Eye Opener: Environmental Online Learning Activities

1. Ashley's Activity

Total City Miles: 7,200Total Highway Miles: 4,800City MPG: 22 MPGHighway MPG: 32 MPGGallons of Fuel (City): 327.27 gallonsGallons of Fuel (Highway): 150 gallonsGallons of Fuel (Total): 477.27 gallonsTotal Pounds CO2: 9211.31 lbs My Pontiac Grand Am produces a total of 9211 pounds of CO2, and I am astonished by such a high amount!!! My car probably gets about 22 miles/gallon, which is a lot better than trucks and other larger vehicles out there. I never knew that just an individual car could emit that much pollution. Just think, most households have 3 or 4 cars (one per person!)  2. Katie's Activity 1. My BMI: 20.98--> Normal - Yes, I do think this is an accurate way to measure your weight. It Takes into consideration your height, which is a very important factor. 2. I think that I am somewhat adequately taking in the right amount of calories each day. I try and eat as many WHOLE grains as I can each day, but sometimes might not each the 3 oz that is recommended. I definitely reach the milk goal of 3 cups daily, but I also might overeat on cheese (my favorite!) I don't think that I eat the 5.5 oz of meat and beans. -I need to decrease the amount of fatty cheeses that I eat (or at least start buying lowfat/nonfat cheeses. -But, if this is too difficult, I could try and mix in vegetables with the cheese so that I am at least getting my vegetable intake. 3. I chose Pilates (intermediate) and Aerobics (high impact) and I was surprised to see that they weren't very different in calories burned!! I'd think that aerobics would burn a lot more. Pilates burned 254 for 50 min while aerobics burned 276 for 40 minutes. Though they were 10 minutes apart, I thought it'd be much more of a difference. Also, I thought that BOTH would burn more calories. It is so hard to burn the amount of calories in a pound, I feel that after a workout I've burned off so much, when really it isn't that much 3. Kara's Activity -I scored 68 -I pretty much knew all of the information/questions. I am still a little uninformed about biofuel, but I know that it is a form of renewable energy.  4. Lauren's Activity -I am only 10% fit according to the fitness quiz, what a buzz-kill!!! 1. Pilates and shoveling the driveway 2. two days/wk 3. 50 minutes an activity 4.  Jumping rope (in med ball class) 5. 1 day/wk 6. 20 minutes during activity 7. less active than last 3 months 8. I answered 6/7 NO. The one YES that I answered was being dizzy sometimes during exercise. 9. I have been trying to get more physically active 10. control weight, lower stress, look better 11. My sister WOULD help, by helping me get homework and studying done, and motivating me to go to the gym with her. However, she doesn't live in Duluth. 12. I am fairly confident 5. Jamie's Activity -15 pushups -45 sit-ups -1 1/2 minutes -18 inches -14 minutes YOUR SCORE: 32 You have the right idea and are on your way to excellent fitness. Stay where you are and you'll still be ahead of the pack. But if you want to amp it up, check out the SELF Challenge. 6. Dani's Activitiy I was able to answer 6/10 questions. Even though there were resources available, there was a lot of new vocabulary/terms that I've never heard of, so the information didn't stick the first time reading them over. Gasification and pyrolysis were two new terms that I learned about!!

Eye Opener: Photo Essay

 I decided to show some aspects (good AND bad) of restaurants that have to do with environmental issues. First off, at Perkins, I noticed that ALL of the lights were on, even though it was at the sunniest point of the day and lit up the entire restaurant regardless. 

They also tended to be very wasteful with their water. Only 3 people were drinking water at our table, and the waiter filled up a pitcher for our table, even though we hadn't even asked for refills. I'm assuming the water was just poured down drain afterwards.

Only a few of us drank all of the water or pop that we ordered. All of this waste also it just poured down the drain without a second thought. 

On the bright side of things, other restaurants do well with composing and recycling. At Grandmas, the restaurant I work at, we started separating our food scraps from everything else. We have biodegradable bags that we fill to the top, and then bring them to compost sites. 

I'm glad that I could find eco-friend aspects of restaurants. I expected to find all bad things, but actually found some good. I'm proud to work at a restaurant that contributes to composting, especially since we go through so much waste/food every single day. It's ridiculous to just mix everything together when it is so simple to separate them. Though it's a little extra step to do so, it is worth it. I hope that all restaurants find new ways to reduce their waste and start finding more appropriate practices to help out. 

Eye Opener: Junk on The Brain

antiques/antiquing : a shopping activity (Kindred Closet, 2818 Piedmont Ave #2, 218-722-2115)
junk/junking: discarded material such as glass, rags, paper or metal, some of which may be reused in some form. (Chesney Auto Salvage, 6250 Beaver River Rd. 800-826-2941)
flea market: a type of bazaar where inexpensive or secondhand goods are sold or bartered (Studebaker Drivers Club, 2101 Trinity Rd)
thrift shop: a shop that sells used articles, especially clothing, as to benefit a charitable organization.  (Good Will, 700 Garfield Ave #1, 218-722-6351)
upcycling: the process of converting waste material or useless products into new materials or products of better quality or a higher environmental value ( I could not find a local resource for upcycling)
resale: the act of selling something secondhand (Dannie Duluth consignment, 932 E. 4th St., 218-724-8507)

All of these terms have to do with recycling or reusing items. This way, they all have to do with environmental health because people don't have to go out and buy brand new items that contribute to pollution and other hazardous outcomes.

I shop at thrift shops a lot, and it's great to know that the money goes towards a charitable organization. I hate spending money on new clothes that are so expensive, when you can just buy gently used clothes from a thrift shop.

PART 3

I thought this junk frame was a cool idea. It's an old window with twine wrapped around it. It gives it a rustic look, and is very simple to make.

I really like this candle box. It's a simple wood frame, but by adding the candle and the rocks that it rests in, it really spices it up! This also has a rustic touch, which I'm really into. It looks like something that could be used indoors or outdoors!

These look like some wooden blocks with newspaper pasted over them. You can just look through some old magazines and newspapers and make the blocks say whatever you want! I like doing little crafts and this would be such a quick, artsy project.

Eye Opener: Environmental Working Group

I decided to check out what my Burt's Bees honey lip balm was made of. It turns out that it is considered a number 3 hazard level item, which is moderate. Ingredients included have been linked to allergic reactions and immunotoxicity The flavor and Lanolin are the ingredients have the biggest hazard level. Overall, my lip balm does not seem to be very harmful. It is a pretty natural item, and I plan on continuing to use it. 

Eye Opener: CSPI

I decided to Take a Tour of the Food Supply. I found it sickening to hear about how factory farms mistreat the animals. It should be against the law to house the animals the way they do. Cramming them in cages, never allowing some to see the light of day and de-beaking chickens without painkillers. It is animal cruelty, I don't understand how they are legal! I also didn't know that the food that is fed to the animals actually contributes to heart disease in humans. The consumption of animal meats, poultry, dairy and egg products are linked to a large sum of deaths. If we all just ate a little less of these products, we could save many animals from inhumane treatment AND it would be saving humans' lives as well. The cost of fertilizing and watering the fields to eventually feed the animals take up a lot of energy that could be used towards other more beneficial projects. 

Eye Opener: Ecological Footprint

I chose to take the Ecological Footprint Quiz, and was very surprised to see how much I could do in order to change the amount of resources and space that I take up on this Earth. It said that if i go on with my typical everyday lifestyle, it would take 6.1 planets to supply my needs. Or wants?? 
It made me realize that I could do a lot to reduce my wastes/ or simply HABITS that I usually incorporate into my life. I can't exactly change the fact that I live at my brothers house, which takes up more square feet and has running water and electricity, but I can, however, make sure that I unplug all electric items when I'm not using them, or to take quick showers. 
It is also hard that I live a little further off campus, and need to drive my car to my friends before school, so that I can take the bus the rest of the way. 
I definitely try hard to waste less, recycle, carpool as much as possible, save water and buy items that have reduced amount of material put into storing it. But i can see where I can still help but trying a LITTLE harder.

Welcome to Elly Dreams Green!!!

My name is Elly Sturm, currently attending UMD as a Junior. My blog reflects what I've learned throughout my Environmental Health course.

There are 6 possible types of posts on my blog. They include:

1. Advocacy Project
2. Eye Openers
3. Reflections
4. Eco-chic Lifestyle Change 
5. Read 'n' Seed
6. Share and Voice

The members of my web group are:

1. brier@lovinnaturewithbrier
2. Kristy@kristysfuninthesunspot
3. Jamie@jamiesaysjump
4. Lauren@laurenspouringrain
5. Mary@blueskiesformary
6. Sarah@takeahikewithsarah

Now you have learned a few basic things about what I plan on accomplishing this semester, and invite you to continue to check out my blog page for new updates!