Dear Eartha, it felt like every day this summer I heard about another heat wave or record-breaking temperatures. As summer temperatures rise, how do we keep our community cool and safe? This summer has indeed been one for the history books, with July 2024 coming in as the hottest month ever recorded globally. And Colorado was […]
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 […]
Dear Eartha, What is climate equity? Take a few moments and imagine that you live somewhere else. Instead of mountains in your backyard, there’s block after block of buildings — row homes, high-rise buildings and skyscrapers in the distance. Concrete and asphalt replace local singletrack. A nearby highway is busy with traffic. A few miles away, […]
Dear Eartha, My garden and yard are looking spookier than any haunted house, and it’s not Halloween decorations. What’s a ghoul — I mean, gardener — to do with all these fallen leaves and a garden that’s downright ghostly? October has gifted us with some stunning days, so it’s no wonder that fall chores may […]
Dear Eartha, My boiler is old and I’ve been told it might not last much longer. Do I get a higher efficiency boiler or are there other heating options to consider? I don’t know where to start! The decision to replace an old natural gas boiler is a significant crossroads in a homeowner’s journey. It’s […]
Dear Eartha, I am interested in buying an electric car and am trying to figure out all the rebates, but it’s so confusing. Help! As someone doing her own electric vehicle shopping, I know firsthand that navigating through the rebates and incentives can be a real head-scratcher. But fear not — we’ve got this. Federal […]
Dear Eartha, Is it hotter than usual, or is it just me? It’s hot. As my colleagues and I sweated in a steamy office this week, I began to wonder if local temperatures were breaking any records. Then the Summit Daily News confirmed my suspicions — with highs pushing the mid-80s last week, we were darn close. […]
Dear Eartha, I love the Fourth of July but hate all the waste. How can we celebrate our Independence Day in a sustainable and eco-friendly way while still having a blast? As we gear up to celebrate the Fourth of July, it’s important to remember that we can honor our country’s values by making environmentally […]
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, 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 […]
