What You Should Know About Tar Sands

Tar sands oil is not the same as other oil. The oil that is extracted from Canadian tar sands contains a large amount of bitumen. This chemical difference changes excavation and refinery needs as well as the makeup of emissions. Tar sands oil is, basically, even worse for the environment than “regular” oil.

Pipeline would jeopardize fragile lands and water supplies. The proposed Keystone XL pipeline would cross the Sand Hills of Nebraska, extremely porous land that would suffer greatly from any spills, and the shallow Ogallala Aquifer, which is a major source of water for much of the Midwest. The company that would be building the pipeline has a history of spills and accidents on past tar sands projects.

The tar sands produce a fossil fuel. Although the pipeline has been promoted as a solution for America’s current dependency on foreign oil, it is merely a short-term solution to a larger problem: ongoing dependency on fossil fuels. Fossil fuels are a limited, non-renewable resource and this project is the result of a society scrambling to adjust to diminishing availability.

The fact that we can run out of fossil fuels is becoming more and more obvious, but current plans seem to be focused on looking harder at old solutions instead of looking for new answers. What can we do as individuals?

• Contact your representatives in Congress and voice your concerns.
• Reduce your own consumption of fossil fuels.
• Use alternative fuel sources whenever possible.

And of course, spread the word!

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Being environmentally responsible doesn’t have to cost a fortune. In fact, conserving and protecting natural resources can often save you money. Check out these tips for cheap ways to go green.

3 Cheap Ways to Go Green

1. Use less water in your home.

Unless you have your own well, you’re paying for every drop of water that you use, which is a great motivator for learning more about water conservation. Low flow faucets and toilets can help, but you can reduce the amount of water you use without a single trip to the hardware store. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth and when doing dishes. Take quick showers instead of long baths, and consider turning off the water while you soap up. Check out the EPA’s Water Sense site for more tips for conserving water at home.

2. Use a smaller garbage can.

The less you throw away, the less you add to the landfill. But perhaps a better reason for throwing away less is to reduce the resources need to make new stuff. If you’re finding ways to reuse items instead of throwing them away, you eliminate the need for replacement items to be made, which can cut down on the production of plastics. Make a family challenge to slowly cut down on how much garbage you set out by the curb each week; you’ll be amazed at the creative ideas you come up with for reusing what you already have!

3. Enact a shopping ban.

Another way to get the creative juices flowing and immediately improve your household budget is to announce an embargo on shopping. You’ll still need groceries, of course, but see how long your family can go without hitting up the local big box market. Consider setting a goal and rewarding yourself with a special activity if you can go 30, 60, or 90 days without shopping.

These three small changes won’t cost you a dime and can help you save money and resources for future generations.

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Tips for Teaching Kids about Green Boating

1. Talk trash. When your family hits the water, make sure everyone knows about your no-littering policy. But don’t stop there; take the time to talk about why keeping your trash out of the water is important. Many people have the misconception that only items that won’t naturally decompose need to be disposed of properly, but when you’re on the water it’s just as important that you don’t leave behind biodegradable materials that don’t belong in that ecosystem.

2. Get to know your neighbors. Take a field guide and binoculars out with you for the day and challenge your kids to identify different species of animals and plants both in the water and around it. A child who is more aware of the life that lives in the water is more likely to take steps to protect it.

3. Visit a new watering hole. An important part of green boating is preventing the spread of invasive species from one waterway to another. Take the boat out to different spots and get the kids involved in helping you with preparations, including giving the hull a good scrubbing! In addition to learning firsthand about how to prevent relocating species from one environment to another, seeing a variety of ecosystems and waterways helps children understand the concept of environmental diversity.

Want more information about sharing the Great Outdoors with kids? Check out one of our favorite Facebook pages, Babes in the Woods.

The U.S. Navy has been working on biofuel solutions for its various boats, and the U.S. Air Force recently announced plans to add solar power to Hickam Communities at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. The Hawaiian community operated by Lend Lease will have solar panels installed by SolarCity on 600 rooftops. The electricity generated by those panels is expected to provide enough for energy for as many as 2,000 homes on the base. The installation is expected to take about two years and will result in one of the largest solar powered communities in the U.S. The project will also generate 55 new green jobs in the area, although these jobs are considered short-term.

Are you ready to bring solar power to your home or boat?

Portable solar power systems allow the average person to make the switch to solar power on small mobile homes and vessels for a relatively small investment.

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Although the investigation is still ongoing, investigators have said that the fire was human-caused and may have been started by an abandoned campfire in the forest. In other words, another blow to the environment and natural wildlife has been struck by people being careless with natural resources.

It’s sad to realize that this tragedy could have been prevented. However, it’s a good time to stop and remember what we can do to prevent a similar event from happening in our own areas.

How to Prevent Forest Fires

Don’t smoke. If you do smoke in a forest, don’t throw your butts on the ground. Extinguish them completely and take the butts with you out of the forest.

Extinguish your campfire completely. Before retiring for the night or leaving your site, pour water on the campfire to make sure it is no longer burning.

Build safe fires. Stick to designated fire pits when possible. If making your own pit is allowed, build your fire at least 15 feet away from tents, shrubs and trees.

Leave the candles at home. Battery powered flashlights and lanterns are a safer alternative to fire-fueled light sources.

Never leave a fire unattended. Whether you’re grilling over a campfire or burning debris in your own backyard, consistently monitor your fire. Even properly built fires can cause problems if left unattended and it doesn’t take long for a fire to spread.

While you’re not likely to start a forest fire on your boat, we all know it’s just as important to protect our resources on land as well as in the water! Be watchful and safe this summer.

California-based research firm IBISWorld recently released a list of the top 10 fastest-growing industries. Tech industries dominated the list, but environmental sectors claimed three of the top spots.

10 Fastest Growing Industries

1. Voice Over IPs
2. Wind Power
3. E-Commerce & Online Auctions
4. Environmental Consulting
5. Biotechnology
6. Video Games
7. Solar Power
8. Third-Party Administrators & Insurance Claims Adjusters (ouch!)
9. Correctional Facilities (double ouch!)
10. Internet Publishing & Broadcasting

Looking at environmentalism in terms of businesses and industries is a reminder that it takes more than good intentions to make change. Voting with your dollars by choosing green products and services encourages corporations to increase supply. This applies not only to consumer products, but also to alternative energy sources. By choosing green options now, even when the initial costs are higher, we help create more options and better prices for the future.

Make an effort to support businesses that practice sustainability, practice conservation in your own home, and purchase green products whenever possible. Our efforts are making a difference!

3 Reasons to Practice Green Boating

1. Protect your favorite boating areas.

The lakes, rivers, streams and oceans we boat in are part of a delicate ecosystem made up of plants and animals. It’s this system that allows you to enjoy the beauty of the Great Outdoors, but maintaining it requires balance. Chemicals in the air and water can cause small changes in the ecosystem that lead to bigger changes, some of which can make the waterways no longer safe for boating, fishing or swimming.

2. Keep your food clean.

Whether you eat the fish that live in the water or the other animals that eat them, practicing green boating is essential to protecting your own food source.

3. Set a good example for kids.

Showing kids how to properly care for the environment doesn’t just teach them how to be green, but also how to be socially conscious. It shows them how to think beyond their own immediate needs and reminds them that they are a part of a larger community.

Green boating is good for the water, good for the Earth, and good for you!

Of course, not everyone who throws a line into the water brings home dinner. Fortunately, you can always stop by a local fish market on the way home.

But before you cast out or place your next seafood order, stop and think about what effect your fish dinner could be having on the environment and aquatic wildlife.

It’s difficult to imagine, but there is not a limitless supply of fish in the Earth’s oceans, seas, rivers and lakes. As technology has helped us become better fishermen, we’ve begun to take a large percentage of wildlife out of the water. In addition to overfishing, we can also damage the habitats with certain fishing techniques, including bottom trawling and dredging.

To practice more eco-friendly fishing, learn about the invasive or overpopulated species in the waterways in which you fish. Make sure you throw back anything else you reel in. It’s also a good idea to invest in green fishing tackle – which means 100% lead-free tackle – and recycle your fishing line.

In addition to being a more eco-friendly fishermen yourself, it’s also important to encourage green commercial fishing by only purchasing sustainable seafood. Remember that just because it’s on the menu or for sale in the market, doesn’t mean it’s sustainable. Many corporations and small fishing companies are still more concerned with making a profit than protecting our aquatic wildlife and habitats. It’s up to you to become a better informed consumer.

Here are a few pointers about which seafood to choose and which to avoid:

Best Choices for Sustainable Seafood

• U.S. farmed abalone (known as awabi in sushi)
• Albacore tuna from the U.S., Canadian Pacific, Hawaii or Atlantic
• Alaska wild salmon
• Farmed oysters and mussels
• Farmed or wild striped bass
• Dungeness crab (Blue crab is also a good alternative)
• Mahi Mahi from the U.S.
• Pacific or Alaskan halibut
• Farmed tilapia

Avoid:

• King crab imported from outside the U.S. (Alaskan king crab is a better alternative.)
• Atlantic halibut
• Chilean Seabass

To make the best decisions about whether the seafood you’re purchasing (and eating) was caught using sustainable fishing techniques, you need to know more about where the animal came from and how it was captured. If in doubt, ask.

For a complete list of sustainable seafoods and downloadable pocket guide to help you make eco-friendly purchasing decisions, visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Seafood Watch web site. Visit your state’s conservation web site for detailed information on local regulations and restrictions.

Working together, we can enjoy and protect our waterways.

Nuclear Power

Is nuclear power safe?

Is it green?

Are there better options?

Unfortunately, there doesn’t seem to be one set of answers that everyone can agree on – even in the environmentalist community.

Patrick Moore, who helped found Greenpeace in 1971 as an anti-nuclear group, is now a paid ambassador for the nuclear industry. He says that nuclear power is among the safest forms of power available and that nuclear power plants are a greener solution than coal-powered plants. Nuclear plants don’t emit greenhouse gases.

The Sierra Club, however, remains opposed to nuclear power. Although the group had supported a bill two years ago that included subsidies for new nuclear plants in the United States, Executive Director Michael Brune now says that The Sierra Club will not support the construction of any new nuclear plants.

While Patrick Moore has changed his position, the organization he helped start has not. Greenpeace USA’s nuclear policy analyst Jim Riccio says, “We’ve always believed that it’s an inherently dangerous technology that should be phased out and replaced and there are many cheaper, easier and less dangerous ways to generate electricity that don’t threaten our families, homes and communities.”

What are the other options?

Greenpeace and the European Renewable Energy Council are advocating for “cleaner” sources of electricity, specifically solar and wind power. They believe that the initial investment needed to develop these technologies would actually result in lower energy costs in the future as communities become less dependent on non-renewable energy sources.

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Prevent Invasive Species with Green Boating

According to the EPA, invasive species are one of the largest threats to the terrestrial, coastal and freshwater ecosystems in America. The good news is it’s relatively easy for green boaters to help stop the spread of invasive species.

What are invasive species?

Invasive species are plants, animals and pathogens that have been introduced into an area where it does not occur naturally. These species can establish a breeding population and spread widely throughout the new location, disturbing the delicate balance of the native ecosystem.

Where do invasive species come from?

One of the most common ways that invasive species are introduced is on the hull and in the ballast water of boats. A boat can unknowingly transport plants and tiny animals from one body of water to another by simply boating in different waterways.

How can you prevent the spread of invasive species?

Clean your boat thoroughly when you take it out of the water and again before you put it into water.  This is especially important if you’ll be changing locations. It’s estimated that as much as two-thirds of invasive species in waterways and coastal regions have been introduced by boats.

Taking the time to properly clean your boat between launches can have a significant impact on your environment. Regular boat maintenance, including regular cleaning with environmentally-safe products, also protects your investment and helps your boat last longer.

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