13 Spooky Halloween Facts!!!

1) There are areas of the ocean that are oxygen-starved and can no longer sustain marine life.  We call this a dead zone.  These areas exist in the Gulf of Mexico, all up the eastern side of the United States, in the waters surrounding Europe and China.  Today these dead zones cover an area roughly the size of the state of Oregon.  

2) There are 560 million people living in China's cities. Only 1 % of these people breathe air that is considered safe by the European Union.  I am sure that the fact that China is burning almost as much coal as the rest of the world combined has something to do with this. 

3) Only 1% of the fresh water able to be used for drinking on the planet is readily accessible.  

4) Every day in the U.S., we generate about 600,000 tons of trash.  This is about the weight of the Empire State Building!

5)  1% of US landfill space is filled with disposable diapers.  It is estimated that it takes 250 - 500 years for a diaper to decompose so these diapers will be around for a little while.  


6) In America 25% of people do not recycle.  We have only 5%  of the Earth's population living here.  We generate 30% of the earths waste.  If the entire world lived like the average American, we would need 5 planets to provide enough resources.

With those that do recycle we save 17 trees, 2 barrels of oil, 4,100 kilowatts of energy, 3.2 cubic  yards of landfill space and 60 pounds of air pollution each day.  So what if we all recycled? 

7) There are about 5000 species of mammals on Earth.  One in four mammals is at risk of extinction.

8) We lose at least 50 million acres of rainforest annually. There are This is an
area the size of England, Wales and Scotland combined.


9) Today we are producing approximately 300 million tons of plastic every year. It is nearly impossible to make it through a day without coming into contact with plastic literally hundreds of times.  In the United States roughly 85% of the plastic we consume ends up in the landfills and oceans.

10) Some areas of the ocean contain hundreds of thousands of pieces of plastic per square mile.

11) Each minute We add 12,000 tons of carbon dioxide to the atmosphere.

12) Each Hour 1,692 acres of productive dry land become desert.

13) Each  day 25,000 people die of water shortage or contamination.

Light Bulbs

There are many different kinds of light bulbs.  So which are the ones are the best for energy efficiency?  I am going to give you some helpful data to sort this out for yourself.

The first and most common type of light bulb is the incandescent light bulb.

An incandescent light bulb produces light with a wire filament heated to a high temperature by an electric current passing through it, until it glows (see Incandescence).  These are not your friend if your goal is energy efficiency.  This is what most people have and use in their homes.  They last from about 700 - 1000 hours.  They come in a wide variety of shapes and sizes.  You can get them almost anywhere and they cost a bit more than a dollar a piece.

The next type of light bulb is the halogen light bulb.

Halogen light bulbs are basically a little more energy efficient incandescent bulb. They burn at a higher temperature and you have to be very careful not to touch them with your bare hands.  The tiny amount of oil that can be transferred by your hands to the light bulb can cause it explode.  No joke.  I saw this happen once.  It was pretty frightening.

Halogen light bulbs give the closest approximation of daylight lighting.  This makes them easy for the eyes to tolerate.  They are normally used for projectors, under cabinet lighting, pendant lighting and recessed lighting.

You can find halogen light bulbs at your local home improvement stores and I hear that Target also carries them.  They cost anywhere from 2 - 6 dollars a piece, depending on the size and shape you need.

And now we get to fluorescent light bulbs

They last longer than the incandescent light bulbs.  I know that when you think of fluorescent lights you think of long tubes that are in the ceilings in a lot of commercial buildings.  But you can buy fluorescent bulbs that are small and will fit in almost any lamp or light fixture.  These are called compact fluorescent light bulbs.  They are 10 times more energy efficient than the incandescent light bulbs on the market.

You can get fluorescent light bulbs in varying strengths from the brightest bright you will ever see to nice and mellow and soft.  You can also get them in many different colors.

You can get them at your local home improvement store and they will run you about the same price as a halogen light bulb.

So, as you can see you have many choices when shopping for light bulbs.  I hope that this helps and  that you think of the environment the next time you need a light bulb.

    

 

Our Beautiful Planet

Yesterday I had the privilege to go see the Valley of Fire.  This is a truly unique place.    It is the oldest and largest State Park in Nevada.  It is aptly named for the red sandstone formations that have existed in this location since dinosaurs roamed the earth.  The way that the wind has eroded these formations will leave you amazed.  When you are there you do not feel like you are on planet Earth.

I arrived at around 11 in the morning with a very good friend of mine.  The first stop was the beehives.  It is so interesting how the wind has shaped the sandstone into the shape if beehives.  From here you can look out and see the most amazing collection of hills, mountains and valleys.

From there we took the scenic loop and wound up at the petroglyphs at Atlatl Rock.  There is something inspiring about looking at the written communication of people from thousands of years ago.  You get the sense of what life was really like for the Native Americans that once made this their home.

Then we saw the petrified logs. Spending part of my childhood in northern California, I have seen a lot of petrified wood in my life.  The unique thing about the petrified logs in the Valley of Fire is how brilliant and vibrantly colored they are.

After this we moved onto the Visitor's Center.  I never knew how many animals and plants could live in the desert!  Cougars, tarantulas, gila monsters, kangaroo rats, scorpions, rattle snakes etc...

Now, if you continue into the park past the Visitor's Canter you will get to see the white domes.  From this vantage point you can practically see the whole park.  It is quite incredible.


I really enjoyed my day trip and would urge you to come and see what Valley of Fire has to offer. If you are planning to visit the Valley of Fire I have some recommendations:

1) Try to go in April or October.  The weather is ideal during these months.  The temperatures get to well above 100 degrees in the summer time and would make your time there miserable.

2) You should visit the beehives.  The views from them is nothing short of spectacular.

3) There is a whole wall of petroglyghs that have existed for 4000 years.  Yes, you have to climb a long staircase to see them but it is totally worth it.

4) Go and see the Visitors Center.  In here you can find out all about the history of the Valley of Fire and learn about the wild life that lives there now.  

Valley of Fire is one of many locations that are there to remind us all that we live on an amazing planet and need to preserve and protect it.  

ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY

It is my opinion that one does have something to do with the state of their environment.  I have never found it successful to make anyone else responsible for conditions in my area.  If I do not like the way things are it was always most beneficial for me to get busy and do something about it.  

A little bit of responsibility goes a long way.  It would start in our own homes and extend to those areas we frequent like work, school, parks etc...

If one simply had the idea that it was not a good idea to destroy the planet and made their disapproval clear by just mentioning it when they observed others doing something to damage the planet it would go a long way towards reversing the damage being done.

Simple things like not littering, car pooling or using public transportation when possible, recycling, planting trees and being mindful of water usage go a long way. All of these things do not take very much effort and can easily be fit into your daily routine. 

It may not seem like a lot but by doing these thing you set an example for others.  They in turn set an example for even more people and before you know it the idea takes off like a wildfire and a real difference has been made.  

This planet is our home.  Without it we have nowhere else to go.  If we continue to cut down trees and pollute the water and air at the rate we have been there is a good chance that this planet will not sustain life for the future generation. What we don't think about today can come back to haunt us tomorrow. 

So my question to you is what could you do today to help improve your environment? 

   

A NOTE ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Did you know that New York City is one of the most environmentally conscientious cities in the Unites States?.  With a staggering population of over 8,000,000 they do not have the option of  not thinking about the environment. 

Some of the effective measures that they have taken include switching 11,000 "Don't Walk" signals to more energy-efficient LED lights that use less than 90% less energy of the average signs.  They also replaced 149,000 street lights to a new energy efficient design. 

In the average house or apartment in New York City you will find that they use nearly less than half the electricity being used in Chicago and  about a quarter  of what is being used in the city of Dallas.  One contributing factor to this is the energy efficient refrigerators they use.

So how can you personally help yourself and the environment by saving electricity and water?  Here are a few tips: 

Doing simple things that we were all taught in elementary school like turning off lights that are not being used, turning off the water while brushing your teeth really do make a difference.  

Turn off your A/C/Heating unit when you are not using it, fix any leaky faucets you have, practice smart lawn watering techniques (especially if you live in the desert), replace any halogen light bulbs you may have with a more energy efficient alternative and you are sure to see a lower energy and power bill.         

Not only would your bill be lower, you would also be making a difference in the environment.  I know that it may not seem like much but if everyone did it, just imagine the impact!

Our program here at Renaissance Power and Gas also helps.  If you are in New York City and are interested in enrolling, please inquire below.     

Dangers of Fracking

This week I saw a video that really makes clear just how dangerous fracking really is.

In this video many residents of Pennsylvania are interviewed about how their lives were totally turned upside down by  fracking being done in their neighborhood.  The adverse effects they describe include: rashes, swelling, nose bleeds, body aches, headaches, severe dental issues, contaminated drinking and fishing water and trouble breathing.

Something needs to be done about this particular practice.  I truly do not understand how this is still allowed.  The water coming out of the tap was white and smoking!!!  It is not an isolated instance of this being an issue.  Check out this other video of a woman lighting her methane filled tap water on fire in Oklahoma!  This is a real problem that needs to be addressed.

At Renaissance Power and Gas we offer a way to get the gas you need without fracking. Every time we have someone sign up for our program it is a small but real blow against the damage being done to people and the environment by fracking.  

We appreciate each and every customer that signs up and uses our services.  Right now we have our program running in New York.  We intend to expand it to other areas in very short order.

Keep checking out our blog and Facebook page to find out if and when we are coming to a neighborhood near you!  

How You Can Help the Environment

I want to thank Just Green for posting this video on Twitter.

As this video signifies, the average American spends more time on watching Sports on TV than thinking about and taking care of their environment.  In the not too distant future, no one is going to care that the San Francisco 49ers beat the Kansas City Chiefs in a Football game.  What will matter is that this planet is uninhabitable because of what we are doing here and now to destroy the planet.

 There is something that we can do RIGHT NOW to change this.  Renaissance Power and Gas is an environmentally friendly alternative to getting the electricity and gas you need.  By signing up with our program, or those like it, you are taking a real stand against the environmentally dangerous practice known as fracking.

If you have any questions about fracking, here is a link to a 5 minute video that describes this in detail.

Right now we service the greater New York Area including:

Bronx

Queens

Manhattan 

Staten Island

Westchester

If you live in these areas and are interested in joining our program please send us your inquiries below.