Archive for February, 2009
February 25th, 2009
According to a new study, the Earth doesn’t have to warm up as significantly as previously thought to cause extreme weather events and threaten ecosystems.
The AP reports:
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change estimated that the risk of increased severe weather would rise with a global average temperature increase of between 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit and 3.6 degrees above 1990 levels. The National Climatic Data Center currently reports that global temperatures have risen 0.22 degree since 1990.
Now, researchers report that “increases in drought, heat waves and floods are projected in many regions and would have adverse impacts, including increased water stress, wildfire frequency and flood risks starting at less than (1.8 degrees) of additional warming above 1990 levels.”
Side note: In looking for this story, I found on CNN.com the five places you should travel before “global warming messes them up.”
1. Great Barrier Reef, Australia
2. New Orleans, La.
3. Rocky Mountain National Park, Colo.
4. Alpine Glaciers, Switzerland
5. Amazon rain forest, Brazil
I’ve been to the Rockies, the Alps and the Big Easy. Not sure I’ll make it to the other two, though I’d pick Australia in a heartbeat over South America.
February 24th, 2009
Reminder that the No Idle Zone kickoff is at 7:30 a.m. Thursday at the Rockford Mass Transit facility on Mulberry in downtown Rockford (remember, the State Street bridge is closed!).
The effort in Rockford is a grass-roots, voluntary one. One of its organizers, Monica Krysztopa of Morrissey Family Businesses, pointed out to me that New York City enacted a law against idling in school zones. This could be the toughest such measure in the country, and fines can be steep
A new report by the Environmental Defense Fund estimates that idling cars and trucks produce 130,000 tons of heat-trapping carbon dioxide each year in New York City, contributing to global warming. The group believes the one-minute idling limit next to schools is the toughest such law in the United States.
… In New York City, the child asthma rate is particularly bad. According to the health department, asthma is the most common cause of hospitalization for children 14 years and younger, and is a leading cause of missed school days in the nation’s largest school district of 1.1 million pupils.
February 23rd, 2009
Chicago, in its quest to land the 2016 Summer Games, is promoting itself as the greenest choice over Madrid, Rio and Tokyo (because they, too, have eco-friendly plans).
“We’ve got a real opportunity to take the best aspects of our city, the parks, the lakefront and the environmentalism and bring a real asset to the table,” Chicago 2016 spokesman Patrick Sandusky said. “It’s certainly one of the great strengths of the city of Chicago that we have to offer.”
In Chicago’s official Olympic bid book, released earlier this month, organizers tout a low-carbon “blue-green” event, with most venues along Lake Michigan, which is lined with parks, and a focus on environmentalism.
Organizers say vehicles provided by the games would run on low-carbon fuels or electricity and event sites would be powered by renewable energy. Storm water would be collected for reuse; the venues would use recyclable or reusable products. And sites would adhere to green building standards and coexist with natural habitat.
Expect a decision by the end of the year. Of course, Rockford is hoping to benefit if our big neighbor to the east wins.
February 20th, 2009
We’ve had a wind farm proposal in Boone. Yep. And there’s the most visible one (to me) off I-39 near Paw Paw.
Now there’s a plan to put one in western Winnebago County. Interestingly enough, there’s concern that they could conflict with the migratory pattern of the endangered whoopers. So there are conflicting environmental interests: wildlife vs. cleaner energy. See our photos from each below.
Maybe more later about the pros/cons of wind farms.
February 19th, 2009
An effort that starts small, saves money — and rhymes: Hononegah social studies teacher Pat Enright wants the high school to go “Green by 2015.”
According to our story:
Enright’s proposal is to change the printers the school currently uses to duplex printers, which print on both sides of paper; encourage the school to subscribe to a tighter recycling regime; and eliminate cafeteria trays that require washing, which would save the district 0.116 gallon of water per tray.
“It’s not going to save us a lot of money throughout the years, but it could go from $67,000 to $19,000 in 2015 and the gallons of water could be from 388,000 gallons to a low end of 16,000 gallons of water,” Enright said.
The plan is already in the hands of a student advisory committee and expected to roll out in the fall. This is good news.
Any other efforts out there?
February 17th, 2009
Gadgets are great. How did we live without our digital cameras, iPods, cell phones, DVRs, portable movie players and so on? But we forget sometimes that they either are plugged in constantly or need charging, which takes up energy. Heck, looks like the new Kindle could even take off.
One of the new growing “things to have” is the digital picture frame. I got one more than a year ago, and I keep it off unless I’m sitting at the computer. But some people let theirs run all day and night.
I heard a story last night with tech guy Omar Gallaga that said if each household ran a digital frame, we’d have to build five new power plants.
Here’s a great set of links he offered to help you reduce your energy use. Basically, unplug when you’re not using things and use power strips and smart strips.
February 16th, 2009
Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has kicked off her trip to Asian countries today. On the agenda up there with the economic meltdown and security concerns are climate change and clean energy. See the blog.
February 13th, 2009
Did you know there is a Green Pride Flag featuring six horizontal bars? For 50 bucks?
Per the press release:
“I’m personally working to lessen the negative impact I have on the environment and my businesses are built upon that commitment, as well. I’m proud of that and there are lots of other people and organizations doing the same thing and feeling the same way. I designed the Green Pride flag so that they have a way to show that they’re taking their commitment seriously and are proud of it,” said Mike Aaron, creator of the Green Pride flag.
This comes from the founder of Greensender.com, an eco-friendly gift/products site. Hmmm. Seems like a waste, but to each his own. Note: He has 153 fans on Facebook. Well, this is amusing, ala the Aretha “hat trick.”
February 12th, 2009
I never thought about the energy it took to Google before. Click on that link for the msnbc.com video.
February 11th, 2009
Just passing along from the U of I Extension:From 9 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. Feb. 18, you can learn how to manage soil and water and find out more about carbon trading through a workshop at the Winnebago County Soil and Water Conservation District office at 4833 Owen Center Road, Rockford.
Registration is $45, which includes lunch. Register at www.extension.uiuc.edu/winnebago or 815-986-4357; deadline to register is today.
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