Environmental Pollution Simulation Review and Summary - Essay Example

The United s Environmental Protection Agency has postulated that human activities have largely contributed to climate change phenomenon, which has significant effects on life processes. Growing to an alarming state, it is essential to take action to conserve the Earth, which houses many life forms and produces natural resources. This paper then will discuss three pollution simulations on smoke, trash and energy by providing decisions to address management issues and analyze these decisions through Effect Prism.

Also, the paper will provide the rationale of the decision, its effectivity and its benefits. 1.0 “All That Smoke” Considered to be the primary source of air pollution are motor vehicles (one-third air pollutants in US) (American Lung Association, n.d.). Thus, this paper decides that car-sharing program in US is an effective solution for the reduction of the increasing air pollution in the country. The car-sharing system is a process by which people share vehicular resources through an organization, whereby members jointly finance and maintain shared cars (Ortega, n.d.).

This paper strongly believes that car-sharing services can provide sustainable transportation solutions for the Americans, given the unstable fuel prices and the expensiveness of owning vehicles. 1.1 Analysis (Effect Prism) The car-sharing programs in US gained huge acceptance among US citizens with statistics showing a 24.1% of car-sharing membership from the January 2012 to January 2013 (University of California Berkeley TSRC, 2008). Also, car-sharing is cost-effective as it eliminates expenses on fuel, repair and maintenance and insurances, but the budget for this facility depends on the usage of the member.

However, the most important feature of car-sharing is the reduction of air pollution. This program provides lower gas emissions with the minimization of the number of vehicles and the cutting of vehicle travel period (Transport Research Board of the National Academies, 2005). This clearly emphasizes the sustainability and effectivity of this program, thereby resulting to winning solution for both individuals and the environment. 1.2 Trade-offs Provides financial savings Provides greater mobility for the members, thereby allowing economic and social advantages Reduced vehicle usage, thus, reduced emissions Environmental pollution reduction (Ortega, n.d.) 2.

0 A Heap of Trash According to Osamu (2006), the overconsumption of the human population resulted to the exploitation of natural resources and other environmental issues. Therefore, a successful solid waste management should address both the end-product reduction and source production. In most communities, recycling, landfill activities or the end product solution are commonly practiced while delineating the importance of reducing waste straight from the source. This paper decides that the success of solid-waste management also lies on responsible consumerism.

This paper believed that by consuming what is only necessary will greatly help in the reduction of solid waste. Also, a value-based program or action is more sustainable as it provides a system where there is moral connection in between human, the natural resources and the environment as a whole (Paul, 2004; New Strait Times, 2009 as cited in Adebayo, Kabbashi, & Alam, n.d.). 2.1 Analysis (Effect Prism) Based on the study of Osamu (2006) on Human Science and Environmental Psychology, students yielded positive results for voluntarism for a simple lifestyle.

This indicates that the students are willing to be responsible in their consumption. When the program is properly implemented, there is a high chance of acceptability. In terms of cost-effectiveness, this measure is highly economical as this will promote the elimination of purchasing unnecessary belongings and the buying of durable materials, which last longer. Therefore, there is avoidance of constantly buying ‘stuff’. The effectivity of this program lies on the reduction of waste right from its source; when people consume less, there is also a decrease of wastes. 2.2 Trade-offs decreases the exploitation of the natural resources financial savings for the people sustainability (as the values are inculcated) 3.

0 Energy Quandary The search for sustainable and renewable energy can be found in animal dung. In agricultural areas, animal dung causes air and water pollution with gas emissions and run-offs to bodies of water (Sheffield, n.d.); therefore, the transformation process of animal dung to renewable energy is a solution for two large environmental problems. This paper considers that the conversion of animal manure to biogas and then to electricity is an optimal measure in solving energy quandary. According to Makki and Eljack (2003), biogas helps in the dilemma of increasing fuel prices, decreases expenses on domestic activities as heating and cooking or even for financial and employment growth.

This paper suggests that the government should install facilities to convert manure to energy, and offer this as alternative energy sources. 3.1 Analysis (Effect Prism) The acceptance of this alternative solution still relies on the accessibility of these technologies. It is important to note that when utilizing these facilities, the government should educate the prospective users on the benefits of using such to encourage them. Secondly, facilities for this technology are quite large which may cost relatively high.

However, the revenue and financial savings in the long run exceed the expenses for the installation. Lastly, there is an increased environmental advantage of using this technology as mentioned above; it does not only conserve energy but also help in managing manure wastes. 3.2 Trade-offs Provides reliable energy Cost-effectivity in the transportation of excess nutrients in agricultural areas Provides effective strategies of managing manure problems Financial savings for expenses on cooking and heating equipment As these are renewable energy, there is conservation of other energy sources (Chesapeake Bay Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Technology Development Corporation, & Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc., 2012) References Adebayo, O. S., Kabbashi, N. A., & Alam, Z. (n.d.). Ethical instrument of integrated waste management.

Retrieved from http://irep.iium.edu.my/4591/1/Ethical_Waste_Management-Hong_Kong.pdf American Lung Association. (n.d.) Outdoor air quality. Retrieved from http://www.lung.org/associations/charters/mid-atlantic/air-quality/outdoor-air-quality.html Chesapeake Bay Commission, Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Technology Development Corporation, & Farm Pilot Project Coordination, Inc., (2012). Manure to energy: Sustainable solutions for the Chesapeake bay region. Retrieved from http://www.chesbay.

us/Publications/manure-to-energy%20report.pdf Makki, E. K., & Eljack, B. E. (2003). Seasonal variation and production of biogas from three types of animal dung. Ahfad Journal, 20(2), 18. Ortega, J. (n.d.). Car sharing in the United States: Helping people transition from welfare to work and improving the quality of life of low-income families. Retrieved from http://www.ctaa.org/webmodules/webarticles/articlefiles/carsharing_report_final.pdf Osamu, I. (2006). An evaluation of consumerism and lifestyle as correlates of a voluntary simplicity lifestyle.

Social Behavior and Personality: An International Journal, 34(5), 557-568. Sheffield, J. (n.d.) Farm animal manure is an important sustainable renewable energy resource. Retrieved from http://www.ornl.gov/~webworks/cpr/pres/107931_.pdf Transport Research Board of the National Academies. (2005). Transport cooperative research program report 108. Washington, DC: Transport Research Board. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2013). Climate change: Basic information. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/basics/ University of California Berkeley TSRC. (2008). Innovative mobility carsharing outlook: Carsharing market overview, analysis, and trends- summer 2013.

Retrieved from http://tsrc.berkeley.edu/node/629