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Never did it occur to me that there is mercury in fluorescent bulbs, though fluorescent bulbs are the next generation of energy efficiency, saving you money and draining less from the power grids. States and Provinces alike are starting to make them mandatory.

One concern of mine is that there is mercury in fluorescent bulbs. What annoyed me “to no end” was after purchasing the brand NOMA, nowhere on the packaging did it indicate that these bulbs contained a hazardous waste and are required to be properly disposed of. I’d bought them at Canadian Tire. Must give them a call along with NOMA and our governing body.

How can something so harmful not be mandatory on the packaging - in large print or even an icon of some sort? Now the NIKKO brand…

MERCURY IN FLUORESCENT BULBS… Answers

Human impact on ecosystems and methane is quite an eye-opener, at least for me.

Sources include:

1) Landfills. Landfills are the biggest human-related source of methane in the U.S., in reality 34% of all methane emissions! Methane is produced in landfills and open dumps while waste decomposes under anaerobic (no oxygen) conditions. The volume produced depends on the quantity and moisture content of the waste and the design and management practices at the site. This should help us to understand why we need to reduce our garbage in all regards, use a garburator, compost, recycle and reuse.

2) Natural gas, petroleum systems and coal mining. I don’t want to beat this one to death. If you need more or want more info for this, check out this US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) article.

3) Livestock. Many humans love their beef and dairy products. This human impact on ecosystems comes not more-so from the flatulence of a cow, rather it’s “belch”. One cow can emit as much as 600 litres of methane in a 24 hr period. With nearly 1.3 billion cattle on earth, the amount of methane emitted is staggering. That works out to about…

HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS - PART 4… Answers

Another human impact on ecosystems stems from the production of nitrous oxides (NO2).
Mostly, by us humans, its created by the use of fertilizers and vehicular emissions.

NO2 changes the pH levels of water and soil. One common term you may have heard of is Acid Rain. Humans have a skin pH level of basically 5.5 which will kill certain bacterias in order for us to survive. Likewise of water and soil so that certain ecosystems can survive in them.

For example, fish eggs need balanced pH levels. If this is thrown out of balance fish eggs won’t hatch…

HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS PART 3… Answers

My human impact on ecosystems part 2 will touch on breaking down the correlations between our pollution as noted in Human Impact on Ecosystems Part 1.
So lets start with CO2 (carbon dioxide). This is a biggEEE. Carbon dioxide is a chemical compound composed of one carbon and two oxygen atoms. Sounds simple and harmless enough. Too, it is a very important greenhouse gas. It has to be present in the Earths atmosphere - but at a concentration of about 0.038% What was neat to read is that when carbon dioxide is in it’s solid state, its named “dry ice”. Dry ice is that stuff you will see now and again while attending a rock concert. It’s the clouds of white “smoke” you see.

So in modern day society our human impact on ecosystems is making nature “throw in the towel” because we are “dumping” far far too much C02 into our air (billions of gallons a day) which in turn thickens our atmosphere. This added burden on the planets atmosphere doesn’t allow the suns rays that are “bounced” back off of our “mirror” and “air conditioner”, (that being Greenland), return back into space through the atmosphere - thereby creating global warming: hence - climate change worldwide. It (the atmosphere) is becoming to thick. Scientists describe our atmosphere to be as thin as a layer of shellac on one of those large table-top globes we like to admire. This climate change affects all ecosystems in land, air and sea.

Human impact on ecosystems is formed by us by burning fossil fuels (non-renewable energy sources - oil, natural gas and coal) and wood = CO2. Its a rather interesting cycle. We are burning our forests at almost reckless speeds (check out…

HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS - PART 2… Answers

WOW! Finally! Someone is listening. An electric car! Namely the Telsa Electric Car. It’s sexy, fast, sleek, quiet and emits zero emissions. This ‘guy’ can climb 0-60mph in 4 seconds. Top speed is clocked at 130mph. Don’t remember any American speed limits posted that high, so that should do just fine.

The battery charges in 3 hours for a 250 mile usage - less for heavy-leaded foots mind you. Just plug the Telsa electric car into any electrical outlet - pretty darn convenient. On 1 megawatt hour of electricity, the electric car will go for 4,900 miles compared to 1,800 miles for the hydrogen-powered car in a fuel cell.

Their ’secret’ is in the use of…

TELSA ELECTRIC CAR… Answers

This segment of human impact on ecosystems, I thought, should start with describing some of the main culprits causing global warming, hence climate change.
One of my most interesting reads was about how large an effect cattle have on the pollution index scale. It gives another meaning to greenhouse gases altogether… pun intended.

1) carbon dioxide (CO2), caused by fossil fuel…

HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS - PART 1… Answers

Growing tomatoes in containers the green way….good thing I didn’t say growing green tomatoes. Mind you, I like green tomatoes pan fried with some butter and a little bit of pepper served up with some fried eggs and toast….ummm - I’m getting a little bit hungry.

Anyhow, this section is more of a dedication, so I thought I’d put in a “growing green” section and concentrate on growing tomatoes in containers and all the tips I can muster. It’ll all be about growing food the earth friendly way with no herbicides, pesticides and the like….

GROWING TOMATOES IN CONTAINERS… Answers

As I read along about the human impact on ecosystems, I’m not really sure where or what to start with.
Human impact on ecosystems is at such a fast pace affecting everything from land, air and sea.

The past 50 years of human development, socially and economically, have tilted many of the delicate balances on this planet. Very few considerations took heed from Mother Nature as a guide to build and growth with…

HUMAN IMPACT ON ECOSYSTEMS… Answers

Well I’ll be! Smartway vehicles label are now going to be the next “Energuide”, but for cars =)
Because of climate change, global warming and oil dependence, Americans are becoming more focused than ever to want and understand just whats happening with this most delicate planet we live on - and our impact within it.

Connecticut (my place of birth oddly enough) and California - opposite cities in more ways than one, are currently developing labels for vehicles so that consumers know where they stand on an emissions scale…

SMARTWAY VEHICLES… Answers

The “green” benefits of electric motorcycles are just as staggering as owning an electric car.
The benefits to owning an electric motorcycle are plenty:
1) Outlay cost for a brand new one is far less than the average small car.
2) Totally silent like the electric car.
3) Very clean and very cost effective to maintain.
4) Uses zero gas, therefore zero greenhouse gas emissions…

ELECTRIC MOTORCYCLES… Answers