August 15th, 2008 -- Posted in Water Saving |
I came across this today on the ABC website. It’s like SimCity with an environmental conscience 
I only meant to have a look, and before I knew it, my turns were up, and I’d scored about 319,100! I may have to go try again soon when I’m not feeling quite so sick… darn Ekka cold season…
From the website:
“Play Catchment Detox to see if you can repair a damaged river catchment and create a sustainable and thriving economy.
It’s an online game where you’re in charge of the whole catchment. You get to decide what activities you undertake - whether to plant crops, log forests, build factories or set up national parks. The aim is to fix environmental problems and provide food and wealth for the population.
Managing Australia’s waterways is a huge challenge with climate change, increased demand for water and environmental problems putting our rivers under stress. Catchment Detox gives an idea of just how difficult it is to manage a river catchment.
Are you up for the challenge?”
Go play Catchment Detox at ABC Science!
July 13th, 2008 -- Posted in Water Saving, garden |
Check out this video! John Patrick shows you how to build a garden that takes water straight off the roof… and it’s a really great idea. Lots of other videos to watch there, too…
A ‘Rain Garden’
June 24th, 2008 -- Posted in Water Saving, animals, gobbolino, indoors |
I’ve been struck down with a winter virus - and have spent most of today in bed. Consequently, I’m not up to a long post - so I thought I’d share an interesting discovery with you all instead.
I found last week that the shower bucket seems to have an alternate use in this household…
Now, this didn’t really surprise me, as Goblin has been drinking out of showers since he was a kitten. No matter where we’ve lived - I’ll always catch him drinking water out of the shower recess! I have no idea why - maybe the water is fresher, maybe it feels more like drinking out of a pond… does anyone else have a cat that does this?!
Wishing you all good health - it’s always when you’re sick that you really appreciate it
June 19th, 2008 -- Posted in Oil and petrol, Water Saving, science snippets |
Prologue:
I have always had an avid interest in science, and last year I fulfilled a long-held desire - to get a subscription to New Scientist magazine.
It is always an engaging, fascinating, and educational read, and I love learning about all the cutting-edge technologies and ideas out there. I actually have a few posts planned that are based on some interesting environmental stories I have read in there recently, and this is the first. In fact, given my science background, I’ll probably aim to make my ’science snippets’ a regular feature here at SS - let me know if you’d like to get updates from me on the scientific issues regarding sustainability!
And so, on to the story…
NS discuss a new biofuel in the latest edition - an emerald green form of crude oil produced by the process of photosynthesis in genetically-engineered algae. It’s being produced by a company called Sapphire Energy in California, and they’re planning on producing about 10,000 barrels a day within five years.
On their website, Sapphire claim that “the company’s final products will have the same chemical composition as gasoline and will be completely compatible with the existing refining, distribution and fleet infrastructure.” (Sapphireenergy.com)
Now, the benefits of this over other ‘biofuels’ are obvious. First, it’s not using land that has been previously devoted to growing food, as sugar-cane for ethanol has been (and that is the main reason that ethanol fuel is becoming more and more frowned upon from a global perspective). Second, it can be grown in treated waste-water, and pretty much all it needs is the water and sun to grow. Now, I’m a scientist by training and by nature, so biotechnology as a rule is something I am in full support of - when it’s used intelligently for the greater good, not just the greater profit (e.g. I am fully against Mon’satan’ and their approach to monopolising agriculture and creating a world of non-self-pollinating seeds).
So, all that sounds great… however. Sapphire Energy say that the quality of their oil is such that it can be pumped into the current pipeline, and used to fuel any vehicle that runs on normal petrol… does this mean, therefore, that this oil will result in the same carbon emissions as ‘normal’ oil? And if so, is it really a good alternative?
To add your thoughts to the issue, please leave a comment below.
To read the NewScientist article, click the link - Emerald Oil
P.S. And on a random note - if they’re making emerald oil, why are they called sapphire energy?
June 2nd, 2008 -- Posted in Water Saving, reuse |
I took far too long to make this one, fantastic addition to my life. The amount of water I manage to harvest from the wasted moments of a shower - like when you’re warming up the water - has been fantastic. It has been all I need to water my ornamental plants, though I’m not confident enough in my housemates’s strictness in avoiding soap getting in there to use it on the veggies.
I started by just using our mop bucket, but it was pretty small, and I didn’t like to use something that somebody (not me…) would sometimes put harsh chemicals in.
So, down to the local discount shop I went, and there I found it, in all its pink and shiny loveliness….
It doesn’t look it, but it’s quite massive - much larger than your normal bucket-size.
I would heartily encourage anyone who doesn’t already to this to start - you’ll be saving perfectly good water from going down the drain, and collecting guilt-free watering supplies as well!
