Here’s another reason to buy second-hand or used; to avoid the new-car toxicity. What you’re smelling is off-gassing. Tell car makers to stop making cars that poison you.
Don’t Berate the Bat
January 10, 2012 By 1 Comment
Photo courtesy of CDC
Bats have a bad reputation. Most of these image issues come from misinformation and misunderstanding. Many people think of bats as blood-sucking, rabies-carrying evil creatures. How sad and most definitely not true.
First of all, only 3 out of almost 1000 species of bats drink blood. All three are found in Central America. These bats mostly feed on larger warm-blooded animals. They make small incisions and lap up the blood, they do not plunge fangs into them.
Another reason people hate bats is because they think they have a high incidence of rabies. This is patently false. They have no greater incidence than squirrels, foxes or raccoons, about one percent of the population in North America, according to a study by the University of Calgary.
Bats are not rodents, contrary to popular belief, they are mammals. They are the only flying mammal. Many bats are also protected either by Federal or State laws in the United States. Bats are also protected in other counties around the world. Killing them could likely be illegal.
If you dislike biting, flying insects, bats should be one of your favorite animals. One little brown bat can eat 600 insects in an hour, according to the Berkley bat site. I would love to have a colony of bats in my yard. We have an overabundance of mosquitoes.
By having these fantastic little bug eating animals, we are able to reduce pesticide use around our homes and on crops. Bats are also pollinators and seed dispersers.
Bat populations are on the decline due to a very nasty fungal disease called White Nose Syndrome or WNS in North America. The name of the fungus is Geomyces destructans, according to an article in Science Daily. This deadly syndrome is decimating our important insect-eating bat population.
So, put down that tennis racket and step away from the poor confused bat that inadvertently flew into your house. Go with a catch and release method or call a professional for help. Install bat houses on your property to encourage the bats to sleep there instead of in your house. Bats have much more to fear from humans than we do from them, even if they do get in our house.
TerraPass for the Holidays
December 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I got an email from TerraPass this morning. It reminded me that it was time to purchase my yearly carbon offsets. It’s not to late for you to do the same. Now, purchasing carbon offsets is no substitute for reducing your carbon footprint or living a more sustainable life, but it does help to balance out the emission that you can’t eliminate. TerraPass works on clean energy projects from wind, energy from farm methane digesters and energy from landfill methane capture.
TerraPass also has funny e-cards that you can still send as a Christmas, Hanukkah or Holiday card. It is the ultimate green gift. So, if you’re still looking for a gift and want it to be a green gift, consider purchasing carbon offsets for someone.
Green Guide for Holiday Shopping
December 12, 2011 By 1 Comment
Photo courtesy of Reuseit
It’s that time of year when many of us are banging our heads against the wall trying to figure out what gifts to get for everyone on our list. Maybe this is the year to give those friends a nudge, who have yet to make the move to the green side. I hope this makes some of your Holiday shopping a little easier.
Gifts for Men:
1. Recycled Rolling Rock Tumblers
2. Made By Humans Pocket Cutlery Set
3. Lyziwraps Reusable Gift Wrap
4. Pad Stash
6. A masculine Reuseit Workhouse Bag
7. Resource Revival Bike Chain Bowl
8. Mountainsmith Apex Recycled Backpack
9. Patagonia’s recycled Men’s Micro D Fleece
10. L.L. Bean Solio Gadget Charger
Gifts for Women:
4. Recycled precious metal jewelry by DeAnna Cochran
5. Upcycled Wool Scarf or any upcycled item on Etsy
Gifts for Kids:
4. Posh Pouches snack or sandwich bag
5. Eco-Friendly Wooden Push Toy
8. Lyra Colored Pencils in Wood Box
9. Basic Black Record Cuff Bracelet
10. Converse Chuck Taylor Hemp Shoes
Gifts for Pets:
2. Skinny Mayday Pet First Aid Kit
3. Nature Nap for Cat by West Paw
6. Silly Kitty Breakaway Hemp Cat Collar
7. Organic Bumper Dog Bed by West Paw
8. All Natural Paw Rub for Dogs
9. The Organic Dog Biscuit Cookbook
Of course, always check in your locally owned stores for handmade gifts and goodies made by local artists and crafters from recycled, upcycled and repurposed materials.
Green Guide for Electronics
November 14, 2011 By Leave a Comment
I saw this link on a fellow green blogger’s site this morning. I took a peek and figured this was some good information to share. Most of us are using so many electronics in our daily lives that finding greener companies to buy from is important. It is also important to let companies know that we are watching how they are doing on sustainability. If your favorite company didn’t do so great on this guide, let them know you’d like them to do better. In this competitive market, if a company hears from its customers, they will make changes to improve on whatever the issue is customers are complaining about.
Halloween on the Green Side
October 25, 2011 By 1 Comment
HFCS-free brain lolipop and single origin, fair trade chocolate
Halloween can be as green as any other day. By making some simple changes in your holiday traditions you can reduce waste, plastic and damage to the environment.
One thing you can do is start a costume swap. Talk to your friends and your children’s friends. This weekend would be a great time to do a last minute costume exchange, especially for all those procrastinators like me. While you’re doing a costume swap, maybe do a decoration swap as well. You might be sick of some of your older decorations, but someone else may love them.
Instead of the high fructose corn syrup (HFCS) candy, how about candy made from real, cane sugar. Along those same lines look for candy and chocolate with organic ingredients. If you’re investing in good chocolate you can also seek out single origin and fair trade. All those things make for a more eco-friendly and socially conscious way to treat.
Make decorations from things that might otherwise wind up in the landfull. This kind of decor is called upcycled or recycled. These decorations reduce waste and plastic use. Plus, reusing something takes less energy than recycling an item due to the energy use involved in recycling. Although recycling still takes less energy than making something from a virgin, mined source.
If you use candles, swap out the petroleum-based candles for soy or beeswax candles. Beeswax candles burn cleaner and slower than the petroleum-based candles. The soy and beeswax candles also produce less indoor air pollution.
If you do even a few of these suggestions you’ll be on your way to having a more sustainable Halloween. I’m sure you can think of other ways to green your Halloween. Feel free to post those ideas here or on my Facebook page.
Have a Happy Halloween.
Licking a Stamp Could Save a Tiger
October 13, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image Courtesy of U.S. Postal Service
One of the latest and greatest stamps recently issued by the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is the Save Vanishing Species Stamp. This stamp benefits numerous species which include; elephants, rhinoceros, tigers, great apes, and marine turtles. The stamp sells for 55 cents which is 11 cents more than a regular first class stamp. That 11 extra cents will go to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) to aid the Multinational Species Conservation Funds (MSCF).
So, go ahead and lick a stamp to help save endangered species.
Rowe for Sustainability
September 27, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image courtesy of Sustainability Partnership International
I was fortunate to attend an event last night at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire where Debra Rowe, Ph.D. spoke on sustainability for the future. Dr. Rowe is a sustainability expert who works with businesses, educators and government agencies like the Pentagon on issues of sustainability. Dr. Rowe is the president of the U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development. She is also a professor of energy management, renewable energy technology and psychology. This is one impressive woman.
She spoke of the importance of sustainability in education. The line of thought out there is that all students should be fluent in sustainable practices by the time they leave school. Employers and businesses now look for people who understand the triple bottom line; Profit, People and Planet. Countries like Sweden have sustainable curriculum from K through 12 and beyond.
Do you know the definition of sustainability? The official definition is “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,” as defined by the United Nations World Commission on Environment and Development.
Dr. Rowe’s message was that we all have to be involved in moving to a sustainable way of life. It is not about the planet; it is about humans living, and living in a healthier, happier way. If you ever have a chance to hear Dr. Debra Rowe speak, go. She is inspiring and passionate. I even had the opportunity to talk with her after she spoke. That was quite an honor.
I’m posting links for you to learn more about Dr. Rowe, as well as links that she recommended with information on sustainability.
U.S. Partnership for Education for Sustainable Development
Earth Policy is where you can download for free Plan B: Mobilizing to Save Civilization by Lester Brown.
My Footprint is where you can go to see how big your carbon footprint is.
Chippewa Valley Recycling Event!
September 23, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Image courtesy of Dreams Time Free
This weekend the Chippewa Valley is having a Realtors Recycling Round-Up. It is sponsored by the Realtors Association of Northwestern Wisconsin. The event is this Saturday, September 24. It takes place from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm.
The event is at First Choice Recycling at 525 Ridge Park Court. Shred Away will also be there and will shred your first cubic foot of papers for free. The Salvation Army will be there accepting winter clothing donations.
First Choice is accepting residential and school e-waste such as; P.C. and laptop monitors, printers, scanners, VCRs, DVDs, stereos, radios, typewriters, keyboards, circuit boards, cables, cell phones, telephones and fax machines. They will take these items for free. Items with a hard drive will cost $5. If you have some larger appliances such as refrigerators, freezers, A/C window units, dehumidifiers, TVs and major appliances, they will take those as well, but for a small fee.
To find out more about this event and get directions to First Choice go to their website.
This is an amazing green way to clean out your garage, attic and basement. I know we’re going to hit the basement hard and clear some serious clutter. With the Salvation Army there, it is also a wonderful time to donate needed winter clothes. This is a real feel-good event.
Saying Goodnight to Blazing Lights
August 26, 2011 By Leave a Comment
Earth at Night
I am happy to see that more and more businesses are not leaving lights blazing all night long, while the business is closed. In particular, car dealerships left huge, glaring, wasteful lights on all night.
This practice not only wasted energy, but it ruined the night sky for star gazers, confused animals, and disrupted circadian rhythms of humans, flora and fauna. As a matter of fact, little good comes from this practice. There are studies that suggest it could even increase certain cancers.
Besides humans, light pollution could also harm trees, insects, birds and more. Why keep up this practice of turning day into night? Habit and a false belief that all these lights deter crime. Studies I have read about suggest that these light-up-the-sky habits are not a great theft deterrent. A few strategically placed lights and motion sensors are better.
My house is just outside of the city limits. We can do some pretty sweet star gazing, especially since a couple of the car dealerships near us have lowered the glare coming from the lots. Now there is only one obnoxious dark sky foe. I would love to explain to this business how much money it would save by turning most of those lights off when it is closed. I am sure the neighbors of the dealership would thank them as well.
There is an organizations called The Dark Sky Society whose mission is to educate people on the harm of lighting up the night. It also supports legislation to eliminate light pollution. Its website has information about the negative impact due to light pollution. The Dark Sky Society can help you and your community bring back our night skies.
