Hawii's Hydrogen Fuel Experiment

The Hawaiian Island of Oahu is beggining a new era of climate-friendly transportation and energy infrastructure. The state's gas company is trying to set up an island-wide hydrogen fuel system by 2015. With hydrogen fuel cell-powered cars and fueling stations. Hydrogen only produces water as a waste and is alot better than oil. Hawaii is a good location to test this out at a low cost. Oahu is small and isolated, therefore the cars don't go far. The island already has a steady supply of hydrogen. Hydrogen gas is produced as a byproduct of the state's natural gas production industry. The supply of hydrogen drops the production cost of each hydrogen fuel pumps from a couple million dollars down to $300,000-500,000. GM already has 119 Chevy Equinox fuel cell cars driving around the U.S. mostly going to hawaii and hoping to get more out on the market by 2015.

"In Arabian Desert, a Sustainable City Rises"

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/26/arts/design/26masdar.html?_r=1&ref=earth

Norman Foster, the principle partner of Foster & Partners, has created a vision for a city that produces little to no carbon emissions. He plans to combine ancient Arab architecture with new ways to keep the town cooler, without using energy for air conditioning, including narrower streets in the shade, electronically powered cars located underground, and higher buildings to catch the wind. Masdar, the town name, plans to have 90% of the power used be solar, and the remaining 10% to be made by incinerating waste. However, many are concerned that Masdar will become a mini-utopia for the rich and exclude the poor. Mr. Foster stated that "it is not about social exclusion" and intends for the city to be enjoyed by all social classes. I think this town is a wonderful idea and should be an inspiration for others. By lowering the amount of electricity and carbon emissions, Masdar is beginning what other towns need to start in order to help the environment.

How Heating Our Homes Could Help Reduce Climate Change

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100924095819.htm

There is a new heating system that is more less a community center. This would be very environmental friendly. This heating unit is like a building where you put natural things in, such as your trash and wood. Buring wood reduces greenhouse gas because when you burn wood it re-releases carbon dioxide into the air. This community heating system would be costly at first but in the long run you would save so much more money. Plus it's not even about the money when you think about how you're helping the environment. I think many people would be in favor of this idea in the US. They have already started working on this in the UK, so if they can do it i know we can as well. By burning wood the UK saved greenhouse gas reductions over 84% and think they can keep saving with this new heating scheme. They also want to start using sustainable fuels rather than fossil fuels. You could really help save how much carbon dioxide was used if we did this. So i think the US should really look into it.

Coal ash is a global problem!

Coal ash is an international problem. It's highly hazardous and it effects the environment and even us! This problem with coal ash ponds can only be avoided by switching to a renewable resource. These ash ponds leak dangerous chemicals into our groundwater and there is no known way to clean it up. :( The U.S. and China are 2 countries that have to deal with it because both have failed to regulate it well enough. If the link works, you can go to the page and look at pictures taken in China!

'Tragedy of the Commons'

Marine scientists fight for a new governance everyday to protect the ocean from overfishing, pollution and plenty of other human impacts. In Chile, Marine Biologists have found a solution to reverse the ocean's 'Tragedy of the Commons.' Keep in mind that the 'Tragedy of the Commons' is a huge dilemma arising from the situation in which multiple individuals, independently depleting a resource.
The Marine Biologists have experimented in Chile and have found that fisheries can be our solution. However, this requires the complete understanding of local fishermen that the fish populations are disappearing fast. This cannot be a single person effort but a effort world wide. I believe that if this is the only way then everyone should try and support this new way of saving the Ocean.

Article supported by: http://sciencedaily.com/

Picture supported by: http://cartoonstock.com/

Increase In Carbon Dioxide :(

Ever wondered what might of happened 55 million years ago? Well, 55 million years ago a massive carbon release and rapid warming happened in our oceans, causing much extinction within our Marine life. When carbon dioxide levels increase, it acidifies the ocean; which caused Marine life with carbon based shells to die off. Stages of what happened previously are showing up again today. Scientists are studying this in the Mediterranean Sea where carbon levels are increasing. Scientists predict that if the carbon dioxide levels continue to increase at the pace in which it is, calcified organisms will go extinct while non calcifying organisms will take over. This will result in mass extinction, degrading coastal waters, and an outbreak of toxic jelly fish and algae. If we do not study our oceans or try to find a solution, one day we may no longer have calcified organisms in the oceans. I agree with many others that this situation would be disappointing if we at least didn't try to reduce the carbon dioxide levels. http://www.sciencedaily.com

Great Lakes Water Quality is Focus Of New Research Grant

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/09/100917183033.htm

A group of researchers were given 5 million dollars to study what the water quality of the great lakes is going to be like after the effects of climate change. They believe that the climate change is going to have a negative effect on the lakes which hold 84% of North Americas fresh water. While there is a lot known about how global warming will effect the amount and availability of water there is little known about the actual effects it will have on it as this is a source of drinking water, agricultural irrigation and recreation. This is a very unique experiment and in my opinion a very good one. If the water quality is going to be horrible in years to come, we need to know that now in order to attempt to discover a solution in time.

Green Bulbs

Scientists have created new light b ulbs that are more energy efficient and have less impact on our enviroment. Alot of people think of the cool swirly light bulbs when some one mentions eco friendly lightbulbs. These ight bulbs are actually called LED lighbulbs. LED items are considered specialty item still, but at the end of this month 2200 Home Depot stores across the United States will carry these bulbs. These bulbs create the same amount of light per watt that your typical light bulb would create except the LED bulb lasts a whole lot longer. The color of the LED light is also different this light is more white opposed to being a yellowish light. I think that replacing a light bulb with an LED light bulb is just one more simple thing we can do for a step to a truly greener earth.
Katie F

Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle Can National Fuel Consumption in Half

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2003/10/031015031752.htm

Recently, Toyota produced it's own gasoline-electric hybrid cars to decrease the consumption of fuel used throughout the U.S. Many auto makers are questioning the benefits of these developing vehicles. It was addressed by a researcher from Missourri-Columbia that these cars being made have the potential to be mass produced in the next five years because of its statistical savings. The Plug-In Hybrid is a modified hybrid car by having an additional plug in containting a secondary power source, which can be recharged using electricity while being parked at home. The main idea of the new creation is to decrease the demand for gasoline and run the electrical cars. It is noted that if a owner of one of the cars charges his car at night it would not add to the burden on the nations electrical power grid. Many officials, governemnt, and other car dealerships are encouraging families and individuals to buy the Plug-in Hybrid car for future safety.

Scientist Sequence the Chocolate Genome

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2010-09/sweet-breakthrough-scientists-led-candy-company-sequence-chocolate-genome

Scientists of agriculture research, IBM, maker of M&M's, Mar's Inc., and Milky Way bars and other treats, have come together to fund and help research the priliminary sequence of the chocolate genome a.k.a. Cacao Geonome. Sure scientist find new genome sequences all the time but its the chocolate genome now and in all reality who doesn't love chocolate the slightest bit. Cacao is no ordinary plant, the plant has been studied for twenty years and is considered an "orphan crop" because it is not as well studies as most other crops. The outbreak of this genome database is important because in the long run help cacao farmers, companies, and tree crop productions. The key for cacao production is fungal resistance. Disease from fungus has costed the cacao industry $700 million dollars a year for the past 15 years, thats why the genome is such a big deal because it could help prevent from further losses.

Companies Going Green

Many companies around the world are going green to reduce the carbon footprint. Automobile companys have made vehicals that emit less carbon compounds and sulfur. Insurance companies offer better deals for people wanting eco-friendly and hybrid cars. New items are being made that save energy and reduce pollution. Most companies are going green because many customers are only buying products from companies that are producing enco-friendly products. Even though the change would be time consuming and expensive they end up saving more money in the long run. Companies going green are recycling and some even offer employees a cash back offer if they buy a hybrid vehical. It's a good thing that big companies are now going green because some of them had the most impact on the environment.

Al Gore School Built on Toxic Ground

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2010/09/la-names-school-after-al-gore-but-will-students-be-safe.html

A school that focuses on environmental studies was built in Los Angeles and named after Al Gore. Ironically, this school was found to have been built on toxic ground. The ground it is built on was used to store storage tanks filled with hazardous material. It is also located near an oil well and near a groundwater source that has been contaminated by an oil field. I find this situation very ironic, funny, and sad.

Oil Polluting the Gulf has Long been Polluting Our Bodies

http://www.NaturalNews.com/029327_oil_pollution.html

The CDC found 212 chemicals in samples of human blood last year. More than 180 of the chemicals found originate from oil and or natural gas. While everyone's worried about the gulf being polluted, humans have been polluting themselves for many years. We consume these oils by eating and by applying skin products and ointments such as Neosporin. These chemicals are called petrochemicals and they are in almost everything ranging from plastic to your household furniture. Through these products they are absorbed into our bodies. The problem with these petrochemicals is that they are hormone disruptors. They effect our moods, sexual development, and growth. The best way to avoid the petrochemicals is an extremely organic diet.

BP removes failed blowout preventer

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/09/03/gulf.oil.disaster/index.html



Just a few days ago BP removed the failed blowout preventer to see if they could figure out why it failed back in April. It would take over a day to get the preventer out from under the water. This was a big risk because they did not know what would happened as they drilled to get the blowout preventer because the drill pipe could have been trapped under it which could have lead to more oil spilling. They think instailling this will keep the oil from ever leaking again. Even though 17% of federal waters is still closed, it's much better than 37%, which was how much was closed as of June 2nd. The Food and Drug Administration has reopened some of the fishing waters, which is good economically. BP caused a lot of damage to the enviroment, we can only hope that in time things will keep getting better and they won't cause more damage.