Why You Should Always Unplug Your Electronics

Photo Credit: NYTimes

Electronic devices are used constantly in most individual's everyday lives, and a lot of people do not realize how much power they are actually using. One would think that when turning a device off that they are conserving power, however in most cases the devices still continue to draw power. To conserve power when a device is not in use, it should be completely turned off and unplugged. 

The amount of power each idle device is consuming may not appear to be a lot, but the number adds up over time. A study of Northern California, by the Natural Resources Defense Council, states that, "about a quarter of all residential energy consumption is used in idle power mode." In a dollar amount, this could add up to more than $19 billion in electricity bills per year on idle devices. This consumption of power represents more than a quarter of all carbon dioxide emissions within the United States. Turn off your electronics to save money, while reducing the amount of pollution in the world that contributes to climate change.

Electronics and appliances are becoming more energy efficient, but the energy consumed has actually doubled because of the number of electronics people have today. Around 36 percent of the population has a laptop, a tablet, and a smartphone. These devices are rarely turned off, which has contributed to the increase in consumed energy over the years. However, electronic devices are not the only problem, kitchen appliances draw a lot of energy. A study showed that using a coffee maker once a day consumes about 50 kilowatt-hours every year, which is more than some people around the world use in an entire year. 

There are ways that you can reduce your energy consumption easily. If you plug all of your main electronics or appliances into one power strip, you can simply turn them all off at once. However, you must be aware that devices with clocks or internet connections could lose information when unplugged. Another useful tip: never stream movies on your video game consoles; they use 45 times more power than streaming consoles. All in all, you should become aware of the amount of energy everything within your home is consuming and make changes. The carbon dioxide emissions that each household is creating with idle electronics can and should be avoided. Executing these simple changes will save you a lot of money and will create less climate-changing pollution.

Read More At: How Much Power Do Your Electronics Use

The US's Pollution Levels are at an Unhealthy Rate Among More Than Half of the States

Photo Credit: Huffington Post

The majority of the world knows that the air around them is unclean, but do they know just how contaminated it really is? The air within the United States is full of pollution. A few weeks ago, the American Lung Association revealed that the US population is living among extremely unhealthy air. 

Pollution can be visible or virtually invisible to the human eye. The most well-known type of pollution is smog; a visible pollutant. Smog can be see all around the world, especially in well-developed, industrial areas. It is created when the gases that come out of tailpipes, smokestacks and other sources come into contact with sunlight. 

Pollution is dangerous in any form. Breathing in the contaminated air can result in early death, cardiovascular harm, respiratory disease and cancer. The catastrophic damage that results from the pollution has not stopped people from building up areas and creating more objects that produce harmful particles. Even with all of this information open to the public and plainly stated, nearly 20 million people are living among these harmful pollutants in the United States alone. A report from 2015 showed that 4 in 10 Americans are living in areas with unhealthy levels of pollution. Measures must be taken to protect the air we breathe. Unclean air not only causes us harm, but it is also extremely harmful to our ecosystem. 

Read more about the current state of pollution - Huffington Post

Climate Change: Causing Huge ‘Dead Zones’ in Oceans by 2030

Photo Credit: Vice.com

Man-made climate change is extremely threatening to the environment around the world. 97 percent of actively publishing climate scientists agree: Climate-warming trends over the past century are extremely likely due to human activities. Studies show that man-made climate change is already decreasing the oxygen levels within some parts of the world’s oceans, and by 2030 huge “dead zones” could start to appear.

The oxygen levels are declining because the increasing water temperature makes it difficult to absorb and distribute the oxygen. If carbon emissions continue at this rate, it will likely result in falling oxygen concentrations across large areas of the oceans. A decrease in carbon emissions is going to be a nearly impossible task to complete; everyone in the world will need to change how they go about their daily lives.

Environments around the globe are being effected on different levels by climate change. The Arctic, for example, has temperatures that are rising at twice the rate as they are across the planet as a whole. The process has already begun within the Atlantic Ocean, and the Pacific Ocean is likely to see large sections with reduced oxygen by 2030.

“Dead zones” are a huge problem for humans and the environment. These areas could pose a great threat to some forms of marine life at depths of 200 meters or more, which in turn poses a threat to us. We rely on the marine ecosystem for a variety of services – one of them is a food supply. "We rely on bottom fisheries in these areas. Our study was essentially on fish food," Levin said. "Species that form structures that provide biodiversity-sustaining habitat on the sea floor might be important to watch for susceptibility to ocean deoxygenation, acidification, and warming. They are also vulnerable to human disturbance."

Read more at: Vice.com

The Life Expectancy of an Electric Vehicle

Image Credit: Chevy Volt

     One of the main factors that causes people to shy away from the idea of an electric vehicle (EV) is its life expectancy. The fear is not because the battery life is necessarily short, but is due to the fact that there is not much data supporting either side since they are a relatively new commodity. Reliability and durability are two extremely important factors when car shopping, and they can make or break your decision. The lack of information is enough to make this an unsettling option, however the information that is currently available makes EVs appear to be a pretty safe bet.

     Eric Belmer, an EV owner, drives his Chevy Volt long distances daily; his monthly work commute adds up to 6,500 miles. His 2012 vehicle has just reached 300,000 miles and is still going strong on its first battery. This news means that electric vehicles, at least the Chevy Volt, are a reliable choice. More in-depth research has found that many EVs have 100,000 miles on them or more, and they are still using their original battery. More data allows the buyer to have peace of mind as their concerns are addressed.

     If you want to purchase an electric car, the reliability and durability of the vehicle are factors that can be put in the back of your head and no longer serve as the main concern. Having peace of mind when car shopping will allow you to think about the other factors that come into play such as mileage per charge, whether it is a completely electric vehicle or a hybrid, the size of the car, the color, and anything else the customer has a preference on. Knowledge is key when purchasing a new car; the process should take time. 

Read more at: 300000 Miles Chevy Volt

When to Get Rid of Your Plastic Water Bottle

People often wonder if using a plastic water bottle more than once is harmful to your health. Researchers have found that, while the material has been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for repeated use, these water bottles are manufactured for one.

The reusing of plastic water bottles can lead to growth in bacteria, so they should be washed with soap and hot water after every use. They have found that levels remain considerably safe with reasonable, reusing over a three month period.

“Researchers found the water in the plastic bottles had only 0.195 ppb at the beginning of the study and 0.226 ppb three whole months later — way below the EPA limit. (They also tested the local tap water for comparison and found antimony levels of 0.146 ppb.)” Techinsider

However, using plastic bottles is still bad for the environment, even if you are reusing them. To decrease your carbon footprint and reduce the waste accumulating in landfills, the best option is to purchase a dishwasher-safe permanent water bottle. A reusable water bottle may be a bit pricey at first, but in the end it will save you a lot of money and decrease the waste in our environment. 

We may be turning the corner on action to thwart catastrophic impacts from Climate Change, but much will depend on the leadership exhibited by the next President of the United States.  If we elect a leader that recognizes the fact that 72% of the US population believe climate change is a threat to civilization and that action should be taken, we have a chance of preserving not just the standard of living we have become accustomed to enjoying – but the well-being of our entire civilization. 

If we elect a President that will take action – and exhibit leadership, I see a revolutionary change in the way we design and construct buildings, generate power, utilize our transportation system and consider out impact on global warming.   We need to take action on a similar scale as the competitive race to land a person on the moon vs. the Soviets.   Time is urgent - we have no time to navel gaze.  

Not only was 2015 the warmest year on record, but February absolutely shattered high temperature records since the origin of mankind. 

5 Major Impactors on your Carbon Footprint

The average American is responsible for about 20 tons of carbon dioxide emissions every year. To fully wrap your head around that amount, just think about the emissions created when driving a gasoline-powered card nonstop for 40,000 miles - they're the same. A thousand actions could be taken to reduce your carbon footprint, but there are five major factors should be considered first.

The place you choose to call home can have a huge impact on the amount of emissions you put into the atmosphere. Although the US is not an ideal location to minimize your carbon footprint, some places are more climate-friendly than others.

Cities, which are responsible for 75 percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions, cover the US however, densely populated cities tend to have smaller carbon footprints than the outlying suburbs. Location is not the only thing to keep in mind when looking for a home, the kind of apartment or house you live in matters too; making sure the home has good insulation can reduce heat loss and cut down energy use significantly. 

The second major factor is your diet. American’s are responsible for almost nine tons of carbon emissions yearly. The consumption of red meat has a carbon footprint eleven times the size of grains and vegetables. The reduction of beef consumption could actually be more effective than driving less often. Giving up beef completely is not a requirement; simply making small changes can have a huge effect.

How you commute, especially to and from work, can add pounds of carbon to your output. If you plan on using a car, try to get something fuel-efficient. However, public transportation is more efficient and can save each passenger about ten pounds of carbon emissions on an average ride.

The location of your investments is another major factor effecting your carbon footprint. Where your money goes can determine which industries grow and which do not. Activists and nonprofit organizations are encouraging investors to divert money away from the fossil fuel industry. The amount, whether big or small, will make a difference.

The fifth major factor is ultimately who you vote for. Government policies can do more to limit global carbon emissions in the long run than changing your consumer habits. “Climate change is the most systemic challenge and largest scale challenge we’ve ever faced as humanity,” he said. “Given that, it requires action on all fronts, and we need a combination of things coming from everywhere in society."

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