Environmentalism is fashionable. Is it also efficient?
Heated discussions about global warming have helped us to be more attentive to waste they leave behind us, and energy prices has convinced us that we must use more wisely and electrical machines.
However, even if they caught the audience, not all solutions found and promoted by environmentalists solutions have proven effective. Others are welcome hard to understand they were not too good. Fortune magazine show which.
Renewable energy does not reach
Renewable energy is probably the most debated topic, and countries invest heavily in developing technologies to get rid of dependence on oil and gas. Optimists say that wind and sun can give us energy needs, but the reality is that no one can do for too long.
While wind and solar power industry is developing rapidly, the two sources gives only 2% of U.S. energy needs. Solar energy is still almost three times more expensive than fossil fuels and wind, although it is competitive, does not occur when the wind stops.
Problems will likely be resolved when you discover an energy storage technology that produces wind turbine when the wind is stronger, but even so it will take decades until alternative sources of energy will dominate the market today.
Never mind that it stopped. Take it from the mains
To give helping hand sources of energy, pay more attention to many electrical appliances they use. Are careful to not leave the TV turned on when not watching something off the light, green light bulbs used, but studies show that not enough anyway.
In fact, whatever is left consume electricity outlet. TV kept on stand-by fax and even a phone charger that was left outlet consume less, but longer periods of time prove to be quite expensive. According to calculations, up to 10% of the total energy consumed in a home is attributed appliances left on standby.
Myths about eco cars
Cars are the mortal enemy of environmentalists, and create models as efficient energy is the main objective. However, still not accepted by the general public because many fear that they would run in front of current gas stations.
It is true that someone could run out of energy in the middle of the road, but only if you decide to go with that car a few hundred kilometers. They were not, however, designed to go from side to side of the country, but for short distances with the infernal traffic in cities. Thus, studies have shown that a driver in the U.S. lead, every day, more than 65 km, while in Europe it goes by car less.
An electric car should go with a “full” about 160 kilometers, but it depends on road conditions and climate. Their manufacturers recommend that they be used at a temperature of 21 degrees Celsius and on a straight, neaccidentat. If the car goes, then the battery life will decrease by 40%.
However, even those who keep their gas car can be environmentally friendly as long as they use to be. Air conditioning consumes more energy if it is used when the car is stuck in traffic in the city.
But outside the city, when the car chase on the roads free consumption caused by air conditioning is almost nonexistent.
Another manner in which fuel is consumed unnecessarily just to start the engine is warm in winter. Many drivers have kept the habit from the days when cars used a very thick oil. Today’s oils are much thinner, but so engines do not need to be heated before departure.
Auto experts say even a car can go from standstill in just 10 seconds at temperature up to -17 degrees Celsius. Below -17 degrees Celsius, would need 30 seconds.
Trees need care. Take care of their exhaust
One of the traditional desire of every environmentalist is planting trees because they absorb carbon dioxide. However, after maintenance works to trees in cities are released into the atmosphere more noxious than they can consume.
New York, Mayor Bloomberg planted three million trees, which should have a great effect on the metropolis. But as these trees from towns, they need care, work involving the use of chainsaws and several trucks full of workers. This could make three million trees to actually produce carbon dioxide.
There are, however, and benefits. An air conditioner that was in the shade is 10% efficient, according to U.S. Energy Department.11
