Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Tue, Oct 09, 2012 @ 10:05 AM
Ahh internet memes, sometimes nothing brightes up my day better then a well timed "Y U NO?" or #FIRSTWORLDPROBLEMS. But before I get ahead of myself I should make sure that we all know what memes are. So, Dictionary.com defines a meme as, "an element of a culture or behavior that may be passed from one individual to another by nongenetic means, esp. imitation." And in relation to online memes they are usually, "an image, video, etc. that is passed electronically from one Internet user to another." That said, I took to the internet again for this blog post and found 9 different memes that deal with environmental issues.
So what do you think? Did we miss any of your favorites? Let us know in the comments section!
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Tue, Sep 25, 2012 @ 01:14 PM
1. Put away that gas powered leaf blower and go back to using a rake. In one hour, a gasoline-powered leaf blower will generate as much emission as an automobile does during a 350 mile drive. [1] Plus, using a rake is not just better for the environment, it's better for your personal health because it keeps you active. And if you’re feeling really crazy get your kids in on the action and let them jump in the pile a few times!
2. And speaking of those leaves, don’t bag them up to be sent to the landfill, use them to make compost to help grow next spring’s plants and vegetables. Fall leaves are a great addition to any compost pile!
3. Try to keep the heat off. Fall is a great time to layer up to fight the newfound chill in the air. Even at night, just use another blanket and try to put off starting up those pricy wintertime gas bills!
4. Turn off the television one weekend and decide to take part in some classic fall activities. From corn mazes to picking apples at the orchard or carving pumpkins, there are fall activities sure to appeal to every member of your family.
5. We mentioned in one of our sustainable business practices posts that there is really something to be said for buying local, remember that when you’re looking for the perfect pumpkin. Take a trip to a local farmers market and see what they have to offer before buying from a chain grocery. While you’re there you may even find some great fall squash or apples!
6. Although it’s a few weeks off, try to think about the environment when deciding on Halloween costumes for you or your kids. I personally think homemade costumes are better than store bought ones anyway! Plus, you’ll be able to reuse the components of the costume after the big night.
7. Lastly, you don’t need to buy fall decorations. Why make centerpieces with plastic leaves, manufactured pinecones, or faux fruits when you can use the real stuff? Plus, using natural items means your decorations will get to change a few times this season!
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Jul 27, 2012 @ 12:37 PM
Well, it’s that time again; the time for us to scour the internet for more bizarre environmental stories! I’ve been bookmarking some things since the last Eco Oddities post and I am happy to say I have three new interesting and strange things to tell you about.
Number One: While images of the first story have been making the rounds on social media sites (Pinterest in particular) I still feel like I need to address the two giant fish sculptures that were constructed out of recycled bottles on a beach in Rio de Janiero.
The sculptures were created for the UN Conference of Sustainable Development (Rio +20). They serve the dual purpose of providing an aesthetically pleasing sight and of drawing attention to the importance of recycling and its relationship with marine life. To see photos and read more about them check out this article from inhabitat.
Number 2: Have you ever heard of the kakapo parrot? They are a bird native to New Zealand commonly known as the “night parrot.” These birds really embody what Eco Oddities is all about, “flightless, slow-moving and at times more sexually attracted to humans than their own species,” these birds have just recently been brought back from the brink of extinction through a massive conservation effort. For photos of this strange little bird as well as a more in-depth story about their plight, check out this article from Mother Nature Network.
Number Three: Last, but certainly not least, scientists at NASA were shocked earlier this week by a sudden massive ice melting in Greenland. In the story from Newsday, NASA ice scientist Tom Wagner is quoted as saying, "You literally had this wave of warm air wash over the Greenland ice sheet and melt it."
The ice melt area increased from 40 to 97 percent of the ice sheet in just four days, according to NASA. Until now, the most extensive melt seen by satellites in the past three decades was about 55 percent.
What do you think of these stories? Additionally, please let me know in the comments if you think I missed a good eco oddity, maybe it will show up in the next post!
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Thu, Jul 19, 2012 @ 11:04 AM
While doing research for the final infographic in our alternative energy series I was surprised to learn that wind energy is actually classified as a type of solar energy. This is because it is the suns uneven heating of the atmosphere, combined with things like the earth’s surface and rotation, which causes wind.
According to The Wind Coalition, use of wind energy can be dated as far back as 5000 B.C. when people traveled the Nile in boats propelled by the wind. The first simple windmills were seen in China in 200 B.C. And the technology continued to spread and evolve throughout Persia, the Middle East, and eventually Europe in the 11th century.
Initially, windmills were commonly used to help pump water from lakes and rivers into farms and ranches. Later, the technology was adapted to creation of electricity (which is the primary use today.) For more information about the history, environmental viability, and uses of wind power check out the infographic below.
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Jul 06, 2012 @ 11:53 AM
Solar energy is a term that has been thrown around for quite a few years now. If you have not heard of it, it is the energy we are able to capture from sunlight. The basics of the process are explained in the infographic below but I thought I’d cover some of the specifics as well.
The light that is given off by the sun each day is powerful enough to provide energy for the entire world (plus extra). According to Scientific American, at any given daylight moment, the sun hits every square meter of earth with 1360 watts of power. Half of that energy is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into space meaning that an average of 700 watts per square meter reaches Earth’s surface.
Assuming you only account for the half of the planet the sun shines on at any given time, the sum is approximately 89 petawatts of power or 6000 times the amount of all power that human civilization uses (which is about 15 terrawatts).
In order to harness this abundance of power, we have to use solar panels. These panels are composed of crystals that, when heated, give off electricity due to the movement of electrons in their atoms. Most surfaces get warm when struck by the sun. This is because their electrons are not as active; they only move slightly and hence, don’t produce the same kind of energy as electrons in full movement.
Currently, the costs associated with solar power are still higher than those associated with using things like coal power. So, even though the environmental impact is substantially less with solar energy, it is still only accounting for a tiny fraction of total power used. As coal and oil prices continue to increase, however, the future looks (pardon the pun) brighter and brighter for solar energy.
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Jun 29, 2012 @ 10:54 AM
1. Use individual plastic bags for each item you buy at the grocery.
2. Take the long way to work. Every day. Double back on Friday’s.
3. Four words; all Styrofoam dining set.
4. Water your garden with toxic waste; you could end up with cool mutant plants like in Super Mario!
5. Take a stand against the color green. Destroy all the green things. You could make a blue tree like we did to the picture on the right.
Okay, so these are a little farfetched but I think you get the point. There are a lot of things that we do on a pretty regular basis that, if we stopped, would really help to improve the state of the environment. Using plastic shopping bags for example; did you know that over a single lifetime, use of reusable bags by just one person would save over 22,000 plastic bags? That’s 22,000 plastic bags that will stay out of our beaches, forests, and landfills per person! [source]
When it comes to getting to work there are many things you can do to be a little more green. From taking the short way to buying a more fuel efficient vehicle, you can help lessen your environmental impact. You could even bike to work if you live close enough or start a carpool with some co-workers. Carpooling can save you hundreds or even thousands of dollars a year and it gives you some time to get to know the people you work with outside of the office.
And lastly, we have to look at the use of Styrofoam. For many of us, summertime means grilling and eating outdoors. It’s a hallmark of the season, but there is a downside. Oftentimes, we opt for “disposable” dishware when we eat outside. If your family does this I encourage you to go for paper plates and cups over Styrofoam. Even under the best circumstances a basic Styrofoam cup takes an average of 50 years to decompose. [source]
What little things could you do to be greener?
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Mon, May 21, 2012 @ 12:16 PM
It has been a while since our last Eco Oddities Post so I thought I would share some more strange environmental stories I have come across recently.
1. Fish Glow Green After Genetic Engineering - National Geographic reports that new genetically engeneered fish glow green from the inside to show scientists the effects of water pollutiants on the inside of the fish bodies. The glow is used to track what certain endocrine disruptors are doing to the fish. Study leader Charles Tyler says about the expierement, "We've essentially put genetic elements within the fish [embryos that], over time, that are specifically designed to identify where the chemicals penetrate and act within the body." Read the whole story (and see a photo of the glowing fish) here.
2. Trees Grow Crooked in Poland - A forest of about 400 pine trees in western Poland grow with a 90 degree bend at the base of their trunks - all bent northward. Surrounded by a larger forest of straight growing pine trees this collection of curved trees, or "CrookedForest," is a mystery. The trees are believed to have been planted in 1930 and grew for seven to ten years before getting held down, in what is understood to have been human mechanical intervention. Though why exactly the original tree farmers wanted so many crooked trees is unknown. See photos and the original story here.
3. Upcycling--A class at Midland Christian School Builds a Milk Jug Igloo - The class built a 428-jug igloo after collecting (and cleaning) milk cartons for about 3 weeks. The medium-sized igloo is large enough to hold about 8 to 10 kindergarteners or first graders. The total cost for the project was about $12 for the 80 glue sticks. The milk jug igloo is expected to provide opportunities for links to social studies, math, science and reading topics. See the full story (with instructions on how to make your own igloo) here.
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Apr 27, 2012 @ 03:15 PM
Two weeks ago we started our recycling infographic series. Although we took a week off for earth week (did anyone plant a tree last weekend?) we are picking it back up this week with an infographic about how the glass recycling process works. This is a five step process that, like all recycling, starts with you and me! Making sure to put your glass into the recycling is the first and most important step in the process!
Glass is one of the most interesting recyclables because it has an unlimited lifespan; it can be recycled and reused indefinately without degrading or loosing quality! So the next time you finish a jar of jelly, a bottle of wine, or a jar of pasta sauce remember that the glass can be used many more times! So that's the challenge, will you remember to recycle your glass?
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Apr 20, 2012 @ 07:33 AM
If you are a regular reader of our blog you may know that we started our recycling infographic series last week and were supposed to continue it this week with a post about the glass recycling process. I however forgot that we had a special article planned for this week as it is almost Earth Day! So, if you'll excuse my mistake, this week we will be telling you why you should take the time to plant a tree this Earth Day weekend and we will pick back up with the recycling infographics next week.
The reasons to plant a tree are vast and veried, a few of them as reported by Casey Trees of Washington D.C. are:
- Trees Clean the Air - Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
- Trees Save Energy - Homes shaded by trees have 10-30 percent savings in air conditioning costs compared to homes without shade.
- Trees Increase Property Values - In urban areas across the country, homes with trees sell for an average of 10-20 percent more.
Additionally, as is shown in the graphic below over the course of 50 years a single tree can make a huge impact on both the environment and the economy!
So if you are looking for a fun Earth Day activity this weekend, we encourage you to plant a tree! Check back next week for the glass recycling infographic!
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Posted by Kyley Eagleson on Fri, Apr 13, 2012 @ 10:10 AM
This week we are starting our four part Recycling Infographic Series! Below is the first infographic in the series which illustrates the process recycled paper goes through before being reintroduced into the market.
This process, which is explained in greater detail in the infographic has six main parts; re-pulping, screening, cleaning, deinking, refining, and paper making. All of these steps are needed in order to take used paper and make it ready to be used again. More and more items are now being made with paper that has gone through a recycling process like the one depicted below, giving renewed life to what was formerly seen as "trash."
Our infographic series will cover four common recyclables: paper, aluminum, glass, and plastics. Hopefully, knowing a little more about how items are able to be reused will encourage everyone to recycle more basic household wastes that would otherwise end up in a landfill! So, read on below for the specifics involved in the paper recycling process and remember to check back next week to learn about glass recycling!
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