I found this article fun and interesting because the questions Naidoo answered vary over many different topics and offer some insight into Greenpeace and the philosophy of the organization.

In terms of energy, Naidoo believes that wind and solar power are the best sources.  They do have very little impact on the environment and are sustainable.  He makes it clear that Greenpeace does not endorse nuclear energy.  (This seems to be an energy form that is frequently labeled as green.)  Nuclear energy, he feels is dangerous and often over stays its welcome which increases its negative impacts.

The interviewer also asked Naidoo about biofuels and what progress he feels has been made.  The two of them made sure to acknowledge some of the failings of the first generation of biofuels, such as requiring energy to grow the plants.  Naidoo said that the best way to examine the second generation of biofuels is to ask whether it has a negative impact on the ecology of the area, its efficiency, and it's greenhouse gas output.

The last subject that I paid particular attention to is genetically modified crops (GMC).  I have not written much about them in the past because it is a tricky subject with many questions still remaining.  Naidoo feels that GMC's should be avoided and are utterly unnecessary.  He says that the areas with the highest starvation rates are areas with an abundance of food.  Naidoo blames the economy and feels that sustainable farming is the answer.

For more reading, click the link above.

President Obama has met with Chinese President Hu Jintao this month to discuss plans between the two countries to lower the CO2 emissions.  The countries plan on investing in sustainable technology in order to also increase GDP.  If you're interested, you can read the brief article by clicking the link above.

I, as a science teacher, like to examine the meaning of the article.  Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas, meaning it helps to trap the suns infrared rays and warm the planet.  There is a delicate balance that naturally exists and it is thought that human activity over the past two hundred years has disrupted that balance and led to global warming.  When I was in school, I believe I heard that the globe has warmed as much as one degree Celsius in the past 50 years.  This is a big change.  There are other greenhouse gases, mind you, such as methane, that are more of a threat to the environment.

Since the United States and China are heavily populated and industrialized, it is a powerful statement to work toward lowering their carbon footprint.  Hopefully other countries will follow the lead.

The problem with space shuttles' environmental impact is complicated.  Rocket fuel, like regular car fuel, is detrimental to the environment.  In fact, rocket fuel does greater damage than a traditional form of transportation would be allowed to get away with.  It was found that the fuel leaves particles in the air and destroys ozone molecules.

As a science teacher, I cannot help but go on a slight tangent and make sure ozone is understood.  Ozone is made of three oxygen atoms and is a crucial chemical that prevents harmful rays from the sun and space from reaching the earth.  Without ozone, the earth would be similar to Mars and very much lifeless.  When ozone molecules are destroyed, it takes a great deal of time before they are repaired again.

Ok, back on topic.  So rocket fuel is bad for the ozone and leaves grit that causes problems in the sky.  It is not as big of an issue as it may first appear because rockets are not all that common.  The amount of damage done to the ozone owes little to our space explorations.

My question would be that even though there are not very many rockets going into space, shouldn't we still try to push for a greener technology since it still has an impact, no matter how small?

I had never heard of Camelina until this moment so I had to do my usual research.  (I hate to admit it but I did use Wikipedia to get a quick overview.)  According to my source, Camelina requires little water and nitrogen to grow.  Nitrogen is one cited pollutant in bodies of water from the overuse of fertilizers.  Choosing a plant that requires little chemicals has its obvious benefits.  Not only is Camelina low key, it can be used to rotate with other crops and replenishes the soil.  Corn, as Professor Dave Tilman from the University of Minnesota lectured in his ecology class, depletes the soil and the push for ethanol from corn is dangerous for the community.

We need to pursue biofuels that come from plants that do not require too much investment and destroy the natural environment, including soil quality, of the area.

From the list on the website, the owner lists the process they went through to build this amazing home.  He/she made sure to carefully chose the site for the home: the side of a small hill.  By working with nature, it can help prevent unnecessary remodeling of landscape, erosion and potentially be safer to live in.

The materials for the building and furnishes were also chosen with much consideration.  First, he/she looked at dump sites to find old, usable materials.  This is a great way to reduce the amount of garbage in landfills and lowers the impact on the earth because new ones are not needed.  The owner also chose materials that were from the area, energy efficient, and environmentally friendly.

Since the owner and builder is detail oriented, they also remembered to consider the tools they used to construct the building.  He/she (I honestly am not sure about who they are) boasts of using "chainsaw, hammer and 1 inch chisel, little else really."  Only the chainsaw has obvious negative consequences to the environment but considering the owner used so few things, it can be overlooked.

If you want more information on this home and similar projects they have, go to http://www.simondale.net/house/index.htm.

The article gave a few reasons for the use of bamboo.  The first is the rapid growth.  Rapid growth tends to be more "green" because it means that there is not a need for large plots of land to have a constant supply of bamboo.  (The rapid growth also means that it can be cheaper and therefore more likely for people to purchase it.)  It grows so fast that it can gain 40 inches in one day!  According to the lovely Wikipedia, bamboo can reach maturity in a matter of three years.

The second reason for the use of bamboo is it is a hardy plant.    It does not require much TLC from people.  It does not need chemicals to grow successfully and even better still: it does not require a lot of water.

The third reason for using bamboo is that it is biodegradable.  It is naturally degraded by molds and fungus.  Using bamboo products means that what you purchase will not outlive you.

According to the article by USA Today, NASCAR has taken care to focus on recycling for starters.  This goes beyond the simple recycling receptacles for the fans.  NASCAR even has an organization it deals with that will recycle used oils.  Safety-Kleen has an eco-friendly approach to handling wastes created by the sport.  Even tires are considered into the equation of recycling.

Now for the more obvious problem: fossil fuels.  As mentioned earlier, race cars get about an average of fives miles per gallon.  Now also consider about forty such vehicles racing for miles over the matter of a few hours.  It does not take much to realize that NASCAR burns tons of fossil fuels each season.    To deal with this problem, NASCAR is considering shortening the track length.  The unfortunate consequence of speed is that there are no alternatives that come close to gasoline in speed.  So instead, why not shorten the trace as a starting place?  We need to wait for the technology to catch up to the sport in this case.

Her first series of tips relate to the costume.  She urges people to avoid purchasing a new costume this year.  Many people are creative enough that making their own costume out of old clothes and sheets is  a possibility.  (Not to mention with the economy, who can afford a $20+ costume?)  She takes it further and suggests that when you are through with the costume, you can save it for rags.  Another alternative to buying a new costume would be to swap with a friend.  It's fun to have a new costume to wear, especially if it does not add to the landfills and expenses.

For the trick-or-treaters, consider the candy you purchase carefully.  Buying in bulk is handy but be sure that it is not filled with wrappers that add to the landfills.  Try to purchase a treat that involves as little packaging as possible.  I would take it a step further and suggest that you support local candy companies to reduce the amount of fossil fuels used to bring that candy into your home and support the local economy.

Finally, when planning a party, buy reusable decorations and flatware.  Once again, purchasing conscientiously can save the environment and money.

As you stare at the screen, it tells you how much CO2 has been emitted since you started watching.  Carbon dioxide is one of a few suspected greenhouse gases.  (A little science background for you: greenhouse gases work by trapping infrared light, or heat, from the sun in the Earth's atmosphere and too much of it is suspected to lead to global warming.)  For some who are sitting on the sidelines, this could maybe help to be an eye opener.  It attaches numbers and comparisons to a concept that can be difficult for people to grasp.

The simulation does not just stop there; it also includes a population count.  Once again, as you watch, you see blue and black dots that appear to represent the births and deaths taking place around the world.  In the bottom corner is a count of the current population size.

What a great teaching tool this could be.  It would allow students to see the relationship between environmental issues and population size on a map with real time numbers.  Better yet, this is a free resource!

Insulation is a very important component of your home's efficiency.  It can prevent drafts and keep warm air in when the weather is cold.  Insulation also helps to keep the cold air inside when the weather is hot.

The author of the article summed up his research on insulation by saying there is no one solution for homes.  He named several factors need to be considered when selecting insulation, like the location of the home.  Different regions have different climates which mean varying amounts of heat and moisture.  An efficient insulation will be picked out with these factors in mind.  He also mentioned that any insulation can have poor efficiency if it is not installed correctly.

The author offered two helpful resources for further research if you are interested in finding more information on insulation.  The first is Energy Savers.  This website lists several different insulation types, where they work best, how they are assembled and advantages of using the insulating material.

The other website recommended by the author is the Insulation Fact Sheet.  This website allows you to see how the typical heating and cooling looks for your area and helps you carefully choose an appropriate insulation.  It takes into consideration many factors such as the space of the home.

Energy efficiency of homes is just one way we can help to save the planet.  Please let me know if you see any other resources.