Archive for the 'Environment' Category

Perfect Mould Removal Tips

Thursday, April 24th, 2008
by Kurt Schefken

Mould isn’t the nicest thing to have in your bathroom, it is common in areas that get damp and warm often. Even if you clean on a regular basis it can be difficult to rid your bathroom from unsightly mould. The warm moist environment is the perfect breeding ground for bacteria and fungi that will create the mould. If you want to prevent mould becoming a problem then you should consider the following tips.

Condensation

When you have a shower steam will condense on many surfaces around your bathroom. Simply opening a window isn’t enough to get rid of this problem. To solve this problem you should consider installing an extractor fan. This is used to push the wet air outside so that it can’t cause any more problems.

Some people suffer from worse condensation problems than others. If you do then you could hire a dehumidifier. You can see how much water the dehumidifier extracts from the air to see just how much of a problem condensation is in your bathroom. If the water tank is always full then you probably have a problem which needs to be sorted out.

Remove Unnecessary Items

You should almost certainly think about removing rugs from your bathroom. If these become wet they can keep the air in your bathroom humid. You should consider different floor coverings which do not absorb water, and so do not create the same problems. Also think about removing potted plants as these will add to the moisture in the air.

Other Options

You should thoroughly check your bathroom to make sure any leaks are sealed. Even the tiniest of leaks can cause a huge amount of damage if you don’t resolve it as soon as possible. You should make sure that all of your pipes are kept dry, take special note of the connections. Check that all of the seals around the bath and shower are intact, and don’t need any repairs. If there is mould behind the seal then this is probably a mould problem.

Ceramic tiles are very popular choices for bathroom decoration, however these are very cold and encourage condensation. Even if you use waterproof tiles, the grout in-between can retain the water and cause a problem with mould. If you are considering alternatives they using cladding, this is waterproof and highly durable. This prevents moisture becoming a problem.

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The Answer To The Rising Cost Of Fuel Cancer

Wednesday, April 9th, 2008
by Larry Lasby

There are a variety of ways to save money on gasoline today. One of the most recent, and less controversial ways of saving money on gas is by turning water into fuel. Experts are saying this method works. Using pills and potions you add to the tank are methods that have not only been controversial but down right scams.

Are Gasoline prices expected to keep rising? Especially as the summer driving season brings with it greater demand for the fuel and refineries shift over to more expensive summer-grade fuel. You can count on it. While Gas prices are historically subject to rapid fluctuations; over the last six years, the price per gallon in the Philadelphia area has risen steadily from $1. This is no doubt true of most areas. Gasoline prices are still much higher than they were one year ago. It is no secret that the press has been reporting for weeks that gasoline prices are going through the roof. ” Even if you adjust for inflation, the price for gasoline is the highest its been in 20 years

The rising prices at the pump bringing back memories of summertime gasoline bills. You might remember when the cost of fuel dropped in mid-2003, and several observers believed this was due to the fact that the armed conflict would come to a quick resolution. Prices were accordingly raised another 130% at the Tehran conference of December 1973, and a temporary embargo was placed on the United States and the Netherlands at the same time. However, what is happening today is costing the automobile owner money, big time. So here’s the $64 question: Is there something that you and I can do to save money on fuel?

The cost of fuel has jumped 33 cents a gallon all over the Country this past month and cost are expected to climb still higher. Fuel cost has increased radically over the past two years. It is often surprising that gasoline sold in one place of the country is not the same as it is in others. Gasoline and oil supplies have been moved to the Southeast from other parts of the country, affecting supply in those areas. Refineries, owned by different companies, is often combined for shipment by pipeline. This gives credence to the fluctuations and why fuel is higher in one place than it is in another. It is pretty much a sure bet, when you see it go up in say, California, it won’t be long until it is up in Colorado

There are several options for you to save money at the gas pump. Here are just a few tips to help you cut down your fuel consumption. An engine tune-up will more than likely improve car fuel economy by an average of 1 mile per gallon. Under-inflated tires can cut fuel economy by up to 1 mile per gallon. Driving at 65 miles per hour rather than 55 miles per hour cuts fuel economy by about 2 miles per gallon. Unnecessary speedups, slowdowns and stops can use unnecessary fuel by up to 2 miles per gallon. Your air conditioning can increase fuel cost by as much as 2 miles per gallon. Avoid the rush hours if possible, to reduce fuel-consumption patterns such as starting and stopping and numerous idling periods. Turning Water Into Fuel is deffinately an alternative.

Higher fuel economy standards is our number one priority. It is not a question of when and how, but now, now, now. The skyrocketing cost of fuel are to be taken Seriously. Our economy can not allow such circumstances to run out of control. The fear of the trickle down affect is yet to be felt, you can count on it. Some analysts are blaming higher crude oil prices, greater demand and fears of shortages as the reasons for the present situation. Prices are headed higher, and we must do something about it. The only benefit of higher gas prices is that it could result in trimmer waistlines, suggests a WUSTL researcher.

Other factors contributing to higher prices include political events and conflicts in some major oil producing regions, as well as other factors such as the declining value of the dollar. Traditionally, OPEC set limits on how much oil its member countries produce in order to keep the price higher than it would be in a truly competitive market (but not so high as to encourage development of alternatives).

There are few if any mitigating factors that add to higher gasoline prices, however, political events, conflicts in major oil producing regions, as well as as the declining value of the dollar aggravate the present situation we find ourselves in. Normally, OPEC has set limits on how much oil its member countries produce in order to keep the price higher than it would be in a really competitive market (but not so high as to encourage development of alternatives).

Gasoline prices are rising sharply as refiners, who have kept prices down in order to compete for sales, become more willing to pass on their higher costs of crude oil, according to an industry analyst. Gasoline prices are affected by the price of crude oil in the world market, supply and demand for gasoline, local market competition, temporary supply interruptions, government regulations, or taxes. Gasoline prices have been and will continue to affect automotive manufacturers across the United States.

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Worried about the footprint you leave on the earth?

Wednesday, April 2nd, 2008
by Bob Young

You’ve gotten the company’s light bulbs changed to the more energy efficient types, started a recycling project for all those discarded newspapers, old faxes and photocopies and you’re always encouraging everyone to use public transportation or carpool to work. But still you know your company is contributing more carbon dioxide than you’re offsetting…

Your company is still not carbon neutral. Maybe your company has a long way to go before achieving a neutral carbon footprint, but we have a great and exciting new way that you can get even closer to achieving that amazing goal and help bring the green back to Ireland as you do it!

Multiple sources agree, for approximately every ton of carbon you or your company produces, it takes only two newly planted trees to offset that ton. There are dozens of tree-planting organizations whose efforts will help you offset your carbon footprint, but there’s only one organization planting historic oak trees in County Armagh, Ireland, the same area where King Conmael once hunted and rode under the majestic oaks’ spreading branches. Those beautiful oaks, witnesses to so much history, were long ago cut down to feed the need for the shipbuilding industry.

Did you know that Ireland has the least percentage of trees of any country in Europe?

Rooted in Ireland’s oak planting project is situated in a beautiful part of Ireland, close the historic city of Armagh, and surrounded by rolling hills and mountain ranges!

Imagine the satisfaction you can have knowing that you’re not only offsetting your company’s carbon footprint by having memorial oak trees planted through Rooted in Ireland, but you’re also bringing back an important part of the natural history to a proud and beautiful region through your donation.

For just under $100 you can offset approximately one-half ton of your carbon emissions through the planting of a single memorial oak tree at the Rooted in Ireland site. These trees will live complete lives where they are planted in Ireland. They will not be cut down, but will stand as living memorials to your dedication to stop global warming. To remind you of your company’s part in the fight to reduce carbon emissions, you will receive a certificate, a photograph of the site and a personalized letter. Your name will be entered into our ledger and as people visit, they will also be reminded of your contribution.

Even though it doesn’t matter how you offset your carbon footprint, just as long as you do something about it, surely you can take an extra bit of pride in knowing that you are also helping to reforest that beautiful country - the Emerald Isle?

Plant some trees, and offset your carbon footprint. Help bring back the natural beauty to Ireland’s landscape; visit Rooted in Ireland’s website today!

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Solar Energy For Residential Use

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
by Phil Nichol

Solar heating if often the first thing that comes to mind when you think of solar energy at home but this is not it’s best use. At best, solar heating can support the main heating a little in colder climates whilst in places such as Australia and California it can be worthwhile, but then it’s not needed so often.

Solar Energy Technologies

A number of technologies have been developed to make use of solar radiation. Some of these make direct use of solar energy for lighting and heating etc., while others produce electricity. They are:

1. Solar thermal energy collection systems generate electricity through mirrors and a system of tubes filled with fluid.

2. Solar thermal collectors which are used to make heat.

3. Photovoltaic panels make D.C. current electricity from sunlight. For home use though, the electricity generated has to be converted to A.C. which makes it prohibitive. However, in a sunny country, you can produce enough power to run a 100W light bulb from a single square metre of solar panel.

4. Solar hot water panels which are commonly used in the home for water heating.

How Efficient are Solar Panels?

Solar panels are only efficient when they receive direct sunshine producing very little power in cloudy conditions or shade. However, it is the sunlight that generates electricity. Solar panels used in very hot climates are less efficient than those used in sunny but cold climates because heat actually interferes with electricity production. Efficiency decreases when the temperature of the panel is more than 50 degrees centigrade.

At different times during the day, as the sun’s angle to the panel differs, the amount of energy produced varies. Most often it is better when the panel is sloped but on cloudy days horizontal mounted panels are more productive. The most energy is generated when the panel is pointed directly towards the sun.

Although the popularity of home solar energy has been decreasing since the 1970s, billions of dollars have been spent on developing Photovoltaic systems in America and Japan. Lately, Germany has also joined in the research so costs are falling. Also, in some countries you can recoup some of your expenses by selling excess energy back to the electricity companies.

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Does Where You Live Affect Your Driving Insurance Rates?

Wednesday, March 26th, 2008
by Elizabeth Murphy

Many of us live where we live because we were either raised there or we landed there somehow and are happy with where we are at. Sometimes someone may not have control over where they live for occupational reasons. Whatever the reason why you live where you do, that fact can actually have an influence on how much you pay for your auto insurance. Does this mean you should move to pay lower premiums? Well, not unless you want to. But it is important to know how where you live affects your auto insurance rates.

First of all, the safety of your neighborhood is something that the insurance company takes into consideration. If there is a high incidence of vandalism and car theft in the area in which you live, you’ll pay more in car insurance premiums than someone who lives in a peaceful neighborhood. This is one way in which people lose money in car insurance because of the fact their neighborhood is considered a risky one. However, how risky a neighborhood is can be rather difficult for the residents to control. Even when a neighborhood is “reformed” and made safer, it may take a while before the insurance company can deem that neighborhood one of lower risk.

How the insurance company knows that the area you live in is high risk or not is that the insurance company actually maps out which areas are high risk, medium risk, and low risk. There are even areas that are considered to have no risk at all. And we all know that when something is mapped out that it is going to have boundaries. That is when someone may find out that their neighbor is paying a considerable amount less in car insurance because they may live on the other side of the boundary. Going to the insurance company and bringing this to their attention doesn’t do any good for the fact that they cannot move the boundary. If they do, then other neighbors would be requesting the same treatment and the boundary would move until that risk area would be non-existent. That would completely eliminate the need for the mapping and the insurance company would actually lose money by offering the same rates to everyone, which in turn would raise premiums anyway.

Another way in which how you live has an influence on your car insurance is how far you have to drive from home to work. The number of miles that you drive each day has an influence on your risk factor. Someone who drives 5 miles to work each day is at a lesser risk of being in an accident than someone who drives 25 miles to work each day; therefore the person driving 25 miles to work is going to have to pay a higher premium than the person driving 5 miles to work. It works just the same for the person driving 50 miles to work that is going to have to pay more in insurance than the person driving 25 miles.

Basically, what it comes down to is risk factor and that is why it is important to shop around for insurance companies to see which might offer a lower rate for a specific area. Certain insurance companies may map areas differently depending on what their definition of a high risk area is and that can have a considerable influence on the amount of money paid in car insurance. Shopping around for the best rates can alleviate the desire to move to a low risk or no risk area.

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Global Warming: Agricultures Role and Health Concerns

Wednesday, March 12th, 2008
by Wandile Maseko

Some studies show that the news of global warming is not all bad for farming, at least not in the short run. While humans have changed many environmental factors by their activities, the short term effects of these changes often lead to better crops.

Global warming is sure to bring about changes in precipitation. This will lead to changes in the soil moisture. Especially with the severe weather predicted with global warming, rain will come down hard when it does come. This will lead to more than usual soil erosion. These factors greatly affect agriculture.

The overall predictions for the US are neither all bad nor all good. Crops are expected to benefit from the effects of global warming in many regions for awhile. In some areas, though, crops will suffer because of regional variations. The Great Plains are now more susceptible to drought, thanks to global warming. However, Canada will probably benefit from the added heat as farming will take a Northward shift.

Health

Global warming has caused intense heating up of the environment. In areas where people are not prepared for extreme heat, there have been devastating heat waves recently. There were heat flare-ups in Europe in 2003 which lasted as long as two weeks at a time. Temperatures soared upwards of 104 degrees Fahrenheit.

There have also been heat waves in North America. One in 2006 claimed 226 lives. Another probable result of global warming is increased pollen in the air. This happens because higher levels of carbon dioxide encourage the growth of more pollen-producing weeds. Because more pollen means worse air quality, those with allergies and asthma suffer.

Curtailing global warming would lessen the incidence of flooding and prevent this many times. Since global warming can have an affect on the food supply, it is obvious that people can suffer from malnutrition because of this. This is especially true in agrarian societies in underdeveloped countries.

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Want to help save US soldiers battling in Iraq? DO IT!

Monday, March 10th, 2008
by Jeff Sokol

It is undeniable the USA government’s occupation in Iraq is suspect. OIL is being used as an underlying motive for war, costing the lives of US soldiers who continue to die on a daily basis.

And no matter how much you hate and scuff at the US government for the war, they didn’t have much choice. The people of USA need the oil and the government has to get it for them at ANY cost.

American dependency on oil leaves the government forced to supply it at ANY cost. Often, this comes at the cost of its soldiers’ lives.

First we must reduce our dependence on oil. This can be accomplished by investing in alternative energy to power vehicles and other such fuel consuming machines such as generators.

As incredible as this sounds, it’s possible and even now a reality. we can do without all that oil that we consume on a daily basis, not only in the USA but all over the world.

Turning to water as a solution can drastically reduce the oil used to power our vehicles. Yes, water! We can now power cars with water and help reduce this tragic and costly dependence on oil. The less we remain dependent on oil, the less we would need to get involved in wars such as the ongoing one in Iraq.

And less war means fewer soldiers will die!

Please get involved in helping to save the lives of US soldiers. Think about learning how to power your car with water and help to spread the word about it. More information is available online.

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Run Your Car or Truck on Water and Increase Gas Mileage

Saturday, March 8th, 2008
by Jeff Sokol

This article looks at the claims of running your car on 100% water and tells you if the real possibilities of this technology.

When you look closely at this 100% water driven technology, one usually ends up spending even more for a new “hybrid” than using the usual fuel for powering vehicles.

So, the method I recommend for powering your car with water that will save you cost of fuel is to make your own low-cost hybrid car that will run on water and gas, thereby saving you huge costs you would have spent using only fossil fuels.

In other words - Water4Gas system where you safely run your car on Hydrogen WHEN you need it!

Note that I am not saying you should build a car from scratch that will run on water. Not at all. This instead is about constructing simple devices that will enable your car to run on water as well as gas. You don’t have to alter your car make-up or get a new car. The technology can work with almost any car or truck.

In simple words, this technology involves putting together home-made devices that use a little electricity out of your car’s battery to separate water into a gas called HHO (2 Hydrogen + 1 Oxygen). HHO, also known as Brown’s Gas or Hydroxy, burns beautifully clean, and by so doing provides enormous sums of energy.

And the most remarkable beauty is that this pound for pound HHO gas is even much more potent than gasoline. In fact 3 times more potent than gasoline. Which means that your fuel mileage is dramatically increased, and you get more horsepower to boot!

By using such cars you effectively save money that would have been spent on fuel for your car. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870.

First things first… this isn’t about running your car on 100% water. Of course there is information available about running your car on 100% water but I don’t recommend them for a novice mechanic, as they can be expensive and a little unpredictable

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7 Reasons You Want a “Water Powered Car”

Saturday, March 8th, 2008
by Jeff Sokol

No doubts about it, it’s now possible to power your car on water as well as gas, instead of completely gas. Apart from the many advantages that this technology has globally, it also has many widespread advantages to individuals around the world, including YOU.

Below are 7 of these awesome advantages of the water for gas to YOU:

1- Improves your gas mileage by 50 - 70%. This includes both city and highway driving conditions. Imagine how much money this would save you at the end of the month and at the end of the year. It is estimated that this could save you as much as $897.40 per year. If you are two, three or four drivers in the family, this yearly savings increases dramatically. And what if you have a fleet of 50 drivers in your company? Then your yearly savings will multiply to $44,870. More if you have more drivers.

2- Eliminates harmful exhaust emission that pollute the environment and contribute to global warming. Your engine will ADD oxygen to the environment instead of polluting it. How about doing something good to help the environment for a change? Saving the planet takes an effort on everyone’s part!

3- Greatly increase engine power and performance. The more gas you use on your car, the more the engine gets battered- thus reducing it’s performance. But by using water (HHO Gas) as an alternative, this enhances your engine power instead and improves performance.

4- Remove carbon deposits and prevent carbon build up in the future.

5- Reduce the operating temperature of the engine and wasted heat into the environment.

6- You will notice a calmer, quieter and much smoother engine operation and smoother gearshifts. This is due to the effect water has on the combustion cycle inside your engine.

7- Enjoy a greater life expectancy of your engine, especially the pistons, rings and valves.

These are just some of the many advantages of water for gas technology to YOU. Remember, even YOU can build the device needed to make this technology work for YOU, from the ease and comfort of your home.

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Using Intelligent Reporting Can Benefit Your Business

Friday, March 7th, 2008
by Elizabeth Murphy

When a business manages their fleet, intelligent reporting is important for many different reasons ranging from cost-efficiency and convenience to how it impacts the environment. Everyone knows how motor vehicles have a negative impact on the environment, but by intelligently and accurately reporting data regarding fleet operations, the impact on the environment can be less severe while still operating the fleet in a manner that is convenient for the business.

The reports that a business should have in regards to managing their fleet are:

Fleet composition

Fleet exception reports

Vehicle maintenance reports

Vehicle maintenance schedules

Invoice analysis

Delivery information

Fuel analysis

All of these areas are areas that should be reported on when managing a fleet. How can these reports benefit the environment? Well, when a vehicle is having mechanical problems, its emissions can increase , which is very convenient for the business. By having proper vehicle maintenance reports and adhering to maintenance schedules the damages to the environment can be avoided.

Also, fuel analysis means that overuse of gasoline can be eliminated by using reports to figure out exactly why gasoline is being consumed too quickly. Once the cause is pinpointed, it can be eliminated. This results in less fuel usage and a cost-effective solution for the business to not have to spend so much money on fuel. This can also come into play as far as finding the best route to make a delivery, which is where delivery information reports can come in handy.

There are other items that can be covered through intelligent reporting such as the use of a GPS system to help drivers find the best routes. By finding the best routes to complete a delivery, a fleet management operator can actually reduce the number of vehicles on the road, which is another way in which the business can implement a cost-effective way of having a positive influence on the environment.

How to acquire intelligent reporting

There are a variety of fleet management software programs available on the market as well as companies capable of taking care of a business’s fleet management needs. If a business has the manpower, they can appoint a fleet operator in-house and utilize the benefits of a fleet management software program or enlist the services of a fleet management company to take care of all of their reporting and fleet management needs.

Sometimes enlisting the services of a fleet management company is the most cost-effective solution because your company may not want to pay thousands upon thousands of dollars per year for an employee who will be tasked with only managing the business’s fleet. Whether the business chooses to use fleet management software or the services of a fleet management company, the reports must be a regular function of that person, in or order to take care of our environment.

Through intelligent reporting, potential issues can be taken care of before they turn into larger issues, the business will notice that they will save money by analyzing these reports for cost-efficient methods to get the job done, and they will find that their efforts will have a positive influence on the environment. Intelligent reporting covers so many areas that it is important that any business that relies heavily upon their vehicle fleet should employ a fleet management system to get the job done in the most effective way possible.

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