Category Archives: Environment

Ways to Reduce Pollution

There are simple ways to help reduce pollution in the environment. Below are just a few ways we can all contribute to maintaining a healthy safe environment for adults and children. One way to help stop pollution is to always keep your car up to date with its emission tests. Avoiding smoke emissions will help prevent pollution. Try not to litter. Littering is careless and can easy be avoided. By throwing hazardous waste into water and land, it creates toxic chemicals that affect everything from the food we eat to the water we drink.

Burning tires has proven to be a significant factor in polluting the air we live in. Human carcinogens and chemicals get released into the air by burning tires. It only helps the environment to try and purchase used tires. Sometimes people invest in military tires due to the overwhelming surplus and quality. Instead of purchasing retail or wholesale tires, invest in used tires instead. Help stop the amount of tires being made by taking advantage of used tires instead of buying brand new ones.

Conserving energy goes a long way. By purchasing Energy Star products and generally reducing the amount of energy taken in per day, you will help relieve some of pollution. Turning lights off and appliances off when they aren’t being used will help as well. Plus, you will save on your energy bill. Get your home tested for radon, a hazardous, odorless but toxic gas. As far as automobiles are concerned, try to carpool or use public transportation when ever possible. By keeping your tires inflated you will save gas. When going grocery shopping bring a canvas bag to reduce the amount of paper and plastic wasted. Lastly- recycle, recycle, recycle! Sorting out the cans, cardboard and plastic from other garbage makes such a difference in the environment and can be re-used!

Four Great Soy-Based Products That Replace Fossil Fuel Alternatives

You probably know by now about the many great benefits of eating soy-based foods, including soy milk and tofu. But did you know that soybeans also provide a more eco friendly alternative to a whole list of fossil-fuel based products that are not always so good for the environment?

It’s preferable to use soy-based products over man-made synthetic materials simply because they are far more likely to be easily biodegradable and non-toxic. They also lessen our dependence on fossil fuels, which isn’t great for the environment–as the BP oil spill disaster and climate change make clear. Take a look at these four soy-based products you may or may not have heard about:

1) Crayons. Your kids probably love their crayons, but they are made of paraffin wax, a petroleum by-product. If that gives you pause, then why encourage its further use? Instead, consider buying soy-based crayons, which are made of soy wax and work just as well for your kids without the environmental hassle.

2) Soy Candles. Traditional candles are likewise made of paraffin wax and pose the same challenge, with the additional problem that this petroleum-based wax gets burned in our homes and in the air we breathe. A soy candle is likewise made of soy wax and burns just as well as regular wax, making for a more eco friendly, less petroleum-based alternative.

3) Solvents. Think of solvents and you might think of some nasty black substance that dissolves anything it touches. But solvents too can be made of soybeans, which as you can imagine is much more environmentally friendly. Soy-based solvents are versatile and can be used for anything from dissolving old wax to cleaning stubborn oil-based paint off paintbrushes.

4) Diesel Additive. Unless you drive a diesel truck you may not have heard of diesel additives. They are generally added to the gas tank to improve performance, reduce engine knocking, improve fuel economy, and the like. Instead of, again, using a petrol-based product, you could use one made from soybeans instead. Not only do you help lower the use of petroleum, but you encourage an agricultural business that is more friendly to the environment than digging deep under the ocean.

These are only four examples among many that show how wonderful soybean is as a crop. From making healthy foods to maintaining a more healthy planet, you should seek out soy-based products whenever you shop–particularly if you are seeking out anything wax based, solvents, or cleaners. The environment will thank you for it!

Local Mason OH environmental project scheduled to save tributary

Mason, a successful city in Warren County, Ohio, has ignored the impact of development along Muddy Creek, a tributary of Little Miami River, with a length of around 1400 feet. The Mason OH housing market has seen expansive growth, especially since last year it was voted Cincinnati’s Best Suburb, and because of development the stream is subject to higher erosion levels. Ohio’s Environmental Protection Agency has observed this and granted $258,000 for its restoration.

Apart from this funding source, the $430,000 project has received additional funds from local people. The goal of the project is to enhance the stream banks and restore the creek’s natural flow and habitat. Restoration is planned to start in 2011. Owing to the length of the creek, certain locations like the stretch near St. Susanna Church and to south of intersection of Hanover Drive and Reading Road have been chosen for focused work since the creek bends are more liable to erosion than the straight sections.

The project also includes the planting of more shrubs and trees in these areas since they can hold  the soil in place and help remove any pollutants from entering the creek. In addition, this will shore up banks and decrease silt deposits in the river.

Muddy Creek will also enjoy full sunlight penetration, which is necessary for the survival of the aquatic insects and organisms, sustaining a healthier aquatic ecosystem. Alternatively, this can result in algal bloom formation and lowered oxygen levels that can completely destroy the aquatic lives.

In addition to environmental improvements, recreational benefits will result from this project. The city has already built a few bike trails around the river and has planned more to be built in 2011-2012. Mason is the largest local contributor to the project with $103,130 and St. Susanna Church is the second largest with its contribution of $53,850.

Water Conservation – An Important Job For Everyone

Water conservation isn’t just a job for special interest groups and the government.  Everybody can do a little something to make a difference to preserve out most precious resource – water.  If even 1 out of every 10 people would understand the importance of water conservation, it could make a huge impact on how much water we use and how we use it.

Did you know that even the most minor water drip can waste thousands of gallons of water every year?  That’s right – 1 drop of water every second adds up to over 30 gallons a day.  Multiply that by 365 days a year, and you’re wasting over a thousand gallons of water every year, all for the inconvenience of fixing that faucet.  Go ahead and learn how to fix that leaky faucet, or call someone to do it.  You’ll see a difference in your water bill, and you’re going to help the Earth.

You may think that’s a bit overstated, and you probably think that the Earth has plenty of water.  This is partially true; the Earth will be covered with water long after we’re through with it.  The thing is though, that water needs to be clean in order for the us to grow and prosper.  More importantly, people need extremely clean water to live hygienically and in a healthy way.  Now, while we may not run out of water any time soon, making water potable requires an extensive amount of resources and fossil fuels.  Every ounce of water we preserve, and use properly, rather than wasting, helps preserve other natural resources that are more likely to run out in the near future.

The importance of water in human life, and in the world, really can’t be overstated.  It’s contribution to our use of energy and other natural resources can’t be ignored either.  The example above is only one of many ways that most households are wasting water.  If you are a little more observant, and cautious with how you use water on a daily basis, it can really make quite an impact in preserving multiple natural resources, including our precious water.