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Is There Hope for the Environment?

Posted on Tue Jun 30 2009
By: in

Reading one book can encourage you to see things in a different perspective, and Thomas Berry’s The Great Work provides a brighter side to humanity’s future. When it comes to predicting the outlook of the environment, it seems as though there are more predictions for gloom and doom than anything else. However, Berry reminds us that we have the power to change the future.

The seemingly unending path of consumption that society is on is sure to lead us into trouble, especially when it comes to our natural resources. However, Berry makes a point that this path doesn’t have to continue. Individuals as well as businesses change their looks, thoughts and actions continuously, so we just need the nudge to reinvent ourselves as a society. Reinventing certain aspects of our current lives to secure the best interest of the earth will be a difficult task, but Berry predicts that this reinventing will take place in a “time-developmental context.”

Jatropha Trees Looked To For Biofuel

Posted on Tue Jun 30 2009
By: in

Jatropha TreesSome are hoping that the biofuel of the future will be jatropha. Jatropha is a leafy tree which is essentially a wild plant. The plant grows in warmer climates, making it a more difficult biofuel sell in the United States.

Jatropha trees, which are already grown in India and Africa, coast about $6 each. In addition, the trees are capable of producing about two gallons of oil each once they reach maturity. Approximately 400 of the trees would be able to be grown per acre.

One of the problems will jatropha is the fact that it can only be used with diesel engines. This, however, does not dissuade everyone.  The fuel has already been used in biofuel test flights for Air New Zealand and Continental Airlines. In addition, the fuel is being considered by the oil company BP, who is partnering with projects in India and Africa.


How to Grow an Herbal Tea Garden

Posted on Mon Jun 29 2009
By: in

Instead of buying herbal tea from the store this summer, why not make freshly brewed tea from the herbs you have grown in your garden? This is an inexpensive way to enjoy tea, and you reduce your paper waste too. Since herbs require little space to thrive, you can plant a variety of combinations without having to dig up too much of your yard. In addition, you can incorporate the herbs into your breakfast, lunch and dinner meals too.

Step 1

Use five flowerpots or items that can be used as pots. It’s best that you have one large one around 24’’ in diameter and four smaller pots about 12’’ in diameter. Fill the bottom of the pots with approximately 1’’ of gravel.

Step 2

Fill the pots will soil and add the following plants to the largest flowerpot you have: purple basil, pineapple sage, chocolate mint geranium, pineapple sage, lavender and gold lemon thyme. The pineapple sage can be featured in the middle of the pot, and the other plants as well as a couple marigolds can be spaced around the sage.

Xeros – The Waterless Washing Machine Could Save Gallons

Posted on Mon Jun 29 2009
By: in

A washing machine which does not use water to clean clothes? That could solve half of the world’s water woes. The machine under development by the U.K based Xeros is technically not a zero-water washing machine. But the Xeros washing machine uses just a cup of water per load to clean your dirty laundry.

The secret of the cleaning process lies in the innovative use of reusable nylon beads which do the dry washing. Thousands of tiny plastic beads the size of 0.5cms substitute water’s cleaning action by trapping and absorbing the dirt. The slightly wet conditions are created by the cup of water and a little bit of detergent. The water and detergent combine loosens the stains and dampens the clothes. The churning action of the washing machine heats up the water and then the chips are added to complete the cleaning. 20 kilos of chips are sufficient for a full load. After the cycle, the beads fall through a mesh and can be collected for reuse.



California Passes Windshield Requirement To Reduce A/C Use

Posted on Mon Jun 29 2009
By: in

The California Air Resources Board recently passed another mandate for auto manufacturers selling vehicles in California. As of 2014, all vehicles sold in California will be required to have windshields which reflect the sun. The windows would have a metallic coating, a window technology said to be in use for some 20 years now.

 The board passed the mandate in hopes of not only reducing greenhouse gas emissions but also improving fuel efficiency. By using the sun-reflecting windows, vehicles will maintain a cooler temperature and therefore drivers will use less air conditioning. Apparently the windows are able to keep sedan interiors 14 degrees Fahrenheit cooler, while keeping a truck or SUV about 12 degrees cooler.

Starting in 2012, one-quarter of vehicles sold in the state of California will require the sun-reflecting windshields. These windshields must block fifty percent of the sun’s heat when a car is parked. By 2014, all vehicles will be required to have such windshields.


Green QuestionVille RoundUp - Jun 28

Posted on Sun Jun 28 2009
By: in

Time for our weekly Green QuestionVille round up :) I hope you can find some interesting questions and answers below and remember if you have a questions register today and ask, it takes 20 seconds to register :)

Popular Questions This Week

  • stavy asked: Do you like fishing?
    What do you fish for? Do you eat your catch or throw it back? (See Answers)
  • Twiceshy asked: Will returning to the moon help?
    Some people say that reinvesting in moon exploration is a waste of time, but without out atmosphere to influence inventions and experiments, it could very well be that greener technology could be created there, for use on Earth.

    Do you think going to the moon will help us develop or improve existing green technologies? (See Answers)
  • HereToday asked: Which spice is your favourite?
    To cut down on fat, sugar, and salt in our food, many folk have turned to adding spices instead. What is your go-to spice for good flavour? (See Answers)
  • keewi asked: how much do you think sexism effects environmental issues?
    how much do you think are the notions of feminism and masculism being impedimental in environmental issues? and if there is already an impact then is it substential or negligable in our imprudency of handling the earthen issues? (See Answers)





EPA Announces Neighborhoods At Greatest Risk Of Cancer Due To Air

Posted on Sun Jun 28 2009
By: in

Data recently released by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) indicates that hundreds of neighborhoods across the United States are at great risk for cancer. Cancer, the agency says, caused by 80 different chemicals they have evaluated in the air. In total, about 600 neighborhoods in the U.S. are at an elevated risk of cancer due to the air they breath.

The EPA used data from 2002 to make their current estimations. All in all, the EPA analyzed 124 different chemicals considered hazardous air pollutants. These chemicals cause an array of issues, from cancer to respiratory problems. 80 of these 124 chemicals have been shown to cause cancer.

Chemicals released by automobiles, factories and other such sources put particular neighborhoods at a greater risk due to their location to these sources. In the approximately 600 neighborhoods at the greatest risk, the levels of these chemicals cause a greater than 100 in 1 cancer risk.


Refrigerants May Hinder Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Posted on Sat Jun 27 2009
By: in

AC Units In JapanRefrigerants, also known as F-gases, are used in refrigerators and air conditioning. They are used in homes, buildings, cars, trucks and even trains. In addition, they are frequently used as foam blowing agents. Since the Montreal Protocol called for the phasing out of HCFCs, the use of these refrigerants (also called HFCs) has increased.

In a recent publication of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, scientists warned of the hazards of HFCs. The study was conducted by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency, the United States’ NOAA and EPA and the Dupont company.

According to the scientists, refrigerant usage will increase drastically in upcoming years and even decades. Due to the warnings of some scientists that greenhouse gas emissions need to be reduced sooner rather than later, HFC consumption is of great concern. According to the study, the use of HFCs could actually cancel out some of the greenhouse gas reductions underway, including clean energy.


Are Best-By Dates To Become Dated?

Posted on Fri Jun 26 2009
By: in
If you are like many conscientious consumers, checking the “best-by” date is a regular part of grocery shopping. Many foods contain preservatives to stabilize their contents for longer storage and shelf life. Other products are prone to colonization by bacteria or molds. So manufacturers stamp dates onto cans and containers to indicate an appropriate timescale for use.

However, the flip side of this dating process is that consumers interpret a “best-by” (also called “best-before” or “sell-by”) date as a concrete deadline. How many times have you emptied the fridge and discarded anything questionable based on the date stamp? In fact, these dates may be responsible for epidemic levels of food wastage across many countries.

In the UK, government officials are taking a hard look at packaging guidelines. It is all part of an initiative to reduce waste - including food and packaging. Retailers are critical of the proposal, suggesting that eliminating best-by dates will not reduce food waste. The problem is that dating products leaves consumers unclear about the meaning of the dates. The main concern is food safety. But many dates represent a conservative estimate of how long a product remains at its peak palatability. In fact, long after an indicated date, many foods remain perfectly safe, nutritious, and delicious.




The Sears Tower Goes Green

Posted on Fri Jun 26 2009
By: in

Large skyscrapers such as the Sears Tower have very large energy bills and the like, giving them large carbon footprints. In order to reduce these issues, some skyscraper owners have decided to go green. Just like the Empire State Building in New York, the Sears Tower in Chicago has now dedicated itself to being green.

The Sears Tower, the tallest building in the United States, will undergo a five year green transformation that will cost about $350 million. The changes are expected to reduce electricity use by 80 percent and save upwards of 24 million gallons of water each year. Hopes are that the building will be given the LEED status, as in Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design.

Solar panels will be placed on the 90th floor roof in order to heat water for the building. Between 30 and 35 thousand square feet of gardens will be planted on the Sears Tower’s rooftops as well. Varying and numerous wind turbines are expected to be placed on the roofs as well.


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