Global Warming News

Archive for May, 2010

Buyer’s remorse may be setting in for some who question whether the government’s cash for clunkers program is really all it’s supposed to be.

Sold as an economic stimulus and an environmental salve, the “cash for clunkers” program has succeeded in jump-starting the ailing auto industry. But some environmental and national security watchdogs are now arguing that the harm caused by destroying the used vehicles — required by the government trade-in program — may outweigh the benefits of exchanging pollution-spewing gas guzzlers for new, more efficient cars.

“Disposing of old products, a step required by most incentive and rebate programs, also has environmental costs,” Gwen Ottinger, a researcher at the Chemical Heritage Foundation’s Center for Contemporary History and Policy in Philadelphia, wrote in an opinion article published in The Washington Post on Tuesday.

“It takes energy to shred and recycle metals; plastic components often cannot be recycled and end up as landfill cover; and the engine fluids, refrigerants and other chemicals essential to operating products end up as hazardous wastes,” she wrote.

Others say it also does nothing to reduce America’s dependency on oil.

“Cash for clunkers is a historic mistake for America because it misapplies billions of taxpayer dollars to subsidize more fuel inefficient cars that are bad for our dependence on foreign oil and bad for the environment,” said Edwin Black, author of “The Plan: How to Save America When the Oil Stops — or the Day Before.”

Black told FOXNews.com that lawmakers had the right idea to get more fuel efficient vehicles on the road but executed it poorly. He said it’s too early to say how many vehicles purchased get 18 to 20 mpg rather than 30 to 35 mpg. 

“It could have also formed the basis for a crash program of fuel switching in the event of an oil interruption, which is being threatened by Iran as recently as this morning,” he said. “What we have now is a jobs program-bailout disguised as fuel efficient move.”

The Senate is weighing whether to pass a $2 billion extension of the program that the House approved overwhelmingly on Friday, tripling the initial cost.

As of Monday afternoon, $536.8 million worth of rebates had been processed through the government program, representing 133,767 new vehicles, according to figures provided by the Department of Transportation. An additional 100,000 to 130,000 were expected to be processed to reach the $1 billion set aside. 

Another $2 billion is expected to generate the sale of about 500,000 more vehicles.

Data released by the Obama administration showed the new vehicles purchased under the program were 61 percent more fuel-efficient than the trade-ins.

The average fuel economy of new vehicles purchased under the CARS program is 25.4 mpg and the average fuel economy of vehicles traded in is 15.8 mpg, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, Energy Secretary Steven Chu and Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa P. Jackson wrote in a letter to senators.

“This improvement will save the typical buyer $700 to $1,000 per year in fuel costs,” they wrote. “In addition to the money saved on gas, people using the program will have safer cars and lower repair costs, and they will dramatically reduce the pollution released by their vehicles.”

To date, 83 percent of the trade-ins have been trucks and 60 percent of the new vehicles have been cars, the administration officials wrote. “New cars under the program are 18 percent more fuel efficient than the average new car currently available. This means the program is raising the average fuel economy of the fleet, while removing the dirtiest and most polluting vehicles from the road.”

They added that nearly half of new vehicles purchased under the program are from the Big Three automakers.

But the Obama administration is refusing to release government records to substantiate the claims. LaHood said his department will provide the data as soon as possible but did not specify a time frame or promise release of the data before the Senate votes.

Even so, the fuel efficiency gains helped sway Democratic Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California and Chuck Schumer of New York and Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine to maintain their support for the program they had originally sponsored. 

The three had complained that smaller rebates of $3,500 were going to people buying new cars that get as little as 4 more miles per gallon more than the gas-guzzlers they traded in.

“The original intent of the ‘clunkers’ program was to encourage people to buy more fuel efficient vehicles, and the data so far tells us that’s exactly what’s happening,” Feinstein said in a statement. “So I believe the right decision at this time is that the program should be extended.”

But Ottinger said lawmakers are not looking at all the data.

“It’s likely if you’re trading something in for a much more fuel-efficient vehicle, then those costs are outweighed by the fuel efficiency over the vehicle’s lifetime, but that depends on the vehicle’s lifetime,” she said, adding that several assumptions exist in the program’s stated objectives.

Ottinger told FOXNews.com that figures on energy costs in production and disposal were not readily available.

“What I do believe to be the case is the running costs of an automobile — the costs entailed in operating the vehicle-burning gas — is probably the bulk of energy costs and the disposal and manufacturing is relatively less.”

Under the program, the government is advising car dealers to replace a trade-in’s engine oil with a lethal sodium silicate solution and run the engine to ruin it before giving to selling the car to a scrap dealer.

The Automotive Recycler’s Association says that means more waste, since the damage prevents the resale of parts like pistons as well as smaller profits for scrap yards, since it can cost $700 to $1,200 to process a car, including transport and removing toxic items like mercury.

ARA Executive Vice President Michael Wilson said that recycling auto parts saves 85 million gallons of oil per year in energy savings alone.

The two parts most in demand on the resale market are the engine block and the drive train, accounting for 60 percent of used-parts sales, he said. But when cars are scrapped, the engine block is destroyed by the silicon, and the drive train can be sold only under certain conditions.

“Why throw away good parts when the supply chain is in jeopardy? It doesn’t make a whole lot of sense,” Wilson told The Associated Press. 

But Jim Burton, a service manager at Randy Curnow Buick-Pontiac-GMC in Kansas City, Mo., said other parts of the vehicle besides the engine can be recycled and that will help people who can’t or wont’ trade in their cars.

“Doors, hoods, transmission, interior components can be reused. But a lot of people still have these cars, they can’t trade them or won’t, but they’re in pretty sad shape. This is going to give an opportunity for salvage yards and people to sell some of the components and maybe bring the car back to better condition,” he said.

He said some people have been calling him about donating the trade-ins to charities but he added he’s required to disable them.

The 35th anniversary of Earth Day will take place on April 22. Through the combined efforts of government, grassroots organizations and environmentally minded companies, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide campaign to protect the global environment.

In the U.S., the Department of Energy (DOE) is also concerned about protecting our environment and resources. To address these issues, the DOE recently issued a mandate that now requires all new, central air conditioners manufactured after January 23, 2006, to have a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of at least 13. SEER is a number similar to miles-per-gallon in cars; the higher the SEER, the more efficient your air-conditioning system.

According to the DOE, the 13 SEER standard is forecasted to save the nation 4.2 quads (quadrillion British Thermal Units) of energy over 25 years (2006 through 2030). This is equivalent to the energy consumed by nearly 26 million American households in one year. The standards are also expected to save consumers $1 billion over the same period.*

Manufacturers like the Unitary Products Group of York-a Johnson Controls Company, haven’t stopped at 13 SEER. York® also offers new home-cooling systems that reach 15 and even 18 SEER.

Much of the improved efficiency associated with 13 SEER units is the result of an increase in the surface of the coil found in a system’s outdoor unit, which is used to transport refrigerant. As a result, these outdoor units can be 50 to 90 percent larger than 10 SEER units and require as much as 40 percent more refrigerant than many indoor coils are capable of holding. It becomes very important, then, to match the size of the indoor coil with the new, larger outdoor unit.

A mismatched system can lead to lower comfort levels, a higher utility bill, increased stress on the system and large repair costs. A qualified dealer can make sure your system is matched and installed correctly and is efficient and economical to operate.

So, if you are considering replacing or upgrading the HVAC system in your home, talk to the experts at York. They can help you select a qualified dealer, who is equipped to maintain, repair and/or replace the components of your system.

******************************************************************************************************
Additional Resources : HHO Gas Kits , Magniwork , Magnetic Electricity Generator

Lower levels of oxygen in the Earth’s oceans, particularly off the United States’ Pacific Northwest coast, could be another sign of fundamental changes linked to global climate change, scientists say.

They warn that the oceans’ complex undersea ecosystems and fragile food chains could be disrupted.

In some spots off Washington state and Oregon , the almost complete absence of oxygen has left piles of Dungeness crab carcasses littering the ocean floor, killed off 25-year-old sea stars, crippled colonies of sea anemones and produced mats of potentially noxious bacteria that thrive in such conditions.

Areas of hypoxia, or low oxygen, have long existed in the deep ocean. These areas — in the Pacific, Atlantic and Indian oceans — appear to be spreading, however, covering more square miles, creeping toward the surface and in some places, such as the Pacific Northwest , encroaching on the continental shelf within sight of the coastline.

“The depletion of oxygen levels in all three oceans is striking,” said Gregory Johnson , an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration in Seattle .

In some spots, such as off the Southern California coast, oxygen levels have dropped roughly 20 percent over the past 25 years. Elsewhere, scientists say, oxygen levels might have declined by one-third over 50 years.

“The real surprise is how this has become the new norm,” said Jack Barth , an oceanography professor at Oregon State University . “We are seeing it year after year.”

Barth and others say the changes are consistent with current climate-change models. Previous studies have found that the oceans are becoming more acidic as they absorb more carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.

“If the Earth continues to warm, the expectation is we will have lower and lower oxygen levels,” said Francis Chan , a marine researcher at Oregon State .

Please visit Green Energy News for more environmental news and information

As often seems the case, less developed countries seem to receive the bulk of the impact when it comes to negative world developments. The third world and climate modification is no different.

Third World and Climate modification

By definition, climate modification impacts the globe as a whole. That being said, is it possible to predict specific results in certain regions of the world? While there is no definitive answer, the impact on third world countries in Asia and Africa has been the subject of much discussion. Let’s take a look.

Africa is considered a third world continent because a vast majority of the African countries have underdeveloped economies and living standards. Unfortunately, Africa is also believed to be one of the most heavily impacted areas when it comes to climate modification. More than half the people in Africa live in rural areas with agricultural economies. These communities rely heavily on naturally occurring rain resources, to wit, planned irrigation is minimal. This, of course, results in the horrific famines we see on television. Climate modification is predicted to devastate Africa because it is believed the greenhouse effect will reduce the amount of rain received on the continent. As the Sahara Desert expands, less land will be available for farming and the problem will grow worse. Malnutrition from famines will lead to weak immune systems and disease will be prevalent. If the predictions are accurate, Africa could become a living nightmare.

Climate modification could devastate Asia as well. You might be surprised to learn that over 60 percent of the human population lives in greater Asia. This mass of humanity has stretched agricultural and health resources to the maximum. To top it off, large population centers sit right on the coastline in flat areas only a few feet above sea level.

If climate modification trends continue, we will be saying goodbye to large chunks of Asia. Cities such as Jakarta, Tokyo and Bangkok sit at sea level. If the melting polar caps result in a three foot rise in sea levels as predicted, these cities will be underwater. Countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia and Bangladesh are expected to lose 37,000 square miles of coastline under a similar situation. Over 34 million people will suddenly have to move to already congested population centers. Economies, health care and food supplies will undoubtedly reach critical levels.

Is there any good news when discussing the third world and climate modification? Yes. The first step is to put regulations in place that reduce greenhouse gases. Second, proactive planning must be undertaken to account for these potential effects of third world climate modification.

******************************************************************************************************
Additional Resources : HHO Gas Kits , Magniwork , Magnetic Electricity Generator

In the present day more and more people are looking into diverse ways to heat their homes. There are quite a few reasons for this, and a principal reason is the ever-increasing rate of gas, electricity and oil. Prices for power have always being areas of concern, however recently the price for energy has become unbalanced. The reasons for this are in part due to conflicts and political disagreements. Other reasons include increased demand for energy from large developing countries such as India and China. As the countries rapidly develop, their industry grows and more people gain access to a modern lifestyle. With this comes an enlarged demand for energy, which will only continue into the future. However the price of energy is not our only distress, as the source of our energy has even more significance. Currently our forms of energy are predominantly fossil fuel based, whether it gas, oil or coal. For example China is powered by low efficiency coal power stations, this is not only introducing large amounts of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere but also large amounts of air pollution. Now China cannot be blamed for this as the western world went through the same progression, however all countries must make efforts to look for greener and cleaners energy technologies. Pellet stoves for example are one way on a small scale we can all make a pro-active change to a low carbon renewable energy source. Pellet stoves are available in various different shapes and sizes, to meet all heating demands and requirements.

Learn more about Pellet Stove

Pellet stoves and pellet boilers use fuel pellets to make heat energy to heat homes and businesses. The fuel pellets are predominantly wood pellets made from waste wood residues from mainly pine, spruce and oak. The wood has its bark removed and then goes through a hammer mill to be processed into a dust. A pellet mill or pellet press the turns this dust into wood pellets. However other fuels such as straws and grasses can also be processed into fuel pellets. These forms of fuel pellets are not yet as accepted as wood pellets.

Read more about Wood Pellet Stove

Biomass, of which wood is a part of is any organic material which can be used as a energy source. This includes specifically grown fuel crops, however importantly it also includes utilizing waste streams such as sawdust and agricultural residues. As biomass is part of the carbon cycle it is also a low carbon alternative fuel source. The ash remaining after incineration is actually an superb fertilizer, which can make the procedure carbon negative. This means the use of biomass in boiler and stoves could really help to reverse global warming and climate change.

More information on Pellet Stoves

Energy experts now expect the cost of oil plus gas to continue to rise year on year, with conservative estimates at an increase of 60% in 6 years. The cost savings on wood energy pellets can pay for the Breckwell stove within a few years. The supply of oil as well as gas which we use for cars plus heating is mainly sourced from Russia along with the Middle East. As the global population continues to increase, in addition to gas plus oil supplies reduce, these means higher fuel prices and more money sent out of the country. Using fuel pellets in pellet stoves such as the Breckwell pellet stove can decrease our dependence on oil plus gas. Through purchasing a Breckwell pellet stove, you are pro-actively supporting the local economy plus at the same time reducing your own carbon emissions.

Learn more about Pellet Stoves Pros and Cons

Many different biomass raw materials can be processed into fuel pellets as you can see by the images to the left. Many different local wood resources can be processed into energy pellets as well as then sold back into the local community. This generates more local jobs, keeps money within the local economy in addition to also helps to diminish climate change, while also keep fuel prices competitive along with low. Many different forms of local biomass resources, which are even regarded as waste, can be processed into efficient energy pellets. Some of these fuel pellets may have a higher ash content than premium biomass pellets. Some Breckwell pellet stoves have burn pot and other component designs, which limit their ability to burn other types of biomass fuel pellets. These differences in burn pot designs are not well known or disclosed by Breckwell. We have therefore developed this guide to help consumers purchase a more fuel flexible pellet stove or Breckwell pellet stove, so a wider collection of wood energy pellets can be used efficiently without complication, helping to further lower pellet energy prices.

Read more about Pellets Stoves

As you can see from the video above, at PelHeat we produce in addition to burn a wide selection of wood fuel pellets. We have used that experience to compile this guide to help save hundreds if not thousands on the charge of stove fuel pellets. The last few years since oil plus gas prices have started to increase substantially have seen a rapid growth of pellet stoves, such as Harman pellet stoves. Biomass fuel pellets are a much cheaper alternative to heating your dwelling with fossil fuels such as oil and gas, in some cases price savings year on year can be as much as a heating bill cut in half. Biomass pellets are also a green energy, in addition to do not contribute to climate change in addition to global warming. Therefore there are now many monetary incentives to install pellet stoves such as Harman units.

More information on Quadrafire Pellet Stoves

Plenty of people will find that they have to pay closer consideration to their spending patterns as a consequence of the current condition of the worldwide economy. One of the things that has been recently impacted drastically is the cost of energy charges because electricity costs have been jumping ever greater. Because of this many individuals all over the entire world are taking a major fascination with building their own  DIY solar panels for home use. This is a cost effective alternative to high-priced commercially produced solar panels that are over and above the budgeting reach of the majority of homeowners.

Very few families would contemplate paying in the region of $30,000 to have a professional solar power system fitted in their property. However when these people discover that it is relatively cheap and straightforward to make their own  DIY solar panels for home use they frequently start to take an interest in solar powering their property. The knowledge that informs you where to find the materials which you are required and how to make and install the solar energy panels can be acquired on the net as a result of products such as Earth4Energy.

DIY solar panels are simple to build and fit and do not need any construction or electrician’s abilities. Solar panels are not as efficient during cloudy weather conditions or at night therefore any kind of household solar power system entails the installing of deep cell storage battery packs. These will make sure that plenty of electrical power is available when required. How efficient your solar energy system will likely be ıs determined by factors such as the quantity of solar panels you choose to construct and how much direct sunlight you can receive. Geographic region isn’t as large an issue perhaps you may imagine as solar energy systems may be successfully installed virtually anyplace around the earth. You may need additional solar panels and electric batteries if you lived somewhere cooler, but it should not be a big enough issue to rule out using solar power.

The Earth4Energy product which was previously mentioned assumes no particular specialist knowledge and clearly describes all you need to understand with clearly illustrated instructions and video tutorials. All of the components are locally easily obtainable in hardware shops. An individual solar panel could very well be constructed with a couple of days labor and you may continue to keep making more to meet more of your electrical power requirements.

DIY solar panels for use at home are the most inexpensive way of becoming electricity self sufficient or at least meeting almost all of your electrical energy requirements. It is possible to begin to see the financial returns very soon as you will not have invested anywhere close to the expense of commercial solar energy panels that may take a decade or even more to recoup their initial expense. As well as environmentally friendly advantages and financial savings you won’t worry about power outages. Do it yourself solar panels for domestic use can also be a terrific way to raise the value of your house should you choose to sell.

The performance of a residential solar power system can be enhanced further by additionally creating your own personal wind turbine. Providing you have adequate wind flow that is. These can be created for roughly the same cost of a solar panel. When constructing the solar panel and wind mill designs in Earth4Energy you should manage to find the components you will need for under $200 for each solar panel or wind mill.

When you’re purchasing a  mosquito killer, you really should make sure that you are using it properly since there are several errors that individuals get into and that brings on malfunction of the used unit.

For example, these are typically some faults that you need to stay away from if you are using mosquito spray indoor.

-You don’t leave the area empty from any of the member of family, specifically kids. This is because there’re various chemical attached each time you are spraying.

-Let the area is not in the air tight condition and as well as let the drink and food uncovered.

-Upon spraying the area, someone don’t ensure that is stays closed for half an hour, then open up your window for a while so that you let the air come in, and close it for some time until the smell is vanished.

One more high quality  mosquito killer is the mosquito magnet. This product is quite helpful, although it should be utilized in a way it ought to be if you want to give the outcomes you’re looking for. For instance, setting it in opposition to the air flow direction will probably eliminate its impact on mosquitoes. Just be sure that you are positioning the magnet in the best place and also clear of humans so that you can pull mosquitoes far from ourselves.

One of the different mistakes that frequently occur is usually that many people oftentimes believe that placing any potent system in any where would certainly yield equally effects. Frankly, there’s a appropriate system for all types of place.

For example, if you use it indoors, the sprays happen to be a lot better alternatives. But, spraying mist in barns is really a significantly better alternative. The mosquito magnets or zappers are actually suitable for the green environments all around your home. It is recommended to utilize the proper approach and that will help to get rid of mosquitoes and all various other biting flies that aggregate all around your house.

Then finally, utilize the right mosquito killer and also utilize it properly, then you will have end result you expect. For those who have question what type is best mosquito killer at the moment? Just simply check out the web link. Find as well concerning the cheap  mosquito zapper that works excellent and also best three  mosquito traps available in the market.

Biomass is very general term to describe a wide collection of unrefined resources which can processed in addition to used for fuel manufacture. Biomass products include the fuels, as well as the systems in which these fuels can be used in. So for instance, wood energy products include pellets, briquettes, plus liquid plus gaseous fuels. The additional wood products are the burning systems in which the biomass energy products are used. Therefore for pellets this includes pellet stoves in addition to boilers. For briquettes this can be basic log stove in addition to open fires or more advanced log based combustion systems. The biomass liquid and gaseous products can be used internal incineration engines for transport fuels plus to run generators to produce electricity. Therefore it is clear that there is a wide variety of biomass products which can meet much of our energy demands. One of the biomass products mentioned, are biomass pellets, one of the most popular been wood pellet fuels. Wood pellet fuels have actually existed since the 1970′s, on the other hand it is only within the last decade or so that biomass pellet fuel products have been taken seriously as a practical fuel alternative to oil and gas based heating systems. Biomass pellet fuels are currently made for the waste from timber processing. After the tree has been processed into beams, the sawdust is then collected and processed into pellet energy. As the timber is devoid of bark in addition to generally from only certain types of trees, the pellets produced have a very low ash content. Therefore these fuel pellet products are referred to as premium pellet fuels.

Learn more about Biomass

The supplementary side of biomass products are the combustion systems in which the wood energy products are used. There are a mixture of diverse forms of wood furnaces. These selection from log stoves in addition to boilers, to woodchip systems and even grass bale burners. These systems though in general lack the modern efficiencies required plus are also quite high maintenance. Here is where wood pellet boilers are products which can fit well within the modern habits of a low maintenance but highly efficient heating unit.

Biomass pellet energy stoves as well as boilers come in collection of sizes along with heat outputs. Even a small pellet stove can generate a substantial amount of warmth to warmth more than a few rooms within the property. Generally pellet stoves just generate hot air, as well as can be used to warmth the entire property with a good ventilation system. However some pellet stove products also have a built in back boiler. This means that the stove can provide heat to the main living space and also connect up the existing central heating system to providing heating to the rest of the property via existing radiators.

Read more about Wood Pellets

The products of biomass plus wood pellet fuel products is a increasing industry, and one that can bring substantial jobs to the local community. Jobs can be shaped in the selection of local wood in addition to biomass resources. Jobs can then also be produced in upgrading the biomass into high quality energy pellets. Finally jobs can be created in distributing the finished fuel pellets.

More information on Pellet Fuel

It is clear, that our energy future is moving away from a reliance on fossil energy energy such as oil as well as gas, plus more towards more alternative as well as renewable sources of energy such as wood. Well known forms of alternative and renewable energy sources include wind as well as solar. Both of these resources capture energy, though cannot provide fuel on demand as they are dependant on whether conditions. Here is where the compensation of wood become clear. Wood is any form of natural matter which can be used as a fuel source. In essence wood is captured in addition to stored solar energy. Owing to combustion plus additional chemical reactions we can use biomass energy on demand to generate liquid fuels, gaseous fuels, and advanced solid fuels such as pellets plus briquettes.

Learn more about Biomass

To capture as much fuel from burning biomass as potential, it makes sense where possible to achieve cogeneration through wood CHP units. CHP or combined warmth as well as power units generate both warmth and electrical power for the property. This process can be achieve through either advanced closed loop steam engines or through gasification. There have been important improvements in modern steam engine designs which recycle more of the fuel to raise efficiencies. Also the units recycle the way, along with require very little maintenance. The closed loop steam engine will capture residual fuel from the wood combustion process, as well as turn a generate to produce electricity. The additional likely biomass CHP unit is a gasification system. Here the biomass in processed into syngas, this gas can then be used in an internal incineration engine to power a generator. The internal burning engine will generate a significant amount of warmth, however if more heat is required the gas can also be burnt directly in a stove or boiler. The advantages of a wood CHP unit are that the electrical fuel produced can be sold back into the national grid. Therefore a residual income can be formed, along with it also encourages the user to lower electrical consumption to generate more revenue. Many people believe a network of small scale electrical generators feeding the national grid is the future not the large scale electrical power plants.

Read more about Wood Pellet

Extra compensation of biomass over fossil energy fuel, is that biomass is a alternative fuel source. This means we can replace the biomass we use quickly. This makes biomass fuel sustainable. The facts are that we presently generate huge volumes of wood as well as regard it as waste to be sent to landfill. Utilizing the current biomass we generate for fuel would meet a substantial percentage of our fuel needs. It would also lower the charge of extra goods, as it would diminish costs plus enlarge profits margins turning a waste into a valuable asset. This in tern would benefit the economy, producing more local jobs. The best way to use wood is to compress biomass into pellets. This has several reward, and is achieve because of using a pellet mill. In the pellet mill the wood is compressed at high temperatures.

More information on Pellets