Bay-Friendly News
LBIF TO GET $7500 BBNEP GRANT
This just in. Barnegat Bay National Estuary Program will give LBIF $7500 toward the installation of a rain garden on our grounds. Not only is this great news for LBIF, it's the sort of project that will educate and motivate visitors to LBIF to do something similar on their own properties. And, that's really good news for our environment.
On behalf of all at LBIF, we want to thank the entire science committee, especially project manager Sandy Anton for the plan, Angela Andersen for writing the Grant, and Chris Seiz for helping with a myriad of administrative details. But before we get too smug, remember, now we have to execute. So, fasten your seat belts. Anyone who has ever sailed with Sandy at the helm, knows we are in for an exciting time.
GAMBLING CAPITAL GOES GREEN
Atlantic City is going green but it isn't to celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Governor Corzine was in the state's gaming capital on Thursday to showcase the installation of a 2.37-megawatt rooftop solar power system at the Atlantic City Convention Center. It is the largest, single-roof, solar power installation in the United States.
With the new solar power system, the convention center will save nearly $4.4 million on electricity costs over the next 20 years. The project is part of statewide efforts to put New Jersey in the forefront of a growing clean energy economy. A big part of that effort includes reducing the release of carbon dioxide. Using solar energy at the convention center advances that goal because using solar power is like taking 390 passenger cars off the road or reducing oil consumption by 4,956 barrels.
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Understanding the Challenges
NJ CLEAN ENERGY PLAN
The recently published Energy Master Plan for New Jersey represents a dramatic shift toward clean energy and away from fossil fuel and nuclear power plants. It aims to generate 30 percent of the state's electricity from clean, renewable sources. The plan establishes the strongest offshore wind goal in the nation and increases the state's solar power goals. As a result, by 2020, the equivalent of 1.3 million households-one-third of all households in the state-will be powered by wind or solar. In addition, the plan promotes energy efficiency in homes and business. And it supports new research and development into emerging clean energy technologies.
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Do You Know?
MORE EASY, GREEN CLEANING
You need very few supplies to make homemade cleaning products. Most of the items you'll need, you likely have around the house already...
- A few old spray bottles. You can purchase some, or clean out your old ones (the ones that had icky cleaners in them) and reuse them.
- Baking soda.
- Table salt.
- White distilled vinegar.
- Good old plain tap H2O.
- Olive oil.
- Castile Soap (made from potash and olive oil)
- Fresh lemons.
- Organic essential oil of tea tree, lavender, eucalyptus, lemongrass, and rosemary. You don't need all of them, but having at least a couple on hand is helpful.
- Make eco-friendly cloths of old t-shirts, ripped clothes, and so on. If you're going to clean green, you may as well ditch the paper towels while you're at it.
- Hydrogen Peroxide
EASY, GREEN CLEANING SUPPLY RECIPES:
Window wash: Simply mix 3 tablespoons vinegar with 2 cups of water (or for a bigger job - 1/2 cup vinegar to 1 gallon water) and spray right on your windows. Scrub with recycled newspaper.
All-purpose disinfectant: Mix 2 cups water, a few drops of castile soap, and 15 drops each of tea tree and lavender organic essential oil. You can spray this on all kinds of home surfaces - changing tables, cutting boards, toilets, sinks, walls, and more. DONT' USE THIS ON GLASS, as it will streak. This basic cleaner is so safe and gentle you could literally spray it on your kids.
Scrubbing toilets: Drizzle your toilet bowl with vinegar or lemon juice, or spray on some of your all-purpose disinfectant. Sprinkle with baking soda. Let it sit for 10 minutes. Scrub with toilet brush. This mix will also clean sinks perfectly.
Fast non-toxic oven cleaning: You don't want to use conventional oven cleaners--any product that requires open windows and gloves to use is not OK to use around your kids (or yourself). The best tip is not to wait to clean your oven until it gets very dirty. An old stain is harder to clean. To clean oven stains naturally, sprinkle table salt liberally on the hot spill before the oven cools down. Allow the oven to cool. Grab a damp cloth and rub off the spill.
Mold fighter: The problem is that once you have mold, you have it, and it can be almost impossible, if not totally impossible, to get rid of. Prevention is key. To fight mold from ever occurring, mix two cups of water and three drops of pure organic tea tree essential oil. Once a week, spray your walls with this solution (even behind furniture) and wipe dry. This mixture fights stains and the natural antiseptic qualities of tea tree oil fights mold and mildew.
Indoor air cleaner. Use plants. The most effective plants include aloe vera, English Ivy, fig trees, potted chrysanthemum, spider plants.
Oven cleaner: Use baking soda and water. Sprinkle water on the grime. Sprinkle on baking soda. Form a paste. Let sit over night. Clean up with an old rag.
Silver cleaner: Line a pan with aluminum foil. Fill with water. Add 2 tsp each, baking soda & salt. Bring to a boil. Immerse silver pieces. Your blackened silver will turn bright silver and the aluminum will turn black. How? Easy! Electrolysis.
Scouring powder: Make a paste of baking soda & vinegar. Rub gently.
Wood polish: Rub with 1 tbsp of lemon oil mixed with 1 pint olive oil. Buff with a soft cloth.
For more on Bay Friendly cleaning tips, see page 46 of the Island Blue Pages.
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What You Can Do
SPREAD THE WORD
Since their publication in June 2008, more than 10,000 copies have been printed and more than 2500 copies have been downloaded. If you want to help get the lessons of the Blue Pages out to rest of the world, tell your friends to save a tree and download an electronic version. |
