by Chelsie Kamauoha
The number of street lamps in Hawaii has struck me as a great problem concerning energy. There are numerous street lamps bordering Hawaii’s roads and the cost to provide the electricity for these lights is very expensive. I believe that by replacing the current street lights with solar powered LED lights will benefit Hawaii’s taxpayers and save electricity that is constantly being wasted.
The majority of all street lamps run on high powered light bulbs which are the cause of a huge amount of wasted energy. These light bulbs usually run on about 150 to 250 watts of electricity. Portland, Maine, paying an average of about $1.3 million on electricity needed to sustain street lamps alone, is an example of a city that wastes large amounts of money and electricity. There are huge amounts of money being spent, that is reality do not have to be. The reason why we still have these old fashioned light bulbs in our street lamps is because they are cheep to buy and install, however I have come to find that these light bulbs have turned out to be expensive to light and maintain.
My solution is to replace these expensive old fashioned lights with the combination of both solar panels and LED lights. The cost to maintain these lights and to actually light them will be a strikingly lesser cost then the traditional lights we use today. The positive aspect about his solutions in that the current light poles do not need to be removed; the LED lights and the solar panels can be mounted on. However, the street lamps will remain connected to an outside power supply incase enough solar energy is not given. The taxpayer’s money that is normally used to pay for electricity can be used for more important and necessary things. The money can be used for things such as paving roads, cleaning towns, or possibly reducing or ending furloughs.
20100423
A Child's Hope
By SAM GREYDANUS, 8th Grade
Across the world's many religions, we have entered a season of benevolent feeling and confidence in the human race. During this brumal time of year, religious hope lights our lives. Hope also illuminates our world in the midst of physical, economic, and environmental strife. Now is the time when we shed our customary pessimism and unite in anticipation for a better world. This is the season to hope for a planet free of starvation, oppression, and injustice. As we celebrate during this holiday season, we glimpse a positive future amidst the current turmoil.
This is also the time of year for service. Use your anticipation for a better world to make the one we already have into a more perfect place. Become a better citizen in your community, your country, and your world. Whether you give a donation to the Salvation Army bell-ringer or begin a crusade against carbon emissions, every contribution from every individual makes a difference. On each level there is much work to be done and on each level there is the capacity to accomplish that work. In each person there lies the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to make the world a better place. Every day, strive to give as well as take and to help as well as be helped. In this time of challenges, welcome your responsibility of stewardship as a privilege.
Finally, these months are a time of tranquility and goodwill. Accomplish your goals without violence and make your points without intimidation. Favor diplomacy over force and peace over war. Remember that those who seek to accomplish their goals through weapons, fear, and tyranny are the enemies of all of humanity while those who solve disputes through compromise and conversation are the cornerstone of a free and just society. This does not mean, however, that we will back away from any injustice standing in the way of progress toward freedom. This time is a season of opportunities. Respect the basic rights of your fellow citizens and join in the effort to improve the world.
Across the world's many religions, we have entered a season of benevolent feeling and confidence in the human race. During this brumal time of year, religious hope lights our lives. Hope also illuminates our world in the midst of physical, economic, and environmental strife. Now is the time when we shed our customary pessimism and unite in anticipation for a better world. This is the season to hope for a planet free of starvation, oppression, and injustice. As we celebrate during this holiday season, we glimpse a positive future amidst the current turmoil.
This is also the time of year for service. Use your anticipation for a better world to make the one we already have into a more perfect place. Become a better citizen in your community, your country, and your world. Whether you give a donation to the Salvation Army bell-ringer or begin a crusade against carbon emissions, every contribution from every individual makes a difference. On each level there is much work to be done and on each level there is the capacity to accomplish that work. In each person there lies the ability, and therefore the responsibility, to make the world a better place. Every day, strive to give as well as take and to help as well as be helped. In this time of challenges, welcome your responsibility of stewardship as a privilege.
Finally, these months are a time of tranquility and goodwill. Accomplish your goals without violence and make your points without intimidation. Favor diplomacy over force and peace over war. Remember that those who seek to accomplish their goals through weapons, fear, and tyranny are the enemies of all of humanity while those who solve disputes through compromise and conversation are the cornerstone of a free and just society. This does not mean, however, that we will back away from any injustice standing in the way of progress toward freedom. This time is a season of opportunities. Respect the basic rights of your fellow citizens and join in the effort to improve the world.
20100422
A Renewable Hawaii
by Kona Johnson, HI
America is increasingly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses and not the people. An unfair yet undisputed fact in American politics is that money equals power- and unfortunately the big corporations possess more money than anyone else within our nation. As a result, through millions of dollars in lobbying efforts and campaign finance we have seen much needed reforms blocked and big business supporting politicians continuously elected. Specifically and most devastatingly, we have seen little effort at an increase in the innovation of renewable energy sources and self-sustainability. Ralph Nader outlines our dilemma best asserting that, “The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”
With this in mind we have to look to local sources of renewable energy that can be implemented in order to increase the sustainability of our communities and neighborhoods. One such source of renewable energy that is perfect for Hawaii is wave power.
This untapped source of power is perfect for sustainability efforts in Hawaii because of a plethora of reasons. For one, in areas of high wave and wind activity (like Hawaii) these underwater turbines have proven to be extremely proficient at energy collection. As compared to solar energy, for example, wave power has proven to be more beneficial because it allows for an energy collection during the night and during times of rainy overcast weather (where solar panels don’t). Wave power potential also outweighs wind energy potential because water is 389 times denser than air allowing it to create the same amount of energy with a turbine one-third the size of the average wind turbine. Not only does this decrease in size drastically cut overall costs, but also because these turbines are underwater they receive zero threat from almost all natural disasters.
In north England, one of the few places that wave power is implemented currently; leading scientists estimate that waves alone could potentially power 15-20 percent of the whole UK. Wave technology goes further than simply showing potential though; recently a wave hub- a new device used to transfer wave electricity (much like an extension cable)- was installed along the coastline of Cornwall, England. This simple extension of the wave turbines is estimated to already provide full time electricity for more than 10,000 homes and as a result is also estimated to stop over 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the next 25 years.
Fortunately for Hawaii residents one of the few wave power bases in America is located right here on the east side of our island on Makapu peninsula. The base is actually an ideal model of how wave powered outlets should be expanded throughout Hawaii and also how these bases will work. According to Star Bulletin news, “the base is not only super efficient, but as a result it’s windward sides largest employer, where hundreds of civilians work in support of the bases mission to become self sustainable.” Currently one third of the bases power comes from solar and wave energy and according to leaders among the base, they soon hope to become totally self sufficient as well as become providers of energy around Hawaii. Focusing on expanding this marine base and creating wave-powered generators around the island simply makes sense. It’s not something drastically new and labor intensive such as creating plantations of sugar cane to convert to energy and fuel, plus it would be one of the most proficient methods to collect energy. Not only that but, as we can see through the base in Makapu, creating and expanding these wave centers will allow for employment of thousands of citizens- in turn boosting our economic output as well as the intellect and awareness of community members.
America is quickly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses; renewable energy and self-sustainability will bring it back to the people.
America is increasingly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses and not the people. An unfair yet undisputed fact in American politics is that money equals power- and unfortunately the big corporations possess more money than anyone else within our nation. As a result, through millions of dollars in lobbying efforts and campaign finance we have seen much needed reforms blocked and big business supporting politicians continuously elected. Specifically and most devastatingly, we have seen little effort at an increase in the innovation of renewable energy sources and self-sustainability. Ralph Nader outlines our dilemma best asserting that, “The use of solar energy has not been opened up because the oil industry does not own the sun.”
With this in mind we have to look to local sources of renewable energy that can be implemented in order to increase the sustainability of our communities and neighborhoods. One such source of renewable energy that is perfect for Hawaii is wave power.
This untapped source of power is perfect for sustainability efforts in Hawaii because of a plethora of reasons. For one, in areas of high wave and wind activity (like Hawaii) these underwater turbines have proven to be extremely proficient at energy collection. As compared to solar energy, for example, wave power has proven to be more beneficial because it allows for an energy collection during the night and during times of rainy overcast weather (where solar panels don’t). Wave power potential also outweighs wind energy potential because water is 389 times denser than air allowing it to create the same amount of energy with a turbine one-third the size of the average wind turbine. Not only does this decrease in size drastically cut overall costs, but also because these turbines are underwater they receive zero threat from almost all natural disasters.
In north England, one of the few places that wave power is implemented currently; leading scientists estimate that waves alone could potentially power 15-20 percent of the whole UK. Wave technology goes further than simply showing potential though; recently a wave hub- a new device used to transfer wave electricity (much like an extension cable)- was installed along the coastline of Cornwall, England. This simple extension of the wave turbines is estimated to already provide full time electricity for more than 10,000 homes and as a result is also estimated to stop over 300,000 tons of carbon dioxide in the next 25 years.
Fortunately for Hawaii residents one of the few wave power bases in America is located right here on the east side of our island on Makapu peninsula. The base is actually an ideal model of how wave powered outlets should be expanded throughout Hawaii and also how these bases will work. According to Star Bulletin news, “the base is not only super efficient, but as a result it’s windward sides largest employer, where hundreds of civilians work in support of the bases mission to become self sustainable.” Currently one third of the bases power comes from solar and wave energy and according to leaders among the base, they soon hope to become totally self sufficient as well as become providers of energy around Hawaii. Focusing on expanding this marine base and creating wave-powered generators around the island simply makes sense. It’s not something drastically new and labor intensive such as creating plantations of sugar cane to convert to energy and fuel, plus it would be one of the most proficient methods to collect energy. Not only that but, as we can see through the base in Makapu, creating and expanding these wave centers will allow for employment of thousands of citizens- in turn boosting our economic output as well as the intellect and awareness of community members.
America is quickly becoming a nation of, by and for big businesses; renewable energy and self-sustainability will bring it back to the people.
20100419
Recycling = Love
by Ashleigh Dreyer
Michigan School for the Deaf
Flint, MI
To me, recycling equals love. Recycling involves sacrificing your time to care for the world that is covered with an absurd amount of garbage. Now, if you love the world, you should show kindness. If you have love for natural beauty and for our future generations, you should start saving the environment because it is our one and only world. Before you start, can you think about what really can convince every single person to recycle forever? There are countless ideas that make recycling easier, and an infinity of reasons to want a cleaner environment.
The very first idea is to make recycling a law. I would have to admit that I am not a very responsible person with recycling milk cartons, cereal boxes, and pop cans. I may forget or be lazy, but I still do want to recycle anyway. That is the point, because more than half of our recyclable trash is in landfills. These landfills are becoming hills that are high enough to ski down. So how can we stop with our lazy behavior of not recycling reusable items? In 1990, former governor Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin signed into law a mandatory recycling act which bans all recyclable materials, such as cardboard, aluminum, office paper, glass, etc., from all landfills in the state. If you throw these recyclable materials in your trash can, it will be tagged with a notice, it will not be picked up, and the owners of the house will be fined. Imagine having that law in all 50 states, and perhaps on every continent. It would definitely be an effective method of saving the environment, and provide fewer landfills to ski down.
The second idea is to buy organic products. One week I went to a friend's house whose parents are very eco-friendly. Their pantry was unbelievingly full of organic foods. I ate a bit of an organic snack bar; I actually felt good to have more fiber in my diet, and the wrapper itself felt different because it was made from recyclable paper. Anyhow, have you ever noticed that when you buy a bag of Doritos and you open it, it's only half full? That is a complete waste of material. Boyce Ayliffe, a researcher for the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), did his research on packaging material. IFOAM has its own principles to guide organic production and processing. The processors are required to avoid unnecessary packaging material and to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging whenever possible. Think about it; if you buy organic products with less packaging material, you will have less garbage in your wastebasket. Not only that, it also helps the environment and the organic food contains natural ingredients (which is healthier for your body). Nevertheless, if we want to live green, I think we all should buy organic products for this purpose.
The third idea is to shop at thrift stores. Growing up I never liked shopping at resale stores, but my mom always forced me. Then one day I bought an adorable strapless cotton-print shirt for only two bucks from a resale shop called Top Drawer. Everybody asked me, "Where did you get that shirt?" Since that experience, I have been stopping at thrift stores first before I go to retail stores. So instead of spending your money on an expensive item, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store? Thrift store shopping is just another way of recycling. If you buy used items, you will make a difference by keeping clothes out of landfills. When you are looking for an item, think green. Maybe you could find a plain T-shirt and add some cool fabric to it. It takes only a minute to be creative to save hundreds of years of decaying textiles in our landfills. Thrift store shopping can be simply a fun, green experience for everyone.
Not only are these three things what I am doing to help the environment, but if people will do these small things, then we can all jump on the wheel and make it a habit to recycle and reuse. Just like the Earth spins around unstoppable, so should our love for the environment. Recycling is a labor of love, and the amount of garbage that is created every day will never decrease if we don't have feelings for the environment. We only need to have a love for natural beauty and for our future generations.
Michigan School for the Deaf
Flint, MI
To me, recycling equals love. Recycling involves sacrificing your time to care for the world that is covered with an absurd amount of garbage. Now, if you love the world, you should show kindness. If you have love for natural beauty and for our future generations, you should start saving the environment because it is our one and only world. Before you start, can you think about what really can convince every single person to recycle forever? There are countless ideas that make recycling easier, and an infinity of reasons to want a cleaner environment.
The very first idea is to make recycling a law. I would have to admit that I am not a very responsible person with recycling milk cartons, cereal boxes, and pop cans. I may forget or be lazy, but I still do want to recycle anyway. That is the point, because more than half of our recyclable trash is in landfills. These landfills are becoming hills that are high enough to ski down. So how can we stop with our lazy behavior of not recycling reusable items? In 1990, former governor Tommy G. Thompson of Wisconsin signed into law a mandatory recycling act which bans all recyclable materials, such as cardboard, aluminum, office paper, glass, etc., from all landfills in the state. If you throw these recyclable materials in your trash can, it will be tagged with a notice, it will not be picked up, and the owners of the house will be fined. Imagine having that law in all 50 states, and perhaps on every continent. It would definitely be an effective method of saving the environment, and provide fewer landfills to ski down.
The second idea is to buy organic products. One week I went to a friend's house whose parents are very eco-friendly. Their pantry was unbelievingly full of organic foods. I ate a bit of an organic snack bar; I actually felt good to have more fiber in my diet, and the wrapper itself felt different because it was made from recyclable paper. Anyhow, have you ever noticed that when you buy a bag of Doritos and you open it, it's only half full? That is a complete waste of material. Boyce Ayliffe, a researcher for the International Federation of Organic Agriculture Movement (IFOAM), did his research on packaging material. IFOAM has its own principles to guide organic production and processing. The processors are required to avoid unnecessary packaging material and to use recyclable and biodegradable packaging whenever possible. Think about it; if you buy organic products with less packaging material, you will have less garbage in your wastebasket. Not only that, it also helps the environment and the organic food contains natural ingredients (which is healthier for your body). Nevertheless, if we want to live green, I think we all should buy organic products for this purpose.
The third idea is to shop at thrift stores. Growing up I never liked shopping at resale stores, but my mom always forced me. Then one day I bought an adorable strapless cotton-print shirt for only two bucks from a resale shop called Top Drawer. Everybody asked me, "Where did you get that shirt?" Since that experience, I have been stopping at thrift stores first before I go to retail stores. So instead of spending your money on an expensive item, how about saving some cash and helping out the environment by shopping at a thrift store? Thrift store shopping is just another way of recycling. If you buy used items, you will make a difference by keeping clothes out of landfills. When you are looking for an item, think green. Maybe you could find a plain T-shirt and add some cool fabric to it. It takes only a minute to be creative to save hundreds of years of decaying textiles in our landfills. Thrift store shopping can be simply a fun, green experience for everyone.
Not only are these three things what I am doing to help the environment, but if people will do these small things, then we can all jump on the wheel and make it a habit to recycle and reuse. Just like the Earth spins around unstoppable, so should our love for the environment. Recycling is a labor of love, and the amount of garbage that is created every day will never decrease if we don't have feelings for the environment. We only need to have a love for natural beauty and for our future generations.
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