Welcome to our Noteworthy Sustainability section!
Here you will find a list of noteworthy articles and links submitted by our Sustainability Task Force. Know of something you think we should include? Send an email to Brad Cornell (bcornell@olathe.org).
Articles
Local Resources
- http://www.olatheks.org/OMS/Recycling/Curbside
- http://www.olatheks.org/OMS/Trash/Residential/Hazardous
General Interest
- Ceiling Fans Can Help Reduce Air Conditioning Costs During the summer months ceiling fans can supplement air conditioning, allowing the thermostat to be set at a higher temperature without reducing comfort. For every degree you raise your thermostat, you can save from 7-10% on your cooling costs. In the summer, the ceiling fan blades should turn in a counter-clockwise direction. If a room is unoccupied, turn off the fan to save energy. For the most efficient ceiling fan, purchase an ENERGY STAR model.
- Personal Greenhouse Gas Emissions Calculator: Use this online calculator to estimate you or your family’s greenhouse gas emissions and learn what you can do to reduce them: www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html
- 31 Green Tips and Techniques. Click here to get the scoop and get started today!
- The Story of Stuff with Annie Leonard. Click here for story!
- Save On Your Energy Bills And Reduce Vampire Energy Loss by Jon Stall, June 10th, 2009. Click here for story!
- Earth to America – Video by the Blue Man Group promoting awareness on global warming. http://www.blueman.com/land/archive/earth/
- Green Energy tax credit info http://www.kchandg.com/Kansas-City-Home-Garden/October-2009/Energy-Boost/
Science and Policy
- The Projected Impacts of Climate Change on the Midwest. Click here for story!
- The Pew Center on Climate Change – Climate Change 101, Climate science, policy, and what’s going on in Washington. http://www.pewclimate.org/
- Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change – Organization leading the global research on climate change. http://www.ipcc.ch/
- America’s Climate Choices – from the National Academies – Convened by Congress to develop national policy recommendations. Click here for story!
News
- Grist.org – environmental news online. http://www.grist.org/
- Assignment Earth – PBS series on environmental issues. http://www.assignmentearth.org/
- Treehugger.com – online environmental news, blogs, videos. http://www.treehugger.com/
- Marketplace, from American Public Media – Sustainability web page – Good links section. http://sustainability.publicradio.org/index.html
Resources for Cities, Businesses, & Homeowners
- ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability – Climate protection planning resources for municipalities. http://www.icleiusa.org/about-iclei
- Natural Capital Solutions – Helping cities and industries harvest benefits from sustainable solutions. http://www.natcapsolutions.org/
- For municipal planning – The Economic Benefits of Parks, by The Trust for Public Lands. http://www.tpl.org/tier3_cd.cfm?content_item_id=1195&folder_id=727
- World Goin’ Green – green internet web portal developed here in the KC metro area. http://www.worldgoingreen.com/
- Building Green.com. http://www.buildinggreen.com/
- U.S. Green Building Council. http://www.usgbc.org/
- The U.S. electric grid – from NPR, showing power sources in each state, and solar and wind potential across the country. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=110997398
Links
- EPA: http://www.epa.gov/
- Bridging the Gap: http://www.bridgingthegap.org/
- Environmental Excellence Business Network: http://www.eebn.net/egap.php?id=178
- Mid-America Regional Council: http://www.marc.org/
- Johnson County, Kansas Environmental Department: http://jced.jocogov.org/