By Christopher Forestieri
History suggests that, in an election year, anything is possible. And with the environment, and more specifically energy, playing a critical role in each party’s platform, the political landscape is open for just about anything in regards to renewable energy sources. Still, the city of San Antonio may have trumped anything either party could muster in terms of the most shocking alternative fuel.
Ameresco, an energy service company based in Massachusetts, has been approved by the city of San Antonio to convert 90 percent of its liquid and solid waste into energy. Yes, you read that correctly, energy from the toilet. (http://environment.about.com/od/fossilfuels/a/human_waste.htm) The plan will see methane generated from the city’s human waste converted into clean-burning natural gas which can be used to heat homes and fuel power plants.
San Antonio will be the first city to undertake such a project on a large scale. However, the city has previously experimented with reusing human waste; residents are able to purchase treated waste water and compost made from converted waste for garden and lawn use.
A recent article by Larry West on about.com estimated that the city will be able to generate 1.5 million cubic feet of natural gas per day, which is enough to fill 1,250 tanker trucks. The project will also “pay for itself” in part. San Antonio plans to sell 900,000 cubic feet of the converted natural gas back to Ameresco everyday for the next 20 years, generating up to $250,000 annually.
San Antonio’s plan will produce a renewable energy source that is feasible and absolutely renewable. This is a great example for other local and municipal governments to look at in the interest of taking energy independence into their own hands.
Waiting around for the federal government to solve the energy problem could take an enormous amount of time. And if the popular sentiment of “drill baby drill” ultimately prevails (as it seems to be), a viable alternative to non-renewable fuel may be far away.
In the meantime, small scale ingenuity and a willingness to think outside of the status quo may be the best and most viable solution to our many energy and environmental problems. The subject of converting human waste into energy may not be ideal for dinnertime conversation, but it’s a conversation we all should be having.
Gone, But Not Forgotten
Introducing the Volt
By Rachel Tanis
I’m probably the only person in the world that can honestly say that I was a little saddened to see crude oil fall in recent trading. No, I don’t own stock in big oil. I do, though, think that we’ll never change our habits if gas prices drop to manageable rates. And, while the environment at least has a place on the political scene this time around, the economy is definitely taking precedence, further overshadowing global warming issues that will far outlast the ups and downs of Wall Street. Still, there is hope, and its name is Volt.
Since I live in metro-Detroit, and our local news stations carried the broadcast of the 100th anniversary celebration of General Motors this past week, I watched closely to see what the backbone of our community had to say on this all-important day. I was pleased with the revelry and nostalgia offered on that historic Tuesday, but absolutely mystified by the previously under-wraps Chevy Volt. The American institution revealed its latest technological breakthrough to a stunned, and very pleased, audience.
The Volt is so electrifying in design and form, that those facts alone could make it a great seller. Then, General Motors has thrown into the mix the fact that this engineering feat is also a gas-avoiding electric car that it estimates will be fully re-charged for pennies! The Volt’s only drawback is that we have to wait until 2010 to drive one off of the showroom floor.
Between now and then plenty of things could change, including gas prices which have fluctuated widely as of late. Still, America (which must lead the rest of the world in this arena – but more on that later) has to decide once and for all that oil prices are not the reason to save our planet - the beauty and majesty of it is the reason to save the planet, not to mention the fact that it is the only place that we all call home.
Give General Motors a pat on the back for their hard work and dedication to this all-important issue and spread the word about the Volt. The Volt’s technology not only makes it a car of the future, but more importantly, a car for our future.
Start Turning Green in College
By Melinda Toussaint
When you’re going off to college everyone around you tells you secrets for success- study hard, meet new people, be open to your roommate, and of course the cliché that these are the best days of your life. However, they have missed one crucial thing. Try to make a difference. You say that’s easier said than done right; well maybe it’s easier than you think. A great way to make a difference is by living green.
College is a time to try new things, learn all you can, and to absorb experiences that will help you later on in life. But it is also the time to take a stand and to help others give a voice to their generation. Well this generation should give a voice to the environment. A strong call that says “Protect me!”
As a college student you obviously won’t have the money to buy a hybrid or energy saving appliances, it’s hard enough saving money for laundry, but what you can do is daily energy savers that cost no money at all, in fact if practiced enough will save you money.
If you are a student living in the dorms you may not have control over much of your living quarters. But you have to chance to make a difference in a big way. No matter what college you attend they will all have one thing in common: they are filled with bulletin boards of wasted paper. Nine out of ten students do not read anything on those boards, maybe a few glances at them while waiting for the elevator, but that’s it. This is your chance to sit down with the head of your dormitory and suggest a dorm website run by who else… the students, maybe even you. There you could post important information about upcoming events or anything else exciting going on in the dorm or on campus. That way you can save all that wasted paper and give the students a chance to learn about the events in the privacy of their own room or at the library.
Another thing you can do is recycle! You have heard it your whole life but still many Americans still do not recycle. If your dorm has a recycling dumpster or bin, use it! In fact, go one step further and recycle for your whole floor! When I was a sophomore in college, my friends and I started getting a cart from the front desk and taking out the garbage for the floor. We would take turns every day or week. This way if you can’t influence your friends to recycle on their own, you can make sure the waste is going to the right places. Now you will be recycling for nearly 50 students. This is a great way for you to meet everyone on your floor and do something nice for him or her while saving the environment.
However, if taking big steps in the way of living green is not exactly for you, there are many small things you can do alone to insure a better environment:
-Start taking shorter showers. According to The Green Book by Elizabeth Rodgers and Thomas M. Kostigen, “Every two minutes you save on your shower can conserve more than ten gallons of water.” There are approximately 11 million college students, imagine how many gallons would be saved daily if we all did that.
-You can also use a water filter instead of buying bottled water. You can save money, water, and let’s face it much needed fridge space.
-Also make sure your microwave is clean, when it is it used less energy and less time to prepare your food.
-You can make sure you turn off the lights when you leave and turn off your appliances or electronics when they aren’t in use. Leaving your computer on while you are at class or leaving your cell phone charger plugged in uses nearly ten percent of your total electricity.
And these are just a couple of the things you can do as a student. The Green Book talks more about the simple steps you can do in every aspect of your life. Every student has the power to live greener and potentially help others live greener too. If you learn how to live green as a student, it will be much easier to be green as an adult.
“If we all begin to learn from one another and share some of the things we do, we just might be able to affect the world for the better through these little rituals.” –Jennifer Aniston
A Hybrid Moment
By Christopher Forestieri
There was a time when buying a new car was relatively simple. Something fast, sturdy and modern was all that many required. But astronomical increases in fuel costs, coupled with a growing concern over the impact of automobiles on the environment, have made choosing a new car a much more detailed consideration.
First and foremost on the minds of many drivers is fuel economy. A fuel efficient car not only saves money at the pump, but also reduces emissions and the impact one’s driving has on the planet.
The Environmental Protection Agency explains the importance of fuel efficiency like so:
“The better gas mileage a vehicle gets, the less fuel it burns. Less fuel burned means fewer natural resources are used and less pollution is created from the extraction and processing of the fuel. Less fuel burned also means that less carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas is added to the atmosphere.”
The EPA has prepared a fuel economy guide to assist car buyers in finding a fuel efficient vehicle at www.fueleconomy.gov.
With the recent wealth of technological advancements the automotive industry has seen regarding fuel efficiency, there are now more choices than ever for fuel-conscious drivers. Many popular models are becoming available as hybrids which draw from both fossil fuels and electricity.
Ideally, electricity powers the hybrid car at times when a traditional car would use the most gasoline, such as starting from a dead stop. After the car gets up to speed, it begins to burn fuel while regenerating electricity through motion. In turn, a hybrid gets superior fuel economy.
One thing to be aware of when considering a hybrid vehicle is its average Miles Per Gallon (MPG). While some vehicles are considered hybrids, they still may get the same MPG as a traditional car. For example, larger SUVs and trucks which have been turned into hybrids typically get far lower MPG than a smaller, non-hybrid vehicle. Still, if the buyer lives in an area or has a lifestyle or job which requires a large vehicle, a hybrid SUV or truck is a much more efficient alternative to a traditional a SUV or truck.
However, a large hybrid should not be an excuse for extravagance. Driver’s concerned about fuel economy should avoid buying a car larger than they need, hybrid or not. A smaller, lighter car will almost always get the most fuel efficiency, especially the smaller hybrids.
Of course, those truly concerned about saving money and the environment will look for ways to avoid driving all together. There are many ways to get around that don’t involve driving. While alternative methods of travel may not be an option in every situation, walking or biking short trips and utilizing public transportation when possible is a good start.
Driving is a staple of our culture, for good or ill; but, if you’re going to drive, drive smart. You may not be able to drastically change your lifestyle and stop driving altogether, but you can take time to do the research when buying a new car mitigate your impact on the environment while saving a couple bucks at the pump in the process.
Make waves
As a consumer, it is (relatively) easy to change your own lifestyle to become more environmentally conscious, at least bit by bit. And in reality, these changes really do have an impact, no matter how often you may feel like a drop in the bucket.
However, even after buying only fair trade, local, and chemical free goods, you can still do more. You may already be walking and biking; not to mention conserving, recycling, consolidating, and reusing. Ah, you are so socially responsible. But, there is STILL more to do.
Reaching out to others is one of the most important and effective ways of spreading the word on any given issue. Being a college student, such a task becomes infinitely easier. Posters, an essential staple of the college campus, are a super-easy way of spreading word of events and issues, and there are thousands of other like-minded idealists around to recruit.
Talk to your friends, officemates and neighbors about environmental issues. Especially if they have an impact in your area, building a strong community is one of the best ways to strengthen support for an environmental or social issue (i.e. recycling programs, bike trails your city, known toxins in your area, etc.)
Also, as you know, your consumption role can significantly change markets by showing the companies your demands, but an even more effective way to show what you want is to write letters!
Show your love to businesses or companies that you support, and tell them exactly what makes you such a happy customer. With your support they may even increase their eco-conscious practices. Just write them a letter. Snail mail is often more effective here because they tend to give it more attention. Also, you may even get something back! I went through a big 'thank you' letter-writing phase in high school and I got quite a few free products and free lunches back in return.
Give a piece of your mind to companies that are environmentally oblivious, too. You can certainly make an impact here, too. Companies don’t want to have displeased customers.
Another great way to make waves is to write letters to your local representatives about issues affecting your community or bills to support. Whether they are your county representatives or state, the representatives rely heavily on the input of the community to make their decisions. Oftentimes they may be completely unaware of these problems or their intricacies, until their constituents offer advice or opinions, and the representatives are often easily impacted. After all, that’s what democracy is all about.
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