Watch movies on television or streaming spends a lot less energy than DVD

Watch a movie or any other programming via television or streaming can avoid the emission of millions of tonnes of CO2, according to a study published in Environmental Research Letters. At issue is the business of purchase and rent a DVD, which require much more energy.

The problem is not the DVD itself, but rather in laptops and tablets, which are much more efficient in terms of power the DVD players, large consumers of energy. And there's more: rent or buy DVD requires the movement of vehicles, which helps to consume more energy and consume more carbon.

The study was carried out by researchers from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and Northwestern University and found that if all who watch the DVD in the United States had changed to streaming services in 2011, about two billion pounds of CO2 emissions have been avoided â€" at the same time, would have been saved 30 petajoules of energy, enough in electricity to feed 200 mi homes.

The researchers calculated that an hour of streaming requires 7.9 megjoules of energy, compared with 13 megajoules on DVD â€" and that their issue is 0.4 kilos of CO2, compared to 0.71 in DVD.

Americans watch too many movies and series, even those already finished for some time now. And although the DVD already being almost a historical object, the truth is that Americans watched 17.2 billion hours of content on DVD and 3.2 billion hours of streaming.

Streaming movies must be housed in banks of servers that consume a lot of energy. Still, they account for less than 1% of the energy used to consume the streaming from home, informs the Smithsonian Magazine.

Foto:  Henrik Moltke / Creative Commons

Read More

A shower that recycles water in real time – and save €490 per year

Water is one of our most essential goods. Even asism, will be a shower which costs € 4,300 (£ 13,000) the most economical solution to reduce the expense of this well? That's what we're trying to figure out this news.

It is common knowledge that mankind has a problem at the level of the water resources. In response, the entity that regulates Ofwat, the water services in the United Kingdom want this shower water recycler is obligatorily implemented in every house until 2020.

But what makes this shower that recycles water so special? The device was developed by Australian company Cintep, which aspires to the shower to help save more than a billion gallons of water until 2017. For every litre of water to enter the shower system, leaving more than three liters of water. Taking into account the results, technology can seem quite complex, but it's actually simple.

The water enters the shower system, as in any object of type, but as will falling, she's collected. Subsequently, the water is pumped into a series of filters. The process is done in real time, to ensure that the water remains hot, not taking longer than 30 seconds. According to Cinetp, the shower recycler allows you to reduce carbon dioxide emissions in 500 kilograms per year and energy in 960 kW. Depending on the use and number of users, the device has the potential to save €492 per year, based on an average eight-minute baths.

For the more sceptical with regard to the way in which the water is recycled, the shower has a pasteurisation system which raises the water temperature to 72 degrees Celsius to remove 99.99% of bacteria, reports the Guardian. Subsequently, it is not necessary to wait for the cold water to temper the hot water. The system is also equipped with a digital system which ensures the temperature and pressure of the water efficiently over the use and which can be adjusted via the internet.

According to the Australian company, it is only necessary to sell 2,500 units of the shower recycler to save billions of gallons of water until 2017.

Read More

United Kingdom: traces of cocaine are contaminating drinking water

Cocaine use in the United Kingdom is reaching excessive levels. Traces of the drug were found recently in the bathrooms of Parliament; one of the leading clubs in the Premier League, the main Football League, is involved in a scandal with the drug; and a prominent banker was recently charged with possession of cocaine.

Cocaine, unlike many other goods is cheaper in the United Kingdom than in any other country in Western Europe. Thus, the Government estimates that 4.4% of the population between 25 and 29 years consumes cocaine powder.

Drug consumption in the United Kingdom is so high that it has affected the drinking water. Health authorities have recently discovered traces of concen­trations from â€" the way metabolized drugs â€" in four water treatment plants.

The drug was found during tests that were being carried out to assess the risk factors involving the possibility of medicinal products pollute drinking water. Traces of cocaine were identified in the water already treated, ready to supply the homes of British. However, the concentration of drug is not enough to affect who consumed.

Authorities still don't know the source of the contamination. "Especulámos Not on the source of traces and the investigation did not cover this aspect," said Sue Pennison, Inspector, to the Washington Post. In addition to the cocaine, the drug most consumed between the British is marijuana.

Foto:  tanjila / Creative Commons

Read More

British supermarket will sell balls fallen and ugly forms

The supermarket Waitrose will sell bags of tomatoes that have fallen naturally and others whose forms are irregular and ugly, according to the purchaser of this fruit for the British chain, Peter Cooke.

"When it comes to tomatoes, there is no reason why the beauty has to be associated with the smooth skin. All of our selections are different, and that's the real beauty, terms tomatoes that do not normally would be sold in this way to our consumers, "he explained.

The tomato, along with avocado, fresh product that creates more waste in the food industry. The Waitrose now sells several fruit and vegetables with the strangely, like carrots, potatoes, courgettes, strawberries, plums, apples and cauliflowers â€" and, according to the Guardian, will continue to put more and more so-called products made in their stores as a way to reduce waste.

In the case of tomato, a one pound box includes several species, from cherry to the baby, which typically are ignored because it fell on the ground or have a strange way. Each box costs €3,60 (R$11,20).

In recent years, associations and activists linked to food have criticized the obsession of supermarkets by perfect products â€" including the discretion of retailers, which leads to the creation of an endless mountain of food waste.

Foto:  marlenedd / Creative Commons

Read More

USA: young 14 years builds home in 18 months

Sicily Kolbeck, a young girl of 14 years who lives in the State of Georgia, United States, just recently a megalomaniac project for her age: she built with the help of some people, a small house.

Sicily decided to build this small annex 12 years when he was, for a school project. Without any experience in the field of construction, Sicily has accepted the help of father, Dane. Initially, the young lady concerned to arrange financing for the construction.

In just one month, she managed its initial objective, € 1,800 ($ 5,600) and launched the blog of the project, called La Petite Maison. The father, enthusiastic for bricolage, began to put the House up, but Sicily had to help him.

Then, there was a tragedy. Dane died in a car accident, and Sicily has lost all interest in the project. A few months later, however, a friend of Dane convinced her to finish the job, to honor his father.

Taking advantage of the fact that Luke Bair, father's friend, be civil constructor, Sicily learned to wield the tools safely and, a year later, was finally able to build your dream home-La Petite Maison.

According to Bair, the House will be worth about € 12,300 ($ 37,400) and can be moved from one place to another â€" and that's what will happen, in the forthcoming summer vacation.

See some of the pictures of the various phases of the project and read the whole story on CNN (in English).

.fancybox-wrap { position: absolute; top:0; left: 0; z-index: 8020; } .fancybox-skin { position: relative; /*margin-top:20px !important;*/ background: #222222; color: #74b32e; text-shadow: none; -webkit-border-radius: 2px; -moz-border-radius: 2px; border-radius: 2px; } .fancybox-opened { z-index: 8030; } .fancybox-opened .fancybox-skin { -webkit-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); -moz-box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); box-shadow: 0 10px 25px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.5); } .fancybox-outer, .fancybox-inner { position: relative; } .fancybox-inner { overflow: hidden; } .fancybox-type-iframe .fancybox-inner { -webkit-overflow-scrolling: touch; } .fancybox-close{ background: url('wp-content/themes/codistage/styles/fancybox/exit.png') no-repeat; width:25px; height:25px; float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-right:5px; } /*.ngg-gallery-image img{width:565px; height:393px;}*/Um milagre em forma de casa1of 18jQuery(document).ready(function($) { var thumbContainerWidth = 0, thumbs = Array(), selectedIndex = 1, thumbIndex = 1, imageOffset = 7; $('.ngg-gallery-thumbnail-box').each(function() { thumbs.push($(this)); }); /*thumbnail navigation */ $('.ngg-greensavers-thumb-next').unbind().bind('click', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if(thumbIndex<= (thumbs.length-imageOffset)) { $('.ngg-thumbnails-container').stop().animate({ left : -$(thumbs[thumbIndex]).position().left }); thumbIndex++; } }); $('.ngg-greensavers-thumb-prev').unbind().bind('click', function(e) { e.preventDefault(); if(thumbIndex >1) { $('.ngg-thumbnails-container').stop().animate({ left : $('.ngg-thumbnails-container').position().left + ( $(thumbs[thumbIndex-1]).position().left - $(thumbs[thumbIndex-2]).position().left ) }); thumbIndex--; } }); $(window).load(function() { /* set thumbnail container width */ $('.ngg-gallery-thumbnail').each(function() { thumbContainerWidth = thumbContainerWidth + $(this).width() + 10; }); $('.ngg-thumbnails-container').width(thumbContainerWidth); }); });

Read More

Rock in Rio will donate leftover food to two institutions

In big events there's always food for consumption that ends up in the trash. However, the Organization of Rock in Rio wants to counter this trend and like previous editions will donate food leftovers are fit for consumption the institutions which then will distribute by those who need it most.

The food will be donated to Re-Food4Good and Dariacordar. "We tried to get out of here without waste," says Dora Palma, sustainability Coordinator of Rock in Rio.

Foods that are not fit for consumption will be used for composting.

In 2012, the Rock in Rio collected 570 meals, breads, salads, 245 330 430 sandwiches, soups and desserts 270 135 catering Home of the Marquis, who were delivered by Dariacordar to work, the Nazarene distributed for needy families in the village of Malone.

Other 1,050 sandwiches, breads, sandwiches 207 602 leitão, 97 breads with chorizo, 53 40 chicken meals, pizzas, hamburgers, 25 more than 3 pounds of fried dough and nine cakes of "Best Chocolate Cake in the world" were collected by Re-Food4Good and delivered to local charities.

The Food Bank received 1,419 still pounds of assorted sandwiches, 95 pounds of precooked dishes, 36 pounds of fruit and 379 liters of water.

Read More

Portugal in 26th place in the misery index (with LIST)

Portugal is in 26th place in the misery index, an indicator created by economist Arthur Melvin Okun and you want to measure a country's economic deterioration. Compared to the previous year, Portugal about a place--that is, passed to a more negative climate â€" mercy especially in the unemployment rate.

Although little known as an indicator, the misery index helps you figure out what's going on, economically, in every country. To calculate ponder three variables: the level of unemployment among the countries, the level of interest rates and the rate of inflation, along with the rate of growth of GDP per capita of each country.

According to the El Blog Salmon, the result reflects the impoverishment of the citizens of the various countries, so that is how much bigger the index, the greater the poverty.

Created by Okun, the index was modified in 1999, by Robert Barro, an economist at the University of Hardval and the following year by Steve Hanke, Johns Hopkins University economist.

This year's ranking is led by Venezuela, with 79.4 points, followed by Iran, Serbia, Argentina (the photo depicts the suburbs of Buenos Aires), Jamaica, Egypt and, imagine, of Spain. South Africa, Brazil and Greece complete the top 10.



Foto:  Roger Schultz / Creative Commons

Read More