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KHH Enviros Newsletter – May 2, 2010
It’s May already. Holy Crap!
Our little break is over and it’s time to get planning again.
This time, we’re planning BIG!
First off, thanks to Crystal and Joy who came to our first meeting back. Long, Tang and Amy thanks for messaging me, we’re going to start meeting every other week from now on, so please try to make it to the next one. At the meeting we discussed plans for future events and so…
We’re bringing back the Temperature Harvest and this time we’re going to be planning longer in advance with a fair bit more help.
We’ll aim for mid to late June when students are finishing exams, so they’ll be available to participate. This will be a big undertaking, so we can use all the help we can get. Anyone with some free time, please let us know if you’re available to volunteer.
A separate email will come out in a few days detailing what we need to do in order to start this up, then we can talk about who does what.
This is gonna be a big deal for our group, and our first step onto a much larger stage.
Let’s take it up a level!
KHH Enviros team
1. Green News from Around the Island
2. Green Tip – Taiwan’s Food…What Grows When?
3. Event – Walking With Trees
4. Enviro Cartoons------Save Ourselves :-\
5. YouTube Videos - The Animals Save the Planet
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Green News from Around the Island
Local Enviro News April 2010 Thanks Kayla Hardin for the News!
Local Enviro News April 2010 Thanks Kayla Hardin for the News!
According to the Taiwan Environmental Protection Union, there are fewer than 100 Chinese white dolphins, also known as Indo-Pacific humpback dolphins, remaining along the west coast of Taiwan. Dwindling numbers are due to industrial development in the dolphins' fragile habit. Groups, including Wild at Heart, are hurrying to find some protection for the dolphins before they cease to exist in Taiwan any longer.
Premier Wu Den-yih ordered government agencies to step up monitoring of water management in southern Taiwan, as the Kaohsiung and Tainan areas will face a shortage if the current dry spell continues. |
Taiwan needs to put more effort into restoring its coastal forests so that they can serve as protection against wind and tides, said the Cabinet-level Council of Agriculture (COA). |
Police confiscated NT$50 million worth of illegally imported fur seal products, which violated the Wildlife Conservation Act for importing products of endangered species without seeking the government's approval in advance, said the Council of Agriculture. |
The Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) announced it will push a policy of establishing offshore wind power plants and propose incentives in July to encourage local firms to invest in offshore wind power generation. |
Around 1,000 activists from local environmental protection groups lined up to form a giant �CO2?�at the Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Hall to mark Earth Day.
Taiwan's southern Tainan county, home to the island's biggest solar cell maker, aims to build the biggest community powered by sunlight to help cut pollution. |
Taiwan's emissions of six greenhouse gases that the United Nations has deemed as harmful are on the increase, said the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA). |
A man who destroyed a patch of endangered beach grass by driving a dune buggy across a wetlands area in Taichung County faces a fine of up to NT$250,000 (US$7,937). |
A dozen foreign diplomats and their family members volunteered at a recycling activity organized by the Buddhist Compassion Relief Tzu Chi Foundation in Taipei.
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Green Tip – Household Greenisms
Of all the places and activities in our lives the home is where most energy is used. It’s the largest part of our ecological footprint especially if you live in very hot or very cold weather areas. Heating and air con make up the biggest chunk, but of course there are all the small things you do throughout your day that can make a difference to how much energy you’re using in your home.
The plus side to finding out all the small things you can do is that it also makes your water and energy bills go down, which saves you money. Environment wins, you win…oh yeah!
So, here are some EASY tips for around the house stuff to help your green soul and you budget.
- When cooking ALWAYS keep the lid on pots and pans when possible. You save 80-90% of the heat and use less energy to create the same amount of heat
- When cooking, don’t use too big a flame. Most stoves are set up that if you’re using a small pot you only need the center ring of flame. The outside ring is only for use if you have a very wide pot or pan
- When washing dishes, PLUG THE SINK and start with just a little bit of water. As you rinse, the water will rise in the sink. This way you can also see exactly how much water you’re using.
- Turn off the lights when leaving a room UNLESS you’re going in and out. Modern fluorescent bulbs are not made to be constantly turned on and off, so if you’re just going back in then leave it on. Yes, seems counter-intuitive, but that’s what the latest research shows.
- When recycling food containers make sure you clean it first. Dogs are great for thisJ. If it’s not clean it might not be acceptable for recycling.
- Use power bars to completely shut off the power to all your electronics when not in the house. Phantom loads can eat hundreds of dollars a year from your energy bills without any use whatsoever.
- NEVER leave the water running when you’re brushing your teeth. If you’re not using it, shut it off.
- Sleep mode for a computer or TV is NOT a replacement for shutting it off. Only use Sleep Mode if you plan to come back quickly.
- If your air conditioner is only made for one room, keep the door to that room closed.
- There’s a dial on your water heater for how big the flame is. Don’t turn it up all the way, the middle is usually enough. A bigger flame doesn’t mean it will heat significantly faster, but you will waste a higher percentage of the heat.
There are plenty more things you can do around the house. It’s easy, just think: “where am I using energy? How can I use less?”
Remember also that one of the biggest producers of CO2 from energy usage is pumping water. So, the more water you save, the less energy the city uses to pump it to your home.
Saving energy and water is good for everyone.
Enviro Cartoons
YouTube Videos - The Animals Save the Planet (Part 2)
These are fantastic cartoon shorts from Britain. Try looking them all up on their website
http://www.animalssavetheplanet.com/
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5PqiSMtbxhY
--Tim
Managing Director
