Author: Brandi Cummings

Many of us want to be responsible citizens of the Earth. We think about the effects our lifestyles have on the environment. We are concerned about global warming. We want to ensure our children’s future on this planet is one that still has clean air to breathe, an abundance of trees and wildlife, and clean water to drink. However, many of us also think that the sacrifices might be too great to “go green” in our own office. Good news. It’s not as difficult as you think.

There are 3 areas where you can make a significant impact without significant expense or inconvenience: paper, lights, and electronics.

The average American office worker throws out about 150 pounds of paper per year. Paper manufacturing contributes to the deforestation of the planet and in America is responsible for 35 million tons of CO2 a year. So what can you do? Buy recycled paper. Make full use of that paper by printing on both sides and/or using paper that is only printed on one side for scratch paper. Do your proofreading and edits on your computer before printing to reduce the number of prints you make. Re-use file folders by placing new labels over the old ones. All of these changes are easy to make but have a big impact. Pretty painless, right?

Another way you can go green in your office is as easy as changing a light bulb. In fact, it is changing a light bulb. Incandescent bulbs use 4 times more energy than is necessary to produce light. Halogen lights can get as hot as 1,100 degrees Fahrenheit. That’s hot enough to cook an egg! Alternately, Energy Star certified compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) use 75% less energy to produce the same amount of light, last 10 times longer and produce less heat. If you feel like you need even more reason to switch to CFLs, consider that you will also save money over the lifetime of the bulb. Once you have made the switch to energy efficient bulbs, make sure lights are turned off when they are not needed. A great way to ensure that this happens is with motion sensors that will turn the lights off when everyone has left the room.

38% of all of the carbon dioxide emissions come from the electricity we generate. That electricity is used to power all sorts of things. A major drain on our electricity is all of our office equipment such as computers, copiers, printers, and fax machines. When going green with your electronics, you need to look at 3 factors. You need to consider the waste that is created in the manufacturing of the products, the effects on the environment when you use the products, and the waste that is created when you are done with the products. That may seem like a lot to think about but if you follow these simple guidelines, you will be able to minimize the negative impact your office equipment has on the environment.

The manufacturing of electronics uses a lot of resources including electricity, raw materials, and water. Electronics also account for billions of pounds of municipal waste each year. Just a few of the contaminants that electronics create are toxic heavy metals, lead, PCBs, mercury, and various acids. To lessen your office’s affect on the number of new pieces of equipment that are manufactured, as well as end up in land fills, buy all-in-one machines that combine multiple functions into one. Whenever possible, get rid of machines completely by using services such as Internet fax. With an Internet fax service you get rid of the fax machine completely, as well as reduce the amount of paper and ink that gets consumed. Another way to decrease waste is to recycle machines that are no longer working and donate those that do to charities where they will stay in use.

25% of the total electricity used by all commercial buildings in the US is consumed by office buildings. When buying any new office equipment, look for Energy Star certified machines. This will make a huge difference in the amount of electricity that is used to run your office. For example, an Energy Star certified computer is going to be 52% more efficient than a standard one. Laptops also use a lot less energy than desktops, so consider whether this is a viable option for your office. Energy efficient machines are also going to have stand by options that will power down or go into sleep mode to conserve energy when not in use. Once the office is closing for the day, make sure that all equipment is powered off.

Taking these steps will get you on your way to going green in your office. And as I promised, they will help you make a significant impact without significant cost or inconvenience to you and your employees. And you thought going green was going to be hard.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/environment-articles/going-green-in-your-office-the-easy-way-197420.html

About the Author

Brandi Armstrong is an expert author on various topics relating to small and home based businesses. Take the first step to going green in your office and visit www.shopgreenoffice.info today.

Welcome to the world of Energy!

In Physics, Energy is a scalar physical quantity that shows the amount of work that can be performed by a force, an attribute of objects and systems that are subject to a law of conservation. Any form of Energy can be transformed into another form, but the total energy always remains the same: that’s the principle of the conservation of Energy.

Nowadays, about 18% of global energy consumption comes from renewables, such as Biofuel, Biomass, Geothermal, Hydroelectricity, Solar energy, Tidal power, Wave power and finally Wind power.
Indeed,the use of renewable energy has an enormous potential future thanks to sustainable development and global warming groups that have proposed the use of 100% renewable energy source supplies without using fossil fuels or nuclear power. For example, scientists from the University of Kassel have suggested that Germany can power itself by only renewable energy!

Secondly, there is the world’s first carbon-neutral zero waste town: “Masdar City”, a planned city in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirate. Masdar City aims to become the Silicon Valley for clean, green and alternative energy. A global centre where over 1,500 companies will converge to address one of man’s greatest energy challenges and city where current and future technologies will be funded, researched, developed, tested and implemented.

In fact, the project is expected to cost US $22 billion and take some 8 years to build. The city is planned to cover 6 square kilometers and will be home to 45,000 people and 1,500 businesses. It will also be the location of a University, The Masdar Institute Of Science and Technology (MIST) which will be assisted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology( MIT).

Among the first construction projects will be a 40 to 60 megawatt solar power plant. This will later be followed by a larger facility, and additional photovoltaic modules will be placed on rooftops to provide supplemental solar energy totaling 130 megawatts. Wind farms will be established outside the city’s perimeter capable of producing up to 20 megawatts, and the city intends to utilize geothermal power as well. Automobiles will be banned within the city!

Masdar will also attempt to reduce waste to zero. Biological waste will be used to create nutrient-rich soil and fertilizer, and some of the waste may also be put in use through waste incineration as an additional power source. As for industrial waste, such as plastics and metals, they will be recycled or re-conditioned for other uses.
Finally, the headquarters of the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) will be located in Abu Dhabi’s Masdar City, a site which is currently under construction. It will be the world’s first carbon-neutral, zero-waste city completely powered by renewable energy.

“People often ask why the UAE is undertaking such an extensive environmental initiative. The answer is that Masdar integrates the full technological lifestyle of modern time and places the UAE in a leading position in the field of renewable energy. We cannot keep living the way we are at the present moment ; Masdar is the future.”

Energy is our future!

Energy efficiency around the home is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to help conserve energy around the globe. Replacing aging appliances, re-insulating walls, and recycling are just a few of the ways everybody can get involved with conservation and eco-friendly habits. Though some of these may seem like they will require planning and extra money, others will help you save money on your monthly utility bills. Replacing old incandescent light bulbs with newer compact fluorescent bulbs can help save hundreds of dollars a year in addition to providing a longer lasting light bulb.

To illustrate the savings and to provide a workable plan for switching from incandescent bulbs to compact fluorescent lighting, the monthly and yearly cost of running both types of light bulbs in a moderate home with two inhabitants, has been calculated. By knowing the daily electrical usage of each light bulb and the current electrical rate, one can determine the monetary and energy savings for any period of time.

Using a particular household, 62 light bulbs were counted and their wattages noted. Each light fixture was then assigned a number representing the average number of hours it is active each day. By multiplying the hours the light fixture was active, by the total wattage of all the bulbs in the fixture and dividing by 1000, the total energy use per light fixture can be obtained. Multiplying the number of days in a month by the sum of all the energy required, will yield a monthly energy usage in kW/h. Multiply this number by the current electric rate to find the cost of running the lights in a low traffic household.

Daily energy required by all 62 light bulbs equated to be 5.87 kWh. At the current local electric rate of $.093 per kWh, one month would cost $16.61. The yearly rate would be $199.32. By replacing each light bulb with a compact fluorescent bulb, one could cut their daily usage down to 1.53 kWh, resulting in a monthly cost of $4.34, and a yearly cost of $52.03. The savings would be $147.30 per year and result in a $12.27 savings every month.

The example above assumes a low daily electrical usage, but even low electrical demand will return substantial monthly and yearly savings, plenty to pay for the cost of replacing all incandescent bulbs in a home. A family of four or more could easily save hundreds of dollars a year in lighting costs.

There are a few reasons that more families have not taken this step in their homes. Compact fluorescent light bulbs may seem expensive at first glance with a bundle price of around $3 to $4. At high demand, a new compact fluorescent may actually pay for itself in as little in one month as savings on your utility bill. Also, many people do not realize just how much electricity an incandescent bulb requires annually. Learning about the savings in electricity and utility bills may help to encourage more families to adopt this strategy in their homes.

A plan started 60 days ago, to replace five incandescent bulbs each month, has already resulted in lower energy bills for this particular household. Though, due to low usage, it will take a few months to realize the savings, each month will continue to add savings until all 62 lights have been replaced. Since the life of each compact fluorescent is longer than a standard incandescent, the savings will also be realized over a longer period of time.

Removing incandescent light bulbs and replacing them with compact fluorescent bulbs, can result in a 75% lower lighting bill over the course of a year. In addition to turning off electrical devices when they are not in use and replacing appliances with newer energy efficient models, taking small steps such as replacing light bulbs can save money on utility bills at an amazing rate.

Below shows the savings of a low traffic household.

Electric Rate     0.093
# of Days    30.42

Monthly Savings    $12.27
Yearly Savings    $147.30

By getting thousands of residents excited about using their green thumbs, Newark, N.J., is turning its vacant lots into prosperous, blooming gardens.

Because the city’s urban gardening program is coupled with a leaf composting project, it helps reduce landfill costs while beautifying plots of land that were once eyesores, said Frank Sudol, manager of the city’s Division of Engineering.

“We had an ongoing problem with maintaining these vacant lots because of illegal dumping,” he said. “Through the program, we’ve stopped the dumping, cut maintenance costs and put the lots to productive use.”

Nearly 4,000 once-vacant lots are now being used. Resident adopt the lots, Sudol said, then plant gardens and maintain them as a community project.

The leaf composting project is essential to the success of the community gardens because New Jersey’s rocky soil makes growing gardens difficult. Each fall, the city asks residents to rake their leaves to the curb. Bagging the leaves is discouraged to save residents money and the city disposal costs of the plastic, he said.

Once the leaves arrive at Newark’s composting site, they are screened, watered and composted in long windrows. Eventually, the finished product is hauled back into the urban area where it helps gardens bloom on the vacant lots.

“Rather than just hauling all that material to the landfill, we use it internally to enrich the soil and improve the value of our neighborhoods,” Sudol said.

As an added benefit, more and more residents are now composting on their own and hauling the material to their community gardens, he said.

An annual dinner is held each fall as part of the urban gardening program to honor the efforts of Newark’s community gardeners. A bus tour is conducted to visit the now-prosperous vacant lots before the event, and a panel of judges chooses winners in various categories.

Slides of the winning gardens are shown at the dinner as schools and neighborhoods celebrate their efforts, while making plans for another growing season.

“We’re talking about a significant amount of acreage being gardened that would otherwise sit unused,” Sudol said. “The program has helped raise community spirit and involvement.”

Tip/Stat — An estimated $750,000 worth of produce is grown on Newark’s vacant lots each year, through its urban gardening project.

Technorati Tags: composting, gardening, landfills, community gardeners, leaf composting project, urban gardening

Source: landfills

Turning the fruits of a recycling program into tangible results has proven hugely successful for the Chicago Park District and the city’s residents.

Chicago’s 563 parks are now being covered in garbage. But it is in the form benches, playground barriers and other items composed completely of plastic donated by residents in the city’s Plastic On Parks (POP) program.

At the start of the two-year-old project, 400 pounds of plastic was being collected each week, said Fred White, director of recycling for the park district. Now, more than 40,000 pounds of plastic are brought to the city’s 260 recreation centers every week.

“When you contribute to a project and can see what your efforts are creating, it’s a lot easier to get excited about it,” White said. “They know their plastic bottles are becoming useful items.”

Under the program, residents bring their empty plastic milk, water and pop containers to their local city recreation center. Because of the volume, the park district has dedicated a truck solely to collecting the bottles, and must stop at some of the centers every day.

The bottles are then sorted and bailed before being shipped to Hammers Plastic Recycling in Iowa Falls, Iowa. This company creates plastic lumber out of the plastic and returns it to Chicago.

“Our contract says the company must return the plastic we give them,” White said. “This is why people do it — they can see what is being done with the plastic.”

A majority of the plastic wood received so far has been used to refurbish some of the city’s 630 playgrounds. A 12-inch-high perimeter wall is built around each playground using the lumber, and the inner area then filled with a soft material like wood chips or sand, he said. The unique lumber also has been used to build park benches and floating docks.

“Our carpenters have no problem with the plastic,” he said. “It cuts like wood, saws like wood and nails like wood.”

But the plastic lumber doesn’t deteriorate like wood, and children don’t have to worry about splinters. Also, the plastic is graffiti resistant because it is non-porous and can easily be cleaned, White added.

“We’ve collected more than 2 million pounds of plastic since we started,” he said. “If we’ve diverted that much material from landfills, then we’ve helped lengthen the lives of those landfills and benefited everyone here.”

The park district has received many inquiries from other cities regarding the POP program, White said, and has offered lend whatever assistance it can to help establish similar recycling programs in other communities.

(Tip/Stat) Approximately 350,000 plastic bottles are used to refurbish one playground

under Chicago’s POP program.

Technorati Tags: recycling programs, recycling, landfills, plastic, green stories, environmental heroes, green communities

Earth News Media is a pioneer in the field of environmental news and information. The company was founded in 1991 as an international news service. Its efforts have led to a syndicated environmental news column being published around the world.

Source: recycling programs

While recycling itself is a worthwhile endeavor, when intertwined with charitable organizations, its power for good is taken to far greater heights.

A perfect example has been under way in St. Petersburg, Fla., for several years now. By picking up used paper donated by various companies and eventually hauling it to a local paper company, a developmental training program is helping build better lives for its mentally handicapped trainees.

“It’s really been exciting — much more far-reaching than we ever expected,” said Kathy Roegiers, manager of the local Goodwill Industries’ program. “It has allowed our trainees to be more a part of the community, rather than a burden, which is the ultimate goal for our program.”

When the recycling idea was first conceived, most paper companies told Goodwill that the amount of paper was too small for them to deal with, Roegiers said. However, one local paper company said it would start referring all its smaller customers to Goodwill.

This simple effort made the project happen. Soon company after company was calling to donate used paper to the training program. Today, more than 100 companies take part in the project.

Between the Goodwill’s transportation department and the trainees, all the paper is picked up at the participating companies and brought back for sorting. Goodwill drivers coordinate paper pick-ups on their regular routes to collect used items, Roegiers said, while the trainees travel in their own bus to pick up the rest of the paper.

The training program provides mentally handicapped individuals with paid work experience in preparation for eventual community jobs. The recycling project has been a perfect addition because it teaches trainees social skills when they go out to pick up the paper, Roegiers said. It also has provided them with plenty of physical activity due to the continual and substantial flow of paper.

“The need out there for someone to pick this paper up is tremendous,” Roegiers said. “A lot of people are interested in donating if it will just get picked up. It’s done us a lot of good.”

In another example, a group of Ohio grocery stores recently held an aluminum can drive, with all proceeds going to benefit the Rainbow Babies and Children’s Hospital in Cleveland.

At the Square to Square street festival, which attracts upwards of 300,000 people to downtown Cleveland each year, Stop-N-Shop grocery stores set up a collection site with ALCOA, and awarded a $1,000 gift certificate to the person who brought in the most cans.

Held in conjunction with the national Children’s Miracle Network Telethon, the event was an Ohio approach to raise money for its local children’s hospital, said Harry Graham, executive director of Stop-N-Shop.

“Our intent was to help clean up area neighborhoods, sponsor a recycling effort and raise funds for a worthwhile cause,” he said.

With similar activities being developed and undertaken in other parts of the country, recycling and charity will continue to be a powerful union — benefiting both the environment and society.

(Tip/Stat) Recycling one ton of office paper will save 17 trees.

Technorati Tags: recycling, environment, charity, charitable programs, earth news, environmental issues, earth news media

Source: charity

Transforming useless, black rooftops into prosperous, green gardens — that is the goal of Dr. Paul Mankiewicz.

As director of the Gaia Institute, an environmental research group in New York City, he has designed a unique greenhouse which solves the complexities of gardening on rooftops and will provide fresh produce for thousands of residents below.

By using a lightweight soil, a simple steel-frame structure wrapped in plastic, and a unique planting and harvesting system, this new greenhouse could add a new facet to agriculture. And that has the biologist excited.

“If we have a system that can purify the air and lower the amount of traffic needed to ship produce — and have that system in cities where pollution problems are serious — that is certainly a big improvement for society,” he said. “And by having a new center of economic activity right in the cities, it makes for a much greater increase in wealth for those urban areas.”

After seven years of research and development, Mankiewicz has applied for a grant from the Environmental Protection Agency to build a prototype greenhouse on a building owned by the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, New York City’s fifth most popular tourist attraction.

Tied to the grant is New York City’s Recycling Division, which will help supply the ton of solid waste the greenhouse will use every day. Food scraps and other waste material will be composted in large bins, Mankiewicz said, then slurried up to the roof where the material will be used in both the soil and the nutrient system.

The greenhouse’s soil is the unique feature that makes the system work. Most soils are too heavy to use on rooftops, he said, and building additional reinforcement is too expensive.

However, he has created a super lightweight soil by using both synthetic and organic materials, including recycled styrofoam. The styrofoam works as filler — the purpose sand and clay serve in most soils.

Feeding the crops involves a series of underground tubes linked to a controller, which delivers precise amounts of water, nutrients, microbes, carbon dioxide and oxygen to maximize plant growth.

Covering the plants will be a lightweight steel frame covered with a thin glazing of plastic. By his calculations, Mankiewicz said the amount of petroleum needed to produce all the plastic used in the greenhouse would get a truckload of produce only 300 miles down the road from California.

For planting and harvesting, a space-saving gantry system will span the garden and roll over the top of the growing space. Workers will be able to work from above, he said, eliminating the need for aisles and increasing crop yields by 30 to 90 percent.

On a larger scale, Mankiewicz envisions rooftop greenhouses eventually adorning the tops of shopping malls. With tens of thousands of square feet available, a shopping mall greenhouse could supply all the produce for an entire community. And by increasing the profits of both store and mall owners, he said the technology could leap ahead, becoming a new green layer of the urban environment.

(Tip/Stat ) Composting can reduce solid waste by more than 15 percent.

Technorati Tags: rooftop greenhouses, environmental protection, pollution, recycling, green houses, environmental issues, earth news, earth news media

Source: environmental issues

Earth Corps, a new YMCA program expanding across the nation, is allowing high school students the opportunity to take charge and promote environmental issues and actions.

Created in Seattle, Wash., the original program quickly grew from 270 participating students to more than 1,500 students from 43 different schools. Earth Corps programs are now under way in Ohio, New York, Colorado and Oregon.

“It’s a leadership program based on environmental education and action,” said Nan Little, director of Earth Corps and founder of the first group in Seattle. “It’s fascinating to see young people take leadership roles in tackling environmental issues.”

The program operates on two levels — major community projects are coordinated through local YMCAs while other efforts are conducted in individual schools by smaller groups of Earth Corps students.

On Earth Day, the Seattle Earth Corps planted 15,000 trees, Little said. The group also has undertaken a stenciling project to warn people against dumping fish-killing wastes down storm drains. Messages stating, “Dump no waste; drains to stream,” have been spray painted near more than 1,000 storm drain grates.

The program has been officially adopted by YMCA U.S.A. and is being publicized through its network, Little said. Earth Corps groups also have been started in Hong Kong and Singapore, and still more are being considered in other Asian and South American countries.

Earth Corps involves groups of teachers and students working together, coordinated by the YMCA, and supported by businesses, government, colleges and universities. The program can be molded to the students’ own desires and goals. It is geared to develop leadership skills, encourage students to examine all sides of environmental issues and advance education through action.

“Earth Corps has done many things for our YMCA,” said Jennifer Parker, executive director of the Metrocenter YMCA in Seattle. “It has revitalized our outreach to high school youths and has brought us into new partnerships with community leaders, corporations and government agencies.”

International studies and exchanges also are encouraged in Earth Corps. A Seattle group hosted a weekend conference and retreat with students from Thailand, Japan, India and Canada. Another group of 16 students recently took a trip to Asia to meet with foreign students, Little said, where they were instrumental in establishing the Singapore and Hong Kong groups.

“We have moved quickly from a concept on paper to a vital, exciting program,” she said. “We’re expecting big things in the future.”

For more information write: Earth Corps, Program Information,

909 4th Ave., Seattle, WA 98104. Or call (206) 382-5013.

(Tip/Stat) Planting trees along a south wall provides shade for cooling in the summer and admits sun in the winter when solar heat gain may help.

Technorati Tags: environmental issues, environmental actions, Earth Day, YMCA, Earth Corps, eco-education, environmental education, green communities

Source: Earth Corps

Today, the Worldwatch Institute published an article detailing a decline in offshore drilling opposition in sharp contrast to the year 1982 when the drilling moratorium was enacted. Further expansions by George H. W. Bush in 1990 extended the moratorium to include the coasts of Florida, California and New England. With the presidency of Clinton in 1998, the ban was again extended until the year 2012.

During this time, the United States government has went as far as to buy back drilling leases off the coasts of Florida from such companies as Chevron, Conoco, and Murphy. In 2002, the Bush Administration paid $115 million to these companies to drop the offshore claims they held at the request of Florida Governor Jeb Bush. Further settlements were proposed to entities such as the Collier family to relinquish mineral rights held in the Everglades. The government offered $350 million in tax deductions and $120 million in cash for mineral rights that the National Park Services and Department of Interior estimated at $20 million and $43 million, respectively. Besides, opening a few areas within the Gulf of Mexico in 2006, expansion of offshore drilling leases has been mostly stagnant.

Recent oil prices and focus on acquiring less foreign oil has begun to change the consensus on expansion of U.S. offshore drilling. Reports by Rasmussen show that 67% of voters favor offshore drilling while 64% feel more drilling will lower high gas prices. It seems clear to why the majority of Americans now support an increase in offshore drilling. Effects on the pocketbook speak very loudly, but this is not the only reason for the change in attitude towards the long held view of offshore drilling, being environmentally unfriendly.

Lumped alongside the bill to lift the offshore drilling ban, are a few healthy nuggets of environmental stewardship. Consumer tax credits for fuel-efficient and clean energy vehicles, renewable energy tax credits, development of alternative fuel sources, and mass transit funding are just a few of the environmental benefits outlined in a plan that many hope will see a vote during this year’s session. Though most environmental groups still oppose lifting the offshore drilling ban, many feel the added benefits are so beneficial to providing clean energy and healthy environment, that a compromise can be made. If a vote is not exercised before the conclusion of Congress this fall, any decision will be left till next year while also including the next President of the United States.

Though Republicans do not feel the Democrats’ plan goes far enough to expand new energy sources, past attitudes of “no new leases”, has swayed with restrictions requiring current leases be explored further, and the added tax incentives for renewable energy energy sources. Safer drilling practices, higher oil prices, and increased pressure on providing an energy independent America, may soon make new offshore drilling a reality along thousands of acres of U.S. coastline.

The New York Times has published an article on an aging power grid and the potential setbacks to wind energy and other sources of renewable energy.

Current electric transmission lines are not able to handle the load produced my massive wind farms such as the Maple Ridge Wind Farm in New York.  The 200 turbine strong wind farm, is being forced to shut down production at times to cope with fees that are associated with pumping too much electrical current into the power grid.  This bottle neck is limiting the advances of wind power and is one of the major drawbacks slowing down the implementation of a nation wide renewable energy grid. 

While wind turbines located in places like the Mid-West can generate much more power than the same turbines placed on the east coast, there is not yet a reliable way of transmitting the electricity needed across many states.  Since control of power grids is generally left to state governments, there is little incentive to provide better transmission to out-of-state facilities.  Within each state, transmission lines may be owned by many different companies, causing any upgrades to be a painstaking process.  The Energy Policy Act of 2005 allowed the U.S. government to extend approval of transmission lines in the event that states are not providing upgrades and maintenance, through this has led to little direct expansion and infrastructure upgrades, especially in relation to peak supplies of inconsistent energy sources such as wind power.

The issue of transmitting electricity throughout the United States is something that must be recognized and remedied before further goals of expanding our renewable energy base can be implemented further.  The problems facing the aging power grid are by no means new.  In 2001, North American Electric Reliability Council, was advising congress on the problems facing the current power infrastructure.  Seven years later we are still facing the same concerns but on a much larger scale.  Incentives for renewable energy are great, but the United States must realize that it means nothing if transporting electricity can not be carried out in an efficient, reliable manner.

Companies such as MidAmerican Energy, which happens to lead the country in generation of wind power, and American Electric Power are making steps to help improve transmission lines that will carry some of the renewable energy that is generated throughout the U.S.  This proposal shows that energy companies have something to gain by working together to transmit the power that they are producing.  Without partnerships like these, future renewable energy projects can not proceed at a profitable level. 

While, further development in technologies such as Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and fuel cells, may allow temporary storage of electricity generated by renewable energy sources, transporting energy from state to state is still a needed upgrade to contend with the U.S. goal of energy independence.

Marine turtle populations have declined drastically over recent years and now of the known 7 species, all are considered protected under the Endangered Species Act (ESA). By acknowledging the bleak situation we have created for sea turtles, multi-national programs have began to collaborate resources in an effort to protect the nesting grounds and ocean habitats needed for a recovery of marine turtle populations.

Many factors have contributed to the decline including the over harvesting of eggs, destructions of habitats, pollution, fishing nets, and contact with ocean vessels. These actions combined with the low survival rate of hatchlings due to predators, have escalated the need to provide a working program to address the situation.

In the Philippines and Indonesia, Green turtle eggs are being poached and collected at unsustainable record highs. Entire ecosystems deteriorate with the loss of sea turtles as eggs and even decaying hatchlings help provide nutrients to areas that lack other natural means of plant production. Also, marine grasses are dependent on grazing animals such as sea turtles, to maintain a healthy production of wide spread grass beds, as opposed to taller blades that block out sunlight to the ocean floor. These sea beds provide shelter and sustenance to many other marine animals and the decline of the sea turtle has consequences for them all.

Some species, like the Pacific leatherback, are at a critical level with fewer than 500 females coming home to nest on the beaches of Mexico and Costa Rica. Alongside natural threats, poaching appears to be the top cause of their decline. Because some females take 30 years to mature, the effects of over harvesting and fishing can take years to remedy.

Although sea turtles have struggled recently, many conservation groups are putting in time and resources to help their plight. A new agreement has been laid out to coordinate efforts to increase and protect turtle populations. 27 signatories to the agreement are giving a broader picture of efforts and accomplishments being put forth to meet population goals.

The United Nations Environment Programme’s, Douglas Hykle, states “Participating countries have made progress in many areas, but there is still room for improvement. Many have yet to clearly describe their resource needs and to mobilize sufficient funding for domestic implementation; and only a few are carrying the burden of supporting international coordination efforts.”

One effect of sea turtle conservation can be seen in the increase in population of the Kemp’s ridley sea turtle. Though, down to just 700 nests in 1985, the Kemp’s ridley turtle has made a comeback thanks to efforts by the Mexican government to curb illegal harvests and lower the effects of shrimp trawlers.

Loggerhead turtles, off the coast of South Africa, have increased greatly over the past four decades with some 1,750 nests compared to a low of only 250. Loggerhead and other sea turtles are important because they have been known to carry as many as 100 different species of plants and animals in and upon their shells, being directly responsible for the survival of many different marine species.

Over the course of Earth’s history, many animals and plants have become extinct and it is only natural. Recently, though, dramatic changes created by humans are forcing the rapid decline in many vital species of marine plants and animals. As outlined above, many of these animals are vital to the health and future of thousands of other marine species. By acknowledging the problem exists, we can begin to address beneficial steps to change the course of current events. The Bali conference that is taking place shortly, will help to further examine the recent UNEP report about sea turtles and being to change the communication of participating countries and organizations.

Found on DesMoinesRegister.com
The green slime or pond scum that comes from algae could be valuable after all. Renewable Energy Group of Ames says it has developed a process that takes the oil from algae and turns it into biodiesel fuel.

“Algae oil would give us a third option as a biodiesel feedstock after soybean oil and animal fats,” said Daniel Oh, chief operating officer of Renewable Energy Group.

That would be a breakthrough of seismic proportions for the biodiesel industry. The soybean oil that has been the basic oil feedstock for biodiesel has doubled in price in the last 18 months, robbing operating biodiesel plants of their profitability and forcing shutdowns or delays at other facilities.

Researchers around the nation are trying to skim energy from algae.

“People who have made fun of green slime and pond scum won’t do it in the future, when they find out not only how valuable the oil is but also the byproducts,” said Jimmy Simpson, an algae researcher at Maharishi University of Management in Fairfield…….

Read the FULL story at the Des Moines Register.

Mega search engine Google.com, today announced an investment of $10.25 million in advancing the development of green technologies. Google is supporting a technology called, Enhanced Geothermal Systems, to help meet its goal of providing enough green energy to power a city the size of San Francisco. Through Google’s philanthropic entity Google.org, an initiative dubbed “Renewable Energy Cheaper than Coal” has been laid out to make this goal a reality.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems generates energy by pumping cool water 2-3 miles into a reservoir lying on top of dry, hot basement rock. The water is then pumped back to the surface at which point in condenses and creates powerful steam that is used to propel turbines. After the steam cools, it is re-injected back into the reservoir to begin the process again. This process allows energy extraction in areas that do not have natural steam pockets and hot flowing water.

The investments pledged by Google will go to help fund 2 companies and a university working on the development of Enhanced Geothermal Systems. $6.25 million will go to AltaRock Energy, Inc, which will work to reduce the cost and efficiency of EGS technology. Potter Drilling, Inc. has been given $4 million to design drilling tools capable of penetrating deeper and stronger rock. Southern Methodist University Geothermal Lab has been awarded a $489,521 grant to update geothermal maps and study geothermal resources in North America.

Google has recently been involved in many steps to reduce its environmental footprint and promote green technology. Data centers housing Google servers, are being designed to cut the energy needed for cooling to 50% of similar installations. The idea is not only to save money, but to create a self sufficient business model that promotes clean energy. This initiative is evident in the production of a 1.6 megawatt solar energy plant in Mountain View, California. Other projects include the Climate Savers Computing Initiative to create more efficient computers and servers, and the RechargeIT initiative aimed at developing electric vehicles and infrastructure.

Though $10.25 million may seem like a small amount to a power house company like Google, it shows considerable attention is being provided to changing the way we look at natural resources and energy generation. Google has the resources and intelligence to begin to leave a legacy that varies far from just creating one of the most popular websites of all time. Funding and support by Google leaders will help to attract more corporations with the potential for a green technology revolution. Though energy change falls on the hands of every citizen, major projects can not be completed without the funding and backing of large groups such as Google.

For Google Earth lovers, a map overlay has been provided by Google to show current distribution of geothermal resources. (Must have Google Earth)

Google has also provided an EGS policy brief to outline what the U.S. Government can do to help encourage the production and continued innovation of this technology.

Enhanced Geothermal Systems on YouTube

Des Moines, Iowa:
On Saturday, the Polk Country Conservation Board hosted the 7th annual River Run Garbage Grab to clean up trash and debris along the Des Moines River south of the Saylorville Reservoir. Canoes, kayaks, and motorboats were launched along the river, by volunteers, to scour the banks and sandbars. Throughout the morning hours, boaters braved the beautiful weather and shining sun hoping to bring back the biggest piece of garbage.

Garbage sacks full of trash and canoes piled with everything from tires to rusty drums, were deposited safely into the hands of conservation board staff. Metro Waste Authority provided garbage bags and dumpsters for anything someone was willing to haul out of the river.
Tires appeared to be especially sought after, as one volunteer could be heard cheering for a canoe delivering a pile of metal, paper, and a dirty fat tire.

Though, it did not appear that anything was found as big as the engine block that was hauled out during 2007, the Des Moines River is definitely a cleaner waterway after the great work by Iowa residents.

The river was not the only thing that got a thorough cleaning. Those volunteers that chose to stay on land, walked along the shore and picked up garbage lying near walking and biking trails. Among the trash collected on land was a twin sized mattress, propane tanks, beer cans, and countless coils of fishing line and bait containers.

Many groups were represented at the River Run Garbage Grab ’08. Some of those in attendance were the Izaak Walton League of America, Des Moines Water Works and Central Iowa Anglers. The U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary Unit, Flotilla 4 of Des Moines Iowa, provided safety and security services which included a patrol vessel and jet skis. Their professionalism was put to the test when a motorboat capsized and the occupants were helped from the water. This effort would not have been made possible without all of the support from the many Iowan sponsors and volunteers.

Later today, a special celebration is being hosted for all of the volunteers involved. Free food, music, and door prizes will be given away at the Simon Estes Amphitheater. The entertainment will be provided by the Des Moines Community Steel Drum Band, Plymouth Church Chancel Choir, and John Stravers and the Big Blue Sky Band.

As an Iowan and American, I would like to personally thank all those involved with this great community service project. Keeping our rivers and trails clean is a small project that every community can contribute to. By spreading the word, the next annual River Run Garbage Grab will be even bigger and more beneficial.

Thank you Iowa.

For more information about the River Run Garbage Grab, visit RiverStewards.org