Celebrate EARTH DAY 2009

The Aiken Land Conservancy will have a booth at the city's 2009 Earth Day celebration at Hopelands Gardens on Saturday, April 25, from 8:30-11:30 am. Look for the ALC table next to that of the Savannah River Ecology Lab. We'll have information on conservation easements and how you can join ALC's efforts to conserve Aiken's special places.

"Thank You" to ALC Volunteers

A BIG "Thank You" from the ALC Watershed Committee and Chairperson David Scott to the volunteers who helped remove invasive non-native vegetation at the Carolina Bay Nature Reserve on Saturday, April 18th. Thanks to David Blow, Charlie and Sheldon Davis, and Carol Mayfield for their assistance.

8 Ways to Make EVERY Day EARTH DAY

Here are some great ways to live a little more lightly on the planet every day:

1. Energy Vampires
In households across the U.S., phantom energy (energy used when items are plugged in but not in use) not only adds an additional 87 billion pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere annually, but also costs homeowners $5.8 billion per year. Unplugging chargers and other electronics when the charge is complete, or when you’re simply done using them, can create up to 10% in energy savings. If devices are plugged into a power strip, just flip the switch and you’re done!

2. Every Drop Counts
Global climate change affects our water supply, and right now billions of people don’t have access to clean water. To conserve water here in the U.S., there are some easy steps you can take to reduce your consumption:

• Use one drinking glass or reusable bottle per day, rather than disposable plastic bottles
• Dumping ice or leftover water on plants instead of down the drain
• Turning the faucet off while brushing your teeth, shaving, and soaping dishes
• Changing a washer’s settings to reflect the appropriate size load

3. Hazards of Outer Beauty
Each year people put on five pounds of personal care products, and they’re all absorbed by your skin. It’s important to know what you’re putting on your body and the environmental footprint of the products you purchase. Educate yourself on contents such as parabens and sulfates through the Cosmetic Safety Database and opt for greener products, such as those that use organic ingredients and recycled packaging.

4. Transportation: It’s All About Options
With enough cars on the road for every eligible American driver, there are numerous ways to help the environment when it comes to daily transportation. Cut back on vehicle emissions by carpooling, car sharing, riding public transportation, and biking or walking to errands near home or the office. If you must drive, increase fuel efficiency by consolidating trips, avoiding sudden starts or stops, and removing unnecessary weight from your car. Not only will you save on carbon emissions, but you’ll also save on the cost of operating your vehicle.

5. Choosy Consumers Choose Sustainable
Going to the store involves responsible choices: How food is grown, processed, and transported is as important as picking the foods you eat.

• With organically grown food, herbicides and pesticides don’t enter the body or the soil
• Try not to eat red meat for a few days each week. Cows are responsible for 20% of U.S. emissions of methane, which traps 20 times more heat in the atmosphere than carbon dioxide
• Purchasing locally grown goods cuts down on environmental costs of transportation and helps your local economy
• If you have leftover produce, compost it to ensure that nothing goes to waste

6. It’s in the Bag
The average American uses an estimated 1,200 plastic bags per year. Say “so long” to single-use bags and their negative environmental consequences.

7. Paper Trail
Paper consumes more than one-third of landfill space, which in turn is detrimental to the environment because of methane creation. When it comes to paper, the three R’s are your key to success:

• Reduce: Request bills, statements, newsletters etc. to be sent electronically
• Reuse: Shred paper for packing materials or compost. Use old envelopes for scratch paper or notes, or save scraps for craft projects around the house
• Recycle: Even those items like glossy junk mail, newspapers, cardboard boxes, magazines, phone books, etc. can be recycled

8. Everyone Can Compost
According to the U.S. EPA, each American throws away an average of 1.3 pounds of food scraps daily. In addition to this, yard trimmings and food waste, combined, make up 24% of our nation’s municipal solid waste stream. If even half of this can be diverted and recycled through composting, our daily trash levels could start to decrease.

Composting increases gardening yields due to additional nutrient content in the soil. It also keeps moisture in the soil so you water less, and it binds to soil contaminants to keep them from spreading. Whether you are in an urban environment or composting with worms, this home recycling option comes in many forms and can be easier than you may think.

Now Get Moving!
Even though these steps may seem simple enough, sometimes actually employing them in your everyday life can be more challenging than you think. But your small efforts really do add up to something bigger, such as increasing demand for green products and services, which also creates more green jobs.

In terms of global green education, spread the word to your friends or get involved in community events and organizations with a mission to live eco-responsibly.

This article, by Kasen Seaver, was published on Earth911.com on April 20, 2009

News from the Land Trust Alliance

We’ve had great news over the last few weeks that even in this tough economy our elected officials still support land conservation. Our friends in the House and Senate have introduced bills to make the enhanced tax deduction for conservation easement donations permanent. The House bill (H.R.1831) had an impressive 93 original cosponsors. Among the 500 tax bills introduced so far this year, only two had more! Our goal is 218 cosponsors and we’re already up to 104, so please learn more about how you can help make the tax incentive permanent.

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