Solar power myths

Solar panels and energy payback

One of the most prevalent myths is the one that goes something along the lines of "it takes more energy to make a solar panel than it generates during its serviceable lifespan".

This just isn't true, even low quality panels, assuming they see out their 20 - 25 year lifespan, will generate far more energy during their life than what went into making them. The average energy payback time varies as it depends on the panel, and where it is used, but 1 - 4 years is the average range. Given the 25+ year life, that's a lot of extra energy produced.

Solar power subsidies

Some countries offer generous renewable energy rebates, subsidies and incentives to install solar power, which has led to criticism about solar energy being an unfair burden on taxpayers. What many people don't realise is that solar is competing with fossil fuels on a very unlevel playing field. The fossil fuel industry is very heavily subsidised - and this has been going on for decades. If fossil fuel subsidies were removed and the cost of damage those fuels have wreaked added in, the true cost of coal, diesel and gas would make solar seem quite cheap by comparison.

5 Easy Tips to "Green" Your Home

1. Unplug appliances and electronic devices when they are not in use. You’d be surprised how much electricity is wasted just to have multiple devices displaying the time of day.

2. Only run your dishwasher and laundry machine when you have full loads. Using these devices when they are only half full wastes water and electricity.

3. Support your local farmers by shopping at farmers’ markets or by selecting food products that are locally grown. Shopping locally reduces the amount of gasoline used to transport your food from the farm to your grocery store, and reduces the amount of air pollution involved in grocery distribution.

4. Recycle at home. Your local waste hauler will have information on the type of recycling program available in your area. Whether you have a curbside program or a single stream process, think about contributing as little as possible to your local landfill.

5. Clump your errands into fewer trips. If you have several errands to run each week, think about how to minimize the amount of miles you drive by mapping out a route that will require the least amount of time and fuel possible.

Should we reduce the usage of water!

Why there is water usage shortage issue in Malaysia? I guess the main reason is due to dry season.
To me, the usage of water per capital over 300 liter is not really the issue here. The statement said if residents in some states in Malaysia, not reduce usage of water, then in 2014, there will be crisis of shortage water. How far it is true?
As we all know, after we use the water, the waste water will flow to drain and start it cycle of evaporation, form cloud, and condensation of atmospheric water vapor into drops of water heavy enough to fall, as rain.
We should use water wisely because the process of purifying the water is costly!

Deep think of Lynas Corporation operate their plant which may associate with radiation in Malaysia

Malaysia is a very beautiful country, I guess all the people in this world agree with this statement, but in order to achieve 2020 goal, Malaysia government allow a risk-based company, Lynas Corporation, to set up the facilities here in Kuantan, Pahang. Who can guarantee there is no risk associated with the waste??

There are lots of way to generate wealth in Malaysia, if the government able to manage the revenue properly and efficiently.

Why we need to earn such money while endanger the life of the people here? I wonder.

You earn lots of of money, but if you do not have good health to enjoy it, I rahter give up the wealth!!!

Eco-environmental Friendly for Our Kids

When a baby is born we would like to offer him the best. Sometimes, especially for lack of adequate information, we buy products that are harmful to the environment and the health of our children, for example products that have a high content of chemicals, of dubious origin, with a high impact on the environment in their cycle life.

There are some tips for choosing children’s products according to criteria of environmental friendliness, quality and safety. It will achieve the dual objective of preserving the environment for the future of our children and surround him with quality materials and objects in order to protect his health and his safety. It also can help our children to learn and respect nature and earth much better for their benefit in the future..

Diapers Choices
Diapers disposable “tonnes of waste disposal is a problem”. One diaper takes 500 years to decompose naturally. Add their chemical composition triggers redness to the skin and have a high cost (in the first three years of life are an average of 6,500 diapers per child).

One alternative to the diaper “disposable” is the use of cloth diapers, which, encouraged by policies to raise awareness and encourage public is increasingly asserting itself in order to raise the child welfare, reduced environmental impact, a significant savings. There are now many types and models on the market, the important thing is to choose one that best suits our needs/expectations.

Another alternative, also be used in a “mixed” with the cloth diapers, diaper is represented by “disposable” in Mater-Bi® (bio-plastic produced from corn starch biodegradable and compostable): these, if disposed as waste, they have no problem as they decompose naturally.

Walking with Mom and Dad
A nice alternative to wheelchairs and strollers is that the carrier: the children really like to be in contact with mum and dad, and for the parents, it is an extremely practical tool. The idea of ‘bring’ the children is an ongoing rediscovery of the band-door baby: economic and ecological (if fabric from organic farms), the band can be used for a long period of time due to the different positions (a cot for babies on the back or side for older babies)

In room
Let the child to live in an healthy and non-toxic area, and we choose environmentally friendly furnishings. How can we recognize? They are made with the least possible use of paints and adhesives; hardwood from FSC or PEFC certified forests, sustainably managed according to specific criteria established by these international standards. There are also furniture made of chipboard 100% post-consumer, FSC certified and is characterized by very low formaldehyde content (Panel Ecological® LEB). The creation of this product save 10,000 trees every day after killing.

Fabrics
All clothing should be in the child’s tissues (or wool) from organic or biodynamic, possibly to mark AIAB textiles. This is because conventional fabrics (including those seemingly natural, such as 100% cotton) may, by law, contain a percentage of synthetic fibers and are also subjected to several treatments (including color) that include the use of highly toxic chemicals and leave important residues in the final package. Tissues from certified organic or biodynamic, unlike conventional ones, prohibiting the use of care (including bleaching) and all the colors that are not vegetable or mineral.

Toys
The first thing to do to be good for the environment is to avoid toys with batteries: they contain hazardous substances like heavy metals and therefore must be disposed of at end of life such as household hazardous waste.

To choose a toy, make sure of the quality of the CE and see if it is suitable for older children (especially from 0 to 3 years, to avoid toys with parts too small could be swallowed by the child).

In the market you can find a wide range of toxic materials in toys and ecological, especially in wood and natural fibers, hand washable, and possibly without the use of paints. Generally this kind of toys are simple and lend them to different uses in a rather long period of time, to stimulate the imagination of the child while growing up.

Hygiene
The choice of cleaning products is worth a careful look. Avoid the consumer products, often fragrant and very foamy, in favor of organic products (cosmetics brand AIAB) and nickel free, fragrance free and added a little foamy (the foam index is greater washing power). These are also environmentally friendly because, being very focused, it needs small quantities and are rinsed more easily, resulting in a lower cost of water.

Finally, as part of the child to live in a healthier environment, we favor the use of detergents or Ecolabel AIAB detergent cleaner to clean all surfaces of the house. Still no need to “disinfect” for hygiene and that the chemicals found in disinfectants, are often not adequately rinsed, since the surfaces are coming into direct contact with our child.

Old medication and the environment

There are many areas of our lives where we can lighten our environmental impact just a little; and one of them is how we deal with medication.
I'm certainly not about to recommend that anyone using prescription medication to cease taking them for the sake of the planet, but how we handle the waste related to our pills and potions does have an effect on the environment. I'm not referring to the packaging, but the drugs themselves.

Old, past-expiry date medication are a common occurrence in the home and these drugs pose a risk to others in your household, so it's certainly a good idea to dispose of them. Old medication should be considered as being household hazardous waste and careful consideration given to their disposal.

Unfortunately, old medication often goes straight down the toilet or the sink, but the problem is sewage wastewater treatment plants aren't equipped to filter out drugs; so they wind up in our waterways.
How to dispose of old medication

It's important not to flush prescription drugs down the toilet or drain unless information accompanying the medication specifically states you can do so. For people in the USA, you can locate a list of medications that can be flushed on the Food And Drug Administration web site. Something to bear in mind though is that the FDA's recommendations have little to do with the environment. Its opinion is the potential risk to people and the environment from flushing the listed medicines is outweighed by the "life-threatening risks from accidental ingestion of these medicines".

Probably the best first course of action regardless of the country you are in is to contact your local pharmacy and ask them if they have a drug take-back program as these initiatives are becoming increasingly common. Pharmacies that do will ensure the medications are disposed of in the proper manner; usually via incineration.

Another point of contact is your local council's waste department as they may offer a drop-off facility for old medications or may be able to direct you to a service that does.

Failing all that, the general advice is to dispose of the medications in your household trash, but to take some special safety precautions by take the medications out of their original containers and placing them into another airtight container, mixed in with something undesirable - such as used kitty litter or other substances equally as unappealing. It's not ideal as the drugs can contaminate the soil when landfilled and possibly contaminate groundwater; but that's really the only other option and according to authorities; the "lesser of the evils".

By the way, while some disposal programs incinerate old medications, do not attempt to incinerate medications at home as this can be just as environmentally damaging as landfill disposal and hazardous to your health, due to the gases produced. Medicine disposal programs use special incinerators that burn at very high temperatures.