ENN: Environmental News Network -- Know Your Environment

by Luke Dale-Harris, The Ecologist

Even if the naysayers are right and they produce little else, wind farms most certainly generate debate.

Ever since they started to become a tangible reality over a decade ago, popping up across our treasured landscapes and punctuating our horizons, they have thrown up questions that draw straight into our relationship with the idea of global warming.

Among doubts of their efficiency, cost and reliability, and fears of their aesthetic impact on our countryside, a more basic question is raised: how serious are we prepared to believe the threat of climate change really is, and how much are we prepared to forsake to try and avoid it?

The answer, for many at least, seems to be not very, and not much.

But the argument has become misplaced. In trying to deal with an issue that has come about due to our disregard of the natural world we live in, we have fallen again into an entirely human centric approach, our hands on our wallets and our eyes on our favorite picnic spots. This is, of course, understandable. Money is tight, and the beauty of our countryside important.

But, as wind farms will continue to be built, the result is that they are moved to areas where land is cheap, and human habitation scarce. Unfortunately, these tend also to be the areas where biodiversity is rich, and endangered species populous. In trying to keep renewable energy as inconspicuous and inconsequential as possible, we end up blighting the very thing we set out to protect.

A while ago the RSPB released a map showing the areas most sensitive to wind farms in England and Scotland, based on their levels of biodiversity and fragility of their bird populations. Sometime later, the Guardian released a map of all the wind farms, both completed and proposed, across UK. The correlation is obvious; our wind farms are gravitating to the areas where they are most damaging.

Of course there is another element at play here; wind. These same areas, removed from human habitation, are often where the weather is at its most extreme and, across Europe, where wind speeds are consistently highest. But renewable energy companies aren’t alone in looking to harness this energy.

Migrating birds, especially larger species and birds of prey, choose their routes largely in accordance with wind patterns, using the strong currents found above high and open terrain to propel them forwards in their journeys. When the two meet, there are bloody consequences.

This has been the case at the poorly sited wind farms at Nevarre and Tarifa in Spain and, more famously, at the vast site that spans the Altamont pass in California. In these cases, hundreds of rare and endangered birds, most notably Golden Eagles and Griffon Vultures, are killed each year from collisions with wind turbines.

Due to the long life span and low reproductive rates of these species, over time this will have a dramatic impact on their populations and, if the turbines remain in place, could ultimately lead to the extinction of the most fragile species in the regions surrounding the wind farms.

Continue reading at The Ecologist.

Bird and wind turbine image via Shutterstock.

from Environmental Economics by Tim Haab

I was reading somewhere recently–OK,OK, it was Reader’s Digest again–that one way we could save a significant amount of gas is to lose weight. I don;t remember all of the details, but the logic was simple: On average, American’s weigh about 20 pounds more today than they did 20 years ago. If we weighed the same as we did 20 years ago, our cars would be carrying aroun less weight and we all know that there is a weight/fuel consumption teade off holding all else equal, a lighter car consumes less fuel).

So, in true Env-Econ style, I thought I would do some quick, highly stylized, most likely innacurate, back of the envelope calculations–and then leave it to you to rip it apart.

Here we go:

First some data:

•Average weight of a gas-engine car: 4,000 pounds

•Average weight of an American in 2012: 178 pounds (assuming 50/50 men and women).

•Average weight of an Ameican in 1990: 158 pounds. (“Both figures are nearly 20 pounds higher than the average that men and women reported in 1990”)

•Fuel consumption reduction for a reduction in weight: 2-4% reduction in fuel consumption for every 10% reduction in vehicle weight–we will assume 3%.

•Average fuel consumption in U.S.: 8.5 million barrels per day (357 million gallons @ 42 gallons per barrel)

•Average fuel consumption In U.S.: 130,305,000,000 gallons per year (357 million x 365 days/year).

Now for some calculations:

A 20 pound decrease in vehicle+driver weight from 4,178 pounds to 4,158 pounds is a 0.4786979% decrease in vehicle weight.

If for every 10% decrease in vehicle weight, fuel consumption decreases by 3%, then that 0.4786979% decrease in vehicle weight will result in a 0.14360937% decrease in gasoline consumption.

Given gas consumption of 130,305,000,000 gallons per year, that 20 pound reduction in average weight will result in a savings of 187,130,190 gallons of gasoline per year.

At an average price of $3.50 per gallon, losing an average of 20 pounds will save $654,955,665 per year–or $2.73 for every adult in the U.S. per year.

Enough to buy a non-fat, no-whip, skinny mocha latte–you know, to keep the weight off.

gas pump via shutterstock

At ENN, we are a big fan of our feathered friends (Big Bird and Tweety included). Last year we posted 2 articles on our blog discussing strategies for feeding and interacting with the birds you might find in your back yard. In this article I plan to focus on the wild bird’s greatest nemesis, and one of human’s closest friends, the domestic outdoor cat .

According to the Humane Society, cats can be found in thirty-three percent of households in the United States. This is a lot of cats- approximately 86.4 million.  Of course not all of these cats are allowed outside, or pose a threat to wild birds, but many of them do. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that up to 500 million birds are killed each year by cats, half by pets and half by feral animals.

 A recent study in the UK by Dr Rebecca Thomas of the University of Reading, looked into the relationship between birds and cats, to better understand the threat cats pose to wild birds.

Dr. Thomas found that hunting behaviors vary among cats. In a survey of pet owners, 22 percent of owners said that their cats never brought them dead animals and only 20 percent of cats brought back greater than four dead animals a year.  The study found an average of 18.3 kills per cat, meaning, a small minority of cats is responsible for a majority of the killings

Thomas is most worried about the effect of cats in urban environments. ‘The density of cats in urban environments is the biggest issue,’ Thomas says. ‘Even if a cat isn’t killing often, there are so many of them in a small area that they can have a very serious impact. Owners might think their cats only catch two or three birds a year and that won’t make any difference, but they need to understand all the other pressures that wildlife is under from habitat loss and environmental change.’

So what can we do to protect the birds?

Please keep your cats indoors.  Banning cats from the outdoors is an efficient way to “keep cats off the streets”.  The practice of sterilizing outdoor cats is extremely useful in controlling stray cat populations in urban areas.  A less intrusive option could be requiring outdoor cats to wear bells. Belles can reduce hunting effectiveness (though some cats learn to compensate for the bells).

 I know from experience that public ordinances relating to animals are hard to maintain, so it is up to individual cat owners to take some responsibility for their pet’s potential behaviors. 

Cat with Bird via Shutterstock

It may possibly be the most beautiful time of the year. The air is crisp, but not cold, and it’s impossible to go a day without eating an apple or imbibing apple cider. Most importantly the leaves on trees are beginning to change colors. Trees that were once ordinary in look are now bright yellows and reds. I am lucky enough to have a maple tree right outside my bedroom window that within a few days will be a brilliant red normally unseen in nature.

Unfortunately this sight quickly turns to mirage when the leaves outstay the trees welcome and blanket the ground. We are then stuck with the conundrum of what to do with the trees unwanted counterparts. Though the sound of leaves crunching under footsteps is beautiful in it’s own right eventually one feels the need to make a decision on what to do with them.

Below I have compiled a list of suggestions for leaf management:

1.  Know Your Local Laws Relating to Yard Waste Disposal

Depending on where you live disposal rules vary. Many municipalities have separate collection for leaf litter and other landscape wastes. In some places that have separate programs for the collection of litter, like the state of Minnesota, it is illegal to mix yard waste with trash waste and you can get fined for putting your leaf trash out on the wrong day.  Check with your municipality to identify the natural waste management programs available in your area.

2. Do Not Burn Your Leaf  Waste

Not only is leaf burning illegal in states like New York, it can also be unhealthy and bad for the environment.

3. Keep Your Sidewalks Clear

Even if you are not ready to manage your whole yard it is important to try and keep your sidewalks clean. When wet leaves can be very slippery and may serve as a fall risk.

4. Use Leaves as Mulch

Instead of raking and packaging your leaves for the trash or your local leaf management program reuse your leaves to spruce up your own lawn and garden for the spring.  If you only have light leaf fall the leaves can be mowed and left in place. Leaves contain 50-80% of the nutrients a plant extracts from the soil making them a great resource.

You can also use the leaves as mulch in your garden and flower beds. Shredded leaves can be used as a mulch covering or can be mixed into soil.

5.  Add Leaves to Your Compost

Leaves can also be added to your compost pile. Large piles of leaves can take awhile to decompose so it is important to shred them first. If you do not have a compost pile already there are many videos and siteswith simple instructions to starting one.

6.  Get Crafty

Take a trip back to elementary school and make some fall inspired craft projects. Whether you make a wreath out of leaves or use them in a collage the options are as limitless as the leaves available in your yard.

Photo Credit: Maddie Perlman-Gabel

Last month I wrote an article discussing the retail chain H&M’s newest “green themed” initiative. This month, I’m going to overview a new initiative by America’s favorite luxury coffee chain, Starbucks, who is trying to reduce their carbon footprint by reducing the waste their customers produce. Starbucks is one of America’s most beloved brands. With over 11,000 stores in the United States alone, it seems like you can’t walk a city block without running into one of their infamous $3+ cup of joe shops.

Starbucks has made it a goal to serve 5 percent of beverages made in store in personal tumblers (reusable) by 2015. The goal had originally been for 25% but Starbucks has readjusted their goal to be more realistic. To attain this goal Starbucks has started a new initiative and starting this week, Starbucks will be selling reusable coffee cups for a dollar. The reusable cups are designed to look like Starbucks regular paper cups except they are made out of plastic. The cups will be available in 16 0z and 12 Oz size, or grande and tall for those of you who like to use Starbucks terminology.  Customers, who use reusable cups, whether they are the NEW Starbucks reusable cups or their own cups from home, will receive a 10 cent discount per fill and Starbucks will steam clean the cup.

Starbucks has been providing a discount to customers who bring their own cups since 1985. Over the last 3 years, Starbucks has increased reusable cup usage by 55%. In 2011 customers brought in reusable cups 34 million times, about 2% of sales, which is equal to saving 1.5 million pounds of paper from landfills.

In October Starbucks tested the new reusable cup initiative in 600 stores in the Pacific Northwest. Starbucks found a 26% boost in reusable cup usage compared to a similar time period in 2011. Whether this trend will last long term is yet to be seen.

Starbucks uses 4 billion disposable cups a year. Though this seems like an exorbitant amount of cups, the making of cups is only a small portion of Starbucks carbon footprint.  The majority of Starbucks carbon emissions, 75%, are attributed to store operations. Surprisingly one of the biggest contributors to Starbucks’ carbon emissions is the nitrous oxide used in the whip cream.

Being that cups are such a miniscule aspect of Starbucks carbon footprint, why is Starbucks focusing so hard on them? Cups are the most visible aspect of the brand. If you see a cup discarded on the street, which is a regular occurrence, it reflects poorly on Starbucks. By reinforcing the use of reusable cups Starbucks not only greens their image, they also make some improvement on their impact.

To be fair, Starbucks is also making less visible changes to their business module to improve their environmental impact. Some initiatives include reducing water usage, using HVAC systems that use less energy, and improving the materials that their disposable cups are made of.  Starbucks has a lot invested in the environment (climate change may severely impact the growth of coffee beans) and will most likely continue to try to make changes to reduce their carbon footprint.

Coffee Cup via Shutterstock

Surprisingly, or maybe not so surprisingly, we’ve made it through 2012. Now 2013 is days away and the daunting task of coming up with New Year’s Resolutions lies in front of us. Like most people I have never been good at keeping New Year’s Resolutions. I always seem to come up with resolutions too large or obscure to follow through with past January. This year I decided to go simpler with my resolutions, so I’d be more likely to accomplish them.

New Years gives people the chance to make lifestyle changes that they normally wouldn’t have the courage to make. Below you will find 4 of my New Year’s Resolutions:

1.      Remember to Turn Off The Lights (and Save Energy)

Turning off your lights when you leave the room is one of the easiest ways to save electricity and be more energy efficient. If you already have your light usage under control, try fitting your home with energy efficient light bulbs.  For more ideas on maximizing your energy efficiency click here.

2.      Vow To Spend More Time Outdoors (and Visit A National Park)

This past year I have spent far too many weekends sitting in front of the television and far too little time outside.  For this upcoming year I plan to visit either a National, State, or local  park at least every three months. To find a National Park near you, click here.

3.      Get Educated on Green Issues

For this upcoming year I plan to try to stay up to date on environmental and nature related news. As a blog writer I try to keep up to date, but I am constantly reminded of how much is happening that I don’t know (See Bonus at End of Blog). To address my gap in knowledge my goal is to read at least one article a day.

 ENN is a great resource for environmental news because not only do they write their own original articles but the website also features articles from a wide range of sources including Discovery News, Triple Pundit, and ClickGreen, to name a few.

4.      Stand Up For An Issue You Believe In

Taking a stand for an issue can be as simple of a commitment as signing an online petition, or as life changing as vowing to become a vegetarian because you disagree with how the meat industry is run.  It is hard to put into words how satisfying it is to stand up for something you believe in. This past year I was lucky enough to go get the opportunity to go to Washington DC and lobby for a cause very close to my heart and this upcoming year I plan to continue supporting the cause and to get the courage to stand up for other things I believe in. 

New Year’s Bonus:

Below are three websites that have compiled lists of the biggest  environmental events/discoveries of 2012. How many can you recognize?

http://news.mongabay.com/2012/1218-top-10-stories-2012.html

http://www.abc.net.au/environment/articles/2012/12/21/3658738.htm

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2012/12/pictures/121203-top-ten-new-discoveries-2012/

Green 2013 via Shutterstock

In the U.S., annual trash from gift-wrap and shopping bags totals 4 million tons and from Thanksgiving to New Years Day, as household waste increases by more than 25%!

With the gift wrap industry now accounting for nearly $2.6 billion annually in retail sales, we can only image how many unnecessary paper products are being bought each year to wrap up gifts.

The kicker is that a majority of the wrapping paper we buy usually cannot be recycled because it is often dyed and laminated. It can also contain non-paper additives, such as gold and silver coloring, glitter and plastics. Also, the paper can be very thin and contain few good quality fibers that are used for recycling. Another problem that arises is that tape that is stuck on the wrapping paper itself does not allow that paper to be completely recyclable.

While I do admit there is nothing better than ripping open a present in under 5 seconds flat, all that hard work that went into the careful wrapping of the gift often goes unnoticed. So why spend money and resources on ribbons, wrapping paper and gift cards, when we can make equally pleasing wrapping paper from stuff we have lying around the house.

Here are some suggestions this year to lighten not only your footprint on the planet, but also your wallet.

Wrapping Paper Alternatives:

Newspaper: Definitely the cheapest way to go. While using the cartoon section may be a little tacky, opting for a black and white motif can look very classy and elegant.

Old maps: We’re in a digital age people! No one uses paper maps anymore! So find your outdated road atlas and start cutting.

Leftover wallpaper: After a home redecorating project, save your wallpaper scraps. We often are forced to overestimate wallpaper area so we have enough to cover the walls, but we usually do not end up with enough to do anything else with it. Save this paper to wrap up gifts. While the style might not compliment a holiday motif, you can still use this paper for shower and birthday gifts.

Paper Bags: Paper shopping bags can be turned inside out and then decorated with paint, stickers, cut-out paper snowflakes and other holiday decorations. This alternative is great for kids as they can personalize their gifts even more.

Because the size of these alternatives are not very large, or wide in size, it may be more difficult to wrap larger presents. So in the event that you are going to need some wrapping paper this season, opt for eco-friendly varieties that can be recycled and try not to waste any of the paper.

Happy Wrapping Everybody!

See more Green Gift Wrapping Ideas at Sierra Club Green Home.

Wrapped gifts image via Shutterstock.

H&M, the now international Swedish retail chain synonymous with trendy (and cheap) clothing is trying to update their look. Recently the brand has been implementing new practices to reduce their environmental impact and appear more sustainable. These practices include increasing their use of organic cotton (they are now the largest user of organic cotton in the world) and pledging to not discharge hazardous chemicals into the environment. Last week H&M made an announcement about their newest campaign,starting in February 2013 H&M will begin collecting used clothes in their stores as part of a global clothing drive.

H&M’s clothing drive will be the first Worldwide Drive, taking  place in  48 markets world wide. According to H&M, as much as 95% of clothes that end up in landfills every year could be re-worn, reused, or recycled. By collecting used clothes in their stores H&M hopes to provide a convenient way to extend the lifecycle of use clothing. In return for bringing in their used clothes donators will receive a voucher for H&M for each bag of clothes donated.

Collected clothing will go to H&M’s partner, I:Co, another Swedish company that collects used clothes in Europe. I:Co will sort the clothes based on their condition.Clothes in good condition will be handed over to thrift shops; worn garments will be recycled into towels or napkins; poor condition material will be recovered for the textile industry; and the remainder will be directed to bio gas ventures. 

So is H&M’s global clothing drive ecologic genius?

According to an article on Triple Pundit ,H&M’s program’s smart but not perfect.

When considering the carbon footprint of a piece of clothing the most important factor in a garment’s lifecycle is it’s use phase, in particular the cleaning of the item. This is not saying that H&M’s program will not have a carbon impact. Reusing materials will  substantially reduce the carbon footprint during the manufacturing phase for reused materials. A recent study found that using polyester and cotton reduces the energy use in both cases by more than 97 percent compared to using virgin materials.

The other issue with H&M’s drive is whether providing an incentive  to “donate” used clothes undermines the message of sustainability. By providing a voucher, H&M is encouraging buyers to replace their wardrobes , instead of just getting rid of clothes they don’t want or need.

Will the option to “sustainably” dispose of unwanted clothes result in increased clothing “consumption” by people who choose to participate in the program? Or will it educate millions of people around the world about the importance of sustainability in manufacturing and impact consumption?

Woman With Clothes via Shutterstock

Though the first official day of winter is not until December 21, temperature-wise,it already feels like winter has begun. Home thermostats and space heaters are being turned on for the first time, making the home feel less like the inside of an icicle and more like the comfortable home you are used to. Everything seems perfects again except for one thing, there seems to be some kind of cold draft coming in from outside destroying your perfect habitat.

Drafts, caused by air leaking through cracks and crevices, can be found in all types of homes, but especially in older homes.  Cracks and crevices can make in-home heating and cooling systems inefficient and can add 20% to your energy bill. Not only do these drafts lead to energy waste but they can also increase the likelihood of condensation, mold, and rot in your home, making your home unsafe. According to the Consumer Energy Center the most common site for air leakage are floors, walls, and ceilings (31%), followed by ducts (15%), fireplaces (14%), plumbing (13%), doors (11%), windows (10%), fans/vents (4%) and electrical outlets (2%). Fortunately, identifying and fixing these leaks can be extremely easy, and can be done with or without professional help.

How to Identify Leaks

There are many tests one can perform to test for air leaks in the home. The Paper Test is an easy way for testing for leaks in your windows and doors. To perform the tests, shut the door/window in question onto a piece of paper. Then try to pull the paper out. If you can pull out the paper without ripping it, then that door/window needs to be addressed. Another, more complicated test, is the Incense Test. For the Incense Test you first need to turn off the furnace/depressurize your house. Then walk around your house with a stick of incense. If you notice the smoke being blown or sucked away then you have a leak.

Another important sign of a possible leak is dampness or rot.  This is especially important with insulation in the attic. If you notice that your insulation is wet or damp you should call in a professional because you either have a roof leak or structural damage.

Another option is to get an energy efficiency evaluation from a local utility company. Many utility companies offer them for free or at a low-cost so don’t be afraid to call and ask.

How to Fix a Leak

The type of action needed to fix a leak depends on the location and size of the leak. Leaks from windows and doors can be easily fixed by installing weather stripping. To fix leaks caused by cracks and gaps around windows, pipes, and vents you can use caulk or spray foam. Though electrical outlets only account for 2% of air leakage, buying weather proofed outlet plates is an easy change to make.  Though many leaks can be fixed by any handyman/handywoman, there are some leaks that may need to be fixed by a professional.

When buying materials to fix your home it is important to look for low pollution materials. Choose water-based caulks and sealants with little or no VOCs. This is important not only for your health but also for your impact on the environment.

Addressing air leaks in your home is important if you want to reduce your environmental impact in the winter(and summer as well). For a more complete guide to the issue and more specific tips I suggest you check out “A Do-It-Yourself Guide to Sealing and Insulating with ENERGY STAR”.

Girl and Radiator via Shutterstock

Every family has their own holiday traditions and this time of year brings up a great holiday debate all about the Christmas tree.

When I was younger, I can remember having live trees, which were potted in our living room. After Christmas, my dad would dig an enormous hole in our backyard to replant the trees. When he got tired of going through all that work, we started to buy cut trees, but after shedding pine needles and short life spans, we finally opted for an artificial tree. So for the past ten years or so, my family and I have been putting up the fake in early December, and we end up leaving it up until way after Christmas. Despite our tacky Christmas ornaments, to me, our tree looks really authentic and people always ask if it is real or not, which I guess is a compliment.

So while we have decided on our artificial tree for now, family, friends, and neighbors all seem to have their own opinions and traditions on which tree to choose. So which one really is “better” to put up?

What Christmas tree consumers need to consider: Cost, Convenience, and Environmental Impact.

Cost: Annual purchase of cut trees range from $30-$80 depending on size, type, and area where you live (this takes into account how far away the trees are sourced). Artificial trees are hopefully a one-time cost of between $30-$500. The better quality of the artificial tree, the more likely it will last which is crucial for the cost debate.

Convenience. Not every family has access to real trees. Even though seasonal tree stands seem to pop up on every corner, many areas still do not have this convenience and are forced to drive hours to get one. While this may be considered a form of a traditional family outing, there are other spent resources here that are often not considered. Also, going earlier in the season ensures a better looking tree, but having that tree inside for a longer period of time means that it will not last as long. As far as artificial trees, besides spending hours trying to figure out how to attach the branches to the trunk, you can put up and take down the tree whenever you have time.

Environmental Impact. Today’s artificial trees are most likely produced overseas and are made out of non-biodegradable substances so when thrown away, they will sit in landfills and will not decompose. Live trees can be “recycled” or made into mulch. They also will be able to decompose. A single farmed tree can absorb more than 1 ton of CO2 throughout its lifetime. It can also provide oxygen to the ecosystem. While it will eventually get cut down, tree farmers plant seedlings the following spring to regrow the crop. Because this industry is somewhat agricultural, these trees may be subject to pesticides and fertilizers, so looking into organically raised trees is also important.

Still don’t know which to pick? Well, a 2009 study concluded that a 7-foot cut tree’s impact on climate is 60 percent less than a 7-foot artificial tree used for six years. So while cut trees are not carbon-neutral, in terms of carbon-use, they are better than artificial trees. But this really comes down to how long you plan to use your artificial tree and in this case, the magic number is 6 years.

It’s hard to declare either tree a winner-it really is all about preference and where your holiday traditions and allegiances lie. And once you and your family finally decide which one to choose this year, the next question you’ll need to think about is the Christmas tree topper, angel or star?

Read more about the Lifecycle of the Christmas Tree.

Tree image via Shutterstock.