ASSIGNMENT -01

ENVIRONMENTAL
SCIENCE

SUBMITTED BY: NISTHA BHARARIA

BBA-1A ERP: 011BBA092
Q1- Reusing Simple Household Things:
 We can reuse our old blankets and towels. Bring them to a local shelter that
will be glad to put them to good use and give animals a soft, warm place to
sit.
 Reusage of seeds from fruit and vegetables and try to grow them!
 Reusing our old plastic bags. There are 10 creative ways to reuse plastic
bags here.
 Also, our paper bags as school book covers, or get a little more creative.
 Cut used pieces of paper into scrap pieces of paper (a message
pad!)..Reuse stove heat by opening up the stove once you are done with it
and letting the warm air into your home in colder weather.
 You can reuse coffee grinds by keeping them aside and placing them into
your garden or soil.
 Coffee that you don’t drink by putting it over ice and placing it in the fridge
for an iced coffee later.
 Reuse Christmas trees (not the fake ones) by putting them outside for birds
and letting them naturally break down.
 Reuse packing peanuts, air pillows, bubble wrap, and boxes for your own
eBay shipping, or bring them by the local post office or recycling center for
others to use.
 Reuse pens and art supplies by donating them to local schools.
 Reuse your old carpet. Even slightly dirty carpets can have a second life.
 Reuse your old food scraps by composting them.
 Reuse your used margarine and butter tubs by cleaning them and keeping
them for leftovers (free Ziploc containers!).
 Reuse old clothing by donating it to a local charity.
 Reuse the stuffing from old pillows and comforters into new items. Reuse
the pillow covers for rags.
 Reuse used wrapping paper and save it for next year.
 Reuse newspaper, interesting magazines, and other paper products by
using them as wrapping paper.
 Reuse kiddie pool water on plants and shrubs.
 Reuse your old paint by finding things to paint in your home, touch up, or
donate it to a local charity.
 Reuse your old toilet paper rolls.
 Reuse old wallpaper and use it for decoupage or crafts.
 Never throw away an old book, donate it to a library or to your recycling
center, or a school! They can reuse it.
 Reuse old curtains as rags for cleaning your car.
 Reuse your old electronics by selling them on Craigslist or on eBay.
 Reuse old glass containers with lids and save them for leftovers, or, make
your own jam or jelly. Food safe airtight glass containers would be great for
storing rice, pasta, sugar, and flour.
 Reuse your old sneakers by donating them to Nike’s Shoe recycling
program (okay, this is more recycling, but it’s important!)
 Reuse greeting cards in craft projects.
 Reuse your old toothbrush and use it to clean hard to reach areas like
around the sink, your drains, faucets, and grout.
 Save stale bread and give it to the birds in the backyard (be sure to rip it
small enough so they can eat it!).
 Make a piece of artwork with your old metal cans.
 Make your own checker set by reusing your old bottle caps.
 There are over 20 ways to reuse your old furniture here.
 Sell or donate your old cellphone to the one of many companies out there.
 Sell old clothing and let others reuse it, provided it looks good still.
 For your next home renovation project, you might be able to reuse your old
floor tiles.
 Reuse popsicle sticks in kid craft projects.
 Even bicycle tires can be reused.
 Reuse old seafood seashells by crushing them and using them in your
garden as decoration.
 There are over 20 ways you can reuse your old drinking straws.
 Reuse insulation when building a home, or adding insulation. This will save
energy and money!
 There are some creative things you can do with old metal pie pan plates.
 Reuse old aluminum foil by judging whether you it is clean enough to use
again. If you’re using it for bread or dry goods, you should be able to shake
it off and set it aside for next time (provided it is clean).
 Reuse old spray bottles by first making sure they are okay to reuse (see the
back of the bottle) and filling them with water to spray plants.
 Reuse your old CDs and DVDs with these tips.
 Reuse your old yard debris! Leaves, lawn cuttings, and wood chips
naturally fertilize and add nutrients to your soil.
 If you receive a gift in a gift bag, save it for another occasion and reuse that
bag!
 Is your old keyboard the perfect seedling starter?
 Reuse your old toothpaste tubes.
 Yes, we can even reuse our mattress.
 Q2- Different Sources of Energy:
Without energy nothing can come into being and nothing can exist. For every living
being energy is very essential. Most importantly energy is very essential for the day
to day activities of human beings. Energy always converts to one form to another.
When we use an electric heater, we use electric energy and convert the electric
energy into heat energy. Most of the sources of energy such as hydropower and
other fuels are exhaustible and limited in supply. Solar energy, Wind energy, Tide
energy is Inexhaustible energy and they are available for infinite period.

Conventional and Non-Conventional energy sources are the two types of energy
sources.
Firewood, Fossils, Hydropower, Nuclear power are exhaustible, so they are called
Conventional Energy Sources. Solar energy, Wind power and Tidal power are
inexhaustible energy, so they are called Non-Conventional Energy Sources. Fossil
fuels are limited in supply and they are exhaustible while solar energy, wind energy
and atomic energy are inexhaustible sources of energy.

 FIREWOOD: Firewood is the cheapest source of energy. This is the

energy source which depend by both rich and poor people for cooking. It is
the main source of energy, but this will lead to many environmental
problems like deforestation and soil eruption. Therefore, cutting of trees for
firewood will thin the woodland and forest. Also, woodland lands are the
home of other living beings other than human beings. So, preservation of
firewood and forest is essential and mostly important. Usage of other
inexhaustible like solar energy, wind energy, tide energy are the better
choices.

 FOSSILS FUELS: Coal, petroleum products, natural gas are termed as

fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are formed by the decomposition of dead organisms
and trees which are settled under the soil from decades. So, they are
 limited in supply. Once this resource is depleted, it takes another decade for
the restoration. They are the most widely used sources of energy using now
a days. Petroleum and natural gas are using for conventional purposes, but
usage of petroleum products is increasing day to day. We are consuming
fossil fuels at a tremendous rate, it will result in depletion of fossil fuel. So,
usage of inexhaustible source of energy is better.

 HYDRO-ELECTRIC POWER: Hydro power is generated using water. It

is the one of the cheapest sources of electricity and this power is widely
using now a days. There are so many hydro power stations are running all
over the world. For hydroelectric power, large dams have to be built and
such dams may cause earthquakes. So better precautions are require to
avoid such calamities.
 :
 ATOMIC ENERGY Atomic energy is the one of the energy resources
which is widely using. Even if fossil fuel is exhausted, atomic energy can be
used for many useful purposes. It is the result of nuclear reaction. Fission
and fusion are the two ways to produce atomic energy. Atomic energy is
mainly utilizing for the production of electricity. Atomic power plant is
required for the production of atomic energy, this will lead to thermal
pollution and disposal of radio-active wastes.

 SOLAR ENERGY: Solar energy is the one of the most inexhaustible

energy which is using all over the world. This energy can be a major source
of power. Energy comes to the earth from sun is very large and it’s about
approximately 200 billion MW, and which is about 25000 times the world’s
demand. Therefore, it is necessary to utilize the solar necessary in efficient
way. With the help of silicon cells or photovoltaic cells, solar energy can be
directly transformed into electric energy. But tapping of solar energy is more
effective only where long sun-shine is available. Solar thermal collectors
are used for generating electricity in large amount. In solar thermal
collectors, photovoltaic modules which transform sunlight directly into
electricity. The main advantage of Solar power station is that their
maintenance cost is very negligible. And the main disadvantage of solar
power station is that their installation cost is very expensive.

 WIND POWER: Wind power has emerged as one of the most promising
source among all other renewable sources for power generation and is one
of the most effective options for grid connected power generation. Also,
wind farms are becoming popular all over the world. This wind farms are
mostly installed in wide area near coastal regions and other places where
more wind available. Wind energy which is an indirect source of solar
energy conversion which can be utilized to run wind mill, which in turn
drives a generator to produce electricity. Conversion of the kinetic energy of
wind into mechanical energy that can be utilized to generate electricity.
Using wind power, we can find solution for many electricity production
problems. So, more wind farms are requiring to utilize this renewable
source of energy in efficient way. But main disadvantage of wind mill is that
their installation cost is very expensive.

 TIDAL & WAVE POWER: The energy obtained from tidal power is one
of
the promising source of energy among all other renewable energy sources
available in nature. Tide is a periodic rise and fall of water level of sea
which are carried by the action of the sun and moon on the water of the
 • :
earth. The large scale up and down movement of sea water can produce
unlimited amount of energy. If some amount of tidal energy can be
converted into electrical energy it would be an important source of hydro
power. The biggest advantage of tidal energy is besides being exhaustible.
Tidal power generation is free from pollution, as it does not use any fuel
and also does not produce any unhealthy waste like gases, ashes, etc.
These power plants do not demand large area, because they are installing
on seashore.

❖ How can we reduce our ENERGY RESOURCES?

There are two major categories of resources – namely Renewable and Non-
Renewable. As opposed to non-renewable resources, which diminish with their
constant use, renewable resources do not. Non-renewable resources, if not
managed properly might become non-existent. This is because the rate at which
they are used is much higher than the rate at which they are replaced.
Renewable resources include water, geothermal energy and wind energy. Non-
renewable resources include coal, natural gas and oil.

• Managing Water:
Water is the most abundant natural resource in the world. In fact, it covers up
to 70.9 percent of the Earth’s surface. However, it is important to note that only
about 3 percent of water is fresh and out of this, only about less than 1 percent
is available for direct human use. It is therefore important to manage water
efficiently. Proper management of water is achieved by water treatment both in
small and large scale. Black and gray water, industrial effluents and storm
water can undergo treatment.
The treatment of the water returns it into its original state both for domestic
and industrial use or for safe disposal. Water treatment is essential since it
ensures that there is sufficient water for human use. Management of water is
also achieved by a change in lifestyle. Using only the amount of water you
require and not leaving taps running will go a long way in conserving water.

• Reduce, Recycle, Reuse:

Recycling and reusing are better alternatives to disposing of some items. For
better management and efficient utilization of resources, reduction in the
amount of usage is important. Better efficiency constitutes a change of lifestyle
which will in turn mean less waste. Not only are recycling and reuse ways of
 managing resources, but they are also important in preventing pollution.
Careless disposal of substances such as plastics glassware, ceramic, oil,
porcelain and metals have devastating effects on soil and water. In addition,
these hazardous wastes could have serious effects on both land and aquatic
life forms.
These materials are inorganic, implying that bacteria cannot break them down.
Instead of disposing, recycling and reusing these substances are much better
options. When oils, for instance, are recycled, they generate different grades
of oil which have different applications. Waste paper that is also not
biodegradable is recycled into different uses, such as tissue paper.
Laws & Regulations
Implementation of laws and regulations to curb waste of resources is important
in the management of resources. These laws and regulations enlighten people
on the need to conserve the resources for the future generations. Invoking of
heavy penalties for individuals who do not adhere to the laws and regulations
will make people avoid waste of resources. The government and private
institutions alike are expected to advertise on the media and any other
platform on the importance of proper management of resources.

• Mass Transport & Hybrid Vehicles:

Nearly all vehicles use fossil fuels to move from one place to another.
Discouraging individuals from using individual cars goes a long way in
reducing the amount of fuel consumed on the global scene. Buses and trains
are alternatives to personal vehicles because they have a lower person-to-fuel
ratio. This ensures that the few available fossil fuel deposits in the world are
not exhausted, while at the same time curbing excessive pollution of the
atmosphere. For individuals who do not prefer mass transport, hybrid vehicles
that use alternative sources of energy, such as butanol and ethanol, are a
viable option. Ethanol and butanol are readily available since they are derived
from agricultural produce such as corn.

HOW TO REDUCE THE USE OF NATURAL RESOURCES?

Reducing the use of natural resources is key to preserving the earth’s climate
and mitigating the problems of climate change. Fortunately, a little bit of
education on the use of natural resources can go a long way in helping people
reduce their use. Reducing the use of a variety of natural resources – trees, fuels
and water – can have a big impact on the overall sustainability of the earth’s
ecosystem.
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• Forests & Woods:
Reducing the use of forests can go a long way in mitigating problems
associated with climate change and ecosystem destruction. One of the most
important functions of forests is to convert carbon dioxide into oxygen and
retain carbon in their wood, thus reducing the amount of CO2 in the
atmosphere. Forests serve numerous other functions, however, including
preventing flooding and conserving topsoil and water. Because these
functions are all so critical, preserving forests is crucial. The world should
strive to use less paper and wood, and eat less beef to reduce timber use and
conversion of forestland to agricultural use. Other legal and political changes –
such as banning importations of Amazonian wood, legally protecting ancient
forests, and better regulating logging – can help preserve forests, too.
•
Water:
The overuse of water resources is also challenging the world’s climate and
ecosystems. While 70 percent of the earth’s area is covered in water, only 3
percent of that water is made up of fresh water, and only 1 percent is
drinkable. This means that drinking water is a finite resource, and conserving it
is critical to maintaining life on earth. One of the easiest ways to reduce
overuse of this resource is to purchase more water-efficient appliances, such
as washing machines and toilets that use less water. Governments can also
encourage these policies, as well as help build infrastructure for wastewater
treatment. Right now, only about 10 percent of all wastewater is properly
treated, so increasing that amount could go a long way in making it possible to
reuse water, which would reduce the amount of fresh water taken from natural
sources.

• Fossil Fuels:
Demand for fossil fuels like oil, natural gas and coal is constantly on the rise,
which puts pressure on natural resources. By 2030, global demand for these
types of energy is expected to increase by 60 percent. Reducing this number,
however, is increasingly possible with new policies and consumer practices.
One big step is for governments and corporations to increase their use and
support of renewable sources, such as solar collectors and hydro power.
While we may never completely not use fossil fuels, governments can require
more fuel-efficient cars. Simple changes, like direct fuel injection technology,
can decrease a car’s use of fuel by as much as 13 percent. More research
and development can reduce our reliance on fuels.

• Animals & Biological Systems:

Animals are used by humans for food, for laboratory tests, for fur and leather,
and even for entertainment. Issues like overfishing, however, endanger
ecosystems and deplete fish and animal resources to the point where humans
could become food insecure. For example, tuna, despite being a prized food
around the world, has decreased in population to the point where the Atlantic
bluefin tuna faces extinction. Better regulation of fisheries and reduced waste
could go a long way in saving animal species like the tuna and others. It is
estimated, for example, that between 8 and 25 percent of the bluefin tuna
catch is discarded or wasted each year. Reducing this waste would eliminate
the need to overfish, and this example can be applied to numerous other
species around the world.
• :

Day-to-Day Activism
People use natural resources and the people reading this can take steps to
reduce their use. Participate in your community’s recycling program, or ask
your local government to start one if none exists. Eliminate leaks from faucets
and hoses to conserve water and energy. Walking or biking rather than driving
reduces your use of fossil fuels. Support the groups in your area, or nationally,
that work on conserving natural resources, either through participation,
financial support, lobbying or other means of involvement.

Q3- Estimating the Damage Done to the Environment:

 List of Plastic Articles We Mostly Use:

HOUSEHOLD ARTICLES TYPES OF PLASTICS

Bottles and other containers Polythene & Polypropylene

Buckets Polythene & Polypropylene

Dishware Melamine Resin, polystyrene

Glasses (drinking) Polystyrene, Styrofoam

Electrical Circuit Boards Laminated Epoxies, Phenolic

Polyurethane, Silicone, Polyester,
Fillers
etc.
Putty Epoxy, polyester, PVAc

Films Tapes Polyester, Polypropylene, Cellulosic

Plumbing Pipes PVC, ABS, Polyethylene

Polypropylene, ABS, Polystyrene,
Toys
etc.

 Ways to Reduce Fossil Fuel Use:

 • Practice Conservation at Home:
Conserving your electrical use at home reduces the amount of fossil
fuels used by reducing overall electrical demands. Energy-efficient
appliances with the Energy Star label help reduce the electricity you
consume. Shutting off lights and electronics when not in use, adjusting
your thermostat by a few degrees and keeping your heating and cooling
systems maintained also help conserve energy at home. Get the whole
family involved in reducing energy usage around the house.
• Use Alternate Transportation:
Every time you drive your vehicle, you consume fossil fuels. Choosing
alternate forms of transportation saves on the fossil fuel used to run your
car. Consider taking public transportation if your city offers a bus, train or
subway system. Taking public transportation allows you to read or do
other tasks while someone else handles the driving. Walking or riding
your bike gives you exercise while saving fossil fuel.

• Use Alternative Energy:

Alternative, renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power,
eliminate the pollution that accompanies fossil fuel energy. Alternative
energy also reduces the reliance on limited fossil fuels. Consider
installing solar panels in your home to reduce the amount of fossil fuel
needed to power your home. The initial installation of the solar collectors
requires a big investment, but the collectors are relatively maintenance
free and last a long time.

• Raise Awareness:
Spreading the word about reducing fossil fuels makes others more
aware of the need to conserve. Talk to your friends, family and
coworkers about the importance of conserving fossil fuels. Encourage
your boss to employ green practices at the office to reduce fossil fuel
consumption. Forming a community group to raise awareness about
energy conservation also helps spread the word.

❖ How much we really need to use Water, as against how

much we waste Water?

• Water is a finite source, which means one day it could run out. While
our need for water increases as populations rise, our water supply
doesn’t increase.
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• As a global community, we all take from the same source. How we, in
developed countries, consume water has a direct effect on the
amount of clean, safe water available to people in developing
countries. That means we all have a social responsibility to use water
wisely. Since fresh water is essential to life, everybody has an equal
right to it.
• If each person in the world took active steps to reduce the amount of
water they waste, it could help reduce the impact of water shortages
and drought across the world.
• The United Nations has already warned that if something doesn’t
change, five billion people could be affected by water shortages by
the year 2050.
• If you think the only way to waste water is by letting tap water flow for
too long (and yes, that is a huge waste of water) you’re wrong again.
 • One bath uses about 80 liters of water.
• When you flush your little flush (most of us have two flushes now,
right?) it uses around 4 liters of water, while flushing the bigger one
uses 9 liters.
• One full load in the washing machine uses between 50 and 100 liters.
• A five-minute shower uses 45 liters.

❖ Where did the Water come from? What is the actual

source? How it reached to us? Where waste water goes?

Water is formed chemically by combining 2 molecules of hydrogen and one

molecule of oxygen. It is understood that when our earth was separated from the
sun, the earth was a mass of gases and the earth was something of molten mass
full of lava. May be billions years passed. The outer portions of the earth got slowly
cooled and gases gradually chemically changed. At that time one molecule of
oxygen and 2 molecules of hydrogen combined to form water H2O. During the
process of cooling of earth, snow mountains were formed over the north and south
poles because of the inclination of the earth and less sunlight. In subsequent years,
cloudy atmosphere formed rains followed mountain snow melts gradually forming
pathways to lower slope areas called rivers channels etc. Wherever there are
ditches and wide hollow ground openings water stagnated forming lakes and ponds.
This the story of formation of water. During the further years, because of the heat of
sun rays water gets evaporated to the atmosphere and clouds formed by
condensation. The rains poured over the earth. This way water evaporation and rain
formation and rain fall are continuously happening. The water evaporated will again
reach the earth. This is called Water cycle. Water while passing and filling the
ditches and valleys penetrating the earth surfaces form the ground water which we
extract through bore well open well. This is the formation of ground water. We
construct barrages dams across the rivers and channels and thus store water. We
install pumping machines in the riverside and bring water to our city. There we purify
and use through pipes lines to our houses. Ground water is being extracted from the
earth through bore wells and open well. We store that water over head tanks and
the water is reaching us through pipes lines.
Water leaving our homes generally goes either into a septic tank in the back yard
where it seeps back into the ground, or is sent to a wastewater-treatment plant
through a sewer system.
Different treatments are used, depending on the type of water coming into the plant
and the water-quality requirements of water leaving the plant. Often the first stages
of water treatment are purely physical methods, such as letting solid particles settle
to the bottom of a holding tank and filtering the water through sand or other fine
particulate matter. Filters are used to screen out large particles, and at a minimum,
chlorine is added to kill dangerous bacteria and microorganisms.
• The set of steps to Treat Water:
Odor control: Chemicals can help keep down foul odors.
Screening: Move water through screens to separate larger solids and trash.
Primary treatment: Move water into large tanks and allow solid material to settle at
the surface. Scrape material off and dispose of it.
Aeration: Stir up the water to get it to release gasses, and pump air through the
water to allow bacteria to act on organic matter to help it decay.
Remove sludge: Solid material settles to the bottom and removed.
More filtration: Filter water through sand, for example, to reduce bacteria, odors,
iron, and other solids.
“Digest” the solid material: Hold and heat the solid material to break it down to
nutrientrich biosolids and methane gas.
Disinfection: Water is treated with chlorine to kill bacteria.

 Food: From where it comes from? How it grows? How

does it reach to us?

Food is any substance consumed to provide nutritional support for an organism.

Food is usually of plant, animal or fungal in origin, and contains essential nutrients,
such as carbohydrates, fats, proteins, vitamins, or minerals. The substance is
ingested by an organism and assimilated by the organism’s cells to provide energy,
maintain life, or stimulate growth. Different species of animals have different feeding
behaviors that satisfy the needs of their unique metabolisms, often evolved to fill a
specific ecological niche within specific geographical contexts.
Most food has its origin in plants. Some food is obtained directly from plants; but
even animals that are used as food sources are raised by feeding them food derived
from plants. Cereal grain is a staple food that provides more food energy worldwide
than any other type of crop. Corn (maize), wheat, and rice – in all of their varieties –
account for 87% of all grain production worldwide. Most of the grain that is produced
worldwide is fed to livestock.
Some foods not from animal or plant sources include various edible fungi, especially
mushrooms. Fungi and ambient bacteria are used in the preparation of fermented
and pickled foods like leavened bread, alcoholic drinks, cheese, pickles, kombucha,
and yogurt. Another example is blue-green algae such as Spirulina. Inorganic
substances such as salt, baking soda and cream of tartar are used to preserve or
chemically alter an ingredient.

 Food Waste / Disposal of Food Waste:

Food waste or food loss is food that is not eaten. The causes of food waste or loss
are numerous and occur throughout the food system, during production, processing,
retail and consumption. Global food loss and waste amount to between one-third
and one-half of all food produced. In low-income countries, most loss occurs during
production, while in developed countries much food – about 100 kilograms (220 lb)
per person per year – is wasted at the consumption stage.
Food waste is a major part of the impact of agriculture on climate change. The Food
and Agricultural Organization estimated in 2014 that food waste lost causes a global
economic, environmental and social cost of $2.6 trillion a year and is responsible for
8 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Moreover, food waste that is not
handled or reclaimed properly,
i.e. through composting, can have many negative environmental consequences. For
example, landfill gas from anaerobic digestion of organic matter is a major source of
the greenhouse gas methane, and un-reclaimed phosphorus in food waste, leads to
further phosphate mining. Moreover, reducing food waste in all parts of the food
system is an important part of reducing the environmental impact of agriculture, by
reducing the total amount of water, land and other resources needed to feed the
global community.
In this day and age, most homes should have ways for disposing of food waste
other than trashing it. There are many means by which to dispose of food and you
have to find the methods that work best for your home life. Here are some ways to
dispose of unused food in your household.

A. Conventional Trash Bin:

Apartment dwellers who don’t have access to garbage disposals don’t have much of
a choice but to put the food in the garbage. The big problem with this is that food
waste gets really smelly, really fast, and can create a breeding ground for germs.
Make sure to wash your hands after coming into contact with garbage, whether it’s
putting it in waste containers or taking the bag out.

B. Composting:
If we are looking for the greenest way of disposing of food waste, composting is the
answer. We can pick up a small compost bin to sit in your kitchen to house things
like egg shells, coffee grounds, tea bags, potato peels or leftover food on a plate.
We can turn the food scraps into the garden every couple of days. This method not
only lets you dispose of food waste, but recycles it by making more compost.
C. Wormy Solution:
Worms make compost similarly to a regular compost bin. The difference is that
worms eat the food scraps so the process is much quicker. Starting the bins is a
simple process since you can purchase worms at almost any outdoor supply store.
If we keep the bin between 55- and 77-degrees Fahrenheit, the worms will work
their best to create compost.
D. Garbage Disposal:
A popular way of getting rid of food scraps is to use a garbage disposal located
under our kitchen sink. Call a waste disposal company for more information on
having one installed. Keeping in mind that not everything can be thrown into a
garbage disposal so this method is best used alongside another one.

E. Animals:
If we live in an area where we can keep farm animals like pigs or goats, we’ll have
very little food waste. Of course, they can’t be fed everything, but animals will eat
many items that usually end up in the garbage. Doing some investigating on what
not to feed animals and follow cooking guidelines for meats and meat byproducts.
Supplement animal’s diets with conventional animal feed as well, since scraps won’t
be enough to sustain them.