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A multi function low energy bulb!
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Thursday, 25 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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Browsing the web I found a new funny kind of low energy bulb: a bulb that clean the air and diffuse negatives ions, using 80% less energy than normal bulbs!
It uses two technologies:
- the photocatalysis, which is a relatively new technology that is now used in many applications like auto-cleaning glass and plaster, new generation air purifiers...
- air ionizing, which is supposed to increase the amount of negative ions in the air, like in deep forest or on the beach.
Might no be sufficient to clean the air of your home, but for sure the air around your bulbs will be a bit fresher!
French speaker can buy it on www.zone-ecolo.com
What do you think?
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Tuesday, 23 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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I was having at the look at the China Daily website today and I found this nice picture of Harbin, awaking in the smog. No comments...
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Tuesday, 09 January 2007,
Written by Julien
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After three weeks spent in Europe, regenerating my lungs in Alps, I am back in Beijing! I am back with many ideas and many projects regarding air pollution and health. (I'll give you more details soon)
I do not want to start this new year with bad news regarding air pollution, so I'll tell you what I learned this morning, which is directly linked to my last post in December:
I was chatting with the taxi driver on the way back from the airport, discussing the usual topics: China, France, family, air pollution, and finally came the 2008 Olympics. And do you know what? During the whole Olympics, there will be special holidays for all the industries not related to the Games. That mean that during the Olympics, the athletes (and us) will be able to breathe crystal clean air!!!
Anyway, 2007 is just starting and 2008 is still far. I wish you a happy new year, with health, health and health!
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Another Chinese solution!
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Thursday, 14 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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As you know, the aim of this blog is to talk about pollution, but also to try to find solutions. Here is an example of a solution found by Beijing Government.
People that were in Beijing during the Sino-African summit in November remember that during all the summit, we had a wonderful weather. Coincidence or Chinese miracle?
I found back among my emails the instructions from the Circulation Bureau for the summit. Here below are some of these instructions (see on the map):
- 80% of service vehicles (vehicles from administrations) shall stay parked
- no trucks allowed within 4th ring road
- cars from other provinces not allowed in town
- working hours changed in many companies
- empty taxis not allowed on some main avenues
- ...
This solution worked well for a two days diplomatic summit, but how will it work during the month-long 2008 Olympics? Do you have some clues?
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Wednesday, 13 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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I have a big default for someone living in Beijing and being concerned about air pollution: I love outdoor and urban sports. Notably, I like inline skates, and lately I've been using them a lot to move around.
I know! It is not such a good idea! Most people would think that skating is dangerous, especially in Beijing traffic, but I am used to it now and I had less troubles on skates than on bicycle. I think the main problem is for my lungs, rolling along ring roads or next to construction works.
After the pollution peak we experienced yesterday, I decided to do something for my health. I've been to B&Q and finally bought a mask:
It is definitely ugly and might not be that efficient, but a little is better than nothing. At least, the few particles that this mask stops do not arrive in my mouth and my nose.
Would you be ready to wear one as well?
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Tuesday, 12 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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We saw it, we smelled it, we felt it and ... now we have some evidences: yesterday was a really polluted day in Beijing.
The index rang a bell today, reaching the maximum: 500, grade V! This means particle matters (PM10) with a concentration higher than 600µg/m3!!! Last time we reached such a level in Beijing was in on May 7th, so 7 months before!
Yesterday, I wrote that what is considered as "good" in Beijing is "very bad" in Paris! But with such levels as today, I guess Paris would be "frozen", under major alert: no school for children, no cars at all, no industry, radio broadcasting messages requesting people to draughtproof all windows and external doors!
Did you see that in Beijing?
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Is Beijing more polluted than Paris? (2)
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Monday, 11 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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I spent some time recently looking more precisely on the calculations of the indexes in Beijing, and I thought it could be interesting to compare the target with Paris indexes.
The target of Beijing city is to have more than 200 days of "blue sky" a year, which means having an air pollution index lower than II (good). In Paris, the air pollution index goes from 1 to 10, 4 and below being considered as good.
For each pollutant, I converted the Beijing index to Paris index... here are the results:
| Pollutant | Beijing index | Concentration Max | Paris index |
|---|
| SO2 | II | Good | 150µg/m3 | 4 | Good | | NO2 | II | Good | 120µg/m3 | 5 | Medium | | PM10 (particles) | II | Good | 150µg/m3 | 10 | Very bad |
The conclusion is that compared to Paris, the targets of Beijing Municipality are reasonable for NO2 and SO2. Regarding particles, the difference is huge and kind of worrying!
And you, what do you think?
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Is Beijing more polluted than Paris?
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Wednesday, 06 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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I was recently discussing with someone living in Beijing for quite a while, and he told me: "Every one says that Beijing is polluted, but are you sure that it is really more polluted than Paris?" This question might seem stupid for anyone who breathed in Beijing for more than a month, but the answer is not that straightforward.
For example, ozone is a pollutant that normal people do not notice even if ozone have a big impact on health. On the other hand, everyone is concerned by the dust, which has very little impact because most of the dust is stopped by the nose and the mouth.
To answer this question, I decided to compare official figures provided by Paris and Beijing pollution bureau. First observation, the data provided by Paris bureau is more detailed than the data provided by Beijing. For Beijing, only 4 pollutants are provided: SO2, NO2, PM10 (particles) and CO. Notably, ozone is not included in Beijing data.
Anyway, let's compare data on the same basis, so only for those four pollutants.
Here are the data:
| Paris | Beijing |
|---|
| SO2 | 6 | 50 | | NO2 | 37 | 66 | | PM10 | 20 | 142 | | CO | 400 | 2000 |
The data above are yearly averages for 2005. Units: µg/m3
Unfortunately, the result is clear: on a yearly basis, Beijing is much more polluted than Paris! Notably, PM10 are 7 times more present in Beijing, and CO 5 times!
These data are considered on yearly basis and do not show the variations that can occur on a daily basis. I hope I can compare the daily data sooner or later.
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Read more...
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Monday, 04 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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As I said in my introductory message, it is not that useful talking about pollution if we do not have a look to the possible solutions! Chinese people do try to reduce the discomfort coming from the pollution, as shown by this girl, riding bicycle along the second ring road, wearing a surgical mask...
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Read more...
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Sunday, 03 December 2006,
Written by Julien
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Let's continue the set of pictures, with another kind of pollution: the construction works and the dust and particles they generate...
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