http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8545/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=uNyoGq10
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Methane Gas is the Most Serious Threat to Our Environment
From EarthSave.org
By far the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas is methane, and the number one source of methane worldwide is animal agriculture.
Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together. Methane is 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. While atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have risen by about 31% since pre-industrial times, methane concentrations have more than doubled. Whereas human sources of CO2 amount to just 3% of natural emissions, human sources produce one and a half times as much methane as all natural sources. In fact, the effect of our methane emissions may be compounded as methane-induced warming in turn stimulates microbial decay of organic matter in wetlands—the primary natural source of methane.
Click Here to read the full report.
By far the most important non-CO2 greenhouse gas is methane, and the number one source of methane worldwide is animal agriculture.
Methane is responsible for nearly as much global warming as all other non-CO2 greenhouse gases put together. Methane is 21 times more powerful a greenhouse gas than CO2. While atmospheric concentrations of CO2 have risen by about 31% since pre-industrial times, methane concentrations have more than doubled. Whereas human sources of CO2 amount to just 3% of natural emissions, human sources produce one and a half times as much methane as all natural sources. In fact, the effect of our methane emissions may be compounded as methane-induced warming in turn stimulates microbial decay of organic matter in wetlands—the primary natural source of methane.
Click Here to read the full report.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
256 Pounds of Blastic Bags
On move-in day UNC Chapel Hill collected 256 pounds of plastic bags. That is a lot of bags! Saving almost 10 cubic yards of landfill space. Click the link below to learn more. This had to be a tremendous learning experience for everyone and will give many the encouragement to do more in years to come.
Take a look at the UNC Sustainability blog to learn more.
Take a look at the UNC Sustainability blog to learn more.
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
Thomson Reuters News Pro story - People won't change lifestyle for planet: straw poll
Thomson Reuters News Pro user randybass@vzw.blackberry.net wanted you to see this:
"People won't change lifestyle for planet: straw poll"
LONDON (Reuters) - People want to save the planet but are unwilling to make radical lifestyle changes like giving up air travel or red meat to reduce the effects of climate change, a straw poll by Reuters showed.
The Business of Green
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Tuesday, September 1, 2009
AP Mobile News story - Plastic bag ban tested on NC Outer Banks
This is good news! What would it take to expand this to other NC Counties?
27587:
http://m.apnews.com/ap/db_8545/contentdetail.htm?contentguid=MNVA0bnm
Get news on the go with the Mobile News Network. Visit http://www.apnews.com to learn how to get it for your phone.
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Monday, August 31, 2009
Lessons Learned From a Food Waste Audit
Mary Grace Miller, Anthony Williams and I along with Aramark and several students volunteered last week to audit the food waste produced by the campus community. Food waste is the 3rd largest item, behind paper and yard trimmings that is put in our waste stream each day (source: epa.gov). The goals of the weeklong event were:
- Gain firsthand knowledge on exactly what we throw away
- Estimate the average weight of the food thrown away each day per visitor to the dining room.
- Educate the campus community on what happens to food waste, how much we throw away and to promote community involvement.
The process was simple. As plates were returned volunteers scraped remaining food from each plate into a container. When the container was full we weighed the waste. Generally each container held 12 pounds of food. We also took note as to what items were not eaten. As an example on Thursday at lunch Anthony and I noted that large portions of the Thai Pasta and sub sandwiches that were being discarded. Most of the comments in reference to the pasta were that it “tasted awful.” I tasted the Thai Pasta it was delicious! Most did not realize it was Thai. They had expected a buttery flavor. Comments in reference to the sub were that “It was too big.” They could not eat the whole sub. Lesson learned for Aramark was more signage describing cooked dishes and smaller size subs. Everyone can always go back for more. Individual lesson is that we should take smaller portions and return for more.
The amount of food waste the campus community creates if extrapolated out seems to be a little higher than the national average of .57 pounds per individual per day. Our study was not based on exact science. We did make some assumptions. As an example we assumed the same amount of waste produced for one meal was repeated for two other meals each day per individual. Assuming 3 squares a day. Either way you add it up, it is a little unnerving to empty 12 pound pales of processed food into the trash can. Food waste goes from your plate to the trash can to the dumpster to the landfill.
Consider These Facts When Preparing Food and Preparing Your Plate
- Americans throw away more than 25 percent of the food we prepare, about 96 billion pounds of food waste each year.3
- The nation spends about 1 billion dollars a year to dispose of food waste.3
- In 2007, almost 12.5 percent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in American households was food scraps.3
- The decomposition of food and other waste under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.3
- One ton of methane has the global warming potential of 23 tons of carbon dioxide. A single dairy cow produces the equivalent to over 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide.1
- Through the process of digestion, livestock emit 16% of the world's annual production of methane gas. 1
- Raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. 2
- The livestock industry alone is responsible for 37 percent of human-induced methane emissions. Methane has 21 times the global warming potential of CO2. 2
1. World Watch Institute. (2004, July/August). Meat: Now It's Not Personal. World Watch.
2."Rearing Cattle Produces More Greenhouse Gases Than Driving Cars, UN Report Warns," UN News Centre, 29 Nov. 2006.
3. Epa.gov
- Gain firsthand knowledge on exactly what we throw away
- Estimate the average weight of the food thrown away each day per visitor to the dining room.
- Educate the campus community on what happens to food waste, how much we throw away and to promote community involvement.
The process was simple. As plates were returned volunteers scraped remaining food from each plate into a container. When the container was full we weighed the waste. Generally each container held 12 pounds of food. We also took note as to what items were not eaten. As an example on Thursday at lunch Anthony and I noted that large portions of the Thai Pasta and sub sandwiches that were being discarded. Most of the comments in reference to the pasta were that it “tasted awful.” I tasted the Thai Pasta it was delicious! Most did not realize it was Thai. They had expected a buttery flavor. Comments in reference to the sub were that “It was too big.” They could not eat the whole sub. Lesson learned for Aramark was more signage describing cooked dishes and smaller size subs. Everyone can always go back for more. Individual lesson is that we should take smaller portions and return for more.
The amount of food waste the campus community creates if extrapolated out seems to be a little higher than the national average of .57 pounds per individual per day. Our study was not based on exact science. We did make some assumptions. As an example we assumed the same amount of waste produced for one meal was repeated for two other meals each day per individual. Assuming 3 squares a day. Either way you add it up, it is a little unnerving to empty 12 pound pales of processed food into the trash can. Food waste goes from your plate to the trash can to the dumpster to the landfill.
Consider These Facts When Preparing Food and Preparing Your Plate
- Americans throw away more than 25 percent of the food we prepare, about 96 billion pounds of food waste each year.3
- The nation spends about 1 billion dollars a year to dispose of food waste.3
- In 2007, almost 12.5 percent of the total municipal solid waste (MSW) generated in American households was food scraps.3
- The decomposition of food and other waste under anaerobic (without oxygen) conditions in landfills produces methane, a greenhouse gas (GHG) 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide.3
- One ton of methane has the global warming potential of 23 tons of carbon dioxide. A single dairy cow produces the equivalent to over 1.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide.1
- Through the process of digestion, livestock emit 16% of the world's annual production of methane gas. 1
- Raising animals for food generates more greenhouse gases than all the cars and trucks in the world combined. 2
- The livestock industry alone is responsible for 37 percent of human-induced methane emissions. Methane has 21 times the global warming potential of CO2. 2
1. World Watch Institute. (2004, July/August). Meat: Now It's Not Personal. World Watch.
2."Rearing Cattle Produces More Greenhouse Gases Than Driving Cars, UN Report Warns," UN News Centre, 29 Nov. 2006.
3. Epa.gov
Friday, August 28, 2009
Thomson Reuters News Pro story - Study says shines light on sun spot-climate link
Thomson Reuters News Pro user randybass@vzw.blackberry.net wanted you to see this:
"Study says shines light on sun spot-climate link"
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Small changes in the energy output of the sun can have a major impact on global weather patterns, such as the intensity of the Indian monsoon, that could be predicted years in advance, a team of scientists said.
Environment
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Thomson Reuters News Pro story - Plastics patch found across 1,700 miles of Pacific
more evidence of pure waste!
Thomson Reuters News Pro user randybass@vzw.blackberry.net wanted you to see this:
"Plastics patch found across 1,700 miles of Pacific"
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - Ocean scientists recently back from a voyage to the "Great Pacific Garbage Patch" said on Thursday they had found plastic debris strewn across a 1,700-mile (2,700-km) long stretch of open sea.
Environment
Reading this on your BlackBerry? Try the Thomson Reuters News Pro now by clicking http://Reuters.com/bb.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
IMG00125-20090826-1243.jpg
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