Sunday, May 23, 2010

Unexpected Consequence: Increased CO2 Could Affect Nutritional Value of Crops

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3169

Date:5/19/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Megan Treacy

Summary: Rising levels of CO2 could not only affect the climate but it could also affect the nutritional value of Crops. Co2 can reduce as much as 20 percent of protein in the crops.

Response: This new study will not fair well to the american and world society. We need to reduce the CO2 right away but its too late

Oyster Offshore Wave Generator is 2.5x better than Predecessor

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3170

Date: 5/20/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Philip Proefrock

Summary: The brand new oyster 2 will be testing for much of 2010 and is planned to be released in 2011. The new oyster will use three wave devices connected to a single power genertaion station to produce 2.4 megawatts of electricity.

Response: This will produce so much energy and we should invest in it more.

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Super-Insulator Aerogel could also clean up oil spills

www.ecogeek.org/3162

Megan Treacy
5-12-10
Ecogeek.org

Summary: Aerogel which is a material that is 37 times better than fiberglass as insulation could also be used to be the perfect cleanup tool for oil spills. Its low density and mostly air make-up makes it perfect to absorb a lot of oil.

Response: Too bad this product isn't in large scale production because the current oil spill is very tragic.

Throw Out the Spare Tire, Replace it with an electric bike?

www.ecogeek.com/3164

Megan Treacy
ecogeek.org
5-13-10

Summary: For the people who are trying to save money on gas and would like an easier way to get around town, there is the new volkswagen electric bike that folds down into a small disk.

Response: This is genious because it allows people to park their cars outside of town and do all there shopping in-town with their bikes!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

4/18/10 2

At Upstate Campus, Saving Energy is Part of Dorm Life
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/nyregion/17ithaca.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Lisa Fordraro
4/16/10
New York Times

The Energy Star label is the federal government’s nod of approval for energy efficient products, such as household appliances like refrigerators and air-conditioners. But at Ithaca College, a campus known for its embrace of all things sustainable, two dormitories proudly wear the Energy Star label, too.

It's great that this college is so energy efficient. More colleges and universities definitely need to follow Ithaca College in this direction, and become more eco-friendly.  

4/18/10 1

Florida: A Bad Winter for Slithering 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/17/us/17brfs-ABADWINTERFO_BRF.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Associated Press
4/16/10
New York Times

An unseasonably cold winter may have taken care of what python hunters could not. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission says cold weather may have killed up to 50 percent of the state’s pythons.

This article is pretty pointless.  Yeah, Florida had a cold winter, we know.  This article was three sentences long, there was not enough information about this topic.

Sunday, April 11, 2010

Ahead of Schedule, An LED Light for us All

www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3128

Date: 4/8/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Hank Green

Summary: Today GE announced that they will have a LED light available by the end of 2010. The bulb fits into any regular light socket and will produce the same amount of light that a 40 watt bulb will produce but only using 7 watts and lasting up to 17 years.

Response: This lightbulb will be the best thing in lighting since it was invented and will help us become more efficient.

Amtrak On Course to Set Ridership Record This Year

www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3127

Date: 4/08/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Megan Treacy

Summary: Amtrak is going to break their annual ridership. By the halfway point in thier year they have 13.5 million riders already. In march alone there has been a 13.5 percent increase in one year.

Response: This is very good because they will ask congress for a 446 million dollar budget increase to help increase fuel-efficient trains and electric trains.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

3/27/10 2

U.N. Group Rejects Shark Protections
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/science/earth/24shark.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

By DAVID JOLLY
Published: March 23, 2010
New York Times

Delegates to a United Nations confernce on endangered species voted down three of four proposals to protect sharks on Tuesday, handing another victory to Japan, China and countries opposed to the involvement of the international authorities in regulation of ocean fish.

This is terrible that the sharks are not going to be protected. People are killing more sharks than sharks kill humans. More than 400 million sharks are killed yearly by humans. Sharks need to be protected, and the Chinese are too greedy.

3/27/10 1

India: Pollution Fine Sought Against Coca-Cola
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/24/world/asia/24briefs-Indiabrf.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

By HARI KUMAR
Published: March 23, 2010
New York Times

A state government recommended Tuesday that Coca-Cola’s Indian subsidiary be fined $47 million for damage to the water and soil in a southern Indian village that it said had been caused by one of the company’s bottling plants. The plant, which opened in 2000 and closed five years later, polluted the groundwater and soil around the village of Plachimada, in the state of Kerala.

I think it is good that Coca- Cola is being fined for polluting the water and soil. The company is a very wealthy corporation, and they should be more concerned with the protection of the envirnment. It is good they are paying for their wrong doing.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

3/14/10 #2

Sushi Spot Charged with Serving Whale Meat
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/11/us/11sushi.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Jennifer Steinhauer
March 10,2010
NY Times

Federal prosecutors have filed a criminal complaint accusing a Japanese restaurant in Santa Monica and its chef of serving whale meat, a violation of the federal Marine Mammal Protection Act. The restaurant was serving endangered Sei whale as sushi.

It's terrible that this restaurant was serving whale illegally, but it is great that it was discovered.  The Sei whale is an endangered species, the japanese restaurant should be charged.

3/14/10 #1

Climate Change Threatens Migratory Birds, Report Says
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/13/science/earth/13birds.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

John Broder
March 12, 2010
New York Times

Changes in the global climate are adding additional stress on hundreds of species of migratory birds in the United States, and these birds are already threatened by other environmental factors. Nearly a third of the nation’s 800 bird species are endangered, threatened or suffering from population decline.

Response:  This is very bad, Global Warming is a serious issue, and with the numerous species of birds suffering from population decline it shows the impact of the climate change.  Pretty soon more and more species are going to be declining due to global warming, including us. 

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Road Transportation is the Greates Culprit in Global Warming

http://ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3100

Date: 3/07/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Philip Proefrock

Summary: We have recently found out that our daily transportation has led to the most production towards global warming than anything else. The fuels we are using dont admit the aerosals that can interfear with global warming.

Response: We need to find more fuels that are better for the economy because we are screwing it up for the next generations.

Save Your Battery: Unplug Your Laptop

http://ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3099

Date: 3/05/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Philip Proefrock

Summary: When we keep our batteries plugged in for longer than the full charge we are really destroying the battery life. The battery is discharging some energy when we unplug it.

Response: When we are charging something we should be more aware of how long we leave it plugged in. Maybe turn our phone off at night when fully charged.

Sunday, February 28, 2010

2/24/10 2

Leaving the Trash Behind
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/business/energy-environment/23recycle.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Christine Negroni
New York Times
2/22/10

An estimated 7.5 million pounds of trash is generated every day by the aviation industry. While the Natural Resources Defense Council, says that 75 percent of that trash is recyclable, it has found that only 20 percent reaches a recycling center.  

It is good that this is being noticed, and now hopefully they will change their ways and begin to recyle more. You would think that there would be article about the aviation industry destroying our environment through airplane exhaust, not because of their trash disposing methods.

2/28/10

Disaster Awaits Cities in Earthquake zone 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/25/science/earth/25quake.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Andrew Revkin
2/24/10
New York Times

Summary: Earthquakes always find the weakest point. The city of Istanbul consists of tens of
thousands of buildings and its population has soared over 10 million from the 1 million it was just 50 years ago. Istanbul stands out among threatened cities in developing countries because it is trying to get ahead of the risk.

Response:  It is not good that this city developed so rapidly.  When an earthquake hits its going to target the weak points which is where the buildings are, and the city is going to be destroyed. 

Sunday, February 7, 2010

2/7/10 #2

Hawaii Senate says Cutting Back on Paper has Saved $1.2 million 
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/07/us/07hawaii.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

2/6/10
The Associated Press
New York Times

Summary: The Hawaii Senate decided two years ago to cut government waste by targeting paper.  
The Senate recently reported a two-year savings of more than $1.2 million.  Nearly eight million pages, or the equivalent of over 800 trees have been saved.

Response:  This is great.  More states should notice this and do the same.  It is great that Hawaii has saved over 800 trees during a two year time period.  This is not only saving money, but it is saving the environment.

2/7/10

Whaler and Activist Ship Collide Off Coast of Antarctica 
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/02/06/world/AP-AS-Antarctica-Whaling.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

2/6/10
The Associated Press
New York Times

Summary: An anti-whaling ship and a Japanese harpoon boat collided in the Antarctic waters. Sea Shepherd and the whalers have faced off in Antarctic waters for the past few years over Japan's annual whale hunt, with each side accusing the other of acting in increasingly dangerous ways.

Response:  This seems like a sticky situation to me.  Both sides are accusing the other of being at fault, and no one is admitting hitting the other.   There is obviously tension, considering this isn't the first time a Japanese and Whaler ship have collided.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Recycle Your Old Phones and Help Haiti Quake Victims

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3041

Date: 1/15/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Megan Treacy

Summary: ReCellular is a new group that has come up with an idea for relief to send to Haiti in the passing days of the massive earthquake that happend. People with their old phones can send them in and they will be refurbished and sold and the money will all go to the disaster relief program.

Response: This is a great idea if people can't donate with money in these hard times but they can send in their old phones.

Detroit Auto Show Overrun by Electric Cars

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3035

Date: 1/12/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Philip Proefrock

Summary: This years autoshow is being taken over by electric cars. There is a strip on the main floor called "Electric Avenue" This has majority of the electric cars on display and is right next to the most expensive car displays like land rover and lotus. There is also a basement floor where you can drive fuel cell, electric and hybrid cars.

Response: As we push through all of our gas we need a better way of fuel so this is a huge step for the automotive world.

Sunday, January 10, 2010

2 Signs the Time has Come for Alternative Transportation

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3029

Date: 1/07/10
Ecogeek.org
By: Megan Treacy

Summary: Last year there were 4 million less cars sold in America for the first time since world war two. This shows that the U.S. is turning to more alternate transportation modes like a bike. In New York there will be more bike racks put up instead of parking meters.

Response: This is great for the environment with less CO2 in the air and people will get a workout.

Fossil Free Fuel Cargo Ships

http://www.ecogeek.org/component/content/article/3026

Date: 1/04/10
By: Philip Proefrock
Ecogeek.com

Summary: Freighters tend to produce 3-4% of the greenhouse gases causeing global warming so the people in England have come up with a ship that will us a sail for 60% of the energy and the other 40% will be methane powered.

Response: This will not only save more fuel for the citizens but will also save our environment by cutting down greenhouse gases.