Author Archives: Teresa Cook

Toilet savings

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Teresa Cook

When I moved into an old home with five bathrooms, a friend joked she was going to buy me a toilet brush for a housewarming gift. Don’t laugh — it would have made sense. What I have finally accomplished, after … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer choice, Do-It-Yourself | 1 Comment

Greenways and Trails summit in York

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Teresa Cook

UPDATE: The Greenways Conference has been CANCELED and rescheduled to October 23-25. The York County Convention & Visitors Bureau, PA Recreation and Park Society and PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources will hold the 2011 Pennsylvania Greenways and Trails … Continue reading →

Posted in Uncategorized | Leave a comment

See local effect of climate change

Posted on August 8, 2011 by Teresa Cook

Check out this new web tool unveiled by the Natural Resources Defense Council. It lets you read how your state might be affected by climate change. On the site, www.nrdc.org/climatemaps, users can see local data and maps detailing extreme weather … Continue reading →

Posted in Government policy | Leave a comment

Energy audit — yes or no?

Posted on August 3, 2011 by Teresa Cook

I was visited recently by an eager Civic Works AmeriCorps worker for Retrofit Baltimore, a project to improve home energy efficiency while training the unemployed for green jobs. I attended the information meeting and I’m intrigued, but not ready to … Continue reading →

Posted in Consumer choice, Do-It-Yourself, Electricity, Green jobs | 1 Comment

Recycle those wine corks

Posted on July 28, 2011 by Teresa Cook

Did you know that you can recycle wine corks? Yep. Just send them to this address and they’ll be turned into cork tile products. Wine Cork Recycling Yemm & Hart Ltd. 425 North Chamber Dr. Fredericktown, MO 63645

Posted in Do-It-Yourself, Recycling | Leave a comment

Pennsylvania second on list of “Toxic 20″

Posted on July 21, 2011 by Teresa Cook

Residents of Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida live in states with the most toxic air pollution from coal- and oil-fired power plants, according to an analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council. The study used publicly available data in the Environmental … Continue reading →

Posted in Electricity, Government policy | Leave a comment

Meeting of Gas Truth of Central PA

Posted on July 18, 2011 by Teresa Cook

Gas Truth of Central PA, a network of grassroots citizens’ groups fighting to bring an end to unsafe drilling practices in Pennsylvania, will meet 7 p.m. Aug. 9 at Midtown Scholar Bookstore-Café, 1302 N. Third St., Harrisburg. For more info: … Continue reading →

Posted in Government policy, Marcellus Shale | Leave a comment

Transitions movement meetings

Posted on July 11, 2011 by Teresa Cook

In response to a need for developing local resilience in the face of peak oil, climate change and economic and resource instability, Gettysburg, Harrisburg, Lancaster and York have all started Transition Initiatives. July meetings are as follows: – 6:30 p.m. … Continue reading →

Posted in Do-It-Yourself, Government policy, Local events | Leave a comment

The challenge of being “green”

Posted on June 28, 2011 by Teresa Cook

There is a reason many of us don’t do enough to cut our waste of resources and choose new products wisely. It’s hard. Case in point: my kitchen counters. Flipping through a magazine three years ago, I spotted a new … Continue reading →

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Green redecorating

Posted on June 23, 2011 by Teresa Cook

I’m redecorating the living room, not exactly a “green” maneuver, what with replacing rug, furniture and draperies. But it’s been 17 years since I last fixed up that room, so I don’t think I’m being extravagant. And not everything is … Continue reading →

Posted in Do-It-Yourself, Just for fun | Leave a comment