Silver Lake FBLA Chapter Officers Encourage You to GO GREEN
by Dana Epley
January 12, 2010
As a day-to-day reminder, the Silver Lake FBLA Chapter's officers would like to encourage you to GO GREEN on a daily basis. Officers have the daily reminders listed below to help you do your share and learn more about going green:
Ronny Sorensen, President
- Air pollution comes from different sources and has many harmful effects, including hurting our health and the health of other living things.
- Natural factors such as volcanic eruptions, changes in the Earth's orbit, and varying energy from the Sun have affected the Earth's climate.
Kayla Timm, Vice President
- Building occupants use 12.2 percent of the total water consumed in the U.S. per day.
- Vehicles with lower fuel economy create more carbon dioxide - the most prevalent greenhouse gas - than vehicles with higher fuel economy. Every gallon of gasoline your vehicle burns puts about 20 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere because air has weight and mass, and it takes a lot of it to burn a gallon of gasoline.
- Cars, trucks and other mobile sources account for almost a third of the total air pollution in the United States. EPA's vehicle emission standards for cars and trucks have been in place since the early 1970's.
Jennifer Mahoney, Secretary
- Allow grass clippings to stay on the lawn, instead of bagging them. The cut grass will decompose and return to the soil naturally.
- Proper maintenance reduces waste! Keep your appliances in good working order and follow the manufacturer's suggestions for operation and maintenance. Shop for products with high consumer satisfaction and fewer breakdowns. If kept in good working order, your appliances should last a long time and not end up as waste before their time.
Nate Kosse, Treasurer
- Recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees, 7,000 gallons of water, 3 cubic yards of landfill space, 2 barrels of oil, and 4,100 kw hours of electricity (enough to power a home for 5 months)
- By turning down your central heating thermostat one degree, fuel consumption is cut by as much as 10%.
Bailey Morris, Reporter
- According to a study done by Penn State University, 34 percent of landfill waste is composted organic material and 33 percent is paper. Thus, 67 percent of total landfill waste can be easily composted and diverted.
- 900 million trees are turned into paper and pulp every year. Using recycled paper products uses 60% less energy than virgin paper, and each ton saves 17 trees!
Cami Bruckman, Historian
- Air pollution comes from different sources and has many harmful effects, including hurting our health and the health of other living things.
- Water pollution can hurt our ability to use water in our homes, for recreation, and in commerce. It also harms other forms of life.
Kevin Hall, Parliamentarian
Benefits of Recycling
* Recycling protects and expands U.S. manufacturing jobs and increases U.S. competitiveness.
* Recycling reduces the need for landfilling and incineration.
* Recycling prevents pollution caused by the manufacturing of products from virgin materials.
* Recycling saves energy.
* Recycling decreases emissions of greenhouse gases that contribute to global climate change.
* Recycling conserves natural resources such as timber, water, and minerals.
* Recycling helps sustain the environment for future generations.
Donating your working cell phone or PDA can benefit your community. When cell phones and accessories are in good working order, some programs donate them to worthy charities or sell them at a discount to those in need.
