With blistering summer temperature around much of Europe, it may be hard to convince people to think about heat pumps . But a push for more renewable energy plus the ongoing war in Ukraine and the curtailing of Russian gas and oil means there has hardly been a more pressing time. A heat pump is a system that moves around thermal energy. There are a number of different types of devices based on what they use, including exhaust air, ground and water. Ground-source heat pump equipment taps into the nearly constant temperature below the soil's surface. These geothermal heat pumps draw heat into a building in winter and remove warm air in summer, acting like an air-conditioner. This type of system uses a network of water-filled pipes that are either laid horizontally a few feet underground or pipes drilled vertically much deeper into the Earth's core. Advocates say the systems can be used nearly anywhere and are cheaper to run than other heating and air-conditioning systems like … [Read more...] about Can heat pumps be the answer to higher energy costs?
Best batteries for solar energy storage
DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Boris Johnson is still the best man to lead Britain
The Prime Minister returns to his desk today after an impressive display of statesmanship on the world stage. Following a Commonwealth conference in Rwanda aimed at building a common future, he returned to Europe to galvanise Nato and a wavering G7 into hardening their support for Ukraine. Sadly, though, his achievements were overshadowed by yet another Tory sleaze row, leading to inevitable further attacks on his leadership. There are even reports that rebel backbenchers are plotting another attempt at regicide – just a month after the last one failed. When will this self-mutilation end? Yes, the Chris Pincher affair is ghastly and should have been handled better. But there are far bigger issues at stake. There's a painful cost of living crunch, war in Europe and a migration crisis. Meanwhile, Tony Blair and his embittered Remainer chums are on a renewed mission to strangle Brexit. The Prime Minister returns to his desk today after an impressive display of … [Read more...] about DAILY MAIL COMMENT: Boris Johnson is still the best man to lead Britain
Bioplant experts say Feilding waste-to-energy plant will work as intended
A duo of experts consulting for a company wanting to turn rubbish collected in Manawatū into various useable products says the technology is sound and will not pollute the environment. Bioplant NZ has applied to Horizons Regional Council for resource consents it needs to build a pyrolysis plant on land leased from Manawatū Regional Council in Feilding next to the town’s transfer station. According to the Ministry for the Environment, pyrolysis involves heating waste without exposure to oxygen, which then produces gas, liquid and solids. Bioplant needs consents from Horizons to discharge gases to the air. READ MORE: Air quality experts say Manawatū pyrolysis plant will have almost no impact Manawatū waste-to-fuel plant touted as way to turn rubbish into energy Feilding pyrolysis plant consent process to be publicly notified Concerns over Bioplant's resource consent for waste-to-energy plant Scientists doubt pyrolysis plant is as green as marketing suggests … [Read more...] about Bioplant experts say Feilding waste-to-energy plant will work as intended
Christopher Fry
Christopher Fry, who has died, aged 97, was, with TS Eliot, the leading figure in the revival of poetic drama that took place in Britain in the late 1940s. His most popular play, The Lady's Not For Burning, ran for nine months in the West End in 1949. But although Fry was a sacrificial victim of the theatrical revolution of 1956, he bore his fall from fashion with the stoic grace of a Christian humanist and increasingly turned his attention to writing epic films, most notably Ben Hur (1959). Fry, who was born in Bristol, came to the theatre via schoolteaching. He attended Bedford modern school, acted briefly in Bath, then taught at the Bedford Froebel kindergarten and at a preparatory school in Limpsfield, Surrey, before chucking it up to found the Tunbridge Wells Repertory Players in 1932. He ran the company for three years, directing the English premiere of Shaw's Village Wooing. He went on to write lyrics and music - including a song called I'll Snatch The Man From The Moon … [Read more...] about Christopher Fry
Full transcript of “Face the Nation” on July 3, 2022
On this "Face the Nation" broadcast moderated by Margaret Brennan: Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas Rep. Adam Schiff , Democrat of California German Chancellor Olaf Scholz Dr. Henning Tiemeier of Harvard University Click here to browse full transcripts of "Face the Nation." MARGARET BRENNAN: I'm Margaret Brennan in Washington. And on this Fourth of July weekend on Face the Nation, we will look at the challenges facing an increasingly divided America. President Biden's message after a week of consultation with our closest allies on the issues threatening global stability: All is well with our friends. The biggest threat to the world view of America is from within. (Begin VT) JOE BIDEN (President of the United States): You haven't found one person - - one world leader to say America is going backwards. America is better positioned to lead the world than we ever have been. The one thing that has been destabilizing is the outrageous … [Read more...] about Full transcript of “Face the Nation” on July 3, 2022
Cameroonian activist pushed for restitution of deity
Restitution activist Njobati Sylvie could not hide her joy when Germany's Prussian Cultural Heritage Foundation announced that a statue of Ngonnso would be returned to Cameroon. Ngonnso is a mother deity of the Nso people in northwestern Cameroon. A statue of her was taken by Kurt von Pavel, a German colonial officer in Cameroon, who subsequently donated her to Berlin's Ethnological Museum in 1903. "I feel super elated, it has been a journey that has culminated to a win for the Nso community, Cameroon and by and large the entire African continent," Njobati told DW. Ngonnso has a central role for the Nso as she is considered a mother deity The restitution journey Njobati started the Twitter campaign #BringBackNgonnso in 2020, which played a large part in raising awareness for the restitution cause. But her activism actually started before that — when she decided to reconnect with her Nso heritage and trace her roots. Njobati grew up in Cameroon's Anglophone region … [Read more...] about Cameroonian activist pushed for restitution of deity
‘You can smell where the money is’: Graeme Hart and his innate sense of commerce
Graeme Hart says he was a “terrible” student who was encouraged to leave school as soon as he turned 15, but once he found what he loved – business and commerce – there was no stopping him. Now 67 and New Zealand’s richest man, Hart says he looks back on his early experiences and on reflection finds them “entirely predictable”. A very independent person, he didn’t enjoy school, but outside of the classroom he had a “wicked” work ethic, and was always working after school and in the school holidays. He funnelled his energy into buying and fixing up cars, pulling apart engines in the family lounge and filling the garage with tools and cars. So after the career guidance counsellor at Mt Roskill Grammar took him aside and suggested he might like to leave school the following day on his 15th birthday, it was a natural transition to get an apprenticeship as a panel beater. READ MORE: Business Hall of Fame: Kiwi entrepreneurs honoured New Zealand's richest person donates … [Read more...] about ‘You can smell where the money is’: Graeme Hart and his innate sense of commerce
Nutrition expert explains why your diet isn’t working from stress to not chewing
How many of us have tried to improve our diet only to throw in the towel just days or weeks down the line? There are so many tips out there about what foods to eat - and which to avoid - it can be mind-bogglingly difficult to find out what works the best for you. As such it can all become rather overwhelming, but thankfully help is at hand. Before putting things right with your diet, it's vital look at what's wrong with it. Here, nutrition expert Lauryn Lax at BreakingMuscle.com outlines the main reasons why your diet isn’t working - and how to fix it. Want to get the latest health news direct to your inbox? Sign up for the Mirror Health newsletter HERE A great addition to your diet - avocados are rich in potassium, fibre and vitamins B, E and C ( Image: Getty Images) You’re not eating enough fat Diets that exclude or drastically limit fat tend to replace all those missing calories with carbohydrates, which sets you up to ride the blood sugar … [Read more...] about Nutrition expert explains why your diet isn’t working from stress to not chewing
700,000 soldiers defending Ukraine now, Zelenskyy says, as battles rage in the Donbas
Some 700,000 Ukrainian soldiers are now actively participating in defending the country, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a televised interview on Saturday. In comparison, Russia deployed anywhere between 100,000 to 190,000 troops when it launched its invasion on 24 February, with the exact numbers of currently active units unclear. Meanwhile, the Moscow forces continued their assault in the east after claiming victory in Mariupol on Friday as the last Ukrainian defenders holed up in Azovstal laid down their arms. Read more about the day's developments in our live blog below. 05.21.2022 10:03 Saturday's key points: Russia suspended its gas delivery to Finland on Saturday morning in response to the country's NATO membership bid. The Russian military says it has fully taken over the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol after the last Ukrainian fighters gave themselves up. Earlier, Moscow said more than 1,900 Ukrainian fighters … [Read more...] about 700,000 soldiers defending Ukraine now, Zelenskyy says, as battles rage in the Donbas
South Canterbury community calling retiring District Court Judge Joanna Maze
Retiring Judge Joanna Maze, is looking forward to losing her anonymity in the South Canterbury community she loves but has remained at arm’s length from for the past 11 years. Maze, Timaru's resident District Court judge since September 2011, finished her final court sitting on Friday with "a courtesy farewell between bench and bar" and told The Timaru Herald she made the decision to retire "when I knew that I was beginning to run out of energy ... and a sense that I wanted to have some time left still to do things for myself". "It's a job where you have to maintain a degree of separateness in your life, and that does suit my personality, and this has been a wonderful community to be part of, but I'm ready to be more part of it and that isn't entirely consistent with being a judge in a small community,’’ she said. "South Canterbury really is a delightful community. The people have good values, it is a caring community, it is an ideal size. It's more like a big village really. … [Read more...] about South Canterbury community calling retiring District Court Judge Joanna Maze