Fritz

Pollution, The Air We Breathe and Ozone

by Fritz on December 8, 2008 · 0 comments

Have you ever smelled ozone in the air? Ever heard the news guys mention an “Ozone Action Day?” Too much ozone in the air smells like someone burning metal wires in the air. It is really strange.

This simple molecule which is simply three oxygen atoms held together is also known as trioxygen. It is far less stable than the more usual dual oxygen that is more commonly found in the atmosphere at breathing level.

When comfortably floating above the atmosphere as the bright blue envelope that is seen from space photos, it has the ability to do something very important. This stratospheric ozone protects life on Earth from the particularly damaging UVB radiation that would otherwise knock holes in cellular DNA, making life on Earth impossible.

However, when on the ground, ozone is a pollutant that damages crops and causes respiratory ailments. Most people are able to detect it in minute quantities, as low as .01 parts-per-million (ppm) in most cases. It can also cause headaches and burning eyes at fewer than 1 ppm. This tropospheric ozone is chiefly produced by automotive and other fossil fuel emissions interacting with sunlight.

Matt Lauer in Beliz Looking At Green Climate Change Problems

by Fritz on November 18, 2008 · 0 comments


Matt Lauer and the group from the Today Show were in Belize (the Blue Hole and Half Moon Caye) this week looking into the environmental impact temperature change is having there. Belize, located in the Southern end of the Caribbean Sea, is home to some of the most exotic marine life on the planet and the waters there are changing. The environmental impact could be massive. Belize boasts the famous “Blue Hole” and the largest coral barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere: but all that could be in danger.

Here is more info:

Belize – a country rich in a variety of coastal ecosystems!

The coastal land is where humans, thousands of creatures, clear waters and time converge to create a unique multifaceted region and a rich country.

With over 1000 cayes and 220 kilometers of Barrier Reef ( one of the seven underwater wonders of the world) Belize is a country that possesses natural wealth through a variety of coastal ecosystems ranging from coral reefs to seagrass beds, from extensive mangrove and littoral forests to coastal lagoons and estuaries. It is these habitats which serve as essential breeding, rearing and feeding grounds for a vast array of living things.

Seagrass beds, mangrove and littoral forests are vital for flood and erosion control. They are also important in maintaining coastal water quality by catching terrestrial run-off resulting from agricultural activities such as land clearance and the use of agro-chemicals. Coral reefs act as a protective barrier. Likewise, all the other coastal ecosystems serve to protect coastal areas from storm damage and provide a livelihood for many Belizeans through industries such as fisheries and tourism.

The many functions and roles of the coastal habitats and inhabitants are evident in the bustle of activities and uses of the region from north to south and from east to west. It is with great concern that we note the increasing pressure to develop economically and to provide for recreational facilities within the coastal zone. A more efficient harvesting of marine products has further intensified the need for reliable information on the status and sustainability of these resources.
Satellite image of coastal zone

Knowledge of the functions of these ecosystems is important but so, too, is having positive attitudes — attitudes that will translate into the actions that lead to the best use of these resources. The functions of these ecosystems are all too vital and precious for us to ignore. In fact, the coastal ecosystems are a legacy for Belizeans to prize, and also a legacy that can be merged into our daily lives with care and wise use.

This is a complex system that includes the shoreline, in addition to the coastal plains, the lagoons and estuaries, the cayes and atolls, plus the subtidal area within the 19 kilometer territorial limit and a 322 kilometer exclusive economic zone. This includes the continental shelf which is approximately 257 kilometers long and 15-40 kilometers wide.

Given the distinct features of each region, one can see why the shelf can be separated into four regions : coastline, inner lagoon, barrier platform and coral atolls. The coastline consists of lagoons, sandridge barriers, river deltas and estuaries while the inner lagoon is the area immediately bordering the mainland, with Belize City demarcating the northern and southern regions. The third region is the barrier platform which is seaward of the inner lagoon and the last region consists of the three coral atolls which are seaward of the continental shelf. The inner lagoon region that lies between the platform flat and mainland forms a gently sloping underwater valley that is wide and shallow north of Belize City and which falls as much as 64 meters deep, east of Punta Gorda. On the other hand, the continental shelf north of Belize City, rarely reaches a depth of greater than 10 meters.

What Is Clean Coal Technology?

by Fritz on October 29, 2008 · 0 comments

Clean coal: what is it? I have heard this term tossed around so much lately as the presidential race is in full swing and eco-issues are at the forefront. Really, can coal be clean? As you will see, there is not one straight and clear answer…
Clean coal is actually an energy industry term which refers to increasing the efficiency of coal mining, making power plants which use coal for energy generation more environmentally friendly, and/or making coal itself more fuel efficient and clean burning.

Dirty Coal; Carbon Dioxide

Since coal contributes a large volume of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere every single year, the idea of cleaning up coal is quite appealing to many consumers and government officials. But never forget this: no matter how much you attempt to clean it up or filter it out, some carbon dioxide is still going to be released into the environment when coal is used for fuel, and other harmful emissions are created as well. The other issue is that coal is NOT a renewable resource and will eventually be depleted.

Clean Coal and GreenWashing

Many environmentalists term the concept of clean coal “greenwashing,” meaning that companies are using the concept to make themselves look better. They argue that since coal is a fossil fuel, investing in cleaner coal technology is not as sound as investment in renewable energy. However, most environmentalists would also agree that if coal is going to be used as a fuel, it might as well be used cleanly.

The creation of coal started millions of years ago, when decaying plant and animal matter began to compress, ultimately forming the world’s coal and petroleum deposits. Coal has been utilized as a fossil fuel for centuries, ever since humans realized that the substance was burnable. It naturally appears in large deposits of brownish to black flaky material, which are mined in large volumes.

Clean Coal Mining

Coal mining and processing can lead to pollution, just as many industrial processes do. Making the mining process itself more clean and efficient is one of the methods for “clean coal technology.” In addition, many countries now chemically wash their coal to remove some impurities. Removing these impurities before burning ensures that they will not be released into the atmosphere, although the chemicals and impurities still need to be appropriately dealt with so that they do not enter the environment. Some critics say this is nothing more than robbing Peter to pay Paul in regards to pollution with coal.

Most coal in the US and abroad is burned in power plants that produce electricity, so cleaning up these plants is another way to employ clean coal technology. Coal burning power plants are often old and highly inefficient. In order to clean them up, signigicant investments would need to be made. Most coal-producing businesses do not have the means to do this.

Clean Coal Smoke Stacks?

Another way companies are cleaning up coal is by adding scrubbers or filters to the smoke stacks at power plants. These filters take out much of the pollutants before they are released. But once again, those filters are expensive and the garbage they collect still must be disposed of somehow and somewhere.

The REAL Clean Coal

The final sort of clean coal (and really the truth behind the concept) is not really coal at all, but an entirely new product known as “gasified coal.” Gasified coal is coal which has been treated to turn it into a gas such as methane or hydrogen. In the process, the carbon dioxide waste is extracted. This gas fuel is burned for energy, yielding cleaner and more environmentally sound coal-based energy. Since natural gas prices began skyrocketing in the late 1990s, gasified coal began to attract attention.

To produce gasified coal, the coal is mixed with a catalyst and subjected to high levels of heat and steam. This causes a chemical reaction, which separates the coal into hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and other inorganic solids which are separated further and filtered out. The hydrogen and methane can both be used for energy production, while the carbon dioxide is often injected deep into the ground or otherwise disposed of. In theory, a coal fired power plant could become zero emission by using this clean coal technology.
As far as finding a balance in clean coal technology, there isn’t one. I honestly don’t think that the politicians even know what it truly means. The only true clean coal is the gas form and that is entirely too expensive to make in our current state of affairs.
So next time someone asks you if you are for or against clean coal technology, you will know how to answer them because you read it here on the Balanced Green Living Blog.

Organic vs Natural Fertilizer

by Fritz on October 28, 2008 · 0 comments

Lawn care is one of the easiest ways to “go green” and you won’t have to pay more or sacrifice quality by going the organic route. In fact, organically treated lawns look better than their chemically slathered counterparts if cared for properly. Folks, you should be excited about this! Organic lawn care is the ultimate in balanced green living!

Fertilizer For Nutrients

I think it’s pretty obvious that fertilizer is used to make lawns green and thick. But there is a lot more to it than just throwing down some pellets that came in a bag labeled “Step 2″ or “Step 3.”

Fertilizer is …Any of a large number of natural and synthetic materials, including manure and nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium compounds, spread on or worked into soil to increase its capacity to support plant growth.

It is important to keep in mind that fertilizer IS NOT plant food! Plants create their own food through the process of photosynthesis. Fertilizers (nutrients such as Nitrogen, Potassium and Phosphorus) only serve to support this process. And, just in case you are wondering, grass is a plant!

There are 2 classifications to deal with: Natural Fertilizer and Organic Fertilizer.

Natural Fertilizers

What is Natural fertilizer? The term “Natural” refers to “Existing in or formed by Nature” or “based on the state of things in nature; constituted by nature”

So let me ask you folks, is everything in nature safe to put on your lawn? Crude oil is found naturally in Texas, but I don’t think any of us would spread it in our front yard. In addition, do you see a difference in elements that are found naturally or made synthetically if they are chemically exact matches? Phosphorus for example, is a basic element in lawn fertilizer. There are plenty of places where phosphorus is mined from a natural deposit, yet, phosphorus is also manipulated in the lab and used in your daily vitamins. Which one do you want in your stomach?

Phosphorus in its natural state is not always concentrated enough to be effective for your lawn anyway. In other words, you might have to spread 20 pounds of naturally found phosphorus on your front lawn in order to get the same results that 1 half-pound of synthetic will get for you. Which is better for the environment in your opinion?

The point here is that just because something is “natural” does not mean it is automatically good for your lawn or the environment. Sometimes science improves on nature. The other thing to keep in mind is the advertising you see on TV and websites. If someone is touting their products are “all natural” or “naturally derived” they are playing on your sense of emotion. Most folks think the terms “natural” and “organic” are interchangeable… they are NOT! To sum this up: natural fertilizers are not always the best to use on your lawn.

Organic Fertilizers

What is Organic fertilizer? The term Organic means: “Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms” You can see that organic could be classified as “a step closer” to being environmentally aware in this regard. To further confuse you, some things that are organic are also natural, but not everything natural is organic! Got it? Furthermore, just because something is organic, does not give you the right to spread massive amounts of it all over everywhere without regard. Too much of a good thing ain’t always good. Rotten bananas are organic, but you wouldn’t eat 100 of them would you?

Organics for lawns can come in many forms such as blood meal, poultry waste(chicken parts and chicken poopy), manure(cow poopy), compost and fish emulsion, just to name a few. Organics are the best for your lawn, period!

The main concern that folks have with organics is that they take a while to produce results. But I have never had a problem with this.

I hope that after reading this article you have a good understanding of natural and organic lawn fertilizer because in future articles, we are going to learn exactly which ones to use and how to use them to achieve superb results!

Defining Biodiversity

by Fritz on October 25, 2008 · 0 comments

As a part of the Balanced Green Living blog, we strive to educate you on the buzz words associated with the green movement. Biodiversity is one of those terms. Everyone thinks they know what it means, but asked to define it, they often can only do so in the broadest, most general terms. And frankly, this is one of the fatal flaws of the green movement: that being no one can agree on the basic terms that define it. But we’re not here to solve those problems. We’re here to give you a balanced prespective and defining the term “biodiversity” is a great starting point.

According to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, biodiversity is defined as “the variety of all forms of life, from genes to species, through to the broad scale of ecosystems.” The term was coined as a contraction of “biological diversity” but has acquired its own meaning.

Since 1986 the term biodiversity and the concepts it covers have achieved widespread use among scientists and civilians alike, as a shorthand term for a very grave and complicated set of issues. Its current usage merges a concern for nature conservation and the natural environment with a concern over the increasing extinction of plant and animal species. Briefly, there are three main types of biodiversity:

Genetic Diversity: Differences of genes within a species. For example this is why you might have red hair and green eyes while your best friend has brown hair and blue eyes.

Species Diversity: Differences among both plant and animal species in an ecosystem.

Ecosystem Diversity: Differences at the ecosystem level. Some areas of the planet are deserts, and some are marshes. Each has its own particular characteristics and species of flora and fauna

Biodiversity is what keeps our air and water clean. It regulates our climate and weather, and provides us with sources of food, shelter, clothing, and is the basis of most modern medicine. It improves our quality of life by creating lovely natural spaces where we can refresh ourselves by relaxing, playing, and admiring nature’s great beauty and variety.

Over the years, the biodiversity of such regions as the African rain forests have provided science with the basis for much of the medicine we take for granted. Gingko, horse chestnuts, pineapple, and many other plants, both exotic and domestic have all played a part in maintaining our health and well-being.

A diverse population of insects for pollination-which helps with the growing and development of much of our food-can be, and are, harmed by pesticides. And much of our industry (and financial well-being as a nation) is dependent on fibers, building materials, and other natural resources.

The decisions we make, both as individuals and as a nation affect the web of life all over the planet, therefore it is our responsibility to maintain and sustain biodiversity.
It is only by understanding these relationships that we can ensure our decisions will preserve Earth’s biodiversity for the generations that follow us.

So how does this effect you, the homeowner living in a 300-house subdivision in the Midwest? Well, it may not directly impact you today, but you can make difference just by planting a tree, for example. I know that sounds corny, but remember, plants clean the air and that is the basis for biodiversity.

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