tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-16990387169582503632009-07-11T00:05:48.889-07:00The Environmental Blog has everything you need to know about being green. We feature green tips, green reviews, and green news. We are now located in Portland Oregon, the nation's top green city.JTnoreply@blogger.comBlogger301125http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO?format=skinpGwOhttp://feedburner.google.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-90361421935472831812009-07-11T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-11T00:01:01.277-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/LuckyEarthcarwash.png" /><br />^{Lucky Earth Waterless Car Wash}<br /><br />Summer is now in full force with heatwave after heatwave beating down hot temperatures for most of the day. Summer is a time we all like to spend outside, walking, cruising, biking, and taking road trips. For those of you who have cars, washing your car in the driveway is also a well known pass time.<br /><br />Instead of washing your car using traditional methods (as in using your hose and wasting all that water), their is a product called Lucky Earth, a <a href="http://www.luckyearth.com/">waterless car wash system</a>. According to the bottle, it is non-toxic, environmentally safe, hypo-allergenic, phosphate free, fragrance free, no dyes, and paraben free. It comes in a spray bottle and also comes with a microfiber towel. It's easy to use, just spray a small amount on the microfiber towel and on your vehicle and wipe it down until shiny smooth and clean.<br /><br />In many parts of the country their are strict droughts with restrictions on water use, so this may be the solution to cleaning and polishing your car. A typical car wash uses between 20 to 45 gallons of water and people who wash their cars at home use even more, between 80 to 140 gallons. Billions of gallons of water could be saved every year if more people began to use the "waterless car wash" system.<br /><br />I tried this product on my scooter and it has left it clean and shiny. It's also very useful for urban dwellers like myself, as I live in downtown Portland, Oregon where access to hoses are far and few between. Now that you all know that an alternative to cleaning your car exists, consider the switch to conserve water.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-9036142193547283181?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=04WCU_zLCPk:0xixRzQcBCY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com02009-07-11T00:00:00-07:00http://digg.com/users/tecknopuppy//dugg#2009-07-10<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/environment/July_4th_Toxic_Fireworks">July 4th | Toxic Fireworks</a><br/> Ever wondered if all those fireworks bits and particles end up. It turns out these can be pretty toxic. Check the link out for more details.</li> </ul>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-12356858593185445422009-07-10T00:01:00.000-07:002009-07-10T00:01:02.012-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/sears_tower_chicago.jpg" /><br /><br />The Sears Tower is the tallest building in the United States and will be getting a green makeover over then next 5 years. Buildings nationwide are the cause, according to the U.S Department of State, for 36 percent of overall energy use, 65 percent of electricity consumption, 30 percent of all greenhouse gas emissions and 12 percent of water use in America! The impact of this new renovation will definitely be huge in a good way.<br /><br />As you can imagine this will be a pricey transformation. It is expected to cost $350 million. They will be changing all 16,000 tinted single-pane windows with modern double-paned glass and an insulating layer of film in between to ensure cooler summers and warmer winters. Wind turbines, gardens (Eco roofs), and solar panels will be added to the roof tops to reduce energy consumption by up to 80% over the next four years and save water. Some other perks will be to upgrade the elevators, escalators and lighting. Not only will it benefit the environment and set a great example for the public, but it will create close to 4,000 jobs. As of this summer the 110 story skyscraper will adopt a new name which will be the Willis Tower.<br /><br />So if you happen to be in the windy city in the future and decide to stay in a hotel you may consider staying at the 50 story hotel that will be located right next to the Sears tower. This hotel will be located northeast of the Sears tower and will utilize wind and solar energies to strive for "net zero" energy use. I can bet that the new Willis tower will be a sight to see especially with all the new eco improvements. Here is a breakdown of all the great changes that will be made in and around the building:<br /><br /><li> Granite plaza to be replaced with green space, new retail, permeable pavement and, along Adams Street, a solar-powered digital display for news and event information.<br /></li><li> Lobby "learning center" to demonstrate the latest in energy production and conservation.<br /></li><li> Replacement of 16,000 windows and metal panels to save heating energy by up to 60%<br /></li><li> New mechanical systems to incorporate fuel cell technology.<br /></li><li> Advanced lighting controls will adjust to movement and daylight.<br /></li><li> Elevators get new motors that go on or off almost instantly to adjust with demand.<br /></li><li> Escalators get motion detectors.<br /></li><li> Solar hot water panels on 90th floor roof will heat water for the restrooms.<br /></li><li> New plumbing fixtures will cut water use.<br /></li><li> Wind turbines and green roofs will be tested at various levels except the tower's antenna roof.<br /></li><li> Programs for tenants include bicycle sharing and recycling of paper and electronics.<br /><br />This is a giant leap in the right direction to making the world a greener place.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div></li><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-1235685859318544542?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=ifJxq4PtxgQ:M7rblmlhj1c:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-72282735399947940032009-07-09T11:45:00.000-07:002009-07-09T12:54:21.667-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 714px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/MachjaBikini.jpg" /><br/>^{Organic Cotton Swimsuits}<br/><br />If you are a person that likes to explore every possible way to go green and use environmentally friendly products you might find this article useful next time you go to the pool or beach. More and more people are turning to organic products that will benefit their skin, hair, and the planet while avoiding damage from the use of countless items with pesticides in them. A lot of people can develop skin irritations due to exposure to pesticides in various products.<br /><br />While you might wear organic t-shirts, why not give a 100% organic cotton or 100% bamboo towel a try. Next time you want to go splish splash in your community pool, make sure you grab your organic towel and sunscreen. On a summer day walking out of the door as a kid almost every mom would say "make sure you wear sunscreen." Sunscreen should never contain harsh chemicals to deter the sun which most of them do. Over one million cases of skin cancer are reported each year and the FDA has failed to put strict standards on sunscreen. Some of these products are actually more harmful to you than you might think. They have been known to cause cancer and don't provide the protection they say they do.<br /><br />So with that, using organic sunscreen is important to toss in that sustainable canvas beach or pool bag =) If you're in the market for a new swimsuit this year why not go all natural. These days they have great styles made from 100% recyclable plastics, 98% Bamboo, or from organic cotton. What a great way to show your friends just how eco chic you can be. They also last much longer than conventional swimsuits and it's a great way to flaunt your eco fabulous style!<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-7228273539994794003?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=JS-rM1ljx5s:kp_sE1EDVxA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-37060045275770974752009-07-08T09:26:00.000-07:002009-07-08T09:53:18.995-07:00It should come as no surprise that our displays of fireworks across the country every 4th of July are launched by gun powder. It just so happens that the fall-out from these displays include very harmful toxic pollution that rain down on populations and into bodies of water. Some of these toxics break down in the environment while others do not, contributing to the further detriment of our environment. After reading this post, you may try to convince your state and local authorities to check out from these <b>eco-hangovers</b> and consider alternative ways to celebrate.<br /><br /><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/TDsZ1aUoeko&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/TDsZ1aUoeko&amp;color1=0xb1b1b1&amp;color2=0xcfcfcf&amp;hl=en&amp;feature=player_embedded&amp;fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" allowscriptaccess="always" width="425" height="344"></embed></object><br /><h4>Fireworks Can Be Toxic to Humans:</h4>Some fireworks produce smoke and dust that contain dangerous heavy metals, sulfur-coal compounds and other harmful chemicals. Barium, is used to produce bright <span style="color:green;">green firework displays</span>, despite the fact that barium is <b>poisonous and radioactive</b>! Copper compounds are used to produce <span style="color:blue;">blue fireworks</span> which contain carcinogenic dioxin. Cadmium, lithium, antimony, rubidium, strontium, lead, and potassium nitrate are also used for different effects, all which can cause various respiratory and other health related problems.<br /><h4>Fireworks Contribute to Environmental Pollution</h4>You've probably guessed by now that I was headed towards this talking point: chemicals and heavy metals used in fireworks take their toll on the <b>environment</b>, contributing to water supply contamination and even acid rain in some cases. Their use also litters the ground and water bodies for miles around. As such, some U.S. states and local governments restrict the use of fireworks in accordance with guidelines set by the Clean Air Act.<br /><h4>Fireworks Add to Worldwide Pollution</h4>Of course, fireworks displays are not limited to July 4th celebrations. Fireworks are popular around the world, including countries without strict air pollution standards. <blockquote>According to The Ecologist, millennium celebrations in 2000 caused environmental pollution worldwide, filling skies over populated areas with "carcinogenic sulfur compounds and airborne arsenic."</blockquote><h4>Disney Pioneers Innovative Fireworks Technology</h4>Not usually known for championing environmental causes, the Walt Disney Company has pioneered <span style="font-weight: bold;">new technology using</span> environmentally benign <span style="font-weight: bold;">compressed air</span> instead of gunpowder to launch fireworks. Disney puts on hundreds of dazzling fireworks displays every year at its various resort properties in the U.S. and Europe, but hopes its new technology will have <span style="font-weight: bold;">beneficial impact</span> on the pyrotechnics industry worldwide. The company has made the details of new patents it has filed for the technology available to the pyrotechnics industry at large with the hope that other companies will also green up their offerings.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-3706004527577097475?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=EhuFCdX5br0:yyGw5EiwptY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-6487846619768703482009-07-03T21:29:00.000-07:002009-07-03T22:30:02.064-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/cotton.jpg" /><br /><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;"> Have you ever gone to your favorite retailer and asked yourself "should I buy the conventional or organic cotton?" Chances are that you haven't. The life cycle of cotton is something we often times never think about when we go shopping for new clothes. However, I ask you to consider the environment the next time you buy a new t-shirt or back to school wardrobe.<br /><br />Cotton is arguable the most common fiber used for clothing in the world. In order to grow cotton for the masses, the conventional cotton industry has relied on significant amounts of chemical fertilizers and insecticides. An enormous amount of these chemicals are damaging to the environment. Some cotton farmers now plant and grow genetically engineered cotton to which claims have been made that less insecticides are used.<br /><br /><div align="center"><a class="boxl" href="#" align="right" onclick="window.open('http://ecofashion.spreadshirt.com','shopfenster','scrollbars=yes,width=650,height=450')"><img style="width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/product/4953908/view/1/type/png/width/190/height/190" alt="organic t-shirt" title="Organic graphic tee | Dino" border="0" /></a><a class="boxl" href="#" onclick="window.open('http://ecofashion.spreadshirt.com','shopfenster','scrollbars=yes,width=650,height=450')"><img style="width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/product/4929730/view/1/type/png/width/190/height/190" alt="organic tee" title="organic tee shirt | Elephants" border="0" /></a><a class="boxl" href="#" onclick="window.open('http://ecofashion.spreadshirt.com','shopfenster','scrollbars=yes,width=650,height=450')"><img style="width: 150px; height: 150px;" src="http://image.spreadshirt.com/image-server/image/product/4953872/view/1/type/png/width/190/height/190" alt="organic tee" title="organic womens tee | Flock of Birds" border="0" /></a></div><br />As shown in the clip below, supporting an organic made t-shirt will result in 1/3 of a pound in pesticides not reaching the environment at all. I strongly urge those of you reading this right now to support organic cotton instead of the conventional kind.<br /><br /><object id="flashObj" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=9,0,47,0" width="486" height="412"><param name="movie" value="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1745093298?isVid=1&amp;publisherID=1659762906"><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF"><param name="flashVars" value="videoId=17063022001&amp;playerID=1745093298&amp;domain=embed&amp;"><param name="base" value="http://admin.brightcove.com"><param name="seamlesstabbing" value="false"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="swLiveConnect" value="true"><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"><embed src="http://c.brightcove.com/services/viewer/federated_f9/1745093298?isVid=1&amp;publisherID=1659762906" bgcolor="#FFFFFF" flashvars="videoId=17063022001&amp;playerID=1745093298&amp;domain=embed&amp;" base="http://admin.brightcove.com" name="flashObj" seamlesstabbing="false" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true" swliveconnect="true" allowscriptaccess="always" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/shockwave/download/index.cgi?P1_Prod_Version=ShockwaveFlash" width="486" height="412"></embed></object><br /><br />Though organic cotton has less environmental impact than conventional cotton, it costs more to produce. Side-effects of conventional production that are avoided in organic growing methods include:<br /></span><br /><li><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;">High levels of agrochemicals are used in the production of non-organic, conventional cotton. Cotton production uses more chemicals per unit area than any other crop and accounts in total for 16% of the world's pesticides.</span><li><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;">The chemicals used in the processing of cotton pollute the air and surface waters.</span><li><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;">Residual chemicals may irritate consumers' skin.</span><li><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;">The conventional cotton industry relies on a high level of forced child labor.</span><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;"><br /><br />Making the switch to organic t shirts is actually not as hard as it sounds. Even if you secretly shop at WalMart, as I have, you can buy them there for a bargain. Organic cotton t shirts are a little more expensive sometimes, but if you have the extra couple bucks then you should consider it.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...</span><br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-648784661976870348?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=5u3lVNMma-M:SaTCIiX_Q08:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-52414183306019202292009-07-02T13:58:00.000-07:002009-07-02T14:01:28.316-07:00<img style="width: 519px; height: 512px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/BotanicsGroupShotcopy.png" alt="Boots Botanics Organic" title="Eco Products: Boots Botanics Organic" /><br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;">I've recently tried some organic/eco beauty products called Boots Botanics Organic. The UK's most trusted health and beauty brands Boots is recently being introduced to the US. I thought I would share the word on how wonderful they are.<br /><br />Part of my regular routine after a shower is to lather up with body lotion (as most girls do) and I'm always searching for the latest cream on the market that can make my skin softer than the last. I usually don't buy designer creams at makeup counters due to high cost(especially ones that claim to be organic), but I did come across some great stuff that is very affordable and happens to be really great quality. The best part about it is it's all organic made from real plant extract. Also the containers and packaging are all made out of recyclable materials to help you reduce your impact on the environment by making your beauty routine eco-friendly.<br /><br />Boots Botanics Organics has a wide range of <a href="http://www.us.boots.com/BeautyProducts/?tax=229742&amp;brand=1">organic beauty products</a> from eye creams to get rid of dark circles and puffy eyes to body oils,creams and even makeup. Pretty much anything a girl needs to pamper her face and body. But don't worry boys, their is some products available for you as well. The facial smoothing polish is made from almond oil and leaves my face baby soft.And the chap stick is made with olive oil moisturizers which works great and looks like a light gloss. I absolutely love the results after using it for just one week. The body cream smells refreshing and definitely helps with dry skin and it comes out feeling soft and silky. I will definitely be making some changes by purchasing <u>more</u> organic beauty products in the future. This is good news for my mom because she is all for <u>Living Green</u> and purchasing green. After I told my mom about Botanics Organic she is really excited to try it. Here are some details of the products I've tried:<br /><br />Organic Face Lip Balm is 95% certified organic and comes in a 100% recyclable package.It is made with a rich balm that keeps your lips moisturized all day long. It contains Shea Butter to nourish and condition and Olive oil to moisturize. The rich butter from the Shea or karite nut is widely used in West Africa both for cooking and skin care. The nuts are gathered and the butter produced by local women who value it for nourishing and conditioning the skin and hair. It feels great on your lips and keeps them smooth and soft. A great value at $6.99.<br /><br />The Organic Bathing Rich Body Butter is 81% certified organic and contains murumuru butter which is extracted from the seeds of the tropical palm. It is a rich emollient that moisturizes and softens. Murumuru butter is extracted by cold-pressing from the seeds of the murumuru tree, which grows in Brazil. It is anti-inflammatory, protective, emollient, high in oleic &amp; linoleic acids, and vitamin A. This cream works wonders on dry skin and has a pleasant "earthy" aroma to it. A great value at $13.99.<br /><br />The Organic Face Rosewater Toner is 100% certified organic and is used to gently remove makeup and leaves your skin smooth and silky. It is derived from the damask rose that has been used for centuries as a toner and cleanser, particularly for fair to dry skin. Its gentle action leaves skin toned and refreshed. A great value at $7.99.<br /><br />Face Hydrating Day Cream is 85% certified organic and is made from almond oil nourishes and is known to improve complexion and retain a glow. This is a wonderful face cream to use daily. A great value at $12.99.<br /><br />Smoothing Face Polish is 87% certified organic and is a gentle exfoliating face scrub that you can use every day to remove impurities and dead skin cells. It contains cranberry and capuacu to smooth, soften, and nourish with almond oil. This works great if you use right before the day cream. It smells very "planty" and light. I particularly love this to help smooth away blackheads and remove oils. A great value at $8.99.<br /><br />Your skin is the biggest organ on your body and using only organic cosmetics could be just another step towards living greener and healthier. Its important to take into consideration what we put in our bodies and on the outside as well. The powers of plants are evident when you try this line. All Botanics Organic Products are now being sold in Target store nationwide and online. You cant beat the prices and I can guarantee you will never go back to anything else once you try them.<br /><br />Post Written by our Contributor: Angie Tarantino<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...</span><br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-5241418330601920229?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=E4ABl_zcEfc:sFxDYPakFMs:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-65960156903349096872009-07-01T21:12:00.000-07:002009-07-02T14:20:59.407-07:00<img style="width: 536px; height: 539px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/gasfumes.jpg" alt="Gas Station Fumes from refueling" title="Protection from Gasoline Fumes" /><br />^{Benzene in a known carcinogen and can be reduced from a ban on topping off.}<br /><span style="letter-spacing: 0.035em;"><br />Oregon is one of the few states that has its gasoline fuel pumped by attendants instead of the much more popular self serve. One might ask what does a ban on topping off on gasoline have to do with the environment? To which I might answer that it has <span style="font-weight:bold;">everything</span> to do with the environment and more.<br /><br />The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality said in a news release today that levels of a known carcinogen <span style="font-weight:bold;">benzene</span> will decrease with this new ban effective today (07/01/09). Since Oregonions have their fuel pumped by a gas station attendant, the implementation of the new ban will be more successful than bans in other states that have self serve gasoline stations.<br /><br /><blockquote>Despite popular belief among some drivers, topping off the tank does not equal more gas in the tank. Topping off during fueling can cause gasoline to spill and release benzene, a known carcinogen, and other toxic air pollutants into the air. This is a health concern for gas station workers and drivers. In addition, most modern pumps simply return the fuel back into the pump after the overflow click which means drivers are paying for gas that does not get into the fuel tank.<br /><br />In some cases, overfilling a gas tank can cause a vehicle’s vapor control system to clog and stop working, which can require costly repairs. (-DEQ 07/01/2009)<br /></blockquote><br /><br />A recent study by the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality shows that benzene contributes almost a quarter of the cancer risk in Portland. Air monitoring equipment in Eugene shows that average ambient benzene levels are 10 times the benchmark level believed to spur cancer in humans over a lifetime of exposure, as established by National Air Toxics Assessment. The DEQ estimates that Portland residents may be exposed to as much as forty times over (40X) safety levels of benzene in ambient air.<br /><br />Furthermore, benzene is one of the volatile organic compounds that play a significant part in the formation of ground-level ozone, a corrosive air pollutant that damages plants and increases the severity of climate change.<br /><br />Gasoline refueling is a large source of ambient benzene concentration in Oregon’s air. This is due, in part, to the fact that gasoline in the Northwest region has double the benzene content of gasoline sold in other parts of the country, and three times the amount allowed in California. The national average for benzene content is 0.97 percent to 0.62 percent by volume; however the EPA allows gasoline sold in the Northwest to contain 2.06 percent by volume.<br /><br />While other states require benzene vapor controls at gas stations, Oregon has not developed such a policy. As a result Oregonians are exposed to excessive amounts of benzene from refueling activities and car exhaust.<br /><br />While some may feel this new ban may intrude on their rights, many may not know they are simply wasting their money and further contributing to the detriment of their local air quality. Many thanks to the <a href="http://www.oregontoxics.org/">Oregon Toxics Alliance</a> for their work in providing public education and support for this ban.<br /><br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...</span><br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0p</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-6596015690334909687?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=NNVwMS6Hvak:hcpCfrVtqzg:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com02009-07-01T00:00:00-07:00http://digg.com/users/tecknopuppy//dugg#2009-06-30<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/environment/10_Tips_for_Green_Summer_Fun">10 Tips for Green Summer Fun</a><br/> Green tips to live by this summer and still have fun.</li> </ul>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-25533490699020698482009-06-29T20:53:00.000-07:002009-06-29T21:35:47.219-07:00<img style="width: 525px; height: 520px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/green-jobs.jpg" /><br /><br />According to the Portland Business Journal, Oregon reported a total of 51,402 green jobs for the year of 2008. The amount of jobs was determined by a survey of employers across a broad spectrum of industries and occupations.<br /><br />These numbers account for roughly 3 percent of Oregon's employment base and is expected to grow by 14 percent by 2010. The green jobs surveyed in Oregon average above $20 an hour. In case you were wondering what defines a green job, the survey used the following criteria:<br /><br /><p>• Increases energy efficiency.</p> <p>• Produces renewable energy.</p> <p>• Prevents, reduces or mitigates environmental degradation.</p> <p>• Cleans up and restores the natural environment.</p> <p>• Provides education, consulting, policy promotion, accreditation, trading and offsets, or similar services supporting the other categories.</p><p><br /></p> <p>The three industries with the most green jobs were construction, wholesale and retail trade, and administrative and waste services. Combined, these industries accounted for 47 percent of Oregon’s green jobs.</p><p><br /></p>Oregon has managed to attract Vestas (a wind turbine company), Solarworld, and several other solar manufacturing plants, making Oregon a hub for alternative energy companies. Other projects that will sustain green jobs would be the <a href="http://www.oregonsustainabilitycenter.com/">Oregon Sustainability Center</a>. A concept building which has recently completed a feasibility study to create the world's first living high rise building with net zero energy and net zero water usage. The outcome of the study was that it is possible, and after attending the community meeting about it last week at Portland State University, it seems as though the project will move forward in the next few years.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-2553349069902069848?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=K1lfU-pZ3rE:fd9DRTYyDRc:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-7794711769772880192009-06-29T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-29T00:01:03.596-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/ANC_Bagcopy.png" /><br />Independence day is right around the corner. And most of us love to celebrate this day by gathering with friends, eating good food off the grill and watching fireworks at your local park. If you're planning on throwing a party or hosting a red white and blue event maybe you can add a little green in the mix. Here are some tips to keep in mind while celebrating this year:<br /><br /><h4>1.) Buy Organic Food:</h4>Make sure to support the local farmers markets and buy organic fruits and veggies, and don't forget your reusable shopping bag!<br /><h4>2.) Bust out the silverware:</h4>Instead of adding waste to our landfills and purchasing a bunch of paper plates, napkins, and plastic utensils, why not use your own dishes. Instead of paper napkins try using cloth ones since they can be washed and used again and again. It may mean more cleaning up time for you but it will do the environment a big favor. And if you must buy throw away plates and cups make sure they are biodegradable. Here is an example of some great <a href="http://www.greensmartshop.com/leisure-outdoors-travel-c-96_13_43/biodegradable-plates-7-standard-p-639">biodegradable products</a>.<br /><h4>3.) Grill on the Green Side:</h4>If you plan on using a spray on cleaner on your grill, I would suggest a non-toxic one. Simple <a href="http://www.simplegreen.com/products_bbq_grill.php">Green Heavy Duty BBQ Cleaner</a> or <a href="http://www.greenboatstuff.com/soyclean-bbq-grill-cleaner-22-oz--650-ml-spray-b.html">Soy Green BBQ Cleaner</a>.<br /><h4>4.) Buy Green Charcoal:</h4>I would highly suggest a 100% <a href="http://www.allnaturalcharcoal.com/">All Natural Hardwood Lump Charcoal</a>. There are many advantages like they don't have any chemicals or fillers, they burn faster than the regular stuff, and produce less ash. And with the leftover ashes you can sprinkle them around your plants to help keep insects away.<br /><h4>5.) Substitute lighter fluid:</h4>Forget pouring a half a bottle of lighter fluid all over your coals which subsequently gets cooked into the food. Use a chimney starter. They are inexpensive and beats using toxic lighter fluid any day.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-779471176977288019?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=tTfD9HDyp90:5u-9cmJeOD0:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-86571355911059789092009-06-28T21:34:00.000-07:002009-06-29T20:44:27.717-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/greenway.jpg" alt="bicycle green zones in Portland, Oregon" /><br />^{Green zone for bicyclists in downtown Portland, Oregon.}<br /><br />Another example of how Portland, Oregon is consistently rated the number one green city in the US is in the picture above. These are designated green zones so bicyclists can get in front of cars at intersections safely. Although the purpose of the green zones are safety, the green painted boxes represents Portland's dedication to the bicycle community.<br /><br />The city calls them "bike boxes" and since they've been painted have had great reviews from bicyclists. Cars are suppose to stop a little earlier than usual at some intersections, of which most cars obey. The idea has been successfully used in Copenhagen.<br /><br />The main goal is to prevent collisions between motorists turning right and cyclists going straight. It's all about visibility and awareness. At a red light, cyclists are more visible to motorists by being in front of them. At a green light, the green bike lane through the intersection reminds motorists and cyclists to watch for each other.<br /><br />It's no wonder <a href="http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/the-worlds-top-biking-cities">Travel &amp; Leisure Magazine</a> recently rated Portland, Oregon the number two in the world for Top Biking City. This is what it says for Portland:<br /><br /><blockquote>As the only large U.S. city to receive the League of American Bicyclists’ top rating, Portland leads the domestic charge to put two-wheel transportation on par with automobile travel. Highlights in the Pacific Northwest enclave include 270 miles of on-street bike lanes and paved paths; hundreds of signs for bikers navigating their way; lock-up corrals for parking in the city; and mandates that give incentives for developers willing to provide showers and locker rooms for bike commuters.<br /><br /><br /></blockquote>Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-8657135591105978909?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=3sqSs5bSBjs:1FPTU4XImcA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-60346213414997870262009-06-28T02:01:00.000-07:002009-06-28T02:01:01.910-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 694px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/summerflowers.jpg" alt="Hiking: green summer fun" /><br />^{Photo: San Francisco, Bay Area - Hiking can be a great way to get outdoors and get that green summer fun}<br /><br />Stay cool, calm, and green this summer!!<br /><br />Hooray, the clear summer skies are here! Most of us enjoy all the activities that summer brings: BBQing with friends, swimming, tanning, fourth of July, and camping. Along with those wonderful things comes some things I think we pretty much all hate and dread like sweating profusely, getting into a hot baked car with leather seats(or any hot car for that matter), bug bites, and finding it hard to fall asleep due to lack of cool air. Well there are ways to stay cool without running the energy guzzling air conditioner on all day long..here are just a few tips to stay cool and still have that green summer fun.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">1.)</span> Hang a dampened sheet over the window, the moisture will evaporate the breeze therefore making it much more pleasantly cool.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">2.)</span> Switch on that under appreciated ceiling fan or regular floor fan. I just moved into an apartment where the air conditioner is located in the living room and I noticed the cool air doesn't even reach into the bedroom at all. And since heat rises, living on a third floor apartment really makes my bedroom like a sauna! But I'm very grateful there is a ceiling fan. If I just shut the curtains so no sunlight can bake my bed and switch on the fan it is much cooler.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">3.)</span> Keep windows open at night to let the cool night air circulate throughout the house.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">4.)</span> Splash some cold water on your face will really help bring your core temperature down.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">5.)</span> Put some damp cloths in the freezer and press them on your wrists and neck to help you stay cool. If you are about to go on a drive, bring along one of those cold cloths to put on your seat.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">6.)</span> Buy a chill misting fan. They are cheap and really give you a splash of energy if you're feeling hot and lethargic. You can buy them pretty much anywhere These things really work great. Here's a link to purchase a pretty nifty misting fan <a href="http://www.brookstone.com/sl/reviews/33460-review-chill-misting-fan.html" target="_blank">http://www.brookstone.com/sl/<wbr>reviews/33460-review-chill-<wbr>misting-fan.html</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">7.)</span> Eat a Popsicle, or even better freeze some frozen fruit. They can quench your taste buds in the relentless heat. You can either eat the fruit by itself or make a delicious smoothie with some ice, yogurt, and a little milk. On a sizzling hot summer day heavy meals aren't so appetizing such as Mexican food or greasy burgers. Stick with light smaller meals that don't require you to turn on that hot box (oven) that emanates heat into your place. You can fire up that grill and enjoy the summer chatting with friends keeping the heat outside. Also you can make a sandwich, or great fresh salad.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">8.)</span> Also watermelon is a very tasty snack to keep you cool and hydrated..here's a refreshing recipe to try on a hot summer day:<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Watermelon Icee</span><br />2 cups watermelon, cubed, and seeded<br />4 large strawberries<br />1/2 cup guava juice<br />2 cups Ice<br />Place all ingredients listed in a blender. Blend until smooth and ice is completely crushed. Serve immediately or chill in the freezer for later use.<br />Number of Servings: 3<br />Prep/Cook Time: 5 Minutes<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">9.)</span> Wear white or light colors since dark colors absorb more heat, making you hotter. It's also great to wear natural fabrics like cotton, silk, and linen instead of synthetic polyester and rayon..<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">10.) </span>Heck, if you live alone or with your significant other why not throw on a bikini or walk around your house in your underwear or even in the nude =) One suggestion though, make sure to shut your blinds so your neighbors don't get a show!<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reade</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-6034621341499787026?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=y_XURr6GrDk:mDrcrRgrR_8:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-38962562767984607682009-06-27T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-27T00:01:07.866-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/truckstop.jpg" alt="truck stop for Dragon Power Station" /><br /><br />The progression of creating new ways to generate pollution-free electricity seems to be endless. A while back Terry Kenney dreamed of a device (now called Dragon Power Station) in the road that would generate energy from the vehicles that drive over it. It took some years to bring the idea to life. According to an article at New American Media as trucks pass over the plates embedded in the asphalt "they compress a tank of hydraulic fluid under the road, which in turn creates a series of pumping actions that turns a generator to produce electricity." By next month Kenney expects it to produce 5,000 to 7,000 kilowatt-hours every day. That's enough to power 1,750 homes! Some could argue that this is stealing energy from the vehicles and isn't fuel efficient therefore not making it pollution free. In my opinion this energy is being recovered which would otherwise be inevitably wasted. The stations are normally placed in areas where trucks already have to slow down and come to a stop anyway, it shouldn't hurt since the cars would waste all the energy by using their brakes otherwise.This is nothing more than untapped kinetic energy.<br /><br />It seems that this clever idea is flourishing in the UK because they seem to have adopted this same idea to power a grocery store. Sainsbury supermarket in Gloucester UK has these plates placed in the parking lot and as cars drive over them, the pushed down weight of the vehicle creates a rocking motion under the road surface which turns generators to power the checkouts. And since the amount of fuel needed is so tiny that the effect is equivalent to that of passing over a speed bump. This is truly a green store and not just for that reason..they also harvest rain water to flush toilets, have floor-to-ceiling windows for natural light and solar-powered hot water heaters.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-3896256276798460768?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=OP7rwchDf2w:SReo0wpV3og:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-29364827748168266122009-06-26T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-26T10:33:43.186-07:00<img style="width: 467px; height: 648px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/P6230002.jpg" alt="Pets and Toxics" /><br /><br />Our pets are like family to a lot of us here in America. We strive for better well being and to reduce our carbon footprint, so why not take our furry friends into consideration. I have a very cute chihuahua and she doesn't have the ability to tell me "you know this doggy food has artificial flavors and preservatives in it, i think i would like to try some real chicken product." So we as pet owners need to make some better choices that would help the environment as well as the health of our pets. Here is just a handful of my top important green pet tips you should consider:<br /><h3>Eating Well</h3>Most dog or cat food kibble you will see at the supermarket is so very bad for our pets. In these cases the animals used to make many pet foods are classified as "4-D," which is really a polite way of saying "Dead, Dying, Diseased, or Down (Disabled)” when they line up at the slaughterhouse. Unless that can of Friskies or Dog Chow is labeled FDA Food Grade Meat than its not fit for people to eat but for some reason its okay for our pets? I don't think so!<br /><br />Natural and organic pet foods use meats that are raised in sustainable, humane ways without added drugs or hormones, minimally processed, and preserved with natural substances, such as vitamins C and E. Certified-organic pet foods must meet strict USDA standards that spell out how ingredients are produced and processed, which means no pesticides, hormones, antibiotics, artificial preservatives, artificial ingredients or genetically engineered ingredients.<br /><h3>Poop Cleanup</h3>Make sure to use biodegradable doggy bags. And for kitty cats avoid clumping clay litter at all costs. It's really harmful to the planet and if the cat was to ingest some, it could be very hazardous to your cats health. Clay litter contains sodium bentonite that acts as the clumping agent and it can poison your cat through chronic ingestion through their constant need to groom. Because sodium bentonite acts like expanding cement—it’s also used as a grouting, sealing, and plugging material—it can swell up to15 to18 times their dry size and clog up your cat’s insides. I would highly suggest an Eco friendly kitty litter such as FelinePine.<br /><h3>Safe Cleaning Products</h3>None of us wants to live in a chemically toxin filled household. So I would eliminate all bleach products in your bathtubs or sinks. I know after a shower one of my cats loves to lap up the leftover water in the tub for some reason and if it were cleaned with bleach that could be very harmful to their health. And we know dogs are known for getting into the toilet water. So make sure you use cleaning products made from safe natural and non-toxic ingredients to prevent exposure to the hazardous synthetic chemicals conventional cleaners often contain.<br /><h3>Play Green</h3> Many toys these days are dangerous and harmful for our pets. I came across this sad story of just how dangerous they can be <a href="http://www.zootoo.com/journals_j_petproduct/thechaistory_xoxojessika" target="_blank">zootoo.com</a>. Not only can accidents happen through accidental ingestion or other ways alot of pet toys are known to contain elevated levels of deadly toxins. Some tests have revealed high levels of arsenic, mercury, cadmium as well as lead, so it is a combo platter of lethal chemicals. You wouldn't let your child put a toxic toy in there mouth, so why let your pets (which most people consider there babies) do so? Shop for green pet toys at Shopgreenpets.com or find them in your local pet store.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-2936482774816826612?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=vpln6EMDLv4:suQCcSj8_-s:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-42610101877861914602009-06-25T03:01:00.000-07:002009-06-25T10:51:40.438-07:00<img style="width: 521px; height: 390px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/ugly_watermelon.jpg" alt="ugly watermelon" border="0" /><br /><br />Whats are farmers to do with 800 million pounds of deformed, misshapen and just plain ugly looking watermelons? Well in 2007 they were simply just left to rot. Now that just sounds like such a waste when instead they can be used to produce ethanol. The usual ethanol crops are corn, switch grass, sugar cane, and sweet sorghum. The sweet succulent summer fruit might be added to that list since a 20 pound watermelon can yield up to 1.4 pounds of sugar. From that scientists can produce seven tenths of a pound of ethanol from crop waste for energy.<br /><br />So while that may sound like a small amount of ethanol you must consider that watermelons are not being grown as a biofuel crop. We are benefiting from a little boost in oil independence from leftover melons that would have gone to waste. This could be a great new market for watermelon farmers although research is still being done, it sounds like a wonderful and promising breakthrough.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-4261010187786191460?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=ALDxaIlPOLY:n_3N8P8XAcI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-32316773945370986292009-06-24T12:16:00.000-07:002009-06-25T10:49:54.641-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/junk_mail.jpg" alt="junk mail" /><br />Ever go to your mailbox after a week or so and its overstuffed with junk mail and useless catalog's? And then you go through your mail and one by one toss it all in the garbage nearby. Well suppose you could do the environment a big favor by reducing the amount of junk mail you receive by 90%.<br /><br />Cut down on junk mail you receive today to save energy, natural recourse's, landfill space, tax dollars and a lot of personal time. Here are some startling facts.<br /><ul><li>5.6 million tons of catalogs and other direct mail advertisements end up in U.S. landfills annually.</li><li>The average American household receives unsolicited junk mail equal to 1.5 trees every year—more than 100 million trees for all U.S. households combined.</li><li>44 percent of junk mail is thrown away unopened, but only half that much junk mail (22 percent) is recycled.</li><li>Americans pay $370 million annually to dispose of junk mail that doesn’t get recycled</li><li>On average, Americans spend 8 months opening junk mail in the course of their lives.</li></ul> So if you decide to make the decision to cut junk mail out of your life there are a few ways to go about it. One being you can register your name on a "Do Not Mail" list at the Direct Marketing Agency (DMN). You can also go to OptOutPreScreen.com, which can enable you to remove your name from lists that mortgage, credit card and insurance companies use to mail you offers and solicitations. Surely this wont get rid of all the junk mail but you can get further information on it at JunkBusters.com to rid your life of the junk once and for all.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-3231677394537098629?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=HvmxXCjHeJ4:tgYgfKPgqeY:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-21171750649997259322009-06-14T00:01:00.000-07:002009-06-14T00:01:01.280-07:00<img style="width: 523px; height: 392px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/EnvironmentalPortlandOregon.jpg" alt="Environmental Portland Oregon"><br />^{View of Portland City Center from Broadway Bridge [near Pearl District]}<br /><br />Portland Oregon also known as the city of Roses is a great leader and example of a very environmentally aware city...according to the U.S. Census, American Community Survey [2006] 4.2% of Portlanders commute to work on bike but some estimates today say that 16% of the city population bikes around (that's pretty good). Right now they are leading the way nationally in the use of Green Roofs (also called eco roofs or planted roofs) in hopes to further a more livable urban environment.<br /><br />Portland got its first green roof in 1996 when Tom Liptan, an Eco-roof expert for the Bureau of Environmental Services, topped his garage with a green roof. Today, Portland has hundreds of green roofs that cover about 19 acres of rooftops, and the city plans to add another 43 acres of green roofs in the next five years. The city wants to encourage other businesses and homeowners to take part in this great new movement. These Eco roofs have loads of benefits, they filter pollutants, absorb carbon dioxide, attract birds and insects and emit oxygen. However, you can't just plant any plants on your Eco roof...low-maintenance, self-sustaining plants, especially drought-tolerant sedums, are generally recommended for eco roofs. Shrubs and trees require much more care as well as room to grow, so they’re better off in roof gardens, where residents can enjoy and tend them more easily. <br /><br />These eco roofs are not just meant to be admired for there pretty plants and flowers that grow on them but they also add insulation making houses warmer in winter and cooler in summer. When the skies open up, eco roofs capture 10 percent to 100 percent of the rainfall, reducing runoff into the storm-water system. And with life spans of about 40 years, ecoroofs last longer than conventional roofs, which usually need to be replaced every 20 years or so. The cost can be more expensive than your regular standard roof but the benefits definitely out weigh the cost in this situation. A little oasis upon the roofs in a completely green city, where the people are friendly and the community is constantly striving to be more environmentally correct, I'm surprised the whole country doesn't move to Portland, Oregon.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;"></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-2117175064999725932?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=UnjlbG-Jfc4:CgeuQqoWL8E:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-71983907597355790032009-06-13T14:39:00.000-07:002009-06-13T15:05:16.270-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 390px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/dirtyreusablebag.jpg" alt="dirty reusable bag" /><br>^{Dirty reusable bag}<br /><br />These days reusable bags are a pretty ordinary thing. You will especially see them being used in your local health food store or market. I think it's great that this new eco fad has become so popular, but it could be possibly harmful. Once you have used your bags a number of times, you can expect there would be some stains possibly from produce, meat, and fish. Or maybe you use your reusable grocery bags for other purposes such as a diaper bag or gym bag. I'm not sure who would do that but apparently some people do. According to a microbiological study done this year [2009] it has shown that unclean reusable bags can pose a public health risk due to high levels of mold, bacteria and yeast present in the samples. Some of the findings include:<br /><ul><li>Sixty four percent of the tested reusable bags were contaminated with some level of bacteria and nearly 30 percent had bacterial counts higher than what is considered safe for drinking water.</li><li>Forty percent of the bags contained the presence of yeast or mold.</li><li>Some of the sampled bags contained unsafe levels of coliforms and fecal intestinal bacteria -EEK Gross-</li></ul>This really shouldn't be a cause for concern if you just do something very simple...TOSS IT IN THE WASHER! Susie Craig, a food safety expert was quoted "Anytime you're toting around fresh produce, meat, poultry and fish, there's going to be bacteria," "You should treat reusable bags as you would your cutting boards: clean and sanitize between uses." Sounds pretty simple and easy right? Well a friend of mine works at a grocery store and she says she is shocked at the dingy stained dirty bags some people bring in! Just practice normal hygiene and i don't think it should be a problem. Continue to use reusable bags, just stick them in the washer regularly.<br /><br />After learning about this and subsequently writing about it, I've realized that I am guilty of never having washed my reusable bags since I've bought them. Off to the wash they go =)<br /><br />That's all =)<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-7198390759735579003?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Bf7kpP1P6rE:J-85O9lZvOE:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-16988109927877187822009-05-30T13:24:00.000-07:002009-05-30T13:36:44.104-07:00<img style="width: 519px; height: 722px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/ElectricChargingStation.jpg" alt="Electric Charging Station, Electric Vehicle Charging Station" /><br />^{Photo credit to John Tarantino, taken at OMSI in Portland, Oregon}<br /><br />As the fall of two out of the Big Three Detroit automakers continues due to the current Great Recession, as some call it, emerging niche markets are poised to benefit. Electric vehicles, although not currently mainstream, stand a fighting chance now that the Obama administration has directed stimulus funds towards a greener economy.<br /><br />While the restructure of GM and Chrysler continues, electric vehicles will most likely continue to steadily gain attention as technology improves and prices decrease. Electric vehicles also stand to get a boost from governments that are providing incentives for people to make the switch via tax credits.<br /><br />Charging stations as seen in the picture above at the OMSI Museum in Portland, Oregon will soon begin to sprout all over as a switch from fossil fuel to pure electric vehicles seems to be taking place. This transition is starting with small electric vehicles, but the major push will be through plug-in electric hybrids that will start hitting the market very soon.<br /><br />Once people start purchasing these plug-in hybrids for short trips around town, gasoline consumption will slowly decrease over time. The only reason to use gasoline would be for long trips out of town if you live close to where you work and play. These are certainly exciting times.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-1698810992787718782?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=WO48TDQturA:6O3RApaFr0k:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-75533063785435823352009-05-08T21:59:00.000-07:002009-05-08T22:21:15.584-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 428px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/lcdecotv.jpg" alt="lcd eco tv" /><br />^{Photo credit to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/whichtechnology/3387729144/">whichtech</a>}<br /><br />Most Americans feel the need to have the latest Electronics these days. Those pricey flat screens are a must have for the modern American home. Well 10% of the average homes electricity usage comes from TVs and DVRs that go along with them. Those Plasma's in particular are energy guzzling devices. Well, California is doing something about it and plans to cut TV power by 50% in four years .<br /><br />The California energy commission is proposing energy efficiency standards using new technology when manufacturing new TVs. This technology already exists in some TVs that are in stores now.<br /><br />I'm sure you have heard of the Energy Star program before. It is a voluntary program that encourages manufacturers to produce efficient televisions to achieve an Energy Star label. The label, however, does not prevent the sale of energy inefficient televisions that will cost consumers money over time. So therefore the new standards are still necessary.<br /><br />The new regulations will be very beneficial in many ways. It will save consumers money on their electricity bill, conserve energy, and protect the environment. Additionally, it will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions and decrease the need to build additional, large power plants. Four million TV sets are sold in the state annually. Plasma displays like Panasonic’s, which can use up to 30 percent more energy per square inch than liquid crystal displays (LCD), would be hit hardest by the standard. Meanwhile the people that are still using the old school TVs (cathode-ray-tube sets) can have some peace of mind knowing that those models are the most energy efficient TVs around=)<br /><br />Some ways you can save power regardless of the TV you own -<br />Of course turning off the TV when you're not watching (even unplugging it, since appliances still pull energy from outlets) would save you a bundle on your bill.<br /><br />If possible try watching less TV and maybe listen to the radio, or read a book and expand you're mind!<br /><br />If you have an LCD TV, try turning down the backlight. This can save power and may not make a lot of difference in the television's picture quality.<br /><br />Turn off the HDTV quick start option - many new HDTVs have a quick start option. This feature uses more back up power when the TV is off. It only takes a few more seconds to start up the TV without this and it can save a lot of power to turn it off.<br /><br />Get a group of your friends together and maybe watch your favorite series or show as a group. Or limit the number of TVs in your house and watch it as a family .<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-7553306378543582335?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=-MNg8P2WNs4:nLh2l6iruJA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-49290955161218169582009-05-08T14:10:00.000-07:002009-06-25T23:53:31.608-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 342px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/washintonheart.jpg" alt="I love Washington, Washington heart" /><br/>^{Photo credit <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/danielglaser/3144476011/">danielglaserphotography DOTcom</a>}<br /><br />The State of Washington's Governor, Chris Gregoire, signed a law on May 6th 2009 that has many environmental benefits. The law is that by the end of this year all state agencies and state colleges will be required to purchase 100 percent recycled paper. Any building with 25 or more employees has to recycle all of the copy and printing paper used in the office. In addition the state is required to cut down their printing and copying usage by 30 percent by July 2010. The idea is that these obligations aim to reduce overall paper and print waste.<br /><br />If you have tried to do your part in helping the environment and went to purchase recycled paper at the store, I'm sure you've noticed it's not quite as cheap as standard paper. So the increase in cost of purchasing the 100 percent recycled paper will be balanced out by paper-reduction strategies like double-sided printing and paper conservation programs. Also the new law is said to save taxpayers $1 million per year and create more green jobs. "Washington has a proud tradition of producing the wood and paper products that the world needs," Representative of the new Legislation Kessler said in a statement. "Our new paper conservation and recycling law helps open up new markets for green products created by blue-collar workers right here in our state -- jobs that won't be exported."<br /><br />Here are some numbers to put into perspective exactly how much good this new law will provide the environment:<br /><br />• Use 6,256 tons less wood -- the equivalent of about 43,000 trees.<br />• Produce 3.8 million pounds less in climate-changing greenhouse gases -- the equivalent of about 346 cars per year -- in producing the paper.<br />• Use 15.7 million gallons less water -- the equivalent of about 24 swimming pools -- in producing the paper.<br />• Create 2 million pounds less solid waste sent to landfills -- the equivalent of about 72 garbage truck loads.<br /><br />It would be nice to see other states pass similar laws so that America can continue saving trees, reducing emissions, and preventing less waste overall.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-4929095516121816958?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=seufAWxSPy8:6hlnDXkK_yw:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-27023962993293261152009-05-05T16:33:00.000-07:002009-05-05T16:44:10.908-07:00<img style="width: 564px; height: 424px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/goatseatinggrass.jpg" alt="goats eating grass" /><br />^{Photo Credit to Angela Tarantino}<br /><br />So a friend of mine has a beautiful home in the East Bay (of San Francisco, CA) with some incredible views and a lot of rolling green hills right behind his backyard. I usually go over there to swim or barbecue on a warm sunny day. When I arrived there the other day, I noticed a herd of at least 100 goats that were eating grass so fast as if they've never eaten before! They were really cute to watch and surprisingly they let you get really close to them without running away. My friend was saying that every year a few guys and there cattle dog come put a little orange fence up and bring all the goats in to act as lawn mowers. I thought it was a great eco friendly way to mow the lawn.<br /><br />Coincidentally, a recent article came up that Google is also utilizing this idea by "hiring" 200 goats to mow the campuses at Google headquarters in Mountain View, California. Dan Hoffman (who heads the companies real estate services) wrote: "Instead of using noisy mowers that run on gasoline and pollute the air, we've rented some goats from California Grazing to do the job for us (we're not 'kidding'). A herder brings about 200 goats and they spend roughly a week with us at Google, eating the grass and fertilizing at the same time." This is also useful because California is known for raging wildfires and so keeping the brush to a minimum is important. Its unlikely that every house hold home will adopt a goat to mow their lawn every Sunday afternoon but its nice to see big companies do what they can to help the environment.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&pub=tecknopuppy&url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-2702396299329326115?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=QSKyVUnghJs:e-ngf2xglCI:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-87944796803914933502009-05-03T20:07:00.000-07:002009-05-03T21:03:50.160-07:00<img style="width: 521px; height: 347px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/oceanfloor.jpg" alt="ocean floor" /><br />^{Photo credit to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/79446234@N00/64636708/in/photostream/">CraigJ</a>}<br /><br />If i said that right beneath the ocean floors of the US alone lies a cheap, clean natural energy source that could power all of America's homes and cars for over 2000 years, would you believe it? Well its true! There is an abundance and accessible amount hydro methane or "ice that burns." It's basically an ice formation combined of natural gas (methane) and water that if put up to a flame would burn. Gas hydrates, also known as "clathrates," form when methane gas from the decomposition of organic material comes into contact with water at low temperatures and high pressures. Those cold, high-pressure conditions exist deep below the oceans and underground on land in certain parts of the world, including the ocean floor and permafrost areas of the Arctic.<br /><br />Japan and India currently have the best funded research program to date. In April and June 2008, the US department of energy signed agreements with India, Japan, and Korea to cooperate and share research information. The US plans to drill sometime early next year. Methods of extracting the methane from the ice are similar to oil and coal industry, depressurization, and thermal stimulation. Although methane when burned is a clean fuel, more information is needed to ensure the implications of it would be safe on the environment. Tim Collett is a research geologist and he states "Gas hydrates are totally doable, but when and where we will see them depends on need, motivation, and our supply of other energy resources. In the next five to ten years, the research potential of gas hydrates will be more fully realized."<br /><br />Scientists have known of hydro methane for along time but just recently started to try to use them as an alternative energy source. The problem is, although there is a a lot of this stuff all around the world, they still need to find the best way to extract gas hydrate deposits and produce it on an industrial scale. This sounds to me like a great supplement for oil and coal. So many great things could come out of this if it is further studied. Electricity would be extremely cheap and globally available for underdeveloped countries. This could revolutionize the world. Since we're being optimistic, agriculture could expand and help end world hunger. Our quality of life and others would be greatly benefited. It could cause a domino effect of Peace and equality among all nations! The government has shown interest in this and invested millions in the past to drill in our oceans and hopefully they continue to plan and invest money in exploring and researching this promising discovery for the good of humanity and well being of our planet!<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-8794479680391493350?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=FDvpoCkhZw8:FR60cwvUanA:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-62420223080018414312009-05-02T15:05:00.000-07:002009-05-02T15:31:18.088-07:00<img style="width: 520px; height: 390px;" src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/warningfishcontaminated.jpg" /><br/>^{Photo Credit to <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/cpurrin1/338421481/">Colin Purrington</a>}<br /><br />We all have heard that eating too much fish may be bad for your health, especially for pregnant woman. That fish you may love from your frequently visited sushi house such as tuna, swordfish, king mackerel, and shellfish can be potentially more dangerous in the years to come. The administrator from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) states that a new study has shown them a better understanding of how dangerous levels of mercury move into our air, our water, and the food we eat, and shines new light on a major health threat to Americans and people all across the world.<br /><br />With this new information the EPA plans to continue working with our international partners to help cut mercury pollution in the years ahead and protect the health of millions of people. This is a pretty alarming topic. Not just for sushi lovers but for the ocean wildlife and ecosystems. Water samples done in 2006 shows that mercury levels were 30 percent higher than when measured in the 1990s. So this new study reveals a few new things that are kinda scary. The first thing is that methyl mercury was found in the North Pacific ocean. Methyl mercury is a soluble and highly toxic form of mercury which is basically formed from Algae that floats around the surface of the ocean then quickly dies and trickles down to the deep of the ocean where it decomposes and this process of decomposition mixed with mercury, forms methyl mercury. The other unexpected finding was that a lot of this mercury is being swept in from the Asian coasts. Usually scientists look to the skies if there is a rise in mercury levels. They have known for a long time how mercury deposited from the atmosphere to freshwater ecosystems can be transformed into methyl mercury but they have now learned something they didn't know which is more about the transformation of mercury to methyl mercury and that they know a majority of it is coming from the Asian coasts. Scientists predict with the increased mercury emissions from human sources there could be a 50 percent increase in mercury in the Pacific by 2050.<br /><br />I guess if you're a vegetarian this may not concern you all that much but Mercury is also in the air we breathe too and the biggest way we contribute to this is the coal fired power plants that counts for 65% of mercury that is released in our environment. We can only hope that the EPA stays on top of there game and can help to regulate and put a limit on emissions on power plants in the US. Also to continue to work with other countries to control the amount of Mercury that is polluted into our earth.<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-6242022308001841431?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=f4EvMuvNdqc:GeJxkYEAJuU:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-29786387415590748342009-04-29T07:37:00.000-07:002009-04-29T07:48:33.871-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/windgenerator.jpg" alt="Wind Generator"><br/>^{Photo: Wind Turbine in Rotterdam}<br />Do as the Danes Would do.<br /><br />Obama said it well last week in Iowa on Earth day "I don't think we should be followers, I think it's time for us to lead." He was referring to America being the leader in renewable energy sources. And currently Denmark is the best example of where the US should be at. Here are some reasons why they are first:<br /><ul><li> They get 20-25% of electricity and heating from renewable energy, mostly biomass, biodegradable waste and wind.</li><li> That will be 36% by 2025.</li><li> They build houses with green roofs made from seaweed...enough said.</li><li> Since 1973, they’ve gone from a 99% dependence on Middle East oil to 0% today. None.</li></ul>Obama also mentioned that currently America produces less than 3% of it’s electricity from renewable sources, like wind and solar. Danish companies manufacture 40 percent of the world's supply of wind turbines, as well as having had extensive research programs for decades which provides employment for a good chunk of the population. The people of Denmark are kind of like simpletons. The average Dane only owns one vehicle and a lot of them use public transportation. A majority of them don't own half the gadgets your every day American has in their house. They use less than half the energy Americans use annually. A fun fact about the Danish is that they are reported, in a social study, to be the happiest people on earth. They have total energy Independence and a great attitude towards sustainability for future generations. I think the US may have a tough time beating them for the top spot! But we can sure try!<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border:</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-2978638741559074834?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Zg_CS94z0nQ:BM5Rp8BHa6Q:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1699038716958250363.post-11462596382601267122009-04-29T06:53:00.000-07:002009-04-29T07:35:18.896-07:00<img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/Coffeebean.jpg" alt="coffee"><br/>Coffee is not only a great pick me up on a sluggish morning but new studies show that it has a very profitable new benefit. After brewing your favorite cup of coffee or cappuccino the remaining or "spent" coffee grounds end up in your garbage can or possibly added to your soil as a fertilizer. Now there is an even greater use that can come of used grounds...bio diesel fuel! The reason that bio diesel isn't being used a whole lot these days is because there isn't a cheap availability of a quality source or feedstock to make that new energy source. Used coffee grounds contain between 11 and 20 percent oil by weight. Which is about the same compared to traditional bio diesel feedstocks such as rapeseed, vegetable, palm, and soy bean oil. Growers produce more than 16 billion pounds of coffee around the world each year. Scientists estimated that out of that, 340 million gallons of bio diesel can be added to the worlds fuel supply. <br /><br />The scientists verified it by testing grounds from a multinational coffeehouse chain. They discovered a few things during the process, one being that the coffee based fuel actually smells like java -YUMMMM- and two it turns out since coffee has a high antioxidant content it was more stable and had a bigger advantage over other bio diesels . So after converting the grounds into oil the leftover solid stuff can just be used as a compost or converted into ethanol. This new process is thought to profit the US more than 8 million dollars a year. They plan to develop a small pilot plant to produce and test the experimental fuel within the next six to eight months.<br /><br />So if you are a coffee lover this may just be another reason for you to love it more. All in all its a cheap environmentally friendly bio diesel to power our cars and trucks. I think the US should really start to utilize these wonderful non costly sources of fuel. I mean they are right at our finger tips!<br /><br />Thoughts, Comments, Questions...<br /><style type="text/css">.happy img{ border: 0px;}</style><br /><div class="happy"><br /><a href="http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php" onclick="window.open('http://www.addthis.com/bookmark.php?wt=nw&amp;pub=tecknopuppy&amp;url='+encodeURIComponent(location.href)+'&amp;title='+encodeURIComponent(document.title), 'addthis', 'scrollbars=yes,menubar=no,width=620,height=520,resizable=yes,toolbar=no,location=no,status=no,screenX=200,screenY=100,left=200,top=100'); return false;" title="Bookmark using any bookmark manager!" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y289/tecknopuppy/bookmark.gif" alt="Add This Social Bookmark Button" border="0" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml"><img src="http://www.feedburner.com/fb/images/pub/feed-icon16x16.png" alt="" style="border: 0pt none ; vertical-align: middle;" /></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/pGwO" rel="alternate" type="application/rss+xml">Subscribe in a reader</a><p></p><br /></div><div class="blogger-post-footer">http://www.theenvironmentalblog.org/atom.xml<img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/1699038716958250363-1146259638260126712?l=www.theenvironmentalblog.org'/></div><div class="feedflare"> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:yIl2AUoC8zA"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=yIl2AUoC8zA" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:63t7Ie-LG7Y"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=63t7Ie-LG7Y" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:V_sGLiPBpWU"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:V_sGLiPBpWU" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:qj6IDK7rITs"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?d=qj6IDK7rITs" border="0"></img></a> <a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?a=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:gIN9vFwOqvQ"><img src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~ff/pGwO?i=Ae5nfUDoq3w:zWmOM75GVyk:gIN9vFwOqvQ" border="0"></img></a> </div>JTnoreply@blogger.com22009-04-25T00:00:00-07:00http://digg.com/users/tecknopuppy//dugg#2009-04-24<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/health/Thieves_snatch_cash_laptops_from_nonprofit_HIV_Alliance">Thieves snatch cash, laptops from nonprofit HIV Alliance</a><br/> It feels like the worse the economy gets, the more crime has gone up. This is a perfect example of a desperate crime...one that damages the good work done in the community in health services. Please spread this story far and wide.</li> </ul>2009-04-06T00:00:00-07:00http://digg.com/users/tecknopuppy//dugg#2009-04-05<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/environment/Organic_Community_Garden">Organic Community Garden</a><br/> Are these on the rise? A place where the community can garden if you live in apartments...I guess.</li> </ul>2009-03-06T00:00:00-08:00http://digg.com/users/tecknopuppy//dugg#2009-03-05<ul> <li><a href="http://digg.com/environment/Eliminating_Pollution_from_Cars">Eliminating Pollution from Cars</a><br/> Please vote for me to win an electric scooter...thanks</li> </ul>