Water Is A Bird Magnet
Here in the southeastern U.S, we’re all feeling the effects of the drought, but we can spare a little bit to make our birds happy. Here are some ideas for attracting birds without running up the water bill.
There is no better way to get birds flocking to your yard than a good source of fresh water. A bird’s need for water through every season of the year is so strong that even species you never expected will be attracted to a strategically placed water source.
Having a birdbath is an advantage to anyone who enjoys observing nature in general and bird behavior in particular.
Location, Location, Location. The most natural spot for a bath is close to the ground, but water at higher levels not only appeals to some species, it reduces the bird’s exposure to cat attacks. Soaking wet birds are no match for feline agility. Putting a birdbath near trees improves security against raptors. Plus, branches are an easily reached perch from which to preen in safety.
Locate your bath in a shady part of your yard. This will keep the water at a cooler, more refreshing temperature in hot weather.
To get birds accustomed to the bath, try placing a feeder within five feet of the bath. Birds will notice the water as they go to the feeder.
Birdbath water should be changed every few days to insure a fresh, clear supply. Birds - excluding pelicans - do not like deep water. One inch to 1.25 inches deep is about the maximum. This depth allows the bird to stand in the water and splash around - and not tread water!
Add motion. Motion on the water’s surface or the noise of falling water is like a magnet to the birds. Drippers, misters, and small pump-driven fountains that keep the water moving have the added benefit of preventing mosquito eggs from hatching. Hummingbirds love to zip through the mist created by a mister. Besides hummers zipping through the mist you can attract warblers (who don’t normally visit feeders) and many other birds to stop by for a refreshing “leaf bath.” Watch how they use the wet leaves as a “wash cloth.”
How do birds drink? Most birds, like Cardinals, dip their bills and then tip their heads back to let the water run down their throats. Doves and Pigeons drink by immersing their bills and sucking up the water. Not all birds need to drink water. Hummingbirds, for example, have a largely liquid diet anyway, so they don’t drink from birdbaths. But they do enjoy “playing” in the water. Birds that normally inhabit areas with arid conditions can go for long periods of time without drinking.
Water in Winter. Birds need water all year round, particularly in winter, when many of their regular sources are frozen. About 70% of a bird’s non-fat body tissue is water that needs to be maintained to avoid dehydration. Birds find some water in natural food sources: insects, berries, and even snow, but when those supplies dwindle, the water YOU supply is even more vital.
Open water in freezing weather will attract as many or more birds as a well-stocked feeder. Birds also use water to keep themselves warmer in winter. By cleaning their feathers and grooming them with natural oils, birds are able to help insulate their bodies for the cold.
You can keep water thawed with a submersible heater placed directly in the water. It’s economical and safe, as long as you use a high-quality, outdoor extension cord to plug the heater into an electrical source. The best submersible heaters are thermostatically controlled, so they only operate when the water is near freezing.
In winter, use a rough-surfaced, plastic pan or saucer for a birdbath because ceramic and concrete one, though fine for summer use, will crack easily in frigid weather.
Keeping a birdbath supplied with fresh water is one of the simplest and most effective way of attracting many varieties of birds to your yard - year round!
Janet Winter loves her wild birds and delights in providing helpful resources and unique products for feathered friends at WildBirdGoodies.com. She is a web designer, travel agent and writer on many topics including wild birds, babies and pampered dogs.
How Effective Are The Various Types Of Pest Control
When spring and summer roll around along with the wonderful sunny days come the buggy nights. There are a variety of bugs that are flying and crawling around in the warm seasons that can cause quite a problem for people. Some of these bugs are more than just annoying; they are actually harmful and destructive. When you use a pesticide that is based with chemicals you might find that the cure is worse than the problem. Not only are they irritating to smell, but they can actually cause a health problem for the people who are breathing them in.
A bug blocker is a viable alternative to these dangerous chemicals. They have recently become very popular among people who are concerned with the health hazard that is caused by chemical pesticides. There are a variety of bug blockers that can be used for varying purposes. One of these types of bug blocker is a window shield. This will keep the bugs from entering through the window that it is installed on. They have openings to allow air to enter through the window as they keep the bugs out.
A similar type of bug blocker is a wire mesh for your doors and windows. These are a great choice to keep the bugs away from the places where they can get into your home. You will find that this type of blocker is relatively easy to set up and will keep the bugs out, which is exactly what you want.
You should look around before you select the pest control device that is going to work the best for you. There are a wide variety of devices available. The type of device you select will be dependent on the type of insect you are trying to get rid of. There is one device that is effective for repelling mosquitoes and there are other types of devices that will rid your home of cockroaches, spiders, rodents and any number of household pests.
These devices are very environmentally friendly and will not harm people. They are simple to use and relatively inexpensive. You can find devices that are particularly expensive but you can use a lower cost device and receive the same results. The only difference in the devices is the amount of time it will work to keep the pests away.
If you are having a hard time controlling the indoor pests in your home, you might want to do a quick search online for some great electronic devices that are available. You can check out the various sites and find the best value for your money. Order it online and before you know it the electronic pest device will be in your home and working to keep those annoying bugs out.
If you have a termite problem in your home you will want to look into a product that is specific for termites. You can buy a product that will effectively poison the termites and it can be used inside your home or outside. Wherever you find a need to use the product you can use an effective termite poison. If you do not control your termite problem they can cause serious damage to your home. By putting the poison on the outside of your home all around you can effectively keep the termites from ever getting inside where they can cause the most damage.
Peter Geisheker is the CEO of The Geisheker Group marketing firm.
Peter develops and implements strategic marketing programs for businesses including electronic pest control and termite control.
Caring for the Environment: Used Moving Boxes
When moving, it is inevitable that you need boxes to place all of your belongings in. Could you imagine taking all of your things and placing them inside a moving truck without having something to put everything in? That would literally take you forever and it is that very reason why moving boxes are so important in the moving process. That’s worse than going to a supermarket and having all of your items placed inside the cart without bags. Your time placing the items in your car could double, triple, or even quadruple without them. Now just imagine moving an entire house that way. But the invention of the moving box has made the entire moving process easier.
However, boxes are made out of paper and paper is made out of trees. That means that more and more trees are cut down to make these beloved moving boxes that make our lives easier. Then there is the fact that many of these moving boxes end up meeting their demise in the dump rather than being reused. It is here that they become mushy messes of wet paper that really isn’t all that great for the environment. That box could have been sold or given to a moving supply store to be reused by other movers. That means less demand for moving boxes, so fewer trees are cut down to meet the demand. That also means no mushy cardboard adding to the demise of our environment.
Acquiring used moving boxes
You can go to your local moving supply store and purchase boxes to move with. You can buy them brand new in bulk, and boy do those new boxes look beautiful. They look so beautiful that it is hard to resist them. However, the moving supply store may also give you the option to purchase used boxes at a cheaper price. This can leave you rather torn because those new boxes look so great, but those used boxes are so much cheaper. What do you do?
Here’s another scenario to think about: If you have ever called your local supermarket and told them you needed large boxes, then you are reusing boxes. There was some type of merchandise that was shipped in that box before you got a hold of it and it seemed to hold up pretty good, right? So why not go for the used boxes at the moving supply store? Or if you have enough time, you can call up your local supermarket and ask them to hold boxes for you when they process their next shipment. No matter what you do, you are doing something great for the environment by not going for those brand new boxes that will perform in the same manner as the brand new ones.
Are there any cons?
There are cons no matter which way you look at it. The new boxes are more expensive when moving is expensive enough. The old boxes have been used by others and could possibly have fleas or spiders in them. The supermarket boxes have come from places that you are not familiar with, so you don’t know what might be inside of them. However, spiders, fleas, and other annoyances exist within the moving supply store. You never know when a spider might crawl up into that crisp new box. You don’t even know where those boxes were before they arrived to the store. They had to be shipped there somehow as well, right? So don’t let any of that bother you. Think about the environment and what you are doing to make the world a better place to live. Every little bit counts.
A major provider of used moving supplies EcoBox adheres to the Buy Green, Save Green principle putting money back in your pocket while saving the environment.
Wind Generator Produces Electricity
The machine which has propellers and rotates to convert the kinetic energy of wind into electricity is known as wind generator. The modern wind generators are used commercially for producing electricity. It has three blades and the motor operating it is controlled by the computer. It is the cheapest means of producing electricity and it uses renewable source of energy to produce electricity. The blades are huge and the steel towers are built to the height of minimum60 meters and maximum 90 meters.
The machines with horizontal axis are built in such a way that the electricity generator is always placed at the top of the tower. Nowadays people have started installing wind generators at home so that they can get their own electricity at very low cost. The whole assembly of the spinning blade along with the hub is known as the rotor. It is the collector of the entire wind energy.
How the Wind Generator Works
The generator turns when the rotor turns the wind into rotational movement as the wind passes through the blades of the generator. The size of the rotor is a decisive factor to understand how much electricity is produced which means that if the rotor is small less electricity will be produced and if it is big more electricity will be produced. If the swept area that is the area covered by the blades is large then there will be more production of electricity and if the area of the blades is small then less electricity will be produced.
The advantages of horizontal wind generator are, the blades are placed at the side which gives it stability. The rotor blades are angled in such a way that no damage is caused during the storm. Tall towers are built to get the advantage of stronger winds so that more electricity can be produced. The disadvantages are the size of the blades and the tower is so huge that transportation and installation becomes a great problem. The local people may raise objection due to the obstruction of distant vision.
The Vertical axis blades were introduced to do away with the disadvantages of the horizontal axis blades. The advantage was the generator could be at ground level and same way the gear box could also be kept at the ground level. At present the small wind generators have been developed which can be used by boats and nowadays people are installing it at their homes so that they can get cheap electricity. These residential wind generators can produce electricity starting from nine hundred watts to the maximum of ten thousand watts depending upon the speed of the wind. But the installation of the residential wind generators has not been accepted due to the sound produced by it which has caused problem for the people.
April Kerr often writes for website Finer Living which is all about home improvement and has details of Solar Power v Wind Turbines and Solar Powered Attic Fans.
We Can Drive Oil Prices Down Now
In America today the average price of gasoline has skyrocketed past $4.00 per gallon with no end in sight. Oil prices have doubled since the end of 2007 with $200 per barrel conceivable within months. Still, no one seems to have a solution. The government is inept, and only seems willing to add to the problem rather than solve it.
If the Congress had any concern for you or me they would lift all Federal gas taxes to help us out. That would cut out about 15% of the price per gallon of gas. If they had any concern for us they would allow us to drill for oil within the United States. They would allow more refineries to be built. They would approve clean, cheap, nuclear power.
Instead, politicians have done nothing except talk about idiotic proposals to tax oil company profits. That will only raise gas prices further because the oil companies sure aren’t going to give away their profits and make less money. They will pass on the cost of tax increases to US, and probably 3-4 times the amount they lose from increased taxes.
The bottom line is we cannot trust useless politicians to change anything. We have to do it ourselves, and force idiot politicians to go along with it. Like it or not. That would be change we can believe in.
It would be great if we could all plug in our electric cars tomorrow, and never use a drop of gas again. However, we can’t. We need to build a bridge to energy independence that will not bankrupt us. In the short-term we need cheap oil to keep our cars and trucks on the road. As new technologies develop over the next ten years we can shift to electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. We could then realistically no longer need oil for any transportation by 2020.
How do we build the bridge, and how do we force oil prices down by 50-60% in a matter of weeks?
It’s already begun. American Solutions, a group started by former Speaker of the House Newt Gingrich, has begun an online petition asking Congress to allow us to “Drill Here, Drill Now, Pay Less.” More than a million people have already signed the petition. Poll after poll shows that Americans overwhelmingly support domestic drilling for oil to lower prices.
Those opposed to domestic drilling argue that even if Congress approved domestic drilling tomorrow, it would be 2-3 years before that oil would get to market. They argue domestic drilling will do nothing to lower oil prices because the global market sets the price of oil.
Wrong. In the last few weeks since gas went over $4.00 per gallon in the U.S. the people of America started making their voices heard. They want something done about the high price of gas, and they want to see action now. We have also started driving less, which has decreased demand. Just the notion that Americans are angry, and want something done has already prompted the Saudis to announce they will increase production. They also held a summit of oil producing nations to discuss the “crisis” of high oil prices.
Just the threat of possible Congressional action to allow domestic oil production already has the Saudis spooked. If Congress actually took action the real source of high oil prices, the speculators who make money trading oil futures, would begin to dump their oil future holdings. They would know that domestic oil production in the United States would reduce the future price of oil significantly. That would drop the price of oil on the international market by 50-60% almost immediately.
To insure that oil prices stay low for Americans Congress should demand that all oil produced in the United States only be available to the American market. It is conceivable that we could produce enough oil domestically to supply 80% of our consumption needs within 3 years. Some believe there may be enough oil in shale in the Rocky Mountains to supply all domestic oil needs, and even have a surplus. If American oil was only sold in America the price would likely be in the $30-$40 per barrel range. That would bring gas prices down to a reasonable $1.50 per gallon range.
Now, that is the bridge. This is not a permanent solution. No matter how much oil we can produce in the U.S. it will only last for a finite amount of time. It would be foolish to think that even if we had 40-50 years worth of oil that we should just wait until it runs out to replace it as an energy source. Not to mention the environmental impact of continuing to burn fossil fuels. We need to develop clean, renewable sources of energy.
Another provision Congress should include in allowing domestic drilling is that oil companies invest 15% of their profits in new energy sources. Rather than tax oil profits, which does nothing except put money in the government coffers to be wasted on nothing, Congress should demand those profit dollars be spent on developing new, clean forms of energy. The oil companies can then transform themselves over the next decade from oil companies to energy companies. We will need the oil companies’ massive infrastructure to deliver these new sources of energy, and the government cannot demand the oil companies spend money to put themselves out of business.
The most important investment would be to begin replacing one or two gas pumps with hydrogen refueling pumps. The hydrogen fuel cell car is already a reality. They are being sold in Japan, and tested in Southern California right now. The hurdle is that no one wants to buy a car they can’t refuel at the station down the street. If hydrogen pumps began to appear at local gas stations all over the country, the demand for hydrogen fuel cell cars would grow exponentially. This would drive down the price of hydrogen fuel cell cars, and of hydrogen fuel.
Automobile manufacturers would make more hydrogen fuel cell vehicles, and more hydrogen pumps would be added. Over the next 10-15 years there would be no gasoline powered vehicles made anymore, and the term “hydro station” would replace “gas station.” The massive investment in hydrogen and other forms of energy would not just be for automobiles, but for jet engines as well. Air travel would be transformed with clean fuel sources, and air planes would be built with lighter, more fuel efficient materials. We would be free of fossil fuels for transportation.
What about energy to power our homes and businesses?
Congress also needs to approve new nuclear power plants to supply electricity for our homes and businesses. Nuclear power is cheap, clean, and now more than ever safe. The country needs 50-60 such facilities to handle the power needs of today, and to prepare for the power needs of the next 50 years.
Another solution to power needs is solar and wind power. It is unlikely that massive solar or wind power facilities will ever be effective sources of power for millions of customers. However, solar and wind power can be effective power sources for individual homes and small businesses. The major hurdle today is cost. A single wind tower costs up to $50,000 to install. Solar panels are not as expensive as in the past, but are still expensive enough that many homeowners are not able to easily afford them.
The solution is for Congress to approve tax incentives for homeowners and small businesses to install solar or wind power. By allowing a tax incentive of up to 75% of the cost of a wind tower or solar system homeowners and small businesses would be far more likely to install such systems. Such incentives would create a massive reduction in demand on the major power grids. This would then make these grids more capable of handling spikes in demand during summer months, and make the grids easier to maintain and upgrade.
These rather simple steps, if enacted now would make the United States completely energy independent by the mid 20’s. We would also be green and clean, which would benefit the environment immensely. Further, we would be the leader in clean energy development, and the rest of the world would follow, as they always do.
Demand that Congress take action now. YOU have the power. Let your Senators and Representatives know that if they don’t support building a bridge to energy independence you’re going to fire them. Forget which political party they belong to. This is not a Democrat or Republican issue, this is an issue that affects our very future. Stand up, take action, and forcefully demand that Congress and the President take action NOW.
Ted Hebert is a writer and Maverick Thinker helping companies of all sizes grow their business. He is also committed to clean, energy independence. He can be reached at Ted@Atunga.com or visit www.Atunga.com. Also visit www.BridgeToEnergy.com.
About Climate And Its Periodic Change
Climate monitoring is vital to further advance our understanding of the complexity of the climate system and its predictability. The data and associated climate information that are collected and disseminated to users, keep all stakeholders informed of the state of the climate and the natural environment.
Climate is sometimes referred to as “average” weather for a given area. The National Weather Service uses data such as temperature highs and lows and precipitation rates for the past thirty years to compile an area’s “average” weather. Climate.org seeks to provide reliable information on climate change, energy and the environment. The site is regularly updated with recent news and articles.
Climate change is with us. A decade ago, it was conjecture. Climate change and the energy hunger of the developed world and newly emerging economies like China and India are driving forces behind higher food prices, which directly affect the poor in a country like Egypt.
As the First Lady has stated it in her Opening Address on Saturday, the rich subsidize the transformation of food into biofuels, thus subsidizing the burning of food of the poor to drive the cars of the rich! Climate is the atmospheric condition in a certain location near the surface of the Earth. Is there such a thing as a global climate ?
Climate change and related impacts are becoming increasingly relevant to environmental, economic and security issues. This raises convergent points of interest and thematic platforms for those interested in confronting this global challenge from a multidisciplinary perspective.
Climate change is the greatest environmental challenge facing the world today. Rising global temperatures will bring changes in weather patterns, rising sea levels and increased frequency and intensity of extreme weather. Climate change is the single biggest environmental threat facing our planet. Burning too much coal, oil and gas pollutes the atmosphere with greenhouse gases that heat up the planet.
Temperature, humidity, and rainfall, which are discussed hereunder, are the most important elements of the country’s weather and climate. Temperatures range between 70F and 90F (20C to 33C).
Climate simulations at NCAR have shown that changes in the Sun’s intensity explain less than a third of the global warm-up during the last century. The most likely explanation for a warming Earth is the greenhouse gases emitted when fossil fuels are burned. Climate data are used extensively in airport design and aeronautical engineering.
Wind direction and speed, visibility, air pressure, temperature, icing frequency, cloud cover, humidity, the character of the air (fog, haze, smoke, and dust storms for example), and other elements are significant. Climate is the average daily and seasonal weather for a region; including temperature, precipitation, wind, and sunshine. Observations are compiled over several decades and are classified into climate zones.
Climate change can be caused by internal and external forces like the Earth?s orbit, solar radiation and greenhouse gas concentrations. The ice age is an example of climate change. Climate is the average weather usually taken over a 30-year time period for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region.
Climates change rapidly on mountains, becoming colder the higher the altitude gets. The climate of a highland area is closely related to the climate of the surrounding biome.
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The Energy Pie, Use More or Conserve?
Over the past several years we have all become painfully aware that CO2 emissions from fossil fuels likely play a significant role in worldwide climate change. Our insatiable demand for energy is driving prices up and generating more CO2 than ever.
How Much We Use
Today, the world uses about 12 Terawatts per year for all uses. That is 12,000,000,000,000 Watts. In a separate article I reviewed these sources of use which break down as:
Built Environment = 52% (40% for operations and 12% for materials)
Industry = 24%
Other Transport = 15%
Passenger cars = 9%
Energy from Many Sources
There has been a lot of conversation about renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and others. One would think we are now generating 30% of our overall needs from these sources. Unfortunately, that is not the case. If we break down the sources of energy worldwide we get:
Oil = 35%
Coal = 27%
Natural Gas = 20%
Hydro = 6%
Biomass = 6%
Nuclear = 5%
GeoThermal = under 1%
Wind, PV, SolarThermal = under 1%
The largest energy sources are Oil, Coal and Natural Gas. All fossil fuels which generate significant CO2 emissions. And the cost of all of these fuels has doubled in from 2007 to 2008.
Future Energy Demand
Our demand for energy is increasing worldwide, at an ever increasing rate. Given the current rate of increase, several estimates put worldwide demand at 30 Terawatts within 30 years, an increase of 18 terawatts, more than double today’s requirements. So we need move to renewable sources which don’t generate CO2 when burned. Solar, biofuels, nuclear. Sounds like a plan! Or is there trouble in paradise. Let’s consider each one.
Nuclear
Nuclear power generation does not emit CO2, or much of anything else. The heat from a controlled nuclear reaction boils water into steam that spins a turbine. 3 new plants are planned and beginning the license process in the US. And possibly as many as 8 worldwide this year (requesting licenses). Let’s go out on a limb and hope that somehow that figure grows to 45 new licenses this year, and 45 more every year for the next 30. And they each take no more than 10 years to build. And what is the result of in 30 years? 1 Terawatt. Not the 30 total we need, or the 18 additional Terawatts in growth. Just 1 lousy Terawatt. Puts it all in perspective.
BioFuels
This technology is controversial since it takes real energy to grow and harvest crops. The full analysis of many of the biofuel processes we have suggests that some (such as corn ethanol) use more energy to make and distribute than we get back out. But that argument aside, let’s pretend for the moment that we get 100% efficiency and there is no energy required to grow and process the crops. So we will take every acre of plantable land on earth and plant the most efficient crops we know of to generate biofuels. That should do it. Well, not really. That is only about 3 Terawatts. But we are on a roll, so let’s continue.
Solar Cells
Photovoltaic technology has come a long way in the last few decades. Efficiencies have improved and costs have come down. And more plants are being built to supply more solar. A good size solar plant today can manufacture enough solar cell’s to generate 1 gigawatt annually. Of course it would take 1000 plant-years to get to 1 Terawatt. And a lot of silicon (or other substrate). If we can make 20,000 square miles worth of cells and place them in sunny areas on earth, it will take all of the output of the current and planned plants for the next 25-30 years. And how much power is that? About 2 Terawatts, if all goes right. Of course, only during the day, but that is another issue.
Add It All Up
Adding up the largest sources at levels that we likely cannot attain, we still only end up with 6 Terawatts out of the 30 Terawatts total required to meet our needs. Add in wind, solarthermal, wave energy etc. and there is maybe another Terawatt. So basically, while these are all excellent businesses and fine technologies that must be pursued, we cannot count on renewable energy sources alone to get us to the promised land.
Conservation
The only hope we have of addressing CO2 and climate change is conservation. Since renewables can only deliver some 6 to 9 Terawatts total, we have to deal with as much of the 21+ Terawatts in other ways. As discussed earlier, the built environment is responsible for 52% of worldwide CO2. In order to address the built environment, we need to address the materials (such as new cement, drywall, metal processes) as well as building operations (primarily heating and cooling). Companies like CalStar and Serious Materials are re-inventing the old processes, reducing embodied energy by 75% or more.
We all can address operations, at least at home. Easiest targets are sealing ductwork, installing programmable thermostats, insulating homes that aren’t, and choosing high R value windows (at least R6 and preferable higher). Up to 50% of heat loss occurs through windows which are closed. Upgrading to dual pane low E windows is only gets to an R3. New technology is becoming available (such as ThermaProof Windows) which can provide R values above R10. A 300% improvement and a significant savings in heating and cooling bills.
The Result
If we begin addressing out built environment, we can easily reduce the energy required by 75% over today’s inefficient buildings and materials. The result would be a 12 terawatt savings in 30 years. And it is the least expensive 12 terawatts available, much less expensive than more coal power plants, which is the alternative.
So what will you do? Save the environment and your energy bill too. Make the right choice and act now.
Kevin Surace is CEO of Serious Materials. More information on sustainable building products can be found at www.SeriousMaterials.com
Improved Drainage A Priority in Flood Fight
Consumers view improving drainage systems throughout the UK as the first priority in an effort to reduce the risk of flooding around the country, according to new research.
The results of a consumer survey published by the Association of British Insurers (ABI) has suggested that the majority of consumers feel that the risk of flooding is increasing. Using a sample of 1,000 people from areas of the country which were badly hit by last year’s severe weather, the association found that 88 per cent of people viewed the threat of flooding as more pronounced than it used to be. Furthermore, 64 per cent of the 1,000 respondents living in less severely affected regions said they felt the same. Around three-quarters (74 per cent) of both groups said they did not feel that the government was doing enough to combat the risk and limit the effect of future flooding.
When asked whether they supported the ABI’s proposal for increased governmental action on the issue, 91 per cent of those badly hit and 92 per cent of those relatively unaffected by the 2007 floods said they were in favour of the call.
Of the first group, 98 per cent said that improved drainage was the most important priority, while 96 per cent of the second set concurred. There was also concern about the location of new homes, with 97 per cent of those living in affected areas saying that there should be regulations about building properties on at-risk sites.
For those who suffered from last year’s flooding or who have had some other major structural damage befall their property in the 12 months since then, taking a secured loan may provide the funds necessary for repair and renovation. Such a loan may be particularly useful for those who found themselves without home insurance protection following an unforeseen event.
Indeed, the ABI insisted that unless government action is taking to ensure that new homes are protected against the risk of flooding, it is likely that many such properties will become uninsurable as cover providers find themselves to cover the costs arising from claims.
Speaking at the ABI’s Floods - One Year On conference, Nick Starling, the association’s director of general insurance and health, said: “Insurers will have paid out 3 billion pounds following the floods last summer. But, like us, our customers share our concerns for the future. These findings reinforce our call for a long-term flood management strategy. In particular we must tackle the problem of surface water drainage. Planning for the future is essential if we are to minimise a repeat of last year’s terrible floods and to ensure that flood insurance protection remains widely available.”
Among the recommended solutions is the creation of a new kitemark system to demonstrate that new properties have been built in accordance with flood protection criteria.
Earlier this year, Halifax also warned consumers of the danger of high winds and the costs that could be incurred if adequate home insurance cover is not taken out. It recorded that more than 1.5 million homes experienced roof damage as winds of up to 77 miles per hour battered parts of the country.
Steve Smith writes for 1 Stop Finance Shop. A one stop shop for all your poor credit loans, online debt consolidation and the best personal loans.Visit Today
Why Do We Recycle Our Waste
Plastics production also involves the use of potentially harmful chemicals, which are added as stabilisers or colorants. Many of these have not undergone environmental risk assessment and their impact on human health and the environment is currently uncertain. Plastics have a low entropy of mixing, which is due to the high molecular weight of their large polymer chains.
A macromolecule interacts with its environment along its entire length, so its enthalpy of mixing is large compared to that of an organic molecule with a similar structure.
Recycling may be the most wasteful activity in modern America: a waste of time and money, a waste of human and natural resources. Recycling the recovered materials is simple for metals and glass; they can be melted down, reformed, and reused. Yard waste can be composted with little or no equipment. Recycling preserves natural resources by reducing the need for virgin materials. So do source reduction and reuse.
Reduce your need; reuse bags until they’re torn. Use old bags to pick up dog waste. Reducing the amount that we consume, and shifting our consumption to well-designed products and services, is the first step. Finding constructive uses for ?waste?
Recycling is a manufacturing process with environmental impacts. Viewed across a wide spectrum of goods, recycling sometimes cuts pollution, but not always. Recycling separates paper, cardboard, glass, metal, and other materials, from the garbage for reuse or reprocessing into new products. Recyclable materials, food scraps and yard waste are collected curbside in almost all areas of King County.
Recycling aluminum cans requires less than 10 percent of the energy required to produce aluminum from bauxite. The recycling of cans has grown along with the penetration of aluminum into the beverage can market.
Recycling means to use something again. Newspapers can be used to make new newspapers. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life and turning it into a usable raw material to make another product. To find recycling locations and programs near you, use our recycling locator. Recycling helps conserve landfill space, preserve natural resources and control rising waste disposal costs.
Recycling yard trimmings will save the city in landfill costs and extend the life of landfills. Recycling can be a significant component of an integrated waste management system. Depending on markets and contract arrangements, various materials can help reduce the cost of waste management practices. Recycling reduces waste, cuts air pollution and saves energy.
Recycling is the recovery and reuse of materials that would otherwise be wasted. First, salvageable items such as metals, paper, and glass are separated from other wastes.
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Water Is Essential For Human Environment
Water does self-ionize where two water molecules become one hydroxide anion and one hydronium cation, but not enough to carry enough electric current to do any work or harm for most operations.
In pure water, sensitive equipment can detect a very slight electrical conductivity of 0.055S /cm at 25C. Water is one of your best bets because it’s calorie-free, inexpensive and readily available. Water consumption is doubling every 20 years and yet at the same time, water sources are rapidly being polluted, depleted, diverted and exploited by corporate interests ranging from industrial agriculture and manufacturing to electricity production and mining.
The World Bank predicts that by 2025, two-thirds of the world’s population will suffer from lack of clean and safe drinking water.
Water molecules are naturally attracted and stick to each other because of this polarity, forming a hydrogen bond . This hydrogen bond is the reason behind many of water’s special properties, such as the fact that it’s denser in its liquid state than in its solid state (ice floats on water).
Water use doesn’t just include what you drink from the bottle or what you use to wash your clothes. It also includes the water used to grow the things we eat and wear. Water, of course, is essential to human health. Drinking enough water to replace whatever is lost through bodily functions is important. Water can be liquid, solid, or gas. It can evaporate into vapor or freeze into ice.
Water makes up more than half of your body weight and a person can’t survive for more than a few days without it. Your body has lots of important jobs and it needs water to do many of them. Water quality can be compromised by the presence of infectious agents, toxic chemicals, and radiological hazards. Water stress results from an imbalance between water use and water resources. The water stress indicator in this map measures the proportion of water withdrawal with respect to total renewable resources.
Clean water is vital to life and its supply is limited, so it must be utilized carefully to be sure it is protected for future generations. API and our members work to ensure the continued availability of high quality water. Clean water can be easy to take for granted. Flowing in and out of our homes and businesses through underground pipes, clean water for sanitation keeps our communities livable, our lifestyles possible, and our industries viable.
Water raises national fervor in Canada, and Canadians are reluctant to share their birthright with a United States that has mismanaged? Indeed, the prospect of losing control of its water under free-trade or other agreements is something Canadians seem to worry about constantly.
Water is having a significant impact on many people’s lives around the world right now. From droughts to quake lakes, floods to monsoons, people and animals are dealing with water in many ways.
Water reserves have become scarce in many African countries, such as Chad, due mainly to global climate change. As lakes shrink, the local population loses its means of survival, sowing the seeds for violence between communities.
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