Author Archive

Maggie Puniewska

Maggie Puniewska is a freelance writer based out of the greater Chicago area. She has a B.A. in communications from University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana. In addition to Please Conserve, she currently writes for the buzz, an entertainment magazine on campus. She has written and published on a wide range of subjects and her specialty for Please Conserve is conservation and environmental topics.

New York City may not sleep, but it sure sweats. Climate scientists at The City College of New York City predict that heat waves such as the ones last July may intensify in the future. Manhattan is already subject to a greater urban heat island effect than the suburbs and because of the density and heat-inducing surfaces. This means that the city cannot cool off as quickly and thus continues to amplify heat. Researchers suggest that landscapers and policymakers implement cooling tactics such as green roofs to mitigate the effects.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100729101613.htm

Your hands may be doing all the dirty work. According to recent research, a common germ- fighting soap ingredient called triclosan is keeping your hands clean, but damaging the environment. Although triclosan is not harmful in soap, once it goes down the drain, it combines with chlorinated water to form a toxic compound that is detrimental to aquatic life. Studies conducted in Minnesota lakes shows that the most disruption occurred in the reproductive cycle, limiting sperm production in male fish and altering egg producing habits.
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/59333/title/Science_%2B_the_Public__A_new_source_of_dioxins_Clean_hands

Researchers at Stanford University want more greenhouse gases in their lives. Seem sadistic? Not at all. These scientists are looking at sludge from waste water treatment. The gooey mess contains bacteria that produce two greenhouse gases, methane and nitrous oxide. Encouraging their production will make it easier to remove the nitrogen from the nitrous oxide as well as promote the growth of methane that can be used for fuel. They hope that their project will help lower the costs of waste water treatment as well as increase energy production.

http://www.physorg.com/news199366527.html

Hospitals and medical centers usually have the same sterile look: white walls, white floors, and decor that would make any interior designer cringe. But the Franklin Woods Community Hospital located in Johnson City, Tennessee, is not only stylish, it is eco-friendly as well. The hospital was awarded LEED silver certification for green features such as their cork floors, wooden beams, and use of natural light. Although the environmentally friendly features are a bit more expensive, they end up cutting costs in the long run. Mountain States Health Alliance, the company that built the facility, plans to expand such features to other hospital and clinics.

The $72 million renovation of San Jose Park and Zoo may be pricey but well worth it. LEED gold certification, the highest green building and performance measure, has been awarded to the Happy Hollow Park and Zoo for meeting several standards in different categories such as water efficiency and indoor environmental quality. Happy Hollow includes many green features including green growing roofs, recycled water systems, and porous asphalt paving.

Should public urination be rewarded? It’s possible. Researchers at the University of Kuopio in Finland have combined human urine with wood ash to form an effective mineral fertilizer. They used this fertilizer to nourish an array of produce including beets, cucumbers, cabbage and tomatoes, all of which grew to become healthy vegetables. The experiment could pave the way for  improvements in sanitation and agriculture in developing nations.

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=human-urine-is-an-effective-fertilizer

NASA researchers are utilizing satellite and ground-base observations of precipitation to formulate data that will better water quality. Currently data is based strictly on meteorological statistics of precipitation from weather stations. This new method was tested and is shown to be more effective in enhancing the nature of water. NASA is looking to expand this model to areas of the world without adequate weather observation.
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/07/100726084743.htm

Flush with care – An average toilet uses about 3-5 gallons of water per flush. Combine that with multiple flushes during the day and your water bill can sky rocket. But a company called Clivus Multrum has come up with a solution to help conserve water use in the home and business.
*Foam flush toilet- Use biodegradable soap and water to flush waste with only 3oz. of water- a tremendous reduction over the conventional toilet. The waste is carried to a composting tank that breaks it down with bacteria. The finished mass can be used as plant fertilizer, another added bonus and more savings.
http://www.clivusmultrum.com/products_foam_flush.shtml

Harness the wind – You don’t have to live in the Windy City to use this new technology. Clarian Technologies is said to put out a home-friendly wind turbine that can generate up to 40 kWh monthly, enough to light a 3,600 square foot home. The 3 foot turbine simply plugs into an outlet, no extra wiring is necessary. Although the price tag is a bit hefty ( it would run around $400), the savings in utility bills would definitely cover the cost.

http://www.clariantechnologies.com/main/page_plugin_wind_power.html

Hot water, cool savings – Hot water heaters were one of the most inefficient and energy consuming appliances. Until now. General Electric has come out with a Hybrid Electric Water Heater that absorbs heat in the air and transfers it into the water. Because it takes less energy to absorb water than to generate it, as a traditional heater does, this hybrid heater uses half the energy of a traditional heater, an estimated savings of $250 annually.

http://www.geconsumerproducts.com/pressroom/press_releases/appliances/energy_efficient_products/doetanklesshybrid.htm