PLANT BASED BIO FUELS NOT THE BEST WAY OUT
I’ve recently read an eye-opening article on the plant based bio fuels and their effect on the environment. In the on-going process of trying to find alternate sources of energy, it seems people are grabbing at any opportunity to get away from the conventional oil based fuel (especially with the prices of oil constantly on the rise). Knowing that there are countries, like Brazil, which are totally self-sufficient as far as fuel and energy are concerned, others are looking into the whole bio fuels business. However, one must ask is it really the greenest and most environmentally friendly solution?
According to a number of scientists, plant based bio fuels are not an answer to climate change and global warming; quite the contrary. Directly or indirectly, intentionally or not, the plantations of plants like soy or corn lead to enormous land clearings which cause huge amounts of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere. Moreover, the industry wipes out biodiversity, destroys soil, pollutes freshwater and displaces communities pushing the native people further into the forest. More to the point, biodiesel (made from soy) can only satisfy a fraction of the world’s need for fuel but it threatens the remaining ecosystems, mainly the Amazon. 21 million hectares of ancient forest have already been destroyed and the remaining 80 million, including the Amazon basin, are deemed suitable for further deforestation. Scientists warn that the destruction of the Amazon will increase the rate of global warming by about 50% and cause a myriad of species of wildlife go extinct.
It seems the population of this beautiful planet has come to an impasse. With the industrial revolutions of the previous two centuries and our arrogant disregard for the natural resources, we now find ourselves quite in trouble, frantically trying to find alternate solutions. However, the easiest solutions put forward by the governments and industrial giants are really just adding to the predicament. So is there a way out? I do hope so. As a matter of fact, there are other technologies, like hydrogen (see “Energy Crisis a Hoax?”), solar and wind power that help reduce our dependency on oil based fuels. The best thing to do is simply stop trying to find the easiest way out because this really is not the way to go…
TIPS FOR FUEL EFFICIENCY
You have probably implemented quite a number of changes around your house and in your life to live a more eco-friendly life. However, you still drive an old-fashioned gasoline powered car (like I do) and perhaps feel guilty about it and maybe wonder what you can do to lessen the bad impact you have on th4e environment. The optimal solution would be buying a hybrid but unfortunately, not many can afford it… So what can be done to reduce the carbon footprint as far as cars are concerned?
There are a number of things one can do to make cars more fuel efficient (therefore greener) and save some money at the same time:
- Go back to the old ways—carpooling and using public transportation will not only save fuel but in many cases money as well. If you and one friend carpool, it will save about 50% of the fuel consumption. And it will definitely limit your own personal carbon emissions.
- Go slower—easing off the accelerator will use less fuel than going at higher speed. Top speed plays an important part as well; cars are the most efficient going at a moderate speed in their top gear, e.g. a five-speed transmission performs most efficiently in the 5th gear at 40-55 mph.
- Keep tires properly inflated—under or over-inflated tires can cause you miles in fuel economy. You can get the proper tire inflation ratio for your tires on your car’s doorjamb or owner’s manual.
- Keep the engine in good order—when the Check Engine light comes on, even though your car seems to be running just fine, it could mean a broken oxygen sensor or some other emission problem, which could cause several gallons of petrol wasted.
- Open windows to cool off—if you’re going no faster than 30-40 mph, that is, or when you starting your car and it’s hotter than the air outside. Once you get on a highway, where your speed increases dramatically, it’s actually better to close the windows and turn the AC on. Aerodynamics is more important for fuel efficiency at higher speeds.
- Give up the gas guzzlers—if you own more than one car, go for the one that uses less fuel to go the distance. Especially for your every day errands.
So try these few good tricks and feel less guilty about driving this old vehicle of yours… Until you’ll be able to afford the hybrid, that is…
ECO-FRIENDLY HOME INNOVATIONS
With all the talk about green living, you probably wonder what else you can do, apart from recycling and saving energy, gas and water as much as possible…
There are many new environmentally friendly home innovations that are unique, stylish, and of course, helpful to the environment. Whether you have been living green for many years now, or whether you recently made the choice to live with less impact on the environment, chances are you will find some of those quite appealing…
Apart from the obvious green innovations such as solar panels, energy efficient appliances, CFL bulbs etc, there are a number of ways to make your home green. Considering the increasing number of houses built each year in the US alone, the best way to go green would be to use eco-friendly building materials. Fortunately, the idea seems to be taking off and more and more places offer recycled or otherwise safer for the environment products. Here are some examples:
• FSC-certified and reclaimed lumber—even though only 1% of the world’s forest are Forest Stewardship Council certified, an increasing number of stores (including the national chains like Home Depot and Lowe’s) now offer this type of lumber
• Engineered lumber—these are composite materials made with wood chips and other wood waste, which are both stronger and more resistant to bending than traditional lumber
• Soy-based adhesives—these replace the commonly used formaldehyde-based adhesives
• Green paneling—there are more and more to choose from these days and the most common green materials include straw and sorghum waste.
• Insulation—cotton insulation made from recycled denim is one of the most popular green kind of insulation for your home that doesn’t decrease indoor air quality
• Bamboo floors—bamboo is one of the best green materials available since it is rapidly renewable and durable and it surely is the best alternative to traditional hard-wood flooring. And the best part, it is becoming increasingly popular and more readily available.
• Cabinets—made from recycled materials such as stems left after harvesting and using formaldehyde free veneer.
• Countertops—made from recycled materials such as glass or paper, to name a few.
• Paint—(last but not least) use low or no VOC. There are about 25 brands of low VOC paint on the market nowadays and they cost nearly as much as the latex paint but are much safer and healthier.
This is just a tip of an iceberg, to be honest. It seems like every day there is some new technology or material that is environmentally safe, which only makes this change easier. So go out there and find out what suits you, your house and your budget (most importantly) and live green.
SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT
Unfortunately, there are too many people that still don’t believe global warming is a serious and pressing issue, and that no matter what we do, nothing will change. So for all of us out there that are trying to change their minds, here are some facts about paper waste and recycling in the US alone. Just a little something to think about….
• Every year 3.8 million acres of American forests are cut down and half of this is made into paper.
• Deforestation devastates ecosystems and increases soil erosion and stream sedimentation. Additionally, forests are frequently replaced by single-species “tree farms” that have little value as habitat for wildlife.
• Increasingly more wood and virgin paper products are being imported from China and South America.
• Paper-making process produces over 1,000 various organochlorins, including mercury and carcinogen dioxin. Moreover, it requires large amounts of energy—it is estimated that paper processing contributes about 9% of total carbon emissions in the US.
• About 35% of municipal solid waste comes from paper.
• Choosing the right paper for your personal and professional use can save millions of trees and conserve energy.
• A ton of recycled paper saves about 3,000 to 4,000 kilowatts of electricity!
• In 2005, 50% of paper and paperboard have been recovered, which makes it a 7% increase of recycling paper since 2000.
• Recycling in the same year saved energy equivalent to the annual energy usage by 9 million households.
Things you can do:
• Look for chlorine-free (PCF) processed paper with a high content of post-consumer waste.
If available, go for tree-free paper (100% recycled from consumer waste)
• Try to convince your co-workers to use recycled paper in the office. If that is not quite an option, save as much paper as possible and recycle the used one.
• Read documents on the computer instead of printing and if you print, do it on both sides of the paper sheet.
• Recycle boxes, cardboard, packaging, junk mail etc and sign off catalogue mailing lists.
• For cleaning, use cloth towels (they can be washed) instead of paper towels.
INDOOR AIR HAZARD TO YOUR HEALTH?
Most of us spend majority of the day inside, whether at home or at work, but not many realize that air inside is up to five times more polluted than air outside. Therefore, it creates a potentially hazardous environment for you and your family. Surely, you’ve heard about air purifiers and most probably already possess one or more, but is the one you have purchased really good for your house or work place? Here are a few tips on what to look for in a good portable air purifier:
• Room size—make sure the purifier is suitable for the room you’re going to place it in (too big will increase your energy bill unnecessarily and too small won’t be effective).
• Get the right filter—there are a few types of filters you any want o pay attention to. These are: high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter (have to be replaced over time), electrostatic filter (can be washed but produces ozone as a by-product which can cause respiratory problems if in high quantities), carbon filters (eliminate humidity, reduce odors and filter larger particles) and ionizing filters (purify air by releasing ions).
• Look for Energy Star rating—this is based on CADR (Clean Air Delivery Rate) which calculates the elimination of dust, pollen and tobacco smoke and corresponds to a number of cubic feet of clean air delivered per minute.
• Ask about maintenance costs—usually involves the cost of filter replacement but some machines may require additional maintenance. You should ask your retailer about the proper procedure.
Now you have the air purifier, and you think “I’m set and don’t have to worry about a thing…” Well, not so fast. Most purifiers don’t eliminate all of the pollutants from the air in your house so proper maintenance will definitely help to make indoor air cleaner and healthier. Here is how:
• ventilate by opening windows and doors and using ceiling fans
• vacuum regularly and wipe surfaces with a damp cloth
• replace cleaning products with eco-friendly ones, change regular paint and sealants to a low VOC versions to limit the exposure to chemical indoor pollutants
• if you or your family member has asthma or allergies, replace the carpet with other types of flooring (tiles, wood etc) and an area rug, which should be washed regularly
• wash bedding and curtains in hot water to eliminate dust mites
• keep your appliances in good condition (especially the ones running on gas, such as water heaters, stoves, fireplaces) to reduce the exposure to carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides