What Sunscreen Are You Using?

Posted on May 2, 2016 by Naima

Ultraviolet (UV) ray exposure is highest in the next couple of spring and summer months. I spend way too much time every year trying to decipher which sunscreen will do the job and not poison my body through its largest organ, skin. What will you use to protect yourself from the sun’s radiation? Is it damaging the environment or you?

UVA and UVB are the two main types of solar radiation that reach land. UVB, the more harmful of the two, causes sunburns and is linked to skin cancers. UV rays are highest between the hours of 10 a.m. – 4 p.m., increase as you get closer to the equator, exposure is greater at higher altitudes, can penetrate cloud cover and can reflect off of many surfaces increasing exposure. It’s virtually impossible to escape, and being exposed on a daily basis can increase wrinkles and your risk for skin cancer. Hence, the need for a daily sunscreen to block the UVA and more harmful UVB rays. But which do you buy?

A popular ingredient in many grocery store sunscreens is oxybenzone. This ingredient is having toxic effects on coral reefs around the world. Oxybenzone causes hormone disruption and DNA damage that leads to the death of the living animal, coral. Oxybenzone was also found to increase the rate of coral bleaching — when algae leaves the coral that normally live symbiotically together due to stress caused by changes in temperature or pH leaving behind white “bleached” coral. Corals react to a small amount of oxybenzone toxicity in the water, the same as a single drop in a large swimming pool.

Oxybenzone is not something you want to lather on your skin, either. According to the Environmental Working Group, oxybenzone is an endocrine disruptor — penetrates the skin, enters the blood stream and acts like estrogen in your body.

Another ingredient often found in sunscreens is palm oil. Recently, Leonardo DiCaprio visited Indonesia for a first-hand view of palm oil destruction and posted about it on his social media pages. His visit has sparked outrage from Indonesian officials who may blacklist him from entering the country again. Part of his comment on a photo read, “As the forest of the Indonesian Leuser Ecosystem continues to be cleared to meet demand for palm oil, the critically endangered Sumatran orangutan is being pushed to the brink of extinction.” And yet, I could not find a single sunscreen at the local health food store without palm oil in it.

What am I supposed to use? There are a number of websites boasting the natural SPF qualities of coconut oil but the science isn’t there yet. One recent study found that coconut oil may have absorbed some of the UVB rays, which would lead to skin protection, but there is not enough data to support the claims. You can also make your own sunscreen using zinc oxide, a powdered mineral that sits on top of skin to block the sun’s rays and mix with coconut oil for a blend. Zinc oxide doesn’t contain endocrine disruptors and has shown no evidence of hormone disruption.

The Environmental Working Group found that “approximately 75 percent of commercial sunscreens contain toxic chemicals that are linked to cancer and disrupt hormones.” They offer a few tips for buying sunscreens that are lower risk for you and the environment. They are: no spray sunscreens, no high SPFs (higher than 50 doesn’t mean less risk for you; it can fool you into a false sense of security), no oxybenzone, no palm oil (labeled as retinol palmitate and other derivatives), no combined sunscreens and insect repellent, and no tanning oils. On their website EWG.org they offer a variety of product suggestions — but be careful and read the labels as several contained palm oil.

With all of that said, the best protection from the sun is to use clothing or another barrier. Luckily, my sister-in-law bought me a huge bright pink visor that I’m sure has become the talk of the neighborhood as I don’t leave for a run without it. At least my face is protected!

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Potholes, Road Types And Their Effects On The Environment

Posted on April 29, 2016 by Naima

We’ve all been there, driving through the city in a rush to get somewhere keeping our eyes on traffic, when our car suddenly hits a huge crater in the road and boom … our car bottoms out. The loud thud vibrates our core as we hope and pray that our vehicle has escaped the moon landing unscathed. It’s happened too many times recently for me to ignore. It even happened while I was running, luckily, my ankle ligaments have a similar flexibility to Gumby’s body. It was the last blow to my ankle (and pride), that pushed me to start thinking about the environmental impact of our roads. As a runner, I notice that most of our neighborhood roads in Dallas are composed of concrete, much harsher on your joints than asphalt. But, which is better for runoff pollution?

According to the Federal Highway Commission, there are a total of more than 4 million miles of road in the U.S., of which 2.6 million miles are paved. Most roads are paved with asphalt or an overlay of asphalt. Asphalt material is composed of 95 percent stone, sand, gravel and about 5 percent asphalt cement — a petroleum product (National Asphalt Pavement Association). Asphalt is favored for its cheap price, ease to construct and provides a smooth ride. Pavement sealant, the black tar looking substance, is used to seal and protect the asphalt. In two recent papers by the U.S. Geological Survey, this toxic pavement sealant has been found to damage DNA and impair DNA repair in aquatic life. When it rains, water runoff flows across roads picking up contaminants from the surface and carries the toxins to our water bodies. The asphalt has human health impacts as well. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health evaluated the research on asphalt and found known carcinogens in asphalt fumes generated at work sites.

Concrete has a higher albedo than asphalt — which means it reflects more solar energy, keeping it cooler and reduces heating of our atmosphere compared to the high absorption and heating of asphalt. More asphalt would actually mean a warmer city and an increase in our urban heat island effect. I guess I will sacrifice my joints for climate change – although the best thing to run on are dirt trails or the cushy material on the Katy Trail running path. Concrete is not without its environmental impacts, as the process to make concrete is the second largest emitter of greenhouse gases, only behind coal production.

Both materials are unfavorable for producing a sustainable road solution and both contribute to erosion by increasing runoff. But there are other creative options popping up around the world. The Netherlands have been investing in a “virtually maintenance free product” made from recycled plastic to create roads. The plastic roads can handle temperatures ranging from -40F to as high as 176F, and the company states the lifespan is three times as long as typical asphalt roads.

That’s promising! But, also a little worrisome — when exposed to solar radiation will the plastic leach toxic air pollutants into the atmosphere or leach toxins into our water supply? Can you drive safely on the road when wet? The idea is still in the testing phase, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a prototype soon. The Netherlands is the same country that recently installed a 230 foot stretch of bike lane embedded with solar panels that created more energy than expected in its first six months. There are also a few companies within the U.S. providing alternative solutions to paving, such as a California-based company Natural Paving Solutions, who boast a lower environmental impact water-based solution.

Studies have shown deteriorated roads (ie: Dallas’ pothole-ridden roads) have a negative impact on fuel consumption, costing us more to travel on potholes and posing a greater impact on the environment. Creative solutions need to be explored to find a product that will provide us with safe roads to travel on with little impact on the environment. Or maybe we should invest in out-of-the-box forms of transportation that can creatively meet our travel needs without the strain on our environment. I’m ready for the creative future.

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Think About What You’re Putting On Your Yard And Garden

Posted on April 28, 2016 by Naima

As expected, the local Home Depot was a madhouse this past Saturday. A beautiful weekend day in the spring inspires people to put their old shoes on and work in their yard, stopping by the local garden and yard store to get the necessities. What are your necessities to keep your yard looking like a fairytale? The way we treat our yard reaches beyond the sidewalks, is affecting the ecosystem and can even impact your next trip to the grocery store. Heading into this year’s green season, here are a few reminders on how to treat your yard well and have the positive impact on our urban ecosystem.

Before you head to the store to buy fertilizer, test your soil to see if you even need it. The amount of weeds in your grass can actually help you determine what your soil is lacking or has an abundance of. For $10 you can ship off some of your soil to the Texas A&M Agrilife Extension lab to complete a routine analysis for basic fertilizer recommendations. Visit soiltesting.tamu.edu to view the more specific analyses available. Getting your soil tested first will save you money and reduce the amount of fertilizer entering our water supply, which can cause eutrophication (increasing nutrient supply in water ecosystems leading to low dissolved oxygen, fish kills and unsafe water).

Your soil is living and needs the same necessities you need: air, water and nutrients. Aerating your soil can bring life back into severely compacted ground found in the city. Roll an aerator armed with pointy metal stakes around your yard to open up your soil to air, water and nutrients gaining easier access. This process gives your grass a chance to grow strong roots leading to stronger plants without the use of any chemical.

Check your pesticide for neonicotinoids, which are a potent class of pesticides falsely thought to be safer for bees than other pesticides. A new pollinator assessment report recently came out from the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel for Biodiversity Ecosystem Services warning that up to 40 percent of pollinators face extinction. Pollinators from bees to bats and hummingbirds are essential to our agriculture systems with at least 450 crop plant species dependent on pollination. An estimated $235-$577 billion worth of annual global food production is on the line due to pollinator declines, roughly a third of our food supply. Maryland just became the first state to ban the consumer use of neonicotinoids, which appear in products such as Knockout Ready-to-Use Grub Killer, Ortho Bug B Gon and All-In-One Rose & Flower Care.

Reduce your insecticide use, and grow more plants to support pollinators. The wider variety of plants you grow, the healthier ecosystem support for all pollinators. I was targeted at the store on Saturday and suckered into buying the “Texas Garden Mix” of wildflowers that apparently is “Great For Pollinators.” I was blinded with an idea to fence off a portion of my yard as native prairie habitat and encourage wildflower growth with new seeds. The front of the bag listed a mix of “Texas Favorites” and on the back I had little knowledge of the individual plant names — turns out a few of them are exotics! They are not native to Texas, but do serve as a good plant for native pollinators. Yikes, a catch 22.

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Mix up your yard to maintain a high level of diverse habitats to support ecosystem health and feed yourself. Have areas of just grass, plant a flower bed, grow some trees, leave some areas as wild natural growth and plant a garden. This year, I dug up the middle of the yard. Last year’s potted urban garden was a fail, so I decided to go into the Earth this year. With the addition of two years worth of compost material my soil is looking healthy, plants are in and hopefully will survive the next random hail storm. To water your garden or yard, you don’t need a fancy rain collection barrel to harvest rain water. Throw out all the large buckets you have, or the kiddie pool, and utilize the water falling from the sky to grow your plants.

It’s great to connect back to Earth this spring and get to work on our yards, let’s just make sure we make decisions that support the long-term health of our ecosystems at the same time.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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Earth Day And New Environmental Learning Area At Cedar Valley College

Posted on April 25, 2016 by Naima

This article came out last Thursday in the Katy Trail Weekly. It is still relative to today and the second part talks about the new Environmental Learning Area at Cedar Valley College. 

This Friday, April 22, is the celebration of all aspects of our environment with the hope for a cleaner future. The celebration comes at a pivotal point in time. Scientists recently revealed 2015 was the hottest year in the historical record, and atmospheric carbon dioxide levels are increasing at an explosive rate. It’s clear that the human impact on Earth continues to grow. After the promising international climate change agreement made at COP21 in Dec. 2015, we haven’t seen much action to move us closer to our goal of holding the increase in the global average temperature to well below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels and to pursuing efforts to limit the temperature increase to 1.5 °C above pre-industrial levels. Earth Day events around the world may kick off real action from corporate to individual levels.

This weekend (April 22-24) flock to Fair Park (by train) for the Earth Day Texas event that is quickly becoming a national environmental force. Founded by Trammel S. Crow, the event boasts a business and civic-oriented Friday meant to encourage companies to share best environmental practices and create inventive solutions in sustainability.

Earth Day Texas is free to the public and great for families with kids activities such as the LEGO Build the Change, where children are inspired to build their version of a more sustainable future using millions of LEGO bricks. Adults can enjoy the Untapped Sustainable Beer Garden serving cold brews from companies with environmentally responsible practices and pull up a seat or dance to loads of live music from mostly local Texas artists. Browse the huge expo that takes over the large state fair buildings, now filled with more than 1,000 exhibitors covering the environmental aspects of health and fitness, agriculture, beauty, academics, automotive, technology and wildlife. Take a break from the activities and head inside for a screening of an environmental documentary — one I’ve been waiting to see, “Consumed,” which is the story of a mother on the hunt to uncover the cause of her son’s illness and the interwoven story of GMOs and biotechnology. Browse the entire schedule including the Tiny House Exhibit, list of speakers such as Ted Roosevelt IV and Karenna Gore, Green Cuisine schedule and more at earthdaytx.org or download the mobile app.

If you miss Earth Day Texas, no worries. The environment is always available for your exploration, and now there’s one more place available for you. Cedar Valley College, a member of the Dallas County Community College District, located in South Dallas on the border with the city of Lancaster, hosted the grand opening of their Environmental Learning Area (ELA) this past Friday. The ELA is open to the public from dawn to dusk, located behind their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Gold Certified Math, Science and Allied Health building in the center of campus. Enter the ELA just steps from the building and soon you are crossing into various native Texas habitats, from a prairie ecosystem to a riparian (close to water) environment currently in a beautiful bloom of native Texas wildflowers such as the gorgeous pink and white wild foxglove.

Wild foxglove at Cedar Valley College.

Wild foxglove at Cedar Valley College.

“We are trying to be very good stewards of our campus and our planet,” said Dr. Maria Boccalandro, sustainability director at Cedar Valley College. All of the community colleges within DCCCD are improving their facilities and curriculum to become leaders in sustainability. Cedar Valley College hosted the DCCCD’s sixth annual Sustainability Summit on April 15, highlighting local efforts to create a more sustainable community. Speakers engaged audience members with talks on adding climate change to curriculum, managing wildlife and the business side of sustainability.

Environmental Learning Area at Cedar Valley College.

Environmental Learning Area at Cedar Valley College.

Plenty of rain gives us bright flowers and vibrant hues of green in our April environment, creating a lure to the outdoors perfect for a day and month devoted to our Earth. Take the time to enjoy the Earth Day festivities and explore outdoor areas to reconnect to this giant ball of a planet we live on and take from.

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Should You Be Worried About Cockroaches And Kissing Bugs?

Posted on April 12, 2016 by Naima

Hello all!

Well, it’s been a crazy few weeks. My beloved computer has run into a little hiccup. It’s times like these I am very thankful to live in a big city with an Apple store less than five miles from my house. I’m also reminded how amazing my computer is – It’s the tool that keeps my efficiency high.

My computer was sent off for repair, forcing me to borrow computers, dig out my archaic computer, and even work from the Apple store – which is a great thing to know you can do – all of the computers are available for your use in store. I pulled up a chair, pulled out my snacks and headphones, and got some work done. Somehow, I’ve managed to keep it all together – creating lectures, producing lab activities, and writing a test for my in person classes as well as conducting and grading for my three online classes, and completing articles,doing daily social media for clients, and more! 

My beloved computer is not fixed. Due to some teary eyes after two hours in the Apple store on Monday, they are not going to ship it off and will instead take 24 hours to fix it once the part arrives in their store. Much better than a full week like the initial repair. So here I am, with my almost fully functioning computer, playing catch up. I have 3 articles in the queue for the blog and have spread them out over a few days so you aren’t bombarded.

This article stemmed from yet another cockroach interaction: 

If I’m out for a few days, I usually come home to a few “welcome home” treats on my floor ­— cockroaches. We are co-inhabiting our home with roaches. Recently, one early morning before daybreak, my dog begged to be let outside, and as I crossed the living room, I felt a loud crunch under my foot. I was incredibly happy to realize I was wearing my slippers when I flipped the light switch on and saw the smashed cockroach. This threw me over it. I’m over the Texas-sized cockroaches that live in this city and in my home.

When I first moved here, I started researching the cockroaches found in Texas (of which there are many but most common is the American cockroach species) and found this sentiment too many times to count, “Every house in Texas has roaches. It’s just a question of how many.” Cockroaches don’t care about the size or cost of your house. They invade every class.

OK, if I have to live with them, do they cause harm? Well, turns out they can carry diseases. According to the World Health Organization, cockroaches are proven or suspected carriers of parasites, viruses or organisms that can cause diarrhea, dysentery, cholera, leprosy, plague, typhoid fever and viral diseases. That sounds terrible, but doesn’t mean every cockroach carries disease. Just like not every house fly carries disease, but they have the potential to. We will never live in a sterile environment. Household pests, diseases and parasites will always be around us.

In the past few months, the media has been highlighting a parasite that’s on the increase in Texas, Trypansosoma cruzi, the parasite that causes Chagas disease, spread by “kissing bugs.” Kissing bugs are vectors of the parasite just as cockroaches can be vectors for different parasites. Kissing bugs live in similar environments, enjoying walls and roof cracks of poorly constructed buildings. They are active at night, similar to cockroaches. But different from cockroaches, who are omnivores, kissing bugs feed on blood (like mosquitoes). The problem is not the bite of the kissing bug, but is instead the fecal matter. The kissing bug defecates near a bite and when you wipe or scratch the bite, the parasite enters your body. The parasite can also enter your body if you eat food contaminated with infected kissing bug fecal matter. Make sure to wash your food!

Chagas disease is treatable in the early stages, but unfortunately, often times no symptoms are displayed. When the parasite moves on to your heart and digestive tissue, treatment is limited. Because of warming temperatures in Texas, Chagas disease is on the rise, spreading up from Central America. One in every 6,500 blood donors are infected with Chagas disease in Texas as compared with one in every 27,500 donors across the country, as reported by The Dallas Morning News.

Parasites are widespread throughout the world, and eradicating them is nearly impossible. There is no vaccine for Chagas disease, so the next best prevention is controlling the vector and reducing interactions with humans. The key to preventing the spread of disease through cockroaches and kissing bugs in your house is to keep food contained, floors clean, houses cracks and crevices sealed, and close any gaps in door frames and floors. That’s where I fail. We rent an older house that has its fair share of extra large gaps, and it’s hard enough to get the maintenance guy to come out for anything, never mind the ever-present insect.

Two years ago I mounted a successful attack on the ant infestation in my house, and this spring it’s time to create a safe way to live inside and keep the roaches outside. Cockroaches aren’t going anywhere either. They’ve been on this earth for more than 300 million years and have now adapted to live among humans. There’s no way to keep them out forever, but there is a way to keep their numbers down. Clean the outside of your house of leaves, trash and any hiding spots, and line the insides of your house, including drains, door stops and cracks, with bay leaves, moth balls, mint oil, Listerine, lemon, borax and diatomaceous earth. I guess I better start the deep spring cleaning as well!

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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We Need Creative Ideas To Coexist With Wildlife

Posted on March 24, 2016 by Naima

On a recent drive to Colorado, we unknowingly drove on one of the most dangerous roads in the area, hazardous due to wildlife collisions. It wasn’t a large amount of dead animals on the side of the road that alarmed us, but instead we noticed a high wooden fence about 50 feet on either side of the road for long stretches. Periodically there was a drift fence, strategically placed perpendicular to the high fence, meant to channel animals up an embankment to get back on to the correct side of the fence. As we continued traveling at about 70 mph, we drove under a wildlife corridor and soon over another one. The fences and wildlife corridors, which were put up in 2015, demonstrate how Colorado is using creative ideas to find a way for humans and wildlife to coexist.

Wildlife corridor bridge over road in Colorado.

Wildlife corridor bridge over road in Colorado.

I couldn’t help but think about how these techniques and others utilized around the world could be incorporated into our Dallas area to allow a big city to exist with a robust ecosystem. With recent coyote and bobcat sightings on the rise in city limits, now is the best time to utilize innovation to manage our wildlife populations. Designing solutions for wildlife and humans to live together will also save us money and lives. Vehicles hit an estimated one to two million animals every year in the U.S. costing billions of dollars in damage. These incidents have led to many human deaths as well.

Wildlife corridors are habitats that provide connections to different areas used by a diversity of wild animals. Corridors can allow wildlife to safely navigate over or under a road, get around human development or help migrating fish bypass a dam. In south Texas, the ocelot (a small spotted member of the cat family) is listed as endangered in big part due to habitat fragmentation. As humans continue to build roads, shopping plazas, housing and more, the thick brush areas ocelots prefer is decimated, leaving partial habitats with no safe connections between them. Ocelots are forced to traverse urban areas causing mortalities by car collisions. Corridors have been developed to give the cats a way to travel between sparse habitat to hunt, breed and raise young.

Dallas has limited natural wildlife habitats that are fragmented and disappearing fast due to urban sprawl. The Trinity forest (the largest hardwood urban forest in the U.S.), Trinity River corridor, White Rock Lake, the Katy Trail and other various parks around our city are critical habitats for urban wildlife. For example, the Trinity River corridor is an important stopover break for several migrating birds and bats. Bees, important pollinators on a sharp population decline, utilize every small habitat within our city, from local parks, roof tops to small herb gardens. Each species needs a safe way to travel between fragmented habitats, and wildlife corridors can provide a sheltered route. Adaptive infrastructure is a way to use current available habitats, plan for ecological interaction and incorporate strategies to connect habitats across the urban landscape.

Preserving the larger predators is critical to keeping the ecosystem intact. After killing off mountain lions and wolves in Texas, we have removed all of the top predators, forcing us to manage our deer populations through hunting. After wolves were reintroduced to Yellowstone National Park, the entire environment changed. The presence of wolves altered the behavior of animals, which in turn, affected the river and landscapes. (If you have not watched George Monbo ‘s TED talk on this click here.) The presence of top predators returned the area to a thriving ecosystem.

Although our fears of bobcats and coyotes are culturally strong, we need to find a way to live with these animals, even in an urban environment. Our world depends on it. Using the current wildlife corridors working around the world, creative minds and collaboration across businesses, city government and the community, we can find unique ways to coexist with all of our urban native wildlife.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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Nuclear Energy – Environmentally Friendly Or Not?

Posted on March 17, 2016 by Naima

I waiver on the fence sometimes, but when forced to make a decision, I know what side I’ll land on regarding nuclear energy. The Fukushima nuclear disaster has been making headlines again as we acknowledge the five-year anniversary and take a closer look at arising health issues and how the clean up process is going. The 9.0 earthquake struck Japan back in March 2011, and triggered the devastating tsunami and the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant. The effects were disastrous, and we are still recovering. Is nuclear energy worth the risk? It depends on your knowledge of radiation risk and nuclear energy.

Nuclear energy is the process of harvesting energy from breaking apart nuclei of elements, most popularly uranium. This unstable process creates radiation, which enters our environment and can dissipate over water and air. Areas such as Chernobyl, where there was a large nuclear disaster in 1986, have greatly reduced biodiversity and lack of algae and bacteria growth due to the radioactive leaks that occurred on-site. As you move farther away from the disaster site, the radiation risk is reduced drastically.

How much radiation is safe? The area surrounding Fukushima is still a contaminated site as workers continue to locate the nuclear fuel and clean up. When the disaster occurred, there was an evacuation of 150,000 people from within 20 kilometers of the nuclear plant. Last fall, the Japanese government started allowing some residents, in certain locations, to return to their homes. Radiation is measured in millisievert (mSv) commonly referred to as a dose. Every day we are exposed to low levels of radiation from naturally occurring radioactive materials, and procedures, such as X-rays, can expose us to higher levels. Overall any radiation more than 100 dose causes mild radiation sickness such as vomiting, diarrhea and fatigue, and more than a 400 dose can cause early death. The average X-ray gives off about a seven dose of radiation, and every year we are exposed to about a three dose of naturally occurring radiation.

Nuclear energy is cleaner than coal or oil. The process creates far less greenhouse gases than burning coal or oil for fuel, and without the input of nuclear energy, we would have used more fossil fuels. Researchers from Columbia University Earth Institute calculated that nuclear power prevented an average of 64 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide-equivalent net greenhouse gas emissions globally between 1971-2009. They also estimate an average of 76,000 deaths per year were avoided between 2000-2009 by not producing more fossil fuel energy.

This isn’t just an issue across the world. The Fukushima disaster was located in water and fishing is still banned around the site. For a short time after the accident, fisheries around the world were monitored for the effects of radiation, especially the Pacific Ocean along the California coast. In the five years, scientists have found the radiation levels have diffused and diluted in water to be at a safe level. As The Observer related the radiation risk, “if you breathed California’s most radioactive air and drank its most radioactive water for an entire year, you would get the same (radioactive) exposure as a single dental X-ray.”

Many people are shocked to hear we have nuclear plants here in Texas. In fact, one is located a short 60 miles southwest of Dallas, nearby Glen Rose. As we seek ways to decrease our carbon dioxide emissions to meet strict greenhouse gas standards, nuclear energy will have a place in the energy game. Currently, nuclear provides less than 10 percent of our Texas energy needs. Knowing the disaster risk, and watching the increase in earthquakes and their magnitude in our area, makes me concerned for the safety of our nuclear plants.

Many factors (political, social, economic) come into play when talking energy, but if we remember the overall goal of energy, our answer becomes simple. We want to provide an energy source that meets the needs of people while also having a small impact on the environment. We’ve only had three major nuclear disasters, and nuclear energy is cleaner than coal and oil, yet safer measures may lie in investing in other renewables such as solar.

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Add Green To Your Spring Break

Posted on March 13, 2016 by Naima

Spring break is synonymous with beach-side debauchery these days, but its roots are grounded in the ancient Greeks and Romans. Far from the college-aged dance parties, ancient societies welcomed the arrival of spring with their own celebrations. It wasn’t until the late 1900s that college swim athletes started the trend to travel south in the spring for training and extracurricular activities.

But at the core, spring break is a time for rebirth, a fresh start and appreciating what our Earth provides us with. No matter what your plans are (or if you’re still making plans), from an exotic destination to the “staycation,” there are ways to celebrate spring and limit your impact on the environment. Keeping your budget in mind and regardless of your excursion, here are a few ways to green your spring break.

Transportation will be your biggest greenhouse gas emitter this spring break. If you choose an exotic location that requires plane travel, think about purchasing carbon credits to offset the impact of jet fuel or book a nonstop flight. If you’re loading into a vehicle, choose the most fuel-efficient model, make sure your tires are properly inflated and carpool with other family members or friends. To reduce wear and tear on your personal vehicle and to utilize a more efficient car, think about renting a hybrid for your trip. The most environmentally friendly way to travel this spring break is by train or bus. Did you know you can get to Austin by bus from Dallas for less than $15! Regardless of the method of transportation you choose, pack light. More weight equals more fuel used; therefore, choosing one pair of shoes is better than taking the entire closet.

New research suggests creating memories makes you happier than buying material items. Refusing to buy tourist crap (which is often made in China) supports the environment by reducing our dependence on resources for production and energy for transportation. If you do buy a tourist item, find native craftsman and support the local economy in an organic way. The same goes for food and places to stay. Utilize online resources or word of mouth to find small family-owned restaurants sourcing local ingredients for not only low environmental impact, but more than likely, great taste and culture!

Small owned bed and breakfasts and vacation rentals by owner (vrbo.com) allow you to search beyond the big company hotels and find a more personalized experience. If you do choose a hotel, keep your eye out for environmental information while booking. Many hotels are specializing in low-impact accommodations without sacrificing luxurious beauty and comfort. Eco-friendly hotels know keeping the environment in mind is good for their bottom line. At any hotel, follow the same structure you use at home by reusing towels, recycle and limiting shower time.

If you’re a college student in need of a big adventure try an alternative spring break. Schools such as UNT Dallas and SMU offer students opportunities to immerse themselves in communities around the world to create positive change by providing vital work that supports social justice issues, wildlife issues and more. Spend the week in Arkansas at a wildlife refuge or travel to Iceland to learn more about sustainability!

Travel in itself can encourage climate stewardship — so get out and explore! Even if you’re planning a staycation and remaining in the Dallas area, carve out time for adventures. Explore the Trinity Forest by horseback at the Texas Horsepark at the Trinity or get active this Saturday, March 5th at the Trinity River Levee Run (1 mile fun run, 5K or 10K) held at the Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge (posted late on this blog – but you get the idea, there’s always races going on!)

Take time this spring break to enjoy yourself while exploring our world, just don’t forget to take care of the earth while you’re out there.

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Zika Virus Today, Next Emerging Disease On Its Way

Posted on March 7, 2016 by Naima

A few short weeks ago, the word Zika meant very little to all of us. Now, we understand the Zika virus is a serious mosquito spread illness possibly connected to a birth defect, microcephaly. The Zika virus, named in 1947 after the African forest it was first isolated in, has spread to the Americas, making international headlines. The recent Zika outbreak in Brazil has led to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issuance of travel guidelines to affected countries, including a warning for pregnant women to consider postponing travel. As the weather heats up in the next few weeks, the battle against the further spread of the Zika virus is on the rise, and it’s started already.

The City of Dallas will begin mosquito education earlier this year, beginning on March 1. Advertisements will remind people to drain standing water, avoid outdoor activity at dawn and dusk, utilize mosquito repellent and dress in long sleeves and pants. If the city is ramping up education early, they probably also have plans for more intense and frequent insecticide spraying in the area.

The Zika virus is currently spread through two species of the Aedes genus of mosquitoes. There are more than 3,500 species of mosquitoes in the world and about 175 in the U.S. Aedes aegypti is one species found in Texas that can carry the virus. Only female mosquitos feed on the blood of animals to gain nutrients to lay their eggs. The virus is spread by a mosquito biting an infected individual and carrying it to another. The symptoms of the virus are fever, rash, joint pain or conjunctivitis (red eyes), and recovery takes a few days to a week ­— yet most people (four out of five) who are infected with the virus don’t feel the symptoms. Once the virus is clear from your system, it’s gone, unlike some other viruses. Individuals can unknowingly be carrying the virus and spread the infection to surrounding mosquitoes. People can be bitten by a mosquito in another country and import the virus to the U.S., which has resulted in recent cases present in Dallas County. A global approach to virus prevention must be sought after to reduce the risk of transmission locally.

What do we do to stop the spread of the virus?

Spray insecticide. As host of the upcoming Summer Olympics, Brazil is quickly putting all efforts into reducing the mosquito population and slowing the spread of disease through heavy insecticide spraying. The CDC has recently joined officials in South America to assist with disease control.

Insecticide is putting a quick band-aid on the problem. Insecticides cause environmental pollution, which ultimately contributes to the reason we have more widespread diseases in the world. Putting more pollution into the environment for a quick fix may be our only option now, but it’s not helping us long-term.

Creative solutions. A company is investing in research to introduce sterilized genetically altered mosquitoes into the population to slowly diminish the numbers of mosquitoes. Although this is a creative solution, the environmental impacts of inserting a genetically modified mosquito into the population is a risk we can only speculate about until it happens. The risk may outweigh the benefit.

Wipe out the mosquito. Although this seems like an easy answer, as we can’t visually see the job of mosquitoes, their role is vital. Pesky mosquitoes are plant pollinators and a food source for fish (mosquito larva), birds, amphibians and bats. One little brown bat is estimated to eat 1,000 mosquitoes in one hour. That’s a lot of mass! Without this major food source, ecological systems would change. But bats are facing another disease that’s about to hit Texas very soon, white-nose syndrome. A fungus that originated in Europe and reached the east coast in 2006 is quickly making its way across the U.S., decimating bat populations along the way.

Which brings us back to the main problem. The problem is Zika now, it was Ebola a few months ago, and there will be another emerging disease making the headlines soon. It’s time to start tackling problems from their source and think long-term ecological health that will solve our current problems.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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Earth 911 – National Recycling Resource Located In The DFW Area

Posted on February 25, 2016 by Naima

One of the most frequent questions I’m asked is “Where can I recycle _______?” From common yogurt containers to hard to recycle Brita filters, it’s a constant battle to figure out how to reduce your waste. Recycling locations often change what they take due to market supply and demand, making it hard to keep up with where to take all of your recyclables. But did you know that there is a recycling search engine with a home base in the DFW area?

Earth911.com created a rigorous recycling database with more than 1,800 recycling locations across the DFW Metroplex and several thousand more across the country. Type in any of more than 350 products to find the closest place to recycle your waste. As of early February 2016, the Earth 911 database has serviced more than 319,700 recycling searches this year!

With all of these searches, I was curious to find out, what have Dallas residents been searching for in the last three years? The top five recycling searches from Dallas zip codes are:
• 5 — Cell phones — which can be recycled at most electronic stores and Target.
• 4 — CFLs (Compact Fluorescent Light bulbs) — most Home Depot stores accept CFLs and, of course, our friends at RecycleRevolution.com do as well.
• 3 — Car batteries — Firestone and Sam’s Club accept car batteries.
• 2 — Christmas trees — The City of Dallas collects trees after the holidays at Home Depot stores in town.
• 1 — The number one item that Dallas residents conduct a recycling search on is something that can go in our blue curbside bins … cardboard! Cardboard can be tossed inside our blue bins unless it’s wet or soiled with anything (pizza grease). Make sure to recycle what you can by tearing off non-recyclable portions.

Next time you have a question on where to recycle everyday items such as auto parts, organic food waste, plastic bags, CDs, carpet, mattresses or more, utilize the recycling search on Earth911.com or download their iRecycle app. In the next few weeks, the app is getting a facelift; look forward to an easier approach to finding the best location for your waste.

Earth 911 is more than just a database search. The Earth 911 website hosts curated engaging content on a variety of categories, from home and garden to events and entertainment, to encourage readers to live a sustainable life. Together with their parent company, Quest Resource Management Group, Earth 911 has moved into a new green office space showcasing the sustainable lifestyle in their every day office life. I stopped into the headquarters located in The Colony to see just how green their building is.

The building boasts plenty of creative green designs such as furniture made from cardboard, desks crafted from truck trailer flooring and recycled tiles, reclaimed wood furniture, shredded denim as insulation fluff, 90 percent post consumer material carpet, a partition wall made from reclaimed milk container packaging, and my favorite, huge sliding doors created from repurposed school bleachers. A large conference room catches your eye as you walk in, with a table base structured from huge rubber tires, a garage door and other repurposed materials donated from clients. The interior of the building was spacious and bright with overhead skylights providing much of the light, saving on electricity, and low flow water fixtures are used throughout.

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As Earth 911 and Quest Resource Management Group pursue two Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certifications, they may have to rethink the commute for their 114 total employees. Located in The Colony, the public transportation is limited, so adding a bike rack and incentives for employees to carpool can make their footprint even smaller. Since these two businesses are surrounded by big warehouses not known for their sustainability efforts, I hope their sustainable initiatives influence their neighbors and beyond to make small changes for the environment.

As seen in the Katy Trail Weekly. 

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