- Earth Day Projects and Environmental Green Ideas for Schools, Homes and Individuals:
The following links will provide classroom and school
projects and ideas associated with Earth Day.
- Planting and Maintenance of Trees:
Maintaining and planting trees improves ground cover and
stops erosion. They provide food and shelter for all species. Trees act as a natural filter removing
greenhouse gases from the air and in exchange provide Oxygen to our atmosphere. A tree can filter 50
pounds of pollutants. For your own home, whether shade, fruit or ornamental, plant trees where space is
available. Assist with your local township or groups that are involved with planting and maintenance of
trees.
- Rain Gardens & Habitat Gardens:
Preventing the pollution of rivers, streams and lakes is beneficial to us
environmentally but they also can also be beautiful. Rain Gardens are specifically designed to use
flowers and vegetation that are designed to absorb rain water runoff from roofs, patios, roads and
driveways. These flowers and plants are native to our area and are able to tolerate flooding and wet soil
conditions, sun and shade. Rain Gardens can be designed for home or community areas being both
beneficial and beautiful.
Habitat Gardens are designed to use native plants, bringing beauty to
our homes and communities but also stewardship for our environment by
nurturing birds, butterflies and bees. Native plants help with
maintaining the balance of nature in our climate zone. One example is
the Monarch Garden, helping support the butterfly’s life cycle.
- Home Energy Conservation and Being Green:
When you are energy conscious, you are being
helpful to our environment but you are also saving yourself money. You are making your home easier to
heat and cool and saving on water bills using water saving fixtures. By using Energy Star rated
appliances, fixtures windows and insulation, rebates and tax deductions can be received through
NYSERDA.
When you conserve energy you are being Green and saving some green. Here are some easy things
you can do.
- Use energy efficient lights. Use dimmers and turn off lights and TV/sound sets when not used.
- Change your heating and cooling settings.
- Seal up the cracks and gaps that let heat escape out.
- Use no-VOC and low VOC primers, paints, sealants and carpets.
- Make sure you fix all drips from your faucets.
- Recycle, separating the paper and glass from the non-recyclables.
- Evaluate your driving habits. Keep up car maintenance.
- Consider using Green power. You have a choice in selecting your power. (see last hyperlink for NYS
Public Service Commission)
- Solar, Wind and Geothermal Power:
Solar and wind power are becoming increasingly popular for
the residential home owner. Geothermal or commonly known as heat pumps (heat or cooling is extracted
from the ground or water.) are making a comeback.
More efficient designs, and government incentives have helped make this possible. Even with Oswego's
location and weather, solar power for domestic hot water and electricity is a real possibility. Small wind
turbines are available for the home owner that will perform well in Oswego.
In clarification, each home site has to be individually analyzed, taking into consideration it's location
relative to the sun, trees, available ground space, other homes and zoning. NYSERDA's (New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority) website has information for solar, wind generation, and
geothermal heating and cooling.
- Plants for Healthy Indoor Air Quality:
The following links have information about regular household
plants filtering and removing indoor air pollutants in homes.
- Corn Gluten as a natural herbicide/fertilizer for the home owner:
Research at Iowa State
University has found that a byproduct of corn milling, Corn gluten Meal, acts as a very effective fertilizer
on lawns and gardens. If applied early enough in the season the corn gluten also as a pre-emergent
weed inhibitor. It should be noted that the corn gluten is non-selective with it's pre-emergent capabilities.
Locally corn gluten can be found through Agway products and Blue Seal. Other organic fertilizers that can
be found are products made up of fish meal, chicken waste and other natural plant and food byproducts.
