Coronavirus: A Global Pandemic and Environmental Retribution

The global pandemic from the coronavirus COVID-19 is not only a deadly infectious pathogen but also many people believe retribution for how we humans are treat nature. The origins of the outbreak came from people eating contaminated bats as described on my blog from January 30th. Cleaning the environment with disinfectants can kill the virus. Logic tells us that a clean environment including pure air, food and water are essential to our survival.

According to The Guardian article on destruction of nature being responsible for COVID-19, “Yet human health research seldom considers the surrounding natural ecosystems, says Richard Ostfeld, distinguished senior scientist at the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies in Millbrook, New York. He and others are developing the emerging discipline of planetary health, which looks at the links between human and ecosystem health. There’s misapprehension among scientists and the public that natural ecosystems are the source of threats to ourselves. It’s a mistake. Nature poses threats, it is true, but it’s human activities that do the real damage. The health risks in a natural environment can be made much worse when we interfere with it, he says.”

The governments that have been most effective in combating Covid-19 have strong national systems that are rapidly testing and isolating infected people. Places like Singapore that have strong environmental controls is getting top recognition for responding to the pandemic. I visited there in 1994 and they fined people for dropping a gum wrapper on the ground - it was the cleanest place that I visited in Asia.

The U.S. has been very slow to adopt testing perhaps because our government did not want to know or reveal the pending crisis. Why has Vietnam provided more testing than in the U.S., according to a Harvard researcher? I ran into this problem by managers being against testing for pollution while working as an environmental scientist for my entire career. Many people in power only want to hear good news!

The Atlantic on March 13th described the reasons for the U.S. lagging in testing compared to the rest of the world and how President Trump’s comments and misinformation influenced being prepared and taking quick and decisive action.

We are all interconnected on this planet as Covid-19 reveals. We need global laws for our health and environment. Support the United Nations and organizations, including the World Health Organization and UN Environmental Programme, for common international policies so that no one country can create more pollution and reap economic benefits. Say no to deregulation of environmental health and safety standards and let’s fight for our lives!

Senator Michael Bennet's TownHall

Thursday 2-20-20 was a very auspicious day! I arrived at the Colorado Mesa University campus by 7:30 am to sit in a class on mine reclamation taught by a colleague; later I met with an environmental science professor to discuss opportunities to support him and his students, and then joined the townhall with Senator Michael Bennet. Approximately 200 people showed up, mostly senior citizens which surprised me that so few students joined the lunchtime meeting. Senator Bennet described his bid running for the Democratic nomination to be President in 2020. He dropped out of the race after hoping to do better in Iowa and especially New Hampshire. He did get numerous endorsements including James Carville and Gary Hart.

Check out the KJCT8 inteview, “Big topics included: climate change, public lands, gun control and getting the younger generation involved in politics.” Stay tuned for more on this space regarding his legislative initiative Colorado Outdoor Recreation and Economy (CORE) Act!

I felt very lucky to hear him speak and to get to be the last person to meet him for a photo op before he left for other meetings.

Mountains and Rivers Without End, A Book of Poems by Gary Snyder

“Earth Verse

Wide enough to keep you looking

Open enough to keep you moving

Dry enough to keep you honest

Prickly enough to make you tough

Green enough to go on living

Old enough to give you dreams”

This is the shortest of 39 poems in Gary Snyder’s book titled Mountains and Rivers Without End, published by Counterpoint Press. The book is is an interesting caricature of the man and his West Coast environment. Also check out his radio interview on KQED in 2013.

John Muir: Born in Scotland and Saved America's Wilderness

A beautiful children’s book by the Yosemite Conservancy is Wildheart: The Daring Adventures of John Muir by Julie Bertagna and illustrated by William Goldsmith.

My son and I loved reading the inspiring book together sharing how John Muir, an immigrant who came to America at age 11, overcame many hardships including accidental blindness which helped him listen to birds and nature. He created National Parks and the Sierra Club on a worldwide mission so is a hero to anyone and anything who lives and breaths - i.e. all life. Here are a few quotes from the book:

“We are part of nature and its wild heart is part of us. The human creatures of this planet are connected to all our earth-born companions.”

“My life has been one big adventure. I had a dream and I worked and worked at it. I hitched my wagon to that star. Aged 65, I went on a tour to every continent except Antarctica. I crossed oceans to explore the great rivers and forest of the earth. At 73, I made a 40,000 mile trek to South America and Africa.”

I highly recommend getting a copy of this book and following in John Muir’s footsteps - go visit an American National treasure or World Heritage Site this year!

5th Grader Memories of the Praying Mantis

I frequently support the local charter school as a substitute teacher for grades 2-12 including the 5th grade. We see Praying Mantis insects around Grand Junction and a 5th grader told me they are weird and fast.

When I was in 5th grade over 50 years ago, I thought the Praying Mantis was a very cool, religious insect. We saw many of these insects in the fields around our school. I recall asking the teacher what do they pray for? She said the females like to eat the males so it depended on which sex was doing the praying!

For more interesting facts about Praying Mantids, see the ThoughtCo. website.

Child's Play Loving Nature

I grew up in Fairfax County, Virginia near George Washington’s home of Mount Vernon. Our new subdivision homes were built on farmland with some farms still operating at that time with many dairy cows. It took awhile to get accustomed to the loud “Mooo” sounds.

On the back of our home was grass, a vegetable and flower garden, and then a bamboo thicket where kids could play and observe wildlife like a family of rabbits. I did not know at that time bamboo came from Asia as an invasive species.

I also liked to lay on my back and stare up at the clouds in the sky. Big pillows floating in the bright blue sky, I would dream they were cotton candy!

The main road Sherwood Hall Lane at that time was small and winding around huge oak trees. We played Robin Hood thinking about Sherwood forest and other games outside.

There were creeks nearby, including Little Hunting Creek, that flowed into the Potomac River where we could splash and swing on vines and ropes playing like Tarzan. We’d find frogs, turtles, and water skeeters along with shiny and moss-covered rocks.

Going on family picnics to the river or parks was a fun weekend activity. A bike path was built along the river for people to get exercise outside. I feel fortunate to have spent my childhood finding a love for nature! They say people will protect what and who they love.

Coronavirus and Embracing Regulations that Protect Our Health to Save Lives

In the U.S. and worldwide, over the past several years we have seen removing important regulations that were created out of crises. When enacted and enforced, regulations can greatly protect our health and save lives! Deregulation is a popular buzz word for many to rally behind out of ignorance that seems to value profits over lives. For this month’s last blog on health topics, I will focus on the current epidemic. Next month, I will focus on the beauty of nature and environmental regulations that are being revoked to examine potential ramifications.

The current coronavirus epidemic that began in China and is spreading like wildfire with no vaccine appears to have begun by animal transmission to humans. Check out today’s Bloomberg Quick Take video (sorry for the YouTube ad) that shows the spread of the virus worldwide. It began in China on December 31, 2019 and was found in Thailand two weeks later and then rapidly spread across several continents by people infected before symptoms became apparent.

I just learned that people are eating bats and other animals in the same food chain. Check out this article about the “Bat soup girl” which states, “Like its deadlier cousins MERS (Middle East respiratory syndrome) and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), the new strain is believed to have jumped from animals to people and then mutated to enable human to human transmission.”

In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is working with U.S. Government partners, including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and international partners to closely monitor an outbreak caused by a novel (new) coronavirus first identified in Wuhan City, Hubei Province, China. “Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses. Some cause illness in people; numerous other coronaviruses circulate among animals, including camels, cats, and bats.”

“The scope of FDA’s regulatory authority is very broad. FDA's responsibilities are closely related to those of several other government agencies. Often frustrating and confusing for consumers is determining the appropriate regulatory agency to contact. The following is a list of traditionally-recognized product categories that fall under FDA’s regulatory jurisdiction; however, this is not an exhaustive list.

In general, FDA regulates:

Foods, including:

  • dietary supplements

  • bottled water

  • food additives

  • infant formulas

  • other food products (although the U.S. Department of Agriculture plays a lead role in regulating aspects of some meat, poultry, and egg products)

Drugs, including:

  • prescription drugs (both brand-name and generic)

  • non-prescription (over-the-counter) drugs

Biologics, including:

  • vaccines for humans

  • blood and blood products

  • cellular and gene therapy products

  • tissue and tissue products

  • allergenics

Medical Devices, including:

  • simple items like tongue depressors and bedpans

  • complex technologies such as heart pacemakers

  • dental devices

  • surgical implants and prosthetics

Electronic Products that give off radiation, including:

  • microwave ovens

  • x-ray equipment

  • laser products

  • ultrasonic therapy equipment

  • mercury vapor lamps

  • sunlamps

Cosmetics, including:

  • color additives found in makeup and other personal care products

  • skin moisturizers and cleansers

  • nail polish and perfume

Veterinary Products, including:

  • livestock feeds

  • pet foods

  • veterinary drugs and devices

Tobacco Products, including:

  • cigarettes

  • cigarette tobacco

  • roll-your-own tobacco

  • smokeless tobacco”

So regulations that protect our health are much different in various countries. Ironically, as is being witnessed with the coronavirus, the regulations and eating habits of one country can affect us all.

Here are some other federal agencies that create important regulations.

Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC): enforces federal safety standards
 

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA): establishes and enforces pollution standards
 

Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC): administers and enforces Title VIII or the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (fair employment)
 

Federal Aviation Administration (FAA): regulates and promotes air transportation safety, including airports and pilot licensing
 

Federal Communications Commission (FCC): regulates interstate and foreign communication by radio, telephone, telegraph, and television
 

Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC): insures bank deposits, approves mergers, and audits banking practices
 

Federal Reserve System (the FED): regulates banking; manages the money supply
 

Federal Trade Commission (FTC): ensures free and fair competition and protects consumers from unfair or deceptive practices
 

Food and Drug Administration (FDA): administers federal food purity laws, drug testing and safety, and cosmetics
 

Interstate Commerce Commission (ICC): enforces federal laws concerning transportation that crosses state lines
 

National Labor Relations Board (NLRB): prevents or corrects unfair labor practices by either employers or unions
 

Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC): licenses and regulates non-military nuclear facilities
 

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA): develops and enforces federal standards and regulations ensuring working conditions
 

Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC): administers federal laws concerning the buying and selling of securities

The Brookings Institution is tracking deregulation in the Trump Administration. Recall in 2018, the change to remove federal pork inspectors and let the industry do the inspections? The NBC News article quotes the executive director of Food and Water Watch, “it is irresponsible for the USDA to expand a radical change to food safety responsibility in the pork industry based on a pilot program that clearly failed to show that allowing companies to inspect themselves can produce safe food.”

But in 2019, the Center for Disease Control stated the outbreak of Listeria infections can come from pork products! It is also well know that we cannot eat raw or under-cooked pork products which cause serious illness.

On an international scale, the World Health Organization (WHO), “aids countries to strengthen regulation, including post-marketing surveillance, and to eliminate substandard and falsified medicines. It also develops international norms and standards, so that countries worldwide can regulate health products and technologies consistently. In parallel, WHO facilitates access to quality-assured, safe and effective health products by assessing medicines, vaccines and medical devices for priority diseases.”

What does WHO say about coronavirus? “Common signs of infection include respiratory symptoms, fever, cough, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In more severe cases, infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death. Standard recommendations to prevent infection spread include regular hand washing, covering mouth and nose when coughing and sneezing, thoroughly cooking meat and eggs. Avoid close contact with anyone showing symptoms of respiratory illness such as coughing and sneezing.”

Late this evening, WHO declared a global health emergency!

So maybe we needed to reconsider “deregulation” and actively debate ReRegulating common sense rules not only to save lives in the U.S. but worldwide as we are all interconnected on this Earth.

Does Having Health Insurance Ensure or Injure Our Health?

Much of the debate about health care has been focused on getting everyone covered by health insurance. Certainly, having health insurance can be preferable to not being covered - especially for major medical expenses. However, I’ve learned especially over the past year that having health insurance does not ensure we will remain healthy based on the advice of doctors complying with managed care. The constraints by insurance companies can even injure our health by limiting diagnoses and treatments.

About 20 years ago a very good doctor friend of mine owned a orthopedic practice. When “managed care” became the buzz word for medical insurance companies taking over medical decisions being made by doctors, my friend decided to sell his practice. He became richer and volunteered at a hospital in Thailand for six months where I joined him and we traveled together. They did not have health insurance in Thailand or medical malpractice lawsuits at that time. When insurance and lawsuits became more popular, health care costs skyrocketed. However, it is still less expensive to get treatments in other counties and prescription medicines often cost less than in America.

Over the past year, I have been learning about the two-tiered system. People might find a doctor they liked on an insurance plan who decides not to accept insurance anymore. These elite doctors do not want insurance companies telling them what to do, what tests are needed, or what is the best course of treatment.

I learned much more about my health and diet, as discussed in the previous blog, by seeing a doctor not covered by insurance. The testing and treatment are tailor made to fit the individual. I’ll still use and need health insurance but going outside the system is liberating. The extra costs are commensurate with the positive benefits. The knowledge gained from the elite doctor far surpassed what I knew before. A genetics test greatly helped my diagnosis. However, when i approached the insurance company to find a doctor who could read the genetics test, there was only one doctor on the plan in Colorado who was not taking appointments for 2 years! I did pay the new doctor to tell me the results as waiting two years seems outrageous.

Food Awareness Is Key to Our Health

Consuming the right foods is an increasingly huge challenge. As kids we ate too much junk food, sugar, and white bread — getting older with more awareness, we are spending more to find the best quality food that fits our diet and budget. I wish I knew more when I was younger so maybe some of my lessons learned can help others.

I recently got a lab blood test from US BioTek that indicated the best foods for me to eat. I discovered the need to avoid beef, dairy and egg products, oats, and certain citrus fruits and vegetables like mushrooms. I used to like eating a can of white albacore tuna each week and new guidelines indicate waiting about 10 days for adults and monthly or longer for kids due to mercury levels.

WebMD lists healthy vegetables that are sources of good carbs including broccoli, carrots, corn, sweet potatoes, beets, parsnips, brussels sprouts, zucchini, squash, pumpkin, and spinach. These are great to eat fresh, in stir fry, or a crock-pot stew with chicken or other meat.

Many studies indicate how sugar causes numerous illnesses so we avoid soda drinks and many desserts. Going gluten free and reducing bad carbs is making for a slimmer waistline. We’ve also found benefits in juicing vegetables, like celery, and making protein smoothies. The new testing is showing my food allergies to Whey, Soy and Pea Protein so lately the Hemp protein powder in almond milk is working very well.

Keep finding the best foods that work for you and your family!

Can An Apple a Day Keep the Doctor Away?

According to WebMD, eating an apple a day really does keep the doctor away, as long as you eat the peel. An apple provides antioxidants like 1,500 mg of vitamin C with for soluble fiber to reduce cholesterol. Apple skins are found to fight cancer and other health benefits.

We should qualify that eating an organic apple is much better than if it’s grown using chemical herbicides and pesticides!

This blog introduces the health care topic that I will be sharing lessons from my experiences that hopefully will benefit you and others!

Let it Rain: Some of My Favorite Tunes

Highlights from UCRBWF

The 9th annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum was held on November 13-14 at the Colorado Mesa University (CMU) in Grand Junction, CO. This year’s theme was “Tools for Adaptation.” The two-day conference consistently provides an outstanding overview of the multidisciplinary issues concerning conflicting interests in the region. Some of the diverse presenters and attendees (like students, professionals, and retirees) discussed topics including agriculture, energy, engineering, fishing, forests, law, management, parks, policy, politics, recreation, science, timber, tribal rights, and urban demands.

The general theme seemed to be that the upper basin states of Wyoming, Colorado, Utah, and New Mexico are not using their full share of water as determined by the 1922 compact while the lower basin states of Arizona, California, and Nevada are using too much of their allotment. Overall, the Colorado River provides water to over 40 million people as well as food (or animal feed) to much of the United States and abroad. There is a treaty with Mexico to provide water as well as numerous tribal nations have made water rights settlements. The system of prior appropriation means who legally applied first gets the senior rights which includes California, many urban systems, and agriculture. The junior rights went to Arizona, tribes, and environmental uses. This is becoming really bad news to the four million people in the Phoenix area who will struggle to find adequate replacement for their water supply, as well as tribal people who are unable to build and use available supplies, and wildlife depending on adequate stream flow.

The river system has been overallocated, meaning more people claim rights to water than is available, creating more demand for groundwater especially during severe droughts. Supreme Court cases have been fought over state water rights and the 7 state compact agreement will need to be renegotiated or face federal intervention to preserve required lake levels for hydroelectric power generation. Some speakers described using the courts to resolve issues as high-stakes gambling. Ironically, to fund the Colorado Water Plan voters approved sports betting! Please see my original comments on the CWP submitted over four years ago.

To reach beyond conflicts, many presenters demonstrated positive results by creating collaborative partnerships. I’m most impressed with non-profit efforts by The Nature Conservancy, Trout Unlimited, and the Colorado Water Trust. Here is a link to the abstracts with biographies of the speakers.

So for some more highlights, here are a few essential notes:

  • The US Geological Survey in 1916 got the science correct to forecast limited water supplies but the US Bureau of Reclamation’s incorrect oversupply predictions were used in the 1922 Compact with 7 states

  • The two dammed reservoirs (Powell and Mead) account for loss due to evaporation of 1,000,000 acre-feet which is about 6% of the total supply

  • Municipal water suppliers and industries are increasing efficient uses of water

  • Tribal advocates for spiritual nature of water essential for sustainability over commodity mentality

  • Northwestern New Mexico is building $1.1 billion dollar water supply for Navajo Nation and other tribes

  • Southeastern New Mexico boom in shale gas uses 60,000 acre-feet of fresh water yet produces 100,000 acre-feet of waste brine solutions so new applications for water rights by industry are being put on hold with the new Governor over the past year

  • Closing coal-fired power plants affects tribal incomes that will need compensation

  • Population growth is largest in southwestern U.S. which cannot support resource demands

  • Industry wants water banking and new aquifer storage and recovery systems

  • Over use of surface water - groundwater causing ground subsidence in many areas

  • Alternative Transfer Mechanisms are an alternative to “buy and dry” when housing developments are build on ranches to negotiate deals with multiple stakeholders

  • Excessive outdoor water users need more utility and community enforcement

  • Direct potable reuse is being adopted in several states to recycle water supplies

  • Two book authors gave terrific keynote presentations: Eric Kuhn and Zak Podmore

  • Colorado River water gets reused 17 times as it flows downstream

  • A politician claims grazing is good for forests

  • A US Geological Survey scientist states grazing causes 50% increase in sedimentation and that soil crusts are easily damaged and hard to restore

  • River water supply forecasting is done by 15 federal centers including CBRFC

  • The National Water Model v. 2 needs upgrading by federal agencies with support from big tech companies

  • The National Water Map is one related product by USGS

  • Training is available with the Center for Snow and Avalanche Studies

  • There is an ag water conference in Loveland, CO on December 2-3

  • Augmented stream flow and management plans can keep rivers flowing

I’m grateful to the organizers and participants for this great educational forum!

Poster and Tour of Colorado River Park

The annual Upper Colorado River Basin Water Forum at CMU included my poster presentation of Las Colonias Park discussing the history of the uranium mill cleanup and development of the park. Here is a link to all the abstracts. The City of Grand Junction managers provided a tour of the park developments which are rapidly expanding to include new business construction focused on the recreation industry.

Here is a link to the previous blog after attending a concert at the amphitheater and the abstract for the poster presentation:

Las Colonias Park along the Colorado River in Grand Junction, CO: Transformation of a Radioactive-Hazardous Waste Dump to the City’s Premier Business-Recreational River Park

By Bill Dam

Many people associated with public-private organizations over several decades can be thanked for the cleanup and creation of Las Colonias Park. The site is located due south of Grand Junction’s downtown along the Colorado River and Riverside Parkway. The multi-use site includes an amphitheater for concerts, business park offices, picnic areas, gardens, bike path, restroom facilities, river access and more. A river park along a side channel of the Colorado River is being constructed for use by kids, kayakers, and stand-up boarders.

City of Grand Junction employees took great care to preserve the history of the site by including signs at the park in collaboration with Colorado Mesa University (CMU). According to the CMU history project, “Above all, the story of Las Colonias Park is the story of different people coming together to form communities. From the Spanish and Ute traders to the Hispanic migrants who built lives and homes on its banks to the more recent community-wide efforts to restore and preserve the riverfront, this stretch of land has been a convergence point for people and culture. After nearly 30 years of work, the land is poised to enter into a new era as a developed city park, but it is important that its history not be forgotten in the transition. The history of the Old Spanish Trail, the sugar beet industry, the uranium years, and the remediation and restoration of the land are all vital to the story of Grand Junction: these themes demonstrate both the various cultures and the economic changes that have shaped the Grand Valley.”

In 1950, the Climax uranium mill began operating to produce yellowcake uranium resulting in the byproduct of over two million tons of waste tailings. The uranium mill operated for about 20 years and then became an auto junk yard mixed with low-level radioactive waste. The State of Colorado began in the early 1970’s to deal with radioactive mill tailings that became used in concrete construction as the mill had offered “free sand.” In 1978, the U.S. Congress passed the Uranium Mill Tailings Radiation Control Act (UMTRCA) and the program identified over 4,000 vicinity properties around the Grand Junction area that needed radon-radium mitigation. Department of Energy (DOE) built a new disposal site to remove the tailings away from the Colorado River.

After site remediation in 1994, the land was vacant for 20 years until the City obtained many sources of funding to enable redevelopment. Park construction occurred in phases including the Phase 2 amphitheater project with DOE providing federal permit reviews and a grant to support redevelopment of the former mill processing site as well as interpretive historical signs.

Transformation of Las Colonias Park was a grassroots effort by citizens with the Lions Club and many other organizations. Cleanup and redevelopment grew out of conflicts and collaborations between local, state, and federal agencies. A new wave of businesses, people attending concerts, as well as accessing the Colorado River are discovering the renewed beauty of Las Colonias Park.

A tour of Las Colonias Park is planned for Thursday, November 14 at 3:30 pm. Tour leaders include:

Trent Prall, City of Grand Junction Public Works Director, trentonp@gjcity.org

Ken Sherbenou, City of Grand Junction Parks and Recreation Director, gjparksandrec@gjcity.org

 

Bio: Bill Dam worked for the U.S. Department of Energy in Grand Junction, CO from 2012 to 2019 and recently retired from federal service to enjoy consulting and teaching. He served DOE as a site manager of many sites, including Las Colonias Park, as well as working on a variety of uranium mining and milling contaminated sites. Overall, he worked 25 years for four federal agencies and has over 10 years environmental consulting experience. He formed his consulting company Conserve & Prosper LLC to promote sustainability emphasizing energy and water conservation. Contact Bill at info@conserve-prosper.com

 

Considering Geologic Time to Help Save the World

Dr. Marcia Bjornerud is a professor of geology and environmental studies at Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin. Last year, she published a book with Princeton University Press called Timefulness: How Thinking Like a Geologist Can Help Save the World.

I enjoyed reading about her work as a professor and former student to show how understanding the Earth’s past, present, and future provides clarity to dispel ignorance and promote cautious optimism. She describes how we have confirmed the age of the Earth and how dates changed over time along with scientific measurements such as isotopic dating.

Disagreements between Darwin and Kelvin over time proposed for evolution are fascinating and tragic. Kevin’s calculated age of Earth of 20 million years disagreed with Darwin’s ideas that evolution would take 100’s of millions to billions of years but were not proven until after Darwin’s death. She describes teaching a class, “History of Earth and Life, with the goal of telling the 4.5 billion-year story of the planet in one academic term (at a clip of 400 million years a week).”

She also provides a warning based on abundant scientific evidence, “If human carbon emissions have not been sharply curbed, and powerful positive feedbacks in the climate system are activated, the Earth could experience a replay of the Paleocene-Eocene Thermal Maximum (which occurred about 55 million years ago). Sea level would rise tens of feet, inundating many of the world’s most populous cities.” There can be no doubt that we humans are adding carbon to the atmosphere at very alarming rates and geologic evidence tells us what can happen as well as propose sensible solutions.

Her sources state humans are emitting 10 gigatons of carbon per year, mostly from burning fossil fuels but also cement production which roasts limestone and deforestation. Various ways to remove carbon dioxide are discussed including mineral reactions to produce carbonates:

Mg2SiO4 + 2CO2 = 2MgCO3 + SiO2 (Olivine plus carbon dioxide gives magnesite plus quartz)

Olivine is found in upper mantle rocks exposed near Newfoundland, Oman, Cyprus, and Northern California. The idea would be to mine and spread out the olivine to allow carbon sequestration. One study in Oman indicated that about 1 gigaton of carbon per year could be removed from the atmosphere.

I also like her suggestion that the President could create a Department of the Future with a cabinet Secretary that would consider current decisions under the lens of potential future impacts, such as Native Americans advocating Seven Generations.

Saving over $150 per year on home heating

Here is our latest natural gas bill from XCEL Energy. We are using about 44% less gas as compared to “efficient” neighbors and about 1/3 the amount of our average neighbors.The XCEL bill shows that we saved about $150 for one year compared to “efficient” neighbors. How did we do this? Here are a few things we can recommend:

  • Get an energy audit performed. We found leaks that were easy to patch!

  • Get your furnace inspected and keep it clean.

  • Change the inside HVAC air filter every three months

  • Keep the theromostat at 68 degrees F or below

Contact us at info@conserve-prosper.com for more information on energy audits.