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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, [...]

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 [...]

Air temperatures are fickle – they fluctuate significantly from day to day, from season to season and from year to year. The temperature of a water body fluctuates as well, but is much more constant than the surrounding air temperature. Water has a higher heat capacity than air, which means it takes far more energy [...]

Winter storm season is here. Storms will be blowing in from the Pacific, bringing rainfall to lower elevations and snow to the mountains. This year, the eastern tropical Pacific is in an El Niño phase, meaning that its waters are warmer than normal. When the eastern Pacific is in an El Niño phase, the southwest [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Fewer daylight hours often means 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, Nevada residents spent 203 dollars on energy for home lighting. Viewer Tip: The Alliance to [...]

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 [...]

October is Children’s Health Month. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), when food, water or air is polluted, children are more affected by that pollution than adults. Children eat, drink and breathe more per pound than adults. Also, their bodies are still developing and their behavior can expose them more to chemicals and organisms. [...]

The change of seasons is an important influence on animal behavior. Whether it’s the hot season turning cold or the dry season turning wet, wildlife has to adapt to survive. One strategy is migration. Songbirds, waterfowl, raptors and hummingbirds travel north and south each year, some as far as the tropics! Caribou and pronghorn shift [...]

If the water we use is replenished by precipitation, why do we need to save it? The short answer is that while water can be purified and reused over and over thanks to the natural water cycle and wastewater treatment technology, it may not be available everywhere—or every time—it’s needed. When we all use water [...]

Did you know that at least 30 percent of the water you use at home is outdoors? In drier parts of the country, homeowners use as much as 70 percent of their water outdoors. Viewer Tip: This autumn, look for ways to be more water-efficient and fall into good water habits. Adjust your watering schedule [...]

According to EPA’s AIRNow Program, the summer of 2009 had better ozone air quality than years past. Many U.S. cities experienced at least 80 percent fewer days when ozone air pollution reached levels that were Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups (USG) or higher on the Air Quality Index. This trend was especially apparent in the Midwest, [...]

September is National Preparedness Month! A 2009 national survey by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) found that just over half of respondents have set aside emergency supplies at home, but less than half of survey respondents have a household emergency plan. Viewer Tip: Are you prepared? Make sure you have the supplies and information [...]

On warm days, outdoor air pollution concentrations often rise to levels that can impact our health. But did you know that air pollution inside can be worse than air pollution outside? The air we breathe inside a sealed building can be 25 to 100 percent more polluted than the air outside. The U.S. Environmental Protection [...]