hux435's blog

Waste reduction is an inevitable problem in the future as landfills are rapidly filling up with garbage that probably doesn’t need to be there. People will always create garbage, but the goal should be to reduce the amount of unnecessary disposable junk.One change that I’d like to see this country strive for is to find a better way for goods and materials to be packaged. It seems that disposable packaging has become so much of a convenience that we hardly realize the amount of waste the average American produces on a daily basis. The amount of waste that is produced just by throwing away materials that stuff is wrapped with is absurdly unnecessary. What incentives can be placed to encourage reusable or renewable packaging on the part of the company and the consumer? Is it possible for manufacturer’s to reasonably find a way to package their goods with reusable materials? Should the consumer be equally responsible for utilizing better methods for reusing these materials?  Read More »

    Here in the great state of Washington,  initiative 937 was recently passed that will require Puget Sound Energy by 2020 to run 15% of the power from renewable energy. Large amounts of wind turbines are going up throughout the rural central and eastern parts of the State. As wind turbines are starting to become a feasible means of producing energy, they also are becoming a solid investment for the farmers that lease out the property to set them up. But how can urban areas partake in renewable energy investments without the room to set up a wind turbines? Solar energy is not a new concept but I think it often is overlooked as an affordable and logical way to supply ones home with power. In California the state is offering massive rebates for anyone who sets up a solar-power system in their home. The higher producing wattage solar panel, the larger the rebate. In Washington if someone sets up a solar panel that produces more energy than they use, Puget Sound Energy will pay them for the excess energy. Not a bad deal seeing how an average system really doesn't cost much more than $13,000. It might be a lot of money but such an investment might have attractive returns if legislation of renewable energy increases.  Read More »

    As the population steadily increases and the price of non-renewable energy countinuse to yo-yo, searching for newer more cost effective altenatives to energy has become a hot topic on all the news sources. Global warming was once considered a word that drew more speculation rather than consideration, although now it appears in the papers daily. This counrty is slowly transitioning from centralized macropower fed power plants to more decentralized micropower systems in which electrcity is produced by a larger number of dispersed and local energy sources. Embedded within the fate of non-renwable resources lies millions of jobs and families. Towns and cities that rely on these industries to fuel the local economy. Coal-burning power plants are the number one emitter of CO2 in this country. Entrenched in this industry are the thousnads of miners who risk losing their jobs in the future. How can an effective transition to an environmentally concious economy take place in a small rural midwestern town? The industry will be facing a slow phazeing out, especially if the Supreme Court rules that carbon dioxide is considered a pollutant under the Clean Air Act.  Read More »

    The issue of whether carbon emissions can be regulated under the Clean Air Act has been placed on the discussion desk of the Supreme Court. Talks are underway that could decide if this country makes great leaps towards a more greener and environmentally conscious  society. I've noticed within the past few months that advertisements for alternative energies and more fuel effiecient cars have drastically increased (or maybe I don't watch that much TV). It's my opinion that the Supreme Court will have to ratify the Clean Air Act to some extent but I'm sure the issue will be raked over the bureaucratic coals for a little longer, so that more advertisements can be processed and sent out to the general public. Environmental gains will continue to be slow in coming as long as something like 2 out of every 5 people in the US believe that Global Warming is not caused by human activities. The understanding of the public might also mirror the understanding of the Supreme Court Justices descion of the issue. For any great leaps to be made there has to be a public consensus over the effects that humans have due to greenhouse gases. Otherwise we'll be trapped making baby steps in the bureaucratic arena. What will it take, another Katrina?  Read More »