Global warming could wipe out 90 percent of human population, warns Gaia scientist Lovelock

James Lovelock, a controversial climate scientist, announced Tuesday that the earth's temperature might rise by 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit and threaten billions of lives, and there's nothing anyone can do about it.

Scientists currently expect a 42.8-degree shift in average temperatures by the end of the century, which will cause floods, famines and lethal storms. However, they say that cutting carbon emissions could prevent these catastrophes. Lovelock says there is no such luck.

Lovelock angered climate scientists in the 1960s when he announced his Gaia theory of a living planet, which theorizes that the earth is an individual, self-sustaining organism. His theory is now widely accepted, but now Lovelock claims the planet has a built-in fever that cannot be controlled by environmental efforts. Consequently, the planet may only be able to support a 10 percent of its 6-billion-strong population.

"We are not all doomed," Lovelock said in a news conference. "An awful lot of people will die, but I don't see the species dying out.

"A hot earth couldn't support much over 500 million," he added. "Almost all of the systems that have been looked at are in positive feedback ... and soon those effects will be larger than any of the effects of carbon dioxide emissions from industry and so on around the world."

The built-in warming is nothing new for the planet, according to Lovelock. While addressing the Institution of Chemical Engineers in London, he said that such dramatic climate changes had happened at least seven times already.

"In the change from the last Ice Age to now we lost land equivalent to the continent of Africa beneath the sea," he said. "We are facing things just as bad or worse than that during this century.

"There are refuges, plenty of them. 55 million years ago ... life moved up to the Arctic, stayed there during the course of it and then moved back again as things improved. I fear that this is what we may have to do."

Despite the pessimism of his theory, Lovelock does not discount global warming and still feels that current attitudes and abuses of the planet will have an environmental consequence. He feels that the United States' rejection of the carbon-emission-cutting Kyoto Protocol is based on the mistaken notion that a technological solution can be found for global warming, and noted that India and China's surging economies are not helping. China, he said, is building one coal-burning power station every week.

However, neither country can afford to stop using carbon-emitting technologies to try to free their populations from pervert -- such a move could spark a revolution -- but the continuation of the efforts stands to kill plant life and bring about famine, Lovelock said.

"If climate change goes on course ... I can't see China being able to produce enough food by the middle of the century to support its people," he said. "They will have to move somewhere and Siberia is empty and it will be warmer then."-NaturalNews

Global Warming Threatens Coastal Fishing

Many of Florida’s coastal bays and estuaries will be inundated by 2100 due to sea-level rise from global warming, making the “Fishing Capital of the World” uninhabitable by some of Florida’s most prized game fish, a new study reveals.

A study of nine sites along Florida’s coasts projects that sea-level rise would dramatically alter the extent and composition of important coastal habitats throughout the region if global warming continues unabated.

“Fishing as we know it could disappear in a matter of decades,” said Manley Fuller, president of the Florida Wildlife Federation. “Our coastal habitats are shrinking and if we lose our coastal fisheries to rising seas, the effect on fish and wildlife Floridians have worked so hard to protect will be devastating.”

The Florida Wildlife Federation and the National Wildlife Federation commissioned an independent researcher to study nine areas along Florida’s coast (including Pensacola Bay, Apalachicola Bay, Tampa Bay, Charlotte Harbor, Ten Thousand Islands, Florida Bay, Biscayne Bay, St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon) to see how a 15-inch rise in average sea level during this century would affect coastal habitats.

The study found that nearly 50 percent (approximately 23,000 acres) of critical saltmarsh and 84 percent (166,572 acres) of tidal flats at these sites would be lost. The area of dry land is projected to decrease by 14 percent (174,580 acres), and roughly 30 percent (1,000 acres) of ocean beaches and two-thirds (5,879 acres) of estuarine beaches would disappear.

As sea level rises, the area of open-ocean and estuarine water is projected to increase by 64 percent and 18 percent, respectively (totaling 266,110 acres), and mangroves are expected to expand in some areas, increasing by 36 percent (92,541 acres). The area of brackish marsh is projected to increase more than 40-fold (73,695 acres), mostly around Apalachicola, taking over much of the current hardwood swamp land.

In addition, global warming is expected to lead to an increase in marine diseases, harmful algal blooms, more-extreme rainfall patterns and stronger hurricanes, all of which would have a significant impact on the state’s prime fisheries.

“Fishing is a way of life in Florida,” said Fuller. “Not only is it a wonderful pastime, it’s an economic boon to the state.” According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, in 2005 anglers spent $3.3 billion on saltwater recreational fishing in Florida, supporting nearly 60,000 jobs.

Scientists agree that a significant increase in the rate of sea-level rise due to melting glaciers and ice caps and the thermal expansion of the oceans is one of the most direct consequences of global warming.

“Florida’s game fish are on the front line,” said Patty Glick, global warming specialist for the National Wildlife Federation and author of the report, Unfavorable Tide: Global Warming, Coastal Habitats and Sportfishing in Florida. “As sea level rises, fish species that need the protection of saltmarshes and tidal flats during their early larval or juvenile stages will be most vulnerable.”

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) the global average sea level has already risen about 6 inches over the past century. Based on recent trends, scientists’ mid-range projection is that sea level will rise another 15 inches by the year 2100.

Glick said that along Florida’s gradually-sloped shores, this would translate into a horizontal advance of water inland by as much as 250 feet, contributing to coastal erosion, inundation and changes in wetlands and mangroves.

The projected 50 percent loss of saltmarsh habitat, for example, would be a significant reduction in fish nursery habitat, Glick said. In addition, significant declines in beaches and tidal flats in some areas would reduce habitat for species that rely on those areas to feed.

Among the top 10 game species considered most at risk are Bonefish; Flounder; Gag grouper; Gray snapper; Permit; Pompano; Redfish; Snook; Spotted seatrout; and Tarpon. In many areas, sea-level rise would also reduce essential habitat for important prey species such as shrimp, crabs and smaller fish, causing ripple effects throughout the marine food web.

“This list is by no means comprehensive, nor is it a ‘prediction’ of what is to come; but it does signify the extent to which sea-level rise could threaten Florida’s treasured sportfishing traditions,” Glick said.

Glick said there are signs that the rate of sea-level rise in the future could actually be considerably greater than current projections, due to a recently discovered increase in the rate at which the ice sheets of Greenland and Antarctica are melting.

Along the Gulf Coast and in South Florida, the most vulnerable habitats are saltmarshes and tidal flats. Along the East Coast, the greatest problems are likely to be significant erosion of beaches and inundation of dry land.

“The vast majority of Florida’s marine fish and shellfish species depend on saltmarshes, seagrass beds and other habitats found in the state’s bays and estuaries, so the projected changes to these habitats due to sea-level rise would have an enormous impact on Florida’s commercial and recreational fisheries,” Fuller said.

Glick said that all of the changes caused by global warming would fall on top of the numerous other stressors that threaten Florida’s coastal resources.

“While it is difficult to know exactly what each and all of these problems combined would mean for Florida in the decades to come, there is no question that without meaningful action to address these multiple threats the future of the state’s coastal habitats, the fish and wildlife they support and the livelihoods and quality of life of the people who depend on them would be dramatically and irretrievably different from what they are today,” Glick said.

Glick said that reducing global warming pollution can minimize the threat of global warming. In addition, developing and implementing more-rigorous fishery and coastal resource management strategies that fully incorporate the likely impacts of global warming on habitats is essential to protecting coastal Florida’s fishing resources.

Important Tips To Save Gas For Your Car or Truck

One way to save gas is to look for a job that won't be far from your residence. The fact that one would have to drive lots of miles to go to work can put a big hole in one's pockets, especially if one must use the car.

A gas credit card can be gotten from the numerous credit card providers around if you want to save gas with it. Gas credit cards are offered by gasoline retail stations that often liaise with credit card companies to provide them for interested persons. The frequent purchase of a particular brand of gas with a gas credit card can fetch you a handsome discount, at the end of the day.

It is a known fact that big cars are gas guzzlers because of the nature of their engines. If you have a big car, chances are that you will be spending more money than usual on gas because of the rapid way a big car swallows up gas. Getting a smaller car is an effective way to tackle gas loss and save costs on gas.

The working community more than other people use cars and more gas. If the distance from your home to your working place is a bit far, you may consider the option of relocating closer to your working place, so as to save gas. Many have done it and were very relieved to find out that their yearly costs on gas dropped drastically.

Thanks to the Internet and the possibility of making money working from home on the Internet, you can now save a lot on gas. If this is something worth considering, I want to assure you that it's not only possible to make money working from home on the Internet, but it's also a great way to make a fortune. Go online right away and find out how to make money on the Internet. Lots of opportunities abound that you should consider.

When you want to park your car, don't park under the sun or you will lose some of your gas to evaporation. Look for a cool shade to park in anytime you want to park your car so as to avoid gas evaporation. When you purchase gas in cooler atmospheres, you will find that it becomes denser and lasts longer.

Some department stores and grocery stores offer gas credit cards for interested car owners. A gas credit card can help you save tremendously on gas. At certain places you can surely get gas for far les than standard price with their membership cards. So, take the time to search before picking just any.

With the use of the internet, you can search for gas prices that are affordable within your locality. The internet is designed to give you the best of gas price information. But sadly many people don't exploit the many advantages of using the Internet. Don't be like them, if you want to save gas. -ChristyJonpns

Saving Gas and You

Owning a car these days can seem more of a curse than a blessing because of the fact that gas prices are fast becoming ridiculous. But don't despair. There are several ways that you can save gas. It's all a matter of looking in the right direction.

Internet shopping is an excellent way to save costs on gas. When you shop online, in addition to the costs you save on gas, you also get to save time and money. Products sold online are far cheaper than those sold offline and therefore make online shopping not just a gas saving and effective measure, but also a good way to save time.

One common way the gas is lost is through wound down windows, while driving. When you leave your windows down in the course of driving, you create drag wind which pulls back your car and causes extra gas to be lost in the process. To save gas, wind up your windows while driving.

When you are filling up your car with gas, don't let the gas left in the hose to dribble all over the floor. An estimated half a cup of gas is often lost at gas pumps due to poor use of the pump. To get the most of gas from a gas pump, you should slant the pump handle at a hundred and eighty degree angle to empty all the gas left in it into your tank.

The EPA is a body that determines the safety of certain automobile accessories. According to the EPA, the constant use of certain so-called gas saving appliances will damage your car. Unless a particular advertised gas saving device has been approved by the necessary bodies, desist from using it.

Big cars tend to go fewer miles because they burn up more gas. Small car owners buy gas less frequently because the small cars are designed to burn gas at a slow rate and give greater miles. If you have a big car and you want to save gas, chuck it and buy a smaller one which is often more fuel economical.

To avoid getting stuck in a traffic jam and losing gas through excessive braking, you can wake up early enough to beat the traffic. Making a conscious effort to beat traffic congestion helps you save more gas. If you do find yourself in a traffic jam in spite of your efforts, be patient and put off your engine to save gas.

Getting an online job may just be the right answer to the question 'how can I save gas'. If you work at home on the Internet, then you don't need to commute to and fro your place of work. This is indeed a great way to save on gas and still live your life, especially one that still puts food in your mouth and feed your family each month. -JohnJames

Home Solar Panel

Home solar panels are the right solution for anyone willing to hold the polluting energy created by fuel-supplied power plants with green and renewable energy that is more than within reach.

Installed on the roof of the house, or even built in the roof, if they are included during the building stage, home solar panels can supply all the energy and heat that you need to run all your appliances, and they will even let you give energy to other users.

Home solar panels also known as residential systems come in a variety of models and designs so as to meet the requirements of the most sophisticated of homes.
Many people choose to start with fewer home solar panels that would cover only half of the house electricity or heat needs. The ground or explanation is very simple if we consider the high costs of complex and complete home solar panels. Later, they do add other panels one by one, so that all the energy needs are met. Gradual or progressive installation on the other hand doesn't get too high tax credits, but this all depends on the authorities policy that applies to your state or country. The good thing is that you'll get your money on the panels back eventually, and not only as rebates but by way of the tax return on investment scheme.

In time, the savings you make by the use of the home solar panels are huge so that you get to recover your investment and save a lot afterwards. This means that once the return on investment is no longer valid, your gain comes from the periodical savings that you make every month. The maintenance of the home solar panels is virtually nil unless you put in some more sensitive devices such as a sun tracker. Keep in mind the fact that a good judgment of the situation is necessary before making the decision to add something further to the system.
Home solar panels should work well both in summertime and in winter, with the mention that you may have to modify the inclination angle of the panels, though this is not a rule. The changes summer-winter should be specified in terms of technical features in the very installation instructions you receive on purchasing the home solar panels. Moreover, a professional installation team should be able to give all the counselling you may need. -blopa

Green Building Concepts For The Garage

Everybody talks about green homes and green design but many a time people forget about their garages. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has found that an attached garage creates a large amount of in-house pollution and affects the health of the occupants. This happens because the interface between the house and the garage is not properly designed reducing the indoor quality of air. Thus, you may have all the green features incorporated in the house, but if you neglect the garage, those green features come to naught.

Car exhaust contains poisonous gases, which are the primary source of indoor air pollution. It is important to use proper low-formaldehyde sealing agents to ensure that garages do not leak their toxic fumes into the house. Other materials found commonly in garages too give off poisonous vapors. The list includes turpentine oil, benzene used by lawn mowers, cleaning agents, and pesticides used for gardening. Investing in a garage exhaust fan that can suck out noxious air is a good option.

Installing a green roof for your garage is a good green innovation. A green roof can be completely or partially covered by grass, plants or other vegetation. Several US companies offer the services of building a green garage roof. The roof is first waterproofed with Thermoplastic Polyolefin (TPO), which is an environmentally friendly and recyclable roofing product. On top of the TPO layer, water retention and filter layers are put. Next comes the top most layer, the growing medium, which is a light weight mixture of rock and soil. Drought resistant plants with shallow roots are the ideal choice for this type of roof. The environmental advantages of a green roof are many. Green roofs help reduce noise pollution, filter rainwater and reduce the cost of cooling your house. Respiration of plants helps reduce ambient heat in the surroundings. The plants absorb sunlight and reduce the heat from reaching the roof surface thereby increasing the life of the roof. According to a recent study, a green roofed garage can produce enough oxygen for 25 people and also remove eight kg of pollutants annually. A green thatched garage not only improves aesthetics but also attracts birds, which increases the biodiversity of your area. -Elise Fendmeyer

Green home construction tips

A well-designed green home construction requires consideration of several factors, which must be incorporated in the initial structuring stages. Using eco-friendly raw materials is an important management measure in the construction of green homes. Cement high on fly ash content could be one of these alternatives. Salvage of reusable material from landfills, such as using reengineered wood or ancient wooden beams retrieved from old houses are other aspects of using recycled materials. Green features work better when included in the initial construction phase. Installation of a drip irrigation system instead of a sprinkler system is one such measure. A rainwater harvesting plant is best effective when installed in the initial design stage. Pathways, drive ways should be made of permeable paving so that rainwater can seep through the soil.

Using Forest Stewardship Council (SFC) certified wood for all wooden fittings in the house is favorable to a green house construction. Green home constructions aim at cleaner indoor environment by making use of no/low formaldehyde interior paints. Harnessing the power of the sun by fitting solar heaters and photovoltaic cells helps reduce electricity consumption and lower bills. It is better to fit light colored roofs than dark colored roofs because they are more reflective and thus reduce buildup of heat inside the house. Light colored roofs do not undergo as much thermal expansion as dark colored roofs and hence last longer.

Green Home construction need to also address the inside fittings of the house, both static as well as movable. It is best to use recycled wood furniture for the house interiors. Various companies advertise recycled plastic furniture for the garden. A green initiative gaining popularity is using cork or bamboo flooring instead of the usual hardwood flooring. Avoid using vinyl linoleum, natural linoleum is a better choice. Make sure that the ducting in the house is leak proof. It has been estimated that leaks in ducting cause a loss over 10% of the energy used. Using low volume flush toilets and fitting flow reducers to faucets and shower heads helps cut down 40% of the water volume and nobody will even notice the difference. Use on insulation which does not contain formaldehyde helps prevent sickness. One good material for insulation is cellulose insulation made out of recycled paper.

Double paned windows with low emission are very good green concepts. The advantages of double paned windows are that they help in providing insulation as well as reduction of noise. Insulation can further be enhanced using wooden frames for housing windows. The piping of the house should have a jacket to reduce loss of heat. These guidelines should come in handy if you are planning to build a green home. -Linda Glutmein

Europe knows green home building

Green home building is all the rage in America today, and many people do not realize that green home building practices have been in play for decades in Europe. We have many technologies that are just emerging in the United States that seem to be new and innovative, they are not. This phrase "green home building" is talked about in such a way that people are astonished by new technologies, but really, these technologies are only new to us.

In Europe, for example, there is a building material called Autoclave Aerated Concentrate, or AAC, which has been used in new construction for years. According to GreenHomeBuilding.com, this substance is fire proof, highly insulating, and lightweight. This means that it can be easily transported in larger quantities, which will consume less fuel. Also, the AAC is made of very simple ingredients: water, sand, cement, lime, and aluminum powder. The main ingredient in AAC is air, which makes up over eighty percent of it composition. An important factor in the greenness of this substance is the fact that its production causes no byproducts. This material has been used by builders in Germany for almost one hundred years, but was only introduced in the United States in 1996, and it is not yet widely accepted.

Another example of a green home building technology that is widely used in Europe, but is not very well known in the United States is the Wood Fiber Board. This type of board is created from the wood chip waste which is a byproduct of sawmills. GreenHomeBuilding.com explains the fact that these boards do not emit toxins when manufactured. They are cheap to make, durable, and totally compostable. But, we do not use those very much here in the United States. We prefer cutting more trees, I guess we do not like using what we already have to make something new.

Europe is way ahead of us when it comes to green home building practices. People in Europe have been using such construction methods for about a century, so it is nothing new for them, it is a way of life. We have a long way to go, but we are finally in the right frame of mind here in the United States to begin conserving resources. I just hope it is not too late. -Linda Glutmein

Building Green: Incorporating Sustainable Design

Why are so many people now building green? Each day, it seems we learn more and more about how we negatively affect our environment-- and our whole planet. Nobody likes to believe that their home and their lifestyle does real damage to the planet. After all, we just want to support our families and have a high quality of life, right?

But our homes do harm the planet. Because of this, its important for homeowners and builders to be knowledgeable about building green (or "sustainable design").

Building green refers to the concept of designing and constructing long-term sustainable buildings that have the lowest possible negative impact on the environment. To do this, green builders must be efficient in the use of resources and use fewer environmentally harmful processes and building materials than traditional builders. How well does green building work? USGBC has published data to confirm that building green uses 35% less energy, far fewer non-renewable materials, and less landfill space for waste. Almost as important, building green makes for both safer and healthier offices and homes.

What are the Main Considerations when Building Green?

When building green, the main goal is to maintain a high quality of life while lowering the impact a home has on the environment. Sustainable designers generally consider the following design features when building green:

Energy Efficiency. Energy is the key "green concern". During the building process, a green buildings should incorporate materials and methods which use less energy. They should also be energy efficient in the long run, incorporating design features such as "passive solar design" (which offers thermal protection) and effective insulation.

Many designers who specialize in building green integrate independent, renewable energy in the homes design. Renewable energy (such as solar energy) significantly lowers a buildings impact on the environment.

Home Design. You'd be surprised to know the impact the size, location, and shape of a home can have on making it energy efficient. Simple home shapes (with less outside surface area) are the most common used in building green.

Another common technique used in building green is Optimum Value Engineering, or OVE. This framing method reduces the quantity of wood used to build a home, and it also leaves more room inside the walls for insulation.
Materials with Lower Environmental Impact. Building green means using non-toxic materials which are recycled or sustainably produced. These materials should need less energy to process than traditional building materials.

Long-Term Durability. Quality building materials will need to be replaced less frequently. Using quality materials reduces landfill waste and reduces the need for producing replacements, which has a significant impact on the environment. -Elise Fendmeyer

Defining Green Building

In today's society, we hear "green" this and "green" that. Greenness is often through of as driving a hybrid car, reusing shopping bags, or recycling. Can our homes be included in our green lifestyle? Does green architecture exist?

Yes, you could be a hero and use recycled materials to build your home. There are people who have done that. But honestly, do you really want a house built out of scrap metal and cork? I doubt it. I would much rather have a conventional home. However, even though I would build a "normal" home, I can support green architecture.

Imagine I am building a new home. I want to save money on lumber, so I get a company to truck it in from a few hundred miles away as opposed to spending a little more to buy local. Okay, so I am being a bad guy and using lumber, but even worse, I am using so much fuel to have that lumber trucked in. The key here is to buy local. Not only are you stimulating the local economy, but you are going green. You hear everyone these days moaning and complaining about gas prices-well stop using so much! Instead of buying your items big chain stores where everything is trucked in, go to a local store that has locally produced products.

Another thing that I have heard about recently is about how people are opposed to mining to build homes. Well, I've got news for you. In order to construct most homes, you need gravel. I am aware that a gravel mine in your back yard would be unpleasant. But here's the thing: you need the dirt either way. Either you purchase the gravel locally, promote local economy, and save fuel, or you can spend a lot of money on trucking, not promote the local economy, and have the same product.

My reason for saying all of this is that many times, you find green architecture where you wouldn't expect it. Many people have stereotypical ideas of what greenness is, but there are simple choices that the average consumer can make to promote green architecture. The best place to start buying local. -Elise Fendmeyer

Wind Energy Basics

#Definition of Wind Energy

One form of solar energy is wind energy. Wind is a natural power source that can be economically used to generate electricity. The way in which wind is created is from the atmosphere of the sun causing areas of uneven heating. In conjunction with the uneven heating of the sun, rotation of the earth and the rockiness of the earth’s surface wind is formed.

Patterns of wind are shaped from vegetative cover, the earth’s oceans and terrain. People found out years ago that wind can be harvested, so to say, as a source of electricity. As resources, like oil, become more expensive many are looking towards alternative power sources. Our natural resources are depleting each and every day. It seems that wind as a generator of electricity is quickly becoming a present and future energy solution.

#The Wind Turbine Explained

A turbine is used in order to harness the power of the wind into the mechanical power of electricity. The term wind energy is the process of converting wind into a valuable power source. The wind turbine is designed to take the kinetic energy of the wind and turn it into pure mechanical power. The power of the wind can be used in many different ways. The kinetic energy of the wind can be used on a farm for pumping water or grinding grain. When the natural energy of the wind is transferred to a generator the power is used as electricity for businesses, homes and schools.

A wind turbine resembles the propeller blades of aircraft carriers. The propeller blades of the turbine rotate because of the moving air. The rotation of the propellers powers an electric generator. It is this generator that supplies a home or business with electric current. To simplify the process the wind rotates the blades, the rotation causes a shaft to spin, the shaft connects to a generator to make electricity.

There are two different types of wind turbines that are currently in use. The first type originates from the vertical-axis design. A model based after this design is the Darries model which utilizes the style of an eggbeater. The second type of wind turbine is based after the horizontal-axis design. These wind turbines are very much like the windmills found on farms used for daily chores like pumping water. Modern wind turbines, large in size, are created from the horizontal-axis original design.

A turbine consists of a few essential components. A horizontal turbine is made up of a rotor or blade. The blade is responsible for converting the kinetic energy found in the wind into energy powering the rotational shaft. The drive train of the wind turbine includes a generator and a gearbox. A wind turbine has a tower that supports both the drive train and the rotor. Other equipment that can be found in a horizontal turbine are interconnection equipment, electrical cables, controls and ground support equipment.

A wind farm is used to generate electricity in bulk. Several wind turbines, grouped together, form a wind farm. The electrical power that is generated from the turbines is distributed to customers from a utility grid. The utility grid works much in the same way as a conventional power plant.

There are a number of sizes and power ratings of different wind turbines. The largest wind turbine that was created to generate electricity has blades that are the length of a High School football field. The wind turbine stands an amazing twenty stories high and the rotors are up to twenty-five feet in diameter. A wind turbine of this size is able to supply the electrical needs of a small business or home. A single small turbine can be used to generate electricity for a water pump, home or telecommunication devices. A small turbine is capable of producing fifty kilowatts of power.

#The Wind Energy Resources of the United States

There are many places in the United States where energy is abundant. The way wind energy is categorized is by wind-power density. The classes of the wind power density starts at class one and ranges to class seven. A good wind resource is considered to be a class three or above. A class three is a wind speed of thirteen mile an hour or more. The speed of the wind is very important when calculating the wind resources. In layman’s terms this means that the stronger or faster the wind speed is the more power that is generated.

#The Advantages and Disadvantages of Using Wind Energy

One of the biggest advantages of using wind energy as a power source is that wind is a free, renewable resource. Wind will not deplete or go up in cost. No matter how much wind energy is used this week there will always be more wind energy for the next week, month and year. This is a reliable energy supply for the future.

Another advantage to using wind energy is that this is a power source that is non-polluting and clean. A conventional power plant is responsible for not only generating electricity but also pollutants that enter the air. Some of the pollutants that are released include greenhouse gases. The United States Department of Energy conducted a study in the 1990’s that found out the state of California’s wind farms offset over two billion pounds of carbon dioxide. The same study also found that from using wind farms California stopped over fifteen million pollutants from entering the air. A forest, consisting of ninety to two hundred million trees would have to be used in order to produce the same quality of air.

The cost of using wind power as an energy resource has decreased incredibly over the past ten years. This has been an even more dramatic decrease in recent years. Wind energy technology is a higher initial investment then using an energy source like fossil-fueled generators. The cost of generating wind power comes from the cost of machinery, installation and site preparation. These three factors make up over eighty percent of the initial start up cost. The cost of wind energy used over the course of a lifetime though, is lower then using fossil-fueled systems. This is because there are minimal operating expenses and there is no fuel to purchase. So in the long run wind power is cheaper then other forms of energy.

The only environmental concerns of using wind power plants is the amount of noise that is produced from the rotor blades. Also, bats and birds have been known to be killed from flying into the blades of the wind turbine. These two problems have almost been solved or at least reduced from the development of new and improved wind power plants. In the near future there will not be any environmental concern about using wind energy as a power source.

The one problem with using wind energy, that sometimes proves to be a challenge, is the fact that the wind is intermittent. Wind is known for not always blowing when electricity is needed by a home or business. The wind that is harnessed can not be stored. Only the wind generated electricity is able to be stored for use at a later time. Wind can not always be harnessed to meet the consumer’s electricity demands. This is an issue that energy experts and scientists are currently working on resolving.

An operating wind farm should be built in a remote location. The location should be far away from areas of extreme electrical demand such as a city. An example of a good location for a wind farm is on farming land or grazing land. In reality though, almost any location that is remote and empty can be used for a wind farm.

#Explanation of Renewable Energy Credits

A renewable energy credit is a tradable unit that represents a commodity that was formed from environmental attributes of a unit of electricity generated or renewable energy. There are two commodities that renewable energy credits consist of. The first commodity is the “value of electricity generated using a renewable energy source such as solar, wind, biogas, etc.” The second commodity deals with the “green non-electricity environmental benefits or attributes associated with renewable generation.”

The benefits of renewable energy credits is that a tradable market for renewable energy attributes is created. These types of credits are often traded to offset and reduce projects from fossil fired units. Another benefit is that REC’s are used to create environmental friendly events and conferences such as the “Carbon Neutral.” The REC’s can be used by the participants of the conference to cover travel expenses.

Companies, in the United States, that are in the process of developing renewable energy projects are able to obtain REC’s. This is the credit mechanism that is used in many states throughout America. In fact several states require the use of renewable energy credits when mandating a program such as renewable energy portfolio standards. This means that energy sales must be derived from renewable, natural resources. Penalties may be given if a utility company does not comply. An example of this practice is that thirty percent of electricity generated in Maine must be from renewable sources.

In conclusion governments around the world are now realizing the importance of using renewable sources in order to generate electricity. This is the future of energy and we must start thinking about the future now. -John Curtis

Alternative Energy

The use of alternative energy sources can improve the quality of the environment we live in and the air we breathe.

The use of these alternative renewables is vital as our planet sees further industrial growth and a higher energy requirement.

Alternative energy is also commonly referred to as renewable energy. which is the many different, clean and also natural energy sources we are able to use again and again without ever running out of them.

The use of fossil fuels (such as oil, coal and gas) over alternative fuels (such as solar, wind and geothermal) results in the ever decreasing levels of these fossil fuels.

As the worlds reserves of fossil fuels reduce, prices will rise and conflict is likely to occur, so it is time we became less dependent on the relatively low quantities of fossil fuels, and more dependent on the use of alternative, renewable energies which are available to all.

The use of alternative energies is also a great way to bring electricity to remote locations, and provide a low cost electricity supply (after the initial investment of hardware).

This is the great thing about renewable energy, you only have to pay for the hardware to harness it, there's no cost involved with the purchasing of fuels such as; coal or oil.

The future is set to see a significant increase in the use of alternative energy sources for many countries, we are already beginning to see mass development of renewable energy technologies in wealthier countries.

A huge industry has evolved around research for alternative fuels to power our future, and we have also begun to see many renewable energy consulting services around to advise and guide customers through the process of alternative energy installation.

It is important that industry giants do more to reduce carbon emissions and other pollutants which are pumped out into the air in huge quantities every day.

We also need to focus on the reduction in deforestation, and the development of further forest to absorb the increase of carbon dioxide levels. -CleanEnergyIdeas

Recycling Plastic

The process of recycling plastic allows manufacturers to produce similar or completely different products from the original.

In recent times, the process of recycling household plastics has become much easier with the introduction of residential recycling bins in many areas of a large range of countries.

The main problem associated with recycling plastics is that in many cases, products which cannot be recycled are been produced from the recycled plastics.

Although recycling any product for a different use is slightly better than producing plastic products from the raw materials, it means the product will only be recycled once.

Plastics are one of the most difficult substances to recycle, and before the recycling process can begin, all of the plastic materials have to be sorted according to a "Resin Identification Code" (see below).

Sorting plastics can be an expensive and time consuming task, however this is vital for the recycling process.

There are roughly 50 different main groups of plastics, each containing many different varieties. The coding system was introduced to make the sorting of recyclable products easier and more universal.

Recycling is not only good for the environment through the energy saving involved, but also for the creation of jobs. It is said that recycling around 10,000 tons can produce as many as six times the amount of jobs as sending the products to landfill.

Resin Identification Codes

Below is a table illustrating the different "Resin Identification Codes" of plastic materials.

The table shows the common symbol used for each type of plastic product, an abbreviation along with the name of each polymer, and some common uses for each type of plastic.

Recycling Code	Abbreviation	Name Of Polymer	Common Uses Of Recycled Product
	PET / PETE	Polyethylene terephthalate	Polyester fibres, soft drink bottles.
	HDPE	High density polyethylene	Bottles, plastic carrier bags, recycling bins.
	PVC / V	Polyvinyl chloride	Pipe, fencing, non-food bottles.
	LDPE	Low density polyethylene	Plastic bags, containers, dispensing bottles.
	PP	Polypropylene	Auto parts, industrial fibres.
	PS	Polystyrene	Coffee cups, toys, video cassettes.
	OTHER	Other Plastics	Various.

The symbols in the above table belong to the "SPI Resin Identification Coding System" developed in 1988.

If the symbol exists, with no number contained within it, then this shows the universal recycling logo, which can be used to identify a recyclable product. -CleanEnergyIdeas