The green revolution continues

The green revolution continues - part 2

In part two of Faizul Khan Tanim’s series on building sustainable homes using eco-friendly solutions, he writes about water conservation and alternative lifestyle choices

Water, water everywhere

Pollution and wastage are two of the main causes behind the lack of clean water in our country. But we are lucky because we have heavy rainfall, and we can easily make good use of this bounty. Rainwater harvesting is a very effective solution to the water crisis. The scarcity of potable water means this is worth investing in. In many countries including India and Thailand they rely on rainwater that is collected in barrels and in many homes they have installed rooftop rainwater collection systems, which supplies a significant amount of water for each household’s use.

Recycling is already well-established but not enough is being done in Bangladesh where the water shortage every summer is becoming a serious cause for concern. Appropriately treated, water that is recycled can be used many times for washing and in gardens. The ideal eco-house has slanted roofs paved to maximise the flow of rainwater, which is then gathered and saved.

There are several organisations who are promoting the idea of rainwater harvesting, in offices and homes. The Environment & Population Research Centre (EPRC) deals with water management, concentrating on the arsenic issue and encourages rainwater harvesting in rural areas mostly.

Natural is good

With the use of clean energy for transportation, CNG is now everyone’s choice and it won’t be long before cars will have to run on fuel other than petrol. For power generation and cooking, bio-gas is extremely good. Bio-gas plants using cow dung and poultry waste are being used in many cities across the world and India is one of the pioneers. Methane is an odourless gas and burns with a clear blue flame without smoke so its pollution free. Family size biogas plants are extremely cost-effective for domestic use, such as cooking and lighting. The waste or slurry produced after gas is extracted is also an excellent fertiliser that is used to grow organic vegetables. It’s a no-brainer and definitely an option that Bangladesh. To prevent further environmental and agricultural deterioration, it is necessary to promote new sources of energy technologies.

Time to make a change

We have already shared information on energy-efficient appliances and gadgets. The world is mad about the latest technology, which uses renewable sources or energy. The environmentally-friendly Chinese made electric bikes are a good move forward, though not very suitable for us when we are unable to generate enough electricity. They are great for countries where they have moved on to establish electricity supply is constant and generated by other means, not just coal. Technology is no longer made in a way that they are harmful to the environment so we hear about eco-friendly cell phones (Sony Ericsson Green Heart are really good ones) and more and more people use rechargeable batteries instead of disposable ones. There are high-efficiency phone chargers, energy-efficient flat LED monitors are replacing conventional CRT ones. Green cars, such as the Toyota Prius (loved by Hollywood star Cameron Diaz), Honda Civic Hybrid, the Suzuki Liana, Tata Nano and many more. The Prius is the leader and this full hybrid electric car is among the cleanest vehicles to ever hit the roads.

http://www.theindependentdigital.com/?opt=view&page=25&date=2011-01-26