Tired of a soaring electricity bill? Concerned for nature, want to reduce global warming but are a victim of lousy habits, always forgetful about switching off the lights or fans when you leave a room? For all those who are perfect example of “old habits die hard” notion but are willing enough to adopt greener ways, California based Agilewaves has come up with a smart device- The Resource Monitor. The device is native integrated system which functions in real time to monitor the electricity, gas and water consumption of your house. With the real monitor, you can carry out your chores without being worried about a hefty bill at the end of the month as you can set specific monthly targets for consuming these three facilities. The device uses behaviorally-driven quantitative feedback by the users for effective monitory. It is fit for use inside homes and offices. Resource monitor displays the consumption details and carbon footprint of a household/office via a built-in touchscreen interface or a password protected web page.

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I can recall days back having a debate with my colleague about the growing usage of biodiesel posing a biggest threat rather than being a pretentious solution for the existing problem. And I have my viewpoint to substantiate. You must be aware that the production of biodisel has its roots in crops and it’s being a long that we have failed to find an alternative source. This would bring an unfeasible harmonizing between food for survival and food for engines. And lately, a process is been devised that experts claim would free U.S. from their dependence upon petroleum diesel fuel. Brian Krohn, a senior at Augsburg College, initiated the process to explore this alternate way of producing fuel.

Together with his professors and scientists from Anoka-based SarTec Corporation, Brian has worked on this project called Mcgyan Process. Making a revolution in the industry, the process puts alcohol and other waste oils under a high-temperature, high-pressure reactor. Then starts the actual process: The oils secreted from the soybeans, coconuts, algae react with a catalyst, thus producing 100% renewable biodiesel fuel. Hats off to this young chemist for this innovative and eco-friendly creation of biofuel.

P:S: If you have lend ears to your chemistry lectures, then who knows you could have been a substitute for Brian!

Via NextEnergyNews

It is believed that the control and care of the family is best monitored in the hands of a mother or wife. But it becomes difficult for a working woman to handle everything (job and home) with expertise. With advancements happening, she is becoming careful in picking equipments that can help her save time and get things done within no time. Valcucine lately has come out with a revolutionary addition to the list of accessories offering comfort.
The establishment of innovative and eco-friendly kitchens with a sophisticated touch is in demand. Besides style and splendor, convenience is what tops the desire of a modern woman and this latest kitchen concept satiates her each and every expectation.

Dubbed as ‘Artematica Vitrum Yellow Kitchen’, the ingredients of this modern day kitchen include wood, stainless steel, aluminum and glass. What do all these constituents share in common? They are eco-friendly and are highly recyclable. This is one of the reasons worth convincing every contemporary woman to keep their fingers on this kitchen for a much-easier living.

Via Trendir

After adopting the Kyoto Protocol way back in 1997, developed countries have reduced their carbon emissions drastically. However, reports suggest that global CO2 emissions have risen by 35%. Often we hear of developing nations being blamed for failure to enforce environmental regulations. But a new study in ES&T shows that 5.3 gigatons of the planet’s carbon emissions come from international trade. And most of this trade serves the consumers in the developed countries, which have become net importers of carbon emissions. Many developed nations have tries to reduce the carbon emissions but their uncontrolled consumption is turning their environment saving efforts futile.

This trend had been talked of in a paper published last year in ES&T. In this report, Scott Matthews and Christopher Weber of Carnegie Mellon University showed that U.S has outsourced its emissions to its trading partners like China. “It is bit obvious China is producing more to meet consumption in the U.S.,” says Glen Peters of the Industrial Ecology Programme at the Norwegian University of Science and author of the new ES&T study. “Otherwise, China wouldn’t be growing at such a rapid pace.”

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The United Nations scientific climate panel is gearing for some action. Recently, it urged the U.S lawmakers to lead the world in cooling our overheated planet. “We don’t
The head of the United Nations scientific climate panel spoke with U.S. lawmakers Wednesday, encouraging them lead the world in cooling the overheated planet. “We don’t have a moment to lose,” said a worried Rajendra Pachauri, who is presiding on the chair of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, IPCC. He shared his concern over the massive greenhouse gas emissions which can lead to serious disruptions in the earth’s climate system. Pachauri feels that these harmful gases cannot be dealt with without the initiative of the US.

The United States is responsible for some 22 percent of current greenhouse gas emissions. Though it was recently found that China is the leading emitter, U.S. emissions are four times greater than China’s on a per capita basis. Even after receiving broad criticism from across the world, President George W. Bush has rejected mandatory limits on greenhouse gases. Even U.S. lawmakers are reluctant to commit their nation to deep cuts without similar obligations from China, India and other developing nations.

Via NewsWire

So, what does it take to bring on a new geological age? Members of the Stratigraphy Commission of the Geological Society of London give the following steps:

1. Change the atmosphere’s composition, thus modifying plants
2. Change the distribution and diversity of species, thereby changing the future fossil record
3. Acidify the oceans, which will modify mineral deposits on the ocean floor
Now does it sound familiar? Ah, you wouldn’t have to be Albert Einstein to know that the current times is the new geological age. This suggestion of planet Earth being taken over by one species (humans, of course, who else could be so inhuman,) was first made by Paul Crutzen in 2002. Crutzen, a Nobel Prize winner, then said we are now living in the Anthropocene, an age dominated by human activities.

I can’t understand why Crutzen’s study is not being taken seriously. Formalise the theory of the Anthropocene please. Most scientists and researchers agree and the others will that human activities are making widespread environmental changes. So much so that the bottom of the seas, highest layer of the atmosphere, and the poles are being affected. I am sure there will be n number of counter arguments and objections; let’s see what is in our fate…

Via NewsScientist

Save water, reduce greenhouse emissions; ride on the green road carved by Fujitsu

Japanese Electronic Giant Fujitsu plans to walk on a green road for its contribution towards the safety of the planet. Having bought a 200 KW hydrogen fuel cell from UTC, the company aims at providing power and heat to sprint the buildings covering its campus in California.

This single fuel cell is capable to offer two different types of energies to the plant. Hydrogen produced through burning methane with steam is flowed into a proton exchange membrane, thereby generating electricity that power computers and other electrical paraphernalia within the facility.

The process in turn produces heat when the hot water is cycled through the plant. The temperature of the water is too high that a small quantity of water has to be taken away as its temperature is unbearable for the internal working of the plant.

Likewise every move to have a green earth, reduce global warming; one cannot claim this option to be 100% eco-friendly option. But what catches eye and mind is the fact that the greenhouse emissions through this process are almost 35% of the normal. This simply means doing away with the 500 tons of carbon dioxide from the air along with saving about 800K gallons of water a year. Isn’t it a great move?

Against present 50% efficiency of the fuel cell, it can be 85% competent, if additional heat is captured from the process. This praiseworthy and efficient move of Fujitsu is aided by utility credits as the company has got a rebate of $500,000 ($2.50 rebate per watt) from Pacific Gas & Electricity. No doubt about the success of the Fujitsu’s initiative but yes success can go two-fold if the waste is minimized and cell works with its full efficiency.

Drawback: The installation of this system is accessible to the industry that works in a 24X7 environment. It is this feature only that Fujitsu doesn’t fall in a category to make the efficient use of its own invention.

Via NYTimes