I once heard someone say that turning on your faucet is the biggest act of blind faith you can imagine. Perfluorinated compounds, like those used in the production of Teflon and other non-stick, water-resistant, and grease-resistant products have shown up in drinking water all over the country (not just near DuPont plants) and in materials in every country on the planet.
When I mentioned to my dad that I was researching DuPont, Teflon, and impacts on health, he told me that when he was a kid, he lived next to their Louisville works. I was horrified as he told me how he and his friends would sneak onto the dumping grounds for fun… and how many of those friends have now died from brain cancer.
Over the summer, Christian and I watched a fantastic documentary on Netflix called “The Devil We Know” about a chemical compound used in the production of Teflon and DuPont’s role in covering up potential negative health impacts. With the release of the movie “Dark Waters” in theaters this coming weekend, it seemed like a good time to dive into the details around the subject.
A few years ago, a friend told me she was trying a “no-shampoo” challenge because shampoo can strip your hair and scalp of the natural oils that keep it healthy. While the idea may be unpleasant to some, I’ve been slowly cutting back on my shampoo use for a couple years and thought it was time to examine the merits of this challenge.
This week’s installment is the second half of my November 2019 Pennsylvania election guide. The post includes information on our statewide ballot amendment (Marsy’s Law), a heated Allegheny County race (District Attorney), and the roles of local elections, such as school board and borough council. Also attached at the bottom is my election spreadsheet with information on the candidates for various races.
Back by popular demand is my guide for the Pennsylvania general election, focused on Allegheny County. It contains no candidate recommendations from me, but only information I have been able to cobble together from various sources. This week’s post includes an overview of the Pennsylvania court system to help you understand five of the options that will be on your ballot anywhere in the state.
“That time of year thou mayst in me behold…” when the sun goes away and I lose motivation for everything except hibernation. Fortunately, cleaning up your garden for the fall does not need to be high on your fall priority list. In fact, the less you do, the better for your resident insects and birds. Stay inside and leave cleaning up for late spring.
Roughly forty percent of the energy used in the United States goes to power buildings (heating, cooling, lighting, etc.), and nearly half of that energy is used by commercial buildings. Businesses can play a huge role in combatting climate change, starting with improvements in their own facilities. However, before you start saving kilowatts, the first and most important step is examining your organization’s culture.
Individual action and political action are valuable components of fighting climate change, but they are not enough. Energy efficiency related to building operation offers a huge opportunity for savings, as well as a positive impact on the climate. This week I will shamelessly talk about what I’ve learned in my job and the economic, environmental, and health benefits of exploring energy efficiency in your home.
Last week got off to quite a start with Greta Thunberg shaming the world’s adults into taking action for the climate at the United Nations. I was amazed by her speech, her poise, and her bravery, but I was saddened by the fact that she had to be there in the first place. What can we do to answer her call to action?