Green Power in Prison

I'm always on the look-out for interesting stories about the green movement, recycling, etc. While this story isn't directly related to helping a business go green, it is an intriguing approach to green energy production.

As seen here: Green Energy Saving Tips

The country of Brazil is currently running a pilot program where inmates in the Santa Rita do Sapucai Prison are given the opportunity to produce green energy while reducing time off their sentences.

The prison authorities have installed two exercise bikes in the prison’s yard and these bikes are connected to batteries. As we all know the cyclists through the motion of the petals they produce kinetic energy which is then converted into electricity. The electricity is then used to charge the batteries. A special device on the handlebars notifies the cyclist when the battery is fully charged. The batteries are then taken to city of Santa Rita to power street lamps. It has been found that one day’s of cycling can give the energy needed to run six street light bulbs. Prison authorities have estimated that when the program is taken to its full scale the amount of green or alternative energy produced will be enough to illuminate the city!

Although the project is still in a pilot phase, the early results have been encouraging. The participating inmates are reducing their sentences at a rate of 1 day per every 24 hours of pedaling. The Brazilian government has indicated that the program maybe deployed to other prisons later this year.

Picture from MSNBC

"It's a win-win situation," the prison's director, Gilson Rafael Silva, told the AP. "People who normally are on the margins of society are contributing to the community and not only do they get out sooner in return, they also get their self-esteem back."

I've always believed that inmates could be doing far more in prison that just watching TV. I'd love to see any kind of similar program deployed in the United States.

Original story here

What is “Green Guilt”?

Do you ever feel like you aren't doing your part when it comes to recycling? Does it bother you when you catch yourself throwing out items instead of recycling? If so, you may be experiencing a new form of remorse known as "Green Guilt". While this isn't a technical name, the term is loosely being applied to situations where people have some form of guilt related to saving or helping the environment. Even more interesting is the fact that it's apparently on the rise, according to a recent study by Call2Recycle, a recycling non-profit organization.

 

Results of the survey revealed that so called "green guilt" was at 12% in 2009, and is now at 29% for 2012. So what caused the number to double? I'm guessing that it was related to the following factors:

• Increased media coverage - The green movement and eco-friendly approach is now recievingin prime time media coverage, which increases the overall awareness.


• Easy access to recycling location - 10 years ago, no one was actively recycling paper or many other materials in my area or region. Now, curbside recycling is available. The constant reminder through curbside recycling is undoubtedly playing a role in the guilt increase.


• Recycling is catching on - As more and more people recycle, their neighbors, friends, and co-workers see this behavior and are usually forced to assess their own ideas and views on recycling. In many cases, the "herd" mentality takes over and people want to fit in so they begin recycling as well.

“We see this as a positive. Whether due to the recovering economy or for other reasons, consumers are stimulated to think about the proper disposal of old electronics and conscious of the impact today’s actions have on the state of our planet,” said Carl Smith, CEO and president of Call2Recycle.

How can you reduce your own green guilt?

Start by participating in available recycling programs in your area. If you aren't sure what's in your area, visit earth911.com as they have the largest listing of recycling programs by state, city, or region. You don't need to go crazy, just start small and then work your way up. Your actions will inevitably lead to another person adopting a more eco-friendly habit.

Second, spread the word where you can. Now, I'm not advocating that you set-up a stand and begin "preaching" on the corner, but I am suggesting that you lead by example and try to educate people on the topic.

Read the original article on Green Guilt here.

Read more about green guilt here

Recycling/Reusing 3 Ring Binders

Rarely, will you find a home or office that doesn't use a 3 ring binder of some sort for something. I was doing a quick inventory at my house, and learned that my wife and I have 23 between the two of us. Let's face it, these types of binders are one of the most versatile storage products on the market today. However, once the binder becomes damaged, broken, or old, most people simply throw them out with the trash. That's not really a good idea and here's why: 90% of all binders that are currently being sold in the United States feature a cover that is either made of vinyl or PVC. Unfortunately, PVC/Vinyl is not biodegradable and contains a number of other toxic stabilizing chemicals like lead and cadmium that are equally unhealthy for the environment. The EPA estimates that around 10 million pounds of discarded vinyl binders hit US landfills every year. With a relatively long carbon half life, those discarded binders aren't going anywhere fast.

So the big question is: what should you do with those binders when that time comes?

For starters, instead of trying to dispose of them in an environmentally safe way, consider trying to re-use them. Here are a couple of interesting and innovative approaches for used binders that I saw while searching online, which I found here:

• Scrapbooking or photo storage - My wife buys the sheets of plastic inserts with pockets and uses them as inexpensive scrapbooks (which explains why we have so many).


• Keyring - You can remove the metal strip containing the O or D rings, and then mount it on a wall. This makes an amazing keyholder or keyring for spare keys. We have one in our kitchen and use it for all of our spare/extra keys.


• Baby/child Books - This suggestion is kind of related to the scrapbooking idea, but it works. My wife takes these old damaged binders, decorates them herself (think scrapbooking clubs), and then gives them out as handmade baby books. She also uses them to keep any and all of the school work, pictures or drawings that my 6 year old nephew does for us.


• Children's Coloring Book - I got this idea from my sister-in-law as she's got twin toddler girls. She takes any old binders, and let's her girls draw or decorate the binder anyway they want to. They she fills each one with used paper from her printer (or a coloring book), and let's the girls use them as portable drawing tables on trips.


• Recipe Books - My wife stores every recipe she comes across or is given in one of 4 old binders that have been re-purposed for that use.


• Financial data - We reuse old 3 ring binders to store tax data. Each year gets it's own binder and all the financial and tax information for that year is stored in that binder.

In the event that you can't find a way to re-use them (which is doubtful), consider option #2: Donating.

You are probably wondering who in the world would accept a donation of used or broken binders? Actually you might be surprised.

• Schools - Both public and private schools may consider taking some donated 3 ring binders as long as the rings still work.


• Charity organizations - Contact your local charity organizations and see if they might have a need for any used binders. Some of these groups will even come to you for pick-up.

Finally, if the first two options don't seem appealing, you can always try the recycling route. While vinyl is technically considered a recyclable material, the costs associated with the recycling process make it cost-prohibitive to do. If you want to research possible recycling centers near you who might take a vinyl 3 ring binder, try Earth911. The only other place I'm aware that has a legitimate and effective recycling program for binders is the American Thermoplastic Company, who owns www.binder.com.

The easiest way to avoid this problem in the future is to buy recyclable binders like those manufactured by Naked Binders.com.

Read more here...

The Ins and Outs of Recycling Magazines

According to the Association of Magazine Media (MPR), there are around 400 million magazines printed in the United States annually. Of that 400 million magazines, approximately 1.5 millions tons of magazines are thrown away each year. Prior to the 1980's, magazines were not a recycling focus as the glossy coatings caused problems. Thanks to recycling initiatives that really took hold in 2000, about 54% of all used magazines are now recycled. While that's a fantastic number that is up almost 22% over the last 3 years, it means that nearly half of all discarded magazines are NOT recycled.

Almost 97% of all magazines, including the ones with high gloss pages are recyclable. An interesting fact: recycled magazines are used to make new magazines as the recycled material doesn't hold the glossy treatment very well. It is used to make other paper products such as:

• Newsprint and newspapers


• Paperboard


• Tissue


• Copy & Printer paper

The Association of Magazine Media also indicated that recycled magazines perform especially well on recycled paperboard as the glossy treatment makes the fibers smoother and brighter than traditional recycled fibers.

In the event that recycling isn't something that you either can or are willing to do, please consider trying to re-purpose the old magazines for some other use rather than throwing them away. There are quite a few uses of old magazines, especially in the arts and crafts arena, such as:

[ic_google_search keyword="recycled magazine crafts"]

 

Click here to Read more...

Are Bio-Fuels Really That Safe for The Environment?

Over the last 10 years, there has been an on-going debate over the effectiveness and true impact of bio-fuels. There seems to be a significant divide within the recycling community and the scientific community. Recyclists support the theory that bio-fuels offer a sustainable source of alternative fuel that is both better for the environment and just as efficient as fossil fuels. The scientific community has long questioned the true environmental impact of bio-fuels, with concerns over a mainstreamed integration, which could lead to other environmental issues.

 

Although the article below is a bit technical, it brings up some great points on the testing methods and conclusions that have previously been reached bio-fuel research. While I've always been a fan of bio-fuel as a future alternative to fossil fuels, some data published below has me questioning that viewpoint. Obviously, we as a planet, need to come up with other forms of fuel to reduce our dependency on petroleum, but not at the expense of the environment.

Read the article, which is published in it's entirety, and see what you think:

ScienceDaily (June 8, 2012) — Two scientists are challenging the currently accepted norms of biofuel production. A recent commentary published in GCB Bioenergy reveals that calculations of greenhouse gas (GHGs) emissions from bioenergy production are neglecting crucial information that has led to the overestimation of the benefits of biofuels compared to fossil fuels.

The critique extends to the Life Cycle Analysis models of bioenergy production. Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) is a technique used to measure and compile all factors relating to the production, usage, and disposal of a fuel or product. The authors conclude that LCAs are overestimating the positive aspects of biofuel use versus fossil fuel use by omitting the emission of CO2 by vehicles that use ethanol and biodiesel even when there is no valid justification.

Proponents of bioenergy argue that analyses should always ignore this CO2 because plants grown for biofuel absorb and therefore offset the same amount of carbon that is emitted by refining and combusting the fuel. The commentary critiques this method by arguing that doing so double counts the carbon absorbed by plants when the bioenergy crops are grown on land already used for crop production or already growing other plants because the bioenergy does not necessarily result in additional carbon absorption. Biofuels can only reduce greenhouse gases if they result in additional plant growth, or if they in effect generate additional useable biomass by capturing waste material that would otherwise decompose anyway.

The overestimation of bioenergy LCAs becomes increasingly magnified when the omission of CO2 is combined with the underestimation of nitrogen emissions from fertilizer application. According to lead author Dr. Keith Smith, from the University of Edinburgh, "Emissions of N2O from the soil make a large contribution to the global warming associated with crop production because each kilogram of N2O emitted to the atmosphere has about the same effect as 300kg of CO2." He notes that several current LCAs underestimate the percentage of nitrogen fertilizer application that is actually emitted to the atmosphere as a GHG. The authors claim that the observed increase in atmospheric N2O shows that this percentage is in reality nearly double the values used in the LCAs, which greatly changes their outcome.

Since results of the LCAs have been widely utilized, Searchinger and Smith conclude that the overall development and research of alternative fuels has been heading in the wrong direction. "The best opportunity to make beneficial biofuels is to use waste material or to focus on relatively wet but highly degraded land," notes Dr. Smith. If bioenergy crops are produced on degraded land, less GHGs will be emitted and more will be stored. There are additional benefits: this method will not compete with crop production for food, textiles, and other products.

Story Source:

The above story is reprinted from materials provided by Wiley-Blackwell, via AlphaGalileo.

Note: Materials may be edited for content and length. For further information, please contact the source cited above.

Journal Reference:

Keith A. Smith, Timothy D. Searchinger. Crop-based biofuels and associated environmental concerns. GCB Bioenergy, 2012; DOI: 10.1111/j.1757-1707.2012.01182.x

My take is the increased risk of global warming really isn't worth the resources that bio-fuels provide. I'm sure we can come up with organic based fuel sources that are just as efficient, yet don't have the CO2 emissions associated with bio-fuels.

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Getting A New Cell Phone? Consider Recycling Your Old Phone Too

With the recent release of the new Apple iPhone 5, Apple reported that they had 2 million pre-orders for that  before it was even released. That means there's another 2 million phones that may be bound for the local landfills. I happened across this article from Earth911.org that was talking about the release of the new iPhone and some ideas for recycling the old cell phones that you might have laying around the house.


Here it is: Earth911 Cell phones article

After an upgrade, old cell phones often sit in drawers and closets gathering dust and less than 10 percent of these phones are eventually recycled. Considering that upgrades and damage make 100 million cell phones obsolete each year, that's a whole lot of e-waste that could be headed for our landfills. So, if you're one of the millions of Apple-lovers planning a big upgrade, take a few simple steps to responsibly dispose of your old phone first.

If your old iPhone still works, you could make some serious cash by recycling it. Apple pays customers for their unwanted but usable iPhones in Apple gift cards - meaning you can help foot the bill for your upgrade by recycling your current model.

To calculate your iPhone's value, you'll need to answer a few questions about its condition: Does the battery fully charge, or has the device ever been water damaged? The estimated value of an iPhone 4S (16 GB) in very good condition is $255, while an undamaged iPhone 4 will earn you around $140.

Another option for usable cell phones and smartphones - no matter what the brand - is electronics buy-back companies such as Recellular, YouRenew, BuyMyTronics, MaxBack and Gazelle, which pay you in cash instead of gift cards.

Like the Apple program, you'll need to answer a few quick questions about the age and condition of your gadget first. Then, simply mail your device via prepaid postage, and you'll typically receive payment for the full market value in less than two weeks. Meanwhile, your phone will be sold for reuse - keeping e-waste out of landfills and putting a few dollars back in your pocket.

Sure, you could make a few extra dollars by recycling your old smartphone. But if you want to help your gadget give back, why not try using it to support charitable causes?

An ever-growing number of nonprofits are using tossed cell phones and other electronics to benefit the environment and communities in need. EcoCell allows you to donate all brands of cell phones and smartphones to help save an endangered species or benefit zoos, wildlife refuges and botanical gardens.

Cell Phones for Soldiers refurbishes unwanted phones, sells them and uses the cash to buy calling cards for U.S. troops stationed overseas, while March of Dimes uses cash from remarketed phones for medical research on birth defects and infant mortality.

Your wireless provider may also offer charity take-back programs for your old phone. Verizon accepts used cell phones through its HopeLine program, with all proceeds benefitting families affected by domestic violence. With Sprint, you can use your old phone to help kids with serious health issues attend summer camp through the Recycle for Victory program, or fund Internet safety programs for children in need through Project Connect.

For a wider selection of nonprofits, head to Recycling for Charities - a Web-based take-back program that accepts and recycles all forms of electronics and gives a value donation to your charity of choice. Causes include animal shelters, environmental initiatives and community groups.

Many of these causes offer drop-off programs for cell phone and smartphone donations. Check to see if there is a drop-off location in your area before mailing your phone to save on shipping emissions and packaging waste.

Some buy-back and charitable take-back programs will accept your iPhone or smartphone if it's broken. But most shy away from non-working models. However, even the most banged-up devices are chock full of usable resources that are readily recoverable through recycling. So, if you can't find a buy-back program or charitable organization that will take your broken phone, you still have loads of options for responsible disposal.

Apple's recycling program accepts broken or unusable iPhones (they just don't pay you for them). Most electronics stores, including Best Buy, Staples and Radio Shack, also offer free take-back recycling programs for cell phones and smartphones. Almost all wireless carriers, including Sprint, Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile, will also accept your broken phone for recycling at no cost.

Reuse Your Old Computer Instead of Recycling

I came across this great article providing specific ideas about how to re-use your old computers. While recycling is a key aspect of any green philosophy, a focused policy on re-use will yield far more benefits. Why? Because not everything can be recycled, but most everything can be re-used. In fact, a company that utilizes an aggressive re-use policy will generally have a larger green footprint as compared to a company that "only" recycles.

Considering that as much as 40% of all landfills are made up of some form of electronic waste (or e-waste), how to reuse older, functional computer components is important. Here's the article:

Media Centre - Most computers already have a DVD player in so by simply installing a decent graphics card and sound card you can easily turn the old computer into an all singing all dancing media centre. Add a wireless keyboard or remote control and you have complete internet access from your TV, as well as being able to access all your videos and music from the computer and even from across the network! Your PC does not need to be very quick to make a good media centre, the main things to consider are the graphics and sound cards, although even using the onboard graphics and sound will be more than good enough for some people.

Experimenting - So you want to try out a version of Linux, or you want to practice installing upgrades - your old computer is the perfect volunteer. While it may not be good enough for installing the latest operating systems, it will probably handle most Linux operating systems and older versions of windows. This gives you a machine to play about with, change settings, install software you wouldn't normally etc without having to worry about it breaking your main computer. If you aren't comfortable with doing any hardware upgrades, open up the PC and have a look inside, practice installing and removing certain components - its the easiest way to learn!

Server - Ok, so we aren't talking about a fully functional server for a large business, but you will be surprised just how much your old computer can do. Most computers are more than capable of being used as a file server to store all of your files. You can connect a printer to the computer, automatically converting it into a networked printer. The ideas are endless. Once you have your home server up and in place, you will wonder how your survived without it! Want to download lots of files? Leave them downloading on the server. You don't even need a monitor for the server. Set it up using your current monitor and then enable remote desktop. This will allow you to access the server from any other computer on the network without needing a physical monitor to view it.

Give It Away - You bought your new computer so you can play all the latest games or use the latest photo editing software, but for the last couple of years the computer has been good enough for you. The chances are, it will still be good enough for the next few years for somebody else. Why not give the computer to a younger relative, a friend that doesn't have a computer, or even donate it to a local primary school or charity shop?

PC Recycling - We recycle everything else, from paper through to waste food, but for some reason people do not think about recycling their PC's. There is a regulatory board in place which ensures that when you recycle your PC all of the data is destroyed and the PC recycled as much as possible. Individual parts are reused were possible, and were the parts are of no use they are stripped down into individual materials so that they can be recycled efficiently. Some PC recycling companies will take your computer and recycle it for free, some will recycle it for free provided you are not a business, and others may charge a small fee. Now why would you pay to have it recycled? Security! Just throwing your old PC outside for anybody to take away leaves all of your files on the computer for anybody else to see. Even if you have deleted them, it is still possible for someone who knows what they are doing to recover the files. By recycling the PC, you ensure that nobody else will ever see what was on your computer.

Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?Recycle-Your-Old-Computer&id=5647556

Here's a good video that covers the pros and cons of computer recycling. Pay attention to the section on security and data privacy.