http://blog.greenacy.org/ News and Tips on All Things Green, Organic, and Eco Friendly en-us Nucleus CMS v3.32 � Weblog http://backend.userland.com/rss http://blog.greenacy.org//nucleus/nucleus2.gif http://blog.greenacy.org/ http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=58 Omega 3 Fatty Acids

Salmon populations aren't doing too well, but people continue to eat them especially for omega 3 fatty acids - same with Chilean Sea Bass - try flax, algae, and walnuts. Algae is especially good for the omega 3 fatty acid docosahexaenoic acid, or DHA.

Selenium

Striped bass, a fish that's hot on the black market, is high in selenium and protein so is Bluefin Tuna. Try to replace them with Brazil nuts which are also high in both. For some variety you could also replace it with soy.

B vitamins, Zinc

Oysters, which are also popular with black market traders, are high in B vitamins, zinc, calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, phosphorus, copper, manganese and selenium - try nuts, whole grains and dried beans for zinc and some of the other minerals. For B vitamins, whole grains, bananas, lentils, chile peppers, beans, nutritional yeast, brewer's yeast, and molasses are good sources. If you're into British or Ozzie eating, Marmite and Vegemite are some of the best sources around.


]]> General Green http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=58 Fri, 13 Aug 2010 20:31:22 -0500 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=55
Some of Russia's smog-causing peatland fires are likely to burn for months, part of a global problem of drained marshes that emit climate-warming greenhouse gases, experts said on Wednesday.

Novel carbon markets could offer a long-term fix for peat bogs, from Indonesia to South Africa, if negotiators of a U.N. climate treaty can agree ways to pay to safeguard marshes that are often drained to make way for farms, roads or homes.

"Peat fires continue underground and...they will not be extinguished in Russia before winter rains and snow set in," said Hans Joosten, professor of peatland studies and paleoecology at the University of Greifswald in Germany.To put out fires "you must inundate the area completely," he said, adding that one peat fire in South Africa near the border with Botswana, for instance, had smoldered for 5 years. Peat is formed from partly decayed vegetation.

Environmental group Wetlands International estimated 80 to 90 percent of the smog in Moscow was from peatland fires near the capital, rather than forest fires linked to what weather officials call Russia's hottest summer in a millennium.

"In Russia, peat fires can sometimes last under snow cover through the winter," said Ilkka Vanha-Majamaa, a scientist at the Finnish Forestry Research Institute.

Water dumped from planes, part of Russia's response, is rarely enough to halt peat fires, said Alex Kaat, spokesman for Wetlands International. Moscow has pledged more action to extinguish the blazes.

"Russia promised the same after peat fires in 2002 and nothing was done," Kaat said, saying past efforts to use water from the Volga River to soak peatlands had been half-hearted.

Photo shows a firefighter working to extinguish a peat fire in a forest near the town of Shatura, some 130 km (81 miles) southeast of Moscow, July 27, 2010. ]]> Green News http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=55 Thu, 12 Aug 2010 18:03:38 -0500 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=53
''We have a president who gets it,'' said Dean Garfield, the president of the Information Technology Industry Council, which recently identified the Senate initiatives in a short list of its top priorities.

A close look at the history of the stimulus bill - the first major product of the new administration - shows that the industries that stand to gain the most from the proposed legislation were also working to help shape it before Obama had even won the election.
For months, the industry officials had been talking with Obama advisers about how to use taxpayer aid to jump-start the economy while laying the groundwork for both the new president's and their own goals of building a high-tech infrastructure.

Obama's advisers say that the administration is following through on the promises he made in a campaign that began with a call two years ago to curb U.S. dependence on foreign oil and extend broadband access ''through the heart of inner cities and rural towns all across America.''

They emphasized that Obama had taken unusual steps to disclose what those companies were saying, like posting any proposals submitted to the transition team on its Web site, in contrast to the Bush administration's fight to keep secret how fossil fuel company executives shaped its energy policy in 2001.

''Whatever they shared, we put out there so the public could see it,'' said John Podesta, the president of the Center for American Progress and co-chairman of Obama's transition team.

Campaign finance records also show that executives at many of the energy and technology companies that stand to profit from the stimulus bill were also big contributors to Obama's campaign. His promises about a ''smart grid'' and universal broadband dovetailed with the hopes of many in the technology industry, as well as allied fields like renewable energy and electric power.

Drawing on renewable energy sources, like wind turbines and solar panels, would be easier with a smart grid that could handle inconsistent electricity production.

More energy would lower the cost of running giant computer servers, and because such a grid can send signals in both directions, it would also allow variable pricing for peak hours and could potentially expand the Internet network, as would extending other forms of broadband lines to rural and underserved areas.

Moving health records online would open new markets for digital connections, data storage and consumer services.

''They all converge,'' said Christopher Caine, vice president for governmental programs at International Business Machines, which is in both the smart grid and health care data businesses.

At the transition's request, IBM prepared a research report concluding that $30 billion in spending this year on the smart grid, broadband access and digitized health records would create approximately 949,000 jobs.

The idea of harnessing such pre-existing proposals to a stimulus package traces back to September 2008, when the financial crisis was worsening and it became clear that a jobs bill could be an early priority if Obama won the election. Obama advisers like Furman, Julius Genachowski and Austan Goolsbee began soliciting input from high-tech and alternative energy interests, including General Motors, IBM, Google, the Information Technology Industry Council and the electric utilities' Edison Electric Institute.

By October, ''there was a query that said: 'If you had money to spend on broadband as part of this stimulus, what would you propose?''' said Debbie Goldman, a lobbyist for the Communications Workers of America, a union that has pushed for greater government spending on broadband.

After the election, the campaign's policy teams went through their agenda and selected those items that could have a quick start and natural end date to identify candidates for a jobs bill.

''Synergies between our short-term goals and our long-term goals,'' David Axelrod, a top adviser to Obama, said during an interview, ''that was the sweet spot.''

The transition team also sought expert advice, holding conference calls and meetings at its temporary headquarters in Washington with a parade of industry lobbyists and executives from high-tech and clean-energy companies from mid-November to early December. The process reached a climax when members of the economic team flew to Chicago for a Dec. 16 meeting with Obama. The team laid out the structure of the plan - increased spending on infrastructure, education, energy and health care, along with tax cuts, financial aid to states and unemployment and food stamp benefits.

While much of the presentation involved broad themes, Furman said it put a special focus on ''a number of high-priority flagship details'' like the renewable energy and high-tech components. After making a few adjustments, Obama signed off on it. ''The president-elect was particularly interested in the energy component of the plan and pushed for a more robust effort on the smart grid,'' Furman recalled.

Three days later - the Friday before Christmas - transition officials met at the Capitol with congressional leaders and staff to present the proposals, which Furman said were couched in the form of ''suggestions'' by the president-elect.

His team had few staff and relied on Congress to convert their ideas into legislative language. Congressional committees, meanwhile, had been working since November to draft their own version of a stimulus bill, and added their own details to Obama's blueprint.

Garfield of the Information Technology Industry Council said technology lobbyists accepted the privacy rules in a spirit of compromise, in light of the victories they won elsewhere with Obama's help.

''I won't say it is great to be the king, because we are not the king,'' Garfield said. ''But it is good to be heard.''

Article originally published on ENN]]> Political http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=53 Sun, 15 Feb 2009 00:51:35 -0600 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=51
If you�re considering a renovation project in order to make your older home more eco-friendly, proceed with caution, especially if you�ve decided to tackle the project on your own. Only professionals with asbestos experience should handle this dangerous material. That�s why it�s essential to hire a building inspector to comb the house for asbestos before you proceed. Asbestos that�s found inside or outside your home will need to be sealed off or removed, depending on what sort of renovations are being done. In most states, the material � if it is to be removed � must be abated by a licensed company trained in asbestos removal. This avoids any danger of inhaling airborne asbestos fibers or dust caused by damaged or old asbestos. Fibers can become lodged in the chest area and eventually cause the cancer mesothelioma. Even just a small amount of exposure can lead to this devastating disease later in life.

Once the asbestos is removed, however, you can proceed in making your home a greener place to live by replacing it with more suitable materials that will help your family maintain good health. Products like spray foam insulation, cellulose, or cotton fiber insulation are good choices and most are quite energy efficient as well, cutting energy costs sometimes by as much as about 35 percent. Though they might be more expensive to install, the savings pays off in the long run.

Article Provided By:
http://www.mesothelioma.com]]> Green Construction http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=51 Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:02:55 -0600 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=49 The air is so unhealthy in parts of California that it causes the state to lose $28 billion in economic activity each year, says a study by two economics professors at California State University, Fullerton. Pollutants also cause more than 3,800 people to die prematurely.

Jane Hall and Victor Brajer focused on the Los Angeles region and the San Joaquin Valley, northwest of the megalopolis. They found air pollution levels in both areas rivaled only Houston, Texas in their severity."Most people cannot choose the air they breathe, and there is clear scientific consensus that people�s lives are shortened by air pollution. Kids are made sick. Workdays are lost," says team-leader Jane Hall in the San Francisco Chronicle. Hall has researched the impact of air pollution for two decades.

Filthy air causes 1.3 million children to stay home from school and adults lose more than 466,000 days of work each year, says "The benefits of meeting federal clean air standards in the South Coast and San Joaquin Valley Air Basins" report. Asthma attacks affect 141,370 people; acute bronchitis fells 16,110 children and 2,800 land people land in emergency rooms annually because of deadly pollutants in the air.

Nearly every resident "regularly experiences air pollution levels known to harm health and to increase the risk of early death," writes the report. Between 2005 and 2007, almost everyone in the Los Angeles region was exposed to unhealthful levels of ozone for more than 20 days each year. People living in the San Juaquin Valley were exposed to microscopic particulates for 30 days annually.

No time of year is exempt from dangerous pollution levels. People are exposed to high concentrations of ozone from April to September and breathe in dangerous fine particles during the rest of the year. "Not only is the standard frequently exceeded," say the authors, "But between 2005 and 2007 the maximum 8-hour concentration was significantly above the standard."

The researchers found that California�s productivity levels drop and costs increase when children miss school or their parents stay out of the office because of health-related concerns. Their doctors� bills, for instance, are covered by insurance companies, but those costs are passed as higher premiums to customers living in other parts of the state.

The study finds that the price of air pollution in the San Joaquin Valley is more than $1,600 per person per year, or $6 billion of the region�s economy. Simply meeting federal clean-air standards would save the region that annual cost, say the authors. In the Los Angeles metropolitan area the cost exceeds $1,250 per person, which translates into $22 billion in savings if emissions came into compliance with federal standards.

The San Joaquin Valley has long suffered from some of the worst pollution in the United States. Fumes from heavy-duty diesel trucks and numerous automobiles pollute the air alongside large agricultural operations. Los Angeles suffers from temperature inversions that trap smog close to the ground and from exhausts spewed by millions of vehicles on the road.

Its pollution levels are lower than in the Valley, however, because winds from the Pacific Ocean push many pollutants to the east.

The American Enterprise Institute, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, says the mortality estimates may be overstated in studies that link exposure to ill health. The conservative think tank regularly comments on government health standards. The researchers, on the other hand, argue that their $90,000 study used data and a methodology widely accepted by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Governments may be wise to read the California study in these uncertain economic times. Reducing pollution levels does not just improve people�s health. It can save billions of dollars. The trick is whether businesses and consumers are willing to modify their behavior in an age when pinching pennies has become the new norm.

Original Author:
Frank Came, GLOBE-net Editor.
http://www.globe-net.com

]]> Green News http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=49 Sun, 30 Nov 2008 22:38:09 -0600 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=47
Reconditioning batteries is a great way to save batteries from ending up in the landfill. Batteries are the most expensive part of most power tools and other things. Reconditioning batteries can save you money or create an opportunity to start a business selling these reconditioned batteries. Learn more Here.]]> General Green http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=47 Fri, 28 Nov 2008 02:17:36 -0600 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=44 Green Construction


It used to be that years ago home builders weren�t terribly concerned about building materials and their impact on the environment. The goal, especially during the post-war housing boom in the United States during the 1940s and 50s, was to put up a lot of houses and put them up fast. Keeping building costs down was also a concern of most builders, and inexpensive materials were used in favor of maintaining a healthy bottom line.


For this reason, the housing industry has indeed had a huge effect on the environment. Many building products are far from eco-friendly, including such materials as asbestos insulation and other products containing similarly dangerous toxins. And when those products wind up on the scrap heap during remodeling projects, they can cause even more hazards.


Fortunately, home builders of the new millennium have begun to stand up and take notice of their industry�s huge impact on the world around us and have been providing new home owners, as well as those remodeling their old homes, with options that are more eco-friendly. Today, one might say, �green building� is more than just the color you�ve selected for your siding.
Why Green Construction?


While cars and factories have an impact on the environment that�s obvious to most individuals, it�s often difficult for people to understand just how a home or seemingly-innocuous office building can affect our planet.


Simply put, a well-built �green� building can easily trump a traditional building by reducing the amount of energy (electricity, etc.) consumed as well as the amount of water used on a daily basis. In addition, by using eco-friendly, natural building products, everyone�s health may be improved simply by improving the air quality inside a building.


In a recent study released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency(EPA), the organization reports that buildings account for 39% of total energy usage, 68% of total energy consumption, and 38% of carbon dioxide emissions in this country. Those are high numbers but with some simple steps, they can be reduced, say EPA officials and other �green� organizations.


Furthermore, a green building is more cost efficient for owners or landlords. Remember, green buildings lessen energy usage, therefore saving the owner money in the long run, even if it costs a little more to include green building materials in the construction process.


Building Green


What exactly does it mean to employ the use of �green� construction techniques or materials? Simply, green construction always keeps the environment in mind. Eco-friendly construction materials are those that help to sustain the environment. These include such products as organic insulation, solar panels, or wood from sustainable forests.


In general, products used include high-efficiency lighting, heating, and cooling options that lessen the buildings impact on the Earth. In addition, green buildings are also designed to be more aesthetically pleasing and to blend with their environment. That might include the extensive use of plants or trees or other organic materials. Some studies show that the use of things like plants and water features in green office buildings serve to improve employee productivity, yet another perk of a healthy, green environment.


Green Remodeling


While it isn�t difficult to plan a green building from scratch, many individuals who are eco-conscious and have a desire to convert their traditional homes to something more eco-friendly may face a few more challenges. Green remodeling is usually a bit tougher and while certainly commendable, there is much for the home remodeler to consider before making the necessary changes.


The main concern is dealing with the potentially- toxic materials that are already inside the existing house. If a homeowner is converting a home that was constructed prior to 1980, chances are that asbestos and other hazardous materials may be present. Asbestos was widely used for the first three-quarters of the twentieth century and removing it properly is critical and usually involves the services of a licensed abatement professional. Asbestos exposure can of course lead to the deadly cancer known as mesothelioma. Currently, there are no mesothelioma treatments that lead to a cure.


Fortunately, however, once the asbestos insulation, flooring, ceiling tiles, or other products of concern are removed, there are much better options for their replacement. Today, eco-friendly insulation products include:


* Cotton fiber � Recycled cotton fiber has become a very popular insulation material among green builders. It consists of a batted material � often denim � that has been treated with the chemical borate to make it fire- and heat-retardant and to prevent it from developing mold. The material produces no off gases and it is totally non-toxic, carrying no warning labels. Manufacturers of cotton fiber insulation include Bonded Logic, which manufactures the popular Ultra Touch brand.

* Cellulose � Cellulose insulation is made from finely-shredded newsprint. It contains 85 percent recycled content, similar to the numbers for cotton fiber insulation. It is chemically treated to reduce mold and promote fire resistance and its use is said to reduce heating and air conditioning bills by up to 20 percent annually. US GreenFiber, a manufacturer of eco-friendly building products such as cellulose insulation, reports that cellulose is used in approximately 15 percent of new green building construction.

* Fiberglass � Though fiberglass of old was not really toxic to the environment, today�s fiberglass insulation manufacturers are now making more and better use of recycled materials in their products. In addition, well-known insulation companies � like Owens Corning and CertainTeed � are striving to have their products certified by the GreenGuard Environmental Institute for low emissions of formaldehyde and other pollutants. Also, these companies both have �green building� departments that are concerned specifically with supplying eco-friendly products to those who desire them.

* Spray Polyurethane Foam (SPF) � Easy to install, this foam does not emit any harmful off-gasses. In addition, this water-based spray (icynene) is said to produce a �tight� home that allows little space for mold or dust, making it very desirable for families with allergies. Its only drawback is that icynene can only be installed by certified professionals, making it more costly than other forms of non-toxic insulation. However, manufacturers claim it cuts energy costs by about 35 percent annually.


In general, eco-friendly insulation provides a lower risk of the release of pollutants in the home or office because it is manufactured from natural fibers. That means you�ll be breathing cleaner air at all times. Using these natural fibers also provides yet another advantage � less waste is making its way to the landfills, further reducing the impact of buildings on the environment.


]]> Green Construction http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=44 Tue, 14 Oct 2008 13:28:50 -0500 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=42
Total US installed wind power capacity now stands at 19,549MW, up 2,726MW from the end of 2007, making the US the world leader in wind electricity generation, according to the AWEA's second quarter 2008 market report. Germany has installed generating capacity of about 23,000MW, but the US produces more electricity because of stronger winds, the AWEA said.The AWEA projects 7,500MW of new capacity will come online in 2008, a 45% increase over 2007. �The increased cost of fuel, particularly natural gas, has had an amazing impact on the industry��, said AWEA executive director Randall Swisher.

The rapid growth of the wind energy industry, however, is being threatened by the inability of Congress to pass legislation to extend the PTC for renewable energy projects, he said. The PTC is set to expire at the end of 2008, and many projects are being rushed to completion by the end of this year, Swisher said.

Investment in new wind energy projects beyond 2008 has stalled due to the failure to extend the credits, Swisher said. �If there is a great deal of uncertainty in the market and in policies in the market, that investment capacity will be deployed elsewhere��, he said. �It's just ludicrous that the Congress is letting this opportunity slip away.��

The AWEA also reported a strong increase in domestic investment in wind turbine and wind turbine component manufacturing facilities over the past 18 months with at least 41 new or expanded facilities creating more than 9,000 jobs when operating at full capacity. But uncertainty about the PTC also threatens that investment, according to the AWEA. ]]> Green News http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=42 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:49:22 -0500 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=40
1. Municipalities and Water Utilities
Many municipalities these days are encouraging water saving devices like rain barrels, and as a result, often give them away for free. They probably have a limited supply or may only offer them on certain days or at specific events. They may refer you to the water utility company.

2. Non-profit Organizations
If your municipality has no advice, then check out non-profit environmental organizations. They may have giveaways or know of places where you can get free or inexpensive rain barrels.

3. Car Wash
I�ve heard that car washes may have 55 gallon barrels that can be retrofitted as rain barrels but have never investigated it myself. I�ve also heard that they recycle them back to the supplier, but it never hurts to ask.

4. Feed Supply Store
If you live in a rural area, then another resource to try is the feed supply store where grains might be sold in large containers suitable for rain barrels.

5. Food or Beverage Manufacturing Facility
I�ve heard that in Atlanta, GA people can get 55-gallon drums from the Coca-Cola bottling plant for free. This may hold true for other food and beverage manufacturing or bottling facilities.
]]> General Green http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=40 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:46:13 -0500 http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=38
1. China - Probably not a surprise. China comes in at #1 among developing countries and #2 worldwide (new reports show that China may actually be #1 in both categories). At 18.4% of global CO2 emissions, no one even comes close to China (except for the United States). The next country to even begin to offer a challenge is Russia, at a mere 5.6%. China also accounts for almost 20% of the worlds population with 1,325,507,000.

2. India - Pumping out 4.9%, this quickly developing country is home to roughly 1,136,665,600 (over 17% of the global population). Including developed countries, India still ranks 4th.

3. South Korea - earns a Bronze with 1.7% of global emissions, and 9th when factoring in the developed world. With a population just slightly larger than South Africa, at 48,224,000 people. #3,4 and 5 are all pretty close in terms of CO2 emissions, though Mexico has double the population of South Korea or South Africa.

4. Mexico - Also 1.6% of global emission (slightly higher than South Africa if you look at actual tons), the roughly 106,682,500 people of Mexico are 11th in the world when you include developed countries.

5. South Africa - Responsible for 1.6% of global CO2 emissions, South Africa has a population of 47,850,000 people. Cheers to South Africa for recently announcing its plans to stabilize and reduce CO2 emissions by 2025. (#12 in the world if you include developed countries).]]> Stats and Facts http://blog.greenacy.org/index.php?itemid=38 Sun, 17 Aug 2008 12:32:06 -0500