Solar cells and Dirty Air

Since I have been on the environmental theme for the past two weeks, I found the following two articles by Wendy Koch in the electronic version of USA TODAY of interest to me so here they are:  “Solar panels power 1 million Bangladesh homes” (06/15/11 01:43 PM) and “Metro areas with dirtiest air get cleaner” (04/26/11 10:50 PM). Koch’s article: ALA's 12th annual "State of the Air" report.

SOLAR PANELS

I tend to stop and pay attention to anything that comes out of Bangladesh because I used to joke about Bangladesh being the hinterlands.  Now however, I have an international management consulting colleague who works out of Bangladesh, plus I am working for a client who is from Bangladesh so it is no longer a joke for me.  Isn't it interesting how our attitudes change when we personalize a place? 

This article about the use of solar panels gives me joy about Bangladesh because they are moving rapidly into use of alternative energy.  "It's the fastest expansion of solar energy anywhere in the world," said Nazmul Haq of the state-run Infrastructure Development Company, which finances clean energy projects, according to Agence-France Press. "We crossed the 1 million threshhold more than 18 months ahead of schedule (and) we have set a new target to cross 2.5 million by 2014."  The old adage about having a need and finding a solution fits here.  Since the Bangladesh infrastructure does not support power lines to 60% of its people, the solar solution is an ideal one to replace kerosene burning lamps for light.

DIRTY AIR

Dirty air with particle pollution and ozone can lead to asthma attacks, other respiratory problems and premature death.  Where you live matters!  The report from the American Lung Association (ALA) says that overall, there has been improvement in air quality, yet around 50% of Americans live in areas where it is difficult to breathe. See ALA key findings in the American Lung Association's 2011 report.

Eighty percent of the cities with the worst smog and ozone pollution and sixty percent of the cities with the worst particle (soot, ash) pollution are in California!  Los Angeles and Bakersfield have the overall dirtiest air quality.  Honolulu and Santa Fe ranked as the two cities with the cleanest air overall.  I don't see Washington, DC on the lists anywhere, so I guess I could breathe easy or should breathe cautiously?!

 Here's the ALA report: American Lung Association ranks U.S. cities on air quality

10 Most Ozone-Polluted Cities
1. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
2. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
3. Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
4. Fresno-Madera, Calif.
5. Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif.-Nev.
6. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
7. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, Calif.
8. Houston-Baytown-Huntsville, Texas
9. Merced, Calif.
10. Charlotte-Gastonia-Salisbury, N.C.-S.C.

10 Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution
1. Bakersfield-Delano, Calif.
2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.
2. Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz.
2. Visalia-Porterville, Calif.
5. Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.
6. Fresno-Madera, Calif.
7. Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pa.
8. Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala.
9. Cincinnati-Middletown-Wilmington, Ohio-Ky.-Ind.
10. Louisville-Jefferson County-Elizabethtown-Scottsburg, Ky.-Ind.
10. Modesto, Calif.

10 Cleanest U.S. Cities for Year-round Particle Pollution

1. Cheyenne, Wyo.
2. Santa Fe-Espanola, N.M.
3. Tucson, Ariz.
4. Great Falls, Mont.
4. Honolulu, Hawaii
6. Anchorage, Alaska
7. Albuquerque, N.M.
7. Amarillo, Texas
9. Redding, Calif.
10. Salinas, Calif.

© Baldwin H. Tom CMC
www.tbgroupconsultants.com

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