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Factors To Consider When Undertaking (energy conservation) New Mining Projects

By Dominic Donaldson

 Mining projects, by their very nature, are huge endeavors. The factors that have to be taken into consideration are both complex and far-reaching and are becoming more and more important.

As well as clearing large areas of land to make mining projects possible, there are often logistical factors and infrastructure issues involved; roads and houses may need to be built, and in some cases entire communities spring up as part of a large project.

Some of the major factors to be considered, and also the ones with increasing importance, are the environmental consequences of a mining project. In light of recent studies on pollution, ozone and global warming, it is clear that certain behaviour is no longer acceptable in the 21st century.

As scientists study new data about the environment and our planet, it is becoming clear that everyone has to respect the world we live in and adapt accordingly. This includes mining companies.

As well as important minerals and resources, mining areas can contain potentially hazardous material that needs to be dealt with appropriately and in a manner in accordance with environmental laws. Environmental laws are now established as an important way of minimising the impact of human activity on the environment and on humanity itself.

To obtain important metals such as iron, silver and copper, extracting sulphide ores from the ground is a necessary evil. In environmental terms one of the unwelcome by-products of this is the production of sulphuric acids and metal ions.

These do not occur when the mineral is underground, only when it is exposed to oxygen or water. Factors such as this need to be taken into account from the initial stages of planning right through to the execution of any new mining venture.

Mining also involves the use or destruction of many resources which are important to people but geographically located near mining projects. As well as mining being responsible for about 10 per cent of the world’s energy consumption, it can also require agricultural land to be destroyed or flooded.

This can affect lakes and rivers that are used for drinking water or fishing, and crops local people rely on for food being taken away.

As well as all the issues involving the extraction or destruction of resources, there is also the human factor to consider. People have land taken away by large scale mining projects, land that is not only physically important but is often historically or spiritually important.

The people effected by these projects must be involved in the decision making process at every stage and on every level. If this is not dealt with properly then problems will arise that can seriously effect a project financially and even lead to a project being delayed or not going ahead at all.

To overcome all these issues, and overcome them effectively and with minimal disruption, it is necessary to undergo a thorough consultation process, taking into account financial, environmental and social considerations.

In an increasingly environmentally friendly world the mining industry are facing a new list of challenges and responsibilities. Things that it hasn’t had to consider in the past are now of paramount importance.

Mining companies need to create or assess their policies on managing the environment, waste, water and other resources as well as having a clear and sustainable strategic plan. Without these things in place any company undertaking a mining project is neglecting its responsibilities and not fulfilling its potential.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.

Find out more about mining in the engineering industry at URS Corp.

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energy conservation

New Era For Energy (hydro electric power) Consulting

By Dominic Donaldson

 The move from fossil fuels to new generation and renewable energy sources means that Energy Consultants face an immediate challenge with each new client: geography. Depending on where in the world the need lies for power, the availability is ultimately decided by the resources available. While solar power has enjoyed a healthy development in the commercial and domestic market, other forms of renewable energies have proved more difficult to utilise. As the technology develops, it is the role of the Energy Consulting industry to promote the options available.

Biomass: as a fuel, biomass is derived from organic waste from agriculture such as plant material and faecal matter. Crops can also be grown specifically to produce bio fuel, a term that has had a prominent place in the media of late. The positive aspect of using biomass as a fuel is that very little carbon is returned to the atmosphere as a by-product of energy production, unlike fossil fuels. The negative press regarding cultivating plants for their biomass potential has arisen out of concerns of famine due to a reduction in food crop production. Despite this, biomass remains a viable contender as one of the major new generation renewable energy sources for Britain.

Wave: wave power initially received negative feedback regarding its economic viability; it has transpired that the calculations made were wrong, and now there is a renewed interest for investment into this renewable energy source. There are several designs that harness the potential of energy from waves, and these should not be confused with tidal power. One of the most promising prototypes around at the moment has been dubbed the ‘anaconda’. This is a rubberised tube that is squeezed as waves pass over the surface; the rippling which is then produced travels the length of tube and powers turbines at the end. This is touted to be the most energy efficient wave power technology to date, with the least amount of potential maintenance.

Wind: wind has been used as a source of power for centuries to directly grind grain and to pump water. Today’s technology uses the wind to generate electricity through turbine movement which in turn power generators that produce electricity. Currently, wind power is responsible for about 1 per cent of energy production worldwide, but in Europe, it is a popular option for generating electricity. New plans that are being implemented in the UK propose the erection of 3000 turbines with the potential of supplying 30 per cent of the electricity.

Geothermal: geothermal energy is a source that is not easily harnessed in the UK but has great potential in many countries. Although the potential for its utilisation is worldwide, in some areas, the required heat source is locked away beneath kilometres of rock and therefore remains economically impractical. In areas where geothermal energy is readily available, the cost per watt can be half of that produced by natural gas plants. Iceland, Japan and the United States are areas where this type of technology could support a growing demand for energy consumption, with the increase in potential for the US alone estimated at a staggering 2000 per cent.

Increasing development and investigation into these alternative energy sources will provide an increase in demand from Energy Consultants to suggest bespoke systems for industry and the domestic market. With this in mind, the reduction in fossil fuel availability and use doesn’t necessarily reflect in a reduction of energy supply. The role in Energy Consulting will be to promote the latest systems available to a client that will be gentle on both the budget and the environment.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in the engineering industry.

Find out more about Energy Consulting and why Wales is ideal for career relocation visit Need A Job.

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Living Green is Good for the Environment and for You
By SimonSkinner

 You hear a lot these days about how important it is to live a greener life that you should lighten your carbon footprint on the earth. Sometimes it seems like we’re getting lectured everywhere we turn.

But there are several ways you can live a greener life that are easy to implement. Most cities have garbage services that pick up recyclable materials in addition to your trash. It is simple to set up a separate container for cardboard, plastics and other recyclables. On trash day, your garbage service takes it away and does all the hard work of recycling all those materials.

Another easy way to live greener is to join your local Freecycle email list. Instead of throwing away items and buying new stuff all the time, use the Freecycle list. If you have an item you don’t want anymore, simply list it. Chances are, someone in your community can use it and they’ll come take it off your hands for free. Likewise, if you need something, post your needs and see if someone can help you score the items for free. This reduces trash in the landfills, and everyone gets what they want.

When you do things around the house, there are a lot of green products you can use that cost very little. If you replace your standard incandescent light bulbs with energy-saver bulbs, you can save a considerable amount on your energy bill, and the costs of the bulbs are very similar to the incandescent bulbs. These compact fluorescents last much longer than a traditional bulb as well as using less energy.

Out in the yard, solar lights can save energy and help illuminate dark areas. There are enough different designs on the market now at varying prices to make them affordable to most people. They don’t require an electrician to install them, and with the new solar technologies, they are brighter than solar lights used to be. They even have solar powered holiday lights you can use to decorate your yard without using cords and increasing your electric bill.

Another place to go green and save money is with batteries. Today’s rechargeable batteries last a long time, recharge easily, and save you money. When they finally do run out of their charging ability, rechargeable batteries are recyclable. Just drop them off at your local hardware store for recycling along with any broken fluorescent bulbs.

As you can see, it is easy to begin going green. It is not only good for the environment, it is better for you and it will save you money. Living green will soon become a habit, and before you know it, you’ll be looking for more ways to be even greener. So don’t be afraid to take that first step. It’s easier than you think.

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water conservation

Learn More (alternative energy) About A Career In Environmental Consultancy

By Dominic Donaldson

 The UK environment industry is estimated to employ 400,000 people in 2007 and is worth approximately 25 billion GBP. Environmental consultancy is a rapidly growing industry sector and is predicted to achieve over 9% growth throughout 2008, due to government legislation that companies must adhere to in their business practices and developments.

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) was formed in 2001 due to the failure of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF) to manage the outbreak of foot and mouth disease which devastated livestock farming throughout the United Kingdom. MAFF was thus merged with the Department of Environment, Transport and the Regions (DETR), creating DEFRA, which states their objective as being ‘to enable everyone to live within our environmental means’.

Environmental consultants provide an essential service in many areas, including carbon foot-printing, environmental planning, environmental economics, local authority waste management, renewable energy sources and sustainability assessment, to name but a few. Much of the environment industry operates on a specialist consultancy basis; however, many companies also have internal departments that offer expertise or which are responsible for subcontracting relevant specialist environmental consultants.

The environment industry is continually evolving, responding to ongoing corporate responsibility, risk and image requirements. Before planning permission can be granted for any given development, there is DEFRA legislation in place to ensure that certain environmental requirements are met. While an environmental consultant’s duties will vary dependent on what specialised sector they are consulting in, some general traits remain consistent.

Environmental consultants generally collate and evaluate information from sources and format this data into scientific policy reports that can support applications for planning permission or any other associated developmental legislation. Environmental consultants will also support the client at any applicable meetings and make presentations of data collated during environmental surveys and research, evaluating any potential environmental risks.

A major role of environmental consultants is to devise and implement practical environmental management systems to ensure that legislation remains adhered to and that the environmental impact of specific activities remains within the limits of any given legislation. Some consultants focus more on the public relations side of environmental development and are vital links for initiating corporate environmental sponsorship agreements.

The current concerns regarding climate change have cemented public interest in the protection of the environment at domestic, industrial and corporate levels and been the driving force behind the continual legislative regulations that have been imposed on the corporate world. The legislative minefield of the environment industry has rendered the role of environmental consultants indispensable and the industry is expected to grow in future.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert on environmental consultants and a regular contributor to trade publications on the subject.

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