Institute for Environmental Solutions

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Unplugging your electronics can help to mitigate climate change. Most of the energy that powers your home comes from fossil fuels, which generates greenhouse gases (GHGs) that lead to global warming. Global warming will cause higher temperatures, intense drought, severe storm events, sea level rise, and increased wildfires. You can help by reducing your energy use:

● Watch out for “vampires”. Vampires are electricity consuming devices that use power even when not in use such as computers, stereos, kitchen appliances. Unplug these devices when not in use.
● Use power strips. Using a power strip will reduce the need to shut off every device in your home by letting you unplug multiple devices at once
● Buy energy efficient appliances. When shopping for appliances, purchase appliances with the Energy Star label (see image below). Energy Star has prevented $450 billion in energy costs and 4 million metric tons of GHG emissions.

Urban areas tend to be warmer than rural areas. This effect is called the urban heat island effect. Cities contain buildings, sidewalks, and roads that absorb the sun’s heat during the day and release the heat at night. Cities that experience this effect have a higher demand for air conditioning, causing an increase in energy consumption and a rise in greenhouse gas emissions, specifically carbon dioxide (CO2). Elevated greenhouse gas emissions from human activities have caused changes to Earth’s climate, affecting ecosystems, sea level, and weather patterns, to name a few. You can help decrease the urban heat island effect and reduce climate disruption!

- Plant trees and other vegetation. Vegetation lowers temperatures by providing shade and through evaporation. In large cities, plant different types of vegetation on the roof of buildings to create a green or eco-roof to reduce heat.

- Install a cool roof. Instead of using roofing material that absorbs heat, use materials that reflect the sun to reduce rooftop temperatures, making the building more comfortable for occupants. Avoid materials that are dark in color since they absorb more heat than lighter colors.

- Use cool pavement instead of traditional pavement. Like cool roofs, cool pavement reflects the sun’s energy to keep the pavement and surrounding air cool.

To learn more about urban forestry and tree planting in Colorado, please visit https://www.i4es.org/the-tree-project/ and https://csfs.colostate.edu/forest-management/community-urban-forestry/

For more information about the urban heat island effect, please visit https://www.epa.gov/heatislands

Protecting bees and other pollinators is crucial to our food supply as most plants we depend on for food require pollination to reproduce, like melons and chocolate. Currently, many pollinators are endangered due to habitat loss, climate change, and the use of pesticides. Our homes, however, can provide habitat and protection for pollinators through our gardens. Use the following tips this summer from the National Environmental Education Foundation - NEEF to turn your home garden into a habitat that is friendly for local pollinators:

- Choose plants that are native to your region. Eco-regional planting guides can be found on websites like https://www.pollinator.org/guides.

- Eliminate or reduce the use of pesticides. If you must use a pesticide for your garden, shop for the least toxic product possible. Phone apps like Think Dirty help you find sustainable products by identifying non-toxic brands.

- Create a bee habitat. Leave a dead tree or tree limb in your garden. You can also create bee condos!

- Provide nectar for hummingbirds. You can make nectar by combining four parts water to one part pure sugar. Add the finished substance to a proper feeder.

- Educate yourself more about pollinators and how to protect them. There are many educational resources available online that you can use to learn more about pollinators such as https://www.epa.gov/pollinator-protection.

As the 2021-2022 school year approaches, the IES Tree Project is preparing to implement the Sheridan Play, Adapt, Grow, Engage (PAGE) Project. The Sheridan PAGE will mark IES’s eighth year of environmental improvement projects in Sheridan, CO. This project will continue the environmental restoration and enhancement of the Sheridan Quincy Trail. The goals of the 2021 PAGE include improving local ecological health, expanding pollinator habitat, increasing trail safety through erosion control and stormwater runoff mitigation, and providing a space where the community can engage with their environment. The Tree Project will achieve these goals by planting 90 native plants, removing invasive species, and installing a shade structure. The Tree Project will also be continuing its partnership with Fort Logan Northgate (FLN) Middle School by collaborating with its Leadership Class to conduct two workshops and two planting days. The workshops will include lessons on ecology and planting techniques that will inform the best environmental practices for planting days.

IES is currently looking for Tree Stewards to care for the Sheridan Quincy Trail. For more information about the Sheridan PAGE or on how you can become an IES Tree Steward, visit www.i4es.org or contact us at [email protected].

Do you and your family have plans to grill this Fourth of July? The Oak Ridge National Lab at the U.S. Department of Energy estimates that Americans use enough fuel for their grills to power a small city during the Fourth of July weekend alone. This is the equivalent of burning 2,300 acres of forest, which emits approximately 225,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Although these emissions are minuscule compared to the 6,588,000,000 tons of carbon the United States emits annually, it still raises serious questions on how we can reduce our carbon footprint this holiday and anytime we grill this summer.

Start by investing in a natural gas grill. Natural gas grills are one of the most energy-efficient grills on the market and produce less air pollutants than a charcoal grill. Maximizing your grill space by adding as much food as possible onto the grill is another effective strategy to reduce your footprint. However, one of the most impactful ways to reduce your carbon footprint is by cutting back on your meat consumption. Substituting chicken or beef with a vegetarian option can help reduce carbon and other greenhouse gas emissions by addressing the top driver of deforestation in the world’s tropical forests: soybean production for the meat industry.

Got any other green grilling tips? Drop them below!