Biochar Growing as a Frontrunner Solution

What is biochar?

Arti‘s video gives a clear overview of what it is, how it is made, and why it is so valuable.

Here at Warm Heart we have been focused on biochar as a solution to reverse climate change,

We began by teaching local farmers how to make and use biochar on their farms. Today we have taught over 13,000 farmers across Africa and Thailand.

Warm Heart works to stop open-field crop waste burning and instead create carbon sinks, which make for improved soils for crops to grow. We continue to expand our training to smallholder farmers.

We work with trained farming communities to organize biochar social enterprises. This brings jobs into the community and income from carbon credits working with Biochar Life,

Final Issue

We hope you have been inspired by the stories we have presented over the years. All of our back issues are available below in our Archives.

Our focus is moving towards our YouTube channel. We hope you will join us there and follow our progress with biochar.

Whether you use biochar in your home garden, on a farm, or support our farmer training program, you are helping reverse climate change.

The post Archive Environmental Progress News – April 2023 (Final Issue) appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Our Biochar Project has grown by leaps and bounds this past year. Below is a recap from our Vice President Jason Highberger.

He wrote “It’s kind of funny now but at the start of the year we were hoping that we could achieve 100 t CO2eq by the end of 2022…needless to say, we were way off!!  In 2022, our farmers and amazing team have sunk and verified more than 2,100 t of CO2eq.  Awesome!“

Some highlights of our 2022 journey…

• January:  Warm Heart registers Biochar Life as a Public Benefit Corporation
• February:  completed field test pilots in Kenya, Malawi and Thailand
• March:  successfully completed the EBC accreditation, delivered our first c-sink certificate to CarbonFuture
• June:  received external seed funding investment
• July:  secured 3 year purchase agreement with CarbonFuture for minimum of 8500 t CO2eq
• August:  launched production in Tanzania lead by Chris as Country Manager
• October:  reached 1,000 t CO2eq certified (9 months ahead of schedule!), Alex joined the team as Director of Operations (yay!)
• November:  established MOU with Carbon4Good – kick starting a great partnership with PlantVillage & DreamTeam, Dr. David Hughes joined the board
• December:  showcased by Ithaka Institute to the GIZ, certified c-sink activities by farmers in Indonesia (an Ithaka Institute project)

“As of this morning, 505 farmers across 5 countries have produced biochar adhering to the Artisan standard and the numbers continue to grow!  The farmers have been supported by more than 30 amazing verifiers and 4 country managers.  We’ve distributed more than $100,000 USD to farmers and local team members providing economic benefits to the community and families.  The farmers have applied more than 1,000 t of biochar helping improve soil health and crop yields all while preventing the emissions and health risk of open field burning. 

We look forward to an even more successful 2023 and have plans to continue expanding and growing our base of farmers trained on how to turn their crop waste into biochar,

We could have not reached this milestone without the help of the many dedicated volunteers who have helped us along the way. We thank you from our heart!

Guest Articles

Bright Future Facts Related to Solar Energy

By Solar Panel Installation (Philipines)

The sun is an abundant natural resource that humanity has harnessed since ancient times. Technological developments have provided society with several ways to utilize this natural resource. In energy production, solar energy is acquired by capturing heat and light from the sun.

Solar energy harnessing technology can be classified into two categories. These are active solar systems and passive solar systems.

Active solar systems harness solar energy using electrical and mechanical components such as photovoltaic systems, voltage controllers, blowers, and pumps to capture and convert the sun’s energy.

On the other hand, passive solar systems harness solar energy without active mechanical or electrical devices. Instead, solar energy is captured by orienting a structure to the sun, selecting materials with favorable light-dispersing properties, and developing spaces that naturally circulate air.

Solar energy is one of the world’s most popular renewable energy sources. Here are some benefits and bright future facts related to solar power to further your appreciation for going solar.

Highly abundant energy source

According to energy.gov, solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on the planet. About 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strike Earth constantly. That’s 10,000 times more than what the world uses as energy.

Environment-friendly

Solar energy is one of the most renowned environment-friendly energy sources. Solar harnessing technology and power plants do not produce air pollution or greenhouse gases.

The clean energy produced by solar energy harnessing equipment far exceeds the carbon footprint associated with the raw materials used to build them. As a result, solar energy has a significantly lower impact on the environment than other energy sources.

Back on the grid

Grid technology allows any extra energy generated by a solar-powered home or business to be fed back to the grid. When renewable energy resources are unavailable, the grid can supply electricity.

In addition, if your town or city has “,” you may get a credit on your power bill. This is when excess electricity generated by renewable energy systems pulls back your electricity meter as it is fed back into the grid.

Slowing climate change through solar

Energy pollution is the highest contributor to air pollution worldwide. According to the American Geosciences Institute, the major energy sources in the United States are petroleum, gas, and coal.

Most American homes are running on energy that produces CO2 and methane. Solar energy users can slow global climate change by reducing the pollution from using coal and natural gases.

One of the cheapest energy sources

In 2017, solar electricity costs dropped from $0.28 to $0.06 per kilowatt-hour for utility-scale photovoltaic solar power. In addition, residential and commercial-scale solar electricity expenses have dropped from $0.52 to $0.16 and $0.40 to $0.11 per kilowatt-hour, respectively.

This makes solar power one of the cheapest alternatives to fossil fuels, coal, and natural gas, costing anywhere between $0.05 to $0.10 per kilowatt-hour.

Renewable energy rooftops

Rooftops are one of the most excellent locations for solar panel technology to harness the sun’s energy. As a result, households and businesses can obtain renewable energy that would’ve been wasted otherwise. 

The last decade has shown a sharp decline in solar photovoltaic (PV) systems costs. This decline was driven by PV module efficiencies and hardware and inverter costs.

According to a report from Nrel.gov, “Since 2010, there has been a 64%, 69%, and 82% reduction in the cost of residential, commercial-rooftop, and utility-scale PV systems, respectively.”

Solar-powered roads

Solar roads are constructed using solar photovoltaic technology. This technology can help generate renewable energy from public roads, residential streets, driveways, and parking lots.

Solar roads can have many benefits. For example, their energy can power nearby communities, heat roads during winter to prevent vehicles from skidding, distill water in areas with limited access to clean water supplies, charge electric vehicles, and many more!

Where Solar Shines the Brightest

Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource in the world and has some of the most positive impacts on the environment. This energy helps reduce greenhouse gas emissions, global warming, carbon footprint, and many more!

By going solar, humanity’s reliance on fossil fuels will be reduced in favor of one of the most generous, constant sources of energy available: the sun.

How Sustainable Livelihoods Help Startups

By Kat Sarmiento

In the business world, sustainability is becoming increasingly important. With the rise of environmental issues and the aim to create a more equitable world, sustainable livelihoods are becoming essential for startups. 

In this article, we will explore how sustainable livelihoods can help startups and small businesses in their quest for success. From generating funds and establishing credibility to building resilience and improving the quality of life, we will explore how sustainable livelihoods can provide startups with the foundations they need to thrive. 

But before we dive into how sustainable livelihood helps startups, let’s first know what exactly “sustainable livelihood” means.

Defining Sustainable Livelihood

Simply put, sustainable livelihood refers to the ability of individuals or businesses to generate income and resources over time in order to provide for their needs. This includes things like providing food, shelter, and healthcare, as well as generating income over time so that people can have economic security in the long term. 

12 Ways Sustainable Livelihoods Help Startups

For startups, in particular, sustainable livelihoods are especially important, as they need to make sure that their businesses will have the financial resources necessary to continue operations and grow over time. They need access to capital, the right people, and a steady source of customers in order to succeed.

Sustainable livelihoods help startups achieve this goal by providing a range of benefits, such as: 

1. Generating Funds

Sustainable livelihoods generate funds that can be used to finance a startup’s operations and growth. Funds generated through sustainable livelihoods can be used to pay employees, purchase supplies, and invest in research and development. Moreover, funds generated through sustainable livelihoods can help startups become more profitable, which then helps them attract investors and further grow their operations.

2. Establishing Credibility

Establishing credibility is essential for startups to attract investors, customers, and partners. Sustainable livelihoods demonstrate that a startup is serious about its operations and has the capability of maintaining itself over time. They also demonstrate that the startup is aware of its environmental and social responsibilities and is working to meet them.

3. Building Brand Awareness

A startup needs to build brand awareness in order to be successful in the long term. Sustainable livelihoods provide an opportunity for startups to reach out to potential customers by showcasing their products or services on various platforms such as social media, print media, digital media, etc., which increases brand visibility over time.

For example, virtual events and webinars provide an ideal platform to promote a startup’s products and services. Or, environmental and social initiatives can be highlighted on social media to create a positive impression about the startup.

4. Improving Efficiency

A sustainable business model helps startups identify areas where they can make improvements in terms of efficiency and cost-effectiveness, so they can maximize their profits while minimizing their expenses. By improving efficiency, startups can save money on operational costs, which leads to increased profitability over time.

5. Strengthening Relationships

Sustainable livelihoods help strengthen relationships between startups and their suppliers, customers, partners, etc. This leads to better collaboration and communication among all stakeholders involved in the business process, which results in higher productivity levels overall. 

6. Enhancing Quality

Having a sustainable business model allows startups to focus on quality rather than quantity when it comes to their products or services. This ultimately leads to better customer satisfaction rates and increased loyalty from existing customers as well as new ones who may be looking for something special or unique that only your startup offers! Moreover, it increases the perceived value of your product or service, thus allowing you to charge higher prices. 

7. Increasing Competitiveness

Sustainable livelihoods are designed to provide access to new markets, allowing startups to operate more efficiently and effectively. This can help startups stand out from the competition by creating unique products and services that customers may not find anywhere else.

8. Reducing Risks

Starting a business involves taking on a lot of risks. Sustainable livelihoods help to reduce that risk by providing an alternative source of income and reducing the financial burden it takes to keep the business afloat, as well as offering financial stability during times when demand for products or services is low.

9. Fostering Growth

When it comes to startups, fostering growth is essential. It is not uncommon for businesses to be stuck in the same place with limited progress. Sustainable livelihoods can help startups break out of this rut. By providing resources and connections, startups can build a sustainable business model that produces significant growth.

10. Creating Opportunities

By providing access to markets, capital, and resources, startups can take advantage of opportunities that would otherwise be out of reach. Sustainable livelihoods also provide a platform for entrepreneurial growth and innovation, allowing for new business models to emerge or existing ones to be refined.

11. Building Resilience

When businesses face unforeseen challenges, such as pandemics or natural disasters, having a sustainable livelihood helps them remain flexible and better equip themselves to weather the storm. Sustainable livelihoods are also advantageous when it comes to financial stability, as they can help businesses make more informed decisions when planning for the future.

12. Improving the Quality of Life

Sustainable livelihoods give startups the opportunity to provide employment and financial security to their employees, which in turn can boost morale and create a better work environment. Additionally, it has a positive effect on the local economy, as the money that is generated is reinvested back into the community. 

Wrapping Up

Sustainable livelihoods can provide immense benefits to startups like yours that are looking to grow their businesses. So, change your mindset now! Start exploring different options today and start your journey toward a more sustainable business model! 

The post Archive Environmental Progress News – January/February 2023 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Have you noticed the increase in forest fires over the years? It is not your imagination, it is just another sign of the impact global warming is having on our environment.

Over the past 5 years fire seasons have begun earlier, lasted longer, with more intense heat. We are also seeing “a growing tendency for wildfires to appear where in the past they were rare: peatlands, permafrost regions and tropical rainforests. The burning of any of these biomes is particularly concerning because of massive amounts of carbon released contribute to climate change” according to experts. 

More than just a carbon sink

Our forests provide much more than just a carbon sink. Healthy forest ecosystems produce and conserve soil and stabilize stream flows and water runoff—preventing land degradation and desertification, and reducing the risks of natural disasters such as droughts, floods, and landslides.

Forests are vital to life on Earth. They purify the air we breathe, filter the water we drink, prevent erosion, and act as an important buffer against climate change.

Loss of forests

10,000 years ago forests covered 57% of our earth. By the 1900’s forest coverage had been reduced to 48%. Today, approximately 31% of our earth is covered by forests. In the past 100 years the world has lost as much forest as it had in the previous 9,000 years.

Rampant deforestation has reduced our forest lands to make way for agricultural use (15% crops, 31% for grazing land).

Overexploitation of land resources has lead to substantial changes in land quality, with an adverse environmental effect. Massive population pressures, rapid urbanization, rapid industrialization, and extensive agriculture have contributed to deforestation and the depletion of land, disrupting the ecological balance (Grunwald, 2013).

This leads us to another cycle. Abandoned mine lands, mine tailing disposal site, deforested areas, overgrazing land, and barren lands create wasteland. Poor land use practices result in loss of soil quality and land productivity. So back to the forest we go to clear cut for more land.

Forest management is critical

Efforts are underway to reduce deforestation and improve forest management. Some forest ecosystems benefit from natural forest fires. However, with hotter, drier weather caused by climate change and poor land management we are seeing more frequent, larger and higher-intensity wildfires.

If you live near a forest you have probably heard from Forest Management that it is important to keep the land clear around structures, and to use fire resistant building materials. While this may help humans if a wildfire breaks out in your neck of the woods, the forest is lost. Nearly three billion animals – mammals, reptiles, birds, and frogs – were killed or displaced by Australia’s devastating 2019-20 bushfires.

Better forest management is needed to prevent, or at least reduce the intensity of forest fires.

Is there a cure all solution to end forest fires in sight?

Of course not!

Globally, forests are highly diverse; as is their management, local traditions, cultural and spiritual expectations, average property sizes and support structures. This diversity means one size does not fit all when it comes to forest management.

But there is one management tool that can be applied, a solution that helps reduce the fuel in the forests, much like removing brush around your home to protect against wildfires. The added benefit of this solution is the reduction of carbon, an increase in soil health and productivity, and provides a smoke free cooking and heating source that does not require trees to be cut down.

And that solution is biochar!

Pacific Biochar paves the way

To address the problem of catastrophic wildfires in California Pacific Biochar has initiated a solution that is working.

“Excess fuel loads in the forest are being actively managed by state and private organizations, and in that context the excess fuel loads are generally referred to as “forest biomass”. 

Forest biomass can be transformed into biochar then used to improve the long-term health of farmland soils in the valleys below.

This can provide a comprehensive forest management solution that elegantly works to improve water conservation and carbon drawdown at the same time.” 

Pacific Biochar “sells its biochar, unadulterated or enhanced, to farmers who realize numerous benefits from adding carbon to their soil, including improved water and nutrient conservation, increased microbial support and stable organic matter. This is a good thing because most agricultural soils have lost between 25% and 75% of their soil carbon in the past few decades. Pacific Biochar is already able to offer its products direct to farmers, who can realize long-term improvements to soil health and crop yield with biochar inputs. In one multi-year study, Pacific Biochar’s products increased pinot noir grape yield by an average of 1.2 tons per acre over two years of harvest, paying back the cost of biochar application in just the first year”.

Biochar vs Prescribed Burns

The biochar solution far exceeds the “prescribed burn” that is currently used by many forest management teams. Prescribed burns can get out of control and create a wildfire that they are trying to prevent.

Prescribed burns are also a waste of a resource that can help improve local agricultural soils. Collecting biomass from the forests removes the fuel that spurs forest fires out of control. It also eliminates the smoke from the “prescribed burning” practice, and creates carbon for sequestration. In undeveloped countries where wood is used as a cooking and heating fuel, biochar provides a smoke free alternative.

Anyone can make biochar

Turning forest biomass into biochar helps reduce fuel which lowers the chance of raging forest fires. It also provides the agricultural community the highest quality soil amendment to bring life back to soils.

Small holder farmers are also able to benefit from making and using biochar to improve their soils.

In fact anyone who has biomass can turn it into biochar. The process is cheap to set up and easy to accomplish. Watch our DIY videos about how make biochar from your own biomass.

Even in the cities there is an opportunity to make a positive environmental impact by embracing and using biochar. For more information read our “Can your town save the earth?”

Biochar is one of the best solutions to reversing global warming. It is the easiest, safest, and smartest way to bring down our C02 levels.

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The post Archive Environmental Progress News – November/December 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

In March of this year, we announced Biochar Life successfully completed the European Biochar Certification (“EBC”) standard for Artisan Farmer accreditation audit with the Ithaka Institute.

Biochar Life is among the first organizations in the world to receive the new EBC “tropical farmer” accreditation.

“Smallholder farmers in the developing world have the capacity to contribute significantly to carbon removal efforts by converting crop residues, which today are often merely burned, into carbon sequestering biochar. Biochar.life gives smallholder farmers the capacity in the developing world to tap into the fast-growing carbon removal markets, which will only motivate them to produce biochar and reduce in-field crop burning, as well as improve farmer livelihoods and enhance food security.” – International Biochar Initiative.

Today, 6 months later, we are proud to announce “With the recent biochar activities certified, we reached the milestone of 1,000 tonnes of CO2eq removed!  We’ve engaged over 200 farmers and 21 verifiers to make this happen.“

This was accomplished by a handful of dedicated people who recognize that carbon removal is vital to our future recovery from Climate Change.

Along the way Warm Heart has received various grants and public donations to train small holder farmers how to make biochar from their crop waste. We trained 10,000 farmers how to make biochar, and that number is still growing.

Biochar Life is up and running, despite having no major funding source to help. We coordinated 200 farmers and verified 1000 tons of C02eq removal in the first 6 months! Imagine what we could accomplish with substantial financial support to expand our reach!

How do we do it?

 We mobilize a huge previously untapped human resource, the smallholder farmers of the developing world, to convert currently burned crop waste, a huge, previously ignored source of greenhouse gases, into carbon sequestering biochar. We work with smallholder farmer networks to obtain EBC certification and generate C-sink certificates that are available for purchase from us or our trading partners.

What does it mean for the farmers?

For the farmers this is a win-win-win situation.

Win # 1 – Turning crop waste into biochar provides a new source of income when the farmers need it most, after harvest when there is no other work available.

Win # 2 – When farmers add the biochar to their soil, they are not only sequestering carbon, they are bringing their soils back to life and reap the benefits of bigger, healthier crops.

Win # 3 – The reduction of smoke from open field burning provides an immediate health benefit for the farmers, their communities, and contribute to reducing carbon in the atmosphere for all of us.

The Process

What does this mean for you?

Climate change is such a big issue, so big it can bring on feelings of helplessness to do anything about it. We hope to provide inspiration by showing yes, we can do something about it.

It also means food security for you and your family. Biochar will help farmers reap bigger, stronger, healthier crops.

Since we are a small, grassroots nonprofit, our funding comes from individuals who see the benefit of our work and want to participate by supporting us through a donation. We have partnered with GlobalGiving to raise the funds to continue to expand our biochar program.

Donate now!

The post Archive Environmental Progress News October 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Reducing our Dependency on Fossil Fuels

There are so many contributing factors to climate change, and each problem area needs to be clearly identified and solutions applied if we are going to succeed in reducing/reversing climate change.

Warm Heart’s focus is on agricultural waste, we have identified the problem, and are implementing a solution. It will take a while to go global, but solid steps have begun.

Another major area we need to address is our dependence on oil and gas for transportation. This is a big chunk of the problem. This month we are exploring the advances in technology that are working towards sustainable sourcing for our transportation needs.

Electric Vehicles – Half Way There

As with any new technology, there are going to be bumps in the road to begin. Fortunately technology keeps improving and moving us towards a future where fueling up your vehicle with non-sustainable gasoline will be for dinosaurs!

Shenzhen Mass transit – The future is here

Shenzhen is a perfect example of how possible it is today to convert from gas/diesel to electric vehicles on a mass scale.

Located in Southern China, Shenzhen has a population of 12 million. Public transportation is serviced by 16,000 electric buses, and 22,000 electric taxis.

One of the bumps of converting to electric is the need to rebuild the infrastructure, The success for Shenzhen’s electric fleet is based on a well thought out and designed transportation system.

Fully Charged did a show on Shenzhen and their incredible achievement of switching to electric. It is an amazing and fascinating story, we encourage you to watch the show. Very inspirational to see what we can accomplish with technology!

Electric Cars

There is no shortage of choice when it comes to buying an electric car these days. All major car companies offer at least one electric car, with many more models on the way. Besides the major companies, start-up companies have also joined in the race to electrifying our roadways.

As the market and competition grows, prices will come down. What seemed like an unobtainable luxury available only for the rich will become a possibility for everyone.

As technology continues to improve, and the charging station infrastructure continues to grow, electric cars are paving the way towards a more sustainable future.

Marriage of Electric and Solar

Electric vehicles reduce pollution from our roads.

Currently the energy used to provide the electric charge is still largely fossil fuel generated electricity.

The next step will be to convert all charging stations to electricity produced by a combination of solar, wind and water to maximize the sustainable energy available to us. This technology has already been developed, it just needs to grow and be put to use.

Beam Global took an early lead in developing completely off-grid EV stations. These stations are essentially composed of solar panels and a battery, soaking up the sun in the daytime and storing the energy for use during all hours, including at night.

The advances in solar technology offer an optimistic view that we are working our way towards a cleaner, sustainable form of transportation down the road.

Solar Vehicles

Solar powered cars are already on the market. Aptera’s vehicles (pictured at top of page) are very futuristic looking to be sure, but offer a 250-mile-range model at a comparatively low price of $25,900. 

RV’s

This sample of a solar motorhome was designed by a German RV company called Dethleffs. The motorhome is specifically built for the open road. Solar panels cover the RV from head to toe, so you don’t have to worry about running out of power or searching for the next charging station. In total there are 334 square feet of thin-film solar panels that can deliver 3,000 watts of energy. The RV has a 107-horsepower electric motor that’s built on the company’s Iveco Daily Electric chassis. It can drive just over 100 miles before it’s 228-Ah sodium-nickel-chloride battery has to be recharged. The battery has a lifespan of approximately 1,500 charges or about 250,000 km.

Solar Yachts

While everyone is not in the market to buy a Yacht, it is encouraging to see the technology advancing to make such dreams a reality. Silent Yachts have taken solar power to a new level. As with the RV’s, these yachts are totally run on solar.

Flying Friendlier Skies

In March of 2021 a 3 hour test flight was conducted with an Airbus A380 powered by Sustainable Aviation Fuel, or SAF — predominantly made of used cooking oil and waste fats — and operating on a single Rolls-Royce Trent 900 engine.

The fuel used was made from Hydroprocessed Esters and Fatty Acids (HEFA), which is free of both aromatics and sulfur.

“Increasing the use of SAF remains a key pathway to achieving the industry’s ambition of netzero carbon emissions by 2050,” said Airbus in a statement. The company claims that flying planes on SAF could net between 53% to 71% of the carbon reductions required to meet that goal.

More recently, Airbus announced that the giant plane would be pressed into service to test an experimental hydrogen-powered engine, another innovation aimed at making flying less environmentally harmful.

A Bed of Roses?

Will switching to solar/electric transportation be a bed of roses?

Absolutely not!

As with a beautiful, fragrant rose, there will be thorns to deal with.

It will take time, a new way of looking at transportation, new infrastructure built, and costs to come down to make sustainable transportation obtainable for everyone.

We need the type of advancement we have seen in computer technology!

We just need to keep investing in the future, and support green technologies to help create a cleaner and brighter world.

The post Archive Environmental Progress News September 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

August is the hottest month of the year. Temperatures continue to rise, reaching new highs, bringing extreme heat waves, increased fire activity, and drought as the soil bakes and dries out.

Thousands and thousands of people have died this year across the globe from the extreme heat. The increase in temperatures can be directly related to how our climate is changing.

Everything is connected

Do you remember the children’s ditty “The foot bone is connected to the ankle bone, the ankle bone is connected to the leg bone, the leg bone is connected to the hip bone, the hip bone is connected to the back bone, …..”?

The changes to our environment are all connected as well.

Climate change is a direct result of too much CO2 being released into our atmosphere. The excess amount of carbon is acting like a blanket around our beautiful planet, and interrupts the natural flow of energy from the sun to the earth and back out to the atmosphere.

Think of it like inhaling and exhaling. The earth is inhaling the energy from the sun, but when we try to exhale the blanket around the earth blocks the exhale, and the build up of CO2 is creating a domino effect of problems.

The increased temperature is causing the glaciers to melt, raising our sea levels and warming the ocean water, which impacts the ability of the ocean to absorb the CO2, and changes the wind currents which impact our local weather patterns, which changes our climate.

The solution is obvious, we need to reduce the amount of CO2 we are emitting to get the balance back so nature can freely inhale and exhale again. But getting to the solution is not so easy!

Solar offers renewable clean energy solution

Technology is advancing at a rapid pace. Developments in solar technology are finding new ways to harness the energy of the sun. Genus published the following list of solar powered inventions.

1. Solar Powered Water Purifier

To make the most efficient use of solar energy, this innovative equipment is very beneficial. This water purifier, made by Suryagen Renewables, is fitted with the latest technology, which makes it easier to purify sea, river, pond, well and rain water. This economical device is beneficial for areas where only polluted water is available. With the use of solar energy in this device, the polluted water evaporates and steam is collected as pure water. It can get 1.5 liters of pure water from 3 liters of polluted water daily. This has been ranked amongst most efficient and innovative solar powered inventions.

2. Solar Powered Tree

This solar powered tree, manufactured by the Central Mechanical Research Institute, can meet the electrical needs of 5 houses and requires very little space. Photovoltaic panels have been placed on steel branches to convert sun rays into electricity. These solar energy trees generate 10 to 15 percent more electricity than the solar plants affixed to the ground. With the help of this tree, the battery backup system can also be charged, which can provide up to 2 hours of electricity at night. In this tree, there are tiny water pipes, installed for automated cleaning, so that dust can be cleaned off the branches. Villages and small towns have a high demand as well as need for such innovations as power cut is a persistent issue.

3. Solar Air Conditioner

This product is a cutting-edge innovation in the field of solar energy because ACs are installed in most houses and offices these days. Also, due to high power consumption, many people often face high electricity bills. The cost of electricity is not the only concern though. Ordinary air conditioners produce CFCs that are harmful for the environment. However, with a solar AC, you will not only protect the environment, but also get to reduce electricity bills. If you use solar air conditioner instead of a regular AC, your electricity bill can be reduced by up to 20-30 percent.

4. SOL laptop

Counted among the best solar powered inventions for good reason, these laptops require a charging time of only two hours and can function smoothly for 8-10 hours. People who often travel for work or students who use laptops can easily benefit from this invention. These laptops are fitted with solar panels at the back.

5. Solar Outlet

This device runs on solar energy and is also called window socket. You can install it at the window of your home or office. With these devices running on solar power, you can charge various electric devices easily.

They conclude their list with “Apart from the innovations mentioned above, there are many other inventions that can change the way the world works. Due to rapid technological development, vehicles running on solar energy have also been invented, which will eliminate dependence on petrol and diesel and will also help in environmental protection. Along with this, solar paints, solar pots, solar roads, solar stadiums, solar cameras, etc. are the various inventions that are becoming popular worldwide and their use can bring down pollution levels. Considering the serious problem of climate change, it is necessary that the maximum number of solar powered devices be used.”

Warm Heart has gone solar!

Warm Heart has taken the leap and installed a solar system on their campus. Located in a rural area of Northern Thailand, they are the first in their community to go solar. They are hoping to lead the way for others in the community to follow their lead.

The property has several buildings, dormitories that house 40 children, an office for the staff, a volunteer office, kitchen and dining area (lots of kids to feed!) and several other buildings.. Co-founders Michael and Evelind also live on the property, and are involved in the day to day operations at Warm Heart.

Situated in a rural part of Thailand reliability was often an issue, with power going off on a regular basis.

The new solar system provides a reliable source of energy at a cost savings of around $7,000 a year (to put that in perspective, that is equal to 256,207 baht!)

Impacts of global warming are here

As we head into the hot season the rising temperatures will continue to have an impact, setting off a chain of events that we will have to deal with down the road.

If you are struggling with the heat, here are a few common sense ideas published by EcoWatch that can help you stay cool. There are no magic solutions offered, but check to see if you are taking advantage of these cooling tips:

Eco Watch “How to Keep Cool When You Don’t Have Air Conditioning“

If you live in the United States and are considering going solar Renogy has published a guide “Everything You Need to Know About Solar Tax Credits“.

Together we can make a difference

As we focus on new innovations and technologies that embrace clean energy we have a fighting chance to reduce the impact of global warming. The best part about it? Clean renewable energy also saves money and provides access to areas around the world who have not had the luxury of electric in the past.

It will take time, but as long as we all keep moving forward, making adjustments to our habits and lifestyles together we can make a difference.

Today, right now, the most important thing we can do is support carbon removal projects. We need to start bringing down our excess carbon levels, like, yesterday!

Around the World

We are happy to share stories from around the world of how communities are embracing biochar and contributing to healing our earth with biochar projects.

Brighton and Hove City Council

Hailburton Forest Biochar

Have a good summer, and try to stay cool!

The post Archive Environmental Progress News August 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Global Warming – A blessing in disguise?

Rather than view it as a disaster about to strike, how about we look at it as a wake up call that we can do better?

When you think about it, the things we have done to create an imbalance in nature that has brought on climate change has damaged the environment for all of us. The air we breathe is polluted, our oceans are heating up, our depleted forests are destroying local biodiversity. Food production (which I think we can all agree is nice to have!) is facing a critical shortage due to lifeless soils and drought.

What it all boils down to is we are using energy sources that are finite and are breaking down our ecological balance.

Imagine a future where the skies are clear, the air we breathe is pure, the water we drink is fresh, biodiversity is thriving, soils are replenished and healthy providing food security for all.

Because that is how the world would be if we applied solutions to gravitate towards a more balanced world.

Solutions at hand

National Geographic resource library reports:

“Burning coal releases gases and particulates that are harmful to the environment. Carbon dioxide is the primary emission.

Carbon dioxide is an essential part of our planet’s atmosphere. It is called a greenhouse gas because it absorbs and retains heat in the atmosphere, and keeps our planet at a livable temperature.

In the natural carbon cycle, carbon and carbon dioxide are constantly cycled between the land, ocean, atmosphere, and all living and decomposing organisms. Carbon is also sequestered, or stored underground. This keeps the carbon cycle in balance.

However, when coal and other fossil fuels are extracted and burned, they release sequestered carbon into the atmosphere, which leads to a build-up of greenhouse gases and adversely affects climates and ecosystems.“

Knowing coal and fossil fuels are damaging our environment, we must focus on clean energy source replacements.

Great news from Western Australia

Some governments are starting to respond and taking a proactive approach to help move away from our dependence on coal.

“The Western Australian Government has announced all state-owned coal-fired power stations in WA will be closed by 2029.

The WA Government is promising to spend $3.5 billion over 10 years building renewable energy capacity in the state, to replace the coal power with clean, affordable and reliable renewable energy.”

While this is great news, it is just dipping a toe in the water. We need the other top producers of coal (China, India, United States, Indonesia, the rest of Australia, and Russia) to act as responsibly and begin reducing their coal mines and moving to a cleaner source of energy.

Biochar

Biochar continues to play a huge role in reversing climate change by helping bring down our dangerous levels of CO2.

Progress in the United Kingdom

The British have caught on to the benefits of biochar. In a groundbreaking scientific trial farmers will be paid to bury biochar as part of a new carbon capture trial.

“Researchers in a multi-million-pound trial are placing 200 tonnes of a charcoal-like substance under woodland and farmland in an attempt to improve British soil health and turn waste carbon into a useful nutrient.“

One draw back to this study is “to pass regulations, the researchers are using biochar made from just wood.” They do not specify where they are sourcing their wood. But they do have an eye on the potential use of dried-out food waste as well as waste products from sawmills.

Healthier Forests

Pacific Biochar in California has embraced biochar as a solution to help reduce the constant threat of major forest fires with their “The Big California Biochar Model”.

“It started with a simple question “California forests are facing an overload of fuel, leading to catastrophic fires, and the State is looking to remedy this problem… if all of that excess biomass were made into biochar, would there be enough soil to accept it?” The answer is yes, yes, there’s more than enough soil to accept all that biochar.  And while doing it we can drawdown carbon, improve water conservation, and reduce nutrient pollution – so of course we mapped that out too.”

North Coast Biochar is another group using biochar as a way to help clean up and restore healthy forests.

“North Coast Biochar evolved from the Redwood Forest Foundation, Inc. (RFFI) need to remove hardwoods and brush from overcrowded forest stands. This forest restoration increases conifer growth, reduces the risk of catastrophic forest fires, improves forest habitat and biodiversity, while increasing water flowing into local streams and tributaries. The removed tanoaks are converted to a product known as biochar. North Coast Biochar itself has an array of ecological and economic benefits: reducing water and fertilizer use, improvement of soil health and storing carbon for hundreds if not thousands of years.” 

These exciting projects can lead the way for other forest management services to help bring down the severity of forest fires in a proactive way. Making biochar and feeding it into the forest soils creates a healthier environment while sequestering carbon, which is a key factor in reducing climate change.

Biochar recognized as a solution to climate change

Around the world the value of carbon sequestering is catching on!

How a soil additive called biochar can help fight the climate crisis by locking away carbon for centuries

Lincoln Awarded $400,000 For Biochar Initiative

A medical student with a community mindset

Untapped Sustainable Resources: Hemp and Bamboo

Hemp, The Ancient Alternative

Hemp is still illegal to grow in some areas because of its controversial and sometimes illegal cousin, marijuana. 

Hemp was used for clothing in Ancient China as well as paper for early Buddhist writings. Even the people in the Middle Ages used hemp for clothing as well as for rope and sails. It can be used for an array of paper and clothing products. It can even be made into a towel that could be used in lieu of paper towels or an air-dry blower in public restrooms. Here are some advantages of using hemp for fabric:

• Breathes and insulates so it is always comfortable.
• Can be made into very soft clothing that gets softer over time.
• Contains a natural UV protectant.
• Is very durable and is resistant to abrasions.
• Absorbs water very well.

Hemp is a natural fiber that is more eco-friendly than polyester or synthetically-made material. It has the following properties that make it perfect for protecting and preserving our environment: 

• 100% reusable and biodegradable
• Reduces the carbon dioxide in the air more than most plants
• Has very deep roots that absorb chemicals and pollutants
• Can be grown without using herbicides

Benefits of Bamboo

Bamboo is a very fast-growing plant able to grow almost 100 inches in a day.* This makes it an extremely renewable resource. While it takes 10-30 years for trees to grow to harvest, bamboo can be harvested within 3-5 years.

Additionally, bamboo makes an excellent building material. It can be grown in whatever shape you need and there are varieties that are as strong as steel and more compressed than concrete. Plus, there are many architectural advantages to bamboo:

• Extremely lightweight, making it easy to transport.
• Very strong. It is actually used as scaffolding in some places.
• Resistant to both high winds and shocks.
• Found and grown in many areas of the world.

In addition to its pros as a building material, it is also environmentally friendly:

• Its waxy coating resists water so painting it with chemicals is not necessary.
• Pesticides are not needed for it to grow.
• When smoked, it produces its own insecticide.
• It absorbs nitrogen and can reduce pollution when planted near factories.
• Small farms and villages are planting it to slow down or stop erosion.

(Courtesy of Green and Save “How Bamboo And Hemp Can Help The Environment”)

*Editors note: According to The Happy Bamboo “timber bamboo species grow 2 to 3 feet ( 0.6 – 0.9 m) a day until they reach their maximum height. One thing to keep in mind is that older, more established plants will grow faster than newly planted ones. It takes at least 3 years in the ground for most bamboo species to be considered well established.”

Repurposing Styrofoam

Styrofoam is made out of styrene which is a petroleum-based product. Besides coming from a dirty source, discarded styrofoam can take over 500 years to breakdown. In the process it is very harmful to the environment.

How do we solve this problem?

Warm Heart has developed a simple, replicable system to convert styrofoam into a useful product. Styrofoam recycling provides an opportunity for both men and women to build a sustainable business while helping clean up our environment. Watch our video and follow our step by step directions.

Climate Change: A Challenge We Can Win

It will not be easy to undo the harm we have done to our environment, but it can be done. Upcoming generations will need to decide if they want to clean up our planet to bring back clean air, fresh water, and rebuild a world where all living things can thrive, Or continue down the road of self destruction.

We are betting on our bright, caring and intelligent youth to build a better world. All it takes is a desire to do better and the commitment to action.

The post Archive Environmental Progress News July 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Too much carbon is being blamed for causing global warming. What exactly is carbon? Watch this video “Keeping Up With Carbon” to get a better grasp of what carbon is and where the problem is.

Decarbonization: What It Is and Why It Matters?

by Jasmine Gordon

In the growing discourse about climate change, there are a lot of new and technical terms being thrown around. One of them is decarbonization, which generally refers to the reduction of carbon emissions.

However, decarbonization can be realized through the adaptation of different strategies. More importantly, understanding what it entails and how it helps the environment makes it easier for people to start reducing carbon in ways that best meet their unique circumstances.

Understanding How Decarbonization Works

Basically, decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions released back into the environment. The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) notes that carbon dioxide is the main greenhouse gas created through different human activities. In 2020 alone, CO2 comprised almost four-fifths (79 percent) of all US greenhouse gas emissions.

It is important to note that carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring gas as a part of the larger carbon cycle. This natural circulation process of carbon in different forms helps regulate the levels of carbon that could be beneficial or disastrous for living beings if left unchecked. However, anthropogenic activities like burning fossil fuels release more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, causing long-term environmental changes.

This concept also explains how decarbonization can be objectively targeted. A decarbonization program specifically aims to cut down on an organization’s carbon intensity, which refers to the grams of CO2 consumed by a company in every kilowatt per hour of electricity it uses.

It means that decarbonization covers all aspects of production and operation for a company, from manufacturing, packaging, to transport. Even the electricity used and the emissions as marine vessels deliver products through international shipping routes are included in the computation.

Therefore, to enable an impactful decarbonization process, everyone–individuals, communities, companies, and countries–must make commitments and changes to work toward lower carbon emissions. 

How Organizations Can Start Decarbonizing

Buildings alone are responsible for up to 40 percent of global emissions and energy consumption. For companies and organizations, here are a few concrete actions you can take to advance toward full decarbonization:

Insulation

By installing insulation, buildings use less energy for heating and cooling and occupants experience less thermal variability. Retrofitting buildings with further insulation is an important climate change mitigation tactic. Local and national governments and utilities often have a mix of incentives and regulations to encourage insulation efforts on new and renovated buildings as part of efficiency programs in order to reduce grid energy use and its related environmental impacts and infrastructure costs.

Switch energy sources

Another impactful effort available to most people right now is to try alternative energy sources. By investing in alternative energy like solar, you can reduce your company’s dependency on traditional energy sources like fossil fuel and natural gases, which are not sustainable and continuously harm the environment.

Rethink logistics strategies

Aside from electricity used to power up buildings, there is also energy involved in transporting raw materials and finished products. In fact, the impact of transportation on the environment is so significant that when the pandemic hit, the lockdown highlighted the sharp drop in emissions from lockdowns restricting vehicle travel–translating to an 88 percent decrease in Europe.

Logistics also covers certain product specifics such as design, packaging, and delivery to your target market. This is why, especially among small business, there has been a shift from using conventional containers and packaging materials to a more sustainable packaging solution.

Adopt green financing strategies

Green finance refers to financial tools and initiatives geared toward an environmentally-relevant outcome. It covers traditional financial products and services such as investment, insurance, and banking. For example, green bonds are financial investments that allot a percentage toward eco-friendly projects and initiatives.

Importance of Cutting Down on Carbon Footprints

The main objective of decarbonization is to lessen the stresses that human activities collectively impose upon the environment. However, it is important to note that it is becoming increasingly important for a number of other reasons such as international compliance.

Although the practice of cutting down on carbon emissions has been in place for quite some time now, the 2021 Climate Action Tracker released last May notes that the countries and large corporations’ current pledges are still not enough. More importantly, this comes after the World Economic Forum has stated that only full decarbonization is the only way to mitigate and possibly reverse the worsening climate change.

Aside from the larger picture and the ultimate endgame, businesses that adapt decarbonization and other eco-friendly initiatives also benefit from this shift. Below are some advantages for organizations doing away with their carbon footprints:

Decarbonization is a business opportunity

Although it is challenging to adopt such a drastic and massive shift, decarbonization efforts will only benefit in the long run. It prioritizes the use of newer, more energy-efficient technologies, which in turn allow businesses to reach their net-zero vision. Being environmentally responsible also offers great leverage for businesses looking to connect with more conscious markets.

Cut down on operating expenses over time

One of the most common strategies to cut down on carbon emissions is by switching to alternative energy sources. Currently, most of the energy comes from the burning of fossil fuels and natural gas. The prices of these energy sources continue to fluctuate and with it, the price of energy. By using alternative energy sources like solar or wind, organizations have a steady supply that only pays for itself in the long run.

Compliance with international standards and accords

For organizations looking to get certified and gain more recognition, decarbonization is an advantageous step. It shows your commitment to helping the environment. International accreditation bodies like the International Organization for Standardization have specific systems for minimizing environmental impact, such as the ISO 14001. 

There’s also the European Commission has developed its Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive, which audits carbon emissions from about 49,000 companies coming from member towns.

Help Make a Better World

Whether you’re an individual, a member of an organization, a business owner, or maybe a policymaker, there’s a way for everyone to contribute to the ongoing fight against climate change. Decarbonization remains one of the major steps and understanding what it means and why it matters makes it more accessible and attainable for devising new strategies on how to implement it to meet unique needs and circumstances.

Similarly, you can help make the world a better place by teaming up with environmental conservation nonprofits. These grassroots organizations work directly on the ground, with people who are directly affected by climate change. As such, they are capable of developing inclusive solutions tailored to the communities they serve.

Warm Heart’s Global Biochar Carbon Removal Program

Our biochar project trains farmers how to make biochar from their crop waste, eliminating smoke and green house gases being released through open field burning.

When they bury the carbon in the soil it creates a carbon sink, in essence they create “carbon credits” that can be exchanged for cash.

This is just the beginning stage, and your participation in supporting farmer’s training to produce carbon credits will go a long ways in helping expand this program.

Helping farmers succeed can help now, today, to bring down the carbon levels needed to lead to a better future for your children.

Reduce your carbon footprint by supporting Biochar Carbon Removal to train more farmers how to turn crop waste into biochar, reduce CO2 emissions AND remove carbon by sequestering the pure carbon back into the earth.

Video games for climate action: winning solutions for the planet, Inter Press Service, Tuesday, May 31, 2022 (posted by Global Issues)

The post Archive Environmental Progress News June 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

by Carol Culver De Leo

Each and every one of us has our own unique carbon footprint based on our lifestyle choices. The way we choose to live our lives has an impact on our environment and on each other.

For some of us our footprint is smaller due to life circumstances. A poor family with little income will have a smaller impact than those of us who have built up wealth and can afford the luxury of certain comforts.

Where do you fall in the spectrum of affluent lifestyle? Take our fun, non-scientific quiz to see where you rate! Choose the description that fits you best and total the numbers for your score.

A Place to Call Home

Have you ever heard the saying “A man’s home is his castle”? Whether you literally live in a castle, or in a one room hut with a dirt floor, your home is your place of security and shelter. Which best describes your home?

• 1 point – A small one room hut with no electric or running water
• 2 points – A small home with electric and running water
• 3 points – A large home with electric and running water
• 4 points – A massive home with electric and running water

Food Choices

Our food choices have a big impact on our environment. What is your preferred diet?

• 1 point – Vegan
• 2 points – Vegetarian
• 3 points – Fruit and Vegetables, Dairy, Chicken and Fish
• 4 points Fruit and Vegetables, Dairy, Chicken, Fish and Pork
• 5 points Fruit and Vegetables, Dairy, Chicken, Fish, Pork and Beef

Gadgets

Electronic gadgets help us in our business, our communication, and can provide hours of entertainment. But they do add to our carbon footprint. Give yourself 1 point for each gadget you own.

• Cellphone
• Smartphone
• Digital Camera
• Computer
• Laptop
• iPad
• iPod
• Video Game Console

Transportation

Most people enjoy going for walks, taking a hike, riding a bicycle, but that is not necessarily their main form of transportation. What is your most predominant form of transportation?

• 0 Points – Walking
• 1 Points – Bicycle
• 2 Points – Motorcycle
• 2 Points – Public Transit
• 2 Points – Ride Service
• 2 Points – Hybrid Car
• 3 Points – Fuel efficient vehicle
• 4 Points – Gas Guzzler
• 5 Points – Luxury car

Shopping Habits

Your shopping habits can have a big impact on the environment in ways you have probably never thought of. Do you know how packaged foods are required to list the ingredients? Wouldn’t it be interesting if an item was required to list the trail of environmental impacts from the resources used in the manufacturing, transportation, and marketing of that product?

We all have different spending habits. Some of us love to shop, others only do so when they absolutely have to. And then some of us may not have a disposable income that allows us to splurge. Choose the description that matches your style the closest.

• 1 Point – I only buy necessities, I shop with a list and stick to it
• 2 Points – I buy what I need, and do a little impulse buying
• 3 Points – I keep up with current trends in clothes, electronics
• 4 Points – I am a shopaholic and get pleasure from buying new things whether I need them or not

Travel

Air travel is a big contributor to your footprint. How often do you take to the skies?

• 0 Points – I never fly
• 1 point – I take a domestic flight once a year
• 2 Points – I fly internationally once a year
• 4 Points – I am a frequent business flyer
• 4 Points – I travel for pleasure around the world
• 5 Points I own my own jet and travel for both business and pleasure

Life of Luxury

Give yourself 5 points for each luxury item that you own.

• Yacht (or any recreational boat)
• Multiple homes
• Swimming pool/hot tub
• Personal jet
• High end vehicles
• Recreational vehicle
• Air Conditioner/Heating System

Scores

0 – 20 Your lifestyle is very basic and your carbon footprint is average

20 – 40 You enjoy a few perks in life that deepens your carbon footprint

40+ You are doing extremely well in life and can afford luxuries that many only dream about. Your chosen lifestyle also has the biggest impact on our environment.

My personal score is 23. While I try to keep my footprint low, and follow the basic etiquette of recycling what I can, I know some of my personal habits and lifestyle are leaving a bigger imprint than I want. To compensate, I support a project that reduces carbon with a small monthly donation. There are many Carbon Removal programs to choose from.

My personal choice is A Little Training Goes a Long Way. I know how effective this program is firsthand, and it makes me feel good to know that I am not only compensating for my lifestyle choices, but I am also contributing to improve lives that do not have as much as I do, and that is a good feeling.

For those of you who are 40+, your hard work allows you to choose a comfortable and pleasurable lifestyle, congratulations! Perhaps it is time to begin your own personal collection of Carbon Credits to compensate for your deeper footprint. There is no need to feel guilt about what you are able to afford. Just add carbon credits to your portfolio of lifestyle choices! Contact Jason at Biochar Life to begin a portfolio today. I recently heard about one gentleman who has been collecting carbon credits for years now, and is up to 13 Million carbon credits! Now that is impressive!

What the future holds

As we work towards a more equitable and sustainable future to replace our dependency on fossil fuels lifestyle choices may have a smaller impact. Air travel may eventually be less of a contributor to our carbon problem. Test flights are being successfully conducted using vegetable oil instead of jet fuel! Imagine what a difference that will make!

There are so many benefits to a world run on clean, sustainable energy, whether it be solar, wind, or vegetable cooking oil!!

We all should enjoy the basics of life – healthy food, clean air, clean water, a source of energy, and the option to choose how we live.

Thank you for taking our quiz. You may learn more about your personal impact particularly on your fashion habits, the results may surprise you!

Fashion Footprint Calculator

How An Effective Water Management Strategy Can Save The Environment

By Kat Sarmiento

Over 70% of the Earth’s surface is covered with water. Knowing this, it may seem hard to imagine that we’d ever have to conserve and manage it. However, we also need to consider other statistics: 

• Fresh water comprises only 3% of the Earth’s overall water
• Around 0.5% is clean enough to drink — with the other 2.5% either stuck in ice caps, glaciers, and soil or are too polluted to drink
• That leaves 97% of the water on the planet to be salt water — not at all suitable for drinking

This is according to data collected by the U.S. Department of Interior’s Bureau of Reclamation. 

With the growing population and the obvious overuse of resources, water management has become more important than ever. Not only can it help preserve the water supplies on the planet but it can also help us determine how future irrigation will look like for us. 

If you’re interested to learn more about how an efficient water management strategy can save the environment, you’ve come to the right place for answer. 

Reduces effects of water shortages and droughts.

Two things happen after we use water: 

First, they can evaporate into the atmosphere. Or second, they can drain into the sewers. Regardless of what happens, however, we can still reuse the water at the end of every cycle. 

This makes it easier for people to believe that water is an unlimited resource. BUt that isn’t necessarily the case.

Although water eventually comes back to Earth through the water cycle, the quality and quantity of this water is not often the same. Neither is it returned specifically to the same place it was taken from. 

By practicing sustainability and controlling our water consumption, we can protect ourselves better from possible droughts and shortages. 

Improves crop growth and food production.

Research shows that around 70% of the world’s freshwater resources are used in agriculture. Farmers use water to grow crops and trees. Meanwhile, others use water to keep livestock hydrated. In other words, water is one of the most important elements of efficient and ethical food production. 

Without proper water management, shortages and droughts are more likely to happen. When they do, there would be less food and products available for everyone. World hunger will increase and diseases would be more rampant than ever before. 

Water management can prevent all that from happening. Through proper allocation of resources, farmers can grow healthier crops and maintain a stabler stream of supplies for communities. 

Boosts safety.

While water is the source of all life it can also be the destruction of it, especially without the right management technique in place. Besides what we’ve mentioned in the previous sections, another great thing about effective water management is that it boosts safety. 

Dams, dikes, barriers, and levees are a few examples of water management in walls that increase an area’s safety. On top of stopping floods from affecting the land, these water management methods can also serve as reservoirs in case of shortages or droughts. 

 Reducing our water consumption helps preserve the environment. The less water we consume, the less energy is required to gather and deliver these resources to our homes, offices, and communities. 

Decreases water prices. 

The less there is of a precious resource, the higher their prices typically become. Water is one of the most important resources on Earth. In fact, without it all life on the planet would have very little chance of surviving. 

There are several factors that can increase the costs of water. Besides every day consumption, other things that can drive up water costs are: 

• Sewer fees
• Compliance fees
• Water treatment costs
• Manufacturing costs

By reducing your water consumption, you also reduce the fees that you pay for in the end. Conserving water and going plastic free can also decrease your carbon footprint — not to mention electricity bill. 

This is because you won’t be using all the motors and pumps that you normally use to heat, cool, and move water. 

Frees up water for recreational activities.

Swimming pools, golf courses, and spas are just a few examples recreational establishments that require large amounts of water. However, those aren’t the only activities that need freshwater. For instance, gardening and watering your lawns are two other extracurriculars that need clean water. By reducing water consumption, you can free up a lot of resources to use on other things that add value to both your life and the environment. 

Take Away

No matter what our lifestyle, we can all contribute to reducing carbon. Whether we choose a simple lifestyle and conserve, or live a big life and contribute to enable others to remove excess carbon, if we do not do it who will?

Biochar as a soil amendment helps retain water in the soil for plants to thrive, especially helpful in drought years.

The post Archive Environmental Progress News May 2022 appeared first on Warm Heart World.

Think of it this way. You are filling your bathtub for a nice relaxing soak. Let’s say your cell phone rings, you step outside to answer the call and get distracted. Your tub continues to fill and begins to overflow. Before you know it, your house is totally flooded, your children are floating around your house and are struggling to survive. What do you do? For a start you turn the water off and unplug the tub!

Identifying a problem can sometimes be so simple, with an easy solution such as turning off the water and pulling the plug.

In a similar manner to your overflowing tub, it is easy to understand climate change is a problem from too much CO2 in our atmosphere, which has created such an imbalance that it is causing a chain reaction of events, (similar to your water soaked floors, ruined ceilings, drowning kids.

But when we think about carbon and climate change, we panic. We think we need to find solutions in every area at once (save the children, save the dining room carpet, save the chandelier….). Problem is, everything we do emits carbon. It’s time to pull the plug. If we don’t rid ourselves of some of the carbon that’s already there, the dining room is history.

Reducing Carbon – Every way we can!

We can not change our ways overnight to fix the problem. But we can demand change. Every effort to move away from further carbon overloading towards sustainable solutions needs to be supported.

Many may not relate concrete and cement to global warming.

Think again!

Tom Schuler gives a brilliant description of how concrete and cement pump a huge amount of carbon into the atmosphere. But more important, he shows how to fix the problem and even create cement that actually sucks huge amounts of carbon from the atmosphere – permanently

As consumers we need to support, no demand, that this solution to help reduce our CO2 overloaded atmosphere spread globally. The technology needs to be recognized and adapted by every national leader who is responsible for reducing their contribution to global warming. This is a solution for this one industry that needs to be adopted.

Biochar Life: Realization of a Vision

Michael has always been the type of person who does not simply complain when something is not right. Instead he works on finding and implementing a solution to solve the problem.

In this interview with Matt Rickard from Task.io Michael shares his vision about biochar, its relationship to climate change, and how the solution has a positive impact on smallholder farmers and our environment, in a big way!

The recent success of his efforts to include smallholder farmers in the global effort to reduce carbon is just the beginning. There is still so much work to be done to grow the vision across the globe. Warm Heart’s impact venture with Biochar.Life is building both sides of the equation – balancing the supply and the demand.

Michael has been able to inspire others to join in a team effort to make a dream of his a reality. We have an incredible team of bright, intelligent, hardworking and dedicated people working together to make this happen. As Michael sees it “I pushed the boulder off the mountain top. They are the ones who have pushed it through the swamp to get to the finish line.” 

We are excited and a bit overwhelmed by the response we have received so far from farming communities around the globe who want to be trained and join the program. This project has the potential to grow rapidly, but needs financial support to get the legs on the ground and running.

Who, Me?

A 2020 Nature Communications journal article called “Scientists’ Warning on Affluence”  found that “Many people do not see themselves as being part of either the problem or the solution but look for governments, technology and/or businesses to solve the problem”. 

The conclusion of the article points out that “People, not institutions, need to solve the problem. The organizations engaged in climate debates—governments, companies, NGOs—are ultimately legal or social structures made up by people. And if people don’t change, the institutions won’t either.”

We each need to take a moment and assess our own footprint. Even though we may try to reduce our footprint through conscious choice, we are still living in a carbon run world and that carbon is what is impacting our environment.

If we want to have a chance at reducing climate change we need to start now to eliminate as much carbon as we can. We need to own up to the responsibility and contribute to the solution. Biochar Life offers that opportunity, either through a monthly subscription to purchase personal carbon credits, or as an investor to help reach our goal as quickly as possible. Learn how.

A changing world

We face changes that will dwarf any we have confronted before. 

Who will have to handle climate change?

Our kids.

Juni, an online learning system for children, recognizes this, and has developed a series “Learning to Lead Key Industries of Tomorrow”.

In their “Future of” series they cover subjects not normally taught in schools, such as Climate Change, CyberSecurity, and CyberCurrency.

This is a step forward in preparing today’s youth to tackle tomorrows problems.

Kudos to Juni and every other organization taking steps now to help prepare our leaders of tomorrow.

The post Archive April 2022 Environmental Progress News appeared first on Warm Heart World.