35 years ago, Attenborough, Bellamy and all the scientists, TV & Media were predicting the coming of a new Ice Age. It was everywhere.What science did find is evidence ( in this country but in others too) very long periods of hotter weather, colder weather, differing prevailing winds, dry periods and wet periods. Some of which extended for decades some for even longer. Longer than a human lifespan in some cases. Our whole geography and geology exists from weather and geological changes.Very notable that those facts and topics are very rarely ever shown on TV or media anymore. Just panic, panic, panic which media and politicians and those making a convenient career out of it. N0x, Sulphur, Lead, and a raft of other nasties have been around for centuries in one form or another and yet we are all still here and living longer and far healthier per 1000 than at any other time in our existence. Most of those nasties as they have become identified have been eliminated ( at least in most of the developed world) That will continue as solutions are found.But nature will not be changing, it will continue as it always has. The elements and nature define the very ground we stand on and those forces are constant. One volcano erupting can emit toxins on a massive scale, some not yet identified to this day.Of course Mankind has a responsibility as a whole to use what we have with care and frugally as we can. But we also exist because of what nature provided.Currently we are being manipulated into some kind of panic leading to knee-jerk reactions and everything is a gravy train for 'experts' without substantiation.Everything emits CO2, even humans, A family of 4 walking at a fair pace emits more CO2 per mile than a 1.2litre car with 4 passengers included.Work + exertion = Exhaust. Thats the same for machine or anything organic from plant life to mammals.Everything has to be put into perspective.Green energy. It's either using huge amounts of energy to construct which does not cover it's working life return, or simply shifts a pollution and ecological problem to another part of the planet - Toxic Lithium Lakes in China for example just to power phones and other 'green' items from tools to transportation.It takes more fossil or chemical materials to make Hydrogen than to make diesel fuel ( of any type) by a long margin. So at the end of the line, a gallon of diesel has used less energy to produce and burn compared to the same amount of green alternatives per equivalent gallon. Weird but the Hydrogen production problem has yet to be solved. No doubt that will happen.The battery for a Toyota Prius uses more energy and finite resources to make but it's serviceable lifetime, does not recoup the cost of making it.Then it has to be disposed of which is factored in to that overall cost.Energy efficient buses have a short working life making their construction and use far less efficient. More energy has been used in there construction than gets returned. It's just the emissions are offset to elsewhere.Odd but the old Routemaster bus lasted so long and had a far better MPG than even a brand new bus that it's probably the greenest public service vehicle on the planet. 50 years for a working vehicle even refurbished a few times is very good use of resources.So it's a shame that so many of these insulation schemes are a bit of a con. And that some of the simpler more effective solutions are not applied as it's not profitable or showy enough.And the appalling Planning approvals of modern buildings that are truly awful from almost every environmental aspect. The technology and understanding and solutions are there but developers and investors are not interested. Even Local Authorities own projects fall way short because of cost because making a few quid out of environmental panic has become profitable thus costly.That ought not to be the case.But the simple act off switching of a light when not needed and turning down the thermostat, using a domestic appliance only when a near full load is, when applied by millions a significant reduction.
Raymond Havelock ● 1659d