http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents Where it Pays To Buy Green. http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/324 Released in 2007, PlaNYC was an unprecedented effort undertaken by Mayor Bloomberg to prepare the New York City for one million more residents, strengthen its economy, combat climate change, and enhance the quality of life for all New Yorkers. The Plan brought together over 25 City agencies to work toward the vision of a greener, greater New York. Green Residences http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/211 Unused and unwanted household products that contain corrosive, toxic, ignitable or reactive ingredients are considered to be "household hazardous waste" or "HHW." Products, such as paints, cleaners, oils, batteries and pesticides that contain potentially hazardous ingredients require special care when you dispose of them. Improper disposal of household hazardous wastes can include pouring them down the drain, on the ground, into storm sewers, or in some cases putting them out with the trash. Hazardous Waste http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/210 Haze is caused when sunlight encounters tiny pollution particles in the atmosphere. Some light is absorbed by particles, while other light is scattered away. More pollutants mean more absorption and scattering of light, which reduce the clarity and color of what someone sees. Some types of particles, such as sulfates, scatter more light, particularly during humid conditions. Air Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/209 A hazardous waste generator is any person or site whose processes and actions create hazardous waste. The Resource Conservation Recovery Act (RCRA) divided generators into three categories based upon the quantity of waste they produce. Hazardous Waste http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/206 Ground water is a resource found under the earth’s surface. Most ground water comes from rain and melting snow soaking into the ground. Water fills the spaces between rocks and soils, making an “aquifer.” Water Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/205 Many of us are concerned with climate change and its effects on natural resources. Understanding nature and the impacts of climate change, poses a significant challenge because of the complexity of the processes that influence global environmental change. The United States Geological Survey has recently introduced a Web site that examines one aspect of the global climate issue — the inter-relationship between glaciers and climate. Climate Change http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/204 Geothermal is using the Earth as a heat source. Geothermal energy resources can include underground hot water and rock several miles below the Earth's surface, and even further down to the extremely hot molten rock called magma. Wells over a mile deep can be drilled into underground reservoirs to tap steam and very hot water. General http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/201 Effluent guidelines are national regulations that control the discharge of pollutants to surface waters and to publicly owned treatment works (POTWs). Effluent guidelines are specific to an industry. These guidelines are technology-based: based on the performance of treatment and control technologies. Water Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/200 Dioxins are man-made chemical compounds that enter the air through fuel and waste emissions. They are hazardous waste and pose a risk to human health and the environment. Sources of dioxin include motor vehicle exhaust fumes and garbage incineration. Most human exposure to dioxins occurs through the consumption of contaminated foods, especially animal fats. Air Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/199 The goal of the Clean Water Act (CWA) is "to restore and maintain the chemical, physical, and biological integrity of the nation's waters." . Water Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/198 Biosolids are the nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of sewage sludge. Biosolids get their name from the solid, semisolid or liquid untreated residue generated during the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility. Biosolids can safely be recycled once the residuals from the wastewater treatment plant are treated to acceptable standards. Hazardous Waste http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/197 Bioremediation allows a natural process to clean up harmful chemicals in the environment. This process employs microscopic “bugs” or microbes that live in soil and groundwater to digest and break down certain harmful chemicals, such as those found in gasoline and oil spills. When microbes completely digest these chemicals, they break them down into water and harmless gases such as carbon dioxide. Ecosystem http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/195 Benzene is a clear, colorless aromatic liquid that is highly flammable. The greatest use of benzene is in plastics, rubber, resins and synthetic fabrics like nylon and polyester. Other uses include the extraction of oils from seeds and nuts; in photogravure printing; and in the manufacture of detergents, explosives, pharmaceuticals and dyestuffs. Benzene is released to air primarily from fumes connected with certain chemical industries and exhaust from its use in gasoline. Hazardous Waste http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/192 The Asian Longhorned Beetle is a dark beetle with light colored spots and long antennas. These beetles were introduced into the United States from wood pallets and other wood packing material accompanying cargo shipments from Asia. Ecosystem http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/147 Starting on January 1, 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require large emitters of heat-trapping emissions to collect greenhouse gas (GHG) emission data under a new reporting system. These large emitters include fossil fuel suppliers and industrial gas suppliers, direct greenhouse gas emitters and manufacturers of heavy duty and off road vehicles and engines. It is expected that this mandatory reporting requirement will cover approximately 85 percent of the nation's GHG emissions and apply to approximately 10,000 facilities. Air Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/145 The GreenChill Advanced Refrigeration Partnership is an EPA cooperative alliance with the supermarket industry and other stakeholders. The partnership was established to promote advanced technologies, strategies, and practices that reduce refrigerant charges and emissions of ozone-depleting substances and greenhouse gases. Environmental Regulation and Policy http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/143 In 2004, EPA launched SmartWaySM — an innovative brand that represents environmentally cleaner, more fuel efficient transportation options. Having personally worked in the U.S. EPA's Office of Transportation and Air Quality and on the development of this program, I realized the importance of the brand. The brand represented "the smart way to save fuel, money and the environment." Basically, the program promotes the concept of green travel through a partnership alliance with government and industry. Eco Travel http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/140 In recent years, EPA has learned that caulk containing potentially harmful polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) was used in many buildings, including schools, in the 1950s through the 1970s. In general, schools and buildings built after 1978 do not contain PCBs in caulk. On September 25, 2009, EPA announced new guidance for school administrators and building managers with important information about managing PCBs in caulk and tools to help minimize possible exposure. Michael's Orchard http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/131 Particle pollution is also known as particulate matter, or PM, and its concentration levels are usually measured in micrograms. Researchers at Johns Hopkins found a direct corelation between increasing concentrations of PM in indoor air and increased asthma symptpms in preschool children. Air Pollution http://www.ecoplum.com/gcontents/view/127 The Obama Administration has presented a budget that cuts back almost all funding for the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste repository project.  Environmental Regulation and Policy