Put one’s energy house in order and score one for the environment

Energy-wise, can we get more from what is currently available? Certainly we can! As consumers, in order for this to happen, though, per-capita consumption must be less. When per-capita consumption is less, then whatever energy is produced is able to go farther. During summer months when temperatures climb, energy use can go through the roof. … Read more

Transportation in transition: An ever-changing, ever-evolving frontier

I’m holding nothing back. I am in no way reserved in letting people know what my expectation is regarding the future of transportation. The first order of business on the table is the notion that humans, first and foremost, are consumers. Next in line is that as Earth’s inhabitants, humans procreate and therefore, we are … Read more

Updated approach to warn of unhealthy particulate levels draws fire

Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think a region in updating its air quality alert system would spark criticism, but it has. According to an article in the Nov. 24, 2012 Los Angeles Times, the Los Angeles region’s South Coast Air Quality Management District on Nov. 24th announced it had issued its “first-ever no-burn alert.” I blogged … Read more

eMission control – Focus: Roadways

Does America have enough roadway lane miles or do we need more? Since the question is a ‘two-parter,’ firstly, YES and secondly, NO. In America Revealed, Episode 2: “NATION ON THE MOVE,” a Public Broadcasting System broadcast, mentioned is that total American road mileage is four-million. A person cannot tell much from that number alone. One … Read more

L.A. wintertime weather pattern prompts ‘no-burn’ alert and who’s minding your chimney?

According to Los Angeles Times correspondent Catherine Saillant in “Air quality agency issues Southland no-burn alert,” the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD) on Saturday, Nov. 24th issued its “first-ever no-burn alert” in the L.A. air basin, all because of an expected wintertime weather pattern. “It’s part of a new program adopted by the South … Read more

What’s it gonna take…to tackle dirty air?

Today’s thread: Food for thought. Up until now, I have presented information on many different air-pollution aspects: the pollution types, the sources, the implications – both health- and monetary-cost-impact-wise, how and where pollution travels, its makeup, properties and, for one type of pollution, at least – polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (or PAHs) – how it interacts with … Read more

Cutting transportation emissions – Seriously? Action speaks louder than words

California has the nation’s worst air. That fact should be an eye-opener. Moreover, knowing this, serious effort should be prompted to clean it up. More on this in a moment. My position is: since the majority of pollutants come from transportation, that sector should be getting anything but short shrift when it comes to finding … Read more

Clean air, Santa Fe style

The city in America having the cleanest air, according to the American Lung Association (ALA), is Santa Fe, the capital of the “Land of Enchantment” – New Mexico. I’ve been there but once, late last spring, in fact. When I visited, there was a fierce wind blowing. Even with the strong gale, it was amazingly … Read more

Air pollution: The enormity of it all

The sources for air pollution are several: Agricultural Commercial (Business) Construction (and Demolition) Energy Production Industrial (and Dredging, Drilling, Excavating and Mining) Natural Residential Transportation Other And the sources there are fit two groups: mobile and stationary. That’s the easy part. The difficulty is in trying to find clean-up solutions that work and can be … Read more