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Renewable energy uses natural sources to produce power that is more environmentally friendly and sustainable.

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Nuclear Power

Although nuclear power doesn’t generate high levels of carbon, there is debate surrounding whether it can be classed as a renewable source of energy. Supporters maintain that it is sustainable, while critics are concerned about the storage of nuclear waste and radioactive contamination. Utility Dive reports on the current debate regarding the role of nuclear technology.

Tidal, Wave Power and Hydroelectricity

The power of water is being used in multiple ways. Tidal and wave power both harness the power of the ocean to generate power. As the ocean is a predictable force, it is a reliable source of energy. Hydroelectricity is produced through the process of hydropower, which is a general term that encompasses the use of gravitational forces of flowing or falling water to generate power.

Geothermal Power and Compressed Natural Gas

Geothermal power is created using the Earth’s natural heat. In comparison to plants that use coal, emissions from geothermal plants are around 95 per cent lower. Compressed natural gas is an alternative for diesel, gasoline and propane. Not only does it produce fewer harmful emissions, it is also safer in the event of an accident because it disappears quickly.

Biomass

One of the oldest forms of renewable energy, biomass uses animal waste and plant material. It can be used to produce heat through a combustion process, or it can be converted into biofuel, such as biodiesel.

Solar Power

Solar power is one of the most accessible forms of renewable energy. Solar panels in Northern Ireland, as in many parts of the world, are increasingly popular. A quality Northern Ireland solar panel supplier should be able to provide panels that save on energy bills whilst reducing carbon emissions.

Wind Power

We have harnessed the power of wind for centuries. In terms of impact, wind farms are one of the most environmentally friendly energy sources and their popularity is increasing worldwide.

Radiant Energy

Radiant energy is a natural energy that uses gravitational and electromagnetic radiation and comes in at under one per cent of the cost of electricity. Common examples of things that use radiant energy are microwaves and mobile phones.

Adhesives are widely used across the construction industry. The most common uses include laying carpets, fixing ceramic tiles, sealing wood, heating and ventilation and in roofing. (more…)

As the leading cause of premature death in the UK every year, and with over 2 million Britons living in its shadow, coronary heart disease is a familiar condition to many individuals, families and health care practitioners.

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What is coronary heart disease?

This term refers to a condition where the arteries which carry blood to the heart are damaged by a lining of fatty deposits. In turn, this hampers blood circulation. The most popular long term treatment for this condition is an angioplasty.

The drawback of traditional treatment

This procedure involves a surgeon inserting a stent, which is a small mesh tube, into the affected artery to artificially widen it, and restore natural blood flow patterns. Unfortunately, in some cases scar tissue forms on the stent in the following years, undoing the progress made.

An exciting alternative?

The unveiling of a second option, a stent which is absorbed into the body over a three year period, means patients have the opportunity to choose between a permanent metal device and this new one.

The new device, known as the ‘Absorb GT1 Bioresorbable Vascular Scaffold System’ is made from poly(L-lactide). Over a three year post-surgery period, it gradually releases a drug called Everolimus to fight the formation of scar tissue, before being absorbed into the body.

Is it safe?

US Food and Drug Administration approval, (known as the FDA 510k clearance process), is required prior to launch. This acts as a safeguard, by assessing new products to confirm they are as safe and effective as comparable existing (legally sanctioned) equivalents. This process is traditionally quite long, but there are options to reduce the waiting time by employing a specialist company such as www.fdathirdpartyreview.com, who are accredited by the FDA to assess and reviews submissions on their behalf.

According to the key resource and leadership portal, Health Management, all ten members of the Circulatory System Devices panel agreed that the device was effective, and final approval was granted, after 9 of the 10 panel members voted that it was safe to use, and that the ‘risk/benefit profile’ was within adequate parameters.

No surgical procedure is without risk and side effects, but this device marks real progress in the treatment of coronary heart disease.

We use them every day, and take modern hygiene for granted. But public baths have been around since Roman times and the flush toilet was first invented in 1596.

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From Public to Private

Throughout history, people have bathed in everything from wooden barrels to cast iron baths. The Roman bath house was a popular meeting place and Roman style baths were re-introduced by knights returning from the Crusades who had enjoyed such facilities in the East.

In the 16th century, they became known as bagnios (from the Italian for bath) or stewhouses, as the water was so hot the bathers ‘stewed’ in it. They were finally closed down by Henry VIII, and it wasn’t until the 19th century, that they regained popularity as somewhere to both have a wash and do your washing.

These much loved institutions, which gave those without access to private bathrooms the ability to get clean for pennies, were extremely popular. The Victoria Baths in Manchester are a superb example of these public bath houses.

Victorian Splendour

By the Victorian era, splendid bathrooms were becoming a fixture in private houses. They were a long way from the huge wooden tubs of medieval times. Back then, water was hauled and heated and perfumed with oils, and Henry IV’s knights were expected to bathe as part of their initiation ceremony.

The Victorians introduced the ever popular roll top bath, which makes a beautiful feature in any period property. Replicas can be obtained from companies like http://www.wilsonsyard.com/products/bathrooms/baths-new-cast-iron.html and remain most people’s idea of the ultimate in bathroom luxury.

The Private Privy

Indoor lavatories are a relatively recent introduction, though an indoor flushing water closet was first patented in 1778. But it’s the name Thomas Crapper that has become synonymous with the flush toilet, introduced in the 1860s after London’s sewer system had been completely overhauled after the well-named ‘Great Stink’ of 1854. Crapper also manufactured manhole covers, with one bearing his name located in Westminster Abbey.

Now Wash Your Hands

Soap gets its name from Mount Sapo, where fats and wood ash from animal sacrifices washed down the mountainside into the River Tiber, forming a rudimentary soap. We know hygiene is important, but it wasn’t always so – American President James Garfield is believed to have died not from a bullet but from a surgeon operating with filthy hands.

One key objective of every membership organisation is to keep its members informed of issues and developments pertinent to them. This is one of the primary ways membership organisations add value and it is key to year on year membership retention.

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Although sending out newsletters and print publications to members can be an effective way of disseminating information, very often, time constraints can mean that important information contained within messages is missed. Busy individuals will often put off reading long articles or emails with the intention of getting to them at a more convenient time. In many cases, that convenient time never actually materialises and the email is filed away and forgotten.

Advantages of podcasts as a communication tool

There are many benefits to be gained from creating podcasts for your membership. Firstly, unlike some of the methods mentioned above, podcasts can be listened to on the go. This means that they are an ideal way of engaging with a busy audience, as members are able to download and listen to podcasts on their commute for instance, or perhaps on the way to meetings.

Podcasts are also very simple and cheap to produce. According to the Content Marketing Institute, once you’ve chosen the audio software, such as Audacity, creating a podcast is as simple as recording your conversation and adding a short intro and music if desired.

Another advantage of podcasting is that it allows you to get your organisation’s personality across in a way that is nigh on impossible with the written word. Second only to a face to face meeting, podcasts are ideal for delivering not just your message, but also tone and culture.

Associations can increase the reach of their podcasts by using membership management systems such as http://www.ofec.co.uk/Membership-Management-Systems.aspx, to create and track objectives and monitor listening habits in order to fine tune their delivery.

What to consider when creating your podcast

Do not create a podcast simply because others are doing so. Think carefully about your message and ensure that it is one that adds value and can easily be conveyed without visuals. Ensure your members can access the podcast easily by providing links on your website and social media pages. Finally, ensure your podcast ends with a call to action that aligns with your association’s objectives.