Reflection back on Green Goggles

Reflection on Green Goggles

            It is hard to believe that the semester is almost over, time went by so fast. I learned a lot about the foundation of chemistry, also about green chemistry too. The foundations I learned about chemistry will help me in the future when I take general, organic, and inorganic chemistry. I believe I understand the information about the foundations of chemistry better now than I did in high school.

            It was interesting to learn about the topics discussed in class. I thought when I took green goggles that the class was going to talk about global warming and climate change, and I was glad that it was more than that. I learned that some of the principles of green chemistry can be followed in you own home including preventing waste, and using renewable resources.

            I learned so much in green goggles, and it was a valuable class to take. Now I know how to blog, and I have created a wiki page. People should consider taking green goggles as a class, people will learn a lot, I know I did.

Corn Cob- A Renewable Feedstock

Corn Cobs

Renewable Feedstock

             Renewable feedstocks are products that help a chemical reaction, and they are able to be produced over again without any negative side effects to the earth. Corn cobs are an excellent source of a renewable feedstock. These corn cobs have potential for renewable energy, and they are a sustainable product, and there is no chance of them running out.

            Corn cobs have a similar energy make up like that of coal, but they are less energy dense than fossil fuels, meaning they can not produce as much as the fossil fuels. Corn cobs are a better source than coal, because they do not produce hazardous waste in the air like ash.

            I think the idea of corn cobs as an alternative energy source would be a good start on reducing the use of fossil fuels. There is a large amount of unused corn cob in the United States, and these cobs could be put to good use. Corn cobs are a good way to help reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, making the air cleaner, which in turn could help people with respiratory problems like asthma or COPD. Corn cobs should be considered as an alternative fuel source.

Source:

Zych, Daron. (2008, August). The viability of corn cobs as a bioenergy feedstock

            Retrieved from:

http://renewables.morris.umn.edu/biomass/documents/zych-theviabilityofcorncobasabioenergyfeedstock.pdf   

UNH: A Green Way

UNH

 A Green Way

UNH took the first step in becoming green in 2006. Their heat and power were combined together, this is called a cogeneration plant. This plant is supposed to save the university twenty eight million dollars, and will payback in twenty years. Also, a cogeneration plant reduced the amount of greenhouse gas by about twenty one percent in the academic year of 2006.

In 2007, UNH started an Eco Line project, with the help of Waste Management of New Hampshire, Inc. Waste management in Rochester is used for this project. Eco Line Project would use landfill material, and convert it into energy. The natural gas is piped down in an underground pipeline where it is purified, and then it is transported to UNH campus at Durham. This project provides eighty five percent of the energy to the main campus buildings, using methane as its source. UNH was the first university in the United States to have one of these plants. When the cogeneration plant and the Eco Line are combined they will ensure energy security. UNH is showing people how environmentally aware they are in their two different projects.

This is a great way to reduce fossil fuels, and become a greener society. I think other universities should follow UNH as an example. They are reducing their dependency on fossil fuels, and saving the university money. Maybe this idea will be used more in the future.

Sources:

http://www.sustainableunh.unh.edu/ecoline

http://unh.edu/news/cjnr/2009/may/bp19ecoloine.cfm

High-Yield Farming

High-Yield Farming

Green Agriculture

            High-yield farming is a part of green agriculture. This idea of high-yield farming has produced a green revolution. The production of food has been made easier because of better seeds, chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and irrigation. Also high-yield farming decreases the risk of soil erosion. With the concept of high-yield farming, people use low-till farming with herbicides. This controls weeds, instead of using the practice of bare-earth plowing and hoeing. High-yield farming is the best example of biodiversity all over the world.

In high-yield farming more food is produced per acre of farmland. In any area where there is high-yield farming, there is no famine. The food that is produced provides more nutrients including iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Children are healthier, and are able to learn better and more quickly. The livestock and poultry are affected by high-yield farming. The farmers are able to produce more meat products, and their animal breeding is better for high-yield farming.   

            High-yield farming seems like a good idea which benefits the environment, by reducing soil erosion. It helps children in areas where high-yield farming is located. Children are more likely to be better learners and healthier too. This also could help farmers as well. High-yield farming should be put into practice, and we might be better for it.

Source:

Avery, D.T. (2007). How high-yield farming saves nature. Society, 44(6), 137-138.

Retrieved from http://web.ebscohost.com/ehost/detail?vid=4&hid=17&sid=b79b836f-5db3-4528-bff8-3f412343fdda%40sessionmgr12&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#db=aph&AN=27734097

Plant Fertilizing- Biological Interactions

Plant Fertilizing

Biological Interactions

            Using fertilizer is an important element in gardening. Fertilizers help with biological interactions by helping plant growth within the soil. When you garden, you need nitrogen in the soil; which helps control the nutrients, and makes the plant grow. Also you need phosphorus, which prevents disease, and aids the roots spread in the soil. Lastly, you need potassium in your soil; which also helps prevent disease and aids the roots like phosphorus.

             Compost is the preferable way of fertilizing your plants. Manure is the best type of compost; it has all the organic materials necessary. Now there is such a thing as green manure. With this manure, nitrogen is broken down, and nutrients become readily accessible to the plant. Green manure could help prevent soil erosion. You can make your own compost, and it is easy to do. In your compost, you could use vegetable scraps, newspapers, tree leaves, and other material. If you do not want to use compost on your soil you can use commercial fertilizer. You just need to read the package of fertilizer correctly, or you could damage or kill the plant.

            Fertilizers help plants with biological interactions. Without these fertilizers, plants could not grow well. We need fertilizers to help us grow the food we need.  

Gehring, A. R. (Ed.). (2009). Homesteading. New York, NY: Skyhorse Publishing.

Air Pollutants- Carbon Monoxide

Air Pollutants

Carbon Monoxide

The EPA has classified six different air pollutants, which include ozone, particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide, and lead. These pollutants can damage your health and the environment. The EPA has called these pollutants criteria pollutants, because it is monitored for human health and environmentally based guidelines.

            Carbon monoxide is one of the six air pollutants recognized by EPA. Carbon monoxide is poisonous and does not have any color, odor, or taste. It is mixed with other gases so you can actually smell it. The incomplete burning of natural gas in combination with other material, including wood, coal, propane, gasoline, or kerosene produces carbon monoxide. Internal combustion engines such as power washers, portable generators, lawn mowers, and cars produce carbon monoxide.

            Carbon monoxide affects the environment. Large amounts of carbon monoxide produces methane thought to be linked to greenhouse gas. This leads to oxidation which produces carbon dioxide. Sometimes brushfires break out because of high levels of carbon monoxide.

            Also, carbon monoxide is very harmful to the human body. When carbon monoxide is present in the body, the heart, brain, and other vital organs are not getting the oxygen they need to survive. Some of the first symptoms include headache, fatigue, and shortness of breath, nausea, and dizziness. As carbon monoxide stays in the body, the symptoms get increasingly get worst. These symptoms include mental confusion, vomiting, loss of muscular coordination, loss of consciousness, which leads to death. Carbon monoxide poisoning can be treated if caught early with lots of oxygen. Carbon monoxide is a dangerous pollutant and should be monitored carefully.