Keeping Pets—and People—Safe from Toxic Algae
Visible green slime in Lake Needwood during harmful algal bloom outbreak in September 2012.
By Patty Scott
Two years ago, our family planned to take our Yellow Labrador puppy Fiona to Lake Needwood near our home in Rockville, Maryland for a swim. Our puppy needed somewhere to exercise and the scenic lake near Rock Creek Park seemed like the perfect place. My husband, however, mentioned something about a warning for a harmful algal bloom. At the time, I had just started working on EPA’s National Lakes Assessment, the agency’s report card on the condition of the nation’s lakes, and thankfully knew about the dangers of harmful algal blooms. Blue-green algae can produce harmful toxins that can be fatal if ingested. Since people are not allowed to swim in Lake Needwood, the dangers are not as great for humans. However, dogs are especially at risk if they swim in or drink the water. We decided against taking Fiona anywhere near the lake.
While Montgomery County did not know the cause of the outbreaks in Lake Needwood, harmful algal blooms are often triggered by excessive levels of the nutrients nitrogen and phosphorus. Many of our lakes, rivers, streams and bays are becoming overloaded with nutrients from a wide range of sources. Excess nutrients spur the growth of algae to the point where they can explode into vast — and sometimes toxic — colonies of slime. Algal blooms often peak during the summer months, but in some parts of the country they occur year round.
Nutrient pollution is a growing concern because it threatens public health, recreation and our economy. National data is not easy to find on impacts to our four-legged friends, but sadly dog deaths have been reported due to harmful algae.
Warning sign advising residents and their pets to avoid direct contact with the water at Lake Needwood in Montgomery County, Maryland.
Like many pet owners, we treat Fiona and Jake, our other lab, like part of our family, and we’d be devastated to lose them. It’s best to keep pets away from the water anytime there is visible surface scum, if the water is discolored or if there is a strong musty smell. Also, keep in mind that not all waters are monitored. You can check EPA’s new How’s My Waterway app to find out about the condition of your local waterway and whether it’s been tested.
Everyone can help make a difference. One easy way to combat algae is to take care not to over-fertilize. And always remember to pick up pet waste. To learn more about how you can prevent nutrient pollution, visit
About the author: Patty Scott works in EPA’s Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds on communications and outreach. She loves fishing, kayaking, cycling and other outdoor pursuits.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Lakefront Lunacy
By Cameron Davis
When my cousin/godson Jamie issued the challenge in late December to join him and about a dozen of his college friends to dive into the cold waters of Lake Michigan on January 1, I couldn’t resist. After nearly three decades of working on and recreating around the Great Lakes, this was something I’d never done before.
On January 1, the outside air temperature was 20 degrees. The water temperature along the lakefront: a mild 34 degrees.
As we sat in the parking lot at Evanston’s Lighthouse Beach waiting for everyone to arrive, my brother in law Charley wondered out loud: “do you think anyone else will show?”
A text from Jamie came in. Some of his friends “got the time mixed up” and—not surprisingly—would not be showing up. “Jamie will show,” I reassured Charley (and myself). “He’s got good mettle.”
A few minutes later, Jamie arrived, a single soldier among his battalion that was AWOL. We marched stolidly toward the icy water’s edge, peeled off layer after layer of clothing until we were only in our bathing suits, then plunged into the breaking whitecaps.
Actually, the dive wasn’t all that bad. The numbness took a bite out of whatever pain we would have normally felt. Still, I was happier after the fact, than during.
With all my instincts screaming, “don’t do it!” as I walked to the water, I still did it. But there was one thing I couldn’t bring myself to do: call this ritual the “polar bear plunge.” After all, we don’t have polar bears in the Great Lakes. If you ever contemplate doing something crazy like jumping into these frigid waters to celebrate a new year, we now have a more indigenous name for it: lakefront lunacy.
About the author: Cameron Davis is Senior Advisor to EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson. He provides counsel on Great Lakes matters, including the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Wrapping Presents – With the Environment in Mind
By Amy Miller
I must apologize to my nieces and nephews. Although I give them their share of holiday gifts, they suffer the wrapping – used paper decorated with old pieces of tape and sometimes a tag with someone else’s name on it.
Sure, a gift is a gift. And the alternative – gifts wrapped in newsprint – is worse. Little hands get covered in black by the time they get to the truck or baby doll.
We got into the whole wrapping paper thing during Christmas 1917. Apparently, stores had run out of white tissue sheets, the preferred wrapping of the day. Stores began using the pretty lining paper made for envelopes. The public liked the alternative and wrapping paper became part of our holiday gift tradition.
According to Earth911.com, about half of the 85 million tons of paper our country uses each year goes for packaging, wrapping and decorating goods. Wrapping paper and shopping bags alone make up 4 million tons of this, they say. And some estimates put the amount of trash generated around holidays at 25 million tons more waste than is typically created during a 10-week period. Whatever the numbers, we know we use a heck of a lot of paper over the holidays.
Sure we can try to recycle, but much wrapping paper is not recyclable. The dye or lamination, the glittery metallic or plastic additives and the tape all present problems.
So my own feeble effort to fight this involves trying to carefully unwrap the gifts I get so the paper can be reused. I even try to get my son to unwrap his car-sized presents in a way that doesn’t decimate the paper.
But using last year’s wrapping paper for this year’s present – or buying recycled paper – means someone had to manufacture, transport and buy the paper in the first place. So ideally, we will find other ways to cover our packages.
One woman in my Maine town began a company making beautiful fabric bags. The bags pass from person to person telling stories of the gifts along the way in a booklet that comes with the bag.
Children’s old artwork makes for great wrapping. Parents can save masterpieces but use some of the art we could not and would not want to save. Colorful magazine pages make unique wrapping and won’t leave newsprint on your hands. Finally, a collage makes the wrapping personal.
Perhaps by 2017, we can celebrate a century of wrapping paper and move on to a more eco-alternative.
About the author: Amy Miller is a writer who works in the public affairs office of EPA New England in Boston. She lives in Maine with her husband, two children, seven chickens, two parakeets, dog and a great community.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Vacation: Culture, Architecture, and Saving Electricity
Jessica in Segovia, Spain
By Jessica Orquina
I recently returned from a trip to Spain. It is a beautiful country with varied landscapes and strong traditions. In addition to enjoying the country’s culture, architecture, and different regional foods, I was intrigued by the ways hotels and businesses in that country save energy. Since beginning to work for the EPA last winter, I have become more aware of how people and organizations around me protect the environment.
During our trip, my husband and I visited a few different regions of Spain. Of course, all of the hotels we stayed at encouraged guests to reuse towels for multiple days to not waste water. But some of the hotels also had a cool way to reduce the amount of electricity being wasted at their properties. In these hotel rooms, we needed to put the room keycard in a slot in the wall to turn on the electricity to the room. When we took the keycard out of the slot to leave the room, it automatically turned the lights and all other electrical devices off, therefore, not wasting electricity when no one was there.
This seemingly small feature made me wonder how many people don’t bother turning lights and televisions off in hotel rooms when they go out. (It’s not their electric bill, so why worry, right?) In addition to creating unnecessary monetary costs, this also creates an avoidable cost on the environment. I wonder why more hotels around the world don’t use this type of technology.
In addition, this experience reminded me how important it is to be conscious that all our actions affect the environment. Even small things – like remembering to always turn the lights and other electronic devices off when we walk out of a room – make a difference.
What technologies or practices that help protect the environment have you seen when you travel?
About the author: Jessica Orquina works in the Office of External Affairs and Environmental Education as the social media lead for the agency. Prior to joining EPA, she served as a public affairs specialist at another federal agency and is a former military and commercial airline pilot. She lives, works, and writes in Washington, DC.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
A Fresh Start
By Lina Younes
On the first morning of the New Year, I was taking my dogs out for their morning walk. There was a vigilant cardinal chirping away from a tree top watching our every move. I was fascinated by the little bird. That cardinal infused new life, color and sound to the otherwise bleak, wintry morning. It seemed as if the lively bird was eagerly embracing the new day and, in fact, the New Year!
I quickly went back in the house to fetch my camera. However, the lively cardinal was long gone by the time I returned. All that was left was the cold morning silence occasionally interrupted by the sound of the bushes and trees rustling in the wind.
With that in mind, I decided that in 2013 I would look for more opportunities to enjoy nature and outdoor activities. Every season has its own special beauty. While I must confess that personally I prefer the summertime, I have begun to enjoy the wonders of winter as well. Even the shorter days and gray surroundings have their own special charm.
So, I decided to share some snapshots of my recent outdoor experiences. Do you have any outdoor plans for the New Year? We would love to hear from you.
About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and currently serves the Multilingual Outreach and Communications Liaison for EPA. She manages EPA’s social media efforts in Spanish. Prior to joining EPA, she was the Washington bureau chief for two Puerto Rican newspapers and she has worked for several government agencies.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
The Catalog Conundrum
By Dave Deegan
We’re not exactly sure when it was, but we made a big mistake in the realm of “Murphy’s Law of Unintended Consequences.” You see, we bought some stuff from a Web and catalog retailer.
The problem wasn’t with the outdoor furniture – or was it something for the garden? Or maybe it was from that kitchen supply store? Whatever it was, the stuff we bought was fine. The problem is, once we bought something, we ended up on the mailing list to get catalogs from dozens of places we’d never shopped with or even heard of.
It’s not that all these places sell things we don’t really want or need – some of the goods look just fine. It’s just that, especially this time of year, we are getting buried under the daily mailbox delivery of catalogs. Dozens of them. Pounds of them. It feels like the scene from “Fantasia,” during the Wizard’s Apprentice, when the magic broomsticks just keep multiplying over and over again. Here come more catalogs. Sometimes we receive two copies of the same catalog, one addressed to me and one to my wife. Help! Please make it stop!
Sure, we dutifully separate them from our normal trash, and put them with our recyclables for curbside pickup. But it feels like an enormous waste of paper, ink, energy to produce and transport, postage costs and human effort to compile all these pages and pages (and pages and pages) of things we don’t particularly want to buy. All of these resources, and taxpayer-subsidized postage, for us to quickly put them into the recycle pile.
My wife, who has a bit more patience and practicality to solve this sort of thing than I do, got on the Web and discovered that consumers can remove their names from mailing lists to keep unwanted mail from being sent in the first place. A Web search shows that there are places that can help. Some of them are even free.
EPA has some recommendations for how you can reduce the amount of unwanted mail you receive. Do you have any good strategies to reduce unwanted mail?
About the author: Dave Deegan works in the public affairs office of EPA New England in Boston. When he’s not at work, he loves being outdoors in one of New England’s many special places.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Light and Darkness, Part II
By Amy Miller
My affinity for winter’s darkness is inseparable from my love of light, including the cacophony of colored, white, LED, incandescent and just plain discordant bulbs that turn on the landscapes of New England each December.
As I drive through my bejeweled town, though, niggling questions flicker along with the icicles.
Questions like: How much does it cost to light up a house like Fenway Park? How much would a restaurant laced in traditional yellow white bulbs save by switching to the bluish and still much-reviled LEDs? How much do we spend on our decoration if we do a tree full of lights and a single outdoor strand? And most important of all, how long will it take for us to stop seeing the LEDs as cold and ugly?
Millions of lights are purchased each year and millions of dollars spent electrifying our yards. Statistics given by Dow Jones say lighting a six-foot Christmas tree 12 hours a day for 40 days can cost anywhere from $25 for the larger incandescent bulbs to under $1 for LED strands. Lighting your lawn can cost in the hundreds (or more), depending on your taste, budget and bulbs.
A typical house full-out decorated with tons of incandescent lights, motorized characters and lots of lit objects might use, say 2,500 watts, which costs 28 cents an hour. Over 40 days that would cost the homeowner with incandescent lights about $135.
But the equation changes with LED lights. Most incandescent bulbs last about 1,000 hours, while the majority of LEDs burn for 50,000 hours. And each bulb gives up to 10 times more energy. For example, the amount of electricity consumed by just one 7-watt incandescent bulb could power 140 LEDs — enough to light two 24-foot strings.
Furthermore, LEDS don’t break nearly as easily and many of them come with a three-year warranty. Oh, did I mention that LEDS stay cool, reducing the risk of fire.
So, what I really want to say to all of you – all of us – who resist the hues on the LEDs is: Get Over It!
Yes, I still have the mini incandescent bulbs on my tree. And yes, the strand was cheaper in the short-run so I was pound-foolish. But those .4-watt lights will run me 10 times as much in electric bills.
On paper, there is no comparison. Back in the real world of Main Street, however, change will be slow and creeping. Eventually, though, we will come to see the icy LED lights as just as pretty as the muddy old yellow ones.
About the author: Amy Miller is a writer who works in the public affairs office of EPA New England in Boston. She lives in Maine with her husband, two children, seven chickens, two parakeets, dog and a great community.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
What New Projects Are You Planning For The New Year?
By Lina Younes
As 2012 comes to an end and 2013 is about to begin, I would like to share some thoughts with you for the new year. I don’t want to call them New Year Resolutions because those don’t seem to survive longer than the month of January. So, how about talking about healthier choices, or even green projects? Essentially, I’m thinking about actions that will lead to a healthier lifestyle on the personal level and for the Planet as a whole.
- How about dedicating more time to the important things in life such as family and friends? We often get so tied up with work and rushing from place to place that we often forget to really value those who mean the most to us in our daily lives.
- Let’s enjoy the great outdoors! We don’t have to live in a wide open space to enjoy nature. So, how about get away from those electronics that seem to dominate our lives for a moment? Take a walk, visit a local park or do some gardening.
- Let’s take the clutter out of our life! Look around you. Do you really need to keep all those things at home or in the office that you never use? We have a great website with useful tips as what you can do at home, on the go, in the office, or at school to practice the three R’s: Reducing, Reusing, and Recycling!
- How about saving one of our most valuable resources—water? Simple steps like closing the faucet while you brush your teeth or taking shorter showers can go a long way to conserving water.
- How about saving energy? It’s as easy as turning off the light when you leave the room. Simple steps will allow you to save money and protect the environment.
- Want more suggestions on how you can protect our natural resources and engage others in environmental protection in your community? I recommend our Website www.epa.gov/pick5 that has numerous tips on how you can adopt a greener lifestyle today and everyday of the year.
As the saying goes, our actions speak louder than words. Let’s lead by example so that our children may also learn how to be healthier and better environmental stewards for years to come. And finally I would like to wish you a happy New Year!
About the author: Lina Younes has been working for EPA since 2002 and currently serves the Multilingual Outreach and Communications Liaison for EPA.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Tis the Season to Recycle
By Stuart Reed
As the nation’s largest seller of appliances, Sears Holdings Corp. has long championed initiatives and programs that save energy, and respect and protect the environment. That’s why, as the first and largest retail partner to join EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program back in 2007, today we’re proud to commemorate RAD’s sixth anniversary, and celebrate RAD’s accomplishments in protecting the climate and ozone layer.
As a RAD partner, Sears is committed to providing our customers an environmentally friendly appliance disposal service, where we recycle your discarded refrigerator, freezer, air conditioner, or dehumidifier when you purchase a new one – in California, we’ll pick up your old appliances for recycling even if you don’t buy a new one. We recover the refrigerants from these old appliances and make sure they aren’t released to the atmosphere, where they could harm the ozone layer and climate system. Did you know that Americans dispose of more than 9 million fridges and freezers every year? In 2011 alone, Sears’ recycling of refrigerant, insulating foam, metals, plastic and glass helped prevent the equivalent of the greenhouse gas emissions from more than 200,000 cars for one year.
We are also proud to be an Energy Star Partner of the Year Award recipient. By buying ENERGY STAR®-qualified appliances, customers can save money on their utility bills, and become more energy efficient.
In 2010 Sears began The Big Switch, a program aimed at helping families remove and recycle 5 million older, less efficient appliances from the energy grid, with the benefits of saving energy, responsibly disposing of material and keeping it out of landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and ultimately saving families money on their utility bills.
Protecting the environment and inspiring others to do the same is a high priority for Sears. You can learn more here about how you can do your part to become more energy efficient. Changes come in all sizes, not just appliance-sized ones – if every American home replaced just one light bulb with one that has earned the ENERGY STAR, we would save about $680 million in annual energy costs and prevent 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emissions, the equivalent of emissions from 800,000 cars for one year. So this holiday season, whether you’re buying new appliances or just decorating your home, remember that everyone can play a role in protecting our environment.
About the author: Stuart Reed is the Senior Vice President and President – Home Services, Sears Holdings Corp.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
Help Put the “E’s” in E-Cycling
By Grace Parrish
Since childhood, recycling has been an effortless task that was part of my daily routine. Using five bins labeled: aluminum, plastic, glass, paper, and tin, I thought I was the bee’s knees when it came to being eco-friendly. During my internship at the EPA this fall, I realized that although it is beneficial to keep these items out of the waste stream, I was mistaken in thinking my responsibility ended there. I always recycled my yogurt cups, pizza boxes, and cell phone boxes, but never thought about where the phone itself ends up. My role in recycling must extend a bit further to “e-cycling,” otherwise known as the recycling of electronics.
In this era, everyone’s buzzing with the newest laptops, cell phones, TVs, cameras, you name it! I am guilty of getting caught up in this hype. As a student at the University of Maryland, I must keep up with the latest trends and I rely on my cell phone and laptop daily to receive emails, check class information, research, and of course for everyone’s favorite, Facebook.
Now I find myself questioning where these devices end up once I’m done with them. During my time with the EPA, I gained a fresh perspective on electronics beyond tearing apart the box to a new cell phone received during the holidays.
According to the EPA, we generate almost 2.5 million tons of used electronics every year in the United States. By recycling electronics, we can do our part to improve the health of our environment. E-cycling lessens pollution, shrinks landfills, saves resources from manufacturing, and conserves precious metals, including gold and silver, and other materials used in production. EPA is working with big retailers and manufacturers in its Sustainable Materials Management Electronics Challenge to make sure they are recycling electronics in a safe and responsible manner.
So next time you bee-line it to the store for a gadget that is luring you in, think first if you really need it; when the urge inevitably takes over, rethink your options about where your previous electronics will go. Is donating to a family member, friend, or charity an option? If not, check out an electronics take-back location near you, simply visit: “Where Can I Donate or Recycle My Used Electronics?” We can do our part to put the “e’s”—electronics and environment, in e-cycling!
About the author: Grace Parrish is an intern for the EPA office of Resource Conservation and Recovery, and is intrigued by the impact of recycling electronics. She hopes that her pursuit of an Environmental Science and Policy degree at the University of Maryland, College Park will facilitate her in promoting the ideal of sustainability in a future career.
Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in Greenversations are those of the author. They do not reflect EPA policy, endorsement, or action, and EPA does not verify the accuracy or science of the contents of the blog.
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