'Green' Cement?

We have already noted that the heating of limestone to create cement is a very major (about 5% of the world's annual production) source of the 'greenhouse gas', carbon dioxide and, even in this difficult economic times, human love to build. Reports have been made of the development of 'Novacem', a new Magnesium silicates-based cement by Dr Vlasopoulos and his team at Imperial College, London (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/31/cement-carbon-emissions). The new material is said to be carbon neutral, as it requires much less heating than limestone and actually absorbs carbon dioxide when it hardens. There is considerable commercial and environmental interest in the material but much will depend on price and people possibly finding it easier to source cement from relatively abundant limestone (companies have often paid for the mining rights in advance). Nevertheless, this is an interesting development, which might well improve the construction industry's carbon footprint.

Birder's Bonus 35

The 'Arctic' conditions (getting as low as minus 5 degrees Centigrade) from Christmas into the New Year persisted around the Loughor Estuary. The need to feed may have resulted in Little egrets (Egretta garzetta) tolerating relatively close approaches from humans on the cycle track. Lots of small waders, possibly Grey plover (Pluvialis squatarola), were also active on the muddy river banks. Very unusually, a pair of Mute swans (Cygnus olor) appeared to be resting on this mud with four of their cygnets.

Beavers Really About Now!

A large (38 kg), male beaver has reported effected his escape through a break in a 'secure' electric fence (whilst in quarantine) from a reintroduction programme in Lifton Devon (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5420944.ece). Fortunately, his two female 'companions' were quickly recaptured so he will be on his own. Claims have been made that he is chiselling down trees more than 30 kilometers away in Gunnislake (Cornwall). The desirability of reintroducing this species to the UK countryside some 500 years after its extinction has already been debated here but the event confirms (yet again) that such programmes are hardly accident-free events.
HISTORICAL NOTE
I was interested to read that Frank Buckland described how, in August 1872, he obtained 4 beavers (a male and a female from France and a similar pair from the USA) for Lord Bute (of Cardiff fame) for a release programme. Lord Bute decided that his lands in Scotland were more suited to these mammals than Wales but the animals did not, apparently, survive for very long (there was much conflict between the pairs). It looks like the obsession for releasing beavers into the UK has been going on for much longer than I thought.

They Took Some Honey- Made Plenty of Money...

The much-reported collapse of Honey bee (Apis mellifera) colonies in Europe and America has (http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5420698.ece) allegedly opened the way to a cunning marketing ploy. Honey from China is apparently exported to some second countries, who then 'rebadge' it as coming from 'preferred'/approved locations, before selling it on at greatly inflated prices. The process is said to be very rarely detected (DNA tests etc are relatively expensive and are unlikely to be routinely invoked), which also makes establishing the verity of the claim difficult. The practice would (if confirmed), however, result in avoidance of many food safety checks (e.g. levels of pesticides etc). The poor would then be most likely to suffer potential consequences.

Seeing the Changes 160

Around Loughor, Daisy (Bellis perennis) and Primrose (Primula vulgaris) are both in flower over a sunny Christmas.

Turning the Lights Off?

It has been claimed that the carbon footprint of Government buildings in the UK exceeds that of the entire country of Kenya (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/dec/23/carbon-emissions-uk). Kenya is admittedly a somewhat modestly developed, pastoral and warm country but this finding is somewhat shocking, given the claim that plans had been in place to improve energy use by the Houses of Parliament and numerous other buildings. The sad thing is that even relatively new government buildings do not seem to have been planed to minimise carbon dioxide emissions (this, surely, should be a mandatory element). Given the 'credit crunch' it is now claimed that it is too expensive to put double glazing into place (this is admittedly difficult on listed properties) and to place wind generators near the properties. One would, however, assume that the savings would off-set some of the expenditure. An example from the 'top' is also desirable when trying to change public behaviour. Improving the energy use of government's housing stock might be a better (and longer-lasting) way of stimulating the economy (builders will have to work to put the changes in place) than simply reducing VAT. The developed skills can also be applied more widely to people's homes etc.

Seeing the Changes 159

It must be getting mild again. On the Loughor estuary, the Cormorant (Phalacrocorax carbo) are busy fishing while clouds of Winter gnats (Trichocera relegationis) whirl around the cycle path at Bynea. Lots of Candle-snuff fungus (Xylaria hypoxyllon) in that location.