KJEANRL
Protected Predators: The Double-Edged Talons of ...

Blog By: Camille Camp

In this blog, 2L Staffer Camille Camp discusses the threat black vultures pose to the livestock industry and the proposed bill aimed at assisting livestock producers. Additionally, she highlights the essential ecological function served by black vultures and stresses the importance of finding a sustainable solution that both addresses the threat to livestock and preserves the black vulture population.

Protected Predators: The Double-Edged Talons of Black Vultures in the Livestock Industry
KJEANRL
Plows vs. Panels: Community Opposition to Solar ...

Blog By: Daniel Martell

In his blog, Vol. 17 Executive Editor Daniel Martell reports on a barrier in the transition to clean energy: local opposition to solar projects in rural communities. While opposition groups have delayed and derailed solar projects in the past, Martell argues that there are steps that solar farm developers can take to the conflict and cost that come with public opposition to their energy projects.

Plows vs. Panels: Community Opposition to Solar Farm Projects
KJEANRL
Kentucky Legislature Rightfully Rescinds the ...

Blog By: Daniel Short

2L Staffer Daniel Short discusses the Kentucky legislature's decision to create an acreage requirement for hunting and fishing licenses, exempt private landowners. Shortly after, the legislature rescinded the rule, which Short argues was the right decision because of the requirement's uncertainty in enforcement and effectiveness, as well as the detriment to resident outdoorsmen. 

Kentucky Legislature Rightfully Rescinds the Acreage Requirement for Hunting and Fishing Licenses
KJEANRL
The Problem with the Bluegrass Station Airport ...

Blog By: Caroline Butler

In this blog, 3L Staffer Caroline Butler discusses a $320 million, 2,000-acre proposal to expand Bluegrass Station to include a military airport was made public. Butler argues that this proposal and the problems surrounding it, such as eminent domain and public pushback.

The Problem with the Bluegrass Station Airport Project and Eminent Domain
KJEANRL
Congress Cries Over Spilt Milk: Big Dairy's ...

Blog By: Madison Boggs

In her blog, 2L Staffer Madison Boggs discusses the passage of the Whole Milk For Healthy Kids Act in the House of Representatives. The Act seeks to amend existing federal regulations governing school lunches, allowing schools to offer a broader range of milk choices to students, including whole, reduced-fat, and fat-free varieties. Boggs emphasizes the significant contribution of discarded milk in school cafeterias to food waste and advocates for expanding beverage options, including plant-based milks, in schools to tackle this widespread issue.

Congress Cries Over Spilt Milk: Big Dairy's Influence in School Cafeterias Questioned

"energy cost"

,

New High Tech Thermostat Promises Energy Cost Savings

,

By: Toney Robinette, Staff Member

Heating and cooling are very expensive energy expenditures for families.  The thermostat in your home controls around 50% of your energy cost.

[1]

  For colder climates, your heating and cooling costs can be as much as two-thirds of your energy bill.

[2]

  The United States is currently the second largest energy using country in the world,

[3]

and a large part of our energy expenditure comes from heating and cooling.  In addition to a high cost, energy expenditure also has a large environmental impact, and our houses are large contributors.  Home cooling with natural gas causes around 6,400 pounds of CO² emissions, while heating causes 4,200 pounds of CO² emissions,

[4]

and CO² is a major cause of global warming.

[5]

While methods of regulating home heat have been around for a while, they are often too expensive, like new insulation, or are simply unappealing.  However, new technology may be offering us a chance to comfortably and cheaply decrease our home energy spending by up to 25%.  The Nest Thermostat just entered its second iteration, and with it comes the promise of an affordable way to regulate your home energy usage without making a large cash outlay or suffering through the elements.  Nest essentially learns your habits through an algorithm that requires initial manual adjustments. Eventually, the thermostat begins to regulate itself automatically to adjust for when you leave, come home, go to sleep, and wake up.  Through a simple learning algorithm the thermostat can decrease your heating and cooling usage by 26%.

[6]

  While this may sound like the technophilia of Silicon Valley, the Nest may soon become a national phenomenon.  Apple agreed to allow the thermostat to be sold at their stores this month.  They should be starting to sell them immediately.

[7]

[1] 

Heat & Cool Efficiently,

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency,

http://www.energystar.gov/ index.cfm?c=heat_cool.pr_hvac.

[2] 

The Energy Costs of Cooling and Heating a Home,

NPR (Aug. 27, 2007),

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=13941744.

[3] 

Personal Energy Meter

,

National Geographic,

http://environment.nationalgeographic.com/environment/energy/great-energy-challenge/global-personal-energy-meter/.

[4] 

The Energy Costs of Cooling and Heating a Home

, 

supra

note 2.

[5] 

The Energy Costs of Cooling and Heating a Home

,

supra

note 2.

[6] 

Saving Energy,

Nest

, http://www.nest.com/saving-energy/.

[7] 

Sarah Kessler,

The Nest Thermostat Is Now for Sale at Apple Stores,

Mashable

(May 30, 2012), http://mashable.com/2012/05/30/nest-apple/.