Re-using waste for the future

Throughout history, recycling has been around in one guise or another. Even as long ago as 400 BC signs of earlier recycling are known to have taken place. Archaeological reports show that ancient waste dumps contained fewer of what is known nowadays as household waste, such as pots, tools and ash, which demonstrates that people were, even back then, keen to reuse materials at a time when natural resources were not so freely available.

Indeed it could be argued that the old ‘rag-and-bone’ man was just an early recycler collecting unwanted goods on his horse and cart, before reusing or turning the collected items into something new. The 60′s TV series, Steptoe and Son, brought this very much to the public eye and greater attention.

During periods such as the World War Years, recycling and re-use were common place as natural resources became much more difficult to come by. As well as food being rationed, certain materials such as metal and fibre were largely permitted only for use by the government in support of military operations, to meet manufacturing requirements often in the production of weaponry.

Due to rising energy costs, the need to recycle aluminium increased in the seventies.. As a material aluminium utilises much less energy in the production process than some other materials. Also it was much sought after because of its non rusting properties. The demand for aluminium saw the rise of scrap metal merchants who were willing to pay money in exchange for good quality metal. Also, in the seventies in parts of the United States of America, the first vehicles were seen to be collecting waste with a separate trailer for the collection of recyclable materials being towed behind the vehicle.

To the late eighties, early nineties and as the awareness of managing the global environmental state increased amongst worldwide governments, the focus upon recycling really started to gather momentum. In the UK, the government imposed recycling targets upon Local Authorities and with the introduction of the new legislation upon the waste industry, recycling schemes really began to take off. The once commonly recognised waste disposal companies, began to call themselves waste management companies and demonstrated through the offer of waste collection and recyclable material collection that waste needed to be handled more effectively. Local skip companies needed to become better at what they did.

Today, many hundreds of materials and products can be recycled, ranging from paper, card, glass and plastics, to mobile phones, electrical items, printer cartridges, textiles, clothing and concrete. The demand for different types of collection receptacles has increased dramatically.

What is Recycling?

The term recycling describes the process of converting used materials into new or nearly new materials to avoid the need for potentially useful materials or products to be discarded. Essentially it is diverting waste from landfill.

Recycling plays a key role in a world where climate change is high on the environmental agenda. It helps to reduce the need to unnecessarily send waste materials and products to landfill or other waste disposal options. This in turn diminishes the need or the reliance upon consuming fresh or new raw materials, reduces energy use and air and water pollution, all of which contribute to lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Recycling is probably most evident through the recycling services now provided by local authorities for domestic refuse and recycling collections and by modern waste management companies who generally offer a full range of waste and recycling collection services. Some companies, who have traditionally focused only on the collection of recyclable products, are now extending their service offering to collect general waste as well.

To help protect the environment a raft of regulation exists, our website has the necessary information to assist you in order that your requirements are handled in accordance with what the law states.

In the waste sector, the common promotional activity surrounds the waste hierarchy – ‘reduce, reuse, recycle and recover’. This four R slogan is a simple message designed for a far reaching audience. Think about how you can reduce your waste. Can the waste products or materials be reused? Can the waste product or material be recycled or recovered?

The waste hierarchy is a strategy which many waste management companies and local authorities consider when developing new waste management strategies. The strategy is intended to focus the mind around preventing waste being produced in the first place. Consider the options for reuse and recycling but ultimately minimise the amount of waste produced at the end of the cycle. The slogan has been adopted particularly well in the public sector.

So the emphasis is very much on the entire production process. The waste hierarchy extends much wider than to waste management companies and local authorities. Working groups have been set up to bring many industries together to consider the entire waste cycle. For example, the manufacturer of a product needs to consider how the product is to be manufactured. Can parts be used which can later be recycled or reused? Can the amount of packaging which surrounds the product be reduced? When the product reaches the retailer, is it necessary for the product to be placed within an outer package? Once the retailer sells the product, what will the consumer do with the unwanted elements of the purchase, i.e. the packaging? How will the packaging be collected and where will it go? Will it return to a recycling plant, for onward shipment to a reprocessing plant, where the cycle begins all over again? The process must be simple to manage and implement.

How are Materials Collected for Recycling?

Legislation now dictates that all waste should be treated to reduce the amount of recyclables and unnecessary waste going direct to landfill. Since 1996, UK government has applied a landfill levy on all waste disposed of within landfill. The rate of tax has increased considerably in recent years rising from the original level of £8 per ton, to today’s rate of £40 per ton. The UK government has previously announced that this will increase further to £48 per ton by the end of 2010/11. This rate applies to all general waste streams, although there is a lower rate for inert materials. Sending waste directly to landfill is an expensive option and finding suitable methods to divert waste away from landfill is now a priority.

So, the message to everyone is clear, sort your waste to reduce the amount of waste going to landfill. Traditionally, at home or at work, as soon as you place waste in the container , it is forgotten about. Someone else will collect it and take it away. Nowadays, at home and at work, recycling is being encouraged through the provision of bins in which to place certain recyclable materials. At home, the children are often the keen recyclers.

Perhaps the most common materials to be seen being collected for recycling are paper, card, glass, metals and plastics. But the opportunity to recycle a vast number of materials or products continues to grow.

The process of anaerobic digestion introduces micro- organisms in to biodegradable matter, which performs with a lack of oxygen and reduces the emissions of landfill gas.

The methods of collecting materials or waste to be recycled is also increasing and becoming more noticeable within local communities. Dedicated collection sites, often referred to as a bring bank sites, are springing up in supermarket car parks to encourage customers of the supermarket to return such items as bottles, newspapers or cardboard to the containers on their way into the supermarket. Shoppers are therefore encouraged to bring back their recyclables.

Local Authority waste collection crews or their appointed contractors will collect refuse and recyclables from the kerbside usually at the front of your home. Collection from domestic premises generally remains the responsibility of the local council and many have now employed the provision of bins in which to collect specified recyclable materials or products.

In the industrial and commercial sector, waste management contractors offer separate containers in which the customer deposits the appropriate waste stream or recyclable material ready for collection. The bins will often be clearly labeled as to which recyclable materials should be placed within that container or bin. Alternatively, the bins will be colour coded to identify which recyclable materials should be placed within which bins.

The key to a successful recycling initiative is educating about what can be recycled and how. In the commercial world getting the co-operation of office employees is crucial. The introduction of any recycling scheme must ensure that in asking employees to separate waste for recycling, it does not become time consuming and affect the effectiveness of what employees should be doing in their work.

The Recycling Process

Various collection systems exist for the collection of the recyclable products . Whichever collection system is utilised , the materials are taken to a recycling centre where they will be segregated from other wastes. This could be done manually or by using mechanical separators.

To begin the recycling process from a collection point of view, the more recyclable material which can be separated at source, i.e. at home or in the work place, the more efficient it will be for the waste collector. That is why separate containers are supplied to the waste producer to encourage segregation at source. If card can be collected on a vehicle, which will collect no other waste material, the card will be kept uncontaminated and therefore will have a higher value when it reaches the processing plant. Similarly, specialist glass collection vehicles are used to collect only glass. Apart from the obvious health and safety reasons and the weight of collected glass, it will have a much higher value if the collected glass load is not contaminated with other waste. Uncontaminated recyclables will have a much higher value than contaminated materials.

Once collected, the recyclable materials can be taken direct to a reprocessing plant, if the load contains only that specific type of material. So a dedicated glass collection vehicle could take the load directly to a glass processing plant.

If mixed recyclables have been collected such as paper and card within the same container, it may be necessary for the collector to take the load to a drop off point to unload and allow the load to be segregated into separate paper and card bundles for onward transport to a paper or card processing plant. Whichever method is used, the recyclable material collected will usually be segregated or cleaned before going through to a reprocessing plant to be converted to a new resource and ultimately used as a new product or in manufacturing.

Because of high density populations, the problem of waste disposal requires more innovative solutions than the old landfill ideas. power in waste is just one such solution, turning waste material into electricity.

The Increasing Importance of Recycling

In the UK around 35% of waste collected from households is recycled or composted. Whilst in the commercial and industrial sector, the volume of waste sent to landfill has declined substantially in recent years and the volume of waste now being diverted for recycling or reuse by this sector has risen above the volumes going to landfill.

Landfill continues to play an important role in the management of waste across the UK as not all wastes can be recycled and some are more suited to landfill disposal than by any other means. However, it’s not just the increasing costs of disposing of waste directly in landfill which is making recycling a more appealing option for businesses. Landfill is becoming scarce, with some experts suggesting that the amount of space available across all UK landfill sites, has less than ten years existence remaining before all sites are deemed to be full. Such countries as Dubai have filled parts of the coastline with their waste and created useful land area to extend the boundaries of their country.

In recent years, waste management companies have had to change their focus, and start to consider and invest in new technologies, such as energy from waste plants, anaerobic digestion plants and mechanical biological treatment plants, as alternatives to landfill. Local Authorities have also changed their approaches by undertaking comprehensive strategic reviews as to how waste under their jurisdiction should be handled. In some cases this has meant that unitary authorities are implementing plans to introduce long term contracts, usually around 25 years in length, through which to manage their entire waste management requirements. These contracts will often include the need to build a facility through which to handle all waste generated across the county by sorting all waste streams. The contracts may also include the collection of all waste and recyclables from households across the area. So the face of waste management is changing rapidly. The days of just throw it in the dustbin have disappeared and the advent of new technologies are upon us.

Conclusion

Recycling is now a way of life and is here to stay. It has evolved over the years from something that was undertaken without any real thought behind it. The trusty rag and bone man was just trying to make a living. Today, many blue chip organisations are setting out plans for a ‘zero to landfill’ waste policy, where the intention is very clear – reduce waste, reuse waste and recycle waste, but no waste must end up in landfill. Some companies have announced ambitious target dates by which to achieve such policies.

Many homes across the country now have some form of bin in which to separate waste for recycling. The need to separate newspapers, aluminium cans and plastic bottles are almost common place. Whilst in industrial and commercial sectors, there is an increasing list of items to consider for recycling such as printer cartridges, office paper, metal and electrical equipment.

Ideally the whole process would be a complete cycle such as it was in the days of the horse. However the advent of new technologies will accelerate further the way in which our waste is to be managed in the future, but it is highly unlikely that we will ever reach the ultimate waste free society. There will always be a need for waste to be disposed of somewhere, somehow.

Candles in the Home

Everyone enjoys having candles in their home. Candles are a great way to relax and enjoy a cozy night without all the lights on in the house. A new type of candle is becoming popular; the wickless candles. These candles burn without the traditional wick and are becoming more and more popular. Searches for wickless candles are starting to flood the internet. These candles allow users to enjoy the same feelings of traditional candles in a non-traditional way. They typical wick surrounded by wax is outdated! Start the new decade off right with a revolution in candles with wickless candles!

Candles are great in a variety of different ways. They can help heat a cold home in winter or safe some electricity the whole year by reducing lamp usage. They can also be the final touch on a romantic night. There are new candles being introduced into the candle community now. The wickless candle is a fun and new way to enjoy candles in the home. These candles can also be used in a variety of different ways just like the old traditional candle could be. They also last much longer than traditional candles, which can save a lot of money in the long run.

One of the main reason people use candles is to fill the home with pleasant aromas. Whether someone wants to enjoy the smell of a warm baked apple pie, without the mess and work, or if someone wants to smell freshly extracted vanilla, there is always a candle available. There are also new scentsy wickless candles that have begun to be distributed. These candles can also be found in a wide variety of smells. So next time there is a craving to smell mandarin oranges or lavender and lilac, find a great smelling, aromatic, relaxing candle and light it up!

 

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Hotpoint RF175MG Upright Fridger Freezer Promotion Codes Online

The Hotpoint RF175MG has all the functions to make foods and beverages fresh and full of flavor even after a long while. This fridge freezer is equipped with some of the most advanced in chilling and refrigeration systems that make it highly recommended to any type of homemaker. This appliance also has spacious interiors that can hold a significant amount of food items. And this is an energy efficient appliance which can help reduce the electricity consumption of its users. The Hotpoint RF175MG has all these amazing features that make it such a dependable household appliance.

The Hotpoint RF175MG fridge freezer comes in a modern graphite finish and has a gross capacity of 10.7 cu.ft. The top fridge has a capacity of 6.6 cu.ft and the freezer which is below has 4 cu ft. The freezer is auto defrost, which allows users to not worry about the build up of ice inside the freezer. This fridge freezer also operates quietly, with a noise level of 40 decibels. This fridge freezer is equipped with several advanced features to ensure that foods are kept fresh and flavorful. For example, the freezer can freeze up to 6 kilograms of food in 24 hours.

Space inside this appliance is also not a problem since this fridge freezer has several shelves and compartments to make room for almost all sorts of foods and beverages. There is a bottle rack in the door that can accommodate bottles of wines. There is a dairy compartment as well as an egg tray. There is also an ice cube tray for easy dispensing of ice. The model has an interior light to assist owners in loading and unloading their food.

Apart from these features, this fridge freezer features an integrated anti-bacterial protection that safeguards the hygiene of the foods stored. The Hotpoint RF175MG Graphite Fridge Freezer is rated A for energy efficiency as it only consumes 263 KWH of electricity a year. For all these great features, it is not surprising why this is one of the best from Hotpoint.

A Fresher Breeze For UKs Power Industry~UK Wind Farms

Going green is an agenda that the UK is giving a lot of priority as of late.  The UK Government is said to be spending as much as £100 billion on wind farms to be built on coasts on various parts of the UK. 

Key energy suppliers such as Scottish Power, Southern Energy and E.On are reported to have been on the tables along with quite a few other companies to make the programme materialize.  Several neighboring European companies are also said to be trying to cash-in on the deal. 

The project will turn into a turning point in the country’s power generation industry as it will make the UK as a country with one of the most biggest wind farms in the planet.  Given that the plan doesn’t bump into any drawbacks along the way.  2014 is said to be the time where the wind turbines will be erected.

Even though this is the third wind farm project for the kingdom, the previous two pales in comparison to this one. 

Presently, existing wind turbines are fixed at the ocean floor 25km off the coast and beneath a water depth of 25m.  For the latest wind farm project, windmills will be placed at a deepness of 60 meters and 205 km further off coast.

The Government is hopeful that these brand new wind farms will deliver 1/3 of the country’s energy requirements after 10 years.  Various zones in the United Kingdom are found to have good steady wind blow to twirl turbines practically always. A few of these are the Irish Sea, Isle of Wight, Hornsea, Bristol Channel and the largest spot is said to be designated at Dogger Bank. 

If the latest project becomes a reality, as much as 32 gigawatts of electricity will be the output and allocated to nearby residences.

In addition, the UK is said to have a very efficient wind power.  Estimates say that the UK has a sufficient amount of wind resource to power the nation three times.

The amount of output will vary depending on every wind farm.  The biggest site which is said will be at Dogger Bank will produce 9,000 megawatts of electricity while the smallest is believed to create up to 600 megawatts of power.

Using wind farms to generate electricity will be beneficial to the country’s atmosphere and power reliance but it still has some cons.  For one, the quantity of watts that gets generated is dictated by the speed of the wind and wind blows can halt any time. 

Compared to gas and coal power plants, wind farms are often costlier because of the new technology necessary to make turbines more effective and maintainable. 

The country has recently made attempts to harness energy through environmentally friendly measures.  One of which is laying wave energy generators also along the coast which harness power from waves which is pretty much limitless. 

Also, allocation of funds is going to be used to build nuclear power plants.  Although nuclear power is not a fool-proof environmental answer, it does not give off greenhouse gases as those of gas or coal power plants but the threat of nuclear fallout is constantly there.

If the nation gets its source of energy from environmentally sound methods such as wind farms, a much more cleaner and energy efficient UK will benefit more citizens through cheaper energy price and creation of jobs.

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Covert Video Cameras: Wired and Wireless Surveillance – Your Choices To Protect Those You Care About

In less complicated terms, covert cameras record clips with out being in plain sight. There are countless video security cameras and a lot of people are knowledgeable with the ones which are noticeable. A less noticeable video camera is more suitable for home owners which want to spy on folks while they are absent perhaps the babysitter. For the reason that these recording products can be disguised as ordinary devices and gear, it would be a lot more useful for surveillance. Cameras as those are set up inside a clock, a radio, a Movie player, a smoke detector machine and several others. Several property owners find it comforting that they contain a method to overlook the different actions within the home.

Tiny Cameras can either be wired or wireless. Picking between the two depends on the funds and what it would be used for. For instance, if the video camera will have a permanent location then it might be much more sensible to make use of a wired camera. On the other hand, if the recording device is relocated around the home often, it will be more sensible to stick with a wireless one. For instance, if the role it will serve is to get pictures of the region around the safe, it will be better to stick to the wired sort.

If it is going to be used to assess the activities of nanny while the father and mother are absent, it might be much better to have the wireless sort. This would allow quick transport of the camera as the nanny will not only be remaining in one area. If the homeowner can pay out for many cameras and deploy them in various places within the home, then wired cameras will work just very well.

Obviously, the wired Smallest Security Cameras will obtain its electricity by an electrical outlet or another gadget where it’s to be attached to. For instance, if the wired video camera should be linked within the VCR or the personal computer, it will automatically get charged. On the other hand, the wireless style would need to be recharged before it can be used. A wireless covert video camera would be requiring batteries too. It would be very sensible to check on the electric battery lifespan so homeowners do not have to worry about battery replacement sooner. These variables also have an impact on what the homeowner should select. For instance, if the homeowner is preparing to go out on a vacation and is relying on these surveillance Video Cameras, it might not make sense if the recording capacity and battery life would merely be for a few hours.

As covert Video Cameras mimic another gadget or be installed within one, it will easily blend in with the different setups in the house. For instance, tabletop clocks are very normal placed on top of a table that it would not be suspicious. Within the kitchen, a concealed video camera disguised in a smoke detector or a wall clock will barely be noticeable. Deliberating where it would be placed should have weight on the effectiveness of the surveillance cameras to be bought.

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The Secrets of Financial Control For Big Businesses and Freelancing Success

Cash flow challenges are the fundamental reason why companies that fail go under.

If you are seriously interested in making your business a success, then managing your money effectively is critical to this success. Whether you run a simple work at home business freelancing admin work or manage a multinational corporation, well managed finances and in particular a healthy business cash flow, are everything.

When founding a new business it might seem impossible to put together a budget without any financial history on which to base income and expenses. However a business plan, before you even start, with some idea of costs and revenues is vital to determining the potential of a business, even if you are just planning to setup a home based freelancing operation. It might seem like guesswork at the beginning, but a tentative budget can be established with some thought and projections of future business. From some past experience in renovating buildings, I always say ‘think of a figure and double it’ and then you will be near the mark. I think this is true for other companies, because it’s human nature to underestimate what we need to spend and over estimate what we will earn.

Our electricity prices comparison business, as with any business, has two distinct categories of business finance, income and expenses.

Under the business costs category there can be other sub-categories often falling into two main areas of controllable expenses and uncontrollable expenses. While many business proprietors and freelancers believe they can control every expense involved in their organisation, this is not always the case. Some things such as services costs, the amount of rent and other supposed fixed costs can, and do change, with the owner having no control. For example the recent increase in gas prices are an example of this and have been the reason a number of small airline and transportation businesses going out of business as their fuel costs skyrocketed.

Other expenses such as payroll, transportation and building repairs can be subject to a budget, but they are considered controllable expenses. If the sales begins to reduce, you can control some of these expenses by making redundant staff and cutting back on marketing. However, living by a budget may help maintain profitability but could also turn against you in the long run.

Depending on the viability of your business it may be a better investment to bite the financial bullet on employee wages and still provide good customer service to the remaining customers until business picks up again, or consider outsourcing and freelancing for when you need a bit of extra help but without having to hire new employees. If no one supports of the customers, it will not be long until there are no more clients to care for.

There are two ways to budget your business finance and these are through set amounts or as a percentage of sales. Many companies will budget their controllable costs by the pound and non-controllable by percentage of sales. Obviously a good part of the owner’s time is going to be based on bringing sales into the business and how much they have to spend on controllable expenses will be in direct relation to sales. With any increase in business the owner will probably need the extra help to take care of the business so a percentage of income will go to more wages, thus freeing the owner to focus on generating additional income.

There are many other costs that fall into the payroll account such as worker’s compensation charges, National Insurance tax paid by the employer and paid vacation time or other staff benefits determined by the company. These need to be calculated into costs when recruiting people into the company, unless you make extensive use of freelancing services.

While you may think a budget is difficult to establish for a new company, it is essential to establish a healthy and sound financial foundation on which success can be built for the future.

About the Author: Roger Davies, is the Manager at Advanta Productions Ltd and oversees a web developer team serving businesses in Nottingham, Derby, Loughborough and other areas in the Midlands. Advanta have successfully completed hundreds of website development projects. For website development enquires or to advertise your business on-line telephone 0845 22 55 805 or visit the website.

Home Made Energy Review

The chances are, you’re sick to death of signing up with programs relating to solar energy and who could blame you, considering there are so many bogus ones in circulation on the Internet nowadays. Well, the days of you throwing your money away are over, thanks to HomeMadeEnergy. In fact, HomeMadeEnergy claims that together with their videos and guide, they are now in the top spot.

Offered strictly to HomeMadeEnergy members, you will instantly gain access to SimpleWaterFuel. This program claims that this is the best guide you can find on how to use water to increase your gas mileage.

While there are numerous articles and other resources available on the Internet regarding using water and fuel, not one of them can match this guide. Interestingly enough the system can be installed in just a few hours providing you follow the step by step instructions.

Apart from the fact that you’ll be doing your share to save the environment, you can also save a significant amount of money each year. By installing this technology in your vehicle, the amount of fuel being wasted each day can be drastically reduced.

You would typically have to purchase the SimpleWaterFuel package for $97, which still is not bad considering the amount of money you will save from gas. However, as a member of this program you will be able to take advantage of the product for just $47.

The guide is just the beginning for how you will benefit from a HomeMadeEnergy membership. As a member, you will gain access to eight incredible videos based on a wide array of different subjects.

The first video for example, introduces you to various methods you can use to make your own energy practically free of charge, instead of spending hundreds and hundreds of dollars on special pieces of equipment.

The second video on the other hand discusses in detail, everything you need to know about photovoltaic systems, including the components and the different types available. The third video goes on to look at all the factors you need to take into consideration regarding getting hooked up to grid-tier systems.

Extremely useful details and information is provided in the remaining videos relating to the different sizes and designs of photovoltaic systems. Furthermore, these videos also provide you with some outstanding information regarding the basics of electricity, batteries, and of course, the tools required for making the system.

As you can well imagine, there’s a lot you need to know with regards to solar energy and how to implement it in your home. At the very least, it’s easy to understand that building your own solar power panels would be a daunting task if you attempted it without any guidance.

HomeMadeEnergy will provide you with a guide they claim to be the best available and a plethora of highly detailed videos to help you throughout the process. You will be off to living a safer, cheaper, and more efficient lifestyle in no time.

When it comes to Home Made Energy, getting the right information can be a daunting task. That’s why we put together this confidential report for you at Home Made Energy Review

If you’ve enjoyed all the exciting information you read here about solar energy,you’ll love everything else you find at Power4Home Review

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Is There a Future For Solar Power?

Introduction

There may be some confusion about the term Solar Power because there are a number of systems that have been established for many years using the sun to heat water, heat ovens to cook food or heat your home either directly or indirectly. But what we are really interested in is the idea of producing electricity from the sun. That electricity can then be used for different uses not just for heating water or rooms. Technically Solar Power is any system which is powered by the sun to produce useable energy.

Making electricity really isn’t that hard so I am told. The technology is now available to convert the sun’s light into electricity using Photovoltaic cells. One company I know has developed large scale photovoltaic plants in Southern Spain, where of course there is plenty of sunshine. Panels made up of photovoltaic cells can be installed on the roof or placed anywhere they will capture the sun. They are then connected to the electrical supply in the home and used to run the everyday appliances we depend on.

What Does Photovoltaic Mean?

Photovoltaic literally means light and electricity and the technology has been developed to convert solar energy into usable power. Basically the sun produces white light, which is just a different kind of energy; as I understand it, photovoltaic cells trap this light and turn the wavelengths into electricity. They do not need bright sunlight to operate so even on cloudy days electricity can be made due to the reflection of sunlight, and on days of light cloud energy yields are higher than in bright sunshine.

How Photovoltaic Cells Work

To make these cells produce energy you need two layers of semi-conductor material which has been adapted, so that one is positively charged and the other negatively charged. When light shines on the semi-conductor, electrons are released to produce electricity. The greater the concentration of light the more electricity is produced. The electrical field across the junctions between the layers causes electricity to flow as (DC) Direct Current. Photovoltaic cells are then joined together to make panels which are positioned strategically to capture as much sunlight as possible on or around the designated building. Once the photovoltaic cells are joined together they officially become Solar Panels.

Where to Install the Solar Panels

Once you decide to have solar panels then positioning them for optimum light and sunlight is a vital consideration. If you have a good roof space high enough and not shaded by trees, preferably facing south or south west, then you will probably have the ideal location. Because we live a bungalow there is a huge roof facing south on one side. Looking at the design of the roof we concluded we could have several panels facing South East, South and South West thereby capturing sunlight throughout the whole day.

Solar panels can be mounted on frames on a flat roof or the ground or even on the side of buildings. I would think the main criteria are that they are safe and stable so they won’t fall over or blow away in high winds. The solar panel we have installed for hot water is securely mounted on our roof with strong metal fixings.

Solar panels are produced in many shapes and sizes, some are even made as roof tiles, and there is some new technology on the horizon enabling solar panels to be incorporated into actual windows. Smaller portable solar panels can be taken on holiday when you go camping or caravanning.

The production of solar panels has resulted in a variety of different designs.

Why Would You Want to Install Your Own Solar Power System?

Green Energy – Well firstly there is the issue of ‘going green’ and avoiding using carbon producing energy. There has never been a better time to do your bit to save the planet. Carbon emissions are contributing to the erosion of the glaciers which provide much of the world with drinking water. Global warming is a huge concern and if a large proportion of the world population reduce their carbon footprint then the hope is that global warming will slow to its natural cycle in the evolution of the earth.

Cost – Then there is the cost of electricity today. Utility companies are charging far too much for energy and today I read in the paper that one company is not going to reduce the bills now that the price or raw materials has gone down. They plan to use the profits for re-investment! So in fact we are paying twice for the cost of re-investment.

Prices in the UK have trebled in the last year and even with less sunlight in the UK than many other countries solar power is still worthwhile to reduce the bills. During this financial crisis anything that can be done to reduce costs is of benefit. Once your solar system is up and running any excess electricity you produce can be sold back to the national grid. So instead of bills you get paid by the electrical companies for producing more than you can use.

Freedom – When I am showering using the water from my solar heating system, I have this wonderful sense of it being free hot water. I know it is not really free because we have already paid for its installation. But now it is done, it looks after itself and on sunny days there is an abundance of hot water. It does not need electricity to make the water flow through the pipes so if there is a power cut we can still get hot water.

My policy over the last few years has been to put in systems that free us from the tyranny of the electricity companies and the oil barons. Without independent systems we have no choices if the powerful companies decide to put up prices or cut us off.

The most persuasive argument for me was when Russia decided to cut off gas supplies to the customers when they had a contract in place so that the people of those countries had no fuel to keep them warm during the coldest winter months. From my perspective is seemed it was all because ‘the powers that be’ wanted to flex their power muscles and increase prices to line their own pockets. None of us want to be in that position.

DIY Solar Panels and Installation

Now that we have a solar hot water heating system installed we are keen to get started on producing our own electricity. We use a great deal of electricity running 5 computers for our home based business and overheads have gone through the roof this year.

Using solar panel kits is outlined in a number of e-books on the market to build your own solar power production system.

The marketing material on each website is persuasive and they claim that you can make these solar panels for $200 or £150 which is a great deal cheaper than they can be bought readymade. The books provide an easy step by step guide written in clear straightforward language with the complete novice in mind. People claim they are making these panels over a weekend and are over the moon with the results.

So why would you want to make your own solar panels and then install them yourself? Wind and Solar power systems have been on the market for years but the costs are virtually prohibitive. The cost of commercial panels makes nonsense out of the whole idea of recovering the outlay within a few years. Then there is the satisfaction of producing something essential to maintain our way of life with your own hands.(Rather like growing your own vegetables)

As well as making these panels for yourself and when you have become more skillful at making them, there is the possibility of a lucrative business producing and installing solar systems starting with your friends and neighbours. Once they start telling their friends about the savings they are making you will find you have more orders than you can handle.

Future for our Children and Grandchildren

The ways we have used and misused our natural resources are creating a legacy for our children and grandchildren which will be, to say the least, challenging. The fossil fuels will run out in the next century and as resources become scarce and population increases there will be competition for what is left. I don’t think the world is going to be an easy place to live in and our descendents will have to adapt to a life that could in many ways, be similar to the Middle Ages in Britain or the early settler days in the US.

I won’t dwell on the possibilities of what could be, but I do think anything we can do to help establish a system using renewable energy will be the best legacy we can bestow on future generations.

A wonderful example of natural resources running out is on Easter Island. From study and research of this uninhabited island it would seem there was once plenty of trees. In fact it was completely covered in forest. The inhabitants cut down these trees as a source of fuel but also for carving images which you can still see on the island. However when the trees became scarce, instead of planting and nurturing their valuable resource, they continued to cut down the trees until there were none left. Because there was no more wood they had used up their means of survival so they all died out or possibly left. To this day it is an uninhabited island with no trees. (In New Zealand there is an oral history of the Maori people canoeing from the pacific islands to find their new land of the long white cloud. They could well have been the ones from Easter Island)

Storing Electricity or Selling Back to the Grid.

Just having solar panels is not sufficient to provide you with electricity for your requirements. Once electricity is produced there has to be a scheme to convey the correct power to the appliances. For the most basic system after the solar panel, you will need a charge controller which regulates the flow of electricity to the battery. A battery is an essential item to maintain the supply when it is dark and an inverter which is essential to convert the direct current (DC) generated by the solar panel to alternating current (AC) for use with all appliances. However by DIY the system could pay for itself within a couple of months.

Once your solar power system is up and running you could decide to just provide electricity for your own use and store any excess in deep cycle batteries. You may however prefer to sell the excess back to the national grid to offset any usage you might need over and above the production of the solar panels installed.

To make a solar panel you can use a solar power kit providing you with detailed instructions of all the items needed to start generating electricity from the sun. You’ll also need a digital electricity meter to monitor the usage of your various home appliances.

Apparently there are ways of getting deep storage batteries for free in which to store electricity that you have produced, over and above your current consumption. A charge controller is advisable to monitor and control the charging of the battery and prevent it being overcharged. Careful use of the battery will extend its life and save having to swap it so often.

Selling electricity back to the national grid will require installation of several more items than the basic system uses and is a little more complicated to install. But if it offsets the cost of the electricity you do need, it might be a better system in the long run.

Will it work in the UK?

Although sunlight hours are fewer in the UK than in other more sunny climates photovoltaic cells work with light, and as mentioned earlier, they work particularly well on partially cloudy days of which there are many. We already have several solar units in the garden and I have never known them to not have enough light to work, even in winter.

Will we run out of Raw Materials?

The semi-conductor material used in the construction of the solar cells is mostly silicon. Silicon is basically derived from sand and sand is the second most abundant material in the Earth’s mass. So I think it is unlikely we shall run out of raw materials.

Conclusion

Hot water powered by the sun has been in use for many years in countries where there is a plentiful supply of sun and is known as passive energy. However the development of new technology whereby light can be converted to electricity is a important step in the evolution of civilisation.

What I don’t understand is why Middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia and Bahrain don’t make more use of this technology Now that oil supplies are dwindling maybe they will turn their attention to other forms of electricity production and use their vast wealth to invest further in the solar and wind technology. They could even be the ones who ultimately end up dominating the industry. I did read that there are plans to turn parts of the Sahara into solar power farms, and that the plan is to export a fair amount of the power produced, into Europe. This could be an excellent export opportunity for Africa.

To be completely free of electricity from the grid would be a huge bonus for me and there seems to be a small revolution going on with a ground swell of public opinion demanding the use of renewable sources to produce energy. People are getting fed up with being hostage to energy companies and are looking for ways to change the system.

It is a fact that solar power is one of the safest, easiest and cheapest ways to create electricity for our homes. In an ever increasingly energy hungry planet, currently only 0.2% of energy comes from renewable sources and 93% comes from sources that will eventually run out. So now is the time to look for an alternative in the form of wind and solar energy to provide a very moral and ethical gift for the generations that follow

Milfoil Weevil as a Barrier to Invasive Milfoil

Milfoil weevils  may be more helpful to local habitats and mankind than anyone recognizes. This little bug could be  very helpful because it eats the invasive plant known as milfoil and poses no threat to  humanity.
 
There are two types of milfoil to be found in the Us. One is indigenous and the other  invasive (Eurasian Milfoil). native milfoil is merely irritating, but the offensive species is a menace to all  bodies of water in North America. The  milfoil weevil now enjoys great popularity thanks to its love for the Eurasian Milfoil.  
 
Eurasian milfoil (the only one that will be referred to in the rest  of the article unless otherwise stated) in all likelihood found its way into the northern states  somewhere between 1800’s and the 1940’s as it clung to Ships or was tossed out as  packaging material. Because milfoil can attach to any part of the bottom  of a ship and propagates quickly, it can cause vast and unwelcome changes in the environment  and create problems for humanity.   Luckily this can spread the milfoil weevil as well.
 
This water plant grows  quickly, devastating local plants and limiting the food and living area for many marine  animals.   The mats constituted by the milfoil do not allow the wind to bring refreshing oxygen to the water and this will result in the ultimate  death of fish and a rush in algae growth.
 
For  people, milfoil growth means a loss of boating, bathing, angling and waterskiing areas.    Residential Districts are more adversely affected  as the mats can foul intake and overflow pipes resulting in flooding or droughts.   The mats can be especially destructive to dykes by breaking or clotting generators and  reducing electricity output.  
 
One small weevil may hold the answer to  the milfoil dilemma.   The milfoil weevil favors Eurasian milfoil to the native variety, which  means that the invasive species are killed over time and indigenous plants are allowed to  gradually recover. With a high breeding  rate and a taste for milfoil, the milfoil weevil and a smart and safe way to remove the  undesirable milfoil.   The weevils are a clear answer to the milfoil problem, peculiarly considering the rate  at which the plant spreads.  
 
This water plant spread quickly because broken bits can sink to the bottom and easily form new plants. Marine  harvesting devices are not productive because they break the plant and bits come off and  replant themselves elsewhere. Vacuum dredging works a little better because no broken pieces are left behind, but at  the same time the vacuum disrupts the water and may leave no flora life at the bottom.
 
  With a taste for Eurasia milfoil rather than the indigenous milfoil, the weevil eats the flora  from the inside out, finally destroying the whole plant. With a short life span (milfoil weevils live about thirty days) at  least 3 generations will live and die till they head to the shore to winter. Although they have wings they have seldom been know to fly so no one know if milfoil weevils fly to land or swim.   The weevils are hearty small bugs and once they are  inserted to an area, they can survive the harshest weather.

The Future of Demolition

Introduction

The definition of the word ‘demolish’ is deliberate and controlled collapse of a structure. In the late 1970′s Fred Dibnah became the most famous steeplejack in Britain when his work on demolishing tall chimneys without the need for explosives was shown on Television. Fred was an specialist on repairing tall chimneys, so when it came to taking them down he knew just how to do it. He would cut an alcove at the base of the chimney, and then place wooden props to support the structure. By carefully positioning the props, the chimney would collapse in the right direction when the wood was set alight and burned away. Once he was nearly crushed when he miscalculated demonstrating how dangerous demolition work is.

The actual word to demolish only came into being in 1570, and was used after that to mean the deliberate taking down or destroying of a building or structure. Although in fact the process of demolition in some form or other has been occurring for thousands of years. Buildings have been destroyed either by natural disturbances of the Earth’s crust or during battles or attacks on villages for as long as there have been structures. The remaining ruins would be removed and rebuilt or used for other buildings nearby and must be the first examples of recycling.

Preserving the past – preparing the future.

To preserve Britain’s history of agriculture the land between built up areas of the villages and towns is protected from development of urban sprawl. This land is known as Green Belt and is preserved for farming which is vital to the continuing economy of the country. By containing the Green Belt, urban areas are squeezed to provide housing, so developers have to be more creative to find suitable sites.

Britain is a country with a very dense population per square mile. The amount of land available for development is limited compared to other countries. Therefore there is always a high demand for space on which to build. Taking down old and unused buildings and replacing them with new is one way to counteract this shortage.

Land that may be disused industrial and commercial sites, but could be contaminated with hazardous waste or pollution, are called Brownfield sites. Once the land has been cleaned up they are potentially valuable for redevelopment. Both Glasgow and South Wales created gardens out of old industrial sites and put in Shopping centres to attract visitors.

Greyfield sites are distinct from Brownfield sites in that they do not have the environmental concerns of toxic waste. The term greyfield comes from the large areas of asphalt which had once been car parks of commercial urban properties. Their value is in the fact that the infrastructure such as roads, electricity, water, sewage, and gas is already in place. These urban areas are underutilised or abandoned and are valuable because require very little remedial work to be exploited. Cities such as Leeds and Manchester have had a massive programme of converting the old warehouses or factories into apartments, shops and restaurants, retaining the original shell and refurbishing the interior into modern accommodation.

The Demolition process

Building and office demolition must have careful consideration given to the following points.

• The construction and size of the building.
• What items are valuable for re-use?
• How will the old site be re-used?
• How is the waste to be disposed of?
• Electricity water, sewage and gas mains.

Hydraulic excavators and bulldozers can be used to undermine the walls at the base, so that the structure will topple; at the same time controlling the manner and direction of the fall. Safety issues are paramount, and clean-up strategies are also taken into account when choosing how the building will be demolished.

Traditional Demolition

Once all the services were disconnected, the men and machinery would go in and just knock down the walls. The whole structure would collapse and the resulting debris would be piled onto lorries and disposed of in landfill sites. Concrete foundation would be broken up by pneumatic drills and the site would be cleared of rubbish. However today demolition practices are subject to strict planning, safety and monitoring regulations and are highly controlled by the local authority.

Deconstruction and Recycling

The new approach to demolishing buildings is known as deconstruction – a green approach. Landfill sites are in short supply so the aim when demolishing a building is to reduce the amount of waste remaining.

Small structures such as two or three storey houses can be dismantled quite easily. The work may be a painstaking task of dismantling by hand – brick by brick – or beam by beam but by going carefully costly materials are preserved for re-use. The value of deconstruction is that 90% or more of waste is saved from going into landfill sites and reclaimed materials can be re-used and recycled for future buildings. The farmer opposite my house sold his barns in the farm yard for housing; when the builder demolished the barns he cleaned up the bricks and reused them for the wall around the farmhouse thus retaining the character of the farm.

Modern techniques and machinery allows demolition companies to efficiently segregate waste types on or off-site. Construction materials are recycled and re-used whenever possible in the new structure making considerable savings in project costs as well as being good for the environment.

Concrete can now be rapidly broken up with a new machine called a guillotine.Demand increases daily of 6f2 recycled material as it provides a viable alternative to disposing of the demolished building remnants to landfill. It can also be used on site as a sub-base for any new buildings.

Copper pipes, lead, roof tiles or slates, floor tiles, wiring and doors, and wood panelling are valuable artifacts that are saved for recycling and re-use. Many specialist firms sell reclaimed old or antique building items in most towns and cities.

Tall Buildings

Tower blocks and chimneys are the type of tall buildings that may need to be demolished. The demolition of tall buildings necessitates specialist techniques. The tallest building to be demolished lawfully was in 1967/8 of the Singer Building in New York. The collapse of the World Trade Centre after the 9/11 attack in 2001 demonstrates the terrible devastation that occurs if the demolition is uncontrolled and haphazard.

In the demolishing of tall buildings and large structures a wrecking ball on a crane can be used, but is rarely practiced because the swinging ball is rather uncontrollable. The proximity of other buildings is a determining factor which prevents the use of explosives to implode a tall structure. So ‘High Reach’ demolition excavators are used where other methods are not suitable to demolish the top part of a tall building. Once it is down to a manageable height demolition can continue in the usual way. The various methods of demolishing tall buildings are by implosion using explosives, controlled collapse and piecemeal. To control the dust produced in demolition, water hoses and spray equipment are sometimes used and then it is called a wet demolition.

Explosions

The use of explosives in demolition is very specialist work and getting it wrong would be disastrous. If for instance there is atmospheric pressure from low cloud above the implosion site, the shockwave may spread outwards instead of upwards causing the wave of energy and sound to break windows. If an implosion is not prepared correctly the danger may be damage to surrounding buildings where flying debris may cause injury to spectators.

For many people when they think about demolition they may have in mind the use of explosives in the dramatic collapse of a tall building. This process is actually called implosion using explosives. Implosion is essential for dense urban areas as it brings down a tall building so that the surrounding environment is damaged as little as possible. The collapse takes only seconds for the building to drop into its own footprint.

Because of the dangers of working with explosives they will only be used when other methods are too costly or impractical. Where there is a partial collapse of a building and there are still primed explosives that failed to go off, workers are in great danger because the remaining structure is highly unstable. At the same time the demolition has to continue to secure the safety of the site.

Health and Safety

The work of demolition is a much more technical and complicated process than most people would appreciate. The job is highly dangerous and requires experienced and skilled operators to carry out the work. It is essential that personnel working in the industry are thoroughly trained. Health and safety awareness is crucial in demolition services so it is advisable for operatives to have gained a Certificate of Competence in Demolition to ensure safety for both workers and public alike. All demolition work is regulated by the Construction, Design and Management Regulations.

Sequence of Demolition

An incorrect sequence of dismantling will result in accidental collapse of a building because the stability of any structure is reliant on the interdependence of its component parts. Think of a house of cards and what happens if one of the supporting cards is removed.

There is a strict sequence of events before any demolition can take place. Councils throughout the country will have their own specific list for planning approval in their area, but a typical order would be as follows:-

• Provision of Information
Information must be provided about the construction of the structure to be demolished. Details of its previous use and the appropriate demolition methods to be used, including disposal of hazardous substances, have to be submitted by the demolition company.

• Survey of Demolition
A thorough survey of the site to identify any structural problems, as well as risks associated with hazardous or flammable substances, will need to be discussed in detail with the authorities. (E.g. A disused garage where petrol has been stored is a potential fire hazard so preventative measures will need to be taken).

• Preferred and Safe Method of Work
A reputable demolition company will be able to select the appropriate method of disposal showing the outline dismantling process. Planning is essential for vigilant monitoring. The authorities will require a detailed statement of the safety procedures to used, and all parties involved need to agree the methods before any demolition can take place.

• Preparation and Planning
Issues such as asbestos abatement, rodent baiting, dealing with hazardous substances, disconnecting utilities, and making safe any electric, gas or other services have to be shown in the planning stage. There is a lot of preparation to be done before even starting work on demolishing the building itself.

• Protection of the Public
Safety cannot be compromised so where there are heavily populated areas around the demolition site the protection of the public is paramount. Any health hazards will need to be assessed and temporary services arranged, and people affected will have to be informed.

Prior to commencement of dismantling taking place, your demolition company should demonstrate they have adhered to a similar process as the above in order to gain demolition planning permission.

Conclusion

The aim in demolition is to eliminate an unwanted building as safely and quickly as possible and in our modern environment efforts are made to recycle or re-use most of the old material. This is not a new idea although the word itself is relatively modern. On the borders between England and Scotland after the Romans left, a large part of Hadrian’s Wall was hauled away and use was made of the beautifully dressed stone to construct the new buildings in the towns and villages nearby and some are still standing today.

Demolition work by its nature is a very dangerous business and demolishing any building is a complex and skilled process. Next time you see demolition work occurring on a building give a thought to the people who work in a dangerous situation daily and how much is involved in the meticulous planning, regulations compliance, care and skill that goes on to carrying out the project to clear the way for our future.

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