I suppose of you’re a mosquitologist, or whatever an expert on these flying pains in the you know what are called they may hold some fascination for you. But for just about everyone else, the consensus opinion is probably that the world would not miss these guys if they found another planet, in another solar system, in another galaxy, in another universe, to live on.

Mosquitoes can ruin an otherwise perfect day. The cookout where everyone is enjoying the food, drink, company and weather, can become a bad memory if mosquitoes appear in numbers. And a relaxing, fun-filled camping or fishing trip, can turn miserable when these flying micro-vampires start to swarm.

But mosquitoes are more than just major league nuisances. They can be downright dangerous to have around because of the many diseases they carry. Some of the nastiest infections a bug can deliver are borne by mosquitoes. Dengue, West Nile virus, various forms of encephalitis, malaria, and a host of others are all delivered to the human population courtesy of the mosquito. They also threaten our pets as the carriers of heartworm disease. So, as was stated previously, they have little or no redemptive value.

These guys are found worldwide. They are a problem wherever they’re found, but they can be controlled. In order to do so it helps to know something about them.

Mosquito females are the troublesome ones for people, and other mammals. The adult females are the ones who bite. The males and the immature mosquitoes do not. Males are important only as mates. The females need to feed on blood in order to produce eggs that are viable. They lay their eggs in any standing water that they can find. That’s why they′re so much worse when there is a lot of rain in a given year.

Mosquitoes can be controlled in a number of ways. One of the most important is to make sure there is no standing water on your property. This won’t eliminate them entirely as they can fly from somewhere else, but it can help to reduce the ones produced in your immediate area.

After thorough elimination of all standing water, you must deal with those water sources that can’t be eliminated. These include pools, birdbaths, fish pods and the like. For these you can use mosquito dunks, which are little floating, doughnut shaped biological control products that kill mosquito larvae. They will kill all of the larvae in water but are completely safe for humans, pets, fish and other forms of life. Killing these pests in the larval stage is more effective, efficient and a lot easier than killing the adults. If need be, they can be broken into pieces and used in smaller containers of water.

To kill mosquitoes outdoor you can use a fogger. When populations are really large or when in preparation for outdoors activities, a fogger will not only kill mosquitoes, but other outdoors pests as well. Be sure when using them to follow all package directions and warnings.

For personal mosquito protection, a good repellent is a must. Many containing the active ingredient DEET have proven to be effective. Be sure to read and follow all label directions for any product you use. In general, repellents are applied to the exposed parts of the body and clothes. These products will not kill mosquitoes but will keep them from lighting on you and biting.

Finally, one of the best warm weather protections against mosquitoes is a well-made screen porch. One without any holes in the screen. You can enjoy the nice weather and keep frustrated mosquitoes on the outside, dreaming about the meal that they can’t have.

Tags: residential, power, energy, solar, lighting

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However, if you already live in a poorly insulated building, don’t despair! There are some simply ways of improving energy efficiency and they don’t imply huge expenses. Start by replacing your windows with low-emission glass windows (or just change the glass). Low-E is a new technology based on a special metallic coating that is transparent to the solar spectrum and reflective of IR radiation that lowers the amount of energy loss.

If your walls aren’t insulated, depending on their construction, there are three insulation types you should consider to reduce energy loss: cavity, internal and external. Insulation will reduce heat loss and certainly the energy bills. And don’t forget installing draught excluders on your doors and windows.

Solar systems - like solar hot water panels - could provide more than 50% of your annual hot water needs. There are more and more homeowners installing solar panels on their houses. Such systems not only produce warm water practically for free, but also increase considerably the value of a building. Some homeowners even use rainwater systems to reduce water costs and help protect the environment. The rainwater is collected in special containers and can be used as drinking water after it is filtered and purified. Such rain harvesting systems are not always low-priced, but the savings they provide make the price worthwhile; in time you’ll cover the cost of your purchase.

If you have a boiler older than 10-15 years, you should replace it and purchase a high efficiency condensing boiler. This might save you about 1/3 on your heating bills because they convert more than 88% of the fuel into heat, while conventional boilers convert about 70-75%. If you cannot afford a new boiler you might consider insulating your hot water tank and the water pipes to reduce heat loss.

Lighting should also be energy efficient. Traditional light bulbs need a lot of electricity. Fluorescent light bulbs are better because they save energy (needing only 25% of the amount of electricity needed by a traditional light bulb), have longer life spans (up to 10 times longer) and generate less heat. Sure, they are more expensive than a traditional light bulb but the longer lifetime and energy savings compensate for this. Overall, these simple energy saving tips, plus purchasing energy efficient home appliances, will reduce energy costs for the cold season and will make your building more comfortable, while increasing its value.

Tags: lights, indoor, home, power, solar

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Get yourself a solar post cap that will fit a 4×4 cedar post. Take an 8ft long 4×4 cedar post and cut it into 2 ft lengths. Next, get a 3 1/2 inch floor flange from the plumbing section in your local hardware store. In that same section, find a threaded pipe about 10 to 12 inches tall that will screw into your floor flange. These 2 pieces are going to be the “spike” that holds up your path light.

Next, take 4 wood screws and attach the flange to the bottom of one of the 2 ft sections of 4×4.

Next, screw in the 12″ pipe for your spike. Then just hammer or push the post into the ground wherever you want to put the path light.

And finally, add your solar post cap. You can stain and seal the wood for a really elegant and lasting look, or you can paint it to any color you need.

Now don’t you feel crafty? You get to buy cool things at the hardware store. You get to use rugged power tools. And you get to impress your friends and neighbors with your craftsmanship. And you get a really unique looking path light with NO WIRING!

So, here’s what’s inside a basic solar light:

Light source, such as LED lamp, that lasts approximately 10,000 hours

Rechargeable NiCad batteries that provide about 8 hours of light

Photocell, or built-in solar panel, that charges the batteries during daylight hours

Light sensor that detects when to turn the lamp on and off

Most hardware stores carry a decent selection of solar lights, but you can also spend hours online searching through the many selections available.

Tags: lights, lighting, indoor, solar, residential

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After WWI, President Woodrow Wilson said, “the highest and best form of efficiency is the spontaneous cooperation of a free people.” Where is the evidence of spontaneous cooperation in our world today? Historically, it seems that the cause of war — Pearl Harbor, Iraq’s invasion of Kuwait and September 11th — will catalyze a society and nations to cooperate. Must we have our backs to the wall, or is it possible for a compelling vision to create spontaneous cooperation? The Critical Question

In 1969, Dr. R Buckminster Fuller (most well known for geodesic domes and Buckyballs) developed a World Game simulation to explore global resources and trends. It posed the critical question, “how do we make the world work for 100% of humanity in the shortest possible time through spontaneous cooperation without ecological damage or disadvantage of anyone?” In other words, how do we provide a decent living standard for everyone in an environmentally sustainable way? The part about “through spontaneous cooperation″ always remained a puzzle to me. How does positive change happen spontaneously on a global scale?

The premier strategy of Fuller’s global simulation was the interconnection of electric power grids between regions and nations with an emphasis on tapping abundant renewable energy resources around the world. Electricity provides the foundation of our modern society, and power grids act as freeways that deliver the electricity to power our homes, businesses and industry. During the 20th Century, transmission lines delivered electricity from large, centralized plants that burned fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Today, developers of wind, solar and geothermal resources in remote locations are plugging into these expanding grid systems — decentralizing power production while increasing grid integration.

But spontaneous cooperation? Hardly. Any project developer will tell you all the hurdles they face due to regulations, interconnection and siting issues. In the energy industry, the time lag between project proposal to actual commissioning can be 10 - 20 years.

Yet quietly — below the radar of most observers — Fuller’s vision of using power lines to link nations across borders has recently been energized at a pace never seen before. Nations are linking up

In the past few months, Russia and China agreed to large-scale power grid interconnections that will benefit both economies. Additionally, the Chinese have signed deals with Tajikistan and Vietnam to build transmission lines across their respective borders. The South Koreans have offered to extend their grid into North Korea and modernize the North Korean network as a part of the negotiations to scrap the North’s nuclear program.

In Central Asia, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Afghanistan and Pakistan have proposed a transmission line among their states. Calling it a “win-win situation”, the Krgryz Energy Minister Liaquat Ali Jatoi stated “we want to bring benefits to the common man because if there is economic activity and prosperity, it will be shared by the people of these countries.” Moreover, all 10 nations of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) have pledged to interconnect the grids of its members.

In Africa, NEPAD (New African Partnership for Development) and the African Development Bank are supporting the Kenya - Ethiopia agreement to supply power to each other. Modeled after the 12 nation South African Power Pool, 14 ECOWAS (Economic Community of West African States) nations are planning to link their energy grids.

The Middle East has seen an wave of integration. Lebanon will be linked to the regional electricity grid that includes Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Turkey as of the beginning of next year. This interconnection project also involves the joining of Libya and Iraq. Last month, former enemies Iran and Iraq agreed to build four cross-border power lines to transfer 1000 MW of power.

Mexico′s Mesoamerica Initiative plans to integrate the energy grids all Central American nations. The World Bank and the US DOE are partnering with the Central American Integration Secretariat to encourage clean energy development, emphasizing renewables over fossil fuel projects.

Most of these projects have been planned by engineers for years. The economic benefits — load leveling, reliability of supply, emergency backup — are all proven. Yet international transmission requires agreement between ministries of energy and state, financial institutions, local utilities and property owners. Cooperation must overcome the combined barriers of multiple stakeholders. Emergence through emergency

So what’s happened in the world to cause these nations to work together? Buckminster Fuller said that society will often “emerge through emergency” — because when times are good, any change at all is difficult. For many developing nations the challenge is dire: 1.6 billion people have no electrical services - no refrigeration of food or medicine, clean water or lighting. For the rest of us, scientific consensus on climate change clearly places the cause on our ‘addiction to oil′ for transportation, and burning coal and natural gas for power production.

Today, half the nations on the planet are linked with a neighbor, but half remain electric energy islands. The emergencies of our time: poverty, climate change, peace and population growth are in our face daily. These issues and their solutions transcend political boundaries. National leaders are seeing the benefits of mutual interdependence over trying to go it alone.

Woodrow Wilson spoke of spontaneous cooperation in a post WWI context. Now we’re seeing spontaneous cooperation spread around the world — shaping international relationships from the old “us vs. them” paradigm to a one based on mutual benefit. In power transmission between nations, sharing means having more. That’s synergy — and what’s needed on every continent.

About the Author

Peter Meisen is President of the Global Energy Network Institute (GENI). To find out more about Peter and the GENI Project got to http://www.geni.org/

Tags: residential, solar, energy, outdoor, home

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Want a great project that will make you feel quite handy? You can make your own path lights using solar post caps!

Get yourself a solar post cap that will fit a 4Ҵ cedar post. Take an 8ft long 4Ҵ cedar post and cut it into 2 ft lengths. Next, get a 3 1/2 inch floor flange from the plumbing section in your local hardware store. In that same section, find a threaded pipe about 10 to 12 inches tall that will screw into your floor flange. These 2 pieces are going to be the “spike” that holds up your path light.

Next, take 4 wood screws and attach the flange to the bottom of one of the 2 ft sections of 4Ҵ.

Next, screw in the 12″ pipe for your spike. Then just hammer or push the post into the ground wherever you want to put the path light.

And finally, add your solar post cap. You can stain and seal the wood for a really elegant and lasting look, or you can paint it to any color you need.

Now don’t you feel crafty? You get to buy cool things at the hardware store. You get to use rugged power tools. And you get to impress your friends and neighbors with your craftsmanship. And you get a really unique looking path light with NO WIRING!

So, here’s what’s inside a basic solar light:

Light source, such as LED lamp, that lasts approximately 10,000 hours

Rechargeable NiCad batteries that provide about 8 hours of light

Photocell, or built-in solar panel, that charges the batteries during daylight hours

Light sensor that detects when to turn the lamp on and off

Most hardware stores carry a decent selection of solar lights, but you can also spend hours online searching through the many selections available.

About the Author

Steve Hodes Jr is the owner of Moonlight Decks LLC. Moonlight Decks specializes in deck lighting with its patented Hammered Post Cap.
I have both solar and low voltage versions of my post caps.
You can find my caps on my website - www.MoonlightDecks.com Or you can reach me at info@MoonlightDecks.com

Tags: energy, indoor, lighting, home, outdoor

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Why Should You Choose LED Lights for Camping?
LED lights have numerous advantages over nearly every other type of camping lantern manufactured. In a nutshell, LED lights are:
Durable
LED lights are designed for harsh environments. In experiments using LED flashlights (torches) for instance, every single one of the LED models tested survived a drop from four feet ? about the average drop if you knock it off the edge of a table ? without even going dim. They withstand temperatures from -40 to 82 degrees Celsius (that?s 175 degrees Fahrenheit, for those keeping track). Bump them around, toss them in the trunk, knock them off the table, drop them down the canyon ? they?ll still work. Try that with a typical torch or halogen lantern.

Long-lasting
If you?ve been on the wrong end of a flashlight with dying batteries, you?ll really appreciate the fact that LED lights can run for up to 60 hours continuously on one set of batteries. Even better, many models are solar powered ? they?ll run all night on a charge from a few hours worth of sunlight. And a the newest white LED bulbs have a standard life of about 500 hours ? which means that you?ll still get 90% of the original light output after 500 hours. Unlike traditional bulbs, they don?t just burn out ? they just gradually get a little dimmer, but continue working.

Safer
LED lights burn ?cool?, making them safe for use in a tent or other enclosed space. Unlike fuel lanterns, they don?t present a safety hazard, and don?t depend on your carrying flammable fuel along with you.

Brighter
The traditional argument against LED lights was that they were too dim for everyday or even emergency use. That?s no longer true. The newest white LED lights are 60 times brighter than standard LED lights, and many lamps are capable of producing near daylight intensity and spectrum light.

Variety
LED lights can be used in a wide variety of types of lights and lanterns. From a tiny emergency light small enough to be carried on your keychain to full-size lanterns that can illuminate your entire campsite, you?ll find LED lights that fit any need. Among the best picks for LED lights to take with you on a camping trip are:
LED lantern for night time lighting. Choose one that can sit on a table OR hang from a branch or wire for maximum flexibility. Most are dimmable to serve as a nightlight.
LED flashlight, either solar or battery operated to light your way when you?re out in the woods looking for the outhouse.
LED emergency flashers or flares are an excellent idea for safety. LED lights can offer maximum brightness at weights under a pound.

-2006 Ben Anton

Ben Anton writes for DLK. Ben invites you to read more about led quality flashlights and quality camping gear at DLK Led Lights and Knives.

Tags: home, power, indoor, lighting, residential

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A fountain is a man-made installation, in which water issues from a source before falling or cascading into a basin, bowl or receptacle of some kind. The water is then drained, re-circulated or otherwise removed from the bowl; for example by being used to fill water containers.

Water fountains were originally conceived as a means of distributing drinking water to the populations of towns and cities. Fountains formed the delivery points of natural streams and aqueducts, and historically were always gravity-fed from a higher reservoir or storage area, or by using the pressure of an underground stream.

This technique was invented and mastered by the ancient Romans, whose water distribution infrastructure was extremely advanced, and enabled them to use their network of aqueducts to distribute water to a network of public fountains that served Rome and many other towns and cities.

Fountain Technology

Fountain designers in past times were often aided by technical specialists who understood the science of hydraulics and were known as artisans. Hydraulics is the science governing the behavior of fluids and gases, and artisans understood how water behaved under pressure and would design and install the necessary pipe work and drainage for fountains, ensuring that the designer (often a sculptor or an architect) was able to realize their design successfully.

Today, gravity-fed fountains are much less common, and most fountains are supplied with pressurized water by pumping systems that take their supply from water mains or from nearby lakes or rivers. Fountains are normally for decorative purposes only, and the water in them is often re-circulated for efficiency.

The availability of modern technology has not lessened the need for fountain designers to have a sound grasp of hydraulics, though, and it is still important for a fountain designer to be able to calculate the volume and pressure of water that will be required to realize their design. Factors such as the height to which the water will rise, the radius of the bowl it is to fill and the climate of the area in which it is to be installed all play a role in a fountain’s design, and must be understood by the designer.

Fountain Designs

Traditionally, fountain designs were based around a raised source, from which water issued, and a basin or bowl into which the water cascaded. For many centuries, this fundamental structure remained unaltered, governed as it was by the practical requirement for fountains to deliver water to people. This practical need did not prevent fountain designers from producing imaginative and artistic designs, and fountains have historically been gathering points for people, especially in warmer countries, where they are traditionally located in the centers of squares.

Since the advent of domestic plumbing, the need for fountains to provide a vital public service has gradually been eliminated, and today, fountains usually serve solely to provide a visual and aural focus in public spaces.

Many people find the sound and sight of falling water to be relaxing and even therapeutic, and in very hot climates the light spray given off by a large fountain provides a welcome coolness on hot days. See a collection of water fountains at http://www.garden-fountains.com.

The lack of any practical restraints has meant that fountain designers have been able to experiment with many different shapes and forms of fountains. Fountains that are built into a paved surface, that rise from the centre of a lake or fountains that follow the line of a terraced gradient - all of these and many more exist in towns and cities all over the world.

Modern designs often rely on the flowing water itself to give shape to the fountain, resulting in a spectacular sight when the fountain is working, but a somewhat barren and mechanical view when it is switched off! This is a stark contrast to more traditional designs, whose sculpted and imaginative lines can be appreciated with or without flowing water.

Private and Domestic Fountains

Most of the discussion so far has been on fountains in public places, but domestic fountains have been commonplace ever since Roman times. Wealthier Romans would own large villas, built on a quadrangular design. Those that had sufficient wealth and influence would be allowed to have a direct feed to their property from the nearest aqueduct. The result of this was that many of these villas had their own fountains, often imaginatively and stylishly designed to be the central focus of their garden areas. To purchase a complete fountain, visit http://www.garden-fountains.com.

This trend continues today, but fountains are far more affordable and accessible than they were then. It is possible to relatively cheaply and simply install a fountain in a typical garden or yard, and increasing numbers of solar-powered designs are available that eliminate the need for a mains electricity supply to operate the fountain.

All sorts of designs are available, from traditional circular bowl-based designs through to modern designs with lighting and smaller, self-contained designs that can be installed indoors. You can even get miniature fountains that will fit on a desk or tabletop!

Final Thoughts

Water fountains highlight the fundamental affinity and dependency that human beings have with water - not only do our lives depend on supplies of fresh water, but many people find their souls are soothed by the sight and sound of running water, and it offers a welcome antidote to the stresses and strains of modern life.

About the Author:

To find more information on the basics of water fountains, visit “basics of water fountains” at garden-fountains.com

Tags: residential, solar, lights, energy, indoor

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You want everything to be perfect for your family at Christmas. Once you’ve gotten the presents, the tree, the decorations, the ingredients for a wonderful dinner, you’ve also got quite a bill! So how can you save money at Christmas? Use Energy Efficient Light Bulbs and Solar Christmas Lights for your holiday decorations. While you’re at it, use Energy Efficient Bulbs all over the house! When you save electricity, you save money.

You can make your home festive for the holidays without using a ton of electricity for the lights by using Energy Efficient Bulbs. Compact Fluorescent Lamps or CFL’s that fit into regular light sockets and Light Emitting Diodes or LED’s are the two most common. In addition to using much less energy than regular bulbs, they also last much longer. Yes, they do cost more but quickly pay for themselves. CFL’s are quite affordable and easy to find online and in home improvement or hardware stores. LED’s are still pricey and not as easy to find in stores, though you can order them online. Many products that use small bulbs, like Christmas lights, are actually sold with LED’s in them.

For outdoor Christmas lighting you also have the option to go Solar. Even if you live in a very chilly climate, if you′ve got sun, you have access to some free energy. Solar Energy is clean, non-polluting and easy. In addition to Christmas lighting, it’s very popular for accent and garden lighting and pool lighting so when you′re online or out holiday shopping, have a look at the many Solar Lighting options available and you just might find the right one for you.

For more on Solar Christmas lights and other energy and money saving ideas, visit www.MakeYourHomeEnergyEfficient.com

About the Author

www.MakeYourHomeEnergyEfficient.com is a free website for home owners and renters and highlights many energy saving ideas to help save money.

Tags: residential, lights, solar, lighting, home

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Look After Your Planet!

It seems that nearly every day we hear something about Global Warming. Australia’s drought is now the worst in our history. Intense storm cells lashing parts of South East Queensland, frequent Category 4 and 5 tropical storms worldwide, fierce bushfires, melting glaziers, flooding, the list goes on. With the ever increasing threat of global warming, we need to know how we can look after the planet as it is the only one we have. If we don’t make changes now, what hope will our young children have for their future on this planet?

Electricity causes 35 per cent of Australia’s greenhouse pollution which makes it the biggest single source of Australia’s greenhouse pollution.

Here are a few tips on what we can do to help cool our planet.

• Switch off the TV, VCR, microwave and stereo at the power point instead of leaving them in stand-by power mode.

• Purchase appliances with the highest Energy Star rating.

• Run air-conditioning units only when needed and adjust the temperature control to 25 degrees.

• Defrost the freezer regularly and set the temperature to -18?C. • Only use your dishwasher when it is full.

• Consider solar lighting for your porch and garden. Decorative solar garden lights are now available in inexpensive kits.

• Dry washing on a clothesline. Your clothes will smell fresh, look better and wear longer.

• Replace light bulbs with compact fluorescents. They provide just as much light and they use 75 per cent less power.

• Install movement sensors in outdoor areas, they provide security while saving money and energy.

• Turn off your hot water system when you go on holidays.

• Switch off the light when you leave the room.

Greenpeace believes the problem that we face is that the burning of fossil fuels (coal, oil and gas) for energy, which is changing the climate. The fossil fuel industry is resisting change, funneling millions of dollars into advertising and campaigns to oppose global warming solutions.

What’s worse, our governments are listening to them!

Climate change is caused by human activity; it is the warming of our planet. It’s the worst environmental and economic problem we face today. Most scientists and governments around the world now agree that climate change will damage or destroy many natural ecosystems and human communities.

Our atmosphere is made up of a balanced blanket of gases. The gas blanket traps in the earth’s heat and sustains life on earth. This is known as the greenhouse effect. Industrial activities create more greenhouse gases, disrupting the natural balance and increasing greenhouse warming.

It’s like we’re putting a thicker blanket over the planet, causing it to overheat.

Our greenhouse gas pollution comes from burning coal and gas to make energy. Deforestation also releases large amounts of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. After that, changes in our climate may become rapid, unpredictable and irreversible.

Coal provides nearly 90 per cent of Australia’s electricity and is also destroying the environment. Coal use also causes significant health problems. Studies around the world show worrying incidences of asthma, lung diseases and cancers. We must stop our use of coal powered electricity! Clean, renewable energy is the solution to climate change and to a better planet.

Just as we rely on coal in Australia, we feed other countries in our region. We export about three times as much coal as we currently use. The Newcastle port has more coal leaving from there every day than our entire country uses.

The world relies on crude oil and it’s running out! The world’s transportation and commercial industries rely heavily on oil. Unfortunately, in recent years, we’ve been consuming much more oil than we’ve been discovering. Some scientists are suggesting that the Earth may have reached its peak oil.

“Peak oil” is the point at which we consume more petroleum per year than we produce, and when peak oil happens worldwide, it will no longer be worth the time or money it takes to find new oil reserves. Some people believe there will be a war as the result of a battle to gain control over the world’s last oil reserves. Saudi Arabia possesses both the world’s largest oil reserves and produces the largest amount of the world’s oil. The Middle East has about 50 per cent of the known remaining world oil reserves.

The truth is, peak oil could affect you more than you realize. The average Australian consumes six and a half litres of oil every day, three quarters of that is being used for transportation. Australia passed peak oil as a nation in 2000, and now imports 30% of all its oil. By 2010, it’s estimated that that figure will be closer to 50%.

It’s hard to say exactly what will happen once peak oil hits across the globe. Some scientists say that it will be the end of civilization as we know it, while others claim there will really be no difference at all due to recent advances in energy technology. No one can say exactly when the world’s peak oil will occur, estimates say sometime around 2015. The United States Energy Information Administration believes the world supply of oil shale to be 2.6 trillion barrels of usable oil—that’s approximately 66 years worth of fuel at current consumption rates.

The problem is, by relying on oil shale and other such sources of petroleum, we’re merely delaying the problem. If we don’t investigate other types of energy, we’ll have the same problem we do now in half a century. Although we can stretch our supply for a while longer, we will eventually run out of oil.

There are currently efforts underway to reduce or eliminate oil consumption. Auto companies are developing hybrid cars that run partly off rechargeable batteries, and a new fuel called “biodiesel” Individual actions make a difference, too. Try cutting down on petrol consumption by using public transportation or carpooling with friends and coworkers. When possible, ride a bike or walk to your destination—you’ll be keeping the planet and the economy healthy and also yourself too!

Nuclear Australia

Australia is the owner of the world’s largest uranium reserves. Most of the energy in Australia is supplied by burning coal or petrol. Currently, 78 per cent of Australia’s water is boiled by coal. Coal, is a fossil fuel and creates greenhouse emissions. Nuclear energy is a way to boil water without producing greenhouse emissions. All of the uranium mined in Australia is exported. Every country that buys uranium from Australia must sign an agreement that the uranium will be used only for peaceful purposes (like generating energy).

Why aren’t we using our own uranium?

A great debate has recently opened up in Parliament on Australia’s nuclear policy. John Howard has suggested an inquiry into Australia’s energy uses, including the proposal of going nuclear. Those who are for a nuclear Australia argue that the introduction of nuclear energy is cleaner. It could possibly reduce greenhouse gas emissions and help the environment. Nuclear energy could also provide a cheaper solution to rising petrol prices and could create jobs for thousands of people.

Scientists say that only five per cent of emissions would be cut by 2050, which is well below the target number that has been set to reduce climate change. The opposition doesn’t forget the nuclear disaster of the Chernobyl power plant meltdown in 1986. They argue that such a disaster could happen again. Others worry that if Australia goes nuclear, our uranium supply could run out in less than 60 years.

Personally I am against the idea of Nuclear Power in Australia. It has some benefits but the overall risk of a nuclear disaster and the possibility of it falling into the wrong hands to make nuclear weapons are too much of a risk. There must be a better and safer solution.

The Chernobyl Nuclear Disaster on April 25th -26th 1986 is the world’s worst nuclear power accident. It occurred at Chernobyl in the former USSR now know as Ukraine. The Chernobyl nuclear power plant was located 80 miles north of Kiev. It had 4 reactors and whilst testing reactor number 4 numerous safety procedures were disregarded. At 1:23am a chain reaction in the reactor became out of control creating explosions and a fireball which blew off the reactor’s heavy steel and concrete lid.

The Chernobyl accident killed more than 30 people immediately, and as a result of the high radiation levels in the surrounding 20-mile radius, 135,000 people had to be evacuated.

Health Effects from the Chernobyl Disaster-

The five years (1981-1986) before the accident, the average thyroid cancer rate in young children aged between birth and 15 years old was 4-6 incidents per million. The incidents rose from 4-6 per million to 45 incidents per million between 1986 and 1997.

There have also been reports of increases of specific cancers in certain populations living in contaminated areas and among those who helped with the cleanup of the accident.

30 lives were lost during the accident or within a few months after it. Figures from the Ukraine Radiological Institute suggest that over 2,500 deaths were caused by the Chernobyl disaster.

Psychological Consequences-

There have been significant increases in psychological health disorders and incidence such as:

• Anxiety

• Depression

• Helplessness and despair leading to, social withdrawal and loss of hope for the future.

• Other disorders attributable to mental stress

The stress and trauma of the people involved during the evacuation and their concerns about their children’s health came from the result of the lack of public information available after the accident. There is much understandable skepticism over official statements as people were not told the truth until several years after the accident. Following the accident 116,000 people had to be evacuated and between 1990 and 1995 an additional 210,000 people were resettled. A new town was named for the personnel of the Chernobyl power plant. Villages had to be decontaminated and major work had to be carried out on infrastructure of water and gas. The closure of Reactor 4 and the “freeze” on construction of new reactors reduced the availability of electricity supplies.

Demographic indications in ‘contaminated’ areas suggest that these areas are experiencing a decline in birth rate. The work force has moved to uncontaminated areas resulting in a shortage of labour and professional staff.

The affected areas suffered major disruption to normal life and economic activity in agriculture and forestry production. After the Chernobyl accident radioactive material was widely dispersed and was measured over a vast area. The effects have been felt over the whole of the northern hemisphere.

In some local ecosystems within a 10 km radius of the reactor lethal doses were reached particularly with trees and small mammals. However in 1989 the natural environment of these ecosystems began to recover but there is still the possibility of long term genetic effects.

With today’s ongoing risk of terrorist attacks worldwide and the growing threat of an attack in Australia, it seems going nuclear could be a disaster waiting to happen. Nuclear power does have its advantages but in an unstable world as we live in today I’m not sure it is a good idea. However we need to do something now to help fight the growing concerns of global warming and climate change. Our children deserve the rights for us to find a solution so they can live in stable and safe environment in the future.

About the Author

Australian Freelance Journalist jamiestone4870@hotmail.com

Tags: indoor, lights, outdoor, residential, lighting

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There is nothing more frustrating and time consuming than trying to find somebody’s home with improper house number markings. After years and years of frustration trying to pinpoint a home to an address, I can only imagine what our emergency professionals go through when a life’s at stake.

If your one of those people who have your house address numbers buried under an overgrown shrub or have an incomplete address through missing numbers or worse yet, don’t even have your house numbers installed on your home, you are playing with fire.

Especially if an emergency arises and the emergency response team wastes valuable life saving time trying to locate a home with a poorly marked address.

I have been to homes where it’s almost impossible to see the micro sized house numbers located at the top left corner of the garage during the day. One can only imagine trying to locate a residence once darkness has set in, I can only compare it to finding a needle in a haystack.

With security being on everybody’s mind these days, we must take a look at the total package. The heart of the package is the emergency response time. We must assist the 911 operator by answering his or her questions as calmly as we can.

After all the information has been gathered by the 911 operator, it’s now up to our house numbers to guide the emergency services to our home as quickly as possible.

Solar powered house numbers are an excellent choice because they’re not only highly visible during the day but they also light up at night. These units automatically recharge completely during the day in about one hour. The only requirement is they must have an unobstructed view of the sky, they do not require direct exposure to the sun.

Once they have been charged, they will hold 1000 hours of reserve operational power which means they could operate for 3 months before they would need recharging. Most types of solar powered house numbers can be seen from over 100 feet away.

Because there is no wiring involved, these waterproof units are easy to install with simple screws and wall plugs. Imagine as soon as it gets dark the LED turns on automatically, lighting up your house numbers.

The next time you visit your local home improvement center, don’t overlook the importance of solar powered house numbers, they might just save your life!

Tags: indoor, residential, solar, energy, power

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