Author Archives: Salman Zafar

About Salman Zafar

Salman Zafar is the CEO of BioEnergy Consult, and an international consultant, advisor and trainer with expertise in waste management, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, environment protection and resource conservation. His geographical areas of focus include Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Salman has successfully accomplished a wide range of projects in the areas of biogas technology, biomass energy, waste-to-energy, recycling and waste management. Salman has participated in numerous national and international conferences all over the world. He is a prolific environmental journalist, and has authored more than 300 articles in reputed journals, magazines and websites. In addition, he is proactively engaged in creating mass awareness on renewable energy, waste management and environmental sustainability through his blogs and portals. Salman can be reached at salman@bioenergyconsult.com or salman@cleantechloops.com.

Could Biomass Be The Answer To South Africa’s Energy Problem

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South Africa is experiencing a mammoth energy crisis with its debt-laden national power utility, Eskom, being unable to meet the electricity needs of the nation. After extensive periods of load shedding in 2018 and again earlier this year, it is becoming increasingly important to find an alternative source of energy. According to Marko Nokkala, senior sales manager at VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland, South Africa is in the perfect position to utilize biomass as an alternative source of energy.

Things to Consider

Should South Africa choose to delve deeper into biomass energy production, there are a few things that need to be considered. At present, a lot of biomass (such as fruit and vegetables) is utilized as food. It will, therefore, be necessary to identify alternative biomass sources that are not typically used as food, so that a food shortage is never created in the process.

biomass-sustainability

One alternative would be to use municipal solid waste from landfills and dumpsites as well as the wood waste from the very large and lucrative forestry industry in the country. It is also essential to keep in mind that an enormous amount of biomass will be needed to replace even a portion of the 90 million tons of coal that Eskom utilizes every year at its various power stations.

Potential Biomass Conversion Routes

There are a number of processing technologies that South Africans can utilize to turn their biomass into a sustainable energy source. Biochemical conversion involving technology such as anaerobic digestion and fermentation makes use of enzymes, microorganisms, and bacteria to breakdown the biomass into a variety of liquid or vaporous fuels.

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Fermentation is especially suitable when the biomass waste boasts a high sugar or water content, as is the case with a variety of agricultural wastes. By placing some focus on microbial fermentation process development, a system can effectively be created that will allow for large-scale biofuel production. Other technologies to consider include thermal methods like co-firing, pyrolysis, and gasification.

Future of biomass energy in South Africa

Despite the various obstacles that may slow down the introduction of large-scale biomass energy production in the country, it still promises to be a viable solution to the pressing energy concern. Biomass energy production does not require any of the major infrastructures that Eskom is currently relying on.

Although the initial setup will require a substantial amount of electricity, running a biomass conversion plant will cost significantly less than a coal-powered power plant in the long run. With the unemployment rate hovering around 27.1% in South Africa at present, any jobs created through the implementation of biomass energy conversion will be of great benefit to the nation.

Conclusion

Without speedy intervention, South Africa may very soon be left in the dark. Although there are already a number of wind farms in operation in the country, the addition of biomass conversion facilities will undoubtedly be of great benefit to Africa’s southernmost country.

A Handy Guide to Ecotherapy

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Ecotherapy is an emerging therapeutic treatment method aimed toward treating both physical health and psychological issues by detoxifying the body. The essential idea behind ecotherapy is that the human being is connected to the natural environment and is impacted by the changes happening in the external environment on account of environmental toxins. Detoxification of the body through outdoor activities is the fundamental basis of environmental therapy.

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Why Do We Need Ecotherapy?

In the past few decades, environmental degradation has not only destroyed natural ecosystems but has also led to significant increase in diseases related to environmental toxins, allergens and microorganisms. The outcome of this environmental crisis has been widespread prevalence of different types of cancers, chronic allergies, asthma, anxiety, depression and other ailments.

Ecotherapy, also known as environmental therapy, endeavours to unravel environment-related health issues by strengthening the linkage between the Nature and human being. The self-balancing mechanism of Nature can help in improving both physical and mental health by creating harmony between the natural elements and mankind.

Studies have shown that Nature can provide the healing touch and enhance physical health, psychological state and life satisfaction. For instance, the presence of houseplants in the workplace can positively affect creativity and productivity among employees.

The Different Types of Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy consists of an array of nature-based healing approaches which can be carried out individually or in groups under the guidance of trained therapists. Therapist notes, usually taken during a session, can provide a good understanding about the nature of ecotherapy services required for a particular health problem.

To obtain the best results, ecotherapy is usually conducted in natural settings to get the simplest results. The popular types of ecotherapy techniques include nature meditation, horticultural therapy, animal-assisted therapy and conservation-related activities.

ecotherapy

Nature replenishes our souls and has the power to boost our spirits. Meditating in nature activates our senses which assists in mindfulness training and propels the meditator to contemplate how a specific aspect of nature relates him to and what he can learn from it. Nature-based mediation is usually done in groups in a natural setting, like a park or forest. For instance, an old person can regain self-respect after realizing how old trees provide shelter for birds and shade for younger plants and passers-by.

The therapeutic benefits of gardening have been known for centuries. Horticulture-based therapy involves involvement in gardening and plant-based activities to realize specific therapeutic goals. Soil digging, planting trees, maintaining garden beds, trimming leaves and mowing grass are some of the common horticultural activities. Social isolation, depression, post-traumatic stress and drug abuse are the main mental disorders where horticultural therapy can act as a therapeutic modality. The major benefits of horticultural therapy include improvement in memory, cognitive abilities, task initiation and socialization.

ecofriendly-gardening

Animal-assisted therapy is the use of animals in the mental healing process. Grounded in the human-animal bond, the main goal of this therapy is to assist people deal with physical and mental ailments through pets. Traditionally, dogs have been used as therapy animals but cats are being used more and more, usually dogs and cats. For example, a therapy cat can be a loyal companion for a senior who is feeling lonely in an old age home. Similarly, pet therapy may help a kid who has recently his mother to overcome emotional trauma.

Physical activities, like walking, jogging, cycling or doing yoga, can rejuvenate the human-nature bond and can reduce stress, anxiety and anger. Likewise, conservation-based activities can inculcate a sense of belonging and connectedness with the natural elements .

Bottom Line

Ecotherapy is an effective therapeutic technique to treat physical and mental illnesses. It is also an effective way to strengthen the human-nature and human-animal bonds, thus helping in the conservation of natural ecosystems and wildlife.

RF Treatments: What You Need To Know About Latest Technology

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With time, the skin is sure to show the signs of aging. It will loosen up because the skin will lose the key proteins or elastin and collagen, which are responsible for keeping the skin firm. This is the reason why we see skin sagging, wrinkles, and the creepy appearance on our neck, hands, and the face. There are many anti-aging therapies that can help. There is plastic surgery, but it is costly. The recovery time is also long.

Radio frequency skin tightening

There are dermal fillers too. If you are looking for a non-invasive treatment, then you can go for Radio Frequency (RF) technology. RF treatments are very effective for cosmetic purposes. The latest RF technology will boost the collagen protein in your body, tighten the skin, and give you an anti-aging effect. RF treatments can work also on other parts of the body for reducing circumference and cellulite. But does it work really?

What Is RF Technology?

RF treatment or Radio Frequency (RF) skin tightening is a non-invasive way to achieve skin tightening and make you look younger. The procedure can be carried out at the doctor’s office. The professional will use a wand connected to a machine, which creates radio waves. The doctor will pass the wand over the body and apply the waves to the skin. The device will heat the deep skin layers (dermis) of your body to produce collagen.

The technology combines PEMF or Pulsed Electro Magnetic Fields and MP-RF or Multi-Polar Radio-Frequency to stimulate the production of collagen. They are both completely safe. The result will be reduced skin sagging, wrinkles, and fewer fine lines.

The radio waves will heat the dermis level between 50 and 75 degrees C. Studies have revealed that the body will produce heat-shock proteins if the skin temperature is maintained over 46 C for three minutes or more. The passing of RF energy into your body is not just safe, it is also painless. It also works for people with all skin types. Patient satisfaction is very high, which is why RF technology has become so popular in the United States and in many other western countries.

Radiofrequency Procedures

RF procedures take between 20-45 minutes. There is very little downtime and almost no side effects. There can be just a bit of redness for up to a day. You will get an even result without any surface irregularities that can be a problem with some other technologies. However, it is best to avoid RF treatment if you have rosacea, a condition that causes flushing, blushing, or visible blood vessels on the face. Also avoid RF if you are sensitive to deep heat on your body or if you have broken capillaries or blood vessels.

1. Radiofrequency Ablation Procedure

Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA) can achieve many other objectives. It is good for reducing nodules, tumors, and such other body growths. The Radiofrequency Ablation procedure can treat both malignant and benign tumors, chronic venous insufficiency of the legs, and also chronic neck and back pain. It is very effective for pain relief.

The RFA procedure is like a needle biopsy. Here, a needle-like probe will be inserted into the body. The radio frequency emissions will be sent to the surrounding tissues that will eventually kill these nearby cells. The body’s natural immunity will remove them as the cells die. This will cause an internal reaction to shrink the nodule.

The professional therapist will use ultrasound or another imaging technique to place the probe at the tip of the right location. Such radio frequency treatments can be done in an outpatient setting or at the doctor’s office. General anesthesia is not required. However, the person may administer some medicine that will help you relax. A numbing agent may also be applied on the skin area where the probe is going to be inserted.

Usually, you can return home on the same day and go back to your normal routine in 24 hours.

2. RF Technology for Skin and Body Treatments

RF technology can provide many skin and body treatments. It mitigates the body’s natural decline of collagen with age and boosts its production. With every decade, the body may lose about 10 percent of the total collagen. RF therapy can correct this. It can improve the skin, lift its appearance, and make it appear tighter. Of course, the efficacy of radio frequency skin tightening will be different for each person, depending on the body part that is treated and the modality used. Many younger patients also opt for this therapy to increase the reserve of collagen in their body.

Skin tightening is a common goal of radiofrequency therapy. It can also re-texturize the skin when micro-needling is combined with it, which reduces acne scarring on the face and also the stretch marks on the body.

RF Technology for Skin and Body Treatments

Fat reduction, particularly when it is combined with radio frequency skin tightening allows body contouring on the face and elsewhere for the skin. Venus legacy RF technology and treatments like truSculpt ID and EmSculpt NEO are now very popular.

So, there are many applications of RF technology. It can be used for skin tightening, wrinkle reduction through a radio frequency facial, cellulite reduction, double chin, and others.

Benefits of Radio Frequency

There are many cosmetic and health benefits of RF therapy. RF technology for face can reduce the fine lines and wrinkles. There are many other benefits too. For example, the low frequency waves can fight sun damage. Collagen in the skin can get broken down because of overexposure to the harmful UV rays of the sun. The treatment will stimulate the production of collagen and rejuvenate the skin, which is why it is such a popular cosmetic skin care treatment. Besides, increased level of collagen will tighten the loose skin, which can help you get the body shape you want.

It also increases the level of hyaluronic acid, which is a natural moisturizer in the skin. Its rising level will make you appear younger. It will also make the wrinkles and redness fade away.

RF is less expensive compared to other invasive procedures. There is no healing time.

Radio Frequency Treatment Side Effects

There are only a few minor side effects of radio frequency treatments. In some patients, it can cause breakouts because of the heat that targets the deep layer skin. In very rare instances, it has also caused unintended fat loss by targeted the body’s fat cells, especially from heating the wrong layer or over-aggressive heating. Some patients may experience contracture around the neck region if the procedure is not carried out well.

Human exposure to radio frequency waves is considered safe, which is why RF treatment has been approved by the Food Drug Administration (FDA) and also by the American Cancer Society. It is a very effective facial treatment and can also be applied to some other body parts. The side effects, if any, are generally minor that go away quickly.

Take precautions and be careful after the radio frequency treatment and everything should be good.

The Environmental Benefits of Using Titanium

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When titanium was first brought into widespread usage, it was lauded for its strong and weathering-resistant properties. Due to energy costs, production declined over the past 10 years; however, a new process established by the UK’s Dstl has reduced titanium processing time by 50%. The result –  Cheap, low-energy titanium production.

Titanium is used in a startlingly diverse array of applications, too. From paint, to bikes, to eco friendly party glitter, you will likely encounter titanium in your day-to-day life more frequently than you’d notice. It’s good news, then, that titanium is being used to support positive environmental change in numerous ways.

environmental-benefits-titanium

Titanium taking over plastic

One of the foremost ways in which titanium is helping to improve our natural environment is through offering alternatives to polluting items. A great example of this is plastic replacement.

According to clean ocean advocates The Ocean Cleanup, there’s over 80m tonnes of plastic in the oceans. A large contributor to this is the plastic straw, which features at 11th in the list of Get Green’s most commonly littered plastics. Many manufacturers, by utilizing the non-rusting and sturdy quality of titanium tubes, have opted to replace drinking straws with titanium. Given the possibility of cheap, low energy tubes, this means ocean cleanliness can be improved and carbon emissions mitigated.

Taking titanium to the next level

The material properties of titanium are being taken to the next level by modern science. Another huge cause of carbon emissions and pollution is the plastic bottle. A key target for environmental plans, the reusable bottle industry grew to $7.6bn last year, according to Nielson.

Titanium has entered the market through a  clever flexible bottle, with titanium a key component. The metal has again been chosen due to its resistant quality and the improving environmental impact of producing it.

Tackling the oxides

Oxides have been the main use of titanium for a while. Paint, ink, sunscreen, medicines, paper – there are countless products that use titanium oxide. Historically, the process for oxide extraction has been environmentally damaging, as has the product itself; for example, the USA’s National Park Service states that various sunscreens with Ti oxide will damage coral.

Many manufacturers are replacing plastic drinking straws with titanium.

Now, Titanium Oxide is likely to be brought into the green sphere, too. A novel new study published in the Journal for Pharmaceutical Sciences found that titanium oxide can be synthesized using bacteria, and that this could spell a much brighter future for the historically damaging extraction.

Conclusion

Titanium is a versatile and well renowned metal used in a huge range of applications. As such it’s not an easy proposition to remove it from the market on the grounds of environmentalism. However, through determined scientific study and consumer action, it’s becoming a figurehead in helping the public to use its quality and simultaneously protect the planet.

All You Need to Know About the Benefits Of Natural Gas

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All areas of our lives are literally run by energy. And with various options of energy consumption choices, it’s always good to know the benefits of each one of them so that you make a great consumer choice. Today, in this article, we are focusing on natural gas and are going to take you through some of its top benefits. So if that’s what you have been searching for, then you are at the correct place. Let’s get started!

1. Clean Burning Fuel

When compared to coal, oil, and diesel, natural gas is cleaner as it emits the least percentage of carbon dioxide and other related harmful chemicals. So when you use one, you don’t have to invest in emission lowering technologies as the efficiency is top notch. Also, since it’s odorless, it makes little contribution to air pollution and doesn’t cause any harm when inhaled by people and animals.

2. Versatile

There is a given sort of flexibility and convenience that comes with the use of natural gas. With it, you enjoy the ease of starting and turning off as it won’t take much of your time. Also, since it isn’t dependent on the wind or the sun, it can function pretty well when used with solar and wind powers. It’s a source you can depend on no matter the weather conditions outside.

So if this seems like something you would like to try out, then it’s advisable to carefully go through an apples to apples comparison of the various natural gas providers and settle for one according to your needs and financial capability.

3. Affordable

With the current hard economic times, people are always on the lookout for affordable but efficient options when it comes to products or services affecting their billings. So natural gas couldn’t have been easily accessible at a better time. In fact, it’s by far one of the cheapest energy options in the current market. This is because, even as you calculate the long-term costs of seemingly cheap options such as generators, you will realize that they aren’t as affordable as they might appear in the beginning. Take the fuel and maintenance costs, for example, you will end up spending much more than you can ever imagine.

natural-gas-applications

But this isn’t the case with natural gas. According to recent findings, its cost is expected to remain constant or relatively unchanged at least even for the next decade. So you can be sure that it’s a long-term investment, worth every cent. You make one and forget about unnecessary expenses.

4. Reliable Delivery Infrastructure

This is probably one of the natural gas‘s primary benefits. This is because you can still receive your delivery of natural gas even during extreme weather conditions such as storms, through the pipes. A case that’s different from other energy sources. Also, the infrastructure is already established in most urban areas.

Final Thoughts

Natural gas is a clean fuel that can be used in various places while keeping the air fresh and clean. Together with this, there are various benefits associated with its use and this includes the affordability, reliable infrastructure, versatility, among others. The above list isn’t exhaustive.

Trends in Utilization of Biogas

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The valuable component of biogas is methane (CH4) which typically makes up 60%, with the balance being carbon dioxide (CO2) and small percentages of other gases. The proportion of methane depends on the feedstock and the efficiency of the process, with the range for methane content being 40% to 70%.

Biogas is saturated and contains H2S, and the simplest use is in a boiler to produce hot water or steam. The gas can also be upgraded and used in gas supply networks. The use of biogas in solid oxide fuel cells is also being researched.

biogas uses

Biogas can be combusted directly to produce heat. In this case, there is no need to scrub the hydrogen sulphide in the biogas. Usually the process utilize dual-fuel burner and the conversion efficiency is 80 to 90%. The main components of the system are anaerobic digester, biogas containment system, pressure switch, booster fan, solenoid valve, dual fuel burner and combustion air blower.

The most common method for utilization of biogas in developing countries is for cooking and lighting. Conventional gas burners and gas lamps can easily be adjusted to biogas by changing the air to gas ratio. In more industrialized countries boilers are present only in a small number of plants where biogas is used as fuel only without additional CHP. In a number of industrial applications biogas is used for steam production.

Burning biogas in a boiler is an established and reliable technology. Low demands are set on the biogas quality for this application. Pressure usually has to be around 8 to 25 mbar. Furthermore it is recommended to reduce the level of hydrogen sulphide to below 1 000 ppm, this allows to maintain the dew point around 150 °C.

CHP Applications

Biogas is the ideal fuel for generation of electric power or combined heat and power. A number of different technologies are available and applied.

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The most common technology for power generation is internal combustion. Engines are available in sizes from a few kilowatts up to several megawatts. Gas engines can either be SI-engines (spark ignition) or dual fuel engines. Dual fuel engines with injection of diesel (10% and up) or sometimes plant oil are very popular in smaller scales because they have good electric efficiencies up to guaranteed 43%.

The biogas pressure is turbo-charged and after-cooled and has a high compression ratio in the gas engines. The cooling tower provides cooling water for the gas engines. The main component of the system required for utilizing the technology are anaerobic digester, moisture remover, flame arrester, waste gas burner, scrubber, compressor, storage, receiver, regulator, pressure switch and switch board.

Gas turbines are an established technology in sizes above 500 kW. In recent years also small scale engines, so called micro-turbines in the range of 25 to 100kW have been successfully introduced in biogas applications. They have efficiencies comparable to small SI-engines with low emissions and allow recovery of low pressure steam which is interesting for industrial applications. Micro turbines are small, high-speed, integrated power plants that include a turbine, compressor, generator and power electronics to produce power.

New Trends

The benefit of the anaerobic treatment will depend on the improvement of the process regarding a higher biogas yield per m3 of biomass and an increase in the degree of degradation. Furthermore, the benefit of the process can be multiplied by the conversion of the effluent from the process into a valuable product.

In order to improve the economical benefit of biogas production, the future trend will go to integrated concepts of different conversion processes, where biogas production will still be a significant part. In a so-called biorefinery concept, close to 100% of the biomass is converted into energy or valuable by-products, making the whole concept more economically profitable and increasing the value in terms of sustainability.

Typical layout of a modern biogas facility

One example of such biorefinery concept is the Danish Bioethanol Concept that combines the production of bioethanol from lignocellulosic biomass with biogas production of the residue stream. Another example is the combination of biogas production from manure with manure separation into a liquid and a solid fraction for separation of nutrients.

One of the most promising concepts is the treatment of the liquid fraction on the farm-site in a UASB reactor while the solid fraction is transported to the centralized biogas plant where wet-oxidation can be implemented to increase the biogas yield of the fiber fraction. Integration of the wet oxidation pre-treatment of the solid fraction leads to a high degradation efficiency of the lignocellulosic solid fraction.

What is Tire Recycling and How To Do It?

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The old tires of your Subaru Forester are now worn out and no longer safe to be used on the road, says your mechanic. You’ve started shopping for new tires. But you wonder—what can you do with those old tires?

You can recycle it!

Tire recycling is the most practical and environment-friendly way of disposing of old and worn-out tires. Due to their inherent durability, large volume and environment and health risks, tires are one of the most problematic sources of solid wastes. Around the world, an estimated 2.5 million tires are thrown away yearly. With rubber recycling, tires can be given a new lease of life.

Benefits of tire recycling

Tire recycling can have numerous benefits not only for vehicle owners like you but also for the communities. For one, it can conserve landfill space. Because of their round and hollow shape, tires can take up significant space in landfills. Eliminating bulky items like tires can leave space in landfills for other things that cannot be easily recycled. There are many scientific papers about the benefits of processing, and if you were asked to write an essay, then you can contact this company with a request “buy essay” and a team of professional writers will help you

Tire recycling can also create new, beneficial products. Tire-derived fuel (TDF) is an example which is produced by subject scrap tires to high-temperature pyrolysis. This is reputed to be more energy-efficient than normal fuel. It also releases minimal emissions. Other useful products created from recycled tires are playground turf, railroad ties, and rubberized asphalt.

This process can also help in preventing the spread of diseases. Discarded old tires can provide a nesting place for rodents and mosquitoes. By recycling old tires, those pests can be eliminated. Consequently, diseases brought about by said animals can be prevented.

How to recycle tires

So, how do you recycle your old tires? One is to check with your local government about drop-off depots where you can bring your old tires for recycling. You may also bring those tires to household waste recycling centers.

These tires will then likely be packed and sent to processing plants, where they will be cut into smaller pieces by cut shredders. This is aimed at reducing the tire volume and creating a material that can be easily handled.

The end-product is a raw material that can be utilized for TDF, the most developed market for old tires in the United States. It is widely used in the country as a supplemental fuel by industries cement kilns, paper mills, and electric utilities, among others.

Tire shreds are then processed to remove the tire wire, which adds to the resilience, versatility, and strength of the tire. The wire is removed and recycled; often brought back to steel mills as these can be used in manufacturing new steel.

The remaining rubber is then screened to ensure that it is free from wires and other contamination. Afterward, the rubber is cleaned using water and other cleaning agents. Clean rubber is then packed and brought to other factories in need of rubber as raw material such as rubber shoe manufacturers.

Recycled rubber is also used in other ways such as ground rubber applications such as asphalt rubber, animal bedding, and synthetic sports field underlays. Asphalt rubber is widely used in Arizona, California, and Florida, for instance.

Other rubber by-products can be reused in various shapes and forms. For example, fiber and nylon make up nearly 15% of a tire. When extracted from old tires, these materials can be used in the manufacture of concrete, fiberglass, stucco, caret, and cleanup materials.

Rubber powder can also be derived from recycled tires. This high-performance but affordable material is used in creating sealing products, plastic, and rubber. It is a sustainable material with no adverse effects on

Other DIY ways to recycle tires

Yet DIY tire recycling can also come in other forms. You can reuse your old, worn-out tires in different ways.  One of the oldest ways to recycle old tires is to use them as tire swings. You can paint it first before hanging the tire on a tree. If you have many trees around your yard, you can hang a couple of old tires to create an entire swing set. This is an old-fashioned way to create a playset for your kids at home.

Tires can also be reused into tire climbers. Instead of spending several hundreds of dollars in a jungle gym, you can use old tires into a tire climber. Again, paint them first with bright colors. Bolt the tires together to make the tire climber safer for kids to play with.

You can also reuse old tires into a sandbox. This is particularly recommended if you have big tires like tractor tires. Put together several tractor tires in your yard and pain them. This is a nice way to thrill the kids during the summer. Check out cheap essay writing service to help your kids in their homework.

An old tire can also serve as a hose caddy. Instead of leaving your garden hose and increasing its chances of getting damaged, you can secure it with a hose caddy made of an old tire. This is simple to do—cut the tire in half and coil the garden hose inside it. You may even paint the tire so that it would match your outdoor décor.

Finally, you can reuse tires into planters. There may be some cutting involved so prepare tools such as saw and hammer. Again, painting the tire may be optional. You can make several planters depending on the number of old tires you have.

There are other creative tire recycling ideas that you may explore such as turning old tires into chairs, welcome mats, dog bed, and see-saws.

Conclusion

As you can see, old tires don’t have to end up in the landfills. Tire recycling is the best and most ecologically-sound way of disposing of old tires.

There are many ways to recycle old tires. You can bring your old tires to a household waste recycling center where these are collected and segregated before being processed into various by-products.

You can also recycle tires through DIY projects. From tire planters to tire climbers, the possibilities are endless as far as recycling and reusing old and worn out tires are concerned.

How Do You Know if a Supplement is Good Quality?

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Many various nutritional supplements are available on the market today. People often seek out supplements to live a healthier lifestyle, but the process can be complicated and challenging because so many options are available. Supplements are an essential part of the diet for many people who are deficient in specific nutrients.

how to select dietary supplement

People may not realize that the FDA does not have the same oversight over nutritional supplements and vitamins as over-the-counter and prescription drugs. Even though they are labeled with the store’s name, vitamins and supplements sold under the store’s private label are still very likely to have been produced by reputable private label supplement manufacturers who also produce supplements for national brands.

Drugs, however, must meet a much stricter set of requirements. The FDA prohibits the marketing of supplements from treating, diagnosing, preventing, or curing any disease. As a result, supplements should avoid making disease-related claims, such as “lower high cholesterol” or “treat heart disease.”

Some dietary supplements may include fillers or lack the appropriate amount of a vitamin or mineral. Low-quality components are avoided for a good reason. There are both high-quality and subpar products accessible. With our help, you can determine whether a supplement is high-quality.

Invest In Products From Reliable Manufacturers or Sellers

Customers who shop at well-known retailers will likely find supplements made by recognizable national brands. Moreover, people who purchase supplements from a reputable retailer, as opposed to an independent sales consultant or marketer, run a lower risk of being overcharged for the products. It is one of the many advantages of shopping at a well-known and respected store.

Locate The Label Bearing The USP or ConsumerLab Designation

There are third-party organizations that take supplements more seriously than the FDA. More specifically, some organizations perform tests to ensure that dietary supplements and vitamins do not contain any fillers and are not manufactured in unclean or contaminated environments, which could lead to the inclusion of microbes or even heavy metals in the product’s constituents.

ConsumerLab and the United States Pharmacopeial Convention Dietary Supplement Verification Program (USP) are the two most reliable third-party organizations. However, ConsumerLab’s stamp of approval is the one that is most likely to be seen in stores, even though USP is widely regarded as the most reputable monitoring organization.

Consider Supplements or Vitamins That Are Domestically Produced

Since the FDA does not stringently regulate dietary supplements, the origin of the ingredients is not necessarily a reliable indicator of the product’s quality or safety. On the other hand, dietary supplements produced in the United States from ingredients sourced within the country have a lower risk of containing harmful chemicals or toxins than those manufactured in other countries.

Greater Quantities Are Not Always Preferable

RDAs for vitamins and nutrients are frequently misunderstood, leaving many people with an inadequate supply of essential vitamins and nutrients for healthy cellular function. Moreover, many supplements boast of high concentrations of vitamins and minerals in their ingredients.

On the other hand, some vitamins and nutrients can harm health if consumed excessively. Ask your physician or dietitian to determine which vitamins and nutrients are most important and how much to finish regularly.

Ultimately, it’s best to avoid dietary supplements that provide far more of a particular nutrient than is required daily.

Take The Supplements In Moderation

Although many people choose to supplement their diets, experts still believe that modifying one’s diet to include more healthful foods is the most effective way to meet one’s nutritional needs. Nevertheless, there are times when a person’s diet on its own isn’t enough to meet their needs, and this is when they require supplements. People can shop confidently, knowing their supplements have been thoroughly vetted for safety.

7 Ways To Maximize Solar Energy In Your Home

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Solar energy is rapidly gaining popularity among many homeowners due to being a reliable and efficient renewable energy source. Investing in a solar system can help you reduce your energy bills.

Solar energy depends on the power from the sun. It’s eco-friendly and can help you reduce your carbon footprint. Finding ways to maximize your solar energy can ensure that the system delivers as much as possible to meet your home’s power needs and save money.

Below is an outline highlighting how you can maximize solar energy in your home:

How to maximize solar energy in your home

1. Perform An Energy Audit

An energy audit can help you gauge if your solar system is fit to serve your energy needs and reduce energy consumption. Different home appliances differ in how they consume energy. Therefore, it would be wise to understand how you use solar energy to adjust the devices that draw more power. Besides being able to know your daily solar power production, some systems include online monitoring technology that offers live feeds and graphs of your solar energy production.

Installing a solar energy meter can give you a detailed audit of individual home appliances, providing you with solar and live-on-grid consumption data. You can study the information you get from the solar meter to determine the high energy use patterns, helping you introduce measures to reduce energy consumption. If you’re looking for the best services in the solar market in Colorado, Bex Solar can install the best solar panels with up-to-date features.

2. Use High-Consumption Appliances During The Day

Your solar panels can only produce electricity during the day since they generate energy from sunlight. Therefore, it would be wise to use as much energy as possible during the day. Appliances that consume a lot of energy include the washing machine, dishwasher, and kitchen stove. Running these appliances when energy production is at its highest can help maximize your home’s energy consumption as you would be using this energy directly as it originates from your solar panels.

3. Install A Solar Battery

Solar energy is produced by solar panels during the daytime when the sun is shining. Solar batteries work by storing the energy your solar panels make for use at night or during storms when there’s inadequate sunlight. Additionally, you can use the solar energy you store in your solar batteries during power outages. Installing solar batteries can help reduce your carbon footprint as they reduce your dependence on the energy from the grid.

4. Use Your Solar Energy Wisely

Each home appliance drains solar energy. The number of home appliances you can run at a go depends on your solar system’s size and the amount of energy the appliance draws. Running them constantly and simultaneously throughout the day can quickly deplete the energy you draw directly from your solar panels, placing unnecessary strain on your solar system.

Using one appliance at a time would be best to ensure that you’re wisely consuming your solar energy. For instance, consider running your dishwasher after using the washing machine, taking a shower after using the dishwasher, or turning on your television after cooking dinner.

beginners guide to renewable energy

It’s also wise to turn off standby mode. Electrical appliances like computers, televisions, HiFi systems, and gaming consoles consume electricity on standby. A single household can have most of these electric devices; hence the standby energy consumption can add up to high figures. Therefore, it’s crucial to use switchable sockets to separate these devices from the circuit when not in use.

5. Insulate Your Home

A poorly insulated home typically uses up more solar energy. You can cut energy costs through home insulation by helping it remain cool when hot and warm when it’s cold outside. Hence, your HVAC systems would require less energy than necessary to keep you comfortable with changing temperatures. Therefore, insulating your home can help you divert the energy you would’ve used for heating or cooling your home for other energy needs.

6. Maintain Your Solar System

You can also maximize your solar energy by keeping your solar system in proper working order. Your solar panels can lose efficiency when they’re dirty. It’s crucial to frequently clean them to free them from dirt, leaves, bird droppings, and mold that reduces the amount of sunlight your solar panels receive. Cutting any surrounding vegetation that blocks the solar panel’s access to sunlight is also crucial. Additionally, scheduling regular maintenance of your solar system by a professional can help you identify issues and fix them in time to avoid costly repairs.

facts about cleaning solar panels

7. Install LED Lights

Due to the glowing tungsten filament, incandescent lights typically emit more heat than light. As a result, they consume more energy, leading to higher bills. On the other hand, LED bulbs use all the electricity they receive to produce light, consuming less energy. Installing LED light bulbs can reduce solar energy consumption, helping you maximize the solar energy in your home.

Conclusion

We are currently living in an eco-friendly world. Therefore, most homeowners appreciate solar energy in their homes as it’s affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly. The guide above can take you through ways to maximize solar energy in your home.

9 Brilliant Tips To Save Energy In The Winter

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When those colder months come, it can feel great to blast on the heating. That feeling of being cozy in your home while it’s freezing outside is something many people love about winter. That’s until you see your energy bill and realize all of that energy has come at a steep cost.

Thankfully, it doesn’t have to be that way. Here we look at 9 brilliant tips that are going to allow you to stay warm in your house while saving energy in winter months. This will be much better for the environment and also much better for your pocket.

1) Cozy clothing

We’re not suggesting that you have a coat, scarf, and gloves in your home. Rather you can wear jumpers, thicker pajamas and winter socks. This will allow you to be comfortable in your clothing while also giving you the ability to turn down your heating by a couple of degrees.

Also getting thicker duvets for bedtime and nice throws for snuggling up in front of the TV can help keep you warm without your boiler doing all the hard work. You always want to be comfortable in your home but sometimes that can be done without adjusting the heating.

2) A 21st century Christmas

The holiday is a wonderful time of the year and many people love putting up a vast array of Christmas lights. You don’t have to be a humbug and take them down; instead, you can do it all a little more efficiently.

In these modern times, you should be using LED bulbs for those lights. Many people are still using their old bulbs which are much less efficient, and also more unreliable. Also, put your lights on a timer so that they only come on when it gets dark and go off at bedtime.

3) Use a space heater

Do you only stay in one room during the day or evening? Heating just one room instead of them all could save you a huge amount on your energy bills.

To make the most of this you can turn off the heating in your home and switch on your space heater. This will prevent a huge amount of waste. This shouldn’t be confused with using a space heater on top of your heating as this would be more inefficient.

4) Maintain your humidifier and HVAC systems

Over time your air conditioning, heating, humidifier and energy systems will become less efficient. It’s always a great idea to service your systems such as a furnace humidifier, see if any parts need to be replaced and then enjoy their greater output.

According to the Mass Save program, a lot of energy can be lost by devices that are either outdated or in need of a service, with your boiler being a great example. It’s usually easy to check this yourself or call out a professional to do it for a small fee.

5) Seal any leaks

If there is a draft coming through your home, then you need to block it. One common area of concern is basements and sealing leaks will prevent the warm air of your home escaping outside.

Other areas such as doors could benefit from a draught excluder and if you have inefficient windows, using quilted curtains can prevent drafts. If you’re not sure where drafts are coming from, using an infrared thermometer can be a huge help.

6) Keep a stable temperature

Some people can fall into the trap of switching their heating on, getting too hot, switching it off and opening a window, then switching their heating back on when it gets cold. If you repeat this process, not only can you get uncomfortable, but it’s a huge waste.

The best solution is to get a thermostat that you can time. You need to know your ideal temperature and use this for when you’re at home. You will also be able to turn your heating off when you’re out of the house and down when you’re sleeping.

7) Use solar energy

There are many misconceptions about solar energy, with one of the biggest being that it only works in warm climates. The reality is that all they need is sunlight, even if it’s freezing outside. They also don’t need direct sunlight to be powered up.

If you live in a spot where you have the space and budget, then it doesn’t matter what the temperature is. While a solar panel won’t be as effective if there are fewer daylight hours, they can still provide a huge boost of clean energy in those cold winter months.

8) Avoid your tumble dryer

You can’t put your clothes outside to dry and therefore you put them in your tumble dryer, it makes sense. This they are brilliant for getting the job done quickly but use up a huge amount of energy in the process.

If your radiators are on, then you might as well use them. If you don’t need clothes to be immediately dried then they are only going to take a few hours in front of a radiator and you’ll save a lot of money.

9) Don’t block radiators

Okay, this is a direct contradiction to the point before but with clothing it is different. If you have a bed or other piece of furniture in front of a radiator, it will have a hugely negative impact on its ability to heat your room.

You need to allow the radiator to heat the air around it and then give enough space for that air to circulate. In terms of circulation, if you have a ceiling fan then it’s a good idea to put it on reverse and in its lowest setting. Hot air rises and a ceiling fan, when used like this, can push the hot air back down into the room.