Pinellas County Extension Thinking Green

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:45:00 +0000

Monday, June 4, 2012
10 a.m. to noon

Seminole Community Library Program Room
9200 113th St. N
Seminole, Florida 33722

TOPIC: Water Use

PRESENTERS:

Florida Department of Agriculture & Consumer Services
Department of Agricultural Water Policy
Pinellas County Utilities Solid Waste Management

Come hear about Florida's Agriculture 'Best Management Practices' to protect water quality and reduce the use of ground water. Find out about partnerships with county, state, and federal agencies to deliver sustainable water use programs.

Bring your questions.....and a friend or two!

R.S.V.P. to Mary: queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

Homes with a Higher Standard

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Tue, 29 May 2012 15:55:00 +0000

Planning to buy or build a home? Ask if it meets the Florida Green Home Standard. The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC) has established home building benchmarks which address specific regional issues. The FGBC’s mission is "to provide a statewide green building program with environmental and economic benefits."

To gain Florida Green Home Standard certification, the builder uses the FGBC sustainability checklist for planning. When construction is complete, a third party inspector reviews the job.

The Florida Green Home Standard checklist has eight categories.

Energy – based on projected performance
Water – efficient use indoor and outdoor
Lot Choice – promotes use of existing infrastructure, mass transit, public open space, and community resources
Site – protects local habitat
Health – addresses air quality and contaminants
Materials – waste reduction and sustainable materials.
Disaster Mitigation – includes termite protection.
General – credit for smaller house size, adaptability, renewable power generation

For more details on the FGBC Green Home Standard, see http://www.floridagreenbuilding.org.
To learn more about home Green Certification Programs, download this fact sheet (pdf)

Is Your Car Really That Important?

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Fri, 18 May 2012 13:38:00 +0000

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent

Our cars define us – it’s a status symbol, a mark of independence and a point of pride. They provide convenient and reliable transportation but have you ever considered how much it costs to own that car? Fuel (gas, electric), tires, tune-ups, insurance and parking aren’t things the car dealers mention when you’re on the sales lot. What if you had alternative transportation options, would you use it? The phenomenon of “car sharing” is on the rise and fits those who want a variety of mobility options and support protecting the environment.

Although car sharing is certainly economical and convenient in some cities, it highlights a growing trend that users want alternative transportation options that fit their lifestyles. Car sharers are more likely to drive less, use more fuel-efficient vehicles, and walk or bike more than the average person. Car sharing reduces private vehicle ownership and the hassles associated with it e.g. parking, insurance and car maintenance. More importantly, fewer vehicles means fewer vehicle miles travelled which has been identified as a significant contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.

There are a variety of car sharing options from private companies like ZipCar, City CarShare, I-GO to rental companies like Hertz as well as derivatives like peer-to-peer car sharing. All of these offer the user a variety of options in major metropolitan areas like San Francisco, Chicago and Austin. Fees range from $8 to $15 per hour which includes gas and insurance! As with most sharing programs, weekdays are less expensive than weekends.

In Florida, the ZipCar cities include Gainesville, Miami, Orlando and Tallahassee. Although the Tampa Bay area is not home to Zipsters, we have a number of rideshare programs available for our residents through TBARTA. For up-to-date information on transit options in our area, check out Pinellas County Alternatives Analysis and Pinellas Suncoast Transit Agency.

So next time you need to get around town, try carpooling, car sharing, biking, walking or the bus – you will pocket the savings!

Resources/Links -

TBARTA http://www.tbarta.com/content/commuter-services
ZipCar www.zipcar.com
City CarShare www.citycarshare.org
I-GO www.igocars.org
Hertz on Demand www.hertzondemand.com
car2go www.car2go.com
PSTA http://www.psta.net/index.php
Alternatives Analysis http://pinellasontrack.com/

LEEDing the Way

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Sat, 12 May 2012 19:04:00 +0000

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) wants to see greener homes being built, and its LEED for Homes® program can help your new home be one of them.

LEED ( Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a voluntary rating system created by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) to make it simpler for homebuyers anywhere in the country to identify green homes.

Developed by a diverse group of national experts and experienced green builders, the LEED for Homes Green Building Rating System provides a consistent measurement for sustainability, addressing such aspects as:

Is the home location responsible in its relation to the larger community?
Does the use of space minimize the project's impact on the site and natural surroundings?
Does it enable efficient use of water indoors and outdoors?
Is the home energy efficient?
How do materials used and waste created affect the environment?
How is the indoor air quality?
Has the owner/ tenant been educated about the green features?
Does the design and construction improve upon the program suggestions?

For more information about LEED for Homes, go to the USGBC website.
To learn more about home Green Certification Programs, download this fact sheet (pdf) from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Tue, 01 May 2012 21:35:00 +0000

Monday, May 7, 2012
10 a.m. to noon

Seminole Community Library Program Room
9200 113th St. N
Seminole, Florida 33722

TOPIC: Update on Florida Counties Preparing to Meet Statewide Recycling Goal of 75% by Year 2020

PRESENTER: Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Come to this exciting Discussion Group meeting armed with your own questions.

What will we do differently to be able to accomplish this important goal?
Will we get away from our casual use and disposal of plastic water bottles?
Will more of us begin using re-usable shopping bags?
Will we take extra efforts to discourage use of styrofoam packaging?
Do you have strategies you have started using to reduce the amount of waste you throw out...that you could share with us?

Bring along a friend or two!

R.S.V.P. to Mary: queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

Gator Bait

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 15:56:00 +0000

Photo by Larry Harter

Lara Miller
Natural Resource Agent

Many Pinellas County parks and preserves post “DO NOT FEED” the alligator signs around lakes and ponds. These educational signs teach the public about the dangers of feeding alligators while also helping to protect alligators from unnatural interactions with humans. These signs are increasingly important as human population increases have placed tremendous pressure on wildlife habitat. The list below highlights some of the reasons for educating the public about the urban-wildlife interface:

Habitat destruction has forced many alligators to adjust to living in a world surrounded by man.
When people feed alligators, they lose their fear of humans and begin to relate man with food.
Once alligators become a “nuisance” or even life-threatening, personnel are called in to evaluate the situation and remove the alligator if necessary.

Alligators that are “removed” are typically killed and processed for their meat and hide. Occasionally they are sold to an alligator farm, exhibit or zoo.

State law makes it illegal to feed alligators; it doesn’t matter if it’s chicken or marshmallows, all of it is against the law. This law was put in place in an effort to prevent alligators from becoming a pest and thus further being killed.

As Auxiliary Ranger, Larry Harter put it, “People think that feeding alligators is being kind to them but it upsets the balance of nature and causes them to them to lose their natural fear of humans.”

The lesson here is that alligators are native and wild animals that are best if left alone. Mid-April through May is mating season for the alligators, making both males and females more aggressive. Avoid becoming gator bait; read the signs and follow the law.

For more information on the American Alligator, please visit the sources below:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/uw230
http://webworld.freac.fsu.edu/cameras/saw_grass/enviro/alligatorflorida.htm http://myflorida.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/1173/related/1

Residents’ online values survey

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 17:08:00 +0000

Pinellas County residents are invited to help set the strategic direction for Pinellas County by taking an online survey. Posted on the county’s website for five days, the survey offers an opportunity for residents to share their views about Pinellas County, the values that they want reflected in their community and their vision for the future.

The brief survey can be taken from 8 a.m. on Monday, April 23, to 5 p.m. on Friday, April 27. Click on the Your Voice Our Future button (top of Pinellas County web page www.pinellascounty.org ).

While the survey is part of this year’s budget outreach, it goes beyond the development of the budget of this fiscal year and builds on the strategic direction sessions in which the Pinellas County Board of County Commissioners participated.

"This online survey is about setting a direction for all of us as we continue to redefine the services provided by county government," said County Administrator Bob LaSala, county administrator. "We are encouraging everyone to take a couple of minutes to fill out the survey so that they can be a part of this very important process."

Earth Day Every Day!

noreply@blogger.com (Pinellas County Extension) — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 21:17:00 +0000

by Libby Carnahan, Sea Grant Agent
Ramona Madhosingh-Hector, Urban Sustainability Agent

This weekend, Earth Day celebrates its 42nd birthday! Let’s reflect on how we can help make this earth a better place for our families, and our neighbors.

So far, Americans have pledged 987,885,315 acts of green to help our Earth. You too can visit the Earth Day Network website and pledge your acts of green. Americans just like you have vowed to ride their bikes to work, plant a vegetable garden, or lower the setting on their thermostat. Below are some additional suggestions. For more tips, visit the University of Florida’s Living Green website.

5 Things you can do for $5 or less

Install a Low Flow Kitchen Sink Aerator ($5). Available at local home improvement stores, faucet aerators still deliver a strong spray, but can reduce water consumption by as much as 50%.

Buy and use a Reusable Grocery Bag ($2). We suggest keeping the bags in the trunk of your car, or by the front door so you remember to bring them to the store. Some stores will provide discounts for bringing your own bags!

Install Weather Stripping ($5) at your front and back doors. Most experts agree that installing weather stripping will pay for itself in less than one year.

Replace incandescent light bulbs with CFLs (compact florescent lightbulbs) ($5). Overall, CFLs use approximately 25% the energy of a traditional incandescent lightbulb.

Inflate vehicle tires to proper air pressure ($1). You can improve your gas mileage by up to 3.3% by keeping your tires inflated to the proper pressure.

2012 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Building Education Program

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 13:11:00 +0000

Remodel Green & Profit

April 12, 2012
8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Pinellas County Extension
12520 Ulmerton Rd., Largo, FL 33774-3602

Participants will:

Learn to select fixtures/appliances that are cost-efficient and to understand the importance of such appliances with regard to Florida's water and energy resources
Gain knowledge to construct better, more water and mold resistant homes suitable for Florida's hot-humid climate
Discover how to address lead when remodeling and the tools and supplies needed for proper removal and disposal.

Program total of 8 CEH's

CILB 0008174-2 CEH's

CILB 0001756-2 CEH's

CILB 0009802 -2 CEH's

CILB0007368-2 CEH's

AR 9877293 - 2 CEH's

AR 9876873-2 CEH's

AR 9876675-2 CEH's

AR 9876676-2 CEH's

FBPE exp 4028 - 8 PDHs

Spring into Snorkeling

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 17:22:00 +0000

Libby Carnahan
Sea Grant Marine Agent

Spring is in the air, and under the water. As the temperatures warm this season, consider strapping on some snorkeling gear, cooling off and exploring the underwater world in our backyard. Snorkeling is a relaxing and gratifying activity that can be fun whether it is your first time or your five hundredth time in the water.

Whether you are floating above the seagrass flats spying on seahorses, or exploring an artificial reef, the key to a great snorkeling experience is good preparation. If you are a non-swimmer, contact a local dive shop or fitness center for swimming classes to help increase your comfort level in the water. You may also choose to rent gear or purchase your own. Staff at local outdoor stores or dive shops can advise you, help you try on the gear before purchase, and ensure you have proper fitting gear.

It is always safest and more fun to snorkel with a dive buddy. When snorkeling from a boat, regulations require a dive flag displayed on your boat and when snorkeling from shore, you must keep a floating dive flag with you . Boaters should recognize your dive flag and its meaning, however always err on the side of caution and pay close attention to boat traffic in your vicinity.

It is important to check real-time and predicted marine weather and the tides as calm to light winds are best for snorkeling. Heavy winds will cause rough waters and decrease underwater visibility. Likewise, tides can affect the speed of local water movement, the turbidity of the water, and of course, the depth of the water.

Freshwater springs offer crystal clear water and a confined environment that provide a high level of comfort. Marine habitats including seagrass beds, sponge flats, hardbottom habitats, coral reefs, and artificial reefs provide opportunities to view a diversity of fish and marine invertebrates! So, grab your gear, explore Florida’s underwater worlds and have fun!

Equipment (*Essential, †Recommended)
*Dive Mask (with Tempered Glass)
*Snorkel
*Fins
†Snorkel vest
†Exposure protection (rash guard, dive skin, dive hood or cap, wetsuit)
†Safety Sausage
*Dive Flag
†Underwater Wildlife Identification Cards

Resources:
Salt Water Tide Predictions

Marine Weather Forecast

Real-Time Tide Levels, NOAA Tides and Currents

Real-Time Wind Conditions

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 18:40:00 +0000

Monday, April 2, 2012
10:00 am to noon

Seminole Community Library Program Room
9200 113th St. N.
Seminole, Florida 33722

TOPIC: Pinellas County Extension Sustainable Floridians

SPEAKERS:

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector: Regional Specialized Agent; Urban Sustainability; Pinellas County Extension; University of Florida / IFAS

Bob Huttick

Recently trained in Sustainable Floridians program

MaryAnn Kirk

Recently trained in Sustainable Floridians program

There will be a fascinating Power Point presentation given at this exciting program.

You will have a chance to ask questions. Invite your neighbors to attend this special Discussion Group meeting!

For additional information and to RSVP: Contact Mary, queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

Pinellas County Extension Shines a Light on Energy Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 26 Mar 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Saturday March 31 at Clearwater Public Library, East Branch

Through its Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project, Pinellas County Extension is promoting a new gadget that aims to get citizens more energy conscious and eco-friendly.

The Kill-A-Watt™ Energy Monitor is a simple tool used to see how much energy the devices in a home are actually using, whether they are on or off. Users simply plug the monitor into an outlet, plug an appliance into the monitor, follow The Kill-A-Watt’s™ instructions and watch it work. The monitor measures various aspects of electrical consumption, from voltage of an outlet to watts and kilowatt hours. Users can find out exactly how much energy and money is being consumed by most of their household electronics.

Pinellas County Extension and the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative have come together to make these Kill-A-Watt™ monitors available for check-out at their libraries to make the assessment of personal energy consumption even easier.

Extension specialists will also be holding upcoming classes at select libraries to further explain how the monitors work and to give easy tips to make a home more energy efficient in their effort to decrease electric bills and increase environmental friendliness.

On Saturday March 31st we will be hosting a class at the Clearwater Public Library, East Branch. Click here for a map to the library. Participants of the class will receive handouts and worksheets from the University of Florida and take part in an interactive presentation. Door prizes will be awarded.

Sign up today to participate in this class. Visit www.pinellascountyextension.org and click on the 31st on the calendar on the front page. Registration is free and easy.

See you on the 31st!

Get Ready Tampa Bay!

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 12:45:00 +0000

Mary Campbell
Extension Director and Urban Sustainability Agent

The Tampa Bay region is preparing for electric vehicles. Get Ready Tampa Bay is a regional collaboration with interested groups to prepare Tampa Bay for the roll-out of electric vehicles (EV). No new idea or technology is ever really simple or easy to launch. Electric cars have been around a long time and were first developed along with gasoline powered vehicles in the 1800’s. Electric vehicles did not have the speed or range of gas powered vehicles and developing the new batteries has been a challenge. With new technology and a few bright ideas, EV has come a long way since the 1800’s.

Electric vehicles are an option for improving air quality and reducing dependence on imported oil. Sailing past the gas station may sound like a great idea. Electricity is produced in the U.S. as opposed to gasoline imported by tanker or pipeline and it is less affected by the volatile world oil market. Electric vehicles run clean and produce no air-polluting emissions.

The infrastructure needed to support plug-in vehicles is beginning to pop up. Charging stations will need to become as conveniently located as gas stations are now. The national Project Get Ready is a non-profit initiative led by the Rocky Mountain Institute with a wide array of partners to help cities develop infrastructure for plug-in vehicles. Motorists will have the option to drive clean, quiet-running automobiles, get great mileage and top off the charge with a local charging station. Drivers can locate stations in the Tampa Bay area and beyond at Charge Point America.

Resources:
Get Ready Tampa Bay
Florida Energy Systems Consortium-Batteries for Automobiles (pdf)
EPA Electric Vehicles Fact sheet
EPA Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles

What’s Blooming at Brooker?

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Fri, 09 Mar 2012 15:44:00 +0000

Lara Miller

Natural Resource Agent

If you haven’t visited Brooker Creek Preserve, what are you waiting for? There is so much to see and it’s a great way to escape. Spring is right around the corner, and many plants at the Preserve are already blooming! Here is just one of the many beautiful plants flowering at Brooker Creek Preserve.

Sky-blue lupine (Lupinus diffusus) sends out these beautiful violet flowers starting in mid-winter through early spring. This plant is native to Florida and is commonly found in sandy habitats, although this plant grows all throughout the southeastern United States. One of the reasons they do so well in sandy areas is because they actually prefer nutrient poor soils. Lupines are unique because they are able to take nitrogen from the atmosphere and bring it into the soil. Nitrogen-fixing bacteria live on the roots of sky-blue lupine and absorb nitrogen out of the air. This nitrogen then becomes available for the plant to use. Sky-blue lupine can be found along the trails at the preserve, have you seen it yet?

Source: http://www.wildflorida.com/wildlife/plants/Sky-blue_Lupine.php

Sow your wild sea oats at Fort De Soto

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 21:26:00 +0000

Those interested in helping maintain the beach at Fort De Soto Park are invited to join the Friends of Fort De Soto in the Sow Your Wild Sea Oats volunteer event on Saturday, March 10. Sea oats are being planted to help stabilize and establish a dune system to prevent erosion and offer a habitat for native wildlife.

Supplied by the Friends of Fort De Soto, the sea oats will be planted at the north point of the park from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. From 2 to 6 p.m., lunch and a free concert will be provided by the Kiwanis Club of the Gulf Beaches. Volunteers should meet at shelter #11, south of the fort. There will be free parking for volunteers

The planting is part of a weekend of activities for Kiwanis members. On Friday, 30 to 50 junior and senior high school and college students affiliated with the Kiwanis Club will set up camp in the park before joining the sea oat planting on Saturday.

RSVP to friendsofortdesoto@gmail.com
or contact the park staff at Ft. DeSoto:
Fort De Soto Park
3500 Pinellas Bayway S.
Tierra Verde, FL 33715
Park Office (727) 552-1862

The Great Indoors

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 14:30:00 +0000

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent

The weather is warming up and we’re more inclined to head outdoors but don’t forget that it’s time to do some indoor work too! As we plan our spring-cleaning adventures in and around our homes, here are a few things to consider -

Declutter your Home
We have so many “things” in our homes and we’re often running from activity to activity that oftentimes we don’t have enough time to dedicate to organizing our homes. For many of us, spring energizes us and we’re more likely to declutter our homes by sorting closets and kitchens. I like to use the following rules when re-organizing -

If I haven’t used it in 6 months, do I really need it?

If I keep it, will I use it in 6 months?

If I don’t want it, will someone else be able to use this item?

This translates easily into the 3Rs – Reduce, Reuse and Recycle. Reduce your unwanted items by donating where possible. Reuse old clothes by turning it into dusting cloths or drop cloths for painting jobs around the home. Recycle old electronics and kitchen appliances. Together these actions will help to lighten your home’s carbon footprint.

Household Cleaning
No spring-cleaning event is complete without the use of some cleaning agent. For a “green” spring cleaning event, consider switching to a green cleaner or making your own cleaners to use around the home. Vinegar and baking soda work wonders in your bathrooms, kitchens and laundry! Natural cleaners do not introduce toxic fumes in your home and, for those of us with allergies, that’s an added bonus. Check out this link on how to make household cleaners.

Go Paperless
As you organize your homes, consider organizing your electronic life as well. Sign up for online banking and bill pay to reduce the amount of paper you receive. Also, if you have the latest e-reader gizmo, consider switching your magazine subscriptions to an electronic format. Don’t forget to remove yourself from mailings that you are no longer interested in! If you have books lying around the house that you’ve already read, donate it to a library or see if you can do a book-swap with your neighbors.

Indoor Air Quality
During the winter months, our homes are kept tightly sealed to conserve warmth but as the weather changes, it’s a good time to promote air exchanges before we head towards the warm summer months. Frequent air exchanges lead to humidity problems so be sure that you check humidity levels before beginning natural ventilation. Check out this article for more great information on indoor air quality and do’s and don’ts when ventilating.

Landscape
Don’t forget that your landscape also needs cleaning. Check out this recent blog on how to do just that!

Good luck and have fun spring-cleaning your home!

Resources:
Indoor Air Quality
Pruning Landscape Trees and Shrubs
Where to recycle in Pinellas County?
Yellow Page Opt Out
Green Seal Products
Green Guard

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING & SUSTAINABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 15:43:00 +0000

Monday, March 5, 2012

10:00 am to noon

Seminole Community Library Program Room
9200 113th St. N.
Seminole, Florida 33722

TOPIC: Bio Reactors

SPEAKER: Brooks Stayer, Director, Waste Resource Management, Polk County, Florida

Information: Contact Mary, queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

Ask Extension!

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 19:11:00 +0000

Mary Campbell, Extension Director
and Urban Sustainability Agent

Do you want answers to your questions from a local source that you can trust? There are several ways to get information from an Agent at the UF/IFAS Pinellas County Extension office. If you are looking for the ease of access that the internet provides, look no further than http://www.askextension.org/. This online database of frequently asked questions provides answers to many questions that Extension hears all the time. With this tool, you'll get the quick and easy answer that you are looking for from one of our experts. UF Faculty at Extension have expertise in health and wellness, horticulture, energy, environmentally friendly practices, natural resource conservation, youth and much more.

Once you access the webpage at http://www.askextension.org/, click on the category drop down list and look for the subject that you are interested in. The list of questions will appear on that topic. If you would rather search by key words, type them into the search box and the available questions and answers will pop up. What if you do not see your question? Look at the top navigation and click on Contact. A page will pop up that allows you to put in a name, e-mail address and your specific question. You will get an answer as easy as that! Don’t be shy – try it today.

Another easy way to access us online is through the http://www.pinellascountyextension.org/ web site. Click on Contact us at the top of the main page: http://pinellas.ifas.ufl.edu/contact.shtml and go to the bottom of the page and click on Question in the large box. Type in your question and away you go.

It has never been easier to get science-based, factual information from a reliable source. Get the facts you need at the click of a mouse!

So, What Exactly is a Green Job?

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:46:00 +0000

Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project

According to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), a Green Job is either:

1. A position in a business that benefits the environment or conserves natural resources
2. A position which involves makes the business’ production process more environmentally friendly or use fewer natural resources

These could include jobs that improve the energy efficiency of electronics, buildings, and vehicles. Other green jobs can be in businesses which provide education and training related to green technologies & practices. Businesses involved in the growing, distributing, and purchasing of locally produced foods are also categorized as green.

To learn more about the definition of green jobs, download this pdf fact sheet from the Florida Energy Systems Consortium.

Vancouver’s Transportation Tale

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 17:46:00 +0000

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent, Pinellas County Extension

Continued from A Short Stop in Vancouver, B.C.

Vancouver can certainly boast of its transportation system with multiple modes of transit from buses to trains to ferry services (SeaBus) and Sky Train. TransLink is Vancouver’s transit information hub. There you’ll find schedules, maps, station locations and travel time for every mode of public transit in the metro area.

Vancouver also has trolleys that include the customary double decker tourist attraction as well as trolley buses. These trolley buses look like regular buses but draw its electricity from overhead wires. Two wires and two poles complete the electric circuit for these “green” buses which rely on hydro-electric power producing fewer emissions. They also reduce noise pollution since they are quieter than diesel buses.

I was particularly impressed with the Waterfront Station on Cordova Street. Its modern interior was a contrast to its old architectural style indicating its reuse as a premier transit hub. The station was clean and comfortable with shops, eateries and security. It had great signage displaying the various transit modes available as well as maps displaying other metro connections and what was available within a five-minute walk from the station. SeaBus service was also available at the Waterfront Station which as it’s aptly named is located along the Port of Vancouver within close proximity of Canada Place. Canada Place, a mixed use commercial facility, is home to the Convention Center, World Trade Center and the Vancouver Cruise Ship Terminal.

It was easy to navigate Vancouver’s street grid and I certainly wasn’t alone. Pedestrian traffic was steady and heavy at the intersections and no matter what time of day it was, I certainly always had company. In Vancouver, sidewalks were well maintained and cars actually yielded to the pedestrian!

With such a variety of transit options residents can choose which one works best for them. Vancouver’s emergence as a leading green city is certainly tied to its transit system since it encourages residents to own fewer vehicles, drive less, and rely on alternative modes of transportation. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions, conserves energy, improves public fitness and health, increases household wealth, and contributes to vibrant local economies. With such positive implications, it’s easy to see why the sustainable lifestyle has taken root in Vancouver.

Resources:
Transit Oriented Development
Walk Score
Canada Place
Mixed Use

Florida Author to Speak on Water Issues

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 14:12:00 +0000

C-SPACE and the Florida Studies Program present: Cynthia Barnett and the Case for a Water Ethic

Thursday, February 9 • 3:30 pm • Davis Hall 104

Longtime Florida journalist and author of two books about water issues, including the recently acclaimed Blue Revolution: Unmaking America’s Water Crisis (Beacon Press, 2011), Cynthia Barnett will engage the USFSP community about a key issue in Florida and the U.S., as well as globally.

Americans use more water than any other culture in the world, much to quench what’s now our largest crop—the lawn. Yet most Americans cannot name the river or aquifer that flows to our taps, irrigates our food and produces our electricity. And most don’t realize their freshwater sources are in trouble. Barnett proposes the most important part of the solution is also the simplest and least expensive: a shared water ethic among citizens, government and major water users.

Part of a lecture series sponsored by the university's Center for Science and Policy Applications for the Coastal Environment (C-SPACE) and the Florida Studies Program, this event is FREE and open to the public.

For more information, please visit www.usfsp.edu/cspace and www.usfsp.edu/floridastudies or call (727) 873-4872.

SEMINOLE DISCUSSION GROUP ON RECYCLING AND SUSTAINABILITY

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 22:01:00 +0000

Monday, Feb. 6, 2012
10:00 a.m. to noon
Seminole Community Library Program Room

9200 113th St. N.
Seminole, Florida 33722

TOPIC: LOCAL FOOD AND AGRICULTURE AS AN IMPORTANT ISSUE OF OUR TIME
SPEAKER: Karen Fraley, Florida West Coast Resource Conservation & Development

This presentation will include information about Native Americans, Florida's first population, and how they used the land for a good life. Current practices of land development will be discussed in relation to its impact on our culture and lifestyle. Finally, there will be a discussion of working food production into our community for healthier people, land, and food. Come with your questions and helpful comments. Bring a friend along, too!

CONTACT: Mary, queenofrecycle@hotmail.com

A Short Stop in Vancouver.B.C.

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 13:36:00 +0000

Ramona Madhosingh-Hector
Urban Sustainability Agent, Pinellas County Extension

I recently had the opportunity to visit Vancouver, British Columbia for an international conference on sustainability – the conference planners totally lucked out with this location! Vancouver is well known for its sustainability initiatives and it plans on becoming the greenest city in the world by 2020. Check here for Vancouver’s green city plan. In this blog, I’ll share my insights about Vancouver’s green efforts.

Although the conference was a short one, I couldn’t resist the opportunity for an early afternoon stroll through downtown Vancouver. The hotel was conveniently located in the city center and little did I know that it was connected to a modern shopping oasis called the Pacific Shopping Centre. Tempted as I was, I actually started my tour in Gastown.

I could easily tell that this was an historic neighborhood with its cobblestone streets and old Victorian buildings. The chic restaurants, trendy furniture stores, lofts and bars all with on street parking screamed urban renewal. The Gastown Steam Clock had a flock of tourists taking photos, including me! The clock replica is powered by a series of underground pipes which also heat downtown buildings. At night, Gastown gleamed with LED light strings and bustled with people.

Elsewhere in Vancouver, old and new buildings were creatively used. Lofts, offices and gyms were seamlessly woven into the downtown fabric. From my vantage point at the hotel, I could easily locate green spaces which weren’t restricted to street level view. In fact, many of the skyscrapers had green spaces and the parking garage at Vancouver International had a green wall installation. Trendy apartments along the waterfront had great vistas but were also well connected via the transit system.

The mixed uses in both the historic neighborhood and the traditional downtown provide many opportunities for residents to develop a sense of place and community where they live. The ability to work and play close to where you live is definitely sustainable. You save money on your commute, develop deeper relations with your neighbors, and contribute to economic stability within your community.

In the next blog, I’ll talk about Vancouver’s transit system.

Resources:
EPA Livability Principles
American Planning Association
Land Use fact sheet
Land Use: Subdivision Design fact sheet

Pinellas County Extension Shines a Light on Energy Consumption, Saturday January 28 at the Gulfport Library

noreply@blogger.com (Solutions for Your Life) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 15:33:00 +0000

Through its Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project, Pinellas County Extension is promoting a new gadget that aims to get citizens more energy conscious and eco-friendly.

The Kill-A-Watt™ Energy Monitor is a simple tool used to see how much energy the devices in a home are actually using, whether they are on or off. Users simply plug the monitor into an outlet, plug an appliance into the monitor, follow The Kill-A-Watt’s™ instructions and watch it work. The monitor measures various aspects of electrical consumption, from voltage of an outlet to watts and kilowatt hours. Users can find out exactly how much energy and money is being consumed by most of their household electronics.

Pinellas County Extension and the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative have come together to make these Kill-A-Watt™ monitors available for check-out at their libraries to make the assessment of personal energy consumption even easier.

Extension specialists will also be holding upcoming classes at select libraries to further explain how the monitors work and to give easy tips to make a home more energy efficient in their effort to decrease electric bills and increase environmental friendliness.

On Saturday January 28 we will be hosting a class at the Gulfport Public Library. Click here for a map to the library. Participants of the class will receive handouts and worksheets from the University of Florida and take part in an interactive presentation. Door prizes will be awarded.

Sign up today to participate in this class. Visit www.pinellascountyextension.org and click on the 28th on the calendar on the front page. Registration is free and easy.

See you on the 28th!

Pinellas County Extension Shines a Light on Energy Consumption

noreply@blogger.com (Pinellas County Extension) — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 19:12:00 +0000

Through its Pinellas Energy Efficiency Project, Pinellas County Extension is promoting a new gadget that aims to get citizens more energy conscious and eco-friendly.

The Kill-A-Watt™ Energy Monitor is a simple tool used to see how much energy the devices in a home are actually using, whether they are on or off. Users simply plug the monitor into an outlet, plug an appliance into the monitor, follow The Kill-A-Watt’s™ instructions and watch it work. The monitor measures various aspects of electrical consumption, from voltage of an outlet to watts and kilowatt hours. Users can find out exactly how much energy and money is being consumed by most of their household electronics.

Pinellas County Extension and the Pinellas Public Library Cooperative have come together to make these Kill-A-Watt™ monitors available for check-out at their libraries to make the assessment of personal energy consumption even easier.

Extension specialists will also be holding upcoming classes at select libraries to further explain how the monitors work and to give easy tips to make a home more energy efficient in their effort to decrease electric bills and increase environmental friendliness.

The Kill-A-Watt™ classes will be held according to the following schedule:

Wednesday, Jan. 11, 3 to 4 p.m. Tarpon Springs Public Library 138 E. Lemon St., Tarpon Springs Phone: (727) 943-4922 www.tarponspringslibrary.org Saturday, Jan. 28, 10 to 11 a.m. Gulfport Public Library 5501 28th Ave. S., Gulfport Phone: (727) 893-1074 www.mygulfport.us

Saturday, Feb. 18, 11 a.m. to noon Palm Harbor Library 2330 Nebraska Ave., Palm Harbor Phone: (727) 784-3332 www.palmharborlibrary.org

Tuesday, March 13, 7 to 8 p.m. Dunedin Public Library 223 Douglas Ave., Dunedin Phone: (727) 298-3080 www.dunedingov.com

Saturday, March 31, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Clearwater East Branch Library 100 N. Osceola Ave., Clearwater Phone: (727) 669-1280 www.myclearwater.com

Thursday, April 12, 6 to 7 p.m. Safety Harbor Public Library 101 Second St. N., Safety Harbor Phone: (727) 724-1525 www.cityofsafetyharbor.com

Thursday, April 26, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. Oldsmar Public Library 400 St. Petersburg Drive E., Oldsmar Phone: (813) 749-1178 www.oldsmarlibrary.org

Monday, May 7, 1 to 2 p.m. St. Pete Beach Public Library 365 73rd Ave., St. Pete Beach Phone: (727) 363-9238 www.stpetebeach.org

It is important to remember that all devices cannot be measured using the Kill-A-Watt™ monitor. For example, air conditioners and electric heaters are not compatible with the monitor.

Registration for classes is required. For more information on the Kill-A-Watt™ monitor, classes or Pinellas County Extension, visit www.pinellascountyextension.org or call (727) 582-2581. To register, visit the website or stop by the library holding the class you wish to attend.

Pinellas County Extension is a partnership between Pinellas County government and the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences as part of a nationwide network of land grant universities. The University of Florida is an equal access/equal opportunity institution.

The mission of Pinellas County Extension is to provide research-based knowledge and education programs enabling people to make practical decisions to improve their quality of life and the world around them. Education focuses on sustainable living, lawn and garden, families and consumers, and 4-H youth development.

Pinellas County Extension offers programming at the Extension office, 12520 Ulmerton Road, Largo, (727) 582-2100; Brooker Creek Preserve Environmental Education Center, 3940 Keystone Road, Tarpon Springs, (727) 453-6800 and at Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, 1800 Weedon Drive N.E., St. Petersburg, (727) 453-6500. For more information, visit www.pinellascountyextension.org and find Pinellas Extension on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.

Pinellas County complies with the Americans with Disabilities Act. If you are a person with a disability who needs any accommodation in order to participate in this class you are entitled, at no cost to you, to the provision of certain assistance. At least seven days prior to the class, please contact the Office of Human Rights, 400 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Suite 500, Clearwater, FL 33756, (727) 464-4062 (Voice/TDD).