Saturday, October 14, 2006

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Meth waste poses environmental danger


Methamphetamine
brews in clandestine labs across the rural landscape as well as urban communities.

According to Casey McEnry, a Drug Enforcement Administration special agent, an estimated six pounds of waste is produced per every pound of methamphetamine made. According to the California Attorney General's Office, in 1997, $8 million was spent cleaning up hazardous waste found at 1,600 clandestine labs.

Besides the dumping of hazardous byproducts, the proliferation of methamphetamine has garnered national attention recently with the final phase of the Combat Methamphetamine Act going into effect last month.

The new federal law requires cold medications containing pseudoephedrine, such as Sudafed and Claritin D, be placed behind the counter at pharmacies. It also restricts the amount of pseudoephedrine-containing medications that one person can buy in one day or over the course of a month.

Law enforcement officials hope the new law will deter people from "smurfing," which is the act of going from store to store to purchase ingredients, such as household chemical products that can later be used to make meth.

An estimated 80 percent of the drug cases the district attorney's office in San Mateo County handles involve methamphetamine. The drug of choice changed four or five years ago from rock cocaine to methamphetamine.

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UFORE is an acronym for "Urban Forest Effects"
and refers to a computer model that calculates the structure, environmental effects and values of urban forests. The UFORE model was developed in the late 1990s by researchers at the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Forest Service, Northeastern Research Station in Syracuse, NY.

UFORE was originally developed as a research tool. Anyone interested in urban forestry, especially its environmental effects, will find the data analysis capabilities useful.

After tree data are collected and entered into the UFORE field input database (either by uploading from PDAs or by doing manual entry), they are merged with local hourly weather and air pollution concentration data. These data make it possible to calculate structural and functional information using a series of scientific equations or algorithms.


UFORE can handle inventories or sampling of any area, no matter how large or small.

If an inventory is conducted (i.e., all trees are measured; a 100% sample), then UFORE calculates values for each tree and for the total population.


Structural Calculations

Structural data provide information on the physical characteristics of the vegetation (e.g., species composition, tree sizes, tree health, leaf area). Structure is what a person sees and what urban foresters and homeowners manage. Many of the structural estimates are based directly on the field measurements (e.g., species, DBH, tree height, crown width, etc.).

Carbon Calculations

Carbon storage and sequestration by trees reduces carbon dioxide, the main greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming To estimate the amount of carbon stored and annually sequestered or removed by trees

Building Energy Use Calculations

Information on tree sizes, types, and distance and direction from two-story building is used to estimate tree effects on building energy use. The UFORE model uses published methods to estimate existing tree effects in summer and winter space conditioning energy use and associated carbon dioxide emissions from power plants.

Air Pollution Effects Calculations

Urban vegetation removes a number of air pollutants including nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, and particulate matter. Gaseous pollutants (e.g., ozone) tend to be removed within the stomates of the leaves, while particles are mostly captured on the plant surface. Hourly air pollution removal by the urban forest and the associated improvements in air quality are calculated using a hybrid multi-layer / big-leaf modeling approach.

In addition, UFORE also calculates hourly volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions by trees. VOCs can contribute to ozone formation, and are important to help understand the net effect of trees on ozone and to provide inputs into ozone photochemical models in order to determine the best strategies to improve air quality.

Pollen Calculations

To determine the effects of tree pollen on urban residents, UFORE incorporates a pollen rating scale called the Ogren Plant-Allergy Scale.

Friday, October 13, 2006

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2005 record economic loss from natural disasters



California has one of the longest beachfronts in the US...and as oceans become more probelmatic, coastal communities need to increase planning for storms, pollutants, tsunamis...and more. Most natural disaster studies are conducted on a global scale, as is this one. However, California must learn from these global lessons. Here's why...

October 12, 2006 (ENS) - The world suffered record economic losses from natural disasters in 2005, which killed more than 90,000 people and affected the lives of more than 150 million, the World Bank reported Wednesday. The new report from the international financial and development organization warns that the impacts from natural disasters will continue to increase unless governments develop comprehensive hazard approaches to better mitigate and reduce disaster risks.

The study "Natural Disaster Hotspots: Case Studies" was compiled by the World Bank and Columbia University and found that the 360 natural disasters in 2005 caused $159 billion in damages - a 71 percent increase over the total losses in 2004. Hurricane Katrina alone caused $125 billion of the economic losses in 2005, the report said.

"Natural hazards and their impacts will continue to evolve throughout the 21st Century due to changing socioeconomic conditions, coastal land use, and climatic risks," said Katherine Sierra, World Bank vice president for sustainable development. "These reports, which provide the most comprehensive, accurate data of multi-hazard hotspots to date, can help improve disaster risk assessment globally and locally."

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Why urban forests? San Diego faces its green heritage

A healthy urban forest in San Diego can conserve energy

Our grandparents, lacking the modern day creature comforts of central heating and air conditioning, used trees to modify and regulate the climates of their homes; and with far less environmental damage than today's modern conveniences (Weather-Wise Gardening; Ortho Books; 1974,1978; pg.3


Incontrovertible, scientific studies prove that trees in communities do this. Here's how:

  • Shading, which reduces the amount of radiant energy absorbed and stored by built surfaces.
  • Evapotranspiration, which converts liquid water in leaves to vapor, thereby cooling the air.
  • Reducing the velocity of wind, which slows the infiltration of outside air into inside spaces.

    Trees planted in large quantities in a carefully planned and scientific manner in cities are the most cost-effective tool a city can employ to mitigate what scientists refer to as the Urban Heat Island (UHI) phenomenon. Scientists studying this phenomenon believe that billions of dollars are spent each year just to compensate for the increased heat of an Urban Heat Island.

    Chicago's UHI played a role in the many deaths in that city during a heat wave in the early 90s. Their mitigation, primarily focused on tree planting, revealed these interesting results:

    • Air Quality benefits in 1991 worth $9.2 million.
    • Carbon sequestration = 155,000 tons/year, helping to reduce the greenhouse effect and global warming. They also reduce building energy use for heating and cooling, which in turn reduces carbon emissions from power plants by about 12,600 tons/year.
    • Large trees remove 60 to 70 times more pollution and store up to 1000 times more carbon than small trees.
    • Although street trees account for only 10% of the city's trees, they make up 24% of total leaf surface area because they are older and larger than off-street trees.
    • Trees provide net benefits worth 2 to 3 times the cost of planting and caring for them over a 30-year period.
    • Greatest savings for energy, air quality and water were derived from residential tree plantings, closely followed by street tree plantings.

    In addition to the demonstrated energy/air quality/water benefits provided by a thriving urban forest, there are ancillary benefits as well, which include:

    • Noise reduction
    • Wildlife habitat
    • Reduce surface runoff and protect urban water
    • Enhance the aesthetic quality of life in the city; create feelings of relaxation and well-being; provide privacy and a sense of solitude and security.
    • Increase property values.
    • Increase economic stability by attracting business and tourists.
    • Reduce glare (indirect health benefits: cataracts and skin cancer)


    These benefits appear to directly or indirectly address additional goals of San Diego's Mayor Murphy:

  • #3: Create neighborhoods we can be proud of (direct).
  • #4: Clean up our beaches and bays (direct).
  • #2: Reduce traffic congestion (indirect, by making communities more pedestrian-friendly).
  • #8: Make San Diego America's safest city (trees' calming effect: the City of Irvine claims it is the safest city and they have lots and lots of trees - your call on direct/indirect).
  • #10: Complete MSCP open space acquisitions (indirect, habitat: large trees provide nesting spaces; small trees roosting spaces.).

    During the OPEC energy crisis of the 1970s, the California legislature passed a bill titled: “The Urban Forestry Act of 1978” (Ca. Public Resources Code Sect. 4799.o6 - 4799.12) which declared city trees to be energy conserving “valuable economic assets” to cities. More recently, in 1993, based upon more research, the California legislature passed Government Code 53067, which states: “As canopy cover increases the public benefits increase.”

    Like all major metropolitan cities in the United States, San Diego has been losing its urban forest at alarming rates over the past 25 years.

    In 1993, People For Trees, with assistance from SANDAG, prepared a State of the Urban Forest report for the San Diego Region. In this report one learns:

    “The City of San Diego has the largest tree care budget, but no planting budget...1968 was the last year money was budgeted for new street tree plantings and 1974 was the last year any funds were budgeted for replacement street trees.”

    Also reported, as of 1993:
    “...An additional 934,000 street trees would need to be planted to meet the national standard [US Park and Recreation] of 200 street trees per mile for our 7,024 miles of streets.”

    Sadly, we learn that San Diego's canopy cover in 1993 was, at best, only 19% of this standard, while a minimum of 40% overall is the recommended percentage. Further:

    “Tree removals continue and have recently ranged from 300 to 500 annually.”

    That was in October 1993. Monthly tree removal lists from the City's Street Division for District Six for the recent several years reveal that District Six is losing anywhere from 200 to 300 trees annually, all by itself!

    Conclusion
    Urban Heat Islands endanger the public, both physically and fiscally. Implementation of the “Cool Communities” mitigation measures recommended by the experts and presented here today would set the City of San Diego on an appropriate course of action for providing healthy ecosystems and communities

  • Thursday, October 12, 2006

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    Where do Methane emissions come from?

    Methane Emissions report - December 2005

    Methane emissions from coal mining, natural gas systems, and landfills represented more than three-fifths of all U.S. methane emissions.


    Landfills - #1
    Methane emissions from waste management accounted for 31 percent of U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions in 2004. Emissions from this source have fallen by 27 percent from their 1990 level. Landfills represent 92 percent of the methane emissions from waste management in 2004, and they are the largest single source of U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions. Methane emissions from landfills include emissions from both municipal solid waste landfills and industrial landfills. Estimated methane emissions from industrial landfills represent 7 percent of emissions from municipal solid waste landfills.

    Due to increased levels of waste disposed in landfills, estimated methane emissions from landfills rose 2.5 percent in 2004, above the 2003 level but still 29 percent below the 1990 level. The dramatic decrease in methane emissions since 1990 is directly attributable to an increase in methane captured at landfills that otherwise would have been emitted to the atmosphere. methane believed to be captured from this source in 2004. In 2004, methane recovery for energy increasingly took the form of direct use of medium-Btu gas in industrial boilers. The acceleration of this practice was driven by higher natural gas prices, which made landfill gas more competitive.

    Coal Mines
    Methane emissions from coal mines dropped by 30 percent between 1990 and 2004. This decline resulted partly from the increased capture and use of methane from coal mine degasification systems and a shift in production away from some of the Nation’s gassiest underground mines in Central Appalachia.

    Mobile Combustion (automobiles, etc)
    Mobile combustion in 2004 were up by 0.7 percent from the 2003 level but 22 percent lower than the 1990 level. Methane emissions from passenger cars have declined since 1990 as older vehicles with catalytic converters that are less efficient at destroying methane have been taken off the road. Estimates of methane emissions from mobile sources have been revised downward in the last two annual editions of this report, reflecting a change in the source of data for vehicle miles traveled and a related adjustment in the emission factors for light-duty trucks.

    Natural Gas Systems
    2004 estimated methane emissions from natural gas systems were down by 0.3 percent from those emitted in 2003.

    Petroleum Systems
    Methane emissions from petroleum systems dropped from 29.9 MMTCO2e in 1990 to 23.2 MMTCO2e in 2004. Methane emissions from petroleum systems in 2004 are nearly unchanged from their 2003 level and down by 22 percent from their 1990 level.

    Stationary Combustion
    U.S. methane emissions from stationary combustion in 2004 were down by 6.3 percent from their 2003 level.

    Waste generation
    Natural gas systems, such as miles of gas transmission and distribution pipeline.

    Domestic and Commercial Wastewater Treatment
    With the U.S. population growing slowly, methane emissions from domestic and commercial wastewater treatment are estimated to have grown by nearly 1.0 percent between 2003 and 2004 — about 18 percent above the 1990 level. Methane emissions from domestic and commercial wastewater treatment are a function of the share of organic matter in the wastewater stream and the conditions under which it decomposes. Wastewater may be treated aerobically or anaerobically. Because aerobic decomposition does not yield methane, whereas anaerobic decomposition does, the method of treatment is a critical determinant of emissions; however, there is little information available on wastewater treatment methods. Data on flaring or energy recovery from methane generated by wastewater are also sparse. EIA believes that emissions from this source are relatively small, representing less than 3 percent of all U.S. methane emissions in 2004.

    Agricultural Sources
    Estimated methane emissions from agricultural sources represent 28.5 percent of total U.S. anthropogenic methane emissions. Agricultural methane emissions increased by less than 1 percent from 2003 to 2004, as a small decrease in emissions from enteric fermentation was offset by increases in emissions from animal waste management, rice cultivation, and crop residue burning.

    Enteric Fermentation in Domesticated Animals
    In 2004, estimated methane emissions from enteric fermentation in domesticated animals declined by 0.8 percent. Because 95 percent of all emissions from enteric fermentation is attributable to cattle, trends in emissions correlate with trends in cattle populations. Between 2003 and 2004, cattle populations were nearly constant, with small declines in all population categories offset somewhat by increases in populations of beef cattle on feedlots. Estimated methane emissions from enteric fermentation in 2004 are 3.7 percent below their 1990 level.

    Solid Waste of Domesticated Animals
    Estimated methane emissions from the solid waste of domesticated animals increased from 2003 to 2004. The increase reinforced a larger trend over the past decade: in 2004, emissions from the solid waste of domesticated animals were increased 26 percent. Between 1990 and 2004, there was a shift in livestock management to larger facilities, which are believed to be more likely to manage waste using liquid systems that tend to promote methane generation.

    Rice Cultivation
    Estimated methane emissions from U.S. rice cultivation increased to 12-percent in the number of acres harvested. All U.S. rice-producing States saw increases in acres harvested during 2004, and total methane emissions from rice cultivation in 2004 were 18 percent higher than in 1990.

    Burning of Crop Residues
    Crop residue burning, the smallest contributor to U.S. methane emissions, represents less than 1 percent of total U.S. methane emissions. Estimated 2004 methane emissions from the burning of crop residues were up by 12 percent from 2003 and 27 percent above their 1990 level. The increase from 2003 to 2004 is attributable mainly to large increases in corn and soybean production.

    Chemical Production
    The preliminary estimate of methane emissions from U.S. chemical production in 2004 is up by 6 percent from the 2003 level. Methane emissions from chemical production in 2004 were 25 percent above their 1990 level. The increase is attributable to increased production of carbon black, ethylene, and styrene, which more than offset a drop in methanol production.

    Iron and Steel Production
    With production of pig iron rebounding from a 2-decade low in 2003, methane emissions from iron and steel production rose to an estimated 2.2-percent from 2003 but still 23 percent below their 1990 level.

    SOURCE: Energy Information Administration,
    Official Energy Statistics from the US government
    http://www.eia.doe.gov/oiaf/1605/ggrpt/methane.html

    Wednesday, October 11, 2006

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    Emergency public health exercises develop fast response



    Both staff and the public benefit from community emergency training exercises.

    Fairgrounds are being used to test how quickly authorities can dispense stockpiled antibiotics to combat a bioterrorism attack.

    Besides examining the effectiveness of distribution plans, Tuesday's exercise also helped train county and city workers whose normal duties are more likely to consist of handling paperwork or computers rather than questioning people about health symptoms or dispensing drugs.

    Simulating an anthrax release, a recent exercise included city and county workers in Lancaster stationed at folding tables to hand out empty pill bottles to volunteers - mostly students - as officials kept count on the progress: The goal was 1,500 people an hour. Health officials could use mass distribution centers such as the fairgrounds to hand out drugs because anthrax is not known to spread from one person to another. During the exercise's first 45 minutes, a rate of about 6,000 patients an hour were questioned and given simulated medications.

    Los Angeles County Public Health Director Dr. Jonathan Fielding said of the exercise. "We learn each time. We try to refine and refine and refine."

    Does your city have exercises that sharpen the public health skills of both your public service teams and the public?

    Contact the County Public Health department to equip yourself and your community with information and resources.

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    SoCal cities must implement state/federal stormwater runoff regulations

    October 2006 - Storm-drain runoff is a major cause of water pollution at the beach and in other waterways. About 60 million people visit county beaches each year and urban runoff is the No. 1 source of water pollution, Beckman said.

    A state appeals court has ruled that cities must follow the state's strict rules for storm-water runoff, despite the cities' claims that the standards are excessive.

    In a recent decision, construction industry interests joined with the city of Santa Clarita and Los Angeles county. Heal the Bay and the NRDC sided with the California State Water Resources Control Board in the matter.

    The justices' recent 3-0 decision rejected all but one of the cities' many claims, but does require the Regional Water Quality Control Board to perform some environmental review.

    "This decision upholds the principle that results matter," said attorney David Beckman, who represented the National Resources Defense Council, which joined with the water agencies. "The success of the regulatory program needs to be measured in clean water at the beach."

    Santa Clarita was among 32 cities in the county that appealed a lower court ruling issued in 2005 that favored state and regional water agencies. The case has been ongoing for years and may outlive the five-year permit it revolves around, which expires in December. A trial court will have to consider whether the environmental review still needs to be done. The decision will set a precedent.

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    How California produce is processed

    Procedures to ensure produce is safe to eat start at the farm long before seeds or seedlings are even planted. In the long supply chain, farmers, inspection agencies, truckers, warehouses, more inspectors, and grocery outlets all work to manage the complexities of food quality.

    Area growers said they keep careful stock of tools, hands and water to make sure they're always clean. At issue is business credibility.

    Spinach contaminated with the E. coli virus and traced back to Natural Selection Foods and Earthbound Farms, based near Salinas, has sickened at least 199 people. It led to three deaths in September.

    Growers can voluntarily recall their produce under under particular brands because companies detect contaminants such as E.coli in irrigation water.

    Company confidence is based on independent tests of produce that produce negative results for an identified bacteria such as E. coli. The company can then be confident that its product is safe.

    The Food and Drug Administration also conducts tests of the water, and results usually take a bit longer to make public.

    Staff of the prevention services department at the California Department of Health Services, can also look into whether the source of a contaminant that taints produce is irrigation water, livestock or fertilizer.

    Vegetable crop specialists at state universities, also analyze agricultural practices such as the use of manure as fertilizer. Other agricultural practices include starting early in the growing cycle with soil inspections and keeping a detailed history of seeds and fertilizers used. Supply chain montoring, as it's called in the industrial arena. Companies also regularly test water from their surface water sources such as the Colorado River and the All-American Canal.

    The local Water District also tests for coliform bacteria twice a year and minerals monthly so that farmers have up to date information. Requirements for agricultural water is far less than for drinking water.

    Even animal tracks among the produce are searched for when crops are ready for harvesting. If tracks are found, that particular section of food crops will not be picked.

    Field laborers are barred from eating, smoking and wearing jewelry in the fields, and they are provided a bathroom with an outdoor sink for hand-washing.

    Company enforcement is necessary for this level of food safety to be maintained. The result of tight procedures is that crops such as lettuce are packed int he field seconds after it is picked from the plant. In many operations, that food is not handled again except by forklifts when it is moved through the cooling stations, where ice is produced from drinking water. Before shipping produce to distributors and grocery stores, the cooling trucks are also inspected for cleanliness and temperature. Warehouse produce managers inspect the produce and vegetables for visual and odor quality levels, and misting systems and temperature-controlled tables keep the produce fresh. Aging fruits and vegetables are regularly removed.

    A patchwork of local, state and federal regulatory agencies such as the California Department of Health Services conduct annual inspections of food packaging and processing facilities, and investigate public-health issues.

    Farmers who use pesticides must also register with the California Department of Pesticide Regulation. The County Agricultural commissioner's office conducts on-site inspections to ensure that pesticides and disinfectants are used prooperly when washing foods.

    Industry groups such as Western Growers, also provide education and support services for the farming and food processing supply chain.
    Consumers become choosy and avoid potentially contaminated produce sources and even regions when an outbreak is publicized that affects public health.

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    Outdoor LEDs are brighter, and save energy

    Naval Base Coronado,
    San Diego

    Naval Base Coronado replaced over 1,000 lightbulbs on its airstrips and heli-pads with Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs)—brighter than the old bulbs while using 90 percent less energy. Additionally, the base replaced over 200 clothes washers with more efficient models and installed a large solar photovoltaic system on a covered parking lot.

  • Economic Benefits: Reduced operating costs by over $500,000 per year; individual projects have a projected return on investment up to 26 percent.

  • Global Warming Benefits: Cut carbon dioxide emissions by more than 4 million pounds per year.

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    San Diego Association of Governments RideLink program saves money and air quality



    San Diego Association of Governments -- SANDAG’s RideLink program assists employers and commuters with alternative transportation to and from work—helping QUALCOMM win a 2nd place raking in EPA’s Best Workplaces for Commuters Program.

  • Economic Benefits: In fiscal 2006, RideLink estimates that it prevented nearly 2 million commuting trips, saving more than $50 million in fuel costs, reduced travel delays and other benefits.

  • Global Warming Benefits: The reduced vehicle travel avoided 125 million pounds of carbon dioxide pollution.

    SOURCE: Environment California

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    Westfield Corporation saves energy in SoCal


    Westfield Corporation is the U.S. unit of the Westfield Group, the world’s largest retail property company. 4 Westfield Group owns and manages over 100 shopping centers across the globe, including 25 in California.

    Millions of Californians visit Westfield centers to purchase clothing, find a new cell phone, see a movie, or buy a gift. But visitors to the seven Westfield malls in San Diego might not notice that Westfield installed new, efficient lighting systems. Company managers looked closely at utility bills, and potential savings from the new lighting were clear.

    SOURCE: Environment California
    Pam Stevens, Senior Director of National Operations for Westfield summarized their strategy, “We found that there were new technologies that could help us reduce our energy use, saving money.” In 2005, Westfield began a major lighting retrofit at its shopping centers near San Diego. The lighting at these facilities was nearing the end of its useful life, and the company had identified the retrofit as a major opportunity to reduce energy consumption and cut energy costs while maintaining levels of customer service.

    Altogether, the seven shopping centers now use 19 percent less electricity, reducing consumption by 5.6 million kWh per year. The lighting systems have the added benefit of reducing California’s global warming pollution. By using less energy to light its shopping centers, Westfield prevents 5.6 million pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year.

    Other energy...and cost saving steps taken include:

    Installing motion sensors to make sure lighting is used only when needed in janitorial closets and other utility spaces

    Increasing the efficiency of large motors in central air conditioning equipment, using variable frequency drives

    Installing energy management systems with automated controls to optimize use of lighting and air conditioning equipment.

    Westfield is also investigating the option of solar photovoltaic panels as a way to generate its own electricity on-site.

    Westfield has completed lighting upgrades Westfield installed solar power modules on exterior lighting fixtures and in the outdoor parking lots.

    Westfield is piloting projects to install solar photovoltaic systems on the order of 350 kW (large enough to reduce global warming pollution by nearly half a million pounds per year.)

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    Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program


    The Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program
    established a mechanism by which corporations, government agencies, individuals, voluntary organizations, etc., can report to the EIA, any actions taken that have or are expected to reduce/avoid emissions of greenhouse gases or sequester carbon.

    Reporters choose to undertake the effort of preparing their voluntary submissions for a variety of reasons, such as:

    * To establish a public record of their contributions to achieving a national policy objective
    * To provide the opportunity for others to benefit from their experience in reducing emissions
    * To demonstrate their commitment to voluntary approaches to solving or ameliorating environmental conditions
    * To record the activities undertaken pursuant to voluntary programs
    * To establish a basis for requesting consideration of prior actions in a possible future “credit for early reductions” program or a possible future regulatory scheme to stabilize or reduce national emissions of greenhouse gases.

    The data collection forms for the Voluntary Reporting Program, as developed, endeavored to cover the complexity in categories of emissions required by the guidelines. To this end, the structure of the voluntary reporting database needed to be expansible to cover many different contingencies, including the following:

    * Reporters ranged from some of the largest industrial firms in the United States to individual households.
    * Reporters could report on specific actions (projects) they had taken to reduce emissions or on the emissions (and reductions) of their entire organizations.
    * The statute required, and reporters requested, the ability to report on many different classes of actions that have the effect of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, ranging from energy conservation to carbon sequestration.
    * The reporting format sought to identify areas where multiple reporting of the same project actually occurred, and to make possible a general assessment of the reliability and possible ownership of the reports.
    * The lack of generally accepted accounting principles for greenhouse gas emissions required a design that permitted a variety of reporting formats. This led to ambiguities that the forms design tried to clarify.
    * The guidelines permitted the reporting of foreign emission reduction actions.
    * The guidelines permitted reporting on reductions for a range of greenhouse gases.
    * Managers of voluntary programs asked EIA to develop a mechanism for collecting participants’ commitments to reduce future emissions.

    EIA developed two alternative reporting instruments: the long form (Form EIA-1605) and the short form (Form EIA-1605EZ). The short form is intended to cover reporting solely on emission reduction projects and for a single year only.

    The current Voluntary Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Program allows reporters considerable flexibility in the scope and content of their reports. As a result, companies can report their emissions and reductions in several different ways, and potentially more than one reporter can claim the same reduction. Some commentators on the program have characterized this aspect as a defect: a problem needing a solution. A more restrictive program, however, could limit the number of entities reporting, as well as the types of activities reported. Therefore, because it tends to increase participation in voluntary reporting, flexibility can be viewed as a useful attribute of the program for the following reasons:

    * The educational and public recognition aspects of the program are enhanced by maximizing the participation and do not necessarily require a complete and fully-defined system of property rights to a reported emission reduction.
    * The Voluntary Reporting Program can be viewed as a survey of emission accounting methods and theories actually in use, and a set of illustrations of the potential accounting and baseline problems that must be confronted in designing future policy instruments. A more structured approach might have been less useful for identifying and analyzing these emissions accounting issues.
    * The Voluntary Reporting database illustrates the range and diversity of concrete actions that firms can undertake to limit greenhouse gas emissions, including many not imagined by the designers of the program. A more structured approach might have excluded some of the more original and innovative projects reported to the program.

    The Department of Energy decided not to require verification by an independent third party after considering this issue during the development of the guidelines for the Voluntary Reporting Program. However, reporters must certify the accuracy of their 1605(b) reports.

    In 1992, President George H.W. Bush signed a multilateral treaty, the Framework Convention on Climate Change, which committed the United States to take steps, in conjunction with other signatory states, to “. . . achieve . . . stabilization of the greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.”

    On April 21, 1993 (Earth Day), President Clinton committed the United States to stabilizing its emissions of greenhouse gases at 1990 levels by the year 2000.

    Tuesday, October 10, 2006

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    Cool roofs and trees -- cheap energy savings!

    Energy Saving Potentials and Air Quality Benefits of
    Urban Heat Island Mitigation


    Simple ways to cool the cities are the use of reflective surfaces (rooftops and pavements) and planting of urban vegetation. On a large scale, the evapotranspiration
    from vegetation and increased reflection of incoming solar radiation by reflective surfaces will cool a community a few degrees in the summer.

    (1) Resurface pavement and rooftops with reflective surfaces
    (2) Plant 3 trees per house

    As an example, computer simulations for Los Angeles, CA show that resurfacing about two-third of the pavements and rooftops with reflective surfaces and planting three trees per house can cool down LA by an average of 2–3K. This reduction in air temperature will reduce urban smog exposure in the LA basin by roughly the same amount as removing the basin entire onroad vehicle exhaust.

    Heat island mitigation is an effective air pollution control strategy, more than paying for itself in cooling energy cost savings. We estimate that the cooling energy savings in U.S. from cool surfaces and shade trees, when fully implemented, is
    about $5 billion per year (about $100 per air-conditioned house). Another benefit of a light-colored roof is a potential increase in its useful life. Expansion and contraction of a lightcolored roof is smaller than that of a dark one. Also, the degradation of materials resulting from the absorption of ultra-violet light is a temperature-dependent process.

    Urban areas have typically darker surfaces and less vegetation than their surroundings (HIG 2005). These differences affect climate, energy use, and habitability of cities. At the building scale, dark roofs heat up more and thus raise the summertime cooling demands of buildings. Collectively, dark surfaces and reduced vegetation warm the air over urban areas, leading to the creation of urban "heat islands." On a clear summer afternoon, the air temperature in a typical city is as much as 2.5K higher than in the surrounding rural areas. Research shows that peak urban electric demand rises by 2–4% for each 1K rise in daily maximum temperature above a threshold of 15–20°C. Thus, the additional air-conditioning use caused by this urban air temperature increase is responsible for 5–10% of urban peak electric demand.

    Not only do summer heat islands increase system-wide cooling loads, they also increase smog production because of higher urban air temperatures (Taha et al. 1994). Smog is created by photochemical reactions of pollutants in the air; and these reactions are more likely to intensify at higher temperatures. For example, in Los Angeles, for every 1°C the temperature rise above 22°C, incident of smog increases by 5%.

    The simulations of the effects of higher albedo on smog formation indicate that an albedo change of 0.3 throughout the developed 25% of the city would yield a 12%.

    It has been estimated (Hall et al. 1992) that residents of L.A. would be willing to pay about $10 billion per year to avoid the medical costs and lost work time due to air pollution. The greater part of pollution is particulates, but the ozone contribution averages about $3 billion/yr. Assuming a proportional relationship of the cost with the amount of smog exceedance, the cooler-surfaced city would save 12% of $3 billion/yr, or $360M/yr.


    ROOFS

    Use of high-albedo urban surfaces and planting of urban trees are inexpensive measures that can reduce summertime temperatures.

    Most high-albedo roofing materials are light colored, although selective surfaces that reflect a large portion of the infrared solar radiation but absorb some visible light can be dark colored and yet have relatively high albedos.

    Examples: coating roofs with a white elastomer with a reflectivity of 0.70.

    Application:
  • retail stores in a strip mall in Florida before and after applying a high-albedo coating to the roof measured a 25% drop in seasonal cooling energy use.

  • energy savings of 28% for a school building in Georgia which had an unpainted galvanized roof that was coated with white acrylic.

    Caution:
    Glare and visual discomfort can result if the number of light, reflective roofs are not kept to a reasonable level. Fortunately, the glare for flat roofs is not a major problem for those who are at street level. For sloped roofs, the problem of glare should be studied in detail before proceeding with a full-scale implementation of this measure.

    Materials:
    Roofing shingles are available in a variety of colors, including white, at the same price.

    Reflective mineral granules or gravelcan be chosen material at the time of installation without adding to the cost of the
    roof.
    NOTE: other alternatives are "green roofs" that are covered with living vegetation such as grass, sedge, and wildflowers.

    STREET and PARKING LOT PAVEMENT

    Paved urban surfaces that are lighter in color reflect more light back into space and the surfaces and the air are cooler. Good maintenance practice calls for resurfacing a new road after about 10 years and the lifetime of resurfacing is only about 5 years. Hence, within 10 years, all the asphalt concrete surfaces in a city can be made light colored.

    Materials: Application of products with an albedo of about 0.35, similar to that of cement concrete.

    TREES

    Shade trees intercept sunlight before it warms a building. The urban forest cools the air by evapotranspiration. Trees also decrease the wind speed under their canopy and shield buildings from cold winter breezes. Urban shade trees offer significant benefits by both reducing building air conditioning and lowering air temperature, and thus improving urban air quality by reducing smog. Over the life of a tree, the savings associated with these benefits vary by climate region and can be up to $200 per tree. The cost of planting trees and maintaining them can vary from $10 to $500 per tree.

    Data on measured energy savings from urban trees are scarce.
    Shading and microclimate effects of the trees at two monitored houses yielded seasonal cooling energy savings of 30%.

    Rosenfeld (1998) studied the potential benefits of planting 11M trees in the Los Angeles Basin. They estimate an annual total savings of $270 million from direct and indirect energy savings and smog benefit; about 2/3 of the savings resulted from the reduction in smog concentration resulting from meteorological changes due to the evapotranspiration of trees. It also has been suggested that trees improve air quality by dry-depositing NOX, O3, and PM10 particulates. Rosenfeld et al. (1998) estimate that 11M trees in LA will reduce PM10 by less than 0.1%, worth only $7M, which is disappointingly smaller than the benefits of $180M from smog reduction.

    Savings:
    a homeowner who plants three shade trees would have a
    present value of about $200 per home ($68/tree). The present value of indirect savings was about $72/home ($24/tree). The PV of smog savings was about $120/tree. Total PV of all benefits from trees was thus $210/tree.

    Other benefits associated with urban trees include improvement in the quality of life, increased value of properties, decreased rain run-off water and hence a protection against floods. Trees also directly sequester atmospheric carbon dioxide.

    Cautions:
    Some trees emit volatile
    organic compounds (VOCs) that exacerbate the smog problem. Obviously, selection of low-emitting trees should be considered in a large-scale tree-planting program.

    Benjamin (1996) has prepared a list of several hundred tree species with their average emission rate.

    Drought-resistant trees are recommended. Some trees need significant maintenance that may entail high costs over
    the life of the trees. Tree roots can damage underground pipes, pavements and foundations. Proper design is needed to minimize these effects. Also, trees are a fuel source for fire; selection of appropriate tree species and planting them strategically to minimize the fire hazard is necessary.

    Cost:
    A promotional planting of trees 5–10 feet high costs about $10 per tree, whereas a professional tree-planting program using fairly large trees could amount to $150–470 a tree.

    The cost elements include planting, pruning, removal of dead trees, stump removal, waste disposal, infrastructure repair, litigation and liability, inspection, and program administration. The life-cycle cost for trees located in parks, in yards, and along streets, highways, and houses
    costs (including planting) is $300–500 per tree. Over 90% of the cost is associated with professional planting, pruning, tree and stump removal.

    The best programs are probably the information programs that provide data on energy and smog savings of trees to the communities and homeowners that are considering planting trees for other reasons.

    Program sources:

    American Society for Testing of Materials (ASTM)
    Cool Roof Rating Council (CRRC)
    Building Energy Performance Standards of ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigeration, and Airconditioning
    Engineers)
    California Title 24
    California South Coast's Air Quality Management Plans.
    The South Coast Air Quality Management District and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) now recognize that air temperature is as much a cause of smog as NOX or volatile organic compounds.










    Source: Hashem Akbari
    Heat Island Group
    Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Monday, October 09, 2006

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    Is Recycled Water safe for agriculture in California?


    Recycled water for agriculture
    has come to the public's attention with the recent contamination cases in spinach, lettuce and carrot juice.

    An editorial by California State Senator, Abel Maldonado, in the Monterey Herald offers some insights into the recycled water services California is increasingly dependent upon as fresh water supplies are stretched.


    The California Department of Health Services requires recycled water to meet stringent testing and regulatory requirements. Water quality testing has never shown properly treated recycled water to be anything other than safe. That is why after years of rigorous tests on agricultural pilot programs, California approved the use of recycled water on a large scale more than 20 years ago.

    My fellow farmers in Monterey, San Luis Obispo, Sonoma, Napa, Ventura and Orange counties have for decades used safe recycled water for crop irrigation without any public health problems. As further testament to the safety of recycled water, cities and counties throughout the state have used this safe water source for urban landscape and parks where California's families recreate and enjoy the outdoors.

    Some confusion has recently arisen about recycled water, which has, in turn, caused some individuals to question its use on crops. Indeed, the recent E. coli outbreak in spinach is a cause for legitimate concern, and attention should focus on finding the true source of the deadly strain of E coli.

    This particular strain, E. coli 0157:H7, thrives in the acidic digestive tracts of cows, especially ones that feed on corn, and is regularly shed in large amounts in their feces. When cow manure enters local streams, and when those streams flood adjacent farmlands, the potential increases dramatically for crop contamination. At the present time, cow manure contamination of local water streams is the most probable -- though not yet proven -- source of the latest outbreak.

    It is indisputable that water is a valuable resource that we cannot afford to waste in this state. It is also true that California is water-short by several million acre-feet per year. We are currently overpumping our aquifers to make up for these shortages, which is an unsustainable and potentially dangerous way to manage our water needs. Rather than pumping our wells dry to close the gap, we should be "water wise" and increase our use of safe and sustainable recycled water to protect our future.

    That is why proposals to ban recycled water in California's agriculture in response to unfounded fears of food contamination are simply wrong-headed. Instead, thoughtful policymakers should resist any legislative schemes that would threaten the use of this needed, safe and environmentally responsible water supply.


    Abel Maldonado represents California's Central Coast in the Senate. His family-owned business, AGRO-JAL, farms 6,000 acres.

    Sunday, October 08, 2006

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    Quotes about life...

    They took all the trees
    And put them in a tree museum...
    And they charged all the people
    A dollar and a half just to see 'em...
    Don't it always seem to go
    That you don't know what you've got...
    Till its gone
    They've paved paradise
    And put up a parking lot.

    -- Joni Mitchell



    Humankind Has Not
    Woven the Web of Life
    We Are But One
    Thread Within It.
    Whatever We Do To the Web
    We Do To Ourselves.
    All Things Are Bound Together.
    All Things Connect.

    -- Chief Seattle

    California Green Solutions for business

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    Urban Forestry info to reduce cardon dioxide

    The Forest Service's Pacific Southwest Research Station has developed methods for determining the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide reductions associated with urban forestry programs.

    "Carbon Dioxide Reduction Through Urban Forestry: Guidelines for Professional and Volunteer Tree Planters" (General Technical Report PSW-GTR-171) is designed to be used by utilities, urban foresters/arborists, municipalities, consultants, and others interested in estimating the carbon sequestration and energy savings benefits of planting trees in urban settings.

    The analysis examines existing tree cover and housing stock, the size and type of trees planted, whether the trees are planted within 50 feet of buildings, the climate region, and emissions factors for heating and cooling. Look-up tables are provided for estimating the effects of shading on cooling and heating, the effect of reduced wind speed on heating, climate effects, sequestration, decomposition, maintenance, and other program-related effects over a 40-year period.

    Copies of this document can be ordered from the Pacific Southwest Research Station's web site at http://www.psw.fs.fed.us/Tech_Pub/order.html or by calling Richard Schneider at (970) 498-1703. Copies can also be obtained by contacting the Communications Center at 1-800-803-5182 or infoghg@eia.doe.gov.

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    What technologies can prevent or control greenhouse gas?

    WHAT ARE CURRENT OR FUTURE TECHNOLOGIES
    THAT COULD PREVENT OR CONTROL
    GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS?

    The Air Resources Boad (ARB) needs to investigate/solicit technologies that provide better ways to prevent or control greenhouse gas emissions.

    For example, fuel cells are poised to make significant contributions to stationary power generation. Stationary power generated fuel cells can play an important role in reducing CO2 emissions. A quantitative analysis should be conducted.

    We also need to identify potential measures/technologies to reduce in-state methane emissions and quantify the resultant air quality and greenhouse gas reduction benefits. Control measures should also the following.

    · Encourage the benefits associated with mitigating urban heat islands with trees and more reflective roofs and streets.

    · Identify low-emitting trees for CO2 sequesterization programs. Because current U.S. climate change compliance methods relies on increased tree planting, it is critical to investigate which trees combine low biogenic emissions with other desirable traits.

    · Encourage recycling of CO2. Utilizing captured and recycled CO2, instead of using CO2 exclusively from natural reservoirs, to reduce greenhouse emissions to the atmosphere from enhanced oil recovery.

    · Encourage voluntary technology certification. This program could provide some benefits to the early adopters of measures
    designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

    SOURCE: California Air Resources Board
    Strategic Plan for Research
    2001 to 2010
    April 2003 update

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    Indoor air is TWICE as polluted as outdoor air...

    In collaboration with the U.S. EPA, the ARB’s Indoor and Personal Exposure Assessment Program determined that Californians spend most of their time indoors and are, therefore, at risk from exposure to residential indoor levels of certain particles and air toxics that are much greater than outdoor levels.

    These increased levels are due, primarily, to emissions from indoor building materials, carpets, domestic gas-fired kitchen stoves and consumer products. The world’s first comprehensive study of exposures to respirable particles showed that daytime personal exposures exceeded indoor and outdoor levels by up to 50 percent. Recent research indicates that this is likely due to people’s close proximity to sources and activities that generate airborne particles – such as tobacco smoking, cooking, wood-burning, and house cleaning – as they go about their normal activities.

    A major research priority for the ARB is to fund research on the health effects of air pollution in order to establish clean air targets that are protective of the health of all Californians, including sensitive individuals, and those living in disadvantaged communities. The knowledge gained from our health effects research supports many programs, including the establishment of ambient air quality standards, the assessment of community health, the development of effective public health intervention programs, and the assessment of long-term exposure to air pollution. The ARB will consider all research concepts on these general topics, specific categories with interests in order of priority are noted below.

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    Research Ideas Solicited by Air Resources Board

    The Air Resources Board is currently soliciting ideas for the Fiscal Year 2007-2008 Research Plan.

    We are seeking research ideas to evaluate, which may become the basis for public solicitations or interagency agreements next Summer and Fall.

    The mission of the Air Resources Board's (Board or ARB) research program is to provide the highest quality scientific information and technology possible for actions to protect the health of the people and the environment of California from the effects of air pollution.

    The purpose of this program announcement is to solicit research suggestions in the form of 2-page descriptions that are consistent with the research interests described in this announcement and that will support the Board's research mission. For additional information on the Board's research program, view the Strategic Plan for Research.

    In order to support the Board's regulatory programs, the priorities of the research program are to:

    reduce emissions of, and exposure to particulate matter; characterize and reduce community exposure to air pollutants; and promote continued advancement and acceptance of zero and near-zero emission technologies.


    Based on that, general areas of research include
    1) Agriculture
    2) Health and Welfare Effects,
    3) Exposure Assessment,
    4) Global Air Pollution and Climate Change, and
    5) Technology Advancement and Pollution Prevention.

    The Board is primarily interested in projects that will assist in addressing the future research needs in the general areas outlined above. However, research ideas outside of the key areas of interest listed will also be considered. The following web pages further describe the general areas of research along with several key questions and issues related to future research needs in each area. Although, with limited resources, we may not be able to fund all meritorious submissions.

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