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Bee deaths may signal wider pollination threat

admin — Sat, 12 Mar 2011 05:53:26 +0000

Mass deaths of bee colonies in many parts of the world may be part of a wider, hidden threat to wild insect pollinators vital to human food supplies, a U.N. study indicated on Thursday.

Declines in flowering plants, a spread of parasites, use of pesticides or air pollution were among more than a dozen factors behind recent collapses of bee colonies mainly in North America and Europe, the U.N. Environment Programme (UNEP) said.

That cocktail of problems — rather than a single cause killing bees in hives that might be easier to fix — may also threaten wild bees and other insects vital to pollinate crops such as soybeans, potatoes or apple trees.

“It’s the tip of the iceberg we’re seeing with the honey bees,” Peter Neumann, a lead author of the study of “global honey bee colony disorders and other threats to insect pollinators,” told Reuters.

“There is not an immediate pollination disaster but the writing is on the wall,” said Neumann, of the Swiss Bee Research Center. “We have to do something to ensure pollination for future generations.”

The study said there were also reports of bee colony collapses in China, Egypt and Latin America.

“There are some indicators that it is becoming a global issue,” he said in a telephone interview.

BIRDS AND THE BEES

Bees and other pollinators such as butterflies, beetles or birds are estimated to do work worth 153 billion euros ($212.3 billion) a year to the human economy — about 9.5 percent of the total value of human food production, it said.

Recent estimates of the contribution by managed species, mainly honey bees, range up to 57 billion euros. In the United States, over two million bee colonies are trucked around the nation to help pollination every year.

“Of the 100 crop species that provide 90 per cent of the world’s food, over 70 are pollinated by bees,” Achim Steiner, head of UNEP, said in a statement.

“Human beings have fabricated the illusion that in the 21st century they have the technological prowess to be independent of nature. Bees underline the reality that we are more, not less, dependent on nature’s services in a world of close to seven billion people,” he said.

The report urged a shift toward ecological farming, less dependent on insecticides and more resilient to threats such as climate change. Food prices have hit record levels and are one factor behind uprisings in Egypt or Tunisia.

UNEP said farmers could be given incentives to set aside land to “restore pollinator-friendly habitats, including key flowering plants” as part of a shift to a “Green Economy.”

Neumann also urged more research into insects, noting that charismatic animals such as polar bears won most attention as victims of global warming. “Insects are usually not cute but they are the backbone of ecosystems,” he said.

Source: Reuters

Being stung by an African bee is not pleasant (as happened to me yesterday) but it should be remembered that bees attack perceived threats instinctively (I unknowingly stood too close to their hive) and that they pay the ultimate price, dying after stinging. In South Africa, bee populations have also declined, probably mostly due to agricultural pesticides. It’s ironic that many South African farmers pay beekeepers for the pollination services and then the bees are killed by insecticides meant for pest species. As with health and the medical/pharmaceutical world, agriculture needs to be released from the grip of agro-chemical companies and return to more eco-friendly practices.

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 (see product demo) include rainwater harvesting systems, grey water recycling systems, swimming pool backwash recycling, water-saving toilet flushing mechanisms and rainwater tanks (we are authorised JoJo Water Tanks & Atlas Plastics water tank dealers in Mpumalanga and Limpopo- best water tank prices in the Lowveld!). Two new industrial water recycling products have been added to our water system lineup, read about the Poseidon Advantage & Poseidon 1500.

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!

Eco-farming can double food output by poor: U.N.

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 17:57:37 +0000

Many farmers in developing nations can double food production within a decade by shifting to ecological agriculture from use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, a U.N. report showed on Tuesday.

Insect-trapping plants in Kenya and Bangladesh’s use of ducks to eat weeds in rice paddies are among examples of steps taken to increase food for a world population that the United Nations says will be 7 billion this year and 9 billion by 2050.

“Agriculture is at a crossroads,” according to the study by Olivier de Schutter, the U.N. Special Rapporteur on the right to food, in a drive to depress record food prices and avoid the costly oil-dependent model of industrial farming.

“Agroecology” could also make farms more resilient to the projected impact of climate change including floods, droughts and a rise in sea levels that the report said was already making fresh water near some coasts too salty for use in irrigation.

So far, eco-farming projects in 57 nations had shown average crop yield gains of 80 percent by tapping natural methods for enhancing soil and protecting against pests, it said.

Recent projects in 20 African countries had resulted in a doubling of crop yields within three to 10 years. Those lessons could be widely mimicked elsewhere, it said.

“Sound ecological farming can significantly boost production and in the long term be more effective than conventional farming,” De Schutter told Reuters of steps such as more use of natural compost or high-canopy trees to shade coffee groves.

AFRICA

Benefits would be greatest in “regions where too few efforts have been put in to agriculture, particularly sub-Saharan Africa,” he said. “There are also a number of very promising experiences in parts of Latin America and parts of Asia.”

“The cost of food production has been very closely following the cost of oil,” he said. Upheavals in Egypt and Tunisia have been partly linked to discontent at soaring food prices. Oil prices were around $115 a barrel on Wednesday.

“If food prices are not kept under control and populations are unable to feed themselves…we will have increasingly states being disrupted and failed states developing,” De Schutter said.

Among examples, thousands of Kenyan farmers were planting insect-repelling desmodium or tick clover, used as animal fodder, within corn fields to keep damaging insects away and sowed small plots of napier grass nearby that excretes a sticky gum to trap pests.

Better research, training and use of local knowledge were also needed. “Farmer field schools” by rice growers in Indonesia, Vietnam and Bangladesh had led to cuts in insecticide use of between 35 and 92 percent, the study said.

De Schutter also called for a push to diversify global farm output from reliance on rice, wheat and maize in diets.

Developed nations, however, would be unable to make a quick shift to agroecology because of what he called an “addiction” to an industrial, oil-based model of farming. Still, a global long-term effort to shift to agroecology was needed.

Cuba had shown that such a change was possible after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 cut off supplies of cheap pesticides and fertilizers. Yields had risen after a downturn in the 1990s as farmers adopted more eco-friendly methods.

Source: Reuters

Eco-farming and organic agriculture has its parallels in the the health industry too; people, including highly qualified medical doctors, are starting to realize that natural is usually best (see www.ecovitality.co.za for more information on natural health & the environment). As with the pharmaceutical companies, fertilizer giants and agro-chemical companies do not wish to change the status quo of our ‘addiction’ to chemicals; to do so would mean financial ruin for them. However, it is inevitable that more sustainable practices are embraced- ultimately, it’s the only way we’ll survive as a species.

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 geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water geyser, rainwater harvesting system (see rainwater FAQ), gray water recycling system or water tank (we are authorized 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.

5 Tips on how to find your dream green job

admin — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 07:10:21 +0000

So you want a green career? Well, you’re not alone. While the economy has been cooling down, the interest in green jobs has been heating up. Many job-seekers these days are looking to use their talents in ways that can make a positive impact not only on their bank accounts but also on the environment.

Here are a few tips that job hunters can use to help make a green career a reality:

1. Create and maintain a “green network”. Effective networking is one of the key tools of any successful job hunter. In the world of green, it is particularly important. But a good network has many layers and there are several ways in which a strong network can be developed and maintained. A good first step is to find out about green business networking events and attend as many as possible. Another good strategy is to let your present business contacts know what you are looking for and ask for as many referrals and leads as possible. Try to find out the names of the key movers and shakers in the leading green organizations. But don’t stop there; a lower level professional can be every bit as valuable a contact as a higher-up in the organization and sometimes even more useful. In fact, if you can get to know a person who is doing the same job you think you would like to be doing, you will have the best resource you can possibly get.

2. Get training if you need it. The demand for eco-friendly education has spawned an outgrowth of teaching institutions offering specialized workshops and training focused on the particular skills required for green business enterprises. One area where this is particularly evident is the rapidly growing wind-energy industry, for which dozens of wind-technology programs have sprung up across the country. Most of these programs, offered at various community colleges, culminate in two-year associate’s degrees. But many companies responsible for developing new technologies in this area are taking an active role themselves, training thousands of new hires every year. There is no better way to jump start a new green career than to pursue environmental training by enrolling in a program or signing up for workshops and classes.

3. Find out what’s out there. Before plunging in the ocean of green employment, put your toe in the water first. Do a little research about the job market. Specifically, find out which careers are the fastest-growing and which ones are likely to provide you with just the right combination of personal satisfaction and business success. Also do some company research. There are many widely-available publications that publish lists of the top green companies. Once you’ve narrowed your search, start checking the large number of job boards which focus on green careers. A few of these are:

4. Don’t narrow your scope for the wrong reasons. Some people make the mistake of thinking that green employment is limited to certain job categories like scientific research or technical work. But in reality most green jobs are in other fields and encompass the same wide variety of positions found in most industries. For example, renewable energy companies need accountants, marketers, designers, project managers, and support personnel every bit as much as other companies do. So don’t make the mistake of assuming that certain skills are inherently incompatible with green work. Typecasting happens with companies too. Everyone thinks green when it comes to industries like solar energy and environmental management. But many companies not normally thought of as green are actively looking for workers who can help them reduce their carbon footprints. Industries such as tourism, education, and construction have been jumping on the green bandwagon and many others are quickly joining them.

5. Showcase your passion for green! Your competitors in the green job hunt are folks like you who are passionate about preserving the environment. The best way to get that job for yourself is to put your own passion on display. To prepare for your job interviews, read up on the environment. Subscribe to environmental newsletters. Read the newspaper and pay particular attention to hot environmental topics. This will not only give you things to talk about during your job interviews but also things to demonstrate your strong feelings about. Also, strongly consider volunteering with a local organization dedicated to conservation or to other environmental issues. This will serve the dual purpose of elevating your green awareness level while also giving your future employer first-hand evidence that your passion for green is rooted in action – not just in words.

Working for an eco-friendly company is a noble goal. It is also an achievable one. The new energy economy is triggering an enthusiasm for eco-consciousness and along with it a golden opportunity for job hunters who want to find environmentally friendly employment. The job search blues can most definitely turn to green – and it’s up to you to make it happen.

Source: The Alternative Consumer

There are certainly an increasing number of ‘green jobs’ becoming available but so is the number of people who want those jobs increasing! In countries such as South Africa, many employment opportunities are subject to certain racial and gender requirements, making finding a job in this depressed economy even more difficult for many highly qualified individuals. An alternative to finding green employment is to begin your own green business. In the beginning, it’s likely to be tough but as the world realizes that there is not any sustainable alternative to green business, your efforts will be rewarded on account of being established while others scramble to ‘go green’. South Africa faces both a water crisis and an energy crisis and therefore the potential for water conservation- and renewable energy orientated businesses is huge. Solar energy is particularly suited to South Africa’s sunny climate and solar panels and solar geysers are becoming more affordable and efficient. See Top 5 Green Jobs for 2011.

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems and Yes Solar are eco-friendly businesses to the core, operated by people who are not only passionate about the environment but seek to engage in ethical business that has a positive impact on society.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a rainwater harvesting system, rainwater tank, JoJo water tank (and engineer-certified JoJo water tank stands), grey water recycling system, water-saving device or solar water heater. See some of our WWF Award-winning water conservation systems explained on our product demo.

Hidden Water Consumption- Surprising Facts

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 20:17:31 +0000

We’ve all probably been made aware of some startling water-use statistics that are more ‘apparent’, but have we ever considered the water use/waste that is involved in less ‘obvious’ human activities?? One may be surprised to learn of some of the facts below…

Diet

The water it takes to produce the average American diet alone—approximately 1,000 gallons per person per day—is more than the global average water footprint of 900 gallons per person per day for diet, household use, transportation, energy, and the consumption of material goods.
That quarter pounder is worth more than 30 average American showers. One of the easiest ways to slim your water footprint is to eat less meat and dairy. Another way is to choose grass-fed, rather than grain-fed, since it can take a lot of water to grow corn and other feed crops.
A serving of poultry costs about 90 gallons of water to produce. There are also water costs embedded in the transportation of food (gasoline costs water to make). So, consider how far your food has to travel, and buy local to cut your water footprint.
Pork costs water to produce, and traditional pork production—to make your sausage, bacon, and chops—has also been the cause of some water pollution, as pig waste runs into local water sources.
On average, a vegan, a person who doesn’t eat meat or dairy, indirectly consumes nearly 600 gallons of water per day less than a person who eats the average American diet.
A cup of coffee takes 55 gallons of water to make, with most of that H2O used to grow the coffee beans.

Electricity, Fuel Economy, and Airline Travel

The water footprint of your per-day electricity use is based on state averages. If you use alternative energies such as wind and solar, your footprint could be less. (The use of biofuels, however, if they are heavily irrigated, could be another story.) You would also get points, or a footprint reduction, for using energy-star appliances and taking other energy-efficiency measures.
Washing a car uses about 150 gallons of water, so by washing less frequently you can cut back your water use.
A gallon of gasoline takes nearly 13 gallons of water to produce. Combine your errands, car pool to work, or take public transportation to reduce both your energy and water use.
Flying from Los Angeles to San Francisco, about 700 miles round-trip, could cost you more than 9,000 gallons of water, or enough for almost 2,000 average dishwasher loads.
A cross-country airplane trip (about 6,000 miles) could be worth more than 1,700 standard toilet flushes.
Traveling from Chicago to Istanbul is just about 10,000 miles round trip, costing enough water to run electricity in the average American home for one person for more than five years.

Industry—Apparel, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Paper

According to recent reports, nearly 5% of all U.S. water withdrawals are used to fuel industry and the production of many of the material goods we stock up on weekly, monthly, and yearly.
It takes about 100 gallons of water to grow and process a single pound of cotton, and the average American goes through about 35 pounds of new cotton material each year. Do you really need that additional T-shirt?
One of the best ways to conserve water is to buy recycled goods, and to recycle your stuff when you’re done with it. Or, stick to buying only what you really need.
The water required to create your laptop could wash nearly 70 loads of laundry in a standard machine.
Recycling a pound of paper, less than the weight of your average newspaper, saves about 3.5 gallons of water. Buying recycled paper products saves water too, as it takes about six gallons of water to produce a dollar worth of paper.

1 liquid gallon (US) = approx. 3.8 litres

Source: Ecovitality

Some of the above water consumption facts are astounding. This is the daily water consumption that very few people are aware of. Water scarcity is becoming a reality in many parts of the world and South Africa is categorized as a water scarce country. Being aware of your own personal water consumption will assist you to save water in all facets of your life.

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.

South African minister denies meeting Shell over Karoo gas exploration

admin — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 13:51:20 +0000

Shell Karoo Fracking Exploration Area

Science and Technology Minister Naledi Pandor on Tuesday denied ever meeting with Shell South Africa or discussing the international energy group’s proposed gas exploration in the Karoo with the company’s South African chairperson Bonang Mohale.

This comes after media last week quoted Mohale as having said that its shale gas exploration activities would not harm the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) project bid and that Shell was in regular communication with Pandor.

The Department of Science and Technology said in a statement that Pandor had never had any communication from Shell in this regard, and had never met Mohale to discuss the proposed project.

“I am puzzled as to why Mr. Mohale, if the article is correct, would put out such a claim,” said Pandor.

The Minister noted that she was intent on ensuring that South Africa won the bid to host the SKA radio telescope, and was not going to entertain any matter that might distract her from achieving that goal.

Mohale last week stressed that the initiative was still in its initial stages and made a commitment to full transparency throughout the process, which started unfolding earlier this year after its submission of three separate exploration-right applications in December.

Shell expects its proposed exploration of shale resources may involve nine years of prospecting and more than $200-million worth of capital before it will be in a position to determine whether or not commercial gas production would be viable.

The group, which is facing serious opposition to its exploration aspirations, has commissioned Golder Associates to compile a publically-consulted environmental management plan as part of a process to apply for exploration rights on the three properties of 30 000 km2 each. The sites span a 90 000 km2 area, incorporating Sutherland in the west and Somerset East in the east.

The exploration phase could entail the drilling of a maximum of 24 wells over the three properties, and Mohale estimated that each well would cost around $15-million to develop.

Source: Engineering News

Who can we trust? The Karoo fracking plans are highly controversial because of the probable extreme environmental degradation that will occur. There have been calls worldwide to ban fracking or hydraulic shale gas fracturing for good reason. Sign the petition to stop Karoo fracking today!

Water Rhapsody and Yes Solar offer eco-friendly water conservation systems and solar energy solutions that save you money and help protect the environment. Contact us for a free quote on a rainwater tank, rainwater harvesting system, grey water recycling system, JoJo water tanks & water tank stands, water-saving devices and solar water heaters.

Today’s Lifestyle Change Can Lead to Tomorrow’s Better Planet

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 18:07:19 +0000

Being ‘green’ doesn’t carry that much weight when it’s just a ‘label’ and you are being ‘forced’ to change.

It’s like being ‘on’ a diet. We say, “I’m on a diet”, as if we can get ‘off’ of it at any time. And more often than not, we do.

But if you change your lifestyle to eat better and exercise, the chances are, you’ll stay more fit and be healthier.

Being ‘green’ is like that. It’s a lifestyle change; not a program that you get ‘on’ and ‘off’. If you think of it as a better living, healthier living, frugal living, it’ll be easier for you to change to a different, better, lifestyle.

Having said, here are three simple ways to change your lifestyle today for better tomorrow:

1. Conserve Water.

According to Water.org:

More than 3.5 million people die each year from water-related disease; 84 percent are children. Nearly all deaths, 98 percent, occur in the developing world.

Lack of access to clean water and sanitation kills children at a rate equivalent of a jumbo jet crashing every four hours.

Lack of sanitation is the world’s biggest cause of infection.

Millions of women and children spend several hours each day collecting water from distant, often polluted sources. This is time not spent working at an income-generating job, caring for family members, or attending school.

443 million school days are lost each year due to water-related illness.

OK, so we don’t live in areas that lack water but this is such an easy step to take that it’s almost too silly to even talk about it. But water is one resource that we take for granted daily. If you ever experienced a power outage and can’t get hot water to take a shower, you’ll know what I mean. I lost power last year in a winter storm that I didn’t know when I would be able to take a shower. And about a month ago, due to the continuous winter storms we had, snow runoff into the reservoirs made drinking water unsafe so we had to boil water before drinking or cooking with it. It’s an inconvenience for modern society but residents in Arizona or Nevada will attest that saving water is daily ritual.

So, conserve water in any means possible, even if you don’t live in the desert. You just never know when we’ll be left without this natural resource. And frankly, if we can save, why not?

2. Use Alternative Energy.

This might be tough in some areas but there are more and more alternative and clean energy options available now. New Jersey is one of eight states that encourage clean energy, including solar energy, and has been a model for other states to follow in helping its residents to switch to solar energy. Many utility companies are offering green energy so check with your energy provider to find out ways to switch to alternative energy.

3.Take Eco-Vacations

This is a great opportunity to learn, see and feel all that you’ve been doing to live sustainably. Visit a national park and volunteer to be a volunteer trail crew in Colorado, or sail with a crew on a boat and learn about river conservation on Clear Water on Hudson River, NY or become a farmer for a week or a weekend, on an organic farm, located all over the world. You will not regret the experience and you will also be helping in the effort to conserve the planet.

4. OK. I lied. There is one more.

Read blogs like this and learn and share [www.ecovitality.co.za is highly recommended]. You may know many of these ways already but maybe your friends on facebook do not. Your Twitter followers may not. And contacts on your address book may. This is a great way to share the message and influence another person to live sustainably as you have. After all, we can’t save the planet all by ourselves. We need as much helpers as we can get.

How did you change your lifestyle today for better tomorrow?

Source: Green Living Ideas

Water conservation and energy are inextricably linked; installing water-saving devices and renewable energy systems such as solar panels and solar water geysers, make for a great combination that saves electricity and water bills and saves the environment. ‘Going green’ means many things to many people; do what you can to make a difference and lead by example.

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.

South Africa: Solar Water Heater Market Poised for Strong Growth

admin — Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:23:19 +0000

Global consultancy Frost & Sullivan (F&S) said that the solar water heater (SWH) market in South Africa grew significantly in the past four years, and suggested that the market was preparing for a second high-growth phase that would be larger than the previous growth surge.

The key would be to address the gaps in the market and be ready to support both the required legislative changes, and the changes needed in local manufacturing capacity.

For the market as a whole, F&S said that the development of installation skills, both qualitatively and quantitatively, remained the largest challenge.

“The key challenge facing the development of the Solar Water Heater market is installation. SWHs require a mix of plumbing and electrical skills, as well as specialised solar installation skills, which must be learned,” said energy and power research analyst Dominic Goncalves.

Solar Water Heater installation is about four times more labour intensive than installing a conventional geyser, and variable skills for products in different applications needed to be acquired − some of which could only be learned practically, such as different roofs, roof-restructuring, buildings, piping, latitudinal-tilt irradiation, and other variables.

F&S stated that the plumbing industry was operating at full capacity, and a pool of some 3 000 skilled plumbers needed to be bolstered by another 8 000 if the market was to cope with mass demand for Solar Water Heaters in the next four to six years.

The transformation of skills from conventional plumbing to energy-efficient plumbing also required a different set of skills in order to install heat pumps, which were skills similar to those required for air-conditioning and refrigeration technology.

“To facilitate the transformation of the market, the coordination and communication of planning and implementation between key industry players and government will be required,” commented Goncalves.

He added that adequate skills development was the key to success or else the initiative was “doomed to fail”.

The manufacturing of some product types was an opportunity for new entrants, which could benefit from manufacturing incentive schemes recently proposed by government in its New Growth Path. This initiative fell within government’s key focus areas, namely job creation, manufacturing, skills development, and the green economy.

F&S noted that South Africa’s Solar Water Heater market expanded from less than 20 suppliers in 1997 to more than 400 in the beginning of 2011.

Through the Department of Energy and with initiatives such as Eskom’s Solar Water Heater rebate programme, a target was set that South Africa should see the installation of one-million Solar Water Heaters by 2014.

“The rationale was that such demand-side management could relieve up to 578 GWh of electricity from the grid, the equivalent of building a 2 000 MW power station,” explained Goncalves. “Furthermore, Solar Water Heaters are often used during peak times (early morning and evening), the precise time when strained power stations are struggling to produce the required peak-time power,” he said.

However, F&S explained that between 2007 and 2010, the market experienced volatile growth, plagued by malfunctioning products, fly-by-night companies, and incorrect installation and application of the products.

“Volatility was caused by the negative reputation that Solar Water Heaters were receiving, due to conflicting information and incorrect product application, as well as initial challenges in the development of the rebate programme,” said Goncalves.

“The market began to stabilise during the second half of 2010 – many fly-by-night companies selling cheap, imported out-the-box Chinese products left the market or changed their strategy, while established companies with good word-of-mouth reputation formed efficient distribution networks, franchises and partnerships,” he added.

F&S said that the slow-down in sales was misleading.

“New building codes have been announced that will change the face of the market, and conventional plumbing, as we know it. When the new building codes are officially instated, new buildings or those undergoing refurbishments will be required to account for at least 50% of their hot water consumption to be generated by energy efficient methods, for example Solar Water Heaters or heat pumps,” F&S reiterated.

This would place demand pressure on the market to manufacture and install these product. F&S research has shown that Solar Water Heater manufacturing in South Africa could be conducted at internationally competitive levels for flat plate product types.

Source: Engineering News

Water Rhapsody Mpumalanga has entered into a strategic partnership with Yes Solar. Currently, Yes Solar is the distributor for Solsquare solar water geysers but we will also have a large range of other high quality solar water geysers in our product line-up during the coming months. Our aim is to provide an impartial service and only to recommend the solar energy system that is 100% suited to a particular building (whereas other solar energy companies will try to adapt a system from their limited range). Installing solar water heaters is no simple matter, that is why Yes Solar only makes use of accredited, Eskom-approved solar installers so that the installation is done properly the first time round.

Water Rhapsody is also committed to assisting homeowners and businesses with water conservation via our WWF award-winning water systems that include rainwater harvesting systems, grey water recycling systems, grey water irrigation and other water-saving devices (see product demo). We are also authorized South African dealers for JoJo water tanks and tank stands. Contact us for a free quote.

Scientists warn of water woes

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 19:00:55 +0000

Policy wonks, scientists and economists gather to discuss research and best practices for optimizing water management as a global water crisis looms.

WATER SOURCES: The California Aqueduct in 2008. Climate and weather challenges make water a tricky resource to manage. (Photo: David McNew/Getty Images)

OTTAWA — Demand for water in agriculture and energy production could spike in the coming decades while catastrophic floods and droughts strike more often, a water conference in Canada is to hear this week.

“At unpredictable times, too much water will arrive in some places and too little in others,” said Zafar Adeel, chair of U.N. Water which coordinates water-related efforts of 28 United Nations organizations and agencies.

Within a generation, water demand in many countries is forecast to exceed supply by an estimated 40 percent.

In other parts of the world prone to flooding, catastrophic floods normally expected once a century could occur every 20 years instead.

Meanwhile, spending on technologies and services to discover, manage, filter, disinfect and desalinate water, improve infrastructure and distribution, mitigate flood damage and reduce water consumption by households, industry and agriculture is expected to rise to a trillion dollars annually by 2020.

Some 300 scientists, policy-makers and economists will release these and other research findings as well as proven new tools, ideas and best practices for optimizing water management at a Canadian Water Network international conference in Ottawa.

The event kicked off on Feb. 28 and ran through to March 3.

Conference speaker Hans Schreier of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver presented research buttressing the need for flood-prone areas to brace for more frequent disasters.

He pointed to Canadian insurance data showing claims resulting from extreme weather increased 20-fold in the past 30 years and flood-related claims now exceeding fire and wind insurance claims every year.

Schreier called for improved road and street designs to minimize rainwater runoff.

“Until now, all we’ve ever done in urban environments is to drain everything into rivers and lakes,” he told AFP.

But curbs, drains and impermeable surfaces could be replaced where possible with grassy shoulder depressions that collect and absorb rainwater while directing excess runoff into constructed wetlands or stormwater retention ponds.

This would mitigate flood damage, but also polluted runoff normally drained via pipes into lakes and rivers would be instead filtered and cleaned as it sinks through the ground, helping compensate the extensive loss of wetlands to development.

Other low-cost innovations might include home driveway designs and materials that allow most precipitation to be absorbed instead of running onto streets and roads, he said.

Another topic to be discussed at the conference is the impact of water shortages on businesses that rely on “virtual water” or the amount of water used in production of items.

A desktop computer, for example, requires 1.5 tons (1,500 liters) of water; a pair of denim jeans up to 6 tons; a kilogram of wheat 1 ton; a kilo of chicken 3 to 4 tons; a kilo of beef 15 to 30 tons.

Nicholas Parker, chairman of the Cleantech Group, said: “What people don’t often realize is how much water there is in everything we make and buy, from T-shirts to wine.”

One proposal is to list water used on product package labels to inform consumers and encourage water conservation, said Adeel, noting that annual global trade in “virtual water” now exceeds 800 billion tons, the equivalent of 10 Nile Rivers.

As developing countries gain wealth, their citizens’ demands for food and energy, which both require a lot of water to produce, will skyrocket, Adeel warned.

“We have to be prepared for the security challenges that will arise from this,” he said.

Policy innovations to be discussed include helping farmers reuse water or tap into municipal waste water to “get a lot more bang out of your buck for the same volume of water.”

Agriculture is the biggest water user by far at 71 percent worldwide.

Similarly, coupling industries so that runoff from one plant can be used as an input for another would go a long way to reduce water shortages, Adeel said.

On the social front, he said it is important to get local entrepreneurs engaged.

He pointed to India where an estimated 500 million people have cell phones but only 350 million have access to toilets.

“That says there is something in their marketing approach that the cell phone companies have got right. We just need to duplicate that (business acumen) to bring clean water and sanitation to all,” he said.

Source: Mother Nature Network

Rooftop rainwater harvesting not only ensures a degree of water self-sufficiency and saves water bills but it also prevents excessive runoff into our river systems. Grey water recycling also prevents excess gray water from entering our already overloaded water treatment plants. In South Africa, the majority of municipal water treatment plants are in dire need of repair and upgrading; when these plants are over-capacity, the untreated sewage is simply allowed to overflow. Do your part to help the environment by installing water saving devices such as rainwater harvesting systems and grey water recycling systems. Grey water can be used for flushing toilets or for garden irrigation (grey water contains nutrients that plants need- so you also save money on fertilizer!).

Water Rhapsody Water Conservation Systems Mpumalanga offers water tank and rainwater tank installation, rainwater harvesting systems (see FAQ), grey water recycling (see 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.

Cooling Your House Without Electricity

admin — Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:15:17 +0000

Long time readers may remember when I wrote about two different ways you could heat your home or garage without using electricity. There was the heater made from soda cans and an old window and these solar heaters that were installed on the sunny side of my house, both of which worked really well providing heat without using electricity. But with winter (slowly) coming to an end, what can be done about cooling your home down without electricity come the hot summer months? One designer has come up with a solution which uses just a little cold water and no electricity at all, unlike conventional very-expensive-to-run air conditioners which most people use. From Yanko Design:

The design we’re speaking of here is ECOoler, a sort of tile system that connects via water hose nozzles, creating a grid of essentially natural coolers that work by evaporating water. The aesthetics are brought to the project by one of the two traditional Middle-Eastern reference points used in this project: the Mashrabiya, an architectural element that acts as mediator between the inside and the outside. This takes the form of a clay or cement brick that allows air to travel in whilst continuing to keep all manner of uninvited guests out. In the ECOoler, the Mashrabiya is molded and made into a tube system that takes another important cue from a Middle-Eastern tradition: the Jara.

By using just some cold water and natural evaporation you could cool the interior of your home using no electricity at all. Talk about saving on those expensive utility bills all summer long! Granted, these probably couldn’t be used on giant McMansions that so many deem necessary to live in, but for those of us with reasonably-sized homes, RVs, trailers, cabins, or even earthships, something like this ECOoler could be incredibly useful. Let’s hope the designers get this on the market and for sale so we can test it out. In the meantime, here are some useful tips for lowering your cooling costs at home this summer:

If you have central air conditioning, pay the $50-$75 to have the HVAC guy come out and service your unit. After a thorough cleaning and going through, your AC will run a lot more efficiently all summer.

Be sure that you have a programmable thermostat for your central AC, so you can schedule it to be on when you need it and off when you don’t. These are relatively inexpensive, available everywhere, and very easy to install.

If you do not have central AC and are going with window units, be sure to only buy ones that are Energy Star certified. Also, you can put them on heavy-duty timers so that they can remain off during the day and can be turned on a little bit before you come home from work.

Lower your shades and blinds during the day to block out the sun. Keeping the sun from heating up the inside of your home can make a big difference in how much energy you need to cool it down once you get home.

When in doubt, leave your ceiling fans running 24/7. I had them in my old place in California and they definitely helped to move the air around and cool me off, all at minimum cost. I was able to leave the AC off for longer with all the fans running in the various rooms, and they barely cost more than an incandescent light bulb to run.

If you have not done so already, be sure to put all electronics that don’t need to be on 24/7 on power strips that can be turned off at night or while you are at work. Computers, radios, televisions, DVD players, etc all suck energy even when they are off due to “phantom power”, which is drawn at all times so they turn on quickly when you need them. Turning off power strips when you don’t need these things can save you a few bucks a month.

Pick up a few standalone fans and place them strategically around your house. In the summer I have one in the corner by a living room window, so if it is really hot inside I can make it force air outside, cooling off the place for minimum cost.

Source: The Good Human

In South Africa, especially in the north-eastern Lowveld, we often need cooling even during the winter months. The cost of electricity is set to rise drastically, not only in South Africa but world-wide. Green technology that does not rely on main grid electricity supply is highly desirable- not only does it save money but it has a positive effect on the environment. Solar water heating is another green technology that is rapidly gaining favour and most likely will eventually replace conventional geysers.

Contact us for a FREE QUOTE on a solar water geyser, 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.

How can farmers adapt to climate change? Get ‘climate smart.’

admin — Sun, 06 Mar 2011 15:39:22 +0000

A new “climate smart” tool can help farmers reduce production and operating costs, improve profitability by reducing energy and water consumption, generate new products from agricultural waste, and ensure more efficient use of fertilizers.

According to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, agriculture is one of the leading causes of climate change, responsible for 14% of GHG emissions, mainly as a result of soil erosion, poor irrigation practices, the uncontrolled use of fertilizers and other agrochemicals, biomass burning and livestock production.

When deforestation from farmland expansion and tree plantations is factored into calculations, agriculture is estimated to account for 30 percent of total GHG emissions globally.

The Sustainable Agriculture Network’s (SAN) new “Climate Module: Criteria for the Mitigation of and Adaptation to Climate Change” aims to make farmers more aware of the impacts of climate change and to promote the adoption of good agricultural practices that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, increase carbon sequestration and enhance the capacity of farms to adapt to climate change.

The module is the result of a groundbreaking “eco-partnership” by SAN and environmental leaders like the Rainforest Alliance, Guatemala’s Inter-American Foundation for Tropical Research (FIIT, for its name in Spanish), the National Coffee Association, Anacafé, and coffee and cacao importer Efico.

The initiative began in Guatemala in 2008, when Anacafé, Efico and the Rainforest Alliance started working with coffee farmers in the departments of San Marcos, Santa Rosa and Jalapa. Participating farms have had their carbon sequestration capacity measured and GHG emissions calculated.

Since then, the module was developed through a public consultation led by the SAN, with feedback from more than 350 stakeholders from 41 countries. Field tests and workshops were also held in Latin America, Africa and Asia to determine the module’s potential for implementation on farms of different sizes and within a variety of production systems.

“Farmers can play a fundamental role in mitigating the negative impacts of climate change,” said Gianluca Gonodolini, project manager for the Rainforest Alliance’s sustainable agriculture team in Latin America. “With the release of this module, the SAN and the Rainforest Alliance are introducing a tool that farmers can use to demonstrate that climate-friendly agricultural practices reinforce the value added by the SAN Standard while facilitating the transition to low-carbon agricultural production.”

SAN’s International Standards Committee, which is intimately involved in the development of all new or revised SAN standards and addendums, approved the Climate Module last December. Certified producers in Latin America, Africa and Asia can now voluntarily adopt the Climate Module; compliance with the module can be verified together with compliance with the SAN Standard.

The new criteria reinforce the sustainable practices that are already required of Rainforest Alliance Certified farms and highlight those activities that have demonstrated the greatest climate change mitigation and adaptation benefits. The SAN worked to draft criteria that are rigorous, accessible and easy to implement for farmers in tropical countries, and that will result in substantial long-term benefits.

“The Climate Module is a practical and accessible tool for the entire coffee industry,” notes Katrien Delaet of Efico. “It helps producers to implement climate-friendly agricultural practices and encourages commercial and industrial players to commit to reducing their carbon emissions.”

Climate-friendly farming methods can also result in reductions in production and operating costs, improving a farm’s profitability by reducing energy and water consumption, generating new products from agricultural waste, and ensuring more efficient use of fertilizers.

“We have supported the SAN’s Climate Module from the start, so that coffee farmers are recognized for the valuable environmental services they provide,” explains Nils Leporowski, vice president of Anacafé.

Farmers who commit to implementing the SAN Climate Module will be able to identify the risks that climate change poses to their farms and communities, and prepare to mitigate and adapt to its impacts.

They can estimate their varying degrees of vulnerability to events such as prolonged droughts and severe flooding — which are occurring with increasing frequency and intensity — along with altered growing seasons and more regular outbreaks of agricultural pests and diseases. They will also be able to increase the amount of carbon sequestered on their farms through the restoration of degraded lands, reforestation and improved soil conservation.

Source: terracurve

Holistic farming that works with Nature instead of against it is becoming more of a necessity. The world’s burgeoning population is putting extreme pressure on all our resources, especially water; water conservation and soil conservation practices in the agricultural industry must become priorities. Just as agriculture enabled civilization, unsustainable farming will eventually lead to the collapse of civilization. Nations that neglect agriculture become more and more dependent on foreign aid and less politically stable. South Africa has been a net food importer since 2007, mainly because of the failing land redistribution programme- once productive commercial farms are now derelict or have been made into subsistence farms. South Africa’s water scarcity crisis adds to the impact of failed farming operations as the government continues to ignore the severity of the situation.

Water Rhapsody is committed to assisting homeowners and businesses with water conservation via our WWF award-winning water systems that include rainwater harvesting systems, greywater recycling systems, grey water irrigation and other water-saving devices (see product demo). We are also authorized South African dealers for JoJo water tanks and tank stands. Contact us for a free quote.