How does your diet impact the environment?
Trying to get in the recommended daily servings of fruits and veggies can be a tough task. Fresh produce can go bad quickly or be expensive (compared to junk food), and many people just think produce doesn’t taste good! But eating a diet heavy in fruits and vegetables is good for both you and the planet.
According to Vegetarian Times, only 3.2% of Americans are vegetarian. For the other 96.8% of America, beef, chicken, and pork play a large part in their diet. Because of this demand meat production has grown...and that production is becoming increasingly inefficient. Approximately 1,800 to 2,500 gallons of water are used to create a single pound of beef!
Mountaintop Removal Mining
America's mountaintops have been mined for coal for decades. Mountaintop coal mining is a surface mining practice involving the removal of mountaintops to expose coal seams. The resulting "mining overburden” – the leftover rock and debris – is typically deposited in adjacent valleys, called "valley fills."
The process disturbs and destroys the land, affecting the wilderness and other natural resources around the mining sites. Trees are often damaged or destroyed, bodies of water are contaminated, and the well-being of humans and wildlife in the area may be threatened. Local streams are often polluted in the process, and according to the U.S. EPA, entire streams are sometimes even covered up.
Across the Appalachians, companies are mining mountaintops to get at the thin coal seams. This process is filling local rivers and streams with blasted debris and polluting drinking water.
How many miles of streams do you think have been contaminated due to mountain top removal (MTR) in the Appalachian Mountains alone?
A. 250 miles B. 435 miles C. 605 miles D. 700 miles
The answer is D. 700 miles.
Although numbers vary depending on the source, the U.S. EPA conservatively estimates that more than 700 miles of streams have been contaminated due to mountaintop mining. While the environmental impacts of coal as a source of energy have been hotly debated for some time, the methods used to extract coal from the Earth are equally worth debating.
Less than 5% of coal production in the U.S. comes from the mountaintop mining technique, but more than 400 mountaintops in Appalachia alone have been destroyed. And despite the fact that there isn’t much coal left to mine in the region via this method, it continues. The practice of mountaintop mining and ‘valley fills’ is widespread throughout eastern Kentucky, West Virginia, and southwestern Virginia. First, upper elevation forests are cleared and stripped of topsoil. Then explosives are used to break up rocks to access buried coal. The excess debris is pushed into adjacent valleys where it buries existing streams. Hundreds of miles of Appalachian streams have been filled this way, and as a result contaminants and heavy metals have seeped into waterways and wells. The loss of trees and topsoil has also made the region more vulnerable to heavy flooding.
The impact on Appalachian communities and landscapes is undeniable -- see it for yourself in this video, sponsored by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
What does it mean for people’s health?
Heavy mining areas are associated with higher rates of lung cancer, chronic heart disease, and mortality, but the consequences can reach beyond the immediate area because the process affects watersheds.
Watersheds are vital to every community. They’re areas of land where bodies of water collect to flow into another, larger body of water – for example, the creek behind your house flows into a larger lake or river, which then flows into another, larger body of water. If one of the bodies of water in this system becomes polluted, they all suffer and the ecosystems around them become endangered. More than 66% of Americans rely on these water source for drinking water in their homes. The EPA says: "The impact of mountaintop removal on nearby communities is devastating... Mining dries up an average of 100 wells a year and contaminates water in others. In many coalfield communities, the purity and availability of drinking water are keen concerns."
Mountaintop removal mining also creates other serious hazards for communities that can include increased flooding, home damage, and the threat of "sludge spills” when walls holding back sludge from coal plants break and spill waste into a surrounding area.
Do you live near a mountaintop mining site? Check out these resources and consider getting involved. Even if you don’t live near a mountaintop mining site, you and millions of other Americans may be indirectly connected to this type of coal extraction if your energy provider uses coal from mountaintop removal mines. Find out if yours does and learn what you can do about it.
ash for Caulkers: coming soon?
Did you know that between 40 and 70% of the energy in your home might be leaking out? Drafty door jams and windows and inefficient appliances cause much of this energy loss. And while stopping a draft here and there may not seem like a big deal, fixing these issues can save you about half of that lost energy. But what if these home energy improvements just aren’t in your budget?
We’ve been hearing about the potential Cash for Caulkers or "Homestar” program since President Obama was still a candidate on the campaign trail. Like last year’s Cash for Clunkers program that gave consumers a monetary rebate for trading in their old vehicles for more fuel efficient models, Cash for Caulkers and Homestar will incentivize and reward Americans who improve the energy efficiency of their homes -- possibly creating green jobs in the process. According to Efficiency First, a $23 billion investment in Homestar would results in the retrofitting of 5.9 million homes in the United States.
Last week, the President formally announced his proposal for $6 billion in rebates through the Cash for Caulkers program. Some are calling the program a "triple-win”: American homes would be more energy efficient and provide energy savings to consumers; the program would create more employment opportunities; and there would be an overall reduction in carbon emissions. Energy Star® appliances are also covered under the proposal.
Check out the U.S. Department of Energy’s website for more guidance on saving energy and money at home. Need more inspiration? Read about how one Maryland family’s switch to renewable energy and other home improvements helped them save money and reduce their carbon emissions in a big way.
Кроссвород
How energy efficient is your home?
The seasons are changing and so are the temperatures! As your family migrates indoors for the winter, you want to keep them happy and warm. But not everyone prepares their home for the coldest season properly often forgetting to put weatherstripping down, remove air conditioning window-units, or simply neglecting to put draft guards down.
Failure to properly prepare your home can result in big energy and money losses each winter. Do you know how much energy your home wastes?
What percentage of your home's heat can escape through gaps in windows and doors?
A. 5%
B. 15%
C. 25%
D. 35%
The answer is C., 25%.
Leaky window panes and cracks in door frames allow copious amounts of heat (or air conditioning in the summer) to escape from your house. The average home loses nearly 25% of it's heat through these gaps. Not only does that mean you're spending more on your electricity bill, but you're also using more energy than necessary to heat your home.
Don't worry! Filling in these gaps and cracks can be as simple as putting down draft guards under your doors or installing weatherstripping during the coldest months. See what other measures you can take to keep your home warm this winter.
In addition to sealing cracks and gaps in windows and doors, there are many other measures you can take to make sure your home's heat stays inside. Installing a programmable thermostat can save you up to 12% a year on your energy bills. Also, performing regular maintenance and insulating your home properly help you make sure your home is always running efficiently. Check out our green tip on buttoning up your home this winter season!
Кроссворд
door Air Pollution Quiz > January 15, 2009
True or false: According to the EPA, the air inside the typical home is just as polluted as the air just outside.
Congratulations to this week's winner, Sharena Conte of East Patchogue, NY, who answered this quiz challenge correctly and will receive an EarthShare reusable bag and other fun environmental goodies.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, air inside the average home is two to five times more polluted than the air outside, largely due to toxic household cleaners and pesticides. Read on to learn what might be contaminating your home and how you can clear the air. >> MORE
Given that we spend approximately 90 percent of our time indoors, exposure to toxins may be greater inside your home or office than outside—which may be hard to imagine if you live in a large or industrial city.
Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
According to the EPA, indoor pollutants that release gases or particles into the air are the primary source of poor indoor air quality, which can be exacerbated by poor air circulation and ventilation, as well as hot, humid temperatures. Pollutants themselves can be emitted from a number of sources, including:
Combustion sources (like tobacco and heating sources like wood, coal, gas and oil)
Dilapidated building materials or asbestos-ridden insulation
Pesticides used on indoor plants or outside of the home
Central heating and cooling systems
Personal care products
Wet carpet and mold
Household cleaners
And while increased ventilation may reduce some indoor emissions, it’s important to note that some materials produce pollutants that literally hang in the air. For example, smoking, using malfunctioning appliances, and repeated use of some cleaning agents can impact the air long after you’re finished with them.
Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution
As we’ve noted before, exposure to harmful toxins such as those found in pesticides, can lead to serious health problems, including organ defects in fetuses; asthma, attention deficit and hyperactivity, autism, and leukemia in children; and breast cancer in preadolescents.
The EPA’s report on indoor air pollution states that some building occupants—such as office workers or those living in apartments—experience symptoms that don’t fit the pattern of any particular illness and are thus hard to pin down.
Called sick building syndrome, people might complain of a dry or burning sensation in their eyes, nose or throat; fatigue; headache or nausea; irritability and forgetfulness. Serious, long-term illnesses such as Legionnaires’ disease, respiratory diseases, heart disease and cancer can also develop.
Reducing Indoor Air Pollution
The EPA has a helpful checklist to help you take the appropriate steps if you feel that your office or apartment complex may be susceptible to indoor air pollution. These steps include:
Talking with a supervisor or union representative about the issue
Logging health complaints if such a file hasn’t already been created
Reporting health symptoms or concerns to your doctor
Calling your state or local health department to discuss symptoms and causes
Working with your supervisor or building manager to establish policies that protect employees from tobacco exposure
Contacting the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health for information on conducting a health hazard evaluation of your workspace
Similarly, the EPA lists a number of ways to pinpoint pollution sources in your home or office with steps to reduce exposure, including:
Providing plenty of fresh air when using household paints, cleaners and disinfectants
Keeping home ventilation, heating and cooling systems up to manufacturer standards
Having a trained professional clean and inspect your fireplace or wood burning stove
Using exterior grade pressed-wood products (for wood paneling and furniture)
Allowing trained professionals handle chemical spills or asbestos
Using non-toxic pesticides and pest control agents
Cleaning water-damaged carpets and fabrics
Not smoking indoors
While we talk a lot about reducing our carbon footprint and sustaining a healthy, pollution-free environment, don’t forget to include your home or office building into the mix. Be proactive about using non-toxic cleaning, construction and office materials to safeguard those around you and protect the environment.
Recycle Aluminum Cans
Do it for you, for your community and for your environment
If you knew that ....
One hundred percent of a recycled aluminum can ends up as another aluminum can in as little as 60 days
An aluminum can has no limit to the number of times it can be recycled
Aluminum is the most recyclable of all materials: it is four times more valuable than other recycled consumer materials
Throwing away a single aluminum can is like pouring out six ounces of gasoline
... would you still throw that can in the trash?
There are many reasons to recycle:
Recycling helps save the environment--
Every day, more than 100 million aluminum beverage cans are sent to landfills, littered, or incinerated in the U.S. By throwing your empty aluminum can into the recycling bin or curbside bin, you are helping keep the environment clean.
Charities can benefit -- Many charities, from the Boys Scouts to Habitat for Humanity, recycle aluminum cans to earn money to pay for local programs. Recycling is a revenue generator and a volunteer recruitment vehicle for many organizations at the local level and nationally. The Aluminum Association has been a national partner with Habitat for Humanity since 1997. Currently, a network of over 1,000 Habitat affiliates recycles aluminum cans to help build more homes. Affiliates hold can drives, place recycling bins throughout the community, partner with area schools and businesses, and hold events that raise awareness. All ages, from young to old, can help collect and recycle cans. Visit the program's official Web site to learn more and find out how you can help.
It’s convenient – There are many easy ways you can recycle. Visit www.earth911.org to find local recycling centers in your area or learn about curbside programs. You can take your cans to a recycling center or, if your community offers curbside recycling, you can simply put your empty aluminum cans in the bins that are provided. Pickup occurs weekly in most areas.
We can really save - Americans throw away enough aluminum cans to rebuild an entire commercial air fleet every three months. Simple actions can mean big results.
Many other countries have also established successful aluminum recycling networks and programs: - In the U.K., The Guides Network emphasizes the importance of recycling and provides advice on how people can recycle at home and in schools and how to recycle different materials.