#renewablesnow — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #renewablesnow, aggregated by home.social.
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[1/2] #StarIsland, #GosportNH - #GreenGosport Initiatives that can be practiced on the #Mainland!
Green Practices
"For centuries, living on Star Island has required a knowledge of conservation and respecting the environment. Since 2011, we have taken a more proactive approach to this with the Green Gosport Initiative — a program designed to educate our island and mainland communities about sustainability, and to serve as a model for others. The efforts we make on island are sometimes huge (we recently installed a solar array), but often are relatively easy to accomplish. Here are some of the things we do on Star to reduce our impact locally while thinking globally. We’ve included suggestions about how you can take what we do on the island and practice it on the mainland.
#ReuseStar Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. Therefore, we seriously consider how we can reuse items on-island before trashing or recycling them. For example, several years ago we collected used glass bottles to line the beds in our vegetable gardens. We also reuse historic furniture and replace small parts instead of replacing entire fixtures. We also reuse food waste to create compost, which in turn helps to grow more food.
Mainland: Instead of throwing something away, ask yourself if you can reuse it. Some simple things to reuse include plastic sandwich bags for more sandwiches, shopping bags as trash bags, and newspaper for kindling or wrapping paper. Random bits of plastic from everyday products and toys might also be great sources for a rainy day art project. And to help you stay hyrdated, use a water bottle to refill instead of buying new bottled water.
Star Island: When you can’t reuse, recycle. We send metal, glass and paper off island to get recycled if we can’t reuse it.
Mainland: Most municipalities have curbside recycling, and we encourage you to take advantage of this easy way to recycle. Also, if you’re ever out and about and need to dispose of something (paper coffee cup, plastic drink bottle), check to see if it is recyclable and find a proper receptacle instead of trashing by default.
Use #RenewableEnergyStar Island: In the fall of 2014 we installed a solar array on Star that has provided an estimated 60% of our energy needs since the 2015 summer. We’re not fully running on solar power, but this renewable energy source is our focus moving forward.
Mainland: Installing solar panels on your home allows you to take advantage of sustainable energy and excess, unused energy can even be back fed into the larger electrical grid. Not only are you taking a step to reduce carbon emissions, but you could also be saving money.
Turn Off Lights
Star Island: We turn the lights off whenever possible. Although lights are left on in certain public spaces such as walkways, hallways, and the main lobby for safety, for the most part the island goes dark at night. We even rely entirely on candlelight for evening chapel services. On Star we’re swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LEDs, and considering sensors for lights in areas that don’t need to be lit when no one’s using them at night (bathrooms, hallways, walkways). Fewer lights means less electricity, reducing the need to use as much diesel to support the solar array.
Mainland: If you’re the last one leaving a room, turn the light off; installing automatic switches can be helpful if you’re apt to forget. Also, question if you really need the light on-daylight is often just fine. Fewer lights means less electricity, which may even reduce your electric bill.
Use Energy Efficient Equipment
Star Island: Replacing equipment with more efficient models has allowed us to reduce demands on our island’s infrastructure. A recent example is the purchase of a new dishwasher, which uses less power during operation and also uses less water. Less water used means less drinking water treated and less used water sent to the island’s wastewater treatment facility. This leaves more water available for other uses, such as guest showers. Water and wastewater treatment are also two of the three biggest electrical uses on-island, so this energy and water efficient dishwasher means an overall reduction in energy use. On Star we’re also swapping outdated bulbs (incandescents) for more efficient LED’s.
Mainland: Replace household appliances with those receiving Energy Star rating. Energy Star products are “certified to save energy without sacrificing features or functionality.” This rating helps you choose household equipment that can help realize energy savings. Click here to learn more.
Star Island: Over the past few years we’ve been generating more produce from the several vegetable gardens on island. This produce supplements the food we order from the mainland. By growing our own food, we are also able to eat fresher, more nutritious food and also reduce the cost of our food bill.
Mainland: Just like a 1940’s victory garden, growing a portion of your own food is a great cause. You are stating that you want to know where your food comes from, and you’re choosing varieties of produce you like. Having your own food in your yard, or in a planter on your porch might also mean less trips to the grocery store.
Eat Your Veggies
Star Island: We know that eating your vegetables isn’t just good for your body, it can be good for the environment, too. Every meal on Star includes a vegetarian option. When you register, just let us know you’ll be choosing the vegetarian option. And while we have your attention, why not consider making your stay on Star a chance to try out being a vegatarian? You’ll still get your protein and iron, don’t worry. Want to learn more? Click here to read about the effects of cattle farming on the environment.
Mainland: Try practicing a vegetarian diet. You might find your grocery bill to be lower than usual, and you might find some awesome recipes that you’ll keep forever. If switching to a vegetarian diet is a bit too much, we suggest trying #MeatlessMondays as a way to incorporate meals one day a week that are less intenstive on the environment.
Star Island: Everything carried to the island needs to be carried off, unless it can be turned into something useful. We separate food waste from trash and compost this to transform it into a beneficial commodity that helps improve island soil in gardens and on the lawn. Chickens also help by eating leftovers such as bread, oatmeal, and mashed potatoes (they love vegetarian pot pie!). Composting food waste helps reduce demands on island boats and provides the island with a reusable product.
Mainland: A small compost bin is easy to use and maintain for household scraps. You can build your own, or check with your town/municipality to see if they participate in a program that offers compost bins for a reduced cost. By composting you reduce the amount of waste that is thrown into landfills. Some municipalities are even starting to collect compost along with trash and recycling. We encourage you to investigate your mainland options including companies that collect compost for you.
Take Fewer, Shorter Showers
Star Island: If you’ve stayed on Star Island you know that we have a shower schedule that provides 3 showers for both staff and guests over a 7-day period. We limit showers because water on-island is hard to come by. Yes, there’s plenty of salt water nearby, but fresh water isn’t readily available (recall the Rime of the Ancient Mariner: Water, water everywhere and not one drop to drink). Fresh water is provided through reverse osmosis of sea water, filtration and disinfection of collected #rainwater, and water delivery by boat (i.e. a lot of work).
Mainland: An every other day shower schedule isn’t just something to practice for water conservation, it’s also recommended for your skin and hair health."
https://starisland.org/the-island/green/practices/
#SolarPunkSunday #SolarPunk #SelfReliance #RenewableEnergy
#Renewables #RenewablesNow
#GreenPractices #OffGrid #IslandLiving #EcoConsciousLiving #IslesOfShoals -
'Planet Wreckers': 4 Rich Nations Plotting Nearly 70% of New Oil and Gas Over Next Decade | Common Dreams
This is not just hypocrisy," said one climate campaigner. "It is a death sentence for communities on the frontlines of the #ClimateCrisis."
Brett Wilkins
Jun 16, 2025"Four wealthy nations—the #UnitedStates, #Canada, #Norway, and #Australia—account for the majority of planned oil and gas expansion over the next decade, according to new data published by #OilChangeInternational on Monday, the first day of the #BonnClimateChangeConference in Germany.
"Oil Change's analysis, titled #PlanetWreckers, notes that if those four #GlobalNorth nations stopped their planned new oil and gas extraction, 32 billion tons of carbon pollution would stay in the ground instead of being burned and released into the atmosphere, where they fuel planetary heating. That's the equivalent of three times the annual global emissions created by burning coal.
" 'A handful of the world's richest nations remain intent on leading us into disaster. This is not just hypocrisy. It is a death sentence for communities on the frontlines of the climate crisis,' Oil Change International global policy lead Romain Ioualalen said in a statement Monday.
"It is sickening that countries with the highest incomes and outsized historical responsibility for causing the climate crisis are planning massive oil and gas expansion with no regard for the lives and livelihoods at stake," Ioualalen added."
Read more:
https://www.commondreams.org/news/oil-change-report-planet-wreckers#Oligarchy #Oiligarchy #BigOilAndGas #DrillBabyDrill #LeaveItInTheGround #CorporateColonialism #FossilFuels #Fracking #Oil #Pollution #Drilling #Ecocide #USPol #CanadaPol #PetroState #ThanksBigOil #ClimateCatastrophe #BPKnew #ExxonKnew #WaterIsLife #AirIsLife #OilUpTheSwamp #ExtractiveIndustries #NoPipelines #RenewablesNow #FossillFuel #NoJobsOnADeadPlanet
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So, #Terrapower and other #HALEU energy projects are being touted as "carbon-free". But alas, a lot of energy is spent digging, milling, transporting and enriching #Uranium -- and there's still no place to permanently store #NuclearWaste.
And #NewNuclear is far from CLEAN -- ask the residents of #PiketonOhio -- who are still dealing with #contamination from when the uranium enrichment plant was operating before!
Radioactive cylinders abound at former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant site
by The Guardian
August 7, 2024
PIKETON, Ohio – "The site of the former Portsmouth Gaseous Diffusion Plant in Piketon is home to a significant number of radioactive cylinders, posing ongoing environmental and health risks. As of 2022, there are a total of 20,570 uranium hexafluoride (#UF6) cylinders at the site, including 1,879 low-enriched uranium (LEU) cylinders, 18,206 depleted uranium cylinders, and 385 empty cylinders.
"These cylinders, which have been stored in the open for decades, are known to be among the highest sources of #radioactive contamination at the entire plant site. The U.S. Department of Energy [#DOE] has repeatedly reported the #hazardous conditions associated with these cylinder yards.
Chemical Reaction and #Corrosion
"UF6 is highly reactive with moisture, forming uranyl fluoride (UO2F2) and hydrogen fluoride (HF). Both compounds are extremely corrosive and toxic. HF can lead to severe corrosion of the cylinder walls, potentially resulting in leaks and the release of hazardous materials. The environmental and health impacts of these compounds are severe; HF can cause respiratory issues, skin burns, and eye damage, while UO2F2 can lead to kidney damage and other serious health problems.
Historical Accidents
"The potential risks are not hypothetical. In 1978, a major incident occurred when a UF6 cylinder ruptured, releasing over 20,000 pounds of uranium hexafluoride into the atmosphere. Over the years, there have been dozens of such accidental releases, exacerbating the environmental and health risks associated with the site."
#NoUraniumEnrichment #BillGates #Greenwashing #NoUraniumMining #RenewablesNow #NoNukes #NoNewNukes #TerrapowerHype #NewNuclearHype #SameOldSameOld
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North Texans want more say as nuclear plant seeks to continue operating through 2053
By Haley Samsel
December 11, 2023"Crossing the dark parking lot outside the Somervell County Expo Center, Susybelle Gosslee barely could see the ground in front of her. The experience left her feeling 'vulnerable' — and concerned about why the Nuclear Regulatory Commission [#NRC] didn’t turn on outdoor lights for its Dec. 7 public meeting about the #ComanchePeak #nuclear power plant in #GlenRoseTexas.
"That wasn’t her only critique. Earlier in the day, Gosslee and other #environmental advocates struggled to log on to a virtual meeting hosted by the commission. Officials apologized for the challenges and vowed to host another online session the week of Dec. 18.
"'That is not transparency, and it’s not good government,' Gosslee, the Dallas-based chair of #HazardousWaste issues for the League of Women Voters of Texas, said. 'I’m concerned because of the lack of access to meetings, and you can see that it wasn’t well-publicized because there is nobody here. That’s an indicator that the job did not get done.'
"Gosslee’s criticism comes as #Vistra, the owner of the Comanche Peak nuclear power plant in Glen Rose, seeks to keep its reactors online through at least 2053. The plant began operation in 1990.
"The company’s current licenses for two nuclear units, which have the capacity to power 1.2 million homes under normal electricity conditions, expire in 2030 and 2033. Vistra announced its license renewal application in October 2022, citing a desire to bring more 'carbon-free electricity' to the electric grid.
"'Renewing the licenses of this plant is critical for grid reliability and our environment and is a benefit to the economy, the local community and our company,' Jim Burke, president and CEO of Vistra, said at the time.
As part of the license renewal process, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission has already heard from dozens of residents living in the plant’s 50-mile radius, including parts of Tarrant, Hood and Somervell counties.
"Many are supportive of Comanche Peak’s continued operation, citing its economic contributions as Somervell County’s largest taxpayer and an employer of more than 600 full-time staff. At a January public meeting, Glen Rose ISD Superintendent Trig Overbo and Somervell County Judge Danny Chambers were among the plant’s most vocal supporters. Others, including Gosslee, expressed concerns over how the aging plant would handle higher risk of #drought, #wildfires and #earthquake activity.
"Since then, Nuclear Regulatory Commission staff have evaluated the environmental impact of running the plant for 20 years after the current licenses expire in 2030 and 2033. The agency issued its draft environmental impact statement in early November, outlining considerations like air quality, land use, water resources, human health and waste management.
"Commission staff determined that Comanche Peak’s continued operation would have only small impacts on the surrounding environment, said Tam Tran, who led the environmental review. The agency defines small impacts as being either undetectable or so minor that they will neither destabilize nor noticeably alter natural resources. [Apparently, these people either believe in #hormesis or don't believe in #bioaccumulation!]
"The review also found that the plant’s operations may affect, but are not likely to negatively impact, protected species such as the #GoldenCheekedWarbler, #TricoloredBat and #MonarchButterfly. Fish habitats are not expected to be affected, Tran said."