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Although we tend to use more water outdoors during the summer months, up to 70 percent of the water we need at home is used indoors. Viewer Tip: Weather keeping you inside? Keep these water-saving tips in mind: Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the faucet run until the [...]

The U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and NOAA’s National Weather Service are encouraging Americans to “Be Air Aware” this week as part of Air Quality Awareness Week.  Concentrations of air pollution tend to increase on the tail end of high pressure systems, after the center of the high passes by.  High pressure systems affect a [...]

…So provide brunch! A perfect garden is not necessarily one without “flaws.” Often those munched-on leaves indicate a very happy caterpillar and a beautiful butterfly or moth soon to follow. Viewer Tip: As you think about spring gardening, New England Wild Flower Society recommends adding some plants to your garden which encourage caterpillars to forage. [...]

National Public Health Week takes place from April 4-10, 2011.  This year’s theme is “Safety is NO Accident: Live Injury Free.” Safety from weather events is central to keeping people well.  A 2009 NOAA study found that floods, extreme heat and rip currents are leading causes of weather-related fatalities. Common causes of weather-related injuries are [...]

Spring is the perfect time of year to give your home cooling equipment a check-up.  Fixing any problems now will help you avoid air-conditioning problems when hot weather arrives.  And, well-maintained air conditioning systems cool more efficiently, saving energy and money. Viewer Tip: You can perform a cooling system check-up yourself or ask a professional [...]

There may still be a chill in the air, but spring wildlife is awakening. This is the time of year when resident bats begin to emerge from hibernation and soon, migratory bats will be arriving in the northeast. While these mammals sometimes have a creepy reputation, they actually help control pesky insect populations and pollinate [...]

March 14 through 20 is the third annual Fix a Leak Week, sponsored by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Leaks can account for more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted in the average home every year—enough to fill a backyard swimming pool. But stopping leaks is as easy as “check, twist, replace.” Check for leaks. [...]

March 14-18 is the National Weather Service’s Flood Safety Awareness Week. Flooding occurs from coast to coast at all times of the year – and there are many factors that contribute to flooding events. Snowmelt Flooding: When snow begins to melt, flooding can occur if the amount of snowmelt exceeds the capacity for soils and [...]

The 2011 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) takes place from February 18-21. Each year, bird watchers across the country tally the birds they see in backyards, parks and natural areas. Last year, GBBC participants racked up more than 10 million observations! Counting birds during GBBC helps scientists gain a “snapshot” of North America’s winter bird [...]

Have you ever wondered why potholes appear on roadways during the winter months? Water from melting snow and ice seeps into pavement and the sub-material between pavement and soil below.  When repeated spells of cold weather occur, the water in the pavement refreezes and expands, breaking up the pavement at and below the road surface. When [...]

Have you noticed higher energy bills recently? Fewer daylight hours, more time spent inside and chilly temperatures in many parts of the country mean that energy bills are on the rise at this time of year. Luckily, Energy Star has easy-to-use tools to help you assess and reduce the amount of energy used at home.  [...]

Flexible young trees are often used by whitetail buck deer as antler rubbing posts in fall and winter. They remove the velvet covering from their antlers by rubbing them against the trees. This also helps the male deer mark their territory and strengthen their necks for battling other bucks for mates. This is not a good [...]

January is National Radon Action Month. Radon is produced when uranium in soil, rock and water breaks down and gets into the air. It can be found anywhere in the United States and sneaks into homes and buildings through places like cracks in floors and gaps around pipes. You cannot see, smell or taste radon [...]

Even after the lightest snowfall, the activity of our unseen neighbors can be found the next day by observing their tracks. Squirrels, rabbits, voles, fox, owls, coyotes, deer and neighborhood pets are all active in the dead of winter and leave evidence of their travels. Often the trails criss-cross and stories can abound in the [...]

December 14 marks the beginning of Audubon’s annual Christmas Bird Count. The Count runs through January 5, 2011. The first Christmas Bird Count (CBC) took place on December 25, 1900 – 27 participants counted and identified about 18,500 birds, mostly in the northeastern U.S. Today, CBC volunteers brave snow and chilly temperatures to identify and [...]

Energy use in the United States typically increases during the holiday season. At this time of year, festive holiday lights that decorate neighborhoods across the country can drive up energy demand and home energy bills. Viewer Tip: Hold on to the holiday spirit while saving energy and money this season. Look for holiday lights that have earned the Energy [...]

 The distinctive smell of wood smoke is a sign of the heating season. It may smell good, but wood smoke can impact indoor air quality and your health. Smoke is a mixture of tiny particles and gases produced when wood burns – the fine particles can get into your eyes and lungs, where they may [...]

Most gardeners have favorite plants that cost a tidy sum to purchase at a nursery. Before snow arrives and buries your plants, check them for seeds. Collect a sampling from around your garden, but leave plenty for winter feeding of birds and self-seeding for next year’s crop of plants. Viewer Tip: New England Wild Flower [...]

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 [...]

The U.S. Energy Information Administration’s (EIA’s) Winter Fuels Outlook uses energy price projections and forecasted weather data from NOAA to predict winter heating bills in the United States. This year, EIA estimates that heating bills may be slightly higher in some regions over the six-month period from October 2010 to March 2011. Heating costs vary [...]