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A great deal more austerity. However, it makes a rather weak argument about a very real trade off problem, that problem is the water-energy trade off problem. In almost all forms of energy generation, it is not usable energy that is created directly, instead, heat is generated, the heat is used to do work, and the work is used to store the energy. So, the classic steam turbine has water heated to gas, and the resulting steam spins the turbine, and that carries wires through a magnetic field, which generates a corresponding electrical current, and that current is sent down wires. Another water energy trade off is to have wind turbines pump water up a shaft, which then is allowed to fall, spinning turbines, when power is needed. Bio-fuels, the same way: water is used to grow plants, the plants fix sunlight into hydrocarbons.

The solution to the water energy problem is more energy, because energy can be used to get water. This, however, lowers the Life Cycle Output of the energy system. LCO or LCA is the expected usable energy out, divided by the expected usable energy used to create and run a system. So if a system produces 10 watts for every watt it takes to build, run, and dispose of it, then its LCA is 10. The 20th century got by on a miracle: namely petroleum has a high LCA, and its its own storage mechanism. Gasoline has great power to weight storage capacities with internal combustion. And internal combustion engines can be built of very cheap metals. There are many quandaries in replacing hydro-carbon energy, and the water energy trade off that the piece mentions is one of them, but it is one of scale. Once there is a large enough renewable base, then the low LCA that getting the water to run it has, is not a problem. It is at the beginning, when the return is eaten through by the water problem, because there are competing uses for water that have much higher economic returns in the short run, such as airconditioning and agriculture. None of these uses want to pay much higher rates for water so that people not yet born can have the advantages.

Where the article falls down is pressing an agenda, and making sloppy equivalences. The first is equating capital requirements with expendable requirements: we don’t burn the rare earths we use in kinetic energy extraction ? that is water, wind, and geothermal ? and in fact, rare earths, are not, as a percentage of the earth’s crust, all that rare. For example, wikipedia has this chart [wikipedia.org]. It shows that all of the Lanthanide rare earths, plus scandium and yttrium, are more common than either gold or silver, many are more common than tin, and some more common than lead. The problem with them is that they tend to be found near the Actinide rare earths, particularly Thorium. If you have seen a press for “Thorium reactors” it is because exploitation of rare earths leads to Thorium by product, and reactors which burn it would be fantastically profitable, for the people who sell the rare earths. In reality, they have the same problems, only more so, of actively cooled salt reactors. Namely, they work until they blow up. The Chinese dump their Thorium in a holding lack, which, should it break, would contaminate large areas of land and volumes of water.

Side note: how is it that a browser’s spell check doesn’t know Actinide?

But for all of that, rare earths are not burned, the way for example Lithuium is not burned in a battery and can be recycled. These are recyclable, which is different from consumable. Hence moving from consumption of hydrocarbons, which really are burned, to using rare earths in capital energy, is a positive step, and while the author of the paper implies that there would be rare earth shortages, the reality is that this is not the case, and substitutes in the form of ceramics and active magnets (See Rare Earth Prices Plunge as Manufacturers turn to substitutes [mining.com]

Source: http://rss.slashdot.org/~r/Slashdot/slashdotScience/~3/bqyGP34ukOc/the-myth-of-renewable-energy

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The pollution level on Earth is raising each year. Individuals who have resolved to begin trying to save planet Earth have been shifting to a green living mode of life. The option to change over to a green living way of life is a choice individuals need to make for themselves. Living a green lifestyle has earned a bad rap by the radical groups that grab all of the headlines. If you want to help save the Earth, you don?t have to be a radical. For a number of people, making use of the power of the sun and wind is essential, but not everyone has to go to such extremes. If you opt to start living a green lifestyle, you can start off taking little steps; you don?t have to do everything right away. These things can easily be taught to youngsters so it becomes typical for them to do.

Use these hints to get going in going green. If you use fluorescent light bulbs, you can expect to save energy and they last a lot longer than a regular light bulb. Even though computers have become a thing that many people use, a laptop uses a lot less power than your desktop computer does. If you?re not in a room, make sure to turn off the electronics and lights there. Take the plugs out of the sockets them because if any light is still turned on, they are using power. The green movement is big on cutting down on fuel use, so keep your cars in excellent running condition, and keep your driving to a minimum. Correct tire inflation together with other scheduled upkeep will also help you conserve gas. If traffic stops for a few minutes, switch your engine off, because you are likely to save fuel and lessen pollution. Also, if you?re at the drive-thru window at the bank, turn off your car. The latest washing machines can not only save money and pollution by using less detergent, but they likewise use less water.

A big power savings is possible by keeping your thermostat down. By lowering your thermostat merely one or two degrees, you can save up to 10% in your heating bill. You should actually insulate your hot water pipes to help keep in the heat, because this is going to help you spend less on heating the water and you can save water by not having to let it run as long for hot water. To bring down your water use, you could buy the new shower heads that bring down the amount of water without losing the water pressure you want. There is one thing that many people do without having to think they are being green. Many people are into recycling, but their motive is to make cash. People can greatly bring down garbage in our landfills by just doing a little recycling. How difficult is it to reuse plastics, metals and paper products by dumping them in a nearby recycling area?

Numerous people don?t know that used batteries are recyclable instead of dumping them in the garbag. Also by purchasing locally grown food, you can help lower greenhouse gases, which are given off when trucks have to deliver food across the country. If each person on Earth planted a tree, it can help counterbalance the extra carbon dioxide on planet Earth. Planet Earth?s future can be reclaimed if every one would merely take one little step.

An important area of green living that can change the world is by utilizing alternative health remedies. Not only is it going to help your health to make use of herbal plants and organic foods, but ridding yourself chemical substances and pharmaceuticals is great for the Earth by lessening poisonous wastes. You do not need to go overboard, but living green is the proper choice.

Paul Nichols spends a lot of his time outside. His passion for the outdoors shows in the care he takes of his garden and his koi carp fish. Gardening the green way and eco friendly is his 1st concern and he attempts to educate this through his website. Visit koicarpfun.com to discover more about Paul and his passion.

Source: http://articlesideas.com/you-can-make-green-living-an-everyday-habit/

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