As a society we are great at creating trash. We often times buy items to be used for a short period of time and then dispose of it without blinking an eye. By becoming conscious of how we create waste as a society and finding sustainable solutions in order to cut down on the creation of waste is the first step in creating a greener future. One of these sustainable solutions is a repurposing technique known as upcycling. Upcycling is the process of rendering a new use for an item that would otherwise be thrown away. Although this does not completely create a closed loop system, it does extend the life of a product, thus keeping it out of the landfill for (hopefully) many years. This technique can be applied to almost any item with a little creativity and in fact there is a large movement in the fashion industry in creating clothes from “trash.” This article will hopefully give you some creative upcycling ideas and act as inspiration for you to continue the process into the future with your own creative ideas. 

• Are we building green infrastructure? According to www.americanrivers.org green infrastructure is an approach to water management that protects, resources or mimics the natural water cycle.  Green infrastructure is effective, economical and enhances community safety and quality of life.  It means planting trees and restoring wetlands, rather than building a costly new water treatment plant.  It means choosing water efficiency instead of building a new water supply dam.  Green infrastructure incorporates both the natural environment and engineered systems to provide clean water, conserve ecosystem values and functions and provide a wide array of benefits to people and wildlife. I'm an advocate of planting trees. Trees are the number one sequestrian of carbon from the atmosphere. They are the lungs of the earth. We must create sustainable solutions to reduce the deforestation problem as this contributes to climate change. The third question I asked was: 

• Do we really understand the magnitude of the climate crisis, and are we doing all that we can to protect the future of the next generation?  In the middle of the two acreages of forests in the photograph above lies a creek or a river that runs through it.  Water represents life. I began to reflect on how both the ecosystem as well as humanity needs water and all of the earths resources to survive. The climate crisis will most likely affect the millennial generation the most. I am the mother of three millennial age sons, and it devastates me that our generation is handing these catastrophic conditions to the next. We have the power to turn the situation around before it is too late. If enough political will is generated to combat the crisis, there is potential for this to be one of the greatest sources of innovation and social transition of our time. So how can these conditions be countered?  They can be countered by implementing new technologies, production systems and conservation measures. What are some of the projects that can be implemented to see change take place? According to Are you a Millennial? Congratulations! Climate Change Will Cost Your Generation $8.8 Trillion climate change will be extremely costly, but there are some solutions that can address the crisis. If we continue build energy-efficient housing and retrofitting commercial buildings, and simultaneously curbing commercial and industrial energy consumption; shifting to renewables as the basis of the electrical grid, mainly through solar and wind poser; and revamp the transportation infrastructure to rely on "electricity powered vehicles, expand electrified commuter rail, electrified ports, and expand rail shipping including regional rail electrification, we are well on the way to satisfying solutions.

By Letrece Harris

"Don't shower for an hour conserve water and save power" 

 Everyone should have the desire to help conserve our environment, but many people don’t because they are misled to believe that it’s too costly or they would have to sacrifice their budget to do so. Living a sustainable lifestyle must be approached from a long term perspective. Some products that are biodegradable and energy-efficient can be more expensive, but when examining usage from a long term perspective, it is actually more cost efficient and prices have recently been dropping on sustainable products. This is part of the educational process that must be consistently implemented in order to bring a greater awareness to the consumer about the benefits to living sustainably.  There are so many ways that you can begin to live sustainably without breaking your budget.  In fact the affordable ways I am about to share with you will not break your budget.  They are practical solutions that can actually save you money if implemented on a consistent basis.  They definitely help me decrease my own personal home’s electric, water and gas bill.  Here are some of the measures that can be taken to live sustainably at home.

  Look for any available incentives and rebates that your state provides to its residents. For instance the government provides tax incentives to homeowners that install Energy efficient appliances, air or heating units, solar windows and roofs and there are many other categories. The deductions for installing energy efficient products can often result in rebates as well as offset some of your tax liabilities. This can be great news for first time builders and home renovators simply because of the savings they can receive from tax deductions as well as the long term financial savings of having a green home.

  I am definitely a proponent of this. I believe if it’s not broke don’t fix it. Get every ounce of usage out of it that you can. I don’t know how many countless of times I have had repairmen over to fix something that they said only had a short life left. They would always want me to change it out prior to it going out and that to me was a waste. There was one particular product in my home that worked ten years after a repairman suggested I replace it. I knew that replacing it too early would only lead to unnecessary waste in a landfill.  Always remember that if things are still functional, you should not throw them away.  You are just adding more waste to Mother Earth. This behavior often contributes to the overcrowded landfills which in turn adversely affects climate change. Make sure you are aware of the negative impacts of throwing something away that still has value.

 When it comes to light bulbs, the incandescent light bulbs are have pretty much phased out.  The reason is they use too much energy.  This bulb definitely has had a long run of 134 years but now the CFL and the LED are light years ahead and have become the choice of manufacturers. When you purchase energy efficient light bulbs you can save as much as 80% according to Consumer Reports. The bulbs are available in many different wattages and cool and warm tones as well. I suggest you buy a couple of CFL or LED bulbs to see how you like the lighting before lighting your entire home.

 Insulating your home is beneficial in more ways than one. If your home is not properly insulated you will always feel a draft in your home.  Improper insulation will also keep your thermostat running because of the consistent pull to maintain the temperature in the home. Good insulation helps maintain proper balance and an environment that will keep you cool during summer and warmer in the winter.  It can also lower the condensation and even noise level in your home.  The results are savings on your energy bill. There are many cost effective options and brands that can meet your budget that will be effective.  All you have to do is go to your local home store or do some research online to find the best options for your home and the right situation for you.

 This tip I’m sure goes without saying.  Parents are consistently telling the children don't forget to turn off the lights. Of course growing up I know you heard that at least a thousand times. There was definitely a reason for that. Unnecessary usage of electricity can cause an electric bill to go up very quickly. This tip is basic.  When you know you are leaving the home, turn off all lights that is not used for security measures. Make sure items such as curling irons, flat irons or anything that is so easy to forget is on is turned off.  This includes your computer as well.  We use our computers and laptops so often it is easy to just leave them on. Don't forget to turn them off.  

  After long and stressful day, who doesn’t want to take a long and refreshing shower? You can literally stay in so long and not realize the many gallons of water that have been wasted. It may sounds inviting, but it's not always reasonable when there are many places facing shortages of water. Many gallons of water can be lost in minutes. There are recent innovations that provide a mist instead of a water flow as well as shower heads with timers. Using these innovative products can dramatically reduce wasteful water usage from the shower activity. In doing so you are saving our natural resources and you are also lowering your monthly water bill. Share these tips with others and remember to Reduce, Reuse and Recycle…..It Matters.