Special Guest Writer

Today my friends, as I promised when I started my blog, from time to time I would have guest writers. Today's blog is a feature written by:

Maria M. Ryan
Area Natural Resources Specialist
University of Nevada Cooperative Extension





THINGS YOU CAN DO TO CONSERVE NATURAL RESOURCES

Maria Ryan, Area Natural Resources Specialist


These days, global warming, energy costs, and habitat destruction are all in the news on a daily basis. It’s true that our use of natural resources (air, water, soil, plants and animals) is at an all time high and sustainability is in question. Globally, degradation of these life sustaining resources is happening at higher rates than ever, given the growing human population and their needs. The U.S. is far and away the most consumptive country on earth and it’s time we start considering how our everyday activities affect ourselves, our neighbors, our children and the world.

Back in the 1960’s and 1970’s a movement started with the publication of Rachel Carson’s famous book Silent Spring which documented the hazards of specific pesticide use. Pollution became an issue (remember the Pitch In trash campaign?), as did energy consumption (remember the gas lines and the oil embargo?). Since that time, we’ve slipped in our consciousness about taking care of our environment and it’s time to get back to stewarding our planet and more locally, the beautiful Mojave Desert. Now that UNCE has moved into an environmentally friendly building, here are a few things you can do to help conserve natural resources at work and home to make southern Nevada more beautiful.

1. Reconsider your commute. How much time per day do you spend in traffic? Is it fun? Think of other ways to get to and from work to reduce your time in your vehicle. Can you carpool? Driving to and from work one day per week can certainly add up to cost savings in gasoline. Besides, it’s enjoyable to visit with people from work that we often don’t have much time for. Take turns driving to share the responsibility and gas. We certainly don’t need to have our cars parked outside every day just waiting for our beck and call. Can you ride a bike to work in safety? Find routes that offer a pleasant ride on the CAT website. If you’re in walking distance, consider walking a few times per week, and if possible, catch a ride home from a co-worker or friend for a short distance. This will save you from the afternoon heat and possibly build a friendship. I used to take the bus to work once a week when possible. They are very clean and I found it very enjoyable – reading my newspaper and drinking my coffee while someone else fought the traffic. Area buses run a very tight schedule, so you can always depend on them. Right now the bus doesn’t have routes that are convenient to the new UNCE Lifelong Learning Center, but when it does, consider taking them. You may be surprised.

2. Reuse drinking containers and recycle them when possible. Drinking a lot of water often in the summer in southern Nevada is a necessity. But while you’re drinking that bottled water consider the materials and energy required to make every single plastic bottle you use. Instead of picking up a new, unopened bottle of water or sports drink, consider refilling it. Purified water refill locations are everywhere and a one gallon bottle can be used to refill 8 smaller bottles. Think of the plastic you are saving. There is also concern about the depletion of some of the spring sources used in the bottled water business. Buy purified water if you must, but even better try tap water. I know, I know you don’t think it’s any good. However, the Southern Nevada Water System testing is done more frequently and extensively than the Safe Drinking Water Act requires. Our water is highly treated and year after year, reports show the quality of our water to be excellent. People normally react to the taste, but in a short period of time the taste of the minerals in the water becomes unnoticeable. Drinking tap water cuts down on the manufacturing, processing, and costs of making all those water bottles that litter our desert lands and street gutters.

On your way to work, you’ll probably stop at a coffee house for that morning cup of jo. Reuse your coffee mug and have them fill YOUR coffee cup instead of using one of their cardboard cups. You’ll reduce the trash you have to throw away, reduce the energy use needed to manufacture those cups, and reduce the cutting of trees for the cardboard paper. Besides, most coffee houses will refill your mug and reduce the price by the cost of the cup. This can save you 30 to 50 centers per cup! Refill, please!

3. Recycle everything you use. Our trash service provider and other businesses in town take just about every kind of recyclable material – glass, aluminum, plastics, cardboard, etc. Don’t through your used material into the trash if they have recycle value. Rinse or clean them out and store until you can dispose of in recycling bins or take them to any of the businesses in town that offer you money. Recycle your ‘used’ food by composting. Angela O’Callaghan’s team can assist you with specifics, but why not turn your food waste into and actual soil medium to grow things? We have so little soil in the Mojave, any kind of soil amendment (compost, for example) makes an enormous difference in the health and productivity of plants. Besides, it’s fun and a good project for kids to maintain the compost pile.

4. Turn up your thermostat in the summer. If you are in your office or home and you are wearing a sweater, then your air conditioner is working too hard and you are wasting energy. Virtually all of the energy we use as electricity today is from nonrenewable resources (coal, natural gas, etc.) They are nonrenewable – meaning once the supply is gone, it’s gone. So why waste it? Opinions differ, but the general consensus is that the world has reached or is close to reaching it’s maximum production of petroleum. This means that every drop of gas goes to less supply and higher costs to develop. It’s nuts to not be thinking of ways to conserve what we do use, and create opportunities to use renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, and ocean energy. Turn your thermostat up during the day while you are gone and adjust it again when you come home. Remember, if you have pets or older people at home during the day, don’t adjust the temperature too high.


We can all make a difference by doing small things everyday that reduce our impact on the planet. Wouldn’t it be nice to drive down the road and not see any plastic bags or bottles or other trash that could be recycled or reused? Wouldn’t it be nice to not have to rely on gas prices from other countries? Every small step means one step closer to a cleaner, more sustainable world.