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1500 questions
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If everyone were to be vegetarian, what would be the carrying capacity of the Earth?
I'm not asking what will happen if everyone in the world suddenly turned to vegetarianism. In an ideal world with the current population, can everyone follow a vegetarian diet (except for people who may need to eat meat if they have allergies to…
user41965
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A more useful metric for greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets?
A useful metric for vehicle efficiency is miles per gallon, kilometers per liter, or liters per 100 km. The amount of gasoline used by a given vehicle can easily be understood and compared.
Energy use intensity is a similarly useful and intelligible…
LShaver
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Why do island nations generate so much garbage?
THelper's excellent answer to the question "What is current best practice for setting up recycling?" includes a chart showing that New Zealand sends nearly 100% of its garbage to landfills. In a follow-up, THelper shared this link: "Countries Who…
LShaver
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Why is the per capita CO2 emissions so much higher in Wyoming than in the Northeast?
Per capita CO2 emissions are several times higher in the "red" states of the West and South than it is in the Northeast. I cannot imagine why.
From "List of U.S. states by carbon dioxide emissions" on Wikipedia:
T.D.
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What are the Energy Return on Investment (EROI) values like for biogas?
Biogas seems to be a really great idea but I'm wondering how much energy you get out vs. what you need to put in. I know natural gas is around 10.0 and I was wondering how biogas stacks up by this metric.
So if you have any source with the EROI for…
Curtis
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Are the red worms suggested for vermicomposting considered an invasive species?
I'm considering vermicomposting as a next step to hot composting, and plan to release the red worms directly into my garden bed (using a worm bucket), but wanted to check before ordering a batch of worms -- are these worms considered invasive in any…
Sidney
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What isn't recyclable or compostable?
My community has single-bin recycling. Most consumer-level metal, plastic, and paper can go in there to be sorted at a recycling center. They don't take plastic grocery bags, cellophane, paper towels, and pizza boxes. Most of these I can recycle at…
Anthony
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What capacity solar system is required for new homes under the California 2019 Building Energy Efficiency Standards (Title 24)?
From the press release (emphasis added):
Moving to cut energy use in new homes by more than 50 percent, the California Energy Commission [CEC] today adopted building standards that require solar photovoltaic systems starting in 2020. The building…
LShaver
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Eco-friendly alternatives to PTFE-based (teflon) pots?
PTFE-based coating seems to be potentially harmful to humans and mortal for birds. PFOA, which is used for making teflon, persists in the environment and our bodies for long periods of time (see cancer.org).
I'd like to go for something better for…
vaz
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Is there any useful recycling of fibreglass boats or other products made of it?
Lifetime is running out for a large number of fibreglass boats produced about 50 years ago. Many shipyards where they have been produced do no longer exist and last users frequently do not have the budget to pay expensive disposal of their boats.…
Salt
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Is "buying local" sustainable, with reference to food made from animals?
No doubt vegetables, fruits and salads produced locally in most cases provide local jobs and usually best fresh quality. On the other hand a lot of animal food (soy, corn, and others) are shipped around the world to feed animals close to those…
Salt
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What feed is typically used in cricket farming?
Insect farming has been hailed by some as a sustainable alternative to animal agriculture because the requirements for land and water are much lower.
But just as livestock depend on plant food that requires large areas of land to grow, insects also…
Nic
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Are motion activated faucets more sustainable than traditional faucets?
In the spirit of this question about paper towels vs electric dryers, which types of faucets are most sustainable?
The marketing reasons for using motion-activated faucets are that they reduce water usage, and since they don't need to be touched,…
LShaver
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Does Sawdust for Humanure/Composting Toilet need to be Powder?
First timer here, just getting into homesteading.
I bought a pack of sawdust from Tractor Supply the other night. Finest variety they had. Fine premium pine shavings:
This looks like very thin pine shavings, raging from 1/8 in to about 3/8 in.…
Kerry Thomas
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Alternative to sealing compound
Has anyone ever used self-made, eco-friendly sealing compound for outdoors?
What recipe?
How long does the recipe you used last?
I intend to use this sealing compound to stop wasps from getting in and out of my walls and removing styrofoam…
J. Chomel
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