Conservation Tips Made Easy
We constantly receive tips on how to conserve and be better stewards of the great outdoors we have inherited. If you are like me, sometimes when you read these tips, you see the first one, and say, “it’s impossible for me to do that” and don’t bother to read the rest that may be attainable. I think the first one that comes to mind is the advice to carpool or take public transportation. Great suggestion if you live in a city but for those living in rural America not only is public transportation out, for the most part carpooling is as well. Don’t dispair, there are plenty other things you can do to contribute to the conservation of this great earth….and most are things you would not think about doing…or perhaps you are doing them and haven’t realized how much it helps.
Do you turn offf the water in the sink when shaving or brushing your teeth??
Do you unplug chargers not in use…..did you realize they still use about 5 watts of p ower per hour even when they aren’t recharging equipment?
Do you keep your tires properly inflated? Automobiles lose approximately 1% of fuel efficiency for every 3 pounds of pressure less than what is recommended.
Do you print on both sides of the paper vs. one? Approximately 10,000 sheets of letter paper are used by every U.S. worker each year. Imagine the savings there!
And lastly…….gather your friends and family for a little “low tech” fun. Play a board game, take a walk, or just sit on the porch, patio or deck. Such activities don’t require a lot in the way of natural resource usage and offer a great way to enjoy the company of others.
More Good News!
Did you realize that forest land has increased 10% since 1920, despite a 143% increase in population!! Also, over 36 million acres of commercially suited forest land are in permanent preserves that will never be harvested. That is good news!
Interesting Energy Facts
Did you know………
One mature tree on the southside of your house provides as much summer cooling as five midsized air conditioners.
Recycling one glass bottle saves enough energy to light a 100-watt bulb for four hours or to run a TV for three hours.
A hot water faucet that leaks one drop per second can add up to 165 gallons a month. That’s more than one person uses in two weeks!
Laptops use 90% less energy than desktops.
A single open fireplace damper sends eight percent of your heating bill up the chimney.
A decrease of only 1% in industrial energy use would save the equivalent of about 55 million barrels of oil per year, worth about $1 billion.
Refrigerators account for 7% of the nation’s energy use.
Among industrialized and developing countries, Canada consumes per capita the most energy in the world, the United States ranks second, and Italy consumes the least among industrialized nations.
Enough aluminum is thrown away to rebuild our commercial air fleet four times every year.
The Department of Energy estimates that about 20% of the energy you use in your home powers electrical appliances such as televisions, DVD players, coffee makers, toasters, and microwaves – even when they are turned off.
With Ownership Comes Responsibility…..
The term “Conservation Land Buyer” is routinely used to describe people who use their financial resources to acquire lands for the specific purpose of conservation. These folks whatever their circumstances are using their financial means (which is quite often large) to “give back” or protect the earth in a way that most of us see as unattainable.
It is a noble gesture.
It is not, however a gesture limited to “nobility” or the affluent. In fact, anyone who purchases, inherits, or already owns land, regardless of their financial means or the size of their acreage has a RESPONSIBILITY to care for it in a way that conserves it for future generations. But here’s the good news. Stewardship of our natural resources…..and by that I mean conservation oriented land management….not only enhances the natural resources, but the land value and the ownership experience, as well. The better you treat the land; the better the land treats you!
And here’s more good news…….You don’t have to be obscenely wealthy to play the game. In fact, the large majority of privately held land in this country is not the playground of the wealthy, but rather the backyards, hunting lands, gentleman’s farms, and retirement getaways of the ordinary.
People just like you.
But here’s the best news. Ordinary people……..doing ordinary things…..can achieve extraordinary results with a little land and a little know-how. Whether you want to reduce your carbon footprint, enhance wildlife habitat, maximize the forest resources, restore native grasslands, or simply to have a nice place to retire…..you can make a difference!
So, get involved. Get educated. Get connected to the resources available to you. Find out about wetlands management, wildlife habitat improvement, conservation easements, stream side management, Conservation Reserve Programs, The US Forest Service, NRCS, The Farm Bill, USDA, State and Local conservation programs. Find out how these programs can benefit not only the land, but the landowner, as well.
If you want to know where to get started, just dig around on this site for lots of great information. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, we’ll find it for you. Just call us, or post a comment below with your question.
If you give……you get.
