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"Kill a Watt EZ" Electricity Usage Meter as a Teaching Tool
2007-11-18 13:16:24 UTC
All,
I would be interested in hearing from those who've used (or seen it used) the subject device as a teaching tool. How was it used it and how would you rate the effectiveness of the delivery and what would you change.
Stephan
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Carbon Calculators: Evaluations and Recommendations
2007-05-14 13:38:31 UTC
You may find the following recently released evaluations of interest: Voluntary Offsets for Air-Travel Carbon Emissions: Evaluations and Recommendations of Voluntary Offset Companies by Tufts Climate Initiative A Consumer's Guide to Retail Carbon Offset Providers for Clean-Air Cool Planet Google the titles to get a PDF of each report.
Best,
Stephan -
The Mercury - CFL Problem: Wal-Mart is Changing the Game
2007-05-12 09:35:17 UTC
All,
A month-and-a-half or so ago I attended Wal-Mart's quarterly Business Sustainability Milestone Meeting. At that meeting Lee Scott, CEO pretty much guaranteed that something was going to be done about the mercury - CLF problem. Well, these guys are game changers and they're changing the game. Have a look.
Stephan
The following is from Waste News, Saturday 12, 2007
*Wal-Mart plans mercury reductions in CFLs*
May 11 -- Wal-Mart Stores Inc. said it is working with manufacturers to lower the mercury content in compact fluorescent light bulbs by 33 percent. General Electric, Royal Philips, Osram Sylvania and Lights of America all agreed to reduce mercury levels more than the 5 milligram standard set by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association. They also agreed to use clean production techniques. Lights of America even plans to have no more than 2 milligrams of mercury in its bulbs by the end of 2007. "The reductions will ensure that consumers can take advantage of the financial and environmental benefits of CFLs now," said Andy Ruben, vice president of strategy and sustainability for Wal-Mart. "Todays action is a great win for the environment and our customers." Compact fluorescent light bulbs use up to 75 percent less energy than traditional light bulbs, and they can last up to 10 times longer. Coal-fired plants emit less mercury into the atmosphere to power a CFL compared with a traditional incandescent bulb, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Suppliers and retailers are working on making CFLs more affordable for the public in order to please shoppers. Wal-Mart plans to sell at least 100 million of the bulbs by 2008.
Stephan Pollard, Ph.D.
-Environmental Dynamics
555 W. Maple St., Apt. C
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 444-7445
(479) 799-9190 cell
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Calculating and Visualizing Carbon Dioxide and other Air Pollutants
2007-02-14 15:08:29 UTC
For those doing (or desiring to do) environmental educating where it concerns the calculation and visualization of air pollutants the below might help you get started or come up with ideas.
1) First, calculate the volume of your favorite air pollutant. Use the following equation: _454 grams_ x _1 mole_ x _22.4 liters_ = liters of gas / pound 1 pound "X" grams 1 mole In explanation, approximately 454 grams constitute a pound. You'll then need to multiply that ratio by the ratio of the number of grams of your favorite air pollutant in a mole. To get this number use values from the Periodic Table of Elements (click on element to get additional info). If our favorite pollutant happens to be CO_2, a compound comprised of 1 atom of carbon and 2 atoms of oxygen, then "X" will be 44 (12 (atomic weight of an atom of carbon or 12 grams per mole) + 32 (atomic weight of 2 atoms of oxygen or 2 x 16 grams per mole). All gases have the same molar volume of 22.4 liters (at standard atmospheric pressure). Multiply the ratio by the product of previous multiplication exercise and you will have converted the pound of your favorite gas into an equivalent number of liters.
2) Second, calculate the number of containers (I'll use 2-liter bottles) you need to contain the volume for the display. Use the following equation: _volume of 1 pound of your pollutant _ = total # of 2 - liter bottles 2 liters If the pollutant is CO_2 (231 liters per pound using the formula in Step 1), divide 231 by 2 liters. The result is 115.5 two-liter bottles! Combustion of a gallon of gasoline results in 20 pounds of CO_2 , perhaps visualized by* *a whopping 2311 two-liter bottles (the volumetric equivalent of 20 pounds of CO_2 .
Stephan -
Demonstrations of Carbon Dioxide Quantities and Related Issues
2007-02-06 13:26:58 UTC
All,
I'm interested in hearing about various demonstration techniques used to convey carbon dioxide emission quantities and reductions possible through various behavior changes (e.g., avoiding consumption of a gallon of gasoline, switching from incandescent bulbs to CFLs, etc.) I've been using a six pound weight (bar bell) to represent the weight of a gallon of gasoline and a 20 pound weight (bar bell) to represent the weight of the carbon dioxide created as a result of the combustion of the carbon in the gallon of gasoline. Are there similar others that folks have been using, particularly where it concerns coal? Because the carbon content of coal varies with the type of coal this one is a bit trickier.
Stephan
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Re: Climate Change and the Faith-Based Community
2006-10-16 13:33:39 UTC
Many thanks to all of you who responded to the subject post. I have been flooded with a wealth of leads and resources.
Best Regards to Everyone,
Stephan -
Climate Change and the Faith-Based Community
2006-10-14 07:26:58 UTC
All,
The Arkansas Climate Awareness Project (ARCAP) is shifting gears in order to target faith-based groups in a series of forums focused on raising climate change awareness and what can be done about it. I am wondering if there's a relevant experience base from which to gain valuable insight on what to do and what not to do where it concerns engaging these groups, in both interdenominational and denominational settings, in matters related to climate change and stewardship. Can anyone point me in a direction?
Sincerely,
Stephan Pollard, Ph.D.
Environmental Dynamics
555 W. Maple St., Apt. C
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 444-7445
(479) 799-9190 cell
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Re: Seeking literature on promoting sustainable agriculture
2006-09-29 13:07:20 UTC
Have you had a look at the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service Web page?
Stephan Pollard, Ph.D.
-Environmental Dynamics
555 W. Maple St., Apt. C
Fayetteville, AR 72701
(479) 444-7445
(479) 799-9190 cell -
Corporate Sustainability Initiatives: What Can Retail Corporations Be Doing?
2006-06-17 22:21:08 UTC
Could anyone direct me to discussions of what retail corporations could be doing or case studies focused on solutions where they concern corporate initiatives in sustainability?
Thanks in advance.
Stephan
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