EcoNotes
Volume 5, Issue 3 Claremont McKenna College January 1999
Let's Breathe Easier
Air -- let's face it, we take it for granted. Air quality and the ozone layer are easier problems to ignore than water waste or excessive trash. But, the fact is, our air is being damaged by pretty much everything we do, be it commuting, turning on our computers, or opening our refrigerators.
In this issue, you will find helpful information about air quality and ways we can protect our ozone, both at home and in the community. Please take a moment to read this valuable issue. And don't forget to share it with a friend! We print a limited number of this newsletter so that we don't add to that excessive trash problem we mentioned...
Easy Steps to Cleaner Air
The Internet is an amazing resource,providing immediate access to information on environmental issues such as air quality. A great example can be found at www.ozone.org, the home page for Ozone Action, a non-profit, public interest organization founded in July 1993 to work exclusively on atmos-pheric issues: ozone depletion and climate change. Following are some of their recommendations for changing our air polluting habits:
The United States emits more than five billion tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually. Most of those emissions come from power plants, cars, and industry. Under an international agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, America has promised to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by 2,215 million metric tons by 2010. If everyone pitches in, it will be relatively easy to meet that target. Here are some ideas for how you can help:
Businesses
Install energy-saving lighting systems. High-efficiency fluorescent lamps and other updated lighting fixtures can greatly reduce the amount of electricity that is wasted in commercial buildings. Every commercial building (a typical building being 50,000 s.f.) that installs the best energy-saving lighting systems will prevent about 48,353 pounds of carbon dioxide pollution per year.
Use "power-managed" office equipment. In order to conserve energy when computers, copiers or fax machines are on but not in use, there are now "power- managed" products that auto- matically enter a low-power sleep mode when they are not active. In a small office with ten computers and monitors, a printer, a fax machine and a medium-volume copier, using power-managed equipment can save 1,150 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per year. These are usually labeled with the ENERGY STAR symbol.
Citizens
When buying a new car, choose one with a high fuel economy. Look for cars that have an above-average fuel economy. All new vehicles have miles per gallon (MPG) stickers posted in plain view when they are on display. The average midsize car gets 20 MPG in the city and 28 on the highway, but the best gasoline-powered midsize car gets 27 MPG in the city and 37 on the highway. That 10 MPG differ-ence means a 34,000 pound reduction in carbon dioxide emissions over the car's lifetime.
EcoNotes is published by the Environmental Concerns Committee, a group comprised of faculty, staff, and students. Any submissions or comments can be directed to the administrative services department. We reserve the right to edit all submissions.