Eco House

The Eco House Agent (www.ecohouseagent.com) is an online resource providing information about the implementation of “eco-friendly” devices in homes. The main goal of Eco House Agent is to help people make their house eco-friendly, reduce the use of carbon fuels, and become carbon neutral. While the vast majority of people perceive becoming carbon neutral as a lifestyle-altering commitment requiring a great deal of dedication, it is a process that when done effectively, will not drastically reduce the convenience of their daily lives.

Eco House Agent provides simple tips for homeowners such as walking instead of driving to local shopping centers, turning off lights, washing clothes at low temperatures, taking showers instead of baths, and turning appliances off instead of on standby. Eco House Agent also suggests resources that can be installed and implemented in your house, including solar power, photovoltaics, wind power, rainwater harvesting, insulation, and going “off the grid”.

According to Eco House Agent, based on the growing number of governmental incentives for reducing your carbon footprint, the time to implement these new strategies is now. “Soon we will be forced to reduce our Carbon footprint The government is looking to introduce environmental policies to encourage people to be more “Carbon Neutral”. The Carbon Credit Scheme will attempt to reduce the amount of carbon households produce. A Carbon Credit will be given for units of energy The government will reward those who use less Carbon, penalising less energy efficient households.”

The Eco House Agent teaches readers how to install new eco-friendly sources of energy, such as solar power, Photovoltaics, wind and rain power; harvest rainwater; and how glazing, installing insulation, and damp treatment can be beneficial for your money and the environment.

The website also offers a forum where users can “post all your green thoughts on Solar Power, Photovoltaics, Insulation, Wind Power & Rainwater Harvesting and energy saving, carbon neutral house ideas, helping us all to reduce our carbon footprint and have eco friendly houses.

The following topics are touched upon in detail on the Eco house Agent website:

Solar power energy: Explaining the importance and usefulness of harnessing light from the sun, Eco House Agent also talks about solar hot water heaters and how they are an ideal alternative to ordinary oil and gas hot water heaters. Also, solar power can be used to charge batteries in laptops, cell phones, iPods, and rechargable batteries.

Recycling: The recycling section supplies the importance of recycling and what methods and situations recycling can come in handy and be beneficial for you and the environment. The Salvo recycling centre is mentioned as an excellent source of materials that can be reused, such as doors, tiles, radiators, windows, timber, and furniture.

Finally, another notable section of Echo House Agent explains the benefits of having an “organic baby”. According to the website, “The decision to have children is arguably the most life-changing decision you may ever make, not only to yourself but also to the planet. You only have to look at some of the statistics associated with having children and the overpopulation of the planet to also make it one of the most guilt inducing decisions you’ve made.”

Obama announces

Obama announced a new educational plan yesterday focusing on science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM). Education in STEM studies has been struggling in the United States for many years. A recent study shows that the U.S. ranks in the world 21st and 25th in science and math, respectively. The new “Educate to Innovate” campaign will aim to swiftly push the U.S. from these below-average rankings to “the top of the pack” within the next ten years.

The goals of this “Race to the Top” program will be to enhance STEM knowledge in children, giving them the skills to think critically in science studies and to expand STEM education and career opportunities to groups such as women and girls. Innovation is the key to achieving these goals, which is why states will have to compete for the funding offered by the campaign by offering the most innovative programs to young students.

Leaders from several companies, universities, non-profit organizations and foundations are teaming up to provide over $260 million of initial funding for this project. Along with Sally Ride and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, new science and mathematics educational programs are being assembled across America by such companies as Intel, Kodak, and Time Warner Cable.

Even Sesame Street has started to air a two-year plan to teach young kids about basic math and science. Discovery communications has also provided educational content to 60,000 schools across the country “[Success] depends on the dedication of students and parents, and the commitment of private citizens, organizations, and companies,” Obama stated.

Other initiatives outside of the classroom are being established in this ambitious science and mathematics movement. After school programs for kids are being implemented, national challenges are being created to inspire the design of science-related video games, and the White House is going to begin hosting an annual science fair. “If you win the NCAA championship, you come to the White House.  Well, if you’re a young person and you’ve produced the best experiment or design, the best hardware or software, you ought to be recognized for that achievement, too.”

With all of these plans encompassing this exciting campaign, President Obama hopes to expand the education and knowledge of STEM, with a focus on the underprivileged, such as women and minorities. Obama stressed that the students will be the deciding factor of whether or not this campaign is successful. “I believe strongly that America’s young people will rise to the challenge if given the opportunity — and given a little bit of a push.”

Obama asserted that based on the general educational atmosphere and “hunger for knowledge” around the world, science and mathematics improvement will be the most important determining factor of how well the U.S. does as a country.