LA2Step's blog

The home appliances, accessories and gadgets dictate much of our lifestyle, using up a ton of electricity. It seems the nature of the beast dictates that everything is made to be broken. The old coffee maker lasted 20 years but the new dies in 6 months? Are you kidding me, dude?

So now it is time to get another coffee maker. The receipt for the old coffee maker is gone. It is time to throw the old one away. lather, rinse, repeat.

There is a big problem in America in terms of savings and in terms of normal practices of its citizens.

It should not take an iPhone repair technician cracking a iPhone 4 screen to make us realize even the top products break easy.

Luckily the internet has come to increase communication and networking - giving us a fighting chance.

What do I mean? It seems that while most of us hide in our homes and avoid our neighbors, on the internet we can be friendly and communicate real well. This is called social networking, aka, messing around.

As a result, tutorials and product repair guides have sprung up all over blogs like this. It really sucks that our products are made to be broken but now there are solutions for most big name products.

Craigslist creates natural networks but be warned, its best to deal with money exchanges during the day and in busy areas. Other networking services are emerging, along with trade-in options for any number of appliances, which are changing the game.

There has been a spike in the amount of repairs all across the board in terms of electronics. It seems that largely due to financial woes, people are going back to get their electronics and appliances repaired rather than buying the latest and greatest. Also though, you can't dismiss the fact that the public is becoming more aware of issues like ewaste.

Solar power and alternative forms of energy are transforming many of our appliances, which should really help in all of the excessive battery waste that is seeping into our waters.

E-waste only accounts for 3 percent of the total waste in landfills. This a good, I guess, until you factor in that the 3 percent equals 70 percent of the total toxic wast in landfills. This does not take into account that the majority of our e-waste is legally/illegally shipped to poorer countries who loosely manage the ewaste for higher profits than the United States policies allow.

So a wave of repair shops have been popping up on street corners and google. Topics like Mac Computer, iPod and iPhone repair are popular. You can easily figure out how to fix things like a iphone screen repair for a cracked glass display. If you buy the tools and screen and followed the needed steps, you could save big for not buying something new or even used.

Electronic items vary though and most don't yield the potential profits other big name appliances yield. 10 new e-waste plants are opening in the United States to deal with the issue but it's not enough.

Just think of all the big TV rear projectors of yesteryear, that are not trying to be sold on craigslist. It's almost comical how people can't even give them away. America truly stepped away from the 'bigger is better' motto quickly when it came to certain things.

While the remodeling of existing older buildings to make them more energy efficient is certainly a necessity, it doesn't come without its hazards. Remember, older homes and commercial buildings probably contain all sorts of toxins, most notably asbestos. The miracle of the 20th century building industry, touted for its amazing heat- and fire-resistant properties, this hazardous mineral can be found in attics, wrapped around pipes and furnaces, and even in walls, floors, and ceilings, especially in buildings constructed prior to 1980. Rare forms of cancer may result from exposure, including peritoneal mesothelioma and pericardial mesothelioma so a safe transition is vital.

Once the asbestos is addressed and then removed by a licensed professional and disposed of properly, green insulation options should be given serious consideration. The Department of Energy says heating and cooling accounts for 50-70 percent of the energy used in the average American home so finding sound and healthy insulation options are a necessity. Today, these options can save natural resources as well. Eco-friendly insulations are often made of recycled materials and include cellulose (old shredded newspapers treated for fire resistance), cotton fiber (usually made of recycled batted denim), and spray polyurethane foam.

Statistics show that the foam, for example, can cut energy costs by about 35 percent annually, according to studies done by manufacturers. The other projects claim similar figures. And because these are recycled materials, less waste is going to the nation's already crowded landfills.

Savings of Green Construction

Thankfully the idea of "building green" is gradually becoming much more than a trend. Builders and investors are recognizing that eco-friendly construction provides not only long-term positive environmental benefits but also immediate financial payoffs as well.

Cities throughout the U.S. and the world are also slowly recognizing the necessity of green construction practices in the remodeling and renovating of older residential and commercial facilities, taking advantage of loans offered to them by various foundations, designated for the purpose of upgrading lighting and heating and cooling systems in aging buildings, where the most energy is consumed.

Such initiatives also prompt the need for healthier and more cost-efficient options in the world of building materials. Indeed, the United Nations Environmental Program says that the use of recycled building materials, like cotton fiber insulation, in addition to the installation of energy saving appliances and the maximization of natural lighting in a building, can reduce energy use energy use by 25 to 35 percent. In some best-case scenarios, they say, results have been as high as 80 percent.

The United States Green Building Council (USGBC), in a study conducted in 2003, estimated a savings of $50-$65 per square foot for well-constructed green buildings in the U.S. (see table below) during that year. The numbers continue to improve as more eco-friendly options become available, and those kinds of figures have finally begun to attract those who thought eco-friendly construction was just a bunch of hogwash.

Type of Benefit

20-year Net Present Value / sq. feet

Energy Savings

$5.80

Emissions Savings

$1.20

Water Savings

$0.50

Operations and Maintenance Savings

$8.50

Productivity and Health Benefits

$36.90 - $55.30

Subtotal

$52.90 - $71.30

Initial Investment in Green Building Practices

$3.00 - $5.00

Total 20-year Net Benefit

$50 - $65

Source: USGBC Capital E Analysis, 2003.

For much of the country, fall is in the air and the nights
and early mornings are starting to dip below freezing. For some, it's a welcome
change from hot summer days and sticky summer nights. Other folks aren't so
fond of the cold weather, counting the days until spring peeks its head through
the chilly frost, producing colorful flowers and warm days once again.

Unfortunately, there are those of us who have to live with
the cold and many who live in older, drafty houses that sometimes chill to the
bone. I have a friend who lives in a beautiful Victorian home in suburban
Philadelphia that's simply stunning but fails to keep its residents warm and
toasty during sometimes bitter cold months like January and February. This
long-time friend recently decided to do something more about the poor
insulation in her 100+-year-old home, noting that her aging bones and muscles
weren't dealing with the chill the way they once did.

Being more of a money-saver than a green proponent, she
began to research the "cheapest' way to upgrade the insulation in her huge
home, which has three stories, five bedrooms, and lots of high ceilings. Before
she made any definite decisions, a few eco-conscious friends encouraged her to
investigate some alternatives to the classic pink fiberglass stuff that has
been wreaking havoc with people's health for decades. Fiberglass is destined -
according to many experts - to someday be "the new asbestos". These experts
expect to soon see an onslaught of lawsuits connected to the use of fiberglass,
not unlike the lawsuits for asbestos-caused mesothelioma lawyer
cases that clog the court dockets today, with individuals like shipbuilders and
construction workers seeking mesothelioma
settlements for the severe health problems they now face.

My friend was pleasantly surprised at her options and soon
decided that going green wasn't all that expensive and may be the right
direction for her, especially since she suffers from severe allergies at
particular seasons of the year. She investigated three options;

• Cellulose
  - Some people chuckle when they learn that this insulation product is simply
  finely-shredded newsprint treated with a chemical to reduce mold and strengthen
  fire and heat resistance. They don't laugh, however, when they learn that
  statistics show it reduces energy bills as much as 20-25 percent per year. It's
  become one of the most popular green insulating materials on the market.
• Cotton fiber -
  Not unlike cellulose, cotton fiber insulation has been known to also reduce
  annual energy costs. It's generally crafted from a batted cotton material like
  denim then treated with borate - a natural fire-retardant - which obviously
  increases its fire resistance. Some people jokingly call it "Blue Jean
  Insulation." But the best reason to use it is that it's TOTALLY non-toxic,
  releasing no off-gasses. One popular brand, Ultra Touch by Bonded Logic, was
  recently touted in Newsweek magazine.
• Spray Polyurethane Foams - My friend wasn't
  so impressed with some of these because, after some research, she discovered
  that many of them release PBDEs (polybrominated diethyl ethers), which -
  studies show - can cause some mental health problems. One variety, icynene,
  does not contain PBDEs, but its installation turned out to be rather expensive.
  If you're willing to foot the bill, however, icynene works well and reduces
  energy bills by up to 35 percent, manufacturers say.

Ultimately, my friend went with
the "Blue Jean Insulation." I think she somehow liked to imagine recycled Levis
lining the attic in her grand Victorian home. Though winter hasn't fully set in
yet, she says she notices the difference and already feels like the air in her
home is more pure. She's probably right.

The method in which America creates energy has been a hot topic during the 2008 presidential election. For most, a primary concern deals with how we can keep prices down at the pump while eliminating our need for foreign oil. This desire has lead to the “drill here, drill now” crowd calling for domestic offshore drilling (among other things). While everyone agrees that energy independent principles are vital to revving up the American economy, there are big differences in how to accomplish this task. Notably, when it comes to the energy resources and environmental protection standards, there are fundamental differences in Barack Obama’s and John McCain’s interests. Additionally, when it comes to bills in congress addressing consumer protection, manufacturing standards, and other topics not talked about enough, the future will heavily depend upon which candidate prevails. The following include a few you may not have known about, and some you may have, but they are all liable to affect the lives of everyday Americans.

One fact to note when looking for the candidates policies on their respective websites is that Barack Obama has a category named “Energy and Environment” under the “Issues” section. On the other hand, John McCain has “American Energy” and “Climate Change” listed as separate categories under the “Issues” section. This seemingly subtle difference represents some conflicting policies between the two candidates. While McCain believes in global warming, he is resistant to associate the call for more oil with his global warming concerns because supporting the two issues is a sheer contradiction. In sum, Obama wants to rid our dependence on all oil (not just foreign) and McCain wants to use every available resource needed to end our dependence on foreign oil.

McCain calls his energy plan “The Lexington Project,” which is an all of the above energy solution according to his website. Included is expansion of domestic oil and natural oil exploration, tax credits for automakers and consumers who buy cars with low carbon emissions, $2 billion annually reserved for clean coal technology, 45 new nuclear power plants and he will “encourage”  the market for alternative fuels such as wind, hydro, and solar power. He has greenhouse gas emissions targets listed in the climate change section that includes dropping it 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020 and 66 percent below 2005 levels by 2050.

Obama calls his plan “comprehensive” and puts added emphasis on new forms of energy. He wants to provide $1,000 to American families through a windfall profits tax, calling it an “Emergency Energy Rebate.”  He will invest $150 billion over the next 10 years to build a clean energy future, and in that same allotted time, rid American dependency of foreign oil. He wants to put one million plug-in hybrid cars on the road by 2015 and ensure 10 percent of our electricity comes from renewable sources by 2012 and 25 percent by 2025. In addition, Obama wants to implement an economy–wide cap-and-trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 80 percent by 2050.

Interestingly, by 2050 many of those reading this article still won’t be as old as John McCain is now. Moving on, there are other issues that you may not hear about quite as much.

The use of asbestos in products and the manufacturing industry could come to a close in 2009. Senator Patty Murray introduced the “Ban Asbestos in America Act” that has been introduced and passed by the entire U.S. Senate. However, the bill does contain a harmful pro-industry amendment eliminating coverage for workers exposed to products containing one percent or less of asbestos. CWA and the AFL-CIO will work to have this language omitted in the final Senate-House legislation.

Congresswoman Betty McCollum has introduced the “Bruce Vento Asbestos and Prevent Mesothelioma Act of 2008.” This legislation is not expected to be passed by the full house during 2008, so this is basically groundwork in order to get the bill passed in 2009. Right now there are now mesothelioma treatments that result in a cure.

Another bill is the “Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008.”  These are all supported by the Blue-Green Labor/Environmental Coalition.

With Barack Obama as president and a Congress dominated by democrats, the above legislation should all pass. With John McCain as president, the bills could be vetoed.

In paying for all of these plans, Barack Obama pledges to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans (annual income of $250,000) and raise taxes on oil companies. While John McCain will actually lower taxes for oil companies, he pledges to cut small business taxes and promote fiscal responsibility within the government. He says that with bi-partisan efforts, he can bring the budget to balance by 2013. Until then, expect a dirty fight in efforts toward a cleaner America.