Jul
05
Posted by W2G
Fireworks: Friend or Foe?
By: Jacque
Fireworks are a national past time. Many of us have fond memories of enjoying them with friends and family. But, could these same fireworks be putting our health and environment at risk?
According to AQMD, the particulate levels in the areas around fireworks displays increase by about 100 times and do not return to normal until midday the next day. These particulates can cause a host of physical reactions including, coughing, soar throats, and burning eyes, with increased risks for people with asthma.
In addition, the particulates from fireworks wind up in the environment. The particles settle on the ground and contaminate waterways. A study, done by the Environmental Protection Agency, found that the level of some chemicals increase by 1,000 in an Oklahoma lake, proceeding a fireworks display.
Disney to the rescue! Among others, Disney has been working to develop cleaner fireworks. One option is ditching carbon-based materials for nitrogen atoms. According to scientists, this will introduce far less smoke into the environment. Another option is fireworks that use nitrocellulose. These fireworks emit water, nitrogen, and carbon dioxide instead of smoke.
With environmental concerns driving the undustry, it looks like there may be a bright future for fireworks. All puns intended.
Have a safe and green holiday weekend,
W2G
Original article: Los Angeles Times
Jun
21
Posted by W2G
Resources: Just click to visit their websites.
Ontario Sustanable Energy Association
Windustry
Wind-Works
Jun
21
Posted by W2G
The 19th Annual Energy Fair
“Learn, Connect, Act”
June 20 - 22, 2008 : Custer, Wisconsin
Presented by: Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Learn more…
* This is not an advertisement. This post is for information only. The above image has been borrowed from and is the property of Midwest renewable Energy Association.
Jun
21
Posted by W2G
Here are some companies and their products for your home:
Alpine Energy Group - Fiberglass windows. This company claims that it’s windows provide less wasted energy and lower heating and cooling costs. As well as an insulating value of R-20.
Bosch - Energy efficient dishwashers. According to their advertisments, the 800 series is 148% more energy efficient than the federal standard.
Greenplay - Children’s furniture. Made with environmentally safe materials such as post-consumer recycled plastic. All of the wood used is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council. The best thing about this company is that when your children outgow the funiture they will ytake it back and either recycle it or donate it!
Radiantec - Solar compatible radiant heating systems.
Jun
20
Posted by W2G
According to Laurie David and Cambria Gordon, co-authors of The Down-to-Earth Guide to Global Warming, the United States produces “25 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide, making us the biggest polluter on the planet.” This can be an intimidating fact. How can the average American family have a positive impact on such a global problem?
Here are five easy things your family can do:
1. Green Lights: You can help save 500 pounds of CO2 in one year. That is the same as taking 4.7 million vehicles off the road for a year! How? Replace your regular light bulbs with fluorescent bulbs. Generally, these compact bulbs use one-third of the energy of an incandescent bulb. Green lighting, along with turning off lights when not in use, can save your family money in energy costs. Saving the planet = saving money …… welcome2green!
2. Paper or Plastic? Neither! To make a dozen plastic grocery bags, requires roughly the same amount of petroleum needed to drive a car one mile. Paper bags require the cutting and processing of trees that will take decades to re-grow. Also, consider the amount of energy used to cut down, transport, and mill trees for those paper bags. The solution - switch to reusable canvas bags. Consider how many bags you brought home from the grocery store on your last visit. Now think of all the bags you would save by reusing canvas bags!
3. Say Bye-Bye to Bottled. Water that is. Approximately 2,500,000 plastic water bottles get thrown away and make there way to landfills every day. It takes these bottles an average of 1,000 years to break down. In addition, most of the caps on these bottles are not recyclable. So, even if you are doing your best to recycle your plastic water bottles, you may still be creating unnecessary waste.
4. Recycle!!! I know this is not the first time that you have heard this, but it is one of the easiest and most effective ways to help. Recycling alone can reduce your families pollution by up to 95%. Imagine that! This is not limited to, recycling plastic, glass and paper. It can include such practices as donating unwanted items for others to use. Buy used items yourself, my wife enjoys shopping for antiques.
5. Welcome Others 2 Green. The world does not need to be filled with eco-experts for us to enjoy success. Talk to your community, friends, and family about all things green. Write a comment on this site. Share your knowledge, experiences, successes, failures, and resources with others. Continue to explore websites like welcome2green.com. Together, we CAN make a better future for Mother Earth.
Welcome2Green! It is not as hard as you thought.
Jun
13
Posted by W2G
Coming Soon!!
