Posts tagged "climate change"

Solid Energy Fuel Plus Skirmishing Greenhouse Gases

Wood pellets refers to a selection of unlike pellets produced from a range of dissimilar wood raw materials. As the need to replace existing fossil fuel fuel sources increases. There will be a greater collection of biomass pellets used to produce energy. Wood simply refers to any natural material which can be used to generate energy. In terms of climate change and global warming, the significant fact about biomass is that it is carbon neutral. What this technique is that biomass incineration does not place any additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, as new wood growth absorbs the carbon released. Biomass pellets are presently the most common in addition to most widespread form of wood pellets. Wood pellets are presently produced predominately from timber processing residues. These residues are used to produce premium grade wood pellets. Premium grade wood pellets produce the least ash of all wood pellets. Premium grade pellets due to their high heat value as well as low maintenance are the most expensive type of wood pellets.

Learn more about Pellet Mill

Other biomass residues can also be processed into biomass pellets. But bark for example will increase the ash content, so the pellets may not be suitable for some pellet burners. Also there is only a limited supply of wood resources to produce wood pellets. This is where other wood resources must be considered for fuel pellets. Grass pellets are still a very new area of biomass pellet production. Using grass as a fuel source has many advantages. Grass produces much higher yields than woody wood, as well as can be grown in more locations, in addition to from season to season. Also during pellet production less fuel is required to form grass into a pellet, also by way of higher productivities. There are yet issues along with challenges in burning grass pellets as there are by means of straw pellets.

Read more about Pellet Equipment

Straw pellets can be made from waste agricultural residues. This includes for case wheat and barley straw, as well as even other wastes such as corn cobs. Burning straw in addition to grass pellets does make challenges in terms of a higher ash content, along with possible clinker and slag formations. Straw pellets are at this time most commonly used to generate electricity in coal fired power stations, wood pellets are also used

For more information on Pellet Making Machine

Buy Pellet Stoves As Well As Help Reduce Greenhouse Gases

In recent years due to the high price of heating homes in addition to businesses by way of oil or gas, many people have opted to buy a pellet stove. There are many advantages to heating a residence or business using a wood pellet stove plus wood pellet energy.

Wood pellet energy is a highly compressed form of wood residue. The increased density of the energy pellet over the raw material, way increased burning efficiency, producing more heat and less smoke as well as ash.

The increased density of pellets also technique less fuel has to be stored for the heating season.
As wood pellet energy has a standardized shape along with size, automatic incineration systems can be designed, such as a pellet stove. A whole days or even more energy can be stored in the hopper on the stove, plus an auger will feed the fire by way of the necessary amount of pellet to regulate the fire to the preferred temperature.

Learn more about Wood Pellet Stove

A different very vital reason to choose a pellet stove over an oil or gas fire, is because biomass pellets can play a central role in the fight again climate change. Oil along with gas burning is one of the primary reasons behind exceptional increases in greenhouse gases over the last 50 years. Incineration oil in addition to gas places additional carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Increased carbon dioxide levels are proven to act in reflecting more of the suns energy back at the earth. As carbon emissions enlarge, so does the amount of fuel reflected, as well as global temperatures continue to amplify.

Wood pellets are part of the current carbon cycle, in addition to are therefore carbon neutral. When biomass pellets are burnt they release carbon into the air which was already component of the cycle. This carbon is then reabsorbed by new biomass growth, along with the cycle continues.

Biomass pellets can really even be carbon negative, as well as help to remove excess carbon from the atmosphere from oil incineration.

Read more about Buy Pellet Stoves

As you would predict, the pellet stove market has grown quite rapidly over the last decade, as well as there are now a huge assortment of pellet stoves to choose from. Though the difference in the abilities of these stoves is also varies substantially, plus in the core purpose of the stoves ability to burn pellets.
Even uncomplicated differences such as pellet length can become an issue for some pellet stoves. As by way of poor designs pellets which are somewhat too long can become trapped in the auger feed system leading to the burn pot.

We specialise in pellet manufacture in addition to incineration solutions, as well as we have personal experience of the range of pellet burner available. We therefore developed the pellet stove plus boiler guide to help consumers buy more energy flexible pellet stoves.

More information on Best Pellet Stoves

The Unlike Brands Of Pellet Stoves Plus Alternative Fuel

Pellet stoves, for example Quadrafire pellet stoves are an ideal way to save on abode or business heating costs. They are also a pro-active way to help to diminish global carbon emissions. Therefore there are many a variety of incentive schemes obtainable to help diminish the costs of installation. Some of the schemes can save around 30% on the charge of the stove, or both purchasing the stove as well as installation. Check with your local authority on available support. As the fee of oil as well as gas continues to raise, the payback period for installing pellet stoves such as the Quadrafire is becoming shorter along with shorter. Purchasing a pellet stove now will see greater rewards in the future. On the other hand purchasing the right pellet stove is also crucial, as it will affect your alternative of fuel.

Learn more about Wood Pellet Stoves

Installing a biomass pellet stove such as a Quadrafire pellet stove can also help to reduce the fee of oil. Oil prices are driven by demand, in addition to as the global population continues to increase the demands for oil place stress on obtainable supplies, therefore this causes the cost to rise. By using pellet stoves more for house along with business heating means there is less demand, and therefore the cost will drop in addition to become more stable. This will also make running our cars more affordable, and also make food prices cheaper as food production is also heavily dependant on oil prices. Therefore reducing our dependence on oil can help to lessen prices of other essentials, will also reducing climate change. There is an opportunity to make a substantial number of local jobs in pellet fuel production, which would benefit the local community along with diminish fuel pellet costs. Fuel costs will be less, due to less raw material plus pellet transportation.

Read more about Pellet Furnace

Not all pellet stoves, including Quadrafire pellet stoves have the same features plus abilities. The designs of key workings such as the burn pot plus auger feed system impact on which energy pellets the stove can burn reliably without issues. Some stoves are even sensitive to a 0.5% change in ash percentage, which can lead to the stove failing. The key point is all pellet fuels are slightly unlike, even each manufacture of premium pellet fuels produce pellets with a slightly dissimilar ash percentage. Purchasing a more energy flexible in addition to less sensitive biomass pellet stove will be invaluable in the long run as well as save you hundreds if not thousand in pellet fuel costs in the small run, this guide can help. Pellet production plus combustion solutions is what we specialize in here at PelHeat. We know which designs of pellet stoves can handle changes in ash content, as well as which cannot. To learn more please enter your email as well as name.

More information on Whitfield Pellet Stove

Reviews Intended For The Best Pellet Stoves Available On The Market

The last few years have seen a quick growth in the popularity of wood pellet stoves. The two main reasons for this are the constantly unstable as well as increasing oil and gas prices, and the awareness that the use of oil plus gas is causing carbon emissions which are accelerating climate change. Biomass pellet stoves are a practical option, as they are still highly automated as well as can easily fit in to the modern habits, unlike log fires for example which require far more maintenance. As wood pellets are a carbon neutral energy source, a mixture of discount incentives are offered by the government to diminish the costs involved. Oil in addition to gas prices will continue to increase plus increased green taxes. Therefore the energy savings of biomass pellets will continue to increase in the future. As the pellet stove market continues to grow, the option of accessible pellet stoves continues to grow, but the features on the stoves along with boilers varies widely. The Wood Pellet Stove along with Boiler Guide can help in choosing the best pellet stove or boiler for your budget, in addition to keep pellet fuel costs to a minimum.

Learn more about Pellet Stove

The growing pellet stove along with pellet energy market provides an opportunity to develop local jobs producing pellet energy as well as servicing pellet stoves along with boilers. A wide selection of local biomass resources can be turned into energy pellets, these include wood resources, agricultural waste and purpose grown fuel crops. These resources could then be harvested as well as upgraded into energy pellets. By keeping the whole cycle of production along with consumption within the local area means cheaper pellet fuel prices plus reduced transportation with less carbon emissions generated. On the other hand not all pellet stoves can use all energy pellets.

Read more about Corn Pellet Stove

On the other hand a wide selection of energy pellets can be manufactured locally, only a few designs of pellet stove can use the pellets efficiently. Changes in ash content plus other complications can prove to be serious issues for some pellet stoves, while others are much more fuel flexible plus reliable. Yet many of the features in the design of the stove which limit its abilities are not well known. Also these differences in abilities cannot be seen in fee of the pellet stove. As many of the more reliable pellet stoves are really cheaper than less reliable stoves. At PelHeat we develop along with promote pellet production in addition to burning solutions, along with to aid consumers in choosing more fuel flexible plus reliable pellet burners we have developed the Pellet Stove as well as Boiler Guide. The guide will show the features to look out for along with which to avoid when purchasing a pellet stove or boiler. To learn more please enter your email in addition to name in the form below.

More information on Pellet Stove Insert

Heating Your Residence With No Destructive The Nature

As you can see from the video above, we specialise in producing and testing a wide selection of pellet stove energy. We have therefore complied our results and experience into the Pellet Stove along with Boiler guide to help you buy a more fuel flexible pellet stove or boiler which could make you significant energy savings. Fossil fuels such as oil plus gas along with our extensive use are heavily responsible for carbon emissions as well as climate change. Biomass pellets and other energy pellets yet are a form of carbon neutral energy. Burning wood fuel pellets does not contribute to the green home effect, as well as therefore is a suitable option to oil as well as gas. Therefore now in many countries several tax credit incentives are available for installing biomass pellet boilers and wood pellet stove inserts. Fuel experts expect the fee of fossil fuels to rise by 60% in the next 6 years, but many experts believe this to be a conservative prediction. As oil in addition to gas prices continue to rise, the payback period of installing a pellet stove insert is reduced, with the fee of many pellet stove inserts recovered in a few years.

Learn more about Wood Pellet Stove

As the prices of oil and gas continue to rise, this means more and more income is sent out of the country on to Russia and the Middle East. With economic recession, keeping income within the country to support economic recovery is more vital than ever. Installing a pellet stove insert as well as using nationally as well as locally made biomass energy pellets helps to lessen our dependence on oil / gas. Fuel pellets for pellet stove inserts can be manufactured from many different local biomass resources. This provides an opportunity to generate substantial long term local jobs collecting resources, processing into energy pellets and local energy pellet distribution. This would not only generate local jobs it would increase spending on local goods, developing the local community. Fuel pellets plus pellet stove inserts offer an economic plus environmental energy option.

Read more about Quadrafire Pellet Stove

Pellet fuels differ in their incineration characteristics, which is reflected in their prices. Some energy pellets produce more ash along with other factors, yet their price can be nearly half that of the top grade energy pellets. Not all pellet stove inserts on the other hand can use all forms of pellet energy, even on the other hand this may not be reflected in the charge. Certain features plus abilities are required in a pellet stove insert to burn a wide collection of pellet fuels, this guide will state these features. At PelHeat we develop small pellet production solutions and research pellet energy combustion as you can see from the video above. Through our testing plus research we have first hand experience of the features a fuel flexible pellet burner requires. To help people buy more pellet energy flexible pellet stove inserts we have developed this guide. Purchasing a more fuel flexible pellet stove insert can save you hundreds if not thousands on your pellet energy costs.

More information on Wood Pellet Boiler

The Fee Of Fossil Fuels Plus Residence Heating Alternatives

Fuel experts now expect the cost of oil plus gas to continue to rise year on year, with conservative estimates at an increase of 60% in 6 years. The price savings on biomass energy pellets can pay for the Breckwell stove within a few years.

The supply of oil plus gas which we use for cars in addition to heating is mainly sourced from Russia plus the Middle East. As the global population continues to increase, as well as gas plus oil supplies lessen, these means higher energy prices as well as more money sent out of the country. Using fuel pellets in pellet stoves such as the Breckwell pellet stove can decrease our dependence on oil along with gas. Through purchasing a Breckwell pellet stove, you are pro-actively supporting the local economy as well as at the same time reducing your own carbon emissions.
Learn more about Quadrafire Pellet Stove

Many different biomass raw materials can be processed into fuel pellets as you can see by the images to the left. Many different local biomass resources can be processed into energy pellets along with then sold back into the local community. This generates more local jobs, keeps money within the local economy plus also helps to diminish climate change, while also keep fuel prices competitive in addition to low. Many different forms of local wood resources, which are even regarded as waste, can be processed into efficient fuel pellets.

Some of these energy pellets may have a higher ash content than premium wood pellets. Some Breckwell pellet stoves have burn pot along with other component designs, which limit their ability to burn other types of wood fuel pellets. These differences in burn pot designs are not well known or told by Breckwell. We have therefore developed this guide to help consumers buy a more energy flexible pellet stove or Breckwell pellet stove, so a wider selection of wood fuel pellets can be used efficiently without complication, helping to further lower pellet energy prices.

Read more about Pellet Stove

As you can see from the video above, at PelHeat we produce as well as burn a wide selection of biomass fuel pellets. We have used that experience to compile this guide to help save hundreds if not thousands on the price of stove energy pellets. The last few years since oil and gas prices have started to increase substantially have seen a rapid growth of pellet stoves, such as Harman pellet stoves. Wood fuel pellets are a much cheaper alternative to heating your home with fossil fuels such as oil along with gas, in some cases charge savings year on year can be as much as a heating bill cut in half. Biomass pellets are also a green energy, in addition to do not contribute to climate change in addition to global warming. Therefore there are now many monetary incentives to install pellet stoves such as Harman units.

More information on Wood Pellet Boilers

Residential Solar Power: The Off The Grid Home

Getting residential solar power installed has never been this easy. For the longest time, people have played around with the technology and finally, you too, can now have access to solar power at home because it isn't like back then that only solar power plants can be used.

Read more...

A War Between Eating And Sustainable Power

Today climate change is a reality that is acknowledge by even the most doubtful of skeptics. The warmer temperatures in areas where its supposed to be cool, scorching summers, and bone chilling winter have become a pattern that people cannot simply ignore.

What The War About?

Amusing enough it seems that people are getting desperate and all are turning to bio-fuel like it’s the savior of all mankind. So what is bio-fuel? Bio-fuel is any gaseous, solid, or liquid material derived from biological materials. The argument ensues when people talk of the future. Bio-fuel’s raw materials are usually agricultural crops that are made to undergo fermentation and certain processes in order to produce bio-fuel.

The Problem

Who is the world’s largest oil consumer? Those with the highest number of vehicles running their roads, countries like the US, England and generally most of the European nations. When you reckon about it bio-fuel is made from corn, sugarcane, palm oil, vegetable oil, and etc; where do these agricultural crops come from? Third World Countries.

In Mexico they have this “tortilla crisis”. Corn which is the basic ingredient of tortilla is now sold five times the price it used to be marketed for. The reason for the inflated prices? The demand of bio-fuel in highly developed countries has severely altered the business people’s sense of profit. Why sell for a dollar when you can for 5 because the demand is now higher.

Who Suffers?

The first world countries will have to export goods from the third world countries to fuel their increasing demand for energy. The third world countries are usually tropical ones located near the equator, hence a higher crop growth of corn, and all those needed to manufacture bio-fuel; but for these countries corn is food, so is sugar cane. For the first world to survive the t poorer countries must either starve in hunger or break their back working to be able to afford the price hikes of the most basic of all commodities: food.

A Compromise

So what should we do? We need to address the problems of the environment and pollution, but it is also not right that to solve a problem we must make one. Reckon about it if the agricultural countries go into decline because its people can’t afford food then who will till the land to supply the giants with endless bio-fuel?

Sustainable energy is geared to sustain life, not make it harder. A proposal is in order. Since the crops needed for the production of bio-fuel can only survive in tropical countries then the governments of the more well off countries will have to invest in the agricultural countries to supply their own demand. These crops must be independent from those for local consumers. Stringent rules governing pricing and distribution must be implemented to further protect the source of the energy.

Sustainable power means the world working hand in hand to make a better way of life for the future. The road to betterment is paved with hard work and dedication. The ancient Egyptian used sails to go up and down the Nile; they were patient and they reached their destination. Let us all be patient but diligent in our quest for sustainable power to sustain life.

To get independent and honest reviews of going green products, visit: save power. save power is your source for honest reviews of going green products that will give you the knowledge you need! Go how to lose weight quick now! Read our reviews and make smart choices!

Incoming search terms:

• is it possible for a third world country to go green
• going green in a third world country

Advantages And Disadvantages Of Nuclear Energy

The following article presents the very latest information on the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy. If you have a particular interest in the advantages and disadvantages of nuclear energy, then this informative article is required reading.

Read more...

Why Is Safe And Clean Energy So Important?

When most people think of safe and clean energy, what comes to mind is usually basic information that's not particularly interesting or beneficial. But there's a lot more to safe and clean energy than just the basics.

Read more...

Energy Security Through Pellets And Biomass Pellet Stoves

Temperature rises and global warming are very serious issues, to combat the issue proactive change needs to take place to change our source of energy and reduce our energy consumption. Our current source of energy is predominantly from fossil fuels, this includes for example oil, gas and coal. By using these fuels but we are compromising air quality and dramatically increasing the levels of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Increased carbon dioxide means increased temperatures due to the green house effect. As the suns energy enters our atmosphere, a lot of the energy should bounce of the earth and be sent back into space. Carbon dioxide but reflects this energy back at the earth. Therefore the more carbon in the atmosphere the more energy is reflected back at earth and then increased temperatures result. We are now talking the impact of temperature change more seriously, as it impacts on every aspect of our lives, for everyone around the planet. The changes that are being made are to opt form sustainable, renewable and importantly low carbon forms of energy. These include wind, solar, wave, geothermal and biomass. Using these forms of energy are obviously an vital factor in challenging climate change, but energy security is also a major benefit to changing our current energy system.

Learn more about Pellets Fuel

Due to our increased use of energy, fossil fuels are not as abundant as they once were and a few countries control the main reserves. Issues are occurring between nations that hold the reserves and those that need the energy. These disputes are leading to major disagreements, with gas lines stopped, ever increasing price rises and also in many peoples opinion the cause of resent wars. The longer there is this unstable relationship with energy trading and energy consumption continues to increase, disputes and wars will continue. Therefore we need to adopt renewable energy technologies sooner rather than later to improve global stability. Many alternative energy sources can be setup is nearly any location, hence the energy can be locally produced.

Read more about Pellets Production

Producing energy locally has multiple benefits; these include cheaper energy prices, stable energy prices, economic support in terms of increased employment and economic support in terms more money kept within the local economy. Energy prices will be cheaper as resources are no longer a limited factor and transportation of energy is dramatically reduced. Energy prices will become more stable as local energy production is less influenced by the global economy, political factors and currency exchange rates. Economic support is generated by providing long-term local jobs in the production, processing and distribution of renewable energy.

More information on Pellets Mill

Power, Renewable Energy And Climate Change

Over the last decade, there has been a hotly contested issue ‘is climate change really happening?’ and ‘is our use of fossil fuels the cause’. Within the recent years the augments against the fact that our use of fossil has a direct effect on global warming have subsided. Now, whether fossil fuel combustion is the sole cause is still debated, but it is clear that increased CO2 levels due to fossil fuel combustion is a contributing factor of climate change. The issue obviously is oil and gas today play an integral role in every aspect of our lives, whether it’s heating our homes or driving our cars. Place simply we live a fossil fuel way of life, and things have to change. We therefore need to look to alternative methods to generate the energy we need to power our lifestyles and future development. There are several options available to use this include solar, wind, wave and biomass.

Learn more about Pellet Mills

All alternative and renewable energy forms must be considered to power our future, and the use of biomass has several benefits. One of the key benefits of biomass is it is a cultivate resource; this means a biomass economy could evolve on the cultivation, processing and distribution of various biomass energy products. These products can include oil products such as ethanol and bio-diesel, bio-ethanol can be produced from any biomass resource no just corn, in fact corn should be solely used for food and the waste corn cobs and straw should be used to produce ethanol. Biomass can also be processed in to solid fuels such as pellets. Both heating and cooking is possible through the use of biomass. A biomass economy unlike a fossil fuel economy is decentralized, as nearly anyone in any location can cultivate some form of biomass. Therefore monetary resources are spread more evenly through the world economy instead of certain oil states acquiring obscenely large amounts of monetary assets.

Read more about Pellet

Biomass can be processed in a pellet mill or pellet press into a high density, high value solid fuel. Pellets are well suited for stoves and boilers as they flow similar to oil. By compressing biomass into pellets a much higher and more efficient combustion temperature can be achieved. Once a biomass pellet fire is up to temperature no visible smoke can be seen coming from the fire, and for developing countries with health risks from poor combustion wood fires, pellets offer a way to improve their health and quality of life. So there are other options to fossil fuels, we just need to invest in alternative technologies to develop them in the energy sources of the future.

More information on Wood Pellet

Fuel And Pellet Production

With the increasing price rises of fossil fuels such as oil and gas are causing fantastic concern for many people. At a time of economic recession the pressure of meeting fuel and energy bills is becoming more and more hard to manage. Along with these issues, concerns over the effects of the excessive use of fossil fuels, and their effect on the environment are growing. Oil and gas are trapped forms of carbon from under the ground. When we use fossil fuels we then release this carbon into the atmosphere. But this carbon is not part of the current carbon cycle as it has been kept deep underground, it was part of a previous carbon cycle. Plants and trees are part of the current carbon cycle, as the plants grow they absorb carbon dioxide and when they die and decay or are burnt this carbon in then released back into the atmosphere. Then new plants and tree’s use this carbon, and the cycle continues and the level of carbon should remain constant. By burning fossil fuels we are placing additional carbon into the atmosphere, which leads to the greenhouse effect and traps the suns heat, leading to climate change. Therefore alternative and renewable energy sources are being considered. And to use these energy sources efficiently, upgrading them into pellets.

Learn more about Pellet Press Mill

Pellet manufacture is using heat and pressure to reform different materials into pellets. Pellets can be made into various different shapes and sizes, and from a wide range of raw materials. By producing pellets from a raw material, it is possible to increase the density of the raw material, even up to factors of ten or more. A high value fuel has been produced from a low density, low value raw material. Which is cheaper to transport and is simpler to design systems for their use, for example pellet stoves and boilers and their hopper and auger feed mechanisms.

Read more about Wood Pellet Machine

Producing pellets is a skilled process, and requires the right equipment, the right knowledge and the right raw material. Unless all these factors are in place, high quality consistent pellets cannot be produced. For example there are various pellet mills and pellet presses available in various different sizes and productivities. But, a key mistake that is made is to buy a pellet mill that has productivity beyond the capabilities of the other process equipment. If your setup cannot prepare quality consistent raw material at the right moisture content, then the capabilities of the pellet mill are wasted. So understanding the right abilities and productivities of the equipment is crucial to produce a balanced setup. A balanced setup is a more efficient way to spend resources and will also be more energy efficient.

More information on Wood Pellets

How To Save Energy: A Guide to Renewable Energies

The following article includes pertinent information that may cause you to reconsider what you thought you understood. The most important thing is to study with an open mind and be willing to revise your understanding if necessary.

Read more...

Why Is Recycling So Important and What Can We Do?

Have you ever wondered if what you know about recycling is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on recycling.

Read more...

Earth Day

Make Earth Day Everyday.

Have you ever wondered if what you know about Earth Day is accurate? Consider the following paragraphs and compare what you know to the latest info on Earth Day .

Here are three things you can do right now to make every day Earth Day.

1. Try a green spring clean.

Green cleaning is simple on the wallet, simple on your health and simple on the environment. The heart of the green cleaning kit: baking soda and white vinegar.

Baking soda, a mild abrasive, can be used to clean nearly anything from bathtubs to kitchen tops. Just apply to a damp sponge, scrub and rinse. It also removes stains, deodorizes and softens fabrics

White vinegar (5 percent acetic acid) is a mild disinfectant and excellent for cleaning glass, polishing silver and mopping floors. When cleaning glass, dilute with four parts water.

If you are going to choose packaged products, avoid harsh chemical and synthetic fragrances. A excellent first step: avoid products that come with warning signs like ‘poison’ or ‘danger’ or ‘corrosive.’ It’s a excellent bet they contain toxic chemicals, or, at the very least, present a direct exposure risk to you.

2. Cut out bottled water

Clean water is a human right – not a commodity. Right now, the bottled water industry pumps billions of litres of water – water that belongs to everyone – out of underground aquifiers each year and sells it back to us for profit.

In addition to charging money for a public resource, bottled water companies are responsible for hundreds of millions of virgin plastic bottles. According to the Earth Policy Institute, manufacturers use 1.5 million barrels of oil each year to produce bottled water for the US bottled water market alone.

Reckon about what you’ve read so far. Does it reinforce what you already know about Earth Day ? Or was there something completely new? What about the remaining paragraphs?

If the water in your community is safe to drink, try tap water. Carry a portable water bottle with you where you go (just remember to ditch your #7 plastic bottles – they are nearly always polycarbonate and contain bisephenol A, a chemical recently listed as a toxic substance in Canada).

It should also be noted that the use of chlorine to treat water is also a long-term concern. For personal use – and, again, in jurisdictions that are not suffering from boiled water advisories – you might want to consider using a well-maintained home filtering system.

3. Reduce (or give up) meat. Reduce (or give up) driving.

This has become the green tips mantra, we know, but these two closely-related activities are not just terrible for the environment, they are leading to food shortages around the world.

Right now, the distinction between food and fuel is slipping away. In a weak and ill-advised attempt to address climate change, governments have been encouraging the development of ‘biofuels’ – fuel made from food crops like corn and wheat. As a result, food crops are being diverted for use in cars, world food prices are skyrocketing and food shortages are taking root around the world.

The growing demand for meat is also straining the world food supply. Vast amounts of grain must be fed to cattle, for example, to produce even a small amount of animal protein for human consumption. According to the Worldwatch Institute, the total amount of soy and grain fed to livestock in the US each year could feed everyone on the planet approximately five times over.

In combination, the rise of both meat consumption and biofuels is having devastating consequences. Right now, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is warning that it lacks the resources to keep up with rising food prices and shortages which it attributes to a number of factors including climate change, the increased demand for animal feed and biofuels. The WFP says it’s currently facing a half-billion dollar shortfall to meet ‘existing assessed needs.’

There are many reasons to limit driving (greenhouse gas emissions, smog) and meat consumption (greenhouse gas emissions, the destruction of ancient forests for cropland), but the growing food shortages should be the last straw for everyone.

There’s no doubt that the topic of Earth Day can be fascinating. If you still have unanswered questions about Earth Day , you may find what you’re looking for on this site.