All Creatures, Great and Small

There is a great debate in this country in the environmentalist community. In one court are the wildlife protectors, and in  the other are the climate change battlers. One would think that they would be on the same side, but one issue is the great divider, and that is Wind Energy.

There is a lot of data pointing to the fact that wind turbines are killing birds and bats, but those on the front lines of the climate battle argue that birds and bats are simply collateral damage on the road to a more sustainable future. BUT:

Environmentalists of all creeds agree that the best approach to planning for the future of this planet is to incorporate the ecosystem into those plans, unlike what our recent predecessors have done. So shouldn't we think about the eco-system in the next iteration of the energy plan for this society? Not doing that is what got us into the mess we are in with coal, oil, fracking, etc. There is room for every living thing on this planet, all creatures, great and small, and taking them into account won't take as much "energy," as you might think.

For more information, read the following article by Ted Williams of the Audubon Society:  

http://www.audubonmagazine.org/articles/climate/green-energy-can-we-save-planet-and-save-birds?page=show

Consider the Cool Roof

This is a little something I wrote up for my internship at the Center for Climate Change Communication/Climate Communication Consortium of Maryland, for a fact sheet that goes out with some media materials each month for the consortium members. This month the focus was extreme heat, and this fact sheet is about cool roofs! (The installation of which is one way to reduce extreme heat). It has had to be edited down quite a bit for publication through CCCoM, but I wanted to publish it in its complete form on here, and I doubt they will mind since the final copy will be so different than this one once I finish editing it (but I like this version better!). Enjoy!

 

Consider the Cool Roof

Want to reduce your energy costs and cool your home, all while helping the environment and even cooling your neighborhood? Think about installing a cool roof!

Traditional dark roofs made of asphalt shingles or other dark substances like tar, cause roofs to absorb the sun’s energy and heat, which in turn conducts heat to your house or apartment. This hot roof can even increase the temperature in the surrounding neighborhood, creating a “heat island effect,” which is a term used to describe how urban areas are generally hotter than rural areas due to the increased amount of dark surfaces that absorb heat like roads, parking lots, and roofs. This heat difference means that cities can be around 5 degrees hotter than rural areas during the day, and up to 22 degrees hotter at night (EPA). One way to counter this effect is with cool roofs.

What Is a Cool Roof?

A cool roof is a roof that is coated with a special white paint and lining, a roof with a special UV-reflecting coating, or simply a roof with tiles that are a cooler color than the traditional black. All of these types of roofs reflect more of the sun’s rays, keeping your home and neighborhood cooler.

Benefits of a Cool Roof:

• ·        A cool roof is generally 50-60 degrees cooler than a traditional dark-colored roof (EPA). This means that if you have a cool roof, less heat is being conducted into your home, so your home will be naturally cooler on those hot summer days.

• ·        A cool roof saves you money: A cool roof can significantly reduce air conditioning costs, by an average of  20% (EPA). Also, if you live in Montgomery County, you can apply for and receive an energy efficiency tax credit from the Dept. of the Treasury for up to $250 for installing a cool roof (Michael Parent of the Division of the Treasury-Montgomery County)--that’s money directly in your pocket for helping the environment!

• ·        Increase the life-span and durability of your roof: some cool roofs will seal and prevent leaks, and many are easily maintained with a one-layer recoat after 10-15 years.

• ·        Help save the environment: A cool roof reduces pollution by reducing the amount of energy required to cool your home, meaning you are reducing the amount of fossil fuels you use.

Can I Install a Cool Roof on Any Roof?

The slope of your roof determines what kind of cool roof you are eligible for.

• ·        A flat roof, for example the roof of a townhouse, condo, or apartment building, can be converted by spraying a thick cool-colored or white coating over your current roof. Additives in this coating improve their adhesion, durability, suppression of algae and fungal growth, and ability to self-wash, or shed dirt under normal rainfall, meaning your nice white roof won’t turn dingy over time. If you have a flat roof and you want to convert it, simply search for white or cool roofs to look for an installer in your area. In California, installers are common, but they are also available nationwide. In Maryland specifically, you can have a cool roof installed by calling Maryland Civic Works at 410-366-8533.

• ·        For a traditional home, or a neighborhood with an HOA, try cool-colored tiles for a cool roof. These tiles look no different than traditional dark roofs, but they contain pigments that reflect solar energy in the infrared spectrum. You can get these tiles in traditional colors of brown, green, and terracotta, and there are even asphalt tiles that reflect almost as much solar energy (up to 65%). Energy Star has a rating system for these types of tiles, listed on their website.

“Cool Roofing translates into considerable energy savings, reduced air pollution and emissions, and increased durability” –US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

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Environmental Justice Advocacy Digital Story for Anacostia, DC

The following is an advocacy video that myself (Ashley Strobridge), Roger LeBlanc Jr, Whitney Morcom, Fayven Gitahi, and Sean Kelley created for our GMU Environmental Justice course (NCLC 334), about the environmental justice issues facing the Anacostia region and Ward 8 in DC, and the advocacy groups in the region trying to help out that you
can get involved in. I shot the video, took the food desert pictures (liquor stores and convenience stores), and recorded the first portion of audio. Thanks for watching!