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Country: United States
Language: English
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Lillian Brummet
1/27/2009 5:12 AM UTC
We applaud what you are doing with this radio show! I've been using a printer that uses 100% recycled content, 100% veggie inks. I've also read of a waterless printing technology that is now avail. Lillian - www.brummet.ca
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Life with a twist of "Green" This program talks about everything from current events, hot topics, family, and community all with a hint of "Green"
The USA Green Lady
Date / Time: 9/15/2008 3:00 PM UTC
Category: Current Events
Jeff Barrie is an award winning film maker who has made environmental films throughout his career. "Kilowatt Ours" is his latest documentary and is going to be seen on many national public televisions stations this Fall.
Date / Time: 7/30/2008 3:07 AM UTC
Irrigation
Water irrigation is necessary to keep lawns, gardens and parkways at their best. Mother Nature provides the resources of rainwater, but sometimes a little added help is needed. Effective water irrigation starts by appropriate planting and efficient irrigation systems that can reduce irrigation water use by 50% to 70% and overall water consumption by up to 25%.
The first place to start is with a reputable irrigation specialist who can assist you in designing your irrigation system. The irrigation specialist will explain the reasoning behind the techniques needed for your specific property. They will also walk you through step-by-step, so you that you will understand the maintenance needed on your specific system.
There are many different types of systems ranging from portable lawn sprinklers to automatic sprinkler systems, drip irrigation and rain barrels. Your lawn and garden can benefit from using each type of system because they each deliver water in a different way.
Underground or Automatic Sprinkler System
Automatic or underground sprinkler systems are a network of buried pipes interspersed with sprinkler heads that spray water above ground over lawns, plants, trees, and shrubs. In particular, lawns and ground covers are ideally suited to sprinkler systems.
Watering your lawn can be an easy task if you have an automatic sprinkler system on your side. However, remember that you should properly program and use it. If you try to ride throughout the year with just one timer setting, you're going to waste water and money. Instead, adjust the timer as the seasons and rainfall patterns change. As well, try to invest in a system that comes with rain sensors. If it has a rain sensor or switch, the system settings will change on their own and the sprinklers won't turn on if there has been heavy rainfall.
An automatic system does require maintenance. It must be properly winterized and “tuned up” in the spring. When the ground freezes, so does the pipes buried within it. Having your irrigation specialist check on it can save costly repairs in the future.
Drip Systems
Drip irrigation is watering at a slow rate (or drip) right at the roots of plants. Root irrigation is a good water conservation choice because it provides a deeper level of watering than surface watering, which is prone to wastage due to evaporation and runoff.
When you install drip irrigation lines they do not need to be buried (although they can be if you prefer), so you can easily move them about and make adjustments to the watering pattern as needed.
Portable Systems
When a little watering is all that is needed and it is in a remote area in which you do not have an irrigation system installed, a portable sprinkler can accommodate. They come in a variety of sizes and have many levels to adjust for height and range of water.
What is the best time to water my lawn?
Watering in the morning when the sun is low, the temperatures are cool and the winds are calm ensures that the water will not evaporate before it gets to your lawn. Watering in the middle of the day is not as effective. If you water in the evening, your lawn can stay wet al night and invite fungal diseases.
Some steps to efficient water irrigation:
3. Choose low-volume, low-angle sprinklers for lawn areas.
4. Select heads that fit the size and shape of the areas to be watered.
5. Program automatic controllers for night irrigation to reduce losses due to evaporation and wind drift.
6. Select controllers with adjustable watering schedules and moisture sensors to account for seasonal variations, and calibrate them during commissioning.
7. Where possible, use gray water for irrigation.
8. Use barrels at the bottom of rainwater leaders for manual irrigation of trees and shrubs.
9. Place 3 to 5 in. of mulch on planting beds each spring to minimize evaporation.
Date / Time: 7/2/2008 8:23 PM UTC
Our Foe Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an important chemical used widely by industry to manufacture building materials and numerous household products. It is also a by-product of combustion and certain other natural processes. Therefore, it may be present in significant concentrations both indoors and outdoors.
The most significant sources of formaldehyde in a home are likely to be pressed wood products made using adhesives that contain urea-formaldehyde (UF) resins. Pressed wood products made for indoor use include: particleboard (used as sub-flooring and shelving and in cabinetry and furniture); hardwood plywood paneling (used for decorative wall covering and used in cabinets and furniture); and medium density fiberboard (used for drawer fronts, cabinets, and furniture tops). Medium density fiberboard contains a higher resin-to-wood ratio than any other UF pressed wood product and is generally recognized as being the highest formaldehyde-emitting pressed wood product.
Other pressed wood products, such as softwood plywood and flake or oriented strandboard, are produced for exterior construction use and contain the dark, or red/black-colored phenol-formaldehyde (PF) resin. Although formaldehyde is present in both types of resins, pressed woods that contain PF resin generally emit formaldehyde at considerably lower rates than those containing UF resin.
The rate at which products like pressed wood or textiles release formaldehyde can change. Formaldehyde emissions will generally decrease as products age. When the products are new, high indoor temperatures or humidity can cause increased release of formaldehyde from these products.
Formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling gas, can cause watery eyes, burning sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea, and difficulty in breathing in some humans exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts per million). High concentrations may trigger attacks in people with asthma. There is evidence that some people can develop a sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also been shown to cause cancer in animals and may cause cancer in humans.
Reducing Exposure to Formaldehyde in Homes
Some studies suggest that coating pressed wood products with polyurethane may reduce formaldehyde emissions for some period of time. To be effective, any such coating must cover all surfaces and edges and remain intact. Increase the ventilation and carefully follow the manufacturer instructions while applying these coatings. (If you are sensitive to formaldehyde, check the label contents before purchasing coating products to avoid buying products that contain formaldehyde, as they will emit the chemical for a short time after application.) Maintain moderate temperature and humidity levels and provide adequate ventilation. The rate at which formaldehyde is released is accelerated by heat and may also depend somewhat on the humidity level. Therefore, the use of dehumidifiers and air conditioning to control humidity and to maintain a moderate temperature can help reduce formaldehyde emissions. (Drain and clean dehumidifier collection trays frequently so that they do not become a breeding ground for microorganisms.) Increasing the rate of ventilation in your home will also help in reducing formaldehyde levels.
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