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Click and be inspired...
Getting to the very heart of the matter
everything we know of is made up of particles. Scientists have named these particles of varying sizes names such as Atoms and Quarks. At the moment we use the movement of these particles as energy. Scientists discovered they could excite or create movement in atoms by heating them up and also that energy could be caught through natural movement such as the wind too. Traditionally, we have become dependant on burning oil, gas and coal as our fuel but these forms release potentially harmful chemicals into the environment leading to pollution and climate change. The New Energy for the New Era is kinetic (regenerative energy) or recycled potential energy. It is best suited to busy city environments as it uses the (wasted potential) energy of people's movement. This form of energy is sustainable and profitable. PITCH YOUR TENT AND POWER UPThe potential to incorporate these types of materials into not only the construction of buildings, but also in the interior decoration such as curtains or blinds, is overwhelmingly powerful. All the previously lost potential energy can now be collected, thanks to technology such as below:
Iowa Thin Film completed three tent prototypes for the Army last months and says the orders are already pouring in. But beyond the military applications, experts say the introduction of such lightweight, portable fabric to developing countries could have a far-reaching impact. "Application of these (solar) technologies in the long term is clearly
more cost-effective than bringing power lines dozens and dozens of http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/techinnovations/2004-07-09-solarfabric_x.htm Solar roof means toast for free
The first house in Britain with a roof covered entirely with solar tiles is feeding power into the national grid. The house, at Richmond in south-west London, has been generating electricity since it was commissioned three months ago. It is the home of Dr Jeremy Leggett, head of Solar Century, a company established to speed the switch to energy from the sun. Clouds no problem
The imported photo-voltaic silicon roof tiles need light to work, but do not need sunlight. So even in cloudy Britain, they can produce a useful amount of electricity. The Richmond house has exceeded all expectations, generating 45% more electricity than Dr Leggett has used. He sells the surplus to his local electricity company, Seeboard, though it pays him less for his units than it charges him for its own power. So far the house has generated 337 kWh, while Dr Leggett has used only 232 kWh. Dr Leggett says: "We can now dismiss some of the doubting Thomases". "Photovoltaic tiles work even in the UK. They do not need planning permission, and they create clean electricity. "They can provide all the power a household needs and over a period of time they will reduce our bills. "On a typical day, my roof creates enough power for me to make 350 cups of tea, watch 70 episodes of Coronation Street, or make 800 slices of toast. "Or someone could ring my doorbell a quarter of a million times." By Environment Correspondent Alex Kirby Thursday, May 27, 1999 Published at 17:26 GMT 18:26 UK BBC Hydroponics
is a method of growing plants using mineral nutrient solutions instead of soil. Terrestrial plants may be grown with their roots in the mineral nutrient solution only or in an inert medium, such as perlite, gravel or Rockwool. A variety of techniques exist. Plant physiology researchers discovered in the 19th century that plants absorb essential mineral nutrients as inorganic ions in water. In natural conditions, soil acts as a mineral nutrient reservoir but the soil itself is not essential to plant growth. When the mineral nutrients in the soil dissolve in water, plant roots are able to absorb them. When the required mineral nutrients are introduced into a plant's water supply artificially, soil is no longer required for the plant to thrive. Almost any terrestrial plant will grow with hydroponics, but some will do better than others. It is also very easy to do; the activity is often undertaken by very young children with such plants as watercress. Hydroponics is also a standard technique in biology research and teaching and a popular hobby. Soilless culture
Gericke originally defined hydroponics as crop growth in mineral nutrient solutions, with no solid medium for the roots. He objected in print to people who applied the term hydroponics to other types of soilless culture such as sand culture and gravel culture. The distinction between hydroponics and soilless culture of plants has often been blurred. Soilless culture is a broader term than hydroponics; it only requires that no soils with clay or silt are used. Note that sand is a type of soil yet sand culture is considered a type of soilless culture. Hydroponics is always soilless culture, but not all soilless culture is hydroponics. Many types of soilless culture do not use the mineral nutrient solutions required for hydroponics. Billions of container plants are produced annually, including fruit, shade and ornamental trees, shrubs, forest seedlings, vegetable seedlings, bedding plants, herbaceous perennials and vines. Most container plants are produced in soilless media, representing soilless culture. However, most are not hydroponics because the soilless medium often provides some of the mineral nutrients via slow release fertilizers, cation exchange and decomposition of the organic medium itself. Most soilless media for container plants also contain organic materials such as peat or composted bark, which provide some nitrogen to the plant. Greenhouse growth of plants in peat bags is often termed hydroponics, but technically it is not because the medium provides some of the mineral nutrients. Peat has a high cation exchange capacity and must be amended with limestone to raise the pH. http://www.clickpress.com/releases/Detailed/40287005cp.shtml picture courtesy from: Wikipedia
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