Is perpetual motion possible?
Is free unlimited energy possible?
For many years scientists and backyard inventors have persued the idea of 'free energy'. They dream of a machine that spins forever in perpetual motion, creating energy as it turns. While in theory it is possible to achieve perpetual motion (a machine that spins forever) it is EXTREMELY difficult. If you try to take energy out of such a machine the concept then becomes impossible, and here's why.
Our universe is governed by certain physical laws and forces. Understanding the laws of the universe has given rise to the breakthroughs and possibilities we see before us today. Some you may know better than others, such as the law of gravity. The law I would like to talk about is the law of the conservation of energy. This law states that energy can be transformed into various types, such as kinetic (movement), heat, sound etc. Yet it also states that energy can niether be created nor destroyed. In other words, the energy put into a system, is always greater than or equal to the energy taken out of that system.
Imagine if we had a spinning wheel, which in theory spins forever. All the energy in the wheel is kinetic, which causes the wheel to spin. If we attach an alternator to take energy out of the system then the wheel would lose kinetic energy. This would cause the wheel to slow down and eventually stop. Thus we don't have 'free energy'.
As I mentioned earlier it is theoretically possible to create perpetual motion (a wheel that forever spins) and I also stated it is extremely difficult. This is because the system cannot afford to lose even the smallest amount of energy or the wheel would start to slow down. This means all frictional forces must be eliminated and no energy can be lost as sound or heat. This happens because we are taking energy out of the system.
Some people have claimed to have achieved this type of motion yet no one has proved it thus far. It has taken over the lives of many inventors and drove them insane. Yet if they did their physics homework they could have seen it is impossible from the start. Although it is a difficult practice I find it very interesting and lots of ideas have been raised around the subject. If you are intrigued visit this list of 'unworkable machines'.
Thursday, 31 May 2012
Monday, 21 May 2012
How Do We Get Nuclear Power?
First I will talk a little about how we produce nuclear energy, so we can better understand exactly what happens in the nuclear power stations. Then we can draw some conclusions as to whether it is safe or dangerous.
About Nuclear Power:
Our level of technology currently enables us to produce energy from the process of 'nuclear fission'. Even though we have been researching 'nuclear fusion' (which yeilds more potential energy than fission) it is extremely costly and difficult to produce energy by fusion. Which means for now we have to settle for fission.
What is Nuclear Power?
Nuclear fission is triggered when we bombard certain elements with nuetrons (elements such as uranium). The basic principle is that when an atom undergoes fission it splits into smaller atoms which are shot out at high speeds. The energy is harnessed from the heat produced by these high speed fragments. These smaller fragments can go on to cause further fission, often known as a 'chain reaction'. This is how the infamous atom bomb works, on the principle of Einsteins famous equations. Yet in a controlled environment we get nuclear power generation.
What is a Nuclear Power Plant?
With this in mind, playing with nuclear energy is not to be taken lightly. It can kill thousands in an instant. So engineers have developed many safety features to stop such catastrophic events. A nuclear power plant is well built to withstand such dangerous activities.
This includes placing the reactor core in a thick concrete building, which absorbs radiation given off by the reactions. The reactor itself is made of thick steel to withstand the high pressure and temperature in the core as well as absorbing most of the radiation. Every reactor has an emergency shutdown system designed to stop fission completely.
The world has experienced many nuclear disasters so far and I believe more will come. You may have heard of Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. This disaster happened in 1986, releasing harmful radiation into the atmosphere which led to a permanent evacuation of everyone in the surrounding area. Chernobyl today is a ghost town. It was caused when the operators were testing a reactor to find out if the coolant pumps would keep operating in the event of a loss of power until emergency diesel generators took over. To carry out this test the safety systems to shut down the reactor in an emergency were switched off! Such an ill informed decision that led to a massive explosion in the reactor core. The fuel rods melted while the reactor cap was blown off releasing radioactive fission products into the atmosphere. As a result 4000 people were killed immediately, whilst a massive 2 BILLION worldwide have been affected due to radiation/birth defects/cancer etc.
In my opinion nuclear energy can be safe but we must proceed with extreme caution as the potential dangers are enormous. There may even be unknown effects associated with radiation. Not to mention that the waste produced is extremely bad for the environment. If we could find ways around these problems then I would back nuclear power, but for me it is too environmentally toxic with our current levels of technology. What are your thoughts on nuclear energy and do you have any solutions. Maybe we could fire the waste at the sun? However that would require lots of energy. Leave a comment!
About Nuclear Power:
Our level of technology currently enables us to produce energy from the process of 'nuclear fission'. Even though we have been researching 'nuclear fusion' (which yeilds more potential energy than fission) it is extremely costly and difficult to produce energy by fusion. Which means for now we have to settle for fission.
What is Nuclear Power?
Nuclear fission is triggered when we bombard certain elements with nuetrons (elements such as uranium). The basic principle is that when an atom undergoes fission it splits into smaller atoms which are shot out at high speeds. The energy is harnessed from the heat produced by these high speed fragments. These smaller fragments can go on to cause further fission, often known as a 'chain reaction'. This is how the infamous atom bomb works, on the principle of Einsteins famous equations. Yet in a controlled environment we get nuclear power generation.
What is a Nuclear Power Plant?
With this in mind, playing with nuclear energy is not to be taken lightly. It can kill thousands in an instant. So engineers have developed many safety features to stop such catastrophic events. A nuclear power plant is well built to withstand such dangerous activities.
This includes placing the reactor core in a thick concrete building, which absorbs radiation given off by the reactions. The reactor itself is made of thick steel to withstand the high pressure and temperature in the core as well as absorbing most of the radiation. Every reactor has an emergency shutdown system designed to stop fission completely.
The world has experienced many nuclear disasters so far and I believe more will come. You may have heard of Chernobyl, in the Ukraine. This disaster happened in 1986, releasing harmful radiation into the atmosphere which led to a permanent evacuation of everyone in the surrounding area. Chernobyl today is a ghost town. It was caused when the operators were testing a reactor to find out if the coolant pumps would keep operating in the event of a loss of power until emergency diesel generators took over. To carry out this test the safety systems to shut down the reactor in an emergency were switched off! Such an ill informed decision that led to a massive explosion in the reactor core. The fuel rods melted while the reactor cap was blown off releasing radioactive fission products into the atmosphere. As a result 4000 people were killed immediately, whilst a massive 2 BILLION worldwide have been affected due to radiation/birth defects/cancer etc.
In my opinion nuclear energy can be safe but we must proceed with extreme caution as the potential dangers are enormous. There may even be unknown effects associated with radiation. Not to mention that the waste produced is extremely bad for the environment. If we could find ways around these problems then I would back nuclear power, but for me it is too environmentally toxic with our current levels of technology. What are your thoughts on nuclear energy and do you have any solutions. Maybe we could fire the waste at the sun? However that would require lots of energy. Leave a comment!
Wednesday, 9 May 2012
47 Tips to Go Green!
Here is an in depth list of 47 ways you can GO GREEN! Most of the tips here are free and relatively easy to employ. So YOU can start to help the earth today. A lot of these tips will help you save money as well as the environment. If you don't have the time to read it all at once you should bookmark this page or subscribe. Share this with your friends so we can reach a wider audience and make a bigger impact!
1. Use public transport when you can. This reduces carbon emissions as well as being a lot cheaper for you.
2. Invest your money in renewable energy. This is a great way to make an impact. Buying solar panels or a wind turbine can be costly, but they pay for themselves in the long run. If you are making more energy than you use, then you can even sell your excess energy back to the grid. However it doesn't have to cost thousands, there are many new technologies that you can create yourself for the cost of a take-out.
See: Energy By Tesla
3. Recycle. Recycling a tin can uses only 4% of the energy it takes to make a new one from scratch. Some scrapyards will even buy your old cans, so get saving!
4. Re-use. This is even better than recycling as no energy is required to re-use a plastic carrier bag for example.
5. Buy green products. For example when shopping pick up a 'bag for life' instead of a plastic carrier bag.
6. Take part in car share schemes. These are beneficial for everyone involved. If your local area does not have car share schemes (a quick Google search to find out), then ask friends or family who go the same way as you.
7. Grow your own crops. You do not have to own a farm. Just plant some fruit or vegetables in your garden and cut your food costs while helping the environment. However be careful when using pesticides as these can harm your local ecosystem.
8. Buy energy efficient appliances. Buy kitchen appliances that are 'energy efficient' and use less energy. This will reduce your electricity bill and your carbon emissions.
9. Don't buy bottled water. It is no different from tap water in most countries. If it is not regulated in your country then buy a cheap filter for your tap.
10. Wash your clothes with cold water. Around 90% of the energy used to power your washing machine is used to heat the water. It is not necessary to heat the water, it is a waste of money and harmful to our environment.
11. If you must drive, de-clutter your car. Taking all the unneccessary items out of your car before driving will reduce the weight of your car. Less weight means less fuel, which means more money for you and less emissions for planet earth. So take that old toolbox out of the boot.
12. Buy locally. Buying food from local suppliers has many benefits. It means there are less trucks transporting things in bulk (releasing emissions in bulk) and it keeps money in your local economy.
13. Line dry your clothes. If the sun is out of course. This means you can reduce your thermostat reducing your energy bills and carbon footprint.
14. Instead of driving to the shop, walk! If it is only down the road then it wouldn't take much effort. This will help you be more green while improving your health and saving you money at the same time!
15. Unplug unused chargers and aplliances at night. This will stop 'phantom' energy. The energy that leaks out of unused appliances without you knowing.
16. Don't leave appliances on standby. This wastes a lot of energy per year and a lot of money for you. Turning appliances off fully when not in use will save more than you think.
17. When printing documents, print double-sided pages. This saves paper which saves trees and money.
18. Switch to renewable energy suppliers. There are many energy suppliers which focus on providing clean energy. Do some research and switch today.
19. Power saving. Use power saving options on your phone, laptop, television etc. Have them shutdown automatically if they are idle or reducing the brightness can reduce energy consumption.
20. Rather than buying a book, reading it once then leaving it to clutter your house, borrow it from your local library. This will save you money as well as re-using.
21. Buy a 'smart eco strip'. These are extension cables that sense when appliances are idle and stop phantom power leakage. These would be especially useful in offices where there are many computers or appliances.
22. Invite your biggest friends round for dinner (which you have made from your own produce. ;) ) and tell them you want to move your fridge away from the oven. Doing so will stop the fridge using excess energy to overcome the heat produced by your oven. This is a very simple tip that will save a lot more energy than you think. As always, reducing your energy consumption means reducing your bill.
23. Invest in a dishwasher. There are multiple benefits to this. Using a dishwasher will use less energy than washing the pots by hand, as well as less water. This mean you save water, energy to heat the excess water and time to wash the pots.
24. Turn down your thermostat. Yes listen to your Nan. Stick on a jumper, turn down the heating and turn down your energy bill.
25. Use the sun wisely. If the sun is out and your house is cold, open your blinds or curtains. This will heat up your home. Meaning your central heating wont have to use as much energy.
26. Check your lightbulbs. If you have incandescent lightbulbs, then your not keeping up with the Jones'. When your old lightbulbs run out, buy compact flourescent bulbs. These use 75% less energy and last up to ten times longer on average. Great tactic to save energy and money!
27. Free-cycle. One mans trash is another mans treasure. If you're going to bin something that you think someone else could use, then give it away. What's the harm in free-cycling?
28. Insulate your home. This can be costly but will help you save in the long run. Most heat is lost through the roof of your home, so consider loft insulation. Also if you don't already have double-glazed windows, then I highly recommend you invest. A quick Google search will point you in the right direction.
See: Home Improvements To Conserve Energy
29. Turn off the lights. Sounds pretty obvious and patronizing, but lots of people forget. Make it your goal to turn off the lights if you're not in the room.
30. Even better, use candles where appropriate. The candlelight might even raise the romance of the self produced meal with your partner. ;)
31. Take a shower instead of the bath. If you must get a bath however, share the water with your partner. Taking a quick shower will use only a small percentage of the energy used to run a bath, saving you energy and money.
32. Instead of buying CDs, download music online. It is usually cheaper for you and always better for the environment.
33. Don't watch television everyday. Play games with your family such as monopoly etc. This will also help you to bond with your family even better. Preferably go out with your family to a natural tourist area. The Lake District in the UK is a good example.
34. If you drink beer, don't buy cans. Buying glass bottled beer is much more efficient for the environment. Just make sure you recycle when your done.
35. Donate cash to green causes. Preferably in your local area. This means you are keeping money in your local economy and helping the environment. You may find your money as been used to build more green spaces in your local area which you can use! Again, a Google search will get you there.
36. Donate to charity clothes shops. This is great because it is reusing and for a good cause.
37. Use solar powered chargers. If a wind turbine or solar panels aren't right for you just yet there are many smaller renewable appliances you can buy. 'Changers' solar charger is a great example.
38. Eat lower on the food chain. Eating meat is not sustainable for our current rising population. Energy is lost as we move up the trophic levels of the food chain. Eating vegetables is the best way to help the environment, however you must get your daily protein as it is imperative for good health. Check with a nutrition before changing your current diet as it is a very complex subject.
39. Keep your car tires inflated. This will help you use less petrol saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
40. Reduce consumption. Do you really need that new fuel guzzling 4x4? Buy an efficient vehicle unless you live in the middle of the grand canyon.
41. Look for fair trade labels. Usually fair trade products have a lower impact on the environment and reward the local producers fairly.
42. Drive at the speed limit. Not only is it dangerous to break the speed limit, yet it also uses more fuel and releases more emissions.
43. Driving in higher gears can also reduce fuel consumption. Therefore reducing emissions and saving money
44. Ask your boss to see if you can work from home. This may not be suitable for everybody but it would reduce travel costs for those of you that can.
45. Use your microwave where appropriate. It is more efficient than using the oven, saving energy and money.
46. The best thing you could do for the environment, with the littlest effort, is to share this post with your friends/family/followers to spread the word and make the biggest impact possible.
47. Subscribe to this blog for more advice on going green and information about what you can do to help and prevent climate change.
Bonus Tip!
Join our team and become a Guest Poster!
If you have any questions about any ideas listed here please leave a comment. Also I would like to hear any more ideas you might have so leave a comment.
:-) Stay Green!
1. Use public transport when you can. This reduces carbon emissions as well as being a lot cheaper for you.
2. Invest your money in renewable energy. This is a great way to make an impact. Buying solar panels or a wind turbine can be costly, but they pay for themselves in the long run. If you are making more energy than you use, then you can even sell your excess energy back to the grid. However it doesn't have to cost thousands, there are many new technologies that you can create yourself for the cost of a take-out.
See: Energy By Tesla
3. Recycle. Recycling a tin can uses only 4% of the energy it takes to make a new one from scratch. Some scrapyards will even buy your old cans, so get saving!
4. Re-use. This is even better than recycling as no energy is required to re-use a plastic carrier bag for example.
5. Buy green products. For example when shopping pick up a 'bag for life' instead of a plastic carrier bag.
6. Take part in car share schemes. These are beneficial for everyone involved. If your local area does not have car share schemes (a quick Google search to find out), then ask friends or family who go the same way as you.
7. Grow your own crops. You do not have to own a farm. Just plant some fruit or vegetables in your garden and cut your food costs while helping the environment. However be careful when using pesticides as these can harm your local ecosystem.
8. Buy energy efficient appliances. Buy kitchen appliances that are 'energy efficient' and use less energy. This will reduce your electricity bill and your carbon emissions.
9. Don't buy bottled water. It is no different from tap water in most countries. If it is not regulated in your country then buy a cheap filter for your tap.
10. Wash your clothes with cold water. Around 90% of the energy used to power your washing machine is used to heat the water. It is not necessary to heat the water, it is a waste of money and harmful to our environment.
11. If you must drive, de-clutter your car. Taking all the unneccessary items out of your car before driving will reduce the weight of your car. Less weight means less fuel, which means more money for you and less emissions for planet earth. So take that old toolbox out of the boot.
12. Buy locally. Buying food from local suppliers has many benefits. It means there are less trucks transporting things in bulk (releasing emissions in bulk) and it keeps money in your local economy.
13. Line dry your clothes. If the sun is out of course. This means you can reduce your thermostat reducing your energy bills and carbon footprint.
14. Instead of driving to the shop, walk! If it is only down the road then it wouldn't take much effort. This will help you be more green while improving your health and saving you money at the same time!
15. Unplug unused chargers and aplliances at night. This will stop 'phantom' energy. The energy that leaks out of unused appliances without you knowing.
16. Don't leave appliances on standby. This wastes a lot of energy per year and a lot of money for you. Turning appliances off fully when not in use will save more than you think.
17. When printing documents, print double-sided pages. This saves paper which saves trees and money.
18. Switch to renewable energy suppliers. There are many energy suppliers which focus on providing clean energy. Do some research and switch today.
19. Power saving. Use power saving options on your phone, laptop, television etc. Have them shutdown automatically if they are idle or reducing the brightness can reduce energy consumption.
20. Rather than buying a book, reading it once then leaving it to clutter your house, borrow it from your local library. This will save you money as well as re-using.
21. Buy a 'smart eco strip'. These are extension cables that sense when appliances are idle and stop phantom power leakage. These would be especially useful in offices where there are many computers or appliances.
22. Invite your biggest friends round for dinner (which you have made from your own produce. ;) ) and tell them you want to move your fridge away from the oven. Doing so will stop the fridge using excess energy to overcome the heat produced by your oven. This is a very simple tip that will save a lot more energy than you think. As always, reducing your energy consumption means reducing your bill.
23. Invest in a dishwasher. There are multiple benefits to this. Using a dishwasher will use less energy than washing the pots by hand, as well as less water. This mean you save water, energy to heat the excess water and time to wash the pots.
24. Turn down your thermostat. Yes listen to your Nan. Stick on a jumper, turn down the heating and turn down your energy bill.
25. Use the sun wisely. If the sun is out and your house is cold, open your blinds or curtains. This will heat up your home. Meaning your central heating wont have to use as much energy.
26. Check your lightbulbs. If you have incandescent lightbulbs, then your not keeping up with the Jones'. When your old lightbulbs run out, buy compact flourescent bulbs. These use 75% less energy and last up to ten times longer on average. Great tactic to save energy and money!
27. Free-cycle. One mans trash is another mans treasure. If you're going to bin something that you think someone else could use, then give it away. What's the harm in free-cycling?
28. Insulate your home. This can be costly but will help you save in the long run. Most heat is lost through the roof of your home, so consider loft insulation. Also if you don't already have double-glazed windows, then I highly recommend you invest. A quick Google search will point you in the right direction.
See: Home Improvements To Conserve Energy
29. Turn off the lights. Sounds pretty obvious and patronizing, but lots of people forget. Make it your goal to turn off the lights if you're not in the room.
30. Even better, use candles where appropriate. The candlelight might even raise the romance of the self produced meal with your partner. ;)
31. Take a shower instead of the bath. If you must get a bath however, share the water with your partner. Taking a quick shower will use only a small percentage of the energy used to run a bath, saving you energy and money.
32. Instead of buying CDs, download music online. It is usually cheaper for you and always better for the environment.
33. Don't watch television everyday. Play games with your family such as monopoly etc. This will also help you to bond with your family even better. Preferably go out with your family to a natural tourist area. The Lake District in the UK is a good example.
34. If you drink beer, don't buy cans. Buying glass bottled beer is much more efficient for the environment. Just make sure you recycle when your done.
35. Donate cash to green causes. Preferably in your local area. This means you are keeping money in your local economy and helping the environment. You may find your money as been used to build more green spaces in your local area which you can use! Again, a Google search will get you there.
36. Donate to charity clothes shops. This is great because it is reusing and for a good cause.
37. Use solar powered chargers. If a wind turbine or solar panels aren't right for you just yet there are many smaller renewable appliances you can buy. 'Changers' solar charger is a great example.
38. Eat lower on the food chain. Eating meat is not sustainable for our current rising population. Energy is lost as we move up the trophic levels of the food chain. Eating vegetables is the best way to help the environment, however you must get your daily protein as it is imperative for good health. Check with a nutrition before changing your current diet as it is a very complex subject.
39. Keep your car tires inflated. This will help you use less petrol saving money and reducing carbon emissions.
40. Reduce consumption. Do you really need that new fuel guzzling 4x4? Buy an efficient vehicle unless you live in the middle of the grand canyon.
41. Look for fair trade labels. Usually fair trade products have a lower impact on the environment and reward the local producers fairly.
42. Drive at the speed limit. Not only is it dangerous to break the speed limit, yet it also uses more fuel and releases more emissions.
43. Driving in higher gears can also reduce fuel consumption. Therefore reducing emissions and saving money
44. Ask your boss to see if you can work from home. This may not be suitable for everybody but it would reduce travel costs for those of you that can.
45. Use your microwave where appropriate. It is more efficient than using the oven, saving energy and money.
46. The best thing you could do for the environment, with the littlest effort, is to share this post with your friends/family/followers to spread the word and make the biggest impact possible.
47. Subscribe to this blog for more advice on going green and information about what you can do to help and prevent climate change.
Bonus Tip!
Join our team and become a Guest Poster!
If you have any questions about any ideas listed here please leave a comment. Also I would like to hear any more ideas you might have so leave a comment.
:-) Stay Green!
Monday, 30 April 2012
Home Improvements to Conserve Energy
There are plenty of people in the world who want to conserve energy. Whether they do it to save the environment or to save money, they are generally employing the most popular tactics, such as turning off lights and lowering their thermostats.
While there are plenty of everyday tactics you can employ to conserve energy, there are plenty of other ways to conserve that are not as well known. Some of these tactics include making home improvements. Though some people may not want to (or might not be able to afford to) remodel their home or make improvements, doing the following improvements will help ensure that you are doing your part to conserve as much energy as possible.
Use good insulation.
Insulating your walls and your ceilings with an energy-efficient insulation will help you conserve a great deal of energy. Most old homes are not properly insulated—and some may not be insulated at all. While insulation can last for a very long time, it does not last forever.
If you are remodeling a room in your home, take the extra step to remove the walls and replace your insulation. There are many different types of insulation, but the best insulation to conserve energy would be spray foam insulation. This is more expensive up front, but the cost and energy savings over the years make up for it.
Replace your windows.
If you have old windows in your home, you are losing a great deal of heat during the winter months. If heat is constantly escaping your home, this forces your furnace to work overtime to keep pumping heat throughout the house. Old or single-pane windows need to be replaced with double-pane windows. Again, these energy-efficient windows will be more expensive, but they will help lower your energy bills.
Repaint your house.
If you live in colder climates, you should paint your house a darker color. The darker color will attract the sun to warm your house naturally. If you live in a warmer climate, use light colors on the outside of your house. This will repel the sun and keep your house cooler on the inside. If you live in warmer climates, you can also plant trees that will block your home from the sun. This extra bit of shade will keep the sun from beating down on your house and making it toasty.
Replace your roof.
If you have an old roof on your house, energy can be escaping, and you could be losing heat. If it's been a long time since your roof was replaced, or if you notice severe damage to your roof, you need to replace it. You should also consider putting in an attic vent. Since hot air rises, your attic can become filled with hot air, and if there is no ventilation in your attic, the heat will continue to sit there and eventually make your house warmer. During summer months, this extra heat will force your air conditioner to work overtime to try and cool your house down.
If you want to go the extra mile to conserve energy, make sure to do these home improvements. When you combine these with the other conservation tactics you do on a daily basis, you will really be doing your part to conserve energy and erase your carbon footprint.
Ashley Cole is a stay at home mother and avid writer who loves to do what she can to conserve energy. She never writes without the help of a grammar checker to proof her work and ensure it is clear, professional, and abides by all the grammar rules.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Why Conservation is Important For the Human Race
We normally think that conservation is all about keeping things natural, when in fact, very few places in the world have been left truly natural. Many conservation programmes try to focus on maintaining biodiversity. Biodiversity is the number and variety of living things in a certain habitat. Unfortunately, the rising human population can threaten biodiversity through:
- Over exploitation of wild animal populations for food, sport and commerce. These populations are usually harvested faster than they can replenish themselves.
- Non native species introduced to a habitat by humans, which can out compete native species and force them to extinction.
- Habitat disruption by building and pollution.
Many conservationists would argue that the threats described here make conservation essential. As many believe every species has its own rights to survive, and humans are ethically responsible to look after them. Although these arguments can be understood by other conservationists, they are subjective. The arguments in favour of these threatening activities are driven by economics. Therefore it is much wiser to express conservation in terms of economic value, making governments more likely to give priorities to conservation.
Many species have a direct economical value when harvested. Others may also have a direct value that is yet to be discovered and would be beneficial in the future. For example, the common drug aspirin, was originally derived from the bark of willow trees.
-Many species provide value as a food source, essential for human survival.
-Natural environments are a potential of extremely valuable future resources. Many of the drugs we use today were discovered in natural plant species.
-Natural predators of pests can act as biological control agents.
Many species also have indirect economical value, such as wild insect species that are responsible for pollinating crops. Without them, crops would not produce a large enough yeild and we would have potential food shortages not to mention the fate of farmers. Likewise, other species maintain water quality, protect soil and break down waste products. There is even new found evidence that a reduction in biodiversity may reduce climatic stability, resulting in drought or flooding and associated economic costs.
Tourism and recreation in natural habitats also have an economical and social value, deriving from the aesthetic value of the biodiversity. Ecotourism depends on maintenance of the biodiversity. There is even a significant industry involving natural history books, films and other media.
Although conservation involves management and reclamation, preservation can also help to maintain biodiversity from the major threats of an increasing human population. Preservation involves protecting areas from colonisation, ruling these zones 'no build', as yet untouched by humans.
- Over exploitation of wild animal populations for food, sport and commerce. These populations are usually harvested faster than they can replenish themselves.
- Non native species introduced to a habitat by humans, which can out compete native species and force them to extinction.
- Habitat disruption by building and pollution.
Many conservationists would argue that the threats described here make conservation essential. As many believe every species has its own rights to survive, and humans are ethically responsible to look after them. Although these arguments can be understood by other conservationists, they are subjective. The arguments in favour of these threatening activities are driven by economics. Therefore it is much wiser to express conservation in terms of economic value, making governments more likely to give priorities to conservation.
Many species have a direct economical value when harvested. Others may also have a direct value that is yet to be discovered and would be beneficial in the future. For example, the common drug aspirin, was originally derived from the bark of willow trees.
-Many species provide value as a food source, essential for human survival.
-Natural environments are a potential of extremely valuable future resources. Many of the drugs we use today were discovered in natural plant species.
-Natural predators of pests can act as biological control agents.
Many species also have indirect economical value, such as wild insect species that are responsible for pollinating crops. Without them, crops would not produce a large enough yeild and we would have potential food shortages not to mention the fate of farmers. Likewise, other species maintain water quality, protect soil and break down waste products. There is even new found evidence that a reduction in biodiversity may reduce climatic stability, resulting in drought or flooding and associated economic costs.
Tourism and recreation in natural habitats also have an economical and social value, deriving from the aesthetic value of the biodiversity. Ecotourism depends on maintenance of the biodiversity. There is even a significant industry involving natural history books, films and other media.
Although conservation involves management and reclamation, preservation can also help to maintain biodiversity from the major threats of an increasing human population. Preservation involves protecting areas from colonisation, ruling these zones 'no build', as yet untouched by humans.
Tuesday, 28 February 2012
Forms of Green Energy
After realising just how dangerous it is to burn fossil fuels people across the world recruited the best engineers and scientists to get ideas for creating safe energy. Many of the energy forms we use today have been around for centuries. Many are done by using cutting edge technology. Here I will give brief overview of the main renewable sources we use today.
Wind Power
People have been using wind power for generations but it is only recently that we have been able to transform this energy into electrical power. The advantages of wind power are plentiful; it's cheap once set up, quite efficient and produces no waste products. An obvious reason is of course it is green and does not contribute to global warming. It is also renewable which means it will not run out unlike the fossil fuel energies of the past.
Solar Power
In comparison to wind power, solar energy is a little more expensive to set up, and only works in the daytime but it is more efficient than wind power and gives a greater yield of energy. It is also slightly more aesthetically pleasing than a great big turbine on your roof.
Nuclear Power:
See my post - How Do We Get Nuclear Power
Wind Power
People have been using wind power for generations but it is only recently that we have been able to transform this energy into electrical power. The advantages of wind power are plentiful; it's cheap once set up, quite efficient and produces no waste products. An obvious reason is of course it is green and does not contribute to global warming. It is also renewable which means it will not run out unlike the fossil fuel energies of the past.
Solar Power
In comparison to wind power, solar energy is a little more expensive to set up, and only works in the daytime but it is more efficient than wind power and gives a greater yield of energy. It is also slightly more aesthetically pleasing than a great big turbine on your roof.
Nuclear Power:
See my post - How Do We Get Nuclear Power
Wednesday, 22 February 2012
The Importance of Sustainability
Many climate change activists are worried about the consequences of global warming. While I think we should be equally concerned there are many scientists and politicians who do not believe there is sufficient evidence to support the global warming claim.
After making this ill informed decision they think that none of the claims are true, such as the importance of recycling and new forms of energy. What they should remember is that fossil fuel reserves will eventually run out and without energy the economy would grind to a standstill. Our society would not last long without fossil fuels and riots would incur.
The worlds governments seem to be preparing on a small scale but do not realise the significance and scale of the problem. Every individual homeowner needs to take responsibility and start to save energy and generate their own energy. Once most homes become self sustainable our economy would stand a better chance of surviving the end of fossil fuels. My advice is to look into small scale forms of renewable energy and you could even make profits from investing in green energy sources. Visit New Technologies to find out more!
After making this ill informed decision they think that none of the claims are true, such as the importance of recycling and new forms of energy. What they should remember is that fossil fuel reserves will eventually run out and without energy the economy would grind to a standstill. Our society would not last long without fossil fuels and riots would incur.
The worlds governments seem to be preparing on a small scale but do not realise the significance and scale of the problem. Every individual homeowner needs to take responsibility and start to save energy and generate their own energy. Once most homes become self sustainable our economy would stand a better chance of surviving the end of fossil fuels. My advice is to look into small scale forms of renewable energy and you could even make profits from investing in green energy sources. Visit New Technologies to find out more!
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