Eco- Blocks

Check out what they are doing in Guatamala!   An organization called Pura Vida has developed a concept of using plastic soda bottles, stuffing them full of trash and household waste, and then using them as structural elements in construction.  The concept is so simple that even very young children are able to help reduce waste in their communities, and contribute towards the building of schools.  Called Eco-Blocks, this inexpensive concept has been used to build over 200 schools throughout Central America.

This method of construction was born out of need.  It is adaptable, it eliminates environmental contamination, and it enables the individual to take personal responsibility of their own environment in a way that aids the community as a whole.  It makes me wonder how long it will take us to get this smart and start treating our waste products as resources.  What if someday we had no need for landfills?

Pura Vida Eco Blocks

CNN- Turning trash into building materials

Energy Conservation

     If you have been shopping for light bulbs recently, you have noticed that while the quality and features of LED lamps have grown,  the price is still fairly high.  While LED technology is growing exponentially, the industry has not yet reached the critical point of being able to produce the lamps at a reduced cost.  (we will get there eventually)   One of the benefits of using LED lighting is achieving the same light output by way of a lower wattage... aka less energy usage.

     I came across this article today that make an interesting argument about the use of LED technology versus the adoption of alternative sources of energy.  The short of it is, that reducing our consumption can be a greater environmental benefit than using the same consumption with alternative energies such as solar, or wind.  It is something interesting to think about and figure out where our focus should lie when we talk about being stewards of the environment.

Can efficient lighting be more cost-effective than building new generation?

Clean Water and Biomass Energy

     In 1992, the EPA began to give states guidelines for identifying and establishing pollution controls for the nation's most polluted waterways.  Called Section 303(d), it was an extension of the 1972 Clean Water Act which was initially created to regulate the discharge of pollutants into surface waters.  Section 303(d) called for states to identify a list of "impaired waters" and develop a program of Total Maximum Daily Loads (TMDL) of nutrients and sediment that could pollute a body of water and still meet the Clean Water standards.  The intent was to create a schedule of sorts, as to how states would reduce pollution to bring waterways into standards determined by the EPA.  The TMDL was a legally binding limit that once accepted would serve as a mandate to the particular jurisdiction involved. 

     Things became complicated when states started looking at the Chesapeake Bay.  The Chesapeake Bay watershed encompasses areas of Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, New York and the District of Columbia.  No one state would be able to reach the standards alone, and efforts required coordination.  It took until the end of 2011 for TMDLs and implementation plans to be submitted and approved by the EPA.   Then, immediately, in the beginning of 2012 states were required to begin their implementation plans.

     One of the largest sources of nutrients in the Chesapeake Bay watershed is animal manure and poultry litter.  "Three major areas hold the greatest concentration of livestock: the Lower Susquehanna River region in Pennsylvania features dairy, beef and chicken farms; the Shenandoah Valley in Virginia and West Virginia has a group of chicken and turkey producers; and the Delmarva Peninsula in Delaware, Maryland and Virginia is dominated by chicken production."  The State of Maryland has solicited proposals for turning this animal waste into energy.  The state has agreed to sign a 15 or 20 year power purchase agreement with the proposals that it selects.

     Among the projects that are currently in operation are EcoCorp which is running a 1MW poultry litter anaerobic digestion power generator.  This system is able to provide one third of the necessary power to a Maryland correctional facility on the Eastern Shore.  Not only are they reducing the amount of poultry litter that could end up as runoff into the Chesapeake Bay, but they are providing an alternate source of electricity.

    Other projects include the burning the poultry litter to generate heat and electricity, both of which are used locally at the source to heat the poultry houses that are creating the waste in the first place.  Then there is Perdue who is creating a 10MW poultry litter gassification plant.  Not only are they generating as much energy as a small coal fired power plant, they are also generating 70,000 pounds of steam per hour which they will use at their adjacent soybean processing plant.

     " Maryland could be on the cutting edge of technology and project development in terms of poultry litter use."  Through a little bit of creativity, being good stewards of our waterways can also mean being good stewards of other parts of our environment.  Using this technology to reduce pollutants in the Bay will also reduce our reliance on coal fired power plants. By promoting alternative sources of energy such as this, hopefully in the future we can also be leaders of clean energy.

Poultry Litter Landscape

EPA Clean Water Act Section 303(d)

Watershed Stewards Academy

     The Anne Arundel Department of Public Works and Arlington Echo have joined forces to create the Watershed Stewards Academy.  This program is intended to "train community leaders...to reduce the negative impacts of stormwater runoff in Anne Arundel County."  Participants go through 12 training courses over the course of 5 months that culminates in a community Capstone Project.  Most classes take place locally at Arlington Echo.  Once completed the certification, participants will be qualified as Master Watershed Stewards and will serve as a resource to the community at large as to how to keep our waterways clean and protected.  If this interests you, there are only two more informational sessions left (one is tommorow) which you must attend one of in order to register for this program.
     Even if you are not interested in becoming a Master Watershed Steward, you can certainly use the resources of those who already have completed the certification.  Use the website below to find and contact local stewards.  They can talk to you on subjects such as Reducing Pollution, Capturing Stormwater, Cleaning up invasive species, and Land Preservation.
What can you do to protect our waterways today?

Anne Arundel Watershed Stewards Academy

Solar Desalination

     In the deserts north of the Dead Sea, (and in many other parts of the world), growing crops is challenging.  These locations get little to no rainwater, so every drop of water counts for survival of people and their food.
     New research by engineers in Isreal have come up with a way to use the salty water that is abundant in aquifers far below the surface of the desert.  Previously, one obvious problem has been desalinating the water so it can be used on crops.  These researchers have developed a filter that uses much less energy than current standard technology, making it able to be run from small solar arrays.  At the same time, they are experimenting with crops that actually like the saline wastewater which is a by-product of the desalination.  In this way they are hoping to be able to provide low cost, off the grid solutions to countries in the Middle East and Africa that "are losing ground to desertification."   Thanks to these engineers, what was previously a difficult venture could soon become a new mode of sustainable agriculture.

Check out the full article below

Solar-power-desert-oasis-using-desalination-fights-world-hunger

Back to School

Just in time for your last minute back to school shopping..... this article from Earthtechling shows some great green products and gadgets that will help to reduce waste and encourage recycling.


Green-back-to-school-supplies-for-an-eco-friendly-semester

Gas Energy Choice

    In previous posts we have talked about choosing your energy supplier, and having options for wind, and other alternative energy sources.  Recently, our household changed our Natural Gas supplier as well.  You many ask-- "what is the alternative source for natural gas?"-- well, there isn't really an alternate commercial choice for that.  However, Washington Gas and Energy Services (WGES) has recently started offering Carbon Offsets for your natural gas purchases.  By paying just a little bit more per therm, WGES is able to sponsor projects such as tree plantings in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, or capturing and burning off methane from local landfills.  In our house, that "little bit more" equates to less than $20 per year in additional gas costs more than we have paid in the past.  Signing up is just as easy as changing your electricity supplier-- let WGES know that you would like to make the switch and they will handle the rest.  Everything will still be routed through your BGE bill.

   We all make choices about what we support with our purchases.  What is important to you, and what will you choose today?

WGES Carbon Offsets

Buy Local Challenge

   This week is the annual Buy Local Challenge.  What do you have to do in order to participate?  Buy local food.  This effort, which was launched 5 years ago by the Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, encourages Marylanders to buy local produce from local farms at Farmers Markets, or participating shops and restaurants.  Buying locally is not only good for the environment, but it promotes your local economy.  The added benefit is that you get to know where your food comes from and often are able to talk directly with the farmers.
    Just because the challenge is running this week, does not meant that you cannot participate any time during the year.  Be aware of what you are buying, know where it comes from, and help the environment at the same time.
    Below are links to the Buy Local program website, and a list of local farmers markets.

   Buy Local Challenge

Anne Arundel County Farmers Markets

Water Restrictions and Drought

     Today, the residents of Western and Northern Anne Arundel county were placed on water restrictions.  Because of the ongoing drought conditions combined with the large water main break in Baltimore City, officials need us to limit our water use for the next two weeks until the water main is repaired.  This restriction impacts communities in the following zipcodes:  20701, 20724, 20755, 20794, 21054, 21060, 21061, 21076, 21077, 21090, 21108, 21113, 21122, 21144, 21225, 21226 and 21240.   
     
     Residents of these areas may NOT:   Water their lawns or gardens with a sprinkler or open hose, Wash vehicles or equipment at home, Wash paved areas, Fill or top off home pools or fountains.
     You are allowed to water your lawn or garden from a bucket, watering can, or hand held hose with a nozzle.  These restrictions are mandatory and do carry a fine if you are cited.


     As we are forced to use less water out of a requirement, please remember the farmers across the county who are facing severe drought as well.  As record temperatures and lack of rain continue, farmers are loosing crops and food prices will eventually rise.  Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack noted that 78% of U.S. corn and 11% of soybean crops have been hurt.  Please pray about what we can do not only to help these farmers, but also how we can help those who will suffer and possibly go hungry, when food prices increase.  

Preserving Land

     We found an interesting article recently that talked about preservation of land and conservation of forests in the Dominican Republic.  In an effort to protect endangered species of birds, they are attempting to establish a biological preserve that can serve as a new home to these birds.  Preservationists are working with the government to acquire new land and allow natural reforestation.  Many private ventures are popping up that combine sustainable practices with other activities such as farming cacao and macadamia, or eco-tourism, and allow the re-growth of previously clear cut areas of the country. 
     They note that "It's much bigger than just this one little migratory songbird...If we protect it we automatically protect all the other elements of the flora and fauna, many of which are themselves under siege."  It is important to remember the cascade effect that is happening here. In the same way that we talk about the cascading events of bad things that get triggered when we are poor stewards of the earth, so also can we trigger a cascade of benefits when we start repairing the damage we have done.  Every action you take as a good steward of God's green Earth will have greater benefits than the action itself.  Start somewhere and take action.  Every act of stewardship is important.


Saving the Dominican Forest and an Elusive Songbird

Healthy Soil

     How healthy is your soil?  What nutrients does your lawn or garden really need?  We have talked in previous posts about being aware of the fertilizers that you put on your lawn or garden, as excessive nutrients are not good for the Chesapeake Bay.  But how do you know what excessive really is?  One way to find out is by getting your soil tested.  The Maryland Cooperative Extension office at the University of Maryland tested soil in the past, but they do not any longer.  Instead, they have published some guidelines and information on where you can send to get your soil tested, and what you are looking for.

     A soil test can not only tell you the pH, but also what kind of nutrients might be lacking or overly abundant, and whether there are any levels of heavy metals present.  Tests can cost anywhere between $6 and $20, and take anywhere between 1-2 days and 2 weeks to get results based on where you decide to send it.  The link below gives information on soil tests and a list of places you can get it done.  Once you know more about your soil, you will not necessarily need to apply a broad spectrum fertilizer to your lawn or garden, but instead will be able to add only what is needed.  Feel free to improve the quality of your soil and the heath of your plants, but do it in a responsible and educated way that protects the environment.



Maryland Cooperative Extension Soil Testing

EWG Shoppers Guide

The Environmental Working Group is a nonprofit organization that lobbies on a wide range of  policies involving the protection of human health and how it relates to the conservation and sustainability of natural resources.  One of the resources that they publish is a Shoppers Guide to Pesticides in produce.  EWG is fully supportive of you eating more fruits and vegetables.They note that "the health benefits of a diet rich in fruits and vegetables outweigh the risks of pesticide exposure."  However, at the same time, they want you to be aware of the typical pesticides that you might find in conventionally raised produce so that you can minimize the associated health risks.
    EWG has a list of "good" and "bad" fruits and vegetables as they relate to pesticides.  While it is not always feasible to buy everything organic, this list gives you a starting point of where the higher health risks lie and which produce would be more beneficial to buy as organic if you are able.
     We all have to make choices about the type of consumers we are and what kind of agricultural practices we are willing to support.   While making a statement with your purchasing practices is a good place to start your activism, we all know that it is neither easy or feasible to make a statement with every purchase.  But, start somewhere.   Make a intentional choice.  Support practices that are not harmful to your health or the environment.  


EWG Shoppers Guide