San Fran's new EV chargers are solar-powered, and free!

(Hopefully this will catch on across the country!)

 

Charge Across Town is cutting carbon emissions with mobile charging. Just respect the two-hour limit.

Jim Motavalli

Apr 29, 2015

 

Charging a Chevy Volt on free electricity from one of Charge Across Town's free — and portable — solar chargers. (Photo: Charge Across Town)

The best place in the world to own an electric car is probably California, with a tie between San Francisco, San Diego and Los Angeles. Well, the city by the bay just got a big boost from something new: free solar-powered EV charging.

 

A nonprofit called Charge Across Town (CAT), looking to reduce carbon emissions in the Bay Area, has launched its “Driving on Sunshine” campaign. The plan is to increase awareness of both electric cars and solar with free electrons from three portable Envision EV ARC stations that will be strategically placed through 2015 at nine heavily trafficked locations around the city. Right now you can find them in the Mission District, at the Embarcadero, and the Stonestown Galleria Mall.

 

Carlie Guilfoile beams at the opening of the Charge Across Town free solar stations. (Photo: Charge Across Town)

 

Freeloaders will have a two-hour charging limit, says Maureen Blanc, director of Charge Across Town. She told me that CAT is “going on trust” that people will disconnect after their allotted time. Two hours on a 240-volt Level II charger should provide enough juice for 10 to 15 “e-miles,” she said. It’s hoped that four to six cars per day can charge at the stations.

 

Envision’s ARC stations cost $45,000 each, but CAT is leasing them through a grant from the 11th Hour Project. After the experiment is over in 2016, they’ll find a permanent home at the locations that got the most traffic.

 

Charge's Maureen Blanc: "You'd be surprised" how many people still don't get it in EV-heavy San Francisco. (Photo: Charge Across Town)

 

One could ask, why San Francisco? The city is not exactly starved for EV charging, or for solar installations. Awareness of both technologies would seem to be high among residents. Visit the Plugshare app here, enter the city’s name, and you’ll see dozens, if not hundreds of public stations, many of them offering free electricity, in San Francisco. Is there a need?

 

“You’d be surprised,” Blanc told me. “A lot of people are still pretty unaware. There’s still a lot of questions here about moving from fossil fuels to electric cars.”

 

Also worth noting is that PG&E, which serves central and northern California, is poised to install roughly 25,000 EV chargers in the coverage area over the next five years. The hosts won’t pay a dime for them.

 

And, of course, you can argue that San Francisco is, well, where the cars are. There are more than 60,000 plug-in cars in PG&E’s service territory, 20 percent of all those in the country, so it’s unlikely that these three new solar-powered units will sit idle.

 

The opinions expressed by MNN Bloggers and those providing comments are theirs alone, and do not reflect the opinions of MNN.com. While we have reviewed their content to make sure it complies with our Terms and Conditions, MNN is not responsible for the accuracy of any of their information.

Read more: http://www.mnn.com/green-tech/transportation/blogs/san-frans-new-ev-chargers-are-solar-powered-and-free#ixzz3ZvlwI1Nq

 

 

 

 

The Future of Plant Conservation in South Florida - Panel Discussion This Wednesday

The Ghost Orchid, Polyradicion lindenii, is perhaps the most famous rare and valued south Florida native plant, thanks to a novel, a movie, and some true stories, too. Native plant botanists and enthusiasts often have other favorites, too. Does admiration save plants or cause their extinction through poaching? What are the current threats to the 25% of south Florida species currently in peril and to their ecosystems. Learn what we can unite around and accomplish.

Don't miss our premiere conservation panel event this Wednesday, May 13 at 7:00 pm. See details below.
 

 

The Future of Plant Conservation: A Panel
WEDNESDAY, MAY 13, 7 pm
Secret Woods Nature Center, 2701 Florida (W. State Rd.) 84, Dania Beach, FL 33312
 

This is it! Finally, an opportunity to hear what a few experts in South Florida know about the current status of plants in the wild, the ecosystems, recent trends and changes in the environment, and what they think are some of the conservation priorities we face. We don't often have the opportunity to get this broad view from the people who are likely to understand it best. Bring friends and colleagues who share your concerns about the environment right here, right now, in South Florida.

 

 

 

How walking in the woods benefits your health

Photo: Nataliia Dvukhimenna/Shutterstock

 

Walking among trees makes us more relaxed, nicer people.

It should come as no surprise by now that walking among trees has health benefits. Shinrin-yoku or "forest bathing" is a practice in Japan, where people are encouraged to visit and spend time in a forest to improve their health.

 

"[S]tudies have confirmed that spending time within a forest setting can reduce psychological stress, depressive symptoms, and hostility, while at the same time improving sleep and increasing both vigor and a feeling of liveliness," reports Mother Earth News. "These subjective changes match up nicely with objective results reported in nearly a dozen studies involving 24 forests—lower levels of cortisol and lower blood pressure and pulse rate."

 

Just the smell of trees has health benefits. "Chemicals secreted by trees, known as phytoncides, have been linked with improved immune defense as well as a reduction in anxiety and increase in pain threshold," reports Slate in an article on the health benefits of nature. Studies have also shown that children with ADHD who play in a green outdoor environment, rather than an indoor or constructed environment, show a decrease in their symptoms. Even just living around more trees means a healthier overall mental state. A recent study showed that Londoners who live near trees take fewer antidepressants.

 

Of course, being in a forest also means there's a certain amount of exercise going on. Exercise is a proven solution for many ailments including fatigue, depression, anxiety and of course obesity. Combining the benefits of movement with the benefits of a forest setting is an extra-strong prescription for many health issues.

 

If there is one good thing you're going to do for yourself today, perhaps it should be heading out the door to go take a walk in a forest or a tree-lined park.

 

Jaymi Heimbuch is a writer and photographer at Mother Nature Network. Follow her on Twitter, Google+ and Facebook.

Read more: http://www.mnn.com/health/fitness-well-being/blogs/how-walking-in-the-woods-benefits-your-health#ixzz3ZpSkETI8

 

 

 

 

What to do if you find a baby bird out of the nest

 

Most bird species nest during the spring and summer seasons. Concerned citizens may find baby birds out of the nest and wonder what to do. Instinctually, most people want to help but adopting the baby bird. This can do more harm than good in some situations. Read the following tips to ensure the baby bird gets the best possible care.

First, determine if the bird is injured. If it is bleeding or has been attacked or shows other signs of trauma or illness, contact your local wildlife rehabilitator for more assistance.

If the bird does not seem to be injured or sick, read through the following tips to either leave the baby bird alone, or to provide care.

If you find a naked or down-covered baby bird without feathers (nestling), it should be returned to the nest. Birds have a poor sense of smell and the parents will not reject the baby if you touch it. Leave it alone in the nest, as the parents may not return if a human is nearby.

If you cannot find the nest, you can make a substitute. A substitute nest could be a small basket or berry container lined with soft material, like tissue. Tie it to a tree, place the nestling in the nest, and leave it alone. Watch from a distance. Most likely, the parents are aware of your presence and may wait a few hours before approaching the nestling.

A baby bird with fully formed feathers that is out of the nest (fledgling) should be left alone. Many species (including robins, scrub jays, crows and owls) spend a few days on the ground. It is common behavior for fledglings to hop around on the ground as they learn to fly. Their parents continue to feed them during this critical phase of development, and they learn skills to survive. Please leave fledglings be and help keep them safe from pets and interference with humans.

You may move the bird to a nearby bush to protect and hide it from potential predators if the area is not safe. However, you want to make sure you are not separating the young from their parents even more.

• Try to keep pets indoors.
• Participate in the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s NestWatch, a citizen science project gathering information about North America’s nesting birds.

Keep in mind that in most states, it’s against the law to keep wild animals if you don’t have permits. Raising wild birds in captivity is always a last resort.

Here is a helpful guide from Bird and Moon:

Another good decision map: http://www.nwrawildlife.org/sites/default/files/FoundBird.pdf

 

http://www.nwf.org/Wildlife/Threats-to-Wildlife/Baby-Birds.aspx?utm_content=buffer4f4a0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer 

 

 

 

 

Grow your own tree on your smartphone!

 

Tree Story Kicks Off With Tree Planting on Earth Day

Washington, DC (April 22, 2015) — On Earth Day, ZigZagZoom launched Tree Story. The mobile game chronicles the life of a virtual tree, from seedling to treeling. Once the tree is fully grown, it’s planted in the real world. Accompanying the launch of the game Alliance for Community Trees, alongside Anacostia Watershed Society and other partners, planted an understory at Yu Ying Charter School in Northeast Washington, DC.

Tree Story, available on the iTunes App Store, is the first mobile game from Zig Zag Zoom, a company dedicated to engaging mobile gamers to have fun and do good. Supporting this mission, the company launched Tree Story, where nurturing “virtual pet” trees results in planting Real Trees.

“Our game is the perfect blend of having fun, feeling good and doing good,” says Thomas Kang, CEO of Zig Zag Zoom. “We are excited to be launching our first game to show that playing mobile games can literally change the world. We make it easy and fun in Tree Story.”

In this “virtual pet” game for your smartphone, players nurture tree seedlings with water, sun, food and love to grow them into fully grown trees — all while playing action and puzzle games. Once grown, the virtual trees are sent to virtual forests and then finally expert tree-planting partners who will turn virtual trees into real trees ready for planting. Watch the Tree Story trailer, with voice over from Ed Begley, Jr.

Trees will be planted by the U.S. Forest Service, Alliance for Community Trees, the Arbor Day Foundation, Project Learning Tree, and The Nature Conservancy. These tree plantings will help reforest areas affected by wildfires, repopulate endangered tree species, create more habitat for animals and birds, and improve and beautify schools and neighborhoods.

http://actrees.org/news/trees-in-the-news/newsroom/tree-story-kicks-off-with-tree-planting-on-earth-day/

 

 

 

 

Sweden Runs Out Of Garbage: Only 1% Ends Up In Landfills

November 26, 2014 by Alanna Ketler

 

 

Something incredible has been taking place in Sweden over the past several years, somewhat of a “recycling revolution,” if you will. Currently less than one percent of the garbage produced in Swedish homes ends up in the landfill today, with the other ninety-nine percent being recycled or composted.

Sweden has been known for years now for the amazing and resourceful waste management system that they have had in place for some time. They have 32 waste-to-energy (WTE) plants and this burned waste powers 20 percent of Sweden’s district heating as well as electricity for about 250,000 Swedish homes.

In fact, Sweden has become so good at recycling their waste; the country now has to import 800,000 tons of trash each year from the U.K., Italy, Ireland and Norway to keep their WTE plants up and running.

According to Swedish Waste Management communications director Anna-Carin Gripwell, “Waste today is a commodity in a different way than it has been. It’s not only waste, it’s a business.”

This is pretty impressive especially when compared to Americans who recycled just thirty-four percent of their waste in 2010 and according to the Environmental Protection Agency more than fifty percent of the average U.S. household waste ended up in landfills, this is about 136 million tons of garbage in total. According to the New York Times there are some trash burning facilities in the United States, but only a small portion of the waste is burned, and most of that burned waste ends up in landfills anyways.

What About The Environmental Effects?

Of course there is some controversy over this method of waste management and energy production. There are fumes that are produced that are toxic, but many argue that this is still a much better alternative to the typical landfills that we see more often in America. On average, more than forty percent of the world’s trash is burned and mostly in open air, this is much different from the regulated, low-emission process that has been adopted by Sweden. This makes Sweden’s method a lot more eco-friendly.

It is unfortunate that at this time the options are to either pollute the air, or pollute the Earth because we are producing so much garbage and it doesn’t just simply disappear without leaving its mark. It doesn’t look like manufacturers are going to stop making products that can’t be recycled anytime soon, so it is up to us to be more conscious with what we are consuming. We need to stop the problem at the source.

How Can We All Be A Bit More Like The Swedish? 

Sweden is an excellent example of a nation of citizens that care for their environment and their ecological footprint. If the Swedish are able to recycle 99% of their waste, why can’t we? Well we certainly can, however it does take a bit more effort. I believe that it is truly worth the effort, soon it will become so natural to us that it won’t even feel effortful, we just have to start taking that step!

There are many people now that are striving to produce zero or at least very minimal waste. You can read one of those stories here, check out the supermarket in Germany that produces zero waste here and read about the American restaurant that managed to not produce any waste in two years and counting here to get inspired on how you to can begin to implement a minimal waste, minimal footprint lifestyle.

 

http://www.collective-evolution.com/2014/11/26/sweden-runs-out-of-garbage-only-1-ends-up-in-landfills/

 

 

 

 

 

Give living plants for Mother's Day

Mother's Day is this Sunday and maybe there are a few of you that haven't bought or sent flowers yet.  Well, you better get busy and do it soon!  Please consider giving a living plant instead of cut flowers.  Most florists offer a living plant alternative.  You just need to look beyond the "Mother's Day rose bouquet specials".

Living plants have many advantages:

• First, they last longer.  Even if it's a houseplant, it will last for years and remind mom of just how thoughtful you are!  Cut flowers won't last more than a couple of weeks. 
• They will keep mom healthier by cleaning the air.  7 Best Air Cleaning Plants Indoor Plants and Indoor Air Quality
• If mom is local, you can purchase plants at a local nursery.  Not only will this save you money and get a plant that will grow well in your location, you are supporting local businesses. 
• Buying a plant that goes into your mom's landscape will provide beauty for all to see.  A beautiful rose bush can become something for your mom to brag about to other moms. 
• Finally, living plants give back to "Mother Earth."

Happy Mother's Day!