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This special consists
of five articles: Eco Fashion - Denmark, Transport
Of The Future? - Sweden, Earthen Architecture,
Private Eye - England, Fuel Cells/Solar Winter?
Eco
Fashion - Denmark
Organic clothing
is the production of garments that takes into
consideration the environment, the health of
consumers and the social aspects of the workers.
These areas are covered by organic certifications
and standards for sustainable agriculture and
textile production as set out by SKAL - the inspection
organisation for the processing of natural fibres.
Transport
Of The Future? - Sweden
Approximately 90 per cent of the environmental impact
caused by a diesel truck or bus occurs during the
vehicle’s working life. The production and
scrapping of the vehicle together account for the
remaining 10 per cent. This is due primarily to the
emission of carbon dioxide while the vehicle is in
operation which adds to the greenhouse effect. In
densely populated areas and cities, it is important
to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide
and hydrocarbons which have a negative effect on
both health and the environment.
As overcrowding and air pollution in our cities
continue to escalate, Volvo, the Swedish motor manufacturer,
is attempting to produce two vehicles which create "the
least possible environmental burden". The Environmental
Concept Bus and Truck have been developed as prototypes
and are viable concepts, even if they are not commercially
feasible at the present time.
Earthen
Architecture
In most countries of the world, it is possible to
mould earth with sophisticated or primitive tools
to construct buildings. The range of the technical,
constructional and architectural possibilities of
earth is extremely wide. This wide constructional
potential has enabled the construction of modest
shelters, village houses, urban blocks and religious
edifices, as well as palaces and entire cities.
In countries with no industrialised means, in a
wide range of latitudes throughout the world, earth
remains the main building material. Processed materials
are costly both in foreign currencies and imported
energy. Communities remain dependent on the use of
locally available solutions, materials and knowledge.
These materials and techniques are generally very
well used and can ensure true architectural quality
which makes the most of the human and material resources
available.
Private
Eye - England
The Environment Agency is responsible for monitoring
any pollution discharged into England’s waters.
The Environment Agency’s policy is to encourage
self monitoring by dischargers to increase their
awareness of the conditions of their own effluent.
One of the main problems is being able to carry out
the monitoring 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. At
the National Centre for Environmental data and surveillance
in Bath, scientists collect environmental data using
a range of different instruments and techniques.
Fuel
Cells/Solar Winter?
Solar power is generated when energy from the sun
is converted into electricity via solar cells. It
is an excellent source of renewable energy for people
who do not have access to power from a grid system.
It is most appropriate for countries located in the "Sunbelt",
that is, countries that are within thirty degrees
north or south of the equator, where there is high
direct solar radiation all year round. In Northern
latitudes, there is little solar radiation in winter
time.
In places requiring an electricity supply all year
round, with a very small, if any, output of the photovoltaic
array during the winter months, the use of seasonal
photovoltaic energy storage or a hybrid photovoltaic-diesel
system is needed. Although photovoltaic systems with
lead acid batteries are widely used in remote areas
for telecommunications and other stand alone applications,
they are not practical for seasonal energy storage
because the batteries are too expensive. Diesel generator
back up for remote photovoltaic-battery systems has
the disadvantages of requiring refuelling and maintenance.
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