Conservation

2 tons of seized ivory crushed to protest illegal trade

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2 tons of seized ivory crushed to protest illegal trade

Prohibition always fails, as it only leads to increased prices, which increases the risks that people will do obtain the product. I think they should look at expanding regulated elephant hunting, and using those funds to provide more elephant habitat to ensure the success of the species. Additionally, more research should be done into elephant farming -- if elephants could be farmed, it could provide a good way to produce the ivory that world demands.

Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut Conservation Right Where It’s Needed Most

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Trump’s Proposed Budget Would Cut Conservation Right Where It’s Needed Most

"A broad coalition committed to safeguarding the future of our country’s fish and wildlife populations, outdoor recreation opportunities, and national heritage is dismayed at the deep level of cuts recommended by President Trump in an official budget request released today."

"If enacted, Trump’s budget proposal would offset a $54-billion boost to defense spending by cutting foreign aid and domestic programs. This includes a proposed 12-percent decrease to the Department of the Interior budget, which is likely to slash resources needed to manage public and private lands, support state management of fish and wildlife, and enact conservation across the country. This would have devastating impacts on the ground for natural resources, historic sites, and the rural American communities that thrive off outdoor recreation and tourism spending."

Why is NYSERDA in the Pine Bush?

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One of the things that bothers me is that NYSERDA, the New Yor State Energy Research and Development Corporation is located in the Albany Pine Bush in Corporate Circle, in a location primarily serviced by automobiles with minimal if any bus service through the CDTA ShuttleBee. Based on NYSERDA’s location, it is highly unlikely that any employees or visitors ever come to it using mass-transit. Most employees use gas guzzling private automobiles.


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NYSERDA in the Pine Bush

Plenty of Real Estate Downtown,
Much Free to Use…

At the same time, there is a large amount of vacant office space downtown, that should be put into use. It’s quite possible that there would be sufficient room to move all of NYSERDA’s operations to a portion of 625 Broadway, home to the Department of Environmental Conservation and Environmental Facilities Corporation. With recent layoffs and the hiring freeze, there probably is ample space in there.

If not, as New York Times recently documented, the 12 floors of the Corning Tower that are currently sitting vacant would be an ideal place for NYSERDA. Quite a bit of scientific research and bureaucratic work gets done in the Corning Tower by the Health Department and Health Services Corporation, and it seems only natural for a public corporation like NYSERDA to consider locating to this location.

Alternatively, NYSERDA could consider renting a private building downtown like the Arcade Building. Many of these buildings have been vacant for a long time, and it’s possible that the rent they could get is far below what they paid for the sprawl rent in the Albany Pine Bush. While they wouldn’t get the parking spaces next to their offices downtown, what they would trade that in for would be less air pollution and lower energy consumption.

NYSERDA's Green Building

NYSERDA Should Be Setting an Example …

Rather then focusing on super-cars that only wealthy state bureaucracies can afford, they should be focusing on promoting compact communities serviced by mass-transit. While NYSERDA can’t force it’s employees to live in Albany, nor should it necessarily do as such, it can promote the benefit of having a workforce that works downtown in a highly energy efficient fashion.

The agency can promote the ease and convenience of working downtown, along with the energy and time savings. By not including significant parking in their relocation, they encourage employees and visitors to come using mass transit. NYSERDA could go farther and educate all existing and new employees about the many Park and Ride sites and bus service in the Capital Region, along with providing discount or free bus passes to all employees and visitors.

We need to think seriously about investing more into mass-transit . Transit is the future for our urban-areas, and all large employers of the future need to be located near transit lines that are regularly serviced, and reduce employee’s commuting distances.

… NYSERDA: It’s About Making Smart Energy Choices.

Gazing at Beautiful Columbia Circle

Open Pine Bush

Home Savings Bank Buildings

Legitimate $$ Free MONEY $$ (Not a Scam)

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Ever wonder how you can make significantly more money, with minimal effort? There is a great “Work from Home Opportunity” that can save you a lot of money, if you only choose to:

  1. Do some pretty simple math (optional).
  2. Flip some switches.
  3. Unplug some appliances.

How do you get this free money? Very simple. It’s lying around in your home, in almost invisible locations. It takes almost no effort. It’s what people have been telling you for years, but you’ve not been listening.

It’s called conserving energy!

Wow. Now for the math part, to calculate how much you can save in electricity by taking some really simple steps.

Step 1: Realize There Are 8,760 hours in a Year.

That is a pretty big number. While most of us think of their being 24 hours in a day and 365 days in a year, we rarely multiply both numbers together. Yet, we should when talking about energy, because we use energy like electricity even when we sleep or at out of the house.

Step 2: Realize Electricity Is Sold in Very Small Bundles.

That is compared to typical household electrical consumption. Power companies bill you on kilowatt hours. So if you use on average 1,000 watts per hour, you use 8,760 kw/h of electricity per year.

The way electricity is priced is similiar to a grocery stores selling food “by the teaspoon”. Shelve prices at such a “by the teaspoon” grocery store might look cheap, but when you get to the register, you would be shelling out some real cash.

Step 3: Realize Electricity Only Looks Cheap.

Electricity where I live costs about 15 1/2 cents per kilowatt hour. Seems pretty cheap. You could use 9,600 watts for an hour, for the same price of a $1.50 bus pass. That’s more energy then your electric clothes drier would use in an hour.

The problem comes in that most people don’t use electricity for an hour. They use it for multiple hours, indeed throughout the year, all 8,760 hours of the year. While people turn appliances on and off, the reality is a lot of electricity is being used year round.

Step 4: Calculate Your Savings.

Once you realize how expensive energy is, the trick is to calculate your savings and figure out where you can spare a couple of watts here and there. Maybe unplugging the television when your not using it rather then putting it in sleep mode, could save you $5 or $10 a year, making sure the computer is turned off when your not using it, could be another free $50-$75 in cash that otherwise would have just gone to power company.

This table looks a that math, based on the typical 15.5¢ an Albany resident would typically pay for electricity. Evidentially, even that little amount adds up. Do you really need that extra alarm clock? Unplug it! That’s another free $8.15 per year in Albany. Replace that 100-watt incadescent bulb you use on average 6-hours per day with a 26 watt florescent equalivent bulb, and get a free $16.75 for each bulb you change per year.

Typical Monthly Energy Costs in Albany-area.

Can you turn some of the below appliances off? How often do they stay on, wasting energy? This is how much you’ll save in energy in Albany.

Appliance Energy Rating in watts 1 hour per day 2 hours per day 4 hours per day 6 hours per day 12 hours per day 24 hours per day
LED Night Light 0.5 $0.00 $0.00 $0.01 $0.01 $0.03 $0.06
LED Christmas Lights 4 $0.02 $0.04 $0.08 $0.11 $0.23 $0.45
Regular Night Light 5 $0.02 $0.05 $0.09 $0.14 $0.28 $0.57
Clock Radio/Alarm Clock 6 $0.03 $0.06 $0.11 $0.17 $0.34 $0.68
60 Watt Equivalent CFL 13 $0.06 $0.12 $0.25 $0.37 $0.74 $1.47
Desktop Computer (Sleep Mode) 15 $0.07 $0.14 $0.28 $0.42 $0.85 $1.70
100 watt Equivalent CFL 26 $0.12 $0.25 $0.49 $0.74 $1.47 $2.94
36 in Ceiling Fan (High) 55 $0.26 $0.52 $1.04 $1.56 $3.11 $6.22
60 Watt Incadecent 60 $0.28 $0.57 $1.13 $1.70 $3.39 $6.79
Laptop Computer 80 $0.38 $0.75 $1.51 $2.26 $4.53 $9.05
100 watt Incadescent Bulb 100 $0.47 $0.94 $1.89 $2.83 $5.66 $11.32
Refrigerator (Average) 100 $0.47 $0.94 $1.89 $2.83 $5.66 $11.32
Desktop Computer 150 $0.71 $1.41 $2.83 $4.24 $8.49 $16.97
Xbox 360 185 $0.87 $1.74 $3.49 $5.23 $10.47 $20.93
PS3 194 $0.91 $1.83 $3.66 $5.49 $10.98 $21.95
50 in LCD Television 250 $1.18 $2.36 $4.71 $7.07 $14.14 $28.29
50 in Plasma Televison 300 $1.41 $2.83 $5.66 $8.49 $16.97 $33.95
Medium Electric Space Heater 900 $4.24 $8.49 $16.97 $25.46 $50.92 $101.84
Window AC Unit 900 $4.24 $8.49 $16.97 $25.46 $50.92 $101.84
Coffee Maker 900 $4.24 $8.49 $16.97 $25.46 $50.92 $101.84
Electric Oven 2000 $9.43 $18.86 $37.72 $56.58 $113.15 $226.30
Washing Machine 3800 $17.92 $35.83 $71.66 $107.49 $214.99 $429.97
Electric Clothes Drier 9000 $42.43 $84.86 $169.73 $254.59 $509.18 $1,018.35

Typical Yearly Energy Costs in Albany-area.

Now if you think you can’t make some real savings in a month, consider the power consumption for these common items over a year.

Appliance Energy Rating in watts 1 hour per day 2 hours per day 4 hours per day 6 hours per day 12 hours per day 24 hours per day
LED Night Light 0.5 $0.03 $0.06 $0.11 $0.17 $0.34 $0.68
LED Christmas Lights 4 $0.23 $0.45 $0.91 $1.36 $2.72 $5.43
Regular Night Light 5 $0.28 $0.57 $1.13 $1.70 $3.39 $6.79
Clock Radio/Alarm Clock 6 $0.34 $0.68 $1.36 $2.04 $4.07 $8.15
60 Watt Equivalent CFL 13 $0.74 $1.47 $2.94 $4.41 $8.83 $17.65
Desktop Computer (Sleep Mode) 15 $0.85 $1.70 $3.39 $5.09 $10.18 $20.37
100 watt Equivalent CFL 26 $1.47 $2.94 $5.88 $8.83 $17.65 $35.30
36 in Ceiling Fan (High) 55 $3.11 $6.22 $12.45 $18.67 $37.34 $74.68
60 Watt Incadecent 60 $3.39 $6.79 $13.58 $20.37 $40.73 $81.47
Laptop Computer 80 $4.53 $9.05 $18.10 $27.16 $54.31 $108.62
100 watt Incadescent Bulb 100 $5.66 $11.32 $22.63 $33.95 $67.89 $135.78
Refrigerator (Average) 100 $5.66 $11.32 $22.63 $33.95 $67.89 $135.78
Desktop Compuer 150 $8.49 $16.97 $33.95 $50.92 $101.84 $203.67
Xbox 360 185 $10.47 $20.93 $41.87 $62.80 $125.60 $251.19
PS3 194 $10.98 $21.95 $43.90 $65.85 $131.71 $263.41
50 in LCD Television 250 $14.14 $28.29 $56.58 $84.86 $169.73 $339.45
50 in Plasma Televison 300 $16.97 $33.95 $67.89 $101.84 $203.67 $407.34
Medium Electric Space Heater 900 $50.92 $101.84 $203.67 $305.51 $611.01 $1,222.02
Window AC Unit 900 $50.92 $101.84 $203.67 $305.51 $611.01 $1,222.02
Coffee Maker 900 $50.92 $101.84 $203.67 $305.51 $611.01 $1,222.02
Electric Oven 2000 $113.15 $226.30 $452.60 $678.90 $1,357.80 $2,715.60
Washing Machine 3800 $214.99 $429.97 $859.94 $1,289.91 $2,579.82 $5,159.64
Electric Clothes Drier 9000 $509.18 $1,018.35 $2,036.70 $3,055.05 $6,110.10 $12,220.20