Entries in Going Green (18)
140 Litres of Water Needed To Make One Cup Of Coffee
Professor John Anthony Allan of the University of London in Britain has been awarded the 2008 Stockholm Water Prize for his work on the concept of “virtual water.”
“Virtual water” is a method of calculating how much water went in to the production of making various products. So one wouldn’t just calculate the actual water poured into one’s coffee machine, but the H2O that was involved in the growing, packaging, and transport of the cup of java as well.
With increasing water shortages as the result of global warming, “virtual water” calculations might show us that the glass is definitely more than half empty!
-Valerie
MTV SWITCH
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Poop Used To Power California
A Californian utility PG&E is now using giant vats of cow poop to power the Golden State, Inhabitat reports.
Methane-powered generators are nothing new…but using actual poo?
The cow poop is collected in giant vats, where the methane is collected and used as natural gas. , the methane produced by cow poop is a very damaging greenhouse gas and a threat to the environment. But, maybe this poop harvesting can at least put that gas to some good use!
Earth Facts
Green Week, the week of Earth Day, is the perfect time to take a look at this place we call our planet. It can actually be a pretty strange place. Check out some of these weird facts and bits of information about Earth.
- Baby robins eat 14 feet of earthworms each day. http://www.funshun.com/amazing-facts/earth-universe-facts.html
- A huge underground river runs underneath the Nile , with six times more water than the river above. http://www.thatsweird.net/facts4.shtml
- After a volcanic eruption, some of the resulting rocks can float. http://www.strangevehicles.com/content/item/116957.html
- A shark can grow a new set of teeth in a week. http://www.liquidice.co.uk/joke/strangefacts.html
- 3% water of the Earth is fresh and the other 97% is salted. http://www.wonderfulinfo.com/winfo/earth1.htm
MTV Earth Day
It really doesn’t matter what your plans are for Earth Day. What matters is that we all take a little time to recognize the day in our own way. Whether you go for a hike on a nature trail in your area, plant a tree, or watch some of the MTV SWITCH spots (I particularly like Brad and Earth), the day’s all about getting out there and doing something.
Worst Job In The World? Try Professional Landfill Sniffer
In what is yet another reason to recycle and reuse, the aroma from one landfill in Massachusetts has created a very interesting job opening.
According to Environmental Graffiti, the town of Northhampton, MA has hired a “sniff squad” to determine whether the odor from their landfill is too much for the surrounding homes to bear.
Sensitive noses only need apply.
-Valerie
Space Worthy of MTV Cribs
Have your couch match the background of your MySpace page. Create a pillow covered in that oh-so-clever doodle from your notebook. Design a bedspread with logos from all your favorite indy bands. Create custom fabric by sending a pattern and then choosing from a selection of materials (pick something organic!). It's your space, so dream big. And for the record, yes, that Bruce Lee poster would look fantastic as a decorative sham.
-Jess
Cannettes
How cool can you look while throwing out trash? The answer is pretty cool. In fact, downright awesome. Watch this YouTube video to see some serious can-chucking skills. These guys make tossing empties a new pastime.
It’s a far cry better than littering, but I just have to ask; were all of those cans thrown in recycling bins?
-Jess