Environment

= = Environment/Electric Cars by Lisa Seman


 * __Electric Cars__**


 * Why is there a push for electric cars?
 * Incentives to buy an electric car
 * How they work and the science behind them
 * Criticism of electric cars
 * The future of electric cars
 * The future of electric cars [[image:Greenhouse effect width="808" height="564"]]


 * Overview**
 * Electric cars are cars powered by electricity rather than fuel, which means that they don't produce CO2 emissions.
 * CO2 contributes to the Greenhouse Effect and is know as the "most important long-lived "forcing" of climate change".
 * The Greenhouse Effect is when the atmosphere traps heat, which leads to an increase in the temperature on the surface


 * Why is there a push for Electric Cars?**
 * Currently, cars and trucks add up to 25% of the world's CO2 emissions
 * With the limited amount of petroleum available, gas prices are always going to rise
 * There is a greater awareness about the effects of CO2 in today's society
 * President Obama's Climate Action Plan is working to cut the US's CO2 emissions in half by 2030


 * How they work and the science behind them?**
 * Electric cars work by replacing a combustion engine with an electric motor

http://youtu.be/ISSGTyoBx74


 * Incentives to Buy an Electric Car**
 * There is a 7,500 federal tax credit upon buying an Electric Car (state incentive varies from state to state)
 * You cab get up to $400 credit for purchasing an electric vehicle charging station
 * Gas Money
 * No time spent at gas station
 * Less fuel cost

Counter arguments: Nothing spent on gas Government subsidizing Counter argument: On average, only an extra $350 per year will be spent on electricity, while saving an average $1400 that would be spent in fuel Counter arguments: Average US driving distance Longer trips can be accomplished using charging stations Counter arguments: Significant improvement are made each year. For example, electric caes can now be charged directly from solar panels.
 * Arguments Against Electric Cars**
 * Electric Cars are too expensive
 * Electric Bills will Increase
 * Range of Electric Cars is too short
 * Some of proposed technologies are NOT realistic

Creating building codes that make it easier to construct new charging stations Buying zero emissions vehicles for their public fleets Creating incentives to promote zero-emissions vehicles Developing common standards for charging networks
 * The Future of Electric Cars**
 * Electric cars could give power back to the grid
 * States goal of 3.3 million electric cars on their roads by 2025
 * There is currently work being done to create more efficient and lighter batteries
 * There is also being research done on fuel cells that would be smaller, much lighter and instantly rechargeable compared to batteries.

http://youtu.be/5OT4yHcBSng

Final Summary
 * Electric Cars will greatly decrease the World's CO2 emissions
 * Electric cars are becoming more and more affordable each year

=**Acid Rain By Ryan Koutnik**= rainfall made sufficiently acidic by atmospheric pollution that it causes environmental harm, typically to forests and lakes. The main cause is the industrial burning of coal and other fossil fuels, the waste gases from which contain sulfur and nitrogen oxides, which combine with atmospheric water to form acids.
 * ===**Acid rain is**===
 * When humans burn fossil fuels, sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are released into the atmosphere. These chemical gases react with water, oxygen, and other substances to form mild solutions of sulfuric and nitric **acid**.

> === === https://youtu.be/MqHw1hMEkAQ The plant on the left is the effect of acid rain on plants and trees.
 * https://youtu.be/W1ra0FhlM10
 * ===Damages===
 * Acid rain can create build up of gypsum on monuments and destroy plant life.
 * [[image:cid rain diagram.jpg width="427" height="222"]]
 * It kills fish

https://youtu.be/0DCVc10HsTI

The burning of coal and gas produces a buildup creating acid rain.

Old statues created with limestone or marble and bronze can deteriorate due to acid rain.

 **Acid rain** has many ecological effects, but none is greater than its impact on lakes, streams, wetlands, and other aquatic environments. **Acid rain** makes waters acidic and causes them to absorb the aluminum that makes its way from soil into lakes and streams. =Way to Prevent Acid Rain- = reduce amount of fossil fuels being burned and turn to wind or solar energy for the future.

=References:= https://www3.epa.gov/acidrain/education/site_students/beingdone.html

http://www.air-quality.org.uk/12.php

=__Noise Pollution: Cristian Silva__=


 * __What is noise pollution__** __**?**__

noise pollution takes place when there is either excessive amount of noise or an unpleasant sound that causes temporary disruption in the natural balance. Basically- It's when there's too much noise going on that may be disrupting from daily activities.

__**Causes**:__


 * (According to Conserve-Energy.com)**
 * 1. Industrialization:** Most of the industries use big machines which are capable of producing large amount of noise. Apart from that, various equipment like compressors, generators, exhaust fans, grinding mills also participate in producing big noise.


 * 2. Poor Urban Planning:** In most of the developing countries, poor urban planning also play a vital role. Congested houses, large families sharing small space, fight over parking, frequent fights over basic amenities leads to noise pollution which may disrupt the environment of society.


 * 3. Social Events:** Noise is at its peak in most of the social events. Whether it is wedding, parties, pubs, clubs or place of worship, people normally create nuisance in the area.


 * 4. Transportation:** Large number of vehicles on roads, airplanes flying over houses, underground trains produce heavy noise and people make it difficult to get accustomed to that. The high noise leads to a situation where a normal person loses the ability to hear properly.


 * 5. Construction Activities:** Under construction activities like mining, construction of bridges, dams, buildings, stations, roads, flyovers. These construction activities take place everyday causing your ears to be exposed to high volumes daily.


 * 6. Household Chores:** Devices like TV's, phones, vacuum cleaners , washing machine and, air conditioners are minor contributors to the amount of noise that is produced but it affects the quality of life of your neighborhood.

__**Effects of noise pollution:**__
 * **Hearing problems**- The immediate and acute effect of noise pollution to a person, over a period of time, is impairment of hearing. Prolonged exposure to impulsive noise to a person will damage their eardrum, which may result in a permanent hearing impairment
 * **Health Issues**- Health effects of noise include anxiety and stress reaction and in extreme cases fright. The physiological manifestations are headaches, irritability and nervousness, feeling of fatigue and decreases work efficiency
 * **Problems with sleeping-** Being exposed to disruptive noises all night can significantly affect the quality of rest that one gets during sleep. Affecting the mood, and stress that a person may experience in their every day life.
 * **Trouble communicating-** It is often difficult to effectively communicate with another person while there is a lot of noise going on around. Causing External interference.
 * **Effect on wildlife**- Hearing loss and rapid increase in heart rate are some of the ill-**e**ffects of noise pollution on animals. High intensity sound induces fear, which can force species to abandon their habitat.

media type="youtube" key="z7Dckph9Dhk" width="560" height="315" __**How to reduce noise pollution:**__ Under the Clean Air Act, the EPA administrator established the Office of Noise Abatement and Control (ONAC) to carry out investigations and studies on noise and its effect on the public health and welfare.
 * __@https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7Dckph9Dhk__**
 * Turn off electronics:** computers, game systems, televisions make noise when they’re not in use—whether it’s a fan spinning or that high-pitched, barely-audible screech some TVs make. Over time, all of these sounds cause stress on the ears. Turn them off when you are not using them. As a bonus, you’ll save some money on electricity.
 * Sound-proof your space: There are a lot of things you can do to sound-proof your home such as...**
 * If you have hard floors, rugs will go a long way in the fight to dampen sound.
 * Windows are a known weak point in many structures. Installing better windows, sealing window frames, or hanging curtains (even thin ones) will help reduce the sound coming from outside.
 * If you have noisy neighbors on one side of you, put furniture or a big bookshelf (preferably full of books) against that wall.
 * If you have laundry machines in a separate room, shut the door. Also try running appliances like dishwashers when you’re getting ready to leave the house for a bit. When you’re gone they can make as much noise as they want.
 * The EPA also is making efforts against noise pollution.**

**__ INSTRUCTIONS- ENVIRONMENT __**
__**This assignment can include a variety of interesting information.**__ mountain top mining non gas style of cars- electrical, hybrids noise pollution global warming acid rain oil spills recyling
 * Some suggestions: Choose a few and discuss how they affect our us in our daily lives.**

__**How to use the wiki page**__ You can upload files or create links to external website or to a page in the wiki.
 * 1) To enter content on this page, click the **EDIT** tab located on the top, right side of the page.
 * 2) Enter the information and click **Save** to save changes.
 * 1) To upload a file or an image, click the **File**icon on the tool bar, upload the file.
 * 2) Click the **Link** icon to enter a link to a url or link to a page in the wiki.

__**Resourses**__