Dec, 2020

8 Ways You Can Help Protect Coral Reefs

Coral reefs play an essential role in the health of the oceans and the economy of coastal countries. Some of them even serve those who live far from the sea. Unfortunately, they are threatened by overfishing, global warming, ocean acidification, and pollution produced on the continents. Here are some tips that you can use to help preserve coral reefs:

1) Choose Sustainable Fisheries

Sustainable fishing takes into account rules that include the conservation of fish stocks and the ecosystems that conserve them. However, in most countries, sustainable consumption is still in its infancy. For instance, most of the more than 500,000 tons of seafood extracted in Brazil are produced unsustainably. The positive point is that some initiatives have built fish tracking systems that can inform consumers via smartphone about the purchased fish’s origin. In other places, the answer is to ask the sellers where the fish comes from.

2) Do Not Gift People Corals

Corals are often used as decoration or ornaments. However, they are living animals that eat, grow, and reproduce, and it takes many decades to form a reef structure. Every time someone gives a coral as a gift, they create the demand to collect these animals illegally. When a coral is taken from a reef, the corals around it often don’t resist and die.

3) Educate Yourself About Coral Reefs

Look for information about corals and understand why reefs are so valuable to people, fish, plants, and animals. Reefs have as much biodiversity as tropical forests and are home to more species than any other marine environment. Know the different threats to corals, and you can help others understand their vulnerability and importance.

4) Do Not Touch Corals When Diving

Coral reefs are beautiful and should be appreciated, but you should not touch them. They are living creatures, and when touched, the sediments that are lifted can suffocate them. Corals are sessile animals; they are attached to the seabed and “root,” as plants do. So it is no wonder that many people believe that these animals are plants.

5) Volunteer in Cleaning Program

Keep an eye on coral cleaning campaigns and join in. Cleaning the beach is also essential because the dumped ashore waste eventually ends up on the reefs. If you live far from the beaches, you can help with campaigns to protect the watershed: the pollution of the rivers also reaches the sea and damages the health of the corals.

6) Save Water

The less water used, the less sewage water ends up in the sea. Moreover, all the water flows from each continent to the sea carries sediments and pollutants that contribute to the spread of algae, making the seawater cloudy and reducing the corals’ light.

7) Be a ‘’Marine Waste Inspector’’

When you go to the beach, try to bring your garbage and the garbage left by other people in the sand and water as well. The waste on the beach is unpleasant and a threat to the survival of various marine organisms, including corals. The oceans are already full of plastic; for instance, 8 million tons of plastic waste was thrown into the sea in 2010 alone. This is equivalent to about 15 shopping bags filled with plastic debris.

8) Do Not Throw Chemicals Into Rivers or the Sea

No matter how far they are from the coast, hydrographic basins end up dumping their water into the ocean. When this freshwater is polluted with chemicals, they reach the oceans and eventually end up in the corals. Products such as fertilizers, for example, have nutrients that accelerate the growth of algae, causing the seawater to become cloudy. This prevents the passage of light, which damages the corals.

What else do you think people can do to help protect coral reefs? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

Dec, 2020

Wildlife Near Extinction: Which Species Are Currently Under Threat?

Wildlife conservation can be defined as protecting animal species and their habitats. Generally, wildlife conservation practices are applied to species that are in danger of extinction through unnatural causes, such as pollution, climate change, hunting or encroaching on that species’ natural habitat.

For instance, water pollution and rising water temperatures have affected the Great Barrier Reef, causing large stretches of the reef to die. In fact, it is estimated that around 89% of the eco-system has perished since 2016. Since the Great Barrier Reef also supports thousands of different species of marine life, the domino effect has been incalculable. Another example would be farmers shooting wolves and other predators to protect their livestock, rather than investing in fencing or other measures to protect their animals.

What Animals are Currently Facing Extinction?

Rhinoceros

Even though a lot has been done in recent years to protect African rhinos, it is still not uncommon for 5 or 6 rhinos to be killed each day for food or sport. Of the 5 species still in existence, the Javan rhinos are the most threatened, with 60 individuals surviving in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia.

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest of the living rhinoceroses and the only Asian rhino with two horns. They are covered with long hair and are more closely related to the extinct woolly rhinos than any of the other rhino species alive today. Two different subspecies, the western Sumatran and eastern Sumatran cling for survival on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo. Experts believe the third subspecies is probably extinct.

Gorilla

There are three species of gorillas that are on the IUCN Endangered list, with the Cross River gorillas being the most threatened. These great apes live along the forested hills and mountains of the Cameroon-Nigeria border region at the headwaters of the Cross River in Nigeria. By the last count, there are about 200-300 Cross River gorillas left, with conservation efforts focusing on securing the forests that house them

The next vulnerable species of gorilla are the Mountain Gorillas, spread across national parks in Rwanda, Uganda and the Democratic Republic of Congo. As the name implies, mountain gorillas live in forests high in the mountains, at elevations of 8,000 to 13,000 feet. They have thicker fur, and more of it, compared to other great apes. The fur helps them to survive in a habitat where temperatures often drop below freezing. But as humans have moved more and more into the gorillas’ territory, the gorillas have been pushed farther up into the mountains for longer periods, forcing them to endure dangerous and sometimes deadly conditions. Their population is estimated to be around 880 individuals.

Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbills are found mainly throughout the world’s tropical oceans, predominantly in coral reefs. They feed mainly on sponges by using their narrow pointed beaks to extract them from crevices on the reef, but also eat sea anemones and jellyfish. Sea turtles are the living representatives of a group of reptiles that have existed on Earth and traveled our seas for the last 100 million years. They are a fundamental link in marine ecosystems and help maintain the health of coral reefs and seagrass beds. Hawksbill Turtles are one of the species that are considered to be “critically endangered.”

Amur Leopard

People usually think of leopards in the savannas of Africa, but in the Russian Far East, a rare subspecies has adapted to life there. Similar to other leopards, the Amur leopard can run at speeds of up to 37 miles per hour. The Amur leopard is solitary. Nimble-footed and strong, it carries and hides unfinished kills so that they are not taken by other predators. The last remaining viable wild population is estimated to be a few more than 60 individuals.

Pangolin

These solitary and primarily nocturnal animals are easily recognized by their full armor of scales. Also called scaly anteaters because of their preferred diet, pangolins are increasingly victims of illegal wildlife crime—mainly in Asia and in growing amounts in Africa—for their meat and scales. Eight species of pangolins are found on two continents. They range from Vulnerable to Critically Endangered.

Vaquita

Vaquita, the world’s rarest marine mammal, is on the edge of extinction. This little porpoise wasn’t discovered until 1958 and a little over half a century later, we are on the brink of losing them forever. Vaquita are often caught and drowned in gillnets used by illegal fishing operations in marine protected areas within Mexico’s Gulf of California. More than half of the population has been lost in the last three years.

What Can You do to Help Conservation?

There are several steps you can take as an individual to help wildlife conservation. Even if these don’t seem like much, if we all do our part, we can hopefully halt and even reverse the current extinction trends:
Leave only footprints. Indeed, you can start by picking up your trash to take care of our nature. And maybe join a local pickup day?
Limit your amount of plastic usage. 8 million tons of plastic is dumped into our oceans every year affecting our sea mammals, birds and water quality.
Check your medicine cabinet! More than 25% of all medicine prescribed contains animal products; if possible, find an alternative that does not. If you are travelling throughout Asia, pay extra attention to traditional medicines you find here as many contain products from endangered or threatened species!
Stay informed. Keep reading about conservation and the newest research to educate yourself. You will then know how to contribute in the best way towards the sustainable treatment of our animals.

Everyone’s responsibility!

Taking care of the world’s wildlife is everyone’s responsibility. The big corporate companies have a lot of power over what is produced. However, demand from the consumers is equally as important. Know that your actions have power too. Such as your consumption habits, the traces you leave in terms of waste, as well as your awareness and worded opinions.

Green Trends That Are Quite Important

Going “green” has turned into a significant social movement these days. More and more people are realizing that we don’t live on a planet with inexhaustible resources and at some point, perhaps even as soon as our children’s lifetime, we will either start exhausting resources or producing so much waste that our planet will be in serious trouble.

This article discusses the positives and negatives of going and not going green. There are many simple green living tips that are easy to implement, have significant potential to change our current course, and help you save money and resources. It is certainly worth giving some of these simple lifestyle changes a try.

Here I have outlined a few businesses you can consider that will bring in some money and help the environment all at the same time.

Selling Green Cars

No not the color green, but cars that meet the criteria of being environmentally friendly. Are they hybrids? Can they run off of alternative fuels? What is the fuel source that it uses? These are types of green cars. More and more people are demanding better fuel efficiency from their vehicles and just as important they do not want them to run off of gasoline. Capital to start this type of business could be anywhere from ten thousand to a million depending on how large you want to get. But if you want to make a difference this is a good way to do it.

Organic Food

You see the stories on the news about health issues with food. From salmonella to ecoli bacteria outbreaks, how safe is our food when thousands of people are handling it? Organic food offers a safer and more natural way to putting good food on the table. It has taken root so strong that now there is even a certification to let consumers know that certain foods have been inspected to be 100% Organic. This business idea can go off in many directions, from growing the food, transporting it, to selling it at a store so capital here for this business is very broad.

Reusable Shopping Bags

This one has started to explode but overall really just in its infancy. Reusable shopping bags can be sold for any as low as one dollar up to thirty dollars depending on what is printed on them and the size. They replace the traditional paper or plastic question because with reusable shopping bags customers bring them with them every time they shop. With more and more stores giving small discounts for every bag used this business will go nowhere but up. You can get in on this business for less than one thousand dollars if you find a grocery store to work with and even less if you can find food manufacturers to advertise in a coupon booklet that gets included in each bag when a customer buys one.

Green Financing

Last on our list is green financing. Last because this type of business will require some financing knowledge and course a lot of money to get going. This type of business lends money like a bank or private investor for the sole purpose of starting and running businesses that are green in nature. Capital could be significant for this business and it isn’t for the faint of heart. But if you have a mind for finance and could put together a team of investors this could be the way to go.

These green businesses range from the very easy to the very involved just like any other type of business. So do your homework before you begin, talk to some counselors at S.C.O.R.E, write up your business plan and make sure your dot your “I’s” and cross your “t’s” before you spend your hard earned money.

Dec, 2020

A Look at the Bright Side of Nuclear Energy

When you hear the words nuclear energy, what is the first thing you think of? Hiroshima and Nagasaki? Or the Chernobyl disaster?

It’s sometimes easy to forget that nuclear energy is actually one of the cleanest and safest energy sources around. This article aims to re-introduce you to this oft-forgotten fact.

What Is Nuclear Energy?

Nuclear energy, also known as atomic energy, refers to the energy in the nucleus (the core of an atom). This energy is released through something called nuclear fission, where atoms are split through chain reactions in a nuclear reactor. Nuclear fusion is another process which releases nuclear energy from atoms but differs from nuclear fission in that it involves combining two light nuclei to release energy.

This same energy is used to create electricity and as a result, it is noted that nuclear energy can easily replace the use of fossil fuels in the world. But, due to the heart-wrenching tragedies that occurred, countries and governments are scared to use nuclear energy, unaware of its vast benefits, which include:

1. Low Cost

Although the construction of nuclear power plants may be very costly, it is very cost-effective in the production of electricity. Electricity produced by nuclear energy is much cheaper than that produced by gas, coal or oil.

Furthermore, in contrast to the rise in prices of fossil fuels, there is no price inflation for nuclear energy which means that its costs are more likely to remain stable. It can either stay the same or even decrease due to advances in technology.

2. Job Creation

It is noted that nuclear power stations can provide job opportunities to people. For example, in the United States, the nuclear industry provides nearly half a million job opportunities to people and contributes approximately $60 billion in its Gross Domestic Product every year.

3. Land Usage

The most shocking benefit of nuclear energy is how not only can it produce more carbon-free electricity, it can also operate on a smaller amount of land. A great example is a nuclear facility in the United States that uses a little under 1 square mile to produce electricity whereas a solar power plant would need 75 times more space to produce the same amount of electricity.

4. Carbon Emissions

One huge criticism over the use of fossil fuels is the tons of carbons emissions it produces. However, did you know that using nuclear energy will not result in any carbon emissions?

When a significant amount of carbon is being released in the atmosphere, both our climate and our ozone layer are being deeply affected. The overabundance of carbon dioxide produced is in fact the main reason behind climate change and global warming.

However, with nuclear energy, our planet is safer. As per the Nuclear Energy Institute(NEI), the electricity produced by atomic energy stops 528 million tons of carbon dioxide from being released in the atmosphere. Hence, nuclear energy helps us in our combat against climate change and global warming.

5. Protection of Quality of Air

When we burn fossil fuels to produce energy, there are also some pollutants that are released which affects the quality of the air we breathe, like sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and other harmful pollutants. However, nuclear energy does not contribute to the production of such contaminants in the air! Instead, if we switch to nuclear energy, we can ensure that our precious air is free from these air pollutants that can cause acid rains and lead to lung cancer disease in human beings.

6. High Reliability

Despite being renewable sources of energy, solar and wind energy require the sun and wind to function. These climatic conditions are not always present in the required amounts, which can lead to lower production of energy. However, nuclear energy can be generated at any time, irrespective of outside conditions, which increases its level of reliability.

7. High Energy Density

The process of nuclear fission is said to generate more significant amounts of energy compared to the amount of energy produced through the burning of fossil fuels. The process is said to be very efficient and as a result, lower amounts of nuclear fuel is required by the nuclear power plant. This not only leads to a reduction in nuclear energy production costs but also in an increase in energy produced within one nuclear power plant.

8. Future Energy Supply

The most important advantage of nuclear energy is that it represents a unique and inexhaustible source of energy for future generations. If it is adequately regulated and controlled, no fatal disasters can occur and the Earth can enjoy the benefits of nuclear energy.

So, do you still think that using nuclear energy is not the right decision? Please share your comments!

Dec, 2020

How Sustainable Are Biodegradable Plastics?

In the current world, great strides are being made to eliminate the use of plastics in our everyday life. However, it can also be argued that while we should aim to use less plastics, we can’t forgo it completely. For example, there isn’t a better alternative to plastic when it comes to food packaging, which is essential in keeping foodstuff fresh while in storage or in transit. This is why there has been a sustained push towards developing biodegradable plastics out of plants, or even food scraps and sewage. Unlike traditional plastics that maintain their chemical structure even when broken down into smaller pieces, biodegradable plastics decompose into molecules that can safely reintegrate into the environment.

There are already several environmentally friendlier plastics on the market, such as plastic cups and bottles made from plants, which have a smaller carbon footprint when compared to traditional, petroleum-based plastics, and made from renewable resources.

However, not all biodegradable plastic is created equal, and the biggest challenge scientists face is identifying or designing the right material for a particular job. Also, just because something is made from plants does not automatically mean that it’s biodegradable. In fact, some bioplastics persist in nature much longer than their traditional plastics counterparts.

This discovery has actually led to stricter definitions for “biodegradable” or “compostable”. A plastic is now only considered biodegradable if it breaks down into fragments that can be completely consumed by microorganisms in the disposal environment within a defined time period. The general consensus is that 90 percent of the organic carbon must be used by compost microorganisms in no more than 180 days.

Is Biodegradability the be-all and end-all?

One thing that most proponents of biodegradable material tend to overlook is whether the term actually means anything. Take human feces for instance. It’s completely biodegradable, but that doesn’t mean you can fling it anywhere you want. Also, different materials biodegrade under different conditions, and if those conditions aren’t available, then the material can be just as bad as regular plastic. For instance, the popular PLA (polylactic acid) cups that are labelled as biodegradable only break down in industrial composting centers. So, without the relevant infrastructure, these cups will stick around for almost as long as a traditional plastic cup.

Furthermore, bioplastics can’t replace traditional plastic in all applications. Can you imagine pipes or bulletproof vests made from biodegradable plastics? The whole point of these products is to NOT break down after all. The key is to develop the right material for the right application, and that adds yet more challenges. For example, the temperature needed to mould, shape, and process biodegradable plastics is often near the temperature under which it degrades. To raise the degradation temperature, for instance, researchers can add chemicals that prevent or impede the polymer chain from breaking down. Or they can use tactics to lower the melting temperature, for example by using additives called plasticizers.

A Different Approach

The current methods of making bioplastics are relying on food crops like corn, potato and sugarcane, and the microbes that feed on the sugars within these crops to create the building blocks of PLA can be considered quite effective, provided that the underlying agricultural practices are also sustainable.

However, researchers are actually looking into the incredible power of microbes that feed on sewage and food waste to create fuels and useful products, including plastics. A team of environmental engineers at Columbia University, led by Kartik Chandran have built bioreactors that use a mix of microbes to first break down the waste into volatile fatty acids. Then, in a second step, another mix of bacteria stitches those acids together to produce PHA. Other teams from companies like Mango Materials in California are using microbes to produce PHB from methane captured from facilities such as wastewater treatment plants and landfills.

How sustainable are bio-degradable plastics? We may not be a long way from saying – very. What is your opinion? Let us know in the comments below!

Sustainable Gardening Tips for Every Gardener

Gardening is not always green or environmentally friendly, even if it is part of the green movement. It is sometimes seen as a process of doing your part to help and give back to Mother Earth what you have received. Sustainable gardening helps to maintain the health of your garden and the environment in which you grow your vegetables and fruit.
You may be wondering what a sustainable garden is, to put it simply, a garden that works in harmony with nature. There are many techniques that can improve the health of your garden and minimize any negative impact on the environment.

There are many benefits you can reap from a sustainable garden. Grow food, you want to eat, so you are motivated to keep growing, to grow economically, to make it worthwhile and to make taking care of health and environmental issues a great benefit of sustainable gardening. Not to mention the environmental benefit that the soil will continue to support the cultivation of healthy plants.

Choosing the right plants for your needs can be difficult, especially since you have to consider the limitations or requirements of the space in which you plan to grow your sustainable garden. You should try to find the most appropriate plants that will meet your needs throughout the year and limit your choices to those plants.

You need to keep these tips in mind to get the most out of your sustainable garden:

* Remove all weeds from the garden area before planting and during the growing season.
* Preparing the growing area for ideal plant growth
* Water only the root zone of the plants.
* Cultivate plants in a protected environment for a quick, healthy and solid start.
* Harvest all plants at maturity to avoid letting pests and diseases multiply.

Here are some ideas of plants you should consider in your sustainable garden:

Lettuce

It would be considered a summer vegetable when you grow it in your garden, but you can also grow it indoors and it will give you a year-round supply. Lettuce is an excellent vegetable, especially the many new varieties that can be picked indiscriminately and continue to grow.

Potatoes

Potatoes are excellent to eat because they are a source of carbohydrates and can grow for at least nine months of the year. If you store your potatoes in a cool, dry but dark place, you should be able to keep them in storage for most of the year.

Carrots

It is an excellent vegetable that you can grow all year round, but if your area is too cold to support them during the winter, you can blanch and freeze them.

Onions

Onions are an excellent option for the self-sufficient garden of the house. They keep very well and are excellent producers.

Apple tree

It is a great choice and a source of winter fruits. The advantage of apple trees is that they produce fruit in abundance. If you take care of your apple trees, you can also have apples for most of the year.

Tomatoes

You should definitely take tomatoes because they are the best vegetables that the self-sufficient gardener can grow. They are delicious during the summer months and you can easily grow enough to keep them in the cooler months.

Beans

There are many types of beans, which can be grown for almost six months of the year. Beans are an excellent vegetable that whitens and freezes easily during the winter months.

I hope these tips will help you plan your own sustainable garden. You’ll have fun while stocking your shelves with quality vegetables. It really is a win-win situation.

Happy gardening!

Dec, 2020

The Reality of Disposable Diapers

It is no wonder that babies do a lot of pooping and the average baby goes through six to eight diapers a day. Diapers are soft, absorbent cloth that are folded and arranged between the legs and around the waist of the baby to absorb and contain excretions which is intended to be discarded and cleaned after a single use in full. Diapers can be categorized as disposable and washable types. However, the question is still left unanswered as to which is good for the environment. A baby uses between 6,500 to 10,000 diapers before they start their potty training at the age of 3 years old. According to a study, one-third of the US mothers are limiting to buy basic necessities so that they can be able to buy diapers for their children. Disposable diapers cost individual families and they cost even more to the environment.

With industrialization and modernization, the use of disposable diapers has increased enormously and it is continuing to be a productive market over the past decades. Disposable are more bought than washable ones as it is easy to use and most people find it convenient when it comes to doing the job quickly. Washable diapers are somehow perceived as an old product that are produced using the 70s technology. You may easily attract public attention if they know that your baby is using washable diapers. Well, the environmental impact is really present as the excessive usage of disposable diapers is affecting the environment.

According to a report by the Environment Agency, a reusable diaper is responsible for 560kg of greenhouse gas over the first two years of a baby’s life, whereas a disposable nappy is accountable for 630kg. Almost six million nappies a day or two billion a year end up in landfill where they emit methane, a greenhouse gas that is dangerous for the environment. The weight of disposable nappies is equivalent to 70, 000 double decker buses going to the landfill every year. Alarming, isn’t it! Well, in the UK alone, disposable diapers create more than 400,000 tonnes of waste each year, which is roughly the size of the city of Birmingham.

It is known that conventional diapers take hundred years to disintegrate, which means that the diapers you once wore as a kid is likely to be intact, sitting in a landfill. Out of all the non-durable goods, diapers were the second most generated waste by weight, which is more than clothes and shoes that are discarded. The company Eco Pea Company is changing the damage done by diapers before by creating diapers that use more natural materials that have an easier time in breaking down and be good to the environment.

The Debate: Reusable vs Disposable

According to the supporters of disposable diapers, they found out that reusable nappies are not exactly good for the climate, because of the energy that is put to keep them hygienically clean. This report was later called bogus for the research report being too confusing. However, there are many companies that have started producing biodegradable diapers, by using plant-based materials instead of polyacrylate stuffing, artificial dyes, toxic materials, and plastics. Nevertheless, the higher price for these diapers are due to the manufacturing costs that exist, there are people buying it as they know their child won’t be affected by any chemical content and also they are doing their part in helping the environment. If you can’t digest the high price for these biodegradable diapers, the reusable cloth diapers are the solution to disposable ones. Reusable cloth diapers came a long way since they were actually used earlier during our childhood days. The image of the cotton cloth sheet held on with safety pins is no longer there as they have updated it with contours, velcro or snaps and leak protection, all while having some pretty and stylish prints on it. These diapers are more breathable and do not require to be soaked before washing.

It is not wrong to agree that reusable cloth diapers came a long way since their creation and all you need to do now is to shake the solids from the diaper and throw them in the washing machine and after two wash, it is new as before.

So what’s your take? Reusable or disposable, let us know in the comment section!

Dec, 2020

What Role Does A Land Management Consultant Play in Sustainable Development?

We are constantly being told about various land conservation and sustainable development drives being carried, and famous land management consultants being called in to give their opinion. Have you ever wondered what exactly IS a Land Management Consultant, and what precise role they play? Since I was curious, I decided to dig deeper, and met with the folks over at Land Management Systems in Ringwood to see how they could enlighten me.

The first question I had was – what is a Land Management Consultant? While the job title seems pretty self-explanatory, it involves a lot more than just looking at a plot of land and deciding what you can and can’t do with it. Whether it’s a piece of land being considered for protection or a long-held parcel in need of a management plan, a Land Management Consultant needs to develop a thorough understanding of flora and fauna to offer detailed recommendations for maximizing its potential in a sustainable way.

It’s a career path that suits those who shudder at the idea of spending time in an office. If you prefer fields to filing, you meet one of the criteria for a career in land management.

What Does the Job Involve?

The main focus is to help landowners, farmers and construction contractors maintain and manage their plots of land in the most environmentally friendly manner. You’re likely to be working with a wide range of clients on any given day too. One moment, you could be devising a plan to help Famer McDonald get the most out of his land, the next, you’re working with the local council and using your expert knowledge of environmental and sustainability issues to help preserve the wildlife in national parks and conservation areas, whilst making them accessible for all kinds of people. You could also use the same knowledge to review development plans and help a construction firm obtain their environmental impact assessment report. Like we said, this is not a career path for those who don’t like getting their hands dirty.

What do I Need to Work in Land Management?

If you want to work in this area, it is highly important that you have a passion for the environment. That’s not to say that you should have been implementing land management schemes in your local area since the age of eight, but when applying for these roles you need to demonstrate the fact that this career path genuinely means something to you.

This is where work experience, volunteer work and internships come into play. This will give you a great insight into the industry, help you build up the key skills that you need and show that you care about the environment too.

Some people choose to specialise in one area of land management. For instance, some people might focus their efforts on agricultural land use. Other people decide to focus on the management of forests and woodland areas.

The other important thing you need to make a successful career out of Land Management is people skills. It’s all well and good being passionate about the environment, and you could be a real analytical prodigy, but if you can’t communicate effectively, you won’t get very far. Experience matters a great deal too. Experience helps each consultant understand the job and helps build a network of professionals who may play a role in the management work. A good consultant will know the right loggers, the best seed and plant distributors, and the most reliable labour sources for each job.

I’m sure we can infer that a Land Management Consultant plays a bigger role in conservation and sustainability than a lot of us give them credit for. How about you? Do you feel like Land Management might be something you are interested in? Leave a comment below and share your views!

Nov, 2020

Read This Before Considering Renewable Energy At Home!

What is renewable energy?

What type of renewable energy?

Why use renewable energy?

Using renewable energy at home

Our planet enriches us with renewable energy, so let’s make the most of it!

What is renewable energy?

There are different forms of energy, such as:

- traditional energies: gas, fuel oil, coal;

- electricity from nuclear or thermal power;

- and renewable energy, which is clean and comes from continuous and inexhaustible sources offered by our planet.

What type of renewable energy?

Renewable energy is an alternative solution to replace or complement other traditional energy sources.

5 types of energy are therefore available: solar – wind – hydraulic – geothermal, and biomass.

Solar energy

Solar energy comes, as its name suggests, from the sun. This energy can be usefully transformed into heat, electricity, or biomass.

This energy is mainly used by industry and private individuals.

It allows the development of photovoltaics, where sunlight is transformed into electrical energy through solar panels.

Wind energy

This energy is used to produce electricity through a generator.

Wind energy, therefore, uses the force of the wind.

Its disadvantage is that it generates a significant noise nuisance.

There are also mini wind turbines for individuals. These domestic wind turbines are installed on a roof or a slope.

Depending on the wind turbine’s size, the individual concerned can consume the electricity produced by it or resell it to an electricity supplier.

Hydraulic energy

It is an ancient process that allows the storage of large masses of water to transform into electricity. It is also called hydroelectricity.

It can be produced by hydroelectric power stations, some of which are fed by dams.

Geothermal energy

Geothermal power plants make use of the heat released from the earth’s core. The advantage of this energy is that it does not depend on climatic conditions or seasons.

Geothermal energy comes in two forms:

low temperature to heat homes;
high temperature, in this case, it is a means of producing electricity.

Biomass energy

This energy concerns wood, forest residues, organic and green waste, and biofuel or green gasoline.

This green gasoline is classified into two types:

ethanol from wheat, corn, beet, sugar cane and ;
biodiesel from rapeseed, sunflower, soya.

These biofuels are often blended with conventional fuels to limit the greenhouse effect.

As for wood, it has been used since the dawn of time for heating and cooking.

Why use renewable energy?

The various fossil fuels are not renewable energies and produce carbon dioxide (CO2) and other harmful gases such as methane.

The Energy and Climate Act updated the energy policy’s objectives to consider the previous years’ climate plan. It provides for the following purposes:

- carbon neutrality by 2050;

- a 40% reduction in the consumption of fossil fuels compared to 2012 by 2030;

To avoid an increase in the greenhouse effect and the destruction of the ozone layer, it is possible to change our habits by using renewable energy that is less dangerous for our environment.

It can also help us to reduce the cost of our electricity bills!

Using renewable energy at home

We pollute less by using renewable energies instead of fossil fuels (oil, natural gas).

Therefore, you can :

- consider building an energy-saving house;

- undertake energy-saving work in your current home;

- make energy savings in insulation;

- produce your electricity using solar or wind power;

- use energy-saving accessories such as energy-saving light bulbs;

- use water recuperators to save water and thus reduce your consumption bill.

The list is far from being exhaustive to use renewable energy at home or for transportation and consumption.

So that’s what you should know about renewable energy for sustainable development. Thank you for your reading, and thank you in advance for your efforts to add even more info in the comment section below to make it a hot topic.

Nov, 2020

Why Underfloor Heating Is A More Sustainable Option

When it comes to sustainable heating in modern times, there is a good case to be made for opting for underfloor heating. Let’s have a look at why so many people claim that underfloor heating truly is the superior option when considering Eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness.

Energy Conservation

Provided that your home or office is properly insulated, you will notice that you can make incredible saving on your energy bills. New buildings that are built to code will automatically be insulated to the level where underfloor heating is effective, but it isn’t hard to fit adequate insulation and draft proofing to ensure that underfloor heating is able to completely heat the room.

The Standard Assessment Procedure, used to calculate a new buildings energy performance, records an energy saving of 5% when using an underfloor system with a condensing boiler, as opposed to a radiator system. Pairing the system to a renewable energy source, such as solar heating or a ground source heat pump can see these savings jump to as high as 40% or more, depending on the installation and size of the particular room.

Why such a big gap, you ask? The answer lies in the method of heating. A typical central heating system relies on convection, where heat rises and creates a very warm layer of air at ceiling level, leaving a much cooler temperature at floor level. Therefore, some of the heat is wasted through the roof as the room is heated sufficiently to achieve a comfortable temperature lower down.

On the other hand, underfloor heating radiates heat into the room from the whole surface of the floor, which creates a comfortable temperature from ground up. This radiated heat is absorbed by people and by furniture and objects in the room, which allows underfloor heating to create a comfortable temperature at approximately 2°C lower than what is required by conventional systems.

Cost Effectiveness

Since an underfloor heating system requires less energy to create a comfortable temperature for occupants, it stands to reason that your energy bills will be lower. While we mentioned a 2°C difference previously, underfloor heating actually runs at much lower temperature ranges than conventional central heating. A typical underfloor system runs in the range of around 30-50°C, whereas radiators typically run at 60-80°C. As you can probably tell, that is a lot of saving over the course of a single billing period.

Can Underfloor Heating Run With Renewable Energy Sources?

Without a doubt, underfloor heating can be linked to any type of renewable energy source, which provides even greater potential for conserving energy and saving money. Photovoltaic systems, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and wind turbines could all be used to heat an underfloor heating system, and eventually the systems combined could provide free sustainable energy.

Photovoltaic systems use solar heating to power a buildings electric supply, some buildings with a large roof surface are able to produce enough electricity for their demand and are able to sell electricity back to the grid. While most homes may not have the roof space to power the entire house, an underfloor heating system can be installed with a photovoltaic system to power it, which will result in cheaper running costs.

An underfloor heating system that is powered by water rather than gas is suitable for use with ground source heat pumps and solar water heating systems. Ground source heat pumps involve the laying of pipes in the garden or somewhere suitable on the property, and extracting the heat directly from the ground.

A heat pump could provide the hot water for a wet underfloor system exclusively, helped by the fact that it runs at lower temperatures than radiators, offering completely free heating.

In Summary

Underfloor heating is more energy efficient than most types of heating, given the right circumstances. Well insulated, double glazed and draft proofed houses will conserve energy and save money by using underfloor heating, particularly if it is linked to a renewable energy source such as a ground source heat pump or a photovoltaic system.

In new buildings underfloor heating is becoming the more popular choice as the installation costs are no different to a central heating system, but running costs are much lower in the long term. Add this to the energy saving grants available that offer further savings. Looking for a reliable team to give you more personalized information and provide quick and affordable installation services? Look no further than the folks over at North East Hydronic Radiant!