General Sustainability Articles

Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-07-2022

After you decide that your home is a good candidate for wind power, you need to understand the basic parts of wind-electric systems and how they fit together. In addition, you need to evaluate how much energy your home needs and how much wind your site actually gets — a realistic wind resource assessment is key. You also want to make sure to steer clear of "too good to be true" energy estimates from the pros who want to sell you their goods and services.

Step by Step / Updated 06-14-2019

Building sustainable practices into your everyday routines improves the health of the planet and the wealth in your wallet. To lighten your carbon footprint and save some green, try these low- or no-cost practices:

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-27-2016

If you want to make alternative energy a part of your life, either through your car, home, or at work, you should understand some basic energy terminology and the various alternative energy sources being used and developed.

Cheat Sheet / Updated 03-27-2016

If you want to “green” the way you clean your home, these Earth-friendly alternatives to typical cleaning methods and water-conservation techniques can help you shrink your carbon footprint as you go about your daily business.

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

You can make a difference to the environment by launching your own green community project. You can tackle a wide range of needs — clearing a hiking trail in a park or lobbying your local legislators to add green space. Some basic steps to follow in order to make your project successful:

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

Despite the environmental issues attached to vehicle usage, sometimes even the most eco-friendly person has to drive. At those times, you can increase your fuel efficiency and reduce your emission of carbon and other pollutants by following these strategies:

Step by Step / Updated 03-27-2016

The real environmental impact of trash disposal starts when garbage leaves your house and often your consciousness. Much of the energy that created what is now trash comes from nonrenewable sources, so the hidden waste includes the raw materials that went into the production and the costs of packaging, transporting, selling, and storing the items. The green living ideal is to reduce your trash so much that you produce no waste at all; however, it’s far more practical to focus on reducing your trash as much as you can. Tips for reducing your consumption include:

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

A green lifestyle is about treating the planet and the life it supports with respect. Genetic modification (GM) generally runs counter to a green lifestyle, especially when it comes to food. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) — also known as genetically engineered organisms — are living things whose genetic makeup (their DNA structure) has been changed by the addition of genes from another living thing. This tampering is done primarily to make plants and animals more useful in food production. Human intervention in this way carries with it some major concerns that, for the green community, outweigh the pros. Crops can be genetically modified so that they resist insects, herbicides, and disease or so that they contain extra nutrients or even vaccines. Animals can be genetically modified to produce lower-fat meat, resist certain diseases, or create less waste. The primary beneficiaries of genetic modification are food producers in terms of higher production capacities, increased disease or pest resistance, or increased herbicide resistance (which actually allows farmers to use more weed-killing herbicides). The biggest reservation about GM practices in the food chain lies in the field’s relative youth. Modern genetic engineering began with scientific discoveries in the 1950s through 1970s, so long-term consequences have yet to be determined. And given the amount of time generally needed to link cause and effect, it’s likely that these consequences won’t be identified for years — perhaps generations — to come. Some short-term effects have been observed, however, including the potential of GM seeds growing in non-GM areas, meaning that the non-GM crops would no longer be considered free of GM material — a huge issue for organic growers who, through no fault of their own, would suddenly be prevented from calling their crops organic. Other concerns include the potential for organisms insects and viruses to evolve and become more powerful and overcome the resistant GM animals and plants. Some scientists also are concerned that GM ingredients may cause toxic poisoning, allergic reactions, antibiotic resistance, and even cancer in humans. Research hasn’t proven all the concerns, but there’s enough evidence to warrant caution. GM crops are common in the United States, and no labeling is required; in fact, it’s believed that upwards of 70 percent of foods in U.S. supermarkets contain some element of genetic engineering. It’s highly likely that you’re eating GM ingredients in your food without even realizing it. Some of the foods and ingredients currently subject to genetic manipulation include Soybeans: Soy is one of the main sources of genetically modified ingredients in food and can be found in everything from chocolate to potato chips, margarine to mayonnaise, and biscuits to bread. Canola: Canola oil comes from certain types of canola plants. GM canola may be used for oils in making potato chips and animal feed. Corn: GM corn is used as cattle feed but also is used in all sorts of packaged food, such as breakfast cereal, bread, corn chips, and gravy mixes. Milk: Cows are injected with a genetically engineered growth hormone to increase milk production. The best way to find out whether your food choices contain genetically engineered ingredients is to choose local options so that you can talk to the producers and find out from them exactly what went into the food. If you can’t do that, then try talking to the managers or owners of local grocery stores — they may not be able to tell you about production methods, but the fact that you asked them may help to convince them that they should pay more attention to this issue. If you can’t buy the groceries you need from your community, try contacting food manufacturers directly. Their Web sites often contain information about production methods and a consumer telephone or e-mail hotline for questions. If companies aren’t able to categorically deny that they use GM ingredients, chances are good that they use these products.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

In order to meet the world’s increasing demand for energy without further damaging the world’s climate and environment, specifically preventing carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere, governments need to: Improve energy efficiency. Reducing the amount of energy people use is an essential part of reducing greenhouse gas emissions — solutions can range from sealing energy leaks in homes to driving more fuel-efficient vehicles. Stop forest loss. Nurturing carbon dioxide–eating plants is a major way to reduce the effect of carbon emissions. Trees take carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere as part of the photosynthesis process. Accelerate the development of low-emissions technologies. Practical (as in, available and reasonably priced) alternative energy sources such as wind, hydro (water), biomass (fuel from natural material such as crops and agricultural waste), and solar power are considered renewable. Humans can’t use up the wind and the sun, for example, in the same way they can use up fossil fuels. Alternative energy sources also have the benefit of producing little to no greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, technologies need to be researched and implemented to reduce emissions from existing energy sources. Develop flexible fuels. Flexible fuels such as hydrogen fuel cell technology would allow the effective and efficient storage of energy from intermittent sources such as the sun and wind so that the energy could be used as and when needed. Replace high-carbon coal with low-carbon gas. Although natural gas gives off carbon dioxide emissions when it’s burned, the emissions are much lower than those given off by coal. Switching power plants, for example, from coal-burning to gas-burning can significantly reduce emissions. Equip fossil fuel plants with carbon capture and storage technology. Carbon capture technology takes the carbon that results from burning fossil fuels and stores it where it can’t be released into the atmosphere (underground, for example). Although it doesn’t exactly reduce emissions, carbon capture technology does prevent emissions from reaching the atmosphere. Most industrialized countries are now focusing on reducing or eliminating waste by educating residents and businesses about how to decrease the amount of waste they’re responsible for, how to reuse as much as possible, how to recycle what can’t be reused, and how to turn household and garden waste into compost.

Article / Updated 03-26-2016

Organic farming is much friendlier for the earth and the local economy than massive corporate farming practices. Instead of using chemical-based fertilizers to create a high-yield soil, organic farming uses traditional methods of plowing the soil to break down soil compaction that can reduce water and air getting to the plants’ roots, rotating the crops to prevent crop-specific diseases or pests from building up in the soil, and growing cover crops that naturally add nutrients to the soil. Organic farming also emphasizes the use of physical, mechanical, or biological controls instead of chemicals to handle weeds, insects, and plant diseases. You can pull weeds by hand or machine, for example, or introduce a beneficial insect to eat a harmful one (for example, ladybugs to eat aphids). The lack of chemicals also eliminates the risk that dangerous substances will run into nearby rivers, streams, and the water table, affecting water quality. In turn, you’re less likely to be eating any chemicals used to keep bugs at bay and the soil fertile. When it comes to livestock, organic animals are fed only organic feed along with vitamins and minerals. Depending on the animal, there are specific rules about when and for how long the feed needs to be 100 percent organic. Look for meats labeled pasture-raised or grass-fed, indicating that the animals were raised outdoors on pasture and that their diet consisted of grasses and hay. This diet is much more natural and environmentally supportive than grain-feeding. Some animals (especially chickens and pigs) are fed some grains to ensure that they get the nutrients they need, but the grains can be organically grown. Growth hormones and antibiotics also are specifically banned in organic food products, although vaccines are allowed. Of course, farmers are allowed — in fact, they’re required — to give medication, including antibiotics, to sick animals to prevent suffering. However, food products that come from the animal involved may not be called organic if the animal has received a medication that’s on the organic-prohibited list.