In my web site I am going talk about the simple ways that people can help to make a difference in the world, by using these four topics that could be helpful in stopping global warming and/or just to save some money. Public transportation, Recycling, Solar powered, and Green appliances.

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“Public transportation provides greater freedom, access, opportunity and choice for Americans.”

The most energy efficient households are the ones who instead of driving to work, paying hundreds of dollars a month on gas, choose to use public transportation. Public transportation has been around for many years helping people to arrive at their destinations. The benefits of using public transportation is simple, cut back on gas expenses, little by little helping to take one more car off the road on the way to reducing green house gases. There is a slight charge for the benefits of buses, and trains, but isn’t it a lot cheaper to pay the small cent charge rather then $50 every-time you fill your tank. I myself would take the bus every-day to school back and forth from one side of Santa Rosa to the other, I was only a child 7^th grade everyday back and forth, busses aren’t dangerous to those who watch to many movies and think public transportation is an easy way to get mugged well not me I understand the good in using public transportation, and maybe someday you will understand, and take a stand and refuse to spend all your hard earned money paying for gas, and car insurance.

“Recycling is the third R of the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse, And Recycle. Recycling means taking a product or material at the end of its useful life, and turning, it into a usable raw material to make another product.”

Recycling is the most important thing people can do to help save the earth from global warming, also to help prevent unwanted substances in our drinking water. Recycling only takes a few seconds from your day that could save many lives in the future, there are five main products that are recycled on a regular basis and they are called The Big Five: aluminum cans, glass bottles, paper, plastic and steel/tin cans. There are many different things to recycle; you can use the green trash can to fill with the Big Five this is called Curbside Recycling. There are other things that are hazardous and that could be recycled just as well as the big five. Electronic waste or e-waste is one of the few, electronic waste accounts for 70 percent of the overall toxic waste that is currently found in landfills. Electronics often contain hazardous materials like lead and mercury. When these electronic products are left in the landfills, these materials can contaminate soil and our drinking water. Here are a few electronics that we use everyday and some thoughts about what you throw away when you dump these.

“In just 2005, almost two million tons of e-waste ended up in landfills. While toxic materials comprise only a small amount of this volume, it doesn’t take much lead or mercury to contaminate an area’s soil or water supply. Keep this in mind when you’re figuring out what to do with those old electronic devices.”

*Televisions

Before there were plasma screen and LCD’s we were all watching our Super Bowls and TV shows on cathode ray tube. The CRT had more room for all the switches and wires in a box behind the screen, in doing that it was a place full of lead. 20 percent of CRTs were full of lead, equivalent to between four and eight pounds per TV.

“It’s estimated there are over 500 million used cell phones are ready for disposal. it will result in 312,000 pounds of lead released.”

*Cell Phones

Cell phones may not contain as much toxic material as the larger electronics its shelf life is only about 18 months for the average person. With new products coming out all the time, the outside of a cell phone is often made of lead, possibly the most hazardous component of the cellular phone is the battery. Cell phone batteries were originally composed of nickel and cadmium. Cadmium can cause lung and liver damage.

“Mercury is also contained in computer circuit boards, which also include lead and cadmium. Circuit boards can also feature batteries made of mercury, as well as mercury switches.”

*Computers

We have already went over the fact of lead in CRT TV’s and now we see that there are also CRT computer monitors, but there are other toxic elements. I have read that many laptops have a small fluorescent lamp in the screen that contains mercury, when inhaled or digested can be vary harm full. Mercury is also contained in computer circuit boards, which also include lead and cadmium. Circuit boards can also feature batteries made of mercury, as well as mercury switches. So you see the harm that is put in our homes that could be fatal to the earth.

“Wind power is the lowest-cost renewable energy technology available on the market today, according to the Department of Energy”

“The U.S. Department of Energy and its partners are working to design even more cost-effective solar heating systems and to improve the durability of materials used in those systems.”

Solar powered products are here and there here to stay, from solar powered homes, cars, bikes, generators, ect. You name it someone has figured away to make is solar powered. Being solar power friendly you can save tons of money on PG&E bills. Solar powered products aren’t the only thing people have came up with to help the environment. So to start there is solar electricity, wind electricity, hydro electricity, and lastly a way to make solar heating. Solar power is produced by collecting sunlight and converting it into electricity. You do this by using solar panels, which are large flat panels made of many individual solar cells. It is most often used in remote locations, although it is becoming more popular in the cities as well. While you house is being powered by the sun these household items can be powered as well appliances, computers and lighting. Solar equipment has no moving parts so requires minimal maintenance. It generates solar electricity without producing emissions of greenhouse gases or any other gases, and its operation is virtually silent.

*Wind Electricity

Wind power is the world's fastest growing electricity generation technology. Wind is a renewable resource because it is inexhaustible. It is a result of the sun shining unevenly on the earth. The corresponding daily and seasonal changes in temperature consistently generate wind, producing a fuel source that can never be depleted. People are now starting to use state-of-the-art large spinning blades to capture the kinetic energy in moving wind which then is transferred to rotors that produce electricity. 12 miles per hour are currently the best wind power plant sites.

*Hydro Electricity

Hydro electricity is a way to produce power by harnessing the power of moving water. For this process to work it doesn’t have to be falling water, just moving water. There are many famous generating stations in the world; one of them is at Niagara Falls, Grand Coulee and Boulder Dam. These are just a few of the many examples of energy produced by falling water. On the other hand, the truth is that any steady current of flowing water from a river or other waterway can be converted to power.

*Solar Heating

Solar heating is a way to harness the power of the sun to provide solar energy for hot water, space heating, and pool heaters. A solar heating system helps people save energy, also reduces utility costs, and produces clean energy. The reliability of solar heating systems have increased over the years, the DOE is also trying to make them attractive options in the home or business. The DOE is trying to help make these systems more accessible to the average person and to help individuals reduce their utility bills. To help more persons benefit from these systems, the U.S. Energy Policy Act said they would give a 30% tax credit for consumers who install solar water heating systems. So to conclude the solar part of my page I hope you take in account the amount of money spent to install all there products, will benefit them selves in a few years, why be stuck paying high energy bills when you can save that money and go on a family trip.

On average, about half of your electric bill comes from major appliances, electronics and home office equipment.  Roughly 20% is attributed to lighting, and invested in the heating and cooling of your home space, and kitchen use.  With that in mind I think buying green appliances is probably your most effective start.  The EPA developed this program called ENERGY STAR in the 90s as a way of creating standards that address energy efficiency for appliances.  The program first focused on the most popular home electronics like TV’s, but has made its way out to most major appliances, like sound systems, DVD players, battery chargers, and now many kitchen appliances.  The Energy Star program has continually upheld and improved their strict regulations for energy efficient appliances. I found that the EPA has a great pop-up home energy review site that helps you find and show to what and how to use there appliances. When purchasing any large household appliance, even a green appliance, look for warranties, these will protect you from unexpected costs if you appliance should break or become inoperative.

Thank you very much for your interest in my page.

Contact info-

JamesNavarro@empirecollege.com