Tag: Rust Converter

A strange thing is happening in the Unites States.

The military, typically a fairly conservative body, is starting to question its energy usage and is taking a good, hard look at its energy consumptions and expenditures. It’s a brave and revolutionary move, and it has the capacity to influence other armed forces around the world who have traditionally viewed the Unites States as a leader within the western world.

Steps are now being taken to help governments contribute to energy conservation and support of the environment through green initiatives. Not all these plans are being pursued, nor are they all being openly welcomed. However, most agree steps are needed to wean the U.S military off an unlimited use of power that relies on fossil fuels and oil and coal fired electricity.

Finding Clean and Reliable Energy

Currently, the military is pushing for each branch of service to look into the type of alternative energy amenable to them. Alternatives that are being proposed for military use include:

• Solar power
• Wind power
• Thermal energy
• Biofuels
• Synthetic fuels
• Fuel cells

This push to investigate the potential to use alternative energy can be a boon for contractors and green industries supplying new technologies. In Cincinnati on August 11, the U.S Secretary of the Army, John McHugh, said that a new energy Initiatives Office Task Force could help the armed forced transition to sourcing 25% of their energy needs from renewable sources by 2025.

It is believed that such a move would in fact lead to greater armed forces resilience and strength, given the current instability around fossil fuel use and finite supply, and would also help them to streamline their practices in keeping with the new global outlook that incorporates green practices as a key feature. Every possibility is currently being explores and the hope is to transform energy usage so that it matches the global push towards sustainability and environmental accountability

The Army estimates it will need to invest as much as $7.1 billion during the next decade to meet its renewable energy objectives. The task force will work within the military to help advance large-scale renewable and alternative energy projects on Army installations.

Costs in the future

In 2010 the U.S. military estimated its renewable energy expenses would top $1.8 billion, growing to an estimated $26.8 billion by 2030. A large portion of that expense will be for mobile applications including power for land, sea and air vehicles and portable power for soldiers in the field. A U.S. Army spokesman said the Army looks to achieve a fourth of the branch’s energy from renewable sources by 2025. The Army alone expects to invest over $7 billion over the next 10 years to meet its renewable energy goals.

In Australia, Envirosafe Solutions currently supplies to branches of the Australian Armed Forces. The Extreme Green range is an example of eco friendly liquid products that are effective, affordable and suitable for home, business, industry and families.  For more information telephone (+61) 1300 88 90 70

Resources:

http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Energy-Resources/2011/08/11/US-Army-explores-green-energy-options/UPI-61141313065159/
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/Security-Industry/2011/06/13/Renewable-energy-sources-a-priority-for-military-says-report/UPI-26321307993644/?rel=61141313065159

Over the past few years since the Global Financial Crisis there has been a distinct shift towards a conservatism around spending and also a more clear cut anti-consumerism movement.

This movement goes hand in hand with the environmental and green movements. An example of this can be seen in the “OCCUPY WALL ST” protesters and movement.[1]

The movement is a leaderless resistance movement uniting American individuals from all political persuasions, gender and colour. The unifying ethic and common view is “We are the 99% that will no longer tolerate greed and corruption of the 1%.”[2]

The movement also uses nonviolence to maximise safety of participants. At the heart of this movement is the distinct belief that greed, over consumption and an attitude of lack of care leads to distinct irregularities in the lifestyles of equal human beings.

Consumerism and waste

In October 2011 The ABC North Queensland division ran an article asking “Could you go cold turkey on consumption?”[3] October in Australia is now the Buy Nothing New Month.  This is a new nationwide campaign aimed and encouraging Australians to consider their consumer patterns and habits and to maybe hold off from purchases or the habituated tendency to simply buy for the sake of a feel good.[4]

The reasoning behind the site is that Australians need to “reassess what they really need and think about where the stuff they buy comes from (finite resources,) where it goes (landfill) and what their actual alternatives are.”[5]

It is not about a permanent cessation of consumption. Rather it is focuses on conscientious consumption or the idea that we can consume, but consume in a way that is more considered, more environmentally sound and more environmentally conscientious and considerate.

What You Purchase

So what do you actually purchase?  When you go to the supermarket what are the items you buy? Do you buy products with an enormous amount of packaging or do you buy products that are not wrapped up in excessive plastics and papers and cardboards?

Think about the kind of cleaning products and fluids you buy. Are they considerate of the environment and do they have a safety rating? Are they filled with nasties or are they green and organic alternatives that are less damaging to the precious earth, to your family and home and to Australia and its flora and fauna.

Envirosafe Solutions has been pushing this view for several years now, in the hope that Australians will think about the products they purchase and actually choose alternatives that are more conscientious and considerate. Their Extreme Green range is developed with this in mind and comes with a comprehensive safety rating that assures you of a realistic appraisal of the eco friendly product you are purchasing.

For a complete rundown on the Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green Range download the Extreme Green 2012 pdf  brochure from the website or telephone 1300 889070 for more information.

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[1] http://occupywallst.org/

[2] http://wearethe99percent.tumblr.com/

[3] http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2011/10/03/3331147.htm

[4] http://www.bynothingnew.com.au/

[5] ibid

Traditional energy sources at the verge of extinction

It is no secret that the traditional energy resources, such as coal, oil or gas, are becoming more and more scarce.  This energy is not renewable, and the constant exploitation has led to the exhaustion of the sources.

In addition, fossil fuels are more polluting than alternative energy resources.  It is a well-known fact that pollution is one of the most pressing issues our planet is confronted with nowadays.  Some scientists in the US even blame the use of fossil fuels for global warming. This theory is supported by scientific discoveries regarding the effect of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon dioxide results from the burning of fossil fuels. This gas is responsible for the climatic changes that resulted in higher temperatures and heat waves, but also for long droughts, coastal floods and wildfires. According to scientists, even if burning fossil fuels would be immediately terminated, the effects will still last for another century, resulting into further degradation of earth’s atmosphere.

The Australian people spend a great amount of money on energy each year.  According to a study published on EnergyMatters.com, Australians spend around 50 billion dollars on energy only.

These costs include fossil fuels, such as:

• Coal
• Oil
• Gas

In order to cut the costs, but also to provide a solution that is environmentally friendly, Australia is slowly trying to switch to green energies.

Green options for energy resources

Luckily, several environmentally friendly energy resources have been developed over the years. Out of these, the most important ones are:

• Aeolian energy – wind energy
• Solar energy
• Bio energy
• Hydro energy

Other energy resources include wave, tidal, thermal and geothermal sources.

Aeolian energy is produced by wind generators. This is especially suitable for windy areas, such as South Australia, where several wind farms have already been built.

Solar energy is derived from solar panels that get charged with photovoltaic energy produced by the sun.

Bio energy uses biomass and liquid fuels in order to provide power. Biomass refers to organic matter derived from plants because of photosynthesis. It includes forestry and agricultural residues, and various forms of organic waste.

Power stations that use water to provide energy have already been built in the Snowy Mountains, in Australia, providing almost 15% of all renewable energy used throughout the country.

Renewable energy sources will replace fossil fuels in the future

There is no doubt that renewable energy sources are to replace fossil fuels in the future. Partly because fossil fuels have become extremely scarce throughout the world, and partly because of the harmful effects burning coal, oil and natural gas has on the surrounding environment.

Many environmental NGOs fight for the utilization of renewable energy as a replacement for the traditional power sources. Their arguments are, aside from the harmful effects of fossil fuels upon the environment, the fact that green energies are inexhaustible, as compared to fossil fuels, and that the use of renewable energies is more cost effective.

Envirosafe Solutions supports the shift to new forms of energy.  Speak to Envirosafe Solutions about their Extreme Green Range of eco-friendly products. 1300889070

Sources:

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/2007-01-30-ipcc-report_x.htm

http://www.cleanenergyfuture.gov.au/clean-energy-future/our-plan/clean-energy-australia/

http://www.energymatters.com.au/faqs/renewable-energy-faq.php

Reducing your use of water and also conserving the available supply is at the heart of Australia’s sensibility in 2011. We are a coastal land and we need to understand that water is one of our most precious commodities and the regularity and normalcy of its supply is being tested and undermined by irrigation, man-made interventions and by dramatic shifts in climatic conditions which are resulting in a pattern of extreme weather conditions.

Education of the youth

One of the most effective ways to address the issue of water is to activate and generate education programmes that target the every young. Currently, conservation and green issues are being introduced into mainstream education systems across Australia – a situation that would actually have been unheard of twenty years ago.

There is a general shift and understanding that talk of water conservation and the need to understand the appropriate management of this resource is a must if Australia is to cope with the shifting global conditions that are currently underway.

The Water: Learn it for Life Programme[1]

This programme operates out of Queensland and is simply one of many examples of water wise programmes currently underway in Australia. This programme has been developed by the Queensland state Government and operates as a complete and comprehensive curriculum resource for primary aged students.

Some of the units of the programme include

• The basics of the water cycle
• How to conserve water
• How to store and source water appropriately
• How to use water efficiently
• How to recycle
• Alternative sources for water

This kind of programme that is developed at state government level and disseminated through to the education system symbolises a vital link between inter-governmental departments. This allows a flow of accurate and current information from specialised government agencies through to the youth of the state of Queensland.

The Role of Teachers

The role of teachers is vital in this education. While the information is available, it is up to the current crop of teachers and educators in Australia to source the kind of information that offers children a new understanding of water conservation issues. IT is also up to teachers to present the information in a light and manner that is engaging, hands on and practical.

The issue of water actually affect children locally, regionally and nationally as well as globally.  If children are presented with active and engaging modes of education on the subject, they are then able to develop and examine their own relationship with water and water conservation and even operated as harbingers of change within their own family system.

Envirosafe Solutions understands the value of water as a precious commodity. The Extreme Green range of eco friendly liquid products and industrial liquids, as well as the specific nature of items such as Hard Water laundry liquid work to minimise impact on this commodity, which is so precious to the Australian way of life. Telephone  1300 889070 for more information on the full range.

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Water_conservation

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[1] http://www.derm.qld.gov.au/waterwise/education/education/index.html

Today, Envirosafe Solutions, quality eco friendly liquid suppliers, bring you eco friendly information on smart power grids. Is this the way of the future for Australians?

Waste

Being environmentally friendly is not just about adopting ‘green’ technologies, it also means cutting down on waste. It means a more intelligent use of our resources.

One area that seems to have escaped attention is the national power grid. Yes, much has been written and said about generating electrical power in an environmentally friendly and so on but very little has been said about transmitting this power efficiently in an environmentally friendly manner.¹

Ever since governments and business establishments began to generate and supply electrical power on a commercial basis, we have been creating power grids to carry and distribute the power. However, these power grids have always been setup on an ‘as and when required’ basis.

Hardly any planning went into setting up a power grid. As new townships came into being, they simply tapped into the nearest existing electrical power grids and that was that. Scant attention was paid to the efficiency aspects of such a haphazard system much less its overall environmental impact. ²

Because of the haphazard nature of its development, existing power grids were enormously inefficient and dysfunctional. If a certain region had excess electrical power and another had a shortage, more often than not, there was no way to connect the two so that excess power could be transferred to regions with power deficit. ³

Rather than look like a modern day circuit board, the power grids of today resemble the circuit board of a radio of the early 1900’s with their large transistors and electrical wires connecting various components. These were typically non-intelligent circuits. Today even the humble cell phone has enough digital intelligence to make the computer desktop of the early 2000’s look obsolete.

What this means is that we have the technology to replace existing electrical power grids with intelligent power grids that are capable of sensing power requirement and diverting electrical power from an area that has it in excess to an area that is facing a deficit. The technology exists to accept power from a variety of sources and automatically calculate and recalibrate the entire power scenario without the need for human intervention. It does not take a degree in rocket science to realise that when national resources are used inefficiently, the impact on the environment is enormous. ⁴

As matters stand today, if a certain region produces (say) cheap geothermal power, that electrical power is often fed into a separate stand-alone circuit and only a few households fortunate enough to be in the vicinity of the geothermal power plant, benefit from cheaper tariff. There is no way that geothermal power generated in (say) Perth can be shared by residents in (say) Sydney using the national grid.

In fact, something that would appear logical to most humans is apparently quite illogical to the electrical engineers who design, build and maintain Australia’s electrical power grids.

Building environmentally friendly power stations is therefore only 50% efficient. For it to be 100% efficient, it needs to be balanced by an intelligent state-of-the-art environmentally friendly power distribution network. ⁵

We would have expected that the national power grid to accept electrical power from various sources and the electrical tariff be computed as an average. Why should one region pay an exorbitant tariff because electrical power in that region is generated using expensive coal while another region enjoys cheap tariffs because power in that region is generated by using geothermal heat? The unfairness of the electrical tariff seems to be lost on the government and the businesses that run these power plants.

Envirosafe Solutions produces environmentally friendly liquids and environmental cleaning products. Telephone 1300 889070 for more information.

Footnotes and references:

1. Avoiding waste: http://www.supergreenme.com/go-green-environment-eco:Save-Electricity-by-Using-Alternative–Environmentally-Friendly-Energy-Sources

2. National power grid of Australia:  http://www.geni.org/globalenergy/library/national_energy_grid/australia/index.shtml

3. Inefficiency in modern day power grids:  http://www.earth-policy.org/books/pb4/PB4ch4_ss7

4. Sustainable use of national resources: http://www.csiro.au/science/Sustainable-Resource-Use.html

5. Energy efficiency in the power grid: http://www04.abb.com/global/seitp/seitp202.nsf/c71c66c1f02e6575c125711f004660e6/64cee3203250d1b7c12572c8003b2b48/$FILE/Energy+efficiency+in+the+power+grid.pdf

Today Envirosafe Solutions, suppliers of environmentally friendly liquids, takes a look at geothermal hotspots

There was a time when a hotspot was not an internet Wi-Fi access point. A hotspot occurred when a lava vein got close to the surface of the earth and met an underground river. The water would boil and the pressure would create vents that reached the surface.

Steam would be vented through these natural release valves and you would have a geyser. At other times, you would have a pond, a small lake full of hot water or just a hot moist mud pond. How the heat surfaces is not relevant, what is relevant is presence of a constant source of heat and heat as we know, is energy that can be harnessed for a variety of purposes. The most common use of these natural heat vents is to generate environmentally friendly, electrical energy at a very cheap cost.¹

To generate environmentally friendly electrical energy from a hotspot area, a pipe is inserted into the hotspot or geothermal area and water circulated through the pipe. Both ends of the pipe led to an electrical power plant. Water was fed through one end of the pipe and as it passed through the hotspot, it would get superheated and turn into steam. Pressurised steam would exit from the other end of the pipe. Pressurised steam would then rotate a turbine that generated electrical energy. The entire process of generating electrical energy from natural heat of the Earth was very environmentally friendly. ²

The US and Geothermal Vents

The United States alone has enough geothermal vents to produce 2000 times more electrical power then they need and that too, in a totally non-polluting environmentally friendly way. Unfortunately, geothermal vents are not evenly distributed all over the world. United States and Iceland are two regions that are blessed with the maximum number of geothermal vents. In most other places in the world, you would have to travel several kilometres vertically below the Earth’s surface before coming into contact with temperatures high enough to turn water into steam.

EGS – Enhanced Geothermal Systems

Fortunately, new technology aptly called “enhanced geothermal systems” or EGS has emerged that makes reaching these deep-Earth geothermal heats more cost-effective.

What scientists have done is to locate nearest source of underground heat and then pump water down. When water meets heat, it turns into steam and the steam makes its way back to the surface where it is harnessed via heat exchangers. The heat exchangers have a pipe that circulates water.

The heat exchanger transfers the captured heat to the pipe and in turn, the water in the pipe turns into steam that drives an electrical turbine and you will have generated electrical energy in an environmentally friendly way. ³

Generating electrical energy via the enhanced geothermal system method is not as efficient as being able to insert a pipe directly into a geothermal hotspot and generating environmentally friendly electrical energy. This is because a lot of water is needed. The water has not only to reach the place where the heat is, once it turns into steam, the heat has to rise up to the surface of the earth.

Along the route, it will lose some of the heat thereby reducing the efficiency of the system. In addition, the water that is pumped down into the Earth is not recoverable or reusable. This means that you need a continuous source of fresh water.

However, if there is a large source of fresh water nearby, this method of generating environmentally friendly electrical current has tremendous potential. ⁴

Envirosafe Solutions delivers quality eco friendly products to the Australian market. Eco friendly industrial liquids and environmental cleaning products can be green and also work as effectively as their less environmentally sound counterparts.

Speak with an Envirosafe Solutions assistant about the Extreme Green range.  1300 889070

Footnotes and references:

1. Finding a geothermal hotspot: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/12/easy_geothermal.php

2. Geothermal electrical energy: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geothermal_electricity

3. Enhanced geothermal systems: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enhanced_geothermal_system

4. Evaluation of EGS: http://www1.eere.energy.gov/geothermal/pdfs/evaluation_egs_tech_2008.pdf

In the new era of green issues, how can we secure our future in relation to foodstuffs? How can we ensure supply and meet the needs of a growing population on the planet? Today, Envirosafe Solutions considers the issue of food production in the new age of extreme weather and global warming. What are the factors currently threatening Australian and worldwide food production. How do we manage them effectively?

At present, the world is witnessing a horrific even play out in the region of Somalia in Africa. Some are describing it as one of the world’s worst ever famines and hundreds of thousands of children, men and women are currently facing starvation. In May it was reported more than 29,000 children under five years of age had died and since then, the situation has worsened day by day.[1]

The problem is the area is absolutely ravaged by drought. 1.85 million people are now affected In Somalia, and it is likely as global warming increases, extreme weather conditions such will impact food production and food sources for many areas of the globe.

The Australian CSIRO has outlined a number of factors that may threaten food supply in Australia and the world in the coming years and decades. These include:

• “Increases in world population
• Fighting over resources (such as arable areas and H20.)
• Available cropping areas being used for biofuel
• Global warming
• Shifts in economic development which may alter food consumption patterns over time.”

We are incredibly lucky in Australia because we are able to supply our own food needs. In addition we also export 3% of the world’s total food that is transacted and traded annually.

However, the issues highlighted by the CSIRO mean that the global stage is changing.

Asia-Pacific Research

Australian scientists are currently involved in a number of food research projects in the Asia-Pacific region. According to the Australian Centre for International Agricultural research which is based all around the Asia Pacific region, Australian scientists are well positioned to “use their skills for the benefit of developing countries and Australia.”[2]

As the global situation plays out and as new green technologies and approaches to food sourcing are required, Australia will be there to meet this particular challenge.

At present ACIAR works in a number of countries and continents; in areas such as Eastern and Northern Africa, The Asia Pacific rim, as well as China and also areas of The Middle East. Programs are designed to lead to more developed and more fruitful and sustainable agricultural practices using collaboration between Australia and many paired partnering countries. The aim is to foster self-sufficiency and self- support and economic independence in areas where this has not been possible agriculturally, or where this has been compromised or may be compromised in the future.

Envirosafe Solutions is a strong supporter of sustainable environmental and agricultural practices, which is why it has formulated a range of Extreme Green products specially suited to remote and agricultural industries. Never before has it been so important to utilise products that do minimal damage to the environment, to the land and to our water supplies.  For more information call Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070.

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[1] http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/44021514/ns/world_news-africa/t/us-somali-shildren-under-dead-famine/#.Tk21mmHaArI

[2] http://aciar.gov.au/aboutus

The past few decades has seen a gradual decrease in the number and variety of animals found in Australia. This is mainly due to the changes in the climatic conditions and destruction of flora and the natural habitats where these species live. Sadly, many native species are facing extinction due to various human activities that destroy the lifestyle of these animals.

Some of the major activities include:

• Deforestation
• Over grazing and agriculture
• Pollution
• Urbanization  and
• Exotic species

Deforestation

The destruction of the forest due to various human activities and bushfires will reduce the natural habitat of the animals and destroy the breeding areas. Deforestation will also affect the quality of the water draining from the bushland areas, and as the earth heats, the already precious water commodity may become even scarcer.

Overgrazing and agriculture

The bio–diversity of Australia is also threatened by overgrazing and clearing of vegetation for agricultural purposes. The grass and bushlands of Australia have already been significantly reduced since European settlement. These areas used to provide the natural habitat for many native animals. The clearing of these woodlands has caused desertification and significant increase in topsoil runoff and also erosion. In some areas, cattle rearing has caused over grazing of the grasslands, which has resulted in the scarcity of food for the native animals.

Pollution

In Australia and also worldwide, the land, water and air are being polluted by various human activities. Pollution caused by the various factories and their pollutants are affecting local fauna, decimating their resistance to various diseases and resulting in other significant ailments that can affect the lifecycle and the normal development of species.

The eco-system suffers as a result, since pollution continues to alter the local landscape, affecting everything from flora, fauna to foods processed locally. Food items sourced locally tend to carry pesticides [used by farmers], making these somewhat unsafe to consume.

Even flowers and seeds, tend to carry pesticides in one form or the other. In addition, the pesticides used in these agricultural lands often end up in rivers through run-off and these accumulated pesticides will cause biological magnification, resulting in the death of the animals and others.

Urbanisation

The increase in human population causes need for more land space for construction of buildings. The coastal areas of Australia that are rich in bio- diversity are giving way for massive constructions. The agricultural lands are also converted to residential areas for the want of space. All these activities cause a reduction in the fauna of the area.

Exotic species

The introduction of exotic species is another major cause of concern for the extinction of native species. If the introduced species is a predator of the native species, it will cause the survival of the native species difficult. Sometimes, the native species will have to compete with the exotic species for food, shelter and mate and only the fittest one will survive. The feral cats, cane toads, rabbits, black striped mussels are examples of exotic species introduced to Australia that are wreaking havoc on our natural wildlife. In order to protect the native animals from extinction, controlling these factors is necessary.

Envirosafe Solutions produces Extreme Green eco-friendly liquid products that are less harmful to the environment.

Telephone 1300 889070

References:

http://www.climatechange.gov.au/government/reduce.aspx.

http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/change/

It’s no secret that the sun provides the energy that drives the earth and for many years the use of solar energy to produce electricity has been touted as a viable alternative. The true shift however has come only in the last 10 years with solar energy becoming finally more accepted and more widely used by mainstream Australia. It is seen as an alternative that can help our nation reduce its marked dependence on fossil fuels.

One of the obstacles to mainstream embrace of solar has been a lack of understanding about how solar actually works. Individuals have had a notion of solar that is lodged in the solar hot water roof panels of the 1960’s an d 1970’s which were considered aesthetically unappealing and intrusive in terms of home design and the house-proud sensibilities of middle Australia. Many also viewed the panels as expensive with returns not worth the initial capital outlay expenditure.

Matured Technology

Over the past decade however the technology has matured and the price of solar equipment has fallen markedly while the cost of electricity has actually risen more than in a century. Even in Australia, where competition and deregulation had led to more choice in terms of electricity suppliers, the cost remains markedly higher than twenty years ago. More powerful batteries have also been developed and there is groundbreaking research into new battery storage technology at the University of New South Wales in Kensington, Sydney.

How Solar Power Works

In order to take advantage of the power generated by the sun, solar cells, or photovoltaic cells, are struck by the sun’s rays and turn that sun power into electricity. Since one cell doesn’t produce a whole lot of electricity, several cells are joined together in what is called an array. These are connected to a regulator, much like the one used in your car’s battery charging system, to prevent the battery from becoming overcharged.

The power generated by the solar cells is transferred to a battery where it is stored for the time when the sun is not shining.

Power is used throughout the charging period as well and when the stored power in the battery dips below a reset level, more power is sent to the battery for recharging, by the use of the regulator. If no power is used during the sunlight hours, nothing is sent to the battery once it is fully charged, but at night when there is no sun, any power used comes directly from the battery.

Solar Energy Brings Power to the People

Solar energy has become increasingly popular for those wanting to save money as well as those in areas where the power grid may not be accessible, such as in remote areas of Australia. There are numerous designs that most people can install on their own to take advantage of this renewable energy source and not be dependent on the power company to provide their electricity.

Envirosafe Solutions understands the Australian conditions and the need for alternative energy sources and systems. These modes actually complement the philosophy of Envirosafe Solutions and its Extreme Green range of eco friendly liquid products. These are fully outlined in the new 2012 Extreme Green PDF brochure that can be found on the Envirosafe Solutions website. For more information about a range of products including environmental cleaning products and environmentally friendly industrial liquids telephone  1300 889070

References:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_energy

http://www.wholesalesolar.com/StartHere/StartHere.html

Ammonia can clean your tiles, windowpanes and now, can power up your vehicle or motor as well. When Ammonia burns, it produces Nitrogen and water vapour. Nitrogen and vapour are both environmentally friendly because both can be used by plants. Using Ammonia to power up your vehicle or motor can therefore be a win-win situation for the vehicle and the environment.¹

Research at Texas Tech University

Another advantage of Ammonia is that it can be easily stored in liquid form and does not require expensive infrastructure for transportation. Professors and students at the Texas Tech University are developing a stand-alone prototype ammonia-generating machine using the Haber-Bosch process that can be easily installed at gas stations. Powered by electrical current, the ammonia-generating machine will first break water molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

Hydrogen is then converted into Ammonia by combining it with nitrogen from the air. When ignited, the hydrogen molecule is burnt in the ignition chamber of your vehicle or motor and nitrogen along with water vapour is released back into the atmosphere. Since nitrogen was already in the air, the only thing that ammonia adds to the atmosphere is water vapour, which is 100% environmentally friendly. ²

Once water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen through the process of electrolysis, nitrogen is added and a standard gas compressor is used to compress hydrogen and nitrogen. Simultaneously, an iron oxide catalyst is used to heat the gas and generate Ammonia. Ammonia is then cooled down to about 75 °C below zero. At this temperature, ammonia turns into a liquid and can be stored or transported anywhere using standard pressurized tanks. The entire process of making ammonia is further rendered environmentally friendly because during the cooling process, mechanical energy is recovered and ploughed back into the system to help significantly reduce energy consumption. ³

Cheaper Alternative

The prototype ammonia-generating machine could easily generate between 4 and 40 Kilolitres of ammonia. The ammonia is generated at the gas station itself, in a very self-contained unit. You could therefore have an ammonia fuel pump next to an oasis in the middle of the desert powered by sunlight. The cost of producing ammonia using electrical power from the grid is currently around $0.20 per litre. If solar or geothermal power is used the cost could reduce to $0.10 or less per litre. Cheap fuel for your car that is produced in an environmentally friendly way and one that does not pollute when burnt – what could be better?

The armed forces are already keenly awaiting the technology because it would mean they could setup a fuel station in any part of the world without having to first transport any fuel. Since the vehicle will not be producing any fumes or smoke, the soldiers will not suffer from breathing problems associated with working around a large number of fuel guzzling vehicles. ⁴

Research has also begun into ways and means of generating hydrogen in a cheap and environmentally friendly manner. If hydrogen can be generated without the use of water or electrical power, then the cost of making ammonia could come down to $0.05 or less per litre. The day is not far when instead of viewing ammonia as “a stinky chemical”, people would view it as an environmentally friendly wonder fuel.

Envirosafe Solutions supports the future use of ammonia as an environmentally friendly liquid.

You can speak with an Envirosafe Solutions assistant about the full range of eco friendly industrial liquids and environmental cleaning products. 1300 889070

Footnotes and references:

1. Ammonia:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ammonia

2. Haber-Bosch process: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haber_process

3. Making Ammonia:  http://www.creative-chemistry.org.uk/gcse/documents/Module7/N-m07-03.pdf

4. Ammonia as a clean environmentally friendly fuel: http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/0927773395/articles/hydro-review/volume-28/issue-7/articles/renewable-fuels__manufacturing.html

New industries always seem to provide employment opportunities for those with the willingness to learn new technologies or new trades. While the basic renewable energy sources have been around for many years now, resources such as solar, wind, and water power have been slow to develop because of a reluctance to shift away from traditional energy sources. However, with a global push to reduce the use of fossil fuels and the dependence on oil, these industries are finally seeing a surge in growth resulting in a growth in jobs in the green industry.

Even as the nation suffers high unemployment, industries associated with alternative energy are looking for those that understand the ethical basis and technological advancements that are now driving the push towards alternative energy modes. Because this sector is relatively new and still very much evolving, a groundswell of experience and an historical blueprint for various methodologies is not actually available. Certainly tertiary institutions have begun to embrace new areas such as Environmental Science or Green Accounting, for example. Other faculties such as architecture, engineering and science are also developing new courses that herald a new era of employment and work.

Solar Energy Installation Issue

One of the biggest opportunities in the green job industry in 2009-2010 in Australia was for installers for solar energy in residential and commercial applications. In Australia this scheme took hold with incredible gusto and was supported wholeheartedly by the Federal Government under Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. The solar energy industry boomed, with various rebates and discounts available to Australian business and families ready to move with the new scheme. The industry boomed and became an incredible growth area, but in 2011, the Gillard government put an end to the Solar Credit Scheme and the industry virtually stopped overnight. One solar installer, Ged McCarthy, who is also chair of the Solar Energy Industries Association said the government support and then withdrawal of credits and rebates highlights just what can be done for green employment and what can be undone for green employment and industry when a government offers and then retreats from committed support.[1]

Wind Farms Offer Work

Another form of alternative energy generation is wind energy and the construction of the new Wind Farms  has developed into a new green employment area. According to a recent paper delivered by The Australia Institute, Wind Farms, The Facts and the Fallacies, wind farms and wind energy “ is competitive with all other sources of renewable energy. The evidence indicates that if electricity generators were required to internalise the cost of pollution, it would also be competitive with coal and gas fired power stations, particularly by 2020.”[2] As the sector grows, so shall the opportunity for employment and training.

In 2009, Fast Company stated that the job market would reach a point of extreme contrasts. Some jobs would be eviscerated while others face worker shortages, and yet despite the global financial crisis, there would still many green jobs on the horizon. According to Alison Doyle, “green jobs are arriving in two breeds; some will be at specialized firms that reduce human environmental impact, like environmental consultancies, while others will simply be jobs at environmentally friendly companies.”[3]

Envirosafe Solutions is an environmentally friendly company supplying eco friendly liquid products to Australian families, businesses and organisations. We support green employment and the need for constructive change to industry, business and the Australian community with regards to green issues. For more information about the Extreme Green range of liquid products  1300 889070.

References:

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/home

http://www.timesbulletin.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=169016

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[1] http://www.abc.net.au/local.stories/2011/08/23/329824.htm

[2] http://www.tai.org.au/documents/downloads/DP91.pdf

[3] http://www.fastcompany.com/articles/2009/01/top-jobs-2009.html

Today, Envirosafe Solutions takes a quick look at what it really means to be living green. How can we as businesses, households and industries, really embrace the changes that are now a part of a new world approach to the environment? How can we each play a part and do our bit?

Living green is not just about replacing a few incandescent light bulbs with energy efficient LED bulbs, or using biodegradable wrapping material or paper – it goes far deeper than that.

Here’s an example of living green: Supermarkets and malls buy massive quantities of vegetables which are trimmed, washed and packaged. The trimmed residue is dumped into the garbage bins and goes into the nearest bio-waste dump site. Instead, what if we shredded it and sent it off to the nearest cattle farm? What if the heat generated by air-conditioning equipment and air conditioners were to be redirected and used in areas where heat was required? Think about it; we could heat water for our own use or boil water, generate steam and from it generate electricity.¹ Wouldn’t that be wonderful and more importantly, wouldn’t you feel nice about it?  Obviously, living green involves quite a bit of advance thinking and a lot of recycling.

Another instance of living green (this one much nearer to us), would be our own house. When we build a house if we were to make use of sunlight as well as heat retention techniques to lower our heating costs in the winter and then use cross ventilation and natural winds in the summer to reduce our cooling costs we would be totally into a ‘living green’ lifestyle. ²

Living green not only makes an excellent social and business and lifestyle statement, but most importantly, it also has a significant impact on the environment. Typically, living green lowers your energy consumption. Chances are the energy your house would have otherwise consumed would have come from some coal fired or nuclear plant. The energy you save by living green can be utilized by some other consumer. Living green also has the potential to cap the total amount of energy that the country needs to be produced. ³

Living green is also synonymous with sustainable living which essentially means recycling to whatever extent possible with the intention of lowering our consumption of the Earth’s natural resources. ⁴

If you are an industrialist then the time to invest in living green or green lifestyle equipment is now – there is money to be made in green lifestyle equipment.⁵ Thanks to increasing energy costs, more and more people are adopting ‘green’ environmentally friendly equipment. Increasing numbers are becoming aware that the Earth can no longer sustain human greed and are eagerly turning to living green lifestyles.

The government too needs to step in, be proactive and promote the concept of living green more vigorously than it has been doing to date⁶. One area that can immediately catch on is sustainable tourism. The government could actively promote sustainable tourism wherein the tourists on nature tours could live with nature rather than in super luxury resorts. It would not only enhance their experience, it would also increase their understanding of nature and perhaps convert them to living green activists.

Being a relatively recent development, living green not only has potential for industrialists, it also has tremendous job potential and potential for environmentalists to become consultants for promoting eco-tourism, sustainable tourism and living green products.

The Envirosafe Solutions Extreme Green range of liquid products harmonises completely with the new green living approach. For more information on these excellent products please telephone the sales team on 1300 889070 who can assist with all your enquiries.

Footnotes and references:

1. http://techcrunch.com/2011/06/12/air-conditioning-water-heater/

2. Living green: building an energy efficient home:  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Green_building

3. Gadgets and ideas on living green: http://www.greenlivingtips.com/

4. Sustainable living explained: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_living

5. Living green is catching on like wild fire:

http://knowhow-now.com/m/articles/view/Living-Green-Exactly-Why-Do-People-Today-Do-It

6. Living green policy initiatives:  http://www.faqs.org/periodicals/201001/1949525541.html

7. Meaning and overview on sustainable tourism: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sustainable_tourism

Article and data by the US government on sustainable tourism: http://www.epa.gov/sustainability/basicinfo.htm

Today Envirosafe Solutions, suppliers of quality environmental cleaning products, delivers fascinating information on El Nino and its impact on Australia.

Australia might look small on the globe but its total area encompasses 7,686,850 square kilometers. Obviously, an area that large has very diverse environmental conditions. Some areas of Australia are dry, others wet and the terrain itself is equally diverse. Of late however, the Australian environment has become extreme and harsh. The droughts have become more severe and the bushfires more frequent that people can remember. In fact, as far as the Australian environment is concerned, nothing seems to be ‘normal’ any longer. Ever year brings with it some new surprises.¹

Australian Droughts

The El Niño currents have a very strong influence on Australian environment especially the droughts. The El Niño currents mix with warm water in the east coast. The change in water temperature dramatically alters the Australian environment. In fact, scientists believe that in 1791 stronger than usual El Niño currents nearly wiped out the first settlers from Europe. Without the El Niño effect, droughts in Australia do not last more than a year. Of late however, the El Niño effect seems to have affected the Australian Winter crop as well. Every time Australia experiences an El Niño effect, the environment alters significantly enough to lower the crop yields by as much as 50%. Worse, apart from the winter crop, the sheep pastures too seem to be adversely affected. ²

Bushfires

Strangely enough, the El Niño effect seems to be having a positive aspect as well. For example, a few months after the devastating bushfire of February 2009, which claimed 173 lives and a vast number of homes, there was a lush carpet of green moss on the forest floor. The El Niño effect, which results in high atmospheric moisture, seems to have done the environmental miracle. ³

Controlled Burn

Once the government authorities understood the El Niño effect on the Australian environment, they began the process of the controlled burn. Before the El Niño takes effect, the local authorities burn the dry leaves and dead twigs and trees. The burn done under controlled conditions ensures that the fire does not get out of control nor does any damage to property. ⁴

Lake Eyre and the El Niño dance

For those who have not been there, 200 million years ago, Lake Eyre in South Australia, was once a shallow sea that separated the two parts of Australia. Today it is just a massive environmentally sensitive flood plain. When El Niño strikes, Lake Eyre turns into a dry, fly ravaged barren land. In fact, it looks so desolate that you would be forgiven for assuming it devoid of life and yet, nowhere is the miracle of life more evident than at Lake Eyre. One rain shower and life springs up almost in the blink of an eye. Lake Eyre and El Niño have been dancing the dance of life and death for a very long time. ⁵

From an environmental point of view, there is little that Australia can do to stop the El Niño currents. However, much can be done to prevent adverse effects of El Niño and use it to our advantage.

Envirosafe Solutions supplies Environmental cleaning products to industry, businesses and organisations and homes. Telephone 1300 889070 for more information about quality environmental cleaning products.

Footnotes and references:

1. Australian environment: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Australia

2. Draughts in Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drought_in_Australia

3. Bushfires in Australia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushfires_in_Australia

4. Controlled burn: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Controlled_burn

5. Lake Eyre: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Eyre

The economy of Australia to a certain extent depends on the marine products. Fishing is the main occupation since Australia has an extensive coastal line. It forms one of the major fishing sectors of the world. The recent studies have shown that the productivity of this fishing zone is drastically decreasing. The scientists attribute this situation to an increase in temperature, changes in the ocean current, acidification of the ocean and changes in rainfall and winds. These changes are caused by change in climate due to pollution and global warming.

The impact

The impact caused by changes in climate and temperature on marine ecosystem are:

• Changes in the distribution of species. Animals start to move in the southward direction to avoid increasing temperature.
• The timing of the various events in the life cycle of an animal gets changed. This result in delayed hatching of eggs, changes in the time of migration of fishes, changes in the blooming time of algae etc.
• The physiology of animals will be changed due to increase in temperature. The animals will show increased rate of metabolism, reduced reproductive and respiratory rates.
• The marine animals with calcareous outer shell are at risk due to increased temperature, as calcification requires longer time.

Changes in ocean currents

The changes in the circulation of the ocean currents in Pacific Ocean and Tasman Sea are causing the modification of these marine environments and ecosystems. It is expected that the temperate fisheries region of Australia will be more affected by the changes in currents and temperature than the tropical areas.

Effect on fisheries

Scientists expect that by the year 2070 the increase in average temperature of the country will have a devastating effect on Australian fisheries and the economy of the country. The West Australian fisheries will be the most affected, followed by Victorian and Tasmanian fisheries industries. The near shore ecosystems are also affected by the increased rainfall, turbidity of the water, inflow of nutrients from land, reduced light penetration and erosion of coastal land.

It has been found that three marine groups are especially affected by climatic change in the Australian marine eco system, they are:

• Phytoplankton
• Tropical corals
• Marine turtles

Phytoplankton

Phytoplanktons are different species of microscopic plants inhabiting the light penetrating levels of ocean. They form the main food source for whales, fishes, prawns and other filter feeding animals found in the zone. They play an important role in the carbon and oxygen cycles. Any reduction in the Phytoplankton levels will cause food scarcity for the marine animals.

Tropical corals

The coral reefs in Australia provide excellent habitat for marine flora and fauna. It has been found that more than 400 species of corals make the reefs their home. There are thousands of species of molluscs and fishes depending on these coral reefs. Any disturbance to these reefs in the form of high temperature or chemical contents will adversely affect the coral reef ecosystem.

Marine turtles

This is just one group most widely affected by the changes in temperature. the gender of the embryos is determined by environmental temperature: high temperature promote the development and growth of females and increasing high temperatures will mean a significant reduction in male populations which will in turn affect breeding and the reproductive lifew cycle of these creatures. So, to keep the eco systems intact, effective ways should be found to protect these and other species from danger and harm.

One significant way to protect our marine environment is by changing our washing and cleaning habits. You can make a significant personal impact by sourcing eco-friendly products for your cleaning and your industrial uses. Envirosafe Solutions produces quality products that have less harmful impact on the environment. Telephone 1300 889070 for more information.

Sources:

http://www.aims.gov.au/docs/research/climate-change

http://www.environment.gov.au/biodiversity/

Climatic change has happened regularly in the past and evidence suggests that it is cyclic. That’s the old kind….the kind of climate change that happened about 23,000 years ago, when humans were few in numbers, living in caves and hunting animals. ¹

Right now, there is a different, man-made climate change occurring and unfortunately human activity on Earth might just have accelerated the evitable.

The last time climate change occurred and the ice melted, it slowed down and weakened the Gulf Stream which is responsible for bringing warm waters to Europe and prevents Europe from freezing over.² Climate change scientists have already detected large scale melting of ice around Greenland.

Historically, according to scientific data, we should be approaching another ice age. ³ Instead, thanks to the industrial revolution and advances we have not only postponed the ice age, we seem to be heading towards a meltdown and it’s difficult to say which is worse. For its part, Greenland seems to be eagerly awaiting warmer times because the melting glaciers would expose the earth benefit and geologists predict that Greenland might have massive quantities of oil resources waiting to be extracted. ⁴ Also, melting ice would expose land for agriculture. Regions which until now used to be buried deep in ice might support agriculture.

While some regions of world no doubt secretly welcome climate change for the possible rewards it might bring them fiscally, others dread climate change for the disasters it might bring due to melting ice. For starters, if all the ice were to melt, the ocean water levels would increase by 200 feet. ⁵ Assuming that just 10% of ice melted and the sea levels rose by only 20 feet; it would still be enough to sink most major cities in the world. Venice would no longer be above sea level at all, and we would lose one of the most unique cities in the world. ⁶

Effects of climate change however are not 100% predictable. For example, it would be logically correct to assume that melting ice would expose the earth below and raise sea levels. However, if melting ice results in the Gulf Stream coming to a halt, then Europe and the North would instantly re-freeze.

Current individual hot and cold spells however have got nothing to do with climate change and are merely a product of local climate variations. Instead, to detect climate change we need to look at long term data. For example, if historic temperature data is analysed, we would find that the last decade has been the warmest on record.⁷ Also 2010 has been warmer than 2009 and 2009 has been warmer than 2008 i.e. average global temperatures have been rising year on year – which is definitely not a good sign. With increasing heat, climate change could turn some parts of the world into deserts hot enough to burn exposed flesh while Europe could freeze over and low lying places and entire countries might just disappear under the rising waters of the sea.

Unless we find a way to not only halt but reverse climate change, some parts of our magnificent planet could burn, freeze or drown.

For information about eco-friendly products that respect the environment, phone Envirosafe Solutions on 1300 889070

Sources:

1. The last climate change: http://www.scotese.com/climate.htm

2. The power of the Gulf Stream: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gulf_Stream

3. The last ice age: http://library.thinkquest.org/3876/iceage.html

4. If Greenland ice sheet were to melt: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenland_ice_sheet#The_melting_ice_sheet

5. If all the ice on Earth melted: http://express.howstuffworks.com/ask-mb-ice-melt.htm

6. High water level in Venice: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/12/venice_under_water.html

7. Historic temperature data: http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/ice_ages.html