Feb
24
There are many lessons to be learned from the ongoing situation in Haiti. One of these is the dire consequences facing a country that for many reasons has been decimated ecologically.
Deforestation and over-farming have taken a toll on this island nation. Most of the country is eroded and barren, which in turn makes farming difficult to impossible and makes the nation vulnerable to natural disasters.
In a land with few trees or forests and soils that are all but destroyed, planning a turnaround is difficult, but a comeback is possible.
One of the big lessons of Haiti, unrelated to but exacerbated by the earthquake, is that human beings ultimately pay a big price when the natural world is completely disregarded.
Haiti, and many other places on the planet, will benefit when people take a stand for more trees and healthier ecosystems and less overuse of resources. Haiti is not the only example of a land that has been grotesquely overused, but in the aftermath of the devastating earthquake it’s in the spotlight.
It is important to remember the lessons of the lives of men like Theodore Roosevelt and take a stand for conservation and intelligent land management that places a premium on the value of developing land use policies for agriculture, as well as maintaining wild places and promoting biodiversity.
Biodiversity is important not just for the health of plants and animals, it’s important for the health of humans too. Without healthy ecosystems, all living things suffer.
Tags: CalRecycle, Conservation, Haiti, San Diego, STAND FOR LESS, Theodore Roosevelt
Posted in Habitat restoration and preservation | No Comments »
Feb
17
Covering water, politics, gardening and the environment, writer Emily Green has created a gem with her Chance of Rain blog. Green has written for the Los Angeles Times, The New York Times and The Independent (UK).
Chance of Rain highlights her concern for her native American West, a land defined by water.
We encourage you to visit Chance of Rain today, and often.
Tags: American West, Chance of Rain, Emily Green blog, journalist Emily Green, water
Posted in Water | 1 Comment »
Feb
9
Learn about one of the first commercially available clean-energy fuel cells for generating electricity and heat for large homes and small businesses at two free, public workshops at CCSE on Monday, March 8. A workshop for business owners will be held at from 1:00 to 4:30 p.m., and a workshop for homeowners will be held from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
The workshops will introduce fuel cell technology, discuss its applications and advantages, cover available rebates and provide case studies of home and business installations. Fuel cells are already powering many different applications, from large factories to cell phone towers, and recent technological developments now make this energy source available for wider application.
For registration go to visit the CCSE Web site or call (858) 244-1177. No cost.
Tags: California Center for Sustainable Energy, CCSE, clean energy, fuel cells, green energy
Posted in Energy, Green construction, Partners | 1 Comment »
Feb
8
Get out. Take a deep breath of fresh air. Stretch your legs. Leave behind your cell phone. Take your dog, your best friend or simply yourself. Go to the coast or find a mountain trail.
This is California. Your hiking choices are practically endless. It’s easy to find a spectacular place to go, to step outside of your civilized life.
When we are out of our cars, our offices, and our homes we can take in the feeling nature with all of our senses. In those moments especially, it’s easy to remember why it is important to STAND FOR LESS use of natural resources.
We STAND FOR LESS for a healthier world today and a sustainable world tomorrow.
Go take a hike.
Tags: California, Conservation, green, hike, hiking, San Diego, STAND FOR LESS
Posted in STAND FOR LESS | No Comments »
Feb
4
Go for the trophy by hosting or attending the Super Bowl party that generates the least amount of waste. © BrokenSph.ere / Wikimedia Commons
The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department reminds residents to reduce waste while watching the Super Bowl. Here are some simple tips and reminders of what to recycle, not just during your football watching parties, but year-round:
Plates, cups and napkins
- Trash increases during Super Bowl so drink beverages out of recyclable glass or aluminum cans. Avoid Styrofoam, plastic drink ware and paper cups because they are not compostable.
- Choose reusable plates and flatware, which can be washed and used again.
- Plastic ware such as plastic utensils is not recyclable, so use durable, reusable tableware to avoid putting plastic in the trash.
- Avoid compostable utensils because they take too long to break down and there are no local recycling programs that can properly compost them.
- Paper plates and cups contaminated with food goes into the trash.
- Use washable cloth napkins instead of paper.
Snacks
- Consider eco-friendly snacks such as compostable veggies with homemade dip and organic beer, and don’t forget to place two containers out: One for recycling and the other for trash, and mark them clearly.
Pizza and Pizza Boxes
- Consider making your own pizza from scratch.
- Put clean pizza boxes in the blue bin, but not soiled boxes.
- Tear off the soiled part of the box for the trash, but recycle the clean part.
Recycling
- Remember the City of San Diego KISS (Keep It Short & Simple) Rule: Give us your cardboard, paper, cans, bottles and jars.
- Don’t bother with the number on the bottom. Recycle all your empty plastic/glass bottles, jugs and jars. These are recyclable, regardless of the plastic/glass type.
- Paper or frozen food boxes can be recycled.
Non-Recyclable
- Milk cartons cannot be recycled.
- Plastic round dairy tubs, clamshell packaging, and microwave food trays are not accepted.
- Few manufacturers use recovered injection molded containers in new production, so collecting these items for recycling would impose a cost on the program and the City does not have funds for those extra costs.
How to “Error”?
- Recycle all papers and cardboard; plastic and glass bottles and jars; cans; and aluminum foil. Error on the side of caution. When in doubt, leave it out of the recycling bin. Don’t recycle such things as paper plates and pizza boxes contaminated with food; that goes into the trash. For information on what is recyclable in the City of San Diego’s curbside program, call 858-694-7000, or go to www.recyclingworks.com .
Tags: recycle, San Diego, San Diego Department of Environmental Services, Super Bowl
Posted in Partners, Recycling and waste management | No Comments »
Feb
2
Last August we posted a link to an Atlantic Monthly story that went into great detail about how the United States lost its way regarding alternatives to oil and energy conservation after the energy crisis of the 1970s. So what’s been going on since August? U.S. energy policy is changing.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) is actively supporting energy innovation through grants and loans. One example of this is a $465 million dollar loan to California-based Tesla Motors. An article at Treehugger credits this loan with setting up Tesla to move forward with an initial public stock offering (IPO) and raise additional capital necessary for the fledgling company.
For more on plans for the U.S. Department of Energy, read a summary of the new budget proposal for fiscal year 2011.
It takes time to change a nation’s energy consumption habits but change starts at home. What are you doing to STAND FOR LESS energy use, or to stand for more alternative energy sources?
The Tesla Roadster is twice as efficient as popular hybrid cars. Over 900 Roadsters have been delivered to customers in the U.S. and Europe. The new technology has meant this is an expensive car. Electric car supporters hope that as time goes by the technology will improve and the price of electric cars will fall--a common pattern with new technology.
Tags: Department of Energy, DOE, energy policy, Tesla, Tesla Motors, Tesla Roadster, Treehugger
Posted in Alternative vehicles, fuels and transportation options, Energy | No Comments »
