Rubber Raw Materials

Organizations today are looking for ways to harness technology to reduce costs. Secure Push eDocument Delivery has the potential to reduce costs in multiple areas, while at the same time improving the overall customer experience. Secure Push eDocument Delivery in its simplest form is the delivery of information to customers and other stakeholders directly to their inbox. With more and more people online every day and a large majority of them reporting that they spend a majority of their time managing their email, delivering information to the inbox is one of the most efficient and effective ways to communicate with your customers and stakeholders. This is not a replacement to your web strategy, but a complementary approach.

Current “Pull” methodologies, designed to direct a user to a website has resulted in adoption rates of less than 10% across most industries. The primary reason for the low adoption rates is the requirement of the user to “Take Action” to be Pulled, or directed to a website. Once on the website, the user is then required to remember yet another user name and password and potentially navigate through numerous screens to reach their desired destination. And with many consumers still using dial up access, the challenges of the “Pull” model are even higher. These hurdles have resulted in user inertia, and the disappointing adoption rates. By “Pushing” the information directly to the user’s inbox, adoption rates increase to over 40% in a B2C environment and over 80% in a B2B environment. Adoption rates at this level will result in massive cost savings in postage, printing, paper and the personnel and overhead costs associated with your mailroom operations.

These cost savings alone would result in a significant ROI but there are many more benefits that will result from communicating with your customers via secure email.

1. Reduced Call Center Volume- A wide variety of self help tools allowing customers to communicate with you via email. Included are simple tools such as change of address information that customers can deliver to you electronically, rather than by calling your call center. This will reduce your costs but will also add convenience to the customer who would rather not have to take time from their busy schedule to call you. They would much rather send you an email at their convenience. In addition to such self help tools, there are more advanced tools for such issues as dispute resolution. All of these tools are designed to reduce your costs and improve your customer relationship.
2. Improved Marketing Effectiveness-eDocuments can include unlimited marketing and are a much more effective means of communication than paper stuffers in envelopes. Branding, promotions, links, etc. can all be included. Full reporting capability provides your marketing team with the information they need to create targeted, highly effective, marketing campaigns. Marketing material can be changed as often as you wish.

3. Reduced Days’ Sales Outstanding- Technology exists today to take payment directly from within the PDF eBill, without customers having to link to a single webpage. Email delivery results in instant delivery rather than the numerous days for the regular mail process. Clients in some cases are reporting in excess of a 30% reduction in days’ sales outstanding as many customers choose to pay their bill upon receipt with a few simple clicks.

4. Increased Security-Customers and stakeholders will view their information as an offline attachment. With one easy click after entering a shared secret, documents are opened. This is more secure than either paper or online. It also gives the customer multiple options for the document including saving, filing, printing, discarding and, if applicable, paying with just one click.

The Push strategy is predicated on the assumption that your customers process their information today in the inbox. For years, customers have gone to the mail box outside of their homes or the mailbox at their business office to retrieve their mail. We believe that more success will be achieved with customers by not asking them to change their habits. They are used to having their bills, statements, etc. sent, or Pushed to them. We want to continue that method but change the delivery destination to their electronic mailbox rather than their physical mailbox. Given the adoption rates being achieved with Push eDocument Delivery and the relative success compared to Pull methodologies, which are asking customers to change their behavior and go out and find their information, we believe the case for Push is clear and the Value Proposition very powerful.

This important & strategic offering doesn’t only reduce costs; it dramatically reduces the impact on our environment. The positive “environmental impact” that Secure eDocument Delivery has on lowering each customer’s “carbon footprint” is a compelling value proposition in itself:

The following calculations are an indication of how Email Billing solution is assisting clients with their Corporate Social Responsibility commitments:
According tofor every 38,500 bills produced:

* 1 ton of paper is used
* 2 tons of trees are destroyed
* 16,450 gallons of water is used
* 1,941 pounds of solid waste is generated
* 60 pounds of air emissions are spewed out
* 5,058 pounds of greenhouse gases are emitted
In other words, by selecting an Email Billing solution, customers can assist in dramatically reducing the impact on our environment. Another line in terms of your Corporate Social Responsibility commitments could be along the following: ___________________ is constantly looking to apply the latest innovations and expertise to help to solve the country’s GHG and energy challenges.

Richard Freiberg is a partner in Global Processing Exchange LLC (GPE). GPE provides Transformative Business Solutions and Global Thought Leadership, offering a unique and proven combination of experience and expertise. He can be contacted at richard.freiberg@.

Not many years ago when global warming issues were in their infancy, it was generally presumed that the environment activists had the responsibility to deal with them. Not anymore! Time has come when each one of us has to become an environmental activist to save and nurture our planet if we want to leave something for our future generations.

Ecological imbalance, climate change, global warming and carbon emissions are issues that have set the alarm bells ringing. This is a fact which was acknowledged by the assembly of world leaders in Copenhagen last month to seek lasting solutions. Global warming has become global warning for India.

Global Warming – a Wake Up Call for India

We keep reading about rising temperatures and sea levels in other parts of the world like United States and the U.K. and have shut our eyes and minds towards the threat that is looming large right at our doors! India is one of the most vulnerable countries when it comes to global warming. India has a vast coastal line and the rising sea levels caused by global warming will wreak an ecological havoc in the country. The writing is there on the wall! According to the research of United Nations Environment Program it has been forecasted that as the mercury rises, the Indian subcontinent which is home to one sixth of humanity will be one of the worst affected regions. The glaciers are retreating at a rate of fifty feet per year. It is predicted that if this continues then all the central and eastern Himalayan glaciers will be lost by as early as 2035! Take a look at some of the scary projected impacts:

Global Warming – Warning for the East Coast of India

Jawaharlal Nehru University of India carried out a study and projected a scenario when the sea levels would rise by just one meter. According to the portrayal, seven million people would be displaced and 5,764 sq km of land would be lost!

East coast of India would be the worst affected because of its Geographical locations and features. It is landlocked from three sides and the rivers Brahmaputra and Ganga form a big delta and will also transport water from the melting snows from the Himalayas. East coast is more vulnerable than the West coast though both would be adversely affected.

Global Warming in India: Warning for West Bengal

It is a well established fact now that the Himalayan Glaciers are melting at the rate of almost 34 meters per year. This in turn is going to cause the temperatures and sea levels to rise and there will be a domino effect on the crops and the monsoons. The predictions are that entire islands are going to vanish. It seems that the worst is going to be true because as reports indicate two islands already have. Two islands in the Sunderbans have already submerged! Temperatures in this group of islands have already risen by one degree centigrade.

Rising sea levels have flooded about 18,500 acres of mangrove forest during the past three decades in West Bengal

Global Warming – Warning for Kerela

The affects and impacts of global warming are already being felt in Kerela which is said to be God’s own country. Kerela has witnessed dramatic changes in the climate in recent times. Almost all the districts of Kerela saw unprecedented rise in temperatures during summers.

The evolving weather patterns in Kerala with sudden cloud bursts interspersed with long dry spells all point towards the shadows of global warming right at our doorstep.

Global Warming – Warning for Orissa

Orissa is being projected as one of the states which is going to bear the brunt of global warming. In fact whole villages in the coastal regions have already disappeared. It has been reported that many villages from the Kendrapara district have submerged into the Bay of Bengal. Orissa is extremely vulnerable to the impact of rising sea levels because of its location. It is located at the head of Bay of Bengal with a landlocked sea and a deltaic plain, factors based on which the predictions have been made.

According to a survey conducted by the researchers at the National Center for Agricultural Economics and Policy Research based on people’s perception on climate induced natural disasters in the Kendrapara district of Orissa. The results clearly showed that not only the frequency and intensity of droughts have increased but the incidence of flooding has gone up as well. According to the observations of the local people the sea water has become warmer and the cyclones have become more intense.

Climatologists can interpret and translate these innocent observations of the locals and attribute them to global warming. It is a paradox that the survey showed that these villagers hardly contributed to global warming and none of their activities emitted any greenhouse gases. In fact it is an irony that Australia, Canada and United States are the greatest contributors of greenhouse gases.

Global Warming – Warning for Andhra Pradesh

The floods that occurred in Andhra Pradesh during October 2009 are a clear impact of global warming.

The heat wave which has been traversing the state and taking its toll on human lives is also being put down on global warming. The temperatures went up to as high as 48.9 degrees centigrade and the highest one week death toll was recorded. Andhra Pradesh has been experiencing continuous warming trends.

Global Warming – Warning for Agriculture in India

The rise in average temperatures is bound to create an impact on agriculture. Some agricultural crops will be adversely affected by higher temperatures and may lead to shortage of food. It is predicted that there is going to be a substantial drop in the production of wheat and corn in India. It is estimated that the production of wheat in winter will be decreased by about 55% in India. It will in turn also affect those countries which are dependent on India for its food supply.

Another aspect that needs to be considered is the affect of global warming on the increase in the growth of weeds and harmful insects which can destroy harvests on a very large scale. It would be an uphill task to cope up with that.

Global Warming – Warning for Health

India being a tropical country has always been plagued with many diseases. The first impact of global warming on human life which is highlighted is the tremendous loss of human lives. The catastrophic impacts on health have so far been sidelined but are equally significant.

Climatic changes can affect the health of human being in various ways. Vector born diseases will rise exponentially like Malaria, Dengue fever, Yellow fever etc. due to the thriving of organisms carrying contagious diseases. Frequent flooding and higher atmospheric temperatures will also increase the incidence of cholera and food poisoning.

The elderly will also face a negative impact on their health due to the hot summer temperatures. It is reported that the death rate increases among those aged 65 and above, when the daily maximum temperature exceeds 33.

Global Warming – Warning for Plants and Animals

Global warming will cause animals and plants to shift their habitats to northern and mountainous areas. It is anticipated that some will become extinct if they are unable to migrate or cope up with the climate changes. It is predicted that the alpine flora growing near mountainous regions will become extinct and that many beech forests will disappear and be replaced by oak forests which are widely distributed in warm regions. According to Rajasekhar, Associate professor in the department of Environmental Sciences more than 3320 plant species and 630 animals face the danger of extinction due to global warming. As a result of this wild animals that live in or feed on these trees will be badly affected. It will also vastly affect fruit cultivation and forestry.

Protected zones of flora and fauna and many animals may become extinct. It would be impossible to recreate and rectify the ecological imbalance that will arise out of this.

Global Warming – Warning to Do something Now

‘Tick…tick…tick…’ the bomb of global warming is ticking away and is a very potent one. India has to awaken to this threat and do everything possible to minimize its implications. The laws of nature are pretty harsh and will not give us a second chance and have been warning us time and again against the hazards of global warming. India has to accelerate its efforts to combat global warming and not just talk about mitigating it

Copenhagen Summit held recently is a very positive and promising move but should not remain limited to drafting and signing accords.

Efforts like the ‘earth hour’ are good to create awareness but the time now has come to take the next step.

By Renuka S Nifadkar

Hybrid cars and vehicles have taken the market by storm over the past couple of years. This year, Toyota passed Ford for the first time as the number two automaker in the country largely because of the sales of the Prius and other vehicles such as the Camry Hybrid, the Highlander Hybrid and the Lexus 450h GS Hybrid. The anticipated Lexus LS600h L goes on sale in Fall 2007 and is expected to help widen the gap.

Although Toyota is solidly in second place in the U. S. for auto sales, they are neck and neck with General Motors for the number one position in worldwide sales. Depending upon how one crunches the numbers of sales in China, Toyota may already be number one worldwide.

On June 7, 2007, Toyota announced that they have now sold 1,000,000 hybrid cars worldwide since the Prius first rolled out in 2000. But, with increased sales has meant increased competition as well and since Toyota is not the only game in town now when it comes to hybrid cars, Prius sales slipped for the first time ever in the first quarter of 2007.

All the major auto manufacturers now have some form of hybrid vehicle either on the market or heatedly in development. Both GM and Toyota have announced that they will have plug-in hybrid vehicles that will roll out as soon as 2009.

Each of these plug-in hybrids is expected to top 100 mpg in gas mileage and could even top the 125 mpg range. Expect more automakers in the near future to announce their plug-in hybrid cars and vehicles as well as the price of lithium-ion batteries is coming down and the market for this type of vehicle is heating up.

People have turned to hybrid cars in droves in order to get better gas mileage, save money at the pump, reduce our dependency upon foreign oil and clean up the environment by burning less gasoline. In addition, the gasoline that is consumed is from a clean-burning hybrid vehicle optimized to cut down on emissions.

The Honda Insight was the first mass produced hybrid car on the market in the year 2000 and offered an astounding 61 mpg hwy and 49 mgp city at that time. The Toyota Prius, which rolled out six months later, was rated by the government Fuel Economy site as 41 mpg hwy and 42 mpg city.

The EPA rates the 2007 Toyota Prius with a combined gas mileage of 55 mpg while gives the same vehicle a rating of 45 mpg hwy and 48 mpg city. These numbers are confusing to most, but what they do add up to, no matter how one crunches the numbers is vast gasoline savings over the standard 27.5 mpg that current non-hybrid automobiles are supposed to achieve in the U. S. market.

One-third of all greenhouse gases currently emitted in this country come from the transportation industry. Most of the greenhouse gases are emitted in the form of CO2. In 2003, the Department of Energy estimated that the U. S. produces 25 million metric tons of greenhouse gases per year or 23-percent of the world’s total. If the public is willing, hybrid cars and vehicles can have a significant impact in cutting these numbers by as much as half within the next 5 years.

The EPA has now posted their 2008 Greenhouse Gas Scores for various makes and models of cars and hybrid vehicles take the top six slots out of ten in low emissions ratings. Leading the pack for 2008 are the Ford Escape Hybrid and Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

For those who wish to save money at the pump, thumb our noses at foreign oil producers and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, there is no better way than by buying a hybrid car to help in the effort. Once enough of us do this, we’ll all be able to breathe a little easier.

In his most recent State of the Union Address, US President George W. Bush stated that one of the goals of the current administration is “to promote energy independence” for the country. He asked the legislators to enact laws aimed at protecting the environment, and he also did propose a $1.2 billion fund for research on the use of hydrogen as a potential substitute to gasoline.

He also asked the nation to: “Join me in this important innovation to make our air significantly cleaner, and our country much less dependent on foreign sources of energy.” Recently, the President made a move that supports his statements earlier in the year by visiting the Ford Motor Company’s Kansas plant where hybrid and flex fuel vehicles are being developed and produced.

The Kansas City Assembly Plant by Ford with more than 300 employees welcomed the President when he toured the hybrid assembly line. He addressed the gathered employees of the plant saying: “Technology changes the way we have lived our lives and technology is going to change the way we drive our cars.” The President also commended the development undertaken by the country’s second largest car manufacturer in the development of flex fuel vehicles which can run on E85 fuel. This fuel is a combination of bio-ethanol and it is produced from agricultural products and is used as a conventional gasoline. The President said: “You’re making a new kind of automobile that is literally a part of changing America for the better.”

Ford’s top man Alan Mulally was present to welcome and tour the President around the facility. He has this to say during the President’s visit on the company’s plant: “Ford stands ready to work with the Administration and Congress to reduce our nation’s dependence on foreign oil. At Kansas City Assembly, we are doing some exciting things. In addition to producing the nation’s first hybrid electric SUV, we are also building the best-selling pickup truck in the world – the Ford F-150 – capable of running on E85 ethanol, gasoline or any combination of the two fuels.”

Ford’s president and Chief Executive Officer also highlighted the company’s other efforts in consonance with the administrations goal of energy independency by saying: “We are also developing a range of advanced technologies that improve fuel efficiency, such as clean diesel, plug-in hybrids, hydrogen internal combustion engines, hydrogen fuel cells and advanced gasoline engines. These advanced technologies will help reduce green house gas emissions and lessen our dependence on foreign petroleum.”

These technologies being developed by the Ford Motor Company will serve as a good stepping stone for the future of green cars. With these vehicles, the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by their vehicles will be reduced as efficiently as areduces unwanted noise. The Ford Motor Company has already invested $100 million in the production of both the conventional and hybrid version of the Ford Escape. Ford is also the parent of Mercury brand which is the producer of the Mercury Mariner Hybrid.

Aside from these vehicles, the President was also shown the Ford Edge equipped with the HySeries Drive�which is the first fuel cell plug in hybrid electric vehicle. In closing, Ken Ward, the plant manager of the Kansas City Assembly has this to say: “It is an extraordinary honor for us to welcome the President into our plant. Our employees had the opportunity to explain the hybrid production process and demonstrate their commitment to building the best hybrid and E85 vehicles in the world.”

Environmental Management 鈥” Introduction

Environmental Law is perceived as one of the most important tools of environmental management. Protection of environment from degradation has now not just remained a legal issue but a management issue.

In India environmental management is largely carried out at the state level. This is true for natural resources such as forests and land as well as for air, water quality and solid waste pollution.

It is observed that just compliance of environmental law on paper does not result in effective control of pollution. An alternate paradigm for pollution abatement for more effective methods of environmental control beyond traditional “command-and-control (CAC)” style regulation is to use economic instruments (EIs) or market-based instruments (MBIs). Introduction of market based instruments will help to reduce emissions, pollution and increase social responsibility of industries. Eco-taxes, tradable emission allowances and negotiated agreements are some of the types of instruments.

Market Based Instruments (MBI) for Environmental Benefits:

“Market Based Instruments refer to the environmental policies which encourage change in technology, behaviour or products through financial incentives like subsidies, taxes, price differentiation or market creation.”

MBIs use the market & price mechanism to encourage firms or households to adopt environment friendly practices. They comprise a wide range of instruments from traditional ones like taxes on pollution, tradable permits to input taxes, product charges and differential tax rates.

The common element among all MBIs is that they work through the market and affect the behavior of economic agents (such as firms and households) by changing the nature of incentives/disincentives these agents face.

CARBON CREDIT – As one of the most effective MBIs:

What does Carbon Credit mean?

A permit that allows the holder to emit one ton of carbon dioxide; Credits are awarded to countries or groups that have reduced their green house gases below their emission quota.
Its goal is to stop the increase of carbon dioxide emissions. The Kyoto Protocol presents nations with the challenge of reducing greenhouse gases and storing more carbon. A nation that finds it hard to meet its target of reducing GHG could pay another nation to reduce emissions by an appropriate quantity. The carbon credit system was ratified in conjunction with the Kyoto Protocol.

For example, if an environmentalist group plants enough trees to reduce emissions by one ton, the group will be awarded a credit. If a steel producer has an emissions quota of 10 tons, but is expecting to produce 11 tons, it could purchase this carbon credit from the environmental group. The carbon credit system looks to reduce emissions by having countries honor their emission quotas and offer incentives for being below them.

What is Carbon Trade?

An idea presented in response to the Kyoto Protocol that involves the trading of greenhouse gas (GHG) emission rights between nations.
For example, if Country X exceeds its capacity of GHG and Country Y has a surplus of capacity, a monetary agreement could be made that would see Country X pay Country Y for the right to use its surplus capacity.

Credits versus Taxes

Credits were chosen by the signatories to the Kyoto Protocol as an alternative to Carbon taxes. A drawback of tax-raising schemes is that, they are not frequently hypothecated, and so some or all of the taxation raised by a government may be applied inefficiently or not used to benefit the environment.
By treating emissions as a ‘market commodity’ it becomes easier for business to understand and manage their activities, while economists and traders can attempt to predict future pricing using well understood market theories. Thus the main advantages of a tradable carbon credit over a carbon tax are:
1. the price is more likely to be perceived as fair by those paying it, as the cost of carbon is set by the market, and not by politicians. Investors in credits have more control over their own costs.
2. the flexible mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol ensure that all investment goes into genuine sustainable carbon reduction schemes, through its internationally-agreed validation process.

Conclusion
Carbon credits are now a key component of national and international emissions trading schemes. They provide a way to reduce greenhouse effect emissions on an industrial scale by capping total annual emissions and letting the market assign a monetary value to any shortfall through trading. Credits can be exchanged between businesses or bought and sold in international markets at the prevailing market price. Credits can be used to finance carbon reduction schemes between trading partners and around the world.

There are also many companies that sell carbon credits to commercial and individual customers who are interested in lowering their carbon footprint on a voluntary basis. These carbon off-setters purchase the credits from an investment fund or a carbon development company that has aggregated the credits from individual projects. The quality of the credits is based in part on the validation process and sophistication of the fund or development company that acted as the sponsor to the carbon project.

Carbon credits create a market for reducing greenhouse emissions by giving a monetary value to the cost of polluting the air. Emissions become an internal cost of doing business and are visible on the balance sheet alongside raw materials and other liabilities or assets. The ultimate objective of regulating pollution through MBIs is improved environmental quality.

Tired of paying high prices at the gas pump? Does rush hour traffic drive you mad? Try leaving your car behind and using sustainable transportation.

Sustainable transportation is any mode of transport that meets the motility needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs, or more specifically, a form of transport that minimizes emissions of greenhouse gases and other pollutants.

By using public transit, biking, or even walking, you can save money, use less energy, and do something good for yourself and the environment.
Today’s roads and highways are jammed with gas guzzling, pollution emitting cars. Every year, over 200 million passenger cars and light trucks travel the miles of American roads. Road vehicles are the largest contributors to smog, and account for about 50% of pollution nationwide. In addition, paved surfaces, such as roads, result in increased urban runoff, which is responsible for impaired ocean shorelines.

Increasing the use of public transportation is one way to reduce the effects of roads and automobiles. Public transportation can reduce the emission of carbon dioxide by nearly 745,000 tons annually. Nationwide, 1.76% of all personal trips consist of taking public transit. 5.1% of commutes to work are taken on public transit. This percentage is higher in big cities and among those with no car or drivers license. It should be much higher in every city.

Riding a bike is another method of sustainable transportation. People ride their bikes for a number of different reasons. 41% of riders claim to bike for health and exercise purposes. These bikers know that riding your bike can reduce the risk of coronary heart disease, stroke, and other chronic diseases, and consequently lower health care costs. People will generally bike 3-4 times further than they walk, so this may be the best option if you are traveling longer distances.

If you are traveling a short distance, just walk there. Walking is a great way to increase your quality of life and become much, much healthier. Walking has numerous benefits, including giving you more control over your weight, blood pressure, reducing risks of heart attacks, boosting good cholesterol. Walking can also help in the prevention of stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other bone diseases.
Many regions across the country have addressed the need for people to walk more and have implemented plans to encourage such actions. In Atlanta, where most citizens do not consider walking over driving, the Downtown Transportation Management Association (TMA) began an education program with the goal of promoting health and sustainability.

Their promotion of walking for short trips would also reduce traffic congestion in the city. The “Walk There!” challenge that was developed encouraged members of the Georgia State Legislature, City Council, and the Mayor’s office to pledge to walk instead of driving. Participants were given a pedometer to track the number of steps they took each week. Weekly and monthly totals were collected, and those with the highest counted steps were awarded with prizes.

TMA also distributed walking maps that they had developed so that walking paths could easily be used. The “Walk There!” Challenge was very successful, gathering over 2000 participants. The coverage of this program was seen statewide, setting a precedent and encouraging all Georgian citizens to stop driving and get moving!
Similar programs can easily be implemented within your business or office. They promote walking by communicating the desired behavior, rewarding behavior, and making the activity convenient by providing maps to walking friendly routes.

In addition to these large-scale programs, you can promote walking by implementing smaller “walk at work” programs, in which employees are given a break during the day in which they can walk in the surrounding areas of the office building.

Setting up a buddy system can provide support for employees and keep them set to a healthy routine. Special events, like “Walk to School Day” can get children and families involved, further engraining walking into daily lifestyles. However you plan to promote walking, it is important to shift the mindsets of your employees so that they will start thinking, “I’ll just walk there.”
Using sustainable transportation is a great way to decrease your impact on the environment. It also has great health benefits that can fight heart problems and obesity. By choosing to not jump in your car and replace the drive with a bus ride, bike ride, or a relaxing stroll through the streets, you are choosing to help yourself and the world around you.

Global Warming vs Global Cooling

The great debate of the 21st century is whether or not you believe that global warming is occurring or whether you believe that the planet is cooling. No matter what side of the fence you are on, there is no doubt that the actions of humans are generating a tremendous amount of greenhouse gases. The burning of fossil fuels such as oil, coal and natural gas is having a negative effect on our planet. The long term environmental, social and economic effects that these greenhouse gasses cause will be catastrophic to our planet if not controlled.

It’s Everyone’s Problem.

In the highly industrialized nations, most people don’t want to give up their high standards of living in order to reduce greenhouse gasses. Developing countries feel it is their right to raise their standard of living, despite the cost. Underdeveloped countries are paying the price for high standards of living with polluted and contaminated ground water.

Until everyone realizes that the changes to this planet from pollution affect the entire planet, reversing the pollution problem will be difficult. Everyone needs to cooperate and learn ways to reduce energy consumption and to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions they emit.

As a business owner, the benefits of these reductions are many. The biggest benefit is that they save money in the long run, adding to your profitability. More energy efficient practices can often increase productivity, and going “green” often generates more business from people wishing to help the environment.

Maintenance as a Way to Save Money

One of the most basic ways to save energy is by properly maintaining your equipment. Dirty equipment often uses more energy to run and results in higher operating costs. Simple acts such a vacuuming air vents on appliances and computers, and cleaning dust from light bulbs can save energy and money. Major cleaning, even if it needs to be contracted out, can save enough money to offset the cost.

Routine maintenance will also prolong the life of your equipment, help them operate more efficiently, be less likely to break down, and keep them out of landfills longer.

Staff Cooperation

If your business has employees, the better they understand how the business runs the better they are able to see how properly maintaining equipment can save energy and money. Getting employees involved in being “green” to help the planet, will ultimately help your bottom line. Have employees suggest ways in which energy and resources can be saved. Reward employees who demonstrate a willingness to participate in energy savings practices.

Suggested Maintenance Tasks

There are thousands of tips and tricks that can be implemented to reduce your businesses energy consumption. Listed here is a starting point of simple maintenance tasks the can be implemented at little or no cost.

Thermostats

One of the easiest ways to save money on heating and cooling costs is to install a programmable thermostat. Once installed, regularly check the adjustments to be sure they are properly set for the time of day, the season and for daylight savings time (if applicable.

Hot water heaters

For peak efficiency, hot water heaters should be cleaned and drained on a regular basis. Buildup of hard water minerals inside the hot water heater reduces efficiently. Replacing an old hot water heater with a modern Energy Star rated unit will pay for its self in a short amount of time.

Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems

Often neglected, the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system should be checked on a regular basis. Preventative maintenance is a way to keep the system in top operating condition and lowers the cost of operation. An added benefit is that clean duct work prevents the build-up of mold and allergens that can cause respiratory problems and lost days of work.

Water Leaks

Water Leaks can be costly. Toilets and faucets that leak can not only waste water, but add considerable costs to the water bill. Monitoring the water bill can often pick up increased water usage caused by a less obvious leak.

Refrigeration Units

Regular cleaning of refrigerator coils will allow refrigeration units to operate more efficiently. In dusty environments, this preventative maintenance should be done more frequently. Another area to check is the door seals. Place a piece of paper between the door and the gasket. If the paper slips out easily, it’s time to check the seal. Another energy saving tip is to leave space between the refrigerator and the wall to allow for adequate ventilation of the motor.

Mechanical Equipment

All mechanical equipment such as power tools, compressors, and any equipment that operates with a motor should be checked on a regular basis. Hoses, valves, drains, relief valves, drive belts, hoses and fittings should be under a routine maintenance schedule. Again this prolongs the life of the equipment, allows them to function at peak performance and may even prevent an injury that results in lost time from work.

Motor Vehicles

It goes without saying that motor vehicles should be serviced on a regular basis. In service vehicles, remove all unnecessary supplies. Added weight in a vehicle results in more fuel consumption.

The Bottom Line

“To keep business equipment well maintained, a comprehensive maintenance schedule should be established. Having an energy audit will be of significant help in determining ways to save energy.

“Regular maintenance will reduce operating expenses.

“Properly maintained equipment will result in a safer work environment and less time loss from work due to injury or ill health.

“Running a business in an energy efficient way will reduce operating expenses.

“Employees will be happier and more productive in a safe well maintained environment.

How does geothermal energy work is a good question, and one which I have often been asked. In this article I must first explain what it is, and then how it can be made to work for man.

Geothermal energy is, literally, the heat of the earth. The heat itself derives from radioactive decay beneath the earth’s surface and, in certain locations, it is concentrated enough and is close enough to surface waters to be brought to the surface by local geological features.

Geo-energy was once thought of as nothing but a thing to wonder at, but it is thought of very differently, now, and is considered by many as one of the most promising forms of renewable energy. It is a renewable energy source because the hot water which conveys it is replenished by rainfall and the heat it brings with it is continuously produced inside the earth.

The great thing about it is that as a form of energy it is versatile and reliable and it produces electricity which generally produces none of the greenhouse gases associated with the combustion of fossil fuels.

So, geothermal energy is the power which can be generated by the harnessing of the heat beneath the Earth’s surface. Deep wells are usually used to pipe steam and hot water from deep within the Earth, up to the surface.

Geothermal heat comes from the magma in the earth’s core, and that itself is heated by the radioactive decay of uranium, thorium, and potassium present in the core. Geothermal energy is present everywhere beneath the Earth’s surface, although the highest temperature, and thus the most desirable, resources are concentrated in regions of active or geologically young volcanoes.

Though the resource is thermal energy rather than a physical substance such as gold or coal, many aspects of geothermal energy are analogous to characteristics of mineral and fossil-fuel resources.

Geothermal energy works for us when, for example, is used as to warm the water in fishing farms. The water is heated, and the warmth makes it more possible for alligators, tropical fish, and other types of fish to grow in seasons and places where they wouldn’t normally.

There are some limitations to it as a form of energy. Unfortunately, the best geothermal resources are concentrated in areas of volcanic activity and are not widely distributed. The earth’s centre is a distance of approximately 4000 miles from the surface and is so hot that it is molten, but when the heat does not rise to the surface it is too far to drill down to the center.

When used in a power station geothermal heat from the hot water from the well causes a “secondary fluid” to turn into vapor, which as it expands drives the turbines to produce electricity. Since the technology used in a binary-cycle geothermal power plant is a closed-loop system, nothing is emitted to the atmosphere. After turning the turbine generator, the working fluid is condensed back into liquid, which is repeatedly vaporized by the geothermal heat in a continuing cycle.

Dry steam and flash steam power plants do emit low levels of carbon dioxide, nitric oxide, and sulfur, although reportedly at only roughly 5% of the levels emitted by fossil fuel power plants. However, geothermal plants can be built with emissions-controlling systems that can inject these substances back into the earth, thereby reducing carbon emissions reportedly to less than 0.1% of those from fossil fuel power plants.

Dry steam plants are used when the rock is very hot. They take steam out of fractures in the ground and use it to directly drive a turbine that spins a generator. Flash plants take hot water, usually under pressure and at temperatures over twice the normal boiling point of water, out of the ground. They allow it to boil as it rises to the surface then separates the steam phase in steam/water separators and then run the steam through a turbine. The turbine also turns a generator, and from that comes the electrical power.

Temperatures in the Central Texas hydrothermal aquifers range from about 90 degrees Fahrenheit to 160 degrees F at depths from 500 to 5,000 feet. Historically these waters have seen some application in spas and therapeutic baths, but might also be developed for geothermal winter heating if used with heat pumps.

If you were to ask the average Icelander; “How Does Geothermal Energy Work”. He would probably say; “very reliably” and, “our country shows how it can work very well”.

Iceland takes advantage of its incredible geological structure to use geothermal power to their advantage. Recently, it has been reported that 17% of Iceland’s total electricity production comes from geothermal energy. Iceland has reached uniquely high levels in the utilization of geothermal energy, but the resource could be better utilized globally. Iceland is very lucky when it comes to energy as it gets almost all of the rest of its electricity from Hydro-power dams.

Energy from geothermal sources today has been said to amount to less than 0.1 percent of the global world use.

Currently in the US, the author understands that, only four states generate electricity from geothermal resources. In total, this provides electricity for about 3.7 million people.

There are a lot of reasons why tobacco cigarette smokers should try using e-cigarettes or e-cigs. The negative effects of smoking tobacco cigarettes has prompted several countries to strictly regulate or even ban smoking tobacco cigarettes in public areas. The increasing awareness of the people towards protecting and saving our environment also calls for the people to quit tobacco cigarette smoking because each stick of cigarette contains thousands of dangerous substances that are being emitted in the air, including carbon monoxide gas which is one of the greenhouse gases that destroys our ozone layer.

A common question of the people who are thinking of smoking e-cigarettes instead of traditional tobacco cigarettes is “how much would it cost to smoke e-cigarettes?” Well, the answer is its actually a lot cheaper to smoke e-cigarettes compared to your regular cigarette stick. One cartridge or tip of liquid nicotine that is being used in electronic cigarettes is equivalent to at least 40 sticks of regular tobacco cigarette. The price of a pack of 5 cartridge refills for e-cigarettes can be as cheap as ?9. Just imagine how much can you save if you can finish 2 packs of regular tobacco cigarette in a week that only contains 20 sticks each pack and costs ?6 per pack.

If you think that the price of complete e-cigarette device is expensive, then you can buy your e-cigarettes cheap online. There are a lot of websites of sellers and retailers of e-cigarettes that can be found online. Depending on the quality of the brand and the inclusions in their packages, the price of their e-cigarettes can be cheap or expensive.

The website of Buy Electronic Cigarettes Supply is where you can buy your e-cigarettes cheap online. They are one of the leading suppliers of high quality e-cigarettes in the UK. The e-cigarettes that they sell are the Headp brand, which is one of the newest and most durable products that are being sold in the market today. The reason why you can buy your e-cigarettes cheap online is because the products came directly from the manufacturer so it didnt pass through any distributors anymore. There are also no stall rentals, staffs and permits that need to be paid by the sellers, so they dont have to include too much operational expenses to the actual price of their products.

The e-cigarette starter kits are sold for as low as ?22.00 for a complete set. Payment for purchases made online can be made using your credit card, or if you want further protection for your credit card information, then you can utilize the payment services of Paypal so you can secure all your online transactions. Once your payment has been cleared, the items will be shipped to your address on the same day.

A natural disaster can be expressed as the natural effect caused by natural forces, there are many different kinds of natural holocaust; namely: Earth-quakes, Hurricanes, Hail, tsunami, volcanic explosion etc.

Natural catastrophe have different forms of forming for example Hurricanes are caused by increasing the temperature differentials that fuel more wind that will result in super hurricanes.

Earth-quakes are the sudden result caused by release of energy, in chemistry which is known as exothermic reaction. When stress buildings up of rocks of the earth’s crust is released, Rocks crack and slip past each other and cause the ground to vibrate of the earth-quake will form.

Global Warming is another type of natural disaster that is caused by greenhouse gases responsible for warming,Human beings emit gases in a variety of ways, e.g combustion of the fossil fuels in cars factory and electricity.Mostly known gases responsible warming is carbon dioxide (Co2). Methane release from landfills and agriculture are known as the contributors of global warming.

Natural affliction Statistics claims that natural disaster have risen startlingly since from 1980. The reason why natural affliction have increased Scientist believe that the increase natural holocaust is due to a combination of a natural made factors. The increased in the temperature of the earth’s ocean’s and atmosphere is caused by global warming. people are also contributing by tempting the nature with rapid and unplanned urbanisation of flood prone.

Most countries affected by natural catastrophe are Haiti, USA, Chile, Japan etc.

China has 5 of the world’s deadliest natural affliction, it is most affected by the world’s most known natural disasters.

* Shaanxxi earthquake
* Tsunami
* Yellow river floods
* Droughts
* meteorological
* Ecological disaster

China and its people are affected by serious threats of this kind of natural disaster. NDRC is a specialised agency under the Chinese Government engaged in supporting decision on various natural disaster.

Natural catastrophe Relief and Recovery Arrangements it is a joined program that covers a number of relief measures in delivering assistance in finance-to communities that have been affected by a natural holocaust.

(REPA)Restoration of Essential Public assets is a relief measure under the funding program it restore and councils local infrastructure in the occurrence of a natural disaster.

Natural disaster are traumatic for children and the youth also, Natural catastrophe are traumatic to children in way that they can be affected mentally.

Post-Traumatic stress disorder : this is a type of a trauma that the victims of the natural holocaust get after seeing or living through a absolutely dangerous event.