As many of you already know, the amount of consumer electronics being purchased is growing astronomically these days, and one writer has written a blog about a few “tech habits” that get him riled up — and we love it!
From Good Clean Tech, Erik Rhey made a list of several things people do that annoy him, and it’s titled “Everyday Ecotech: Wasteful Tech Habits that Chap My Hide”.
He seems to mean business, too:
My goal here is not just to wax cantankerous, but to tell you straight out: Don’t do any of these things.
What makes his list of annoying habits? Printing everything, throwing out iPods and cell phones as soon as the new generations hit the market, leaving the computer on 24/7, tossing out perfectly usable things instead of donating them and buying your kids “cheap electronic crap.”
He’s got a point, and hey, sometimes you have to get fired up about things like this! And don’t worry, Erik, it’s doubtful your eyebrows could ever get as bushy as Andy Rooney’s. (I mean really, that just doesn’t seem physically possible!)
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Photo courtesy of floridapfe at Flickr.com.
An increasing number of scientists and activists are raising concerns about the impact of biofuel production. The ethanol boom has its roots in a corn surplus that depressed prices - now, shortages of corn are causing food prices to skyrocket and there’s a fear that high commodity prices are pushing farmers to expand cropland. The resulting deforestation is releasing more carbon than the biofuels are saving:
There was just one flaw in the calculation: the studies all credited fuel crops for sequestering carbon, but no one checked whether the crops would ultimately replace vegetation and soils that sucked up even more carbon. It was as if the science world assumed biofuels would be grown in parking lots. The deforestation of Indonesia has shown that’s not the case. It turns out that the carbon lost when wilderness is razed overwhelms the gains from cleaner-burning fuels.
This situation illustrates the Law of Unintended Consequences. This law, which is more like Murphy’s Law than a scientific maxim, states that “for any action one can conceive, there will always be results that were not predicted.” For example, when city planners first came up with suburbs, they expected these housing developments would reduce traffic and overcrowding in downtown areas. Instead, many of these suburbs made traffic worse because they increased the size of the workforce commuting into downtown.
As with anything ethanol related, there’s some controversy about whether ethanol use is what’s driving up the price of corn, or whether the cost rise is driven by population growth and global wealth. As consumers in Asia and India develop disposable income, we’re seeing a sharp rise in the consumption of animal protein. The residents of third-world countries are developing an appetite for more meat, which means that the cost of grains will continue to rise (because raising chickens, pigs, cows, and other farm animals consumes a lot of feed).
There’s some symmetry to the Law of Unintended Consequences - the ethanol boom itself may have been created by accident. According to FoodAndWaterWatch.org, corn prices were historically about $2.50 a bushel after adjusting for inflation. It was only after changes in US law drove down the price of corn that it became an affordable feedstock for ethanol plants:
Nominal corn prices have been low and declining since the 1996 Farm Bill shifted U.S. commodity policy to promoting over-production.
The oversupply of corn created a decline in value, which, in turn, led farmers to seek new markets (such as ethanol) and pressure their representatives in Congress to subsidize these markets. So, by this line of reasoning, the 1996 Farm Bill led to a sharp increase in the price of per bushel. There’s some tasty irony for you.
Photo courtesy of sasakei at Flickr.com.
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Here’s a tip I got about some of the Valentine’s Day related posts on the Yahoo! Green blog.
It looked like the perfect opportunity to be incredibly lazy and create a Valentine’s Day post without actually having to do anything. Here it is:
Yahoo! Green has a big collection of advice on how to make this special day with your sweetie an eco-friendly one.
Check out http://www.green.yahoo.com for tips on last minute Green Valentine’s ideas, earth-friendly chocolates and sweets, and the environmental impact of traditional gifts like roses and diamonds.
Chocolate is rumored to be an aphrodisiac. Of course it tastes good too. But behind the dark, delicious morsels lay some unfortunate environmental truths.
Unfortunately, the modern symbol of love is also a token of terrible tragedies. If you’re looking to buy with a clear conscience, you’ll want to do a little research before you’re beguiled by the brilliance.
Nothing says love like a long-stemmed red rose… but at what cost to the environment? How are those flowers grown? Where do they come from?
“Be mine.” “Hot stuff.” “Kiss me.” Cute messages of love on a classic Valentine’s Day candy — the biggest selling sweet other than chocolate for February 14th. But not the sweetest message you could give to the planet. Here are the top three reasons why Valentine’s conversation hearts are not eco-friendly.
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7 Feb 08 |
Photo courtesy of bsidez at Flickr.com.
Sometimes it’s hard to tell the people who are ultra-dedicated to a cause apart from people who are a little bit insane. Chuck Thomas is one of those people who blurs the line.
Every day, he commutes 14 miles to work on his bicycle. That’s pretty impressive in itself, since a 14 mile bike ride burns around 1,000 calories and saves around half a gallon of gas each way. But the really amazing thing about Mr. Thomas’ commute is that he bikes to work on a Tollway. That reminds me of a certain arcade game…
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Photo courtesy of Groovie Goolie at Flickr.com.
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Photo courtesy of Robot Johnny at Flickr.com.
Well, the prediction is in, and Punxsutawney Phil says we can expect 6 more weeks of winter:
After casting a weather eye toward thousands of his faithful followers,
Phil consulted with President Cooper and directed him to the appropriate scroll, which proclaimed:“As I look around me, a bright sky I see, and a shadow beside me.
Six more weeks of winter it will be!”
It turns out that our favorite groundhog has been predicting increasingly warmer weather in the last couple years.
Wildlife are often the first to feel the effects of climatic changes. Phil would probably be the first to agree that our country needs to develop solutions to global warming fast.
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Photo courtesy of Hartaarn at Flickr.com.
One day, all of us are going to go to join the big compost pile. It’s generally not something we think about, but we’re all part of the circle of life.
So, how green is the funeral industry? With embalming, cement vaults, metal caskets, and marble headstones, death can leave a pretty big blemish on the environment. Luckily, that’s changing as funeral directors recognize the demand for green alternatives.
Many funeral homes now offer bio-degradable caskets, embalming free preparations, and even tree care services (to mark the burial site instead of a headstone). Since green burials use far fewer resources, these environmentally friendly alternatives cost far less than traditional funerals.
The $20 billion-a-year mortuary industry offers a service that remains the [average person's] third-largest personal expense, after a house and car.
Going green means leaving a healthier planet and a bigger inheritance for your loved ones too!
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9 Jan 08 |
Photo courtesy of Faelyn at Flickr.com.
Have you ever been in a confined space with a lot of other people and felt the temperature rising? Rather than give into claustrophobia, a Swedish company is going to convert body heat into energy. The heat will be used to reduce energy costs at a building near Stockholm’s Central Station. There’s no word on whether the Swedish Bikini Team will have an office yet, but imagine the electricity they could save!
Photo courtesy of Blackpepper eye at Flickr.com.
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The Onion has a few tips for this year’s gardening season. Here’s one to give you an idea what you’re in for:
Gardening experts agree that talking to your plants is a great way to exhale carbon dioxide onto them.
They also have some tips for making fool-proof Faustian pacts with your garden gnomes to ensure that your gardenias will be the best in your neighborhood.
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14 Feb 07 |
Hmm…a “green valentine.” Is that a valentine with food poisoning? Or a friend who’s green with envy over your hot date tonight? No, no dear readers, we’re talking about green as in environmentally friendly! That’s right, we’re here to tell you that today, you, yes you! (put down that fist full of Snicker’s bars and listen, for the love of God!) can celebrate an eco-friendly Valentine’s Day.
How? By following our handy tips!
First off, check out Lighter Footstep’s Guide to a Green Valentine’s Day. There are five great tips here on alternatives to buying blood diamonds and slave labor chocolates. What else? Organic wine, organic flowers and hand-made recycled Valentine’s Day cards are also in there.
Next, check out these reviews of Organic and Fair Trade Chocolates. This will help you pick the tastiness guilt free chocolate on the market.
And finally, pick up the telephone and call around to restaurants that offer organic and locally purchased veggies, grains, meats, etc. While this may be hard in the dead of winter, you can still avoid those nasty chain places. Don’t even think about fast food you fool! You can also get off your fat bum and cook up some healthy local organic veggies! And go for a hike, walk, or bike ride afterwards!
Have a happy day! Besos y Abrazos para todos!
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