by Josh Shkrab on January 20, 2012
Climate change mitigation policies can do more than just avert the potential long-term catastrophic consequences that will affect the entire world. Climate policies can also have short-term benefits in the area of human health and agriculture. These benefits were outlined in a recent article in the journal Science, by a group of scientists from around the world. The research article highlighted the potential for mitigating near-term climate change effects, while simultaneously improving human health and agricultural yields.
The research focused on two primary pollutants, methane (CH4) and black carbon (BC), which contribute to climate change and have severe human health effects. The reason for the analysis of these two pollutants is due to their potency and short-lived nature in the atmosphere. When discussing climate change, pollutants are assigned a value which describes its global warming potential (GWP) compared to the standard value, which is Carbon Dioxide (CO2). The GWP compares the amount of heat trapped by a certain mass of the gas to the amount of heat trapped by a similar mass of CO2. The GWP is calculated over a certain time interval, typically 20, 100 or 500 years. This is important to understand because CH4 has a GWP of 25 and BC 55, meaning they are 25 and 55 times more potent than CO2 respectively.
[click to continue…]
by Josh Shkrab on January 17, 2012
2012 is already an historic year for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United States public alike. In early January, EPA released the comprehensive greenhouse gas (GHG) data, reported to them directly by large facilities, to the public.
EPA began collecting GHG data in response to the fiscal year 2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 2764; Public Law 110–161), in which the Mandatory Reporting of Greenhouse Gases Rule (74 FR 56260) was issued. The rule requires reporting of GHG data and other relevant information from numerous industrial sectors including electricity generators, pulp and paper manufacturing, zinc production, and suppliers of natural gas and natural gas liquids to name a few.
EPA developed an online data publication tool that allows users to view GHG data in a variety of ways, including by location, facility, industrial sector, or state. The default view allows the user to explore data from direct emitters such as power plants, refineries, and other large direct emissions sources. The development of this online system is part of EPA’s broader goal of providing U.S. citizens with critical public health information. EPA plans to continually update the database in an effort to provide the most accurate data.
[click to continue…]
by Josh Shkrab on January 13, 2012
The National Emission Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants (NESHAP) for Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE) regulations were finalized on Friday, August 20, 2010. The rule is designed to regulate unconventional and conventional air toxics emitted from stationary engines that include formaldehyde, acrolein, acetaldehyde, methanol, carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxides (NOx), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and particulate matter (PM), which are the product of fossil fuel combustion. The health effects from exposure to these air toxics may produce a wide variety of health effects for people including irritation of the eyes, skin, and mucous membranes, respiratory illnesses, and central nervous system problems.
There are a several changes that were made from the proposed rule, including the exemption of existing combustion engines that are located at residential, commercial, or institutional facilities. This means that institutions such as hospitals, which have emergency generators, are possibly exempt from this regulation. An important determining factor in this rule is whether the source is classified as an area source or a major source. According to the EPA, an area source is defined as having the potential to emit less than 10 tons annually of a single hazardous air pollutant (HAP) or less than 25 tons annually of any combination of HAP. A major source is any facility that has the potential to emit more than 10 tons annually of an individual HAP or more than 25 tons of any combination of HAPs. Most hospitals fall under the area source category, which have different regulatory implications.
[click to continue…]
by Josh Shkrab on January 10, 2012
The Healthier Hospitals Initiative (HHI) is an excellent example of how hospitals are beginning to realize that sustainable principles have a major role in the healthcare sector. Created in May of 2010, HHI is a coalition of major health systems and organizations across the nation committed to improving sustainability and safety within the healthcare sector.
One of several goals outlined in the HHI is to provide health benefits for patients, staff and the community by reducing emissions and pollution that are linked to chronic respiratory diseases. By taking the necessary steps to reduce emissions from health care facilities, hospitals are in effect actually practicing preventive health care. The reduction of emissions passed to the surrounding community translates into healthier and more productive citizens. This goal can be accomplished by focusing on the implementation of sustainable policies, including simply turning off lights in a room that is not occupied. Additionally, the health care sector can leverage its purchasing power to reduce toxic chemicals and get manufactures and suppliers to respond with safer, cost effective alternatives.
[click to continue…]
