Converting plastic back into oil

We are surrounded by plastics every single day. But as we drink a soda, use a cell phone or drive our car it's easy to forget that those plastics started their "life cycle" as raw petroleum. Check out this amazing video of a Japanese inventor who found a way to convert plastics back into oil. Just think how different the world would be if plastic garbage was instead seen as a resource to be used again!

purple wind turbines?

Wind power is growing significantly as a source of energy in our country and throughout the world. Although conservation organizations such as the National Audubon Society support wind energy as a greener alternative to fossil fuels (http://policy.audubon.org/wind-power-overview-0), there is definitely a need to make it even greener by reducing the bird and bat kills that occur when these animal fly near the turbines.  (The Audubon Society supports wind energy because despite the fatal collisions involving turbines, the pollution and habitat loss from fossil fuel drilling and burning kills many times more.) 

A recent study out of Britain's Loughborough University has shed some light on how to reduce wildlife mortality at wind turbines (http://news.bbc.co.uk/earth/hi/earth_news/newsid_9067000/9067721.stm).  Insects have long been known to be attracted to the turbines, and birds and bats are, in turn, attracted to those insects.  The Loughborough study found that the white and gray colors of wind turbines are part of the problem.  (Anyone in mosquito territory already knew this -- wear light-colored clothing and mosquitoes will find you much more quickly than if you wear dark clothing.) They tested different colors, including blue, red and purple, on wind turbines and found those with darker colors attracted far fewer insects.  The least attractive color was purple, so perhaps there will be a bit more color on the landscape one day? 

The researchers are quick to point out that it is too early to just rush out and paint wind turbines purple to "save the day," but this could be an important step in determining how to reduce wildlife collisions with wind turbines. 

Climate Change Symposium Materials Available

Here's a note from Michigan State University about their excellent climate change conference held this April. You can access resources from the meeting at the links below and be sure to watch their website for your opportunity to attend next year!

"Videos and PowerPoints are now available from the April 2010 conference, “Climate Change Vulnerabilities and Opportunities: Michigan and Beyond,” at Michigan State University. The material is available on the Symposium Website, linked to the agenda.


The conference addressed the impacts of climate change within and beyond Michigan, and how Michigan can respond, possibly borrowing from others’ experiences. The conference also considered issues related to the bioeconomy, especially the use of biomass as a renewable resource.

If you attended the conference, we hope that the posted presentation materials will allow you to check out sessions you weren’t able to go to, or acquaint others with the material. If you weren’t able to attend the conference, we hope the materials will prove useful.

Note: Interviews, videos, and PowerPoints are also available from MSU’s year-long climate speaker series, which brought to campus world-renowned speakers on different aspects of climate change."

The Solar Seventies

The 1970s were interesting times indeed. Disco, crazy fashion trends and pet rocks were all the rage! The modern environmental movement was also born in 1970 with celebration of the first Earth Day. Environmental concerns intensified in 1973 with the onset of an international oil embargo and an energy crisis felt around the world.

In response to the energy crisis, solar energy became much more popular and affordable in the 1970s. A major milestone occurred when research by Dr. Elliot Berman brought the price of solar energy down from $100 per watt to $20 per watt . While still costly for most residential applications, solar cells began powering items such as navigation lights and railroad crossings.

Chippewa Nature Center got into the business of solar 

education in the fall of 1977 with a two-day solar greenhouse workshop. As part of the event, a 200 square-foot solar greenhouse was constructed and plants were grown throughout the winter. Subsequently, an "Alternative Energy Group" was born and education efforts continued over the next five years.

In 1981, CNC constructed a duplex to add additional space for our growing staff. The new building included two solar greenhouses and active solar panel collectors on the roof for the domestic hot water system. Due to maintenance problems over the years, the solar panels and greenhouses were eventually removed. Likewise, cheap fuel in the 1980s led to a fading of the solar energy craze that looked so promising in the 70s.

Fast forward to recent years. Concerns over climate change and our dependence on foreign oil (not to mention the largest oil spill in U.S. history) have put solar and wind power in the forefront once again. In 2009, CNC opened a new Nature Preschool building (see photo below) which includes solar panels on the roof for hot water and electrical energy.

As alternatives to fossil fuels continue to grow, you can bet CNC will be there, providing education and information on these Earth-friendly energy options. There is talk of a solar panel making workshop in our future as well as other program opportunities. If  YOU have an idea of something you'd like to see, be sure to let us know! 

Demystifying Wind Power Myths

As we all know, the BP oil spill continues to dominate the news around the world. The biggest oil spill in U.S. history is being called by some the worst environmental disaster we've ever faced in the country. A time like this is a good opportunity to look beyond fossil fuels. What types of energy can we use that will wean us off oil, coal and petroleum products? Josh Kennedy, of the Clean Techies Blog does a great job  Demystifying Common Myths of Wind Power  in his post from May 25th. Check it out...