Perpetual Innovation

Category: water

  • World Water Day Quiz?

    All,


    World water day slipped by without a splash! http://www.unwater.org/worldwaterday/ 


    Check the blog here on the topic: World Water Day 2014 blog post.


    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy.

    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy and plastics.
    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy and paper.
    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy and trash.
    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy and clothes (say cotton pants).
    Most people don’t realize the Nexus of water and energy and food… (virtual water).


    Quick quiz:

    1. How much of the earth’s water is available fresh water (like rivers, streams and fresh lakes)?
    2. What percentage of the bottled water we drink is from a municipal water source (i.e., fine Miami tap-water)?
    3. How many gallons of water (typically) does it take to power a light bulb per year (in the US, based on 12 hrs per day, 60w incandescent)?
    4. How many gallons of water does it take to make a serving of cereal? of beef? of cotton clothes?
    5. How many gallons of water does the average (per capita) American use per day? All things considered, how much water per day?

    Go here to find most of the answers to these questions: http://sustainzine.blogspot.com/search?q=world+water+quiz 


    Key: Out of about 100% correct, where do you stand?

    • 5% right? Low average. You probably should know a little more about our earth systems.
    • 10% right? About average. You probably should know a little more about our earth systems.
    • 20% right? Above average. Pretty good! You probably should know a little more about our earth systems.
    • 30% right? You read too much or you are a closet environmentalist.
    • 40% right? Genius and a full fledged environmentalist. You probably should be blogging about sustainability issues.
    • 50% or more right? No… You cheated! You looked up the answers and were actually lucky enough to find sources that were accurate/right!

  • Issuu – bbiinternational – Ethanol Producer Magazine … Biomass… Etc.

    Issuu – bbiinternational – Documents:

    Check out issues of Ethanol Producer Magazine… And other Biomass, biodiesel, biomass, biofuel rags. (Reading these online is surprising smooth once you get the swing of it.)

    Great info in this month’s edition of Ethanol Producer. Because of the trade-off between burning our food (corn) and eating it, the use of corn-ethanol as a fuel is critical. It’s especially critical during times of drought. It takes a lot of water to grow corn, and it takes a lot of water to process ethanol.

    Ethanol is down, corn-based ethanol is down, exports are down, etc.

    But what’s interesting is the field tests (pun intended) of new corn crops that are more drought tolerant.

    If you haven’t yet ventured off into this genre of magazines, you will find it very interesting and surprisingly relevant. Relevant, if you drive, if you eat food, if you have interests in the economy. . .

    Make no doubt about it, the drought is gonna impact us all in food, fuel and more, for at least the next couple years. What we have just learned this year about droughts will be useful for the rest of the world, too, in seasons to come.

    Hang on for the bumpy ride.

    ‘via Blog this’

  • Tracking water on the move « The Cost of Energy

    Tracking water on the move « The Cost of Energy:

    ‘via Blog this’

    Check out this blog about water.

    Video about GRACE and tracking water from space. They analyze land-water depletion with increased rise in ocean levels.

    Note the discussion by Famiglietti about the areas of drought: above and below ground water levels… Since the change in water is the primary difference that impacts (land)mass, the GRACE satellites can measure the changes. And it seems with a whole lot of precision.

    There’s more to come from the lecture series on water that’s upcoming.

    Water, water everywhere, but not a drop to drink. One argument is, that the the next wars will be over water? …

    Well… Let’s toss our coins over the edge… and make a big wish! …

    for a more sustainable productive New Year in 2012.