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Between 1980 and 2001, energy consumption in Texas increased by about 2.7 percent annually. Demand for energy can be particularly high during the summer months, when people crank up the air conditioning for relief from extremely hot temperatures. Viewer Tip: Save energy by adding a programmable thermostat to your home. A programmable thermostat automatically adjusts [...]

Protecting your house from the summer sun can save energy, significantly reduce your air conditioning bills, and increase home comfort. Viewer Tip: To keep out the heat of the summer sun, close window shades and drapes in warm weather. Strategically planting deciduous trees (tree that lose their leaves in winter) near south, east, and west-facing [...]

Heat islands around urban areas form as vegetation is replaced by asphalt, concrete and the like for roads, buildings and other infrastructure. Hese hard, dark surfaces absorb rather than reflect incoming heat from the sun, hence causing overall urban temperatures to rise. In addition, there is a large concentration of “”waste heat”” in metropolitan areas. [...]

During hot weather, shade from trees helps cool us and our homes. Trees can also pay dividends by shading our streets, which keeps pavement in better condition. Shaded streets require less maintenance and can save up to 60 percent on repaving costs over a 30-year period! Shade from trees also cools pavements, lessening the urban [...]

Over the past year, gasoline prices in the south-central states have risen by about 82 cents per gallon, and diesel fuel prices have risen by almost two dollars. Reducing your driving time not only saves fuel and money, but it also reduces vehicle emissions. Nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from cars react [...]

It’s estimated that more than half of nitrogen entering Tampa Bay comes from atmospheric deposition. Atmospheric deposition occurs when pollutants (such as nitrogen oxides) are transported from the air to the earth’s surface, either through falling rain or snow, falling particles or absorption of gas pollutants directly into water. Too much nitrogen in Bay waters [...]

April is National Car Care Month – the perfect time to make sure your vehicle is running in top condition. Regular vehicle maintenance improves gas mileage, saves money and can extend the life of your car. It also reduces emissions that affect our air quality: a well-maintained vehicle will produce fewer particle pollutants, about 40 [...]