Some good news stories for a change
Three good news stories from this week's Inhabitat blog -
A Japanese inventor has developed a machine that can turn plastic into fuel -
to’s inspiration for the method came from the simple realization that plastic bags are created from oil, thus they should be able to be converted back to their original form. The highly efficient, non-polluting machines can process polyethylene, polystyrene and polypropylene but not PET bottles, and they can convert 2 lbs. of plastic into a quart of oil using just 1 kilowatt of power.
When you consider that using that 1 quart of oil as fuel will generate a lot more than 1 kilowatt of power that's a fantastic achievement. http://inhabitat.com/japanese-inventor-akinori-ito-creates-machine-that-...
Wikileaks Strikes Again - Saudi oil reserves may be overstated
An interesting piece in the Guardian for you today. It seems that the latest batch of US diplomatic cables released by Wikileaks contains some very sobering information about Saudi oil reserves. They contain a warning from a senior Saudi government oil executive that the kingdom's crude oil reserves may have been overstated by as much as 300bn barrels – nearly 40%.
Sadad al-Husseini, a geologist and former head of exploration at the Saudi oil monopoly Aramco, met the US consul general in Riyadh in November 2007 and told the US diplomat that Aramco's 12.5m barrel-a-day capacity needed to keep a lid on prices could not be reached.
According to the cables, which date between 2007-09, Husseini said Saudi Arabia might reach an output of 12m barrels a day in 10 years but before then – possibly as early as 2012 – global oil production would have hit its highest point. This crunch point is known as "peak oil".
Full article here - http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2011/feb/08/saudi-oil-reserves-overst...
Natural swimming pools
Pools are great in the summer but less great when the power and water bills come in. Pool pumps, heaters and other accessories can drive your power bill sky high. Not to mention the water used to fill and keep it topped up. Maybe this Australian design is the answer - A natural rock billabong pool.
Offering a non-chemical alternative to chlorine and saltwater pools, the billabong is a swimmable rock pool filled with rainwater harvested from water tanks, roof run offs, driveways and more!
Suited to any environment, indigenous aquatic plants act as a filter system, and locally sourced rocks and native plants create a natural habitat to support flora and fauna.
Natural swimming pools
Pools are fantastic in the summer but much less fantastic when the power bill comes in. Pool filters, heaters and other accessories can drive your power bill sky high. Not to mention the water to fill and keep it topped up. Possibly this Australian design is the answer - a natural rock billabong pool. You can even convert your existing pool.
Offering a non-chemical alternative to chlorine and saltwater pools, the billabong is a swimmable rock pool filled with rainwater harvested from water tanks, roof run offs, driveways and more!
Suited to any environment, indigenous aquatic plants act as a filter system, and locally sourced rocks and native plants create a natural habitat to support flora and fauna.
Transition Sydney 2010 Year In Review
At the last Transition Sydney Bioregion meeting last December, one of the key frustrations expressed by the participants was knowing what was happening in all the various local groups. To try to address this, the various local groups who were represented at the meeting decided to start a Transition Sydney Newsletter. This is the first one...
Climate policies as luxury goods
Going political today. An interesting piece appeared today on the Climate Spectator blog discussing the Governments' decision to pay for the Queensland flood reconstruction by axing or deferring a raft of climate programs. Climate programs are being treated as luxuries that we can drop when times get tough.
Gillard’s obsession with producing a surplus in 2012/13 is one thing, but the symbolism of slashing $675 million from climate change policies to pay for a natural disaster in the hope that it is a “one-off” is quite another. Climate change programs are suddenly luxury goods. What happens if there is another disaster?
And an accompanying fact sheet to show which programs have been affected.
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