Family Resolution: Start Composting
Posted: 21 Dec 2009 09:00 AM PST
Organic materials such as food and yard waste make up 24 percent of the materials dumped into Ohio landfills. The problem with this is that a simple process can recycle these organic materials. Do something good for the environment and compost in 2010! Composting can be a learning experience that the whole family can enjoy.
Food scraps (banana peels, apple cores, vegetable scraps, etc.) and yard refuse (grass clippings, leaves, small twigs, etc.) can be easily collected and put into a designated bin. It is not any harder than putting these items into the garbage can. Over time these materials turn into compost, which can be applied to indoor or outdoor plants to improve soil and plant growth. Composting can definitely be turned into a family project. It’s an amazing transformation to witness, and if you start one now while your children are young, they might carry this habit into their adulthood.
To start a compost bin, it’s best if the materials are added in the following layers:
* Coarse materials
* Soil
* Nitrogen rich fertilizer
* Organic material
* Soil
* Nitrogen rich fertilizer
In order to have a successful compost bin, it’s also important to monitor the aeration, moisture, size of the material and temperature.
Aerating the composting bin is done by simply turning and mixing the pile at least two times a month. Providing oxygen to the bin allows the material to break down faster as well as prevent foul odors from developing.
Moisture is needed for microbial activity to break down the material, so if the bin is not subject to rainfall, it needs to be watered enough to be damp but not soggy.
To increase the composting process, it is best that the organic materials be small in size, because they will break down faster this way.
Finally, temperature is crucial for microbial activity to occur – the warmer the temperature inside of the bin, the faster decomposition occurs. The ideal temperature for a bin is between 110 degrees and 160 degrees Fahrenheit. In order to be consistent, take the bin’s temperature at the same place every time.
Remember, when composting, have fun, be creative and enjoy watching the transformation take place!
NRC: Plug-In Hybrids Not Cost-Effective Until 2030
Posted: 21 Dec 2009 05:30 AM PST
Chevy VoltHybrids are a vehicle that many environmentalists choose to drive in order to try and do their part for the environment. Plug-in hybrids are becoming more popular and include the upcoming version of the Toyota Prius and General Motors’ Chevrolet Volt. However, many question the cost-effectiveness and true fuel consumption decrease from an increased use of hybrids.
The National Research Council (NRC) in the United States recently released a report covering these factors of hybrid vehicle use. The council is an extension of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering and U.S. National Academy of Sciences. Unfortunately for drivers of hybrids, the report indicated a lack of cost effectiveness.
The reason that hybrids are in general less cost-effective than their regular vehicle counterparts are the batteries. The lithium-ion batteries are expensive and the more battery a vehicle has, the more it costs and the less cost-effective it is. However, hybrids that rely more heavily upon gasoline cost less and will therefore become cost-effective quicker.
For instance, the Chevrolet Volt can be driven forty miles before switching to gasoline. According to the report, this will cause the Volt not to be cost-effective until 2040 if gasoline does not go above $4 a gallon. The reason for the lack of cost-effectiveness is the increased battery power in the vehicle in order to attain the forty miles of driving time before switching to gasoline.
The upcoming Toyota Prius plug-in will be hitting the market come 2011. This vehicle will only travel approximately ten miles before using gasoline. This will make the Prius cost-effective around the year 2030.
The report also indicated an essential neutrality of gasoline consumption due to hybrids. If hybrids made up 40 million of 300 million vehicles, they indicated that there would be little change in fuel consumption by the year 2030.
However, some in the field of hybrids are arguing with the report, stating that the figures used to determine cost-effectiveness were incorrect. Manufacturers of the Volt have indicated that the cost of the battery the NRC used was more expensive than reality.
In addition, those in the field have indicated an ever-changing technology which will increase cost-effectiveness and improve fuel consumption. Internal combustion engines are expected to improve, in addition to the use of bio-fuels. Also, gasoline prices were assumed to stay at or below $4 a gallon which, if changed, would alter the NRC findings.
>>>The reason that hybrids are in general less cost-effective than their regular vehicle counterparts are the batteries.<<<
My ideal vehicle would be a Jeep with sealed electric motors in each wheel, a pull out tray engine compartment (for extra easy maintenance) with a direct connect diesel engine and high power generator feeding a bank of batteries - don’t even have to be ultra high capacity batteries. Then the engine needs to auto-start whenever the batteries get down to a certain level. Then it must be set up with a large full wave inverter so you can have emergency power wherever you have the vehicle.
That way you would have an independently driven 4 wheel drive as well as a base to plug in a wide variety of electric tools AND be able to power your home in an emergency, without having to do the many trip servicing of a generator. Let that unit more fully earn its keep.
When I was at Southern Airways, we had a batch of 45 passenger busses/ambulance convertible that each had an alternator large enough to run a whole field hospital with ease. While we never had to run a field hospital from them, we did use that power for a number of things. Very handy.
They had an eJeep on the drawing boards for 2012, but as they are now part of Gommint motors now, we will probably never see it come to fruition.
I know it works well - LeTourneau Westinghouse used to make huge scraper pans powered that way. On that one, you held on to a grab bar in the cab and would steer by pushing buttons on the dash. Huge geared down motors in each wheel driving 8’ tall tires - you can’t imagine the power that thing had. R.G. LeTourneau was quite an innovator - Never will forget touring one of his plants in East Texas where they spun aluminum for nose cones on missiles - Plant was complete with several Chapels and R.G. was known to get on the company PA system regularly and lead all his employees in prayer. He even founded a very highly regarded engineering university there.