Message Board

For each 250 that join, I'll donate 1 to solve Climate Change through C&CGlobal

editor — Sat, 28 Apr 2007 08:13:41 GMT

Wow, the Carbon Coach has hit something here.
You have all heard that expression, put your money where your mouth is....
Contraction and Convergence

Contact Info
Email:	dave@carboncoach.com
Website:	www.climatejustice.org.uk
Office:	http://www.gci.org.uk
Country:	England

Forum: Global Warming

CO2 causes global warming.. a hoax ?

editor — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 16:10:18 GMT

8th of March 2007

Channel 4 stir things up a little with a documentary.....
From memory, these are the main points:

CO2 is a very small % of the atmosphere
CO2 generated by man is very small
historical patterns do not corrolate. CO2 lags the warmer planet
lots of evidence to show that sun activity and sunspot are the cause of warming
lots of historical evidence to that the earth warms up and cools down without man's influence
global warming predicts that the upper atmosphere should be warmer. It is not. The heat is on the surface of the planet
global warming is bad science - the basic ideas are wrong - the basic facts are wrong
vested interests now mean that anyone who questions global warming is seen as a heretic
the reds, anti-capitalists, anti-globalization, anti-development people (ie those that lost the red battle have jumped onto the enviromental bandwagon)
Thatcher initiated the research campaign to kill off the miners and support the nuclear argument....(they were worried about global cooling after 4 decades of temperature drops)
The earth is heating up because of the sun. CO2 rises come later. CO2 is a side effect, NOT the cause.

Anyone like to comment on this?

Forum: Global Warming

Magnetic storms and the planet magnetics

Orro — Tue, 09 Jan 2007 14:50:47 GMT

The latest hottest topic world wide is those Magnetic storms

some information is available here:

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/magnetic/about.html

I don't know ..i'm not sure if i buy this,to my opinion its the best way to turn something as big as global warming into a minor problem and in away to make it possible to avoid it.
what do you guys think?

Forum: Global Warming

products that will change the world

editor — Thur, 30 Nov 2006 18:14:33 GMT

At 4ecotips we would like to think that we can have a better life and save the environment.

This company http://www.bwater.eu/ has started to offer two products that will really make a big difference.

Amazing. We need more ideas, more products and more solutions like these.

Forum: Built environment

Fuel cells

editor — Wed, 09 Aug 2006 14:37:44 GMT

Wow, what a meeting!

We just met the guys at Fuel Cell Markets.

http://www.fuelcellmarkets.com

You can expect some good stuff on 4ecotips as we explore fuel cell concepts. Amazing bits of technology. The main problem with renewables and traditional power is the storage and the losses in transmission. Take a look at these charts: http://eed.llnl.gov/flow/02flow.php You will see the insane, almost criminal, waste of energy. In 2002 the US wasted more energy in transportation than it received in imports.

Fuel cells provide the answers. Think of fuel cells as Eco replenish-able batteries. (But there are more benefits, heat, water....) See the main site www.4ecotips.com soon.

Forum: 4ecotips

Middle East comments by anon

editor — Tue, 08 Aug 2006 13:12:12 GMT

Well this is what has come by our way. Very topical.

-Ed

==========================================

What follows is pure theory.

Earlier this year George Bush decided that Iran's Nuclear Facilities must be removed by force.

So to "clear the diplomatic front" a bit he pressured Tony Blair into "shunting" Jack Straw, and replacing him with his "poodle" Margaret Beckett.

Meantime agreement was reached with Israel, that given a suitable "causus belli", they would bomb Iran's nuclear facilities.

Knowing that Hisbollah had ammassed a lot of rockets, and knowing that they would react to provocation, the Israeli's "trailed their coat" on the Lebanese border, got eight soldiers killed, and two captured, demanded their release and when this was refused , set about pounding Lebanon with the specious excuse that they were going to deal with Hisbollah once and for all.

In so doing they hoped to get Syria and then Iran involved - the Israeli army seems pretty bad at hitting Hisbollah rocket sites - by encouraging increased salvoes of rockets onto Israel, culmination in the "causus belli" the big rocket strike on Tel Aviv.

As two senior Israeli politicians have said within the past few days, "Iran is the problem, If Tel Aviv is hit they will be behind it/be responsible" One specifically mentioned the nuclear issue.

George Bush has "held off" to enable the "causus belli" to develop, and has blackmailed Tony Blair by flying the bombs required for the Iran strike through UK airports.

It is just conceivable that if Hisbollah does not fire/has not go the "Tel Aviv rocket", that a substitute explosion might be created and blamed on Hisbollah/Iran ?

If Hisbollah stop rocket attacks NOW Israel and Bush will be left looking rather foolish ?

By Anon

======================================

Forum: Comments from 4ecotips readers

Energy review.

editor — Sat, 15 Jul 2006 08:47:48 GMT

Dear Sir/Madam

At breakfast today, my wife raised the subject of the Energy Review with the comment "It's just the Government buttering it's own bread, Nuclear Energy is wasteful - Dad often said that Nuclear had only two uses, to make a loud noise or boil water, and doing the latter wastes about two thirds of the pile's heat to keep the birds warm" !!!

Whereas clean coal technology in CHP units close to railways and built up areas would use our own energy supplies, be much more thermally efficient, and provide employment. In the late 50's I was in a works using CHP and abstracting some CO2 from the stack for aspirin production.

One might also use coal, in conjunction with Hydrogen produced by offshore wind to produce motor fuels. And possibly revive the "gasworks" industry in a modern guise ?

Nuclear and Wind, being often remote from users, have a further waste in transmission losses, more heat for the environment ?
I have given further more detailed comments below,
regards
Andrew Stobart

A Ferrand Stobart & Associates

Secretary Grnhaus Project
www.grunweb.org.uk

Additional Comments

1/. Many MP's and Civil Servants, while "learned in the law" are scientific analphabets

2/. Concentrating on wind and Nuclear and "distributed" electricity is in line with Lenin's comment "Communism is all about electricity - centrally generated". And of course maintains the Treasury's "hand on the switch", to ensure continued revenue from taxes on energy.

3/. Electricity Distribution Systems can be closed down without the use of explosives, an example was during the recent fighting in the Balkans, I have known for over 30 years how to "close down London" one dark night. Luckily terrorists are long on explosive technology and short on mechanical ditto.

4/. Wind Energy Farms , based on mechanical principles old when Nicholas rented the windmill in E.Yorks from the Knights Templars in 1185, is using a less than efficient technology - especially offshore. Short paper available on this contraoffshore.doc I question the present economics here, this should be looked at independantly ?

5/. Inshore Tidal Power and inlets/estuaries is the most reliable and predictable source of Renewable Energy. Some technologies are available to direct drive heat pumps

6/. Municipal CHP is a MUST, see www.woking.gov.uk their unit, and www.greenfinch.co.uk for the Ludlow Food Waste Digester CHP unit. Every source of biodigestable waste should be harnessed for this, including all sewage works not yet fitted with sewage gas collection.

7/ Microhydro inland, probably most useful for agriculture, there is a technology to use electricity so generated to "fertilise" crops without the use of chemicals. Can be used to direct drive Heat Pumps, abstracting heat from the water.

8/. Biofuels, work is on going here, vast opportunities for UK agriculture ?

9/. Solar Energy, a DIY design for a Solar Water Heater is available using scrap pipe, wooden planks, and aluminimu kitchen foil. For Solar Elecetricity the potential seems both enormous and untapped:-
The present UK Government reported in Feb 1998 that the overalll UK estimated electricity generation potential from Solar is 70,000 to 110,000 MW, equivalent to between 64 and 100 Nuclear Units of 1100 MW each.
Comment from the USA

If you figure a 50 year life span, which is reasonable, then a 100 watt panel at $400 ($4 / watt) in NY generates electric at about $0.11 / kWh, less than grid price here ($0.15). Cut that cost in half for California.
Calculation method for Solar PV installations

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/wastewatts/files/pv%20calculations.xls

German Solar PV Programme
http://www.solarserver.de/solarmagazin/index-e.html

Latest USA manufacturing plant being erected for cheaper Solar PV www.nanosolar.com who seem to be saying that they will be producing cells wholesaling at around $1.00/watt ?

Work in Italy aims at reducing the cost still further:-
http://www.electronicsweekly.com/Articles/2005/10/10/36498/STdevelopsdye-sensitisedsolarcells.htm are predicting $0.40/watt

AFS/as 12/07/06

Forum: Comments from 4ecotips readers

Nuclear in sheeps clothing...

editor — Tue, 11 Jul 2006 09:16:46 GMT

Who would have thought it? Nuclear as a planet saving source of energy?

In my mind this does not compute. The 000s years needed for the waste to decay, the millions needed to clean up Chernobyl.... Nuclear energy might save us but at what cost?

From the Beeb...

Tom Burke, a visiting professor of environmental policy at Imperial College and University College London, and a nuclear sceptic, said: "In the real world, if people invest in nuclear, they are not going to invest in renewables."

So what will happen to the "lower carbon" lifestyle ?

Forum: Ecology

World Cup 2006

editor — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:08:32 GMT

So Mr Franz Bekenbaur has attended every single world cup match so far. Hmmm, let us look at a map of Germany to see if he walked, cycled or drove to each match.

Hmmmm, nope none of those are options. So he must have flown. The press intimate that he has a chopper at his disposal.

Well I wonder just how many tons of CO2 he has generated. Hey Carbon Coach do you speak German ?

Ed.

Forum: Sport

What planet is Japan on ?

editor — Mon, 19 Jun 2006 08:04:04 GMT

Hey Japan the west respects you in many many ways. A country with a long history, a great work ethic, respect for family values, discipline, strength....... in short Japan is a world beater at many things.

But why oh why do you need to hunt wales? If you want a nice PR disaster then this is the way to do it. Expect a few "Rainbow warriors" and a gagle of world press knocking at your door.

This time all of your activities will be instantly seen......and reported. So please wake up and stop this insanity.

Forum: Ecology

UK institutions to make the carbon running

AndrewLeech — Sun, 21 May 2006 14:12:13 GMT

Much of the UKs urban infrastructure is geared to the 19^th century way of life. It needs pulling up by its boot strings so that it can perform at todays levels, effectively and efficiently.

The fact that we are so behind is unequivocally the fault of our architectural, building and construction professionals whose institutions seem to lack the impetus or even the aptitude to press things forward.

Look around at out architects, civil and structural engineers, surveyors and builders, and theres very few with a single inspirational idea or notion to lift us out of our slough of despond and into a less carbon heavy society. The professional institutions should have a handle on the problem but none of them has even developed a global warming strategy.

The institutions must immediately take up the initiative to create an environment compatible with our current aspirations, especially the architects whove always considered themselves the leaders of the pack. Otherwise, as the inimitable Private Frazer uttered frequently Were doomed!

Without desperate measures to combat global warming on a massive scale were plunging towards for Armageddon sooner than we thought!

Forum: Built environment

Should there be carbon penalties for sporting vents?

AndrewLeech — Sun, 21 May 2006 14:10:29 GMT

Sport plays a major role in all our lives and, consequently, makes its own contribution to carbon emissions. The football World Cup and the various international golfing tournaments are just two examples, then in the UK Wimbledons not far away bringing in hoards of travellers from around the world.

It all generates big money for the players and the promoters, but it costs our planet dearly in terms of further damage to our environment. For instance, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions are generated getting players and fans to and from events. Then there are the vast amounts of CO2 kick up to light and service the various venues.

So sport owes a lot to the planet and the millions who get enjoyment from it need to be warned what about its impact on global warming. Perhaps before each event takes place everyone involved should have its impact on the environment drawn to his or her attention and ways suggested in which they could do their bit to slow down the rate of carbon emissions.

In fact, perhaps each sporting event should be set a carbon emission limit taking into account running it, travel and so on. If its exceeded then, perhaps, the next event should be cancelled to compensate for the one that overshot its target.

If precious sport were compromised in this way, many more millions of people would sit up and consider more seriously the consequences of the biggest threat to mankind.

Forum: Sport

News and feedback

editor — Wed, 10 May 2006 08:53:21 GMT

Hi All,

We would like some feedback on the 4ecotips project. Please let us know what you think of the site, and pls let us know how we could improve things.

We wanted to add a bit of interactivity to the site so that we could learn from our readers / surfers. So we introduced the Polls. Initially we did not get anyone using the polls until we added images..... Then all of a sudden people started to vote. This information was then used to create an article to report back to the readership. We like these polls. We hope you do too!

Now for a bit of news. We have a lot of very detailed info that comes our way, especially around buildings and building products. The very detailed nature of the material means that it is not really for general consumption....... so having thought about this we have come up with the idea of a professional version of 4ecotips.

Wait for it...... and the title is ?........... wait for it.....

4proecotips

You can expect to see this kind of article. We will also introduce a newsletter, where you will be able to subscribe for FREE! Yes FREE. So if you are a pro type of person. (Architect, Builder, Specifier, Consultant etc etc and you want to keep up to date with the latest "green" technologies, well then 4proecotips will be for you.)

Other news, we got hacked!! Yes some nasty person was able to get into our system and delete most of the articles! Well from the log files were able to determine, the day, the time and the location of the hack........

He are we trying to do our bit to save the world through, FREE, open and a non fascistic approach.... all we want to do is to inform and educate people so that they can make up their own minds.

But oh no - some sad sad person has decided to hack into our system and just delete articles at random.

Why? For what reason ? Cant you find something better to do on a Sunday?

As the Egyptians used to say.... if the poison does not kill you it makes you stronger. So we will have to take this hacking incident just like snake poison. It has set us back by a long way. But it did not kill us......... we just have to learn from it and become much stronger.

Not a good week. But we are still here. We still have lots of ideas and we are passionate about the 4ecotips project.

Forum: 4ecotips

The solutions are out there... how do we get things moving?

editor — Thur, 09 Feb 2006 21:16:27 GMT

So we have all seen the news about Alaska and the houses that are sinking. We all know that the ice is melting, the glaciers are retreating.... yet what are we doing about it ?

Children tend to have a genuine concern for all things green. It is obvious to them. Yet the parents of these kids have other things on their minds. Most seem to have debts that are very very scary... yet all we want them to do is to consume more. We want them to buy bigger houses, bigger cars or (ahem apologies for swearing) SUVs. Cheap air travel means that we can all jet around for more vacations at remote destinations. I have not even mentioned the huge profits made by the oil companies!!

What should we do?

Where should we start?

To me it seems that teachers have the biggest role in shaping the future... but are they are aware of the issues? Do they have the bandwidth to make a start? Or are they buried under the demands of the system to produce the next generation of consumers ?

Forum: Education

Purple a tool for raising awareness

editor — Sun, 05 Feb 2006 18:38:43 GMT

Check this out. The Carbon Coach aka Dave Hampton. His Blog.

Dave has a neat idea and that is to make people think of Purple......

Forum: Purple