Papers by Leo Ferretti
The urban environment is the new frontier for ecological improvement. Urban planting creates a ri... more The urban environment is the new frontier for ecological improvement. Urban planting creates a richer ecosystem, enhances biodiversity, improves mental health,and alleviates some of the environmental externalities generated by urban areas (including pollution, runoff and heat island effects). This thesis examines the importance of improving city ecology and explores strategies by which to enact these improvements.
Today, new measures-- such as restoration, reforestation, reconciliation and building green roofs-- must be taken to foster urban biodiversity. Developers often overlook the advantages of well-rounded planting programs due to their cost, but
education can reverse this trend. Urban environmental research suggests that the benefits of urban greening far outweigh the costs.
The 93rd ESA Annual …, Jan 1, 2008
Background/Question/Methods
We created a curriculum for a clean Energy Tutorial 2008 undergradu... more Background/Question/Methods
We created a curriculum for a clean Energy Tutorial 2008 undergraduate tutorial, that performed an environmental impact study on a local business called Tropex, that engages in plant rental and maintenance. Our group identified the centers of energy utilization, studied current patterns of company operation and cost centers, and researched ways to advise the CEO about improving their energy efficiency. One factor we looked at in consideration of negative environmental impact was the company's watering methods, as they currently pump water from the Florida Aquifer to water the plants they lease out. Another consideration was the large amount of carbon dioxide emitted from their vehicle fleet and how it could be dramatically reduced. Our research questioned what it means to be environmentally friendly and how American businesses can maintain "business as usual" practices while becoming environmentally friendly.
Results/Conclusions
Our environmental impact assessment included a Carbon Dioxide Emissions Audit which had results accounting for 27.15 Tons of CO2 emitted for the month of April due to "business as usual" practices. Our research and suggestions for the mitigation of the negative externalities arising from Tropex's "Business as Usual" practices provided a structured plan for Tropex to ultimately reduce their negative environmental impacts while providing positive economic benefits. Results from the study led us to conclude that the alternate, more environmentally friendly practices we were advocating not only increase fuel efficiency by more than 40% but also substantially reduce emissions as well as fuel costs; and reduces the potable water usage and purchasing to a negligible amount. Our research also suggested methods by which Tropex can reduce it's impact on the Florida Aquifer and aquifer reliant ecosystems. Our energy audit serves as an example that business needs can be met while also maintaining business practices that are sensitive to energy conservation and ecological priorities.
Interesting Topics by Leo Ferretti
Journal of Chromatography A, 2004
A newly developed procedure to reverse the enantiomer elution order of compounds resolved on chir... more A newly developed procedure to reverse the enantiomer elution order of compounds resolved on chiral stationary phases (CSPs) for HPLC is presented. The optimized analytical protocol is based on the effect of temperature on enantioselectivity and does not involve any changing in mobile phase composition or type of CSP. In essence, the approach entails variable temperature chromatography at two temperatures. The enantiomer separation is performed at a low column temperature, with stopping the flow prior to elution of the less retained enantiomer. Then, the column temperature is changed with the peaks trapped inside the column, followed by elution with the same mobile phase in reverse direction. Under these conditions, the more pronounced loss in free energy of binding for the more strongly bound enantiomer results in an inversion of the elution order. This procedure may be applied to each enantiomer pair that is separated by chiral HPLC under an appreciable enthalpy-control.
Management of marine ecosystems requires spatial information on current impacts. In several marin... more Management of marine ecosystems requires spatial information on current impacts. In several marine regions, including the Mediterranean and Black Sea, legal mandates and agreements to implement ecosystem-based management and spatial plans provide new opportunities to balance uses and protection of marine ecosystems. Analyses of the intensity and distribution of cumulative impacts of human activities directly connected to the ecological goals of these policy efforts are critically needed. Quantification and mapping of the cumulative impact of 22 drivers to 17 marine ecosystems reveals that 20% of the entire basin and 60-99% of the territorial waters of EU member states are heavily impacted, with high human impact occurring in all ecoregions and territorial waters. Less than 1% of these regions are relatively unaffected. This high impact results from multiple drivers, rather than one individual use or stressor, with climatic drivers (increasing temperature and UV, and acidification), demersal fishing, ship traffic, and, in coastal areas, pollution from land accounting for a majority of cumulative impacts. These results show that coordinated management of key areas and activities could significantly improve the condition of these marine ecosystems.
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Papers by Leo Ferretti
Today, new measures-- such as restoration, reforestation, reconciliation and building green roofs-- must be taken to foster urban biodiversity. Developers often overlook the advantages of well-rounded planting programs due to their cost, but
education can reverse this trend. Urban environmental research suggests that the benefits of urban greening far outweigh the costs.
We created a curriculum for a clean Energy Tutorial 2008 undergraduate tutorial, that performed an environmental impact study on a local business called Tropex, that engages in plant rental and maintenance. Our group identified the centers of energy utilization, studied current patterns of company operation and cost centers, and researched ways to advise the CEO about improving their energy efficiency. One factor we looked at in consideration of negative environmental impact was the company's watering methods, as they currently pump water from the Florida Aquifer to water the plants they lease out. Another consideration was the large amount of carbon dioxide emitted from their vehicle fleet and how it could be dramatically reduced. Our research questioned what it means to be environmentally friendly and how American businesses can maintain "business as usual" practices while becoming environmentally friendly.
Results/Conclusions
Our environmental impact assessment included a Carbon Dioxide Emissions Audit which had results accounting for 27.15 Tons of CO2 emitted for the month of April due to "business as usual" practices. Our research and suggestions for the mitigation of the negative externalities arising from Tropex's "Business as Usual" practices provided a structured plan for Tropex to ultimately reduce their negative environmental impacts while providing positive economic benefits. Results from the study led us to conclude that the alternate, more environmentally friendly practices we were advocating not only increase fuel efficiency by more than 40% but also substantially reduce emissions as well as fuel costs; and reduces the potable water usage and purchasing to a negligible amount. Our research also suggested methods by which Tropex can reduce it's impact on the Florida Aquifer and aquifer reliant ecosystems. Our energy audit serves as an example that business needs can be met while also maintaining business practices that are sensitive to energy conservation and ecological priorities.
Interesting Topics by Leo Ferretti
Today, new measures-- such as restoration, reforestation, reconciliation and building green roofs-- must be taken to foster urban biodiversity. Developers often overlook the advantages of well-rounded planting programs due to their cost, but
education can reverse this trend. Urban environmental research suggests that the benefits of urban greening far outweigh the costs.
We created a curriculum for a clean Energy Tutorial 2008 undergraduate tutorial, that performed an environmental impact study on a local business called Tropex, that engages in plant rental and maintenance. Our group identified the centers of energy utilization, studied current patterns of company operation and cost centers, and researched ways to advise the CEO about improving their energy efficiency. One factor we looked at in consideration of negative environmental impact was the company's watering methods, as they currently pump water from the Florida Aquifer to water the plants they lease out. Another consideration was the large amount of carbon dioxide emitted from their vehicle fleet and how it could be dramatically reduced. Our research questioned what it means to be environmentally friendly and how American businesses can maintain "business as usual" practices while becoming environmentally friendly.
Results/Conclusions
Our environmental impact assessment included a Carbon Dioxide Emissions Audit which had results accounting for 27.15 Tons of CO2 emitted for the month of April due to "business as usual" practices. Our research and suggestions for the mitigation of the negative externalities arising from Tropex's "Business as Usual" practices provided a structured plan for Tropex to ultimately reduce their negative environmental impacts while providing positive economic benefits. Results from the study led us to conclude that the alternate, more environmentally friendly practices we were advocating not only increase fuel efficiency by more than 40% but also substantially reduce emissions as well as fuel costs; and reduces the potable water usage and purchasing to a negligible amount. Our research also suggested methods by which Tropex can reduce it's impact on the Florida Aquifer and aquifer reliant ecosystems. Our energy audit serves as an example that business needs can be met while also maintaining business practices that are sensitive to energy conservation and ecological priorities.