Green Daily

Green Gets You Green - Good News About Tax Credits

Cat Lincoln — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:08:00 EST

(Photo by Energy Star)

It's countdown to tax day! Maybe you're one of those "organized" people who filed back in February and are chuckling at the rest of us with our piles of receipts covering the dining room table. Or maybe you're (normal and) scrambling to file your extension by April 15th.

Either way, as long as we're all thinking about taxes and saving money, here's some interesting information from the Energy Star website about tax credits created by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which will give you tax breaks for making energy efficient choices.

If you upgrade your home in 2009 and 2010, you can get a credit of 30% of the cost, up to $1,500 for installing new:

windows and doors
insulation
roofs
HVAC systems
water heaters (non-solar)
biomass stoves

Even better, through 2016, you can get a credit for 30% of the cost -- with no upper limit -- when you add these energy efficient systems to new and existing homes:

geothermal heat pumps
solar panels
solar water heaters
small wind energy systems
fuel cells

Thinking about getting a new car? You can find a tax advantaged solution there, too! Even though credits for Toyota and Honda hybrid cars have been phased out, you can still get tax credit for gas-electric hybrids from Ford, GM and Nissan. Also, the first 250,000 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles sold will earn the buyer a tax credit.

We're all glad when we don't have to think about taxes, but it's always good to hear that you will be rewarded for making the right choice for the planet!

Green Gets You Green - Good News About Tax Credits originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 13 Apr 2009 14:08:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pepsi Tests Green Vending Machines

Josh Loposer — Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:15:00 EST

Filed under: Food, GreenTech, Green by the Numbers

Along with a new, supposedly more youthful and hip logo redesign, Pepsi is launching an energy-conscious effort to keep themselves relevant to the Pepsi generation -- energy-sipping vending machines. The cola giant is rolling out 30 test machines in the Washington DC area to field test the greener vending machines with a 15% lighter energy footprint than current machines -- which are already 44% more efficient than those from six years ago.

Will your Pepsi be as cold and refreshing from a machine that uses only 5.08 kWh per day, rather that 6 kWh? That's what Pepsi hope to find out with these tests. The machines, which will generate 12% less greenhouse gases emissions will get the title of being the first green vending machines in the US (although Coca-Cola operates HFC free machines in the UK and at the Beijing Olympics). If successful, the energy efficient vending cola incubators will go worldwide over the next few years. Pepsi operates about 5 million vending machines globally.

Pepsi Tests Green Vending Machines originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 30 Mar 2009 11:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nix the Candles for Earth Hour?

Josh Loposer — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST

Filed under: Activism, Green by the Numbers, Climate Change

While the act of turning out the lights for Earth Hour is largely considered to be symbolic, if you happen to be someone who's really hoping to cut down on your greenhouse gas emissions, you might want to reconsider your lighting options. According to EcoGeek, living by candlelight for an hour might not be so eco-friendly after all.

In order to equal the light provided by one 40 Watt incandescent bulb, you would need to burn 40 candles -- which releases 10 times more CO2 emissions. Of course, most people participating in Earth Hour won't be burning 40 candles in their home, but there's a lesson here somewhere. Perhaps, the lesson is: don't examine well-intended traditions too closely if you want to really enjoy them. Or maybe its just that technology, while it may be destructive in some ways, is still pretty amazing and under appreciated by most.

I'm not sure if this defies the spirit of Earth Hour or not, but it seems like an LED head lamp would be a pretty energy-efficient -- yet still useful -- compromise.

[via Treehugger]

Nix the Candles for Earth Hour? originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 26 Mar 2009 13:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UK Green Advisor Says Cut Population in Half

Josh Loposer — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Kids and Parenting, News, Green by the Numbers

Every month or so, some insular policymaker says something to indicate that there's some kind of environmentalist plot to eradicate Earth's human population ... could they only seize power. Well, here's this month's. At this week's annual conference of the Optimum Population Trust, leading politico Jonathon Porritt will recommend that Britain reduce its population to 30 million to promote food sustainability.

"Population growth, plus economic growth, is putting the world under terrible pressure. Each person in Britain has far more impact on the environment than those in developing countries so cutting our population is one way to reduce that impact."

Have fun with this one conspiracy theorists ... I won't stand in your way. Aside from the fact that it is in fact true that less people would emit less greenhouse gases -- in the developed world, there's really no more counterproductive PR battle than trying to advocate massive population reductions. It's a little bit totalitarian and disconcerting. Sure OPT, have fun holding your annual conferences and recommending massive population cuts ... just don't expect to win any support by offering up a Chinese style one-child policy.

UK Green Advisor Says Cut Population in Half originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 24 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market?

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

If you're in the market for a new car, you've probably noticed that the number of hybrids parked on dealer lots higher than ever -- even as the market for cars in general has collapsed. Much of the reason for this is the intense tongue-lashing the auto industry has received for focusing on SUVs and not the smaller, fuel-efficient cars of tomorrow. The trouble is, now that a glut of hybrids are being pumped into the market, the demand for hybrids seems to be vanishing like a mirage.

This month, Toyota celebrated the sale of its 1,000,000th hybrid -- and while execs were reveling in their hybrid domination, they were also digesting the news that Prius sales were down 33% since last February. Hybrid sales across the board are down almost 2/3rds since last April. "When gas prices came down, the priority of buying a hybrid fell off quite quickly," says Wes Brown of LA-based Iceology. In some places, car buyers are trending back towards SUVs and trucks. Still, the slate for most automakers, especially the ones who took bailout money (ahem, GM and Chrysler), is loaded to the brim with hybrids and fuel-sippers. Has the demand for hybrids really collapsed, or is it just the ailing economy? Is our fuel consciousness truly only engaged when energy prices rise?

[via AutoblogGreen]

Is Cheap Gas Killing the Hybrid Market? originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Demand for Oil Set to Drop Again in 2009

Josh Loposer — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:17:00 EST

Filed under: GreenFinance, Green by the Numbers, Climate Change

Finding a silver lining in the gigantic economic mess that is gripping the world right now is pretty hard to do, but if you were to look for a silver lining, experts are predicting a major drop in oil demand and global emissions. Ideally, the drop in emissions would come as a result of people making responsible choices, not the expansion of poverty -- but the word on the street is that oil demand will drop 1.5 percent this year from 2008 levels, which were already down .4 percent from 2007 levels.

If the experts are right -- and it looks like they will be -- this will be the first time that global demand for oil has dropped in two consecutive years since 1982-1983. To put that into some kind of concrete yet still unimaginably large and therefore abstract terms, the IEA estimates that the world will consume 270,000 fewer barrels of oil every day. On a related not, a professor at Cambridge University is predicting a 40-50% drop in greenhouse gas emissions due to the global economic downturn. So, that's kinda like a platinum lining for you.

[via Earth2Tech]

Demand for Oil Set to Drop Again in 2009 originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA Proposes Carbon Reporting for Factories

Josh Loposer — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Polit-eco, Green by the Numbers, Climate Change

Get ready for European style carbon trading, because here it comes. As the EPA tinkers with the idea of creating a carbon market they first need to know exactly how who's doing the emitting and how much. That's why they've gone public with a proposal to make heavy polluters in the steel, chemical, and auto, and hopefully coal power industries submit annual reports of their overall greenhouse gas emissions to Washington in an effort to monitor America's impact on climate change.

When the EU launched its carbon trading market in 2005, the first couple of years were a major debacle, because the government lacked sufficient data on how much pollution each facility was releasing -- they were also heavily lobbied to give the permits out for free (which they did). Learning from the EU's mistakes, the US plan will most likely have a few years of emissions data in the run up to the opening bell -- if indeed team Obama is able to successfully launch a GHG permitting scheme.

EPA Proposes Carbon Reporting for Factories originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 11 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ag Secretaries Ask Obama to Raise Ethanol Blend Limits

Josh Loposer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

What's the ethanol industry to do when both consumers and the scientific community fail to recognize the benefits of corn-based fuel? Like most other industries of scale, the only thing left appears to be to lobby the government to push the product. After a glut of studies have indicated that ethanol might be worse for the environment than gas, the struggling ethanol industry has convinced Ag secretaries from 11 states to send a letter that appeals directly to President Obama.

Current ethanol regulation caps gas-ethanol blends at 10%. Unless of course you're going with E85 (85% ethanol), and most cars aren't built to withstand its corrosive effects. The coalition of Ag secretaries are hoping that the government will boost corn sales by allowing a 15% or even 20% ethanol blend. In the letter to the President, the ethanol enthusiasts contend that ethanol reduces GHG, a claim that has been hotly disputed recently. Another primary justification for expanding ethanol, which garnered 66% of federal renewable energy subsidies in 2007, is that it would help fund research into more efficient means of ethanol production, like cellulosic ethanol.

[via AutoblogGreen]

Read the letter after the break.

Dear Mr. President:
We are writing to thank you for your strong support of renewable energy and respectfully request your continued leadership on this issue by encouraging the acceptance of ethanol blends beyond the current regulatory cap of 10 percent.

For more than 30 years, ethanol has had a positive impact on our economy. Clean, affordable, domestically produced ethanol has enhanced America's economy through job growth, increased domestic production and a larger tax base. In 2007 alone, the ethanol industry created more than 200,000 American jobs that cannot be exported or outsourced, while contributing $47.6 billion to our GDP and generating $4.6 billion in tax revenues.

Ethanol has environmental benefits as well. In addition to being completely biodegradable, ethanol has been shown to dramatically reduce tailpipe emissions. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that 13 trillion tons of greenhouse gases were avoided in 2007 due to the use of biofuels. Researchers at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln recently announced that ethanol produced from corn can reduce GHG emissions by as much as 62 percent relative to gasoline. As we expand cellulosic ethanol production in the coming years, even greater GHG reductions will be realized.

The EPA's longstanding decision to limit the base blend of ethanol to 10 percent was based on 1970s science, antiquated fuel systems designs, and outdated technology. Conversely, countries like Brazil have successfully utilized blends between E20 and E100 for decades. The EPA implemented the E10 blend limit at a time when ethanol production capacity and conversion efficiency was a fraction of what it is today.

In the 21st century, ethanol offers a sustainable solution to our country's energy needs, while reducing our dependency on foreign oil and addressing the serious challenge of global climate change.

The federal government embraced this concept through passage of the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007, which among other things, mandated 36 billion gallons of ethanol be blended into our domestic fuel supply by 2022. However, the current EPA regulatory cap of 10 percent ethanol hinders that opportunity. Simply put, there is a government rule contradicting a government law. Now is the time to move forward by increasing the base fuel blend to 15 or 20 percent ethanol.

As you know, the American ethanol industry is under considerable financial stress. Much of this pressure stems from the fact that ethanol, unlike oil, is held to less than 10 percent of the market. By moving beyond the 10 percent cap, we can improve domestic investment, stimulate our economy with green jobs, and enable our country to comply with the existing Renewable Fuels Standard.

Timing is critical. American ethanol production has nearly reached 10 percent saturation. We must move to a base blend of 15 or 20 percent in 2009 in order to continue growing this vital industry. By working together to promote domestic production and improve market access, we can continue to deliver a clean, renewable fuel that has a positive impact on our domestic economy.

Thank you for your leadership and support.

Ag Secretaries Ask Obama to Raise Ethanol Blend Limits originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 15:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time to Pay Americans to Scrap Their Clunkers?

Josh Loposer — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Cars and Transportation, Polit-eco, Green by the Numbers

While politicians consider throwing billions down the financial sinkhole that is the US auto industry, some opponents are wondering if officials might be looking at the wrong side of the equation. Instead of giving assistance directly to automakers, why not pay Americans to retire their old carbon-spewing jalopies and thus help them purchase a ride with a newer emissions control system?
The idea is being floated, after Germany released figures that show auto sales skyrocketing up 21% last month. That's because, of course, the German government has instituted a national car scrapping program that pays citizens €2,500 ($3,148) to give up their dirty old rides.

Obviously, lots of Germans are using that extra cash to buy a new cars -- which appears to be stimulating the economy while reducing greenhouse emissions. No matter how much it seems like robbing Peter to pay Paul ... for a politician, it's pretty much a slam dunk.

Of the many questions surrounding this approach, the most prevalent seems to be: is buying a new car really better for the environment? No matter what the the fuel economy, a new car's pollution controls are much better than the cars of yesteryear, but what about the energy and emissions resulting from manufacturing a new car?

It's pretty much the ultimate question for green gearheads, and there's no easy answer. If you only consider the energy side of the new vs. old car debate, Wired magazine say a used car is better than a hybrid. Since it takes about 113 million BTUs to build a Prius, the hybrid doesn't pay off its "carbon debt" until it reaches 46,000. If you buy a fuel efficient used car, someone else has already paid off the carbon debt.

Do you think subsidizing a new boom in auto sales would be a positive thing for the environment? Would it help stimulate the economy? Or just create a new bubble?

[via AutoblogGreen]

Time to Pay Americans to Scrap Their Clunkers? originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 10 Mar 2009 08:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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EPA Announces 2008's Top 10 Energy Star Cities

Josh Loposer — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Local, GreenTech, Green by the Numbers

Although vehicle emissions get most of the ink, the energy used inside our homes and businesses end up producing the lion's share of emissions each year in the US: 48%. That's why, each year, the EPA takes an inventory on which cities are making the largest effort to lower their skyline's carbon footprint. They measure that by the number of Energy Star labeled buildings in a given city.

In order to get that coveted rating, a building must consume 35% less electricity and emit 35% less greenhouse emissions than a conventional structure its size. 2008 saw a massive 130% jump in the number of Energy Star qualified buildings around the nation. Here's a list of the cities that really put their money where their mouth is.

Gallery: EPA's Top 10 Energy Star Cities

EPA Announces 2008's Top 10 Energy Star Cities originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 03 Mar 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Big Oil Backing More Alternative Energy Research

Josh Loposer — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: GreenTech, Alternative Energy, Green by the Numbers

Though some will no doubt say that it's just a drop in the bucket for big oil, five of the world's largest oil companies sunk over $550 million into alternative energy research at the university level. Over the last two years, BP, Conoco Phillips, Chevron, Royal Dutch Shell, and Total have all been throwing a portion of their record profits at the nation's research institution to find cleaner sources of energy -- and then spent another righteous sum to brag about it in their ad campaigns, of course.

If you're looking for a clear winner, look no further than BP, which donated a whopping $500 million in 2007 to create the Energy Biosciences Institute -- a research partnership between UC Berkeley and the University of Illinois.

Other donors may pale in comparison, but Chevron and Conoco Phillips each provided over $25 million in research grants, mostly aimed at developing biofuels. Total doled out $5 million for all sorts of eco-friendly initiatives, while Shell embarked on a partnership with six universities from around the globe.

So, is Big Oil our friend now? Or is this just token money to greenwash big oil's image? Critical of Big Oil's recent investments in alternative energy research are groups like the Center for Science in the Public Interest, who see these endowments as a threat to integrity.

According to EBI's director Chris Somerville, when BP announced their initiative with UC Berkeley, there was apparently an "outcry on [Berkeley's] campus by people ... who felt there was a danger in accepting a large amount of money supported by industry." However, Somerville believes that BP has no role in steering the institute's research.

IMO, research money always coming from some group with some agenda. Whether it comes from Washington DC or Big Oil, it's up to those doing the research to implement the impartiality.

[via ENN]

Big Oil Backing More Alternative Energy Research originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 23 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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LA and the Clinton Foundation Team up for Largest LED Retrofit

Josh Loposer — Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:30:00 EST

Filed under: Local, News, Green by the Numbers

Good news for the City of Angels, the Clinton Global Initiative has partnered up with the municipal government to roll out the largest LED retrofit program on record. Unfortunately, they're not handing out the highly efficient, yet expensive bulbs to homeowners. However, all citizens will enjoy some of the benefits. Over the next 5 years, Each of the city's 140,000 streetlights will be retrofitted with an energy-saving LED bulb designed to reduce "sky glow."

While I'm stoked about the movement to eradicate light pollution and once again see the stars, the city of Los Angeles has to be excited about saving $48 million over the next 7 years in energy and maintenance costs. The bulbs currently in use need to be replaced once every 4 to 6 years -- LEDs are expected to last from 10 to 12. Not only will the city be saving some seriou cash, but they'll be lowering carbon emissions by 40,500 tons a year, equivalent to taking 6,700 cars off the road for a year. After the city pays off its loan to the Clinton Foundation, its expected to save $10 million each year on its energy bill.

[via Earth2Tech]

LA and the Clinton Foundation Team up for Largest LED Retrofit originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 18 Feb 2009 08:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is the Recession Turning Americans into Teetotaling Vegetarians?

Josh Loposer — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Natural Body Care, Green by the Numbers

Not likely. As Parisians take to urban gleaning to supplement their grocery budgets, eating habits in the US have also been changing dramatically as this bout of economic hard times seems to take its toll on culinary normality. According to the Wall Street Journal, American consumers have cut back on food spending by the largest margin since the government's been keeping track of it: 3.7%. So, what are we cutting back on?

Meat, alcohol, chocolate, Starbucks, and dining out are among the categories taking the biggest hit. Considering the average American's eating habits, almost any change is welcome -- though we're not exactly shedding our image as a fast food nation. Some of the universally loathed harbingers of fatness like McDonald's are seeing receipts rise, thanks to their $1 menus.

On the other hand, a larger portion of Americans are preparing meals at home, and turning to more staple foods, possibly a healthy trend -- we'll see. Unfortunately, bargain hunting at the grocery store generally doesn't bode well for buying organic.

Sales at the butcher's counter have fallen sharply as people dig for the cheaper stuff. And although they had nothing to do with it, PETA will most likely claim this as a victory.

[via Treehugger]

Is the Recession Turning Americans into Teetotaling Vegetarians? originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 16 Feb 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Give Earth's CO2 Problem a Water Burial, Researchers Say

Josh Loposer — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:05:00 EST

Filed under: GreenTech, Green by the Numbers, Climate Change

January must have been publish your last ditch, crackpot schemes to save the planet month in the research community, because it was loaded to the hilt with them. First, it was the plan to spray arctic seawater into the atmosphere to create a global refrigerator. Then, it was James Lovelock's plan to bury a few gigatons of man made charcoal to sequester CO2. Then, at the end of the month, we get yet another wacky planet-saving proposition.

Researchers from the University of Washington and UC Irvine have published a paper suggesting that humanity can bury its carbon problem in deep ocean trenches. They recommend baling up agricultural waste, towing it out into the ocean with barges, and then weighting it down with rocks. According to research, dumping 30% of the planet's annual crop waste at depths of 1,500 meters of greater could reduce the CO2 in our atmosphere by 15% (600 gigatons). It's basically a really primitive form of carbon sequestration, because waters at that depth don't mix with currents or surface waters. Furthermore, researchers say that if the waste is buried near an alluvial fan, the agro junk will be buried in silt.

[via CleanTechnica]

Give Earth's CO2 Problem a Water Burial, Researchers Say originally appeared on Green Daily on Wed, 04 Feb 2009 11:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Green Parents Should Have Two Child Policy, Says Green Expert

Josh Loposer — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST

Filed under: Home, Kids and Parenting, Green by the Numbers

In the US, having two or three children is pretty much the definition of normalcy. Sometimes, families with over 5 or 6 children raise eyebrows, and couples with no kiddies ... some people simply can't wrap their heads around that. Well, if you're trying to keep your family-building activities sustainable in harmony with the planet, Johnathon Porritt from the UK's Sustainable Development Commission recommends that you limit yourself to 2 offspring. Otherwise, you're a planet hater.

Go for the three-pointer, he says, and you are being downright "irresponsible." According to Porritt, population is the elephant in the room that nobody in the developed world will confront. Perhaps they don't want to tell you how to live your life. Porritt -- on the other hand -- has no qualms about it:

"I am unapologetic about asking people to connect up their own responsibility for their total environmental footprint and how they decide to procreate and how many children they think are appropriate,"

His organization, the Optimum Population Trust, is working towards a position that will make having more than 2 children socially unacceptable.Never mind the fact that the fertility rate for women in the UK is currently 1.7 -- so there doesn't seem to be a runaway population problem.

Porritt's mission is to encourage groups like Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth to take up the controversial issue. Perhaps with slogans like 'have more than two, shame on you.' Or maybe: 'conceive more than twice, you're not eco-nice.'

Anyways, I'll let the ad firms come up with the copy. The question really seems to be: is this really necessary in the UK? How does Porritt propose dealing with families that decide to have more than two? Shame campaigns? Scarlet letters? Exile?

Green Parents Should Have Two Child Policy, Says Green Expert originally appeared on Green Daily on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 10:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tax Credits for Energy-efficient Home Improvements

Cat Lincoln — Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:03:00 EST

Filed under: Home, GreenTech, Green by the Numbers

Recession or not, this might be the year to make some home improvements. Federal tax credits for energy-efficient home improvement had lapsed in 2008, but were reinstated for 2009.

This means that if you install insulation, replace windows, get a new water heater or certain kinds of HVAC systems, you can claim a cumulative credit of up to $500.

Your new, more efficient appliances will also save you money by using less energy, so you can compound your budget benefits!

For example, if you install a Rheem Tankless Water Heater (they sent me the press release about the tax credits, so they get a shout out), you will earn a credit of up to $300. On top of that, you will use an estimated 30% less energy.

Plus, it's so eco-cool and streamlined to have a tankless water heater -- have you seen one in action? They give you endless hot water with seriously reduced guilt.

Well, reduced, not eradicated, you should still be responsible about your water use. But it's nice to know you'll always have enough hot water to rinse out a head full of shampoo, regardless of how many people took a shower ahead of you.

I am totally installing one in my all-bamboo green dream house, along with a very sophisticated grey water system and mad solar panels ... if only I had the money to build it this year to take advantage of the tax credits!

Tax Credits for Energy-efficient Home Improvements originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 29 Jan 2009 11:03:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Time Added to Your Life as a Result of Cleaner Air - 21 Weeks

Josh Loposer — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST

Filed under: Health, News, Green by the Numbers

I don't know exactly how epidemiologists were able to come up with this data, but somehow they did. According to researchers at BYU, by cleaning up the air in US cities, we've added an about 21 weeks to the lifespan of the average American. Apparently, an American's lifespan has increased by a modest 2.72 years since the early 1980's -- almost 15% of that comes from breathing cleaner air.

The decline in smoking, of course, was the biggest factor in the 2.72 extra years we're getting these days, but cutting down on the amount of particulate matter spewed out of tailpipes, factories, and coal-fired power plants has yielded unexpectedly dramatic results. In some formerly stinky cities like Pittsburgh, Buffalo, New York, researchers say that huge drops in particulate matter have improved life expectancies by as much as 43 weeks. Obviously, the biggest gains were made in the sootiest places, but basically, the cleaner the air the longer the life expectancy.

Time Added to Your Life as a Result of Cleaner Air - 21 Weeks originally appeared on Green Daily on Fri, 23 Jan 2009 09:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Will DC's Inaugural Porta-Pottypalooza Spawn an Eco-Disaster?

Josh Loposer — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST

Filed under: News, Polit-eco, Green by the Numbers

As an estimated 2.5 million people party on the streets of DC all day and night, an environmental and public health disaster could be brewing. Apparently, the historic celebration will not only be breaking records when it comes to crowd size, it's also vying for most porta-potties ever deployed at a single event: 5,000. According to porta-potty expert Conrad Harrell, "This is the largest temporary restroom event in the history of the United States."

While planners and experts have worked hard to coordinate the events restroom facilities, when it comes to an event this size, there's just no precedent. Officials are just hoping that what happened during the Pope's visit to Toronto in '02 doesn't happen this week in DC. As the porta-johns were emptied after that event, a raincoat and a plastic bag (the root of all that is evil) were flushed into Toronto's sewage system, resulting in flooding and damage to the tune of $15 million. Ouch. That event drew 800,000 -- about a third the size of the crowds in Washington, DC.

[via Treehugger]

Will DC's Inaugural Porta-Pottypalooza Spawn an Eco-Disaster? originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 20 Jan 2009 18:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Timberland Earthkeepers - A Step in the Right Direction

Whit Honea — Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:04:00 EST

Filed under: Fashion, Movies, TV and Books, Green by the Numbers

Timberland has a pretty funny ad (above) for their new line of shoe called Earthkeepers. Obviously the Earth is a fan, but what, exactly, is it that makes the shoes environmentally sound?

According to Timberland: "Earthkeepers is a line of premium Timberland footwear and apparel product that reflects our commitment to "Make it better." Beginning in 2008 Timberland product with the Earthkeepers label must meet design criteria around recycled, organic and renewable material content, solvent-free adhesives and reduced climate impact."

Timberland has a pretty funny ad (above) for their new line of shoe called Earthkeepers. Obviously the Earth is a fan, but what, exactly, is it that makes the shoes environmentally sound?

According to Timberland: "Earthkeepers is a line of premium Timberland footwear and apparel product that reflects our commitment to "Make it better." Beginning in 2008 Timberland product with the Earthkeepers label must meet design criteria around recycled, organic and renewable material content, solvent-free adhesives and reduced climate impact."

Timberland Earthkeepers - A Step in the Right Direction originally appeared on Green Daily on Thu, 15 Jan 2009 16:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Top 11 Chemical Compounds in Your Water - Yummy

Josh Loposer — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Food, Health, Green by the Numbers

There's water in our drinking chemicals ... I mean, there are chemicals in our drinking water. You know what I meant. A while back, Patricia reported that researchers had discovered that all sorts of pharmaceutical drugs swimming around in the nation's tap water. Now, thanks to the watchdogs at the Southern Nevada Water Authority we know exactly what they are.

After completing a tests on water from 21 US water utilities, researchers have compiled a list of the Ugly 11 (I couldn't come up with a better name for it). To avoid over sensationalizing the research -- which is probably what I should be doing -- I'll give you the disclaimer that these compounds were found in "extremely low concentrations." Take that for whatever its worth. Here they are in all their impure glory:

Atenolol - a beta-blocker used to treat heart/cardiovascular diseases.
Atrazine - banned in the EU, this organic herbicide is suspected of harming salmon populations and a lot of other bad mojo.
Carbamazepine - a mood-stabilizer and anti-convulsant, used to treat manic depression.
Estrone - a hormone blamed for gender weirdness in fish.
Gemfibrozil - an anti-cholesterol drug, because we're fat.
Meprobamate - a tranquilzer used to ease psychiatric symptomes, because we're crazy.
Naproxen - a prescription anti-inflammatory.
Phenytoin - another anti-convulsant used to treat epilepsy.
Sulfamethoxazole - an antibiotic used to combat strep throat.
TCEP - a reducing agent used in biochemistry, waterever that means.
Trimethoprim - an antibiotic used to fight urinary tract infections. Vaguely ironic, because urine is one of the primary ways that it gets into our drinking water.

[via BoingBoing]

Top 11 Chemical Compounds in Your Water - Yummy originally appeared on Green Daily on Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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