5 Ways the 2008 Summer Olympics Were Green

green olympic gamesAs the 2008 Summer Olympics are coming to a close and the streets of Bejing are returning to their previous levels of traffic, let’s take a look at some of the ways that these summer games have helped reduce emissions and reduce the impact on our planet.

1.  Buses used in the Olympic village were powered with lithium batteries.

2.  Washers and Dryers in the Olympic village were water and energy efficient and some were detergent free.

3.  Solar energy powered many air conditioners and water heaters in various Olympic venues.

4.  Solar and thermal systems made the Bird’s Nest the world’s most efficient arena.

5.  New water treatment plants and water collection facilities have helped mitigate the impact of the games on the water system.

The green efforts by Olympic organizers were recognized by the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) and Greenpeace.

The Planet in the News: Green News Stories

Green HeadlinesMake Green Come True will be returning to regular posts this week.  Sorry for the absence!  Here are a few ways to catch up on green headlines.
1.   Read about “Ocean Deadzones” and their impact on our world.

2.  Learn about possible changes to the Endangered Species Act.

3.  Discover tips on how to make your organic garden green.

4.  Decide your side on the debate between food safety experts and environmentalists.

5.  Find out more about wastewater problems in urban farms.

Weekend DIY Project: Save Water with Low-Flow Shower Heads

low-flow showerheadInstalling high-efficiency shower heads can reduce your water usage by thousands of gallons a year and can reduce your electric bill as well (less water will need to be heated).  With new green low flow/aerating models, you will not notice a difference in water pressure and with the added air, your pressure may feel higher than before.  To check the water efficiency of a shower head, look for it’s gallons per minute rating (GPM), the lower the better.  Some models also have a pause button to cut water flow while you’re shampooing or shaving.   Here are a few options that have gotten good reviews:

1.85 GPM – Delta Fluidics Adjustable Showerhead, Chrome #75152

1.6 GPM – Alsons Fluidics Showerhead, Chrome #655CBX

Installation of the showerheads takes only a few minutes of time to save a significant amount on your utility bills and help save our environment.  For more information on installation, check out one of these sites:

http://homerepair.about.com/od/plumbingrepair/ss/shwr_head.htm

http://www.expertvillage.com/video-series/437_install-shower-head.htm