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7-9 May 2009
Verona, Italy
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26-29 May 2009
Moscow, Russia
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8-10 June 2009
Copenhagen, Denmark |
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LED-based growth lights cut greenhouse energy needs
More information: Digital publishing enables true paperless distributionInterest in digital publishing is growing steadily from both economic and environmental points of view – a true paperless product can save tremendous natural resources. However, simply publishing paper stories as Internet web pages leaves much to be desired. A number of different approaches are now being taken to turn paper products into electronic products that offer the same ease of reading and attractiveness as the original. Newspaper publishers, particularly in northern Europe, are already offering Internet-only editions. A UK publishing organisation is actively promoting digital publishing to save natural resources. It estimates that by digital publication and distribution of a monthly 32-page newsletter with a 70 000 copy print run, the paperless publications saves 3 226 trees, 134 tonnes of paper, 3.7 million tonnes of water, 269 barrels of oil, 551 MWh of electricity and 139 tonnes of industrial waste.More information: French process development boosts phytoremediation The Ecobio CNRS unit at the University of Rennes
1 in western France has developed a way to
increase the tolerance of plants to absorb contaminants
from polluted water and soil. This process
has the potential to enhance phytoremediation as
a means of reversing the effects of pollution. Phytoremediation
relies on the abilities of living green
plants to absorb chemicals and organic contaminants
from both soil and water. The new process
is energy efficient and more aesthetically pleasing
than other remediation processes, such as excavation
and reburial. Moreover, costs are generally
low – around €20 to €75 per tonne of soil, or €0.10
to €1.00 per 1 000 litres of water. The process can
be used to treat a variety of contaminants. This
could make phytoremediation more viable for large
scale remediation of polluted land and water, particularly
as the process is not only energy efficient,
but also sustainable.More information:
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A LED system developed at the University of
Southern Denmark produces photosynthetic wavelengths
of light that could result in dramatic energy
savings for plant growers. Designed for greenhouses,
the new system emits light at the specific
wavelengths that target the plants’ needs. Current
horticultural lamps emit orange light and do not
cater for the specific needs of individual plants. By
‘tuning’ LED lights to the precise photosynthetic
wavelength of the plants concerned, the energy
ordinarily used to create unnecessary wavelengths
of light is saved. It is estimated that this system
could result in energy savings of between 50%
and 80%. Moreover, LED lights offer a longer life –
ten years in comparison with the one-year lifespan
of ordinary bulbs – and installation costs are lower.
In addition, the spectral composition of the lights
can be fine-tuned to compensate for seasonal
changes in light levels, as well as the impact of
cloud cover.