KMXT 100.1 FM Public Radio in Kodiak, Alaska
The purpose of this campaign is to educate and inform the Kodiak community about how to reduce energy consumption, recycle resources and products and reuse rather than discard materials.
Did you know the average American uses seven trees a year in paper, wood, and other products made from trees. This amounts to about two billion trees per year. Half of it we simply throw away – enough every year to heat 50 million homes for twenty years. Currently only six percent of Kodiak’s waste stream is being recycled.
Western Alaska Land Title Company encourages you to recycle office paper, newspapers, cardboard, junk mail and paper packaging materials. Recycling saves trees which absorb carbon dioxide and is cost effective. The construction costs of a paper mill designed to use waste paper is 50 to 80% less than the cost of a mill using new pulp.
Alternative Energy — Power derived from sources like wind or solar energy without creating harmful emissions
Biodegradable — Able to decompose naturally into simple organic compounds that are safe for the earth
Biofuel — Fuel such as biodiesel or ethanol that is made from renewable, organic materials for use as a replacement for fossil fuels
Bisphenol A (BPA) — Used to make polycarbonate plastics, which become the durable light plastics that are very common in food and drink packaging, including baby bottles and children’s toys. Controversy surrounds the chemical because of the possible adverse effects, such as increased risk of multiple cancers
Carbon Footprint — The total amount of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases emitted into the atmosphere during one’s life, or during the time it takes to complete a product or service
Carbon Neutral — Resulting in a net discharge of carbon into the atmosphere of zero, usually once an initial discharge has been offset by another action, like planting trees
Composting — The process by which organic food, paper, and yard wastes are broken down naturally by organisms (bacteria, fungi, worms) into a mineral-rich product for use by farmers and gardeners
Embodied Energy — The total energy used in all the processes required to complete a building, from the acquisition of natural resources to the transport of materials and administrative actions
Energy Efficiency — Using less energy to do more or to get more service
EnergyStar — An energy-performance rating system created jointly by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy, in which energy-efficient buildings are awarded stars
Environmental Footprint — The amount of nonrenewable resources a company or individual uses, plus the amount of waste and emissions it creates
Green Design — Architectural design that is resource-efficient and environmentally sound; its elements include solar panels, natural lighting, and sustainable construction materials
Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) — The rating system and certification program that sets the standards for an official “green” building based on five criteria: sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality
Nontoxic — Not causing adverse health affects (used to describe a product, substance, or chemical)
Organic Fabric — One in which 95 percent or more of the fibers are grown without engineering or chemical pesticides and fertilizers
Phthalates — A class of chemicals made from alcohols and phthalic anhydride used most commonly to soften vinyl, for things such as toys and baby bottles. Phthalates have been linked to a number of health risks, including kidney and lung damage
Reclaimed Materials — Ones that have been salvaged from the waste stream and reused in their original form, with minimal reprocessing
Recycled Materials — Those that are remanufactured to form part of a new product
Renewable Materials — Those that naturally replenish themselves and are abundant in their natural environment, such as bamboo (fast-growing) and cork (made from bark, so its trees are unharmed by harvesting)
Sustainable Materials — Those made without adverse effect on the environment
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) — Potentially harmful human-made chemicals that are emitted into the air as gases from certain solids or liquids, such as paint, cleaning fluids, and other household items