Are Fireworks Environmentally Friendly?

The Fourth of July is a holiday of mixed feelings and varying acts of celebration. Some people hide in the bathroom with their pained, frightened dogs while sounds of war surround their city, while others spend hundreds of dollars on fireworks and relish the opportunity to make things go BOOM. The one thing about the Fourth that’s agreed upon is the wonderful day off from work that accompanies this holiday. But what about the fireworks? All the smoke and chemicals can’t be good for the environment, right?

Right.

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Biogas from Sewage and Landfills, Glamorous No but a Renewable Yes

In the last of the “Mad Max” movies, the one that prominently featured Tina Turner, Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome, the post-apocalyptic world depended on “pig sh*t” for energy.

That idea, albeit the invention of a Hollywood screenwriter, may not, however, be as outlandish as it might originally appear. In India, for example, there are myriad small methane producers throughout the country that produce just enough methane for home uses, using small methane generators powered mostly by cow dung.

In September of 2008, San Antonio, Texas set into motion an ambitious plan that would make it the first US city ever to convert sewage into methane gas on a large scale. The plan calls for the complete recycling of at least 90% of the approximately 140,000 tons a year of “biosolids” produced by the citizens of San Antonio into water for agricultural irrigation, solid compost and now, methane gas, which will be used for the generation of electrical power.

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A Few Things to Consider About Ethanol…

If finding ways to slowly ween America’s dependence on foreign oil is also a welcome opportunity to promote green, cleaner-burning alternatives, it’d be foolish — no — irresponsible not to embrace it right?

Well, when it comes to ethanol it’s not quite so easy. But it seems so simple … almost too good to be true: Grow corn, process corn into ethanol, blend with gasoline and go!

The ethanol industry has been growing for quite some time. Last week marked the 25th Fuel Ethanol Workshop and Expo (FEW) here in Denver. Every existing or under-construction ethanol producer and refiner in the country was invited. This industry expo was packed two years ago in St. Louis. Apparently this year, not so much.

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Why See a Nutritionist?

Have you ever thought about seeing a nutritionist?  Most people think of nutritionists as professionals that you see when you want to lose weight.  While it is advisable for someone who is trying to lose weight to visit a professional, it’s useful for people of a healthy weight to see a nutritionist as well.  Even if your diet is balanced, a nutritionist can still reveal holes and patterns in your diet and help you feel your best.  There are other valuable reasons to visit a nutritionist besides shining a light on your diet.

Disease and prevention. If you have a preexisting condition, changes in your eating habits may help your body fight it and manage symptoms.  Thyroid disorders are very common and there are key foods to avoid, like soy, that a nutritionist can show you alternatives for.  If you don’t have any illnesses, take a look at your genetics.  What are you predisposed to?  Is breast cancer common in your family?  Then your nutritionist will recommend foods and supplements that may help you prevent your genetics from fulfilling themselves.

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Save the Water!

Summertime is upon us. Between some relaxing, enjoying the pool, going to farmer’s markets and all the other activities that go with warm weather, you can bet a good number of us will be spending some time hunched over our gardens and lawns.

Americans love gardening and landscaping. It’s like playing in a grown-up sandbox. In 2006, we spent more than $27 billion dollars on professional landscaping and do-it-yourself projects. Granted, this was before the onset of the current recession, but here we see yet another convergence where being lean and green makes all too much sense.

Have you noticed “Save the Water” or “Use Only What You Need” campaigns in your hometown? Have you thought, “wait a minute — since when did we have a water problem?” To use Denver as an example, the combination of the unpredictable effects of global warming together with shifting populations and seasonal variability means that even a traditionally robust water supply can quickly come under threat. When as much as 30 percent of American’s outdoor water usage streams into our lawns, that means a lot of water and money keeping grass green. Useonlywhatyouneed.org claims a staggering 55 percent of our water usage is on outdoor watering.

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Organic Lawncare: Safer, Cheaper, Easier than Chemical

On May 10, 2002 PBS’ “Now with Bill Moyers” ran a report which asked the provocative question “Are We Poisoning Our Children.” While the short answer to question appeared to be “yes,” the details were nonetheless startling. “In my lifetime 75,000 synthetic chemicals and metals have been put to use in America,” Moyers declared, “Chemicals, that, in many cases make our lives easier and better. They kill insects and weeds, clean our clothes and carpets, unclog our drains, create and produce lawns, pretty as a picture.”

An increase in the incidence of childhood cancers was the first trigger for the investigation, which discovered children with home and garden pesticides in their urine, lactating women with termite poison and flame retardants in their breast milk and in Bill Moyer’s personal blood test a veritable witch’s brew including the long banned pesticide DDT, as well as dioxin, PCBs, organochlorine and organophosphate pesticides, ad nauseum.

When the Moyer’s reports ran in 2002 I had, perhaps naively, expected the start of a grassroots movement aimed at reducing our and, more importantly, our children’s exposures to chemicals at least in those areas where individuals could make choices, such as whether or not we would put chemicals on the lawns our children played upon.

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Father’s Day Planning: Get Green!

Father’s Day is fast approaching–do you know what you’re doing for the father-figure in your life?  Fathers can be very difficult to shop and plan for.  They seem to be famous for the “just your love is enough” gig—which, while very sweet, is useless in helping you plan and buy.  But Father’s Day does have its advantages over Mother’s Day in that it’s one month later and you can be more sure of a nice weather weekend.

If your dad is of the green sort, or you are and want to celebrate with him in an eco-friendly way, here are some activity ideas to consider on the big day:

•    Plan a picnic. Take your dad on a favorite hike of yours and feast at the summit.  Or, if your dad isn’t the run-up-a-mountain type, you could take him to a ski area that runs their chairlifts in the summer and treat him with a sweat-free view.  Or, to save on gas, go to the local park or the local grass in your backyard and munch away.  After all, everything tastes better outside, right?

If your dad is a chef or enjoys cooking, let him be a part of the cooking process.  Hit up the local farmer’s market in the morning and let the season dictate your lunch!

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