S. Geological Survey estimates that the geothermal potential in the U.S. alone is between 95,000 and 150,000 MWe (megawatts of electric power). A report issued just last year by MIT estimates the world’s geothermal potential using Enhanced Geothermal Systems (EGS) at more than to be over 13,000 ZJ (a zettajoule is 1021) of which over 200 ZJ would be extractable with current technology.

Geothermal Technology

There are two basic types of geothermal power plants currently in use. Steam plants can use the hot water and very hot steam (over 300F) to power a turbine that feeds a generator directly (”dry steam”) or they can depressurize the very high-pressure and temperature water to create steam (”flash steam”). The only emission in enough quantity to be significant is steam, although minute amounts of CO2, NOx and sulfur are released (in amounts almost 50 less than the amounts emitted at fossil fuel plants). Currently steam plants can generate electricity for about 4 cents to 6 cents per kWh.

Binary plants can operate at locations with lower temperatures ((100 F to 300 F), which is more readily available. Hot water passes through a heat exchanger along with a working fluid that has a lower boiling point (e.g., isobutene, isopentane). The working fluid vaporizes, turning the turbines and powering the generators.

Because this system is a closed loop, there are no emissions. Currently steam plants can generate electricity for about 5 cents to 8 cents per kWh. Because the lower-temperature geothermal locations are more plentiful, most plants are binary.

Geothermal energy can also be used a direct heat source. Nearly all the houses in Iceland are heated with water from hot springs, and the country generates more than half its energy from geothermal sources. If the heat is there but the water is not, energy can still be extracted. Pumping water through hot rock heats the water and can be used directly or to generate power.

Underground heat pumps are also a form of geothermal energy, these work like refrigerators in reverse. Believe it or not, you don’t have to dig very deep to find the level of earth that stays at a fairly constant temperature - usually about 8 feet. Heat pumps use pipes (buried well below the frost line) that circulate a refrigerant through a cycle of condensing and evaporating between two heat exchangers. One heat exchanger evaporates at low pressure and absorbs heat. A compressor pushes the refrigerant vapor, now at high pressure, to other coil where the refrigerant condenses and releases the heat. Unlike refrigerators and air conditioners, heat pumps can work in both directions-heating and cooling. Energy cost savings with a ground-based heat pump are substantial.

Geothermal Power Advantages

1.Geothermal energy produces little or no emissions.
2. In most cases, the “fuel” is free, although with the “hot rock” method water must be used, and may have to be transported there. Once the power stations are built they cost very little to operate.
3.Geothermal power plants usually have a small footprint, and very little environmental impact.
4.Ground-based heat pumps can be used almost anywhere. If you’re thinking that they won’t work in your snowy neck of the woods, consider that they are used extensively in Canada.

Geothermal Power Disadvantages

1.Geothermal cannot be considered a renewable resource (although it is a sustainable one).
2.Not every area has accessible geothermal sources. The hot rocks and water must be within drilling range (except in the case of natural geysers).
3.Geothermal sites can run out of steam, as their temperatures drop to low. This can happen naturally or if a “hot rock” extraction method is mismanaged, and the water injected cools the rocks.
4.Along with the hot water and/or steam, geothermal sources can also yield up harmful gases and minerals.
5.Drilling deep into the ground, especially when water is then pumped into the holes, can set off “small seismic events” - earthquakes.
6.While research can suggest likely places for geothermal power plants, there is no guarantee a given site will produce enough energy to offset the capital expenditure and operating costs.

What Can You Do?

Ocean and earth power gives you a lot of options. We’ve collected the ideas from this chapter-hydropower, tidal power, wave power, ocean thermal conversion, and geothermal power- at the end to remind you of the variety, and to reinforce the idea that while there is no single perfect alternative energy source for the world, or even the country, there are many that in combination could be the perfect solution for you. Much depends on where you live and what resources you have.

1.If you have a river, stream, brook, waterfall or some other running water nearby, look into installing a microhydro system to generate some or all of your electricity.
2.If you live on a body of water that experiences tides, you may be able to use them to your advantage. Naturally you won’t be damming up estuaries to power your house (your own personal tide mill), but it is possible that you could implement something on a much smaller scale that powers, say, your dock lights. Realistically, however, what you’ll be doing is keeping up with the technology so you’ll know when someone has developed something with a more personal application.
3.While none of the wave power technologies are available as personal-size power stations, if you live somewhere that has strong, consistent waves, you may be able to adapt some of the techniques.
4.While you probably don’t have a geyser in your yard, you might be able to install a ground-based heat pump to heat and cool your house.

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