This post was originally posted here: What are the Major Mining Countries?

Mining is one of those professions that are not only most high paying because of its end product but also because they are equally dangerous as well. This is a profession that requires little education but a lot of guts to handle because there is imminent danger quite often. As health safety measures improve, the places to mine are reducing as they are all limited resources of nature. Nevertheless, these major mining countries will always be great places to work for those who want to get a job in the mining industry.

Top Oil Mining Countries

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia always has had the crown of being a top oil producing country in the world. Even though it is not the most developed country, nor easy for immigrants to come over, it definitely has made a lot of money through this resource. Following countries are USA, Russia, Iran, and Mexico. Most of these have a good per capita income which makes a strong reason for people who want to find work in such countries. Oil rigs are dangerous work places for many reasons, especially those that are off shore. These require workers to work at long lengths in dangerous health hazards with little contact with rest of the world. They are confined in a small artificial city for a period as long as 6 months before they can take a time off.

Top Gold Producing Countries

China now has the crown in producing the most gold than any other country. It may earn the merit because it is also one of the largest countries in the world in terms of surface area. This production has risen by a steep increase which explains the explosive employment in this sector. The following countries after China come, South Africa, Australia, United States, and Peru. Gold production has the same risks as coal mining and other forms of mining and they tend to cave in when demolitions are made. Extracting this kind of ore requires some knowledge because they remain in greater depths of the ground, however exploration companies already offer the training required for miners.

Popular Places for Mining and Exploration

Some countries have a well-established setup for mining recruitment of human resources. They have recruiters who have good networks to get people hired on first come first serve basis. Since they don’t require an intensive checkup, they are already outsourced by these hiring agencies. Being this organized makes these countries a lot more attractive to freelance contractors.

One of these countries is Australia where there is significant mining done of various kinds. They are all good paymasters and the flexibility to leave the project is easier. The popularity is contributing more towards competition among new candidates however. Those who already have experience in related fields always get better chances of getting a high paying job than those who are fresh. But there are many other factors that come in to consideration such as:

• Flexibility to work for longer hours
• Availability for relocation
• Single or married with family
• Exposure and experience

Thomas runs a network on Australian websites that focus on mining jobs and news and information about working in the Australian resource sector.

This post was originally posted here: Major Blackouts in U.S. History

Northeast Blackout of 1965

When a single transmission line from the Niagara generating station tripped, five other transmission lines became overloaded, causing the first (and largest) blackout in history to occur. The blackout occurred at 5:16 p.m. on November 9, 1965 when many people were on their way home from what was at first a typical day of work. Affecting New York, Ontario, Pennsylvania, parts of New Jersey, and most of New England, the outage left 30 million people without power for a period of 13 hours. Later that day, President Lyndon B. Johnson wrote to the chairman of Federal Power Commissions urging the problem to be investigated and requesting a report to be sent back to him as soon as possible informing him of the causes and the steps to be taken in order to prevent future occurrences. After taking six days to locate the cause, engineers were determined to reexamine the power grid system. Because of a simple mistake made by a single transmission line, electricity utilities are now designed according to standards set up by regional coordinating councils such as the Northeast Reliability Council (NERC) and power pools such as the New York Power Pool (NYPP). One of the main standards involves checking the power station’s Balance Control Performance which makes sure that they are balancing the supply and demand for electricity.

New York City Blackout of 1977

In New York City, during a time of economic down-turn, a blackout beginning on July 13 at 9:34 p.m. and ending on July 14 at 10:39 p.m. resulted in city-wide looting and rampant man-made fires. Specifically, 1,000 fires were reported, 1,600 stores were damaged in looting and rioting, and a staggering 3,700 people were arrested. The cause was to be determined as a mere lightning storm, which caused Buchanan South, a substation on the Hudson River, to be hit with a lightning strike that tripped two circuit breakers in Westchester County. A second lightning strike caused the loss of two 345 kV transmission lines and the loss of power from a nuclear plant at Indian Point. Only 10 minutes later, another lightning strike took out two additional critical transmission lines from the Sprain Brook substation. In order to prevent similar occurrences from ever happening again, operating entities in New York implemented significant changes which are still in effect today. For example, new back-up generation systems were added. Furthermore, the Public Service Commission, which is responsible for the regulation of the rates and services of private electric utilities, was requested by the New York State Governor. [1]

Northwestern Blackout of 1996

Beginning around 2 p.m. on a hot summer day in August, Oregon was suddenly doomed with power loss due to sagging power lines, smoldering temperatures, and an unusually high demand for electricity. Eventually, four million people and eight states along the West Coast were impacted by the drooping power lines in Oregon. Blame was put toward the many energy industries that cut down on maintenance cost in order to survive in the highly competitive market. After this situation, more focus is now put on the maintenance of power lines and strict regulations have been put into place. For example, construction workers must now make sure that a power line with lower voltage passes under the line with higher voltage. Also, nonprofit corporations such as LCRA Transmission Services Corporation maintain a five-year maintenance schedule for the upkeep of power lines in order to prevent vegetation from growing too close to energized power lines. [2]

California Energy Crisis of 2000

Due to energy shortages and incredibly high electricity prices, many Californians were forced to live in darkness during the summer of 2000. Major electricity companies, such as Enron, told customers that unplanned maintenance was necessary and were the main cause of the problem. Within hours,rolling blackouts swept across California. This crisis motivated California to create public conservation campaigns such as “Flex Your Power,” which helped save 3,000 to 5,000 megawatts of energy usage during the summer of 2001. Furthermore, the public is even more conscious of the value of energy, and many energy-saving devices have been invented since the California Energy Crisis.

Northeast Blackout of 2003

Affecting 45 million people in eight different states, the Northeast Blackout of 2003 was the most widespread blackout in U.S. history. Playing a minor role in the power loss was the heat, which increased energy demand and caused power lines to sag. Eventually, the government of Canada and the U.S. created a joint federal task force in order to determine the root of the problem. In 2004, it was reported that the cause was merely FirstEnergy Corporation’s failure to trim trees in parts of its Ohio service area. The alarm system designed to detect this problem had failed, which ultimately led to the cascading effect that shut down more than 100 power plants. Prior to this blackout, the North American Reliability Council (which is currently known as the North American Reliability Corporation), set voluntary standards; however, now reliability standards are legally enforceable. Congress also passed the Energy Policy Act of 2005, which required the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to solicit, approve, and enforce reliability standards from NERC. Failure to meet these standards can result in a fine of up to a million dollars a day for an infraction.

2006 North American Heat Wave

On July 15, 2006, over 50,000 people were without power for a whole week because of a widespread heat wave that reached a reported 130 degrees in South Dakota. Causing numerous fatalities, the heat was especially intense on the West Coast and in South West deserts. While temperatures rose, power companies struggled to keep up with the high demand for electricity due to the excessive use of air conditioners and fans. A wind storm also contributed to extensive power loss. Finally, a cold front across the Southern Plains caused the heat wave to end.

Sources:

1. http://www.dps.state.ny.us/

2. http://www.lcra.org/energy/trans/line_maintenance.html

This article is from Wellhome, which provides Home Energy Audits or Assessments with the ability to upgrade HVAC, Windows, and Home Insulation, and perform Duct Tightening and Air Sealing to create a comfortable more well balanced home that performs at its best level. Home energy assessments through WellHome allow the homeowner to get a bigger picture of the efficiency of the home and its ability to maintain comfortable temperatures and air flow.

This post was originally posted here: Green Careers

With the ever changing world we live in, saving the environment has been a large focus for many people, households and companies. With hybrid vehicles, recycling programs, and energy saving appliances emerging by the second, it’s hard to ignore the “Go Green” movement. Saving the environment has become a great thing and has many people feeling inspired. Along with that, why not have a “Green” career? Are you constantly finding ways to save energy in your home? Does it irk you when someone throws a soda can in the trash instead of a recycling bin? If finding new ways to save the environment has become one of your hobbies, a “Green” career may be just right for you.So where do you start? What do you major in? Thousands of colleges and universities out there offer many degrees that can open the door to your “Green” career.

Degrees such as Environmental Science, Chemistry, and Biology are all gateways to getting that career started in helping the environment. Courses would most likely include: Natural Resources, ecology, physics etc. Many employers prefer to higher those with master’s degrees, so going the extra mile and completing 2 extra years is worth it in the long run, in getting you a solid position. Environmental careers are not only in a scientific sense, but can also branch out into many different settings such as government jobs, large firms and corporations, and even non-profit organizations. You can work as a consultant for such firms as scientific and research skills are needed.

If you already have a degree and realized that you would like to do something environmentally, but can’t imagine yourself going through another 4 years of school, don’t fret! You can still use that degree and your past skills to change your career path. For example, if you have a Business Administration Degree, you can still qualify to be a Program Assistant, Administrative Assistant, Office Manager etc. for one of the many conservations across the U.S that focus on the conservation of animals, the environment and other global issues.

With new discoveries everyday on how important conserving our environment is, many organizations need people like YOU who are concerned and passionate about keeping the earth green and our animals healthy. There are many resources and tools online that can help you find the fulfilling Green career you have been looking for.

Melanie Norwood

Writer For: 866mymajor.com

**866mymajor has been a resource to millions of students nationwide. We provide information on programs, schools and financial aid information that meets your hectic lifestyle. We have been a tool for people from all walks of life helping them to continue their education and pursue their dream careers.

This post was originally posted here: Pressure Washer

We all need good service for our properties to remain clean, whether it is commercial property or residential. One of the leaders in this field is Mr. Pressure Wash. This company is the leader in eco-friendly pressure washing for properties which are commercial and for apartments in the Seattle Metropolitan area.

We all understand the importance of a clean property. Mr. Pressure wash understands this too and hence provides Seattle pressure washing services which are par excellence. This company has dedicated itself to provide external cleaning services for both residential areas and business owner similar. They stand way above the competition.

Few things that make this company stand apart from others are 100% satisfaction guarantee, prices which are competitive and eco-friendly services. Just incase you as a customer are not happy with the service provided by us you have the privilege to call us and set things right.

You will be also glad to know that we use and reuse our own water, so you need not worry about your water bill. Cleaning green does not imply being expensive. As I stated earlier we are quite competitive.

Talking about our technology it allows for 98% of the water for reuse and thus saving water usage. Our unique enzyme technology does a good job of cleaning oil stains that are tough and this technology uses microbes in an eco-friendly manner. This is quite unlike our competitors who use chemical degreasers that are harsh.

So the next time you think of getting cleaning done think of us. We are eco-friendly, there will be no zebra stripes that is a surface which is evenly cleaned, we help you save time at least by 60% – 80%, chances of surface damage get minimized which is usually caused by over – spraying by the use of spray guns that are traditional, and other advantages discussed above. Click here to know more www.mrpressurewash.net.

This post was originally posted here: The Importance of Solar Energy to Our Everyday Lives

This post was originally posted here: Property Buyer, Beware! (Unless You Have an E.S.A.)

Imagine that a local youth organization has construction plans for an unoccupied portion of the property they’ve owned for over fifty years. When the organization approaches the bank to refinance the property, instead of being granted funds to complete the construction, they discover that the soil and/or groundwater is potentially contaminated. Plans for their new activity center and playground are put on hold when they find themselves entangled in the costly activities of further investigation and potential remediation.

Environmental hazards aren’t always this obvious.

Unfortunately, this situation is not uncommon. The property owner caught in such difficulties isn’t always a non-profit organization, as in the case of a recent client of the environmental engineering company I work for. Too often, landowners who have not abused their property find themselves having to pay for the actions of previous occupants, who either intentionally or unknowingly contaminated the land before selling it.

The good news is that current real estate buyers can protect themselves through due diligence, by making “all appropriate inquiries into the previous ownership, uses, and environmental conditions of a property,” according to the EPA. By taking these precautions, landowners may qualify for certain liability protections under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act (CERCLA), commonly known as the Superfund program.

Commercial real estate transactions are regularly accompanied by a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (E.S.A.). These assessments conduct all appropriate inquiries* into historical and current use of the property in order to identify recognized environmental conditions (R.E.C.s). An R.E.C. identifies the presence of any hazardous substance or petroleum product, and includes indications of an existing release, past release, or material threat of release of any hazardous substances or petroleum products.

Environmental hazards like this can be discovered by during an E.S.A. Photo: Environmental Engineers, Inc.

Investigations like these emerged in the 1970s, due to regulations, lawsuits, and prosecutions that assisted potential buyers in assessing the risk associated with purchasing commercial and/or industrial property. In addition, they provided preliminary information regarding any necessary clean-up activities.

A Phase I E.S.A. is conducted by an environmental professional (E.P.), and consists of a site reconnaissance, interviews, and records review. The E.P. generates a report that summarizes known or suspected R.E.C.s, and typically makes recommendations regarding further investigation. Such recommendations are based on the absence or presence of environmental conditions associated with the property, as well as the E.P.’s professional experience. Should the E.P. recommend intrusive investigation, the client may choose to begin Phase II activities.

A Phase II Assessment typically includes sampling the soil and/or groundwater. The E.P. analyzes the samples to determine the presence and/or extent of the contamination. Occasionally, the E.P. will also conduct air sampling to determine the presence of radon or vapor intrusion. The test results determine whether any further action is required.

Site remediation can be quite costly. Photo: Environmental Engineers, Inc.

When considering a real estate transaction, we all want to make wise and prudent investments. As a real estate buyer, remember to conduct due diligence before taking advantage of any “great deal.” Sometimes a property is priced low because the seller knows or suspects it will need costly remediation work. By making “all appropriate inquiries,” you may save yourself from purchasing a property that needs remediation or from being responsible for the cleanup, should you decide to make the purchase.

But even wise and prudent investments may intentionally include remediation work. Remediation is a predictable expense when a buyer purchases a brownfield property. Fortunately, the EPA may assist with the cost of brownfield remediation. By remediating the property, the new owner both revitalizes the site and provides productive economic and green space use through the EPA Brownfields and Land Revitalization program.

*The EPA recognizes the ASTM E1527-05 Standard Practice for Environmental Site Assessments: Phase I Environmental Site Assessment Process as fully compliant with the AAI final rule. For more information regarding Direct Final Rule on All Appropriate Inquiries refer to the EPA website (Negotiated Rulemaking Committee on All Appropriate Inquiries | Brownfields and Land Revitalization | US EPA).

Stacey Tarrant

Contributing Writer

Blue Planet Green Living (Home Page)

This post was originally posted here: Green Christmas?

Dreaming of a green Christmas? Most of us look forward to the holidays, but our garbage men don’t. Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, they lift about 25 percent more trash into their trucks than usual. Packaging, wrapping paper, ribbons, and wasted food add one million tons to the nation’s garbage during these weeks. Perhaps trimming our holiday “wastelines” could put less emphasis on some aspects of gift-giving, without creating Grinches. Most of us have entirely too much “stuff” anyway and are watching our budgets.

Wrapping Paper — Isn’t your only option. An eco-friendly alternative is available at your fabric store. I bought various Christmas fabrics 30 years ago and sewed simple gift bags of all sizes that my family is still using. They’re perfect for huge toys, shirt boxes, and weird-sized gifts. Look for fabric on sale after Christmas.

Christmas cards — Are not mailed as much as decades ago. It is nice to know that someone is thinking of you during the holidays, but an email or phone call can be just as personal as snail mail. Just don’t skip Grandmom if she enjoys receiving cards.
Here’s a “green tip” to prepare for next Christmas by using this year’s cards. Simply cut off the front or even a small portion of them, and you have dandy gift tags.

Excess packaging — Can lead to “wrap rage” and even injuries when buyers attempt to open those infuriating plastic clamshell packages. Not to mention that the stuff is eternal in landfills. But there’s hope—just in time for the holidays. Amazon.com just announced a multi-year “Frustration-Free Packaging” initiative to eliminate hard-to-open and excess packaging. It’s only offered for 19 of their best-selling items at the moment, but it’s a start.

If you hate spending fifteen exasperating minutes with scissors, knives, and whatnot, trying to open your latest must-have, complain to the manufacturer. E-mail them and ask that they use an environmental and user-friendly form of packaging.

LED holiday lights — Are the latest trend, even for New York’s famous Rockefeller Center. LEDs use 80 to 99 percent less energy than traditional incandescent lights, last up to 10 times longer, are cool to the touch, shatterproof, and less of a fire hazard.
What can you do with your old “Ghost of Christmas Past” white-light strands? One company will recycle them for free and email you a 15 percent discount coupon for LED lights from their website, http://www.holidayleds.com/

Kudos — To Faye Keenan and her creative seamstress friends at St. Luke’s Methodist Church in Yorktown. They are turning old mattress pads and fabric remnants into quilts for the homeless, and Faye adds, “we’re also keeping all of those recyclable materials out of the landfill.” Now that’s the green Christmas spirit! Phone 898-2999 to help.

Attention shoppers — Parents breathed a sigh of relief when the federal government established safety standards for toys last August. However, toys containing lead may still be sold—until February 2009. There are also conflicting reports about the chemical, bisphenol-A (BPA) that’s in many polycarbonate baby bottles (with “PC” or number “7”) and formula cans. Canada has already banned this chemical in baby products. Avoid warming food in such containers since heat can release BPA. Instead, use safe alternatives such as glass or bottles labeled “BPA-free.”