Sustainable housing is not a new idea, but there are many different ideas surrounding the term sustainable building, some of them always changing. People have varied sustainable plans when designing a house, but in reality you can narrow sustainability down to some basic ideas.

The best sustainable housing is…

Traditional Zulu village built with sustainable materials

Sustainable at each level. From choosing a site and clearing the land. Your choice of materials and your building ethics (i.e. recycling waste). Your energy system and landscaping.  At each level of the planning and building process there are sustainable aspects you can consider.

A sustainable home has a light footprint and takes up less space. You can sort of build a green McMansion but that majorly defeats the true purpose of sustainable design.

The best sustainable materials are locally acquired, efficient, and recyclable. You can go further by choosing materials that have been reclaimed and by using only what you need. For example, two sinks in the bath, may be overkill.

Sustainable housing requires less fuel to heat or cool and maximizes natural vs. non-renewable resources for energy. Wind, solar, proper landscaping, window quality, and more are all ideas surrounding sustainable energy for housing.

Sustainable housing makes the most of water use with things like water efficient appliances, rainwater systems, and low-water landscaping.

Interior design is also a consideration. Non-toxic paints, clean air techniques, reclaimed floors, sustainable furniture, and more all contribute to overall sustainable design.

Source: Best Green Home Tips

Woman preparing a cow dung floor. Once dried, compacted and sealed, these floors can be polished to a mirror finish

‘Sustainable building’ has long been practiced by people all over the world.  In Africa this was (and still is in many places) the only way to build.  Thatching grass, wood and clay mud were harvested locally to build comfortable houses with less impact on the environment than any modern house built today.  However, we can use the materials and methods of old and combine them with modern technology and knowledge to build much more eco-friendly homes.  Even if we only take certain elements of green building design and incorporate these into our building plans, it will be beneficial to the environment.  This of course, is assuming that you are planning to build a new home from scratch.  There are many ways of improving your existing home’s energy and water efficiency without drastic changes to the structure.  Earlier posts on this website examine ways of creating a rain garden, reducing swimming pool water consumption, improving washing machine efficiency, harnessing water power, green building water efficiency, and you’ll find many other posts that discuss ways of reducing your environmental footprint.  Wherever water conservation is concerned, Water Rhapsody can provide solutions; see the many benefits of our water saving systems.

Leopard Creek Golf Course

With more than 32 000 golf courses globally, and counting, it is imperative that we find ways to make golf courses more sustainable!

Love them or hate them, the fact of the matter is that golf courses are incredibly popular the world over. Unfortunately, golf courses come with a whole host of environmental and social issues. On the environmental front, water consumption and biodiversity are without doubt top of the list. Both of these are fast becoming issues on policy and business agendas, and so golf course managers and designers are necessarily needing to think about how they can change the face of golfing.

The critical issue of sustainable golfing is how to balance the desire for perfect conditioning of fairways and greens with the need to reduce inputs of chemicals and water. Reducing the excessive reliance on artificial chemicals and imported water is at the top of the list of concerns for greener greens.

Golf landscape/estate designers already have some solutions. They are fast retrofitting existing courses with ‘grey’ water recycling systems, thus reducing the reliance on potable water. Various organic fertilisers are now readily available options as well, so it need not be an entirely daunting task to make our golf greens greener!

The future of golf is set to change, one way or another. The GEO (Golf Environment Organisation) has recently released its draft Guidelines for Sustainable Golf Development. The GEO’s mandate is to connect golf, people & the planet by giving cutting-edge guidance on golf course management and development. Demonstrating a stringent commitment to sustainable golf solutions, the GEO grades courses according to water, energy and resource management and sustainability. The selection of golf courses that have managed to meet GEO certification criteria show that what will make for a world-class golfing experience is not only the greens you play on, but also what has been put into those greens. Although there are no South African GEO certified courses as yet, both the Royal Johannesburg & Kensington Golf Club AND Leopard Creek have committed to become certified by 2013. For more info visit: www.golfenvironment.org

A summary from Simply Green Vol 4 # 1

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar Mpumalanga offer eco-friendly rainwater collection systems, rainwater tanks, grey water recycling, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flush mechanisms and high quality Solsquare solar water geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water heater, rainwater harvesting system (see rainwater FAQ), gray water recycling system or water tank (we are authorized South African JoJo Water Tanks dealers and supply the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo tank stands).  Our water tank prices are hard to beat in the Mpumalanga & Limpopo Lowveld.

Water conservation and renewable energy such as solar energy are two issues that affect the global community; make a difference and start conserving water and switch to renewable energy today.  Another way of reducing your carbon footprint is to switch to green insurance, now available in South Africa.

Evidence that the world’s water cycle has already intensified is contained in research published in the American Journal of Climate.  The change in the water cycle means arid regions have become drier and high rainfall regions wetter as atmospheric temperature increases.  The study shows the surface ocean beneath rainfall-dominated regions has freshened, whereas ocean regions dominated by evaporation are saltier.

The paper also confirms that surface warming of the world’s oceans over the past 50 years has penetrated into the oceans’ interior, changing deep-ocean salinity patterns.  The ocean’s average surface temperature has risen about 0.4 degrees Celsius since 1950.  As the near-surface atmosphere warms, it can evaporate more water from the surface ocean and move it to new regions to release it as rain and snow.

Salinity patterns reflect the contrasts between ocean regions where the oceans lose water to the atmosphere and the others where it is re-deposited on the surface as salt-free rainwater.  Importantly, these broad-scale patterns of change are qualitatively consistent with simulations used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.

Source: Simply Green May/June 2010

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems has incorporated Yes Solar Mpumalanga so that we can offer solar water heating systems to further reduce your environmental impact (water and energy are linked).  Yes Solar is a distributor for Solsquare Solar Solutions- high quality German-engineered solar energy systems that are competitively priced.  Solsquare solar geysers are SABS- and Eskom-approved and are fitted by qualified, Eskom-accredited solar installers.   Now is the time to install a solar geyser while the Eskom rebates last (this money will run out eventually) and before the looming energy crisis arrives.  Solar water geysers can reduce household electricity costs by up to 50%.

Water Rhapsody’s WWF AWARD-winning water conservation systems (product demo) include rainwater harvesting systems, grey water recycling systems, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flushing mechanisms and rainwater tanks (we are authorized JoJo Tanks & Atlas Plastics water tank dealers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo- best water tank prices in the Lowveld!).

Our water and solar systems will save the environment while you save money on water and electricity bills; get free water and free water heating!

Contact us for a free quote on a solar geyser, water system, rain water tank or water tank.

It’s estimated that there are close to a billion tourists traveling across the globe each year. That’s a heck of a lot of sightseeing!  Unless we plan carefully, and think before we travel, we run the risk of allowing our travel plans to take a harsh toll on the planet’s natural resources. Of course, nobody’s saying that you have to stay home during vacations – instead, it’s important to consider the small steps you can take to make your holiday adventures more enjoyable for you and kinder to the environment.

We’ve assembled a few of our top tips for Eco-friendlier travel. No doubt you’ll have some of your own suggestions to add too – so please share your ideas and comments below.

Carbon off-setting

Many of the major, reputable travel operators now give you an option to automatically offset the carbon emissions associated with your journey. The costs of offsetting are linked to the intended length of your travel, but most regular flights will charge between $10 – $50 to offset your carbon. It’s a small price to pay to travel to reduce your conscience! And if you are traveling by plane, select a direct flight where possible, to avoid multiple carbon emissions. Of course not flying at all is better….

Change your mode of transport

Do you really need to take the plane? Can you take the bus? Or a train? Or even cycle? These are certainly more environmentally friendly modes of transport which will decrease your journey’s carbon footprint dramatically. If you’re going to drive, rent a hybrid car – they’re more fuel efficient and emit less pollutants into the atmosphere.

Travel light

We’ve all been guilty of packing everything but the kitchen sink for our travels abroad. Try to be more disciplined when you pack your case. After all, the less weight you’re carrying, the less fuel your intended mode of transport will need to use. One good example is to collaborate with your traveling companions on toiletries. Instead of everyone bringing shampoo or shower gel or toothpaste, decide amongst you who will bring what – you’ll be amazed at how this small step lightens your load.

Research hotels

These days, more and more global destinations are developing eco-hotels and lodges which have strong environmental credentials. It’s easy to drop most hotels an email to find out more about their recycling programs, including:
• Waste recycling
• Towels and bedding – is there an option to re-use?
• Hotel energy efficiency
• Local corporate responsibility initiatives

You’ll quickly get an idea of the hotels that take their environmental responsibilities seriously – and you can reward them with your business.

Contribute to the local economy

If you’re staying in a half-board or all-inclusive resort, sometimes there’s a temptation to stay in the hotel grounds for the duration of your trip. However, exploring the local area, and frequenting local shops, restaurants and arts and craft stores can provide vital support to local people and the local economy. Hopefully, you’ll also have a more authentic in-country experience – and some great stories to share with friends and family on your return home.

Small changes in your travel plans can make a big difference. So, if you’re suffering from the winter blues, and you’re starting to plan your summer vacation, why not put these ideas into action?

Source: Life Goggles

Also see 12 (eco) Questions to Ask A Hotel Before You Book.  Water conservation and renewable energy are two very important aspects of becoming more sustainable; be sure to ask your hotel or lodge whether they have any water conservation and green energy systems such as solar and wind power in place.  Also conserve water and energy during your stay; just because it’s ‘free’ doesn’t mean you should waste it!

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!

A lot of experienced people are predicting water shortages. Investment professionals are advising clients to finds ways to invest in the ability to supply fresh water. Fresh water is becoming a valuable resource that is getting scarcer and going up in cost.

Even the latest James Bond movie tapped into this theme. If you saw the movie (Quantum of Solace) you may remember that the bad guys were trying to take control of the fresh water supply in a South American country. Peak Oil may be making most of the headlines, but Peak Fresh Water could be a bigger long-term concern.

Water conservation is a key part of a greener lifestyle. In the last post on living green and saving money I discussed faucet aerators and low-flow shower heads. Here are some more simple ways you can conserve water at home.

1. Fix toilet and faucet leaks immediately.

Drippings faucet and running toilets are wasting water 24-7, and the amounts add up quickly. Americans lose on average about 10 gallons of water per day due to leaks. That adds up to 3650 gallons per year per person, and that is a lot. One of easiest and most effective ways to reduce your water bill is to make sure all leaks are fixed.

2. Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.

There is no need to have the faucet running continuously while you do these things. Even with a water=restricting aerator, you are running a bout 1.5 gallons of water down the drain every minute.

3. Limit your showers to 5 minutes.

I love the feeling of hot water running over me as much as anyone else, but limiting showers to the time it takes to get clean will save you serious money on your water bill over a long period of time. And showers are typically more efficient with water than baths. A bathtub requires 40-70 gallons of water to fill. A 5 minute shower running at 2 gallons per minute uses only 10 gallons of water. The water savings are significant, but in term of cost, the most important cost factor for your shower is the energy required to heat that water to a comfortable showering temperature. The energy bill, whether electric or gas, is about 10 times the cost for the water itself.  This means that switching to a shower for a bath will save you about $0.10 per day in water and about $1.00 per day in energy cost. Over a year’s time, that amounts to about $400 per person in your household, assuming that they shower once a day (ahem!). If you already take a shower, shortening it from 10 minutes to 5 minutes will save about $200 per year.

4. Put a milk jug filled with stones in your toilet tank to displace water.

Believe it or not, just flushing the toilet accounts for up to 30% of the water usage in the average home. You can immediately see the benefit in reducing the water per flush. Saving just a half-gallon or a gallon of water (the volume of a milk carton or just) on each flush adds up quickly. Even better is to install a low-volume-flushing toilet. In the town where I live the new code is for 1.6 gallons per flush. Compare that to older models that used as much as 5 gallons per flush and you can see the significant impact on water use from installing a newer, low-flush toilet.

5. Collect the water that runs while you are waiting for your shower to warm up and use it to water your lawn and flowerbeds.

I admit this requires more effort, but only a little bit. And it will save you some money as well as water.

All five of the tips listed above will reduce the water you use in your bathroom. Water you don’t use is both water conserved and water you don’t have to pay for, saving you money as you develop a greener lifestyle. Cutting back on the volume of water for bathing, which is heated water, will save even more money on energy.

Source: Living Green and Saving Energy

Contact us for all your water conservation and solar energy requirements.  Our WWF Award Winning water conservation systems include rainwater harvesting systems, rainwater tanks, grey water recycling systems, greywater irrigation systems, water-saving toilet flush mechanisms, swimming pool backwash recycling systems (see product demo) as well as the full range of JoJo water tanks and water tank stands (we are authorized JoJo Tanks dealers in South Africa).  Yes Solar Mpumalanga supplies SABS and Eskom-approved solar water heaters that are installed professional Eskom-accredited solar installers.  We supply FREE QUOTES on all our eco-friendly products and services.

]]> http://www.rainharvest.co.za/2011/04/which-will-be-first-peak-oil-or-peak-water/feed/ 0 http://www.rainharvest.co.za/2011/03/a-busy-week-for-water-in-sa/ http://www.rainharvest.co.za/2011/03/a-busy-week-for-water-in-sa/#comments Sat, 26 Mar 2011 11:12:12 +0000 admin http://www.rainharvest.co.za/?p=6830

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22 March 2011 was World Water Day 2011, one day into South Africa’s National Water Week (21-27 March 2011)… a busy week for water coservation!

“South Africa needs to be more sensible about the use and management of land and water resources. The more we reduce the ecosystems’ ability to deliver clean fresh water, the less water secure we will be and the greater the cost we will have to pay for our water,” says Mark Botha, Head of WWF’s conservation programmes.

This week (20-27 March) marks South Africa’s National Water Week 2011, and the theme for this year is, “Water for cities: addressing the urban water challenge.”

“Many South Africans, especially those living in urban areas do not have a full understanding of where the water that flows from their taps really comes from, and the key role clean catchments play in providing it,” says Botha.

“Cape Town has run out of water many times in the last century. Each time an expensive “supply side” solution was found to buy us more time, but always at a cost. Now, with augmentation (further water supply) options rapidly diminishing, we’re finding that the biggest cost of dams is the complacency that they leave us with as ratepayers.”

“At some point, we need to realise that we cannot only continue building more dams and other water infrastructure, but that it is imperative to invest in the natural resources that we already have. We need to concentrate more of our efforts on catchment security,” says Botha.

According to Botha, catchment security is about the sound ecological management of our water generating infrastructure – not the dams, works and pipes that bring the liquid to our houses – but the catchments, wetlands and rivers that bring it to our dams and farms reasonably clean.

“We invest substantially in the concrete, steel and pumping systems, but hardly anything in our ecological infrastructure – the ratio has to be at least in the order of ten thousand to one,” says Botha.

WWF recognises the need for man-made water infrastructure; however it believes that without healthy freshwater ecosystems this infrastructure may be rendered useless. To illustrate, it appears that the much-touted desalination plants built in haste at great expense in the southern Cape in 2009/10 are hamstrung by ecological water constraints. As many as two of the four have already been shut down due to insufficient water availability. At the same time, the mountain catchments in the Garden Route are being over-run by invasive plants, and clearing efforts are not even holding them at current infestations. If the costs of the desalination plants (estimated to be around R35 million) had been routed into securing the ecological integrity of the catchments, the people of Plettenberg Bay may have not experienced water shortages last summer.

WWF, through the WWF Sanlam Living Waters Partnership works to conserve and ensure the healthy functioning of South Africa’s important freshwater ecosystems through various interventions and thus contribute towards the country’s water security. The organisation works with the government, the private sector, academia and other partners to achieve this goal.

Source: WWF South Africa

Still to come…

If you live in South Africa and need environmentally friendly water conservation and solar energy solutions, contact us for a free quote.  Our WWF award winning water systems include, rainwater harvesting systems, grey water irrigation systems, grey water recycling systems, swimming pool backwash recycling systems, toilet flush mechanisms and other water-saving devices (see product demo).

Water Rhapsody are also authorized South African  JoJo Water Tanks dealers and offer the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo water tank stands.  We are also Yes Solar agents- retailer and distributor of high quality solar water heaters.  Reduce your carbon footprint by switching to green insurance, now available in South Africa!

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As we all know, our planet is mostly water. So the idea of us ever running out of it, especially considering that most of what we use is naturally recycled, seems absurd.

Just for reference, the planet contains roughly 1.4 billion cubic kilometers of water. About 97.5% of that is contained in the oceans or in saline groundwater. Of the remaining 2.5%, a little more than two-thirds are contained in glaciers. That leaves some 10.5 million cubic kilometers. Estimates of human water withdrawals in the early 2000s ran around 3700 cubic kilometers, which is somewhere in the neighborhood of one three-thousandth of the total. So, it sounds like there is no problem.

There is a problem, however, because water, like money, is not distributed equally. As Michael Moore pointed out in his recent essay, where he says that America is not broke; it’s just that the same amount of money is now in fewer pockets; the same is basically true with water, too.

While some areas are having terrible droughts, others are experiencing floods which are not particularly helpful, either. For this reasons, it is really only meaningful to talk about peak water on a regional basis.

Dr. Peter Gleick describes three types of peak water: peak renewable water, peak ecological water and peak non-renewable water. Renewable water is water that is replenished though snow melt or rainfall. As such, it is flow limited. It reaches a peak when the level withdrawn meets or exceeds the level of replenishment. Renewable is not the same as unlimited. Non-renewable water is like oil. It is found in “fossil” aquifers that are not being replenished at meaningful rates. It is stock-limited. In this sense it is like peak oil, which occurs when the rate of production begins to decline. Peak ecological water refers the amount of water that can be withdrawn from a river, stream or lake, before the damage and disruption costs more than the value of the water withdrawn.

Many factors complicate the analysis of water as a resource, including the renewable and non-renewable sources, consumptive and non-consumptive uses, as well as fresh vs. salt water, which can also be made interchangeable with the addition of sufficient energy, a resource that has its own scarcity issues.

The bottom line here is water availability. Even in the case of renewable sources, if water is evaporated by a cooling tower or diverted to a treatment plant, it will eventually return to a usable state, but in the meantime, it is unavailable.

A number of river basins have already reached their ecological peak including the Colorado, which no longer reaches the Pacific, as well at the Yellow River, the Nile and the Jordan. These areas have all seen substantial ecological impacts. Nonrenewable water sources that are approaching and may have reached their peak production include: the Ogallala Aquifer, the North China Plains, California’s Central Valley and numerous basins in India that account for roughly 8% of that country’s water use.

So while we have not yet reached the point where we have a “gas gauge” for water consumption, we do have an ever-growing understanding of the issues and the critical factors.

RP Siegel is the co-author of the eco-thriller Vapor Trails the first of a series dealing with the human side of energy, food and water.  Like airplanes, we all leave behind a vapor trail. And though we can easily see others’, we rarely see our own.

Source: (Abbrev.) Tipple Pundit (RP Siegel)

A water crisis is threatening the world, countries with more water resources than others may even become targets for military invasion in the future.  South Africa faces severe water scarcity and the precious water that we do have is also not distributed evenly.  Drastic water conservation measures and infrastructure development are required to prevent South Africa’s water security issues from becoming the cause of social and political unrest.  Many other African countries face the real possibility of conflict over water resources, both within their borders and between nations.  War over water resources is likely to become increasingly common over the next few decades. Rainwater harvesting and grey water recycling should be incorporated into both new and old buildings; not only do these save water but also money.

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.  Reduce your carbon footprint by switching the eco-friendly insurance.

Contact us for a free quote on a solar water geyser, water tank or rainwater/gray water system today!

The series Places & Spaces could inspire even the most dedicated couch potato to pack a bag and hop a plane. The destinations featured are sustainable, but what about your average hotel claiming green sensitivity? The term is increasingly overused, so it’s important to ask questions. A well-informed traveler is a more conscious one, so ask the following before you commit your hard earned cash:

1. Do they use organic linens and bedding?

2. Can guests opt-out of daily maid service?

3. Do they use refillable hair and skincare dispensers (versus tiny plastic bottles)? And are the products organic?

4. Do they use recycled paper products, in-room and elsewhere?

5. Do they use energy efficient appliances and low-flow toilets?

6. Do they use non-toxic cleaners, paints and pesticides?

7. Are vegetarian and/or organic food choices available?

8. Do they compost food waste?

9. What are their recycle programs? Are they easily accessible to guests?

10. How do they contribute to the local community? Do they employ local people or work with local charities?

[2 more questions below]

While you may not get a “yes” to every question, you’ll be able to make an informed choice and plan ahead. For example, if a hotel can’t meet one of your green criteria (i.e. eco-friendly tissues and toilet paper), maybe there’s a quick fix (bring your own or ask the concierge to provide it).

You can also do your part by taking shorter showers and turning off the television and heat or air conditioning before you leave your room.

Lastly, try to remember that any vacation, near or far from home, is a luxury. Slow down and make it meaningful; pay attention and be respectful. Leave your destination cleaner than you found it, and help our beautiful planet stay that way.

Source: Ecosalon

Two more questions that the eco-conscious traveller should ask are:

• Do they make use of renewable energy sources such as solar energy (solar panels and solar water heaters)
• Do they harvest rainwater and/or have grey water recycling or greywater irrigation

Hotels are notorious for their huge water and energy consumption; the hospitality business has realized that there is a growing number of discerning, green travellers.  Many hotels and lodges are now seeking environmentally friendly certification.  Two major aspects that environmental inspectors assess are the hotel’s water conservation measures and energy-saving endeavours.

Also see Tips for Eco-Friendly Travel and How to travel green—and luxe

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar Mpumalanga offer eco-friendly rainwater collection systems, rainwater tanks, grey water recycling, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flush mechanisms and high quality Solsquare solar water geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water heater, rainwater harvesting system (see rainwater FAQ), gray water recycling system or water tank (we are authorized South African JoJo Water Tanks dealers and supply the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo tank stands).  Our water tank prices are hard to beat in the Mpumalanga & Limpopo Lowveld.

Water conservation and renewable energy such as solar energy are two issues that affect the global community; make a difference and start conserving water and switch to renewable energy today.

In February, world food prices reached the highest level on record. Soaring food prices are already a source of spreading hunger and political unrest, and it appears likely that they will climb further in the months ahead.

As a result of an extraordinarily tight grain situation, this year’s harvest will be one of the most closely watched in years. Last year, the world produced 2,180 million tons of grain. It consumed 2,240 million tons, a consumption excess that was made possible by drawing down stocks by 60 million tons. (See data at www.earth-policy.org.) To avoid repeating last year’s shortfall and to cover this year’s estimated 40-million-ton growth in demand, this year’s world grain harvest needs to increase by at least 100 million tons. Yet that would only maintain the current precarious balance between supply and demand.

To get prices back down to a more acceptable level, it would take perhaps another 50 million tons for a total increase of 150 million tons. Can the world boost this year’s grain harvest by 150 million tons or even 100 million tons? It is possible, because we have had annual harvest jumps of 150 million tons twice over the last two decades, but this year it does not appear likely.

Assessing 2011 Prospects for the “Big 3″ Grains

In assessing the world grain harvest prospect, we focus on the big three grains — rice, wheat, and corn — that together account for nearly 90 percent of the harvest. Barley, oats, sorghum, rye, and millet make up the remainder.

We start by looking at rice because, as an irrigated crop, its production fluctuates little. The average annual gain in the world rice harvest, which totaled 452 million tons last year, has been 7 million tons. Let’s assume that we get a 10 million ton gain in rice this year.

Wheat, now the world’s leading food grain, is much more difficult to assess because so much of the harvest is rain-fed, making yields as variable as the rainfall. But since most wheat is winter wheat, which is planted in the fall, is dormant in winter, and resumes growth in early spring, we know that this year the wheat area planted is up by 3 percent. We also have an early sense of the crop’s condition.

We begin with the big four wheat producers — China, India, the United States, and Russia — which collectively produce half the world’s wheat. China, the leading wheat producer, was until very recently suffering the worst drought in its winter wheat-growing region in 60 years. Although rain and snow in late February and early March rains and snow have lessened the drought effect, we could easily see China’s wheat harvest drop from 115 million tons last year to 110 million tons this year. India officially expects an 82-million-ton harvest, up 1 million tons from last year.

In the United States — the third ranking wheat producer — the southern Great Plains are suffering from drought. As of the end of February, the U.S. winter wheat crop condition was among the worst in the last 20 years. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates the harvest will drop from 60 million tons to 56 million, and this may be conservative.

Russia’s wheat harvest should be up sharply from last year’s heat-devastated crop of 42 million tons. But last fall it was too dry to plant one fifth of its winter wheat, which means many more farmers will plant lower-yielding spring wheat — wheat that is planted in the spring and is harvested in the late summer or early fall. With a little luck, Russia should harvest roughly 58 million tons of wheat.

Adding in the rest of the world’s expected wheat production, can we match last year’s world wheat harvest figure of 645 million tons? We should exceed it. The International Grains Council estimates this year’s harvest at 672 million tons, up by 27 million tons over 2010. This contrasts with the Canadian Wheat Board estimate of 653 million tons, a gain of only 8 million tons. For calculation purposes, let us assume that this year’s wheat harvest is up by 20 million tons for a total of 665 million tons.

Now for corn. Two countries tell the story here: the United States and China, which produce 40 and 20 percent, respectively, of the 814-million-ton world corn harvest. Combining the expected 4 percent increase in U.S. planted area with a 10-ton-per-hectare yield, the U.S. corn harvest could increase by 25 million tons. China’s corn harvest, which has fluctuated around 165 million tons for the last three years, is not likely to increase given its tight water situation. For the remaining 40 percent of the corn harvest, we will assume a gain of 15 million tons. All together this takes the world harvest up by 40 million tons.

Let’s review the global numbers. It will take 100 million tons of additional grain just to maintain the current precarious situation and close to 150 million tons to restore some semblance of stability in the world grain market. We can count on a 10-million-ton increase in this year’s rice harvest. We are hoping for a 20-million-ton rise with wheat and a 40-million-ton jump in corn. Let us also assume that minor cereals increase by 10 million tons over last year. This would give us a total increase of 80 million tons, not enough to prevent further price rises.

Environmental, Economic Challenges for the Year’s Grain Harvest

Estimating world grain production is becoming more complex and difficult. On the demand side of the equation, there are three sources of growth: the addition of 80 million people per year, some 3 billion people moving up the food chain consuming more grain-intensive livestock products, and the massive conversion of grain to fuel ethanol in the United States.

On the supply side, there was a time when grain production was on the rise almost everywhere. That world is now history. In a number of countries, grain harvests are shrinking because of aquifer depletion and severe soil erosion. Rising temperatures are also taking a toll. And some agriculturally advanced countries have run out of new technology to raise land productivity.

In 18 countries containing half the world’s people, overpumping for irrigation is depleting aquifers. Among the countries where harvests are falling as aquifers are depleted are Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Iraq. World Bank data for India indicate that 175 million people are being fed with grain produced by overpumping, which by definition is a short-term phenomenon. The comparable number for China is 130 million people.

In some countries such as Mongolia and Lesotho, grain production has fallen by half or more in recent decades as severe soil erosion has led to wholesale cropland abandonment. In North Korea and Haiti, soil erosion is undermining efforts to raise output.

In several agriculturally advanced countries, the backlog of unused technology has largely disappeared. Japan’s rice yield per acre has not increased for 16 years. China’s rice yield, now approaching that in Japan, may also be about to level off.

In France, Europe’s leading wheat producer, yields have been flat for a decade. Wheat yields have also plateaued in Germany and the United Kingdom. In Egypt, Africa’s leading wheat producer, wheat yields have been flat for six years.

At this point, it seems unlikely that we will get the 100-million-ton grain harvest increase this year that would be needed just to maintain the current rather precarious situation. Instead, it looks more likely that we will reduce stocks further. It may be somehow possible to avoid a rise in world food prices in the months ahead, but at this point it seems unlikely.

Source: Sustainablog

Droughts, natural disasters and over-pumping groundwater combined with climate change,  are not only causing a global food crisis but also a water crisis, especially in Third World countries.  South Africa has become a net importer of food since 2007, mainly because of the failing land redistribution programme.  Domestic water self-sufficiency, through rainwater harvesting and greywater recycling, enables food security, depending on the circumstances (you don’t need much space to grow a thriving vegetable garden).  Growing your own food has other benefits- you can have peace of mind that the fruit and vegetables your grow have not been laced with pesticides, ripening agents and other agro-chemicals.

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar Mpumalanga offer eco-friendly rainwater collection systems, rainwater tanks, grey water recycling, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flush mechanisms and high quality Solsquare solar water geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water heater, rainwater harvesting system (see rainwater FAQ), gray water recycling system or water tank (we are authorized South African JoJo Water Tanks dealers and supply the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo tank stands).  Our water tank prices are hard to beat in the Mpumalanga & Limpopo Lowveld.

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Banana peels show promise as superior water purification materials. To the surprisingly inventive uses for banana peels, which include polishing silverware, leather shoes, and the leaves of house plants , scientists have added purification of drinking water contaminated with potentially toxic metals. Their report, which concludes that minced banana peel performs better than an array of other purification materials, appears in ACS’s journal Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research.

Gustavo Castro and colleagues note that mining processes, runoff from farms, and industrial wastes can all put heavy metals, such as lead and copper, into waterways. Heavy metals can have adverse health and environmental effects. Current methods of removing heavy metals from water are expensive, and some substances used in the process are toxic themselves. Previous work has shown that some plant wastes, such as coconut fibers and peanut shells, can remove these potential toxins from water. In this report, the researchers wanted to find out whether minced banana peels could also act as water purifiers.

The researchers found that minced banana peel could quickly remove lead and copper from river water as well as, or better than, many other materials. A purification apparatus made of banana peels can be used up to 11 times without losing its metal-binding properties, they note. The team adds that banana peels are very attractive as water purifiers because of their low cost and because they don’t have to be chemically modified in order to work.

Source: Celsias

This seems to be a sustainable and importantly, accessible way of removing heavy metals from drinking water in rural areas.  South Africa has an abundance of banana farms in the eastern parts of the country so banana peels would be very easy to come by.  Hopefully the techniques and findings of this research will be made available for commercial, low-cost production so that even the poor will be able to remove toxic heavy metals from their drinking water.

If you live in South Africa and need environmentally friendly water conservation and solar energy solutions, contact us for a free quote.  Our WWF award winning water systems include, rainwater harvesting systems, grey water irrigation systems, grey water recycling systems, swimming pool backwash recycling systems, toilet flush mechanisms and other water-saving devices (see product demo).

We are also authorized South African  JoJo Water Tanks dealers and offer the full range of JoJo water tanks and JoJo tank stands.  Yes Solar offers high quality solar water heaters to reduce your electricity bills by up to 40%.

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