It’s grilling season and here’s a few pointers to make your grilling a little greener!
Green BBQ
12. Buy organic fruits and vegetables for the Dirty Dozen
Monday, June 17, 2013
Green BBQ
It’s grilling season and here’s a few pointers to make your grilling a little greener!
Green BBQ
Friday, June 14, 2013
Wednesday, June 12, 2013
Thinking of Going Solar?
Are you looking for more sustainable energy sources to use in the home? Solar power is a viable way to reduce your carbon foot print and your monthly energy bills! So, how does one get started? Follow these simple steps on how to go solar. Whether you live in an apartment or a sprawling mansion, there is something for every budding environmentalist.
What is solar energy?
According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency, solar energy is defined as the use of the sun as fuel to create heat or electricity. Solar energy is deemed renewable and environmentally sound since the sun will always shine and there is no need to burn fossil fuels to harness it. However, since the sun is not always available as on rainy days or at night, it is called an intermittent source of energy.
Learn about solar energy
How is it harnessed? Go to The US Department of Energy to learn all about energy sources-including solar energy. You can peruse the information on the latest projects and initiatives going on around the United States in regards to sustainable energy. There is an excellent section on resources and links for more information
Conduct an energy audit
Second step is to find out how you can save energy in general. You can hire a contractor or learn more about energy saving tips for appliances and such in the home. Once you’ve shaved off some kilowatts of power, you can then assess how much energy you’d need powered by solar energy. These calculations would help you determine the use of solar panels and other devices in the home.
Decide the proper size and location
This is where you determine what is best for your situation. There are roof top solar panels that receive the most direct sunlight and therefore harness the most power or other options, such as stand-alone units for the back yard.
Speak to a professional
Find a qualified contractor who is part of a local affiliation, such as the Better Business Bureau, licensed and legitimate and preferably part of the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners. They will help you figure out the installation plan for your home.
Budgetary concerns
If you want to do something but don’t have the budget for a large undertaking, check out these inexpensive ideas for a do it yourself solar kit for $600. Or read this interesting blog from someone harnessing solar power in their own apartment using a windowsill! The Build It Solar website is for the tried and true do-it-your-selfer.
Financial Incentives
There are numerous financial incentives and programs put forth by government agencies. Check your state for local programs that will save you money and help you through the process of using solar energy. The Community Environmental Council has resources and information on how to tap into the financial support. You can also read about how the CEC is helping to “solarize” different states.
Armed with this information you can decide whether you’d like to go full tilt into alternative energy sourcing or whether you’d like to experiment a few kilowatts at a time.
(Eleanor Healy is a writer with a passion for holistic health. As a Registered Holistic Nutritionist (RHN), Reiki Master/Teacher and former Child and Youth Care worker)
Friday, June 7, 2013
Friday Funny
I’m going to have to do some research to get the full impact of some of these jokes but a few of them are pretty funny and I can relate to them! - Gene
Green humor
As I believe I’ve mentioned, environmentalism is never funny. Environmentalists, however, are the source of endless amusement. To wit: here’s a set of jokes that’s been making the eco-rounds:
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at a Sierra Club meeting?
Five to talk about in committee, one to argue that we shouldn’t be wasting the electricity, and one to screw the thing in!
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at Greenpeace?
Four to hang a banner at the General Electric plant, one to screw in the bulb made from recycled ketchup bottles.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at a PIRG office?
One, but you have to buy your own light bulb and get the ladder donated.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at Union of Concerned Scientists?
Forget the bulb, let’s get a new lamp and give the old one to the PIRG office.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at the Nature Conservancy?
How many does Chevron think it should take?
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at the Audubon Society?
Actually we’ve found birds fly into light bulbs and get cut on the broken glass, so we prefer candles.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at League of Conservation Voters?
Both Democrats and Republicans can screw in light bulbs, but Lincoln Chafee is the only Republican who ever does.
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How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at the SEAC office?
One woman screwing in a black light.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at NRDC?
If you want the light bulb to appeal to middle aged women, Robert Redford will do it; if you want the light bulb to appeal to youth, Leonardo DiCaprio will do it; if you want a really expensive light bulb, Laurie David will do it.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at Defenders of Wildlife?
One, but after striking a compromise with Richard Pombo, it’ll only be a 10 watt bulb.
—–
How many people does it take to screw in a light bulb at Green Corps?
Don’t ask questions, just screw in 400 light bulbs by the end of the week.
http://grist.org/article/green-humor/
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Tree Thursday - Firebush
Firebush
Hamelia patens
Okay, technically not a tree but firebush can grow to be the size of a small tree. I have one in my backyard that is about 14 feet tall and has a 6 inch trunk (see photos below). I’m even able to hang orchids in it. Firebush provides color year-round and if you want zebra butterflies in your yard there is no better plant. It is suppose to be good for hummingbirds, too, but I’ve only seen one around mine in the last 10 years. Firebush is native to Central and South Florida. In South Florida, when we have that rare cold night, firebush will defoliate but soon flushes back out. Branches will break during strong wind storms but even then, the plant recovers very quickly.
There are dwarf varieties (photo 5) that grow well in South Florida, also. There is the fear that the non-native dwarf firebush has cross-pollinated with the native firebush to create a new variety. I do know I have many volunteer plants from both varieties in my backyard. Firebush is easy to grow and requires very little care. It is a wonderful addition to any landscape. It can be maintained as a specimen tree or shrub or even sheared as a hedge.
Growth Rate – Fast
Salt Tolerance – Medium
Drought Tolerance – High
Photos from top left to right – Native firebush, flowers and stems, trunk, branches and Dwarf firebush . Photos taken June 6, 2013.
Gene Dempsey, City Forester
Office of Sustainability
Office - (954) 828-5785 Fax - (954) 828-4745
Tuesday, June 4, 2013
7 Green Things Our Grandparents Did
Green wisdom
Our grandparents (or great-grandparents) — children of the Great Depression — could teach us a thing or two about going green on a budget. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without," recalled one elderly woman when asked about what she learned as a child during the Great Depression.
Their carbon footprint was uber-small — they used less water, less fuel, created less waste and imported fewer goods than we do. They took these actions out of necessity as opposed to our modern-day desire to help the planet, but the ecological impact is just as powerful.
Here are seven lessons we can borrow from our elders that are easy on the wallet, and have significant environmental impact. Perhaps more importantly, they are easy to implement and relevant to our modern lifestyles — no extolling the virtues of riding a horse to work! (Text: Heather Gunther)
Kick the bottle
“Why in the world would I pay money for water in a bottle when there is perfectly good water coming out of my kitchen tap ... for free?” I can just hear my late grandfather, whose frugality was legendary in my family, asking that question with confused sincerity.
Let it all hang it out
Before the clothes dryer became a standard appliance in every American household, your grandmother simply took advantage of a sunny day, some rope or cord, clothespins, and voila! No cost, no maintenance, no carbon footprint. Clothes dryers have come a long way in energy efficiency over recent years, but the average home clothes dryer has a carbon footprint of about 4.4 lbs. of carbon dioxide per load of laundry. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, “the biggest way to cut the environmental impact of cleaning clothes is to stop using a clothes dryer.”
Grow local
Last spring, the Obama family's decision to plant a kitchen garden at the White House garnered so much attention that you would have thought it was an off-the-wall publicity stunt. But the house garden concept has been around for many years, and local food had a reserved spot on our grandparents' menu. The benefits of growing your own fruits and veggies are numerous, and you can't get more local than your own backyard.
'Rain, rain, don’t go away'
Here's another commonsense green lesson to take away from our grandparents' time. Rain is free. We pay for water. Why not collect free rainwater and slash the water bill? A rain barrel will save most homeowners about 1,300 gallons of water during the peak summer months. Also, diverting water from storm drains can alleviate stressed water systems and conserve limited resources, especially if you live in an arid climate. For an easy primer on rain barrels and how to make your own, check this out.
Brown bag it
Eating out used to be an occasional event for older generations, often reserved for birthdays or anniversaries. Nowadays, the average American eats out about four times a week and spends nearly $3,000 yearly in take-out food, according to Restaurant.org. The waste created by take-out packaging alone is enough to make you think twice, but when you factor in the money you can save by eating at home or by bringing your own lunch to work or school — in a reusable container, of course — you can see why your grandma eschewed eating out on a regular basis.
Game time
When our grandparents were younger, playing card games or board games was a popular form of entertainment. As a little girl, I remember spending hours playing gin rummy in my grandmother's kitchen, with my handful of cards tucked in an aluminum foil box because I couldn't hold all my cards. In comparison to electronic gaming systems like Wii, Nintendo or Xbox, cards and board games provided hours of entertainment with little on the environment or the wallet.
Buy less
Anytime you buy something, you (and the environment) are paying way more for it than just the sticker price. There is the cost of resources used to make it, advertise it, transport it, maintain it, and inevitably, to dispose of it. The amount of stuff our grandparents bought on a regular basis pales in comparison to the overindulgent spending habits of our generation.
Monday, June 3, 2013
Green Hotels
Green Initiatives In Hotels Create Superior Stays
Summer time is vacation time for many of us. As you are making your reservations, it would be worth your while to see if there are any green hotels in the area at your destination. Green hotels are usually the same price as non-green hotels but you can feel better about staying there! Green America Program is one organization working towards an environmentally sustainable society by collectively demanding an end to corporate thoughtlessness and irresponsibility. Hotels, with their economic buying power and community-like atmosphere, are increasingly adopting the initiatives of green programs. Green America Program clients are open to new ideas and eager to gain the advantages offered by using green technology.
The Ritz-Carlton Hotel in North Carolina routinely operates with eco-friendly practices. The hotel conserves precious water resources by using low flowing toilets and showerheads. A linen reuse policy further reduces water consumption. Additionally, those same linens come from recycled materials. The hotel also extends an opportunity to be green to their guests by offering bikes for local transportation and free valet parking for hybrid and electric vehicles. The seamless integration of eco-friendly advances within the hotel has earned them the LEED Gold certification (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) for the healthy living environment within the hotel. As well as it’s reduced environmental impact. The cherry on top of this hotel is actually a roof garden with more than 60,000 honeybees. Not only are these bees necessary for pollination, but they also produce the honey used to make tasty treats in the facility's kitchens.
Another green hotel resides in the western part of the U.S. The Palazzo Hotel & Resort in Las Vegas is the largest structure in the United States with LEED certification. Named the "Most Eco-Friendly Hotel in America," it uses the best practices counseled by organizations such as Eco-Innovation-Europe and the Green America Program. Solar panels provide heat and efficient water and waste-recycling process dramatically reduces consumption. Each year, more than 41.6 million gallons of water are conserved. The use of environmentally sound paints, sealants, and adhesives creates a healthier interior.
In addition to these green facilities, green programs and initiatives exist throughout the world. Eco-Innovation-Europe enables exciting green research ideas to enter the market. Rapid commercialization of products, processes, and services engineered to protect the environment is the goal of this group. This initiative boosts environmentally sound business practices while spurring economic growth. A product or service that reduces CO2 emissions, promotes recycling efforts, or uses resources efficiently is eligible for assistance. The focus is on helping business adopt green practices, distributing and treating water resources more efficiently, increasing the amount of recycling by upgrades to the recycling process, supporting sustainable building products, and working with producers of food and drink.
Building with sustainable practices makes sense for the world and the bottom-line. Green Las Vegas hotels are especially thriving due to lowered operating costs and the welcoming environment a sustainable hotel creates. It is important for other businesses to continue to follow suit.
For more articles like these, check out http://fmarquitv.tumblr.com/
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