Re: [GreenYes] importance of recycling in these times

[Gary Liss <gary@garyliss.com>]

Terri,

Energy savings stats are pasted in below.

Gary Liss
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At 03:25 PM 09/24/01 -0400, you wrote:
>So far I haven't been able to find any Internet resources that answer the
>question "how much petroleum do we use to make consumer plastics?"  (or 
>words to that effect) and while I move on to "how much energy can we save 
>by recycling plastics, cans, and cardboard?" I thought I'd throw this out 
>to the experts to see if I'm barking up the wrong tree or not.  Is it a
>significant amount?  Does recycled plastic make a dent in this amount?  Do 
>I want to learn what "virgin resin" really is?
>
>Any advice or assistance would be much appreciated....
>Terri
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Source: Deborah Orrill, CIWMB <dorrill@ciwmb.ca.gov>

How can recycling conserve energy?

·        If you look at the big picture of what it takes to create a 
product from scratch - to get the raw materials, transport them, process 
them and manufacture them - making goods with recycled materials like 
paper, plastic, glass and metal is a major energy saver.

·        A Seattle economist, Jeffrey Morris, has really looked at 
this.  He estimates that manufacturing one (1) ton of office and computer 
paper with recycled paper stock can save nearly 3,000 kilowatt hours over 
the same ton of paper made with virgin wood products.

·        A ton of PET plastic containers made with recycled plastic 
conserves about 7,200 kilowatt hours.

·        A ton of soda cans made with recycled aluminum saves an amazing 
21,000 kilowatt hours by reducing the virgin bauxite (bo-zite) ore that 
would have to be mined, shipped and refined.  That's a 95 percent energy 
savings.

·        One recycled aluminum can saves enough electricity to run a 
computer for three hours.

·        The San Diego County Office of Education has figured out that 
recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt light 
bulb for four (4) hours.

·        The Steel Recycling Institute has some impressive figures, too. 
Steel is the number-one recycled material in the U.S. and each year, steel 
recycling saves enough energy to electrically power the equivalent of 18 
million homes for a year.  Sure makes you appreciate that can of peaches, 
doesn't it?


How might recycling help create energy?

·        Recycling can help create energy by providing the raw materials we 
need to generate electricity.

·        Some of the ways we can do that include converting methane gas 
from landfills to energy, transforming old tires into electricity at 
special plants, and using organic materials like wood chips and forestry 
and agriculture waste to fuel biomass plants that, in turn, generate 
electricity to power California homes and businesses.

·        The Waste Board is looking at all of these possibilities and 
working closely with the Governor's Office to meet California's energy 
needs on all fronts.
****************************************************
From: "Orrill, Deborah" <DOrrill@CIWMB.ca.gov>
To: "'Gary Liss'" <gary@garyliss.com>
Subject: RE: [GRRN] Energy Savings from Recycling
Date: Mon, 30 Apr 2001 16:08:28 -0700

Here are some additional references that may prove useful.
http://online.cl-p.com/smartliving/SavingEnergy/Recycling.asp
http://www.dced.state.ut.us/energy/recyclefacts.html
Good Luck!
Deborah Orrill
Public Information Officer
California Environmental Protection Agency
Integrated Waste Management Board
Office of Public Affairs
1001 I Street, 22nd Floor - 44C
Sacramento, CA 95812
(916) 341-6753
mailto:dorrill@ciwmb.ca.gov

The energy challenge facing California is real. Every Californian needs to 
take immediate action to reduce energy consumption. For a list of simple 
ways you can reduce demand and cut your energy costs, see our Web site at 
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov.

****************************************************************************
Source: Peter Drekmeier:

Energy websites

The California Energy Commission: http://www.flexyourpower.ca.gov

Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Network: 
http://www.eren.doe.gov/consumerinfo

Energy Efficiency Guidebook: http://www.pstvnrg.com/xina/guide.html

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy: http://www.aceee.org

The Center for Resource Solutions: http://www.resource-solutions.org

Electric Power Research Institute: http://www.epri.com

The City of Palo Alto Utilities: http://www.cpau.com

Ref. Peter Drekmeier
Co-Executive Director
BAA+PCCF
peterd@baa-pccf.org
650/962-9876 x302
650/962-8234 fax
3921 East Bayshore Road
Palo Alto, CA 94303
------------------------------
Bay Area Action & The Peninsula Conservation Center Foundation have merged! 
Please join us as we work together to make sustainability a reality.
******************************************************************************


Gary Liss
Gary Liss & Associates
4395 Gold Trail Way
Loomis, CA  95650-8929
Phone: 916-652-7850
Fax: 	  916-652-0485
Email:  gary@garyliss.com
Web:   www.garyliss.com



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