Global warming can be defined as an overall gradual increase in world temperature over time. This is measured by averaging Earth and Ocean temperature, and has shown a steady upwards trend over recent decades. Furthermore, it is thought that over the last half a century, this has been a result of human civilisation and industrialisation. One of the major contributors to global warming is what is known as greenhouse gas, which comprises largely of carbon dioxide from general human activity.

Global warming as a process is thought to be highly devastating in terms of its effect on the climate. ‘Climate change’ is a phrase which is often use in association with global warming, and it has potentially catastrophic consequences for the world in which we live. ‘Climate change’ also covers global cooling, which can also occur as a result of human activity and greenhouse gases, and reflects a substantial change in the world’s climate, which could change our habitat beyond recognition. This could be characterised by unusual weather patterns, resulting in more frequent natural disasters, which could in turn lead to political and social chaos in the decades and centuries to come.

There are a number of international political treaties which have been set up to change the progress of global warming, although their tangible upshots still remain to be seen. Through political cooperation, it is hoped that environmental targets can be met on an international scale, to make a real difference to the environment. However, at a personal level, there is significant scope for helping, rather than hindering the world in which we live, including recycling household waste, and reducing personal carbon emissions.

Global warming is arguably one of the biggest threats to human civilisation, and it is something which requires a drastic change in lifestyle to reverse. However, with a personal and political impetus, it is hopeful that the damage done to the planet can be reversed for future generations to enjoy.

Jonathon Hardcastle writes articles on many topics including Business, Employment, and Society 

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As biodiesel comes from organic carbon sources, it is carbon neutral. This means that burning it does not add carbon to the earth’s biosphere (the biosphere includes the atmosphere and all living things). When plants photosynthesize, they use up carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and turn it into organic molecules such as oils. When you burn these oils, you simply return the carbon to the atmosphere. This is unlike the burning of fossil fuels, where fossil carbon is released and increases the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. However, be aware that some fossil carbon is burned in the production of biodiesel, so it is not a totally carbon neutral fuel.

Compared to fossil diesel, biodiesel–

has similar viscosity (it’s runny like diesel, not gooey like vegetable oil)
has superior lubricating properties
has little effect on engine power
produces lower CO2 emissions
produces lower particulate (soot) emissions
is much more biodegradable
is much less toxic (10 times less toxic than common salt)
is much less flammable, and therefore safer to handle and transport
There is some debate as to the effect of using biodiesel on NOx emissions. NOx is a term for oxides of nitrogen, which help to form smog. Using biodiesel usually results in a slight increase in NOx production. This may be reduced by the use of catalytic converters on modern diesel engines.

There are some minor difficulties to overcome when using biodiesel in an older car or truck. Biodiesel is slightly corrosive to rubber seals and hoses which are often found on old diesel engines. Replacing these rubber components with modern, corrosion resistant parts is usually very cheap. The chemical properties of biodiesel will also dislodge dirt. This can clog the fuel filter, which has to be examined regularly for the first 500 miles and replaced if need be.

It is possible to mix biodiesel with fossil diesel and run it in an unmodified engine. The mixtures are named by their biodiesel content. B5 contains 5% biodiesel and 95% fossil diesel, and can be used in the majority of modern cars and trucks with no ill effect. The 5% biodiesel content gives a measurable reduction in CO2 and soot production. B20, which is 20% biodiesel and 80% fossil diesel, is another common mixture. B100 is 100% biodiesel, and although most modern diesel engines will run on it with minimal modifications, it may void the warranty. Some manufacturers allow owners to use commercial biodiesel without losing their warranty protection.

Biodiesel can be made from used vegetable oil. This is an excellent idea, because the oil has already served its purpose and would be thrown away, so using it as a clean fuel is a bonus. Some people make their own DIY biodiesel. It is a simple process that could be done by anybody who took chemistry at high school. They usually use vegetable oil given to them by local hotels and restaurants. Safety procedures should be followed, because toxic chemicals such as methanol and caustic soda are used. The legality of this varies between countries. Tax may have to be paid on the DIY biodiesel before it is used.

Making biodiesel from specially grown crops is more controversial, especially from crops such as palm oil, which are grown in huge plantations in the third world. The growth of these crops may cause significant environmental damage. Crops such as oilseed grown in the western world are a better choice, but it would be impossible to grow enough to completely replace fossil diesel with biodiesel. Recent experiments have shown that algae are a promising source of organic oils, so biodiesel may yet become a major carbon neutral fuel source of the future.

L.J. Martin is a writer who holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Environmental Science. You can read more of his environment guides at the Eejits Guides website. 

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L.J._Martin

Biofuels are fuels that are produced from biological sources such as trees, plants or micro-organisms. They are carbon neutral, because they do not result in fossil carbon being released into the atmosphere. All of the carbon contained in a biofuel was absorbed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis in plants, just a few months or years earlier. This means that when you burn a biofuel, you simply release the carbon back into the atmosphere, and have no overall effect on atmospheric CO2 levels. In contrast, fossil fuels contain carbon that has been locked up underground for millions of years. Burning a fossil fuel increases the level of CO2 in the atmosphere, but it is not balanced out by photosynthesis.

The three biofuels which are most widely used are bioethanol, biodiesel and wood.

Bioethanol can be used in standard gasoline engines with fairly small modifications, provided that it is mixed with normal gasoline. E10 is a mixture of 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline. There are several race cars running on E10 fuel in the prestigious American Le Mans Series. For many years, Brazil has successfully used a mixture of gasoline and bioethanol produced from sugar cane in its cars. E85 is a mixture of 85% bioethanol and 15% gasoline, and is actually a high performance fuel due to the high octane rating of ethanol. Some manufacturers are bringing out cars capable of running on E85, but availability of this fuel is still very limited.

There is some controversy over bioethanol, as it is questionable whether the fossil carbon savings are balanced by the fossil fuel used in its production. Research is still ongoing to make bioethanol from cheap sources such as wood.

Biodiesel is made from vegetable oils. It can be used in diesel engines, and can be mixed with standard diesel and used in most modern diesel cars with small modifications. Biodiesel use is gradually increasing in Europe, where around 50% of new cars are sold with diesel engines. Again, there is debate as to how much biodiesel can reasonably be produced. Small amounts are being made out of recycled vegetable oil from restaurants.

Wood is a biofuel that humans have used for thousands of years. It can be burned as logs on a roaring fire to heat a home, produce hot water and to cook food. However, there are now modern systems that have brought wood into the 21st century. Automatic boilers have been produced that burn wood pellets to heat a house. The homeowner simply has to tip a bag of wood pellets into a hopper once every two or three days, and the system will do the rest. Alternatively a bulk pellet tank can be installed to feed the system automatically. Modern wood fired boilers are so efficient that the ash container need only be emptied once a month. This is nearly as convenient as using an oil burning boiler, but releases 90% less fossil carbon, even including the fuel used to harvest and transport the wood.

If you wish to reduce your fossil carbon emissions, biofuels are not a total solution. However, they can be used in conjunction with efficiency savings to help reduce your fossil fuel consumption, and shrink your carbon footprint.

L.J. Martin is a writer who holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Environmental Science. You can read more of his environment guides at the Eejits Guides website.  

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L.J._Martin

You might think that carbon neutral simply means that something does not release any carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is true to an extent, however it is too simple a definition. It is possible to release CO2 into the atmosphere and still be carbon neutral, so long it is balanced by a CO2 reduction elsewhere.

Biofuels are carbon neutral, even though burning them releases CO2. How can this be? Well, the carbon in the biofuel comes from photosynthesis, where CO2 is captured from the atmosphere by a plant and turned into glucose. The glucose can then be turned into more complicated molecules such as sugars, starches, oils and proteins. Sugars and starches can easily be converted into bioethanol, while oils can be converted into biodiesel. Carbon is removed from the atmosphere, stored in plants for a few months, then released when the biofuel is burned. For every gram of CO2 released by burning a biofuel, there was a gram removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis just a few months ago. This perfect balance is why biofuels are carbon neutral.

Alternatively, the term carbon neutral can be used to describe energy that does not cause the release of any CO2 at all. For instance, solar cells, wind turbines and hydroelectric turbines generate electricity without releasing CO2. Nuclear power does not release CO2 during the generation process either.

There is a problem with this, however. Currently, virtually all forms of carbon neutral energy actually involve the burning of fossil fuels. The crops for biofuels are harvested using machinery that burns fossil diesel. This is because fossil fuels are a great deal cheaper than biofuels. Some ways of producing biofuels are controversial because so much fossil fuel has to be used in the production process. Some sources of bioethanol are in this grey area. Solar cells, wind and hydroelectric turbines are all produced and transported using fossil fuels to some extent. The technology exists to make these things truly carbon neutral, but it is hopelessly uneconomic at this time. Nuclear power involves the burning of fossil fuels in the mining and transport of uranium, the building of power stations, and the disposal of waste. When uranium becomes scarce, mining it will consume even more fossil fuels.

Sometimes companies plant trees to offset the CO2 released by burning fossil fuels. This is not truly carbon neutral. Fossil carbon is being released into the atmosphere, and locking it up in trees is a very short term measure. To be truly carbon neutral, the carbon would have to be locked up for millions of years. Trees only live for tens or hundreds of years, after which they decay or are burned, releasing the carbon back to the atmosphere. We have no way of knowing whether people in the future will be able to keep replanting trees to keep the carbon locked up.

Scientists are trying ways to lock up carbon on a long term basis. This is called sequestration, and most experiments involve pumping carbon compounds such as CO2 into old oil wells or coal mines. This would genuinely make fossil fuels carbon neutral, but it is questionable whether enough carbon could ever be stored to offset fossil fuel use.

In summary, moving to a genuinely carbon neutral society will take time. It may take government tax breaks to make biofuels and alternative energy economically viable. People can take steps towards being carbon neutral by using biofuels and alternative energy. Where it is impossible to avoid fossil fuels, people can focus on efficiency to reduce their fossil fuel use to a bare minimum, and switch to biofuels when they become available. This will move them closer to the ideal of having no net effect on the amount of carbon in the biosphere, in other words, to be carbon neutral.

L.J. Martin is a writer who holds a BSc(Hons) degree in Environmental Science. You can read more of his environment guides at http://www.eejitsguides.com  

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=L.J._Martin

The ocean thermal energy conversion is still being studied and it is a very expensive process, however, once it is cost effective, you could find that it will be a top way of producing the world’s energy. There are plants for converting this energy on the shores, but then they are often found floating in the ocean or on the ocean shelves (which are not far from the land).

The basis of the idea is to use a large water intake pipe to pull very cold ocean water from a mile or more below the surface to the top of the ocean. Warm surface water is used to make a liquid with a low boiling point turn into steam, which expands to turn a generator. Then, the very cold seawater is pumped through, turning the vapor back into liquid so the process can happen all over again. As the water is then returned to the sea, you will notice that it is environmentally friendly and that the process itself is easy.

By placing the warm seawater into a low-pressurized container, it will begin to boil and then create a form of energy. This is known as the open-cycle system. As with the aforementioned procedure, it is easy and good for the environment. However, since the 1980’s the process has been studied and improved and the recent studies have proven that it can be over 95% efficient. 

As for the process of converting, you will find that the seawater’s temperature difference into energy is a new method when it comes to all the research. You will find that there are power plants that are devoting more time and money to try to be safer for the environment and use fewer pollutants. You will find that the seawater method is being the focal point of the energy research project. However, like solar and geothermal power, it is also renewable and there are companies that want to produce the electricity in hopes of survival. You can turn to sources other than the fossil fuels to have the perfect energy opportunities. For those who live hear the ocean, they will be able to find the conversion to be the type of power that you can live with and enjoy while supporting the best for the environment.

There are less than 25 sites in the world that are capable of producing tidal energy. Because of the opposition of so many communities, there are not plants built to research and discover the use of tidal waves in energy. However, as the world’s nonrenewable energy sources begin to run out, tidal power could become very important for us to consider. By building barrages and dams across some of the rivers, you will be able to find that it will allow the tide to ebb and flow. As the water moves through the relatively small pipes, the power of the movement pushes turbines, which run huge electrical generators. However, this process will end up changing the ecosystem greatly because it will create dams of water. Changes in the ecosystem provide the main fuel for opponents of tidal barrages. Animals like certain birds, fish, and other species could end up becoming extinct for miles and miles. However, barrages could also help protect the shoreline from floods and storms. They also do not pollute the environment with chemicals or greenhouse gasses the way fossil fuels do.

The great thing about tidal power is that you will be able to predict it and come to rely on it. Because the tide ebbs and flows at certain times of the day, operators know exactly how much power will be generated and when. Whe3n it comes to time, it lacks the power. A tidal power plan is where electric can be generated for ten hours a day, but it can be completely free when the barrages are built. They require little upkeep and no fuel or energy to run. Overall, it is a very dependable and consistent source of energy.

You should know that there is more searches needed for the tidal power to become efficient. Because you are limited in the number of sites that there can be plants and you will find that it is not something that could have be a powerful energy source. However, it can be free and the power source is renewable. It could make a good alternative to fossil fuels, but the effects that it can have on the ecosystem will have to be taken in consideration and it may only be a good option for many countries.
 

Hydrogen energy is stored in the form of fuel cells. The fuel cells happen to be what powers all of the spaceships during their take off. Because hydrogen is not found naturally by itself, the first step to building a fuel cell is to remove the hydrogen from a compound. You may not know this, but Hydrogen is many things other than water; such as, natural gas; a substance that is often used in hydrogen energy. Hydrogen energy is where you are reforming to use heat in order to separate hydrogen and natural gas. When water is used, a similar process, called electrolysis, is used to separate the hydrogen and oxygen with an electrical current. The result of each of these processes is more energy, in the form of hydrogen, than is used in the process itself.

This type of energy has been researched since it is considered to be pure power. An engine that uses hydrogen produces almost no pollution, making it much preferred over fossil fuels. In the space shuttle example, for instance, the byproduct of burning hydrogen to power lift-off is purified water, which the astronauts than can drink. Therefore, using hydrogen power is not only clean, but also useful. You can compare fuel cells to batteries, since they are alike, however, with the fuel cells you will never lose your charge and it will work until all of the hydrogen is cut off. Inside the cell, oxygen is combined with hydrogen, and the chemical process that produces water gives off heat and electricity. The water can then be broken into hydrogen and oxygen once again, and the process starts all over again.

As for the future you will find that there are some scientists that have predicted that these fuel cells will become popular in use. Today, they still happen to be working on making this method convenient and something that can become convenient After this process has been critiqued to be cost effective, you will find that hydro will become the solution to all of the world’s problems. You will find that this process will be renewable and clean for the environment. 

You or others in your community more than likely use solar power without even realizing it. If you own a swimming pool, the solar cover you use to cover it when it is not in use is a form of solar energy. The solar covers will help collect the rays from the sun and then transfer them to the water while keeping the pool at a warmer temperature. This way you do not need to use an electrical heating source to warm your pool. Although this is not an overall efficient way of collecting the sun’s heat as energy, it is the basic concept.

Did you know that the sun provides more energy that you use in a year in just one day?  The trick is learning to efficiently harness this energy for our use. You can now buy solar panels to help heat your home. Well you can either use a similar method to that of the pool method, or you can use the converting of the heat energy to power your home. New and more efficient products are being developed every day to help you do this.

Overall, it is important that you consider solar power and all of its options for the building or remodeling of a home. When it comes to the sun, there isn’t any major pollution that you should worry about. The sun is one source that we are going to have years to come. It is going to last longer when all the others sources have become unavailable. You will find that there is a lot of solar powered research and it is the most luckily future power source. You will see solar powered cars, houses, offices, and so much more.  If you live in a hot and sunny climate, you will find that these solar panels are going to be the most efficient for you and your area.

One of these alternative energy resources is wind power. Wind turbines continue to be developed that are progressively more energy efficient and less costly. “Wind farms” have been springing up in many nations, and they have even become more strategically placed over time so that they are not jeopardizing birds as former wind turbines did.

Another alternative energy resource is the one that is most well known: solar energy. This involves the manufacturing of solar cells which gather and focus the energy given off directly by the sun, and translate it into electricity or, in some cases, hot water. As with wind energy, solar energy creates absolutely zero pollution.

Ocean wave energy is seen by governments and investors as having enormous energy generating potential. A generator in France has been in operation for many years now and is considered to be a great success, and the Irish and Scots are running experimental facilities.

Hydroelectric power has been with us for a while and where it is set up, it is a powerful generator of electricity and cleaner than a grid. However, there are certain limitations to the availability of the right places to set up a large dam. Many run-of-the-river, or small and localized, hydroelectric generators have been set up in recent times due to this limitation.

Geothermal energy is extremely abundant, since it lies directly beneath our feet, just a few miles below the earth’s surface. This energy is produced by the heating of water through the actions of earth’s fantastically hot molten core. The water turns to steam, which can be harnessed and used to drive turbine engines which in turn generate electricity. Great amounts of research and development should be put into geothermal energy tapping.

Waste gas energies, which are essentially methane, reverse the usual energy-pollution relationship by creating energy from waste that lies in the dumps and from some air pollutants. This gas is used in fuel cells and can be used in standard gasoline generators.

Ethanol is a gasoline substitute and is created from such things as wheat, sugarcane, grapes, strawberries, corn, and even wood chips and wood cellulose. There is controversy over this fuel with regards to its ever becoming truly economical or practical except in very localized areas, but technologies for its extraction and admixturing are continuously being refined.

Biodiesel energy is created out of the oils contained in plants. So far, the commercial stores of biodiesel have been created using soybean, rapeseed, and sunflower oils. At the time of this writing, biodiesel is typically produced by entrepreneurial minded individuals or those who want to experiment with alternative energy, but commercial interest from companies is on the rise. It burns much cleaner than oil-based diesel.

Atomic energy is created in atomic energy plants using the process of nuclear fission. This energy is extremely efficient and can generate huge amounts of power. There is concern from some people about what to do with the relatively small amount of waste product atomic energy gives off, since it is radioactive and takes hundreds of years to decay into harmlessness.

Electric bills and fuel bills are rising steadily—but the cost of wind turbine energy is zero, and the cost of installing and hooking up a turbine is steadily coming down as demand rises and more commercial success is realized by various companies producing the turbines and researching technologies to make them ever more efficient.

In addition, people are moving away from the traditional electric grids and the fossil fuels for personal reasons including desire for greater independence, the desire to live remotely or rurally without having to “go primitive”, political concerns such as fears of terrorist strikes on oil fields or power grids, or concerns about the environment. Again, this motivation to get away from the traditional energy sources is the same one that causes people to seek the power of the wind for their energy, giving more business opportunities to profit from wind turbine production and maintenance, which drives their costs down for the consumers. In nearly thirty states at the time of this writing, homeowners who remain on the grid but who still choose to use wind energy (or other alternative forms) are eligible for rebates or tax breaks from the state governments that end up paying for as much as 50% of their total “green” energy systems’ costs. In addition, there are 35 states at the time of this writing where these homeowners are allowed to sell their excess energy back to the power company under what are called “net metering laws”. The rates that they are being paid by the local power companies for this energy are standard retail rates—in other words, the homeowners are actually profiting from their own energy production.

Some federal lawmakers are pushing to get the federal government to mandate these tax breaks and other wind power incentives in all 50 states. Japan and Germany already have national incentive programs in place. However, “A lot of this is handled regionally by state law. There wouldn’t really be a role for the federal government,” the Energy Department’s Craig Stevens says. And as might be imagined, there are power companies who feel that it’s unfair that they should have to pay retail rates to private individuals. “We should [only have to] pay you the wholesale rate for … your electricity,” according to Bruce Bowen, Pacific Gas & Electric’s director of regulatory policy. However, the companies seem to be more worried about losing short term profits than about the benefits, especially in the long run, of the increased use of wind turbines or wind farms. Head of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies of California V. John White points out, “It’s quality power that strengthens the grid.”