Heat Pumps Increasingly Popular with Pool Owners

As energy costs continue to increase, swimming pool owners are looking at alternative ways to heat their pools. One option, that is proving to be increasingly popular, is the use of pool heat pump systems.Competition RA Range Heat Pumps for Swimming Pools

A heat pump extracts heat from the air or the ground (soil or bedrock) and transfers the accumulated heat energy to the swimming pool water. Most swimming pool heat pump systems extract heat energy from the air by passing the air over heat exchangers, efficiently transferring heat energy to the heat pump evaporator. The heat that is extracted from the air would otherwise be wasted, being dissipated to the atmosphere.

Heat pumps are incredibly efficient. A typical modern system will consume around only 1kW of electrical energy to produce around 5kW of heat energy.

The initial cost of a heat pump system can be a little off-putting as they do cost somewhat more than conventional electric or oil based systems. For example, a typical heat pump system for an in-ground swimming pool may cost £2000 to £3500. But this cost will be quickly recouped in reduced electricity bills, usually within the first or second year of use. A heat pump system will reduce your ongoing swimming pool heating costs by as much as 70%.

Combine your heat pump pool heating system with some Solar Sun Rings, to reduce evaporation and harness some of the sun’s heat energy, along with a Salt Chlorinator and you are well on your way towards having an eco-friendly swimming pool.

Written by Hybrid on May 14th, 2008 with no comments.
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Bird of Prey Keeps the Gulls Away

A Harris hawk, bird of prey, is being used as a humane deterrent to the colony of hundreds of seagulls that have taken residence on the roof of the Scottish Water building, adjacent to the busy Prestwick airport.Harris hawk to be used to scare seagulls away from buildings at Prestwick Airport

The proximity of the gull colony to the airport runways has presented a severe hazard to aircraft and this new approach to dealing with the problem has been welcomed by airport bosses. Other deterrents, including netting and fake hawks, have already been tried but none have been very successful.

The live hawk, named Jasper, will routinely circle the buildings around the airport in order to scare the gulls away. The technique will be used during the nesting season in order to encourage the gulls to nest elsewhere. This method of dealing with the gull problem has been welcomed by the Scottish Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

If Jasper manages to successfully scare the gulls away flights to and from the airport will be much safer, and users of Prestwick airport parking facilities will have less bird droppings to clean from their windscreens.

Written by Hybrid on May 12th, 2008 with no comments.
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Will Eco-Friendly Holidays Ever Take Off!

Airplane - Carbon FootprintThere is much press at the moment about global warming with regard to long-haul holidays, and the carbon footprint that long-haul flights create.

Whilst many people have done their bit for the environment in some ways such a curbing the amount of rubbish they produce each week and by taking part in recycling initiatives, will people be willing to sacrifice their luxury holiday over the other side of the world in order to reduce carbon emissions?

It seems unlikely. The holiday industry is said to be one of the worst greenhouse-gas emitters, and with budget airlines offering rock-bottom prices on air fares, it has never been easier to jet off around the world and experience a dream holiday in the sun.

It also seems unlikely with other trends like Caribbean weddings – cheaper for the couples getting married, but what about the environmental cost and the resulting pollutants emitted from the air travel? Whether we like it or not, long-haul travel has a big effect on the environment, and by individuals playing their part, a real difference can be made.

You can test your own carbon footprint using the BP Carbon Footprint Calculator and maybe if you do travel on your all-inclusive Barbados holiday, you can look to offset the resulting carbon emissions by getting involved in initiatives around like the one from Flybe.com.

Written by GreenDean on May 8th, 2008 with no comments.
Read more articles on Green Holidays and Planet Killers and Travel and Ways To Save The Planet.

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