Posts Tagged ‘sustainability’

The Technology Of Solar Power And How Highly Effective They Are

Sunday, December 18th, 2011

When we speak about photovoltaic technology, we frequently refer to the field of research and technology specializing in the application of devices and systems that change the energy of the sun into renewable electricity. When open to high degrees of sunlight, solar PV panels could create electricity to power commercial and residential areas.

A solar cell is considered the most fundamental element of a solar panel system. Silicon-based materials are usually used as the semiconductors that make up the solar cell. A solar PV module based on moncrystalline silicon is regarded as being the priciest and most efficient. You will also find solar panels made from polycrystalline and multicrystalline technologies.

A Look at the Background of Photovoltaic Solar Power Technology
An oft-mistaken assumption by many people is that the solar photovoltaic effect has only been recently uncovered. However, this was initially discovered in 1883 by Charles Fritts. Afterwards, a Nobel Prize was claimed by Albert Einstein in 1923 when he displayed his theories on photoelectricity.

Modern solar panels were first used by NASA as a means to power remote space vehicles. Since there was no way to deliver electricity to these structures, using a solar panel without having moving parts is actually ideal.

The previous few years have witnessed a growth in solar PV technology. A firm market for this industry was built primarily because countries such as Spain, Germany and the United Kingdom now offer feed-in tariffs and government incentives.

How  ProductiveAre Solar Power Technology?
As alternative forms of energy sources are now being accepted worldwide, more thorough research and testing on solar technology systems are now being made. These days, a manufactured solar panel is becoming more efficient and reliable. The fact that solar energy  does not trigger excessive toxic emissions such as those from fossil fuel burning, adds more to its appeal.

Today’s solar power technology could convert about 20 per cent of the energy of the sun. A predicted 40 per cent efficiency is viewed for future solar panels. In fact, the most recent solar panels are based on molecular and quantum platforms that are developed by implanting carbon nanotubes and quantum dots in treated plastic.

Thinking about the use of solar PV panels to funnel the sun’s power and provide you electricity might be a great move. A more exhaustive read on solar panel information would be available at the supplier sourcing website. When you elect to get your personal solar panels for your home or work place, you could also get free quotations here.

Taking Part In The Lessening Of Overpopulation’s Effects

Wednesday, April 27th, 2011

Today many of us hear plenty of talk about reducing our ‘foot print’ on the globe, meaning the impression that our existence has in terms of the resources we must use up to live what we regard as a normal life. It turns out that an increasing number of individuals are looking for ways to be able to reduce this foot print, so let’s have a look at why we might like to do this and things we can do to minimize our own impact on the Earth.

The majority of us are concerned that the Planet is facing problems in regards to overpopulation. Reported by Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EarthHuman_geography), as of December 2009 there are over 6.8 billion humans existing on the earth. That alone is quite a heavy load, especially considering the incredible amounts of resources an animal our size consumes in comparison to other wildlife. The fact that we’re omnivores does allow us some flexibility in deciding on our food sources which can help us to adapt, to some degree.

A recent article by Eli Rosenberg of the Atlantic Wire (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/Are-We-Already-Experiencing-the-Effects-of-Overpopulation-3153) reveals that scientists currently believe Earth’s population will one day hit 9.2 billion due to declining birth rates. Even as this does leave some hope, the article states that is the equivalent of adding another China or India to the planet and some are questioning if Earth can cope with this. We just have to look at the waste every one of us leave behind regarding packaging from products to get a good sense of just how much trash 9.2 billion human beings could make in one year’s time.

This isn’t merely concerning humans though, because a current press release from the Center of Biological Diversity (http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2011/overpopulation-02-11-2011.html) has shown that research indicates at our present rate, approximately 50% of the species on the Earth today may very well be extinct by 2050. This is a very gloomy notion and it should leave you wondering just what you could possibly do to lend a hand in a condition this dire.

The fact is, businesses that offer eco bags are making a difference. People who recycle at home are making a difference. People that help maintain tracts of wilderness land are making a difference. Even using the wholesale reusable bags offered at stores is making a difference. No matter what else human beings may not have going for them, we can all make choices because we have options other species do not.

As you can see, international overpopulation of humans can lead to disturbing effects on different life forms, however this doesn’t have to be accepted without a dispute. From eco friendly shopping bags wholesale items and to recycling packaging from products we purchase, we can all adopt actions to reduce our impact and therefore fully make the most of the potential of our human existence.

Taking Part In The Lessening Of Overpopulation’s Effects

Tuesday, April 5th, 2011

Today many of us hear plenty of talk about reducing our ‘foot print’ on the globe, meaning the impression that our existence has in terms of the resources we must use up to live what we regard as a normal life. It turns out that an increasing number of individuals are looking for ways to be able to reduce this foot print, so let’s have a look at why we might like to do this and things we can do to minimize our own impact on the Earth.

The majority of us are concerned that the Planet is facing problems in regards to overpopulation. Reported by Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/EarthHuman_geography), as of December 2009 there are over 6.8 billion humans existing on the earth. That alone is quite a heavy load, especially considering the incredible amounts of resources an animal our size consumes in comparison to other wildlife. The fact that we’re omnivores does allow us some flexibility in deciding on our food sources which can help us to adapt, to some degree.

A recent article by Eli Rosenberg of the Atlantic Wire (http://www.theatlanticwire.com/features/view/feature/Are-We-Already-Experiencing-the-Effects-of-Overpopulation-3153) reveals that scientists currently believe Earth’s population will one day hit 9.2 billion due to declining birth rates. Even as this does leave some hope, the article states that is the equivalent of adding another China or India to the planet and some are questioning if Earth can cope with this. We just have to look at the waste every one of us leave behind regarding packaging from products to get a good sense of just how much trash 9.2 billion human beings could make in one year’s time.

This isn’t merely concerning humans though, because a current press release from the Center of Biological Diversity (http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2011/overpopulation-02-11-2011.html) has shown that research indicates at our present rate, approximately 50% of the species on the Earth today may very well be extinct by 2050. This is a very gloomy notion and it should leave you wondering just what you could possibly do to lend a hand in a condition this dire.

The fact is, businesses that offer eco bags are making a difference. People who recycle at home are making a difference. People that help maintain tracts of wilderness land are making a difference. Even using the wholesale reusable bags offered at stores is making a difference. No matter what else human beings may not have going for them, we can all make choices because we have options other species do not.

As you can see, international overpopulation of humans can lead to disturbing effects on different life forms, however this doesn’t have to be accepted without a dispute. From eco friendly shopping bags wholesale items and to recycling packaging from products we purchase, we can all adopt actions to reduce our impact and therefore fully make the most of the potential of our human existence.

Relocalization: Creating Sustainable Communities

Tuesday, December 28th, 2010

You just can’t seriously discuss sustainability without mentioning the vital role relocalization can play in achieving a truly sustainable future.

As we begin to further recognize the full impact that human civilization is having upon our home planet, its ecosystems and atmosphere, awareness of our duty to live more sustainably is growing daily. We’re now seeing our behaviour patterns and current systems in a new light. And through the lens of sustainability it’s clear that many of our systems need a complete rethink if we’re going to reduce the impact of civilization upon the globe. 

So just what is “relocalization” and how can it help with sustainability?
  
The basic idea of relocalization is rebuilding local communities into largely self-sufficient, economically sustainable communities.
To see the benefits of relocalization to the environment we need to take a look at where we’re at now and how we got here…

Before the discovery and utilization of cheap abundant oil in the early 1900s, people and communities were largely self sufficient in order to survive. The mass uptake of petroleum-fuelled internal combustion engines gave birth to the age of fast transportation. National and international transport, now petroleum-fuelled, became much more rapid and society moved away from its need of the local community to act as a self-sufficient economic hub. Centralization was made possible. “Bedroom communities” or dormitory suburbs sprang up, the daily commute had arrived and became entrenched as normal “modern” life. Cheap, abundant petroleum-based transport offered other possibilities so the idea of local self-sufficiency was scrapped. 

Oil has driven our world for around a century now and there’s no doubting it has delivered us a higher standard of living materially. But the problem is cheap oil has left us with some undesirable problems. It’s fair to say that cheap oil has led us down the route of unsustainable development… 

Truth Is, We’ve Created Our Lifestyles And Economic Systems — An Entire Society — On The Back Of Cheap Oil. 

The vast supply of cheap petroleum has allowed the evolution of extremely inefficient systems, and in many instances, sickening distortions in both international and interstate trade. Foods which can easily be grown locally are often transported great distances interstate or imported, often jeopardizing the livelihood of local farmers and producers. All too often, we see countries exporting certain products while simultaneously importing the same products in the name of free trade. 

City planners have followed models that favor centralized development, encouraging the widespread dependence on motor vehicles and daily commuting. The traffic snarls that result, burn billions of gallons of gasoline annually. A recent study by the Texas Transportation Institute put a figure of $87 Billion in lost productivity and wasted fuel due to traffic congestion annually in Texas alone. Our current models and systems are obviously not sustainable; the environmental impact of our current lifestyle is just way too high.

Relocalization As A Sustainable, Holistic Solution

Looking at our options for a more sustainable system it’s often easy to cherry-pick ideas that will minimize our negative impact on the environment. In the case of transport emissions, many people offer up electric vehicles as a solution, or improving public transport. Now, both of those are sensible objectives but they are little more than bandaids on a systemic issue. Relocalization offers a holistic approach. Local commerce will be decentralized and interspersed in residential areas to maximize local employment opportunities. Community social hubs would be positioned within easy walking distance of residential zones. Dedicated bike paths would be a prominent feature. Planning of habitation would focus on efficiency and energy saving. Harvesting of renewable energy by way of solar panels and residential wind turbines would be a prevalent feature.

For a long time now there has been a small movement of “intentional community” and ecovillage dwellers and designers who’ve promoted the model, so it is not new. But just recently, the fear of “Peak Oil” has generated much wider interest in sustainable, more self sufficient communities as a means of transition away from oil dependence. Relocalization is now a real movement, and it’s getting the mainstream attention it deserves as a practical route to a more sustainable future.

 

Best of the United States: Greenest Cities

Sunday, April 4th, 2010

Today, sustainability and environmentalism are often at the forefront of urban initiatives. It seems, however, that some U.S. cities are doing better than others when it comes to being green. Popular Science, back in February 2008, picked the fifty greenest cities in the United States. These are the greenest cities in the United States based on their research study.

  1. Portland, OR
  2. San Francisco, CA
  3. Boston, MA
  4. Oakland, CA
  5. Eugene, OR
  6. Cambridge, MA
  7. Berkeley, CA
  8. Seattle, WA
  9. Chicago, IL
  10. Austin, TX

The top 50 cities, and further rankings, were determined based on scores related to four major categories: electricity, transportation, green living, and recycling. Cities scored well in the electricity category when they drew energy from renewable resources, such as solar power. Cities with regularly-used public transportation systems scored well in the transportation category. A green living score was determined based on the number of certified buildings and lastly, recycling points went to cities with great recycling systems and programs.

But that was over two years ago. But what makes a city green today? Do the same initiatives that stood out two years ago stand out today? Are the green cities listed above list-proof, or in other words, would they appear on a 2010 list done by another research group? Luckily, we can begin to answer these questions by looking at a new study published by the Business Courier of Cincinnati on March 11, 2010. According to the new research, here are the top ten green cities of 2010.

  1. Portland-Vancouver-Beaverton, OR-WA
  2. San Francisco-Oakland-Fremont, CA
  3. Honolulu, HI
  4. Austin-Round Rock, TX
  5. Boston-Cambridge-Quincy, MA-NH
  6. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA
  7. Denver-Aurora-Broomfield, CO
  8. Pittsburgh, PA
  9. Albuquerque, NM
  10. Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY

Cities were ranked using the ACBJ’s Green City Index. In essence, the index factors general sustainability data to create an aggregrate rating for each of the cities considered. The index incorporates a significant number of external statistics, such as number of Energy Star rated facilities (from the US EPA) and carbon emissions data (from the Brookings Institute). Examining these lists, it's clear that places like Boston and Seattle are some of the most environmentally-friendly cities in the US. Further within these green cities, there are particularly sustainable districts and neighborhoods. For example, it’s no wonder that people look for Jamaica Plain condos (Boston, MA). The neighborhood is known for being one of Boston’s greenest, with numerous parks and plenty of outdoor green space.