EcoPol Project

That's Gonna Leave a Mark!

2012-01-30T18:44:00.000-08:00

Even with so much access to the internet, there are stillmany situations where we encounter printed materials, which need electricity,paper, and ink to be produced. We allknow that printing with recycled paper products can help us preserve preciousnatural resources, but did you know that many of the inks we use arepetroleum-based?

It is estimated that two liters of oil are consumed forevery commercial toner cartridge produced, and that U.S. commercial and governmentagencies use more than 100 million cartridges of toner a year. In addition, these figures do not take intoaccount the amount of oil need to produce inkjet printer ink for personalprinters, or the amount of oil that is needed to make the cartridges that holdthe ink.

Thankfully, there are multiple alternatives to usingpetroleum-based inks. One suchalternative is soy-based inks, which use much less, but still contain smallamounts of oil. The most eco-friendlyoptions are vegetable-based or petroleum-free inks, which do not contain anypetroleum.

By choosing to use environmentally responsible inks overconventional inks and advocating for the same change in both government andprivate production, we can greatly decrease the amount of oil that we consume. If we add using recycled paper and recyclingold and used ink cartridges to the equation, then we can affect great changewith little effort and make significant progress in eliminating the need forpetroleum while protecting our natural resources and the environment.

Sources:

Soy Print

http://www.soyprint.net/default.htm

1-800-Recycling.com

http://1800recycling.com/2010/11/soy-ink-petroleum-ink-recycling-greener/

What's In A Name?

2012-01-29T19:46:00.000-08:00

(via: http://www.organicauthority.com)

You'd likely assume that something called a chicken nugget would consist of chicken, right? You might want to think again. Considering the fact that United States boasts the highest yearly fast food consumption, as well as the largest oil consumption of any country, I'd say it's high time that we make some connections here.

Truth be told, about 50% of a fast food chicken nugget is made up of synthetic ingredients, coming straight from (you guessed it)...a petroleum plant. You probably didn't think about the fact that it could just as accurately be called a dimethylpolysiloxane nugget that you're dunking into your BBQ sauce (main ingredient: high fructose corn syrup). Or perhaps not even the fact that your flavor enhanced "chicken" likely travelled hundreds of miles in an ammonia-induced frozen state in the back of a semi truck before reaching your tray.

We've long established that fast food has an extremely negative impact on our waistlines and cholesterol levels, and we're now becoming more aware of it's negative impact on our environment. So let's quickly address the pros. Convenience? Speed? More bang for your buck?

It certainly delivers a bang alright, but is it really the kind we're looking for? Perhaps it's time to reconsider hitting that drive thru for dinner...

Sources:
Fast Food Nation, by Eric Schlosser
http://nutrition.mcdonalds.com/nutritionexchange/ingredientslist.pdf
http://www.nationmaster.com/red/pie/ene_oil_con-energy-oil-consumption
http://www.organicauthority.com/foodie-buzz/what-is-in-fast-food-chicken-hint-its-not-chicken.html

The Hidden Problem With Oil

2012-01-27T10:37:00.001-08:00

I am writing this post from my house in California. I am writing this post on my laptop. My room is furnished with a desk, a chair and a bed. My house is furnished with couches, TV stands, other chairs and various decorations such as bamboo, flowers, paintings and 2 televisions. I am working under a source of light that is coming from a light bulb that hangs just above my desk. All of these products depended on the use of petroleum in order to get to me. They were all shipped in some fashion using gas powered trucks or planes.

My computer was made in part due to petroleum. The electricity that is powering my computer and my light source comes from petroleum. I don’t know exactly which power plant, but it is a safe bet to say that the power source is either gas or coal. Burning coal is an extremely inefficient method of energy. The food I have just eaten for lunch came to me by the use of petroleum. I bought it at a grocery store in which I had to travel to using a gas powered car. Though my car gets about 25 miles per gallon, I still consumed gas to get to the grocery store. All the food at the grocery store arrived via truck. This truck was also powered by gas; without the use of gas powered trucks and cars I would not have anything to eat.

The clothes on my back were made in part because of petroleum. At the plant where my clothes are made, the light sources are powered by petroleum. The machines that sew the threads together are made with petroleum. The tag on my shirt indicates that it was made in Honduras. How did it get from Honduras to me? Whether it is by boat or by plane or by truck, there is definitely gas and/or petroleum being consumed in order for my shirt to get to me in the United States.

The problem with petroleum, or oil, is that it is the back bone of our society. What happens when it becomes scarcer than it is now? We deeply depend on foreign oil and as time passes our dependency increases. It is now imperative that we come up with alternative forms of energy. Solar and wind power are great sources of energy. But how do we wane ourselves off of our oil dependence? Petroleum is the basis for nearly every aspect of our society. Most of us heat our houses in the winter using gas. Gas bills continue to rise as it is harder and harder to find enough resources to fill the demand.

Many of the environmental problems the world faces today can be traced back to fossil fuel dependence (UCS). The effect of fossil fuel dependency can be vividly clear when we look at the BP oil spill that happened a couple years ago off the Gulf Coast. Millions of gallons of oil were spilled into the water. This inhibited fisher men from doing their job. Careers were in jeopardy because of the pollution that occurred. Aside from the impact on humans, many of the natural wild life were in jeopardy due to the water being contaminated with so much oil. I recall seeing pictures of birds that were covered in oil. It was made clear that humans are disrupting the natural order of things by going after oil. Not only the native wildlife was put in jeopardy, but many restaurants and tourist attractions were put in jeopardy because of the oil spill. Countless workers wondered where they would get their pay check because of the pollution that was caused.

References:

"The Hidden Cost of Fossil Fuels." Union of Concerned Citizens. (2002): 3-1. Web. 27 Jan. 2012. <http://www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/technology_and_impacts/impacts/the-hidden-cost-of-fossil.html>.

Guide To Good Eating

2012-01-26T14:28:00.000-08:00

Something a lot of us seem to overlook is the kind of journey our meals go on before they reached our stomachs. Did they come on a big truck across the US? Were they flown in or did they come from another country by boat as an import? Even more so than thinking about the journey, even few of us probably give much thought to what kind of resources it takes to ensure that delicious home-cooked dinner your mom makes every Sunday reaches the kitchen table. Thousands of gallons of oil are used every year to transport food products across the country. Oil that could be saved or used elsewhere if we made an effort to eat more local foods.

That's where the Eat Well Guide comes in. This super-easy-to-navigate website is an awesome resource in helping to find better ways to eat. Not only are the foods they have listed healthy, fresh and organic, but this guide also helps to locate delicious options that are grown right near you--so they don't have to travel very far to reach your table. You can search by your zip code to find the stores and restaurants nearest to you, as well as search specifically for products that you might be in need of. Thanks to this guide I recently found an absolutely delightful all-natural pizza parlor less than ten minutes from my house. YUM!

Wax 101

2012-01-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

If you're anything like me, then you collect candles and burn them in your home, mostly for relaxation-purposes. What you might not realize, however, is that most of these candles are made with paraffin wax, which is derived from crude oil and contains petroleum (a non-renewable resource) by-products. This means that, when burned, they contribute to indoor air contamination, by emitting petro-chemicals that lead to soot deposits.

A better alternative is to look for candles based on beeswax or soy-based waxes. These are better for the air, as the are all-natural, and non-hazardous. And unlike paraffin wax, it is biodegradable. Check out the site below, where you can buy these natural candles, or look for them in your own area.

http://www.mountainroseherbs.com/candle/candlelight.html

Source:
Ecomall: A Place To Help Save The Earth
http://www.ecomall.com/greenshopping/soycandles.htm

How Much Petroleum Cost on Our Health, on Environment and on Economy !

2012-01-25T21:21:00.000-08:00

Petroleum is used in our technology, food and equipment. Simply, we can say that “Petroleum” is considered the secret of our era! Although we appreciate the importance of petroleum and how it simplifies our lives, we know that how using petroleum too much brings a lot of negative impacts to our health, to our economy and to our environment. Thus, lots of researchers devote their time to study the cost of using petroleum in our lives.

It is observed in the majority of countries that consume a lot of petroleum. For Example, California consumed around $ 160 million last year and this amount raises every year. That will affect negatively the economic status. When we had a look at how petroleum cost our economy and health, we found it in transportation as an example. In crowded cities, more petroleum is consumed in transportation and that cost around $17.3 billion in 2003. However, transportation is one cause of air pollution and that is dangerous sign for health problems and environmental impairment. It is calculated that $ 12.3 billion per year is spent on hospitalizations as a result of air pollution, while 70$ billion is spent a year on health-related prevention procedures from death.

Environment is also affected from different aspects. Air pollution is the first effect which is considered a result of excess transportation and that leads to global warming which is considered a world problem these days. The second effect is on plants. In other words, air pollution affects the farming, especially the soil. The Oceans is also affected from cruise liners and merchants. All of that leads societies and governments to find practical solutions to reduce the negative effects and cost of petroleum by using alternative fuels and oils.

Reference:

Shears. J. (2006). Bottom of the Barrel: the Hidden Cost of Petroleum Use in California. Research

Coordinator Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies.

http://www.ceert.org.

Petroleum In Everyday Products

2012-01-24T23:28:00.000-08:00

Most people only think of a handful of applications for the use of petroleum. However, there are thousands of ways that petroleum is used within products that most people utilize on a regular basis. This is scary because of the harmful effects that long-term exposure to doses of petroleum can have on the human system. Here is the beginning of a long list of products that contain petroleum. Some of the categories include many plastics, cosmetics, medical equipment, clothing, paints, and other materials. Petroleum is one of our main sources of energy, but with the advancements in alternative energy, hopefully that won't be true for long. Avoiding products with hidden petroleum in them can help the environment and help yourself from being exposed to too much of this chemical.

Think You Can’t Make a Difference? Think Again.

2012-01-24T17:46:00.000-08:00

These days, most of us are all too aware of the unfavorable carbon footprint weare leaving for future generations. We hear it all the time, from government, media, environmentalists, and so on. There is no doubtthat as a country, we rely far too heavily on oil, and as a result, aredepleting our natural resources at an alarming rate. If you’re like many people, you probably think that you needto drive a Prius, grow your own food, and live in a solar powered house inorder to make a difference. I’mhere to tell you that this not the case.

We all know the basics: drive less; walk more, turn offlights, buy organic, etc. But have you everactually stopped to think about the hiddensources of oil consumption? Thingssuch as bubble gum, crayons, and chopsticks? These are examples of items that fly under the radar so to speak, and there are far more of these hidden sources than one might think. Click herefor a product list that will have you shaking your head in disbelief.

The truth is, as individuals, we have far more power than we know. Do you remember when reusable grocerybags became a trend? Well, that one“small” choice made by earth conscious shoppers certainly got the attention ofthe government, who is now placing bans on plastic bags in many US cities. That one small step has led to a quitelarge leap in our nations conservation efforts. And it goes even further than that. It was reported by CNN that China will reduce it’s oil consumption by 37 million barrels eachyear because of their ban on plastic bags. Not such a small step anymore, right?

The point is, there are numerous other steps we can take thatcan have a major impact on our environment. The key is awareness and understanding. Once we know the impact we have asindividuals, we can focus our attention on making a concerted effort towards agreener world. Below is a link toan interactive site that educates on the use of oil in our daily lives. Check it out, and don’t ever hesitateto make that small change, whatever it may be. Who knows, it just could end up being the new "green" trend.

http://www.priweb.org/ed/pgws/uses/uses_home.html

The Hidden Oil In Your Food

2012-01-24T09:00:00.000-08:00

Quick, where have you used oil today? Did you think ofyour car? Maybe you use oil to heat your residence, or as a lubricant for amachine you own? There is another use of oil that is rarely discussed, foodproduction.

Food production in the United States uses oil for growing,processing, storage and preparation during transportation and at home,packaging, and food retailing and catering. The Earth Policy Institute hasresearched the relative amounts of oil each food production activity consumes. One of the striking results from the research is that the United Statesconsumes as much energy on food production in one year as France.

One of the largest uses of oil in food production istransportation and storage during transportation. It is now possible to enterany well stocked supermarket and be relatively sure of having fresh fruits andvegetables from thousands of miles away available for purchase. Most likelythat produce was transported to the market using oil. Perishable items such asfruits and vegetables require energy intensive methods of storage, typically byair and truck. Buying local is one way to minimize the oil footprint of thefruit and vegetables you consume.

Another hidden use of oil in the food network is the use ofinorganic fertilizer and pesticides verses organic based farming methods. Thereis a marked increase in the amount of oil used to mine the chemicals necessaryfor inorganic fertilizer versus organic methods such as using manure or a croprotation method. Buying organic food at the store is another way to reduce youroil footprint.

Can we live world without crude oil?

2012-01-24T04:07:00.000-08:00

Life as we know it today would be extremely difficultwithout crude oil. The name of petroleum come from Greek Language petra” or “petros” which means rock, and the Latin word “oleum”which means oil or fat. Ever since human has discovered oil and natural gas has touched ourlives in countless ways every day and every generations. We useto fuel our cars, heat our homes and cook our food, wearclothes made with oil. Oil has a bloody history and it created so manyconflicts in our world as well environment crises but the benefit is great ifwe use wisely.

Source:

The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries(OPEC)

opec.org

The Oil Weapon

2012-01-23T21:57:00.000-08:00

Crude oil has managed tobecome the most essential commodity of our time. Becoming one of the dominatingforces with the ability to drive or sink any nation’s economy. Wars have beenfought and lost for the purposes of oil diplomacy. Oil has become what sugarwas to imperial Spain, the spice trade to the Mongolians, and king cotton tothe antebellum south. Dismantling its infrastructurealong with its dependencies’ would ensure a power shift across the globe.

Roger Stern’s article “Oil Market Power and United States NationalSecurity” highlights some of the driving forces of oil diplomacy with whathe calls the oil weapon. Stern’s describes the oil weapon as an embargo toolimposed by the oil producing nations as a means of attack for the intended nation’seconomy. While the oil weapon has never been used Stern’s suggest that the fearof such an attack is driving factor for the US appeasement policy in the MiddleEast.

After reading about the oil weapon I was of Iran’s threat ofclosing the straits of Hormuz, which according to Caitlin Talmadge article “Closing Time” traffics around 90% of theentire Gulf’s oil. Luckily for the US Iran didn’t go along with this threat.

Sources:

Closing Time by CaitlinTalmadge

http://belfercenter.ksg.harvard.edu/files/IS3301_pp082-117_Talmadge.pdf

Oil Market Power andUnited States National Security by Roger Sterns

http://www.jstor.org/stable/30048427

Pacific Plastic Island: Tropical Getaway or Chemical Wasteland?

2012-01-22T17:55:00.000-08:00

A typical flight from Hawaii to Japan takes nearly 7 hours. If you happen to get so lucky and take the long route over the Pacific Plastic Island, you would see a large floating rubbish collection nearly twice the size of Texas starting off the coast California, passing by Hawaii, and ultimately reaching the coast of Japan. Although fairly new in its discovery, spotted first in the early 90’s by American Oceanographer, Charles Moore, the Pacific Plastic Island has already been accredited with bringing several species of marine life to near extinction, and the effects are multiplying each year people don’t recycle and industry boats and beach visitors litter.

In 2006, America produced an estimated 1.3 million tons of plastic PET water bottles, requiring the energy equivalent of 50 million barrels of oil, and 76.5 of these bottles ended up in landfills or the ocean. This 100 million ton flotsam has everything from plastic water bottles to legos to kayaks. It is not only long in its stretch, but also has an incredible depth, researchers finding vast areas extending all the way to the ocean floor.

A garbage patch by any other name would smell as sour. This coagulated pile of waste has many names, often referred to as the Trash Vortex or the Great Pacific Garbage Patch, but either way you say it, this destructive accumulation accounts for millions of wildlife deaths, toxic emissions, and a growing set of issues that cannot be reversed. An estimated several hundred leatherback turtles die each year because they swallow plastic nurdles (lentil-sized pellets of plastic accounting for 10% of all marine plastic debris). These miniature pollutants act as chemical sponges, and once they are consumed, they enter the food chain for generations to come, even landing on our dinner plates.

It is important to know that we as humans do not have a magic wand to erase our trash. It is building up in our oceans and with the durability of today’s materials, it will not be going away any time in this century. Reducing the amount of plastic-packaged products in one’s every day life will not only lower the amount of petroleum oil needed to produce such items, but also reduce the hazardous effects on animal and plant sea life. Check out the video on the following link to see these “modern day marine tumbleweeds” (Greenpeace, 2012).

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/oceans/pollution/trash-vortex/

Avoid cosmetics that contain petrochemicals

2012-01-22T14:10:00.000-08:00

One way to preserve our finite supply of petroleum may be easier than you think. You can choose to stop putting it on your face. That’s right. Many cosmetics contain petrochemicals, and lip gloss flaunts a petroleum based formulation that shows up on many women’s lips.

If you’re interested in finding another way to keep your pout shiny, try making your own sustainable gloss with this tutorial from Planet Green. You can even reuse an old container.

Lip gloss is just a starting point. You may be surprised by the petro- ingredients in your shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, and nail polish as well. Keep harmful chemicals out of your beauty routine by limiting the number of products you use and researching your products in Skin Deep. Skin Deep is the largest repository for cosmetic safety information. According to them,petroleum distillates are linked with cancer and restricted in cosmetic use by the European Union. If you would like more information on the health risks associated with petro – cosmetics take a look at this body map created by The Ecology Center.

Driving Less, Accomplishing More

2012-01-22T13:18:00.001-08:00

One of the easiest ways to participate in helping to create a sustainable planet is to reduce the amount of fossil fuels the you are responsible for using. First of all, the less someone drives, the less carbon emissions they will be responsible for. Secondly, fossil fuels are a finite resource, which are extremely valuable for the survival of the human race—in the production and transportation of food, in heating one’s home, in producing electricity, and myriad factors that contribute to a more comfortable way of life. To help reduce the harmful impact of driving in excess, as well as to aid in conserving the energy resources we still have, limiting one’s driving can be a very effective method.

There are several easy ways a person can reduce the amount of miles that they drive. One great way to reduce the amount a person drives is to use public transportation whenever possible. Those of us that live in Portland, Oregon have many public transportation options. TriMet has buses that have dozens of routes throughout the Metro area. TriMet also runs and operates light rail and streetcar lines that are easily available to the public. Rather than driving around town in a car by one’s self, TriMet provides citizens the opportunity to reduce the number of automobiles that would typically be traveling around the Portland Metro area on a daily basis.

Other ways people can reduce the amount they drive is to consider alternatives such as walking, riding a bike, or participating in carpool programs with co-workers or classmates. People can also group errands together, so that instead of making several short car trips around town, they can have one long trip, accomplishing the same tasks, using a fraction of the gas.

I am not suggesting that reducing the amount we drive will save the environment, but I can say without a doubt, that it is a step in the right direction. The main purpose in reducing the amount one drives is not necessarily to save money, though that will undoubtedly come as a result, but to reduce an individual’s carbon footprint, which has the effect of decreasing the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, which has been on the steady incline since the dawn of the industrial revolution. If we continue to use fossil fuels at the same rate as we currently are, the ecological impacts will surely be devastating.

Sustainability requires a sustained effort.

2012-01-21T23:05:00.000-08:00

Ever since I became cognizant of the fact that every product we use contains the fingerprint of petroleum I have pondered why. The reason is that they can be mass produced cheaply. A prime example, and perhaps the most obvious is the plastic container. Not to mention the consumer product itself, every item we buy is encased and transported in plastic. Lunch containers, clothes bins, zip-loc bags, etc. can be cheaply obtained, so much so that we neglect the idea of recycling them and just throw them in the trash because we can always get new ones. The green movement that we are going through is certainly a positive trend in the right direction. Large supermarkets no longer support plastic bags and instead opt for a reusable canvas or paper bags.

I must also point out however, that though it is a good contribution towards our planet that we each do our part when we can, it is not enough. To effect change, we must make sustainability not just a convenience or a fad; it must be a priority. We need recognition and resources, we need to break away from the established methods of production and implement new ones. All this is very hard to do. There are great forces against us, namely the government and large corporations. What incentive do they have to adopt a new business model? Why should they throw out an efficient and profitable petroleum-based manufacturing flow and replace it with new, unproven, and costly methods. Why should the government invest in renewable energy sources when it is risky and promises no immediate benefits? Politicans, corporations, and individuals within the decision-making sphere are the biggest obstacles must also embrace change.

What about the developing nations? Just as a person will have no time for philosophy if his stomach is hungry, the developing nation has neither time nor resources to care about the planet. Their interest is in increasing GDP, increasing the standards of life for their citizens, or in the case of a country with a corrupt government: to fatten the ruling party's wallets.

As we can see, effecting change is more difficult than the most optimistic of us would like to believe. All odds go against what members of a Eco project class can do, and is precisely so because after this term is over, most of would go back to the way we were living. I would like to start this blog off with the mindset and theme of continual contribution to the planet, regardless of who we are, where we are, and the situation we may find ourselves in. We must become activists for the rest of our lives. The goal of sustainability will take several lifetimes, but it will only work if we are diligent in our path for all the days of our lives.

Poor air quality for tribes in rural Alaska

2011-12-09T20:24:00.000-08:00

Air quality in many Tribal Alaskan towns and villages represents a serioushealth threat to its residents. The mainchallenges for many native villages are diesel emissions, poor indoor airquality, solid waste burning, and wood smoke:

Diesel is used extensively in rural Alaska. Continued exposure to diesel fumes has beenlinked to lung disease and aggravation of asthma.
Most rural Alaska homes are constructed tokeep warm air inside and have little ventilation during the cold wintermonths. This can keep indoor air pollutantsfrom fuel sources locked into homes.
Garbage cannot be buried in many parts of Alaska because of permafrostso it is often burned. Burning garbagecan create dangerous toxic smoke which contains dioxins that can causecancer.
Wood smoke also creates healthhazards. Inhalation of wood smoke cancause several dangerous health conditions like pneumonia and asthma.

Tribal communities across the state have createdthe Alaska Tribal Air Tool-kit in an attempt to help reduce poor airquality. The tool-kit is free of chargeand has many helpful tips for helping improve the air we breathe.

http://yosemite.epa.gov/R10/TRIBAL.NSF/programs/tribalairalaska

Wood exchange program hopes to lower emissions in Alaska

2011-12-09T19:49:00.000-08:00

The Environmental protection agency (EPA) has given the cityof Fairbanks Alaska, $70k to start a wood exchange program. The program will allow residents to exchangea cord (128 cubic feet) of wet wood for a cord of dry wood. Dry wood burns much cleaner then wet wood andcould potentially help reduce the amount of fine particulate matter in theinterior Alaska city. The city proposeda large scale program which would cost a half a million dollars but was awardedonly a small portion of that from the EPA. The borough assembly will need to create an ordinance to accept themoney, which could happen sometime in December. Fairbanks is looking at creative ways to lower its emissions becausemillions of federal dollars have been tied to the city’s air quality.

http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/16254359/article-Fairbanks-North-Star-Borough-gets-money-from-EPA-for-wood-exchange-program?

Laundry Makes a Difference

2011-12-09T16:05:00.000-08:00

Make your laundry count!

Most of us have become accustomedto wearing our clothes once before each wash, throwing them out before they areactually worn out and washing our clothes when it is unnecessary. Ninety percent of the energy used whenwashing laundry comes from heating the water and most clothes can be washed incold water and come out just as clean if you buy detergent for cold water. This will reduce your gas billtremendously, not to mention your water bill. The average load of laundry uses an astounding forty-sevengallons of water a load. Whendrying your clothes give air drying a chance. The average household spends over a $100 a year just ondrying their laundry and it is completely unnecessary. If your clothes appear clean, wear themagain! Obviously wash your undergarments but there is no reason to wash yourjeans, skirts and sweater after every use. It uses more energy, more money, more water and takes moretime.

Before you toss your wardrobe out,ask yourself, is this worn out? Ifnot, donate it! This goes both ways try buying something used. You may find that you save a tonof cash and your are stopping the production of an unneeded item and preventingthe item you bought from ending up at the dump.

http://www.chnep.org/moreinfo/water_conservation_facts.htm

Green Alchemy: Sewage into Bricks!

2011-12-08T22:35:00.000-08:00

Here's a creative way to cut carbon emissions and reuse waste: turn sewage into bricks for construction purposes. That's right, incinerated sewage sludge is being combined with a vegatable oil based binder to be used in masonry. Normally traditional bricks are made out of concrete, made from cement, which when produced releases carbon dioxide emissions, 5-10% globally. The bricks made from sewage are completely CO2 free, meaning that they will greatly reduce emissions if they are widely used, replacing traditional bricks.

"The blocks and bricks do not smell and have been tested for and passed industry standards for heat, freezing, and strength."

Learn more at: http://www.smartplanet.com/blog/design-architecture/bricks-made-from-sewage-cut-carbon-emissions/932
--David Honey

Solar Highway

2011-12-08T22:20:00.000-08:00

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is still working on their solar highway project. It will be the largest solar highway in the nation. This is a good way to off set all the carbon emissions from the automobiles on the highway. It will have 7000 solar panels, enough to power 165 homes each year.

check this link for more information:
http://ecotrope.opb.org/tag/oregon-department-of-transportation/
--David Honey

SUSTAINABLE TIPS & TRIPS for HOME

2011-12-08T17:56:00.000-08:00

José G. Jiménez

Ever wonder what YOU could do toconserve where you live? Do you even care of your place?

Let consider ourenvironment as OUR home, HOME where you can make a mess as you please or keepit nice and tightly. Here are 10 TIPS YOU can easily do to keep your HOME nice& shiny:

10) ENVIRONMENT COST w/ DECISIONS &PURCHASES

Could you imagine walking to work dueto you living that close! Energy star appliances are a must to keep that lowenergy input.

09) OLD PAINT, CHEMICALS, OIL

Get rid of them the right way! Properlydispose these toxic items in to their proper toxic disposal sites providedthroughout EVERY city.

08) THERMOSTAT in WINTER & SUMMER

Wearing a sweater doesn’t hurt anyonenor YOU but your HOME in winter! Show that skin & expose it! Doing this cansave energy & reduce pollution yearly.

07) EAT LESS & LOCAL ORGANIC

Tropical forests are CUT to raise beefand making them become a product. When’s your NEXT local market visit in yourneighborhood?

06) INDOORS CAT

Domestic cats kill over 1 BILLION smallbirds and animals yearly. Upset natural predator & prey balances andeliminate ground-nesting birds.

05) PESTICIDES / HERBICIDES

NO! Along with nitrogen fertilizer theyrunoff and ARE major water pollutants.

04) NO SMOKING

2^nd-HAND smoke IS a majorINDOOR air pollutant & health hazards. LIVE longer & HEALTHIER!

03) H20

CATCH faucets running away with YOURgold! Midday water lawn, NO!

02) REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE, &COMPOST

Another friend to your pockets! Thiswill save LOTS of money while being more environmental friendly to your HOME.Most of the yard & kitchen waste are 30% of trash.

01) BIKE, PUBLIC TRANSIT, CARPOOL

1/3^rd of traffic iscommuters. Getting from point A to point B in a more efficient way will be savingyou money and time plus a HUGE dash of your HOME.

These little things that we typically don't really think about could change YOUR life along with EVERYONE's around it.

more tips can be found here:

ECO TIPS

CARBON & ECOLOGICAL FOOTPRINT

2011-12-08T16:37:00.000-08:00

José G. Jiménez

What is Carbon Footprint? What is Ecological Footprint? Weall can come to an understanding that it’s our human emission trail thatcontributes to the earth’s atmosphere through carbon emissions gases. More specificallyGreenhouse Gases (GHG), which contain carbon dioxide and methane. Any person,product, or event passes on these types of gases into the atmosphere, damagingour environment.

Image above, dictating our contribution (Carbon Footprint)has increased where our own Ecological earth (non-carbon Footprint) can’t &won’t be able to maintain our maintenance. Humans exceed their carbon footprintallowed by our only livable & habitable planet.

On the other hand, Ecological Footprint is the human demandwe have on our earth’s ecosystem that can supply to our demands. Consisting ofthe productive land and sea area, in which, it’s necessary to supply to us,humans to consume. Given the image above, we have exceeded that this planet iscable of maintain and provide.

We need to do a change NOW before there is no tomorrow…

A helpful site that we ALL need to be aware of is:

FOOTPRINT NETWOK

ALL INFO FOUND FROM THERE

Waste Water Re-Use!

2011-12-08T15:46:00.000-08:00

Many gallons of water are saved each day by reusing wastewater. The problem with this is the treatment process causes emissions of nitrous oxide (N₂O), a greenhouse gas, to be realeased into the atmosphere.
Waste water is the water that consumers literally flush down the drain. It is also the water that has been used for cleaning and for other industrial purposes. Wastewater must be sterilized before it can be sent back to the consumer for reuse, to remove any health threats.

"Nitrogen removal process and nitrous oxide formation

The removal of nitrogen from waste waters is a two-stage process. In the first stage, the ammonium ion (NH₄⁺) is converted to the nitrate ion (NO₃^-); this part is called nitrification. In the second stage, the nitrate ion is converted into molecular nitrogen (N₂); this is named denitrification.
During both these processes, there can be a release of nitrous oxide (N₂O). N₂O is a gas with very high greenhouse gas properties; its Global Warming Potential (GWP) is 298 times higher than that of carbon dioxide.
If the nitrogen removal process is applied at industrial scale for waste waters treatment, relatively high quantities of N₂O could be formed and, consequently, released into the atmosphere."

Read more at:
http://www.decodedscience.com/greenhouse-gas-emissions-from-water-treatment-plants/3218
- - David Honey

Corn Ethanol in Gasoline Fuel

2011-12-08T15:30:00.000-08:00

Everyone knows fossil fuel emissions are major contaminants to our environment. One solution in trying to reduce the damage caused by fossil fuel emissions is to change the formula of the fuel. Most of the gasoline in the US in the past 30 years has been a mixture of at least 5 to 10% ethanol. Ethanol producers are petitioning the EPA to increase the amount to 15%. Most engines are not capable of handling ethanol, as they were designed for a more pure fossil fuel gasoline. Increasing the amonut of ethanol would cause some engine failure as well as pose some health risks to the general population.

According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG);

"Growth Energy, a consortium of ethanol producers, petitioned the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to allow 50% more ethanol in gasoline than is currently permitted, requesting approval for E15 fuel (a mixture of gasoline with 15% ethanol) (Growth Energy 2009).

EWG's review has found that:

A higher ethanol blend may damage non-road engines and emission control systems.
Emissions from higher ethanol fuels may worsen health risks from air pollution.
Distribution of higher ethanol fuel blends may pose new safety risks and higher fuel costs.
Higher-ethanol fuel blends may compromise lifetime performance of non-flex fuel vehicles. "

You can read more about it at http://www.ewg.org/biofuels/report/Ethanol-Health-Risks-and-Engine-Damage

-- David Honey

Emissions Targets

2011-12-07T16:45:00.000-08:00

Kyoto Protocol, the world’s only enforceable climate treatythat binds countries to lower greenhouse emissions, is soon to expire. Currentlythere is a climate conference in South Africa,which ends tomorrow, whose main objective is to create emissions reducingtargets that could be adopted by developing countries and United States. The Kyoto Protocol imposes financialpenalties for not meeting the set emissions target. Thirty developed countriesincluding New Zealandhas agreed to renew the Kyoto Protocol and furthermore work on reducing emissions.Some of the countries that have declined to accept the agreement were Russia,Japan and Canada.

This eventshows that emissions are a major concern for many countries. One of the countriesthat is leading by example is New Zealand.They agreed to renew the Kyoto Protocol and they are willing to accept theconsequences if they do not reach the set target. What is worrisome is thatthree of the biggest nations did not agree to the treaty again. These highlyindustrialized countries produce a lot of emissions per year and to know that theyare not willing to reach the target emission goal set by so many otherdeveloped countries is troublesome.

Theconference will continue and hopefully those three countries will change theirstand on setting targets for greenhouse emissions.

To read more :

New Zealand to set new emissions target

What causes High NOX Emissions

2011-12-06T05:07:00.000-08:00

Thousands of technicians have faced the challenge of bringing a particularly stubborn application into compliance for NOx emissions. High NOx readings are a clear sign of performance issues somewhere in the system. The question is, where?

Among the potential causes of non-compliant NOx readings are:

Misfire condition
Malfunctioning or improperly adjusted EGR valve
Failed oxygen sensor
Leak in exhaust tubing upstream of converter
Excessive carbon deposits in combustion chamber
Improper spark advance
Blocked coolant passage
Overly lean air-fuel mixture
Damaged cold air duct
Failed or malfunctioning catalytic converter
Corroded or damaged engine sensor electrical connections

Please note that while a failed catalytic converter will contribute to high NOx readings, the failure in itself may have been caused by some other upstream performance problem. In all cases, it is crucial to identify the root cause of the problem before blaming the converter.

Case Study

" I'm working on a 1992 3.1-liter Chevrolet that failed in the test lane. The results were very good for HC and CO—nearly zero—but it failed for NOx. The converter seems to be operating properly and the engine is running okay. What's causing the problem?"

Answer: Because this application, like many others, does not have an EGR adjustment, there's little the technician can do to "tweak" the engine's performance to bring it into compliance. It's clear the engine is running overly lean. A lean engine operating condition produces more NOx than usual, and the lean exhaust chemically interferes with the converter's ability to clean NOx (remember that excess oxygen is good for cleaning HC and CO, but bad for NOx).

There are dozens of potential causes of the high NOx readings, ranging from the relatively easy (detonation or failed oxygen sensor) to the extremely difficult and time-intensive (an improperly signaling MAP sensor). Because the engine is otherwise performing satisfactorily, the least expensive option may be to upgrade to a heavier duty converter such as a CleanAir "Premium" unit featuring increased catalyst for greater efficiency.

- Khadija Al Mousa

BUGS CAUSE EMISSIONS?

2011-12-04T23:05:00.001-08:00

It’s true! Well, not exactly. We all know that there are harmfulemissions in the air. However, tharmful emissions are also eventually absorbedby trees. When these emissions are absorbed by trees, the trees hold them untilthey are released somehow. This is the study of biogenic sources.

Biogenic sources are natural sources like plants or trees, which onceabsorb a dangerous material like nuclear waste for example, can release a toxicemission.

Biogenic emissions account for 30 percent of all the volatileorganic compounds (VOCs) emitted in urban areas in the eastern half of Texas.Emissions are estimated and taken into account the species of trees present,the density of their foliage, the temperature and solar radiation on the day inquestion, and the distribution of vegetation throughout the modeling domain.

Most plants emit some VOCs, but the largest emitters are oaks,pines, sweet gums, eucalypti, and poplars.

Monoterpenes are found in small reservoirs in the leaves orneedles of plants, to ward off herbivores. When an insect feeds on the leaf,the monoterpenes are released and can adversely affect the insect’s health.Because the monoterpenes are always present in the leaves, their emission ratedepends mostly on the temperature. Higher temperatures will evaporate largeramounts into the atmosphere.

Thereare a few other important organic compounds emitted by plants. Alcohols areoften emitted by damaged vegetation; there is some evidence that these alcoholsact as an antiseptic. A few recent studies suggest that alkenes are alsoemitted by some plants.

One wayto help counter this effect is to plant a new tree once a week. This will help maintaina sustainable world.

Mobile Sources Should Be Easy Fix

2011-12-04T22:59:00.001-08:00

Mobile sources include cars andtrucks, of course, but also lawn mowers, airplanes and anything else that movesand puts pollution into the air. Motor vehicles emit several pollutants that EPA classifies asprobable human carcinogens. EPA estimates that mobile (car, truck, bus,tractors and snowmobiles) sources of air toxics account for some cancersattributed to outdoor sources of air toxics. This estimate is not based onactual cancer cases, but on models that predict cancers that could beexpected.

Some toxic compounds are present in gasoline and are emitted tothe air

when gasoline evaporates or passes through the engine asunburned fuel.

Benzene, for example, is a component of gasoline. Cars emitsmall

quantities of benzene in unburned fuel, or as vapor whengasoline

evaporates.

A significant amount of automotive benzene comes from theincomplete

combustion of compounds in gasoline such as toluene and xylenethat

are chemically very similar to benzene. These mobile sourcepollutants undergo chemical reactions in the atmosphere. (EPA)

So how can you make a difference? Well for starters you candrive less. If everyone droves one day less and biked for example we could cutback immensely on harmful emissions. One easy solution to this problem is tocarpool, take public transit, or ride a bike. A unique iea would be to set up acarpool hotline at work or school so others could contribute to sustainabilityas well. It might be a little uncomfortable at first but the results are worthit.

Report Shows Carbon Footprint Beyond Oregon’s Borders

2011-12-04T21:45:00.000-08:00

A new study finds more than half Oregon's carbon footprint results from products manufactured elsewhere, such as this factory in Linfen, China, and imported into the state. |credit: Flickr/Bert van Dijk | rollover image for more

PORTLAND — Oregon has just released figures that track the state’s carbon footprint based on what we buy. It’s believed to be the first such analysis by any state in the country.

The most common way to track greenhouse gases looks at what’s emitted within a state’s borders. the latest analysis suggests that products created out-of-state account for more than half of Oregon’s carbon footprint.

Oregon has been tracking greenhouse gas emissions since the early 1990s. But the inventory has always focused on local industrial emissions and carbon related to electricity. That doesn’t tell the whole story, according to Department of Environmental Quality spokesman, David Alloway.

“And it leaves out some important details, particular around materials and products. And so this new consumption-based inventory fills those gaps,” he says.

The new inventory finds that local sources of emissions make up less than half of the carbon Oregon consumers are responsible for.

The rest consists of imported products – coffee from South America, clothes and toys from China, cars made in Japan or Tennessee. Alloway says the study suggests local products have smaller carbon footprints – but maybe not for the reason that people would assume.

Alloway: “It’s not because of freight – everyone thinks it’s because of freight. The emissions from freight are surprisingly small. It’s because production here in the United States tends to be cleaner and use lower carbon-fuel mixes than production in the countries that we tend to import a lot of products from.”

Among the products with the largest carbon footprints are cars – which require carbon to be built, and can continue to emit carbon once they’re bought. appliances and food products are high on the list, as well. Those three categories alone account for roughly half of Oregon’s consumer carbon.

DEQ officials say the new consumption-based analysis is not meant to replace the existing production-based inventory. The new consumption-based report could have policy implications that are yet to play out. Oregon’s Global Warming Commission requested the study and its members could make recommendations.

The inventory uses 2005 data. That’s because it takes time for information to come out, and to do this kind of analysis. Officials say it might make sense to update the inventory again in a few years, because the economy has changed since 2005.

i recommend the website its very helpful and got a lot of good information

www.opbnews.org

the article was taken from it :

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/report-shows-carbon-footprint-beyond-oregons-borde/

BY: DAOUD ABDALLAH

Fuel Efficiency (Gas Mileage)

2011-12-04T21:31:00.000-08:00

Congress first adopted the standards — known as Cafe standards, for Corporate Fuel Economy Standards — in 1975, in reaction to the disruption of the 1973 oil embargo. For decades, automakers resisted changes in the standards, but joined Mr. Obama for his 2010 announcement that he was ordering the creation of a new national policy that would result in less greenhouse-gas pollution from medium- and heavy-duty trucks for the first time. It would also reduce exhaust from cars and light-duty trucks beyond the requirements he set in motion a year before

fuel economy standards have been the primary way in which the United States has sought to control greenhouse gas emissions for cars and light trucks, which along with other parts of the transportation sector account for about one-third of the nation's carbon dioxide emissions.

Manufacturers want a single, national standard set over the long term because it is easier to meet than the patchwork quilt of regulations imposed in the past.

More broadly, as American automakers recovered from their steep losses during the recession, they appeared to be finally giving up their addiction to producing gas-guzzling trucks and sport utility vehicle . Prodded first by rising federal fuel economy standards, then shocked in 2008 by $145-a-barrel oil and a global credit crisis that forced GM and Chrysler to seek federal bailouts, Detroit began making a fundamental shift toward lighter, more fuel-conscious cars — and turning a profit doing so.

The new standards announced in July 2011 are even stricter than those set four years before — in fact, they will be the largest increase in mileage requirements since the government began regulating consumption of gasoline by cars in the 1970s. While the American carmakers, as well as their Asian rivals, once argued against even minimal increases in government fuel rules, they have acquiesced without protest to an increase to 54.5 miles per gallon by 2025, from the current 27 miles per gallon.

Heavy trucks will have to get 20 percent more miles per gallon by the 2018 model year under the first-ever rules for heavy vehicles announced in august 2011.

The new standards are seen by the Obama administration as critical to reducing oil consumption and cutting consumer expenses at the pump, and the White House made it clear to Detroit executives that the changes were coming and they needed to cooperate.

It is an extraordinary shift in the relationship between the companies and Washington. But a lot has happened in the last four years, notably the $80 billion federal bailout of general motor , Chrysler and scores of their suppliers, which removed any itch for a politically charged battle from the car makers.

to read the full article :

http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference/timestopics/subjects/f/fuel_efficiency/index.html?scp=6&sq=emission&st=cse

BY :Daoud Abdallah

Turning waste in to energy could reduce landfill dependency

2011-12-04T20:01:00.000-08:00

An innovative closed loop system will see neighbourhood rubbish burnt to produce heat and power for the community.

The notion that waste can be turned into energy seems as fanciful as turning water into wine. But this is no modern day miracle: it's a proven technology that has the potential to provide a significant amount of UK PLc's domestic energy needs while reducing the nation's over dependency on landfill.

Waste into energy technology can limit pollution and methane emissions, providing a low-carbon alternative source of energy. It produces large amounts of heat and power for district networks and is commonly used in Scandinavia. Although there has been some opposition to it in the UK as it can reduce the encouragement for reusing and recycling waste, it can also provide a good clean energy solution.

At the Surrey Canal development in a neglected corner of South-East London, a closed loop waste to energy system will provide hot water to 2,400 homes via a district heating system. Developer Renewal Group has received outline planning consent from Lewisham Council for this project.

The process begins with the sorting and collection of domestic waste. Instead of choosing a conventional rubbish collection process, with attendant refuse vehicles accessing the site, the developer has elected to install an automated underground vacuum waste system procured from Envac that demonstrably increases recycling rates.

Read the rest of the article here: http://www.guardian.co.uk/sustainable-business/energy-to-waste-closed-loop?newsfeed=true

-Duy Truong

2011-12-04T19:53:00.000-08:00

I have compiled a few solutionsthat does not require for you to go out and buy solar panels or a hybrid car inorder to be environmentally conscious. Feeling the need to reduce emissions starts with the little things thatyou do. The purpose of this list is in order for you to re-think a few of thelittle things that you can do in order to reduce the size of your carbonfootprint:

Your Neighborhood:

- Builda community garden

Your Waste:

- Natural composting, or biologicaldecomposition is a great process, which produces a natural source of enrichingsoil. This practice is a great new innovation for the agricultural world. Thepractice of compost is a form of recycling kitchen waste along with your yardtrimmings. A great way in which this practice of reducing garbage works iscomplying your waste in a designated spot in the ground.

“Composting organic materials that have been diverted fromlandfills ultimately avoids the production of methane and leachate formulationin the landfills. Compost has the ability to prevent pollutants in storm waterrunoff from reaching surface water resources. Compost has also been shown toprevent erosion and silting on embankments parallel to creeks, lakes, andrivers, and prevents erosion and turf loss on roadsides, hillsides, playingfields, and golf courses.” http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/benefits.htm

http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/rrr/composting/basic.htm- content

-Sade Mehdizadeh

Significant Reductions in CO2 Emissions from Ships

2011-12-04T19:44:00.000-08:00

An IMO-commissioned study into the impact of mandatory energy efficiency measures for international shipping shows that implementation of the measures will lead to significant reductions of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from ships, specifically reductions of carbon dioxide (CO2), resulting from enhanced fuel efficiency.

The study found that, by 2020, an average of 151.5 million tonnes of annual CO2 reductions are estimated from the introduction of the measures, a figure that by 2030, will increase to an average of 330 million tonnes annually. CO2 reduction measures will result in a significant reduction in fuel consumption, leading to a significant saving in fuel costs to the shipping industry.

The study, Assessment of IMO mandated energy efficiency measures for international shipping*, was launched on Monday (14 November) ahead of the forthcoming United Nations Climate Change Conference, to be held in Durban, South Africa, from 28 November to 9 December, 2011.
IMO will report to that Conference on the breakthrough adoption, in July 2011 at IMO’s Marine Environment Protection Committee (MEPC), of mandatory technical and operational measures to reduce GHG emissions from international shipping. Amendments to the International Convention
on the Prevention of Pollution from Ships (MARPOL), Annex VI Regulations for the prevention of air pollution from ships, add a new chapter on Regulations on energy efficiency for ships. The regulations will apply to all ships of 400 gross tonnage and above and are expected to enter into force on 1 January 2013.

For the rest of the article, visit: http://www.maritime-executive.com/article/study-shows-significant-reductions-in-co2-emissions-from-ships-from-imo-measures

-Duy Truong

Study links cuts in energy emissions to reduction in acid rain

2011-12-04T19:39:00.001-08:00

A 25-year-study has proven cuts to emissions have reduced acid rain fall in the United States.

The detailed study, by researchers at the University of Illinois in the United States, is part of the Illinois State Water Survey carried out by the university.

Researchers found acidic precipitation, rain or snowfall with a pH value of 5.0 or less decreased in both frequency and concentration over the 25-year span on the test.

The researchers attribute the fall directly to government drives to improve air pollution, citing the Clean Air Act in 1990, as a major factor in cleaning up the environment.

Researcher Christopher Lehmann, said: "This is the longest-term widest-scale precipitation pollution study in the US in particular, we wanted to see how the trends in the pollution and the rain correlated back to emissions regulations.

"We're seeing regulations on emissions sources having direct and positive impact to reduce pollutants in rain.

"What goes up does come down rainfall chemistry directly correlates with air pollution.

"When we looked at the magnitude of the trend, we found it compared very well to the magnitude of the decrease in emissions reported by the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)."

The study used data from the National Atmospheric Deposition Program which collects rainfall samples weekly from more than 250 stations across the US and analyses them for pollutants.

http://www.edie.net/news/news_story.asp?id=21327&title=Study+links+cuts+in+energy+emissions+to+reduction+in+acid+rain+

-Duy Truong

3 Reasons to Adopt a Sustainable Lifestyle

2011-12-04T19:17:00.000-08:00

There are essentially three reasons to adopt a more sustainable ‘green’ lifestyle.

Resources
Health
Money

Resources:

Looking at things from a holistic perspective, it’s pretty simple. We have one planet – just one. And Earth, as we call home, has a finite amount of resources such as water, minerals, land, etc. Yet, since 1960, our world population has doubled to roughly 7 billion people. The United States, while not quite keeping up pace with the overall population explosion, has increased its population by 70% over the same time period.

Given that we have a finite amount of resources, we can safely say we now have ½ of the world’s resources per capita compared to 50 years ago. That’s not taking into account that we are consuming those finite resources at record speed. That said it’s safe to say sometime soon, our population will outpace our consumption of natural resources leading to an even faster rate of consumption. There’s no doubt about it – we’re going to run out.

The point? Our resources are not endless. At some point, this WILL affect your children or your grandchildren.

Take away: It makes sense to conserve the resources we do have in order to stretch out their availability for as long as humanly possible while we explore and develop alternative sources.

Health:

I’m pretty confident in saying we’d all prefer to breathe clean air and drink clean water.

A polluted environment leads to greater illness and higher health care costs. Dirty air affects respiratory health and increased cases of asthma. Water, polluted with chemicals from run-off, poses cancer risks. Contaminated soil contributes to cancer and other illnesses such as e-coli breakouts. All of these cost a fortune to clean up. I won’t even mention the costs associated with treatment of related illnesses and death.

By choosing safer methods of treating our yards, fertilizing our crops and caring for our feed animals as well as more responsible manufacturing practices, we can prevent much of this in the first place. Prevention is far cheaper than the consequences.

Take-away: Keeping our air, water and soil clean helps to reduce health issues and environmental fall-out

Money:

Remember how our grandparents used to remind us if we bought quality and took good care of our things that they would last much longer and cost us less since we didn’t need to replace them as often? That’s how I view our planet. We pay a bit more upfront to ensure we have clean resources and save more in the end with less costs in clean up and health issues.

To bring it closer to home, let’s look at something as simple as our trash bill.

Our individual trash bill is based on our volume of waste and the cost associated of treating that waste. The bigger trash can we have the more expensive it is. Conversely, the more trash we either prevent, or divert through recycling or composting, the smaller sized trash can we need and thus a lower trash bill. This saves us money.

Taking that to the next level, each landfill only has so much space. Once a landfill is full there are two options:

Build a new landfill
Truck the trash to another landfill out of the area (this usually means out of state or out to sea)

Neither is cheap. Most folks I know don’t want a landfill built in their backyard (do you?) and so litigation ensues. Trucking trash to another location is very, very expensive and results in an increase in your trash bill. Not to mention it begs the question “Is it really right to make our problem (trash) someone else’s?” As Julia Butterfly Hill once told me during and interview for our podcast, “There is no away”. Everything has to go somewhere. Isn’t the responsible thing to own up to it and find a solution?

Preventing trash through more responsible consumption on our part combined with earth friendly packaging and product design on the part of the manufacturers will help to keep costs down for everyone. And yes, that includes the manufacturer.

Take-away: Take care of things. It saves you more money in the end.

And, for those that argue that the Earth takes care of itself – you are absolutely correct. The Earth will be fine. The larger question is will humans be around long enough to witness it?

http://blog.greenfeet.com/index.php/3-reasons-to-adopt-a-sustainable-lifestyle/reducing-your-footprint/806

-Duy Truong

Used Cooking Oil Fuels Seattle to Portland Flights

2011-12-04T04:45:00.000-08:00

Goodnews Portlanders! Starting last month, Alaska Airlines began using biofuelblends in some of their Seattle-Portland flights. With emissions being anecessary aspect of most travel, it is encouraging that travel companies arebeing proactive in curtailing their emissions contributions.

What isthe secret behind this biofuel? Used cooking oil, talk about a multi-purposeproduct. By using biofuel, it cuts down on about 10% of emissions and althoughthat may not seem like a lot, it is actually “the equivalentof taking 26 cars off the road for a year.” Furthermore, if all Alaska Airlineswere to switch to biofuel, “the annual emissions savings would be theequivalent of taking 64,000 cars off the road.” We are talking about preventinga lot of potential long-term damage, and hopefully reversing some of theharmful effects of emissions.

So what exactly are the drawbacks of this“miracle fuel?” The first is that biofuel is not only more scarce, but alsomore difficult to get ahold of and transport to actually use. The second isthat it is much more expensive than regular oil- six times more expensive. Nowthe question is, are we- consumers and corporations- willing to spend the extramoney for our safety as well as the environments?

With other airlines all over the world takinggreat strides toward reducing emissions, we can expect to see big changes inthe airline industry within the next few years.

http://news.opb.org/article/used_cooking_oil_fuels_seattle_to_portland_flights/

-Sara O’Connell

School Bus Emissions- What Parents Should Know

2011-12-04T03:41:00.000-08:00

Althoughthey can be seen as lifesavers to busy parents all over the world, school busesactually present a hidden risk to the children they transport: emissions. This articleis a good reminder that not only are emissions extremely damaging to theenvironment, but they are also extremely damaging to our bodies. We have allseen (or smelled) the black clouds of smoke exhaust billowing out of schoolbuses, but to imagine your own child breathing that smoke is alarming to saythe least.

A scary but likely little known fact:“23 to 46 out of every million children that ride the bus between one and twohours per day stand a higher than average risk of developing lung cancer.” Additionally, parents ofchildren who have asthma and other breathing-related issues in particular arewarned, as the emissions can be extremely triggering for them.

Becauseof school budget restraints, it is unlikely that this harmful method oftransportation will be going away anytime soon; however, even if parents do notnecessarily have to pull their kids just yet, this is a good reminder to bemore aware of the pollutants that our children are exposed to. In addition, thefollowing useful tips were offered:

-If your child is permitted to openthe window next to their seat, advise them to do so. Exhaust from diesel fuelis highest inside the bus when all of the windows are closed. 

-While it may not be cool to sit atthe front of the bus, fumes are less toxic in the front than they are in theback of the bus. Children who are picked up first have the longest rides butalso have their choice of seats, providing seats are not assigned. Do your bestto talk your child into sitting near the front. 

-If seats are assigned or the busdriver does not allow windows to be lowered, discuss your concerns with schoolor bus company officials and ask that steps be taken to reduce children’s riskto diesel emissions.

http://tinygreenmom.com/2011/11/school-bus-emissions-what-parents-should-know/

-Sara O’Connell

Harvard Reduces Emissions, Costs With 50 LEED Certifications

2011-12-04T01:47:00.000-08:00

Imentioned in a previous post PSU’s addition of the Sixth Avenue Building as anexample of green buildings, and their efficiency in working against the harmfuleffects of emission. This post is written in the spirit of universitiesbecoming more environmentally cautious by using green buildings. The spotlightis on Harvard University, who recently achieved its 50^th LEEDcertification, highlighting their strong commitment to protecting theenvironment.

Harvard’suse of “green resources” is not only limited to classrooms, but extends todormitories, laboratories, and offices—spanning over 1.5 million square feet.The university’s efforts are impressive to say the least, and set a newstandard in educational accountability.

Harvard’s future plans for sustainability include:

• Greenbuilding standards, adopted in 2009, to integrate design, occupant engagement,life cycle cost, and energy modeling with LEED certification ensuringaccountability;

• Anoffice for sustainability that oversees implementation, and occupant engagementprograms provide the university community with resources to reduce energy useand conserve resources;

• A greenbuilding services team that provides consulting, certification management, energy audits, measurement of implementation efforts, and knowledgemanagement services; and

• Anonline greenbuilding resource for sharing best practices and drivingimprovements.

By going green, the university is already seeing positivebenefits toward the environment. In terms of actual emissions reductions, theuniversity has seen an annual carbon dioxide reduction of over 4,000 metrictons. The benefits are not only environmental, there are financial benefitstoo, with over $1.5 million in annual energy savings. Initially the switch togreen buildings may seem expensive and cumbersome, however figures like theseare difficult to ignore, and eventually will persuade other schools to followsuit.

http://campustechnology.com/articles/2011/08/02/harvard-reduces-emissions-costs-with-50-leed-certifications.aspx

-Sara O’Connell

Promote Green Buildings for Biggest, Easiest Emissions Cuts, Says New CEC Report

2011-12-04T00:52:00.000-08:00

In the fight against emissions, we must not onlyfix what humankind has destroyed, but we must also take pre-emptive measures inorder to reduce emissions. This article published by Green Business examines areport issued by the Commission for Environmental Cooperation (CEC); the reportasserts that green buildings may prove to be one of the greatest contributorsin working against emissions, and not only possibly one of the more effectiveefforts, but also cheaper.

According to the article: “North America’s buildings cause the annual release of more than2,200 megatons of CO2 into the atmosphere, about 35 per cent of the continent’stotal.” These numbers are staggering, and show that it is imperative torethink our buildings and infrastructure, keeping potential effects on theenvironment in mind. The report maintains that energy usage is reduced between30-70% in advanced green buildings, and with numbers like these—what is thereto question? Transitioning to green buildings is the most sensible solution forthe emissions problem.

As students at PSU, we have access to our very owngreen building. The Sixth Avenue Building was designed with the contributing toa healthier environment as a key factor. The building was designed and isoperated using alternative methods, and is LEED-certified showing PSU’scommitment to the environment.

http://www.green-business.ca/Green-Building/News/promote-green-buildings-for-biggest-easiest-emissions-cuts-says-new-cec-report.html

-SaraO’Connell

12 Steps to Help You Kick the CO2 Habit

2011-12-03T20:59:00.000-08:00

Whether you are an individual, an organization,a business or a government, there are a number of steps you can take to reduceyour carbon emissions, the total of which is described as your carbonfootprint. You may think you don’t know where to begin, but by reading this,you have already begun.

1. Make a commitment:

Reducing your carbon footprint is no differentfrom any other task. Telling people you will reduce carbon emissions may seemsimplistic, but even simple actions like announcing your commitment to gocarbon neutral can be effective, while the simple act of asking for ideas canlead to creative and innovative solutions. Several countries haveindicated in recent months that they will go carbon neutral, led by Costa Rica,New Zealand and Norway. The United Nations system itself, led bySecretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and guided by the UNEP-led EnvironmentManagement Group, is moving towards carbon neutrality. UNEP is alsofacilitating carbon neutrality in all sectors and all regions through itsclimate neutral network.

2. Assess where you stand:

It is likely that carbon will eventually bejudged as an atmospheric pollutant and regulated accordingly, with consequentcosts—and opportunities—for all sectors of society. Knowing where and how yougenerate greenhouse gases is the first step to reduce them. For individuals andsmall businesses, online calculators and internal assessments can help startthe process. Larger organisations may need specialised advice and tools, suchas the new ISO 14064 standards for greenhouse gas accounting and verification,or the Greenhouse Gas Protocol, provided by the World Resources Institute andWorld Business Council for Sustainable Development, which is an accounting toolfor government and business managers to understand, quantify, manage and reportgreenhouse gas emissions.

3. Decide and plan where you want to go:

Based on your assessment of climate-relatedrisks and opportunities, a strategy and action plan can be developed. Targetshelp focus efforts and also provide a benchmark for measuring success. Mosthomes or businesses can reduce energy use by 10 per cent—which almost alwaysresults in a 10 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions—with a one yearpayback or less. A plan to reduce carbon emissions will first focus on the typeof energy and the way it is used; for example electricity for buildings andfuel for transport. Reducing this energy can create instant savings. Aneffective tool is an energy audit. Many electric utilities and governmentenergy offices now offer an audit as part of their efforts to reduce carbonemissions.

4. De-carbon your life:

There is a broader way to think about carbon andclimate. Everything an individual, organization, business or government does oruses embodies some form of carbon, either in products themselves or in theenergy and materials it takes to make them. Buildings, fittings and equipmentare all proxies for carbon; ‘carbon copies’ can be chosen based on the leastamount of impact they will have on the climate. Integrating climate friendlycriteria into decision making can trigger a ripple effect. If consumers,manufacturers and lawmakers all think ‘low carbon’ and ‘climate friendly’savings in carbon emissions will multiply. Take packaging as an example. USretail giant Wal-Mart worked with one of their toy suppliers to reducepackaging on just 16 items. The toy suppliers saved on packaging costs whileWal-Mart used 230 fewer shipping containers to distribute their products,saving about 356 barrels of oil and 1,300 trees. By broadening this initiativeto 255 items, the company believes it can save 1,000 barrels of oil, 3,800trees, and millions of dollars in transportation costs. Another example: youcan buy paper or wood products that adhere to internationally certifiedstandards. The Forestry Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org), for example, is aninternational non-profit organisation promoting responsible management of theworld’s forests. The FSC trademark is increasingly recognised as aninternational standard for responsible forest management. More than 90 millionhectares in more than 70 countries have been certified according to FSCstandards while several thousand products are produced using FSC certified woodand carrying the FSC trademark. Switching to recycled or sustainably sourcedpaper can also lead to considerable savings, reducing both landfill use andcarbon emissions. Using recycled paper can save 1.4 tonnes of CO2 for everytonne of paper and cardboard. Other ways of reducing your carbon footprintinclude wasting less time and energy on travel. Cities can improve public transportoptions, companies can encourage low carbon habits (by ceasing to subsidizeparking or investing in hybrid technology company vehicles), and individualscan car pool or use public transport. Sometimes simple actions can produce ashift. Secure bicycle storage and changing and shower facilities, for example,are often inexpensive compared to other parking structures but create a strongincentive for those who can commute by bicycle. In larger cities with adequatepublic transport, a monthly or yearly pass can be offered instead of parkingfacilities. Paris and Vienna, for example, offer a public bicycle system thatreduces greenhouse gas emissions and traffic congestion.

Read rest of the article through this link http://www.coolplanet2009.org/climate-change-news/twelve-steps-to-lower-co2-emissions.html

- Khadija Al Mousa

After Fukushima: Enough Is Enough

2011-12-03T16:58:00.000-08:00

The nuclear power industry has been resurrectedover the past decade by a lobbying campaign that has left many people believingit to be a clean, green, emission-free alternative to fossil fuels. Thesebeliefs pose an extraordinary threat to global public health and encourage amajor financialdrain on national economies and taxpayers. The commitment to nuclear power asan environmentally safe energy source has also stifled the mass development ofalternative technologies that are far cheaper, safer and almost emission free —the future for global energy.

When the Fukushima Daiichi reactors sufferedmeltdowns in March, literally in the backyard of an unsuspecting public, thestark reality that the risks of nuclear power far outweigh any benefits shouldhave become clear to the world. As the old quip states, “Nuclear power is onehell of a way to boil water.”

Instead, the nuclear industry has used thedisaster to increase its already extensive lobbying efforts. A few nationsvowed to phase out nuclear energy after the disaster. But many others haveremained steadfast in their commitment. That has left millions of innocentpeople unaware that they — all of us — may face a medical catastrophe beyondall proportions in the wake of Fukushima and through the continued widespreaduse of nuclear energy.

to read the full article go to :

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/02/opinion/magazine-global-agenda-enough-is-enough.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=emission&st=cse

i think its the time to think about our future andour health, many people in the world have no idea what could happen if thesepowerful governments stayed in control for its own benefits andrescued people`s lives all over the world. i think people should start torealize what is going on around them and learn about it and try to change it..

by : Daoud Abdallah

Eco- Friendly Gift Ideas

2011-12-02T20:49:00.000-08:00

With the holiday's approaching, people all overthe world are spending hundreds of dollars to find that perfect gift. Just theother day I was circling around the store trying to find that something. But,did you know that nearly half of U.S greenhouse gas emissions come from makingand distributing goods and foods? Have you ever thought about what therecipient of these gifts will do with it when they are done with it?

In my search of finding a eco-friendly gift formy family, I turned to my morning news (AM Northwest) and saw a veryinteresting interview.

Metro Recycling expert Betty Shelly appeared onAM Northwest on Wednesday to 4 of her ideas of ways you can give wonderfulgifts while " celebrating the season and curb waste at the sametime. I thought I would share with you these awesome tips on ways to gogreen in the gift department.

1.) Homemade surprise

• Bakedgoods

• Uniquecrafts by knitting, Sewing, woodworking, or candle-making

• ShopLOCAL- find homemade creations at markets, or find local artists work

2.) Gift of talent, time, tickets or memberships

• personalgift certificate ( chores, babysitting, pampering etc.)

• Sharetalent ( piano lessons, swimming, etc.)

• Givetickets to a local performance

• membershipto local zoo or museum

3.) Share special experience/ helpful resource

• Plana vacation or day trip

• Schedulea nature outing

• builda gift basket

• Sharecopies of local bike or hike trail

4.) Decorate and Wrap with less waste

• usenatural materials ( twigs, moss, dried flowers)

• usenewspaper, paper bags, old boxes, old maps for wrapping

• lookfor recycled cards and wrapping if chose to buy

• AVOIDnonrecyled wrapping ( foil or plastic coated paper)

According to American Research Group Inc,American shoppers expect to send an average $646 on holiday shopping this year.Hopefully these people can use the tips above to spend this money in ways thatwill help reduce the gas emissions from making and distributing goods andfoods.

Jaimie Butterfield

Information from-

http://www.oregonmetro.gov/index.cfm/go/by.web/id/35095

http://americanresearchgroup.com/holiday/

Boiler Emissions Rule

2011-12-02T20:16:00.000-08:00

The most recent news involving emissions is thechange in the Boiler Emissions Rule. A change in this procedure was supportedby the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) as well the Obama administration.

EPA is known for their strict regulations aboutanything that causes harm to the environment. They are fighting for every issuethat in any way impacts the environment and the society.

The most recent issue that EPA has been involvedwith is the Boiler Emissions Rule. This new rule required different and newprocedures which are more expensive than the old procedures that were alreadyin place.

The new procedure that did get approved by theObama administration affects 5,500 boilers that emit a lot of the pollution.That only accounts for 1% of all broilers in the United States. The other 99%of boilers comply with the old procedures, which are still as effective butdefinitely not as fast as the new approach proposed by the EPA recently. This regulation has many supporters due to the fact that the new regulation isless aggressive, is not putting any jobs at risk and does not create an air ofuncertainty.

For more information, check out the online WallStreet Journal link:

EPA EasesBoiler Emissions Rule

by Natalia Sudol

Small Changes Will Make A Difference

2011-12-01T20:57:00.000-08:00

In our current economy, not everyone can affordto buy hybrid or electric cars, or install soar panels to reduce their carbonfootprint. Here are some examples of 5 simple ways to reduce your own personalcarbon emissions on a more realistic budget. Making small changes in your dailylife can make a difference – if everyone works together and makes a change, collectivelywe will make a dramatic difference.

• Buy local & Organic :Eating food locally and purchasing locally grown ingredients not only reducesyour carbon footprint, but it also has added health benefits! If your food wasgrown locally, chances are, it didn’t have far to travel to get from the farmto your plate!

• .Pay attention toPackaging: Try to go to stores that keep packaging to a minimum. Forexample, you may chose to buy the loose tomatoes rather than boxed orplastic-wrapped tomatoes. Also, take reusable bags to the grocery store.

• Unplug:Unplug appliances that you don’t use frequently. Most have a standby mode thatreserves energy when not in use.

• Remember the 3 “R”s :Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Try buying less, and reusing and fixing things when youcan instead of buying new. And for a lot of people, recycling is as easy asrolling the trash bin to the curb.

• Energy-proof your home:This doesn't have to mean making drastic or expensive changes. Makesure all of your windows close properly and that the walls are properlyinsulated. Try switching from incandescent to compact florescent light bulbs.CFL bulbs use about 75 percent less energy than our normal light bulbs and lastmuch longer. Compared to regular bulbs, the fluorescents are a bit moreexpensive, but they will eventually pay for themselves due to lower energycosts.

-Allison Berg

Portland Oregon Green Power Leadership Award

2011-12-01T20:20:00.000-08:00

In early November, the Environmental ProtectionAgency awarded Portland, Oregon with a “Green Power Leadership Award” Theannual awards recognize the country's leading green power users for theircommitment and contribution to helping advance the development of the nation'svoluntary green power market. "We are proud to receive this award from theU.S. Environmental Protection Agency, and we value our long-standingpartnerships with Portland General Electric and Pacific Power," saidPortland Mayor Sam Adams. "The purchase of green power by our citizens andbusinesses helps our community become more sustainable, while also sending a messageto others communities across the U.S. that supporting clean sources ofelectricity is a sound business decision and an important choice in reducingclimate risk." In partnership with Pacific Power and Portland GeneralElectric, Portland was one of only two communities nationwide to receive aLeadership Award for using green power in amounts that meet or exceed EPApurchase requirements for residents' and businesses' collective green powerpurchase. Portland has long since been a pioneer in the green energymovement, and continues to make positive changes in the local community tocontinue on a green, and sustainable energy path. Even here on the PortlandState University campus, positive energy choices are constantly being made. Ourrecreation center currently holds a Gold LEED certification, and the campusruns a successful composting project throughout the year. The recentinstallation of electric car powering stations on the campus is just one of themany other sustainable energy solutions that our campus has executed, and thereis no doubt that more will develop in the future.

http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/awards/winners.htm

-Allison Berg