Corporate social responsibility (CSR) became popular during the 1980’s and has continued to remain a pillar of corporate structure. Gulf Coast Environmental Systems (GCES) serves as an integral part of many organizations with pollution control as a component of their CSR policy. In this article we will review how to develop a CSR, the advantages and disadvantages of publishing a CSR policy and how to effectively communicate your organizations CSR to improve community relations and public perceptions.
The Value of Carbon Dioxide
What is Carbon Dioxide?
Carbon Dioxide is one of the most commonly found gases on earth. Its chemical formula is CO2, meaning it is comprised of one carbon atom covalently double bounded two oxygen atoms. CO2 is incombustible, colorless, and in the typical exposure concentrations, odorless gas, that is also water soluble. Carbon dioxide is the result of oxidization of carbon.
Where is Carbon Dioxide Found?
Carbon dioxide comes from both natural and anthropogenic sources, and is necessary for all living things.
Natural: Carbon dioxide is a naturally occurring compound, that is released when living organisms respire or decompose. Carbon dioxide is also naturally released into the atmosphere by the oceans, volcanos, forest fires, and carbonate rocks. Natural sources, like these, produce more carbon dioxide than anthropogenic sources.
Anthropogenic: The sources of CO2 that get the most attention are anthropogenic, meaning human-initiated or created. These sources are a part of everyday life for most people, and are unavoidable in most cases. These human activities include transportation, power and heat generation, chemical and petrochemical production and use, fossil fuel use, manufacturing, agriculture, food production, etc… The carbon dioxide produced by the harvesting and use of fossil fuels gets the most attention as a contributor to climate change. Recently, the oil and gas industries have started taking significant steps to curb their CO2 emissions. [Read more…]
Ethylene Oxide
What is Ethylene Oxide? 
Ethylene Oxide is a Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) with the chemical formula of C2H4O. Ethylene Oxide is colorless gas that has a slightly sweet odor; this odor is particularly noticeable when concentration in the air meets or exceeds 500ppm. This gas is highly flammable and carries a plethora of health risks. Ethylene oxide is water soluble and is highly reactive with many acidic and alkaline compounds. Because of this, Ethylene Oxide is commonly used in the creation of dozens of industrial and sterilization chemicals.
Where is Ethylene Oxide Found?
Though first identified in 1859 by a chemist in Germany, Ethylene Oxide made its commercial debut in 1914 when BASF opened a facility that used what is now considered an inefficient process to create the compound known as the chlorohydrin process. The process has since evolved to become safer, and more efficient making Ethylene Oxide the most commonly used industrial chemical on the planet. [Read more…]
Clean Minds: Welcome, Mike Hornsby!
Gulf Coast Environmental Systems is excited to welcome Mr. Mike Hornsby. Mr. Hornsby is a Controls Engineer and PLC Programmer, who recently moved from Indiana, to join our control panel team, with his wife, Tina. With nearly twenty-five-years of experience, he has worked in facilities across the globe, from Canada to Vietnam, and GCES is thrilled to have him onboard.
Mr. Hornsby received his BS in Electronics and Electrical Engineering from Purdue University in 1996, and has since worked with some of the biggest names in the business, from Johnson controls to Maxon Corporation. He started working with PLCs and interpretation in 2000, after a friend of his introduced him to it. He prides himself on staying up to date on any changes in the field, including NFPA updates. Mr. Hornsby says he is drawn to this field because “things are never the same, there are always new things to do and learn.” [Read more…]
Emerging Contaminants
Emerging Contaminants
The EPA lists 187 different chemicals and compounds as hazardous air pollutants (HAPS). These are compounds that’s emissions are regulated, and must be partially or fully destroyed from any exhaust stream, prior to being released in the atmosphere. These compounds are generally rather well known in the pollution control world, and there are established best practices for the handling of them. However, there is a new list of pollutants that is starting to garner attention from regulatory agencies; these are called “Emerging Contaminants.”
Emerging contaminants, also known as contaminants of emerging concern, have been identified in bodies of water, and are believed to negatively affect human health. The EPA is currently monitoring the following contaminants, all of which are the result of the manufacturing, use, or improper disposal of common products, medications, and chemicals: [Read more…]
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