Eco Green Tips

photo credit: Blush Response

Imagine a light bulb that is mercury-free and more energy efficient that the best CFLs available on the market. Well, this may well become reality pretty soon.

A Seattle based company, Vu1, has developed a new type of bulb, which is basically a flood-light that works similarly to the old-fashioned TV tubes but gives out brighter light. The technology was named Electron Stimulated Luminescence (ESL) and it emits 40 lumens per watt, which equals a 65-watt incandescent bulb. The bulb consists of an integrated electron source, which discharges them to a phosphor-coated glass that, in turn, transforms the signals into bright light.

The company states that the new bulb will be available for sales on the Earth Day 2009 with the price range similar to the dimmable 65-watt incandescent light bulbs. Moreover, the fitting of the new bulb is the same as with any old-fashioned bulb so it does not require any adjustments. However, the most exciting feature of the ESL is its lifespan—an estimated 6000 hours per bulb (which is slightly less than the more expensive CFLs and considerably more that the regular incandescent bulb).

Thus, with the new technologies growingly available on the market these days it seems like there is hope for the eco-minded who don’t want to spend a fortune on green improvements…

photo credit: janiejonesmt

The scientists report that the Midwestern moose are dying in alarming rates; in the last two decades their numbers reduced from over 4000 to just a few hundred. And most scientists agree that the main cause for their depleting numbers is the climate change.

In the last four decades the winter temperatures in the Midwest have risen about 12 degrees, which does not fair well for the animals. While the moose is not on the endangered species list in the US, they are in real danger of disappearing altogether in about 50 years, scientists say. In Lake Superior, for instance, there are only about 650 of them (down from 2500 in 1995) and Michigan’s Upper Peninsula counts only 450.

While some animals, such as deer, wolves and bears, adapt to the rising temperatures, moose have to struggle to find food and shelter to keep them cool, which, according to scientists, affects their immune system, makes them susceptible to parasites and slows down their putting on fat in the summer (necessary fro the animals to survive the winters). Because moose require shade, cool weather and water to thrive, the steady rise in temperatures will have dire consequences not only for the animals themselves but the ecosystems where moose are found as well.

Unfortunately, studies have shown that unlike other species, moose do not simply move to higher altitudes, which would allow them to survive. Instead they simply die out in alarming rate. What makes the problem even graver, is the fact that stopping climate change altogether may not be quite possible and slowing it down does not happen fast enough. At least for the moose native to the American Midwest.

It should not come as a surprise that European countries are so much better at being green than Americans, since the EU regulations are so much stricter than the American. Moreover, the recycling part, for instance, has been implemented in at least some of the EU countries for years and the effects are clearly visible.

There are many ways, in which EU regulates manufacturers, companies and various businesses to ensure that the environment is protected, at least to certain degree. However, the most noticeable ones are supermarkets and ATM machines.

Before you make a trip to a supermarket in Europe, you need to make sure you remember to take your own reusable bag with you because the plastic bags will cost you (may not be a lot but even the smallest amounts add up in the long run). In February 2008 the law was passed forcing all stores in the EU countries to charge a small fee for plastic bags and the effects were quickly visible. People started carrying their reusable bags with them and less and less customers ask for a plastic bag when they shop. In Ireland, for example, where the law has been in effect for a number of years now, it is a common thing for every one to carry their cotton bags, backpacks or even strollers when they do serious shopping.

Another practice, namely charging a small fee for ATM receipts is helping reduce the waste. Despite the fact that all banks now offer online account monitoring, many people still take the receipt from the ATM machine each time they draw money only to throw it away. That practice contributes large amounts of paper waste around the world. Thus, charging a small fee forces people to think whether they actually need the receipt and most opt not to have one. In the long run, it will save not only money but paper as well.

The logical conclusion is that no matter how considerate people may be about preserving the environment, the best way to make anyone break the nasty habit is through their wallet.

According to the latest Reuters report, greenhouse gasses (which are the greatest contributor to the global warming) hit record highs last year and are still steadily rising. The World Meteorological Organization stated that concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrous oxide (N2O) reached the highest levels yet in 2007, and methane was recorded at its highest annual increase in a decade.

Furthermore, both CO2 and N2O have been increasing steadily and the scientists say they do not see signs of reducing their levels any time soon. And the more greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere (emitted by factories, cars, agriculture and nearly every area of modern life), the more climate problems we will face, such as rising sea levels, increasing intensity of storms and hurricanes, more heat waves and droughts.

It seems that the only positive news is the decreasing amount of ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons, which is the result of the 1987 Montreal Protocol designed to protect the layer of ozone (which blocks the harmful solar rays) by phasing out the use of all ozone depleting substances.

Unfortunately, the Kyoto Protocol expires in 2012 and the governments all over the world are trying to come up with a new treaty that hopefully will include the United States (one of the biggest gas emissions contributor) as well as developing countries like India and China and will commit them to some form of emissions targets.

photo credit: Phil Romans

On Friday, November 21, 2008, park rangers returned to Congo gorilla park after a year’s absence. The reserve in Congo is home to nearly a third of the world’s population of mountain gorillas. Over a year ago rebel fighting forced the rangers to abandon the park and its occupants but fortunately, the fighting has ceased and they were allowed to return.

Moreover, UN agreed to send additional 3000 armed forces to the camp in Congo (making it 17000-strong) to ensure some semblance of stability and enable rangers, who are neutral in the conflict, to do their job.

The Virunga National Park is home to 200 out of 700 of the world’s mountain gorillas and the re-establishment of the rangers in crucial to protection of both fauna and flora of the region. Park authorities state that the animals (gorillas, elephants, hippos, antelopes) inhabiting Virunga (on the border of Uganda and Rwanda) have been facing many dangers from the rebels and other armed groups as well as poachers, squatters and coal burners. During 2007 repeated attacks 10 mountain gorillas were killed, among many other animals.

Therefore, it is vital to the survival of the species and the preservation of the ecosystem in the region for the rangers to return to work and hopefully forces on both sides of the conflict will agree that (at least in this case) preserving the hills of Virunga is beneficial for all.