Goal For The Green

With gas prices quickly approaching $4/gallon, could an oil revolution due to our dependency happen here?

Image via Wikipedia

The countries owning most of the planet’s oil reserves, are in the midst of, growing political turmoil.  The economic stability, of the entire world, remains at risk,  until an alternative to our oil addiction, is shaken off, and a new energy source is developed, to end our oil dependency.

Is Oil, A Dwindling Resource, Creating A Potential Oil Revolution?

For years, we have been warned, that the world economy is relying on a dwindling resource. Currently, the uprisings in the Middle East and Libya, have proven that, revolution affects the global price of gas within days. The question: Will the climbing prices, cause an oil revolution here? Read the rest of this entry »

We all know that America needs to become energy independent.  However, there isn’t a clear vision for achieving that goal, and no real clear cut plan either.  Here are ten steps we could make toward achieving energy freedom.

1.  There are 10 foreign government run oil companies that are much larger and have greater oil reserves than our Exxon Mobil. So, we need to quit blaming “big oil” here at home.  Even if they did make a record profit of $12 billion in less than 90 days.

2.  Congress and lawmakers should address or own domestic supply and production problems. If they increased our supply from our own sources and reserves, it could have an impact on the price we pay at the pump.

3.  We can make a difference by turning off lights at home, when not in use.  We can also save gas instead of time by slowing down our driving speed.  We can also save energy by keeping our thermostats set at 68 in the winter and 75 in the summer.

4.  Remember when grandma use to hang clothes out on the line and how nice and fresh they smelled? Or how about installing rain barrels to water the lawn instead of pumping water from the well.  If you aren’t on a well system, you can conserve water by using drip or soaker hoses.

5.  There must be a determination in this country to develop alternative energy sources such as solar, wind, biomass, and geothermal technology.  There is is no room for the NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude.  This only slows progress that needs to happen.

6.  We need to build and reopen nuclear plants.  France gets 77% of its energy from nuclear sources.  We need to follow what they have learned in regard to safe usage of nuclear power and the recycling of nuclear waste.

7.  We should increase hydroelectric power in states where it is plentiful.  There should also be an environmental push to increase the survival rate of young salmon migrating to the Pacific regions

8.  If we develop and deploy our environmental cleanup strategies to developing economic powers such as China India and others, they could generate electricity from their abundant coal reserves.  This would drastically reduce air and water pollution in those countries, and make their people healthier.  Taking this step would also provide new markets for our American companies and create new jobs.

9  We need to produce more of our own oil and natural gas, while other technology and alternatives are being developed.  There is enough domestic natural gas offshore to supply the United States for the next 10 years easily.  The production technology is much safer than it was 30 plus years ago.  There are 109 offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico that were directly hit during Hurricane Katrina without causing a significant spill.

10.  It will take patience and common since, as well as time and money to transform new technology and find new sources of energy.  The solutions won’t happen overnight, however, we need a dedicated government to get behind these issues and make sure these changes happen in a timely fashion.

Yes, there are safe and sensible ways to keep your food fresh, while minimizing your exposure to the potentially harmful chemicals found in plastic.

Here are some tips and pointers to help you make the safest choices for your food storage. You may already have some safer options such as corning ware, pyrex, and stainless steel canisters tucked away in your cupboards. Start searching , go to yard sales, and get on with making those changes.

Plastic contains chemical additives known to leach out when exposed to heat. Leaching may increase the risk of birth defects, developmental delays, certain hormonal disfunctions, and even breast and prostate cancers. Several university studies have indicated that leaching occurs when ANY type of plastic containers are used to heat food in the microwave. Another place leaching happens is in the dishwasher.

Rule of thumb is NEVER use ANY plastic, plastic wrap, tupperware, or styrofoam in the microwave. It is also best to wash plastic containers by hand in warm soapy water. This reduces the possibility of chemical leaching. Don’t ever use harsh cleansers or abrasive sponges on plastic. It can cause scratches in the plastic, which then causes chemical migration (leaching) from the plastic. If you have scratches or gouges in your plastic containers – ditch them IMMEDIATELY!

So, in your microwave only use microwave safe glass or ceramic cookware. Don’t use any plastic or plastic wrap. Cover food with paper or paper towel when microwaving.  Don’t use recycled paper towels because they could contain metallic flecks from ground up staples and ink that can be combustable.

In your fridge, use glass, ceramic, stainless steel, or PVC-free plastic wrap. Don’t use any type of plastic container that can leave a residue.  Scouring destroys the integrity of plastic.  Don’t ever store or cover hot food with or in any type of plastic. Always let it cool for at least twenty minutes before storing in your fridge.

For packing lunches choose foil, waxed, or butcher paper for wrapping sandwiches. If you like to use bags, use the ones made from number 4 plastic. For water, glass or stainless steel is best, or pitchers made from number 2 or 5 plastic.  Don’t use pitchers from number 7 (polycarbonate) plastic. For freezing, use foil, freezer paper, or number 4 plastic freezer bags.  Don’t use any glass or plastic containers that are not labeled Freezer Safe. The extreme cold can cause them to crack.  As mentioned before, allow food to cool before storing in the fridge or freezer.  For your pantry storage, glass, stainless steel and aluminum canisters are best or number 5 plastic.  Don’t store food in any plastic containers marked with 3(polyvinyl chloride) 6 PS (polystyrene) or 7 PC (polycarbonate).

Most plastics currently on the market are made from crude oil. There are also biodegradable, recyclable and compostable plastics made from starches such as rice, soy, and corn. These bio-based plastics comprise only 3% of the $280 billion plastic market. Concern has been expressed about the use of fertilizers and pesticides used in the growth of these grains, and then turning them into plastics.  Any bio-based products are better for your health, and are more of an earth and eco-friendly option, than any petroleum based products or counterparts.