Since I first began this blog experience on October 8, I’ve learned a lot about what a carbon footprint is, and just how much information is out there in cyber space about the topic. I’ve found great websites, (some redundant), and wonderful blogs, too. I plan to keep checking in on certain blogs, and hope to work diligently at keeping my footprint to a minimum. Changing one’s habits are not easy, but I hope I’ve led you to at least think about the future, and what would happen if we don’t take action now.
Besides learning about carbon footprinting, I’ve also learned about the world of blogging. It’s huge, incomprehensibly huge. The ease of which I could change this site’s template, edit my words, receive comments and add a survey or favorite link section is amazing. I’ve been recommending blogging to many friends, if not to write one than to read one. The information out there is waiting to be read and noticed.
Carbon footprinting, reducing green house gases, saving energy, renewable energy sources, recycling, Energy Star light bulbs, carpooling, public transportation, carbon offsets, buying local, green economy; so many buzz words, so little time to make that change for our future.
What are YOU doing?
Sunday, November 4, 2007
Saturday, November 3, 2007
Green Businesses
As I was searching the web, blogs, advertisements and links, I came across a website that specialized in promoting green businesses. Yes, businesses of all kinds that are geared toward being environmentally friendly. Think organic foods, clean energy, organic cotton and other eco products.
EcoBusinesslinks offers a site that is easy to navigate to find anything from beauty products to solar panels in the US, with some links to the UK, too. At the bottom of the home page, there is a link to environmental news around the world, with more links to organizations and sources for up to date information. This is probably the most comprehensive site yet that I’ve seen. Worth a look-see!
Have you come across any eco-friendly businesses in your community? At community produce stands and off-beat shops I’ve found organic clothes and books. It seems like the eco business is taking off. Whole Foods Market must have tons of information in its stores. I should walk through one day and check out prices. Trader Joe’s is another great store with an organic line. Maybe these stores are in your vicinity?
Well, enjoy looking around these websites or stores. Happy shopping!
Source:
EcoBusinesslinks
EcoBusinesslinks offers a site that is easy to navigate to find anything from beauty products to solar panels in the US, with some links to the UK, too. At the bottom of the home page, there is a link to environmental news around the world, with more links to organizations and sources for up to date information. This is probably the most comprehensive site yet that I’ve seen. Worth a look-see!
Have you come across any eco-friendly businesses in your community? At community produce stands and off-beat shops I’ve found organic clothes and books. It seems like the eco business is taking off. Whole Foods Market must have tons of information in its stores. I should walk through one day and check out prices. Trader Joe’s is another great store with an organic line. Maybe these stores are in your vicinity?
Well, enjoy looking around these websites or stores. Happy shopping!
Source:
EcoBusinesslinks
Friday, November 2, 2007
Carbon Offsets
So, you know your carbon footprint because you calculated your CO2 emissions. You realize that you are recycling all you are able, you carpool or bike to destinations, you travel less by airplane, and all your light bulbs are Energy Star. You still want to make a better impact on the environment. What’s there to do?
Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you what’s called a carbon offset. You still want to help the environment and the cause to reduce greenhouse gases, and there are legitimate companies that can help you feel better it. One I like is called Terrapass, which tells you how to green just about anything, including your wedding! The money you donate funds projects promoting clean energy, like wind farms or tree planting.
Also on this site you can enter your car information, such as year, make and model, and it calculates the emissions your car contributes to the environment. It also gives a quote of what you could pay to offset your car.
Here’s what it said for my car; I have a Chrysler 2001 Town and Country. On average, I drive it 12,000 miles, and it emits a little over that in lbs. of CO2. The amount I could pay to offset my carbon emissions? About $80 a year. The money goes towards funding environmental clean funds. Skeptic that I am, I’m not writing a check. I’d do a little more investigating to see just where my money would actually be going.
There are several carbon offset websites to visit and explore. The basic premise is great, but one has to wonder if people would rather write a check than to really change their habits at home. Nobody said it was going to be easy.
Source:
Terrapass, retrieved November 1, 2007
Money can’t buy you love, but it can buy you what’s called a carbon offset. You still want to help the environment and the cause to reduce greenhouse gases, and there are legitimate companies that can help you feel better it. One I like is called Terrapass, which tells you how to green just about anything, including your wedding! The money you donate funds projects promoting clean energy, like wind farms or tree planting.
Also on this site you can enter your car information, such as year, make and model, and it calculates the emissions your car contributes to the environment. It also gives a quote of what you could pay to offset your car.
Here’s what it said for my car; I have a Chrysler 2001 Town and Country. On average, I drive it 12,000 miles, and it emits a little over that in lbs. of CO2. The amount I could pay to offset my carbon emissions? About $80 a year. The money goes towards funding environmental clean funds. Skeptic that I am, I’m not writing a check. I’d do a little more investigating to see just where my money would actually be going.
There are several carbon offset websites to visit and explore. The basic premise is great, but one has to wonder if people would rather write a check than to really change their habits at home. Nobody said it was going to be easy.
Source:
Terrapass, retrieved November 1, 2007
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
State Info Revealed
E: Environment Redux: To bring back
This website, Eredux.com, helps communities across the United States develop social networks to help their town “Go Green” by giving them online tools and resources to accomplish a pro-action style. By filling in your zip code, you will be directed to a local blog space which has events and resources for that particular town.
The New Jersey facts are outstanding regarding our carbon footprint. All the states are listed with green bars that signify their population, their carbon output, and their total carbon ranking. Where do you think NJ is on the scale? Top, near the top? Well, we’re 9th in population, our per capita carbon output is 41, yet our carbon ranking is 16. What does it mean?
Well, each NJ resident produces 15 tons, yes TONS, of carbon dioxide each year. We are the 16th highest polluting state, which is not a surprise since we have a high population and industry. Is anyone surprised, or appalled? Remember your carbon footprint number from the calculator? Can you now see how this affects everyone in the state, and the nation?
Check out this informative interactive site.
Source:
Eredux.com website, Retreived October 31, 2007
This website, Eredux.com, helps communities across the United States develop social networks to help their town “Go Green” by giving them online tools and resources to accomplish a pro-action style. By filling in your zip code, you will be directed to a local blog space which has events and resources for that particular town.
The New Jersey facts are outstanding regarding our carbon footprint. All the states are listed with green bars that signify their population, their carbon output, and their total carbon ranking. Where do you think NJ is on the scale? Top, near the top? Well, we’re 9th in population, our per capita carbon output is 41, yet our carbon ranking is 16. What does it mean?
Well, each NJ resident produces 15 tons, yes TONS, of carbon dioxide each year. We are the 16th highest polluting state, which is not a surprise since we have a high population and industry. Is anyone surprised, or appalled? Remember your carbon footprint number from the calculator? Can you now see how this affects everyone in the state, and the nation?
Check out this informative interactive site.
Source:
Eredux.com website, Retreived October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
Renewable Energy Sources
So, as mentioned before, I’d like to talk about methods available to reduce our use of fossil fuels energy sources such as coal and gas. They are wind, water, solar and geothermal energy. I’ll briefly talk about each.
I have seen wind farms in the hills of Livermore, CA, and what a beautiful sight it is; hundreds if not thousands of windmills creating energy for the community as their white blades turn. New wind parks on and off shore are in the planning stages worldwide.
This is a renewable energy source which does not contribute to greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane).
Hydro-electric power, or water power, is used by creating dams or using tidal flows. However, the bigger issue is with the environment in developed nations and what other factors would be affected. It is recommended for small scale operations such as small farms, businesses, or homes.
We have all seen solar panels on house roofs in our area, and if you haven’t, start looking! There are a few brave folks in South Jersey who have made the jump. Special windows help trap heat in the house while the solar energy is stored in a grid system while waiting to be used. Yes, the winter months may be different due to the suns positioning, and the solar paneling need to be free of snow build up, but it works!
Geothermal energy is from the earth’s core, and can be used as heating or for electricity. It’s created by pumping oil or water into the Earth, then after it evaporates the hot gases that vent out run turbines to electric generators. Complex, yes, and if oil is used it doesn’t seem environmentally right. But on a small scale, it can be used to hear buildings. Also, certain locations cool down, meaning that they may dry up, so operations would have to be moved. It doesn’t sound like a renewable energy source if the heat at the core gets used up.
Sources:
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)
I have seen wind farms in the hills of Livermore, CA, and what a beautiful sight it is; hundreds if not thousands of windmills creating energy for the community as their white blades turn. New wind parks on and off shore are in the planning stages worldwide.
This is a renewable energy source which does not contribute to greenhouse gases (carbon dioxide and methane).
Hydro-electric power, or water power, is used by creating dams or using tidal flows. However, the bigger issue is with the environment in developed nations and what other factors would be affected. It is recommended for small scale operations such as small farms, businesses, or homes.
We have all seen solar panels on house roofs in our area, and if you haven’t, start looking! There are a few brave folks in South Jersey who have made the jump. Special windows help trap heat in the house while the solar energy is stored in a grid system while waiting to be used. Yes, the winter months may be different due to the suns positioning, and the solar paneling need to be free of snow build up, but it works!
Geothermal energy is from the earth’s core, and can be used as heating or for electricity. It’s created by pumping oil or water into the Earth, then after it evaporates the hot gases that vent out run turbines to electric generators. Complex, yes, and if oil is used it doesn’t seem environmentally right. But on a small scale, it can be used to hear buildings. Also, certain locations cool down, meaning that they may dry up, so operations would have to be moved. It doesn’t sound like a renewable energy source if the heat at the core gets used up.
Sources:
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)
Sunday, October 28, 2007
Impressive Blog Discovered
In my search around the internet for carbon footprint information, I discovered this blog by Robin Nixon, who is a freelance author, programmer, and web designer who is also very into the environment. His blog includes synopses of other articles he has found about happenings around the world, such as ethanol issues, CO2 saturation in the oceans and the hidden costs of what we can expect from climate change. He has links to the entire article at the end of his short postings, which he posts almost daily.
I was impressed with his resource page. Finding it took some searching, but if you go to his home website, then to his website link, up comes a big list of his passions…environment issues being one. I was interested in renewable fuel sources so I clicked on the link. Wow…alternate energy sources to help decrease our carbon footprint! Check out my next entry as I talk more in depth about wind, water, solar, geothermal energy as well as energy from biofuels.
So, how are you coming with decreasing your carbon footprint? Try the calculator yet? Buy those Energy Star lightbulbs? Governor Corzine just asked NJ citizens to replace at least 5 bulbs with Energy Star…maybe I’ll see you at the hardware store this weekend.
Sources:
Robin Nixon’s blog
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)
I was impressed with his resource page. Finding it took some searching, but if you go to his home website, then to his website link, up comes a big list of his passions…environment issues being one. I was interested in renewable fuel sources so I clicked on the link. Wow…alternate energy sources to help decrease our carbon footprint! Check out my next entry as I talk more in depth about wind, water, solar, geothermal energy as well as energy from biofuels.
So, how are you coming with decreasing your carbon footprint? Try the calculator yet? Buy those Energy Star lightbulbs? Governor Corzine just asked NJ citizens to replace at least 5 bulbs with Energy Star…maybe I’ll see you at the hardware store this weekend.
Sources:
Robin Nixon’s blog
Renewable fuel sources link from Robin Nixon’s blog, (1983-2007)
Friday, October 26, 2007
Future Job Opportunities
As I was reading my morning paper, sipping my delicious Fair Trade coffee, I came across an article in the commentary section. This man from Oakland, CA, Van Jones, is making an impact on the African American community and its youth. He has formed a group to create the Oakland Apollo Alliance, which has raised $250,000 to create a union-supported training program for youth to learn how to put up solar panels and weatherize buildings.
Why? Well, Mr. Jones has taken the green concept one step further. He is looking ahead to the time when the US will need trained people in the solar industry; a great vocation for youth to be able to do. He wants Congress to allocate $125 million to train 30,000 young people in green trades. His aim is to help poor African American families, but anyone would benefit from this training. Green trade or economy might be the new buzz word in the future. We need people like Van Jones to think ahead, to prepare, to educate people NOW before it’s too late.
Check out his website Green for All and see what Mr. Jones is doing “to combine solutions to America’s two biggest problems: social inequality and environmental destruction.”
Source:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 22, 2007, “Seeing Green in Going Green”, commentary by Thomas Friedman.
Green for All Website, (not affiliated)
Why? Well, Mr. Jones has taken the green concept one step further. He is looking ahead to the time when the US will need trained people in the solar industry; a great vocation for youth to be able to do. He wants Congress to allocate $125 million to train 30,000 young people in green trades. His aim is to help poor African American families, but anyone would benefit from this training. Green trade or economy might be the new buzz word in the future. We need people like Van Jones to think ahead, to prepare, to educate people NOW before it’s too late.
Check out his website Green for All and see what Mr. Jones is doing “to combine solutions to America’s two biggest problems: social inequality and environmental destruction.”
Source:
The Philadelphia Inquirer, October 22, 2007, “Seeing Green in Going Green”, commentary by Thomas Friedman.
Green for All Website, (not affiliated)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
