What are you burning in your fireplace?

 

Is what your burning in your fireplace environmentally acceptable? The length of winter months vary from each geological location and depending on where you live, the type of wood to burn also varies from Pine, Mesquite to man-made fire logs that is completely environment friendly to burn.

Fireplaces are romantic, they keep homes warm and have been continually used for centuries for burning wood from old fallen trees and from trees that have been cut down, but now there are man-made logs,  made from recycling old wood scraps by turning them into saw dust and then  placed through a compressing process which turns the saw dust, with their natural secretions into clean burning logs for your fire places. These logs have been around for a while.

                             

There are also newer man-made logs, such as Enviro-Logs that have taken an extra step in reducing land-fills by turning old cardboard boxes into burning logs. These are earth friendly logs. They aren’t just made from ordinary cardboard, they are made by recycling old (food-grade) waxed corrugated boxes or containers (WOCC) into burning logs. Enviro-Logs have been tested according to UL and ULC/ORD regulations and are even safe enough to use in wood stoves for cooking.

Wax corrugated boxes are commonly used in shipping bulk fragile items either by large organizations or individuals wishing to protect their shipping items. corrugated boxes are have corrugated flutes on one side and a flat surface on the other side.

The natural wax that is on the boxes comes from the Candelilla plant so, there’s no chemical emission when burning these logs. The Candelilla gets its name from having long straight stalks that are covered in wax that it secrets during dry seasons, giving the appearance of straw sized candles. The wax is humidity resistant making it hard for the man-made Enviro-Logs to become molded as other woods used for logs if left out in damp conditions. Also, when burning these logs, there is no dangerous popping that comes from burning chopped wood.

The Candelilla plant grows in the Chihuahuan Desert  in North America. The largest area of the desert lays across Mexico and stretches into the southeast  section of the United States covering Arizona, New Mexico and south of Texas.

So, now you have a choice between using environmentally acceptable saw dust logs, made from recycling craps of wood or using the Enviro-Log made from old wax corrugated cardboard shipping containers to minimize  the size of landfills. By using these earth friendly burning logs, you save more trees from being cut down since the materials used in these man-made logs come from already previously chopped trees.

For further information on environmental friendly logs and their materials visit www.enfiro-log.net, http://boxcorrugated.info, http://candelilla.org.

“It takes just a little thought and minimal research to become environmentally conscience, but once you’ve found one greener way of living that creates less harm on this planet,  it’s hard not to look for more ways to continue being green! ”

Lisa Racz – For the Environment

Real or Plastic? The environmental friendly Christmas tree

It was thought that if you bought a fake Christmas tree and reused it year after year,  the environment was being saved by not cutting down Pines in the forest. This may be true, but now days there are tree farms because the destruction of forests is considered unacceptable. Those who have fake Christmas trees might just consider the natural alternative, a real pine.

Flagstaff, Arizona holds some Pine farms such as, Arizona Christmas Tree Farm on Country Club Drive where you can take a trip up to Pine country and cut your own tree or have it cut for you on the farm property. These trees have been especially grown for the purpose of being in home Christmas trees. They produce oxygen as they grow and most tree farmers us less desirable soiled lands for their farms.  The natural forest is being untouched by taking a Christmas tree from tree farms.

Some companies such as, The Original Living Christmas Tree Company in Oregon actually rents out living Douglas ferns and Pines each year. The founder, John Vogel has employees who remove the trees from the ground, roots included, place them in large pots and then the trees are delivered. After your done with your live Christmas tree, they are picked up and with previous arrangements that have been made, they will have a final home in a park as a planted tree. This is an environmental plus! It’s like recycling with no harm to the environment or atmosphere what so ever.

By asking questions, I have found that most trees that are in tree lots are from tree farms, but not all. You will have to ask the tree lot manager where their Christmas pines come from. If you buy your cut trees from a tree lot with no roots, make sure that you can further recycle that tree and have it turned into mulch for your garden by a local Nursery. You will have to call your closest Nursery, because not all of them perform this type of service or if you have a mulching machine, do it yourself.

If you aren’t the mulching type, then chop it up and use it in your fire-place. No fire-place? Then give the chopped pine wood to a friend or neighbor who has a fire-place. As a fire-place user myself, Pine  is always a welcomed wood for burning since it smells wonderful. Make sure you only burn on burn days, because it is illegal to burn on “No Burn” days and you will be fined if reported.

So, enjoy the benefits of natural and living Christmas trees and know that it has become more eco-friendly to use them for Christmas.

“Take only what you need from nature and replenish what you can in your life time.”

Lisa Racz – For the environment

Environment Writer for Arizona

Plastic bags, plastic six-pack can holders and balloons are harming wildlife

 The three most dangerous human trash items which causes harm to wildlife are, plastic shopping and garbage bags, plastic six-pack can holders and balloons which can be lethal to animals.

This is the holiday season and people tend to shop more, buying groceries and other items that are put in plastic shopping bags and convenient six-packs of pop and beer are purchased. Also, balloons are sold at Fairs and Holiday Parades, probably more than other times of the year.

What happens to those plastic shopping bags and six-pack holders after they’re use? Well, hopefully they’re put in recycle bins, but is there any thought of wildlife getting a hold of these plastics? Recycle bins get knocked over by wind and some recycling  falls out of the can as the truck is loading the recycling.

Besides being a conscience recycler, one more step is needed before plastic bags and six-pack holders can enter the recycling bin in order to ensure more safety for wildlife and neighborhood animals.

It’s an old story, really, but needs to be retold once in a while, because animals are still found suffocated in plastic bags that they find themselves in and ducks, birds, reptiles and other animals are being harmed by uncut six-pack holders by getting them stuck around their necks and around their legs. Two web sites to look into on these issues are www.weaweb.com and www.ecogeek.com .

You must cut the bottom and one side of ANY plastic bag that is being thrown in bins so there is no chance for an animal to become stuck or suffocated inside, because the bag is now totally flat. ALL the holes of each six-pack holder MUST be cut open, even the smaller ones near the center. Think of the animal’s neck and leg size which might fit into these holes. After all cutting is done to the six-packs holders, they’re now ready to be recycled.

As for those lovely colored balloons, if you must purchase some balloons for your holiday party or for your child, NEVER, NEVER release the balloons to soar in the ski or heavens, because the higher atmosphere WILL pop those balloons with loads of string attached and eventually return to our planet as trash were they will most definitely kill an animal.   It is illegal to release balloons into the atmosphere in most states which  is an uncommonly known law. For more information on this law visit www.arizonawildlifeconservationcomission/balloons.org  .                                                                                                                                

So, after enjoying your balloons, deflate them, cut them in half (same concept as plastic shopping bags), cut all the string off the balloons and then recycle them. That’s much better than risking the thought that somewhere on this planet, some animal has met its doom from that balloon.

“Make not our trash be the lethal weapon to wildlife animals and neighborhood animals.”

 Lisa Racz – For the environment and wildlife

LIsa Racz - Environmental Writer for Arizona

Grey wolves threatened by man

October 2009 sets the fate for the grey wolf by Interior Secretary Ken Salazar removing wolves in western states from the endangered species list.

It is now open season on the wolf as public wolf  killings rise. Wolves are shot on sight and are left to die where they lay in some instances. Not only are the poor grown male and female wolves being killed, but young baby’s, older pack leaders and pregnant mother wolves are being slain.

It has been a long road to recovery for the wolf from almost going extinct  due to man’s ignorance, to a not quite acceptable sustainable number of packs. Yet, they are once again being  killed.

It is bad enough that man has built on lands where wildlife exist, taking up the only natural environment where animals call home, but to call wildlife a nuisance after do so is completely ignorant. Animals such as the grey wolf  who have lived in the woods far longer than man, are now labeled a nuisance to man and are allowed to be shot on sight in their own homelands.

Nature defence organizations and activists are working with courts  and government agencies to place the wolf back on the endangered species list before they go totally extinct. It is up to the federal government to instill proper adequate state plans and laws for man and wolf to positively coincide properly in states where wolf’s roam.

To find out more on the grey wolf and other wolf issues visit Natural Resources Defense Council at www.nrdc/wolf/.org or Defenders of Wildlife www.defenders/wolf.org.

If you have an opinion on the fate of the wolf you can call your state congressman or governor and explain the importance of creating new laws to protect the existence of wolf and man together and to not cause the extinction of more wolves than already are.

 

 

 

“Are actions can cause sever consequences on the environment if not properly thought out.”

Lisa Racz – For the Environment

Environmental and Yummy Ways to Use Those Leftover Halloween Pumpkins

 

 

It’s the day after Halloween and Jack-O-Lanterns all over have now burned out their wicks from last nights glow. What can be done with those left over pumpkins that’s environmentally friendly?

Instead of throwing the pumpkins away, reuse them for Thanks Giving decorations by just turning them around to show the uncarved back side of the pumpkins. The cold weather will preserve them for a couple more weeks, if there not in direct sun light. They can be used to make harvest scarecrows. It’s ok if the pumpkin becomes a little deformed, because it gives character to the face, as long as it isn’t molding. After the pumpkin has run its course, simply break it up and return it back to the earth in  your gardens or underneath your hedge as fertilizer.

Besides decorating, pumpkins can be cut up and added to your favorite vegetable or chicken soup recipe. If you like squash, just cut up the washed pumpkin, skin and meat, than steam it in a pot and add butter and salt. Don’t forget the seeds. Remove the seeds from the pulp, spray or brush some cooking oil on them, place the seeds on a sheet pan and place them in the oven at 250 for about 15 minutes and you have a tasty snack. With or without salt.        

   

Humans aren’t the only creatures who enjoy the delights of pumpkins. Animals out on  natural preserves in Arizona also enjoy the taste of the pumpkin. Have you left your pumpkins out all night and the next morning there are bite marks in your Halloween pumpkins or hoof marks where there used to be a pumpkin?

Anyone who lives close to a preserve knows this site very well. That’s because our neighboring Javelina sniffs out that sweet-smelling pumpkin which makes a great meal to bulk up for the winter months.

If you live near a preserve, take your left over pumpkins a good way into the preserve or where Javelina’s have been known to roam and just simply place them on the ground away from trails and the pumpkins will be eaten with in the week. Thought, pumpkins are not a native desert growing plant, Javelina’s have been used to eating neighborhood pumpkins for years and will continue to do so as long as they can smell them out.

Pumpkins are actually not bad for the Javelina who are basically vegetarians, except for the few bugs and grubs that are also on their natural diet. Pumpkins contain many vitamins such as, beta-carotene (vitamin A), potassium, vitamin C and the seeds contain zinc.  It’s like their getting their once a year vitamin intake and since 9 times out of 10, Javelina’s are going to find pumpkins in your yard anyways, why not keep them out of traffic and yards and take left over pumpkins to them.

These are a just a few environmental suggestions of what to do with your Halloween pumpkins that I have done for a few years. Instead of just throwing the pumpkins away where they end up in landfills, attracting animals  to a dangerous place,  use the pumpkins environmentally for the benefit of nature.

“The more ways we take care of nature, the more ways nature will take care of us.”

Sincerely,

Lisa Racz – For the environment

 

 

Environmental Friendly Clotheslines To Be Banned State Wide!?

 

During a time when the entire U.S. is being asked to function in the Green and become environmentally functional by the majority of the public, Home Owner Associations  from the east coast to the west coast  in the United States are pushing to make the use of clothes lines illegal.

That’s right, clothes lines are considered a no, no to most communities state-wide. People all over the world have been using clothes lines for many years and it is the most environmentally friendly way for people to do their laundry. The sun has been used in many ways to reduce human carbon footprints by using less energy with the use of solar panels and the use of clothes lines.

 

 

 

So, what is the problem with using clothes lines? Homeowner’s Associations and community management services have claimed that clothes lines lower the value of neighborhood property values and there have been complaints of people hanging under garments in visible view over fences or in the front yards.

The Arizona State Senate brief on guidelines for Home Owners Associations under the section of Limitations on HOA Power, states that “A planned HOA may not restrict the use of solar energy devices.”  So, clothes lines which also uses solar energy, though it is not a device, should be used to help with cutting energy along with solar panels and such. To view this brief, visit www.azleg.state.az.us/brief/senate/homeownersAssociations.

If it is the view of undergarments that has these agencies in a twist, then suggest a rule for home owners to hang them elsewhere and to have the clothes lines in the back yard so that the home owner can continue with being environmentally conscience and surrounding neighbors won’t see it, unless they are snooping around, peaking in back yards. That’s another issue.

This has been such a huge debate lately. With todays economy, neighbors everywhere are cutting costs and are in fact hanging clothes on clothes lines, using the suns natural drying power. In doing so, state governments, nationwide are being forced to step in and make it against the law to ban clothes lines.

To prevent the loss of using clothes lines in your community in Arizona by Associations of Homeowners, you can write to  The Arizona Senate Research staff at 1700 W. Washington, Phoenix 85007 or call them at (602) 926-3171. They collect research about the matter. To give your opinion on clothes lines to the Community Associations Institute Arizona Chapter, visit www.cai-az.org. They are created to educate and represent America’s homeowners associations.

Before Arizonan’s loose the use of drying our clothes, comforters, and rugs by our most useful natural resource, the sun,  take responsibility and let Arizona’s Governor hear the voice of those who care about the environment and about leaving a lighter carbon foot print on this planet.

 

“All People should have the choice of being cost efficient while using natural resources.”

Sincerely,

Lisa Racz – For the environment

Energy efficient light bulbs (CFL’s) – Not environment friendly

 (Photo by: Lisa Racz)

 

In todays world in America, most of the general public is becoming more earth conscience by reducing waste on our planet and becoming more aware of energy efficient ways  to live our daily lives.

Reducing the use of energy has hit home with most people having the idea that changing out electricity burning incandescent bulbs,which burns more energy through a heat causing filament, with the more energy efficient gas-filled Compact fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL’s) will be better for the environment.

Lets take a look at what  gas or gasses are inside that CFL bulb or what is commonly known as energy efficient light bulbs. Instead of electricity flowing through a metal wire filament in regular incandescent bulbs, the electric current in CFL’s flow through a phosphor coated tub containing  aragon and mercury gasses inside.

Aragon - An inert gas that is colorless, tasteless, odorless and nontoxic. This is used to regulate the environment inside the glass tubing so that the mercury can absorb the electricity.

Mercury or hydrargyrum – Mercury occurs in deposits mostly as cinnabar and is highly toxic by ingestion or inhalation.

Phosphor (chemical element phosphorus) - A substance or rare earth or transition metal compound which displays a phosphorescence  illuminating glow after exposure to energized particles. Phosphorus is widely used in explosives, nerve agents, pesticides, fireworks and toothpaste.

This comes with a bit of concern since some of these chemicals can cause harm to the environment if not disposed of properly and what if a bulb should become broken in a house containing pets and small children?

No doubt these CFL  bulbs reduces the energy use in a household or business and if handled properly, can be very useful with energy costs, but I’m afraid if the public is not aware of the waste hazards these gas-filled bulbs have on the environment, more harm than good will be done if these bulbs aren’t recycled properly as a hazardous waste after they burn out in a few years.

Do not through these bulbs in the regular trash. They MUST be disposed of or recycled according to disposal laws.

For more information about the  Compact fluorescent Light bulbs (CFL) and the proper way to dispose or recycle them so they don’t end up in a landfill exposing harmful chemicals into the atmosphere or seeped into earths grounds, visit www.ehow.com/how , www.USDOE.gov , www.epa.gov/epawaste/hazard or call the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality at (602) 771-2300 for further questions.

“Earth is our only home. Don’t make it a trash sight in the universe.”

Sincerely,

Lisa Racz -  For the earth

Environmental Writer/Puma Press

Global Warming – The Talk of Talk

 Global warming is one of the most talked about issue and has presented the most challenging task to either stop it or slow it down. There are still global debates among scientists and the general public as to whether global warming is natural, man made or both. One thing is clear and that is that global warming is happening now and what should  be done to conserve wildlife, nature and ourselves.

 The changing climate is one of today’s greatest threats to the ecosystem, individual wildlife species, human settlements and the world economic development. Scientists have recognised that the change and destruction to some natural habitats due to global warming causes wildlife to migrate, adapt or in some cases begin to parish as their very existence and ecosystem is threatened.

 

 

In Arizona, the Apache trout is facing a significant reduction within their habitat as stream temperatures rise and riparian (having to do with banks of a river or lake) vegetation declines. The Mexican jay bird is changing its natural behavior due to the warmer temperatures brought on by climate change. They are laying their eggs much earlier than they did in the 70’s.

What has happened recently on June 26, 2009, the U.S. House of representatives passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (H.R. 2454) which takes the first steps addressing climate change and to help our threatened polar bears and other climate sensitive species who are struggling through rising temperatures.

The bill provides a safeguard for all wildlife and their ecosystems along with natural resources. Also, the bill provides one percent of revenues from a certain cap and trade system to our natural resource adaptation over the next 10 years and will increase the allocation to four percent by 2027. Our task is not over yet and far from done. The Senate will begin to work on climate legislation to address global warming effects.

What the public can do is continue with recycling, cut down on products which harms the ozone as well as pollutants and make conscience choices to prevent the destruction of our planet and all life upon its grounds.

For further details on global warming visit, www.defenders.org/globalwarming.

“Take pride in all of earths diverse living creatures and ecosystems and do what is necessary to sustain them.”

Lisa Racz – For our Earths environment

Environmental Writer

Natural candle burning reduces carbon trails

 

Candle burning has been and still is a long time favorite in and around the home, but has there been any thought of what is being burned and how it can affect air quality?

The burning of candles has drawn up questions as to whether they are pollutants or not and of what type of wax that is used in candles causes less harm to the environment.

There are three types of waxes used to make candles. Two are a more naturally clean burning such as,  wax made from bees and wax made from plant oils like the soy plant. The other is Paraffin, a man made wax using a petroleum by-product from crude oil, containing harmful chemicals  such as, toluene and benzene (carcinogens) that are emitted into the air when burned.

 It is found that burning candles made from soy releases some residue but burns much cleaner and for a much longer time than its adversary, the paraffin candle. Soy candles also burn at a lower temperature and burns entirely, leaving no wax behind. Soy is a natural renewable resource that comes from farms, is non-toxic and is biodegradable (natural breakdown process)so, its earth friendly.

Soybeans are harvested and afterwards they go through a cleaning and de-haulling process then the oils are extracted from the beans and the edible left overs are used as feed for the animals on farms. So, not only is burning soy candles environmentally considerate, but soy farmers are benefiting from it as well as the farm animals.

Paraffin candles are made from a limited resource, petroleum, which releases chemicals as well as black soot into the air. Also paraffin candles burn at a higher temperature and causes a tunneling effect in the candle, leaving much wax behind that eventually ends up in the trash. Paraffin wax is not biodegradable, so it will not break down for an extremely long time in landfills. Paraffin wax is hard to clean off the class container that it may come in, making it harder to recycle the glass. Where as with soy, it wipes off surfaces easily with out chemicals, making recycling a cleaner, easier process for all.

Soy is the new wax to consider for better candle burning in this environmentally conscience time, because it brings ambiance, warmth, longer lasting light and cleaner burning into the atmosphere. So, consider the environment the next time a candle is to be purchased and choose plant based waxes instead of man-made waxes to decrease carbon trails.

 ”The air is shared by all and has been given freely to all life.”

Lisa Racz – For the Environment

 

What do wine corks have to do with the environment?

                              

It has been a debate within wine industry as to whether wine makers should switch to man made cork materials or sick to the original cork from the bark of the cork oak tree to better our environment. The bark is harvested, leaving the tree unharmed. The importance of keeping cork oak forests around is not just for eco-friendly cork making, but it is to keep the forests important enough, because these forests house animals such as the Barbary and Sardinian deer, the endangered Iberian lynx and wild boar as well as many birds.

Natural cork has been traditionally used for centuries in wine making to stop up bottles which has been successful so far so, why change a great environmentally friendly thing? Environmental ussues are brought up with the thought of using man made materials rather than cork, because of the type of materials that are used to make them.  There are the screwcaps which are made from aluminum and cork “look a like” stoppers that are made from plastic. Both of these materials are not biodegradable, but can be recycled if someone remembers to do so. However, with natural cork materials if it should end up being thrown away it will break down naturally.

The benefits of wine makers using traditional, natural cork rather than wines with man made materials is much better for the environment, because it is naturally biodegradable, forests are saved because of the importance of bark oak tree and endangered animals homes are being sustained.  It’s like a domino effect.

So, all you wine drinkers who don’t want to mess with tradition and who pick wines that use natural cork can feel at ease, because you’re helping the environment in a spirited way. Just don’t forget to recycle that wine bottle.

 

“Sometimes the smallest step leads toward a greater way of living”

Lisa Racz -  For the Earth

Environment writer