Thursday, September 24, 2009

Yellowstone Grizzlies Endangered Again

Last month, I blogged about a the recent killings of grizzly bears in Montana. The grizzlies of Montana are back in the news this week with their return to the Endangered Species list.

Grizzly Bears (Ursus arctos horribilis) are en...Image via Wikipedia


In 2007, the approximately 500 grizzlies in Yellowstone were delisted, but the Greater Yellowstone Coalition appealed this ruling and won. The court decided to relist them as endangered because they agreed with the coalition that the Fish & Wildlife Service didn't have adequate regulatory mechanisms to protect the bears.

The court also stated that the agency didn't properly consider the effects of global warming and the decline of whitebark pine nuts, which are a major food source for grizzlies.

The coalition calls the grizzly "an iconic symbol of Greater Yellowstone’s power and beauty." My boys have friends who saw a grizzly up close and personal in Yellowstone this summer. They didn't mention the beauty, but the bear certainly had the power to make them retreat quickly to their car! They were most impressed with the giant claws.

Welcome back to the list Grizzlies...

A Look Back to 1989 Part Two

A few weeks ago, I posted the first 28 suggestions from a 1989 book titled 50 Simple Things You Can Do to Save the Earth just to see how far we've come in 20 years. Many of them were slam-dunks (e.g. don't use leaded gas), but a few made me think. Now we're on to the section of the list titled "It Takes Some Effort." Thankfully, many of them really don't take much effort in 2009. I guess that counts as progress.

29. Reuse Old News - This is much easier today than 20 years ago with 8,550 curbside recycling programs in our country and over 50% of all paper products being recycled. Next step: when you need paper goods, look for the recycled content on the label.

30. Recycle Glass - Again, curbside recycling makes this easy, but as the costs of recycling glass increases and the need decreases, this may get more challenging in the future. See my earlier blog, The Future of Glass Recycling.


31. Don't Can Your Aluminum - Same as above.

32. Precycle - I was impressed this was even a word in 1989. I know I hadn't heard of it till more recently. The key here is to reduce waste before you buy. This is a work-in-progress for me. What about you?

33. Use Cloth Diapers - Thankfully, I'm past this stage, but the great diaper debate rages on. I confess I used disposables. The last I heard, neither disposable or cloth was a good choice (because of all the chemicals required to clean the cloth diapers and fuel used to deliver them to homes). I don't have any babies to try them on, but I've heard gDiapers is a newer alternative available today that aims for an Earth-friendly and convenient diaper.

34. Put It To Work...At Work - The recommendation here is to be green not just at home, but at work as well. Since I'm blogging about it, I think I'm covered here. This one is much harder for people who work in other industries - the medical industry comes to mind. I remember the days when medical equipment was reused. Now, spend a day in the hospital and you'll be amazed at all the disposable pieces of equipment that get used once and tossed. Seems there should be a middle ground somewhere.

35. Recycle the Rest - plastic, tin, etc. Again, all this is easier now. Ever need to know how to recycle something in particular? Send me an email and I'll see if I can find some answers.

36. Build a Backyard Wildlife Refuge - Well, let's see... I have a 2-year old pug that barks at anything that flies, crawls, or creeps in our backyard so our yard is more of a terror zone than a refuge. My son's second grade class is planning to do something like this in the spring so I'll try to live vicariously through them instead. Just in case you have a backyard that isn't patrolled by a crazy pug, check out the National Wildlife Federation for tips on attracting wildlife to your yard. You can even become a Certified Wildlife Habitat.

37. Help Protect the Rainforests - I worry about this, but have never done anything to help. I just learned that next week is World Rainforest Week, so you can count on more information to come.

38. The Great Escape - The recommendation here is that you not let the heat (or air-conditioning) inside your house escape through leaks and cracks. I've never had an energy audit, but it would be interesting to see what they find.


39. Plant a Tree - I've already blogged about chopping down a bunch of trees in my yard, so I probably fail on this one in my own yard, but lately I've been thinking more about urban trees and their impact on the rates of inner-city asthma rates. Another future blog post...

40. Prevent Pests Naturally - I rarely use pesticides in my yard, but I think the bigger issue here is the products I buy that come from farmers who do use pesticides. The local farmer's markets, homegrown vegetables, and organic foods from the store all are a step in the right direction.

41. What a Waste! The recommendation here relates to Hazardous Waste. We all know we shouldn't just dump things like paint and oil, but do we go the extra step to find out how to properly dispose of them? A good first step is to check with your local garbage company or transfer station. Nationally, you can always check with the EPA. As for me? Looking at my garage, I think I have a tendency to just let the paint cans lie around in the garage. Future project...

42. Carpool to Work - Today's vanpools, transit systems, and carpool lanes definitely encourage this, but I'm afraid Americans still cling to their favorite single-occupant transport system - their car. For me, I get off easy on this one. I work from home so there is no carbon output!

What has this list left you thinking about? For me, I want to learn more about the rainforests, keep working on precycling, and contemplate getting an energy audit in my home. Up next, the last 8 recommendations from 1989.

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Wednesday, September 23, 2009

A Look Back to 1989

I recently found a book from 1989 titled 50 Simple Things You Can Do To Save the Earth (The Earth Works Group). I thought it would be interesting to see how we're doing twenty years later. Rather than rate the world though, I'm just rating myself. Green means I'm doing it, yellow means I'm partway there, and red means I probably have never even considered it, but might now.

Today's list includes the first 28 suggestions - the ones the book calls "Simple Things." I'll save the recommendations from "It Takes an Effort" and "For the Committed" for a later post.


  1. Stop Junk Mail - The good news is this is easier today. Check out my previous post on reducing junk mail.

  2. Snip Six-pack Rings - Apparently, this book was one of the initial sources that pointed out the harm the beverage six-pack rings could cause to marine life. Today, it seems there are less six-pack rings (because we're buying 12-packs now...) and there is some recognition that there are far more harmful things in the ocean (that giant pile of floating garbage in the Pacific), but I still snip.
  3. Use a Clean Detergent - This is easier to do today with all the choices on the market. I like Seventh Generation products.
  4. Aerate Your Faucet - I think my water is fairly low-flow already so I haven't done this one.

  5. New Ingredients - The pitch was to use reusable products in the kitchen - recycled paper towels, reusable containers, etc. Check.
  6. Tanks, But No Tanks - The book recommended lowering your water tank temperature. I went one step further and purhcased a tankless heater when ours was due for a replacement.
  7. Make a Phone Call - in other words, familiarize yourself with your local utilities and services. Hopefully, this blog helps with that!
  8. Brush Up on Paint - Use latex instead of oil, don't dump it outside, etc. Check.
  9. Time to Re-Tire? New laws require this and make it simple for the consumer. Want to see what we used to do with them? Here are the mistakes of the past from a few cities near me. An endless fire and a recent cleanup.
  10. Home on the Range - Ah... the appliances. Get energy efficient appliances. Out of necessity, I've replaced virtually all my appliances in the past five years so I'm good here. The one downfall in my house is the A/C. Definitely more of a luxury than a necessity in the Pacific Northwest (although 2009 was the hottest summer on record.)
  11. Don't Go with the Flow - Turn the water off when you brush your teeth, do dishes, etc. Check.
  12. Gas Station Ecology - Use unleaded gas. Does leaded gas even still exist??
  13. The Twilight Ozone - NASA has a cool video that calls ozone "sunscreen for our Earth." The production of CFCs (in thousands of tons) went from 1120 in 1989 to 70 in 2004. Despite this dramatic reduction, NASA estimates it will take until 2070 to get the ozone hole back to the size it was in 1980. It's a work in progress...
  14. Your Gas Is as Good as Mine - Buy the most fuel-efficient car you can. I don't think my SUV makes the grade here. I vow my next car will be better.

  15. Recharge Your Batteries - I have some sitting in a bag in the garage. I'll pull them out today!
  16. Attention Shoppers! Amazingly, even 20 years ago this book recommended bringing your own bag. We're finally listening.
  17. Find the Hidden Toxics - From the book, "There are more chemicals in the home today than there were in the average chemical laboratory 100 years ago." While I am aware of this, I don't think it everytime I buy a permanent marker or set of sheets as the book suggests.
  18. Leave It a Lawn - I think the 2009 version of this is "get rid of the lawn." I still have one, but I don't use pesticides and the grass does get composted through my local yard waste pickup.
  19. Stamp Out Styrofoam - I have a styrofoam phobia (the noise give me chills) so I excel at this one. My kids learned, at a very young age, that Christmas presents that come in boxes with styrofoam must be opened where I can't hear it. I would NEVER buy styrofoam peanuts! Recycled newspaper is always a good alternative.
  20. It's a Beach - The book recommends taking a trash bag to the beach. I do live near one and could easily do this next time.
  21. Buyer Beware - Specifically beware of buying products that come from endangered species (e.g. ivory from elephants). Earth Island Institute recommended boycotting all canned tuna because of the harm it causes to dolphins. Today, 90% of worldwide tuna companies follow their standards.
  22. Pests and Pets - Don't let your dog wear a toxic flea collar. I don't even know if those collars still exist. Vets offer much better alternatives today.
  23. Make It A Royal Flush - I've heard of this, but never tried it. Save 1-2 gallons of water per flush by using a displacement device in the tank. They recommend a full plastic bottle of water (label off, cap on, filled with a few small stones for weight) instead of the traditional brick. Worth a try...

  24. Air-Power Your Shower - It seems like we already covered this in #4. Here the book gives shower-specific advice. Hold a bucket under your showerhead and see how long it takes to get to the 1 gallon line. If it is less than 20 seconds, you are a candidate for a low-flow showerhead. Ok, I'll try it.

  25. Recycle Motor Oil - Given that I don't change my own oil, this one is easy for me.

  26. Tune Up the Heat - Tune up your furnace every year (oil furnaces) or two (gas furnaces). I'm on a regular schedule for this. The added bonus is that it keeps the home more allergen-free.
  27. Light Right - Buy CFC lightbulbs. Wow! I didn't even know they existed in 1989.
  28. Don't Let Go - Don't release balloons into the air. This is primarily aimed at the wedding-planners of the world. The concern is that they eventually end up in the ocean and there have been cases of whales dying as a result of swallowing balloons. Other than the occasional lost balloon at the local parade and a tearful child, I'm good here.

The good news is that twenty years later that some of these recommendations really are simple. I do still have five reds and three yellows though. How did you do?

Looking for Ladybugs

My son came home from school the other day and told me that some scientists are looking for

Ladybug LadybugImage by Thomas Hawk via Flickr

ladybugs. I haven't been on a ladybug expedition lately, but a brief Internet search did help me find the scientists.

The Lost Ladybug Project was started at Cornell University and seeks to understand the changes that have been taking place over the past twenty years with ladybugs. Some common ladybugs have become rare, some types have increased in numbers, and others have relocated to new habitats. Ladybugs are important because they help keep plants alive by eating the pest insects (e.g. aphids).

A ladybug standing on a leaf. Photograph taken...Image via Wikipedia

They are looking to kids to help out by having them find, collect, and photograph ladybugs. If you happen to find a ladybug, consider photographing it and uploading the image on the Lost Ladybug website to contribute to the research project. The site even shows how to use nets to find them in fields - maybe a good school science project.

A few years ago, my children's bathroom was infested with ladybugs. I have never seen other bugs in the bathroom and I have no idea how they got in the house. Well, maybe the occasional "Mom! There's a spider in the bathtub!" but this was really strange. We collected and released them and they never came back. Now, I wish I had photographed them!


Some other interesting ladybug facts:
* Over 500 species have been identified in the US; 4500 in the world
* They live up to one year after the pupal stage
* Their predators include spiders, stinkbugs, and toads
* They are part of the beetle family

Happy Ladybug Searching!

Image via Wikipedia

Hippodamia hiding within a flower bud

Tuesday, September 22, 2009

Getting the Lead Out

centerImage via Wikipedia

Lead poisoning wasn't something I worried much about until a few years ago when the news came out that many vinyl lunchboxes contained lead. I was concerned so I ordered the kit, tested the lunchbox and learned that it was in fact leaching lead onto my son's food. As if we don't have enough things to worry about! The lunchbox went in the garbage and we moved to the old-fashioned metal kind.

This year we're back to a vinyl lunchbox now that manufacturers seem to have gotten their act together. A recent discussion with my family and a new state program made me realize though that there are still reasons to be concerned about lead.

Cover of Cover via Amazon

The discussion came up while reading Little House in the Big Woods to my two boys. The chapter was about Pa making bullets out of lead every night by the fire. (By the way, in case your boys think Little House books are for girls, they might want to think again - the hunting and animal stories are keeping my boys entertained!) My youngest son didn't know what lead was, so my husband gave him a reference he could understand. "Do you know those fishing weights that I bite when I'm putting them on your line?" That clued him in, but left me with questions. Um, really, we bite the lead weights? I guess this pinches them together to get them to stay on, but I have never noticed the biting part. My husband assures me the children don't do this. Now, I just have to work on him...

Lead isn't found in pencils (actually, they have always been falsely labeled "lead pencils" despite the fact the center is graphite), but where is lead found? The biggest concern is in the paint found in older homes. Before the 1950s, paint contained up to 50% lead. That was eventually cut to 1%, and then in 1978 it was cut to just a trace amount. While remodeling may be the way to get the lead out, it can also lead to significant lead exposure so check with your local government program for tips before you proceed.

Other ways that kids may be exposed, include:
* Candies purchased in or imported from Mexico
* Toys - Check the latest lead recall list to find out more.
* Cookware that isn't specifically labeled lead-free and safe for cooking. Specifically, look out for ceramic pieces that are designed more as artwork rather than cookware.
* Electronics - As long as the electronics are intact, you should be fine, but the concern comes when the break. Just something to think about before you let them dismantle that broken computer or television...
* Hot tap water - This one surprised me, but the CDC recommends only drinking cold water from the tap. If you want it hot, you should heat it. Most lead from drinking water comes from the household pipes, not the source.

According to the CDC, lead poisoning is particularly damaging to children. There is no level of lead exposure that is considered safe. At least we don't have to worry about them chewing on their pencils - graphite is non-toxic!

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Tuesday, September 15, 2009

Technology Takes Out the Trash

Okay, it is Day #5 of school for my kids and I'm finally blogging again - hopefully, more regularly now! Thanks to my readers for sharing ideas all summer. I now have a giant file of things to blog about.

Yesterday, I read an article about the new trash cans at our neighborhood parks and since there happened to be one on our way home from music lessons, decided we just had to stop. As you can see from the picture, it also happens to be the trash can with one of the best views around. That's Puget Sound and Whidbey Island in the background.

They're called BigBellies and, for $4000 a piece, I figured they must be something special. Here's the deal - they are solar-powered trash compactors. Now, you may be asking, why would the city pay 10 times what a normal trash can costs, just to have fancy trash cans?

Well, it turns out that a big cost to the city is paying for the time and gas it takes their employees to make a daily garbage run to all the parks. The BigBelly holds five times the amount of trash of a regular can and uses solar energy to compact it. The city expects to break even on the cost within three years by reducing the number of garbage runs. Even better, once the program is fully in place, they will have reduced their carbon footprint by 45 tons/year.

So, there we were standing in front of the BigBelly. In went the apple core and graham cracker wrapper from their afternoon snack. We thought it might make some cool, smushing noise, but alas, the meter showed it was on empty and in no need of compacting. I guess we'll have to go back on a busy weekend!

My only suggestion for an improvement to the program - put one in for recycling as well.

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Idle Minutes in the Carpool Lane

If your kids are back in school, you may find yourself in the dreaded carpool pickup lane this afternoon. The question is... do you leave the car running while you wait in line or turn it off?

For the answer, I turned to the Consumer Energy Center. They recommend turning off your car if you are going to be idling for more than 30 seconds. The difference can really add up if you're in line for minutes every day. One hour of idling uses one gallon of gas! Remember, no matter what kind of car you drive, you're getting zero mpg while you are standing still.

Want another choice? How about...
  • Walking or biking if you're close. According to the National Center for Safe Routes to School, the number of kids living less than a mile away who walk or bike to school dropped from 87% in 1969 to 63% in 2001.
  • Letting your child ride the bus.
  • Carpooling with another family.
  • Parking and walking to the pickup zone rather than idling and slowly crawling through the line.