The Stanford Daily

Author: KT Mertes

Articles by this author:

Emissions debate

By KT Mertes
NEWS| The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) December decision to prevent California from regulating automobile emissions beyond national standards puzzled many.

Kerosene at 30,000 feet?

By KT Mertes
NEWS| Unfortunately, long-distance flights — even for the laudable motives of merrymaking and family togetherness — can have serious environmental consequences. Airplanes emit carbon just as cars do, and in relatively similar amounts: small cars generate about 0.5 pounds of carbon dioxide per person per mile, while commercial aircraft produce around 0.6 pounds of CO2 a pop.

Saving seabirds with dish soap, water

By KT Mertes
NEWS| After last week’s spill poured nearly 60,000 gallons of oil into the San Francisco Bay, emergency response teams called for “qualified” volunteers to assist in coastal cleanup efforts.

Composting program turns old food into campus landscaping

By KT Mertes
NEWS| The program to reduce Stanford’s waste starts with common practices, such as recycling printer paper or turning off the water when you brush your teeth. But recycling the food you were too full to eat? Stanford does that too.

On-campus recycling center helps Stanford comply with CA law

By KT Mertes
NEWS| We’re not just doing that because we’re green: California state law mandates that half of all waste must find a home other than landfills.

Climate change: no more 'wait and see'

By KT Mertes
NEWS| It was 1988 when NASA scientist James Hansen first testified before Congress about the human contribution to climate change and its potentially disastrous consequences. Early on, decision-makers and scientists each responded to research on global warming with a “wait and see” attitude. While many Americans remain skeptical, last week’s Nobel Peace Prize award is another sign that it’s time to make up our minds: global warming is real.

Lawns aren't green

By KT Mertes
NEWS| Americans are famous for prioritizing convenience and cutting high-maintenance activities from their lifestyles — think fast food, sound bytes and Internet shopping. With our luxuriant green suburban dreams having such an impact on the environment and our wallets, why not transfer these American ethics to the front yard?

Energy-saving lightbulbs distributed to frosh

By KT Mertes
NEWS|

Marine conservation: not quite a walk in the park

By KT Mertes
NEWS| Earlier this week, two Stanford faculty members helped launch a system to protect more areas in California that has already generated local controversy.