Category: Conservation (Page 4 of 9)

      Fish Endanger Great Lakes

      December 23, 2012 /

      Image Courtesy of FreeDigitalPhotos.net

      To those unfamiliar with lake ecology, a fish does not seem like the kind of thing that could endanger the Great Lakes; however, Asian Carp are doing just that. The set of species known collectively as Asian Carp were brought to North America in the 1970s for aquacultural and sewage treatment purposes. As with many such experiments, the introduction did not go according to plan. Since introduction, Asian Carp have spread the entire length of the Mississippi River, to a number of its tributaries, and now threaten to take hold in the Great Lakes. In 2007, the species were declared invasive by the United States Department of the Interior and are now being monitored by other United States and Canadian agencies.

      The two primary aspects that make Asian Carp so dangerous to their non-native ecosystems are their mobility and diet. The Asian Carp’s ability to leap out of the water give them a distinct advantage when it comes to expanding territory. This ability allows them to not only leap over natural barriers, but also man-made ones. In 2010, Asian Carp penetrated an underwater electric fence that was put in place to keep them from spreading from Lake Michigan to the Mississippi River. They have also injured recreational boaters as flying fish collide with passengers on fast boats.

      Without their appetite, the spread of these fish would not be of such great concern. Asian carp are veracious eaters, and their food of choice are the plankton that are at the base of the food chain. Asian Carp can grow to be 80 to 100 pounds and consume 40 percent of their body weight each day. This, in turn, is harmful to less aggressive native species, namely smaller fish and the young of larger fish.

      Luckily, biologist report that most invasive species fail to take hold. We may be at an advantage against the Asian Carp since they have been detected before establishing a reproducing population. While not completely successful, the electric barrier between the Mississippi River and Lake Michigan has contributed significantly to their containment. Those who enjoy fishing are being encouraged to focus their efforts on Asian Carp. The fish are reported to have a good taste and produce a substantial amount of meat. Food and Water Watch, which as traditionally been very critical of the fishing industry, also backs focusing on the Asian Carp as a food source.

      More information on this issue is available through the Asian Carp Regional Coordinating Committee

      Conservation, Uncategorized

      Will Israel become an energy superpower?

      July 4, 2012 /

      Energy resources like oil and natural gas can have a huge impact on a nation’s fortunes. It’s for this reason that it will be so difficult to wean ourselves off of fossil fuels. The riches associated with them are staggering, and it leads to political power in foreign relations as well. Environmentalists and anyone interested in global warming needs to acknowledge this fact, and it’s probably more important to promote alternative fuels and conservation as opposed to trying to stop people around the world from drilling. That just isn’t going to happen.

      One new wrinkle has to do with new countries entering the fray on fossil fuels. We have the fracking boom in the US, and now we have news that Israel may be poised to become an energy superpower.

      Actual production is still miniscule, but evidence is accumulating that the Promised Land, from a natural resource point of view, could be an El Dorado: inch for inch the most valuable and energy rich country anywhere in the world. If this turns out to be true, a lot of things are going to change, and some of those changes are already underway.

      Israel and Canada have just signed an agreement to cooperate on the exploration and development of what, apparently, could be vast shale oil reserves beneath the Jewish state.

      The prospect of huge oil reserves in Israel comes on top of the recent news about large natural gas discoveries off the coast that have been increasingly attracting attention and investor interest. The apparent gas riches have also been attracting international trouble. Lebanon disputes the undersea boundary with Israel (an act somewhat complicated by the fact that Lebanon has never actually recognized Israel’s existence), and overlapping claims from Turkey and Greece themselves plus both Greek and Turkish authorities on Cyprus further complicate matters. Yet despite these tensions, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s surprisingly cordial visit last week, Gazprom and Israel have announced plans to cooperate on gas extraction.

      Read the entire article as it goes into the geopolitical issues surrounding this development as well.

      Carbon, Conservation, Energy Independence, Global Warming, Renewable Energy

      5 Easy Ways to Turn Your Home Green

      May 25, 2012 /

      Turning your home green does not mean grabbing a can of paint and changing the color. If you are truly interested in protecting the environment, turning green will help you to reduce your carbon footprint. Here is a list of fairly easy ways that you can contribute to the going green effort and turn your home into a more energy efficient place to live.

      1. Check your appliances to ensure that they are Energy Star listed. If not, consider trading them in for appliances that are. Energy efficient appliances like stoves, refrigerators, washer and dryers are easily found in most stores today. They may be a bit more expensive to purchase but the energy savings you will enjoy more than makes up for the added cost.
      2. Check your insulation. If your home is not properly insulated then you are losing heat and cooling air. This will cause your energy costs to increase and makes your home a bit less than comfortable during very cold or very hot days. Installing insulated windows and sealing cracks around your door frames will go a long way in helping you to turn your home green.
      3. Speaking of windows, ensure that yours allow enough natural light into your home. Having windows that give you natural light provides you with the ability to keep your lights off during the day. Skylights are an excellent way to conserve energy as they provide you with adequate indoor lighting from the sun. Windows will also improve the aesthetics of your home and cause smaller rooms to appear larger.
      4. Think about water conservation. This is an overlooked area in most homes that are going green. Low flow toilets and appliances will cut down on the water that you use. Check washing machines and dishwashers to ensure that they are water efficient. Again, these appliances may cost a bit more to purchase but will considerably lower your water usage, saving you money in the long run.
      5. Check your roof. You do not have to install solar panels in your roof to make it energy efficient. A cool roof will help to reflect light as opposed to absorbing it and keep your home cooler during the summer months. Planted roofs are also a good idea as they enable you to grow a garden when you have no yard space available and also provide an added layer of protection from the elements.

      This article was written by Enerfina, an independent market intermediary in the renewable energy sector. For more information on how we can help you to turn your home green, click here.

      Carbon, Conservation, Renewable Energy, Sustainability

      How to Recycle Old Technology

      May 25, 2012 /


      English: A spiral CFL bulb on a white background (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

      Everyone should recycle. Not because some environmentalist says so, but because it’s just a responsible use of resources. If something can be reused or broken down and rebuilt into something useful again without consuming new resources, it means less trash building up and more resources available for the future.

      But not everything is as easy to dispose of as plastic, cans and paper. And some things shouldn’t be thrown away because they may be harmful to the environment or are still usable. This often applies to technology. Old tech often needs to be recycled or disposed of in certain ways. Here is how to dispose of or recycle some common pieces of technology.

      Cell phones

      New blackberry phones are great. They offer so many wonderful features and can replace most any phone on the market. But what should be done with the old cell that the blackberry is replacing? Like all the technology in this article, cell phones really shouldn’t be thrown into a trash can. They contain plastics and metals that shouldn’t be incinerated or left to accumulate in landfills.

      The EPA has a program called “Plug-In to eCycling” through which people can dispose of their old phones. The program either recycles them or donates them to community organizations who distribute them to people who can still use them.

      Compact fluorescent light bulbs

      CFL bulbs use less energy than standard incandescents and can reduce energy costs. Disposing of CFLs can be tricky though. They contain a small amount of mercury, which is harmful. If CFLs are thrown away then there will be a small but cumulative amount of mercury in landfills.

      CFLs should be taken to recycling centers. The materials of the bulb can be recycled and used again. The EPA recommends using Earth911.com to find local disposal sites.

      Also, in the event a CFL bulb breaks and leaks its mercury, the EPA provides clean-up instructions.

      Televisions / Computers

      Computer monitors and televisions, both LCD and CRT, need to be disposed of correctly. Both may contain hazardous materials. Broken or burnt-out televisions or monitors should be taken to a recycling center (check Earth911.com for locations). The EPA’s Plug-In To eCycling program also takes televisions and computers.

      If the TV or computer still works, consider donating it to a charity. But, also consider using a disk drive cleaner to remove any potentially sensitive information from the hard drive.

      Household appliances

      Refrigerators and air conditioning units both contain many materials that are harmful to the environment (like oils, mercury, fluorocarbons, foams, metals, etc.). Many of the materials in these appliances are reusable, and some utility companies offer appliance recycling programs. Or, once more, Earth911.com provides local disposal sites for large and small appliances.

      Recycling may take some extra effort, but it’s not difficult. It is said that the earth is not ours, and that we borrow it from the next generation. If that is the case, we should try to recycle and dispose of things correctly so we don’t leave them with a mess.

      Conservation, Renewable Energy, Sustainability

      The python problem in Florida

      January 31, 2012 /

      This news is very troubling:

      It sounded like a joke when the news first hit in 2000: Giant Burmese pythons were invading the Everglades. Now scientists have measured the real impact of the arrival of this voracious species, and the news is troubling.

      In areas where the pythons have established themselves, marsh rabbits and foxes can no longer be found. Sightings of raccoons are down 99.3%, opossums 98.9% and white-tailed deer 94.1%, according to a paper out Monday in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.

      This is an example of how regulation is critical for preserving the environment.

      Conservation

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