IN THIS ISSUE                                      

POLL:  40% OF AMERICANS RANK AIR,  WATER AS TOP PRIORITIES

EPA PROPOSES TO SLASH MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM CEMENT PLANTS

JAY SAYS

April 28, 2009

A majority of Americans say that they are paying attention to environmental issues, but only about 3 in 10 are paying a great deal of attention to such issues as air pollution (31 percent), water pollution (30 percent), and water shortages (29 percent), with one-quarter (25 percent) of Americans saying they pay a great deal of attention to combating global warming. Only 2 in 10 adults say they pay a great deal of attention to the extinction of certain species (21 percent), deforestation (21 percent), and reducing Americans’ carbon footprint (20 percent).

These are some of the results of a new BBC World News America/The Harris Poll® of 2,123 adults surveyed online between April 6 and 8. Among these different environmental issues, some are higher priorities than others. When asked which two issues government officials should make their top priority, two in five adults say air pollution (42 percent) and water pollution (40 percent). One-third say combating global warming (34 percent) and water shortages (34 percent) while fewer say reducing Americans’ carbon footprint (18 percent), deforestation (16 percent), and the extinction of certain species (11 percent) should be top priority.

Different regions have different environmental priorities. Due to recent droughts, a plurality of Westerners (44 percent) say water shortages should be the top priority for government officials to address. Almost half of Midwesterners (47 percent) believe air pollution should be a top priority as do 45 percent of Easterners.

When being environmentally sustainable is defined as "taking from the Earth only what it can provide indefinitely, thus leaving future generations as much as we have access to ourselves", just under half of Americans (48 percent) say they have done something to make their lifestyle more environmentally sustainable while one-quarter say they have not (27 percent) and are not sure (26 percent). Last year over half (53 percent) of Americans say they had made changes to their lifestyle to be more environmentally sustainable, while 25 percent had not and 22 percent were unsure. Again there are regional differences and those in the West are more likely to say they have made changes (52 percent) while those in the East are less likely to say they made changes (44 percent).

When it comes to what changes people have made, certain things are done more than others to make one’s life environmentally sustainable:

§                  More than four in five adults who have made changes are recycling (85 percent), a high number but down from 91 percent who said they were recycling last year;

§                  Seven in ten (71 percent) are paying bills online and/or receiving paperless statements, not very different from the 73 percent who said this last year;

§                  About half of those who are making changes are buying more locally produced food and/or goods (53 percent, up from 49 percent last year), bringing their own bags to stores (51 percent up from 39 percent) and buying green household products (50 percent, up from 47 percent);

§                  About two in five people who have made changes are installing resource friendly appliances (39 percent down from 46 percent last year), buying more used products (37 percent up from 31 percent last year) and discontinuing purchases of plastic water bottles (37 percent up from 30 percent); and,

§                  Some other changes people have made are to compost (27 percent up from 23 percent), carpooling (14 percent down from 16 percent) and buying a hybrid car (5 percent up from 3 percent).

With the economy in turmoil, people may be making the more economical decisions, rather than those leading to a more environmentally sustainable life. This could be seen in the small drop in people who say they are making changes in their lifestyle. But as the economy improves, with the attention on things like bringing bags to stores and discontinuing the use of plastic water bottles, the number of people making these changes should be growing. It might also be that the little everyday things people are doing are making a difference—but Americans don’t think they are enough to say they are making lifestyle changes.

This poll was conducted online within the United States among 2,123 adults (aged 18 and over). Figures for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, region and household income were weighted where necessary to bring them into line with their actual proportions in the population. Propensity score weighting was also used to adjust for respondents’ propensity to be online. Full data tables and methodology are available at /www.harrisinteractive.com.

http://www.eponline.com/print.aspx?aid=71823

EPA PROPOSES TO SLASH MERCURY EMISSIONS FROM CEMENT PLANTS

EPA is proposing to significantly reduce mercury emissions from Portland cement kilns, the fourth-largest source of mercury air emissions in the U.S. The proposal would set the nation’s first limits on mercury emissions from existing Portland cement kilns and would strengthen the limits for new kilns. The proposed standards also would set emission limits for total hydrocarbons, particulate matter, and sulfur dioxide from cement kilns of all sizes, and would reduce hydrochloric acid emissions from kilns that are large emitters.

Mercury in the air eventually deposits into water, where it changes into methylmercury, a highly toxic form that builds up in fish. Americans are primarily exposed to mercury by eating contaminated fish. Because the developing fetus is the most sensitive to the toxic effects of methylmercury, women of childbearing age and children are regarded as the population of greatest concern.

The majority of the toxic emissions at cement kilns come from the burning of fuels and heating of raw materials. When fully implemented in 2013, EPA estimates that this rule would reduce annual emissions by at least:

Mercury 11,600 pounds, a reduction of 81 percent
Total hydrocarbons 11,700 tons, or 75 percent
Particulate matter 10,500 tons, or 96 percent
Hydrochloric acid 2,800 tons, or 94 percent
Sulfur dioxide 160,000 tons, or 90 percent

The proposal is in response to a request to reconsider the December 2006 emissions standards for Portland cement manufacturing facilities.

EPA will take public comments on the proposal for 60 days after publication in the Federal Register which was April 21, 2009. EPA will hold a public hearing on the proposal if one is requested. Hearing requests must be received within 15 days of publication in the Federal Register.

More information:
http://www.epa.gov/ttn/oarpg/t3pfpr.html

IF NOT NOW, WHEN?

Dear Reader,

The economy appears to be recovering; the Dow Jones average has had 8 weeks of gains.  The Stimulus Package will provide billions for our infra structure and 2009 appears to be a year of recovery.

Energy consumption and cost have both come down from the highs of 2008, however, conservation has an important role in helping many businesses survive their own recovery to profitability.

Remember a 6% operating expense can be equal to a 50% sales volume increase.

25+ years of process related equipment selection has give us the experience and resources to find 20-30% reduction in fuel consumption.  Let us show you how to find your savings.

Best regards,
Jay Klaus
JKlaus@KlausEquipment.com
Klaus Equipment Company, Inc.
President