Archive for the ‘Air’ Category

Let me present an argument “against” emission limit regulations for automobiles and as I do let me also under the fairness of full disclosure say that I am not an environmentalist or a polluter. Before retirement I had our company spend a considerable amount of our company’s profits to pursue R and D concepts for environmental equipment to be used in our industry. In retirement, I drive a little sports car, a moped, a bicycle and an electric golf cart that our city allows on the streets.

Now then, let me explain why I feel that emission laws we are enacting for automobiles is a mistake for our civilization. First, I wish to present the well-known issue of the “law of diminishing returns” which is forcing older technologies to comply with unreasonable expectations. This is causing a huge raising of the price of our automobiles. This hurts families trying to buy cars and prevents some folks from affording a car at all. This in turn traps people in the lower class with poor jobs without transportation.

When fewer people buy cars, fewer cars will be built. Some environmentalists might say this is a good thing, but if you are a worker in a manufacturing facility that makes cars or any of its components you too are out of work. More people out of work means more burden on the government for services and higher unemployment. The government then has to raise taxes to pay for all these people out of work.

Rather than cause a huge and radical increase in price for our automobiles, it makes more sense to fund research into new materials, better propulsion materials and alternative transportation. This means new innovations will be found and as these innovations are brought to market jobs will be created, competing with older technologies and automobile components which will incrementally change the vehicles we drive. Making them lighter, stronger, safer and more efficient, meaning everyone wins. Think on this.

“Lance Winslow” – Lance Winslow’s Bio. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/.

Author: Lance Winslow
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Green organic degreasers and solvents are becoming more and more popular with businesses and private consumers since the passing of both the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 and the Clean Water Act Amendments of 1986. The Clean Air Act rules over the drastic reduction of pollution contributing to smog, air pollution, and the depletion of the Earth’s naturally occurring beneficial ozone layer. The Clean Water Act protects the environment from the destructive dumping of toxic waste into rivers, lakes, and oceans leading to water pollution.

Since 1972 the government has overseen and regulated the actions of point sources of pollution. Some general examples of point sources of pollution are manufacturing facilities, service industries, mining areas, as well as natural oil and gas extraction sites. This has led to the improved quality of the air we breathe as well as the quality of water sources around the world. Critics of these regulations often claim that corporations outsource jobs in order to avoid these strict regulations. Unfortunately, this is sometimes true. However, it is now becoming very evident that pollution in outsourced regions can have the same detrimental effects on our health as pollution on our land and in our nearby water sources. There are only a finite amount of water sources on the Earth, and this water has no boundaries. Pollution in outsourced countries such as China will have the same impact on our environment in the United States, it simply delays these effects instead of preventing them.

In order to avoid the harm we are causing the environment by the regular pollution of the air and water we need, organic solvents are our only option aside from avoiding getting anything dirty in the first place. In the vast majority of the industries which require degreasers and solvents, this is simply not possible. Our modern way of life results in the need to clean up after ourselves regularly, and this is something we cannot just avoid. Green organic degreasers are the best option for those who must clean on a large scale while complying with the restrictions put into place by both the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act. By using organic solvents, companies can avoid outsourcing work to remote countries instead of providing more work to the citizens of the United States. These solvents comply with both the Clean Air and Water Acts and Amendments, and they are also just as powerful as their previous counterparts as well.

Green organic cleaners using natural and non toxic ingredients are often just as effective if not more so than traditionally toxic alternatives. In addition to being strong enough to get their jobs done correctly, they can often be diluted with plain tap water, making them a very affordable option. Without the use of noxious and toxic chemicals, employees using organic cleaners do not need to sacrifice their health and safety while doing their jobs. This directly results in the decreased need for corporations to have to offer hazard pay or deal with the long term effects of their employees deteriorating health due to their careers.

After the passing of the Clean Air Act Amendments, green organic degreasers are being used to prevent pollution. This mandated change has had a positive influence on many companies, and more people are beginning to see the usefulness of organic solvents. More and more businesses are doing what ever it takes by using environmentally safe products such as industrial degreasers. One of the best places to start is ecolink.com. Ecolink has helped a long list of leading manufacturers, aerospace companies, energy utilities, transportation providers, the military and government organizations navigate unpredictable industrial chemical bans and phase-outs by promoting Less Chemicals and Safer Chemicals. They are one of the leading authorities on industrial solvents.

Author: Joe Mancuso
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Import duty tariff

The public puts more pressure on industries that are engaged in operations which consequently produce greenhouse gas emissions.

In the second half of 2008, key environmental author James Hansen released a paper within the Open Atmospheric Science Journal which underlined, in startling form, the potential consequences should greenhouse gas production not be curtailed quickly. Hansen said that it was no longer acceptable to permit a slow reduction in the amount of gases released into the atmosphere and that spectacular changes should be implemented for the good of the planet.

He maintained that stabilizing atmospheric CO2 requires that net CO2 emissions approach zero, due to the long lifetime of CO2. The current carbon dioxide concentration in the atmosphere, said to be 385 ppm, is “in a dangerous zone,” according to Hansen and his co-authors. He emphasized the delay between the curtailment of CO2 concentrations and the net results in terms of climate change.

A very slow response and a considerable lead time between the cause and effect can be expected, as currently witnessed by the loss of Arctic sea ice and the West Antarctic ice sheet. Fossil fuels remain the primary focus of greenhouse gas production and must be addressed head-on.

“Humanity today, collectively, must face the uncomfortable fact that industrial civilization itself has become the principal driver of global climate. If we stay our present course, using fossil fuels to feed a growing appetite for energy intensive lifestyles, we will soon leave the climate of the Holocene, the world of prior human history. The eventual response to doubling pre-industrial atmospheric CO2 likely would be a nearly ice free planet, preceded by a period of chaotic change with continually changing shorelines. Humanity’s task of moderating human caused global climate change is urgent.”

Hansen also reasoned that the current CO2 level of 385 ppm is already almost past the tipping point. He insisted we must find an energy course beyond fossil fuels immediately and that we should set an objective of reducing atmospheric carbon dioxide through 350 ppm. This conclusion is at the outer edge of what is considered reasonable by others, however.

To reach his goals, Hansen and colleagues propose a highly controversial immediate phaseout of all coal-fired power stations, unless they are able to find a way to sequester their carbon dioxide emissions, procedures that are still largely untested. It is still feasible to avert catastrophic climate change by undertaking these actions and others, including reduction of non-CO2 greenhouse gas production.

Hanson compares the concept of phasing out our dependence on coal over the next 20 or 25 years as equivalent to previous efforts during times of world crisis, including the efforts that went into World War II. Colorfully, he maintains that the greatest danger is continued ignorance and denial, which could make tragic consequences unavoidable.

Greenhouse gas production must be severely curtailed and major changes to our way of life are called for. Those who are composing the post Kyoto protocol are advised to take notes.

Carbon Emissions Management – Verisae’s greenhouse gas (GHG) tracking software eliminates the complexities of carbon emissions data capture across your global enterprise. Verisae automates the processes necessary to measure, monitor, and manage carbon emissions. Learn about Sustainability Resource Planning (SRP) software from Verisae at http://www.verisae.com/articles.

Author: Daniel Stouffer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Air pollution is a knowledge base everybody should have. After all, we live on this earth and it is our duty to care for the earth as the earth has cared for us for centuries now. The facts are right in front of us, staring us in the face, but we choose to ignore them all too often.

So let us look at some of these indisputable facts. The first air pollution fact we have to look at and face is the greenhouse effect. Due to the accumulation of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, in the earth’s atmosphere, the heat From the sun is trapped on the earth. This causes the temperature of the earth to rise; this is one of the most disturbing air pollution facts. The fact is that the earth is getting warmer at an alarming rate. People who do not want to face this, one of the most drastic facts, say that there was a time, a few thousand years back, when the earth did go through a heat wave. And that it is normal. However, even a superficial comparison can tell us that what the earth’s atmosphere is going through now cannot even be compared to that – the rises in temperature are simply too drastic. Air pollution causes the ice caps to melt, which can raise the level of the ocean enough to submerge most of the coastal areas of the world – some of the most populated areas on the earth.

If that is too far away from you – something that you think will happen to other people, but not to you – you might want to just step outside and take a deep breath. There is nothing like burning lungs to bring this truth close to home. What you smell will be a cocktail of polluting gases from different sources – car exhausts, chimneys, factories etc. If air pollution can affect you so strongly for just a few moments, just imagine what it must do to the birds that have to face this every minute of every day!

Closing our eyes and pretending it does not exist will not make it go away – everybody has to make a few changes, like walking instead of taking the car, or taking public transportation, or recycling and reusing what you can – these are the little things that could save the earth now. Yes, it is a fact; air pollution is a grave problem that needs to be tackled, as soon as possible – like yesterday.

Adam Leeds is an accomplished niche website developer and author. To learn more about Air Pollution Facts [http://www.environmentalnewsonline.info/air-pollution-facts/], please visit Environmental News Online [http://www.environmentalnewsonline.info/] for current articles and discussions.

Author: Adam Leeds
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Canada duty

My next car will be a hybrid or something of the like. Exhaust fumes coming from automobiles are one of my biggest pet peeves. In some places in the United States, if your car is older than a specified amount of years, you need to get a smog test done in order to drive it. Sadly, other places seem to be behind on the times with taking the proper precautions necessary to ensure clean air. I believe it is absolutely imperative that all places adhere to strict rules on automobile emissions.

Driving a car is the worst thing we can do to the air quality. Vehicle use has been decreasing due to the high gas prices and big SUV’s and trucks are being replaced by smaller cars. I have seen some of the new smart cars on the road recently, which have become the latest rave since the hybrid was introduced. Other countries, other than the U.S. have done better jobs of reducing their emissions levels. The adverse effects of health affects of car exhaust are pervasive and difficult to measure.

The obvious solution would be to drive less. Local and global pollution would be reduced if each car owner pledged to use their car 30% less starting immediately. If we can resist the temptation to drive and buy large, heavy vehicles some of the issue would be resolved. Driving should be a privilege which is what it was intended to be in the first place. The number of vehicles in urban areas needs to be set to an appropriate quota to decrease traffic congestion and air pollution. They should put this into effect in Los Angeles to start and add an efficient public transportation system.

There are many other things we can do to reduce air pollution caused by cars. Rewarding people who take mass transit, carpool, or use alternate means of transportation such as a bicycle. HOV lanes, road tolls, dedicated bus lanes for quicker commutes, and corporations can stagger working hours to reduce time in rush hour. Long term solutions such as requiring that vehicles use biofuels, propane, natural gas, and hydrogen as energy sources would greatly improve the air quality.

Not only is car pollution bad for the environment, but smog is one of the contributing factors that cause wrinkles and premature aging. This, in addition to sunlight and stagnant air can magnify the negative affect of skin problems. It can also cause respiratory problems as well as fatigue. Each of us must do our part to make sure future generations can breathe clean air.

Lyla Feldman writes about health and fitness. Some of her favorite passions include writing about energy drinks and natural sleep aids.

Author: Lyla Feldman
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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Governments around the world never saw the earth in the same way again after the signing of the Kyoto Protocol.

The scope of this problem is already well defined at the present and specifications on scopes pf responsibilities has already been set. The new US administration is already bound to address environmental issues more effectively.

Today, as the role of business in the play of climate change is the subject of much attention, enterprise carbon and energy management systems are in the process of becoming key management tools.

Corporate practices and methodologies are always changing and dependence on sophisticated platforms and interaction among diverse stakeholders are increasing. We live in a very aware society, one in which media and communication has evolved beyond all recognition. No organization can keep its head stuck in the sand when it comes to climate related issues and each company must take responsibility for its position.

ECEM systems will be able to forge companies to make a stand and be included in the new carbon economy. Significant efforts are on its way to mandate companies to buy allowances for carbon emissions, which is championed by the CRC Energy Efficiency scheme of the British government. In a very short space of time, the carbon footprint has emerged from the realm of public relations to become the subject of a tradable commodity, core to an organization’s very existence.

AS early as 2010, a cap and trade program might be adopted in the US as legislation on this is on the table. We have already seen the willingness of Pres. Obama to focus on core sustainability, as his executive order is now causing federal agency chiefs to hurriedly define their agency emissions, understand sustainability and plan for reductions. Forward thinking organizations should be able to see the possibility that these initiatives will become mandatory in the near future.

Enterprises really need powerful solutions which will be able to provide the needed information and material to succeed. There are already upcoming Enterprise Carbon and Emissions Management Systems.

Carbon trading, in and of itself, can represent a threat or opportunity, depending on how you view it and how prepared you are. It is certain that highly accurate data will be required and that this will require a thorough analysis of the business life cycle. Asset performance must be optimized, understood and recordable, as at the core of enterprise carbon and energy management systems. It is no longer acceptable to “do-it-yourself” using any number of hybrid calculations and approaches. The integrated system must anticipate the information that will be required and provide it in timely fashion.

Many systems provider like Verisae offer platforms which can help address enterprise carbon and energy management. The Sustainability Resource Planning product gathers data from assets across the distributed enterprise, drawing resources together, providing real-time information on energy use, efficiency and subsequent carbon emissions.

Enterprise energy management provides distributed enterprises with a comprehensive view of their energy portfolio across all facilities, with data that can be linked to specific assets and delivered to energy managers anywhere in the world. Learn about Sustainability Resource Planning (SRP) software from Verisae at http://www.verisae.com/articles

Author: Daniel Stouffer
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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In the mid-1970s the air pollution was a disaster in Los Angeles, and eventually it got a little better, but still by the late 1980s it was worse. Los Angeles eventually cleaned up their act, but wait the pollution is back. Of course with 460 square miles of concrete and 16.5 million people, well what did you expect anyway?

Recently, I got an email from Hong Kong and it appears the Mainland China air pollution is clogging the air, the pollution so ugly and worse you can taste it when you breath? Indeed, I am concerned with the air-pollution as well. I was in Mexico City recently, yuk, disgusting. I noticed LA is looking almost as bad as it did in the mid-1970’s and with the temperature inversions and summer temperatures, it just hangs there all day and urban heat makes it even worse.

You would think that the venturi affect between all the tall buildings in all the largest human cities would cause the air to blow out the smog, and in places like Hong Kong allow it to be distributed over the Pacific Ocean, I know;

The Solution to Pollution is not Dilution

but it would help Taiwanese and their lungs, as it isn’t very fair that it is not all their pollution that they are breathing. China said they would fix the problem – little is changing. Is there a way to fix this problem? Can a Think Tank invent a way to curb the pollution, a temporary fix using our greatest technologies ask our friend from Hong Kong?

The concept of using the friction from the airflows over an aerodynamic shape, and using the static electricity could help. We had a thought using an ELF terminal-gradient cloud negatively charged to collect the smog and then the density would cause gravity to pull on it, then vacuum it up and use it for CO2 laser manufacturing?

It seems with the US funding “Clean Coal” technologies that soon we should have an answer for that issue. We could use laser post exhaust on ships and trucks burning diesel fuel or aircraft burning kerosene or Jet Fuel. Personally I have put forth several ideas myself. Surely, we can get one of these ideas to fly. Now that would be a start. Think on it!

“Lance Winslow” – Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; www.WorldThinkTank.net/. Lance is an online writer in retirement.

Author: Lance Winslow
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Canada duty rates

There are so many segments to our energy producing and consumption pie, it is hard to know where to begin a discussion. This report deals strictly with the per capita carbon dioxide emissions purely from fossil fuelled electricity, provided for domestic use. Remember, this is on a per capita basis, not on a nation by nation basis.

If you were thinking that the U.S. leads the way, fortunately you aren’t even close.

Maybe it should not come as any surprise to discover that the worst offenders are oil producing nations. After all, the fuel supply is dirt cheap for them, therefore why not use it to provide power? Obviously that makes sense, but it comes with a hefty environmental price tag.

The top three nations are:
* Kuwait, at slightly under 8,000 KG of CO2 emissions per capita
* Bahrain, at roughly 7,000 KG per capita
* The United Arab Emirates at around 5,300 KG per capita

Estonia in Europe follows with 3,900 KG, slightly ahead of the U.S. at 3,800+ KG.

Next in line is Australia, then Qatar, Luxembourg, Saudi Arabia, Denmark, Russia, the Czech Republic, Ireland, Serbia, Oman, Poland, the United Kingdom, Germany, Belgium and Israel. At this point we are down to 2,200 KG per capita.

Please note that five out of the top nine per capita emitters are Asian oil producing nations.

Where does China sit in this mix? The bulk of power generated in China comes from coal fired generating plants, and coal is included in these statistics. China ranks 71st, behind such countries as Mexico, the Dominican Republic, Lithuania, Moldova, Jordan, Singapore, Spain, South Africa, New Zealand and the list goes on.

Somebody has to be at the bottom of the list, an enviable accomplishment indeed – or is it? You decide if you would like to live there.

Here are the bottom five starting with the winner:

* North Korea
* Zambia
* D. R. Congo
* Mozambique
* Ethiopia

There are 134 nations included in the original report, which was provided by the International Energy Agency. The lower twenty nations have basically no emissions per capita for this use only, the production of domestic use electricity.

This information was assembled for information purposes only, therefore you will not find a link to any other website. I trust it may give you food for thought. Thank you for reading.

Keith Elliott has long been a proponent of solar energy and has tried to reduce his carbon footprint.

Author: Keith Elliott
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hasn’t always been brave enough to stand up for public health and the natural environment. But earlier this year, the EPA took a bold step to protect the American public and fragile ecosystems from ozone-air pollution.

So what happened? The federal agency proposed a new science-based nationwide air-quality standard for smog.

This may seem unsurprising, but the EPA in the past has actually refrained from using scientists’ recommendations to determine these standards. In March of 2008, during the Bush administration, EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson completed a national standard for ozone that strayed from findings by the agency’s Clean Air Scientific Advisory Committee for protecting national health and natural systems. The committee unanimously advised Johnson about the health standard, which he ignored. Additionally, the committee advised that a distinct biologically relevant ozone standard was needed to protect natural systems. That too was dismissed.

Smog forms from a photochemical reaction when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds mix in the presence of sunlight. Ground-level ozone has been shown to cause serious respiratory illnesses in children and elderly people. Ozone pollution can negatively impact the forests, plants and agriculture.

In 1997, some Republicans threatened that higher ozone standards implemented by the EPA at that time would harm American jobs and economic growth. The EPA administrator at that time, Carol Browner, had strengthened particulate-matter and ozone-health standards. The Environmental Defense Fund recently noted how Congressman Fred Upton said back then: The new standards “will wreak havoc on economic growth, jobs and even personal lifestyles.” In a press release commending EPA’s new standards, the Fund also noted how back in 1997, Sen. Spencer Abraham said, “Dry cleaning establishments, hair salons and other small businesses will not be able to absorb the increased costs imposed by these regulations.”

However, now we know that clean-energy development can create a sizable green workforce. And improved air standards inspire new research, which produces innovative technology to meet new standards and new jobs to implement the technology. Federal economic stimulus money has been poured into programs that support the development of green-collar jobs. Within this context, we see the importance of renewable forms of energy that don’t pollute the air or contribute to global warming. Fossil fuels, on the other hand-from cars, coal-fired power plants, industrial manufacturing plants and more-produce nitrogen oxide, which creates smog.

Solar and wind power are two critical forms of renewable energy. Solar power turns the sun’s rays into electricity and heat. It’s an ancient method and one that saw a boost during the 1970s oil crisis and continues to gain in popularity today. Wind turbines convert the wind’s kinetic energy into mechanical power that can be used to generate electricity to power businesses, schools, houses and other buildings.

EPA will finalize the standards this summer, as the American public increasingly recognizes the importance of renewable energy in protecting human health and the environment. As stated by Cal Baier-Anderson, a toxicologist with the Environmental Defense Fund, in a press release: “EPA’s proposed standards promise clean air protections that reach from the nation’s urban neighborhoods and communities to our rural forests and croplands. Children are especially vulnerable to ozone air pollution. For millions of children, high pollution days make it difficult to attend school, to play outside and to simply breathe.”

And what about that 1997 standard? Well, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, the improved protections led to 58 million people realizing the benefits of clean air.

Sena Christian is an environmental reporter. She blogs for http://www.ptlexamprep.com and http://www.greenprofessional.net.

Author: Sena Christian
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
Hybrid and Electric Cars

Britain has the largest number of public parks and open spaces than any other country in Europe. There are dozens of urban parklands in many of our major cities and conurbations. However, as pleasurable as these urban natural oasis are they are expensive to maintain.

Councils and local authorities have to invest huge amounts of tax payers money in ensuring these public spaces are kept clean, tidy and safe. And one of the biggest enemies of this perennial task – is litter.

Littering costs local authorities a fortune and unlike in the city, it is a particularly challenging job to clean it up in parks and open spaces because of the large areas involved. Not only is litter in parks unattractive but also some litter can pose a hazard to the many children and families that use the parks. Litter can also attract vermin which can be difficult to get rid of and can cause its own problems.

Litter bins

Your number one defence in ensuring any public area is litter free is the public waste bin. Litter bins will help people act responsible when it comes disposing of their waste – as long as they are clearly visible. A good quantity of large outdoor bins will prevent a lot of the litter that can be carelessly discarded but attention needs to be paid to the location of the bins, the size and the frequency of emptying.

Ensuring areas of high usage such as near where ice cream vendors operate will prevent many of the litter problems that can occur in those areas. But other types of bin should also be considered.

Gardening bins and other outdoor bins should also be plentiful for the park’s workers as having to return to bins too frequently is time consuming.

Some thought should also go into what to do with any sanitary and hazardous waste. This should obviously be removed as soon as possible, taking every precaution, and a good sanitary bin would be a good idea to ensure it can be stored safely until it can be properly disposed of.

Other Litter Prevention

Dog fouling is another problem in park areas so ensuring there are facilities to dispose of this type of waste will, as with littering, will help encourage dog owners to be responsible.

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

Author: Richard N. Williams
Article Source: EzineArticles.com
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