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.

Environmental Benefits of Polyurethane

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Stated by urethane manufacturers, today’s manufacturing community is becoming increasingly mindful of environmental impacts that arise during industrial processes. Industrial recycling, waste to energy systems, and emissions improvements are just part of a wide-ranging effort to minimize the impact of manufacturing on the environment.

Plastics have become a lightning rod for environmental commentators, as pictures go viral of various waste being found in far-flung areas of our planet.

Something that is not discussed in these discourses is the wide variety of plastics currently available, and how not all plastics degrade in the same fashion. Polyurethane has been unduly spotlighted in these negative conversations.

With limited resources available to the public on the matter, there is plenty of misinformation which we hope to clarify in this article.

Plastic Waste & A Start to Policy Changes

There have been some extremely shocking photos and stories that have come out in recent years with regard to plastic waste. Photos of all sizes of plastic waste being found in rivers, oceans, and forests have been circulated millions of times.

Some cities and countries have started enacting policy changes in a reactionary fashion after seeing the widespread outpouring of anger on social media.

Most plastics that have been illustrated in these campaigns are thermoplastics, which amount to well over 95% of all plastic found during ocean studies. Polyurethanes, however, account for less than 2% of all waste detected during ocean surveys.

Damaging Thermoplastics

In thermoplastics, no molecular bonds are holding the individual strands of polymer together. It’s held together by weak ionic forces, called Van Der Waal forces.

Think of these bonds as a ball of yarn, essentially being held together by the tangled ends of molecular chains. Simply put, the plastic will break down until the last thing left is individual strands. These are the “micro-plastics” which are commonly talked about in the news.

Finer than a human hair, sometimes even microscopic, this is the smallest the material will degrade to. Individual atoms will not separate from the polymer strand and will continue to linger in the environment for decades.

Eco-Friendly Polyurethane

If you aren’t familiar with cast polyurethane it is considered a thermoset plastic. Do not confuse these with the thermoplastic we just discussed.

Polyurethane differs in that once the polymer has been reacted, the individual strands change on an atomic level and crosslink between each other. At these crosslinks, a new molecule is formed, entirely changing the properties of the material.

This molecular cross-linking is what makes polyurethane much more resilient in heavy-duty applications. Once the material has reached the end of its life, it can not be melted down and reformed.

Don’t think of this as a disadvantage since polyurethane materials will generally last longer than any thermoplastic equivalent. This minimizes the amount of polyurethane entering the waste stream right at the initial source.

Recycling Polyurethanes

There are multiple avenues that can be pursued when it comes to the recycling of polyurethane. Parts may be chemically reacted to turn back into their prepolymer state, however, the cost involved in this process can be quite steep.

When polyurethane breaks down in the environment, it will not break down into its individual polymer strands. Instead, individual bonds are broken down between molecules, releasing individual molecules into the environment.

These molecules are almost exclusively inert compounds that will not react or accumulate toxicity in natural environments.

Microbial degradation has become increasingly prevalent, especially in the area of fungi. Scientists have been able to find microorganisms that are well-suited for breaking downcast urethane products ecologically.

Polyurethane For the Win

The chemical makeup of polyurethane, combined with the increased lifetime of individual parts, means you can lower your commercial ecological footprint. Polyurethanes are non-toxic to the environment as they break down, and do not contain BPA or other chemicals which can interfere with endocrine systems.

The minimal effects on the environment will make this polymer even more desirable as we become increasingly environmentally conscious.

A Handy Guide to Choose a Good Therapist

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When seeking a therapist, you will come across a long list of professionals, and it will be really difficult to choose a good one. Therapists have a diverse range of qualification, skills and personalities which may or may not suit you. An effective therapy program is typically based on the relationship between therapist and client. So, what makes a good therapist? Let us explore the qualities of a good therapist to help you make the most out of your therapy sessions.

1. Strong communication skills

A good communicator exhibits confidence and assertiveness, and will make a new person feel comfortable during one-to-one session or on the phone or via email. Coupled with social skills, effective communication skills will help in creating a positive therapeutic bonding between the therapist and the client.

good-therapist

A good therapist will discuss issues in an honest, open and inquisitive manner using plain language, and will also ask for your feedback and opinion on those issues.

2. Effective listening and observation skills

A critical trait of a good therapist is to patiently and proactively listen to people. Your therapist should be skilled in deciphering your spoken words and silence, and in observing your body language. Your therapist should also have a good memory in order to remember things you told them earlier, and connect with what you are saying in the present.

An effective counsellor is not bored by conversation or have allow others to contribute to a conversation. They attentively listen to what you say and then reflect back to help you see new perspectives and draw your own conclusions.

3. Trustworthy

Mutual trust is a very important aspect of therapy and confidentiality is the cornerstone. During the sessions, you will be discussing very private and complex issues with your therapist, and policies should be in place to keep all the shared information confidential, both during and after the treatment process. Confidentiality is essential for the client to open up and feel comfortable in a safe environment without the fear of being betrayed.

Like any other relationship, building trust in therapy sessions is a time-taking process that cannot be rushed. A good therapist will operate within ethical limits, will respect your privacy and will never overstep your personal boundaries. In-session flirtation is among the top signs of a bad therapist.

4. Unbiased and non-judgmental

A good therapist is non-confrontational, unbiased and non-judgmental. Therapists demonstrate respect and will talk to you in a manner which tells they believe you. You are treated with empathy and your thoughts and feelings are not judged or made fun of.

The therapist suggests alternative ways of seeing and doing things and respects your outlook, thus acting as a source of support with whom you can share private things without any hesitation.

5. Flexible and optimistic

When it comes to therapeutic treatment, every client is unique and need a tailored approach.  A good therapist should be flexible in his approach and discuss a range of possible strategies to try in your unique circumstance.

marriage-therapy

Positivity is a critical trait of a therapist and you should feel confident that therapy will improve. Besides identifying the causes of stress, the therapist will also explore the things which can make you happy and peaceful.

6. Open to supervision

A good therapist should be willing to talk about clinical issues with a more experienced colleague in order to get the work quality evaluated. Supervision will help in getting new ideas or insights into a particular issue.

In high-risk situations, it is advisable for a good counsellor to avoid working in isolation and let access supervision to let others know they are doing with clients.

Conclusion

The qualities of a therapist play a crucial role in the successful outcome of therapy.  Every therapist may not meet each of the above-mentioned criteria, but if you are aware of the traits of a good therapist, you can decide whether you or your loved one is getting the best treatment.

Ethanol Production from Lignocellulosic Biomass

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Cellulosic ethanol technology is one of the most commonly discussed second-generation biofuel technologies worldwide. Cellulosic biofuels are derived from the cellulose in plants, some of which are being developed specifically as “energy” crops rather than for food production. These include perennial grasses and trees, such as switchgrass and Miscanthus. Crop residues, in the form of stems and leaves, represent another substantial source of cellulosic biomass.

Bioethanol_Pump

The largest potential feedstock for ethanol is lignocellulosic biomass, which includes materials such as agricultural residues (corn stover, crop straws, husks and bagasse), herbaceous crops (alfalfa, switchgrass), short rotation woody crops, forestry residues, waste paper and other wastes (municipal and industrial).

Bioethanol production from these feedstocks could be an attractive alternative for disposal of these residues. Lignocellulosic biomass feedstocks do not interfere with food security and are important for both rural and urban areas in terms of energy security reason, environmental concern, employment opportunities, agricultural development, foreign exchange saving, socioeconomic issues etc.

Production of Ethanol

The production of ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass can be achieved through two different processing routes. They are:

  • Biochemical – in which enzymes and other micro-organisms are used to convert cellulose and hemicellulose components of the feedstocks to sugars prior to their fermentation to produce ethanol;
  • Thermochemical – where pyrolysis/gasification technologies produce a synthesis gas (CO + H2) from which a wide range of long carbon chain biofuels, such as synthetic diesel or aviation fuel, can be reformed.

Lignocellulosic biomass consists mainly of lignin and the polysaccharides cellulose and hemicellulose. Compared with the production of ethanol from first-generation feedstocks, the use of lignocellulosic biomass is more complicated because the polysaccharides are more stable and the pentose sugars are not readily fermentable by Saccharomyces cerevisiae. 

In order to convert lignocellulosic biomass to biofuels the polysaccharides must first be hydrolysed, or broken down, into simple sugars using either acid or enzymes. Several biotechnology-based approaches are being used to overcome such problems, including the development of strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae that can ferment pentose sugars, the use of alternative yeast species that naturally ferment pentose sugars, and the engineering of enzymes that are able to break down cellulose and hemicellulose into simple sugars.

Ethanol from lignocellulosic biomass is produced mainly via biochemical routes. The three major steps involved are pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation. Biomass is pretreated to improve the accessibility of enzymes. After pretreatment, biomass undergoes enzymatic hydrolysis for conversion of polysaccharides into monomer sugars, such as glucose and xylose. Subsequently, sugars are fermented to ethanol by the use of different microorganisms.

Pretreated biomass can directly be converted to ethanol by using the process called simultaneous saccharification and cofermentation (SSCF).  Pretreatment is a critical step which enhances the enzymatic hydrolysis of biomass. Basically, it alters the physical and chemical properties of biomass and improves the enzyme access and effectiveness which may also lead to a change in crystallinity and degree of polymerization of cellulose.

The internal surface area and pore volume of pretreated biomass are increased which facilitates substantial improvement in accessibility of enzymes. The process also helps in enhancing the rate and yield of monomeric sugars during enzymatic hydrolysis steps.

Pretreatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Pretreatment methods can be broadly classified into four groups – physical, chemical, physio-chemical and biological. Physical pretreatment processes employ the mechanical comminution or irradiation processes to change only the physical characteristics of biomass. The physio-chemical process utilizes steam or steam and gases, like SO2 and CO2.

The chemical processes employs acids (H2SO4, HCl, organic acids etc) or alkalis (NaOH, Na2CO3, Ca(OH)2, NH3 etc). The acid treatment typically shows the selectivity towards hydrolyzing the hemicelluloses components, whereas alkalis have better selectivity for the lignin. The fractionation of biomass components after such processes help in improving the enzymes accessibility which is also important to the efficient utilization of enzymes.

Conclusions

The major cost components in bioethanol production from lignocellulosic biomass are the pretreatment and the enzymatic hydrolysis steps. In fact, these two process are someway interrelated too where an efficient pretreatment strategy can save substantial enzyme consumption. Pretreatment step can also affect the cost of other operations such as size reduction prior to pretreatment.

Therefore, optimization of these two important steps, which collectively contributes about 70% of the total processing cost, are the major challenges in the commercialization of bioethanol from 2nd generation biofuel feedstock.

A Glance at Woody Biomass Resources

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Woody biomass resources range from corn kernels to corn stalks, from soybean and canola oils to animal fats, from prairie grasses to hardwoods, and even include algae. Woody biomass may be used for energy production at different scales, including large-scale power generation, CHP, or small-scale thermal heating projects. Some of the major sources of woody biomass are being discussed in the following paragraphs:

Pulp and Paper Industry Residues

The largest source of energy from wood is the waste product from the pulp and paper industry called black liquor. Logging and processing operations generate vast amounts of biomass residues. Wood processing produces sawdust and a collection of bark, branches and leaves/needles. A paper mill, which consumes vast amount of electricity, utilizes the pulp residues to create energy for in-house usage.

Forest Residues

Forest harvesting is a major source of biomass for energy. Harvesting may occur as thinning in young stands, or cutting in older stands for timber or pulp that also yields tops and branches usable for bioenergy.

Harvesting operations usually remove only 25 to 50 percent of the volume, leaving the residues available as biomass for energy. Stands damaged by insects, disease or fire are additional sources of biomass. Forest residues normally have low density and fuel values that keep transport costs high, and so it is economical to reduce the biomass density in the forest itself.

Crop Residues

Crop residues encompasses all agricultural wastes such as straw, stem, stalk, leaves, husk, shell, peel, pulp, stubble, etc. which come from cereals (rice, wheat, maize or corn, sorghum, barley, millet), cotton, groundnut, jute, legumes (tomato, bean, soy) coffee, cacao, tea, fruits (banana, mango, coco, cashew) and palm oil.

Rice produces both straw and rice husks at the processing plant which can be conveniently and easily converted into energy. Significant quantities of biomass remain in the fields in the form of cob when maize is harvested which can be converted into energy. Sugar cane harvesting leads to harvest residues in the fields while processing produces fibrous bagasse, both of which are good sources of energy.

Energy Crops

Dedicated energy crops are another source of woody biomass for energy. These crops are fast-growing plants, trees or other herbaceous biomass which are harvested specifically for energy production. Rapidly-growing, pest-tolerant, site and soil-specific crops have been identified by making use of bioengineering.

For example, operational yield in the northern hemisphere is 10-15 tonnes/ha annually. A typical 20 MW steam cycle power station using energy crops would require a land area of around 8,000 ha to supply energy on rotation.

Miscanthus-Elephant-Grass

Herbaceous energy crops are harvested annually after taking two to three years to reach full productivity. These include grasses such as switchgrass, elephant grass, bamboo, sweet sorghum, wheatgrass etc. Short rotation woody crops are fast growing hardwood trees harvested within five to eight years after planting. These include poplar, willow, silver maple, cottonwood, green ash, black walnut, sweetgum, and sycamore.

Industrial crops are grown to produce specific industrial chemicals or materials, e.g. kenaf and straws for fiber, and castor for ricinoleic acid. Agricultural crops include cornstarch and corn oil soybean oil and meal wheat starch, other vegetable oils etc. Aquatic resources such as algae, giant kelp, seaweed, and microflora also contribute to bioenergy feedstock.

Urban Wood Wastes

Such waste consists of lawn and tree trimmings, whole tree trunks, wood pallets and any other construction and demolition wastes made from lumber. The rejected woody material can be collected after a construction or demolition project and turned into mulch, compost or used to fuel bioenergy plants.

A Beginner’s Guide to ULIP

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There are many ways to save money, but if you are looking for an investment that will make you money right away, it’s important to know what options are available.

Investing is a way to save money over the long term, but what if you need access to your funds right now? Maybe you just took advantage of a promotion and require proof of your investment before the tax year’s end or inherited money from a severed relative. Regardless of the reason, there may be times when you need an investment option that will save you money immediately.

Best ULIP Plans For Beginner

Unit linked insurance plan (ULIP) provides this benefit. A ULIP plan combines life insurance with mutual funds, allowing investors to build wealth over time while still having access to their money whenever they need it.

What exactly does ULIP mean?

A ULIP or Unit Linked Insurance Plan simultaneously offers life insurance and investment benefits. ULIP premiums are split into two parts. You will receive one part of the money for your life insurance, and the other part will be invested in the fund of your choice.

ULIP meaning is investing in a plan that provides flexibility in investment planning. Since ULIP plans have equity and debt components and options to switch as market conditions change, they help you safely manage your fund. The ULIP plan also protects your investments by providing life insurance coverage and a financial safety net.

Benefits of ULIPs You Should Know

Unit Linked Insurance Plan is an excellent way to save for the future, and they offer many advantages to its policyholders. ULIPs provide the following benefits to their policyholders:

  1. Maturity benefits – Policy owners can receive the accumulated funds as the maturity/survival benefit of a policy if they survive the policy’s maturity period. A maturity benefit is equal to the fund value of the policy.
  2. Death benefits – During the policy’s term, if the policyholder passes away unexpectedly, the death benefits are paid to the registered beneficiary of the policy.
  3. Tax benefits – A ULIP is an effective tax-saving tool. Section 80C of the Income Tax Act allows the deduction of the premium you pay for the policy.
  4. Long-term investment benefits – In the long run, the longer the investment horizon, the more you are protected from price fluctuations. A long-term investment in the market can help you achieve higher returns and cope with market volatility. Investing in ULIP means that you can receive high returns on your investments for the long term.
  5. Withdrawal benefit – A ULIP allows investors to withdraw part of their funds in an emergency. Depending on the emergency, investors can withdraw funds up to a certain amount after a fixed period.

Key feature of ULIPs

ULIP meaning is having a plan of insurance and investment policies that provide dual benefits. You will gain life insurance protection, and you will be able to achieve your financial goals over the long term.

Here are some of the critical features of ULIPs:

  1. A single plan for investment and insurance benefits – The goal of ULIPs is to maximise your wealth appreciation on your investment through a variety of market-linked instruments and returns. The ULIP plan also covers you and your family with comprehensive life insurance coverage throughout the policy’s life.
  2. Diversify your fund options – Throughout the Policy Term, you can freely select between equity and debt funds under your ULIP plan. A fixed number of switches can be made without additional charges within a financial year.
  3. Redirection of premiums – You may switch between different available fund options when investing in a ULIP plan. To redirect the premium, you must provide your Policy Number and indicate which fund(s) you wish to use. A percentage can also be specified concerning each fund.
  4. Partially withdrawing – The initial lock-in period for ULIP plans is five years. After the lock-in period, you can withdraw a fixed number of partial amounts from the accumulated fund value without incurring any additional fees.

Why buy a ULIP Plan

If you want to grow your savings through the use of market-linked funds while also ensuring that your family is protected with a financial safety net throughout their lives, a ULIP plan in India is a viable option.

You can make a smart decision by investing in ULIP plans for the long term due to the following reasons:

  • In the long run, ULIP meaning is investing in the plans can provide healthy market-linked returns.
  • ULIP plans allow you to change your fund allocations, protecting your money from market volatility.
  • According to prevailing tax laws, you can save significant tax amounts on both your investments and maturity/death benefits.
  • Ensure that your loved ones are protected with a robust insurance policy.

how premiums lead to better returns in long run

ULIP Plan provided by Canara HSBC Life Insurance

Online ULIP plan – Invest 4G Plan

Invest 4G Plan, a new age ULIP from Canara HSBC Life Insurance, is available online. Investments in this category are wise for young investors with long-term financial goals. You can boost your wealth and build loyalty with zero-commission investments. Invest 4G Plan offers better returns than other investment options because of its minimum charge structure.

The following are the key benefits of this ULIP plan:

  • Fund options can be switched and redirected as needed
  • Withdrawal in part
  • There are eight fund options and four portfolio strategies to choose from
  • Loyalty and Wealth Boosting
  • At maturity, mortality charges are returned

Conclusion

When you invest in Unit Linked insurance plan (ULIP), you have a plan that provides both life insurance and financial goals. In addition, it allows you to move between different types of fund options based on market fluctuations while also taking into account your changing risk appetite.

Things to Consider When Choosing an Energy Supplier

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When taking global warming into consideration, providing affordable and sustainable energy is a step towards a better future; however, the idea of spending energy differs from person to person. It is important to find an energy supplier that can meet an individual’s energy requirements.

Creating a strategic partnership with the right supplier can also help you deal with costs and improve the efficiency of your energy supply. Here are a few things you should consider beyond price while choosing an energy supplier.

what to consider when choosing an energy supplier

Sustainability options

A credible energy company will help you boost efficiency and choose the best energy supply alternatives. This can vary from Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) to in-house generation and tailor-sourced renewable energy.

Choose a supplier like Origin Electricity/Origin Energy. Origin Energy has the expertise to seamlessly integrate renewable sources into your existing energy portfolio. Origin Energy can also assist you in achieving a sustainability certification. Often, these brands are committed to lowering (if not eliminating) the negative impact energy production has on the environment. Depending on the supplier, you can source between 25% to 100% of your electricity usage from renewable sources.

Contract

Nobody likes to read through lengthy contracts, but we also want to have the terms of the contract explicitly mentioned. Whenever you choose an energy supplier, ask them to mention all the essential points and keep the paperwork minimal. Make sure the provider explains how demand and supply components will impact your energy bills.

The best energy supplier will compare the cost imputation of pass-through elements and find the best fit for you. The best supplier will allow you to choose between a fixed rate, a market-based rate, or a calculated mixture of both. Some suppliers will also allow you to buy electricity monthly. Knowing the contract terms will enable you to understand the variable components of energy prices.

Credibility

A customer must know if the provider they are choosing is financially stable, reliable, and credible. A financially sound supplier ensures that they will be there to supply you with energy, even during the ups and downs of the market.

The price will vary, it is inevitable, but the energy supply should not be ceased. A credible supplier must have business longevity, a reputation, a credit rating, and good customer reviews.

Customer service

Look for an energy provider that provides reliable customer service and replies promptly to queries. Make sure that the company offers excellent post-sale customer service. A proficient supplier will help you know about fluctuations in energy supply, prices, and deals (which happens quite frequently). Choose an energy company that proactively suggests savings opportunities and programmes related to energy effectiveness.

Licensed supplier

First identify what energy (solar, renewable, electric, or natural gas) your home will require. Afterwards, you must look for a supplier that offers those energy sources within your region. Try to figure out if the price includes taxes such as a state sales tax, fees, or charges. All the crucial facts must be available readily and transparently. Check if the company has a licence to serve your locality. If the company is licensed, then the licence number should be easy to find in your state utility committee.

Ways to Make Your Business More Eco-Friendly

Industry suppliers

If selecting an energy provider for business purposes, your energy company should understand your business needs based on its size and industry. The energy provider should have experience assisting businesses like yours to succeed.

A total electricity management technique incorporates several energy resolutions with guidance from energy experts to create a personalised strategy that helps customers take advantage of both demand and supply-side elements.

Final Thoughts

While choosing the best energy supplier for your home or business, look for these factors listed above. Find a well-rounded company that prioritises your requirements and helps streamline energy success.

A Beginner’s Guide to Renewable Energy

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Renewable energy is all around us; we just need to figure out how to use it in our daily lives. We’ve all heard about renewable energy and the numerous benefits of switching from fossil fuels like coal, oil, and natural gas to wind power, solar power, biofuels, hydroelectricity, and hydrogen fuel cells. But what is renewable energy? And where does it come from?

Well, not only can you harness renewable energy through wind turbines and solar panels on your own home or business, but you can also benefit from the fact that companies are required to generate a certain amount of their electricity by using clean sources of power.

beginners guide to renewable energy

Even if your utility company doesn’t offer a “green” program yet, you might be surprised at how easy it is to reduce your carbon footprint by simply changing what type of light bulbs or appliances you use. The first step in understanding renewable energy is learning about how it works. So, here is our guide on renewable energy for beginners.

What is Renewable Energy?

Renewable energy is a type of energy that can be replenished easily, unlike fossil fuels. Renewable sources include sun, wind, geothermal heat and water. Non-renewable sources include coal, oil and natural gas.

Renewable sources of energy

  • Solar Energy: the conversion of sunlight into electricity by photovoltaic cells or thermal radiation collectors (solar panels) used in solar heating systems.
  • Wind Power: generation of electricity by harnessing wind power through wind turbines.
  • Hydroelectricity: the production of electricity from falling water or moving water used as an energy source.
  • Biomass Energy: biomass includes plant matter such as agricultural crops and trees used to generate energy by burning them for their chemical components like ethanol.

How To Use Renewable Energy At Home or Work

Solar panels

You can make use of solar photovoltaic panels that you have installed on your roof to generate electricity for your home or office. These panels work by harnessing the sun’s rays and converting them into electricity, which can then be used for heating or powering lights and appliances.

Solar panels generate electricity during the day, even if it is an overcast day – although they do generate more power on sunny days. You can then store this electricity in batteries, which means you will still be able to use the power generated during the day at night.

You can save an estimated £700 a year by making use of solar panels and being less reliant on the national grid.

Solar heating

Solar heating also makes use of solar panels which have been adapted to generate heat in water stored in a hot water cylinder above the solar panel. You will require a few hours of direct sunlight to get really warm water, which can then be used to heat your building or for hot water in the faucets.

Heat pumps

Air source heat pumps use heat from the outside air to provide homes and businesses with heating and hot water. Heat pumps work in all temperatures – kind of like a reverse fridge.

green heating and cooling technologies

Air source heat pumps are much more sustainable than traditional heating systems and can significantly reduce your carbon footprint and make your home much more energy-efficient.

Despite high initial installation costs, this type of heat pump can save you more than £1000 a year on heating.

Wind turbines

Small wind turbines are available for homes and offices and can either be installed on a standing pole or on the roof of a building. When the blades turn, an internal turbine is activated, which generates electricity.

Biomass

Biofuel systems burn organic material to generate heat and provide hot water. Burning biomass (like wood chips or pellets) has a much lower carbon footprint than burning fossil fuels – it is estimated that burning wood in this manner only releases as much carbon as the tree absorbed during its life, making it a carbon-neutral heating solution.

IT in the bioenergy sector

Hydroelectricity

If your home or office is located near a flowing stream, you can use a small-scale hydroelectricity plant to generate power for your building.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Renewable Energy

Advantages

  • Clean source of energy.
  • Sustainable energy solution.
  • More affordable than fossil fuels.

Disadvantages

  • Not as cost-effective at producing electricity as fossil fuels.
  • Can be unreliable – for example, on many subsequent rainy days or days without wind, your solar panels and wind turbines will not be effective.

Final Thoughts

We hope this overview has given you a good background on renewable energy. Utilising renewable energy is a great step to reducing your carbon footprint and harnessing the power provided by nature.

Everything You Need to Know About a Paperless Office

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Businesses are the largest users of papers and this is taking a heavy toll on the forests and other natural resources. The paper production process consumes a lot of wood and water, besides generating effluents which are harmful for the environment.  One of the best ways a business can become environmentally-friendly is to minimize the use of paper in the workplace. Going paperless is one of the essential features of an eco-friendly office. The conversion of paper files into electronic documents is a key step in the journey towards a paperless office. But what is a paperless office and how can it benefit your organization? Read on to know more:

What is a Paperless Office?

A paper-free office uses the lowest amount of paper and relies heavily on digital documents, thus drastically reducing the use of paper in workplace.  But going paperless is not a magic wand and requires careful planning, organization and employee participation. The right set of tools and proper employee training is required to realise the dream of a paperless office.

paper-free-office

In addition to being eco-friendly, a paper-free office should also provide tangible benefits in order to motivate the office staff. Saving time and efforts through easier filing and document retrieval system is an important step in eliminating paper from the workplace. Another notable step is to replace individual printers with a centralized network printer to track paper usage and restrict the purchase of ink and toners.

The digital filing system is the heart of a paperless office. Digitizing your documentation like using an absence management software, for instance, will not only help in easy document filing but also aid in smooth and fast retrieval. Infact, a cloud-based document management system will enable employees to access important documents off-site, besides safe storage of documents.

Benefits of Going Paperless

Going paperless has numerous benefits for both the business owner and the employees, ranging from saving time and money to boosting security. It is important to analyse the use of paper in the workplace from an individual level upto the organizational level.

Let us analyse the major advantages of a paperless workplace:

1. Saves Time and Space

The filing, organizing and retrieval of paper documents is a time-taking process. Having an electronic filing system will enable file management to be done at the click of a mouse, thus helping business owners to assign employees to more productive and revenue-generating tasks.

Finding ample office space for the filing cabinets is a nightmare for many business owners as the files keeps piling up with each passing year. In particular, the problem is serious for industries having a long document retention time, such as government departments and financial sector.

A digital document management system allows you to store the documents in a cloud-based server with negligible physical footprint.

2. Saves Business Expenses

A paper-free office will reduce the business costs incurred on paper, printers, toners, files, filing cabinets and office space. Studies have shown that a paperless office has a better process efficiency and can handle a larger volume of documentation than traditional offices, thus making a significant savings in employee time with respect to repetitive tasks like expense reimbursements.

electronic-filing-system

3. Protects the Environment

The production of paper and related products leads to the emissions of greenhouse gases, causes deforestation and precipitates climate change. Paper recycling can reduce the environmental impact of paper in the workplace, but only upto to a certain extent. Employees may engage in group activities, like making paper bags from waste papers, to know the importance of waste reduction at work stations.

In the absence of source segregation, most of the paper ends up in landfills or waste-to-energy plant. In addition, toxic chemicals in inks and toners are detrimental to the health of the environment. The most sustainable solution to all these environmental problems is to transform your workplace into a paperless one.

4. Improves Security

A chronic problem in traditional offices is the hardship in tracking paper-based documents on account of misfiling, accidents etc. Moreover, it is difficult to monitor the access, printing and copying of sensitive business documents. A paperless office has a digital document management system with advanced security features to prevent such incidents by restricting access rights at different levels.

How to Tackle Stress in a Paperless Office?

A paperless office may create stress among employees due to increased exposure to technology. Static work postures may also lead to musco-skeletal health issues. An excellent solution to relieve stress is to use art therapy. But, what is art therapy?

Art therapy is a type of therapy that enriches the life of a person through art-making activities , such as drawing, painting, collage or sculpting. It helps in developing self-awareness, boosting self-esteem, trauma-coping and fostering social skills, under the guidance of a qualified therapist.

Conclusions

A paper-free office will not only save time, natural resources and money but also help in smoother and safer flow of information in an organization, thus helping in quick decision-making and responsible business growth.

The Role of IT in the Bioenergy Sector

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The bioenergy sector is growing rapidly, and it’s widely seen as a key solution to the global challenge of climate change. It has great potential to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while also providing energy security through renewable sources. However, a lack of IT can be an obstacle to further developments in this sector. That’s because IT is essential to accessing real-time data that helps make more informed decisions about production and distribution processes for bioenergy products, including biogas and ethanol.

IT in the bioenergy sector

If you’re in the bioenergy sector, you’re going to find that having robust IT systems set up for you by professionals is going to do most of the heavy lifting for you. To browse what this set up may entail, you can head over to https://tenecom.com/ where they go in much more detail.

In this article, the focus will be on the specific role that IT plays in the bioenergy sector:

1. Gives Access To Real-Time Data

In an industry as dynamic and rapidly changing as bioenergy, it’s important to have access to real-time data. Real time data allows stakeholders to always have their eyes on their plants and monitor close growths, threats and changes as they come.

A farmer may want a system that allows them to monitor their crop growth rate over time by using satellite imagery of their land; this type is called ‘remote sensing.’ This would help them determine when they need more fertilizer or irrigation water, so they don’t waste money on things that aren’t necessary at certain times (or too much of either). They could also use remote sensing technology on their crops during specific seasons when pests tend to attack certain plants and then use this information along with other sources like weather forecasts.

2. Improved Decision-Making Capabilities

In the bioenergy sector, information technology can be used to make better decisions. It can help you to make them faster and with more accuracy.

For example, a company that has its own fleet of trucks may want to use an application on a tablet-style device to monitor the location of its drivers at any given moment. With this technology in place, they could see when one of their drivers is running late or if they arrive at work before they’re supposed to (or not). This would allow them to make adjustments as necessary because they’ll have access to accurate information about what’s happening on the road at the moment.

3. Improved Processes

Bioenergy is becoming a more important part of the energy industry, but it’s still in its early stages. As the bioenergy sector grows, so will the need for IT professionals who can help manage and improve processes.

The creation of bioenergy requires a lot of complicated processes that must be monitored and managed to ensure efficiency. For example, if a company wants to build an ethanol plant from scratch, it must make sure that each step in its manufacturing process works as intended—from growing plants to distilling alcohol out of them on an industrial scale—and that nothing goes wrong along the way. If anything goes wrong (and it often does), then there will be delays or even complete stoppage until repairs are made or new equipment is installed.

hazards of biofuel production

With modern technology at their disposal via IT solutions such as data analytics software or sensor networks, companies can make sure that everything runs smoothly before something bad happens, and they lose valuable time trying to fix problems after-the-fact rather than preventing them beforehand. This can be done through better planning beforehand with proper data collection methods such as sensors placed all over production facilities throughout entire supply chains.

4. Increased Operational Efficiencies

As more and more businesses turn to IT, it’s becoming clear that technology is critical for improving efficiencies across the board. In the bioenergy sector, there are many ways that IT has improved operations:

  • Reduced Cost of Operations: Improved communication means less time between management and employees, which means reduced labor costs. Additionally, better data management allows you to make smarter decisions about your business plan moving forward. This might involve reducing inventory or cutting back on energy consumption in order to save money on capital expenditure (CAPEX).
  • Reduced Time To Market: By implementing automation tools like artificial intelligence (AI), big data analytics can now accelerate product development cycles by providing insights into what customers want before they even know they want them. AI also improves operational efficiency by helping you reduce waste by predicting when certain products will go bad so they can be replaced before expiration dates arrive—all while increasing overall operational efficiency at every step along this process through automation tools like AI, which provide insights into what customers want before even knowing themselves.

5. Improved Control Of Biogas Processes And Automation

Automation provides better control of the biogas process and helps to avoid human error. This results in more reliable and consistent production, as well as reduced costs, increased safety, and improved efficiency and productivity.

biogas-enrichment

An automated control system may also include an alarm system that alerts operators of any issues or problems with the process taking place. The information provided by this system can help operators troubleshoot issues quickly and efficiently so that they do not have to wait too long before remedying them. In addition to saving time, this can also prevent delays that might cause customers who rely on your service to go elsewhere for their needs (especially if you’re providing bioenergy).

Conclusion

We’ve covered a lot of ground in this article, but there is still more to explore. IT in the bioenergy sector has the potential to make a significant impact on our environment and our lives. The integration of new data, automation, and communication systems will be key to success. But as we’ve seen with solar panels, wind turbines, and other renewable energy endeavors—the benefits are worth it!

Popular Feedstock for Biogas Plants

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Anaerobic digestion is the natural biological process which stabilizes organic waste in the absence of air and transforms it into biofertilizer and biogas. Almost any organic material can be processed with anaerobic digestion.

Biogas_Plant

Anaerobic digestion is particularly suited to wet organic material and is commonly used for effluent and sewage treatment.  The popular feedstock for biogas production includes biodegradable waste materials such as waste paper, grass clippings, leftover food, sewage and animal waste.

Large quantity of waste, in both solid and liquid forms, is generated by the industrial sector like breweries, sugar mills, distilleries, food processing industries, tanneries, and paper and pulp industries. Poultry waste has the highest per ton energy potential of electricity per ton but livestock have the greatest potential for energy generation in the agricultural sector.

1. Agricultural Feedstock

2. Community-Based Feedstock

  • Organic fraction of MSW (OFMSW)
  • MSW
  • Sewage sludge
  • Grass clippings/garden waste
  • Food wastes
  • Institutional wastes etc.

 3. Industrial Feedstock

  • Food/beverage processing
  • Dairy
  • Starch industry
  • Sugar industry
  • Pharmaceutical industry
  • Cosmetic industry
  • Biochemical industry
  • Pulp and paper
  • Slaughterhouse/rendering plant etc.

Anaerobic digestion is particularly suited to wet organic material and is commonly used for effluent and sewage treatment. Almost any organic material can be processed with anaerobic digestion process. This includes biodegradable waste materials such as waste paper, grass clippings, leftover food, sewage and animal waste. The exception to this is woody wastes that are largely unaffected by digestion as most anaerobic microorganisms are unable to degrade lignin.

Anaerobic digesters can also be fed with specially grown energy crops such as silage for dedicated biogas production. A wide range of crops, especially C-4 plants, demonstrate good biogas potentials. Corn is one of the most popular co-substrate in Germany while Sudan grass is grown as an energy crop for co-digestion in Austria. Crops like maize, sunflower, grass, beets etc., are finding increasing use in agricultural digesters as co-substrates as well as single substrate.

biogas-energy-crop

A wide range of organic substances are anaerobically easily degradable without major pretreatment. Among these are leachates, slops, sludges, oils, fats or whey. Some wastes can form inhibiting metabolites (e.g.NH3) during anaerobic digestion which require higher dilutions with substrates like manure or sewage sludge. A number of other waste materials often require pre-treatment steps (e.g. source separated municipal organic waste, food residuals, expired food, market wastes and crop residues).