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Major Solar Cell Producers in China and the world

Saturday, October 30, 2010

Bharatbook added a new report on “Research Report on Global and Chinese Solar Cell Industries, 2010-2011″ which gives the Prediction on the development of the global and Chinese solar cell industries.

Research Report on Global and Chinese Solar Cell Industries, 2010-2011

Despite the international financial crisis, the PV installed capacity in the world still exceeded 7 GW in 2009, 27% increase over 2008. In 2009, affected by the upcoming subsidy decline, the newly added installed capacity of Germany saw substantial growth, reaching 3.80 GW. It reached 1.50 GW in December 2009. In 2010, the installed capacity will continue to increase and even exceed 5.40 GW.

Chinese government is afraid that high subsidy will cause market speculation. Thus, it determines the feed-in tariff of every single project by bidding, controls the approval of the total capacity enjoying initial installation subsidy and does not release nationwide feed-in tariff. In 2009, the PV installed capacity of China rose from near 0.07 GW to 0.16 GW; the growth rate was higher than the world average. In 2010, promoted by the Golden Sun Project and new PV station bidding projects, the installed capacity of China is predicted to reach and even exceed 0.60 GW.

The global solar cell production has been rising at the annual average growth rate of 40% since 2000. Chinese solar cell industry enters the rapid development stage since 2005. A large number of enterprises are listed overseas in succession. The production and production capacity both see high-speed growth. In 2008, China surpassed Japan to become the global largest producer of solar cells. In Chinese solar cell industry, the share of the domestic market is small. Large quantities of products are exported to solar cell developed countries in Europe and North America. In the past five years, the export proportion of solar cells maintained over 95%. Namely, except that a small number of solar cells are installed in China, most products are exported.

In 2008, China’s export volume of solar cells added up to 1,960 MW. In 2009, the volume exceeded 3,000 MW. According to the data of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of China, the total production of solar cells in China reached 2.96 GW in January-August of 2010, up by 200.4% YOY. It is predicted that Chinese solar cell industry will maintain rapid development in 2011-2012.

Through this report, readers can acquire more information:
-Supply and demand situation in the global and Chinese solar cell industries
-Analysis of the world’s major PV markets by country
-Analysis of major solar cell producers in China and the world
-Import and export of solar cells in China
-Competition in the global solar cell industry
-Prediction on the development of the global and Chinese solar cell industries

Chinese LNG Industry is now in the peak period of development

Bharatbook added a new report on “Research Report on Chinese Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Industry, 2010-2011″ which gives the Prediction on the development of Chinese natural gas and LNG industry.

Research Report on Chinese Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) Industry, 2010-2011

Natural gas as a kind of clean energy is becoming increasingly popular. Its proportion in the energy supply rises rapidly. Accordingly, the LNG industry becomes one of the energy sectors realizing the fastest growth. In recent years, the global LNG production and trade acquire growing vitality. LNG is becoming a new hotspot in the world oil & gas industry. Some large energy consumption countries pay growing attention to the import of LNG. Japan, South Korea, USA and Europe are all constructing LNG receiving stations on a large scale. International oil giants also take LNG business as their new profit growth point successively. It is forecast that LNG will become another hot energy product next to oil which will arouse the global competition.

Chinese natural gas industry is now in the peak period of development and enjoys fast growing development. This can be reflected from the growth of the verified deposits and annual production of natural gas. In 2009, the newly verified deposits of natural gas in China came to 723.40 billion m3. The average verified deposits of the past six years reached 510.50 billion m3. Presently, the annual average verified deposits equal the total deposits verified in 1949-1988. Furthermore, Chinese natural gas production was 85.17 billion m3 in 2009 and the daily average production is almost equivalent to the annual production of 50 years ago.

In 2009, China’s natural gas production maintained the upward trend. The natural gas consumption accounted for 3.4% in the energy consumption. The rapid growth trend was not affected by the economic crisis. Despite the slight decline of the production growth rate, the production was increased in general.

In recent years, Chinese natural gas consumption market continues to expand, leading to the excessive development in the downstream market. As a result, the natural gas consumption capacity exceeds the production capacity. Foreign and private capitals are restricted in Chinese natural gas exploitation industry. Nevertheless, investors can enter the fields of dimethyl ether, coal bed gas and LNG since these fields are presently supported by the government and enjoy some preferential policies.

Through this report, readers can acquire more information:
-Status quo of Chinese natural gas and LNG industry
-Major LNG projects in China
-China’s LNG import
-Supply and demand of natural gas in China
-Development of Chinese natural gas and LNG industry by region
-Development environment of Chinese natural gas and LNG industry
-Prediction on the development of Chinese natural gas and LNG industry
-Prediction on investment opportunities in Chinese natural gas and LNG industry

Key Challenges to Widespread algae based biofuels commercialization

Bharatbook added a new report on “Algae-Based Biofuels” which examines the key growth drivers behind the algae-based biofuels market and outlines unresolved supply challenges.

Algae-Based Biofuels

Demand Drivers, Policy Issues, Emerging Technologies, Key Industry Players, and Global Market Forecasts

In the face of petroleum scarcity, increasing oil prices, market volatility, and climate change, a number of national governments are enacting strong mandates to develop domestic biofuels markets. Meanwhile, as concerns over the sustainability of first generation biofuels intensify, innovative startup companies, strategic partnerships led by large multinationals, and university-led research consortiums are spearheading efforts to develop low-cost and replicable production pathways for advanced biofuels derived from renewable biomass like algae. With no alternative to liquid fuel, the commercial aviation sector and U.S. military are looking to renewable fuel sources such as algae-based biofuels to reduce expenses and mitigate their acute vulnerability to petroleum supply chains.

Yielding 2 to 20 times more oil per acre than leading oilseed crops, algae’s productivity and scalability are its greatest advantages. On paper, algae could displace worldwide petroleum use altogether, however, the industry has yet to produce a drop of oil for commercial production. Although the algae-based biofuels market will grow rapidly once key cost hurdles are overcome, widespread scale-up will be hampered by a number of difficult challenges, including access to nutrients, water, and private capital. With the cost of production still a key obstacle to widespread production, many companies are refocusing production efforts on low-volume, high-value co-products to develop revenue streams over the next decade.

This report examines the key growth drivers behind the algae-based biofuels market and outlines unresolved supply challenges. It compares advantages and disadvantages of algae production pathways, leading cultivation techniques, and end-market opportunities. The report includes detailed 10-year market forecasts, segmented by world region, along with analysis of market conditions in key countries and profiles of key industry players that are shaping the emerging algae biofuels business.

Key questions addressed:

* What are the key drivers shaping demand for algae-based biofuels?
* Where will the highest algae-based biofuels production growth occur around the world?
* What are the different cultivation options for algae producers?
* What investment trends and strategic partnerships are driving growth?
* What are the key regulatory and policy issues facing the industry?
* What are the key challenges to widespread algae-based biofuels commercialization?
* What are the key technology trends emerging in the algae-based biofuels market?
* What role will biotechnology play in improving algae yields and what are the potential challenges to widespread GMO-based algae?
* Who are some of the players involved and what are their strategies?
* What are government emission regulations for locomotives and how will they impact the market?
* How large will the market for hybrid and genset locomotives be globally?
* Who are the key industry players in the hybrid locomotive market?

Government mandates for action on climate change

This section report addresses public agreement with the different types of policy that governments can use to tackle climate change. It presents evidence about how opinions differ by country, by attitudes towards climate change, party political support and other key demographics. Using cluster analysis, the public is categorized into six different groups according to their support for different types of policy. These ‘six degrees of policy support’ are extensively profiled within the report. This information can be used to guide particular policy initiatives and communication outputs by governments, political parties, and NGO lobby groups – within Canada, England and the USA. The analysis also takes a more detailed look at attitudes towards aviation emissions – which has been a prominent issue in England:

How popular is the idea of green taxation, as opposed to regulation, or investment?
Do those who are very concerned about climate change, ’Climate Citizens’, tend to support higher taxes on driving and/or flying?
Is there a significant group which is ‘undecided’ about what policies should be adopted to tackle climate change? And what is their demographic profile?
What policies would conservative voters tend to support?
How much do people’s attitudes towards climate change, and whether they personally fly, impact on their attitudes to limit airport expansion?
What proportion of people support all major policy initiatives to tackle climate change? And what is their demographic profile?

Citronella Oil, Natural Mosquito Repellent

Jar candles made with natural citronella oil are credited with keeping mosquitoes at bay. The aroma emitted from good quality citronella candles confuses mosquitoes, fleas, no see-ums and other insect pests. They are unable to find a target to bite when the citronella oil is in the air.

It is a mistake to place one large citronella candle in the middle of the table at an outdoor party. Instead, place many strongly scented citronella candles around the perimeter of the party to deter bugs from coming near. Use more candles inside the perimeter for best effect.

Because citronella oil is non-toxic, using these candles should not make people or animals sick. The scent of the oil released into the environment is not harmful to plants or the ozone layer.

Some people do not like to put lotions and sprays on their skin, so these candles are a wonderful option. Purchase citronella candles and holders or make your own.

A Revolutionary New Form Of Alternative Energy – Magniwork

A new innovation in alternative energy has just hit the market – its called Magniwork. This revolutionary new guide shows you step-by-step how to build your own fully functioning magnetic generator for just a few hundred dollars. If you have never heard of this device then let me explain what it entails. A magnetic generator is a device that uses an array of magnet to drive a flywheel that is, in turn, connected to a small electrical generator. Just think wind turbine without the wind! This device, if properly constructed can supply you with electrical energy for many years and needs hardly any maintenance. Best of all, because it doesn’t produce any fumes, and is practically silent when running it can be used indoors as well as out, meaning that it can be used in almost any kind of property from a small apartment to a large farmhouse. If you want to reduce your carbon footprint and save money at the same time then its time you had a look at Magniwork.

Generate Cheap Electricity Wherever You Are With Magniwork

If you live in a small apartment or flat then the chances are, you cant benefit from cheap electricity by generating your own. Wind turbines and solar panels all take up space and can be very expensive and technically difficult to install – not to mention the fact that they need a lot of space. Wouldn’t it be great, then, if you could build a machine that would provide you with a lifetime’s supply of clean and free electricity, and yet it was small enough to run inside a cupboard. Better still, what if it didn’t have any emissions and was virtually silent when running – in fact, what if it was so quiet that you could run it in a bedroom if you needed to. Well, its not science fiction, its reality, thanks to a new product called Magniwork. This guide shows you step by step bow to build just such a machine, and whats more, how to build it for just a few hundred dollars. Head online and check out the new Magniwork guide today.

Air Pollution Control Market for Coal Fired Power Plants

Air Pollution Control Market for Coal – Fired Power Plants to 2020 – Increasing Plant Capacity to Present Growth Opportunities

The report gives an in-depth analysis of the global Air Pollution Control Equipment (APCE) market for coal-fired power plants, covering four major regions – North America (USA and Canada), Europe, Asia–Pacific and the Rest of the World (South and Central America, the Middle East and Africa). The research analyzes the regulatory framework in the three most significant regions – North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, and the impact of regulations on the air pollution control market for coal-fired power plants.

The report covers market revenue forecasts for the air pollution control market for all the regions mentioned, and it also provides a detailed forecast of the market’s revenues by product type – Flue Gas Desulphurization (FGD), Nitrous Oxides (NOx), Electrostatic Precipitators (ESP) and Fabric Filters up to 2020. The report also includes geographic and cost analysis data for each product type.

Market Penetration of Mercury Control Technology Driven by MACT and Set to Expand Air Pollution Control Market
The Mercury Emission Control (MEC) business is currently being driven by the rules and regulations of 19 states in USA and several Canadian provinces. The MEC market is set to expand with new and more comprehensive Federal rules. Since the US Clean Air Act requires that all Maximum Achievable Control Technology MACT regulations drafted by the EPA for coal-fired boilers, covering 189 Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAP) including mercury (which is expected to be finalized by 2011), be met within 36 months, this is expected to create a sharp increase in market demand resulting in an expansion of the market starting late next year as utilities accelerate their efforts to become compliant by 2014.

Air Pollution Mitigation through Pollution Prevention Technologies Poses Threat to the Market
The high capital and operational costs of the APC technologies hinder their adoption. This in turn increases companies’ focus towards less expensive, mitigation-at-source technologies. Additionally, air pollution prevention technologies in this regard have the added advantage of high environmental performance.

Sony Ericsson's PlayStation Phone finally revealed

Yes, you're seeing the real deal. It's not some fan-made mock up of of what would be a fusion between your PSP and a smartphone. Presenting Sony Ericsson's PlayStation Phone, it's as real as it gets. The handset will most likely run on Android 3.0 with its own Sony Marketplace where you can download games and other content for the phone as well as the console functionalities.

Barnes & Noble's Nook Color unveiled, starting at $249

Looks like the mock up for the Nook Color was spot on. Barnes & Noble as officially revealed their e-book reader to compete with the likes of Amazon's Kindle. The Nook Color has a 7-inch touchscreen display -- yes, it's now being marketed as both a reader and a tablet. It runs on Android and has a UI that's expected from a tablet, complete with Facebook and Twitter applications

Buying Compostable Food Packaging - Why Official Certification by the Biodegradable Products Instit

Sunday, October 24, 2010

The Biodegradable Products Institute , or BPI, is the premier certifier of biodegradable products and food packaging in the United states. The BPI verifies materials as compostable according to the scientific specifications of ASTM D6400 & ASTM D6868.

Overview The Biodegradable Products Institute is a third party association comprised of individuals and businesses within the biodegradable products community.

Objectives The BPI has 3 objectives: 1. Instruction - It aims to educate individuals, organizations, and governmental groups of the advantages of employing compostable products. 2. Certification - It certifies products as compostable in a municipal composting facility and allows products that meet this certification to utilize the BPI logo on their packaging. 3. Alliances - It creates partnerships throughout the biodegradable materials and packaging niche to encourage more use and recovery of biodegradable supplies and the adoption of homogeneous standards for compostability throughout the world.

Certified Supplies The Biodegradable Products Institute has a list of products and materials that have been certified compostable according to ASTM standards. This list focuses on: - Compostable Trash and Produce Bags, - Compostable Food Packaging, - Compostable Polymers, and - Compostable Product Packaging

Why is the Biodegradable Products Institute Crucial? There exists a lack of awareness between both consumers and businesses that the scientific classifications of the words "biodegradable" and "compostable" signify two distinct things.

Materials that are recognized as compostable have to go through organic decomposition at a composting facility as part of a readily available program, such that the product is not visually identifiable and breaks down to carbon dioxide, water, inorganic substances, and biomass, at a speed consistent with known compostable substances (e.g. cellulose), and leaves no toxic residue. These items need to meet strict scientific specifications that make certain that: 1) the item biodegrades by sixty to ninety percent in one hundred and eighty days (biodegradability), 2) that less than ten percent of the leftover item is of a size 2mm or greater (disintegration), and 3) that the material leaves no levels of heavy metals in the soil or compost above that of a control group (eco toxicity).

Products that are biodegradable though only have to degrade as a result of naturally existing microbes (e.g., bacteria) over the course of a period of time. There is in this case however no time requirement for this degredation.

Consequently, several products in the market are actually greenwashing (e.g., Perfectouch Hot Cups) and misinforming consumers of their environmental qualities by claiming they are compostable when they are actually just biodegradable and don't satisfy the standards of ASTM D-6400 or D6868.

Buying Compostable Products Organizations and consumers that are seeking to buy compostable products and packaging should search for products that are certified by the BPI or another 3rd party certifier (e.g., OK Compost).

Do You Think We Need Fluoride In Our Drinking Water?

Fluoride compounds in water may be naturally occurring or added by treatment facilities in an effort to reduce tooth decay. Tooth decay is still a major public health concern in industrialized countries, even with advancements in preventative dental care.

Dentists feel that regular brushing and flossing is more helpful than anything, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recognizes the fluoridation of public drinking water supplies as one of the 10 great public health achievements of the 20th Century.

Also included on the CDC’s top 10 is “control of infectious diseases”. In the full report, the authors specifically mentioned the control of typhoid and cholera that was achieved by disinfecting public drinking supplies. Other achievements mentioned on the list include vaccination and safer, healthier foods.

There is some controversy surrounding all of those subjects. Whether or not today’s foods are safer and healthier than those available in the past is debatable. There has been a growing amount of interest in organics and foods sourced from small local farms, as opposed to mass-produced foods.

There have always been critics of the decision to put fluoride in our drinking water. There are potential negative health effects, which may outweigh the possible benefits of tooth decay prevention.

The risks are particularly great to senior citizens, people with kidney dysfunctions and people suffering from calcium or magnesium deficiencies. Some consider fluoridation a form of mass medication without consent. The public does not have the ability to choose whether or not to fluoridate.

There are critics of vaccinations. One well-known doctor lost his license to practice, because he advised against vaccinating infants. His theory was that vaccinations were associated with autism. If there is a link between the two, it is likely because of a mercury-based preservative which is being phased out of vaccinations meant for children aged three and under.

The fluoride in our drinking water may be safer than some popular foods, particularly when a person’s long-term health is considered. Man-made trans-fatty acids, which are found in any foods containing partially hydrogenated vegetable oils have been linked to heart disease, stroke, obesity and cancer.

The risk of consuming trans-fats is not debatable. There is no question about it. Yet, the US government allows manufacturers to use the label “zero grams of trans-fats” if the product contains less than one gram per serving.

It is really up to the individual to make a decision about the risks of benefits of fluoride compounds in water, just as the individual must decide what he or she will eat every day. We can make efforts to protect our health and the health of our family.

We don’t have to rely on the government to protect us. One thing we can do is invest in a good home water purifier.

Rise of the Green-Collar Phenomenon

I’ve come across the term ‘green-collar sector’ and was intrigued to learn more. As a responsible person-of-the-planet I do feel that if you can choose to do something in an eco-way, then do it.

I was always brought up to believe as a child that ‘waste not want not’. For example: in South Africa (where I am from) you are very aware of how precious water is so you do not leave a tap running (while washing dishes, while brushing teeth, etc) because you never know when a drought is going hit. Also, at the dinner table…you never leave anything on your plate (because there are starving people all over the world and you do not waste food).

So, when I saw this ‘green-collar’ term being used, I was interested to read how this was infiltrating into the world of franchising.

As slightly predictable (at least in the UK), it seems the property market is being targetted as the ‘industry’ of choice when it comes to choosing a franchise business that is eco-friendly. The ones I could find are based on:

Eco-friendly property maintenance/home improvement

Improving air quality in the home

Energy efficiency reporting for properties

I’m sure there are more! I know of some children’s franchises that are aimed at the eco-market which are fabulous and are really just bringing things back down to the good old days when we used to just use what was lying around the house; keep using items until they were broken or worn out before buying a new one; etc.

I would be really interested to hear more about the evolution of green-collar franchises and hope that they will be both genuinely eco-minded and ethical in the structure of their business models.

How could you bring in some eco-ways to operate your business? Well, here are a few of my suggestions – take from them what you will and if you are doing some that I haven’t mentioned, please do drop me a comment and let me know!

Only have staff come in on certain days (work from home on other days) – save on petrol/carbon emissions

Recycle everything that you can in your office (paper, cardboard, tins, printer cartridges, etc)

Buy recycled goods (e.g. paper, folders, etc)

Hold virtual meetings with national staff (avoid long travel and staying in hotels)

Re-use folders (lever arch files) from one year to the next

Use a server host who has eco-friendly systems

Try to keep as much written communication saved on your harddrives (less printing) as possible

If more and more franchisors could incorporate a green ethos within the modelling of their franchise offerings imagine what a difference that could make in growing businesses for the future. Wouldn’t it be great if it almost became a STANDARD in all franchised businesses?

Cheap Radio City Christmas Spectacular Tickets

The Christmas Eve is one of the much awaited and celebrated event in US and Americans try to look forward what kind of entertainment they may get to plan their Xmas holidays accordingly. The annual music show presented by the Radio City Christmas Spectacular is the most sought after event during the celebration days. The main show is performed at the Radio City Music Hall in New York City and it has become a Xmas tradition in NYC. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular cheers the audience that is usually live seen by more then 1 million visitors each year. The 2010 Radio City Christmas Spectacular will start on November 5th and will last till December 30th. The marvelous musical show is famous for its 140 performers, luxurious sets, costumes and musical scores. The show will follow the same pattern of previous years but this time Rockettes will start the show by showing their supreme precision dance skills. These precision dancers are the heart of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular show and are selected after several rounds of auditions. This year’s auditions for the Rockettes have already been supervised by Linda Haberman, the famous director and choreographer of the Christmas show. Linda has selected the Rockettes performers and now the rehearsals are going on. For the upcoming Christmas show, the first solo female director and choreographer has introduced a new dance “Sleighride”. Her choreographed dance will start at the North Pole with Rockettes in reindeer costumes, and then Santa will make his appearance and next he flies to New York and arrives at Radio City, via the 3D movie. This is different from the last year opening performance that started with a 3D film of Santa. The Radio City Christmas Spectacular show is a tradition of the New York but its extended versions are now also available in more than 25 cities of the Midwest and West Coast. To thrill the New Yorkers the Madison Square Garden Entertainment (MSGE) and Cirque du Soleil has announced a lucky draw named (US dollar)1 Million Snow Day. In the game 100 lucky winners will get (US dollar)10000 each but with condition that snow must fall in the New York City's Central Park on Nov 17th 2010 to officially evaluate the winners. The show has begun on October 16 and Wednesday, November 9th till 11:59pm PST will be the last day for participants to enter. The winners will be randomly selected and informed on November 10th. For the season 2010, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular first time in its history has entered into a partnership with the famous design team of Martha Stewart to transform their main grand foyer and grand lounge public spaces into a festive and winter wonderland. This new transformation will delight the visitors and make their Radio City Christmas Spectacular experience more unique and memorable and joyous. So come and avail your cheap radio city christmas spectacular tickets and enjoy the entertainment package.

LED lighting systems Go Green - Save Green - Live Green

Conserving the natural resources around us has become very important as it can help us protect our environment. This is why people are now becoming more conscious and are switching to eco-friendly products at their homes. The home owners now prefer to opt for LED lighting systems that are popular with different industries also. Using the energy efficient lighting can help us get green homes.

The LED lighting retrofitting has gained popularity as it allows us to go green and save green. When we switch to these lighting then we are able to save trees which are very essential for a healthy planet. The lights also consume less energy as compared to the other kinds of lightings which makes them highly efficient. Opting for LED retrofit can help the users to save a lot of energy which is eventually reflected in their electricity bills. Thus going green is good for the planet and is easy on your pocket.

Another reason that makes LED lights earth friendly light is that they do not release carbon or harmful pollutants like lead. When you use LED lighting systems them in place of the incandescent bulbs and CFL bulbs then you also cut down on the level of pollution that is released in the atmosphere. It is one of the easiest ways to reduce your carbon footprints which is otherwise harmful for the living beings. When we use the LED lighting at our homes and office then we can also experience a reduction in overhead cost. The LED bulbs can work for approximately 75,000 hours which means that once you get the retrofitting, you would not have to buy new bulbs for years to come.Another benefit of retrofitting is that the LED bulbs do not emit heat. Because of this you are able to maintain the temperature of the room. This implies that you can use the air conditioner at a lower level and can enjoy reduction in air conditioning bills as well.

Different kinds of LED fixtures are now available in the markets and have allowed the buyers to experiment with their lightings. You can choose the LED retrofit that may be suitable for your décor. If you can’t afford the extra expense then free retrofit service is provided by Energy Smart Industries that deals with the same. Their flexible and customized lighting solutions make it convenient for you to get the LED lighting system installed without paying anything. Once the LEDs have been installed and you start saving on your energy bills, you can simply pay the company back through those savings.

Switching to environment friendly lighting can help you protect the trees and maintain a greener planet. The LED solutions are now popularly used in residential buildings, office buildings, hospitals, schools, outdoor units and numerous other places. So if you also wish to be environment friendly then the LED lights can help you with it. It increases the value of your green home and also ensures that no harm comes to the environment.

Pollution: the solution is in the green building

Have been published a few days ago the annual report data on pollution among various cities in Italy compiled by the Italian green association Legambiente.

This year on the podium of the cleanest cities were ranked the city of Belluno, Verbania and Parma and at the foot of the standings there are Palermo, Catania and Crotone. An alarming situation when one considers that, with the exception of Turin, all urban centers with more than half a million people have worsened their conditions of environmental health. Are placed on top of the worsening fact the four major Italian cities Rome, Milan, Naples and Palermo. The ranking is based on several metrics, including public transport, waste collection, sewage treatment, pedestrian areas and other elements that denote sensitivity and activities aimed at protecting the environment. Many are in fact the elements that contribute to the ruin of the environmental status of cities. But certainly the largest and most impressive of these has always been that emissions from cars and homes. Just think of the countless car daily driving on our roads and numerous heating and air conditioning throughout the year that put many toxic substances in the air.

Although these consequences seem inevitable solution from the world of construction technology is becoming increasingly popular through several buildings: green building. It is this type of construction means that emissions are minimized by the isolation inherent in these types of domestic buildings which are mostly made of wood. Just wooden houses are indeed the new frontier for both the building and for the ecology. The wooden houses also rely on their side many advantages that are not insignificant both economically and technologically. The houses and wooden roofs because they are fast to build, light to carry, well insulated in winter and in summer it is not by chance have been chosen as a symbol of the reconstruction after the earthquake of L'Aquila.

But beyond these practical advantages of the wooden houses are unique and durable alternative that can turn even the simplest home in a warm friendly atmosphere and modern style. And designers of the timber industry has been called the equipment of the new millennium and the only material to triple zero: zero emissions, zero miles and zero garbage. Not only homes but also in sheds and wooden furniture designs that are usually placed as lamps, accessories, beds, wardrobes. And just in design wood can give any home a warmth and intimacy that is characteristic only of this material and no one else. But the advantages of wood does not end here, because this material has an ease of work unmatched by any other material used for construction those have a devastating effect on the environment in which it is used. In addition wood is considered the material "preferred" by the Fire Department due to its resistance to high temperatures, especially important when considering developments that have many plants in them as condominiums and public buildings.

News on Natural gas and Shale Gas across the World

The declarations made by the Energy Department in Washington rendered that, the Gas shipments to the United States of America will be around be 1.25 billion cubic feet per day for this year, this was predicted to be around 1.83 billion, in early of this year and the production of the shale gas is expected to reach 61.21 billion cubic feet per day by the end of this current year. According to Houston-based Baker Hughes Inc.The oil wells for sale and natural gas well companies latest tidings are available in the Natural gas . report, around 912 horizontal rigs for shale gas drilling was dug in the various parts of the United States. Teri Viswanath, the Director of commodities researches at the Credit Suisse Securities in Houston declared that, prices in the United States are lacking strength due to excessive production and the situation is not increasing.The Energy Department produced its data regarding the production of the shale wells; it showed that, the production percentage rose around 71 percent in the 2008; this may contribute around 34 percent of the output in 2035.

In the United Kingdom for the past 19 months, the cost of the natural gas is dropped to a fortunate premium because they were against trading supplies in the New York and the Qatar has commenced to export the liquefied fuel. The recent declarations made by the natural gas manufacturers of the Middle East emirates, they are planning to embark on a couple of plants by the next year and they would be promoting the export quantity, that will be around one- fourth of the total consumption of the United Kingdom. Qatar had also refreshed the six units which were closed for maintenance purposed will be revived.

According to the London-based Interconnector said that, the rate of gas flow from United Kingdom to various parts of the Europe was increased around 59 million cubic meters, this was the highest transfer rate of the gas since 1998. The rates of the gas price in the Great Britain will average around $5.62 per million British thermal unit in the year 2011 and there should be a reduction in the consumption. The Barclays report declared that, the forthcoming liquefaction plants and the decelerating universal demand rise, in the next year will not cause any deficit on the supply of LNG in the United Kingdom and Atlantic Basin. The purchasers in the Europe including the GDF Suez SA, the proprietor of the largest natural gas network in the Europe, are raising the purchase of the fuels in the global market and the Brent crude oil has raised their percent of purchase around 24 and $83.43 per barrel.

The oil wells for sale and natural gas well companies latest tidings are available in the Natural gas . This website provides bountiful information regarding the oil wells and natural gas wells and natural gas investment taking place across the world.

Is a Green Bathroom Remodel in Your Future? Its Easier Than You Think!

If you're planning a bathroom remodel in the near future, why not explore the new products and materials designed and produced to save money and save the environment? No longer in the expensive category of only a few years ago, these new products and materials compete very well with everything else out there. And when you compare the cost advantages over time, the allowances offered by manufacturers and the government, its crazy not to at least consider a green bathroom remodel.

Toilets, for instance, have come a long way, baby! Today you can't even buy one that uses 3-plus gallons of water to flush. And, if you recall the buzz about the inefficiency of the newer "low flow" models of a couple of years ago, you're operating on a false premise. A green bathroom remodel wouldn't be complete without looking into a new toilet! New designs, larger discharge and smarter manufacturing provides toilets with operations that match their older counterparts flush by flush. In fact, you probably won't even notice you're doing your part for the planet when you flip the lever!

Your bathroom vanity countertop can also now be made to be both beautiful and Earth loving with the use of recycled materials. These include recycled glass, scrap aluminum, concrete and (if you can believe it) old recycled paper. Some very attractive countertops today are made by combining paper, fly ash—a by-product of coal combustion—and an eco-binder, such as epoxy. You may have even had a morning cup of coffee at a favorite bistro on a paper countertop and not know it! Some are made entirely of recycled glass, with a new unique look and are comparable in cost, strength, heat resistance and durability to granite.

The bathroom floor is getting some attention, too. Linoleum, invented in 1863 (think Civil War) now has some real competition. New types are so healthy for us and our environment that they cover the floors of many large Health Care facilities and hospitals. There are even floors made by using a pressed combination of burlap, canvas, linseed oil and flour! Almost makes me hungry. Laminate flooring can be manufactured to look like almost anything and tiles are made in a wild array of planet friendly styles and textures. Even the rugs have gone green!

What about the walls? Your green bathroom remodel could even mean painting the walls ... er ... green. How about soy based paint? Clay paint, which can look like adobe is a natural choice and one that will give the room a rustic or Tuscan feel. You can have your milk and paint it too ... by using all natural organic milk paint. Not only do these paints look beautiful, but they last as long or longer than regular latexes. Also, new paints are coming on the scene all the time to not only make your home brilliant, but many are made to fight germs and reduce mold and mildew!

Low flow, water saving faucets and shower heads are designed now to feel just like the old kind, but use much less water. This is due to atomizers and pulsators that mix air and H2O and reduce the actual amount being delivered. This not only saves water, but the energy to heat the water as well. And, the new designs are very cool, with new materials and finishes to match anything!

So, before you start in on that bathroom remodel, think about making it a green bathroom remodel. Take a look around your bath and see what you can do to bring that room into the twenty first century! Then go spend some time in a big box retailer or plumbing or bath fixture store. See what they have to offer and how you can save some money and the planet while you're there. For more information, free tips and ideas go to RemodelQuickTips.com and click on GREEN BATH TIPS in the navigator column.

Durand Demlow is a commercial designer, home remodeler and website developer. His knowledge and career has given him the experience to create a website focused on helping do-it-yourselfers and homeowners with free remodeling and decorating tips and ideas. His website, RemodelQuickTips.com is an ever-changing resource of DIY concepts and advice.

Mist Humidifiers - Things You Need to Know

Air humidifiers are used to maintain the appropriate level of humidity in your home. The humidifiers act to keep the humidity level within the healthy limits and prevent various undesired effect of dryness to you as well as your wood furniture and other precious objects. The humidifiers help to prevent the sinus headache, dry skin, sneezing, and coughing that usually occur due to dry air.

The mist humidifiers can be of two types, the warm moisture or warm mist and cool moisture or cool mist humidifiers. The different types act differently but produce the same result. They are designed to improve the level of humidity in air. The selection of a cool or warm humidifier depends on personal preference.

The warm moisture humidifiers make use of a heating component for warming up the water available in the humidifier, leading to generation of hot steam inside the room. Some of the warm mist humidifiers are also designed with an optional absorption pad intended for mineral absorption. This is set in the heating component and it gathers the mineral deposit generated from the warm water. The amount of mineral deposit depends on the hardness of the water. This optional pad is very economical. There is no other filter that requires changing with the warm mist humidifier. Although the heating component makes use of more electricity compared to a cool mist humidifier, the warm ones also prove cost effective in the long run.

The water inside a warm mist humidifier is very hot; therefore, you need to be careful to prevent your children from nearing it. The warm moisture humidifier makes the room air little warmer because of the warm steam it disperses in the air. The warm moisture humidifiers are ideal for smaller rooms as these are not fit to generate sufficient moisture for covering a larger area.

The cool mist humidifiers can be categorized into two types, the Ultrasonic humidifiers and Evaporative humidifiers.

The ultrasonic humidifier utilizes a tiny metal diaphragm that vibrates at ultrasonic frequency. It generates small water droplets that in turn get converted into a vapor mist. It disperses mineral from the water. These minerals are called white dust. Generation of white dust can be checked by using distilled water in the system. Such humidifiers function with almost no sound.

The evaporative humidifiers utilize a fan, which blows off the dry air of the room through the evaporative wick filter. This filter is made of absorbent, paper-based materials and set within the humidifier's base for soaking water. The water present in the wick filter gets evaporated when the air is blown through it by the fan. This evaporated air is spread in the room as humidified air. The wick filter may lead to the growth of bacteria and fungi. However, using antibacterial cartridges and bacteria treatments will help to stop this problem. In every two months you need to replace the wick filter for best use.

Pollution Rules for Us Oil and Coal Eased

Sunday, September 26, 2010

The US government gave the energy industry a big victory yesterday by relaxing the air pollution rules for coal-burning power stations and oil refineries.

Democrat politicians and environmentalists condemned it as a huge step backwards in the battle against global warming.

The environmental protection agency's long-awaited recommendations - the object of years of intense lobbying by the US power industry - give electricity producers greater flexibility in expanding their output without having to install additional emission controls.

Its administrator, Christie Todd Whitman, said the reforms were "common sense", and would reduce pollution by increasing efficiency. The US is by far the biggest emitter of fossil fuel gases in the world.

The industry has argued for years that regulations inhibited the expansion energy production, a position boosted last year when Vice-President Dick Cheney's energy taskforce recommended that the rules should be re-examined.

"The need for reform is clear and has broad-based support," Ms Whitman said. "Our common commitment to environmental protection need not be an obstacle to having the most modern and efficient energy infrastructure in the world."

The EPA plans will raise the threshold of expansion that must be reached before power plants are required to introduce additional controls on smog, soot and acid rain.

The utilities will also be allowed to choose to use the pollution levels from any 24-month period in the last 10 years to set the baseline above which that threshold will be set.

And the currently vague definition of "routine repairs", which do not require additional controls, is to be clarified in ways which campaigners fear will define almost any modification as "routine".

Ari Fleischer, the White House spokesman, argued that the new rules would reduce pollution. "Many of these people who are affected have chosen to leave in place old equipment, which pollutes more, rather than replace it and modernise it, which pollutes less," he said.

But environmentalists said the measures would produce millions of tons of additional pollution from older, dirtier coal-burning plants: amounting to a dilution of the Clean Air Act.

The US has been condemned for refusing to sign the Kyoto protocol, which would force it to reduce carbon emissions.

"The Bush administration appears determined to be the most anti-environmental force our nation has ever endured," said Mark Helm of Friends of the Earth USA.

"There is an undisputed link between air pollution and premature death. We're moving in the [wrong] direction."

Buck Parker, of the Californian group Earthjustice, said the government had "dropped a dirty bomb, and it's going to cost thousands of American lives."

Their concern was echoed by the Democratic leader of the Senate, Tom Daschle, who said he was "very, very saddened by the news again today, that once again clean air takes a back seat to the polluters and the special interests that seem to have such power in this administration."

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