Steam Center Blog

The Climate Change Debate And the five myths that surround the subject A n active debate is taking place in the world about climate change. Many believe that because of fossil fuels use, carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas has been increasing steadily in the atmosphere, and this is leading to adverse climate changes that include an overall warming of the planet as also more frequent adverse climate extremes that are devastating for human habitations whenever they take place. As a result, the objective of limiting such emissions is being pursued by many organizations, governments and individuals. Carbon dioxide levels have gone up from around 0.02 percent (200ppm) in preceding centuries to around 0.04 percent(400 ppm)  presently T he opponents to such attempts on the other hand fall in two categories. First are those that say that carbon dioxide levels are too miniscule in the atmosphere to make a difference and in fact it is a good gas and we need more of it. The s...

  A Low Cost squat toilet for use in rural homes W hile it seems that indoor toilets were invented in India five thousand years ago in Indus valley civilization, the intervening centuries of poverty have caused these to disappear from many homes, especially in rural India. The outdoors is used as an open toilet to defecate under the open skies. With increasing population this is leading to pollution of water sources and other health hazards. The present Indian government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken to change the situation. In this process the search for cheaper viable alternatives is required in order to accelerate the process. Existing Squat toilets The existing squat toilets are primarily made out of two materials, the ceramic toilet and the stainless steel toilet that are used in railway coaches. A third new alternative that is cheaper on the whole and quicker to install as well as lighter to transport is now described. The New stain...

A proposed revolutionary new scheme to end open defecation in India A New Scheme is proposed here for consideration by the Honorable Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Government of India While indoor toilets, covered drains and sewerage systems were developed in India five thousand years ago in the famed Indus Valley civilization ( see here ), widespread poverty in the intervening centuries has led to many homes without a kitchen or bathroom across India. The outdoors is used for both. This works fine from a health point of view for kitchens but it is a disaster for public health when the outdoors is used as a toilet. It has also led to security issues especially as regards women. It is not safe to venture out after dark. Need: While the need has been felt to prevent open defecation in rural India, there is a greater need for schemes that create incentives for the task. The present note describes a lottery scheme that has the potential for creation of...

Solar Energy A n earlier note in this blog described how Solar Photo Voltaic systems are mankind’s energy hopes for the future. There is an even more desperate need for it in India where insufficient electricity production is holding back the development of the country. Just as a human cannot perform without sufficient food, a modern economy cannot progress without sufficient electricity, nor can the quality of life of humans improve without it. While India is making progress in policies for solar parks, a more advantageous option of roof-top solar energy is being missed. Individual roof-top systems benefit the consumer directly, save on precious land resources and eliminate transmission losses. However before it becomes feasible a roof-top policy is required. The three things required for this are A policy to permit individual home-owners to link their solar PV systems to the grid so that they can draw from the grid or feed into it while getting credi...

Ma Ganga in Varanasi W ith increasing population the once pure river Ganges has become a highly polluted river. The current government is seized with the problem. This note contains two brief suggestions towards this end. The solutions are such that they can be implemented within a year with low expenditure to purify the sacred river. The Problem of Religious Waste Many religious items are discarded in the Ganges after religious ceremonies because to discard such items in flowing water that lead to the oceans is the most respected way. However, these are also causing pollution therefore a method is suggested here that will preserve both the purity of Ma Ganga and religious sentiments as well. The solution is to install incineration plants on the banks of the river in religious towns so that the items are first pulverized and then incinerated before the ashes and pulverized materials are discarded in the Ganges through a continuous conveyor belt system. The system i...

E lectronic books are a great idea because They cost much less to produce Save resources such as trees Can be procured quick as a download can be searched electronically Need very little space to store entire libraries Students can procure their lot of text books as a pen drive or download However, traditional books have an advantage in that one can open two pages at a time. Therefore this note presents the concept of a new book reader that reads like a traditional book. It has dual touch screens hinged in the middle so that they can be folded and closed like a book. Dual touch screen devices do exist but it does not seem that they are designed and sized specifically as a book reader. Two pages at a time can appear on a single screen but they do not fold like pages of a real book. The hope is that this blog post would catch the eye of a manufacturer or a consortium and it will take off. If they are hesitant that it would be a copyright...

A Pond T he term "blue revolution" refers to the development of lakes and ponds with rapid introduction of aquaculture as an important and productive agricultural activity.  Aquaculture has long been practiced in China where freshwater fish have been grown as food in managed ponds for thousands of years. In recent decades, however, the practice of aquaculture has spread around the world and emerged as a profitable new introduction to agricultural activities “The rapid development of aquaculture in recent years has been likened to a Blue Revolution that matches the Green Revolution of higher grain yields from the 1950s onward.”    J. D. Sachs, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/promise-of-the-blue-revolution-july-2007/ Why a Blue Revolution is urgently needed The New Prime Minister of India, Shri Narendra Modi has emphasized the need for such a blue revolution in India. Aside from its agricultural contribution, there is an even more urg...

Use of Proportional tax for Corporations to prevent dangers of  'Too Big' M ost corporations are held by private owners or groups of private share holders. At times a state owns a corporation but these latter have not proved to be very efficient over the long run in meeting human needs, except in areas that are inherently noble-services oriented such as health and education, where the profit motive dilutes the very purpose of that service. While corporations meet human needs, some become so large and so profitable that they can even have an adverse and controlling impact on humans. Private corporations usually function with an aim of maximizing profits and not human welfare. Therefore, it is not surprising if a corporation that has become a giant begins to exploit humans rather than serving them. If shades of George Orwell's 1984 have arrived on the planet, it is  more because of corporate action rather than government action. In the very least corporate b...

Public Transportation driven by Solar electricity. M ost humans continue to live in villages, towns and cities of a bygone era compromised by over development. In the meantime, there have been huge changes in technology, life styles and human aspirations over the last few decades. It goes without saying that existing designs are not optimal for future lifestyles. Therefore, whenever a new city, town or village is established a completely fresh approach is required. One of the considerations required in future settlements is the ability to be able to connect to information highways of the world, not just cities but all human settlements that include villages. Further while villages would like to avail of services that are available in urban areas, new towns and cities would like to avail of green spaces that are available in rural areas. The new cities of the future have to be both smart and green, while new rural areas have to be smart as well. It is also necessary...

  Minimum essential components of a modern urban road on which motor vehicles are permitted I ndia has become famous as a country in the world where most deaths take place on its roads. Such deaths take place on highways and on urban roads. The present note is restricted to deaths on urban roads and how to prevent them. Three major factors that influence the rate of such deaths are:- Behavior of humans on roads Road and traffic laws and their implementation Road design Let us consider these three factors briefly here. Behavior of Humans :   A chaotic and undisciplined behavior of humans anywhere is unpleasant and uncomfortable. When such behavior is combined with high speed and heavy vehicles, it results in death, maiming and crippling from time to time. Overcoming such behavior requires basic education. That is a separate topic needing a full discussion of its own. Road behavior is also dependent on traffic and road regulations...