Dear Eartha, A friend of mine mentioned that she did some energy efficiency work at her house and that the whole project was paid for by a local program. How do I sign up for that? Did you know that the energy used in Summit County homes and buildings accounts for 62% of the community’s carbon […]
Dear Eartha, I’m struggling to keep my grass growing, and I’m considering artificial turf for my kids and dog. Is this a good option? It seems like we’ve all seen artificial turf pop up on sports fields and neighbors’ lawns and thought: gee that seems like a great way to save some water and time […]
Dear Eartha, On a recent vacation to Summit County, I noticed that the items accepted in my condo recycling bin were much more limited than what we can recycle at home. Why is recycling so different from place to place? I can relate to your frustration. For example, my friends in Ohio can recycle plastic […]
Dear Eartha, I love Earth Day. But it irks me when I see large fashion companies using this day of stewardship to sell cheap “Love Our Planet” t-shirts that require considerable amounts of energy and resources. What can I do? Your question calls to mind Thanksgiving: We state our gratitude on the holiday, but why […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve heard a lot about induction cooking, but can anything really be better than gas? What’s better than cooking with gas? How about breathing clean air? Americans, on average, spend 90% of their lives indoors. That may come as a surprise since so many Summit County folks don’t skew “average American” when it comes […]
Dear Eartha, I’ve been looking for ways to bring my electricity bill down, and I keep hearing that my heat tape could be part of the problem. I’m tempted to turn it off, but isn’t heat tape necessary? You don’t have to look very far in Summit County to spot one of two things: a […]
Dear Eartha, I want to become more environmentally responsible, but making major life changes feels overwhelming. How can a busy person get more involved without adding additional stress to their life? I get it – life can be pretty darn stressful, and the thought of adding more to your to-do list can be daunting. Thankfully there are […]
Dear Eartha, I know I should recycle used batteries but it seems like extra work. Does it matter if I throw them in the trash? Batteries power an abundance of our daily lives, from television remotes to mobile devices. Most contain a number of chemicals and no matter the type — car battery, cell phone […]
Dear Eartha, I keep seeing solar panels pop up on all my neighbors’ roofs. How do I figure out if solar is a good option for my home? Seems like you got some smart neighbors! Solar panels capture energy from the sun and convert it into clean, green electricity. This is a benefit to the planet […]
Dear Eartha, my monthly utility bills have gone through the roof the past few months. I’m not doing anything dramatically different, so why are my bills so much higher? Is there anything I can do to bring that cost down? I’ve been hearing this question A LOT lately. Chilly weather and a near doubling in […]
Dear Eartha, headlines about the declining Colorado River, and extreme weather being a ‘new normal’ makes me wonder what difference it actually makes to change our lifestyles. Aren’t we all just doomed anyway? Believe me, it’s easy to feel helpless and unmoored when contemplating a future with less water and a growing number of billion-dollar weather […]
