EPA: Don’t flush old meds
by Bob Huffman
April 16th, 2008 in Conservation, Environment, Pharmaceuticals, Water
With trace amounts of pharmaceuticals showing up in the drinking water of major cities, authorities are encouraging consumers around the Great Lakes to drop off leftover and expired medicine at collection centers.
The Environmental Protection Agency has set a goal of collecting 1 million pills and 1 million pounds of electronics during an Earth Day initiative aimed at the more than 30 million people who live around the Great Lakes, which are by far the largest source of fresh drinking water on the planet.
Bees dying off in record numbers
by Rod Weston
March 27th, 2008 in Bees, Environment, Legislation, Natural Resources
You know what scares me environmentally? No, it is not global warming. It’s not pollution and it is not desertrification. What scares me is bees. You’ve probably read a few things about bees dying off in record numbers. There’s more detailed reading on this subject here.
The state of California is about to set aside $20 million dollars to look further into what is happening with the bees. Where is our federal government with this? If any of you are thinking “oh, this will blow over and the bees will come back,” think again. This is an unprecedented die-off that beekeepers have never seen before. Bees pollinate most of our food. Some things wouldn’t be able to be grown without them. If the bees die, we starve. It is that simple. As much as all the other environmental problems scare me, nothing has me this worried.
Take a minute to find your US rep and send them a quick email that you are concerned about this and you feel your tax dollars should be put into this. This is how change happens—when our reps are informed of the needs and desires of their constituents. We need to figure this out and figure it out fast.
Use compact fluorescent bulbs (with care)
by Bob Huffman
March 20th, 2008 in CFL, Energy, Environment
Compact fluorescent light bulbs are a more efficient and longer-lasting alternative to the incandescent bulbs and many of us have switched to these carbon-friendly alternatives. But did you know that each bulb contains a trace amount of a neurotoxin that can cause kidney and brain damage?
The amount of mercury is tiny — about 5 milligrams, or barely enough to cover the tip of a pen — but that is enough to contaminate 6,000 gallons of water beyond safe drinking levels. Many governments and individuals have decided that the risk tradeoff of adopting compacts is worthwhile, but one thing that is rarely discussed is what you should do if one of these bulbs breaks in your home.
Nissan goes green with more than its cars
by C. Commisso
March 18th, 2008 in Automotive, Business, Environment
The Japanese automaker is showcasing its environmental commitment with a new $100 million Headquarters in Franklin, Tennessee.
The 10-story building will eventually be home to about 1,500 employees. According to this article in the Los Angeles Times, Nissan’s green engineering includes a sci-fi sounding “light harvesting system,” air conditioning and heat that are controlled at each individual workstation, restoration of a nearby wetland, and expansion of green space by constructing a parking garage instead of paving a vast parking lot.
Is Nissan going for the seal of approval from the U.S. Green Building Council? No, says Rob Traynham, director of corporate services. He says the company would rather spend the money to restore the wetland than to “have a plaque on the wall.”
Kudos to Nissan for putting their money where their mouth is.
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