Waste
Waste threatens to overwhelm natural ecosystems and the health of people and other life, primarily because our society produces so much waste in the form of short-lived or single-use materials and products that do not lend themselves to re-use or even recycling.
One obvious solution for household and small-business refuse is to make the fees proportional to the amount of waste, rather than a flat monthly or annual fee. This approach is often called ‘Pay As You Throw‘ or PAYT.
Some municipalities in Sweden & Canada treat waste as a resource, used to generate electricity, heat, and gas for the community, so we need to do much more.
Another important Waste issue is the waste from sewage treatment plants. Sewage sludge, euphemistically called ‘biosolids’ to conceal its origin, is often spread on farm fields as fertilizers, despite its load of heavy metals, pharmaceuticals, and other chemicals that the treatment plant does not remove.
Fifty Ways to Help Save the Planet
What you can do The problem is so vast and the urgency so great that advice which suggests you turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or switch off lights and standbys when they are not needed or go … more
If a CFL Breaks
Overall, using fluorescent lamps, including CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Lamps), reduce power consumption and the amount of mercury released from power plants. [See 'Mercury & CFLs'.] Even so, each CFL contains a small amount of mercury, so if it breaks, you … more
Impacts of drilling in Marcellus Shale
In this section, we focus on the environmental impacts of drilling for natural gas in the Marcellus Shale formations using the fracking or fracturing method (some background info is given on the Marcellus Shale page). Thoughts about use of the resultant … more
CFLs and Mercury
A CFL contains a small amount of mercury, so it is important to be extremely careful if one breaks! Follow these instructions. It’s important to note that the amount of mercury in a CFL is far less than what would … more
Alliance statement on casino gambling in the Lehigh Valley
Following is the statement prepared for the Gaming Commission hearing in Allentown on May 23, 2006: Statement from the Alliance for Sustainable Communities … We come before you today as an Alliance representing groups, businesses, and individuals in the Lehigh … more
Implementing Climate Protection Agreements
The Climate Protection Agreement pledges that ‘We will strive to meet or exceed Kyoto Protocol targets for reducing global warming pollution by taking actions in our own operations and communities’, and lists 12 specific points. The following suggestions depict a … more
Completing a Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventory for Your Campus
Following is a very brief overview of the types and sources of data needed for a typical GHG inventory. Most of the data usually comes from the Faciliities or Plant Operations department. For more detailed information see the Clean Air-Cool … more
Lehigh Climate Commitment
Following is the text of the Climate Commitment adopted by Lehigh University on April 15, 2009. While not as comprehensive or far-reaching as the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment, it is a significant step forward for climate protection … more
Lehigh Valley Student Sustainability Conference
Friday, Nov 13, 2009 Northampton Community College, Southside Bethlehem Campus 511 E Third Street Bethlehem, PA A special conference by and for students in the Lehigh Valley, but open to all. Based on the success of the Spring 2009 LVAIC Sustainability Conference, … more
Living Buildings
‘Living machines’ are coming of age in the form of living buildings that ‘generate all of their own energy using clean, renewable resources; capture and treat all of their own water through ecologically sound techniques; contain only nontoxic, appropriately sourced materials; … more