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Ah-choo! As the mercury drops outside, cold and flu season arrives. Flushing facial tissues down the toilet can waste three to seven gallons per flush with older toilet models. Eliminating just one flush per day could save nearly 1,300 gallons per year, or enough water to wash about 32 loads of laundry! Viewer Tip:  Don’t use your toilet [...]

When winter storms come through the Chesapeake, they can be spectacular, with howling winds, cold rain and occasionally, heavy snow.  In between, though, the weather is often quiet.  With water temperatures dipping into the 30s, cold-blooded Bay creatures slow way down and usually seek the warmest, most stable conditions they can find.  Most blue crabs, [...]

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 [...]

Just as humans put on extra layers during the cooler months, some plants need extra protection once colder weather hits. For plants to over-winter, their best protection is the earth around them that insulates against cold air. Soil protects plants’ roots. Organic matter decomposes in the soil year-round, generating warmth while providing nutrients that are [...]

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 [...]

Did you know that the average California resident uses about 192 gallons of water per day? In single family homes, more than half of that water may go to maintaining a lawn or landscaping. Inside, significant water use takes place in the bathroom – toilets can account for up to 32 percent of water used [...]

Many people believe that late fall and winter are times of scarcity for wildlife, which may prompt them to leave feed out for deer and other wildlife. The reality is that local wildlife is well-adapted to our climate and capable of surviving without our help. In fact, feeding deer can be harmful to them by [...]

Bulb growth in garlic is dependent on the warmth and the length of the day.  In northern part of the United States, most growers plant garlic in October before the ground freezes. This gives the garlic plant time to develop good roots but not enough time to encourage leaf growth before coolder weather hits.  Where [...]

Keeping stock watering tanks from freezing in cold, wintry weather is a real challenge for ranchers in northern states. Much of the heat loss from a watering tank occurs at the surface of the water. You can reduce this heat loss considerably by placing an insulated cover over a large part of the surface area [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

Fewer daylight hours and cooler temperatures mean that many Americans spend more time inside during the fall and winter months. While up to half of the energy used in a typical home goes towards heating and cooling, other home features like water heaters, appliances and lighting contribute to energy bills. Swapping traditional light bulbs for [...]

Fewer daylight hours and cooler temperatures mean that many Americans spend more time inside during the fall and winter months. While up to half of the energy used in a typical home goes towards heating and cooling, other home features like water heaters, appliances and lighting contribute to energy bills. Swapping traditional light bulbs for [...]

Did you know that it takes a considerable amount of energy to heat water for tasks such as showering or washing? In fact, letting your faucet run for five minutes uses about as much energy as letting a 60-watt light bulb run for 14 hours. Viewer Tip:  To help reduce your gas or electric bills [...]

The end of pumping season for livestock watering systems usually occurs in the fall, before temperatures reach freezing. At the end of the pumping season, and long before freezing weather occurs, turning off your pump and closing the hydrant provides basic freeze protection. Viewer Tip: For a watering system with a surface pump, any above-ground [...]

Did you know that because of impervious surfaces like pavement and rooftops, a typical city block generates more than five times more runoff than a woodland area of the same size?  Much of the land surface in urban and suburban areas is covered by buildings and pavements, which do not allow rain or snow melt [...]