Tis the season to revel in all the good news we can find! Throughout November, spreading joy and gratefulness is in full swing. To cap off the month, we are thankful to bring you our top 5 pieces of good news from November!
France Looks to Mandate Solar Panels Over Large Parking Lots
Do you ever look at a giant parking lot and think, What a waste of space? You’re not alone in that. Parking lots cover more than 5% of urban land in the United States. The largest parking lot in the world at the West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada can accommodate 20,000 vehicles. So... There is a lot of space dedicated to parking out there.
France is using the space taken up by parking lots for renewable energy. The French Senate passed legislation requiring parking lots with at least 80 spaces to be covered in solar panels. This is a great, forward-thinking tactic to begin to decarbonize France’s economy.
September brings so many positive vibes to the end of summer—Car-Free Day, Drive Electric Week, and back-to-school carpools reemerging. To finish off a month of positivity, let’s recap 5 good eco news stories from September!
The internet can be a …less than positive place at times. We have all become accustomed to reading bad news at an alarming rate, taking in negative information on a daily basis. Let’s cleanse our palette, shall we?
Here are five positive news stories on the environment from the last few weeks.
One of the greenest days of the year is coming up this Friday—Earth Day! This is where our global community works together to invest in our planet and make changes to take action on climate, and we want to make it even better. We are going to live like it’s Earth Week.
Each day leading up to Friday, we’re going to challenge ourselves to make a positive change in honor of Earth Day. Here’s our plan of action for Earth Week.
Making small efforts to lead an eco-friendly lifestyle can actually save you money this summer, and inspire positive change in different areas of your daily life. Here are 5 ways to have some great, green summer fun!
Shop Local: Farmers Markets
Going to a farmers market isn’t only a fun summer activity. There are more to these markets than meets the eye. Produce at farmers markets are typically sold at lower prices than a supermarket, and three out of every four farmers say they use practices consistent with organic standards. By shopping at local farmers markets, you can be spending less to receive sustainably grown produce all while stimulating local economies and preserving America’s farmlands.
Beat the Heat: Close your Shades
You’d be surprised how much heat can come in through your windows. A good way to prevent running the air conditioning all day long is to close your shades on hot summer days. This is a natural way to provide shade to your home and save money on energy costs.
Two Words: Bike More!
One of the worst parts of summer is opening your car door to the intense wave of heat that has been trapped inside. Then, you slide onto your seat that can reach temperatures upwards of 180-200 degrees F, and nearly burn yourself on the metal seatbelt. How can we avoid this? Bike there! For trips within a few miles, biking there is a great way to leave the car at home altogether and save money on gas!
Use Reef Friendly Sunscreen
Believe it or not, island nations and states are beginning to ban beachgoers from wearing harmful sunscreens in the waters. When it comes to purchasing reef friendly sunscreen, checking the active ingredients is key. The big substances to look for are Oxybenzone, Octinoxate, parabens, and microplastics. If any of these are listed, put it back on the shelf. Here is an in-depth article from the Save the Reef charity project to learn more.
Doing your Part: Picking up Litter
A good motto to bring to your eco-friendly summer is to leave every space better than you found it. Something simple to include in your beach or hiking routine is bringing a trash bag and gloves with you. As you clean up after yourself, picking up litter even on a small scale makes a difference. Joining community beach clean-ups is also a weekend activity that can be fun and very rewarding!
Be safe in the heat this summer, and don’t forget that even small efforts to living a more eco-friendly lifestyle are worth it!
