China has 1.3 billion people living within its borders and an economy growing at over 10% per year. For energy consumption to keep pace with economic growth China will have to harness every fuel source available including renewable energy and nuclear power. There is not enough gas and oil in the world to satisfy China, not with it's neighbour India with 1 billion people also having a huge demand for the same resources. An increase in the rise in personal car ownership alone could mean an extra billion cars on the road worldwide within the next 10 years. The majority of these will be in China and India.
While the West is considered developed and is growing slowly, the Chinese economy is still growing fast and is expanding the range of products and services that it offers to the West. Some of these products that are manufactured such as plastics and chemicals will require even more oil. As the Chinese economy expands then so will the demand. As people move from urban to rural areas, the use and availability of electricity and gas in the home will also increase causing further strain on its reserves.
This growing economy needs the energy to drive this growth, there is only a limited amount of fossil fuels in the world and the oil and gas will not last for ever. This is leading to increasing competing demands for a countires resources, be that in Latin America or Africa. It also means that everybody buys oil from countries that have appaliing human rights issues. If America stops buying oil from Sudan because it is persecuting its citizens?.China steps in to buy the oil and vice versa in countless countries around the world. Until recently, Chinese companies seemed most comfortable operating in locations not dominated by the major oil companies often owned by UK or USA companies. This means that countries like Angola and Iran have partnerships and joint ventures with the Chinese. For example, over half of Chinese overseas oil production currently comes from Sudan. In 2005 the Chinese wanted to buy a USA oil company but congress blocked this on the basis that national energy security was at stake. There is a little irony in that USA companies expect to buy energy companies all over the word, but if a key competitor wants to buy one of theirs and is even offering a higher price then the deal is blocked.
Nobody can argue that China now plays a key role in the supply and demand of many global commodity markets including steel, cement, and oil. This need for resources combined with the bags of cash from its economic growth means that China can afford to buy any oil field and rights anywhere in the world. A position that only the USA held in the past.
Some argue that the allied forces only went to war in Iraq to get their hands on the oil, time will tell if this true as oil production is currently lower than when Saddam was in power due to sabotage and security problems. Will the next war have oil as its stated aim and not Weapons of Mass Destruction?
Wood blinds have long been popular for reducing heat and light from penetrating windows and into homes. The thickness and heat absorbing qualities of wood make it a natural choice for insulating rooms from the hot afternoon sun, reducing energy costs. However, in recent years, new technologies have made wood blinds even more energy efficient.
Comfortex, Levolor and Hunter Douglas are some of the leading manufacturers of wood blinds. Comfortex, a twenty-year veteran of the wood blinds industry and the youngest of the three, has placed an emphasis on creating products that not only blog light, but also reduce cooling costs.
The company was founded with the assistance of the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority specifically to develop energy efficient window treatments. Today they offer a full line of window shades, blinds, and shutters.
Wood Alloy Blinds: Insulation and Durability The process of creating wood alloy is proprietary technique of blends real American hardwood with thermal polymers that create a material with the richness of real wood but with greater durability.
This technology is also environmentally friendly. By using less wood and by getting much of that wood from industrial byproducts, these blinds preserve natural resources. Comfortex offer two lines of window blinds that use this revolutionary material: Woodwinds and WoodChimes.
The Woodwinds line offers four slat profiles to match any decor: flat, plantation shutter, S-curve, and the recently-added beveled blinds. They these wood allow blinds offer superior light control and very good energy efficiency and UV blocking.
The WoodChimes line is a less expensive offering that still offers the advantages of wood alloy blinds. They are made with routeless slats to give tighter closure, a sleeker look, and superior privacy and light control.
Faux Wood Finishes to Reduce Environmental Decay and Damage Though wood has always been a popular choice for blinds, the downside of wood blinds is their susceptibility to warping, cracking, and fading. Faux wood solves this problem, but in the past has taken away from the rich, natural look that makes wood blinds so aesthetically pleasing.
The goal of any of faux wood product is to give the impression of wood combined with resistance to moisture and UV damage that will keep them from warping, cracking, or fading. Comfortex recently began using a new technique they call Fine Finish that gives these wood blinds a much deeper, more natural look. The blinds now have a richer stain and more dimensional grain that really enhances the illusion of real wood finish.
If you enjoy the look of wood blinds, there are many choices today that give you the look of wood and the insulation and longevity of man-made products. Your decision of whether you'll chose pure wood blinds, wood alloy blinds, or faux wood blinds depends on the environmental conditions in your area, price, and of course, personal preference.
Both Wez Wells & Christine Harrell are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
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