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| The burning of fossil fuels and destruction of the world's forests have contributed to an increase in the Earth's global temperature, by about 1.2° to 1.4° F in the last 100 years (according to the EPA). Fossil fuels release carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases when burned, which trap heat in the atmosphere. Some greenhouse gases are necessary to keep the Earth at a livable temperature, but the levels of these gases are continuing to increase and causing a warmer global temperature. In addition to the temperature change, there are changes in rainfall patterns, sea level, and snow and ice cover happening around the world. Current predictions indicate that if greenhouse gases continue to increase, the Earth's temperature could increase 3.2° to 7.2° F above the temperature in 1990. This will cause a change in the Earth's climate, but scientists are unsure of exactly what will change, by how much, how quickly, or when the changes will take place. | |||||||||||||||||
| A greenhouse gas is a gas that traps heat in the atmosphere. Although some greenhouse gases are naturally occurring, some are released only by human activities. The high levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere are not natural and can be linked to human actions. The primary greenhouse gases are carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), nitrous oxide (N2O), and fluorinated gases. Carbon dioxide is primarily emitted through the burning of fossil fuels (oil, coal, natural gas), as well as wood and waste. Carbon dioxide is used by plants in photosynthesis, so deforestation contributes to increased levels of carbon dioxide. Methane is emitted from livestock flatulence, the decay of organic waste, and the production and transportation of fossil fuels. Nitrous oxide is released during the burning of fossil fuels and solid waste, and during agricultural and industrial activities. Fluorinated gases include hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. They are synthetic and very powerful greenhouse gases that result from industrial activities. | |||||||||||||||||
The potential consequences of climate change include not only environmental changes, but also changes in human health and food production. Health: With warmer global temperatures, tropical diseases, particularly those spread by mosquitoes and other insects, such as malaria, dengue fever, and yellow fever, could become more prevalent. Lyme disease could also spread, as warming may increase the area inhabited by ticks. Agriculture/Food: Many consequences of climate change could have a significant effect on agriculture. An increased overall temperature, changes in rainfall, increased concentrations of carbon dioxide, and increased climatic variability could all affect agricultural productivity. Climate change will impact where certain crops are grown, how well they grow, and how much can be grown. Climate: Sea level rise and the melting of the polar ice caps are two well-known repercussions of climate change, but there is a myriad of other consequences. The number and strength of extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, flooding, storms, and fires, could also change. These changes will have additional effects on human health and agricultural production. The availability and quality of water are influenced by climate change, which also connects with agricultural and human health issues. The changing climate will also have significant ramifications on plant and animal species all over the world. |
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“Carbon footprint” is a term used to describe an individual's or an organization's impact on climate change in terms of tons of carbon emissions. The smaller a carbon footprint, the less impact on the environment and the less contribution to global warming. You can calculate your total emissions with the EPA's Personal Emissions Calculator. In many situations, there are currently not any practical ways to do an activity in a carbon neutral manner, so if you must participate in these activities, consider offsetting these activities by participating in activities that have a positive impact on carbon footprint or purchasing offsets from companies that perform such services.
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| The American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment is a group of colleges and universities across the country that have pledged to become climate neutral. As part of this, Dickinson is completing a greenhouse gas emissions inventory to quantify the emissions for which the college is responsible. After the inventory is completed in September 2008, a plan will be made for getting Dickinson to be climate neutral. President Durden signed the Presidents Climate Commitment in February 2007, and is a member of the Leadership Circle. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Automobiles have been around for well over a century now, and for entirety of the century, cars and other automobiles have been fueled almost solely by petroleum gasoline and diesel fuels. While there had been a few attempts to explore different power sources, such as solar-powered cars, in the past, it has only been in the past few years that real progress has started in producing more environmentally-friendly cars on a large scale. In the following categories we give a brief overview of hybrid, electric, diesel, biodiesel, hydrogen, and the traditional gasoline powered cars and vehicles. If you are interested in exploring any of these topics in more detail, check out our Resources Section at the bottom of the page. | |||||||||||||||||
Hybrid cars are powered by a combination of conventional internal combustion engine and an electric motor. Generally, the electric motor will get the car started and driving up to about 40mph, and then the gas motor kicks in. The battery recharges by recovering energy used in braking. The gas powered motor is better for higher speeds on the highway, while the electric motor is great for stop and go traffic in the city. While the car is running on the electric motor, there are no emissions being released. |
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Electric cars are powered by a rechargeable battery pack. There are no emissions directly from the use of the car; only from the production of the electricity used to charge the battery. Electric cars have had difficulty gaining popularity in the United States because of the lacking infrastructure. There simply are not enough charging stations for people to reliably drive around most areas of the country. The documentary “Who Killed the Electric Car” provides a good look at why oil companies have hindered the expansion of the electric car in the United States. WIRED magazine recently published an article about Shai Agassi, who is trying to convert all of Israel to use electric powered cars by building a highly developed and convenient infrastructure for that country. |
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Petroleum diesel is a fossil fuel made from a petroleum and hydrocarbon mix. Trucks, buses, boats, farm machinery, and military vehicles are generally diesel powered. Diesel powered cars generally have a better fuel economy and produce fewer emissions than gasoline powered cars, because of diesel engines have higher compression ratios, which means they can derive more energy per gallon. Generally, it is environmental concerns about greenhouse gas emissions and particulate matter that have prevented diesel cars from really entering the market in the Unites States. However, according to the Environmental Defense Fund, in the next decade EPA diesel emissions standards are planned to lower emissions by 90%. Popular Mechanics published an article last January predicting that the European diesel car market will soon pick up in the United States as well, due to high emission standards and efficiency. |
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| Biodiesel (ethanol) is an alternative to regular diesel fuel. It can be made from virgin vegetable oil or used cooking oil. It produces fewer emissions than petroleum diesel, especially particulate matter. To turn the oil into fuel, it first undergoes the process of transesterification, in which methanol and lye are added to the oil, resulting in biodiesel and glycerin. For a much more in-depth look at biodiesel see our Biodiesel Project page |
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***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** For the most part cars and other small vehicles have run on gasoline fueled internal combustion engines. Regular gasoline is a petroleum-based fossil fuel. It releases numerous greenhouse gases and other pollutants when burned. |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** Biking is an essentially carbon-neutral mode of transportation and an excellent form of exercise. Beyond traditional bikes, there are also many electrically assisted bikes available on the market. Similar to electric vehicles, riders can simply plug the bike into an outlet to charge up. Then the bikes provide a little extra power to make commutes that are longer or involve more hills much easier. |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** Walking is another carbon-neutral way to travel. It is especially effective for shorter trips or when used in combination with public transportation. |
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| Mass transit (often referred to as public transportation) is a more environmentally-friendly method of travel; the fuel use per person is decreased, since more people are getting around with the same vehicle. Examples of mass transit include buses, trains, light rail systems, and subway systems. In September of 2007 the American Public Transportation Association published a report on the impact and potential impact of public transportation on global climate change in the United States. See it here. |
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Like airplanes, trains can move large numbers of people over long distances. Train travel, however, produces only one third the amount of carbon dioxide that flying does. Trains are especially convenient for work commuters because they can work or relax while traveling to and from work. With rising gas prices, trains can also be a cheaper alternative to driving. Amtrak provides most long distance train services in the U.S. There are also many local train services, such as Septa in the Philadelphia area and NJ Transit in New Jersey. Train Chartering provides information about the benefits of rail commuting and updates on technology and programs involving train transportation. |
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Although airplanes transport large numbers of people, they have significant environmental impacts, releasing a large amount of greenhouse gases. Air transportation currently contributes approximately 3.5% of worldwide carbon dioxide emissions. Taking off and landing creates the most emissions. Similarly to a car on a highway, once a plane is cruising over a longer distance it becomes more efficient and makes more sense to fly than to use other modes of transportation. According to figures from Terrapass, flying from D.C. to New York (~200 miles) will emit about 222lbs of CO2 per passenger while flying from L.A. to New York (~2450 miles) produces 718lbs of CO2 per passenger. Of course the exact figures for any particular flight will depend on the size of the plane, the type of engine, how much of a delay the plane experiences, and other similar factors. If possible, air travel should be avoided as much as possible. Consider vacationing closer to home. Business conferences can often be held via video conferences. If there is a train connection for shorter distances, use that instead of flying. If you must fly, consider buying carbon offsets. There are several companies that sell offsets listed in our Carbon Footprint section. Besides CO2 emissions, the anti-freeze products used on airplanes are harmful to the ecosystems surrounding airports. |
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| Carpooling reduces the number of cars on the road, thus reducing the greenhouse gases emitted. In addition, the cost of gas can be split among everyone in the carpool, which is particularly beneficial given the high cost of gas; it's good for your wallet and good for the environment. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Solar energy refers to any form of energy production or capture that directly utilizes solar radiation. This includes photovoltaic panels, solar thermal water heating, and many forms of passive designs. An important aspect of setting up any solar energy system is the solar resource available to your particular site. This has much to do with your latitude, climate, and the amount of shading from surrounding buildings and other objects. To see what your solar resources are check out this Calculator at Roof Ray. | |||||||||||||||||
***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** Solar thermal systems use the sun's energy to heat water. The heated water can then be used directly (as in a solar hot water heater), used to heat a building's interior (with radiant floor heating), or used to generate electricity (from steam). Another example of a solar thermal application is passive solar heating. A room is situated in such a way to maximize its exposure to sunlight during the day to heat the space naturally. |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** Wind power has been used as a source of energy for millenia. Sail boats were used by ancient civilizations as an efficient means of transportation. Originally, wind mills were used to grind grain and pump water. Today, wind mills that are used to produce electricity are known as wind turbines. The wind turns the blades of the turbine to create electricity. No greenhouse gases are emitted when electricity is produced this way. |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon. In the meantime check out the links in our Resources Section.*** Hydropower uses the kinetic energy of moving water to spin a turbine to generate electricity. Sometimes this requires the construction of a dam. |
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| The only waste product of hydrogen fuel is water. However, the creation of hydrogen fuel requires either heat or light electricity to split hydrogen from the oxygen in molecules of water. The complete environmental impact of hydrogen fuel depends on what type of energy was used to create the heat or electricity. If fossil fuels are used, then the hydrogen still contributes to global warming, potentially even more so than if the fossil fuel energy was directly used. Hydrogen fuel can also be created by the gasification of coal or biomass, and scientists are currently studying the potential for various kinds of algae and bacteria to produce hydrogen gas. Some colleges and universities are experimenting with creating hydrogen using electrolysis powered by solar panels during the day and releasing its energy at night when the sun is not shining. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Coal is a fossil fuel formed from terrestrial plants that were buried in water and mud millions of years ago, and exposed to intense heat and pressure. It is considered a non-renewable resource because it can not be replenished on a human time frame. When coal is burned, carbon dioxide and sulfur oxides are released, in addition to trace amounts of mercury. In addition to its effects on air quality and contributions to global warming, the mining of coal can have environmental consequences as well. | |||||||||||||||||
| Oil is a fossil fuel formed when aquatic plants and animals were buried under sediments and subjected to intense heat and pressure for millions of years. It is considered a non-renewable resource because it cannot be replenished on a human time frame. When oil is burned, carbon dioxide is released, though less is released per unit of energy produced than is released by burning coal. The process of drilling for oil can have negative environmental effects, as can oil spills. | |||||||||||||||||
| Conventional natural gas is typically found above crude oil reservoirs and is formed with the same process. It is mostly methane (CH4), with small amounts of other gases, such as ethane, propane, and butane. The other gases are removed before the natural gas is ready to be used. As with other fossil fuels, carbon dioxide is released when natural gas is burned, though less is released per unit of energy produced than both oil and coal. | |||||||||||||||||
| Nuclear power uses the process of nuclear fission to create electricity from steam-powered turbines. Nuclear fission uses neutrons to split the nuclei of atoms, usually uranium-235 and plutonium-239, which releases large amounts of heat. The heat is used to create steam and power a turbine to create electricity. One main drawback to nuclear energy is the disposal of the nuclear waste. Some of the waste from nuclear power plants will remain radioactive for thousands of years; currently, radioactive waste in the United States is stored in secure containers on the site of the nuclear power plant. Another major concern is the safety of nuclear energy. Accidents at nuclear power plants can have devastating effects on the surrounding area, both on the environment and the people. Two well-known nuclear power plants accidents occurred at the Chernobyl power plant in 1986 in the former Soviet Union and at Three Mile Island in 1979 in Middletown , PA. The Chernobyl incident resulted in many deaths, while the Three Mile Island incident did not. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Phantom energy is energy drawn by certain appliances even when the appliance is turned off. This energy can account for as much as 5% of a household's total energy use. The easiest way to eliminate this loss of energy is to unplug appliances, such as TVs, DVD players, microwaves, and cell phone chargers, when they aren't in use. To simplify things, plug multiple devices you want to turn off into a power strip and simply turn off the power strip! | |||||||||||||||||
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| During a storm event, rainwater washes chemicals, heavy metals, and particulates into waterways. This storm water runoff can have serious environmental implications. The chemicals, from pesticides and fertilizers, and the heavy metals, from roofs and cars, and the particulate matter, from farm fields, can be dangerous to aquatic life. Increased areas of non-pervious surfaces (paved areas, for instance) contribute to larger volumes of storm water entering waterways. | |||||||||||||||||
Agricultural irrigation, power plant cooling, industrial use, and public use are the main consumers of water. Irresponsible use of water can lead to water shortages. In many parts of the world, there is not enough water to satisfy demand. |
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Point source: Point source pollution is any type of pollutant that enters a body of water at a specific location. A pipe that discharges into a river is an example of point source pollution. Point source pollution is regulated by the EPA, with National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) permits. Non-point source: Non-point source pollution cannot be linked to any one particular discharge point. It is more challenging to monitor and regulate than point source pollution. Runoff and acid rain are two examples of non-point source pollution. |
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| A watershed is an area of land where water drains to a common body of water. Carlisle is in the Susquehanna River watershed and the Chesapeake Bay watershed. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Air pollution can be chemical compounds as well as particulate matter. Air pollution can lead to acid deposition (e.g. acid rain), smog, human health problems such as asthma, damage to plants, and damage to buildings and materials. The Clean Air Act was passed in 1970, and amended in 1977 and 1990, to control air pollution. | |||||||||||||||||
| Local air quality in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, is largely influenced by the high levels of trucking in the area. High levels of small particulate matter in the air have raised concern. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Agriculture is important for providing the food we consume on a daily basis, but modern intensive agriculture has numerous environmental effects. Concerns about agriculture include the intense use of water and energy, the use of fertilizer and pesticides, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility, and large monocultures replacing natural biodiversity. | |||||||||||||||||
Organic farming is a sustainable approach to agriculture. Chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides are not used on organically–grown food. Natural practices are used instead, decreasing the inputs of energy and water without sacrificing the health and fertility of the soil.
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| Reducing the amount of waste you produce is the best way to reduce your impact. That is why it comes first in the environmental mantra “reduce, reuse, recycle”. | |||||||||||||||||
| The reuse of materials is preferable to recycling them, because less energy is consumed. Instead of throwing something away or recycling it, a product is reused. Buying used clothing or used books are good examples of reuse. | |||||||||||||||||
| Recycling is the process of turning waste into a usable product. There are two different kinds of recycling; closed-loop recycling and downcycling. Closed-loop recycling uses post-consumer waste to produce the same type of product. For example, recycling newspaper into newspaper. This process reduces the use of virgin resources and pollution and saves energy. Downcycling uses waste materials to create different products, which are usually of lower-quality. | |||||||||||||||||
| Composting is the process of allowing organic waste to decompose, resulting in a great natural fertilizer for gardens. | |||||||||||||||||
| Waste-to-energy plants are one solution to both our waste and energy problems. Waste is shredded and burned, and the heat is used to create steam. The steam drives a turbine to create electricity. By burning the waste, problems with landfills are avoided, and the production of electricity is an added bonus. However, there are environmental concerns over air pollution and the ash that is left behind after the waste is burned. | |||||||||||||||||
| Landfills are places where waste is stored. Precautions are taken to protect the surrounding environment and groundwater from water pollution (leachate) from the landfill. One problem with landfills is the space: we have increasing amounts of waste and the available space for landfills is decreasing. | |||||||||||||||||
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| Buildings are responsible for 70% of electricity consumption, 30% of energy consumption, and 40% of raw materials consumption each year in the United States Green building increases the energy efficiency, decreases the waste, and reduces the overall environmental impact of the built environment. | |||||||||||||||||
| LEED Certification (by the US Green Building Council): http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 | |||||||||||||||||
Green Globes (by the Green Building Initiative): |
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| The way in which cities are planned can greatly influence how sustainable they are. For example, including an extensive and convenient public transportation system, having stores and workplaces within walking or biking distance of residential areas, and providing safe areas for pedestrians and cyclists can improve the sustainability of a city. | |||||||||||||||||
| The elevated temperature in cities is known as the urban heat island effect. The lack of trees and plants prevents cooling, the tall buildings and narrow streets contribute to trapping masses of hot air, and materials that absorb heat, such as black roofs and black pavement all contribute to the heat island effect. Green roofs (roofs covered with vegetation), roofs that reflect heat instead of absorbing it, and the addition of plants and vegetation can help reduce the temperature in cities. | |||||||||||||||||
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| See our Transportation Section for right now. More is coming soon! | |||||||||||||||||
| Meat is very energy intensive to produce. Following a vegetarian or vegan diet has numerous environmental advantages. Even eating one or two vegetarian/vegan meals a week can make a difference. More information to come in this section, too! | |||||||||||||||||
| ***This section will be expanded soon.*** There are currently many different types of green certifications for different products. Also, there are several companies that are jumping on the sustainability bandwagon. This means that you may have to do a little extra research to find out what products are truly worthy of being called green. If all else fails, you should be able to contact any reputable company and ask them what their green certification or claims really mean. |
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| Energy Star is an energy efficiency certification. See our Energy Section for more information. | |||||||||||||||||
| ***This section will be expanded soon.*** Products certified by the Green Seal organization are proven to be environmentally preferable. |
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| ***This section will be expanded soon.*** Start by trying to reduce your environmental footprint—use less energy and less water. And encourage friends to do their part as well. Join one of Dickinson's environmental clubs or talk to a Sustainability Intern. Stay up-to-date on current environmental events. |
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| General - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
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| Global Warming - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/ |
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| Transportation - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
Hybrid |
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| Energy - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
| http://www.epa.gov/Energy/renwenergy.html Solar http://www.roofray.com/calculator http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/non-hydro.html#solar http://www.energy.gov/energysources/solar.htm Wind http://www.energy.gov/energysources/wind.htm Hydro http://www.energy.gov/energysources/hydropower.htm Hydrogen http://www.energy.gov/energysources/hydrogen.htm http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/4627522.stm http://web.mit.edu/newsoffice/2008/oxygen-0731.html Fossil Fuels http://www.epa.gov/Energy/fossil.html Energy Star http://www.energystar.gov/ http://www.epa.gov/epahome/athome.htm http://www.ucsusa.org/publications/greentips/energy-vampires.html |
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| http://www.epa.gov/air/caa/ http://www.cleanairboard.org/ |
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| http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/index.html http://www.epa.gov/agriculture/torg.html http://www.ams.usda.gov/ |
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| Waste Management - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
| http://www.epa.gov/osw/ http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/osw/recycle.htm http://www.epa.gov/composting/index.htm http://www.epa.gov/cleanenergy/energy-and-you/affect/municipal-sw.html http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/non-hw/muncpl/landfill/landfills.htm |
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| Buildings & Urban Planning - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
| http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=1718 http://www.usgbc.org/DisplayPage.aspx?CMSPageID=222 http://www.greenglobes.com/ http://www.epa.gov/heatisland/index.html |
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| Sustainable Living Choices - References & Resources - Top | |||||||||||||||||
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