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aries166 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 10:45:20 CST

Maya 2012: Doomsday Evidence?
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Maya 2012: Doomsday Evidence?

Blogs

aries166 — Sat, 07 Nov 2009 06:31:41 CST

What's Supposed to Happen in 2012?
10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
The Truth About 2012 Doomsday Hype
World to End in 2012: A Hoax Gone Too Far?
World to End in 2012 (Continuation)
Renewable Energy (RE) Bill in Congress (House Bill 4193): awaits approval this October?
Department of Energy offering incentives to clean energy investors
Basic Energy to jointly develop ethanol plant with Canadian
UP-Maroons vs Ateneo-Blue Eagles on tapping biotechnology as alternative fuel
NASA scientist's warning on RP 'doomsday scenario'- Palace
NEDA Committees back Php17-B energy, environment projects
Philippines needs big investment for future energy demand
Pinoy NASA scientist agrees to head RP global warming project
WHO: Global warming to lead to hike in dengue, malaria cases in RP
WHO warns climate change poses health risks
Senate finally approves 'Clean Energy' Bill, seen to cut oil dependence

What's Supposed to Happen in 2012?

by Vanessa Tencati

Depending on who's doing the prophesying, the winter solstice in the year 2012 could usher in a day of celebration — or a day of chaos. December 21, 2012 has been marked as a special day since the time of the Maya, whose calendar first touted it as the end of a great 5,126 year cycle. Now, just a few years before the day of reckoning is upon us, the human race is forced to consider the possibility of an approaching apocalyptic nightmare. Only time will tell whether 2012 will be the end, a new beginning, or just a year like any other.

THEORY: The End of the Maya Calendar Cycle

This is where it all begins. The Maya Long Count calendar comes to the end of a 5,126 year cycle soon—possibly on December 21, 2012. The exact date is debated, as is what will happen when we hit that date. There is no record telling us exactly what the ancient Maya expected to happen when this cycle ended and the next began. But some think they would have been worried about the end of mankind as we know it.

THEORY: Bible Code Prophecy

At least one interpretation of the Bible tells us that in the year 2012, God will destroy Earth. With the help of computers, Israeli mathematicians have discovered a supposed secret code in the Bible's text. Michael Drosnin, author of The Bible Code, also decoded the text based on the mathematicians' work. According to Drosnin's interpretations, comets are due to rain down upon Earth in both 2010 and 2012.

THEORY: Terrence McKenna's Timewave Zero

In the early 1970s, Terence McKenna took a trip to the Amazon rainforest, where he experienced mind-bending drugs. Upon his return, he utilized the I Ching, the ancient Chinese book of divination, to determine a mathematical formula he called "timewave zero." According to his research, this formula predicts that time will form into tighter and tighter spirals until a "final time" is reached. When this happens, the laws of physics as we currently experience them will no longer apply, and the world will suddenly enter a new era with new, unknown laws. Originally set to occur on November 17, 2012, McKenna later moved the date when he determined the occurrence of the next galactic alignment: December 21, 2012.

THEORY: Nostradamus' Prophecies

The infamous seer's writings have been cited as predicting such historical events as the reign of Napoleon, the tyranny of Hitler, both World Wars, and September 11th. His writings also contain a number of end of the world prophecies which have yet to occur. His written quatrains prophesize everything from earthquakes and rampant disease to the coming of an antichrist and the onset of World War III. While not specifically pinpointed to the year 2012, many believe that Nostradamus' prophecies will coincide with the end of the Maya calendar.

THEORY: Rogue Planet Collision

Author Zecharia Sitchin wrote of a 5,000-year-old tale of planet Nibiru, home to a race of beings called the Annunaki, orbiting the sun beyond Pluto. Although dismissed by many as a myth, some believe that because of an unusual orbit, Nibiru is set to disrupt Earth in 2012. Recent science has indeed discovered a planetary body that is slightly larger than Pluto and three times farther from the sun, named Eris. Despite assurances from NASA that Eris is not headed anywhere near Earth, followers of Sitchin’s ideas fear that Eris is indeed Nibiru and will follow a rogue orbit, coming close enough to the solar system that its gravitational pull could dramatically alter the face of the Earth, wreaking unprecedented havoc on our gravity and electromagnetic fields.

THEORY: Galactic Alignment

In the galactic alignment, the winter solstice sun will line up perfectly with the galactic equator, an invisible line that denotes the center of the Milky Way galaxy. According to researcher John Major Jenkins, this precise alignment only occurs once every 26,000 years—and the next one is scheduled to take place by 2016. Jenkins asserts that rather than doomsday, the galactic alignment will bring about a shift in the human psyche toward a more conscious state.

THEORY: Solar Storms on Earth

Approximately every 11 years, the number of sunspots on our sun peaks at what we call a solar maximum. These sunspots, giant magnetic storms which appear as dark splotches on the sun's surface, release solar flares that vary in intensity. The next solar maximum is due to occur in 2012, and if powerful solar flares manage to penetrate Earth's weakening magnetic shield, damaging radiation could wreak havoc on the health on humankind.

THEORY: Pole Shift Hypotheses

Due to a variety of environmental or man-made factors, the north and south poles of Earth are not entirely static. There are many theories as to why this is, and what this means. The occurrence of a pole shift, where the poles would move dramatically, could cause the Earth's crust to move over the mantle and core—like an orange skin floating around above the pulpy fruit. This could result in major tsunamis, dramatic earthquakes and volcanoes, and intense climate change as the continents are pushed halfway across the globe from their current locations. A pole shift of this magnitude was predicted by psychic Edgar Cayce in 1934, who said it would start happening in the early 21st century.

Source: http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/channel/ends-of-the-earth-2012#ixzz0W5MOMcII

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10 Failed Doomsday Predictions
by Benjamin Radford

With the upcoming disaster film "2012" and the current hype about Mayan calendars and doomsday predictions, it seems like a good time to put such notions in context. Most prophets of doom come from a religious perspective, though the secular crowd has caused its share of scares as well. One thing the doomsday scenarios tend to share in common: They don't come to pass.

Here are 10 that didn't pan out, so far:

The Prophet Hen of Leeds, 1806

History has countless examples of people who have proclaimed that the return of Jesus Christ is imminent, but perhaps there has never been a stranger messenger than a hen in the English town of Leeds in 1806. It seems that a hen began laying eggs on which the phrase "Christ is coming" was written. As news of this miracle spread, many people became convinced that doomsday was at hand - until a curious local actually watched the hen laying one of the prophetic eggs and discovered someone had hatched a hoax.

The Millerites, April 23, 1843

A New England farmer named William Miller, after several years of very careful study of his Bible, concluded that God's chosen time to destroy the world could be divined from a strict literal interpretation of scripture. As he explained to anyone who would listen, the world would end some time between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. He preached and published enough to eventually lead thousands of followers (known as Millerites) who decided that the actual date was April 23, 1843. Many sold or gave away their possessions, assuming they would not be needed; though when April 23 arrived (but Jesus didn't) the group eventually disbanded-some of them forming what is now the Seventh Day Adventists.

Mormon Armageddon, 1891 or earlier

Joseph Smith, founder of the Mormon church, called a meeting of his church leaders in February 1835 to tell them that he had spoken to God recently, and during their conversation he learned that Jesus would return within the next 56 years, after which the End Times would begin promptly.

Halley's Comet, 1910

In 1881, an astronomer discovered through spectral analysis that comet tails include a deadly gas called cyanogen (related, as the name imples, to cyanide). This was of only passing interest until someone realized that Earth would pass through the tail of Halley's comet in 1910. Would everyone on the planet be bathed in deadly toxic gas? That was the speculation reprinted on the front pages of "The New York Times" and other newspapers, resulting in a widespread panic across the United States and abroad. Finally even-headed scientists explained that there was nothing to fear.

Pat Robertson, 1982

In May 1980, televangelist and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson startled and alarmed many when - contrary to Matthew 24:36 ("No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven...") he informed his "700 Club" TV show audience around the world that he knew when the world would end. "I guarantee you by the end of 1982 there is going to be a judgment on the world," Robertson said.

Heaven's Gate, 1997

When comet Hale-Bopp appeared in 1997, rumors surfaced that an alien spacecraft was following the comet - covered up, of course, by NASA and the astronomical community. Though the claim was refuted by astronomers (and could be refuted by anyone with a good telescope), the rumors were publicized on Art Bell's paranormal radio talk show "Coast to Coast AM." These claims inspired a San Diego UFO cult named Heaven's Gate to conclude that the world would end soon. The world did indeed end for 39 of the cult members, who committed suicide on March 26, 1997.

Nostradamus, August 1999

The heavily obfuscated and metaphorical writings of Michel de Nostrdame have intrigued people for over 400 years. His writings, the accuracy of which relies heavily upon very flexible interpretations, have been translated and re-translated in dozens of different versions. One of the most famous quatrains read, "The year 1999, seventh month / From the sky will come great king of terror." Many Nostradamus devotees grew concerned that this was the famed prognosticator's vision of Armageddon.

Y2K, Jan. 1, 2000

As the last century drew to a close, many people grew concerned that computers might bring about doomsday. The problem, first noted in the early 1970s, was that many computers would not be able to tell the difference between 2000 and 1900 dates. No one was really sure what that would do, but many suggested catastrophic problems ranging from vast blackouts to nuclear holocaust. Gun sales jumped and survivalists prepared to live in bunkers, but the new millennium began with only a few glitches.

May 5, 2000

In case the Y2K bug didn't do us in, global catastrophe was assured by Richard Noone, author of the 1997 book "5/5/2000 Ice: the Ultimate Disaster." According to Noone, the Antarctic ice mass would be three miles thick by May 5, 2000 - a date in which the planets would be aligned in the heavens, somehow resulting in a global icy death (or at least a lot of book sales). Perhaps global warming kept the ice age at bay.

God's Church Ministry, Fall 2008

According to God's Church minister Ronald Weinland, the end times are upon us-- again. His 2006 book "2008: God's Final Witness" states that hundreds of millions of people will die, and by the end of 2006, "there will be a maximum time of two years remaining before the world will be plunged into the worst time of all human history. By the fall of 2008, the United States will have collapsed as a world power, and no longer exist as an independent nation." As the book notes, "Ronald Weinland places his reputation on the line as the end-time prophet of God."

Original Story: 10 Failed Doomsday Predictions

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The Truth about 2012 Doomsday Hype
by Benjamin Radford

2012 is coming very soon. The movie, that is — the disaster film directed by Roland Emmerich depicting global catastrophe of Biblical proportions. The year itself is of course a few dozen months away, and there is growing interest, excitement, and concern for both events.

The film "2012," which opens Nov. 13, takes place, rather obviously, in the year 2012, though it could have been set in 1995 or 2013. The movie's disasters have no particular link to that year, it's just when the Earth happens to start burping earthquakes and farting fire. 2012 made a perfect promotional hook for the film, because the ancient Mayans predicted that the world would end that year, if not specifically on December 21, 2012.

That's one story, anyway.

Whether or not 2012 will bring cataclysmic volcanism or a great flood, it has undeniably brought a flood of books. New Age and doomsday authors have been cranking out 2012-themed books at an amazing pace over the past few years; there are literally thousands of such titles in print, with more on the way.

While many authors and 2012 "experts" are playing up the doomsday scenario, others believe that the year will bring not disaster but a new era of global harmony (as in what did not happen with the so-called Harmonic Convergence in 1987). It seems that anyone with access to a keyboard and an opinion on 2012 (or prophecy in general) is trying to cash in. (It will be interesting to see how many of those books will be for sale on Amazon.com for one cent on Jan. 1, 2013.)

Mayan myth

In fact, the link between global catastrophe and Mayan calendar-based prophecy is largely fiction. Ads for "2012" begin with the phrase, "The Mayans warned us," though of course the Mayans did not "warn" anyone — they simply had a calendar system that happens to "end" in 2012, much as the way the Gregorian calendar on my office wall "ends" on Dec. 31.

The Mayans never said the world would end that year, and modern Mayans have shown irritation with how their culture has been co-opted into pop culture notions and Hollywood blockbuster film promotions.

John Major Jenkins, a Maya scholar and author of "The 2012 Story," notes that "when the 2012 bug started to bite the mainstream press and many more books started to appear, authors and the media were pulling the 2012 topic in predictably weird directions."

The 2012 link to the Maya is not a hoax; their calendar does in fact conclude in that year. Just what that means — if anything — is the question.

Of course, the Mayans were only one of dozens of major civilizations, and there is no particular reason to assume that the Mayan calendar is any more cosmically significant or valid than any of hundreds of other calendar systems used throughout history.

Appealing mysticism

So why this focus on the Mayans?

Part of the reason the New Age crowd has embraced the Mayan calendar (instead of, say, the Hindu calendar) is that the Mayans fit perfectly into their ideas about the ancient wisdom of the "noble savage." Belief that ancient civilizations (such as the Mayans and Egyptians) were far more advanced than often claimed permeates New Age thought, and the idea that Mayan mystics somehow knew of the world's end millennia ago is very appealing.

There have also been several outright hoaxes connected to 2012, most notably the claim that Nibiru, a non-existent planet supposedly discovered by the ancient Sumerians, will encounter Earth in 2012 and cause havoc, including a reversal of the geomagnetic poles.

NASA has been accused of covering up the existence of Nibiru, presumably to prevent mass panic (a theme that also appears in the film). Doomsdays come and go, but conspiracy theories are forever.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/091105-2021-doomsday.html

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World to End in 2012: A Hoax Gone Too Far?

by: Robert Roy Britt

*** Spoiler alert. This article contains information that will ruin a good hoax. ***

There's no shortage of end-of-the-world prophecies and hoaxes, but the latest one has a slick twist. Or, some might say, a sick twist.

In fact, just by writing about it, I'm playing into the hands of a big media company that hopes I will write about it, or at least pass the word and a link, so that they can ultimately make money. Rather, I'll try to keep a few people from being frightened.

The story starts with Mike Brown, an astronomer at Caltech who has found more planet-like objects in our outer solar system than anyone.

Just like this reporter, Brown gets a lot emails from people worried the world will end in 2012. So many, in fact, that Brown has come to call them "The 2012 People." He's long assumed they're rather gullible worry warts. His view just changed a little.

The concerns often stem from bogus information about a fantasy planet dubbed Nibiru which, the story goes, will swing into the inner solar system, smack Earth in 2012, and bring an end to it all. (Brown assures us there is no such planet, and no such looming scenario known to science.)

The emails have been increasing of late. And recently one concerned citizen went a step farther and called and left Brown a voice mail: "I've got kids; this really scares the hell out of me. Is there something I should be doing? Is this real?"

The planet hunter reassured the man that it was all just a hoax. The man was grateful.

But the man got Brown's attention.

"This guy was inherently skeptical about the 2012 claims, and was happy when someone with a ring of authority told him there was nothing to it, but, still something had made him worried enough that he had tracked down some astronomer he had never met and called him to reassure him about the safety of his family," Brown wrote in his blog this week.

Then Brown found some spam among his email, an ominous missive that purports to be from the director of the Institute for Human Continuity. It warns: "The IHC has uncovered evidence indicating that the disasters of 2012 are both real and unavoidable. We believe with 94% certainty that ... cataclysmic events will devastate our planet and many who inhabit it. December 21, 2012 cannot be ignored."

A link in the email to the IHC's supposed web site actually takes you to a site that is so cleverly designed, an unsuspecting person who doesn't recognize the actors on the page might think the IHC is real, that the end is near, and that buying a ticket (to somewhere, on something, who knows?) is the only hope of survival.

Truth is the web site (it's here, it's fake, you've been warned) is designed by Sony Pictures. Okay, score 1 point for Sony, no harm done, right?

Well, not so fast.

Brown, who is a pretty smart guy, admits that unlike many doomsday websites designed by quacks, it took him a while to figure out this web site is a fake.

"It is slick. It is professional. There is no obvious sign anywhere that this is the work of kooks," he said.

We all hate spam. And sometimes we think its deceptiveness is distasteful, especially when little old ladies are bilked of billions by a faux Nigerian banker. And hoaxes sometimes go too far. Some pranksters in New Jersey who lofted flares on balloons in the night sky in January, as a social experiment, were fined $250 by a court that determined their UFO hoax "posed a potential fire hazard and could have interfered with air traffic." It didn't, but their deceptiveness, and the harm it could have caused, was enough for the judge.

Brown wonders if this one goes too far, scaring people who may never learn the truth that would alleviate their fears.

"If the spam email had tried to scare me about the end of the world and then directed me to a web site which turned out to simply advertise the movie, that would have been distasteful," Brown writes. "But what is the right word for a spam email that tries to scare me to go to a web site which then tries to scare me even more and doesn't even admit to being simply an ad for a movie?"

Source: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/090614-end-of-the-world-hoax.html

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World to End in 2012 (Continuation)
by: Robert Roy Britt

Yesterday I wrote about how Caltech planet-hunter Mike Brown was disturbed by a variation of the "World Will End in 2012" hoax perpetrated by a big media company's movie promotion that leaves some people genuinely worried.

This hoax has been floating around in various forms for years now, but it's reached critical mass lately (and one can only hope that means an apex, too).

Now NASA astrobiologist and asteroid expert David Morrison weighs in. That's good, because Dave is really smart, knows a lot about science, has been around long enough to see plenty of these doomsday predictions come and go (like the May 5, 2000 planet alignment that was supposed to wipe us out, since Y2K didn't), and is not afraid to speak frankly about it all.

It'd be nice if there was not really much to say here. But the fact is, from self-described (and underperforming) psychics to religiously oriented doomsday prophets (like the one who predicted there would be riots by Christmas 2008 due to President Obama's election) and out-and-out profiteers who prey on the basic human desire to believe, there is plenty of debunking that needs to be done.

Morrison has posted 20 questions, with answers, surrounding all this. In the first one, reproduced here, he sums up how silly this all is (see the key phrase in bold):

Question No. 1: What is the origin of the prediction that the world will end in December 2012?

Morrison: "The story started with claims that Nibiru, a supposed planet discovered by the Sumerians, is headed toward Earth. Zecharia Sitchin, who writes fiction about the ancient Mesopotamian civilization of Sumer, claimed in several books (e.g., The Twelfth Planet, published in 1976) that he has found and translated Sumerian documents that identify the planet Nibiru, orbiting the Sun every 3600 years. These Sumerian fables include stories of 'ancient astronauts' visiting Earth from a civilization of aliens called the Anunnaki. Then Nancy Lieder, a self-declared psychic who claims she is channeling aliens, wrote on her website Zetatalk that the inhabitants of a fictional planet around the star Zeta Reticuli warned her that the Earth was in danger from Planet X or Nibiru. This catastrophe was initially predicted for May 2003, but when nothing happened the doomsday date was moved forward to December 2012. Only recently have these two fables been linked to the end of the Mayan long-count at the winter solstice in 2012 — hence the predicted doomsday date of December 21, 2012."

Ah, yes, the old "it didn't happen but it still will" trick. Read more about that tactic in an article from last year by our Bad Science columnist Benjamin Radford.

If you're still a believer in the end times coming in 2012, or if you need more ammo to debunk the crazy stories you hear from grandma, the nut in the next cubicle, or from your internet-savvy 11-year-old, then check out Morrison's 20 Questions (and answers) about the End of the World.

Source: http://www.livescience.com/strangenews/090615-earth-doomsday-2012.html

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RENEWABLE ENERGY (RE) BILL IN CONGRESS (HOUSE BILL 4193): awaits approval this October?

The Bill if finally approved by our good Senators would give tax incentives:

1. Tax and duty-free importation of machinery.
2. Tax credit on capital components and parts bought locally.
3. Tax holding of six years, net operating loss carry-over for the first three years of operations.
4. Accelerated depreciation.
5. Zero value-added tax rating.

Source

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Department of Energy Offering Incentives to Clean Energy Investors

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Angelo Reyes announced that his department will give incentives to investors in environment friendly renewable energy projects like biomass, solar and wind energy, bio-ethanol and fuel cell plant in the form of income tax holiday for six years and low tariffs.

Source

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Basic Energy To Jointly Develop Ethanol Plant With Canadian

Listed Basic Energy Corporation will jointly set up with a Canadian firm Nexum Energy Corporation in an ethanol plant using cassava as feedstock in Zamboanga City.

Source

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UP-Maroons vs Ateneo-Blue Eagles On Tapping Biotechnology As Alternative Fuel

Filipino scientists are in the thick of the search for alternative fuels, with experts from the University of the Philippines (UP) in both Diliman and Los Banos campuses searching all over the archipelago for energy sources from the forests to the bottom of the sea, from enzymes to fungi and other microorganisms.

Microbiologists at the Ateneo de Manila University (AdMU) are also searching on the possible use of rice stalks that can be transformed into a feedstock, for bio-ethanol.

Source

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NASA Scientist's Warning on RP 'Doomsday Scenario' - Palace

National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) physicist Josefino Comiso had said the country's sea levels could rise 23 feet and high ocean temperatures could deplete fish stocks and several species of plants and animals.

But Malacanang branded as "doomsday scenario" the theory that climate change and the melting of polar ice caps in the Arctic region can lead to the flooding of Manila and the destruction of plant and animal species.

Source

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NEDA Committees Back Php17-B Energy, Environment Projects

National Economic and Development Authority (NEDA), Investment Coordinating Committee (ICC), and Cabinet Committee (CC) endorsed for approval by the NEDA Board six projects worth Php17.4 billion, namely: two projects on energy efficiency, three transmission projects and a project on forest management.

Source

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Philippines Needs Big Investment For Future Energy Demand

Department of Energy (DOE) Secretary Angelo Reyes said during the Philippine Economic Briefing held at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel that the Philippines needs huge investments to adequately address its projected energy demand in over six years.

Source

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Pinoy NASA Scientist Agrees To Head RP Global Warming Project

The Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) website said a Filipino scientist of the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Josefino Comiso has agreed and voiced his willingness to spearhead a program and project to monitor the effects of global warming in the Philippines during a courtesy call to the DENR.

Source

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WHO: Global Warming To Lead To Hike In Dengue, Malaria Cases In RP

Dr. Shegiru Omi, outgoing regional director of World Health Organization (WHO), Western Pacific Region, said that the impact of climate change or global warming would be diverse and one of this is the possible increase in the cases of dengue and malaria in the Philippines and their spread to other countries in the Asia Pacific Region.

Source

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WHO Warns Climate Change Poses Health Risks

Participants in a weeklong regional World Health Organization (WHO) conference in Manila urges governments and international agencies to address public health risks posed by global warming to countries in the Asia Pacific, including a rise in diseases and food shortages. The draft proposal will incorporate health concerns into plans to mitigate and adapt to climate change.

Source

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Senate finally approves 'Clean Energy' Bill, seen to cut oil dependence

Cheers! The Philippine Senate unanimously approves its version of the renewable energy (RE) bill, bringing "clean energy" companies close to enjoying longer tax holidays and lower taxes.

Lesser taxes was imposed to allow RE companies to cope with high technology expenses and construction of their facilities.

Source

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How Wind Turbine Generators Work

aries166 — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 00:08:08 CST

This page provides answers on:

1. How Wind Turbines Work
2. Types of Wind Turbines
3. Sizes of Wind Turbine
4. Inside the Wind Turbine

Video and Photo of Wind Turbine Generator

Alternative Energy in Philippines Home

aries166 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 21:22:40 CST

Videos on Renewable Energy

Solar Energy-The Science of the Silicon Solar Cell

aries166 — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 08:35:07 CST

This page provides answers on how a solar silicon cell or photovoltaic (PV) modules works.

Solar energy is a renewable energy source that is produced by the sun's rays. The earth receives radiant energy from the sun in the form of electromagnetic waves, which the sun continually emits into space. This energy can be tapped indirectly as wind, biomass and hydroelectric power, and directly as solar energy (thermal and photovoltaic).

Photovoltaics (PV) is the direct conversion of sunlight into electrical current, a process known for many years. With the development of the modern silicon solar cell, light particles that penetrate the cell cause electron activity resulting in the flow of electric current through a circuit.

The greater the intensity of light, the more current a solar cell generates. The current moves through a series of cell, called modules, to a battery where it is stored. Battery storage assures the user of electricity when needed, day or night.

Solar Power and Photovoltaic

Every day, the sun delivers energy to the earth free of charge. People can use this free energy thanks to a technology called photovoltaic, which converts the sun's energy into electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) cells (Solar cells) are made of special materials mainly are semiconductors such as silicon and some metal oxides. The silicon cells convert sunlight directly into electricity. It occurs in the three energy-conversion layers. The first of these three layers necessary for energy conversion in a solar cell is the top junction layer (Negative-type semiconductor). The next layer in the structure is the core of the cell; this is the absorber layer (the P-N junction). The last of the energy-conversion layers is the back junction layer (Positive-type semiconductor).

Electricity was generated as follows:

1. Electrons separate from their atom caused by Sunlight radiation.
2. Electron hole, simply called HOLE, and electron begin to move toward the P-N junction.
3. When hole & electron come together at the P-N junction, voltage is generated. Electricity is generated, when lead wires are connected.

Detailed Description for standard Module

The crystalline silicon solar (or photovoltaic ) module is composed of solar cells with the average conversion efficiency above 16% , EVA sheet, solar glass and tedlar (TPT) back sheet compounded from fluoric-plastic and Dacron. The module adopts reliable welding technology and high-vacuum heating lamination process and is equipped with anticorrosion-treated aluminum alloy frame and watertight terminal box, according with iec61215 and the II grade standard electrically. As a result, it takes on a rational structure, has an ultraviolet aging resistance.

Design characteristics:

1. The efficiency can produce the electricity greatly in the greatest power output.
2. With defended and reflected membrane and high transparent glass, the module can increase the energy greatly.

Firm frame reliability:

1. Only for 46mm thick extremely thin positive pole anticorrosion-treated aluminum frame.
2. Safety glass and protect back sheet can avoid damage and water.
3. Pour into the terminal box that the silicon froze the glue.
4. Utilize EVA and TPT can prevent water entering effectively.

Seamless system conformity:

1. On the frame opens has 4-6 holes, is easy to install in all systems structure.
2. Provides the standard mc attachment and the 1m long electric cable.
3. Has 3 diodes in the joint box, greatly reduced the system power loss which camouflaged from the module. The solar modules are the final solar product, ready to produce electricity, interconnected and inverting the DC power they feed it into the power grid or directly supply it to customers. We are working in favor of this healthy attitude; we mean of maintaining a clean environment that will be worth living in for future generations and with our products we are making a contribution to peaceful development of our planet that will give all regions of the world equal access to energy. With the strength of the energy from the sun available everywhere and in limitless quantities both these things are possible.

Video on The Power of the Sun-The Science of the Silicon Solar Cell

Free Magazines On Renewable Energy

mohan_lotus — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 08:53:05 CDT

Renewable Energy World effectively promotes all aspects of renewable energy technology in the worldwide marketplace. Renewable Energy World provides authoritative articles, case studies and essential news on global developments in the renewables sector. Every issue includes features on wind power, solar thermal, photovoltaics and biomass. Regular coverage is also devoted to geothermal, energy storage, small hydro, and hybrid systems. Geographic Eligibility: Europe, Asia Pacific Offered by: PennWell Corporation Other Resources from: PennWell Corporation
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What You Can Do To Reduce Your Emissions-Carbon Offsetting

aries166 — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 21:32:13 CDT

A carbon offset is a financial instrument representing a reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Although there are six primary categories of greenhouse gases, carbon offsets are measured in metric tonnes of carbon dioxide - equivalent (CO2 e). One carbon offset represents the reduction of one metric tonne of carbon dioxide, or its equivalent in other greenhouse gases (GHG).

Offsets are typically generated from emissions - reducing projects. The most common project type is renewable energy, such as wind farms, solar energy, or hydroelectric dams. Other common project types includes energy efficiency projects, the destruction of industrial pollutants or agricultural by-products, destruction of landfill methane, and forestry projects. Purchase and withdrawal of emission trading credits also occurs, which creates a connection between the voluntary and regulated carbon markets.

Buying carbon offsets is only part of the solution to global warming. We must also reduce the amount of activity that creates excessive carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases (GHG) such as methane. Here's a computation that all of us can implement:

At Home

Step 1
Replace 75-watt incandescent light bulbs with 25-watt ENERGY STAR Lights i.e. compact fluorescent lights (CFL)

You'll get the same amount of light for less energy and lower monthly bills. By replacing the five most frequently used lights in your home with ENERGY STAR qualified lighting, you can save about Php 2,880 each year in energy costs.

Formula:

Emission reduction = number of 75-watt incandescent light bulbs replaced x annual KWH savings per lamp x electricity emission factor

Assumptions:

Emission factor (lbs CO2/KWH) = 1.37
Annual KWH savings per lamp = 73

Sample Computations:
For 5 pcs 75-watt incandescent light bulbs replaced

Emission reduction = 5 pcs lamps x 73 KWH annual savings/lamp x 1.37 lbs CO2/KWH = 500 lbs CO2/year

Compute for percentage emission reduced based from total emissions lbs CO2/year = 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year

% Emissions Reduced = (Emissions Reduction / Total Emissions) x 100

% Emissions Reduced = (500 lbs CO2/year / 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year) x 100 = 3.6 %

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Step 2
Replace your old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR model. Will you take this action?

Formula:

Emission reduction = (average KWH/year old fridge - average KWH/year new fridge) x electricity emission factor

Assumptions:

Emission factor (electricity/KWH) = 1.37
Annual KWH savings = 380
Average KWH/year old fridge = 820
Average KWH new fridge = 440

Sample Computations:
For old fridge replaced with new fridge model.

Emission reduction = (820 - 440) KWH/year x 1.37 lbs CO2/KWH = 520.6 lbs CO2/year

% Emissions Reduced = (520.6 lbs CO2/year / 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year) x 100 = 3.77%

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Step 3
Turn up your air conditioner thermostat by degrees F (air conditioners becomes colder if you lower the temperature thermostat settings). If your air conditioner has no thermostat dial it means that it has automatic thermostat dial complimented with low, medium cool, and high cool settings. You can choose the medium cool settings with this regard.

Formula:

Emissions reduction = percent of total electricity emissions accounted for by air conditioning x percent emission per degree x electricity emissions x number of degress increased x assumed percentage of the year air conditioner is in use

Assumptions:

Percent of total electricity emissions accounted for by air conditioning = lbs CO2/year electricity x % of total electricity emissions

Lbs CO2/year electricity = 6,395.16
Percent of total electricity emissions = 0.16
Percent emission reduction per degree = 0.05
Assumed percentage of the year air conditioner is in use = 0.42

Sample Computations:

If you turn up your thermostat dial by 10 degrees F:

Emissions reduction = 6,395.16 lbs CO2/year x 0.16 x 0.05/degrees F x 10 degrees F x 0.42 = 215 lbs CO2/year

% Emissions Reduced = (215 lbs CO2/year / 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year) x 100 = 1.56%

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On The Road

Option 1
Are you in the market for a new car? Buy a vehicle that gets more miles per gallon than your current one. The Fuel Economy Website (http://www.fueleconomy.gov) can help you find efficient vehicles.

Formula:

Emissions reduction = annual emissions from vehicles - (number of miles driven per week x weeks in a year / your current car's fuel efficiency + increased fuel efficiency) x pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon x emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2

Assumptions:

Annual emissions from vehicles = 4,338.95 lbs CO2/year
Let's assume that you changed your previous car with a sub-compact car (Toyota Yaris) to increase mileage from 26 MPG to 29 MPG (Source: http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG2009.pdf). If driven 17 kms (10.62 miles) from Valenzuela to Manila back and forth from monday to friday.
Lbs of CO2 emitted per gallon = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95 = 1.053

Sample Computations:

Emissions reduction = 4,338.95 lbs CO2/year - (10.62 miles x 2 / day x 5 days / week x 52 weeks / year) / (26 miles / gal + 3 miles / gal) x 19.4 lbs CO2/gal x 1.053 = 4,338.95 lbs CO2/year - 3,890.09 lbs CO2/year = 448.86 lbs CO2/year

% Emissions reduced = (448.86 lbs CO2/year / 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year) x 100 = 3.25%

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Option 2
Give your car a break. Reduce the number of miles you drive.

Formula:

Emission reduction = (no. of miles avoided per week x weeks in a year) / your current car's fuel efficiency (or your new car's fuel efficiency if you plan to buy a more efficient car) x pounds of CO2 emitted per gallon x emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2

Assumptions:

Lbs CO2 emitted per gallon = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95 = 1.053

Sample Computations:

If you give your car 1 day break and retain your old car:
Emission reduction = (10.62 mile x 2 / day x 1 day / week x 52 weeks / year) / 26 miles /gal x 19.4 lbs CO2/gal x 1.053 = 2.08 lbs CO2/year

% Emission reduced = (2.08 lbs CO2/year / 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year) x 100 = 0.015%

Option 3

Walking, biking, carpooling, telecommuting, and using mass transit are best options.

The Greenhouse Gas Emissions

aries166 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 17:05:56 CDT

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

1. Since 1990, how have greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Philippines changed?
2. What are the main greenhouse gases (GHG) and where do they come from?
3. What are the largest sources of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Philippines?
4. What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector?
5. What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector?
6. How are individuals contributing to the build-up of greenhouse gases (GHG)?
7. How much carbon dioxide do humans contribute through breathing?

1. Since 1990, how have greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Philippines changed?

The total carbon dioxide emissions of the Philippines since 1990 was at 43.9 megatonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) equivalent to 43,900,000 tonnes CO2 (1 tonne = 1,000kg and 1kg = 2.2lbs). As of 2004, the total carbon dioxide emissions was at 80.5 megatonnes of CO2 (MtCO2) or 80,500,000 tonnes CO2. That was an increase of 45% for the period of 14 years and the annual percentage change (% CO2) emissions from 1990 to 2004 was at 5.9%. With 1/3% (1.3%) of the world's population (The 2007 Census reports a total population of 88.57 million people as compared to 68.2 million in 1995). From these data, the carbon dioxide emission of an average Filipino was about 1.1 tonnes CO2 per year. Philippines accounts for 0.2% of global CO2 emissions in 1990 and 0.3% of global CO2 emissions in 2004. The CO2 emissions per capita from 1990 was 0.7 tonnes CO2 (tCO2) and 1.0 tonnes CO2 (tCO2) in 2004.

Source

2. What are the main greenhouse gases (GHG) and where do they come from?

Greenhouse gases include carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), a number of fluorinated gases, and water vapor (H2O). Some greenhouse gases occur naturally, such as water vapor and carbon dioxide, while others (such as chlorofluorocarbons) are produced only through human activities. Greenhouse gas inventories account for only those gases whose effects are well-understood (e.g., they include CO2, CH4, N2O, and fluorinated gases, and they include only anthropogenic (human-controlled) sources. Inventories exclude emissions from natural sources (e.g. water vapor).

Source: EPA Greenhouse Gas Emissions

3. What are the largest source of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the Philippines?

In the Philippines, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) greenhouse gas (GHG) emission inventory records show that the energy sector is the biggest contributor to air pollution. The highest contribution to carbon dioxide emission comes from burning fossil fuel. On a national level, transportation is responsible for one-third of air pollutants. Another third comes from power generation, and the rest comes from industrial, commercial and residential sectors.

Source

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4. What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the power sector?

The process of generating electricity is the single largest source of emissions in the Philippines, representing 39 percent of emissions from all sources across the country in 2004. Electricity generation also accounted for the largest share of carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, approximately 41 percent in 2004. Electricity was consumed primarily by users in the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors for lighting, heating, electric motors, appliances, electronics, and air conditioning.

Source

5. What are greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the transportation sector?

In the Philippines, the transportation sector accounts for approximately 33 percent of total carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel combustion, the largest share of any end-use economic sector in 2004. Emissions from this sector increased by 29 percent from 1990 to 2004, representing an average annual increase of 1.8 percent. Over 60 percent of the emissions resulted from gasoline consumption for personal vehicle use. The remaining emissions came from other transportation activities, including the combustion of diesel fuel in heavy-duty vehicles and jet fuel in aircrafts.

Source

6. How are individuals contributing to the build-up of greenhouse gases (GHG)?

Many daily activities produce greenhouse gas emissions. Individuals can produce greenhouse gas emissions directly by driving a car or burning oil or gas for home heating. Individuals can also produce greenhouse gas emissions indirectly by using electricity generated from fossil fuels. In the Philippines, emissions per person vary depending on location, habits, and personal choices. For example, the types of fuel used to generate the electricity a person uses can lead to different levels of emissions. A power plant that burns coal emits more greenhouse gases per unit of electricity than a power plant that uses natural gas. How much a person drives, the vehicle's fuel efficiency, and the proportion of driving time spent idling in traffic also affect the level of emissions. In addition, a household’s reuse and recycling of materials can affect emissions by reducing the amount of methane-generating waste sent to landfills.

Source

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7. How much carbon dioxide do humans contribute through breathing?

The average person, through the natural process of breathing, produces approximately 2.3 pounds of carbon dioxide per day. The actual amount depends strongly on the person's activity level. However, this carbon dioxide is part of a natural closed-loop cycle and does not contribute to the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere. Natural processes of photosynthesis (in plants) and respiration (in plants and animals) maintain a balance of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. Thus, the carbon dioxide from natural process is not included in greenhouse gas inventories.

In contrast, the burning of fossil fuels upsets this natural equilibrium by adding a surplus of carbon dioxide into the system. The carbon in fossil fuels has been stored underground for millions of years and thus is not part of the current natural carbon cycle. When those fuels are burned, the carbon dioxide generated is over and above the amount circulating from natural sources. Land use changes such as deforestation also upset the natural equilibrium by reducing the amount of carbon dioxide removed from the atmosphere by forests. Thus, both fossil fuel burning and deforestation are accounted for by scientists who develop greenhouse gas inventories to study how greenhouse gases contribute to climate change.

Source: Carbon Dioxide Information Analysis Center FAQs

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How to Compute for Greenhouse Gas Emissions-Carbon Footprint

aries166 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:14:46 CDT

A carbon footprint is a measure of the impact our activities have on the environment and in particular climate change. It relates to the amount of greenhouse gases (GHG) produced in our day-to-day lives through burning fossil fuels for electricity, cooking and transportation etc.

The carbon footprint is a measurement of all gases we individually produce and has units of tonnes, (kg) or pounds (lbs) of carbon dioxide equivalent.

Home Energy

Electricity:

Step 1
You should know your average monthy electric bill. You can see these on your Meralco bills under Billing Info-Total Current Amount at the middle left corner.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = Ave. monthly electric bill / Price per KWH x Electricity Emission Factor x Months per year

Alternate Formula:
If you know your KWH per month. You can see these on your Meralco bills just above Total Current Amount at the middle left corner.

Emissions = KWH per month x Electricity Emission Factor x Months per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average Philippine Price per KWH = Php10
Emission Factor = 1.37 lbs CO2 (Electricity)
Months in a year = 12

Sample Computation:
For KWH per month = 389 (Equivalent to = Php3,533.45 per month)

Emissions = 389 KWH/mo x 1.37 Lbs CO2 x 12 mo/yr = 6,395.16 Lbs CO2 per year (To convert to tonnes CO2 per year = 6,395.16 lbs x 1 kg/2.2 lbs x 1 tonne/1000 kg = 2.90 tonnes CO2 per year)

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Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) Cooking:

Step 1
You should know how long your 11 kg LPG tank lasts. An average single Filipino household consumes 1 tank of 11 kg LPG in a month.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = kilo-liter (KL) per month x LPG Emission Factor x Months per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

KL per month = No. of tank x 11 kg/tank-month x 1 lb/2.2 kg x density of LPG (1 gal/4.23 lb) x 3.78 li/1 gal x 1 KL/1000 li = No. of tank x 0.00447 KL/tank-month

if your household consumes 1 1/2 tanks in a month, let: No. of tanks = 1.5
if your household consumes 2 tanks in a month, let: No. of tanks = 2

Emission Factor = 1.6 tonnes CO2/KL

Sample Computation:
For a household who consumes 1 tank of 11 kg LPG per month.

Emissions = 1 tank x 0.00447 KL/tank-month x 1.6 tonnes CO2/KL x 12 mo/year = 0.085824 tonnes CO2 per year (To convert to lbs CO2 per month = 0.085824 tonnes CO2 per month x 1000 kg/1 tonne x 2.2 lbs/1 kg = 188.81 lbs CO2 per year)

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Transportation

Step 1
You should know, how many miles or kms (1 mile =1.6 km) you put on your car(s).
You should know the average mileage (MPG) for your car. If you don't know your car's fuel economy, you can download the latest Fuel Economy Guide for 2009 at http://www.fueleconomy.gov/FEG2009.pdf

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = (no. of miles or kms driven per week x weeks in a year) / ave. car fuel efficiency x pounds CO2 emitted per gallon (lbs CO2/gal) x emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2.

Step 3
Assumptions:

Pounds of CO2 per gallon (lbs CO2/gal) = 19.4
Emissions of greenhouse gases other than CO2 = 100/95 = 1.053

Sample Computation:
For a Toyota Corolla: Transmission = 5 speed Manual, Gasoline Engine = 2.4/4 cylinders driven from Valenzuela to Manila back and forth from monday to friday.

MPG (City Driving) = 26
(Highway Driving) = 35
Ave. distance from Valenzuela to Manila = 17 km (To convert to miles: 17 km x 1 mile / 1.6 km = 10.62 miles)

Emissions = (10.62 miles x 2/day x 5 days/week x 52 weeks/year) / 26 miles/gal x 19.4 lbs CO2/gal x 1.053 = 4,338.95 lbs CO2/year

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Waste Emissions Before Recycling

Step 1
Based on the number of people in your household, you can also estimate your greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from waste. However if you currently recycle certain materials, your waste emissions may be lower.

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions before recycling = number of people in household x average lbs CO2 equivalent generated from waste per person per year

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average lbs CO2 equivalent generated from waste per person per year = 1,018

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 1,018 lbs CO2 generated from waste/person/year = 2,036 lbs CO2 generated from waste/year

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Waste Emissions After Recycling

Step 1
Do you recycle newspaper?

Step 2
Formula:
Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling newspaper

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling newspaper = 184.3

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 184.3 lbs CO2/person/year that coud be saved by recycling newspaper = 368.6 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle glass?

Step 2
Formula:
Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass = 25.6

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 25.6 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling glass = 51.2 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle plastic?

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic = 46.6

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 46.6 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling plastic = 93.2 lbs CO2/year

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Step 1
Do you recycle aluminum and steel cans?

Step 2
Formula:

Emissions = number of people in household x average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal

Step 3
Assumptions:

Average number of lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal = 165.8

Sample Computations:
For a two person household

Emissions = 2 persons x 165.8 lbs CO2 equivalent/person/year that could be saved by recycling metal = 331.6 lbs CO2/year

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Total Waste Emissions After Recycling = Total Emissions before recycling + Emission reduction from recycling newspaper + Emission reduction from recycling glass + Emission reduction from recycling plastic + Emission reduction from recycling metal

Total Waste Emissions After Recycling = (2,036 + 368.6 + 51.2 + 93.2 + 331.6) lbs CO2/year = 2,880.6 lbs CO2/year

Your Total Emissions = Emissions from Electricity + Emissions from LPG cooking + Emissions from Vehicle Use + Total Emissions After Recycling

Your Total Emissions = (6,395.16 + 188.81 + 4,338.95 + 2,880.6) lbs CO2/year = 13,803.52 lbs CO2/year for a household of two persons (Equivalent to 6,274.33 kg CO2/year or 6.27 tonnes CO2/year)

The Effects of Climate Change

aries166 — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 01:36:41 CDT

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about the effects of climate change.

1. How will climate change affect ecosystems?
2. How will climate change affect human health?
3. How will climate change affect agriculture?
4. How will climate change affect polar regions?
5. How will climate change affect precipitation?
6. How will climate change affect sea level?

1. How will climate change affect ecosystems?

Some ecosystems have already been affected by changes in climate. As the climate continues to warm, major changes may occur in ecosystem structure and function, species’ ecological interactions, and species’ geographic ranges, with predominantly negative consequences for biodiversity. In addition, climate changes such as increased floods and droughts are predicted to increase the risk of extinction for some plant and animal species, many of which are already at-risk due to other non-climate related factors.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Effects.

2. How will climate change affect human health?

The prevalence of some diseases and other threats to human health depend largely on local climate. Extremely warm temperatures can lead directly to loss of life or heat-related illness, while less-severe winters could reduce the number of cold-related deaths. Climate-related disturbances in ecological systems, such as changes in the range of some parasites, can indirectly affect the incidence of serious infectious diseases. Climate change has already caused an earlier onset of dengue and malaria cases in CAMANAVA (Caloocan, Malabon, Navotas, Valenzuela) areas. In addition, warm temperatures can increase air and water pollution, which in turn harm human health.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Effects, Health .

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3. How will climate change affect agriculture?

Agriculture is highly sensitive to climate variability and weather extremes, such as droughts, floods, and severe storms. The forces that shape our climate are also critical to farm productivity. Some aspects of projected climate change are predicted to increase food production (e.g., longer growing season, increased precipitation), but weather extremes (increased potential for droughts, floods, and heat waves) will likely have adverse effects, so the net effect on agriculture will vary depending on how these factors play out at a regional scale.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Effects, Agriculture and Food Supply .

4. How will climate change affect polar regions?

Polar regions are expected to warm more than any other parts of the world. In part, this is because ice has greater reflectivity (also known as albedo) than ocean or land. Melting of highly reflective snow and ice reveals darker land and ocean surfaces, which increases absorption of the sun's heat and further warms the planet, especially in those regions. Melting due to climate change is expected to reduce the size and extent of the polar ice caps, even after taking into account the potential for more snow and ice accumulation atop the ice sheets due to increased precipitation.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Effects, Polar Regions .

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5. How will climate change affect precipitation?

Researchers estimate that rising global temperatures in the past century have led to about a 5 percent increase of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans. Because precipitation is generated mainly by weather systems that feed on the water vapor stored in the atmosphere, this has generally increased the intensity of precipitation and the risk of heavy rain and snow events. As the climate continues to warm, atmospheric concentrations of water vapor are predicted to continue to rise, leading to an increase in the global average amount of precipitation, at least partly through less frequent, more intense storm systems. Higher temperatures also increase evaporation, accelerating the drying of land surfaces and leading to droughts in some areas. A warmer climate may reduce water levels of watersheds such as those in Angat in Bulacan and La Mesa in Quezon City, leading to shortages of potable water. Also, can lead to landslides and flashfloods due to drying up of mountain surfaces, as in the case of landslides in Quezon, Iloilo, and Benguet recently. Thus, climate change increases the risks of both droughts and floods, albeit at different times and places.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Science, Future Precipitation and Storm Changes.

6. How will climate change affect sea level?

Sea levels are rising worldwide and along much of coastal areas. Tide gauge measurements and satellite altimetry suggest that sea level has risen worldwide approximately 4.8-8.8 inches during the last century. A significant amount of sea level rise has likely resulted from the observed warming of the atmosphere and the oceans. The primary factors driving current sea level rise include the expansion of ocean water caused by warmer ocean temperatures (warmer water is less dense), melting of mountain glaciers and small ice caps (resulting in more water in the oceans and less on land), and - to a lesser extent - the melting of the Greenland Ice Sheet and the Antarctic Ice Sheet. Scientists predict that the global average sea level will rise by 7 to 24 inches by 2100 due to thermal expansion alone. The contribution of melting ice sheets, which is very uncertain, could add substantially to this estimate.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
Source: EPA Climate Change Effects, Coastal Zones and Sea Level Rise.

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Our Mission

aries166 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 06:45:35 CDT

Alternative Energy in Philippines (ALTENPHIL)'s mission is to provide sustainable, low cost energy to communities.

ALTENPHIL is a non-government organization composed of B.S.M.E alumnis of the Mapua Institute of Technology that will provide a low-cost, sustainable solution to the energy needs of marginalized communities through the design, construction, installation, and maintenance of solar streetlight systems, home solar electric systems, and mini-hybrid wind turbine generator system. ALTENPHIL aims to manufacture wind turbines that are specially designed for simple construction, robustness and efficiency in low wind speeds. ALTENPHIL will manufacture the system locally, near their point of usage, to keep energy costs low, improved equipment serviceability, and create employment where it is desperately needed.

It is widely accepted that access to electricity is a basic necessity, although not sufficient, is a basic requirement for modern economic and social development. Electricity opens the door to a host of technologies that will promote education, public health, and economic development, such as emissions-free light, refrigeration, and communication devices. Without electricity, communities are unable to participate in the benefits of modern advances and are left isolated and literally in the dark.

Solar Energy Brings Benefits to Remote Philippine Village ( source: Voice of America)

Zamboanga del Norte, Philippines
16 July 2007

Electricity has yet to reach hundreds of villages in the Philippines. The Philippine government is tapping innovative technology to light up some villages, but in this report by producer Prospero Laput from Zamboanga del Norte in the Philippines, poor villagers complain electricity remains out of their reach. VOA's Heda Bayron has more.

The sun powers the remote village of Patagan in the Philippines' poorest province, Zamboanga del Norte. The only road to the village is not passable when it rains. Power lines simply cannot reach the area. Residents here thought themselves lucky in 2004 to receive a solar-powered electricity system, part of a nationwide project by the Philippine and Spanish governments. Joelita Limbaga, a government officer who monitors the project, says children now study more, livelihood has improved and villagers can do some work at night.

Cells in this panel absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The panels are reliable and can last up to 25 years. Village chief Benjamin Baynosa says they needed electric lamps. He says they were happy to have the solar-powered light because it cannot be put out by strong winds, unlike the small kerosene lamps they had before. Patagan villagers say the solar panels changed their lives. But their poverty makes it hard to maintain the panels. Most of the villagers are farmers. They earn about a dollar (Php46) a day, mostly from selling coconut products.

Users have to pay $3.70 (Php170) a month to maintain the solar panels -- more costly than kerosene for lamps. Villagers say it is too expensive. One villager says it is difficult to keep up with the monthly payments. She says many families have given up and transferred the panels to their neighbors. There is potential for solar power in the Philippines. But the poorest villages cannot afford to take full advantage of even this source of light and power.

Other development initiatives rely on solar power only, which entails high costs and uncertain serviceability. Finally, some development projects use imported wind turbines, which tend to be very expensive and most often fail to meet production expectations or fail entirely due to the harsh environment and improper servicing. ALTENPHIL's approach to rural electrification will focus on manufacturing wind turbines near the point of usage. This local, wind power centric focus keeps energy costs low, improves servicing feasibility, and provide jobs where they are desperately needed.

ALTENPHIL is Committed to Long-Term Results.

ALTENPHIL's systems would be implemented using a variety of models, each of which can be characterized along the following dimensions: location (urban, semi-urban, rural), constituency served (private, public), ownership (ALTENPHIL, private, public) and physical configuration (battery charging station, fixed battery bank, dual-use). Each electrification scenario is best served by a particular combination of these dimensions and ALTENPHIL will work with each beneficiary and project funder to select the most appropriate model in each use.

Other development organization and government bodies often have a transient interest in energy services and lack expertise in the complicated field of rural electrification. This often leads to install-and-go scenarios, where projects are left without any sustainable operation and maintenance plans in place. ALTENPHIL brings to the table expertise, persistence, and a long-term commitment to working with the project, beneficiaries to develop social and financial institutions needed to deliver lasting energy services.

How will ALTENPHIL bring Electricity to a Remote Village?

We cannot do this vision alone so we would like to tap the "BAYANIHAN" spirit or a helping hand of every individuals by helping turn their lights on for the first time. Since Christmas holidays are near we at ALTENPHIL would like to promote a product SOLAR LED CHRISTMAS LIGHTS.

Each 1USD (PHP46) can provide 80 hrs light

1 set of SOLAR LED X'MAS LIGHTS you purchase @ USD64 (PHP3,000), these can provide 5,120 hrs of light

2 set of SOLAR LED X'MAS LIGHTS you purchase @ USD128 (PHP6,000), these can provide 10,240 hrs of light

4 set of SOLAR LED X'MAS LIGHTS you purchase @ USD256 (PHP12,000), these can provide 20,480 hrs of light

GIVE THE GIFT OF LIGHT!

For buying options thru PAYPAL/WESTERN UNION/MONEYGRAM please e-mail: ariesjumagbas@yahoo.com
Delivery are free of charge within Metro Manila.

Frequently Asked Questions-The Science of Climate Change

aries166 — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:21:45 CDT

Photos on Climate Change and Global Warming

Video on Climate Change

Video on Global Warming

This page provides answers to frequently asked questions about the science of climate change and global warming.

What is the difference between climate and weather?
What is the difference between climate change and global warming?
Does ozone layer depletion have anything to do with climate change?
Does El Nino have anything to do with climate change?
What is the greenhouse effect?
How have greenhouse gas levels in our atmosphere changed since the Industrial Revolution?
When was climate change discovered?
How has the Earth’s climate changed in the past?
When will the climate change?
Are human activities responsible for the warming climate?
Can changes in climate be attributed to natural factors?
How do scientists predict future climate?
How much is the climate expected to warm?
Will the climate change uniformly across the globe?
What is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

1. What is the difference between climate and weather?

Because climate can be thought of as average weather, the two are closely related. However, climate and weather are different. The main distinction between the two is the timeframe. Weather describes short-term atmospheric conditions in a specific place, such as a sunny day in Metro Manila or an Intertropical Converging Zone (ITCZ) in Davao City. Climate, on the other hand, refers to average atmospheric conditions over an extended period of time, such as decades or centuries. Using the cities of Metro Manila and Davao City as examples again, these two locations have very different climates, even though their weather can possibly be similar on any one day.

Source: IPCC “AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)

2. What is the difference between climate change and global warming?

The term climate change is often used interchangeably with the term global warming, but according to the National Academy of Sciences, "the phrase 'climate change' is growing in preferred use to 'global warming' because it helps convey that there are [other] changes in addition to rising temperatures." Climate change refers to any significant change in measures of climate (such as temperature, precipitation, or wind) lasting for an extended period (decades or longer). Global warming is an average increase in the temperature of the atmosphere near the Earth's surface and in the troposphere, which can contribute to changes in global climate patterns. Global warming and climate change can be caused by a variety of factors, both natural and human-induced.

Source: EPA Climate Change Basic Information

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3. Does ozone layer depletion have anything to do with climate change?

Climate change and ozone depletion are two distinct but interrelated issues. Ozone depletion is not a principal cause of climate change and climate change is not a principal cause of ozone depletion. However, ozone-depleting gases -- such as chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs), hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), and halons -- are greenhouse gases that do contribute to climate change. Ozone itself is a greenhouse gas and has an effect on climate. In addition, certain changes in Earth’s climate could affect the future condition of the ozone layer. For example, low temperatures and strong polar winds both affect the extent and severity of winter polar ozone depletion.

Source: EPA Ozone: 20 Questions and Answers (PDF) (39 pp, 2.1MB, About PDF)
Source: “EPA Ozone Science”

4. Does El Niño have anything to do with climate change?

El Niño is the strong warming of the equatorial Pacific Ocean that occurs about every two to seven years. Recent El Niño events have been very strong and have contributed to record-setting temperatures-evidence that El Niño events can warm parts of the Earth. Scientists are now examining how human-induced climate change could affect El Niño.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Technical summary (PDF) (74 pp, 14.8MB, About PDF)

5. What is the greenhouse effect?

The greenhouse effect is a natural phenomenon that helps regulate the Earth’s temperature. Greenhouse gases (e.g., carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, chlorofluorocarbons) act like an insulating blanket, trapping solar energy that would otherwise escape into space. Without this natural "greenhouse effect," temperatures would be about 60ºF lower than they are now, and life as we know it today would not be possible. However, human activities, primarily the burning of fossil fuels and clearing of forests, have enhanced the natural greenhouse effect, causing the Earth’s average temperature to rise.

Source: IPCC “AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: EPA Climate Change Basic Information

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6. How have greenhouse gas levels in our atmosphere changed since the Industrial Revolution?

Since pre-industrial times, atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N2O) have climbed by over 36 percent, 148 percent, and 18 percent, respectively. Greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere have varied historically as a result of many natural processes (e.g., volcanic activity, changes in temperature, etc). However, since the Industrial Revolution, humans have added a significant amount of greenhouse gases to the atmosphere primarily by burning fossil fuels, cutting down forests, and other activities. Scientists have confirmed that the recent increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations is primarily due to human activity.

Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Technical Summary (PDF) (74 pp, 14.8MB, About PDF)
Source: “EPA Future Atmospheric Concentration page”

7. When was climate change discovered?

The greenhouse effect was first described in theoretical terms by a Swedish researcher, Svante Arrhenius, in the late 1800s. However it wasn’t until the following century that Arrhenius’s theory was observed. In the 1930s, scientists realized that parts of the globe had warmed during the previous half-century. Then in the early 1960s scientists discovered that the level of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere was rising. Researchers began to take an interest and found a strong relationship between the increasing levels of carbon dioxide and average global temperature.

Source: Spencer Weart, “History of Climate Change Science,” The Discovery of Global Warming , June 2006.

8. How has the Earth’s climate changed in the past?

Climate has changed throughout the Earth’s history. Scientists have been able to piece together a picture of the Earth's climate dating back to millions of years ago by analyzing a number of measures of climate from ice cores, boreholes, tree rings, glaciers, pollen residues, and ocean sediments, and by studying changes in the Earth's orbit around the Sun. From these analyses, it is clear that the Earth has undergone intervals of both warming and cooling. The current warming trend is of particular significance because most of it is very likely human-induced and is likely proceeding at a rate that is unprecedented in the past 1,300 years.

Source: IPCC “AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: “EPA Past Climate Change page”

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9. When will the climate change?

The Earth has already warmed 1.3°F over the past century, and it is projected by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to increase by an additional 3.2-7.2°F over the 21st century. These increases may appear minor compared with short-term local temperature changes, such as those from night to day or winter to summer, but they are changes in the Earth’s global average temperature. To put this in perspective, global temperatures during the last ice age (about 20,000 years ago) were “only” 9°F cooler than today; however, that was enough to allow massive ice sheets to reach as far south as the Great Lakes and New York City. At the high-end of projected warming, human activities would change Earth’s climate by up to 7°F but in the opposite direction.

Source: IPCC “AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: “EPA Global Warming FAQs”. April, 2000
Source: “EPA Future Atmospheric Concentration page”

10. Are human activities responsible for the warming climate?

Careful measurements have confirmed that greenhouse gas emissions are increasing and that human activities (principally, the burning of fossil fuels and changes in land use) are the primary cause. Human activities have caused the atmospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane to be higher today than at any point during the last 650,000 years. Scientists agree it is very likely that most of the global average warming since the mid-20th century is due to human-induced increases in greenhouse gases, rather than to natural causes.

Source: IPCC “AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: WGI Summary for Policy Makers (PDF) (18 pp, 2.9MB, About PDF)

11. Can changes in climate be attributed to natural factors?

Natural variations within the Earth’s climate system can cause small changes over decades to centuries. Larger changes can occur through factors such as gradual changes in Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which are thought to be the key contributors in the comings and goings of past ice ages over many millennia. The Sun’s energy can also vary over time. Large volcanic eruptions and collisions with large meteorites can cool the planet for a few years by spewing out particles that reflect sunlight back out to space. However, while natural variations have altered the climate significantly in the past, it is very unlikely that the changes in climate observed since the mid-20th century can be explained by natural processes alone.

Source: IPCC "AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Technical summary (PDF) (74 pp, 14.8MB, About PDF)

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12. How do scientists predict future climate?

Future climate change is predicted principally through the use of climate models. These models are mathematical representations of the climate system, expressed as computer simulations. While scientists are more confident in model estimates for some climate variables (e.g., temperature) than for others (e.g., precipitation), there is significant confidence that climate models provide credible estimates of future climate change. This assurance stems from the fact that climate models are based on accepted physical principles as well as their ability to reproduce observed features of current climate and past climate changes. Still, predicting any event in the future is an uncertain business, and estimates of future climate change are given as projections with a range of uncertainty. The degree of uncertainty is higher for regional and local projections than it is for continents and the Earth as a whole. Models are improving in their ability to simulate regional climates, but scientists are less confident in their predictions at small scales.

Source: IPCC "AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)

13. How much is the climate expected to warm?

Scientists project an average global temperature increase of 3.2-7.2°F by 2100, and greater warming thereafter. Because human emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases continue to climb, and because they remain in the atmosphere for decades to centuries (depending on the gas), we’re committing ourselves to a warmer climate in the future. In addition, temperatures will not change uniformly across the globe. In some parts of the globe (e.g., the polar regions) temperatures are expected to rise even faster than the global average, while other regions may warm more slowly than average.

Source: “EPA Future Atmospheric Concentrations page”

14. Will the climate change uniformly across the globe?

Climate change will not occur equally across our planet, nor will its impacts be felt equally everywhere. Climate is driven by the interactions among solar heating and the atmosphere, oceans, and land surfaces. Variation in solar and geographic factors will cause regional climates to change at different rates and magnitudes. Further, not all ecosystems and human settlements are equally sensitive to changes in climate. Nations (and regions within nations) vary in their relative vulnerability to changes in temperature, precipitation, and extreme weather events, and in their ability to cope with such changes.

Source: IPCC "AR4 WG1 FAQs” 2007 (PDF) (128 pp, 10.9MB, About PDF)
Source: IPCC Climate Change 2007: Technical summary (PDF) (74 pp, 14.8MB, About PDF)
Source: “EPA International Impacts page”

15. What is the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)?

The IPCC was formed jointly in 1988 by the United Nations Environment Program and the World Meteorological Organization. The IPCC brings together the world’s top scientists in all relevant fields, synthesizes peer-reviewed scientific literature on climate change, and produces authoritative assessments of the current state of knowledge of climate change. It produces periodic reports on scientific, technical, and socio-economic information relevant for the understanding of climate change, its potential impacts, and options for adaptation and mitigation. The most recent report series was released in 2007.

Source: IPCC

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Latest Inventions and Energy Saving Products

aries166 — Sat, 27 Sep 2008 23:33:03 CDT

200 W Wind Turbine Generator

Ideal for start up kit: can power 1 tv, 1 refrigerator, 1 radio, 4 pcs cfl lamps

Package includes: controller, guy cable, freestand tower, sine-wave inverter, and 2 pcs 12V 150AH battery

Details and Specifications:

Rated power (W): 200
Rated voltage (V): 24
Rotor diameter (m): 2.2
Start-up wind speed (m/s): 2.5
Rated wind speed (m/s): 35
Furling type: mechanism
Rated rotating rate (r/m): 550
Generator work way: magnetic saturation
Generator material: casted iron
Blade material: fiber glass
Blade quantity: 3

For quotation inquiry please e-mail: ariesjumagbas@yahoo.com

Solar 60 LED Christmas Lights

1. On/off control switch (which means you can automatically run the product for 3 to 5 days during rainy days or use the optical control which runs automatically at night)
2. Light Mode: Constantly on or blinking
3. Operating time: up to 12 hrs at night
4. Solar power: multi-crystalline solar cells: 1.5V, 80 mA
5. Light source: 60 extra bright LED's
6. Battery: 1.2V, Ni-MH, AA, 1000 mAH x2
7. Spacing between the bulbs: 170mm
8. Cable length: 11.5 m
9. Includes solar panel and ground stake

For quotation inquiry for retail and wholesale, please e-mail: ariesjumagbas@yahoo.com

Articles and News Developments

aries166 — Sat, 06 Sep 2008 02:31:59 CDT

Week of SEPTEMBER

Monday, Date

Thursday, Date

Enter articles and details

Tuesday, Date

Friday, Date

Wednesday, Date

Saturday, 27 September 2008

The Mechanical Engineering Alumni Association of Mapua Institute of Technology (MEAAMIT) Inc., will be holding its 17th Annual Convention and Alumni Homecoming on Sat., 4:30 p.m., 27th September 2008 at the LE PAVILLION Metropolitan Park, Roxas Boulevard, Pasay City. Our theme for this homecoming is "Back to Nature to Fuel the Future".

For other details please contact: Eng'r. Jessie Castillo at 09178180000 or email: jessie.castillo@manilawater.com

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