Author: Tom Kessler

From Green Right Now Reports

Urban youth around the nation will be breaking ground this spring on gardens of native plant species as part of the National Park Foundation’s First Bloom program. Through First Bloom, students experience national parks and have the opportunity to learn important conservation lessons, including the difference between native and invasive plant species.

Youth groups participating in the program work with park rangers to design and plant their own gardens in national parks. First Bloom connects kids between 4th and 6th grades to nature and national parks. The nationwide program is currently taking place in 26 national parks in partnership with 31 youth groups, primarily local Boys and Girls Clubs, across the country.

“One of the most important things anyone can do for the environment is to connect young people to parks,” Neil Mulholland, president and CEO of the National Park Foundation, said in a statement. “Kids who are forging connections with the national parks today are likely to have lasting relationships with the parks and the outdoors for their whole lives.”

Parks with upcoming plantings include:

• Hamilton Grange National Memorial and General Grant National Memorial, NY
• San Francisco Maritime National Historic Park, Calif.
• Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Ohio
• Boston African American National Historic Site, Mass.

The National Park Foundation funded the 2010 First Bloom projects with support from the UPS Foundation, ARAMARK Parks and Destinations through the Yawkey Foundation, and through the support of private citizens and foundations.

Learn more about the First Bloom program at www.first-bloom.org.

Businesses are a planning a wide range of promotional events in conjunction with Earth Day on April 22. Here is a roundup of some of the promotions (check back — we will continually update this list):

Kenwood Vineyards celebrates Earth Day with ‘plantable’ bottle neckers

Kenwood Vineyards is commemorating this year’s Earth Day with an innovative bottle necker, one created to inspire everyone to take better care of the planet. The specially designed neckers are featured on Kenwood’s “Sonoma Series” Cabernet, Chardonnay, Merlot, Pinot Noir, Sauvignon Blanc and Zinfandel and are available in stores nationwide.

The Kenwood Vineyards Earth Day bottle necker includes a special “planet earth” insert of seed paper, which – when soaked overnight in water, planted under a thin layer of soil in a sunny location and watered regularly until seedlings become established – will produce a mixture of wildflowers. The bottle necker itself is printed on Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified, partial post-consumer recycled paper stock, which assures responsible forest management, reduces waste and saves energy.

Elmer’s Glue Crew challenges parents and teachers to ‘40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living’

Beginning on Earth Day, teachers across the country will begin recycling the millions of glue bottles and glue sticks their classrooms have collected since the beginning of the school year. This recycling effort is part of the Elmer’s Glue Crew Recycling Program, which was created three years ago to help teachers educate children about recycling and environmental stewardship and prevent millions of glue bottles and glue sticks from going into our landfills.

To coincide with the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, Elmer’s is inviting parents to get involved in the Elmer’s Glue Crew program through the “40 Days of Earth-Friendly Living.” The campaign kicks-off on Earth Day and offers an eco-friendly tip or idea every day through the end of May. The tips are designed to allow parents and children to participate together and to give teachers more ideas for expanding their Earth Day curriculum. To participate, parents and teachers can download the “40 Days” calendar at www.ElmersGlueCrew.com or sign up to receive tips on Twitter or Facebook.

Kroger encourages customers to use fewer plastic bags and invites them to design a reusable shopping bag

The Kroger Co. is inviting customers to Design a Reusable Shopping Bag through its annual online contest. Beginning April 12 and running through May 21, customers can go online at www.kroger.com/green to submit their designs for Kroger’s reusable grocery bags.

The winning designer will receive a $1,000 gift card and a chance to see their bag design sold in Kroger stores. In addition to the winner of the contest, four finalists will be awarded a $250 Kroger gift card and five runners-up will receive a $100 Kroger gift card.

During the contest, anyone who designs a bag and has a valid shopper card will receive an electronic coupon for a free reusable bag ($0.99 value) loaded directly to their card, where applicable. Kroger has also partnered with Cafe Press so would-be designers can purchase a reusable bag with their own design on it.

Soles4Souls Inc. celebrates 40th anniversary of Earth Day with nationwide shoe recycling programs

This year more than 300 million pairs of shoes will end up in landfills in the United States (U.S. Dept. of Interior). From there, shoes can take more than 40 years to break down and decompose. Combined with non-biodegradable products like electronics, they can dispense toxins into the ground. But what if the items you toss could help change someone’s life? Soles4Souls, the international shoe charity that gives away new and gently worn shoes, is helping celebrate 40 years of Earth Day by offering the general public a safe and environmentally friendly way to dispose of their unwanted shoes while providing shoes for those who need them.

During the month of April, Soles4Souls is asking people to ‘go green’ by cleaning out their closets and dropping off their gently worn shoes at drop-off locations in their area. Soles4Souls is collaborating with businesses like CBL Properties, where people can visit any of CBL’s 70 shopping malls to recycle their shoes. For a list of participating shopping malls, visit www.cblproperties.com. There are also 4,000 other official drop-off locations throughout the country. To find a drop-off location in your area, visit www.giveshoes.org.

CWG and Verizon Wireless Work Together to Encourage Cell Phone Collection in Support of Earth Day

Visit a Verizon Wireless Communications store to donate old phones to HopeLine

In honor of Earth Day, CWG, LLC, the leading recycler of mobile devices serving the telecommunications industry, and Verizon Wireless are encouraging consumers to visit Verizon Wireless Communications Stores to recycle their phones with HopeLine®, Verizon Wireless’ long-running phone recycling and reuse program. Phones recycled through HopeLine benefit and support survivors of domestic violence.

CWG is a global repurposing source for mobile devices that maintains a strict zero-landfill policy. All donated phones are given a second life through repair, refurbishment or environmentally sound recycling. Recycled phones are salvaged down to the component level for all reusable materials such as precious metals, plastics and glass. These materials can then be recycled into things like magnets, stainless steel, car bumpers, park benches, jewelry, dental fillings and musical instruments.

For more information on Verizon Wireless’ HopeLine program, visit www.verizonwireless.com/hopeline.

Target launches recycling stations in all stores

Target has launched permanent community recycling stations in all 1,740 stores to kick-off a month-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Throughout the month, the celebration also includes the launch of an online eco-boutique where guests can find eco-friendly products and learn more about the company’s commitment to the environment, a month-long sweepstakes, a reusable bag giveaway and a unique Target circular.

Located at the front of each store, the recycling stations offer guests a convenient way to recycle aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers, plastic bags, MP3 players, cell phones and ink cartridges. A full description of recyclables that are accepted is available at Target.com/eco-friendly.

Other ways Target is celebrating Earth Month include:

• Launching an eco-boutique at Target.com/eco-friendly, featuring downloadable coupons and eco-minded brands with products such as non-toxic cleaners, energy-saving appliances and products made of recycled materials.
• Sponsoring a month-long “Drive Home Green” sweepstakes featuring a grand prize of a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Guests can enter for a chance to win on Target.com/eco-friendly or by sending a text message with the keyword “green” to the short code “Target” (827438).
• Giving away with purchase, 1.5 million complimentary reusable shopping bags made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles on Sunday, April 18, while supplies last.
• Distributing an innovative newspaper circular that allows guests the option to use a portion of the April 18 circular as an envelope to mail their plastic shopping bags to TerraCycle. In return, guests will receive a $1 coupon towards the purchase of a Target reusable bag priced at $1.49 or more.
• Continuing to encourage guests to use their reusable bags at checkout to receive a 5-cent discount off their total purchase per reusable bag.

From Green Right Now Reports

There’s good news for consumers when it comes to clean drinking water.  Consumer Reports says water filter manufacturers are producing products that effectively remove impurities, not just improve taste and appearance. Filters costing as little as $30 can provide cleaner, better-tasting water, according to the consumer magazine’s latest water filter tests.

Consumer Reports tested 38 carafe, faucet, countertop, reverse osmosis, and undersink water filters. The results appear in the May issue and online.

In 2008, eight percent of public of water systems received health violations that affected more than 23 million people, according to Consumer Reports. The magazine notes that a violation doesn’t necessarily mean immediate health risk, since regulations are often based on long-term health effects. However, last October, the Environmental Protection Agency concluded that “many of the nation’s waters are not meeting water quality standards, and the threat to drinking water sources is growing.”

For its tests, Consumer Reports said it spiked water with lead and chloroform (a surrogate for organic compounds like atrazine, and benzene and for bad taste) to test 38 models. The magazine found that while many filters did the job, some removed less of each contaminant than promised, and even the best can be overwhelmed by surges in contaminants.

Among its findings:

• New filters catch more and clog less. In Consumer Reports‘ last round of tests, carafes that filtered best also clogged most quickly, but this time around, top-rated models removed contaminants effectively without sacrificing cartridge life or flow rate.
• Pricier doesn’t mean better. Consumer Reports found that the $415 Everpure undersink filter was outperformed by models that cost half as much, because of its clogging and inferior flow rate. Plus, the cost of replacement filters must be factored in to purchasing decision. For example, the Zero Water Z-Pitcher ($35) is the priciest carafe to maintain, despite its low initial cost.
• Refrigerators with water dispensers with built-in filtration are fine at improving taste, but past tests have shown some systems are so-so at removing impurities. Plus, replacement cartridges are costly. Consumer Reports suggests bypassing the appliance’s filter by installing an undersink filter to the refrigerator’s water supply line.

Consumer Reports recommends matching the filter to the problem. Some improve only taste and clarity; others also reduce impurities. The magazine recommends first checking your water. Consumers who pay a water bill should be mailed an annual water quality report, stating where the water comes from and what contaminants were found in it during the last year.

To find out exactly what’s coming out of the tap, or if dealing with private well water, it’s best to have the water tested. State-certified testing labs can be found through the EPA’s Safe Drinking Water Hotline (800-426-4791) or online.

A complete screening could cost as much as $4,000, so use the water quality report as a guide. However a reputable lab will help narrow the list, depending on where the water source is located. The EPA recommends annual testing for well water by a state-certified lab. Re-test after a filter has been installed to confirm that the water is safe. Lead tests should always be done. Test for coliform for private wells near septic systems.

Based on the water quality report or water test, Consumer Reports recommends choosing a filter that is certified by the National Sanitation Foundation to reduce the contaminants found. Some filters remove just two or three contaminants; some target a dozen or more. But sporadic spikes in contaminants can exceed NSF thresholds, so don’t assume a filter will make water safe from every threat.

Consumer Reports says all water filters are better for the environment than bottled water because they reduce shipping and packaging. Brita and Zero Water have launched take-back recycling programs for used cartridges.

Consumers should weigh the various features of the filters. Models with a filter-life indicator warn when it’s time to change cartridges, a benefit since overloaded filters can dump contaminants into filtered water. Consumer Reports has outlined the five main types of filters:

Carafe: Carafes tend to be inexpensive and don’t require installation; however they are not suited for households requiring more than a couple of gallons of water a day. Filter life is relatively short. Carafe models cost $20 to $40 plus $40 to $100 per year for additional filters.

The Clear2 0 CWS100A ($30) carafe filter was rated as a “CR Best Buy” — the magazine says it is excellent at removing lead and chloroform, while the Brita Smart Pitcher 0B39/42632 ($32) offers superior clog resistance but isn’t claimed to remove organics.

Faucet-mounted: These filters can be easily installed and make it easy to switch between filtered and unfiltered water. But they can’t be used with most pull-down or spray faucets and they tend to have a slow flow rate. Cost ranges from $15 to $35, plus $30 to $100 per year in replacement filters.

Consumer Reports recommends the Culligan FM-15A ($15) and the Pur Vertical FM-3700 ($25), which has a filter-life indicator.

Countertop: Countertop models are good at filtering large volumes of water without any plumbing work, however they can add to countertop clutter and can’t be used with most spray or pull-down faucets. Prices vary from $50 up to $300, plus $50 to $100 per year in replacement filters.

CR says the Crystal Quest CQE-CT-00109 ($140) has fast flow but doesn’t catch impurities as well as other countertop models. The Aquasana AQ-4000 ($100) is excellent at removing lead and chloroform.

Undersink: Undersink models require plumbing, sink, or countertop changes but can filter large volumes of water without cluttering the countertop. Price ranges from $100 to $550, plus $50 to $150 per year in replacement filters.

Consumer Reports recommends the Omni CBF-3 ($115), an inexpensive model that is fast-flowing, but replacement filters are pricey. The Culligan Preferred Series 350 ($145) has one of the longest-lasting filters, and the Whirlpool Gold WHED20 (Lowe’s, $130), a CR Best Buy, offers top value and very good clog resistance.

Reverse-osmosis: These filters remove the widest range of contaminants, including arsenic, but they require plumbing modifications and periodic sanitizing with bleach. These models also waste 3 to 5 gallons of water for every gallon filtered and some are slow. Consumer should expect to pay anywhere from $150 to $900, plus $100 to $200 per year in filters or professional servicing.

The Kenmore Elite 38556 ($300) costs more than other models Consumer Reports tested, but has a 4-gallon storage tank – more than double the size of the Whirlpool Gold WHER25 (Lowe’s, $150), a CR Best Buy.

From Green Right Now Reports

Target has launched permanent community recycling stations in all 1,740 stores to kick-off a month-long celebration of the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. The celebration also includes the launch of an online eco-boutique where guests can find eco-friendly products and learn more about the company’s commitment to the environment, a month-long sweepstakes and a reusable bag giveaway.

The new recycling stations, located at the front of each store, offer a convenient way to recycle aluminum, glass and plastic beverage containers, plastic bags, MP3 players, cell phones and ink cartridges. A full description of recyclables that are accepted is available online.

“We know that eco-friendly living is top-of-mind for our guests, and the launch of store recycling stations allows us to continue to partner with them to curb unnecessary waste in our stores and our communities,” Shawn Gensch, vice president of brand marketing at Target, said in a statement. “Target is committed to the preservation of the environment and to giving our guests eco-friendly options that will help them live more sustainably.”

Target is celebrating Earth Month with other activities, including:

• Launching an online eco-boutique that features downloadable coupons and eco-minded brands with products such as non-toxic cleaners, energy-saving appliances and products made of recycled materials.
• A month-long “Drive Home Green” sweepstakes featuring a grand prize of a 2010 Ford Fusion Hybrid. Guests can enter online for a chance to win or by sending a text message with the keyword “green” to the short code “Target” (827438).
• Giving away with purchase, 1.5 million complimentary reusable shopping bags made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled PET bottles on Sunday, April 18, while supplies last.
• Distributing an innovative newspaper circular that allows guests the option to use a portion of the April 18 circular as an envelope to mail their plastic shopping bags to TerraCycle. In return, guests will receive a $1 coupon towards the purchase of a Target reusable bag priced at $1.49 or more.
• Continuing to encourage guests to use their reusable bags at checkout to receive a 5-cent discount off their total purchase per reusable bag.

From Green right Now Reports

Whole Foods Market is starting a wine cork recycling program to make it easy for wine enthusiasts to properly dispose of corks. The company said it will accept natural wine corks at all of its 292 stores in the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom.

Austin-based Whole Foods Market is partnering with Cork ReHarvest to help collect and recycle the corks.

There are about 13 billion natural corks produced each year. The Mediterranean oak forests that supply cork support one of the world’s highest levels of forest biodiversity and the second-highest number of plant species in the world. Whole foods said that no trees are cut down during cork extraction — instead, bark is hand-harvested every 9 to 12 years.

The new cork recycling program will result in virtually zero increase in carbon footprint, Whole Foods Market said. Corks will make their entire journey from stores to recycling centers on trucks that already are en route to each destination.

“We often forget that cork is a renewable, recyclable material that does not belong in landfills,” Erez Klein, wine and beer buyer for Whole Foods Market’s Pacific Northwest Region, said in a statement. “Whole Foods Market is excited to make cork recycling more accessible to our shoppers. Cork ReHarvest allows us to help sustain cork forests, a critically important resource for our planet, and to do so with near effortless local community action.”

West of the Rockies, corks will be delivered to Western Pulp, where they will be turned into recyclable wine shippers containing 10 percent cork. In the Midwest, corks will be sent to Yemm & Hart, which produces cork floor tiles. And on the East Coast and in the UK, corks will be transported to Jelinek Cork Group, one of the oldest cork manufacturers in North America, where corks will be made into post-consumer products.

From Green Right Now Reports

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Thursday announced a new policy to protect communities and waterways from the impacts of mountaintop removal coal mining.

The EPA said its new actions will further clarify and strengthen environmental permitting requirements for Appalachian mountaintop removal and other surface coal mining projects, in coordination with federal and state regulatory agencies. Using the best available science and following the law, the agency said the comprehensive guidance will set “clear benchmarks for preventing significant and irreversible damage” to Appalachian watersheds at risk from mining activity.

Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune called the new policy “the most significant administrative action ever taken” to address mountaintop removal coal mining, in which explosives are used to access coal seams, generating large volumes of waste that bury adjacent streams. The resulting waste that then fills valleys and streams can significantly compromise water quality, often causing permanent damage to ecosystems and rendering streams unfit for swimming, fishing and drinking. It is estimated that almost 2,000 miles of Appalachian headwater streams have been buried by mountaintop coal mining.

“The people of Appalachia shouldn’t have to choose between a clean, healthy environment in which to raise their families and the jobs they need to support them. That’s why EPA is providing even greater clarity on the direction the agency is taking to confront pollution from mountain top removal,” EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson said in a morning press conference. “We will continue to work with all stakeholders to find a way forward that follows the science and the law. Getting this right is important to Americans who rely on affordable coal to power homes and businesses, as well as coal communities that count on jobs and a livable environment, both during mining and after coal companies move to other sites.”

As part of the new actions, EPA is communicating comprehensive guidance to its regional offices with permitting responsibility in Appalachian states. The guidance clarifies existing requirements of the Clean Water Act permitting programs and details EPA’s responsibilities and how the agency will use its authority to ensure that future mining will not cause significant environmental, water quality and human health impacts.

The EPA is making publicly available two scientific reports prepared by its Office of Research and Development. One summarizes the aquatic impacts of mountaintop mining and valley fills. The second report establishes a scientific benchmark for unacceptable levels of conductivity (a measure of water pollution from mining practices) that threaten stream life in surface waters. These reports are being published for public comment and submitted for peer review to the EPA Science Advisory Board.

The agency also announced it will create a permit tracking Web site so that the public can determine the status of mining permits subject to the EPA-U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Enhanced Coordination Procedure.

EPA said it will solicit public comments on the new guidance, which will be effective immediately on an interim basis. EPA will decide whether to modify the guidance after consideration of public comments and the results of the SAB technical review of the EPA scientific reports.

“Today’s announcement is a major step toward protecting Appalachia’s natural heritage,” the Sierra Club’s Brune said in a statement. “If effectively implemented and vigorously enforced, this policy will largely prevent coal companies from dumping mining waste into streams. We call on other agencies, including the Army Corps of Engineers, the Office of Surface Mining and the Department of the Interior to follow EPA’s lead and take their own steps to protect the region’s communities and water resources.”

The EPA already has been stepping up restrictions on these mining procedures. It recently proposed to significantly restrict or prohibit mountaintop mining at the Spruce No. 1 surface mine in Logan County, W. Va. because of concerns the mine, as proposed, would bury more than seven miles of headwater streams, directly impact 2,278 acres of forestland, and degrade water quality in streams adjacent to the mine.

From Green Right Now Reports

Each year the Environmental Protection Agency observes National Cell Phone Recycling Week, which runs this year April 5-11.  The project brings together leading cell phone manufacturers and service providers to encourage consumers to recycle used wireless devices, batteries, chargers and other accessories — and to reduce the amount of reusable materials in landfills, including e-waste.

Millions of people have discovered that donating or recycling cell phones, PDAs, chargers and batteries is an easy way to make difference in the environment. In 2007, approximately 14 million Americans recycled their used cell phones. AT&T estimates it will collect roughly 14 million wireless devices for recycling by the end of 2011, which is the environmental equivalent of keeping more than 920 tons of primary materials and more than 13 tons of toxic waste out of landfills.

Recycling cell phones helps the environment by saving energy and keeping usable materials out of landfills. Cell phones and PDAs are made using precious metals, copper, and plastics that require energy to mine and manufacture. So recycling conserves these materials and means they can be turned into new products.

Donating your working cell phone or PDA also can benefit your community. When cell phones and accessories are in good working order, some programs donate them to worthy charities or sell them at a discount to those in need.

Cell phone collection programs can be accessed from almost everywhere in the U.S. Many organizations, such as cell phone manufacturers, retailers, network carriers, charities, and state or local solid waste programs offer cell phone donation and recycling programs.

You can drop off your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information:

• AT&T
• Best Buy
• Office Depot
• Sony Ericsson
• Sprint
• Staples
• T-Mobile
• LG Electronics
• Verizon Wireless

Another option is to mail in your old cell phone, PDA, cell phone batteries, chargers, or other accessories at one of the retailers or service providers below. Visit the links for detailed drop-off and collection event information.

• Nokia
• Sprint
• Samsung
• T-Mobile
• Motorola
• LG Electronics
• Verizon Wireless
• Sony Ericsson

Before you drop off or mail in your old cell phone, the EPA recommends that you make sure that you have terminated your service contract for the phone and erased any data in the phone. To ensure that personal information is cleared from the phone, you can:

• manually delete all information and remove the SIM card
• contact your service provider or phone manufacturer for instructions
• or use a data erasing tool such as ReCellular’s Cell Phone Data Eraser

Resources:

• Go to the Cellular Telecommunications & Internet Association’s recycling program Wireless…The New Recyclable^TM for additional tips to consider when recycling your cell phone.
• Listen to EPA’s podcast on cell phone recycling to learn what happens to your cell phone once it’srecycled and hear answers to common questions.
• Recycle Your Cell Phone. It’s an Easy Call (Flyer) (PDF)

From Green Right Now Reports

Ford Motor Company’s Lincoln division today introduced its first hybrid, the 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, a premium midsize car that the company says will be the most fuel-efficient luxury sedan in America.

The car was debuted today at the New York International Auto Show. Lincoln said its hybrid is expected to deliver at least 41 miles per gallon in the city when it goes on sale this fall. That would top its nearest competitor, the 2010 Lexus HS 250h, by 6 mpg.

“Today’s luxury customers do not want to make sacrifices. Lincoln has found a way to deliver a luxury sedan with the comforts they expect, the technology they want and the environmental responsibility society demands,” Derrick Kuzak, Ford’s group vice president of Global Product Development, said in a statement.

The 2011 Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, priced beginning at $34,115, uses Ford’s second-generation hybrid technology, the 2.5-liter Atkinson-cycle I-4 hybrid engine that was named one of Ward’s 2010 “10 Best Engines.” The combined gasoline engine and electric motor produce 191 horsepower. Lincoln said that in pure electric mode, the Lincoln MKZ Hybrid will reach 47 mph compared with the top speed of Lexus HS 250h’s battery-only mode speed at 25 mph.

The MKZ Hybrid uses Ford’s SmartGauge with EcoGuide, which supplies real-time information to help drivers maximize fuel efficiency, and coaches drivers on how to optimize hybrid performance. Lincoln’s version will give drivers enhanced positive feedback on long-term fuel efficiency and driving performance through the “growth” of virtual small flowers on the system’s right-most screen.

Lincoln said the wood trim used in the car “come from well-managed forests, as defined by strict environmental, social and economic standards, and from other rigorously controlled sources.”

The company also said that the car’s standard Bridge of Weir leather seats are made with a chromium-free tanning process, which makes it easier to recycle.

In addition to the new Lincoln MKZ Hybrid, Ford plans to launch five new electric vehicles by 2013. They include the Transit Connect Electric in late 2010, the Focus Electric in 2011, a next-generation hybrid electric vehicle and a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) in 2012, followed by another next-generation hybrid electric vehicle in 2013.

From Green Right Now Reports

Just in time for spring, anglers and recreational boaters in the Midwest are hearing grim news about recreational waterways.

There is evidence that the voracious Asian carp has been detected in all of the Great Lakes and that the contagious fish disease VHS, or viral hemorrhagic septicemia, is now in waters as far north and west as Lake Superior. The disease can affect a number of recreational and sport fish species such as muskellunge, small mouth bass, and yellow perch as well as a number of baitfish and commercial fish.

The United States Department of Agriculture’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service says that prime waters can still be protected by the people who use them, particularly small bodies of water, streams and rivers where diseases and destructive invaders have not been detected. The department offers these simple steps to preserve the health of wild fish species for generations to come:

1. Thoroughly clean and dry all fishing and boating equipment including bait buckets, boots, boats, and trailers with HOT water.
2. Empty all water from equipment including buckets and bilges.
3. Remove all visible mud, plants and aquatic life from equipment before transporting.
4. Do not move fish and plants from one body of water to another.
5. Buy bait from certified bait dealers and dispose of unused bait in a secure trash area away from the water.

From Green Right Now Reports

If you are a veteran, the green job market may be awaiting you. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Veterans’ Employment and Training Service has established a $2 million grant competition under the Veterans’ Workforce Investment Program to help eligible veterans by providing employment, training, support services, credentialing and networking information in renewable and sustainable energy.

The grants are intended to provide services to assist in reintegrating eligible veterans into the labor force and to address the complex employability problems facing eligible veterans.

“We have an obligation to our service men and women to do everything we can to help them transition smoothly into civilian life,” Secretary Hilda L. Solis said in a statement. “These grants will not only help our veterans, they will provide an invaluable service to a burgeoning part of our economy. Veterans deserve good jobs, and green jobs are good jobs.”

The department said it will give priority to workforce development projects that focus on connecting target populations to career pathways and training programs that will prepare veterans for careers in any of the seven energy efficiency and renewable energy industry categories defined in the Workforce Investment Act, which include:

• Energy-efficient building, construction and retrofit industries
• Renewable electric power industry
• Energy efficient and advanced drive train vehicle industry
• Bio-fuels industry
• Deconstruction and materials use industries
• Energy efficiency assessment industry serving the residential, commercial or industrial sectors
• Manufacturers that produce sustainable products using environmentally sustainable processes and materials

In addition to the industries listed above, the government said applicants may propose other employment and training opportunities related to the growth and enhancement of emerging green industries that clean and enhance our environment.

From Green Right Now Reports

Auto conversion company Advanced Mechanical Products, Inc. said it will demo an all-electric, emission-free 2010 GM Chevrolet Equinox to the public at the New York Auto Show beginning April 2nd.

The company first showed its electric Equinox at the grand opening of its first showroom and U.S. production headquarters in Cincinnati in February. AMP said it has since moved into production of the AMP’d Equinox and has begun taking orders for summer 2010 delivery.

Powered by Remy International motors, AMP said its electric powertrain has a range of up to 150 miles per charge. The electric SUV can reach a speed of 90 miles an hour, and will go from zero to 60 miles per hour in approximately eight seconds with a charge voltage of either 110V or 220V, the company said.

“As demand for electric vehicles continues to grow, our strategy has been clear — to evoke change in as a familiar fashion as possible,” Steve Burns, CEO of Advanced Mechanical Products, said in a statement. “By choosing the Chevy Equinox, we were able to leverage over 100 years of engineering experience and focus on the seamless integration of our state-of-the-art, all-electric high performance Remy-based drivetrain. From the dashboard to the key ignition the AMP’d Equinox delivers the same top-quality GM styling and safety features people have come to expect, making this vehicle an easy transition for any driver wanting to go electric.”

AMP said the 5-seater electric vehicle will be priced below $50,000, after government tax credits.

At the New York Auto Show, the AMP exhibit will be on level one in the electric vehicle pavilion. The show will run through April 11th at the Jacob Javitz Convention Center.

From Green Right Now Reports

World Wildlife Fund said its Earth Hour event Saturday drew  hundreds of millions of people around the world who turned out their lights for one hour in support of action on climate change. The organization said the event was the largest public demonstration in history as individuals, businesses and government officials in 4,000 cities across 125 countries participated in Earth Hour.

In the United States, Earth Hour was observed in all 50 states and the nation’s capital, as darkness spread from governor’s residences to state capitol buildings, across downtown skylines and throughout the suburban landscape. The American landmarks going dark included Mount Rushmore, Niagara Falls, the Broadway Theater District and the Las Vegas Strip.

“Earth Hour is about Americans and people throughout the world standing up and saying ‘climate change is real and we need to do something about it now’,” WWF President and CEO Carter Roberts said in a statement. “From coast-to-coast, Americans provided strong affirmation that they are ready for the U.S. to be a leader in the green revolution.”

WWF said governors and state legislators from 33 states, more than five times the number last year, officially endorsed Earth Hour and turned off lights at their residences and/or state capitol buildings. Those states include Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Earth Hour activities were celebrated in other states as well. In Minnesota, the decorative lighting on the Duluth Aerial Bridge went dark, while the Anchorage 5th Avenue Mall turned off their marquee lighting in Alaska. The University of Virginia represented the commonwealth, while in the Lone Star State a number of cities including Austin, Dallas and Houston passed resolutions and turned off the lights that make up their skylines.

Other notable landmarks throughout the country that participated in this year’s event include:

• The Smithsonian Castle in Washington D.C.
• The Space Needle and Pikes Place Market sign in Seattle
• The Chrysler Building, Empire State Building, United Nations, Broadway Theatre marquees in NYC
• The Pylons at L.A. International Airport, Santa Monica Pier and Queen Mary Hotel in Los Angeles
• The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco
• Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Indianapolis
• Montezuma Castle in Arizona
• The Wrangler in Cheyenne, Wyoming
• Milwaukee Public Market in Wisconsin
• The National Aquarium in Baltimore
• Sears/Willis Tower in Chicago

The WWF’s ultimate hope is that  cities and landmarks will apply the core principal of turning off the lights to their every day routine. In Chicago, the Building Owners and Management Association developed lighting guidelines to reduce light pollution, and reduce the carbon footprint of downtown buildings.  Mount Rushmore in South Dakota will now start powering down each night around 9 p.m. instead of 11 p.m.

Here are photos from some of the 2010 locations:

From Green Right Now Reports

On Earth Day this year, April 22, Disneynature will release Oceans, which will explore the mysteries and dangers of these vast bodies of water that cover nearly three-quarters of the Earth’s surface. French co-directors Jacques Perrin and Jacques Cluzaud used the latest underwater technologies to capture never-before-seen images, the company said.

Disneynature said it will make a donation to The Nature Conservancy to save coral reefs in honor of every person who sees the film during its opening week (April 22-28) in a program being called “See OCEANS, Save Oceans.”

The film is narrated by Pierce Brosnan, a long-time environmentalist who has focused his efforts on promoting ocean conservation. The actor has lent his support to the International Fund for Animal Welfare’s “Save the Whales Again!” campaign, as well as working with environmental organizations including Sea Shepherd, California Coastal Protection Network, Ocean Futures Society, Oceana and Waterkeeper Alliance, and others.

Disneynature, the first new Disney-branded film label from The Walt Disney Studios in more than 60 years, was launched in April 2008 to bring top nature filmmakers together to share a wide variety of wildlife subjects and stories with theatrical audiences. Earth, the first film to premiere domestically under the new label on Earth Day 2009, had a record-breaking opening weekend for a nature documentary.  On its opening day, the film also broke the single-day box-office record for a nature documentary.

Related video:

View the trailer for Oceans:

By Laura Goreck
Frisco Green Living

One of my personal goals is to always look for more ways to “Be Green.” I plan to expand my home gardening this year and I had been considering buying a rain barrel for my yard. I was surprised to find out commercial models can cost as much as $150 or more for a one-barrel system.

After reading an instruction sheet on the Internet on how to make a rain barrel at home, I decided to give it a shot. I had a large garbage can in the garage that we were not using, and I thought it would do the trick.

I took my instruction sheet to Home Depot to get the supplies. A worker helped me find everything I needed. I got the parts to make a 2-barrel system, and planned to add the second barrel later. I opted for a $7 splitter attachment that allows for 2 hoses to be connected to one faucet. The cost for all of the materials was about $40.

I got home and learned that my garbage can had a small hole in the bottom so it would not hold water. Back to Home Depot I went. I found 32-gallon heavy-duty trash cans, with lids, for $14.95 each so I bought two of them. That brought my cost up to $70 for two barrels.

I took all of the parts and pieces to the back yard to get started. Selecting a location for the barrels was an important step. I wanted the barrel close to the plants I plan to water, but wanted it somewhat out of sight as well. The location has to be level, so that was another consideration. Also, I wanted to connect it directly to a down spout. There just so happened to be a downspout half-way down the side of the house, where there also happened to be plenty of space, so I selected that location.

The directions said to use a drywall saw to cut the holes in the barrel, and I already had one, so I didn’t have to purchase any tools. I used a drill bit to start the hole and used the saw to enlarge it to the right size for the faucet to fit. I enlisted help in holding the barrel still, and we took turns cutting the hole. Liquid epoxy is used to seal the hole around the faucet to prevent it from leaking. This stuff is quite noxious – I had to be very careful not to breathe the fumes or get any on my hands.

At first test there was a small drip from around the faucet, but another layer of epoxy sealed it up. I put the barrel on cinder blocks for extra height, which increases water pressure. I cut a hole in the lid for the down spout to fit in and put the mosquito netting on, and all I had left to do was connect it to the down spout.

The spout was connected to the side of the house with screws, so I used a drill to disconnect the downspout rather than cutting it. If I ever decide to move the barrels I can simply reconnect the spout. I had a flexible down-spout extender, so I connected it to the end of the gutter spout and ran it directly into the lid of the can. My rain barrel was ready to go!

The actual time it took to make it was less than an hour.

It rained all night, and is still raining as I am writing this. I am sure my barrel is full and overflowing, and I regret that I didn’t connect the second barrel yesterday. I’m excited to go home to see how well it worked, and I’m looking forward to using the harvested water instead of the sprinkler or garden hose to water this season.

I’m glad I decided to make the rain barrel myself instead of purchasing one. I always feel a sense of accomplishment and empowerment when I can build something myself. Now every time I use the water from the barrel I will know that I did something good for the environment, and I’m saving money in the process.

Laura Gorecki is an intern in Water Education in the Public Works Department for the City of Frisco, Texas .

From Green Right Now Reports

As part of an initiative to plant one million trees and restore tree cover in Pennsylvania’s 14 metropolitan areas, the state’s TreeVitalize program will offering citizens classes in planting and caring for trees.

“Trees, like people, need to be nurtured to thrive,” John Quigley, Pennsylvania’s acting secretary of the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, said in a statement. “Many urban street trees die within the first seven years of planting. These classes will teach people how to help our investments in trees to survive.”

TreeVitalize is a program aimed at revitalizing urban areas by increasing tree cover with a goal of 1 million new trees planted statewide by 2012. More than 186,000 trees have been planted to date.

During eight hours of training, participants will learn about tree biology, identification, pruning and root care, as well as how to raise funds, manage volunteers and work with local government.

The Tree Tenders training program was developed by the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society in collaboration with Penn State Extension Urban Foresters in the Philadelphia area. It is now being offered with instruction provided by the state’s Bureau of Forestry, in partnership with PHS, Penn State, and other local urban forestry experts.

Participants are expected to volunteer time to community tree planting projects in exchange for the training.

Registration for all classes is required. Classes are being held this spring in Pittsburgh; Blue Bell, Montgomery County; Havertown, Delaware County; and the City of Philadelphia.

Workshops also will be offered later this summer in Altoona, York, Easton and Wilkes-Barre.

The program will provide training and support on shade tree ordinances, inventories, management plans and budgeting necessary to effectively manage public trees. The first institute will be offered May 20-21 in the Pittsburgh area, with a second one under development for the fall in the Allentown area.

For a Tree Tenders schedule and to register, visit the TreeVitalize web site and look under “TreeVitalize Events.” Registration also is required for the Municipal Tree Institute workshop, details of which will be posted on the Web site when available.

From Green Right Now Reports

New York City Transit, the largest public transport operator in the U.S. with seven million passengers per day, just took delivery of it the last of 1,350 Orion diesel-electric hybrid transit buses ordered from Daimler Buses North America.

The company currently operates a fleet of 1,679 hybrid buses — the world’s largest fleet of hybrid vehicles for local public transportation.

Orion began developing and producing hybrid buses in the mid-1990s and formed a partnership with NYCT to help test the buses during their development phase. Daimler then delivered its first Orion diesel-electric hybrid bus to New York City in 1998.

Daimler said it has 3,000 diesel-electric hybrid buses either in service or on order in cities such as San Francisco, Houston, Toronto, and Ottawa. New York City has the most units in operation.

Richard Ferguson, president and CEO of Daimler Buses North America, said its fleet has “logged nearly 100 million miles of passenger service while transporting half a billion passengers.”

“Their operation has reduced fuel consumption by 5 million gallons and CO2 emissions by about 50,000 tons,” he said in a statement.

The diesel-electric hybrid buses use a 6.7-liter diesel engine, a generator, an electric motor, and a lithium-ion energy storage unit. Daimler said the diesel engine is optimized to run at relatively constant speeds. Acceleration and deceleration are accomplished by varying the speed of the electric motor rather than the diesel engine, which results in maximum efficiency, fuel savings, and clean operation, the company said.

From Green Right Now Reports

A new study involving scientists from 13 organizations, universities and research institutions concludes that forest protection offers one of the most effective, practical, and immediate strategies to combat climate change.

The study, “Indigenous Lands, Protected Areas, and Slowing Climate Change,” was published in PLoS Biology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, and makes specific recommendations for incorporating protected areas into overall strategies to reduce emissions of greenhouse gasses from deforestation and degradation.

The report cites analyses showing that since 2002, deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon has been 7 to 11 times lower inside of indigenous lands and other protected areas than elsewhere. The authors say simulation models suggest that protected areas established between 2003 and 2007 could prevent an estimated area of 100,000 square miles of deforestation through 2050. That would roughly the size of the state of Colorado and represent enough carbon to equal a third of the world’s annual CO2 emissions.

“Deforestation leads to about 15 percent of the world’s greenhouse gas emissions, more than all the cars, trucks, trains, ships, and planes on earth. If we fail to reduce it, we’ll fail to stabilize our climate,” Taylor Ricketts, director of World Wildlife Fund’s science program and lead author of the study, said in a statement. “Our paper emphasizes that creating and strengthening indigenous lands and other protected areas can offer an effective means to cut emissions while garnering numerous additional benefits for local people and wildlife.”

The study “reinforces the wisdom behind global investments in protected areas,” says Gustavo A.B. da Fonseca, co-author of the study and Team Leader Natural Resources of the Global Environment Facility. “In addition to protecting globally important species and ecosystems, the 2,302 protected areas supported by the GEF alone span over 634 million hectares and together store an impressive 30 billion tons of CO2″

In addition, the study estimates that the cost of creating and better managing protected areas is lower than many other options to reduce emissions from deforestation.

From Green Right Now Reports

AT&T said today it will have a tree planted in honor of each customer who opts in to paperless billing – up to 1 million trees in 2010. The program, which will be operated in conjunction with the Arbor Day Foundation, is open to customers of  AT&T residential home phone, AT&T U-verse TV, broadband and wireless customers nationwide.

According to PayItGreen, if a million customers switch to paperless billing, this would help to save 400,000 pounds of paper, avoid 6 million pounds of greenhouse gases, and prevent 4 million gallons of wastewater from discharging into lakes, streams, and rivers in a year. And, according to the EPA, planting 1 million trees can absorb more than 1 million tons of carbon dioxide, can provide oxygen for up to 4 million people to breathe in a day and can forest more than 1,400 acres of land.

AT&T said customers can opt in to paperless billing and activate the tree planting by going online to www.att.com/paperfree and following the instructions. After enrolling, customers can choose to have a tree planted where there is the greatest need — or they can choose between regions of the U.S. that have various needs for reforestation, such as helping provide clean drinking water in California or protecting rare birds in Michigan.

“The trees planted by AT&T will help clean the air and drinking water for millions of Americans, restore habitat for wildlife and restore our nation’s forests for future generations to enjoy,” John Rosenow, chief executive and founder of the Arbor Day Foundation, said in a statement.

AT&T also accepts wireless devices for recycling in all 2,000-plus of its retail locations. Working with customers and other channels, AT&T estimates it will collect roughly 14 million wireless devices for recycling by the end of 2011, which is the equivalent of keeping more than 920 tons of primary materials and more than 13 tons of toxic waste out of landfills.

“We encourage all of our customers to make the switch to paperless billing with us this year,” Philip Bienert, vice president of ATT.COM, said in a statement. “Whether they care about conserving natural resources, supporting reforestation, enjoying the convenience of reducing the amount of mail they receive each month – or all of these things – we’re offering them a simple way to make a difference with just a few clicks of the mouse or taps of the smartphone.”

From Green Right Now Reports

United Natural Foods, Inc. today announced plans to adopt hydrogen fuel cell technology to power the lift truck fleet at its Sarasota, Fla., distribution center. The company said it expects to employ 65 GenDrive fuel cell powered lift trucks by June. The company will add 29 new hydrogen fuel cell vehicles to its fleet, and retrofit 36 others.

As part of the Sarasota initiative to replace lead acid batteries and their associated charging equipment with hydrogen fuel cells, United Natural Foods said it has partnered with a number of companies to implement the roll-out, including Plug Power Inc., Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. and Abel Womack, Inc.

Hydrogen fuel cell produces energy by combining hydrogen and oxygen in an electrochemical reaction that yields electricity, heat and water. Hydrogen is non-toxic, non-poisonous, the lightest of all gases and the most abundant element in the universe. By converting its Sarasota lift truck fleet to hydrogen fuel cells, the company said it expects carbon emissions will be reduced by approximately 132 metric tons annually, an amount equivalent to the annual emissions of 35 automobiles.

“We consider environmental stewardship an essential component in every facet of our business. This hydrogen fuel cell project is further proof of UNFI’s leadership as an environmentally-conscious organization by advancing the use and development of alternative-fuel technologies,” Steve Spinner, UNFI’s president and chief executive officer, said in a statement.

The 352,000 square-foot Sarasota facility, which employs approximately 160 workers, serves as a regional distribution hub for customers in the Southeastern United States.