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.
In the internet age, physical printing risks falling from grace as the less environmentally-friendly option. What can you do to make sure your printing is as green as possible?
Physical printing isn’t going anywhere in a hurry. Although the rise of the internet and e-readers appears to threaten paper versions of the same things, there is no real evidence that books, leaflets and other materials will become extinct any time soon. People just like holding real paper too much, and for some reason physical flyers and memos have an impact that virtual ones do not.
Paperless or wasteless offices?
Having said that, the environmental impact means that ‘paperless offices’ are an aspiration for many companies and that waste paper has become a more acute issue. The problems with paper are very real. Illegal logging and deforestation are two issues that have gained notoriety in recent years, but they aren’t the only ones. A lot of paper uses bleach and other chemicals that are then washed into the environment, and printing processes themselves aren’t always very environmentally friendly. Fortunately, there are several ways to make your printing greener, including adopting digital printing where possible and using companies that are members of the World Land Trust or Forestry Stewardship Council. Beyond these, the obvious solution is to make every sheet of paper count: it is not paper that is the problem, but waste paper.
Choose the right company
One of the biggest problems with printing is that you don’t always know where your paper is coming from. Whether they’re providing you with a handful of booklets or a huge run of flyer printing, most companies don’t specify their ethical standpoint on this. Unless they have thought carefully about it, there’s a good chance they have just gone for the cheapest option, all things being equal.
If you want to make sure your company supports sustainable logging and printing, look for a World Land Trust accreditation or Forestry Stewardship Council membership in their statement of values. Both of these organisations support the conservation of rainforests and other areas of environmental significance, ensuring that the paper that member companies use won’t affect these habitats. You can probably pay to use ethically-sourced paper with a regular company, but you should bear in mind that this will usually be a part of a wider strategy of sustainable energy use and other ethical practices, rather than simply a bolt-on extra offered to satisfy some environmentally-minded businesses.
Consider digital printing
Digital printing uses a different process to conventional printing, and doesn’t employ so many harmful chemicals (including aluminium, alcohol and VOCs). It is also possible to carry out smaller and more economical print runs, rather than having to produce huge runs of books or flyers, many of which will ultimately need to be thrown away or pulped.
Target your materials
As stated, the problem isn’t physical printing itself but waste paper. If every piece of paper printed was considered useful and retained, there wouldn’t be an issue. We just need to be more judicious in what we do print. The answer isn’t necessarily a paperless office: it’s one where paper is valued. Use emails instead of letters where you can, but don’t write off print altogether – just make sure each sheet has maximum effect. When undertaking a flyer printing campaign, for example, research your demographic and hone your material to reduce waste – and to give better ROI on your marketing budget.
Conclusion
These ideas are really just a starting point to working towards a greener printing policy. Digital printing, sustainable sourcing and careful targeting of resources are only first steps to transforming your company’s environmental and ethical impact. You will need to consider your relationships with suppliers, energy usage and flexible working practices and many other areas to complete the process.
This article was supplied by Printed.com, suppliers of unbeatable quality digital printing, and a shortlisted company for this year's industry leading Print Week Environmental Company of the Year 2011 award.
Back in the early 80’s my brother had the 45 (small vinyl record) of this odd song from Roy Clark. One day he played the song for me. At the time I thought it was a little funny song and nothing more. I forgot about the song and thought I’d never hear it again. In the past week I found the lyrics as well as the audio on YouTube. I’m the furthest thing from a fan of country music, but I think this song is sweet and packs a powerful message at the same time. I like that.
Lyrics to “Ode to a Critter”:
Today I met a fish who was standing on my front porch
Clapping his clipper on my door
And he said do you mind if I live a while at your house
'Cause I can't live in the waters anymore.
Now I also met a bird who came choking through my window
And he darn near passed out on the floor
And he said do you mind if I'd stay a while at your house
'Cause I can't stay in the air anymore.
I dedicate this song to the folks who brought us dark brown dirty waters
And to the ones who keep on throwing all that filthy black smoke in the air And I also dedicate it to the bird and fish who now live here at my house
'Cause they can't live out there anymore.
Now I also met a cow who was standing in my kitchen
Opening my refrigerator door
And she said do you mind if I fix myself a sandwich
'Cause I can't live on the grass anymore.
So I dedicate this song to the folks who brought us dark brown dirty waters And to the ones who keep on throwing all that filthy black smoke in the air And I also dedicate it to me and all the critters here at my house
'Cause we can't live out there anymore.
No, we can't live out there anymore...
It seems going green is becoming one of the most important topics for individuals and businesses alike; with the desire to save money, energy, resources and appeal to a wider array of customers, many companies are looking to implement more energy efficient products and services in their facilities.
Many consumers are starting to notice more hand dryers in public restrooms, for example. While some people inherently prefer the tried and true paper towel or linen cloth method to dry their hands, with further examination of some key points, it makes perfect sense to install a hand dryer rather than multiple paper towel dispensers.
The Real Cost of Paper Towels:
The cost of a single paper towel might be miniscule, but what's the overall cost on a large scale? Not only does a paper towel have to be harvested from trees, a resource that is becoming quickly depleted in some parts of the world, that tree also has to be shipped to a processing facility or paper mill, processed (which can cause chemical byproducts that are harmful to the environment), and then shipped to a warehouse or paper retailer. From there, it will be shipped to the buyer, used once, and thrown away.
That's a tremendous amount of wasted energy, fuel and time.
While the impact is lessened when paper towels are recycled or made from recycled material, the sad fact is most paper towels are simply thrown into the trash.
Linen Towels:
In a few public restrooms, you may find a linen towel on a roller that allows a person to pull down a clean part of the towel. While these linen towels can easily be washed and reused many times, they are not especially hygienic or safe. Just because a spot on the towel looks clean doesn't mean it is, and washing has to happen frequently to ensure the least amount of bacteria and germs spread from user to user.
Hand Dryers Past and Present:
Hand dryers typically use less power over all for several reasons. They last much longer, typically take fewer resources to manufacturer, and also often take less fuel to transport. They do not require washing, and they can certainly be used more than one time before being thrown away.
However, they do take electricity to run, and in decades past, have not always been as economical when compared with today's models. Reports show that modern hand dryers are up to 80% more energy efficient than old models. They also dry hands more quickly and thoroughly than old hand dryers.
Author bio – Ben Hodge works as an editor for HandryersUK and writes content relating to personal care and hygiene. In this article he discusses the environmental issues surrounding the use of hand dryers.
It has been announced this month that the major toy manufacturer Mattel, owner of Barbie, has dropped all its packaging manufacturers known to be associated with deforestation. With the environment becoming a more prevalent issue within society, the packaging industry is starting to feel the increased pressure to manufacture products using materials from sustainable sources. For some this may just be a PR stunt to highlight that their company is socially responsible and make them more appealing to the end consumer, however, for others it is becoming the only way forward.
Major brands such as Marks & Spencer and Velvet base their advertising around this, proving to customers that they are making significant changes to help protect the environment and this month Mattel has made their feelings clear. As part of a new set of promises, Mattel had stated that they will no longer be purchasing materials from companies who are known to be associated with destroying the world’s rainforests.
This move has come after a global campaign from Greenpeace highlighted certain companies such as Asia Pulp and Paper group (APP) who provide materials to Mattel, to be associated with destroying vast areas of the rainforest. This is obviously a great achievement for Greenpeace and they are hoping that this will be the first in a line of companies who will start to understand the importance of the environment.
It is predicted that this kind of statement from Mattel will push suppliers into finding greener solutions for providing materials. App’s sister company, Golden Agri-Resources, lost a number of their larger clients when they were associated with deforestation but have since proved they are now protecting the environment and won many of those back.
It is also hoped this move will put additional pressure on other toy manufacturers such as Hasbro to do the same and highlight their feelings towards deforestation.
Wessex Packaging are a leading packaging manufacturer who care about the environment and offer cardboard and packaging solutions which are biodegradable. If you are looking for environmentally friendly packaging solutions whether it is foam packaging, die cut cartons or custom packaging boxes, contact the experts at Wessex Packaging today!
