In recent years, there has been a greater understanding of the role of automotive emissions as environmental pollutants. Sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and carbon monoxide degrade the earth’s atmosphere and are health hazards. Carbon dioxide adds to the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases and in turn accelerates the process of global warming. (more…)

Since preindustrial times, ambient concentrations of the greenhouse gases have exhibited substantial increases, inter alia CO2 by 30% to about 360 parts per million (ppm), CH 4 by 145% to more than 1700 parts per billion (ppb), and N20 by 15% to more than 300 ppb. The growth rates in the concentrations of these gases in the early 1990s were lower than predicted; while subsequent data indicate that the growth rates are comparable to those averaged over the 1980s. (more…)

Since the early 1960s, climate change and air quality have become major and often controversial issues in many countries and among groups from governments to various scientific communities. Prominent among these issues is the greenhouse effect, in which the gradually increasing tropospheric concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (N20) are believed to trap an excessive amount of solar radiation reflected from the earth. (more…)

In today’s tough economic times and with the increasing prices of gas and oil, finding alternative sources of energy should be our top priority. These alternative energy solutions are not only cheaper to install and maintain but also can help save our dying environment.

There are numerous sources of affordable and environmentally-friendly fuels available. You can opt for biofuels, hydroelectric power system, wind energy, or solar power system installed right at your very own home. Among these sources of energy, building solar power system is easier and the most viable one to achieve. (more…)

When many people first think about building a green home, it is the materials and products that come to mind: insulation made from recycled newspaper and decking made from recycled plastic, for example. Product selection is an important part of green building, but it is generally not as important as energy performance or where the house is built (to minimize automobile use and protect natural areas), or measures to ensure a healthy indoor environment. (more…)