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Wisconsin Senator Gaylord Nelson proposed the first Earth Day, which took place on April 22, 1970, as a national “teach in” about the environment. On that day, over 20 million Americans participated – including 10,000 elementary and high schools, 2,000 colleges and more than 1,000 communities. Today, as Earth Day turns 40, the event is [...]

B-roll video is available for this tip. Spring is here and there’s no better time to get outside, enjoy the weather and do some wildlife watching!  And, you don’t have to live in the country to do it. There’s an amazing diversity of wildlife in the suburbs – and even in the city. Viewer Tip: [...]

Showering accounts for about 17 percent of residential indoor water use – up to 30 gallons of water per household per day. According to EPA, we use 1.2 trillion gallons of water every year in the U.S. just for showering. That’s enough water to meet the water needs of New York and New Jersey for [...]

How much hazardous waste does the average American household accumulate in one year? Ten pounds? Fifty? Actually, the typical home accumulates up to 100 pounds of household hazardous waste in just one year! Think of paints, pesticides, cleaning supplies, oil, antifreeze and other products that hide away in the basement, garage or shed. These products [...]

For home gardeners, weather is a major variable in determining the success of crops. Spring planting dates are commonly scheduled around the first frost-free day. Weather has a large influence on timing because of its effect on seedling establishment and crop growth. For example, peas planted at the first possible planting date in the spring [...]

Did you know that the average American household uses about two-thirds of its water outside? Most is used to water lawns and as much as half of that water is wasted by inefficient watering, either too often or at the hottest part of the day when water evaporates quickly. When we conserve water at home, [...]

Early spring might be the season for heavy rain or even a white blanket of snow, but it’s not too early to start thinking about using compost to help grow a lush green lawn. Did you know the best time to apply compost is in the spring? According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, [...]

Did you know that weather has a large influence on seedling establishment and crop growth? If you enjoy eating peas from your garden, you can plant peas early in the spring, plant another batch of peas a few weeks later, and both batches will be ready to harvest at  almost the same time.  That’s because weather [...]

You may as well collect! The upcoming dry summer months are probably the last thing on your mind during heavy late winter and spring rains. At this time of year, it may seem like it will never dry out, but it’s important to remember that a hot summer is just around the corner. So why not collect that [...]

B-roll video is available for this tip. Mid-winter is the perfect time to put out a birdhouse. Even though there is still snow on the ground in many places and many bird species are still far to the south, it’s not too early. Chickadees, bluebirds, screech owls and woodpeckers are among the bird species that [...]

In terms of area, property damage and deaths, eight of the most significant floods in the 20th century were snowmelt-related. Several factors contribute to snowmelt flooding: High soil moisture content: Soil that is saturated with water in late fall may not have time to drain and dry out before it freezes, resulting in deep ground [...]

Dried arrangements and holiday wreaths may contain invasive plant species, such as Oriental bittersweet (found throughout the Eastern and Great Lakes states) and multiflora rose (found through the Eastern and Midwest U.S., Colorado, California and Oregon). When these arrangements hang outside, wind and birds foraging for food can carry away berries and seeds, which may [...]

Ever wonder why some trees have their trunks painted white?  Did you know that too much sun in the winter can damage young trees? According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, sunscald can occur on cold winter days when the afternoon sun is high in the sky. Heat given off by the sun can [...]

Don’t let a drop in the outdoor temperatures mean a drop in your vehicle’s fuel efficiency. According to the National Center for Appropriate Technology, as the temperatures cool off outside, your car may use more fuel than it does during the summer months. Cold temperatures can recue tire pressure and force engines to work harder, [...]

A sure-fire sign of the holiday season is brilliant neighborhood light displays. Festive colored lights boost holiday spirit – and they boost energy bills, too. Americans use up to 40 percent more energy during the holiday season and much of that energy is attributed to decorative lights. Luckily, you don’t have to lose the lights [...]

Watersheds are areas of land in which all water drains into a common body of water. Because water does not obey political boundaries, watershed maps can cross county, state and even national lines. The size of a watershed can vary, but all bodies of water have one. You can think of watersheds like pieces of [...]

Unlike pollution from industrial sources and sewage treatment plants, non-point source (NPS) water pollution comes from many diffuse sources. Polluted runoff is caused by rainwater or snowmelt moving over and through the ground. As the runoff moves, it carries and deposits pollutants – such as fertilizers, pesticides and yard wastes like grass clippings and leaves [...]

Fewer daylight hours and cooler weather often mean that we spend more time inside during fall and winter.  While heating and cooling account for more energy use than other household activities, small appliances and lights still add to home energy costs. Last year, Pennsylvania residents spent 185 dollars on energy for home lighting. Viewer Tip: [...]

Fall is here and wild animals are prepping for the winter. Some species migrate to warmer places, and not just birds. Monarch butterflies, dragonflies and even some mammals migrate south in the fall. Other species grow thick winter coats to stay warm. In the case of the arctic fox, snowshoe hare and short-tailed weasel, those [...]

Thanks to lower fuel prices and expectations for a slightly milder winter, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) projects that households in the U.S. will spend less on heating fuel this winter compared to last year. In the Midwest, where over 70 percent of households use natural gas for heating, EIA projects that households will spend [...]