The U.S Postal Service hasn't officially canceled mail tomorrow, but a spokeswoman said it's not looking so good.

Yvette Singh said so far, mail service was only officially canceled on Saturday because of snow, with service resuming yesterday and today. However, some mail boxes just haven't been accessible, she said. And the carriers, who walk and drive, were instructed not to go to houses where it was unsafe. So, not everyone got mail.

Officials will take a look at the roads tomorrow and make a call about shutting down. But, again, there will be three feet of snow and ice on the ground and that just may be too much to handle.

So, be patient. And, the officials ask, give them a hand and clear your driveway, your sidewalk and a path to your box. The mail will come -- eventually.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:44 PM | Permalink | Comments (6)
Categories: News
        

If you hadn't guessed, the city's Public Works Department says there will be no trash and recycling pick up today or tomorrow, and no drop off either. 

And it's pretty much the same story around the region. Try to keep it in the house can, or in an outside can with a lid, if at all possible.

Howard County was going to and get trash today but not recycling. Not word on Wednesday yet, but I'm assuming they won't be able to get through.  

Same for Anne Arundel, which officially has no pickup today.

Baltimore County was going for limited collections today. Hold it until next week if they don't show.

No word from Harford County. Carroll County said offices are closed on Wednesday, so I'm guessing that means trash, but officials weren't specific.

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:22 PM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News
        

Baltimore City has cancelled trash pickup on Monday and Tuesday. Crews hope to start up again on Wednesday, but we're supposed to get more snow.

With so many streets and alleys inaccessible because of the snow, the Baltimore City Public Works folks had already cancelled bulk trash pickup for the week. They'll reschedule with individuals.

In the meantime, they say to keep trash in can with lids because rats don't take snow days.

Baltimore County has cancelled trash and recycling pickup today. The officials there say hold it until next Monday.

Howard County is going to try and get your trash today, but no recycling.

Anne Arundel is cancelling trash and recyling pickup Monday and Tuesday.

I couldn't find anything from Carroll County. Let me know if you hear.

Baltimore Sun photo of S. Ann St./Jed Kirschbaum

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

Will City Hall keep pushing for a "cleaner, greener" and more sustainable Baltimore now that Stephanie Rawlings-Blake is mayor?

Those had been priorities for the departed Sheila Dixon, who among other things pushed through one-and-one recycling, expanded bicycle lanes and shepherded the development of a sustainability plan for the city.

Rawlings-Blake already has signaled that she's got different watchwords for the city under her mayoralty - "better, safer, stronger." And she's indicated she plans to focus on public safety, education and economic development.

In a recent wide-ranging interview with the editorial board of The Baltimore Sun before becoming mayor, Rawlings-Blake didn't seem inclined to make a wholesale departure from the policies and initiatives of her disgraced predecessor, but indicated she might put her own emphasis and stamp on them.

When asked if she might be planning to change any of Dixon's policies, particularly the "cleaner and greener" initiative, Rawlings-Blake replied; "These are values that you know most Baltimoreans share. You can package it differently ... but we care about crime, we care about grime, we care about jobs, we care about educating our kids. And that's my focus."

Specifically, on the controversial shift to one-and-one recycling in the city, Rawlings-Blake pledged to review it to improve it and fix any problems that have cropped up. But she said she didn't plan to halt it. "I know there's an increase in recycling," she said. " and that is very encouraging to me. I'm certainly committed to making this work. We certainly can't go backwards. You know, we just don't have the money, and it doesn't make sense to go backwards.."

Continue reading "Whither "cleaner, greener" Baltimore?" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 1:07 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: News
        

If you’re house bound this weekend (as many of us will be) keep your hands warm and busy by doing some or all of the following DIY projects:

For the house:

Dig through your recycling for leftover paper, grab some scissors and string: these snowflake curtains are a perfect project for a snowy day.

Make your own memory box tabletop – no tools needed!

While you may not be able to go far this weekend, you can at least plan for a vacation! Begin by making these snazzy luggage tags out of recycled yogurt containers.

Salvage an old chair or other piece of furniture with these easy stencils.

Take a break from your day of craftiness and cook with leftovers – depending on what’s in your fridge or pantry, you may have enough to avoid going to the store altogether.

With the kids:

Gather up some pinecones before they’re covered in snow and make these simple but charming bird feeders.

Playdough provides and endless source of entertainment for kids of all ages and it’s very easy to make at home.

Try making these adorable wax decorations (melt some old candles down if you need extra wax) that are perfect for Valentine’s Day.

Hairpins, felt, and glue (or thread) are all you need to make these fun and funky hair accessories.

Coasters made from recycled magazines are suitable for all ages – the little ones can tear the pages while the older kids fold and weave the paper.

Image courtesy of Bugs and Fishes

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 10:01 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: DIY
        

It seems that organic farming is gaining a nice foothold in America and are doing okay business-wise.

The just release 2008 Organic Production Survery conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows the amount of farmland dedicated to organic crops and livestock is still really small but growing fast.  

It survey is the first widescale survey so there's not a lot to compare it to. But there are some telling numbers.

The survery said there are 14,540 farms that were USDA certified organic or exempt from certification because sales are less than $5,000 -- including 129 in Maryland. The number has doubled at least twice since 1990.

They farm 4.1 million acres of land in all 50 states, though California is home to 20 percent of the farms. That's up from about 1 million acres in 1990. (It's still only about a percent of all farmed crop and pasture land.)

In 2008, sales of organic products nationwide totaled $3.16 billion. Some $1.94 billion was spent on crops and $1.22 billion on livestock, poultry and their products.

Organic farms took in more in sales than conventional farms: An average of $217,675 verses a $134,807 average for all farms. But they also spent more on production: $171,978 on organic farms, compared with an average $109,359 on all farms.

Organic farming is largely local with about 44 percent of sales were made within 100 miles from the farm. Though, just 7 percent were direct to consumers at farmers' markets and other means. The rest went to wholesalers and retailers.

What about the future? More than 78 percent of the farms say they plan to keep up the organic farming and even increase production in coming years.

Baltimore Sun file photo of the Columbia farmers' market/Andre F. Chung

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Food
        

The Baltimore Neighborhood Energy Challenge (BNEC) will host its first annual Mount Washington Eco-Fair on Saturday, Feb. 27 from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at Mount Washington Elementary School.

A joint program between the Baltimore Office of Sustainability and the Baltimore Community Foundation, BNEC is working with residents in eight Baltimore neighborhoods to “spread knowledge, resources, and motivation to help our communities save energy and money.”

The Eco-Fair will provide an opportunity for residents to sign up for energy-saving services for their homes while also learning about new technology, products, and services that help reduce home energy use. The event will also feature local energy service contractors, urban garden specialists, solar and geothermal energy providers, florists, handmade crafts, eco-friendly products, and local acupuncturists.

Visit the BNEC web site for more information or simply show up on Saturday – this event is free and open to the public.

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 4:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Ever wonder what lay beneath the streets of Baltimore? How does the water get into the house and the sewage get out?

The city will be searching for new ways to tell the story because the main museum dedicated to public works is closing.

Mid-year budget cuts in the city mean that the Baltimore Public Works Museum will close immediately, according to Public Works Director David E. Scott.

The museum on Eastern Avenue opened in 1982 and had about 8,000 annual visitors.

“This is a well thought out and regrettable decision, necessitated by the severe budget shortfalls facing the city and the agency,” Scott said in a statement.

The City faces a $127 million structural deficit for fiscal 2011. That's equal to the combined general fund budgets of the Departments of Health, Recreation and Parks, Housing and Libraries, or 1,700 police officer positions, according to Scott.

Five employees will lose their jobs. 

Funding had come from the departments of Public Works, Transportation and General Services, as well as private donors and grant programs.

Baltimore Sun file photo of a fire hydrant display at the museum/Chris Detrick 

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (5)
Categories: News
        

Some researchers say they've developed a new method of determining when species are threatened, and it's a lot sooner than previously thought.

The researchers at Baylor University and ecologists from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County are using this new statistical analysis to measure the impact of human-caused environmental degradation on environmental biodiversity. They say it's more precise than current methods.

That precision has shown that scientists were off the mark about the "tipping point" at which species are threatened.

The new method is called the Threshold Indicator Taxa Analysis (TITAN) and is detailed in the British Ecological Society's journal Methods in Ecology and Evolution.

"This new method addresses what we perceived to be problems with existing quantitative approaches for detecting 'thresholds' in the response of organisms to pollutants," said Ryan King, associate professor of biology at Baylor, who developed the metod with Matthew Baker, assistant professor of geography and environmental systems at UMBC.

"Many types of organisms will suddenly decline or disappear once a threshold level of pollution is reached," he said in a statement. "We were particularly dissatisfied with the lack of sensitivity of existing methods and some of the assumptions required by those methods. This method has proven to be much more sensitive while also being very precise in its estimation of thresholds."

Identifying the tipping points for species is important in protecting them and better understanding how ecosystems respond to environmental changes such as global warming, coal mine leaching, agricultural pollution and runoff from development.

For example, the researchers using the new analysis found that it take development of only 1 to 3 percent of land in a watershed to negatively affect the aquatic life. Old methods would show that it would take 20 to 30 percent. 

"This really surprised us, but after carefully examining the data and testing the method using simulations, it became apparent that these declines were real," King said. "It certainly brings to light a strikingly strong relationship between development and degraded water quality in streams, but the mechanisms are not yet clear."

AFP/Getty Images photo of polar bear at Berlin Zoo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 10:58 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

Lawmakers in Annapolis are being asked to ban products containing two chemicals that have raised concerns about their toxicity.

At 2 p.m. today (Tuesday), the House Health and Government Operations Committee is scheduled to air HB33, which would ban the sale, manufacture or distribution of children's toys or child-care articles such as baby bottles made with bisphenol-A, or BPA. The bill, sponsored by Del. Jim Hubbard, a Prince George's County Democrat, would prohibit it by Jan. 10, 2011.

The plastic has been widely used as a lining in canned foods and some plastic water and baby bottles. For years, the Food and Drug Administration maintained it was safe, but amid growing scientific evidence of potential harm, the agency last month reversed course and declared concern about the effects of BPA on the brain, behavior, and prostate gland in fetuses, infants, and young children.   The agency now is pushing to end the use of BPA in baby bottles and infant feeding cups and is pressing for safer alternatives to line canned formula and other foods.

Connecticut and Minnesota already have banned BPA in certain children's products, according to legislative analysts, and 18 states last year weighed legislation to curtail the plastic. Several manufacturers already have begun phasing out use of BPA, including Wal-Mart, Toys “R” Us, and Babies “R” Us. For more on the bill, go here.

On Feb. 10, the House Environmental Matters Committee will hear another Hubbard bill, HB35, which would ban the sale of products containing brominated flame retardants.   Decabromodiphenyl ether, or decaBDE, is used in a wide variety of plastic products, including television cabinets and other electronics, in wire insulation and in draperies and upholstered furniture.

Hubbard pressed for a ban before, but his bill failed to pass.  Last year, though the Environmental Protection Agency, citing concerns that exposure to decaBDE may cause cancer and impair brain function, announced an agreement with chemical manufacturers to phase out its use by 2013.   Hubbard reintroduced the bill this year, seeking to ban it in Maryland by January 2011. 

Maryland PIRG is backing both measures.

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
        

One Less Car plans to hold its annual Smart Transportation and Bicycling Symposium Wednesday, Feb. 3 in Annapolis.

The event attracts supports, legislators and others to hear about what's ahead for the year, including the advocacy group's legislative agenda and updates on trail and road projects.

The group describes the event this way:

"This Annual Symposium is an outstanding opportunity for people to meet and share information with advocates, planners, state and local officials, and community leaders who want more bike lanes, better sidewalks, more trails, a statewide Complete Streets policy and access to a variety of modes of efficient transportation for everyone.

"The Symposium is the perfect setting to inform our state Delegates and Senators that Maryland communities need smart commuting opportunities and safe bicycle and pedestrian access to be fully sustainable and livable."

The group usually gets a good turnout. Between 400 and 500 people attended last year, officials said. 

The event is free and there are presentation all day. To RSVP, email Carol Siffdorff at carol@onelesscar.org.

So, what's on your transportation/biking agenda this year that you'd like to be on their agenda?

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 9:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

A West Virginia wind farm developer has agreed to scale back its project and other conditions to settle a lawsuit alleging the rotating blades pose a threat to endangered bats. The same issue now appears to be emerging - or re-emerging - over a wind farm proposed in western Maryland.

In a deal announced Wednesday, Beech Ridge Energy LLC of Rockville said it is now free to resume construction on its wind farm in Greenbrier County, W.Va., though the total number of turbines would be reduced from 124 to around 100. There already are 40 built along the ridge.

In December, U.S. District Judge Roger Titus in Greenbelt had halted construction on the project, saying it posed risks to federally endangered Indiana bats.

Beech Ridge, an affiliate of Invenergy Wind LLC in Chicago, said it will seek "incidental take permits" from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, as ordered by Judge Titus, to mitigate any harm its turbines may do to the rare bats. In the meantime, the company agreed to operate the turbines round-the-clock only during the bats' hibernation period in winter, and to run them just in daylight the rest of the year.

The Animal Welfare Institute and other groups that had filed a lawsuit over the project's impact on the bats agreed not to oppose the take permits.  The company dropped its plan to appeal Judge Titus' rulling.  To read the settlement, go here.  (Photo above is of another West Virginia wind farm, for illustration purposes only.)

Continue reading "WV wind farm bows to bats, as issue arises in MD" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (3)
        

Six months ago, Baltimore City's Department of Public Works began its One Plus One program where they began picking up trash and recycling once a week each.

This didn’t go entirely smoothly because all of the drivers got new schedules and routes and weren’t picking up all the trash and recycling left outside in alleys and on curbs. Not all the residents knew their assigned pickup days, either, despite a wide-scale effort by city officials.

Certainly, not everyone was happy to lose a day a week of trash pick-up even if they got a recycling pick-up every week instead of every other week.

And on top of it all, the city began aggressively ticketing residents for not using proper trash cans with lids – even though that has been a law, if un-enforced, for years – or dumping trash on corners or in public receptacles.

Well, the city is now saying all that effort is paying off. 

Public Works officials say recycling is up more than 50 percent. Crews, freed to go clean allies, have reduced the number of overdue responses to resident calls to about zero. A response is overdue after 14 days. (Stay tuned because I have a larger story on single-stream recycling coming Monday.)

And the Housing folks that are in charge of citations, say all those tickets are changing behaviors and making the city cleaner.

Chief Inspector Eric D. Booker says in the first half of fiscal 2010, his team has handed out 32,248 tickets for trash/recycling related offenses. That’s ahead of the 22,911 tickets given out in all of fiscal 2009 for similar offenses.

The ticket people get out early morning and find those who are putting out bags of trash sans cans. They actually open the bags and find evidence they can use to identify the perps.

Booker said he’s even caught some county residents dumping their trash in the city. They probably don’t want to pay for pick-up. The city has actually prosecuted 10 people for dumping, which includes some contractors.

Booker won’t promise to ease up, either because the citations are effective. Baltimore had 80 trash  “challenged” neighborhoods, and now it has 46.

So, have you gotten a citation? Is your neighborhood cleaner since One Plus One started? You still miss twice-a-week trash pick-up?

Baltimore Sun file photo

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 12:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)
Categories: Recycling
        

Painting roofs of buildings white can cool off cities and help mitigate global warming, new research finds, but it would work better in cities with densely packed roofs and in warm climates where sunlight is strong year-round.

In a study accepted for publication in Geophysical Research Letters, scientists say computer modeling suggests that Energy Secretary Steven Chu and others may be onto something in advocating white roofs as a tool to help mitigate the effects of climate change.

"Our research demonstrates that white roofs, at least in theory, can be an effective method for reducing urban heat," Keith Oleson, lead author, says in a news release from the American Geophysical Union. Oleson, a scientist at the National Center for Atmospheric Research, cautions that further study is needed to determine if it's feasible.

Cities tend to be warmer because asphalt roads, tar roofs and other urban surfaces absorb heat from the sun. Modeling found that if every roof were painted completely white, that "urban heat island effect" could be reduced by a third. The average temperature reduction for all the world's cities would be less than a degree Fahrenheit, but the cooling effect would be felt the most on summer days.

The modeling isn't good enough yet to look at how well white roofs work in specific cities, researchers say. So it's too early to say how valuable it is in someplace like Baltimore, where the Civic Works service corps and private contractors have been painting rowhouse roofs white for several years now.

The merits of doing it, researchers say, depend on several factors, including the density of roofs and their construction.  Roofs covered in metal and with little insulation would get less benefit from being painted white, they say, because that would let more of the sun's heat penetrate into the building.  Cities in warm climates also are likely to get the most out of white roofs, they point out.

(2003 Baltimore Sun photo by David Hobby)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:30 AM | Permalink | Comments (15)
        

President Obama took the opportunity last night in his State of the Union Speech to push Congress to pass an energy and climate bill that he says would create jobs, as well as produce clean alternative fuels and reduce America's dependence on foreign oil.

This is a snapshot, from Whitehouse.gov of what he said about his vision for a clean energy economy “…to create more of these clean energy jobs, we need more production, more efficiency, and more incentives."

"We will build on the historic $80 billion investment made through the Recovery Act. The President’s vision includes investments in important technologies to diversity our energy sources and reduce our dependence on foreign oil, including:  the renewal of our nation’s nuclear energy industry after a 30-year hiatus, cutting edge biofuel and clean coal technologies, and additional offshore oil and gas drilling.  To fully transition to a clean energy economy and create millions of new American jobs, we must pass comprehensive energy and climate legislation to promote energy independence and address climate change."

That won praise, not surprisingly, from environmental groups, including the Natural Resources Defense Council's Frances Beinecke, who said in part:

“The president could not have been more clear: This legislation will jump-start economic growth, reduce our reliance on foreign oil and roll back the pollution that threatens our future. The Senate should pass it without delay."

And even Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell, who gave the Republican response last night, found things to like on the clean energy front, especially the president's call for more offshore drilling and nuclear power:

“Advances in technology can unleash more natural gas, nuclear, wind, coal, and alternative energy to lower your utility bills. Here in Virginia, we have the opportunity to be the first state on the East Coast to explore for and produce oil and natural gas offshore.”

But will the Senate act this year on the energy bill already passed by the House? Republicans remain opposed to the cap-and-trade provision that would create a market for clean energy users to sell credits to polluters. But maybe Congress can compromise and pass other parts of the bill?

And how do you feel about more nuclear power, which burns cleaner than coal but creates a nasty spent fuel problem. And off-shore drilling?

The part of Obama's remarks on the subject are on the next page.

Continue reading "Obama pitches clean energy in State of the Union" »

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 11:17 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
Categories: News
        

Register now for the Chesapeake Sustainable Business Alliance’s next Green Monday on Feb. 1 at the Baltimore Woman’s Industrial Exchange. A monthly networking event, Green Mondays bring together independently owned businesses and individuals who are working to recycle, reduce waste, and buy and sell locally.

Scheduled for next Monday is a presentation by Laura Armstrong of Maryland Green Registry – a self-certification program that helps local organizations become smarter, greener, and more sustainable in their practices. You’ll also get the opportunity to network with fellow CSBA and Buy Local members and enjoy some savory cuisine from Sofi’s Crepes (who is catering the event).

The Woman’s Industrial Exchange, which provides opportunities for local craft artists to refine, market, and sell their handmade goods to supplement their income, is at 333 S. Charles St. Free street parking is available on North Charles, St. Paul, Franklin and Mulberry after 6 p.m. or in nearby garages. Visit the CSBA web site for more information.

Image courtesy of Maryland Green Registry

Posted by Christy Zuccarini at 10:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: Events
        

Okay, it's cool-looking and got some early raves, with initial reviewers gushing that it was "fast" and "beautiful." But how green, really, is Apple's new iPad tablet?

Will it, as some predicted, reduce the environmental impact of reading? Can we cut down fewer trees to produce paper for all the words and pictures in books, magazines, newspapers?  Speaking for myself, I hope it actually encourages reading and somehow improves sales and distribution of the printed word -- even if in strictly digital format.

On the other hand, could the iPad, perhaps, enable or even encourage consumers to cut down on the number of electronic gadgets they have because the new tablet incorporates their functions?  Wouldn't that save some electrons and carbon?

(Photo: AFP/Getty)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 9:10 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)
        

Attention, shoppers! Target has announced it's stopped selling farmed salmon in its stores nationwide, and will carry only wild-caught Alaskan salmon from now on.

In making the move, the Minneapolis-based retailer said it's doing so for environmental reasons.  Many salmon farms produce pollution, the store's statement pointed out. They often release chemicals, parasites and non-native farmed fish into the open water, where they can affect natural habitat and the native salmon in surrounding areas.

The chain's move was hailed by the Monterey Aquarium, which has long campaigned to promote consumption of only seafood that is sustainably managed.  The aquarium predicted that Target, with more than 1,700 stores in 49 states, would have a "real impact in the marketplace."

Greenpeace likewise applauded Target, noting that even before this announcement the chain had moved up into 4th place nationally in the environmental group's ranking of the sustainability of major food retailers' seafood products and practices.

Target already uses wild salmon in several of its store-brand products. The only exception to the immediate ban on farmed salmon is in its sushi offerings, which Target said it would take until year's end to phase out. For more, go here and here.

(2004 Baltimore Sun photo by Barbara Haddock Taylor)

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 6:05 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)
        

General Motors will become the first U.S. automaker to build its own electric motors, and they plan to do it in White Marsh, according to Sun reporter Andrea Walker, who wrote a story online now.

The plant will begin production in 2013 and add about 200 jobs, GM says. The plant, in total, will employ about 400.

The motors will be used in electric and hybrid electric cars, something the company says it plans to make a lot more of.

GM was the recipient of federal stimulus money, and plans to spend $246 million on the plant.

Should the other U.S. automakers follow suit and make the engines? Think this will help bring the cost of an electric or hybrid electric car down? Or, are you just glad to see some manufacturing jobs return?

Los Angeles Times file photo of the Chevy Volt

Posted by Meredith Cohn at 1:37 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)
Categories: News
        

A new national public opinion survey finds Americans are cooling on dealing with climate change, while a statewide poll finds Marylanders also want to put off saving the Chesapeake Bay. 

In both polls, the vast majority rank jobs and the economy as their top priorities for government action.  Climate and the environment trail.

The national survey, by the Pew Research Center for People and the Press, says that global warming ranked last among the public's priorities. Just 28 percent of those questioned called it a top priority, down 10 percent from two years ago. Protecting the environment fared better, with 44 percent rating it a top priority.  That's a slight improvement over last year, but down more than 10 points from where it was a few years ago.

A recent survey of more than 800 Marylanders, meanwhile, found that 77 percent think creating jobs and improving the state's economy should be a higher priority for the O'Malley administration than taking steps to reduce bay pollution.   Just 15 percent put the bay first.

The poll, by Gonzales Research and Marketing Services of Annapolis, also found that a majority, 55 percent, think the state should postpone any new bay cleanup regulations until economic conditions are better.  To see the full results, go here.

The poll was done for the Maryland State Builders Association, which is pushing back against new regulation requiring tighter controls on polluted storm-water runoff from development and redevelopment sites.  Builders contend the rules could make their projects more costly and some even unbuildable.

Continue reading "Public cooling on climate, bay cleanup?" »

Posted by Tim Wheeler at 10:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (5)