tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post7504196656995230314..comments2023-07-20T11:49:35.977+01:00Comments on Low Carbon Lifestyle: Thursday 5th March 09Compost Johnhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-89520999556432501532009-03-06T18:56:00.000+00:002009-03-06T18:56:00.000+00:00I didn't fully answer your question.Gas is methane...I didn't fully answer your question.<BR/><BR/>Gas is methane, CH4, and the vast majority of this is 'fossil', with organic matter rotting very slowly anaerobically deep in sediments and getting trapped in the rock. We then extract it and burn it willy-nilly, releasing the carbon into our atmosphere as CO2, along with water vapour H2O. Most people don't know that coal mining releases huge amounts of methane into the air (known as 'firedamp') and this is another reason that coal mining must not be encouraged.<BR/><BR/>It is possible to extract methane from landfills, where it may be burnt on site to power a turbine, making some electricity. And then there's anaerobic digesters which take mixed organic wastes and give off methane which is usually used for making electricity, and the digestate may then be aerobically composted and used on the land. AD gas I would describe as 'green gas'.<BR/><BR/>Finally, there are huge deposits of methane hydrate trapped at the bottom of oceans. These are very unstable and if they warm up at all, the methane may be released ino the atmosphere.<BR/><BR/>And any methane going into the air is bad, very bad, as it is 23 times more powerful than CO2 at trapping heat. This is why the melting of the permafrost in the arctic and tundra areas is bad news, as trapped methane is being released, causing even more local warming, melting yet more permafrost... a positive feedback loop which could help devastate the world as we know it.<BR/><BR/>Complicated, eh?<BR/><BR/>Yours, JohnCompost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-3428810767364866122009-03-06T18:14:00.000+00:002009-03-06T18:14:00.000+00:00Nice... well done I'm delighted.Good Energy do off...Nice... well done I'm delighted.<BR/><BR/>Good Energy do offer a gas tarrif, and this subsidises their 'Renewable Obligation Certificate' payments to customers who generate their own power on their roof (or wherever!). I don't know a lot about it but am in the process of switching my tiny gas bill over to them.<BR/><BR/>When you switch your leccy bill, ask them about gas. And let us know what they say, please!<BR/><BR/>All the very best, JohnCompost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-22338945635537873412009-03-06T17:35:00.000+00:002009-03-06T17:35:00.000+00:00Just put my first Carbon Account readings in.Need ...Just put my first Carbon Account readings in.<BR/><BR/>Need to change to Good Energy for electricity this weekend following carbon Detox. <BR/><BR/>They don't seem to do gas?<BR/><BR/>Is there such a thing as green gas?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-47138836819469000272009-03-06T13:46:00.000+00:002009-03-06T13:46:00.000+00:00And, re kids being 'well funny' yes they can be an...And, re kids being 'well funny' yes they can be and I love your story.<BR/>Get em young, eh?<BR/>JCompost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-42380702253641504012009-03-06T13:41:00.000+00:002009-03-06T13:41:00.000+00:00Hi James, good for you... but why don't you just p...Hi James, good for you... but why don't you just put in your readings now, and then do it monthly and see them drop as you begin to do whatever you need to do to lower your emissions.<BR/>I don't feel there's anything to be ashamed of.... at least you are trying, and everyone will respect that! Even if your footprint is higher than average, it doesn't matter as lots of people have a higher of average footprint, and the crucial thing is to change what you do and see it drop. Think how proud you would be to see the lines on the graph fall away over the months!<BR/>All the best, JohnCompost Johnhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10270806060748616269noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-46517484178175933832009-03-06T12:04:00.000+00:002009-03-06T12:04:00.000+00:00Opened a carbon account today. I will wait until I...Opened a carbon account today. I will wait until I disclose my carbon total, as I want to get it down a bit first. It's like losing weight before joining weight watchers!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8521461115196530599.post-9068964859848936352009-03-06T11:10:00.000+00:002009-03-06T11:10:00.000+00:00Kids are funny things.I tried to explain compostin...Kids are funny things.<BR/><BR/>I tried to explain composting to my (nearly) three year old last night. She didn't get too excited so I referred to it as Extreme Composting and she thought it sounded great. We then had a whole night of her running round, crossing her arms like a rapper and shouting EXTREME COMPOSTING!<BR/><BR/>Now she wants to put the things in daddys compost heap.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com