Balloons have a celebratory allure but we can easily adapt to less harmful festive traditions.
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Photo by ricky_banner, Flickr
Balloons have a high environmental cost—they can suffocate or starve wildlife, are not biodegradable, and if helium is used inside them, it’s important to know that helium is not a renewable natural resource. Luckily, there are balloon alternatives, such as tissue paper pompoms and bubbles. Balloons have a celebratory allure but we can easily adapt to less harmful festive traditions. Read more here. Photo by ricky_banner, Flickr Recycling mystery revealed: plastic utensils are not recyclable. Plastic utensils are not recyclable. The majority are made of polystyrene (#6 plastic, same as Styrofoam). Some are made of #1 plastic but are not labeled, so we have no way of knowing. The odd shapes also jam machinery. Replace plastic utensils with compostable or reusable ones. Read more here. Photo by Susan O'Donnell Transform grief into environmental healing with memorial trees. There is no simple way to process the loss of a loved one. The weight of grief can feel unbearable. Planting a living memorial tree blends the intimate ritual of honoring a loved one with positive action for the planet. People also plant trees in honor of births, weddings, and housewarmings. Planting a tree in celebration of a birth is perhaps the most poignant of occasions because this is a gift that will grow alongside the child, year by year maturing and flourishing. With a memorial donation to The National Arbor Day Foundation, they will plant a tree in a national forest devastated by fires and other disasters. Read more here about dedicating a tree locally at Scott Arboretum. Photo by Susan O'Donnell Driving gently can lower your gas use by up to 33% on the highway and 5% in the city, according to the Department of Energy. Fast accelerations, high speeds, and abrupt stops waste energy. A special report on 247wallst.com by Liz Blossom points out that "the optimal highway speed for gas mileage is 50 mph; after that, your gas mileage drops quickly." In addition, "fast accelerations and abrupt stops waste energy. By driving gently you can lower your gas mileage by up to 33% on the highway and 5% in the city, according to the Department of Energy. Don’t idle your car, especially while running the air conditioner. In the winter, give your car only 30 seconds to warm up — it will warm up quickly when you start driving. Regular maintenance will help your car run at top efficiency — fixing serious maintenance problems can improve mileage by up to 40%."* Other driving strategies that improve your gas mileage include avoiding engine idling (turn off the car if it’s going to be more than 30 seconds) and jack-rabbit starts. Read the traffic, signs, and lights in order to minimize the wasted energy in braking. Maintenance tips include keeping tires properly inflated (each 2.5 psi of tire inflation improves fuel economy by 1%), choosing “low rolling resistance” tires, which improve fuel economy close to 3% relative to standard replacement tires, and minimizing excess weight (1-2% mpg improvement per 100 lbs. of reduced weight). *Liz Blossom, January 8, 2020, "30 ways to make your life more environmentally friendly," 247wallst.com Photo by Susan O'Donnell This spring, plant milkweed in your yard to restore habitat that supports monarch butterflies. Monarch butterfly caterpillars are specialists for eating milkweed; there is no other plant that can sustain them. From the toxic sap of the milkweed, they become unpalatable themselves, keeping them relatively safe from predators. One of the marvels about monarchs is that they migrate between Mexico and Canada but take three generations to do so, stopping in various locations throughout the United States. This means that they need to find milkweed along their route to lay their eggs so that the next generation can continue their journey. As their required habitat is disappearing, monarch populations have been declining. You can help the monarchs by planting a patch milkweeds in your yard. In our area, plants are available to purchase at native plant events such as the annual Brandywine Conservancy native plant sale in May or at nurseries such as Redbud in Media. You will not only be supporting monarchs but also a whole range of pollinators that feed on the nectar of milkweed plants. You will find these attractive flowers a beautiful addition to your landscaping! You can find out all that you need to know in these guides: Create Habitat for Monarchs and the Gardening for Monarchs brochure. Learn more about their amazing migration at Monarchwatch.org. Photo by Debbie Long, Flickr As you start to plan your vacations, consider how you travel. Skipping even one airplane flight greatly reduces your carbon footprint. This 2017 article in Environmental Research Letters* evaluated several individual actions for their relative impact on greenhouse gas emissions. One lifestyle choice that they identified as having a disproportionately large contribution was traveling by plane. They estimate that avoiding one transatlantic flight per year reduces an individual’s annual greenhouse gas emissions by 700–2800 kg CO2e, depending on the length of the flight. Consider the impact of your mode of travel as you plan your vacations this year. Plan a trip that does not require airplane travel or take a “staycation” by just taking day trips from home to explore nearby attractions. *Seth Wynes and Kimberly A Nicholas. 2017. The climate mitigation gap: education and government recommendations miss the most effective individual actions. Environ. Res. Lett. 12 074024. DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/aa7541 Photo by V.L., Flickr Remove English ivy from trees and landscaping: ivy smothers other plants and adds weight to tree branches making them more likely to fall. English ivy is an aggressive, invasive vine that is native to Europe, but is now commonly found in gardens and woodlands in the United States. As an introduced plant, it offers little benefit to native wildlife and is highly detrimental to native plants. Although it is sold as an ornamental plant, it is crucial to keep it as an indoor plant only. It grows quickly and smothers other plants with its dense leaves on long, trailing vines. It climbs into shrubs and trees, making trees likely to fall or drop large branches. Most of its roots do not extend deeply, making it easy to pull out when the soil is soft after it rains. However, if even a small piece remains, it will eventually regrow, so persistence is needed to keep it at bay. For more information, visit the Missouri Botanical Garden and Clemson Cooperative Extension websites. This green tip has advice for removing ivy from trees. Photo by Susan O'Donnell Install a rain barrel to reduce storm runoff and to use as a water supply for outdoor watering needs. During a rainstorm, rainwater seeps into the ground until the ground is saturated and the remaining water runs off into drains and ultimately streams and rivers. With the increase in impervious surfaces in cities, less water infiltrates during storms. The increase in runoff can overwhelm the storm sewer system and cause local flooding. Harvesting rainwater using a rain barrel reduces the harmful effects of runoff, and on-site use of captured rainwater reduces water treatment needs and reduces the use of potable water for residential uses. Rain barrels are not difficult to install. Either cut a downspout to direct water through a screened opening on the top or install a diverter into a downspout that directs water through a tube to the barrel and allows overflow to continue through the downspout once the barrel is full. Make sure any openings are covered with screen to prevent mosquitoes from breeding in the water. You can even install a series of barrels, the next one filling when the previous one is full. A spigot near the bottom of the barrel allows you to fill a watering can or attach a hose. Placing the barrel on top of cement blocks or stand makes room for filling a watering can. This water should only be used for watering plants and is not safe for drinking without being treated first. For more information, see this fact sheet. Photo by Susan O'Donnell Store fresh herbs upright in a jar or vase of water, like a bouquet of flowers, and enjoy them on your countertop. Parsley, basil, mint, and other fresh herbs can be stored at room temperature with their stems in a jar of water. Basil in particular prefers room temperature. Instant uplift to your kitchen and spirits! Read more here. Photo by Alan Levine, Flickr An antique or vintage carpet is unique, more sustainable than a new one, and shoppable online from trusted retailers. An antique or vintage rug will become part of your family heirlooms. By purchasing one, you lessen the impact on resources that are used to make a new rug. You may also save material from reaching a landfill. Read more here. |
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