Environment

Ice Age

by

Ice AgeIce Age 5 will be in cinemas on 2016, after the great success of the Ice Age series on the years 2002, 2006, 2009 and 2012. The story of the films are around a group of mammals surviving one of the Ice Ages in the Paleolithic Ice Age, this group is composed in the first film from a mammoth, a sloth and a tiger and other characters joins on the following films.

The Ice Age is the very long period that lasted from about 30 million to 300 million years when the earth was mostly covered with ice sheets. Earth has been exposed to several Ice Ages divided to sub Ice Ages called glacials, the Ice Ages were in cycles along with warmer ages as the ice sheets would melt. About 11 thousand years ago the three factors lead to a warmer period and the ice melted.

No one can be sure why Ice Ages happens, but scientists suggested that an Ice Age could happen when several factors are combined as: The ratio of carbon dioxide and methane. The second factor is the change of the Earth orbit around the sun. The third factor is when the continents are close to each other which leads to preventing the flow of warm water and the variation of ocean currents. These factors would lead to a very cold winter that allows the ice accumulate, then the short and not hot summer is not enough to melt the ice, years after years and centuries after centuries the ice would get sicker and stronger.

Did you find this post interesting? Scroll further down to find other interesting facts.

Solar And Wind Power Generators

by

Everyday, Solar energy and Wind Energy become more necessary to keep our environment clean, so researches all around the world are being done all around the clock.

Some inventions had been already established, other are still just researches.

We already have three generations of solar cells
The first generation solar cells were large, silicon-based are common used in the market. The second generation cells are cheaper than the first generation but have lower efficiencies. The third generation solar cells contains a wide range of potential solar innovations including polymer solar cells, nanocrystalline cells, and dye-sensitized solar cells.

Solar  Power Generators

Solar power is the conversion of solar energy into a useful form of energy.

The solar thermal power industry is growing rapidly. There are several Solar Stations in the world especially  in USA, Spain. In developing countries, Egypt, Mexico, and Morocco, the World Bank projects for integrated solar thermal/combined-cycle gas-turbine power plants in have been approved.

 

Wind Power Generators

Wind power is the conversion of wind energy into a useful form of energy.

Such as using wind turbines to make electricity, wind mills for mechanical power, wind pumps for pumping water or drainage, or sails to propel ships.
Several countries have achieved relatively high levels of wind power penetration such Denmark, Portugal, Spain,  Republic of Ireland, Germany and other 80 countries around the world are using wind power on a commercial basis.

There are two kinds of wind power farms onshore and offshore. The onshore wind farms take advantage of the strong winds flying over the ocean, so the offshore are more effective than land wind farms.

The previous inventions are already used but the following inventions are under construction.

Flodesign’s “jet engine”-shaped wind turbine

It is three to four times more efficient than the usual turbines. Flodesign’s wind turbine design is made more simple and small. Its blades can handle high wind velocities, and the density of the wind farm can be much higher. You only need one truck to carry all of its components to the building site.

Futuristic Tornado Tower Uses Wind Power
A Tornado Tower is one of the inventions that are bringing green tech to a whole new level with its rotating facade that produces power from high-altitude winds.

The following projects are still researches that are waiting to go.

Wind lens that triples the power of wind turbines
A group of researchers led by Kyushu University professor Yuji Ohya has recently unveiled its latest invention called Wind Lens, a structure that resembles a honeycomb. The structure is meant to increase the amount of wind energy generated by offshore turbines.

Spherical Generator that produces  solar and wind power
Arttu-Matti Immonen is an industrial designer who came up with the idea of combining wind and solar energy in one device, thus considerably increasing energy output. He managed to design a generator called Aard.

The Sun, The Secret of Future Life

by

The sun – as it always has been – is the secret of life on Earth and it is also the hope for the future, as the scientists are trying all over the world to invent devices that use the solar energy to save the other sources of energy and keep the environment clean.

Air Conditioner that uses Solar Energy
The South Korean company LG Electronics stated that it looks forward to create the world’s first solar hybrid air conditioner, by making use of solar cell module mounted to the top of the air conditioning unit located outdoors.The air conditioner will be able to generate up to 70W of power/hour. The air conditioner will also cut the carbon dioxide in the air.

ARKKI – Eco-Friendly Vessel that works by Solar Energy
The vessel includes a big open space with its surface similar to that of an indoor basketball court. The whole surface of it is covered with multilayer photovoltaic cells, which generate enough solar energy to power the vessel.

It boasts a concrete hull covered with plastic fibers, which make the vessel more stable and quite rigid to be able to resist the harsh conditions of the weather during winter. The other parts of the vessel are from natural fiber composite materials.

High Speed Solar Airship – Eco-Friendly Concept Designed to Transport Heavy Load
This airship was designed to carry heavy cargo to any destination without polluting the air. Dubbed High Speed Solar Airship (HSSA), the concept is to be made from off-the-shelf components. It is expected to provide high-speed and cost-competitive transportation of cargo. Featuring solar panels mounted onboard, the aircraft is able to produce up to 67.2KW of power. When combined with the Jet Stream, the solar technology allows the HSSA to reach a top speed of 182mph, and at night the aircraft is able to gain a top speed of 165mph.It can fly at an altitude of 30,000 feet, so it will be able to transport cargo in any weather.

Shams 1- World’s Biggest Solar Power Plant to Be Built in UAE
UAE recently announced about its plans to construct the biggest solar plant on the planet. The 100 MW plant is called Shams 1 and it will be located 120 kilometers southwest of Abu Dhabi.

It would be interesting to note that the name of the project Shams 1 comes from the Arabic word which means sun. The UAE plant will features a solar field composed of 768 parabolic trough collectors that were supplied by Abengoa Solar, informs Inhabitat. It will also include a backup natural gas boiler that will offer energy at night or on cloudy days.
The Shams 1 is a step towards the goal of UAE to have 7 percent of electricity produced using eco-friendly methods by 2020. It will emit 175,000 tons of greenhouse gas each year.

A building that converts the air to water

by
Water Building Resort Energy Plan. Click on the image for a bigger view.
Water Building Resort Energy Plan.

This building is called the Water Building Resort and is expected to be the first building to convert air into water using solar power. The construction has a symbolic shape of a drop of water, and the building represents an ingenious combination of nature and high-tech.

Here’s how the building can convert air to water

The side of the building which is facing south, is covered with solar cells that will harness the energy from the sun, allowing the sunlight to pass through. The side which faces north has a special design to help in ventilation. It also includes unique equipment, which converts humid air along with condensation into clean drinking water.

The Water Building Resort was designed to be built in warm and humid areas.

It will also offer a facility to treat salty sea water, or rain water and that will be located on the bottom floor.

In order to monitor and certify water quality, the building will include a special center of technological analysis.

The upper floors of the building will include several restaurants, gyms, conference rooms, spa services, as well as exhibition halls. All spaces will be based on theme of water, environment and renewable energy. The final touch is the wonderful underwater aquarium of the building.

Next-Generation Bio-Fuels

by

|
The first round of biofuels caused a spike in global food prices. Now companies are developing the next generation from non-edible sources. Scientists at ADM (ADM) are creating cellulosic ethanol from corn stalks, and other companies are,  experimenting with , and the switchgrass, woodchips, tropical grass miscanthus.

LightWind – Outdoor Lamp

by

This impressive outdoor lamp was nominated for the Brit Insurance Product Award 2009 as well. It was designed by Demakersvan, a Dutch design house.

It can be characterized as the latest invention in the field of urban energy saving. The 2.5-meter high LightWind features a 2-meter wide propeller that converts wind power into electricity.

The device is made of quite simple components, including stainless steel, wood and sail fabric.

Saving Energy

by

The $10 Million Lightbulb

With the flick of a switch, Philips Electronics may have just dramatically lowered America’s electric bill. In September the Dutch electronics giant became the first to enter the U.S. Department of Energy’s L Prize competition, which seeks an LED alternative to the common 60-watt bulb. Sixty-watt lights account for 50% of the domestic incandescent market; if they were replaced by LED bulbs, the U.S. could save enough electricity per year to light 17.4 million households. If Philips wins the L Prize, it will claim a cash award and federal purchasing agreements worth about $10 million. Philips’ LED bulb emits the same amount of light as its incandescent equivalent but uses less than 10 watts and lasts for 25,000 hours.

How To Save Water

by

Water. While over one billion people in the developing world don’t have access to the clean sort for drinking, In the West, they take it for granted.  So, what can we do to get smarter about water usage? Green Choices offers us “50 ways to save water” that covers our homes both inside and out. Here are the highlights:

In the kitchen:

1. Only run the dishwasher and washing machine when they are full. Sounds like a no-brainer, but the lazy and china-challenged amongst us seem to conveniently forget. For small loads, wash ‘em by hand.

2. Wash fruits and veggies in a bowl with a brush rather than let the water run over them. Every drop counts.

3. Use recycled water for plants. Like water from washed veggies, dehumidifier condensation.

4. Steam vegetables rather than boiling. Less water, more nutrients. Double points.

5. Defrost food in the refrigerator, not in hot water in the sink. Yes, it takes longer but it uses less water and there’s less chance of bacteria breeding. Yuck.

In the bathroom:

1. Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket. Tossing cotton buds, nail clippings or old soup down there is nasty. Dispose of them in the appropriate way.

2. Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth. Faucets can run two to three gallons of water per minute.

In the garden:

1. Choose to hand-water with a hose rather use sprinklers. But if you insist on using them, position them away from driveways and walkways. Here, here. As a jogger who regularly gets drenched by irritating sprinklers. And if one of your sprinklers is busted and gushing water, fix it.

2. Add compost to soil to improve water-retention. This also has the added benefit of fabulous plants and a reduction in household waste.

3. Grow drought-tolerant plants. This water crisis is not going away. Choose iris, verbena, lavender, aloe, Japanese pagoda or Eastern red cedar. They’re gorgeous, trust me.

4. Fill your pool a few inches lower than usual. And avoiding bombing, it’s obnoxious and wastes water.

5. Don’t install water fountains or features unless they use recycled water. And if you install, make sure they’re in good taste.

Other:

1. Stay at green hotels. It is possible to be socially responsible when you’re on the road. Help out a maid and the planet by keeping those towels off the floor.

2. If you use a diaper service, you may actually be doing more harm to the environment that buying disposables. All that washing, not to mention drying and delivery, can create more carbon that the conventional kind. If you live in an area with water restrictions, it may be best to switch.

3. Patronize car washes that use recycled water. Also while doing it yourself is cheaper and offers a great backdrop for a sexy photo shoot, blasting a hose and letting detergent flow into the sea is not so smart.

Quit your moaning. These are all do-able. And as Green Choices says, all of these suggestions are “no- or low-cost actions”. As with just about everything, water usage basically comes down to habit, so with little effort you can easily incorporate some or all of these water saving measures into your daily routine. And before long, you’ll be a natural.

Solar Icemaker

by


It may look like a funhouse mirror and potato gun, but this sucker is actually a solar powered ice maker that requires no electricity, and can produce 14 lbs of ice per day.

It works like this: the solar icemaker uses a refrigerant liquid that evaporates when exposed to the sun. The vapor travels through pipes that come into contact an absorbent material, which cools when the sun goes down. Once the slow-cooling absorbent hits 104°F, the refrigerant turns back into a liquid and its temperature drops like a rock to below freezing because of pressure differences. Put some water next to the evaporator’s exterior and, presto, ice.

Solar icemaker: get the sun to keep things cool for a change.

The Impact of the Electric Car

by

At the time of writing, there’s a lot of pressure on consumers, businesses and governments alike to embrace the green way of life, and, accordingly, a lot of time and money is being put into researching, developing and producing the next generation of electric vehicles. The problem is, consumers are proving very reluctant to make the switch from traditional, fossil fuel burning vehicles. So why is that? Is it something we can expect to change in years to come? What would the environmental benefits be if more drivers opted for electric cars? This infographic from Vroomvroomvroom.co.uk  investigates and asks just what the impact of the electric car has been, and what it might come to be.

Click on the following  image to enlarge it, to read the impact of the electric car

Click on the following  image to enlarge it, to read the impact of the electric car

The writer of this post  is Liam, he is a blogger with Vroomvroomvroom.co.uk, and an automotive enthusiast with a taste for all things green and techy. When not blogging, he spends his time reading the works of Arthur C. Clarke and watching anything set in space.”