Going Green

“Going green” is a very common phrase that is used in our surroundings. It can be used and heard throughout advertising in magazines and TV as well as on the labels of some of the products we use every day. Going green means becoming more environmentally aware. It means changing your behavior and lifestyle to reduce the amount of pollution and waste. Going green is usually a process for some people to contribute to a sustainable living and take action in making a positive impact in the environment.

When you put an effort into being environmentally responsible, the benefits are endless. By going green you can help save energy with solar and wind energy. Other forms of sustainable energy include energy from fossil fuels, natural gas and coal. Going green also means saving resources, such as the trees that are cut down to build furniture. Sustainable living also benefits your health. Walking and breathing fresh air is good for your health and helps prevent pollution. You can save a lot of money by reusing, recycling and even growing your own vegetables and fruit. 

The City of Houston is working hard to make Houston green and has developed and implemented citywide projects to help Houstonians learn about sustainable living and encourage them to take action towards a lifestyle that is green and environmental conscious. Some of the City of Houston Green City Projects includes:

Bikeways Program

• Houston offers a 345-mile interconnected bikeway network spanning across 500 square miles of the city. This includes bike lanes, bike routes, shared lanes and bayou trails.
  

Compost Bin/ Rain Barrel

• The City of Houston Green Building Resource Center partners with RainWater Solution to provide Houstonians with rain barrels and compost bins.  Now through May 9, you can purchase a rain barrel which is perfect to water your garden.
  

Electric Vehicles

• The City of Houston is working on exploring technologies that will conserve energy and improve our environment.  Electric vehicles are an environmental friendly solution that can work in our city’s busy lifestyle. Reliant Energy has sponsored the conversion of 10 city cars to plug-in hybrid electronic vehicles.

Farmers Market

• The City Hall Farmers Market features more than 30 vendors including local fresh produce, cheeses, breads, coffees, prepared meals and food trucks. The market welcomes everyone to enjoy and support local food.  The 2015 Spring Market runs every Wednesday, at Herman Square in front of City Hall, from 11 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The University of Houston- Downtown is located in the heart of Houston and is always looking for opportunities to help the community maintain a beautiful and sustainable environment. Our goal is increase environmental awareness among the university community. The objective of our campaign is for 65 percent of the students, staff and faculty to keep the University clean. By the end of summer, we hope to see a friendly, clean and green environment at the University of Houston – Downtown.  We would love for everyone to be educated about environmental issues and take action towards guaranteeing a green future for generations to come. Are you joining us in our efforts towards an environmental friendly university?

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING,

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*DISCLAIMER: This blog is for the use of a school project

Let's Celebrate Our Planet

Our beautiful green and blue planet should be celebrated every day! It is important for us to show our love and appreciation for our planet. An annual event that celebrates our planet is Earth Day and it happens worldwide on April 22. This day is dedicated to demonstrate support for environmental protection. It was first celebrated in 1970, and is celebrated in more than 192 countries every single year.

Earth Day is organized by Earth Day Network and this year’s event marks the 45th anniversary of Earth Day. Over the last 45 years, Earth Day Network has executed successful environmental campaigns on issues ranging from climate change and drinking water to voter registration and saving whales. Earth Day Network focuses on issues that affect our health, our communities and our environment, such as greening deteriorated schools, creating green jobs and investment, and promoting activism to stop air and water pollution.

The organization asks for everyone to take a stand so that together, we can show a new direction towards environmental protection. The Earth Day Network is attempting to pass an international treaty of climate change mitigation. The Earth Day network also features actions for people to pledge. Some pledges include:

• To eat less meat since the meat industry generates 1/5 of man-made gas emission
• To reduce energy consummation
• To start composting, this involves turning your food waste into soil.
• To stop using disposable plastic
• To adjust your water heater

The city of Houston celebrated its own Earth Day on Saturday, April 11, 2015 at Discovery Green.  The 10th year celebration included fun activities for everyone. If you missed the big celebration, here are few upcoming Earth Day happenings in the Houston area:

• Children’s Museum of Houston presents Earth Day Wonder Week 
• April 16 – 22
• Tuesday – Saturday: 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
• Sunday 12 – 6 p.m.
• Admission: $10 per person / $9 for seniors and active duty military personnel
  
• Explore nature’s creation, discover ways to make a difference, and practice protection the planet we call home. Some of the week’s ongoing activities include: Tree game, Pictographs, Dig it Up, Earth Day Fan, and Speak for the Trees.

• Give 5 to Conserve Houston 
• The Houston Region
• Saturday, April 18, 2015
• Everyone is encouraged to shop, eat and play on this day and 5 percent will be donated from participating businesses to 8 local, environmental nonprofits

• Party for the Planet at the Houston Zoo 
• Sunday, April 19, 2015
• 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
• The event is free for Zoo members
  
• Event activities include: conservation maze, race to recycle, scavenger hunt, DJ, reusable mural and meet the keeper talks presented by Phillips 66.

• 8th Annual Earth Day Art Contest Awards Show & Auction 
• Thursday, April 23, 2015
• 6-9 p.m.
• Skyline Art Services
  
• Benefits local schools and Air Alliance Houston educational programs

The environment faces a multitude of challenges today. From climate change to species extinction, our planet is facing many threats that must be avoided Take action and help us work toward a sustainable happy and friendly future.  How will you be celebrating our planet and help protect our environment?

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING, 

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin and Nicole Olaya

*DISCLAIMER: This blog is for the use of a school project

Water Pollution

Water Pollution is the contamination of lakes, rivers, and other bodies of water. This happened when pollutants are directly or indirectly discharged into water bodies without removing harmful compounds. Water pollution is one of the world's biggest health risks.  Polluted water carries toxic chemicals, dirt, trash and diseases that can threaten our health. Not only do we need water, but all wildlife needs water to survive.

WHAT CAUSES WATER POLLUTION?

• Sewage and water waste. Domestic households, industrial and agricultural practices produce waste water that can cause pollution of many bodies of water. Waste water usually contains faeces, urine and laundry waste.

• Marine dumping. When trashed is dumped in the ocean, it pollutes the water. It can take a long time for trash to degrade in the water.

• Industrial waste. Many industrial facilities use freshwater to carry away waste from the plant and into rivers, lakes and oceans. Industrial waste can include oils, phosphates, lead and mercury. Industrial waste is harmful to humans and marine animals.

• Radioactive waste. Radioactive waste is produced from i radioactive material. It comes from numerous sources and can have huge effects on marine habitats.

• Oil pollution. Oceans are polluted by oil from oil spills, routine shipping, run-offs and dumping. Oil cannot dissolve in water and forms a thick sludge in the water. This hurts marine wildlife such as fish and birds.

• Global warming. Global warming is a process where the temperature increases due to the greenhouse effect.  An increase in water temperature can result in the death of many aquatic organisms and disrupt many marine habitats.

WHAT ARE THE DANGERS OF WATER POLLUTION?

In many ways, water pollution can be dangerous to our planet. It’s important to learn about the following dangers that are threatening our environment:

• Heavy metals are toxic and can accumulate in nearby lakes and rivers. They are harmful to marine life and to the humans that eat them.

• Some of the toxins in industrial waste can be fatal. They can also cause immune suppression, reproductive failure or acute poisoning.

• Water pollution from sewage can contain deadly diseases in our drinking water. Dirty water can have diseases such as cholera and typhoid fever.

HOW TO PREVENT WATER POLLUTION

If you want to help keep our lakes and oceans clean, there are many things you can do to help. You can prevent water pollution by following these simple guidelines:

• Conserve water by turning off the tap when running water is not necessary.
• Don’t throw paints, oils or other forms of litter down the drain down your sink or toilet.
• Use environmentally household products.
• Do not overuse pesticides and fertilizers.
• Don’t throw litter into rivers, lakes or oceans. 

Water covers over 70 percent of our planet’s surface and is a very important resource for people and the environment. Water pollution affects drinking water, rivers, lakes and oceans all over the world. This consequently harms human health and our community. It is important that we learn how to prevent water pollution and keep our oceans friendly!

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING, 

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin and Nicole Olaya

*DISCLAIMER: This blog is for the use of a school project

Earth Hour

Saturday, March 28, 2015 8:30 – 9:30 p.m. was considered Earth Hour, a worldwide grassroots movement uniting people to protect the planet. Earth Hour is organized by World Wide Fund for Nature, an international non-government organization founded in 1961, and is working on issues regarding the conservation, research and restoration of the environment.

WHAT IS EARTH HOUR

Earth Hour is a charitable organization based out of Sigapore. Its mission is to unite people to protect the planet. It engages a massive mainstream community on environmental issues. It is held worldwide every year and encourages individuals, communities and business to turn off their non-essential lights for an hour as a symbol for their commitment to the planet. 

HISTORY

Earth Hour was started as a light-off event in Sydney, Australia in 2007, with 2.2 million people and 2,100 businesses participating. Since 2007, 172 countries and territories worldwide celebrate Earth Hour. Just one year later after the first Earth Hour, it became a global phenomenon with over 35 countries participating, and over 50 million people.

WHAT HAPPENS

Earth Hour aims to encourage an interconnected global community to share the opportunities and challenges of creating a sustainable world. In Australia, Earth Hour is considered an event that brings communities together. One in every three Aussies take part in Earth Hour each year. Events rage from twilight picnics, to food fairs to night time farmers markets to paddock pop-up restaurants.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED

If you want to participate in Earth Hour, the first thing you have to do is turn off all your non-essential lights off. Anyone can participate and should share their commitment to Earth Hour with their community. Earth Hour is about starting a movement in your community that will help sustain our world and benefit our planet. The goal is to do more than just turning off your lights. Here are some ideas for an Earth Hour event:

•  Bring your favorite food memory – invite your family and friends to bring a plate of their favorite dish.
• Unplug – partner with local café shop and host an evening of music.
• Star-gazing – head outside or visit a local observatory to enjoy the night sky.
• Earth Hour Walk – select a route and walk outside with candles or lanterns. You can even make it a run.
• Bike Ride – ride your bike with a group of friends
• Bake-off or Bake Sale – encourage your friends to bake tasty treats using local ingredients
• Movie Night – host a screening with an environmental themed movie. Fern Gully, Wall-E, Avatar or An Inconvenient Truth are just a few options.
•  Wine and Cheese Night – ask your friends to bring a bottle of wine and snacks while you all sit around a candlelight.

Earth Hour is more than an event, it is a movement that has achieved massive environmental impact, including legislation changes by harnessing the power of the crowd. For 2015 Earth Hour highlights, see video below.

Earth Hour 2016 will be held on March 19 at 8:30 p.m. Will you be participating?

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING, 

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*Disclaimer: This blog is for the use of a school project

Green Technology

What is green technology?

According to Google, green technology is defined as:

Technology whose use is intended to mitigate or reverse the effects of human activity on the environment.

Green technology is methods, materials and techniques to help sustain our planet. It’s important to take advantage of the technology so we can conserve energy and water. Many companies have developed products or gadgets to help us live friendlier. Why would you not want to use a cool innovative gadget that is also environmentally conscious.

Examples of green technology

• Light bulbs - LED light bulbs save energy over traditional light bulbs. LED bulbs use up 80 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than traditional light bulbs. There’s even LED light bulbs that come with added “smart” features to help save even more energy. The Stack Alba smart bulb, changes brightness or turns off based on the time of day, how bright the room is and whether or not someone is home. Also, the Philips Hue uses an app to control your lights. If you cannot afford “smart” bulbs that’s OK, but LED lights are a must! When it comes to living green, light bulbs can really help you save energy at home

• Shower Savers - Only 16 percent of households water is used in the shower, but there is a lot of innovations that has focused on how to use less water in the shower. The UjiShowerhead alerts you when you have been in the shower for too long. A light gradually goes from green to red. Once it goes to red, it means that it is time to get out. This shower head has the ability to decrease time spent in the shower by 12 percent. By monitoring the time spent in the shower, you are helping conserve water. Another water saving shower head is the Oxijet air shower, it reduces water use by 50 percent. The Oxijet air shower head injects tiny air bubbles into the water droplets to make the shower feel like it’s at full pressure, while using 50 percent less water.

• Green Apps - Every day we use apps on our phones and tablets. Apps have become extremely popular and there seems to be an app for everything. Apps like WattBuddy, Kill-Ur-Watts, and Leafully help you monitor your energy usage. The apps track your consumption by working with your utility company. When you track your consumptions, it will help you save energy. If you want to find local recycling centers, you can use the iRecycle app. For more information on how to save water, you can also check out the Water Use Calculator or H20 Tracker app. This is an affordable technology that can help you stay eco-friendly!

It is important for us to stay up to date on green technology trends. Technology is always changing and there is always going to be more eco-friendly methods, tools and techniques. If we want to save energy and water, we need to be aware of what we use and do every day.

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING,

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*Disclaimer: This blog is for the use of a school project 

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Keep reduce, reuse and recycle in mind if you want to live friendly! No one wants to live in a filthy and polluted community. It’s important that we all help maintain our community clean and sustainable for generations to come. Everyone should do their part to preserve an eco-friendly environment, because a clean community, is a happy community. It may not be easy, but it can be done!

REDUCE

Everything we do and use affects air and water pollution Reducing pollution can make a huge effect on the environment. Here are a few tips on how to reduce air and water pollution:

• Drive less. Once a week, or as often as you can, use public transition, walk or ride your bike. Driving by carpooling is an alternative if you are traveling more than 25 miles a day.
•  Choose environmentally products. By purchasing and using environmental products, you’re helping reduce pollution in the air. 
• Conserve energy. It’s important to turn off lights, computers and electric devises when not in use.
• Run dishwasher and clothes washer only when full. You don’t want to waste water by washing small loads of dishes or clothes.
•  Don’t pour oil or grease down the sink. This can lead to blockage that can impact the sewer system. Instead, reuse it or dispose of it properly.

 REUSE

Many household items can be used for different purposes. If you’re reusing what you already have, you have no need to throw it away. Because trash can be turned into treasure, right? Here are a few things that can be reused:

• Carrier bags. They can be reused as trash bags throughout the house. If your grocery store gives you paper bags, it can be reused as wrapping paper.
• Envelopes. You can reuse envelopes by sticking labels over the address.
• Newspapers. Reuse newspapers for packing, stuffing and wrapping.
•  Fabric softener sheets. Keep your luggage fresh by reusing fabric softener sheets. If you don’t travel, you can keep them in your drawers.
• Jars. Jars can be cleaned and reused to store things. The possibilities are endless with mason jars.

RECYCLE

Recycling reduces the need for landfills, which helps reduce space and disposable cost. It’s important to know what can and can’t be recycled. Here are a few items that should always be recycled:

• Paper
• Aluminum and tin cans
• Cardboard
• Plastic
• Paper and plastic bags

It's really that simple! All you have to do is stop and think about how you can REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE. Everyday choices can help the environment, so will you be making the right choice? Maybe you can start  by clicking here for some ideas on how to reuse household items!

HAPPY FRIENDLY LIVING,

Jonathan Berrospes, Silvia Carmona, Scott Giraudin & Nicole Olaya

*Disclaimer: This blog is for the use of a school project