Author: Robert DeAngelis As we transition away from fossil fuels, we will rely more heavily on renewable electricity and our electric grid. We will migrate our cars and home heating systems to clean grid-supplied electricity. Geothermal or air source heat pumps are the best current options for home heating. You may wonder what impact will the added electrical usage have? …
Beyond the Three Rs
By Sarah Wilson We’re all familiar with the three Rs associated with waste: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. But there are more “Rs” that we can adopt to help us achieve a zero-waste, sustainable lifestyle. According to The World Counts, humans produce more than 2 billion tons of waste every year. Annie Leonard, creator of the animated 2007 film “The Story of…
New York’s Groundbreaking Climate Leadership Legislation
by Peter Capek In July of 2019, New York’s legislature passed an important and forward-thinking law which puts the state at the forefront of action and policy to respond to climate change. The law acknowledges the reality of the state of our environment, mandates appropriate responses by government and industry, and encourages and motivates action where it can’t be forced. …
Building for the Future – Low Carbon
By: Bob DeAngelis The Earth is facing a critical moment: climate change and the severe weather it causes are upon us. Examples include the recent record highs on the West Coast: Portland at 116 F, Seattle at 108 F, Canada’s all time high at 121 F, and the devastating floods from torrential rains in Germany and Belgium causing many deaths. …
Protecting the Environment by Making Your Home Green
By: Cyril Cabral Jr. How would you dress if you had to spend the day outside in Antarctica, with an average yearly temperature of -57 o F? You would probably not have any exposed skin – covered from head to toe with windbreaking garments – to minimize the chance of frostbite. Next, you may consider many layers and a down-like…
Make it and take it!
By: Bob DeAngelis I believe we can fix some significant environmental issues by placing responsibility in the right place. What I am proposing is a major change, but it is what is needed. If you have a better idea, I would sincerely like to hear it. The proposal for manufactured products is: If you make it, you have to take…
A Wellness Exam for Your House – The Home Performance Audit
By: Cyril Cabral Jr. Would you skip your annual physical (wellness) exam and wait years until there is a problem before making that appointment? Probably not. Health is something not to be taken for granted and finding an issue well before it becomes a crisis is important. Likewise, finding issues with home performance well before major problems ensue is critical. …
The Charge of the EV’s
By: Susan Buck In April 2021, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) noted that 29% of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions (in 2019) were created from the transportation sector, which includes the movement of people and goods by cars, trucks, trains, ships, airplanes, and other vehicles. The majority of greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from passenger cars, medium- and…
Spring into Greener Cleaning
By: Mary Ann Kelly It is spring and a perfect time to set sustainable cleaning goals! Green cleaning is the process of choosing cleaning products that are better for both people and the planet. Unlike conventional cleaning products, green cleaning products are created using safe, non-toxic and biodegradable products. Making smart choices about what we buy, how we use it,…
Why NOT to Buy Bottled Water
By: Robert DeAngelis Why not? It’s convenient. Why not? Because by purchasing bottled water we’re being hoodwinked, and at significant environmental cost. Do you remember the folktale The Emperor’s New Clothes? An Emperor gets duped into thinking he’s purchased magnificent clothes, which are only invisible to those who are stupid or incompetent. As a result of a great con…