Matter and energy
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Indoor air quality sensors in your smartphone
Indoor air quality can be as much of a health concern as the air quality outdoors. Things like volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, mold and other compounds can cause things like headaches, fatigue, respiratory illnesses and worse. The EU has started to focus on how to combat indoorpollution and is funding a new project that would allow people to have real-time air quality information wherever they are — at home, at work, even in the car. The project aims to “develop new nanotechnology-based sensor systems that will precisely monitor the composition of the air in terms of both chemical and bio contaminants.” It is designed to be both tiny and low cost so that…
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In Sweden, sweat machine turns perspiration into drinking water
The global water crisis has inspired innovative ideas for conserving water — or finding filtered to remove any salt, bacteria and other textile bits — and guess what, tasty drinking water! Would you like to try?
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A “Salty” Restaurant that Cleans Air
When we think of salt, we think of it as a seasoning. But for an Iranian restaurant group, salt was the main material for a new kind of eco-friendly building. The “Salt” Restaurant of Shiraz is located in the southern Iran, where the walls, tables and even the stairs were covered with a salty coating. To our surprise, this layer of salt helps clean the polluted air of the city. Inspired by local and naturally occurring salt caves of the region, the group wanted to create a design that reflected the area’s distinctive salt mines and Marharloo salt lake of Shiraz. They stated, “In this particular case, the walls, structural…
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Is A Day-Old Water Safe To Drink?
Have your tried water that’s been left overnight, or even for another day? How do you think about the taste? Treated water’s added chlorine that takes care of microorganisms, but at room temperature they begin to multiply rapidly and can really get the things crazy. But that’s not what makes old water taste stale. For that we can thank carbon dioxide. After about 12 hours tap water starts to go flat as carbon dioxide in the air starts to mix with the water in the glass, lowering its pH and giving it an off taste. But it’s most likely safe to drink. However, back to those microorganisms. Be careful if…
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Make Your Cleaning Routine Green
Cleaning products are everywhere in our homes and offices: on dishes, furniture, clothes, floors, windows, and floating through the air. This may sound bizarre, but in our war on dirt and germs we may often actually be making things worse. Most of the conventional cleaning products we all grew up with are petroleum-based and have dubious health and environmental implications. Instead of opting for cleaning products that annihilate everything in their path, there are plenty of natural products and methods that keep a house clean and fresh without the toxic side effects. Employ green cleaning products As conventional cleaning products have become more thoroughly investigated, more and more brands of…
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Buying a water purification system
In the last decade, the number of products designed to reduce contaminants in tap water has expanded significantly. In this article, I summarized a quick lesson on home water purification systems. Know the TASTE. Does your water taste funny or smell bad? Does it look reddish or leave Look for products that tackle specifically your problem.Filters reduce chemical contaminants, some metals, parasites, sediment. Provide about 1/2 to 1 gallon of water a minute. DEVICE. Choose a style that fits your needs: Pitchers with : Inexpensive. No installation; frequent filter changes (every 40 gallons). Faucet devices: Faucet with builtin filter — may require pro to install; filter changes every 100 gallons…
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How to Remove Dust from the Air?
Dust in the air can worsen air flows and lead to more problems. The best way to remove these dust particles is with an air purifier. Here are some features to look for when selecting the appropriate air purifier. Air Filters There are a variety of filters available. The HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air Filters) are most recommended for their ability to remove small particles from the air. HEPA filters are also very useful for households with allergy and asthma problems. Performance Of course, you want to ensure that the purifier is able to capture as much dust from the air as possible. Check the label carefully to determine the…
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How to purify your water
What is the best way you think to make your water clean? You may think that boiling is pretty much enough to kill all the bacteria. Well, you could just boil the water but this wouldn’t get the sand and other particles out of the water. So the best way purify your water is to use a filter. It gets the particles, dirt and some of other “unseen” chemicals out of your water. You can try homemade a simple water filter. Use an empty bottle and turn the bottle upside down (with the cap down down). Then fill in the bottle with the materials in this order: – pebbles – Sand…
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Water Solutions – When it comes to TASTE & QUALITY
Water is a necessity of life and while water can come from many sources including bottled, municipal systems, rain water or ground water from wells or springs, not all water is considered potable and safe to drink. How safe your water is depends on several factors and what standards it is measured against. If you have any doubts as to the health of your water supply, ask your water system provider for a copy of their most recent water report. However, when it comes down to taste, even treated water can leave an undesirable aftertaste. Fortunately, there are still simple solutions for making tap water drinkable. And to our surprise,…
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Water Solutions – When it comes to TASTE & QUALITY part2
Other solutions for treating your water taste and quality are: 2. Conserve your own water Whether you are trying to conserve water because your supply is limited or simply you want to save money because you are on metered water rates, there are practical ways to save water. Remember, while some may seem trivial every gallon of water not used means more money in your pocket. 3. Activated Carbon Filters: Making Tap Water Safe and Pleasant Even though your tap water from a municipal or public water system is treated and safe to drink, it doesn’t guarantee water that is pleasant to drink. Treated drinking water that meets water quality…