Share and Voice: Our Earth Website

From their website in the "About Us" section

"OurEarth.org, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) non-profit environmental organization based in Baltimore, Maryland. The organization was founded in 2006 by several recent graduates of Johns Hopkins University and today, OurEarth.org is led by an all-volunteer team of graduate and medical students as well as environmental experts and leaders from around the country."


Topics they cover are listed below

Topic: Recycling

Sub-section:
Curbside and local programs
National Programs
Recycling News
Special Collection Events

Topic: Energy

Sub-section:
Local Rebate Programs
Energy Efficient Devices
Federal Tax Credits
Energy News

Topic: Water

Sub-Section:
Home Conservation Guide
Water-Efficient Products
Pollution News


There is also a Green Tips guide with a top ten easy ways to be green

Some tips I liked are numbers 8 through 10.

8. Computer Power Management
9. Properlay Dispose of Hazordous Waste
10. Fresh, Local, Organic foods


Check this website out for your self to get some clarification on ways to be more environmentally friendly.

Share and Voice: Ecological Solutions

Here is my website I found called Ecological Solutions.

It is a company that helps arcitetcs create "Green" certified buildings.


From their website

If your goal is to earn LEED certification for your project, or simply to reduce your building’s overall operating costs and environmental impact, EcoLogical Building Solutions has the glass, coatings and paint products you need, all from a proven, innovative company you can trust.
USGBC LEED Program
United States Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Program is a voluntary market-driven building rating system designed to accelerate the development and implementation of green building practices.
PPG manufacturers a variety of Glass, Paint & Coating Products that can help architects earn LEED certification credits for their projects.
Information on LEED can be found on PPG’s web-site and at the USGBC web-site: http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CategoryID=19

share and voice: PBS report on Green Buildings

On the PBS television show News Hour with Jim Lehr they reported that the city of Washington D.C. is about to pass a law that will require every new building to be a certified as a "green" building. The report also talks about how many schools are adopting the "green" building way of life as they can save a lot of money. Every school spends most of its budget on energy bills to run the lights in their school.

At the end of 2006, there were 550 LEED certified buildings in the country and more than 3,500 registered projects in the works. About 220 of these projects are schools.

Here is am important section of the report that talks about how these new "Green" buildings do not cost tax payer more money, in fact it saves them money and in a short period of time.

"When Clackamas High School in Oregon began looking into planning an environmentally friendly new building, not everyone was in favor of it. "People were skeptical because they thought it would cost more money to build and we would not see much money back," said Dave Church, special projects consultant for North Clackamas School District. In the end, the contracting bid cost no more than an average school in the Portland area, and the finished product was a modern building that has saved the school 20 percent on its energy costs. The school owes the savings to solar panels, natural lighting and a high-tech ventilation system." (News Hour, 2006)


This is a great area of study that tax payers should take interest in. We need to cut costs in our schools to keep them running, and if we build or modify schools to be more "green" than we don't have to fire teachers or cut after school programs as the improvements will help keep the school running at a cheaper rate.

Share and Voice: Spring Break in Colorado 2007

What I liked about this trip was the fact that Loveland Ski Resort doesn't groom their snow very much, if at all. What grooming the snow means is when a machine similar to a snowplow goes up the mountain and levels off all the snow so it is more evened out. I hate this because then you don't get to glide along fresh snow that may be 12 inches think. You really have to fight through the snow to move from side to side. It is the most wonderful feeling I have ever experienced. The snow on the first day was fresh (12inches). The air was as smooth to my lungs as you could imagine. And it was bright and fresh outside without any disgusting overcast of smog.



Because of this ski trip I really want to keep the natural world as clean as possible. It makes me mad to think that we always try and groom nature to look better, when in reality if we leave it alone it can be just as flourshing as beautiful.








My favorite picture from the entire trip, it was taken at about 12,000 feet of elevation by yours truly.















This is the view from the top of Loveland Ski Resort in Colorado, USA.

It feels as if it is untouched land that I am the first to explore. I know it is a tourist resort, but the way they leave it so untouched and open exilerates me. Makes me really appriciate how vast and big our world is.

Share and Voice: How to help stop pollution

http://www.ehow.com/how_2170560_help-stop-pollution.html

I want to pose the question of how do you want to help stop pollution?

What step do you think you can most likley do to help stop the build up of pollution?

What other ways are you doing to try and stop pollution in your area? Please share any ideas or concepts that will help anyone reading this to try and add to stoppage of pollution.

Share and Voice: Industrial Hemp- look at the Ecological Facts

From the NAIHC website on Ecological Facts about Industrial Hemp

Hemp grows well in a variety of climates and soil types. It is naturally resistant to most pests, precluding the need for pesticides. It grows tightly spaced, out-competing any weeds, so herbicides are not necessary. It also leaves a weed-free field for a following crop.


With the use of hemp as a product to replace tree based paper, we can be able to allow are Redwood Tree forrests to grow. The need for forrests is very important not only for the simple fact that trees consume CO2 and porduce O2, but because many animals rely heavily on the trees in the forrest for sheltar.

Birds for example need a place to set up their nests. Deer and other animal need trees for protection from the weather. With hemp as a replacement product to using trees you will have a lower costing crop, with higher yields in procuct usage.

Share and Voice

Tree Hugger
Remeber our discussion in class about using corn as an alternative fuel. Well we can use ethonal from beer fermentation as well to fuel cars from alternative sources.

This website is full of different topics related to environmental concerns. This particular article I found is related to alternative fuel. The Seirra Nevada Brewing Company is using their excess ethonal waste as a conversion to ethonal fuel for alternative fuel cars.

Wheather you feel it or not; The earth's climate is changing.

Welcome, my name is Kevin and I am a student at the University of Minnesota Duluth. One of my biggest concerns is global climate changes, especially that of global warming at the polar ice caps. With the melting of huge glaciers and long stretches of ice covered water many arctic animals such as penguins, arctic foxes, and polar bears are without a means of travel as their icy habitat has melted away. So, I would like to raise awareness about how we need to cut down on green house gas emissions. Doing this should help prevent the polar ice caps from melting.

My members of my web group are:

1. Sara
2. Randy
3. Derek
4. Jayme

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