http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8528066.stm
http://blogs.zdnet.com/green/?p=10353
E-waste report by UNEP
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Friday, February 19, 2010
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
The seat of power
Better sewage treatment is the latest thing in clean energy
http://www.economist.com/sciencetechnology/displaystory.cfm?story_id=15172621&fsrc=rss
courtesy: economist
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Sun-Assisted Desalination
Click below to read the article:
Sun-Assisted Desalination
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Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Monday, August 10, 2009
Are Biofuels carbon neutral?
I always wondered how can biofuels be carbon neutral while they emit CO2 just like non-renewable sources when they are burnt. I finally found an answer when reading a book on renewable energy today.
The concept is that biofuels come from biomass or plants which grow by accumulating resources from soil, CO2 from the atmosphere and sunlight from the sun. So what ever the quantity of CO2 emitted by burning biomass is just the CO2 that it has accumulated during its life time. Hence, by replanting the crops or trees at the same time when they are being burnt, we are just balancing the intake and emission. Thus Biofuels are cabon neutral = a green renewable resource.
The concept is that biofuels come from biomass or plants which grow by accumulating resources from soil, CO2 from the atmosphere and sunlight from the sun. So what ever the quantity of CO2 emitted by burning biomass is just the CO2 that it has accumulated during its life time. Hence, by replanting the crops or trees at the same time when they are being burnt, we are just balancing the intake and emission. Thus Biofuels are cabon neutral = a green renewable resource.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
An Amazing feat!
Riding Solo to the Top of the World.
hatsoff to Gaurav Jani for his sheer determination and will to embark on such an adventure.
hatsoff to Gaurav Jani for his sheer determination and will to embark on such an adventure.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
UNEP report claims green investments 'are a legal responsibility'
courtesy: IWA
Green investments are no longer just a luxury, but are now a legal responsibility, according to a new report by theUnited Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and a powerful group of asset managers who control some $2 trillion in assets.
The 120-page publication argues that if investment consultants and others do not incorporate environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations into their services, they face ‘a very real risk that they will be sued for negligence’.
It also stressed the central role that the world’s largest institutional investors – including pensions funds, insurance companies, sovereign wealth funds and mutual funds – have in easing the transition to a low-carbon and resource-efficient green economy.
UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner said: ‘ESG issues are not peripheral but should be part of mainstream investment decisions-making processes across the industry.’
He also noted that creative market mechanisms and other incentives can help to ensure that as investors return to markets after the current financial turmoil ends, they will put their funds into a greener economy and not the ‘brown economy of yesterday’.
The new report, titled ‘Fiduciary responsibility: legal and practical aspects of integrating environmental, social and governance issues into institutional investment’, was produced by the Asset Management Working Group of the UNEP Finance Initiative (UNEP FI), a partnership between the agency and nearly 200 financial institutions around the world.
Lis Stedman
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Australia town bans bottled water
Campaigners say Bundanoon, in New South Wales, may be the first community in the world to have such a ban.
They say huge amounts of resources are used to extract, package and transport bottled water.
The discarded plastic bottles then end up as litter or go into landfill sites, the "Bundy on Tap" campaign says.
More than 350 residents turned out to vote at the public meeting in the town hall.
Only one resident voted against the ban, along with a representative from the bottled water industry, ABC news reported.
The BBC's Nick Bryant in Sydney says locals have promised not to set upon visitors if they ignore the ban, but they will be encouraged to fill a reusable container from water fountains in the main street.
The reusable bottles will bear the slogan "Bundy on Tap".
Campaigner John Dee said local opinion had been incensed when a drinks company announced plans to tap an underground reservoir in the town.
Environmental impact
"The company has been looking to extract water locally, bottle it in Sydney and bring it back here to sell it," he said.
"It made people look at the environmental impact of bottled water and the community has been quite vocal about it."
The ban has been supported by shopkeepers in the town, which has a population of about 2,500.
"We believe Bundanoon is the world's first town that has got its retailers to ban bottled water," said Mr Dee. "We haven't found it anywhere else."
New South Wales Premier Nathan Rees has backed the cause, ordering government departments to stop buying bottled water and use tap water instead.
Mr Rees says it will save taxpayers money and help the environment.
courtesy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8141569.stm
Sunday, June 28, 2009
Good time to start harnessing power from solar
Year by year mercury in India is rising and it seems as if there is no way it is going to reverse in coming years. Rivers are drying up with delayed monsoons and increasing temperatures thus putting stress on hydroelectricity. The only way to take advantage of this soaring temperature is to plan for large scale or house hold level solar based power harnessing and thus mitigating the power scarcity or crisis as mentioned below.
India heat wave sparks protests
Protests are growing in Delhi over power cuts as the Indian capital remains in the grip of a heat wave.
The government of the northern state of Punjab has announced that its offices will shut early as it also attempts to deal with a similar power crisis.
In Delhi, police have been called to break up demonstrations outside the offices of electricity companies.
Hundreds of people turned up at the house of a state minister demanding a solution to the problem.
As residents wait for this year's delayed monsoon, it is getting hotter and hotter and the disruptions to power supplies are getting bigger and bigger.
'Grim'
Most of the residents at the protests are without power for between six to 10 hours a day.
With temperatures in the mid-40s, there is an increasing demand for electricity as everyone tries to cool down.
The system here is unable to cope.
Some people are now sleeping in their air-conditioned cars.
The Chief Minister of Delhi, Sheila Dikshit, has described the situation as grim.
This city will host the Commonwealth Games next year and some say the current crisis shows that it is not ready.
The chief minister has dismissed those fears, saying two power plants are being constructed for the games.
This year's delayed monsoon is slowly moving across India. The people of Delhi are praying it gets here soon.
courtesy: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/8123012.stm
Thursday, June 11, 2009
Interesting stats on bottled water industry in India
As India lacks an efficient and safe potable water supply, its urban population is increasingly depending on bottled water to quench their thirst. Bottled water is going to be a huge and crucial industry in the future. For those of you who are interested in venturing into this industry, these are some interesting stats to know as a start.
http://www.rediff.com/business/report/2009/jun/12/bottled-water-plants-consume-7-point-03-mn-cubic-m-of-water.htm
http://www.rediff.com/business/report/2009/jun/12/bottled-water-plants-consume-7-point-03-mn-cubic-m-of-water.htm
Over seven million cubic m of water is consumed by 1,952 licenced mineral and packaged drinking water plants in the country annually.
According to figures available with the Central Ground Water Board, while 1,940 licences have been issued in the country for packaged drinking water, only 12 of them have been issued for bottling of mineral water.
Andhra Pradesh -- with 471 licences to manufacture packaged drinking water -- leads the tally, according to the Bureau of Indian Standards.
Himachal Pradesh, famous for its natural springs, has eight licences for bottling mineral water. Incidentally, it has the least number of packaged drinking water licences -- seven -- in the country.
Tamil Nadu comes second with 447, followed by Gujarat with 179 licences. Gujarat also has one mineral water bottling licence.
According to data collected by the Central Ground Water Board from state governments, the quantum of ground water used by the plants is around 7.03 million cubic m per annum.
Water cess is levied and collected by state pollution control boards for prevention and control of water pollution.
Differential rates of cess are collected depending upon the use of
water.courtesy: http://www.rediff.com/
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