Blog Archives

Some good news

12/28/2025

As we end the tumultuous year of 2025, here is some good news for the planet. The BBC article includes information on increasing rates of implementing renewable energy, falling rates of deforestation in many parts of the world including Brazil’s Amazon forests, and the comeback of ocean turtles. Enjoy!

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251212-seven-quiet-wins-for-climate-and-nature-in-2025

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Automobile fuel economy in cold weather

12/18/2025

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Fuel economy goes down in cold weather, but there are things you can do to help. See the attached article for more information. Here are some additional thoughts.

Don’t be a “puffer”. Letting your car idle for several minutes to warm up and defrost the windows is not good for the environment, your gas mileage or your car’s security (puffer cars are more vulnerable to theft). Use your window scraper to speed the window-clearing process.
Don’t wait for the car to be toasty warm before you drive away. And, as the article states, modern cars do not need to warm up for long periods before you drive. Most manufacturers recommend about 30 seconds and then a gentle start to your drive.
Keep tires inflated to the proper pressures, but remember that a cold tire will have a lower pressure than one that has been driven for several minutes.

https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/fuel-economy-cold-weather

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Reducing release of microplastics

12/9/2025

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Microplastics, which are plastic particles measuring less than 5 millimeters in diameter, are everywhere. They are found in air; water in lakes, streams and oceans; soil; fish; animals; and humans. Scientists are also studying nanoplastics, which are even smaller particles less than one micrometer in diameter. These microplastics have a variety of sources, including our clothing and food packaging. Here are some thoughts about how to reduce the amount of micro and nanoplastic reaching the environment.

One study says that heat probably plays the most crucial role in generating the microplastic particles. Drinking hot liquids from plastic cups releases microplastics into your drink. Older plastic tends to release more microparticles when heated. Washing and drying polyester clothing on high heat releases more small bits of the fabric into the air and water than washing in cold water and drying on low heat. Heating plastic jars and tubs in the microwave releases nanoplastics.
A microplastics researcher provided several ideas in an article that is behind a paywall. I’ll summarize it for you. The researcher started by saying that you can start slowly and implement one idea at a time and that reducing use of single-use plastics is important. 1) avoid packaged and ultra-processed foods, 2) don’t microwave plastic or use plastic water bottles, 3) use fragrance-free personal care and cleaning products, because some companies put fragrances in tiny microplastic capsules so the scent will last longer, and 4) check the ingredients for abrasive cleaning and personal care products, because these may have microplastic particles.
When possible, air-dry synthetic fabric clothing. The mechanical action of the dryer, combined with the heat, will degrade the fabric faster.
When you buy clothing and other fabric items, look at how sturdy the fabric is. Polyester sweaters are nice and fluffy but lose a lot of fibers (into the air and water) every time they are washed.

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Sustainability in your coffee cup

12/1/2025

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There is lots of discussion on the environmental impacts of drinking coffee. For some, that means giving up coffee. For others, that means trying to reduce the impact of the coffee you drink, although that leads to a lot of complicated choices. Many of us really enjoy a cup or several of coffee and would like to make good choices while still enjoying the drink. I’ve included some thoughts in this post and the attached article includes a lot of detail on certifications and choices.

Use re-usable cups to drink your coffee. Instead of getting a disposable cup from the drive-through coffee ship, park, go inside, and have them fill your re-usable cup.
When you make coffee at home, save the used coffee grounds. They make great plant fertilizer, and this keeps the grounds out of the landfill where they will decompose to make methane. The used grounds also make a great addition to compost.
Look for certifications that show the coffee is being produced in a responsible way. There doesn’t seem to be an umbrella “this is the most sustainable, fair, responsible coffee ever” certification, but choose coffee with the certifications that are meaningful to you. The attached article explains what some of the certifications mean.
As the article states, how you brew your coffee can make a large difference in the sustainability aspects. There’s a nice graph in the article that has comparison information.

https://earth911.com/how-and-buy/the-complicated-choices-in-a-cup-of-coffee/

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