Biogas project launched to assist with power supply in rural South Africa
April 18, 2011Bamboo Flooring: Affordable and Environmentally Friendly
April 19, 2011
In Brazil, products made from sugarcane are ubiquitous. From the nation’s favorite liquor, cachaça, to the clean-burning biofuels that power cars and buses, sugarcane has proven to be a particularly diverse natural resource — but as it turns out, the crop could do wonders for the planet’s health, too. According to the latest research, sugarcane crops serve as heat shields, reflecting the sun’s solar energy back into space while emitting water vapor in the process, effectively cooling the surrounding area where it’s planted. Sweet, right?
Throughout Brazil, sugarcane has already helped significantly reduced the nation’s carbon output as a biofuel, which accounts for 25 percent of the fuel used in automobiles there. Researchers found out, however, that even before the crop is harvested, it actually has the power to cool things down, helping to mitigate the effects of global warming on a local scale.
From New Scientist:
Scott Loarie of the Carnegie Institution for Science in Stanford, California, and colleagues used satellite data to monitor the effects of sugarcane cultivation in the Brazilian savannah. They found that converting natural vegetation to crops warmed the area by 1.6 °C, but a subsequent switch to sugarcane cooled it by 0.9 °C. That’s because sugarcane reflects more of the sun’s heat and releases extra water vapor.
The exciting potential behind this latest discovery is tempered by the often destructive practices used to achieve it. If areas of native vegetation are cleared to make way for sugarcane crops, warns Loa
rie, any positive effect on the local climate would be nullified, leading to an overall warming, as is commonly the case in areas of deforestation.
In contrast to traditional fossil fuels, the acquisition of which has caused more than its fair share of ecological disasters, biofuels produced from sugarcane offer hope for a more sustainable energy future. And, if responsibly grown on a wider scale for such uses, the crop just might help cool the planet, too.
Source: Treehugger (Stephen Messenger)
Another interesting article by the same author: Sugar Cane That Fertilizes its Own Soil. In many respects, sugar cane plantations are far from eco-friendly. However, if sugar cane is cultivated in the most environmentally friendly way possible, then its positive attributes (as outlined in the above article) may mitigate its negative effects. We have to accept that humans need to cultivate crops for both food and fuel; a balance between sustainable agriculture and preserving natural areas needs to be found. Also see Food vs Fuel: the Debate Continues.
Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems Mpumalanga offers water tank and rainwater tank installation, rainwater harvesting systems (see rainwater FAQ), grey water recycling (see greywater FAQ) and water-saving devices for swimming pools and toilet flush systems (see product demo ). Our WWF Award-winning water systems can be retrofitted or built into new buildings and can be adapted to small households or large business blocks, hospitals, schools, lodges & hotels.
Water Rhapsody has incorporated Yes Solar– official distributor of German-made Solsquare solar water heating systems that are installed by Eskom-accredited solar installers (our solar geysers are eligible for Eskom solar energy rebates). We are authorized JoJo Water Tank dealers and Atlas Plastics water tank suppliers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province (best water tank prices in the Lowveld!). We are also able to supply sanitary hardware such as waterless toilets through our JoJo Tanks and Atlas Plastics dealerships.
Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water geyser, water tank or rainwater/gray water system. South Africa now has eco-friendly insurance– another way to go green, switch to green insurance cover and reduce your carbon footprint today!
