AECP encourages everyone to acknowledge and celebrate Earth Day on Thursday, April 22. Earth Day was founded by Senator Gaylord Nelson in 1970 as a day to focus on environmental issues and to force their recognition onto the national stage. Since that day 34 years ago – Earth Day has become an international event that exhibits a collective expression of public will to create a more sustainable society. Earth Day has inspired action on personal, community, national and international levels and often serves to launch projects that bring ongoing benefit to local communities. Earth Day has also broadened public support for sweeping legislative and environmental change and is a catalyst for protecting and honoring our natural resources.
Consider participating in an Earth Day event in your community. Check out www.earthday.net to learn about Earth Day activities in your area.
CARBON DIOXIDE EMISSIONS INCREASE NATIONWIDE
Carbon Dioxide (CO2) is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions and accounts for 80% of global warming potential. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), CO2 emissions have increased by 17% over the last decade. CO2 emissions are primarily a result of burning fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas. The International Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), a United Nations group of over two hundred scientists, has emphasized that the upward trend of worldwide CO2 emissions will create a situation where the Greenland ice sheet will begin to melt and within fifty years – sea level cities such as London could be under water. Scientists say that the melting of the massive ice sheet in Greenland could increase sea levels by as much as 23 feet. Such a rise would totally immerse vast areas of land and cause massive flooding worldwide.
Global warming is a climate change phenomenon that results from increased greenhouse gases that insulate the Earth from the Sun’s radiant heat. Too much greenhouse gas is akin to too much insulation and increases the temperature of the Earth. Energy conservation and efficiency are direct and specific ways that homeowners and consumers can help contribute to a reduction in CO2 emissions. The Weatherization Assistance Program averages a one metric ton carbon reduction in every house that is weatherized. This is accomplished through advanced insulation techniques, blower door directed air sealing, and efforts to increase the efficiency of heating systems through replacement or repair.
DOE INCREASES AIR CONDITIONER STANDARD
The Department of Energy (DOE) recently announced that it will enforce a seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER) of 13 for residential central air conditioners. This standard will take effect in January of 2006 and represents a 30 percent increase in energy efficiency compared to the previous SEER standard of 10. The Alliance to Save Energy has stated that this improvement in air conditioner efficiency will save consumers $3.4 billion dollars a year and will avoid the need to construct 150 new power plants over the next 16 years. It will also avoid CO2 emissions of about 8 million tons per year.
ASSAULT ON THE ENVIRONMENT CONTINUES
The Bush administration in recent months has done the following:
- Reversed a law that required industrial laundries to follow federal hazardous and solid waste regulations. Industrial laundries that clean shop towels soaked in toxic waste are now allowed to dispose of this hazardous wastewater right down the drain and into local and regional sewage systems that often drain into our rivers and streams.
- Bush has eliminated the “polluter pays” provision of the 1980 Superfund law that required companies that pollute to pay for the subsequent clean up. Now the taxpayers are required to foot the bill. This has resulted in a dramatic shortfall in funds that are used for toxic waste cleanups.
- The Bush Mercury Reduction plan will actually delay enforcement of mercury regulations under the current Clean Air Act and allow three times more mercury pollution for decades into the air and water. Mercury causes nerve and brain damage and is especially harmful to infants and small children. Coal fired power plants are the largest single man-made source of mercury pollution.
ENERGY TIP
Plant a tree on Earth Day – April 22, 2004!