If we go by natural facts then it’s absolutely accurate that we would on no account be competent to neutralize carbon effects of wood burning in our lives but we may possibly accept this and make the most of it in newly designed wood boilers. The concept revealed here articulates that these pioneering boilers breed out only that much of carbon dioxide by burning wood which a customary and natural decay process of woods in forests would do. Putting this in another way we can say that without augmenting in the already established environmental carbon intensity levels, this new range of wood boilers bequeath us with much healthier green boiling option.

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Cow power could emerge as one of the green and renewable energy sources to generate electricity in future. Till now the manure produced by bovine and livestock animals has been used in farms only (that too to a certain extent). But now, it can be used to generate electricity which might meet upto 3 % energy (read electricity) consumption needs of entire North America!

The research being conducted by scientists at University of Texas (Austin) believe the results of it will imply on all countries with a large number of livestock (including India). Production of biogas from cow dung is not a new thing and it has been used in rural India to cook food and for other heating purposes. But this research stresses upon the anaerobic digestion (a process which helps in compost formation) of manure which yields energy-rich bio-gas potent enough to generate electricity by rotating standard microturbines.

In recent times, the interest and efforts in analyzing and using cow waste for studying its effect on climate change, has seen an upward trend. The IPCC reports that nitrous oxide and methane (both are Green House Gases) produced by naturally decomposing livestock manure heat up our atmosphere many times more than what CO2 does! Hence, the panel recommends proper utilization of this livestock manure. The latter if utilized fully could generate approximately 100 billion kilowatt hours of electricity (a scenario where the Americans will thank cows profusely for providing resources beyond milk and meat!)

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Conventionally, economical method of formulating plastic is fossil fuels, as bioplastics through vegetable stuff would ask for a soaring price. Furthermore, various companies are making use of cornstarch for preparing this polymer. However, a Denmark Agroplast has contemplated a wholly new plot and a Danish venture firm is also lending a hand in infusing this scheme.

Agroplast proposes to make over animal wastes predominantly pig urine into plastic tableware and other household bits and pieces. The concept behind this is twofold; former is to snap the glitch of setting out the pig lingering seeing it’s vulnerability to atmosphere and following is to utilize a compound called urea present in urine for profitability.

As per the agroplast this course would produces plastics charging incredibly less than traditional plastic making processes though absolute worth of this substance could be identified only after it gets on the rampage.

Via Cnet

As nonrenewable sources are getting exhausted day by day, we need to explore further areas of natural renewable energy taking into account our ever-increasing needs. Considering the urgency, a new venture is going on track by Honolulu government and business groups. Earlier Honolulu relied on fossil fuels for air conditioning purpose but after construction of this new project, they would be able to use sea water for the same purpose. The fresh water flowing in the closed loop through the building will be chilled by the pump arrangement fetching cool water from 1,600 feet below the ocean waves. After circulating through the loop, the cold seawater is diffused back into the sea ensuring apt assimilation and dilution.

As a matter of inquest we could pose concerning the maintenance requirements of the system during and after storms and the fuel going to be used to power the system. The principle of solar-powered water heaters might give us a clue in this regard. The creators have proved that the system is working fine in Sweden. Moreover prospective of cost and fuel savings from this project are remarkable.
Hawaiian Electric Company’s headquarters occur to be the first customer of this project who has been committed over half of its 25,000 ton capacity. About half of the project financing has been done by investors from Honolulu. With funding of nearly $11 M done by private investors, this $152 M project is expected to start in January, 2009.

General outlook behind this project is to make the most of renewable sources as the existing scenario demands.

Via Treehugger