Unsustainable Groundwater Management
“Public perception of freshwater is often dominated by visions of rivers and lakes. Groundwater is rarely a part of that imagination. Historically, it has been a hidden resource, and it remains so even now. The irony is that aquifers contain over 98% of Earth’s liquid freshwater.
Global and national water data are not very reliable. It is estimated that on a global basis, groundwater provides 36% of potable water, 24% of industrial water supply and 42% of water for irrigation. These estimates vary. In some countries, agriculture consumes the lion’s share of groundwater. Withdrawals from the Arabian aquifer system, for example, account for 84% of the region’s freshwater resources, most of which is used for farming. Human dependence on groundwater and the associated challenges varies considerably from one place to another, even within countries. Groundwater levels in some of the most densely populated river basins, such as the Indus and the Ganges-Brahmaputra basins in South Asia, have been plummeting. Groundwater’s invisibility and the lack of political interest are two key reasons that exploited aquifers are neither easy nor quick to remedy.”
by Asit Biswas
Read More – https://thewaternetwork.com/article-FfV/we-must-address-unsustainable-groundwater-management-Dzy5c_4XpAHdy70I_0mQ1w
Other Guides on Groundwater and Water
Water in the Universe -https://www.knowyourh2o.com/indoor-3/water-in-the-universe
The Water Cycle – https://www.knowyourh2o.com/outdoor-4/the-hydrological-cycle
Education and Training Biofuels Energy Renewable LEED
Open Letter to website visitors
This is Mr. Brian Oram. I am the current manager of the Carbonwaters.org blog and the Keystone Clean Water Team. As part of our effort, we have been attempting to provide fact based information on environmental issues, energy issues and other matters using a fair, honesty, and balanced approach. In many ways, I believe we have accomplished this goal. Since I have over 30 years experience in training professionals (trades and licensed professionals), we have attempted to provide information and links to solid educational opportunities. In many cases, we have search for solid training programs or assisted training programs. This webpage is a link to some of the recent education programs that we have found on the topics of energy, renewable energy, and related topics. In order to help and support the 501 c3, we are informing you that for some of these links we receive a referral fee or commission. We are attempting to make the organization sustainable and this is one of the branches we are attempting to create:
Courses
The Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design (LEED) “Green Associate course is designed to educate candidates on the cutting edge green building and sustainable design practices, and enables participants to designate that expertise with an internationally recognized professional credential. Developed and backed by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED Green Associate and credential has gained national and global notoriety. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system is one of the most widely used standards for green building and design. The Tier 1: LEED Green Associate training course and exam covers general information on green building practices for residential and commercial projects, and prepares individuals to support other professionals working on projects seeking LEED certification. This course will also prepare you for the LEED Green Associate Credential from USGBC (US Green Building Council). This is an internationally recognized certification that designates expertise in green building and design principles. The exam fee is included with the course.”
Solar Power Professional -“Get the renewable energy training you need as you learn the basics of solar systems, their benefits, and their many applications. Examine the history of photovoltaic solar power, and gain a sense for where the PV industry is headed. We’ll start with basic safety, including how to avoid potential accidents and how to create a safe work environment as well as the use of protective equipment. You’ll master the fundamentals of electricity and solar energy, including how to calculate simple circuit values and predict solar position using solar path diagrams. Upon completion of this course, you’ll have a thorough understanding of PV applications, working safety as it pertains to this field, basic electricity, and PV module fundamentals.”
Biofuel Production – “At the present time, hundreds of facilities worldwide are producing biofuels. Over the next few decades many advances will be made in this field, and hundreds of new facilities will be built to produce this type of fuel. This opens a new field for potential workers. For decades to come, biofuels will be produced and consumed in the United States, creating an ongoing demand for biofuel production workers. The Biofuel Production Operations Online Training course will give you the education you need to begin an exciting career in biofuel production. As a biofuel production operator, your job will be to ensure the quality and purity of the biofuel your plant produces. This involves inspecting and repairing equipment, operating computer systems, and handling lab equipment. This online course will ensure you have the skills you need to handle these tasks.”
Others
Natural Gas Plant Operations – “Natural gas plant operators monitor and control the systems and equipment that take gas from its natural state and convert it into a usable product. Your job is to ensure that the gas produced is free of impurities. The purified gas is then separated into products such as ethane, propane, butane, and methane. You’ll also be responsible for the flow of this processed gas into the pipelines that carry it to the various industries and homes that use it for fuel. In addition, you’ll make gas flow changes to the supply system to keep pace with customer demands. Natural gas plant operators earn above-average wages and enjoy good job security and potential to advance into supervisory or management positions. This is a user-friendly course, designed for people who have no prior exposure to technical aspects of hydrocarbons, energy, or industrial processes. No prior science or math education is necessary; the course includes all of the necessary basic science and technology elements.”
Power Plant Operations – “If you want a career with high pay and a stable work environment, our Power Plant Operations Online Training course will get you on the right track. Now is an excellent time to start an exciting career as a power plant operator—there are thousands of power plants in the United States alone, and a large portion of the workforce is retiring, creating open power plant operator jobs for many years to come. Power plant operator training will prepare you to fill the ongoing need for entry-level positions in this industry. We offer a unique, user-friendly course designed for people who have minimal knowledge of the industry, math, physics, or chemistry. The necessary science concepts are built into the course modules. Very few institutions provide power plant operator training and certification programs for entry-level operators, so your certificate from this course will give you an edge over others in the field. After you complete this course, you will be fluent in how to operate a power plant with safety as the prime consideration. You’ll be able to make adjustments to keep system process variables, such as flows, temperatures, and pressures, within acceptable ranges; detect both potential and actual problems and analyze operational trends as well as take corrective actions. You’ll also learn important strategies to sustain communication with other operators, as well as maintenance and management.”
Using Plants to Clean Things Up – “In the United States, there are thousands of chemical manufacturing facilities, run by chemical plant operators. These operators are highly paid and enjoy a stable work environment, and there is an ongoing need for entry-level personnel. Currently a large portion of the workforce is retiring, creating a critical shortage of technical workers for many years to come. This course can help you get started. There are very few institutions that provide training for entry-level operators. This Chemical Plant Operations Online Training course is unique and user friendly, designed for people who have minimal knowledge of the industry or math, physics, or chemistry. The necessary science concepts are built into the course modules. Get started in the field by taking the Chemical Plant Operations Online Training course!”
Oil Refinery Operations – “The United States is home to thousands of oil refineries, all of which need experts to run their operations. Oil refinery operators are highly paid and enjoy a stable work environment, and there’s an ongoing need for entry-level personnel. Sounds great, right? The Oil Refinery Operations Online Training course will teach you everything you need to know to enter the energy industry as an oil refinery operator. Our oil refinery training is unique and user-friendly, designed for people who have minimal knowledge of the industry. The energy industry is ever-changing, encompassing everything from power plant operations, to petrochemicals like oil and natural gas, to renewable energy sources. Taking an oil refinery operations course offers you a path to a growing sector of the field. A large portion of the workforce is retiring, creating a critical shortage of technical workers for many years to come—which is great for entry-level workers.
Currently very few institutions provide entry-level training and courses in oil refinery operation. Generally, oil refinery operators enter the workforce in entry-level positions and work their way up, sometimes to senior management positions. In their day-to-day tasks, oil refinery operators have the responsibility to make sure unit and process systems function properly. They consider personnel safety the primary objective and ensure production processes are operating safely. They continually monitor instrumentation and the operation of equipment and make adjustments to keep system process variables within acceptable ranges. Oil refinery operators also detect potential and actual problems and take corrective action to prevent the interruption of system operations. You will learn how to perform all these oil refinery processes in our course, and more.”
Other courses in the Trades Programs
We are hoping to add more course on Geothermal Energy, Energy Efficiency, Energy Audit, and much more. If you have a course, you would like to see link to this webpage: Please leave a message in the comment section. If the comment section is closed email bfenviro @ ptd.net.
Thanks for understanding
Brian Oram
Community Trees Update Education Program on Woodland Management
Featured Training Course – Stream Restoration – 6 part Course
The United States has more than 3.5 million miles of rivers and streams that, along with closely associated floodplain and upland areas, comprise corridors of great economic, social, cultural, and environmental value. These corridors are complex ecosystems that include the land, plants, animals, and network of streams within them. They perform a number of ecological functions such as modulating streamflow, storing water, removing harmful materials from water, and providing habitat for aquatic and terrestrial plants and animals. Stream corridors also have vegetation and soil characteristics distinctly different from surrounding uplands and support higher levels of species diversity, species densities, and rates of biological productivity than most other landscape elements.
Many miles of rivers and streams have been seriously impacted by human activity. Restoring these steams to a more natural condition is a rapidly expanding field involving a multi-disciplinary approach. This 2-hour online course is the first in a series of courses that defines the issues and provides technical guidance in a wide variety of principles involved in steam restoration. This course covers an introduction to stream restoration and an overview of stream corridors, including physical structure and time at multiple scales, a lateral view across the stream corridor and a longitudinal view across the stream corridor. It is not necessary to complete all of these courses or complete them in order, but the order of the courses provides a logical progression through the subject matter.
- Webinar: More Than Good Looks: How trees influence urban stormwater management in green infrastructure practices
USDA Forest Service Urban Forest Connections Webinar Series
Wednesday, May 8, 2019, 1 PM – 2:15 PM (Eastern Time)
While green stormwater infrastructure increases in popularity, we are still learning about the role of trees in these innovative practices. In this webinar, Andrew Tirpak will discuss recent research results from studies designed to characterize the health of trees in bioretention practices and the benefits they provide to urban stormwater management. Lyn Rutherford will share observations from managing bioretention and detention ponds, noting how design, installation, and maintenance practices affect tree health and water quality function. This information can help stormwater engineers, urban foresters, and landscape professionals be successful in integrating trees into stormwater management efforts.
Presented by:
Andrew Tirpak, University of Tennessee
Lyn Rutherford, City of Chattanooga, TN
Cost: Free
CEUs: 1.0 CEU with the International Society of Arboriculture
Where: Go to https://www.fs.fed.us/research/urban-webinars/connect.php
For more information: http://www.fs.fed.us/research/urban-webinars or contact the Urban Forest Technology & Science Delivery Team at urban@fs.fed.us with questions, feedback, requests for special accommodations, speaker suggestions, or to be added to the mailing list.
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- Tree Tenders Training
Join thousands of other concerned citizens like yourself. Become a Tree Tender and help increase tree canopy cover in your community. Tree Tenders® is a training program that empowers concerned residents to make dramatic strides towards restoring and caring for the tree canopy in their communities. The course is designed for lay people and experts alike. Become one of the Tree Tenders restoring and tending your part of the forest. Instruction is provided by DCNR’s Bureau of Forestry, in partnership with Penn State Extension, PHS, and other local urban forestry experts.
Tree Tenders training includes:
-Tree Biology
-Urban Stresses on Trees
-Tree Identification
-Tree Pruning and Root Care
-Tree Planting Techniques
-Community Organizing
Warwick Township, PA
May 16, 23, and 30, 2019
Offered by Pennsylvania Horticultural Society
6:00 PM – 9:15 PM
Register online at https://phsonline.org/programs/tree-tenders
For more information, call 215-988-1698
Pittsburgh, PA
May 29, June 5, and 12, 2019
Offered by Tree Pittsburgh
5:30 PM – 8:30 PM
Register online at https://www.treepittsburgh.org/ways-to-give/volunteer/
For more information, contact Joe@treepittsburgh.org or call 412-781-8733.
- Spotted Lanternfly Public Meetings
Offered by Penn State Extension
Spotted lanternfly is an invasive insect that has spread throughout southeastern Pennsylvania and surrounding states. SLF presents a significant threat to Pennsylvania agriculture, including the grape, tree-fruit, hardwood and nursery industries, which collectively are worth nearly $18 billion to the state’s economy. The public can do a great deal to stop the spread of this invasive insect. Learn more at a public meeting near you.
Cost: Free
Register online: https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly-public-meetings
Upcoming meetings:
Uniontown, PA – May 17, 2019
Danville, PA – June 8, 2019
Exton, PA – June 13, 2019
Berwick, PA – July 16, 2019
Bloomsburg, PA – August 15, 2019
- Webinar: Thinking Beyond the Backyard: Diversity in Urban Tree Plantings across the Northeastern USA
Penn State Extension Community Forestry Management Monthly Webinar Series
Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 12 PM – 1 PM (Eastern Time)
Tree planting efforts have increased in cities across the United States in recent years. However, information on these plantings remains siloed by cities making it challenging to identify national trends or make city-by-city comparisons.
Danica Doroski, Doctoral Candidate with Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies presents this study that consolidates and synthesizes data from municipalities and non-profit organizations across the Northeastern United States. Ms. Doroski’s work illuminates patterns in species composition that can inform future plantings and improve tree-planting programs on the local level.
Registration and connection details: Register at
https://psu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_nyDMKDAQQdSkj4LZZw-fhg
Use the link above to register for the webinar early, or at the time of the webinar. If you register prior to the webinar, you will receive an email with a link to access the webinar. If you register at the time of the webinar, you will be connected directly to the webinar following registration. We recommend registering and accessing the webinar room 15 minutes prior to the webinar start time to ensure you are able to connect.
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: One Continuing Education Credit for Landscape Architects; SAF Certified Foresters (CFEs); and PLNA Certified Horticulturalist (PCH) will be offered to attendees. One CEU for ISA Certified Arborists will be awarded with 80% or higher score on webinar quiz. Certificates of attendance will be provided after the program.
For more information contact Scott Sjolander at 814-350-7749 or sas305@psu.edu
- Tree Climbing School
Offered by Penn State Extension
The Penn State Extension Tree Climbing School is an intensive 3-day class designed to teach the fundamentals of safe tree climbing and maintenance. Major emphasis will be placed on learning the skills required to climb and prune trees. The school will include classroom and fieldwork covering safety/safe climbing practices, equipment/use of hand tools, tree terminology, tree disease and insect diagnosis, culture and pruning, tree removal, and climbing knots. Check out this video to learn more and see the tree climbing school in action.
Students completing this school will not be accomplished climbers; however, students will have a satisfactory basic understanding, knowledge, and the skills required in the field of tree maintenance and tree climbing. A great deal of time will be spent in trees climbing. To achieve success in this climbing course, all participants should be in good health and have a desire to work in arboriculture.
Allison Park , PA
May 22-24, 2019
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost: $350
Register online at: https://extension.psu.edu/tree-climbing-school
Registration deadline: May 17, 2019
For more information, contact Brian Wolyniak at bjw229@psu.edu or 412-482-3455.
Elizabethtown, PA
May 28-30, 2019
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost: $350
Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/tree-climbing-school
Registration deadline: May 24, 2019
For more information, contact Tim Abbey at tma13@psu.edu or 717-840-7408.
East Norriton, PA
June 3-5, 2019
7:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Cost: $350
Register online at https://extension.psu.edu/tree-climbing-school
Registration deadline: May 27, 2019
For more information, contact Julianne Schieffer at jxs51@psu.edu or 610-489-4315.
- Webinar: Cultivating Innovation – Documenting 15 years of TREE Fund Research Impact
TREE Fund Webinar Series, in partnership with Alabama Cooperative Extension
May 29, 2019, 1 PM – 2 PM Eastern Time
TREE Fund contracted Drs. Andrew Koeser and Richard Hauer to conduct a comprehensive, 15-year assessment of the discoveries, impacts, and returns on investment associated with its past research grant awards. Drs. Koeser and Hauer share some of the highlights of this work – from facts and figures to personal accounts by industry leaders on how TREE Fund has impacted their professional lives in their May webinar. You may be surprised at what commonly accepted practices trace their origins to TREE Fund research projects!
Presented by:
Dr. Andrew Koeser, University of Florida
Dr. Richard Hauer, University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point
Registration and connection details: Register at https://auburn.zoom.us/webinar/register/f688bc627a39ed2c4ac87b605f06faf5
Cost: Free
Continuing Education Credits: One Continuing Education Credit for SAF Certified Foresters (CFEs), ISA Certified Arborists, and NALP.
- Woody Plant Conference
Friday, July 19, 2019, 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM
Swarthmore College, Swarthmore, PA
Mark your calendars for the 22st annual Woody Plant Conference at Swarthmore College. This popular day-long conference focuses on great woody plants for the Mid-Atlantic states and how to use them in the landscape. The conference is geared to landscape professionals and avid amateur gardeners.
Featured speakers include:
David Rubin, Principal, DAVID RUBIN Land Collective, will discuss collaborative, human-centered landscapes that create positive change. He will focus on landscape architecture and urban design that emphasize socially-purposeful design strategies.
Nina Bassuk, from Cornell University’s Urban Horticulture Institute will highlight superior hybrid oak selections for introduction into the nursery trade. These oaks can improve biodiversity and resiliency in the urban forest.
Ed Bowen, from Issima Nursery in Little Compton, Rhode Island will speak on latest developments in hydrangea breeding. The beautiful flowers of hydrangeas and their long bloom time, from early spring into fall, make them so popular. Ed focuses on hardiness in his hydrangea breeding.
Bernd Blossey, Associate Professor at Cornell University will discuss his research on invasive plants and how they threaten native species and the integrity of ecosystems.
Continuing education units (CEUs) for landscape architects and International Society of Arboriculture
certified arborists will be available.
Register online: http://www.woodyplantconference.org/
The conference is co-sponsored by Chanticleer, Longwood Gardens, Morris Arboretum, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore College, and Tyler Arboretum.
- Managing Invasive Plants
Offered by Penn State Extension
July 24, 2019, 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Allentown, PA
Managing Invasive Plants will provide participants with the knowledge and skills to properly identify invasive plants and develop strategies for treatment and control.
Invasive weeds and pests are a major threat to our natural and cultivated landscapes, spreading quickly and displacing or killing native plants. Invasive species (plants, insects, and animals) are costing the United States more than $138 billion each year, due to their economic impact on agriculture, forestry, fisheries, waterways, wildlife, and ornamental landscapes. Ecologists now rank invasion by exotic plants, animals and pathogens second only to habitat loss as a major threat to local biodiversity.
A portion of the day will be spent in the field looking at invasive plants, the results of management, and a calibration demonstration.
Register online at: https://extension.psu.edu/managing-invasive-plants
Cost: $75
Registration deadline: July 17, 2019
For more information, contact Julianne Schieffer at jxs51@psu.edu or 610-489-4315.
Training
Sustainable Design
Solar Energy – The Power of the Sun
See Related Article – The Great Earth Engine and 100% Renewable Realistic Goal or Pipe Dream or by Brian Oram
All energy of the planet Earth has it source from the power of a past or current Sun. The universe has been estimated to be about 14 billion years old, but our Sun is only about 5 million years old. Because of the presence of heavier elements, we know that the Sun and our system was likely created by the remnants of a second or third generation star. (WE are all children of a Star and Star dust). This means that the universe recycles and our Sun was created after a previous Sun went through least two or three supernovas. This left behind the building blocks for our current solar system. How did the first building blocks start? (I will let that up to you, but a good book worth reading by [amazon_textlink asin=’1621578984′ text=’Dennis Prager’ template=’ProductLink’ store=’webdespro-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’8d849250-ec9c-43ce-b576-b95d430ee359′]).
Quote:
“Second-generation stars, such as the sun, contain some heavier elements. These elements could not exist just based on nuclear fusion inside stars. Instead, some of this material must have come from the supernovae of other stars. Hence, second-generation stars like our sun were formed after first-generation stars.” Source
Since the solar energy we get from our current Sun provides the solar radiation that is used by solar panels and creates the thermal differences on the planet to support wind and the water cycle, the gravitational pull creates the tides, and the radioactive particles help to support the molten core – The Earth is really powered by past Suns and our current Sun. Since we have to be honest, fossil fuels, including coal, oil, and natural gas, in reality are nature’s way to store solar energy. This means that fossil fuels are actually part of the natural storage system for the Earth, but they are not renewable in our short life-times, but they are renewable in geologic time. Because of this condition, we must learn and invest on other technologies, plus focus on conservation, hardening grid, adapting to a planet that has always changed, we must not rebuilding on unstable landscapes (“build on rock, not sand”), and we must make sure we have diversification in our energy platform. Since we are human, we must also use energy as “soft power” as an alternative to “war and the funding of totalitarian regimes”.
In this post, we are going to attempt to highlight some of the basic information related to traditional solar energy systems for residential and commercial applications and link to solid educational resources. To get a little in the weeds, we do not have an Energy Crisis, we have an energy waste and lack of storage crisis. In the USA, we waste over 50 % of the energy we use and we have a lot of “energy vampires”. Solar energy systems work well, but it depends on location, location, location, system design, system orientation, building efficiency, and building orientation. To take the first in the process of proactive positive change, it is critical to learn. The first steps in this learning process of making a difference and a proactive positive change is to “Learn, Question, and Act/Test”, but this must happen after your are ready to “Stand UP and Look for the Facts” and not play to the “Fear”.
Solar Power Systems
Solar power systems can be divided into three basic types, which includes active solar energy, passive solar energy, and solar thermal energy system. In active solar energy systems, the system includes a “panel” that may be roof, or land mounted with residential and commercial applications. The panels are photovoltaic cells that convert solar energy into an electrical current. With passive solar energy, the goal is to attempt to intercept and store or block and redirect the radiant energy created by the sun. Passive solar energy is managed primarily through building design, material selection, and building orientation. Solar thermal energy system typically is limited to storing the radiant energy of the sun and using it to heat water, such as in roof mounted water heating units to create hot water or systems to heat pools.
If you are interesting in learning about solar energy and its application for your home and may be ready to ask more question or act, we would recommend reviewing the website created by Consumer Affairs. Consumer Affairs created a helpful resource that allows consumers to determine whether their house is a good fit for solar panels and allows them to compare popular solar energy companies. With the help from contributing editor, Zachary Shahan, the guide addresses the types of solar energy technology and how solar panels work. You can read more and determine if solar energy is right for you on The 10 Best Solar Energy Companies guide.
Other Interesting Resources and Educational Information
Training Courses to Learn More
Energy Audits Training Programs
Professional Engineers Continuing Education (PDHs) – Renewable Energy (Solar and More)
LEED for New Construction
Desk Reference for the DIY Group
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Executive Director Needed – Pennsylvania Organization Wayne County Pennsylvania – SEEDS
Seeking Part-Time Executive Director for Environmental Non-Profit in Wayne County, PA
SEEDS (Sustainable Energy Education & Development Support) of Northeastern PA is seeking a part-time Executive Director to continue its mission of promoting energy efficiency, renewable energy and sustainable living in our region. The Executive Director is responsible for overseeing the administration of the organization and its fundraising, and reports to the SEEDS volunteer Board of Directors. The ED may be involved in programing and the strategic direction of the organization.
Qualifications
- Transparent and high integrity leadership;
- Understanding and passion for sustainability, especially sustainable energy and energy efficiency;
- Experience managing and successfully completing projects;
- Experience budgeting, grant-writing, fundraising, and fiscal planning;
- Excellent written and verbal skills; strong public speaking skills; and experience with print, radio, online, and social media;
- Strong leadership and team-building skills; and also able to work independently;
- Experience collaborating with other organizations and inspiring and mobilizing volunteers;
- Degree in social sciences, environmental sciences, journalism, humanities or other related fields is strongly preferred, as this position is the very public face of a reputable community benefit organization.
Position offers part time salary, based on experience, flexible work hours and some telecommuting hours. The SEEDS office is located in Honesdale, PA. To apply, please send cover letter, resume and writing sample by 11/9/18 to kathy@seedsgroup.net. SEEDS is an equal opportunity employer.
Jocelyn Cramer
Executive Director of SEEDS
Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support
(570) 245 – 1256
Links
- Training for Professionals – http://online-training-courses.info/index.php/categories/professional