Archive for the ‘Air’ Category

What is an Air Pollution Control System?

An integrated air pollution control system (IAPCS) is a recent development that integrates many different features including material balance with the emissions, a preliminary model of the system and an estimate of how much it will cost to run the system every year. This program was created in C Language and FORTRAN and works with most computers no matter what kind they are. You need to have at least 1.5 MB of space left on the hard drive and 640K of RAM for the program to run. This program has been improved upon as it was developed and has gotten mixed reviews along the way.

The air pollution control system software was created to allow companies to create an accurate estimate of the price of nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) in utility plants around the world by determining the cost and how the system will perform. You can determine these costs in dollars for any of the years of operation. It will help determine initial costs for the first year of operation and figure out how costs will level out over time when the price per pollutant goes down.

A lot of industries are using the air pollution control system to get a good idea of their future costs. You can figure for 300 variables with the system so it is useful for coal analysis, boiler analysis, pollution control design criteria, creating new pollution control technology and making economic plans for the future. You can easily customize the program using default values for everything except creating new technology to control pollution. These features make it an easy program to use and the system will give you valuable information.

Industries that deal with NOx control and SO2 control in their facilities can use the air pollution control system to get an idea of how much it is going to cost to operate their business on a yearly basis. The system has a lot of potential for businesses like gas and electric utilities, public utility companies, architects and engineers and can provide information to our legislative branches so they can create environmental policies.

The first model of the system can help determine how much a company will have to spend on a yearly basis for maintenance and operation, determine the amount of emissions that will be created, estimate yearly costs over time, and help determine material balance and capital charges for up to 16 different control technologies at the same time. One industry that can benefit from the system is the coal burning utilities.

The different technologies using the air pollution control system include:

O2 control
- Desulfarizing wet flue gas
- Lime spray drying operations
- ADVACTE or advanced silicate processes
- Coal supply operations
- Lime injection in conjunction with dry sorbent injection

NOx control
- Low combustion of NOx
- Re-burning of natural gas
- SCR or selective catalytic reduction
- SNCR or selective non-catalytic reduction

Particulate matter
- Electrostatic precipitator
- Fabric filter
- Gas conditioning (humidification and SO3)

Combustion processes
- Atmospheric and pressurized fluid combustion
- Integrated gasification

Did you find this article on air pollution control system useful?
You can get more info on Pollution, Recycling, Sustainable Development related topics at http://caringforenvironment.com.

Author: Philip Badeau
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Litter, Rubbish and Recycling For Beginners

Rubbish and litter is an inevitability. Everybody accumulates waste and rubbish that has to be disposed of. The average person in the United Kingdom disposes of over 5 kilos of rubbish a week in their rubbish bin – a quarter of a tonne a year.

All that waste has to go somewhere too. It is either buried in landfills, burnt or it can be recycled. However, not everything can be recycled and much of what we throw away in our rubbish bins isn’t biodegradable, meaning it can linger around landfills for decades – damaging the environment in the process.

Types of rubbish

The type of rubbish we throw away can be divided into five different categories. Some of which is biodegradable, some which isn’t:

* Plastic – Most plastics aren’t biodegradable. Many can’t be recycled either which is why the use of plastics is becoming an increasing environmental concern.
* Paper/card – from packaging to newspapers most paper can be recycled in some for or another. Paper recycling bins and recycling containers make it easy to store before it is taken away.
* Tins and metals – Most metals can be recycled and special recycling facilities exist in most towns and cities to deal with it.
* Ceramics and glass – Both can be recycled so look out for bottle banks or glass recycling bins.
* Organic waste – from lawn trimmings to the garden to food scraps fro the kitchen. The least harmful to the environment, organic waste is useful as compost and fertilisers.

Recycling

Recycling is essential if we are to keep in check our growing need for landfill and the increase in rubbish that is being discarded. Different types of recycling bins are available for both public and home use.

Household recycling bins, for inside the home, are often separated into compartments to make recycling easier. The rubbish can then be disposed of in the relevant outdoor bins. Often recycling bins are colour coded to make the process easier.

Non-recyclable waste

Waste that is thrown in the rubbish bin and can’t be recycled can become a nuisance, especially many plastics that linger in the environment. Look to ways to reduce the amount of plastics and packaging you consume to reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. You will be surprised at how little you really do need to throw away in the waste bin.

Richard N Williams is interested in waste bins and rubbish removal. Please visit us website if you are interested in recycling bins or other waste bins

Author: Richard N. Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The Growing Problem of Carbon Dioxide Emissions

The topic of global warming is a vast one, and when people talk about greenhouse gases or carbon dioxide emissions as though they are the chief problem, it’s simply one aspect of the bigger picture. We have so many gadgets, appliances, and modern technology today and all of them play a part in releasing harmful gases into the environment.

The environment is able to purify these gases and replenish itself. The efficiency of this natural process would be increased if we could cut down on the amount of greenhouse gas being released into the atmosphere. There’s a backlog for the environment to clear so we need to give nature a helping hand, and make some big changes that will radically decrease the methane and carbon dioxide gases being let loose.

The ecology of the environment needs to be in equilibrium and this is affected by the different emissions our modern day society are allowing into the environment, such as carbon dioxide, nitrous oxide, methane gases, and other chemical byproducts. The amount of gases being released has increased exponentially. The sheer volume of these gases being emitted into the air is upsetting the equilibrium of nature.

Exactly what is causing all these greenhouse gas emissions? Just the normal process of life, of inhaling and exhaling, causes the oxygen in the atmosphere to be replaced by carbon dioxide. We breathe in oxygen and breathe out carbon dioxide. Because of Earth’s continually growing population, the need for meat, thus animals, is also increasing along with the amount of carbon dioxide in the air. This is not generally a problem to the environment when everything is kept in equilibrium. However, when Earth’s population swings beyond what nature can handle to keep the environment in balance, that is when things get difficult.

It would be a lot easier if we only needed to worry about methane gases and carbon dioxide gases as the main greenhouse gas problems. But modern day society relies heavily on technologies and other things that are causing these gases, and these manmade toxic wastes are being discarded without thought. To expect to return to how it was before this problem, however, is naive.

This is a problem that is likely not going to go away, but by facing it and considering our options, it can be possible to deal with the increasing problem of greenhouse gases and help Earth’s environment. If each individual or home owner in USA had utilized the options we already have for getting a more environmental friendly use of power, a large part of the problems would have been solved.

Terje Brooks has written articles online for many years and likes to write about environmental issues, home improvement, family issues among other topics. Check out his solar roof panels information at his website containing solar electric panels reviews along with reviews of similar products.

Author: Terje Brooks
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Environmental Regulatory Compliance – Air Quality

What is Regulatory Permitting? Our governments keep a tight control on polluters. They have to maintain their licenses and approvals to stay in business. Or to change any emitting characteristic of their business. And scientific principles guide the decision making in this regard.

What happens to contaminants once they reach the atmosphere? Do they go up and away or do they hit the ground elsewhere? A little of both, really, and at different times. With the right computer software and knowledge, a consultant can determine what will happen, where, when and how often. They can figure out if a problem will persist, resulting in complaints from neighboring communities, diseased foliage and livestock, or visibility problems. And they can even address potential public health problems.

Where will ground level concentrations become problematic? What can be done to fix it before it even happens? Things like this have to be answered ahead of time. The correct software and expert users create scientifically defensible answers for these questions.

Modelling, as this activity is called, is about design. Modellers parameterize the physical layout and emission characteristics of a plant and then quantify resulting gas and particle concentrations in the ambient atmosphere. They then use these numbers to make design and policy decisions for the plant. Ones that will keep it out of trouble.

Good modelers work in conjunction with government officials to arrive at a workable solution for the company. Keep an eye out for models with names like ISC, CALPUFF and others as they are standard tools of this trade. These professionals report to the client and to officials what the model runs have revealed. They say which modifications have been made to correct difficult situations, if needed.

The most advanced people in this field go to bat for their clients. They attend hearings and defend the operation and its proposed changes. We call them expert witnesses.

We do not want diseases from air pollution. Air quality modeling helps us determine how to avoid that. A variety of substances come from a variety of plants and can have a variety of effects. None of them good. With modelling, policy makers can reduce those effects.

A consulting service company will perform dispersion modeling, prepare relevant agency applications and handles the tricky side of the approval process. There may be several boards and offices to deal with for a simple situation. It helps to use professionals who know the regulatory staff personally, work with them repeatedly and can maneuver skillfully through the regulatory process with the smallest amount of friction possible.

Another thing to deal with is government reporting. Emissions, wastewater and air quality data have to be sent to the appropriate agency. It has to be accurate and delivered on time. With the right consulting firm, the management at the industrial site never have to think about those tasks themselves, once the reporting procedure is initially set up. Monthly reporting gets completed automatically, as far as the client is concerned.

More complicated environmental laws make for more and more difficult procedures needed to be in compliance. Especially when it comes to air. Therefore producers have become less likely to perform these tasks in-house.

Expertise needed to obey the rules has become very much a multi-disciplinary thing. That is a key reason for the rise in consulting service firms. All that expertise in one place providing knowledge-based services to several clients really has become more efficient than trying to cultivate the essential know-how within the office walls of manufacturing firms.

That goes beyond technical knowledge. An understanding of human nature plays a major role as well. With that understanding, professionals can negotiate with other companies and regulatory staff to get to what is best for all Involved.

They need to defend their work, justify their arguments and point out how the environment and how society benefits from their accomplishments. The client benefits even more greatly.

For example, energy producers may have problems with emissions. They work with large volumes of stocks that may result in emissions of sulfur compounds, carbon compounds, particulates and other noxious substances, affecting both air and environmental water.

Do oil companies meet a lot of public opposition? Is it all warranted? Maybe interventions are concerned about the unknown. Maybe they need to know how thorough and careful a producer is these days when it comes to ecological issues.

But that credibility has to be there in the first place. Simply obeying the laws goes a long way. Doing so is not trivial by any stretch. Needed tasks can include audits, applications, remediation and management. Consulting firms exist to handle all of these duties.

http://www.stuffintheair.com/air-pollution-articles.html – for a background on air pollution.

http://www.stuffintheair.com/airqualitymodeling.html – more details about how air quality consulting firms do their work.

Author: Barry Lough
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The Most Effective Ways to Cut Your Energy Bill and Carbon Emissions

The most effective measures -

Loft insulation: Homes lose 25 per cent of their heat through the roof so installing insulation of the recommended 270mm depth or more will reduce your heating bills significantly. Fitting insulation can cost as little as 250 and there are plenty of offers and government incentives about so you could even get it for free!

Cavity wall insulation: House lose a third of their heat through walls and installing cavity wall insulation could save you up to 115 a year on energy bills and cut reduce your carbon footprint. It only takes a couple of hours to install and is easily done. Solid walls can also be insulated.

Draught excluders: Installing draught excluders where there are gaps under or around doors is an easy way to save up to 20 a year on energy bills.

Double glazing: double glazed windows are essential for maximum heat retention.

Upgrading your boiler: Heating people’s homes accounts for 14 per cent of Britain’s CO2 emissions and installing a more efficient heating system is an effective method of both reducing household energy bills and decreasing your carbon emissions. By upgrading an old G-rated boiler to an A-rated one, on average, a heating bill will fall by around 235 a year and carbon reductions will be reduced due to its fuel efficiency.

Some simple tips to save money straight away -

Switch off: Switching off appliances at the mains when not being used can save you up to 30 a year.

Boil what you need: When using the kettle or cooking, only boil as much water as necessary and you could save up to 25 a year.

Dry clothes outside: When the weather is nice hang your clothes out to dry! Also try and wash at 30 degrees to save both energy and money.

Quick showers: Cut your water usage in half by taking quick showers instead of long baths.

Turn down the heat: Turning the thermostat down by just 1 degree in winter months will cut carbon emissions and could reduce your fuel bills by up to 10 per cent.

Close your curtains: Closing your curtains to reduce heat loss and will save money on your energy bills.

Green information and advice from upvc windows specialist: Safestyle UK.

Author: James H Hunt
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Air Pollution From Mexican Brick Kilns

Jose Luis Orozco runs a successful carpentry shop, He cares deeply for the people in his community and has good political relationships. He may someday be elected as a county governor of a newly re-formed area that includes the city of San Ignacio, Jalisco, Mexico. He attends the Arandas Baptist Church and has a passion for improving the life of people in his region. During a visit there in March 2006, we collected data visited local Jalisco brickmakers, and are interested in partnering with them in the endeavor to improve the air quality there.

A major business in the area is brickmaking. This is due to availability of key materials such as red clay, agave cactus waste, manure, wood and spent-motor oil, and cheap labor. Green, or unfired bricks are formed from a mixture of clay, water, manure and agave waste, and poured into molds and dried. Once dry they are stacked into large piles, forming a kiln, the bricks are ignited using wood or used motor oil. The entire structure literally burns as the organic material is consumed within the brick, leaving a porous, light, and structurally hard ceramic brick. This type of brick “kiln” is simply a large open pile of green bricks with holes at the bottom for fuel, uncontained.

Unfortunately, states Senor Orozco, the brick kilns generate large amounts of toxic smoke, which drifts across the city of San Ignacio 24 hrs/day. The number of kilns burning at a given time may be reduced during the week since children are in school, but on the weekends the smoke is worse since many more kilns are fired up. He estimates that there are over 300 kilns burning at any given time, each with about 20,000 bricks per kiln. These kilns surround the city of San Ignacio upwind of the prevailing winds due the location of hardwood in the local Cerro Gordo mountains. These local kilns, he estimates, produce about 12,000,000 bricks per week for the region. The housing industry in the entire region of Los Altos (The Highlands) is based largely on these bricks for construction. The towns in Los Altos are beneficiaries of the brickmaking from San Ignacio and surrounding area, and include Arandas, Atotonilco, Encarnacion de Diaz, and San Julian. San Miguel uses some brick but also uses a stone quarry.

Separately, it has been determined that Mexico has a reported 15,000 – 20,000 brick kilns burning at any given time, causing some air pollution to reach United States, as documented in areas near Cuidad Juarez, Mexico. Other corporations have tried building pilot furnaces for testing. So far no large-scale conversion to cleaner ovens has been successful.

It is believed that entrepreneurial engineers or business people are best suited for causing broad societal change, which in this case involves environmental improvements. By working with passionate Mexican nationals who care about reducing pollution, such as Senor Orozco, and using free U.S. technical support, we may be able to provide a long-term benefit of fresh air to whole cities. This success could then serve as a model for developments in similar cities. An abundance of technical expertise exists in the U.S., and many engineers or business people may feel underutilized. Consider the supply of technical and business expertise in the U.S., versus the demand in third world countries. Anyone with technical expertise is highly prized and appreciated in poorer countries. Giving talents freely, or in a business venture for profit, can yield priceless satisfaction and joy. And, there is nothing wrong with doing it for profit as well – there is a plenty of economic growth potential at the ‘bottom of the pyramid.’ A successful example of this model is Engineers Without Borders.

An LLC run by people of the same vision could serve as a vehicle for funding of the feasibility studies, test kilns, and for obtaining political and public support for the project. An economically affordable low-emission kiln is what is needed. The Marquez kiln is recommended. It would use bricks made locally and can be operated with only minor changes to the brickmakers’ way of life. Money is needed for a bricks for the oven structure, and to pay for the labor to build it. Such a kiln can reduce air pollution by over 90%. The people living in towns such as San Ignacio would daily reap clean air benefits, and such a success would give more political support for rare visionaries such as Jose Luis Orozco, and inspire them to do more.

Richard Kimura

Rich Kimura is a certified Crown Financial counselor, engineer, and entrepreneur. He has 3 patents and 2 pending and has published numerous technical papers. He has also taught on microbusiness development in third world countries. For more unique perspectives on personal finances, relationships, and spirituality, visit Cirrovista at http://www.cirrovista.com

Author: Rich Kimura
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital economy, mobile technology

Counting Emissions – One Product Line, One SKU, and One Supply Chain Vendor at a Time

Now that’s a tall order.

For the millions of small to medium size enterprises (SME) in the world, the concept of tracking, measuring and improving greenhouse gas emissions and energy efficiencies is not “in plan”, in fact it’s not even on the table. After the last 12 months, ‘revenues and repeat customers’ are the top priorities.

However, it’s on the table for a growing number of mega-entities, and it’s not easy. Public reporting companies live every day, “If you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it.” They also know that capturing these carbon metrics is about as much fun as calculating mark-to-market, required by Sarbanes-Oxley.

I attended Competing in a Low-Carbon Economy: Climate Change in the Supply Chain, a webinar sponsored by Association of Climate Change Officers (ACCO). The presentations by the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), PepsiCo, Hewlett-Packard (HP) and Applied Materials were thought-provoking.

Imagine you are HP, the largest technology firm in the world with 310,000 employees worldwide. Imagine having to answer the probing question, “What are your emissions, your forecasts and how are you improving the numbers?” (Almost reads like industry analysts questioning a line item from the income statement.)

“The Carbon Footprint is becoming a Carbon Fingerprint – Unique to Each Company/Brand”, reported PepsiCo’s Mary White.

White said that 30% of Pepsi’s carbon footprint is cooling at the retail level: grocery stores, hotels, sporting events, etc. It’s impressive that PepsiCo can calculate that number, and ultimately influence improvement in retail equipment.

Think about the complexity of these calculations, the standards, guidelines and processes.

HP has multiple product lines, 10,000 SKUs that refresh often and a supply chain that is 6-7 tiers deep. In fact HP reported that they are the largest IT supply chain in the world.

Imagine HP asking Intel, the EPA’s largest green power purchaser, the question above, and Intel asking Applied Materials, Intel’s supplier, the same. Without the commitment of companies and the CDP, this process has all the capabilities of a chain letter gone wrong.

But, the beauty is, it will be done right.

The commitment by major enterprises to measure and manage, and of course for many, sell application software and databases, is inspiring. It will happen, it will be executed professionally and it will happen faster than you can imagine.

Think back 5 years ago; we didn’t have iPhones, we didn’t text our kids, and we may have even used a map from Triple A. Visual Earth was completed by Microsoft in 1998 and now we have voice instruction to take the next left as a standard GPS package in new automobiles.

Major firms are committing, and that’s good news. It will take time, and it won’t be easy; but it will happen.

Janet Smith is a Strategist, Marketer, “If opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door” kinda gal… (quote from Milton Berle)

Marketing is about generating repeat business with advantageous partnerships and effective communications. With 20+ years experience, Janet seeks a Director of Marketing position with a firm that desires to break away from the pack.

At http://www.janetsmith5d.com/, the 4 blog categories: Green Marketing, Run Better Biz, The Home Front and When Advertising Fails appear very different but have similar threads. People are busy, consumers are fatigued with too much advertising and really don’t get how their vacuum is now “green!”. Owners and GM’s want to differentiate their businesses and consumers just want to find reliable reputable businesses to get the job done. Advertisers are weary as repeated advertising generates few qualified leads. There are better ways!

Author: Janet A. Smith
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In 2030 the Hydrogenase Air Ship Could Change Our Future

As the world is working hard in the endeavor to find a more Eco-friendly, “Green” and cost effective solution to the power needs of the 21st century; a new idea has hit the spotlight. Traditionally aircrafts have been primarily powered by the use of fossil fuels and as a result require quite considerable amounts to operate on a massive global scale; ultimately not providing a very Eco-friendly means of meeting our energy needs. The idea is futuristic and could very well require the collaborated efforts of the best minds that the day of today has to offer in order to put this new innovative environmentally friendly idea to practical use. What’s the idea? The Hydrogenase air ship.

As the use of fossil fuels have become more and more expensive, risky and essentially theorized to be bad for the environment; there has been great concern for some time now to find an alternative means of power to sustain our ever growing population; while meeting the “Green” and Eco-friendly expectations of tomorrow. Powering methods like Solar, Hydrogen and Wind have been at the top of the “Green” list as possible alternatives for quite some time now. Thanks to the innovative ideas of Vincent Callebaut; a new Eco-friendly idea of powering has come into play. Though this idea has been contemplated before, Callebaut has taken it to a whole new level with his designs for an airship that is powered by an algal-based bio-hydrogen; along with inflatable photovoltaic (solar) cells and propellers powered by wind doubling as turbines for this futuristic “Green” aircraft.

The idea and designs of this environmentally friendly futuristic airship have been simply dubbed the Hydrogenase and it uses a combination of the most modern means of powering in its construction. Including everything from Eco-friendly wind and solar powering modules to the innovative use of Hydrogen through seaweed and even the use of the power obtained from “Green” Hydro stations collecting energy from the tidal waves in the ocean; this airship could very well become more than just a design sooner than we think. The use of harnessing seaweed is done from the organic seaweed farm that is essentially the recharging pad that the ship sits on when not in use. The seaweed itself is used in the bio-hydrogen power production for the environmentally friendly airship.

More than just the combination of nearly all of today’s most innovative ideas of “Green” powering solutions; this Eco-friendly airship is not so much designed for your ordinary commercial flight; but rather for a whole different purpose. The Hydrogenase air ship would actually serve many of the needs that are currently of high concern. Hydrogenase has been referred to as an environmentally friendly purifying station because of its ability to, in theory, help clean up our atmosphere.

The benefits that this Hydrogenase air ship could prove to offer:

Ø Innovative powering concepts that include all of the most forefront “Green” ideas and concepts

Ø Produces zero-emissions

Ø Uses existing CO2 to produce Hydrogen

Ø Recycles carbonated water

Ø Revitalizes the corals beds of the ocean

Ø Protects endangered species

Ø Ability to safely produce large abundances of Hydrogen based fuel for the powering of electricity

Ø Atmospheric purifying abilities

The design of the Eco-friendly air ship itself is unlike anything that has been put into production thus far. Stretching just over 1.13 miles, or 2,000 meters, into the sky; the Hydrogenase air ship has many futuristic looking features. Though the Hydrogenase would not be as fast as your traditional airplane, about 7 times slower, the purpose of this ship is much more than just speed and commuting. With an estimated top speed of about 110mph or 175kph; the Hydrogenase air ship will be able to carry around a 200 ton payload. The likely altitude that this airship would travel at is said to be about 6,500 feet.

In essence the whole entire concept of the environmentally friendly Hydrogenase is twofold. First being the airship itself and second being the use of the recharging stations or organic seaweed farms; which would effectively become power plants producing bio-hydrogen as the primary fuel source.

With such an environmentally friendly, innovative and futuristic idea one has to wonder if this is a practical application for the near future. Vincent Callebaut has high hopes of this airship hitting the production stages sometime in 2030. Hopefully by then, Callebaut, along with the other leading minds of our time, will have found a practical and cost effective way of slowly transitioning our society over to not only the use of Hydrogenase air ships, but the use of Hydrogen based fuels in other applications as well.

More Eco Friendly News Here

Author: Charles Robinson IV
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The Anthropomorphic Factor in Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Energy Consumption

Illustration of the Need for Green Energy in North America in Order to Prevent Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Climate Change.

Which is the Gas named Greenhouse Gas? There is no such thing as a unique greenhouse gas since there is a multitude of gas combinations which have the properties of letting the sunlight pass through and then capture the heat reflected back to space. which is what greenhouse gases do.

How do Greenhouse Gases Affect our Daily Lives? Greenhouse gases are characterized by their ability to let the Sun’s rays through the atmosphere they then trap the heat headed back into space and return it to Earth. During the day, while the Sun warms the Earth. The compound of gases which we refer to as greenhouse gases trap this heat by absorbing infrared radiations. Heat is then prevented from leaving the atmosphere and consequently provokes an effect analogous to the one seen in greenhouses, hence the name.

Greenhouse Gases: Two Categories.

Of the multiple gases which have the property of retaining infrared heat, most are found in nature like: carbon dioxide, methane and water vapour (clouds).

Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), perfluorocarbons (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) used in diverse industries, which were man made.

The Natural Solution.

Nature is perfectly capable, largely through photosynthesis which is a operation by which plants generate oxygen out of carbon dioxide, water, and light. If there were a way for nature to absorb the levels of greenhouse gases produced, credible scientists think the quantity of warmth taken in by the Earth compared to the heat reflected back into space should, all other elements being equal, should hold almost still. Scientists would be likely to come across extremely low temperature variations.

The Origins:

Humans are constantly increasing production of greenhouse gases. From all gases which have as an origin human activities, 25% derives from the utilisation of oil in automobiles and to produce heat energy and electricity.

How do Greenhouse Gases Relate to Climate Change?

Let’s begin by defining the manifestations which, aggregated together, are known as climate change: the term “climate change” usually refers to changes in modern climate including average temperature, precipitations and wind patterns. Source: Wikipedia, climate change.

Scientific patterns point towards that a rising concentration of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, for an important number of years, will lead to an increase of Earth’s average temperature. This rise in temperature can modify the quantity and intensity of precipitations and also offer propitious atmospheric conditions for high magnitude storms and, an increase in the sea level.

These simulations also guide scientists of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to conceive that the changes in observed global temperature, which would be of 0.6 C to 0.9 C over the last hundred years, are caused by human activity and do not have a answer using only know natural causes.

Source: Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)

How do Humans Generate these Greenhouse Gases?

In the United States and Canada, greenhouse gases are generated in a large proportion by the burning of fossil oil and other energy yielding fuels. In North America, energy is used mostly in the industrial sector, in the transport industry, in our vehicles and heat up / cool down our houses.

The polluting factor of energy consumption is directly linked to the fuel used in order to manufacture electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions that are directly related to the use of natural gas, coal and, most important, petroleum, accounted, in 2006, for 82percent of the total human related greenhouse gas produced in the United States.

Methane, emanating out of: landfills, some mines (mostly coal), oil, natural gas and farming accounts for another ninepercent of US’ greenhouse gas emissions. These were a couple of the statistics President Obama is addressing in his program about climate change.

Sebastien Prince is working for Sofame Technologies: http://www.sofame.com which is an engineering company specialized in greenhouse gas emission reduction in the industrial and commercial industries. engineering

Author: Sebastien Prince
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Digital economy, mobile technology

Reasons For Air Pollution in China

The name of China is predominant in the global scenario for varied reasons. Apart from its booming population rate and economy, the country is in news for the highest levels of air pollution as well. The progression in its economy is undoubtedly casting a drastic effect on its ecology.

As per the statistics furnished by the State Environment Protection Administration of China for the year 1999, the carbon dioxide emissions were recorded to be 18.57 million tons, air pollution emissions were 11.59 million tons and industrial dust emissions touched 11.75 million tons. In fact, as per the European Satellite Agency, China has been reported to have the highest levels of nitrogen dioxide in the world, a gas that greatly contributes towards production of smog.

In the past few decades, the economy of China has flourished at a very rapid pace. This economic boom owes its success largely to coal and the high percentage of use of this fossil fuel is the prime reason for soaring levels of air pollution in the country. Coal is also known to emit lethal greenhouse gases into the environment. The only solution to the problem is switching to the use of renewable sources of energy. However, this remedy may be feasible for richer countries such as the United States, but China does not fall into that domain. Therefore, financial pressures and the undying urge to make a place for itself in the world economy, result in the use of inappropriate fuel such as fuel to meet the requisites. Fortunately, the 2008 Olympics held in Beijing opened doors for some respite. The country showed awareness towards its state of air pollution and devised plans for utilization of renewable forms of energy instead of coal. China did make headway especially in the wind energy sector. However, there will not be a marked difference in the situation until the coal power plants dictate the industrial scenario.

Another problem is that the Chinese government does not have very rigid rules against industrial pollution. The government levies such an insignificant amount of fine for causing air and water pollution that most factory or company owners find it easier to pay the penalty than reduce their contribution towards pollution. However, it seems that in the near future the country aims to implement the cap and trade system used in the US that will have companies earning pollution credits as a requisite for trade enhancement.

As long as the rest of the world keeps importing Chinese products, the economy of China will keep flourishing and in turn take the use of coal as a source of energy even higher. China has to devise a method to strike a balance between her lust for economic growth and the ever increasing air pollution. Unless certain measures are devised to control this pollution, despite the economic boom the country’s common man will suffer immensely.

About Author:
Jared lee is an online leading expert in the environmental industry. He also offers top quality tips like:

Type of Pollution, Prevent Soil Erosion

Author: Jared Lee
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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