Earth Hour

Earth Hour, Saturday March 28, 8:30 p.m.

Lights Out for Earth Hour
Saturday, March 28, 8:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m.

VOTE EARTH

YOUR LIGHT SWITCH IS YOUR VOTE

This year, Earth Hour has been transformed into the world’s first global election, between Earth and global warming.

For the first time in history, people of all ages, nationalities, race and background have the opportunity to use their light switch as their vote – Switching off your lights is a vote for Earth, or leaving them on is a vote for global warming. WWF are urging the world to VOTE EARTH and reach the target of 1 billion votes, which will be presented to world leaders at the Global Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen 2009.

This meeting will determine official government policies to take action against global warming, which will replace the Kyoto Protocol. It is the chance for the people of the world to make their voice heard.

Earth Hour began in Sydney in 2007, when 2.2 million homes and businesses switched off their lights for one hour. In 2008 the message had grown into a global sustainability movement, with 50 million people switching off their lights. Global landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, Rome’s Colosseum, the Sydney Opera House and the Coca Cola billboard in Times Square all stood in darkness.

In 2009, Earth Hour is being taken to the next level, with the goal of 1 billion people switching off their lights as part of a global vote. Unlike any election in history, it is not about what country you’re from, but instead, what planet you’re from. VOTE EARTH is a global call to action for every individual, every business, and every community. A call to stand up and take control over the future of our planet. Over 74 countries and territories have pledged their support to VOTE EARTH during Earth Hour 2009, and this number is growing everyday.

We all have a vote, and every single vote counts. Together we can take control of the future of our planet, for future generations.

VOTE EARTH by simply switching off your lights for one hour, and join the world for Earth Hour.

Saturday, March 28, 8:30-9:30pm.

Original Source: http://www.earthhour.org/home/

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

You Can Help "Keep America Beautiful"

If you are looking for ways in which you can do your part to "green" our world, there is no better way than to participate in the "Green starts here" message provided by the March 3 launch of the 2009 Keep America Beautiful (KAB) Great American Cleanup project. KAB will be hosting events around the country until the end of the program on May 31. It is a reminder to family, friends and neighbors that even though ‘Green Starts Here,’ the impact we create as individuals goes beyond our own community.

KAB is expecting over three million volunteers in 30,000 community improvement activities and educational workshops to get involved in this year’s Great American Cleanup. These volunteers will rid streets, waterways and public spaces of litter and illegal dump sites, hold recycling drives and educational events, paint out graffiti and much more.

The Great American Cleanup is not a small project. Last year, 86 million pounds of litter and debris were collected for proper disposal, reuse and recycling. The program also:

• Removed 15,200 junk cars, recycled 10.2 million pounds of aluminum and steel and recycled 1.4 million tires
• Recycled 5.3 million pounds of electronics and 137,000 batteries
• Improved over 144,000 miles of roadway
• Recycled 186 million plastic (PET) bottles
• Improved and maintained 91,000 acres of parks and public lands; 7,000 miles of rivers, lakes and shorelines; and 6,000 miles of hiking, biking and nature trails
• Recycled 37.1 million pounds of newsprint
• Recycled 5.2 million pounds of clothing

The Great American Cleanup began with a national launch event in Waveland, Miss., which helped to restore a hurricane-ravaged town along the Gulf Coast. It will also host additional national events in New York City on Earth Day and Nashville on May 14.

Green Home Trends for 2009

Here are some of the latest trends that people are buzzing about so far in 2009 that you may want to incorporate into your green-home design.

Backyard Turbines
With the economy seeming to be out of control these days, it may be a good idea to consider some ways to cut expenses, including those high electric bills! Why not consider taking matters into your own hands and turning to small wind energy. Even though there is a large upfront fee to build a turbine, you may be able to earn credits for becoming energy independent and reducing air pollution, as turbines produce no pollution.

Flat Roof Solar-Power Systems
Solar penels are easy to install on your rooftop They require only one simple hand tool. One such system, the Andalay solar panel, incorporates all electrical components inside the sleek panel. It looks like a sunroof and saves you loads of money.

Metal Roofing
Roofing materials may not get much "greener" than these. The covering is crafted of recycled material, is 100-percent recyclable and lasts for decades - up to 40 to 60 years. Traditional roofing materials last 10 to 20 years and end up in a landfill, which is certainly not good for the environment.

Synthetic Turf
What could be more convenient than replacing the fescue with fake grass? While you can hardly tell the difference, you need no lawn mower, no messy fertilizer, no wasted water, plus your "grass" stays in a state of perpetual greenness.

Install a Programmable Thermostat
To make your life easier, and cut down on potential arguments over the temperature, install a programmable thermostat. It allows much finer control over where the heating is set and always 'remembers' to turn down the heat at night, so the average family will save $150 a year, according to the EPA.

Programmable models can be found at most home improvement and hardware stores for $50 to $100. They are easy to install with the instructions,or are a quick task for a professional. A great way to increase energy efficiency and lower bills.

Benefits of Home Air Purifiers

Everyone can benefit from cleaner air, especially those with allergies, asthma, or other respiratory problems. Unfortunately there are increasing health concerns about indoor air quality within our own homes.

Even though your home may look spotlessly clean, the air in it could be contaminated with microscopic organisms that the eye can't see. Pollutant levels (airborne particles, gases, chemicals, and volatile organic compounds) are actually higher inside the home than they are outside. Poor quality indoor air affects people to different degrees, depending on an individual’s age and relative health. Indoor home air purifiers remove these microscopic organisms giving you pure, fresh air to breathe. There are different ways of protecting yourself and your loved ones against indoor air pollutants. Indoor air mold

One of the most common indoor air pollutants is air mold. Mold exists wherever moisture and oxygen are present. Molds can often be found in damp basements, closets, bathrooms, air conditioning systems, humidifiers, and any humid place inside your home. Here are some steps you can take to improve the quality of air in your home.

Improving indoor air quality

The first step in improving indoor air quality is to try to control the source of the pollutant. If the source stems from indoor air mold, smoke, or some type of chemical, you can actually remove it from your home through a thorough cleansing. On the other hand, some indoor air pollutants such as dust, pollen and pet dander are not so easily eliminated.

The next step is to improve the ventilation in your home. Bringing fresh air into the house by opening windows is not only helpful but also very simple. However, avoid opening those windows on a high pollen-count day or in a smoggy city as it will probably worsen the air situation in your home. Home air purifiers should be able to rid your home of a variety of contaminants including particles released during normal kitchen processes such as cooking and cleaning, tobacco smoke pollutants that remain suspended in the air, and air that gets stale and full of contaminants due to improper circulation.

Lastly, the addition of a home air purifier can greatly improve the air quality in your home. There are numerous types of air purifiers on the market—be sure to buy one that is well suited for the dimension and uses within your home.

Types of Home Air Purifiers

All home air purifiers are designed to clean and purify the air people breathe. They are made to reduce odors and airborne pollutants that contribute to poor air quality, and filter common allergens such as pollen, mold and dust. Air purifiers can be portable, to add convenience, or permanently installed. The most common air purifiers available for home use are HEPA (High Energy Particulate Arrestance), ionic, and UV (Ultra Violet) based. HEPA certified air purifiers must rid 99.97% particles in the air that measure 0.3 micrometers. Ionic air purifiers give a negative ion charge to all suspended particles making them heavy and allowing them to settle on the ground. These particles can be vacuum cleaned. You can also find models available that trap these particles, allowing you to get the filter cleaned later. UV based air purifiers circulate the air through it, destroying all the airborne particles using ultra violet light. Air that comes out of the unit is pure and free of any suspended particles.

Things to Consider When Buying A Home Air Purifier

Area Coverage – Make sure the square footage recommended for the air purifier is capable of handling the square footage of the room where you intend to use it. The coverage listed should be at least as large if not larger than the room.

Air Changes Per Hour (ACH) – This number tells us how frequently the air purifier can exchange all the air in a given room in an hour. If you suffer from allergies or asthma, you will probably want a higher ACH rating.

Filter Replacements – Filters have to be replaced on many types of air purifiers. Make sure to find out the cost of the filters and how often they must be changed. Even the lower-cost filters can become quite expensive, so it is a factor to consider over time. Regular maintenance in changing filters is crucial to clean air quality. A home air purifier which uses a filter to trap the pollutants will circulate these very pollutants if not cleaned or changed at the specified time.

Noise Level – Some air purifiers are very quiet, while others can be quite loud. A good idea is to ask for a trial demonstration of the unit before purchasing it.

Energy Usage –Air purifiers operate on energy and run continuously, so the amount of energy they consume will be reflected on your energy bill. Be sure you are aware of this increased usage charge before you make your decision.

Whatever type of home air purifier you choose, you can be sure you will be breathing cleaner, more pure air in your own home.

2 days only get 50% off the Holmes HEPA-Type Air Purifier Tower with Remote Control. Use promo code F8PEE01. Valid August 29 – 30.

US Gov't Puts Off Greenhouse Gas Regulation

Environmentalists are seething after the administration of US President George W. Bush delayed any decision on regulating greenhouse gases, likely leaving any substantive action to his successor.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a 588-page report Friday that cites "the complexity and magnitude" of the issue and calls for 120 days of public comment.

The decision follows a Supreme Court ruling ordering the EPA last year to devise ways to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from motor vehicles under the Clean Air Act.

"The Bush administration's refusal to respond to the Supreme Court and do something about global warming is not just illegal, it is grossly immoral," said Danielle Fugere of Friends of the Earth, an environmental group.

"President Bush's inaction in the face of this crisis is one of the greatest failures of leadership in presidential history," she said in a statement.

The EPA said there were doubts whether "greenhouse gases could be effectively controlled under the Clean Air Act."

EPA Administrator Stephen Johnson wrote that regulating greenhouse gases under any portion of the act "could result in an unprecedented expansion of EPA authority that would have a profound effect on virtually every sector of the economy and touch every household in the land."

David Bookbinder, the climate counsel for the Sierra Club environmental group, said the EPA's decision underscores Johnson's "utter lack of credibility."

"The American public, Congress, world leaders, and even career government officials are counting down the days until this administration leaves town and a new president undoes the damage done by President Bush and makes up for nearly a decade of lost time -- time we didn't have to waste in the first place," Bookbinder said in a statement.

The EPA decision came after Bush agreed during the Group of Eight industrialized nations meeting in Japan this week to cut carbon emissions blamed for global warming by at least half by 2050. It was the strongest language yet signed by the US leader.

The Bush administration has fiercely opposed any imposition of binding emissions limits on the nation's industry and has refused to ratify the Kyoto Protocol on reducing greenhouse gas blamed for global warming.

But the Supreme Court ruled in April 2007 that the EPA must consider greenhouse gases as pollutants and deal with them.

The ruling came in response to legal action undertaken by Massachusetts and a dozen other states and environmental groups that went to court to determine whether the agency had the authority to regulate greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide emissions.

Environmentalists have alleged that since Bush came to office in 2001 his administration has ignored and tried to hide looming evidence of global warming and the key role of human activity in climate change.

At a hearing in November 2006, Massachusetts argued that it risked losing more than 4.5 meters (15 feet) of land all along its coastline if the sea level should rise by 30 centimeters (one foot).

But the Bush administration, backed by nine states and several auto manufacturers, urged the court not to intervene, arguing that if the situation was so dire it could not be solved by a simple legal decision.

It further argued that reducing emissions from new US motor vehicles would have only a minor effect on global climate change.

While the court's decision is unlikely to change US policy, it has ramifications on several other ongoing issues, such as the agency's refusal to regulate emissions from electricity plants which produce some 40 percent of US carbon dioxide emissions. Motor vehicles are responsible for just 20 percent.

Original source:

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080712/ts_
afp/usclimatewarminglaw_080712203403