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Air pollution comes from many different sources such as factories, power plants, dry cleaners, cars, buses, trucks and even windblown dust and wildfires. Air pollution can threaten the health of human beings, trees, lakes, crops, and animals, as well as damage the ozone layer and buildings. Air pollution also can cause haze, reducing visibility in national parks and wilderness areas. EPA protects human health and the environment through the regulatory process and voluntary programs such as Energy Star and Commuter Choice. Under the Clean Air Act, EPA sets limits on how much of a pollutant is allowed in the air anywhere in the United States. Although national air quality has improved over the last 20 years, many challenges remain in protecting public health and the environment. EPA's goal is to have clean air to breathe for this generation and those to follow.
(Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/air.html#subtopics)
Checklist to Eliminating Indoor Air Pollutants at Home
& at the Office
- Inexpensive radon testing kits are available at home improvement stores; if you find levels between 2 and 4 pCi/L, call a professional. Ensuring that your home is properly ventilated and that foundation cracks are sealed will help keep the gas levels down.
- Dust and damp mop frequently, wash bedding in hot water biweekly to kill dust mites and vacuum at least once a week using a machine with a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter. This will also eliminate harmful EDCs and VOCs that have accumulated in dust. (See Vacuum Cleaners Product Report at thegreenguide.com/ reports.)
- Instead of wall-to-wall carpeting, have bare washable floors and area rugs.
- Keep matter from getting tracked in by using a washable doormat and leaving shoes in the entryway.
- Ban cigarettes from your home.
- Avoid burning candles or using air fresheners scented with synthetic fragrances, which contain phthalates, the most commonly found EDC in the dust studies. (See "Safe Scents.")
- Look on labels for no- or low-VOC cleaners, paints, glues and plywood.
- Ventilate well—let your house breathe. "The more air exchange you have, the lower we would expect the levels [of chemicals] to be," Rudel says.
- Open windows or run ventilation fans in high-humidity areas like bathrooms and kitchens to prevent mold and mildew growth.
- Use least-toxic pest control rather than synthetic pesticides.
- Buy natural-material, untreated alternatives to phthalate-emitting vinyl shower curtains and flooring, or foam furniture and electronics treated with PBDEs. (
- Air purifiers can help by trapping some biological and particle pollutants. (See "The Dirt on Air Purifiers" at thegreenguide.com.)
- Make it a policy at your office to buy furniture, carpeting, and paint that are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and won't off-gas toxic chemicals.
Want to learn more about Air Quality?
Check out the following additional resources:
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What the Nets front office and team are doing:
The Nets front office and team are currently being evaluated by lighting & energy contractors to identify behavioral and actionable ways to conserve energy. We will devise a plan and set measurable goals to reduce our energy usage. At the Nets home game on December 28, 2007 the Nets will be educating Nets fans about Energy Efficiency. The fans will be educated pre-game and in-game in the arena, during radio broadcasts, and on the concourse with interactive groups on energy efficiency. The Nets will also be giving away Megalight Inc. energy efficient light bulbs to 5,000 fans exiting the IZOD Center to encourage the use of energy efficient products.
Did You Know:
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ENERGY STAR® Qualified Dishwashers use more than 40% less energy than the federal minimum standard for energy consumption.
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ENERGY STAR® Qualified Clothes Washers can save more than 9,000 gallons of water annually.
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ENERGY STAR® Qualified Clothes Washers Use at least 50% less energy than standard models.
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ENERGY STAR® Qualified Compact Fluorescent Light (CFLs) Bulbs use up to 75% less energy than standard incandescent bulbs to provide the same amount of light, and last up to 10 times longer.
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ENERGY STAR® Qualified Compact Fluorescent Light (CFLs) Bulbs generate up to 70% less heat, so they're safer to operate and can cut the energy costs associated with home cooling.
Energy Conservation Tips At Home:
- Wash your clothes in cold water using cold-water detergents whenever possible.
- Clean the lint filter in the dryer after every load to improve air circulation.
- Use the cool-down cycle to allow the clothes to finish drying with the residual
heat in the dryer.
- In gas appliances, look for blue flames. Yellow flames indicate the gas is burning inefficiently and an adjustment may be needed. Consult your manufacturer or your local utility.
- Use a covered kettle or pan to boil water. It is faster and it uses less energy.
- If you cook with electricity, turn the stovetop burners off several minutes before the allotted cooking time. The heating element will stay hot long enough to finish the cooking without using more electricity. The same principle applies to oven cooking.
- Use small electric pans or toaster ovens for small meals rather than your large stove or oven. A toaster oven uses a third to half as much energy as a full-sized oven.
- Use pressure cookers and microwave ovens whenever it is convenient to do so. They can save energy by significantly reducing cooking time.
- Scrape off, don’t rinse off, large food pieces and bones. Soaking or prewashing is generally only recommended in cases of burned-on or dried-on food.
- Be sure your dishwasher is full, but not overloaded.
- Don’t use the “rinse hold” function on your machine for just a few soiled dishes. It uses 3 to 7 gallons of hot water each time you use it.
- Let your dishes air dry. If you don’t have an automatic air-dry switch, turn off the control knob after the final rinse and prop the door open a little so the dishes will dry faster.
- Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers. Frost buildup increases the amount of energy needed to keep the motor running. Don’t allow frost to build up more than one-quarter of an inch.
- Cover liquids and wrap foods stored in the refrigerator. Uncovered foods release moisture and make the compressor work harder.
- These compact fluorescent bulbs are four times more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs and provide the same lighting.
- Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy. Also, decorate with lighter colors that reflect daylight.
- Exterior lighting is one of the best places to use CFLs because of their long life. If you live in a cold climate, be sure to buy a lamp with a cold-weather ballast.
(Source: Earth 911, http://earth911.org/)
Energy Conservation Tips At the Office:
- Artificial lighting accounts for 44 percent of the electricity use in office buildings. Make it a habit to turn off the lights when you're leaving any room for 15 minutes or more and utilize natural light when you can.
- Make it a policy to buy Energy Star-rated light bulbs and fixtures, which use at least two-thirds less energy than regular lighting, and install timers or motion sensors that automatically shut off lights when they're not needed.
- Computers in the business sector unnecessarily waste $1 billion worth of electricity a year. Make it a habit to turn off your computer—and the power strip it's plugged into—when you leave for the day. Otherwise, you're still burning energy even if you're not burning the midnight oil. (Check with your IT department to make sure the computer doesn't need to be on to run backups or other maintenance.)
- During the day, setting your computer to go to sleep automatically during short breaks can cut energy use by 70 percent. Remember, screen savers don't save energy.
- Make it a policy to invest in energy-saving computers, monitors, and printers and make sure that old equipment is properly recycled. Look for a recycler that has pledged not to export hazardous e-waste and to follow other safety guidelines. Old computers that still work, and are less than five years old, can be donated to organizations that will refurbish them and find them new homes
Want to learn more about Energy Conservation?
Check out the following additional resources:
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What the Nets front office and team are doing:
On April 1, 2008 at the Nets home game, the Nets front office and team will be educating Nets fans about forestation and ways to reduce one’s carbon footprint. The messaging will emphasize the importance of planting trees for the environment. Stay tuned to learn about the Nets tree planting ceremony at the end of the season.
Did You Know:
- Trees keep our air supply fresh by absorbing carbon dioxide and producing oxygen.
- In one year, an acre of trees can absorb as much carbon as is produced by a car driven up to 8700 miles.
- Trees provide shade and shelter, reducing yearly heating and cooling costs by 2.1 billion dollars.
- Trees lower air temperature by evaporating water in their leaves.
- The average tree in metropolitan area survives only about 8 years!
- A tree does not reach its most productive stage of carbon storage for about 10 years.
- Trees cut down noise pollution by acting as sound barriers.
- Tree roots stabilize the soil and prevent erosion.
- Trees improve water quality by slowing and filtering rain water as well as protecting aquifers and watersheds.
- Trees provide protection from downward fall of rain, sleet, and hail as well as reduce storm run-off and the possibility of flooding,
- Trees provide food and shelter for wildlife.
- Trees located along streets act as a glare and reflection control.
- The death of one 70-year old tree would return over three tons of carbon to the atmosphere.
The following are some statistics on just how important trees are in a community setting.
- "The net cooling effect of a young, healthy tree is equivalent to ten room-size air conditioners operating 20 hours a day."—U.S. Department of Agriculture
- "Landscaping can reduce air conditioning costs by up to 50 percent, by shading the windows and walls of a home." — American Public Power Association
- "If you plant a tree today on the west side of your home, in 5 years your energy bills should be 3% less. In 15 years the savings will be nearly 12%." —Dr. E. Greg McPherson, Center for Urban Forest Research
- "Landscaping, especially with trees, can increase property values as much as 20 percent."—Management Information Services/ICMA
- "One acre of forest absorbs six tons of carbon dioxide and puts out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people."—U.S. Department of Agriculture
- "There are about 60-to 200- million spaces along our city streets where trees could be planted. This translates to the potential to absorb 33 million more tons of CO2 every year, and saving $4 billion in energy costs."—National Wildlife Federation
- "Trees properly placed around buildings can reduce air conditioning needs by 30 percent and can save 20 - 50 percent in energy used for heating."—USDA Forest Service
- "Healthy, mature trees add an average of 10 percent to a property's value."—USDA Forest Service
- "The planting of trees means improved water quality, resulting in less runoff and erosion. This allows more recharging of the ground water supply. Wooded areas help prevent the transport of sediment and chemicals into streams."—USDA Forest Service
(Source: Arbor Day Foundation, http://www.arborday.org/trees/benefits.cfm)
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The Nets front office and team feel strongly about doing their part to reduce the effects of global warming. Learn more about the global warming basics from the National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and see how you can become greener in your everyday living to stop global warming.
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What causes global warming?
Carbon dioxide and other air pollution that is collecting in the atmosphere like a thickening blanket, trapping the sun's heat and causing the planet to warm up. Coal-burning power plants are the largest U.S. source of carbon dioxide pollution -- they produce 2.5 billion tons every year. Automobiles, the second largest source, create nearly 1.5 billion tons of CO2 annually.
Here's the good news: technologies exist today to make cars that run cleaner and burn less gas, modernize power plants and generate electricity from nonpolluting sources, and cut our electricity use through energy efficiency. The challenge is to be sure these solutions are put to use.
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Is the earth really getting hotter?
Yes. Although local temperatures fluctuate naturally, over the past 50 years the average global temperature has increased at the fastest rate in recorded history. And experts think the trend is accelerating: the 10 hottest years on record have all occurred since 1990. Scientists say that unless we curb global warming emissions, average U.S. temperatures could be 3 to 9 degrees higher by the end of the century.
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Are warmer temperatures causing bad things to happen?
Global warming is already causing damage in many parts of the United States. In 2002, Colorado, Arizona and Oregon endured their worst wildfire seasons ever. The same year, drought created severe dust storms in Montana, Colorado and Kansas, and floods caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage in Texas, Montana and North Dakota. Since the early 1950s, snow accumulation has declined 60 percent and winter seasons have shortened in some areas of the Cascade Range in Oregon and Washington.
Of course, the impacts of global warming are not limited to the United States. In 2003, extreme heat waves caused more than 20,000 deaths in Europe and more than 1,500 deaths in India. And in what scientists regard as an alarming sign of events to come, the area of the Arctic's perennial polar ice cap is declining at the rate of 9 percent per decade.
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Is global warming making hurricanes worse?
Global warming doesn't create hurricanes, but it does make them stronger and more dangerous. Because the ocean is getting warmer, tropical storms can pick up more energy and become more powerful. So global warming could turn, say, a category 3 storm into a much more dangerous category 4 storm. In fact, scientists have found that the destructive potential of hurricanes has greatly increased along with ocean temperature over the past 35 years.
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Is there really cause for serious concern?
Yes. Global warming is a complex phenomenon, and its full-scale impacts are hard to predict far in advance. But each year scientists learn more about how global warming is affecting the planet, and many agree that certain consequences are likely to occur if current trends continue. Among these:
- Melting glaciers, early snowmelt and severe droughts will cause more dramatic water shortages in the American West.
- Rising sea levels will lead to coastal flooding on the Eastern seaboard, in Florida, and in other areas, such as the Gulf of Mexico.
- Warmer sea surface temperatures will fuel more intense hurricanes in the southeastern Atlantic and Gulf coasts.
- Forests, farms and cities will face troublesome new pests and more mosquito-borne diseases.
- Disruption of habitats such as coral reefs and alpine meadows could drive many plant and animal species to extinction.
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What country is the largest source of global warming pollution?
The United States. Though Americans make up just 4 percent of the world's population, we produce 25 percent of the carbon dioxide pollution from fossil-fuel burning -- by far the largest share of any country. In fact, the United States emits more carbon dioxide than China, India and Japan, combined. Clearly America ought to take a leadership role in solving the problem. And as the world's top developer of new technologies, we are well positioned to do so -- we already have the know-how.
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How can we cut global warming pollution?
It's simple: By reducing pollution from vehicles and power plants. Right away, we should put existing technologies for building cleaner cars and more modern electricity generators into widespread use. We can increase our reliance on renewable energy sources such as wind, sun and geothermal. And we can manufacture more efficient appliances and conserve energy.
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Why aren't these technologies more commonplace now?
Because, while the technologies exist, the corporate and political will to put them into widespread use does not. Many companies in the automobile and energy industries put pressure on the White House and Congress to halt or delay new laws or regulations -- or even to stop enforcing existing rules -- that would drive such changes. From requiring catalytic converters to improving gas mileage, car companies have fought even the smallest measure to protect public health and the environment. If progress is to be made, the American people will have to demand it.
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Is it possible to cut power plant pollution and still have enough electricity?
Yes. First, we must use more efficient appliances and equipment in our homes and offices to reduce our electricity needs. We can also phase out the decades-old, coal-burning power plants that generate most of our electricity and replace them with cleaner plants. And we can increase our use of renewable energy sources such as wind and sun. Some states are moving in this direction: California has required its largest utilities to get 20 percent of their electricity from renewable sources by 2017, and New York has pledged to compel power companies to provide 25 percent of the state's electricity from renewable sources by 2013.
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How can we cut car pollution?
Cost-effective technologies to reduce global warming pollution from cars and light trucks of all sizes are available now. There is no reason to wait and hope that hydrogen fuel cell vehicles will solve the problem in the future. Hybrid gas-electric engines can cut global warming pollution by one-third or more today; hybrid sedans, SUVs and trucks from several automakers are already on the market.
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(Source http://www.nrdc.org/globalWarming/f101.asp#1)
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What the Nets front office and team are doing:
The Nets have reviewed their current cleaning supply inventory and are in the process of switching over their cleaning products to more eco-friendly products. At the Nets home game on March 26, 2008 the Nets will be educating Nets fans about Green Cleaning at Home. The fans will be educated pre-game and in-game in the arena, during radio broadcasts, and on the concourse with interactive groups on green cleaning. Pathmark will also be giving away canvas shopping bags to the first 5,000 Nets fans!
Green Cleaning by the Numbers:
- 63: the number of synthetic chemical products found in the average American home, translating to roughly 10 gallons of harmful chemicals.
- 100: the number of times higher that indoor air pollution levels can be above outdoor air pollution levels, according to US EPA estimate
- 275: the number of active ingredients in antimicrobials that the EPA classifies as pesticides because they are designed to kill microbes.
- 5 billion: the number of pounds of chemicals that the institutional cleaning industry uses each year.
- 23: the average gallons in chemicals (87 liters) that a janitor uses each year, 25% of which are hazardous.
Source: http://www.treehugger.com/files/2007/01/how_to_green_your_cleaning.php#numbers
Green Cleaning Tips:
1.Cleaner, greener, meaner
As the health and environmental impacts of conventional cleaning products become more thoroughly understood, more and more brands of healthy, green, and effective cleaning products have started hitting the market and competing for that coveted place of honor under your sink. Many of these products are non-toxic, biodegradable, and made from renewable resources (not petroleum). But if designer labels aren’t for you, home-mixed cleaners can get the job done and then some. Vinegar and baking soda can be used to clean almost anything. Mix in a little warm water with either of these and you’ve got yourself an all-purpose cleaner.
2. Healthy airflow
It is not uncommon for the air inside a home or office to be more toxic than the air outside. This is because of the presence of toxic materials and substances and the fact that homes and buildings are better insulated than ever before (which is a good thing from an energy standpoint). Keeping windows open as often as possible allows fresh air in and keeps toxins flowing out. This is especially important when cleaning your home.
3. Are we breeding supergerms?
The antibacterial and antimicrobial ‘cleaners’ that many people think are necessary, especially during cold season, don’t clean hands better than soap and water, and also add to the risk of breeding “super germs,” bacteria that survive the chemical onslaught and have resistant offspring. The FDA has found that antibacterial soaps and hand cleansers do not work better than regular soap and water, and should be avoided.
4. Help your home smell soda-licious
Baking soda not only removes those strange smells coming from your fridge, it’s also a great odor-eliminator for your carpet. Just sprinkle on a little baking soda to soak up some of those odors and then vacuum it up.
5. Clean peace
Skip the store-bought air fresheners and instead try boiling cinnamon, cloves, or any other herbs you have a fondness for. Fresh chocolate chip cookies also have been known to create a friendly aroma. Also, plants may not make your house smell different but are good for filtering interior air—pretty much any broad green leaf plant will do. Peace Lilies are a favorite choice.
6. The toxic toss
When replacing your cleaning products, don’t just throw the old ones in the trash. If they’re too toxic for your home, they won’t be good for the drain or the landfill either. Many communities hold toxics & electronics recycling days and will take all of these off your hands. Throwing chemicals in the trash or down the drain means they might end up back in your water supply and come back to haunt you (see How to Green Your Water for more).
7. Drycleaners
Conventional drycleaners are the largest users of the industrial solvent called Perchloroethylene, or perc, which is toxic to humans and also creates smog. The two most common green drycleaning methods are carbon dioxide cleaning and Green Earth. Seek out cleaners that use green methods. If you do take clothes to conventional cleaners, be sure to air them outside before wearing them or putting them in the closet.
8. Green house cleaning service
For people don’t have the time to clean their own homes, fortunately there are an increasing number of green cleaning services out there to help get things spic and span. If you can’t find one in your area (or their rates are outlandish), call around until you find a service willing to use the products and methods you specify.
9. Leave the toxins at the door
Imagine what’s on your shoes at the end of the day. Bringing that oil, antifreeze, animal waste, particulate pollution, pollen, and who knows what else into the house is not good news, especially for kids and other critters that spend time on floor level. Keep the sidewalk out of your home with a good doormat or a shoeless house policy. Many green buildings now include entryway track-off systems as a means of maintaining a healthy interior environment. Less dirt also means less sweeping, mopping, and vacuuming, which means less work, water, energy, and fewer chemicals.
10. Clean design
Designing houses and other building with cleanability in mind can create spaces that are cleaner, healthier, and require fewer substances to maintain. In larger buildings, good cleanability can also be a big money-saver as cleaning costs can often add up to as much as half of a building’s total energy costs.
(Source: http://www.treehugger.com/gogreen.php)
Want to learn more about Green Cleaning?
Check out the following additional resources:
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Acid Rain:
Rainwater that has an acidity content greater than the postulated natural pH of about 5.6. It is formed when sulfur dioxides and nitrogen oxides, as gases or fine particles in the atmosphere, combine with water vapor and precipitate as sulfuric acid or nitric acid in rain, snow, or fog. The dry forms are acidic gases or particulates. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Biodegradable:
Capable of decomposing under natural conditions. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Biodiesel:
Biodiesel is a renewable fuel produced from agricultural resources such as vegetable oils. In the United States, most biodiesel is made from soybean oil; however canola oil, sunflower oil, recycled cooking oils, and animal fats are also used. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Biomass:
All of the living material in a given area; often refers to vegetation. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Carbon Footprint:
The total amount of CO2 released over the life cycle of a living creature, product or service. (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
Carbon Offset:
Carbon offsetting means that for every one tonne* of CO2 a person or organization produces, they pay for one tonne of CO2 to be saved through a climate friendly project somewhere else in the world. One tonne ‘offsets’ the other. Individuals or organizations can invest in climate friendly projects through the purchase of carbon credits.
(TCNC, http://www.carbonneutral.com/)
CarbonNeutral®:
What does CarbonNeutral® mean?
While many organizations claim to be carbon neutral, only those that achieve the CarbonNeutral brand mark can confidently and without any further qualifications say that they have truly achieved a net zero carbon footprint.
CarbonNeutral® is the registered trademark of The CarbonNeutral Company and is the leading brand mark and quality standard for action on climate change. Permission to display the CarbonNeutral mark is only given to organizations when CO2 emissions have been measured and reduced to net zero through a program implemented in accordance with The CarbonNeutral Protocol. This Protocol assures quality of offset projects, carbon footprint assessments and communication and is regularly reviewed by an Independent Advisory Group.
The CarbonNeutral® brand mark awarded to The Nets signifies that the emissions associated with The Nets commuting, business travel, company vehicles and head office have been calculated in accordance with the WRI/WBCSD GHG protocol and an equal number of carbon credits have been purchased on behalf of The Nets to neutralize these emissions.
(TCNC, http://www.carbonneutral.com/)
Climate:
The average weather, usually taken over a 30 year time period, for a particular region and time period. Climate is not the same as weather, but rather, it is the average pattern of weather for a particular region. Weather describes the short-term state of the atmosphere. Climatic elements include precipitation, temperature, humidity, sunshine, wind velocity, phenomena such as fog, frost, and hail-storms, and other measures of the weather. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Climate Change:
(also referred to as 'global climate change'): The term 'climate change' is sometimes used to refer to all forms of climatic inconsistency, but because the Earth's climate is never static, the term is more properly used to imply a significant change from one climatic condition to another. In some cases, 'climate change' has been used synonymously with the term, 'global warming'; scientists however, tend to use the term in the wider sense to also include natural changes in climate (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
CO2 Equivalent:
A metric measure used to compare the emissions from various greenhouse gases based upon their global warming potential. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Community-Supported Agriculture:
(CSA) When individuals pledge to support a farm by buying shares of the farm’s annual production, then you have CSA. This model is marked by a strong producer – consumer relationship. Typically, CSA farmers deliver their produce, meats and dairy directly to the consumer who is able to purchase the best. Because they are provided such service, buyers agree to fund the grower’s whole season. (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL):
Small fluorescent lamps used as more efficient alternatives to incandescent lighting. Also called PL, CFL, Twin-Tube, or BIAX lamps. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Ecological Impact:
The effect that a man-caused or natural activity has on living organisms and their non-living (abiotic) environment. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Ethanol:
An alternative automotive fuel derived from grain and corn; usually blended with gasoline to form gasohol (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Energy Efficiency:
Refers to products or systems using less energy to do the same or better job than conventional products or systems. Energy efficiency saves energy, saves money on utility bills, and helps protect the environment by reducing the demand for electricity. When buying or replacing products or appliances for your home, look for the ENERGY STAR® label — the national symbol for energy efficiency (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
ENERGY STAR:
ENERGY STAR is a joint program of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy helping us all save money and protect the environment through energy efficient products and practices. (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
Fair Trade Certified:
The Fair Trade Certified™ guarantees consumers that strict economic, social and environmental criteria were met in the production and trade of an agricultural product. Fair Trade Certification is currently available in the U.S. for coffee, tea and herbs, cocoa and chocolate, fresh fruit, flowers, sugar, rice, and vanilla. TransFair USA licenses companies to display the Fair Trade Certified label on products that meet strict international Fair Trade standards. (Source: Fair Trade Certified, http://transfairusa.org/)
Flex-Fuel Vehicle (FFV):
A vehicle that can run on E85 ethanol, or gasoline or a mixture of the two. An onboard sensor determines the fuel mix in real time and adjusts engine-management computer settings accordingly. (Source: http://autos.yahoo.com/green_center-article_40/)
Fossil fuel:
A general term for buried combustible geologic deposits of organic materials, formed from decayed plants and animals that have been converted to crude oil, coal, natural gas, or heavy oils by exposure to heat and pressure in the earth's crust over hundreds of millions of years. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Geothermal Energy:
Heat transferred from the earth's molten core to under-ground deposits of dry steam (steam with no water droplets), wet steam (a mixture of steam and water droplets), hot water, or rocks lying fairly close to the earth's surface. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Global Warming:
An increase in the near surface temperature of the Earth. Global warming has occurred in the distant past as the result of natural influences, but the term is most often used to refer to the warming predicted to occur as a result of increased emissions of greenhouse gases. Scientists generally agree that the Earth's surface has warmed by about 1 degree Fahrenheit in the past 140 years. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) recently concluded that increased concentrations of greenhouse gases are causing an increase in the Earth's surface temperature and that increased concentrations of sulfate aerosols have led to relative cooling in some regions, generally over and downwind of heavily industrialized areas. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Green Audit:
Environmental audits are tools that companies and other organizations use to identify or define their full range of environmental impacts and assess their operations’ compliance with applicable laws and regulations, as well as with the expectations of their various stakeholders. They also serve as a means to identify opportunities to save money, enhance work quality, improve employee health and safety, reduce liabilities, and achieve other forms of business value. (Source: greenbiz.com)
Green Building:
Integrating natural resource, human health, and community concerns into the building design and construction, which enables architects and designers to create buildings that are cleaner, healthier for occupants and the environment, and which deplete fewer resources. (Source: GreenBiz.com, http://greenbiz.com/)
Greenhouse Gas (GHG):
A gas, such as carbon dioxide or methane, which contributes to potential climate change. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Greenhouse Gas Effect:
The warming of the Earth's atmosphere attributed to a buildup of carbon dioxide or other gases; some scientists think that this build-up allows the sun's rays to heat the Earth, while making the infra-red radiation atmosphere opaque to infra-red radiation, thereby preventing a counterbalancing loss of heat. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Green Seal:
Green Seal works with manufacturers, industry sectors, purchasing groups, and governments at all levels to "green" the production and purchasing chain. The Non-profit organization utilizes a life-cycle approach, which means they evaluate a product or service beginning with material extraction, continuing with manufacturing and use, and ending with recycling and disposal. Products only become Green Seal certified after rigorous testing and evaluation, including on-site plant visits. (Source: Green Seal, http://greenseal.org/)
Hydroelectric:
The process of generating electricity by harnessing the power of moving water. Hydroelectric power (hydropower) is generated by forcing water that is flowing downstream, often from behind a dam, through a hydraulic turbine that is connected to a generator. The water exits the turbine and is returned to the stream or riverbed. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
LEED:
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED promotes a whole-building approach to sustainability by recognizing performance in five key areas of human and environmental health: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
Methane:
A colorless, nonpoisonous, flammable gas created by anaerobic decomposition of organic compounds. A major component of natural gas used in the home. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Natural Gas:
Underground deposits of gases consisting of 50 to 90 percent methane (CH4) and small amounts of heavier gaseous hydrocarbon compounds such as propane (C3H8) and butane (C4H10). (Source: Planetpals.com, http://www.planetpals.com/ecodictionary.html)
Renewable Energy:
Known as green or environmentally-friendly energy, renewable energy comes from natural sources that won't run out. These include the wind, the sun, the waves and biofuels such as wood, manure or flaxseed oil. (Source: Planetpals.com, http://www.planetpals.com/ecodictionary.html)
Renewable Energy Certificates (REC’s):
Also known as green tags, green energy certificates, or tradable renewable certificates. RECs represent the technology and environmental attributes of electricity generated from renewable sources. RECs are usually sold in 1 megawatt-hour (MWh) units. A certificate can be sold separately from the underlying generic electricity with which it is associated. Once the REC is sold separately from the underlying electricity, the electricity is no longer considered renewable. RECs provide buyers flexibility to offset a percentage of their annual electricity use when green power products may not be available locally. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Solar Energy:
Photovoltaic systems convert sunlight into electricity; on a small scale, you are probably familiar with photovoltaic cells that power many wristwatches and calculators. On a larger scale, photovoltaics can power homes and buildings. Solar electric panels and solar roofing shingles are two examples of this technology. (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
Sustainable:
Sustainable development marries two important themes: that environmental protection does not preclude economic development and that economic development must be ecologically viable now and in the long run. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
USGBC:
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. Their mission is to transform the way buildings and communities are designed, built and operated, enabling an environmentally and socially responsible, healthy, and prosperous environment that improves the quality of life. (Source: U.S. Green Building Council, http://www.usgbc.org/Default.aspx)
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs):
Any organic compound that participates in atmospheric photochemical reactions except those designated by EPA as having negligible photochemical reactivity. (Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Wind Energy:
Generating electricity from wind turbines. (Source: Green Daily, http://www.greendaily.com/glossary/)
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"Let every individual and institution now think and act as a responsible trustee of Earth, seeking choices in ecology, economics and ethics that will provide a sustainable future, eliminate pollution, poverty and violence, awaken the wonder of life and foster peaceful progress in the human adventure."
— John McConnell, founder of International Earth Day
To learn what our Congress, the business community, the states, and the rest of the world are doing in ways of environmental legislation and policy please visit the selected sites below:
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What the Nets front office and team are doing:
The Nets proudly rolled out a much improved recycling program in October 2007 at their front office and practice facility. The Nets front office and team currently recycles all paper products and commingle products, printer toner, and ink jet cartridges. Our community department also donates old computers to local schools and clubs. At the first green themed night on November 16, 2007 at the IZOD Center, the Nets educated Net fans in the arena about recycling through public service announcements on the center hung scoreboard and during radio broadcasts, public address announcements pre-game and in-game on recycling facts, and at an interactive concourse table run by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection Bureau of Recycling and Planning. The Nets also encouraged fans to recycle all paper products upon egress of the IZOD Center. Paper recycling stations were set up at each gate.
Did You Know:
- A used aluminum can is recycled and back on the grocery shelf as a new can, in as little as 60 days. That’s closed loop recycling at its finest!
- Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to keep a 100-watt bulb burning for almost four hours or run your television for three hours.
- Tossing away an aluminum can wastes as much energy as pouring out half of that can’s volume of gasoline.
- The average employee consumes 2.5 beverages a day while at work.
- The The EPA estimates that 75 percent of what Americans throw in the trash could actually be recycled. Currently, only 25 percent is.
- Every Sunday 500,000 trees could be saved if everyone recycled their newspapers.
(Source, Earth 911: http://earth911.org/recycling/curbside-recycling/curbside-recycling-fun-facts/)
‘Shoot to be Green’ Tips:
Waste Reduction Tips at Home:
Reduce Garbage:
- Only buy things you really need. Most of what we throw away could be used again. Think twice before you put something in the bin. Try and cut down on the amount you buy new and then throw away.
Reuse Products
- Use containers again - buy food, drinks and toiletries in returnable containers and ask local shops to stock them. Ask your school or workplace to provide reusable cups, plates, cutlery etc.
Repair or Adapt
- The best environmental choice is to repair, restore or adapt a
product you already have. You may need professional help but it
could still be cheaper than something new - half of electrical goods left at dumps work or require only very basic repairs.
Cut down Packaging
- Buying fruit and vegetables loose could cut your waste drastically. Take a shopping bag with you and try not to buy drinks in plastic bottles. Write to the companies concerned asking them to change their policies.
Recycle More
- Recycle things yourself, and buy recycled products. For information on household waste disposal get in touch with your local authority for recycling schemes in your area - and ask them to improve their recycling services. Why not start your own collection scheme at work or school.
(Source: Friends of the Earth, http://www.foe.co.uk/campaigns/waste/press_for_change/home/index.html)
Recycling Tips at the Office:
- Make it a habit to recycle everything your company collects. Just about any kind of paper you would encounter in an office, including fax paper, envelopes, and junk mail, can be recycled. So can your old cell phone, PDA, or pager.
- Make it a policy to place recycling bins in accessible, high-traffic areas and provide clear information about what can and can not be recycled.
(Source: The Green Life, http://sierraclub.typepad.com/greenlife/2007/03/10_ways_to_go_g.html)
Want to learn more about Recycling?
Check out the following additional resources:
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What the Nets front office and team are doing:
The Nets will be targeting to become carbon neutral – a process in which they will measure its carbon footprint and then offset the CO2 emissions with renewable energy projects. The Nets will be investing in renewable energies such as hydro, wind, solar power.
Did you know?
- The earth receives more energy from the sun in just one hour than the world uses in a whole year.
- North America has 7% of world's population, but consumes 30% of the world's energy.
- Green power is electricity produced from renewable resources such as wind, small run-of-the-river hydroelectricity, biomass or solar energy. It is distributed over the regular electricity grid and made available to consumers of electricity as a more environmentally responsible alternative.
(Source: EnergyOttawa: http://www.energyottawa.com)
‘Shoot to be Green’ Tips:
The power you use every day is pulled from "the grid" in your area. When you buy green electricity it's supplied to your regional grid. What that means is when you buy green power, more of the electricity in your grid is from clean and green sources. In other words, by purchasing green power you're greening your grid and the electricity you use at home.
To find out where you can purchase green energy check out information from U.S. Department of Energy.
Want to learn more about Renewable Energy?
Check out the following additional resource:
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Sustainable development marries two important themes: that environmental protection does not preclude economic development and that economic development must be ecologically viable now and in the long run.
(Source: EPA, http://www.epa.gov/)
Did You Know:
In the United States alone, buildings account for:
- 65% of electricity consumption,
- 36% of energy use,
- 30% of greenhouse gas emissions,
- 30% of raw materials use,
- 30% of waste output (136 million tons annually), and
- 12% of potable water consumption.
Breakthroughs in building science, technology, and operations are available to designers, builders, and owners who want to build green and maximize both economic and environmental performance.
Benefits of Green Building: (Source: US Green Building Council)
Environmental benefits:
- Enhance and protect ecosystems and biodiversity
- Improve air and water quality
- Reduce solid waste
- Conserve natural resources
Economic benefits:
- Reduce operating costs
- Enhance asset value and profits
- Improve employee productivity and satisfaction
- Optimize life-cycle economic performance
Health and community benefits:
- Improve air, thermal, and acoustic environments
- Enhance occupant comfort and health
- Minimize strain on local infrastructure
- Contribute to overall quality of life
Want to learn more about Sustainability?
Check out the following additional resources:
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Did You Know:
- On average, 50-70% of household water is used outdoors (watering lawns, washing cars).
- The average American uses over 100 gallons of water per day; the average residence uses over 100,000 gallons during a year.
- Americans drink more than 1 billion glasses of tap water per day.
- Industries as well as people need water. It takes, on average, 39,090 gallons of water to manufacture a new car and its four tires.
- 62,600 gallons of water are needed to produces one ton of steel; 1,500 gallons to process one barrel of beer; and 9.3 gallons to process one can of fruit or vegetables.
(Source: Water, EPA: http://www.epa.gov/ebtpages/water.html)
Water Conservation Tips At Home:
- Stop Those Leaks! Check your indoor water using appliances and devices for leaks. Check out Leak Detection and Repair.
- Replace your old Toilet, the largest water user inside your home. If your home was built before 1992 and the toilet has never been replaced, then it is very likely that you do not have a water efficient 1.6 gallon per flush toilet. You can check the date stamp inside the toilet by lifting the lid and looking at the back of the toilet at the manufacturer's imprint of the make, model and date of manufacture.
- Replace your Clothes Washer, the second largest water user in your home. Energy Star™ rated washers that also have a Water Factor at or lower than 9.5, use 35-50% less water and 50% less energy per load. This saves you money on both your water and energy bills.
- Plant the Right Plants with Proper Landscape Design & Irrigation. Whether you are putting in a new landscape or slowly changing the current landscaping at your home, select plants that are appropriate for your local climate conditions. Having yard with 100% lawn turf area in a dry desert climate uses significant amounts of water.
- Water Only What Your Plants Need. Most water is wasted in your garden by watering when you plants do not need the water or by not maintaining the irrigation system. Be attentive if you are manual watering by setting your oven timer or some other reminder to move the water promptly.
(Source: H2Ouse Water Saver Home, http://www.h2ouse.org)
Water Conservation Tips At the Office:
Encourage your employer to promote water conservation at the workplace. Suggest that water conservation tips be put in the employee orientation manual and training program.
- Support projects that will lead to an increased use of reclaimed wastewater for irrigation and other uses.
- Promote water conservation in community newsletters, on bulletin boards, and by example.
- Report all significant water losses (broken pipes, open hydrants, misdirected sprinklers, abandoned or free-flowing wells, etc.) to the property owner, local authorities, or your water management district.
- Encourage your school system and local government to promote a water conservation ethic among school children and adults.
- Support efforts and programs to create a concern for water conservation among tourists and visitors to your state. Make sure your visitors understand the need for, and benefits of, water conservation.
- Conserve water because it is the right thing to do. Don’t waste water just because someone else is footing the bill, such as when you are staying at a hotel.
(Source: Earth 911, http://earth911.org/water/water-conservation/)
Want to learn more about Water Conservation?
Check out the following additional resources:
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