Green Eco Services

Eco Reefs-Rebuilding Reefs The Green Way

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Photo:Flickr-tnarkis photostream

You may find yourself wondering: what is an eco-reef and what exactly does it do? Eco-reefs are man-made reef-like modules that encourage natural reef growth and provide a basis for long-term habitats for marine organisms. The goal in creating them is to enhance or reclaim coastal developments that have been damaged by human habitation, marine preserves that work to sustain and research marine life, and environmental impact zones recovering from disasters. In addition, companies that produce and install eco-reefs strive to do so in a safe and environmentally-conscious manner that will augment rather than disrupt the delicate ecosystems into which they are placed.

Some of the services offered by companies that produce eco-reefs include design of synthetic reefs, culturing and transplantation of living reefs and other marine life, long-term observation and maintenance to ensure successful growth, and project management from start to finish. But what makes eco-reefs better than Mother Nature? For starters, reefs that have been compromised in some way are notoriously difficult to re-grow. When the reef is gone, the life that colonized it disappears and is commonly replaced by algae. So even if the conditions are right for new reef to grow, it is unlikely that it can survive long enough to overcome rapid growth of algae or avoid being swept away by currents or damaged by sifting sand. Eco-reefs combat these issues by slowing the flow of abrasive sand while small colonies of fish are introduced to consume the encroaching algae. This process starts with the installation of ceramic bases that provide a clean surface to promote reef growth without any ecological impact to the surrounding environment, making it both productive and environmentally safe.

In addition to being ecologically sound, eco-reefs are both aesthetically pleasing and logistically manufactured. The ceramic modules are not only an ideal base for growing coral, they are also chemically inert in seawater and completely non-toxic, ensuring that they won’t further unbalance an already strained ecosystem. And their looks aren’t too shabby, either.

Individual units are created to mimic the structure of native coral reef and are strategically placed to emulate natural growth so that as the living reef spreads on and around them, they won’t stick out like a sore thumb, but will gradually fade into the background as the habitat resumes a natural order. In this way, marine life re-entering the territory will not be scared away by obtrusive man-made structures, thereby allowing a flawless re-integration of species that previously inhabited the area. Finally, these man-made reefs are lightweight, portable, and easy to assemble, cutting down on the cost of both transportation and expensive and cumbersome equipment at the site, not to mention the complexity of installation.

In short, eco-reefs are facilitating the re-institution of life into areas that have, for one reason or another, suffered an ecological loss. And they are doing so in a way that is both cost-effective, easy to implement, and safe for the environment. Companies that provide this service have taken a holistic approach to employing man-made solutions in ecologically sensitive situations in an attempt to both heal some of the damage that man has wrought upon the environment as well as prevent future loss of viable marine habitat.

Kyle Simpson writes for Medical Coding Certification website where you can find information on a career in medical billing and coding industry.

Killing Whales With Taxpayer Money

Plan to Legalize Commercial Whaling Would Cost US Taxpayers – United States to Subsidize Whaling Industry if Approved

Photo;flickr.com/photos/ladylara/3044156712/

WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — The Washington, DC and London-based Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA) today revealed that proposals to resume commercial whaling under the International Whaling Commission (IWC) will cost nearly 19 million dollars over the next decade. Estimated additional costs for the US during this time would be over $988,000 if costs were shared between member countries.

A document posted to the IWC’s website last week(1) outlined basic costs for setting up a Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Scheme (MCSS) in the event that the IWC agrees to allow commercial whaling by Japan, Norway and Iceland to resume.

The cost of the scheme is estimated at $1,880,000 per year, with additional start-up costs of $250,000.  This does not include surveys to gather vital data for the calculation of alleged “safe” catch limits. The proposal on whether to legalize whaling will be considered by IWC members in Agadir, Morocco, June 21-25.

“It’s certain that US citizens don’t want their tax dollars used to subsidize the killing of whales,” said EIA Campaign Biologist Samuel LaBudde, who added: “Financing whale hunts is not consistent with American interests and reason enough to reject the proposal to legalize Japan, Norway and Iceland’s commercial whaling.”

At present, total income paid by IWC members amounts to about $2,234,000, which contributes to the various costs associated with the operation of the IWC and its programs. The estimated cost for monitoring commercial whaling by just 3 of the 88 IWC members would almost double membership fees.

(1) IWC/62/10 www.iwcoffice.org/_documents/commission/IWC62docs/62-10.pdf

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-relea…-95791529.html

SOURCE Environmental Investigation Agency

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Getting Rid Of Junk Mail- Putting On The Pressure

Do Not Mail

I don’t know about you, but my worst Junk Mailers in order #1) ATT #2) Chase #3) Time Warner #4) Southwest Airlines #5) Political candidates #6) Coupon people in general #7) Salvation Army #8) Capital One #9) Union Tribune. What I don’t understand is no matter what I do or write Junk Mail keeps on coming. In fact I actually called one of the credit card companies to cancel my card due to the dearth of Junk Mail and guess what they took me off the list and I still have the card.

Do Not Mail has stepped up the pressure on the worst junk mailers; GEICO, Bank of America, Discover, Chase, Capital One, and American Express. The are looking for stories from real people to step up the elimination of junk mail.

You can  Share your junk mail story with them.

Sharing a story only takes a couple minutes and it can be simple as any one of these ideas:

• Tell us who bugs you the most – Name names and tell us what they do to bother you.
• What worries you about junk mail and why? Are you afraid of identity theft, losing important mail, or the number of trees sacrificed to create junk mail? Tell us, and tell us what happened to make you feel that way.
• Share a bad experience you or your family have had as a result of junk mail.
• Upload a photo or video of yourself or your piles of junk mail – Help us show junk mailers the clutter they create and the faces of the people they’re disrespecting.
• Spot the greenwash – The Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) is a false eco-label that misleads people about whether or not products are ‘green’. If you see the SFI logo or any other dubious certifications on an envelope or insert, let’s hear about it.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya:

• Junk mail in the U.S. accounts for over 100,000,000,000 pieces of mail each year—about 30% of all the mail delivered in the world
• Each year American households receive a total of 104.7 billion pieces of junk mail or 848 pieces of junk mail per household, requiring 6.5 million tons of paper⁷
• The average American will spend 8 months of their lives dealing with junk mail
• Entire households only average 1 personal correspondence each week, compared to almost 18 pieces of junk mail⁹
• In 2005 the United States Postal Service processed more junk mail than First Class Mail for the first time, and our postal service is increasingly oriented toward the delivery of unwanted junk mail¹⁰
• Since 1991, national polls have consistently shown that between 80 to 90% of respondents dislike junk mail and would take some action to reduce it if they could
• In a Zogby International poll, 93% of respondents were aware of the Do Not Call Registry and 89% of them supported a Do Not Mail Registry to make it easier to opt out of unsolicited ad mail¹¹
• A national poll by Zogby International found that 92% of respondents discard or recycle at least some of their junk mail without reading it¹²
• Approximately 44% of junk mail goes to landfills unopened¹³
• By the year 2010, almost 50% of the solid mass that makes up our landfills is expected to be paper and paperboard waste¹⁴
• State and local governments and their citizens spend hundreds of millions of dollars per year to collect and dispose of all the bulk mail that does not get recycled. In Seattle, for example, the estimated taxpayer bill for disposing of a year’s worth of junk mail comes to around $400,000
• 6.5 million tons of discounted junk mail entered the U.S. municipal solid waste stream in 2006
• A response rate of less than 0.25% is considered acceptable for the 500 million U.S. credit card solicitations that are mailed monthly¹⁶
• • It takes more than 100 million trees to produce the total volume of junk mail that arrives in American mailboxes each year—that’s the equivalent of clearcutting the entire Rocky Mountain National Park every 4 months
• The manufacture of junk mail releases more greenhouse gas emissions per year than the emissions released by 9,372,000 million average passenger cars.¹ Read our full report, Climate Change Enclosed: Junk Mail’s Impact on Global Warming.
• The Canadian Boreal forms part of the greater Boreal Forest, which stores more carbon than any other terrestrial ecosystem on earth.¹⁹ Despite this natural ability to protect us from the effects of global warming, the Canadian Boreal is being logged at a rate of 2 acres a minute, 24 hours a day²⁰ to produce junk mail and other paper products.
• Deforestation of Indonesia’s tropical forests is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions.² This destruction is largely driven by demand for pulp and paper for end uses like junk mail. Logging contributes to Indonesia’s status as the world’s third largest emitter of CO2 into the Earth’s atmosphere, despite its relatively small size.²²
• Both Canada’s Boreal and Indonesia’s tropical forests are home to indigenous communities who depend on the land for hunting, fishing, economic development and cultural activities.
• The Boreal provides critical habitat to caribou and half of North America’s songbird species.
• Indonesia is home to 12% of Earth’s mammal species, and 17% of all bird species.²⁴ Many of these, including endangered orangutans and tigers, rely on Indonesia’s rapidly disappearing tropical rainforests for their survival.

Optical WebBlog and Business

Plastiki Boat Built With Plastic Bottles Ends 4 Month Sail

Plastiki, the recycled plastic bottle boat comprised of 12,500 recycled bottles finally completed their journey across the Pacific Ocean. The Plastiki taken from the famouse Kon Tiki raft is 100% recyclable and gets it’s power from solar panels and windmills plus held together with sugar cane/ cashews glue  and even the mast is made with recycled aluminum irrigation pipe.

You can read their incredible story on Facebook or the website.

Plastiki Arrives In Syndey

Top 10 Ways To Recycle and Reuse Airplanes

Who would have thought there was an Aircraft Fleet Recycling Association? Good thing because sitting in the deserts of California and Arizona are hundreds of mothballed planes with tons of recyclable materials. Many planes are recycled for aluminum, transmissions, lawnmower engines, others are resold and others are just waiting for the airline industry to pick up again.

I just Gotta Tell Ya

• 80% of an airplane is reusable- recyclable
• About 450 Large Airplanes are scrapped every year with about 5900 passenger jets to be recycled by 2028
• The average life span of an airplane is 25-30 years

1. Make A House Max Power http://www.maxpoweraero.com/ACHomes.htm, www.airplanehome.com

Airplane Homes

2. Make a Boat

Airplane Boat

3. Make a Bed

Airplane Bed By MotoArt

4. Make Tables

Airplane Desk by Reestore

5. Make Desks

6. Make Purses, Belts, Messenger Bags, Shoes By WornAgain and Tierraideas.com

Recycled Seats By Worn Again

7. Make Belts

Airplane Belt

8. Make Tiles

Recycled Tiles From Airplanes

9. Make Lighting

10. Make Art

Sources

• How To Recycle An Airplane
• MotoArt- Makes furniture from Recycled Airplanes

Back To School The Eco Friendly Way

5 ways to go Back To School the Eco Friendly Way

Taxpayer Cost of Trash In Honolulu, Hawaii

IFL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARADVERTISER.COM Bales of trash in Campbell Industrial Park are ready to be shipped. Hawaiian Waste Systems LLC says it has the capacity to ship between 300,000 and 500,000 tons of trash a year to the mainland.

If we think we have landfills problems, think about islands such as Hawaii, not only do they have landfill problems, they have to offshore their trash. The only way to off shore trash is to get from such sources as the US Agriculture.

According to the Honolulu Star Advertiser, it cost $100.00 a ton to ship trash ’ In September the business reached an agreement with the city to temporarily ship up to 100,000 tons of solid waste off island each year at a cost to the city of $100 a ton.’

That is Taxpayer Cost of trash.  I wonder what would happen to Hawaiians if they started to reuse and upcycle?

What most people don’t realize that not only does litter cost taxpayer money besides being unsightly and bad for the environment, trash also costs taxpayer money- in the way of landfills, pickups, even the environmental impact of garbage trucks.

As taxpayers we have the power to change the way we live, recycle and reuse products as much as possible and save green.

New York To Set Up Clothes Recycling Program

Photo: Tonic.com

A couple of weeks ago my neighbor was complaining that she spilt bleach on a piece of clothing and Threw It Away!” Poor woman, she got an earful from me. Apparently she did not know that Goodwill will take all clothing (ie. rags) in which they resell for other purposes.

But it kills me that people throw away rags and clothing, when most of this world has only 1 garment to wear! We Americans are so spoiled!

New York, a major garment center, will again take the initiative and start to recycle clothes and textiles. The plan is to install 50 bins for clothing collection throughout the most densely populated parts of the city. They will be taking everything from rags to clothes.

The cost will be offset by whichever company get the contract, i.e. Goodwill, who either resells the garments to poor countries or resells for reuse in mattresses and sofas.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

• The EPA estimates that 190,000 tons of textiles are thrown away in New York homes every year.
• Americans chuck nearly 10 pounds of “socks, jeans, shirts and sheets per year, per person,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
• Per a survey of 600 adults by Goodwill Industries, “more than half of the people who donate clothing say they wouldn’t go more than 10 minutes out of their way to make a donation,” so clearly convenience is important.

Cost Of Litter Increases To Taxpayers and Businesses

Litter Cost

In December 2009, Keep America Beautiful, Inc. (KAB) released its National Visible Litter Survey and Litter Cost Study.

Good News

• Visible litter on our roadways has decreased approximately 61 percent in the past 40 years.

Bad News

• We still have a litter problem and it costing us taxpayers more and more to clean up.

I Just Gotta Tell Ya

• 51 BILLION pieces of litter are released on American roadways each year – 6,729 items per mile of roadway annually, 91 percent of it less than 4 inches in size.
• 38%- tobacco products= packaging as well as cigarette ends.
• 22%- Paper and plastic
• 46% is packaging litter, fast food, snacks, tobaccos and other product packaging
• 76% of of litter is from motorists and pedestrians.
• 16% s from improperly covered trucks and cargo loads

Cost of Litter

• $11.5 Billion Litter Clean Up costs to Taxpayers
• $9.1 Billion Litter Clean Up Costs to Business
• 7% Decrease in Property Values where litter has a presence
• 40% of Homeowners surveyed believe litter reduces home values by 10-24%
• 55% of Realtors think that litter reduces property values by about 9%

Solar Trash Cans Debut in Long Beach, California

Solar Trash Cans in Long Beach

One of my favorite cities in California is Long Beach, home of the Queen Mary. As a travelling sales rep and Long Beach was a part of my territory, I have watched it evolve from a pretty scary place to a hip and trendy downtown,  beautiful beaches and an active community. Long Beach has evolved into a pretty eco friendly community as well.

Longs Beach’s first solar trash cans have hit the city as part of a pilot program which will hopefully save our cash strapped communities money and encourage people to recycle more.

According to Everything Long Beach the solar powered trash bins  will save money:

Both a trash compactor and collection unit which squeezes refuse to just 20 percent of its normal volume. The containers, which have the same blueprint as regular trash cans but can compact about 150 gallons of trash into a 32-gallon bin, are expected to reduce costs by requiring fewer trash collections and maintenance.

In addition to reducing waste and greenhouse gases, the solar trash bins will increase recycling rates and boost conservation efforts throughout Long Beach. The bins come side-by-side with recycling units to collect bottle, can and paper for recycling.

“We believe these solar trash cans are successful tools to harness the power of the sun and look at collecting trash and recycling in a whole new light,” said Keith Schneringer, Marketing Manager of WAXIE Sanitary Supply, the company that installed the solar trash cans and will maintain them during the pilot project.

I hope it works and we can get these in San Diego, especially on our beaches, whose trash cans are overflowing and the overflow get washed into the ocean and storm drains.