Carbon footprint: What is it and what we can do about it?
By Jeff Naramor, America The Beautiful Landscape Design

Recently you have heard a lot about our carbon footprint.  Certainly most of us don’t really understand all the scientific implication of this term.

I want keep it sincerely simple as I write this blog, even though I’ve spent hours researching this topic, there are still many different opinions about the effect of greenhouse gases.  Therefore, I want to stick to the facts with the common denominator.
Our carbon footprint (and we all have one) is how we affect this earth’s eco systems, particularly in the amount of carbon dioxide we create in our atmosphere.  It is usually estimated (i.e. no one really knows the exact amount) in pounds of carbon dioxide per year.  

If you’re interested in getting an estimate of your annual carbon dioxide output, go to http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/emissions/ind_calculator.html. 

Carbon dioxide is the major pollution scientists are concerned about.  Whether it is responsible for global warming, depends on who you talk to.   Global warming is what  seems to be changing climates in local environments.  It may or may not be caused by green houses gases (i.e. CO2)
It is clear, according to scientific data, that CO2 levels have increased in the last 300 years.  This is considered bad by many as the weather changes have been blamed for many naturally occurring storms.  This is also considered good by a few, as plant growth has increased vigorously due to increased CO2 levels.
If you consider your carbon footprint needing to be reduced, here are a few practical ways most people can reduce their CO2 output.

1. Plant and cultivate a landscape garden:  plants take in CO2 and give out Oxygen.  It’s true that when plants die, they then give off CO2, but, if composting and recycling are utilized properly, decaying plants are still a positive effect on our ecology.

2. I would not recommend that you buy in to the philosophy that some non-profit organizations present on their web sites.  They compel you to compensate for your carbon footprint by making contributions to third world tree planting programs.  This is not reliable information.  Put  trees and plants in your own back yard or your community instead. 

3. Reduce the amount of fossil fuel you use by driving less, lowering the thermostat, and buying locally available food and products.  They are discovering that even some of the hybrid cars take more fossil fuel to manufacture and deliver, which adds to your carbon footprint as soon as you purchase it.  This doesn’t even include the problem in our environment of the disposal of large batteries and manufacturing of their replacement parts.  As I’m sure you’re aware, life has its cycles’ just as new product development has its’ cycles.  Sometimes an improved product with a costly and polluting production hasn’t really helped the overall ecology of our planet. Do the research and become an informed consumer.

4. Recycle as much as possible, whether its paper, cans, plastic, office supplies, food waste, etc.  The more we recycle and reuse the less pollution required to manufacture and operate factories.

5. Buy Green or recycled products whenever practical.  In the last ten years or so, I’ve noticed recycled products are beginning to compete with newly manufactured products, making it easier for many people to buy recycled products.  As we manufacture and purchase more green products, I believe they will eventually come down in price because of the law of supply and demand.
Awareness of your carbon footprint simply means that you begin to take responsibility for your contribution to this world, good or bad.  This should motivate each one of us to take as much voluntary action as possible to reduce our carbon footprint, before legislation finds it necessary to write laws that affect the freedoms we now enjoy in the United States.

Copyright   2008  All rights reserved.

Sustainable Landscaping
Did you know that mowing our lawns in America consumes 580 million gallons of gas a year? Were aware that 60-70 million birds die each year from pesticide use? One fourth of all living species in the world will be facing extinction in the next 50 years.(source http://www.epa.gov/greenacres/smithsonian.pdf).

These are startling facts that people living in our world can change. Thirty years ago I heard a Native American Indian talking about how the white man has taken over and raped the land. That man knew what he was talking about. Although it has only been in the last few years that science and governments have acknowledged that many modern methods and technologies are leading to the ruin of our ecological system.

“Green building “or sustainable building is and will be extremely important to restoring our ecology. To those of us involved in building, we must consider building as green as possible for our generation and the next generation’s benefit.

Little known to many people is that traditional landscaping practices have not added to our ecology in a sustainable manner. Of course trees and plants always add to the ecology by taking in carbon dioxide and giving out oxygen.

Many other landscaping methods are damaging our world such as clearing topsoil, trees and vegetation from developments; use of pesticides / herbicides; improper species planting; improper erosion control ; storm water runoff and over fertilization to name a few.

Sustainable landscaping is using, developing, and protecting our landscaping resources in a manner that allows people to meet their needs of landscaping without compromising future generation. In other words, not taking more from the environment than we give back and not damaging the natural ecological systems.

Some of the benefits of sustainable-eco friendly landscaping are: reducing and preventing pollution; conserving our natural resources; maximizing ecological function, and creating natural beauty.

Sustainable landscaping operates within at least three basic areas:
1. Sustainable Design practices-permeable hard surfaces, right plant right place, drought tolerant plants, water conservation, mixed planting of native and low maintenance plants, attracts wild life, seasonal interest, uses local materials, trees for climate control, etc.
2. Sustainable Installation procedures- proper soil preparation, water conservation, permeable surfaces, etc
3. Sustainable maintenance methods- Organic pest control, natural pruning practices, species specific maintenance, compost top dressing, etc.

To illustrate sustainable landscaping let us draw a simple plan that illustrates some of the elements that can be used to create a sustainable landscape (see illustration link below).

Eco friendly plan

Imagine driving home from a busy day at work. As you drive into your driveway you hear the subtle noise of the water feature and the pleasant chirps of the birds it attracts. Your children are playing on the eco lawn in their bare feet and you have no worries as you know there are no chemicals to contaminate their skin. Your wife sets the table with fresh fruits and vegetables as side dishes from your garden. You decide to go to your rooftop garden after dinner to enjoy a beautiful sunset and you talk with your family about their day and what you’ll do as a family this weekend after spending just one hour to care for the garden.

It’s exciting to think that we can have landscapes that work together with our ecology, are beautiful year round, and require little maintenance. It’s really not that difficult we just need to be re educated.