Most people are unaware that the use of electricity is a huge contributor toward air pollution. It seems so clean. We plug a cord into the wall and there are no fumes, no gas or smoke. We do not see the pollutants; however, the production of electricity is typically achieved through burning coal or fossil fuels.

In fact, electricity generated by fossil fuels for a single home puts more carbon dioxide into the air than two average cars. In addition, as resources for producing energy become less abundant along with the associated costs to bring it to your home, the cost to supply electricity to homes and businesses continues to rise.

Your home uses energy all day long, every day. It not only uses energy to keep you warm or cool, it also provides hot water and light. The electronics that control our appliances, like clocks, computers, entertainment center, etc. are consuming energy 24 hours a day. The good news is that there are ways that we can save energy and money at home and place of business.

Ideas for saving energy
Traditional incandescent light bulbs are actually small heaters that produce a little light. These types of bulbs waste a lot of energy and generate a lot of heat for the amount of light that they produce. The use of energy saving light bulbs like LED or compact fluorescent lamps offer many advantages, such as lasting ten times longer as well as saving a considerable amount of energy and money.

Although the initial cost of the light bulb is a little higher, the savings far outweigh that cost. Consider an 8 watt LED light bulb that has an equivalent light output to a 60 watt incandescent bulb and lasts a projected 20,000 to 40,000 hours. Think of the money saved in purchasing light bulbs that last a fraction of that time, let alone trips to the store and all the hassles that go along with that, not to mention the energy savings.

Many businesses still use older style T-12 fluorescent lights and/or high intensity lighting in their warehouse or parking lots. These are areas of tremendous energy usage to a business.

If we look at a standard parking lot light, it is typically a 400 watt Metal Halide light bulb with a ballast kit to ignite and keep the lamp lit. The total wattage would be 456 watts. By disconnecting the ballast and replacing the lamp with a 90 watt LED bulb, the energy saving alone pays for the installation cost in less than a year. Other benefits include an extended life. The LED lamp is more environmentally friendly and doesn’t contain toxic material and the bulbs come on instantly as opposed to taking up to 10 minutes to cycle on.

In many cases, lights are left on in businesses or at home when no one is using the area. A motion sensor or occupancy sensor will reduce unnecessary
waste by shutting lights off in localized areas that are not in use.

More Ideas

• A good quality plug strip to turn off phantom power while not being used, i.e. DVD players, TVs, kitchen appliances, computer, etc. will save you money.
• Use timers for electric water heaters or install an on-demand water heater.
• Fill the washer, dryer or dish washer with full loads, rather than doing multiple small loads.
• Do not over dry your clothes.
• Ceiling fans move trapped air, therefore you can use them instead of your air conditioner, or to help your heating/air conditioner be more efficient.

Raw Materials: Are They Sustainable?
PAPER:
Raw materials are renewable. The paper industry replenishes more than it takes and ensures sustainability by planting 1.7 million trees every single day, more than three times what is harvested.

The Dept. of Energy has stated that the carbon sequestered on forested lands in 2006 was greater than the carbon released from harvesting wood over the same period.

ELECTRONIC:
Making a computer requires the mining and refining of dozens of minerals and metals, including gold, silver and palladium, as well as the extensive use of plastics and hydrocarbon solvents.
The lifespan of a computer is short, and electronics have become the fastest growing waste stream in the world.

End of Life: How Does It Break Down?
PAPER:
Paper is a biodegradable substance that is also recyclable and reusable. Nearly 60 percent of all paper in the U.S. is recycled and more than 63 percent of the fiber used to make new paper products in the U.S. comes from recycled sources.

ELECTRONIC:
Only 18 percent of all electronic devices are currently recycled. 1.84 million tons of these devices were disposed of in U.S. landfills in 2006, and an estimated 30-40 million Pcs will be ready for disposal in each of the next few years. Additionally, e-waste now constitutes our single largest toxic waste export.

The fact is, both print and digital media must become increasingly more sustainable to survive, and the choices we make should be based on a data-driven comparative analysis of lifecycle and total environmental impact. The paper and forest products industry has been addressing sustainability for decades, and adheres to many third-party certification standards and government regulations. They have made great progress and have a true environmental story to tell.

Energy Consumption: Is It Efficient?

PULP AND PAPER INDUSTRY:
One of the biggest users of renewable, low-carbon energy in the world.
60% of the energy used to make paper in the U.S. comes from renewable resources and is produced on site at mills. These facilities use combined heat and power (CHP) generation systems, which are 80-90% efficient. Fossil fuel use and purchased energy in this industry is steadily decreasing.

ELECTRONIC DATA CENTER SERVERS:
Taking only the servers that power the Internet as comparison, the electronics industry uses more than 90% fossil fuels purchased off the grid. The conventional power generation systems used are only 45-60% efficient. And the consumption rate for data centers in the
U. S. alone doubled from 2000-2006 and is set to double again by 2011.

Sources:

1. Alliance to Save Energy, PC Energy Report 2009; Swedish Royal Institute for Technology; Paper & the Environment, ATS Consulting, August 2007; Institute for Supply Management (ISM, formerly NAPM); American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA); U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA); International Energy Agency (IEA)

Illustration created by Stephanie Casino

Health & Quality of Indoor Environment ••• Part 6

Written by Kimberly A. Phipps-Nichols |

The previous five issues were devoted to measures one can take to green a home or lifestyle, and here are some final tips for Greening the Workplace. Most people spend as many hours at work as they do at home, so the workplace is an incredibly important topic. To be “In the Green” in more ways than one, consider the steps below:

1. Turn off computers & printers. Even in sleep mode, they eat electricity. While it may be a small, latent amount, it is still consumption. A good rule of thumb: If you’ll be away from the computer for more than ½ hour, turn it off. Costs nothing and saves money, period.

2. Purchase post-consumer recycled content papers that do not use chlorine bleaches. After printing, return ink and toner cartridges to office supply stores or refill stores for reuse and recycling.

3. Print on both sides of each sheet of paper, and print only what is absolutely necessary. Scan and save documents rather than copying whenever feasible and legal. Send electronic invoices rather than print.

4. Install a water filter system at the kitchen faucet tap and provide employees with reusable cups and glasses. Avoid plastic bottled water – this is not only an environmental issue, plastic water bottles are now a health concern due to leaching of compounds.

5. Initiate a “green team” with various colleagues at work that support recycling, resource conservation and reuse ideals. The team can help remind co-workers and bosses of why these steps are important and ensure that the goals are not compromised.

6. Start car-pooling with coworkers, and ask if your employer offers public transportation or carpooling benefits. Many employers are eligible for tax breaks for providing public transportation and carpooling benefits. It also saves money on gas.

7. Recycle all acceptable containers and paper materials. Make sure there are not only bins in the break room, but that each workstation has a paper-recycling bin.

8. Eliminate “disposables” from office purchases. It saves money and reduces waste. Ask your office manager to consider providing new hires with a refillable pen and pencil set and a company logo thermal mug for their daily coffee.

9. When it’s time to replace the office equipment, purchase or lease Energy Star equipment. In an office environment, approved equipment can save hundreds to thousands of dollars in energy costs. www.energystar.gov

10. If your office is moving or remodeling, be sure to hire a licensed design professional that has documented experience in healthy, high-performance, environmentally responsible projects. The health and welfare of occupants should be their #1 goal.

References:
1. www.energystar.gov

2. www.howstuffworks.com

3. Energy Information Administration www.eia.doe.gov

For more info, contact Kimberly A. Phipps-Nichols, President of Blue Water Studio, at (775) 560-2612.

By Brittany Russell |

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, wind energy is the fastest-growing energy source in the world.

Advantages:

• A clean fuel source. Wind energy does not pollute the air, and wind turbines do not produce atmospheric emissions that cause acid rain or greenhouse gasses.

• Wind energy is a domestic source of energy.

• Wind is a renewable energy resource, a form of solar energy.

• Wind is one of the lowest-priced technologies, costing between 4 and 6 cents per kilowatt-hour.

• Wind turbines can be built on farms or ranches, which would benefit the economy. Also, wind power plant owners make rent payments to the farmer or rancher. The land can still be worked because only a fraction of the land is used.

Challenges:

• Depending on how energetic a wind site is, the wind farm may or may not be cost competitive. The technology requires a higher initial investment than fossil-fueled generators.

• Wind energy cannot be stored (unless batteries are used) and not all winds can be harnessed to meet the timing of electricity demands.

• Good wind sites are often located in remote locations.

• There is some concern over the noise produced and visual impacts.

Is wind power possible in Nevada?

A resource map of Nevada published by the Department of Energy’s Wind Program and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) depicts wind speed estimates at 50 meters, a speed suitable for utility-scale wind development. In the future, plans are to provide wind speed estimates at 30 meters, useful for small wind turbine opportunities.

The Department of Energy has also stated that lower elevation areas of good-to-excellent resource are located near Las Vegas and near Ely, as well as on the

higher ridge crests throughout the state.

Economic Impact

Wind Powering America’s Nevada arm, Wind Power Nevada, outlines the direct and indirect economic impact of 1000 MW, which under the 20 percent wind power by 2030 nationwide vision is Nevada’s nameplate capacity:

Direct Impact:

• $2.7 million per year in payments to landowners

• $7.3 million per year in property tax revenue

• 1346 new construction jobs ($189 million to local economies)

• 226 new long-term jobs ($21.2 million a year to local economies)

Indirect Impact:

• 1240 new construction jobs ($133.9 million to local economies)

• 172 local jobs ($19.1 million a year to local economies)

Total Impact – construction plus 20 years of operation:

• $1.3 billion

• 2586 new local jobs during construction

• 398 new local long-term jobs

Local Contact: Nevada State Wind Working Group, Bob Cooper, Chairman 775-684-1184.

References:

1. U.S. Department of Energy – Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Wind and Hydropower Technologies Program, www.eere.energy.gov/windandhydro

2. Wind Power Nevada Policies Affecting Wind Power, www.windpowernevada.com

By Nikki Florio |

While some of us have mild intentions of joke about what we want our resolutions to be for the New Year, a few take hold and create positive change.

Why Green Resolutions?

The Earth is currently experiencing the sixth great mass extinction. While our five previous mass extinctions have been triggered from natural occurrences – i.e. geologic/meteorological events – this is the first mass extinction in history to be caused by a single species: humans.

It’s not just that we’re losing anywhere from 50,000 to 100,000 or so plant and animal species each year; it’s that we’re disrupting entire ecosystems needed to sustain all life.

What Benefits The Planet Benefits Ourselves

If you are asking yourself if we can stop extinction, the answer is yes.

In fact, the problem does not lie in the question, “Is there anything we can do to help stop this extinction?” because change of consumptive habit would nullify the problem, but rather, “Will we do anything to stop environmental degradation and mass extinction?”

These questions can be answered and acted upon with our personal resolutions. Every decision we make – from the cereal we eat for breakfast, to how long we sit idle in our car, talking on the cell phone with the engine running, has an effect on the planet.

The greatest change will occur if we are active in our resolutions. Start today. Decide what is truly important and modify consumptive habits to ensure the best outcome.

For example, pay attention to what you eat.

When we go to the store and purchase industrialized foods from Post, Frito-Lay, etc., we are getting products that are made primarily (unless it is an organic line) from genetically modified ingredients (corn, soya, canola, potatoes, rice, oats, etc.) or even eating animals who have only been fed GM feed.

These foods are produced, processed and packaged in a manner which is made to deliver the highest yield at the lowest cost, regardless of quality. Genetically modified foods are designed by biotechnology companies whose prime concern is financial gain, not human or environmental health. GM foods have a median nutritional value, they degrade the soil, and they are physiologically damaging to insects and animals that feed on them. (Sows, fed a diet of 100 percent GM corn, have progressively produced smaller litters and their milk production has dried up earlier, and rats fed a heavy diet of GM corn developed smaller kidneys and changes in the composition of their blood. See news.independent.co.uk.)

While sows and rats are certainly not human beings, there is not much difference between one mammal eating 100 percent GM foods and another, mainstream Americans, eating 70 percent. While the UK and New Zealand have extensive GM labeling mandates, our government has declined labeling for GM foods.

Other ways to modify our lives include:

• Being attentive to what, where and how we drive

• How we choose to recreate, our home/business living habits

• Our carbon habits

• How we live as families

Why Go Green?

It is important for us to understand that products that we purchase and businesses we support have a direct effect on the environment, the economy and ourselves. We are the last generation which has the opportunity to save thousands of species from being wiped clean, unnaturally, from the face of the Earth.

We need to make a stand.

Lifestyle Modification

When we modify our lifestyles and shop more sustainably, we ensure, for all living beings on the planet, a healthy place to exist and flourish.

Live well.

References:

news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/3667300.stm

www.earth-policy.org/Updates/Update35.htm

www.stopextinction.org/

www.organicconsumers.org/gelink.cfm

There is useful information about latex products you will want to take with you when researching and selecting the product tailored to meeting your needs. First of all, latex comes from rubber trees. Latex is breathable, resilient, durable, and exceptionally comfortable. It reduces high-pressure areas, that in other products, cause you to toss and turn. It dynamically contours to your anatomy and keeps your spine properly supported throughout the night. If you are a back, side or stomach sleeper, a latex beds cradles your torso without creating unsupported gaps between your body and the mattress. Sleeping deeper and taking care of your back makes sense!

Latex is uniquely healthy. It is hypoallergenic, dust mite resistant, antimicrobial, and inhibits the growth of bacteria, mold and mildew. No artificial or synthetic materials have been added to provide these benefits. Allergy sufferers profit from the use of latex products. With relief of nasal and congestion issues, you wake refreshed and ready for a new day.

Are latex allergies an issue in bedding products? Around the late 1990’s, latex allergies became a topic of concern. A small portion of the population reported an allergic reaction to the protein found in natural rubber latex. Most were from Health care workers who came into contact with surgical gloves and other latex medical products. Latex mattresses and pillows have never had a reported allergic complaint made to the FDA. Moreover, the latex used in mattresses is an open-cell foam, allowing for deep cleansing of the product. The latex is washed at least 5 times.

If you decide to add the component of movement with the adjustable option, you can curtail many annoying medical conditions such as hiatal hernia, acid reflux, back pain, breathing problems, snoring, and circulation problems, by elevating the head or legs. One sleep system creates independent motion adjustments for each side of the bed. Differences of firmness can be selected for each side depending upon preferences. Sound sleep equals a better quality of life!  As you discover which sleep system meets your satisfaction, don’t forget to take care of yourself and make your bedtime its best.

References:

www.allergyconsumerreview.com/

www.spine-health.com/topics/conserv/sleep.html

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latex#Latex_mattresses

www.rubbernews.com

For more info, contact The Mattress Store 775-851-7200.