Amazing Plastic Bottle House
Posted by Laird on Sep 29, 2008
It’s no secret that our obsession with plastic bottles is turning into a bit of an environmental crisis, and no wonder, in the US alone 70 million bottles are purchased every day, yet only a measly 10 million are recycled. So, it’s good to see someone doing something useful with the bottles instead of adding to the giant mounds of garbage threatening to suffocate the planet.
Artist Jasmine Zimmerman has created a translucent sun dome from hundreds of empty recycled bottles, and intends to travel through various boroughs of New York with it to spread the word about reusing and recycling.
Jasmine says, “This year, Americans will drink more than 30 billion single-serving bottles of water. In the course of our busy lives this year, we will throw out more than two million tons of polyethylene terephthalate plastic bottles – an unintended byproduct of our everyday convenience.”
consumption D.Day 2008.
Posted by Laird on Sep 28, 2008
The Earth will pass a bleak mile-stone on Tuesday. It will be the date this year, by which we humans will have used up more of the world’s resources than it can replenish.
It will be two weeks earlier than last year, according to the WWF. Guess who’s leading the over-consumption? Our good friends the USA - and ourselves.
Arctic energy reserves “may spark polar war”
Posted by Laird on Sep 28, 2008
Arctic energy reserves “may spark polar war”
Oil and gas reserves under the Arctic ice cap could trigger a polar war, it is claimed.Russia, Denmark, Norway, Canada, and the U.S. all have interests in large tracts of the region, under which lie untapped energy resources. With the ice caps melting, access to the reserves will be easier, sparking a rush for ownership, says Jane’s International Defence Review. Even Britain is claiming a right to the wealth as the island of Rockall in the North Atlantic is part of the British Empire. Current difficulties in Arctic exploration mean There is “no imminent threat of a conflict” but “towards 2020 the omens are less encouraging”, says the latest issue of Jane’s Review
PEAK OIL are we there yet?
Posted by Laird on Sep 22, 2008
This is one of those un-answerable questions, Due to two major factors:-
1; Most oil producing countries class their known held oil reserves as a state secret.
2; Large oil companies will manipulate their oil reserve figures to gain the best future market price per barrel (in other words you cannot believe a word they say)
This makes all predictions on the date of “Peak oil” as a best guess game.
But there is no question (all are agreed) that the “Peak discovery of oil” was in the mid 1960’s.
The available figures for 2006 show that for every 1 barrel of new oil discovered that year, we used up 5 barrel out of our known of reserves!!!Also most new oil found will be harder to harvest plus the new discoveries are mainly classed as dirty oil (higher refinery costs).
Interesting article from “wolfatthedoor.org”.
For years, the experts have been warning of the dangers of oil depletion. They have been accused of crying wolf. This time, the wolf really is at the door.
The Real Danger
Everyday in the news, we hear of the threat of climate change. There are international conferences, television documentaries, books galore. Leaders meet regularly to discuss the issues and define programs. Yet, while climate change is undoubtedly a serious problem, the most dangerous aspects are not likely to threaten us for several decades and even then will be ambiguous in their results, bringing hazards for many, benefits for some, and little effect for a few. But there is a danger whose consequences will be far more destructive and which will hit us much sooner. It is a danger that will affect everybody, rich or poor, wherever they live in the world. It will require enormous financial and scientific strides to defeat, strides which the world’s governments show few signs of taking. It is a danger which, quite feasibly, could lead to the end of our industrial civilisation. It is the danger of peak oil.
I recently asked a question on a website about the financial dangers of peak oil and one reply ended with this:
“I remember being told twenty years ago that there was only twenty years of oil left. We are now being told again that we have twenty years of oil left. I wonder if we will be told the same thing in another twenty years!”
This is typical of the level of misinformation around about peak oil. Few people seem to be aware of it and many of those who are consider it a problem for the far future. I suspect that most people asked about “how long oil will last” would place the time hundreds of years in the future. If you don’t already know, ask yourself this question:
Using the known amount of available oil and the present rate of consumption, how long would it be before all that oil is used up?
This is known as the R/P ratio in the oil business (the first bit of jargon). It may surprise you to know that in the BP Statistical Review for 2007 (using data from 2005), the length of time is 40.5 years. So, any person under the age of about thirty or forty would be likely to have to face a world without any oil. The reality is not so simple as this but unfortunately the situation is far worse. Peak oil is not about when we run out of oil but, rather, when the production of cheap oil starts to decline. And, as we shall see, that is much closer than we think.
So weather we like it or not this really the time to start seriously thinking about making some changes re: our own domestic power sources, both wind and solar are the best option for most of us. (Governments and big business will have to deal with the larger national & global issues )
Green Web Hosting
Posted by Laird on Sep 8, 2008
Green Web Hosting You Can Feel Good About
Solar Energy Hosting is the conscious solution for green web hosting in an age of global warming and climate change. By using a green Energy Host your website is hosted using solar energy- the energy powering your site comes directly from the sun! This is better than “Carbon Neutral” because it does not involve the purchasing of Carbon Credits. By hosting your website with a Solar Energy Host, you are making a real difference in reducing climate change.
Here are two links to solar powered green hosters.
Green hosting 1
Solar Backpacks and Luggage
Posted by Laird on Sep 6, 2008
Solar Backpacks and Luggage - Green Gadget of the Year
Solar bags are some of the coolest green products out there, and they make a great gift, too! Compare and choose which one best meets your needs and your taste. The name says it all, the Voltaic Backpack Solar Powered Backpack is a daypack that host several small solar panels on the back of the bag.
The idea is that the Voltaic Backpack Solar Powered Backpack can charge your small electronics such as MP3 players, cameras, etc as you travel. You can also switch the sun jar completely off to save power. Keeping the lantern in bright sunlight for 8 hours you will supply it with power for 3 hours. If you need it fully charged then you should keep it in the sunlight for 30 hours.
