Viridescence - be green!

Travel increases during the holiday seasons. During the Christmas season, traveling long-distance by vehicle increases by fifty percent and tens of millions of passengers will travel by air. This extra travel equals an increase in carbon emissions and an increase in waste all and all the holiday season is not a good time for the environment. There are steps you can take to reduce your carbon emissions and energy use this Christmas season. Road Travel If you are traveling on the roads this holiday season there are ways you can reduce your carbon-footprint. Empty your car after all driving trips – an extra 100 pounds can increase your gas cost up to $0.08 per gallon Carpool or take public transportation Go easy on the gas pedal and brakes Maintain your vehicle before you go Oil change Tire pressure Don’t let your vehicle idle – now that the weather is cold it is more tempting to keep the vehicle idling to keep warm. This wastes fuel, increase carbon emissions, a...

“One person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” John F. Kennedy It is easy to think that what you do on a daily basis does not matter or make a difference; this is not true. Every small act matters and can make a difference. Even if you cannot recycle every piece of debris, recycle what you can when you can – it matters. Even if you forget to turn off the lights and television when you leave the house – do it when you do remember – it matters. Even if you throw away a container you could have reused – don’t fret and give up – just do it when you remember. The more we practice resource conservation, the easier and more natural it becomes. “In this life we cannot always do great things. But we can do small things with great love.” Mother Teresa Reduce, reuse, recycle…we’ve heard it before. Do it when you can! And spread the word. Word of mouth is a powerful tool. Let others know that you do what you can when you can to conserve resources. Maybe your famil...

Storm water is water and snow melt that does not soak into the ground. Storm water eventually runs off into the waterways. The flowing water picks up pollution off rooftops, paved areas and lawns. Pollution can include pesticides, fertilizers, motor oil, sediment, litter, and animal waste to name a few. The Problem Storm water and ditches drain into streams and rivers carrying the pollutants with it. Storm water polluted with fertilizers and excessive nitrogen damage the quality of rivers, lakes, and wetlands by introducing excessive nitrogen, which promotes algae overgrown and depletes oxygen. Pesticides, herbicides, and automotive toxins harm water quality and aquatic life. Additionally, animal waste has bacteria that when washed into the storm water can make rivers and lakes unsafe for swimming and fish consumption. The Solution When possible, buy household products labeled “nontoxic”. Clean water-based paints in sinks that go to the sewer system. For oil-base...

This Halloween take your decorations to the next level by upcycling materials. Upcycling is a way to turn rubbish into treasure. This is a great way to reduce the amount of materials that enter the landfill. In 2013, 254 million tons of trash were generated by Americans. [ 1 ] That is a lot of municipal waste! When creating upcycled decorations, use recycled or reused materials. Also, make sure to recycle or store your Halloween creations. Do your part to reduce, reuse, and recycle. 1. Ceiling Fan Blade Ghosts For this project, simply paint the ceiling fan white and paint black spooky eyes. (Source: sadieseasongoods.com) 2. Spooky Glowing Eyes This project is easy and fun for the kids. Simply take an empty toilet paper roll and cut out spooky eyes. Finally push several glow sticks into the toilet paper roll and voila - you have a pair of spooky glowing eyes.  (Source: rustsunshine.blogspot.com) 3. Haunted Faces and Jack-o-lanterns There are several contain...

Picture Credit: N.O.A.A. Marine reserves are a crucial component in protecting global fisheries and ensuring a healthy ecosystem. Productivity and species diversity are often used to measure the health of an ecosystem and it is exactly these components that are declining in many coastal habitats. [1] A marine reserve is an area of ocean that is completely protected from any and all extraction activities (i.e. fishing, netting). This protection from extraction activities makes marine reserves a useful tool for ecosystem-based management because habitat alternation ends allowing for the recovery of several species populations at the same time. [2] Community outreach is an excellent way for resource managers to hear and consider the concerns of the local citizens affected by marine reserves as well as for citizens to learn about the benefits and importance of marine reserves. Marine reserves are a useful tool to learn more about ocean resources and protect them for future...

We (humans and wildlife) all live on the same planet and share natural resources. We all breathe the same air, drink the same water, and eat food grown in shared soils. Essentially, we are all connected to each other and dependent on the same resources. Therefore, we should all consider the Earth and its environment our home. We should feel connected to the resources we use and depend on instead of disconnected like the majority of us feel. If we begin to view the environment as our home, we may be more incline to keep it clean and thriving. Often we feel disconnected from the environment around us. We buy food from the store instead of working the land ourselves. We turn on the tap for clean water taking for granted that 783 million people worldwide do not have access to clean and safe water (Water Project, 2016). A more sobering fact is that in 2014 1.6 million Americans reported not having access to running water, a toilet or a tub/shower (Riggs, 2018). Let us not take for gran...

According to the EPA 1 , in 2015, the United States generated 34.5 million tons of plastic waste. Unfortunately, Americans did not recycle most of this plastic waste. Only 9.1% of plastic was recycled in 2015 with 26 million tons entering the landfill. 2 Let us take control of our plastic waste by using durable, reusable, eco-friendly products. GLASS STRAW Replace disposable plastic straws with reusable glass straws. Look for one that is durable, reusable, and eco-friendly. Select a glass straw that is BPA Free, Non-Porous and Hypo-Allergenic. Also, make sure that it is approved for both hot and cold beverages. An example is the straight classic glass straw by  Simply Straws . STAINLESS STEEL STRAW If you are concerned about breaking a glass straw then the stainless steel straw is a good alternative to the disposable plastic straws. Look for one that is food grade and constructed with 18/8 stainless steel. An example is the 5-piece stainless steel straw set ...

Ecotourism is more than a style of vacation. Ecotourism is nature-based travel that empowers local communities, conserves natural resources, is sustainable, and supports conservation efforts. Ecotourism destinations are natural environments , sometimes with threatened biodiversity or wildlife, in which one enjoys the spender of nature. Although all ecotourist have a strong environmental commitment there are several key differences, which separates them into two groups: hard-ecotourist and soft-ecotourist. Do you prefer small groups, seek physical activity and challenge, do not require services (restaurant, hotel, public toilet), and interact deeply with nature? Then you are considered a hard-ecotourist. Do you prefer guided walking tours, bus and train tours, require services, and desire less interact with nature? Then you are considered a soft-ecotourist. Of course, it is possible to be a blend of both types. One thing hard-ecotourists need over soft-ecotourists is knowledge of...

Your carbon footprint is the amount of carbon dioxide emitted into the atmosphere from your consumption of fossil fuels. Consumption of fossil fuels does not only refer to how much fuel you use when you drive or fly, it also refers to how much electricity you use and how much stuff you buy even how often you eat dinner out. Use a free online carbon footprint calculator to measure your footprint. Then take steps to reduce your footprint! https://www3.epa.gov/carbon-footprint-calculator/ https://www.carbonfootprint.com/calculator.aspx https://www.nature.org/greenliving/carboncalculator/index.htm Help combat climate change by reducing you carbon footprint. Picture credit: NASA

Wildlife live in the places we love to visit like the national forests, national parks, and nature reserves. During our visit to their home, we need to be  respectful of their space and eating habits, so as to protect wildlife from disease and protect you from physical harm. Whether you are camping, hiking, boating, or picnicking, it is extremely important that you NEVER FEED WILDLIFE. This is important for several reasons: 1. Wildlife gets accustom to receiving food from humans and begins to expect it. This can cause wildlife to be aggressive and sometimes violent. 2. It is harmful to the animals’ digestive system. 3. Interrupts wildfowl migration cycle  4. Keep Wildlife Wild – do not feed them! When camping…. Avoid attracting wildlife to your campsite by following these tips: 1. Keep food in airtight containers 2. Keep food out of reach of wildlife – keep locked up in vehicle 3. Do not feed wildlife! 4. Keep food out of your tent While wildlife ...

The Western U.S. use to have “fire seasons” now the West has “fire years” according to Vicki Christiansen, Chief of the Forest Service because wildfires now burn year around in the West. Keep your family and property safe by understanding wildfires and how to create a fire-retardant environment. Factors that contribute to disastrous wildfires include: 1. Uneven amounts of rain from year to year – during a rainy year, the understory vegetation grows dense. If the following year is a dry year, the dense vegetation dies and become fuel for fires. 2. Freezing weather will kill the vegetation turning into fire fuel. 3. Urban growth – building communities and houses in fire prone areas increases the available fuel 4. Wind – dry winds and/or fast winds help spread wildfires 5. Excessive fuel – reduced funding to the Forest Service has hindered their ability to maintain the amount of dense under-story growth in forests. Current policy prevents the use of prescr...

You can plant a pollinator garden anywhere – your yard, in pots on your patio, school, work, community gardens or churches. A garden filled with native plants will attract butterflies, bees and other pollinators and provide them with nectar while they in turn pollinate our fruits, vegetables, trees and flowers. Research What varieties of wildflowers and milkweed are native to your region? Don’t know! That is okay because the Xerces Society has compiled a list of regional native plants . It is best to purchase seeds from a local source because this will ensure the seeds you get are acclimated to your climate and resistant to disease in your area. If you are unsure of where to buy local seeds, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas in Austin has a directory of national seed supplies . Supplies Garden bed, raised bed, or flower pots   Garden tools (hoe, shovel, hand shovel)   Nutrient-rich soil    Mulch   Native pl...

Air travel is one of the top ten causes of excessive greenhouse gas emissions. The emissions generated by air travel account for about five percent of the total warming effect. [1]   Twelve thousand thirteen cubic miles of polluted air is created by the airline industry each year, which is equivalent to a 4-inch thick layer of unbreathable air covering the entire Earth’s surface. [2] The warming effect and environmental impact of one round-trip flight from San Francisco to New York is equivalent to 2 or 3 tons of carbon dioxide per person. [3] To put this in perspective, the average American generates about 19 tons of carbon dioxide per year. [4] So, if you travel by air then consider buying a carbon offset to offset the carbon emissions produced by your travel. What are carbon offset? Carbon offsets are voluntarily purchased by individuals and companies that want to reduce their carbon footprint. A carbon offset (or carbon credit) is equal to one metric ton of carbon ...