Thermal pollution is a huge contributor to our atmosphere’s problems, how about we try to harness this heat energy to cycle it back into our system without wasting it? Check out this link and it’s subsequents to learn more about some exciting new projects related to this sort of energy recycling!

Fossil fuels emit carbon dioxide gas because their chemical base is carbon, that is obvious. So, what if that carbon dioxide that was spewed out could be transformed back into usable energy and at the same time reduce airborne gas? The idea was always there but the process, originally, took too much energy for it to make any sense. Much like the reality of working fusion that approaches, this technology too, may be a viable means of producing energy efficiently.

Carbon Science has developed a new technology which they claim can convert CO2 back into usable fuel, even right at the source of a big power plant.

The key to our CO2-to-Fuel approach lies in a proprietary multi-step biocatalytic process. Instead of using expensive inorganic catalysts . . . the Carbon Sciences process uses inexpensive, renewable biomolecules to catalyze certain chemical reactions required to transform CO2 into basic hydrocarbon building blocks.

If this is at all possible, then great! We can use what is essentially “waste” as fuel and create a loop that could put a large dent in the footprint of industry. However we can’t just think it is ok to keep using fossil fuels or even these “created fuels” because in the end they still are not solving the problem. While this may provide a kick-start to new ideas, we still need to develop better renewable, carbon-free energy sources and means to distribute them economically.

I took a trip to the Brass City Brew Fest a few weeks ago and I noticed at the Long Trail table that they had something with the word “eco” in it! Low and behold it turns out that Long Trail Brewing Co. has been using methods to conserve energy, reduce waste, and recycle materials since they started brewing 17 years ago! I already liked their beer, but after learning about all the interesting methods they use to keep their footprint down, I thought they should be commended, not only for their great tasting beer, but also their wonderful and environmentally conscious effort to be green!

Long Trail utilizes methods to recycle the mash from their brews, recover heat from their kettles, conserve water (industry standard is 6 gal : 1 gal of beer, they only use 2 gal for 1 gal of beer!), and they have even installed VOC scrubbers that help remove toxins produced by hot brewing! You can check EcoBrew.net for lots more info.

Brought to my attention by Leah D. via facebook, this epic journey through the production line tells of the dark truth behind how much our country consumes and simply, throws away. The video on her home page is about 20 minutes long but worth every second. Annie puts in simple terms the linear path of resources as they travel from ravaged lands to toxic pumping factories through underpaid retailer hands, into our homes only to have 99% of those things thrown out within 6 months of them arriving. One of the things she brings up is something known as “planned obsolescence” which everyone should be wary of in order to be a wise consumer, so pay close attention.

I really enjoyed this video and since she has it layed out so well, I’ll leave the rest of the talking to Annie. You can find a bunch more info on her site, so explore it after you watch the video!

Thanks go out to Leah who shared this site on our facebook group.

www.wasteonline.org.uk

Created by a fellow Andover resident, GreaseNotGas shows an interesting journey of a few grease powered vehicles If you click on their banner to go to the main flash site you will find lots of information and documentary-like stories about the many trips this team has taken across country in a vehicle powered by ‘leftovers.’

Whenever I recieve or think of enough ideas/tips/ect I will write a new volume for our collection of Green Thoughts. Overtime I hope to accumlate a tome of these volumes and share them with everyone! These snippets of knowledge will all be archived and held on the Ideas page in a special section, marked accordingly. I hope you can use some of these ideas today!

• Plant Something: Plant anything! Plants absorb CO2 and sequester it in their vegetative bodies so they are a great way to make an impact on atmospheric CO2 concentrations. Of course, the more the merrier, just make sure you consult local biologists (like these folks) to make sure you don’t introduce any invasive species!
• Carpool: Pretty obvious one here, less cars = less CO2 emissions/person. Better yet, carpool with people who drive fuel efficient cars! (Just because an ad for an SUV says the car “is fuel efficient,” doesn’t mean it is getting better gas mileage than a sensible sedan or Yaris. Do you go off-roading? That’s what I thought. Don’t buy an SUV or let your friends drive them.)

• Reusable Grocery Bags: Simple fix to the ridiculous notion of a throw away, non-biodegradable, quick storage accessory. These extremely inexpensive bags will last forever and considering the alternative of producing millions upon millions of these bags (which require; energy and oil all the while producing CO2 as a byproduct) they are a much better choice for everyone. Just don’t forget to bring them to the store with you!

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In light of the recently publicized toxicity of the Nalgene bottles and the consistent waste brought on by disposable water bottles I thought it would be a good idea to mention the importance of reusable ones (that aren’t toxic).

“The Pacific Institute estimates that producing the bottles for American consumption in 2006 required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil. The manufacture of every ton of PET produces around 3 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Bottling water thus created more than 2.5 million tons of CO2 in 2006″ [citation].

Don’t forget that these bottles will never biodegrade. To get an idea about how often people don’t recycle just look on the side of the road next time you drive somewhere, or in a barrel in a highly trafficked sidewalk.

Simple Solution:

• Buy a reusable water bottle, and use it!
  I just got a new Sigg bottle and I love it!
• Worth the $$!
  They may be more expensive at first, but when you think about the green good you do from using it and the money you save from not buying new bottles and filtering your own tap water, its absolutely worth it.