The Need For a Conservation Fact Check

Glen Luckman Conservation Fact Check By Daniel P. Martin

In the day and age of today, there is a nominally large need for conservation. All around the world are natural resources are being depleted every day. And not only that, but by the consumption of large amounts of certain resources we are not only hurting the environment we live in but in the long run we are hurting ourselves.

The resources that we live off of are not infinite but rather limited. The human race has a tendency to consume more than we replenish. With that mentality as a race, we are heading for trouble. We need to start realizing the human effect on the environment is very massive and in many cases destructive.

The Dominant Human

The humans are the most dominant species on the planet. We have dominated the animal kingdom and the world around us. Our cities spring up spitting pollution into the air and stretching our domain even further into the ecosystem. This is because we as a people are increasing in numbers rapidly and need more space to live. Therefore, the animals and the habitats must suffer for this.

Suffering Wildlife

If one group of animals is affected it will undoubtedly affect the others as well. The danger of this is that not just one group of animals will soon face extinction but a number of them. This can happen from lumber companies cutting down numerous forests for the demand of lumber. This will cause the wildlife in that forest to be unbalanced and is very harmful to all wildlife there.

Forests Disappearing

Chopping down thousands upon thousands of trees a day and demolishing entire forests does not just affect animals and plants it will affect us. Trees are a large producer of oxygen and that is something we desperately need. When oxygen levels in our ecosystem go down it is never good. Nevertheless, when oxygen levels go up everybody including animal and plant life will thrive.

This is why we must conserve our forests and our wildlife.

Fossil Fumes

Our planet is in enough trouble we do not need to start decreasing our oxygen levels anymore. With the rate that lumber companies are depleting our forests it will not be long until things start going haywire just like our ozone.

Our ozone is under constant attack from harmful gasses and general pollution.

Fossil fuels among other things are the ones causing the damage. Fossil fuels are not inherently bad but constantly consuming them and releasing their fumes into the ozone at the numbers that we do as a planet is causing some serious damage like global warming. Fossil fuels will eventually be gone if we do not conserve them and limit their usage.

Saving Lives

We need to conserve them also so that future generations of people can make use of them as well. Why be greedy and selfish with our natural resources? If we run out now what will they or we use later? Before finding out that answer the hard way, we should do some preventative planning to conserve our natural resources.

Simple But Effective Ways of Energy Conservation

Glen Luckman Effective Ways of Energy Conservation By Erika Ayala

Sometimes, when people hear the words energy conservation, they think that it takes a rocket scientist or some super hero to make it happen. What most of us don’t realize is that energy conservation is well within our reach and capability, and when done on a bigger scale and participated by more people, we can do so much positive effect to the environment and actually make it a better place for the future generation.

Energy conservation means that you are cutting back on your energy consumption and using energy-efficient products and appliances. It also means that the energy you are using is coming from other alternative energy resources that are not harmful to the environment, as opposed to the traditional sources of energy like coal and fossil fuels which are already limited.

There are a lot of simple ways in energy conservation without even spending money. These include unplugging any appliance in your home when not in use. There are people who don’t realize that when only turning an appliance off, it still consumes energy, and if left all night, it can add up immensely on your electrical bill. Not only does this mean bigger expenses for you, but also a more adverse effect to the environment. But unplugging the appliances, you are completely stopping to use the energy. You can also simply switch to more energy-efficient light bulbs. By doing this you can instantly cut down your electricity consumption up to 30%. Energy-efficient light bulbs are more durable, not to mention less harmful to the environment.

We should be active with our efforts to save the environment, especially now that a lot of people worldwide are beginning to really experience the negative effects of global warming. All it takes is the first step forward and everything will else will be easy.

Petroleum Conservation

Glen Luckman Petroleum Conservation By Shekhoo Raja

Endless desert if lies ahead and a blazingly hot sun, glares atop one’s head, then a man lost amidst the dunes should and really must value each drop contained in his bottle. For if the last drop ends before the desert does, the man will be in serious trouble.

However irrelevant the above paragraph may seem, its accurately relevant to the scenario that our world faces today. Replace the water with petroleum, the bottle with our oil wells, the man with the global economy and the desert with its sole dependence on petroleum as source of energy and voila, we will have the seriousness of the situation perfectly laid out. Wells of oil and gas are ceaselessly churning out greater amounts of petroleum from under the ground every year. WAIT!

Greater amounts every year? But why?

That’s a simple question with an even simpler answer. The amount of petroleum being sucked out of earth is getting bigger because we are demanding for it. Its getting bigger because, I buy my son a bike to ride to school on, because my wife needs a car to go to the neighborhood grocery store and because I need a 3000 cc SUV to go to my office which happens to be 3 km from my home. And also because I won’t turn off my SUV’s engine at crossings as I am rich enough to find it ‘uncool’.

And so as ‘I’, who can easily afford to buy fuel have taken it for granted and am using it in the most inefficient manner, am demanding for more of it. This ‘I’ isn’t just me or us. ‘I’ stands for every person around the globe who has got used to living with fuel and burning it to get energy. But its high time that ‘I’ must realize that the water in my bottle will not last long enough, if its not valued with the seriousness that it deserves. And ‘I’ who has learnt to live with fuel must learn to live with its conservation too.

But this doesn’t mean that we stop using petroleum products all together. Our economy is dependent on it so much, that it is impossible to do that. And thus comes to light the importance of ways of using this fuel ‘Efficiently’. This word efficiently means that we do the maximum amount of work, using the least amount of energy. Leading organization around the world have put their best brains to the task of bring efficiency into all phases of their work. Manufacturers of automobiles, computers, kitchen appliances, industrial equipments and every other product that uses fuel or power, are looking at making their products more energy efficient. And so as citizens of the world, even we must contribute.

So, apart from I selling my SUV to buy a 600 cc fuel efficient car, my wife walking to the grocery store and my son using the public transport, there are several other ways by which we can conserve petroleum. We should make our selves aware of them and make them a way of life.

A study sponsored by PCRA itself shows that vehicles at halt on traffic lights, waste as much as Rs.994 crore worth or petroleum products every year. Even if your vehicle is poorly maintained, you are contributing to the loss of fuel worth in excess of Rs. 5000 crore all over the country, including both commercial and non-commercial users. Approximately 75% of the total LPG used in the country is used for domestic purposes. Studies suggest that if we use LPG at our homes with care, we can save upto 8-10%. For instance, cooking in utensils with lid closed, using gas on simmer mode for cooking(which uses only 3/4th amount of gas as compared to high mode) etc. In addition to LPG, other fuels like kerosene are also used at home, for which standard equipments should be used. Use of below-standard equipments, results in high consumption.

And why only petroleum, even electricity which is supplied at our homes is generated from fuels like gas, diesel and coal. A study in UK suggests that if every house uses 3 CFLs, it saves enough electricity to power streetlights of their country for 1 year. Apart from CFLs, air-conditioners, microwave-ovens, heaters, geysers etc should be purchased, keeping their power ratings in mind. TV consumes 25% of its power required, when on stand by and so do many other appliances, which should be switched off when not in use. A unit of electricity saved is roughly equal to 3 units of electricity produced. Moreover, 1 unit of electricity produced, leads to 943 gm of carbon emission.

Industries are major users of petroleum, using approximately 40% of the total commercial energy used in the country. Thus conservation initiatives by the industries, aided and enforced by the government save energy on a large scale. Especially small and medium scale industries, which use out dated machinery, have high energy consumption as compared to their production. Commercial buildings like Malls and offices, use around 33 billion units of energy per annum. Proper power management and use of higher efficiency equipments can save up to 5% of this energy.

But this is only one side of the story. As I said earlier, we are lost in a desert, the desert being our sole dependence on petroleum as a source of energy. So it is impertinent to find a way out.

Solar water heaters, as promoted by administration of Banglore or small scale water turbine based power stations as promoted by Uttaranchal government, or compost gas power units as promoted in sunderban region by W Bengal Government, or solar lamps as promoted in rural areas of Rajasthan, all are steps in the right direction. Further renewable sources like wind power and solar, which are still not used up to their potential must not be ignored by the government. In today’s scenario, where power generation is increasingly becoming a profitable business for private companies, government must enforce and encourage conditions for production from alternate sources of energy by these private players.

The Essential Activities of Wildlife Conservation

Glen Luckman Wildlife Conservation By Mark Bottell

Wildlife conservation is a delicate and complicated process, with dedicated teams trying to rebuild complex ecosystems, manage large wildlife populations, and protect these areas from harm. Many of the world’s most magnificent areas of natural beauty are under threat from humans, and conservationists work hard to preserve these places for future generations, and to restore damaged areas back to their former glory.

There’s been an increase in recent years in volunteer wildlife conservation, where people on gap years or career breaks volunteer to help work as conservationists for weeks, months, or even a whole year. Conservation practices vary from country to country and from habitat to habitat, but these are a few of the things you are could get involved in as a volunteer conservationist…

Tracking and Monitoring

Animal monitoring is one of the most important elements of wildlife conservation. Whether it is by electronic tracking or by human observation, animal numbers must be monitored so that their populations can be controlled. If the numbers of a particular species grow too large they could threaten other animals, and if they fall too low steps need to be taken to protect them. Following the movement and migration of animals also provides the chance to research their behaviour. Of course, for volunteers, the chance to observe animals like lions and elephants in their natural habitat can be an unforgettable experience!

Habitat and Reserve Maintenance

There are all kinds of efforts that must be made to maintain the habitats in a wildlife reserve. Rock erosion needs be monitored and countered, and any alien plants and animals which could be a threat to the reserve must be found and removed from the reserve. Many reserves rely on perimeter fences to prevent animals from moving out of the reserve (and to prevent unwanted visitors!), and these need to be checked on and repaired if they are damaged. This kind of work may not be the most exciting side of wildlife conservation, but it is just as essential as any other element.

Rehab and Veterinary Care

Out in the wild, sick and injured animals soon become victims of predators, or simple starvation. However, on a wildlife reserve dealing with endangered species or low populations, the loss of even a single animal can be a terrible setback. Wounded, sick, and poisoned animals can be captured and brought back to a veterinary centre to be treated, rehabilitated, and then reintroduced back into the wild, and this is often an important part of any wildlife conservation program.

Reserve Patrol

Wildlife reserves are fragile areas that need to be protected from humans. Some times, people cause damage unintentionally – tourists feeding animals without knowing that it is forbidden, or attempting to take out rare plants as souvenirs. Some times, of course, it is a deliberate effort, poachers being the most well known human threat that conservationists have to battle against. Most wildlife reserves are diligently patrolled to ensure that tourists and the local population are treating the environment with the respect and care that it deserves.

A Home Facelift With an Ecological Conservation Twist to It

Glen Luckman Ecological Conservation  By Mark Gavalda

The effects of global warming are being highlighted every so often, and at one point, one feels the compulsion to join in the campaign of living a more eco-friendly life. You might not be able to trade your SUV for a hybrid, but you can remodel your home cheaply, and achieve the final result of environmental conservation that you are hoping for. It does not matter if you are planning to sell the house to eco-friendly buyers or simply doing it to save some money on the monthly bills.

The first has to do with electricity and more so the buying of electrical efficient systems. An approach that you can first take with this is the installation of solar panels which essentially convert all absorbed solar energy into electrical energy. Depending on the number, size and effectiveness of these panels, they can be a complete replacement of your power supply from the main supplier to your own during the seasons when the sun is high up in the sky. What this yields is a reduction of the amount of money that you have to pay for bills and you end up saving.

Water is often wasted especially with showers and toilets making conservation is not actually too hard of a task. All you need to do is have an effective water delivery system at all times, one that will save a few measly dollars everyday. The positive effects of this are felt in the long term when the bill will indicate half the amount that you are used to paying.

Natural grass is good, but when you want a lesser budget, artificial grass will do. The latter needs zero maintenance and once set up, needs no other dedicated farming commitments. You don’t need to trim or to tend to it anytime, meaning you save both in finance and in time.

Recycle – Plastic Bottle Recycling Can Help the Environment

Glen Luckman on why recycling helps the environment.

By Bryan Burbank

Plastic bottles are everywhere and they make it much easier for us to get the products we want in lighter bottle than glass. It is important to the environment that we recycle so that we can keep the plastic bottles out of our land fields. You need to remember that plastic does not go away it will sit in a field and never decompose and this can cause a lot of problems. Greenhouse Gas Emissions can be greatly improved when you recycle and the best part is you will be helping to improve the world we live in.

You will also save in many other ways as well such as oil because it takes oil to make those plastic bottles that we use. If instead of throwing them away so they can sit in a land field then you can reuse them and you will use less oil. This is a positive thing because there is only so much oil available to us. We can also reduce green house gasses because it takes more energy to make new bottles from oil then to recycle old bottles. Make sure you have a place in your house that you designated as a bin that the recycled bottles go and this will make it easier for all of your family to get involved.

Remember that recycling is a crucial part of saving the world we live in and with making a few changes it is easy to start recycling. It is important to make it fun and get your whole family involved so that they will be making a difference.

Posted by Glen Luckman

By Dan Bossenbroek

A fluctuating stock market, depressed economy, and a myriad of investment options available make it difficult to determine the best financial investment strategy these days. Even the tried and true investment strategy of purchasing a new house is not a guarantee anymore. However, there is a way to invest in your current property that can ensure you a great return and help raise your position in the home resale market.

As energy prices continue to trend upwards, it makes more and more sense to do what you can to reduce your energy costs. A typical family in the United States spends between $2,000 and $3,000 on utilities each and every year and this does not include phone, cable or internet service. Energy costs in the United States have risen an average of about 5% per year over the past 8 years, and the rate was even higher until the recent sharp drop in prices. Furthermore, this trend is only expected to get worse. Thus, in ten years an average family can expect to pay somewhere in the range of $3,000 to $6,000 a year on utilities.

There is something that you can do to help minimize the impact of increasing energy costs, however, and that is to invest in energy conservation home improvement projects. Remember that the least expensive energy is the energy that you never use. For example, one strategy might be to take $2,000 and instead of investing it in mutual funds or the stock market, invest it in making your house more energy efficient. Some of the most cost effective steps that you can take like switching to LED nightlights, LED and CFL light bulbs and using watering timers and low flow showerheads don’t seem like investments, but they very quickly pay for themselves and continue to save you money year after year. This energy conservation investment could easily reduce your energy costs 15% to 25% or approximately $400 a year. You can even recapture your original investment by taking the money that you save each year and investing it just as you planned to invest the original $2000. In just five to eight years this investment strategy will likely out perform a typical mutual fund, and in just nine to fourteen years it should be worth twice as much.

An added benefit of this strategy is the increase in value or increased salability of your home. Some of the steps that you might take such as adding insulation, a whole house fan or even installing a solar air heater will add value to your home. Most home improvement projects immediately add 70% to 90% of the cost of the improvement to the value of your home. Furthermore, with these green home improvements your house will be much more attractive to a potential buyer, especially when you can show that your utility bills are significantly lower than those of other comparable houses.

Which ever way you look at it; increased investment value, reduced utility bills, increased comfort level, greater home value, or ease of resale, they all indicate that the wise investment is in energy conservation. You probably knew that saving energy saves you money but you may not have imagined that to GO GREEN that you have so many ways to GROW GREEN.

Energy Saver Dave

Whether you are planning to live “off the grid” and free yourself from energy bills or just “kick back” and enjoy lower energy bills, the first step is always to understand your home’s energy usage and employ good old fashioned energy conservation techniques.

The reason for this is simple – you can not be charged for what you don’t use (in terms of energy…well this is strictly untrue if you are on a utility company’s budget payment system…but we’ll pretend for a moment that is not the case.) So, if you use less energy, your energy bill will go down.

Makes sense. So…how do you conserve energy?

It all starts with understanding your home, and more to the point, understand how you and your family use energy. Simple everyday activities, like turning off the lights when you leave a room really can add up to make a difference. Now that the holidays are here, not going overboard with the lighted decorations (and those inflatable, light up decorations) can help. Of course, if you do go overboard (like many of us tend to) just mind the usage. There is no need to run them every night. If you must, run them a couple of hours at the most. Every hour those machines are being run, energy is being used – sometimes in mass quantity. And since you pay per kw/hour, this could really add up.

Energy conservation doesn’t stop there, though. Only running the appliances such as the dishwasher and washing machine when full saves on both electricity and hot water. (Hot water is a double whammy – you incur a water cost, plus the cost to heat the water…and keep it heated.) And promptly removing clothes from the dryer avoids running the dryer again to remove the wrinkles from clothes that have sat too long. (Dryers can be another double whammy…the electricity to run the motor, plus the cost of energy to heat the unit.)

By intelligently regulating the heating and cooling of your house, you can also conserve energy and keep your bills low throughout the year. For example, lowering your thermostat to 68 degrees F when you’re home can save you as much as 5-10% during the cold season. And letting your thermostat go as high as in the mid 70’s during the warm summer months will save you on air conditioning costs.

You can realize even more savings by avoiding overuse of the heat as well. For example, at night, it isn’t necessary to keep the thermostat at 68. Try lowering it even more, and just doubling up on the blankets or cuddling up to your loved one to keep warm.

Keep in mind that all these tips might help you save money on energy…but when it comes to saving on your energy bills there aren’t any guarantees. Why? Because every single home is different. Every single situation is different, just as every family uses energy differently. A family of 5 will use energy much differently than a family of 2. This isn’t a bad thing at all – it is just a fact of life.

Author: Wendy Pan

Community energy conservation efforts can go a long way with short changes to make a big difference. Community leaders can truly lead the way, by hosting public events that encourage residents to follow energy conservation practices. Local ordinances can be formed or rewritten to encourage conservation of local public resources, and provide avenues for residents to participate in resource conservation, recycling, and reuse of materials.

Local communities are working together to provide recycling centers for public use. They can revise building codes to promote environmentally sustainable technology so that new buildings and remodels are made into healthy buildings. Efforts can be made to avoid excess duplication, by not allowing strip malls on every corner that cover land and add to urban sprawl, through zoning laws that are more environmentally friendly than builder friendly.

As population spreads, so does the impact of pollution and the potential for permanent damage. Local communities can work together to protect the environment and indigenous species from this overload and damage. Mass transit systems can be improved and brought out to their remote communities. Car pooling parking lots can be zoned into land management and car pooling encouraged. Zoning can be planned for maximum use in minimum areas to preserve the landscape, and parks are wonderful additions for local residents. Renewable and recyclable building materials can be encouraged. How land is developed, and built up, has major impact upon local resources and natural habitats. Careful planning can help offset the impact and promote conservation efforts.

By providing local resources, local farm markets, and local recreation sites, overall energy consumption is reduced, and local businesses profit. Even utilities can be managed locally, with some communities being built with a target of zero energy cost, using solar and wind power systems for the entire area. Lighting in buildings and on streets can be refitted to be efficient, solar powered, and otherwise conservative of energy resources. In high population areas, parks help relive the urban heat island problem, as well as be available for local recreation and open spaces.

Community energy conservation needs to increase awareness of the eco-system, and promote new advances in conservation techniques and materials, so they get used. Small changes by all can lead to big results for conservation of natural resources like water, electric and natural gas. Businesses can encourage employees to follow conservative practices at work as well as at home, like turning off unneeded lighting, and powering down machinery and computers when not working with them.