Archive for February, 2010

With their well known motto, “Its hard to stop a Trane”, Trane air conditioning, heating and ventilation has been one of the major leaders in the residential and commercial heating and cooling industry. A Norwegian immigrant to the United States started the Trane company. Mr. James Trane, the founder of the company, first started working in the plumbing industry in his own shop in La Crosse, Wisconsin in 1885. Although originally a heating company, Trane and his son Reuben, a mechanical engineer, soon also expanded into keeping houses cool in the summer as well as warm in the winter.

In 1931 Trane air conditioning units went on the market and in 1938 a new concept in Trane air conditioning, the Turbovac, a sealed refrigeration machine make a huge breakthrough in air conditioning units for large buildings and spaces. Currently Trane has moved into many different markets and has become one of the recognized leaders in the field of heating, ventilation and air conditioning as well as building automation, energy conservation and environmentally friendly products.

Currently the Trane brand is sold in over 100 countries in the world with over 400 specific locations that manufacture, sell and distribute exclusively Trane products. The large company has several subsidiary companies including American Standard heating and air conditioning products. Trane employs over 29,000 individuals worldwide with 11,000 service technicians located worldwide for installation and maintenance of Trane systems. The yearly profit for Trane air conditioning and heating and subsidiary companies is over 6.8 billion dollars and there are 29 different manufacturing plants for the company located in countries such as Brazil, United States, France, England, Egypt and Mexico.

Trane air conditioning units are sold either as residential or commercial, with many different options within each division. Trane manufacturers energy efficient air conditioning units and strives to exceed the set standards by the various governmental regulatory boards. They also have produced a split-system home air conditioning unit that can result in energy savings to the homeowner of up to sixty percent over other similar products on the market.

Since the company offers both Trane air conditioning and heating systems, it is possible to integrate both systems into one energy saving system. Combining or using the “total comfort system” for year round costs savings is also an option with the company. Each of the components, Trane air conditioning and Trane heating systems are designed to have the highest efficiency when in use, meaning lower year round energy bills. Another option, the CleanEffects air cleaning system, can remove allergens and other harmful airborne contaminants from the entire home, leading to easier breathing and less risk of germs throughout the house.

Introduction

The varied concepts of waste management are perhaps one of the most vast and widely studied subjects of the modern age of industrial advancements and increased commercial activity. Excessive generation of waste products is considered as one of the most critical fallouts of the rapid industrial progress, along with other hazards such as pollution.

Such a massive amount of interest in the subject has further led to the emergence of extensive research and study of the subject, giving rise to enormous amount of literature, study material and other books on waste management for the same.

Using Study Material

For an individual interested in undertaking the study of the subject of waste management, it is first important to understand the basic need behind the study which will influence the kind of books on waste management that shall be required.

The two most important objectives that can be there to undertake a study of the subject include professional reasons and a keenness to increase individual awareness. The books on waste management that offer professional knowledge and information are generally of strong assistance to the individuals working in the field. Most often, such books on waste management focus more on critical issues such as management of hazardous or toxic waste, hospital waste and various other forms of hazardous solid waste.

In fact, in the last few years there has been a massive increase in the number of books on waste management that focuses on the management of solid waste. Apart from providing basic information, such books also offer extremely helpful information on how to manage solid waste. Such books on waste management also carry details of the extreme hazards of solid waste along with suggestions and guidelines on how to management effective disposal of solid waste.

Books on waste management are widely available for previews and purchase on the internet. There are a vast number of websites that offer a wide range of such literature, further diversified into various categories and groups. For instance, for an individual wanting to understand the concept of incineration or analyze the impact of garbage dumps on environment, a simple search on the internet can yield details of a series of books on the relevant subject.

However, when wanting to spot one of the most appropriate books on waste management, it is often very helpful to take references and even join
book clubs which have a set of like-minded people with whom opinions and interests can be shared accordingly. Books on waste management are one of the best ways to learn about this critical concept, especially for those aspiring for a career in this line in the near future.

Corals are an entire class of animals that are among the most threatened creatures on Earth. While you may think an organism that more closely resembles rock would be immune from pollution, these creatures are not only immobile but reside in some of the most commonly polluted areas: warm, shallow seas.

Growing very slowly, corals were once primarily threatened by collection and the occasional nuclear test. One of the most ancient forms of true animal life, corals have existed for over half a billion years though numerous climatological shifts. However, the effects of various types of pollution will likely destroy half the coral reefs on Earth by 2030. Most “modern” corals rely upon constant temperatures, salinity and pH. When these requirements are not met, or they’re stressed, the symbiotic algaes that help them digest food leave. The corals starve and only their “bones” are left behind in what is known as “coral bleaching.”
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The Pollution Control Department (PCD) is a division of the National Environment Agency (NEA), providing necessary requirements for control of pollution by assessing and considering the impact of all environmental developments on a new industry before it is allowed to go any further in its development. Any planning and development requires the associated authorities to consult with this organization first, with the PCD researching the proposals while ensuring that the industrial or residential development is accurately and properly sited, compatible with its appropriate land use.

If the development involves a new industry, the PCD will process its building plans against its environmental impact in order to prevent any unmanageable safety hazards or health risks—a major concern for the requirements for control of pollution. It will only pass if its pollutant emissions comply with standard codes, the company can provide and guarantee a safe management and disposal of wastes, and if the site is a suitable one.

Additional safety requirements for control of pollution involve other areas, such as legislation, water pollution control, air pollution control, and hazardous substances control—with each one having their own set of requirements to maintain pollution control:

• LEGISLATION requirements for control of pollution
o Environment Pollution Control Act (EPCA) came into operation on April 1, 1999.
• Consolidates previous separate laws on (1) air, (2) water, (3) noise pollution, and (4) hazardous substances control
• Provides a comprehensive framework of legislative control of environmental pollution
o Title amended on January 1, 2008 to the Environmental Protection and Management Act (EPMA)
• Provided for protection and management of environment and resource conservation
• WATER POLLUTION CONTROL requirements for control of pollution
o Serves all industrial estates and all residential premises
o All wastewater is required to go into the public sewer system operated by a Public Utilities Board
o Industrial wastewater is required to be treated by specific standards before entering any sewer or water course
o Industries containing large amounts of acidic effluent require the installment of pH monitoring and shut-off control system to prevent its entrance into public sewer
• AIR POLLUTION CONTROL requirements for control of pollution
o Industrial and power generation plants are equipped with pollution control equipment
• Required to comply with air emission standards
• Specified in the Environmental Protection and Management (Air Impurities) Regulations
• Revised standards developed on January 1, 2001
• Replaced the Clean Act (Standards) Regulations of 1978
• HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES CONTROL requirements for control of pollution
o Governed by the EPMA, the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations, and the Environmental Protection and Management (Ozone Depleting Substances Regulations)
o License is required for any person who imports, sells, exports, purchases, stores, and or uses any hazardous substance under the Act.
o Permit is required for anyone who purchases, stores or/and uses any hazardous substance under the control of the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations
o Transport approval is required for anyone who wishes to transport hazardous substances in quantities exceeding those specified in the Environmental Protection and Management (Hazardous Substances) Regulations
• TOXIC INDUSTRIAL WASTE CONTROL requirements for control of pollution
o Refers to oil, waste acids, spent solvents, waste sludge, spent etchants, and waste alkalis,
• Solvents, waste oil, and spent etchants are recycled
• Landfills are required for waste sludge

Introduction

The rapid advancement of industrial sectors and the related economic growth have given a great impetus to the overall development scenario. However, such massive scales of growth have also brought along with it a series of fallouts and negative impact, posing a threat to the very safety of mankind and the basic principles of hygiene.

The dangers posed by the unbridled rise in the excretion of industrial waste is one of the critical dangers facing the world, giving rise to scores of deliberations and consultations, aiming to find an amiable solution to the matter.

The Concept

In order to identify a probable solution, it is first important to understand and analyze as to what is industrial waste management and the areas of operation it actually encompasses. The concept of industrial waste management involves a series of steps that revolve around the identification, categorization and processing of the waste material involved, in specific accordance with the nature of the industry. In order to understand what is industrial waste management, it is first important that the concept of industrial waste be understood, as to what elements does it include.

To begin with, industrial waste is typically defined as a type of waste produced by industrial activity, including the likes of factories, mills and mines. Industrial waste is broadly classified into toxic waste and chemical waste, out of which the former is potentially dangerous and needs careful handling and processing.

It was in the late 1970s that the administration’s attention was called to developing and enforcing a legislation with regard to management of this category of waste, giving an all new meaning to what is industrial waste management. Prior to this time period, the majority of industrial waste was disposed of in landfills, stored in surface impoundments such as lagoons or pits, discharged into surface waters without almost any treatment or even burnt.

The need to redefine the concept of what is industrial waste management specifically arose when such practices actually led to pollution of groundwater, streams, lakes and rivers along with massive damage to wildlife and vegetation. In fact, high levels of toxic contaminants have been found in animals and human beings who have been continually exposed to such waste streams.

Overall, there are two main aspects that clearly define what is industrial waste management. The first is the management of the waste product on-site, at the spot where it is actually generated. Following this, the second and a more complex method is to transport the waste to an off-site location and take up the processing at an present commercial facility.

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Sources of air pollution are the factors, locations, and activities responsible for putting pollutants out into the air we breathe. There are two major types of these sources, and they are human related sources, and natural sources. The sources of air pollution that are human related can fall into many different categories. One of these categories are stationery sources, like manufacturing facilities, power plants, and many industries like coal or mining. This source is responsible for a significant part of the pollutants in the air, and helps contribute to major types of air pollution like smog. A more major source of air pollution is moving sources. Moving sources include motor vehicles like cars, busses, trains, and aircraft. These types of air pollution are responsible for most of the pollution in the atmosphere. This moving source is one we can drastically reduce with a little effort and learning. Some other human relater sources of air pollution are harmful fumes from paint, varnish, hairspray, and aerosols in general. These things are essential to our modern daily lives, and everyday we use them we are making the air a little more polluted. All of the human related sources of air pollution can be controlled or even prevented by learning about ways to reduce pollution on an individual level. If everyone put a little effort into controlling how they contribute personally to pollution. Then we could be breathing clean pure air some day soon.

The other source of air pollution mentioned is natural sources. These sources are not something we cause and are not really something we can prevent but it is good to know about them and how they affect us. One of these is dust caused by natural occurrence. When a large area of land is barren and lacking in vegetation then the dirt becomes dry dust. This dust can be carried in the air to places far away from the spot of land and pollute the air all around it. A good way to help control this natural pollution is to plant vegetation and trees where there is a spot of dry land. This may take some irrigation and a little effort but it will drastically decrease the natural dust pollution in the air. Some other natural pollutants are smoke and carbon monoxide from wildfires. When a huge area of forest is burned naturally then it releases toxins into the air for miles around. There is nothing we can do to prevent natural fires but we do try to control areas on fire from spreading to populated areas. The natural sources of air pollution are not as much of a threat as the ones we humans cause. However it is always good to learn all about how you can help prevent, and control both sources of air pollution.

Most people are aware of the damage to cognitive development that arises as a result of lead poisoning. In fact, even thought it used as a sweetener for wine during the Roman Imperial Era, even Roman contemporaries knew it was a neurotoxin. It is especially harmful to pregnant women and children, causing blood and brain disorders, accumulating in the tissues and shaving IQ points off entire neighborhoods.

Until the 1970s, lead paint and leaded gasoline were common in North America. Unlike many of the other neurotoxic metals, it also happens to be rather common, naturally. It is still used extensively in car batteries, though most of these are caught in the hazardous waste recycling stream as per federal, state and provincial law. It’s use in paint has proven particularly difficult to remediate given how long these substances are capable of persisting in soils, particularly in urban areas. The long time use of lead in gasoline has resulted in a very widespread soil contamination.
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If you would like to learn about how to control air pollution emissions, you will want to read this article.

Emissions that pollute come from factories, automobiles, burning of unnatural manmade waste and numerous other sources created and acted out by humanity. The question now becomes how to control air pollution emissions?

The first step to limit air pollution emissions of the Earth’s atmosphere is to create and implement laws and regulations that dictate how to control air pollution emissions. These laws and regulations will help to jump start the populations sense of obligation to the environment and assure our continuing commitment into the future.

The second step of how to control air pollution emissions would be to appoint or hire and extensively educate a group of people in all aspects of emissions control to police those people or contributing factors regulated under the laws.

The third step of how to control air pollution emissions is to enforce these laws and regulations without bias, discrimination, favoritism or choice but rather by an equal standard across all lines. The enforcement of the laws and regulations must be performed with a feeling of obligation to both the Earth and to our descendants. Enforcement of the first offense needs to have consequences handed out if any of the laws or regulations have been broken, ignored or limits have been pushed or crossed in any way. A repeat offense violation should have a much harsher consequence, even a possible license suspension. Multiple repeat offenders would be subject to having their license revoked for at least a preset length of time, possibly permanently.

Fortunately, these first three steps have been set into action in some form or other over approximately the past thirty years. The action to be followed through with now is to refine, amend or update old and create new laws and regulations as science and technology advance, giving us new options of how to control air pollution emissions.

To summarize how to control air pollution emissions there needs to be a set of laws and regulations governing the minimum standards for all of the contributing factors along with the devices used to control the contributors of air pollution emissions. A group of people needs to be appointed or hired then extensively educated on the contributing factors of and devices used to control air pollution emissions after these laws have been created and implemented. These people would then police the people or contributing factors regulated under the laws. Lastly, there would be a progressive set of predefined consequences for breaking, ignoring, pushing or exceeding the limits of the laws and regulations.

There are more than 80,000 man-made chemicals on the market, approved for use in North America. Several thousand more are submitted for approval each year. In nearly every case, regulatory organizations are responsible for testing each of these chemicals, individually, for human toxicity.

Not all chemicals that are approved will even go through this process. However, the truly frightening thing about this process is that not one of these chemicals will be tested for how they react with the other 80,000 existing chemicals. Even when they are designed to be combined with other chemicals, are they tested together.

It is well known that chemistry does not take place in a vacuum. The human body itself has become a hodge-podge of these chemicals, often stored in body tissues and fats because the liver simply doesn’t know how to deal with and eliminate these substances. When each new one is added, this unregulated chemistry experiment begins anew, with consequences that people can only imagine.
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The city lights have been a subject of excitement and awe for many. There have been songs written about it and descriptions that describe excitement of the city lights has engaged many people. However, not all is positive with the big city lights. It has been labeled as a form of pollution – light pollution.

Where Does Light Pollution Come From?

Light pollution is not a new form of pollution, but merely a newer recognition. Since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution we have been striving to work longer hours to produce as much as possible. We have been exposed to nighttime activities that require the need of lights, like going out to dinner, seeing a show, strolling the storefronts, and more. Light pollution is described as intrusive light at night.

There are two forms of light pollution. The first is considered to be an annoying light that intrudes on natural or a low light setting. The second is excessive light that is usually used indoors that affects those exposed. Of course the larger cities with dense population have larger amounts of light pollution, but smaller areas and office buildings are sites of such pollution too. A few sources of interior and exterior light pollutants include:

• Building exterior and interior lighting
• Commercial properties
• Advertising
• Offices
• Factories
• Street lighting
• Sporting Venues

Who Could Be Affected?

It seems that some city lights could not do much harm, but perhaps to those who want to stargaze but cannot because the artificial light floods out the natural light of the stars. However, there are many other living beings that are adversely affected by light pollution. Here are some examples:

• Energy Waste – We are always hearing how we should conserve energy, but keep in mind that city lighting is responsible for over ¼ the use of energy and many of it is wasted upward lighting.
• Human Health – Over-exposure to artificial light can cause headaches, fatigue, stress, eyestrain, elevated blood pressure, and even cancer. Artificial light interrupts the natural sleep patterns and release of melatonin, this decrease in melatonin has been directly linked to breast cancer.
• Animals – All life resolves around natural light. Certain organisms have daytime activity and others night. Artificial light can interfere with these natural patterns. Certain algae eaters do not come to the surface to feed on nighttime algae, flight patterns of birds, night blooming flowers that provide food for certain moths, and much more can be affected by the presence of artificial light.
• Improper Placement – Improper lighting can cause unnecessary glare and shadows that may impede drivers and pedestrians.

Light pollution does affect us everyday and it is only until recent studies that we can see what is truly does. It is important for us to realize what the cost of industrialization is doing to our health and for those who are sharing our planet.