Concept of Sustainability

Sustainability is usually associated with using renewable sources of energy for fulfilling our electricity needs. Sustainability is about being amazingly capable and self-sufficient. Sustainability is some thing very close to human nature and desire of being self-governing and independent, yet sustainability is not arrogant like autonomy as it possesses the remedial humbleness of sharing and dignity of freedom.

Just yesterday during an interview a discussion on sustainability and renewable energy started and I was asked/complained that solar panels worth $xxx are not efficient enough to be run X-number of air-cons. Now a simpler answer could have been an advice to increase the number of solar panels or the storage capacity. Once again this was a case of not understanding the concept of sustainability and environment friendliness. To a lot of us it environment friendly to keep the central cooling on 24/7 as long as the electricity is being generated through renewable sources of energy, just the way its quite satisfying for many to pull there super expensive hybrids out to grab eggs & cheese. Sustainability is about insulating walls to avoid the need of an air-con, and introducing sky light instead of expensive chandlers.
My last statement of the interview was a simple definition of sustainability being the art of utmost consciousness not only environmentally but also personally as humans are responsible for mega cities and their carbon feet print. I’ve been told to join this new job from Monday July 21st 08 and I plan to ride my bicycle to work, hoping to adopt a bit of sustainable life style.

Peak Oil Moments

During one hour meeting between the Saudi King Abdullah, and the UN representative on Saturday June 14, 2008 both parties agreed upon lowering the cost of the oil barrel which is drilling holes in the pockets of US citizens and other nations all over the world lately.

With all the recent development in the renewable energy resources, nations are looking forward to meet there energy need through, green and natural resources such as wind, solar, geothermal and biomass. Unfortunately all these very productive and free resources are being kept out of the reach of the common man. In United States, and Europe some subsidy is being provided by the governments if one tends to install any type of renewable energy source for domestic energy production. For example in FL & CA, they offer about 50% subsidy in form of cost sharing which is not bad at all, while its even batter in Germany, France and Spain. Just recently San Francisco decided to take the largest solar initiative. But unfortunately in the third world countries in Asia and Africa installation of solar panels or wind turbines is not really some thing common man can consider affording. Although local use of Biogas plants using dung digesters to produce methane gas is getting common in rural settings.

Monopolistic Capitalists have developed there web of financing R&D of renewable energy resources and patent them to ensure an earning out these natural resources, turning the concept of free green energy into a dream. So what should be done about it and how can we get out of the control of these oil giants, answer simply lays in adopting sustainable living. In other words we need to reduce our dependability on the fossil fuel and cut down our energy needs.

A change in social and individual behaviors is needed, walk or maybe ride your cycle to the market instead of pulling your gas guzzling vehicles out for a 10 min journey, some argue about how to carry the shopping, well pull your four wheel drive out, but not the one with an engine, i am talking about your own shopping cart. How about insulating the water tank with black colored insulation in winters to harvest passive solar energy and with silver and white insulation in summers to reflect light to prevent heating. Last year i pasted CD’s on my water tank in summers to reflect the sunlight, but never considered a base between the tank and the CD’s so the difference was not considerable, this year I’ve place some hardy shrubs on and around the tank in large earth pots and they are being watered with the excessive water pumped to the tank and off course rain, reflecting CD’s along with the plants are keeping the water inside the tank cool. Consider a tower of potatoes made out of large rubber tires placed on top of each other five such towers produce enough potato to feed a family of 6 for 6 months, and can be placed easily on a terrace at a sunny spot. Every electric switch left open and plug left in the socket use vampire voltage, all those appliances the have a small red light on them but we think they are turned off are consuming vampire voltage, and these vampire voltage contribute significantly towards our electricity bill every month. With a little care and we can reduce our dependability on the barrels that are pulled out every day to feed our hunger of consumption toped with our convinces.

Power Generating clothes

Power generating clothes should be an answer to the recharging problems for electronic gadget freaks. Out on the street, just when you are about to make an important call the battery of your cell runs out. This is one of the most annoying situations we face at least once every week. How we wish for an extra battery or a charger get could get hold of. Think out of the box think clothes that could add some juice to your i.pod’s or cell phone’s battery.
European and American scientists are working on such projects; tiny folding solar cells are being developed by EU research and development called H-Alpha Solar (H-AS). A pliable folding panel can be sewed on the outer side of the clothes with maximum sunlight expose, such as shoulders and back of a jacket. These slightly thicker then a photographic film solar cells will be attached to a circuit which should be able to convert this variable energy into consistent one. One should be able to just stand or move in sunlight or stand in front of photovoltaic light to charge a gadget attached to these power generating clothes.
Studio 5050 of TX USA has developed a white tiled frock each tile hides a solar cell capable of producing energy, the dress is made out of 448 such tiles, these tiles also accommodate RGB-LED’S, jumper circuits and 0 OHM resistors. The solar cells power the power generating dress whiles the tiles are attached with each other with metallic rings, making this power generating dress quite chic and sexy. Power is transferred through a control board. This power generating dress with little alteration can be turned into a serious wearable technology.
Although power generating clothes are more fun and experiment at the moment but with further development in power generating clothes and wearable, they can be put to medical use as well, specially in case of old people and young children these power generating clothes can create energy which can then be used as heat energy to protect them from cold and keeping them warm. This can also help in keeping cardiac batteries charged up.
A Swedish and Dutch-owned company Akzo-Nobel, a partner in the H-AS research, already has a pilot plant producing rolls of silicon cells 40 centimeters wide. If the company decides to continue the project a full-scale manufacturing plant could produce panels at a cost of about 1 euro ($1.34) per watt.Scientists have also developed a way to produce electrical energy by jostling fabric with tiny wires woven inside, raising the prospect of textiles that produce power simply by being stretched, rustled or ruffled by a breeze.
Thus power generating clothes should not only produce renewable energy through solar energy but also kinetic and wind energy. So next time you plan on purchasing an extra battery think again as you might find a jumper to do the job for you.