Desalination Plants on the Rise
The French utility services group Veolia has won a contract worth 702 million Euros (945 million dollars) to design and build a water desalination plant in Saudi Arabia. The plant is expected to be completed by 2010 and will produce 800,000 cubic meters of water per day. Saudi Arabia already produces 24% of the total world capacity of freshwater using desalination.
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Desalination refers to a process that removes excess salt from water to make it suitable for consumption by animals, humans, and/or irrigation. Desalination plants are generally very expensive and require heavy infrastructure compared to the costs of filtering or treating freshwater from rivers or wells.
More and more countries facing extreme drought conditions are looking towards desalination as a last hope for a source of freshwater. For example, Australia is in the process of building a $3.1 billion dollar desalination plant which will cost $140 million dollars a year to run and is expected to be completed by 2011. As climate change continues to alter the weather in such a way that it creates extreme drought conditions, desalination plants will be a last hope for fresh water in certain parts of the world.
There are environmental impacts with desalination plants that should be considered as well. Marine life really takes a hit when desalination plants are built due to the ocean water intakes. Plankton, fish eggs, and fish larvae can potentially be destroyed by as much as 90% when desalination plants are not designed to protect them due to increase in costs and decrease in output potential.
The decline of ancient civilizations in Mesopotamia, the Mediterranean region, Pre-Columbian southwest U.S. and Central America is believed to have been strongly influenced by natural resource degradation from non-sustainable farming and forestry practices.
Possible Solution: Sustainable Agriculture
1) Improve water conservation and storage measures
2) Providing incentives for selection of drought-tolerant crop species
3) Use reduced-volume irrigation systems
4) Manage crops to reduce water loss
5) Rain Capturing Systems
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Hey all…I just found this brand new green and sustainable living concept on the market that was invented in Oregon. It’s called the NW Modern from ideabox and the man who created this home was also the brains behind the e-rated appliances, the predecessor to the Department of Energy’s Engery Star Program.
Ideabox is sustainable and green in both building materials and construction. It’s the hippest and most resourceful thing I’ve seen since Bluetooth technology! This energy efficient pre-fab home is wrapped up in a cool, modern design that is actually affordable!
For the environmentally responsible consumer this cabin is cool and sleek. I mean we’re talking living large here in 400 sq. feet of luxury in a clever high end pre-fab home with a very intelligent design.
The research I’ve done shows that ideabox uses environmentally friendly products and construction with wireless technologies. Designed with the idea that you can live large in a small space, ideabox is attracting very posh customers. And hey…less can be more! My family is considering it for a vacation home on some land at the lake or the beach. Another thought I have is putting it on my property for when the kids come home. Once you’re in college, staying right with mom is tough. This way, they can have space but still be “home”.
Here is some more information I found on how environmentally friendly ideabox is…
· Wireless technology because power lines are SO last year.
· Standing seam metal roofing – sustainable and fire retardant
· Fiber-cement siding for low maintenance
· Galvalume corrugated metal siding for an industrial look and efficient construction.
· Bamboo flooring because it’s sleek and renewable
· Energy Star appliances and lighting for the best in energy efficiency
· Marmoleum countertops, made from renewable resources
· Fully insulated walls for maximum energy efficiency
· Energy-efficient ENERGY STAR labeled windows to regulate temperature
· Less than 2% construction waste because materials are ordered to size
· Low volatile organic compound paints for better, healthier indoor air
· Duo-flush toilets for water efficiency
· Day lighting; windows in all exterior walls and interior re-lite strategies
· Tankless water heaters to reduce electricity use
I haven’t seen anything like this before! Have any of you? If you want more information about these homes you can visit www.ideabox.us.
use less water evryone plez!!!!
um, ok so first of all it is VERY expensive and it suksss hehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehehe
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