Wednesday, April 15th, 2009
10 Green Projects That Just Might Save The World
Faced with massive population growth, melting ice caps and the need to own an ever-increasing number of gadgets, the world needs to find sustainable solutions.
Satellites Show Air Pollution is Way Worse Than We Thought
A new way of comparing ground and satellite collected data on air pollution has shown that 15 of 20 highly populated cities have air pollution levels that 5 to 10 times higher than the World Health Organization’s guidelines.
Texas the world’s 6th biggest wind-power producer
Although many Texans seem to doubt that climate change is man-made, they are still firm believers in clean energy. According to a new report released by the American Wind Energy Association (AWEA), Texas once again leads in wind- energy capacity and largest wind farms installed, ranking sixth in the world behind Germany…
Chinese Electric Car Company Led by Charasmatic CEO
BYD, a battery and electric car manufacturer, is led by Wang Chuan-Fu. Wang has built BYD into a global leader but still wants to be environmentally friendly. To that end, BYD has developed a nontoxic electrolyte battery fluid. “If we’re going to help solve environmental problems, we can’t create new environmental problems with our technology.”
China’s Grand Plans for Eco-Cities Now Lie Abandoned
Mostly conceived by international architects, China’s eco-cities were intended to be models of green urban design. But the planning was done with little awareness of how local people lived, and the much-touted projects have largely been scrapped.
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Friday, January 23rd, 2009
Internet Population Passes One Billion; Top 15 Countries
The number of people on the Internet surpassed one billion in December, according to comScore. The actual number is probably higher than that (Internet World Stats counted nearly 1.5 billion Web surfers worldwide as of June 30, 2008). In any case, only between 15 and 22 percent of the world’s population is on the Internet. We have a long way to go.
Climate Change Killing America’s Trees at Ever Faster Rates
Trees in western North America are dying at faster and faster rates, and climate change is likely to blame. The mounting deaths could fundamentally transform Western forests because tree reproduction hasn’t increased to offset losses, according to a new study published Thursday in Science.
More Spaceflight Needed To Drive Evolution
There is fierce debate over the direction humanity should take when exploring the solar system. Plans for human exploration of the solar system and beyond often polarize opinions among the public and scientific communities.
Want to Live Longer? Cut the Pollution
Nobody pretends that polluted air isn’t terrible for your health. Clean up the skies over any dirty city and the people who live there will all but certainly become healthier. That, at least, has been popular wisdom, but until now, no one had ever put it to the statistical test. Now someone has and the results are striking.
Mars and Mercury Formed From Planetary Scraps
Mars and Mercury were formed from the scraps of Earth and Venus, according to a radical new theory of rocky planet formation. The model could explain some characteristics of Mars and Mercury that have long puzzled scientists, said Brad Hansen, an astronomer at the University of California, Los Angeles.
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Tuesday, October 14th, 2008
Incredible Images of the Sun
The Sun is now in the quietest phase of its 11-year activity cycle, the solar minumum – in fact, it has been unusually quiet this year – with over 200 days so far with no observed sunspots. The solar wind has also dropped to its lowest levels in 50 years. Seen below are some recent images of the Sun in more active times.
How Much Oil Do You Eat?
Over the past few years, as the ‘green movement’ has grown, more attention has been paid to our food system. Pollution is rampant, we’ve become removed from knowing how or where our food was grown, and food-borne illness outbreaks are a constant problem. But should our food supply become a priority to the next administration?
Spectacular Crystals & Mines Explored
Interesting piece on discovery & exploration of 1 of richest crystal mines in world — with huge crystals among largest in world.
House Uses Hydrogen For Power
Hydrogen power is usually associated with vehicles, but a house in the UK is showing that there are a multitude of uses for fuel cells. The grid-connected West Midlands home is powered by hydrogen as part of a £2 million University of Birmingham and Black County Housing Group (BCHG) project.
Globalization Theories Win American Nobel Prize
Paul Krugman has won the Nobel Prize in economics. The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences says the Princeton economist won “for his analysis of trade patterns and location of economic activity.” Krugman is also a columnist for The New York Times.. Reporter Curt Nickisch talks with Renee Montagne about Krugman’s work.
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Sunday, October 12th, 2008
European Union Bans Incandescent Light Bulbs
The switch to energy-saving bulbs was approved by EU ministers this past week. Advocates claim that replacing the worst-performing lamps with today’s best available technology will reduce domestic energy consumption for lighting by 60 percent; equivalent to preventing 30 million tons of CO2 pollution every year.
Is Cheaper Oil A Good Thing?
It has plummeted nearly 40% in just three months, from about $147 a barrel in July to below $83 on Friday, with no obvious bottom in sight. If that sounds good, you are probably a driver who winces these days at filling your gas tank. But the downward spiral could mean trouble for oil-rich countries and for the environment.
2010 Toyota Prius Adds Muscle at Expense of Fuel Efficiency
A Toyota spokesperson said the changes were to increase the vehicle’s mass-market appeal, but with the changing economy and increased concern for the environment, it remains to be seen whether top speed will be among buyers’ concerns.
Introducing the World’s Largest Solar Powered Winery
The largest solar installation of any winery in the world is set to be built for Constellation Wines’ Gonzalez winery in Monterrey County, CA by Pacific Power Management.
Exposing the Bi-Partisan Myth of Clean Coal
There’s at least one topic the candidates in the US elections won’t be wrangling over: so-called “clean†coal. That’s because they all support it.
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Monday, June 30th, 2008
Pentagon Fights EPA On Pollution Cleanup
The Defense Department, the nation’s biggest polluter, is resisting orders from the Environmental Protection Agency to clean up Fort Meade and two other military bases where the EPA says dumped chemicals pose ‘imminent and substantial’ dangers to public health and the environment.
8 Ways to Green Your Garden
Summer is a great opportunity to spend time in the garden. Sunny days provide nice weather and extra daylight. School is out so you’ve got extra potential workers. The ground is fertile from springtime rain.
Biodiesel’s New Approval Rating Could Ease Warranty Concerns
Lack of warranty support for biodiesel has been a major stumbling block for new diesel owners who want to start using the fuel. But three long-awaited ASTM specifications could help change that.
Unprecedented bill could spark renewables in US
A new feed-in tarriff bill, mimicing many laws already in place in Europe, could pave the road for a renewable energy revolution in the United States.
Cost Benefits Could Bring Natural Gas Vehicles To Forefront
There is nothing really new about using Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) as a vehicle. The new thing, the reason that talk about CNG is growing, is that natural gas now costs about half as much per unit energy as gasoline and has an even greater cost advantage over diesel fuel.
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Saturday, November 17th, 2007
I have had this post on my “todo” list for some time. I am not really sure how to write it without people getting mad at me. It seems like every time I write about something that threatens people’s ways of life, I hear about it. I can understand that, because I wouldn’t want someone telling me what to do, but perhaps a suggestion…I would listen to.
I guess we are all beginning to realize there is a problem out there. I just read an article on Yahoo!, titled, “UN panel: Climate change accelerating.” That’s not good. I mean, the article was well written, but what it was about isn’t good.
I think I have become an ever increasingly bitter person. It probably has something to do with me thinking an awful lot about stuff. I spend time thinking about consumption, power, working, relationships and life in general. It kills me to go out there in the world and see people who don’t seem to be doing much thinking at all.
One of the things that really gets to me is people buying too much stuff. I write a lot about things I have purchased and it may seem like I purchase a lot. Maybe I do. Let’s just say that half the stuff I write about, I never get. I usually spend a few months tossing it around in my head. I always think and think and think and that’s one annoying thing about me. Also, I usually buy stuff that has a purpose. I buy things I need for either survival or for business. I never buy things because they are on sale. The good thing is that Laura and I recycle more than we through away. There is rarely a full garbage can out at the end of the driveway on pickup day.
I saw this lady on Oprah the other day who had “hoarding disease.” The show was helping her overcome her problem and they were going through all the junk she had in her house. They would ask how she got some of the items and one time, she responded something like, “Oh, well that was on sale. They were almost asking me to buy it.” To me, that’s just crazy. Who buys something they don’t need because it’s on sale? Who does that?
I suffer from thinking about chains of events. Every purchase has polluted in its own way. Every little trinket has either cut down a tree, burned oil for shipping, used too much packaging, created sub-par working conditions…you get the idea. So how does one live a life being angry about their own purchases and even angrier about other people’s purchases? I don’t know. All I know is that every time I mention it, people get mad at me.
I like charities as much as the next guy, but I have begun thinking about them too. I am starting to think that I have some sort of problem. Now, people can’t just ask me to contribute without me thinking about whether the charity abused animals for research, caused the purchase of way too many toys or cut down a rain forest. The only thing I can think of to donate to is PETA because they don’t seem to be filling the world up with junk or polluting.
As you may know, I have been doing some research on the next car I am going to buy. This is especially important because cars create lots of pollution. There is a debate in my head whether to get one with not so good gas mileage or one with really good gas mileage. I know I am not going to drive nearly as much as I used to, so this issue is smaller than it should be. I think about it though and I guess that’s good.
We have been hearing about over-consumption for a long time now. Why is it that people still are shocked to hear someone talk about it? Can I say that I am not for buying kids so many toys without being branded as being against kids? Can I say that I think people should think more about efficiency when donating new houses to the less fortunate without being branded as being against the poor? Can I say that researchers should consider the rights of animals when doing medical research without being branded as being against the ill?
As you can see, there is a fine line to walk when talking about these issues. Unfortunately, if no one talks about them, we are going to be living on a very hot planet, among many many stinky landfills with no more animals. That is not good.
The good thing is that there are a few people out there who think along the same lines as I do. TreeHugger has a good article called, “Birthdays Without Pressure” which links to a related website that deals with the problems with birthday parties.
Read a little of the information on the websites I just linked to and please leave me a comment.
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Wednesday, November 14th, 2007
To save gas.
Well, it’s good for you too, for a little while. We all need to get out of the house, but I am sure that killing that two hour commute each day would leave a little hair on your head.
So much happens during that commute. I don’t think I need to explain what here, but I will say this…for the past few weeks, I have been taking Thursdays and Fridays off. I have had nice, four day weekends. I don’t think about working at my full time job at all. This past Monday, while I was driving into work, I began getting in a bad mood. I was almost to the job, so maybe that had something to do with it. Also, when I got to work, my left eye started twitching. I have had the twitch the week before, but it went away over the weekend. Hmmm….
I would say the main reason to work at home (if you can), besides saving your sanity, is to save gas. Check out this website for more information on that.
This morning, I passed by the gas station down the road from me. The cheapest gas was priced at $3.11. I fear that it will go up more. I like staying home and not paying for it. Also, when I don’t drive to work, I don’t smell the truck fumes that I have in the past.
Sometimes I wonder what happened to the old days, when people actually used to work in the towns they lived in. They had ten minute commutes. I like the idea of that. This whole commuting for half the day thing is the pits.
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Wednesday, October 3rd, 2007
I have to say, I am getting a little sick of the drive to work. Perhaps I should say that I am getting a little sick from the drive to work.
The minute I get on Interstate 84, I see the diesel smoke pouring out of the trucks on the highway. I try to change lanes, so it doesn’t come into my car, but I can smell it anyway. There are so many trucks on the road, it gets difficult at times.
When I hit the toll booth, things get really bad. Everyone is giving their cars so much damn gas, the whole place stinks. I couldn’t even imagine working in one of those toll booths. Poor people. They probably all have asthma.
I don’t know what to do. There really is only one way to work. I try to breath as shallow as I can, but I still get headaches from all the pollution. It truly is disgusting.
I am not sure why I decided to write about this. Maybe a trucker will read this and realize how disgusting they are making my life. Maybe they can use biodiesel.
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