Global warming has long been our planet's worst enemy. The harsh reality is, as we continue to live, our planet continues to die. Our dependency on fossil fuels and other non-renewable energy sources to support our power needs is costing us big time. The only way to confront this harsh reality is to face it with harsh solutions. No quick fix, no shortcuts...just long-term solutions. One such solution being thrown out there-- biofuels.
Biofuels are fuels, in either solid, liquid, or gas, that are derived from biomass conversion. The energy source contained in combustible plant and/or animal material is the alternative energy source we need to lessen our dependence on fossil fuels. Here are a few reasons why biofuels should be considered as the next best alternative to fossil fuels today:
- Widespread Sources
- With so many plant and animal materials to choose from, manufacturing biofuels will be much easier than drilling into an already limited supply of fossil fuel.
- Renewable Source
- Fossil fuels take millions of years to form whereas the materials used in manufacturing biofuels are readily available as new crops are grown.
- Economic Advantage
- The production of biofuels will create an increase in demand for crops which will fuel the agriculture industry. This will, in turn, create more job opportunities for farmers and factory workers in the biofuel industry.
- Environment Friendly
- Biofuels are safer to handle than ordinary petroleum. Any spills made are less hazardous and much easier to clean up. Moreover, biofuels are also biodegradable.
- Fuel Security
- Most developing countries import oil from oil-producing countries thus, they developed heavy dependency on this type of relationship. However, these developing countries have the capability of growing their own crops for biofuels thus reducing their dependence on foreign fuel sources.
- Reduced Carbon Emissions
- The burning of biofuels produces significantly less carbon. This makes it a safer alternative for fuel since air pollution is minimized.
Like all breakthrough technologies, there are some concerns that need to be noted:
- Carbon Emissions from Production
- While the use of biofuels reduces carbon output, the machines used in the production process of biofuels still emit large volumes of carbon in the atmosphere.
- High Initial Capital
- Any technology that's still being developed and refined will always entail great costs. The hefty investment for this endeavor is quite a risk to take.
- Lower Energy Output
- Biofuels produce lower energy output than fossil fuels do.
- Higher Food Prices and Direct Competition with Food Supply
- The demand for crops, such as corn, increases dramatically with biofuel production. As such, the supply of corn for food decreases which makes the price for this commodity soar.
- Resource Hungry
- Resources, such as water, are necessary to cultivate the crops and to manufacture biofuels.
- Compatibility
- The engines of some vehicles are incompatible with biofuels. These include the luxury cars, sports cars, and vintage cars.
- Destruction of Natural Habitats
- A sizable piece of land is required in biofuel production. This is a very controversial issue with environmentalists as the natural habitats of animals, such as rainforests, are turned into
Biofuels are made from a variety of materials such as wood, corn, sugarcane, and vegetable oils. With so many sources of biofuels, it follows that there are also various types as well. Two of these types of biofuels are biodiesel and bioethanol.
Biodiesel is produced from oils and fats such as rapeseed, vegetable oil, jathropa, palm oil, and hemp. The composition of the liquid fuel produced is similar to mineral diesel. This is the most common type of biofuel in Europe. Biodiesel produces less than 78% carbon dioxide compared to ordinary diesel however, it also emits a greater amount of nitrogen oxide.
Bioethanol, on the other hand, is produced from carbohydrate crops such as sugar beet, corn, potatoes, and other similar crops. E10 (10% ethanol, 90% petroleum) fuels are now being sold around the world. Greenhouse gases emissions are reduced by 3.9% worldwide. Bioethanols also burns cleaner than ordinary gasoline. There are still issues with regards to bioethanol production such as the large amounts of land and energy needed and the risk of causing corrosion to fuel system components that are incompatible with bioethanol.
The question still remains, are biofuels worth the time, energy, and effort? It is true that biofuels do reduce reduce carbon emissions and is an alternative to fossil fuels however, the damage being done to the environment is something that cannot be taken lightly. Biofuel is still a work in progress. Alternatives such as biohydrogen, biomethanol, and algae fuels are being researched as we speak. Time will tell whether these change the way we live.
About the Author
Jessica is a blog editor at Meiji Electric, the premier electrical supplier in the Philippines. She is a hands-on, technology-oriented girl and loves to tinker with the latest gadgets and equipment. She loves to travel a lot and always brings traveling adapters with her to conveniently power her gadgets.
People are becoming more and more aware of the need to limit the impact of their actions on the environment, and are increasingly taking action to reduce their carbon footprints. Interestingly, the way you decorate your home can also play a role here. For instance, many people choose to finish the surfaces of their bathroom to make them more visually appealing. Choosing a material such as tadelakt to do this is a good option, as this has many green credentials that make it kind to the environment as well as a material suitable for use in bathrooms and other rooms of the house.
What is tadelakt?
Tadelakt is starting to grow in popularity but many people are still unsure what it is. It is a type of natural, lime-based plaster and has got its origins in the Marrakech region of Morocco. You can get many different shades of tadelakt, which are created by tinting the material. It is popularly used in bathrooms as it is waterproof, and is commonly used for shower cubicles and wet rooms as well as sinks, baths and even swimming pools.
Creating a healthy living environment
One green benefit of tadelakt is that it helps to create a healthy living environment. Unlike many other finishes that require you to clean them using bleach or other harsh chemicals, tadelakt plaster is the complete opposite. It is sealed with a soap solution, which helps to prevent the build-up of grime and can be cleaned using a sponge and water. As long as you regularly reapply this soap solution, the tadelakt should stay in excellent condition.
It is also very breathable and has a smooth finish, which means there are no groove lines where mould might otherwise collect. This helps to make the environment cleaner still and ultimately a much nicer place to be.
Reducing levels of CO2
As you are no doubt aware, carbon dioxide is one of the main culprits of global warming. The good news is that tadelakt is CO2-friendly: when you compare it with other, cement-based finishes, it releases 80% less CO2 – a significant difference. Also, the fact that it is lime-based helps as this means when CO2 is released during processing, the tadelakt actually reabsorbs much of it, stopping it from escaping and damaging the environment. Tadelakt also looks much more attractive than other types of surface finishes, meaning its benefits are more than just environmental.
Recycling and reusing existing products
You will probably know all about how important it is to recycle, as this enables us to use the same resources more than once, reducing the amount of energy we use mining new materials and creating new goods. Tadelakt is a good example of how this works: it can be recycled and used in new mortars by crushing it down, meaning it is a practical choice with useful options if you decide to dispose of it in the future.
It is also biodegradable, which means that if you do dispose of it and it is not recycled, it will gradually sink back into the earth – in stark contrast to many of the items that often end up in landfill.
Keeping synthetics away
One last green benefit of using tadelakt is that it is entirely natural. This is a bonus as it is often synthetic materials that are the most harmful to the environment, both in terms of creating them and when it comes to disposal. Tadelakt doesn’t have such issues to contend with, meaning that it uses the minimum amount of energy in its production and it avoids the need to incorporate harmful chemicals – something that is certainly to be applauded.
This article was supplied by Décor Tadelakt, a Bristol based talented team of decorative plasterers specialising in Polished plaster, Venetian plaster and Moroccan Tadelakt.
As well as saving companies’ money, vehicle tracking and remote asset management systems are also good for the environment, for a number of reasons. With trackers put into practice, businesses that utilise large fleets of vehicles can cut down considerable amounts of waste.
Firstly, by using fleet management, firms can perfect their routes to cut down on emissions, which also saves money.
It’s a well-known fact that waste is itself one of the biggest contributors to environmental damage, and being users of fossil fuels, most commercial vehicles are adding to this with trips that are unnecessarily long and time-consuming whilst all the time releasing greenhouse gases. The profits of firms also suffer, and those that don’t ‘trim’ the fat in simple areas like this, where fuel and labour are being squandered, are likely to fall down in other areas of business.
Imperfect routing is one way in which companies lose money, but another is bad driving habits. Trackers let firms analyse the time periods that the vehicles on their roster are left to idle, are driven over the speed limit, and the frequency of sudden braking. An excess of all these factors wastes fuel in the long-run, and although it may seem Orwellian to spy on employees this way, correcting these faults is relatively easy. Even if tasks are completed by workers in acceptable amounts of time, firms that do not have tracking technology to hand are unaware of any needless detours or when cars are left running, things that both waste fuel.
GPS tracking provides a wealth of statistical info that can be used to raise general efficiency and ultimately reduce the firm’s carbon footprint and environmental impact.
After a while, company procedure can be altered in order to make it easier for current and new employees to follow best practice with regards to their job, which will eventually cut down on waste and become part of the culture of the business.
Almost all unmonitored vehicles are wasting something, whether that’s fuel, labour or time, and GPS tracking can help put businesses find out exactly where that is.
Today is Earth Day! The day to get together to share and inform on making the world a healthier place to live.
Join us on Ways2GoGreen.com on Facebook and share what you are doing to celebrate Earth Day. This year I am planting a white dogwood tree as well as gathering up clothes and other miscellaneous items to donate to Goodwill.
I think everyday should be a day to honor the planet, but it is nice to have one day of the year to get together and get more people involved every year. The more people know and do, the better we will be. Think Globally, Act Locally.
A video on the history of Earth Day
