June 2010
Walking your pet? Remember to pick-up after your pooch as this is now an HFCA code requirement. Dispose of your pet’s waste in your trash. Please be mindful of others and don’t dispose of your pet’s waste in trash receptacles at HFCA facilities.
May 2010
Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs use 75% less energy and last ten times longer than incandescent bulbs. These are great savings for your wallet and the Earth. However, the bulbs contain a small amount of powdered mercury. Mercury is a hazardous chemical. Do not dispose of these bulbs in the trash. Lowe’s and Home Depot have courtesy boxes to recycle CFL bulbs.
April 2010
What were you doing on April 22, 1970? I was riding my bicycle to school in celebration of the first Earth Day. This April 22nd is the 40th Anniversary of Earth Day. Over the years, we have addressed many issues that affect the planet we call home. We learned a lot about caring for the earth and now realize that we care for ourselves when we care for the earth. Clean air, clean water, healthy forests, sustainable communities, stewardship of natural resources, and climate change are all themes of Earth Day. Solutions to the problems have become global, emphasizing the scale of our interconnectedness. The solutions have become more complicated, too. For example, “modeling” climate change requires mega amounts of data and mega numbers of pathways; inputting new data often necessitates modifying the pathways in the models. And standardizing the data affects the outcomes of the modeling. Climate change scientists have embarked on a major project of global significance. Let’s celebrate our scientists on this Earth Day! What will you do on April 22, 2010?
March 2010
I connected my cable TV and computer to surge protectors. When these appliances are not in use, the surge protector is turned off with a flip of the switch. Also, I learned how to turn off the digital clock on my oven because I don’t need it. These efforts at reducing electric uses have saved 5% on my monthly bills.
February 2010
Recent scientific reviews and news reports on the use of polycarbonate plastics containing bisphenol A (BPA) and potential human health problems are worrisome and confusing. Here are easy ways to avoid BPA in everyday products. Infants and children are most vulnerable to health effects from BPA because they are small sized. Breastfeeding eliminates the need for plastic bottles and the moms should reduce BPA in their diet. If you use infant formula, use dry powdered formula packaged in non-metal cans (metal cans are lined with bisohenol A epoxy resin or sealant), or liquid formulas sold in polyethylene and polypropylene (labeled #1, 2, or 5 inside the recycle symbol) which do not contain any bisphenol A. Use glass baby bottles or plastic bag inserts, which are made of polyethyelene, or switch to polypropylene bottles (labeled #5). For your family, use glass or stainless steel water bottles without plastic linings for storing food or drinking. Avoid plastic containers labeled #3, 6, or 7 inside the recycle symbol. Dispose of cracked or scratched plastic bottles in the garbage. Avoid using plastic containers to heat food in microwaves because chemicals leach out into the food faster when heated. Ceramic, glass, and other microwaveable dishware are good alternatives. Visit www.thegreenguide.com/products/Kitchen/Plastic_Containers for descriptions of plastics and the symbols, and a guide for purchasing plastic products
January 2010
Mentally prepare yourself for cars and trucks (yes, even freight-carrying semi’s) made from ultra light, ultra strong alloys that are aerodynamic, equipped with better performing tires, electric hybrids, and fueled by biofuels. (Ref: Armory Lovins, cofounder, chair, and chief scientist of the Rocky Mountain Institute, Duke Environment and Society Lecture Series, November 4, 2009). The cumulative efforts of small actions lead to great savings.
December 2009
Replacing your toilets soon? New water-saving designs include a “Dual Flush” option. Press the “Liquid Only” button and use far less water than the “Solids” button. Every little bit saved accumulates into a significant reduction and savings.
November 2009
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The Refuse Center costs for collecting the garbage in the bins this year are less than last year. Could it be that members are recycling more and carrying less to the Refuse Center? Recycling saves money.
October 2009
How is the new “Dog Waste” Code working? Are you picking up after your pooch? If not, you are contributing to the unsanitary pollution that washes into our ponds and lakes, and onto your neighbor’s property. Besides, your neighbors should not have to tolerate or endure your pet’s waste while out for a walk in our beautiful community.
September 2009
Fireworks are explosives. Similar to blasting materials used during construction, fireworks have the potential to pollute our lakes and ponds and our drinking water. There are state and federal regulations that govern the storage and use of fireworks. Fireworks unsanctioned by HFCA are prohibited because they are noisy and a disturbance, yet unspent “Block Buster” fireworks were found in the stream that flows out of Little Bell Pond. The chemicals in the explosives were seeping into the water which flows to Mirror Pond, then Willow Pond, then McConnell Lake. Along the way, water flows through wetlands and infiltrates into the ground, carrying the pollution from the explosives.
August 2009
Do you have a fountain, garden pond, or swimming pool? You can conserve and recycle water by equipping these structures with a re-circulating pump.
July 2009
Cats are pets. Cat litters should not be let loose in the community. Feral cats are not wildlife and cause major disruptions in natural ecosystems. If you own a cat, take care of it and don’t let it roam unleashed in the outdoors. Many predators, such as bobcat, coyote, fox, and fishers prey on cats and kittens. Also, cats are unnatural and non-native serial hunters, killing small birds and mammals that are making a comeback in our regenerating forests. Feral cats must be trapped and removed to animal shelters where they may or may not be suitable for adoption. Animal shelters are overwhelmed with too many feral cats. Keep your cats indoors and care for them as your pets.
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