Paving Our Way Out of Nature

It's estimated by the University of Georgia that Atlanta and the metro area is now paving over 55 acres a day, which is causing a reduction in trees, plants creeks and wildlife. According to experts from UGA, this is not good planning for Atlanta and will cause drastic effects.

Some of these effects include runoff from too much pavement and not enough soil to soak up water. This leads to flooding due to an increase in sediment and could possibly result in the pollution of bodies of water that lie near by. Lake Lanier and Lake Allatoona are prime examples of polluted bodies of water caused by storm runoff.

An increase in pavemnet also worsens smog and low-level ozone by elevating the heat level after cars and industrial factories pollute the air. Since the pavement is ridding us of many tress there's less shade which results in higher temperatures and less trees also results in the decresae of ability to filter out pollution.

More development is due to the influx of people, that has caused a huge population growth. I remember when I was growing up in the 80s, our subdivison (not really a subdivision then) ended at my neighbor's house now there are several more houses and streets that have been added, just in the past ten years. And with more houses and people comes more shopping malls and etc.

But what do you do, tell people to stop moving here? Looks like a problem that can't really be solved; you can only put restrictions and guidelines on developers and make sure they follow through. All we can really hope for is that each person does their part to become more environementally conscious and conservative.

Make Your Yard a Prettier and More Inviting Place this Spring

Not only is Spring a great time for lemonade and cleaning, but it's also a wonderful time to start planting a garden. To make the best garden for your home you should consider a few things first before you start buying and planting: Purpose of your garden, constraints you may have (weather, soil etc.), analyze the site at where you would be placing the garden (sunlight, tress, soil), and style of your garden (what best compliments your house, personality and taste).

Some other questions you should ask relate to who and what you're planting your garden for:

Will you be entertaining in or near the garden and need paths or patios?

Are you looking for privacy from a busy street or neighbors?

Is this a space small children should be comfortable in?

Will you be viewing it mostly in the morning, afternoon or evening?

Is it your own private space or on public view?

Would you like to attract more birds and butterflies into your yard?

Are you trying to create a view from inside the house?

Will it be used for cutting flowers?

If you feel you are totally uncreative and uninventive you should go look at some gardening magazines and maybe get ideas from people you know who already have gardens in your area. Another helpful tip is looking at newspapers and magazines in or near your location that have the same climate as you, so you will have information and gardening catered to that particular area. If you live in Georgia like myself, you can look at the AJC Home and Garden, or Georgia Gardening for ideas, advice and tips for your garden.

Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is not only helps save and help the environment but it also saves and helps your wallet. By using energy efficient products for your home, it's estimated that you can save up to 30 percent or more on your power bill. The average American household spends 1,500 dollars on their power bill annually and if this is reduced by one third the average American would save 500 dollars a year.

Most of the energy that we consume is produced by power plants that burn fossil fuels, which causes pollution. The pollution attributed to this energy causes smog, acid rain, global warming and some households even produce twice as much greenhouse gases than the average car!!
Hopefully your are not one of the households that put out more harmful gases into the air than a car, but if you are, there are ways to fix this problem. By purchasing and choosing energy efficient products that best fit your house and climate you will produce less harmful pollutants and save energy and money.

Some of the major tips for conserving energy are making sure all attic ducts and vents are sealed properly (this could save up to 140 dollars a month), replace air filters once a month, and replace traditional light bulbs and light fixtures with compact fluorescent lighting.
Now that we are about to endure the scorching heat this summer, it's important to start energy efficiency now, since most homes tend to spend more this time a year, especially here in the south. To find out more visit these springtime tips and ask question and do some research before purchasing household products and other items that consume energy.

Smog's Smothering Effects

Now that summer is among us and the temperatures are escalating, so is the smog, especially in larger cities, such as Atlanta. With this comes many health problems, such as asthma, and other respiratory complications.

The smog that is found in the air is a dangerous type of ozone that has a dangerous effect on about one third of the population. This type of ground ozone is enhanced and is seen more in the summer because of the reaction that takes place between the ozone precussors ( harmful pollutants and chemicals put into the air), which is caused predominatly by cars, but also includes industrial factories, and the evaporation of cleaners, paints and other chemicals.

This groundlevel of smog we have acquired is not natural and is only suppose to be seen in the higher elevated parts of our stmosphere to help block ultra violet rays from earth. The ozone we are experiencing on the ground is caused when nitrogen and volatile organic compounds react in sunlight and in heat.

Not only is this type of ozone harmful to humans but it's harmful to plants as well. Smog accounts for 1- 2 billions dollars of damage in U.S. 's crops a year, which also results in inflation of certain fruits and vegetables in the summer.

To help decrese smog in the summer, Air Now recommends that you drive less, car pool, tune your car regularly and tightly seal lids to chemicals. To see if you're at risk or in the sensitive category for repiratory problems attributed by smog visit this site.

Turtles Racing for Their Lives

Now that we have become economically advanced and use many of our natural resources as a means to obtain this success, we have forced many animals out of their homes and many into extinction.

In the Pacific Ocean especially we are now facing a possiblility of putting the Leatherback turtles into extinction as well, due to human activity in the water. Leatherback turtles are the largest turtle in the world and can reach a shell length of 1.7 meters.These species have managed to outlive the dinosaur over 110 million years ago, but may not be able to outlive humans' longline fishing, ocean pollution and global warming.

In the 1980s there was an estimated 115, 000 Leatherback turtles, and now the number may be as low as 25,000. The main problem , concluded by many marine biologists is long line fishing, which entangles the turtle causing injury to its shoulder or flippers , which enables the turtles' ability to swim.
In the late 1980s regulations under the TED (Turtle Excluder Devices), were passed to keep shrimp fleets from trapping and drowning turtles, which did help some Leatherbacks, but the problem still exists today.

There are a few groups such as the Leatherback trust, and the Tagging of Pacific Predators, but from what I've researched there's little being done now to regulate and help with the depletion and possible extinction of this animal.

Sugar Cane a Sweet Source for Energy

Brazil along with many other Latin American countries, have been
fueling their cars from ethanol produced from sugar cane. Brazil began to make changes in 2005 and other countries, including some in Africa, are jumping on the bandwagon.

According to Yale Global Online "The truth is that nobody can compete with Brazil," President Lula (Brazil's president)said recently. "Biodiesel production is a way of making Brazil less dependent on oil, a fuel that may eventually come to an end. This is a vital project for ensuring more independence for Brazil, as we may become a large biodiesel exporter," he said on opening a new biodiesel plant.
Africa hopes to benefit by changing to cleaner fuel as well, since they have plentiful land to harvest to produce the ethanol from sugar cane and certain types of shrubs. Many politicians in Africa believe this could help Africa's struggling economy while at the same time help the environment.

Although there are several positive effects by switching to ethanol, such as a reduction of carbon monoxide; there are also a few negative ones, such as lower gas per mileage and in some cases there is more energy used to produce the ethanol (especially from corn) than there is when consuming the ethanol. Sugar Cane has proven to use less energy in production, but many other countries are using corn, or other materials based on their natural resources. Hopefully the U.S. and other European countries will be able to find a way to produce ethanol more efficiently, but until then we can only work out the kinks and propose new ideas.

The Great American Cleanup

The Great American Cleanup is taking place this weekend and many volunteers in Bulloch County are coming together to “Keep Bulloch Beautiful”. More than 30,000 cleanup events will be taking place across the nation and Bulloch County is one of them.

The Great American Cleanup starts as early as March 1 and continues through May 31. The Keep America Beautiful campaign started in 1999 and soon became active in Georgia. Just last year in 2006, 51,000 Georgians volunteered their time by helping clean, restore, and beautify their communities.

Keep American Beautiful says their main goal is to change people’s attitude and behavior of litter According to their toolbox site there are five main areas that should be explored to become successful and knowledgeable about the problem in a specific community such as Bulloch County.

1. Get the Facts
Research the littering problem (or other community improvement issue) in your community, and gather information from the Litter Index and the Litter/Solid Waste Survey. Interview field professionals and leadership. Assemble all pertinent data in writing.
2. Involve the People
Identify the people who have the most influence over this particular issue. Let them know what you would like to do. Find how it can match their own interests, and capitalize on their interest in developing the program. Let them involve people they know or with whom they work. The volunteer network will spread. Delegation is the key.
3. Plan Systematically
Once the leadership and other key individuals are in agreement, develop a plan of action. Utilizing effective management techniques, the group commits to this plan of action with the aid of Keep America Beautiful programs and resource guides.
4. Focus on Results
Your goal will be to achieve measurable results in litter reduction. All activities and projects should be planned programs designed to target and change negative attitudes and practices.
5. Provide Positive Reinforcement
Give those who worked on the project appropriate recognition. This can take many forms, but a sincere “thank you” is a first step. People must feel positive about their efforts with you if they are to sustain their interest.

This on going event through May, is a great effort in changing and raising awareness about our environment. Hopefully this year, even more people will get involved and even more attitudes and behaviors will be changed about littering.

Google Going Green

Google is currently working to install solar panels into their buildings to help reduce energy costs and to help produce clean energy. According to The Art of Technology Google will make its investment back in seven years and will continue to reap the benefits of cheaper energy.

Robyn Beavers said 1.6 megawatt photovoltaic panels will be installed on the roofs of the four main buildings at the Googleplex , and they will also be utilizing a few parking lots to help in the production. Google is partnering with EI solutions in hopes that the installation will be able to power 1,000 homes and diminish 30 percent of campus’ peak electricity consumption.
In the future Google will benefit from the energy cost, but they also say that’s not their only motive for the switch. We believe that improving our environmental practices is not only our responsibility as a corporate citizen, but good business planning – according to North American Electric.

On the upside Google will be making a splash into clean alternative sources, which will show other companies and investors the financial benefits of this switch, but on the downside many IT officials think the switch may be problematic. Some IT directors believe it may not prove to be reliable and also believe there may be more demands and problems than expected.

Indoor Air Pollution

Just recently in Georgia we have banned smoking in restaurants unless they sell more alcohol than food, which is rare for most. Not only are many non-smokers annoyed by smokers but they are also effected physically for their habit.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) have studies that show that second hand smoke has been linked to Group A carcinogens, which cause cancer.Secondhand smoke contains hundreds of chemicals known to be toxic or carcinogenic, including formaldehyde, benzene, vinyl chloride, arsenic ammonia and hydrogen cyanide three. The most common life-threatning illnesses from secondhand smoke are from lung cancer and heart disease.

This habit has also been linked to premature death in children an adults. It seems that with this said, a smoker is being selfish to smoke in front of others, especially children. I can not imagine being a parent and smoking in front of children or while pregnant, which shows even more selfishness and disregard for your own child. Secondhand smoke results in many child hospitilizations and between 1,900 to 2,700 SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)cases.

Everybody knows of the health effects of smoking but may not be as concerned if they are not doing it firsthand. On the other side you may be smoking firsthand but believe your only effecting yourself, which is only the case if you're smoking in seclusion from others. Hopefully all states will adopt the same policy as Georgia and several other states, and recongnize the physical problems others may endure through no habit of their own.

Future of Fuel

Now that gas prices have skyrocketed, oil reserves are low, international relations in the Middle East are shaky, and the North Eastern half of the globe is experiencing a drastic climate change, we as Americans are finally trying to find alternative fuel sources to keep our economy stable and growing.

There are many ideas we may embrace, but the smartest choice would be a source that is biodegradable or will break down without affecting our environment. Some ideas that have been proposed are biodeiesel, hydrogen, methanol, and propane. Propane and methanol do still release some harmful pollutants, but are still much lower than the gasoline operated vehicles. Propane is a more desirable over methanol because methanol has been known to produce a lot of formaldehyde during emissions.

Since those two products still contaminate we should concentrate primarily on biodeisel, ethanol, and hydrogen.

Biodeisel is domestically produced like propane and methanol but unlike them are biodegradable and are produced by renewable fuel. This product still uses fossil fuels but at a much reduced rate compared to propane and methanol.

Ethanol is alcohol based and can also be produced from trees, and grass which is called bioethanol, this fuel is mixed on 85% ethanol and 15% gasoline, but currently is only mixing 10% ethanol and 90% gasoline on cars right now.

Hydrogen can be produced in unlimited quantities and is a renewable energy source that will most likely be considered by the U.S. All these possibilities are being explored by our government but it seems like hydrogen and or ethanol will be the most likely to prevail.

All these energy sources reduce harmful pollutants, are more accessible than oil and cheaper in cost. Maybe we will come to a definite decision or maybe we will embrace more than one source; but one thing is for certain, there will be an alternative source soon. To compare these different energy sources to different properties visit this site and click on what you would like to compare!

Al Gore on Environmental Issues

"It is really for all of our children and grandchildren and great- grandchildren that we fight to protect the air we breathe and the water we drink, and it's for them that we also fight to honor the legacy of Rachel Carson," Al Gore said in one of his speeches. He also addressed that many who are involved in helping the environment as adults started as children or learned of environmental issues as a child like Rachael Carson did.
When I first heard of Al Gore back in the 90s I really liked his stance on environmental issues and began to wonder what he had done during his time as Vice President. I wish I could say that he led the same path he took before becoming elected, but most evidence shows his environmental campaign went down the gutter while in the White House.

Before his presidency he had written a book called Earth in Balance where he expresses his concern on hazardous effects that are taking toll on our environment. He seemed to have a deep passion for saving and helping the environment, but when elected as Vice President in the Clinton Administration he did not do much for his passion. During his administration he said nothing when timber companies began cutting down forests in the Pacific Northwest and said nothing when the administration approved a hazardous waste incinerator in Liverpool,Ohio. There are several other issues where the administration looked the other way, but these are the ones I found to be most disturbing.

I know Al Gore has raised money for environmental issues and has done numerous speeches and has acknowledged global warming and other issues, but no matter what is in the interest of the minority, (business,person, political party etc.) he should always keep the majority in mind. (Environment, which affects everybody) If you advocate and issue stand behind it, even when pressure is strong. I know he did not make the ultimate and final decisions in the Clinton administration, but it does not seem like he spoke up either.
If he does run for election in 2008, hopefully he will be able to make a memorable impression, pass legislation on this problem, and stand up for what he says he believes in.

Splash into Car"pooling"

It’s obvious that carpooling helps the environment, but it has also been proven that it benefits the employer and employee in many aspects as well. Surveys conducted have proven that employees who carpool usually tend to have a more positive attitude and less stress when at work. This results in more work productivity and less absentees for the employer.
So, perhaps you don’t think you will be more pleasant and more prone to have more work done but it’s only logical to assume that carpooling limits drivers on the road, requires less parking spaces, saves you gas money and can make your ride much quicker with the use of an HOV lane.
To help encourage carpooling many employers offer incentive programs, which may include reduced parking rate or free parking, or rewards such as prizes or drawings. Employers who offer these programs and meet certain requirements are put in National Standard of Excellence classification designated by the DOT, and the EPA, which recognizes these employers as the best places to work for commuters.
You may be thinking well how do I get a carpool partner(s)? It’s really easy and can be done over the computer through Commuter Connections. This communication outlet will match you online through the CAP (commuter assistance program) with somebody in your area or set up a carpool within your complex or subdivision.
In the future I hope you consider carpooling to benefit your attitude, work productivity, wallet and most of all, the environment, which all of us use and should be conscious of.

Daylight "Savings" Time

Today started daylight savings time for the spring, which mean everybody had to spring forward an hour this morning. We do this every year but today marked the first time starting the conservation three weeks early, which will in return causes us to fall back and hour a week later. The reason for the change is still to conserve energy, but has changed due to the Energy Policy Act of 2005.

Though we are saving energy, there are a few side effects. One of the major concerns of moving up the date was the switch of electronics and computers, which were already programmed for the old daylight savings time. Many believed it would start a mini Y2K scare, but snafu software has helped older computers read the new time, while others have to be changed manually. Other concerns were false airline departure times, stocks set at certain times to trade could start late, and many business and people may be late to open or to work. Hopefully the switch will benefit the economy's consumption of energy and make up for all the side efects we may experience because of it.

Third Generation Hybrids

Toyota has recently come out with third generation hybrid cars, and with this comes more efficiency and better technology!I've heard many myths about hybrid cars and their ability to conserve energy and myths about how they drive, so i thought it would be appropriate to go find out for myself. My friend Amanda and I were able to test drive 2 of the 3 cars that they offer in hybrid, and we were very impressed. Amanda and me test drove the Prius and the Camry. According to Edgar Rivera, a McDonough Toyota Sales Professional, the Prius has the lowest emission standards out of all the hybrid cars and is considered an Advanced Technology Partial Zero Emission Vehicle, which means it produces 70 percent fewer smog-forming emissions than the average vehicle. I was also informed that these hybrids did not have to be charged, because the cars use the energy used from braking to charge the battery.

The Prius also contained many other features such as a camera to help when backing up, a touch screen pad, which tells you when your car is using electricity or gas, the weather, mapping and other helpful settings. This car also had a Smart Key System, this system works by picking up a sensor on the key within a certain radius of the car. The doors will automatically unlock with the sense of the key and the engine can be started with a push of a button!

While test driving the Prius I noticed the ride was very smooth and it felt as if you were gliding because the hybrid engine doesn't contain gears like normal vehicles. I had many people tell me that hybrids did not pick up speed very quickly, but the third generation hybrids seemed to keep up with the ordinary vehicles. While entering the interstate on the entrance ramp I was able to hit 70 mph without flooring it before I even got off the entrance ramp.

My friend Amanda drove the Camry and the ride seemed just as smooth in the back seat as it did while I was driving the Prius. If your not already sold on the idea, you should also keep in mind that the government gives you 1,700 dollar tax credit for driving a hybrid, and the third generation hybrids get between 50 to 60 miles to the gallon, which is almost triple that of an average gas operated vehicle.

Bush on Alternative Resources

The U.S relies predominately on foreign oil, which mostly comes from the Middle East. According to Bush this is the main reason we need to look for alternative energy sources, but in reality this should not be our underlying factor.
According to many geologist we will run out of fossil fuel in less than 50 years, and even faster than that if China starts to consume more fuel. I would hope that we would of started thinking about this long before we came to a crisis in the Middle East, over consumption, and most importantly before we saw the effects this was placing on our environment.
We have known for a while that we would run out eventually, plus we have seen the effects on the atmosphere. So how come now that we are in conflict with the Middle East, the government feels that we should put more tax money into finding alternative resources. According to scientific research the problem has been about for a while, but now we are starting to realize the consequences of waiting around to the last minute to act.
I don't consider myself to be a democrat, but when your President's largest motive is to research alternative energy sources because of the war, and ignores all the other issues on the table, it seems to be for the wrong reason. I'm glad to see that we are starting to produce more ethanol and find other way to produce energy, but I'm also sad that we decided to wait this long to act on the problem.

Campus Conservation

Georgia Southern University offers several places on campus to recycle. Some of them include the library, the RAC, the Information Technology Building, the Science Technology Building, Russell Union, and several other locations as well. Campus recycling is strongly encouraged to get other students, (which possibly end up controlling or owning their own business) to start and continue recycling after he or she graduates.
GSU is doing a lot to help the environment, but also could work on some areas, such as having a set of all recycling bins in each building, instead of spacing a few here and there.
Another way GSU is conserving is by opening a new transportation system. Just last year GSU opened a new bus transportation system to help alleviate traffic and pollution, not only does this help the environment but it also conveyances students who must walk long distances to campus or class.
Although no system will ever be a 100 percent, GSU is trying to encourage environmental wellness, which is definitely evident with the new construction of the Recreational Activity Center. The RAC was constructed with a green theme, and has received a Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certificate. The RAC has been constructed with a reduced waste output, reduced energy usage, and reduced greenhouse effects emission. GSU is doing their part and you should too, if you would like to get involved in conservation on campus here’s a helpful link.

Plastic Bags

At the recycling centers in Statesboro you are able to recycle certain plastics, aluminum cans, glass, and office paper. One thing you’re not able to recycle is plastic bags. After talking with one of the recycling representatives, he informed me that they did not have that capability but the local grocery stores would take the bags back and have them recycled instead of throwing the bags away.
This is even easier than recycling itself, because most people go to the grocery store once a week. Since you do not have to go out of your way, why not just take your left over bags back to Wal-Mart. Harveys or Bi-Lo?
Many places even give you a nickel for returning a certain number of bags. At some grocery stores you get a "green stamp" discount of five cents per bag. I know that sounds trivial, but hey you’re not losing anything! Another good way of recycling plastic bags would be to use them in your smaller trash cans, or as a lunch carrier. Here are eight ways you can also you this useful item. Either way you go, recycling them by reusing or by taking them back to the grocery store you’re helping to reuse energy and the decline of landfill usage. So, before you throw away that plastic bag, think of an alternative use or take it to be recycled!

Give to the Troops!

I recently had a friend of mine poor her heart out to me about her boyfriend, whom was recently stationed in Iraq. She told me about how she sends him packages to keep in touch and to send him things he’s not able to purchase in Iraq. When I saw her again at Wal- Mart she was buying him Gatorade, candy, snacks and some other things that we normally take for granite in America.
She also told me that he gave her a list of soldiers who did not have close loved ones whom sent them things. She posted up the list where we worked and asked her fellow employees to send them care packages.
There are several solders in his branch and even many more that need to feel appreciated and cared for while they are away defending OUR country. I know many of you may not agree with the current situation in the Middle East, but those men and women are still sacrificing themselves so that we are able to stay safe and more secure at home.
There are many sites that offer services to deliver if you are willing to donate. Here are a few that I found in my 2 minutes of searching,USPS tips ,Gmail Troops , Military Brat (I'm sure there are hundreds more) An even more personal idea may be to send a care package to someone you already know or somebody in their division who he or she may know doesn't receive many letters or packages; Either way you would be making somebody’s day brighter and I’m sure he or she would feel more appreciated for what he or she does day in and day out.

Join The Trend

If you’re a current resident of Statesboro and have not heard the phrase” Keep Bulloch Beautiful”, then you must have been living under a rock. This county does their utmost by placing signs all over the county as a reminder to us to do the right thing. Obviously we should want to keep our local environment clean and aesthetically pleasing and with that in mind, why not just go the extra mile? Don’t just throw your trash away or place it on the ground (why would you do that…? LAZY), recycle it.

My roommates and I have just started recycling about a month ago and we can already see a huge difference in how much we throw out, such as plastic bags, coke cans, and plastic drink bottles. Not only are you conserving resources and diminishing the waste put in landfills and incinerators, but you are also helping with pollution and global warming. Recycling Instead of factories having to use new resources and break them down, they are using materials that have already been conformed, which eliminates how much energy the factory has to use.

This does not cost a lot of money to do; all you need is a plastic bag, plastic containers or boxes. I recommend putting labels on your designated area, especially if you live with other people. So, I encourage you to start recycling and tell your friends that you are starting to recycle. Maybe in return you could spark an interest in them to start conserving too Recycling could become the new cool trend, where everybody would want to participate and know that he or she is making a difference. Here are some addresses to recycling centers in Bulloch County.GOOD LUCK!

Global Warming... what to do?

Now that many countries are industrialized and consume an abundance of non renewable energy, we are starting to see the effects and harm that this is causing our environment. The most common one being global warming, this streams into many other problems such as melting glaciers, death and extinction of many species, abnormal weather and many other problems.
Global warming takes place after fossil fuels and other non renewable energy sources are used. These substances release carbon dioxide into the air and cause a greenhouse effect, which is where heat can not escape. According to these sites I’ve listed below, glaciers are melting ten times faster than normal which will cause sea levels to rise. The off set of balance in the atmosphere and abundance of heat will also cause drastic temperatures and unfathomable storms and weather. This will affect our generation, and we are already beginning to see the harmful affects around the world, especially in the North East.
By using alternative renewable resources such as solar, wind, geothermal.and bioenergy, we could slow down and change this dangerous and growing problem that we face. However, if we keep ignoring the science and the signs, there will surely be disaster for the future.



Scientist and Global Warming

Global Warming Organization

Global Warming in the Netherlands

Recycling

There are many small and big businesses in the U.S and with this comes convience but also results in negative affects such as pollution and other harmful acts on our environment. Many businesses need to start conserving and coming up with alternate ways to produce and conserve to make our environment more healthy. I'm all for indutrialization and economic progress but feel that we should take all measures neccessary to help slow down the bad affects put forth because of our progress.
Wal-Mart has begun a new plan to conserve on energy, but this is likely a result from high energy prices, not completely full heartedly to become "greener". Hopefully Wal-Mart's greener money saver idea on conserving energy will cause other competitors to want to follow as well.
Coca-Cola recycling

Wal-Mart Cuts Energy Use