Energy efffecient school buses
I'm an educator and I wonder why we can't change our school buses to be hybrid or more energy efficient in some way!
I'm an educator and I wonder why we can't change our school buses to be hybrid or more energy efficient in some way!
In Lancaster County PA, many Farmers tell you they don't read or speak English so they doln't know they are breaking the law when their livestock stands in creeks or when they burn huge plastic containers off State Road 89s beween Strasburg and Delaware. Many people from all backgrounds, burn their garbage after 5 and on weekends when no Fire Marshall is working. Start a Youth Facebook/Kindle/IPhone program to create ...more »
In Lancaster County PA, many Farmers tell you they don't read or speak English so they doln't know they are breaking the law when their livestock stands in creeks or when they burn huge plastic containers off State Road 89s beween Strasburg and Delaware. Many people from all backgrounds, burn their garbage after 5 and on weekends when no Fire Marshall is working.
Start a Youth Facebook/Kindle/IPhone program to create a picture/video record of anyone burning anything in Lancaster County. Or anyone whose anumals are messing up the creeks and hence, The Bay.
Offer small prizes for anyone whose video is delivered to the offender with a guide as to how to comply with the law. Or have the kids deliver it with adult supervision.
Make a school program, put it in the paper, put it on WGAL....
Sometimes the air is so bad here I gag on my way to work, literally gag, and I don't have any conditions. The air from the manure spreading is so full of that odor, the smoke is so thick--that I speed up or must roll up the windows---sometimes we can't work or play outside with the children. So one person drives a whole community inside.
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Federal suggestions for pollution control and car emissions testing in a local area facility. Federal reward for compliance and caring.
The top two polluters on this planet receive some of the largest tax breaks on this planet. It's time to stop enabling polluters. If the EPA really wants to clean up the planet, they will start with the worst offenders.
There is no chance we can reduce global point source pollution (like cars) enough to matter at this point. (Will we invade China or Brazil to force them to drive alternate days or to stop burning rain forest?) We should continue changing the dynamic of technology, sure. But we must push a "New Era", possibly with a "Moonshot" political impetus, regarding big picture mitigation: In America we clean nearly every drop ...more »
There is no chance we can reduce global point source pollution (like cars) enough to matter at this point. (Will we invade China or Brazil to force them to drive alternate days or to stop burning rain forest?)
We should continue changing the dynamic of technology, sure. But we must push a "New Era", possibly with a "Moonshot" political impetus, regarding big picture mitigation:
In America we clean nearly every drop of water we use twice.
We can use that example as a rational path to normalize air quality treatment systems and methods (as a utility operation). Especially if the demonstration pioneering is in China or other horrifically bad areas.
Sure the big fans or alage ponds or whatever we come up with will seem wierd for a few days, and the Righties wil cry foul. But all it has to do is work - to clean Salt Lake or Phx or L.A. (or Bejing) and no one will ever complain again.
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Its time that we engineer diesel electric semi trucks to run up and down our highways. There is no reason that we can't engineer highly effient diesel powered generators, that would then power electric drive motors for our semi truck industry. To help reduce both fuel consumption and carbon output. Batteries might also be a viable cost effective option with this type of application, given all of the downhill braking that ...more »
Its time that we engineer diesel electric semi trucks to run up and down our highways. There is no reason that we can't engineer highly effient diesel powered generators, that would then power electric drive motors for our semi truck industry. To help reduce both fuel consumption and carbon output. Batteries might also be a viable cost effective option with this type of application, given all of the downhill braking that is required. A large percentage of that lost energy could be converted and stored to help propel the vehicle at take off, or at hill pulling speeds.
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Often, I get nearly knocked out from inhaling sewage gases oozing through manholes in big cities. They are so bad . I just thought about installing big fans to suck air through the manholes to keep the sewage gases moving in the right directions that is toward the treatment plants where they belong! This can also help suck in heavy traffic smog to help reduce air pollution on the busy streets. The fans can be solar powered ...more »
Often, I get nearly knocked out from inhaling sewage gases oozing through manholes in big cities. They are so bad . I just thought about installing big fans to suck air through the manholes to keep the sewage gases moving in the right directions that is toward the treatment plants where they belong! This can also help suck in heavy traffic smog to help reduce air pollution on the busy streets. The fans can be solar powered . I think it is well worth the expenditure in all big cities to enhance the big city experience. We can do the same for the neighborhoods as you know that there is ventilation pipes dotting on all rooftops for the sewage gases to escape. I think this is so medieval already.. We can improve the air quality even further with installations of fans in strategic locations in the main sewage pipes to draw air in the right directions back toward the sewage plants.
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PCV (positive crankcase ventilation), the first smog device mandated to be installed in cars beginning in 1964. PCV captures blowby gases escaping into the crankcases below the pistons and redirects the toxic blowby gases back into the intake manifold through a series of large rubber hoses and a pulsing valve. New PCV hoses are airtight and works well until several years later when the rubber hoses tend to lose it pliabilty ...more »
PCV (positive crankcase ventilation), the first smog device mandated to be installed in cars beginning in 1964. PCV captures blowby gases escaping into the crankcases below the pistons and redirects the toxic blowby gases back into the intake manifold through a series of large rubber hoses and a pulsing valve. New PCV hoses are airtight and works well until several years later when the rubber hoses tend to lose it pliabilty (sealing quality) at the ends . I suggest that all new cars more than 2 or 3 years old should be required to install clamps to tighten all the ends of the PCV related rubber hoses to ensure that the PCV system still functions as effectively as when new. This may add costs to the annual smog check but it can save us far more in reduced pollution related health costs. Blowby gases escaping through slightly loose PCV hoses from high atmospheric pressures inherent in the crankcases at high speeds is not to be taken lightly. The pulsing PCV valve cannot capture all of the blowby gases because most of the blowby gases willl seek less resistance through the loose PCV hose end connections and escaping there before it goes through the PCV pulsing valve. The pulsing PCV valve is not capable of high volume due to its restricted design to preserve the vaccuum levels needed in the intake manifold to facillate air / gas mixutre efficiently. it is of utmost importance for EPA to revisit present PCV technology and review for any design improvements that will ensure that PCV system be more reliable than what we have today which is an embrassment . Our PCV technology remains unchanged since 1964. As matter of factly, about half of our smog still comes from blowby gases escaping through worn out PCV hose connections that are never tightened by smog check technicians . it is not a requirement at all except for visual inspection. There is still no test to see if existing PCV hose connections are tight connected in each inspected car. I tightened PCV hose connections voluntarily myself.. Frankly speaking , I am somewhat surprised that EPA still has not paid enough attention to the PCV hose connections in our exisitng car fleet . It is a rather shocking omission on EPA's own behalf.. I hope that the EPA will pay closer attention then.
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Many people that have become dependant upon fires to make their living, have been discovered to have been starting fires whenever a cut to their budget is approuched. We need to address this matter by creating job shifting measures to help protect against such costly illegal behavior. Plus, I think stricter regulations need to be made to prevent the extreme alteration of diesel pick up exhaust systems, within our communities. ...more »
Many people that have become dependant upon fires to make their living, have been discovered to have been starting fires whenever a cut to their budget is approuched. We need to address this matter by creating job shifting measures to help protect against such costly illegal behavior. Plus, I think stricter regulations need to be made to prevent the extreme alteration of diesel pick up exhaust systems, within our communities. Such alterations create way to much raw fuel to be expelled into the air, along with increased levels noise pollution. Such behavior creates undue stress and illness within our communities and neighborhoods.
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Tobacco smoke is a known known danger. It is proven to be carcinogenic, and directly leads to numerous diseases. If it were a new industrial chemical that a corporation accidentally exposed millions of people to (think asbestos), we would not hesitate to ban it. However, if a person lights a cigarette next to you on the street, a restaurant patio, or near your open home windows, there are no repercussions to the smoker, ...more »
Tobacco smoke is a known known danger. It is proven to be carcinogenic, and directly leads to numerous diseases. If it were a new industrial chemical that a corporation accidentally exposed millions of people to (think asbestos), we would not hesitate to ban it.
However, if a person lights a cigarette next to you on the street, a restaurant patio, or near your open home windows, there are no repercussions to the smoker, despite the wealth of evidence that the person is harming eveybody around him or her.
EPA and Congress seem to have carved out a special niche for smokers, exempting tobacco smoke from environmental regulation. This should stop. There are many examples of chemical fumes, voluntarily or involuntarily produced which EPA is able to regulate.
Even simple CO2, which every person and animal in the world exhales has made the list of things EPA has decided to regulate.
It's time to add secondhand smoke to the list of substances that EPA regulates and prohibits.
Willfully exposing another human being to secondhand smoke is a criminal act and should formally be recognized as such.
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An important issue to consider for improved air quality is transportation in daily commuting to work. This implies cracking the solo-driving conundrum. Recently, the Bay Area suggested to tax drivers up to 10 cents per mile to ease traffic and pollution. On the contrary, instead of increasing taxes, we suggest to reduce costs and reduce spending by encouraging employees, employers and their businesses to use alternative ...more »
An important issue to consider for improved air quality is transportation in daily commuting to work. This implies cracking the solo-driving conundrum. Recently, the Bay Area suggested to tax drivers up to 10 cents per mile to ease traffic and pollution. On the contrary, instead of increasing taxes, we suggest to reduce costs and reduce spending by encouraging employees, employers and their businesses to use alternative commuting (bike, walk, public transit, carpool etc.) and be rewarded for these efforts. This is what a California business, RideSpring, has pushed forward over the last couple of years.
Unfortunately, to achieve a reward system for alternative commuters, we need transparency from government agencies and proper use of public funds. The article below is a prime example of lessons learned on how emission reduction spending was improperly used by local agencies while achieve zero results.
Transparency is the first step in integrating programs that benefit the environment and our communities through efficient financing.
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Creation of innovative technology through science & engineering to develop machines capable of atmospheric pollution capture and chemical conversion of pollutants into non-hazardous states, safer or reusable forms.
Just read recommendation to allow E15 fuel to be sold. Yes you say it is for 2001 or later highway vehicles. Do you assume that retailers can afford the tanks and pumps to also carry fuel for older and Marine products? Is it cheaper or more expensive for refineries to blend several types of fuel rather than one? Whats happens when the public realizes that they get less fuel Mileage on E fuel? When we figure out how to ...more »
Just read recommendation to allow E15 fuel to be sold. Yes you say it is for 2001 or later highway vehicles. Do you assume that retailers can afford the tanks and pumps to also carry fuel for older and Marine products? Is it cheaper or more expensive for refineries to blend several types of fuel rather than one? Whats happens when the public realizes that they get less fuel Mileage on E fuel? When we figure out how to do this with kudzu or other product not consumed by humans or livestock only then maybe.
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After Fukushima, we invested in some measuring gear, and have been surprised by what we see. As a layman, have taken a number of roadside readings over a significant swath in my travels in Colorado and Wyoming, and the observations suggest a couple widespread issues: 1) apparently elevated background radiation; 2) radioactive isotopes being deposited on surfaces by rainwater (and likely inhaled in moist rain air). The ...more »
After Fukushima, we invested in some measuring gear, and have been surprised by what we see. As a layman, have taken a number of roadside readings over a significant swath in my travels in Colorado and Wyoming, and the observations suggest a couple widespread issues: 1) apparently elevated background radiation; 2) radioactive isotopes being deposited on surfaces by rainwater (and likely inhaled in moist rain air).
The first one seems likely to be a result of contamination over the decades by the 2000+ nuclear tests and disasters. The second seems to be naturally occurring and related to radon interacting with ozone during storms.
Surely the EPA has maps that detail the background radiation nationally, from regular sampling at all their national sampling sites. I have not found this information available publicly. If it is out there, where is it? Would be helpful to see it provided by year dating back ideally to the 1950's or so.
Such maps would help the public understand changes in the background radiation over the years due to said testing and catastrophies. Also, it would help in planning where to live, etc. These are a valuable resource for the public and should not be hidden away.
The other thing, the main reason for my writing, is that though this radon progeny component appears to be naturally occurring, its apparent danger has not been acknowledged and publicly recognized.
We think of radon testing in the basements of new homes and are done with it. Radon is the primary cause of lung cancer. It even indirectly is the cause of lung cancer due to smoking...live tobacco absorbs and concentrates the alpha particles occurring naturally in the air and water...when it is smoked, these are deposited in the lungs and stay there.
I am seeing high levels of contaminants in rain water, collected on "wipes" of wet surfaces (about 60 square feet). The wipes concentrate deposits. In theory, if there are no deposits, the wipes would continue to show background radiation levels, but this is not the case. They have what our meter characterizes as "dangerous" levels, immediately after a storm.
For example, our meter characterizes over 0.40microSieverts/hour as "High" and over 1.2microSieverts/hour as "Dangerous." We have seen readings of 3.66microSieverts/hour! (And have photos to prove it.)
Again, not an expert, but this appears to be on the scale of a chest x-ray, and so is at least worthy of discussion.
The suggestions from these lay observations are:
1) Do not drink rainwater
2) Do not wipe down surfaces (such as cars) wet with fresh rainwater
3) Close windows while it is raining and do not breath fresh rain air as much as possible until several hours after a rain.
4) These types of suggestions appear most important for the young, as they are more sensitive to this issue, and the issue takes decades to manifest as illness (so it is less an issue for the older like me).
Would also appreciate having experts weigh in on this, but it is amazingly hard to get them to talk. Likely this comment will be moderated out.
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I'm a high school student and not sure how to get this idea implemented. I'd like to start a contest in DFW to see which county can reduce their ozone readings for a 90-day period starting in July. The county with the greatest percentage drop in readings (compared to a 3-year average for each county) would win. They would be "The Biggest Ozone Loser." If citizens would just try to help one day a week, we could make a ...more »
I'm a high school student and not sure how to get this idea implemented. I'd like to start a contest in DFW to see which county can reduce their ozone readings for a 90-day period starting in July. The county with the greatest percentage drop in readings (compared to a 3-year average for each county) would win. They would be "The Biggest Ozone Loser." If citizens would just try to help one day a week, we could make a difference. DFW has been in nonattainment for years. I started a blog and wrote some people, but I am not sure how to get things rolling. Any suggestions or should I just abandon the idea because most people don't care? -Nick A.
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GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES First duty is to offer proper and suitable advice to each contracted client. For a CNG Conversion Kit as approved by the EPA & CARB. Promote sustainability programs and services to local & county based Taxi & Ground Transportation businesses as an advocate resource. Develop and coordinate the successful transition needs of each business and customer as they are introduced to all alternative fuel ...more »
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES
First duty is to offer proper and suitable advice to each contracted client.
For a CNG Conversion Kit as approved by the EPA & CARB.
Promote sustainability programs and services to local & county based Taxi & Ground Transportation businesses as an advocate resource. Develop and coordinate the successful transition needs of each business and customer as they are introduced to all alternative fuel options while ensuring compliance with Federal, State and local laws. Assist in the economic methods which aid in the deployment of clean air Taxi Cabs to reduce Green House Gases.
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are you guys doing anything about this? I'm deployed to Afghanistan and have to breath this in everyday because we are located close to the burn pit
My comment is a question please. I get a lot of magazines with shiny pages. I am told not to burn them because they give off taxic gases because of the ink. I make biomass briquettes from shredded paper, grass clippings, and wood chips. Can I shred these shiny magazine pages to make briquettes for burning? Does the ink give off poison gases? jakesunrider@yahoo.com. thanks
DHHS Essential Services policy requires all threats to life and health be stopped and prevented. Wood smoke is 12 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke that is banned. It pollutes regions more than cars that are regulated. So require NSPS stds to meet EPA guidelines for a safe pm2.5 dose of raw wildfire and wood smoke at 180 mcg/m3,hr. It will help air quality, global warming, lower chemicals, clean up communities, ...more »
DHHS Essential Services policy requires all threats to life and health be stopped and prevented. Wood smoke is 12 times more carcinogenic than tobacco smoke that is banned. It pollutes regions more than cars that are regulated. So require NSPS stds to meet EPA guidelines for a safe pm2.5 dose of raw wildfire and wood smoke at 180 mcg/m3,hr. It will help air quality, global warming, lower chemicals, clean up communities, improve environmental justice. We must obey the laws of God and man and care for neighbours and the earth. This is popular with the EPA, God, EDF, 80% of people per polls.
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COLONEL DAVID HALSEY P.E. 4-30-2012 One of the most studied mysteries of atmospheric science is how a gas molecule such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is almost one and a half times heavier than the air column, can defy gravity and rise to the upper atmosphere. It’s understandable how a heavier gas can be propelled within the boundaries of the Hydrologic Cycle (aka Water Cycle) because of the mixing (thermal, wind ...more »
COLONEL DAVID HALSEY P.E. 4-30-2012
One of the most studied mysteries of atmospheric science is how a gas molecule such as carbon dioxide (CO₂), which is almost one and a half times heavier than the air column, can defy gravity and rise to the upper atmosphere. It’s understandable how a heavier gas can be propelled within the boundaries of the Hydrologic Cycle (aka Water Cycle) because of the mixing (thermal, wind and orographics effects) within the zone that feeds Earth’s flora. Thus CO₂ generated from entropy of fossil fuels does NOT leave the influence of the boundaries of the “Water cycle”. In other words the CO₂ molecule does not defy gravity!
On November 4, 2010, the date of the EPOXI and Deep Impact missions flyby of the comet Hartley 2, University of Maryland Astronomer Michael A’Hearn, the principal investigator, said: ."When warmed by the sun, dry ice [frozen carbon dioxide] deep in the comet's body turns to gas jetting off the comet and dragging water ice with it.” In other words CO₂ was shooting off snowballs from the comet.
Hartley 2 is a comet from the Jupiter region referred to as “Snowballs”. These comets have the identical water molecule to those found on Earth.
It appears that all the breathable oxygen (O₂) and all of Earth’s carbon came from “Snowball” comets in the form of CO₂. Because the CO₂ molecule is heavier than the atmospheric gases, the CO₂ will slowly sink toward the surface. As a result the flora becomes more robust, producing an increase amount of O₂ thus making the fauna robust. An example of this phenomenon occurred from about 200 million years ago (Triassic period) until about 65 million years (end of the Jurassic period) when the dinosaurs roamed the Earth. Also Nature used this process to produce most of the fossil fuels that we enjoy today.
It appears that the modification or control of CO₂ discharges from fossil fuel facilities has NO bearing on the CO₂ in the outer reaches of the atmosphere. In fact an increase in CO₂ within the influence of the “Water Cycle” will help the fauna and flora to thrive and result in NO influence on the overall Earth’s thermal condition.
The only time Earth’s temperature increased was a result of the entire globe being covered with ice, and the CO₂ from the “Snowball” comets was trapped in the atmosphere above the ice layer. This thermal “blanket” eventually caused Earth’s surface temperature to raise melting most of the ice. Except for this one occurrence, the default condition for Earth has always been ice.
Science does not have the thermal evidence or knowledge to determine if Earth’s climate is continuing to recover from the last ice age (the 4th cycle 12,000+ years ago) or beginning a fifth. A millennium of climate data may only make one point on the climate trend curve?
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Idle start/stop systems shut a car down when it is idling. Since idling causes unnecessary emissions, why not do more than encourage drivers not to idle?
Some cars already have this technology, such as Toyota Prius and Mini Cooper. And some car manufacturers are already planning on using this for all their cars in the future, such as Mazda and Ford. We should require it of all new cars.
What effect does traffic congestion have on the environment. Automogile emissions are measurable, I propose a study to measue the effects in known conjested highways (and highway intersections , find the peek rush hours, coordinate ariel photos to count motor vehicles passing through target areas, and lastly report and revisit. Make suggestions for improvement.
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