ECOLOGY
Photovoltaics It is a branch of science dealing with the conversion of solar radiation into electricity. For many years, it has been considered an excellent alternative to traditionally produced electricity. People are attracted to photovoltaics because prices are much cheaper than public or private energy services. Another point that encourages people to use it is that it doesn’t have a negative impact on the environment. Advantages of the installation: • independence from constant increases in electricity prices, • the possibility of selling surplus of stored energy, • zero CO₂ emission with constant electricity production, • 25-year warranty for the photovoltaic installation – in the case of good quality panels, the period of proper operation is up to 40 years, • unlimited access to solar energy.
Waste segregation Waste segregation is a division into groups of garbage that can be recycled, this segregation allows you to reduce harmful pollutants, waste difficult to decompose, consumption of natural resources. The best way to segregate waste is to put individual groups of residues in individual containers: • blue – paper • green – glass • yellow – metals / plastics • brown – bio-waste • black – mixed waste.
Recycling The aim of recycling is to reduce the consumption of natural resources and the amount of waste. Recycling allows raw materials to be recovered from waste and reused for the production of new goods. Thanks to the recovery of secondary raw materials, the costs of landfills are primarily reduced. In over 80%, recycling is the most effective method of disposing of household waste.
Biofuels Biofuels are fuels obtained by processing plant and animal products. We divide them into solid, liquid and gaseous biofuels. When it comes to solid fuels, we are talking about products such as hay bales, briquettes, pellets or other processed plant waste. Liquid biofuels are obtained by fermentation of alcohol or vegetable oils. Gaseous biofuels (for example biogas) are produced by the anaerobic fermentation of agricultural livestock waste. Biofuels can be divided in another way, namely: first, second and third generation. • First generation (conventional) – they are made of very primitive materials: sugar, starch or vegetable oil • Second generation (improved) – made of a sustainable raw material. It is defined, inter alia, from the perspective of raw material availability, impact on gas emissions and land consumption. Many biofuels of this generation are currently being developed, for example: ethanol, biohydrogen, biomethanol. • Third generation – these are fuels made of algae and other microorganisms. The production of biofuel from algae is currently the most efficient. Protein and oxygen are the intermediate products of such algae culture. The efficiency of this type of fuel is 30 times greater than that of any other type. The use of biofuels in today’s world is quite wide, and with each year and with the development of technology, it will increase. We can find them in transport (engines powered by biofuels), devices that we use every day, such as lawn mowers, medicine (biofuel cells have the potential to power medical devices), and for heating buildings (heating fuel). Due to the low carbon dioxide emissions of biofuels, it is a safe alternative to existing car engines. This technology is able to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and use less fossil fuels. It can also create jobs and significantly improve the economy in the future. If the increase in the production and consumption of biofuels were large enough, it could, according to the researchers, change the industrial landscape for consumers in fuel markets.
The word “smog” is a mixture of English words: “smoke” or “smoke” and “fog” or “fog”. The meaning of this word has spread around the world to describe this neutral phenomenon of the so-called artificial fog, which is a phenomenon caused by human activities and interference in the natural world. The two main types of smog. The so-called Los Angeles which arises in the summer months of the year and can be found mainly in subtropical zones. The second type is the London smog found more in the temperate climate zone. Arising mainly from November to January Reasons: – Increasing number of cars – Factories – Burning with coal, wood and other solid fuels Effects of air pollution (smog): – occurrence of allergies and asthma – respiratory failure – decrease in the body’s immunity – cardiovascular and heart diseases – cancers.
A climate is a group of weather phenomena and conditions that are characteristic of an area. It is determined on the basis of many years of various observations, such as temperature measurements, precipitation and wind averaged over a month or longer. The climate on Earth is shaped by three basic climate-creating processes: the heat cycle, the water cycle and air circulation, as well as geographical factors: the system of land and oceans, altitude above sea level. Greece has a Mediterranean subtropical climate. It is characterized by long, dry and hot summers (the typical average summer temperature is approx. 30 – 34 ° C) and mild, humid winters (the average winter temperature is approx. 13 – 14 ° C).
Renewable energy – we can obtain wind, solar radiation, water, renewable resources and land. Unlike fossil fuels, most of these resources are unlimited and cost nothing.
UV radiation – ultraviolet, ultraviolet, ultraviolet radiation, ultraviolet radiation (abbreviation UV). Ultraviolet radiation ranges: extreme – wavelength: 10–121 nm – far – wavelength: 122–200 nm – intermediate – wavelength: 200–300 nm – close – wavelength: 300–400 nm
Types of UV radiation:
– UV-C – wavelength: 100–280 nm – UV-B – wavelength: 280–315 nm – UV-A – wavelength: 315–380 nm.
Environmental pollution – it is caused by the ingress of an excessive amount of toxins and matter into water, air or soil, which exceed the standards for the permitted concentration of these substances.
Biosphere – includes the hydrosphere, lithosphere and atmosphere where living organisms are found. The biosphere is divided into three zones:
Phytosphere – is the zone of plant life
Zoosphere – is the life zone of animals
Anthroposphere – the zone of the globe where man lives
