Ecofacts V.8 n.20 Carbon news

May 17, 2013 by Leave a Comment
400ppm CO2 danger

We learned last week that CO2 levels in our atmosphere had just reached 400 parts per million for the first time in human history, although it turned out to actually be 399.89. Tune in later for the actual record breaker. 350 PPM was deemed a safe level for preventing climate change and sea level rises from ice melts, methane releases from permafrost melting, etc. The fast moving trend is seen … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – prius owners

August 24, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Prius owners: it's a term of derision among some anti-environmentalists, or anti-something-or-other folks, but they do make up one group of people who are attempting to take responsibility for their actions. Thanks to Prius owners, in the next year we in the U.S. could save as much as 1/2 billion gallons of gas, and the CO2 NOT emitted could be like taking a million cars off the road.* Prius … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – emissions trends

August 17, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Breaking news from the Associated Press: “CO2 Emissions in US Drop to 20-Year Low” - this from the first 4 months of the year. Is it a trend? They have indeed been slowly dropping, but 2010 saw a spike, attributed partially to a hot summer and subsequent use of air conditioning. This summer's record heat might also bring the year's average up. But the primary reason for this change is seen as … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – where's the beef, and corn?

August 10, 2012 by Leave a Comment

July, you've probably heard, was the hottest month in U.S. record keeping history. The first half of the year on land around the globe was also the warmest. Here, 33 states are experiencing drought, as is much of Mexico and Canada. Pasture land and crops are drying up. In Chihuahua, Mexico's largest state, 350,000 cows have starved to death. Here they are being sold off early for slaughter, … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – actually, ecothoughts

July 27, 2012 by Leave a Comment

I believe, more than anything else perhaps, in personal responsibility. This is the great driver of my ecofacts, the passion that makes me pursue them, and of my own internal combustion engine - me. This issue is so far reaching and yet so personal, it is difficult for me to essentialize. Attempt number one:   A friend sent me a piece this morning that I subsequently found has been … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – darn those old socks!

July 20, 2012 by Leave a Comment

As shoes take on much of the weight of humanity, so do socks! What to do with the ones we've walked through, exposing toes or heels so annoyingly, or the singles? Granted, socks don't take up much space in the landfills, but many of them are synthetic, and will last beyond us. And all of them are mostly fine, even if not as socks, and it's a shame to toss them if there is any life left in them. … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – before trash there is…

July 6, 2012 by Leave a Comment

Well... this is actually about stuff, which eventually becomes trash. So here is one story of stuff, a macro story. Americans spend more on consumer goods than anyone else. This has been really good news for the home organization, container and self storage industries, all apparently recession proof. In 30 years, average home size has grown 50% while family size has shrunk. Those extra rooms … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – about trash, pt.1

June 29, 2012 by 1 Comment

Trash.   It's tempting to not think about it, and our culture does encourage it, for the most part. We're supposed to buy as much stuff as we possibly can, own the latest styles, remodel our kitchens, if things break we should replace, not repair them (we often don't have a choice, and we usually don't have the time either.) Most everything is sold with excess or unrecyclable packaging, but … [Read more...]

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EcoFacts – local efficiency matters

June 22, 2012 by Leave a Comment
ceclogo

Here in Santa Barbara, the Community Environmental Council was born in 1970, between the oil spill and the first Earth Day (their first big party). SInce then, they've been steadily working to improve our community by decreasing its waste, promoting efficiency in building and transportation, and through consumer advocacy and education. Here are a few of their recent accomplishments. Last … [Read more...]

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