Starting Young

Have you ever wondered how to tech you children the importance of taking care of the environment?   There are a number of wonderful books and movies on the subject that are wonderful.  I am going to give you a list of some of my favorites:

1) WALL-E

This is a Disney movie that takes place in the future.  It is the story of a little robot that was left on earth to clean up the mess that humans had made.  I recommend this movie for kids of all ages.

2) If You Were A Panda Bear by Wendell and Florence Minor

This book introduces young children to various kinds of bears, their personality, their habitat, what they eat and what they can do to help the bears.  It is a great book, especially for younger children ages 3-7.

The Authors of this book also wrote a book called If You Were a Penguin.  I have not had a chance to check this book out but I would bet that it is just as good.

3) What If Everybody Did That by Ellen Javernick

This is a wonderful book that illustrates the damage that can be done to the environment is everyone disregarded the environment and littered.  It demonstrated the consequences of such carelessness. I recommend this book for children ages 5-8.

4) What Happens to Our Trash by D.J. Ward

This book introduced children to the to the idea of recycling and not wasting.  It also teaches you how to make a compost pile, with adult supervision and assistance of course.  This book is best for ages 4-8. 

5) Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes by Eleanor Coerr

This is the true story of a girl living in Japan during and after WWII.  It goes over the devastation that one atomic weapon can cause.  I recommend this book for children 8-13.  

6) Earth

This is another wonderful Disney movie that depicts just how beautiful this planet really is and really gives children a sense of responsibility and ownership for the planet.  The great thing about this movie is that it is for children and adults of all ages. 

I hope that the above books and movies help you instill an appreciation in your children for this amazing, beautiful planet.

Easy Ways to Help the Environment

Do you have the idea that it is hard to be environmentally conscientious? Here are some ways that you can help the planet that will take little to no effort on your part. 

1) Skip rinsing your dishes.  

You can save up to 20 gallons of water by just throwing your dished in the dishwasher.  So next time you are feeling lazy and don't want to rinse your dishes off, it is totally okay!

2) Have a vegetarian meal once a week.  

It takes 2500 gallons of water to produce one pound of ground beef.  If once a week you have a nice dish that is vegetarian this will help out a lot. 

3) Don't forget the back side of your paper!

A lot of businesses in America throw away paper just because they print their documents on one side.  There is a setting on most printers that is called duplex printing.  This allows printing on both sides.  You can also recycle paper that you don't need anymore. 

4) Use your  cruise control. 

By using cruise control you can get up to %15 better gas mileage.  This is good news for the environment and your checking account.  Imagine what you could buy with that extra money!

5) Buy second hand. 

With the use of the internet you can get almost anything you need second hand.  A lot of people use eBay and craigslist to obtain expensive items for a lower cost.  This cuts back on the amount of energy needed to produce more items that just eventually wind up in the garbage.

6) Give unwanted items to another

Before you throw something in the garbage think if there is anyone you know who might want it.  There are many things that you may not want that someone else might desperately need.  If you do't know of anyone who might want the item you can always donate it.  

7) Get your own coffee cup. 

By cutting back on paper coffee cups you can make quite a considerable impact in the way of helping the environment. You can find a nice coffee cup with a design you like and use it for your morning coffee.  Most places will even refill your coffee cup each morning for less than it costs you if you use a paper cup. 

 8) Fire the post office. 

 You can set your bills and banking up to go to your email address.  A lot of times your utilities, bank and even auto insurance will give you a discount for doing this.  My mom decided to go paperless when she could not get a key to the mail box.  This has worked out very nicely for her for the last 8 years or so. It is also good to know that you are getting all of your important documents no matter where you are.

  

9) Stop the junk mail.

The average American receives about 40 pounds of junk mail every year.  This is insane considering all that paper typically winds up in the trash. Many places will stop sending you all those ads.  All you have to do is tell them to stop. 

See doing all these things is easy!!!  I really hope that you start doing these simple actions today.  

Damages Caused by Fracking

One of the main areas being fracked right now is the Marcellus Shale.   The Marcellus Shale is located in the north east region of the United States, write under the states of New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, Kentucky and even down into Tennessee.     

Residents in these areas were interviewed and it was noted that they had some serious medical complaints that started date coincident with fracking starting in their neighborhood. 

One of the issues has been problems with the reproductive system.  This applies to both males and females.   There are 12 chemicals that have a damaging effect on the endocrine system. It is speculated that fracking may cause infertility, cancer and birth defects in children born to those by frack plants.

There have also been reports of breathing difficulties and chronic conditions like COPD and asthma are prevalent. This is the is because it is impossible to ingest or breath in some of the toxic air or water fracking causes. 


Other issues and complaints are burning eyes, metallic taste, headaches, rashes and nose bleeds.  

The list could include other adverse effects but the above is enough to illustrate the point that we should not be fracking, particularly in the vicinity of where people and families are living.  

Renaissance Power and Gas does offer a solution to the problem.  In the New York area, we get the power and gas you need without fracking.  Then we sell it to you.  If everyone in our service area took advantage of this, it would make quite an impact!!!

Inquire below.  


 

Two Kinds of Pollution.

Air Pollution - 

This is particularly an issue in big cities around the world.  I know that every time I go to Los Angeles I wind up with a runny nose for several days until I get used to the kind of pollution. One of the biggest air pollutants is fossil fuel.  This is the fuel that you burn when driving your car.  

What you may not think about is it is not only driving your car but there are refineries that have to purify the make the oil usable for your car. The oil refineries can give off toxic air that can cause cancer, birth defects and many chronic conditions like asthma.

You can personally help minimize the amount of pollution in the air by carpooling, using public transportation or riding a bike provided the distance is not too great.   

Marine Polution - 

There are a lot things that wind up in the ocean that shouldn't.  Plastic is by far the most common and dangerous.  I cannot stress enough that recycling is so easy and would reduce debris marine pollution.  Plastic is not really bio-degradable.  It does not break down easily. 

 It is not just plastic and debris that pollutes our oceans.  There are oil leaks and other toxic chemicals that get leaked into the oceans and kill fish and other marine life. Over a million sea birds and one hundred thousand sea mammals die each year due to marine pollution.

So what action causes both air and marine pollution?  That is right.  Fracking!!! How can you help? inquire below. 

 

     

5 Energy Efficient Ideas

I decided to compose a list of the top ways to make your home more energy efficient.  Here is goes:


1) With your air conditioner:

• Make sure that you change the air filters regularly.  
• Make sure that your thermostat is an adjustable one.  
• If your A/C is old and you needs to be replaced consider an energy efficient unit. 
• Install ceiling fans to cut down on the use of your A/C

2) With your household appliances:

• Replace any old appliances with energy efficient appliances.  
• Set your water heater at 120 degrees and consider a tankless water heater.  
• Clean out your lint tray in the dryer with each use.
• Wash your clothes in warm water and rinse them in cold. 
• When doing a load of dishes or clothes, make sure that it is a full load, not a partial one 

  

3) With your light bulbs:

• Replace all incandescent light bulbs with florescent light bulbs
• Obviously, turn off any lights that are not needed

(I did write a whole article on the topic of light bulbs.  Click here to see it)

4) On the roof:

• Install solar panels
• When selecting roofing tiles, think with lighter colors
• Choose "cool" shingles when possible

5) Be water smart:

• Fix any dripping faucets or sprinklers outside 
• Install low-flow shower heads
• Install a water softener (this will also increase the life of you water heater) 

I hope that these tips help you.  Goodbye until next time. 

Save the Animals

I have mentioned before that fracking has killed fish in fresh bodies of fresh water in Pennsylvania.  This got me thinking about just how many animals are harmed by fracking so I did some research and here are some of the facts that I found: 

New report suggest that fracking is causing illness, death and reproductive issues in cows, horses, goats, llamas, chickens, dogs, cats, fish and other wildlife.  People report these issues occurring in their household pets.  I cannot even imagine what that must be like,  especially when you can't do anything about it. 

In California fracking was found to have a negative impact on several endangered species including: condors, kit foxes and blunt-nosed leopard lizards.   These guys cannot thrive with their homes being destroyed. 

See, this guy is too cute to kill.

Farmers and veterinarians in  Colorado, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas complain that the space being taken up by all of the frack plants in their area has adversely affected their live stock.  In one instance toxic chemicals being leaked from a nearby plant resulted in 17 dead cows.  There have also been reports of livestock developing reproductive problems date coincident with fracking starting in the area. 

Happy cow with no problems induced by fracking.

We still do not know the full impact fracking has on wildlife.  Experiments are still being conducted.  What we do know is that it is not good. In Ohio the Environmental Council expects to see quite a harmful impacts to the wildlife as fracking expands.  

This is something that needs to be stopped.  You can do your part by using the services of Renaissance Power and Gas if you are in the New York area.  We hope to be able to expand our program to include other areas and I will keep you posted as this happens.  Please inquire below if you have any questions.   

Denton Texas Bans Fracking

The city of Denton, TX is home to 125 thousand residents.  It is located atop the Barnett shale and has about 275 fracked wells.  It is one the most fracked towns in the US.  It also happens to be the birthplace of fracking. 

The residents of Denton were not happy about the fact that they could not even allow their children to play outside due to the pollution being caused by the fracking in the neighborhood so they decided to do something about it.  

In the recent election 59% decided to ban fracking in Denton, TX .  They became the first city in Texas to do so.  Other cities (Austin and Dallas among them ) have tried to get similar bans passed to no avail.  

Unfortunately, the ban that was passed did not really do anything about the wells already in operation but at least no more wells will be created and that is a start. 

 

As expected, oil companies immediately filed an injunction against the ban, saying that this may be inconsistent with state laws.  We will keep you informed on what exactly happens with this. 

    

Below is a list of States that have cities that have banned fracking: 

Texas 

California

Hawaii

Pennsylvania

Colorado

New Mexico

Ohio

We hope that many other cities follow in the brave footsteps of Denton and get fracking banned there too.  Here's to hoping that your city is next!!!

Methane

Methane was first discovered in  November 1776 by an Italian physicist named Alessandro Volta.  He discovered it in  the marshes of Lake Maggiore.  Volta captured the gas rising from the marsh and discovered that it was pure, flammable gas. 

As a greenhouse gas, methane is at least 20 times more potent than carbon dioxide. Methane is found both below ground, and under the sea floor.  It can find its way to the surface and get released into the earth's atmosphere.  This is called atmospheric methane.  Of all the things destroying our planet it would appear that methane could be destroying the planet faster than anything else. 

Crater

In July 2014 it was speculated that methane caused a mystery crater spotted in the frozen Yamal peninsula in Siberia.  Air near the bottom of the crater contained unusually high concentrations of methane.
    
In October 2014 scientists confirmed that there was a  vast cloud of methane floating in the air over New Mexico, Colorado, Utah and Arizona.  At first scientists thought there was a problem with their tests or equipment.  They could not believe that this could happen.  The further they looked into the matter the more clear it became that this was for real.

Unpolluted sky. 

Scientists believe that at the rate we are releasing methane into the atmosphere, it is possible that this Planet will not sustain life for very much longer.  
    
When we resort to fracking for our natural gas needs, methane leaks are inevitable. We need to not exacerbate the issue by continuing this dangerous practice.   

That is where Renaissance Power and Gas can help.  Please inquire about our service below if you live in the New York area. 
 

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.  

Electric

After a long social media absence, Renaissance Power and Gas is pleased to be back to blogging.

Last you had heard, we were only servicing the Con Edison area, which was the Bronx, Manhattan and some of Westchester.

Well, we've expanded into National Grid for gas as well, allowing us to provide natural gas to the entirety of the Greater NYC area.

We've also very recently begun to provide electricity to the NYC area.

More to come soon!

We're back!