Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Every source of power has detrimental aspects. In the case of hydropower, when dams are used, the resulting holding lakes and resevoirs emit greenhouse gases, including methane, which is worse for the atmosphere than CO2. This information is very negative; I have also seen some that show the emissions from resevoirs and holding lakes decrease with time... http://www.climatecentral.org/news/gree ... ange-20745
For solar power, the problem is the production of the solar panels, some of which require rare earth elements, and the processing requires caustic chemicals. Many are produced in countries where regulation and/or enforcement of toxic waste are lax.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... y-ranking/
So, we need to consider the whole picture when establishing sustainable power sources, and we need significant efforts to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
Whilst getting more people to switch to electric helps a little, and it helps alot at street level, getting people to drive less overall is still necessary. If draconian measures are okay for getting rid of diesels, then they are okay for reducing driving.
For solar power, the problem is the production of the solar panels, some of which require rare earth elements, and the processing requires caustic chemicals. Many are produced in countries where regulation and/or enforcement of toxic waste are lax.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... y-ranking/
So, we need to consider the whole picture when establishing sustainable power sources, and we need significant efforts to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
Whilst getting more people to switch to electric helps a little, and it helps alot at street level, getting people to drive less overall is still necessary. If draconian measures are okay for getting rid of diesels, then they are okay for reducing driving.
“In some ways, it is easier to be a dissident, for then one is without responsibility.”
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
― Nelson Mandela, Long Walk to Freedom
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
At last… someone trying to see the whole picture. Wish the idiots at FOTE and similar were capable of such thinking. You do need a broad accurate knowledge of science and a critical mind to do so but most people who support nutcase organisations don't have a clue and fail to recognise that generating and distributing energy with the least harm is having an ability to distinguish what is the least 'practical' evil.
Al
Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Quite.
I don't totally agree with you but a similar example is how the Greens in Germany have killed off the nuclear industry (which emits almost no CO2 and had years of life left in its reactors) and are instead burning lots of brown coal. It seems as though they forgot the acid rain of the 1980s as well as the extra CO2. Bonkers.
I don't totally agree with you but a similar example is how the Greens in Germany have killed off the nuclear industry (which emits almost no CO2 and had years of life left in its reactors) and are instead burning lots of brown coal. It seems as though they forgot the acid rain of the 1980s as well as the extra CO2. Bonkers.
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Vorpal wrote:
...Whilst getting more people to switch to electric helps a little, and it helps a lot at street level, getting people to drive less overall is still necessary. If draconian measures are okay for getting rid of diesels, then they are okay for reducing driving.
Who has argued against getting people to drive less? Not me that's for sure, I'd definitely vote for those draconian measures but in a democracy.....anyway, reducing the amount of driving wouldn't necessarily get roadside air pollution under control if there remained a high proportion of dirty diesels....
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
+1Mark R wrote: ............ reducing the amount of driving wouldn't necessarily get roadside air pollution under control if there remained a high proportion of dirty diesels....
Mick F. Cornwall
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Tidal lagoon: £1.3bn Swansea Bay project to be backed - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38571240
Yes!
Al
Yes!
Al
Reuse, recycle, thus do your bit to save the planet.... Get stuff at auctions, Dump, Charity Shops, Facebook Marketplace, Ebay, Car Boots. Choose an Old House, and a Banger ..... And cycle as often as you can......
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
al_yrpal wrote:Tidal lagoon: £1.3bn Swansea Bay project to be backed - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-38571240
Yes!
Al
Agreed
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
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Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
OTOH if that only costs 1.3bn, I shall eat my trousers
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Bonefishblues wrote:OTOH if that only costs 1.3bn, I shall eat my trousers
Oh! there's no doubt at all it will at least double in cost,but it's worth it IMO.
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
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- Posts: 11010
- Joined: 7 Jul 2014, 9:45pm
- Location: Near Bicester Oxon
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
reohn2 wrote:Bonefishblues wrote:OTOH if that only costs 1.3bn, I shall eat my trousers
Oh! there's no doubt at all it will at least double in cost,but it's worth it IMO.
It's a helluva proof of concept, isn't it - build the biggest one we can as the first one!
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Vorpal wrote:Every source of power has detrimental aspects. In the case of hydropower, when dams are used, the resulting holding lakes and resevoirs emit greenhouse gases, including methane, which is worse for the atmosphere than CO2. This information is very negative; I have also seen some that show the emissions from resevoirs and holding lakes decrease with time... http://www.climatecentral.org/news/gree ... e-20745....
Have there been comparative studies investigating methane released from e.g. tropical rain forests. As I understood it, this is biological origin methane coming from decomposition of biological material and biological material rots all over the place (under varying conditions). As a report is seems rather short of references (those given are just to other similar articles from the same organisation) and they do comment that a significant contribution of this methane generation is actually caused (indirectly) by fertiliser run-off making it more an issue of farming practices than electricity generation.
So I can appreciate they may be some negative impacts to hydro generation but also, I was not overly impressed or convinced by the article.
Ian
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Bonefishblues wrote:reohn2 wrote:Bonefishblues wrote:OTOH if that only costs 1.3bn, I shall eat my trousers
Oh! there's no doubt at all it will at least double in cost,but it's worth it IMO.
It's a helluva proof of concept, isn't it - build the biggest one we can as the first one!
As a layman in all of this I read that the two parts to the project,breakwaters and hydro turbines are well proven.As you say the scale is BIG but they must feel confident about the ability to build it as it's not really a leap into the unknown as far as civil engineering goes.
-----------------------------------------------------------
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
-
- Posts: 11010
- Joined: 7 Jul 2014, 9:45pm
- Location: Near Bicester Oxon
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Show me a Civil Engineer who would turn down a crack at building something Really Big
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Vorpal wrote:Every source of power has detrimental aspects. In the case of hydropower, when dams are used, the resulting holding lakes and resevoirs emit greenhouse gases, including methane, which is worse for the atmosphere than CO2. This information is very negative; I have also seen some that show the emissions from resevoirs and holding lakes decrease with time... http://www.climatecentral.org/news/gree ... ange-20745
For solar power, the problem is the production of the solar panels, some of which require rare earth elements, and the processing requires caustic chemicals. Many are produced in countries where regulation and/or enforcement of toxic waste are lax.
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news ... y-ranking/
So, we need to consider the whole picture when establishing sustainable power sources, and we need significant efforts to reduce the consumption of natural resources.
Whilst getting more people to switch to electric helps a little, and it helps alot at street level, getting people to drive less overall is still necessary. If draconian measures are okay for getting rid of diesels, then they are okay for reducing driving.
No matter what the human race does to produce anything it will have a negative impact on the earth we live on,even relatively benign bicycle has some negative effect on the planet.
It's all about minimising that effect for the best results.
The problem we face is monetary profit and a capitalist system that only has that as it's goal,investors on the only care for the best monetary return.
That's the major problem as I see it.
PS,why do I think I'm preaching to the converted?
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
Re: Diesel - seriously thinking of giving up cycling
Bonefishblues wrote:Show me a Civil Engineer who would turn down a crack at building something Really Big
What's your point?
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"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden
"All we are not stares back at what we are"
W H Auden