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Ask Eartha: Do Solar Panels Work in the Winter?

Dear Eartha, I’ve been thinking about getting solar panels for my home, but I’m curious about how they’ll perform in Summit County’s long winters. If the snow covers them up, do they still work?Summit County gets an average of 245 days of sunshine a year, but we also get a lot of snow. Despite this […]

Ask Eartha: What do recycling grants do for our community?

Dear Eartha, I read about some new recycling grant projects in a recent article. What exactly will these recycling projects do for our community? Is it too late to apply for a grant for my own recycling idea? The Summit Daily News recently announced five recycling projects recommended for funding through Strong Future. And, on July […]

Ask Eartha: Is renewable energy more expensive?

Dear Eartha, why are power companies building more solar and wind farms? Isn’t renewable energy more expensive than coal or natural gas? It’s a common misconception that renewable electricity – like solar and wind farms – cost more to generate than electricity from coal and natural gas-fired power plants. And that used to be true. As […]

Ask Eartha: How do I make my yard pollinator friendly?

Dear Eartha, I’ve heard that it’s important to support pollinators, but what can I do to make my yard pollinator friendly?  There has been a lot of buzz around pollinators recently. You might have heard that pollinator populations are facing some big challenges. Every year issues like pesticide use, urbanization, and climate change make it […]

Ask Eartha: Why should I volunteer this summer?

Dear Eartha, I am looking for a way to be involved but I am not sure if volunteering is right for me, why should I volunteer this summer?After a long Colorado winter, summer is finally here. You might be planning to spend as much time as you can outdoors and taking advantage of every sunny […]

Ask Eartha: How to stay cool this summer?

Dear Eartha, I didn’t expect my mountain home to be so hot in the summer. How can I stay cool inside this season while being eco-friendly too? Even in our mountain region of Summit County we’re feeling the impact of global temperature rise, with warmer winters and summer temperatures regularly topping the records in recent years. […]

Ask Eartha: Do gardens take more water than grass?

Dear Eartha, my neighbor recently tore out part of their lawn and replaced it with a garden. I’d do the same thing, but wouldn’t a garden require more time and water than my grass? Sounds like your neighbor is on board with the latest trend – turf replacement, or simply removing part of your grass […]

Ask Eartha: Do cows contribute to climate change?

Dear Eartha, I heard that cows are a major contributor to climate change. Is that true?Are cow burps really a source of greenhouse gas emissions? Mooooost certainly. In fact, emissions from the digestive systems of livestock – particularly beef cattle and dairy cows – are responsible for 27 percent of global methane emissions. In the […]