Friday, October 7, 2011

 The disposal of electronic waste is pretty much affected by cost concerns resulting in as much as 80 percent of e-waste ending up overseas where it is recycled in an un-environmentally friendly way.

In countries including China, India and Nigeria, the precious metals are removed by hammers, gas burners and bare hands, which results in lead and mercury being leaked into the air. Safety costs in the U.S. make shipping off these electronics to other countries a more cost-effective measure, as it can cost up to 10 times more to recycle electronics in the U.S.

Foreign countries are starting to crack down though, as Hong Kong authorities already returned 85 containers of electronics in 2007, including 20 from the U.S. China also now produces one million tons of e-waste itself according to Greenpeace China, and this number is on the rise.

As every thing in this world is based on profitability, many companies prefer to ship these wastes to places where the man power is cheaper and where quality and environmental standers are lower. Then we'll wind up in a closed loop that will not help our environment. We need to force companies to recycle for the sake of earth and not for the sake of making piles of money.

You might want to read:

E-Waste Market Size Continues to Grow



Saturday, October 1, 2011

Paper or Plastic Which is Green

Almost everyone has heard that to help the environment at the grocery store you need to choose paper bags over plastic. But why is this? And with new manufacturing technology, does that adage still hold true?

In a study done in 1990, paper and plastic bags were assessed based on both the energy used to produce the bags and the pollutants produced from the bags. The study had interesting results. Researchers found that products of two plastic bags used only 87% of the energy used to produce one paper bag. To produce a paper bag, high amounts of coal, wood, and petroleum are used, resulting in a total energy usage of 1,680 kilojules (kj). Plastic bags, on the other hand, use petroleum and natural gas, and use only 1,470 kj to produce two.

In looking at the pollutants generated by both plastic bags and paper, plastic bags again came out the winner. Researchers divided the pollutants into three different waste categories: solid, atmospheric, and waterborne. In every category, two plastic bags produced less pollution than did one paper bag. There are flip sides to the argument, however.

While plastic takes less energy to produce than paper, and produces less pollutants, paper can be composted, while plastic cannot. Also, a common energy source to produce plastic bags is nuclear fission, which results in radioactive waste – a potentially harmful pollutant in its own right. So what is the right answer? Unfortunately, there is no clear cut winner. If you really want to be as contentious as possible when bagging your groceries, bring your own string or cloth bags that can be reused.

Friday, September 30, 2011

Nuclear Power Not a Green Source of Energy


Nuclear power plants are fueled by uranium, a naturally-occurring element found in the Rocky Mountains and in countries such as Canada, Australia and South Africa. The nearly infinite energy that is stored in uranium atoms makes nuclear power possible.
The interaction between three "heavy" elements - two types of uranium and a form of plutonium -- creates a chain reaction that can be harnessed to generate electricity. The nuclear reaction generates heat that is used to boil water to create steam to drive a turbine to generate electricity. Like fossil fuels, uranium is a finite non-renewable resource.Though its abundant source of energy but its environmental hazards are full of risks and hazards. 

At present, over a hundred commercial nuclear power reactors operate in 33 states. Still, no new nuclear power reactors have been ordered in over two decades.

What are the environmental impacts?

Some tout nuclear power plants as a "clean" electricity source since the nuclear plants themselves do not release any of the "traditional" power generation air pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide or nitrogen oxides. Nevertheless, the requirements for the operation of nuclear power plants result in environmental impacts, including air emissions, at all stages of the uranium fuel procurement process. 

While plant operations do not result in air emissions similar to those of fossil plants, nuclear plants can release small amounts of airborne radioactive gasses, such as carbon-14 and iodine-131.
Uranium mining mimics techniques used for coal and similar issues of toxic contamination of local land and water resources arise -- as do unique radioactive contamination hazards to mine workers and nearby populations. Abandoned mines contaminated with high-level radioactive wastes can continue to pose radioactive risks for as long as 250,000 years after closure. 

In the nuclear fuel processing process, the uranium enrichment process depends on great amounts of electricity, most of which is provided by dirty fossil fuel plants releasing all of the traditional air pollution emissions not released by the nuclear reactor itself. Two of the nation's most polluting coal plants in Ohio and Indiana, for example, produce electricity primarily for uranium enrichment. In addition, the fuel processing produces radioactive wastes, which must be adequately stored and sequestered to minimize the risk of radioactive release.
Moreover nuclear planets pose too much risk in areas that are subject to earth quakes, as of what happened in Japan and there nuclear planets that were on the verge of a meltdown. Such meltdowns are considered as a major failure in a nuclear power plant's cooling systems, where fuel rods melt within a matter of seconds. The heat from the uncontrolled reaction can melt everything it comes into contact with. Catastrophic accidents could injure or kill thousands of people. These risks should be added to the high environmental price of producing electricity from nuclear reactors.   

Nuclear plants that rely upon water for once-through cooling systems require two-and-a-half times as much water as fossil fuel plants. The impact on water resources, aquatic habitats, and fish are therefore more significant with nuclear power plants than any other power generation technology (with the possible exception of hydroelectric facilities themselves). The San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station located in southern California consumes 500 metric tons of croaker and white fish annually, the equivalent catch of seven million recreational fishermen.
Some of the most serious impacts linked to the generation of electricity on land can also be attributed to nuclear plants. Whereas the amount of solid wastes generated at nuclear plants is relatively small, these radioactive wastes pose health risks that exceed that of any other source of electricity. It is quite possible that these radioactive wastes will be stored for a century or more at existing nuclear plant sites, a prospect that may preclude any future re-uses of these contaminated lands.

We are not in favor of producing electricity from fossil fuels too, but we'd like to aware people that nuclear power can't be considered as renewable nor clean source of electricity. Clean and renewable energy must be 100% sustainable and 100% clean and free of radioactive risks.  

The risk of this type of catastrophic accidents, and the subsequent release of massive quantities of radioactive materials, carries severe consequences for all forms of life.

Additional Information:
Nuclear Energy Institute

U.S. Dept. of Energy's Energy Information Administration (EIA): "Nuclear and Uranium Information at a Glance" please click here

Union of Concerned Scientists: How Nuclear Power Works

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

McDonald’s Turning Green

In McDonald’s 2009 Best of Green highlights, they mention that their use of an interactive software program, EcoProgress, for managing and reducing energy usage in restaurants in France achieved an 11% savings in electricity.


In Australia, McDonald’s is involved in water management and say that over a 20 year period their advanced stormwater retention tanks can save nearly 4 million liters of water. In addition to this they are using water-conservation technologies that include low-flow spray nozzles, dual-flush toilets, and extensive native landscaping and water conservation improvements through smart irrigation practices. McDonald’s Australia’s recently updated landscaping guidelines educate contractors and field personnel on issues such as water conservation, the use of native and drought-resistant plantings, and advanced stormwater retention methods.

“In Brazil, Chile and Argentina, McDonald’s has partnered with local organizations that transform used cooking oil into biodiesel. Currently, 270 restaurants in these markets deliver their used oil to be converted into biodiesel, representing over 1,000,000 liters of oil to date.” Is this superficial greenwashing or is McDonald’s stepping up to the plate on environmental issues?


McDonald’s is also jumping into the green building environment in the US. Last year, they opened their first “green restaurant” (in Chicago) for a new pilot program on green building. It received the Gold LEED rating! In one location in North Carolina, it has actually installed a charging station for electric vehicles.
McDonald’s is also making a big difference in Japan. By joining the Team Minus 6% program hosted by the Japanese government, “to reduce CO2 emissions by 1kg per person, per day, by offering a discount to consumers who registered to participate in the program,” McDonald’s helped to increase the participants from 40,000 to 380,000.Also McDonald’s Japan has installed LED lighting in 33 restaurants in 2009, CO2 emissions were reduced by 18 tons annually per restaurant and electricity consumption in the restaurants’ dining areas was reduced by an average of 44 percent, saving an average of $9,400 per year. Based on the demonstrated environmental and cost benefits, the decision has been made to install LED lighting in all new McDonald’s restaurants in Japan, and a review is underway to determine if LED lighting should be standard for all McDonald’s Japan restaurants.

In 2003, McDonald’s opened its first HFC-free restaurant in Vejle, Denmark. Equipped with appliances operating on natural refrigerants such as Propane, Isobutene, and CO2, the restaurant has none of the HFC gases harming the ozone layer and contributing to climate change. Compared with restaurants using conventional technology, the pilot restaurant consumes about 12 percent less energy and its Total Equivalent Warming Impact is on average 27 percent lower. Emissions are reduced by 25 tons of CO2 equivalents per year. "It really is cool to be green!" they say.

Moreover McDonald's saves nearly 161,000 trees a year thanks to the fact that the innovative container that holds the Big Mac (as well as the Quarter Pounder and Filet-O-Fish) is made with at least 37 percent recycled content.

Is McDonald’s a world leader in environmental issues now, or is this minor activity compared to their non-environmentally friendly activity?

Thus such an influential company is going behind green matters and that can be a huge benefit to the environment. For sure, they have influence on the success of the soya and cattle moratoria in the Amazon. And, clearly, they are helping to boost climate change action in Japan. They are doing a lot with some of their buildings to reduce energy usage. Is it enough? Is it living up to it’s environmental responsibilities? Is it a multi-national company others can follow?

If you have any thing in mind please write your comment below, and I'll be very happy to read it and even reply to it!

Tuesday, September 27, 2011

Eco-Friendly Kitchen: Tips For Going Green In The Kitchen

Today, we must keep in mind the environment in most everything we do and that includes the renovation and construction especially in the kitchen is the room in the house with the most used. If you are either building a house that needs a kitchen design, or you're in the middle of a project of remodeling the kitchen, trying to be environmentally friendly should be part of your plans. Here are some tips for cooking green, you might consider: 

Cork, bamboo flooring or recycled: When it comes to green cooking tips, choosing a kitchen floor green can go a long way to be green. Consider using a cork, bamboo or other natural flooring or recycled. There are a number of options out there, and most are very durable. The coating most readily available is a recycled rubber flooring. They are made of 80 to 100% post-consumer products including tires. Rubber floors are extremely durable and come in a variety of colors and styles. Cork and bamboo, while not recycled, the products offer both rapidly renewable that do not require deforestation of millions of trees to produce these types of floors. Both cork and bamboo are natural products as well. 



Reclaimed wood flooring: If you prefer to look older, more traditional or even old, you might consider reclaimed wood floors that will give you a traditional look in your kitchen eco-friendly. This is exactly what it sounds like; wood used was taken from another house or building, then repackaged and is ready to install in your home. For the rich warmth of old wood, this product can provide the look without destroying more trees. 


Eco-friendly lighting: When it comes to going green in the kitchen, you must choose your lighting carefully. When choosing lighting for your new or remodeled kitchen, you can use products that will keep the green theme. First, look at the types of bulbs you will use. Devices that have CFLs rather than incandescent bulbs use one quarter the power. LEDs can reduce energy consumption by 80-90%. Lamps and lighting fixtures that use LED lamps are generally constructed exclusively for this type of bulb. CFLs can be used in any device that accepts a regular incandescent bulb. In addition to artificial lights, also consider the use of skylights and sufficient quantities of energy-efficient windows in your plan. By readily available natural light in your kitchen, you can greatly reduce the need for artificial light sources, at least during the day. You can also consider options for solar powered lighting. 


Recycled Counters: One of my favorite tips green kitchen is recycled glass countertops are becoming a popular product for use in kitchens. These glass countertops are very durable and have a variety of styles which emulate the look of granite and marble. They are a mixture of recycled glass with a base of concrete or resins that are non-petroleum based which can be used for safe and beautiful green kitchen counter. 


Energy-efficient appliances: One of the most talked about ways to go green in the kitchen is the appliances energy efficient. When you are ready to equip your kitchen with new appliances, be sure to look for devices that are marked with the Energy Saver labeling. All major appliances are now energy rated, so you'll be able to comparison shop for the best on the market.
Solar Power: While many people think that solar energy comes in the form of a whole-house which includes panels that cover the roof of your house, there are other options that can provide the solar energy for applications that are much less effective complicated. Instead of taking on large-scale conversion to solar power all your needs, you might consider a small solar system that makes your water heater to take care of all your hot water needs that can help add to your design green kitchen. These systems are compact and designed to work exclusively on the electrical system of the heater. This type of system costs a fraction of what the entire solar system of internal costs, and can save you hundreds of dollars a year on your electricity bill.
Once you have your new eco-kitchen in place, there are some things you can do every day to be more environmentally friendly and live a greener life in your kitchen: 


Use cloth, not paper whenever possible: This is going shopping and cleaning the kitchen. When you go shopping, use cloth, reusable bags to carry your purchases home. This allows literally tons of plastic and paper from landfills each year. Another canvas to opt for towels is that you use. Choose cloth napkins for your kitchen cleaning instead of paper. Not only will you keep all that paper out of the additional landfill, but you will save a lot of money not spent on a paper towel so it's one of those things cooking green can save you money too! 


Composting: Start composting your kitchen waste. You can create a soil rich in organic matter from the compost you. In other words, composting is a process that allows you to place food, coffee and other food waste created in a pile outside. Materials added through a natural process that eventually rot them in a product that can be added to the soil in your garden to provide nutrients. Composition is relatively easy and another way to keep unnecessary waste in the trash. 


Use environmentally friendly cleaning products: There are cleaning products greener and available to use in your home. These green products are not harsh chemicals to clean. They come from natural materials and safe to do a great job cleaning things without putting something dangerous in the wastewater. You can also come with some of your own green products with things around the house, like vinegar to clean windows or baking soda for stains on dishes. 


Using local and organic products: Going green in the kitchen can be as tasty and delicious way to fit your eco-kitchen is trying to buy as much organic produce and local as possible. Organic products are popular because the process used to grow organic agriculture does not deplete the earth and not to introduce chemicals into the soil or plants. Whether organic or not, using local produce and is a great idea because it supports local business and you know where the product is grown. Best of all, it does not get shipped across the country in a truck, and it is usually picked fresh at the peak of maturity, so it just tastes better. 


Whether your redoing your kitchen or simply try to do things better, you can make many changes that will lead to a greener kitchen in your home. It just takes a little attention to doing the right things, and it will eventually become your lifestyle. 






Get some more green kitchen tips and find other ways of going green at http://greenologyspot.com.