Earth Wise
An invasive species named Fluffy
An invasive species is a plant or animal that is not native to a particular ecosystem. An invasive can throw an ecosystem out of whack by competing with native species for resources or eliminating native species. Examples include zebra mussels, Japanese knotweed, and the domestic house cat. [Read more…] about An invasive species named Fluffy
Increasingly sustainable buildings
There is a growing trend in green buildings – construction that is eco-friendly, energy efficient, and sustainable. The most widely recognized designation is LEED or Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design certification. Its three levels are certified, silver, and gold, and these have been awarded to over 13,000 buildings in the United States. [Read more…] about Increasingly sustainable buildings
Dogs and urban parks
A new study out of Israel suggests that the presence of dogs in urban parks decreases the diversity of bird species. [Read more…] about Dogs and urban parks
New records for greenhouse gases
According to a new report from the World Meteorological Organization, the three most significant greenhouse gases in the atmosphere all hit record levels in 2012. Carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide levels all reached new highs last year. [Read more…] about New records for greenhouse gases
A new relationship with energy
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The demand for clean energy is accelerating and its use is increasing steadily. Last year, 49% of all new power plant investment in the U.S. was for renewables, in part because the costs of solar energy and wind energy have been dropping dramatically over the past five years. [Read more…] about A new relationship with energy
What color is your water?
When most of us turn on the tap, we find clean, flowing water. In fact, we’ve come to expect that across this country, and the alternative is both annoying and newsworthy. [Read more…] about What color is your water?
Energy efficient cities
Energy efficiency is the most affordable way to lower our carbon footprint and reduce our consumption of non-renewable energy resources. While the federal government continues to struggle with developing any kind of energy efficiency policy, at the local level, there is plenty going on. [Read more…] about Energy efficient cities
Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
I’m a bird-watcher and an advocate of bird conservation. But often, my friends ask me if birds really make a difference. Normally, I point out the large amount of money spent by birdwatchers in travel and for tour guides to their latest bird “hot spot.” But, that income doesn’t always filter down to locals. [Read more…] about Birds: Worth their weight in coffee
Farming crops and sunlight
In many places around the world, using farmland for solar generation has become a profitable enterprise. Farmers have found that they can often make more money producing electricity instead of food crops. In Japan, where farmland is relatively scarce, this practice was actually prohibited by law. [Read more…] about Farming crops and sunlight
Storing energy in volcanic rock
The Pacific Northwest has abundant renewable energy resources, being the home to one of the largest networks of hydroelectric dams in the U.S. But state mandates for renewables on the grid have driven a boom in wind installations, which has actually led to a problem. The Bonneville Power Administration has forced wind farm owners to curtail their output of power at times of limited demand on the grid. [Read more…] about Storing energy in volcanic rock
It’s in the air you breathe
Medical evidence continues to pour in showing a strong link between air pollution and increased human mortality. The big players are ozone and small particles, known as PM2.5, in the atmosphere. Both have been under scrutiny by the EPA for years. [Read more…] about It’s in the air you breathe
Crowdfunding for environmental science
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Social media has made it easier than ever to connect with people, share information, and raise awareness. This has led to new forms of fundraising, among them crowdfunding. [Read more…] about Crowdfunding for environmental science
Pig farms and MRSA
A paper published recently in JAMA Internal Medicine found that people who live near pig farms or fields fertilized with pig manure are more likely to contract methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteria – also known as MRSA. [Read more…] about Pig farms and MRSA
Sentinel species: Nature’s early warning system
The phrase “canary in a coal mine” is a shorthand expression that indicates an early warning of an environmental hazard. [Read more…] about Sentinel species: Nature’s early warning system
Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
One of the best places for birdwatching in Africa is the village of Bonko in Ghana. A huge number of bird species nest in a nearby government-owned forest, including the rare white-necked rock-fowl. [Read more…] about Ecotourism as an engine of environmental protection
Carbon-free shipping
There is lots of interest these days in buying local. There is of course the desire to bolster local economies and support the businesses of the people who live in our community. But there is also an energy conservation issue because importing products over vast distances uses large amounts of energy and adds to greenhouse emissions. [Read more…] about Carbon-free shipping
Solar power at night
Recently, the Solana solar power plant in Gila Bend, Arizona began commercial operation. At 280 megawatts capacity, it is the largest concentrating solar power or CSP plant in the world, using parabolic trough mirrors to focus the rays of the sun. But it has another notable feature as well: it keeps generating electricity long after the sun goes down. [Read more…] about Solar power at night
An algal biorefinery
Oil production from the tar sands of Alberta is a charged topic, and the impetus for the controversial Keystone XL pipeline project. But while that debate rages on, the Canadian government is investing in various ways to mitigate the effects of oil production in the region. [Read more…] about An algal biorefinery
Rising Sea Level 101
