How Wastewater Treatment Works

http://www.titantanks.net/how-wastewater-treatment-works/?utm_content=25676168&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter
by Aaron Oneal

What Is Wastewater Treatment and Why Does It Matter?

You’ve probably heard of wastewater, and perhaps you have a vague understanding of what it is; but have you ever really investigated the procedures by which wastewater is recycled and treated for future use? 

As one might suspect, there is quite a lot of work required to adequately purify contaminated water to the point that it can be used again. It is an extremely important industry, and it plays a vital role in modern society. 

While water is indeed Earth’s most plentiful natural resource, occupying over 71% of the planet’s surface; a lack of access to the elixir of life and other circumstances require that every drop of water is used as much as possible. 

Wastewater treatment helps ensure that water that has been contaminated by human activity can be decontaminated and useable once more.

What Exactly Is Targeted In The Wastewater Treatment Process?

Amongst many different things, there are four primary substances that are targeted for removal during the wastewater treatment process. The first are suspended solids, which are physical particles with a tendency to clog down bodies of water such as rivers when they settle under gravity. Biodegradable organics are also eliminated. 

These are organisms that are fed upon by harmful microorganisms. When exposed to oxygen, biodegradable organics nourish toxic organisms and provide them with the energy necessary to reproduce and multiply. Pathogenic bacteria are the next target. 

Substances such as these can be any one of many different toxins, and their removal is particularly important when the water will eventually be consumed by humans. The final reduction or elimination sought is that of nutrients that often lead to high concentrations of algae. Algae can also be a very undesirable element in water.

Wastewater Treatment Types

Photo Credit: LACSD.ORG

In order to go about accomplishing the task of treating wastewater, three main types of treatments are used.

Primary (mechanical)

Primary (also known as mechanical) treatment is intended to remove lingering solids that are present in raw sewage. Screens are used to filter the solids from the liquid, and gravity-induced sedimentation processes help the operation move at a more brisk pace. 

It is usually the first stage in wastewater treatment, and it is often efficient in eliminating approx. 20%-30% of biodegradable organics, and even 50%-60% of suspended solids. Some developing nations venturing into wastewater treatment will start with primary/mechanical treatment; and eventually add other operations whenever they can afford it, or when the necessary equipment becomes available to them.

Secondary (biological)

The second sector of wastewater treatment is the secondary (biological) treatment phase. The biological phase entails removing any traces of organic matter or solids that remain after the first stage. 

It uses microbes to eat up the organic matter; and convert it into carbon dioxide, water, and energy to fuel their own growth. 

Solids are removed by a second round of sedimentary treatment, which takes places in dedicated settling tanks. 

Technology such as sludge processes, artificial ponds and wetlands, trickling filters, and other techniques are common components of the biological phase as well.

Tertiary Treatment

The third and most expensive sector of the wastewater treatment process is known as tertiary treatment, which purges what is left of any toxins from the water. 

Unfortunately, the cost of operation of tertiary treatment is much higher than those of other sectors. Additionally, a great amount of knowledge and expertise is required to use the various technologies necessary for the procedure.

The Future Potential of The Wastewater Industry

If the wastewater industry truly reaches its fullest potential, the results could be extraordinary and prove to be massively beneficial to humanity. 

Irrigation is one thing that could be drastically altered by the integration of wastewater. Even if there was any trace of matter left behind by the treatment procedures; they are highly unlikely to be problematic, as they aren’t very harmful, especially in such tiny amounts. There are farmers all over the world that depend on their crops and harvest as their livelihood, and droughts can be disastrous to their work. 

Irrigation sourced by recycled wastewater can provide them with hope and a contingency if there is a shortage of rain. 

Also, wastewater can be used as a coolant in massive industrial factories, leaving more freshwater for human consumption. 

Another growing ecological problem is the demise and pollution of the natural wetlands that are a critical element of Earth’s ecosystem, many of which are shrinking. Recycled wastewater can be used to replenish the supply of water in these, and even form entirely new ones. 

Recycling wastewater before pumping it back into natural bodies of water also decreases pollution. The amounts of many of the toxic substances added to water due to human activity- oils, gasses, metallics, radioactive waste- can be greatly decreased, if not eliminated by wastewater treatment. 

Perhaps the most important result of all is the potential for recycled wastewater to provide much-needed hydration to those with limited access to fresh, drinkable water. 

There are countless reasons to push the limits of wastewater treatment and discover new uses of recycled water. Water is quite literally the elixir of life. No known living organism can survive without it. Therefore, it is key to the long-term continuation of life on Earth that water is preserved and used as efficiently as possible.

Sea Bin

This is such a clever idea... Introducing the Seabin, which sucks in rubbish, oil and fuel, cleaning up the oceanVideo: The Seabin project

Posted by Cooler Magazine on Friday, 18 December 2015

the future eco-friendly transportation

Unbelievable flying car

Posted by YEGOB on Tuesday, 29 September 2015

Earthquake Bed

This bed designed in China was created to protect people from earthquakes while they're sleeping. After seeing it in action, we'd rather stick with the quakes. http://nyp.st/1Ic4lcZ

Posted by New York Post on Thursday, 17 December 2015

turn plastic into oil

https://www.facebook.com/DavidAvocadoWolfe/videos/10152649671531512/

Dengan Biofilter, Limbah "Septic Tank" Jadi Jernih

http://health.kompas.com/read/2015/11/25/111254223/Dengan.Biofilter.Limbah.Septic.Tank.Jadi.Jernih


Abie Wiwoho, Pendiri IPAL Center menunjukkan septic tank biofilter di depan rumah warga Kelurahan Semper Barat, CIlincing, Jakarta Utara, Selasa (24/11/2015).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com — Septic tank  atau tangki kotoran biasanya ada di belakang rumah atau di tempat tersembunyi. Namun, septic tankwarga kelurahan Semper Barat, Cilincing, Jakarta Utara, ini berada tepat di depan pintu rumah. Lebih dari itu, septic tank yang dibangun menggunakan teknologi ramah lingkungan biofilter.

Abie Wiwoho, pendiri Instalasi Pengolahan Air Limbah (IPAL) Center, menjelaskan, teknologi biofilter membuat limbah yang mengalir keseptic tank diubah menjadi jernih sehingga tidak mencemari lingkungan.

“Di dalamnya ada penyaring ‘sarang tawon’. Airnya jadi bening sehingga sudah aman ketika dibuang ke lingkungan,” terang Abie saat ditemui di lokasi pembuatan biofilter di Semper Barat, Jakarta Utara, Selasa (24/11/2015).

Septic tank dibangun dengan ukuran 2 meter x 1 meter x 2 meter karena menyesuaikan lahan permukiman warga yang sempit. Limbah cair rumah tangga yang berasal dari kamar mandi, dapur, dan cucian pakaian mengalir ke septic tank tersebut.

Warsih, warga kelurahan Semper Barat yang depan rumahnya dibangunseptic tank biofilter, mengaku lingkungannya menjadi lebih bersih. 

“Jadi enggak terlalu bau, jadi lancar, bersih. Biasanya kalau bikin septic tank pindah-pindah. Kalau penuh, pindah,” kata Warsih.

Septic tank itu digunakan bersama 4 kepala keluarga (KK). Namun, saat ini digunakan lebih dari 4 KK sehingga hasil pengolahan limbar cair sudah tidak terlalu bening. “Idealnya hanya 4 KK untuk limbah cair murni, bukan industri,” kata Abie.

Di Kelurahan Semper Barat, sudah dibangun 2 unit biofilter, yakni di RT 01 dan RT 05. Biofilter juga dibangun satu unit di Kelurahan Penjaringan, Jakarta Utara.  

Abie mengatakan, biofilter ini merupakan percontohan yang dibangun di permukiman. Harapannya, biofilter digunakan oleh masyarakat lebih banyak lagi sehingga limbah cair tidak mencemari lingkungan karena sudah diurai terlebih dahulu.

Penulis: Dian Maharani

Editor: Lusia Kus Anna

space saver

Muebles para ahorrar espacio

Posted by Raul Brindis on Wednesday, 8 July 2015

The coming era of unlimited — and free — clean energy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2014/09/19/the-coming-era-of-unlimited-and-free-clean-energy/

By Vivek Wadhwa


Solar energy is ready for primetime. (Nicky Loh/Bloomberg)

In the 1980s, leading consultants were skeptical about cellular phones.  McKinsey & Company noted that the handsets were heavy, batteries didn’t last long, coverage was patchy, and the cost per minute was exorbitant.  It predicted that in 20 years the total market size would be about 900,000 units, and advised AT&T to pull out.  McKinsey was wrong, of course.  There were more than 100 million cellular phones in use in 2000; there are billions now.  Costs have fallen so far that even the poor — all over world — can afford a cellular phone.

The experts are saying the same about solar energy now.  They note that after decades of development, solar power hardly supplies 1 percent of the world’s energy needs.  They say that solar is inefficient, too expensive to install, and unreliable, and will fail without government subsidies.  They too are wrong.  Solar will be as ubiquitous as cellular phones are.

Futurist Ray Kurzweil notes that solar power has been doubling every two years for the past 30 years — as costs have been dropping. He says solar energy is only six doublings — or less than 14 years — away from meeting 100 percent of today’s energy needs. Energy usage will keep increasing, so this is a moving target.  But, by Kurzweil’s estimates, inexpensive renewable sources will provide more energy than the world needs in less than 20 years.  Even then, we will be using only one part in 10,000 of the sunlight that falls on the Earth.

In places such as Germany, Spain, Portugal, Australia, and the Southwest United States, residential-scale solar production has already reached “grid parity” with average residential electricity prices.  In other words, it costs no more in the long term to install solar panels than to buy electricity from utility companies.  The prices of solar panels have fallen 75 percent in the past five years alone and will fall much further as the technologies to create them improve and scale of production increases.  By 2020, solar energy will be price-competitive with energy generated from fossil fuels on an unsubsidized basis in most parts of the world.  Within the next decade, it will cost a fraction of what fossil-fuel-based alternatives do.

It isn’t just solar production that is advancing at a rapid rate; there are also technologies to harness the power of wind, biomass, thermal, tidal, and waste-breakdown energy, and research projects all over the world are working on improving their efficiency and effectiveness.  Wind power, for example, has also come down sharply in price and is now competitive with the cost of new coal-burning power plants in the United States.  It will, without doubt, give solar energy a run for its money.  There will be breakthroughs in many different technologies, and these will accelerate overall progress.

Despite the skepticism of experts and criticism by naysayers, there is little doubt that we are heading into an era of unlimited and almost free clean energy.  This has profound implications.

First, there will be disruption of the entire fossil-fuel industry, starting with utility companies — which will face declining demand and then bankruptcy.  Several of them see the writing on the wall.  The smart ones are embracing solar and wind power.  Others are lobbying to stop the progress of solar power — at all costs.  Witness how groups in Oklahoma persuaded lawmakers to approve a surcharge on solar installations; the limited victory that groupsbacked by the Koch brothers won in Arizona to impose a $5 per month surcharge; and the battles being waged in other states.  They are fighting a losing battle, however, because the advances aren’t confined to the United States. Countries such as Germany, China, and Japan are leading the charge in the adoption of clean energies.  Solar installations still depend on other power sources to supply energy when the sun isn’t shining, but battery-storage technologies will improve so much over the next two decades that homes won’t be dependent on the utility companies.  We will go from debating incentives for installing clean energies to debating subsidies for utility companies to keep their operations going.

The environment will surely benefit from the elimination of fossil fuels, which will also boost most sectors of the economy.  Electric cars will become cheaper to operate than fossil-fuel-burning ones, for example.  We will be able to create unlimited clean water — by boiling ocean water and condensing it.  With inexpensive energy, our farmers can also grow hydroponic fruits and vegetables in vertical farms located near consumers.  Imagine skyscrapers located in cities that grow food in glass buildings without the need for pesticides, and that recycle nutrients and materials to ensure there is no ecological impact.  We will have the energy needed to 3D-print our everyday goods and to heat our homes.

We are surely heading into the era of abundance that Peter Diamandis has written about — the era when the basic needs of humanity are met through advancing technologies. The challenge for mankind will be to share this abundance, ensuring that these technologies make the world a better place.

Vivek Wadhwa is a fellow at Rock Center for Corporate Governance at Stanford University, director of research at Center for Entrepreneurship and Research Commercialization at Duke, and distinguished fellow at Singularity University. His past appointments include Harvard Law School, University of California Berkeley, and Emory University.

Pelaku Usaha Kayu Belum Maksimal Terapkan SVLK. Apa Kendalanya?

http://www.mongabay.co.id/2015/08/07/pelaku-usaha-kayu-belum-maksimal-terapkan-svlk-apa-kendalanya/
by Petrus Riski


Pengerjaan produk kursi dari bahan kayu jati untuk pasar ekspor. Foto: Petrus Riski

Pelaksanaan Sistem Verifikasi Legalitas Kayu (SVLK) belum bisa dijalankan secara optimal oleh pelaku usaha perkayuan di Indonesia. Mahalnya biaya pengurusan sertifikasi dan kurangnya sosialisasi membuat pelaku usaha terutama kelas menengah ke bawah merasa belum perlu menerapkan SVLK.

Bambang Mardi Priyono, Foresty Specialis Hadfield Indonesia, lembaga konsultan yang ditunjuk menyusun Desain Monitoring Dampak Implementasi SVLK, menuturkan pemantauan dampak implementasi SVLK dilakukan untuk mengetahui dampak negatif dan positif pelaksanaan SVLK sejak 2009 lalu.

Monitoring ini terkait kesiapan pelaku usaha perkayuan di Indonesia yang hendak mengekspor hasil kayunya demi memenuhi permintaan pasar dunia. Masih banyaknya industri kecil menengah yang belum memenuhi persyaratan SVLK menjadi alasan pemantauan ini dilakukan. “Ada beberapa pihak yang menyatakan implementasi SVLK justru menambah biaya dan persoalan. Kalau ini benar harus dicarikan solusinya,” ujar Bambang di Surabaya, Selasa (4/8/15).

Selama ini, pelaku usaha perkayuan, menganggap SVLK belum menjadi syarat ekspor kayu ke Eropa. “Padahal, masyarakat Eropa memberi tekanan tinggi pada pemerintahnya agar hanya menerima kayu yang legal saja. Ini harus diperhatikan pengusaha kita,” lanjut Bambang.

Kepala Bidang Bina Produksi Kehutanan, Dinas Kehutanan Provinsi Jawa Timur, Maryono menegaskan, kebutuhan pengusaha kayu akan SVLK merupakan tuntutan pasar yang ditunjang peraturan pemerintah.

Maryono mengakui, selama ini baru industri besar yang memiliki akses untuk memperoleh sertifikasi SVLK bagi usahanya secara mudah. Sementara industri kecil menengah maupun kelompok dan perorangan masih terbatas. “Pemerintah provinsi mendukung dengan dana pancingan untuk mengurus sertifikasi dan kami juga melakukan sosialisasi.”

Ekspor kayu dari Jawa Timur ke Eropa dan Amerika, menurut Maryono, tergolong besar karena potensi kayu dan desain produknya disukai pasar luar negeri. “Kedepannya kami berharap tidak ada lagi kayu ilegal yang dipakai untuk usaha,” paparnya.

Kayu jati gelondongan yang berada di tempat pemotongan kayu di Bantul, Yogyakarta. Foto: Petrus Riski

Minimnya implementasi SVLK di Jawa Timur diakui Muhammad Ichwan, aktivis lingkungan dari Jaringan Pemantau Independen Kehutanan. Hasil monitoring yang dilakukannya dalam sebulan terakhir, menunjukkan adanya kayu log asal luar Jawa yang tidak memiliki V-Legal seperti yang disyaratkan dalam SVLK.

“Peredaran kayu log antar pulau harusnya ada pembukuan, di-barcode, atau harus ada dokumen V-Legal yang menyertai. Pantau selama 10 yang kami lakukan di pelabuhan Gresik, Surabaya, tidak ada satu pun kayu log yang dibubuhkan V-Legal atau barcodeV-Legal. Artinya belum tentu kayu-kayu yang masuk ke Surabaya itu legal,” kata Ichwan.

Selain belum adanya tanda V-Legal, menurut Ichwan, banyak industri kehutanan baik primer, lanjutan, maupun industri kecil dan besar terindikasi melakukan pelanggaran dengan titip bendera ekspor. “Ini tidak boleh dilakukan. Kami beberapa kali menemukan pelanggaran berkaitan dengan persyaratan SVLK,” imbuhnya.

Ichwan menilai SVLK merupakan sistem yang sangat membantu dalam upaya menjaga kelestarian lingkungan dengan mencegah perusahaan menebang jayu hutan yang tidak sesuai dengan ketentuan SVLK. “Sistemnya sudah bagus, hanya pelaksanaannya yang mesti dikawal.”

Pentingnya memiliki SVLK sebagai garansi produk kayu diterima di pasar Eropa diakui Rumekso Setyadi, Pemilik Usaha Mebel Kayu Jati Enclave Craft, Bantul, Yogyakarta. Menurutnya, keberadaan SVLK sudah menjadi syarat mutlak pasar mebel dunia, demi memastikan kayu yang dipakai itu legal.

“Kalau ada purchasing order dari buyer Eropa, mereka selalu mencantumkan wood declaration. Berdasarkan regulasi, setiap barang yang ada kayunya harus menggunakan SVLK, ini alasan mengapa kami mengurus SVLK,” tuturnya.

Menurut Rumekso, keuntungannya yang diperoleh dari sistem ini diantaranya adalah manajemen bahan baku lebih tertib dan sistematis, serta barang yang dijual mempunya nilai lebih karena kayu yang digunakan legal dan bersertifikat. “Ini merupakan salah satu pertimbangan buyer, karena SVLK biasanya selalu ditanyakan,” tandasnya.

Rain Water Harvesting

https://www.facebook.com/Rain.Water.Harvesting.Benefits

Harvesting System:

Broadly rainwater can be harvested for two purposes:

• Storing rainwater for ready use in containers above or below ground
• Charged into the soil for withdrawal later (groundwater recharging)

Source: A Water Harvesting Manual For Urban Areas

From where to harvest rain

Rainwater harvesting can be harvested from the following surfaces:

Rooftops: 

If buildings with impervious roofs are already in place, the catchment area is effectively available free of charge and they provide a supply at the point of consumption.

Paved and unpaved areas 

i.e., landscapes, open fields, parks, stormwater drains, roads and pavements and other open areas can be effectively used to harvest the runoff. The main advantage in using ground as collecting surface is that water can be collected from a larger area. This is particularly advantageous in areas of low rainfall.

Waterbodies: 

The potential of lakes, tanks and ponds to store rainwater is immense. The harvested rainwater can not only be used to meet water requirements of the city, it also recharges groundwater aquifers.

Stormwater drains: 

Most of the residential colonies have proper network of stormwater drains. If maintained neatly, these offer a simple and cost effective means for harvesting rainwater.

Whether to store rainwater or use it for recharge:

The decision whether to store or recharge water depends on the rainfall pattern and the potential to do so, in a particular region. 

The sub-surface geology also plays an important role in making this decision.

For example, Delhi, Rajasthan and Gujarat where the total annual rainfall occurs during 3 or 4 months, are examples of places where groundwater recharge is usually practiced. In places like Kerala, Mizoram, Tamil Nadu and Bangalore where rain falls throughout the year barring a few dry periods, one can depend on a small sized tank for storing rainwater, since the period between two spells of rain is short. Wherever sub-strata is impermeable recharging will not be feasible. Hence, it would be ideal to opt for storage.

Source: A Water Harvesting Manual For Urban Areas

In places where the groundwater is saline or not of potable standards, the alternate system could be that of storing rainwater.

Beyond generalisations, it is the requirement that governs the choice of water harvesting technique. For example, in Ahemadabad, which has limited number of rainy days as that of Delhi, traditional rainwater harvesting tanks, known as tankas, are used to store rainwater even today in residential areas, temples and hotels.

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172 Sq Ft Dream Castle

How cities can be protected from sea-level rise

https://agenda.weforum.org/2015/07/how-cities-can-be-protected-from-sea-level-rise/?utm_content=bufferf036a&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

By Sally Brown

Extreme storms and rising sea levels will threaten the existence of coastal cities worldwide, unless preventative action is undertaken. With population growth and sea-level rise set to continue, research has estimated that by 2050, we can expect more than US$1 trillion worth of damages per year to be incurred by 136 of the world’s largest cities, if there is no attempt to adapt.

The game changer came in 2005, when we saw one of the most active hurricane seasons in US history. Hurricane Katrina, the fifth hurricane of that season, resulted in nearly 1,600 deaths. Almost half of these fatalities occurred in New Orleans: 80% of the city was flooded, at a cost of US$40 billion. When the water subsided, so did the population: ten years on, the city that used to house 500,000 is now home to only 300,000 people.

There are a number of ways to go about changing cities to account for rising sea levels: we can raise coastal defences, build houses on stilts, or simply move cities and their populations away from the coast. Which of these strategies works best was one of many questions set out in Climate Change: A Risk Assessment – a new report led by Sir David King and the Foreign and Commonwealth Office.

Constant threat

Globally, sea levels have been remarkably stable since civilisation started to develop several thousand years ago. During the 20th century, sea levels rose about 17cm, at an average rate of 1.8mm per year. Over the past few decades, that rate has doubled to more than 3mm per year. This trend is expected to continue and accelerate. According to the latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Changereport, the sea level is projected to rise up to 1m by 2100. If the large ice sheets ofGreenland and Antarctica melted, even higher rises are considered possible, albeit highly uncertain.

Importantly, if carbon emissions are stabilised, or even decrease, the sea level will continue to rise for many centuries, as the deep ocean slowly warms and the large ice sheets reach a new equilibrium. Simply put, sea-level rise is here to stay. It is likely to lead to greater flooding, salinisation (the build up of salt in surface and groundwater) and erosion in coastal areas, affecting millions of people worldwide and costing billions of dollars of damage.

The high costs of economic damage and loss of life are becoming less acceptable in a world where extreme weather events can be accurately forecast and coastal protection is possible. In many parts of the world, damages and loss of life remain high, as seen during Typhoon Haiyan, which hit the Philippines in 2013. Preparing coastal cities for extreme events and adapting them to cope with sea-level rise remains challenging: King’s report highlights the engineering, financial and socio-political limits of the adaptation challenge.

But cities are starting to embrace these challenges. For example, last year, Bostonput forward the bold, novel idea of becoming an American Venice – a city full of canals to hold water as sea levels rise. New York has considered building a barrier to keep water out, in light of the fact that, with a 1m rise in the sea level, a 1-in-100 year event (that is, a severe storm one would expect to occur once every 100 years) could become 200 times more likely to occur.

London has also developed a range of flexible options that would protect the Thames Estuary against up to 5m of sea-level rise. These include raising defences, implementing flood storage and constructing a new and bigger Thames Barrier further downstream.

Developing better cities

In developing countries, few cities are preparing for sea-level rise, despite the awareness that this is a long-term hazard. Developing cities also frequently have rapid population growth. In Shanghai and Kolkata more than 400,000 people live less than 2m above the present-day sea level. A rise of 1m will increase the frequency of a current 1-in-100 year event by 40 times in Shanghai, and about 1,000 times in Kolkata.

Local ground subsidence is another factor to worry about. This involves the sinking of the land relative to the sea due to natural and sometimes human processes (such as groundwater withdrawal). Local ground subsidence will worsen conditions in about a quarter of coastal cities – namely, those built on susceptible deltaic soils (those at the mouth of a river).

Small islands and their cities are also under serious threat from sea-level rise as they are low-lying, remote and dispersed in their territories, and often have limited financial resources. Far from being a green, spacious island, Malé – the capital of the Maldives – is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. Building protective structures is one way of reducing the impacts of extreme events: Malé is surrounded by a sea wall and giant tetrapods (a four-pronged concentrate structure about 2m high). But a lack of space limits future coastal protection.

To overcome this, a new island has been constructed, Hulhumalé, with sea-level rise also in mind. The solution to sea-level rise is simply to build upwards: The island was raised to 2m above present day sea level to protect against storms. This buys time, but moving into the late 21st or early 22nd century this may not be enough. Other Maldivian islands are following suit, with the Safer Islands programme selectively raising parts of islands. This may help the parts of the country, but clearly much more work is required to ensure the long-term prospects of this fragile island nation.

Ultimately, these case studies show us that there’s no one-size-fits-all approach to adapting cities to rising sea levels. Rather, the best bet for cities to adapt against rising sea levels is to dare to be different. Both engineering design, government authorities and social attitudes must acknowledge that change needs to occur, if we’re to avoid disaster.

This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. Publication does not imply endorsement of views by the World Economic Forum.

To keep up with the Agenda subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

Author: Sally Brown is Research Fellow at University of Southampton. Ivan Haigh is Lecturer in Coastal Oceanography at University of Southampton. Robert Nicholls is Professor of Coastal Engineering at University of Southampton.

Image: Cityscape of Cape Town in South Africa. REUTERS/Euroluftbild.de.

TAMAN LISTRIK TENAGA ANGIN TANARARA

This Mycologist Holds The Patent That Could DESTROY Monsanto

http://www.trueactivist.com/this-mycologist-holds-the-patent-that-could-destroy-monsanto/

Paul Stamets has figured out how to use mother nature to safely control over 200,000 species of insects.


Credit: DiscoverMagazine

Monsanto, the biotech company found to be the most hated organizations in the world, is responsible for a number of dirty dealings that have earned it such a reputation. The creator of Agent Orange (a deadly herbicide responsible for thousands of disfigurements and birth defects in Vietnam), and glyphosate (recently declared to be “probably carcinogenic” by the WHO), it’s for good reason individuals everywhere are banding together to boycott the giant company and its foul play. (Don’t believe us? Watch Food, Inc.)

But although awareness is being raised every day enlightening individuals on why they should opt for organic seeds, local produce, and support bio-dynamic agricultural methods, few feel confident that their efforts will actually help put the agri-giant out of business. Based upon the following news, however, we believe there’s reason to be hopeful:

In 2006, Paul Stamets, the world’s leading mycologist, was granted a patent that has potential to change the world.

Stated by executives in the pesticide industry, the patent Stamets holds represents “the most disruptive technology we have ever witnessed,” and when they say disruptive, they mean harmful to the chemical pesticide industry.

Credit: IsaacHernandez.com

It seems Paul has figured out how to use mother nature to keep insects from destroying crops, a finding that could make chemically-produced pest control completely obsolete. It is what is being called SMART pesticides.

SMART pesticides provide safe and nearly permanent solution for controlling over 200,000 species of insects – and all thanks to the magic offered by mushrooms.

The Mycologist does this by taking entomopathogenic Fungi (fungi that destroys insects) and morphs it so it does not produce spores. In result, this actually attracts the insects who then eat and turn into fungi from the inside out!

Credit: EWAO

Wouldn’t a better world result if biotech companies has limited control over crops, seeds, and the way populations grow food? Monsanto is already blamed to be responsible for the bee and monarch die-off ; who knows what other horrors could be prevented if its toxic chemical concoctions were no longer needed to grow crops.

Credit: LoveClicks

Monsanto may have generated $16 billion dollars in 2014, but its sales have reportedly been decreasing thanks to consumer awareness and action taken by activists.

By sharing this article, you are playing an important role in helping to raise awareness  about an alternative pest control method that may potentially revolutionize the way humans grow crops.

Want to learn more about Paul Stamets? Here’s a TED Talk he gave in 2008:

Here are helpful links to understand more about the incredible patent Paul Stamets holds:

Here is a link to the patent 7,122,176: http://www.google.com/patents/US7122176

A list of all the patents Paul has applied for: http://patents.justia.com/inventor/paul-edward-stamets

Plenty of information about Paul Stamets: http://www.fungi.com/about-paul-stamets.html

Wikipedia page about Paul Stamets: http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Stamets

Original Source: LoveClicks

This Ecocapsule Tiny Home Lets You Live Off-Grid Anywhere In The World!

http://www.trueactivist.com/this-ecocapsule-tiny-home-lets-you-live-off-grid-anywhere-in-the-world/
by Amanda Froelich 

This egg-shaped abode is powered by solar and wind energy, includes rainwater collection and filtration, and even has a kitchenette that can be used to prepare a hot meal.


Credit: Nice Architects

Ambition to live off-grid does not come without its difficulties. First, there is the task of explaining to your friends and family members why you desire to detach from mainstream society and live peacefully in nature. And second, there are the logistics of how you might actually survive the Earth’s fluctuating weather patterns while taking care of basic necessities like running water, a flushing toilet, or even a fire pit to cook food over.

But soon such woes may no longer be a concern, as an ingenious little egg-shaped tiny home has just been unveiled to the world with capabilities that  far surpass most other off-grid abodes.

Credit: Nice Architects

Credit: Nice Architects

Designed by Bratislava-based Nice Architects, the Ecocapsule is a micro-shelter that offers a variety of sustainable offerings. Ultra-portable, the capsule is powered by solar and wind energy, includes rainwater collection and filtration, and even has a tiny kitchenette that can be used to prepare a hot meal.

Truly, this is one of the most impressive off-grid luxury tiny homes we’ve ever seen.

Credit: Nice Architects

In the egg-spaced shape measuring 4.5 meters (14.6 feet) in length, 2.4 meters (7.9 feet) in width, and 2.5 meters in height (8.2 feet), there seems to be enough space to compactly fit all the home necessities.

The total usable floor space is eight square meters (86 square feet), enough space, say the designers, to comfortably fit two adults. The home with a tiny footprint includes a folding bed, two large operable windows, a working/dining area, shower and flushable toilet, storage space, and a built-in kitchenette with running water.

Credit: Nice Architects

Credit: Nice Architects

The built-in 750W wind turbine and 2.6-square-meter array of high efficiency solar cells (600W output) power the Ecocapsule. A dual-power system and high-capacity battery (9,744Wh capacity) ensures the rounded shell stays operable even during times of low solar and wind activity.

In addition, the high-tech shelter is optimized for rainwater collection. Each Ecocapsule weighs approximately 1,5000 kilograms and can fit inside a standard shipping container.

While you’re not alone in your desire to quickly order an Ecocapsule, they are not yet for sale. At present, only renderings and diagrams of the Ecocapsule are available; however, Nice Architects plans to unveil a prototype at the Pioneers festival in Vienna on May 28, 2015.

Having taken seven years to complete the wondrous Ecocapsule, the Nice Architects plans to release the tiny home for sale later this year. The first produced units are planned to be delivered in the first half of 2016.

As shown below, maybe it could also be a sustainable solution for those who currently live without a safe, secure home?

Credit: Nice Architects

Trik Gampang Bangun Rumah Hemat Energi

http://properti.kompas.com/read/2015/05/16/171640821/Trik.Gampang.Bangun.Rumah.Hemat.Energi?utm_source=properti&utm_medium=bp&utm_campaign=related&


Tidak ada lagi yang bisa kita lakukan untuk memastikan lingkungan lebih aman dan sehat selama bertahun-tahun yang akan datang, kecuali memulainya dari dalam rumah.

KOMPAS.com - Tidak ada lagi yang bisa kita lakukan untuk memastikan lingkungan yang lebih aman dan sehat selama bertahun-tahun yang akan datang, kecuali memulainya dari dalam rumah. 

Meskipun membawa dampak positif, banyak yang bingung bagaimana membuat rumah ramah lingkungan. Untuk menjadikan rumah menjadi hijau, Anda bisa memulai dari lima hal ini.

1. Produk Energi Efisien

Cara termudah untuk membuat rumah menjadi ramah lingkungan adalah dengan membeli atau memilih produk hemat energi. Memang awalnya barang-barang ini cenderung lebih mahal daripada yang biasa, namun produk hemat energi ini dijamin menghemat uang dalam jangka panjang.

Entah itu di dapur, kamar mandi, ruang keluarga, atau ruangan lain di rumah, sebaiknya pilih produk energi efisien yang bisa Anda temukan di toko furnitur.

2. Jendela

Ketika tiba saatnya untuk mencari jendela hemat energi, ada beberapa langkah yang perlu Anda perhatikan. Pertama, Anda perlu memahami berbagai jenis jendela kaca. Kemudian, pilih gaya jendela berdasarkan bagaimana jendela tersebut terbuka dan tertutup, misalnya ke samping atau terbuka bagian bawahnya.

Hal penting setelah itu adalah pada saat pemasangan. Instalasi yang tidak tepat dapat menyebabkan rembesan dan bahkan kebocoran air.

3. Kabinet

Jika Anda ingin mengubah rumah menjadi rumah hijau, ruangan yang paling populer untuk dirombak adalah dapur. Sebuah titik awal adalah dari lemari atau kabinet. 

Ada banyak zat dan bahan yang terlibat dalam produksi lemari berkelanjutan dalam kualitas udara di rumah Anda. Bagi mereka pemilik rumah yang ramah lingkungan, salah satu bahan yang bisa dipasang adalah bambu dan papan biokomposit, lyptus, kayu daur ulang, dan stock cabinet.

Selain itu, Anda juga bisa mencari produk yang bersertifikasi, misalnya dari Green Seal atau GreenGuard, untuk mengetahui apakah produk tersebut memiliki emisi VOC rendah.

4. Pipa

Percaya atau tidak, salah satu cara terbaik menjadikan rumah hijau adalah melalui pipa Anda. Tidak hanya biaya utilitas pipa hijau lebih rendah dalam jangka panjang, tapi pipa hijau akan membuat rumah dan lingkungan sehat.

Pipa rumah mencakup berbagai kategori, mulai dari drainase dan pipa untuk pemanas air, toilet, dan saluran pembuangan utama. Untuk proyek-proyek tertentu, Anda bisa mengisolasi pipa, menginstal pemanas air panas baru, menginstal sistem penyaringan air, memasang toilet dengan aliran air yang rendah, dan memasang keran peredam aliran.

5. Lantai

Saat ini, banyak pemilik rumah yang memilih lantai kayu. Jika Anda ingin menggunakan lantai kayu keras, Anda bisa memilih engineered wood atau kayu olahan. Dalam pembuatannya, kayu olahan membutuhkan kayu jauh lebih sedikit dari kayu keras standar lainnya. Selain itu, pohon-pohon untuk kayu olahan tumbuh lebih cepat daripada kayu keras padat lainnya.

Selain itu, Anda juga dapat menginstal lantai yang terbuat dari bahan yang berkelanjutan, daur ulang, atau reklamasi.