CHP
The waste of precious fuel in the generation and distribution of electrical
power has always been known, but ‘cheap fuel’ and the development
of central electrical power production industry producing ‘affordable’ electricity
easily available for any development to connect to has been the accepted method
of electrical supply.
With the realisation that one of the main sources of ‘greenhouse gases’ is
the use of fossil fuels to produce electricity and with the rising cost and
reduced security of supply of fossil fuels, the waste of fuel and the unnecessary
production of polluting waste calls into question central electricity production.
Combined heat and power systems have been used in some countries for may
years – producing both heat and power for individual neighbourhoods
with short distribution systems they are at least 60% more efficient. CHP
will become one of the main contributors to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
in the future and may be linked to communal solar and wind generation systems
as the base load energy provider, in place of centrally generated electricity.
Once restricted to district supply size installations, recent developments
in Combined Heat and Power have created systems suitable for relatively small
developments such as individual blocks of flats, offices, hotels and the like.
Where Australia's sharks go to stay looking sharp
A pampering session at the beauty salon always works wonders for morale - not just for humans, but also for sharks and manta ray fish. Australian scientists have discovered that these large marine creatures regularly congregate at certain spots on the Great Barrier Reef to be groomed by smaller fish.
Dolphin cull film 'lies', says Japan
Pro-whaling officials have reacted angrily to news that a documentary about a gruesome annual dolphin cull in a remote Japanese fishing town has bagged an Academy Award.
Gardeners urged to stop using peat-based compost
The star of the BBC's Gardeners' World has been drafted in by the Government as they try to persuade the public to stop using peat compost.
Michael McCarthy: A literary spell of warm weather
Spring came last week and so did its first notable event, though not in a flowering, an emerging or a singing, but in a publication: Richard Mabey published his essays. It might still be freezing outside, but getting hold of A Brush With Nature in early March was like being given an unseasonable spell of warm weather in which everything in the natural world suddenly bursts into life.
Green car incentives may be a victim of their own success
Government efforts to encourage motorists to buy greener cars are proving so successful they are raising concerns that tax breaks for cleaner vehicles may have to be re-jigged.
Indian leather hub targeted in Ganges clean-up
On the banks of the Ganges in northern India, tanneries that have poured effluent into the holy river for decades are closing.
World's rarest camellia in full bloom
Middlemist's Red - thought to be only one of two in the world ? is blooming in the 19th-century conservatory at Chiswick HousePlant-lovers will have to take it on trust, as its magnificent Georgian home still has the builders in, but one of the rarest flowers in the world is in full bloom.The Middle
How to avoid your own 'climategate' scandal
Leaked emails between climate scientists at the University of East Anglia have caused a furore. Phil Jones on how not to get caught out by freedom of information requestsThe "climategate" scandal involving the University of East Anglia has sent shockwaves through universities, but many academics sti
Alien v predator: moth out to kill Japanese knotweed
Chosen insect feeds on invasive species but not other closely related plants and cropsBiological warfare is to be declared on an alien invader, Japanese knotweed, that swamps gardens and rivers, with the release of an insect to eat the virulent weed.The decision by the Department for Environment, Fo
Support for Rejection of Government Guidance on Wind Turbine Noise
Bradford wind turbine rejected even though it meets government guidelines.
