Green Ideas
On April 27, safely dispose of unwanted medications
April 25, 2013It’s that time of year again. No, not tax day — thankfully, that’s behind us. We’re talking about the National Drug Take-Back Initiative. If you have unused, expired, or unwanted medications, April 27 is the time to dispose of them properly. As has been reported before, improper disposal of medications — for instance, flushing them…
What’s on the menu? Weeds!
April 13, 2013While you’re weeding your garden this spring, take a closer look at the plants you’re pulling. Chances are, you can put some of those space invaders to work — on your table. A surprising number of plants we call “weeds” are actually edible, healthful, and even quite tasty. Dandelions, for instance, make an excellent salad green…
Chesapeake Bay cleanup shows results, but more watershed work is needed
February 26, 2013LCA has written before about how things that happen upstream have a compounded effect when they end up downstream. Fertilizers, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, and even mud and silt from development all, eventually, end up in the ocean. In Pennsylvania’s case, this often happens via the Chesapeake Bay. According to a new report, there’s been some progress…
Raise your home’s efficiency to lower your heating bills
December 26, 2012If AccuWeather is right, the Lehigh Valley is in for a colder, snowier winter this year than last. And even though winter didn’t officially begin until Dec. 21, we’re already well into our heating season. To help you lower your energy bills, LCA has put together a list of quick fixes, most of which can be…
How “green” is your Christmas tree?
December 7, 2012It’s the holiday season, and for a large number of Americans — including many of us here at LCA — that means it’s time to put up a Christmas tree. According to the National Christmas Tree Association, between 25 million and 30 million real Christmas trees are sold in the U.S. each year. On the…
What, exactly, does “100-year-flood” mean?
November 20, 2012Over the past two decades, Lehigh Valley residents have seen what seems like more than their fair share of flooding. Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton, Hellertown, and other small and large municipalities across the region have been affected. What, exactly, defines a flood? According to the U.S. Geological Survey, “a flood is any relatively high streamflow overtopping…
When should I pick my vegetables?
August 3, 2012It’s that time of the gardening season you’ve been anxiously awaiting: Tomatoes and peppers are ripening, squash is weighing down the vines, and (early) potatoes are ready for the table. But what’s the best way to harvest what you’ve sown? It all depends on the produce you’ll be picking. With some fruits and vegetables, it’s…
No potty talk here: Old toilets get new life underfoot
July 20, 2012An engineer in Bellinham, Washington, used crushed porcelain from recycled toilets in a sidewalk project. Now that’s what we call a “can”-do attitude. The Meador Kansas Ellis Trail project was recognized by the University of Washington for this innovation and a number of others, including the installation of low-energy LED streetlights and the use of…
This summer, keep your air conditioning inside
July 12, 2012With tax season well behind us, an audit is probably the last thing you want to think about. But here’s one that deserves serious consideration: a home energy audit. Unlike the IRS version, a home energy audit will help you go green while saving you green. During a home energy audit, a series of tests…
Fireflies give scientists a bright idea
June 26, 2012You’ve probably seen them already: Flashes of light dotting your backyard as the sun dips below the horizon. Fireflies are an almost ubiquitous part of Pennsylvania summers, so much so that they were named the official state insect in 1974. Also called a lightning bug, these itty-bitty beetles create their telltale light through a process called…