RickyEllis

11/10/15
ENGR302
Toossi
Homework#2(ProjectIpg.262)

1. MYENVIRONMENTALFOOTPRINT
Inthisproject,Iamaskedtoestimatethe
environmentalandhealthimpactsofthechemicalsyouregularlyuseinyouroeandthe
amountofgreenhousegasesproducedasaresultofmyactivities.

a. Takeinventoryofhouseholdchemicalsandclassifyassolvents,detergents,paints,
etc.
Householdchemicals:Tide(detergent),Ajax(liquidsoap),water(solvent),
bakingsoda(dishwashingdetergent),glaze(paint).
b. Listthechemicalcompositionsandidentifythemastoxic,nontoxic,volatile,organic,
orbiodegradable.
Chemicalcompositions:Tide(anionicsurfactantandtoxic),Ajax
(anionicsurfactantandnontoxic),water(H2Oandnontoxic),bakingsoda(ionic
compoundandbiodegradable),glaze(acryliclatexandvolatile)
c. Whichofthesearecarcinogenic,poisonous,orflammable?
Tide(carcinogenic),
Ajax(carcinogenic),water(flammable),bakingsoda(poisonous),glaze
(poisonous)
d. Whichoftheseproductsarecausingglobalwarming?Whichareozonedepleting?
Whichonesareconsideredtobethehealthhazards?
Tideandglazecancauseglobal
warmingasfarastheonesthatareozonedepleting,thesebothhavechemicals
thatcancauseozonedepletionduetothehydrocarbonsfoundinthem.These
botharehazardoustohealthtoo.
e. Canyousubstituteanyoftheseproductsformoreenvironmentallyfriendlyproducts.
Well,insteadofusingtheglazeforpainting,Icoulduseabetterpaintwhichis
muchmoreenvironmentallyfriendly.ItiscalledYoloColorhouseitreleasesno
VOCinteriorandexteriorchemicalcompounds.Asfarusingsomethingbetter
thantheTidedetergent,IcouldusesomethinglikeGreenShieldOrganicLaundry
Detergent,Free&ClearorMarthaStewartCleanLaundryDetegent.Accordingto
MelissaBreyer,theseproductscontainveryfewcompoundsthataretoxictothe
muscletissue,thebrainandotherbodyorgans.
f. Whatarethepropermethodsofdisposalforeachoftheseproducts?
Fortide
detergent,wecandisposeofitbyputtinginasewer,or,ifitisused,wecanflush
itwithlotsofwater.Wecouldeventakeitamunicipallandfillaswell.ForAjax,
anypracticeofproperdisposalisgreataslongasitabideswithinthelawofthe
state,local,orfederalregulations.Forwater,anypracticeisgreat.Forbaking
soda,wecanburytheminlandfillsoremptyitcompletely,thenincinerateor
discardoftheboxorbottle.

2.Carbonfootprint:

a. Estimatetheamountofcarbondioxideemissionsbylistingyourdailyactivities.
My
carbonfootprintestimatesaround74,000lbsfromallofmydailyactivities.Idont
haveavehiclewhichshavesoffahugeamountofcarbondioxideemissionsfrom
mydailyactivity.
b. Howcanyoureduceyouremissionswithoutsignificantlychangingmylifestyle?
Insteadofwashingmyclothesonhot,Icouldswitchtowashingthemwithcold
water.Also,insteadoftakinglongshowers,Icouldtakeshortershowersincold
waterthisone,inmyopinion,woulddrasticallycutmycarbonfootprintbyalot
becauseIlovetakinglonghotshowers.IfIweretodothis,Icouldcutmycarbon
footprintbyalmost25,000.