Dear Eartha, Santa flies around the world in one night – wouldn’t that generate a pretty big carbon footprint? Just like Buddy the elf says, the best way to spread Christmas cheer is … talking about climate change! I might have taken a few liberties with that quote, but I promise I’m not about to […]
Dear Eartha, As I learn more about recycling guidelines, and what is or isn’t accepted, it seems like I can’t recycle anything in Summit County! What gives? I applaud you for digging into local guidelines. Recycling can indeed be complicated, and answering your question means looking beyond Summit County. Let’s follow the journey your recycling […]
Dear Eartha, I want a real Christmas tree but feel bad about cutting down a tree. As I learn the impact of fake trees, I wonder which is the better choice. To some, nothing is better than the sweet, piney smell of a fresh-cut tree with glimmering lights — LED, of course. For others, the […]
Dear Eartha, I collect my food scraps at home but the restaurant I work at doesn’t. I’d like to help them start composting. How do I start? High five for composting your food scraps! You’ve joined over 2,300 Summit County residents who all use High Country Conservation Center’s (HC3) free Food Scrap Program. Just this […]
Dear Eartha, I’d love to get solar panels on my house, but I live in the woods and my roof is shaded most of the day. Are there any other options? Rooftop solar sure is sexy, but there are a variety of reasons why it might not be a good fit for everyone. So, if you […]
Dear Eartha, As a parent, I am worried about the impact climate change will have on my kids’ futures. How can I encourage my kids to be environmental stewards without totally overwhelming them? Although it can be scary to consider what a warming world might look like, we should nevertheless educate and prepare our kids […]
Dear Eartha, I get a little geeked out during the holidays and want to do it all — the decorating, the cooking, the gift wrapping… is there anything I can do to be more sustainable with my traditions? Can you believe it? It’s already that time of year when everything smells like pumpkin spice and […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve heard opposing views on the best way to use your thermostat for energy savings. Some say it’s better to turn it down when you’re away and others say it’s better to leave it at a constant temperature. Can you help settle this debate? The snow is falling fast, and winter has officially made […]
Dear Eartha, I left my Halloween pumpkin outside overnight and now it’s a rotting mess – and not in the charmingly spooky kind of way. I already compost my food scraps, but can I compost my pumpkin, too? It is officially spooky season. And while gross, scary things are a staple of the celebration, I don’t […]
Dear Eartha, I am so confused by cartons. Egg cartons, ice cream cartons, juice boxes. What exactly is a carton? I feel your pain. My grandma calls cardboard boxes cartons, most juice boxes can be recycled as cartons, and foam egg cartons (yes, they unfortunately still exist) are 100% trash. When we talk about cartons in […]
Dear Eartha, Recently I noticed that some grocery stores offer aluminum water bottles in addition to plastic water bottles. Both are recyclable, does it really matter which one I buy? Despite many of us owning (and occasionally forgetting to bring) reusable bottles, consumption of bottled water is on the rise. In 2020, Americans consumed 15 billion gallons — […]
