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Tag: clean air

California’s Compressed Air Batteries

Posted on by dishanth
California’s Compressed Air Batteries

Engineers and scientists have been developing ways to store unused energy from renewable sources as the world moves from fossil fuels to renewable energy. We’ve seen different types of batteries making their mark, including lithium-ion batteries, pumped hydro, tanks full of molten salt or silicon and more. Now, California has found a way to move past lithium into an even more sustainable battery – compressed air batteries. Compressed air batteries do not require lithium which is expensive and environmentally damaging to dig up. They store energy like solar and wind and are a 24/7 source of clean power for homes and businesses.

In 2021, Hydrostor opened two new compressed air energy storage facilities in California, which provide almost twice the storage capacity. Their facilities use surplus electricity from the grid to run an air compressor. The compressed air is stored in a big underground tank until the energy is needed. When needed, the energy will be released through a turbine to generate electricity that is fed back into the grid. Reheating the air as it is fed into the turbine increases the system’s efficiency.

Hydrosor’s system is optimized for system sizes of over 100 megawatts with 5 hours up to multi-day storage duration. This is longer than the four-hour standard for lithium-ion. Hydrostor projects that it can produce 60% to 65% of the electricity it consumes, which is a larger energy loss than lithium-ion batteries or similar types of storage. Hydrostor says its systems will store up to 10 GWh of energy, providing between eight and 12 hours of energy over a full discharge at close to its maximum rate.

Earlier this year, California’s Central Coast Community Energy (3CE) approved a 25-year contract with Hydrostor to construct a compressed-air energy storage facility, making it the world’s largest compressed-air energy storage project. Two hundred megawatts of energy would help 3CE serve 447 000 customers between Santa Cruz and Santa Barbara with 100% clean and renewable energy by 2030. This project will help California transition off fossil fuels without causing blackouts.

Compared to lithium-ion batteries that degrade and must be replaced every few years, compressed air batteries can store energy for decades without any loss of efficiency. Compressed air batteries are significantly more expensive than lithium-ion, but the battery’s longevity will outweigh the cost.

Hydrosor has figured out a way to capture and reuse the heat generated when the air is compressed, which means no gas needs to be burned. The company also found a way to dig caverns out of rock rather than salt. These projects have been used elsewhere in places with underground salt domes, but they depend partly on natural gas to heat compressed air as it leaves caverns to make it more efficient. Digging caverns out of rock opens up the possibility of compressed air battery storage worldwide.

3CE’s partnership with Hydrosor will allow for California’s renewable energy to be clean and sustainable. These compressed-air batteries will protect the planet and the people of California and will be an example for other states to implement.

 

 

 

 

Source Happy Eco News

10 Low Maintenance Houseplants for Air Purification

Posted on by dishanth
10 Low Maintenance Houseplants for Air Purification

The Top Low Maintenance Houseplants for Air Purification

  1. Snake Plant
  2. Aloe Vera
  3. English Ivy
  4. Spider Plant
  5. Peace Lily
  6. Boston Fern
  7. Rubber Plant
  8. Golden Pothos
  9. Bamboo Palm
  10. Chinese Evergreen

Snake Plant

The snake plant, also known as mother-in-law’s tongue, is one of the most popular low maintenance houseplants for air purification. This plant is great for beginners as it can survive in almost any lighting condition and doesn’t require frequent watering. It also removes toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Aloe Vera

Aloe Vera is not only a great houseplant for air purification, but it also has several other health benefits. This low maintenance plant can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. Aloe vera is known to remove formaldehyde from the air and can be used to treat minor burns and skin irritations.

English Ivy

English ivy is another low maintenance houseplant that can purify the air in your home. It can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. English ivy is known to remove toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Spider Plant

The spider plant is a great choice for those looking for low maintenance houseplants for air purification. This plant can remove formaldehyde and xylene from the air and survive in low light conditions. It doesn’t require frequent watering and is safe for pets.

Peace Lily

The peace lily is a beautiful low maintenance houseplant that can also purify the air in your home. It can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The peace lily is known to remove toxins such as benzene, formaldehyde, and trichloroethylene from the air.

Boston Fern

The Boston fern is a popular choice for those looking for low maintenance houseplants for air purification. This plant can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The Boston fern is known to remove toxins such as formaldehyde and xylene from the air.

Rubber Plant

The rubber plant is a low maintenance houseplant that can purify the air in your home. It can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The rubber plant is known to remove toxins such as formaldehyde from the air.

Golden Pothos

The golden pothos is a low maintenance houseplant that can also purify the air in your home. This plant can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The golden pothos is known to remove toxins such as formaldehyde, benzene, and carbon monoxide from the air.

Bamboo Palm

The bamboo palm is a low maintenance houseplant that can remove toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air. This plant can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The bamboo palm is also pet-friendly, making it a great choice for those with furry friends at home.

Chinese Evergreen

The Chinese evergreen is a low maintenance houseplant that can purify the air in your home. It can survive in low light conditions and doesn’t require frequent watering. The Chinese evergreen is known to remove toxins such as benzene and formaldehyde from the air, making it a great choice for those looking for a low maintenance plant that can improve air quality.

How to Care for Low Maintenance Houseplants

Low maintenance houseplants are great for those who don’t have much time to devote to caring for plants. Here are some tips on how to care for them:

  • Water: Most low maintenance houseplants for air purification don’t require frequent watering. Overwatering can harm your plant, so letting the soil dry out between watering sessions is important. You can check if your plant needs water by sticking your finger in the soil. If it’s dry, it’s time to water your plant.
  • Light: Most low maintenance houseplants can survive in low to medium light conditions. However, it’s important to make sure your plant is getting enough light to thrive. If your plant starts to look droopy or its leaves start to turn yellow, it may be a sign that it’s not getting enough light.
  • Soil: Use well-draining soil for your low maintenance houseplants. This will help prevent overwatering and root rot.
  • Fertilizer: Low maintenance houseplants don’t require frequent fertilizing. You can fertilize your plant once every few months with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.

FAQs

Can low maintenance houseplants really purify the air?

  1. Yes, certain houseplants are known for their ability to purify the air and remove toxins.

How often should I water my low maintenance houseplants?

  1. Most low maintenance houseplants don’t require frequent watering. It’s important to let the soil dry out between watering sessions.

Are low maintenance houseplants safe for pets?

  1. Most of the low maintenance houseplants listed in this article are safe for pets. However, it’s always a good idea to check if a plant is pet-friendly before bringing it into your home.

Can low maintenance houseplants survive in low light conditions?

  1. Yes, most low maintenance houseplants can survive in low to medium light conditions.

Do low maintenance houseplants require frequent fertilizing?

  1. No, low maintenance houseplants don’t require frequent fertilizing. You can fertilize your plant once every few months with a general-purpose houseplant fertilizer.

 

 

 

 

Source  Happy Eco News

 

Old Growth Trees Sequester More Carbon, Help Prevent Wildfires

Posted on by dishanth
Old Growth Trees Sequester More Carbon, Help Prevent Wildfires

As we progress through the 21st century, one of the most important issues of our time is carbon. We create much of it by burning fossil fuels, extracting natural resources, or simply by living our day-to-day lives; we create carbon.

We create much more of it than we should, and the research into climate change backs this up. Many of us have devised innovative ways to counteract and slow down our carbon output, while good solutions are ultimately artificial. As it turns out, nature is our most important ally in fighting the devastating effects of climate change.

According to Frontiers in Forests and Global Change research, old-growth large-diameter trees are the most important carbon sinks we have and are significantly more effective at removing and storing carbon from our atmosphere than any other technology we have available in the present day.

Oregon, USA, and the Blue Mountains Complex region, in particular, has been world-renowned for its natural beauty and resources for hundreds of years. The timber industry makes up much of the natural resource extraction sector. However, despite this fact, this area significantly lacks protections guaranteeing the safety of its natural beauty from those who would profit from taking what is there until there is nothing left.

One of the central issues for those living in Oregon is wildfires, which destroy land and towns and devastate those living there. Thus, “chainsaw medicine,” as it’s called in the region, is implemented to reduce the number of trees that can be burned to safeguard their communities from destruction and to turn a profit at the same time. However, recent developments in research in forestry have concluded that this might actually be accelerating the problem and making it worse, not better.

Large-diameter trees comprise only 7% of the total number of trees in the Blue Mountains Complex, yet they sequester 50% of the carbon emitted in the region into their bodies. These trees are incredibly carbon-dense and eat up the carbon in the atmosphere cleaning the air and providing important stability to the soil that prevents landslides.

On top of that, trees that are standing or dead actually prevent wildfires due to wind and humidity. The two main contributors to massive wildfires that spiral out of control are dry, windy conditions that lead sparks that would otherwise be contained and extinguished to engulf an entire forest. The forestry industry cuts down large swaths of the forest leading to large open areas with no shade to regulate the temperature and no obstructions to the wind that blows through freely.

And while global climate change does make historic wildfires much worse than they otherwise would be, indigenous peoples for hundreds of years used controlled burns in order to modify their landscape and regenerate the soil that benefits from ash in the dirt.

This new research has the capability to seriously challenge the conventional view on wildfires, as legislation is currently being introduced that can protect the pristine forests of Oregon from the industry that seeks to extract the trees and release all that carbon that otherwise would be contained in the bark.

As the world changes and new technologies are being developed and implemented in order to address our climate crisis, mother nature once again proves to us that often the right choice is to use what we already have. We like to believe that we are the most ingenious and intelligent life on the planet, but ultimately we come from the dirt and will return to it.

It only makes sense that we should begin respecting the solutions that come from the ground and dig our roots deeper to protect what is already here. New legislation that can bring about what is good for the environment has to be of top priority because, at the end of the day, we are not defending nature; we are nature defending itself.

 

 

 

 

Source Happy Eco News