Clean up the spring melt

Spring is in the air and our lakes, stream and rivers are being replenished with melt water. Here are some helpful tips to keep your favorite water spot healthy:

• Use a broom instead of a garden hose to clean off driveways and sidewalks—put the sand in covered container instead of the nearest storm drain. Use this sand next year on your driveway and sidewalks.
• Gather your neighbors and pick up garbage and litter in your neighborhood.

Sustainability Speakers in Ely

Energy Efficient Ely Presents
The Energy Symposium Speaker Series

Hosted at Vermilion Community College in Room – CL104
5:00pm – 7:00 pm every Wednesday from January – March

Come learn about renewable and efficient energy, right down the road!

City Council Candidates on Sustainability

Election Day in Virginia is this Tuesday, November 3. VSTF asked your city council candidates to respond to several questions about sustainability, and here are their answers. Keep these in mind when you head to the polls on Tuesday!

Discuss Local Sustainability

You are invited to attend a discussion about local sustainability with Pat Benson from the Transition US Board of Directors.

Learn about the Transition Movement which is a process of community development focused on our common goals of sustainable economic and environmental balance within a framework that honors individuals and enhances community in the deepest sense, creating the gift of a healthy future for our children and grandchildren.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

Virginia Regional Medical Center basement

McMillian Auditorium Room A

5:00 p.m.

Hosted by the Virginia Sustainability Task Force (VSTF)

Free of Charge

Learn more about the Transition Movement at www.transitionus.org

Or call Ardy at 218-749-4331

Buy Green Electronics

Before you purchase an electronic device such as a laptop computer, you can check to see how “green” it is at EPEAT.net

They rate electrical products by looking at their recyclable characteristics and the amount of energy they use.

Northeast Minnesota Wind Energy Forum

The Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, working in partnership with the Northeast Minnesota Regional Sustainable Development Partnership, the REDI Program (Rural Energy Development Initiative) The Minnesota Project, and Iron Range Resources will be holding a Northeast Minnesota Wind Energy Forum on Thursday, November 12^th from 1:00-3:00 pm at the Mesabi Range Community and Technical College in Virginia, MN.  This meeting will provide information to local units of government and community members in the Arrowhead Region who are interested in learning more about opportunities for wind energy development.

See the agenda flier for more information.  Please share this forum invitation with others who may be interested.

Please RSVP by phone, email, or mail to make your reservation by Thursday, November 5^th.

For questions, or to RSVP, please call, email or mail forms to:

Bonnie Hundrieser

Senior Planner

Arrowhead Regional Development Commission

221 West 1^st Street

Duluth, MN 55802

Phone:  218-529-7527

Email:  bhundrieser@ardc.org

Protect your water

Only 3% of the Earth’s water is freshwater and of this small percentage, only 30% is unfrozen. What does this mean for you? Take good care of our freshwater sources—protect them from sediments (like sand) and other non-point source pollutants like motor-oil, gasoline drips, garbage, animal waste, fertilizers and pesticides. Do your part by clearing out storm drains, use natural fertilizers in responsible amounts and keep your car in great working condition.

Grow your own air filters

In a study organized by NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America, research showed that houseplants remove not only carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, but also other harmful elements like benzene, formaldehyde and trichloroethylene. Many of these harmful elements are found in building supplies, cleaning products, paint, varnishes and some cleaning products. Using multiple varieties of houseplants will provide the best benefit. Here are some excellent houseplants to fill up your living space:

• Oxycardium (Philodendron scandens)
• Elephant ear (Philodendron domesticum)
• English Ivy (Hedera helix)
• Peace Lily (Spathiphyllum)

Hug Your Dishwasher

Hate washing dishes by hand and love using your dishwasher? The good news is that dishwashers built after 1994 use on average 7-10 gallons of water per cycle compared to 15.7 gallons when dishes were washed by hand. Remember to only run your dishwasher when it is completely full and try not to run the rinse cycle in-between washes. Use a phosphate and chlorine-free dishwashing detergent. If you are updating your dishwasher soon, look to purchase an Energy-star model.

Don’t forget to Reuse

Remember the first two R’s! You all know that common phrase—reduce, reuse, recycle—but sometimes it’s easy to focus only on recycling. When cabin fever cleaning, remember to think of how items can possibly be reused at your business or living area. If you can’t find another use for it, then donate it to a charitable organization in the community.