The 1st Questions and Answers Posting with Katie

This week is the start of our Questions and Answers Postings, with Katie, The Answer Lady. Approximately, once every 4 to 5 weeks, Katie will answer the questions you send to our Whole Earth Care Blog.

Katie comes with stellar credentials. She has BSc in Environmental Science, with a minor in Peace and Conflict Studies from McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario. Last year, she spent a few months working in Alaska and then traveled in South America. Presently, she is at the University of Guelph, working on a Masters degree in Science. Her research focuses on carbon and nutrient cycling in permafrost regions.

Katie writes, “This research stems from a deep interest in learning more about the environment in order to protect it.”

And so, let's begin -

Dear Katie,
"I've been told that I should not wash my car often because of the amount of water needed to do the task. I have also been told that I should not wash the car at home, but take it to a Car Wash because Car Wash Stations must, by law, process the dirty water before putting it into the municipal sewers. Is this true?"

Trying to be Green

Dear Trying,
While it’s great to see the dirt come off your car, and to see the REAL colour of your paint again, car washes may be environmentally problematic for a number of reasons.

Firstly, they require a great deal of water. Washing your car at home with a hose uses approximately 400 L of drinking water. This number is cut significantly if you use a trusty old sponge and bucket instead of a hose. Going to a professional car wash that makes use of high-powered hoses to blast the dirt from your car is better than the at-home hose method, using approximately 150 L of water per wash.

Secondly, when you wash your car, you transfer all of the heavy metals, sediments, oils and micro-organisms from the surface of the car into the water that you use to do the cleaning. When you wash your car at home or in self-service car washing bays, the wastewater and these contaminants are washed into the sewer system. Some municipalities treat storm water before it gets released into local bodies of water, but many don’t. So, it’s best to check your local wastewater treatment regulations.

Washing your car at a professional car wash station is more ecologically sound from this perspective. While professional car wash stations are not responsible for processing their wastewater, they are obliged to direct the water to local treatment facilities for processing before it can be released.

Whether you choose to wash your car at home or at a professional facility, the potential for contaminating local soils and groundwater exists, so it should be done sparingly and after researching local water treatment policies. Some more useful information can be found at the following links:

The International Car Wash Association’s Environmental Stewardship page: http://www.carwash.org/operatorinformation/research/Pages/EnvironmentalReports.aspx

How to handle carwash wastewater from the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency:
http://www.epa.state.il.us/small-business/car-wash/car-wash.pdf

Dear Katie,
"What's better, to hang onto my old energy-inefficient fridge until it dies a natural death and then buy an efficient one, or buy a new one right now? Do dead fridges go to a landfill site or can they be recycled?" Worried in Suburbia

Dear Worried,
Get rid of it! Old, energy guzzling refrigerators use over 30% MORE energy every year than new, efficient models.
Since fridges account for almost 15% of the energy use in the average household, the money and energy you can save by upgrading to a new model is significant.

Also, almost every province in Canada and the U.S. Department of Energy offers fridge recycling programs. To make it really easy for you to part with your old fridge, they’ll even come to pick it up at your house for you!

Once the fridge is removed from your home, the plastic, copper, steel and aluminum components are recycled. If your fridge was made before 1995, it probably also contains Freon, which is a toxic chemical that has played a big part in the destruction of the ozone layer. Any Freon in your old fridge is removed and disposed of safely. Once all this is said and done, very little of the original fridge is sent to the landfill.

As an added bonus, some provinces even PAY you for your old fridge. When you consider the financial and environmental benefits, it becomes clear that trading in your old fridge is truly an offer you can’t refuse.

What happens to your old fridge?
http://everykilowattcounts.ca/residential/roundup/what-happens-to-my-fridge.php

Dear Katie,
"What is more green and energy-wise, cooking and heating by electricity or by gas?" Concerned Cooks

Dear Concerned,
In general, natural gas heating and cooking is more energy efficient than electricity. For example, it has been estimated that for the average household, electric water heaters use 75% more energy than gas heaters.

However, the story changes somewhat if you can purchase electricity from a local renewable source provider, such as Bullfrog Energy, here in Ontario. This option is often significantly more expensive than traditional forms of energy generation, but in terms of total greenhouse gas emissions, it’s far superior. For some more ideas on where to look for renewable energy providers, check out the following link:

Canadian Renewable Energy Alliance:
http://www.canrea.ca/

Thank you so much, Katie. It’s great to have you on the team.

Don’t forget to send in any questions you have on the environment, green living and how to support the healing of our mother, Earth. Email your questions to: moczero@sympatico.ca

There’s a big event coming up on Saturday, March 28th. It’s Earth Hour, a happening all around the world. It could be a Whole Earth Care Virtual Community activity – with all of us involved. Spread the word. Get your family and friends involved, your workplace, your apartment building, street block and town. Check out the appropriate link below for more information. Print off the poster from the website and put a few up.

Earth Hour for Canada http://wwf.ca/earthhour/

Earth Hour US http://www.earthhourus.org/main.php?enews=enews0902t2

For other countries, try a search by typing in Earth Hour, and then the name of your country, or go to the World Wildlife Federation website http://www.wwf.org/ and look up your country’s name. Then search for Earth Hour.

Don’t forget – Katie, The Answer Lady is waiting for your questions.

And, we are all waiting for your comments, links and ideas to improve this Blog, photos for the Rogues’ Gallery, your nature experiences for The Narratives and short articles for the Guest Writer postings. Just email to moczero@sympatico.ca

Earth Family First,
maureen

(Photos by Google Images)