Methane is a significant green house gas that can lead to global warming. It is also commonly produced by many wild animals including humans and cattle.
Cow belches, a major source of greenhouse gases, could be decreased b an unusual feed supplement developed by a Penn state dairy scientist.
Belching (a.k.a burping) involves the release of gas from the digestive tract through the mouth, and is usually accompanied with a typical sound and odor.
Many other mammals, such as cattle dogs, and sheep, also burp. In the case of ruminants, the gas expelled is actually methane produced as a byproduct of the animal's digestive process. An average cow may emit between 542 liters and 600 liters (if in a field) of methane per day through burping, making commercially farmed cattle a major contributor to the greenhouse effect.
In a series of laboratory experiments and a live animal test done at Penn State, an oregano based feed supplement not only decreased methane emissions in dairy cows by 40 percent, but also improved milk production, according to associate professor of dairy nutrition Alexander Hristov.
For the full article, click here.
Wednesday, September 22, 2010
Firestone Racing Earns Recognition for Positive Environmental Impact
Bridgestone Retail Operations, LLC (BSRO) and Firestone Racing received recognition for its "Get The Lead Out" program, a joint initiative designed to reduce the amount of lead in the environment. Additionally BSRO's Michael Welly, Environmental Compliance Specialist, was also honored for his role in the company's lead reduction efforts with EPA's NPEP Partner of the Year award.
Wheel weights, traditionally made of lead, are small clips applied onto a vehicle's wheels to help the wheels balance properly and run smoothly. The weights can fall off and may get thrown onto the edges of roadways, possibly contaminating soil or water if they are made of lead or another environmentally harmful material.
In late 2007, BSRO became the first major automotive service provider to announce the move away from the use of lead wheel weights. Since that time, the company has removed nearly 3.5 million pounds of lead from the stream of commerce.
For the full article, click here.
Wheel weights, traditionally made of lead, are small clips applied onto a vehicle's wheels to help the wheels balance properly and run smoothly. The weights can fall off and may get thrown onto the edges of roadways, possibly contaminating soil or water if they are made of lead or another environmentally harmful material.
In late 2007, BSRO became the first major automotive service provider to announce the move away from the use of lead wheel weights. Since that time, the company has removed nearly 3.5 million pounds of lead from the stream of commerce.
For the full article, click here.
New York Yellow Cabs Go Green
New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to announce that he will order the city's entire taxi fleet be converted to gas-electric hybrids by 2012.
According to sources, Bloomberg will instruct Matthew Daus, the commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, to begin a cycle of replacement that will see 20 percent replaced each year until all of the city's approximately 13,000 taxis are hybrids in 2012.
The commission has approved eight models of hybrids for use on city streets. The vehicles include four SUVs: the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 400H, Ford Escape and Saturn VUE Green Line, and four four-door sedans: the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Honda Civic.
For the full article, click here.
According to sources, Bloomberg will instruct Matthew Daus, the commissioner of the New York City Taxi and Limousine Commission, to begin a cycle of replacement that will see 20 percent replaced each year until all of the city's approximately 13,000 taxis are hybrids in 2012.
The commission has approved eight models of hybrids for use on city streets. The vehicles include four SUVs: the Toyota Highlander, Lexus RX 400H, Ford Escape and Saturn VUE Green Line, and four four-door sedans: the Toyota Prius, Toyota Camry, Honda Accord and Honda Civic.
For the full article, click here.
U.S. Stadiums Go Solar: Major Pro Sports Leagues Move Together Toward Renewable Energy
The nation's major professional sports leagues are collectively sending an important cultural message in the battle against climate change by encouraging and endorsing the use of solar power and clean energy in arenas and stadiums throughout the United States.
Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer delivered a letter encouraging their teams and facilities to begin using solar power as they continue the effort to green North America's professional sports.
The leagues also distributed a comprehensive solar development guide produced on their behalf by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) outlining the work necessary for each stadium to add on-site solar power generation to its energy mix.
Having all professional leagues engaged collectively in this manner is an extraordinary event, pointing to the growing cultural transcendence of the fight against climate change.
If all arenas and stadiums had solar installation equal to the STAPLES CENTER in Los Angeles, one of the leading arenas already taking advantage of solar panels, they would:
For the full article, click here.
Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, the National Hockey League, and Major League Soccer delivered a letter encouraging their teams and facilities to begin using solar power as they continue the effort to green North America's professional sports.
The leagues also distributed a comprehensive solar development guide produced on their behalf by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) outlining the work necessary for each stadium to add on-site solar power generation to its energy mix.
Having all professional leagues engaged collectively in this manner is an extraordinary event, pointing to the growing cultural transcendence of the fight against climate change.
If all arenas and stadiums had solar installation equal to the STAPLES CENTER in Los Angeles, one of the leading arenas already taking advantage of solar panels, they would:
- Reduce carbon emissions by approximately 86.6 million lbs/yr (which is comparable to taking 8,340 cars off the road!).
- Create enough electricity to power roughly 4,812 American homes for a year.
- Save the equivalent of 33,970 barrels of crude oil per year.
For the full article, click here.
Paris Metro Body Heat to Help Warm Building
The warmth generated by human bodies in the Parisian metro will help heat a public housing project in the city center, the capital's largest owner of social housing.
The calories emitted by passengers, around 100 watts per person, combined with the heat from the trains moving along tracks and the underground location of the metro mean that corridor temperatures are 14-20 degrees Celsius all year around.
The project, which is based on geothermal technology, aims to draw heat from subterranean passages and move it to heat exchangers before supplying heating pipes. The system will complement district heating.
The project should slash carbon dioxide emissions by a third compared to using a boiler room connected to district heating, François Wachnick from Paris Habitat told Reuters.
A tender for the experimental project, which is expected to heat 17 flats, will be launched before the end of the year, and work is expected to start in 2011.
For the full article, click here.
The calories emitted by passengers, around 100 watts per person, combined with the heat from the trains moving along tracks and the underground location of the metro mean that corridor temperatures are 14-20 degrees Celsius all year around.
The project, which is based on geothermal technology, aims to draw heat from subterranean passages and move it to heat exchangers before supplying heating pipes. The system will complement district heating.
The project should slash carbon dioxide emissions by a third compared to using a boiler room connected to district heating, François Wachnick from Paris Habitat told Reuters.
A tender for the experimental project, which is expected to heat 17 flats, will be launched before the end of the year, and work is expected to start in 2011.
For the full article, click here.
*BONUS Article* — Eco Beer: Brews With Positive Environmental Impact
Below are brew experts who share with readers what they have evaluated as the most environmentally friendly brews:
Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune are beer connoisseurs who recommend Sierra Nevada's Estate Homegrown Ale. Sierra Nevada (www.sierranevada.com) is a family-owned microbrewery that has placed solar panels on production to divert leftover water to an on-site water treatment facility so that the water can be reused, this minimizes waste.
Rich Tucciarone is brewmaster at Hawaii's Kona Brewing Company, which uses solar power and redesigned its bottles to weigh 11 percent less. A lighter bottle translates to less fuel used during transportation to retail. This beer company employs a sustainability coordinator, and produces the certified-organic Oceanic Organic Saison. Who ever thought that the beer industry could offer green jobs?
Tucciarone also recommends Laurelwood Public House and Brewery (www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com) in Portland, Oregon. This beer is certified organic, and Laurelwood's pubs focus on serving mostly local products. After consumption, the compost all their food waste.
For the full article, click here.
Christina Perozzi and Hallie Beaune are beer connoisseurs who recommend Sierra Nevada's Estate Homegrown Ale. Sierra Nevada (www.sierranevada.com) is a family-owned microbrewery that has placed solar panels on production to divert leftover water to an on-site water treatment facility so that the water can be reused, this minimizes waste.
Rich Tucciarone is brewmaster at Hawaii's Kona Brewing Company, which uses solar power and redesigned its bottles to weigh 11 percent less. A lighter bottle translates to less fuel used during transportation to retail. This beer company employs a sustainability coordinator, and produces the certified-organic Oceanic Organic Saison. Who ever thought that the beer industry could offer green jobs?
Tucciarone also recommends Laurelwood Public House and Brewery (www.laurelwoodbrewpub.com) in Portland, Oregon. This beer is certified organic, and Laurelwood's pubs focus on serving mostly local products. After consumption, the compost all their food waste.
For the full article, click here.
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