Village Green: Revitalization With Palm Trees

by Kaid at NRDC

 

The trendiest neighborhood in West Palm Beach is Northwood, a collection of historic districts, fading industrial areas, and blocks of small bungalows and grand Mission-style homes that is now hopping with cafes, boutiques, a monthly art and wine "promenade," new workforce housing, significant streetscape improvements, a new Maritime Institute, and a can-do attitude.  Yet not that long ago it was a worn-down area with declining property values (pre-recession), empty storefronts, "slum landlords" and a dicey reputation.  One local business owner lamented to Palm Beach Post reporter Rhonda Swann in 2008 that "Northwood Village [the commercial district] has been up and coming for 25 years, and that's sad."

continued at Daily Kos....

Methane Cycle: Gas Production and Gas Release

by gmoke

Methane (CH4) is a much more effective greenhouse gas than CO2.  Methane is also fuel, natural gas.  Methane can be made from animal and human dung as well as other kinds of waste.
In Nepal, it is known as Gobar Gas:

“Gobar” is the Nepali word for cow dung. The “Gas” refers to biogas derived from the natural decay of dung, other waste products, and any biomass. In Nepal, villagers use buffalo, cow, human, and other waste products for biogas production. Pig and chicken dung are used in some places, as are raw kitchen wastes, including rotted vegetation....

The Nepalese government built nearly 200 small biogas plants in 1975/6, but decentralized methane digestion truly took off in 1992 when the Dutch group, SNV, launched a large program, including subsidy mechanisms and microfinance schemes, which led to the installation of approximately 204,000 units to date.
Michael Yon wonders if this could also work in Afghanistan.


continued at Daily Kos....