No, it doesn't involve Jack Kevorkian.
Some homeowners' associations forbid residents from drying laundry on a clothesline, because it's just so darn plebeian, I guess, to save energy while exposing the world to your wet clothing. But, according to the AP, some people are fighting back with what's being cleverly dubbed "the right to dry movement." And evidently some states are now passing laws that forbid any organization from banning outdoors clotheslines.
I wish things like this didn't have to be legislated, but I also wish homeowners' associations would get their noses out of everyone's business. Thus: go, right-to-dry people!
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Showing posts with label environment. Show all posts
Monday, July 7, 2008
Monday, May 5, 2008
Ginnie Springs
My neighbor and I went to Ginnie Springs (on the Santa Fe River) on Saturday. It was a gorgeous day. I alternated between swimming in one of the springs and lying in the sun (protected by sunscreen, of course). After I exited the water (72 degrees year-round), my skin would vibrate for twenty minutes. It might be one of the best feelings in the world. I think I'm going to try to go to one spring or another every weekend possible this summer.
Florida has more freshwater springs than anywhere else in the world -- geologists estimate more than 700. They're literally windows into the aquifer (the glowing blue spot in the center of the above photograph is the Dogwood Springs cave). Under pressure from the many layers of limestone that emerged from the sea a long time ago, they pump out water constantly -- sometimes as much as 60 million gallons per day. When we overpump water from the aquifer (where do you think bottled water like Coca-Cola's Aquafina comes from? Yep, they have at least one plant along the Santa Fe River) or let fertilizer and pesticides leave our landscapes, the state's water supply is endangered and we risk losing our amazing springs.
Florida has more freshwater springs than anywhere else in the world -- geologists estimate more than 700. They're literally windows into the aquifer (the glowing blue spot in the center of the above photograph is the Dogwood Springs cave). Under pressure from the many layers of limestone that emerged from the sea a long time ago, they pump out water constantly -- sometimes as much as 60 million gallons per day. When we overpump water from the aquifer (where do you think bottled water like Coca-Cola's Aquafina comes from? Yep, they have at least one plant along the Santa Fe River) or let fertilizer and pesticides leave our landscapes, the state's water supply is endangered and we risk losing our amazing springs.
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
What's Your Footprint?
In honor of Earth Day, check out this quiz found in the Orlando Sentinel. It helps you calculate your carbon footprint in terms of fuel emissions. Mine is 15,286 lbs. per year. The average is over 45,000!!
I took another quiz on my carbon footprint from the Nature Conservancy. By this reckoning, I contribute far more CO2 to the atmosphere -- 22 tons per year! That's still below the national average (27 tons), but a smidgeon above the worldwide average, which is 5.5 tons per year. Ouch.
Finally, the New York Times has a great feature about ways to reduce one's footprint. And the Dallas Morning News has "46 Simple Ways to Help the Environment."
I'll post photos of dead plants soon.
I took another quiz on my carbon footprint from the Nature Conservancy. By this reckoning, I contribute far more CO2 to the atmosphere -- 22 tons per year! That's still below the national average (27 tons), but a smidgeon above the worldwide average, which is 5.5 tons per year. Ouch.
Finally, the New York Times has a great feature about ways to reduce one's footprint. And the Dallas Morning News has "46 Simple Ways to Help the Environment."
I'll post photos of dead plants soon.
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