Welcome to The Digital Environment! The Internet has changed our world dramatically, and not always for the better. Here you can learn about environmental issues related to computers and the Internet and what you can do to minimize your environmental impact.
Trey
Cyber Defender &
Message Center Supervisor
As an environmental activist, Trey believes that technology has the potential to improve our world, but only if it is used and created responsibly. He encourages people to become aware of their actions and to make simple changes in their lives that will have a big impact on the environment.
A recent graduate of the Academy (class of '07), Trey runs the Message Center in Cyberspace. He loves communicating via email because it is quick, easy, and reduces paper waste.
Favorite Quote:
When one tugs at a single thing in nature, he finds it attached to the rest of the world.
- John Muir
Vegetable Curry
Interests:Ultimate frisbee, Gardening, Recycling trash into treasure
July 29, 2010
Environmental Issues: Exxon Valdez Oil Spill
Unfortunately for the world’s oceans (and for those of us who enjoy them), the Deepwater Horizon Disaster of 2010 isn’t the first major oil spill to hit the US. In 1989, an oil ship called the Exxon Valdez hit a reef off the coast of Alaska and dumped anywhere from 10.8 to 30 million US gallons of crude oil into the water. The reason for the disaster was that the ship’s radar had been broken for over a year and the company controlling the ship considered it too expensive to fix.
The Exxon Valdez Oil Spill ended up costing the company far more to fix the disaster than it would have to just fix the radar! The saddest part of all, if you ask me, is that twenty years later we’re still using the same methods to clean up spilled oil even though it didn’t work all that well the first time around. I hope the next generation learns more from us than we did from our predecessors.
posted by Trey
topic: Environmental Issues
June 24, 2010
Being Green: Bio-electricity
After last month’s article about bio-computers, I’m really excited up about new green tech! Continuing a theme, I want to tell you about bio-electricity. Recently, scientists have discovered a way to use microscopic plants called algae to produce power. Apparently, when the algae take in sunlight and make food through a process called photosynthesis, it releases something called electrons. Scientists have found a way to capture these electrons and use them to produce a very small electric current. Best of all, this source of energy doesn’t release carbon into the atmosphere! How great is that? But don’t get too excited – this technology is brand new and won’t see any practical uses for many years. Still, the possibilities of algae-produced electricity get me totally charged up!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
May 21, 2010
Being Green: Biocomputers
This month’s topic seems like it belongs in a science fiction novel. Thanks to nanotechnology, scientists are starting to figure out how to use things like DNA (the genetic stuff that tells your body how to make cells) to make computers! Why is this so cool? Well, for three big reasons.
Firstly, DNA molecules are extremely small AND can hold an amazing amount of information. This means that computers could store a lot more data in a lot less space, making them more efficient and smaller. Secondly, since the cells already know how to make DNA, it would be really cheap and easy to make more DNA-based computers. Thirdly, the tiny little biocomputers could be used for medicine! For example, many medicines today have some pretty nasty side effects. With a biocomputer-based medicine, the disease could be targeted more easily because the medicine would know the difference between healthy cells and sick sells, which would mean less harmful side effects!
Let’s hope this futuristic technology isn’t too far away. Computing can’t get more back-to-nature this!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
April 21, 2010
Being Green: Wind Power
I wonder if Commander Omni would let me install a wind turbine near the Academy… Just think about it! If we get a big enough wind turbine, we could power the entire Academy through wind power alone. Imagine that! If we stopped using fossil fuels, we could almost erase our carbon footprint!
But how does a wind turbine work? Well…it’s complicated. Basically, the wind spins the turbine blade, which basically looks like a big fan blade. As the blade spins, the spinning motion travels down a shaft that has a magnet on the end. This magnet is surrounded by copper wires. As the magnet spins inside the wires, electricity is formed! This electricity can then be used to power anything and everything.
I’ve even heard that if you generate more electricity than you use, you can sell the extra back to the electric company. All this talk about electricity has got me feeling supercharged! Time to go talk to Commander Omni before I run out of juice!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
March 4, 2010
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Greywater Systems
I finally get to tell you guys about greywater systems! Firstly, let me explain why they call it greywater. All water in your house fits under one of three categories – white water, greywater, and black water. White water is the water that you can drink, like tap water. Black water is sewage. Grey water is not drinkable but it’s not completely unsanitary either, such as the water in your pipes after you take a shower or the water you get after you run the dishwasher, and it accounts for 50-80% of the water produced by the average home. Best of all, this water can be reused! Think about it – does it really make sense to use drinkable water to flush your toilet? Of course not!
In addition to being used for flushing toilets, greywater can be used for a number of other useful things. For example, the greywater system that I want to install in the school will filter all the water so we can use it to irrigate the garden. Once we install it, it could cut our water use down 30%! This will make me happy because the less water we use, the less impact we’ll have on the environment, and it will make Commander Omni happy because 30% less water used means a 30% smaller water bill. Talk about a win/win!
posted by Trey
topic: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
February 5, 2010
Being Green: Valentine's Day
I know I said I'd talk about greywater systems but. love is in the air! That's right, Cadets, February 14th is Valentine's Day, and I want to show you how to put a little green into this red and pink holiday!
If you're giving Valentine's cards to your friends and classmates, why not make them yourself out of recycled paper? I mean, anyone can buy a card, but getting a hand-made one? That not only saves a lot of trees, it also shows your friends you really care! Above all, really, just remember that it's not about what you give someone that makes Valentine's Day so special, it's about how you make them feel. Just telling someone how much they mean to you and spending time with them is the best (and greenest) gift you can give!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
January 28, 2010
Being Green: Portable Solar Charger
I know I promised to talk about greywater systems this month, but that will have to wait. I just bought this really awesome, really green piece of technology - it's a solar-powered device charger! The one I have looks like a long, flat strip of shiny black cloth with an outlet on one end. All I have to do is sit in a sunny spot, unroll my solar charger, plug in my device, and presto! Instant power!
It's great for when I need to type up my reports but I don't want to be cooped up in my office all day. Even now, I'm typing this from my laptop while sitting on a garden bench. Sure, the weather's a little cold right now, but working outside is totally worth it. What a cool gizmo! I bet Alan would love to borrow this. Maybe he'd actually get some sun for a change!
posted by Trey
topic: Being Green
December 16 2009
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle: Make the Yuletide Green!
Holiday cards. Every year, I get 10, 20, or even 30 holiday cards! It used to be that only my parents and my brother would send me a card, but now I'm getting them from everyone! My coworkers, cousins that I've never heard of, and even the woman that delivers the newspaper gives me a card around this time of year. Don't get me wrong - I think it's really nice of them.at least, they mean well.
But what is it costing our environment?
Just thinking of all the cards that get thrown out at the end of the year makes me crazy! And don't get me started on wrapping paper!
Thankfully, there is a way to let people know you're thinking about them without killing so many trees! That's right, E-cards! With so many people using the Internet today, E-cards are a great (and usually free) way to let them know you're thinking of them. Just do a search for E-cards and you'll find a ton of great Web sites. And if anyone sends you a card, be sure to recycle it when you've finished enjoying all that holiday happiness. That's one way to keep the Yuletide green!