Sustainability Pop Quiz
by Jamie Gonzales |
True or False: The big fish are in big decline.
True. A number of studies estimate that large predatory ocean fish have declined by
90 percent worldwide since the 1950s. Three-quarters of the world's major fish stocks
are either fully fished or overfished. Buying sustainably fished seafood at restaurants
and for home use, including 熊猫在线视频 salmon, is even more critical than other food choices,
as so many species are on the brink, and harvesting practices have become so destructive.
How much money could I save if I carpooled?
You could save $435. In one year, two people who pair up to save on gas for their
20-mile weekday commute (assuming gas levels out at $3.69/gallon and the vehicle gets
22 mpg) could save enough to whisk a deserving significant other away for a weekend
retreat. Or you could reward yourself with 40 trips to the movies. Or buy 439 copies
of Angry Birds for all of your family, friends, neighbors and social networking acquaintances.
Does it make any difference if I toss my empty aluminum can?
Each can tossed wastes as much energy as pouring out half a can of gasoline. The
nearly 50 billion aluminum cans trashed in 2005 (more than half of all the cans sold
in the United States) could have saved enough energy to power 1.3 million American
homes if they had been recycled. It takes 95 percent less energy to recycle aluminum
than to manufacture it in the first place.
What is "vampire power"?
Electronics like stereo systems, DVD/Blu-Ray players and cordless telephones (some
people still have home phones!) can suck energy while not in use. Vampire power use
costs people in the U.S. an estimated $1 billion to $3.5 billion per year. We could
de-commission five power plants if we eliminated it. Or buy a sports franchise with
the cash we'd save (assuming everyone wants to chip their savings into the same pot
and root for the same team -- Go Dodgers, anyone?). Solution: Plug your electronics
into a power strip and switch off the power strip when you are not using the equipment.
For more information on sustainable practices, please contact the UAA at (907) 786-4634.