the landscape around me has a muted, yet vibrant color palette. leaves of all kinds—a concoction of green if you will. flowers blend into this mixture – a subtle harmony of browns, purples, and greens. desert plants appear, reminding me that beauty can grow anywhere if given the space to grow. there are few trees. layers of exposed dirt. with each step, my view widens. i see how this mountain range shapes the contours of the city below. i notice a thick layer of smog. it distorts the colors, the yellows and oranges that serve as a harbinger of sunset.

insects, bugs, filled every nook and cranny that the rocks have left exposed. their small bodies look much bigger as they fly and crawl from every edge. i follow several of the bugs to the edge of the mountainside, and for a moment i feel light and free-floating as if i was one of them. i look down and see people inching along in their cars. choking traffic. but up here, i can’t hear anything.

i normally listen to music, but here the wind uses the trees as an instrument – a muted trombone perhaps, while flying insects make a bass-like sound. the heaviness in my body seems to lift, even if momentarily. the sounds of this place appear to be shifting, each rock’s irregular shape and jagged edges softened by the wind, the tall, swaying grass producing a faint “sh” sound.

when i reach the peak, it is still. i am still. the birds appear to stop chattering. my feet have stopped shuffling, even the wind has stopped rustling the bushes. all of the weight i was carrying in my mind, and body, seem to disappear. i can finally catch my breath. never have i felt such a sense of peace in a single moment. 

arlington, va. — students usually worry about schoolwork and tests, but the looming threat of climate change adds additional stress to children’s futures.

“we need to educate, we need to step up and we need to really ensure that our planet is protected and we’re able to function in a sustainable and environmentally-friendly society,” student leader thomas brulay said.

with education being one of the largest public sectors in the united states, coalitions like aspen institute’s k-12 climate action plan and generation180 partner with schools to help them reach sustainability goals and net-zero energy.

“it’s really thinking about the school districts developing these local climate action plans and then how state and the federal government can really help support that implementation,” laura schifter, a k-12 climate action plan senior fellow, said.

schools in the u.s. occupy about 2 million acres of land and teach around 50 million students, according to schifter. generation180 program director tish tablan also said that schools emit carbon dioxide levels similar to that of 18 coal power plants and that switching to solar would reduce schools’ carbon footprint.

“in 29 states plus dc, you can go solar with no upfront costs, so the barrier of upfront costs can be removed for many schools around the country, and that really levels the playing field, so that solar is not a technology just for wealthy districts,” tablan said.

stockton unified school district in california championed green advocacy work by its quick production of electric school buses. energy education specialist gilbert rosas said their bus fleet acts as a model for other school districts and opens the students’ eyes to environmentally-friendly careers.

“not only do i understand the demographic of stockton unified, but i look like the demographic,” rosas said. “i think it’s important for kids to realize that we have cool green career path choices, and they have the ability to be anything they want to be.”

discovery elementary school in arlington, virginia is one of the many schools that are being catalysts for educating environmental activists. as soon as students enter primary school, they work on year-long mastery projects to help their school become greener.

“all of the projects that the students come up with are amazing. the way they get excited about growing lettuce, that i swear they won’t eat until they’re a part of the process, and how proud they are to have taken part in that is just really inspiring,” principal erin russo said.

from primary school to high school, students like holly thorpe and thomas brulay, join and form organizations to put what they learn into action. thorpe and brulay lead environmental efforts in green champions, a student-run club in florida’s miami-dade county school district. these groups help kids realize their impact on the planet.

“we’re running out of time, and the climate crisis keeps getting worse and worse, and if we don’t step up and do something about it, then it’s going to be irreversible effects to the environment,” brulay said.

in other words, the use of data and technology can minimize financial and logistical barriers for food insecure households to obtain high quality food, which in turn can expand the potential for food sovereignty in local communities, raise nutritional standards nationally and embrace indigenous and first nations communities.

the green revolutions of the 20th century forced the industrial economic model onto the agricultural system, which resulted in the loss of seed variety, traditional farming techniques, cultural identity and a sense of home. (clapp 2015)

small-scale farms should have increased access to federal and state funds to incentivize regenerative agriculture, which is marked by an agricultural landscape with biodiversity that includes multiple income streams. monocultures are senseless because they are destructive to soil health of fertile agricultural land, overuse valuable water resources, and involve the use of toxic and dangerous pesticides and chemicals that harm human health. today, much taxpayer money goes into subsidies for monoculture infrastructure, such as corn and soybeans, over 90% of which are genetically modified and go towards livestock, not human, consumption. instead, there should be a transition to regenerative agriculture through a series of guidelines, public funding and tax incentives for organizations that help bridge the divide between conventional and sustainable agriculture. 

large-scale monocultures are inherently more vulnerable to supply-chain disruptions. in the event of another epidemic, local farms and community members can keep a steady food supply and establish safeguards to minimize viral spread. trucks can be routed from local suppliers to retailers by healthy employees, with mandatory and frequent testing rather than unnecessarily spreading the disease across the country. this way, there is not as much of a shock to agribusiness and large food suppliers that may already be struggling amidst this public health crisis. 

meanwhile, the trump administration proposed a 15% funding cut to the usda in 2020, partly through limiting crop insurance subsidies to small-scale farmers. in response, the organic farmers association has also asked for the 2020 budget appropriations to provide foundational funding for the following programs: national organic program ($18 million),organic transitions program ($8 million) and organic data initiative: ($1 million). 

there is $2-3 billion in conservation spending through eqip (environmental quality incentives program) and csp (conservation stewardship program), which subsidizes farm conservation practices, such as cover crops and riparian buffers, which limit the human impact on ecosystem health and provide much-needed natural space for wildlife and biodiversity accumulation. at the state level it varies, and in pennsylvania there is the annual conservation innovation grant which provides eligible farms with up to $225,000 for 1-3 year long projects, and $5,000 to $75,000 for single projects.

organic provisions in the 2014 farm bill expanded the mandatory funding cap on organic agriculture research to $100 million, $57.1 million to the expansion of organic farm certification and $10 million to technological updates. if the federal government were to pass a federal policy that drew a  $3-5 billion in resources to database capacity-building, hire staff and personnel for farm-to-community outreach and a biodiversity management department, this would kickstart an industry that is already valued at $55.1 billion in 2020 at this point in the fiscal year. 

there are sections, or “titles”, for conservation (title ii), research (title vii), horticulture (title x) and crop insurance (title xi), which outline where the funding is appropriated for programs and initiatives. in this latest farm bill, there is no formal codified categorization and funding for environmental justice, collective action, restorative justice, artificial intelligence/data analytics and marketing, which could accommodate some of the obstacles posed by the current food supply system by expanding bargaining power and providing communities and government with the tools they need to see effective results and catch up to other departments’ institutional capacities.

now is the perfect opportunity for public policy and national food companies to invest in local food supply chains to protect the health of their staff and the public, to increase the value of organic food and supply more resources and assets to community supported agriculture (csa) farms that are in desperate need of assistance or better yet expansion. even if the government and national corporations do not get involved, the economic trends do not lie: organic food sales are increasing by 20-40% around the world as consumers look for products that provide essential health services and boost immunity. while the organic food industry has increased in value by 12.2% in the past two years alone, some worry that a lack of infrastructure may prevent as many sales as there could have been otherwise. 

the most fundamental distinction to organic farming is that it approaches agriculture as an interconnected ecological system that emphasizes non-chemical solutions to fertility and production obstacles. while not specifically part of organic certification, it also tends to encourage mindfulness of natural resources in regards to biodiversity and energy, not to mention the use of age-old mechanical processes such as cover crops, green manure and sustainable procurement of compost. 

csa provides a unique opportunity for sustainable agriculture in that members subscribe (i.e. pay) a certain amount for the farm to function, and in turn the farm produces enough for the subscribers. this establishes a strong sense of community while beginning to account for entrenched gaps in wealth and economic security for all members of the supply chain, with a focus on underserved groups.

the history of our food system is based on stolen land from indigenous communities and forced labor, and that legacy persists today: 2% of farmers are black while 95% are white; and 2% of farm owners identify as latinx even though they make up 80% of farm workers. meanwhile, 8% of farms own 40% of american farmland. workers get harmed, systems prevent the oppressed from wealth, while carbon emissions via agriculture have increased by 9% since 1990.

there is a rising coalition of organizations, such as the national young farmers coalition, that demand reform and transformational change. nyfc strives to support a diverse array of agricultural operations, and to incorporate stakeholders that have suffered from systemic oppression, forced migration, slavery, jim crow, mass incarceration. the mission for racial justice must address access to land, food production and access and economic mobility. additionally, groups such as northeast farmers of color land trust and familias unidas por la justicia are worker-owned, community organizations that aim to decolonize farmland ownership in the united states.

there can still be a variety of options, however in this system people will not starve or go hungry or face medical consequences due to lack of access, especially during a global health pandemic. now is the time for everyone to take a second look at csa farms and regenerative agriculture as a catalyst of economic growth and health.

wind energy is so prevalent in texas, that if the state were its own country, it would rank fifth in the world for wind energy with about 25 megawatts installed throughout the state according to the american wind energy association.

what’s even more impressive about wind-powered electricity in texas? in 2019, something monumental happened. the electric reliability council of texas (ercot) released their biannual report for the first half of the year and wind had surpassed coal. the difference in energy usage was small with wind coming in at 22% and coal at 21%, but wind has been growing steadily in practice and as a focus for politicians, educators, environmentalists, and local economies.

lubbock, texas, is the heart of wind research, industry, and education in the country. it’s the home of texas tech university and the national wind institute (nwi), and the university is the only one in the nation with a degree program for wind engineering. anyone that’s familiar with west texas knows that wind turbines are as plentiful as tumbleweeds and prairie dogs. new “wind farms” appear every year on the farmland surrounding small towns. these wind farms pump money into local economies and bring new life to these communities.

matt saldana is a small-town texas native and an employee of the national wind institute. saldana also is an instructor at texas tech, specializing in renewable energies, finance and economics, and project management. he has seen firsthand the changes that come with the wind industry while living in sweetwater, texas. while there, he witnessed a revival of the small town as money was brought into the community as a result of a new wind farm outside of town. saldana explained the entire process. 

when a contractor sees potential for a wind farm in an area, they go to the landowners of large farms and ranches with the request to put instruments on their land to take readings of wind speeds in the area, according to saldana. he said this stage is fully noncommittal and comes with no guaranteed compensation for the landowner. if the owner agrees to having turbines built on their property, the contracting company will begin construction.

as a thank you to the community, developers will often pay for new roads, sidewalks, or schools. in sweetwater, a new, state-of-the-art school district was built. this allowed for more money to be spent on teachers’ salaries, bringing in new faculty from the metroplex.

while the turbines are being constructed, thousands of temporary jobs are created. not only are local men and women hired to be on the construction crews, but local motels, restaurants, and gas stations see more business than they have in a long time. while they are under construction, the developers are subject to all local tax rates as well, ensuring the cities receive municipal funding. saldana said after construction, about 30 well-paying, permanent jobs are given to local residents. the landowners that have turbines on their properties receive a percentage of the revenue that each turbine produces (generally 3% to 8% depending on the specific company and production levels of each turbine, according to saldana).

“people are being allowed to keep the family farms they’ve had for generations,” saldana said.

the american farmer is in critical condition. production prices are at an all-time high, climate change is affecting growing seasons and harvesting, and trade wars with foreign countries have made it harder for many to sell what little yield they have. farm bankruptcies are up across every region of the country and the farmer suicide rate is one of the highest in the nation. saldana said that the extra revenue brought in by turbines to family farms has helped people save the land that’s been in their families for generations.

saldana said that research is being done constantly in order to push the industry forward. a few hot topics in the field include cybersecurity of turbines on the grid, finding a use for old and out of date equipment, moving into offshore capabilities, and finding a way to store renewable energy.

“renewable electricity can’t be stored,” saldana said. “finding a solution to that would be a game changer.”

saldana said despite the many positive aspects of the wind industry, there is still controversy surrounding wind turbines for people who live around them: endangering wildlife such as birds and bats, disrupting flora and fauna, and the low aesthetic value of the wind farms. he said the nwi is working on addressing these issues and that developers often work with wildlife conservation groups funding research and relocating bird species, like the lesser prairie chicken.

“there’s always going to be pushback no matter the industry,” saldana said. “(the positives) outweigh the negatives by environmental benefits and just keeping stuff in the ground.”

despite these controversies, there’s no question that renewable energy industries have earned their place in texas. wind powered energy has become a major source of power for the state and only continues to grow. wind energy allows for more assurance from blackouts, brownouts, and offers a new, clean means of electricity on the grid, ensuring a green method of urban resilience as our population spreads in urban areas; as a result, rural communities in west texas continue to thrive thanks to the economic spark this industry brings them.

since 2006, there have been no new shopping malls constructed in the united states (sanborn, 2017). this once-booming market has been affected mightily by the technological advancements achieved in the 21st century. a variety of factors have contributed to the decline of shopping mall visitation in recent decades, yet the most influential is the convenience of online shopping (ferreira and paiva, 2017). people no longer have to commute through traffic to physical malls, trouble themselves with long-lines, or deal with the commotion of a high-density environment (selvakumar and raghavan, 2017). the ease of shopping on devices from the comfort of homes have initiated a downward trend of visitation in physical shopping malls. between 2010 and 2013, mall visitation has dropped nearly 50% during the holiday season (mid-november through the end of december) than in years past. these peak times in shopping are when businesses rely on to meet end-of-year quotas.

major architectural, state-of-the-art facilities are closing down and remains are leaving a large footprint of empty buildings (rosenbaum, 2016). former shopping malls, that have once been a predominant wonder of the community, are closing and leaving a negative aesthetic appeal to communities. restoration potential for revitalization projects encapsulate the minds of city planners, contractors, and local residents to transform the architectural ghost-towns into something new (peterson, 2014). the large footprint and building structure of the malls contribute to endless possibilities of restoration projects.

i had the pleasure of interviewing a local resident residing in clay, new york, who has firsthand experienced the essence of mall history. numerous malls are located within 30 miles of clay, so 26-year-old corinna manzer is a key source of knowledge regarding shopping malls. from destiny usa, shoppingtown mall, and great northern mall, corinna has visited all three within her lifetime and remembers the prime of malls. living only two miles down the road from great northern mall, i was able to encapsulate a true history of the mall through a q&a session with her:

me: how do you think the mall has changed within the last 5-10 years?

corinna: the mall has become a ghost town. there are only a couple stores still in business there, and i don’t know how they’re still making money. all the parking lots are always empty and only dick’s sporting goods has more than maybe 10 cars parked in the lot. five years ago, the whole place has stores of all different categories, a movie theatre, and i used to go there more than once a week with my friends to hangout. it used to be such a convenience right down the road.

me: what is the reason for the decline of the mall?

corinna: definitely online shopping. there’s no reason to drive there and have to deal with people when i can just hop on my laptop and buy anything i want without sales people.

me: do you think the town should keep the mall standing?

corinna: i think the mall is taking up space and the huge building is being put to no use. [the town] should tear it down and put something else up like a restaurant some other food place. it’d be more popular.

me: what do you think of restoring [the mall] into a park or other green space?

corinna: that’s a great idea! it would really bring the community together and help better the environment rather than having it as an “industrial wasteland.” the mall is a huge eyesore where it is.

other uses for mall properties

the questions asked focused around the major areas of my research, and i was able to understand a consumer’s mindset regarding malls. i also asked corinna about how other malls are maintaining their business compared to the ones closing, and she replied by stating how other malls are transitioning to a more restaurant-based approach because “food keeps people interested.” she told me restaurants are the main reason [destiny usa mall] continues to flourish. restoring malls for green spaces were a point of interest in our interview, and would lead to a healthier community for the people and environment.

abandoned malls contribute restoration potentials from the sizable footprints of the buildings. while possibilities may seem endless for the future of the industrial sites, green projects wield a positive outlook. whether a green space for park leisure or an indoor-outdoor infusion of activity, the grass is most certainly greener on the other side of shopping malls.

—

works cited

staeheli, l. a., & mitchell, d. (2006). usas destiny? regulating space and creating community in american shopping malls. urban studies, 43(5-6), 977-992. doi:10.1080/00420980600676493

ferreira, d., & paiva, d. (2017). the death and life of shopping malls: an empirical investigation on the dead malls in greater lisbon. the international review of retail, distribution and consumer research, 27(4), 317-333. doi:10.1080/09593969.2017.1309564

rosenbaum, m. s., otalora, m. l., & ramirez, g. c. (2016). the restorative potential of shopping malls. journal of retailing and consumer services, 31, 157-165. doi:10.1016/2016.02.011

watson, sarah, “what is happening to commercial malls: evaluating contradicting opinions” (2016). accounting. 11.   https://scholarsarchive.library.albany.edu/honorscollege_accounting/11

sanburn, j. (2017, july 20). why the death of malls is about more than shopping. time.

dong, j., & gong, s. (2017). restoration and regeneration of industrial brownfield. boletín técnico,55(12), 314-319.

after all, what’s better than giving or receiving gifts that help us reduce our ecological impact? check out this roundup of tested and useful products that are perfect for anyone (yourself included)!

1. stasher bags

prices range from $9.99-$19.99

these reusable silicone bags are incredible: not only are they self-sealing and air-tight, but you can put them in the microwave, dishwasher, and/or the freezer. they’re perfect for packing sandwiches and snacks on the go, for organizing odds’n’ends, and have innumerable cooking and food storage uses. available in both sandwich size and snack size, and a variety of fun colors and patterns, stasher bags are one of the most useful, practical, and durable reusable bags on the market, and make for a wonderful gift your friends and family will use time and time again.

2. ecocrock compost bin:

$39.99

​perfect for the home chef or gardener in your life! food scraps make up a significant amount of waste in the united states, but this chic, in-kitchen compost bin can help your friends and family make composting easy. this compost bin offers a sleek and practical design, including two filters, and a charcoal filter to eliminate odor.

​3. senhai reusable utensils

$10.99

these utensils are perfect for reducing plastic utensil use on the go! a fork, knife, spoon, and set of chopsticks is tucked inside a zipper-seal pouch, which ensures utensils stay clean. the utensils are stainless steel and rustproof, and make a perfect stocking stuffer.

4. play animal beds and toys

prices range from about $6-189

perfect for your four-legged friend, or your favorite pet-lover! play is a gold certified green business that makes durable pet beds and toys from 100% recycled materials. they offer customizable dog beds made from plastic bottles, as well as an array of adorable dog and cat toys.

5. bee’s wrap reusable food wrap

prices range from $6-$19.

this plastic wrap alternative is perfect for wrapping up leftovers, cheese, produce, bread, or to cover bowls to keep things fresh for extended periods of time. made from bee’s wax, bee’s wrap is washable, reusable, compostable, and adorable!

6. yeti tumblers

price range from $19.99-$129.99.

yeti makes durable, vacuum-sealed water bottles and tumblers, perfect for keeping beverages hot or cold for extended periods of time. whether you’re shopping for a student, a working friend, or an adventure-seeker, reusable water bottles and tumblrs help reduce waste from people always on the go.

7. green toys

prices range from $5.99-$49.99.

green toys makes adorable plastic and dough toys for the young ones on your list. made in california from 100% recycled materials (mostly plastic milk jugs), green toys is trying to do toys differently, in a sustainable way.

8. reuseable bag, scarf, or newspaper instead of wrapping paper

free.

rather than purchase gift wrap this year, consider using newspaper or gifting your bag in a reuseable tote, which are available at many grocery and mega-stores like target. you can also wrap your gift with a scarf in furoshiki style, a traditional japanese way of wrapping gifts. not only will this save money and reduce waste, it’ll be an extra bonus to your gift.

to middle class americans, installing solar panels may seem out of their financial range. however, the cost of solar has gone down in recent years. scientific american reports that prices for solar panels have fallen between 5-12% in 2015. this price drop includes everything from hardware to installation. however, the biggest contributor to the price drop was the decline in cost for inverters, which convert direct current (dc) electricity to alternating current (ac) electricity, the electric standard for homes.

however, market factors aren’t the sole contributors in the cost decline. the government has played a significant role in making solar more affordable for american households by subsidizing solar through tax credits. currently, homeowners can receive a tax credit at 30% of the cost of the system. state governments have also set up programs to fund solar installation. new york state for example, allows for a tax credit of up to $5,000. other state policies can include rebates, tax exemptions, and even property tax exemptions!

the price on solar

so how much does it cost to install solar panels on a residential home? just like any home project, prices can differ depending on a variety of factors. the biggest determinant is how many kilo-watts the homeowner wants installed. also,the suppliers and/or installers in different regions can charge varying rates. solar power rocks has a feature on their website that connects customers with trusted solar installers in their area to get a quote on pricing.

the final cost of installation can depend dramatically on what state programs your region offers. however, according to energy sage, the average gross cost found in 2017, prior to tax credits, is $16,800. after tax credits the cost can vary between $10,045 and $13,475.

considering that the price of solar panels is about the cost of a new roof, homeowners may be wary about taking on solar. and while savings vary greatly state by state, there seems to be a common trend: the long term investment can save a homeowner thousands. according to solar to the people, the average savings for homeowners can be upwards of $10,000 over a 20 year period. in some states the savings can be even larger. energy sage calculated that over a 20 year period, homeowners who installed a 5 kilowatt system in texas saved $14,221; maryland saved $20,446; new york saved $28,466; and massachusetts saved $30,243!

an investment in energy security 

why should people wait 20 years for the financial benefit of solar power? choosing to install solar panels does not necessarily mean your home is completely off the grid. many households, decide to use net metering to monitor costs. net metering is a system that sells your generated power back to the utility company during peak periods of production. this allows you to utilize grid electricity when your household isn’t producing enough electricity, like at nighttime. if you live in an area where solar is very efficient, the utility company may even pay you for your extra electricity.

moving forward with new innovation 

the future is looking hopeful for solar power. just this year, tesla announced its newest innovation in solar: the tesla solar roof. tesla has designed roof-shingles that have solar panels built inside them. they look like ordinary roof shingles and are “more than three times stronger than standard roofing tiles” according to tesla. the company is so confident in the durability of their solar roof that they offer a “lifetime of your house” warranty.

tesla also offers their powerwall battery. this battery stores any excess energy produced to be used during nighttime or cloudy periods. in theory, the tesla solar roof could make your home fully self-sufficient.

tesla’s roof doesn’t come without significant costs. forbes indicates that a 70% solar roof from tesla will set a homeowner back by $51,200, before the optional powerwall battery, which will cost an additional $7,000. however the 70% solar roof over 30 years will generate $73,500 in electric, meaning a net profit of $31,200 over that period. it is also important to note that this cost is before all federal, state, and local solar programs are factored in. the 30% tax credit offered by the federal government would show savings of $17,460 on this same purchase.

the solar industry is making its way into becoming a fierce competitor in the energy sector. with assistance from the government, solar is starting to catch up with more traditional sources of energy. innovations like the tesla solar roof may be out of reach for most middle class families, however this is just the start of a revolutionary industry. as more competitors enter the market, we will continue to see a sharp decline in the cost of solar. it doesn’t seem so far-fetched to imagine solar roof tiles as standard for new homes in the near future. 

according to the institute for energy research, a 2015 study showed that roughly 10% of the total u.s. energy supply comes from renewable sources. many cities already have plans to convert to 100% renewables in the near future — and four cities already have been successful in doing so.

why make the switch? with climate central reporting that the 10 hottest years globally, all of which have occurred since 1998, we have reached a pivotal moment in history. it’s becoming more and more obvious that human activities have caused a dramatic change in the global climate. some of the damage already may be done but it is up to our generation to put us on a better path. and luckily, we are starting to see these changes happen here in the u.s.

greensburg, kansas

the first u.s. city to reach 100% clean energy was greensburg, kansas. however, it took a traumatic incident in order for this city to evolve. with a population of only 771 people, according to the u.s. census bureau, greensburg is as small-town-america as it gets. the name may sound familiar because in 2007 the town was hit by a major tornado, which destroyed 95% of the town and resulted in 11 deaths.

during reconstruction, the city council decided that the entire town would be run on green-energy, adopting the motto: “rebuilding…stronger. better. greener.” as of 2013, the city’s energy comes from a 12.5 megawatt wind facility.

the story of greensburg is somewhat symbolic. it paints a picture of what the future holds if humans around the world continue down a path of environmental exploitation. with the disappearance of the polar ice caps and destruction of the world’s coral reefs, humans have no choice now but to evolve.

aspen, colorado

another small city that has reached 100% clean energy comes as no surprise: aspen, colorado. as a ski resort town, aspen’s entire economic success rides on the environment. aspen’s utilities and environmental initiatives director david hornbacher said, “…we are powered by the forces of nature, predominantly water and wind with a touch of solar and landfill gas.”

the aspen times reports that prior to the switch to clean energy, the town already was running on 75% to 80% renewable energy.

burlington, vermont

burlington, vermont — a city of more than 42,000 — also has achieved 100% renewable energy. according to the boston globe, the burlington electric department had purchased a hydroelectric plant on the winooski river. the burlington electric department with the washington electric cooperative collectively now supply the city with 100% renewable sources.

the manager for burlington electric, ken dolan, said, “the transition in thought from 2004 to 2008 was ‘we want to do this’ to ‘this actually makes economic sense for us to do this.’”

the boston globe also reports vermont is on a statewide mission to push for 90% renewable energy for electric, heating, and transportation by 2050.

georgetown, texas

looking toward texas, it would seem very unlikely that this oil-rich state would harbor one of the largest cities to reach 100% renewable energy, however georgetown, home to some 67,000, has done just that.

a city that lies about 30 miles north of austin, decided to make the switch after their power contract was up in 2012, according to ari shapiro from npr. shapiro reported city managers came to realize that wind and solar energy are much more predictable in prices, compared to that of oil and gas.

surprisingly, the switch to renewables was due in part to rick perry, who implemented changes to texas’ electrical grid, allowing georgetown to receive its energy from wind farms in west texas.

georgetown mayor dale ross said in the npr interview, “it’s a great economic development tool because there’s a lot of high-quality companies in this country that have robust green energy policies.”

so while the switch to renewables was motivated by economic factors, georgetown demonstrates that renewable energy can be a better economic decision than fossil fuel sources.

the switch to renewable energy is not an easy one. each u.s. city has its own unique circumstances and there is not one set path in seeking green sustainability. greensburg, aspen, burlington, and georgetown have showed us that the switch is not impossible, and in some cases it’s even beneficial for the town’s economy.

according to business insider, san diego, san francisco, and san jose in california; rochester, minnesota; grand rapids, michigan; and east hampton, new york, all have adopted plans to make the switch to 100% renewable energy within the next 20 years. what all these cities have in common is that the push to go green is local. while the federal government may not be passing renewable energy legislation anytime soon, citizens can motivate their local governments to begin the switch themselves.

eating out-of season fruits and veggies takes a toll on your health, your wallet, and the environment.

(photo: rhett maxwell/wikimedia commons)

but how bad can eating out-of-season produce really be?

the cost of growing and harvesting out-of-season produce is much higher than regular season growth. that watermelon you are about to buy in the middle of november was probably grown in a heated greenhouse thousands of miles away. the increased cost of harvesting and bringing that produce to the united states means that your grocer has to raise prices in order to curb production costs.

according to the natural resources defense council, “the smog-forming emissions from importing fruits and vegetables are equivalent to the annual emissions from 1.5 million cars.” purchasing imported, out-of-season produce only contributes to this environmental cost.

eating fresh means enjoying the nutritional value of that produce. but once a fruit is harvested, it begins to lose the benefits that fresh produce has to offer. after a fruit or vegetable has been picked, shipped, and put in a grocery store thousands of miles from its origin, its vitamins have deteriorated quite a bit.

are there alternatives to out-of season fruit?

instead, look for your fruits and vegetables in the freezer section the next time you’re at the grocery store. frozen produce is a great choice during the non-growing seasons.

frozen fruits and veggies were packaged while fresh. studies suggest frozen produce may have higher nutrient content than regular produce. this is because freezing prevents nutrients from leaching out of the produce.

not only do frozen fruits and veggies offer health benefits that regular, out-of-season produce does not, but it is also a financially conscious option. going frozen means avoiding the increased cost of out-of-season produce typically seen during fall and winter.

(photo: maryland pride/wikimedia commons)    

some companies that sell frozen produce even make a point to be environmentally conscious as well. some companies take their unused trimmings and use them as compost, while others throw them out.

less travel to get food to the grocery store means a lower environmental cost, so also make a point to research where your frozen munchies are coming from. companies like green giant grow most of their frozen goods in the united states, for example.

during fall and winter this year, opt out of out-of-season fruits. instead, spend some time in the frozen section to see what options are available to you.