Monthly Archives: December 2012

Dec 17, 2012

Remembering a Colleague

Beyond the Midwest, Corps of Discovery, epa, Lewis and Clark, missouri river, Nez Perce, Odds and Ends 0 Comments

By Jeffery Robichaud

I’m a couple of years younger than the Environmental Protection Agency, which had its 40^th birthday back in 2010. There aren’t many charter members of EPA still working for the Agency today. Here in Kansas City I think we might be down to our last one. Most have retired. Unfortunately, we lost one last week, Les our former videographer.

I will always remember the time I spent working with Les on a video almost a decade ago in 2003. The next year (2004) marked the Bicentennial Anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition; the Corps of Discovery. A set of men were going to re-enact the entire two year journey as the Corps of Discovery II and the National Park Service was creating a travelling exhibit to accompany Corps II. The Park Service had reached out to its Federal Partners to help with educational activities. Since EPA doesn’t have field offices along the route, we decided to develop a video that could accompany the travelling exhibit, led by Les.

Les attacked the project with vigor. I marveled at what he was able to do with a shoestring budget, working with A/V equipment that was a cross between home and professional, and a rag tag bunch of folks willing to help on the side. A few of us had a chance to moonlight with Les to develop a script, storyboard shots, and collect footage all while continuing with our normal work. Somehow Les found a way to pull it off, even managing to capture footage of the Corps II in St. Louis, work the footage into the end credits, and cut copies of the DVD before they began their journey up the Missouri. The DVD was the Agency’s contribution to the Tent of Many Voices which served as the centerpiece for educational activities of the Corps over the next two years.

Large festival-like celebrations greeted the Corps II at big cities like Kansas City and Omaha, their schedules jammed with local speakers and exhibits, including Les’s video as a small piece of a tremendous program. But as the keelboat moved further upriver and away from the cities, the speakers and the festivities waned yet Les’ video stayed with the Tent of Many Voices. It was seen by children and teachers at small towns all along the historic route. Towns like Kamiah, ID, a small village on the Nez Perce Reservation, where young children were able to watch the following video, which still holds up today.

By the time the Corps II returned through Kansas City two years later, I had moved into a different position and didn’t really get a chance to circle back with Les. I wish I had told him how amazing I thought it was that his efforts were seen by thousands…and how important it was in helping to show kids how history can be relevant to them, and to protection of the environment. Thanks Les.

Jeffery Robichaud is a second generation EPA scientist who has worked for the Agency since 1998. He currently serves as Deputy Director of EPA Region 7′s Environmental Services Division.

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Dec 15, 2012

Scientist at Work: Eric Villegas, Ph.D.

epa research, epa scientist, microbiology, next generation sequencing, parasite research, researcher, scientist at work, waterborne parasites 0 Comments

Eric Villegas, Ph.D. is a research microbiologist in EPA’s Office of Research and Development. His recent work focuses on next generation sequencing technology to better understand risks associated with waterborne parasites.

Dr. Villegas is on the Editorial Board for The Scientific World Journal . He is a member of the American Society of Parasitologists, the American Society for Microbiology and the American Water Works Association.

How does your science matter?

My research primarily focuses on parasites in water. We’re working to determine the levels of these parasites as they relate to human exposure risks. In order to provide that data, we have to develop tools that enable us to detect the parasites. The tools we have developed now allow us to better assess the risks associated to these pathogens and provide insights on how to mitigate these issues.

If you could have dinner with any scientist, past or present, who would it be and what would you like to ask them about?

My choice would be the two “Steves” who started Apple, Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak. I’d like to ask them what were their inspirations and driving forces behind their development of the Apple computer. Do they have any words of wisdom for the next generation scientists and engineers?

Click here to keep reading Dr. Villegas’s Scientist at Work profile.

Read more Scientist at Work profiles.

Dec 14, 2012

Up Close and Personal with Where Breakfast Comes From

agriculture, animals, Chesapeake Bay, Farms, Land, Local Community, Manure, Nutrients, Partnership, Responsible Land Use, Water Quality 1 Comment

By Kelly Shenk and Matt Johnston

Kelly:

PennAg Industries Association contacted me as soon as I became EPA Region 3’s Agricultural Advisor and offered me the chance to get out in the field to visit three farms. I assembled a team predominantly comprised of Chesapeake Bay Watershed Modelers to learn first-hand from farmers about their success and challenges of growing food in a safe, humane, and environmentally sound manner. PennAg provided an experience that I know we’ll all take with us in our careers and personal lives, as demonstrated by Matt Johnston in this blog.

Matt:
It is all too easy to forget where our food comes from. Every Saturday as a young boy I awoke to the smells of bacon and eggs coming from the kitchen. By the time I got to the table, my mother had already set my place with two eggs sunny side up, two pieces of extra crispy bacon, a piece of toast and a glass of milk. It’s a menu familiar to many of us and served weekend after weekend in homes across America.

Never once did I stop to think about how my breakfast got there. Never once did I consider the animal production side of the equation – the side that includes thousands of workers, millions of animals, and tons of feed and manure. Last week while on a tour of farms with colleagues, I was reminded of the other side of that equation in very personal ways.

The first stop on our tour was an egg layer facility. Conveyer belts criss-crossed a three-story tall warehouse seamlessly transporting eggs to an adjacent packing facility from the millions of hens that were stacked in cages and spread out over an area larger than a football field. All the while, another set of belts sent the byproduct of our food production in the opposite direction, depositing the poultry litter in two-to-three story high piles. When confronted with mounds of litter taller than your house, you begin to realize the inevitable byproducts of our Saturday morning meals.

This lesson was repeated at a nursery pig raising facility, where I jumped at the opportunity to hold an adorable young pig when the tour leader offered. Unfortunately, the pig did not share my excitement and promptly announced its disgust by soiling my clothing with manure. All the while, under my feet was a concrete holding tank full of the same viscous substance ready to be pumped out and transported to a nearby field.

Our last stop was a small dairy. There were no large holding tanks or conveyor belts constructing piles. Instead, there was a single farmer with a few small pieces of equipment, a small barnyard, and a few adjacent fields. Without the resources to stack or store manure, the farmer can only do one thing with it – spread it. This is the way farmers have farmed for hundreds of years.

Whether the manure is stacked, buried, or spread, it is real. What is now clear to me is that it is not the devil. It’s a necessary byproduct of our society’s growing consumption of animal products. However, like all byproducts of production, it can be harmful in high doses.

Yet we have the tools to lessen its impact. We can spread manure according to nutrient management plan recommendations. We can plant grasses and trees along waterways to intercept nutrients. And we can work with farmers to make proper storage and handling equipment available.

After all, the manure is not going away, and I’m not going to stop eating eggs and bacon with my glass of milk on Saturday morning.

About the Authors: Kelly Shenk is EPA Region 3’s Agricultural Advisor. Matt Johnston is a Nonpoint Source Data Analyst with the Chesapeake Bay Program.

Dec 14, 2012

How to Have a Green Holiday Without Environment Blues

energy, holiday, LED lights, recycling, waste 5 Comments

By Kelsey Sollner

‘Tis better to give than to receive, but that doesn’t mean you should make the environment pay the price. Here are some tips I’ll be doing this holiday season to reduce waste, save energy and spend less money.

Before going gift shopping, I make a list of exactly what I need and plan my route so I will make as few stops as possible. A successful shopping trip is one where I can buy what I need all in one shot. This saves me time and gasoline.
We’re switching to decorative LED holiday lights in my household. They use less energy and last longer than traditional incandescent lights. We also use a timer to automatically shut them off during daylight.
When hosting big holiday parties, I turn the thermostat down a few notches. As guests trickle in, the temperature becomes comfortable and not too stuffy.

Here are some more things you can do for a greener holiday:

Skip disposable flatware when entertaining. Use cloth napkins and reusable dishes, glasses and silverware.
Buy a live cut tree or a potted one you can plant after the ground thaws. Check with your local solid waste department about recycling trees after the holidays are over.
Instead of buying new rolls of wrapping paper, wrap presents in old posters, maps, calendars, sheet music, wallpaper scraps, reusable cloth bags, kids’ drawings or newspaper. Give gifts that don’t require much packaging, such as concert tickets or gift certificates. If you must use wrapping paper, avoid foil and plastic-wrapped paper, as they are not recyclable.
Consider the durability and usefulness of a gift before you buy it. Cheaper items may wear out more quickly, making waste and costing you money.
Compost your food scraps whenever possible.
Consider using a digital camera instead of a disposable one. You will save money on film and reduce waste.

Incorporate these tips into your holiday routine and you can have a greener, cleaner home this season. Remember, spending time with loved ones is what the holidays are about, not material things. How will you make your holiday greener?

About the author: Kelsey Sollner is a senior from Susquehanna University majoring in journalism. She works as an intern in the EPA’s Office of Web Communications.

Dec 13, 2012

Deadline approaching!

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Don’t forget to apply for the U.S. EPA’s President’s Environmental Youth Award by December 31, 2012. This program honors environmental projects from students in grades K-12 who have worked to promote environmental awareness. Winning projects have included community recycling movements and environmental awareness campaigns.

Is your project innovative and does it have long-term environmental benefits on the local community? Tell us about the creative way you have helped protect the environment and visit http://www.epa.gov/peya to apply by December 31, 2012.

Shelby Egan is a student volunteer in the EPA’s Air and Radiation Division in Region 5, and is currently obtaining her Master’s degree in Urban Planning and Policy at the University of Illinois at Chicago. She has a passion for protecting natural resources, cities she’s never been to and cooking any recipe by The Pioneer Woman.

Dec 13, 2012

Consejos de invierno: Cree un entorno acogedor y verde en su hogar

ahorrar dinero, calidad del aire interior, Consejos, Consejos para el invierno, eficiencia energética, invierno 3 Comments

Por Lina Younes

Las fiestas están a la vuelta de la esquina. Mientras creamos un entorno acogedor para agasajar a familiares y amigos durante las fiestas, he aquí algunos consejos para crear un ambiente ameno de confort en el hogar mientras ahorra energía y dinero.
• En primer lugar, para lograr un mejor rendimiento de su sistema de calefacción, debería limpiar los filtros de aire con regularidad.

• Segundo, selle las gritas y fugas por donde se podría escapar el aire caliente. Al sellar e insular adecuadamente las paredes exteriores, el techo, las ventanas, las puertas y los pisos, podrá mejorar el rendimiento energético y confort en su hogar. De hecho, podría ahorrar hasta el 20% del costo de su factura de energía si siguiera este consejo.
• Instale un termostato programable para programar la temperatura para su sistema de calefacción y aire acondicionado. De esa manera podrá evitar el desperdiciar innecesariamente energía mientras no haya nadie en casa.

• Use enseres eléctricos y electrónicos con la marca Energy Star para ahorrar dinero y usar energía de manera más eficiente.
• ¿Ya instaló las luces decorativas para entrar en el ambiente de las fiestas? Considere las cadenas de luces decorativas LED. ¿Sabía que por cada tres conjuntos de luces decorativas Energy Star comprados, podría ahorrar unos $30 en energía durante la vida útil de dichas luces?

• ¡Y no se olvide de apagar las luces cuando abandone la habitación para ahorrar energía! Eso es algo que siempre tengo que recordarle a mi hija menor.
• ¿Quiere crear un ambiente más ameno encendiendo la chimenea esta noche? ¡Recuérdese de quemar la leña de manera prudente! Use la madera correcta. Mantenga la chimenea limpia de cenizas. Escoja el equipo de quemar leña que se ajuste al tamaño de la habitación que quiera calentar y siga las instrucciones del fabricante.
Al seguir estos consejos sencillos podrá proteger su salud, reducir la contaminación atmosférica y ahorrar dinero. ¿Tiene planes especiales para las fiestas? Nos encantaría recibir sus comentarios e ideas. Muchas felicidades.

Acerca de la autora: Lina M. F. Younes ha trabajado en la Agencia de Protección Ambiental de EE.UU. desde el 2002 y se desempeña, en la actualidad, como portavoz hispana de la Agencia, así como enlace de asuntos multilingües de EPA. Además, ha laborado como la escritora y editora de los blogs en español de EPA durante los pasados cuatro años. Antes de unirse a la Agencia, dirigió la oficina en Washington, DC de dos periódicos puertorriqueños y ha laborado en varias agencias gubernamentales a lo largo de su carrera profesional en la Capital Federal.

Dec 13, 2012

Around the Water Cooler: Can Innovations Solve Our Nutrient Problem?

Around the Water Cooler, Cleantech Innovations, environmental innovation, innovation, nitrogen, nitrogen pollution 1 Comment

By Lahne Mattas-Curry

Nitrogen is an integral part of proteins, the building blocks of life. But in excess, like anything else, it can have negative effects. In fact, too many nutrients, including nitrogen, can cause depletion of available oxygen in surface waters, toxic algal blooms, hypoxia and acid rain.

The consequences aren’t pretty. Excess nitrogen threatens our air and water quality as well as disrupts the health of our communities, people and land. In other words, some plants and animals can’t live in this kind of environment. I’ve written about this problem before. For example, check out this post on seagrasses.

Nutrient pollution is a problem that affects many areas in the United States, including the Gulf of Mexico, the Chesapeake Bay, and New England’s Narragansett Bay.

To help combat this overwhelming nutrient problem Cleantech Innovations New England is providing awards to applicant teams of up to $130,000 as part of the i6 Green Challenge, funded by EPA in partnership with the U.S. Department of Commerce and the Department of Energy.

The funds will be awarded to develop ground-breaking and affordable technologies that can reduce nitrogen discharge from septic systems by 95%. (A high proportion of New England communities and more than 20% of U.S. Residents rely on septic systems). In addition, these new technologies should be able to recover nutrients (nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and preferably potassium (K)) from the wastewater and/or also create energy.

The technologies must be scalable and affordable, with retrofits to existing septic systems costing in the range of $5,000 to $10,000, and no more than $25,000 for new installations. Of course, on-site nutrient monitoring should also be considered in order to monitor performance.

For more information and to apply for the award, please visit Cleantech Innovations New England. The deadline to apply is January 18th, 2013.

About the Author: Lahne Mattas-Curry works with EPA’s Safe and Sustainable Water Resources research team and is a frequent “Around the Water Cooler” contributor.

Dec 13, 2012

Winter Tips: Make Your Home Warm and Green

Burn Wise, energy, energy star, holiday season, holidays, LED lights, Winter 0 Comments

Several links below exit EPA

By Lina Younes

The Holiday Season is just around the corner. As we create a welcoming environment to entertain family and friends during the holidays, let’s think of some tips that will warm up our home while saving us energy and money, too.

First, in order to maximize the efficiency of your heating system, you should clean the air filters regularly.
Secondly, seal air leaks throughout the home to stop drafts. By sealing and insulating properly your outer walls, ceiling, windows, doors, and floors, you will improve the energy efficiency and comfort in your home. You can actually save up to 20% on heating costs on your annual energy bill if you follow this tip.
Install a programmable thermostat to automate your heating and cooling system and avoid wasting energy unnecessarily when there is no one at home.
Use Energy Star appliances and electronics to save money and use energy more efficiently.
Are you installing decorative lights at home to get the family in the holiday spirit? Consider LED decorative light strings. Did you know that for every three Energy Star qualified decorative light strings purchased, you could save $30 over the lifetime of the lights?
And, don’t forget to turn the lights off when you leave the room to save energy! I know that is something that I have to remind my youngest all too often.
Are you in the mood to sit around the chimney this evening? Remember to burn wisely! For example, choose the right firewood. Keep your chimney clean. And use the right type of wood-burning appliance. By following these simple tips, you can protect your health, reduce air pollution and save money.

So, do you have any special plans for the holidays? 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.

Dec 13, 2012

Sustainable New York City Weekend Events

family-friendly NYC, green holidays, outdoor activities, sustainability in NYC, sustainable living, sustainable things to do, urban escapes 1 Comment

Have you completed all of your holiday shopping? There are plenty of green activities both indoor and out this coming weekend to keep you busy!

Christmas Bird Count – Spend the pre-holiday weekend out in nature, all while doing your part to support the bird population. The Christmas Bird Count is a nationwide bird census that helps conservation researchers track the long-term health of bird populations. Saturday, December 15, 12 & 3 p.m., and Sunday December 16, 3 p.m.

Columbus Avenue Holiday Market: The Columbus Avenue Holiday Market will again be held out of the historic, beautiful, and well known Church of St. Paul the Apostle located right on Columbus Avenue between 59th and 60th Streets. The holiday market event will be situated in St. Paul’s 9,000 sq ft Hall with its high ceilings and exquisite grand doors just a few steps down from the sidewalk level. Check out the 60 plus vendors that will be featuring their unique handcrafted and vintage wares out of the spacious 9000 square foot auditorium. You’re sure to find amazing holiday gifts such as art, jewelry, toys, chocolates, body care, handbags, clothing, stationary, scarves and hats, pottery, and more! Saturday, December 15, 12 –6 p.m.

Conference House Woodlands Storm Cleanup: Join Natural Areas Volunteers in storm cleanup of the woodlands at Conference House Park. Your help is needed to restore the forest and clear out the storm debris. Please follow this link to pledge a day of service. Note that registration is necessary. Saturday, December 15, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Degenerate Craft Fair: Sustainable, crafty and handmade gifts with an artistic flair. Saturday, December 15, 12-9 p.m. and Sunday, December 16, 11 a.m.–6 p.m.

Ice Skate at Van Cortlandt Park: The caption says it all! Saturday, December 15, 12 –10 p.m., and Sunday, December 16, 12 –8 p.m.

Manhattan Adirondacks Tour: Olmsted and Vaux designed the North Woods to replicate the forests of the Adirondack Mountains, with their crystal streams, tumbling cascades, rustic bridges, and picturesque pools right in New York City’s backyard. For directions, please call 212-860-1370. Tour meets at: The Charles A. Dana Discovery Center, inside the Park at 110th Street between Fifth and Lenox Avenues. Saturday, December 15, 12:30 –1:30 p.m.

New York Transit Museum Holiday Train Show: Head to Grand Central Terminal to check out the 11^th Annual Holiday Train Show. Weekdays, 8 a.m. –8p.m. Saturdays and Sundays, 10 a.m. –6 p.m.

The Wild Garden: Discovering Central Park Woodlands Exhibit– Use this hands-on exhibit to illuminate the history, ecology, and management of the woodlands and learn why these landscapes are so essential to the purpose of Central Park. The exhibit includes a digital interactive app highlighting historic photos and revealing hidden features. Exhibit introductions are available by appointment for groups of 10 or more; call 212-860-1370 for more information. Saturday, December 15, 10 a.m.–5 p.m.

What the Dickens: Second Annual A Christmas Carol Marathon: Housing Works Bookstore hosts the second marathon reading of the holiday classic by Charles Dickens and featuring a roster of local authors. Begins Sunday, December 18, 1 p.m.

Dec 12, 2012

Should You Buy a Desktop or a Laptop?

computers, electronics, energy, laptops, savings, workplace 5 Comments

By: Robert Meyers

Black Friday and Cyber Monday have passed, but many people are still looking to buy new computers for the holidays. But what kind of computer? Do you really need a desktop, or can a laptop do the same job just as well? Many believe that you need a desktop for home use, but I’m here to tell you that laptops have become quite powerful in recent years and can completely replicate the desktop experience.

Since this is ENERGY STAR’s blog, you can guess why I’m writing about laptops versus desktops. Energy consumption! New, energy efficient laptops can consume anywhere from 50% – 80% less energy than a desktop. And based on our experiences here at ENERGY STAR, we estimate that ultrabooks and netbooks can go even further and consume about 80% – 90% less energy. With a docking station, external monitor, keyboard, and mouse, you won’t even feel that you’re using a laptop.

Whether or not you should go with a laptop depends on your needs. Do you use your computer for word processing, email, music, video watching, photo editing, web browsing, or even some light to moderate gaming? A laptop does all of this just as well as a desktop. Do you run high-end games, render videos/3D models, program and number crunch for work, or need to run a very large number of processes at once? Then a desktop might be a better choice, although even here some higher-end laptops can cover many of these uses. For those worried about graphics, integrated graphics solutions have become very powerful recently and now have capabilities equal to entry level graphics cards. Additionally, many laptops are capable of hosting discrete graphics cards if you need one.

Desktops will provide an edge in raw power and graphics, but laptops do a great job with all of the common, everyday tasks that most people need computers for these days. I’m writing this blog on my work computer, which is a four year old laptop on a docking station that’s plugged into dual monitors, plus a separate keyboard and mouse. I almost always am simultaneously running an email client, a word processor, a spreadsheet application, multiple web browser windows, and an antivirus program without any problems.

For most people, it’s a no-brainer: Laptops can provide the exact same services and experience as a desktop with much less than half the energy consumption. Plus, you can pick them up and take them with you when you when you leave the house! I’d love to see a desktop do that.

Biography: RJ joined ENERGY STAR in late 2010 and immediately began work on energy efficiency specifications for a range of IT equipment. RJ has a background in physics, electrical engineering, and sustainable energy and is told constantly by his family and friends that he is a huge nerd.

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