Green Ideas
Close the loop: Recycle more than you trash
June 14, 2012Are you casting your lot in with a trashy crowd? As the world’s population continues to grow and our planet’s finite resources dwindle, it’s more important than ever to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Instead of adding to the waste stream, take a closer look at what’s going into your trash. The things that can be…
Starting off on the right foot for conservation
May 30, 2012One big step for NIKE, one bigger step for the environment: The sportswear and equipment company is apparently working with a Netherlands-based company to eliminate the use of water in textile dyeing. NIKE says its partnership with DyeCoo Textile Systems B.V., announced in early February, means the elimination not only of water in the dyeing…
Get your garden growing with companions
April 16, 2012If you’re growing a garden this year, give your vegetables some company. Companion planting — also called “intercropping” — is an age-old practice in which plant varieties are arranged in ways that are mutually beneficial. It’s a method of all-natural gardening that helps conserve water, control pests, and even fertilize the soil. A perfect example…
Electronics Recycling & Document Shredding in Lower Macungie
March 15, 2012The Lower Macungie Township Environmental Advisory Council is hosting an Electronics Recycling event this Saturday, March 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. There is NO CHARGE to drop off your used electronics for proper recycling. This collection will be held at the Lower Macungie Community Center, 3400 Brookside Road. The Community Center is on the…
A whole latte promise for old coffee grounds
March 2, 2012Talk about black gold: City College of New York scientists say they’ve discovered that carbonized coffee grounds can be a cost-effective tool for the elimination of sewer gas. It turns out that the caffeine in coffee also contains nitrogen, an ingredient that helps rev up its effectiveness when it’s used in filters that scrub toxins…
What’s your water footprint?
February 9, 2012You’ve probably heard of a “carbon footprint,” but how about a “water footprint?” That’s what waterfootprint.org wants to know. The Netherlands-based conservation site has created a way to calculate not just how much water comes out of your tap, but how much water has been used to raise the food you eat, produce the paper…
Let them tell you about the birds, and the bees, and the bats …
January 20, 2012Mark your calendars for Saturday, Feb. 18. The Longswamp Township Environmental Advisory Council will host a backyard wildlife workshop at TEK Park, 9999 Hamilton Blvd, Breinigsville, on the first floor. The theme — Birds, Bees, and Bats Too! Why We Need Our Winged Friends — will be broken down into three sections:? Steven Saffier of the…
Polluted runoff has far-reaching consequences
December 22, 2011Over the past few months, we’ve written about buffer zones and source water protection in an attempt to outline the importance of keeping our water supply clean. A recent study by the University of Georgia, however, drives home the fact that the effects of polluted water reach far beyond local watersheds. Researchers there found that…
Get ready, winter’s on the way!
December 15, 2011Old Man Winter will be here in just a few days — along with frigid, pipe-bursting temperatures. Before the mercury drops any further, take some time to winterize your home. Start by examining water pipes. Insulating pipes — especially any that run along an outside wall or are outside the residence — can save money…
Turn over a new leaf: composting beats burning
November 28, 2011Fall: It’s the time of year when trees put on their coats of many colors; apples fill the bins at roadside stands, carved pumpkins decorate porches, and thick, cough-inducing smoke fills the air. It’s not hard to figure out which of these things doesn’t belong, but for some, burning leaves — despite regulations banning the…