Congratulations to Andree' Walker Bravo and the 49 other amazing Utahans who were recognized as the state's most enlightened 50 individuals!
The Community Foundation of Utah recognizes 50 individuals each year who make a difference in Utah through innovation, collaboration, and commitment to the common good!
To view this year's E-50, please visit: http://utahcf.org/our-initiatives/The-e-50/.
Showing posts with label Sustainability. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sustainability. Show all posts
June 11, 2014
February 16, 2011
Sustainable Systems at USEE
USEE is hosting a Community Discussion Course on Sustainable Systems at Work. We had our first meeting last week, and some great discussion ensued.
Here are some interesting thoughts and ideas that came from the meeting:
Here are some interesting thoughts and ideas that came from the meeting:
- Get everyone on-board. If you are working toward sustainability in your workplace, it is important that everyone be on the same page. Purchasers, accountants, CEOs, facility managers, and sustainability coordinators alike.
- Use the magic words. Know your audience, and know how to gear your message to them. Maybe they won't respond to end-of-the-world rhetoric, but will respond to energy savings=money savings.
- Write it down. If you don't have hard plans for change, change probably won't happen.
- If the people lead, the leaders will follow.
- If we do not change our direction, we are likely to end up where we are headed.
- If we demand change, change will happen.
July 14, 2010
Members in the news: Salt Lake City's Rowland Hall goes green
USEE member Rowland Hall was featured in the Deseret News last week for their outstanding efforts in sustainability. The article highlights that Rowland Hall is the first private school in Utah to install solar panels. The 48 panels will serve as an educational tool for teachers and students at the school.
May 10, 2010
Dairy Products and Goats
Have you ever wanted to know more about dairy products from goats? Sunnybrooke Farm in Sandy, UT, is hosting a class about harvesting your own dairy products from goats! During each session the following items are discussed:- Cows vs. Goats
- Proper feeding and nutrition
- Housing/Fencing
- Required space and options for you if your land is not zoned for farm animals
- Needed equipment and general care and milking
- Milk quality
Want to know more right now? Check out Josh's YouTube video about how to construct a milking stand for goats!
Photo Credit
May 4, 2010
Cork Recycling
Wondering what to do with all of your corks? USEE Institutional Member Momentum Recycling sent out this message a few weeks ago:
Organic grocer Whole Foods Markets has expanded its wine cork recycling program to all of its 292 locations in North America and the U.K. The grocer is working in partnership with Cork ReHarvest, a Salem, Oregon-based cork recycling organization started in 2008.
"Thirteen billion wine corks are produced each year," said Patrick Spencer, director of Cork ReHarvest, in the press release announcing the expansion. "Eight billion of those corks come to the U.S., and 99 percent of them end up in landfills."
The recovered corks will end up in different locations around the U.S., all piggybacking on trucks already en route to each destination, according to the company. West of the Rockies, corks will be processed by Corvallis, Oregon-based Western Pulp into recyclable wine shippers containing 10-percent cork. Corks from the Midwest will be made into cork floor tiles by Yemm & Hart of Marquand, Missouri. For both the East Coast and the U.K., corks will be sent to Jelinek Cork Group and made into various post-consumer cork products.
So save up your corks and recycle them!
Organic grocer Whole Foods Markets has expanded its wine cork recycling program to all of its 292 locations in North America and the U.K. The grocer is working in partnership with Cork ReHarvest, a Salem, Oregon-based cork recycling organization started in 2008.
"Thirteen billion wine corks are produced each year," said Patrick Spencer, director of Cork ReHarvest, in the press release announcing the expansion. "Eight billion of those corks come to the U.S., and 99 percent of them end up in landfills."
The recovered corks will end up in different locations around the U.S., all piggybacking on trucks already en route to each destination, according to the company. West of the Rockies, corks will be processed by Corvallis, Oregon-based Western Pulp into recyclable wine shippers containing 10-percent cork. Corks from the Midwest will be made into cork floor tiles by Yemm & Hart of Marquand, Missouri. For both the East Coast and the U.K., corks will be sent to Jelinek Cork Group and made into various post-consumer cork products.
So save up your corks and recycle them!
February 18, 2010
Backyard Rainwater Use Update
This article was published in the Salt Lake Tribune last month about some changes in the rules of rainwater harvesting. Previously in Utah, all types of rain barrels to harvest rainwater were illegal because of current water rights laws. The current laws, which are still in effect and will be with some exceptions for rain barrels, give water rights to those who applied for them first, rather than to those whose land the water falls upon. Read the full article below to get the details on what might be changing in rain catchment below:"The Utah Senate advanced a bill legalizing the common but illegal practice of collecting gardening or lawn water in a 55-gallon drum, and opposition from water-rights purists in the House appeared to soften with proposed amendments requiring water users to register with the state.
Senate Majority Leader Scott Jenkins, R-Plain City, introduced the bill and advocated rain collection as a way for garden enthusiasts to both conserve water and save money on water bills.
A similar bill was scuttled last year by fears of undoing Utah's and the West's time-honored tradition of awarding water rights to those who apply first rather than those who own property on which water originates.
"We have thousands and thousands of rain barrels in this state, and I guess right now technically they're not legal," said Sen. Dennis Stowell, R-Parowan, a bill supporter.
The bill, SB32, passed 19-2 in its first Senate floor test and still needs a final vote before going to the House.
Rep. Ben Ferry, R-Corrine, opposed the effort last year but said he may become a House sponsor this year because Jenkins has OK'd amendments he would like. Ferry, a farmer, wants to require rain gatherers to register online with the state Division of Water Rights. That way, he said, in times of shortage the state will know who has drums or underground tanks that may be keeping water from those with established rights.
Sen. John Valentine, R-Orem, asked Jenkins to
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state during debate on the bill whether he intended to change Utah's water-rights law from the prior-appropriation doctrine to one similar to in Eastern states, where landowners own the water that's on their property.
Jenkins said the old rules still apply, with this narrow exception.
Valentine later said he wanted to establish a record of the Legislature's intent, so that no one could argue the bill nullifies existing rights based on seniority.
Jenkins said it makes sense to enable rainwater use because, once applied to a lawn or garden, it seeps into the ground or runs off to supply downstream water users just as the rain would have if not collected.
The bill caps rainwater storage at 2,500 gallons, either in underground tanks or 55-gallon drums that are covered to prevent child drownings."
This article was originally posted in the Salt Lake Tribune on January 27, 2010.
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_14281235?IADID=Search-www.sltrib.com-www.sltrib.com
Photo Credit
December 16, 2009
Christmas Tree Debate
Yesterday, Linda Kervin from the Bridgerland Audubon Society on Wild About Utah "re-purposes" her Christmas tree for the birds in her yard. This got me to thinking about one of the posts that Andree' put up last year about the infamous Christmas Tree Debate.
Real or fake? What are the benefits of each? The cons? What is the environmental impact? I think it would probably be safe to argue that the best bet is to simply do with out the tree, rather than worry about the transportation of the live trees down from Canada, or the chemicals used in the fake trees, and the degradation of both in the landfills. But traditions die hard.
In my own family, we have a fake tree. We have had this tree for probably 15 years or so, or at least as long as when we moved into the house my parents own. The Christmas tree debate doesn't really happen in our house any more because we got the tree before it was "cool to be green" and now that we have it, there's no reason to not use it. I also have a small fake tree that I found in my parent's garage. I have no idea where it came from, but I've used it every year since I moved out.
The debate continues in sustainability circles, but if your traditions die hard on this matter, I encourage you to read Andree's post from last year, and to think about providing a safe haven for your local bird populations as Linda does if you do get a real tree.
Real or fake? What are the benefits of each? The cons? What is the environmental impact? I think it would probably be safe to argue that the best bet is to simply do with out the tree, rather than worry about the transportation of the live trees down from Canada, or the chemicals used in the fake trees, and the degradation of both in the landfills. But traditions die hard.
In my own family, we have a fake tree. We have had this tree for probably 15 years or so, or at least as long as when we moved into the house my parents own. The Christmas tree debate doesn't really happen in our house any more because we got the tree before it was "cool to be green" and now that we have it, there's no reason to not use it. I also have a small fake tree that I found in my parent's garage. I have no idea where it came from, but I've used it every year since I moved out.
The debate continues in sustainability circles, but if your traditions die hard on this matter, I encourage you to read Andree's post from last year, and to think about providing a safe haven for your local bird populations as Linda does if you do get a real tree.
August 27, 2009
Washington State Prisons: Green Job Training and Sustainability
I came across this article in The Grist the other day. (Washington State Prisons Pursue Sustainable Practices, Green Collar Job Training by Sarah van Schagen) Though they have a lot of interesting articles circulating about, this one I thought was particularly interesting. It's about a partnership between The Nature Conservancy, Evergreen State University in Washington, and the Washington state prison system. It's called the Sustainable Prisons Project and it's changing the way Washington state prisons are training offenders for the workforce.
Jason Chandler plants Walla Walla Sweet Onions in the
organic garden at Stafford Creak Corrections Center
Photo: Sarah van Schagen
The Sustainable Prisons Project's website states their mission is "to reduce the environmental, economic and human costs of prisons by training offenders and correctional staff in sustainable practices. Equally important, we bring science into prisons by helping scientists conduct ecological research and conserve biodiversity through projects with offenders, college students and community partners." They achieve this by providing offenders with green job training. It is so far a win-win situation as "the scientists get cheap (and eager) labor, while the offenders get the opportunity to participate in meaningful work."
Offenders' task vary from tending the prison's organic garden (the produce is used in the prison's kitchen), separating recyclables from the prison's waste stream, beekeeping, and attending to composting worms. The offenders can also participate in a variety of conservation efforts as well. One project led by The Nature Conservancy involves planting native grass seeds as part of a federally funded prairie restoration project. Other offenders "are also helping breed endangered spotted Oregon frogs and “farm” mosses for the horticultural trade (which aids in preventing unsustainable harvesting from old-growth forests)."
This training allows the offenders to have the opportunity to get involved in science, develop their critical thinking skills, and develop needed skills that could help them in the job market after serving their time in prison. The program is also helping the state prison system money. At the Cedar Creek facility, "efficiency upgrades like low-flow toilets and showers and a rainwater catchment system helped save 250,000 gallons of water in the summer alone. And the gardening, composting, and recycling efforts are saving the facilities thousands of dollars every year."
The Sustainable Prisons Project is currently in practice at 3 state prisons in Washington. The project hopes to expand the program to all prisons in the state. Since correctional facilities as basically like small cities, they hope their example can be followed by other state prisons, summer camps, military bases, hospitals, and schools.
To find out more information about this project, I recommend reading the entire article.
Photo by Sarah van Schagen
Jason Chandler plants Walla Walla Sweet Onions in theorganic garden at Stafford Creak Corrections Center
Photo: Sarah van Schagen
The Sustainable Prisons Project's website states their mission is "to reduce the environmental, economic and human costs of prisons by training offenders and correctional staff in sustainable practices. Equally important, we bring science into prisons by helping scientists conduct ecological research and conserve biodiversity through projects with offenders, college students and community partners." They achieve this by providing offenders with green job training. It is so far a win-win situation as "the scientists get cheap (and eager) labor, while the offenders get the opportunity to participate in meaningful work."
Offenders' task vary from tending the prison's organic garden (the produce is used in the prison's kitchen), separating recyclables from the prison's waste stream, beekeeping, and attending to composting worms. The offenders can also participate in a variety of conservation efforts as well. One project led by The Nature Conservancy involves planting native grass seeds as part of a federally funded prairie restoration project. Other offenders "are also helping breed endangered spotted Oregon frogs and “farm” mosses for the horticultural trade (which aids in preventing unsustainable harvesting from old-growth forests)."
This training allows the offenders to have the opportunity to get involved in science, develop their critical thinking skills, and develop needed skills that could help them in the job market after serving their time in prison. The program is also helping the state prison system money. At the Cedar Creek facility, "efficiency upgrades like low-flow toilets and showers and a rainwater catchment system helped save 250,000 gallons of water in the summer alone. And the gardening, composting, and recycling efforts are saving the facilities thousands of dollars every year."
The Sustainable Prisons Project is currently in practice at 3 state prisons in Washington. The project hopes to expand the program to all prisons in the state. Since correctional facilities as basically like small cities, they hope their example can be followed by other state prisons, summer camps, military bases, hospitals, and schools.
To find out more information about this project, I recommend reading the entire article.
Photo by Sarah van SchagenAugust 26, 2009
Household Hazardous Waste Collection
Do you have old cleaners, paint, electronics or other household hazardous waste (HHW) cluttering up your home? Bring them down to SugarHouse Park this THURSDAY!!
This event is FREE to all Salt Lake County Residents:
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Time: 7:00am - 10:00am
Location: SUGARHOUSE PARK - (Garden Center-North entrance of Sugar House Park)
1602 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT
According to the EPA, The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in the basement, garage, and in storage closets. HHW is anything in and around your home that is poisonous, flammable, corrosive, toxic, or requires special disposal practices. It is many of your cleaning supplies, yard care chemicals, pesticides, fuels, batteries, CFLs, used oil and antifreeze, old medications, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. (All Salt Lake City collection events have a police officer present to collect old medications.) This is the last collection event of the summer- don’t miss it!
Also, for information about some safe alternative to hazardous household products, check the Salt Lake County Valley Health Department.
This event is FREE to all Salt Lake County Residents:
Date: Thursday, August 27, 2009
Time: 7:00am - 10:00am
Location: SUGARHOUSE PARK - (Garden Center-North entrance of Sugar House Park)
1602 East 2100 South
Salt Lake City, UT
According to the EPA, The average home can accumulate as much as 100 pounds of HHW in the basement, garage, and in storage closets. HHW is anything in and around your home that is poisonous, flammable, corrosive, toxic, or requires special disposal practices. It is many of your cleaning supplies, yard care chemicals, pesticides, fuels, batteries, CFLs, used oil and antifreeze, old medications, pharmaceuticals, and electronics. (All Salt Lake City collection events have a police officer present to collect old medications.) This is the last collection event of the summer- don’t miss it!
Also, for information about some safe alternative to hazardous household products, check the Salt Lake County Valley Health Department.
August 4, 2009
Recycling Info for Teachers
Have you been trying to get your school to recycle the mass amounts of paper that your school generates? Maybe try this option:
GreenFiber wants the communities trashed paper products, as is not only willing to pick them up for free, but will also pay your school per ton of paper they collect. This could potentially be a great solution for local schools and businesses to solve the some of the recycling issues around the valley.
The following article was written in the Salt Lake Tribune by Jennifer W. Sanchez:
West Valley City » In a warehouse here, newspapers and cereal boxes, among other paper products, are shredded and made into insulation for buildings.
To get the paper products, GreenFiber pays citizens money to recycle. The company pays $15 a ton to the schools or businesses that house its green recycling bins and $30 a ton if someone drops it off at the warehouse.
"You don't have to do anything, and [you] get a check," said GreenFiber spokesman Bruce Lyman.
And company officials promise there's no catch.
GreenFiber, a North Carolina-based company, is among the nation's biggest manufacturers of natural fiber insulation, fire and sound products. The West Valley City plant, which was acquired by the company three years ago, is one of eight recycling and manufacturing facilities nationwide.
The West Valley City warehouse's former owner Redi Therm opened the warehouse in 1983.
In 1995, the plant started a Community Paper Recycling Program, where the company provides free green bins at various locations, from schools to mall parking lots, and later white recycle trucks return to collect the paper products , Lyman said.
There are no fees for clients at any point, he said.
Today, the GreenFiber plant in West Valley City oversees an estimated 1,600 recycling bins -- which look like industrial green garbage cans -- from northern to central Utah, he said.
The paper products are then delivered to the West Valley City plant, where they are shredded and made into bundles of insulation. The insulation is then taken to be sold at hardware stores, such as Home Depot, Lyman said.
It's a win-win situation -- recycling the paper products helps the environment, people make a few bucks and some waste-disposal bills are decreased, Lyman said.
Some schools or businesses might make a few hundred dollars or up to $1,000 a year, depending on how much they recycle. Profits from some bins go to nonprofit groups, such as the Utah Food Bank, he said.
When a group of students wanted to start the recycling program at Northwest Middle School in Salt Lake City, Principal Rod Goode said he supported their idea, and they really got other kids and teachers involved.
The school eventually won a contest among 35 schools on which campus could most improve their recycling numbers. In spring 2008, Northwest gathered .75 tons of paper products. That increased to almost six tons in spring 2009, making them the recipients of a $100 prize, Lyman said.
Goode said the school will definitely continue to participate in the program, and he plans to let the students decide on how to spend the extra cash.
"It makes recycling easy and convenient," he said.
GreenFiber wants the communities trashed paper products, as is not only willing to pick them up for free, but will also pay your school per ton of paper they collect. This could potentially be a great solution for local schools and businesses to solve the some of the recycling issues around the valley.
The following article was written in the Salt Lake Tribune by Jennifer W. Sanchez:
West Valley City » In a warehouse here, newspapers and cereal boxes, among other paper products, are shredded and made into insulation for buildings.
To get the paper products, GreenFiber pays citizens money to recycle. The company pays $15 a ton to the schools or businesses that house its green recycling bins and $30 a ton if someone drops it off at the warehouse.
"You don't have to do anything, and [you] get a check," said GreenFiber spokesman Bruce Lyman.
And company officials promise there's no catch.
GreenFiber, a North Carolina-based company, is among the nation's biggest manufacturers of natural fiber insulation, fire and sound products. The West Valley City plant, which was acquired by the company three years ago, is one of eight recycling and manufacturing facilities nationwide.
The West Valley City warehouse's former owner Redi Therm opened the warehouse in 1983.
In 1995, the plant started a Community Paper Recycling Program, where the company provides free green bins at various locations, from schools to mall parking lots, and later white recycle trucks return to collect the paper products , Lyman said.
There are no fees for clients at any point, he said.
Today, the GreenFiber plant in West Valley City oversees an estimated 1,600 recycling bins -- which look like industrial green garbage cans -- from northern to central Utah, he said.
The paper products are then delivered to the West Valley City plant, where they are shredded and made into bundles of insulation. The insulation is then taken to be sold at hardware stores, such as Home Depot, Lyman said.
It's a win-win situation -- recycling the paper products helps the environment, people make a few bucks and some waste-disposal bills are decreased, Lyman said.
Some schools or businesses might make a few hundred dollars or up to $1,000 a year, depending on how much they recycle. Profits from some bins go to nonprofit groups, such as the Utah Food Bank, he said.
When a group of students wanted to start the recycling program at Northwest Middle School in Salt Lake City, Principal Rod Goode said he supported their idea, and they really got other kids and teachers involved.
The school eventually won a contest among 35 schools on which campus could most improve their recycling numbers. In spring 2008, Northwest gathered .75 tons of paper products. That increased to almost six tons in spring 2009, making them the recipients of a $100 prize, Lyman said.
Goode said the school will definitely continue to participate in the program, and he plans to let the students decide on how to spend the extra cash.
"It makes recycling easy and convenient," he said.
August 3, 2009
The Green Building Center
-by Alaina Caudillo
Earlier this month TJ, Nicole, and I took a trip to The Green Building Center, located at 1952 East 2700 South in the Sugarhouse area. The owner of the Green Building Center, Ashley Patterson, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in answering all our questions and giving us a complete tour. The store does a great job utilizing many of the same products they sell such as integrating LED lighting and the use of a solar electric system, a Chili Pepper water heater, and natural lighting fixtures called Sun Pipes. Sun Pipes resemble sky lights, but transfer less of the heat coming from the natural light indoors and they conserve more heat in winter months, all the while providing an incredibly bright lighting option for your home or business. Among other things I observed a solar oven, a few types of wood stoves, and a few alternative water heaters, many of which qualify for tax credits. One of the alternative water heaters was the Chili Pepper, which they use in the store, that notifies you when the hot water from your water heater is warm so you don’t have to run the faucet while waiting for the water to heat up.
I was amazed at the selection of books for sale that can help you get started in choosing the right products for you and your family. This is a great place to find a wealth of different information, along with green products for your next remodel or home- improvement project! Some of the options available at the Green Building Center include reclaimed, FSC certified, sustainably harvested wood as well as cork and bamboo flooring. In addition, the green building center also sells beautifully recycled glass tiles and decorative paints containing zero VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can be matched to the color of your choice. The possibilities are endless in terms of choosing a product that will address the issue that is most concerning to the consumer, whether that means ease of use or a certain environmental concern. For example, you can choose an oil based finish for hardwood flooring made from linseed oil, which has more VOC’s but is more absorbable and easier to use, or a water based polyurethane finish that is lower in VOC’s but can be a little harder to use. Another great resource in flooring options is the real linoleum that they carry which is made from linseed oil and pine resin which makes it a biodegradable alternative to the typical “linoleum” that is actually made from vinyl.
It’s easy to improve the aesthetic value of your home as well with sustainably made products. Consider integrating beautiful furnishings and accessories into your design scheme, such as decorative pillows and clay based plasters that add texture and color to your walls. Clay based plaster is a wonderful option for bathroom walls because they naturally absorb some of the water vapor, acting as a mold inhibitor. A great way to improve the years we spend throughout our lifetime asleep is to invest in organic cotton bedding and eco-friendly mattresses made from wool or natural latex. These materials are naturally flame retardant without being processed chemically to provide you with this very important, as well as mandatory, safety quality. So if you are looking to make some greener decisions in your home life make time to check out The Green Building Center, a wonderful local business who would love your support!
Earlier this month TJ, Nicole, and I took a trip to The Green Building Center, located at 1952 East 2700 South in the Sugarhouse area. The owner of the Green Building Center, Ashley Patterson, was incredibly knowledgeable and helpful in answering all our questions and giving us a complete tour. The store does a great job utilizing many of the same products they sell such as integrating LED lighting and the use of a solar electric system, a Chili Pepper water heater, and natural lighting fixtures called Sun Pipes. Sun Pipes resemble sky lights, but transfer less of the heat coming from the natural light indoors and they conserve more heat in winter months, all the while providing an incredibly bright lighting option for your home or business. Among other things I observed a solar oven, a few types of wood stoves, and a few alternative water heaters, many of which qualify for tax credits. One of the alternative water heaters was the Chili Pepper, which they use in the store, that notifies you when the hot water from your water heater is warm so you don’t have to run the faucet while waiting for the water to heat up.
I was amazed at the selection of books for sale that can help you get started in choosing the right products for you and your family. This is a great place to find a wealth of different information, along with green products for your next remodel or home- improvement project! Some of the options available at the Green Building Center include reclaimed, FSC certified, sustainably harvested wood as well as cork and bamboo flooring. In addition, the green building center also sells beautifully recycled glass tiles and decorative paints containing zero VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) which can be matched to the color of your choice. The possibilities are endless in terms of choosing a product that will address the issue that is most concerning to the consumer, whether that means ease of use or a certain environmental concern. For example, you can choose an oil based finish for hardwood flooring made from linseed oil, which has more VOC’s but is more absorbable and easier to use, or a water based polyurethane finish that is lower in VOC’s but can be a little harder to use. Another great resource in flooring options is the real linoleum that they carry which is made from linseed oil and pine resin which makes it a biodegradable alternative to the typical “linoleum” that is actually made from vinyl.
It’s easy to improve the aesthetic value of your home as well with sustainably made products. Consider integrating beautiful furnishings and accessories into your design scheme, such as decorative pillows and clay based plasters that add texture and color to your walls. Clay based plaster is a wonderful option for bathroom walls because they naturally absorb some of the water vapor, acting as a mold inhibitor. A great way to improve the years we spend throughout our lifetime asleep is to invest in organic cotton bedding and eco-friendly mattresses made from wool or natural latex. These materials are naturally flame retardant without being processed chemically to provide you with this very important, as well as mandatory, safety quality. So if you are looking to make some greener decisions in your home life make time to check out The Green Building Center, a wonderful local business who would love your support!
July 14, 2009
Watering the Lawn
For the months of July and August (in Northern and Central Utah), the Utah Division of Water Resources (DWR) recommends watering for 21 minutes every 3 days.
Here is some information from the Utah DWR website.
Monthly Lawn Watering Guide
A typical Utah lawn has a water demand curve that begins in mid-April, rises to a peak in July, and then falls rapidly until mid-October. Adjusting your timer monthly to better follow this demand curve will save you water and money. An easy way to do this is keep the minutes constant and increase or decrease the number of days between waterings as shown below.
How do I water plants other than grass?
If your lawn and decorative plants are watered by different sprinkler zones, you will be able to save even more water. Shrubs, flowers and other decorative plants require 25-50% less water than the lawn. If possible, water these zones a few minutes longer than the lawn but half as frequently.
What if I already water less than recommended?
The recommendations are based on average conditions. If you already water less and are satisfied with how your lawn looks, don't increase your watering time. Instead, try decreasing the time! Turn down the minutes until you begin to see stress in your lawn, then turn it back up a bit and leave it. As you fine-tune your schedule, you will save even more water and money than this schedule suggests!
What if the recommended times are not enough?
If this schedule does not seem to be enough water for your lawn, please check your system for inefficiencies and maintenance issues before increasing your run times. Watering the whole lawn to green-up just a few brown spots is an inefficient use of water.
June 4, 2009
Trees in Utah State Parks
Helping to plant some trees in Utah State Parks is as simple as a few clicks of the mouse. As a way of saying thank you to the community, Odwalla is donating up to $100,000 to plant trees in state parks across the country. How it works, from the Odwalla site:
"The Odwalla Plant a Tree Program is available May 27, 2009, through December 31, 2009. When you choose a participating park system for your tree (CA, CO, FL, MI, MD, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT, VA) Odwalla will donate $1.00 to the state parks in that state on your behalf. Only one (1) click allowed per person. Participants pay no money under this program. The cost of the donated trees will be paid solely by Odwalla, Inc, up to $100,000 worth of trees. Tree costs generally range from $0.25 to $1.20."
So help out the state parks in Utah and raise some money to plant a tree with the click of a mouse!
Visit Odwalla's website to vote or to learn more today!
"The Odwalla Plant a Tree Program is available May 27, 2009, through December 31, 2009. When you choose a participating park system for your tree (CA, CO, FL, MI, MD, NY, OH, PA, TX, UT, VA) Odwalla will donate $1.00 to the state parks in that state on your behalf. Only one (1) click allowed per person. Participants pay no money under this program. The cost of the donated trees will be paid solely by Odwalla, Inc, up to $100,000 worth of trees. Tree costs generally range from $0.25 to $1.20."
So help out the state parks in Utah and raise some money to plant a tree with the click of a mouse!
Visit Odwalla's website to vote or to learn more today!
May 15, 2009
Clean the Air Challenge
The USEE staff has joined together and created the Utah Society for Environmental Education Clean the Air Challenge Team! By accepting this challenge, USEE is doing its part to help improve air quality and make Utah a better place to live for us all and for future generations. On the Clean the Air Challenge site we are going to track how many trips in the car we are eliminating each day by walking, biking, carpooling, taking public transportation, working from home, or other endless possibilities.You can take the challenge too! Register at www.cleantheairchallenge.org and invite your friends, family members, and coworkers to join you.
Don’t have a team, but would like to participate with other EEers? Join the USEE team by selecting the Utah Society for Environmental Education under “join an existing team.” Good luck and happy air-cleaning!
March 11, 2009
Backyard Composting
Many people that I know have a lot of questions about composting. Does it stink? How do you do it? How much space do you need? etc., etc. Spring is in the air and it's the perfect time to set up a backyard composting pile as the gardening season begins. If you're thinking about starting a compost pile, there are some basics you should know before getting started.
Here are some tips from Utah State University Extension:
"Composting is the aerobic, or oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled conditions. Bacteria start the process and are responsible for much of the decomposition work. Their metabolism creates the heat of the compost pile. Fungi, protozoans, earthworms, centipedes, beetles, and millipedes assist the bacteria in breaking down plant tissues."
USU Extension recommends 7 steps to consider when starting and maintaining your compost pile:
"Step 1 - Select Composting Site: A good location is helpful for a successful compost pile. The compost pile should be exposed to at least six hours of sunlight each day. The location should not detract from the landscape. Water should be readily available. Good drainage is important; otherwise, standing water could impede the decomposition process.
Step 2 - Select Compost Container: Many containers are suitable provided they are accessible, resist decay, and allow air flow. How do you decide which container will work best for you? Consider the amount of time and space you have, and the quantity of materials you will be composting. For fast, hot compost, the ideal pile size is one cubic yard (3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet). This volume effectively retains the heat generated by the bacteria. The volume of a single pile should not exceed two cubic yards in order to maintain proper ventilation of the pile. If space is a limiting factor, the pile sides can be insulated so that higher temperatures can be maintained in a smaller volume.
Heap It (no cost, good if you have ample space) Simply pile your materials in heaps, ideally at least one cubic yard in volume. If well constructed, heaps are good for “no turn” composting. Just leave the pile for several months or more.
Hoop It (low cost, tidier than heaps) Woven wire mesh or fencing make good enclosures and keep the pile tidy. If you secure it with hooks or twists of wire, you can undo the hoop, set it up next to the pile, and turn the pile back into the hoop in its new location.
Box It (looks good, easy to cover, low to moderate cost)
You can use almost any type of scrap or new lumber, bricks, or cinderblocks to build an attractive and functional bin for compost. Make sure to leave spaces in the sides for air to get through, and make the front removable for easy access to turn or retrieve the compost. Construct several bins side-by-side to facilitate turning of the compost.
Barrel It (good for limited space, easy turning, moderate to high cost) If you don’t have enough space for piles or elaborate bins, a modified 55-gallon drum can work very well. By perforating the drum with air holes and cutting an access hatch on the side you can create a system which will compost small amounts of material quickly. Usually these systems are equipped with a stand and rollers to facilitate turning, although some people just roll their barrel around the yard to achieve the same effect.
Step 3 - Select Raw Materials: Almost all natural, organic material will compost, but not everything belongs in the compost pile. Some wastes attract pests; others contain pathogens that can survive the compost process. Acceptable raw materials would be: Grass clippings, Leaves and weeds, Manures, Coffee Grounds, Wood chips and sawdust, bark, stems, stalks, gardening and canning waste, fruits and vegetables. Do not put the following items in your compost: Meats, bones, large branches, dairy products, synthetic products, plastics, and pet wastes.
Step 4 - Aerating the Pile: Aerobic composting consumes large amounts of oxygen, particularly during the initial stages. If the supply of oxygen is limited, the composting process may turn anaerobic, which is a much slower and more odorous process. Oxygen levels within the windrows or piles may be replenished by lifting and turning the materials with a pitch-fork or by means of a mechanical turner. Try to put the outside, drier materials in the center of newly-turned piles. Turning a pile weekly can produce compost in one to two months with the right combination of materials and moisture level; monthly turning will produce compost in four to six months. Without turning, composting may take six months to two years. Aeration is generally the main factor affecting the time necessary to produce finished compost.
Step 5 - Keeping the Pile Moist: Moisture is necessary to support the metabolic processes of microorganisms. Composting materials should be maintained within a range of 40% to 65% moisture. As a rule of thumb, the materials are too wet if water can be squeezed out of a handful of compost and too dry if the handful does not feel moist to the touch. If the compost pile is too dry, the process slows down. If the compost pile is too wet water will displace much of the air in the pore spaces of the composting materials which limits air movement and leads to anaerobic conditions. Moisture content generally decreases as composting proceeds; therefore, you may need to periodically add water to the compost.
Step 6 - Keeping the Pile at the Proper Temperature: Composting will essentially take place within two temperature ranges known as mesophilic (50-105 degrees F) and thermophilic (over 105 degrees F). Keeping temperatures between 110o and 150o destroys more pathogens, weed seeds, and fly larvae in the composting materials. If the temperature of your compost pile is in the mesophilic range, try mixing the pile. If the temperature still does not reach the thermophilic range, review the steps described above to determine whether one or more of the essential factors is limiting the composting process. If you are still unable to increase the compost’s temperature, the active stage of composting is complete.
Step 7 - Curing: Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and has an earthy and non-offensive odor. Pile temperature in finished compost may still be slightly higher than ambient air temperature. Most finished composts will benefit from an additional curing phase. Curing refers to leaving finished compost in a pile undisturbed for up to one month to allow any final chemical and decomposition reactions to occur and stabilize the compost. Improperly or incompletely composted materials may release ammonia and other gases, or continue to heat upon application to soil, damaging plants. Curing ensures that the composting process is indeed complete and that these potential problems are minimized. View the curing phase as extra insurance against problems arising from using compost." (For more information and other USU Extension Composting tips, visit their Composting in Utah page.)
Some other things to consider: Do compost piles stink? No. A well-maintained compost pile will smell earthy and rich, but should not stink. If it does, something is wrong and the materials may not be breaking down properly. Also, if you don't have a large yard or perhaps live in an apartment or have organic waste in the office, one this to consider would be using a worm-bin, otherwise known as vermicomposting. For more information and ideas for composting, visit Wasatch Community Garden's blog.
Credits:
Heap Compost
Hoop Compost
Box Compost
Barrel Compost
Here are some tips from Utah State University Extension:
"Composting is the aerobic, or oxygen-requiring, decomposition of organic materials by microorganisms under controlled conditions. Bacteria start the process and are responsible for much of the decomposition work. Their metabolism creates the heat of the compost pile. Fungi, protozoans, earthworms, centipedes, beetles, and millipedes assist the bacteria in breaking down plant tissues."
USU Extension recommends 7 steps to consider when starting and maintaining your compost pile:
"Step 1 - Select Composting Site: A good location is helpful for a successful compost pile. The compost pile should be exposed to at least six hours of sunlight each day. The location should not detract from the landscape. Water should be readily available. Good drainage is important; otherwise, standing water could impede the decomposition process.
Step 2 - Select Compost Container: Many containers are suitable provided they are accessible, resist decay, and allow air flow. How do you decide which container will work best for you? Consider the amount of time and space you have, and the quantity of materials you will be composting. For fast, hot compost, the ideal pile size is one cubic yard (3 feet x 3 feet x 3 feet). This volume effectively retains the heat generated by the bacteria. The volume of a single pile should not exceed two cubic yards in order to maintain proper ventilation of the pile. If space is a limiting factor, the pile sides can be insulated so that higher temperatures can be maintained in a smaller volume.
Heap It (no cost, good if you have ample space) Simply pile your materials in heaps, ideally at least one cubic yard in volume. If well constructed, heaps are good for “no turn” composting. Just leave the pile for several months or more.
Hoop It (low cost, tidier than heaps) Woven wire mesh or fencing make good enclosures and keep the pile tidy. If you secure it with hooks or twists of wire, you can undo the hoop, set it up next to the pile, and turn the pile back into the hoop in its new location.
Box It (looks good, easy to cover, low to moderate cost)You can use almost any type of scrap or new lumber, bricks, or cinderblocks to build an attractive and functional bin for compost. Make sure to leave spaces in the sides for air to get through, and make the front removable for easy access to turn or retrieve the compost. Construct several bins side-by-side to facilitate turning of the compost.
Barrel It (good for limited space, easy turning, moderate to high cost) If you don’t have enough space for piles or elaborate bins, a modified 55-gallon drum can work very well. By perforating the drum with air holes and cutting an access hatch on the side you can create a system which will compost small amounts of material quickly. Usually these systems are equipped with a stand and rollers to facilitate turning, although some people just roll their barrel around the yard to achieve the same effect.Step 3 - Select Raw Materials: Almost all natural, organic material will compost, but not everything belongs in the compost pile. Some wastes attract pests; others contain pathogens that can survive the compost process. Acceptable raw materials would be: Grass clippings, Leaves and weeds, Manures, Coffee Grounds, Wood chips and sawdust, bark, stems, stalks, gardening and canning waste, fruits and vegetables. Do not put the following items in your compost: Meats, bones, large branches, dairy products, synthetic products, plastics, and pet wastes.
Step 4 - Aerating the Pile: Aerobic composting consumes large amounts of oxygen, particularly during the initial stages. If the supply of oxygen is limited, the composting process may turn anaerobic, which is a much slower and more odorous process. Oxygen levels within the windrows or piles may be replenished by lifting and turning the materials with a pitch-fork or by means of a mechanical turner. Try to put the outside, drier materials in the center of newly-turned piles. Turning a pile weekly can produce compost in one to two months with the right combination of materials and moisture level; monthly turning will produce compost in four to six months. Without turning, composting may take six months to two years. Aeration is generally the main factor affecting the time necessary to produce finished compost.
Step 5 - Keeping the Pile Moist: Moisture is necessary to support the metabolic processes of microorganisms. Composting materials should be maintained within a range of 40% to 65% moisture. As a rule of thumb, the materials are too wet if water can be squeezed out of a handful of compost and too dry if the handful does not feel moist to the touch. If the compost pile is too dry, the process slows down. If the compost pile is too wet water will displace much of the air in the pore spaces of the composting materials which limits air movement and leads to anaerobic conditions. Moisture content generally decreases as composting proceeds; therefore, you may need to periodically add water to the compost.
Step 6 - Keeping the Pile at the Proper Temperature: Composting will essentially take place within two temperature ranges known as mesophilic (50-105 degrees F) and thermophilic (over 105 degrees F). Keeping temperatures between 110o and 150o destroys more pathogens, weed seeds, and fly larvae in the composting materials. If the temperature of your compost pile is in the mesophilic range, try mixing the pile. If the temperature still does not reach the thermophilic range, review the steps described above to determine whether one or more of the essential factors is limiting the composting process. If you are still unable to increase the compost’s temperature, the active stage of composting is complete.
Step 7 - Curing: Finished compost is dark, crumbly, and has an earthy and non-offensive odor. Pile temperature in finished compost may still be slightly higher than ambient air temperature. Most finished composts will benefit from an additional curing phase. Curing refers to leaving finished compost in a pile undisturbed for up to one month to allow any final chemical and decomposition reactions to occur and stabilize the compost. Improperly or incompletely composted materials may release ammonia and other gases, or continue to heat upon application to soil, damaging plants. Curing ensures that the composting process is indeed complete and that these potential problems are minimized. View the curing phase as extra insurance against problems arising from using compost." (For more information and other USU Extension Composting tips, visit their Composting in Utah page.)
Some other things to consider: Do compost piles stink? No. A well-maintained compost pile will smell earthy and rich, but should not stink. If it does, something is wrong and the materials may not be breaking down properly. Also, if you don't have a large yard or perhaps live in an apartment or have organic waste in the office, one this to consider would be using a worm-bin, otherwise known as vermicomposting. For more information and ideas for composting, visit Wasatch Community Garden's blog.
Credits:
Heap Compost
Hoop Compost
Box Compost
Barrel Compost
February 6, 2009
Education in a Green Economy
I just came across a great letter from a number of environmental education leaders to Arne Duncan, the new US Education Secretary, about the importance of education in carrying out President Obama's environmental agenda.
The authors make a case that it is imperative to incorporate education deep within the new 'green economy' and that if this endeavor is to succeed, the US needs an environmentally literate population of both workers and consumers.
"President-elect Obama has astutely perceived the linkages between climate change, economic stimulus, energy security, and job training by declaring that the transition to a green economy is his "top priority." The missing link in this system is the critical role that education can play in quickly making the green economy a reality. By working with him to include a major role for education in his green economy plans, you'll help advance his agenda - and yours."
There are also a number of concrete suggestions such as:
"The President should announce a sweeping initiative to support education as a cornerstone of our new clean energy future. This initiative should be part of an economic stimulus package with a focus on green jobs and green education to help Americans of all ages, all backgrounds, and all walks of life transition to the green economy."
If you care about how environmental education can be a part of the new 'green economy' then I recommend you read the whole letter here.
February 3, 2009
A Useful Idea
Do you ever have those days when you have an amazing idea? Then you realize that the idea wasn't that great, but you're still really proud of it?I have been trying to reduce my plastic consumption. It's nothing drastic, but I am trying to pay attention to what kinds of products I'm purchasing. Packaging is an issue, but so is buying so many of the products that are out there from toothbrushes to toasters. One thing that's easy to do is stop using plastic grocery bags, which I have done. The next logical step in that process is also to stop using the plastic bags that stores provide for putting produce in.
Deciding that it's okay for your tomatoes, apples, and oranges to roll around in your cart takes a little bit of getting used to. And what about things like broccoli? I got some little mesh bags that have a drawstring at the top for putting in produce. I find that I only need a couple and when they're full, I can let my apples roll around a little bit. So far this plan is working nicely. The only "problem" I've run into is what to do with the lettuce. That flimsy plastic bag seems to keep it so clean and fresh and keeps the rest of my groceries dry. (The misters always seem to go off right before or during my lettuce picking experience.)
When I get home, I like to wash and chop up the lettuce first thing and mix it all back in the plastic bag so when it comes time to making salads to take the work the next day, I just have to reach in and pull out a handful. But I'm trying to use less plastic, so this plan is no longer viable. Solution? I had two half-full bags of tortilla chips. I dumped one into the other, rinsed out the bag and let it air dry. By the time I got back from the store and prepared all of the lettuce, the bag was clean, dry, and ready to go. It still smelled a bit salty, but what can you do?
Now I have a tortilla-chip bag full of chopped lettuce. When my friends open the fridge they laugh and think it's a little silly, but I'll tell you what, my lettuce has never stayed crispier!
Tip: Throw in a paper towel with the lettuce before wrapping it all up in the bag. This keeps the lettuce crispy and rust free by soaking up extra moisture in the bag. Then, clean something up with it when you're done with the lettuce, or save it for the next batch.
Tortilla Chips Photo
January 13, 2009
Looking for a Good Winter Read?
For Christmas, my aunt visited her local used book store and picked up a book for me to read. (Fitting, considering sustainability issues, so thanks Aunt Maria for not buying it new!) I'm just starting this new-to-me book, and so far I'm really enjoying it. It's called Not Buying It, by Judith Levine.It's all about this woman (who just-so-happens to be a writer, so it's easy on the reader) who decides she and her life-partner, Paul, have had it with the consumer driven society that we've built around ourselves. So, in 2004, she and Paul go a year without shopping. So far, it's been thought-provoking. It's written like a journal, with entries every so often about what they are missing and what they are learning about what it is like to break away from the expectations we have about ourselves and the stresses of the consumer market. I've only read the first two chapters, but so far I'm very intrigued as the rules start to unfold as to what "not buying it" means to this couple and how their journey will present itself.
I think this book ties in nicely with Andree's own "Nothing New" resolution. She is anxious to read it once I'm finished and it has been fun comparing "not buying it" with "nothing new" journeys. It is also timely in that the Voluntary Simplicity class, which the whole office is participating in, started last night. A lot of people might say that going for 3 months or a whole year would make their lives much more complicated, but so far from this book I'm getting the sense that "not buying it" really enhances your life by reminding us about what is important, rather than making it more complicated.
I'll let you know how it goes.
January 12, 2009
Urban Agriculture
It seems that sustainability and providing for yourself is catching on. The University of Utah is offering an "Urban Agriculture" series through their Life-Long Learning community education classes. I just got a flier in the mail about it over the weekend, and the classes look pretty fun and educational.The flier states "with so many tangible benefits, Urban Agriculture is experience a huge increase in popularity. By growing and cultivating your own food, you can save money, help the environment, foster better health and nutrition, develop another source of income, ensure food security, and even boost your community social life." Urban Agriculture certainly has many benefits to enrich many facets of your life. I'm just excited that such a large institution like the U of U has embraced the Urban Agriculture mindset by highlighting these classes in their own sub-section.
Some of the classes offered include Bee Keeping, Coops de Ville: How to Raise Backyard Chickens, Fabulous Fruit Trees, Vegetable Gardening Basics, Sell Your Produce, Eating Local, and Grow Your Own Herbs. All of these sound like fun to me, but I think I'm going to check out the how to "Grow Your Own Herbs" class due my current rental condition (i.e. lack of yard space to garden) as a good place to start my next step of the sustainable, health and nutrition, life-enriching journey. So if you live in the Salt Lake area and these sound fun, check it out.
Photo Credit
January 5, 2009
More Ways to Save Energy
In conjunction with switching out your incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent light bulbs, another great way to save some energy and some money on your electricity bill is to put your electronics on power strips with surge protectors. (And then turn the off when your not using them, of course.)
Americans pay over $1 billion a year to power their TV's and DVD players when they are in the off position! This is because electronics and appliances are constantly drawing electricity at all hours of the day and night. This is especially true of anything that uses a remote (TV's, VCR's, DVD players, CD players, cable boxes, etc.) because these electronics are continuously drawing and sending a signal to their remotes. Because of this, electronics with remotes use almost as much electricty when they are "off" as they do when they are "on." Other energy drainers that pull 1,000 killowatt hours per year per household on average when they are turned "off" or are in stand-by mode are toasters, hair dryers, coffee makers, personal computers, laptops and their chargers, printers, and cell phone chargers.
So how can you combat these electricity hogs? Grab some power strips, and set up all of your electronics with one. Put one in your office, or wherever your computer is, and hook up your computer, printer, etc. Always shut down your computer, and then turn the power strip off. Plug in your TV and other various electronics to a power strip, too. When you're not using these things, make sure to always turn the power strips off. Make this a habit in your home. These power strips turn the electronics completely off and don't allow them to continue to draw wattage when the power strips are flipped off. Keep all of your kitchen tools unplugged until you need them. Only plug in the toaster when you need it to make toast, likewise with the coffee maker. And don't forget, once your laptop and cell phone is charged up, unplug the chargers too!
Flipping the switch on some power strips is an easy thing to do. The hardest part is remembering to do it. So, before you head off to work every day and then when you go to sleep at night, make sure you aren't pulling any extra wattage and check your strips. Or make it a household habit of flipping these switches immediately after you're finished using them. It's a great way to save energy and money on your next electricity bill.
For additional information on this topic or to see some other ways to "green" your home, check out this article: 10 Ways to Green Your Home.
Americans pay over $1 billion a year to power their TV's and DVD players when they are in the off position! This is because electronics and appliances are constantly drawing electricity at all hours of the day and night. This is especially true of anything that uses a remote (TV's, VCR's, DVD players, CD players, cable boxes, etc.) because these electronics are continuously drawing and sending a signal to their remotes. Because of this, electronics with remotes use almost as much electricty when they are "off" as they do when they are "on." Other energy drainers that pull 1,000 killowatt hours per year per household on average when they are turned "off" or are in stand-by mode are toasters, hair dryers, coffee makers, personal computers, laptops and their chargers, printers, and cell phone chargers.
So how can you combat these electricity hogs? Grab some power strips, and set up all of your electronics with one. Put one in your office, or wherever your computer is, and hook up your computer, printer, etc. Always shut down your computer, and then turn the power strip off. Plug in your TV and other various electronics to a power strip, too. When you're not using these things, make sure to always turn the power strips off. Make this a habit in your home. These power strips turn the electronics completely off and don't allow them to continue to draw wattage when the power strips are flipped off. Keep all of your kitchen tools unplugged until you need them. Only plug in the toaster when you need it to make toast, likewise with the coffee maker. And don't forget, once your laptop and cell phone is charged up, unplug the chargers too!
Flipping the switch on some power strips is an easy thing to do. The hardest part is remembering to do it. So, before you head off to work every day and then when you go to sleep at night, make sure you aren't pulling any extra wattage and check your strips. Or make it a household habit of flipping these switches immediately after you're finished using them. It's a great way to save energy and money on your next electricity bill.
For additional information on this topic or to see some other ways to "green" your home, check out this article: 10 Ways to Green Your Home.
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