September 30, 2009
· Filed under Water issues, environment, general interest, renewable energy · Tagged CEC, Clean Energy Coalition, conservation, energy, green, Michigan, remodeling, renewable energy
If you’re located in Michigan, here are some classes that are being given by the Clean Energy Coalition’s retail venture, the Energy Outlet.
Their ”Green Classroom” is offering four public workshops designed to educate residents and businesses on renewable energy and conservation techniques and products.
They are scheduled for October 2009:
Wednesday, October 7, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Saving Green: A First-Time Home Buyer’s Guide to Buying and Owning a Home Cost: $10 for reserved seating + 10% off EO coupon Presenter: Sara C. Maddock, Certified EcoBroker / Prudential Snyder & Co. Realtors
Wednesday, October 14, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Green Remodeling: Opportunities & Benefits for the Average Homeowner Cost: $10 for reserved seating + 10% off EO coupon Presenter: Doug Selby, Owner / Meadowlark Builders
Saturday, October 17, 10:30 am – 12 pm Rain Barrel Making Class Cost: $10 for reserved seating + 10% off EO coupon plus $67 material cost for one barrel kit ($77 total) Presenter: Tammy Packard, Partner / Two Chicks and the Elements
Wednesday, October 21, 7:00 – 8:30 pm Commercial Building Owners’ Guide to Lowering Your Energy + Operating Costs Cost: $10 for reserved seating + 10% off EO coupon Presenter: Joshua Brugeman, Director, Project Green / J.S. Vig Construction Co.
For questions, or to reserve your seat, contact CEC Project Manager Deb Heed at 734.483.9000 or email her at deb@cec-mi.org.
September 5, 2009
· Filed under Breaking News, Water issues, environment, renewable energy, talk radio · Tagged Diane Tegarden, renewable energy, Internet Voices Radio, environmental, desalination, Pablo Paster, examiner.com, Water issues, sustainability, climate
Interested in water issues? Listen to my interview with Pablo Paster, Sustainability Engineer, on Sept 8th
Check out The FireWalker Flare-An Environmental and Renewable Energy Solutions Talk Radio Show
Join Diane Tegarden as she engages Environmental and Renewable Energy Experts on Tuesday September 8th at 10am PST/11am MST/ 12 noon CST/ 1pm EST for a half-hour of riveting interviews on environmental problems and their solutions through Renewable Energy technologies.
The call in number is # 913-227-1219 and the PIN number 241734#
The link to our home page is: http://internetvoicesradio.com/Arch-Firewalker.htm
My guest for the September 8th show will be Pablo Paster, a Sustainability Engineer who uses his unique background to answer readers’ sustainability-related questions on his online column “Ask Pablo”. Pablo is also a Sustainability Engineer and VP at ClimateCHECK.
To read some of my environmental articles you can visit:
http://www.examiner.com/x-14744-LA-Renewable-Energy-Examiner
May You Never Thirst!
July 30, 2009
· Filed under Water issues, environment, health · Tagged beach water, beaches, Great Lakes, health, Natural Resources Defense Council, NRDC, oceans, pollution
From: NRDC – Published July 29, 2009 12:15 PM
Beach Closing Days Nationwide Top 20,000 for Fourth Consecutive Year
“The water at American beaches was seriously polluted and jeopardized the health of swimmers last year with the number of closing and advisory days at ocean, bay and Great Lakes beaches reaching more than 20,000 for the fourth consecutive year, according to the 19th annual beach water quality report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC).
“Pollution from dirty storm water runoff and sewage overflows continues to make its way to our beaches. This not only makes swimmers sick — it hurts coastal economies,” said Nancy Stoner, NRDC Water Program Co-Director. “Americans should not suffer the consequences of contaminated beach water. From contracting the flu or pink eye, to jeopardizing millions of jobs and billions of dollars that rely on clean coasts, there are serious costs to inaction.”
Using data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, NRDC’s report — Testing the Waters: A Guide to Water Quality at Vacation Beaches — confirms that our nation’s beach waters continue to suffer from serious contamination —including human and animal waste — that can make people sick.
NRDC’s report also provides a 5-star rating guide for 200 of the nation’s most popular beaches, based on indicators of beach water quality, monitoring frequency, and public notification of contamination.Five-star beaches included Gulf Shores Public Beach (AL), Laguna Beach-Main Beach (CA), Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach (CA), Newport Beach (CA), Ocean City (MD), Park Point — Community Club Beach in Duluth (MN) and Hampton Beach State Park in Hampton (NH). Some of the lowest ranking beaches (1-star) were Zach’s Bay at Jones Beach State Park in Wantagh (NY), Ocean Beach Park in New London (CT), Venice Public Beach (FL) and Central Beach in Point Pleasant (NJ).
Article continues: http://www.nrdc.org/media/2009/090729.asp ******************
Go to the NRDC website to read their report on your favorite beach, and keep in mind that when you toss trash in the street, it runs into the storm drains which do not filter that trash but rather end up dumping it into our oceans.
July 23, 2009
· Filed under Native Americans, Water issues, environment · Tagged Hopi Indians, Arizona, water rights, Diane T., Grand Canyon, mining, water management, grey water, desalination, conservation
Good News from the Environmental News Network-
“GRAND CANYON, Ariz.- Conservationists are applauding a notice issued Monday by the Obama administration to temporarily place 1 million acres of public lands surrounding Grand Canyon off limits to new mining claims and exploration or development of existing, unpatented claims. The order complies with a June 2008 resolution by the House Committee on Natural Resources enacting the same protections across the same area. The protections do not affect three existing mines in the area slated for reopening or the exploration of existing patented claims.
Uranium prices have caused sharp increases in new uranium mining claims, exploration, and permitting to reopen old mines on public lands surrounding Grand Canyon National Park. Uranium development threatens to damage wildlife habitat, industrialize iconic wild lands, and contaminate surface water and groundwater feeding regional water wells, seeps, springs and the Colorado River – prompting concerns from former Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, the Southern Nevada Water Authority, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, the Navajo, Hopi, Havasupai, Hualapai, and Kaibab Paiute tribes, Coconino County officials, and independent geologists.” For the balance of the article see: www.enn.com
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Our groundwater is a precious source of clean water, which is in short supply in many southwestern states. Last year 50% of the states in the US were under drought conditions, which threatens human health, as well as our food supply. Conservation can only help to a certain extent, we need to keep our water sources uncontaminated and find new ways to create fresh water supplies, as through desalination of sea water, and smaller systems like catchwater and grey water filtration systems.
May You Never Thirst, Diane T.
June 4, 2009
· Filed under Water issues, recycling · Tagged CA, California, EPA, gov, government, Irwindale, recycling, southwest, water management, water recycling
clean water
Workshop on Innovative Energy Management for Water and Wastewater Treatment Plants in the Southwest (June 23, 2009)
Space is still available for the free 1-day workshop on Innovative Energy Management being sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 9. The workshop will be held on June 23, 2009, in Irwindale, California, to share information on saving energy and money at Southern California water and wastewater treatment plants. NWRI is a co-sponsor of this workshop.
For more information, please visit www.epa.gov/region09/waterinfrastructure/training/energy-workshop/
