Targets to Save World’s Forests Won’t be Met by 2010

The world’s forests are shrinking at an alarming rate – some disappearing altogether – and we know we’ve got to do something about it. But, so far, efforts to save forests around the globe simply aren’t enough to meet the targets set under the Convention for Biological Diversity (CBD), according to a new analysis.

From Nature.com:

The study is the first attempt to work out how much of the globe’s 20 major types of forest are safeguarded. It shows that only 7.7% are currently protected according to categories established by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), headquartered in Gland, Switzerland. The work is based on the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization’s definition of a forest — that is, an area of land more than 0.5 hectares in size with more than 10% canopy cover.

“According to our analysis, the CBD targets will not be met,” says Neil Burgess, a conservation scientist at the University of Cambridge, UK, and one of the study’s authors.

John Healy, a forest ecologist at the University of Wales, Bangor, says that the study is important because it looks at forest protection in ecoregions and by forest type, rather than just total forest cover. “They have carried out the study in a far more biogeographically and ecologically meaningful way [than previous studies]“, he says.

But, he adds, “The reality is we don’t know whether the protection status is being enforced on the ground.”

The question now is, what can we do to help? There are a variety of charities and nature conservation organizations that work to preserve the world’s forests including the Nature Conservancy, Greenpeace, WWF, The Sierra Club and The Heritage Forests Campaign (which focuses on national forests in America).

Donate funds, volunteer your time or help spread the word. Some retail sites also donate a portion of each purchase to forest conservation, like The Rainforest Site Store.

Link [Nature.com]
Photo credit: Flickr user zoutedrop

Sarah Palin Files Suit to Avoid Protecting Whales in Alaska

What’s the biggest threat to beluga whales in Alaska’s Cook Inlet? Two words: Sarah Palin. Belugas already have a lot stacked against them. Cloudy water in the summer forces them to rely heavily on echolocation to get around, and they must venture into dangerously shallow waters to find food. Palin, who is already infamous for her total disregard for animal lives, is filing suit to prevent the federal government from protecting the whales.

Her argument? “Alaska is already doing enough for whales”.

From Salon:

Palin’s chief of staff published an Op-Ed in the Anchorage Daily News on Jan. 28 titled “Protection Requirements for Cook Inlet Belugas Are Silly.”

While there are five stocks of beluga whales in waters near Alaska, the ones in Cook Inlet are isolated and genetically distinct from their cousins. That population has declined dramatically since the 1980s, from over 1,000 to about 375 now. More than 300 whales perished in one four-year stretch (1994 to 1998) alone, according to the National Marine Fisheries Service. Marine mammal biologists and conservationists were hopeful that sharply limiting subsistence hunting of the whales by native Alaskans would see the whales bounce back. But despite only five whales being killed by hunting since 1999, when new regulations went into effect, the whales have not rebounded.

Even the Bush administration took note of the Cook Inlet belugas’ decline, after being pressured by environmental groups. In October 2008, the National Marine Fisheries Service announced the listing of the Cook Inlet population of beluga whales as a full-fledged endangered species. Yes, the Bush administration, infamous for its disdain for science when it came to protecting endangered critters, saw fit to offer protections to the belugas living in Cook Inlet. But not the Palin administration.

“It’s hard to imagine that anyone could be more anti-environmental than Bush, but Palin is Exhibit A,” says Brendan Cummings, oceans program director for the Center for Biological Diversity. “Here we had the most anti-environmental administration in U.S. history, and Palin still feels compelled to sue over one of the few environmentally positive things to come out of that administration.”

Marine mammal biologists don’t yet know what’s preventing the beluga whale population from making a comeback, but they do know that the health of the species could have implications for the rest of the ecosystem they inhabit.

Designating the beluga whales as endangered will also turn Cook Inlet into a ‘critical habitat’ for the whales, which is exactly why Palin’s administration is fighting the measure. They’re afraid that such protected status will hamper the “unfettered industrial activity” going on in the inlet – including the dumping of toxic waste by the oil industry. It could also affect plans to expand the port of Anchorage and build the Knik Arm Bridge – famously known as “the bridge to nowhere” – and curtail oil and natural gas drilling.

This is the same woman who advocates shooting wolves from helicopters and has an office full of dead animal trophies and a pile of caribou antlers sitting outside her house.  Her antipathy toward animals and the environment knows no bounds. So, none of this is too surprising. Luckily, advocates of protecting the whales are confident that the Obama administration will defend the beluga listing from Palin’s lawsuit.

Link [Salon.com]

Update: Oil Leases in Utah Parklands Canceled

The Obama administration is canceling Bush-era oil drilling leases on more than 130,000 acres near two national parks and other protected areas in Utah. Bush’s Interior Department had planned to auction off the land in December for oil and gas drilling, but the auction was disrupted by activist Tim DeChristopher. The land sale had been slammed as a ‘fire sale’ for the oil and gas industry, and would have placed drilling rigs near treasured national landmarks.

In January, a judge granted a temporary restraining order preventing the Bureau of Land Management from moving forward with the leases after several conservation groups sued to challenge long-term management plans that made the sale of the parcels possible.

From MSNBC:

“In the last weeks in office, the Bush administration rushed ahead to sell oil and gas leases near some of our nation’s most precious landscapes in Utah,” Interior Secretary Ken Salazar told reporters. ““We need to responsibly develop our oil and gas supplies to help us reduce our dependence on foreign oil, but we must do so in a thoughtful and balanced way that allows us to protect our signature landscapes and cultural resources.”

“We will take time and a fresh look at these 77 parcels to see if they are appropriate for oil and gas development,” he said, adding that the Bureau of Land Management will return the $6 million in bids from an auction last December.

The 77 leases were for areas near Arches and Canyonlands national parks, Dinosaur National Monument, and Nine Mile Canyon, which is sometimes called the world’s longest art gallery for its collection of ancient rock-art panels.

Unsurprisingly, Republicans and the oil industry have responded with claims that the decision will hamper U.S. efforts to reduce reliance on foreign oil. Environmental groups, on the other hand, are thrilled.

Tim DeChristopher isn’t necessarily off the hook – the 27-year-old won $1.7 million in leases despite having no intention to pay, and prosecuters still haven’t decided whether or not to charge him.

This is certainly a victory for conservationists everywhere and for the people of Utah, who can now enjoy the beauty of their state’s national parks without worrying about oil rigs popping up.

Link [MSNBC]
Photo credit: Destination 360

Unnaturalism: Stunning Eco-Themed Artwork by Don Simon

Artist Don Simon creates thought-provoking works focusing on the juxtaposition of nature and the modern world. Simon uses colored pencils and a surrealistic style to speak about the conflict between nature and industry. His subjects include deer peeking out from a jungle of pipes, monkeys making their home at a construction site, creatures of the African savanna in a vast parking lot and, startlingly, marine life swimming around a submerged city.

From his artist statement:

“Throughout history, particularly since the beginning of the Industrial Revolution, mankind has been less than kind to our cohabitants on the planet. We build, produce, and consume with little or no regard to the impact it has on the environment. It is the nature of nature to adapt and evolve in order to survive, and we are forcing other species to deal with compromised, damaged, or destroyed ecosystems.

This series of triptychs depicts scenes resulting from our tragic indifference. They are rendered in a beautiful and natural way, highlighting the idea that we find this acceptable. We are numb to the damage — and so, the unnatural becomes natural to us. This may be the saddest commentary of all.”

You can view all of Simon’s work in a slideshow over at Grist or at Simon’s website.

Link [Don Simon] via [Grist]

10 Steps to Protect Oceans from Pollution

One need only look at photos of the Pacific Ocean Trash Gyre to realize that we’re abusing the world’s oceans. For such an important part of our ecosystem (did you know that phytoplankton provide half the world’s oxygen?), we sure do treat it with very little respect. Oil, fertilizer, trash, toxic chemicals, invasive species – all of these things wreak utter havoc on ocean ecosystems and disturb the delicate balance that keeps every living thing on this planet alive.

When you think of all the things that are going wrong – from dead zones to overfishing – it can be tough to determine where we should even start in the battle to improve the health of the world’s oceans and protect them from pollution. The Practical Environmentalist has put together a list of 10 steps that don’t just explain the ways in which we can protect oceans, but what you personally as an individual can do.

Here are the first two, from the Practical Environmentalist:

1) Restore damaged ocean habitat

In areas that have been fished out or poisoned by industry, native species have often been wiped out. But, that doesn’t mean that Cod have been permanently wiped out in the Atlantic, or that scallops will never return to the Virginia fisheries. Jennifer Rich is planting sea grass in an effort to restore the scallop breeding grounds of her home state. She led a volunteer effort off the coast of Virginia to replant eel grass in environmentally damaged areas. Her effort is ongoing, and similar replanting projects could use your help. Wetlands and mangrove forests are especially valuable because they filter sediment, pesticides, and fertilizer runoff before they get to the ocean.

If you’d like to get your hands dirty in another way, plan a beach vacation off of the beaten path. Once a year, the Ocean Conservancy does a worldwide project to remove trash from the shore. Last year, volunteers cleaned up more than 30,000 miles of shoreline. In a single day, more than 7 million pieces of trash were collected for proper disposal. Check with your City Hall – many towns are happy to supply trash bins, rubber gloves, and even boats to anyone who wants to clean up local waterways.

2) Protect natural buffer systems.

Biosystems are nature’s utilities – they desalinate water, absorb carbon, liberate nutrients from the ground, and provide other services free of charge. The plants and animals that make up these systems are often treated as commodities, but killing the goose that lays golden eggs will only put food on the table for a day. Protecting biosystems can pay dividends for years to come.

Forests are an essential buffer for the oceans. Old growth trees neutralize the pH of rain and absorb harmful chemicals before they reach the ocean. Trees that grow in estuaries and along riverways are especially important, but those areas also face increased development pressure and they are easy for loggers to access. Shoreline habitat is being destroyed to build giant shrimp farms and resort hotels. Luckily, there are now sustainable forestry and aquaculture options available. Sustainable logging allows limited harvesting of resources without destroying the natural processes that we benefit from. The next time you buy lumber or land, do some research and check for certifications of sustainability.

Get the rest of the list at PracticalEnvironmentalist.com.

Who knew that kitty litter has an effect on water pollution? Lots of great tips here. Cliched as it may sound, each and every one of us is responsible for making personal decisions that determine the health of the entire planet and these steps are definitely a great way to make an impact.

Link [Practical Environmentalist]

Japanese Group Uses ‘Toilet Poems’ to Save Paper

“Love the toilet”. Would seeing that message above the roll of toilet paper in a public bathroom make you use less paper? Kooky as it is, a Japanese group campaigning to save toilet paper as part of the country’s fight against global warming believes that ‘toilet poems’ can inspire conservation.

According to a study done by research center Japanese Toilet Labo, they might be right. The study showed that putting a ‘toilet poem’ at the eye level of the person seated in the restroom stall cut toilet paper use by up to 20%. The poems say things like “That paper will only meet you for a minute” and “Fold the paper over and over and over again”.

From Reuters:

“We asked ourselves what we could do for the environment in the toilet?” said Ryusuke Nagahara of the Japan Toilet Labo. “The answer is to save toilet paper and save water.”

Toilet paper use in Japan has been increasing in recent years, according to an industry body, possibly because of a rise in the number of public toilets, where people tend to use more paper.

“It’s because it’s free,” said an official at the Kikaisuki Washi Rengokai. “At home, people are more inclined to scrimp.”

I suppose what makes this work 20% of the time is simply the reminder not to mindlessly tear off way more sheets than you really need. Some people really do use unbelievably excessive amounts of toilet paper – I know this because I used to work in a small office with just a handful of women and as a group we went through astonishing amounts of toilet paper. It really is wasteful.

Japan Toilet Labo hopes to get their poems up in 1,000 public bathrooms across the country. Hey, if it works even a fraction of the time, why not? Everyone else will at least get a giggle.

Link [Reuters]
Photo credit: AllFunnyPictures.com

The 5 Best Kinds of Tree-Free Paper

Try as we may to cut back our use of paper as much as possible, we still need to use it from time to time. Luckily, you don’t have to be responsible for cutting down trees in order to do so. Planet Green has compiled a list of the 5 best types of tree-free paper, made from materials both familiar (hemp) and strange (elephant poop).

The use of virgin trees for paper continues to be a major environmental problem. Half the trees cut down in the US every year are used for paper, and for every tree cut down, only half can be turned into wood pulp, the substance used to make paper. By using these alternatives instead, you can keep from being part of the problem.

From Planet Green, via The Huffington Post:

Elephant Poop Paper
Elephant poop always makes for a good way to kick off a list, and here it’s likely the most intriguing way to get treeless paper. See, elephants have vegetarian diets, making their dung rich in cellulose—prime paper making material. They also happen to unload around 500 pounds of it every day, making the stuff plentiful and renewable. And elephant poop paper is already being marketed—you can get yours from Pixxlz or Mr. Ellie Pooh. It should be noted that panda poop paper is in the works, too.

Kenaf Paper
Kenaf is a hibiscus plant originally from Africa. It’s fast growing, and an acre of kenaf can produce 11 tons of paper-friendly fiber. By way of comparison, an acre of pine trees can take up to 10 years to be harvest ready, and would produce only around half the paper product. Vision Paper is a premier seller of kenaf paper products.

Sugar Cane Paper
There are a world of reasons to opt for sugar cane paper. It’s made from bagasse, which is the residue left over in the cane plant after the sugar has been extracted. So it’s created from a surplus byproduct, which is good news; and so is the fact that it’s 100 percent biodegradable. It’s also readily available—companies like the Sugar Cane Paper Company and TreeFree Paper already supply the goods.

Bamboo Paper
Bamboo may be a rising star in the treeless paper world: as a crop, it requires extremely little water to maintain, and it has natural anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that make preserving it easier. While not widely available as a printer paper variety, you can get Bamboo stationary from the folks at Smock.

Hemp Paper
We all might associate hemp with a certain less-productive pastime than writing, but the crop has nonetheless turned out to be a contender for tree-free paper creation. Hemp is one of the most versatile crops, and perhaps if we could ever shake its pot smoke and reggae addled image, we’d see more products like this hemp sketchbook by Green Field Paper.

Link [Planet Green] via [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: Aquabee Tree-Free Paper, Blick Art Materials

Are Frogs Being Eaten to Extinction?

Put down that fried frog leg! Demand for the delicacy is depleting regional populations to the point of no return, according to conservationists. Culinary use is even more of a threat to amphibians than climate change, disease and habitat degradation.

The National University of Singapore is calling for more regulation and monitoring to prevent frogs from being eaten into extinction.

From New Scientist:

Statistics on imports and exports of frog legs are sparse as few countries keep track of the amount of meat harvested and consumed domestically.

According to UN figures, global trade has increased in the past 20 years. France – not surprisingly – and the US are the two largest importers; with France importing between 2500 and 4000 tonnes of frog meat each year since 1995.

But although frog legs are often thought of in the West as a quintessentially French dish, they are also very popular in Asia.

Bickford estimates that between 180 million to over a billion frogs are harvested each year. “That is based on both sound data and an estimate of local consumption for just Indonesia and China,” he says. “The actual number I suspect is quite a bit larger and my 180 million bare minimum is almost laughably conservative.”

According to David Bickford of the National University of Singapore, European kitchens used to source frog meat locally, but the fact that they’re now importing it from Indonesia suggests that local populations have been overharvested. As many frogs as Indonesia sends to other countries, some studies suggest the amount of frog meat consumed within the country’s borders could be between two and seven times what is exported.

I am disgusted to admit (especially as a vegetarian) that my grandmother fed me frog legs as a child and didn’t tell me what they were. Innocent that I was, it never crossed my mind that the little wing-looking things on my plate were actually frogs – I didn’t find out until my father told me years later. And yes, they do in fact taste like chicken.

Link [New Scientist]
Photo credit: Flickr user jmagnusphoto

New Senate Moves to Increase Wilderness Protection

The United States Senate advanced legislation for the largest expansion of wilderness protection in 25 years in a rare Sunday session. More than 2 million acres in 9 states have been set aside. The bill is a holdover from last year and contains measures sponsored by both Republicans and Democrats, though some Republicans complained about not being able to add amendments to the bill.

From The Huffington Post:

By a 66-12 vote, with only 59 needed to limit debate, lawmakers agreed to clear away procedural hurdles despite partisan wrangling that had threatened pledges by leaders to work cooperatively as the new Obama administration takes office. Senate approval is expected later this week. Supporters hope the House will follow suit.

“Today is a great day for America’s public lands,” said the bill’s sponsor, Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M. “This big, bipartisan package of bills represents years of work by senators from many states, and both parties, in cooperation with local communities, to enhance places that make America so special.”

The measure _ actually a collection of about 160 bills _ would confer the government’s highest level of protection on land ranging from California’s Sierra Nevada mountain range to Oregon’s Mount Hood, Rocky Mountain National Park in Colorado and parts of the Jefferson National Forest in Virginia. Land in Idaho’s Owyhee canyons, Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore in Michigan and Zion National Park in Utah also would be designated as wilderness.

Republicans are also complaining that the bill prevents development of oil and gas on federal lands, which they claim will deepen America’s dependence on foreign oil. No surprise there.

What a great way to for the new Congress to start. Hopefully it will pass in the House and we’ll be on our way to repairing some of the damage done by Bush.

Link [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: Flickr user OneofThem

Interior Department Moves to Increase Logging on Oregon Land

Oregon is bracing for the revival of a decades-long battle over logging of old-growth timber. The Interior Department recently announced their intention to double the rate of logging on 2.6 million acres of federally owned forests in southwestern Oregon, ignoring the objections of the governor and two federal agencies in charge of protecting the quality of the water in the area.

From The New York Times:

The economies of the timber industry and Oregon’s rural southwestern counties took a major hit when logging on federal lands in the area was cut back by 80 percent under the terms of the Northwest Forest Plan, which took effect about 15 years ago. Representatives of both groups applauded Wednesday’s decision, saying it would revive local mills and timber companies.

But environmental groups condemned the decision and gave notice that they would challenge the plan in federal court. The group Earthjustice called the decision a “massive giveaway at the expense of salmon spawning streams, healthy old-growth forests and habitat for rare birds such as the northern spotted owl and marbled murrelet.”

Oregon Governor Kulongoski warned that such a plan would interfere with any future wilderness designations in the areas around the Rogue River. He advised that harvest increases be phased in slowly due to environmental and public concerns.

There will still be a chance for environmental review and public comment as each tract of land is prepared for sale, a process that takes some time. OPB News reports that the Obama Administration is unlikely to back the plan, giving many hope that it won’t end up becoming reality.

Two conservation groups are suing over the plan. Forest Service Employees for Environmental Ethics and EarthJustice both say the agency failed to consult federal biologists over the harm that logging might cause to spotted owls and other wildlife protected by the Endangered Species Act.

Link [The New York Times] + [OPB News] + [Seattle Times]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

Save Energy: 10 Ways to Winterize Your Home

The greenest way to keep your home warmer during the winter is to make sure you’re sealing out all that cold air. Proper winterization can cut way back on the amount of heating fuel you need, saving you money and preventing you from unnecessarily consuming tons of resources. MSN has a 10-step guide to making sure your home stays cozy during the winter months, from adding more insulation to your attic to wrapping pipes.

From MSN via Budget Ecoist:

1. Clean those gutters

Once the leaves fall, remove them and other debris from your home’s gutters — by hand, by scraper or spatula, and finally by a good hose rinse — so that winter’s rain and melting snow can drain. Clogged drains can form ice dams, in which water backs up, freezes and causes water to seep into the house, the Insurance Information Institute says.
As you’re hosing out your gutters, look for leaks and misaligned pipes. Also, make sure the downspouts are carrying water away from the house’s foundation, where it could cause flooding or other water damage.

“The rule of thumb is that water should be at least 10 feet away from the house,” says Michael Broili, the director of the Well Home Program for the Phinney Neighborhood Association, a nationally recognized neighborhood group in Seattle.

2. Block those leaks

One of the best ways to winterize your home is to simply block obvious leaks around your house, both inside and out, experts say. The average American home has leaks that amount to a nine-square-foot hole in the wall, according to EarthWorks Group.

First, find the leaks: On a breezy day, walk around inside holding a lit incense stick to the most common drafty areas: recessed lighting, window and door frames, electrical outlets.

Then, buy door sweeps to close spaces under exterior doors, and caulk or apply tacky rope caulk to those drafty spots, says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated TV show “Today’s Homeowner.” Outlet gaskets can easily be installed in electrical outlets that share a home’s outer walls, where cold air often enters.

Outside, seal leaks with weather-resistant caulk. For brick areas, use masonry sealer, which will better stand up to freezing and thawing. “Even if it’s a small crack, it’s worth sealing up,” Lipford says. “It also discourages any insects from entering your home.”

Get the remaining 8 tips over at MSN.

Link [MSN] via [Budget Ecoist]
Photo credit: Flickr user chiacomo

The True Cost of 10 Everyday Items

We use so many items every day without really thinking about it, since they’re so cheap. Aluminum cans, printer paper, plastic bottles, batteries pencils – they hardly cost a thing. At least, in terms of money. But there’s an underlying cost to that item in terms of environmental effects. Did you know, for example, that graphite is nonrenewable, or that one kilo of cotton requires between 7,000 and 29,000 liters of water to grow? Were you aware that the energy required to make a single aluminum can is equal to roughly the energy that would be obtained through half that can’s volume in gasoline?

Eco Salon has a great article full of such facts and statistics, and many of them will surprise you. From Eco Salon:

White Granulated Sugar

What we know as “white sugar” comes from a mixture of sugar cane (between 60% and 70%) and sugar beet (the remainder). Around 120 countries worldwide are involved in producing the 100+ million tons of sugar crops – in temperate zones (northern Europe, for example) it is the hardier sugar beet that dominates.

Requirements: large quantities of water (processing cane requires 4 times more water than beet); vegetable transportation costs to processing plants; extraction of raw sugar juice from cane or beet via pressing or diffusion; clarification of juice; crystallization of sugar liquor; evaporation to create syrup; centrifuging (how molasses are extracted); drying. Then a long process of refining that ends with granulated sugar’s characteristic whiteness. Heavy machinery, staffing costs and startling amounts of power are included in these requirements.  The final stages of refinement into white sugar may involve the use of phosphoric acid, carbon dioxide or filtration techniques. Throughout, a number of pollutants (PDF) are created from the burning of oil, coal or bagasse (sugar cane residue) –such emissions are monitored and regulated by specialists.

Once a luxury, sugar is now used as a flavouring and preservative in countless varieties of food and drink. With the assumption that it’s easy to make. (Not so).

But even after all that, you’re paying just $1.50 for 16 oz. No wonder we love the stuff so much!

It really makes you think about whether that item is really worth all the trouble – at least, the mass produced version of it. Mass production may be more efficient, but it’s certainly still a long journey from raw material to finished product, a journey that produces a lot of greenhouse gases and requires a lot of resources. I don’t know about you, but reading about things like this really inspires me to seek out alternatives – handmade, organic, sustainable. Because, we can do so much better.

Link [Eco Salon]
Photo credit: Wikimedia Commons

WTF WWF: World Wildlife Fund Shuttles Funders Around The World in Private Jet

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has long been known for their dedication to the conservation of species across the world, working hard to ‘protect the future of nature’. The organization has spent the past 45 years working in 100 countries toward preserving the diversity and abundance of life.  That’s why it makes absolutely no sense that the WWF is ferrying uber-rich donors around the world on a private jet that will spew tons of carbon into the air during the 25-day journey (which costs a whopping $64,950 per person).

From the WWF website:

Join us on a remarkable 25-day journey by private jet. Touch down in some of the most astonishing places on the planet to see the top wildlife, including gorillas, orangutans, rhinos, lemurs and toucans. Explore natural and cultural treasures in remote areas of South America, the South Pacific, Southeast Asia and Africa.

To reach these remote corners, travel on a specially outfitted private jet that carries 88 passengers. World-class experts – including WWF’s director of species conservation – will provide a series of lectures en route, and a professional staff will be devoted to making your global adventure seamless and memorable.

Come on, WWF. Surely you can secure funding without going against one of your very own goals: “promoting more efficient use of resources and energy and the maximum reduction of pollution.”  One is forced to ask, how can you fly people around on a private jet and still use resources efficiently and reduce pollution? You can’t.

The WWF’s website details the plight of endangered animals around the world, and the fact that each year, 25 million acres of forest are slashed and burned.  The organization entreats us to help them preserve the natural world, so this whole private jet thing reeks of hypocrisy. Sad, because it undermines all of the good work WWF has done. FAIL!

Link [WWF] via [Wired]

Nearly Waterless Washing Machine Coming in ’09

A ‘nearly waterless’ washing machine developed by Leeds University researchers is set to debut in 2009. And when they say nearly waterless, they mean nearly waterless – as in only 1 cup. On top of that, it needs only a ‘pinch’ of detergent, and the clothes come out almost completely dry, so there’s no need to throw them in the dryer or even mess with clotheslines. It also uses just 2% of the energy of a conventional washing machine.

From Physorg.com:

“We have shown that it can remove all sorts of everyday stains, including coffee and lipstick, while using a tiny fraction of the water used by conventional washing machines,” Burkinshaw said.

When doing a load of wash, users throw their clothes in like a normal washing machine. Then a cartridge in the back of the machine adds plastic chips – about 45 pounds (20 kg) of them – to the load. Next, a cup of water containing the detergent is added. After the water dissolves the dirt, the chips absorb the water, without the need for a rinse or spin cycle. When finished, a grill at the bottom of the machine opens to collect the chips.

We’re just beginning to see what can be achieved when people actually put a lot of effort into sustainable, earth-friendly products and designs. Since washing machines account for a huge chunk of household water use, this could really help us all save lots of water. Green tech FTW!

Link [Physorg.com] + [Xeros]

National Speed Limit Could Save Millions of Barrels of Gas

If anything could keep speed demons from screaming down the highway at 85 mph, maybe it’s gas prices. Each 5 mph you drive over 60 is like paying an extra $0.30 per gallon for gas. Considering that slower speeds could save a sizable amount of gas, lawmakers like Senator John Warner (R-VA) and Representative Jacki Speier (D-CA) are calling for a 55-mph national speed limit, similar to the one set in the 1970’s during a previous gas crisis.

From Yahoo! News:

The National Maximum Speed Limit of 55 mph was created in 1974, when Richard Nixon signed the Emergency Energy Highway Conservation Act. Prior to that, states had been free to set their own speed limits, but the new law threatened to strip Federal highway funding from any state straying above the national standard. The ostensible purpose of this limit was to keep down gas prices, which had been driven through the roof by an OPEC embargo touched off by the 1973 Arab-Israeli war. And with gas-prices once again sky-high, Warner isn’t alone in talking up a cap on speeding.

Jackie Speier, a first-term Democratic congresswoman from California, is already on the case. Earlier this month, she introduced a bill that would cap highway speed limits at 60 mph – 65 in rural areas. It’s currently awaiting a hearing before the House Committee on Transportation. Warner says he hasn’t contacted Speier, but adds that he’d be willing to “stroll out on the floor” in favor of a speed-limit bill. He has yet to propose a similar bill in the Senate.

A congressional study showed that the1974 law resulted in a savings of 167,000 barrels of petroleum a day, and the volume would be even greater now that there millions more cars on the road.

Of course, there’s always the question of whether motorists will comply. This is a nation of people who feel entitled to doing whatever they want, regardless of the consequences. Sure, lower speed limits – if people actually followed them – could not only save gas, but make the roads safer for all of us. Unfortunately, most people just don’t care. Those of us who do, though, will happily drive 55 mph and enjoy the extra money in our pockets.

Link [Yahoo! News]
Photo credit: PhotopediaPhotos

Energy Efficiency Could Cut Greenhouse Gases 30% by 2030

What’s the best way to keep power plants from polluting the earth? Cut demand for electricity. It’s so simple, and it could work so well if everyone participated. Power companies are basically paid to pollute right now, with a drop in demand being the only way to prevent them from constantly building new power plants. In 2007, consulting firm McKinsey and Co. found that we could cut greenhouse gases by 30% in just over 20 years if we improved energy efficiency in buildings, appliances and factories.

From Salon:

While a few states have energy-efficiency strategies, none matches what California has done. In the past three decades, electricity consumption per capita grew 60 percent in the rest of the nation, while it stayed flat in high-tech, fast-growing California. If all Americans had the same per capita electricity demand as Californians currently do, we would cut electricity consumption 40 percent. If the entire nation had California’s much cleaner electric grid, we would cut total U.S. global-warming pollution by more than a quarter without raising American electric bills. And if all of America adopted the same energy-efficiency policies that California is now putting in place, the country would never have to build another polluting power plant.

How did California do it? In part, a smart California Energy Commission has promoted strong building standards and the aggressive deployment of energy-efficient technologies and strategies — and has done so with support of both Democratic and Republican leadership over three decades.

Most of us already know about the more obvious ways to conserve energy – through better insulation and more energy-efficient lighting, heating and cooling. California has gone far above and beyond that, however, plugging residential air duct leaks, redesigning the outdoor lighting in parking lots, requiring flat roofs on commercial buildings to be painted white to reflect sunlight and subsidizing LED traffic lights.

Another important factor is that the state of California adopted regulations that “decouple” utility company profits from how much electricity they sell and allowing utilities to take a share of any energy savings they help businesses and consumers achieve.

Just making these sorts of changes – without going to extremes like sitting around in the dark half the time – can help us all offset all of the projected demand for electricity in 2030 AND mostly negate the need for new coal-fired electric plants! Time to get started.

Link [Salon.com]
Photo credit: Northwest Community Energy

‘Dirty Jobs’ Mike Rowe Gives His Energy-Saving Tips

Mike Rowe of the Discovery Channel series ‘Dirty Jobs’ gives his energy-saving tips while surrounded by the sounds of party-goers. …is it just us, or does Mike sound a little buzzed in this video? He’s awesome.

“Call me a traditionalist… I say when you walk out of a room you turn off the lights. When you walk out of a room you close the door. Don’t accelerate too quickly. Don’t break too quickly. Use the carpool lane. Say please. That won’t save energy but it will make people like you more.”

Link [Treehugger]

Electric Bills 22% Higher This Year for New Yorkers

Everything is getting more expensive by the day. Gas, food, clothing, random small items we’re used to picking up cheaply and the energy we buy from electric and natural gas companies. New York residents had a shock this month as their electric bills rose dramatically. Con Ed customers saw a rate hike of 22%. The hike is mostly due to the high cost of the oil and gas that electric companies use to generate power. New York is far from the only area to be affected – they’ve just got the most dramatic shift.

From Gothamist:

Harlem flea market vendor Cruz Reyes, told the Daily News the prices are forcing her to live without air conditioning this summer. But aside from that brief June heat wave, the temperature’s been mercifully tolerable. Come August Reyes’s cheapest option may be to unfold a chair outside the open doors of H&M and enjoy the frosty blast out on the sidewalk.

What’s the answer? At the risk of sounding like a broken record: conservation. Yes, high prices suck. We’re starting to see the consequences of the unsustainable lifestyle so many of us have been enjoying for decades. But continuing to consume the same amounts of electricity despite a building energy crisis just makes no sense. Those of us who are relatively young and healthy can do without a/c. Here’s an idea: turn off your television for a little while, and go out and do something – play with your kids, take a walk, weed your garden. Working to conserve energy in your home might just make you healthier and happier. Ya never know.

Link [Gothamist]
Photo credit: Flickr user ocean yamaha

Everglades Conservation Victory a Hopeful Sign of What’s to Come

I remember when South Florida was more than a pastel jumble of overgrown suburban homes, Walgreens drugstores, strip malls and unnatural landscaping. When I was a child growing up along the eastern coast about midway between West Palm Beach and Miami, everything west of our neighborhood was made up of small independent farms, swamp and miles of untouched pine forests. My friends and I had a fort overlooking an alligator-infested canal, and you could still hear the cacophony of subtropical nature every night. This wasn’t 40 years ago – I’m only 26. But in that time, so much has changed.

The Everglades have been increasingly encroached upon in the last couple of decades, between the sugar industry and luxury developments built right on top of filled-in swampland. Along the edges, people have lost the natural fear and respect for animals like the alligator and cottonmouth snake, and have interfered with the natural ecosystem by dumping unwanted pets like lizards, snakes and fish into the water. The area I lived in is virtually unrecognizable, it’s so overly developed. Traffic sounds, loud music and construction drown out the sounds of nature. It’s a mess – and for a while there, it seemed like there were few people that actually cared.

The recent sale of 300 square miles of the Everglades to the state of Florida by U.S. Sugar Corp. has been trumpeted as ‘one of the biggest conservation deals in U.S. history’, and it is, indeed, a massive victory for environmentalists. Here are some details from The Huffington Post:

The deal with U.S. Sugar Corp. results from a convergence of interests: The state is trying to restore the Everglades and clean up pollution caused by Big Sugar and other growers, while the American sugar industry is being squeezed by low-price imports.

Republican Gov. Charlie Crist declared the agreement “as monumental as the creation of our nation’s first national park, Yellowstone.”

Under the deal, the state would buy U.S. Sugar’s holdings in the Everglades south of Lake Okeechobee, including its cane fields, mill and railroad line. U.S. Sugar would be allowed to farm the 187,000 acres for six more years, after which it would go out of business.

The state would then protect the land from development, which has been encroaching on the Everglades for decades.

The state of Florida will also work on restoring the area to its natural state, undoing years of damage caused by the re-routing or damming of the natural flow of water to allow for houses and farms. This will be a large step forward in stopping the constant flow of fertilizer from farms that currently leaks into the Everglades.

The victory against U.S. Sugar Corp. is happy news for anyone concerned about the preservation of America’s natural beauty, and especially for supporters of Everglades preservation. It could be a catalyst to change prevailing views regarding ‘progress’ in an area that was once a sleepy, muggy, buggy but incredibly beautiful example of the wonders of nature. The concept of stepping lightly on the earth is one that is slowly starting to sink in across the world, and it brings with it the hope that we do still have a chance to stop the destruction of the planet before it’s totally out of our control.

The South Florida that I love has nothing to do with the horrendous traffic, endless stream of relocating retirees, cookie-cutter houses and pollution-filled waterways. It’s in the hum of the cicadas, the gnarled roots of the mangrove trees that grow in the waters along the coast, the pine boughs swaying in the breeze and the mysterious life force that can be sensed at twilight on the edge of a marsh. Though I know the massive crowds and endless march of civilization will likely always be a part of South Florida, I hope that one day when I go back to visit, the natural beauty of the land will have regained its prominence with the help of the conservationists who work so hard to protect it.

Link [The Huffington Post]
Photo credit: Flickr user Stig Nygaard

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