Arctic Ice Melt

by Alison Tsai

The rate at which the ice in the Arctic is melting has reached record levels this year, setting off numerous predictions, warnings and questions about the future. The ice that melted had an area the size of Canada and Alaska combined, causing the total Arctic ice expanse to dip below 1.4 million square miles, a drastic change from the 2.7 million square miles in 1972. This massive discrepancy is largely due to human activity and the burning of fossil fuels.

The shrinking ice mass has had several notable effects, including the reopening of the Northwest Passage. The use of this passage would be beneficiary to large companies, who would glean bigger savings from a shorter shipping route through the Arctic.

But without as much white ice reflecting the sun’s heat, temperatures will rise, causing an amount of global warming equivalent to twenty years of carbon dioxide emissions. The warming is also affecting the jet stream, in which greater fluctuations may cause more extreme climate conditions. Animals indigenous to the area, as well as native communities, are already being forced to adapt.

The retreating ice has also allowed more accessibility to the fossil fuel supply the Arctic holds. This opens the area up to major ecological damage in the case of leaks or explosions. Shell has already been granted permission to drill for oil in the Chukchi and Beaufort seas and is expected have a $10 billion profit. Shell has already experienced problems with its spill containment dome though, raising concerns that the risks outweigh the profits.

Coastal cities are at risk as well, as rising sea levels threaten to encroach on the land. Island nations such as Tuvalu are already considering evacuation plans.

Some have predicted the ice will have almost completely melted as soon as 2020. One report predicts that if the earth does not adjust to climate change, over one hundred million lives will be lost by 2030.

These dire forecasts have environmentalists and other experts in the field clamoring for reform and change in human behavior before it is too late. Any difference you can incorporate into your daily living to reduce your CO2 emission footprint will help, whether it is by consuming less red meat, opting for public transport, walking or biking, purchasing local produce, using alternative energy sources, or choosing any of the countless other options.

What changes will you make?

2012 DFW Solar Home Tour

by The Sustainability Steward

On Saturday, October 6, I toured some of the homes here in Plano on the annual DFW Solar Home Tour, sponsored by the American Solar Energy Society (ASES).  This is the 17^th year that ASES held a national solar tour, with 14 homes in the Metroplex listed on the self-guided tour.  The City of Plano demonstrated its leadership in sustainability with four homes on the tour, the most of any one city the area. 

The homes on the tour were the Caldwell home at 3700 Hearst Castle, the Elliot residence at 2401 Trellis Lane, the Neukranz house at 3309 Rampart in east Plano, and the home at 3325 Canoncita occupied by Bill and Libby Perry.  Although it was an overcast day, it was a perfect way to visit with the homeowners and get their perspective of having solar panels installed on their roofs and the electricity savings that they are now seeing.

The first home I visited was the residence of John Caldwell on Hearst Castle drive. John is a fascinating individual, and not only discussed his solar energy system with me, but shared his organic garden and his patented invention, the bicep bike.  He teaches a gardening class through the Plano Parks and Recreation, while his bicep bike was recently highlighted on Gear TV (as also shown on Youtube): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iAYvXPYrec

His solar array gives him approximately 25% of his electricity needs, and on days that he is actually producing more than consuming electricity, TXU credits him at $.13 kWh for the energy he is producing for the power grid.

The next stop on the tour was the Perry home on Canoncita. Not only do they have panels on the south facing side of their home, but on the west side as well, and as a result, are averaging about 50% of their annual electricity consumption with the solar cells installed on their roof. 

Their system has been installed for a year, is able to be monitored online in real time. The Perry family was very open about the techniques they have adopted in water conservation as well, and have one of the most environmentally friendly homes I’ve encountered in our community.

The last home visited was the Elliot home on Trellis drive. This, too, has optimized its ability to collect energy from the sun with a nice array of south facing panels.  Panels are best positioned at a 33 degree angle facing the south, and a solar system of 4 kWh will typically generate over 5,000 kWh of electricity a year in our area. 

If you are interested in learning more about solar energy in our community, please consider joining the Plano Solar Advocates.  The Advocates have a goal to increase the installed base in the city of Plano to 5MWp of solar capacity by 2015, or, approximately 1000 homes or business sites with installed solar panels.  More information on the advocacy program and promoting Plano to become a leader in solar energy capacity in Texas can be found at: http://planosolar.blogspot.com/.

 

Recycling for the Future of Plano

by Kris

For those of us lucky enough to call Plano home, we want to make sure it will remain a place we are proud to call home. We can start by taking advantage of those curbside recycle bins that have been at the end of our driveways for over a decade. Go Plano!

The curbside program collects the following recyclable materials to be processed for shipment to recycling markets:

• Newspapers, magazines, & catalogs
• Phone books
• Glass jars, containers, dishes, drink ware, & vases
• Paper bags
• Aerosol cans
• Aluminum cans
• Junk mail
• cardboard
• Plastic bottles and containers
• Shredded paper
• Chipboards/boxboards

 So we have the bins and we know what to put in them, but WHY RECYCLE? Recycling:

• Helps to sustain our environment for future generations
• Conserves our natural resources and protects wildlife habitat and biodiversity
• Decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change
• Reduces toxic chemicals and toxic waste
• Saves energy
• Prevents water pollution
• Reduces the need for landfills and incineration
• Increases manufacturing jobs

Those are only 8 of many more reasons why we should recycle, but they’re some great reasons aren’t they? Other ways to promote recycling, other than collecting and processing, is to purchase items we know that can be recycled. It’s a continuous loop that reduces room for additional waste. Once you get the hang of it, it will become a habit and you will know that you’re doing everything you can to make Plano (and our earth!) a better place for future generations to come.

I like to set out a paper bag near the garage where I put all my recyclable items throughout the week. Than the day before trash days, I’ll bring it all out and place it in the recycle bin. It’s that easy! It barely requires any effort, but we’re making this city better. Lastly, don’t forget - your habits often reflect on family and friends, so be a leader and start setting these green examples today!

Keep living green,

Kris

Puff..Puff...Breathe!

by EcoDad

Chances are that someone in your life is affected by asthma.  Asthma hits over 25 million people, so it is likely a friend, relative, or coworker, has been struggling to breathe in recent weeks.  You probably have seen them using their steroidal inhalers more often while others, like my wife, were forced to start taking prescription drugs such as singulair or prednisone to help open their airways.  

The reason for this is an increase in ozone air pollution.  You’ve seen the local weatherman on the news briefly mention today’s air pollution watch, or driven passed the signs on the highway that read, “orange air quality day, please carpool”. This is due to high levels of ground level ozone.  So, what is ground level ozone?  It is a gas consisting of 3 atoms of oxygen instead of the normal 2.  Ozone is not emitted directly into the atmosphere. Instead, it is formed when volatile organic compounds and nitric oxides react in direct sunlight.  Emissions from power plants, industrial facilities, and gasoline vapors contribute to the formation of ground level ozone. However, the main source is from motor vehicle emissions. 

Ozone pollution is a greater concern in the summer months due to the strong sunlight and high temperature, which are the ideal conditions for the chemical reactions that form ozone.  Ozone is a regulated pollutant under the Clean Air Act. Unfortunately, most of North Texas is classified as a nonattainment area. This means that our area fails to meet EPA standards for ozone concentrations, so we already have a problem with this pollutant that is amplified during the hotter months.  Healthy people can also be affected. If you spend a lot of times outdoors during bad air quality days, you may find yourself out of breath easier or getting tired quicker. Coughing, sore throat, and chest pains, are some of the acute health problems caused by breathing in ozone. Repeated exposure can even cause permanent scarring of lung tissue.

You may be thinking, “but I thought ozone was good”. You are correct.  The EPA has a saying about ozone.  Good up high. Bad nearby.  Ozone in the stratosphere shields us from much of the sun’s harmful rays. However, in the troposphere, or ground level, it is a pollutant that has harmful effects on people and will even damage the trees, crops, and other foliage. There are many things that you can do to help your friends and family breathe easier.  Keep abreast of the day’s air quality index. You can download the Air Now apps for your smart phone, or sign up for email alerts at: http://www.enviroflash.info/signup.cfm.  Whenever you see a bad air quality alert, be cognizant of the choices you will make, so that everyone in North Texas can breathe easier.

8 Things Anyone Can Do to Reduce Ozone

1. Don’t sit in your car with the engine running. Avoid idling time in you vehicle whenever possible.
2. Do not refuel your vehicle or lawn mower during bad ozone days. If you must, do so at night or early in the morning.
3. Do not use outdoor gas equipment such as lawn mowers or leaf blowers.  You can drive to from Plano to Lake Texoma and back home and still produce less pollution than one hour of emissions from your gas mower.
4. Consider electronic mowers.  Most residents of Collin County can receive a rebate for replacing their current gas mower with an electric....up to $150!!!
5. Keep your vehicle well tuned.
6. Carpool or use public transit.
7. Use a propane grill instead of charcoal.
8. Pray for rain.

-EcoDad-



Eco-Friendly Pesticides

Two weeks ago the City of Dallas issued a state of emergency and began aerial spraying to combat the West Nile Virus.  This decision landed Dallas on a good number of headlines across the US and also raised debate amongst many concerned citizens and green activists.  It was a tough decision for Dallas to make because aerial spraying for mosquitoes has the possibility of saving lives by controlling the spread of the virus, but at the same time is harmful to humans and our environment.

This brings us to the topic of pesticides.  There are benefits to using pesticides, mainly minimizing the number of insects and their effects; however, pesticides are hazardous to our health and the health of our environment.

Pesticides affect our environment and us by contaminating our air, water, soil and plants, and wildlife.  Pesticide suspended in the air will drift with the wind and can easily contaminate other areas and increase tropospheric ozone levels.  These increased ozone levels can often be seen by the human eye as smog and affects our lungs and respiratory system.  In addition, biodiversity in the soil is affected by pesticide contamination and decreases the yield of crops and water retention.  Plants that grown in contaminated soil will retain the chemicals which can kill honey bees who act as pollinators.  It all becomes a vicious cycle within our ecosystem.

This does not mean we cannot use pesticides.  It just means we need to be more aware of the way we use pesticides and where it could end up.  There are also some non-toxic ways for us to control pests that are also better for our environment and our health.

Food-grade Diatomaceous Earth (Insect Dust): This chalky powder is a registered insecticide that can be used inside or outside the house to reduce and kill small insects.  It’s a safe product that can be sprinkled anywhere from your vegetable patch to your pets fur. 

Cucumber & Mint Leaves: cucumber peels or mint leaves can be placed at insect entry points to deter or repel bugs.  It will not kill them though.

Water + Soap Flakes: The combination of soap flakes (can be from a bar of ivory soap) and water will kill a bug on impact.  Soap breaks down the waxy exoskeleton of insects, which will cause them to drown.

Sand Barriers and Nematodes:  An effective way to prevent termite invasions.  Sand barriers prevent termites from entering and nematodes are microscopic worms that can be pumped into infested areas to kill termites with no affect on our environment.
 
EcoSMART: Organic Pesticide that is composed of organic plant oils and suitable for indoor or outdoor use.
 
BEER:  placing beer in a shallow plate will attract slugs and drown them.

For more information on the effects of pesticides, eco friendly pesticides, and how to make your own eco-friendly pesticides please visit:

-         http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_of_pesticides

-         http://greenlivingideas.com/2012/08/13/non-toxic-pest-control-for-the-eco-home/

-         http://www.ecosmart.com/products/

-         http://www.ehow.com/how_2199808_own-ecofriendly-pesticides.html

 

Changing the pesticides you use may seem like something small and insignificant, but keep in mind that it’ll have a positive effect in the long run.  So spread the word and keep thinking green!

KrisC

Green Olympics

Greetings, Fellow EcoNinjas!

Yesterday marked the closing ceremony of the 2012 Olympic Games in London.  And while NBC sure did keep us all up to date with the latest in medal winners and statistical data, I found some facts that are sure to satisfy our environmentally friendly minds.

1: The Velodrome – This impressive structure houses the fastest cycling structure in the world. With its ‘Pringles’ chip appearance, and cedar wood walls, the Velodrome is the most eco-friendly building in Olympic park.

 

2: ArcelorMittal Orbit – Dubbed the ‘Eyeful Tower’ by English tabloids, the ArcelorMittal Orbit was designed to give game-goers a panoramic view of the city of London. 63% of the tower was constructed from recycled steel.

3: The Olympic Torch – Crafted form aerospace-grade aluminum, the Olympic torch weighs only 800 grams – the lightest torch in Olympic history.

 

 

4: Energy Center – The Olympic Park Energy Center is unique in that ground-level windows allow tourists to see inside the power plant. The Energy Center uses combined cooling, heat, and power to reduce carbon emissions. The Center uses any excess heat to power the air conditioning systems.

 

5: The Olympic Stadium – Constructed from lightweight steel and PVC pipes, the Olympic stadium has a rainwater collection system that provides water for flushing toilets and irrigation.

                                                                                                                                  

Be Green by Eating Green

Have you ever thought about being green by eating green?  You can easily do so by joining a Community Supported Agriculture Program (CSA)! 
So what exactly is a community supported agriculture program (CSA), you ask?

A CSA is an alternative, locally based socio-economic model of agriculture and food distribution that brings together local farmers and consumers.  Basically, a nearby farm offers their harvest to local consumers through a subscription that varies according to the duration and quantity wanted.  Once you are subscribed, you will be getting boxes of the freshest seasonal produce available!

 
CSA programs benefit our environment in so many ways from reduction in environmental waste to promoting healthier soil and land.  CSA farmers participate in eco-friendly farming by cutting out any use of pesticides on their crops, which helps to limit pollution throughout our environment.  In addition, carbon dioxide emissions are reduced by the minimal transportation needed by these farmers to get their produce from their farms to local consumers.  Their sustainable practices enhance the overall quality of our environment while also reducing their carbon footprint.

Healthy soil means a healthier you.  CSA programs benefit you because these farmers are pesticide, artificial fertilizers, and toxin free.  You have the opportunity to consume some of the freshest produce available and for a reasonable price.  Most of the time you’ll realize that you get higher quality and more produce for your money from these CSA bins than when would had you purchased your produce from a grocery store.  CSA programs also give you the freedom of choice.  You get to choose which farm you prefer to receive your produce from, which farmer you believe promotes the best sustainability methods, and whether or not the program aligns with your budget.  Depending on the farm, you’ll receive an array of produce and have the opportunity to experience fruits and vegetables according to seasons.  Sometimes you may see produce you’ve never seen or heard of, but it allows you and your family to experience something new.  And who knows, it could turn out to be your new favorite fruit or vegetable!

A farmer benefits from a CSA program as this gives him or her a secure income year round, allowing them to continually improve their farming methods and environmental practices.  They have a fair means of product sales as they sell their produce straight to consumers with no middleman required.  This also gives them the chance to be more involved in the community, meeting new people, consumers, and other farmers.

If you’re interested in participating in a CSA, these are some great places to start:

-          http://www.ecovian.com/s?perpage=10&distance=60&searchwithin=40&searchtext=&spatial=Plano%2C+TX

-          http://www.localharvest.org/search.jsp?map=1&lat=33.05765&lon=-96.73746&scale=8&ty=6&nm=&zip=75023

These sites allow you to search for CSA programs near you as well as what their practices may be.  They each have their individual websites where you can learn more about them and email/call them for more information about their programs and prices.  Each farm has their own growing seasons, pick up/drop off schedules, and agriculture practices. 

Don’t forget that you have the ability to visit these farms to see where it all begins and how it gets from farm to table.  It’s a wonderful experience for families to share with their children and a great way to get out of the house during these long summer days.

So by joining a CSA, not only are you going green and helping to make Plano greener, but you’re also saving money, improving your health and wellness, and most importantly, improving your quality of life and those around you.

Keep thinking green,

KrisC