Published on: 26 February 2018
Last Updated on: 12 August 2024
With things like global warming and climate change becoming increasingly serious topics for discussion, the question of what we can do as individuals to make a difference is being asked more and more frequently. Sometimes it seems futile and the idea that one person can make a difference seems impossible. But the truth is that if lots of individuals are switched on to change then suddenly it’s not just a single person making a difference, it’s a community or a nation and at some point hopefully a world. But what can you do to make a difference and to start using natural resources more sparingly and sustainably?
Make informed choices :
Just because it is available and it’s cheap, doesn’t mean that it is good. While it might fit your pocket in the short term if it means that your choice is going to contribute to global warming or the rise of the oceans then maybe you need to think twice. Ask questions and tell suppliers what you want. Use a company like Econnex who broker energy solutions across a range of suppliers and make sure you tell them what you want. Price is important, but look to make use of suppliers who use solar and wind as a way of generating electricity, stay far away from old-school fossil fuel solutions. It is possible.
Re-use your water :
If you collect your used water you will be amazed how much you get through on a daily basis. And unless you have implemented a grey-water solution to collect the used water it all just runs into the drains and disappears. Washing machines and showers and dishwashers. Brushing your teeth. Washing the car. These all use water and lots of it. And there is no need for your water to disappear down the drain after one use, it’s not environmentally friendly and it’s expensive. Water needs to be used as often as possible and with a few simple systems implemented it can be done easily.
Solar is real :
The sun has all the energy that we need and it is free. Traditionally storing solar energy has been the biggest problem preventing larger-scale rollouts of solar solutions. But on an almost daily basis, the technology that makes solar power effective is getting better and cheaper. Panels are much cheaper than they were ten years ago and batteries and other energy storage system are getting smaller and cheaper while increasing their capacity to store energy. Solar is the way of the future and it is something that can be done on a home-by-home basis. It is even possible to contribute electricity to the national grid and be a supplier rather than a consumer.
Collect rainwater :
Much like the sun in the paragraph above, rain is another resource that comes from the sky for free. It is clean and free and if we just put in place ways to store it, we could very quickly free ourselves from the need to buy water from the government. It might cost a bit to buy some tanks at the start of the process, but if your plan is to go off-grid and be totally independent then it’s a small price to pay for independence and sustainable living.
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It is never the case where the majority of us get enough sleep (6 to 8 hours every night), eat a well-balanced or highly nutritious diet (a clean diet), and get an adequate amount of exercise (at least 20 minutes a day). There are varieties of energy supplements for both males and females.
This ‘lack’ can leave us feeling sub-par, and not at our mind and body’s peak performance. The only other sure alternative it leaves us with is to complement this ‘lack’ with either nutritional or energy supplements. This is a good thing because it replenishes us in times of need.
The fact of the matter is that even for those people who do get all 3 of the above (sleep, diet, and exercise) sometimes they too need energy supplements. It could be for health reasons like anemia (lack of iron in their blood) and feel lethargic most of the time, it could be a hormonal imbalance, environmental stressors or sometimes even a sickness that you didn’t know you had. So, in any of these instances, energy supplements are the way to go. There are lots of different types of energy supplements for both males and females.
Which Vitamins in Supplements Boost Our Energy?
Below are some popular choices:
Creatine:
Is a natural ingredient found in fish, pork, red meat, and poultry? When included in your diet, it can provide the body with a quick boost of energy.
The main currency of energy in the body is called Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) and when the body uses up its ATP resources, it becomes what’s known as ‘Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP).’
Creatine does the job of reversing this process and provides energy to ADP which turns it back into ATP, resulting in an energy boost in your body. It’s that simple. Studies done on various athletes, for example, have shown this improvement when they took creatine as a supplement i.e. increase in several sprints in certain sports, powerful bursts of activity in things like weightlifting or jumping.
Not only did it improve energy-levels and stamina, but it has also shown to improve lean muscle mass in some adults. The reason for this was because it gave these individuals energy, which in turn helped them to train twice as hard and twice as long as they normally would. Find out more here.
CoenzymeQ10:
This is a substance we make naturally in the cells of our bodies. The 3 main parts of our body that contain the highest levels of Q10 enzymes are the liver, kidneys and the heart. The reason we have this in our body is to give us energy and protect our cells from oxidative damage. As you can imagine, when the levels of the CoQ10 enzyme declines, so does our energy levels.
Outside substitutes for CoQ10 are foods like nuts, fish, and meat in moderation.
Another reason to take it is that it decreases with age, and age-related issues like heart failure, certain cancers and diabetes, and it is always best to supplement with CoQ10 in this case. Although it is good to note that this enzyme will not increase the energy levels of people who have an adequate amount in their cells already.
Maritime Pine Bark:
This is not a very well-known or researched extract, but in recent studies it has been shown to provide energy to the body and surprisingly enough, some studies found that it may indirectly enhance the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain and as a result, it supports brain energy metabolism. So, it protects not only the body but also the brain against damage.
Rhodiola Rosea:
a slightly more popular herb than the one mentioned above, it is found in certain cold mountainous regions and is used mostly as an adaptogen promotes homeostasis in the body and enhances its capability to handle stress.
Many studies have also been done on this herb to see its effects on both physical and mental exhaustion. The results were positive, and they found this herb to be responsible for an increase in physical performance and a decrease in mental weariness. And was also found to help slightly with depression with no or very low side effects as compared to prescription drugs such as sertraline.
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Solar power has been around for quite some time, and the first photovoltaic cells were created in the 1950s.
Since then, technology has been improving, and the efficiency of modern photovoltaic cells has increased immensely, making solar power a viable option.
If you are considering getting mobile solar generators, here is everything you need to know.
What Are Mobile Solar Generators?
Most solar generators are static, which means they do not move. However, there are mobile ones that you can transport to any location and use if there is enough sunlight.
These items are common with people who love camping, RV camping, and boats, and they come in a variety of sizes.
They are also popular for use in infrastructure projects, agriculture, and even remote communities.
Mobile solar power generators have a bank of photovoltaic cells. These cells turn sunlight into energy, which can then be stored in batteries. This type of power generator is handy for your next outdoor adventure.
What Do You Need for Mobile Solar Generators?
When you are looking to purchase or make mobile solar generators, four components make the device, which are:
Solar Panels
An Investor
A Solar Charge Controller
Solar Batteries
The solar panels and batteries are the parts of this device that can vary in quality. You will want to select the most efficient solar panels you can afford and high-quality batteries to store your electricity.
How Do They Work?
You first need to transport your system to where you want to set it up and then assemble the solar panels. The solar panels collect energy from the sun, which is converted to a Direct Current (DC), and it is then passed through the solar charge controller.
The controller regulates the voltage of the electricity when charging the battery, where you store the power to be used later.
When ready to use the energy collected from your solar panels, the inverter converts the DC power into AC (Alternating Current), which most electrical appliances use.
The Pros & Cons of Mobile Solar Power
There are a lot of benefits to using solar power, but there are some drawbacks as well. One of the best things about solar power is that it is 100% clean and renewable energy that you are using, and there are no fuels to burn, which will create pollution.
They are also relatively simple to maintain, and the biggest task will be to clean the solar panels and ensure that they are running at maximum efficiency.
There are some cons to solar power as well. The biggest one is that there is a significant upfront cost required to purchase the equipment you will need.
You are also limited to the amount of power you can store, depending on the size and efficiency of your batteries. The charging process is also slow.
The expense of solar technology can pay for itself in a short time, so it is worthwhile to invest in.
You will have the luxury of being able to use your electrical devices wherever you go, safe in the knowledge that you are doing your part for the environment.
How Mobile Solar Generators are Good for Digital Nomads
As a digital nomad, one of the things you will love about this lifestyle is that you will have all the freedom to work from wherever you may be.
That said, it can be challenging to stay connected or keep your devices charged, and that is where mobile solar generators come into play with an easy eco-friendly solution.
Whether you’re working in a coffee shop or camping in the wilderness, mobile solar generators will keep your devices charged. Here’s how.
On-the-Go Power
Mobile solar generators are lightweight and compact, so you can take them with you on the road.
No matter if you’re driving in a van or RV or backpacking around the world, your generator comes with you to power your mobile office no matter where you set it up.
Minimize Digital Nomad
As a digital nomad you can minimize your carbon footprint by using the sun as your source of energy, instead of relying on fossil fuels.
Most of us tend to be living a sustainable and minimalist lifestyle already, so this suits us well!
The initial investment for a mobile solar generator may seem high, but it pays for itself over time. With the sun as its fuel source, you save on fuel costs. Additionally, many nations provide tax credits or reimbursements on renewable energy usage.
Quiet Operation
Traditional generators can make a lot of noise, which isn’t necessarily something you want in a quiet, natural environment as a digital nomad.
Mobile solar generators don’t produce any noise pollution. So, you can enjoy the peace and quiet of your surroundings without a constant drone running a petrol engine.
Independence from the Grid
Modern mobile solar generators are equipped with advanced batteries that store energy efficiently.
This means you can have a consistent power supply even on cloudy days or at night.
Many models also offer multiple output options, including USB ports, AC outlets, and DC carports, to charge various devices simultaneously.
Since you don’t need electricity to generate more electricity with these gas-free solar generators; you are not chained to the local electricity grid.
Especially when it takes weeks for electrical companies to get everything up and running again. Yes, it’ll not affect you at all.
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The "fight" for a cleaner planet has been going on for a long time. People are trying to beat themselves because they and the things they use are the main polluters. Cars and everything that uses fossil fuels are among them, considering their emissions of exhaust gases into the atmosphere are huge.
At the global level, governments make efforts to reduce dependence on fossil fuels, knowing these are the biggest polluters. That's why the desire to find alternative sources of energy from renewable sources has been present for a long time. While there are already certain options in use, as you can read here, new solutions are constantly coming up with improved performance and lower CO2 emissions.
Alternative fuels are essential for sustainable carbon-free energy supply and reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. And while you're probably already familiar with their use, HVO (which stands for Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil) might be new to you. This low-carbon liquid fuel has gained attention lately because it seems like the long-awaited solution to pollution issues.
About The HVO Fuel
HVO implies using cooking oils and similar fatty waste as fuel. That's not an entirely new concept since the use of processed vegetable oils in diesel engines has been known for more than a century. Nevertheless, it's a new hype among eco-conscious consumers because it's plant-based and very clean. Its CO2 emission and the number of PM particles are almost 90% lower than diesel and kerosene, fossil fuels that are still widely used.
The base of HVO is vegetable oil, that is, used cooking oil, such as sunflower, peanut, grapeseed, etc. However, it can also be made of both food-grade and non-food-grade oils (like palm or soy), animal fat residues, and tall oil. In their original state, these liquids could not be used as fuels, so they undergo hydrotreatment. It serves to change their consistency and composition for use in standard diesel engines.
Hydrotreatment involves the use of hydrogen to eliminate oxygen from the oils. This treatment takes place at very high temperatures, and then glycerides, or fat components, are separated. That's a refining process that leaves this new fuel with minimal impurities, meaning that, during its combustion, there will be no harmful by-products and gases. That means less damage to the engine itself but also drastically less pollution.
The Use Of HVO
In general, HVO represents an alternative to fossil fuels, especially diesel, one of the major pollutants globally. So this new energy source can be used in all engines made for diesel. It means that its most common application will be in car engines. Still, it has found its purpose in off-road and agricultural machinery, boats, and generators. Some of the major truck makers have already made vehicles powered by HVO, as in this biodiesel-powered racing truck.
This new fuel from reputable manufacturers like SyntechBiofuel.com is equally usable in modern diesel engines as well as in older types that don't have electronic fuel injection. They will have almost the same performance in operation as if regular diesel was used, only with much less damage to the engine, the entire circuit, and the environment.
Alternative fuels also have a huge potential to become the primary energy source for heating systems. Oil and gas still dominate in this area, but more and more households and industrial facilities are turning to alternative solutions. For instance, heat pumps are a popular yet costly solution.
HVO can be an even better and more cost-effective option if you plan to go green, that is, to switch to it from standard heating systems that use oil or kerosene. This venture won't cost you extra money because there's no need for system modifications and add-ons, as would eventually be the case with heat pumps.
Benefits Of Switching To HVO Fuel
As said, using HVO cuts the emission of harmful gases by up to 90%, depending on what makes the base of this fuel. That results from clean combustion because there are no impurities and PM particles in this processed liquid. Moving on, it means that engines will utilize a higher percentage of fuel, so their consumption will be lower. Simply put, HVO is a cleaner and more economical solution than diesel.
This fuel is also sustainable, as it's made from waste (used cooking oil and animal fat). It also emits much less greenhouse gases than other fuels. As there's no carbon in HVO, there are no toxic and potentially carcinogenic combustion by-products.
Another advantage of using HVO in standard diesel engines is that there is no need for their upgrades. But if you plan to use it as a replacement for heating oil in oil-fired boilers, there might be some minimal changes to your existing system. In any case, this can bring significant savings to both individuals and companies that, for some reason, have relied on fossil fuels until now.
Because it doesn't contain oxygen molecules, HVO has a fairly long shelf life. So you can store it in specialized containers for up to 10 years without fear it will lose its properties and viscosity. For the same reason, HVO's freezing point is lower than that of ordinary diesel. Also, it won't harm the environment in case of accident spillage or leak.
How HVO Differ From FAME?
FAME is biodiesel, which isn't the same as HVO, although there are certain similarities. For starters, both are plant-based. But what makes a significant difference is how they're made. FAME utilizes esterification, which turns fatty molecules into esters and keeps oxygen molecules in it.
As explained, HVO is obtained by a refinery process that removes oxygen from fats, leaving them ester-free, clean, stable, and non-prone to oxidation. So, unlike FAME, hydrotreated vegetable oils can't spoil, thicken, or degrade during storage.
HVO is the fuel of the future, and there are many good reasons for that. It's a clean, non-toxic, sustainable, and economical alternative to diesel. It contributes to reducing the global carbon footprint, bringing no harm to the living world and the environment.
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